ARENA
THEATRE
Jan-Jul 2020
PLAYS FILMS DANCE MUSIC COMEDY
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HELLO! Welcome to the Spring 2020 season at the Arena Theatre, University of Wolverhampton.
Jan-Jul 2020
CONTENTS Performances
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Arena Film Theatre
It’s a new decade, but here at the Arena Theatre we are bringing in the New Year with some familiar favourites making their return to our stage with some brand-new shows: Blackeyed Theatre, Vamos Theatre and Gazebo Theatre to name but three.
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Theatre Supper
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Arena Venue Hire
Poetry and Storytellers
As ever, we are bringing you some of the best in local Midlands talent: with Paperback Theatre and Emma White – two alumni from ourArena Collaborative Theatremaker (ACT) evenings – taking to our main stage for the very first time.
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
University Open Days
Learning and Participation At a Glance
How to Book
Our professional programme boasts a little something for everyone this season: Get Lost & Found are bringing us a Moomin-tastic show with Mischief and Mayhem in Moominvalley, whilst Morgan and West’s Unbelievable Science is bound to capture the imaginations of all little ones in the room.
How to Find us
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No Amps, No Chat, No Charge
With this in mind, you won’t want to miss out on an opportunity to immerse yourselves in our flourishing artistic scene: with our Arena Collaborative Theatremaker (ACT) evenings and Poets and Storytellers Assemble! (PASTA) nights motoring along stronger than ever.
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And let’s not forget: 14/48 Wolverhampton, the world’s quickest theatre festival, is BACK for its sixth year! We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Neil
NrD E I R F edge you
Neil Reading Venue Manager + The Team
TALK TO US!
Keep-up to-date with our latest news, links and last-minute ticket deals, and get an occasional peek behind the scenes...
@Arena_Theatre /arenatheatre
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HIGHLIGHTS 05
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Yin
Home of the Wriggler
Friday 31 January at 7.30pm
27
Midsummer Thur 16 April at 7.30pm
SIGNED (BSL)
Thurs 27 Feb 7.30pm
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The Canterbury Tales
Sat 2 May at 7.30pm
AUDIO DESCRIBED
CAPTIONED
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15
Dead Good
Queer Lady M
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Thurs/Fri 5 and 6 March at 1pm and 7.30pm
Barking Tales Fri 12 June at 7.30pm
Friday 20 March 7.30pm
Youth Theatre Jan - July
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04 PERFORMANCES
PERFORMANCES Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists
POETRY SLAM Saturday 25 January 7.30pm
Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists present the fourth Wolverhampton Original Literature Festival Poetry Slam. Join your MCs, Steve Pottinger, Dave Pitt and Emma Purshouse for a slamtastic Lit Fest Saturday. Witness 15 poets battle it out in a live poetry competition to become Slam Champion 2018. Be bedazzled by bardic bravery, give your vote to a valorous versifier, whoop for a wordsmith. Who wins? The audience decides. Tickets: ÂŁ10
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PERFORMANCES 05
Vanhulle Dance Theatre
YIN Friday 31 January 7.30pm Contemporary dance and live music synchronise in a fearless, evocative piece performed by four female artists. In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describe how opposite forces are interdependent and need each other to co-exist. Yin reflects upon these universal symbols, drawing inspiration from the natural lifecycle and lived experiences. Highly visual, captivating choreography, haunting vocals, baroque piano and sound design subtly cross over, playfully questioning society’s perceptions of sexuality and power. Recommended age: 12yrs+ Tickets: £10
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06 PERFORMANCES
A gothic masterpiece of tempestuous passions and dark secrets, Jane Eyre tells the thrilling story of an orphan girl and her journey from a childhood of loneliness and cruelty to a life at Thornfield Hall and an unlikely relationship with the mysterious Mr Rochester. Falling in love, she gradually uncovers a hidden past to the gloomy, forbidding Thornfield Hall, a terrible secret that forces her to make a heart-wrenching choice.
Blackeyed Theatre
Thursday 6 at 7.30pm Friday 7 at 1.00pm (BSL/Audio Described) and at 7.30pm and Saturday 8 February at 7.30pm Tickets: £10
Don’t miss Blackeyed Theatre’s brand new stage adaptation of this great work of English fiction. Captivating, brooding and intensely powerful, JaneONLINE Eyre is a moving BOOK TICKETS arena.wlv.ac.uk and unforgettable portrayal of one woman’s quest for equality and freedom, and lives as one of the great triumphs of storytelling.
PERFORMANCES 07
Joss Arnott Dance
EMERGENCE TRIPLE BILL 2020 Friday 14 February 7.30pm
Following a hugely successful inaugural tour, Emergence, the postgraduate dance company of Joss Arnott Dance and the University of Salford, returns with a new cohort, two new works and the chance to see a reimagining of one of Arnott’s acclaimed productions.
Wubkje Kuindersma presents FUEL, a work inspired by the energy of this young, vital company, whilst James Wilton’s physical feast An Event asks how we feel in that moment between everything being fine and everything falling to pieces. Joss Arnott completes the bill with When Worlds Collide, his exhilarating, technical masterclass featuring an original, cinematic music score and stunning lighting. Tickets: £10
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08 PERFORMANCES
Quick Duck Theatre
YOURS SINCERELY Saturday 15 February 7.30pm
The year is 2017. Average graduate debt has hit £50,000, Kylie Minogue is making a comeback and Will Jackson has accidentally stolen 300 second class stamps from the post office. But he’s making them count. He’s going to write letters. From reconnecting with old friends and ex-boyfriends to run-ins with the marketing department at John Lewis, stamp collecting has never looked so sexy... Storytelling and lip-sync cabaret collide in this queer coming-of-age comedy about the complications of 21st century communication, based on real life correspondences. Tickets: £10
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PERFORMANCES 09
Starcross Youth Theatre
FOOTLOOSE Friday 21 February, 7.00pm Saturday 22 February, 2.00pm and 7.00pm Sunday 23 February, 2.00pm
Starcross Youth Theatre burst onto the Arena stage with their musical version of iconic 80s movie, Footloose. When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn’t prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing… To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score, with 80s classics such as Holding Out for a Hero, Let’s Hear It for the Boy and title song Footloose, Starcross Youth Theatre will surely leave you wanting to “kick off your Sunday shoes and cut loose!” An amateur production by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe. Book early to ensure you don’t miss out! Stage Adaptation by DEAN PITCHFORD and WALTER BOBBIE Based on the Original Screenplay by Dean Pitchford Music by TOM SNOW, Lyrics by DEAN PITCHFORD Additional Music by ERIC CARMEN, SAMMY HAGAR, KENNY LOGGINS and JIM STEINMAN An amateur production by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe
Tickets: : £12 full price / £10 concessions
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10 PERFORMANCES
Stan’s Cafe
HOME OF THE WRIGGLER Thursday 27 February at 7.30pm
Set far into the future, in a post-oil world, Home of the Wriggler follows four investigators enthusiastically piecing together the interwoven stories of families that once lived in the shadow of a huge car factory set for closure. Ambitious and witty, alive with ideas, built from true stories and industrial history, Home of the Wriggler is a playful kaleidoscopic soap opera. Its industrious performers, turning dynamos
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to light the stage with car headlights, bring to life dozens of humdrum fragments of everyday moments. Together, they create a poetic and heartwarming story of a community getting on with living their lives while a huge corporate drama unfolds around them. From Birmingham’s own Stan’s Cafe, who have been touring to international acclaim since 1991.
Tickets: £10
PERFORMANCES 11
fingersmiths
MY MOTHER NEVER SAID I SHOULD Friday 28 and Saturday 29 February at 7.30pm A moving and funny exploration of the lives of four generations of women in one family. Shifting back and forth in time, we see their loves, expectations and choices play out against huge social change from the 1900s through to the 1980s.
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Tickets: £10
YOU ARE ALWAYS YOUR MOTHER’S CHILD, MY MOTHER USED TO SAY.
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Presented in British Sign Language and spoken English and featuring a cast of one hearing and three d/Deaf actors, this production’s visual, physical storytelling captures the rich breadth of communication styles that have always been used by the d/Deaf community.
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Vamos Theatre
DEAD GOOD Thursday 5 March, 7.30pm Friday 6 March, 1.00pm and 7.30pm (Audio Described)
Let’s start...at the end. Bob and Bernard have only two things in common: they’re both dying… and they’re not going down without a fight. So, with a bottle of Bollinger and the keys to Bernard’s Bentley in hand, they decide to hit the road, and take on one final, deathdefying adventure. Funny and poignant in equal measure, Dead Good is a new production for 2020, touring the UK and Europe.
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It’s a witty, wordless theatre show about the ultimate shared experience. Recommended age: 12yrs+ Accessible to deaf audiences without a signer.
Dead Good is a co-production with Corn Exchange Newbury and a co-commission with London International Mime Festival, made with support from The Leche Trust and Worcestershire County Council.
Tickets: £10
PERFORMANCES 13
Open Theatre
TWISTED TALES Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March at 7.30pm
A flustered storyteller is joined by a mischievous mockingbird as he follows Hansel and Gretel deep into the forest. All is not what it seems, as the characters start to tell their own version of this peculiar adventure. Come along and meet the wicked witch and her really rather eccentric chefs in this
truly imaginative version of Hansel and Gretel. Live music, hilarious performances and a mesmerising design ensure that this play will entertain and amuse the entire family. Tickets: ÂŁ10
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14 PERFORMANCES
Northern School of Contemporary Dance
VERVE: MIXED BILL Thursday 19 March at 7.30pm
Physically ambitious, strikingly original dance. VERVE’s exceptional dancers tackle new works by Olivier award-winning dance theatre maker Botis Seva, prolific dancer-turned-choreographer Lali Ayguadé, rising star in Scandinavian contemporary dance Mari Carrasco, and maverick choreographer Douglas Thorpe. VERVE is the internationally touring postgraduate company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD). Tickets: £10
PERFORMANCES 15
1623 Theatre Company
QUEER LADY M Friday 20 March 7.30pm
Performed by Shane Gabriel, Lady Macbeth comes to life like you’ve never experienced before. Queer Lady M invites you to enter her world of passion and shade, outrageous lip-syncing, cheeky dancing and sassy conversation. But what happens when Shane removes the makeup and puts Lady M to bed? Find out in 1623’s funny and moving exploration of a unique relationship between a fierce drag queen and her anxious alter-ego who join forces to fight tragedy and celebrate queerness. Queer Lady M brings together devised performance, Shakespeare and drag while exploring the real-life experiences of working-class, gender-fluid artist Shane Gabriel. Tickets: £10
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16 PERFORMANCES
Luke Baker
MAGIC ATTACK Saturday 21 March at 7.30pm
Luke Baker’s one man show Magic Attack comes to Wolverhampton for one night only. It promises to be a show not to be missed: filled with magic tricks, cheeky comedy and mind reading. Recommended age: 14yrs+
Vital Xposure
MEDICINE’S MONSTROUS DAUGHTERS
Tickets: £10
Thursday 26 March 7.30pm
Different women. Different times. Same system.
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THAT WAS FUNNY AND MAGICAL. KEN CHENG, AS SEEN ON E4’S THE HANGOVER GAMES
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AMAZING MAGIC! RICHARD JONES, WINNER OF BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT
Two powerful plays, inspired by real life events, are woven together across time to expose unpalatable truths about the treatment of people deemed ‘different’ or ‘damaged’ and asks how much of our humanity do we lose in search of the cure? Julie McNamara’s Monstrous Daughters is told from the perspective of Mad Mary, on the run from ‘the specimen collectors’ and searching for her lost baby.
Medicine, the extraordinary debut play by Omikemi, looks at contemporary experiences of the mental health system by women of African heritage and unravels a hidden tale of unethical medical experimentation and exploitation. Tickets: £10
Join us for TEDxWolverhampton 2020 Saturday 4th April 2020, 10am – 5pm Aftershow Party: 6:30 – 11pm On Saturday 4th April, 2020, TEDxWolverhampton will be returning to the City for another fantastic day of live speakers, deep discussion and amazing connections! The theme of TEDxWolverhampton 2020 is Ctrl+Alt+Del, where we’ll be exploring ideas that challenge, turn long held and accepted norms on their heads, challenge the status quo and reset and reboot our thinking. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Tickets: £20 Available through The Arena Theatre Box Office. For further information visit: www.tedxwolverhampton.com or www.ted.com
18 ARENA FILM THEATRE
JOIN US
ARENA
FILM
THEATRE
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
Join us at the Arena for a packed season of films specially selected for your enjoyment. We’ll be presenting a blend of recent releases, classics, revivals, award winners and sing-alongs in order to get your week off to a flying start. Head on over to our website to keep up to date with listings for the Spring 2020 season.
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AUNT/NIECE Tuesday 4 February at 7.30pm FOOL’S GOLD Tuesday 3 March at 7.30pm GUSH Tuesday 7 April at 7.30pm CONNOR ALEXANDER Tuesday 2 June at 7.30pm TBC Tuesday 7 July at 7.30pm What are the region’s most-dynamic theatremakers up to? Now is your chance to find out: for just £10, you can not only see new work but also enjoy a meal AND drink included as part of the ticket price. Food is served from 7.00pm, with performances commencing at 7.30pm.
20 ARENA VENUE HIRE
HIRE THE ARENA
PERFORM IN OUR 150-SEAT AUDITORIUM
AN IDEAL VENUE FOR PERFORMANCES, MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES All of our spaces have state-of the-art equipment, full technical support and our own tailored range of hospitality and catering.
Complete with in-built conference equipment, our Seminar Room can accommodate 30 in boardroom style, or up to 50 with seating in rows.
Our 150-seat main Auditorium is fully accessible and equipped for theatre, concerts and multimedia presentations. Our prices are very competitive, and we’re conveniently located - close to plenty of parking, and rail, tram and bus links - right in the centre of Wolverhampton.
Contact Neil Reading to discuss hiring the Arena for your production or business event:
01902 321 321 / neil.reading@wlv.ac.uk
POETRY AND STORYTELLERS 21
PA S T A
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POETS AND STORYTELLERS ASSEMBLE
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PASTA is an open mic night with a difference. Each month we ask people to perform a piece they’ve written on a theme which was chosen at the previous event. (We’ll advertise the theme on social media and online so everyone can join in). Then we have a break so folk can grab a drink and have a chat. Depending on numbers and the vibe we might draw another theme out the hat and see what people can create in
TUESDAYS AT 7.30PM
28 JANUARY 25 FEBRUARY 24 MARCH 28 APRIL 26 MAY 30 JUNE 21JULY
the short time of the break – a chance to try your hand at speed writing and see what you come up with. Or, if people prefer, we may just come back and open the floor for open mics on any subject. If you want to perform simply pop along to the night and see Emma, Dave, or Steve. Slots are about five minutes long, and we’re especially keen to welcome people who haven’t performed before.
18 COLLABORATIVE 22 PERFORMANCESTHEATREMAKERS
ARENA COLLABORATIVE
THEATREMAKERS Are you an emerging artist based in Wolverhampton? Are you a student at the University of Wolverhampton studying the Performing Arts, or with an interest in any aspect of the performing arts? We’re looking for writers, performers, devisers, directors and designers to join us. Arena Collaborative Theatremakers (ACT) allows students, recent graduates and emerging artists the space to develop their own work, with support from industry professionals. The collective meets in the Tilstone Studio at the Arena, giving an opportunity for artists to present their ‘work in progress’ to a small audience, allowing them to develop their projects in a safe, creative space.
{ { ACT meeting dates this Spring:
TUESDAYS
14 JANUARY 11 FEBRUARY 10 MARCH 21 APRIL 12 MAY 9 JUNE 14 JULY AT 7PM
NO AMPS NO CHATS NO CHARGE 23
NO AMPS NO CHAT NO CHARGE
No Amps, No Chat, No Charge is our monthly acoustic evening presented in partnership with our friends at Cellar Rooms Rehearsal Studios. Featuring some of the Midlands’ finest songwriters, the night gives you a chance to listen, in the warm, completely free of charge! Line-ups for the following evenings will be announced closer to the time via our website and social media channels, including Facebook /arenatheatre and Twitter @Arena_Theatre
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12 FEB 18 MAR 15 APR 17 JUN AT 7.30PM
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PERFORMANCES
2019 2019 2020 OPEN DAYS OPEN DAYS OPEN DAYS Undergraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate 17 August 2 February 13 June 12 October 15 August June 15 16 November 17 August Postgraduate Postgraduate Postgraduate 19 March 19 25 June 21 September March
28 27 November June
BOOK NOW AT: WLV.AC.UK/OPENDAY BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
OPEN DAYS 25
26 PERFORMANCES
Gazebo Theatre
WANTED Friday 27 and Saturday 28 March at 7.30pm
In the midst of a time of uncertainty, division and political unrest, a young woman wrestles with her own isolation and call to respond… Wanted explores the stories of extraordinary ordinary women who share a passion for standing up for what is right! This powerful new play features an array of historical figures: Irena Sendler, who rescued more than 2,500 children from the Warsaw ghetto during the Nazi occupation; Olive Morris, British Black Panther and avid activist for women and squatters’ rights; Phoolan Devi, the fearsome Bandit Queen; and a woman way ahead of her time, Dr James Barry.
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Wanted is written and performed by Tonia Daley-Campbell, Therese Collins and Pamela Cole-Hudson; the trio wowed audiences in The Sistren and now return to the stage accompanied by two new talented performers to again explore how the past and present collide in a powerful drama littered with humour, honesty and heart. In celebration and recognition of Women’s History Month 2020.
Tickets: £10
PERFORMANCES 27
Reform Theatre
MIDSUMMER by David Greig
Thursday 16 April at 7.30pm
University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre
It’s midsummer. It’s raining. Two thirtysomethings are sitting in a bar waiting for something to turn up.
CREATING MUSICAL THEATRE
Bob is a failing car salesman on the fringes of the underworld. Helena is a high-powered divorce lawyer with a taste for other people’s husbands. She’s out of his league, and he’s not her type. But with a Tesco’s bag full of cash, they embark on a lost weekend of bridge-burning, car chases, wedding bust-ups, midnight trysts and hungover self-loathing.
Friday 3 April at 7.30pm
Second year musical theatre students premiere their brand new musical featuring song, dance, tears and laughter, with an original score, choreography and script all devised by our talented students. Tickets: £7.50 full price / £5 concessions
A collaboration between playwright David Greig and singer-songwriter Gordon McIntyre, Midsummer opened at the Traverse Theatre in October 2008 and was revived for an international tour in the summer of 2009. Tickets: £10
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28 PERFORMANCES
Omnibus Theatre
SEXY LAMP Sexy Lamp brilliantly combines comedy, original songs and storytelling to shed a bright light on how ridiculous the industry can be and why Katie is refusing to stay in the dark any longer.
Tickets: £10
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Ever since Katie was cast as the lead in her primary school Christmas show ‘Santa’s Snow Mobile’, she believed there was a place for her in show business. Since then, named, speaking and fully clothed roles have been hard to come by…
“AND SO I FIGURED IF MCDONALD’S CAN CALL ITSELF A RESTAURANT, I CAN CALL MYSELF AN ACTOR.”
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Friday 17 April 7.30pm
PERFORMANCES 29
Get Lost & Found
MISCHIEF AND MYSTERY IN MOOMINVALLEY Saturday 18 April at 11.00am, 2.00pm and 4.00pm Be sure to pack your imagination and join us on an unforgettable journey to Moomin Valley! Based on the much-loved Moominland novels by Tove Jansson, this gentle heart-warming show tells the story of a year in Moominvalley featuring favourite characters Moomintroll, Snufkin, Little My and Thingumy & Bob.
Magical puppetry, an ingenious set, original music and songs, and interactive play (including a snowball fight!) will delight young audiences and encourage them to immerse themselves in a unique participatory story-telling experience. The iconic Tove Jansson illustrations are recreated in a magical pop-up book. Expect snow, surprises and plenty of Moomin mischief! Recommended booking is 1 adult and 1 child Tickets: ÂŁ7
30 PERFORMANCES
Lewys Holt
PHRASES AND FOOTNOTES Thursday 23 April at 7.30pm Tickets: £10 Dance artist Lewys Holt likes to improvise and make use of text and humour in a way that only he can. This new double bill of works, Phrases and Footnotes, fuses dance and text with a sprinkling of comedy. Prepare to get reflective, to be confused, and most of all, to sit down for a reasonable amount of time with a brief intermission.
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Footnotes Footnotes are additional information at the bottom of the page, which can add some context to what is being discussed in the main text. At other times, they are frightening glimpses into what the author is really thinking underneath it all. Phrases Miscommunication and confusion are often things to be avoided but what if you just lay into them? What if there’s actually nothing else? Big questions. Don’t worry. There’s a PowerPoint…
PERFORMANCES 31 35
Roaring Girls
BEACH BODY READY Saturday 25 April at 7.30pm It’s the season of cutting carbs, hitting it hard at the gym and shaving everything from the chin down. Summer has rocked up and coerced us all into thinking about how awful our bodies are. We’ve been shamed, dehumanised and humiliated for how we look, and we’ve had enough.
Beach Body Ready sees The Roaring Girls smash their way through ingrained fears, food insecurities, and toxic advertising in this defiantly feel-good show which sticks two fingers up to everything the media says we should look like. Created in The Roaring Girls’ semi improvised style, Beach Body Ready blends impassioned rants with cheesy fitness routines, and live, informal chats with a beach trip on film, accompanied by a banging soundtrack. Tickets: : £10
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32 PERFORMANCES
Jasmin Vardimon Company
JV2 Thursday 30 April at 7.30pm
Rejoicing in youth culture has always been at the heart of the JV2 programme. This electrifying new production celebrates the intrinsically fresh approach of two emerging choreographers, in collaboration with the vast experience of the multi-award winning choreographer Jasmin Vardimon. The established JV2 Professional Development Diploma was developed by Jasmin Vardimon Company, with the mission to encourage, cultivate and nurture young talent and young audiences.
Tickets: ÂŁ10
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PERFORMANCES 33
David Mynne
THE CANTERBURY TALES by Geoffrey Chaucer
Saturday 2 May at 7.30pm
Some stories are romantic, some are bawdy, others scary And there are tales about the devil that should make you oh so wary. Some are beautifully poetic and some a little coarser; A medieval medley from the pen of Geoffrey Chaucer!
This is Chaucer... but not as you’ve ever seen it. From the company that brought you A Christmas Carol, Dracula and The Odyssey comes a one-man performance of The Canterbury Tales. Revered as one of the most important works in English literature, The Canterbury Tales paints an ironic and critical portrait of English society in the middle-ages.
Experience a journey down the foul and fetid footpaths of 14th century England: all of life is here in these bawdy, funny, serious and sometimes shocking short stories. There will be middle-ages naughtiness and nonsense. There may be tights and a codpiece. There will, no doubt, be some medieval swearing... Let’s party, like it’s 1387!! Recommended age: 12yrs+ Tickets: £10
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34 PERFORMANCES
Emma White
Friday 8 May at 7.30pm Ophelia falls in love. Her world view realigns as she becomes infatuated, dreaming romantic visions of new landscapes and colour. Then he leaves. Deranged by rejection, Ophelia finds no choice but to end everything. Standing at the water’s edge, its darkness seems irresistible… and somehow utterly beautiful. Hamlet’s Ophelia is brought into the 21st century in this interactive one-woman show, scrutinising our world obsession with finding beauty in female tragedy. Tickets: £10
PERFORMANCES 35
University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre Department presents:
SOHO CINDERS Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 May 7.30pm Don’t be late for the ball! The search for the glass slipper is on, as our final year Musical Theatre students perform a modern adaptation of the Cinderella story. Tickets: £10 full price / £8 concessions
DEBUT Tuesday 12 May 7.30pm First year musical theatre students present work from exciting new composers. Presented in collaboration with Musical Theatre West Midlands. Tickets: ££7.50 full price / £5 concessions
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May 7.30pm Join our final year Musical Theatre students, as they perform their take on this classic Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice musical. Tickets: £10 full price / £8 concessions
36 PERFORMANCES
University of Wolverhampton Drama Department
THE WORM IN THE BLOOD Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 May at 7.00pm
Our final year Drama students take to the stage for their performance of The Worm In The Blood. The blood-soaked revenge plays of the 16th and 17th century have inspired theatre and filmmakers from Edward Bond to Sarah Kane, John Ford to Quentin Tarrantino. They range in tone from the outrageous black comedy of The Revenger’s Tragedy to the philosophical and theological debate of Hamlet. Some of them deal
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with madness and despair, most with violence and excess, all of them with the human being’s capacity for savagery and redemption.
The Worm in The Blood takes extracts from these plays and presents them in a 21st century context; a demi-monde in which corrupt politicians rub shoulders with celebrity chefs and gangsters. Tickets: £7 full price / £5 concessions
PERFORMANCES 37
Morgan & West
UNBELIEVABLE SCIENCE Saturday 30 May 2.00pm
Magicians, time travellers and all-round spiffing chaps Morgan & West present captivating chemistry, phenomenal Expect explosive thrills, chemical spills and a risk assessment that gives their stage manager chills, all backed up by the daring duo’s trademark wit, charm and detailed knowledge of the scientific method. Leave your lab coats at the door – it’s time for Unbelievable Science! On TV, Morgan & West have fooled Penn & Teller (Fool Us, ITV1), competed to be the Next Great Magician (ITV1), and even attempted to escape The Slammer (CBBC). Please note: Morgan & West take full responsibility for any horizons broadened, passions enflamed or minds blown during the course of the show.
HUGELY TALENTED. Daily Mirror
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SUPERBLY CRAFTED. The Stage
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Tickets: £7
PUT QUITE SIMPLY…GREAT SCIENCE WITH HILARIOUS HOSTS! Primary Times
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38 PERFORMANCES
Paperback Theatre
Friday 5 June at 7.30pm When workaholic Kate is ‘gifted’ a blow-upboyfriend by her colleagues, she keeps it as an act of defiance. Soon, the doll becomes the only person she dares to be herself around... but as it begins to take on a mind of its own, Kate comes face to face with the dangers of letting someone in. A touching and hilarious exploration of the challenges, joys and pitfalls of allowing yourself to be vulnerable, Me and My Doll is a romantic comedy with a twist. Tickets: £10
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PERFORMANCES 39
Harriet Dyer
BARKING TALES Friday 12 June at 7.30pm
This award-winning mental health comedy night is headlined by Harriet Kemsley (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Bobby and Harriet Get Married, Roast Battle, etc.) and hosted by Harriet Dyer (BBC Radio 4, BBC3, BBC Ouch, Absolute Radio), plus full support.
Acts perform material relating to mental health in a bid to get people talking. A night for those with mental health problems to feel comfortable enough to find the funny in often seemingly dark times, with supporters of those affected also very much welcome in a safe space for everyone involved. Tickets: ÂŁ10
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40 PERFORMANCES
Jaivant Patel Dance and Arena Theatre presents
SAMARPAN MAHOTSAV, A CELEBRATION OF CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE Saturday 13 June at 7.30pm
Samarpan translates as ‘dedication’. This vibrant showcase of Indian classical dance – including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi and Manipuri – celebrates the dedication of its practitioners to its form present in the UK today. The form is renowned for its geometry, rhythmical footwork, intricate hand gestures and virtuosity in performance. Featuring breathtaking performances by Akshay Prakash, Ranjitha Chawalloor, Tiyahsa Dutta Paul, Natalie Rout, Vinod Nair, Sankari Mridha, Ash Mukherjee, Jaivant Patel, Shyam Dattani, Archita Kumar, Parbato Chaudury, Meera Patel and Suhani Dhanki-Mody.* Tickets: : £10
#JPDSamarpan20
* line-up subject to change
Image courtesy of Matt Cawrey
Curated by Arena Theatre associate artist, Jaivant Patel, we once again present a beautiful evening of rich British South Asian arts, heritage and culture, following on from the success of last year’s event.
14/48
41
[
7 writers, 7 directors, a team of actors, designers, and musicians + 48 hours = 14 world premier plays.
[
Image courtesy of Matt Cawrey
Friday 26 and Saturday 27 June at 8.00pm and 10.30pm
“IT’S A BRILLIANT, ENERGETIC NIGHT OF NEW THEATRE, TWICE. YOU’D BE MAD TO MISS IT!”
Tickets: £7 full price and £5 concessions (for one night only) Ticket offer: £10 full price and £8 concessions (for both nights when purchased together)
14/48 Wolverhampton is the Wolverhampton satellite of “The world’s quickest theatre festival” in which 14 new plays are written, directed and performed within a 48-hour timespan. The concept is simple: assemble some of the most talented artists in the region, apply a stringent deadline, add a few extra resources for good measure and see where their combined creativity leads them. The Arena Theatre is giving audiences the exciting opportunity to witness seven brand new plays each day – written, rehearsed and performed in 48 hours. For more information on the festival visit: 1448uk.com
AUDIO DESCRIBED
42 SUMMER SHOWCASE
Starcross Youth Theatre
SUMMER SHOWCASE Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July at 7pm Starcross Youth Theatre return to the Arena for their annual Summer Showcase. With performances celebrating their productions from the last 12 months and their success in LAMDA (Acting and Musical Theatre) examinations, plus performances from their Juniors group and Moms Tap for Fun group, this promises to be an entertainment extravaganza certainly not to be missed! Tickets: ÂŁ10
2020
Friday 10 July 9.30am-3.00pm Saturday 11 July 10.00am-4.00pm
A celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths.
wlv.ac.uk/scifest wlvscifest
@STEMResponseWLV
STEMResponseWLV
44 LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION
LEARNING + PARTICIPATION Wolverhampton Grand Theatre + Arena Theatre present
YOUTH THEATRE Arena Theatre’s exciting collaboration with the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Performers will work alongside professional actors to improve their acting skills, and sessions will focus on technique as well as working towards two shows a term, with the hope of working towards a community production at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Youth Theatre Members will also have the opportunity to participate in specialist workshops with professional touring companies! Weekly rehearsals will take place every Monday evening – excluding half term and Bank Holidays – here at the Arena Theatre.
Juniors = ages 9-13 Seniors = ages 14-18
Term 3:
Monday 6th January – Monday 10th February (6 weeks) (9 hours)
Term 4:
Monday 24th February – Monday 30th March (6 weeks) (9 hours)
Term 5:
Monday 20th April – Monday 18th May (3 weeks) Excludes Monday 4th May and Monday 11th, plus additional 6 hour sessions on Sunday 3rd May and Saturday 9th May (16.5 hours)
ARTS AWARD 45
AT THE ARENA
Arts Award is a national qualification for 7-25 year olds, which supports young people’s development as artists and arts leaders.
Term 6:
Monday 1st June – Monday 13th July (7 weeks) (10.5 hours) Each term costs £110, and can be booked from the Grand Theatre Box Office on: 01902 429 212
It’s a great way to develop creative and leadership skills, whilst getting a qualification recognised nationally by employers and educators. We offer Arts Award at Bronze and Silver levels, and accept young people from ages 13-18. Look for the Arts Award icon in this programme to find Arts Award events/ performances. Visit the Arts Award website
artsaward.org.uk
or contact us to find out more. Activity support by Arts Connect West Midlands as part of their Partnership Investment programme.
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
46 AT A GLANCE DATE
WHAT’S ON
14 Jan
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
25 Jan
Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists – Poetry Slam
4
28 Jan
PASTA
21
31 Jan
Vanhulle Dance Theatre – Yin
4 Feb
Theatre Supper
6, 7 and 8 Feb
Blackeyed Theatre – Jane Eyre
11 Feb
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
22
12 Feb
No Amps, No Chat, No Charge
23
14 Feb
Joss Arnott Dance – Emergence Triple Bill 2020
7
15 Feb
Quick Duck Theatre – Yours Sincerely
8
21, 22 and 23 Feb
Starcross Youth Theatre – Footloose
9
25 Feb
PASTA
21
27 Feb
Stan’s Café – Home of the Wriggler
10
28 and 29 Feb
Fingersmiths – My Mother Never Said I Should
11
3 Mar
Theatre Supper
19
5 and 6 Mar
Vamos Theatre – Dead Good
12
10 Mar
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
22
13 and 14 Mar
Open Theatre – Twisted Tales
13
18 Mar
No Amps, No Chat, No Charge
23
19 Mar
Northern School of Contemporary Dance – Verve: Mixed Bill
14
20 Mar
1623 Theatre Company – Queer Lady M
15
21 Mar
Luke Baker – Magic Attack
16
24 Mar
PASTA
21
26 Mar
Vital Xposure – Medicine’s Monstrous Daughters
16
27 and 28 Mar
Gazebo Theatre – Wanted
26
3 Apr
University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre – Creating Musical Theatre
27
4 Apr
TEDx Wolverhampton – Ctrl Alt Del
17
7 Apr
Theatre Supper
19
15 Apr
No Amps, No Chat, No Charge
23
16 Apr
Reform Theatre – Midsummer by David Greig
27
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
PAGE 22
5 19 6
AT A GLANCE 47 DATE
WHAT’S ON
PAGE
17 Apr
Omnibus Theatre – Sexy Lamp
28
18 Apr
Get Lost & Found – Mischief and Mystery in Moominvalley
29
21 Apr
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
22
23 Apr
Lewys Holt – Phrases and Footnotes
30
25 Apr
Roaring Girls – Beach Body Ready
31
28 Apr
PASTA
21
30 Apr
Jasmin Vardimon Company – JV2
32
2 May
David Mynne – The Canterbury Tales
33
8 May
Emma White – Ophelia
34
7 and 9 May
University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre – Soho Cinders
35
12 May
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
22
12 May
University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre – Debut
35
15 and 16 May
University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre – Jesus Christ Superstar
35
20 and 21 May
University of Wolverhampton Drama Department – The Worm in the Blood
36
26 May
PASTA
21
30 May
Morgan & West – Unbelievable Science
37
2 Jun
Theatre Supper
19
5 Jun
Paperback Theatre – Me and My Doll
38
9 Jun
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
22
12 Jun
Harriet Dyer – Barking Tales
39
13 Jun
Jaivant Patel Dance – Samarpan Mahotsav: A Celebration of Indian Classical Dance
40
17 Jun
No Amps, No Chat, No Charge
23
26 and 27 Jun
14/48 UK – 14/48 Wolverhampton
41
30 Jun
PASTA
21
3 and 4 Jul
Starcross Youth Theatre – Summer Showcase
42
7 Jul
Theatre Supper
19
14 Jul
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
22
21 Jul
PASTA
21
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
48 HOW TO BOOK
BOOK ONLINE
arena.wlv.ac.uk
TICKET OFFERS
BOOK BY PHONE
From just £10 a year you can become a friend of the Arena, helping us continue our important development and outreach work. As a thank you, our Friends receive a number of benefits, including discounts on tickets to all Arena Theatre shows, except for Independent + Amateur events, or any shows priced under £8. Visit the Arena website for full terms and conditions.
01902 321 321
BOOK IN PERSON
Arena Theatre Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton WV1 1SE Box Office opening times Monday to Friday - 10am until 5pm We’re also open one hour before each show.
Booking fees
When you book online, in person or over the phone there are no booking fees
Concessions
Details of ticket price concessions are included within each show listing. They are available if you are under 16, a student in full-time education, over 60, a recipient of Job Seekers Allowance, University of Wolverhampton staff and/or alumni. Please bring proof of status. Please note that for Independent and Amateur productions, concessions and discounts may vary.
Refunds
Tickets are not normally refundable, but may be exchanged - subject to availability.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Dr. Kinny Gardner BEM Arena Theatre Patron Dave Holland Arena Theatre Patron Jaivant Patel Associate Artist
Friends
Schools and colleges
Teacher-led school and college groups are entitled to free tickets for accompanying teachers. Please call the Box Office for full details.
Group bookings
We offer one free ticket for every ten purchased by a group, for the same show. Please call the Box Office for full details. We reserve the right to make discounted ticket offers to selected customers at any time.
GIFT VOUCHERS ift the g ur Give e with o hers. r t a uc e of th heatre vo ena Ar aT Aren sable on ws. See U ho .uk s e r t c Thea na.wlv.a . are details for
SEATING PLAN 49
SEATING PLAN Reserved Seating
When booking your tickets you can choose where you sit (subject to availability). Simply choose from the seating plan below.
ENTRANCE
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5
K6
K7
K8
K9
K10
K11
K12
J1
J2
J3
J4
J5
J6
J7
J8
J9
J10
J11
J12
J13
I1
I2
I3
I4
I5
I6
I7
I8
I9
I10
I11
I12
I13
I14
H1
H2
H3
H4
H5
H6
H7
H8
H9
H10
H11
H12
H13
H14
J14
J15
AISLE HOUSE MANAGER 8 7
5
4
STEPS DOWN
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
G10
G11
G12
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
E1
E2
E3
E4
E5
E6
E7
E8
E9
E10
E11
E12
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
D8
D9
D10
D11
D12
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8
C9
C10
C11
C12
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
B7
B8
B9
B10
B11
B12
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10
A11
A12
3 2 1
SOUND DESK 9 10 11 12
13
BALCONY
BALCONY
6
G1
14
STAGE/PERFORMANCE AREA
ARENA FOYER BAR AND COFFEE SHOP
15 16
You and fellow members of the public can now pop in to the Arena Theatre for coffee and cake or a glass of wine and bite to eat. Our foyer bar and coffee shop is now opening its doors Monday to Saturday from 10am for the Spring 2019 season, enabling you to enjoy the Arena experience for much longer if you’re waiting for curtain-up in the main auditorium. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for further news on what will be on the menu in the build-up to our season starting.
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ARENA
THEATRE
@Arena_Theatre
arenatheatre
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321 • ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk • EMAIL arena@wlv.ac.uk Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SE. Disclaimer: All prices and times correct at time of going to print. Please check the website for latest updates
Published on Dec 5, 2019
It’s a new decade, but here at the Arena Theatre we are bringing in the New Year with some familiar favourites making their return to our st...
Published on Dec 5, 2019
It’s a new decade, but here at the Arena Theatre we are bringing in the New Year with some familiar favourites making their return to our st...