Stephen Joseph Theatre to host online script-reading sessions on Wednesdays

Chelsey Gillard: Stephen Joseph Theatre associate director

THE Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, is to run a series of online script-reading sessions from January 20.

“We do these regularly, with a different theme each time,” says press officer Jeannie Swales. “They have a devoted following and usually sell out really quickly.”

Running on Wednesdays from 11.30am to 1.30pm for five weeks, the fun sessions will dive into five classic comedies: Aristophanes’s Lysistrata on January 20; William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, January 27; Moliere’s Tartuffe, February 3; Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals, February 10, and Georges Feydeau’s A Flea In Her Ear, February 17.

The sessions will look at how comedic theatre can pack a political punch, offer blistering satire and deliver a good night out. 

Participants will read sections of the plays aloud and work with Carne Trust associate director Chelsey Gillard to consider their themes, stories, writing styles and historical context in a relaxed discussion.

Digital copies of the plays will be provided. Participants will be given a Zoom link to join the online session each week once they have made a booking at sjt.uk.com.