DIRECTOR: EMMA ROXBURGH

WRITER: DAFYDD JAMES

LOCATION: STAGE 2, NORTHERN STAGE

DESIGNER: ANNA ROBINSON

photos taken by Mark Savage

Heritage was written for National Theatre Connections and performed by Northern Stage Young Company. As a group of theatre makers we made a thorough analysis of the script, which was a huge inspiration for the production. The story follows a group of teenagers - all with their own secrets and pasts – who think they have been chosen to close the village’s Mayday ceremonies. Gradually the group discover a much darker truth: there is a suggestion that the ceremonies will end with a human sacrifice.

As well as performing, my role was also to design both set and costumes within the resources of Northern Stage’s wardrobe and a minimal budget.

My designs echoed the Nazi concentration camps and used the imagery of traditional Mayday festivities, complete with ribbons and bells. The costumes reflected individual characters e.g. Lisa’s aspirations to be Liza Minelli were conveyed through the bowler hat - a reference to ‘Cabaret"‘. Budget meant we had to compromise on the design. We recycled costumes from previous productions focussing on the ‘aryan ideal’ - a wished for but actually non-existent world.