THE WORCESTER CENTURY PLAYS
at Worcester Swan Theatre, Saturday 7 to Saturday 28 April 2001
"Vibrantly imaginative... an affirmation of the Swan's long-standing links with the city and county of Worcester, as well as a celebration of new writing." The Stage
| PART ONE | The
Same River by Lance Woodman |
Happyland by Deborah Catesby |
| The joys, misfortunes and calamities of a family during the first half of the 20th Century. Just as the Severn winds through the heart of Worcestershire, their twisting tale takes us from the First World War right through to the second. |  |
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"A prime example of living history married with community theatre" Worcester Evening News
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Everyone's Gone to the Moon |
Inheritance by Lance Woodman |
PART TWO |
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Time has leapt to 1969. Man is about to step on to the moon and like everyone else, our family are celebrating. It's a time for joy, but this new generation is haunted by ghosts from the past. From Worcester's building boom right up to Millennium eve, we share in the happiness and heartache, humour and romance as our family approach the beginning of a new century. |
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"...a quite remarkable, often moving, one-off experience... a memory-searing performance by Robin Simpson... something special..." Birmingham Evening Mail
"a wonderfully written and thought-provoking story which also manages to put a smile on your face... superb acting from both the professionals and the community company" Worcester Evening News
Directed by Jenny Stephens and Kim Greengrass. Designed by Dawn Allsopp and Leila Kalbassi. Lighting and Sound by Nick Marston and Jake Chambers. Choreography by Paul Milton. Cast includes Amy Shindler, Robin Kingsland, Robin Simpson, Sunny Ormonde, Yasmin Wilde, Paul Maddaford and Tina Gray.
The Worcester Century Plays were a joint production between Worcester Swan Theatre and Swan Playwrights.
The cycle of four plays follows the saga of a Worcestershire family during the twentieth century. Over two evenings audiences share the family's journey from the outbreak of the First World War through to the millenium eve celebrations.
A company of seven professional actors worked alongside a community company of twenty local people to tell the moving story of a family, a city and a nation.