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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
Tit for Tat
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Following the success of Female Intuition, Original Impact returns to the Blue Elephant to showcase more works of new writing.
“Original Impact proves what is possible with a strong cast and some directorial creativity” Culturised on Original Impact’s Twelfth Night
Online bookings seem to be experiencing intermittent problems. Please note neither night is sold out yet and tickets can be booked by calling 02077010100 or bought on the door from 7pm.
The Watch
written by Will Langley
directed by Amelia O'Loughlin
'The Watch' is a symbol of the beginning of the end. You are going to see the beginning of a full-length play. Set in one room in a council flat on an estate in West London, 'The Watch' is a post-Brexit, post-Trump apocalyptic, not-so-far-stretched imagining of the future. The play tells the story of a group of people stuck in a very bad situation.
Having broken the law in several ways, and started a riot on rival estate, Queensmead; how will the Wyndham crew cope with the pressure? Will they stay true to The Watch?
The Empty Space
written by Alexandria Turner
directed by Joshua Jewkes
Is it worth it worth it? Being an actor? The gruelling audition process. The hours of unpaid work. The emotional strain. The inconsistency of work. The pretending. How do we really feel when we enter The Empty Space?
Shark
written by Kieron Tufft
directed by Alexandria Anfield
Shark examines trauma and fears within the confines of love. Spanning several years the play invites you to examine how the characters change with the tide of the modern world, and the people they become while trying to make their love work.
Dorian Grey
written by Niamh Headley-Vaugh
directed by Louis Labovitch
An adaptation of Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" we start in 90's London and end in modern day following Dorian's journey from a vulnerable and damaged sweet boy into what some would describe as a monster through the means of extreme romanticism, manipulation and hedonism.
Two of a Kind
written by Elizabeth Bryant
directed by Sean Hollands
'Why does there have to be two of everything?'
Society has conditioned us to need someone or something else to make us whole.
A Pair.
But what happens when we lose the other half?
Any and All
written by Louis Labovitch
directed by Elizabeth Bryant
These Four Walls
written by Amelia O'Loughlin
directed by Samuel Dunstan
These Four Walls is a timely and provocative tale of a young woman, Jess, living on the streets of London. As we follow in Jess' footsteps, touching on themes of loss, memory and security, it seems that Jess has lost everything, but in doing so, she may just have stumbled upon something out of the ordinary.
Edinburgh Preview: Bilal Zafar & Jarlath Regan
Join us in June for Edinburgh Fringe previews at Blue Elephant Theatre!
Bilal Zafar: Biscuit
Join 2016 Best Newcomer nominee and Hackney Empire New Act of the Year winner of the same year as he explores the fascinating world of online dating and finding love on social media in increasingly confusing times. Bilal has appeared on Channel 4, BBC Three, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Asian Network, and has written for the Independent.
'Catch him before he hits the mainstream' (Guardian)
'Fascinating and hilarious in equal measure' (i-D)
'Endearing, relaxed and naturally funny... hilarious ★★★★ (EdFestMag.com)
★★★★ (Skinny)
Jarlath Regan: Organ Freeman
A selfish man (“A very funny man at the peak of his powers” - Irish Post) is forced to reassess his entire life when his best friend needs a kidney. A standup show from the creator of multi-million downloaded Irishman Abroad podcast, about life and death, give and take, Ant and Dec, youth and young manhood, getting it wrong while getting it right and never worrying about anything ever again.
Organ Freeman is Jarlath’s ninth solo show and by far his biggest to date. You may know Jarlath Regan from such television shows as Tonight At The Palladium (ITV), Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC), Standup Central (Comedy Central), Last Comic Standing (NBC) and Goggle Box (Channel 4). As recommended by Ardal O’Hanlon, Marc Maron, Jack Whitehall, Jason Byrne, The Times, The Telegragh, The Guardian and Tripadvisor.
'Side-splitting stuff’ ★★★★ (Metro)
‘More laughs in the first 15 minutes than most comedians can muster in an hour’ ★★★★ (Herald)
Dr Zeiffal, Dr Zeigal, and The Hippo That Can Never Be Caught!
Calling all hippo expert enthusiasts!
Award-winning family comedy that will have kids storming the stage.
Dr. Zeiffal and Dr. Zeigal and The Hippo That Can Never Be Caught invites the audience to help the forgetful Dr. Zeiffal catch the crafty Hippo with her patented Hippo Instruments: the Invisible Hippo Blanket, the Hippo Google Googles and a blizzard of Hippo packaging.
Expect belly laughs, belly flops, surreal slapstick and fantastical falling over in this interactive family comedy created by Mouths of Lions.Bring your hippo catchers and your hippo google goggles, because Dr Zeiffal has most likely lost hers…
Age guideline: 4+
Praise for Dr. Zeiffal and Dr. Zeigal and The Hippo That Can Never Be Caught:
"Take your kids to see this and let their imaginations run wild." LondonTheatre1
"The audience are gleefully whipped into a hippo-hunting frenzy." Children’s Theatre Review
“Succeeding in every way” Curious Mum
Supported by
Edinburgh Preview: Annie McGrath & Gareth Richards
Join us in June for Edinburgh Fringe previews at Blue Elephant Theatre!
Annie McGrath: Ambivert
After last year’s joke did so well (Dave’s Top Ten Funniest Jokes of the Fringe 2016), Annie returns to Edinburgh with another one. Annie has written and performed on ITV2, Channel 4, BBC Radio 4 Extra and BBC Radio Wales.
‘A real master of deadpan… delightfully dry’ (Skinny)
‘A flair for perfectly cutting short silliness with deadpan punchlines… Hilarious’ ★★★★★ (EdFringeReview.com)
‘Beautiful timing and spot-on delivery’ ★★★★ (TheTab.com)
‘McGrath’s dry sense of humour together with cool deliveries works a treat… Ridiculously funny’ ★★★★ (TheEdinburghReporter.co.uk)
Gareth Richards
Gareth Richards’ hilarious stand-up, silly jokes and gorgeously low-key comedy songs have made him an instant favourite on the comedy circuit. In 2010 he was nominated for Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer.
Gareth has appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News, Live at the Electric (BBC3) and live on Radio 1. Gareth co-hosted Frank Skinner’s Sony award-winning Absolute Radio show for two years and supported Frank on his 2014 tour.
Don’t miss the chance to see Gareth try out new material for his next Edinburgh Fringe show.
‘A delightful hour of comedy’ The Guardian
‘A quietly-clever craftsman with a big future’ Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard
‘His material has a delicious otherworldly quality’ ★★★★ Chortle.co.uk
So U Think I'm CraZy?
“Who would have thought I would end up like this?”
This hard-hitting emotive production explores the issues surrounding the mental health system in Britain today told through the eyes of a young black man.
Using dance, poetry and music this multi-sensory experience will take you from the streets of London to the secure wing of a psychiatric hospital.
Know My Mind (KMM) is a community theatre group in Croydon, London shining a spotlight on mental health issues from the perspective of service users and carers. So U Think I’m CraZy? is written and directed by KMM co-founder Ekanem Hines, a retired Social Worker with over 30 years experience specialising in mental health.
So U Think I’m CraZy? has sold out previous performances and been endorsed by the Mayor of Croydon and professionals from the Royal College of Psychiatry.
Age Guidance: 16+
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.