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Company number: 3724349
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Past programme
Showcases an eclectic range of fresh and interesting contemporary work, largely by emerging artists
Blue Cloud Scratch
Blue Cloud Scratch is an exciting new dance scratch night, showcasing works in progress from a diverse range of choreographers, and is curated by Blue Elephant Theatre and Cloud Dance Festival. Blue Cloud Scratch aims to encourage and provide emerging dance artists with opportunities to present their works in progress and receive feedback from audiences and peers.
For more about the Blue Cloud Scratch and Cloud Dance Festival, click here.
The Left Hand Path - Lucy Palmer Dance
Walking through life with socially acceptable masks, pulling the veil across each urge we choose to suppress. The Left Hand Path will explore the dark side of the psyche through an intrinsically woven male trio. Three bodies in space discovering their shadow side, unable and unwilling to accept the animalistic nature, envy and rage.
Lucy Palmer's choreographic work includes: 140BPM, The Latest Pair of Jimmy Choo’s, To See, Scratch Mark and How am I not myself? These have been presented at: The Crypt Gallery, The Place, and Woking Dance Umbrella. Lucy achieved her MA in Choreography from Middlesex University mentored by Christopher Bannerman, Emilyn Claid and Angela Woodhouse.
Choreographer: Lucy Palmer
Performers: Joey Barton, Harry Parr and Riley Wolf
Photo credit: Yulia Antonov
Wom(b)an – Mητ(έ)ρα - Despina Mavrou
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Woman – mother – creator.
In the UK, 1 in 5 women are likely to have a hysterectomy by the age of 60. What does it mean to have/not have a womb and how is one's identity affected by it? Exploring the ways a body can create, the loss of the ability to create life enables the creation of this piece.
Choreographer & Performer: Despina Mavrou
Despina Mavrou is artistic director and co-founder of Piece by Piece dance company. She trained in classical, modern and contemporary techniques and choreography in Cyprus and London. Despina's choreography is concerned with issues that affect her personally, as well as societal matters that affect women widely, and tries (and occasionally succeeds) to inject some light-heartedness and humour into her work.
This solo was created through a one year residency at Space@Clarence Mews, with mentoring and support from Caroline Salem.
Photo credit: Despina Mavrou
Living is Dancing - Justine Reeve and Company
Living is dancing explores the desire that dancers have for finding performance work, voyeuristically watching four dancers trapped in the audition process. It embodies a time when you are at your most optimistic, naive, venerable, self-conscious but determined to spend a lifetime in dance, before you grasp that nettle. Performed by dancers from companies apprentice programme and aimed at KS3/KS4.
Choreographer: Justine Reeve
Performers: Xanthe Wilson, Hester Gill, Ella Fleetwood, Vicky Mead & Katherine Voget
Music composed by: Paul Sandrone
Voice: Justine Reeve
Film/photos: Jeremy Reeves
Justine Reeve and Company make work that reveals the diverse state of existence exploring the unhinged aspects of the human condition. There is an on-going exploration of the relationship between movement, text, music and comedy and how these forms can be used to reveal a mischievous and poignant expression. This has been revealed more recently in her irrepressible web series Smacks of Naff.
aLove Story - MCDC
Are we more devoted to gadgets than our loved ones, seeking positive reinforcement and emotional attachment from our phones in place of other human beings? aLove Story takes you on a journey we can all relate to. In a digital age, this piece explores the attachment love can bring.
Choreographer & performer: Michaela Cisarikova
Spoken word artist: Malin Smedhagen
Photo credit: Imoje Aikhoje
MCDC was founded by Artistic Director and Choreographer Michaela Cisarikova in 2014 in London. Commissions and other Performances include: Breaking Convention 2017 at Sadler’s Wells, Emerge Festival 2016, Resolution 2017, The Living Advent Calendar at Folkestone, East London Dance, Junction Dance, The Space Theatre, The Broadway Theatre, The Longfield Hall, Stara Arena (Czeck Republic), Dom Kultury Cadca (Slovakia), Nakuru Players Theatre (Kenya), Footprint Festival and others. MDCD’s mission is to challenge creativity; explore diversity and broaden audiences within dance.
Return to Troy - Sarah Louise Kristiansen
Return to Troy is inspired by Homer’s Odessey. In an abstract dreamlike state Ulyssus returns to a destroyed Troy, aware that in any war that is won, a loser also exists. The piece is inspired by current global political affairs which relates to Homer’s Odessey by sharing stories of belonging, displaced bodies and desolate memories.
Choreographer: Sarah Louise Kristiansen
Image credit: Muhannad Shono
Danish-born choreographer Sarah Louise Kristiansen has worked internationally in prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall, The Kremlin Theatre, The Gwangju Biennale, The ICA and has completed further training at Millennium Dance Studios and EDGE Pac in Los Angeles. Additionally she has spent time in the Shaolin Temple in China, researching Shaolin Wushu martial arts. Sarah Louise has travelled the world dancing and running successful projects globally, including with her company Making Dance Happen, which she decided to establish to promote community development through international research excursions for young artists.
Legends: Monsters, Mead & Mayhem
Viking survival guide:
Avoid the elves.
Avoid the dwarves.
Avoid the giants.
Definitely avoid all other humans.
Avoid both underworlds.
Whatever you do, DON’T offend the eagles.
Don’t enter game shows.
Remember cheese sandwiches for the sea monster.
Do not drink ANYTHING. Absolutely anything at all.
If truth be told, being slain in battle is advisable, but only if it’s heroic.
Best of luck
Thor
This is a work in progress performance by Hammer & Tongs Theatre who previously presented Arabian Nights and MYTHS at the Blue Elephant.
Praise for Hammer and Tongs' previous work:
"Wittily written and sharply performed...drawing its wry irreverent tone from classic comedy like Monty Python and Douglas Adams’ novels" - Euston Street Diaries (MYTHS)
★★★★"... a fun, fast-paced hour propelled by polished performances from the cast" - Everything Theatre (MYTHS)
★★★★ "So funny…the applause didn't stop" - Views From the Gods (Arabian Nights)
Reviews
Found in Translation
Found in Translation is a series of short plays drawn from theatrical storytelling workshops carried out by The Dot Collective at care centres in the South East.
Characters, places and poetry were created. Memories, music and thoughts were shared. These one hour workshops found many magical stories from the dynamic minds of the clients, regardless of age, disability or dementia. Playwrights Alexander Moschos and Hester Kent developed some of these ideas into this series of short plays.
These plays are collaboration between the many minds met during the workshops and the playwrights.
Reviews
1000 Pieces
Unscripted Theatre Company and Blue Elephant present a night showcasing London’s emerging actors and musicians.
From monologues to melodies, watch up-and-coming acts share bitesize performances…with the option to take to the stage yourself in the Open Mic section.
Unscripted Theatre Company are a new company who aim to support performers to take the next step in their careers, whether it be auditioning for drama school or jumping into professional work for the first time.
Join us on May 11th to discover the talent of tomorrow taking that next step.
Performers include Stefan Soweh, A'Evangalist, Benjamin Anthony, Paris Robin, Leane Henlon, Diany Samba, Nathaneal Dzenyo, Omolade Tiawo and Claude Driver.
Twelfth Night
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A horrific storm separates brother and sister, leaving Viola in an unknown land and needing to protect herself….by dressing up as a man?!
Expect live music, bold physicality and sharp comedy as Original Impact presents Shakespeare's most enduring cross-dressing comedy Twelfth Night in a brand new actor-muso production which bubbles with energy and youthfulness.
Original Impact return to the Blue Elephant with one of Shakespeare's most popular plays following the sell-out success of A Working Title last year.
Twelfth Night runs for approximately two hours including an interval
Tonight Saturday May 6th is now sold out.
Reviews
Trunkated
A showcase of excerpts and short works-in-progress of new material from London's most exciting artists across the arts.
Tickets are FREE and can be booked here.
A Performer Reads ‘The Hunger Artist’ by Franz Kafka
Can I tell you a story? It’s called ‘The Hunger Artist’ by Franz Kafka. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it interesting.
Dirty Rascals is a theatre and performance collective led by Pavlos Christodoulou and Jeremy Wong, and is one of New Diorama Theatre’s Graduate Emerging Companies 2017/18.
DEAD SOULS
An extract from DEAD SOULS, a contemporary reimagining of Gogol’s unfinished novel and epic satire of Russian society. The darkly hilarious story of Pavel Chichikov’s twisted quest to acquire as many dead serfs as he can in order to fraudulently mortgage them to the government. It is a tale about the power of the Capitalist system to turn human beings into numbers, and the ways in which cynical individuals exploit this - and end up eroding their own humanity in the process.
Monkhead Theatre is a new collaboration of writer Chloë Myerson and director Nico Pimparé.
Photo credit Sivan Lavie.
CRACK/ed
This play brings to light a unique perspective of the reality behind addiction using elements of dark humour and surrealism. Warden, a young single parent, is determined to fight to get addict son Ryan the treatment he needs before it’s too late. But can Ryan escape his past or will his toxic friendship with Simon dictate his future?
HiddenViewz is a collective of up and coming creatives - highlighting political and social issues through art and performance.
Director and Writer: Rachel Mervis. Cast: Lauren Coomber as Warden, Theo Ray as Ryan, Ash Howells as Simon and Blair Gyabaah as Clive. Photo credit HiddenViewz.
Quiet Pip
Pip is from Hastings. She’s cared for her mother since her father died. She’s worked in a local supermarket since she was 18. She’s now 23. By chance Pip comes across The Book of Disquiet by Portuguese poet Pessoa in her local library. Pessoa’s book sparks Pip to question her own disquiet and ask ‘why’?
The extract being explored on the night is near the later end of the play.
Photo Credit: Jo Gale
The Performance
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Iain Gibbons is embarking on a brand new solo show. Before its previews at the Wordsworth Fringe and Premiere at the Brighton Fringe, here is a sneak peek especially for the Blue Elephant Theatre.
Iain is just as excited to watch ‘The Performance’ as you are, so join him as he sits through the most spectacular, high-production piece of theatre he has ever seen. This Gaulier-trained performer, inspired by the silent clowns, plays the most annoying audience member you could ever wish to sit next to, inexperienced with the expected etiquette of theatre.
“Gibbons expressions [are] warm and full” ***** (New Current)
“Hilarious” (Wales Online)
there is nothing more public than privacy & The Goddess of Chocolate
Two dance pieces collaboratively investigate the secret lives and intimate spaces of public loneliness.
One research enquiry, two contrasting solos, co-existing in the same space.
A Truefitt Collective in collaboration with artist, Amy Toner, present to you there is nothing more public than privacy and The Goddess of Chocolate. Both choreographers have privately explored an approach towards ‘capturing intimacy’ within the female body. there is nothing more public than privacy tackles questions of public loneliness through a process of visually documenting women in their private and intimate states of being. The Goddess of Chocolate thematically focuses on the historical narratives between the relationship of women and chocolate. Simultaneously the work questions the private and public areas of the body: eating/digesting, inside/outside, covered/uncovered. Together we uncover private aspects of the female role in performance, questioning the private and public areas, inside and outside of the female body.
When the Dove Returns
The survivors of a flood have been stuck on a ship for thirty days. As the damage done to their world becomes clear, they have to find a way to rebuild their lives…How much humanity will we sacrifice when our lives are at stake?
This new, ambitious devised piece by Backpack Theatre combines touching observations and outrageous humour in a dynamic, physical piece that is sure to make the audience laugh, gasp and reflect.
Following their debut in 2016, with Bibs, Boats, Borders & B*stards about the refugee crisis, described as a “great first show”, “tear-jerking” and a “call for individuals to take greater responsibility”, Backpack Theatre stages a new call-to-arms piece about the long-term effects of our carelessness.
Contains some nudity. Recommended for ages 16+.
Reviews
Rounds
Kal is seriously considering sedating the next patient who asks to be treated by a proper English doctor. Dom just wants to get into the shower while there’s still hot water. Felicity is living for the weekend. Lucy got her last choice ward and feels like she’s drowning. Tom’s getting good at tuning everything out and would quite like to keep it that way. Grace is just looking for someone to feed her cat while she’s on call.
They all work in the hospital down the road from you.
Resuscitate present a collection of the sometimes funny, sometimes tragic true stories from the inside of the surgical mask. Follow the paths of six junior doctors as they struggle to balance the pressures of the ward against their personal lives.
Rounds features stunning physical work from Lecoq ensemble interwoven with projection and visual theatre.
Praise for Rounds
“Rounds is a lesson in vulnerability. Without vulnerability we will never learn and we will never recover.” Exeunt Theatre Magazine
"One of the most important things the show conveys is the psychological state of the Junior Doctors.” Female Arts
Recommended for ages 12+
Post Show discussion on Friday 24th March
Panel will include:
Resuscitate Theatre, Doctors Support Network, Creative Dissent and Docs not Cops
Reviews
Finding the Elephant's Tale: Writers' Event
The Blue Elephant invites emerging playwrights from South London to join us for an evening’s discussion about what we can do – with lots of goodwill but no budget – to support you as writers. We hope to establish a monthly writers’ group after this event so look out for further developments!
Tickets are free, but should be booked in advance here.
Oyster Boy
Follow the tale of Alice and Italian ice cream seller Jim, who fall in love strolling along the beach in a 1950's whirlwind romance. However, all is not as sweet as it seems when their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of their son Sam…a very unusual boy!
Based on the title story of The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy by Tim Burton, this bittersweet tale reminds us of the fragility of life and introduces us to a host of larger-than-life characters who are sure to entertain and delight. Oyster Boy is a multi-award-winning, international production mixing physical storytelling, clown, live singing, dance and puppetry.
Haste is an international, multi-disciplinary theatre ensemble based in London. The company seek to create visually impressive theatre, which provokes question, thought, laughter and enjoyment in a diverse audience through simple means. The company has produced and toured work in the U.K, U.S.A and Italy.
Reviews
Female Intuition
A scratch night presenting a selection of new plays, written and directed by women.
Knock Knock
“It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that leads him to evil ways.”
Something wants in.
What happens when we open the door?
You are going to see the first 20 minutes of Knock Knock, a full-length play currently in development. It looks at how we define our identity, gender politics and ghost stories. All feedback and criticism is very much welcome and encouraged.
Written by by Megan Jenkins
Directed by Katie Turner
Project Britain
“To be born British was to win first prize in the lottery of life” Cecil Rhodes
A week is a long time in politics. For teenagers a week is a long time in school. Voting numbers have been falling so the new Government has lowered the voting age to 16 and made it compulsory for students to learn politics. Mr Millstock has the democratic task of uniting his sixth formers in political debates ahead of their first vote at the polling station.
Written by Alexandria Anfield
Directed by Jessica Kearney
Big Girls Don't Cry
There are certain things that you shouldn't say when it comes to the awkward subject of death... Meet the women who say them all.
Kate and Claire just lost their mum. Well, they didn't lose her... She's dead.
And while they try and organise the send off that she may (or may not) deserve, they reflect on the impact that she had on their lives.
Join Kate, Claire and cousin Lou, as they break every social convention they come across, on dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Written by Laura Burrell
Directed by Megan Jenkins
Hold Still, This Won't Hurt
"They didn't brave showers of bullets, suffocating under the bulk of rabid men, the ulcerating heat of the desert, the jaws of the Mediterranean, hiding in the bellies of trucks - for you... What did they do to deserve you!?"
Kira is sixteen. She likes steak, loud music and slaying monsters in her sleep.
Kira is a hacktivist; a 21st Century Robin Hood.
She's taken down political parties, corporate giants and international criminals.
But what happens when the monster is far closer to home?
A new short play about retribution, loyalty and turning tables.
Hold Still, This Won't Hurt is written by Hannah Roe, whose previous work has been performed at the Park Theatre, London and HighTide Festival 2016. It is directed by Alexandria Anfield.
Reviews
Blue Cloud Scratch
Blue Cloud Scratch is an exciting new dance scratch night, showcasing works in progress from a diverse range of choreographers, and is curated by Blue Elephant Theatre and Cloud Dance Festival. Blue Cloud Scratch aims to encourage and provide emerging dance artists with opportunities to present their works in progress and receive feedback from audiences and peers.
For more about the Blue Cloud Scratch and Cloud Dance Festival, click here.
Maria Yacoob - Statue
Statue re-imagines the Greek myth of Heracles and the garden of the Hesperides, focusing on the emotional drama of the story. In the original myth, Heracles steals golden apples from the tree of the Hesperides by tricking their father, Atlas. In our dance Heracles steals the innocence of Atlas’ youngest daughter, Arethusa. Both Heracles and Arethusa are
punished for their transgression.
Maria Yacoob is a London-based choreographer and dance teacher. On stage, she works in opera, musical theatre and cabaret with credits including the Royal Festival Hall, Opera Holland Park and Blackheath Halls. On screen her credits include BBC drama and Sky One. M Dance is Maria’s new contemporary dance company. Its diverse performers come from acting, dancing, gymnastic and circus backgrounds. Its aim is to create highly physical and passionate work with a strong narrative drive.
Choreographed by Maria Yacoob
Performed by Celia Francis, Adrianna Pawlowska, Renato Dias, Tobias Peppersack, Maria Yacoob
Photography by Kar Wai Low
Sheida Mas - The Pattern
A man that we have all come across at some point of our lives.
A behaviour more common in our society that we would like to believe.
A woman who turns her back on another but afterwards feels regret.
A story that keeps repeating itself...
Are you sure you haven´t recognised The Pattern?
Sheida Mas is a Spanish Choreographer based in London, who began her training as a Hip Hop dancer at the age of 16. When she started to dance, she also started to choreograph. Her curiosity for investigating new movements and ways to communicate through them prompted her to study contemporary , jazz, acting and even some ballet, and to ultimately get a degree in Choreography from the Alicia Alonso University Institute in Spain. She moved to London in 2016, where she is a freelance choreographer and dancer.
Choreographed by Sheida Mas
Performed by Dave Guerrero, Paula Puga, Julia Ruiz and Sheida Mas
Photography by Thierry Viard
Piedad Albarracin Seiquer - Ellas
A journey of insecurities, struggle, exhaustion and surrender. Where we can hear, touch and feel the voices, rhythms and music of the dancer’s soul and heart.
Piedad is a London based Contemporary Dance Artist, with her roots originating from Spain. She completed a degree in Law, while professionally training in Murcia. Since being based in London, Piedad has performed and collaborated internationally. As a Contemporary Dance Artist and after her many years of training and performance, she is now focusing on her own practice. Influenced by her time working with such artists as Jose Agudo, Estela Merlos and Saorin, Piedad has an articulate and highly energetic vocabulary. Her Spanish playful rhythms are entwined with grounded floor work. Piedad’s non-narrative stories, from the work of poets Mario Benedetti and Cristina Albarracin, show an insight into human connections, with strong imagery colouring the process.
Performed and choreographed by Piedad Albarracin Seiquer
Photography by Thomas Hands
Ray Prendergast - her slow retreat.
her slow retreat. looks into the world we live in. At how living free and with nature has become distorted. We paint a picture of freedom, of living and caring for the land and each other but capitalism has monetised nature and made it into a collectable item for the rich to display their wealth. When the facade of it all fades away we realise that we are in a self made cage, stuck in this cycle unable to escape.
Ray Prendergast was born and raised in the mountains of Colorado. Dancing from age three she was always performing in some sense. After training she took five months to travel around Europe and Israel visiting different dance companies and exploring some new parts of the world. Ray relocated to London and started making her own work, inspired by the various performance styles that London sees. The dance based language which she uses is influenced by live art, theatre and music.
Performed and choreographed by Ray Prendergast
Costumes by Naomi Prendergast
Photography by Ed Spence
This piece is inspired by Salvador Dali’s “Woman with a flower head”
Yanaëlle Thiran - Stirring the Air
A singer’s voice makes the air vibrate.
Could a dancer’s movements resonate the same way?
Let a song fill the air. Let the dance breathe that song. With downstrokes and upstrokes; weaving sounds across the space.
Yanaëlle Thiran is a London-based dance artist with a quiet strength and grounding. Born in Belgium, she trained at London Contemporary Dance School and Art Factory International (Bologna, Italy). A calm whirlwind, she loves to turn and explore spaces with her long arms always further reaching. Music often inspires her pieces of choreography. She enjoys working in collaboration with other artists and she is also passionate about dance teaching.
Performed and choreographed by Yanaëlle Thiran
Photography by Francine Colling
Petra Haller - Charlie: “My message to Humanity”
This work in progress performance of Petra’s first solo contemporary dance piece is based on Charlie Chaplin’s final speech of the movie The Great Dictator. The words: “I am sorry but I don’t want to be an emperor" led into a great speech about humanity that everyone should listen to and carry in their hearts.
Petra was born and raised in Germany and started training at Tanzproject Munich before moving to London to pursue a career in dance. She made her professional debut as a featured dancer in “Louie Spence’s Showbusiness” for Sky1. Further credits include: The One Show, Madame Jojo’s, Gawz Dance Crew, Aida/ Ellen Kent Productions and Cirque du Soir and many more. Petra is currently focusing on her own solo work.
Performed and choreographed by Petra Haller
A Thousand Pieces
Unscripted Theatre Company and Blue Elephant present a night showcasing London’s emerging actors and musicians.
From monologues to melodies, watch up-and-coming acts share bitesize performances…with the option to take to the stage yourself in the Open Mic section.
Unscripted Theatre Company are a new company who aim to support performers to take the next step in their careers, whether it be auditioning for drama school or jumping into professional work for the first time.
Join us on February 8th to discover the talent of tomorrow taking that next step.
Tickets are FREE but should be booked in advance to guarantee your place. You can book tickets here.
Nostalgia's Dance
For this latest exhibition at Blue Elephant Theatre, Duncan McAfee presents as set of 12 photo-montages. The images are collaged from old personal and family photographs spliced together with magazine and catalogue cuttings. This growing series constructs characters that reoccur and interrelate, weaving together truth and fiction, mythologising personal history as as darkly comic other-world. For Nostalgia's Dance these analogue cut-and-paste works are presented as limited edition digital prints on photographic-paper, somehow re-presented in the language of the holiday snap. With photography comes the veneer of truth; the creative invention has replaced the original memory.
The exhibition can be viewed pre- and post-show and by appointment (by calling 020 7701 0100) Mondays to Fridays.