Yellow Dress …Weakened with age Contents a flower worn chair Kneeling to a corner comfort scraped bare. 4 What is the Yellow Dress project? 5 How the project was broken down A broody red curtain scarred with a break 6 Profiles: lets through a soft wind - Romany Theatre Company lighting air’s lake. - Dan Allum - Ellen McDougall A grey haired lady short and subtle 8 Achieving aims limps through the room a smile never wrinkles 10 What people have said about Yellow Dress 12 Selection of 8 poems Holding a dress She slides on cracked floors 14 Casts of readings and performances… oak brown creakes died in the wars… 15 Special Thanks 16 Do you want to know more?

“Could not find powerful enough words to say how great it was...” Donna Aldridge – Learning Support Assistant

“Beautiful writing, well read – I’m encouraged to find and read more Romany Poetry...” Mercury Theatre Colchester

“Beautiful writing, well read – I’m encouraged to find and read more Romany Poetry...” Mercury Theatre Colchester

2 3 The project

27 Romany and non-Romany participants took The first reading took place at the Mercury Studio, part in the project which was a mix of group- Colchester, and the second at the Wolsey Studio, Ipswich. training sessions and tutorials on creative These public performances were a mixture of original Gypsy writing, devising, performance, sight-reading and poetry, drama scenes and a short story. The radio drama was poster & programme design. Some of the work based on one of the original poems about an older Gypsy created by the participants formed the substance woman’s experience in the Second World War. This story was of two rehearsed readings, a theatre work in later developed through workshops held at the Royal Court progress and a BBC radio drama. This accredited Theatre, before taken into rehearsals at the Tricycle Theatre learning course was led by tutors from the in . Then the 45 minute theatre work in progress BBC, , the Gate Theatre and was performed at the Hat Factory Arts Centre in Luton to custardfish design. members of the public and invited industry professionals.

corner, comfort scraped bare. er worn chair. Kneeling to a …Weakened with age, a flow

4 5 Profiles Dan Allum

Romany Theatre Company (RTC) have created original work Dan is the Artistic Director of the and performed nationally for the last ten years. RTC have Romany Theatre Company and he also nurtured new Gypsy talent who have gone on to work created and was lead writer on the in Theatre, Radio, TV and Film for organisations including 36 part BBC radio drama series the BBC, Endermol, the Arvon Foundation, the Royal Court, Atching Tan broadcast between Bristol Old Vic, and Universal Studios, as well 2008 – 2010. His first Radio 4 play as collaborating with international artists from Eastern was shortlisted for the BBC Imison Europe, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the and Audio Drama Awards 2011. His United States of America. latest Radio 4 play was broadcast earlier this year and he also adapted the book, The Diddakoi, for Radio 4 Extra in 2012. Dan is currently under commission to the Royal Court Theatre, BBC TV and Radio 4.

Ellen McDougall

Ellen is Associate Director at the Gate Theatre. Her previous directing credits include How to Think the Unthinkable/The Man with the Disturbingly Smelly Foot ( - nominated for an Award 2012); Telling Tales ( Projects); Ivan and the Dogs (ATC/Soho Theatre/ Rustaveli Theatre Georgia - nominated for an Olivier Award 2011); A Kind of Alaska (JMK Award Runner Up/BAC). Ellen trained as an assistant director to Bijan Sheibani, , and Marianne Elliott. Ellen is Associate Artist at Company of Angels.

6 7 Achieving our aims The writers Other participants

Advancing the education of Romany people in performing Andy Lamb, David Somes arts and theatrical production by provision of opportunities Candis Nergaard, Patricia Keegan and training. Dean Loveridge, Ruth Somes Damian Le Bas, Advancing the education of the public in issues relating to Kenny Lamb, (from Making Tracks) Romani persons and their culture through the provision of Sarah Jane Miller, theatrical productions and workshops. Rachel Drazek, Jason Brooks Alex Austin, Kristy Foy Improving the creative writing and performance skills of 20 Catherine Jones, Marcel Foy Romany and non-Romany participants as part of an accredited Tessa Dixon Josh Garnham learning programme. Luke Flateman Callum Laflin Keeley Laflin Devising rehearsed readings the substance of which will be Shaun Moye feed into radio and theatre productions. Leroy O’Neil Workshop leaders Chili Patterson Giving two rehearsed public readings. Paul Ashton Ronan Polley John Donnelly Tao Simon Creating a radio drama production. Ian Pointer Bradley Tilley Ellen McDougall Creating a short theatre production based on the experiences Sound Engineer of Romany Travellers in the Second World War. Andy Cross

Photographer Claire Haigh

h a soft wind, lighting air’s lake. ed with a break, lets throug A broody red curtain, scarr

8 9 Audience reaction toYellow Dress

“Intriguing, interesting and lovely story line.” “Deep / Powerful.”

“I actually loved it! I want to see it on stage please, or as a short “Moving.” series on BBC TV if possible. That would be great! ” “A powerful reading that should translate well to the active stage. “A beautiful portrait of a faded romance.” V. Good.”

“Sad / profound.” “Excellent.”

“Enjoyed & felt I entered a world I knew nothing about.” “Charming.”

“Beautiful Lyrical songs.” “A love story where one mistake sentenced Jess for Life.”

“A wonderful, moving account of one gypsy woman’s life and the “The Yellow Dress is a fantastically written piece of text which story of a century.” despite being simplistically performed, presents a range of emotions – it was brilliantly performed. “It came together very powerfully.” Well done! I loved it! I think it would be amazing on stage and fully performed with movement.” “It was a very artistic piece that give a good story.”

“It’s a touching tale.”

“Tender & Poetic, a fully paced tragedy.”

“A unique perspective on a Gypsy woman’s life.”

“It was a really nice story and I liked how all the characters interacted.”

“Emotional, clever and well acted. Well Done.”

10 11 Selection of 8 poems You’re a calm within me, a calm that I’m missing. 5 it moves me and i cant grab hold of it to stop, 1 When nights begin to fall it’s a crave that cant be satisfied, its constant, And owls begin to call and I’m constantly reminded of you. In a lane, You’re in every good song, every good film, everything beautiful. A Gypsy flame and the passion in your eyes I could die Is once again reborn. and the love I have makes me cry The light begins to glow tears that bleed out restlessly. And orange blossoms flow Close my eyes and kiss them. From twig, to branch, to log Until the sparks begin to blow…

All i got is this land I’m walkin’ on, Time has been kind 6 This dirt I’m standin’ on 7 fate has been broken A fair kid: they hoped he’d be dark. The grass i lay across laying to rest 2 Dark eyes looking backwards; The stars i rest dreams upon. in a flower worn cushion Black hair to get lost in… Yea’ this land is my home A woman alone, Holdin’ peace across my chest grey and old Stained by the country dress finds no comfort My only lust, to be alone. in hope, only cold 3 ‘I find you beautiful. You, beautiful’. A tear rolls from my left eye and onto his chest I pass a town every now and then, Resting in the chair I kiss the tear and remove my emotion Gazing at the heavy herds, silent, still, I want to look sexy but look more like love Glad to be without concrete feet, a piece of string, waiting His big green eyes want to hide, but he’s captivated I am a feather from the wing of birds. for a dream to fulfil I would die in his eyes, if he’d let me I do I think when we touch. No love to dig my grave Gripping the past No hate to push me in Scratching distress I will die in footsteps, Clutching for warmth, To stretch is my sin. From loves cursed yellow dress Alone in the dark, with my lamplight on, 4 I can’t sleep, I can’t move, because I’m scared when you’re gone, My brains telling me things I don’t want to know, And I believe it because I’ve not heard a word 8 ‘Do you still love me?’ I want to sleep with my lips on you, so I can kiss you forever when its dark, I know he does but something is wrong To dream that you’re mine, and sleep in the aura of your heat when you’re gone. His eyes flicker with sadness a dark tunnel I listen to his breath And understand he will not live to be old…

room, a smile never wrinkles nd subtle, limps through the A grey haired lady, short a 12 13 Yellow Dress Cast and crew of Hat Factory

Casts and crew of readings at the Mercury Studio Colchester, Arts Centre performance and the New Wolsey Studio Ipswich. CHARACTERS: Performed by Romany Travellers: Candis Nergaard Older Jess: Lin Clifton David Soanes Young Jess: Candis Nergaard Ruth Soanes Child Jess: Lia Saville Tom/father: Jason Maza Dramatized and directed by: Dan Allum Boy/Newsreader/Soldier: Damian Le Bas Musician: Sarah Jane Miller Production Assistant: CJ Bignell Production assistants: Eva Van Breugel and Jane Bignell

Cast and crew of BBC radio drama With special thanks to

CHARACTERS: The Mercury Theatre, The New Wolsey Theatre, The Royal Court Older Jess: Patricia Keegan Theatre, The Tricycle Theatre, Making Tracks, Zoo Audi, The Hat Young Jess: Candis Nergaard Factory Arts Centre, BBC Writersroom, custardfish web design Child Jess: Ruth Soanes and The Meadows Community Centre.

Dramatised by: Dan Allum Director: Charlotte Riches Production Coordinator: Amber Molyneux Editor: Alisdair McGregor

creakes, died in the wars… on cracked floors, oak brown Holding a dress, She slides 14 15 Do you want to know more about Romany Theatre Company and their projects? www.romanytheatrecompany.com www.atchingtan.com www.gypsys-wish.romanytheatrecompany.com www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/posts/Atching-Tan-A-Gypsy-Wife

A Gypsy Wife script available on BBC Writersroom homepage & is being tweeted about at: www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom