Judith Adams - Playwright & Dramatist
www.judithadams.co.uk"Adams' words are superb... beautiful and moving." Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman
Main Menu
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- About Judith Adams
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Live & Theatre
- SOUTH RIDING
- AFFILIATED PLAYWRIGHT - UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD
- THE GIRLS OF SLENDER MEANS
- VARIANCE
- LADY PURPLE WORKSHOP PHOTOGRAPHS
- BURDALANE ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE PROJECT
- THE LOVES OF LADY PURPLE
- STONES WORKSHOP / FRANCE
- DANCE WORKSHOPS / CORTES ISLAND / CANADA
- VILLETTE - dramatisation of Charlotte Bronte's novel
- - and after
- MARGIE GILLIS / UBC WORKSHOP (VANCOUVER)
- SWEET FANNY ADAMS IN EDEN
- CROW PLAY
- WOMEN ON THE BRINK
- SHAKESPEARE'S DAUGHTERS
- QUEUEING FOR EVEREST
- THE BONE ROOM
- THE LITTLE MERMAID
- VILLETTE
- BURDALANE
- New Media
- Radio : Original
- Radio : Dramatisation
- Extracts
- Reflections on Process
Agent's Details
OFF THE CLIFF
PHOTO: RACHEL ERSKINE, LADY GRANGE
Background
by John Britton, Senior Lecturer, Drama.
Burdalane was the first major script written by Judith Adams. Despite her considerable later success as a writer, it has never received the full ensemble production for which it was conceived and structured.
It is a large scale, choral piece which, though developed through the National Theatre's creative development programme, represents too large an undertaking for many theatres to commit to without a firm partnership with other theatres and funding bodies.
It is an extraordinary script which ought to be produced and placed alongside other major contemporary theatre works.
The aim of this project is to construct such a partnership, with the University of Huddersfield Drama Division as a core member. This partnership will need to encompass one or more major theatre venues (as co-producers and hosts of the eventual production), statutory, charitable and educational funding authorities, the University's marketing department and other interested parties. It offers a chance to invent and enact new relationships between the Educational Sector - increasingly staffed with practitioners - and the Cultural Sector, a relationship in which together, the two achieve what is not possible for either sector alone.
As well as serving the production of Burdalane, it is envisaged that this work will serve as a template for future collaborations whereby the research and innovations of Higher Education can feed into and in turn be fed by the wider landscape of contemporary performance.
The Production
Burdalane is a complex and innovative script that will make extensive demands on its ensemble of 12-15 performers. The creative process will involve three distinct strands:
1. The training of performers in specific and specialised performance disciplines & the creation of an ensemble
2. The development of the script and scenographic/visual/technical aspects of the production in collaboration with the emerging ensemble
3. The rehearsal and performance of a final production at one or two major co-producing venues
It is envisaged that the production would be available to remount for national or international touring subsequent to the original performance season.
This is NOT a student production, though graduates of Huddersfield's Drama Division, especially the MA Ensemble Physical Theatre, will be encouraged to audition. Nonetheless it will be a professional production for which applicants from a wide range of backgrounds will be able to apply.
The production will be directed by John Britton, Senior Lecturer in the Drama Division, who has specific experience in the training of physical performers and ensembles and a long history as a professional director. His work over twenty years has included directing productions for Opera Australia, Quiddity Theatre, ESMAE (Portugal) and diverse other organisations. His work as a trainer of performers has taken him to The National Institute of Circus Arts (Australia), Dartington College, The Centre for Performance Research, Central School of Speech and Drama (London) and will soon see him run workshops in Berlin, Slovenia and Mexico.
Also on the creative team will be writer Judith Adams, voice coach Chris Coe and others as necessary. Other members of the Division's staff will take an active role in supporting, overseeing and contributing to the project.
The Drama Division at Huddersfield is small but dynamic. There are excellent facilities and a research/teaching philosophy that is practical, creative, supportive and innovative. The Division's work is at the cutting edge of contemporary practice in areas such as performance training, creativity, new writing and ensemble development.
