by Lucy Bailey, Stage2 Youth Theatre

This term we are staging Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Our Town is a beautiful, gentle and honorable play. While the play bears traditional values including morality, community, family and appreciation of life, the presentation of these values on stage is innovative and exciting.  The scenes are set by the four Stage Managers who act as narrators, managing the ever-changing set and delicately manipulate the passage of time, demonstrating, that despite everything, life really does go on.  So let your imagination run free, and allow yourself to be engulfed in these stories as they come beautifully and enchantingly to life before your eyes. Our main plot focuses on two main families who live next door to each other and the blossoming love between George and Emily their eldest children. All our characters, grow up and develop over 14 years of their lives.

‘I have really enjoyed being in Our Town it has been amazing to watch other peoples characters grow’ Jess age 11

George and Emily each have a little sister. Jess Smith (Colmore Juniors yr6) plays George’s sister Rebecca Gibbs, who is bossy and loves her brother so much she cannot bear to see him get married. Maddie Stewart (Kings Heath Primary yr4) plays her neighbor and friend and is the little sister of Emily, desperately trying to match the intelligence of her older sister.

 ‘I have really enjoyed working with and acting with lots of people, its my first cast role and I have learnt lots. I am so excited I especially loved working with my family and Jess’ Maddie age 9

Jess and Maddie first worked together in Shocheaded Peter last autumn and made good friends, they both live and go to school in Kings Heath and them and their parents have made a strong network with other families in the area, helping each other with lifts and supporting each others children. Stage2 has lots of members in Kings Heath and many of them will be coming together in this production. This is the first production the girls auditioned for and because of their effort and commitment to Stage2 they have not only been given great roles but have been given more to do and extra scenes to reward their effort in rehearsals. Stage2 is all about member’s developing and finding things they enjoy doing.

 “The exuberance of the performances and the uncompromising production of a challenging play was a truly immersive evening of theatre; unpretentious, funny, sad, and brilliantly played.” - James Grady, UoBlogfest on ROAD April 2012

The production will be taking place at 7.30pm, 18th - 21st July 2012, at The Crescent Theatre.   Tickets are just £9 - get yours now to avoid disappointment.

http://www.crescent-theatre.co.uk/Y2012/stage2-our-town.html  or  0121 643 5858  www.stage2.org