INTRODUCING: 'THEATRE IN EDUCATION'

Briefly describe for us what your show is about?
A Theatre in Education company who enter a youth club, get taken hostage and made to do their own workshop.

Is it similar to what you’ve done previously or are you trying something new?
This is new. We’ve got a cast of 12 and a range of performing experience – industry pros, graduates straight out of drama school and young people about to go into training. The vast majority of the collaborators are part of Tin Can Collective – who’ve grown out of Bristol Old Vic Young Company. It’s being directed by the excellent Rikki Henry.

Describe it for us in three words.
Funny. Explosive. Tense.

How will it make people feel? / What do you want it to make people think about?
If ever one were heading for a fall… I’ll take a punt and say I think people will feel entertained – and allow people to think about the disconnect we have between ourselves and “disaffected youth.” That whatever your outlook, point of view – there will always be something/someone to confound your assumptions – if indeed you have any.

What stage will it be at in its development when we see it in July?
We’re going to roughly stage with scripts in hand the first three quarters of the play. It’s a real time play and we’ll be showing the first 75 odd minutes. We’d like to show more but time won’t allow and it’s not a static piece. We’d rather show less than do the whole thing as a conventional reading.

What elements in particular are you looking forward to testing out on Ferment audiences?
A large cast play. The fact that it’s staged in traverse. The challenge of staging a TIE show, workshop and impending catastrophe in a youth club in real time. The show within a show.

What are your personal highlights of July’s Ferment Fortnight?
What am I looking forward to? Dan Canham, Bluebeard, Shifts, If you Decide To Stay, Atomkraft