Stageleeds spring 2018 brochure (revised)

stage@leeds Spring 2018

Welcome to stage@leeds Over the last few years artists and arts organisations in and around Leeds have been working diligently in the hope of securing Leeds the title of ‘European Capital of Culture 2023’. Sadly, as we all now know, those hopes were dashed, along with the hopes of other UK cities working on a bid as soon as the UK decided to leave the European Union. This is obviously very sad for all those involved, but that work, focus and pride in our city and its culture should not be diminished or dulled by the politics of change.

2018 marks the tenth anniversary of stage@leeds as Leeds’ newest public theatre. In that time we have worked with, supported and nurtured some incredible artists. With the appointment of Leeds’ based ‘Forget about The Dog’ as associate artists in Autumn 2017 (whose own creative journey started as undergraduate students in the School of Performance and Cultural industries here at stage@leeds), and our tenth anniversary it seemed appropriate to focus our 2018 spring season on the creative talent that makes Leeds not the ‘European Capital of Culture 2023’ but a European city of culture now.

We don’t need to wait five years to celebrate our creativity and culture, so welcome to the spring 2018 stage@leeds season and welcome to ‘Made in Leeds’ All The best Steve Ansell Artistic Director

MADE IN LEEDS

In 2017 Forget About the Dog became our newest associate artists alongside Leeds based dance artist, educator and choreographer Devika Rao (Devika Dance Theatre). Forget About The Dog started their career as undergraduate students at the University of Leeds and their first show ‘The Life and Times of Lionel’, which received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2016, started life in the classroom. Forget About the Dog are currently involved in research and development for a new show as well as touring their current production ‘100 Ways to Tie a Shoelace’.

The highly respected Manic Chord Theatre return to stage@leeds this season (08-09 March) with their newest work ‘The Economy of Ecology’.

The members of Manic Chord Theatre also met in stage@leeds as students whilst working on a production of Chekov’s ‘The Seagull’ in 2011. Manic Chord were one of the first groups to take advantage of the stage@leeds Young Entrepreneurs Programme (YEP) and then received further support from our Professional Artist Development (PAD) programme. It’s a real pleasure having them back.

The Toasted Peacocks return to premiere their second production ‘An Act Of’ (28 Feb - 03 March) another thought provoking, surreal and visually bold statement from writer and director Phil Jones. The Toasted Peacocks first production ‘Miscellaneous’ premiered at stage@ leeds in March 2017 as part of our PAD programme.

We are also pleased to welcome two new companies as part of our YEP programme: Sliding Doors Theatre and Every Sunset. Sliding Doors Theatre is led by student Rowen Hughes, and ‘Into Chains’ (15-17 Feb) is her first production.

MA student Jonny Dowsett is one of the three strong creative team that make up Every Sunset who will premiere their first piece ‘WE’ (11 - 12 May). Both companies are being supported by the stage@leeds YEP programme which is open to all full time students.

Also taking place in May will be RIFT, an exciting new platform for the work of emerging writers and directors, made possible by the ongoing partnership between the West Yorkshire Playhouse and the University of Leeds.

Keira Martin

Here Comes Trouble ‘Here Comes Trouble’ is a rigorous personal investigation into womanhood and Keira’s individual identity.

Abigail’s Party

by Mike Leigh

★★★★ ‘Brutally Beautiful’ (Motus Dance Festival)

Through a series of robust episodes drawing on social and cultural influences from Yorkshire, Ireland and Jamaica, Keira rhythmically weaves together traditional music, authentic song and gutsy dance. She shares hard hitting and heart-warming chapters of her life to courageously address stereotypes and challenge labels.

Witness her build bridges and burn them again, each time revealing a deeper layer of herself and her heritage. This feisty yet vulnerable performance demonstrates the power and elegance of women in a very real and honest way.

‘Laurence, we are not here to hold conversations, we are here to enjoy ourselves.’

Suburbanites Laurence and Beverley Moss are getting ready to entertain in their Essex home, but with Laurence’s workaholic attitude and Beverley’s hen pecking, the evening is fraught with tension. With the arrival of new neighbours, Angela, Tony and long-standing neighbour and single mother Susan, this awkward congregation of strangers reluctantly come together in an alcohol infused inter-marital battle of willpowers and flirtations.

Choreographed by Keira Martin Directed by Charlotte Vincent Designed by Ryan Laight Original music by Jamie Roberts

Thur 25 Jan 7.30pm Stage One £12.00 (£9.00)

LUU Theatre Group

Mike Leigh’s hilarious representation of the new 70’s middle class reveals the fears, obsessions, preconceptions and pure outrageousness of its seemingly superficial characters.

Photo graphy by Joe Armitage BoneShaker Photography

Thur 08 - Sat 10 Feb 7.30pm Alec Clegg Studio £9.00 (£7.00)

LUU Open Theatre

Carbon Copy

by George Manson

Sliding Doors Theatre

Into Chains

by Rowen Hughes

‘I’m a perfect duplicate of myself. Everything about my new body is identical to my original body. It just so happens that I was built from scratch this afternoon.’

Esther and Truman are having a romantic meal, when Truman reveals that he has managed to create a perfect duplicate of himself. In the process of doing this, however, his original body was destroyed. Esther must work out: is the man sitting across the table her husband? And if he isn’t, can she still love him?

Follow the life of Lexi Allen…

Loosely based on Euripides’ Medea, ‘Into Chains’ follows Lexi Allen whose marriage has recently broken down. Using video and live music, Sliding Doors first production is a theatrical spectacle that takes the audience into the internal conflicts and psychological struggles of a person unable to move on with her life.

Tue 13 - Thur 15 Feb 7.00pm Banham Theatre £9.00 (£7.00)

stage@leeds

YoungEntrepreneursProgramme

Thur 15 - Sat 17 Feb 7.30pm Alec Clegg Studio £9.00 (£7.00)

LUU Open Theatre

LUU Theatre Group

by Sarah Kane

by Simon Stephens

4.48 Psychosis “Embrace beautiful lies - the chronic insanity of the sane.”

‘4.48 Psychosis’ was Sarah Kane’s last play and is seen as a theatrical suicide note.

‘4.48’ is a painfully honest yet poetic view of clinical depression and deals with mental extremes, depression and the notions of dependency and loneliness. The writing is poetic and fragmented which pairs with the physical and dance elements of the piece. It explores the human condition, the psyche and what it really means to be alive.

Thur 22 - Sat 24 Feb 6.30pm Alec Clegg Studio £9.00 (£7.00)

Port

‘I see you in the morning, on the first morning I stayed over at your house. Waking up, watching you lying asleep next to me. You looked, you looked. It was like. I think about that more than you probably think I do.’

Stockport 1988-2002.

This biographical, episodic play follows protagonist Racheal Keats, an excitable, enthusiastic young girl who sincerely wants more from her life in Stockport. As people begin to leave her behind and her naivety starts to dwindle, will Racheal find her own way in the world?

‘Port’ is about leaving from the perspective of someone who stays.

Thur 22 - Sat 24 Feb 8.00pm Stage One £9.00 (£7.00)

The Toasted Peacocks

Willis & Vere

An Act Of

A Serious Play About WWII

by Phil Jones

“Willis and Vere are an amazingly talented double act” ★★★★ EdFringe Review (Starship Osiris)

‘You’d usually begin with a start, but here the end explodes first.’

‘An Act Of’ is another crazy, comedic and bamboozling piece written by Phil Jones.

After the success of their last show, ‘Miscellaneous’, “the most fun… intriguing and fantastically odd” (The Scribe), The Toasted Peacocks are terribly thrilled to get stuck into a brand spanking new piece of theatre.

At the end there is always a party, a celebration, a jubilation. Some good, some not so much. This being the latter. The setting is important to the success of such an event, but here, the end takes place in an office.

Of course, there will be confetti.

Wed 28 Feb - Sat 03 March 7.30pm Alec Clegg Studio £10.00 (£7.50)

After the success of their five-star, award-winning farce ‘The Starship Osiris’, Willis & Vere have surprised critics by turning their back on comedy to adapt the memoirs of a Holocaust survivor. As always hecklers will be forcibly removed from the venue.

A brand new touring comedy farce about the pretentiousness of theatre and the tragedies of war.

stage@leeds ProfessionalArtistDevelopment

Tue 06 March 7.00pm Alec Clegg Studio £12.00 (£9.00)

Manic Chord Theatre

The Economy of Ecology

Exploring the small yet transformative power of touch, the often overlooked can sometimes become the simplest of solutions.

The ‘Economy of Ecology’ uses highly visual, physical storytelling to tell an urgent and provocative tale about relationships, communication and our impact on the natural world. This show has previously been developed with Slung Low’s HUB and at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Thur 08 - Fri 09 March 7.00pm Alec Clegg Studio £12.00 (£9.00)

LUU Open Theatre

2027

by Alfie Howard

As the 2027 General Election draws near, 17-year-old Yasmina joins the Progressive Liberals, a party dedicated to fighting prejudice and hate. As politicians wage a war of ideas on the nation’s TV screens, Yasmina dedicates herself to the Progressive Liberals’ cause. But the realities of politics are rarely simple or easy, as Yasmina – and Britain – are about to discover…

Offering an unflinching exploration of the power and perils of ideology, this new play uses audience voting, along with stage and screen acting, to transport viewers to an unsettling vision of UK politics in the year 2027.

Wed 14 - Fri 16 March 7.30pm Stage One £9.00 (£7.00)

Lone Twin

On Everest

PCI Production

Article 11 How far can we go?

How far should we go?

How far will we go?

‘Astonishingly and playfully they propose to take their audience to the summit of Mount Everest’ (Williams & Lavery) A five and a-half mile ascent to the summit of Mount Everest – lots of running, lots of talking, lots of polystyrene balls and some dancing. Performed on the flat of the studio, ‘On Everest’ is part academic lecture and part endurance event. The debut work by Lone Twin, ‘On Everest’ is a much celebrated but little seen performance, one that began the company’s now 21-year fascination with place, journey, friendship and hope.

Thur 22 March 8.00pm Stage one £12.00 (£10.00)

Perhaps you are not the only version of yourself. When truth and fiction have been blurred to such an extent, you may not even be able to tell the difference. This experiment will push the boundaries of our reality by laying bare what it means to be human.

Fri 20, Sat 21, Mon 23, Tue 24 April Times to be confirmed Stage One £9.00 (£7.00)

LUU Theatre Group

PCI Production

Neighbourhood Back in Blighty Watch

by Alan Ayckbourn

Welcome to Bluebell Hill…

Bluebell Hill’s newest inhabitants, Martin and Hilda, can’t wait to become part of the community, but their hopes of a pleasant neighbourhood are soon threatened when Martin catches a young intruder in their garden. They quickly form a Neighbourhood Watch committee to protect the cul-de-sac after their beloved garden gnome, Monty, is thrown through their window.

Marking the centenary of the end of WWI, this promenade performance explores echoes of ‘The war to end all wars’ which saw more than 70 million military personnel mobilised in one of the largest wars in history.

Tue 24 - Thur 26 April 7.00pm Banham Theatre £9.00 (£7.00)

Wed 02 - Sat 05 May Times to be confirmed Stage One £9.00 (£7.00)

Every Sunset

WE

‘WE’ is a dark and physical expression of adoration and loving for another whilst buckling under the weight of hating yourself.

Innovative drama from original voices. stage@leeds: 08 - 10 May 2018

The piece is built through dance and physical theatre, within darkness and low levels of light. It uses real experiences to shape the performance, alongside a mindful and melancholic soundtrack. ‘WE’ examines modern love and its issues, as well as its joy. It is a love story with no ending and one that changes each person that experiences it.

RIFT is a new writing showcase which teams up post-graduate playwrights from the University of Leeds with professional actors and emerging directors from the West Yorkshire Playhouse for a dynamic mini-festival of script-in-hand performances.

Directed and Designed by Jonny Dowsett (Black Rock, SWARM) Choreographed by India Thompson (SWARM, 100 Ways to Tie a Shoelace) Produced by George Bissett

Produced and curated by students of the MA Writing for Performance and Publication programme from the University of Leeds (School of Performance and Cultural Industries), in partnership with the West Yorkshire Playhouse and stage@leeds.

stage@leeds

stage@leeds YoungEntrepreneursProgramme

Fri 11 - Sat 12 May 6.00 & 8.00pm Alec Clegg Studio £12.00 (£9.00)

A - The Parkinson Building B - The Great Hall C - stage@leeds (Stage One & The Alec Clegg Studio) D - Banham Theatre

Creative opportunities stage@leeds

The PAD (Professional Artist Development) programme provides professional theatre and dance makers with a rehearsal space, dramaturgy, technical support, mentoring, financial and management advice within a relaxed and creative environment. The programme runs during the Summer and Easter breaks. Interested artists and companies should contact Steve Ansell: s.ansell@leeds.ac.uk

stage@leeds

YEP (Young Entrepreneurs’ Programme) provides professional support and mentoring to students interested in a career as theatre makers together with the opportunity to produce work for performance at stage@leeds. Many YEP companies and company members have gone on to highly successful careers within the creative industries, garnering critical acclaim and awards.

If you would like to be considered for the YEP programme or would like more information please contact Steve Ansell: s.ansell@leeds.ac.uk

ProfessionalArtistDevelopment

YoungEntrepreneursProgramme

Stage One Theatre 180 Capacity (as seen) 10 x 12m stage space (end on) Fully retractable seating

Alec Clegg Studio 52 Capacity (as seen) 8 x 7m stage space (end on) Fully retractable seating

Booking stage@leeds Putting on your work at stage@leeds

Hiring our spaces

stage@leeds programmes two seasons of work each year, Sept - Dec and Jan - June. We programme at least three months in advance and all the work is curated by the Artistic Director and the theatre’s creative team. We are always looking for exciting and dynamic new work so let us know via email about what you are up to. Please include links to any reviews, images, videos of your work for evaluation. Please contact Steve Ansell: s.ansell@leeds.ac.uk stage@leeds is available for conferences, seminars and corporate events. We have two theatres, a mirrored dance studio, box office, fully licensed bar and foyer area. Event catering can be arranged. We have extensive lighting, sound and AV equipment throughout and our skilled technical team are always happy to discuss your requirements. If you would like further information about hiring any of our spaces please contact Events Administrator, Sammy Gooch: s.b.gooch@leeds.ac.uk

Dance Studio 9.9m x 8.4m P.A with Bluetooth, CD, SD and aux playback

stage@leeds Foyer and Bar A fully licensed flexible space for conferences and events

Date Production

Time

Price

Venue

7.30pm

£12.00 (£9.00)

S

Abigail’s Party (LUU Theatre Group) Carbon Copy (LUU Open Theatre) Into Chains (Sliding Doors Theatre) 4.48 Psychosis (LUU Open Theatre) Port (LUU Theatre Group) An Act Of (The Toasted Peacocks)

7.30pm 7.00pm 7.30pm 6.30pm 8.00pm 7.30pm

£9.00 (£7.00) £9.00 (£7.00) £9.00 (£7.00) £9.00 (£7.00) £9.00 (£7.00) £10.00 (£7.50)

A B A A S A

An Act Of (The Toasted Peacocks) A Serious Play about WWII (Willis & Vere) The Economy of Ecology (Manic Chord) 2027 (LUU Open Theatre) On Everest (Lone Twin)

7.30pm 7.00pm 7.00pm 7.30pm 8.00pm

£10.00 (£7.50) £12.00 (£9.00) £12.00 (£9.00) £9.00 (£7.00) £12.00 (£10.00)

A A A S S

£9.00 (£7.00) £9.00 (£7.00) £9.00 (£7.00)

S S B

£9.00 (£7.00) TBC £12.00 (£9.00)

S S A

January 25

Here Comes Trouble (Keira Martin)

February 08 - 10 13 - 15 15 - 17 22 - 24 22 - 24 28

March

01 - 03 06 08 - 09 14 - 16 22

April

20 - 21 Article 11 (PCI Productions) TBC** 23 - 24 Article 11 (PCI Productions) TBC** 24 - 26 Neighbourhood Watch (LUU Theatre Group) 7.00pm

May

02 - 05 Back in Blighty (PCI Productions) TBC 08 - 10 RIFT TBC 11 - 12 WE (Every Sunset) 6.00 & 8.00pm

Venue Key: A B S

The Alec Clegg Studio Banham Theatre Stage One

Box Office: 0113 343 8730 www.stage.leeds.ac.uk stage@leeds University of Leeds LS2 9JT