The Trainer
Encyclopedia
The Trainer is a play by David Wilson and Anne Aylor (with writing contributions from composer Keith Burstein
).
, news footage from Gaza
and inane breakfast TV programmes. It delivers a darkly comical comment on the justice system, while at the same time highlighting the struggles taking place both in Gaza and in the UK and other Western countries to defend humanity from barbarism.
(as the result of a libel trial relating to issues of alleged promotion of terrorism) as told by the attendees of the gym in which Taghreed works (all of whom happen to be Judges of the Court of Appeal).
and Dic Edwards
’ opera Manifest Destiny
was performed at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe the London Evening Standard
newspaper published a review which claimed that the opera glorified terrorism. Burstein subsequently took the newspaper to court on the grounds that this claim put him at risk under the terms of the Terrorism Acts of 2005 and 2006. The High Court found in his favour and granted him the right to take the case to a trial by jury. Howevere, this decision was reversed in the Court of Appeal, which ordered Burstein to pay the legal costs of the London Evening Standard
(some £70,000). In consequence, Burstein was bankrupted and the Official Receiver seized possession of all of his works (including Manifest Destiny
).
The court case and its aftermath inspired David Wilson and Anne Aylor (in collaboration with Burstein) to write The Trainer. The play covers a fictionalised version of the events of the trial, in parallel with a separate plot strand similar to one used in Manifest Destiny
(that of an educated Palestinian woman with a Jewish lover, driven towards acts of violence in response to the state violence demonstrated in the Middle Eastern conflicts of the late 20th and early 21st centuries).
, Tim Piggott-Smith and Lebanese-American actress Jana Zeineddine.
Following rewrites, The Trainer was revived for the fundraising evening Two Plays For Gaza on May 21 2009 at the Hackney Empire
theatre in London, UK (which also featured a performance of Caryl Churchill
's play Seven Jewish Children
, talks by Tony Benn
and Ben Griffin
, and music from Reem Kelani
and hip-hop poet Lowkey
.) For this production, actors Janie Dee
and Roger Lloyd Pack
joined the cast.
Both productions were directed by Tom Platten.
Keith Burstein
Keith Burstein is an English composer, conductor and music theorist. He is noted for his championing of tonal music as a valid contemporary composing style and for the humanitarian dimension of his compositions....
).
Description
The Trainer is a multi-media play set in a posh gym in the basement of a gentlemen’s club, punctuated with excerpts from the (real life) opera Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny (opera)
Manifest Destiny is a British opera composed by Keith Burstein with a libretto by Dic Edwards. The opera is notable for dealing with the subject of Islamic suicide bombers, and with the ramifications of both the Middle Eastern conflict and the War on Terror....
, news footage from Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
and inane breakfast TV programmes. It delivers a darkly comical comment on the justice system, while at the same time highlighting the struggles taking place both in Gaza and in the UK and other Western countries to defend humanity from barbarism.
Synopsis
The play explores the love story between a British Jew, Josh, and his Palestinian fiancée Taghreed (who works as a fitness trainer at the gym in a London gentlemen's club). Their story is interwoven with a predominantly fact-based account of the real-life bankruptcy of British composer Keith BursteinKeith Burstein
Keith Burstein is an English composer, conductor and music theorist. He is noted for his championing of tonal music as a valid contemporary composing style and for the humanitarian dimension of his compositions....
(as the result of a libel trial relating to issues of alleged promotion of terrorism) as told by the attendees of the gym in which Taghreed works (all of whom happen to be Judges of the Court of Appeal).
Background
After Keith BursteinKeith Burstein
Keith Burstein is an English composer, conductor and music theorist. He is noted for his championing of tonal music as a valid contemporary composing style and for the humanitarian dimension of his compositions....
and Dic Edwards
Dic Edwards
Dic Edwards is a British playwright and poet with more than 20 productions to his name. Born in Cardiff Edwards has often found himself at odds with his Welsh background...
’ opera Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny (opera)
Manifest Destiny is a British opera composed by Keith Burstein with a libretto by Dic Edwards. The opera is notable for dealing with the subject of Islamic suicide bombers, and with the ramifications of both the Middle Eastern conflict and the War on Terror....
was performed at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe the London Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
newspaper published a review which claimed that the opera glorified terrorism. Burstein subsequently took the newspaper to court on the grounds that this claim put him at risk under the terms of the Terrorism Acts of 2005 and 2006. The High Court found in his favour and granted him the right to take the case to a trial by jury. Howevere, this decision was reversed in the Court of Appeal, which ordered Burstein to pay the legal costs of the London Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
(some £70,000). In consequence, Burstein was bankrupted and the Official Receiver seized possession of all of his works (including Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny (opera)
Manifest Destiny is a British opera composed by Keith Burstein with a libretto by Dic Edwards. The opera is notable for dealing with the subject of Islamic suicide bombers, and with the ramifications of both the Middle Eastern conflict and the War on Terror....
).
The court case and its aftermath inspired David Wilson and Anne Aylor (in collaboration with Burstein) to write The Trainer. The play covers a fictionalised version of the events of the trial, in parallel with a separate plot strand similar to one used in Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny (opera)
Manifest Destiny is a British opera composed by Keith Burstein with a libretto by Dic Edwards. The opera is notable for dealing with the subject of Islamic suicide bombers, and with the ramifications of both the Middle Eastern conflict and the War on Terror....
(that of an educated Palestinian woman with a Jewish lover, driven towards acts of violence in response to the state violence demonstrated in the Middle Eastern conflicts of the late 20th and early 21st centuries).
Performance history
The Trainer was premiered at Oxford House, London, in March 2009. Actors involved included Corin RedgraveCorin Redgrave
Corin William Redgrave was an English actor and political activist.-Early life:Redgrave was born in Marylebone, London, the only son and middle child of actors Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson...
, Tim Piggott-Smith and Lebanese-American actress Jana Zeineddine.
Following rewrites, The Trainer was revived for the fundraising evening Two Plays For Gaza on May 21 2009 at the Hackney Empire
Hackney Empire
The Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in the London Borough of Hackney, built in 1901 as a music hall.-History:Hackney Empire is a grade II* listed building...
theatre in London, UK (which also featured a performance of Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill is an English dramatist known for her use of non-naturalistic techniques and feminist themes, the abuses of power, and sexual politics. She is acknowledged as a major playwright in the English language and a leading female writer...
's play Seven Jewish Children
Seven Jewish Children
Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza is a controversial six-page, 10-minute play by British playwright Caryl Churchill, written in response to the 2008-2009 Israel military strike on Gaza, and first performed at London's Royal Court Theatre on 6 February 2009...
, talks by Tony Benn
Tony Benn
Anthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
and Ben Griffin
Ben Griffin
Ben Griffin may refer to:*Ben Griffin , Australian football player*Ben Griffin , refused to fight in Iraq and left the Army citing illegal tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces* General Benjamin S. Griffin , United States Army*Ben Hill Griffin, Jr...
, and music from Reem Kelani
Reem Kelani
Reem Kelani is a Palestinian musician, born in Manchester, England, and brought up in Kuwait. Initially influenced by the jazz music her father played on his record player, a family wedding Reem attended in her maternal home in Galilee in the seventies sparked her interest in Palestinian...
and hip-hop poet Lowkey
Lowkey
Kareem Dennis is a musician and political activist of English and Iraqi descent, better known by his stage name Lowkey. He first became known through a series of mixtapes he released before he was 18, before taking a hiatus from the music business...
.) For this production, actors Janie Dee
Janie Dee
Janie Dee is an English actress and singer.She is married to the actor Rupert Wickham.-Theatre:Dee is presently part of the Globe Theatre 2011 season playing The Countess of Roussillion in Shakespeare's "All's Well that Ends Well" and in October she goes to Nottingham Playhouse to play Amanda in ...
and Roger Lloyd Pack
Roger Lloyd Pack
Roger Lloyd-Pack is an English actor known for his roles in the TV shows The Vicar of Dibley, Only Fools and Horses and The Old Guys.-Career:...
joined the cast.
Both productions were directed by Tom Platten.
External links
- Barebones Productions (UK) - production company handling The Trainer
- Anne Aylor's homepage
- Keith Burstein's homepage