The Otesha Play
Just like the cycle tours are the heart and soul of our project, the Otesha play is the most important part of the cycle tours.
In an ordinary house, on an ordinary street, in an ordinary town, an extraordinary day is about to begin. Gilly, a girl like any other, is about to wake up. The world around us is changing faster than we could possibly imagine, and there are choices to be made this morning. But quick, it‘s 7am, and time to get up!
When we roll into towns and festivals, spreading practical ideas and challenging people to do something (anything!), the first thing we'll do is perform the Otesha play.
What's it all about anyway?
This play is based on the award-winning Otesha Canada Morning Choices skit, although it’s been re-worked to suit a UK audience and it continues to evolve with every performance. Since tour members have the freedom to take the play and make it their own, it's continually changing and evolving so that each member can bring their own unique skills into the performance. So don't ever expect two performances to be the same!
The latest version of the Morning Choices play explores the themes of fashion, food, media, trade, transport and money (and scenes that address water and personal energy use are being developed). The main character, Gilly, goes on an adventure through the back of her wardrobe, meeting everyone from Cilla Black to Jamie Oliver and a very handsome credit card, and making connections between global issues and her own lifestyle along the way. In each scene, the team presents loads of ideas for simple actions that we can take in our everyday lives to contribute to a better world.
Where do you perform?
We do the play on our cycle tours, all up and down the UK. This summer, we're coming to Wales, Scotland and East Anglia. Although we often visit schools, youth clubs and festivals, we also do public performances from time to time at community venues or just on the street. Visit our cycle tour pages for all the details on the places we're visiting and where we'll be holding public performances.
What do you need to perform the play?
Actually, we don't need much to make a performance happen. In the past, we've been known to give impromptu encore performances in car parks or do walkabout theatre at festivals. Once, we even did a bit of theatre inside a bank (when we went to ask them about their ethical policies)! We don't need props or projectors or anything fancy - the only critical elements are a little space, a great audience, and some time. About an hour will do just nicely, although we can tailor this to different venues and audiences. At primary schools, for example, we might perform a shorter version of the play, focusing on the bits that are most relevant for the students.
How can I invite you to my school / youth club /mate's party?
If you want us to come perform the Morning Choices play in your community, get in touch! If you work with young people, you can also find information for educators online here.