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Charity number: 1077161
Company number: 3724349
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Past programme
Showcases an eclectic range of fresh and interesting contemporary work, largely by emerging artists
Tell Your Story
These workshops are for anyone with something to say about themselves!
We will explore the topic of identity (who you are, where you come from), and particularly what it means to grow up locally in South East London. We'll be exploring these themes through writing and performance, looking at how to write a monologue that tells our stories. What would you like the younger generation to know? We will spend a few weeks collecting material and information about ourselves, and then turn this into creative performance, celebrating our own unique heritages and backgrounds.
For ages 16 - 24 (ideally living locally to Blue Elephant), taking place over Zoom. The link will be sent out before the first session, so keep an eye on your email for this.
The course will run every Monday evening between 3rd to 24th August, plus Thursday 27th, from 7.00pm - 8.30pm via Zoom.
Places are FREE, but need to be booked in advance to guarantee a space. Click here to book.
Tackling Arts Council Project Grants
Blue Elephant Theatre offers a free online workshop about navigating Project Grants applications. If the thought of facing Grantium brings on a cold sweat, we aim to help with some reassurance, tips, prompts and clarity.
Project Grants is Arts Council England’s open access programme for arts, museums and libraries projects, funded by the National Lottery. It has now re-opened and is accepting funding applications, prioritizing supporting independent organisations, creative practitioners and freelancers.
Blue Elephant Theatre’s free workshop will give individual artists and companies in the performing arts the opportunity to explore the application process. Blue Elephant Theatre supports emerging and early career artists, and has a strong track record on successfully advising on project grant applications.
The application process can be daunting so our aim is to demystify, offer a friendly space to discuss the process and lend a helping hand to those intending to apply. The workshop is open to those who have already made applications in the past and those new to the process, as an opportunity to re-familiarise and adapt to the changes in the guidance.
The workshop will:
Introduce the application process
Cover some of the changes in guidance and what’s now eligible.
Discuss the “Let’s Create’ strategy.
Offer an opportunity for questions and trouble shooting.
This workshop is for everyone; whether you have a project you are planning to apply for already or not. If you don’t, it might be helpful to come with a hypothetical project in mind but you won’t be asked to talk about it unless you’d like to.
This workshop is not a substitute for the general guidance and the supplementary guidance on Project Grants which has been provided during the current Covid 19 crisis. This can be found on the Arts Council England website. You may find that reading it in advance will help you to get the most out of the workshop.
Treasure (Cancelled)
Treasure will no longer be performed on March 23rd. Ticketholders have been informed and refunds issued.
When the storm comes, what will you hold on to?
Our lives are shaped by our connection to the sea. It flows through our memories and our history, with each passing day measured by the turning tide.
Treasure is a fearless and physical dance performance, exploring our innate human fascination with our seas and coastlines. Through powerful movement and beautiful original music, five dancers uncover our deep-buried past and confront a future shaped by climate change and pollution.
As seas rise and ecosystems start to collapse, Treasure asks: what have we lost? And what happens now?
This emotive work sets urgent questions alongside a rush of explosive dance that echoes the power and unpredictable beauty of the sea.
Forged Line Dance company was founded in 2016, and is based in Bath. The company creates accessible and thought-provoking contemporary dance, telling human stories inspired by science and heritage. Forged Line’s first work Lina told the story of sibling astronomers William and Caroline Herschel, and toured in 2017 and 2018.
Treasure makes use of some flickering (but not strobing) lights during the performance. Please contact the Box Office on 020 7701 0100 or email info@blueelephanttheatre.co.uk for further information.
Supported by
Murmurations: The Last Bird & Seeing Earth
A Counterpoint Dance Company and Lunar Salute Company double bill
The performance also includes dance films:
Interprète - Inappropriate Behaviour (2015) by Sonia Yorke-Pryce
Journeys of Internal Migration by Counterpoint Dance Company
The Space Between by choreographer Mary Davies and film maker Eleanor Mortimer
Counterpoint Dance Company presents Murmurations: The Last Bird.
Murmurations: The last Bird is a dance work that questions the world as we observe its slow destruction through human behaviour. We are observing climate change, a change in the resources of our planet and what impact that has on humans and animals. We ask: What would happen if there was only one bird left? How would we feel if nature was destroyed? If we would not be able to hear another bird singing?
Counterpoint Dance Company share a passion for valuing older dancers and their potential by developing them as dance artists and performers. They believe in bringing high quality work to theatres, festivals, community and non-traditional arts settings. With their work, they wish to inspire younger and older people to go beyond their limitations, believing as they do in the transformational power of dance.
With thanks to Ann Clifford for the inspiration provided by her poem, Murmurations, and to Silvana Desira for her contribution to costume design and choice.
Seeing Earth
Have we let the planet down?
Only fifty years since the moon landings, is the Earth irretrievably broken thanks to our careless behaviour?
Seeing Earth shows how we landed on the moon and saw Earth for the first time. It takes the elements of Earth, Air, Sun and Sea, showing their beauty and questioning the future.
Lunar Salute Company is a small collective of older professional dancers who came together in 2019 to make pieces that challenge everyday beliefs and expectations. Their first piece Lunar Salute was made for a celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the moon landings and was danced under Luke Jerram’s moon sculpture at Bloomsbury Festival. Following the success of Lunar Salute's first showing, the collective have developed work, expaning on the theme of a view of the Earth from space. In Seeing Earth, they ask if that perspective of incredible beauty has stuck with us?
Lunar Salute consist of three core members, Fionuala Power, Simona Scotto, Teresa Thornber-Mann (known as TT). For this performance at Blue Elephant Theatre, they will be joined by guest artists Nicholas Minns and Kim Mendez.
Original concept: Teresa Thornber-Mann
Music: from Skylight by Kim Planert
Photo Credit: Chris Daw
Love Your Mind
Love you, love your mind.
EQ Dance Company presents its first mental health dance evening Love Your Mind.
EQDC hopes to make this a first of many events to help support and join the mental health conversations through the medium they know best, dance. This evening consists of exploration around the topics around loneliness, growing up, self-reflection, and male mental health.
Come see this evening of live dance, and dance film made by Artistic Director David West, and member Ana Cristina De Albuquerque. Come join the conversation, meet others that share an interest in creating a healthier, happier society in body, mind, and soul.
The evening consists of the following pieces:
Treading Water
Treading Water is upcoming production around the subject of growing up, and self-reflection told in the form of a narrative around two characters Jo and Ashley, set in the school they both went to. Throughout their lives, they take a walk in each other shoes from when they first meet as kids, to when they meet again as adults. The production has just finished its final development stage, and this excerpt is taste towards what the final production may look like as it makes its way to the first preview.
Stigma MH
Stigma MH explores male mental health not just in its broadness, but how its effects those in marginalised groups. Stigma MH delves into some of the things the LGBTQ community face, exploring masculinity, what it is and/or could be. Amongst all this what we have found is how important it is with who you decide to surround yourself with and the company you keep.
P.s: Ama-te
P.s: Ama-te explores the duality between solitude and loneliness. It is inspired by the frequent and sometimes suffocating internal monologues, which can emerge in these moments of introversion. It shows a mystical and deceptive reality, with a possible perspective on what solitude can bring, or even, the sensations one might experience as a social outcast.
EQDC is an exploratory project-based company of dance artists, working in collaboration to create and deliver dance experiences with impact based in London.
Led by choreographer and Artistic Director David West, EQDC connects freelance artists with a group of talented dancers to explore and enliven creative ideas, and advocates for positive mental health.
Content warning:
Stigma MH contains references to suicide.
Recommended for ages 15+, or 12+ with parental supervision.
Good Blood
Good Blood looks closely at the relationship between two sisters. Keira and Sioda use dance, live music, song and storytelling to bring hilarious, nostalgic and familiar family scenarios to the stage. Their honesty and humour shed light on the bonds that hold us together and the people who make us who we are.
Keira Martin and Sioda Adams were born and bred in Barnsley, Yorkshire. They trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and have gone on to have successful careers working for the past 20 years travelling around the globe, including; Bermuda, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Brazil, Spain, USA and Ireland, to name but a few.
The two sisters are inspired and influenced by their working-class upbringing, politics and Ireland, where their parents came from. They are both mothers and have an unforgettable dynamic that is humorous and heartwarming. If there is one thing they both agree on, it’s that you don’t get owt without hard graft.
Praise for previous work:
"These are the stories that people must hear; this is the art people must experience if we are going to live in the compassionate world most of us desire to live in."
danceartjournal.com
"The sheer physicality of the performance was stunningly visceral"
Audience Member
Commissioned by Northern School of Contemporary Dance - Northern Connections, 2Faced Dance Company - The Bench Seed funding, with support from Yorkshire Dance, Vincent Dance Theatre, Spin Arts and Dance City.
Supported by
The Cocoon
This raw and uplifting celebration of womanhood uses music, spoken word and exhilarating choreography to explore the female experience. On this humorous, poignant and empowering journey, we encounter mothers, daughters, sisters and friends as we shift and emerge into new worlds, from Greggs in Leeds to the beaches of Cornwall and everywhere in between. These worlds and the stories within are a colourful mix of fantasy and reality. With stories gathered and shared by women's groups across Greater Manchester, this work searches to connect women to each other, and to themselves.
The Cocoon premiered at Z Arts in 2019 to great acclaim and now embarks on performances in both Manchester and London. With a newly commissioned musical score by Richard Smithson, and an updated cast of five unapologetically fearless female dancers, The Cocoon promises to be a joyous celebration of femininity.
Coalesce Dance Theatre is a Manchester-based, female-led contemporary dance company. Directors Fern Wareham and Rachel Maffei have established an ethos that places people at the heart of their practice. Coalesce Dance Theatre approach subjects that are current and topical, uplifting and engaging audiences with their thoughtfully crafted choreography.
The company was formed in 2017 and have received a number of commissions, as well as support by Arts Council England's Grants for the Art for a range of projects.
Praise for Coalesce Dance Theatre's previous work:
"Episodes are knitted together with unison movement hinting at strength, comradeship and the multidimensionality of femininity...thoughtfully crafted and elegantly performed."
Emma Hopley - Emma Reviews Shows.
Coalesce Dance Theatre - The Cocoon Trailer from CoalesceDance on Vimeo.
Reviews
Supported by
Cow's Rainy Day
Cow is very excited about celebrating his best friend Amy's birthday. He's planning to make her the most amazing card she's ever seen.
But things don't go quite to plan and Cow feels down.
Luckily Amy is there to help Cow feel better - but she needs some helpers. Can you join her and cheer Cow up?
Cow's Rainy Day is a new short play for children, about learning new things, accepting mistakes, trying hard and being friends.
Suitable for ages 2+
Running Time: 30 minutes approx
Performances:
Thursday 20th Feb - 11.30am, 2pm & 4.30pm
Thursday 27th Feb - 2pm & 4.30pm
Sunday 1st March - 11.30am, 2pm & 4.30pm
Luncheons and Flagons: An Epic Immersive Adventure
Your epic quest awaits - will you answer the call?
From the award-winning Paper Mug Theatre comes an interactive choose-your-own-adventure, where three lucky audience members will be the masters of their fate.
There is unrest in the medieval realm of Gondolar. As the tyrannical King Titranoss prepares his heir for their name-day, an underground band plot their bloody rebellion. Through unlikely circumstances, the Heir, a Soldier and a Peasant are flung together to choose between rebels and royalty, embarking on a quest to the far reaches of Gondolar's kingdom which tests the limits of their morality. With over a thousand potential story paths, Gondolar is about to change forever - what side are you on?
A tongue-in-cheek homage to all facets of nerd culture, particularly inspired by the campaigns of Dungeons and Dragons, Luncheons and Flagons is an exciting live-action gaming experience, bringing imagination to the forefront.
Paper Mug Theatre focuses on meaningful stories with humour, pathos and a contemporary perspective. They devise, write and work with actors to bring the best stories to life.
Paper Mug Theatre's work has been awarded China Plate's Pick of Pulse Festival, Theatre Weekly's Best Fringe Debut and an Off West End Commendation, and was longlisted for the prestigious Bruntwood Prize.
Praise for Paper Mug Theatre's previous work:
"Incredibly funny, raw and clever… sharp and hilarious"
Amy Toledano, WithinHerWords (for A Partnership)
"…superb, naturalistic and effortlessly funny…"
Fiona Anderson, Ed Fest Mag (for A Partnership)
Luncheons and Flagons is presented as part of Elephantology, Blue Elephant Theatre’s festival showcasing the work of recent graduates.
Show may contain fantasy violence - recommended for ages 12+
Noot Patoot
Watch a clown wrestle with the departure of her youth. Featuring physical comedy, mime, audience interaction and improvisation, Noot Patoot is a comical whirlwind of short episodic scenes.
Funny, nostalgic and absurd, clown Natalie Patuzzo’s debut solo show has been developed from The Hoe-ly Trinity, created with Soft Pedal Collective, which won the 'Best (Theatre) Play 2019' award at Guildford Fringe Festival 2019. Natalie trained at Rose Bruford College, HAMU Prague, and L'École Jacques Lecoq Paris, and currently works in Nottingham as a drama facilitator.
Noot Patoot is a work-in-progress showing.
Noot-Patoot is presented as part of Elephantology, Blue Elephant Theatre’s festival showcasing the work of recent graduates.
Little Star
Meet Little Star in our show for little ones ages 6-18 months. Join her as she swings from shooting stars, slides down crescent moons and bounces on fluffy clouds. Using puppetry, music and captivating visuals to delight our young audience, an intimate, relaxed setting makes this the perfect first theatre experience.
Little Star features the popular song ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’, taking us on a journey with the star herself. Little Star wants to explore space. Not content with the same spot in the sky, she wants to see, hear and touch everything!
Praise for Little Star:
“The music and sensory experience was mesmerising for the babies”
Audience member
"We saw Little Star today, my 8 month old absolutely loved it! Very engaging and interactive for the babies and a brilliant sensory experience. Thank you for making our babies first theatre experience a brilliant one"
Audience member
"My 7 month old little girl loved this production. She was captivated by all the lights and sounds. A great first show for babies and a relaxing time for parents too."
Little Star (Baby Show) Teaser from Moon On A Stick on Vimeo.
Supported by
Not Four Girls
big mess are on a quest to unleash their inner dancer. Come and see them take their first steps into the world of performance in their new comedy show Not Four Girls.
Inspired by the work of Leona Lewis, the protagonists bring spectacle, splendour and sweat, Not Four Girls reach heights that they have never reached before; exploring friendship, trust and bravery. These girls (sort of) are working hard and giving you everything they’ve got. So relax, take a deep breath and prepare yourself for a show like no other. Rice, Ribbons and Bleeding Love are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg
big mess are a theatre company emerging from the University of Surrey intent on making work to empower and inspire all! big mess are passionate about the world, about politics, feminism, gender identities and so much more. They’re here to make shows that matter, even if it gets a bit messy in the process.
Not Four Girls is presented as part of Elephantology, Blue Elephant Theatre’s festival showcasing the work of recent graduates.
Move Fast and Break Things
“Move fast and break things. Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.” Mark Zuckerberg
We are moving fast.
Really fast.
Powered by data, we are hurtling towards a future where algorithms determine the direction of all of our lives. What we wear. What we eat. Who we vote for. Who we love.
In fact, they already do all of these things.
Because, we moved fast.
But somewhere down the line, we will wonder:
What did we break?
And can it be fixed?
Alone in an office, one Facebook moderator thinks about these things.
And decides to take action.
What happens next will change everything.
Freight Theatre present a work-in-progress show about the internet and ourselves. A piece of movement theatre that delves deep into the world of Big Data in search of something to celebrate: in search of what it really means to be human.
Praise for previous work:
“Works beautifully” - The Scotsman (4*).
“Actually practises what it preaches” - The Sunday Times.
“Brilliant from start to finish” - The Cherwell (4.5*).
“A treat to behold” - DailyInfo.
Freight Theatre are a London-based emerging theatre company who cover big issues through intimate human stories. We believe in making theatre that can be shown anywhere for anyone - location and situation should be no barrier to the opportunity to experience experimental theatre. Founded three years ago, previous projects have included plays such as ‘Lovesong’ (Abi Morgan) and ‘The Crocodile’ (Tom Basden), and devised movement theatre including a new play, ‘Brink’(Alastair Curtis).
Move Fast and Break Things is now fully booked. Please call 02077010100 to be added to the waiting list for returns.
The Christmas Quest
Not many people have heard of The Letter-Machine but it has a very important job. Possibly the most important job of all. It processes all the letters to Santa and makes sure every child is remembered.
When it breaks in a terrible storm, an Elf, a Reindeer and a Teddy set out on a quest to find the parts to fix it. A happy Christmas depends on it.
The Christmas Quest is a new show for families by Blue Elephant Theatre. Full of slapstick humour and joyfulness, it celebrates differences and shares a strong message of inclusivity.
Performance times:
Saturday 7th: 2pm& 4.30pm
Sunday 8th: 2pm & 4.30pm (fully booked)
Monday 9th: 10.45am & 1.30pm (both performances fully booked)
Tuesday 10th: 10.45am & 1.30pm (both performances fully booked)
Thursday 12th: 10.45am & 1.30pm
Friday 13th: 1.30pm & 4.30pm (both performances fully booked)
Saturday 14th: 2pm & 4.30pm (fully booked)
Sunday 15th: 2pm & 4.30pm (both performances fully booked)
Monday 16th: 10.45am & 1.30pm (both performances fully booked)
Tuesday 17th: 10.45am & 1.30pm (both performances fully booked)
I Love Myself, Do You?
I Love Myself, Do You? explores the old Cherokee fable of two wolves fighting within you. One is good, the other is evil.
Which one wins? The one you feed.
Fusing contemporary dance, physical and hip-hop theatre, Michaela Cisarikova directs three female dancers to create personal stories of beauty, identity and self-worth which feel fundamentally universal, all with a vibrant original score composed by Ross Allchurch.
Suitable for 10+
As part of ACE #ThankstoYou week, an under 18 will go free with a paying adult with a lottery ticket, and lone adults with lottery tickets can get £9 tickets. Please call 020 7701 0100 for more information and to book.