Southern Vermont theaters join forces this summer

Northern Stage’s Living Together, under the direction of Peter Hackett, the first in Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s comic trilogy.

Northern Stage’s Living Together, under the direction of Peter Hackett, the first in Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s comic trilogy.

Northern Stage’s Living Together, under the direction of Peter Hackett, the first in Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s comic trilogy.

Three theatres in one of the country’s smallest states have a big idea: Vermont’s Dorset Theatre Festival, Northern Stage, and Weston Playhouse Theatre Company are creating an historic partnership to bring British playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s celebrated 1973 comic trilogy, The Norman Conquests, to their stages this summer.

More than a year in the works, the collaboration will see three nationally prominent directors work with one cast and creative team on successive productions of the three plays in White River Junction, Dorset, and Weston.

Artistic directors Dina Janis (Dorset), Carol Dunne (Northern Stage) and Steve Stettler (Weston) have been sharing artists, goods, and ideas for several years while searching for a way to work together more closely. Now, they say, they’re seizing on a chance to produce three interrelated plays in a deeper partnership.

The Norman Conquests trilogy follows the amorous exploits of assistant librarian Norman in and around an English country house on a summer weekend.

Northern Stage will produce the first of the three comedies, “Living Together,” under the direction of Peter Hackett at the company’s new Barrette Center for the Arts, April 20-May 8.

Dorset follows with “Table Manners,” directed by Evan Yionoulis, June 16-July 2.

Weston concludes the series with “Round and Round the Garden,” directed by Michael Berresse, July 21-30.

Author: posted by Martin Langeveld

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