FROM NEWBURY WITH LOVE

From Newbury With Love was adapted from the book of the same name by Anna Horsburgh-Porter and Marina Aidova. 

It tells the story of a 15-year exchange of letters between Newbury residents Harold and Olive Edwards and the Aidova family in Chisinau, Moldova. The play charts a fascinating period of social and political history during the cold war. 

Lisle Turner read the book whilst working for Amnesty International, associate publishers of the work. He then organised a reading of extracts from the book at the Human Right Action Centre in Shoreditch and Claire Coaché read the female voices. Turtle Key Arts secured the rights for the stage play. Lisle then travelled to Chisinau in Moldova to stay with the Aidova family and research the story in detail.

The project also included cultural exchange visits between 14-18 year olds from Newbury Youth Theatre and the Aleccu Russo School in Moldova. There was a digital written communication via Facebook between the young people and they also devised and performed a piece of theatre that was incorporated into the play.

From Newbury With Love premiered with a sold out run at the Corn Exchange, Newbury in 2011 to critical and audience acclaim.

The premiere performance was live streamed around the world via a satellite and performed in the presence of Marina, Lera and Slava Aidova and Harold and Olive’s children.