Category: Uncategorized

Streamed live online 31 March

4****

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Produced as part of the SHAKE Festival, this rehearsed reading of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a delight. Unlike the RSC’s Puck -inspired Dream, this is unashamedly low tech with just a change of lighting or simple backgrounds to suggest settings and characters.

The joy of a rehearsed reading is that the lack of bells and whistles ensures that the focus is entirely on the language and delivery, and under Jenny Caron Hall’s direction, this cast certainly delivers.

Dan Stevens is a calm but ruthless Theseus, laying down the law to Hermia and Lysander and setting in motion the misadventures in the woods. There are no histrionics from Stevens as the steely Oberon either, although the frustration as events spiral out of his control is portrayed expertly. Rebecca Hall is magical as Hippolyta and Titania – ethereal, but wonderfully animated in her reactions – especially as she watches the performance of Pyramus and Thisbe. The rude mechanicals are still funny without slapstick and lots of physical comedy (instead they all have comedy accents) – Luisa Omielan is a hoot as Bottom and Tim Fitzhigham as Flute producing some facial expressions that Marty Feldman would be proud of. Wendy Morgan’s Puck is a waspish treat, and the four lovers impress, with Barnaby Taylor (Lysander) and Louis Rudnicki (Demetrius) keeping the insipid male characters interesting, and Máiréad Tyers and Daniel Bowerbank excelling as the wonderful Hermia and Helena. Even without physical contact, the two manage to convey the fracturing and repair of their loving friendship beautifully.

This reading is an absolute joy – calm and measured, allowing Shakespeare’s words to drift over the audience like a dream.

Streaming Live 1 – 3 April – Book via https://sohotheatre.com/events/open-mic-play/

4****

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Rob Drummond comperes an open mic evening live from the Soho Theatre directed by Richard Twyman, which can be watched as a live stream, or joined online as part of the audience in the room – seen on large screens around the room, with mannequins sitting at the tables in front of the stage.

Drummond quickly puts the audience and performers at ease, repeatedly assuring us that this is a place with no judgement, just do your best, as the show begins.

Seven people perform – mostly singers, but also a poet and a frantically funny stand up – and they are all warmly received, with the familiar glitches that come with online meetings ever-present but making the realisation that we’re together for this event more triumphant.

Drummond chats to each contributor about their experiences of lockdown, and the conversations soon tackle depression, drinking, and the damage that isolation does to mental health. Drummond always brings us back to a lighter tone, but there is an underlying melancholy to Drummond and the show that can’t be dismissed as the benefits of, and need for, touch and physical interaction are repeated.

As Drummond discusses his experiences and his one-off rule-breaking, the audience is asked to raise their hands if they broke the rules during lockdown – a few brave souls admit this.

It’s when the final performer, an older lady called Val, is introduced that things start coming together. A technical hiccup means that Drummond’s words are echoed and come back to haunt him, and as Val talks about her shielding and says that it’s not on to break the rules, Drummond’s compere finally reveals the guilt that he’s carrying. All the conversations with the other performers have fed into this, and it leaves you wondering if this was skilful interviewing, or the entire show is scripted. But that doesn’t really matter – the message that you just have to do your best without judgement that has been woven through the show hits just as hard either way.

Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan responds to the newest round of Cultural Recovery Funding:

Theatres Trust is pleased to see further support for theatres in England in the latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund. Theatres have had to remain closed for far longer than anyone could have anticipated so quite rightly, there are theatre organisations receiving additional grants in recognition of that.

Before the pandemic hit, theatres played an important role in communities everywhere. More than 34 million people attend theatres in the UK each year, generating £1.28bn in ticket revenue. It is crucial to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the country that our theatres survive this crisis and can contribute to its recovery. It is therefore important that theatres continue to receive support until they can reopen viably.

The Space theatre to receive £27,098 from second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund 

The Space, on the Isle of Dogs, East London, is among over 2,700 organisations to receive funding from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund in the latest round.  

Like so many organisations, the Space had to furlough the majority of their staff back in April 2020. Despite this, the venue launched Locked Down, Looking Up, an online programme of new play readings, workshops and performances, thanks to funding from the Arts Council’s Emergency Grants.  

Further funding from the first round of the Cultural Recovery Fund enabled the Space to bring staff back off furlough, re-open briefly in October, invest in live-streaming equipment, develop new work and continue to deliver performances, workshops and networking/support sessions online. 

Since February this year, with strict COVID guidelines in place, the Space has been live-streaming performances from the venue. This new grant will mean the Space can retain all staff, whilst progressing the development of new work and reaching new audiences.  

The Space’s programme for April-June will include a festival of four new plays developed in 2020, three audio plays commissioned by the Space to accompany a visual art exhibition, a Global Majority Symposium including workshops, discussions and events and a window for playwrights to submit new work to the ScriptSpace programme. 

Artistic Director of the Space, Adam Hemming, says, “We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support from the Arts Council and DCMS. The work we’ve done over the last 12 months hasn’t been a stopgap whilst we wait for the pandemic to end. We felt it was crucial to keep reaching out to audiences and artists and, in doing so, we’ve developed new ways of working, built an online, international audience and provided meaningful support to creatives. We will use the latest award to underline our commitment to delivering high quality performances and expand our reach to benefit more artists and the public that we both serve. In 2020, we were ‘locked down, looking up’, in 2021, thanks to this award we’re coming out of the lockdown, looking forward.” 

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: 

“Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced. 

Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.” 

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: 

“Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.   

We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.” 

Turtle Opera announces free workshops for
children on the autism spectrum
April – June 2021

Turtle Opera, a music and drama creative project for children on the autism spectrum, has announced its free workshop series for 2021. Allowing children to create their own group performance of music and story, the Saturday workshops will initially be held on Zoom and then at the Ogston Music School – St Edward’s School, Oxford.

The workshops are vitally important as they support participants to reduce social isolation, improve communication skills, increase confidence and self-esteem, as well as to enjoy the creative process. By taking part in the Turtle Opera activities, the children will gain a sense of achievement through seeing their work valued publicly with a live group performance for
friends and family

During the nine workshops, participants aged 12-16 will explore a variety of creative disciplines, working with a professional composer and director. The team will be supported by a project coordinator from Turtle Key Arts, a pastoral leader from Autism Family Support Oxfordshire. The project is also supported by students from The Faculty of Music, University of Oxford, enhancing the professional development of the students

The mother of one participant says, I don’t mean to be dramatic about it, but Turtle Opera has completely changed our lives. Pascal walked out of the first session, and it was as if “Oh my God, it’s OK to be autistic.” For the first time in his life he picked up the phone and he now talks regularly to his grandparents in Australia. He is a changed child.

Turtle Key Arts is a UK registered charity that provides access to the arts to disabled, disadvantaged and socially excluded people, and those that otherwise wouldn’t necessarily get the opportunity. Watch a short film of the final performance of Turtle Opera 2018 with
feedback from participants, parents and music students: https://vimeo.com/263907697.

Turtle Opera Oxford 2021 is a Turtle Key Arts partnership with English Touring Opera, in
collaboration with The Faculty of Music, Oxford University (Music in the Community course), Autism Family Support Oxfordshire and St Edward’s School, Oxford. Funding is supported by Prospero and University of Oxford Community Grant.

Turtle Opera was originally a collaboration between the Royal Opera House and Turtle Key Arts, starting in 2001 and held each year until 2007. It has been held each year since 2015 in Oxford in partnership with the University of Oxford.

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S SOUTH PACIFIC TO REOPEN

CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE FROM 5 JULY

A FILM OF SARAH KANE’S CRAVE ON DEMAND

OPEN AIR EVENTS IN JUNE

Artistic Director Daniel Evans and Executive Director Kathy Bourne announce today that Chichester Festival Theatre will reopen its doors with its summer musical: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC, running from 5 July – 4 September.

Before then, a film of Sarah Kane’s CRAVE, created from Tinuke Craig’s acclaimed production, will be available to watch on demand in May.

CFT is also planning a weekend of open air concerts and family events in Oaklands Park in early June.

Kathy Bourne and Daniel Evans said:

‘Seldom can a summer have been as eagerly anticipated as this one. We are so proud and thankful to be able to say: we are re-opening, we will be producing work on our stages and digitally, and we will continue to serve our community of audiences and theatre-makers.

‘We know that Chichester’s summer musical is a highlight of the year for people locally, regionally and nationally. South Pacific should have been the centrepiece of Festival 2020; we couldn’t be more thrilled that it will finally open this July, with a superb cast and creative team who’ve waited a year to bring it to fruition.

‘We’re also delighted to offer a specially made film of our Autumn highlight, Sarah Kane’s Crave – giving audiences around the globe a second chance to see Tinuke Craig’s revelatory production.

‘While South Pacific will initially be booking with a reduced capacity auditorium and a dedicated socially distanced performance every week, our hope is that, later in 2021, we will see the return of non-socially distanced audiences with a renewed confidence and appetite for live performance. We’ll announce further productions for Festival 2021 later this spring.’

Currently, Step 4 of the government’s roadmap anticipates the removal of all legal limits on social contact and the reopening of full theatre auditoriums from 21 June, subject to successful pilot test events taking place in April and May. Accordingly, South Pacific will go on sale with a reduced capacity auditorium (approximately 900, as opposed to 1300) in order to ease congestion in the foyers and public spaces, with a view to moving to full capacity as soon as government guidelines permit. Enhanced cleaning, hand sanitising and the wearing of face coverings at all times in the Theatre will be in place.

In addition, there will be one specially designated socially distanced performance every week – complete with the Covid-safety measures introduced last autumn, including timed arrivals and temperature checks – for those audience members who would prefer to remain socially distanced for the foreseeable future.

CRAVE
By Sarah Kane

Streaming worldwide: opening night 18 May at 7.30pm BST, on demand from 19 – 29 May

A chance for audiences at home to experience a specially made film of the production that defied lockdown. Sarah Kane’s Crave was live streamed to thousands in 50 countries around the globe as the cast of four performed in an empty auditorium. This film is a new edit of the live stream, with remastered sound and incorporating new footage from filmmaker Ravi Deepres.

In a damaged world, four characters search for the light. This heart-rending, funny, kind and cruel meditation on the meaning of love resonated with audiences looking to reconnect after the loneliness and seclusion inflicted by a global pandemic.

The opening night performance will be followed by a live post-show talk with members of the company.

Erin Doherty, Alfred Enoch, Wendy Kweh and Jonathan Slinger are the cast in Tinuke Craig’s production, which is designed by Alex Lowde, with lighting by Joshua Pharo, composition and sound by Anna Clock, film by Ravi Deepres, movement by Jenny Ogilvie and casting by Charlotte Sutton. Filmed by The Umbrella Rooms.

Contains strong language; suitable for ages 16+.

Crave is sponsored by Genesis.

Gina Beck, Julian Ovenden,

Joanna Ampil, Keir Charles and Rob Houchen in

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s

SOUTH PACIFIC

Music by Richard Rodgers

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan

Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener

Directed by Daniel Evans

5 July – 4 September 2021, live in the Festival Theatre

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific will be Chichester Festival Theatre’s summer musical for 2021, running from 5 July – 4 September, with a press night on Tuesday 13 July. The production will also be streamed online, dates to be announced.

Daniel Evans directs an outstanding cast led by Gina Beck (Nellie Forbush), Julian Ovenden (Emile de Becque) Joanna Ampil (Bloody Mary), Keir Charles (Luther Billis)and Rob Houchen (Joe Cable), which also includes Iroy Abesamis, Carl Au, Rosanna Bates, David Birrell, Taylor Bradshaw, Bobbie Chambers, Danny Collins, Shailan Gohil, Adrian Grove, Zack Guest, Matthew Maddison, Sera Maehara (as Liat), Melissa Nettleford, Kate Playdon, Pierce Rogan and Clancy Ryan.

This much-loved, Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musicalopened in 1949 to huge success, becoming one of Broadway’s longest running hit shows. It boasts one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most memorable scores, featuring songs such as Some Enchanted Evening, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair and Bali Ha’i.

1943. On an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, US troops are kicking their heels amid the cacao groves while restlessly waiting for the war to reach them. 

Nellie Forbush, a navy nurse from Arkansas, finds herself falling for the French plantation owner, Emile de Becque – a man with a mysterious past. The scheming sailor Luther Billis runs a makeshift laundry to earn a quick buck, but he’s no match for the Polynesian Bloody Mary who’s intent on exploiting these foreigners.

When young Princeton graduate Lieutenant Joe Cable is flown in on a dangerous reconnaissance mission, love and fear become entwined as the island’s battle for hearts and minds begins.

This new production of South Pacific is directed by CFT’s Artistic Director Daniel Evans whose previous Chichester productions include This Is My Family, Quiz and Fiddler on the Roof.

Making their Chichester debuts are Gina Beck (Matilda, Show Boat, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera) as Nellie, Julian Ovenden (Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel, BBC Proms, Downton Abbey) as Emile, Joanna Ampil (Avenue Q, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon) as Bloody Mary, and Rob Houchen (Les Misérables, The Light in the Piazza) as Cable. Keir Charles, who played Chris Tarrant in Quiz, returns as Luther Billis.

The set and costume designer is Peter McKintosh, and the choreographer and movement director, Ann Yee. Musical direction is by Cat Beveridge, with musical supervision by Nigel Lilley, orchestrations by David Cullen, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Paul Groothuis, additional arrangements by Theo Jamieson, and casting by Charlotte Sutton. 

One performance of South Pacific each week will be socially distanced.

There will be a Dementia Friendly performance on 1 September at 2.30pm, welcoming individuals living with dementia, as well as their friends, families and carers.

South Pacific is sponsored by R.L. Austen.

BOOKING INFORMATION

Priority online booking for Friends of Chichester Festival Theatre opens:   

Thursday 1 April from 12 noon

General online booking opens:

Tuesday 6 April from 10.00am

cft.org.uk       01243 781312

Tickets from £10

Prologue: £5 tickets for 16 – 30s

£5 tickets are available for 16 to 30 year-olds for; sign up for free at cft.org.uk/prologue. 

Twitter @ChichesterFT         Facebook ChichesterFestivalTheatre

Instagram ChichesterFT       YouTube ChichesterTheatre

LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE LAUNCH ‘PEOPLE BEHIND THE PUPPETS’

• First episode of new digital series for families People Behind the Puppets, featuring an interview with designer Maia Kirkman-Richards, is now available to enjoy for free at youtube.com/thelittleatheatre.
• The series celebrates 60 years of ground-breaking puppetry design and will inspire a new generation of designers as Little Angel’s puppet Angel interviews makers about their work.  Each designer brings an easy puppet ‘make’ that children can follow along at home.
• New episodes will be released each week with Oliver Hymans, Alicia Britt and Jimmy Grimes up next.  Future episodes will feature Toby Olié and Alison Alexander.
• Family theatre at Little Angel over Easter also includes online shows ‘Where the Bugaboo Lives’, ‘Eggs on Legs’, ‘We Cover the Universe’ and ‘The Stone Soup’.  Easter Holiday Craft Sessions take place from 6 – 9 April.

Little Angel Theatre have today released the first episode of new online series People Behind the Puppets as part of the theatre’s 60th anniversary celebrations. Featuring an interview with puppet designer Maia Kirkman-Richards, it is now available for families to enjoy for free at youtube.com/thelittleatheatre.  A new interview will be released each week with Oliver Hymans, Alicia Britt and Jimmy Grimes next to be featured.

Over the past 60 years, a huge range of designers have brought their unique puppet designs to life on the Little Angel Theatre stage. In People Behind the Puppets, Little Angel’s very own puppet ‘Angel’ meets and interviews these designers, finding out more about their experiences of puppetry design and why they love working in the field. Each designer brings along an easy puppet make that children can download from littleangeltheatre.com and follow along at home. 

The first episode is an interview with puppet designer Maia Kirkman-Richards whose work for Little Angel Theatre includes The Slightly Annoying Elephant and The Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat.  For more details on Maia’s work see https://www.puppetsbymaia.com/.

Also at Little Angel Theatre Over Easter….

Where the Bugaboo Lives
A Little Angel Theatre Production
Ages 5 – 11
Digital production on zoom
Until 2 May
£13.50 per household littleangeltheatre.com
Press performances Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 March at 10.30am /12.30pm

The popular interactive story by Sean Taylor (writer behind Little Angel Theatre’s Finding Santa) and Neal Layton is brought to life in Little Angel’s first made-for-zoom, style show for 5-11 year olds directed by artistic director Samantha Lane and designed by Ellie Mills. Young audiences ‘choose their own adventure’ while they watch, deciding which path the characters will take. 

Eggs on Legs
Presented by Garlic Theatre
Ages 3-8
Digital production on zoom
12 April,  11am and 2pm
£13.50 per household littleangeltheatre.com

“Every day, from here to there, funny things are everywhere” – Dr Seuss
Meet a family of zany Eggs on Legs, living in a lost pocket of the globe. One day the wind blows a huge egg into their tree and they are excited to play with it. But what happens if it hatches and can they protect it from the slithery snake?

Garlic Theatre conjures a poetic, Dr Seuss world full of eggcentric puppets and music to make you roll around with laughter.  A cracking family show bursting with wonder and surprise – you will never look at an egg in the same way again.  Each performance will include an eggciting post-show workshop of around 15 minutes to get you in the mood for Easter.

We Cover the Universe
Presented by Akin
Digital production on zoom
For under 5s and their families
6 & 7 April, 11am and 2pm
£13.50 per household littleangeltheatre.com

Awaken your imagination with this interactive, sensory and wondrous online zoom show for under 5s, their parents/carers and families. Poetry, drawing and gentle play combine to broaden your horizons. We Cover the Universe combines streamed content with live audience interactions.

We first meet Dot when she’s feeling small. She’s stuck in a grey room until, one day, she starts to draw and dream. Plucking up the courage to venture out, she encounters a glorious new world of colour. And learns there’s more to life than she ever thought.

Easter Holiday Craft Sessions
Delivered via zoom
Ages 6 – 10
6 – 9 April 10.30am – 11.45am.
£15 per child per session littleangeltheatre.com

Learn how to make your own puppets with Little Angel’s Easter craft sessions delivered via zoom from 6 – 9 April.  Children aged 6 – 10 can join the Little Angel team in a series of fun, creative workshops to get the Easter holidays off to a crafty start.  The sessions will be led by Little Angel Theatre’s Community Engagement Manager Laura Hunt, with support from Puppetry Interns Ruby Saide and Jessica Shead.

Watch, Make, Share
Free digital shorts released every two weeks
youtube.com/thelittleatheatre.

Little Angel Theatre’s popular Watch, Make, Share series of digital shorts and puppetry making activities continue, with a new short and craft activity released every two weeks.  The upcoming programme:

From 11 April – The Stone Soup, by Bronia Evers and One Moment in Time Storytelling
A new retelling of the classic European folktale. Three travellers arrive in a village and claim they will make soup from a stone, which sparks the curiosity of the locals…This short film features puppetry, storytelling, original music, and a specially designed ‘crankie theatre’ with scrolling paper scenery. 

IVOR NOVELLO AWARD WINNING COMPOSER RENELL SHAW

ASSOCIATE ARTIST OF HACKNEY EMPIRE

RELEASES NEW VIDEO WORK

THE VISION THEY HAD (FROM THE WINDRUSH SUITE)

WATCH VIDEO HERE

http://www.renellshaw.com/about

Renell Shaw, composer, songwriter and Associate Artist of Hackney Empire, today releases a new video to accompany his Ivor Novello award-winning composition THE VISION THEY HAD (FROM THE WINDRUSH SUITE). A deeply personal work, featuring the voices of his grandparents and his mother telling their stories, overlaid with original visuals, the video features a talented ensemble of West End dancers, with debut choreography from Delycia Belgrave (Legally Blonde, White Christmas, Guys and Dolls).

Renell has teamed up with the FUTURE channel from the creator of Secret Cinema to release the film at 19.00 GMT on Wednesday 31 March 2021. The Future channel has over 540,000 subscribers showing the most emotive and powerful short films from around the world.

Directed by Otis Dominique, whose music video credits include working with artists such as Jorja Smith, Giggs, and Kojey Radical, The Vision They Had stars dancers Samara Casteallo (Tina, Starlight Express), Jordan Crouch (The Greatest Dancer, White Christmas), Anu Ogunmefun (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, Tina), Terique Jarrett (Find Me In Paris – Hulu/Cottonwood Media, Motown The Musical), and Tonye Scott-Obene (Wicked, Best Recent Graduate Award Winner 2020 (BBTA))

The Windrush Suite was commissioned in 2020 by Kathianne Hingwan from London’s The Vortex Jazz Club who secured funding from the PRS foundation and The Shape of Jazz to Come to present an online broadcast that honoured the Windrush generation for Windrush Day on 22 June. The Windrush Suite was subsequently offered a one-hour special on Jazz Fm hosted by Orphy Robinson MBE and was also played by Julian Joseph MBE on BBC3. The Windrush Suite EP was subsequently signed and released through Rudimental’s Label ‘Major Tom’s Records’, and went on to win the Ivor Novello Composers Award (jazz composition for small ensemble).

Renell Shaw said, “These are literally my family’s stories – the beautiful part is that these stories resonate with so many Caribbean people in the UK, who have heard similar stories from family members over the years.’ The Windrush Suite’ is about love, injustice, adventure, triumph, loss and so much more. These are some of the things my Grandparents and my parents’ generation experienced; I wanted to express and honour their stories in a beautiful way.”

Renell Shaw’s association with Hackney Empire started in 2002 when he participated in their flagship education programme ADP. After 2 years he became assistant Musical Director for ADP, shadowing Orphy Robinson MBE. He went on to become one of the founding members of the Hackney Harlem Theatre Company, which grew out of ADP and was set up to continue participants’ creative development. They performed A Midsummer Night’s Madness at the National Black Theatre in Harlem, NYC, at the Edinburgh Fringe and then a week on the main stage at Hackney Empire. Eventually he became Associate Musical Director, working closely with the current Artistic Director, Yamin Choudury, on a wide range of shows and community projects, including the creation of ALTER EGO, East London’s biggest talent showcase for young people, where finalists are mentored by top industry professionals and then perform alongside headline acts in front of over a thousand people at Hackney Empire.

Renell has also written, collaborated, recorded and toured alongside artists such as: Rudimental, Anne-Marie, Jess Glynne, Skepta, Nitin Sawhney CBE, Maverick Sabre, Cleveland Watkiss MBE, Orphy Robinson MBE, Aloe Blacc, Speech Debelle, Sharon D. Clarke MBE and Carleen Anderson.

As a composer and arranger, he has worked with: Google, Barclays, BBC, U.N.E.S.C.O, Southbank Centre, Britten Sinfonia, London Symphony Orchestra and London Philharmonic Orchestra.

West End and Theatre credits include: Brief Encounter Directed by Emma Rice, A Midsummer Night’s Madness Directed by Susie McKenna, Cage Street Memorial Directed by Tim Hopkins and Kneehigh’s Ubu Directed by Carl Grose & Mike Shepherd.

Renell’s other work includes creative consultancy, master classes guest lectures and speaking panels for organisations such as: Youtube, TED Conferences, The National Youth Theatre and The Academy of Contemporary Music.

Hackney Empire Artistic Director Yamin Choudury said, “Both Renell and myself are beneficiaries of Hackney Empire’s outreach work with young people from across London that began over two decades ago; all of us at Hackney Empire are so proud to be a part of his creative journey, and the fact that after all these years he is still part of the Hackney Empire family – now investing his energy into a new wave of creative changemakers.

It is more important now than ever for experiences and stories like the ones heard in THE VISION THEY HAD to be recognised. Hackney Empire has a long legacy of embracing and nurturing incredible communities of artists and audiences, creating access points to platforms that can be impenetrable for many. Renell and I have been lucky enough to sit in the wings of the theatre for many years  and see the transformational power of our people, sharing our stories, and with his work Renell is a part of the next generation to ensure that this legacy will continue.”

Renell Shaw said, “Everything I know about stage performance and musicality I learnt through my mentors and the opportunities I experienced during my early years with The Hackney Empire. It’s one of a kind, there’s nowhere else like it.

I’m fortunate now to work in both the contemporary music and theatrical world and I can see that theatre is trying to evolve and expand its audiences. I believe it will get there as long as it’s willing to take creative risks, explore new artistic ideas and embrace the advantages that technology has to offer.

As a songwriter I’ve been able to work with a variety of successful artists, I like to read between the lines of the songs we write, that’s how I get to know the person and figure out what they’re really trying to say. Authenticity is key for me, that’s how we write the best songs. I’ve taken that same formula and I am applying it to a few original theatre show ideas I’ve been developing, when the time is right, I’ll find an interesting way to put them on their feet.”

SHOREDITCH TOWN HALL ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF

WORLD PREMIÈRE PRODUCTION CURSE OF THE CRACKLES! –

NOW STREAMING UNTIL 25 APRIL

★★★★ 

“Fun audio adventure for kids”

The Stage

Shoreditch Town Hall today announces a two-week extension of Curse of the Crackles! due to popular demand. The interactive audio adventure for children and families will now run until 25 April. Tickets are available via shoreditchtownhall.com – audiences will have access to stream the show for 72 hours from the date and time of their booking.

Written by Bea Roberts and featuring innovative sound technology by Ben & Max Ringham. Ed Stambollouian directs Norah Lopez Holden and Sam Swann.

★★★★

“A magical soundscape that will enchant young listeners”

Theatre Weekly

Riff is a good dog and the most excellentist puppy, but she needs your help! The world is in chaos – listen… It’s the Crackles! Those annoying little bits of naughty have muddled up all the sounds in the universe and now it’s up to you and Riff the puppy to put them all back. Are you ready to go on an exciting mission?

By recording the piece on microphones that sit in each ear of a model human head, the audio is recorded in a three-dimensional space tracking the journey of the action and creating an incredibly vivid quality of sound. Curse of the Crackles! is a hilarious interactive audio adventure that immerses you in a brilliantly chaotic quest – the perfect sensory journey that can be enjoyed from anywhere, in any space.

★★★★★

“It’s literally a party in your ears”

Everything Theatre

Audiences will need an internet connection and headphones to get the full effect of the sound technology. Listeners are encouraged to move around their space, but it is not essential to enjoy the production.

Recommended Age: 7-11

Bea Roberts is a multi-award-winning scriptwriter and lyricist. Her writing credits include Sir F. Mother****ing Drake (My England at the Young Vic), The Borrowers (Tobacco Factory Theatres), Loam (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama), Little Mermaid (Theatre Royal Bath – won Best Play for Children & Young People at the 2018 UK Theatre Awards), Infinity Pool: A Modern Te-telling of Madame Bovary(Edinburgh Festival – nominated for a Total Theatre Award) and And Then Come The Nightjars (winner of the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award and finalist for The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize in 2015). In 2016 Roberts was awarded the J.B. Priestly Award for a young writer of promise by the Royal Literary Fund. She is currently under commission with the National Theatre, English Touring Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth, the Stephen Joseph Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Ben and Max Ringham’s previous theatre credits for Composition and Sound Design include Blindness, Teenage Dick, Berberian Sound Studio, Cyrano de Bergerac, Pinter at the Pinter, Betrayal (West End), The Seven Ages of Patience, Pass Over (Kiln Theatre), Ugly Lies the Bone (National Theatre), Pygmalion, Dial M for Murder (UK tour), Party Skills (Shoreditch Town Hall), The Meeting (Chichester Festival Theatre), Machinal (Almeida Theatre), Love and Information (Sheffield Theatres), and Gloria (Hampstead Theatre). In 2019 they co-created Anna a headphone based show at the National Theatre.

Ed Stambollouian’s forthcoming productions include Animal Farm (NYT and Royal & Derngate)and KENREX (Out of Joint). Previous theatre credits include: Night School (Harold Pinter Theatre), Max and Ivan: The Straight Man (BAC), BLUSH (Soho Theatre, UK tour, Edinburgh Festival Fringe), That’s The Way Aha Aha Joe Lycett (Edinburgh Festival and National Tour), Joe Lycett: Some Lycett Hot (Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh), Prince of the River (Old Vic 12), Don’t Waste Your Bullets on the Dead (VAULT Festival), Dan & Phil: The Amazing Tour is Not on Fire (London Palladium, UK and international tour), Feathers in the Snow (Unicorn Theatre), Awkward Conversations with Animals I’ve F*cked (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Wedding (Shoreditch Town Hall, Forest Fringe), Blacktop Sky (Talawa Studio), I Started a Fire (Arcola Theatre), Family Voices & Victoria Station (Trafalgar Studios), Finer Noble Gases/ Lobby Hero (Masterclass Showcase at Royal Theatre Haymarket), The Aliens (Trafalgar Studios 2), and Elegy (Shunt Vaults).

Created & Written by Bea Roberts;Created & Directed by Ed Stambollouian; Created, Sound Designed & Composed by Ben & Max Ringham andAssociate Sound Design & Composition by Nicola Chang.

A Shoreditch Town Hall production with support from the DCMS Culture Recovery Fund and Arts Council England.

CURSE OF THE CRACKLES!                                                                                                                

LISTINGS

Until 25 April 2021

Box Office: www.shoreditchtownhall.com / 0207 739 6176

Tickets: £3.50 per household, plus booking fee.

ABOUT SHOREDITCH TOWN HALL

Welcoming over 70,000 people through its doors every year, Shoreditch Town Hall is a leading independent cultural, live events and community space housed in one of the grandest former civic buildings in the capital. Comprising over 48,000 square feet across 70 individual rooms, the Grade II listed Town Hall is the largest multi-artform venue in Hackney and more in use than at any other point in its recent history.

With 8 main spaces from 40 to 800 capacity, the Town Hall presents a year-round programme of bold and innovative new theatre, music, dance, circus and talks, as well as hosts 200 live event hires every year. The Town Hall’s artist development programme supports 50 artists, and commissions up to 8 new pieces of live performance a year, and the organisation collaborates with a range of local partners to deliver an extensive community and engagement programme.

The Town Hall partners with leading UK drama school Mountview on the MA in Site-Specific Theatre Practice and is also home to 6 local businesses including the Michelin starred The Clove Club.

The Town Hall’s programme has recently included work with Barely Methodical Troupe, curious directive, dreamthinkspeak, Jamie Lloyd, Kneehigh, LIFT, Manchester International Festival, Nigel Barrett & Louise Mari, Royal Shakespeare Company, ThisEgg and The Wardrobe Ensemble, alongside events with the likes of Alexander McQueen, Amazon, Cartier, Channel 4, Fred Perry, Red Bull, and the filming of Mangrove, The Death of Stalin, Florence Foster Jenkins and The Lady in the Van.

Shoreditch Town Hall is a registered charity (1069617) and receives no regular or revenue funding thus relying on 100% earned income every year.

SHOREDITCH TOWN HALL

380 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT

020 7739 6176

www.shoreditchtownhall.com

Twitter:               @ShoreditchTH

Facebook:          /ShoreditchTH

Instagram:         @shoreditchTH

LIVERPOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 2021

AND ADDS SUMMER EVENT FOR NEW WORKS

Little LTF will premiere new work submissions to city audiences

St Luke’s Bombed Out Church will host both outdoor festivals

Award-winning event will celebrate the region’s pool of talent

Liverpool Theatre Festival returns this Autumn after a hugely successful inaugural year – and this time organisers are also introducing a Summer event to premiere new works.

The outdoor festival at St Luke’s Bombed Out Church in September 2020 was created by Liverpool theatre producer Bill Elms after theatres nationwide closed their doors in March as part of the Coronavirus lockdown.

Having worked in the theatre industry for more than 30 years, it was Bill’s mission to reinvigorate and boost the city’s live performance and creative arts sector after a devastating six months due to the pandemic.

The festival went ahead with Covid-secure safety measures in place and featured established shows and artists with performances of musical theatre, drama, comedy, cabaret, monologues, and children’s shows. The event was met with excitement for a return to live entertainment. It went on to become a massive success, feeding the appetite for live entertainment, won an award, and was shortlisted for further accolades. It is now back due to popular demand with a whole new strand to introduce new works.

Liverpool Theatre Festival is running across two weeks in September 2021, with the addition of Little LTF to premiere and champion new talent. Once again, the festival hub is the historic St Luke’s Bombed Out Church and gardens in Liverpool city centre.

Little LTF will run for one week during Summer 2021 and gives writers and performers the platform and opportunity to present new work in front of a live audience and become part of this exciting new venture.

Little LTF runs from Monday 12 July to Sunday 18 July 2021 and will be staged within the church walls in a specially designed undercover performance space, creating a more intimate setting. Full details on how to apply will go live on the festival website on Tuesday 6April at 10am. The successful shows will be announced in May and tickets will also go on sale.

The main Liverpool Theatre Festival featuring more established acts, artists and productions will run from Wednesday 1 September to Sunday 12 September 2021 and is planned to launch the city’s Autumn theatre season. The line-up for Liverpool Theatre Festival 2021 will be announced soon.

The inaugural Liverpool Theatre Festival last year welcomed almost 2,500 festivalgoers across nine days and featured 19 showstopping performances of 12 productions. Organisers followed stringent Government guidelines to ensure patrons felt safe in their surroundings.

The festival was named Liverpool Echo Awards Community Event of the Year 2020. Organiser Bill Elms was named in The Stage 100 of theatremakers recognised for response to the ‘biggest challenge ever’, and he was also applauded as one of 28 pandemic superstars who supported Liverpool during 2020. The event was also a finalist in two categories at the Liverpool City Region Culture & Creativity Awards 2020 having been shortlisted for The People’s Choice for Outstanding Contribution to Culture and Impact Award Covid-19 Creative Response.

The first year line-up featured Liverpool actor Andrew Lancel in Swan Song, in partnership with LTF, from award-winning city playwright Jonathan Harvey and directed by BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw; A Fairy Tale Journey Across The Mersey; Laughterhouse Comedy; The Very Best Of Tommy Cooper; Sweet Mother; Shakers by John Godber; Deathly Confessions; Matinee Musical Classics; Music Of The Night; Judy & Liza; Hurrah! For The Pirate King; and Something About Simon.

New for 2021 is the addition of Little LTF, a vital new strand to Liverpool Theatre Festival to showcase and encourage new work.

Little LTF is unique as there are so few world festivals who solely showcase new works. Submissions are especially welcomed from Liverpool’s diverse communities and arts organisations to fully represent the cityscape, children’s productions are also encouraged to apply. Scripts must be complete or already in development. Creatives must be linked to Liverpool City Region or the wider North West area. A panel of industry professionals will select works, and media and theatre programmers will be invited to see the premieres first-hand at the festival. Accolades will also be given to outstanding productions in specific categories.

Full details and criteria to apply for Little LTF will be available on the festival website on Tuesday 6 April at 10am along with the submission form at www.liverpooltheatrefestival.com

Festival director Bill Elms commented: “I am thrilled to announce the return of Liverpool Theatre Festival for 2021 – theatre is definitely back! We were so inspired by last year’s event that we are determined to return and take it to the next level, and the addition of Little LTF will do just that. We are sure the public appetite for live theatre and entertainment will be stronger than ever after a very challenging year for everyone. Both of this year’s events will be held in the open air and like last year, any necessary measures will be in place to ensure the safety of our audience, performers and those working at the festival.

“Little LTF is critical to encourage and provide a platform for new work and it will sit incredibly well alongside the more established work and artists in the main festival programme. This is an extraordinary platform to showcase dynamic and innovative new work. The North West has an amazing pool of creative talent and this is a rare chance for writers and performers to premiere work to a live audience in a festival environment, it could springboard their show to the next level. Successful productions will be fully supported through the process of staging their show.

“The pandemic continues to impact everyone involved in the industry – from performers, directors and writers, behind the scenes creatives like lighting, sound and costume, through to front of house teams. A year ago, I felt compelled to act and after a lot of phone calls, planning and an extremely fast turnaround, Liverpool Theatre Festival was born. My passion and commitment to push the event forward is stronger than ever, we are determined to press ahead and raise the funds to make it happen, and we can’t wait to see how the festival will flourish.”

Liverpool Theatre Festival will shortly announce details of a Festival Friends loyalty scheme. The paid members will play an integral in making the festival happen and help shape the event into one of the UK’s top arts festivals.

Sponsorship and partner opportunities for Liverpool Theatre Festival are also available to enable future festivals to take place.

Visit www.liverpooltheatrefestival.com for the latest news updates.

What the critics say…

“Significant on so many levels…brilliantly managed…Liverpool Theatre Festival was absolutely tremendous…it reminded me as to why theatre is vital to the UK’s cultural landscape” Writebase

“A real light in the gloom for theatre in the devastating wake of the pandemic…flying the flag for a beleaguered industry at a time where there has never been so much at stake”

Made Up: On Stage In Liverpool

Website:         www.liverpooltheatrefestival.com

Facebook:       /liverpooltheatrefestival

Twitter:           @lpoolTFestival

Instagram:      liverpooltheatrefestival

Hashtag:         #TheatreIsBack