Preview: Collector of Tears at Arts Centre Washington

Love. Loss. Passion!

Collector of Tears

Arts Centre Washington

Thursday 30^th October 2014

Collector of Tears is a passionate and powerful new play from north-east theatre company Gobscure and comes to Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 30 October as part of its national tour, having opened to great plaudits earlier this month. 

Collector of Tears is a poetic and epic love story spanning over four hundred years, told by Tanya Sealt, a young woman who cannot age until she has cried.  Instead, Sunderland-born Tanya collects tears from the people she encounters during moments of radical English history, passionately learning to fight for human rights and understanding both her sensuality and bisexuality, forged across time.  Wherever she goes she carries with her an amazing collection of glass tear-bottles, through which she reveals each unique and moving story of the tears' owners. Ultimately this hauntingly lyrical play is about humanity, intriguingly exploring the universality of love. 

Director Jackie Fielding says: 'Sean Burn has written a moving recollection of history brought alive in a truly original way. We are looking forward to having a wonderful time uncovering the magic of this epic piece, and then sharing it with our audiences.'

Playwright Sean Burn says:

'I am really proud to have such a strong team working on collector of tears.  This play explores themes close to my heart.’

The show is directed by acclaimed South Shields-based director Jackie Fielding.   Madeleine MacMahon makes her North East debut as Tanya Sealt, accompanied by original live music composed and performed by Ken Patterson. Designer Alison Ashton has teamed up with Effie Burns who has created the collection of glass tear-bottles for Tanya's story and  lighting is designed by James Henshaw .

Collector of Tears received a Peggy Ramsay Foundation Grant in 2012.  An earlier version of was given development time and performances at The Queens Hall Arts Centre, Hexham in 2009.   

On The Web:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/collectortears

Facebook: www.facebook.com/events

Tickets:

Collector of Tears comes Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 30 October, 7.30pm. 

Tickets are £8.50 / £6 (conc) and are available from www.artscentrewashington.co.ukor by calling 0191 219 3455.

On Tour:

27 October - The Place, Bedford

30 October - Arts Centre Washington

1 November - Ilkley Playhouse Studio

5 November - Marlborough Theatre, Brighton

6 November - Bristol Bierkeller

7 November - Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton