Supernatural drama just right for our times
Worthing-based Conn
Artists Theatre bring their production of J M Barrie’s Mary Rose to The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, Havant on Thursday, March 31.
Founded in 2013 by a troupe of passionate theatrelovers who worked at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing, the Conn Artists Theatre Company brings together the diverse skills of local professional theatre makers to produce unique adaptations of stories by renowned writers and playwrights.
Originally staging their plays solely in Worthing, they grew in popularity and they now tour their productions nationwide,
Mary Rose was first staged at London’s Haymarket Theatre in 1920.
Written after World War
One and the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918-20, the show is a ghostly exploration of love, loss and hope that spans a time period of over 30 years.
The play is being directed by Nick Young, whose credits include a period within the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he worked alongside Dame Helen Mirren and Patrick Stewart.
He is a former artistic director of the Connaught Theatre, Worthing.
Nick said “J M Barrie is one of the most brilliant writers of stage directions as he understands characters so richly.
“Working from this text has been a really enthralling journey.
“We chose a story that we wanted to resonate with our audience members as they are at the heart of the work we do.
“We’ve enriched the tale by embedding our own unique spin on the narrative that stays true to the original text whilst exploring feelings that uplift you with hope as well as tackling some of the darker sides of the piece.
“We simply can’t wait to bring this to theatres across the country.”
The company has been fund-raising towards the production.
Ross Muir, actor and cofounder of Conn Artists Theatre, said; “Theatre and the arts simply cannot survive without some form of subsidy beyond ticket sales.
“The core belief of our company is to entertain and inspire our audience members.
“And we had to think long and hard about whether we would be able to produce our latest show and bring it on tour as demand for funding from the Arts Council and other grant-giving trusts has hugely intensified because of the pandemic.
“The challenges that Covid-19 has brought upon live venues, creatives and everyone involved in the arts has been extremely damaging and the financial risks are far greater than before.
“But because we are so passionate about producing live theatre, we have pulled everything together to make sure we can bring this vital work, which couldn’t be more relevant right now, on tour, because it is what we love doing.
“Every donation we receive supports us exponentially with our tour costs and will help us to ensure we can produce a show of the highest quality for our audiences.”
Ross stressed: “Every donation helps to keep regional theatre alive.”
To donate to the Conn Artists fund-raising page or to buy tickets to see Mary Rose on tour, visit conn-artists. co.uk.
Tickets for the show are also available directly from The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, Havant.