Fishville
by Afsaneh Gray.
The story of a young man named Jared who takes to the sea in swimming gear but never starts swimming… His death, which follows on from the unexpected sale of his parents’ house, throws the community into chaos.
When the daughter of the man who bought Jared’s house arrives in Saltwell and finds a severed foot washed up at her feet, she and the daughter of the ‘second homers’ decide to investigate what drove Jared into the sea. They uncover a local myth about an underwater community – did Jared believe the myth? Then, ‘Jared’ starts posting messages, asking his friends to join him.
With the new girl’s father spending more and more time in the sea, and the myth gaining traction, the young people must figure out what’s going on before anybody else is lost to a vengeful ocean…
The Writer
Afsaneh Gray is a writer for screen, stage and audio, published by Methuen Drama. She is the winner of the Brian Way Award with her play for young people, The Border. Other productions include the critically acclaimed Octopus, a satire about what it means to be British. Her plays have been longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize and Women’s Prize for Playwriting, and shortlisted for the Theatre Uncut Political Playwriting Prize. For television, she has written for Shakespeare & Hathaway and Doctors (both BBC). Her original TV comedy, Lulu The Extremist, was selected for the UKTV 50:50 scheme. She is represented by Giles Smart at United Agents.
Production Team
David Dawson
Director
Ben Gale
Assistant Director
Paul Ellison
Technical Lead
Vicky
Art & Props Dept.
Emma Goodson
Project Co-ordinator
Cast
emma hill, Amy lowe, amber chivers, emma-louise taylor, leyla KISIELIUTE
THE SEA
CREW
SID VEALE
TOMMY MILLS
One Matcham to another
In preparation for our festival performance at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool, we were lucky enough to tread the boards of another Frank Matcham theatre a little closer to home. For one night only the staff at the Gaiety Theatre in Douglas opened the stage door and allowed our cast their first taste of performing in a large, 800 seater, theatre.
This was a very special moment but also highlighted a challenge that the cast took to brilliantly, projection! By splitting the cast up and holding vocal workshops it was a real eye (or ear) opener as to how sound can dissipate in larger spaces and just what is required to fill a venue of that size. We would like to thank the VillaGaiety staff for allowing us this special opportunity.
The production tech behind Fishville
Fishville presents some interesting technical opportunities. The Kensington Arts Tech Crew are experimenting with projection mapping for the very first time. Combining the use of lighting and projection to interact with the stage and neutral spaces has given the production additional depth.
Kensington Arts
Our Mission is To Suppport and develop creative expression
The name might make you think of London and it's due to some rich history why Kensington Arts gets it's name.
Kensington Arts (KA) is an art centre run by Culture Division within the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. KA organises and runs sessions and projects for members of the community, to support and develop creative expression. The programme includes weekly classes, workshops and projects. The venue includes a 130 seat Theatre, a Dance Studio, Art Room, Band Practice Rooms and a Recording Studio.
In 1880 the young Manx artist Archibald Knox enrolled at the newly opened and innovative ‘Douglas School of Art’, as it was first known. He then went on to teach at the School too. You can read more about the origins and early years of the venue here: Isle of Art: The History of the Douglas School of Art