"Compelling theatre making real and relevant the impact of human rights issues on our everyday lives."

Soho Theatre: 1st - 3rd December 2008

1st December at 7pm
There’s Loads of them in Burnley, Thais
by Anna Clarkson
Directed by Charlotte Gwinner

Mae has never eaten a ready meal, been to TK Maxx or tasted mushy peas and Graham Fairclough has only got six weeks to teach her. But with ex-wife and landlady of The Clog and Rocket, Marie, offering up some home truths he might not even have that long.
"Why the 'ell else 'as she come to Burnley? It’s not for t’weather is it? And it’s certainly not for 'im, 'e’s no oil paintin’ is 'e?"


2nd December at 7pm
After the Accident
by Julian Armitstead
Directed by Tessa Walker

The house was where they - Petra, Jimmy and Charley - were going to be happy, then Leon broke through the security gates taking their happiness with him. Four years later they have the chance to meet face to face , confronting what's been hidden for so long behind locked doors.
"It’s not all on your side. I’m saying, you’re not the only ones to have suffered for this. You’re not the only ones."


3rd December at 7pm
Lullaby
by Dominic Leggett
Directed by Ken Christiansen

Beth’s got the house ready for Ray’s return from war. But his arrival brings more than just dirty washing and there are some stains that no amount of scrubbing can remove.
“"They keep their cool and look you straight in the eye, then you spot there’s a foot tapping, or a twitch at the side of the mouth – The body betrays them every time."

To book tickets call Soho Theatre on 0207 478 0100 or go to www.sohotheatre.com. Tickets £5/£3.

3 for 2 offer: Book for all 3 readings and get the 3rd free. To book this offer call the box office and quote '3 for 2'.

The winning play will be announced on the 9th of December 2008 at the Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre, London with the playwright receiving a cheque for £3000.

Readings of the winning play will take place at Birmingham Rep, Theatre Royal Plymouth and West Yorkshire Playhouse on the 10th December 2008 – International Human Rights Day and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The 2008 competition was judged by: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dan Jones (Amnesty), Sonja Linden (iceandfire) and Nina Steiger.

"Soho Theatre creates original new work that challenges the status quo by igniting the imaginations of writers, artists and audiences. We develop theatre relevent to London lives in celebration of free expression, social justice, interculturalism and internationalism. We are proud to be associated with the Protect the Human playwriting competition, which supports dynamic new voices and challenges writers to engage with the vital contemporary issue of human rights, expressing their passions and concerns through theatre."
Nina Steiger, Head of Writer’s Centre, Soho Theatre

"Theatre is a natural forum for complex issues to be explored and debated. Human rights are often dismissed as things that other people need, usually people living halfway across the globe. What I find so exciting about this competition is that it harnesses the power of theatre to explore and make sense of human rights issues by providing a high quality platform for dynamic and imaginative plays which communicate stories of import to us all."
Chiwetel Ejiofor, actor