Young Everyman Playhouse (YEP) take to the Everyman main stage for the first time in the new building with The Grid, a new play devised around the internet and technology. An ensemble cast of 54 young people present a futuristic exploration about how technology is becoming all encompassing, and pose the question of what it really means to be human in the 21st Century. The production runs from Tuesday 22nd to Saturday 26th April.
The play focuses on our love of modern technology and throws us 20 years into the future into a world where connectivity is king, everyone is plugged into one system and human communication is only electronic and the world as it was, is long gone. The internet as we know it is a distant memory. It is fifteen years since The Grid came into existence. The human race is consumed by technology; everything is instant, a shared infinite knowledge. Everyone has access to The Grid all day, all night, all of the time.
But what happens when The Grid begins to malfunction? Our young protagonists discover love, laughter, anger and loneliness in a world where people have forgotten what it means to be human. In the age of the Selfie, Snapchat and internet domination, The Grid is more relevant than ever. Plug yourself in!
The production is the culmination of the work undertaken in YEP over the last three years developing the different strands of the programme. The Grid is a truly collaborative piece of theatre made by young people. It has been devised by Young Actors, will be operated by Young Technicians and marketed by Young Communicators. It is written by two graduates of the Young Writers’ programme, Laura Kate Barrow and Alex Joynes and is designed by Katie Scott whose previous credits include Held at the Playhouse Studio, The Ballad of Rudey for Goblin Theatre Company.
Everyman and Playhouse Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz said, “Everything YEP does is innovative, exciting and something of an event, but the Grid is their most ambitious piece to date and represents the culmination of years of creativity across many theatrical disciplines. Everyone at Everyman and Playhouse can’t wait to see them all make their new Everyman debut!”
Having previously taken YEP on the road, creating warehouse productions and promenade pieces such as Papertown and Intimate at Camp and Furnace and Wind in the Willows in Croxteth Park, the young company now bring their remarkable storytelling abilities back home for their very first show on the new Everyman stage.
YEP Member Keeley Ray said: “YEP gives us the chance to explore ideas that most would think are crazy and unachievable. The Grid is testing all our abilities as actors and is really pushing us to create something epic.”
YEP member Hannah McGowan said, “Being a part of YEP allows me to express creativity with like-minded people. We want Liverpool audiences to see what we can create, deliver & produce with The Grid. We are ready to take to the new everyman stage and leave our mark as YEP.”
The production is co-directed by Matt Rutter and Chris Tomlinson. Matt is the Director of YEP, whose previous credits include Papertown, Intimate, Connected and I. He also directed Beating Berlusconi for Turf Love productions and is a founder member of Big Wow Theatre Company. Chris is the Associate Director of YEP, whose previous credits include Next! at the Unity Theatre, A Comedy of Errors for Off The Ground as well as Wind in the Willows, Intimate and Papertown for YEP. He previously directed Frankenstein for the Everyman Youth Theatre.
Tickets for The Grid are priced at £4 and £6. Tickets are available by telephone at 0151 709 4776 and online at www.everymanplayhouse.com.