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Dateline:
4th December, 2005
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| Top:
the Weston Theatre. Bottom: the exterior. Photos by Hélène
Binet |
Unicorn Opens
A dream which began in the forties was achieved this week when the
new Unicorn Theatre for children opened in Southwark. It began as an
ambition when Caryl Jenner set up the Mobile Theatre, taking plays to
schools and isolated communities, in 1947. Now a £13m purpose-built
theatre has opened, containing 340-seat main house (the Weston Theatre,
which can be configured as a pros arch or thrust stage, or used in the
round), a 120-seat studio space (the River Theatre), a rehearsal room,
a dedicated education centre, public space and a café.
The modern building is full of glass: the foyer is surrounded by glass
and most of the rooms have very large windows. Light sculptures line
the stairs and where glass is inappropriate, as in the Weston Theatre,
metal provides highlights.
The opening was attended by Lord Attenborough, Philip Pullman, Roger
Lloyd Pack, Rupert Penry-Jones, Dervla Kirwan, Geoffrey Palmer and crowds
of local schoolchildren. They were entertained by the theatre's first
production, David Wood's version of Tom's Midnight Garden, in
the Weston Theatre.
Tony Graham, the theatre's artistic director, said,"Unicorn's
work for children is destined to shake things up. Unicorn is a remarkable
new theatre and marks an exciting development for theatre for children
in national and international cultural life. Our artistic ambitions
remain as adventurous as ever.
“We are committed to creating imaginative, resonant theatre for
children and for all of us. The first season does just that and is an
explosive brew of national and international theatre with new writing,
world premieres and classics. Education is integral to the new season
and addresses issues as diverse as the child’s place in society
through to the awesome power of Antarctica.”
Programme
The performance programme to June 2006 is:
Tom's Midnight Garden
For everyone aged 8+
24 November 2005 – 29 January 2006
Weston Theatre
David Wood’s adaptation of Philippa Pearce’s novel with
live incidental music by Stephen McNeff is directed by Tony Graham.
In the Box
For everyone aged 5+
24 November 2005 – 29 January 2006
River Theatre.
A contemporary installation about childhood examining the issues of
what it means to be a child today and features children’s ideas
about the meaning of childhood in the shape of a theatrical journey.
Devised by professional aural and visual artists, In the Box
employs a range of art forms including poetry, photography, textiles
& sculpture.Directed by Alison Barry, Unicorn’s Education
Director and designed by Rachana Jadhav.
Journey to the River Sea
For everyone aged 7+
9 February - 25 March '06.
Weston Theatre
Carl Miller’s adaptation of Eva Ibbotson’s award-winning
children’s classic about an English girl at the turn of the century
caught up in a life changing adventure along the Amazon River. Directed
by Rosamunde Hutt, (Artistic Director, Theatre Centre), costume and
set designer is Nettie Scriven, lighting design by Ceri James, choreography
by Jeanefer Jean-Charles andlive music by Matthew Bailey.
With a Doll in Her Pocket
For children aged 4-8 years old
07 - 26 February 2006.
River Theatre
A co-production with Teatro delle Briciole, from Parma, Italy, a fairytale
for younger children. The play demonstrates Unicorn’s commitment
to working with the best international production companies and actors.
Play Antarctica
For everyone aged 8+.
10 March – 30 April 2006
River Theatre
Penguins, puppets and paper. Supported by Molecule Theatre, s a theatrical
and musical journey composed by Craig Vear and directed by Tony Graham,
with puppetry by Sean Myatt. In 2003 Craig Vear adventured across
Antarctica in search of silence.
Yikes!
For everyone aged 6+
06 April - 14 May 2006
Weston Theatre,
A new musical play for children commissioned and presented by the
Unicorn, written by Bryony Lavery, (National Theatre, RSC) with music
by Gary Yershon. Yikes! is directed by Rebecca Gatward
Treasure Island
For everyone aged 8+
24 May - 10 June '06
Weston Theatre
Award winning Scottish children’s theatre company, Wee Stories,
presents Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, directed and performed
by Andy Cannon and Iain Johnstone.
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