Playbox Theatre is proud to open the new season of productions with an original commission by writer and Alumna, Máirín O’Hagan. Dancing Bear and The Hunter in the Stars. Playbox’s Young Production Company opens at The Dream Factory in Warwick with evening performances on 7th and 8th October 2021 and matinées on the 9th and 10th October. Tickets are on sale from £9 to £18 at www.playboxtheatre.com
Dancing Bear and the Hunter in the Stars is inspired by the legend, from Greek mythology, of Artemis, Apollo and Orion. With a company of 40 young people from across Warwickshire and the surrounding region, the production is led by Millie Danks-Smith as Stella Somersby, Laura Hoerl as the Goddess Artemis, Holly Page as the talking deer Elaphos and Dylan Somanathon as the hunter Orion.
Using text, movement, dance and spectacular visuals the production is directed by Playbox Founding Director Mary King who commissioned the play as part of the company’s on-going exploration of Greek drama and culture.
After leaving Playbox, Máirín O’Hagan read English at Cambridge University, where she was president of the Marlowe Society and wrote and performed for the Cambridge Footlights. She wrote several plays and musicals there, including Bereavement: The Musical which was nominated for Best New Musical and Best Lyrics at the Musical Theatre Matters awards in Edinburgh. She went on to complete an MA in Acting at East 15 Acting School. Since then, Máirín has worked as an actor, writer, producer and director.
This will be the first Young Production Company production since Strikes in 2019. The new work has been delayed because of the pandemic so it is with extra joy that the production has been redeveloped and staged for this season. Richard Cooper creates the lighting and sound with scenic artwork and visualisation by Chris Johns. Mary King said today “In the existing development of theatre, Greek is the root, with its multidisciplinary techniques and fantastic plot and themes that resonates, especially today, for our audiences. Dancing Bear and the Hunter in the Stars spans times and eras, making it an exciting opener for our season.”
Dancing Bear is followed by Sophocles Antigone in November.
For interviews, press tickets, further information contact: info@playboxtheatre.com
Mary King
Executive Director
Playbox Theatre, The Dream Factory, Tapping Way, Warwick, CV34 6LE
Tel: 01926 419555 www.playboxtheatre.com
