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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
The Rite Of Spring/Romeo & Juliet
A visceral marriage of two tales of slaughtered innocence, The Rite of Spring/Romeo and Juliet pairs Stravinsky’s ballet and orchestral concert work with Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy. Performed in four-hand piano and commedia half-mask, the stories interweave passion, rage, despair and sacrifice to create an exciting reinterpretation of two great classic works.
The latest production by Concert Theatre, a young company which combines live classical music and theatre, brings together pianists from the Royal Academy of Music, Lecoq-trained performers and mask specialists Trestle Theatre.
Praise for Concert Theatre's show 'Sonata Movements'
“Strikingly innovative hybrid of concert-recital and drama” Telegraph
“Poignant and beautiful.” Gramophone
Reviews
Supported by
The Butterfly Lovers
A captivating tale about friendship, The Butterfly Lovers is a vibrant new adaptation for children of the Chinese legend of Liang and Zhu.
Under the reign of the evil Emperor Hu, girls are forbidden to go to school, but Zhu disguises herself as a boy to do so. There she meets Liang, and their story becomes a legend that echoes through Chinese history…
Days and Times
Saturday April 5th: 2pm (Fully booked)
Sunday April 6th: 2pm (fully booked) and 5pm
Thursday April 10th: 2pm
Friday April 11th: 2pm
Saturday April 12th: 2pm (Fully booked)
Sunday April 13th: 2pm and 5pm
Thursday April 17th: 2pm (Fully booked)
Friday April 18th: 2pm
Saturday April 19th: 2pm and 5pm
Reviews
The Power of The Inglewood
To the court of King Arthur, in the Golden Age of Camelot, comes a mysterious knight. In the enchanted forest, where supernatural beings abound and the realm of the dead crosses that of the living, he sets the King the ultimate challenge: to uncover what it is that women most desire.
Moon On A Stick reinvent this ancient tale with their distinctive fusion of puppetry and live action. Taking us on a medieval quest where unlikely relationships lead to unexpected discoveries, this is an unforgettable fable for all ages.
The Power of Inglewood is presented as a scratch work-in-progress and there will be a post-show discussion where feedback is welcomed.
Supported by
Richard III
After years of violent and tempestuous civil war, peace has finally been restored to England with the coronation of Edward IV, a nation celebrates, but Richard, Edward's brother has other ideas...
Shakespeare’s thrilling and bloodthirsty play comes to the stage through the use of text, movement and original music in this all new ensemble production.
In an England that never rests, witness one of the most violent ascensions to the throne ever mounted and welcome your new king...King Richard III.
Reviews
Arabian Nights
A rip-roaring comedy! Hammer and Tongs Theatre tramples raucously through the far-flung fables of the Arabian Nights, thwarting the murderous intentions of a jilted king...
Kings, princesses, the odd genie, more talking animals than you can shake a stick at and a flying horse all find their way into this madcap physical comedy, played out by a rambunctious ensemble and accompanied by live music.
Prepare to be bombarded by imagination and battered with fantasy!
Praise for Arabian Nights at the Camden Fringe 2012:
“Physically inventive and brilliantly funny…This is one of the best Fringe shows - one of the best pieces of pure theatre - I’ve seen in fifteen years”
Snipe London
“The performance was great!...a clever and witty interpretation”
**** Remote Goat
“A fantastic night out!”
Camden Fringe Voyeur
Reviews
Andy Peat- Vivid Colours of Nature
Andy uses close observation to bring out the full colour and energy from the natural world. This exhibition shows some of his most vibrant work and fantasy creations.
The private view of this work will be on Wednesday the 4th of December from 6pm.
What Now?
Sometimes you wonder… what now?
Is this the right way to go…?
Have I made the right choice...?
Jess is a teenager, full of ambition and eager for fun but she battles with insecurities.
Set in modern day South East London, Jess plays witness to the unraveling of her life. Facing a dilemma her peers have set for her, Jess is torn between choices she must make. The decision is hers alone. Will she be able to cope?
After-Hours is a new theatre company for 18 - 23 year olds, independently set up and managed by young people.
Alicia Clarke at Blue Elephant Theatre
Alicia Clarke and Retrospective's choreographer Mari Frogner are long time collaborators and Alicia has documented watching Retrospective come to life, from working with the seeds of an idea for the promotional pictures, to then seeing the piece develop in rehearsal. She presents this exhibition of photography alongside Retrospective and some of Blue Elephant's shorter runs of works this Autumn season.
Alicia is a London based dance photographer shooting movement imagery and reportage for arts organisations, PR and design companies. Her work appears in national magazines and supplements such as Time Out and The Guardian, and her dance clients include Laban, Greenwich Dance Agency and The Place.
This exhibition can be seen pre- and post-shows, Tuesday to Saturday. Appointments may be arranged in advance to see the exhibition during the day, Monday to Friday.
So It Goes
A wry, touching and visually poetic new play about bereavement.
Hannah’s father died of cancer when she was seventeen and in the seven years since, she hasn't talked about it much. Here she opens up, in a new show about memory, absence, bereavement...and how hard it is to talk about death.
On the Run are fascinated by the silence which death provokes, by the way grief creeps into our everyday lives and affects us even years after a death.
David Ralfe, co-creator of Machines For Living at Blue Elephant in 2012, and Hannah Moss return to the theatre following sold-out scratch performances of So It Goes in June.
So It Goes is a work-in-progress performance and feedback will be welcomed after each show.
Praise for Machines For Living:
“A terrifically directed, stylish piece” The Stage
“Glittering and sharp... brave new theatre” Edinburgh Guide
The Mermaid of Zennor
‘A long time ago it would have been common place to talk about sightings of Merfolk but not now. Now you’d be crazy to talk of such things.’
One stormy night Imogen asks her mother to recount one of her many tales.
Thrown into her favourite story, The Mermaid of Zennor, we embark on a mysterious voyage filled with mermaids and sea monsters, wandering curses and soul cages. A story of betrayal, belonging and ultimately love.
Moon on a Stick make stunning use of puppetry to bring you deep into the ocean and sweep you into this twisted tale inspired by the folklore of the Cornish Coast.
Trunkated
A showcase of excerpts and short works-in-progress of new material from London’s most exciting artists across the arts. Physical theatre, puppetry, dance, music…A Blue Elephant season in one evening!
The Butterfly Lovers
The Butterfly Lovers is a vibrant new adaptation for children of the ancient Chinese legend. Under the reign of the evil Emperor Hu, girls are forbidden to attend school, but Zhu disguises herself as a boy to do so. There she meets Liang, and together they change China forever.
Directed by James Chamberlain
Written by James Chamberlain and Jason Yu
Cast: Amy Siripunyo, Jake Cahill & Jeffrey Ho
Watch Out For The Bear
Originally formed in June 2012 to make a ukulele cover of the song 'Gettin' Jiggy With It' by Will Smith. Watch Out For The Bear found that bringing a ukulele on stage, performing simple but musically interesting songs with fresh and direct lyrics, made them develop a very special bond with the audience - a playful, singalong phantasmagoria!
Their crazy passion about Bears turned out to be fun for everyone and very contagious!
They have just launched their first EP 'Miriam Upside Down'. You can join them on Facebook Watch Out For The Bear
Dark Matter
Vertebra in collaboration with Outside puppets created the story of the elder "Alfi" who has advanced dementia. Set in a contemporary care home, we use visual and physical storytelling methods including movement and puppetry to descend into the hallucinatory mind of a man in the twilight of his life.
Directed by Mayra Stergiou & Eirini Dermitzaki
Performers/Devising Cast: Fede Bogo,Cecile Dumont, Ludovic Pujil & Paula Siu
Puppet design and making: Eirini Dermitzaki, Fede Bogo & Ludovic Puzol
What's Your Story?
How do you respond to "about me"? What do you write on your CV? This piece looks to explore fragmented identity and our existence within multiple realities and roles virtual, real and imagined.
What’s your story? is created and performed by Amelia Stubberfield, who is a theatre maker, performer, comedian and writer. Since graduating in Acting from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2008, she has developed a great deal of her own work, including theatre performance pieces, stand up, character comedy and co-writing and co-starring in an online comedy sitcom. She has recently worked with Louise Mari and Nigel Barrett (founding members of SHUNT) on their projects.
Photo credit: Al Frank Monk
Retrospective
When you stop being a child…what are you?
How do find your place in life – or even just in your group of friends? When do your feet stop growing? And who decides all these things?
These questions – and many more – are explored by five dancers in Nutshell Dance’s new work Retrospective.
Retrospective deals with topics of adolescence – unknown emotions, budding sexuality, insecurities and unfamiliar identities. Choreographer Mari Frogner explores these topics from a very personal place, combining her Scandinavian point of view with her current perspective as a choreographer working in a world where female voices are scarce.
Reviews
Supported by
Crazy Glue 2013
‘Crazy Glue’ had a successful work-in-progress run at the Blue Elephant in October 2013 and has gone on to tour nationally and internationally to great acclaim.
Reviews
The Spanish Tragedy
Treacherously murdered in war, a haunted spirit returns to his homeland to seek revenge on those responsible for his death. His lust for the truth leads to one of the bloodiest plays ever written, The Spanish Tragedy.
This outstanding landmark of Elizabethan drama comes to the stage in a new ensemble production, told through a fusion of text, movement and music.
Kyd’s revenge thriller is said to have inspired other great works of the period including Marlowe’s Dr Faustus, Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi and Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
“Nothing less than a superb lesson in how to adapt an old classic for a contemporary audience.”
Naima Khan, Spoonfed.com
You can keep you up to date with all the goings on direct from the rehearsal room and stage on their blog:
Reviews
The Grumpiest Boy in the World
Paper Balloon present their magical new family show!
Grumpy seven-year-old Zachary is fed up with feeling average and journeys into a surreal and entrancing world to discover what makes him special.
A host of hilarious characters combine with award-winning writer Finegan Kruckemeyer’s sharp dialogue in this unique twist on an adventure tale.
Alternately hilarious and deeply moving, audiences both young and old will love joining the furious Zachary in his desperate quest to discover difference.