Cast adrift actors unite

The first, Des Irae, by Edward Baker, looks at the massacre of blacks by Irish Americans in 1863 anxious to avoid the draft in the American Civil War- and have to fight against slavery.

And the second, Sons of Paradise, is about a fictional survivor of the First World War who kicks against the government’s plans to give him a state funeral in Westminster Abbey.

For Paul Tyree, 37-year-old actor-writer and founder of the Sheffield Theatre Company, it will be an anxious time as the public’s response will spell success or failure of his dream.

He’s spent 20 years kicking around Sheffield acting (as Mason Tyree) and writing but never got his big break.

You might say it was self-inflicted because he doesn’t want to move away from the city but he’s not alone. “There are a lot of other actors and writers who have difficulty in breaking through that glass ceiling,” he says.

So when he was left “a little bit of money” after his mother’s death he realised it was now or never.

“I had never pursued my dream 100 per cent as I should have done. If I was ever going to do something it was now.”

He realised there were others in the same boat so why not start a new theatre company?

As he told the 35 actors and writers at the first meeting in the Brown Bear in Norfolk Street last spring: “It’s always a struggle but it would be nice if we were intelligent about it and rather than go off on our own set up a professional theatre company.”

They agreed although he warned them there wouldn’t be enough parts to go round, certainly at first. Right now the numbers have swollen to 150, most of them professional, if “resting.” Even so, he’s still looking for backstage volunteers.

Paul, from Hackenthorpe, says: “There is a pool of talent out there and there is more to come. But because they have decided to remain in Sheffield it is an incredible disadvantage.”

Conscious that he might be accused of using it as a vehicle for himself he’s not using any of his own plays or acting, at least for now, but producing and directing - and choosing the plays.

Actors will be paid - not much - per performance. Rehearsals are unpaid. Together they are mucking in to make the sets although he has hired a costume designer.

Right now he‘s realising that as producer he has to worry about the pounds and pence. The 14 performances at the Library, capacity 260, means 2,640 seats to fill at a tenner (8 concessions).

Ideally, the plays will go on tour as a new batch, up to four with a panto to balance the programme, is produced next year.

The theatrical establishment, has been helpful. Crucible director Ellie Jones let them do a play read-through in the Studio so they could get some idea of the mechanics.

The company, which calls itself “a place for Sheffield actors and writers to call their home,” is a brave venture.

Paul is hoping it will not be an expensive one. “I’m putting my money where my mouth is,” he smiles.

n Des Irae runs from October 2-6 at 8pm (matinees 4&6 at 2.30pm) and Sons of Paradise October 22-26 and matinees on 24 and 26 (similar times).

Book online at www.sheffieldtheatre.com or 07818 203 844.