Author: FairyPoweredProductions

Freedom Studios to release live steam and radio play of their  production North Country

“If your whole world was destroyed…What would you do next?

The acclaimed Bradford theatre company Freedom Studios (Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile) are set to release next week a livestream and an audio drama – that will be accessible for free to community radio stations around the UK – of their 2016 production of Tajinder Singh Hayer’s play North Country which explored the lives of three young people from Bradford as they dealt with the aftermath of a devastating plague.

North Country told the story of the survival of three Bradford teenagers – Harvinder, Nusrat and Jason – after a plague that has hit the planet. Together and separately they struggle to survive, each bringing together their people and their communities as they try to remake their world. But their biggest challenge doesn’t come from starvation, or zombie like cannibals. It comes from within.

After the play’s successful run in 2016 the Bradford theatre company piloted their first ever live stream on Facebook. The popular live cast piloted a new way of producing theatre and Freedom Studios have continued to explore this technology including most recently their recent production of BD Stories  which was broadcast from a hotel in Bradford on 18 March, just before the UK lockdown came into place.

Rather than simply live casting a stage show, North Country was directed and performed specifically with and for mobile devices, with a solely online audience.  BD Stories, which featured two short plays by Asma Elbadawi and Aina J Khan, developed that technology further in an specially designed app for live digital performance funded by XR Stories who push forward the potential of immersive and interactive technologies for digital storytelling. 

Freedom Studios’ Co-Artistic Director Alex Chisholm said

“When we and CARBON: Imagineering started on the project of making digital live performance via mobile phones easy and low cost, we had no idea how urgent that might feel right now. This might not be the answer to theatres closing during the crisis, but if it can be part of the answer, we want to make it work & share all we have learnt as soon as we can.”

North Country will available to watch online for free at  https://www.freedomstudios.co.uk/production/north-country/    via YouTube from Thursday 23 April till Thursday 7 May. An audio version of the play with the same cast will also premiered on Bradford based radio station BCB Radio at 3pm on Thursday 23^rd April and will be  released to local community radio stations to broadcast during the two weeks. To coincide with the release online Freedom Studios will be broadcasting a  podcast which will give listeners an insight into the production was put together and which also looks into the development of the technology now available including new streaming apps.

For more information about the work of Freedom Studios visit www.freedomstudios.co.uk

A GOOD NEWS STORY

THE NIGEL HAVERS THEATRE COMPANY LAUNCHES

WITH THE INAUGURAL PRODUCTION OF

NOEL COWARD’S CLASSIC COMEDY

PRIVATE LIVES

STARRING PATRICIA HODGE & NIGEL HAVERS

David Pugh and Theatre Royal Bath Productions are delighted to present The Nigel Havers Theatre Company in Noel Coward’s gloriously entertaining PRIVATE LIVES.  This will be the inaugural show for The Nigel Havers Theatre Company, which will be touring the country with a wonderful line-up of theatrical gems.  The plan is that the UK Tour of PRIVATE LIVES will begin at Theatre Royal Bath on 1 October 2020.

Award-winning theatre producer David Pugh said of the new company, “Nigel Havers is one of the biggest stars who likes to tour and in the past we have had some incredibly successful partnerships, from Art through to Frank McGuinness’s adaption of Rebecca.

“My suggestion last year to Nigel to form The Nigel Havers Theatre Company was met with a wry smile, but he warmed to the idea and finally agreed that he would take 18 weeks out each year to tour a play, ‘as long as the play is entertaining and, most importantly, ticket prices are accessible to as many people as possible.’”

David continued, “Little did we know last year that this now seems to be more important than ever and, when we are allowed again to safely open theatres, we have to realise theatre can no longer be the luxury item it so often is; theatre should be able to be seen by and be for everybody. Ticket pricing and ticketing charges have become ridiculous.  I believe our job is simply to entertain and to as many people as possible and now, out of this crisis, let’s hope we can address this and do just that.”

Coward’s dazzling comic masterpiece is both a scintillatingly witty and scathingly vitriolic study of the rich and reckless in love.  Elyot and Amanda, who were once married, find themselves in adjoining rooms in the same hotel on the French Riviera, both on honeymoon with their new partners. Their initial horror quickly evaporates and soon they’re sharing cocktails and a romantic serenade. 

The Olivier Award-winning Patricia Hodge OBE, one of the country’s most loved actresses, plays Amanda. Nigel Havers, ever suave and thoroughly charming, plays Elyot, the role taken by Noël Coward himself in the original production in 1930. Astonishingly, it is the first time Nigel Havers has appeared in a Coward play on stage.  Dugald Bruce-Lockhart plays Victor and Natalie Walter plays Sibyl.

Patricia Hodge’s many theatre credits include A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (Trafalgar Studios), Copenhagen (Chichester Festival Theatre), Travels With My Aunt (Minerva, Chichester), Relative Values (Harold Pinter), Calendar Girls (Noel Coward Theatre), The Country Wife (Theatre Royal Haymarket), His Dark Materials (National), Noises Off (National), Money (National, for which she won the Olivier for Best Supporting Actress) and A Little Night Music (National).  Her recent television credits include Ursula Thorpe in A Very English Scandal (BBC), Mrs Pelham in Downton Abbey (ITV) and Penny in Miranda (BBC).

Nigel Havers’s television credits include the soon to be seen Roger in Finding Alice (ITV) and General Ransom in the new remake of All Creatures Great & Small (Channel 5).  Other recent television credits include Lewis Archer in Coronation Street (Granada), Stanley Keen in Benidorm (ITV) and Lord Hepworth in Downton Abbey (ITV).  Theatre includes Serge in the UK Tour and West End productions of Art, Algernon Moncrieff in the UK Tour of The Importance of Being Earnest and Maxim de Wynter in the UK Tour of Rebecca.  His film credits include playing David Niven in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Hofstadter in Paradise Lost, Dr Rawlins in Empire of the Sun and Lord Andrew Lindsay in Chariots of Fire.

Dugald Bruce-Lockhart most recently appeared as Michael Gove in The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson at Park Theatre.  He has also played David Cameron in The Three Lions (St James Theatre and Edinburgh Festival), for which he was nominated for Best Actor in The Stage Awards.  Other theatre credits include Bill Austin in Mamma Mia! (Novello), David Hart in Wonderland (Hampstead), Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps (UK Tour) and, for Ed Hall’s Propeller Theatre Company, he has played the title role in Henry V, Antipholus of Syracuse in Comedy of Errors and Ratcliffe in Richard III.

Natalie Walter’s most recent theatre credits include Pack of Lies (Menier Chocolate Factory), Jerusalem (Watermill Theatre), Smash (Menier Chocolate Factory), 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (Bush), 39 Steps (Criterion), Hay Fever (Chichester Festival Theatre) and, for the RSC, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Love’s Labour’s Lost.  Natalie was a regular performer in the CBBC series Horrible Histories.

PRIVATE LIVES will be directed by Christopher Luscombe, with set and costume designs by Simon Higlett, lighting design by Tim Mitchell and casting by Sarah Bird.

The Nigel Havers Theatre Company’s PRIVATE LIVES is produced by David Pugh and Theatre Royal Bath Productions.

Facebook:  nigelhaverstheatrecompany

Twitter:  nigelhaversco

TOUR SCHEDULE 2020

Theatre Royal Bath

Thursday 1 – Saturday 10 October

01225 448844

theatreroyal.org.uk

Norwich Theatre Royal

Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 October

01603 630000

norwichtheatre.org

Everyman Theatre Cheltenham

Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 October

01242 572573

everymantheatre.org.uk

Tickets on sale soon

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 27 – Saturday 31 October

0844 811 2121

theatreroyal.co.uk

Cambridge Arts Theatre

Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 November

01223 503333

cambridgeartstheatre.com

Tickets on sale soon

Richmond Theatre

Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 November

0844 871 7651

atgtickets.com/Richmond

Malvern Theatres

Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 November

01684 892277

malvern-theatres.co.uk

Tickets on sale soon

Leeds Grand Theatre

Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 March 2021

0844 848 2700

www.leedsgrandtheatre.com   

Tickets on sale soon

Further dates to be announced.

Booking fees may apply. Calls to 0844 numbers cost up to 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

Dame Judi Dench in conversation, hosted by Gyles Brandreth, will be available to stream online to support the Orange Tree Theatre

OT On Screen
Dame Judi Dench
in conversation with Gyles Brandreth

Filmed live at the Orange Tree Theatre in 2017, an exclusive 90-minute in conversation with Dame Judi Dench will be available online from 3pm on Sunday 26 April. This is a paid video on demand and all monies raised will go to the Orange Tree Theatre’s Survival Fund, following its closure due to the impact of the Coronavirus.   

Packed full of entertaining, funny and touching stories from Dame Judi’s incredible career, viewers can experience the unique intimacy of the Orange Tree, recreating a very special event in the comfort of their own home.

OT Artistic Director Paul Miller said: “This film records one of my happiest days ever: the day Judi came to the Orange Tree. It’s 90 minutes of enormous fun and fascinating insights, in the company of a national treasure with few, if any, rivals for our collective affection. We hear about John Gielgud and Peggy Ashcroft; Clint Eastwood and Johnny Depp; about Ken Branagh, Peter Hall and how to speak Shakespeare. The crucial importance of company spirit runs through it all like a golden thread. And what company she is: this is a treat to savour in your home, while we wait to welcome you back to ours one day.”

Audiences watching will pay £4.99 to watch on demand via orangetreetheatre.co.uk

As of 16 March 2020, the Orange Tree Theatre has closed its doors due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

As an independent producing theatre and registered charity, closure has serious implications, having lost 74% of its income.

To secure the OT’s return to producing outstanding theatrical experiences in its unique, up-close space, the theatre has launched a Survival Fund. Find out more at orangetreetheatre.co.uk/support-us

Other OT On Screen broadcasts include their co-production of Amsterdam which is available for free on the Orange Tree’s YouTube channel.

Dame Judi Dench took to the Orange Tree stage for the first time in 2017 for the OT’s inaugural Under the Orange Tree: a series of talks with our most distinguished actors about people they’ve worked with, admired and learned from.

A celebration of British theatre’s history and its especially collaborative nature, Under the Orange Tree offers an unrivalled opportunity to see great artists talk up-close in the Orange Tree’s unique in the round space, in conversation with OT Ambassador Gyles Brandreth. Subsequent Under the Orange Tree guests have been Michael Billington, Sir Derek Jacobi, Dame Maggie Smith, David Suchet, Dame June Whitfield and Dame Penelope Wilton.

Judi Dench made her first professional stage appearance with the Old Vic Company as Ophelia in Hamlet in 1957. During her extensive career on stage and screen she has won 10 BAFTAs, 7 Oliviers, 2 Golden Globes, a Tony and an Academy Award. Her theatre credits include The Winter’s Tale (Kenneth Branagh Company), Peter and Alice (West End), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rose Theatre, Kingston), Hay Fever, The Breath of Life (Haymarket Theatre), Merry Wives of Windsor, All’s Well That Ends Well (RSC), Amy’s View (National Theatre and Broadway) and A Little Night Music (National Theatre). For television, her credits include All Is True, Red Joan, Murder on the Orient Express, Victoria & Abdul, Tulip Fever, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, The Hollow Crown: Richard III, Esio Trot, Cranford, As Time Goes By and Last of the Blonde Bombshells; and for film, Philomena, Skyfall, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, J.Edgar, My Week With Marilyn, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Jane Eyre, The Quantum of Solace, Notes on a Scandal, Casino Royale, Mrs Henderson Presents, Pride and Prejudice, Iris, Chocolat, Shakespeare in Love (Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress) and Mrs Brown.

Gyles Brandreth is a writer, broadcaster, former MP and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, now Chancellor of the University of Chester. A veteran of QI and Have I Got News For You, a reporter on The One Show, a regular on Just a Minute, his many books include The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries and the No 1 best-seller: The 7 Secrets of Happiness

LIZA PULMAN’S LONDON RIVERSIDE DATES RESCHEDULED TO SPRING 2021

SPECIAL EP RELEASED AHEAD OF FORTHCOMING ALBUM THE HEART OF IT

Fresh from her sell-out run of Fascinating Aida, singer and comedienne Liza Pulman has announced details of her rescheduled dates in London and released an EP featuring tracks from her forthcoming album.

The news also follows the singer’s five-star sell-out and critically acclaimed West End tour-de-force of Liza Pulman Sings Streisand, in which she celebrates the life and music of one of the biggest names in showbusiness, Barbra Streisand. Liza is also one third of the brilliant satirical trio and box-office smash, Fascinating Aida with whom she performed a Christmas month-long run at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, followed by a 2020 UK tour.

The Heart Of It was due to take place at London’s iconic Riverside Studios, on the shores of the River Thames in May, as part of the opening season of venue’s five-year redevelopment. Liza Pulman will now play a week-long run of seven performances from Monday 19 April to Sunday 25 April 2021 with tickets on sale soon.

Liza has now also released an EP with 4 tracks from the forthcoming album of the same name, due to be released in Spring 2021, the EP features the tracks Unchained Melody, My Favorite Year, I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling and Bye Bye Blackbird. Available to listen to previews and to purchase from www.lizapulman.com/music/.

The Heart Of It was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios and produced by the legendary Chris Porter (David Bowie, Elton John, Take That), and accompanied by some of the finest musicians including Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel), Danny Cummings (Mark Knopfler) and Chris Cameron (George Michael).

Once again in the company of her band of great musicians, Liza rediscovers and reimagines timeless classics and lost gems that have no business being lost. Her funny, intelligent and emotional connection to lyrics and melody goes straight to the heart of every song with a diverse and eclectic range of influences through Fats Waller and Irving Berlin to Michel Legrand, Judy Collins and a host of others. Liza’s version of Unchained Melody, where she takes this classic song to a completely new dimension, literally makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

As a live performer Liza has that rare ability to both break your heart and make it sing. Her show is rich in warmth and humour, sharing anecdotes that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next.

Liza comes from a talented, traditional showbusiness family. Her father was screenwriter Jack Pulman, known for writing BBC classics I Claudius and War and Peace. While her mother is actress Barbara Young, stalwart of such iconic series as Last Of The Summer Wine, Coronation Street and her long running role as Sadie in C5’s Family Affairs.

Liza emanated from London’s prestigious Guildhall School Of Music and spent four years as a junior principal at Glyndebourne Opera. She spent time in commercial theatre both in the West End and touring, her musical theatre credits include Adrian Noble’s award-winning production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium with Michael Ball in 2002, and the UK tour of Doctor Dolittle with Phillip Schofield. She has been one third of Fascinating Aida since 2004.

Liza Pulman commented: “So far, 2020 has not quite turned out as any of us had expected. My sell out spring tour with Fascinating Aida was cut woefully short and my planned weeklong run at the newly developed and stunning Riverside Studios was halted before it had even begun. The world seems to have stopped for now but while we do our best to stay well and stay home, we must also look to the future and so it is with great excitement that I can announce the rescheduling of our dates at Riverside for April 2021 and, even more thrillingly, the launch of my new EP.

“This is a 4 song CD and is just a taster of the album to come, which sadly, has also been a temporary casualty of Covid -19. I auditioned every single song on this CD to make sure that it either broke my heart or made it sing and these four tracks are no exception. I recorded it with my amazing band and some top guests and working on this music has been a total joy. I think we’ve never needed music that reaches us more than we do now and I can’t wait to get back out there!”

Listen To The Tracks:              www.lizapulman.com/music/

Watch The Show Trailer:       www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV3kOMQrGX8&feature=youtu.be

Website:                                 www.lizapulman.com

Facebook:                               www.facebook.com/lizapulmanofficial/

Twitter:                                   twitter.com/liza_pulman

Instagram:                              www.instagram.com/pulmanliza/

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT LIZA PULMAN

★★★★

‘She brings a legend to life’

Clive Davis, The Times

★★★★★

‘Liza P once again demonstrated her position at the top of what the nation

has to offer in terms of classy, commercial entertainment’

British Theatre Guide

★★★★★

‘Oozes confidence like a proper Diva – a show which completely

immerses the audience from beginning to end’

Love London Love Culture

★★★★★

‘Incredible performances of classic numbers…delivered with humour, grace and class’

Theatre Weekly

★★★★★

‘Bewitches us with sheer vocal virtuosity and emotional expression’

BritishTheatre.com

★★★★★

‘The whole audience are on their feet and seldom

has a standing ovation been better earned’

Stage Talk

★★★★★

‘Amazing, her voice is truly wonderful’

Jewish News

★★★★★

‘Liza has got style oozing out of her pores and a belting set of lungs’

The Gay UK

INFORMATION

LIZA PULMAN – THE HEART OF IT

EP – THE HEART OF IT

4 Track EP – £3.99 + £0.60 p&p

Available to buy – www.lizapulman.com/music/

RIVERSIDE STUDIOS, LONDON

MONDAY 19 – SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021

101 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London, W6 9BN

Website: www.riversidestudios.co.uk

Box Office: 020 8237 1010

TICKETS ON SALE SOON

NEW ADVENTURES ANNOUNCES

REEL ADVENTURES

A FESTIVAL OF CLASSICS

BRINGING THE ADVENTURES TO YOU

INCLUDING THE BROADCAST PREMIERES OF

LAST YEARS HIT NEW PRODUCTION OF

“ROMEO AND JULIET”

AND

THE SPECTACULAR NEW PRODUCTION OF THE ICONIC

“SWAN LAKE”

PLUS ALL-TIME FAVOURITE

“THE CAR MAN”

ON SKY ARTS

New Adventures are delighted to announce A FESTIVAL OF CLASSICS as part of their REEL Adventures online programme bringing the adventures to you; including a series of Broadcast Premieres on Sky TV and rare screenings of some of Matthew Bourne’s most beloved productions.

On Sunday 19 April at 8.00pm Sky Arts will be screening the Broadcast Premiere of Matthew Bourne’s iconic and legendary production of “Swan Lake”, recently updated for a new generation and filmed live at Sadler’s Wells during the 2018/2019 tour.  A week later, on Sunday 26 April at 8.00pm, Sky Arts will host the Broadcast Premiere of Matthew Bourne’s latest hit  production, “Romeo and Juliet” which had its World Premiere in 2019 and was filmed live at Sadler’s Wells last August. Finally, on Sunday 3 May at 8.00pm, Sky Arts will re-screen the internationally acclaimed and multi-award-winning dance thriller “The Car Man” which was filmed live at Sadler’s Wells in 2015.

In addition to the broadcasts “REEL ADVENTURES” offers a different activity for every day of the week: “Motivational Monday”, “Tune in Tuesdays”, “Pro Wednesdays”, “Vintage Adventures”, “Feature Fridays”, “Workshop Weekends” and “Sunday Sessions. The programme includes a live company class once a week – led by New Adventures artists and open to everyone, creative tasks for children, live Q&As, as well as access to behind the scenes footage and rarely seen treasures from New Adventures archive, curated and introduced by Matthew Bourne. For full details please visit www.new-adventures.net

Matthew Bourne said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from our dedicated community of friends and followers.  It’s important, now more than ever, that we stay connected with each other whilst we navigate what is an incredibly challenging time for us all. We have always endeavoured to bring our productions to a wider audience through collaborations with Sky Arts and More2Screen. At a time when none of us are able to enjoy a live performance at our local theatre we’re delighted to be able to reach audiences through their TV.  Huge thanks go to Sky Arts and all those involved in creating these films for making this possible at such short notice.”

“Swan Lake”, “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Car Man” were filmed live at Sadler’s Wells, in collaboration with Sky Arts and More2Screen, Produced by Lucie Conrad for Illuminations and Directed by Ross MacGibbon.

New Adventures is supported using public funds by Arts Council England.

For more information please visit: www.new-adventures.net

Facebook /MBNewAdventures    Twitter @New_Adventures     Instagram @MBNewAdventures

COREY BAKER DANCE PRESENTS A SHORT FILM COLLOBORATION WITH
BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET AND HONG KONG BALLET

SPAGHETTI JUNCTION

Photo credit: Corey Baker Dance

·      New film to be made available via BBC.CO.UK/ARTS on Earth Day, Wednesday 22 April 2020 at 07.00 BST

·      Set beneath Birmingham’s (in)famous Spaghetti Junction, the new film raises awareness of the impact of climate change

·      First ever international collaboration between Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet and Corey Baker Dance. 

Birmingham based company Corey Baker Dance, run by award-winning choreographer/director Corey Baker, has created a new short film titled Spaghetti Junction.  The film will receive its world premiere screening through BBC’s Culture in Quarantine on 22 April from 07.00 BST for Earth Day to raise awareness of the impact of climate change.

Shot beneath Birmingham’s famous Spaghetti Junction, the film features Gus Payne and Haoliang Feng, from Birmingham Royal Ballet and Forrest Rain Oliveros, from Hong Kong Ballet and marks the first ever collaboration between Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet and Corey Baker Dance.  The film came from Baker’s larger collaboration and work with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Hippodrome and Arts Council England to celebrate Chinese New Year 2020.

Corey Baker Dance has an international reputation for creating a diverse array of work across film, TV, theatre, using unusual locations and reaching non-traditional theatre audiences.  His first film Antarctica: The First Dance, was filmed on the icy contient celebrating Antarctica while we still have it.  The film was commissioned by The Space and Channel 4 Random Acts and featured Royal New Zealand Ballet principal dancer Madeleine Graham. Antarctica: The First Dance  has been seen by over 5 million people around the globe to date.

Lying Together, the companion film for Spaghetti Junction, featuring Hong Kong Ballet was filmed on rooftops and urban green spaces of Hong Kong and also shares a message around climate change.  Lying Together will be released later this year.

Set to music by acclaimed band FKJ, Spaghetti Junction was created in partnership with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet, and funded by Arts Council England, Birmingham Hippodrome, West Midlands Growth Company and Southside BID

You can watch the world premiere screening of Spaghetti Junction at 07.00 BST on BBC.CO.UK/ARTS on Wednesday 22 April, Earth Day.  

Earth Day started in 1970 and is now the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in over 190 countries to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide and drive positive action for our planet.

HAMPSTEAD THEATRE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GUARDIAN, EXTENDS ITS FREE, DIGITAL STREAMING SERIES WITH TIGER COUNTRY AND #AIWW: THE ARREST OF AI WEIWEI

​​

Hampstead Theatre is delighted to announce an extension of its free, digital streaming series in partnership with The Guardian.  The live stream recordings of Nina Raine’s NHS inspired hit drama Tiger Country and Howard Brenton’s politically charged #AIWW: The Arrest of Ai Weiweiwill be available to watch, on demand, on theguardian.com and hampsteadtheatre.com, as part of the theatre’s current #HampsteadTheatreAtHome series.

Tiger Country (2014) will be available to watch on demand from Monday 20 April 10am to Sunday 26 April 10pm (BST).  Tiger Country, also directed by Raine, is an insight into the workings of the NHS and the people who keep it going.  An action-packed and astute drama, it looks beyond the hospital corridors and into an extraordinary workplace, full of professionals under pressure, driven by ambition, compassion and humour.

#AIWW: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei (2013) will be available to watch on demand from Monday 27 April, 10am – Sunday 3 May, 10pm (BST).  The production tells the story of the controversial arrest and imprisonment of Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei in 2011 and is based on conversations between Ai Weiweiand journalist/writer Barnaby Martin (Hanging Man: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei), in which Ai Weiweispoke about what happened during his disappearance.  Directed by James Macdonald, #AIWW: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei is a portrait of the Artist in extreme conditions and an affirmation of the importance of Art and freedom of speech.

Drawing the Line, also by Howard Brenton, is currently available to stream until Sunday 19 April, 10pm (BST).  Directed by the late Howard Davies, the play tells the story of the chaotic partitioning of India in 1947 whilst celebrating the strength of humanity.

Hampstead Theatre closed its building following UK Government advice on Monday 16 March 2020.  The #HampsteadTheatreAtHome series was launched to support audiences in isolation by sharing world class entertainment online for free.  Recent productions streamed in the series include I and You by Lauren Gunderson on Instagram’s mobile video platform IGTV and, in partnership with The Guardian, Wildby Mike Bartlett and Wonderlandby Beth Steel. 

Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre said:

“I am delighted that we have been able to extend our #HampsteadTheatreAtHome series with The Guardian.  It feels like there has never been a more apt time to share Tiger Country – Nina Raine meticulously studied the NHS and spent much time with its extraordinary employees who put their lives on the line, daily, to keep Britain safe. The whole nation is indebted to this workforce and should viewers want to support those working on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19, a link will be available on our website.AIWW: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei also reminds us of the importance of freedom of speech. Many questions will be asked over the next few months and it’s in everyone’s interest that we continue to strive for a society that’s built on truth and openness.

The reaction to our digital series so far has been tremendous and there is something deeply comforting about knowing that, despite these strange, uncertain times, people from across the world from America and Peru to Japan and Australia, want to tune in to watch theatre. Thank you again to the many artists involved for making this series possible and to The Guardian for helping us reach as many people as possible.”

Pilot Theatre to stream online Crongton Knights

York based Pilot Theatre are delighted to announce that they will be webcasting the online premiere of their current co-production of Emteaz Husain’s adaptation of Alex Wheatle’s award-winning young adult novel Crongton Knights. The webcast will be available to stream online for free from 6.45pm on Wednesday 22  April , the day the production was due to open at the Theatre Peckham in London.

The webcast will start at 6.45pm with a special introduction from the creative team of author Alex Wheatle, playwright Emteaz Hussain and co-directors Esther Richardson and  Corey Campbell. The production will be available to stream online at  

www.pilot-theatre.com/webcast until Saturday 9 May, the day the tour was due to finish at Theatre Peckham.

To coincide with the webcast Pilot will be putting online a series of talks & Q&A’s with the team behind Crongton Knights. The first Pilot Connects event will be a Q&A with the production’s composer and musical director, Conrad Murray, hosted by Pilot’s Artistic Director, Esther Richardson on Thursday 23 April.        

Crongton Knights takes its audience on a night of madcap adventure as McKay and his friends ‘The Magnificent Six’ encounter the dangers and triumphs of a mission gone awry. In this world premiere adaptation of Alex Wheatle’s award-winning novel, the pulse of the city is alive on stage with a soundscape of beatboxing and vocals laid down by the cast and created by acclaimed musician Conrad Murray.

Crongton Knights is a co-production between Pilot Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Derby Theatre and York Theatre Royal who last year formed – with the Mercury Theatre Colchester – a new partnership to develop theatre for younger audiences. During the 4 years 2019-2022 the consortium will commission and co-produce four original mid-scale productions. 

Crongton Knights will be available to steam online for free at www.pilot-theatre.com/webcast   from 6.45pm on Wed 22 April until Saturday 9 May.

For more information on forthcoming Pilot Connects events visit

www.pilot-theatre.com/performance/current/pilot-connects/

DEAFINITELY THEATRE LAUNCHES

DEAFINITEY DIGITAL

Deafinitely Theatre today announce Deafinitely Digital with a selection of their critically acclaimed past productions available online to watch for free between April and June in a mission to bring theatre to people at a time when accessing live performance is not possible. In April, Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost(2012); in May, George Brant’s Grounded (2015); and in June, Mike Bartlett’s Contractions (2017) which marked the company’s 15^th anniversary and won the company an Off West End Award for Best Production; will be made available to watch for free at www.youtube.com/user/markdeafinitely. All productions are performed in British Sign Language and Spoken English.

Artistic Director of Deafinitely Theatre, Paula Garfield today said, “We are in precarious times – probably the most difficult and unusual of this century, and many people are struggling. It is therefore important that we find a way to survive and connect beyond physical contact and culture remains a vital way for us to come together, even when we can’t congregate in theatres or galleries.  Deafinitely Theatre is thrilled to make digitally available three of our recent plays to give audiences a chance to see, or revisit, these acclaimed bilingual productions. Each will be available for free for one month on Deafinitely’s YouTube channel.”

Deafinitely Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe present

LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST

By William Shakespeare

Cast: Charly Arrowsmith (Rosaline); Adam Bassett (Don Armado); Stephen Collins (Ferdinand);

Brian Duffy (Boyet); Patricia Gorman (Katharine/Jaquenetta); Matthew Gurney (Berowne);

Vitalis Katakinas (Dumaine/Holofernes); Dona Mullings (Maria/Moth);

Nadia Nadarajah (Princess of France); David Sands (Longaville/Costard)

Director: Paula Garfield; Set Designer: Simon Heap; Costume Designer: Fiona Albrow;

Sound Designer: Phillippa Herrick; Creative Interpreter: Kate Furby;

Musician: Jon Whitton; Musician: Flora Curzon; Director for the Screen: Ian Russell

“Definitely, I’d say, theatre for everyone.”

★★★★

The Guardian

Presented at Shakespeare’s Globe for the World Shakespeare Festival in May 2012, Deafinitely Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe’s production of Love’s Labour’s Lost then toured the UK as part of the Globe to Globe Festival, in which each of Shakespeare’s 37 plays were shown in a different language. By translating the rich, pun-riddled text of Love’s Labour’s Lost into the physical language of BSL, Deafinitely Theatre created a new interpretation of Shakespeare’s comedy, accessible to theatregoers of all backgrounds. This is the first time this has been attempted with a full Shakespeare play.

The court of Navarre: the King and his three Lords vow to stay away from wine, women and luxury; but when the princess and her ladies from France arrive, they begin to change their minds. As each gives in to his affections and breaks his oath, they all try – unsuccessfully – to keep their love secret from each other.

Love’s Labour’s Lost was filmed at Shakespeare’s Globe.

Deafinitely Theatre present

GROUNDED

By George Brant

Cast: Nadia Nadarajah (The Pilot); Charmaine Wombwell (Voice of The Pilot)

Director: Paula Garfield; Designer: Paul Burgess; Lighting Designer: Jack Knowles

Sound Designer: Chris Bartholomew; Choreographer: Ramesh Meyyappan

“Stylishly designed and delivered”

★★★★

The Guardian

An unexpected pregnancy ends a fighter pilot’s career in the sky. Reassigned to operate military drones from a windowless trailer outside Las Vegas, she hunts terrorists by day and returns for her family each night. As the pressure to track a high-profile target mounts, the boundaries begin to blur between the desert in which she lives and the one she patrols half a world away.

Originally a one-woman show, Deafinitely Theatre’s production uses two actors to creatively combine British Sign Language, visual storytelling and the spoken word.

Grounded was filmed at Park Theatre.

Age guidance: 16+

Please be aware that there may be scenes that some audiences find distressing.

Deafinitely Theatre and New Diorama Theatre present

CONTRACTIONS

By Mike Bartlett

Cast: Fifi Garfield (The Manager); Abigail Poulton (Emma)

Director: Paula Garfield; Designer: Paul Burgess; Lighting Designer: Joe Hornsby

Sound Designer: Chris Bartholomew; Visual Consultant: Brian Duffy

“A deeply affecting psychological thriller”

★★★★

The Stage

‘It’s very important that you stay healthy.

That the environment you work in is safe.

That you feel comfortable, and secure.

That you feel balanced, safe, and in control.’

Are your employers concerned about your welfare? Do they have a duty of care? Emma thinks so, but when she begins a relationship with colleague Darren her Manager suggests she might be in breach of contract. A series of bizarre meetings follow, during which the consequences of Emma’s actions take on a disturbing quality… A dark comedy about faceless corporations, nameless management and the boundaries between work and play.

Deafinitely Theatre’s Contractions, was the first professional revival of the play in London since its debut at the Royal Court Theatre in 2008.

Contractions was filmed at New Diorama Theatre.

Age guidance: 16+

Please be aware that there may be scenes that some audiences find distressing.

The Playground Theatre Café & Bar providing free meals for vulnerable local people

• The Playground Theatre Café Covid-19 Food Relief Campaign makes free meals, working with local charities to deliver them to those who need it most
• The Playground Theatre Café owner Rima Sams and son Mars set up the campaign and make up to 500 meals a week
• The theatre continues to run its Well Read initiative in partnership with St Charles Hospital to involve mental health and older patients

North Kensington The Playground Theatre Café Covid-19 Food Relief Campaign is making free meals for elderly and vulnerable local people. Rima Sams and son Mars set up the campaign in response to the social distancing measures, working with food banks and charities. The Felix Project provide about 70% of the fresh ingredients at no cost, and Kensington & Chelsea Mutual Aid Group collect the meals and distribute them to those who need it most: elderly, self-isolating, vulnerable people, often those who live in sheltered accommodation. Rima, Mars and volunteers are making up to 500 meals a week; the meals are nutritious and delivered in compostable containers that can be heated on arrival.

The campaign is run entirely by volunteers with a GoFundMe page to raise money for the costs of running the kitchen: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-playground-theatre-cafe-covid-19-food-relief

Rima Sams said, “There is shocking food poverty in North Kensington which given the close proximity of extreme wealth in the Royal Borough, is unbelievably sad. A conversation with a local friend regarding food bank needs going through the roof in the first week of lockdown, inspired me to want to help get meals to the elderly and most vulnerable.”

The Playground Theatre also continues to run one of its mental health initiatives: Well Read. Well Read is a script reading project created by The Playground Theatre in partnership with St Charles Hospital involving mental health and older adult patients. Since social distancing measures we put in place, the theatre has run the initiative digitally to continue to reach vulnerable people.

Co-artistic Director Anthony Biggs said, “We consider ourselves an integral part of the neighbourhood of North Kensington, and our outreach work gives as much joy to us as to those we work with. In these challenging times, when our doors are closed and our future is uncertain, we believe it is vital to continue to support those in our community who are isolated and lonely, and who rely on The Playground.”

The Playground Theatre is an off-West End theatre dedicated to nurturing new talent and staging an international programme of shows. Led by co-Artistic Directors Peter Tate and Anthony Biggs, the unique space is a former bus depot located on Latimer Road. Its name is intended as an invitation to theatre makers and performers to come and “play”, and to encourage bold experimentation with new works for the stage. Since it opened, The Playground Theatre has cultivated relationships with international companies and practitioners. To date, this has seen the venue work with leading creatives from Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Japan and beyond.

@PlaygroundW10 | theplaygroundtheatre.london