Community
Stephanie Dale has had the privilege of working with some fantastic organisations and has written many of the U.K's large-scale community plays, involving hundreds of participants, on and off stage. All of the projects involve a professional creative team, and are created by and for the communities they serve.
Credits include:
Spinning the Moon, Dorchester Plays Association, 2023. In the late 15th century, a community is threatened by the collapse of the manorial system and the beginnings of witchcraft. This play is told by over 100 local actors and musicians. Directed by Peter Cann. Composed by Tim Laycock.
The Witches' Promise, Birmingham REP, 2015. Set in 1321, in Weoley Castle, in Birmingham. Five witches appear during John De Somery's wedding and make a terrifying prediction about the plague descending upon the castle. A promenade production of over 80 actors, singers and dancers. Directed by Peter Cann. Composed by Tim Laycock.
Limbus for Moving Stories, National Theatre, and Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, 2015. A series of short plays written in response to the current refugee crisis, and raising funds for the UNHCR. Directed by Nadia Faul.
Chester Mystery Plays, Chester Cathedral, 2013. A new version of the most famous stories ever told. These stories were first told in Chester in Medieval times by Guilds of the city. Banned in the late 16th century as a result of the Reformation, the plays were revived in 1951, and are now performed every five years, with a cast of 250 people from the local community. ****The Guardian, "Vividly and intelligently written." The Observer, "An extraordinary fusion of scripture and social commentary." Cheshire Live, "The 2013 production took some big risks but they have paid off with one of the most ambitious, memorable and thrilling presentations since the cycle was revived in 1952." Directed by Peter Wild. Composer and MD Matt Baker.
A Time to Keep, with David Edgar, Dorchester Community Plays Association, 2007. In 1804, the community is under threat of invasion from Napoleonic forces. ****The Guardian,"This is theatre at its fundamental level, shared, imaginative experience, communicated with a winning passion."
Walk My Journey,Theatre in the Quarter, 2019. A short film that involves a number of refugees sharing their reasons for leaving home. It was first screened outside Chester Cathedral. The film involved over 700 children living in the north west. Walk My Journey received the Bronze prize in the Charity Film Awards, 2019. The film was then screened at the RSC as part of National Refugee Week. Produced by Jo McLeish and Matt Baker.
I