NEWS: Peter Pan to be streamed online from tomorrow - Chickenshed Theatre Company, London.

Peter Pan

Friday 29 January at 7pm

 

To view the premiere please visit https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/peter-pan-youtube-premiere and a link will take you to our YouTube channel and the video, or you can directly visit Chickenshed’s YouTube channel here: Peter Pan video available 29 January at 7pm.

The video will remain on our YouTube Channel indefinitely so if you are unable to watch on Friday 29 January at 7pm, please log on at a convenient date and time to view.

 

Chickenshed is delighted to bring our magical 2014 show, Peter Pan to you, directly in your own home via our YouTube Channel. The perfect way to brighten up a dreary winter's day.

“Full of charm and spectacle”   4**** The Stage

 

Wendy Darling loves telling her brothers bedtime stories of the dastardly pirate Captain Hook and the heroic Peter Pan, and the children’s imaginations become reality when Peter flies into their nursery one starry night. Together they fly to a mysterious, magical land where children never grow up, fairies truly exist and blood thirsty pirates really roam the seas.

Join Peter, Wendy, Tinkerbell and the Lost Children on an exhilarating adventure as they take on the wicked Captain Hook and his pirates, determined to save Neverland and all that they believe in. First shown as the finale to our 40th Festival Year back in 2014, Peter Pan is the perfect adventure for children - and adults who never grew up!

Chickenshed’s famously large and amazingly diverse cast will tell this much-loved family favourite with infectious music, song and dance that will captivate everyone.

 

Sign language is integrated into the performance.

The premiere is captioned.

 

 

Cast:

Peter Pan – Sebastian Gonzalez

Mr Darling/Captain Hook – Joseph Morton

Mrs Darling – Belinda McGuirk

Nana - Jelena Budimir

Cerys Lambert – Wendy

Tinkerbell – Georgina Jacobs

Peter’s Shadow – Loren Jacobs

The Lost Boys – Daniel Banton and Michael Bossisse

 

Production team

Creative Directors: Dave Carey, Jonathan Morton, Christine Niering and Louise Perry

Musical Director: Dave Carey

Choreography: Christine Niering with Robin Shillinglaw and Dina Williams

Set Design: Keith Dunne

Costume Design: Graham Hollick

Lighting Design: Andrew Caddies

Sound Design: Phil Haines

Production Manager: Zeeta Jacobs

NEWS: Daddy Long Legs to be streamed online for Valentines - The Barn Theatre, Cirencester.

THE BARN THEATRE PRODUCTION OF THE MUSICAL DADDY LONG LEGS TO BE STREAMED ONLINE

The Barn Theatre have announced today that they will be releasing an archive recording of their 2019 Built by Barn production of the musical Daddy Long Legs for a limited number of dates over the Valentine’s Day and February half term weekends.

The Built by Barn production, which stars Ryan Bennett (Jersey Boys, The Importance of Being Earnest) as Jervis Pendleton and Rebecca Jayne-Davies (Half a Sixpence, Singing in the Rain) as Jerusha Abbott, originally ran at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester from 2 October – 2 November 2019 and marked the first time that a UK theatre had produced the Drama Desk award-winning musical.

 

Daddy Long Legs is set in turn-of-the-century New England and tells the story of orphan Jerusha Abbott and her mysterious benefactor who agrees to send her to college, who she dubs ‘Daddy Long Legs’ after seeing his elongated shadow.

 

With a score of stunning musical numbers, Daddy Long Legs is the tale of two lives colliding and unfolding through Jerusha’s letters addressing her Daddy Long Legs, working as an insight into her innermost thoughts of the world. Daddy Long Legs is an uplifting piece of theatre that questions identity whilst highlighting the importance of education, imagination and love.

 

The award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon and a book by John Caird, is based on the classic novel by Jean Webster that inspired the 1955 film starring Fred Astaire. The production is directed by Kirstie Davis, with set and costume design by Gregor Donnelly, musical direction by Charlie Ingles, lighting design by Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner, sound design by Harry Smith. The onstage band comprises of Alex Crawford, Rosalind Ford and Charlie Ingles.

 

The recording has been produced by post-production lead editor Ben Evans and post-production sound designer Harry Smith.

 

The recording will be available internationally on the following select dates and times (in GMT):

 

• Friday 12th Feb - 7:30pm
• Sat 13th Feb - 10am & 7:30pm
• Sun 14th Feb - 5:30pm
• Friday 19th Feb - 7:30pm
• Sat 20th Feb - 10am & 7:30pm
• Sun 21st Feb - 5:30pm

 

This latest digital announcement follows the Barn Theatre’s recent acclaimed stream runs of both their productions of Marry Me A Little and Peter Pan, both directed by Kirk Jameson, and their critically acclaimed digital co-production of Henry Filloux-Bennett’s adaptation of What a Carve Up!, directed by Tamara Harvey.

 

The Barn Theatre also recently announced that they would be reuniting with the team behind What a Carve Up! to co-produce a contemporary adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic The Picture of Dorian Gray, once again written by Henry Filloux-Bennett and directed by Tamara Harvey. The production will run from 16-31 March 2020 and will star Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch) in the title role.

 

Tickets for the production at the Barn Theatre are now on sale internationally at £12 and can be purchased at barntheatre.org.uk/barn-at-home.

NEWS: Manchester-based outdoor performance specialists, 'Without Walls' continues to grow, despite COVID.

Without Walls grows its collaborative network for the Outdoor Arts, helping to counter the challenges posed by Covid-19

Without Walls, a unique network of over 30 festivals that brings fantastic outdoor arts to people across the UK, opens 2021 by welcoming three new partners: Timber Festival, Certain Blacks and The Culture House. With collaboration at the heart of Without Walls’ work, this national network aims to raise the artistic bar of the Outdoor Arts - an industry that is paramount as we anticipate moving beyond Covid-19.

Collaboration during Covid-19 is more vital than ever for the survival of the arts; the Without Walls Artistic Directorate includes the UK’s most highly regarded outdoor arts and performance specialists who, in 2021, will invest over £650k to support artists to develop and tour ambitious new outdoor projects. This process, spearheaded by the Artistic Directorate, ensures an influx of new shows for the Outdoor Arts sector.

Certain Blacks are joining the Artistic Directorate this year - an arts development organisation that was formed to support the growth of diverse artists. They present performance, live art, music and theatre from the creative voices of our diverse society, aiming to challenge the norms of performance and what is seen as diverse.  Certain Blacks showcases art from the ‘margins into the mainstream’ and work this year will explore ideas around our post-pandemic nation and the idea of being ‘British’ following Brexit and Black Lives Matters.

Also new to the Artistic Directorate is Timber Festival – it is an immersive and revitalising festival that takes place in the heart of the National Forest celebrating our relationship with trees and forests through music, art and ideas.  For one weekend in July, new thinkers, activists, makers, artists, musicians and writers will gather to play, provoke and inspire our complex and rewarding relationship with the natural world.  Timber offers the chance to recharge and reconnect.  Run by Wild Rumpus, a rural social enterprise working at the intersection of arts and nature, Timber explores their founding principles to take audiences outdoors to reimagine their relationship with the world around them, using the arts to help imagine a more sustainable future.  Timber is a joint venture between the National Forest Company and Wild Rumpus.

Without Walls also work with partners who are dedicated to creating an appetite for outdoor arts in communities without regular arts activity and low levels of cultural engagement, such as The Culture House who are joining the Touring Network Partnership branch of the organisation in 2021.  Based in Grimsby, The Culture House aim to positively impact on everyday life by presenting work in a wide range of indoor and outdoor local spaces.  Other new partners who have recently joined the Without Walls network include The Arches Festivals in Worcester and Historic England. This increasing geographical reach reflects Without Walls’ growing impact.

Outdoor work has never been more important as the entire arts industry seeks to rebuild confidence in audiences wanting to attend events.  Without Walls leads excellence in outdoor arts – commissioning work from the intimate to the epic, which tours to reach large, diverse and new audiences across the country and internationally.  The consortium makes high-quality arts experiences accessible to all regardless of personal, social or economic circumstances.

Josephine Burns, Chair of Without Walls, comments, Without Walls is an undeniable success story for the UK Outdoor Arts sector; our collective decision-making model has led to pioneering outdoor work being presented across the country for free. We are delighted to welcome our new partners to Without Walls - these appointments continue to broaden our collective voice and expertise to ensure our work can be even more transformative on a local, regional and national level.

The Without Walls 2021 programme, to be announced in March, will be their biggest to date showing the innovation and resilience of those working in the Outdoor Arts sector.  Many consider Outdoor Arts to be one of the safest ways to experience arts, and a way to restart cultural recovery.  Without Walls have engaged a dedicated Covid-safety production manager who worked with artists at GDIF in 2020 (the first and one of the only festivals to go ahead) – and is continuing to work with artists to ensure shows are safe for presentation.  2021 is a year to break boundaries and ensure hungry audiences have access to the arts, in the safest way possible – outdoors!

NEWS: Starting on Monday, 'Late Night Staring At High Res Pixels'; a series of theatrical asides streamed daily for free on YouTube.

Sarah Lawrie for Aegis Productions in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre present: Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels A series of asides streamed daily on YouTube Written by Athena Stevens | Directed by Lily McLeish Hosted on the Finborough Theatre YouTube Channel as part of #FinboroughForFree 1 February – 1 April 2021 “Athena Stevens’ excellent new play… provocative, smart and calls out its liberal audience” «««« Rosemary Waugh, Time Out  (on Scrounger) @LateNightStare | #FinboroughForFree | www.aegisproductions.co.uk

A new play repurposed for online viewing from the creative team behind Scrounger, and the first of the Finborough Theatre’s #FinboroughForFree original online content, new for every month during 2021.

Two women. One photograph. A young woman sends a topless selfie to her boyfriend as a bit of flirtatious fun. When he shows it to his best friend for a laugh, he can’t imagine her having any other reaction. But what starts out as a joke soon turns into an accusation of something much darker. At what point does admiration become a form of control? How do we say ‘stop’ when it becomes apparent that we are complicit in hurting other women? If someone you know to be a good person, starts to prove themselves otherwise, how do you walk away?

Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels explores the issue of assumed consent and how it contributes to a culture of complicity and control towards women. Men have long held power in relationships with tools that have no name; this story aims to identify those methods.

Writer and performer Athena Stevens says “The events that led me to write this play were the same events that made me become a feminist and to work for the Women’s Equality Party. I suddenly had the realisation that I was expected to follow a script in my relationships, one that was inevitably harmful to other women. Oppression is always dependent on silence. I refuse to be a cog in the machine built to oppress women.”

Presented in 28 separate episodes, Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels will be streamed daily at 6pm from 1 February 2021 via the Finborough Theatre’s YouTube channel, culminating in a recording of the whole play which will be available from 1 March until 1 April 2021. 

As part of the Finborough Theatre’s #FinboroughForFree initiative, the theatre will be releasing a new work every month during our closure to watch online for free. Following our successful release of archive recordings during 2020, the Finborough Theatre is now moving into original content for 2021. For more information about this and other Finborough Theatre productions currently available to stream online, visit the Finborough Theatre website at www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk

Follow the Finborough Theatre on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the YouTube channel for more updates about future #FinboroughForFree releases.

Running Time: episodes around 7mins each, 28 episodes in total | Suitable for ages 14+

Company information

Written by Athena Stevens       Directed by Lily McLeish

Designed by Anna Reid            Lighting by Anthony Doran       Music and Sound by Julian Starr

Presented by Sarah Lawrie for Aegis Productions in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre. 

 

Cast

Athena Stevens
Evelyn Lockley

Listings information

Daily episodes 1 – 28 February 2021

Full film available 1 March – 1 April 2021

All available via the Finborough Theatre YouTube Channel as part of  #FinboroughForFree

Simultaneously streamed with subtitles on Scenesaver

Episodes streamed at 6pm daily
Free | www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk

Supported by Arts Council England

NEWS: Luca Silvestrini's 'May Contain Food' to be streamed online in February.

Luca Silvestrini’s Protein presents:  May Contain Food  Recreating their feast for the senses for a home audience, Protein serves up its dance and singing fusion complete with tasting menu  Conceived and created by Luca Silvestrini and Orlando Gough    Directed by Luca Silvestrini | Music by Orlando Gough  Premiering on King’s Place’s KPlayer 12 February at 7pm  Available until midnight, 21 February  Live chat room with Luca Silvestrini and Orlando Gough during the premiere screening on 12 February at 7pm

“Lip-smacking fusion of song, dance, mime and sweet aperitif tomatoes.” Guardian
“A yummy night!” The Stage 

For the first time online, Protein will be presenting the original May Contain Food, a witty piece of dance and music theatre that will provoke thinking on the sensory, cultural and social implications of food. Filmed at The Place in 2016, four vocalists and four dancers all sing for their supper, whilst at home audiences can follow along by preparing and indulging in a tasting menu just like the dining audience in the recording. Some courses feature simple ingredients such as a cherry tomato and a ball of rice, whilst adventurous audiences seeking a full sensory experience can have a go at Orlando Gough’s own recipe of aromatic sticky ginger pudding to bake during the viewing and consume at the end. The show will be accompanied by an introduction from choreographer Luca Silvestrini and composer Orlando Gough and on the 12^th February, a live chat room will be available for those who wish to converse with the pair over supper. 

From savouring simplicity, to the communal act, to touching on the moral dilemma of vegetarianism, the show weaves through the cultural significance of eating. Luca Silvestrini and Orlando Gough collaborated closely so that all movement is composed and music choreographed and performed a cappella, creating an immersive experience of indulgence, nostalgia and mischief. The show originally toured in 2016, and the adapted versions May Contain Food May Contain You and May Contain You toured to village halls and care homes in the following years. Food, an acclaimed Italian adaptation of May Contain Food May Contain You produced in 2018 by Marche Teatro has been touring throughout Italy. 

Speaking about the show Luca Silvestrini said: “Screening May Contain Food, as an opportunity to literally taste a show from home, has been in my thoughts since the first lockdown in 2020. So here we are, the show is served, and I really hope people will enjoy prepping, cooking and tasting our thought provoking and delicious food-based show from the comfort of their homes.” 

Helen Wallace, Artistic Director at Kings Place said: “We are so delighted to host May Contain Food on our KPlayer streaming platform, an ideal sensory feast for audiences during lockdown, combining the ear-tingling vocal music of Orlando Gough, the beguiling choreography of Silvestrini – and sticky ginger pudding!” 

Formed in 1997 and currently one of the most distinctive voices in British dance theatre, Luca Silvestini’s Protein uses a blend of original choreography, humour and music to entertain and provoke audiences. The company’s idiosyncratic dance theatre is provoked by the everyday and its repertoire includes the award-winning LOL (lots of love), which has toured extensively since its 2011 debut, Border Tales, which peels back stereotypes about multicultural Britain, and the award-winning The Little Prince. Protein was awarded the Critic’s Circle National Dance Award for Best Independent Dance Company 2011 and was nominated again in 2016. 

Orlando Gough is a composer (and sometimes lyricist, librettist, music director, MC, recording engineer, cookery writer), who writes operas, choral music, music-theatre, music for dance and theatre, and creates large-scale site-specific work.  

Kings Place is a multi-arts venue, situated within 5 minutes’ walk of King’s Cross-St Pancras, presenting an adventurous and award-winning programme, with words and music at its heart. It takes in three concert halls, Pangolin London sculpture gallery, Pangolin’s Kings Place Gallery, Green & Fortune Café and the canal-side Rotunda Restaurant. Working to a collaborative model, the venue curates regular series and festivals with a host of artistic associates throughout the year. It’s a place where many audiences belong, a place where people connect with their passion and no-one is lost in the crowd. 

Kings Place was developed from a generous act of philanthropy; world-class conferences support the independently-funded arts programme. Driven by a belief that arts and culture are a fundamental part of a thriving city, the venue presents work that is as vibrant and diverse as its location. 

Kings Place has Good to Go accreditation as a Covid-safe venue and operated socially-distanced events successfully during 2020. The venue is currently running a digital programme on its KPlayer platform. 

Kings Place, the cultural pulse of King’s Cross. 

@proteindance | #Protein21 | #MayContainFood | www.proteindance.co.uk  

Running Time: 90 mins | Suitable for ages 12 + (contains mild swearing) 

Listings info 

12^th February 7pm, available until midnight 21^st February 

www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/contemporary/may-contain-food-online-streaming-event/ 

£9.50 

Company Information 

Conceived and created by Luca Silvestrini and Orlando Gough  

Devised and performed by 

Sonya Cullingford, Martin George, Carl Harrison, Michael Henry, Saara Hurme, Donna Lennard, Louise Sofield, Matthew Winston  

Additional material devised by
Jeremy Avis, Sara Black, Jonathan Glew, Antonia Grove, Sally Marie, Melanie Pappenheim, Peter Willcock, Jonathan Williams 

Directed by Luca Silvestrini                 Music by Orlando Gough 

Designed by Yann Seabra                  Lighting by Jackie Shemesh
Music Director Michael Henry             Assistants to the Director Eryck Brahmania, Valentina Golfieri
Production Manager Rachel Shipp     Assistant Stage Manager Amy McLean
Recipes Orlando Gough 

NEWS: The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster thrilled to be a partner venue for online production of 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray'.

Fionn Whitehead to Star in New Digital Production of The Picture of Dorian Gray 

 

The Dukes in Lancaster are set to be a partner venue for a brand-new online production of The Picture of Dorian Gray, a modern adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s classic. 

 

The Picture of Dorian Gray, which runs for two weeks from 16-31 March, will reunite the creative team behind What a Carve Up! with Henry Filloux-Bennett writing the new adaptation with direction by Tamara Harvey. 

  

Fionn Whitehead, star of Dunkirk and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, will take on the titular role in the upcoming contemporary digital adaptation.  

 

Most recently seen starring in the Lionsgate and Saban Films’ Don’t Tell A Soul, Fionn Whitehead is best known for his critically acclaimed performance as the protagonist Tommy in Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award nominated war film, Dunkirk. 

 

The Picture of Dorian Gray, from the team behind the celebrated digital production of What a Carve Up!, is set to push the theatrical form like its predecessor; utilising elements found in radio plays, films, documentaries as well as traditional theatrical techniques. 

 

Set in a profile pic-obsessed, filter-fixated world where online and reality blur, influencer Dorian Gray makes a deal. For his social star never to fade. For the perfect self he broadcasts to the world to always remain. But as his mental health starts to decline, as corruption and murderous depravity start to creep into his world, the true and horrific cost of his deal will soon need to be met. 

 

On being reunited for this new production Henry Filloux-Bennett and Tamara Harvey commented, “So many of us have found ourselves living in an ever more online world over the last year. But the benefits and the connections digital have offered us come with a darker side - deterioration in mental health, isolation, online manipulation to name just a few. Following ‘What a Carve Up!’ we really wanted to explore what would happen if you brought Oscar Wilde’s Faustian tale kicking and screaming into a world of Instagram, Facebook and dating apps.” 

 

The Barn Theatre in Cirencester, the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield and the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich will return to co-produce The Picture of Dorian Gray with Oxford Playhouse in Oxfordshire and Theatr Clwyd in Mold joining the collaboration as co-producers. 

 

The production will be available internationally, running until 31 March. More information and tickets can be found at www.dukeslancaster.org/the-picture-of-dorian-gray with audience members receiving a screening link which will activate on their booked performance date for a 48-hour period.  

 

Tickets are priced at £12 which will include both a link to the production as well as a digital programme. Audio description and closed captioning will be made available for the production during its run.  

 

The show is advised for audiences aged 16 and over. 

NEWS: Call-out for over 50s in Bolton.

Call-out for over 50s in Bolton 

The Octagon needs your ideas as part of their ReAct programme 

The Octagon Theatre are launching a call-out for Community Creators as part of their ReAct initiative and are looking for ideas from people in Bolton aged 50+. Building upon the theatre’s already strong grounding of older people’s engagement work, ReAct is a National Lottery funded project working with over 50s in Bolton to set up new arts activities and help them become leaders in creating engagement work for their own age range. 

As part of the project the Octagon are looking for Community Creators, and want to hear from anyone who may have a creative idea to make a positive change in their community, and help keep connected during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 

The venue welcomes any ideas that can make a difference to people’s lives, from suggestions for online wellbeing workshops, possible hobby clubs and societies, to ways to get creative outdoors. 

Since ReAct launched earlier this year it has successfully developed the ReAct Music Sessions with Bolton Dementia Support – a series of fun and relaxed music sessions for those living with dementia, and ReAct Theatre Club – a fun and informal space for over 50s to watch, read and discuss theatre.

ReAct Producer, Caitlin Gleeson said: “The main aim of ReAct is to use creativity to reduce isolation and improve wellbeing for over 50s in Bolton. When we launched this project we had no idea the challenges that lay ahead with the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is more important than ever to ensure we stay connected with those who may be struggling in the current climate. We would love to hear any ideas you have that could be developed into projects to enrich and uplift the lives of the people of Bolton. You don’t need to have any experience in making projects happen, just a passion for your community. You might have a fully formed plan or your idea might just be a spark of inspiration. Whatever stage you’re at, get in touch! We’ll provide bespoke support, and we’ll make sure that all activities comply with current social distancing guidelines.” 

For anyone with an idea and interested in becoming a Community Creator please contact Caitlin with the below information:

Either send via email to caitlin.gleeson@octagonbolton.co.uk or call 07930 689292 – please note this phone is available between 9.30am - 5.30pm, Monday - Wednesday, but please leave a voicemail outside these times. 

Due to limited resources the Octagon will not be able to support every idea but will be in touch with everyone who applies and will support as many as possible.

NEWS: Award-winning play, 'Who Cares', to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

Award-winning play, Who Cares, to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4

      

The award-winning play, Who Cares, will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Tues 9 February 2021.

The play, a gripping verbatim theatre production, was made alongside young people and based on two years of interviews offering a rare insight into the lives of young carers in Salford.

The play aims to help identify ‘hidden’ young carers in society and signpost them to support available through local young carers services, as well as raise awareness amongst those who interact with young people on a daily basis.

Who Cares was written by Matt Woodhead and co-produced by The Lowry and LUNG in partnership with Gaddum. It was funded by Arts Council England, Curious Minds and the Oglesby Charitable Trust.

For more information about the play, visit: https://whocarestour.org.uk/

Who Cares has also been adapted into a filmed education resource for school, which will be released in schools in Summer 2021 and the Who Cares Campaign, launched in 2019, has been working throughout the pandemic to support young carers.