posted 04-10-2007 11:08 PM               

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1 September to 6 October 2007
Moon Landing
Written and directed by Stephen Edwards

"When you’re the second man on the Moon, what do you do for an encore?"

The world's first theatrical production inspired by the Moon Landing is to be launched by Derby Playhouse, in the UK, in September.

This exciting new musical show is based on the real-life events surrounding Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Mike Collins’ historic mission to the Moon. Writer and director Stephen Edwards' dramatic re-telling reveals the human side to making history, highlighting Aldrin's personal story and posing the question 'How do you return to Earth when you’ve walked on the Moon?'.

Moon Landing is the first time mankind’s greatest achievement has been re-created on stage. The production, which runs from 1 September to 6 October, is the opening show of the Derby Playhouse autumn-winter 2007 season.

Designer Dan Potra, who created the opening and closing ceremonies for the Sydney Olympic Games, joins the theatre's talented in-house creative team to re-create Apollo 11 and Cape Canaveral within the auditorium.

Moon Landing tells the story of the USA and Russia's battle for space supremacy while revealing the human drama behind the mission and its aftermath -- from those involved to those left behind.

Characters featured include Aldrin, Armstrong, Collins and President John F Kennedy, whose challenge to NASA would raise the Space Race stakes: "Could we land a man on the Moon and bring him back safely? And, more importantly, can we beat the Russians to it?"

Moon Landing reinforces Derby Playhouse's reputation as a regional theatre creating powerful and exciting new work. The critically-acclaimed Johnno, adapted and directed by Stephen Edwards with its European premiere at Derby last month, was hailed as 'one of the most daring and dazzling shows the Playhouse has produced' (Derby Evening Telegraph).

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