Download Media Pack - The Courtyard

Blackeyed Theatre presents
Media Pack
www.blackeyedtheatre.co.uk
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 1 of 16
Contents
Page
‘Creatives’ and Cast
3
Tour dates
4
Press release
5
John Godber
6
Teechers, the play
7
Directing Teechers
9
Box office sheet
10
Cast biographies
11
Creatives’ biographies
12
Blackeyed Theatre
13
Local press angles
14
Press images and contact details
16
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 2 of 16
‘Creatives’ and Cast
Blackeyed Theatre presents
Teechers
By John Godber
Artistic Team
Director
Adrian McDougall
Costume Design
Jenny Lethbridge
Lighting Designer
Alan Valentine
Producer
Blackeyed Theatre, in association with
South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell
Cast
Salty
Jacob Addley
Gail
Nicole Black
Hobby
Donna Preston
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 3 of 16
Tour Dates - Summer 2013
April
17 – 20: Wilde Theatre, Bracknell - 7.30pm
01344 484123
23: The Lights, Andover - 7.30pm
01264 368368
25: The Theatre, Chipping Norton - 7.45pm
01608 642350
26: Berry Theatre, Hedge End - 4pm & 8pm
01489 799499
30: Swindon Arts Centre - 7.30pm
01793 445500
May
1 – 2: Mumford Theatre, Cambridge - 7.30pm
01223 352932
3: Stantonbury Campus Theatre, Milton Keynes - 7.30pm
01908 324422
7 – 8: Key Theatre, Peterborough - 7.30pm (+2.30pm Wed)
01733 552439
9: Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa - 7.30pm
01926 334418
10: Uppingham Theatre - 7.30pm
01572 820820
11: Grove Theatre, Dunstable - 7.30pm
01582 602080
13: Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury - 8pm
01743 281281
14: Grand Theatre, Lancaster - 7.30pm
01524 64695
15: Burnley Mechanics - 7.30pm
01282 664400
17 – 18: Kenton Theatre, Henley-on-Thames - 7.45pm
01491 575698
20: The Hawth, Crawley - 7.30pm
01293 553636
21 – 23: Theatre Royal, Winchester - 8pm (+1.30pm Wed)
01962 840440
24: Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton - 8pm
01902 321321
June
3: Town Hall, Loughborough - 7.30pm
01509 231914
4 – 6: Corn Exchange, Newbury - 7.45pm (+2.30pm Wed)
01635 522733
7: Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells - 8pm
01892 678678
11 – 12: Guildhall Theatre, Derby - 7.30pm (+2.30pm Wed)
01332 255800
13: Mansfield Palace Theatre - 7.30pm
01623 633133
14: Queen’s Hall, Hexham - 7.30pm
01434 652477
15: The Brunton, Musselburgh - 7.30pm
0131 665 2240
17 – 18: Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy - 7.30pm (+10am Tue)
01592 583302
19: Maltings, Berwick - 1.30pm & 7.30pm
01289 330999
20: LPAC, Lincoln - 7.30pm
0844 888 4414
24: Harrow Arts Centre - 7.30pm
020 8416 8989
25: Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury - 7.30pm
01684 295074
26: The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury - 7.30pm
01295 279002
27 – 28: Courtyard Theatre, Hereford - 7.30pm
01432 340555
29: Brewhouse, Taunton - 7.45pm
01823 283244
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 4 of 16
Press Release
Blackeyed Theatre, in association with South Hill Park, presents
Teechers By John Godber
Director Adrian McDougall
Cast Jacob Addley, Nicole Black, Donna Preston
Monday 18 February 2013 – In Summer 2013, Berkshire-based Blackeyed Theatre Company
tours John Godber’s classic comedy, Teechers, across the UK. The timeless classroom comedy
has performances at theatres throughout England and Scotland from 17 April until 29 June 2013.
Fast-moving, inventive and highly entertaining, Teechers is John Godber’s brilliant take on life at a
modern Comprehensive. Through their hilarious end-of-term play, three Year 11 students sketch
the new drama teacher’s progress through two terms of unruly classes, cynical colleagues and
obstructive caretakers. Disillusioned, he departs for the safe waters of a private school, and leaves
behind his students, whose youthful irreverence gives way to despair.
Brought to the stage by highly acclaimed Blackeyed Theatre with high energy, break-neck comedy
and breathtaking ensemble performances, Teechers is a modern classic with something vital to say
about education for the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’.
Director Adrian McDougall said, “I can promise audiences a brilliant evening’s entertainment, lots of
laughs as well as one or two genuinely touching moments. Young or old, I think audiences will
recognise some if not all the characters in the play from their own school days.”
SUGGESTION: Add quote from an actor about your venue (see pages 14 - 15).
Tickets for Teechers are priced at £XX (£xx Concs) and can be purchased at the Box Office on
ADD NUMBER or online at ADD WEBSITE.
For more information on Teechers visit www.blackeyedtheatre.co.uk. Blackeyed Theatre, based in
Berkshire, is a nationally-renowned producer of high-quality theatre. “Blackeyed Theatre, one of the
most audacious, innovative companies working in contemporary British theatre” The Stage
Ends
For further info, to arrange interviews or arrange Press Tickets please contact
ADD DETAILS
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 5 of 16
John Godber
John was born the son of a miner in Upton, West Yorkshire. He trained as a teacher
in drama at Breton Hall College. Whilst he was Head of Drama at Minsthorpe High
School, the school he attended as a student, he won every major award at the
National Student Drama Festival between 1981 and 1983.
John has an MA from Leeds University, and Hon DLitt from Hull University, an Hon
DLitt from Lincoln University and a DUni from the Open University. He is a Professor
of Contemporary Theatre at Liverpool Hope University and a Fellow of the Royal
Society of Arts.
John's plays are performed across the world and he has the distinction of being one
of the most performed writers in the English language. He has won numerous awards
for his plays including a Laurence Olivier Award and seven Los Angeles Critics'
Circle Awards. His plays include BOUNCERS, UP 'N' UNDER, APRIL IN PARIS,
TEECHERS, BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS, HAPPY JACK, SEPTEMBER IN THE
RAIN, SALT OF THE EARTH, PASSION KILLERS, HAPPY FAMILIES, GYM &
TONIC, LUCKY SODS, UNLEASHED, THICK AS A BRICK, MEN OF THE WORLD,
PERFECT PITCH and FUNNY TURNS. John also co-wrote the highly successful
SHAKERS with Jane Thornton.
John is also co-writer of the BAFTA-award-winning ODDSQUAD and wrote both
THUNDER ROAD and MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE (BBC). His first feature film,
UP 'N' UNDER, adapted from his own play was released in 1998.
John has also written extensively for radio, including two series of SPREAD A
LITTLE HAPPINESS, which he co-wrote with Jane Thornton for Watershed
Productions, GOING EAST, also co-written with Jane Thornton and FIRST BORN,
both for the BBC.
John has recently established The John Godber Company working with Theatre
Royal, Wakefield, which will present his plays. John's first play for The John Godber
Company, THE DEBT COLLECTORS has just completed a UK Tour, while
WEEKEND BREAKS is currently touring. He is also working on a new play for David
Pugh Ltd.
Further information can be found at www.johngodber.co.uk
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 6 of 16
Teechers – The Play
Teechers is a play by John Godber, written in 1984 and published in 1985. It was
first performed by the Hull Truck Theatre Company at the 1987 Edinburgh Festival
starring Martin Barass as Salty, Gill Tompkins as Gail and Shirley Anne Selby as
Hobby. It is a play within a play in which three students put on a performance to their
teachers. Everything in the play is reduced to the bare essentials, with very little set
and the three actors playing twenty other parts. However, it could also be performed
with twenty different actors. Godber also specified the use of contemporary chart
music to keep the play current.
Three school leavers, Salty, Hobby and Gail Saunders perform to the audience an
account of their time in High School (given the name 'Whitewall' for their
performance), specifically their time with Mr. Jeff Nixon, the new drama teacher who
ignites their passion for the stage with his idealism and belief that all children should
be treated equally. The children mention that the names of the characters have been
changed: Mr Nixon's real name is Mr Harrison, mentioned at the beginning. At the
end of the play he leaves Whitewall High School to teach at St George's, another
school with a much better reputation.
Characters in Teechers
•
Ian "Salty" Salt - a school-leaver, bright and fresh-faced, rather dirty in
appearance (also plays Teecher B, Jeff Nixon, Pete Saxon, Oggy Moxon,
Derek Basford, Mr Hatton and Deanie)
•
Lilian "Hobby" Hobson -(also plays Mrs Cordelia Parry, Ms Jones, Mr Basford,
Ron, Simon "Piggy" Patterson, Oggy Moxon and Mrs Clifton)
•
Gail Saunders - Loud mouthed and bossy, attractive and full of enthusiasm
(also plays Teacher A, Ms Maureen Whitham, Oggy Moxon, Mr Basford, Miss
Jackie Prime, Barry Wobschall, Dennis, Doug and Mrs Coates)
Characters within Gail, Hobby and Salty's play
•
Mr Nixon - the drama teacher, socialist and idealistic
•
Mrs Parry - the headmistress
•
Ms Maureen Whitham - A fussy and hopeless teacher, desperate to leave
•
Doug - The caretaker, a miserable old man, he hates kids and drama
•
Ms Jones - A moaner, rather fat, someone who wants to leave but no-one will
employ her
•
Mr Dean "Deanie" - A teacher who thinks all the kids love him, a bad dancer
•
Bobby "Oggy" Moxon - The cock of the school, looks much older than he
actually is, the school bully in a modern age
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 7 of 16
•
Peter "Pete" Saxon - A large, frightening youth with tattoos, appears foolish
•
Mr Fisher - Head of PE
•
Barry Wobschall - A small boy who never brings his PE kit
•
Simon "Piggy" Patterson - A boy who is always telling on others, he always
runs to his lessons
•
Ron - A boy who never does PE
•
Mr Hatton - Helps with the youth club dance
•
Dennis - Oggy's side-kick
•
Jeff "Niko" Nixon - New drama teacher, young and casual
•
Mrs Cordelia Parry - The Head Mistress, large and loud, a real eccentric
•
Mr Derek Basford - The Deputy Head, a typical child hater, a nasty piece of
work
•
Miss Jackie Prime (later Short) - Dolly bird of a PE mistress
•
Mrs Coates - Head Mistress at Saint George's
•
Mrs Clifton - Head of Governors at Saint George's
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 8 of 16
Directing Teechers
I’ve wanted to direct Teechers for years. Quite apart from the fact that everyone else
in my family are teachers and I believe in the play’s message, Teechers is what
theatre is all about and a brilliant opportunity for actors, director and audience alike.
Minimal set, minimal costume, simple lighting and just three actors, Teechers strips
theatre right back, takes away the frills and calls on our creativity and imagination to
create the unique world of a modern comprehensive, as seen through the eyes of
three Year 11s.
Teechers is a comedy first and foremost, presenting an array of colourful and finely
observed characters striving to survive in a struggling Comprehensive. But like all
great Godber plays, underlying the comedy is an ascorbic social commentary, an
attack on an education system that marginalises the arts and ignores students’
potential. And today its relevance is clear. Never mind the financial cutbacks and
destructive league tables, our Education Minister has just backtracked in his plans to
introduce an E-Bac qualification that doesn’t include any of the arts in its core
subjects. There is a fundamental lack of understanding about the role the Arts play in
a young person’s education. It’s not about reciting Shakespeare or bashing a
tambourine or glazing a pot. It’s about thinking creatively, using imagination,
expressing something that’s impossible to say or write. It’s about enabling young
people to channel their emotions constructively and fulfil untapped potential.
As John Godber shows us through Salty, Gail and Hobby, young people can very
quickly be categorised in terms of ability, intelligence and potential, and once
categorised, our education system doesn’t make it easy for students to escape a
label, stigma or reputation. In their new teacher (Mr Nixon), Salty, Gail and Hobby
find someone who believes in their potential and encourages them to express
themselves through drama. But it’s not long before the rigours of the state school
system take their toll on Mr Nixon, threatening to push him away.
With Teechers, I can promise audiences a brilliant piece of entertainment, lots of
laughs as well as one or two genuinely touching moments. Although written in 1986,
our version is very much set in 2013, when social media rules and all seek celebrity.
Young or old, I think audiences will recognise some if not all the characters in the
play from their own school days. I have three brilliant young actors, a great script and
two weeks to create our unique interpretation of the play.
Adrian McDougall
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 9 of 16
Box Office Information
Title
Teechers
Author
John Godber – also wrote Bouncers, Shakers, April in
Paris, Up ‘n’ Under, Lucky Sods
Company
Blackeyed Theatre - www.blackeyedtheatre.co.uk
Running time
Approx 2 hours including interval
Type of event
Play, comedy
Style of work
Fast-moving comedy where three actors play over 20
different characters in a play within a play.
Description
Three Year 11 students at a struggling comprehensive
school perform a play about their experiences at school
since the arrival of a new drama teacher. Creating over
twenty colourful characters between them, including
disgruntled teachers, unruly students and obstructive
caretakers, they paint a very funny – and at times touching
– picture of school life and a damning insight into a twotier education system. A fast-moving and hilarious
classroom classic!
Warnings
Some loud music, some mild swear words
Age suitability
12+
Number of
performers
3
Additional
activities
Post-show Q&As may be available. Please check with
venue
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 10 of 16
Cast Biographies
Jacob Addley
Jake graduated in 2009 from The Brit School Of Performing
Arts. He was a founder member of the Royal Berkshire
Academy of Performing Arts and has performed with National
Youth Musical Theatre.
His credits include Will Scarlet in Robin Hood at The Queen’s
Theatre Barnstaple, Peter Pan in Peter Pan (Wilde Theatre,
Bracknell), Do Dah the Cat in Dick Whittington (The Towngate,
Basildon), Philip in Orphans (Jam Pot Productions) and Eddie in
One Fine Day (South Hill Park), for which The Stage nominated
him as Best Solo Performer at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe
Festival.
Jake’s film credits include Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,
WASP, 66 and Stormbreaker. He has also had lead role in
numerous short films and commercials.
Jake toured with Blackeyed Theatre in Mother Courage And her
Children last autumn and is looking forward to appearing as
Salty in Teechers.
Nicole Black
Nicole has recently finished her training at ALRA, graduating
with a First Class Honours Degree, having received the 2011 Sir
John Gielgud Award and been a 2012 Spotlight Prize Nominee.
Whilst training her credits included Ash Girl in The Ash Girl,
Sheila in Under the Concrete Waiting and Hermia in A
Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is also a member of the
National Youth Theatre.
Since graduating Nicole has worked with The Royal
Shakespeare Company in The Renaissance Body, marking the
reopening of The RST and The Swan Theatre in Stratford.
Performances were also held at The British Museum as part of
the ‘Unfolding Shakespeare’s London’ exhibition.
Donna Preston
Donna trained at Rose Bruford.
Her theatre credits include Darkcloud (Soho Theatre), The Biting
Point (Theatre 503), Blind Date (Southwark Playhouse) and
Loyal Women (Greenwich Theatre).
Her television credits include Boom Town (BBC3), Lee Nelson’s
Well Good Show (BBC) and The One Show (BBC).
Her film credits include Stalled (Multistory Films), Who Needs
Enemies (Red Guerilla Films), Still Life (Embargo Films) and
Pub (Fifty Nine Productions).
Donna’s work as a voice over artist earned her the 2009
Carleton Hobbs Award and the 2009 Hobson's choice Award.
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 11 of 16
Creatives’ Biographies
Adrian McDougall – Director/Producer
Adrian is the founder of Blackeyed Theatre and a professional actor, director and
producer.
As a director, credits include House & Garden and Brassed Off (South Hill Park), The
Long Lost Legend of Robin Hood, Alfie, two national tours of Oh What A Lovely War
and The Beekeeper, which was nominated for three OFFIE awards (Blackeyed
Theatre).
As a producer, touring productions include Effie’s Burning, The Caretaker, Misery,
Art, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Oedipus, Oh What A Lovely War, The Cherry
Orchard, Peter Pan, Alfie, Beauty and the Beast, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The
Trial and Mother Courage And Her Children (Blackeyed Theatre), The Madness of
George III (Blackeyed Theatre with Original Theatre Company and Icarus Theatre
Collective).
Alan Valentine - Lighting Designer
Alan’s credits include Loserville the Musical (2009 premiere production), Out There,
The Beggar’s Opera and Mort the Musical for Youth Music Theatre; From Up Here
for Perfect Pitch (premiere), Three Men in a Boat, See How They Run, Twelfth Night,
Dancing at Lughnasa, The Importance of Being Oscar, Mallard, Journey’s End and
Shakespeare’s R&J for Original Theatre; The Madness of George III for Wilde
Enterprises, Vincent in Brixton for Icarus and Original Theatre, Misery and The
Cherry Orchard and Mother Courage And her Children for Blackeyed Theatre, UK,
Apollo/Dionysus for thedead; Twelve Angry Men and Road for The Castle,
Wellingborough, Gilgamesh for Jersey Arts Centre; James and the Giant Peach, The
Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Noughts and Crosses, Brassed Off, Fantastic Mr
Fox, The Wizard of Oz, House and Garden, Oliver!, Henry V and Cinderella, Peter
Pan, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Dick Whittington, for South Hill Park Arts
Centre, where he is Technical Manager.
Jenny Lethbridge - Costume Designer
Jenny graduated BA (Hons) in Costume for the Screen and Stage from the Arts
Institute at Bournemouth. During her degree, she was costume maker on Virus for
Bournemouth Direct Theatre School and assisted in Wardrobe on Les Miserables at
the Queen's Theatre, London.
After her studies, she started as a Wardrobe Assistant on Snow White for Evolution
Productions at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury. Since then she has worked with
Evolution as Wardrobe Mistress on their last 3 pantomimes at The Central Theatre,
Chatham. She has also worked as a Costumier on The Lands, Dancing on the
Waves, Fiesta Latina Nights, Jazz ala Carte and Studio 54 for American company
Jean Ann Ryan Productions, who create theatre productions for Silversea Cruises. In
Autumn 2012 she designed costumes for Blackeyed Theatre’s production of Mother
Courage And her Children.
Other work has included hand painting and dying costumes for West End productions
of Lion King, Oliver and Wicked.
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 12 of 16
Blackeyed Theatre
Blackeyed Theatre Company was established in 2004 to create exciting opportunities
for artists and audiences alike, and to offer challenging, high quality theatre to the
mid-scale touring circuit. The company specialises in reviving modern classics and
staging established titles in innovative ways, using small ensembles of
actor/musicians to create theatre that is audacious, fresh and far bigger than the sum
of its parts. Since 2004 Blackeyed Theatre has embarked on national tours of Mother
Courage And Her Children (Bertolt Brecht), The Trial (Steven Berkoff), The
Caucasian Chalk Circle (Bertolt Brecht), Alfie (Bill Naughton), The Cherry Orchard
(Anton Chekhov), Oh What a Lovely War (Joan Littlewood), the world premiere of
Oedipus (Steven Berkoff) and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Bertolt Brecht).
In 2009, Blackeyed Theatre became an associate company of South Hill Park Arts
Centre. In 2008, the company produced its first Christmas show, A Christmas Carol,
a year later Peter Pan and in 2010 Beauty and the Beast. In 2011, the company
launched PULSE, a new writing initiative designed to create new, sustainable
theatre, through which The Beekeeper was produced and performed in London in
May 2012, picking up three Off West End Theatre Award nominations, including Best
New Play.
Blackeyed Theatre is largely self-sufficient and receives limited funding for its
national tours, creating innovative, challenging theatre can that’s also commercially
viable. It achieves this by producing work that audiences want to see but in ways that
challenge their expectations, by bringing together artists with a genuine passion for
the work they produce, and through an appreciation that works of art with a mass
appeal do not have to be presented in a dumbed-down way. By offering a theatrical
experience that’s both artistically excellent and affordable, audiences and theatres
are far more sustainable in the long term. And responding to demand ensures that
more people see innovative theatre.
Blackeyed Theatre has a growing national reputation for creating dynamic theatre
using live music and great performances to tell stories with honesty and passion.
Company press quotes:
“One of the most innovative, audacious companies working in contemporary
English theatre”
The Stage
“One of the best performances ever seen in this theatre”
Hexham Courant (Alfie)
“Any assumption that Oh! What a Lovely War is a period piece is shot to
shrapnel. Forty years on, we need Littlewood’s vision more than ever.
Blackeyed Theatre restore it to us with astonishing power. Catch it if you can.”
The Stage (Oh What A Lovely War)
“Quite why Steven Berkoff’s version of Oedipus has not been performed since
it was first published in 2000 is maybe that it was just waiting for Blackeyed
Theatre to do it full justice. It has been worth the wait”
The Stage (Oedipus)
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 13 of 16
Local Press Angles
Jacob Addley, who plays Salty
Where did you grow up and go to school?
I grew up in the town of Bracknell. I started primary school at St Magaret Clitherow in
Bracknell where I spent my life at that age wanting to be a football player, fireman or
a superhero. I went on to Sandhurst school until I was 14 and then Garth Hill College
in Bracknell where I took Performing Arts and Dance as subjects along with History,
which has always been a little secret passion of mine. Garth really was what pushed
me into loving theatre and auditioning for the BRIT School of Performing Arts and
Technology where I attended and until 2009, studying musical theatre.
When and what was your first experience of drama?
My first theatrical experience was at the South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell in an
outdoor community Shakespeare production of Much Ado About Nothing at the age
of 10. This production gave me my first taste for performing to an audience, the
excitement of stage combat and the many exciting and wacky people that have
remained close friends of mine ever since. From that first Shakespeare production, I
performed every year in South Hill Park's Community summer shows, Easter shows
and their professional pantomimes until I was about 17. Alongside all this, South Hill
Park has provided me with many other opportunities and projects as well as
introducing me to a huge number of contacts. SHP really was my safety net that
allowed me to try things out, fail or succeed. I would not be doing what I do today
without it.
What do you hope audiences will get from seeing Teechers?
I hope that audiences, especially young audiences, will have a fantastic evening out
at the theatre. It’s a brilliant script with lots of fantastic comic moments. I hope all
audiences will relate to the characters in this show, from the strictest teacher to the
biggest bully. This is going to be a truly fantastic show so please come along and
have as much fun as I have had being a part of it all.
How do you go about preparing for a multi-role show like Teechers?
I would prepare for multi-rolling in the same way I would prepare for any role. You
focus on each individual character, as well as their physical movements and vocal
styles. The great thing about this show is that all the characters involved in this
production are people you can easily relate to. The biggest challenge is working on
the transitions between characters and making it very clear for an audience.
Ultimately, our job is to tell a story and make it as clear and as entertaining as
possible to an audience.
Nicole Black, who plays Gail
Where did you grow up and go to school?
I grew up in Hertfordshire in North London where I still live today. I attended Little
Heath Primary School in Little Heath where I excelled at Sport. I went on to Saint
Martha's Senior school and represented Barnet county in Netball, Cross Country,
Badminton and Football. I took my A Levels at Dame Alice Owens School in Potters
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 14 of 16
Bar. I have recently graduated from ALRA (Academy of Live and Recorded Arts) with
a first class honours degree in acting and was awarded the Sir John Gielgud Award
2011 and represented ALRA as Spotlight Nominee 2012.
When and what was your first experience of drama?
My first experience of drama was at Little Heath Primary School where I was cast as
Nancy in a production of Oliver. This is when I made my choice to pursue an acting
career over sport. To this day I still remember the buzz I had when I came offstage.
From that moment I was hooked.
What do you hope audiences will get from seeing Teechers?
I hope to inspire the audience on a journey back to their own personal memories of
school and for the younger members to identify with the characters we portray.
How do you go about preparing for a multi-role show like Teechers?
When preparing for multi-roles, each character has to be clearly defined, so I study
people within my own life who have similar traits, focusing on both physicality and
voice. I also research relevant characters in television, film and theatre, both past
and present.
Donna Preston, who plays Hobby
Where did you grow up and go to school?
I was brought up in York, North Yorkshire, and I went to Fulford school, Fulford
Primary and Fulford Comprehensive School.
When and what was your first experience of drama?
My first experience of drama was at primary school. I got cast as 'Sea Hag' in the
production of 'Jonah Man Jazz' dancing to 'sledge hammer' by Peter Gabriel (after
the dance I then realised my seaweed skirt was tucked into my pants - The song
haunts me to this day!)
What do you hope audiences will get from seeing Teechers?
I hope the audience will have a lot of laughs and bring back some memories from
when they were at school.
How do you go about preparing for a multi-role show like Teechers?
It's important to get as much differentiation as possible between the characters using
the body and the voice.
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 15 of 16
Press Images and Contact Details
Publicity shots for Teechers will be available from 18 April and will be
downloadable from the Teechers page at www.blackeyedtheatre.co.uk
Alternatively, contact us and we will email images to you.
Social media links:
Twitter page
https://twitter.com/Blackeyedtheatr
#Teechers
Facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blackeyed-Theatre/215808865097231
Facebook event
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BlackeyedTheatre/215808865097231#!/events/392941094126185/
Youtube playlist
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1310ED26A6AADB80
For all media enquiries please contact:
Adrian McDougall
Tel: 07766 681943
E-mail: [email protected]
Teechers Press and Marketing pack
Page 16 of 16