By Pamela McGowan

Last updated at 11:52, Friday, 02 November 2012

A Cumbrian actress is bringing her latest award-winning play to unexpected locations across the area.

Buy a ticket: Emma Rydal with director of Art Out West Bob Pritchard

Emma Rydal, who is from Brigham, near Cockermouth, has previously appeared in Coronation Street and the film East is East.

Her latest work is the self-penned play True, which won an award at the recent Manchester 24:7 festival and received four-star reviews from both The British Theatre Guide and What’s On Stage.

Emma stars in it alongside Sarah Thurstan, who has also been in Coronation Street, as well as appearing in Emmerdale, EastEnders, Casualty and Silent Witness.

Now, following its success at bigger venues, she is bringing the show – put on through her company La’al Marra Productions – to new audiences at five village halls.

It is part of Arts Out West – a network of volunteer promoters that put on shows at local community centres and village halls. Covering an area from Ireleth in Furness, along the Solway coast and right up to the outskirts of Carlisle, its ethos is to “bring great shows to unexpected places”.

Through a series of monologues, the poignant comedy True explores the evolving and challenging relationship between a mother and her daughter, from rebellious teenage to motherhood.

Starting next week, it will tour five venues, starting at Egremont on November 8, moving to Torpenhow on November 9, Gosforth on November 10, Millom on November 15 and finishing in Thursby on November 17.

Bob Pritchard, from Arts Out West, said it is a real coup to bring productions like this to such unusual venues, opening the arts scene up to wider audiences and communities.

However, it relies on funding grants, including subsidies from Cumbria County Council, to enable it to happen.

He said: “We are a rural touring programme that brings a whole variety of different acts to village halls from just outside Barrow to just outside Carlisle.

“There are about 25 halls and community centres on the scheme and this is one of about 15 different productions going around this autumn. This one has a local link as Emma, the author and one of the actresses, is from Brigham.”

Performances start at 7.30pm. The play itself lasts about 60 minutes. It will be followed by a screening of One Last Walk, a 30-minute film based on the final scene of True. It was made in the Lake District by local film-makers.

For more details and ticket information visit www.arts-out-west.co.uk.

PMcGowan@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 11:30, Friday, 02 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk