Prime Youth Theatre Rewrites History with New Production of the Odyssey

Prime Youth Theatre, part of Swindon's only professional theatre company, opens its latest production next week. This new version of The Odyssey is the first time that members have written their own play as well as performing in it. A group of 15 young playwrights aged 11-19 years have been working on the script since January. The final version features 35 young actors playing a series of famous Greek heroes, gods and monsters.

Director Aaron Parsons said, "We started workshops for young writers and wanted to celebrate the amazing scripts their imaginations were producing. They were so excited at the thought of taking this classic adventure and putting their own spin on it."

Ellis Evason, 16, Prime Youth Theatre member added, "This is the first production I've helped to write and it's been great having creative control in such a big project. It's refreshing to be artistically respected. The best part has been seeing my scenes come to life."

This new version of the story has been updated by the company to a modern setting, with the famous hero, Odysseus now a teenage soldier returning from battle. All the familiar features, the Cyclops, sirens and sea monsters still appear but with a new twist.

Performances take place on Thursday 21 July and Friday 22 July at 7.30pm and then on Saturday 23 July at 2pm and 6pm at Swindon Arts Centre. Tickets are £12.50 and £10.50 concessions and are available from Swindon Theatres Ticket Office: 01793 524481 or https://www.swindontheatres.co.uk.

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