Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre is to preview a new play prior to a tour next year.
Continuum, written by Richard Stockwell and originally developed at Live Theatre, asks the question,“if you wake up and find your personality has changed—is it still you? If it isn’t, what use are your memories or people from your past?”
Ben is not the same person he was before the accident. His memory is unreliable, his temper is unpredictable and his personality has completely changed. The police are determined that he should piece together the day of the accident, but what if he doesn’t want to?
And does he really not remember his girlfriend, or is his memory protecting him? Can he rebuild the past? Is there any point in doing so?
"We are," says Stockwell, "the culmination of a chain of stories that lead to the now—what happens when that chain is broken? The play attempts to answer these questions."
Continuum, directed by Alphabetti’s Artistic Director Ali Pritchard and featuring Arabella Arnott, James Barton, Matt Jamie and Rosie Stancliffe, runs from 22 to 25 March.
The production is a "Pay What You Feel" experiment for the venue.
“We’re a small independent theatre that lives on a shoestring,” said Pritchard. “We’re constantly on the brink of financial devastation—just like lots of cultural organisations. However we believe that great art and theatre shouldn't be exclusive to those who can afford it but that it should be made available to all, which is why all our tickets are under £10.
“So this Pay What You Feel experiment is just the next step. We're confident that audience members will pay what they can. In these tough financial times we must stick together if we want to see cultural organisations survive, and that starts by the masses visiting and enjoying them, not simply the lucky few who can afford to.
“These four performances are a preview before a 2017 tour and we want as many people to come as possible.”