Let’s help get Thurrock writer’s play to Edinburgh Festival

AN ACCLAIMED and talented playwright, who attended Palmer’s College, is asking for help to get her popular play to the Edinburgh Festival in August.

Michelle Payne’s play, The Staff Room recently received a five-star review at Theatre N16 from London Theatre 1, (https://www.londontheatre1.com/news/145480/michelle-paynes-the-staff-room-theatre-n16/) and has since been offered it’s first professional outing at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch for one performance. All of the payment from this will be going towards performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

But this is where you come in. Michelle said: “I have set up an indiegogo page where backers can receive gifts, raffle tickets and perks from donating, including a VIP ticket package for the performance at the Queens Theatre. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-staff-room-by-michelle-payne-edinburgh-fringe-new/x/14281384#/

The Staff Room stars Craig Webb (finalist BBC1’s Let It Shine – Neon Panda).

What is the show about? “They’re teaching our children, but are they teaching the right things? Three young teachers navigate their way through adulthood and educating.

A peek inside a state school staff room. With fad diets, Instagram abs and the government imposing a sugar tax, do the educators even know what is good for us? A Geography, History and PE teacher form an unlikely friendship within the dynamics and the solace of the staff room, bonding over all that matters; biscuits and banter.

The show will be at:
Queens Theatre, Hornchurch on Sunday 23rd July, 6pm

Theatre 3, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall, Edinburgh from 21st-26th August 2017 (7.10pm)

Michelle concluded: “My long term goal is for my play to be picked up by somewhere like the Soho Theatre and then eventually Channel 4 or BBC three to be developed into a sitcom.