Theatre / preview
Preview: amendments, Alma Tavern Theatre
Exeter’s Middle-Weight Theatre Company return to the Alma Tavern Theatre from May 16-18 with their inventive new comedy amendments: A Play on Words.
Midway through a 2019 UK tour and with upcoming appearances at Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, director Tom Stabb and Bristol-based playwright Matt Roberts speak about how they are tackling the various absurdities, frustrations and necessities of political correctness.
How did amendments: A Play on Words come about?
Tom: It originated after a post-rehearsal discussion about PC culture.
The passionate, angry and divided views which emerged from the members of the company made it obvious that this stuff was worth exploring dramatically.
Matt: The play is essentially one conversation between two polarised characters fighting for their own voice and values. It soon took the form of a relentless, provocative and hysterical piece of theatre. What started as a small embryonic scenario has now begun its national UK tour.
is needed now More than ever
Tell us about the origins of Middle-Weight Theatre.
Tom: Matt and I used to play in a heavy metal band back in our earlier years, which came to a natural (and clichéd) end. After that, I think we were both a bit lost, looking for something a little different to fill the void. We joined a local theatre / social group and were asked to produce a ten-minute comedy sketch for a variety show.
I happened to have a good idea about two NASA operatives from 1969, being in charge of writing Neil Armstrong’s iconic first words to be spoken from the Moon, but struck down suddenly with writers’ block. Matt found it a funny situation and, being the prolific writer he is, ran with it, producing 15 full pages of dialogue overnight.
The script was so good and the sketch version was well received by the audience, we decided to make it into a fully-fledged play: our company debut, Sound Bite. Middle-Weight Theatre Company was born.
What can audiences expect from amendments?
Tom: From the first second, the audience are exposed to an unrelenting bombardment of dialogue delivered with sniper-like precision that is guaranteed to split opinion – and requires them to keep up with the action right until the last moment.
Matt: Hopefully, they’ll see themselves in the characters, and in doing so, question their own attitudes and prejudices to the topics presented to them. Or maybe they’ll just laugh a lot. Which is just as important.
amendments: A Play on Words is at the Alma Tavern Theatre from May 16-18. For more info, visit www.tickettailor.com/events/almatheatrecompany/247091 and www.middleweighttheatrecompany.com
Read more:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
