The Common Players

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A Pressing Engagement with Apples

Question: What do you get if you add one theatre maker, one inventor/artist and sixteen apple trees?

Answer: The Cider with Roadies project from the Common Players and quite a lot of juice!

See more for the latest Common Players press release

During Autumn 2008, the project will be visiting over 25 communities throughout Devon, Dorset and Somerset, entertaining, educating and juicing. There are four separate “units” of the project this autumn, WormFood & Heathen Harvest are both performances, Apple Art Day with the Apple Educator and Pomona the press who travels with the Apple Animateur. Local promoters have the opportunity to have one, two or all four elements of the project visit.

Jonathan Stokes has been commissioned to write two new pieces of drama, one to be performed in local primary schools, WormFood and the other, Heathen Harvest, to take place around a community feast.

During WormFood the audience of primary school children join Catrina on her adventure, have the opportunity to join the action, meet her pet fish Finney and travel with her as she learns about apple lore, seasonal festivals and reaches the final realisation that life is all about journeys ending and beginning, a never-ending cycle. Heathen Harvest introduces the audience to Mr Peasgood Nonsuch and his troupe of entertainers – the Sops of Wine. Based around the traditions of music hall entertainment, the evening takes place in a village hall or community space with the local promoter providing a three course supper which is punctuated by the troupe ßperforming, singing and generally creating fun between each course! The Apple Art Day is led by Heather Fallows the Apple Educator. She introduces a class of primary school children to local apples and offers them the chance to taste some wonderful varieties before then creating sculptural apple trees during the day. The children then make the sculptures into a whole-school display. Pomona, the apple press, is accompanied by Adam Montague, the Apple Animateur and gives local people the opportunity to bring along their apples, press them and take home the juice. Pomona will be re-visiting many old friends this year. Adam has also created a new Pomona website, working with partners Orchard Link, Brimblecombe Cider, Orchards Live, Adam’s Apples and Thornhayes Nursery. This website will become the place to find out everything anyone could possibly want to know about apples and growing them in Devon. The Apple Core forms the heart of the site and lists West Country apples, plums and cherries. The site also has a commercial directory of apple related products and services, the Apple Source, a collection of articles on growing, planning and cider making called the Apple Tree as well as sections labeled the Roots, The Tree of Knowledge and Seed Links. The Website goes live on September 20^th.

Six years ago the first seeds of an idea were sown when theatre maker and Creative Associate of the Common Players theatre company, Anthony Richards together with North Devon sculptor Jon Rodney-Jones came up with the idea of a travelling apple press and the opportunity to use up spare community apples which would otherwise be left on the ground to rot. A prototype was made, a party ensued where many friends bought apples to be juiced and so the idea of a whole new community event was born. The new event would bring people together to gain knowledge about local apples. There would be opportunity to learn about how the press works, be part of newly written, entertaining drama and primary school children would be able to take part in an apple-inspired art day.

The Cider with Roadies project was given life thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery, Arts Council South West, Devon County Council and Leader grants, and is now in it’s third, very successful year.

For more information and the most up-to-date tour list please see the website: ww.common-players.org.uk or phone Sera the Tour Administrator on 013892 881400

Heathen Harvest is a newly-commissioned evening show, written by Jon Stokes based on the traditions of music hall and cabaret and will take place around an evening Harvest Supper or community meal. We plan for this piece to be incorporated into new and existing community feasts and continue the links between community activity and Art that Common Players are known for.

WormFood is another newly written piece by Jon aimed at children in primary schools from six years old and upwards which will be perfomed during the school day. The audience meet a girl called Catrina and her goldfish Finney. They are taken on a journey of discovery and understanding of the Seasons, Nature and local apple traditions.

Pomona ...the Press and our Apple Animateur - During our visits to 24 venues last year we were often asked if it would be possible to have just Pomona our unique apple press visiting a community and press spare apples. This year the answer is a resounding"Yes!" Ideally we would love to combine a press visit with one of the other exciting elements we are offering this year, such as the evening hall show, Heathen Harvest. Along with the press we have our Apple Animateur Adam Montague managing the juicing of your apples, advising on planting, growing and the management of your apple trees and orchards.

Our Apple Educator - Heather Fallowes is working as a visual artist, visiting primary schools with activities which can be tied in to the National Curriculum to engage young people in their cultural heritage. We are able to travel country-wide so even if you are based outside the South West feel free to give Mary our tour administrator a call or email her : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and discuss details

2005: Stormy Weather

2002: Taylor’s Tractor

2002: Keep off the path

2001: A Christmas Carol