"Life's pretty tough .
. . you're lucky if you live through it." – Woody Guthrie
STORY OF WOODY GUTHRIE BROUGHT TO LIFE IN UNIQUE
‘DOME’ PRODUCTION
During 2007 audiences across the country,
including children with special needs, were transported back to the America
of the 1930s and 40s when Leeds-based Interplay
Theatre went on tour with its powerful production, This Land. The show tracked the talented, and at times
tragic, career of American folksinger Woody Guthrie from the dustbowls of
Oklahoma to the bright lights of New York City.
This Land was performed in a
unique portable dome which was purpose-built for Interplay’s productions
and can accommodate up to 30 audience members:
“It’s a bit like sitting in a large
canvas igloo” explained Interplay’s Artistic Director Steve Byrne. “The audience are so close to the action
that they become totally immersed in the performance which transports them back
through time to the dust storms and depression of 1930s America.”
The show was researched and written
by Steve and all the songs and words were taken from real life recordings of
Woody’s interviews and performances.
The result was an atmospheric interweaving of his life story, told mainly
through the medium of his songs. As his
life unfolds, Woody discovers the nature of the disease which killed his mother
and from which he too would eventually die – Huntington’s Chorea, a hereditary
degenerative illness which results in violent tremors and dementia.
Steve Byrne believes that the
performance space helped the audience to immerse themselves in the world of the
play in a way in which ordinary theatre spaces do not.
“The dome allowed the actors to work
close-up to the audience and really connect with them - it created an intimate
performance space which is intrinsic to how we work” explained Steve. “By the end of the show we like to think
that the audience went on a journey with us and had a real insight into
what life was like at the time, and Woody’s life in particular.”
Each of the male actors (David
Broad, Timothy Richards, Julian Coburn-Hough, Michael Rossiter) in the show
played Woody at different stages of his life and actress Polly Jerrold took on
the role of all Woody’s female relatives and wives.
“In the past we have
devised shows for children with special needs but it is important to us that
the theatre we create is inclusive and can be enjoyed equally by a mainstream
audience” added Steve. “We tour to
special needs schools and also to arts venues, where we perform to families,
and we strive to create an enjoyable and challenging theatrical experience for
all our audiences, whoever they are.”
This Land
was written and directed by Steve Byrne and designed by Barney
George. The assistant designer was Laura
Turnbull and the production was funded by Arts Council England Grants for the
Arts.
Ends
For
further press information contact Sally Brown on 01484 683756 or mobile 07950
870864 or email sally-brown@btconnect.com
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