Theatre expert's insight into history of the stage

AN informal introductory course on the history of theatre will be run at two venues this October – The Witham, in Barnard Castle and The Station, Richmond.

A Brief History of Theatre is presented over 16 weeks by Laurence Sach who has worked as a lecturer, as well as a freelance writer and director. 

Mr Sach has been artistic director of Durham Theatre Company, manager of Middlesbrough Theatre and the Playhouse, Harlow, and Head of Arts for Harlow Council.

For seven years he was a lecturer on the Middlesbrough College/Teesside University foundation degree in performing arts. Each two-hour session on the course consists of an illustrated talk, and after a short break a group discussion on that session’s topic.

The course follows the development of European theatre from its earliest origins in ancient Greece to the key practitioners who laid the foundations for 20th and 21st century theatre.

“Theatre encompasses so many skills and topics that participants always contribute new insights from their own knowledge and experience,” said Mr Sach. “This is a relaxed and informal way to find out more about a subject that always fascinates and entertains.”

The course runs at The Station, Richmond on Mondays, 10am to noon, from October 16, and at The Witham, Barnard Castle, on Wednesdays, 10am to noon, from October 18. For bookings for The Witham visit www.the

witham.org.uk or phone 01833 631107.

For bookings for The Station, or for any queries, e-mail: laurencepsach@gmail.

com or phone 07909 991633.