The Studio in Derby Theatre Thursday 29 April, 7-9pm
To launch the revival of this famous studio venue (formerly Derby Playhouse), the Theatre Arts department at Derby present this event in partnership with the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain and in association with Theatre Writing Partnership and Derby Theatre. Tickets £5.00, £2.50 for concessions. Free to Guild members.
Wednesday 5 May, 7pm Penny Dreadful – a theatrical reading of Richard Pinner’s black comedy about the controversial, final chapter of Charles Dickens’ life. Tickets £5.00, £2.50 for concessions. Free to Guild members.
Thursday 13 May, 7pm Under The Skin – a showcase of new writing, performed and written by Theatre Arts students. This is an all-ticket event, tickets are free.
For further information about these events or visit www.derby.ac.uk/launch To book your tickets, contact the box office on 01332 255800 book online at www.derbylive.co.uk.
www.derby.ac.uk/launch
THEATRE
Getting it Good, Getting it Right – an evening with David Edgar and Bryony Lavery.
Getting it Good, Getting it Right – an evening with David Edgar and Bryony Lavery. With the theatre thriving, the recent British Theatre Consortium survey has revealed just how widely newly commissioned writing figures in this success. Therefore, the challenge of what the playwright can bring to the contemporary stage has never been more relevant. The two accomplished playwrights, David Edgar and Bryony Lavery will talk about how they approach this challenge (both creatively and structurally) and discuss David’s new publication ‘How Plays Work’ and Bryony Lavery’s latest collaboration with Frantic Assembly Theatre Co. ‘How Plays Work’ will be on sale and signed by David Edgar at the end of the evening.
Penny Dreadful In 1870, after Dickens had completed his latest reading tour of America and Great Britain, he was arguably the most famous person in the Western world. However, beneath the surface lurked darker secrets: his notorious affair with the actress Ellen Ternan, half his age; his nightly habit of frequenting the most unsavoury areas in his beloved London and, finally, his swiftly failing health. Penny Dreadful has been specially re-worked for the studio theatre and will be presented as a workshop reading by a professional company, specially assembled for the event.
Under The Skin For many years, the Theatre Arts department at the University of Derby has led a strong playwriting and ‘writing in action’ strand in its course. The revival of the studio theatre provides the perfect opportunity for trying and testing students’ work. Each individual is expected to write the equivalent of an original one act play or first act of a full length piece by the end of their degree. This showcase is the result of three years of development, reflecting the creativity, imagination and experimentation of the students.
In association with