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Jon Oram is an internationally known leader in the field of Community Plays. He left school, joined a circus and then trained as a Drama Teacher before training as a Mime with Marcel Marceau and as an Improviser with Keith Johnstone and Theatre Machine. He travelled the world both with his one-man shows and theatre teaching. Jon was Educational Drama Advisor in Norfolk and Theatre Animator for South East Arts in Cornwall where he wrote and directed for Knee High Theatre. He came to Community Plays in 1982.becoming Artistic Director of Colway Theatre Trust, in 1985, later to renamed Claque. Jon has since developed the work extensively especially in area of the issue based play, developing the concept of the Social Actor and exploring further the process of involving the community at a deeper level within the work. He brings a distinctive visual style to the productions. His reputation and experience in Community Plays is without parallel having directed or written almost forty plays across Britain, and introducing the concept of community plays to The United States, Canada, and Finland.
Stephen Lowe has been commissioned to write Cityplay East. Why Stephen? Because he is a listener and will take his responsibility of writing a play to represent the residents of the city seriously. He has written contemporary and historical plays. He is especially committed to social drama and has a fascination about history and an affection for London. Not least Stephen is a wonderful writer, and understands theatre, he has worked as an actor, director, artistic director as well as playwright for stage and television including numerous episodes of Coronation Street. He has many awards and achievements but said recently that his greatest was having a Nottingham Tram named after him; that says something about the value he puts on community. More.... |
