• Press releases
• Peer Productions in
  the press
• List of partners and funders
• Company

Enter your email address in the box below to receive regular updates on our productions.

Go

Enchanting Dark Materials

The dark world of Philip Pullman's trilogy His Dark Materials enchanted audiences at Woking's Rhoda McGaw Theatre last week.

Peer Productions Youth Theatre took on the ambitious project of performing Part One of the high-aclaimed books, adapted for the stage by Nicholas Wright.

The trilogy originally premiered at the National Theatre in London in 2004 to rave reviews but performance rights have now been made available to amateur groups. 

Pullman's trilogy brings together different worlds and raises questions about religion.

Part One follow's Lyra's journey to the Arctic to find out about secret experiments carried out on children.  In Pullman's trilogy, every child has a daemon who reacts to their emotions and protects them. 

Children from as young as eight up to adults of 23 came together on stage to create a brilliant portrait of fantasy tales. 

The actors had clearly identified and researched their roles and this impressed me, especially with the younger actors. 

A simple set provided the backdrop for the show, with a raised tower and two sets of stairs providing the actors with the split level set they required.

Multi-talented young actors also lead the onstage orchestra, with Anthony Stephen Springall taking on the role of Master as well as the company's musical director.  Anthony, 18, also wrote the orchestral score for the show. 

Many of the main roles were shared by children throughout the play's four day run but on the evening I saw it, Lyra was played by Daisy Inglis (sharing the role with Alice Plaskett).  She was impressive and knew how to grab the audience's attention. 

She worked well with her daemon, Pantalaimon, played by Ben Monk, who picked upon her emotions.  And Roger (Matthew Kirkham) was fantastic. 

I was enchanted by his performance and he and his daemon, Salcilia (Hannah Lickfold) made a great team.  The cast of more than 60 should be congratulated for bringing the books to life. 

If you were lucky enough to see the play you will understand the hard work that the group put into it. 

I am sure many people will be asking for Part Two to learn more about Lyra's quest.

Feedback on Previous Shows

• "...Thanks very much for arranging a great performance..."
• "...I think it was really good...."
• "...I felt that the exclusions project is very sympathetic and understanding..."
• "...an education for young people..."
• "...I learnt a lot..."
• "...I will take away the methods you can use..."