Scilly is invited to delve into ancient Greek legend this weekend in an exciting new play based on the epic journey of Odysseus.
St Mary’s Theatre Club, Five Islands School and St Mary’s Youth Club have once more teamed up with Truro’s Hall for Cornwall for the production, to be performed over two nights at the Town Hall.
‘The idea of doing Homer’s The Odyssey came about partly because of the island theme - Odysseus travels around the islands to get home after the Trojan war,? Hall for Cornwall’s Education Officer and co-writer Rebecca Hazzard told ScillyNews.
‘We thought the theme linked in well with the Isles of Scilly. Also it is a great adventure story, good for all ages, lots of action, heroics and opportunity for humour and physical acting. And it is a love story!?
Community Bus driver and Theatre Club regular Bobby Gray takes the lead role of the Greek warrior who wants to return home to his family - but has lots of mishaps on the way. The production comes in the wake of ‘The Alice Analysis,? written especially for Scilly and performed to wide acclaim in 2003 after Theatre Club approached Hall for Cornwall’s Community and Education department.
The intervening two years has seen links bewteen the two strengthened, including a group visit by Scilly youngsters to the Truro venue to see Peter Pan and take part in a drama workshop last Christmas, and drama workshops by HfC at Carn Gwaval primary school.
The new play branches into new territory for its participants. ‘This time we really have written it around the actors in the play. It is much more physical than the last one,? explained Rebecca. ‘It was devised by the whole cast over a weekend when they improvised each scene to get the dialogue and characters.
It’s innovative in that the play is set “in the round” - or rather on three sides with the audience sitting around the action. Most of it takes place on the floor rather than on the stage of the Town Hall, so it’s closer to the audience and the audience will feel more part of it.?
The project has been supported financially by Barclays Community Investment Programme and the Council, and forms part of HfC’s extensive outreach scheme, where teams of artists associated with HfC work with far flung communities and those needing support to develop their drama skills.
Anna Coombs, HfC’s Community Development Manager, said, ‘...this aspect of our work is about reaching out beyond the immediate locality of the venue and working with people who might not be able to access our theatre easily. We are delighted that our relationship with the community in Scilly has continued this year and we feel strongly about supporting all those who live on the islands - and welcome ideas and suggestions for future projects.?