The Twelfth Player, a unique collaboration between Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, Royal & Derngate Northampton, and Northampton Town Football Club is preparing to open for a summer of performances at Sixfields.
The Twelfth Player brings an interactive, family-friendly, multi-media performance to Sixfields Stadium. A theatrical experience using technology to tell the stories of three generations of Cobblers’ fans, this world premiere production runs from 22 June to 12 July.
Audience members will be guided around Sixfields football stadium via film and headphones, in groups of up to four, as they observe a unique site-specific performance, simultaneously taking place in the real world and on an iPod screen.
Viewing the passionate world of football through the eyes of three generations of a family of Northampton Town Football Club’s supporters, audiences will experience the highs and lows of the past seventy years of the club’s history, travelling behind the scenes on a 40 minute walking tour around Sixfields Stadium.
The show has been created by Seven Sisters Group, whose site-specific performance at London’s historic lidos, Like a Fish Out of Water, was a sell-out success at the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
During the eventful past couple of years, Artistic Directors Susanne Thomas and Sophie Jump have researched the football club’s history and met many of those who have helped to define it. They have spoken with a wide range of people, from staff and fans, to players and mascot Clarence, to draw out their individual experiences and gain a unique perspective on what matters to the Cobblers and their fans.
Guiding audiences seamlessly between characters inspired by real fans and placing them at the heart of the sporting action, Seven Sisters Group will create a playful and uplifting performance for all the family, combining domestic drama with the drama of the game, and delving into the fantasy worlds with which young supporters entertain themselves during games, imagining gladiator battles and flying dragons.
Exploring passion, loyalty and sense of belonging of the world of football, The Twelfth Player runs at Sixfields Stadium from Thursday 22 June to Wednesday 12 July (no performances on Mondays). For a full schedule of dates and times visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk or call Royal & Derngate Box Office on 01604 624811. Tickets are just £5* each. This production has received funding support from Arts Council England.
Made in Northampton is sponsored by Michael Jones Jeweller.
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* A charge of £3 applies for all transactions over £15. Does not apply to Groups, Friends or Disabled Patrons, and is per-transaction, not per-ticket.