Bristol Old Vic Young Company's January production gives the senior members of the company a chance to explore their political voices and address the issues that concern them today. The Love of the Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker is as hard-hitting as we have come to expect from this award-winning company and deals with issues of consent, gender and sexuality. During Bristol Old Vic's redevelopment, this production will take place at The Bierkeller nightclub in a fierce, modern interpretation not to be missed.
The Love of the Nightingale is set in a land ravaged by war, where two sisters are torn apart. They strive to find power in a society dominated by men. In this patriarchal world, asking questions is dangerous and turning a blind eye is routine. Can the truth be heard when free speech is lost and victims are shamed?
This powerful production will be directed by Miranda Cromwell (Former Bristol Old Vic Young Company Director), with an electrifying original soundtrack, drawing influence from German house music to 80s rave pop, coupled with beautiful cascading harmonies from Musical Director Jack Drewry. The Love of the Nightingale will be performed in The Bierkeller nightclub, the site-specific setting bringing stark immediacy to this anarchic retelling of this ancient myth, and will kick off the 2017 Studio Walkabout season.
Bristol Old Vic's Engagement team are committed to providing creative opportunities for young people in every corner of the city. During Bristol Old Vic's redevelopment, the Engagement team are branching out even further than before, breaking down barriers, reaching new communities and forging new relationships across the city. The award-winning Young Company are this year, for the first time, represented by young people from every single ward in Bristol and now provide 10% of their 350 members with bursary places, the goal being to ultimately remove all financial barriers to the arts for young people in Bristol.
Engagement Director Lucy Hunt said: "We're using this time of change to spread the message that this theatre belongs to the whole city and it's our responsibility to constantly be searching for new ways to show how we can support the different Bristol communities to tell their unique stories. Engagement is about the stories we choose to tell each other as a city. What the 250th birthday showed us is that we are defined by our community and can't exist without it".
2017 will see Bristol Old Vic's Engagement department not only working with more young people than ever before, but also working in partnership with communities on brand-new projects in Southmead, Bedminster, Lockleaze and Melksham as well as continuing to provide arts activity to over 10,000 people in Bristol each year and 20 local schools.
Sian Eustace, Young Company and Participation Producer, added: "The Love of the Nightingale really does kick off an exciting new year for the Engagement team. The Bierkeller is the perfect venue for this charged and relevant tale, which is as original as it is modern. I'm sure the company will start the 2017 Studio Walkabout season in style with their vital interpretation."
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