REFLEX THEATRE CELEBRATES LOCAL STORIES AND HISTORIES WITH BRAND NEW PLAY

“CALL ME JOHN”

• Local company Reflex Theatre bring brand new play “Call Me John” to East Suffolk.

• A brand new drama set in rural Suffolk created with real life stories of local residents.

• Touring to Beccles, Bungay & Halesworth from 5th – 7th September 2023.

www.reflextheatre.co.uk

Reflex Theatre presents the world premiere of Call Me John 

Inspired by The Story of My Life by Alfred John Ashley Ridgeon 
Written by Megan Durrant 
Directed by Callan Durrant

Call Me John is the heart-warming tale of John, an 85-year-old great grandfather born and bred in Suffolk. John is worried he will be forgotten after he’s passed on. But when his troubled grandson, Ashley, comes to visit, John decides to share his life story, hoping to set him on a better path. But can John’s story really connect with the “youth of today”?

This original story has been created using the stories of local residents in Beccles, Bungay & Halesworth. Reflex Theatre have spent the last 5 months travelling across the towns, meeting with residents and community groups, both young and old, hearing their views, their joys, their frustrations and their amazing experiences.

Callan Durrant, Reflex’s Artistic Director, says: “This play has been 10 years in the making. My own Great Grandfather began to write down his life story and said to me that he didn’t want to be forgotten. Having spoken to so many wonderful local people, both young and old, we realised that they too felt they were being forgotten. We want to bridge the gap between generations with this play, ensuring no feels forgotten at any stage of life.”

Touring to: 
The Cut, Halesworth (5 September 2023);
Beccles Public Hall & Theatre (6 September 2023);
The Fisher Theatre, Bungay (7 September 2023).

Tickets are £7.50 and can be found via www.reflextheatre.co.uk/callmejohn

CAST BIO’s

Timothy Nixon is a former train driver on London Underground’s Metropolitan line turned actor with 23 years of performing experience behind him. He has appeared in a myriad of stage & theatre productions over the years, most notably paying Horace Vandergelder in Hello Dolly and as Gloucester in Jo Emery Productions’ adaptation of King Lear. Tim will be playing the title role of John.

Callum Adkins is a Norfolk based actor and performer, who trained at Chichester Conservatoire. Since graduating, Callum has started working with Time Will Tell Theatre Company at English Heritage sites and he has been on an East Anglian tour with Raising Caine Productions on their plays ‘Last Shot’ and ‘Confess’. Callum will be playing Ashley.

Reflex Theatre is an East Anglian based theatre company that creates active, responsive content, tackles emerging issues and enables access to essential arts-based learning across the region. Founded in 2020, Reflex, in its short life, has become a regionally significant theatrical player, building an extensive repertoire of highly acclaimed and award- winning work on stage and in the community.

This production has been possible with funding from East Suffolk Council’s High Street Events grant scheme as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

www.reflextheatre.co.uk

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