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Charity number: 1077161
Company number: 3724349
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Past programme
Showcases an eclectic range of fresh and interesting contemporary work, largely by emerging artists
Good Blood
Good Blood looks closely at the relationship between two sisters. Keira and Sioda use dance, live music, song and storytelling to bring hilarious, nostalgic and familiar family scenarios to the stage. Their honesty and humour shed light on the bonds that hold us together and the people who make us who we are.
Keira Martin and Sioda Adams were born and bred in Barnsley, Yorkshire. They trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and have gone on to have successful careers working for the past 20 years travelling around the globe, including; Bermuda, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Brazil, Spain, USA and Ireland, to name but a few.
The two sisters are inspired and influenced by their working-class upbringing, politics and Ireland, where their parents came from. They are both mothers and have an unforgettable dynamic that is humorous and heartwarming. If there is one thing they both agree on, it’s that you don’t get owt without hard graft.
Praise for previous work:
"These are the stories that people must hear; this is the art people must experience if we are going to live in the compassionate world most of us desire to live in."
danceartjournal.com
"The sheer physicality of the performance was stunningly visceral"
Audience Member
Commissioned by Northern School of Contemporary Dance - Northern Connections, 2Faced Dance Company - The Bench Seed funding, with support from Yorkshire Dance, Vincent Dance Theatre, Spin Arts and Dance City.
Supported by
The Cocoon
This raw and uplifting celebration of womanhood uses music, spoken word and exhilarating choreography to explore the female experience. On this humorous, poignant and empowering journey, we encounter mothers, daughters, sisters and friends as we shift and emerge into new worlds, from Greggs in Leeds to the beaches of Cornwall and everywhere in between. These worlds and the stories within are a colourful mix of fantasy and reality. With stories gathered and shared by women's groups across Greater Manchester, this work searches to connect women to each other, and to themselves.
The Cocoon premiered at Z Arts in 2019 to great acclaim and now embarks on performances in both Manchester and London. With a newly commissioned musical score by Richard Smithson, and an updated cast of five unapologetically fearless female dancers, The Cocoon promises to be a joyous celebration of femininity.
Coalesce Dance Theatre is a Manchester-based, female-led contemporary dance company. Directors Fern Wareham and Rachel Maffei have established an ethos that places people at the heart of their practice. Coalesce Dance Theatre approach subjects that are current and topical, uplifting and engaging audiences with their thoughtfully crafted choreography.
The company was formed in 2017 and have received a number of commissions, as well as support by Arts Council England's Grants for the Art for a range of projects.
Praise for Coalesce Dance Theatre's previous work:
"Episodes are knitted together with unison movement hinting at strength, comradeship and the multidimensionality of femininity...thoughtfully crafted and elegantly performed."
Emma Hopley - Emma Reviews Shows.
Coalesce Dance Theatre - The Cocoon Trailer from CoalesceDance on Vimeo.
Reviews
Supported by
Cow's Rainy Day
Cow is very excited about celebrating his best friend Amy's birthday. He's planning to make her the most amazing card she's ever seen.
But things don't go quite to plan and Cow feels down.
Luckily Amy is there to help Cow feel better - but she needs some helpers. Can you join her and cheer Cow up?
Cow's Rainy Day is a new short play for children, about learning new things, accepting mistakes, trying hard and being friends.
Suitable for ages 2+
Running Time: 30 minutes approx
Performances:
Thursday 20th Feb - 11.30am, 2pm & 4.30pm
Thursday 27th Feb - 2pm & 4.30pm
Sunday 1st March - 11.30am, 2pm & 4.30pm
Luncheons and Flagons: An Epic Immersive Adventure
Your epic quest awaits - will you answer the call?
From the award-winning Paper Mug Theatre comes an interactive choose-your-own-adventure, where three lucky audience members will be the masters of their fate.
There is unrest in the medieval realm of Gondolar. As the tyrannical King Titranoss prepares his heir for their name-day, an underground band plot their bloody rebellion. Through unlikely circumstances, the Heir, a Soldier and a Peasant are flung together to choose between rebels and royalty, embarking on a quest to the far reaches of Gondolar's kingdom which tests the limits of their morality. With over a thousand potential story paths, Gondolar is about to change forever - what side are you on?
A tongue-in-cheek homage to all facets of nerd culture, particularly inspired by the campaigns of Dungeons and Dragons, Luncheons and Flagons is an exciting live-action gaming experience, bringing imagination to the forefront.
Paper Mug Theatre focuses on meaningful stories with humour, pathos and a contemporary perspective. They devise, write and work with actors to bring the best stories to life.
Paper Mug Theatre's work has been awarded China Plate's Pick of Pulse Festival, Theatre Weekly's Best Fringe Debut and an Off West End Commendation, and was longlisted for the prestigious Bruntwood Prize.
Praise for Paper Mug Theatre's previous work:
"Incredibly funny, raw and clever… sharp and hilarious"
Amy Toledano, WithinHerWords (for A Partnership)
"…superb, naturalistic and effortlessly funny…"
Fiona Anderson, Ed Fest Mag (for A Partnership)
Luncheons and Flagons is presented as part of Elephantology, Blue Elephant Theatre’s festival showcasing the work of recent graduates.
Show may contain fantasy violence - recommended for ages 12+
Noot Patoot
Watch a clown wrestle with the departure of her youth. Featuring physical comedy, mime, audience interaction and improvisation, Noot Patoot is a comical whirlwind of short episodic scenes.
Funny, nostalgic and absurd, clown Natalie Patuzzo’s debut solo show has been developed from The Hoe-ly Trinity, created with Soft Pedal Collective, which won the 'Best (Theatre) Play 2019' award at Guildford Fringe Festival 2019. Natalie trained at Rose Bruford College, HAMU Prague, and L'École Jacques Lecoq Paris, and currently works in Nottingham as a drama facilitator.
Noot Patoot is a work-in-progress showing.
Noot-Patoot is presented as part of Elephantology, Blue Elephant Theatre’s festival showcasing the work of recent graduates.
Little Star
Meet Little Star in our show for little ones ages 6-18 months. Join her as she swings from shooting stars, slides down crescent moons and bounces on fluffy clouds. Using puppetry, music and captivating visuals to delight our young audience, an intimate, relaxed setting makes this the perfect first theatre experience.
Little Star features the popular song ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’, taking us on a journey with the star herself. Little Star wants to explore space. Not content with the same spot in the sky, she wants to see, hear and touch everything!
Praise for Little Star:
“The music and sensory experience was mesmerising for the babies”
Audience member
"We saw Little Star today, my 8 month old absolutely loved it! Very engaging and interactive for the babies and a brilliant sensory experience. Thank you for making our babies first theatre experience a brilliant one"
Audience member
"My 7 month old little girl loved this production. She was captivated by all the lights and sounds. A great first show for babies and a relaxing time for parents too."
Little Star (Baby Show) Teaser from Moon On A Stick on Vimeo.
Supported by
Not Four Girls
big mess are on a quest to unleash their inner dancer. Come and see them take their first steps into the world of performance in their new comedy show Not Four Girls.
Inspired by the work of Leona Lewis, the protagonists bring spectacle, splendour and sweat, Not Four Girls reach heights that they have never reached before; exploring friendship, trust and bravery. These girls (sort of) are working hard and giving you everything they’ve got. So relax, take a deep breath and prepare yourself for a show like no other. Rice, Ribbons and Bleeding Love are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg
big mess are a theatre company emerging from the University of Surrey intent on making work to empower and inspire all! big mess are passionate about the world, about politics, feminism, gender identities and so much more. They’re here to make shows that matter, even if it gets a bit messy in the process.
Not Four Girls is presented as part of Elephantology, Blue Elephant Theatre’s festival showcasing the work of recent graduates.
Move Fast and Break Things
“Move fast and break things. Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.” Mark Zuckerberg
We are moving fast.
Really fast.
Powered by data, we are hurtling towards a future where algorithms determine the direction of all of our lives. What we wear. What we eat. Who we vote for. Who we love.
In fact, they already do all of these things.
Because, we moved fast.
But somewhere down the line, we will wonder:
What did we break?
And can it be fixed?
Alone in an office, one Facebook moderator thinks about these things.
And decides to take action.
What happens next will change everything.
Freight Theatre present a work-in-progress show about the internet and ourselves. A piece of movement theatre that delves deep into the world of Big Data in search of something to celebrate: in search of what it really means to be human.
Praise for previous work:
“Works beautifully” - The Scotsman (4*).
“Actually practises what it preaches” - The Sunday Times.
“Brilliant from start to finish” - The Cherwell (4.5*).
“A treat to behold” - DailyInfo.
Freight Theatre are a London-based emerging theatre company who cover big issues through intimate human stories. We believe in making theatre that can be shown anywhere for anyone - location and situation should be no barrier to the opportunity to experience experimental theatre. Founded three years ago, previous projects have included plays such as ‘Lovesong’ (Abi Morgan) and ‘The Crocodile’ (Tom Basden), and devised movement theatre including a new play, ‘Brink’(Alastair Curtis).
Move Fast and Break Things is now fully booked. Please call 02077010100 to be added to the waiting list for returns.
The Christmas Quest
Not many people have heard of The Letter-Machine but it has a very important job. Possibly the most important job of all. It processes all the letters to Santa and makes sure every child is remembered.
When it breaks in a terrible storm, an Elf, a Reindeer and a Teddy set out on a quest to find the parts to fix it. A happy Christmas depends on it.
The Christmas Quest is a new show for families by Blue Elephant Theatre. Full of slapstick humour and joyfulness, it celebrates differences and shares a strong message of inclusivity.
Performance times:
Saturday 7th: 2pm& 4.30pm
Sunday 8th: 2pm & 4.30pm (fully booked)
Monday 9th: 10.45am & 1.30pm (both performances fully booked)
Tuesday 10th: 10.45am & 1.30pm (both performances fully booked)
Thursday 12th: 10.45am & 1.30pm
Friday 13th: 1.30pm & 4.30pm (both performances fully booked)
Saturday 14th: 2pm & 4.30pm (fully booked)
Sunday 15th: 2pm & 4.30pm (both performances fully booked)
Monday 16th: 10.45am & 1.30pm (both performances fully booked)
Tuesday 17th: 10.45am & 1.30pm (both performances fully booked)
I Love Myself, Do You?
I Love Myself, Do You? explores the old Cherokee fable of two wolves fighting within you. One is good, the other is evil.
Which one wins? The one you feed.
Fusing contemporary dance, physical and hip-hop theatre, Michaela Cisarikova directs three female dancers to create personal stories of beauty, identity and self-worth which feel fundamentally universal, all with a vibrant original score composed by Ross Allchurch.
Suitable for 10+
As part of ACE #ThankstoYou week, an under 18 will go free with a paying adult with a lottery ticket, and lone adults with lottery tickets can get £9 tickets. Please call 020 7701 0100 for more information and to book.
Easy
My best friend Meg actually lost it last week, to her boyfriend Amir.
Apparently he lit candles.
Magical, was the word she used.
Alice would give anything for something magical to happen to her. But she’s shy, has no idea how to contour and the last thing she loved was a roast potato.
She feels ordinary. Unremarkable. Unpopular.
Until Jamie from Maths messages her.
Finally, something is about to happen to Alice.
Something big. Something she won’t ever forget. Something she never expected.
And the whole school knows.
Easy is a powerful new play by Amy Blakelock, exploring what happens when we combine social media, love island ideals, Snapchat and teenage insecurity. An intimate portrait of adolescence today, Easy asks us – why is it so hard to believe we’re good enough as we are?
Easy has been developed in consultation with teachers and teenagers and free PSHE workshops are available for school and youth group bookings. Workshops are supported by the leading UK sexual health charity Brook.
The performances on Tuesday 5th & Wednesday 6th November are previews and prices are £10.00 (full), £9.00 (conc.) & £8.00 (Southwark Residents)
Easy is a new play by Amy Blakelock about issues encountered by teenagers today and is recommended for ages 14+. Easy was a finalist in the Best Production for Young People aged 13+ category at the offwestend.com awards.
Supported by
Turtle Dove
Everyone loves a love story. Turtle Dove explores true tales of the sometimes bumpy, funny and sad journeys we take with our relationships. Made from interviews with people of all ages and sexualities, their voices are weaved into the musical soundtrack and their honesty and secrets are brought to life through dance and theatre. This duet is a heart-warming, candid and witty show that celebrates all forms of love and touches on life’s heartaches.
Devised in collaboration with leading composer Dougie Evans and script writer for the BBC Nick Walker, Turtle Dove is characterised by creative use of text, effortless physicality and its authenticity. Come and experience the stories of strangers who will soon feel like friends.
Produced in association with Lîla Dance.
“Love...appears in a memory recalled, in a shiver of anticipation, in energy and in space...Turtle Dove is genuinely heart-warming.”
Sanjoy Roy - Resolution! Review
“Performed so well, with great sincerity”
Wen Amanda Koh- Resolution! Review
Suitable for ages 14+
Turtle Dove Trailer from Amy Morvell on Vimeo.
Supported by
Chica Michelle Concert - October 2019
Treat yourself to an evening with some of South London’s most exciting new acts.
After a successful launch in August, Chica Michelle Concert is a new platform for emerging artists with their own distinctive and individual style of performance.
Expect music, dance and more in this fresh explosion of talent, headlined by Chica Michelle.
The other exciting up and coming artists include:
Alice Callari
Doze Crude
Richard Rawal
George Wilkis
Sophie Lagan
Lea Baruffato
DJ Pharaohz
Comedian MC Mark
Alice Callari
George Wilks
George Wilks is an up and coming musician, producer and songwriter from the South of England. Learning his first instrument at the age of 6, he found his love of music early on, and discovered a passion for performing which he has continued to this day.
He will perform acoustic versions of his songs at the Chica Michelle Concert, however he records tracks as a one man band, using piano, guitar, and drums pads.
George is looking to release original material on to streaming services in the near future, so keep an ear out for the exciting things he has planned.
DJ Pharaohz
Doze Crude
Sophie Lagan
Ricardo Rawal
Ricardo Rawal is a Dancehall/Reggae artist. He was born in Jamaica and now lives in London.
He says "Music has always been a passion of mine. Expressing how I feel and what I'm going through at that moment in my life has helped me overcome some hard situations. I write from the heart and express everything in my words. current I have a EP out titled "Can't stop my shine" streaming on Apple music, iTunes and spotify. I hope people all over the world can relate to my songs and the lyrics I speak, if not, I hope they can bop their head and tap their foot to the beat."
Lea Baruffato
Carrier of a husky voice and a bluesy/rock guitar, Lea combines different influences like Rock, Pop, Country, Indie and Folk Rock in an original and characteristic style thanks to his travels and Argentinian roots.
He writes songs about life experiences with the ultimate goal of touching people's souls.
Weight/Wait
Karen's at her first counselling session. Will her mind let her stay?
This “completely engaging and emotionally intelligent" dance theatre duet explores the mental and physical ‘weight’ of our thoughts and inner voice through raw, physical movement, dark humour, original text and music. The audience are taken on a journey with Karen as she tries to keep her head above water.
"It reveals the fragility of the human condition"
Arts for Health
"a powerful piece of contemporary dance theatre and an emotional rollercoaster that is gripping from start to finish.....an exquisite duet performed by two very impressive dance artists”
Nadia Strahan, Fringe Review
“Empathetically tactful, gracefully written and exceptionally performed, Weight/Wait is as exquisite as it is heart-wrenching, a welcome conversation on anxiety through dance.”
Hannah Lee, Voice Magazine
Caldonia & Katharine create original stories using movement, theatre and spoken word. They engage directly with audiences by presenting relevant topics with emotionally driven content and by breaking the fourth wall. They create from ideas that spark conversation and find light-hearted ways to provoke responses.
Weight/Wait is supported by Arts Council England, Arts for Health, DanceXchange, Rural Media Company/Random Acts and Spin Arts.
Weight/Wait is now fully booked and we are operating a waiting list. Please call 02077010100 if you would like to be added to it.
Weight/Wait - Production Trailer from caldonia dances on Vimeo.
Ellipsis
In a world where apathy is the norm, Emma has always pursued the idea of perfection. Nothing could stand in her way. But when a mysterious epidemic ravages the world she lives in and panic becomes common, all that changes.
That's when the testing starts….
This preview performance is The Rose Company’s first project, presented ahead of a full run in 2020.