Mansfield theatre group launches free drama workshop to collaborate with talented people across East Midlands

Although firmly based in Mansfield, theatre group Under the Headstocks (UTH), who have been performing new writing in the town for more than ten years, are looking to create a collaborative space with creative and talented groups across the East Midlands – especially Nottingham and Derby.

They are offering a free Zoom workshop called Exposition Vs Action, which is being led by comedy script writer, Hugh Dichmont, on September 18, 2020.

Founder member, Vic Wilkinson, recently facilitated a Zoom readthrough of the Glass Boot, which was their opening production, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the group.

The piece explored the impact of post-industrialisation and its bearing on the well-being of the former coal mining communities.

After a successful and enjoyable evening, UTH decide to utilise Zoom over the lockdown period and began to use the tool to develop the work of Under the Headstocks writers, such as Blueberry Punch, written by local writer and actor, Matt Lamb and Malcolm Seymore’s One Last Go – the former will be produced by the group in the future.

Artistic Director, Alan Dawson, said: “After we performed the Glass Boot, we knew we had created something different most of the actors had not met before, and some had never even acted before.

“We were raw, we were exciting, and our new following wanted more of the same.”

As the lockdown lessoned the group embarked upon a new project called The Potato Eaters, which is a television sit/com about a fictitious North Notts car rentals company, written by Alan Dawson.

UTH actors have been rehearsing on the Titchfield Park outdoor stage and on Zoom, to create a showreel later in the autumn – which will be followed by a pilot late 2021.

They are now working with a local filmmaker to create the showreel, which hopefully will capture the eccentricity and unique character of North Nottinghamshire as they continue to struggle with coming to terms with post-industrialisation and the establishment of the service industries.

Although audiences and actors have continued to come and go during the subsequent decade, founding members remain to work with new members as the group continues to develop and explore new ground.

UTH have been involved in conferences for education and the NHS as well as undertaking short dislocated tours of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Wales; taking with them a unique and diverse product, which usually engages the audiences.

Their latest production, the dark comedy Ghost Mode, written and directed by Toni Sutton, explores relationships and bullying in the office and was ready for production but was rightly postponed as the pandemic hit the UK.

Ghost Mode will be performed as soon as it is safe to do so and when the actors are prepared – the venue will likely be the Create Theatre, in Mansfield.

If you would like to join the Headstocks, the workshop along with a readthrough and development session of Alan Dawson’s screenplay, Sophie’s Baby, which is about Anencephaly, contact: [email protected] for the Zoom link and script.