Pedal power and romantic comedy aim to raise funds for Norwich theatre-maker’s Ugandan drama project

Lucinda Bray (pictured) is staging the production Here We Are at the Maddermarket Theatre to raise funds for a drama project in Uganda. Photo: Lucinda Bray. (Image: Lucinda Bray)

Lucinda Bray is heading to Uganda next month where she plans to create a production with local actors and do outreach work in rural areas.

Ahead of this, as part of her fundraising efforts she is staging a lunchtime production of Here We Are by Dorothy Parker - which she descibes as 'a beautiful romantic comedy about two newlyweds' - at the Maddermarket Theatre this week.

She also plans to do an epic 12-hour sponsored cycle marathon at the theatre during the venue's open day on Saturday.

Miss Bray, who spent time in Uganda while at university, said she was working on the project with Ugandan theatre-maker Benjermain Egasa Osipo and that the duo planned to create a production of a play called Betrayal in the City by Francis Imbuga which could potentially be performed at the National Theatre of Uganda.

'It's a really strong piece about how to forge cultural identity in a post-colonial country,' she said.

'It has some really interesting dynamics and politics and it is a well-known piece in East African schools because it is used for the equivalent of GCSEs over there. It is not performed that much though so this will be a really good opportunity for people to see it.'

She added: 'I am also really looking forward to going to do workshops with teachers in rural schools, looking at how to use drama as an educational tool.'

Miss Bray, a 31-year-old performing arts and English teacher at City College Norwich who is currently on sabbatical, is hoping to raise £3,000 for the project. She stressed that she was raising funds for the cost of putting on the project only and not for her own travel.

Here We Are is being performed tomorrow (Thursday) at 2.30pm and Saturday at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Tickets £8.

The Maddermarket Theatre open day will take place on Saturday from 10am until 4pm. People will have the chance to take part in a drama workshop, go on tours of the theatre, find out about the costume department and more. Miss Bray will start her 12-hour sponsored cycle ride at the theatre at about 10am on Saturday.

For more about all these events, visit www.maddermarket.co.uk

You can also book theatre tickets by calling the box office on 01603 620917.

For more information about Miss Bray's Ugandan project, including how you can support the project, visit www.facebook.com/BetrayalinthecityUganda/