The House Behind The Lines
Media Release
Lest they be forgotten…the untold history of sex workers on the front line, in new play The House Behind The Lines from Buglight Theatre
Buglight Theatre present
The House Behind The Lines
A new devised piece of theatre with script developed by Lydia Rain
Directed by Ruth Carney
From bold new theatre company Buglight, The House Behind The Lines is a new play based on research into the hidden history of sex workers on The Western Front in the First World War. With a host of women heading up the creative team, this war story is all about the women and the battles they fought on their own front line in France.
Directed by Ruth Carney and with a script developed by Lydia Rain, this provocative new play explores the long buried history of prostitution in the First World War and the voices of those seldom heard, in neither the documents of the past nor the centenary commemorations of the present. Buglight Theatre reveal the women’s untold stories: where male dominated history has written them out, Buglight write them in.
Created through a unique collaborative process of research, devising, improvisation and experimentation, The House Behind The Lines explore the women’s seldom heard account of the War, in this gritty and compassionate new production.
Publicly preaching the virtues of abstinence, the British Army quietly condoned visits to ‘soldiers comforts’ as good for morale, and even regulated brothels behind the lines, while the war against rampant venereal disease raged on. During the First World War, VD caused 416,891 hospital admissions among Brits, making it five times more likely for a soldier to be hospitalised because of a sexually transmitted disease than for Trench Foot.
During the development of The House Behind The Lines and with the support of the charity Genesis, Buglight Theatre were able to consult with modern day sex workers in Leeds, shedding light on the shadowy world of sex workers in war time and today, and the everyday risks they take, and why.
“The House Behind the Lines is a textured, gritty and unapologetic piece of theatre depicting the previously untold stories of women on the front line. Buglight Theatre is an emerging company making bold and compassionate work for new and existing audiences - definitely ones to watch.” ALISON FORD, SQUARE CHAPEL CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
Regional Tour: 2 November – 1 December 2016
Press Night: 2 November, CAST Doncaster
Ends
For further information, contact pipstrafford@gmail.com/07816538202
NOTES TO EDITOR
Buglight Theatre
Founded in 2014 by actors Keeley Lane and Richard Galloway, Buglight are committed to bringing innovative and new ideas to the stage. Buglight Theatre are an emerging, Yorkshire based company committed to making accessible, high quality drama inspired by a range of genres, styles and techniques. At the heart of their work is an exploration of stories told in a unique and different way. This production in its inception was supported by Bradford Playhouse and The Arts Council England. The second phase of development and regional tour is supported by Arts Council England, The Hub, Square Chapel, CAST and The Civic.
Ruth Carney
Ruth Carney is a professional freelance director. Ruth was accepted onto the BBC Directors Room Scheme at the end of 2015, where she directed her first episode of Doctors. She is now a freelance TV Drama Director and is currently shooting more episodes of Doctors. Most recently Ruth directed States of Verbal Undress and If Only Shahrukh Khan by Rani Moorthy for Rasa Productions and Each Madman on his High Horse by Martin Derbyshire at The Chelsea Theatre London. Prior to this she was Associate Director to Olivier and Tony Award Winning Director Matthew Warchus on Ghost the Musical. For Sheffield Theatres Ruth was Associate Director and in the inaugural season after reopening, Ruth directed the highly acclaimed verbatim play Sisters.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Dates: 2 November - CAST, Doncaster
3 November - The Lantern Theatre, Sheffield
8 November – The Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield
10 November - Square Chapel, Halifax
13 November - The Hub, Leeds
1 December – The Civic Barnsley
Booking: www.buglight-theatre.com