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Young Writers Festival a sell-out success
In June 2014 we produced a collection of eight - yes eight - brand new plays in our Young Writers Festival showcasing the freshest and most exciting new stories from local young writers. We were resident at a pop up theatre throughout the Ludlow Fringe Festival at The Charlton Arms, a beautiful pub right on the river in Ludlow. There were two plays a night playing in a double bill on July 1-4 (Tuesday-Friday). And then on Saturday July 5 we performed the whole lot, right through the day. Scroll down for a synopsis of each play. Thank you to everyone who came and made the Festival such a storming success. Our Young Writers did us proud. Here's just some of the things you said about the plays: 'Brilliant characters' 'Great to see young rural writers given a chance' 'A awesome night out' 'This play could be on at Hampstead or somewhere; it's so damn good' 'Ace cast; fun to see actors in different plays' 'The room was really cool' 'A wonderful, moving story'.
From splintering friendships on the verge of trying to make sense of the world; a haunting ghost story; a disjointed love tale told through dreams; a fight for the beauty of the environment; the anxieties of adolescent sexuality . . . these plays represent the beautiful and daring voices of a new generation of young writers from Shropshire.
The plays:
VULTURES by Rory Boar: Blake and Vera tell stories in the market square. It’s a ritual they’ve done since they were small. But as they come to the end of school days and futures and university dawn on the horizon, they must desperately come to terms that their stories might now be coming to an end. A play about friendship, stories and the imagination - in a double bill with
THE PIT by Nat Vaughan A brother and sister in a rural town are desperate for some money. With no jobs around and even less hope of finding one they turn to dangerous ways of getting by, only to become lost in a world of shady characters and difficult choices.
WINDY OLD FOSSILS by Tom Wentworth: An elderly couple huddle in their Shropshire cottage with nothing but the winter wind for company. As the weather gets colder, their electricity keeps blacking out and they begin to go to desperate lengths to keep warm. A play about age, energy and isolation - in a double bill with
SEA BREEZE by Michael Wild: A man at the end of his life looks back at a trip he took to the seaside. The clear air, rolling waves and strolls down the promenade seemed like a simple pleasure. But walking past a shop window he sees a doll with no eyes, and his quiet seaside retreat turns into something altogether more sinister. A ghost story.
HAPPY by Cara Squires: A group of friends are approaching the end of the school year. With exams, deadlines and their futures to worry about, thinking about themselves seems to get lost along the way. A play about love and what it means to be truly happy in who you are - in a double bill with
ODD JOBS by Jack Purkis: Tom and Dan need a bit of cash. When an old man offers them a job clearing out his cluttered house, it seems like a pretty straightforward job to the boys - until some unusual objects start showing up, and a budgie. A comedy about friendship and finding work.
HOW TO FIND LOVE IN THREE EASY DREAMS by David Scotwood: Benji keeps dreaming about a girl he’s never met. He’s convinced she’s real. But finding her proves a little more complicated than first thought, especially with the help of his unreliable friend Locke. A surreal comedy about love and friendship - in a double bill with
THE MUSHROOM by Jade Edwards: Jenny’s in love and lives with her boyfriend. She dreams of travelling the world and escaping the town she grew up in. The only problem is that she lives with her boyfriend’s Mum too, who has a sinister intention to keep her son where he is, at any cost.
Age restriction - 14 plus
