This text weaves a number of dramatic stories together, told by the villagers of a rural community. As they descend into poverty, the tales become increasingly more comic and fantastical. Ideal for exploring ensemble company work and imaginative theatricality, "The Yarn" can be performed as a complete production, the stories played individually, or a few selected depending upon the size and needs of the group.;The text has been specifically devised for drama and performing arts students aged 14 and above (Key Stage 4, GNVQ Performing Arts students, BTEC National Diploma students and youth theatre groups) and offers full and equal participation for between eight and 40 performers, allowing for the strong possibility that the group will be predominantly female. The "open" text gives performers opportunity to create their own production, encouraging ownership and ensemble, and performance exercises help the group towards developing their own performance style.
Rob Brannen is Senior Lecturer in Drama at De Montfort University, Bedford. He currently teaches the HND Performing Arts course and the BA Drama course. Prior to his present post he has taught GCSE Drama, A Level Theatre Studies and BTEC National Performing Arts. He has been a theatre researcher for The Arts Council, and an actor-teacher with Theatre-in-Education companies.