Pilot Theatre

What Light Premiere

It's an exciting week for Pilot Theatre, as they welcome a new cast to York. The cast of four will perform What Light, a brand new production that has been commissioned as part of the European Platform 11+ project and will work with students from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD).

What Lightis a co-production with Elsinor Theatre in Milan and has been co-written by their resident writer, Giuditta Mingucci and Pilot Theatre's associate writer, Richard Hurford(Catcher, The Mystery of Jack and the Clones of Chaos). The collaboration began back in November 2010 when Katie Posner, associate director for Pilot Theatre and Richard visited Elsinor Theatre.

This is an exciting new piece of writing for young people that explores a vision of the world in the not too distant future. It will deal with the consequences of actions we are all taking right now, with a theme of environmental issues cutting across the play. The world of 2061 has no school, no shops and no internet and no way out of a life filled with fear and hate. You will follow fourteen-year-old Sid as he attempts to find out just what happened to the world from his Grandpa.

Performed by four actors, one professional and three students from RSAMD, this production will allow young professionals to become involved with a professional production and use it as a stepping stone from training to the industry. The team will also be joined by final year lighting design and stage management students. Premiering at York Theatre Royal from the 11 to 21 May it then transfers to Elsinor Teatro Stabile D'innovazione, Milan on the 6-7 June and on to Theatre Junge Generation, Dresden from the 15-18 June.

The play is part of the ongoing Platform 11+ project, which involves 12 European countries and 13 theatre companies all working together over a three year period to create new and dynamic work for 11 to 16 year olds. Pilot Theatre is one of the two UK companies and throughout the process has worked alongside others to develop and create new pieces of theatre for and with young people.

What Lightis aimed at 11 to14 year olds but will also appeal to a much wider age range due to the themes and issues it explores. When it debuts at York it will be a part of the European Platform Festival; a three week festival which brings other partners from the Platform 11+ project to York and will involve performances from three York schools. This is a great chance to experience a range of new theatre from numerous countries.

To book your tickets forWhat Lightcall the York Theatre Royal box office on 01904 623568 or book online at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk . You can find out more about the Platform 11+ project at http://platform11plus.ning.com/ .