The Citizens Theatre announces new writing -The Dodo Experiment by the WAC Ensemble and Press 2 For Help by Young Co – to be performed by the theatre’s youth ensembles.
The WAC Ensemble, an innovative theatre company for care-experienced young adults aged 18 to 26, will present The Dodo Experiment. Co-written by Martin Travers and WAC Ensemble member, Chloe Wyper, the production follows their 2020 critically acclaimed punk play and winner of the Best Play for Young Audiences at the 2022 Writers’ Guild Awards, Whatever Happened to the Jaggy Nettles?
Playwright and Producer at Citizens Theatre, Martin Travers, describes The Dodo Experiment as “Dark, fast, cruel, and funny. I overheard it getting described as George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion meets Squid Game. I quite liked that. It has everything you need to get audiences excited about live theatre again.
He added, “It is a real privilege to be back in rehearsals with the wonderfully talented WAC Ensemble. What makes it even more exciting is to have co-written The Dodo Experiment with ensemble member Chloe Wyper.”
In partnership with Arts in the City (supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland), the WAC Ensemble offers a supportive, creative space to explore and learn about all aspects of professional theatre-making and to develop the creative talents of young actors.
Alongside this is Press 2 For Help: an evening of new work, showcasing short dramatic pieces created by the Citizens Theatre’s Young Co in collaboration with professional writers Eve Nicol, Martin O’Connor, Sara Shaarawi and May Sumbwanyambe.
The four new scripts, which will be diverse in form and content, will range from naturalistic and poetic to darkly comic and share the common thread of exploring mental health issues faced by young people. The four writers chosen to mentor the Young Co each offer a unique creative style and have all presented work to both critical and audience acclaim.
Citizens Theatre Community Drama Director Neil Packham commented “It is thrilling, at last, to start work on our new writing/performance project Press 2 For Help, exploring issues around young people’s mental health. Members of the Young Co. had recognised this as a priority before the pandemic hit, little did we know where we were heading and how this issue would be even more important some two years later.
Press 2 For Help runs from Friday 25th – Saturday 26th March.
The Dodo Experiment runs from Wednesday 20th April – Saturday 23rd April
Both performances will be presented in the unique surroundings of a vacant office block that is Princes House – first floor 50 West Campbell Street, Glasgow, G2 6SE
Each show has a 14yrs+ age recommend and will respectively address themes around mental health, including suicide, self-harm and drug use; strong language and themes of violence/threat to life, flashing lights and sudden, loud noises.
Tickets available online now from citz.co.ukor by phone via the Citizens’ Box Office phoneline that is available Tuesday to Thursday, 10am-2pm. 0141 429 0022 or email the Box Office team on sales@citz.co.uk
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 