The Estate

The Estate is a place where the integrity of the shared vision of practice-based theatre is nurtured, explored and protected. This model for imaginative script development (The Estate) evolved during an ACE (WM) funded period of development in 2006.

                                                         Photo Marie Shaw

For most playwrights rejection is familiar but when it comes with overwhelmingly positive feedback it’s time to get proactive. The first event organised by The Estate to develop and showcase the work of Vanessa Oakes happened at The Custard Factory Gallery, Birmingham in 2006. Postcards were distributed showing feedback from readers/literary departments which asked the public to come along to a rehearsed reading of The Last Things and ‘Make up your own mind’

Postcard feedback: strongly original, born from a brutal tough place, distinct dramatic voice, compelling: truly complex, unquestionably good, a piece with subtlety and ambiguity, heartfelt yet fierce, ambitious project, involving and unsettling, powerful piece, thought-provoking and mysterious to the end, original insight, a most intriguing piece, necessarily dark stuff, Kafkaesque world.

Karen Cheryl Stott, Sean Edward Morris, Michael Robert Lister, Ruth Denise Thompson, Director Mark Evans, Recorded Music ABOVE OUR HEADS THE SKY SPLITS OPEN by ZAUM. The project was funded by ACE (WM)  and supported by the Centre for Media, Arts and Performance at Coventry University. Idea/play originally commissioned for Talking Birds’ Virtual Fringe Festival www.virtualfringe.info

After a successful period of script development in April 2008 (including a performed reading) The Estate’s next event was the staging of A Body Moving Through in October 2008 at The Ellen Terry Studio Theatre in Coventry.

The performances included live improvised music by Udo Dzierzanowski & Cathy Stevens of Europa String Choir http://www.europastringchoir.com/

 Sonia Ritter as Charmer       Photo Anand Chhabra

Audience feedback: Brilliant, Powerful gutsy believable magic, Captivating, emotional, entrancing, beautifully but subtly changed my feelings/thoughts about two generally negatively considered groups (Gypsies + Chavs), Moving, reflective, meditative, uplifting, Disturbing, detailed, gripping, The music was a superb addition, AWESOME.

Andy Kaine Barr, Charmer Sonia Ritter, Director Mark Evans, Costume & Props Suzanne Field, Lighting Cath Cullinane. Funded by ACE (WM), Coventry City Council and Supported by the Centre for Media, Arts and Performance at Coventry University.

In 2009 The Estate spent five days working on Touching Jane which had a performed reading at The Ellen Terry Theatre – Tommy  Edward Morris, Jane Jennie Sear, Jean  Janice McKenzie, Director Mark Evans, Dramaturg    Hamish Glen, Lighting & Sound Cath Cullinane.

Jennie Sear and Edward Morris Photo Anand Chhabra

Audience feedback: Shocking image of man-kind, This should be performed and funded, An indictment on society, This was brilliant! Fantastic.

Funded by ACE (WM) and supported by the Centre for Media, Arts and Performance at Coventry University.

His Naked Eye will be the next project for The Estate in collaboration with Theatre in Action.