Women & Astronomy Take the Lead in STELLA, Kicking Off Summer Tour at Brighton Fringe Today

STELLA , a new play about time, space, women and astronomy, will premiere at the Brighton Fringe Festival {Wed 29 & Thurs 30 May} and then tour to The Rose Theatre Kingston (Tues 4 June), Norden Farm (Tues 11 June), Alan Ayckbourn's Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough (Fri 21June), Oxford Playhouse Studio (Thurs 27 & Fri 28 June), Greenwich Theatre (Thurs 11, Fri 12 , Sat 13 July).

In ancient civilisations, temple priestesses meticulously mapped the heavens, seeking to understand their gods. And so Astronomy was born.

This is a story of Time and Space. Two women astronomers, Jessica Bell from the C21st and Caroline Herschel from the C18thlook up at the same night sky and find themselves colliding in their search for understanding. Caroline longs for a family and home of her own; Jess contemplates the prospect of losing both. Each woman can precisely map her position in the universe yet she struggles to find her place in the world.

This will be the fourth production from Take the Space with STELLA'S premiere following a series of well received public play readings: "The audience choked on the bared emotions and the wonderment of people seeing deep space for the first time" (The Guardian's John Vidal on a reading of Stella at Paines Plough).

Stella focuses on the real-life story of Caroline Herschel (1750 to 1848) who discovered eight comets and eleven nebulae and received the Royal Astronomical Society's Gold Medal; a genius who with her brother, William, could be said to have laid the foundations of modern astronomy. But Caroline also passionately longed for a family and home of her own. The play, through Jess, our modern character, positions this {possibly everlasting} dilemma up against Humanity's consuming need to explore the enormity of the Universe and thereby understand the origin of Life itself.

Playwright Siobhán Nicholas says "I became interested in astronomy when I stumbled across a quote from an astrophysicist called Jocelyn Bell Burnell: "We are all made of star stuff". Those beautiful simple words inspired me to find out more. Jocelyn discovered the Pulsar Star, an achievement that should have earned her the Nobel Prize. An amazing woman! Following this slight, instead of wallowing in bitterness, she has spent her life nurturing young astrophysicists and encouraging women into science.

I began thinking about the modern female astronomer with so much technology at her fingertips, witnessing the wonders of the universe expanding before her eyes - and all the while sustaining a very earth-based juggling act of loved ones and work. Is she in a better position now than her past counterparts? Do brilliant female minds have to renounce "love" in order to discover the wonders of the universe? Even Marie Curie, perhaps the most famous female scientist from the past, said "I have frequently been questioned, especially by women, of how I could reconcile family life with a scientific career. Well, it has not been easy."

Siobhán really wanted her play to open in Brighton: "Historically the city has always attracted people from the Arts but did you know that the Physics and Astronomy courses at Sussex University are ranked to be in the UK's top 5. We really do live in a place where artists and scientists rub shoulders and can share ideas.... and I hope a lot of that will be happening in the bar after our shows at TOM!".

The play has recently been shortlisted for the New Writing South/ Brighton Fringe New Play Award.

Cast : Chris Barnes, Kathryn Pogson and Siobhán Nicholas.

Chris, currently in Les Miserables the film and soon to be seen in two new television series: Endeavour and The Musketeers. Kathy's credits includes stand-out roles in Brazil and Company of Wolves, as well as numerous television appearances including Foyles War and Last of the Blonde Bombshells. Siobhán's credits include the films Little Dorrit and Neverland whilst on telly she has featured in Shadow of the Noose and Prime Cracker.

Take the Space; www.takethespace.co.uk: Take the Space was founded in Brighton eight years ago and has toured three productions {Sam & I, Hanging Hooke and Dolce Via} across the UK and Ireland.

Stella will run at Brighton Fringe 2013 tonight 29 May & Thursday 30 May. Time: 20:00. Tickets: £12.00 [£10.00.] Available: TOM's Box Office online, on 01273 201 801 and in person during opening hours. Online: http://www.theoldmarket.com/stella-2013.

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