Theatre groups offer churches 2012 Games drama

Saltmine Theatre Company

Four leading Christian theatre groups have each produced original productions to help churches make the most of the 2012 Games.

Touring in 2012 will be a revision of a classic John Bunyan play, a collaboration with a Muslim Theatre Company, an exploration of the roots of the modern Olympics, and an interactive game show.

Behind this choice of drama are Saltmine, Lantern Arts, Riding Lights and Act4. The productions have been created with the encouragement of More Than Gold.

Says More Than Gold’s CEO, David Willson, says, ‘We hope churches will host at least one of these productions and take them to schools and young people as well. This is one more way they can use the Games to engage with their communities’.

Saltmine Theatre Company’s In Their Shoes is a collaboration with a Muslim Theatre Company. It focuses on a pair of sports trainers - the Muslim (Stripe) and Christian (Spot) - that neighbours are fighting over. It faces the need for communities to get along spite of their differences.

From Lantern Arts Centre comes Dangerous Journey, a revision of the classic Bunyan play based on one man's race. It has original music by Paul Field.

Riding Lights Theatre Company have gone back to the roots of the modern Olympics to create Monsieur de Coubertin’s Magnificent Opymlic© Feat!. With zest and fun, the plot moves from glittering banquets in Paris to rural Shropshire’s Olympics.

A record breaking interactive game show, that connects 2012 with the encouragement for people to reach their potential, is the work of Act 4 and called Star Citizen 2012. Though the focus is on performances in primary schools, it is also relevant for community groups and churches.

Details of all four productions are at www.morethangold.org.uk/productions