Rehearsed Reading
31st August 2008
Tobacco Factory, Southville
WHAT IS IT? The aim of the rehearsed reading is to try out a piece of scriptwriting to see how it feels in the hands of a professional director and actors. It is an opportunity for the writer and production company to get a sense of where the strengths and weaknesses are and what is required to develop the script into a full production. Actors will read from scripts and there will no stage design and technical presentation. The full production (2009-10) would see a revised script that could involve music, dance, design and a range of dramatic arts that will enhance its theatricality. WHY IS IT?
The Bristol bus boycott of 1963, led by Paul Stephenson and other Bristol activists became one of the major landmarks in UK civil rights movement.Their political resitance led to the overthrow of a 'colour bar' at the Bristol Omnibus Company and put the city in the international spotlight for its stance on racism.
The aim of the play is to use that historical backdrop as a basis for a piece of fictional theatre set in Bristol. It draws on the experience of newly arrived West Indians to Bristol, and brings the political and the personal together through the conflicts of its central characters. Beyond this rehearsed reading, your feedback and the experience in the theatre will help towards developing a full production for performance in 2009 and touring beyond that. WHO IS IT?
City Chameleon and Firstborn are collaborating on this production with the aim of mounting an exciting production which asserts and underscores a key political moment in Bristol and British history, and its legacy. Writer, Edson Burton and Director, Robin Belfield continue to establish their reputations for creating quality drama including their recent involvement with the excellent 'Trade It' by Show of Stength theatre company. As a collection of writers, performers, producers and artists working in Bristol and the South West for many decades, they felt the time has come to be able to work on stories that reflect their interests and experience and build them into full and meaningful productions. Emerging from initiatives such the Bristol Black Writers, Kuumba project, Black Pyramid, the city's universities and a range of other cultural movements and institutions in the South West, the producers and artists aim to develop this partership beyond a single production or single issue into a sutainable platform for futher collaboration, with quality writing and production of theatre, film, media and arts. This will involve working with many other artists and agencies, known and unknown local and international.
The Tobacco Factory, which continues to innovate and provide a space for new and established work, is a fitting venue for this rehearsed reading and a valued partner in enabling this project to develop.
Theatre Bristol have also been instrumental in bringing together some of the disparate parts to make this ambition a reality and rack up the quality of the work. As a key strategic organisation geared to enhancing theatre practice in Bristol, we look forward to making more of this collaboration in the ongoing development of this project.
WHO IS IT FOR?
As a valued friend and colleague you are invited to be a part of this audience and the rehearsed reading for Devon Country. Your participation and feedback is more than welcome,it's essential. Also this is an opportunity for existing and potential partners and sponsors to see an early incarnation of the project and get a sense of the possibilities.
WHAT NEXT?
Please book your ticket for the rehearsed reading on the 31st August via Tobacco Factory box office on phone:
If you have any further questions, please do contact me (Rob) on this email of phone number 07932088783 or Bertel on bert@citychameleon.co.uk
 Tony Benn & Paul Stephenson in 2003.
Benn who was Bristol's MP in 1963 fought alongside the fiery young activist Stephenson, to overturn the Bristol 'colour bar' on the buses. The two stand on the back of a 1960s bus to mark forty years since the political conflict. Tony Benn holds the book 'Black & White on the Buses' by Madge Dresser, which charts the detail of that campaign. (Photo courtesy of Paul Stephenson and Bristol Black Archives Partnership) |
 THE BIGGER PICTURE Opportunities to further this story and develop the initiative will be taken up in the following ways: Theatre Development, Production & Tour
The theatre production
will be developed and designed with the potential for U.K. and
international touring. The development process will involve the
incorporation of feedback from the rehearsed reading, oral history and media research, writing and creative development. Further sponsors and partners will be
invited into the project. The full production will take place in 2009-10
with a tour estimated to be on the road in 2010.
Paul Stephenson's Autobiography In addition the play, an autobiography of Paul Stephenson is being developed in conjunction with Lilleith Morrison.
It is an opportunity for English-born Paul to put his story in his own words, facilitated by writer Lilleith. The
publication will chart the life of a man once dubbed the 'Black
Englishman' by a newly de-segregated U.S. hotel. His views on growing
up in England in the 1940s and 50s will offer a rare insight about
being black in pre-60s Britain. Stephenson can also provide readers
with big ideas arising from his subsequent grappling with the country's
political and civic structures in the realm of race politics.
Black British Civil Rights Publication
Charting the history of
the U.Ks' 'Civil Rights movement will be the aim of this publication.
Drawing on the views of cultural commentators and the experiences of
political activists, it will be an accessible journey into the British
perspective on the political, racial and cultural upheavals of post-war
Britain that brought us to today's legislative and ethical framework.
Education Resources
History
& Citizenship teaching will be targeted with the publication of
teaching and learning materials in the form of images, stories, media
and worksheets. The bus boycott of 1963 provides a central catalyst to
look at ideas around identity, migration, political/civic structures
and campaigning. The resource will be developed in partnership with
educators and designed to serve the needs of teachers and learners in
or out of the classroom.  photograph: Amanda Felici flyer design: Bertel Martin
Devon Country is a play set against the backdrop of the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963. A rehearsed reading will take place at the Tobacco Factory, Raleigh Road, Southville at 8pm on August 31st 2008. Book tickets with the Tobacco Factory. See their ''booking tickets' webpage for more information: or telephone: 
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