Piglet by Ed Harris

Necessary Evil by Ben Askew

Forgive Our Paranoia by Chris O’Connell

ROARING VOICES MONOLOGUES

Roaring Voices Set 1

Roaring Voices Set 2

GUEST PRODUCTION

Silent

OTHER EVENTS

Short Films

One-Page-Play-Comp-Athon

State of the New Writing Nation discussion with Lyn Gardner

Rehearsed reading of Ellen

Rehearsed reading of Marvel

Other early reviews:

Time Out (4 stars): “Riveting… A thrillingly original piece of writing… Rich, rare and deeply unsettling.”
Evening Standard (4 stars): “An elliptical, intriguing piece of writing… We may not find any foxes here but we’ll certainly uncover some terrific young talent.”
Times (3 stars): “Excitingly unusual… This is a bold and often brilliant stab at something new.”
Guardian (4 stars): “In a wan year for new writing, Dawn King’s play shines out like a beacon.”

Dawn is currently writing a play for West Yorkshire Playhouse as one of the BBC Writersroom 10, and she will be the Pearson Playwright-in-Residence at the Finborough in 2012.

In May 2012, Paul Bourne will be directing the co-production of Janice’s play EGUSI SOUP with SOHO theatre for touring (which will come to the Mumford theatre in Cambridge. Click the link below to see Janice on the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15738470

By Richard Fredman. Directed by Patrick Morris. Produced by Paul Bourne.

Diving into the red-hot passions of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, hapless tourist Michael Crossley sets out to film the Holy Land for his Sunday school. There’s one place he has to go – Jericho. With high-decibel history lessons, mistaken identities, biblical visions and the most dangerous car chase ever, this riotous political comedy dares to laugh at the absurdities and tragedies of today’s Promised Land. Richard lives in Cambridge and has written many plays, particularly for young audiences. This is his first professional commission that seizes upon his experiences in Israel and on the West Bank.

Book online www.anglia.ac.uk/mumfordtheatre

By Richard Fredman. Directed by Patrick Morris. Produced by Paul Bourne.

Diving into the red-hot passions of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, hapless tourist Michael Crossley sets out to film the Holy Land for his Sunday school. There’s one place he has to go – Jericho. With high-decibel history lessons, mistaken identities, biblical visions and the most dangerous car chase ever, this riotous political comedy dares to laugh at the absurdities and tragedies of today’s Promised Land. Richard lives in Cambridge and has written many plays, particularly for young audiences. This is his first professional commission that seizes upon his experiences in Israel and on the West Bank.

Book online www.anglia.ac.uk/mumfordtheatre

Theatre review: Four For Jericho

By David Pollock
Published: 24/8/2011

You wouldn’t expect the words “comedy romp” and “West Bank” to sit well together, but playwright Richard Fredman and director Patrick Morris have produced a piece that’s thoughtful and amusing.

Paul Brendan is Michael, a wide-eyed and utterly naive Sunday school teacher who’s journeyed to the Holy Land – a “Christian who dresses like a Jew” – to shoot a film for his class and impress his estranged wife with his adventuring ways. Yet Michael isn’t that convincing, says Josh Becker’s Fouad, the poor Palestinian farmer who drives him to Jericho; “a proper settler Jew would have a machine gun”.

This is a strong play filled with compelling performances, including Chandrika Chevli as Michael’s principled love interest Izzy, and Emma Beattie with a star turn as the brash, pregnant, anti-Palestinian Jewish-American migrant Rachel, whose baby-booming mission is “repopulating the Holy Land”.

Perhaps it’s long on jovial daytime radio-play humour, but Fredman’s experience of living in the region adds richness and depth, while balanced political points are slipped in rather than hammered home.

• Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

A taxi heads for Jericho with a Jewish settler from New York, a Palestinian, an Englishman and an anthropologist all squashed together for the ride. In a funny and well choreographed farce, guns, babies and camera swap as the tension rises.

Characterisation is witty and knowing and stereotypes are constantly shifting. Human rights activist Izzy throws herself in front of every bulldozer regardless of consequences and when the brilliantly rude Jewish woman is in danger it is left to her Arabic traveling companion to come to the rescue. Another level is provided by Dr Reem Quaddum who proposes ideas for her research projects as they hurtle towards disaster; her use of Hollywood films as reference points providing a hilarious and a well placed dig at detached academic commentary.

Told from the point of view of the hapless British tourist, carefully placed historical information ensures that audience can follow the arguments and the climax refuses to simplify its subject. This is a multi-layered and energetic approach to a complex issue and it strikes a balanced note between entertainment and serious discussion.

Runs until 29th August.