OpenWorks, Company of Angels' English-Language Debut of AND NOW: THE WORLD! Opens Tonight

OpenWorks Theatre and Company of Angels in association with Derby Theatre present AND NOW: THE WORLD! The English language premiere of the award-winning German play that questions the effects of the internet on our behaviour is written by Sibylle Berg and directed by Abigail Graham, with dramaturge Clare Brennan. The national tour runs 25th September to 12th November. Press night is slated for the Derby Theatre on Friday 2nd October, 8pm. London press night is tonight 28th October, 8pm at the Hackney Showroom.

Winner of the Theater Heute's German Play of the Year Award, this solo performance asks what it means to be a young woman in a digital world. AND NOW: THE WORLD! uncovers the harsh anonymity of a life lived online; are human relationships sacrificed in return for a digital existence? Award-winning playwright Sybille Berg, nominated for the most prestigious award for German speaking playwrights, the Mulheim Dramatists' Award as well as winner of the 2008 Wolfgang-Koeppen-Literaturpreis, dissects a human response to an online world of possibilities.

Award winning dramaturge and playwright Clara Brennan and OpenWorks Artistic Director have worked together to bring And Now: The World! to UK audiences. Brennan garnered critical acclaim, including winning a Fringe First, for Spine (2014) as well as being awarded the Channel 4 Screenwriting Prize in 2013. As a playwright, her work has been performed at the Soho Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, York Theatre Royal, The Duke's Theatre, the Arcola Theatre and the Traverse Theatre.

OpenWorks' Artistic Director, Abigail Graham said, "I'm thrilled that we are bringing this amazing award-winning German text to the UK. It's an important, thought-provoking play that tackles the most urgent issues of our times - digital culture, activism, feminism, human relationships. Sybille Berg is one of the best playwrights I have come across and I can't wait to share her work with British audiences."

Abigail Graham has directed numerous productions ranging from DEBRIS (2014) for which she was nominated for Best Director for the Off West End Awards, the critically acclaimed Molly Sweeney (2013) and The Censor (2012) for which she was shortlisted for the JMK Young Director Award.

OpenWorks are dedicated to creating theatre for new audiences, they achieve this by integrating paid traineeships, for young people who do not traditionally access the arts, into the rehearsal process - the trainees then act as ambassadors for the work amongst their peers. Building on their company philosophy that 'excellent art should be available to everyone', OpenWorks make rebellious, honest and humane theatre which develops alongside their outreach and audience development work. OpenWorks believe that by involving a wider range of people, theatre can prove to be a better reflection of society.

Outreach activities play an integral role in OpenWorks' philosophy. And Now: The World! will include pre-show workshops on internet consumption and feminism. In addition, OpenWorks are running a scheme of traineeships in London and Derby, providing ten young people from diverse backgrounds with paid work experience opportunities.

Company of Angels fosters and produces challenging theatre, bringing plays, artists and ideas from Europe, the company tour ground-breaking plays to young adults nationally and internationally. Through a range of research projects and development schemes, Company of Angels nurture the next generation of artists, exploring and documenting news and ideas to directly engage young people. And Now: The World! is part of the company's programme of supporting emerging companies. Previous projects include Questions and Dancers (2015) and Helver's Night (2014).

For more, follow on Twitter @OpenWorksTweets, @anglescompany, #ANTW, or visit openworkstheatre.co.uk or go to companyofangels.co.uk.

IF YOU GO:

24 - 25 Sept Platform Arts Hub, Islington (Previews)

Hornsey Road Baths, 2 Tiltman Place, off Hornsey Road, London, N7 7EE

7.30pm | £3-£5
http://www.platformislington.org.uk | 020 7527 8802

2 Oct Derby Theatre

15 Theatre Walk, Derby, DE1 2NF

8pm | £10 - £7
https://www.derbytheatre.co.uk/ | 01332 59 3939

15 - 17 Oct Moor Theatre Delicatessen

The Moor, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 4PF

8pm | £5-£7
http://theatredelicatessen.co.uk/ | 07908 764480

19 - 22 Oct Emporium Theatre, Brighton

88 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JF

7.30pm | £10-£12
http://emporiumbrighton.com/

23 - 24 Oct The Edge Theatre & Arts Centre, Manchester

Manchester Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 9JG

7.30 | £10-£12
http://www.edgetheatre.co.uk/ | 0161 282 9776

27 - 31 Oct Hackney Showroom, London

Hackney Downs Studios, Amhurst Terrace, London, E8 2BT

8pm | £12
http://www.hackneyshowroom.com/| 0203 095 9747

2 - 4 Nov Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol

Tobacco Factory, Raleigh Rd, Bristol, BS3 1TF

Times and prices TBC
http://www.tobaccofactory.com/ | 0117 902 0344

12 Nov Arts Centre Washington, Sunderland

Biddick Lane, Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE38 8AB

7.30pm | £6

http://www.artscentrewashington.co.uk/ | 0191 219 3455