The transformative power of the movies is front and centre as Alphabetti presses play on Pause.
Pause at Alphabetti Theatre. Credit: Matt Jamie
Another week and another new play from the creative hot house that is Alphabetti Theatre.
Inspired by the comfort so many of us took from losing ourselves in films during the past 16 months, and sprinkled with nostalgia, Pause is billed as an ‘uplifting love story’ and premieres for live audiences on Tuesday (July 6).
The play is inviting audiences back to the late nineties as the arrival of Blockbusters (the video rental chain, not the iconic ‘can-I-have-a-P-please, Bob’ quiz show) threatens the livelihood of independent video store owner, Wallace – played by the always terrific, Paula Penman.
Pause has been written by award-winning playwright, Laura Lindow and is directed by Mark Calvert, whose work many will have enjoyed at Northern Stage over the years.
Both Laura and Mark, together with the rest of the creative team, channelled their passion for movies into the piece, combing a library of silver screen classics for inspiration – expect nods to the likes of Jaws and Shawshank Redemption.
Mark says: “During lockdown, with time on our hands, Paula and I reached back into the comfort of all the films we’d watched a hundred times before as they let us escape.
“This led us to start to create a show about ‘escaping’ through our screens, and so Wallace and her independent video shop, Stellar Vision was born.
“Pause is an hour of vicariously living your life through Hollywood while in a small working-class town in Clackmannanshire!”
Performances of Pause will run from July 6 to 17 (excl. Sundays and Mondays). Tickets will be sold for socially distanced live audiences and every performance will also be streamed online. All tickets are Pay What You Feel. Running time is 50 mins; recommended for 16+; and relaxed performances on July 10 (matinee)and July 17. Booking is essential.
For more information and bookings, visit www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk