Action Transport Young Writers present
Spike
Sponsored by Shell UK (Stanlow)In September 2005, Action Transport Theatre worked on an experiment in collective playwriting, not for the first time, and the final result was a new play called ‘Spike’ which went on to tour secondary schools in Ellesmere Port and Chester tour and then nationally, including Barrow-in-Furness and finishing in London.
The young writers of this play, all from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire had the chance to go out on tour with the show and get to talk to their audiences about the process of writing their own collective play. They also met up with young writers from across the country, who were also working on similar projects allowing them to share their experiences.
“The journey has been fantastic. The long and painful preparation work is finally beginning to pay off. Planning is so important to the finished article even though no one sees it or remembers it when the play is over!”
Dave Fellows, Young Writer on ‘Spike’.
Spike toured to secondary school across Ellesmere Port and Chester including Sutton High School , Ellesmere Port , The Queens School , Chester , Kingsway High School , Chester , and Bishops Blue Coat High School . The play, aimed at 10-11 year olds was also utilised by GCSE Drama Students to review a live drama performance.
The show also toured to primary schools and a local library in North Huyton, Merseyside where Action Transport have been working with a cluster of five primary schools and the local library, offering a ‘Creativity Entitlement’ to a class of pupils who are now in Year 6, who will have seen every show relevant to their age group produced by Action Transport over the last three years. This was made possible through working with North Huyton New Deal in the Community.
The show then toured to The Ashton Group, Cumbria for a performance to their youth theatre and young writers, and finished with a bang in London, playing as part of Theatre Centre’s Young Writers Festival at oh! Art, Oxford House, Bethnal Green, London .
So what is the play ‘Spike’ all about?
With the summer holidays only just beginning, Ruby is eager to do all those things she and her dad do, but now he’s not here and Grandad Jeff only eats pickled onions and jam and is far too old for climbing cliffs and for flying the kite.
Something’s got to give…
Spike is a story of hope and imagination in a world where children sometimes find themselves alone.
With the summer holidays only just beginning, Ruby is eager to do all those things she and her dad do, but now he’s not here and Grandad Jeff only eats pickled onions and jam and is far too old for climbing cliffs and for flying the kite.
Something’s got to give…
Spike is a story of hope and imagination in a world where children sometimes find themselves alone.
Created for 9-11 year olds and anyone who remembers what it was like to be that age, this has been a unique journey made by a team of people –which for some has been the first play they’ve ever written.
From first idea to final professional production Action Transport Young Writers are creating the reality that Action Transport are striving for in creating new plays for, by and with young people.
To download the script, please click here (pdf).
