Shetland Youth Theatre to host filmed performance at Mareel

Every year, National Theatre Connections commissions ten new plays, bringing together some of the UK’s most exciting writers with the next generation of theatre-makers. For 2021, Shetland Youth Theatre chose Tuesday by Alison Carr, a light, playful, and slightly sci-fi production, focussed on the confusion when a rip in the multiverse sucks up school staff and pupils, whilst also raining down new people. There will also be a live introduction from the play’s director, Stephenie Pagulayan.

Usually taking place in front of a live audience, things were a little different this year for Shetland Youth Theatre, due to the distancing requirements for performances. Working throughout lockdown with Stephenie, development sessions and workshops took place online via Zoom, with the young actors balancing rehearsals with studying from home. The production was performed to an empty auditorium and recorded live in a multi-camera shoot. It will join other youth company filmed productions in June for National Theatre Connections.

I am incredibly proud of this wonderful group of theatre makers. Since January they have been absolutely committed to this project, working within ever changing covid guidelines and navigating the challenges of rehearsing theatre via Zoom. With only one week of physical rehearsal they have created something really special with ’Tuesday’. We are so grateful to the Shetland Arts team for all their support in bringing this production to life and giving us this opportunity to share it with the Shetland community.

The event marks a return of in-person events at Mareel, and the first in a new series of Live at Lunch events. In addition to the cinema programme, free sessions for children - Storytime for under 5s (with Shetland Library) and Playtime at Mareel (with the Bruce Family Centre) - also resume at the venue.

Socially-distanced tickets for the screening of Tuesday are now on sale here. Due to COVID restrictions, we can’t do a standard Q&A session – if you have any questions you’d like Stephenie to answer, please send them in advance to [email protected], or message us on any of Shetland Arts’ social media channels.