Saturday, March 16, 2013

Saltburn Drama Festival

Next week’s Saltburn Drama Festival is the perfect opportunity for new directors to stage their first plays.

And this year, the Saltburn ‘53 Drama Group Youth is presenting A Year And A Day, directed by Stephanie Lightwing, who is a member of the youth group.

At just 17, Stephanie is directing a large group of young actors in this complex and challenging play.



Set in a beautiful garden, it tells the story of two warring tribes and the consequences of their antagonism through the ages.

The play is very visual with a strong emphasis on dance and physical action, and music is a recurring theme. There is also a supernatural element.

“Two people, one from each tribe, fall in love and are killed,” says Stephanie. “The play is about how they come back together to seek revenge.”

The play, by Christina Reid, was written specifically for young actors and first presented as part of the National Theatre’s Connections Festival.

Stephanie says she was attracted to the play when she read the script and found she could visualise the staging.

“And the ’53 Drama Group has the people to do it,” she adds.

Stephanie has been a member of the drama group for several years and has performed in many productions, most recently playing Belle in Beauty And The Beast the pantomime, and Feste in Twelfth Night.

She would like to work in theatre professionally.

“I would like to be an actress and then go into directing when I have more experience,” she says.

The Saltburn Drama Festival runs from Monday, March 18 to Saturday, March 23.

Shows are at 7.30pm Monday to Friday and 7pm on Saturday.

A Year And A Day will take to the stage on the Wednesday.

Tickets are £6, concessions £5 and a weekly ticket is £15.

All tickets are available from Saltburn Health Food Shop, the Theatre Box Office and online at www.saltburnarts.co.uk





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