The decadence of Twenties Berlin brought to life (From Gazette)

The decadence of Twenties Berlin brought to life

10:00am Monday 6th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

LIFE has been a bit of a dream for Colchester playwright Nicola Werenowska lately.

Ever since she had Davey’s Day performed by the Mercury Theatre Company, as part of their Slammers series of shows, she has been quietly notching up one success after another.

Most recently it was Eastern Angles’ tour of her play Peapickers, and now she’s working with Colchester actress and director Paula Baker for a new piece entitled Dreamdance.

They describe the piece as experimental cabaret, involving music and dance, a bit of a departure for both Nicola and Paula.

Nicola said: “I’ve only ever written straight theatre dialogue before, so this was very different territory for me. I’d worked with Paula on a piece called Hurt about girl gangs and thought it would be good to do something else.”

Dreamdance is about two women in the 1920s Berlin cabaret scene. The inter-war Germany setting has allowed the pair to draw on influences from early Brechtian theatre, and dancers such as Isadora Duncan and Ballet Russes.

Paula said: “Berlin in the 1920s was a carte blanche of expression and we were interested in that era because people went through so much hardship but had so much more to come.”

It also has a big community element involving young actors from Paula’s Aspire theatre group, based at Lion Walk Church in the town.

Paula added: “I have persuaded a brilliant young composer, called Aaron Parker, to write the music for me and he’s definitely a name to watch out for.”

• Dreamdance is at Lion Walk Church Hall, Colchester, on Friday at 8pm. Tickets on the door at £5 and £4 for concessions. The audience is encouraged to dress in 1920s costume and take a bottle of wine.