Theatre Scratch Programme
The View From Cumnor Hill
An extract from a play by Joel Kaye
Performed by: Emily East and Tob Talbot
The setting is an elementary school in Oxfordshire in 1862. This is the first time that the schools inspector, Matt (based on the real Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) poet, critic and schools inspector) has met fourteen year-old pupil-teacher, Faith (a purely fictional character based on documented realities of the mid-nineteenth century).
Matt never intended a career in education, but has had to become an inspector to satisfy his father-in-law’s (a High Court Judge) demand that he earn sufficient money to support his daughter. Now, though, he is highly committed to his view of education – more liberal than new legislation – the Revised Code of 1862- seems to permit.
Faith comes from a much poorer background than Matt, and believes her parents depend on her for income. Her father is at home ill, having inhaled poisonous fumes in his job, and her mother only earns a little as a seamstress. Faith focuses intensely and narrowly on what she believes is necessary to progress on to the next stage of her apprenticeship. She must succeed.
Kepow Theatre: The Mask Show
Performed by Kevin Tomlinson and Abi Hood
Kepow Theatre was formed in 1991, and is now one of Europe’s leading improvisation and mask-based theatre companies.
Over the past 21 years Kepow have produced 25 shows and have toured the world, performing in: Hawaii, New Zealand, Canada (three times), America (twice), Hong Kong (twice), Singapore, Germany, Norway, Bali and Holland. They have, collectively, worked with some of Britain’s leading theatres and theatre companies: the National Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. In recent years, the company have also undertaken numerous rural tours around the UK and are currently on ten schemes: most notably in Cornwall, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Devon.
Tonight’s performance is a new work-in-progress based on the idea to create a performance lecture on mask work.
A section led by new network OXFORDSHIRE THEATRE MAKERS
This part of the evening will include:
- An introduction to Oxfordshire Theatre Makers and its aims
- Obstacles we face as theatre makers in Oxfordshire
- A discussion of The Big Questions we have
- An opportunity to pimp your show, mention a recruiting position…
- Moving forward from here – ideas we have to vote on.
- Networking begins over drink at the bar