PINK MIST by Owen Sheers
Directed by John Retallack
Presented by Bristol Old Vic
21 January – 13 February 2016
Press night 26 January 2016
ECHO by Papergang Theatre
Evening of performance in Bush Theatre’s Attic space
20 October 2015
Award-winning writer Owen Sheers’ acclaimed play Pink Mist, about the mental and physical scars of war, will open at the Bush Theatre in January 2016, before a run at the Bristol Old Vic.
Also announced today, Papergang Theatre with the Bush Theatre will host an evening of story-exchanges from British East Asian artists in the Bush Theatre’s Attic space.
Pink Mist tells the story of three young Bristol men deployed to Afghanistan. Returning to the women in their lives who must now share the physical and psychological aftershocks of their service, Arthur, Hads and Taff find their journey home is their greatest battle.
Owen Sheers’ Pink Mist was inspired by thirty interviews with returned servicemen and first staged at Bristol Old Vic in July 2015. This moving production, directed by John Retallack, matches Sheers’ haunting verse with dynamic movement from Associate Director George Mann, using the style and techniques developed with his company Theatre Ad Infinitum.
Tickets for the Bush run are on sale now.
Casting to be announced.
Chloe Elwood, Executive producer, Bristol Old Vic said: “It’s a real honour to have been invited to bring Pink Mist to the Bush for 2016. It’s a regional story with a universal impact which we hope Bush audiences will take to their hearts too.”
Owen Sheers has been described as “the war poet of his generation”. He is an author, poet and playwright whose first novel, Resistance was translated into eleven languages and adapted into a film. His latest novel, I Saw a Man, was published in June 2015. Owen’s writing for theatre includes National Theatre of Wales’ site-specific production in Port Talbot, The Passion; TheTwo Worlds of Charlie F, which won the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, and NTW’s Mametz. His verse drama Pink Mist was commissioned by BBC Radio 4 and won the Hay Festival Poetry Medal and the Wales Book of the Year 2014. He has been Artist in Residence for the Welsh Rugby Union and is currently Professor in Creativity at Swansea University.
John Retallack was the founding director of Company of Angels, producing new work for young audiences. He was formerly Artistic Director of Oxford Stage Company and was the founding director of Actors Touring Company (ATC). John’s own plays for theatre are translated into several languages and published by Oberon and Methuen. John is currently Tutor in writing for performance at Ruskin College Oxford.
George Mann is Associate Director at Bristol Old Vic, and Co-Artistic Director of Theatre Ad Infinitum. Highlights include Translunar Paradise (director, writer, co-deviser, and performer) a sell-out at Barbican as part of the London International Mime Festival (LIMF) 2012, which picked up nine awards and toured the globe for three years; Light (director, writer, co-deviser, performer of live vocals) met with critical acclaim, its London premier sold out at Barbican as part of LIMF 2015. In December 2014, George won the Quercus Trust Award becoming Associate Director at Bristol Old Vic in partnership with National Theatre; he continues his role at Ad Infinitum part time.
The mission of Papergang Theatre is to create theatre work that reflects the multi-cultural society we live in, bringing contemporary voices from the community into the mainstream.
Through a mix of performance, poetry and music, established and up-and-coming artists will share their tales, to awaken, connect and inspire their audience. Guests will divulge personal anecdotes born from the different cultures that have shaped them – fantastical tales, personal truths, memories of far-flung shores or incidents that happened right here in London.
Tanya Ronder’s F*** THE POLAR BEARS is currently playing at the Bush until 24 October 2015, followed by RADAR, the Bush Theatre’s annual festival of new writing (11 – 26 November) andFORGET ME NOT by Tom Holloway (8 December 2015 – 16 January 2016), a co-production between the Bush Theatre and HighTide Festival Theatre.
BUSH THEATRE
The Bush is a world-famous home for new plays and an internationally renowned champion of playwrights. We discover, nurture and produce the best new playwrights from the widest range of backgrounds, and present their work to the highest possible standards. We look for exciting new voices that tell contemporary stories with wit, style and passion and we champion work that is both provocative and entertaining.
The Bush has produced hundreds of groundbreaking premieres since its inception in 1972, many of them Bush commissions, and hosted guest productions by leading companies and artists from across the world. The Bush is widely acclaimed as the seedbed for the best new playwrights, many of whom have gone on to become established names. The Bush has won over 100 awards, and developed an enviable reputation for touring its acclaimed productions nationally and internationally. For more information, please visit: www.bushtheatre.co.uk
Madani Younis took over as Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre in 2012. Earlier this year he directed the critically acclaimed UK premiere of The Royale. In 2013 he won the Groucho Club Maverick Award for the theatre, following the most successful season in the theatre’s history which played to 99% capacity. Also for the Bush Theatre he has directed Perseverance Drive andChalet Lines. Prior to his appointment at the Bush Theatre, he was Artistic Director of Freedom Studios in Bradford, Yorkshire where his work included the site-specific work, The Mill – City of Dreams. He has also worked nationally and internationally as a theatre director, writer and practitioner. Whilst at Freedom Studios he collaborated with the Bush Theatre through workshops culminating in Freedom’s two week residency in 2010 at the theatre. He was previously Director of Red Ladder Theatre Company’s Asian Theatre School. He originally trained in film, and his debut short film Ellabellapumpanella, commissioned by the UK Film Council, was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2007. He was the recipient of the Decibel Award at the South Bank Awards show in 2006.
Bristol Old Vic, the longest continuously-running theatre in the UK, is a globally-renowned organisation, publicly funded by Arts Council England and Bristol City Council to support innovation and access for all.
This historic playhouse aims to inspire audiences with its own original productions, both at home and on tour, whilst nurturing the next generation of artists through its trail-blazing development programme, Bristol Ferment. It also has a celebrated outreach programme, including the award-winning Young Company.
2016 will be a milestone year for the organisation as Bristol Old Vic celebrates its 250thbirthday by both reflecting on its rich history and looking towards its future. The theatre is preparing for its next phase of capital development, as well as a wider business transformation that will see it turn into a major heritage destination, bringing its history and wonderful archive to life in new and exciting ways.
Having completed the refurbishment of the Grade 1 listed Georgian auditorium and backstage areas in 2012, the next phase of works is set to transform the front of house spaces, creating a warm and welcoming public building for the whole of Bristol to enjoy. For more information, please visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk
Papergang Theatre was formed by graduates of the Royal Court Unheard Voices programme, which develops writers from ethnic minorities. Their mission is to create theatre work that reflects the multi-cultural society we live in, bringing contemporary voices from our community into the mainstream. For more information, please visit www.papergang.co.uk
LISTINGS
21 January – 13 February 2016
PINK MIST
by Owen Sheers
Director John Retallack
Associate Director George Mann
Designer Emma Cains
Lighting Designer Peter Harrison
Composer & Sound Designer Jon Nicholls
Press night 26 January 2016
Mon to Sat at 7.30pm
2.30pm Saturday matinees
2.30pm Wednesday matinees
Audio described performance 6 February 2.30pm
BushGreen Live Debate 10 February
Captioned performance 12 February, 7.30pm
Ticket prices:
Evenings: £20
- £12.50 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
- £15.50 for Senior Citizens
- £12.50 for students/under 26s
- 10% off for Bush Local members
Previews: £15.50
- £10.50 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
- £12.50 for Senior Citizens
- £10.50 for students/under 26s
- £12.50 for Bush Local members
Matinees: £15
- £10.00 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
- £10.00 for students/under 26s
- £10.00 for Senior Citizens
- 10% off for Bush Local members
Season Offers*
Season 3 for 2
See 3 shows for the price of 2. Valid for top price tickets only, shows must be purchased at the same time. Not valid for previews, matinees or RADAR.
Live or work locally – Join our free local membership scheme Bush Local for £12.50 preview tickets, 10% off all other performances and a 10% discount at the Cafe Bar. For more information and to become a member, visit bushtheatre.co.uk
Educational Groups – Schools tickets are £10 (matinees) and £12.50 (evenings), plus one teacher goes free with every 10 pupils. To reserve tickets, please call the Box Office between 12 – 8pm.
Bush Connect scheme – A free membership scheme for students and under 26s, BUSH CONNECT offers its members £10-£12.50 tickets for all Bush Theatre productions, a 10% discount at the Cafe Bar, special offers, giveaways and competitions, and exclusive events and networking opportunities.
Group Bookings – Book for a group of 11 or more people and the 11th person will go for free.
*Terms and conditions apply, see the Bush website for further information.
Pink Mist runs at Bristol Old Vic from 23 Feb – 12 Mar 2016
Tickets: 0117 987 7877 / www.bristololdvic.org.uk