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the Friend - Independent Quaker journalism since 1843
May 28, 2008
Thespians increase
As we introduced our BYM production of Two Caravans (which played to a packed house) we heard of another Friendly theatre group called Plain Quakers, which is going to the Edinburgh Fringe in August. PQ, as they call themselves, is a new company supported by High Flatts Quaker Meeting in West Yorkshire. Their Fringe production is On Human Folly, an 'ironic commentary' on John Woolman's travels in England. What would the radical Woolman make of Samuel Galton, the firearms manufacturer who was eventually turfed out of the Society? The actors ask some uncomfortable questions of their modern audience. Mike Casey and Arthur Pritchard, clerk of Quaker Outreach Yorkshire, take to the stage and ask: 'what did you do when you realised greed was killing the world?' Eye looks forward to this production at the Edinburgh Meeting House (Venue 40) on 18-23 August.
While we have been chasing our tails in the office to ensure our theatrical debut at the Edinburgh Fringe on Wednesday 8 August goes without hitch, the Friends in Edinburgh Central have been working with numerous companies who will be appearing at the Meeting House during the festival. We are not cut out for this at The Friend, but Phil and Pat Lucas, who are managing the MH venue (it may be their last time) are impressively cool about hitches.
Phil tells us that a company booked for the venue pulled out at the last minute as the programme was going to press, leaving the managers with a two-week hole to fill. But don't despair! Very soon a Japanese dance company was pleading to take the place as their own venue had pulled the plug on them. Hearing this made us slightly less anxious about our own tribulations.
Venue 40, the MH fringe stage, is hosting eleven shows during the festival between Monday 6 and Saturday 25 August. These span quite a range, from The Elves and the Shoemaker to Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. And there is the famous Quaker Parrot cafe serving delicious vegetarian food, although the Friend team will no doubt be too nervous to eat on our performance day (Wednesday 8 August, 1pm). You can check out all the fringe festival events on edfringe.com We hope to see you!
We are delighted to announce that Colin George, that consummate performer who has introduced audiences to George Fox with his one-man show, will be casting and directing our production of Two Caravans, the novel by Marina Lewycka, at the Edinburgh Fringe in August (see Eye 25 May) Yes, the editor did give this awesome job to Eye, but we know a professional when we see one, and Colin is our man.
Colin will be ably assisted in this dramatic adventure by his wife Sue, who will stage manage the production. Colin asks that any of you interested in taking part contact him for information on rehearsal times and level of commitment required. (The final date for applications is 20 June.) We are adapting the novel as a reading, which means you will not have to learn lots of lines.
Full rehearsals are likely to be evening or weekend, and take place in Friends House. So if our project appeals to you, please email Colin at editorial [at] thefriend.org or drop him a letter at The Friend.
The collaborative online diary of The Friend: independent Quaker journalism from the UK since 1843. Currently in test stage, featuring items from the magazine and other bloggable snippets
