Minotaur will offer Easter entertainment
Wimbledon's Polka Theatre is presenting the world premiere of Minotaur by award-winning writer Kevin Dyer, from April 4-May 24.
Directed by Michael Fentiman, the production is said to fuse a modern-day war story with Greek mythology to create a dark and gripping high-stakes adventure for ages 8-14.
Freddie receives a mysterious text message from his dad, a soldier fighting in a faraway modern warzone. Transported to the twisting labyrinth of ancient Minos, can Freddie slay the half-bull, half-man Minotaur and rescue his father?
Director Michael Fentiman comes to Polka from the critically acclaimed RSC production of Titus Andronicus and Shakespeare Unlocked for the BBC.
With him is Designer Lily Arnold, whose recent work includes A Season in the Congo at the Young Vic and King Lear for the RSC. Minotaur is written by Kevin Dyer, recipient of Writers’ Guild Award for ‘Best Play for Children and Young People’ for The Monster Under the Bed at Polka. The lighting design is by Tim Lutkin (Candide RSC, Chimerica Almeida & West End).
The theatre says Minotaur is the perfect activity to get 8-14 year olds out at the Easter holidays- it’s got huge appeal for this age group - from young gamers to fans of novels like Percy Jackson, it’ll give audiences a chance to experience quality theatre made especially for them.
The production is a result of an international collaboration and co-commission between Polka, Clwyd Theatr Cymru Theatre for Young People and Young People’s Theatre in Toronto. Two productions of Minotaur will open simultaneously- one at Polka Theatre and one at Young People's Theatre in Toronto. Groups of young people both in Toronto and Wimbledon have collaborated in a research and sharing project, with digital link-ups, a collaborative blog and workshops with the writer Kevin Dyer in both locations.
Peter Glanville, Artistic Director of Polka, said: "Minotaur is a powerful new play which weaves the classical Greek tale into a modern story of a boy dealing with his father being away at war. I’m very excited by the top-notch team we've assembled for this premiere. Polka is committed to producing ‘world-class theatre’ for children up to 14yrs and this compelling new play, concurrently being produced by Toronto Young People’s Theatre, is part of my inaugural season."
March 7, 2014