This Autumn, the arts and community development charity Creative Arts East will be celebrating the joy of text with a season of live performances inspired by the written word.

Adaptations and new interpretations of a range of literary forms will tour rural and community venues across Norfolk and Suffolk with performances based on novels, short stories, poetry and social history. The special season follows a recent trend of finding exciting new ways to bring the writers words ‘from the book to the boards’.

These high quality shows are a chance to see new drama, comedy, adventure, historical and social commentary performances, taken from written works and made to be enjoyed by new audiences. The season includes:

One woman’s true-life tale of love, risk and liberation are the inspiration for the captivating performance ‘Amsterdam’ and combines beautiful writing and spell-binding delivery adapted from its solo performer Chanje Kunda’s collection of poetry of the same title. This inspiring account of how the storyteller uprooted her own life, and that of her young son in the pursuit of happiness, love and destiny brings her written word to life and draws the audience along with her delightful and imaginative performance.

Another page to stage performance is ’64 Squares’, an adaptation of Stefan Zweig’s 1941 novella ‘The Royal Game’. Translated from the original German, the book has already inspired both a 1960 film and an opera. Set on a cruise liner in the 1930’s ’64 Squares’ is a sophisticated tale of mystery, danger, political intrigue, memory and madness, revolving around a very unusual game of chess, and its players or is it player? A live jazz percussive score enhances the intensity and energy of the performance.

The sensitive and increasingly relevant subject of a loved one living with dementia is approached in a gentle, humorous and touching way through an original stage adaptation of Sarah Moore Fitzgerald’s acclaimed book ‘Back to Blackbrick’. The story interweaves original live folk music around the characters in this engaging time-travel tale of love, remembrance and family ties. A young boy unlocks a magical world, to rediscover his beloved Grandfather as the old man’s memories fade, blur conjuring up an exciting and surprising journey to the past.

The gently comedic ‘Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain’, an interpretation of a genuine World War 2 pamphlet giving advice to young G.I.s on their arrival in Great Britain. In the show, a ‘crack team of experts’ explain the bewildering rules of the British way of life in a crash course on how to mingle with the Brits. This affectionate and cleverly funny piece uses text from the real pamphlet, original copies of which can be viewed in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library in Norwich, and which contained observations such as ‘The British don’t know how to make a good cup of coffee. You don’t know how to make a good cup of tea. It’s an even swap’. With dozens of USAAF airfields across Norfolk and Suffolk during WW2, this nostalgic and original show is of particular local interest with its fascinating take on how fact can be funnier than fiction.

For further information on this and other Creative Arts East events please go to: www.creativeartseast.co.uk/whats-on/ or contact Karen Kidman on 01953 713390 or [email protected]

This event is organised in partnership with Creative Arts East with funding by Arts Council England Norfolk County Council.

You can see ‘Amsterdam’ at: 
Creative Arts East host at Aylsham Town Hall Hall on Thursday 13th October at 7.30pm
Whissonsett Village Hall on Saturday 15th October at 7.30pm

You can see ‘64 Squares’ at: 
Creative Arts East host at Wymondham Central Hall on Thursday 20th October at 7.30pm
The Garage Theatre on Friday 21st October at 7.30pm
Sheringham Little Theatre on Saturday 22nd October at 7:30pm

You can see ‘Back to Blackbrick’ at: 
Whissonsett Village Hall on Wednesday 2nd November at 7.30pm
Seagull Theatre on Thursday 3rd November at 7.30pm
Dereham Memorial Hall on Friday 4th November at 7.30pm

You can see ‘Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain’ at:
Creative Arts East host at Aylsham Town Hall on Thursday 10th November at 7.30pm.
Wortwell Village Hall on Friday 11th November at 7.30pm
Westacre Theatre on Saturday 12th November at 7.30pm

Creative Arts East is an arts and community development charity founded in 1994 with the focus of taking the arts into rural communities. Creative Arts East works throughout Norfolk, Suffolk & the East running Creative Arts East Live! & Village Screen – rural touring schemes for live performance and cinema; and a variety of projects concerned with creative learning, health & wellbeing and volunteer development.

Creative Arts East Live! is a rural touring scheme which aims to provide memorable, uplifting and enjoyable arts experiences that enrich community life and provides a focus for shared celebration. By working in partnership with local volunteers, the scheme brings high quality and affordable arts events, within easy travelling distance to the rural communities of Norfolk and Suffolk.

For further information go to: Website: www.creativeartseast.co.uk

Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. To find out more about the Arts Council visit the What we do section of the website – See more at: What We Do