The Lord of the Flies, set in post-Katrina New Orleans, opens this week

by PegNews wire

The award-winning book, The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is now a thought-provoking theater production, which will be performed by young Dallas actors January 9-26, 2008 at the Bath House Cultural Center near White Rock Lake.

PublicWorks Theatre Company & Risk Theater Initiative (in association with The Dallas Children’s Theater) co-present the adaptation by Nigel Williams of the novel, this time set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Eleven schoolboys are stranded and left to fend for themselves --young survivors in a precarious new world - under the pressure of raw nature.

The production grew out of workshops and two successful staged readings at Dallas Children’s Theater in April 2007. With the support of Robyn Flatt, project director Catherine Hopkins created a production with minimal staging and developed 11 young actors into a cohesive company over six weeks of rehearsals. The play’s theme of conflict resolution in the face of natural disaster proved a powerful and relevant issue for Dallas teens, many of whom go to school each day with Katrina victims.

The Lord of the Flies

When:	Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Where:	Bath House Cultural Center, 521 East Lawther Drive, Dallas
Cost:	$10 - $15
Age limit:	13+
Full event details »

Public Works is a new Dallas theatre company inspired by new writing and challenging, contemporary adaptations of classic theatre and literature. The mission is to make theatre particularly relevant to youth audiences in Dallas. Catherine Hopkins, director of The Lord of the Flies, is also co-artistic director and co-founder of Public Works, which began as a company in London in 2005. The designers include Tom Parr IV, Russell Dyer, Floyd Kearns-Simmons and Eric Domuret. The cast includes Will Altabef, M. Graeme Bice, Dave Burford, Dante Flores, Christopher Harshaw, Travis Messersmith, Kyle Mason, Dakota Nolan, Chance Jonas O’Toole, Ian Stack and Trey Trevino.

The pay-what-you-can performance on Wednesday January 9 will benefit Ya/Ya teen project in New Orleans. Call 214-774-7242 now to reserve tickets. The play is recommended for audiences 13 and over.

Posted by Shawn