For December and the new year, New Perspectives will be presenting a versatile series of theatre in different mediums: a radio play, a Zoom play, a postcard drama, a Whatsapp drama, and a series of reimagined Christmas cards.
Originally streamed by Soho Theatre in September, the Lars von Trier office drama The Boss of It All has been adapted for a working from home version with Josie Lawrence playing the title character. The comedy drama was originally presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013 to widespread critical acclaim before transferring to Soho Theatre. In 2020 the office setting has now become a remote working set up, with the action taking place via a series of Zoom meetings. For years the boss of an IT company has tricked his staff into believing he is simply another co-worker. So when he needs a ‘real’ boss to help close the deal of a lifetime, he hires an actor to play the role. What could possibly go wrong? The Boss of It All is available for download from the Soho Theatre website from 9th December.
As part of BBC Lights Up, The Fishermen will come to BBC Radio 3 in February following runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, London and West End. Adapted by Gbolahan Obisesan and directed by Jack McNamara, it is the story of four brothers torn apart by a prophecy. In a small Nigerian town, Ben and Obembe slip away to fish at a forbidden river along with their two older brothers. Risking the wrath of their father, who expects great things of them all, they continue unnoticed and carefree until one day the prophecy of a madman changes the course of their lives. Based on the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by one of Africa’s major new voices, New Perspectives present Chigozie Obioma’s powerful allegory of brotherhood, vengeance and fate. Originally a two hander, the BBC adaptation sees the three actors who have played the roles unite for the first time: David Alade, Michael Ajao, and Valentine Olukoga. For their performances in the show, Michael and Valentine won The Stage Award in 2018 and Valentine Olukoga recently won Best Actor at the Black British Theatre Awards.
For their festive offerings, New Perspective have collaborated with six renowned UK theatre makers on limited edition Christmas cards, each reimagining traditional yuletide messages. The artists have each designed the front and inside of a card to create a handheld piece of artwork which can be kept as a curio or given as a gift. The cards can be bought singly, as a pack of three or a pack of six. The artists are: 1927, Tim Etchells, Eve Leigh, Selina Thompson, Jane Upton and Jatinder Verma MBE.
New Perspectives have also announced another opportunity to experience Stay Safe, the spine-chilling drama via WhatsApp. Inspired by Shirley Jackson’s gothic horror story The Witch, the drama is being given a special showing on 14th to mark her birthday. Finally, New Perspectives have announced a Christmas extension of their postcard drama Love From Cleethorpes, a drama told through a series of postcards, both as a result of popular demand. Love From Cleethorpes has recently been ‘toured’ to 25 countries worldwide.
