Author: FairyPoweredProductions

spikizi – the first global community-led accent app for the creative industries launching 1 January 2021 Available for advanced previews from 1 December @spikiziapp | #spikizi | https://spikizi.co  “I believe this app will introduce us to authentic, diverse and multicultural voices for us to use as creatives in training and performance, as artists and story-tellers.”  Tess Dignan, Head of Voice at Shakespeare’s Globe, member of the spikizi advisory board.

spikizi is a new app which gives performers thousands of authentic accents immediately, wherever they are, using the phone in their pocket. Almost every actor in the entertainment industry has had to quickly pick up an accent; for an audition, a showcase, an ad, a self-tape. Social media is littered with callouts for friends to read a few lines in a desired accent, whether they’re native or not. However, until now, a highly specific and on-demand database of accents was not available; the industry norm has been scouring youtube, apps with 1 male and 1 female voice for limited accents, or dialect coaches, for the very fortunate.

Extending the network and building a community across the world, spikizi will create an ever-growing database of voices and mutual support. This database is unique in its ability to be specific to the nearest neighbourhood, with searchable criteria including age, education, schooling, ethnicity – all aspects that are the building blocks to a person’s voice. Performers will be able to search for accents appropriate to their specific need – constructing the character’s voice with depth and pinpoint accuracy.

spikizi is supported by an incredible advisory board of accent experts ranging from Hollywood to The Globe, who have been a guiding hand in the development and will be sharing articles and video content regularly to help everyone further develop their skills. Performers will also be able to spend and earn additional ‘karma’ within the app community by seeking people with specific accents to read a passage of text, or by responding and recording themselves for others.

Upon joining the app actors will be asked to complete a detailed onboarding process about themselves to highlight their voice history, before moving on to recording a series of words, texts and passions that exemplify all the vowel and consonant sounds they naturally use. This will form the basis of their contribution to the community, adding their voice to the database. From there they can search, request and assist other members as well as create private, public or cast playlists all with the ability to download them and listen offline.

Once the database has reached 3000 people (there are already over a thousand signed up for advanced previews), spikizi will begin to identify areas where more voices are needed and take road trips to source clips from local people, really deepening the diversity of the accents available and extending beyond the industry to make this resource truly exceptional.

Founders Henry Regan and Samuel Lawrence are the team behind spikizi. As actors, who also run a creative agency together, the duo was acutely aware of a gap in the market for access to affordable and reliable accent resources, and when dividends were available from the business they decided to reinvest profits into developing spikizi. Using their contacts and reaching out to others they put together a team that combines the best in app development and design with the leading voices in accent and dialect work they’ve created an app that both accurately and appropriately serves the acting community, without compromising the User Experience.

Henry & Samuel said, “We’ve got a team of some of the best designers, experts, developers and agencies in the world, all working together to make something truly invaluable for the creative industry. As actors ourselves, we know how incredibly unique and diverse the arts community is and so we were keenly aware that this app needed to reflect this. In order to truly commit to this community philosophy, we knew that we needed to keep the price incredibly affordable for it to be accessible to everyone.”

Advisory board: 

Rick Lipton (Chair) – Hollywood voice coach for Tom Holland, Taron Egerton, Margot Robbie & Noel Clarke.

Samara Bay – Hollywood voice coach for Gal Godot, Pierce Brosnan, Rachel McAdams.

Tess Dignan – Head of Voice at Shakespeare’s Globe

Elspeth Morrison – BBC & Channel 4 Voice Expert

Lottie Williams-Burrell – Joint Head of Voice at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

Sterre Maier – Joint Head of Voice at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

Dr Hannah Leach – Lecturer in Phonetics and Phonology at the University of Newcastle

Matthew Reeve – Musical Director and Master Estill Voice Coach

Nic Redman – Accent and Dialect hub founder

App information

Created by Henry Regan and Samuel Lawrence

Graphic Designed by Seesaw – Visual Studio

App development by Appetite Creative

Appetite Creative are a multi-award-winning technology company. Their other clients include Disney, Lego, Coca-Cola, Chanel, Apple, Audi.

Launch information

Advanced previews for actors begin 1^st December 2020

spikizi will be fully launched for mobile download on 1^st January 2021 on iOS & Google play

Subscriptions cost £19.99 per annum or £9.99 for three months

Actors can sign up for advanced previews here: https://spikizi.co before 30^th November

Cinderella Live

The World’s First Interactive Live Stream Pantomime

18, 19 & 24^th December 2020

The FlyDSA Arena & Sheffield City Hall have teamed up with Panto Live to bring you Cinderella Live – The World’s first Interactive Live Stream Pantomime – bringing the Ultimate Pantomime Experience into your own home this Christmas.

This will be an online pantomime being broadcasted completely live! It is not pre-recorded and makes the online pantomime more exciting, unpredictable and unique to every audience!

Tickets for Cinderella Live – The Word’s First Interactive Live Stream Pantomime are priced £14.97 (Early Booking) or £19.75 standard for performances on 18, 19 & 24 December 2020 are now available online from the Arena www.flydsaarena.co.uk & City Hall www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk.

This is a uniquely interactive experience. Panto Live is the world’s first company to integrate a pantomime audience into a virtual set through the use of interactive buttons, live chat, uploads for the best-dressed at home, sing-a-longs & a downloadable pack.

It includes a completely virtual world designed with Unreal Engine, a game engine, to re-create all the magic traditional pantomimes bring.

The Confirmed Cast will feature:

Chris Rankin as Fairy Godfather (Percey Weasley from the Harry Potter films), Jessica Ellis as Evil Stepmother (Tegan Lomax from Hollyoaks), Martin Callaghan as Baron Hardup (Portugal’s Got Talent), Kimberly Hart-Simpson as Dandini (Nicky Wheatley from Coronation Street), Cuan Durkin as Prince Charming (Singer), Katy Clayton as Cinderella (Samantha Boothe from Where the Heart is), Tim Churchill as an Ugly Sister (Blood Brothers) & Steve Fortune as an Ugly Sister (West End Performer).

International audiences will boo, laugh, cheer, clap, shout “Behind You!” and even sing along with the cast in this ground-breaking fully interactive pantomime.

Chris Rankin who will play the Fairy Godfather in the brand new production said; “I am over the moon to be working on this innovative production that will give the audience the feeling that they are sitting in the theatre itself as the actors perform Cinderella Live!”

One of the creators and director of the show Daniel Coll said; “Panto audiences want to feel they are taking part and we have created a way to do that from home”.

In this live show the audience will take control of many of the usual reactions a theatre audience would. By pressing buttons that trigger the sounds in the studio, they get to interact as if they were in the theatre itself.

Dan continues; “It is just amazing to see young children get totally engaged along with their families, as they experience the sheer joy of pantomime from home”

Producer Lianne Collinson said; “Pantomimes are the best way to tell an interactive story we all love. We are so thrilled to bring you fantastic costumes, special effects, great music and singers along with many more star names still to be announced”.

Co-Producer and Director of Photography Ben McNeill said; “The joy of this production is that we will be broadcasting live using the latest technology to offer high end TV production combined with a brilliant theatre experience. It will be a very special occasion and will pave the way for a new way of working in the future. This production will look and sound wonderful on phones, tablets, computer devices and be truly stunning when watched on a TV.”

Along with star names, Cinderella Live will include competitions, so the fun won’t stop.

Director Daniel Coll concludes; “There is something for all the family!”

Tickets for Cinderella Live – The Word’s First Interactive Live Stream Pantomime are priced £14.97 (Early Booking) or £19.75 standard for performances on 18, 19 & 24 December 2020 are now available online from the Arena www.flydsaarena.co.uk & City Hall www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk.

GEORGE DEVINE AWARD 2020 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

The George Devine Award today announces its 2020 Shortlist of nine plays. Founded in 1966 in memory of the Royal Court’s founding Artistic Director George Devine, the Award is recognised as one of the most prestigious in new writing and seeks to shine a light on a playwright of promise. The winner will receive a prize of £15,000 in support of their future as a playwright. Former winners include Diana Nneka Atuona, Richard Bean, Alice Birch, Lucy Prebble and Rory Mullarkey.

Former GDA-winner and 2020 judge Roy Williams said:

‘The quality of the plays on the 2020 Shortlist is exceptional. They are a set of bold, diverse voices representing huge variety in style and subject matter. Amidst a very difficult year for theatre, it felt clear when discussing these plays with my fellow judges that there is a bright future to look towards for new writing when the industry reopens.’

The 2020 Shortlist is:

When Great Trees Fall by Dipo Baruwa-Etti

Motherland by Chris Bush

Staying at Stacey’s by Annie Jenkins

Does My Bomb Look Big In This? by Nyla Levy

There are no beginnings by Charley Miles

Out of Sorts by Danusia Samal

O, Island! by Nina Segal

The Canary and the Crow by Daniel Ward

The High Table by Temi Wilkey

This year’s judging panel includes the previous GDA-winning playwrights Charlene James and Roy Williams alongside former Royal Court Artistic Director Ian Rickson, actress Patsy Ferran, director Elayce Ismail and producer Amy Powell Yeates.

The winner will be announced later this month.

Sleeping Trees bring panto season to your
living room with The Legend of Moby Dick
Whittington
Streaming 1st December 2020 – 5th January 2021
With support from Battersea Arts Centre

While many live pantomimes may not be able to go ahead this Christmas, Sleeping Trees are bringing the magic of panto into your living room with The Legend of Moby Dick Whittington. Streaming into your homes throughout December, this epic adventure from this much-loved company will ensure that the whole family have a whale of a time.

Mayor of London, Dick Whittington, is turning on the Christmas lights of London for the very first time. But, when a giant white whale swims into the Thames and swallows Santa Claus whole, Dick, his trusty sidekick Cat, and a whole host of fairy-tale favourites, must embark on a quest to stop Christmas being ruined forever.

With talking rats, cats, original music and plenty of chances to join-in, The Legend of Moby Dick Whittington is an unmissable festive treat for the whole family this Christmas. Sleeping Trees, the creative team behind the critically acclaimed Goldilocks and the Three Musketeers at Battersea Arts Centre in 2019, will maintain their tradition of creating exciting and engaging pantomimes that the whole family can interact with as they would in a live theatre setting.

Audiences will embark on a magical expedition like no other using a few basic household items and their imaginations. Sofas become boats and wooden spoons become swords to help the cast paddle through sea storms and escape the inside of a whale’s belly, all from the comfort of their home.

James Dunnell-Smith, Co-Artistic Director of Sleeping Trees, comments, We hope this project brings some much-needed joy into homes this Christmas, and keeps some of that special Christmas spirit alive and well. Above all else, Christmas is about spending time with family and loved-ones, something that has been harder than ever in 2020, we hope this film demonstrates the importance of that, and no matter how tough things get, we always have one another to get us through.

James Dunnell-Smith, Joshua George Smith and John Woodburn are sublime comic talents, delivering exceptional performances… Take your loved ones to see it, and I guarantee that you will have a wonderful time together. (★★★★★, British Theatre, Sleeping Trees’ Cinderella And The Beanstalk).

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• Jacksons Lane begins a new chapter as works start on the capital redevelopment programme that will transform the building into a state-of-the-art centre for performance, participatory arts and contemporary circus
   
• Since September, over 100 artists have been rehearsing, creating and filming work around Jacksons Lane, with space provided free of charge
   
• On the final day before construction work begins, Jacksons Lane welcomes its artists of tomorrow, the Youth Board aged 12 to 19 for a day of creation

In early 2020 Jacksons Lane secured the funding needed to begin its ambitious capital redevelopment project and transform the building into a state-of-the-art centre for contemporary circus, community engagement and events. 9 November marks the final day before that work begins.

Jacksons Lane has received £2.1 million from ACE’s Large Capital Grants scheme, funded by the National Lottery, and £1.25 million from Haringey Council, to complete the project.

For the past 2 months the building has welcomed circus artists to rehearse and create new work offering complimentary resources to support artists during the pandemic. The building has been alive with creativity and energy in the run up to the next stage of its development.

During these months, Jacksons Lane donated over 1,200 of in-kind time and development space. As a result, more than 36 brand new contemporary works have emerged.

On Monday 9 November, to mark the time before building work commences, Jacksons Lane Youth Board, the artists of the future, will take over the centre for a day of creation and celebration.

Adrian Berry, Artistic Director and joint CEO said: “It has been a thrilling and fitting way to spend the last couple of months, with a building full of world-beating circus artists creating new work, despite the world being in chaos. I am grateful to the ACE Emergency fund for helping us provide this opportunity to these artists. It was the perfect end to the building’s most recent chapter, before it embarks on the next part of its exciting journey to become the UK’s best equipped and world-renowned centre for contemporary circus. We look forward to welcoming the artists and the public back into the building in September next year.”

The building will reopen in September 2021 following a ten-month redevelopment.

During closure, Jacksons Lane will continue to be active in the community off site and its fundraising efforts also continue in order to equip and fit out the newly redeveloped building to meet its future needs.

Executive Director and joint CEO Monique Deletant said: ‘Whilst we are truly grateful for all the funding we have managed to secure to date, we acknowledge that these are (to put it mildly) challenging times for our industry and that we are incredibly lucky to be in this position at this time. We’re closing temporarily, and for positive reasons. However we hope that good news is also welcome right now, and we will have funds to raise to complete our vision. We look forward to keeping in touch and continuing to help artists, audiences and the community throughout this period and to welcoming everyone back through our doors when the work is done.’

Working with renowned Architects Citizens Design Bureau, the redevelopment aims to push the boundaries of artistic excellence with spaces that are inspiring and beautiful, practical and accessible. The new Jacksons Lane will be environmentally sustainable will nurture curiosity in the Arts by future proofing the spaces and operational systems for the next generation and welcome even more people through its doors to participate, experience, learn, work and socialise. The vision is to be welcoming, inspiring and accessible to everyone, more visible and inviting, and more reflective of its personality and ambition. A combination of urgent repairs and internal decluttering will ensure the building’s heritage is valued and protected.                                              

For details of the redevelopment programme, click here

Images from the last two months of activity can be downloaded here: https://thecornershoppr.com/download/jacksons-lane-artwork/
Trailer here: https://youtu.be/SANmht_GKkA

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Lung Ha Theatre Company member Gavin Yule debuts a play on disability hate crime: The Bus Stop

Presented as part of Traverse Theatre online festival, the rehearsed reading of The Bus Stop is available to worldwide audiences digitally from Tuesday, 10 November until Tuesday, 8 December. It is produced by Lung Ha Theatre Company, Scotland’s leading theatre company for people with learning disabilities.

Inspired by real life events, The Bus Stop tells the story of a young wheelchair user, Jack (Gavin Yule), who experiences a disability hate crime. Jack struggles with his anger at the situation; and at the world which left him without a dad 6 months earlier. He keeps it all a secret from his mum Julia – and she has a secret of her own…

Writer and actor Gavin Yule said: “For a while after the incident happened to me, I was angry at the world and angry at the society that we still live in a world where disability hate crime is so common”.

“One day, one of my friends suggested writing my thoughts down to help with the healing process. The same night I sat down and wrote a short script which in the end became the second scene of the play. You could say the play was inspired by my own anger.”

Linda Crooks, Traverse Theatre Executive Producer said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome our longstanding good friends Lung Ha, and Gavin’s new play, to Traverse 3. We applaud Lung Ha’s mentoring programme, developing Gavin as a writer, and Nicola with her first directing gig, culminating in this presentation of The Bus Stop. This excellent initiative loudly chimes with the Traverse’s determination to seek out and nurture new and diverse voices for our stages and bring them to the world.”

The Bus Stop was developed as part of Lung Ha Theatre Company’s new mentoring programme that sees writer Gavin Yule working with playwright Andrew Edwards – and director Nicola Tuxworth, also marking her debut in this role, working with the Company’s Artistic Director, Maria Oller.

The rehearsed reading of The Bus Stop takes place today over Zoom and also features Emma McCaffrey and Scott Davidson, both Lung Ha TC performers, and Ryan Duncan, member of the Lung Ha TC support team. Each of them will be portraying two different characters in the play.

The Bus Stop is now available to audiences worldwide as part of the Traverse Theatre online festival.

AWARD WINNING STAGE PRODUCTIONS AND MUSIC ACTS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE ON NEW STREAMING PLATFORM STAGE2VIEW

Stage2View.com is a brand newstreaming platform, offering Tony® and Olivier award winning stage productions as well as top music acts from around the world. The first stage shows to be released on Stage2View will include the critically acclaimed, Tony® and Olivier Award-winning productions of Kinky Boots and An American In Paris, as well as the recent Drury Lane production of 42^nd Street, Michael Grandage’s award winning production of RED, starring Alfred Molina and Julian Fellowes’ The Wind in the Willows: The Musical, filmed at the London Palladium. The first set of titles will be available to stream for a limited period on a pay per view basis from 10 November. All titles will initially be available at the introductory cost of £4.99/ US $5.99 / €5.99 for a 48 hour rental.

★★★★★

“Who could ask for anything more?”

The Times

With music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and direction and choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, the stage production of An American In Paris premièred in 2014 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris and subsequently enjoyed award winning runs on Broadway and in the West End, where it received a record breaking number of 5 star reviews.

★★★★★

“A touch of genius”

The Guardian

Winner of the Tony® for Best Musical, Olivier Award for Best New Musical and based on the much loved British film, Kinky Boots is a huge-hearted hit that tells the story of two people with seemingly nothing in common, featuring original music by Cyndi Lauper. 

Co-founder of Stage2View, Austin Shaw today said, “Whilst nothing can match the experience of live theatre, we have been fortunate to be able to film some wonderful shows over the past three years.  With opportunities sadly limited for audiences to see major musicals in theatres at the moment, we believe that Stage2View will provide a welcome opportunity for audiences missing their regular visits and those who may not go that often, to see a show and remind everyone of the magic of theatre”.

Stage2View, a new venture created by Austin with Joshua Andrews and Stuart Galbraith of Kilimanjaro Theatricals, intend to make other titles available on the platform in the coming weeks, including the West End productions of From Here to Eternity, The King and I and for the family audience, Hetty Feather. They will also film new stage productions in due course.

In collaboration with Kilimanjaro, one of the UK’s leading music act promoters, Stage2View will in due course, also offer live streamed and recorded performances from top music acts from all over the world.

Kilimanjaro Theatricals commented that, “Whilst we all hope that some theatre productions and music acts will be able to return to a form of live public performances in the UK before the end of the year, in current circumstances, we are unable to have a night out at a show and so we are delighted to offer people a night ‘in’ and be entertained at home, as we begin to share our existing library of product on Stage2View. With Stage2View offering a combination of major award winning theatre shows and top music acts, we hope to offer an exciting and wide range of performances and provide something for everyone on Stage2View.com”

For more information please visit: stage2view.com

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SELLADOOR WORLDWIDE LAUNCH COMPANION PRODUCER SCHEME

Selladoor Worldwide today launch a new Companion Producer Scheme, offering two participants the opportunity to join their in-house training programme, as part of their bridging initiative following the recent financial support package from the DCMS. The scheme will open on 4th January and run until June with a deadline for applications closing on 4th December.

The scheme is open to applicants from all backgrounds and skill levels or experience with an interest or passion in producing theatre. It is designed to provide well-rounded insight into the various facets of Producing; with time split across each area of the Selladoor Worldwide business. Successful applicants will work alongside Selladoor’s Production, Programming, Development and Marketing teams, whilst being mentored by an in-house Producer.

David Hutchinson CEO at Selladoor Worldwide says “We’re delighted to be able to offer this scheme to support those with an ambition to forge a career within arts management and theatre production.  We’re looking for people with a positive attitude and eagerness to learn, who will be able to communicate well, take the initiative and collaborate on a number of projects in this fast-paced industry”

“On completion our Companion Producers can expect to have gained hands on experience and an insight into the full process of producing a theatrical show, from early stages of development to going into rehearsals to opening and running”

For a full information pack and to make an application visit www.selladoor.com

Stratford Circus to continue serving the community as it says farewell to the Arts Centre

After nine years and having welcomed thousands of people from all walks of life through the doors, Stratford Circus Arts Centre is set to leave the building that has been its home since 2011 later this month.  The move follows a decision by the London Borough of Newham in February 2020 to change the usage of the building.

Stratford Arts Trust, the company that runs Stratford Circus Arts Centre is sad to be leaving the building but is able to announce that it will continue to serve its community, building on the strong links the Centre and its team have developed locally and in the wider cultural sector over many years. In the short term, there will be a digital programme including the popular E15 Jazz Sessions, and continued provision for the talented NewYVC Choir to work with young people across East London. Creative Schools and Colleges, an initiative which advocates creativity in education, which the company heads across several East London boroughs, will also continue.

After a period of reflection and transition, Stratford Circus plans to offer more participatory and community activities as well as working with artists to create new work. A full programme of activities will be announced in due course. Arts Council England has agreed to support the organisation with funding during this transition period which will enable Stratford Circus to continue to develop quality arts provision in a vibrant and richly diverse community.

Last year, Stratford Circus received 135,000 visitors including 9,476 children and young people. The organisation supported 72 artists and companies with over 50% of those artists from under-represented communities. Since 2011, Stratford Circus has worked to offer creative experiences to the people of Newham, from early years to older adults, young people and groups less likely to have access to the arts through joyful, life-affirming activities.

Lucy Atkinson, Stratford Arts Trust, Interim CEO said  “Leaving our home of 9 years is bittersweet, we have enjoyed creating many wonderful memories at Stratford Circus Arts Centre and were devastated to have to lose staff through this process. 2020 has been an immensely difficult year for our sector, with many more challenges ahead. I want to thank our staff team for their understanding and incredible professionalism during this time. I also want to say thank you for all the amazing messages of support we received back in March when we were forced to close, it meant a lot to the team. I am so pleased we have found a way of being able to continue our work in the future and we will explore what this will look like over the coming few months with our audiences, customers, companies, promoters and artists. Updates will be posted on our website and across our social media channels when we have more detail to announce.”

Georgina Phillippou, Stratford Arts Trust, Chair said  “The Board is very proud of everything the Stratford Circus Arts Centre has achieved for our vibrant local community and beyond over the years, and we are excited about exploring different ways of continuing to do this. The arts are now more than ever essential to our daily lives and to our wellbeing and we look forward to developing new and innovative ways of delivering a broad and accessible programme and working with our talented teams and artists. ”

Why the Child is Cooking in the Polenta
streaming for free this November
Online recording through the Romanian Cultural Institute
Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th November 2020

If someone finds out who we are, we’ll be abducted and sent back,
my parents and my aunt will be killed, my sister and I will starve
and then everybody will laugh at us.

A bridge between reality and fiction, Edith Alibec’s award-winning adaptation of Aglaja Veteranyi’s autobiographical book, Why the Child is Cooking in the Polenta, will be made available digitally this November through the Romanian Cultural Institute. A fascinating and endlessly imaginative show, it follows a family of circus artists who flee the Communist regime in Romania during the 1960s in search of fame, glory and a better life in the West.

Among the circus caravans, a family are caught between two worlds: the colorful high-top where the mother performs her death-defying stunts and the harsher reality of a nomadic life where home is only to be found in your mother’s cooking. This is a lyrical darkly comic tale of a family always on the road, who are always the foreigners.

Performed and adapted by Edith Alibec, it is inspired by the refugee crisis in Germany where Alibec met with refugees and visited their social camps. Her adaptation seeks to highlight the vulnerability in being forced to leave home and trying to find a new place in the world. It explores what it is to feel like the place you live does not allow you to feel like you belong

Edith Alibec comments, I lived in Germany for three years, and when in the first few months I did not find my place, I started to idealize a “home”. Romania, my home country, became more like a utopia. At the same time, the refugee crisis in Germany grew and I wondered how it must feel for them: it’s a choice for me to live in a foreign country, but they’re forced to flee their home and live in a foreign country. This show was born out of my need to talk about what it feels like to not have a home. Far from being an ideological statement, this show is about being human and explores the hidden corners of the soul.

Why the Child is Cooking in the Polenta has kindly been supported by Arts Council England and The Romanian Cultural Institute London.

The audience witnesses a bittersweet chapter of a unique life. Why the Child is Cooking in the Polenta is a touching story and gives a coup d’ouil to a life far beyond the reaches of many of our experiences (Strand Magazine).