Blackshaw is an alumni theatre company preparing to stage Gormenghast: Titus Groan|, their stage adaptation of Mervyn Peake's novel. Blackshaw also hosts regular New Writing Nights and theme parties, and runs drama workshops for schools and community groups. Keep up with Blackshaw's news via their website (www.blackshawonline.com|), twitter (@blackshawupdate) and facebook (facebook.com/blackshawonline|).
Blackshaw's stage adaptation of Mervyn Peake's Titus Groan, has been in development since October 2010. The production of Gormenghast: Titus Groan will run in April 2012, in association with Iris Theatre|.
The 'Gormenghast series', or 'Titus books', written by artist, author and poet Mervyn Peake, are set in a timeless world with a rigid class structure, thousands of age old traditions, and one ambitious kitchen boy. Titus Groan tells the first part of the story; the birth of Gormenghast’s heir, the descent of the Earl into madness, and Steerpike, a kitchen boy determined to better himself at all costs and who by doing so shakes Gormenghast to its very core.
Filled with rich characters, detailed description and vivid imagery, we felt that the Gormenghast series is ripe for a new theatrical interpretation. From Blackshaw’s members, a team of writers came together to work on the adaptation. With Vikki Weston (Drama and Creative Writing, 2009) at the helm (as editor/dramaturg), our writing team; Prudence Chamberlain (English and Drama and Theatre Studies, 2010), Poppy Corbett (English and Drama and Theatre Studies, 2008), Max Olesker (Drama and Creative Writing, 2009) and Richard Stratton (Drama & Theatre Studies, 2008); have readied the script for the 2012 production.
Posted on Monday 2nd April 2012