'Earthrise' was devised by the Freewheelers a disability theatre company. I lead a series of six writing workshops with the company to help develop the script. This work was undertaken in parallel with dance, video and animation workshops. I then took the material, supplied additional text and assembled it into a coherant whole. The production was designed and directed by Brandon McGuire.
The piece is inspired by the Apollo missions and looks at the journey of each of the three astronauts from childhood dreams to the actual moon landing. The play is about aspiration.
It was performed at the Leatherhead Drama Festival 2008 where it won the Richard Houghton Award for outstanding achievement. The award was presented by Sir Michael Caine.
Duration 30 minutes.
[Jim and Jane are climbing down the ladder from the landing craft to the moon's surface.]
JANE: Moon.
CAST: Dust. Grey. Sparkles.
JIM: Stars.
CAST: Brilliant. White. Limitless.
[Earthrise slide is shown.]
TOM: Earth.
CAST: Earthrise. Blue. Home.
JIM/ JANE/ TOM: Wow.
CAST: Moon.
[Jim and Jane are on the surface of the moon.]
JANE: An impossible footprint.
CAST: Stars.
JIM: Infinity.
CAST: Earth.
TOM: Julia.
JANE: Beginning data collection.
[The stars start to call to Jim.]
JIM: I can hear the stars.
JANE: I am catching the moon in a bag.
JIM: I am a kite breaking free of its string.
TOM: I am a sequence of DNA spiralling to the future.
JANE: I am the first.
JIM: I’m going beyond.
TOM: I’m coming home.
JANE: Jim? Are your getting photos of this?
JIM: Beyond my body.
JANE: Jim?
JIM: Beyond myself.
The Freewheeler's company performing Earthrise
Sam Ruffles performing (she was also one of the scriptwriting team)
Sam as the astronaut Jane
Left to right: Anthony, Brandon (director), Sonas, Micheal Caine and Jamie at the award ceremony
All photographs by Andy Newbold Photography
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