A new way of making theatre is being rolled out across three regional venues over the next few weeks. Audiences will also play their part in Script4Stage, alongside directors, writers and actors across.
It's all based on the working practice of the company behind the critically acclaimed sell out shows Thrasher (at the Royal Exchange Studio and Camden People's Theatre) and Burnt (Contact Theatre & National Tour).
Director Wyllie Longmore—well known to North West audiences—and writer / producer Conor McKee have received Arts Council backing for Script4Stage which engages actors, writer and director in a creative conversation from the earliest stages. Four writers and two directors will be selected for the process. They will work alongside a mix of actors who have worked with Conor and Wyllie before, and those who are new to the process.
Each script gets a full day's investigation by the actors and director. This will take the form of a table reading followed by a discussion of the script. Throughout the day, the playwright will watch as the director and actors uncover and ask questions of the characters and story of the play.
Writing mentor McKee and the directors-on-attachment will also sit in on the day-long session, after which he will work with the writers to help them interpret the results of the session and to discuss the form and structure of the play. The writers will then be given time to rewrite their scripts.
Finally, the directors-on-attachment take over the sessions under the mentorship of Longmore. They will lead a reading of the full play for the benefit of the playwright, then select and prepare an extract for sharing at Q&A sessions at The Lowry, Salford; The Dukes, Lancaster and The Continental, Preston.
Which is where theatregoers come in...
"We would like to invite the audience to consider themselves participants in the process" explains Conor. "Instead of doing a staged read, which might encourage people to simply sit back and clap at the end, we are keeping the presentations as close to our working practice as possible. By encouraging the audience to take part, and giving them a taste of how the process works, the hope is that we can learn from each other during the Q&A sessions."
Wyllie Longmore, himself a distinguished actor with two Manchester theatre awards under his belt, is in no doubt as to the potential.
"What the play and playwright need is a time to listen to the actors as they examine the script without the fear of a performance looming large. It gives actors a real creative and investigative voice in developing the play.
"The result should be a layered, textured and powerful piece of drama."
The first public sharing of Script4Stage will be at The Lowry Studio from 3-5pm on Wednesday May 23.
Further public sharings and public accessible workshops will take place at The Continental, Preston (through They Eat Culture) on Thursday May 24 and at The Dukes, Lancaster on Thursday May 31.
Further details from [email protected]