A NEW play featuring a young cast will be performed in Newbury this week.
The Girl of Ink and Stars is based on Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s novel and adapted by Becca Chadder.
It will be performed by The Watermill’s Youth Ensemble, comprising youngsters aged 11 upwards, and includes actors with additional needs, including autism and hearing impairments.
The cast also includes children who are home-schooled.
The play tells the story of Isabella.
Inspired by her cartographer father, she longs to follow in his footsteps and explore her island home of Joya. But when her best friend goes missing, her dreams of adventure come true sooner than she thinks.
She must lead the search party into the dangerous Forgotten Territories before it’s too late…
The Girl of Ink and Stars is directed by The Watermill Theatre’s Outreach Director, Heidi Bird.
“We are thrilled to introduce our newly formed Youth Ensemble who have come together to tell this gripping and unique tale,” she says.
“Our brilliant cast is made up of young people aged 11+ who take part in one of The Watermill’s regular weekly groups. I am incredibly touched and proud to see how these young people have rehearsed with such energy, humour and kindness to create this magical tale – we can’t wait to share the adventure with audiences.”
There will be audio described and British Sign Language integrated performances during the run.
Heidi says: “We run a drama group specifically for deaf young people and it’s important that our deaf young people have the option to act in our Youth Ensemble productions. Additionally, two deaf young actors have chosen to take on the challenge of also performing sections in BSL for the sign integrated show.”
“We’ve had the very good fortune of working with a fantastic associate director on this production, Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford.
“Mary-Jayne is Deaf herself and has a wealth of experience in directing and performance BSL. Our young sign performers have been able to work with Mary-Jayne throughout rehearsals, giving them loads of time to develop and learn.”
And it means so much for the cast. One of the children says: “It’s really exciting to know that my deaf friends will come and watch me and know exactly what’s going on because of me.”
The Girl of Ink and Stars runs from Thursday, March 31, through to Saturday, April 2, with a BSL integrated performance for the Saturday matinee at 2.30pm and an audio described performance in the evening at 7.30pm.
For more details, or to book, call the box office on 01635 46044, or log on to www.watermill.org.uk
