SparkFest Programme 2024

2024 11 MAY - 12 JUNE

Welcome to

2024

Welcome to SparkFest 2024 This is an invitation to celebrate the creative work from students, alumni, staff and our collaborators across the School of Music and Performing Arts at Bath Spa University, produced by the School’s own production company, Bath Spa Productions in partnership with Bath Festivals.

Our creative and cultural World Heritage City hosts a plethora of innovative, original and visionary work made by new creatives to give you hope, inspiration, reflection and purpose ..or just a big belly laugh!

This five-week long festival brings audiences, the creatives of tomorrow, today. They perform across the city and beyond; The Egg or Widcombe Social Club, the Mission Theatre or Holburne Museum Gardens, Old Theatre Royal or Burdall’s Yard; or of course at our very own beautiful landscape and performance spaces at Newton Park Campus.

We are offering live and digital experiences throughout the festival and we invite you to take part and support our participants in whichever way you can.

We make it with our talent and passion, our skill and determination, but most of all we make it for you. Come and join us.

How to book For further information on each performance, head over to our website: www.sparkfest.co.uk To book tickets, you can go directly to Bath Spa Live: www.bathspalive.com

Help empower and support our SparkFest performers and creatives to forge forward in their professional careers. Every ticket sold will include a 50p donation to NewSparks see back page for full details on what NewSparks is all about. @sparkfest_bath @SparkFest

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@sparkfestbath

SparkFest & Bath Spa Productions SparkFest is the largest and most ambitious project produced by Bath Spa Productions throughout the year. Its guiding principle is to champion the work of all the artists who participate in the festival. However SparkFest offers more than a stage to showcase work, through our 2024 programme we are offering: Artist Development and Support Bath Spa Productions offers a range of initiatives to support the professional development of artist and their creative work: • • • • •

Bath Spa Residencies - Paid opportunities for graduates and alumni to work within Bath Spa Production projects.

Industry Insights - A programme of workshops and debates delivered by industry professionals.

SparkFest Rising - This is our work-in-progress event, where creatives can test out new work. This event is in partnership with EMERGE. EMERGE - a unique multidisciplinary creative practice studio for Bath Spa University alumni.

NewSparks - An initiative where donations from ticket sales go into a funding pot for graduates and alumni to apply for.

See www.sparkfest.co.uk for full details of the support available.

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11 MAY 5PM BURDALL’S YARD £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

11 MAY 5:30PM BURDALL’S YARD £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

11 MAY 7PM BURDALL’S YARD £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

Represent

My Sister

Give a cheer! R is for Represent and we’re taking over the airwaves! In an attempt to get with the times, people can end up saying all the wrong things. In this radio comedy sketch show, we explore the experiences of being a brown kid in a changing world. So sing it louder, do it prouder; we’ve got some stories to tell.

If you could press the pause button on those core childhood memories, would you? This still photography film captures Mia and Morena’s deepest moments of love and vulnerability growing up as sisters. However, with the nature of sisterhood and adolescence, they are torn apart by their fight for independance.

A Month As A Woman Ever thought about what women go through each month? This piece shows the emotional and physical journey of a woman going through her menstrual cycle, but in the unique form of dance. Expect a visual performance filled with lighting effects, engaging movement and emotive music that will leave you thinking.

11 MAY 9PM BURDALL’S YARD £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

12 MAY 1PM BURDALL’S YARD £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

UTI

Finally...

This autobiographical one woman show by Shaunna Monks explores the unexpectedly wild ride of being hospitalised with a UTI. It’s a fever dream of fannies, thrush and foreign nurses, jam packed with some crazy characters and just a hint of oversharing.

What happens when you leave a musical theatre lover in a house alone?

They finally take their main character moment.

Everything you would expect in a musical theatre performance, from the high joyous hills of the Sound of Music, to the heartbreaking quiet café of Waitress.

All she knows is that she is not going to throw away her shot... and if you get that reference, this show is totally for you!

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

12 MAY 2PM BURDALL’S YARD - GALLERY £10 | £7 BSU / CONCESSION

Chimes Poetry Workshop Join Chimes poetry night for an extra special poetry workshop as part of SparkFest lead by Bristol poet, Aish Humphreys.

Aish is a poet, performer and workshop facilitator from Cornwall, living in Bristol.

He has performed all over the UK and last year worked in Romania with Tongue Fu exploring the relationship between music and spoken word. They were the poet in residence for the SS Great Britain in 2022 and their first poetry pamphlet, Saints of Golden Hour was released in February 2023 which treads soberness, girlhood, queer relationships and the gods we create for ourselves. He is currently writing a spoken word theatre show with Eryn McDonald exploring 5 transness and masculinity.

12 MAY 7PM | 16 MAY 9PM BURDALL’S YARD £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

12 MAY 9PM BURDALL’S YARD £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

Common Passage Talking Beds: The Tales of a Chaotic An intimate, gritty oneNorthern Poof! woman show about the clarity that clinical hospital walls bring. This is the stark story of a young woman navigating her way through being sectioned.

Written and performed by Lia Parry, 2023 BA Acting graduate.

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Welcome to the mind of me, Harry Bolton a Chaotic Northern Poof. This is the story of my life as I recall the past 21 years of living my life as such. In my autobiographical one-man cabaret, I will openly share stories about my life that most people would be too afraid to admit, even with their closest friends. Brace yourself for this high energy, high campery, highbrow (that one’s a lie) chaotic Northern Poof as I make my one-man show debut and I unapologetically lay my heart on my sleeve and the story of my life bare on the stage as I present to you...

Talking Beds: Tales of a Chaotic Northern Poof.

13 MAY 7PM BURDALL’S YARD FREE (BOOKING REQUIRED)

RE [LOOP]ED. A CMT PERFORMANCE SHOWCASE An evening of musical performance with technology, featuring students from the BSU Creative Music Technology course. Expect extended sonics, genre bending and experimental sound processes, as we present a glimpse into the potential future of sound for live performance.

14 - 16 MAY SHOW TIMES VARY UNIVERSITY THEATRE FREE (NO BOOKING REQUIRED)

Third Space From solo performance to ensemble choreographies, this three-day event is a celebration of the rich and creative imaginations of these exciting emerging dance artists. In addition to the final year thesis works the programme will also include a newly commissioned choreographic work by Faye Stoeser and a selection of new work presented by BSU dance alumni.

14 MAY 7PM BURDALL’S YARD £4

15 MAY 5:30PM BURDALL’S YARD £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

Chimes and Poetry Film Live

When I Kissed The Teacher

Poetry on film. What happens when you combine poetry with moving image? This screening is an explosion of words, images and sound which showcases talent from across the UK. Brought to you by the Poetry Film Club and Chimes (spoken word events team).

Who hasn’t fancied a teacher at one point or another? Laura definitely has! Not on purpose, he was charming and helped her with UCAS applications. It’s all very romantic and fairytalelike according to Laura. He is so sneaky and secretive. What’s the worst that could happen?

All events are free to attend and you can check out the website for further programming details. No booking required.

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

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15 MAY 7PM BURDALL’S YARD £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

15 MAY 9PM BURDALL’S YARD £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

16 MAY 7PM BURDALL’S YARD FREE (BOOKING REQUIRED)

The Last Letter

I Think I Hate Actors

If Music be the Food of Life, Play On

William Garbutt is at war and the only peace he can find in such horror are his letters home. He never knows when he will send his last… so he makes sure there never will be a last from him.

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Roo Sutcliffe studied all her life to become an actor. She went to prestigious drama schools and was taught by renowned practitioners. Her conclusion? Actors are awful; all of them. So, in an act of ironic ire, Roo has used what she learnt, to produce a piece of theatre about hating theatre. To use her acting prowess to make all actors very cross. She will loudly, boldly and unapologetically call out all the absurdities of the industry. But importantly, she will call it out using her diaphragm.

An enchanting musical and theatrical concert that explores the cycle of life through flowers.

From the birth of new life to the vibrancy of youth, the love that grows and the inevitable end, this captivating concert will take you through an authentic journey of life. The flowers portray time, and as a new chapter unfolds, a flower is released so that by the end the stage transforms into a garden of emotion. With dramatic imagery and a plethora of music from Purcell to Lloyd Webber, you will be immersed in the blossoming melodies of life’s journey.

20 MAY 5PM & 7:30PM UNIVERSITY THEATRE FREE (BOOKING REQUIRED)

The Cleansing of Constance Brown by Stan’s Cafe (A Student Interpretation) Enter Door 1 Enter a time. A space. A moment in history. This highly visual piece of theatre takes you on an ever-shifting journey through time and location. You are invited to witness these stories through a 2m wide structure that encourages you to consider the unseen, the untold stories and where the power lies.

Exit Door 7

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

20 MAY 6:30PM THE MISSION THEATRE £25 BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS | £5 INDIVIDUALS | £3 CONCESSION

Frank Conversations: Stories and Spaces of the Unsaid and Undone work

21 MAY 7:30PM UNIVERSITY THEATRE FREE (BOOKING REQUIRED)

Revolt. She Said.

Revolt Again

In this post-dramatic play, Alice Birch paints a clear picture of the underlying forces at play against women within 21st century society.

Through use of scenes which In a world of challenge and merge to create a dystopian joy and pain and hope, and so vision, she invites us to much in between, we bring you pay close attention to the opportunities to explore and language, behaviour and build your own bank of frank structures which surround conversations. our actors. Embark on an immersive journey which seeks Throwing open the airspace to oppose and challenge the and turning up the volume to notion that one should simply explore stories and spaces for better work and workplaces, and ‘behave’. Written by Alice Birch. all that’s between us, invisible connections, waiting.

Become part of live, living stories from people across the south west (Bristol and Bath) region and beyond.

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A weekend at the Holburne...

17 MAY 6PM HOLBURNE MUSEUM FREE (NO BOOKING REQUIRED)

Play The Museum MA Dance | MA Fine Art | MA Music Performance Bath Spa University postgraduate students respond to the collection, the space and the history of the Holburne Museum in a playful, crossdisciplinary collaboration, combining artwork, music and dance.

The building will be reanimated with contemporary artwork and sitespecific performance that takes as its starting point the possibilities and limitations of translation from one form to another: space – sound – movement – object.

Short performances will be happening in different places throughout the evening and audience members can come and go as they please.

Please pick up a programme on arrival.

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18 & 19 MAY 1PM-4PM HOLBURNE GARDENS FREE (NO BOOKING REQUIRED)

Lazy On The Lawn Join us on the back lawn of the Holburne Museum for an exciting gathering of music and performance delights. It’s an afternoon of vibrant tunes and family fun, guaranteed to captivate all who wander through the garden. SparkFest promises an exhilarating afternoon of free music and entertainment set amidst Bath’s historic pleasure gardens, so grab your picnic gear and get ready for an afternoon of delightul mellow music.

Full details of the programme for this event can be found on our website: www.sparkfest.co.uk

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

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SparkFest Rising... in partnership with EMERGE 21 MAY 7PM THE MISSION THEATRE £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION An evening of new writing, exciting developments, and explorative live music. The evening will present work-in-progress sharings as artists generate creative ideas and test new work. It's all about creativity in action, sparking developing ideas!

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Full details of the programme for this event can be found on our website: www.sparkfest.co.uk

Simon Tait - Music Simon completed an ABRSM Diploma in piano performance in 2015 and subsequently studied orchestration at Morley College in London and composition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama as a direct access student. He is current MA student in Music Composition and Sound Art at Bath Spa University.

He is particularly drawn to the evocative in music and the use of improvisation as part of the composition process. His music is atmospheric and he often produces organic intimate pieces which are lyrical and expressive.

He writes for orchestra, piano and for piano with other instruments. He is a member of the Committee of the London Composer’s Forum and has carried out a number of projects with the London Contemporary Chamber Orchestra (LCCO) including a film score and concert pieces.

He performs solo and with other musicians. He sings tenor with the Bath Choral Society and occasionally with other choirs.

Dear Cruel World Rehearsed Reading Step into the heart of grief and imagination with a gripping tale of two souls tethered by tragedy.

As they navigate the thin line between reality and illusion, this poignant new writing invites us to explore the depths of loss and the enduring power of human connection. Join us for a journey through the complexities of grief, trauma, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Seawall - Monologue 1853, the sound of the waves lapping against the seawall, Charlotte Coostriah stands in the greyness, hunkered between the buildings of this port town as she dreams of home, wherever that may be.

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

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22 MAY 7PM THE MISSION THEATRE £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

22 MAY 7:30PM UNIVERSITY THEATRE FREE (BOOKING REQUIRED)

22 MAY 9PM | 24 MAY 7PM THE MISSION THEATRE £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

Dead End

Orlando

The Sofa

Four men fight for their survival in an apocalyptic world, united by a sense of brotherhood and a desperate need to hold onto what little they have left. When one of them faces an inevitable end, true colours are shown, and the strength of their bond is tested.

Orlando travels through five centuries of life and love, overcoming mishaps, gender transitions, and infatuations until bravely embracing their actual identity. Neil Bartlett’s vivid adaptation powerfully brings Virginia Woolf’s vision to life on stage using a wide range of dramatic genres, and the production is overseen by the eerie presence of the author. Written by Virginia Wolf, Adapted by Neil Bartlett.

From cute babies to questionable adults, Nick and Simon have been through it all together. But when life gives them lemons, they start to understand what friendship really means.

Reliving through a catalog of videos from their comedy career, including famous sketches; “Dragon man” “Man eating lecture” and “Hardcore Lamb extra saucy”. Fighting each other on and off screen, join two best friends on a journey of a dragon onesie, comedy sketches and most importantly... a sofa.

DIGITAL SCREENINGS

Independent Digital Collections 23 MAY 7PM THE MISSION THEATRE £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION An evening of short film screenings, screen-dance works and other digital productions created by both graduating students, and alumni from Bath Spa University’s performing arts courses.

Students have explored the collaborative process of making new performance pieces, either from an existing text or an entirely new work in all areas, including acting, comedy and dance, embarking on their own journey and process in curating these digital productions.

100th Good Morning Hope’s desire for coworker Dillon sends her mind into a frenzy of what could be. In the words of Charles Dickens ‘Imagine one selected day struck out of your life, and think how different its course could have been’

Call Time An acclaimed actor, ‘Benjamin Lloyd’ (Thomas Baxter), is preparing for his comeback show ‘Hamlet’ when he starts to question his actions and responsibilities. With attempts from his partner, ‘Amelia’ (Annabelle Bridgen) Benjamin begins to spiral again and again and again...

Lord Mortars Speech A lord of his time, in disgrace, shuned and cast out as a villain by the society he once wondered freely in, now seeks to convince people of the truth, his truth; of what this city really is.

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

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DIGITAL SCREENINGS CONTINUED...

Air dancinsoldier productions present a playful screen dance that captures the idea of “holding air” in both your body and your environment. The film invites the viewer to consider that the air we breathe, is borrowed and should be cherished.

Filmed, Directed and Produced by Saydi Jones Sound Design by Colin and Samuel Evans Performed by Daniella Powell

Why The Long Face: Talking to Comedians about Depression The cliche of the depressed comedian is well known. But why is it so common for the funniest people to be so sad inside? Budding comedian and human-downwards-spiral Sam Saffron wants to find out. Sam talks with comedians and experts ranging from Open Mic hobbyists to household names in order to finally make sense of this pernicious paradox, and to figure out what we can do to help.

Roughouse Alex is struggling with the news of her friends car accident, but will other peoples assumptions put her in more danger than she realises? Re-live the night of the accident and uncover the truth of what really happened.

Shades of Identity Journey through the complex interplay of gender and self-discovery as characters navigate the multifaceted spectrum of identity. Through intimate narratives and poignant revelations, this film delves deep into the nuances of gender expression, challenging societal norms and embracing the beautiful diversity of human experience.

Miles Apart Charlotte and Emma have become best friends and experienced their first few years of adulthood together at university. After graduation, we watch them as they struggle to navigate the next chapter of their lives together.

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23 MAY 7:30PM UNIVERSITY THEATRE FREE (BOOKING REQUIRED)

24 MAY 9PM THE MISSION THEATRE £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

25 MAY 3PM THE MISSION THEATRE FREE (BOOKING REQUIRED)

Salem

MacPlebs

Stage Fright

A piece based on the infamous Salem witch trials, with performance material devised by the company.

It uses various storytelling methods to portray a daring interpretation of the wellknown tale of a community seized by fear.

Following a tram related accident, the renowned cast of Macbeth have been all but wiped out. The only two surviving members are The Messengers. After realising they can split the profits 50/50, these plebs attempt to tell the tale as a two-man show. One problem - they haven’t read it!

Tony Bell, a seasoned actor with 40 years of experience, presents Stage Fright, born from his MA in Scriptwriting at UEA. The play follows Samuel Perry, a struggling actor confronting his fears and past.

Bell, inspired by Andrew Scott, portrays six characters, delving into themes of art, identity, and redemption.

With gratitude to SparkFest for an invitation, aiding his fledgling playwright’s journey at 62, Bell invites the audience on a journey through the complexities of performance and life.

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Armed only with their wits, wigs and willies, these fools will have you singing and dancing as they fumble their way through Shakespeare’s epic.

Whether you know every sonnet and soliloquy, or have never batted an eye at the bard, the Plebs will have you laughing from start to finish.

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

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25 MAY 7PM THE MISSION THEATRE £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

The Chipping Norton Incident In a pretty Cotswold village in Victorian England, a group of women cheerfully gather at the local farmer’s gate, hoping to talk to two young men who have been hired to work on the fields. But what happens when ‘just a chat’ spirals into something wicked?

Based on a true story of stupidity, courage and national scandal.

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25 MAY 7:30PM UNIVERSITY THEATRE FREE FOR DRAMA STUDENTS £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

The Crucible Based on the Salem witch trials, The Crucible tells the story of a village that becomes ensnared in a witch hunt.

The villagers of Salem live in constant fear, not only of the trials, but of the devil who they believe is upon them.

Written by Arthur Miller.

25 MAY 9PM THE MISSION THEATRE £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

Cyclops: More Than Meets The Eye In a world where terror reigns supreme, let us take you on a journey, from glass-clinking to tea-drinking as we take a dive into Sicily in Ancient times to visit the Cyclops, half god, half fish, total disaster. This is Euripides like you’ve never seen it before.

26 MAY 2PM OLD THEATRE ROYAL £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

Many Days More A representation of many more days of the Bath Spa University Music Society which has been reborn after a few years of absence! We are bringing back some BA Music alumni to join us in performing a range of musical classics such as One Day More from Les Misérables and Music from Brave! Lead by music students from BSU, the Music Society is striving to bring people together from all departments across the university, to play music and to have fun whilst doing it. We hope that you enjoy yourselves as you witness us creating music together.

27 MAY 7:30PM UNIVERSITY THEATRE FREE FOR DRAMA STUDENTS £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

30 MAY 7:30PM UNIVERSITY THEATRE FREE FOR DRAMA STUDENTS £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

Accidental Death of an Anarchist

Pippin

After a recent ‘accident’ in police custody, the truth regarding the anarchists death is revealed. When a maniac overtakes the inquiry, will the police be able to cover up the conspiracy or will their incompetence be their downfall? Written by Dario Fo and Franca Rame (adapted by Tom Basden).

By Stephen Schwartz. Book by Roger O. Hirson and Bob Fosse.

Have you ever wanted to run away and join the circus? Well for one night only, now is your chance! You are invited to join our third year BA Drama students for an evening of magic, mystery and music in, PIPPIN! The 1972 musical tells the tale of the young Prince Pippin, the heir to the Frankish throne, on his search for true happiness and belonging. Join Pippin and the players on a journey through battles, betrayals, temptations of the flesh, political campaigns and true love. There’s magic to do and you don’t want to miss it!

With thanks to MTI Europe for providing the rights and licencing.

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

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A weekend of Shakespeare...

30 MAY 7PM | 1 JUNE 5PM THE MISSION THEATRE £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

A Midsummer Night’s Dream A slightly alternative 2024…a tale of confusion, love, despair and joy…lovers chase each other through the woods…but who will end up with who?

Along the way we meet the powers responsible for the climate, festival goers – or are they real fairies? And we delight in the Mechanicals attempt to put on a play within the play… An hour and a half guaranteed to get you into the summer party spirt!

Presented by second-year Acting students at Bath Spa University, directed by Carol Fairlamb, with original sound design and composition by Duncan Speakman.

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31 MAY 7PM | 1 JUNE 1PM THE MISSION THEATRE £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

Macbeth What lengths would you go to, to get to the top?

Join us for Shakespeare’s most famous cautionary tale, as we breathe new life into the tragedy of Macbeth, blending classic themes with a contemporary twist. Brace yourselves for a haunting journey through ambition, betrayal, and the intoxicating allure of power.

Presented by second-year BA Acting Students, directed by Sita Calvert-Ennals, with original sound design and composition by Duncan Speakman.

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

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31 MAY 7PM WIDCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

31 MAY 8PM WIDCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

3 JUNE 8PM WIDCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

Detangle

New Impulses

Kilig

Detangle is a journey of unwinding dreams and emotions. This interdisciplinary art work weaves together dance, music, sand art and poetry, inviting the audience on a captivating exploration of self-discovery and introspection.

A collective of young choreographers are joining forces to explore what moves them, resulting in a triple bill of new contemporary dance works. Come along to witness current concerns, philosophical questions and human experiences through the lens of dance.

Tummy flutters, sweaty palms, nervous giggles. Does that giddy feeling of butterflies in your stomach really last forever? Two souls put that to the test when their love for each other is quick to blossom. As one begins to hit rock bottom, the other wonders whether they can keep the butterflies alive.

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3 JUNE 9PM WIDCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB £10 | £5 BSU / CONCESSION

5 JUNE 7PM WIDCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB FREE (NO BOOKING REQUIRED)

Plural Singularity

Creative Music Technology Graduate Show

A movement piece depicting the exploration of intimacy in the modern age.

Shadows aims to bring to light the more complex nature of affection which rarely graces the silver screen.

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

A curated evening celebrating the highly original creative and technical work of final year BA (Hons) Creative Music Technology students at Bath Spa University. Expect a diverse range of produced music, sound and composition, multimedia screenings, audio post-production for film, game sound and sonic performance.

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6 & 7 JUNE 7:30PM | 8 JUNE 2PM THE EGG THEATRE £8 | £6 STUDENTS | £4 BSU STUDENTS

Hay Fever Hay Fever, a 1920s comedy by Noël Coward, revolves around the quirky Bliss family and their weekend guests. The story is a whirlwind of misunderstandings, emphasising the family’s charmingly unconventional nature. Expect comedic interactions, romantic entanglements, and theatrical flare-ups!

Presented by Bath Spa Productions this Summer; a collaboration between graduating Acting and Theatre, Festival and Event Production students, directed

by Feargus Dunlop-Woods.

This amateur production of “Hay Fever” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk

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12 JUNE 5PM WIDCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

12 JUNE 8PM WIDCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB £5 | £3 BSU / CONCESSION

Lost In Ebriation

Giggles and Sh*ts

A struggling writer resorts to the bottle for inspiration. But benders have their consequences… As he wakes from his boozeinduced slumber, the surefire murder mystery penned during last night’s excitement now verges on incoherent, with pages missing and act three burnt to a crisp. He and his brother must now reconstruct last night’s events and solve the puzzle of his own creation; all before the publisher’s deadline the next morning.

It’s all sh*ts and giggles til someone giggles and sh*ts - which very well may happen during this pill taking, tummy aching, work in progress sketch show. Brought to you by the 3rd year comedians (what’s left of them), we invite you to giggle, hopefully not sh*t, and tell us if any of the sketches are naff.

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

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VENUES

Burdall’s Yard 7a Anglo Terrace Bath, BA1 5NH The Mission Theatre Corn Street Bath, BA1 1UF Widcombe Social Club Widcombe Hill Bath, BA2 6AA

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Holburne Museum (and gardens) Great Pulteney Street Bath, BA2 4DB Old Theatre Royal 12 Old Orchard Street Bath, BA1 1JU The Egg Theatre Saw Close Bath, BA1 1ET Tickets: www.theatreroyal.org

Newton Park Campus, The University Theatre Bath Spa University Newton St Loe BA2 9BN

MAY

DIARY

Book tickets at Bath Spa Live: www.bathspalive.com or Tel 01225463362

Performance

Date

Time

*booking fees apply

Represent

BY

11/5

5PM

My Sister

BY

11/5

5:30PM

A Month As A Woman

BY

11/5

7PM

UTI

BY

11/5

9PM

Finally...

BY

12/5

1PM

Chimes Poetry Workshop

BY

12/5

2PM

Common Passage

BY

12/5 16/5

7PM 9PM

Talking Beds: The Tales Of A Chaotic Northern Poof!

BY

12/5

9PM

RE[LOOP]ED.A CMT PERFORMANCE SHOWCASE

BY

13/5

7PM

Third Space

UT

14-16/5

TIMES VARY

Chimes and Poetry Film Live

BY

14/5

7PM

When I Kissed The Teacher

BY

15/5

5:30PM

The Last Letter

BY

15/5

7PM

I Think I Hate Actors

BY

15/5

9PM

If Music be the Food of Life, Play On

BY

16/5

7PM

Play The Museum

H

17/5

6PM

Lazy On The Lawn

H

18-19/5

1PM

The Cleansing of Constance Brown by Stan’s Cafe (A Student Interpretation)

UT

20/5

5PM 7:30PM

Frank conversations: Stories and Spaces of the Unsaid and Undone work

M

20/5

6:30PM

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

27

JUNE

Performance

28

Date

Time

Sparkfest Rising

M

21/5

7PM

Revolt. She Said. Again.

UT

21/5

7:30PM

Dead End

M

22/5

7PM

Orlando

UT

22/5

7:30PM

The Sofa

M

22/5 | 24/5

9PM | 7PM

Independent Digital Collections

M

23/5

7PM

Salem

UT

23/5

7:30PM

MacPlebs

M

24/5

9PM

Stage Fright

M

25/5

3PM

The Chipping Norton Incident

M

25/5

7PM

The Crucible

UT

25/5

7:30PM

Cyclops: More Than Meets The Eye

M

25/5

9PM

Many Days More

OTR

26/5

2PM

Accidental Death of an Anarchist

UT

27/5

7:30PM

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

M

30/5 1/6

7PM 5PM

Pippin

UT

30/5

7:30PM

Macbeth

M

31/5 1/6

7PM 1PM

Detangle

WSC

31/5

7PM

New Impulses

WSC

31/5

8PM

Kilig

WSC

3/6

8PM

Plural Singularity

WSC

3/6

9PM

Creative Music Technology Graduate Show

WSC

5/6

7PM

Hayfever

E

6-8/6

TIMES VARY

Lost in Ebriation

WSC

12/6

5PM

Giggles and Sh*ts

WSC

12/6

8PM

LOCATION KEY WSC Widcombe Social Club

GENRE KEY

E

The Egg Theatre

Theatre

H

Holburne Museum Gardens

Dance / Movement

BY

Burdall’s Yard

Comedy

OTR

Old Theatre Royal

Music / Song

M

The Mission Theatre

Digital Screening

UT

University Theatre

Workshop Panel Talk / Discussion Art

SUPPORTING LOCAL This year, we're proud to be supporting Julian House - a local charity that help thousands of vulnerable and at-risk individuals out of homelessness, into employment, away from domestic abuse and more.

How to Support: Julian House will be coming into some of our events, where you can learn more and support them in person.

You can also head over to their website for more info about the charity, and on how to support them best: www.julianhouse.org.uk/support-us

WWW.SPARKFEST.CO.UK

Their Aim: We seek to build a just society where socially excluded people are supported and empowered to build sustainable, independent lives.

Their Services Include: • Homeless services & support including our emergency 20 bed hostel, outreach teams and supported move on accommodation, • Specialised support and accommodation for those escaping domestic violence • Addiction recovery and mental health support • Support for travelling communities • Refugee resettlement service • Support and accommodation for prison leavers, including training opportunities to return to work • Support and accommodation for individuals with learning difficulties • Work experience and training for adults experiencing homelessness and those experiencing long-term unemployment

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NewSparks is an exciting new funding initiative that we are running alongside our SparkFest festival of live and digital performance this spring.

Money raised through a ticketing donation will be available to graduating Bath Spa students and alumni who have participated in SparkFest. Now more than ever these future creatives need our support. Your donation can make a huge difference in a creative’s future and will help ensure that their creative voice is heard. This is important not just for them as artists but as a way forward for them to contribute in rebuilding the creative industries in the UK. We are inviting you to invest in the creatives of tomorrow.

www.sparkfest.co.uk