Leading US playwright supports Scots talent

One of the world’s most prolific contemporary playwrights is to lend his support to young literary talent in Scotland this week.

Israel Horovitz, author of more than 70 plays and father of Beastie Boy Adam, will work with emerging writers from the University of St Andrews, as well as local school children in a unique new initiative.

In the two-week collaboration with the Byre Theatre, the acclaimed author, director and performer will work with ten young writers to create ten, ten-minute new dramas for the stage called ‘Ten by Ten’.

The event follows on from Israel’s year-long worldwide project ’70/70′, which celebrated the writer’s 70th birthday with 70 of his works being read around the globe.

This time around, Horovitz will lead open reading sessions in St Andrews with postgraduate students and pupils from Fife secondary schools.  The initiative will see playwright, writers, actors and students opening up their creative processes to the public.

New Yorker Horovitz, whose work has been translated and performed in as many as 30 languages, commented “I am delighted to be back in the Byre again. It is a wonderful venue and the University of St Andrews has such a wealth of talent that I am sure this will be a truly exciting experience for everyone.

“It is essential for the continuance of theatre and the arts that we engage with young people from all backgrounds and abilities.”

Professor Lorna Hutson, Head of the University’s School of English, said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to have an international playwright of Israel’s stature working with our creative writing postgraduates and our undergraduate student actors.”

Open rehearsals, in the Byre’s Lawrence Levy Studio Theatre, are at 1.30 pm, on 10 June; performances are at 1pm and 7.30pm on 10 June and at 3.30pm and 7.30pm on 11 June.  For further information visit www.byretheatre.com/whatson.

ENDS

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Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews

Contact Gayle Cook, Senior Communications Manager on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email [email protected].

Ref:  Israel Horovitz 100610

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