Open Sky presents
Scorched
Arts Centre Washington
Thursday 8th June 2017
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| Photo: Jack Offord |
Written by Lisle Turner
Directed by Claire
Coaché
Performed by Robin
Berry
Set designed by Andrew
Purvin
Lighting and
video designed by Ben Hughes
Sound designed by Robin
Berry
Costume designed by Juliet
Blamey
Puppet by Sarah Townsend
Tattoo animations by Emma
Lazenby
Horse animations by Suzie
Evans
Fringe First and Total Theatre Award winners present
their new one man show - a time hopping true story of war, dementia and an
incredible two day chase across the Sahara desert.
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| Photo: Jack Offord |
Following its critically acclaimed premiere
at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016, Scorched, the new play from Open
Sky, will visit Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 8 June, as part of a
national tour.
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| Photo: Jack Offord |
Inspired
by the life of his grandfather, writer Lisle Turner presents the story of a
World War II veteran whose self-tattooed body reminds him of his past as
dementia erodes his present.
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| Photo: Jack Offord |
In 1991
Jack reigns from his armchair, a North East legend and a decorated veteran of
Tobruk, former river warden, boxer, horse whisperer, boat builder and charmer,
but his mind drags him back to 1941 when he chased a German prisoner of war for
two days across the scorching sands of the Sahara desert.
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| Photo: Jack Offord |
75 years
after the Siege of Tobruk, as soldiers continue to be sent to war in the
desert, Open Sky considers the language, or lack of language, that veterans use
to talk about war, the effects of dementia on memory and self-determination,
and the relationship between masculinity and violence, love and loss.
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| Photo: Jack Offord |
Writer Lisle
Turner said, “My grandfather wouldn’t talk about the war
and how it affected him for fifty years. Then when dementia struck in his late
eighties shocking stories started to pour out. At the same time my school
friends were being sent to fight in the Gulf. Those desert wars continue to
this day. Society is quick to forget what war does to soldiers and their
families. My grandfather’s own memories betrayed him in the end. I want him,
the things he did and saw and sacrificed, to be remembered.”
 |
| Photo: Jack Offord |
For one Second World War veteran
the launch of Operation Desert Storm is about to unleash a whirlwind of
memories. In ever changing episodes we learn more of Jack’s childhood, his
former glories, family and, central to everything, the burning hell of war in
the desert.
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| Photo: Jack Offord |
This cleverly written script
paints a vivid portrait of a man, while looking at wider issues of “manliness”,
war and fading memory. It’s beautifully told using a mix of physical theatre,
projection and sound, all bound up in a set where sand is everywhere, sweeping
from the past to the present. A superb performance allows Jack to move
elegantly between his hard and feisty youth and his wilderness years.
@openskyahead
#scorchedplay
Running
Time: 80 minutes (no interval)
Suitable
for ages 12+
Tickets:
Scorched comes to Arts Centre
Washington on Thursday 8 June, 7.30pm.
Tickets are from £6 and can be bought from www.artscentrewashington.co.uk or by calling 0191 561 3455
ALNWICK
Alnwick Playhouse & Arts Centre
Wed 31 May 7.30pm
01665 510 785
alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
WASHINGTON
Arts Centre Washington
Thur 8 June 7.30pm
0191 561 3456
artscentrewashington.co.uk
HEXHAM
Queen’s Hall Arts Centre
Fri 9 June 8pm
01434 652 477
queenshall.co.uk
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