Download PRESS RELEASE 30 th July 2014

PRESS RELEASE
30th July 2014
Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre and Teatro Vivo present:
Mother Courage and Her Children
Woolwich’s historic WWI armaments factory creates the backdrop for a promenade staging of
Brecht’s most famous play
Written by Bertolt Brecht | Directed by Sophie Austin
The Royal Arsenal Site, Woolwich 5th to 21st September
PRESS PERFORMANCES: Thursday 11th 1.30pm & Friday 12th 7:30pm
“For innovative theatre company Teatro Vivo, no-go areas simply become destinations for one more
adventure to add to the story so far” The Guardian
In the year that the nation commemorates the 100 th anniversary of the start of World War One, Bertolt
Brecht’s play is brought vividly to life against a backdrop of cannons, in a promenade performance that
draws on the Woolwich Arsenal’s history as part of Britain’s war machine, and highlights the human
cost of surviving conflict. Audiences are invited to become war refugees, engaging with a cast of professional
actors and a Community Chorus of 30 local people. They will go on a dramatic journey through the site,
experiencing Woolwich’s own war history, and the historic Royal Arsenal Site itself through drama, poetry and
song
Mother Courage, a canteen woman, pulls her cart with her three children in the wake of an army, trading
with the soldiers and attempting to make profit from the Thirty Years’ War. Her wheeling and dealing
allows her family to thrive for a time, but she ultimately pays the price for her profiteering, leaving the audience
to question who really gains. Written in 1939, Mother Courage is one of the nine plays that Brecht wrote to
counter fascism and Nazism and this important text retains relevance to this day in the light of conflicts in Syria,
Iraq and Crimea
Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre (GLYPT) have been creating theatre for and with young
people from the ages 2-25 for over 40 years. They are a based at the Tramshed Theatre, and regularly tour
schools with education projects such as the CHOICES programme, aiming to raise awareness of gang violence
and culture amongst young people.
Teatro Vivo are a South London based company who transform much loved stories into theatrical
adventures, collaborating with communities and audiences since 2005 to create powerful theatre in
unusual spaces. Past productions include After the Tempest in parks across London, The Odyssey in Deptford
High Street and Adventures in Wonderland that has toured to museums, libraries and theatres across the UK.
They are associate artists of The Watermill Theatre and The Albany, Deptford.
Sophie Austin is the founder of Teatro Vivo. As well as directing many of their shows, Sophie’s assistant and
associate directing credits include Old Times directed by Ian Rickson, One Thousand and One Nights with Tim
Supple, Absent Friends directed by Jeremy Herrin at the Harold Pinter Theatre, and The Heretic by Richard
Bean at the Royal Court.
The Royal Arsenal carried out armament manufacture, ammunition proofing and explosives research
during WWI and WWII. It was established in the late 17th Century, and the factory closed in 1967. It has been
Press Contact: Emma at Mobius 020 3195 6269 or [email protected]
open to the public since 1994 when the Ministry of Defence moved out and a major regeneration project
commenced.
@glyptattramshed | @teatrovivo | #MotherCourage | www.glypt.co.uk | www.teatrovivo.co.uk
Running Time: 100 mins (no interval) | Suitable for ages 12+
Company Information
Directed by Sophie Austin
Written by Bertolt Brecht
Design by Jane Mackintosh and Gordon Allum Produced by Chris Williams and Jeremy James
Cast
Includes Kas Darley, Denise Orita, Mark Stevenson, James Traherne and Michael Wagg.
Listings information
Starting at Gate House on Beresford Sq
No.1 Street, Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich, London SE18 6FB
5th to 21st September as part of the Tall Ships Festival
5th to 7th: Fri 5th 6.30pm, Sat 6th & Sun 7th 11am & 6.30pm
10th to 21st: Weds & Thurs 10am & 1.30pm, Fri 1.30pm & 7.30pmSat & Sun 2pm and 6pm
Public tickets: £12 (£7 concs) | www.glypt.co.uk | 020 8854 1316
Additional: please contact GLYPT on 020 8854 1316 or [email protected] for schools performances.
Supported by The Royal Borough of Greenwich, Arts Council England, The Heritage Lottery and Lewisham Council
Press Contact: Emma at Mobius 020 3195 6269 or [email protected]