BET mailing list
Submit your email
BET on Twitter
Loading feed...
Charity number: 1077161
Company number: 3724349
Blue Elephant Theatre Privacy policy.
We use cookies for Google Analytics, but these can be disabled via your browser configuration.
Past programme
Showcases an eclectic range of fresh and interesting contemporary work, largely by emerging artists
The Interview
“I think when it comes down to it Daniel, we’re probably looking for the same thing.”
“Peace.”
An interview is being held. Dan has volunteered. The interviewer must be impartial.
As the process progresses, both Dan and The Interviewer realise that understanding why we do what we do, and how our brains have been influenced by the world around us, is no easy task.
The Interview is an absurdist two-hander that explores the insidious nature of sexual assault in our society. Join new company Slime & Pies for this work-in-progress by debut Playwright Eleanor Roberts.
About the artists
The Interview is the London debut of new theatre company Slime & Pies_. Formed in 2022, Slime & Pies_ have recently worked at The Traverse, Edinburgh on an R&D of Kill the Second Coming with Slime & Pies by Ellen Bannerman.
Grown Men Keep Breaking My Heart
Grown Men Keep Breaking My Heart is a short dance theatre piece that tells the story of two best friends who, after losing contact with one another as teenagers, choose to rekindle their relationship over an evening of partying and drinking. This meetup leads to an eventful evening of revisiting pivotal moments in their lives that shaped them into who they are, and within that shaped the actions and thoughts towards one another and the world.
The piece explores themes of youth, relationships, mental health, and social politics. It comments on the current climate young men grow up in without real leadership, and offers another perspective that is both meaningful and intimate, as well as a much needed platform for young men to access in order to heal, learn and progress.
Grown Men Keep Breaking My Heart mixes a range of styles the artists have trained in, such as Hip Hop, commercial, Kathak, and explores them under the umbrella of contemporary dance.
Supported by
- Frances Prenn, Alexis Prenn, David Cazalet, Lucia Fortune-Ely, Rambert School, Corey Baker Dance
A Guest
Work in progress presented as part of Blue Elephant's residency programme.
A Guest follows a married couple who really are good people. They’re vegan, they’ve adopted, they care about others. Really. So when she brings a stranger to live in their house while he was away on his Yoga retreat, it shouldn’t come as a shock. They are good people after all. But, really, who is she? In this family nothing is as it seems.
A Guest is a riveting new play by Aaron Kilercioglu (For A Palestinian) about hospitality, the nuclear family, and our very British class anxiety.
About the writer
Aaron’s debut sell-out play For A Palestinian (published by Methuen Drama) debuted at Camden People’s Theatre and Bristol Old Vic. He is currently on commission writing plays for Boundless Theatre and Elleanor Lloyd Productions. His previous work has won the BOLD Playwrights Prize and the Methuen Drama ‘Other’ Prize, and has been shortlisted for the Theatre503 Int. Playwriting Prize.
Praise for A Palestinian (2022):
★★★★★ (Everything Theatre)
★★★★★ (Pocket Size Theatre)
★★★★★ (The Reviews Hub)
★★★★★ (West End Evenings)
★★★★★ (RachelReviewed)
★★★★ (WhatsOnStage)
A Topsy Turvy Christmas
Christmas is a little bit different this year.
Blue Elephant Theatre are back again with another festive family treat!
Combining side splitting comedy, audience interaction and a heartwarming message, A Topsy Turvy Christmas is set to delight audiences this December.
Christmas is Robin’s favourite time of year. But this year, everything is different. Her dad isn’t living with them anymore, and although she sees him a lot, it isn’t the same. Despite her efforts to make everything perfect and to feel normal again, nothing seems to be going right.
It only gets more peculiar when she is transported into one of her presents!
Inside her beautiful snow globe, the world is topsy turvy, her best friend is a Christmas tree, and Santa is very unusual indeed. Robin embarks on an adventure to help put things right, but discovers that change is all part of the journey.
A story about navigating change, listening to ourselves and finding Christmas magic, wherever you go.
Suitable for all the family but aimed at ages 4-8 years.
Running time: 45 min.
All performances are relaxed. For more info about access, please message info@blueelephanttheatre.co.uk
Dates:
• Fri 9 Dec, 4:30pm
• Sat 10 Dec, 2pm SOLD OUT
• Sat 10 Dec, 4:30pm SOLD OUT
• Sun 11 Dec, 2pm SOLD OUT
• Sun 11 Dec, 4:30pm SOLD OUT
• JUST ADDED Sat 17 Dec, 11am
• Sat 17 Dec, 2pm SOLD OUT
• Sat 17 Dec, 4:30pm SOLD OUT
• JUST ADDED Sun 18 Dec, 11am
• Sun 18 Dec, 2pm SOLD OUT
• Sun 18 Dec, 4:30pm SOLD OUT
• JUST ADDED Tue 20 Dec, 11am
• JUST ADDED Tue 20 Dec, 2pm
A Topsy Turvy Christmas is generously supported by Unity Theatre Trust and Royal Victoria Hall Foundation.
Supported by
existentialism. (work in progress)
A new work about loneliness, isolation, and self-worth defined by early childhood relationships with music.
Tickets are Pay What You Choose.
About Iona Kirk
Iona is a neurodivergent dancer-actor, choreographer, and early career theatre maker. Iona is an alumna of London Studio Centre. She conceived & choreographed her debut work ‘(un)written • (un)heard’ with 45North and Ellandar Productions in 2019 which was presented at Fringe World Perth 2020 winning the International Dance & Physical Theatre Award. Iona has worked as a dancer with English National Opera 2018/19 and is supported in residency by Space Clarence Mews.
She is part of Ellandar's digital project ‘Yoga For The Feet’ a digital theatre work prioritising access & collaborating with neurodivergent artists originally presented at Liberty Festival 2022. Her current work-in-progress harmony. 天人合一 was a commission from Certain Blacks and is being presented as a work-in-progress at The Pleasance Futures Festival 2022.
ELEFUNNY COMEDY NIGHT
A terrific line-up of up-and-coming comedians is taking over Blue Elephant - grab a drink and witness some of the most exciting acts the UK comedy circuit has to offer!
Including:
CHIN WANG
DAVINA BENTLEY
VIGGO VENN
AHMED IBRAHIM
LESLIE GOLD
MACLARRY
Compered by FITZGERALD HONGER
CHIN WANG
Having grown up in China and now living in the UK, Chin Wang is an up-coming stand-up comedian in the UK comedy scene. Chin’s infinitely likable stage persona and belting gags have seen her ripping up live gigs from London to Glasgow as well as radio shows in Scotland and virtual shows streamed to Shanghai. Funny, charming, and hilariously honest, Chin is fast becoming one of the most exciting new acts to see.
DAVINA BENTLEY
Comedian Davina Bentley is a Jewish London raised comic, inspired by high status US comics such as Michelle Wolf and Ali Wong, who tackle subjects previously deemed off limits. Since starting writing and performing stand-up comedy six years ago, Davina has reached the finals of numerous competitions and performs regularly in comedy clubs including Top Secret, Vauxhall and Fulham.
As a lawyer who does not suffer fools gladly, Davina examines the absurdity of modern life and pop culture - her cynical outlook is perfectly contrasted with her energetic and smile-filled performances.
As well as performing stand-up up comedy, Davina posts sketches regularly on TikTok and Instagram, parodying the hard-hitting political TV dramas Made In Chelsea and Emily in Paris. her current TikTok record stands at 600k views for her depiction of ‘“Bohemian” Islington Dad.’
VIGGO VENN
 Andy Hollingworth.jpg)
Viggo Venn is a Clown, Comedian and Norwegian! Norway is very very boring… Luckily Viggo is not, and he relocated to London and recently won the “NATYS - New Act of The Year”. His solo show “Viggo Venn: Club Comedian” sold out its Edinburgh Fringe run.
AHMED IBRAHIM
King Kong winner 2021. Another of South London’s brightest lights, Ahmed has appeared at Up the Creek and many other top comedy clubs. His natural, relaxed style is charming and endearing.
LESLIE GOLD
New Jersey native Leslie Gold speaks truth to power - and to anyone who will listen. With no patience for idiocy, Leslie is endearingly funny and confident enough to get away with it.
West End New Act of the Year One to Watch 2022
So You Think You’re Funny Semi-Finalist 2021
MACLARRY
Maclarry is a South African comedian raised by the world on a mission to bring laughter to all. Join him on his journey of funny as he crafts hilarious tales in his warm, natural style including navigating life in London, fatherhood and adulting in general.
FITZGERALD HONGER - COMPERE
A regular on the London comedy circuit, Fitzgerald Honger is a dynamic comedian who has performed in top comedy clubs across London and the UK including Up the Creek and the comedy store. When not doing comedy, Fitz is a producer. He’s worked for international companies spanning PR and broadcast television including MTV and Discovery, and has developed a wealth of contacts within the TV and entertainment industries.
2023
2023 is a response to the climate crisis and the growing need for change in the world we’re living in.
A change of awareness in how we relate to our earth is needed urgently. Although we are facing unprecedented challenges as a collective with our planet, there is still time to shift the direction.
With original music by world-renowned composers, James Keane (Hofesh Shechter, Theo Clinkard, Joss Arnott) and Joe Scott (Lauryn Hill, Peter Gabriel, Blackstreet), 2023 takes the audience on a sensory adventure inviting us to reflect on our own relationship to the earth and allowing us a glimpse into the world we can create when we reconnect with our planet.
________
About Noa Genazzano / Universe In Motion
Born in Barcelona, Noa Genazzano was raised in NYC. She graduated from The Ailey School where she performed alongside Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. After relocating to London she worked with esteemed choreographers Maxine Doyle, Vinicius Salles, and Humanhood, among others.
In 2018 she founded Universe in Motion to inspire personal and global shifts in awareness through movement, meditation, and performance art. Her work, U Are The Universe, premiered at Triskelion Arts in NYC.
Follow Noa on Instagram: @universeinmotion
Check out Noa's website: www.noagenazzano.com
Reviews
Britton Fisher, Board Member The Joyce Theatre, New York City
Danica Paulos, Company Member Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Forgotten Voices
Join us at Blue Elephant for a compelling hour of storytelling celebrating Black History Month during half-term week!
Running time: 30 min performance + 30 min drama workshop
"If I put my mind to it, I can do it!"
Esther enjoys helping out on her parents' farm in Jamaica, but her biggest dream is to become a nurse. When England calls for people to come work there, she seizes the opportunity and sets sail for the "motherland" to make her dream come true!
Forgotten Voices is a storytelling show for ages 7-11 about the human side of Windrush, and pursuing one's dreams in an unfamiliar land.
The show will be followed by a 25-30 min workshop with the children.
This project is made possible by Southwark Council's Black History Month fund.
Written by Jacqui Livingston
Performed by Tatenda Matsvai and Nikki Acquah
Supported by
Arrogant Soft
Sometimes, your partner says something and you let it slide. Not this time.
Date night has finished, John, Lola and their friends have talked relentlessly, drunk merrily and sung appallingly, well into the early hours of the morning. But after a Freudian slip, it becomes clear that there is more to discuss.
How much individualism is too much in a relationship? Are there some things that you keep from your partner? Do they have a right to know about all your decisions?
Written by Alphonso Brown, Arrogant Soft is a compelling new piece that looks into the joy, despondency and complexities that only a relationship can bring out.
Arrogant Soft is a work-in-progress presented as part Blue Elephant's Autumn residencies.
About the writer
Alphonso Brown is an actor, writer, model and workshop facilitator, proudly hailing from Croydon. After completing his University degree at the Plymouth Conservatoire, he returned to London where he has gone from strength to strength in each of his creative disciplines from touring as the lead role in Shakespeare's 'Othello', leading Drama workshops across the U.K. , modelling with Nike... writing is just the latest string to his ever-growing bow.
Found In Translation
The first showcase from CREANDO ESCENARIOS, our adult Spanish-language drama group!
For 10 weeks, participants of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds have gathered at Blue Elephant Theatre to experiment, play and create theatre together (some of them for the first time!). Come laugh, cry and ponder at their brand-new theatrical creations...
Please note the scenes presented will be in Spanish.
This showcase is made possible by Southwark Council's Public Health Grant.
____________
¡La primera presentación de nuestro grupo de teatro para adultos hispanohablantes!
Por 10 semanas, participantes de todas las edades, nacionalidades y procedencias se han reunido en el Blue Elephant Theatre para experimentar, jugar y crear teatro juntos (¡algunos por primera vez!). Ven a reír, llorar y reflexionar sobre sus nuevas creaciones teatrales...
Tengan en cuenta que las escenas se presentarán en español.
Esta presentación ha sido posible gracias al Public Health Grant de Southwark Council.
Supported by
The Giant Who Slept For Ten Thousand Years / The Pony Club at the End of the World
Join us for a morning of puppetry, with two shows for little ones back to back! The Giant Who Slept For Ten Thousand Years (ages 2+) at 10:30am, and The Pony Club at the End of the World (ages 5+) at 11:30am.
These events are free to attend - you can book one or both!
Donations to Blue Elephant Theatre are encouraged, and can be made while booking. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference!
The Giant Who Slept For Ten Thousand Years
Sunday 16 October, 10:30am
Suitable for ages 2+
Running time: 30mins
Adapted from a Swedish folk tale, this puppet show for families takes us back in time 10 thousand years to when giants walked the earth and sea trolls lived in the waters. But what happens when humans move into the forests and mountains? A storytelling show about nature, friendship and the places we call home.
Made and performed by Bori Mező
Directed by Amy Rose
Music by Nicolas Lewis
The Pony Club at the End of the World
Sunday 16 October, 11:30am
Suitable for ages 5+
Running Time 30mins
A wacky puppet show about the apocalypse – starting at the village fair. Featuring terror in the trifle tent, vengeful vicars and a portaloo-related emergency. A blend of storytelling, puppetry and clown aimed at anyone with a silly side. Warning: May Contain Showjumping
Made and performed by Edie Edmundson
Music by Guy Hughes
Photo by Mark Morreau
About the artists
We are Edie and Bori, two puppeteers and theatre-makers based in London. Over lockdown, we were inspired by performers bringing their work to the streets and doing shows on doorsteps, in gardens and parks. Forced out of traditional theatre spaces by the Covid pandemic, we returned to the roots of live performance: intimate, accessible to everyone and - most importantly - LIVE.
{Doorstepping (vb): performing a live, portable show on someone's doorstep}
Our new website, The Doorstepper's Map is an online map leading to a directory of doorstep performers - it will be launched this October! To celebrate we are performing our own suitcase shows, 'The Giant Who Slept For Ten Thousand Years' and 'The Pony Club At The End Of The World.' The Map will allow you to book shows like this straight to your doorstep!
Find out more at https://thedoorsteppersmap.co.uk/
Facebook/Instagram - @thedoorsteppersmap
Bori Mezö
Bori is a freelance puppeteer and maker based in London. She regularly puppeteers for the Puppet Theatre Barge and String Theatre. She co-founded Hopeful Monster, a company that creates and tours visual theatre shows in the UK and abroad. She’s recently ventured into creating solo work with a suitcase show about giants. She feels most at home when there are books around so she always carries one or two with her, wherever she goes.
Edie Edmundson
Edie is a puppeteer, writer and theatre maker. She has worked for companies including Shakespeare’s Globe, Edinburgh Royal Lyceum, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. She also makes her own work including cabaret acts about flamingos and a suitcase puppet show about evil ponies. She loves to dance, walk through woods, and eat chocolate - sometimes all at once.
TRUNKATED - AstroBlack edition
Blue Elephant Theatre's scratch night TRUNKATED is back with its brand new AstroBlack edition!
An evening of spoken word, music and film from some of the most exciting emerging black artists in South London.
Line-up
TATENDA MATSVAI - HOST / CURATOR
Tatenda (they/them) is a Zimbabwean born, south east London based facilitator and devised performance maker, working with spoken word poetry in theatrical and non-theatrical context, with a focus on community engagement. Their work is mainly bio-mythical, infusing their lived experience with myth, to challenge colonial cosmologies as an act of self-recovery. Their performances are joyful, participatory, and multidimensional.
EWA DINA - POETRY / SPOKEN WORD
Ewa is a Nigerian born, sheffield raised and now London based director, facilitator, actor, voiceover artist & poet.She is currently associate director at Nouveau Riche. As a facilitator, Ewa regularly works for Company Three and has worked with The Kiln Theatre, Central School of Speech and Drama, The Pleasence, The Damilola Taylor Centre. Music and movement are integral parts of Ewa’s process.
Recent acting credits include: Abidemi in Silkworm (Edinburgh Fringe Festival - Fringe first winner)
Ewa graduated from the Rose Bruford BA Acting course in 2019.
AXEL KENGNE - MONOLOGUE
Axel is a French-Cameroonian actor and writer currently in his final year of the BA Acting CDT at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, due to graduate in 2023. Recent roles in training include Hamlet in a devised production of "Hamlet", and Tobias in "Education, Education, Education". He is passionate about the history of race relations and its influence on the African diaspora.
He will perform a solo comedy drama called the "Coconut Glitch", a piece about a second-generation Black immigrant finding his sense of identity in the western world.
Instagram : @axelkengne
REBEKAH JOHNSON - MONOLOGUE
Rebekah Johnson is an actress who developed her writing skills as a way of creating work not just for herself but for others around her. Rebekah took her skills and applied them to The Cockpit Theatre In the Pound. She co-wrote and performed A Passage Through Time, which is currently online. She then started writing for actors she knew and wrote short monologues for them to film. During the lockdown, she has written a book filled with monologues which you can find at https://payhip.com/b/yPBY. This year Rebekah was a part of Passing The Spoon which was a spin on the Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters at The Tower Theatre. She also write and perform audio stories. https://youtu.be/cDarVNdkcNA.
Instagram: @Rebekah.johnson18
BRITNY VIRGINIA - VIDEO POETRY
Britny Virginia is a poet, writer, director, and creative facilitator. She is currently producing a short film she's written about her journey with disability.
Much of work is inspired by her St. Lucian culture, her disability and her faith! She hopes to inspire others one story at a time!
Sanctuary
Sanctuary is a dance theatre production around the very theme of sanctuary itself. It explores what it means to search for it and/or maintain it. We explore what it means physically (places, and objects), mentally (inside our minds/the concept of self image), and spiritually (finding connections with other people).
This work was created as a response to Covid-19 and how everyone almost at once lost any kind of security - be it financially, emotionally, physically.
A story of individual journeys of re-building oneself and reconnecting to others, and our communities.
Please note the artists will be using a Polaroid camera during the show (with flash), sometimes aiming it at audience members. The resulting photos will be disposed of immediately after the show.
About EQ Dance Company
EQ Dance Co. is an exploratory company of dance artists, working in collaboration to create and deliver dance experiences with impact based in the UK.
Led by choreographer/creative David West, EQ Dance Co. connects freelance artists with dancers to explore and enliven creative ideas in and around subjects such as mental health and the human experience.
Follow us on Instagram: @eqdanceco
Check out our website: https://www.eqdanceco.com/
Becoming
Two women. Two different countries, different backgrounds, different heritage, but one city - London.
Through a series of sensory, multimedia vignettes, theatrical collage Becoming explores cultural, political and religious differences and their impact on one’s journey of self-discovery in today’s world.
Created by European duo Morphosis Theatre Company (Weronika Maria and Andrea Van Eyck), Becoming began in 2020 as an experiment wherein the artists shot a one-minute video each day for a month. The concept evolved from video poetry expression into a theatrical essay, which takes the form of an ever-changing collage freely blending art forms.
___________
About Morphosis Theatre Company
Morphosis was founded in 2022 by Weronika Maria and Andrea Van Eyck. Weronika graduated from the BA in Acting (CDT) at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and Andrea from the BA Acting and Performing Arts at the TAI – Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid.
Throughout their journey, Morphosis were supported by Migrants in Theatre and NDT Broadgate / New Diorama Theatre.
In May 2021 Becoming was part of Shift+Space program at Theatre Deli.
In Spring 2023, Morphosis will be coming back to Shift+Space, premiering Part Two of Becoming.
Follow them on Instagram: @morphosis.tc
Supported by
Patient Is A Verb
Welcome to the waiting room to enter the realm of Transition*. You are the 11,174th player. Only 33 players have made it through Level One this month.
The waiting list to see the Gender Identity Clinic is now 5 years long. Patient for trans people is often an adjective and not a noun, the endurance of suffering without receiving treatment. Yet our systems primarily expect trans people to move through life as a patient – subjects to medical scrutiny and approval. What does a duration of 5 years really mean, and when does patience turn from virtue to verb?
Devised through drawing on lived experiences of interviewed participants and an all-trans team, Patient Is A Verb takes you on a journey navigating the healthcare system in the UK. It melds grim realities with the world of video games, searching for agency in waiting.
Please note this is a script-in-hand work in progress.