by Jan Woolf
Jan Woolf is organising this fundraiser.
Her new play, will have a rehearsed reading on 28 May at the Tin Tabernacle Kilburn at 7.30, with full performances to follow in 2023, the 20th anniversary of the ‘shock and awe’ invasion of Iraq.
The play draws on the complex character of T. E. Lawrence—Lawrence of Arabia—and the film that turned him into a household name. It opens as objects from an archaeological dig are being prepared for an exhibition. Ghost and love stories become entangled, and Lawrence’s past is brought into the present.
She started the play as writer in residence on a dig in Jordan in 2013 with archaeologist, Neil Faulkner.
Digging up pieces of the past helped her write Blood, Gold and Oil. As script advisor, Neil’s knowledge of the Arab Revolt of World War I and its subsequent betrayal was invaluable. Neil died earlier this year and the play is dedicated to him.
Prior to the dig, she’d been working with the No Glory in War campaign set up to challenge our government’s narratives of the ‘necessity’ of the First World War. In writing the play she wanted to bring up to date that behind all war is commerce and territory.
Co-producer is actor, Douglas Wood. The GoFundMe money raised will be used to pay equity rates for actors Douglas, Shiv Jalota and Charlotte Moore and for the venue hire and filming.
For a recent history of the play, formerly titled The Man With the Gold, and directed by David Erdos, please see http://www.janwoolf.com/man-with-gold/
Please support this play which has important echoes for our own time. If you want to come along contact Jan – [email protected]