Preview: The Teacup Poisoner, Ball Court, Prior Park College

Following a range of successful classic and contemporary productions over the past 17 years, this August Storm on the Lawn is set to stage its 18th and final show, The Teacup Poisoner, an original musical by Mark Powell and Ben Occhipinti.

Performances will take place from Wednesday to Saturday (August 19-22) in the atmospheric outdoor setting of the 18th century Ball Court, in the grounds of Prior Park College, Bath.

Set in the 1960s, The Teacup Poisoner is a thriller based on a true story about 14-year-old Graham Young, a compelling and obsessive anti-hero whose crimes escaped detection for years.

With a talent for chemistry and a hunger for fame, Graham’s family, friends and workmates became unwitting guinea pigs for his experiments with poison with devastating consequences. From his school days to the laboratory where he worked before being sentenced to Broadmoor, if Graham Young was serving the tea, beware the consequences.

In 1995, the story was made into an acclaimed film, The Young Poisoner’s Handbook. Storm on the Lawn’s brand new stage production is brimming with infectious musical numbers and heart-stopping spectacle, guaranteed to chill and thrill in equal measure.

As well as many participants from Bath, the young company taking part in Storm on the Lawn 2015 also hail from Bristol, Swindon, Frome, Bradford on Avon, Westbury, Trowbridge, Calne, Corsham and Wooton under Edge.

Tickets are available from the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844, the egg on 01225 823 409 or online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Producer, Katherine Lazare said: “The cast have had great fun mastering technical ‘numbers’ and movement sequences: they look and sound great. This fantastic, black comedy of a musical has bold visuals and energetic performances, audiences can expect a thoroughly entertaining evening out - The Teacup Poisoner is Sondheim meets Broadchurch. If you’ve seen a Storm production before you know that you are in for a treat – if not, don’t miss the last ever one, it will be a theatrical highlight.”

This musical production was specially commissioned for the Theatre Royal’s much-loved outdoor event. Mark Powell wrote the book and lyrics and Ben Occhipinti composed the music for this new stage production, which was developed through the egg theatre’s pioneering new work programme, The Incubator.

Writer Mark Powell, who has been working on The Teacup Poisoner since last summer, said:

“It’s been a little strange living with the character of Graham Young for the past year, but it’s darkly thrilling seeing and hearing him commit his crimes on stage in front of our very eyes! It’s been exhilarating to see the company connect with the material, clearly there’s a frustrated teenager inside all of us. It’s just that most of us choose not to poison our friends and family - or at least I hope not!”

Lee Lyford, Director of Storm on the Lawn’s 2015 production, said, “I am really thrilled to be returning to Storm in its final year. The Teacup Poisoner is an exciting departure for the yearly project, this is an innovative musical that will take the Ball Court to places it hasn't been before.”

As well as many participants from Bath, the young company taking part in Storm on the Lawn 2015 also hail from Bristol, Swindon, Frome, Bradford on Avon, Westbury, Trowbridge, Calne, Corsham and Wooton under Edge.

This year’s Storm on the Lawn project started on 3rd August when 48 young people, aged from 12 to 21 years, met for the first day of rehearsals. The company has been working with director Lee Lyford and the egg theatre’s professional team since to prepare for the open-air public performances where they will be accompanied by a live band.

The Theatre Royal’s annual 3-week performance and production summer school has once again provided opportunities for young people to gain valuable experience backstage too. This August, 11 budding technicians, aged from 14 to 18 years, are participating behind-the-scenes learning about wardrobe, lighting, sound and stage management.

Lee Lyford makes a welcome return to Storm on the Lawn this summer. As Artistic Director of the Theatre Royal Bath’s Young People’s Theatre for 15 years until 2015, he directed more than 40 productions. He has worked on Storm on the Lawn on 5 previous occasions; last directing the project when My Life as a Fairytale was staged at Prior Park 10 years ago. Lee has also directed many of the egg’s professional Christmas productions ranging from The Nutcracker in 2008 to Moominland Midwinter in 2013. In 2010, he directed Ben Hur with a company of 180, as featured on BBC1’s Imagine documentary about the Theatre Royal’s large-scale community project. Amongst his many credits, Lee has also directed productions for the Unicorn Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Hull Truck, Southwark Playhouse, Tobacco Factory, Watermill Theatre and Sheffield Crucible.

Writer Mark Powell was Associate Director at Salisbury Playhouse with responsibility for new work and emerging artists, as well as leading the community and young people’s programme. He has written, directed and produced work for a wide variety of stage productions. He is the Chair of Sixth Sense Theatre for Young People, where he was previously Artistic Director, and is a steering member of Theatre for Young Audiences: UK.

Composer Ben Occhipinti is a director and composer with music and opera credits nationwide ranging from Iford Arts to Winterbourne Opera and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He has created music for and with young people at Bath’s egg theatre, Salisbury Playhouse, the National Theatre Studio, The Nuffield, Sixth Sense Theatre and London’s Riverside Studios.

Rob Hiley is Musical Director and Arranger. Set and costume design is by Fiona Chivers. Hannah Joss is Assistant Director. Ziggy Jacobs is Lighting Designer and Technical Manager.

Something of an institution, the Theatre Royal’s outdoor summer school, Storm on the Lawn – featuring teenagers working with a professional team - has received acclaim for its classic and contemporary work since 1998 when the inaugural Storm team staged The Tempest. Since the project started, over 1,200 teenagers have participated , some of whom now work as professional actors; including Evvy Miller, now performing with the RSC, Annie Hemmingway, who graduated from RADA and has performed in the West End, and Jess Hayles, whose credits include BBC1’s Doctor Who.

This year, during the run of six performances of The Teacup Poisoner: two late evening shows will be staged at 9pm on Friday and Saturday evening, as well as 8pm performances on Wednesday and Thursday, and 5pm performances on Friday and Saturday.

Storm on the Lawn 2015 presents The Teacup Poisoner from Wednesday 19th August to Saturday 22nd August at The Ball Court in the grounds of Prior Park College, Bath.

Tickets are available from the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844, the egg on 01225 823 409 or online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk