NEWS
Mercury Company Actors work with local students
9 Jul 2010
School exams are over but the work still continues. For 250 students the last two weeks have seen them get out from behind their desks and work with actors from the Mercury Theatre Company.
In advance of the Mercury’s autumn production of Steinbeck’s award winning epic The Grapes of Wrath, three teams of actors have been working on the text and main themes of the play with students from six secondary schools across Colchester, Clacton and Ipswich and students at Colchester Institute
‘It’s important that the pupils understand the play from an actor’s perspective’ said Tony Casement Associate Artist for Community & Education; ‘we teach them how an actor approaches the text, how characters are developed, what research goes into the play in order to successfully convey the director’s interpretation. Then when they come back to see the play in the autumn they will have a greater understanding and empathy with the story and the characters and hopefully will be able to both write more cohesively about Steinbeck’s fabulous story and also test out new acting skills they will have picked up from us.’
The Grapes of Wrath is considered one of the most thoroughly discussed novels of twentieth century American Literature. Part of its impact stems from its passionate depiction of the plight of the poor as thousands of Oklahoman families were forced to leave their failing crops and journey across America in search of a new, better life in California.
‘The Mercury Company Actors were fantastic as always – so inspiring for both students and staff, bringing as they do a wonderful input and insight – our students have gained confidence in their approach to a text’ Colin Green, Philip Morant School
Each year the Mercury Theatre Company actors work with approximately 20,000 members of the local community on popular projects like the residencies.
At the end of July three members of the ensemble will be working at the University of Essex on Aim Higher - a government funded initiative to give forty year ten students (14 – 15 year olds) from backgrounds that would not normally consider University as an option – a positive and fun university experience.
The annual Mercury Theatre Summer School has attracted a waiting list this year with youngsters vying for places on the intense two week drama course once again run by company actors including Nadia Morgan, Marshall Griffin, Christine Absalom and Adrian Stokes. The Summer School runs Tuesday 27 July to Friday 6th August.
For more information on Community and Education activities at the Mercury Theatre please contact Elaine Leppard on 01206 245503 or email education@mercurytheatre.co.uk