The first production of 2024 by The  Northern School of Art’s Stage and Screen faculty students is a dark, political comedy with a brilliant soundtrack.

Rehearsals are well under way for No Particular Order by Joel Tan, which is set over the course of three hundred years and explores the impact of a despot coming to power on citizen’s lives, freedom of speech, art, birds and flowers.

With eighteen scenes and over forty-five characters, the play investigates all aspects of society from education, immigration, art and war.

The production is being performed at the School’s Hartlepool theatre on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th January at 7pm and it is the first production from Level 4 BA (Hons) Acting degree for Stage & Screen students, pictured at rehearsals below.

First year Acting student year Molly McKean, 18, from Hull is playing the roles of Refugee 2 and Parent and said that what stands out to her most about the play is: “The fact that there’s always a sense of closeness and community even in the hardest times like during war or during a dictatorship.”

She said that she is enjoying working on the show, adding: “I love being back in rehearsals with a new group of people and finding out how everyone works together and working with different people.”

Fellow first year Pierre Brown, 23, from Middlesbrough, pictured, who is playing The Man at the Party and also The Patient, said: “One of the things that I really like about the play is the diversity of the characters, like how I go from a villainous role to a role which gains the audience’s sympathy.

“Working in the show is awesome because we all work really well together as an ensemble.”

The play also features collaboration with students from the School’s Stage and Screen faculty’s Film, TV & Theatre, Costume and Production Design degree courses as well as support from the MA Directing & Theatre-making students.

The poster for the production was created by a first year student on the School’s Illustration degree course, Lu Farthey.

Jonny Bussell, Senior Lecturer in Acting, said that the show is really exciting and marks the first production since its premiere at London’s Theatre 503.

“It’s a challenging piece for the students to engage with as it looks at a wide range of themes including the refugee crisis, censorship, impacts of climate change and political ideology.”

He added: “Getting to perform in our theatre at the end of their first semester is a fantastic opportunity for our first years to showcase the skills they have developed so far.  The way the acting degree course is structured with a high level of contact hours is very demanding but the students have embraced the challenge and I’ve really enjoyed directing them on this production.”

No Particular Order by Joel Tan is being performed on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th January at 7pm at The Northern School of Art Theatre, Church Square, Hartlepool, TS247EX.

The play is Pay What You Decide meaning that the audience pays nothing until after show. Post show there is an opportunity to give feedback on the pieces which will be really helpful for the students’ progress and development. Tickets can be booked HERE

Further information about The Northern School of Art’s BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen degree is available HERE