The British Theatre Guide: Old Vic New Voices Theatre503 Award

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Dateline: 23rd December, 2007

Old Vic New Voices Theatre503 Award

The winners of the first Old Vic New Voices Theatre503 Award, I Am A Superhero by Jennifer Tuckett and Mad Funny Just by theatre collective 'Creased', receive premieres at Theatre503 from Tuesday 15 January. This is the first year of collaboration between The Old Vic and Theatre503, a partnership which offers the opportunity for promising young theatre practitioners to stage productions of new work at Theatre503.

The Award is at the core of The Old Vic's New Voices Club development programme for young practitioners, formed in 2006. Through the Club, The Old Vic works with over 5,000 young actors, writers, directors and producers every year, developing scripts, running masterclasses, providing careers advice and hosting lively peer-networking events. Initially, the New Voices Award was a purely cash award of £5000 and, in the first year of the Club's formation, was presented to Artefacts by Mike Bartlett. This play will be staged at the Bush Theatre in February before embarking on a UK-wide tour. For 2007, The Old Vic decided to strengthen the New Voices Award offer further by augmenting the cash fund to £8,000 and partnering with Theatre503.

Commenting on the project, Old Vic Artistic Director Kevin Spacey said, "These two shows are the result of work that we at The Old Vic believe in passionately - the nurturing and encouragement of the next generation of theatrical talent. The pooling of resources with Theatre503 has allowed us to offer young practitioners an unrivalled opportunity to present fresh, relevant, excellent work at a leading new writing venue."

I Am a Superhero
By Jennifer Tuckett
Tuesday 15 January - Saturday 19 January 2008

Directed by Lucy Kerbel / Designed by Louie Whitemore
Lighting Design by Richard Howell / Sound and Music by Theo Holloway
Cast includes Rosie Armstrong, Sarah Bedi and Katherine Manners

"My name is Yasmin. I am twelve years, six months and three and a half days old exactly. And this is the full and complete account of how I became a superhero."

What do you do when your world suddenly falls apart? When her father dies, twelve year old Yasmin thinks she has the answer and sets out on a mission to bring her family back together.

Mad Funny Just
by Creased, a collective formed of New Voices Club members Christopher Brandon, Lachlan Chapman, Alison O'Donnell, Mark Field, Becci Gemmell and director Sarah Tipple
Tuesday 22 January - Saturday 9 February 2008

Designed by Tom Scutt / Lighting Design by Matt Britten
Sound Design by Toby Knowles and Ed Lewis

Louise Baker's life was normal. She became part of the furniture.

But then she died.

Mad Funny Just explores how the ripples of an infinitely shattering but ultimately insignificant event affect those who loved her, or those who could have; those who knew how she took her tea and those who thought she drank coffee; those who hated her dress sense, those who loved her hairstyles, and those who simply laid the flowers around her coffin.

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