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ART BAR COMEDY DANCE KIDS MUSIC THEATRE IDEAS
FIRESTATION JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL 2014 FEATURING
BEAT MAGAZINE
hello
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 16 Autumn/Winter Programme September - December 2013
hello
The turn of the year always gives me a good feeling (well, once the pain killers and dioraylte kick in it does). I get a similar vibe in September - drummed into me by years of new school bags and fresh timetables, but a new year is more of a personal refresher than that. It’s the time when everything looks a little bit different, when everything feels within reach and I’m itching to jump with both feet into new possibilities. Luckily for me, not only do I feel hungry for lots of new things and changes, but new things and changes are whizzing up and at us at The Firestation already! For a start there’s our new Windsor site at Ward Royal, a lovely little office come gallery space that means we can expand our classes and workshops, provide a home for a handful of emerging artists and cultural entrepreneurs and still have a little space for Lemonade Gallery. Still on the newness tip, we have our first rep season coming in April, with three weeks of shows with London Contemporary Theatre that will hopefully make their way to the West End after here. We’re also screening a quaint little idea from our American friends, they call it the Superbowl and they do it in the middle of the night! I don’t really understand it, but you do get to stay up on a school night and eat hotdogs - a little like the Oscars, but with more testosterone and less padding ;-) If that all goes to plan, we have some great plans for live World Cup events that you’ll hear about soon! So, hello 2014 and onwards and forever upwards we go, with yet another jam packed programme of events, classes, club nights and hang outs. As always, not enough space to list everything here, but turn the pages lazybones and you’ll find lots of great stuff including the rebirth of 7UP (p.05), amazing puppetry from Blind Summit (p.09), Beat’s digital pages (p.12), the FLOW LGBT cinema micro festival (p13), Back To Balearic with hypo beat legends The Woodentops (p.17), the mighty Richard Herring with new show “We’re All Going To Die” and indie Brit film Kenneth (p.18). Have fun and I’ll see you soon, Dan
THE FIRESTATION CENTRE FOR ARTS & CULTURE
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contents
contents HOW TO FIND US
D J & BA R EVENTS
The Firestation Centre for Arts and Culture is housed in The Old Court, Windsor’s old Firestation, Magistrates Court & Police Station. You’ll find us on the corner of St. Leonards Road & St Marks Road, look for the big red fire doors.
04 JANUARY LISTINGS 04
Laughing Coyote comedy listing
05
Firestation DJ & Bar Events
ON FOOT & BIKE FROM TH PAGES OF E BEA MAGAZINE T
07 FEBRUARY LISTINGS 10
BEAT MAGAZINE The Art Gallery
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BEAT MAGAZINE Beat goes Digital
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The LBGT Cinema Micro-Festival
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Diary
BY TRAIN
LBGT CINE MA MICROFESTIVAL
We are a fifteen minute walk from Windsor & Eton Riverside Station or ten minutes from Windsor Central Station.
16 MARCH LISTINGS 21
BY BUS
BEAT MAGAZINE The Price of Everything PULL OUT LISTINGS SECTION
22 APRIL LISTINGS 22
Easter Rep Season
25
Kid’s Club
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Classes and Workshops
The Firestation is well served by buses to and from Windsor, Slough, Bracknell and the surrounding area. Routes 71, 191, 200, 701 & 702 either go right by us or very nearby.
BY CAR
EASTER REP SEASON
CONNECT WITH US
The Firestation is within easy reach of the M4 (Jct 6) and M40 (Jct 2). We have a number of inexpensive short stay bays opposite The Firestation offering discounts for Advantage Card holders. A parking space at the rear of the building is available for Disabled Badge holders plus a limited number of spaces are kindly made available to us from 7pm (please check on arrival). Nearest multi-storey car park is situated 5 minutes away on the corner of Victoria Road and Alexandra Road.
ACCESS
OUR WEBSITES www.firestationartscentre.com www.beatmagazine.co.uk www.fireythings.com
From Windsor Castle, go straight down Peascod Street until you reach the Criterion & Crosses Corner pubs at the traffic lights. Go straight across and keep heading down, past East Berkshire College on your right, you should be able to see us, all red and shiny, on your right.
@firestationarts @tweetsfrombeat @fireythings
www.facebook.com/firestationarts www.facebook.com/beatmagzineuk
The Auditorium and Upper Bar are accessible by wheelchair and there is a designated disabled parking space and access ramp at the rear of the building.
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JANUARY
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
LAUGHING COYOTE MIDWEEK HOWLERS Thursday 16 January, 8.30pm Thursday 30 January, 8.30pm Thursday 13 February, 8.30pm Thursday 27 February, 8.30pm Thursday 13 March, 8.30pm Thursday 27 March, 8.30pm Thursday 10 April, 8.30pm Thursday 24 April, 8.30pm Loft Tickets: £5 Finnius Grenfell hosts the fortnightly midweek Howlers at The Firestation. These are brilliant, informal nights where you see comedians new and old testing out fresh ideas and flogging dead ones. This is a unique experience watching some of the top acts on the UK circuit developing their material as well as a selection of acts working through their old classics... PLUS our favourite acts doing a full headline set. Laughing Coyote past acts include NISH KUMAR, ED GAMBLE, JOHN ROBINS, WILL FRANKEN and many more...
Monday 13 January, 8pm Tuesday 04 February, 8pm
RUSSELL HOWARD: WONDERBOX (WORK-IN-PROGRESS) Auditorium Tickets: £15 SOLD OUT
! T U O D SOL
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Join Russell Howard, one of our funniest and most successful comedians, as he tries out material and warms up for his sold-out arena tour. Russell returns to his first love, live stand-up with his first tour for three years and a show which looks set to be the hottest ticket of 2014.
Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
JANUARY
Friday 17 January, 8pm
JOHN ROBINS: WHERE IS MY MIND? Auditorium Tickets: £6 / £5 conc. & Members
Thursday 16 January, 7.45pm
BOOK SWAP Auditorium Tickets: £5 or free when you bring a home-baked cake Novelist Marie Phillips and publisher Scott Pack host an evening of conversation and banter at our ever popular literary event. No boring speeches, dull questions or book readings here, but anything else goes!
‘Comedy’s Best Kept Secret’ – JOHN ROBINS is about to be revealed. A contemporary Russell Howard and Jon Richardson, John has had arguably his most successful Edinburgh to date. This year’s show “WHERE IS MY MIND?” was critically acclaimed garnering 4 and 5 star reviews across the board (to add to the myriad 4 stars for previous shows). Alter egos, ailments, love, nostalgia, indie-nights and bellylaughs: an hour of raucous stand-up for anyone who’s tried to live in the moment, only to realise that moment happened over a decade ago... “Just… funny, joyous and charmingly self deprecating. Fine stuff indeed” - Steve Bennett, Chortle H H H H “An honest, poignant and very funny hour” - The List H H H H
Bring along any unwanted book - or a whole pile of them - to swap (hence the name innit), join in the discussions, drop questions in the hat, meet the authors and of course trough lots of cake and what we call “tea”! January’s guests are Gareth Roberts - author of “Whatever Happened To Billy Parks?” and William Sutton - author of “Lawless and the Devil of Euston Square”
TO ADVERTISE IN THIS BIT OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL 01753 866 865
You can also catch Firestation Bookswap at the Bath Literature Festival in March!
Our fully licensed bar is open 7 days a week with the best jukebox in town and regular music and media events
George’s
MARVELLOUS MEDICINES Every Tuesday night from 7:00pm
DISCO TICK
Thursday 23 January from 8:00pm Thursday 20 February from 8:00pm Thursday 20 March from 8:00pm Thursday 17 April from 8:00pm
Saturday 01 February from 8:00pm Saturday 01 March from 8:00pm Sat 05 April from 8:00pm
LOVE & EMPTINESS
Saturday 15 February from 8:00pm
Saturday 26 April from 8:00pm
West London’s infamous all-comers DJ night kicks off all over again! How it works: • Pick 7 awesome tunes •B ring them down on an iPod, CD or other such thingy • Write your name on the board • Play them loud • I f they’re rubbish, you’ll get gonged off • I f they’re super-wicked and quite sick, you’ll win the coveted 7UP prize and lusty looks from your gender of choice!
Saturday 22 March from 8:00pm
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JANUARY
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
Tuesday 21 January, 7pm
Thursday 23 January, 7.30pm
Friday 31 January, 8pm
CULTURAL TRENDS MEETING
HITCHIN’S LAB
RICKY TICK PRESENT
The Loft Tickets: Free entry
Auditorium Tickets: Free entry
Every year we hold a Cultural Trends meeting, to talk about what’s new, what’s changed, what’s happening and where we’re headed in the big bad world of cultural fun.
Back by popular demand, The Firestation presents a revamped, supercharged and thoroughly kickin’ Hitchin’s Lab!
Cultural Trends is an informal meet up, to share ideas and passions about what’s new in the culture sector, not only to feed into The Firestation’s output and partnerships over the coming months, but also to inspire and inform everyone there. We want your input to make sure The Firestation has it’s finger on every pulse, no matter how small, brief or out there! So please join us for this round table of culture lovers, managers, programmers, front of house staff from here and other venues.
THE DOWNLINERS SECT
A fantastic free open stage night for all art forms, Hitchin’s invites all and any performers to get on the stage: poetry, music, a monologue, stand-up comedy or anything else! There are performance slots right through the night, so if you need to get your music out there, try out some new comedy material, show off your latest dance routine or fancy performing your favourite monologue, get in touch! Hitchin’s is open to amateur and professional performers, and the audience favourite on the night wins their own show at The Firestation! Performance slots can vary in length, but we request that you keep performances to no more than 15mins. To book your space contact Chloe via marketing@ firestationartscentre.com (first come first served)
Fine purveyors of art, quality handmade gifts & objects of the extraordinary
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First Sunday of every month!
10am - 4pm The Guildhall, High Street, Windsor SL4 1LR
Visit our Vintage Tea Room Admission £1(inc free prize draw)
www.windsoremporium.co.uk
Kindly sponsored by…
Auditorium Tickets: £10 standing / £12 seated Contemporaries of the Rolling Stones and Yardbirds, the Downliners Sect was formed by deerstalker-hatted rhythm guitarist Don Craine in the spring of 1963. Their brash and exciting brand of R&B soon gained them a residency at London’s Studio 51 club where they recorded their first E.P. ‘At Nite in Great Newport Street’, now a rare collectors’ item. A version of Jimmy Reed’s ‘Baby What’s Wrong’ became the unit’s first single for EMI and entered the charts in its first week of release. This was followed by ‘Little Egypt’ which brought international interest and took the band into the Swedish top ten, a success they consolidated with a major tour. ‘The first British R&B I heard was the Downliners Sect...the Downliners Sect were IT’ - Van Morrison
Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
s s i m t ’ Don
FEBRUARY
a t e g . . . t ou
B M E M
P I H S ER
Join as a Member today & enjoy a host of benefits
Be the first to hear about incredible additions and headliners (just look at who we’ve had!) + advance booking periods for our events Get 10% discount at the bar, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year! Get 10% discount on private hire bookings A range of discounts and offers from our partner organisations Discounted tickets for events* An invitation to the Members’ only season briefing
*Discounted tickets are available for most performances
Friday 07 February, 8pm
Sunday 02 February, 10pm
Friday 07 February, 8pm
Friday 07 March, 8pm
SUPER BOWL XLVIII
BOOTHBY GRAFFOE: SCRATCH (PREVIEW)
Auditorium Free to attend
Auditorium Tickets: £10 / £9 conc. / £8 Members
The Firestation goes all American for the first outdoor, cold weather Super Bowl hosted by the Giants and the Jets.
Feeling lucky? Boothby Graffoe’s back at The Firestation by popular demand for a typically skewed look at the weird little world of the UK lottery scratch card. Who buys them? How many do they buy? What, really, are the odds they might win? Have you got one? Do you want one? Question marks are free, shall we keep using them?
Friday 04 April, 8pm
FRIDAY NIGHT JIVE Basement studio Tickets: £5 Friday Night Jive! is Swingland’s regular swing and jive dance party at The Firestation - swing out to some great music from the 1930s, 40s and 50s on selected Friday nights! All jive/swing styles and non-dancers welcome!
Join us for the ultimate American sports event of the year as we screen Super Bowl 48! Completely FREE to attend, don your favourite jersey and watch the game on the biggest screen in town! Complete with hot dogs, American beer (including Firestation draught favourite, Brooklyn Lager) and a late license!
‘Should have his own TV show.’ - The Guardian
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FEBRUARY
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
www.comedyclub4kids.co.uk
Tuesday 11 February, 8pm
Thursday 13 February, 8pm
Saturday 15 February, 1pm
DANNY BUCKLER’S MAGIC SALON
AMATEUR GIRL
COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS
Auditorium Tickets: £15
Auditorium Tickets: £13 / £12 conc / £11 Members
Auditorium Tickets: £8.50 adults / £5.50 children
Danny will present three of the biggest names in UK magic in an evening of magic, comedy-come-chat show, revealing the methods and ideas required to design tricks, produce magic shows and how a magician’s mind works.
“Gary says it’s not about glamour no more. Men want girls in their own home, them who look like your neighbour or your best mate’s wife. Them who you could have in real life. Amateur girls.”
Like the name says, it’s a Comedy Club 4 Kids!
Danny welcomes to the stage magician and magic designer Ben Hart, one of the most sought after magic consultants to give us a peek behind the scenes of a magic show and Pete Firman (recognised as the UK’s leading comedy magician and star of prime time Saturday night show ‘THE MAGICIANS’).
From the producers of smash hit show Bones, Fifth Word returns with Amateur Girl by Amanda Whittington. Based on real-life stories, Amateur Girl is a hard-hitting, poignant yet wryly amusing play about the reality behind the fantasy business.
Plus there’ll be an extra special mystery guest to be announced!
“An admirably non-judgmental account of the realities of subsisting on a minimum wage … Whittington has crafted a perceptive and compassionate account of a vivacious but vulnerable character.” - The Guardian Starring Lucy Speed (Eastenders and The Bill)
Thursday 20 February, 8pm THE REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY PRESENT THE BIBLE SHOW; THE WORD OF GOD (ABRIDGED) Auditorium Tickets: £16 / £14 conc It’s apocalypse now as the three cultural guerrillas of The Reduced Shakespeare Company set their reductive sites on the good book with The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). Can bolts of lightning be far behind? Yes, it’s an affectionate, irreverent roller coaster ride from fig leaves to Final Judgment as the boys tackle the great theological questions: Did Adam and Eve have navels? Did Moses really look like Charlton Heston? And why isn’t the word “phonetic” spelled the way it sounds? Whether you are Catholic or Atheist, Muslim or Jew, Protestant or Purple People Eater, you will be tickled by the RSC’s romp through old time religion. Remember… Someone is watching.
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Cracking entertainment for everyone over six years old and under 400 years old (no vampires or Highlanders). We have the best comedians from the UK and world circuit doing what they do best… but without the rude bits! “A highlight for children... giving them a taste of some of the biggest names in comedy with the fun, rowdy feel of a real comedy club.” - The Guardian “The perfect way to entertain the whole family.” - Three Weeks www.comedyclub4kids.co.uk
Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
FEBRUARY
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PROGRAMMER’S SEASON
HIGHLIGHT HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Friday 28 February, 8pm
EDINBURGH COMEDY PREVIEW FEATURING
TOMMY ROWSON & ED GAMBLE
Auditorium Tickets: £12.50 / £10 conc & Members
Thursday 27 February, 8pm
BLIND SUMMIT PRESENT
THE TABLE Auditorium Tickets: £12 / £11 conc / £10 Members £7.50 groups 10+
Moses is a 2 foot high puppet with a cardboard head and a lousy temper... who lives on a table. He’s always lived on the table. He’s a table top puppet. Tonight he wants to tell you the epic story of the last twelve hours of the life of his namesake, “Moses”. But he is easily distracted as he tries to mime the conversation between God and Moses on the top of Mount Nebo, demonstrates the workings of puppetry, shows off “the running man” and falls out with his puppeteers... As his carefully constructed table top world falls apart, will he ever finish his story? Do you want him to? Virtuosic puppetry improvisation, Beckettian simplicity, wild humour and a dark edge... on a table. - Fringe First 2011 - Sunday Telegraph Top 5 Modern Puppet Shows - Kontrapunkt Festival Grand Prix “Dazzling” - The Scotsman H
HHH
“Astonishingly accomplished” - The Telegraph H H H H “Beckett meets Tommy Cooper... Brilliantly Funny” - Time Out H H H H
Headliner Ed Gamble has toured nationally with Greg Davies and Russell Kane, and appeared on both Dave’s One Night Stand and Russell Howard’s Good News. Co-writer of the Chortle-nominated podcast Peacock and Gamble, Ed has also written for Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Mock The Week and Ask Rhod Gilbert. More things Ed’s acheived in stand-up and writing: • He’s only bloody performed on Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC3). • What’s that? Yes, he has done a turn on Dave’s One Night Stand (Dave). • Supported anyone on tour? Why yes – only the brilliant Greg Davies on his national tour. Is he doing the next one in Autumn 2012? Too right! • Did he find time to support Russell Kane on tour? Yep. • Has he scribbled some jokes that have been said on Mock The Week and Ask Rhod Gilbert? Of course – wouldn’t bring it up otherwise. • Please tell me he’s written for the Anna & Katy Show (C4). He has? Thank f**k for that. • If he didn’t perform in the Comedy Zone at Edinburgh 2009 then I’ll eat my hat. He did, put your hat down. Supported by the hilarious Tommy Rowson: “This Welsh weirdo creates a quirky, oddball world... The anecdotes are full of detailed aside and delivery with perfectly-judged timing” - Steve Bennett, Chortle The foundations of his set are built on those old favourites of booze, religion and relationships, including the story of how he awkwardly lost his virginity, but Rowson approaches the topics from a fresh angle of a lost innocent. He’s no naif when it comes to comedy - the anecdotes are full of detailed aside and delivery with perfectly-judged timing and emphasis.
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INE BEAT MAGAZ
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
One Saturday morning not so long ago I went to the Tate gallery in London to look at the Art Under Attack” exhibition about the history of British iconoclasm.
missing, until you go mad and kill yourself with an Allen key. If you manage to survive this terrible ordeal, you should be tied to a chair and have frozen meat balls thrown at you relentlessly until your skull shatters and you slowly bleed to death.
Going to art galleries has always been
If you buy art from Ikea you should not be
The truth is, most people aren’t really that
something I’ve meant to do, something I’d
allowed to leave the car park. There should
bothered about art at all, but we all have
like to think I’d enjoy, but I’ve never really
be snipers on the roof that fire darts full of
to pretend we are and make some sort
gotten round to it. I just always had better
sedative into your neck as you attempt to
of token gesture. The thought process is
things on, like binge drinking and being
leave the shop. Then you should wake up in
roughly: “Well, I’ve got to have something
asleep.
a cold warehouse and be forced to build flat-
on the walls otherwise my flat will look
pack furniture with only the Japanese version
like a safe-house for battered women on
If you looked in my bedroom you might assume I was quite a fan of art, but the truth is I have just bought something from the gift shop every time I’ve been to a gallery. I went to visit Frida Khalo’s house when I was in Mexico, and bought this (right). Leon Trotsky and his wife stayed in her house for a while after Mexico granted him political asylum from Stalin’s murderous regime in the Soviet Union. I liked the painting because it showed the dove of Marxism being released by Trotsky, which for me represented the power and hope in ideas. As a student of philosophy and politics, and a wet lefty, that struck a chord. So I stuck it up. I’ve also got a poster of a Roy Lichtenstein bit of work, and various bits of Andy Warhol. I used to like Pop Art, mainly because I thought it looked cool I think, now I might intellectualise it more and say the reason I like Pop Art is that it’s representation of a commercialized culture where material things are held up as art. That’s probably bullshit though. In the interests of full disclosure: there is also a bit of artwork on the walls that I bought from Ikea. It’s a small black and white photo of some rocks. I can’t remember why I bought it. I assume it’s because it looked a bit moody, moody is normally short-hand in culture for intelligent and complex, I wanted to be considered intelligent and complex, so I bought a photo of some rocks.
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of the instructions, and a few crucial bits
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INE BEAT MAGAZ
a witness protection scheme”. And that’s
time, in papers, in magazines, online. “All
“I thought he was the one, but he turned out
that highlighted the destructive nature of
why Ikea sell art. It’s a one stop shop for all
you need to know about Phillip Larkin”, “Top
to be a squid”
the world. The world is about incessant
furnishings. But art shouldn’t be seen as just
Ten Plays-we watched them so you don’t
another furnishing should it? Art should be an
have to”, “5 philosophy quotes to help you
expression of you, your feelings and values. If
get balls deep”.
that whole complex cathedral of self can be serviced by Ikea then you are essentially dead inside. I should know: I’m a ghost myself.
I think one the reasons I find this so offensive is that I have put a huge amount of time and loneliness into getting educated,
So, I went to the Tate. I want to make it clear
and then these twats turn up with the odd
that I decided to go because the subject of
quote, name check a few thinkers and they
the exhibition seemed interesting to me. And
look as clever as me. Looking really clever
I was genuinely curious as to how much I
in conversation is a pretty simple process if
would enjoy the experience of being in an art
you think about it:
gallery. I think it’s important that you don’t wear knowledge like a handbag, but use it as a tool for living. Knowledge shouldn’t be pursued in order to show off, it should be part of a genuine passion for exploration, a manifestation of inherent curiosity: the happy side-effect of the following of whims;
“Semen: the new botox”
every day, very different people over a
intellectual end of days. And it matters.
decade. Not just that but humans inflict
Because as culture dumbs down it makes
destruction on the world, whether that
people stupider, and as people get stupider
be war, environmental degradation, the
culture has to dumb down even more so
collapse of tradition. Human beings are
it doesn’t go over people’s heads, and
relentlessly creative, and our creativity
before you know it art will just be photos
means we are inherently destructive as the
of desserts, and music will just be Will I
new displaces the old at a frightening rate
Am playing Cheryl Cole’s labia like a set
in every single way. The internet has only
of pan pipes. Every act of banality and
sped up this process.
stupidity creates a butterfly effect of cultural
2. Name check a thinker and quote half an
vandalism. What I am trying to say is: every
3. Wait for the other person in the conversation to engage with an opinion.
and evolve, we are slightly different people
I genuinely believe we are living in an
1. Bring up a topic. idea.
newness: our “selves” constantly change
time Paddy McGuiness speaks, somewhere in the world an idea dies. Anyway, the exhibition…
Two bits of work really caught my eye in this section. The first was “Break Down”, a video documentation of an installation piece by Michael Landy (2001). There’s a video of him talking about it here:
4. One Saturday morning, not so long ago,
The exhibition was broken down into a
http://www.youtube.com/
I went to the Tate gallery in London to
number of sections, and started with
watch?v=6hYUnkW4sNA
look at the “Art Under Attack” exhibition,
Henry VIII’s religious iconoclasm, where
We live in an era of superficial knowledge,
about the history of British iconoclasm.
Catholic imagery was destroyed during the
where people acquire facts not in order to
Say “it’s not as simple as that”, or “let’s
reformation.
attain a deeper understanding of themselves
not get into that now, it’s a party!”
not acquired to assuage some sense of intellectual inadequacy.
and the world they live in, but in order to name check various ideas, buzz words or
5. Repeat with a new topic.
figures in order to appear intelligent. It’s
If it’s a busy party you only need about 5
vanity. It’s insecurity. It’s a consequence of
facts. Repeat those facts with a series of
living in a world where we can construct a
different people and bob’s your uncle. As
social media avatar, where knowledge is
long as you refresh your facts a couple of
useless unless it can be abbreviated into 140
times a year you’ll never get caught-out and
characters and used in a cyber-space dick
everyone will think you’re a cultured legend.
swinging exercise.
“I don’t know how he fits in all that reading
The Times newspaper ran a feature last week in its daily supplement which promised “The best bits” of the Hilary Mantel novel Woolf
what with all the sex he’s getting”. F**k you, you intellectual mutton dressed as lamb piece of shit.
In “Break Down” he destroyed every possession he had. Everything. He was
It struck me that back in the day the role of
left with only his girlfriend and his cat. It
paintings was to record historical events.
was about how consumerism affects our
There were no cameras, so they had to use
identity. Our possessions, our stuff, come
paint. But painting a picture takes ages, so
to define our “self”. They tell the world
the painters would have been pretty picky
- and to an extent ourselves - who we
with what they chose to record. Hence only
are. The trouble is, our stuff can become
the most important events were painted.
self-fulfilling. Our things are the product
Contrast that to now with the flood of facile
of our past, and we can become trapped in
bullshit that people record. It’s because
it. Having nothing allows us to develop in
it’s so easy to preserve experiences now.
any direction we want, we having nothing
So we preserve everything: our lunch at
to lose, everything to try. Even if we go back
Wagamamas, hilarious shop names, our
to the things we had before, at least that
biggest shits. You can’t escape it. There is so
is a conscious choice. We have to think
Hall. They were basically saying: you might
You may think I’m being unnecessarily
much stuff that the important things get lost,
about why we want those things and apply
as well not bother reading the rest, here’s
argumentative, but as Nietzche says
glossed over. So here’s a new rule to bear in
a critical thought process. Life just happens
the gold. As if the narrative and context for
“Wisdom is violent”.
mind before you get your camera phone out:
to most of us. For a life to be truly authored
if you can’t be bothered to paint it: IT’S NOT
though it has to be chosen.
these bits were irrelevant and worthless. As if taking time to read and understand the writing was a waste of time. That’s like saying “There’s no point in falling in love: just have a wank instead”. You see these sorts of features the whole
I suppose I’d rather people are engaging in culture in even a superficial way instead of just relentlessly consuming the usual pop-culture crap they usually do. You know,
WORTH RECORDING! “But Max, this owl really does look like Hitler?” Well get your bloody water colours out then.
the sort of shit you get in Take a Break or
Finally, there was a section about destruction
Grazia:
in art. This presented a selection of work
“Max Dickins is a Sony award nominated DJ, award winning comedian, actor and writer. You can follow him on Twitter @MaxDickins or preferably see him live at our monthly “Howling” comedy club in The Basement (from 24th January).”
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INE BEAT MAGAZ
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
BEAT goes
As well as articles, interviews and random musings, Beat Magazine digs out loads of music vids, web treats and other digital things. Use the QR codes on your smart phone or tablet to get straight to our pick of the bunch from the last few months...
DIGITAL
Royal Blood
One Formation live
“Out of the Black”
An oldie but goodie from the year of the Olympics and Gangnam Style, ambient tech explorers One Formation play a mesmerising live set at The Firestation as part of Better Mechanics, which of course goes straight up on Beat.
November’s super chunky “Out of the Black” single made it onto our front page, and since then Brighton’s Royal Blood have been tipped by pretty much everyone as big news in 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_3mNCaJgNM
The Coronas “Dreaming Again” Okay okay, so shooting underwater has been done to death, from Nirvana to Radiohead, but we thought the lighting in The Corona’s video was particularly lovely and the song got under our skin for a few days! http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=7sO3ddogeZo#t=132
James Griffiths - Room 8 Shortlisted as part of the Bombay Sapphire “Imagination Series”, this wonderfully claustrophobic short film was a worthy inclusion in our “things we like” series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJj_NMhYwf0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekgXRLTBpMU#t=360
Full Moon Silhouettes
We came across this via the Strange & Beautiful nights and podcast. Filmed by Mark Gee at Mount Victoria Lookout in Wellington NZ, and soundtracked by Dan Phillipson, it’s just one of the most elegant and engaging ways to spend 3 minutes and 45 seconds. http://vimeo.com/58385453
Marika Hackman
“Cinnamon (acoustic)”
It was a toss up between Marika and Lauren Aquilina for the last slot on our Digital content page, Lauren being a local girl and all that. But at the end of the day this acoustic version of “Cinnamon” is just too good to miss out and Marika’s sultry voice guaranteed to soundtrack your 2014. So there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blyecmUjx3M
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Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
FEBRUARY MARCH
presents
THE LGBT CINEMA MICROFESTIVAL Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 March
FLOW and The Firestation join forces to present a weekend micro-festival of film! With classic titles to contemporary releases, each of the carefully selected films presents and discusses LGBT relationships in the modern day and are rooted as icons of film. Join us for a weekend of celebration!
Saturday 22 March, 1:00pm
Sunday 23 March, 5:00pm
Sunday 23 March, 8:00pm
SINGA-LONG-A SOUND OF MUSIC
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR
WEEKEND
Tickets: £5 adults / £2.50 children / £1 Members, Envy & Advantage Card Holders
Adele’s life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire, to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adele grows, seeks herself, loses herself, finds herself.
Sunday dual film pass: £12 / £10 conc / £6 Members
You couldn’t ask for a more perfect film to begin our weekend micro-festival than family-classic and cult film, The Sound of Music. Aside from it’s epic catalogue of awards and nominations, including being the highest-grossing film of all time, Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music was first thought up and screened at the Prince Charles Cinema as part of the 1999 London Gay and Lesbian Film Festival to great acclaim - and that of course (apart from the fact that we love it!), is why it’s here! (1964) 174 mins. rated U
At the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, the film unanimously won the Palme d’Or from the official jury and the FIPRESCI Prize. It is the first film to have the Palme d’Or awarded to both the director and the lead actresses, with Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos becoming the only women apart from director Jane Campion to have ever won the award.
On a Friday night after hanging out with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a nightclub, alone and on the pull. Just before closing time he picks up Glen. And so begins a weekend - in bars and in bedrooms, getting drunk and taking drugs, telling stories and having sex - that will resonate throughout their lives. (2011) 97 mins. rated 18
Tickets per Sunday screening: £7.25 / £5.75 conc / £4 Members
(2013) 179 mins. rated 18
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DIA R Y
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
diary january
YOUR AT-A-GLANCE GUIDE TO ALL EVENTS AND PERFORMANCES FROM MAY THROUGH TO AUGUST. FOR ALL UP-TO-DATE INFO PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE WWW.FIRESTATIONARTSCENTRE.COM OR CALL THE BOX OFFICE 01753 866865
february
01 WED
01 SAT 8pm The Spectacles / Page 05
02 THU
02 SUN 10pm Superbowl XLVIII / Page 07
03 FRI
03 MON
04 SAT
04 TUE 8pm Russell Howard SOLD OUT!
05 SUN
05 WED
06 MON
06 THU
07 TUE
07 FRI 8pm Friday Night Jive / Page 07 8pm Boothby Graffoe: Scratch / Page 07
08 WED
08 SAT
09 THU
09 SUN
10 FRI
10 MON
11 SAT
11 TUE 8pm Danny Buckler’s Magic Salon / Page 08
12 SUN
12 WED
13 MON 8pm Russell Howard SOLD OUT!
13 THU 8pm Amateur Girl / Page 08 8.30pm Midweek Howlers / Page 04
14 TUE
14 FRI
15 WED
15 SAT 1pm Comedy Club 4 Kids / Page 08 8pm Strange & Beautiful / Page 05
16 THU 8.30pm Midweek Howlers / Page 04 7.45pm Book Swap / Page 05
16 SUN
17 FRI 8.30pm John Robins / Page 05
17 MON
18 SAT 1pm Kid’s Club: Monster’s University / Page 25
18 TUE
19 SUN
19 WED
20 MON
20 THU 8pm Disco Tik / Page 05 8pm Reduced Shakespeare Company: The Bible Show / Page 08
21 TUE 7pm Cutural Trends / Page 06
21 FRI 8.30pm Comedy in the Basement / Page 04
22 WED
22 SAT 1pm Kid’s Club: Despicable Me 2 / Page 25
23 THU 7.30pm Hitchin’s Lab / Page 06 8pm Disco Tik / Page 05
23 SUN
24 FRI 8.30pm Comedy in the Basement / Page 04
24 MON
25 SAT
25 TUE
26 SUN
26 WED
27 MON
27 THU 8pm The Table / Page 09 8.30pm Midweek Howlers / Page 04
28 TUE
28 FRI 8pm Tommy Rowson & Ed Gamble / Page 09
29 WED 30 THU 8.30pm Midweek Howlers / Page 04 31 FRI 8pm The Downliners Sect / Page 06
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Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
march
DIARY
april
01 SAT 1pm & 3pm Blast Off! / Page 16 8pm Alex Smith & Gareth Richards / Page 16 8pm The Spectacles / Page 05
01 TUE
02 SUN
02 WED
03 MON
03 THU 7.30pm Hamlet: The Dark Hour / Page 22
04 TUE
04 FRI 7.30pm Hamlet: The Dark Hour / Page 22 8pm Friday Night Jive / Page 07
05 WED
05 SAT
06 THU 8pm A November Day / Page 16 8.30pm Pun Run / Page 17
06 SUN
07 FRI 8pm Friday Night Jive / Page 07 8pm Back to Balearic feat. The Woodentops / Page 17
07 MON
08 SAT 8pm Violet Class / Page 17
08 TUE 7.30pm The Importance of Being Earnest / Page 22
09 SUN
09 WED 7.30pm Hamlet: The Dark Hour / Page 22
10 MON
10 THU 7.30pm Hamlet: The Dark Hour / Page 22 8.30pm Midweek Howlers / Page 04
11 TUE
11 FRI 7.30pm The Importance of Being Earnest / Page 22
12 WED 3pm Tomorrow / Page 18
12 SAT 2.30pm The Importance of Being Earnest / Page 22 7.30pm Hamlet: The Dark Hour / Page 22
13 THU 3pm & 7pm Tomorrow / Page 18 8.30pm Midweek Howlers / Page 04
13 SUN
14 FRI 8pm Richard Herring / Page 17
14 MON
15 SAT
15 TUE 7pm Alice in Wonderland / Page 22
16 SUN 3pm Kenneth / Page 18 8pm Kerry Godliman / Page 18
16 WED 2.30pm Alice in Wonderland / Page 22 7.30pm The Importance of Being Earnest / Page 22
17 MON
17 THU
18 TUE 7.30pm RBWM Arts Bursary Awards Showcase / Page 18
18 FRI 2.30 and 7pm Alice in Wonderland / Page 22 8pm Small Fakers & The Band of a Thousand Dances /Page 23
19 WED 8pm Kenneth / Page 18
19 SAT
20 THU 8pm Disco Tik / Page 05 8pm Tom Gamble / Page 19 8pm Underground Clown Club / Page 19
20 SUN
21 FRI 8.30pm Kenneth / Page 18
21 MON
8.00pm Comedy in the Basement / Page 04
1pm Little Howard’s Big Show for Kids / Page 23 7.30pm The Importance of Being Earnest / Page 22 8pm Howard Read Stand-up Animator / p23 8pm The Spectacles / Page 05
2.30pm Alice in Wonderland / Page 22 7.30pm Hamlet: The Dark Hour / Page 22 7.45pm Book Swap / Page 23 8pm Disco Tik / Page 05
12.15pm Alice in Wonderland / Page 22 1pm Kid’s Club: The Lone Ranger / Page 25 3pm The Importance of Being Earnest / Page 22 7.30pm Hamlet: The Dark Hour / Page 22
22 SAT 1pm LBGT: Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music / Page 13 8pm Bar POP! / Page 05 8pm Ray Peacock & Phil Wang / Page 19
22 TUE
23 SUN 5pm LBGT: Blue is the Warmest Colour / Page 13 8pm LBGT: Weekend / Page 13
23 WED
24 MON
24 THU 8pm Killing Roger / Page 24
25 TUE
25 FRI 8.30pm Comedy in the Basement / Page 04
26 WED
26 SAT 1pm Comedy Club 4 Kids / Page 24 8pm 7UP / Page 05
27 THU 8pm The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik / Page 20 8.30pm Midweek Howlers / Page 04
27 SUN
28 FRI 8pm Ahir Shah & Iain Sterling / Page 20
28 MON
29 SAT 3pm Kids Go Pop! / Page 20 8pm Hayley Ellis & Steve Hall / Page 20
29 TUE
30 SUN
30 WED
8.30pm Midweek Howlers / Page 04
31 MON
15
MARCH
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
Saturday 01 March, 1pm & 3pm KID CARPET’S BRAND NEW SHOW
BLAST OFF!
Auditorium Tickets: £8.50 / £5.50 children / £25 family ticket The Noisy Animals are the biggest band in the world. So big in fact, that there’s nowhere on earth big enough for them to perform any more. They’re about to BLAST OFF into outer space to find their new sound and to play a gig on the moon, broadcast live to the whole of planet earth. What will they discover on their travels?
Saturday 01 March, 8pm EDINBURGH COMEDY PREVIEW FEATURING
ALEX SMITH AND GARETH RICHARDS
Why are ping pong balls flying all around the room?
Auditorium Tickets: £12.50 / £10 conc & Members
How fast is super-duper-really-really-fast?
Top notch observational comedy double-bill!
And will they ever make it back to Earth?
Gareth Richards’ observational comedy and inspired one-liners made him in an instant favourite on the comedy circuit.
The show involves some very lo-fi technological wizardry and turns ordinary everyday toys into magical superstars with the aid of a video camera, comedy, audience participation and live music. Bring your rock-out attitude and maybe your robot costume because we’re going to space.... Recommended 4 +
This year Gareth has completed a Soho theatre run of his Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomernominated show Stand Up Between Songs, as well as appearing on Russell Howard’s Good News. “A delightful hour of comedy.” - The Guardian
Thursday 06 March, 8pm THINGUMAJIG THEATRE PRESENT
A NOVEMBER DAY Auditorium Tickets: £12 / £11 conc / £10 Members In forgotten boxes in an attic, a woman discovers the story of her grandfather, a survivor of the First World War, and his unexpected encounter with a stray dog who knew no boundaries. With evocative puppet characters, live music and an ever-changing set, Thingumajig Theatre presents a timeless fable on war and the miracle of friendship when all else seems lost. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One. “Vivid and affecting remembrance comes with this deftly-crafted two-hander...” - Mary Brennan, The Herald, (Glasgow, UK) Running time: 60 minutes. Suitable for ages 10 and up.
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Alex’s trademark mix of razor-sharp observations and cleverly crafted comedy songs have helped him rapidly emerge as one the most exciting new acts on the circuit. In just two years he has appeared on BBC Radio 2’s New Comedy Awards and secured two guest slots on BBC3’s prestigious new talent showcase, Live At The Electric hosted by Russell Kane. He was runner up in The Amused Moose 2013 Laugh Off competition and this year will make a highly anticipated Edinburgh Fringe debut. “Unhurried confidence, unexpected twists and a quirky demeanour” - Steve Bennett, Chortle
Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
FEBRUARY MARCH
Friday 07 March, 8pm ‘til late
BACK TO BALEARIC FEATURING THE WOODENTOPS with DJs Mark Jones (Back To The Phuture/Wall of Sound) plus special guests and The
Woodentops LIVE! Thursday 06 March, 8.30pm
PUN RUN Basement studio Tickets: £8 advance / £10 on the door Born of a desire to perform her terrible puns, Bec Hill created Pun Run as a one-off competition in 2011. Due to popular demand amongst comics and PUNters alike, Pun Run quickly became a regular, sold-out night and is the only pun-based comedy club in the UK.
Auditorium Tickets: £12 standing / £13.50 seated
The Woodentops return with their first new studio album in 25 years fronted by the group’s original frontman and principal songwriter Rolo McGinty. The band have recorded Granular Tales over the past few years, very much rooted in the style of their Indie chart-topping debut Giant from 1986. Granular Tales will be released by Cherry Red Records on February 24th, preceded by a single
Third Floor Rooftop High and with only a few tour dates across March, we’re delighted to have these icons of live music at The Firestation. Their onstage energy is still as vibrant as ever – they never fail to blow a roof off – and the band have found themselves recognised by a new generation for their original, ingenious music.
Time Out’s “Best of 2012”
Saturday 08 March, 8pm
Friday 14 March, 8pm
VIOLET CLASS PLUS SUPPORT
RICHARD HERRING: WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE
Basement studio Tickets: £6 / £5 conc & Members
Auditorium Tickets: £15
Championed by the likes of Gary Bushell, Stephen Street (Smiths, Blur), Rick Witter (Shed 7), Matt Barnes (You Me at Six), BBC Introducing, Paolo Hewitt, Neil Primmet (80s Casuals Classics) and Pretty Green, the band have enjoyed a busy first year. From playing at Roman Ambrovich’s nightclub, Cass Pennant’s ‘Casuals Live’ gig at The Garage, the band is progressively getting their name on everyone’s mouth in the region. Violet Class succeeed at combining the buzz of football and music with a punk soul attitude. Most recently, the band supported The Charlatans as well as playing some national dates and supporting John Power right here at The Firestation.
After sorting out politics (Hitler Moustache), religion (Christ on a Bike), love (What is Love, Anyway?) and penises (Talking Cock), Herring returns to tackle the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns (apart from Jesus and that canoe bloke). Is death a tragedy or an excuse to have an extended lie-in? Are we snuffed out or forced to endure eternity without bodily pleasures? Death is inevitable, so let’s laugh in its face while our hearts still beat and our jaws are still attached.
t f o L The
“A solid hour of big laughs” - Chortle Comedy Pick of 2012 - Time Out
17
MARCH
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
Wednesday 12 March, 3pm
Sunday 16 March, 8pm
Tuesday 18 March, 7.30pm
Thursday 13 March, 3pm & 7.30pm
KERRY GODLIMAN
RBWM ARTS BURSARIES AWARDS SHOWCASE
TOMORROW BY SIMON VINNICOMBE
Auditorium Tickets: £12
Auditorium Tickets: £5
Star of ‘Live At The Apollo’ and ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’, Kerry recently appeared as Hannah in Ricky Gervais’ sitcom ‘Derek’ and playing Lacey Turners Mum in ‘Our Girl’. You might also have caught her in ‘Miranda’, ‘Getting On’, ‘Extras’, ‘Spoons’ and ‘Home Time’ among others. Last year she supported Micky Flanagan on tour and took her critically acclaimed show ‘Wonder Woman’ to the Edinburgh Festival. Her Radio 4 show ‘Kerry’s List’ aired last Spring.
Each year the Royal Borough offers bursaries to young people involved in the Arts in order to give them a practical helping hand and encourage them to go on to even greater achievements.
Auditorium Tickets: £5 / £3 conc & Members East Berkshire College is proud to be taking part in the National Theatre Connections Festival for the second year running. The festival provides students with a truly unique experience; the opportunity to stage a brand new play, written for actors aged 13—19 by a well-known writer and work closely with a National Theatre Director.
“Goes for the jugular. Quick wit, frank and engaging” - TheIndependent
As the project has grown, the number, diversity and quality of talent has gone from strength to strength, from 8 year old Royal Ballet Associates, to teen virtuosos and graduate film-makers. This very special evening brings together some of those artists to showcase and celebrate the young talent from across the region, supported by the scheme.
Sunday 16 March, 3pm Wednesday 19 March, 8pm Friday 21 March, 8pm
KENNETH Auditorium Tickets: £7.25 / £5.75 conc. / £4 Members Kenneth’s life is unravelling fast. He’s just lost his job, his girlfriend Kim seems tired of him and a malevolent creature has just crawled out of his ear. Escaping his problems Kenneth teams up with a homeless man named Peter and heads out to the countryside to make sense of his life, he returns soon afterwards to confront Kim. As the situation spirals downwards Kenneth will have to struggle against Peter, his evil ear goblin, his ex-boss, the local police and his own troubled psyche to save his crumbling relationship and bring this story to its heartfelt conclusion.” An independent film by Monster Island Films. Winner of the 2013 Edinburgh Bootleg Film Festival Best Screenplay and Best Actor (male) awards.
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Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
FEBRUARY MARCH
hire me. Thursday 20 March, 8pm
Thursday 20 March, 8pm
TOM GAMBLE ENSEMBLE PRESENTS...
UNDERGROUND CLOWN CLUB Part of FESTIVAL!
SPEAKING DJANGO Auditorium Tickets: £10
Guitarist and composer Tom Gamble brings together some of the country’s finest young talent in a unique ensemble focussed on the musical language of famed gypsy jazz musician Django Reinhardt. Undoubtedly the first strong European voice of jazz, Reinhardt achieved great fame in the 30’s and 40’s for his virtuosic playing and passionate energetic performances. A tremendous feat considering he lost the use of two of his fingers at a young age. “Speaking Django” seeks to recreate this passion, through new original arrangements and compositions together with an orchestral twist, virtuosity, spontaneity and humour.
Basement studio Tickets: £7 / £6 conc. / £5 Members Two Fools take to the stage to lead you on a poetic journey through most surreal, silly and forgotten parts of your imagination. Returning to The Firestation, The Underground Clown Club bring a preview of their new show to the Basement Studio for one night only. Suitable for all ages. “...delightful, silly and skillful, very funny and puckishly inventive...” “...one to be noted and be admired by all aspiring, young poets”
Looking for a venue to hold an event? Then look no further! The Firestation has numerous spaces available to book for that special occasion! Whether it’s a birthday party, cinema screening, wedding reception, conference or a public event like a gig or a show, get in touch! Three fully equipped spaces to suit your needs with professional, friendly, fully trained staff and technical assistance* as required. Two licensed bars. Our spaces:
Saturday 22 March, 8pm EDINBURGH COMEDY PREVIEW FEATURING
RAY PEACOCK AND PHIL WANG space tbc. Tickets: £12.50 / £10 conc. & Members Ray Peacock has been a very naughty boy recently and it is time to find out why. Join the triple Chortle Award-nominated comedian and storyteller in his 10th Fringe show as he takes you through a myriad of mischief and misdemeanours in an attempt to get to the bottom of what on earth drives a grown man to such infantile behaviour. Ray is the other half of The Peacock & Gamble Podcast and presenter of The Comedy Club (Radio 4 Extra) and Listening To Les (R4 Extra). As seen on Russell Howard’s Good News, Doctor Who, Skins and much more. “Incessantly hilarious” - The Guardian Joining Ray is winner of the 2010 Chortle Student Comedian of the Year Award, the Comedy Central Live Funniest Student Award 2011, and previous President of the prestigious Cambridge Footlights, Phil Wang. Phil has appeared as a stand-up guest on The Rob Brydon Show (BBC1), been featured on Three at the Fringe (BBC3) and has enjoyed a fantastic Edinburgh debut as part of the Festival’s longest-running stand-up showcase, The Comedy Zone. “A skilful and hilarious individual” - Varsity
The Auditorium is our largest venue and is a very flexible space, comfortably seating 159 in theatre- style, a mixed standing and seated capacity of 230, or numerous other layouts as required! Great for parties, gigs, conferences, wedding receptions, cinema screenings, performances and more! The Basement Studio has a seating capacity of 70 people in a variety of layouts, or have a fully standing event for 130! Great for club nights, parties, gigs, performances and it has its own built in bar!** The Loft is our most intimate venue in the building. It has a maximum capacity of 35 and is perfect for meetings, break-out sessions, drinks receptions and intimate performances. Our bar area is not available to hire exclusively, but if you’re looking for a guaranteed seat on a night out, get in touch and we will happily reserve an area for you!
For more information, including pricing and availability, please email: hire@firestationartscentre.com or call 01753 866865 ext 102 *Technical assistance is charged by the hour and is not included in room bookings as standard **The Basement bar will be made available on request, but will incur an additional charge or minimum spend.
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MARCH
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
Thursday 27 March, 8pm
Saturday 29 March, 8pm
HOUSE AND THEATR MWLDAN PRESENT THE PERTH THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION OF
EDINBURGH COMEDY PREVIEW FEATURING
HAYLEY ELLIS AND STEVE HALL
THE ADVENTURES OF ALVIN SPUTNIK: DEEP SEA EXPLORER Auditorium Tickets: £12 / £11 conc. / £10 Members Seas have risen, billions have died. Alvin Sputnik is our only hope. He must venture to the bottom of the ocean to find his wife’s lost soul and save humanity. A tiny tale set in the deepest dark blue sea, Alvin Sputnik is a solitary explorer with a heart as big as a whale. Direct from sellout seasons in New York, Sydney, and Auckland this multi award-winning piece of heartwarming “theatrical magic” (Sunday Mail) is a one-man micro-epic about enduring love and the end of the world “…akin to a theatrical Wall-E” (New York Times).
Auditorium Tickets: £12.50 / £10 conc. & Members
Saturday 29 March, 3pm – 5pm
KIDS GO POP! Auditorium Tickets: £4 Join us for poptastic disco! With brilliant pop tunes, disco lighting and a flashy mirror ball, come and show off your pop star moves! Complete with guest DJs; The Spectacles, Bar POP! DJs and special guest, DJ Sprinkles! There will also be a live beatboxer and tonnes of your favourite pop tunes! For ages 7-12.
“This is stand-up as it should be: snappy and smart, occasionally nasty, and always funny” - The List Steve’s recent work has included writing on Russell Howard’s Good News as well as writing for BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show and taking his solo show Steve Hall’s Very Still Life to the 2011 Edinburgh Festival. Steve Hall also makes up one third of sketch show We Are Klang. Hall is joined Hayley Ellis, who has gone from strength to strength since she began performing in April 2009. This summer, Hayley performed at the Edinburgh Festival as part of The Comedy Zone and following great success at the festival, Hayley has also won Hull Comedian of the Year.
Friday 28 March, 8pm EDINBURGH COMEDY PREVIEW FEATURING
AHIR SHAH AND IAIN STIRLING Auditorium Tickets: £12.50 / £10 conc. & Members Iain Stirling is a stand-up comedian and face of CBBC. He burst onto the comedy scene whilst studying for a Law degree at Edinburgh University, being placed second in both the Paramount Funniest Student, and the Chortle Student Comedian of the Year in 2009. Dubbed one of Scotland’s “hottest newcomers” (The Scotsman), Iain has played at some of the most established gigs in the country, including the Stand, the Comedy Store and The Glee. He has supported Russell Kane and Rhod Gilbert on tour, appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC3) and The Comedy Zone, the most prestigious new act showcase at the Edinburgh Festival. Since October 2012, Iain has been touring with Russell Kane. “Unrestrained silliness, uninhibited childishness” - The Independent “Stirling’s most marketable skill is an ability to say very little in an entertaining way” - Nione Meakin, Chortle
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Ahir Shah is one of comedy’s brightest new talents, whose sharp brand of stand-up features a blend of socio-political awareness, energetic delivery and jokes. Ahir enjoyed great success in 2013 at the Edinburgh Fringe, where his show Anatomy was described by Fest as being “as thoughtful and compelling a show as you’re likely to come across”. He regularly performs live across the country, earning consistent combination of acclaim and apathy. In the summer of 2012, he appeared as part of The Comedy Zone at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. “Destined to be one of the brightest stars in the British Comedy firmament…a frighteningly intelligent gagsmith.” - The Scotsman “An intense, exciting performer whose act crackles with wit, his energy holding the audience captive until lights out.” – FringeGuru
Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
INE BEAT MAGAZ
The Price of Everything
By Warwick Cairns
Here’s a question: “What is a cynic?” And the answer? “A man who knows the price of everything…” Are you with me here? Is the quote beginning it sound familiar? Care to finish it off? Yes, yes. Of course. “A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” So, who wrote that? Oscar Wilde is always a good one when it comes to quotes. It’s always him or the other one, I find: him or Winston Churchill. Winston Churchill as in: “Sir, you are drunk.” (Bessie Braddock) “Madam, you are ugly. In the morning I shall be sober.” Or Winston Churchill as in: “If you were my husband I would give you poison.” (Nancy Astor) “If I were your husband I would take it.” But in this instance if you guessed Wilde you’d have been right. It’s from his play Lady Windermere’s Fan. But for multigazillion bonus points, can you say what comes next? No? Well, here’s the next line. “And a sentimentalist, my dear Darlington, is a man who sees an absurd value in everything, and doesn’t know the market price of any single thing.” Value and price: that’s my theme for today. Value and price and the relationship between them. And also, for a sort of subsidiary theme, little-known second parts to well-known things. Which have to do, ultimately, with value and price, as we’ll see. Now, to value and price and the relationship between them. Here’s another quote for you: “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” Yes, you know that one, too. Spoken by the hunchback King Richard III on the battlefield, fighting on foot after his own horse has been killed. And you know, of course, that it’s not Oscar Wilde, this quote, and not Winston Churchill, and not even Noel Coward (“I like long walks. Especially when they are taken by people who annoy me” - how can we have forgotten him earlier?) but the other King of Quotes, William Shakespeare. Now you know, and I know, that however horses were back then, they didn’t generally cost an entire kingdom. But with the hunchbacked king on foot in the middle of a fierce hand-to-hand battle, and conspicuous,
and vulnerable, the value of a horse had just shot right through the roof, on account of it being the one thing that would save his life. Ditto the value of a breath of air to a drowning man, or a single minute of life to a man - let’s imagine Saddam Hussein, say standing on a gallows trapdoor as he hears the click of the lever being pulled. So, we know that there is a relationship between value and price. We know that what we value more, we are prepared to pay more for. And, conversely, when it comes to what we value little, well, you’ll find it hard to get people to part with tuppence for. And we know that values change, and prices change with them. Back in the 17th Century, you could have bought one of the 750 copies of the First Folio edition of Shakespeare’s plays, including the horse quote, for a pound. Allowing for inflation in the intervening centuries, that would be about £100 at today’s prices. Whereas try and buy one today and you’d be hard pushed to get one for less than £2 million. So price is a reflection of value: things cost, by and large, what people are prepared to pay for them. But there’s a lesser-known second half to all this - value, in turn, is often a reflection of price. Which is to say, people often think more highly of expensive things, for no other reason than how much they cost. Now, I can imagine you sort of half-agreeing with this. Thinking of some people to whom this applies rather a lot, but feeling somehow more grounded and genuine yourself, and not swayed by such shallow materialism. And there are people who do seem to be very conspicuously swayed by high prices. The sort of very wealthy people who have solid gold taps, for example, or Bentleys painted the colour of their favourite nailvarnish. There’s a joke I heard in Moscow about two oligarchs who meet in a bar. One admires the gorgeous silk tie worn by the other. “Ivan!” he says, “Where did you get that tie? And how much did it cost you.” At which Ivan smiles knowingly. “A little shop down the road from here,” he says, “Very exclusive. Very expensive. They only let a select few into the shop. This cost me 20,000 roubles! Can you believe that, Oleg? Twenty thousand for a tie!”
Now, you may sneer and feel yourself superior to the superficial super-rich, but research shows that the same principles apply rather closer to home. Have you ever been to an expensive restaurant and noticed how good the food tastes? Or savoured the complexity of a glass of vintage wine? Well, if you have, there’s a reason you had such a wonderful experience. The price. In 2001, at the University of Bordeaux, Frederic Brochet carried out a psychological experiment on oenology students studying there. Oenology is the study of wine. The department is just down the university corridor from the boules department and the Gallic shrugging department. Probably. But anyway, these wine students: he gave them two bottles of wine to evaluate. One was a bottle of cheap supermarket plonk. The other was some grand vintage or other from a fancy chateau. Or so they thought. Asked to describe the expensive wine, the students gave lengthy descriptions, using adjectives such as “complex and full-bodied.” Asked to describe the plonk, they talked about it as “weak and flat.” Except. Except that they were describing the exact same wine, with different labels on. Being expensive led the students to believe it must be better and more valuable. And it’s more than just belief. There’s evidence that knowing wine is expensive actually makes it taste better. In an experiment at California Tech Institute, bottles of wine ranging from $5 to $90 were compared. Again, it was the same stuff in all the bottles - but this time the tasters were connected to a brain scanner. While tasting the wine, an area in the ‘pleasure zone’ of the prefrontal cortex of the brain would light up every time they drank the wine. But when they thought the wine was expensive, it actually lit up more. Which meant, in essence, that they were actually enjoying the flavour more. So price affects value as much as value affects price, though we might think otherwise.
second part to my story today, which concerns a book I’m writing at the moment and, ultimately, matters of value and price. A year or so back I wrote an adventure novel, set in the English Civil War. My agent touted it around the London publishers, and got back pretty much the same response, time after time: yes, yes - there’s some nice writing there, but it won’t sell. It’s the period. We’ve tried with some of our own authors, and noone buys books about that period. It won’t sell to the US, either: they really won’t get it. So the perceived value, and consequently the price they were prepared to pay for the manuscript, was around zero. We did speak to one publisher who we thought was going to give us a different response. “Love it!” she said, “Great characters. Great writing.” Which was good. “But there’s just one little problem.” The problem? “The period. Could you set it in the Elizabethan era?” My first response was “Well, this Civil War novel: the one with Cavaliers and Roundheads in it, and Oliver Cromwell and Prince Rupert of the Rhein. What part of it, exactly, do you want me to set in the Elizabethan era?” My second response was “No. Bugger off.” And my third response, a couple of months later, was “Hmmm. I wonder…” Which is why I sit here now, some tens of thousands of words into The Master Thief, a new novel set in London in the last years of the reign of Elizabeth I. It’s why I sit piling up page after page of its particular mix of street crime, candle-making, journeys from rags to riches and back again and inept hopeless rebellion, and wondering how, and where, things will end up on the old value-price equation.
All of which leads me to the little-known
YOUcannot
afford THIS
Oleg looks at him pityingly. “You fool,” he says, “There’s another shop just around the corner. You could have picked up one of those there for 30,000.”
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APRIL
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
HAMLET: THE DARK HOUR Tickets: £12 / £11 conc. / £10 Members Group rates available Suitable for ages 11+ ‘tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black... Join us in the dungeon setting for one of Shakespeare’s most renowned masterpieces.
Thurday 03 April – Saturday 19 April Rep Season Ticket: £30 / £28 conc. / £26 Members Family Rep Season Ticket: £80
Following the success of Macbeth; In Pitch Black, this Easter, London Contemporary Theatre and The Firestation present an immersive repertory season of three classic British texts, specifically crafted for the contemporary audience. Each text has been carefully chosen and have we got a treat in store! The Easter Rep Season will open with an inventive re-imagining of Hamlet; The Dark Hours - the iconic and perhaps greatest of Shakespeare’s plays will be an abridged version taking place in the dingy darkness of a dungeon, allowing your senses to be heightened and the power of the piece to be truly felt. The second production of the Rep Season is Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest - a classic comedy filled with miscommunication, witticisms, chaos and love! Finally, we present an adaptation of Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland; a perfect show for the family to enjoy, you’ll be invited down the rabbit-hole and given a seat at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party where the show will take place! This incredibly exciting project is The Firestation and London Contemporary Theatre’s first partnership venture, and The Firestation’s first co-producing credit. We are delighted to be working with such an exciting company this year!
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Thursday 03 April, 7:30pm (preview performance) Friday 04 April, 7:30pm (press night) Wednesday 09 April, 7:30pm Thursday 10 April, 7:30pm Saturday 12 April, 7:30pm Thursday 17 April, 7:30pm Saturday 19 April, 7:30pm
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Tickets: £12 / £11 conc. / £10 Members Group rates available Suitable for ages 11+ Squirm and snigger through Wilde’s infamous witticisms and find out what it really means to be Ernest! Saturday 05 April, 7:30pm (press night) Tuesday 08 April, 7:30pm Friday 11 April, 7:30pm Saturday 12 April, 2:30pm Wednesday 16 April, 7:30pm Saturday 19 April, 3:00pm
ALICE IN WONDERLAND Tickets: £10 / £7.50 / £30 family Suitable for ages 6+ “Curiouser and curiouser” Take your seat at the Mad Hatter’s teaparty! Alice is an ordinary little girl who lives an ordinary sort of life, until the day she finds herself in the most wonderful world of mad tea parties and remarkable characters. Tuesday 15 April, 7:00pm (press night) Wednesday 16 April, 2:30pm Thursday 17 April, 2:30pm Friday 18 April, 2:30pm Friday 18 April, 7:00pm Saturday 19 April, 12:15pm
Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
APRIL
image © Steve Ullathorne
Saturday 05 April, 1pm
Saturday 05 April, 8pm
Thursday 17 April, 7:45pm
LITTLE HOWARD’S BIG SHOW FOR KIDS
HOWARD READ: STAND-UP ANIMATOR
BOOK SWAP
Auditorium Tickets: £8.50 / £5.50 children / £25 family ticket
Auditorium Tickets: £10 / £9 conc. / £8 Members
Auditorium Tickets: £5 or free when you bring a home-baked cake
Little Howard is the world’s only live interactive animation. He’s won so many awards and fantastic reviews and he’s only just celebrated his 6th birthday (for the tenth year in a row)! But life is tough in showbiz; Little Howard’s big new act keeps going wrong... With interactive stand-up, live animation on stage and lots of jokes and songs this really is a show that all the family can enjoy.
Multi award-winning comedian and animator Howard Read is the first to ever use animation in live comedy.
Novelist Marie Phillips and publisher Scott Pack host an evening of conversation and banter at our ever popular literary event. You won’t hear boring speeches, the same old questions or authors reading from their latest book, but anything else goes!
Following the success of their TV show ‘Little Howard’s Big Question’ (CBBC) real human Big Howard and animated six-year-old Little Howard are bringing their unique family comedy show to The Firestation. “The best kids show we’ve seen at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival” - Families Online
Best known as the other half of the animated six-year-old virtual stand-up comic Little Howard, he’s appeared with him on some of the biggest TV shows on three continents and performed in front of (and insulted) The Queen. When he’s not on stage Howard is creating TV and radio scripts for the likes of Rik Mayall, Mark Gattis and Tim BrookeTaylor as well as the cult series of short cartoons Two Posh Old Men. Be the first to see this amazing show before it goes global! Book early! ‘Genius’ - Radio Times
Bring along any unwanted book - or a whole pile of them - to swap (hence the name innit), join in the discussions, drop questions in the hat, meet the authors and of course trough lots of cake and what we call “tea”! ‘This is exactly the kind of blog-linked, local event that publishers should be really encouraging, a sort of odd cross between a public reading and a book group’ – Emma Townshend, The Independent
Friday 18 April, 8pm
THE SMALL FAKERS AND THE BAND OF 1000 DANCES Auditorium Tickets: £12 standing / £13.50 seated Two great bands, one night! Come and re-live the tunes of the sixties with The Small Fakers and The Band of 1000 Dances in this exclusive double header! A tribute to the sensational Small Faces, The Small Fakers began their journey in 2006 and have since gone on to play live with original Small Faces drummer Kenny Jones and organist Jimmy Winston. Having also played with a host of other artists from the 60s scene, The Small Fakers will rip through all the classics, from ‘Whatcha Gonna Do About it’ through to ‘All or Nothing’!
The Band of 1000 Dances aims to recreate the sound, energy and sweaty excitement of the early days of classic British 60s blues and RnB groups like The Yardbirds, Kinks, Pretty Things, Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, Graham Bond Organisation and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
Hollands’ ‘Leaving Here’ plus other cool soul and RnB classics, the band adds an authentic Hammond Organ drenched backing to the awesome ‘blue-eyed soul’ voice of lead singer Ali MacKenzie, former frontman and founder member of 60s London RnB legends – and Ronnie Wood’s first band – The Birds.
Playing a mix of Birds originals such as ‘You’re On My Mind’ and ‘You Don’t Love Me’ and covers that formed part of the Bird’s live set in their heyday like The McCoys’ ‘Say Those Magic Words’ and Eddie
“Any fan of The Birds, or that unique 60s British take on soul and RnB, is gonna love the band of 1000 Dances,” says Ali.
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APRIL/MAY
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
www.comedyclub4kids.co.uk
Y A M w e i v e pr
Thursday 24 April, 8pm
Saturday 26 April, 1:00pm
Thursday 01 May, 8pm
KILLING ROGER
COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS
MITCH BENN IS THE 37TH BEATLE
Auditorium Tickets: £12 / £11 conc. / £10 Members
Auditorium Tickets: £8.50 / £5.50
Auditorium Tickets: £12
Following the success of 5 star runs in London and Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013, ‘Killing Roger’ returns as part of a national tour.
Like the name says it’s a Comedy Club 4 Kids!
Mitch’s new show combines his Scouse upbringing with his love of music and a lifelong obsession with Liverpool’s most famous sons. It is most definitely not a tribute show and while his affection for his subjects is well documented, expect the satirical twists for which Mitch is well known.
Using stunning life-sized puppetry and original live music, this new play raises one of the most important questions of our generation in a moving and humorous tale of an old man and a boy at opposite ends of their lives. “Magnificent ... uncompromising ... nothing short of extraordinary” H H H H H - Fringe Guru
Saturday 10 May, 8pm
Y A M e previ w
Cracking entertainment for everyone over six years old and under 400 years old (no vampires or Highlanders). We have the best comedians from the UK and world circuit doing what they do best… but without the rude bits! “A highlight for children... giving them a taste of some of the biggest names in comedy with the fun, rowdy feel of a real comedy club.” - The Guardian
Friday 16 May, 8pm
Y A M e previ w
“Anyone who likes music, hates Simon Cowell and likes learning new things will love it” H H H H - Chortle
Saturday 17 May, 8pm
Y A M e i v pre w
MOUNTAIN OF LOVE (EX-ALABAMA 3)
PATRICK MONAHAN: CAKE CHARMER
MIKE WOZNIAK: TAKE THE HIT
Auditorium Tickets: £10 standing / £12 seated
Auditorium Tickets: £12
Auditorium Tickets: £12 / £10 conc. & Members
Mountain of Love was formed when Piers and Eddie, two of the three founder members of Alabama 3, writers of the Sopranos theme tune, Woke Up This Morning, left to do what they did best which was making serious groove based dance music.
A new stand-up show from the loveable Teessider who likes hugging and eating cake - but not simultaneously! Patrick Monahan is renowned for his superb anecdotes, his unique charm and his unmistakeable brand of humour. In 2011, as well as winning the ITV series Show Me The Funny which led to the release of his debut DVD Patrick Monahan Live, he won the 2011 Forth Radio Best StandUp People’s Choice Award and was in The Wrestling which won an Edinburgh 2011 Fringe First.
His wife’s parents have moved in. Permanently. Not so much a show as a person getting out of the house. But fear not, Wozniak has more show business in his moustache than he does in his little finger. Where do you keep yours? Let’s find out if we get around to it.
Their sound is a heavy, dubbed up, joyous mix of psychedelic electronic funk, old school techno, and the blues with some swampy deep soul thrown into the mix.
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“Just could be the new comedy hero.” - Time Out
Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
kids
january Saturday 18 January, 1pm
MONSTER’S UNIVERSITY
n o i t a t s e fir
s d i K
b u l C
Saturday 29 March, 3pm - 5pm
KIDS GO POP!
(2013) 99 mins. Rating: U The prequel to Monsters Inc, gain an insight into the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University - when they weren’t necessarily the best of friends…
Tickets: £4
february
april
Saturday 15 February, 1pm
Saturday 05 April, 1pm
COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS
LITTLE HOWARD’S BIG SHOW FOR KIDS
We have the best comedians from the UK and world circuit doing what they do best… but without the rude bits! See page 8 for more information
Saturday 22 February, 1pm
DESPICABLE ME 2
(2013) 98 mins. Rating: PG
Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal. Filled with your favourite minions and lots of despicable actions!
Join us for poptastic disco! With brilliant pop tunes, disco lighting and a flashy mirror ball, come and show off your pop star moves! See page 20 for more information
With interactive stand-up, live animation on stage and lots of jokes and songs this really is a show that all the family can enjoy. See page 23 for more information
Saturday 19 April, 1pm
THE LONE RANGER
(2013) 150 mins. Rating: 12A Native American warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice in Disney’s newest reimagining of the classic Western! Starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer.
Kindly supported by
march
TICKETS:
BLAST OFF!
Saturday 26 April, 1pm
The Noisy Animals are the biggest band in the world. So big in fact, that there’s nowhere on earth big enough for them to perform any more… See page 16 for more information
We have the best comedians from the UK and world circuit doing what they do best… but without the rude bits! See page 24 for more information
Cinema: £5 adults / £2.50 children £1 Members, Envy and Advantage Card Holders
LIVE EVENTS: For performance ticket prices please refer to the full event listing
Saturday 01 March, 1pm (2013) Rating: PG
COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS
Saturday 22 March, 1pm
SING-A-LONG-A SOUND OF MUSIC
(1964) 174 mins. Rating: U
Family favourite and camp classic, join us for a special screening of The Sound Of Music as we launch our LGBT Cinema Micro-Festival!
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classes & workshops
The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture Issue 17 Winter/Spring Programme January - April 2014
classes & workshops 4MDT YOUTH COMPANY ‘MOVING PICTURES’
4MOTION YOUTH DANCE PERFORMANCE
NO HANDBAGS
TUESDAY 25 MARCH 7.30PM
Auditorium
SPRING TERM: TUES 14 JANUARY – TUES 25 MARCH (EXCL. 18 FEB) SUMMER TERM BEGINS ON TUES 22 APRIL
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No Handbags is a theatre company for performers with learning difficulties, based at The Firestation since 2008.
Basement
SOTA STAGE SCHOOL
No Handbags’ work focuses on non-verbal and visual performing skills such as mask, puppetry and mime. The company devises original, contemporary theatre for performances, workshops and interactive installations and is developing an inclusive and exciting body of work through immersive and multi-sensory theatre.
LED BY ARTISTIC DIRECTORS ELAINE & DEAN
SPARKS 5-7 yrs 4.30-5.20pm / £65.00 SPARKS class is jam packed with fun, laughter, and heaps of energy! Children will develop confidence through movement story telling, choreography games and performing as a team. Creative play is at the heart of this class and we welcome everyone to join in the dancing adventure! FLAMES 8-10yrs
5.20-6.20pm / £70.00 FLAMES class is for young people who are interested in dance, movement, and drama. The workshops are action packed and focus on learning fun routines, gaining confidence and devising interesting new choreography. Children are encouraged to input their ideas, explore their creativity, and experience the value of working as a team.
HEAT
11-12yrs 5.20-6.20pm / £70.00
HEAT is a class for enthusiastic young people who have experience of dance, theatre, and performance. This is the transitional class from FLAMES to BLAZE, involving an intermediate approach to dance technique and choreography skills. HEAT dancers will have the opportunity to become 4Motion Dance Assistants if they wish to develop young leadership skills.
BLAZE 13yrs+
SOTA SEEDS Basement SOTA Seeds classes provide a fabulous introduction to performing arts for little ones. Watch them flourish as they explore through dance, singing and drama.
AGES 4-6 YEARS
TUESDAYS 10TH SEPTEMBER - 26TH NOVEMBER (EXCLUDES 22 & 29 OCT) Tuesdays 3.45pm-4.30pm
AGES 3-5 YEARS
SUNDAYS 15TH SEPTEMBER - 1ST DECEMBER (EXCLUDES 27 OCT & 03 NOV) Sundays 10am-10.45am £78 per 10 week term
If you are interested in joining the company or would like No Handbags to work with you e.g. developing a project, contact Matt Young (Artistic Director), 07814 660 817, nohandbagsmail@gmail.com.
MUSICAL THEATRE CLASS
EVERY MONDAY (EXCL. 07 APRIL) 10AM-4PM
Basement Have a ball learning songs, dances and acting scenes from West End and Broadway musicals with our highly experienced acting, dance and singing coaches.
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AGES 8-14 YEARS
TUESDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER - 26TH NOVEMBER (EXCLUDES 22 & 29 OCT) Tuesdays 4.30pm-5.45pm £120 per 10 week term
6.20-7.30pm / £75.00 BLAZE is an advanced dance theatre company for young people interested in creating original dance. This class is ideal for those wishing to study or is studying GCSE Dance, Theatre and Performing Arts, and those with a genuine passion and dedication for creative arts. BLAZE classes involve an advanced approach to dance technique, contact work, and choreography and performance skills.
SOTA SUNDAY STAGE SCHOOL
All 4Motion youth groups will be part of the end of term 4Motion Youth Dance Performance at the Firestation Arts Centre, performing to family and friends.
AGES 6-16 YEARS
.......................................................................... 4MOTION ADULT DANCE: GET A MOVE ON! Basement
Looking for an alternative to the gym, something that’s energetic and original? Then join 4Motion’s popular adult dance class ‘Get A Move On’ for a fun dance and fitness experience.
No Handbags has devised two major touring pieces ‘Aquariana’ and ‘The Flicker Club’ - which visited venues including Hoxton Hall, The Beautiful Octopus Club @ The Albany (London), Pegasus Theatre (Oxford) and South Hill Park.
Basement SOTA School enables 6-16 year olds to develop skills in dance, singing and drama in a creative and stimulating environment. Working in three age groups, pupils rotate between three workshops lead by professionally trained workshop leaders and performers. The emphasis is on fun through confidence building, skills development and self expression.
SUNDAYS 15TH SEPTEMBER - 1ST DECEMBER (EXCLUDES 27 OCT & 03 NOV) Sundays 10.30am-1.30pm £245 per 10 week term
..................................................................... MESSY MONETS Basement
Fun packed creative classes for pre-schoolers, Messy Monets have arrived at The Firestation!
SWING & JIVE Basement
Learn the original swing dance from the 1930s, 40s and 50s (aka the Lindy hope or Jitterbug)! Can be danced to everything from Big Band swing (Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie) through Rock ‘n’ Roll, the lounge swing of Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack and modern artists like Michael Bublé!
BEGINNERS 8PM-9PM Learn the basic swing steps and some fun moves! No previous experience needed! No partner needed!
IMPROVERS / INTERMEDIATES 9PM-9.45PM Move your dancing on with more complex rhythms, moves and combinations including swing, lindy hop charleston and variations. No partner needed!
ROUTINE CLASS (ADVANCED) 9.45-10.30PM EVERY MONDAY £8 per session / £30 per 5 week block (includes free entry to Friday Night Jive!) See events listings for Friday Night Jive dates If you would like to attend two different classes in one evening, pay just £12. It’s £15 to attend Beginners, Improvers/Intermediates and Routine classes in the same evening. £45 per 5 week block for 2 different classes
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The Firestations’ professional resident dance company has created a totally unique contemporary dance class that welcomes anyone who wants to try something new or build on their current technique, flexibility, and fitness. The class focuses on high intensity dance specific fitness; yoga stretches and dance technique, and is a very friendly and fun group.
Each class lasts around an hour and is themed. The children make two things to take home each session – so we’re great value for money and the little ones are kept nice and busy! During the session, the children also do some modelling with play-dough and dance around in bubbles at the end of each session to music. So it’s pretty fun packed!
To find out more please contact Elaine on elaine@4motiondancetheatre.co.uk or 07792859254.
So grab a coffee from the bar and come on down and join in the creative fun!
A hairbrush holding, loud and lively singing group for absolutely everyone, singing your way from ABBA to Queen to U2 and even have a stab at 3 part harmonies! The Sing Out group now numbers over 30 singers and meets up at The Firestation every Friday evening at the end of a long week to relax, de-stress and Sing Out!
EVERY TUESDAY (EXCL. 25 MAR)
EVERY FRIDAY (EXCL. 21 FEB, 11 & 18 APR)
7.35pm-8.45pm £60 for 10-weeks / £7 drop-in
EVERY FRIDAY (EXCL. 21 FEB, 4, 11 & 18 APR)
6pm-7pm Tickets £6 / £4 siblings / Loyalty cards available
6pm-7pm £5 per session
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SING OUT!
Space varies
Box Office: 01753 866 865 info@firestationartscentre.com www.firestationartscentre.com
LIFE DRAWING
BLOSSOM BALLET
A fun and dynamic life drawing session for all abilities, with a great atmosphere, music and stage lighting to enhance the definition and features of the subjects. You can be left to your own devises or alternately tutor, Patrick Palmer, is happy to give advice. Each week there is a nude model to study, holding various times poses of different lengths.
Blossom Ballet offers a new way to learn through exciting movement classes derived from imaginative play, providing a sound foundation for dance, education and social needs.
Basement
Patrick is a professional artist with over 20 years of experience in life-drawing. He was classically trained at Heatherley’s School of Art (Chelsea) and at The National College of Art and Design (Dublin). He was also given extensive personal tuition by Michael Clack, a close friend of Francis Bacon and by Bobby Gill, an honorary lecturer at The Royal Academy.
EVERY SUNDAY 5.30pm-7.30pm £10 drop in, £8 with Advantage Card/Conc/Mem £80 for 10 sessions
Blossom Ballet and its syllabi were created and carefully designed by pre-school professionals specifically for babies, toddlers and young children.
Inspirational pictures, props and instruments are used but most importantly, Blossom Ballet is about having lots of fun and making new friends. Children naturally progress throughout the levels according to their age. Upon graduation from Blossom Ballet, pupils are welcome to join Hawthorne School of Dance to continue their learning in Ballet, Tap and Street.
MONDAY 06 JANUARY - SATURDAY 05 APRIL (EXCL. 17 – 22 FEB) SUMMER TERM BEGINS W/C MON 28 APRIL
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SEEDS [18-26 MONTHS]
GLITTER BOX BURLESQUE
SAPLINGS (27-36 MONTHS]
Basement
Discover the art of tease with Glitter Box Burlesque classes. Learn peeling, tracing, core moves, prop work and routines. Plus you have the opportunity to join the Glitter Box Fairies in the end of term show. Whether you are learning for fun, fitness or thrills, Burlesque is ideal for everyone, of any age or shape. The only things we’ll be stripping off are your inhibitions.
EVERY WEDNESDAY UNTIL 26 MARCH (EXCL. 19 FEB) (EXCLUDES 02 & 30 OCTOBER)
7pm - 8pm £8 per session / £40 for six sessions
.......................................................................... WINDSOR PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Wed & Thu 9.45am-10.15am £72 Mon 2.30pm-3.00pm £72 Wed & Thu 10.25am-10.55am £72
SAPLINGS+BUDS [3 YEARS] Mon 1.45pm-2.25pm £72
BUDS [3 YRS] Wed & Thu 11.05am-11.45am £84 Sat 10.00am-10.40am £84
classes & workshops
HAWTHORNE SCHOOL OF DANCE
Classical Ballet - Delivered in a fun and imaginative manner with classes divided by age and ability - suitable for girls, boys, beginners and improvers. Optional examinations validated by the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) Tap dance - delivered in an energetic and interactive manner with classes divided by age and ability - suitable for girls, boys, beginners and improvers. Optional examinations validated by the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) Street - Inspirational, energetic and funky classes delivered by dancing professionals working within the commercial industry - suitable for girls, boys, beginners and improvers.
MONDAY 06 JANUARY - SATURDAY 05 APRIL (EXCL. 17 – 22 FEB) SUMMER TERM BEGINS W/C MON 28 APRIL
STREET DANCE [7 YRS+] Mon 6.45pm-7.30pm £60
PRE-PRIMARY ISTD BALLET & TAP [5 YRS] Mon 4.55pm-5.45pm £96
LEVEL 2 BALLET & TAP [YEAR 2] Mon 5.50pm-6.40pm £96
PRIMARY ISTD BALLET & TAP [YEARS 1 & 2] Sat 12.30pm-1.20pm £96
ISTD PRE-PRIMARY BALLET & TAP [RECEPTION] Mon 4.00pm-4.50pm £96
BLOSSOM ISTD BALLET & TAP [4 YEARS]
NEW ISTD PRIMARY MODERN & TAP [RECEPTION/YEAR 1]
Mon 3.10pm-3.55pm £90 Wed 3.50pm-4.35pm £90 Sat 10.45am-11.30am £90
NEW ISTD GRADE1/2 MODERN & TAP [YEARS 2 & 3]
Mon 4.55pm-5.35pm £96 Wed 5.35pm-6.25pm £96
BLOSSOM/PRE-PRIMARY ISTD BALLET & TAP [4 & 5 YRS] Wed 4.40pm-5.30pm £90 Sat 11.35am-12.25am £90
Auditorium
PRIMARY ISTD BALLET & TAP [5 & 6 YRS]
The Windsor Photographic Society is one of the largest photographic societies in the UK. Members enjoy a friendly atmosphere with a varied and stimulating programme of practical help, creative sessions, speakers, competitions and social evenings.
Mon 4.00pm-4.50pm £90 Sat 12.30am-1.20pm £90 For more information please visit: www.blossomballet.com
EVERY MONDAY (EXCL. 13 JAN, 21 APRIL) 8.00pm-10.30pm Contact: Chris Towler on chris.towler@talk21.com mob: 07917878315
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GETVOLMEM BER INV UNT SHIP OLVEER ED. ING Firestation Membership
Want to get involved?
One of the things that makes The Firestation so special is the multitude of people who come together to make it happen. There are a myriad of ways in which you too could become involved in The Firestation’s creative melting pot!
By joining our fantastic membership scheme you can benefit from a whole host of offers and special events. On top of an array of discounts (which are listed below), you are exclusively invited to a Members only event to celebrate the launch of the new season, supplying all the information you need to enjoy the next season’s sensational programme to the fullest! Individual, family and corporate membership packages available.
Volunteers join us on a regular basis and they are integral to our success.
Opportunities range from Box office to Marketing & Distribution, Ushering to Technical assistance and Bar work. In exchange for your well-spent time here, we offer exclusive, exciting benefits as well as a spectacular insight into work in the arts industry! boxoffice@ firestationartscentre.com Curating, Performance & Workshops We’re always on the lookout to nurture new talent, from offering DJ spots in the bar, programming new bands in our music nights, to performances or artists leading a workshop or class. info@firestationartscentre.com
• Exclusive booking period for premium events • 20% discount on all season performances • 10% discount at The Firestation Bar • 10% discount on private hires and conferences. • Discounts with our partner restaurants and shops. Check website for up to date list of deals and offers. Firestation membership £25.00 with Concession £20 Family Membership £37.50 Corporate Membership: Please contact our Box Office Manager on 01753 866 865 to discuss your outstanding Corporate Membership options. To get your superb Firestation Membership please visit our website and fill out the short registration form or call The Firestation Box Office
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For any suggestions or any other feedback on anything we do, talk to our team or drop us a line at info@firestationartscentre.com