‘A LONESOME ROAD’ ‘THE COCA-COLA DRAGON’ ‘MANY RIVERS’ ‘THE ODYSSEY’ ‘CIRCLES’

All productions reached the Finals of the National Student Drama Festival.

EXTRA INFORMATION:

The National Student Drama Festival is an annual event in which Universities and Colleges enter productions. The festival usually attracts between 200-300 entries. Approximately 20 are chosen for performance at the Finals. The finals are held over one week in Spring and consist of performances, workshops, masterclasses and discussions.

ALL THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTIONS WERE INVITED TO THE FINALS OF THE NSDF.

“A LONESOME ROAD” was a production which examined the way in which scientific achievements had been turned from benefitting mankind to harming mankind. For example, dynamite, intended to make the work of miners safer, was misused as a weapon of war. The play used movement, songs and dialogue to put over a powerful message.

“THE COCA-COLA DRAGON,” was a powerful evocation of the Vietnam war. The production was described as: “An emotive and theatrically sophisticated event, which had a bombshell effect on its audience.”

“MANY RIVERS” Was inspired by the fact that the Head of Music at Shelley College wrote for and conducted an award-winning steel band in Huddersfield. He formed a steel band at the college, which created a huge amount of interest in the all-white, rural college.

It was decided that a group of students would research the history of Caribbean immigrants coming to Britain in the 1950’s and 60’s. From this research “Many Rivers” was developed. The production was controversial at the time because white students portrayed black characters. However, it was an all-white college, so to counter criticism, all the white characters had very white, painted faces, dark, hollow eyes and spoke in very precise, clipped voices, thus creating the convention that “normal” is black and white is strange, putting the audience in the shoes of the immigrants coming to this quirky, alien land.

“THE ODYSSEY.” A new adaptation in verse of the classic story by Steven Downs. The production used a large chorus, who not only spoke the verse but created the scenery from sticks and silks. Movement, music and verse served to tell the story of the Greek hero’s trials. It was reviewed in the Times Educational Supplement: “After “The Odyssey”, there was a long, standing ovation that resounded with praise for a first-class production.”

“CIRCLES.” Was a play based on the conflict between Christianity and the deeply held philosophies of the native Americans. The Times Educational Supplement described it as: “ A remarkably well-researched, authentically sounding and extremely emotive piece of theatre.”

“CIRCLES” marked the performance debut of DANIEL KITSON, the internationally renowned, Perrier award-winning, comedian, playwright and performer.

“HEROES”.

Won the final of the Anchor National Drama Festival at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London.

“WORLD OF TOYS”

Commissioned by the Royal National Theatre, education department, performed at the Lyons Biennale du theatre, France.