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Image by Tomas Morren
written and directed by Jonathan Brown
"In my dreams, I'm digging. I'm always digging. Digging my way out, or digging my way in."
With vivid writing, energetic and risk-taking physical theatre, a live choir, a wonderfully dramatic set and stunning lighting, we've created an evocative and atmospheric world, touching on the archetypal whilst grounded in themes of personal struggle, intimacy and love.
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A powerful visceral drama, set in Victorian Brighton, about the fateful lives, loves and losses of those digging the world's deepest hand-dug well, a well that stretches down as deep as the Empire State Building is high (and that actually exists in Brighton!)
"The Well" uses only physical theatre techniques to portray everything, from Victorian Brighton streets and beaches to some tense action down a very deep, dark hole. This stirring, sometimes disturbing rollercoaster incorporates tender, powerful, oft visceral performances from the 7-strong cast, achingly beautiful songs performed by members of Brighton Vox Choir, and visually stunning lighting design.
"Superb. A must-see for anyone who really loves not just theatre, but an intelligent and amazing story. Go and see it. Beautiful, thought and emotion provoking piece. An utter pleasure to be carried away by, complete with some fabulous performances and an extra layer from the choral singing which not only rooted us firmly in the era but the sense of sacred space too. A few scenes even resonated with the current political climate. It is too long since I've been challenged and moved like that and reminded of the things possible on stage." Arwen Matthews.
Click here for Phil Mellows Review
SUPPORT THE WELL THROUGH WEFUND!
It's 1862, Jack is digging at the foot of a 1200 foot well, but - no water. Despite Jack's suspicions about this seemingly pointless exercise, and the ever-mounting expense, the Town Guardians order the digging to continue, to supply their planned workhouse. But Jack is also digging for the truth about his mother, Betsy, a prostitute who was found dead under the pier when he was a child. Now, in a relationship with Bella, another prostitute, he discovers too much; about those in power, and about Betsy...
The Woodingdean Well took almost exactly 4 years to dig, costing the ratepayers dearly. Author Jonathan Brown says: 'This play is a fictional account, an allegory for some of those questionable large-scale engineering or military projects, and the corrupt power brokers who profit from the never-ending nature of such schemes, ultimately at the expense of the people who do the work, fight the battles, and pay the taxes'.
Jonathan's first five plays are all set locally, including 'Large Print Trash' for which he was nominated Best Male Performer in the Brighton Fringe 2007, and 'Licence' which earned him 5 & 4 Star reviews in 2010 Fringe.
Contains strong language and adult themes.
Image: Strat Mastoris
4 Stars.
"This production is a powerful example of physical theatre. The cast play not only the characters, but also the scenery and props on a bare stage in front of an edifice of scaffolding and ladders. They achieve this with some spectacular imagery aided by creative lighting and haunting songs. The audience is required to play its part by using their imagination and accepting that more than one person plays the same character. A hardworking cast of six balance the requirements of acting skills and exhausting physical activity while the production is enhanced by three acapella singers whose songs underline and punctuate the action." The Argus. Brighton.
Image: Chris Melville-Brown
November 1861: Jack Tomkins, a former Brighton workhouse inmate, is now an experienced steiner, a man who digs and lines wells. For 7 years he had been apprenticed to the deeply intuitive Mark Tap, helping him restore Britain's hundreds of Sacred Wells.
Now, with his mentor dead, Jack has returned to Brighton, and labours at the foot of a 1200 ft, as yet dry, well. It is a well as deep as the (yet-to-be-built) Empire State Building is high.
For nearly 4 years Jack has been one of the 45+ men digging daily in the (still today) world's deepest hand-dug well, as ordered by the town's Guardians, to supply water to their brand new workhouse.
Jack's uneasiness at the irony of his work is many-fold... something is wrong. Why is the project taking so long? Why has so much in local taxes (equivalent to approx. £160,000 per week today) been spent when, using many workhouse labourers, the task is run so cheaply?
And deeper, personal questions also haunt him. Who are these men, that bid him dig so deep on their behalf, who take the credit for success, but who treat him so low? Why did his mother, a street-walker who "worked" the upper echelons of the town, disappear one fateful day when he was a child? Who can tell him why she came to be found hanging dead from the wet twisted metal under the celebrated Chain Pier?
Image: Strat Mastoris
Performers:
Jonathan Brown, Mark Green, Ali Mckenzie Wilcox, Leanne Mckenzie, Julia Monkcom, Paddy O'Keeffe, Warren Saunders, and Brighton Vox Choir
Directed by Jonathan Brown Music / Choir Leader: Jo Mortimer .
Lighting Design: Strat Mastoris
Original Set Construction: Tomasz Baraniecki
Script Consultants: Anita Sullivan, Roy Grant, Peter Mercer Music Arrangement: Jo Mortimer, Annika Brown, Jonathan Brown
Brighton and Hove Libraries is also so enthusiastic that we're
holding another further special free event at Woodingdean Library DATE TBA
The Well in Woodingdean: Talk, Music and Theatre.
An evening all about The Woodingdean Well, including...
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Talk by local historian Peter Mercer, author of the much coveted "Hunns Mere Pitt"
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Music inspired by and part of the production of "The Well" by Brighton Vox (local choir) and the New Venture Theatre players.
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Performances of a couple of scenes of "The Well".
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Signing of Peter Mercer's new book on the history of Woodingdean (these will go like HOT cakes. You can't get his last book for love nor money. Well you can, but a LOT of money!)
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Question & Answer session with Peter, Jonathan, the Players and Brighton Vox.
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FREE entry FREE refreshments
Image: Strat Mastoris
"Completely
in awe at The Well: a poignant piece of recreated history, conveyed by an
extraordinary group of actors and accompanied by the most alluring singing. In
it the nitty-gritty of hardship, uncertainty and drama of real life mingle with
the sublime power of dreams, hopes and the supernatural. Expect the unexpected
in this highly original and deeply touching play. Unmissable!" Maria G.
Montoya "Can not
recommend The Well enough!! Left speechless & moved. Great story &
awesome cast, all should be very proud. Get your tickets today, you will not
regret!" Lou Preecy
"I really enjoyed The Well, and have been telling all my friends. Here's what I liked about it: the clever use of people to represent scenery - a message of people being used as objects by the rich and powerful. Innovative and minimalist use of scenery - clever use of the ladders and scaffolding to show depth - the intelligent weaving in of strands of local history (I did not know that there was a Dyke Road workhouse) - good acting and compelling performances - extraordinary sense of team - of us and them - but also very balletic, beautiful, well paced. Some amazing historical detail. I liked the mystical strand as well - the ancient water and so on. Established church vs pagan myth. Lots of interesting symbolism there. And it had a plot. Loved it. As matter of interest - where is the actual site of the well - can one visit it?" Vic Forte
"A theatrical experience like no other. The Well deserves to become a staple of physical theatre." Luke Hartney
"Thoroughly enjoyed The Well tonight, particularly the vocal work which was atmospheric and richly evocative of water - a highly textured piece achieved purely through physical theatre - I'd forgotten how much a small cast, completely committed to exploring how far a body can go in shaping an alternate reality, can create a believable world and sustain it. Kudos to all concerned." Kay Sexton.
"Just saw 'The Well' at the NVT. REALLY worth seeing I promise you. Go. You have till Saturday." Moog Gravett:
"This was my first experience of physical theatre. I found it a totally absorbing way to tell Jack's story. The group work was cohesive and strong. The character-sharing, in my opinion, made the whole piece flow with a vitality that would have been lost had each character been assigned to one person. The sense of a physical, enclosed depth created by the group, was impressive and convincing. I really felt I was working in a dry and dusty well shaft. Congratulations to the director and the whole cast.. For me, it was a brilliant piece of physical theatre. Barbara O'Keeffe
Deep thanks go to:
Our Backers for The Well (so far):
Michael Troughton
Isabella Lazlo
Welesmere Moog
Caroline Tyler
Join the list!
go to http://www.wefund.co.uk/project/well and sign up.
Every little counts!