Neighbouring theatres, the Mercury Theatre Colchester and the New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich are taking the Arts Council’s Evolve Project to new limits, putting Creative Learning into practice this spring, with a new co-production of Ayckbourn’s comedy A Chorus of Disapproval which will also tour to The Palace Theatre, Watford.
"We have been looking to co-produce with the New Wolsey Theatre for a while and it’s a delight that we have this opportunity. A Chorus of Disapproval is an ideal choice of play for us to work on collaboratively as it plays to both our strengths. For the Mercury it harnesses the quality and commitment of the ensemble, whilst gaining the opportunity to work with New Wolsey’s Artistic Director Peter Rowe. Importantly, through this, we can work creatively together, developing a method of co-producing for the future." said Mercury Theatre Artistic Director, Dee Evans.
All three Eastern venues have strong creative development programmes for professional artists and companies and their local communities. This new co-production is seen as a natural result and another aspect of that process and makes it something very much more than "just another co-production".
Over the past few years the New Wolsey Theatre and Mercury Theatre have been sharing work on each other’s stages, building on what has always been a friendly relationship. The exchange of productions started back in 2001 when the New Wolsey Theatre re-opened its doors in Ipswich and toured its production of Sweeney Todd to Colchester. In 2007 the Mercury Theatre Company production of Death of a Salesman transferred to the New Wolsey and Vincent in Brixton one of the New Wolsey’s home-produced plays made the return journey down the A12. Although the theatres are less than 20 miles apart, these ventures were both artistically and financially successful, helping to ensure that each production reached the widest possible audience in the Eastern region.
Now for the first time, A Chorus of Disapproval will see both venues working truly collaboratively; sharing knowledge and creating new ideas. Throughout the process of the co-production more than 150 staff including administration and box office staff, the acting company, creative team and educators at the New Wolsey Theatre and the Mercury Theatre will discover new ways of working, learning from each other’s tried and tested methods, developing new approaches to collaboration and being challenged by all that this opportunity provides them with.
A Chorus of Disapproval will bring together staff, skills and resources from both theatres to design and build an original set, source and make costumes and props. Working alongside New Wolsey Director, Peter Rowe will be Mercury Production Manager, Andy Franks, as well as a Company Stage Manager from Ipswich and a Mercury Deputy Stage Manager on the book. Both theatres will devise marketing strategies and work closely together on all aspects of the production allowing for new approaches and different ways of thinking to develop.
"The pooling of skills and methods of working is a challenging and unique experience for both theatres’ employees. We are keen to learn as much as possible from one another and anticipate that the process will strengthen and enhance current practices" said Sarah Holmes, Chief Executive of the New Wolsey Theatre.
A Chorus of Disapproval opens at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich from Thursday 12 to Saturday 28 February (Box Office 01473 295900) before taking up residence at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester (Box Office 01206 573948) from Thursday 5 to Saturday 21 March. It will then transfer to the Watford Palace Theatre (Box Office 01923 225671) from Tuesday 24 March to Saturday 4 April.
