Playwrights put focus on Peterborough for new online performances

In response to a rapidly changing world, where all touring and live performance is currently on hiatus, Paines Plough have launched COME TO WHERE I AM. In partnership with Eastern Angles and other

theatres across the UK they have co-commissioned 30 new short plays from local writers about the places they call home and their relationship to home at this time.

In a reversal of previous plays these will be recorded first and released as visual-audio pieces and then performed in partnering theatres when they reopen.

Eastern Angles are focusing on Peterborough and have commissioned four writers at different stages of their careers to each create a short play about where they are.

The writers are award-winning playwright Aisha Zia (No Guts, No Heart, No Glory; Winner of Scotsman Fringe First Award); Peterborough poet laureate (2017-19) and Jumped Up Theatre Associate Clare Currie; playwright and screenwriter Phil Ormrod (Isaac Came Home from the Mountain – Theatre 503); and poet/playwright Marianne Habeshaw (Snowflakes in the Slowcooker for Eastern Angles Young Writers’ group 2019).

The project will be led by Eastern Angles Artistic Associate Scott Hurran, who said: ”This is an incredibly exciting project that we have been able to adapt with Paines Plough for the situation we currently find ourselves in.

“To be part of a National effort to tell stories up and down the country is remarkable at this time. We will be working with writers from Peterborough, to bring you their stories and experiences of living here, growing up here and everything in between. Hopefully in the not to distant future, these plays will be performed at the Undercroft as we open our doors once again.” 

These new plays will premiere online tomorrow (Wednesday, June 10) at 7pm - the plays will be streamed on Paines Plough’s YouTube Channel - and, for certain groups who may find it more difficult or even impossible to access digital content, Paines Plough will create a unique live readings of the plays over the phone, allowing isolated audience groups to access on-demand culture.

Paines Plough are working in collaboration with celebrated actors to provide this caller service including David Bradley, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Lisa Hammond and Sally Dynevor – with more still to be announced. To

deliver the service Paines Plough will work with Eastern Angles to identify potential user groups within their communities.