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HISTORY PLAY HOME IS NOT THE PLACE Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 21 & Sat 22 Feb
‘Story is everything and everything is story,’ says Annie George. ‘The personal story is important in my work. I think that this is crucial in helping to diversify the sector: there seems to be a neglect or under- appreciation of artists from diverse backgrounds, or indeed of mature artists, like there’s nothing to learn from them. Well, I beg to differ!’
Home is Not the Place examines the writer and performer’s experiences as a migrant, and the life of her grandfather, the Kerala poet PM John. George’s belief in theatre’s potential as a place for both public conversations about the big ideas and personal history manifests in parallel contemplations on her own life and John’s legacy. ‘PM John died 25 years before I was born, so writing this play was a way of getting to know him, and to pass on to my children the history that shaped them,’ she continues. Because John was born in ‘the little village in the middle of nowhere’, he was forced to become ‘a pioneer’ to forge his career as a poet. ‘Most importantly, because he wrote, he lives on through his words,’ George continues.
George’s play demonstrates that not only can theatre be a place to capture excluded parts of the past, but can give meaning and vitality to life through language. ‘We each have the right to tell our stories. If we don’t, it’d be as if we never existed. It is our immortality. As I say in the play, we are history, poured out on to fragile pages.’ (Gareth K Vile)
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Royal Lyceum Theatre Company Ltd is a Registered Company No. SC062065, and Scottish Charity Registered No. SC010509 1 Feb–31 Mar 2020 THE LIST 93
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Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is a co-production between Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Tron Theatre and Blood of the Young with partners Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Leeds Playhouse, Northern Stage, Nuffield Southampton Theatres and Oxford Playhouse. Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is brought to The Lyceum stage through the generous financial support of Principal Supporter Stephen W Dunn