Marlowe Theatre Seeks Actors from Ashford, Birchington & Faversham for WWI Play

Budding actors from Ashford, Birchington and Faversham and are invited to take part in a play about the First World War.

Return of the Unknown, which is led by The Marlowe in Canterbury, involves five communities across east Kent. Each are looking at how their area remembers the conflict - and what has been forgotten.

From this research, a powerful piece of drama about remembrance will be created and performed in each town in the week of Armistice Day (11 November). More people from Ashford, Birchington and Faversham are needed to take part (the other areas, Canterbury and Dover, are fully subscribed).

Hannah Farley-Mills, The Marlowe's Creative Development Trainee, said about 30 to 40 people from each of these communities are needed: "Anyone aged from 11 upwards who has the time, interest and commitment to see the project through can be a part.

"The group will work with professional creative artists - writers, directors and choreographers - to create the plays."

Workshops and rehearsals will take place in accessible spaces in each community, starting next month (July), and there will be visits to significant places linked to the First World War in each area. Anyone interested in taking part should email MLWParticipation@marlowetheatre.com, using the subject Return of the Unknown.

Return of the Unknown continues from January next year, with opportunities for citizen historians, and anyone interested in researching the unknown stories of their area. This research will inform and build up to a full-scale theatrical production with internationally-known artists and community participants.

This production will mark the centenary of the Armistice in November 2018 and will take place at Dover Admiralty Pier, the site of the repatriation of the Unknown Warrior.