Opening Night Dilemma for Playwright Edson Burton

Edson Burton

Edson Burton, the celebrated Bristol poet and playwright has found himself in a unique dilemma. Which first night will he attend?

On Tuesday 1 November 2011, Edson has two plays opening in his adopted city of Bristol. Seasoned, a theatrical staging of his acclaimed first poetry collection opens at the Tobacco Factory. On the other side of town at the Alma Tavern, the curtain goes up on Raising Kamila, part of the Picture This season of new plays commissioned by Theatre West. Each play will run at its respective venue for 2 weeks – from 1-12 November.

Dr Edson Burton has written plays for both BBC Radio 4 and regional radio. In 2010, his first full-length theatrical production, Children of Salt opened to critical acclaim. His first collection of poetry Seasoned was published by City Chameleon in 2008. Edson combines his writing with research, poetry performance, talks and storytelling.

Raising Kamila: Extremes of love, fear, and desire ignite among the crew of a dredge boat plying the Rhine during interwar Germany. The tide is turning.
Directed by Amanda Horlock, 1-12 November 2011, 8.30pm
Alma Tavern and Theatre, Alma Vale Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2HY 0117 973 5171
www.almataverntheatre.co.uk

Seasoned: Mixing outrage and tenderness, monologue and lyric, this is an unflinching and humane exploration of the roots and modern day experience of ‘multicultural’ Britain.
Directed by Andy Burden, 1-12 November 2011, 8.15pm
The Brewery Tobacco Factory Theatre 291 North Street, Southville, Bristol BS3 1JU 0117 902 0344
www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com