New Productions

The World Premiere of ‘Camoufleurs’ at The Assembly House‚ Norwich.

‘Camoufleurs’

Oliver Messel by Lee Miller

“I was asked by Eastern Command to find premises for a Camouflage School; this, of course, was all done in dead secrecy for security reasons. While I was exploring around the many interesting byways of Norwich, an old Georgian building standing forlornly off the road behind some nice brown gates caught my eye. The building looked derelict and the door was open, so being interested in all old buildings I walked inside and found the rooms stacked to the ceiling with crates and boxes, and the beautiful ceilings and walls festooned with cobwebs.” Oliver Messel.

‘Camoufleurs’ is a site-specific theatrical production based on the Eastern Command Camouflage School (ECCS) who, during World War 11‚ was stationed at The Assembly House in Norwich. The Assembly House is an historic Georgian ‘meeting room’ that had become derelict by 1939. ECCS was a top-secret unit of artists‚ set designers, magicians‚ architects, arts practitioners and other local people who used their skills to create vital defence techniques and in so doing, showed just how art could help to win a war. These men were known as ‘Camoufleurs’. The Captain of the unit was the well-known international set-designer Oliver Messel, and his Co-Officer was the influential surrealist artist‚ collector and critic Roland Penrose.

Messel‚ himself, discovered The Assembly House and made it the secret base of the unit during the war. In so doing, he also managed to begin the restoration of The Assembly House to its former Georgian glory by renovating it in his spare time! In fact‚ if it weren't for Messel's wartime endeavors The Assembly House might not still exist today. His contribution helped to save one of Norwich's greatest assets – today a visitor attraction‚ arts centre and community venue.

This unique production aims to educate‚ inform and entertain. It will allow for participation across the community and it will combine local history‚ as told through sound‚ film and images, with a theatrical interpretation of a unique period in East Anglia’s and Britain ’s History. It is a collaborative project between local playwright‚ Joy Taylor‚ and Clare Goddard‚ Director of Three Rivers Productions. It is a fictionalised account of this bizarre yet vital story.

“I am glad to confirm that as the son of Roland Penrose and the Director of The Penrose Collection and The Lee Miller Archives I am very glad to support your project for which I have great enthusiasm and admiration. As you know our archives and collection are available to you for your work, and I am glad to help in any way I can”. Antony Penrose

For further information and dates please contact Clare on three.rivers@btinternet.com

Sun: May 7 - 9th 2009: Park Place Pastoral Centre, Hampshire.

'Francis' is a new production that looks at the life and work of St. Francis of Assisi.
The story of this much-loved Saint is told through dialogue, images, sound and light. Devised and directed by Clare Goddard, designed by Marcus Robinson.

For more information please contact: three.rivers@btinternet.com