Andy Warhol once said we will all have fifteen minutes of fame, but it took less than ten minutes for Vicky Ellis and David Riley to make their mark at the 3 Minute Theatre’s Playathon at Afflecks Theatre in Manchester.
Fracture, co-written by the pair of award-winning local writers, won the audience vote in the competition for plays of three, six and nine minutes’ duration – and the piece will now be developed into a ninety-minute play.
Fracture is a play about exploitation, and focuses on a pair of brothers who are involved with the sex trade industry. Prize-winning poet, storyteller, and editor Vicky explained: “By making the audience empathise with the brothers, we are asking how easy it is to relate to these characters and whether we forget the women in the background. There is a subtext involving the exploitation of nature for material profit and where we draw the line between profit and ethics.”
She added: “David and I were very impressed with the actors’ approaches to the characters. They tackled the subject with sensitivity and understanding. The performance was very intense. We can’t wait to start work on the ninety minute play which we have already begun to develop.”
David has been writing plays for several years. He won the Blackpool Grand Words One Act Play competition in 2009 and now helps to run it.
He said: “My plays have been performed in a variety of settings across the north and Midlands including in theatres, pubs and museums. Lately, an extract from a play of mine was included in the Grundy Art gallery show on Freud and amusement parks. Vicky and I read the extract. She has also helped by reading with me in last year’s Wordpool. We had not written together prior to Fracture.
“Winning at 3 Minute Theatre in Manchester was exciting knowing the play can now be developed into a longer piece. I’m pleased to say they’d like to use the short play again in a series of writings by various playwrights in the near future.”
The Playathon Bill:
‘Nil by Mouth’ by Sharon TwoZeds Kliszcz
‘Robbie Dog’ by Anonymous. Actors: Louise Wilson & Sean Fitton
‘Fracture’ by David Riley and Vicky Ellis. Actors: Jason D’Agostino & Joe Gosling
‘Dead on My Feet’ by Tom Morris. Actor: Tom Morris
‘Bev’ by Tom Morris. Actor: Dale Vicker
‘One Last Time’ by David Riley (Live Radio Play). Actors: Tony Charnock & Yvette V Warburton
‘Married at Sea’ by Keith Large. Actors: Tony Charnock & Billy Belford
‘Admin’ by Isla Gray. Actors Allyn Thomas, Matt D A Thompson & Charlotte Heywood
‘Waiting Life’ by Michael Ween. Actors: Phil Chadwick & Cheska Totti
‘Brush Strokes of Brilliance’ by Michael Ween. Actors: Lauren Stirrup and Emma Beaver
‘Milk’ by Jennifer Banks and Allyn Thomas. Actors: Jennifer Banks and Allyn Thomas
‘Plastic Fantastic’ by Jennifer Banks. Actor: Jennifer Banks
3 Minute Theatre is planning to mark International Women’s Week, beginning on March 3, with a series of events. For more details, visit the website.
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