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| Soho Theatre Company and Yellow Earth Theatre present Play To Win |
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| Culture | |
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11 September 2000 Paul, a 12-year-old Filipino boy, uses a fantasy world of martial arts videos, trance CD's and computer games to escape school bullying. When the toughest gang in school ask him to join them, their world of violence, law breaking and truancy give Paul both protection and a sense of belonging. But when reality starts to kick in, Paul is pulled back into his fantasy world - where martial arts skills are used for discipline and self-defence, and respect is earned by tolerance and self-control. But can he carry these skills back to the streets where his enemies await him? One of only two projects to win funding from Sainsbury's Checkout Theatre this year, Play To Win is a powerful mega-byte of theatre which looks at the forces behind gang violence, social exclusion and the need to belong. The influence of technology in young people's lives is shown through animated, dramatic digital sequences, vividly illustrating the fantasy in Paul's mind. Play To Win is an exciting collaboration between the acclaimed Soho Theatre Company and Yellow Earth, a British East Asian physical theatre company with a strong reputation of working with and producing theatre for young people. The special effects and animation in Play To Win have been designed by Lost In Space, a company whose "in kind" sponsorship has made possible the fusion of the digital world of fantasy with that of live performance. As Artistic Director of Yellow Earth Theatre, David KS Tse is aware of the often "invisible" nature of the East Asian community portrayed in the UK media, and the consequent alienation and disaffection of some of its young people. David has created Play To Win by working closely with students from inner city schools to discover what matters most to young people today and, most crucially, how they perceive their contribution to a culturally diverse society. Soho Theatre Company, renowned for its award-winning new writing and the pioneering development of new writers, is excited to be presenting Play To Win. Abigail Morris, Artistic Director says: "Soho Theatre Company not only develops new writers - the lifeblood of theatre - but also new audiences. We are delighted to be working with Yellow Earth to introduce an exciting and technically amazing new play to a young audience who often get ignored - the 10 to 14 year olds. We are also thrilled that Sainsbury's chose us for this prestigious national scheme" Play To Win is sponsored by Sainsbury's Checkout Theatre, and is part of a £500,000 initiative set up by Sainsbury's to offer high quality new plays for 10 - 14 year olds and their families at the lowest possible prices. It also promotes youth and family-friendly practices in theatres and supports special events, festivals, and education programmes around the plays. The scheme is committed to supporting a total of eight new productions for this age group between 1999 and 2001. Theatre this good should not be missed - Time Out Critics Choice: yellow earth's New Territories Soho Theatre has established itself as a powerful force - The Guardian |
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