Images: Jules Dash
It is not just The People’s Play Award that has returned, but this year’s winner (chosen from nearly 100 entries) is VOLTEMAND AND CORNELIUS ARE JOYFULLY RETURNED – written by Leeds-born actor and writer Paul Vates.
There is a great buzz about this in the Frost Magazine office because we were lucky enough to see our very own Drama Critic’s play in the early stages of its development and LOVED it: we were in turn moved, and amused, and left talking, and thinking, and knew that when completed it would be something special.
Of course Paul Vates knows the business of play writing inside and out, as he is a professional actor, and also a writer who understands that all writing has to be worked and re-worked to achieve something worthwhile. And believe me, this is, and where better to debut Voltemand and Cornelius are Joyfully Returned than the well known and respected People’s Theatre, Tyneside.
So, onto the play: the two central characters are minor characters from Hamlet – or are they? And where are they?
This well paced and amusing play explores the nature of reality, the chaos of war, and the impact of conflict on people’s perception of themselves.
Previous People’s Play Award winners include Peter Straughan (BAFTA winner, Best Adapted Screenplay for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), Alison Carr (Iris, Live Theatre; Fat Alice, Traverse Theatre) and Mike Yeaman whose Lucky Numbers has since been performed in New Zealand, Finland and Estonia
The People’s Theatre Newcastle on Tyne was born in 1911 and Norman Veitch, one of the founders, set the sights high right from the start and the policy ever since has been to seek out plays of quality and interest, which the Tyneside audience might otherwise not get the chance to see.
In the 1940s they amalgamated with the Film Society, bbegan to host Art Exhibitions and now, beneath their umbrella host music, the Young People’s Theatre and The People’s Play Award.
Way back in 1971 the BBC made a half hour documentary about The People’s Theatre, narrated by a former People’s actor, Alan Browning, a lead in Coronation Street. And quite frankly, it’s high time the BBC returned to Tyneside to see the vibrant success as The People’s Theatre continues to flourish, innovate and entertain.
The world premiere of Voltemand and Cornelius are Joyfully Returned by Paul Vates is to be held in the 90 seated Studio Theatre.
- INFORMATION –
- Seating in the Studio Theatre is UNALLOCATED.
- All tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE.
- Tickets can be EXCHANGED for another performance subject to availability.
- CONCESSION PRICE applies to customers who are aged 60+ or under 18, students & unwaged.
- Start Time: 7.30pm
- Tickets: £14.00 Concessions: £11.50
https://www.peoplestheatre.co.uk/whats-on/voltemand-and-cornelius
Annie Clarke’s debut novel Girls on the Home Front will be published by Arrow on 29th May.