Theatre in the Quarter are bringing their beautiful play James to perform at the High School. It is a play about the lesser known king who spent his life fearful of being murdered yet died in his own bed having survived numerous assassination attempts including the famous gun powder plot. This is a King who supported religious persecution and wrote tomes about witch craft and was deeply and disturbingly superstitious. Poetical, visual and with original music from Artistic director Matt Baker and the community choir, this will be a stunning performance.
Tickets available from Poynton High School
01625 871811 ext 253
£7.00
Theatre in the Quarter tours James : 13 – 23 October 2010
Chester’s leading professional and community theatre company, Theatre in the Quarter, is touring a new musical theatre production, James, to venues in Chester, Frodsham, Ellesmere Port, Poynton and Liverpool.
James, a new musical play about King James I of England (and VI of Scotland) has been created by writer Helen Newall and composer and musical director, Matthew Baker. It is directed by Max Rubin, Artistic Director of Liverpool’s Lodestar Theatre Company and designed by Judith Croft, well known locally for her rock ‘n’ roll pantomime designs at Clwyd Theatr Cymru and for the 2008 production of the Chester Mystery Plays.
Helen and Matt have collaborated on a number of successful productions including Theatre in the Quarter’s sell out shows Silent Night (2008) and Home for Christmas (2009). One aim of the company is to help fill the vacuum left in Chester by the closure of the Gateway Theatre while involving hundreds of school children, young people and adults in quality theatre experiences.
“James has been commissioned by the King James Bible Trust as part of a nationwide celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible in 2011,” Matt explained. “We’re thrilled to be part of what promises to be a great, year long programme of events”.
James is being performed by a cast of four: Michael Cole; Melissa Daly; Ian Hayles and Thomas Latham (cast biographies are attached for information). Regular Theatre in the Quarter audience members will know Thomas from Silent Night (2008) and Home for Christmas (2009). “It’s brilliant to be back, working again with Helen and Matt” said Tom. “The plays they create are full of life and this is no exception – it’s very different, being about a real, historical character, but it’s still very human, very funny and very accessible”.
“James is being premiered in the 2010 Shell Chester Literature Festival (21 and 22 October)”, added Matt. “We’re really pleased to be part of this really successful festival, and also to be touring to some venues, like St Laurence’s in Frodsham, for the first time. And it’s wonderful that we’re able to take this production in particular to St John’s (which was Chester’s first Cathedral) and also to the Lady Chapel at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral”.
“Chester is really lucky to have Theatre in the Quarter, and it’s a real privilege to be working with the company on such a great play” commented Director, Max Rubin. “We have a very fine and talented cast and an amazing community choir of 30 local people – they’ve really risen to the challenge of performing new (and ancient) music – they are incredible!”
Further details about James, including dates and venues, are attached below.
PHOTO by Neil Kendall:
L to R: Helen Newall (resident writer), Max Rubin (director), Melissa Daly (actor), Matthew Baker (artistic and music director), Thomas Latham (actor), Michael Cole (actor), Emma Willicott (stage manager), Ian Hayles (actor)
ENDS
Contact for further information:
Jane Dawson
07813 661949
Further information about James:
James
A new musical play by Helen Newall and Matthew Baker
In an era of spies, intrigue, religious tensions, poverty and opulence, James the VI of Scotland had already survived several attempts on his life by the time he became King James 1 of England. But there is one audacious attempt which still reverberates through history.
James is the story of the man who wrote tomes on witchcraft and kingship. James is the king who commissioned the King James Bible, one of the most influential texts in the English language, and he is the king forever associated with the gun powder plot of 5 November 1605.
Supported by the King James Bible Trust (established to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible), Theatre in the Quarter will be touring this production to venues in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Poynton and Liverpool. It will also be seen as part of the Shell Chester Literature Festival at St John the Baptist Church on 21 and 22 October.
James will be directed by Max Rubin, artistic director of Liverpool’s Lodestar Theatre Company, and designed by Judith Croft. It will be performed by four professional actors, working with a 30 strong community choir. The production will also feature film created by graduates of Staffordshire University working with local young people.
