‘The Spirit of my Dream’ is a new portmanteau play from 17Percent, devised and written by Medway-based writers Maggie Drury, Sam Hall and Sarah Hehir. It is to be performed as part of the Rochester Literature Festival 2014, after the success of 17Percent’s ‘What’s through the door?’ performed at the festival last year.
The play is inspired by a poem by Byron, ‘The Dream’, and uses the imagery of dreams and sleep to take the audience on a surreal journey of a lucid dreamer. In three dreams we will meet a cast of unusual characters; from Restoration comedy, to fairytale, and to a dark future landscape.
MAGGIE DRURY started writing for the stage in 2004 showcasing work at The Old Red Lion and RADA. Her play NOT KNOWING WHO WE ARE was performed at the Blue Elephant Theatre in 2007. Several of Maggie’s short plays have been showcased by 17Percent, including at MAID IN KENT at Lounge on the Farm 2012. She is currently working on a novel and a full-length play.
SAM HALL is the founder of 17Percent. Her first play, written whilst at school, won the Six Counties Festival. Her plays have been performed in the UK and internationally; her most recent play, SEVEN TUNES ON THE FLUTE received its world premiere in Italy at the Trends festival of new British Writing, in April 2013. She has been commissioned to write a suite of plays on human trafficking for tour next year.
SARAH HEHIR teaches English, Drama and Creative Writing in schools and prisons. She was shortlisted for The Nick Darke award 2012 and is the winner of The 2013 Writer’s Prize sponsored by the BBC Writersroom. Her play BANG UP was broadcast on Radio Four on 8 August 2013. DARK was shortlisted for the Immersive Writing Competition July 2013. CHILD Z, her latest full-length play will be produced next year.
The writers have all worked together on previous projects for 17Percent, and have workshopped and previewed work at 17Percent’s showcase of new writing by female writers, She Writes. They are really excited to be collaborating on this project.
Praise for ‘What’s through the door?’
‘Three plays in one, each delightful and mysterious. The pieces are beautifully and intelligently connected by an overarching narrative…’ **** Everything Theatre
Full cast information to follow.
The Spirit of my Dream
Chatham Grammar School for Boys, Maidstone Road, Chatham
Saturday, October 4th. 7pm – 10pm.
Onsite parking.
Tickets are £5 plus booking fee and can be purchased here.
17percent 