East Central University will open the spring ECU SCREENS season with “JOHN,” a “transfixing” (Daily Telegraph) dance theatre piece, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, in the Raymond J. Estep Multimedia Center of the Bill S. Cole University Center.
“JOHN” authentically depicts real-life stories, combining movement and spoken word to create an intense and moving theatrical experience.
ECU SCREENS is collaborating with Sigma Tau Delta and The Honors Student Association to show the “beautiful and shocking” (Daily Telegraph) recorded-live production of “JOHN,” performed at the Royal National Theatre of London. Open to the public, the screening is $5 for students and $10 for members of the community. Because of strong language, nudity and adult themes, “JOHN” is suitable for viewers ages 18 and up.
“JOHN” will be performed by internationally renowned DV8 Physical Theatre, which has produced 18 highly-acclaimed, dance-theatre works and four films for television, garnering over 50 national and international awards. Lloyd Newson, DV8’s Artistic Director, interviewed more than 50 men asking them frank questions, initially about love and sex. One of those men was John.
What emerged was a story that is both extraordinary and touching. Years of crime, drug use and struggling to survive, led John on a search in which his life converges with others in an unexpected place, unknown by most. Called “powerful and absorbing” by the Evening Standard, this unique and poignant biography is sure to be a cinematic event that you won’t forget.
After a successful fall season, this showing is the first in a series of foreign films and NT Live productions that will be presented by ECU SCREENS this spring. NT Live is the National Theatre's groundbreaking project to broadcast the best of British theatre to cinemas around the world.
ECU SCREENS will present seven productions, including three different Royal National Theater recorded live stage performances, throughout the spring season. The screenings, which range from contemporary works like “JOHN” to classic literary masterpieces like “Treasure Island” (March 12) and “Of Mice and Men” (April 30), are all open to the public.
To learn more about ECU SCREENS and the spring schedule, follow us at www.facebook.com/ECU.SCREENS or visit www.ecuscreens.blogspot.com. For more information about the Royal National Theatre in London and the NT Live screenings, visit http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ . Dr. Rebecca Nicholson-Weir, co-director of ECU SCREENS, may be contacted at (580) 559-5929 or rnichlsn@ecok.edu .
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