Tales from Star City
by Idle Discoursetheatre
Explore the dark heart of the Soviet space race, & reveal the truth of life on "the seacoast of the universe" behind the propaganda images.
about the production
Tales from Star City tells the story of Polina Semyenova, a female radio technician who becomes embroiled in the brightest and darkest moments of the Soviet space race. Through this journey she realises her disenchantment with the great Communist dream, as its Utopian fantasies are corrupted into a nightmare of conspiracies. Although a one-woman show, the production incorporates voice-overs and animated projection to create a powerfully evocative, humourous, and poignant piece. The play first ran at The Tabard Theatre, Chiswick in February / March 2018, before transferring to The King’s Head, Islington in March / April 2019.
about the artist
This is a collaboration between Idle Discourse and PlayGC Theatre. Idle Discourse have produced multiple plays in both the UK, and internationally. Tales from Star City - by artistic director Dan Dawes - was due to tour in 2020, but was postponed because of the pandemic. PlayGC was founded by Robert and Lisa Gordon Clark in 2020. Despite difficult circumstances, they have produced several plays - including numerous successful productions of The Letter of Last Resort in London.
loading calendars
stage dimensions
width: 2 metres
height: 3 metres
depth: 2 metres
Set: Projector and screen is required (or an open cyclorama) for the greatest technical effect, but it is possible to perform the piece without. Otherwise no set required. The piece is flexible and can be accommodated in almost any space, and has been performed in both end-on and in-the-round configurations.
Sound: A technician running QLab 4 will be provided, but good coverage is necessary, preferably with options to isolate individual speakers.
Lighting: No specials required, but capacity for projections is preferred.
Get in: On day of production, preferably six or seven hours prior to opening.
The piece has worked well for both traditional audiences, and non-traditional theatre-goers, particularly those with an interest in STEM subjects and in 20th century history. We believe that the piece fits particularly well in spaces in university cities and towns with a strong academic community. The London runs generated a great deal of interest from science and history groups, as well as being widely acclaimed by traditional theatre goers for its powerfully focused drama.
‘Bold and ambitious’
‘Take all your preconceptions of a one-woman show and throw them in the bin. Laughed and cried and lost track of the time completely’
Negotiable with venue.
