A brand new play, written by award winning playwright, Steve Eaton Evans, is to premiere in Taunton next week at Queen’s College from 5-7 December 2013.
The Escape Committee, a 1940s love story, is set against the backdrop of war and features the Royal Marine Commandos who are very much a part of the local Taunton community. In particular the story centres on the Raid on St Nazaire, known as Operation Chariot in March 1942, which was particularly daring and heroic with five soldiers awarded the Victoria Cross, the most ever awarded for any individual battle.
The play is to be performed by senior students (14 – 18 year olds) from Queen’s College, many of whom are themselves the sons and daughters of West Country service families. In total, 80 young people are involved both on and behind the scenes every night. The Escape Committee is extremely thought provoking and explores a number of contrasting themes including the concept of old age and our current attitudes to it, euthanasia and pregnancy before marriage.
Fifteen of the young actors who are playing old people in the play visited Dunkirk Memorial House in Taunton as part of their characterisation research and both members of the Royal Marine Commandos and Dunkirk Memorial House as well as other local dignitaries will be attending the final night’s performance.
The Escape Committee also features five original songs with lyrics by Steve Evans and music by freelance musician Nick Brace as well as beautiful close harmony songs from the 1940s. Singers and actors from The Escape Committee helped launch National Poppy Day in Bristol on 7 November 2014, run nationally by The Royal British Legion, and collections in aid of the charity will be taken after every performance.
Said Steve Eaton Evans: “I wanted to write a play that was set in the West Country and highlights the strong affection that we have in this part of the world for our Armed Forces communities. The Royal Marine Commandos were created by Churchill during the Second World War and the heroism that they showed during the raid on St Nazaire was outstanding. It is so important that our young people feel they can relate to their history and are able to discuss some of the difficult issues such as death, memory and bravery that are as relevant today as they were then.”
For tickets to The Escape Committee please email contact@queenscollege.org.uk or telephone 01823 272559.
Pictured Flora Whitmarsh as Pearl and Gabe Evans as Ted in The Escape Committee, a new play which premieres at Queen’s College in Taunton from 5-7 December 2013.
For more information please contact Henrietta Lightwood or Sarah Cronk on hcl/slc@queenscollege.org.uk or telephone 01823 340805.
Steve Eaton Evans has been nominated for two Royal Television Society Awards for his screenplays, one of which, Backfire, he won in 2004. His play Little Stars tackled the thorny subject of abortion and premiered at The House of Lords, with Einstein’s Pants shortly following in 2009. Steve has continued to write with his epic Storm Boy in 2010 about the heroic Lynmouth Lifeboat rescue in 1899 which also premiered at Queen’s College and was subsequently performed by several other schools. Working as a professional actor and playwright for many years touring the country with his company Jakes Ladder, Steve is committed to theatre in education. Qualifying at Dartington College of Arts with a BA in Theatre Language, Steve is currently Head of Performing Arts at Queen’s College and has worked at both independent and state schools around the country.
Nick Brace is the Artistic Director of Action Track Performance Company and a composer, musician, theatre Director, writer and participatory artist. He also lectures in popular and community music at Dartington College of Arts.