[F]ollowing the raucous success of episode one, local professional actors Emma Rydal, Jane Dickens and Toby Gaffney, along with theatre practitioner and writer Jeff Wallcook, will entertain and delight audiences with this next installment of Cumbria’s very own soap opera.
‘One Wedding, a Christening & a Funeral’ is due to open at 7.30pm at Ullock Village Hall on Friday 19 May, Thursby Parish Hall on Saturday 20 May and Brigham Memorial Hall on Saturday 10 June.
Set in a fictitious, and somewhat heightened multi-purpose Community Arts and Resource Centre (Village Hall), Beyond the Boards is an episodic soap opera that tours community venues across the county. Each episode is informed by the stories and ideas from the people and communities it performs in.
Jeff Wallcook of Trellis Arts said; “Just like many other soap operas, each new episode starts with a ‘…previously on Beyond the Boards’ segment; so any newcomers will be caught up with the drama before the new action begins. We loved seeing how involved the audiences were for episode one and their responses were mind-boggling. We came away with so many fantastic and varied ideas for episode two that it was impossible to fit them all in! But…we’ve given it a go!”
Episode 2 follows the calamitous and unexpected arrival of the national press to the auditions for their new community production of ‘Macbirth’. The future of the centre has since been plunged into further uncertainty. Desperate to make ends meet and keep the doors open, the staff and volunteers embark on an audacious plan to impress the funders, while the imagination of one impressionable and impulsive team member threatens to send them all down.
Think Hi-di-hi meets EastEnders – with a healthy dose of community gossip!
Tickets can be booked directly with the halls, or with www.kirkgatearts.org.uk (01900 826 448) to book for pick up or post.
For further information, please contact Jeff Wallcook either by email: jeff@trellisarts.uk or telephone: 07795 908 233. Keep up to date with the tour via www.facebook.com/trellisarts.
