In times of conflict we often think of the people involved and effected, but have you ever stopped to think about what happens to the animals in war-torn countries?
This August, to mark the centenary of the First World War, local theatre company Action Transport Theatre and their Young Actors Company will explore exactly that in new show, The Zoo which will take place around the Overpool Road on August 2nd and August 3rd at 2pm and 7pm.
Set in an abandoned zoo in a war-zone city, the play follows five children as they attempt to keep themselves, and the starving zoo animals alive.
Following the success of last year’s production HOUSE, which was staged in real houses around Ellesmere Port, this performance will take place in a top secret, abandoned location in Ellesmere Port. The secret location will only be revealed once audiences have booked their tickets, when they will be sent a map and instructions.
With a cast made up of local actors aged between 11 and 18, The Zoo promises to be an extraordinary and enlightening theatre experience. Director Nina Hajiyianna said, “Our show this year takes place in an abandoned, disused building in Ellesmere Port. The site, which some of our young actors know very well, was once an important building now reduced to a shell littered with dust and debris from the time when it was working, busy and safe. This is a powerful setting for a story about a group of children at the time of a war, abandoned by adults and working out how to survive. ATT brings together local young people and professional artists, and for The Zoo, we are working with designer and installation artist, Lois Maskell. It should be a great performance!”
Nathan Smith, aged 10, from Little Sutton who is playing one of the children says, “I play a character who is a normal kid but who has been thrown into this war. I’ve never experienced war except in video games so now I know it’s a lot more violent and scary in real life”
To find out more about the performance or if you are interested in becoming an ATT Young Actor, please visit www.actiontransporttheatre.org or call 0151 357 2120.