Oh, WoT A Lovely War?
The people of Salford and Greater Manchester collaborate with The Lowry and the Imperial War Museum North on
Oh, WoT A Lovely War?
Directed by Andy Farrell
Wed 12 – Sat 15 April
The Quays theatre, The Lowry Community & Education team project – theatre show and gallery exhibition.
In a unique collaboration between the people of Salford and Greater Manchester, The Lowry and Imperial War Museum North, are creating a contemporary theatrical event and gallery exhibition about the War On Terror (WoT) and how its roots extend back to the horrific events of the First World War in Oh, WoT A Lovely War?
Taking inspiration from the ground breaking collaborative working style of Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop company of actors and writers - who created the original award-winning First World War musical, Oh, What A Lovely War - the cast and director, Andy Farrell, are using contemporary sources and the resources of the Imperial War Museum North to create a unique piece of episodic theatre and exhibition.
Cast, writers and technical crew of Oh, WoT A Lovely War?, are attending regular discussions at the museum where topics span from the First and Second World Wars through to the Cold War and to contemporary conflict. The group is handling authentic objects from war-time eras, watching films, viewing photographs and meeting an ex-soldier who served in the German Army and lived through the end of the Cold War just outside East Berlin. These discussions and discoveries will create the backbone to the show and exhibition which deals with all aspects of conflict in contemporary society.
Oh, WoT A Lovely War? is directed by award-winning Andy Farrell, who also directed The Lowry’s highly praised production of Love On The Dole, and is now head of The Lowry’s Community and Education Team.
“What is emerging in this process is just how much war has impacted and continues to impact on our daily lives,” said Farrell. “We live in a difficult and problematic world, the family of nations is breaking and splintering. People are being stopped by the authorities for wearing beards and rucksacks! Essentially the cast have been grappling with the question, “Where, in your life, are you at war?” From this, an understanding of global conflict is emerging based on the individual’s domestic experience and personal history.”
Jim Forrester, Director of IWM North, said “Our aim at IWM North is to encourage discussion and debate about war and conflict. We want our visitors to get a picture of history to help them make sense of contemporary events in their own way. This show is a great, creative partnership and I hope it will set people talking about the background to some of today’s tough questions.”
Oh, WoT A Lovely War? will be performed in the Lowry’s Quays theatre from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 April. An accompanying exhibition in The Lowry galleries from Monday 3 to Monday 24 April will feature video, photography and installations reflecting the process of creating the show.
Contains some strong language and disturbing and graphic images.
Most suitable for ages 16+ OFF THE STAGE:
Thu 13 April
Post Show Talk.
Free to ticket holders.
Quays theatre.
Oh, WoT A Lovely War?
The Quays Theatre, The Lowry, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester
Wed 12 – Sat 15 April, 8pm, Sat mat 3pm
Tickets £12 (£6 participants & Salford residents)
Box office: 0870 7875793 www.thelowry.com
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Andy Farrell Readman is a playwright, theatre director and actor. He trained as an Actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and graduated with many awards. He won the prestigious RTYDS Assistant Director Bursary from Thames Television and became the Assistant Director at The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. He went free-lance in 1992 and has worked for Communicado, Tag, The Contact Theatre; As Arts Council Associate Director, The Bolton Octagon, The Liverpool Everyman, The Library Theatre and others. In 2000 he set up Big Theatre and presented 52 Degrees South a performance to mark the opening of the Imperial War Museum North and the 20th anniversary of Falklands war of 1982. 52 Degrees South won The Manchester Evening News Award for Best New Play in 2002. He has written plays for The Traverse, Tag, The Contact, Walk The Plank, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3. His has directed community plays for, The Wester Hales Community, The Romily Forum, The Salford Community Play of 1994 and UNESCO. In 2002 he worked with The Home Office, The CRE and Manchester City Council to present Holocaust Memorial Day at the Bridgewater Hall. This was a National Event and he worked with Survivors of the Holocaust and The Holocaust Educational trust. He has lectured and taught Theatre and Acting for the RSAMD, Central School of Speech and Drama, Arts Educational, LIPA, Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre, The University of Lancaster. He has an MA in Environmental Art. Andy was appointed as The Lowry's Head of Community & Education in December 2004.
Posted on Thursday, 09 February 2006 under Press Galleries Press