One-Man Odyssey
PRESS RELEASE … PRESS RELEASE … PRESS RELEASE . . .
One-Man Odyssey
A Theatre Odyssey event
Day 1 –The Telemachy
Day 2 - The Travels
Day 3 - The Homecoming.
30th July to 1st August 2009, at the St Andrews Inside Out Festival
4th Aug to 6th Aug and 7th to 9th Aug, at the Pittenweem Arts Festival
In 2001 Scottish writer, actor and director John J. Taylor performed ‘The One-Man Odyssey’ for the first time to great critical acclaim at the Pittenweem Arts Festival. This year, eight years after the original performances, John returns to his hometown to tell this timeless tale in a simpler way more befitting to the bardic qualities of the original. In this series of performance-storytelling events, John will make his own mini-odyssey along the shorelines of St Andrews and Pittenweem, telling the story on three consecutive days in different areas of Fife’s beautiful coastline. The three acts can be enjoyed in a series, or as individual stories.
In this one-man show John plays around 20 characters, picks up his mandolin, and inspires his audience to imagine they are in the mythical world of Homeric epic. In the processed performances, crowds will be shown the troubles of Telemachos, they will witness the blinding of a one –eyed monster, the metamorphosis of men into pigs. Hear of the sorrows of Penelope and the shamelessness of her suitors. ‘The Odyssey’ is an exciting and touching story which is an integral part of Western literature; this part of the heritage left to us by the Greeks should be known and enjoyed by everyone.
Theatre Odyssey is the UK’s community arts organization dedicated to the promotion of Classics, and now has divisions in Fife, West of Scotland and The South East. You can find out more about them and how to get involved at www.theatreodyssey.com. The organisation was set up in 2000 when John, then a University student at St Andrews University, was inspired by the Greek and Roman worlds, but was disgusted he had never been exposed to them until his final two years at school.
‘I thought it dreadful that I was left so ignorant of this wonderful part of our cultural heritage’, John said. ‘I wanted to ensure that nobody else would be left in this position, and decided to combine my love of theatre and the arts with Classics, taking Classics to people in an accessible and fun form. Theatre Odyssey has grown in the last nine years into something which, I hope, is accessible to all, and which does inspire people to go and find out more about the ancient world. Classics is often seen as stuffy and elitist, and that perception is inadequate. Classical myth, for one, is something about which everyone could and should be excited! It’s just so much fun!’
The new incarnation of the show has emerged organically from a full cast production of John’s version of ‘The Odyssey’ in 2000, and the first one-man version in 2001. ‘I think that due to the oral tradition of these brilliant stories, they work best as a one-man show.’ he said. ‘Last time we did the show, it was in a studio theatre, and it worked fairly well, but I have decided that this time there should be no indoor venue, no tickets, and that it should be a free event for anyone and everyone to enjoy and take part in. At both these festivals I have decided to do the show on beaches that I love, as it is a story of the sea. My family were all fishermen or fishmongers until the gradual demise of fishing we’re seeing with EU regulations started to set in, and so I feel a real closeness to the sea. That’s probably why I love the story so much. That, and the fact it is a story of a man on a journey. I think human beings can really identify with that, whoever you are and whatever your background. I’ve also made this production less Classical in nature and more folky: less refined, and more edgy.’
John went on to talk about the relationship of technology to traditional arts. ‘The art of Scottish storytelling is one that is sadly being lost in the modern world of mass media, internet and TV,’ he said. ‘Twitter has been a good driving force behind this show, though, in making people aware. Most of those involved in Theatre Odyssey use this and Facebook to communicate ideas and share the experience of developing this show, which involves the audience in a new and exciting way! We hope to have live tweeting from the events at http://twitter.com/theatreodyssey, which would be a first for us!’
Cancellation is likely in the event of heavy rain. Audience members are encouraged to bring camp-chairs or cushions.
This is an unticketed, free event, but audience members are encouraged to offer a small donation to the Festival at the event.
High-spec pictures can be found at http://www.theatreodyssey.com/one-man-odyssey.html
John J. Taylor is available for comment and interview to members of press and media. Email john@theatreodyssey.com for more details.
One-Man Odyssey
A Theatre Odyssey event
Day 1 –The Telemachy
Day 2 - The Travels
Day 3 - The Homecoming.
30th July to 1st August 2009, at the St Andrews Inside Out Festival
4th Aug to 6th Aug and 7th to 9th Aug, at the Pittenweem Arts Festival
In 2001 Scottish writer, actor and director John J. Taylor performed ‘The One-Man Odyssey’ for the first time to great critical acclaim at the Pittenweem Arts Festival. This year, eight years after the original performances, John returns to his hometown to tell this timeless tale in a simpler way more befitting to the bardic qualities of the original. In this series of performance-storytelling events, John will make his own mini-odyssey along the shorelines of St Andrews and Pittenweem, telling the story on three consecutive days in different areas of Fife’s beautiful coastline. The three acts can be enjoyed in a series, or as individual stories.
In this one-man show John plays around 20 characters, picks up his mandolin, and inspires his audience to imagine they are in the mythical world of Homeric epic. In the processed performances, crowds will be shown the troubles of Telemachos, they will witness the blinding of a one –eyed monster, the metamorphosis of men into pigs. Hear of the sorrows of Penelope and the shamelessness of her suitors. ‘The Odyssey’ is an exciting and touching story which is an integral part of Western literature; this part of the heritage left to us by the Greeks should be known and enjoyed by everyone.
Theatre Odyssey is the UK’s community arts organization dedicated to the promotion of Classics, and now has divisions in Fife, West of Scotland and The South East. You can find out more about them and how to get involved at www.theatreodyssey.com. The organisation was set up in 2000 when John, then a University student at St Andrews University, was inspired by the Greek and Roman worlds, but was disgusted he had never been exposed to them until his final two years at school.
‘I thought it dreadful that I was left so ignorant of this wonderful part of our cultural heritage’, John said. ‘I wanted to ensure that nobody else would be left in this position, and decided to combine my love of theatre and the arts with Classics, taking Classics to people in an accessible and fun form. Theatre Odyssey has grown in the last nine years into something which, I hope, is accessible to all, and which does inspire people to go and find out more about the ancient world. Classics is often seen as stuffy and elitist, and that perception is inadequate. Classical myth, for one, is something about which everyone could and should be excited! It’s just so much fun!’
The new incarnation of the show has emerged organically from a full cast production of John’s version of ‘The Odyssey’ in 2000, and the first one-man version in 2001. ‘I think that due to the oral tradition of these brilliant stories, they work best as a one-man show.’ he said. ‘Last time we did the show, it was in a studio theatre, and it worked fairly well, but I have decided that this time there should be no indoor venue, no tickets, and that it should be a free event for anyone and everyone to enjoy and take part in. At both these festivals I have decided to do the show on beaches that I love, as it is a story of the sea. My family were all fishermen or fishmongers until the gradual demise of fishing we’re seeing with EU regulations started to set in, and so I feel a real closeness to the sea. That’s probably why I love the story so much. That, and the fact it is a story of a man on a journey. I think human beings can really identify with that, whoever you are and whatever your background. I’ve also made this production less Classical in nature and more folky: less refined, and more edgy.’
John went on to talk about the relationship of technology to traditional arts. ‘The art of Scottish storytelling is one that is sadly being lost in the modern world of mass media, internet and TV,’ he said. ‘Twitter has been a good driving force behind this show, though, in making people aware. Most of those involved in Theatre Odyssey use this and Facebook to communicate ideas and share the experience of developing this show, which involves the audience in a new and exciting way! We hope to have live tweeting from the events at http://twitter.com/theatreodyssey, which would be a first for us!’
Cancellation is likely in the event of heavy rain. Audience members are encouraged to bring camp-chairs or cushions.
This is an unticketed, free event, but audience members are encouraged to offer a small donation to the Festival at the event.
High-spec pictures can be found at http://www.theatreodyssey.com/one-man-odyssey.html
John J. Taylor is available for comment and interview to members of press and media. Email john@theatreodyssey.com for more details.
