The New Writing / New Normal International Theatre Festival 2 - 4 October 2020

We are happy to announce the next New Writing / New Normal International Theatre Festival from 2 to 4 October 2020.

This event, based on the successful inaugural New Writing / New Normal Theatre Festival in July 2020, will expand its horizons to include more contributors from around the world.  

To that end, we are currently looking for actors, directors and playwrights to be a part of the festival:

Over a thirty-six hour period, new plays will be written, rehearsed and performed via a digital platform.  If you are interested in participating, please email us at HAHN@HOTMAIL.CO.UK with a CV and state if you would like to be considered as a director, playwright or actor for this festival.  We are also looking for one or more stage director.

All contributors will be paid via a profit-share of the box office.

Brief Outline of Event:

6pm [BST] Friday, 2 October - At the opening event for all participants, a single theme will be chosen at random from a range of topical themes submitted by the participants; based on that theme, the playwrights will create a play over the next 24 hours.  Production teams including a playwright, a director and actors will also be randomly selected. 

 From Friday, the playwright writes to the theme within the parameters of number of actors and Zoom rehearsal / performance. 

Saturday, 3 October – By 12pm[BST], plays and a two line synopsis are submitted to the directors & producers and the rehearsal process begins. 

Sunday, 4 October -  On Sunday, tech rehearsal is at 12pm[BST].  At 3pm[BST], the pieces are premiered.  After the performance, we all head to the [virtual] pub.

 

The Rivonia Trial Audio Recording with John Kani & Jack Klaff

Today, the wonderful South African actors, John  Kani & Jack Klaff recorded over  Zoom powerful extracts from The Rivonia Trial Tribunal play.  This forms the very early stages of developing a full play:

Walter Sisulu:  'I wish you could live like us just for one day. Then you wouldn't say how good things are for us. '



[Please note, racist language is used in this extract from the Rivonia Trial Tribunal Play]


And here is another audio extract from after we finished recording.  It gives the listener a bit of background and colour to the Rivonia Trial and its importance today. 


For more information about the play and the R & D behind the play, please visit here. 


John Kani was born in New Brighton, South Africa as Bonsile John Kani. He is an actor and writer, known for Black Panther (2018), Captain America: Civil War (2016) and The Lion King (2019). Won Broadway's 1975 Tony Award, along with his co-star Winston Ntshona, as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island." Was also nominated with Ntshona and Athol Fugard as co-authors in the Best Play nomination for the same production. Winston Ntshona, Athol Fugard and his play, "Size Banzi Is Dead & The Island," on Broadway in New York City was nominated for a 1975 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Play.  He and Winston Ntshona were awarded the 1975 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Actor for "Sizwe Banzi is Dead & the Island," on Broadway in New York City.

Jack Klaff is a South African-born actor, writer and academic.^[1] He has held professorships at Princeton University and Starlab, known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), For Your Eyes Only (1981) and King David (1985).  

Both Jack & John recently recorded on Zoom Catastrophe by Samuel Beckett directed by Matthew Hahn for The Peacock Theatre Festival for Civil Liberties.