New Live Play Set to Inspire

Published: 16 May 2012
Reporter: Peter Lathan

The Prize publicity imageThe Prize, a new co-production between Newcastle's Live Theatre and new theatre company Murmur, supported by Northumbria University, has been granted the Inspire mark by the London 2012 Inspire programme, which recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Prize, which has been created by Steve Gilroy and Richard Stockwell, will take audiences on a journey to discover the inside experience of being an elite athlete striving for the ultimate prize. It draws on interviews with past Olympic medal winners including Roger Black, Nick Gillingham, and Stephen Miller, as well as aspiring first time competitors, telling the true stories of sacrifice, tragedy and humour.

Steve Gilroy, who will also be directing the show, said, "Richard and I have spent the last two years interviewing over thirty athletes to discover their personal journeys and stories that have led them to compete in the world's greatest competition.

"Just one example of the fascinating stories that will be told is that of Anne Wafula Strike who was born in Kenya where she contracted Polio. The villagers thought she was bewitched and wanted to kill her so her father took her to the city where she was caught up in a violent coup. Later she met Norman Strike (an ex Tyneside miner) who was teaching in Kenya whom she went on to marry. They both returned to England and Anne went on to represented Kenya in Athens in 2004 and is currently preparing to represent Great Britain in the London 2012 Games."

The Prize will preview in Live's Studio from 25th to 28th July before running at the E4 Cow Barn at the Edinburgh Fringe from 1st to 26th August.

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