Birmingham School of Acting's autumn season

University News Last updated 13 October 2010

Birmingham School of Acting (BSA), part of Birmingham City University, kicks off its 2010/11 performances in October with three adaptations: of controversial play Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind, ancient work The Suppliants and the classic Faust legend. Together, the shows reveal how language in theatre has radicalised to match the expectations of modern spectators.

The Autumn Season not only provides an initial platform for the diverse talents of the School’s final-year undergraduate actors, but also acts as a showcase for its staff. Each show is directed by a member of core BSA staff.

Opening the Season in the Crescent Theatre’s Ron Barber Studio is Edwin Morgan’s adaptation of Dr Faustus, directed by Danièle Sanderson, Course Director of the BA (Hons) Acting. Originally written by Christopher Marlowe, this disturbing rendition of the Faust story takes theatre to a new level as it explores Faust’s state of mind.

Playing in the Crescent Main House concurrently with Dr Faustus is the controversial multi-award winning new musical Spring Awakening. Principal of BSA, Stephen Simms directs this groundbreaking exploration of the journey from youth to adulthood. Emotional repression is cut through with rock and roll, sex, and teenage rebellion, to create a heartbreaking and uplifting theatre experience.

Closing the Autumn Season with a big bang, Big Love is directed by Lise Olson, Course Director of the PgDip / MA Acting course. Written by Charles Mee, this modern reworking of ancient Greek play The Suppliants features three male and three female protagonists – each helping to push the play’s grand pendulum between semi-rational negotiation and all-out warfare of the sexes.

Lise Olson, Director of Big Love, writes: “Big Love will be an amazing piece of physical theatre. I’ve been having such fun in the rehearsal room with Keith Barlow [movement director] watching actors throwing themselves (literally) into their roles in this contemporary story. Although it’s based on a play from 463 BC, Lady Gaga, Bridezilla and Motown all combine in the re-making this somewhat skewed classical theatre production.”

Bookings for all three plays can be made through the Crescent Theatre Box Office (T: 0121 643 5858 / www.crescent-theatre.co.uk). Tickets cost £7, with a concessionary rate of £5 available to over-60s, unemployed people and individuals booking in a group of five or more.