Barton upon Humber based Duckegg Theatre Company is staging a new play at the town’s Ropery Hall on Friday, September 28 in readiness for a short run at London’s Pleasance Theatre and a northern tour next year.
The play Aid Memoir by Dr Glenda Cooper draws on the writer’s extensive experience as a former BBC and national newspaper journalist.
“The point of the play is not to excoriate aid workers or journalists – most of whom do their best when covering these stories – but to challenge us, the public about our attitudes to aid,” she said. “The fact remains that we give more money to disasters that are easy to understand, have a well-known celebrity or a photogenic picture – too easily dismiss who we think is unworthy. So next time you watch a disaster unfold on screen – as it is currently in South Sudan, Syria or Colombia – ask yourself what if that crisis was in Southend, Sunderland or Croydon? Would we see a difference?”
Produced by Barton educated Haley Muralee, of Duckegg Theatre Company, Aid Memoir takes a suitably Northern slant, but its a message that will resonate across the country.
As Haley explained: “The play really spoke to us, not only in terms of it being set near us in Cleethorpes, but also in terms of what the feeling is in our community post-Brexit. The young people in our youth theatre strongly feel there is a generational divide in terms of the feeling towards immigration in the area, and this is something they wanted to tackle head on through their arts work. The cast features
two professional actors working alongside four members of the youth theatre, as well as a member of the youth theatre assistant directing the production.”
Duckegg Theatre Company which has a base at The Ropewalk is dedicated to the creation and touring of new writing with young people at its heart. Its most recent production achievements include “Leave Hitler to Me, Lad” (UK Tour and West End), Peter Pan (UK Tour) and The Safe Zone (Northern Tour).
Its education department – the Acting School – is a thriving community of more than 500 young people from across Yorkshire and the Humber taking part in regular theatre classes, professional productions, LAMDA examinations, the Arts Award and projects.
This play looks at the patronising attitudes taken to those who have found themselves in humanitarian crisis. Are some disasters more ‘worthy’ than others?
It starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £8 and concessions £6. Advance tickets can be bought online at www.roperyhall.co.uk, in person from The Ropewalk’s Craft Gallery or by calling 01652 660380.
