Popular theatre showcase now a Fruit regular

A THEATRE EVENT THAT SHOWCASES the work of Hull and East Riding writers is set to become a regular fixture at warehouse venue Fruit, on Humber Street, Hull.

Two Scratch@Fruit events have been held already this year and have proved to be so popular with writers, actors and audience members that they will now take place once every two months.

Each evenings is produced by award-winning Ensemble 52 – the resident theatre company at Fruit – and curated by Hull-based playwright Dave Windass. The Hull branch of Script Yorkshire will co-curate this third event. Branch spokesman Mark Walmsley said:

“We're delighted to be able to get involved in an event that promotes and encourages new writing. This is a great opportunity to get work on its feet and in front of the public.”

The showcase sees work being rehearsed and performed, script-in-hand, just hours later. Audiences are invited to provide feedback to theatre makers and play an active role in the development of the work.

Writers are now being invited to submit work for the third Scratch @ Fruit night, which takes place on Tuesday 28th June. Organisers are looking for excerpts from original dramatic writing for the stage of approximately 10 minutes in length and written for a cast size of three. Pieces should require minimal set, lighting and sound cues. The deadline for scripts is Monday, 30th May and full submission details are available from Scratch@Fruit

Scratch @ Fruit #3 : ménage à trois takes place on Tuesday 28th June from 7-9pm. Tickets, priced at £3, are available on the door and also in advance from the Fruit website www.fruitspace.co.uk (booking fee applies).

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Scratch @ FRuIT - Revolutionary approach to theatre?

SCRATCH @ FRUIT will showcase eight new pieces of work for theatre and reveal the creative process behind their development to audience members. In what has been described as an approach that is "a little bit revolutionary", audiences will be invited to contribute to the further development of the pieces by providing feedback to the theatre makers.

"I'm expecting the first night to be very exciting and, who knows, maybe a little bit revolutionary."

"Scratch nights" have become a regular fixture at southern venues, such as the Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) and the Royal Court. Now, Fruit in Hull will play host to work that will be allowed to evolve in front of audiences.

The evening is being produced by Ensemble 52 – the resident theatre company at new venue Fruit – and curated by Hull-based playwright Dave Windass who said: 

“This isn't about presenting polished pieces of theatre beneath a proscenium arch but about working through ideas and seeing what does and doesn't work, without worrying that the wheels might fall off. I'm expecting the first night to be very exciting and, who knows, maybe a little bit revolutionary. Involving audiences in the process is a good thing that should be encouraged and I think it’s also mutually beneficial for everyone involved.”

Ensemble 52's artistic director Andy Pearson said: “This is a great opportunity for us to discover new writers and new writers to discover themselves by seeing their work on its feet. This is a very exciting theatre event for the city.”

Scratch @ Fruit takes place on Sunday 13th February from 7-9pm. Tickets, priced at £3, will be available on the door.

For more information about Scratch @ Fruit visit www.fruitspace.co.uk, www.ensemble52.com and www.scratch-theatre.co.uk

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