Theatre Royal Plymouth announce new dates for trans-Atlantic production, This Land.
This Land, Theatre Royal Plymouth’s unique trans-Atlantic community production, will now premiere on The Lyric Stage from Monday 19 – Saturday 24 September 2022.
After delays due to Covid-19, the major new production featuring a community cast from both sides of the Atlantic will take centre stage in September 2022. The epic theatrical event was due to take place to mark the 400-year anniversary of the Mayflower’s journey and its impact upon arrival in America. Although two years later than planned, the production will still tell that story in its truest form.
This Land tells the story of the Wampanoag Community for the first time. Interwoven with the Mayflower’s journey from Holland to Massachusetts, via Plymouth, and why the Pilgrims fled Europe for America, the Wampanoag Tribe go about their daily lives unaware of the Mayflower’s arrival and the enduring impact it would have on their way of life.
Directed by Alan Lane, This Land will be performed by a 100+ community cast – made up of citizens from Plymouth and members of the Wampanoag Tribe from Massachusetts.
Adrian Vinken OBE, Chief Executive at TRP, invited Alan to get on board following his earlier hugely successful community theatre productions, including Flood, created for the Hull City of Culture programme in 2017.
This Land features text by Devon based writer Nick Stimson, and scenes created with the Wampanoag Tribe and Plymouth, UK cast. The show also features songs by singer songwriter Seth Lakeman, which will be performed live by Seth and his band.
Mandy Precious, Engagement and Learning Director at Theatre Royal Plymouth said: “This Land is such an important piece of work to finally bring to the stage. It tells the story of the Mayflower sailing from all sides and honours the voices of those involved. It’s been a testing time for us all, so it is really exciting to finally make the show happen and to understand how the story impacts on who we are now.”
Director of This Land Alan Lane said: “I am incredibly excited to get back to both Massachusetts and Plymouth and get started again on this project. We had a brilliant year or so working with the people of Plymouth and the people of the Wampanoag Tribe, trying to bring this amazing story together.
“Covid has only made the story stronger and more powerful because of everything we’ve come through together. It makes me really excited that finally next year we can have the chance to tell this story to an audience.”
Rehearsals will be taking place on both sides of the Atlantic, and the entire community will come together for full rehearsals eight days before the first performance.
Citizens from Plymouth, UK include members of TRP’s community engagement projects, some of whom have fled danger in other countries to start a new life here. Together with cast members from the Wampanoag Tribe, they will be exploring the impact of 1620 - and how those events resonate today.
Adrian Vinken, CEO of Theatre Royal Plymouth said: “When we set out on this journey in 2016, we said we would throw everything at it to create a unique and hopefully, memorable production. Although the show has faced some unpredictable setbacks due to Covid-19, we hope that This Land will be an extraordinary and unforgettable experience for participants and audience alike once it takes to our stage in 2022.”
Tickets are priced from £10 and can be booked online at www.theatreroyal.com or by calling Theatre Royal Plymouth Box Office on 01752 267222.