Belgrade Theatre Serves Up New Play About Dinner Ladies

School Dinners will never be the same again with comedy drama, Save Our School Dinners...Jamie! playing in the Belgrade Theatre's B2 auditorium this March, written by Coventry born playwright Paven Virk.

This new production follows a group of dinner ladies, living in the Midlands but from all over the world, who aim to save the only school in their small community one dinner at a time whilst taking inspiration from the one and only Jamie Oliver. Comedy and diversity sit at the heart of this feel-good theatre experience that has its roots in television sitcom storytelling.

For this world premiere production, writer Paven Virk will be reunited with Director Kathi Leahy following the success of last year's The Funeral Singer at The Old Rep Theatre.

Virk said, "I knew I wanted to write a full play representing fresh voices and an array of strong female characters with a universal connection through food. Having recently becoming a mother I knew I had to do something about how class, cultural backgrounds and even your postcode helps form your child's future. My way of exploring this was through these women who become more than a dinner lady to a child."

She added "since becoming a mum and relocating back home to Coventry, where I began my career in the Belgrade Youth Theatre, I have increased my storytelling workshops and seen the impact it has on individuals and diverse communities. I believe if I can make theatre that is celebratory, relevant and diverse, I can be a role model for underrepresented communities making engagement and careers in the Arts seem more achievable."

Paven Virk started writing in her teens when she founded Second Generation Theatre Company at 15, exploring issues that affected her generation with the plays, Girlie Talk and Boy meets Girl, co-produced with the Belgrade Theatre. She has since had her work performed at the National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Tricycle Theatre, Pleasance Theatre, Old Rep and Belgrade Theatre.

Paven has also worked in film and TV and is currently developing various original TV series with a fresh perspective on what challenges her within and outside of her culture. Her first feature film about the 80s Bhangra scene, Feeling Punjabi, with producer Jeffrey Taylor will be shooting this year.

Save Our School Dinners...Jamie! is directed by Kathi Leahy, one of the founder Directors and current Associate Director of the ground-breaking Coventry based Imagineer Productions. One of her many achievements for Imagineer included directing the Cultural Olympiad Godiva Awakes - Awakening. She has over thirty years' experience of directing theatre, large scale outdoor events in addition to writing and teaching. She was an Irish Post Award Recipient in 1998 and Arts Council Fellowship Recipient in 2005.

The incredibly talented cast includes Alexia McIntosh, Laurence Saunders, Nadi Kemp-Sayfi, Linda Hargreaves and Claire Cogan.

Save Our School Dinners...Jamie! plays in the B2 auditorium at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry on Thursday 23 March 2017 at 1pm and 7pm. Tickets are available now by calling the Belgrade Theatre Box Office team on 024 7655 3055 or book online at www.belgrade.co.uk.

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