New Writing
Commissioned or developed new texts from both known and
previously unknown writers, performed by professionals.
Heart and Stone
In April 2006 New Theatre Works, resident professional company
at the
Courtyard, toured this specially commissioned play to 14
Herefordshire
churches.
NTW saw the tour as an enquiry into the social and cultural
position of The Church as it has evolved over the centuries.
Each performance, in a different Herefordshire location, is also
an extension of NTW’s site-specific work such as Wheels
within Wheels (performed on a bus around the Black
Mountains), and Carry on Down the River (enacted on
cruise boats on the River Wye).
Peter Roberts’ new play,
Heart and Stone, selected from over twenty
submissions, directed by Estelle Van Warmelo, treats the
theme in an informative and entertaining fashion. The
music by Rab Handleigh was singled out for praise in all
the reviews.
There was a post-show discussion at each venue and the
documentary DVD which develops the issues raised in the
production is available for £5 incl. P&P |
Heart and Stone
performed at Dore Abbey |
What Did You Do in the War Granny? (working title).
New Theatre Works, in collaboration with Script,
recently invited writers with an interest in docu-drama to
attend one of two ‘stimulus days’ for their new project Inspired
by Bill Laws’ book published in 2003. In the Munitions: Women
at War in Herefordshire, is a book of reminiscences of women
who worked during both world wars at the Rotherwas factory in
Hereford. This was the biggest munitions factory in the country
and one of the best kept secrets. The intention is to create a
unique form of performed dramatic docu-drama involving several
local artists including 2FacedDance and Music Pool. It will be
developed into an ambitious site-specific piece actually in and
around the disused factory and shell-filling areas.
|
The munitions factory at
Rotherwas today |
The stimulus days focused on creative elements of the
project, and included a panel discussion led by New Theatre
Works director Ellie Parker, including Bill Laws and the
writer of The History of Rotherwas Munitions Factory,
John Edmonds. Specially made short films were shown and
there was a twenty minute performance based on
reminiscences.
|
A Way
NTW is developing a unique site specific /installation/
performance piece working with writer Megan Barker. Megan’s play
Pit at the Traverse in Edinburgh this year received a MUST
SEE from The Stage and was on the HIT LIST of The Scotsman.
Spectators will be invited into migrant workers’ caravans to
witness and participate in the stories of Eastern Europeans
working on British Farms.
Megan Barker and Ellie Parker recently researched the piece in
partnership with the
Mihai
Eminescu Trust in Romania.
Megan Barker with car in Viscri, Romania.
The event will be toured in September 2007
© New
Theatre Works
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