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Vivid Theatre Company
in association with Samuel French, Ltd. present

OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD
by Timberlake Wertenbaker

12th November – 15th November @ 7.30pm.
Tickets: £8/£6

‘Alone, frightened, nameless in this stinking hole of hell. Take me, my comfort, and we’ll remember England together…’

Australia, 1789. The first transport of prisoners has arrived and a young lieutenant has been given the impossible task of directing the convicts in a production of ‘The Recruiting Officer.’ With only two copies of the text, a leading lady who may be hanged and senior officers hell-bent on destroying the production, Ralph Clarke must prove that his cast are not animals but human beings who should be offered a second chance.

Leading Teesside theatre company Vivid return to the Arc with Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Olivier award-winning comedy drama. Fresh from a year that has seen sell-out performances, productions at international theatre festivals and world premieres of new work, Vivid return to Teesside with their strongest piece yet. Be sure to book early.

Educational workshops on both this play and Brechtian theatre are available and sell out quickly.

‘Vivid Theatre Company always present fine acting, tightly performed’ (broadwaybaby).
Vivid Theatre Company
‘Our Country’s Good’ workshops.

All workshops will be tailored to the needs of the school/college. Prices will be negotiated in relation to length of workshop/number of students/number of handouts needed, etc. Educational booklets can be provided, again at a negotiated cost.

All workshops will have the director and a selection of cast members from the play.

Workshops will also be accepted after the production date.

Please email vividtheatrecompany@hotmail.co.uk for further information.

Workshop 1 – ‘Our Country’s Good.’

This workshop will focus on Timberlake Wertenbaker’s text. Historical context/social issues/themes/characters will be constantly linked to the role of the actor/director. Work will largely be practical but exercises will also be linked to both textual research and the Vivid Educational booklet that can be provided.

This workshop is relevant to all students of drama/theatre/ performance and not solely for those who study the text.

If the students are studying the play, if we know the exam board we can then tailor the workshop to the set Assessment Objectives for both old and new syllabuses.

Workshop 2 – ‘Brechtian Performance.’

Although the performance techniques will not be completely Brechtian in the actual production (although many directing techniques will be) Vivid are aware of the influence of this practitioner on the piece.

This workshop will start with the practical investigation of several specific Brechtian techniques before moving on to the text. The role of both the actor and the director will be investigated.

This workshop will be ideal for both students of Brecht and general performance students. It will also be very useful for new syllabus students who still need to investigate a practitioner and practically implement the work.