YOUNG ANGELS THEATREMAKERS Partners: in association with The Junction, Cambridge Supported by: Arts Council England East Dates: April 2007 – February 2008 Company of Angels and The Junction, Cambridge, are pleased to announce the successful completion of this first new awards scheme for young theatremakers. Following an interview and showcase selection process in the summer of 2007, two creative teams were chosen to receive £5,000 each to develop an original piece of work for young audiences. Abigail Graham / Emma Bettridge and Philip Thorne / Oystein Brager (Imploding Fictions) developed their ideas during two development residencies at The Junction in the autumn and spring. The results of their work, Jack's Quest and Norway.Today, were shown at The Junction on February 22, 2008 and received highly positive feedback from general audiences as well as industry professionals. For a DVD of the showings, please email info@companyofangels.co.uk or call 020 7928 2811. Jack’s Quest (4-8 years) Follow run-away Jack and Nigel the Labrador on their adventures and join their code-cracking mission to find their way back home. A truly interactive experience, directed by Abigail Graham and written by Emma Bettridge. Abigail Graham (Director) Abigail’s directing career began with young people on housing estates in Hackney. This inspired her to create theatre for a younger audience and she went on to direct The Boy and the Dog who Walked to the Moon (Pleasance, Edinburgh). She is one of seven directors on the Old Vic New Voices Programme and directed one of their 24 hour plays. Abigail has also directed at various London Fringe venues. Emma Bettridge (Writer) Emma studied at the University of Reading before heading to Edinburgh to work for the Pleasance. Now Head of Programming for the Edinburgh and London venues, as well as working as a freelance writer, Emma has helped develop the work of many talented new companies, including work by Unpacked, dANTE oR dIE, Analogue, and Moonhag. This is her first show for children. Norway.Today (12+) Julie and August meet through an internet chat room and make a pact of suicide. Laden with backpacks, a tent and a camcorder they arrive at the foot of a desolate cliff in the Norwegian wilderness and begin the steep ascent. A tale about a paradoxical will to die and a passion for life in a new adaptation by Imploding Fictions. Original text by Igor Bauersima, translated by Marlene Norst. About Imploding Fictions Since the company was formed in London in 2007, Imploding Fictions has already worked in Serbia, Norway, Egypt, Italy and Germany. We are excited about the meeting between international and British theatre, something which has lead us to discover several great plays with a limited production history in Britain. We are excited about promoting international plays and playwrights of a high standard and integrity to a British audience. The artistic directors of Imploding Fictions are Philip Thorne and Oystein Brager. Brager works as a freelance director and dramaturg, and is involved in arts administration. Thorne is a freelance director, as well as working as an assistant director at the National Theatre and Royal Court. Oystein Ulsberg Brager (Director) Oystein's directing credits include Hamletmachine; winner of Premio Claudio Gora 2007 (Rome), Cairo International Festival of Experimental Theatre, BAC (London), first performance of S.A.T.B. by Meredith Oakes, BAC (London) and Cleansed, Rose Bruford (London). In 2003 he co-wrote The Hitch (Oslo), which won an award in the Norwegian Theatre Council's Playwriting Competition. Oystein has long experience as a workshop leader, and in 2008 he will be teaching improvisation techniques both in Norway and Iran. Philip Thorne (Director) Directing credits include: Hamletmachine: Cairo International Festival (Egypt), Laboratorium Teatro (Rome), BAC (London). Assistant directing credits include The Ugly One: Royal Court, The Hour We Knew Nothing Of Each Other (researcher): National Theatre, Faust: Burgfestspiele Jagsthausen (Germany). Philip works at the International Department of the Royal Court as a regular script reader. Together with Oystein Brager Philip has set up the performance collective Imploding Fictions which was awarded the Premio Internazionale Claudio Gora 2007 in Italy. For a full programme of both showcases, please click here. Photo: Norway.Today (Hannah Boyde, Neil Connolly) Credit: Rob Thomas Photography