Theatre and Dance

Brecht's classic parable about social responsibility and justice has been updated by Beaton, a Scottish left wing political satirist, journalist, radio presenter, novelist and television writer who has also written speeches for Gordon Brown!

This new production - a collaboration between the WYP, Nottingham Playhouse and Shared Experience Theatre Company - is brought to life by an ensemble cast of 11 actors, supported by 30 amateur singers taken from the local community. The choirs will underscore the action with traditional folk songs composed by Ilona Sekacz.

The play takes place among the ruins of a war-torn village, where the boundaries of land have been lost but not forgotten, and the big question is about who decides how that land is used? 

Christian Patterson as The Fat Prince

In the midst of a violent revolution, Grusha watches the town she loves burn, the man she loves leave for war and her master’s wife abandon her only child (to be adopted by Grusha). Scared and alone she begins the long trek over the mountains to her brother’s, soon discovering that kindness is a rare commodity when self preservation is at stake. When the city is saved, the boy’s mother returns to claim him and the ancient tradition of the Chalk Circle is called upon to determine his fate.

Ian Brown, Artistic Director at the West Yorkshire Playhouse believes that the play, although written in 1944, is incredibly relevant today: "20 years ago, the Berlin wall came down ending a dispute over land which had divided Europe since the end of the Second World War. Today such disputes still dominate the news. Regime change, insurgency and insurrection are words we are all too familiar with, from Rwanda to Darfur to Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. The Caucasian Chalk Circle is not only a great story but one which resonates as strongly today as it did 60 years ago."

Alistair Beaton's varied work includes writing for the classic BBC2 sketch show, Not The Nine O'Clock News, the award-winning film A Very Social Secretary and the West End hit, Feelgood.

The Caucasian Chalk Circle runs at the West Yorkshire Playhouse until Saturday 17 October 2009.