The theatre company of the new course leader of BA (Hons) Acting at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is treading the boards of Broadway, New York with a production of Snow White.
Dr Kasia Zaremba-Byrne, who joined AUB earlier this year, is a founding member of New International Encounter (NIE) and a movement director for all their shows.
In addition to taking over leadership of AUB’s Acting course, Kasia will be helping NIE with choreography before they play the New Victory Theatre on 42nd Street, Broadway.
“It is a classic fairytale with references to contemporary times,” Kasia explains. “These often-funny asides to the audience are what connect the players to the spectators, and what makes the story relevant to them. The show is full of laughter, singing and music told for kids, parents and grandparents to enjoy different bits.
“I am preparing to change the choreography from the show being in the round – previously Bristol's New Tobacco Factory theatre – to end on the massive old-style New Victory theatre.
“The performers often move and dance with instruments, so I am sure it will be fun changing the choreography, especially for the double-bass and the cello!”
Snow White isn’t the first production NIE has taken to Broadway, having previously put on Beauty and the Beast, which Kasia describes as, “a really special moment for the company.”
“You feel like you are on the top of the world playing next to so many amazing shows, and talking near the backstage door to fellow actors from Harry Potter or The Play That Goes Wrong.”
Kasia recently joined AUB as the new course leader of BA (Hons) Acting. On what new students can expect from the course, she says, “We will be focusing not only on film but also on creating shows and companies that can go to national and international festivals and hopefully one day be premiering on Broadway themselves.
“To be at AUB feels amazing, to be surrounded by so many artists from so many disciplines. It feels like AUB is a nest for creativity; it allows people to dream and that’s very rare in the current situation in the UK and in higher education.”
NIE’s production of Snow White will run at the New Victory Theatre, New York from 1–9 November, before returning to the UK for a further three-week run at Cambridge Junction, 4–24 December.
