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Lance Woodman

Playwright and Drama Worker

Commissioned by Worcester Theatre Company in association with Swan Playwrights

THE WORCESTER CENTURY PLAYS

First performance at Worcester Swan Theatre, Saturday 7 to Saturday 28 April 2001

"Vibrantly imaginative... an affirmation of the Swan's long-standing links with the city and county of Worcester, as well as a celebration of new writing." The Stage

"Mr Woodman writes like a poet..." Birmingham Post

PART ONE	The Same River by Lance Woodman	Happyland by Deborah Catesby
The joys, misfortunes and calamities of a family during the first half of the 20th Century. Just as the Severn winds through the heart of Worcestershire, their twisting tale takes us from the First World War right through to the second.

"A prime example of living history married with community theatre" Worcester Evening News

Everyone's Gone to the Moon by Kate Shaw	Inheritance by Lance Woodman	PART TWO
		Time has leapt to 1969. Man is about to step on to the moon and like everyone else, our family are celebrating. It's a time for joy, but this new generation is haunted by ghosts from the past. From Worcester's building boom right up to Millennium eve, we share in the happiness and heartache, humour and romance as our family approach the beginning of a new century.

"...a quite remarkable, often moving, one-off experience... something special..." Birmingham Evening Mail

"a wonderfully written and thought-provoking story which also manages to put a smile on your face..." Worcester Evening News

The cycle of four plays follows the saga of a Worcestershire family during the twentieth century. Over two evenings audiences share the family's journey from the outbreak of the First World War through to the millenium eve celebrations.

A company of seven professional actors (3m, 4f) worked alongside a community company of twenty local people to tell the moving story of a family, a city and a nation.

First production directed by Jenny Stephens and Kim Greengrass. Designed by Dawn Allsopp and Leila Kalbassi. Lighting and Sound by Nick Marston and Jake Chambers. Choreography by Paul Milton. The cast included Amy Shindler, Robin Kingsland, Robin Simpson, Sunny Ormonde, Yasmin Wilde, Paul Maddaford and Tina Gray.

Reading scripts of The Same River and Inheritance are available on request. I'm sure Deborah Catesby and Kate Shaw would be amenable to the idea of another production but, if required, it should be possible, with some rewriting, to present these two plays in one evening.