Oisel Productions & Rua Arts present  

Chicken Burger and Chips

by Corey Bovell, directed by Kwame Asiedu

Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 March 2020

After a sold-out run of his debut play, 32 Peak Street during Camden Fringe in 2018, Corey Bovell now brings his edgy and moving one-man play Chicken Burger and Chips to the Brockley Jack Studio Theatre from Tuesday 10 until Saturday 14 March 2020 (Press Night, Thursday 12 March) – a venue just a stone’s throw away from the streets, estates and takeaways of South East London at the heart of the drama.

“The world wasn’t designed for us to succeed playboy, you gotta clock that we’re living in an uneven society.”  

During the summer holidays of 2009 Corey dreams of nothing but to hang around with his friends while ordering as much Morley’s as possible. Until Jodie comes along and makes Corey realise the changes that are happening within his beloved Lewisham Borough. Making Corey, for the first time, think about what path his future takes.

Writer and actor, Corey Bovell, said: “This is a raw and nostalgic coming of age story, similar to Debbie Tucker Green’s play Random which, although written over ten years ago, has a theme that is still relevant. Knife crime in England and Wales reached an unprecedented high in the year to June 2019, increasing by 7% on the previous 12 months (Office for National Statistics). I don’t believe London’s streets – especially in Lewisham – feel any safer, despite the strategic plans that have been put in place to tackle the robust wave of crime. Chicken Burger and Chips was written in hope that my younger target audience can see the consequences of violence within the local community and find a new way to challenge their energy into something positive.”

Chicken Burger and Chips is written and performed by Corey Bovell and directed by Kwame Asiedu, with design by Sandra Falase, art design by Fabienne Ayton, lighting design by Pablo Fernandez, sound design by Xana, movement direction by Kara Dee and stage management by Frederick Zannor. It is produced by Oisel Productions & Rua Arts. The project is supported by Arts Council England, Oisel Productions, Rua Arts, The Bruntwood Prize for Playwrighting, Morley’s and AfterHours

Seeing Stars – An Evening with Simon Armitage

York Theatre Royal, 4 and 5 February, 7.30pm

UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and well-known actors will read a range of his poetry in a unique fund-raising performance at York Theatre Royal on 4 and 5 February.

Seeing Stars – An Evening With Simon Armitage is being curated by theatre director Nick Bagnall, who directed Armitage’s play The Last Days of Troy at Manchester’s Royal Exchange and Shakespeare’s Globe.

Simon Armitage’s latest collection of poetry is Sandettie Light Vessel Automatic. In May it was announced that the Huddersfield-born poet, playwright and novelist would be the next UK Poet Laureate.

All money raised will go towards supporting York Theatre Royal’s work in the community. From large-scale community theatre to engaging with young people, from supporting the next generation of artists to enabling anyone, regardless of their circumstances, to enjoy York’s cultural life.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Seeing Stars – An Evening with Simon Armitage

York Theatre Royal

4 and 5 February, 7.30pm

Tickets from £15 (limited availability)

Box office 01904 623568. Online yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Only one week until VAULT Festival 2020
opens and it has plenty to fill up calendars

There’s only one week to go before VAULT Festival takes over Waterloo. Back for eight weeks of the most innovative and exciting live performance, more than 600 shows are on sale to make sure 2020 starts in the best way possible – head underground from Tuesday 28th January until Sunday 22nd March 2020 for London’s biggest, boldest and wildest arts festival!

The recipients have been announced for the VAULT Edition of the Brand Nouveau Initiative. Bringing together a group of the best black and minority ethnic artists ready to take the next step in their careers, the scheme provides opportunities to expand networks, receive first class mentoring, and benefit from creative space, time and research opportunities. The Kola Nut Does Not Speak English, written by Tania Nwachukwu, explores the cultural history of a first generation British-Nigerian woman of Igbo descent, using African theatre practices, call and response, dance, song, and poetry. This will play in rep with Resonate, a pulsating lyrical journey into the soul of a modern young man which plunges into the mania of addiction. Written by Ntonga Mwanza, it merges physical theatre, hip hop dance and spoken word.

Its inaugural year has seen The CULTIVATE Bursary, in association with COMMON and The Corn Exchange, Newbury awarded to Shy Bairn Theatre for Talk Propa and to Sarah Henley for Essence. Awarded to two working class artists at this year’s Festival, they will receive a £1,000 cash injection towards the cost of their production and £750 worth of PR and marketing support, as well as mentorship and increased industry exposure. Essence explores what it’s like to be lonely, how much it takes to let people in, and how the messy bits of life are ultimately where the gold lies. Talk Propa takes down reductive stereotypes and radically deconstructs the concept of a ‘generic northern accent’ in a celebration of all things northern.

The VAULT Festival Directors and Producers Mat Burt and Andy George comment, With VAULT Festival 2020 just around the corner, we’re excited to share this year’s programme. Over 600 shows are joining us underground for what promises to be our biggest, boldest and wildest year yet. In times of crises, now more than ever we need to inspire and affect change – as well as relishing our lives and those around us. Whether you’re looking for work that’ll change your perspective on the world or feeling ready to immerse yourself in something completely new, whether you’re on a date, hanging out with your family or spending time with mates, we know there’ll be something in our programme for everyone.

This year, VAULT Festival has your calendar all tied up:

If you’re avoiding the romance, flowers and chocolate of Valentine’s Day, try something with a slightly different tone with Alex Edelman. Ricocheting from a surprising encounter with Prince William, his newly-minted Olympian brother, and a gorilla who can do sign language, Just For Us centres around an explosive confrontation. After he found himself targeted by strong anti-Semitic online abuse, Edelman decided to covertly attend a meeting of those same anti-Semites.

To celebrate Galentine’s Day on 15th February, Pussy Liquor are inviting you to throw away societal expectations at their Self-Love Sanctuary, a riotous, grrl-power queer disco, designed to make you feel as good as hell. Featuring a decadent, gratuitous feast of cabaret performance, DJs and immersive experiences, this is a festival of self-love, self-confidence and self-worship in a world that inspires the opposite. It’s a raucous and jovial celebration of all things body positive!

This half term families are invited to meet a woman whose beauty caused a civil war with Nest. Told by jesters through song, dance and rhyme, this is a tale of Nesta Ferch Rhys, the Welsh Princess who
bewitched Kings, Princes and courts. A woman of true Welsh blood; a woman with a story to tell. The Festival’s family shows reflect the weird and wonderful offerings found across the rest of the programme. Promising duels, elephants and castles built of cheese come to life in The Extraordinary Time-Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen which sees award-winning comedians and improvisers challenge each other to invent outrageous swashbuckling stories about the Baron. All they have is their wits and some silly hats. There is also the Super Scary Film Club (For Kids) that parodies iconic horror movies through the ages to create a family-friendly monster movie marathon for brave children and braver adults

To celebrate St David’s Day on 1st March, make sure to see Ryan Lane will be there now in a Minute. Ryan Lane’s playful, inventive and intimate character comedy explores what it means to be Welsh, queer and the myths that fuel national identity. A fast-paced, whip-smart satire with belly laughs, bellowing Rugby teachers, beguiling maidens, belligerent Grandma’s and brilliant lip syncing, the show is made with help from friends, family and 29 years of Welsh self-hatred.

This International Women’s Day on 8th March, learn more about Annie Londonderry, hailed as the first woman ever to cycle around the world in 1895, in Ride. The incredible true story of a young woman with big plans, and an even bigger imagination, bursts onto the stage in this new musical from the award-winning team behind The Limit. Alternatively explore a different kind of travel with LegalAliens, the female-led ensemble comprised entirely of artists who are migrants in the UK. Their production Closed Lands traces the history of modern walls – real and metaphorical – from Berlin to Mexico to Europe in an unique fusion of poetry, satire, reportage, multimedia and a traveller’s diary.

For a perfectly unnerving Friday 13th this March, visit Dig, the new immersive production from the award-winning Fever Dream Theatre which sees a shipping container transformed into a tunnel as the audience experience first-hand the pressure of an enclosed space. Myth, legend and history mix underground as the pressure grows, time runs out, the ceiling creeks and the air gets thin.

Gird your loins for Sodom & Begorrah’s St Patrick’s Day X-Travaganza on 14th March and, hopefully, recover in time for the day itself on the Tuesday. Expect Ireland’s finest cabaret, drag artistes, live music and, of course, their iconic midnight sing-a-long. Shake out those snakes for a night of Paddy’s Day foolery for everyone. Even the Protestants can come. Sodom & Begorrah is more than just a club night. It’s a good old fashion Irish knees up full of heart, glitter and sods of turf.

Don’t miss out on some of the most innovative work around. Head to vaultfestival.com for more as VAULT Festival promises to make your 2020 something special!

IN A FORMER COTTON EXCHANGE THE PRESENT COLLIDES WITH THE PAST IN AN AWARD-WINNING PLAY THAT CONFRONTS AN UGLY HISTORY HEAD ON

A Royal Exchange Theatre World Premiere 

ROCKETS AND BLUE LIGHTS  

By Winsome Pinnock
Directed by Miranda Cromwell

12 March – 4 April 2020 

Winner of the 2018 Alfred Fagon Award ROCKETS AND BLUE LIGHTS is an astonishing new play from one of the UK’s most pioneering playwrights Winsome Pinnock. Seamlessly weaving the past and the present together ROCKETS AND BLUE LIGHTS explores Great Britain’s role in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade from a unique perspective. This World Premiere production is performed in the Royal Exchange, once one of the world’s largest cotton exchanges, and examines the impact of historical legacy and the representation of painful subjects. Juxtaposing the intimate and the epic, the personal and the political it invites us to ask what is chosen to be represented and what is denied. Innovative director Miranda Cromwell makes her Royal Exchange Theatre debut with this beautifully poetic play powered by love, resilience and hope. ROCKETS AND BLUE LIGHTS can be seen in the Theatre from 12 March – 4 April.  

Winsome Pinnock superbly laces together the stories of Lou, played by Kiza Deen, a 21st-century actress who finds herself bound by historical legacy; Karl Collins’ Thomas, a sailor who longs for the sea and an ageing J.M.W Turner, played by Paul Bradley, who is impatient for artistic inspiration.

Kiza Deen makes her Royal Exchange debut in this award-winning play. Her recent theatre credits include THE PHLEBOTOMIST (Hampstead Theatre), RANDOM (Leeds Playhouse) and BR’ER COTTON (Theatre 503). Karl Collins is a stage, television and film actor; his recent theatre credits have included IN A WORD (Young Vic), OUR TOWN (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) NINE NIGHT (Trafalgar Studios) SHEBEEN (Nottingham Playhouse & Theatre Royal Stratford East) and CHIMERICA (Almeida & West End). He was a regular on Channel 4s HOLLYOAKS, other television credits include the upcoming VERA (ITV) and MIDSOMER MURDERS (Bentley Productions) plus THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD (Clerkenwell Films) and THIS IS ENGLAND: 90 (Warp Films). 

A graduate of Manchester University Drama department Paul Bradley makes a welcome return to the Exchange where he began his professional career in Michael Elliott’s the LADY FROM THE SEA. On Television Paul is probably best known as Nigel Bates in EASTENDERS and Elliot Hope in HOLBY CITY. His recent theatre credits include; YES PRIME MINISTER (Theatre Clwyd), OCTOPUS SOUP (Simon Fielder Productions), A VERY VERY VERY DARK MATTER (Bridge Theatre) and HUMBLE BOY (Orange Tree Theatre).

The cast is completed by a stunning ensemble which includes Anthony Aje, Natey Jones, Rochelle Rose, Matthew Seadon-Young, Kudzai Sitima, Cathy Tyson and Everal A Walsh. They are joined on stage by musician Femi Temowo.

Winsome Pinnock’s stage plays include THE PRINCIPLES OF CARTOGRAPHY (The Bush Theatre), TITUBA (Hampstead Theatre), CLEANING UP (For Clean Break at Oval House Theatre), TAKEN (For Clean Break at Oval House Theatre), IDP (Tricycle Theatre), THE STOWAWAY (Play for young people, Theatre Royal, Plymouth), ONE UNDER (Tricycle Theatre), BEG BORROW OR STEAL (Kuumba Community Arts Centre), WATER (Tricycle Theatre), MULES (Royal Court Theatre Upstairs and Clean Break Theatre), CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? (Connections at Royal National Theatre), A ROCK IN WATER (Royal Court Theatre), LEAVE TAKING (Liverpool Playhouse Theatre, National Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Lyric theatre, Hammersmith), A HEROES WELCOME (Royal Court Theatre Upstairs), THE WIND OF CHANGE (Half Moon Theatre) and PICTURE PALACE (Womens Theatre Group). Awards include the Alfred Fagon Award (2018); George Devine Award; Pearson Plays on Stage Scheme best play of the year Award; Unity Trust Theatre Award. She received a special commendation from the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Her play LEAVE TAKING received a major revival at the Bush Theatre, London in 2018 and a new version of ONE UNDER was produced by Graeae Theatre Company in 2019 for a UK tour. She is currently commissioned by the Bush Theatre, Royal Court Theatre and is developing a screenplay with Blueprint Pictures.

Miranda Cromwell’s directing credits include as co-director DEATH OF A SALESMAN (Young Vic Theatre); as director HALF BREED (Talawa Theatre/Soho Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe Festival/India tour), MAGIC ELVES, HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE, SENSE (Bristol Old Vic), PIGEON ENGLISH (Edinburgh Fringe Festival/Bristol Old Vic), THE REST OF YOUR LIFE (Bush Theatre) and DEATH AND TREASON (Bristol Old Vic/UK tour). As Associate Director her credits include COMPANY – Olivier award for Best Musical Revival, Critics Circle Award for Best Musical (Gielgud Theatre) and ANGELS IN AMERICA – Olivier and Tony Award for Best Revival (National Theatre/Neil Simon Theatre, Broadway); A MONSTER CALLS – Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and Family (Old Vic/ Bristol Old Vic); CORAM BOY (Colston Hall).

The creative team includes Designer Laura Hopkins, Lighting Designer Jessica Hung Han Yun, Sound Designer Elena Peña, Composer / Musical Director, Femi Temowo, Associate Musical Director, Elizabeth Westcott, Associate Director, Mumba Dodwell and Assistant Director Chantelle Walker. 

Senbla by Arrangement with Opera International presents an Ellen Kent Production of

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

THE ALEXANDRA ON TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY

SOLIHULL’S EMMA GUO AGED 6 CAST IN INTERNATIONAL OPERA PRODUCTION

The award-winning producer Ellen Kent returns in Spring 2020 with the Italian tragedy, Madama Butterfly. Ellen returns to The Alexandra on Tuesday 4 February and as always, she is making the production a community affair! Ellen has invited local stage school Stagecoach Solihull to nominate one of their shining stars to play the child of the titular Madama Butterfly, Sorrow. The youngest cast member will get to experience the joy of treading the boards in this exquisite production of Puccini’s masterpiece in a production featuring international soloists, highly-praised chorus and full orchestra.

Emma Guo aged 6, who attends Stagecoach Solihull will appear opposite acclaimed Korean soprano, Elena Dee who sings the role of tragic Cio-Cio San. After being seduced and then deserted by Lieutenant Pinkerton and being shunned by her family and friends after discovering she is pregnant, Cio-Cio San names her child Sorrow, ever hopeful that Pinkerton will return so she can rename the child Joy. However, when Pinkerton finally does return with his new American wife, Cio-Cio San ends up taking her own life, racked with despair over his betrayal. Emma is currently rehearsing for the role with her drama school and will be joining the cast and full orchestra for the performance in Birmingham this February.

Madama Butterfly is Puccini’s tragic tale which the hit West End musical Miss Saigon is based on. One of the world’s most popular operas, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant – with dramatic results. Highlights include the melodic Humming Chorus, the moving aria Un bel di vedremo (One Fine Day), the famous tenor aria Amore o grillo (Love or fancy) and the unforgettable Bimba, Bimba, non piangere (Love Duet).

With exquisite sets featuring a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costuming including antique wedding kimonos from Japan, the story will be told in the original Italian with English surtitles. As with any of Ellen Kent’s shows, Madama Butterfly is set to be a visually beautiful and moving production.

This production will be sung in Italian with English surtitles. 

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR
BRISTOL OPEN STAGE 2020

Show the world what you’re made of! 

On Monday 20 Jan, applications open for Bristol Old Vic’s annual Bristol Open Stage, inviting people from across Bristol and the West Country to perform at Bristol Old Vic and show the world what they’ve got!

This year Bristol Open Stage forms a key part of Bristol Old Vic’s Year of Artists, which is committed to celebrating the creative spark in us all. So if you’ve been dying to polish off your magic tricks, dust off your dancing shoes or exercise your vocal chords, come and celebrate it all with us. Everyone is welcome.

Born out of the theatre’s 250th anniversary celebrations in 2016, Bristol Open Stage is open to absolutely anyone with the burning desire to perform on our historic stage. There is no audition and you don’t need to have any experience. It’s free to audiences and celebrates the huge variety of creativity our region has to offer. 

The event will take place on the Bank Holiday Monday 25 May in the week of the theatre’s 254th birthday (30th May, 1766). Applications are open to anyone and previous years have seen over 300 people raise the roof on Bristol Old Vic – from choirs to circus performers, jazz musicians to spoken word artists, Bollywood dancers to mimes: the stage is yours! 

Hattie De Santis, Engagement Producer at Bristol Old Vic said: “Open Stage is one of Bristol Old Vic’s treasures. The building buzzes with creativity, excitement and anticipation as Bristol’s brilliant artists share their stories on our beautiful stage. Whether you’ve been on stage before, or it’s your first time treading the boards – everyone is welcome. We cannot wait to see what the city will bring in 2020.”

The deadline for applications is Mon 30 Mar. Applicants should make note of any technical requirements they may have and be able to describe what they’d like to share in 100 words. The application form is available here: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/bristol-open-stage-2020

Everyone is welcome, but the slots available for performances at Bristol Open Stage are limited. Whilst we would be pleased to welcome back artists who have taken part in previous years, we will try to give priority to artists who haven’t participated in the event before.

Bristol Open Stage performances take place across three showcases at 12noon, 3pm and 6pm and are free for everyone to watch. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and will be available through the Box Office at [email protected] or 0117 987 7877. 

National Theatre Collection now available free for state schools across the UK in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing

From today the National Theatre Collection will be available free of charge to state schools and state-funded further education colleges across the UK in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing. The collection provides high-quality recordings of 24 world-class productions, drawing from 10 years of NT Live broadcasts and never before released productions from the National Theatre’s Archive. Schools and further education colleges can register now via Bloomsbury Publishing’s award-winning digital library Drama Online.

Celebrating the best of contemporary British theatre, the titles will support learning across the primary and secondary curriculum and include: 

• Shakespeare set texts including Macbeth, Othello, Twelfth Night and King Lear (Donmar Warehouse) in vibrant modern stagings
• Novels brought to life in exciting literary adaptations such as Frankenstein, Treasure Island, Peter Pan and Jane Eyre
• A range of theatrical styles and genres from Greek tragedies including Medea and Antigone to 20^th century classics such as The Cherry Orchard, The Deep Blue Sea and Yerma (Young Vic)
• Examples of extraordinary design and theatrecraft in productions ranging from One Man, Two Guvnors to Les Blancs
• Adaptations of Romeo and Juliet and The Winter’s Tale created specially for younger audiences and suitable for primary schools

Recordings are accompanied by learning resources to explore the craft behind the best of British theatre including rehearsal insights and short videos. The Collection will increase to 30 titles by March 2020 and further resources exploring backstage aspects such as lighting, sound and staging will be added later in the year. The easy-to-use platform includes helpful features such as scene-by-scene selections and synopses, theme and key word searches.

Alice King-Farlow, Director of Learning at the National Theatre said, “We are thrilled to announce that the National Theatre Collection is now available free for state schools to access, in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing. No matter where they are in the UK, students and teachers will be able to explore 30 productions, supported with teaching resources, showcasing a breadth of titles, writers and practitioners and offering an insight into all aspects of theatre-making. The National Theatre believes all young people in the UK should have the opportunity to watch, make and explore theatre as part of a broad and balanced education, and the National Theatre Collection is an essential part of our commitment to schools nationwide. We would like to extend our thanks to the rightsholders of these materials who have made this service possible”. 

Jenny Ridout, Global Head of Academic Publishing at Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. said, “We are delighted to be further developing our partnership with the National Theatre on Drama Online in this free collection for UK state schools and state-funded FE colleges. This ensures that as wide a range of students and teachers as possible can take their virtual seats on the South Bank to enjoy and study world-class theatre, via Bloomsbury’s world leading digital drama platform, to inspire and entertain, and to help create the theatre writers, performers, designers and audiences of the future.”

Alex Harris, Head of Drama at Spires College in Torquay, said, “Being able to watch the very best of British theatre allows me as a teacher to share with my students what is possible on stage. Being based in Torquay means that access to a wide range of styles of theatre can be limited and so streaming National Theatre productions in the classroom means that my students can experience different styles and genres that will hopefully ignite a life-long passion for the arts. I have had great success using the Collection to teach students about the technical elements of theatre and showing them what can be achieved through lighting, sound, media and stage design has opened their eyes to the potential of these production elements and their impact on a performance.”

Teachers can sign up now to National Theatre Collection on Bloomsbury’s Drama Online Platform via www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntcollection   

Other academic institutions including libraries, universities and independent schools can access National Theatre Collection via a one-time payment for the full collection, or via an annual subscription in partnership with ProQuest and Bloomsbury.

The National Theatre Collection is supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Fondation Hoffmann, the Sidney E. Frank Foundation, The Cranshaw Corporation for Mrs. Robert I. MacDonald and The Attwood Education Foundation.

BRAND NEW MUSICALS AND A RETURNING
FAVOURITE AT THE ALHAMBRA THEATRE IN 2020 –
NOW ON SALE!

BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL
Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 July 2020
Alhambra Theatre
Tickets £39 – £19

MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL
Monday 5 – Saturday 10 October 2020
Alhambra Theatre
Tickets £48 – £20

SUNNY AFTERNOON
Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 November 2020
Alhambra Theatre
Tickets £45 – £19.50

Call the Box Office on 01274 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk
All prices shown include booking fees but are subject to postage charge if applicable.
Bradford Theatres usual terms and conditions apply.

BRING IT ON, a smash hit Broadway Musical is now coming to the UK. Inspired by the film of the same name, Bring It On The Musical takes you on a high-flying, energy fuelled journey which tackles friendship, jealousy, betrayal and forgiveness – wrapped up in explosive choreography and tricks.

Bring It On is produced by Selladoor Productions (Flashdance, Avenue Q) and written by Tony Award Winners Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton), Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q) Tom Kitt (Grease Live) and lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity).

The smash-hit 90s movie My Best Friend’s Wedding is a brand new musical comedy starring the talented Alexandra Burke, who recently wowed Alhambra audiences with her performance in The Bodyguard, and has also starred on stage in Chicago and Sister Act.

My Best Friend’s Wedding features some of the most iconic pop anthems ever written by the legendary Burt Bacharach and Hal David, including I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, Walk on By, I Say A Little Prayer, What’s New Pussycat and many, many more.

The musical will have a book by Ronald Bass (My Best Friend’s Wedding, Rain Man, and The Joy Luck Club) and Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing, Gimme Gimme Gimme, and Coronation Street). Recommended age 12+

Sunny Afternoon the multi Olivier Award winning musical returns to Bradford following a phenomenal two years in the West End and a sensational hit tour across the UK and Ireland in 2016.

With music and lyrics by Ray Davies, book by Joe Penhall and direction by Edward Hall, experience the faultless musicianship and brilliant songs played live and loud on stage including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, All Day and All of the Night, Lola, Sunny Afternoon and many more.

BRAND NEW PRODUCTION COMPANY represent. ANNOUNCES THEIR INAUGURAL SEASON

Brand-new theatre company represent., is today announced with a mission to increase access to the industry for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds*. Inspired by the repertory model, represent. will offer six 18–30 year olds an acting apprenticeship where they can develop their craft on the job, earning a London living wage. 

represent.’s inaugural season includes the European première of Stephen Jeffreys’ Interruptions adapted and directed by Guy Woolf with movement direction fromComplicité’s Kasia Zaremba-Byrne and Annabel Arden, HMP Macbeth written by Darren Raymond after William Shakespeare and directed by Karen Tomlin, and Albatross written by Isley Lynn and directed by Jess Edwards. In connection with Albatross, Abigail Sewell will present Repfest; a festival of post-show work including poetry, live music and new writing from emerging artists with further details to be announced. 

Creative Director of Represent Guy Woolf said today, “Represent is a new repertory company dedicated to redressing the socioeconomic imbalance in the industry. For our very first season we are so excited to present a diverse programme of 3 plays in a diverse set of venues , performed back to back, that will greatly challenge our cast of 6, who appear in each play while they rehearse the next one during the day! We are working with an extraordinary creative team, presenting two professional premières by Darren Raymond and Isley Lynn and a European première of a play by Stephen Jeffreys. We are also presenting repfest., programmed by Abigail Sewell, a festival of work by emerging artists to celebrate the launch of our bold initiative. Timely, disruptive and powerful: welcome to represent theatre!”

represent. is also working alongside Mousetrap Theatre projects to provide open rehearsals and workshops for schools, as well as releasing a limited amount of £5 tickets for under 25s for each show.

EUROPEAN PREMIÈRE

INTERRUPTIONS

Written by Stephen Jeffreys, adapted for six actors by Guy Woolf

Director: Guy Woolf; Movement Director: Kasia Zaremba-Byrne Lighting Designer: Jai Morjaria Sound Designer: Charlotte Bickley Designer: Catherine Morgan; Associate Artist: Annabel Arden 

1 April – 18 April

At Jacksons Lane Theatre, Highgate 

“I like to read about the comedy of the world. But there is no point any more in taking part. I believe in nothing.”

Interruptions shows an imaginary country preparing for an election, undergoing a military coup, and then living through the consequences. Originally devised by Annabel Arden and Stephen Jeffreys, represent.presents its UK première with a new adaptation for a smaller cast. 

In her introduction to the collection Stephen Jeffreys: Plays (Nick Hern Books, 2018), Jeffreys’ wife Annabel Arden writes: ‘[Interruptions] sprang from [Stephen’s] fascination with the Japanese aesthetic principle of Jo-ha-kyu and his desire to create a particular narrative form to express our struggles with democracy and leadership.’ It asks the questions: Do we need to be led? How do we decide who leads? and What happens when there are no leaders?’

Stephen Jeffreys (1950 – 2018)was an internationally-acclaimed playwright and winner of the Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright. His theatre credits include The Clink (Paines Plough), The Libertine (Royal Court Theatre), A Jovial Crew (Royal Shakespeare Company), A Going Concern (Hampstead Theatre), I Just Stopped by to See the Man (Royal Court Theatre) and Bugles at the Gates of Jalalabad (Tricycle Theatre). For film his credits include The Libertine and Diana.

Guy Woolf is an actor, director and composer. Previous credits as an actor include 3 Guys Naked From The Waist Down (Finborough Theatre), Thrill Me (The English Theatre of Hamburg/Jermyn Street Theatre) and Becoming Electra (The Roundhouse/UK tour). He plays Electra in Cabaret Troupe Denim (Soho Theatre/Arts Theatre/Glastonbury), with TV credits including Trigonometry (BBC 2). His credits as a composer include Great Again (Tristan Bates Theatre/Vault Festival). 

HMP MACBETH 

Written by Darren Raymond after William Shakespeare

Director: Karen Tomlin; Lighting Designer: Jai Morjaria; Sound Designer: Charlotte Bickley 

Designer: Catherine Morgan 

29 April – 16 May 

At Waterloo East Theatre

“Read your bible and say your prayers and it won’t be long till you’re home. Remember, angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.”

HMP Macbeth reimagines this classic, dispensing with king and castle, in a prison where institutional syndrome descends on the inmates.

Originally devised and written by Darren Raymond with Intermission Youth Theatre, based on Raymond’s experience, HMP Macbeth’s is an atmospheric, horrifying and immersive production.

Darren Raymond is the Artistic Director of Intermission Youth Theatre which was established in 2006. His credits include Shakespeare Walks, Sonnet Sunday and Voices in the Dark (Shakespeare’s Globe). He is a member of RSC’s Education Advisory Committee. 

Karen Tomlin is a director. Her previous credits includeThe Tempest (East 15),Not Bound Within (Albany Theatre), Stars in the Morning, Merchant of Venice (Fourth Monkey), Streets (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Our Four Walls, Doors, The Bear (Ovalhouse), The Wish Collector, Bye Bye Planet Earth (Unicorn Theatre), Yerma Response (Gate Theatre), De Botty Business (Hackney Empire/UK tour), Short and High (Shoreditch Town Hall), Three of Four the Bonnington Group (Arcola Theatre), The Gift (Cockpit Theatre), Skin Deep (Almeida Theatre) and A Light Swell (Bridewell Theatre).

WORLD PREMIÈRE

ALBATROSS 

Written by Isley Lynn

Director Jess Edwards; Lighting Designer: Jai Morjaria; Sound Designer: Charlotte Bickley 

Designer: Catherine Morgan

27 May – 13 June 

At The Smiths at The Vaults, Waterloo 

“It’s not just the choice

It’s never just the choice

Choice is a fairy-tale.”

Tattoos are forever. Almost. And at Noodle Soup Tattoo there are strict rules: No names unless they’re dead. Nothing on the face. Nothing you might get sued for later.

When Jodie, a rough sleeper, asks for a free tattoo from apprentice Kit, her request is well within the guidelines. But Kit is still unsure, because they know only too well that getting inked isn’t the only decision that stays with you for the rest of your life.

Albatross is a small but sweeping story about the past refusing to stay in the past.

Isley Lynn is a playwright. Her previous credits include Skin A Cat (Vault Festival/The Bunker/UK tour), Sleight of Hand (Theatre503/Arcola Theatre/Gate Theatre), What’s So Special (The Royal Court), Lean (Tristan Bates Theatre), Bright Nights (The Space) and Sie Und Wir (Werk X). 

Jess Edwards is a director. Herprevious theatre credits include Fitter (Soho Theatre), Hotter (Underbelly / Soho Theatre), Passengers (Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018 – Winner of Summerhall Lustrum Award), Sparks (Vaults / Pleasance), Nacktsängerin (BKA Theater Berlin), Denim: World Tour (Soho Theatre / Underbelly), Punts (Theatre503), Torch (Latitude / Edinburgh Festival 2016), Haters Make You Famous (Almeida Theatre), Queering Marlowe (Duke of York’s Theatre), The Box (Latitude / Theatre Delicatessen), The Itinerant Music Hall (Lyric Hammersmith / Watford Palace / Greenwich+Docklands International Festival / Latitude), and Jekyll & Hyde (Southwark Playhouse / Assembly Edinburgh).

REPFEST

Curated by Abigail Sewell

1 June – 13 June 

The Vaults 

A festival of work post-show, celebrating emerging artists and marginalised voices. Repfest will platform artists from a variety of disciplines in this unique space under the arches in Waterloo. A ticket to Albatross guarantees you a seat for the Repfest show that night!

Abigail Sewell is a director. Her credits include The Lost Ones (Ovalhouse), PYNEAPPLE (Bunker Theatre), Never Forget (Tristan Bates Theatre), Heard (Camden People’s Theatre). Credits as assistant director include The Merchant of Venice (RSC), Pah-La (Royal Court), Rosenbaum’s Rescue (Park Theatre), Things of Dry Hours (Young Vic). 

*represent. measures socioeconomic status using the civil service guide, more details found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/768371/Measuring_Socio-economic_Background_in_your_Workforce__recommended_measures_for_use_by_employers.pdf

Partnership with Darwin Escapes helps Birmingham Hippodrome stage more Relaxed Performances in 2020 to give everyone the magical experience of live theatre

Birmingham Hippodrome has announced the renewal of a long-term four year partnership with the national holiday homes and rental company Darwin Escapeswhich will support the theatre’s relaxed performances in 2020.

Birmingham Hippodrome’s relaxed performances are open to all, but are created for people with special needs who may find the theatre challenging, to support them to enjoy the magic of live theatre with their family and friends. This includes people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, learning disability or sensory and communication disorder. For these special performances, the script may be adapted, bright lights and loud noises reduced, and the Hippodrome provides calm spaces in the main building with beanbags, sensory toys and a space to watch the show on screens outside of the main auditorium.

A relaxed performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will take place on Wednesday 29 January and has already sold out over two months in advance. The sparkling production stars Birds of a Feather’s Lesley Joseph as The Wicked Queen, Hippodrome panto favourite Matt Slack as Muddles, X Factor winner Joe McElderry as The Spirit of The Mirror and Coronation Street’s Faye Brookes as Snow White.

Judith Greenburgh, Head of Partnerships & Events at Birmingham Hippodrome, said: “As an independent charity, without partnership support, we wouldn’t be able to create these wonderful experiences. Our programme of relaxed performances grows every year and we are thrilled to be working with Darwin Escapes again.

Staff members from Darwin Escapes will also be volunteering at the relaxed performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to welcome and support audiences.

James Penney of Darwin Escapes added: “I am delighted to be continuing our partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome which offers a wonderfully diverse programme of arts and entertainment. The partnership provides an opportunity for Darwin Escapes to engage with the local community alongside an organisation which also provides unforgettable experiences.

 “Darwin Escapes aims to carve memories for life across its holiday resorts and I have no doubt that working with the Hippodrome will ensure we both continue to leave a lasting impression on our customers.”

As an independent charity, Birmingham Hippodrome relies on the generous support of the public to deliver Hippodrome Projects; a programme of indoor and outdoor live performance, community work and transformational learning projects.

If you would like to find out more about how you can support Birmingham Hippodrome, please visit https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/giveandjoin/