We are pleased to announce a new collaboration between Minack and the St. Ives based ROUGH COAST theatre company.

ROUGH COAST will present 'The King Of Prussia' at Minack in the first week of July 2009 as part of the DARKE VISIONS FESTIVAL.

Nick Darke - photo Steve Tanner

Darke Visions is a celebration of the life, work and passions of Cornish Playwright Nick Darke who died in 2005. Nick was a playwright, filmmaker, environmentalist and lobster fisherman. The Drama Advisory Group floated the idea of a festival and it quickly captured the imaginations of teachers, arts organisations actors, directors, choirs and community groups.

The result is a Festival which will span from March 2009 to 2010 and will be an umbrella for a myriad of activities which will either be performances of Nick’s work, be it film, plays or song, or his work will be a catalyst for other activity.

THE KING OF PRUSSIA
Born 1770 at Breage near Helston, John Carter became one of the biggest rogues on the coast, the self styled King of Prussia.

John Carter, the eldest of the Carter brothers, named the cove from which he operated Prussia Cove (originally Portleah), because of his deep admiration for Frederick the Great, King of Prussia.

Nick Darke’s telling of the story of the Carter’s smuggling exploits was originally performed by Kneehigh in 1996.

Minack's collaboration with the Rough Coast company is very much about creating a company that represents the highest possible standards for theatre in the local community. Sarah Lincoln will direct and says ‘In my experience Cornwall is awash with both professional and amateur creative talent and I am very much looking forward to working hand in hand with both. I love seeing the personal journeys, collaborations and friendships that come from community theatre projects. I look forward to recruiting a compact, strong and versatile company for ‘The King of Prussia’, the standard will be high, high enough I hope to see the production go beyond The Minack and although only an amateur company in context, I’m expecting great things.'

www.stivesplay.co.uk
www.sarahlincoln.co.uk

Part of the Darke Visions Festival, running from Spring 2009 to Summer 2010, which celebrates the life and legacy of Nick Darke - Cornwall’s foremost playwright. www.nickdarke.net/darkevisions Download Press Release [HERE]