Derby Theatre Thursday 28 – Saturday 30 July, 7.30pm
A stunning double bill of two plays which are both powerful and incredibly relevant Derby Theatre Youth Theatre will present their fourth main house production from Thursday 28 until Saturday 30 July, a stunning double-bill of I Am England by David Lane and Spoonface Steinberg by Lee Hall.
The 14 – 16 year old Youth Theatre group will present I Am England….and never before, in the wake of the EU Referendum result, has this play been so relevant. Bankrupt, isolated and in a state of collapse, a once-proud nation falls apart. Nostalgic for empire and thirsty for revenge, a small-town politician presents a hero to the masses: a poster-boy for conscription. The future of the nation hangs in the balance, but those in power must confront the truth of who they are – and who they might become. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, I Am England is a tough look at an England facing right-wing governments which offers a unique perspective on political power and social justice from the generation whose stories are yet to be written.
Spoonface Steinberg will be presented by 17 – 19 year old Youth Theatre group. “And what was the meaning of all these things? And the meaning was as if you found the spark – and it was finding the sparks inside you and setting them free”. An award-winning play about faith, love and the meaning of life. From the writer of Billy Elliot and Cooking with Elvis, Spoonface Steinberg is a poetic exploration into the world of a young person diagnosed with autism and cancer.
Nicky Bellenger (Creative Learning Associate, Derby Theatre) said: Our Youth Theatre have worked incredibly hard to present what will be an energised and powerful evening of theatre. Never have two productions felt more relevant. I Am England presents a group of young people struggling to be heard at the heart of a nation that is fractured and in a state of collapse and Spoonface Steinberg delicately tells the story of an autistic young person with cancer questioning the meaning of life. Now, more than ever, is the time to really sit up and listen to what our young people have to say, and the Youth Theatre’s double bill on our main stage is a very good place to start.”
Tickets: £12, concessions £9. For more information and to book tickets please call the Box Office on 01332 59 39 39 or visit www.derbytheatre.co.uk
