As part of Playbox Theatre's premiere of Trojan Barbie this week, we are pleased to present an open discussion forum to explore the issues around producing theatre for young people.

Trojan Barbie is an epic war story that recalls the legendary fall of the city of Troy against the terrors of modern warfare. Poetic, compassionate and tinged with great warmth and humour. Past and present collide as a mighty civilisation dies.

The discussion forum will interrogate the boundaries of writing and producing theatre for young people. An open access event, exploring whether some subjects are taboo for young audiences and whether theatres are able to tackle challenging topics. Drawing on the experience of visiting playwright Christine Evans, it will also explore the differences in programming between the UK and the US and Australia.

Christine Evans (playwright): Plays include Can't Complain, The Underpass, Trojan Barbie, Slow Falling Bird, Weightless, Mothergun and The Ballad of the Lost Dogs. Published by Samuel French, Smith & Kraus and in Theater Forum, her work has received multiple productions and awards in her native Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. Honors include a Rockefeller Bellagio Center Residency Award, a Fulbright Award, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Playwriting Award, Perishable Theatre's Women's Playwriting Festival Award, the Jane Chambers Award, "Plays for the 21st Century" Award and others. Evans received both her M.F.A. and Ph.D. from Brown and teaches playwriting at Harvard.

This event is supported by Warwick District Council