BIG BANG Inspiring the next generation
PROCESSIONS PARTNERSHIPS LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION WORKSHOPS
LEARNING & PARTICIPATION NEWSLETTER SPRING 2018 / EDITION 8 01202 280000 www.lighthousepoole.co.uk IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
INTRODUCTION Hello and welcome to our summer edition of the Big Bang! This year we are celebrating our 40th birthday and it has been our great pleasure to share in these celebrations with you all. Over the past few months here at Lighthouse we have been hard at work delivering a huge selection of shows and opportunities. Some of these have been specifically related to our 40th birthday celebrations, such as Mike Jeffries’ (the Chair of our Board) exhibition in The Gallery, which you can catch until 2nd June. We are also thrilled to be hosting Circa Tsuica once again, performing their new show Now or Never in July. The show will take place in a Big Top in Hamworthy Park and will feature special guests in the form of Queen Elizabeth school’s jazz band. We look forward to seeing you there! As summer draws closer, you may notice the volume of our creative output begin to wind down. However, behind the scenes we are beginning our preparations for another action-packed autumn season. We are continuing our foray into production and will be developing three new plays in our Sherling Studio over the coming year. Furthermore, our production, Dominoes, which premiered here in March, is heading to Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year – which makes two new Lighthouse plays at the festival in two years! This issue also details some of the upcoming highlights of the autumn season, such as English Touring Theatre’s Othello, which promises to be astounding. Moreover, the wonderful Dante or Die are returning to us again, with another set of participation friendly (read: encouraged!) performances, taking place in the Rossmore Leisure Centre. Coming away from theatre and drama, we are excited to announce the successful beginnings of several learning programmes, such as Processions; a national programme which marks the centenary of women gaining the right to vote. Additionally, our Young Technicians scheme has had another successful run, with seven eager participants completing the course and ‘teching’ a professional performance. We are also very pleased to be taking part in a new music engagement programme with Serious Music, taking place in local secondary schools. You can read more about this and find out how to get involved on pg 9. We look forward to welcoming you and working with you.
Stephen Wrentmore, Artistic Producer
2 EDITION 8 BIG BANG NEWSLETTER
CONTENTS WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO Processions 4 Young Technicians
4
PARTNERSHIPS Circa Tsuica
5
Take On Me
6
Partner School Programme
6
LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP FOR SCHOOLS RSC LIVE
7
National Theatre Live On The Big Screen
7
Spoken Word
7
Drama 7 Dance Circus
8
Music 8
WHAT’S COMING UP Lighthouse Led Workshops
9
Workshops 9
BIG BANG NEWSLETTER EDITION 8 3
WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO Processions Over the past few months, something truly exciting has been brewing behind the scenes at Lighthouse! Working with internationally renowned arts company Artichoke and 14-18NOW, Lighthouse has been commissioned to deliver 8 textile banner making workshops, for a project entitled Processions. The project will commemorate and celebrate 100 years of votes for women, making banners in the suffragette style, whilst exploring what it means to be a woman in 21st century Britain. The project will culminate in marches taking place in the four capital cities of the UK on 10th June. Here at Lighthouse, our group of participants will be joining the march in London, where we will walk together with thousands of other women as part of this celebratory mass participation artwork. Wearing either green, white or violet, the colours of the suffrage movement, the processions will appear as a flowing river of colour through the city streets. Denise Poote, a professional visual artist from Bournemouth has been leading the workshops for our group of enthusiastic participants. Denise says, “Working on this project which brings together local women from the South West to create banners and share time has been a wonderful and inspiring opportunity for me. I have enjoyed spending time with this local group and look forward to travelling together with our artwork to London.” For Lighthouse, Processions has been a really fun and worthwhile experience for all involved and we are extremely pleased and grateful to have been selected as one of the 100 arts organisations to participate.
YOUNG TECHNICIANS “The course was an invaluable resource of education” Harry, Young Technician From February through to March, our ‘Young Technicians’ programme had another successful run. Seven young people interested in learning all about what goes on behind the scenes at Lighthouse took part in six masterclasses, each related to a different technical aspect, such as lighting, sound and stage management. One of the really rewarding things about working at Lighthouse are the opportunities that we have, like Young Technicians, to work with members of the community and engage them in the arts. Perdie from our learning team says, “Coming from the local area, it has been a real privilege to work with young people from within my community and to see the positive impact that participating in this programme has had on them.” We will be running this scheme again next year and will begin the recruitment process in the autumn term. If you are interested in this project, or know anyone who you think may be, keep an eye out for details of how to apply!
4 EDITION 8 BIG BANG NEWSLETTER
PARTNERSHIPS Now or Never – Circa Tsuica Something delightful and noisy is landing in Hamworthy Park this summer! Back by popular demand, Circa Tsuica are set to make a triumphant return to Dorset in July. Performing in a big top, the company will be showcasing their talents in a new show, ‘Maintenant ou Jamais’ (Now or Never).
What do you hope the band will get from taking part this time? Only one musician is still with us from that time, so this will give a whole new set of musicians the chance to experience something few of us will ever get to do – perform with a professional company in a big top. The fact that they will need to be flexible, memorise their music, and physically perform inside a marquee to a paying audience should be something they’ll always remember as a fantastic experience. It will be challenging, unusual and a test of their resilience. I know they’ll be superb though, they always rise to the occasion, and I know that these will be QE memories they can look back on with great fondness.
Circa Tsuica shows feature stunning circus skills combined with astounding musical ability – and the best part? They play the instruments whilst performing their mind-blowing acrobatic stunts! We are so excited to be working with this company again and to be able to share their wonderful work with our audiences. One fantastic opportunity that has emerged from this event is the chance for Queen Elizabeth’s School, one of our partner schools, to take part in the performance. The school’s Jazz band will be involved in several workshops during the months leading up to July, which will culminate in their starring role within the show. Perdie caught up with Steve Glover, the Head of Music at QE, to hear his thoughts on the project.
We are so happy that you’re involved with the project! First off, can you tell us a bit about the band? We’re delighted to be offered the chance to play with such a great group of musicians again, thank you! The band is an offshoot of QE’s Jazz Orchestra, a group I took over from Laurie Payne some years ago now. The musicians range from 13-18 years old and are a talented and committed bunch. I recently found an old photo from our first Swanage Jazz festival gig – it looks tiny in comparison to the band now. There must be about 30 players in total, now, the regular big band instruments plus flutes, violins, a French horn and even a bass clarinet. We rehearse each Thursday afternoon and have a set of about 15 quality tunes, and try to add another each term. I love leading the band, it’s genuinely the highlight of my week.
I know you took part in the project a few years ago, how did you find that experience? A bit strange at first, as we didn’t really understand what it would be like! Even when the French Musical Director Camille came over to run the workshops the musicians were a little unsure, as they were well out of their comfort zone. But the memory of watching my musicians playing with the Circa Tsuica band on stage (who were phenomenal performers!!) will stay with me my whole life – parents, friends, and all of us at school were astonished by the show, and truly elated to be a part of such a wacky and skilful performance. It was amazing to watch.
BIG BANG NEWSLETTER EDITION 8 5
PARTNERSHIPS Take On Me As part of our budding partnership with Dante or Die theatre company we are excited to announce a site-specific project taking place this Autumn. Take On Me is an 80s inspired participatory show that will play out in regional leisure centres around the country. Audience members, donning headbands and legwarmers, will be led through various areas such as aerobics rooms, changing rooms and the swimming pool, as the story unfolds. Lighthouse is teaming up with Everyone Active’s Rossmore Leisure Centre, where the show will play for several dates with a very limited number of tickets!
One thing that is particularly exciting about this project is the community engagement aspect, which will run alongside it. In the months and weeks leading up to the show, several workshops will take place, with the aim of introducing the local community to the Dante or Die troupe and to the project as a whole. The first set of workshops will be open to all interested parties and will involve introducing participants to the company’s work, experimenting with elements of the script, physical activities such as an aerobics routine involved in the show and a question & answer session. The second set of workshops will involve an invited group of participants who we believe may be interested in taking part in the show. We will be on the look-out for participants for both sets of workshops, so keep an eye out on our website in the coming months if you fancy the idea of taking part!
PARTNER SCHOOL PROGRAMME One of the great successes of the past academic year has been our partner school scheme. Our relationships with the 8 schools on the scheme have really flourished and we believe the programme is truly something to celebrate! Each partnership has brought about wonderful opportunities for both Lighthouse and the teachers, students and parents at each school. As part of the programme, schools have been offered: : B ackstage tours – the chance to learn about the innermost workings of a professional arts venue : S pecial Screenings – curriculum focused films for free at Lighthouse : C omplimentary tickets to ground breaking drama, dance, contemporary circus and physical theatre : Priority access to workshops, events and projects : W ork experience – the opportunity for students to gain paid experience in a cultural venue : H osted a private film festival and several art exhibitions (and private views!) : And much more!
6 EDITION 8 BIG BANG NEWSLETTER
We are now in the process of recruiting new schools to join the programme for the next academic year. If you are interested in this opportunity and would like to find out more, or would like to make an application, please email learning@lighthousepoole.co.uk.
LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP FOR SCHOOLS As ever, Lighthouse is offering a wide variety of activities and shows to see or get involved in. Check out the Lighthouse programme or our website for a full list of shows and events, as there are additional opportunities that may be of interest beyond what is listed here. Many shows have discounts for students/school groups. We also run a ‘Live for 5’ scheme for 14-25 year olds, which allows entry to many shows for only £5 if signed up. Phone Box Office on 01202 280000 or visit www.lighthousepoole.co.uk for ticket details.
RSC LIVE
SPOKEN WORD Friday 1 June Francesca Beard presents
How To Survive a Post-Truth Apocalypse Join Francesca Beard, your sham-shaman, on an epic adventure through a wonderland of lies, fictions, Wikipedia facts and the stories we tell ourselves.
Age Guidance of 16+ SHERLING STUDIO
Wednesday 18 July
Romeo and Juliet Watch Director Erica Whyman’s take on the epic tale of lovers ripped apart by a bitter family divide, from the comfort of Lighthouse’s cinema.
CINEMA Wednesday 12 September
The Merry Wives of Windsor Down on his luck in the suburbs, John Falstaff plans to hustle his way to a comfortable retirement by seducing the wives of two wealthy men. Unbeknownst to him, it’s the women of Windsor who really pull the strings…
CINEMA
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE ON THE BIG SCREEN Tuesday 5 June
Macbeth (Encore) A chance to see Rufus Norris’ take on Shakespeare’s most intense and terrifying tragedy.
CINEMA
DRAMA Friday 8 June Show and Tell presents
DollyWould Come and join us for this raucously fun performance that looks at themes of cloning, branding, immortality and death, whilst celebrating the cultural icon that is Dolly Parton!
Age Guidance of 16+ SHERLING STUDIO Friday 15 June Sisata presents
Frankenstein Join us for a radical reimagination of Shelley’s classic tale, embracing themes such as the human search for perfection, psychosexual identity and the politics of gender and transgenderism.
SHERLING STUDIO
BIG BANG NEWSLETTER EDITION 8 7
LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP FOR SCHOOLS DANCE AND CIRCUS Wednesday 20 June
MUSIC Sunday 10 June
Jazz Dance Company presents
BSO presents
Decades
Rusty & Not So Rusty Musicians
Making their highly anticipated return to Lighthouse, London Studio Centre’s Jazz Dance Company will be bringing their show stopping choreography to a lucky audience this June. This is a performance not to be missed!
Young fledgling talent joins forces with BSO professional musicians for an exciting concert full of diversity and passion!
SHERLING STUDIO Friday 6 July – Sunday 8 July
CONCERT HALL Thursday 28 June Lighthouse and BSO present
Circa Tsuica presents
Meet the Music, 20th Century Period
Now or Never
Come and experience a laidback and informal deconstruction of a famous piece of classic music. A rare chance to hear demonstrations from BSO ensembles.
Join us in Hamworthy park for a riotous, joyful show full of extraordinary circus skills and musical delights. Tickets include a glass of wine and a crepe – so you can’t go wrong!
HAMWORTHY PARK
SHERLING STUDIO
Can’t make it? Check out the BSO’s Facebook live stream on the day!
Friday 29 June Jazz by the Sea Festival and Jazz FM present
An evening of foot stomping Blues & Boogie Featuring jazz-rock violinist Ric Sanders, (of Fairport Convention) Dom Pipkin at the piano and guest blues guitarists Michael Messer and Robbie McIntosh presented by Jazz FM’s David Freeman.
SHERLING STUDIO
8 EDITION 8 BIG BANG NEWSLETTER
WHAT’S COMING UP LIGHTHOUSE LED WORKSHOPS Serious LEAP – Into the Unknown We are thrilled to announce that, in partnership with Serious Music, we are leading a new outreach learning programme. The programme will be delivered to two of our wonderful partner schools who are passionately engaged with music education and are driven by fantastically motivated and enthusiastic teachers. We are so pleased to be collaborating with Serious, who are a very exciting company. Serious specialise in producing world class events, running diverse learning and participation projects and are one of the leading promoters of Jazz and Contemporary music in the UK. This project aims to actively engage young people to make and play music. Within the local area there is already lots of provision for music workshops that focus on classical and jazz music. Therefore, our ambition here, is to inspire young creatives to explore other genres of music, particularly popular music. Lighthouse is keen to inspire, encourage and support the writing, playing and production of contemporary music by young people, for young people. We will be running a second strand of this project in the Autumn term, so stay tuned for information about how to get involved…
WORKSHOPS Several visiting companies are offering workshops in tandem with their shows. Cost and fees range from free to £700 depending on the nature and funding of the workshop. If you are interested in bringing top professional companies/artists into your schools, please contact learning@lighthousepoole.co.uk and we will facilitate the booking process. Workshop dates often have some flexibility beyond the dates of the show.
Around 29 October
Rambert2 The company offer a year-round workshop programme with schools throughout the country, which gives students an insight into Rambert’s work, the chance to explore their own creativity, and develops their critical thinking skills. Workshops can be tailored to the specific needs of a group and will include a contemporary technique warm-up, creative tasks and performing and analysing work.
Around 9 October
Avant Garde Dance Company Bringing their retelling of Fagin’s Twist to Lighthouse in October, the company offer a huge variety of bespoke opportunities for various different groups of participants. With an awareness of the popularity of street and hip-hop art forms amongst young audiences, they capitalise on this to capture their attention, with the hope to inspire, educate and excite them!
September – October
Serious Music A chance for young people to create, engage and collaborate with one another in a digital music project. See article above for more details.
BIG BANG NEWSLETTER EDITION 8 9
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF
THEATRE, DANCE, BSO, MUSIC, FILM, CIRCUS, COMEDY, VISUAL ARTS IN POOLE
As we celebrate our 40th birthday, Lighthouse is looking to the future and how we can make our mark as a creative force. This means maximising use of Lighthouse’s amazing facilities and expertise to enable new work to be made here in Poole by local artists. Led by our first-ever Artistic Producer this activity will encourage cultural exchange and risk taking and give Lighthouse refreshed vitality and an enhanced artistic identity and profile. Can you help to support our new work, talent development and Learning ambitions? Any contribution - large or small - really does make a difference. If you’d like to be in touch about supporting Lighthouse please email fundraising@lighthousepoole.co.uk or call 01202 781310.
01202 280000 www.lighthousepoole.co.uk