S A L I S B U RY L I V E S
Q&A
I once thought about being a doctor, but really I’ve only ever focussed on theatre. I’ve been fortunate in the support I’ve had from my dad, my mum and my mentors to be able to do this. When I was 16, my college took us to see a production of Nights At The Circus (based on the book by Angela Carter) performed by Kneehigh Theatre Company. We were sitting in the front row. I remember thinking, ‘Theatre can be cool!’ It was at that moment I started to consider becoming a director and that, hopefully, I’d one day make theatre as good as that show. I honestly think it still inspires me to this day. I have been living in Salisbury for the past five years but I’m a Yorkshireman born and raised. A piece of my heart will always belong to it and there’s nothing I love more than returning to one of the most beautiful places on earth to catch up with friends and family. I’ve always been interested in making theatre that makes a difference to people’s lives. Working with young people is constantly inspiring in the sense that you start to see things from a different point of view. People often say that young people have difficulty expressing themselves but I think they aren’t often given the chance to do so. Theatre is about telling stories and it gives young people the chance to tell their own personal story and that can have a profound impact. When they create their own theatre, they get that chance and I see my job as enabling them to do this. They become more vocal, more confident, more articulate and it’s amazing when a group of young people can challenge your views and even change them. It’s great to see the real impact of your work, but it is also incredibly rewarding to see a young person change for the better. When they leave to go off to drama school, university or other adventures it’s heart-warming to know your students might be taking a piece of the youth theatre with them.
66 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
DAVID ORME Dave Orme is the Youth Theatre Director at Salisbury Playhouse, where he leads the 270-strong Youth Theatre, whose membership ages range from age 4 – 25. He also holds weekly workshops and directs all the youth productions at the Playhouse. Here he talks about his love of Yorkshire, Gorillaz and, of course, the theatre... I have this amazing woodcutting of the commedia dell’arte character, Pulcinella that I bought from an artist in Sorrento. Pulcinella was supposedly created by a 16th-century peasant, Puccio D’Aniello, who lived in a town near Naples. A group of travelling comedians who visited the field where he was working were confronted by an endless stream of cutting quips and were so impressed by his witticisms, they asked him to join their troupe. At the moment we’re busy planning our upcoming summer show, A Sublime Feeling. It’s going to be a brand new piece developed by our Youth Theatre with Kazzum Arts. The piece will be performed at Salisbury Museum in August and will be a young person’s response to their current exhibition, British Art: Ancient Landscapes. Kazzum is a London-based arts organisation specialising in devising productions
in non-traditional venues for young people using playful and inclusive methods. I can’t stop listening to the new Gorillaz album, Humanz. It’s almost perfect, the scope of the album both musically and thematically is astounding – it’s probably one of the most intelligent albums released recently. If I were to describe myself, I’d say ‘passionate’, but others might say ‘loud.’ Salisbury’s a great place to wander around and explore, including the Town Path in Harnham, which is great for pottering about. I also love its restaurants and cafés; you can’t beat the Salisbury Arms for a decent burger.
www.salisburyplayhouse.com