Description
About the Author
Vicky Ireland MBE has worked as an actress and as a presenter on BBC TV's Words and Pictures. She was Artistic Director of Polka Theatre (1988-2002) and has since adapted and directed six books by Jacqueline Wilson. Television includes two adaptations of Allan Ahlberg's Happy Families for BBC TV receiving a Writers' Guild nomination. Vicky is co-artistic director of A Thousand Cranes Theatre and Vice-Chair of Action for Children's Arts. Paul Harman started work as an actor in repertory theatres in 1963 and soon found his way to professional theatre for young audiences via the Coventry Belgrade Theatre in Education team. He was founder and Artistic Director of Merseyside Young People's Theatre in Liverpool 1978-89 and Artistic Director of Cleveland Theatre Company in Darlington 1994-2008. His productions for young audiences have toured to many countries and he has translated plays for young audiences from French and German. Currently Chair of TYA-UK Centre of ASSITEJ (the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People), and a member of the Executive Committee of ASSITEJ International from 2008-2011.
Reviews
"This is a must-have seminal resource." stageplays.com; "This book has information about the variety of children's theatre available in the UK. It is a testament to the vitality of the sector that it is able to continue despite the cuts. Ideal for anyone new to British Theatre or wanting to find out the kind of work on offer from different companies. Children's Theatre is something we excel at and is a major cultural export - this guide gives contact info and other useful info for any would-be programmer." - Amazon review; "This useful book is likely to help anyone who wants to stage young audience work. Two people who really know (Ireland is a former director of Polka Theatre and Harman of Cleveland Theatre Company) provide the practical lowdown on plays ranging from David Wood's The Gingerbread Man to Nick Wood's Warrior Square and Peter Rumney's Cosmos. What is the play about? How many actors does it need? Who premiered it? What do they say about it? Where can you get the script from? It's all here along with advice about festivals, resources, sources of advice and a list of companies specialising in plays for young audiences." Susan Elkin, The Stage; "The newly released 50 Best Plays for Young Audiences, edited by Vicky Ireland and Paul Harman... provides a rewarding counterbalance to Wooster's focus on the companies and methods behind TIE, showcasing the diversity and range of writing over the last half-decade. Ireland and Harman have devoted almost their entire working lives to TYA and TIE respectively; their book, while brief, contains some key insights, particularly Gordon Vallins' splendid insider's take on the beginnings of TIE - born on Wednesday 15 September 1965, according to him!" - Ben Fletcher-Watson, Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance;
Book Information
ISBN 9781910798997
Author Vicky Ireland
Format Paperback
Page Count 216
Imprint Aurora Metro Books
Publisher Aurora Metro Publications