Past Programme

Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor

Reading and art workshop for children (recommended age 5 – 11) . First published in 1939, Mervyn Peake’s pirate yarn has recently been re-issued, giving a new generation the chance to read about the exploits of Captain Slaughterboard and his crazy crew - Billy Bottle, Jonas Joints, Timothy Twitch, Peter Poop and Charlie Choke. Listen to Sebastian Peake read his father’s extraordinary story and take part in an art workshop inspired by the story’s characters, such as the hirsute Yellow Creature - ''as bright as butter'' - and other oddities, like the Saggerdroop and the Squirmarins.  

Mervyn Peake: an illustrated talk

Inspired by his father’s incredible collection of paintings, photographs and letters, Sebastian Peake provides an exclusive insight into one of the most creative minds of the 20th Century.

"Our heroes and our Gods, under scrutiny, have become dwarves. As if that was something they could ever be. That we could ever allow. That’s why we rail against the day’s passing, struggle to get in another word or action, because tomorrow … tomorrow we may not know where we stand. Not recognise ourselves when we stop to look."

Ad astra per aspera (a rough road leads to the stars) Inscription at Launch Complex 34 at Kennedy Space Centre where all three crew members of the first Apollo spacecraft died in 1967.

Out of Chaos re-imagines the tragic chorus and incorporates live music, clowning and physical theatre in a devised piece that draws on the international origins of the actors.

Director: Mike Tweddle  
Devised and written by the company: Juan Ayala, Lorna Beckett, Troels Hagen Findsen, Nick Jesper, Tomoko Komura & Paul O'Mahony

Director: Tal Jakubowiczova
Set Designers: Lauren Smith & Kiera Blakey
Lighting Designer: Pablo Fernandez Baz
Assistant Set Designer: Janet Caddick
Costume Designer: Tomasin Cuthbert
Composer: Hutch Demouilpied
Cast: David Ford, Ariana Lebron & Dominic Leeder

Artists involved in the exhibition with their interpretations of the relationship of man to the natural world: 
Francesco Beneamato
Crystal Brook
Gemma Cumming
Holly Freeman,
Anna Hillman
Edward Llewellyn
Team

Supported by The SPIRO ARK

A dynamic drama with strong, contemporary issues regarding faith, family and taboo, explored using wonderfully rich characters involved in a complex human story.

Queen Phaedra lies sick with incestuous love for her stepson Hippolytus. Told of her passion by her faithful nurse, Hippolytus rejects her. Pride, shame, lust, revenge, honour and love interweave culminating in a progressively sharp web of lies and unspoken truths that result only in death and tragedy.

Utilising the rhythm, images and language of the text to layer the play with rich movement, music and song, this new version draws out the elements of ritual and ceremony that are inherent in Euripides’s text and structure.

Adapted & directed by Aaron paterson
Designer: Talulah Mason
Lighting Designer: Jason Kirk
Cast: Dimitris Christopoulos, Daniel Curshen, Shakti Edwards, Bodelle de Ronde, James Sutherland, Rachel Webster, Sarit Wilson Chen, Jackson Wright & Roxani Zogana

Riccardo Meneghini 'Carry on Tripping',

Etta Ermini Dance Theatre 'Fixed Wheel',

Evolving Motion, Cathy Seago 'Vanishing Point'

Hagit Yakira 'Leah'

Extracts of 'Fixed Wheel' by Etta Ermini Dance Theatre will be performed at: Cloud Dance Festival, Sunday 6 July 2008 at 8.20pm www.cloud-dance-festival.org.uk 08712 970 777

Big Dance, Monday 7 July 2008 11.24am www.southwark.gov.uk/bigdance

The exhibition includes Ben's collection of The Cat From Mars Pocket Cushions.

Writer: Sara Pascoe
Director: Katie Lewis

A new play about a land not too different from our own.

Writer: Emily Hunka
Director: Emma Hewitt 
Cast: Simon Carroll-Jones, Brandy Doubleday, Laura Glover, Alex Watson & Ben Wigzell

The Dada Suicides explores the fragility of the psyche from a place where all physical being is lost and only consciousness remains. With a Dada twist.

Writer: Afsaneh Gray
Director: James Kermack
Cast includes: Sophie Michaels & Robert Orme

Writer: Peter Lindley
Director: Rebecca Tortora
Lighting Designer: Jason Kirk
Cast: Irene Bradshaw, Gerald Davidson, Rachel Halliwell, Jen Holt, Terry Jermyn, Lucy Le Messurier & Holly Strickland

The Americans 

Presented as part of Grey Light Productions' series of contemporary American writing, in conjunction with the New York Metropolitan Playhouse.

One young man sitting alone in his room writes a poem that in a moment of unexplainable magic causes his apartment to explode. In another part of town another young man finds his windows blown in by the blast. Downtown a third steps out onto the street to find himself covered with white plaster. 

With the identity of their hometown and of themselves under scrutiny, all three begin a search for the source of the disaster.

Writer: Matthew Freeman (one of nytheatre.com's People of the Year 2004)
Director: Georgina Guy
Designer: Hilary Statts
Cast: Matthew Bulgo, William Fysh & Jack Farthing

Marks that Behold has enticed and embodied the dark and light images of the Catholic religion. The work explores the dancers' and choreographer’s interpretation of those images. The piece does not attempt to make a statement about the religion: that is what the audience is there for…

Director & Choreographer: Sylvia Dos Santos Ferreira
Musician: John Chambers
Dancers: Lorraine Smith, Jacqui Johnston & Wang Chen Chang

Being Small Dance’s latest work is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. First performed at Abundance International Dance Festival in Sweden in 2007, this new adaptation sees two dancers and a video artist experimenting more abstractly with the notions of dreams and surrealism.

Directors: Bruno Mathez, Lizzie Sells & Maria Svensson
Performers: Lizzie Sells & Maria Svensson
Composer: Benoit Seyrat
Film Designer: Bruno Mathez

Six Litres of Air explores the idea of breath as a rhythmic stimulus for movement and sound. It is a collaboration between a dancer and a musician playing the electric cello.  

Choreographer: Katja Nyqvist
Composer: Jacob Shirley
Performers: Katja Nyqvist & Jacob Shirley

www.myspace.com/meetmeinthe

Director: Ben Samuels
Lighting Designer: Jason Kirk
Cast: Juan Ayala, Sarah Johnson, Sarah Moody, Ben Samuels & Will Pinchin

Adapted by Ted Hughes
Director: Leonie Kubigsteltig
Chorus work: Simone Younossi
Lighting Designer: Boris Kahnert 
Cast: Marcel Bruneau, Justin Davey Mitchell, Nick Richards, Caroline Thompson & Cath Whitefield
Producer: Charlotte Windley

supported by GOETHE-INSTITUT LONDON

SILVERSMITH DANCE COMPANY produces innovative and accessible dance theatre through artistic collaborations. The company’s work focuses upon human themes and narratives of a dark comedic nature, merging different movement styles with the theatrical to create thought-provoking contemporary work.

The legends of King Arthur are Britain ’s version of the Greek Myths. Big stories that are psychologically compelling and dramatically visual in their motifs and language. They are loved by both old and young and have inspired and motivated artists, poets and dramatists for centuries. Revolving Doors Theatre focuses on two such legends: Pelleas, the young knight's tale of love & betrayal, and The Lady of Shalott, the ill-fated maiden who falls in love with Sir Lancelot.

Pelleas:
Written & directed by Louise Harley
Cast: Charlotte Ammerlaan, Martina Clarke, Jamie Debbage, Jago Northcote, Caroline Partridge & Patrick Ross

The Lady of Shalott:
Poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Adapted & directed by Aaron Paterson
Cast: Elizabeth Boag, Bodelle de Ronde, Anne Rabbitt & Heather Saunders

Art by young artists Ben Hathaway, Carys Wilson and Shail Belani

In a Place of Uncertainty

What happens to the world around you, when someone you love becomes a distant memory?
In this beautifully crafted trio, three stories are told through an innovative work that blends dance, music, film & lighting.

Choreography: Chris Clow
Performers: Lauren Aizlewood, Andrej Gubanov & Minami Tamagawa
Music: Oli Newman

Human Echo

An atmospheric study of home, of memories of a visual landscape & thoughts about the environment we now find ourselves in. Drawing on personal memories and experiences alike, layers of textures and moods are presented to the viewer by moments of stillness and thought.

Choreography: Maria Korsnes
Music: Rob Colquhoun
Lighting: Gregor Knuppel

Somewhere Between a Self and An Other

This is a performance based on a lengthy experiment which combined self exploration & movement research with aspects of Lacan ' s post modern theory on self identity. The work explores inter-personal relationships in a Lacanian context (amongst other post modernists) and discusses how relationships of oneself with an other and oneself with his own memory (memories), influence our individual search for identity. 

Choreography:Hagit Yakira
Performers: Yarit Dor & Hagit Yakira
Lighting: Hagit Yakira
Costume Design: Ruggiero Desantis

Burstein’s dance photography evolves from her experience both as a photographer and a dancer. 

She photographs the performing arts, collaborating with choreographers and dancers, creating still images that convey not just the physical aspect of the performance, but the experience as a whole, comprised of all senses; the rhythm; the space; the relationship between the dancers; the relationship between dancers and space; watching the dancers, witnessing the moment, translating and capturing the essence of a transitory creation. 

Man loves Woman, Woman loves Man - but Man has a mirror image, hell-bent on ruining everything...A fast, comic and touching love story - without words - by this Le Coq-trained company.

Directed & conceived by George Mann
Devised & performed by George Mann, Deborah Pugh & James Turpin

Behind the Mirror has an Edinburgh run this year:
Pleasance Theatre(Beside) 30 July - 25 August 2008 12.15PM
www.pleasance.co.uk

“Every man has a potential moustache. It's just that I've embraced the potential”

Barry is unemployed & angry at the goings-on at the Neighbourhood Watch. This time he thinks he has the answer. Barry has decided to set up his own state. In a pathetic attempt at living-room nation-building, Barry enlists the help of his best friend Mickey and his nephew Pecks, who is brought in to oversee matters of national security. With no idea what they're doing, and no future thought beyond the opening ceremony, this three-man attempt at democracy results in flags being made, anthems being sung and life-long friendships being tested…

“We - Michael Jeremy Davis and Barry NoMiddleName Parfitt - I'm not going to tell you what will happen. But what I will say is this: I've hired a heavy”

Directed by Georgina Guy  
Designed by Hilary Statts 
Lighting by Martin Ellsmore
Cast: Lee Bane, Philip Brook, Audrey Leybourne & Matthew Ward

Supported by Unity Theatre Trust

- I’m dying Bunter. Just a matter of when.
- What makes you think God’s ready for you yet?
- He’s ready. Told Him I’m coming.
- You told God?
- Yep, and He told me to call you.

Mama may be frail but she’s also feisty. Who will win this mother of all battles?  

“A Mama wants to die. She needs her son’s help. He should help, plain and simple. It’s his duty. What’s all this about motivation? I wanted a son, I get Hamlet…”

Directed by Anton Phillips 
Lighting by Jason Kirk
Cast: Lavern Archer & Victor Romero Evans  

A selection of self-initiated projects including: 

A proposal to the British Wind Energy Association to establish the image of wind-farms as a quintessential part of the British countryside;

An advertising campaign called 'Boycott Oxfam';

A soundtrack for the east of England;

A series of products that answer needs generated around the cigarette break phenomenon;

The Vending Machine Project: a vending machine that makes you consider whether it should be your responsibility to put the good of society above your own interests.

Los Angeles 1943: Franz Werfel has written a play based on his personal experiences in exile from the ever increasing expansion of the Nazis. The United States Theatre Guild brings in former-leading New York playwright Clifford Odets to give the play a ‘make-over’ to appeal to American audiences. In this fictional account of an actual event, who will win this battle for Broadway? 

Writer: Michaela Ronzini
Translator: Penny Black
Director: Christopher Gutmann  
Cast: Saul Reichlin & Tom Sykes

A child is taken away from its family.  Better off? Or in some imaginable danger in the hands of people that think they know best?
A look at the intricacies of family relationships, how children are cared for and when things are taken too far.  

Writer: Emily Hunka
Director: Emma Hewitt
Cast: Sian Breckin, Laura Glover, Gareth Richardson, Simon Ryerson, Alex Watson, Fiona Whitelaw & Ben Wigzell

Part love story, part dreamlike soul-searching, God Explodes Laughing invites us to consider free will versus predestination through the lives of Udi, an Israeli photographer who lost his legs as a young soldier and Lora, a British news reporter who travels the world telling other people’s stories instead of living her own.

Writer:Dorit Makleff
Director: Ellie Joseph
Cast:Matthew Delgaram-Nejad, Leanne Hall,Jessica Knight, Sam Lester, Robert Pearce & Julie Sandiford

A young man is accused of killing a police officer, but after the dust has settled, who is really on trial?
A play about love, evil, innocence and belief, where accusation is easy and defence is the hard part.

Writer: Duncan Gates
Director: Serena B Robins

A group of friends reunite after ten years and discover how differently their lives have changed. What painful secrets are shared over a cup of ‘Chai’? And what courageous choices have to be made?

Writer: Serena B Robins
Director: Serena B Robins

A man sets out to learn the art of conversation. A girl sets out to find her father. A mother has a box with two keys. Kevin has a spare room and a photograph no-one wants to see…

Writer: Maggie Drury
Director: Toria Banks
Set Designer: Chris Gylee
Lighting Designer: Natalie Jones
Cast: Raymond Coker, Richard De Lisle, Mark Jeary, Richard Roberts, Nina Smith & Liv Spencer

Dance: Aranea (with music by Lucy Forde and choreography by Charlotte Spencer),
green bean dance & MIKS  
Music: Sekgura (Ghanaian percussion), Misirlou (contemporary Arabic) & Outhouse (jazz)
Fine art: Maisie Kendal

It's election time on the romantic Caribbean Island of Jamaica. The campaign has, however, been completely overwhelmed by extreme apathy & disillusionment.  Fatigued by the ever increasing levels of poverty, debt & corruption, a new student organization called the 'No Confidence Movement' emerges in an attempt to lead the electorate on a national boycott of the general elections. With various bilateral and multinational interests now at stake, a US-led military invasion is initiated to neutralize growing support for the boycott. It is from within this cauldron that the students of the 'No Confidence Movement' take us on a frenetic journey that will ultimately determine the political future of their island .

Designer: Clary Salandy
Lighting Designer: Giuseppe Di Iorio
Composer: Carol Mae Whittick
Cast includes: Julie Hewlett, Irma Inniss, Vinta Morgan, Anthony Ofoegbu & Mo Sesay

Supported by ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND

Fish in a Bowl/Anthony Kurt:
AB sens 2

Iisa Ilona Jäntti:
Ditto (interdisciplinary circus work)

Levantes Dance Theatre/Eleni Edipidi:
Gin & Satsumas (a dance theatre piece)

Etta Ermini Dance Theatre:
Archetypical Encounter of the Third Kind
(physical theatre)

Rosalind Noctor & Martha Moopette:
Hedgehogs & Honeybeads (dance film)

Cathy Seago & Dancers:
How We Know We Are Here: Part 1 Cupp for Three
(multimedia work)

Do noses really live on the moon?

The Inhabitants of the Moon are Noses/Diary of a Madman explores the thin line between imagination & madness, with a double-bill of Nikolai Gogol’s dark, hilarious masterpiece & Steve Hennessy’s new play about Gogol’s life.  

Director/Lighting Designer: Andy Burden
Designer: Peter Liddiard
Cast: Martin Aukland, Julia Gwynne & Sebastian Steiger
Costume: Penn O’ Gara

Cuban-American writer Jesse Quinones charts a day in the life of a slum estate in Havana .

Cuba: a tropical idyll where the sun never sets, or a stifling prison where the days never end?

Directed by David Mercatali 
Design by Wendy Uren
Lighting by Jason Kirk
Cast: Geoff Aymer, George Couyas, Olayinka Giwa, Scarlett Perdereau & Vineeta Rishi
Post-show discussion led by Professor Jean Stubbs [Director - Caribbean Studies Centre/ London Metropolitan University]

An acrobatic production with an all-male cast with tales exploring metro-sexuality & the need for spirituality and hope in the harsh tough world of Mumbai.

Directed by Serena B. Robins 
Designed by Elves n Elements
Lighting design by Jason Kirk
Cast: Cristian Cardenas, Jatinder Chera, Christopher Gutmann, Shazad Iqbal & Imran Mirza

We don't want to die but we know people who have. We'd fight for you, we'd lie for you, you know it's true, everything we do we do it for you. Before your very eyes, Jumbled will die not once, not twice, but 22 times. Watch us as we meet our ends simply, quietly, loudly, gloriously, haltingly, beautifully. Listen as we tell you about the scenes we wished we had seen, and play you the music we wished we had heard. Sob as we breathe our last breath, scream as we are mercilessly butchered, gasp as we escape unscathed only to be gunned down at the last minute.  

Jumbled look to harness the power of autobiographical material and direct address, and explore placing this in the context of richer visual and theatrical worlds. Through ongoing collaboration with sound-maker Nick Gill, Jumbled closely links live sound with action, to create a multi-layered experience.

Performed & devised by Lucy Foster, Nick Gill, Kirsty Lothian & Mike Tweddle
Lighting & sound by Robert Wells

In the psychiatric unit of a large urban hospital, Dr Jones conducts a first interview with Jamie:

"Am I broken?"
"I think you are"
"You see the cracks?"
"Some"

But things are not so straightforward. Unseen to Jones, Jamie is shadowed by Angella, a second personality you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy...  

A practising psychiatrist, Brockman’s play is based on true accounts. His work was included in the Samuel French Best Short Plays of 2001 & 2005.  

Director: Mirra Bank
Set Designer: Jamie Warner
Lighting Designer: Giuliano Bocca
Sound Designer: Timothy Gill
Costume Designer: Natasha Ward  
Cast: Lucy Aitken, Will Chitty, Juliet Oldfield, Christian Olliver & Iris Veneti.

Just after the end of the world, a lonely survivor clings on to better times with a bicycle-powered reading lamp and a dusty old gramophone. He's fed up, he's had enough and he's ready to die.

So it's a shame that his friend Hazmat, an eight-foot radiation suit with a penchant for mischief, is having none of it. Hazmat has a different take on the man's past and won't let him go before he's made to face the truth...