DYSPLA Festival 2013

DYSPLA FESTIVAL
Monsters, Mavericks, Mothers

DYSPLA celebrates the work of dyslexic storymakers and has done since 2007. This years festival focuses on narratives about containment; both metaphorical and physical with a strong emphasis on female protagonists.

Since 2010 DYSPLA have opened the festival with a GALA Night to celebrate the wonderful world of dyslexia and creativity. This year we have something new up our sleeve!

We will open this year’s GALA with a performance from Benedict Phillips, renowned performance artist and activist. Followed by: Dr. Louise Tondeur, Author and Principal Lecturer in Creative Writing at Roehampton University, Jon Adams, a returning DYSPLA Guest Speaker, Artist and Poet, Caglar Kimyoncu, a Filmmaker, Digital Artist, and Artistic Director at filmpro ltd and last but not least, Chris Arnold the Creative Director and Co-Founder of Creative Orchestra.

We are very pleased to welcome Marcus Warry of THE REAL DEBATE CLUB to chair the GALA DEBATE, with our wonderful (dyslexic) Guest Speakers and our eclectic audience members. “Dyslexia: Help or Hindrance? Where do you stand?” All our Guest Speakers will present 10-15 min talks on how their dyslexia has helped or hindered their practise and a Q&A will follow in the form of a REAL DEBATE!

The evening will include delicious wine cocktails sponsored by Barefoot Wine for the third year running, a vast array of professional, successful dyslexic guest speakers, monologue performances, film screenings and the opportunity to network and meet some of the most successful and creative dyslexics the UK has to offer.

Y&P is the first production ever developed especially for the Dyspla Festival! Historically the Dyspla Festival only promoted and produced the work of dyslexic writers. This year launches a new approach to developing work using the WHITEBOX process.

Y&P is returning to the UK after a successful run as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival under the title The Taliban Don't Like My Knickers. This newly developed play, with a brand new cast, set, and ambitious production due to our recent Art Council funding, has been brought to new heights with the help of guest director Gary Thomas. Y&P is based loosely on the time that British journalist Yvonne Ridley spent captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

"The theatrical techniques are very Brechtian – using a sparse set, audience participation to break the fourth wall, and projections behind the actors on a loop." Lisa McKeown The Charlebois Post - Canada

Y&P is showing at the Camden Peoples Theatre from 11th - 16th November 2013.

Whispering Theatre returns to this year's festival presenting an intimate theatrical experience with a selection of monologues written and performed by dyslexic playwrights. The Whispering Theatre is what it says it is - the performance that is whispered... It is whispered because that is what you do with secrets, promises, or confessions.