Hasland Theatre Company’s play reflects family fortunes

Dreams and struggles facing three generations of a family feature in an award-winning play which Hasland Theatre Company members are poised to stage.
Jordan Hollis, Joseph Higton-Shirt, Heather Davies, Dylan Howells in On The Shore of the Wide WorldJordan Hollis, Joseph Higton-Shirt, Heather Davies, Dylan Howells in On The Shore of the Wide World
Jordan Hollis, Joseph Higton-Shirt, Heather Davies, Dylan Howells in On The Shore of the Wide World

On the Shore of the Wide World, by Simon Stephens, won the Laurence Oliver award for best new play in 2006.

The play, which will be staged in Hasland next week, focuses on a family from Stockport and associated characters who, over the course of nine months, help the relatives come to terms with a tragic event.

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Director Nicky Beards said: “I have been very fortunate to surround myself with a wonderful cast and creative team, including three young actors 19-year-old Dylan Howell from Calow, 20-year-old Joseph Higton-Shirt from Sheffield and Jordan Hollis, a 24-year-old actor from Derby, as well as more familiar faces at HTC.

“It’s great to add a gritty, modern play to Hasland’s 67th season. I believe there is always a place to challenge our talented actors and push the boundaries a little. The play has the potential to reach out and touch people’s emotions deeply.

“With this in mind, I was very keen to incorporate a strong, technologically modern visual tone throughout what is essentially a play about relationships between ordinary people.

“We have invested in a state of the art back-projection system at our playhouse and this will allow us to use film and imagery not only in this but also in many of our future productions.

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“It has been great fun sourcing images and making films with the help of my very talented daughter, Lilly, for On The Shore of the Wide World and I hope that this innovation will help to bring new audience members through the doors of our theatre.”

On The Shore of the Wide World runs at Hasland Playhouse from May 12 to 17 at 7.30pm. Tickets £7.50. Contact 01246 272271 or www.haslandtheatrecompany.co.uk

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