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Past programme

Showcases an eclectic range of fresh and interesting contemporary work, largely by emerging artistslondondance.com
Dance

YAATRA

Presented by Jaivant Patel Dance

Date
Tuesday 16 July 2019

British Indian artist, Jaivant Patel presents a captivating evening of solo Kathak and Contemporary dance.

Rooted in his own experience of being a homosexual man of different cultural heritages, Jaivant offers a fresh perspective on South Asian LGBTQ+ narratives, faith and spirituality. The evening celebrates two cultures and the intersectionality of living in one, while paying tribute to traditions, heritage and often untold stories of another.

There will be Q&A at the end of the performance with Jaivant Patel and Southwark LGBT Network.

Jaivant Patel is an award-winning independent dance artist, cultural producer and choreographer based in Wolverhampton. He is artistic director of Jaivant Patel Dance. Jaivant Patel Dance makes work that ‘challenges the complexities of inherited notions, perceptions and stereotypes surrounding British-Asian identity'.

YAATRA is supported by Arts Council England with seed commissions from MAC Birmingham, Arena Theatre, Dance4, Gem Arts, Creative Black Country, Black Country Touring & SHOUT Festival.


Reviews

‘Sexuality and spirituality fused in hypnotic movement in Jaivant Patel’s solo show’

Metro

Choreographer and Performer
Jaivant Patel
Choreographic Collaborator
Nahid Siddiqui
Composer
Hassan Mohyeddin
Poetry/Spoken Word Artist
Ali Harwood

Supported by

  • YAATRA is supported by Arts Council England with seed commissions from MAC Birmingham, Arena Theatre, Dance4, Gem Arts, Creative Black Country, Black Country Touring & SHOUT Festival
Theatre

How Bright She Must Have Been

Presented by DCO12 Theatre

Date
Friday 5 July 2019

Charlotte and Tom are two siblings struggling to cope with the death of their mother. Their Father, Harry is also battling with alcoholism as he tries to pick up the pieces of his fragmented family. Their lives become distorted as they exist in alternate realities, trying to escape the way they are feeling, which leads them further and further down a path to destruction. They are aided by the people they meet on the way who are all battling with secrets of their own.

This coming of age tale is a contemporary take on a greek tragedy and battles the themes of love, loss, sex, grief, friendship and what it takes to be a teenager in the modern day.

DCO12 believe in creating epic theatre that breaks the boundaries between reality and illusion to provide audiences with something to truly think about. If theatre cannot help bring change to the world and truly effect the people it reaches, then there is no point in creating it at all. DCO12 want to be a part of something that is much larger and try to tackle some of the hardest hitting themes and issues within society.


Theatre

Ironing Out

by Alleyway Radical Theatre

Dates
Sunday 23 June 2019 - Monday 24 June 2019

مسرحية عن الغربة والحي ... فيها شعر وغناء بالعربي والإنجليزي
What happens when you are forced to leave your home? Will you find community? Will you find peace or more struggle? What about those who didn’t make it across the sea? What about Ahmed? And those who came before us?

Ironing Out is a play centered around an Ironing Shop, a place where dreams & realities past, present and future collide. People from different walks of life come by searching for answers, looking for loved ones, or to sit listening to the news; reliving lost revolutions; ironing a school shirt or just hanging out.
However, the Ironing Shop stands in the way of the brutal regeneration machine that is eating up the city. No one knows how long the shop will last or how the community surrounding it will respond…

Ironing Out combines physical theatre, dance, shadow theatre, hip hop and poetry.

Based on real life experiences and wild imagination, it explores young migrants’ resilience in the shadow of mental health, exile, racism and displacement.

It has been created by Alleyway Radical Theatre, a collective of artists from Palestine, Hackney, Kashmir, Egypt, Spain, Japan and beyond.

Presented as part of Refugee Week


Cast
Abdulrahman, Amoon, Basel Zaraa, Jazzar, Lisa Maeda, Sara El Sheekh, Shamma, Steaz & Tasnim Mahdy

Supported by

Gallery

A Splash of Vintage

Portraits by Rachel Kay
Dates
Monday 17 June 2019 - Monday 24 June 2019

A solo show of a selection of semi abstract portraits in acrylic on canvas, on a vintage 1940s to 1950s theme.

Monday to Friday: 14:00 – 19:30
Open as part of Camberwell Arts Festival Open Studios Saturday 22nd June, 5.30pm- 8pm, and Sunday 23rd June, 3pm – 6pm.

This exhibition is FREE.

Theatre

Wild Shenanigans

 

Dates
Tuesday 18 June 2019 - Saturday 22 June 2019

Wild Shenanigans is a festival of clowning, slapstick and mayhem. Join us for a week of wild comedy created by some of the UK’s most talented idiots. With cabaret, clowning, stand up, sketch, music and more, there is something for everyone. Come and laugh at comedy in all its ridiculous forms with the infamous stage diva Nina Divina from Tuttifrutti cabaret, Russian clown Julia Masil (Pete Nash Comedy Award Winner), Viggo Venn the Viking (Best Comedy Award Winner, Adelaide Fringe) and many more!

Who’s up for some Wild Shenanigans?

Tragic Scenes of Legendary women where snakes were (kind of) present

18th & 19th June

Two clowns. Some legendary women. Lots of snakes. A guaranteed tragedy.

Join Nina Divina - actor extraordinaire - and her faithful assistant Lucia Bombilla as they attempt to stage the most tragic scenes of legendary women...and snakes.

Expect fierce flamenco dancing, seductive apple munching and that classic hit song we all know and love: “I’m not a woman, I’m a snake!”. An anarchic, silly, fun-filled hour of clowning and cabaret that celebrates all things woman (and some things snake).

Mighty Boosh with Smack the Pony’s sly feminism all wrapped up in one glamorous clown cabaret.

Devised by Nina Divina and Lucia Bombilla.

A Mouths of Lions and Tuttifrutti co-production presented as part of Wild Shenanigans comedy festival.

Love songs to Guinea Pigs

20th June

Award winning comedian and clown Elf Lyons presents a surreal tale of love and loneliness. In the style of a 1980s Elton John rock concert.
In October 2018, Elf was taken to hospital and told it was best she never perform again.

After months lying on her back and recovering from spinal surgery, Elf had to rethink what she was going to do*. This is the show she devised in response : A work-in-progress show about being a work-in-progress.

Music, Mime, Clowning and entirely true stories, join Elf as she embodies her inner Elton on an absurd narrative of love, heartbreak, hospitals, friendship, romance, re-learning your own body and rodents.

This is the perfect show to take a tinder date to, an ex, a friend who is going through a difficult divorce, that guy you know from your book group, your step-mum as an attempt to ‘bond’ and indeed your work team on a social outing. Or just come on your own and be a legend.

(*One of the things Elf DID decide to do was rescue two Guinea Pigs.)

We Must Live

21st June

Julia Masli and Tatiana Collet-Apraxine AKA The Pushkinettes present their London premiere of "We Must Live"

Two absolute idiots host a traditional Russian state funeral for Anna Karenina. You are invited, along with Queen Elizabeth II; Frida Kahlo; Tsar Alexander II, Joan of Arc, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Barack Obama and many more.

This buoyantly desperate, epic, ridiculous show merges clowning, physical theatre and Russian classics.

Viggo the Viking - CANCELLED

We apologise, however, due to unfortunate circumstances tonight’s show Viggo the Viking has been CANCELLED.

22nd June

Venn presents his work-in-progress of Viggo the Viking.

Best Comedy winner, Brighton Fringe 2016 (Zach & Viggo). Best Comedy nominee, Fringe World 2018 (Pepito). From the deep forests and tall mountains of Norway comes Viggo the Viking, the dumbest viking in the world. A new show from Gaulier-trained clown Viggo Venn. 'My cheeks were aching with laughter' ★★★★★ (FringeGuru.com). 'I laughed so much my face hurt' ****1/2 (Latest). 'Chaotic Masterpiece' ★★★★ (List).


Comedy

Tragic Scenes of Legendary women where snakes were (kind of) present

A Mouths of Lions and Tuttifrutti co-production presented as part of Wild Shenanigans comedy festival

Dates
Tuesday 18 June 2019 - Wednesday 19 June 2019

Two clowns. Some legendary women. Lots of snakes. A guaranteed tragedy.

Join Nina Divina - actor extraordinaire - and her faithful assistant Lucia Bombilla as they attempt to stage the most tragic scenes of legendary women...and snakes.

Expect fierce flamenco dancing, seductive apple munching and that classic hit song we all know and love: “I’m not a woman, I’m a snake!”. An anarchic, silly, fun-filled hour of clowning and cabaret that celebrates all things woman (and some things snake).

Mighty Boosh with Smack the Pony’s sly feminism all wrapped up in one glamorous clown cabaret.

Presented as part of the Wild Shenanigans Comedy Festival.


Cast
Devised by Nina Divina and Lucia Bombilla
Theatre

The Rebirth of Meadow Rain

Date
Saturday 8 June 2019

Meadow is throwing a party to celebrate her new life.

Expect a rip-roaring soirée of games, dancing, more games and one top-secret present! So leave your morals at the door and your kids at home.

Please note: guests arriving with gifts (e.g. fish food, rubber gloves and any parents/partners/colleagues you find moderately irritating*) will receive special treatment.

This darkly comic tale, exploring themes of emotional abuse, is brought to you by the award-winning creators of fringe sell-out show So It Goes.

‘A gem’ **** Evening Standard on So It Goes.

*List not exhaustive.

The show was made with support from the Shoreditch Town Hall and is presented as a work-in-progress performance.

On The Run are delighted to be partners with UK SAYS NO MORE, a national awareness raising campaign, working together with their 350+ partners, to change societal narrative towards Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.


Created and Performed by
Hannah Moss
Director
Anna Marshall
Producer
Alice Massey
Set Design
Emma Tompkins
Sound Design
Fizz Margereson

Supported by

  • Shoreditch Town Hall
  • UK SAYS NO MORE
Theatre

Double Bill: Baby Plus Two & Legs

 

Dates
Wednesday 29 May 2019 - Friday 31 May 2019

Blue Elephant Theatre presents a double bill of comedy shows exploring motherhood and and the female body.

Baby Plus Two will be performed on its own on Thursday 30th May at 2pm as a BABY FRIENDLY showing followed by a workshop so bring your little one along!

Baby Plus Two

"There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall"
....said some bloke who was clearly no good at multitasking. This dance solo is our rebuttal.

Pram firmly in the hallway, Baby Plus Two brings to life the physical and psychological experiences of early parenthood with dance, spoken word, video and original music.

From breast engorgement to mastery of nappy-sniffing via a constant low-level angst, Baby Plus Two is an emotional journey, filled – like motherhood itself – with angst, humour and love.

“Humorous and relatable… the mommy-parody at the end will surely be in my head for the rest of the week” Emma Iskowitz
“A funny and touching realisation of the first two years of parenthood.....Really enjoyable – lively and funny.” Audience Feedback

Choreographed and performed by: Lise Smith

Legs

Legs are what most humans stand on. They also allow humans to walk, crouch and lunge. If at any point in your life you have used your legs, thought about legs or if you know someone with legs. Then this is the show for you.

*warning this show may contain legs. ‘

’You might have trouble explaining to your friends what you just witnessed'’ ****½ TheAdelaidian.net

'Massive fun... if you feel the need for a little crazy in your life... they would be the people to provide it" Kate Copstick


Theatre

Justice

Presented by Wooden Arrow

Dates
Tuesday 21 May 2019 - Saturday 25 May 2019

In a city experiencing a three month heatwave, England's best World Cup since the 90s and the highest number of knife-crime killings in ten years, we focus on Michael, a young black male who has just finished his first year of college. The summer is about football, video games and parties - and pretending results day isn't looming. One night will change that, and leave Michael wondering what justice is if the system can't provide it...

A new play about knife crime and being young in today's London, inspired by true events.

Wooden Arrow is a production company that creates work with the purpose of bringing exposure to unseen perspectives. They focus on creating work for young, emerging and ambitious artists of all kinds and connecting people across an ever growing network of creatives. They create theatre and film, host workshops and play readings, and provide services including headshots and showreels.

The 5pm performance on Thursday 23rd will be a relaxed performance.

Justice is recommended for ages 14+ (swearing, references to violence)

Please note that smoke affects are used in Justice


Writer and Director
Rees Jenkins
Associate Director
Romy Foster
Movement Director
Kieton Saunders-Browne
Theatre

TRUNKATED SCRATCH NIGHT

 

Date
Wednesday 15 May 2019

Trunkated is Blue Elephant’s Long-running scratch night of new works-in-progress. Join us for extracts of new writing, physical theatre, comedy and much more, brought to you by up and coming artists.

Tickets are free but do book your place in advance to guarantee a seat.

Trunkated is recommended for ages 15+

There Is No Authority But Yourself

His name is Steve Ignorant. You probably haven't heard of him. He was in a band called Crass. You probably haven't heard of them. Their music was a mess but their message was clear. There Is No Authority But Yourself.

There is No Authority But Yourself is a monologue with live musical accompaniment about the highly influential Essex punk band Crass. The monologue follows the story of Crass front man and co-founder Steve Ignorant. Steve grew up in Dagenham in the late 70s wishing he was somewhere else. His interests in poetry and politics brought him into conflict with authority figures and his bewildered parents. One Clash gig and a chance meeting with an ageing hippy later inspired him to become a singer in the loosest sense of the word.

This piece tells the story of how a young man from the most ordinary place was able to find freedom in self-expression. Who through music and writing was able to find his place in the world and sense of belonging. That ultimately there is no authority but yourself.

Presented by Further Theatre
Writer/Performer: Oliver Yellop
Musician/Composer: Benji Hooper

F**d!

We’re all in a relationship with food…and it’s complicated.

Worst Absurd blends dance, physical comedy, and a whole lot of kale, in a satirical exploration of our obsession with the F word. Witness this century’s great love affair and gorge on a theatrical feast of everything “delicious”.

Presented by Worst Absurd: A collection of clowns and one very dazed producer, we explore contemporary absurdities through a blend of dance, comedy and object theatre. We make relevant and accessible work that engages its audience in contemporary social discussions through a collage of witty gestural choreography, clown and eclectic soundtracks. We place importance on entertaining and uplifting our audience as well as provoking how they think about current issues and conversations.

Caterpillars

Two Caterpillars are trapped. In the aftermath of a doomsday cult, we witness a moment in time of siblings, Grace and Charlie. Having spent most of their lives in the ‘Seven Lanterns Commune’ it because clear that their past is not easy to move on from. Stay in the cocoon or flourish as a butterfly? It seems that Charlie and Grace may be trapped in the grasp of David, ‘Seven Lanterns’ Founder, for longer than expected.

Presented by Gut&Conflict Theatre Company

Grace-Amy Becket
Charlie-Michael Shon
David- Tim Renouf
Mike-James Minett

Music-Michael Humphreys
Writer/Producer/Director-Joshua Ashley

The Birds

Set in modern London, The Birds looks at our relationship to space and beauty. What are the compromises we make to live in this vast, polluted city. Even if you know what you want, how you want things to change, it’s another thing to get people to listen.

Josie Mitchell has directed new writing and devised work in Oxford, London and the Edinburgh Fringe. This is her first piece of writing.

Performed by Amelia Sparling.
Image Credit: Riana Patel

Scab

Our narrator is walking home alone at night. They've just finished the graveyard shift and they're hankering after some toast. But then they see the pool of blood on the pavement... The crater steadily eating the side of that old man's head... And despite every bone in their body screaming at them to do otherwise, they stop. And they make a decision to help.
What follows changes both of them in ways neither ever expected.

Written by Luke Stapleton
Performed by Helen Jessica Liggat

West bank off the Thames by Jenan Younis

Jenan’s comedy has been described as a slap in the face. Don’t sit within arm’s reach.

“Sharp, hip, smart comedian – not to be missed!! The List
“Unique perspective” Chortle
BBC New comedy award nominee 2018
99 comedy club finalist 2018
South East comedian of the year finalist 2018


Theatre

Tethered

Presented by Contents May Differ Theatre

Dates
Friday 5 April 2019 - Sunday 7 April 2019

tether

[teth -er]

ve

1: to fasten or confine (an animal) with a rope or chain so as to restrict its movement.

2:Digital Technology. to use (an electronic device, usually a smartphone or tablet) to enable a wireless Internetconnection on another nearby device, often a laptop.

When she becomes bedbound, Alice is faced with the realisation of how much of her identity is made up from her love of dance. By chance a virtual reality headset finds its way into her hands, and she is presented with a unique opportunity to reconnect with what she holds most true to herself.

How much of your identity is determined by your physical body, the way you express yourself through movement and gestures? What if that body, which you inhabit, no longer obeys your wants and needs?

Virtual reality is being developed at an astonishing rate and companies are racing against each other to create the most advanced and immersive experience. When we are presented with new technology, our culture and way of life is often left behind and struggles to catch up. What everyone can agree on is that VR is ground-breaking; they’re just not sure how.

Combining live music, physical theatre and realism, Tethered crosses between the virtual and real to question how technology can shape and transform your sense of self.

This is the first staging of Tethered, the debut play of Contents May Differ.


Theatre

The Wolf Inside Me

 

Dates
Tuesday 26 March 2019 - Friday 29 March 2019

A boy experiences the loss of his mother. Instead of speaking about it, he picks up a guitar. A girl experiences the loss of her father. She wants to speak about it – but can’t find the words.

A play with sound and music, The Wolf Inside Me speaks to us of finding our own way through grief and sadness. Rooted in South East London and seen through the eyes of teenagers, it’s a captivating and creative reframing of loss and hope.

The Wolf Inside Me has been commissioned by Blue Elephant Theatre’s Youth Board members. It was created by Sepy Baghaei in response to a brief set by young participants and then chosen for research and development at the Blue Elephant after participants met shortlisted applicants.

The Wolf Inside Me is presented as a work-in-progress performance.


Director
Sepy Baghaei
Actor/Devisers
Elizabeth Schenk & Sean Stevenson
Dramaturg
Grace Chapman

Supported by

Family

Fairytale Mash

 

Date
Thursday 28 March 2019

All Soli wants is a bit of peace and quiet so he heads to the library. There he discovers a thousand new worlds as fairytales come to life around him.

Join the Blue Elephant Storytellers for an interactive session which introduces children to fairytale favourites from Cinderella to Aladdin.

This is a FREE event but please book ahead to guarantee your place.

VENUE:

UAL Studio, Third Floor, Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, New Kent Rd, SE1 6TE

28th March at 1.45pm and 4.15pm

Please note Fairytale Mash is NOT at Blue Elephant Theatre


Supported by

Family

Just Like Me

Presented by Blue Elephant Theatre

Date
Friday 22 March 2019

On first glance, we can seem so different from one another, but look a little closer and you’ll find we all have something in common.

Narissa the rabbit is new to the field and all the other rabbits are busy doing their rabbit things. So, Narissa sets off to find a friend. Everyone seems so very different to her. Freddy the frog, Astrid the Ant and Burton the bee don’t seem anything like a rabbit. But can they really be that different from her? Finding things in common and building unlikely friendships, interactive storytelling and vibrant characters combine in this fun, FREE, family event.

Please note these showings are at venues near Elephant and Castle and not at the Blue Elephant. The event is free but booking is encouraged to reserve your space. You can book via Tickets Ignite here

Golazio, 59 Camberwell Rd, London SE5 0EZ
Friday March 8th at 12.30pm and 2pm

UAL Studio, Third Floor, Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, New Kent Rd, SE1 6TE
Friday March 22nd at 10am and 12pm


Supported by

Comedy

It's No Job For A Nice Jewish Girl

Rachel Creeger
With support from Philip Simon

Date
Tuesday 19 March 2019

With a face that shouts "Xmas" but a soul that screams "Chanukah", Rachel Creeger has always felt like she has a foot in two worlds. Winner of the Best Comedy Award at the Greater Manchester Fringe 2017, It’s No Job For A Nice Jewish Girl enjoyed a sell-out debut Edinburgh Festival Fringe run in 2017, a successful UK tour in 2018 and triumphant return to the Fringe. It is a solo stand up comedy show from the writer of An Insomniac's Guide To Ambulances about rebellion and the drive to fit in, with a bit about being a pop star.

Rachel Creeger is the only orthodox Jewish comic on the UK circuit and resident compere of Comedy Upstairs at the Adam & Eve. She’s also an award winning comedian, director and writer, with credits including West End and touring shows. As heard on BBC Radio London and BBC 3CR, Rachel was a script associate on Radio 4 sketch comedy 2525.

Support act: Philip Simon (BBC Comedy Award Nominee, writer for BBC TV and Radio, winner of UK Jewish Comedian of the Year)


Reviews

''Creeger is never anything less than truly fascinating''

View From The Gods

'Very very funny'

The Jewish Chronicle