Time Stood Still - A Play for Totnes - 5 - 9 June 2012

Playgoers are working with writer Nick Stimson and director Richard Clark on an artistic endeavour which will take us out of our comfort zone, further develop our theatre skills and abilities and bring in new members from the community.

 

The project has already begun with a series of devising workshops in October/November 2011.  We have been exploring Nicks' preparatory research and creating brief scenes to serve as a starting point for the final script.  Nick has already presented a first draft, which will be refined over the coming weeks, and there may be further workshops as the project develops.  Auditions will be held on 10th and 11th March 2012, and we will be working towards public performances as part of the nation's Jubilee celebrations in June 2012. 

 

Click here for a synopsis of this exciting project...

 

Nick has directed, lectured and led workshops in schools, colleges, universities, festivals and theatres throughout the UK and abroad, and has an impressive track record in large-scale community productions at Plymouth Theatre Royal and Exeter Northcott.  His aim is to create a piece of theatre truly about this part of Devon.  

 

Do get in touch if you'd like to be involved in this exciting project.

 

The Taming of the Shrew - Open Air, Dartington Hall

 

This year's open air production, directed by Anthea Roberts, will run from 29th June to 7th July, in a new open air venue at Dartington Hall Gardens.  Joint auditions (with A Play for Totnes ) will be held on 10th and 11th March.  Please contact us for further details.  We would love to hear from anyone interested in supporting our productions behind the scenes - stage management, costumes, set, etc.

 

 

 

Equus by Peter Shaffer:  Barn Theatre, November 2011

 

 

This exciting show played to enthusiastic audiences, and attracted considerable praise for the two leading characters.  From a review by Emily Severn: 

 

The simple set cleverly accommodated the need to switch between the stark, clinical setting of the doctor's surgery and the rudimentary layout of a stable. Enhanced by careful staging, the audience was comfortably guided through the action by atmospheric and resourceful use of lighting and effects which provided the startling contrasts needed for grittier scenes. James Harper as Martin Dysart approached the role with a reassuring confidence that enabled the audience to dissect the uncomfortable issues addressed in the production. By keeping all the cast on stage for the entire production, there was a sense of ‘judgment’ that reflected the audience’s instinct towards Alan Strang for his actions as well as providing a judge and jury element. Norman Young’s horse heads completed the stunning staging. A mature and subtle performance was given by Duncan Moore who demonstrated experience beyond his years by avoiding the temptation to caricature the role.

The Herald Express said:  "It's been a while since I've caught a Dartington Playgoers production and if this fiercely brave effort is any kind of benchmark, I'll be quick to return...long may these high-quality, boundary-questioning productions continue."  Read the full review here.    See also reviews from the Totnes Times and the Western Morning News.

Photo by Chris Wilson .  Production photos can be seen on the archive page...


You may be interested in Leon Winston's recently-published guide Directing the Play - from Page to Stage.  Information from Creative Media Publishing Ltd, 35 Woodland Park, Paignton TQ3 2ST.

 

 

Macbeth - June 2011

Extracts from a review by Peter Reeves:  What a setting for this of all plays.  A gaunt tower looming over every scene, fir-trees skeletal against the setting sun, wheeling jackdaws and
lots of shadows, all of which director Jeremy Balfour made full use of to create an air of
menace and uncertainty...  With flawless organisation and stage management, friendly
front of house care...one of the best Dartington Playgoers productions I have seen. 

Company members working with fight director Mark Ruddick
of Squire Theatre Company :

  
 Photos by Chris Wilson


 

The New Electric Ballroom - April 2011 - Review

If you missed this production, try to imagine a concoction of Beckett, Friel, Dylan Thomas and Father Ted. The prospect of three sisters in a remote Irish fishing village, trapped in a seemingly endless re-enactment of their one chance of happiness,now far in the past, may not sound like a good evening out. But Walsh is such a fascinating weaver of words, that it’s hard not to be swept along with the story, even though you know in your heart that it’s all going to end in tears. Ceni Wyatt’s great achievement, in this her directorial debut, was to maintain the energy and pace throughout a riveting 80 minutes of high quality theatre. This was arguably the strongest cast Playgoers could have assembled for this production, and they didn’t disappoint. Each of the four actors (Sarah Thomson, Camille Flaherty, Sarah Welsh and Jonathan Mason) fully inhabited their respective characters, and generated a rare chemistry which wouldn’t have disgraced a professional stage. Originally scheduled for February, but well worth waiting for – congratulations and thanks to all involved in this high quality production. 

 Read more about this play...