How a local theatre school is bringing through the next generation of Manchester’s acting talent

Bryony Shanahan, former Artistic Director at the Royal Exchange in Manchester is now working with the next generation of talent, who are studying at the Arden School of Theatre.

The third years are about to step on to the stage in the mythical and epic piece that is Brand New Ancients by Kae Tempest.

It was last performed in Manchester over ten years ago and it is on for two nights later this week.

We caught up with Bryony to find out more.

How did you get involved with this new production?

I worked with Arden earlier this year on two shows – Chaos and The It and had a great time. I love working with students and helping them in their transition into the professional world and I find always find it really stimulating in terms of my own practice.

I’ve kept up a great relationship with the school since then, and I was really pleased we could make this work. The brief to me was a piece that they would all have plenty to get their teeth into and also that gave them the opportunity to use the skills they’ve been sharpening in their movement classes.

As there are 30 of them, I wanted it to be a real ensemble piece, but it was a challenge finding something that fit all of this and especially something that would avoid some people having loads to do and others having hardly anything.

Then I was reminded of Brand New Ancients – I saw it over ten years ago when Kae first performed it and it has stayed with me in a big way ever since. I’ll get more into why later, but it immediately struck me as exciting to try to turn this epic performance poem into a story told by a large ensemble.

The language is incredible, the ideas epic and delicate in equal measure and it would also require them to engage with a performance style that is stripped back and a pretty vulnerable thing to access, which I thought would be really valuable at this stage of their training.

The story explores myths and how they relate closely to the world with live in. What do you find interesting about it?

I’ve always loved how Kae weaves huge, myth inspired, epic ideas with the everyday grittiness of the world we live in now. It has grandiosity whilst remaining grounded. It means we can stretch into territory that validates our experiences – the depth of our joy, pain, hope, loss… It also feels like there is a direct line from then to now – and despite all of the obvious differences in how the world operates – reminds us of our humanity above all else.

I think this is what I’m drawn to above all else – it’s humanity. It’s unflinching in talking about the messiness of people as well as all the beautiful things – and somehow, all of it is offered without judgement, but with the underpinning understanding that we are all complex and our experiences can directly shape our behaviour.

I love how it celebrates the quiet moments and quiet people too – a heroic act might have once been described as slaying a dragon, but it could also be offering a stranger an umbrella in a storm. As a director, I love stories with heart and this has it in spades.

It’s also been a really challenging and (mostly!) fun jigsaw working out how to make the poem work for 30 people whilst still being clear to an audience. Thinking about it now, there’s something about the piece describing everyday Gods who are found in betting shops and ‘caffs’, being told by a large group of people all from different backgrounds and experiences who have come together in this moment in time. That feels very apt.

The Arden has some remarkable talent, how does it feel working with young people who have such passion and hunger?

I love it! It’s why I always want to work with students and young people. Firstly, I hope I have stuff to offer them from the experiences I’ve had over my career, but I also learn loads too.

I treat them as I would any other professional company, and make work in the same way, but obviously I also have the responsibility to try to support them in their training and be part of getting them ready to go and get loads of work when they graduate!

This can look like a lot of things but I always try to create an environment where they feel safe to play and to push… they are really capable and work really hard and sometimes it’s nice to dig a little deeper and show them that moving passed their comfort zone can be a brilliant thing full of surprises.

I want them to have a professional experience, to build their confidence in themselves and their skills and to make something that they can feel really proud to be a part of.

And for me, it’s always a great challenge – how to build relationships quickly, form a proper company, make a piece with a much larger group than is usual and to work on pieces that I find really exciting. It’s also lovely being around a group of people at the beginning of their journey – they want to be there, they are open and willing to learn and they are bold and brave.

What was the last thing you saw on stage that you loved and why?

It was a little while ago but the first thing that came to mind was The Sound Inside which was on at The Traverse in August. I thought it was one of those pieces that was just so brilliantly told from all perspectives.

It was a wonderful script, beautifully acted and crafted with such skill and sensitivity by the creative team. Nothing was there for the sake of it, and it was pretty stripped back but so precisely shaped by everyone that allowed such clarity and was pure storytelling and theatre at its very best.

With so many shows in Manchester this time of year, why would you tell someone to come and see Brand New Ancients at the Arden?

Come see the future! The company are brilliant and committed and see them here so you can say I saw them as students! And it’s an incredible piece of writing that they are holding with such care and heart. It might not be covered in tinsel or snow, but it’s a story about humanity. It’s a story about all the people in your life in some way. And it’s a story about you. I think that’s part of the magic of the piece – we can all see ourselves somewhere or the people we love.

Bryony Shanahan’s Brand New Ancients is at the Arden School of Theatre from 5th – 6th December and you can book tickets here