Dana Bagshaw has been working with a drama group at the Barnabas Centre in recent months and have just sent through the publicity for their forthcoming show:
American-born playwright Dana Bagshaw originally set Karate for Kim in California during the 1970s while a student at San Jose State. In collaboration with the Guiding Lights Youth Theatre, Oadby, she has updated the play to contemporary times and set it in England.
“Working with the young people has been a delight,” Bagshaw states. “They helped by contributing the right jargon and the right tone for British audiences. In the process I believe they improved the overall effectiveness of the play.”
The play sees thirteen-year old Kim clamouring for attention and respect from her family, friends, and an admired school teacher, Ms. Moreland. Shunning the opposite sex and preferring to spend her time with newts, Kim also manages to persuade her parents to let her take Karate. Then she meets Mark.
Directed by Eva Ziebecki, the play includes two adult actors. Leanne Mitchell, who played a leading role in Bagshaw’s award-winning play Cell Talk, plays Kim’s understanding mum, while Russell Smith plays her not-quite-so-understanding father.
Karate for Kim opens in the Studio Theatre, Beauchamp Community College, Oadby on Friday 7 March 7:30 pm and Saturday 8 March 2:30 pm. Tickets (£6 for adults and £4 for young people) are available from Dana Bagshaw at 0116 271 4837. The play contains some adult language and is recommended for ages 13 +.
The first act of the play will be performed during the Leicestershire Drama Festival at Countesthorpe Community College at 7:15 April 11. Tickets £5.50 (concesstions £4.50 available from John Foreman at 0116 279 6700.
