Workington Playgoers Productions 2020 - 2024
2020 February Tuesday
by Alison Carr
Theatre Royal Youth will be performing Tuesday, by Alison Carr, as part of National Theatre Connections – a nationwide celebration of new plays for young people. Tuesday is one of ten brand new plays written especially for Connections by a selection of the best playwriting talent in the UK.
It’s an ordinary Tuesday and the kids are out in the school yard, when a large rip appears in the sky above them. Pupils and staff are sucked upwards – and a whole new set of people start raining down, which is apparently what happens when parallel worlds collide! Confusion reigns as ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ try to work out what is going on. How can Ash and Magpie be identical? Can Billy cope with having his sister back? And who is Franky? As the air on Earth starts to disagree with ‘Them’, the race is on to return everyone safely to the Universe they came from.
This witty, fast-moving play combines sci-fi with everyday school life, touching on themes including family and friends, identity, and coping with grief, bullying and loneliness, not to mention theories of the multiverse!
A Theatre Royal Youth Production
Doors open: 6:30pm
Performance: 7pm
Running Time: 43 minutes
Date: Thurs 6th – Sat 8th February 2020
Tickets:
Adults £8.00
Concessions £6.00
Tuesday by Alison Carr, performed by Theatre Royal Youth with the National Theatre.
Opens on February 6 and will run at Workington’s Theatre Royal until Saturday. Theatre Royal Youth’s latest play, which is part of the National Connections Festival, has tackled some serious themes and has tested the cast. Director Georgia Douglas-Brown said the play touches on issues such as mental health, being a young carer, death, bullying, stealing, lying, self-image and separation against groups. Members of the cast said it has been a challenge to combine the physical element with their lines, and they were overwhelmed yet enthusiastic when they realised that they had been selected to take part in the National Connections festival.
The play opens on an ordinary Tuesday in the school yard, when a large rip appears in the sky above them. Pupils and staff are sucked upwards and new people fall out of the tear. See what happens when both worlds collide. It is clear that the young people have worked hard, their timing is impressive and the play flows well. They are all good in their roles, but a special mention must be made of Isaac Wallace Fillingham, who has stepped in to the role of Jay just two weeks ago. He delivered his lines and the role so convincingly that I thought he had been doing it from the start of the project.
Tuesday opens at the Theatre Royal, Workington on February 6 to 8, 6.30pm, adults £8, concessions £6. They will then perform at Theatre By The Lake, Keswick on March 17.
LYNNE WILD Times & Star Review
Workington Youth Theatre performs National Connections piece
Workington’s Theatre Royal Youth (TRY), at Washington Street, has been selected to take part in the National Theatre’s Connections Festival. A spokesman for the theatre said: “When they first heard they had been selected to take part in the National Theatre’s Connection Festival, members were over the moon.” The festival is a celebration of new plays written for and performed by young people. Some of the groups will be selected, by National Theatre directors, to perform their plays at the National Theatre in London.
TRY leader Georgia Douglas-Brown travelled to a directors’ weekend in London to learn more about the event. Georgia, who is also directing the play, said: “Our young actors have all worked so hard in order to bring this performance to life. It’s been fabulous to work with the National Theatre on this special Connections production, and to be able to perform a play written especially for young people.”
The team will perform Tuesday by Alison Carr, at the Theatre Royal, from February 6 to 8. They will also perform in the Studio at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake, and have a chance of being selected to perform at the National Theatre later in the year. Alison Carr’s witty, fast-moving play combines sci-fi with everyday school life. The play opens on an ordinary Tuesday. Kids are out in the school yard, when a large rip appears in the sky above them. Pupils and staff are sucked upwards – and a whole new set of people start raining down.
Is it possible that a parallel world has collided? There is much confusion. How can Ash and Magpie be identical? Can Billy cope with having his sister back? And who is Franky? As the air on Earth starts to disagree with ‘them’, the race is on to return everyone safely to the universe that they came from.
Entry for the play at Theatre Royal is £8, or £6 with concessions. Tickets can be booked online at https://www.theatre-royal-workington.co.uk/tuesday/ or purchased on the door on February 6 to 8, doors open 6.30pm for 7pm.
Preview from Times & Star online
Workington’s Theatre Royal Youth chosen for National Theatre Connections Festival
Members of Workington’s Theatre Royal Youth (TRY) were over the moon back in July 2019, when they first heard they had been selected to take part in the National Theatre’s Connections Festival – a nationwide celebration of new plays for young people.
TRY leader Georgia Douglas-Brown was invited to a special Directors’ Weekend at the National Theatre in London in October 2019, and now TRY will get a chance to perform their chosen play, Tuesday by Alison Carr, at the Theatre Royal, from Thursday 6th to Saturday 8th February. This will be followed by another performance in the Studio at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake, and a chance of being selected to perform at the National Theatre a few months later.
Alison Carr’s witty, fast-moving play combines sci-fi with everyday school life. The play opens on an ordinary Tuesday. The kids are out in the school yard, when a large rip appears in the sky above them. Pupils and staff are sucked upwards – and a whole new set of people start raining down, which is apparently what happens when parallel worlds collide! Confusion reigns as ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ try to work out what is going on. How can Ash and Magpie be identical? Can Billy cope with having his sister back? And who is Franky? As the air on Earth starts to disagree with ‘Them’, the race is on to return everyone safely to the Universe they came from.
Director Georgia Douglas-Brown says; “Our young actors have all worked so hard in order to bring this performance to life. It’s been fabulous to work with the National Theatre on this special Connections production, and to be able to perform a play written especially for young people.”
TRY members are hoping that West Cumbrians of all ages will support this exciting production. Tickets (adults £8, concessions £6) can be booked in advance online at https://www.theatre-royal-workington.co.uk/tuesday/ and will also be available on the door.
Preview from Cumbria Crack online