DYSPLA Festival 2012

6-10 November 2012
Wed-Sat, 7.30pm (free events in the bar from 7pm). £12.50 advance / £15 on the door
Gala Night Tuesday 6 November, 6.45pm. £20 including wine and one free return visit to any night of the Festival with email proof of Gala Night purchase (must be claimed by 6.45pm on any given night before tickets are released for public sale).

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Since 2007 festival producer Lennie Varvarides has been on a mission to revolutionise how people see and understand Dyslexia. There is only one way to best explain the creative benefits of Dyslexia and that is to produce the work of dyslexic story-makers. The DYSPLA Festival is the first of its kind to challenge and celebrate the term 'Dyslexic', proving that not only can we write, but that our dyslexia makes us better story practitioners!

For more information please go to: www.dysthelexi.com
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/280611272046060/
Follow us on Twitter: @Dyspla_Festival

Full Programme

Gala Night
Tuesday 6 November.
Opening the festival with a Gala/Frundraiser on the 6th November, consisting of a Wine reception/networking session (from 6:45 – 7:30pm), guest speakers including Nicola Werenowska – Dyspraxia playwright and Book Publisher - RASP, a selection of Poets, and an extract from the playsThe 8th Wave and Alexis & Euan, both workshopped at Sunday Surgery.

Main programme, Wed 7 – Sat 10 November: double bill of The 8th Wave by James Ernest and Alexis & Euan by Juliet Cochrane.

The 8th Wave
Written by James Ernest
Directed by Don Mc Camphill

Brian's little world revolves around his shop, a business built up from nothing. Lonely and unmarried, somewhat at odds with the world, his self-righteous world-view cadged from the Daily Mail, he believes in things as they should be, not as they are. When teenage scally Mathew breaks into his shop, the fire of Brian's resentments flares up. He holds the boy captive and unleashes on him the fury of his bitterness at the world. Mathew fears the worst. But Brian and Mathew share a desire: for something better than their lot, a longing for the pain to stop, for a transcendent happiness. And Brian is determined that things will not continue as they are – he will send them both to a better place, one way or other.

James Ernest's first full length play is an unusual and poetic exploration of our desire for freedom and emotional fulfilment, and our need to experience moments of oblivion to escape the cruelties of the material world.  James Ernest is originally from the village of Swinton in South Yorkshire. He moved to London in 2009 to train at East 15 Acting School and graduated this year with a degree in Acting and Contemporary Theatre. In 2011 he joined the Soho Theatre Young Company where he took Writers' Lab workshops led by award-winning writer Paula Stanic, and developed a number of scripts, including his first full-length play, ‘The 8th Wave’, which was shortlisted for the inaugural Soho Young Writers Award, in 2012. James was also selected to be a Creative Associate of Soho Young Company. He has also undertaken workshop programmes with Paul Ashton and Al Smith of BBC Writers Room, and April De Angeles from The Royal Court Theatre. Currently James in developing a new play with dramturgical support from Don Mc Camphill and his company, Disturbance.

Alexis & Euan
Written by Juliet Cochrane
Directed by Andrew Lukas

Alexis & Euan is a story of unrequited love with a biological-anthropological twist. A one-act play that illuminates the workings of your brain when your heart falls in love.

Juliet Cochrane graduated from Goldsmiths with an MA in Creative Writing. She has worked with the National Theatre Studio, been invited onto a BBC Writersroom workshop, had her 100 Word Play ‘The Poetry Group’ archived by the Royal Court Theatre and has had a series of monologues produced by Blackshaw Theatre. Being dyslexic means she’s an especially creative speller too. Alexis & Euan is her first play.

WORKSHOP: SIGHTREADING FOR DYSLEXIC ACTORS

In this workshop we will examine the key aspects of sightreading for actors with dyslexia. Sometimes it is not possible to receive the script before the casting so how does an actor with dyslexia compete? More info