THE Castle Players have announced their autumn production – Our Town by Thornton Wilder.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the play will run for five performances this November at The Witham, in Barnard Castle and The Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond.
Described by Edward Albee as “the greatest American play” , Our Town is a tender, funny, and ultimately life-affirming play set in the fictional American town of Grover’s Corners in 1901.
The production will be directed by Gordon Duffy-McGhie. He said: “Seeing Our Town is a unique experience for both actors and audience as the action takes place on stage stripped of all traditional theatrical elements.
“The characters talk directly to the audience and, also uniquely, the audience talk back. They are encouraged to question the characters about their lives, which makes every performance different and distinctive.”
Mr Duffy-McGhie, who has had a long career as a professional actor and theatre director, added: “The production will be a real challenge and is certainly something very different for the players.”
He has now developed a free series of drama skills workshops. They are to open to anyone with a passion for acting.
“We are planning four different workshops, each exploring two very different acting styles – Stanislavski’s ‘system’ and Bertolt Brecht’s ‘distancing effect’. Both theories challenge actors in different ways and have shaped the theatrical landscape for well over a century.”
The workshops will run on Sundays from 3pm to 5pm at Startforth Community Centre, and take place on June 18, 25 and July 2 and 9. They are open to all new, and existing members, as well as those just curious to learn more about different acting styles. Places are limited, so booking is advised.
The Players will hold an Our Town welcome meeting, on Monday, July 10, from 7.30pm to 9pm at Startforth Community Centre. The evening is an opportunity for people to find out more about the play and get involved in the production, either on-stage or off.
For more information on any aspect of the production or to book a place at a workshop, email welcome@castle
players.co.uk
