A Vampire Story

Watford Palace Centenary Season

Herts County Youth Theatre presents:

A Vampire Story ....by Moira Buffini

Preview of their entry to the National Theatre New Connections Festival competition 2008

Friday 28 March – Saturday 29 March

A Vampire Story - Background

A Vampire’s story is part of the National Theatre’s New Connections scheme. Ten short plays, by established playwrights, are commissioned every year and performed by some 200 youth theatre groups across the country. The National Theatre selects the best who then get invited to perform at The National Theatre in the summer.

We send best wishes to our County Youth Theatre for success in their quest to be selected.

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What flea thought of it ..........

by Caroline Wilkinson

This play is bewildering but brilliant. Is it a comedy, a gothic horror, a satirical comment on society - or all three? In some ways it’s a suspense thriller. The viewer is constantly trying to work out the relationship between characters; are the two main characters sisters, or mother and daughter? Are they vampires or a figment of Eleanor’s madness? Is it set in 1812 or 2008? It all sounds confusing but the play is so well crafted, split between 1812 and 2008 with compelling narration, that the audience is guided through the story and every possible interpretation. Once the viewer momentarily decides the characters are Vampires, something happens that implies Eleanor’s gone mad due to being raped as a child. The viewer is never left to settle very long.

The play also challenges the line between truth and art, constantly intriguing the viewer and crossing over into modern-day issues. It delivers a deep-seated serious comment on society’s destructive nature and nihilistic disregard for human life, highlighting our hunger for power, money and sex. However, it does induce a large out-loud laugh, as well as thought-provoking horror.

The truth behind the story remains subjective, but one thing is for certain - the talent on stage is phenomenal. All 19 youngsters perform with a professionalism and flair that doesn’t fall short of National Theatre standard.
_{© Copyright 2008 Caroline Wilkinson}

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Our young actors are pictured above in reheasal. On the left of this page you'll find off-stage shots of George Pearce who plays Darvel and Grace Mansfield-Young, cast as Eleanor.

Auditions were held across Hertfordshire last December for young people aged 13-16 to take part in this brand new play by award winning playwright Moira Buffini. Moira received an Olivier Award nomination for best new comedy last year for her play Dinner at the National Theatre and has previously won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, LWT Plays on Stage Award, and the Meyer Whitworth Award.

A Vampire Story is directed by James Williams, the Young People’s Director at Watford Palace Theatre. It tells the story of two young women who arrive in a nameless British small town. Their names are not their own and they don’t declare their ages, even their relationship remains a mystery. When one of the women declares herself a vampire, everyone thinks she is mad. Then people start disappearing.

Design is by Michaela Kemp, who has extensive set and costume design experience gained with the Nuffield Theatre and the Guildford Shakespeare Company amongst others, but identifies strongly with and has worked extensively in childrens' and educational theatre.

The young performers include: Amberley Lowis (Rickmansworth School); Hannah Webb (Tring School); Grace Mansfield-Young (Barclay School, Stevenage); Dorinda Heyns (Tring School); Rosie Lucocq (Tring School); George Pearce (Hemel Hempstead School), Jack O’Brien (Longdean, Hemel Hempstead) and Thomas Durrant (Hemel Hempstead School); Ellie Doughty (Ashlyns, Berkamsted); Ben Boskovic (St Mary's Catholic School); Philip Aldridge (Knights Templar, Baldock); Sam Selley (Rickmansworth School); Sam Nathan Varnham (Bushey Meads); Shana Walker (Hertswood School, Borehamwood); Ida Conboy (Rickmansworth School); Jessica Skyers (Francis Combe, Garston); Charlotte Oliver (Barclay School, Stevenage); Verity Varnham (Bushey Meads); Gemma Munro-Collins (Sheredes, Hoddesdon).

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Opening times: Performances at 7:45pm PLUS Saturday Matinee at 3:00pm
Address: 20 Clarendon Road
Watford
Herts. WD17 1JZ
Telephone: 01923 225671
Email: info@wa...re.co.uk
Website: www.watf...tre.co.uk