How We Work

Planning a full-scale MED Theatre Community Play

Composer and choreographer in discussion

Back in 1982, when playwright Mark Beeson wrote his first community play The Hedge, he had to go to great lengths to find a cast in order for the play to be performed. Over twenty years and many plays later, it is difficult to say whether a cast is found to perform a newly-written play, or whether a play is written to satisfy the community's need to perform and be involved in a new production.

Director watches a dress rehearsal of the Forest on the Hill

Teenagers and music

The process of putting together a new production is project-based - a project may cover a three year period and involve a number of productions - and often involves a collaboration between a number of local artists to enable the overall creative vision to be expressed and interpreted through music, choreography, set and costume design, and lighting, as well as through the writing. Core members of MED Theatre's back-stage creative team have included composers Gillian Webster and Phil Oliver, artists Olivia Young and Dickon Fell, costume designers Fiona Avis and Alison Hastie, choreographers Oona Beeson and Ruth Way, and directors Deborah Marsh, Sarah Boothby and Tom Greeves.

Rehearsals again emphasise the importance of the process, not just the final performance, as they provide an opportunity rarely seen in modern life for people from all parts of the community to work together towards a common goal. Adults, teenagers and children rehearse together (valuable in itself as they can all learn from each other) or are involved with stage management, publicity, technical assistance and general supervision.

By the time the performance dates arrive, many people have invested a great deal of their time and energy into the production, and are able to share the fruits of their labours with family, friends and visitors from further afield. As anyone who has been involved in any theatrical production will know, the sense of achievement and teamwork is incomparable. In MED Theatre this is enhanced by the knowledge that the participants are performing new work for the first time.

Med Theatre