The North East Theatre Guide: Preview: TRAJECTORY at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Coracle Productions in partnership with Alphabetti Theatre, with support from Arts Council England present

TRAJECTORY: A DOUBLE BILL OF PLAYS ABOUT MOVING ON

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Wednesday 1^st – Saturday 4^th March 2017

LIFE AFTER… by Arabella Arnott and BRICKS AND MORTAR by Steve Byron.

TRAJECTORY (noun) The path followed by an object moving under the action of given forces

The two pieces in Trajectory are very different, but both explore the idea of moving on, and how life’s decisions can force us along a path we can’t always escape from.

Life After sees two people trying to move on with life after a loss. Can they see beyond their unresolved histories to find some happiness? Will holding onto their memories prevent them from embracing the here and now?

Bricks and Mortar sees someone whose choices have been taken away from her. Being forced to move on from a place she wants to keep hold of leads her to make some desperate decisions…

Both plays approach their subjects with a dark humour and a warm heart.

Director and co-producer Matt Jamie explains “The two plays in Trajectory are both simple stories, looking at the theme of moving on.

Alphabetti theatre are in the process of moving on to a new venue, so it seemed appropriate to gather a group of artists who have been involved in Alphabetti’s life over the last few years, as well as some new faces, and present some quality theatre there as a farewell to the basement building, helping to develop some new writing talent along the way as we all hope to move on to a new future of collaboration.”

Coracle have assembled a great team of actors from the region (Carl Kennedy, Arabella Arnott, Paula Penman, David John Hopper), direction from Gary Kitching and Matt Jamie, and design from Molly Barrett.

Life After…

Written by Arabella Arnott.

Directed by Matt Jamie.

Cast: Arabella Arnott and Carl Kennedy

Helen loved her sister Sophie. So did Simon. Now Sophie is gone, Simon and Helen are trying to move on with their lives, but neither of them are going anywhere fast. Speed dating doesn’t seem to be working. Nor does popcorn. What are they missing? How can they survive life after…?

A darkly comic drama about dealing with love, death, and missed opportunities.

“Witty, insightful writing… refreshing and entertaining”

(NARC Magazine on ‘Fresh Start’ by Arabella Arnott)

Arabella Arnott is a writer and actress based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Her writing has previously been performed at Alphabetti Theatre with Fresh Start (a response piece to Louise Taylor's play The Frights), Appling, and several of her poems. Other performances of her writing include Folded (Live Theatre Newcastle), Overdue (Gala, Durham), Radikal Words and a ten minute version of Life After (Northern Stage). Arabella is working with Coracle and Alphabetti for a full production of her play Overdue in 2017.

Bricks and Mortar

Written by Steve Byron.

Directed by Gary Kitching.

Cast: Paula Penman and David John Hopper.

Mary has lived under the same roof for over fifty years. She has put her blood sweat, tears and laughter into the walls. Husband Cyril and only son Gavin have now gone, and the council have decided that her home is too big for one…

Mary has other ideas.

A short bittersweet comedy looks at one woman’s determination to show that a home is not just made from bricks and mortar.

“Packs quite a punch, taking the audience from laughter to guilt and perhaps a few tears”

(British Theatre Guide on ‘Bacon Knees and Sausage Fingers’

by Steve Byron and Gary Kitching)

Steve Byron has been an actor and drama practitioner for 25 years, working within community theatre in the North East of England. He produced his first play at 19 for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Steve later developed his writing skills with the support of Live Theatre and Greyscale Theatre. His first performed piece, Bacon Knees and Sausage Fingers, was co-written with Gary Kitching and produced through Alphabetti Theatre & Gary Kitching and Co. in 2016. This was followed by Wrong Place, Wrong Time, using stories from Crisis skylight group.

Coracle are company who produce new original works and collaborate with artists across all disciplines. Coracle’s previous work includes devised and physical / multimedia productions including Without Love I Am Nothing (BAC Scratch Festival) and Bird of Pray (Rosemary Branch Theatre). Founded in 2009 in London they are now launching Corcale North East in Newcastle upon Tyne with this production.

Coracle are proud to be working alongside Alphabetti Theatre and are supported by Arts Council England on this production Trajectory.

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