University of Bedfordshire Theatre - Spring 2015 programme

Dance – Theatre – Literature – Science – Music – Family

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

February - June 2015

Arts and Culture Bedford and Luton

Come and see‌

Dance

Theatre

Literature

Pages 4, 5, 6, 14 and 15

Pages 16 and 17

Pages 7, 8 and 9

Science

Music

Family

Pages 12 and 13

Page 9

Pages 10 and 11

Ticket and Venue information Contact the University Box Office: Tel: 01234 793197 Email: boxoffice@beds.ac.uk Visit: www.beds.ac.uk/theatre Twitter: @UoBarts Facebook: /UoBtheatre

University of Bedfordshire Theatre University of Bedfordshire Polhill Avenue, Bedford MK41 9EA Parking: onsite parking available, pay at meter (free after 5.30pm and at weekends).

Ian Dixon Lecture Theatre Judith Blake Theatre, Postgraduate Centre University of Bedfordshire University Square, Luton LU1 3JU UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA) St Mary’s Road, Luton LU1 3JA Parking: for Luton venues use town centre car parks.

Ticket prices vary and concessions are available. Concession prices are for those over 60 or under 18 years of age, unemployed, people with a registered disability, and students (evidence is required on arrival).

Welcome Enhancing the employability of our graduates is central to the mission of the University of Bedfordshire. Students of all disciplines are able to get involved in extra-curricular activities to build a range of skills, knowledge and experience to support them in fulfilling their career ambitions. As the creative industries is one of the faster growing sectors of the UK economy, the work we do to enable students to engage with creative professionals is particularly important.

This season we have a focus on emerging talent and I am pleased to welcome back University of Bedfordshire alumna Rhiannon Faith to open this series of performances with her witty take on contemporary relationships, The Date.

Rhiannon graduated in 2005 and has gone on to use the entrepreneurial skills she gained from her time here to establish her own dance company.

The University is supporting Wordfest, Luton’s ambitious new celebration of the written and spoken word. Lecturers and graduates of the University’s excellent Creative Writing courses will give a series of reading and current student Anya Hobbs delivers an innovative approach to Shakespeare using social media.

Mobo award winning rapper Akala has developed a series of workshops that tease out the links between hip-hop and Shakespeare and we are delighted that his company, The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company is joining us for a short residency during Shakespeare Week in March to deliver workshops for our own students and local schools and to present a live show of music and spoken word.

Alongside these events, we have more contemporary dance, family theatre and comedy, science shows, inspirational speakers and further opportunities to see the next generation of emerging talent in performances by final year students of performing arts, theatre and dance.

Professor Helen Bailey Executive Dean, Centre for Academic Partnerships

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Dance RHIANNON FAITH presents

The Date Wednesday 18 February, 7.30pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5 Age Guidance 15+

A show about sex in the 21st Century, loneliness and friendship.

A touching show inspired by a real life experiment where two dancers, who have 21st Century attitudes towards relationships (wrap party sex), are asked to date.

Whilst dating they discover their feelings for one another. They tell their story using physical dance and text. An outrageous narrator adds insight, humour and digital magic to this alternative indie love story.

Rhiannon Faith is a graduate of the University of Bedfordshire.

Supported by Arts Council England, Pavillion Dance South West, Colchester Arts Centre, University of Bedfordshire, The Garage and BAC

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

5

Dance STOPGAP DANCE COMPANY presents Sg2 in

Exhibition Wednesday 4 March, 7.30pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5

A new era of invention; Exhibition is a collection of eclectic dance miniatures featuring Stopgap’s emerging artist company Sg2. Created by Stopgap dancers in collaboration with Sg2 and choreographer Nathalie Pernette.

The Garden

Bound For…

A haunting stillness descends into a torturous hell. Forbidden Fruit leads to desperation, fear and retribution.

Nadenh is from Cambodia and this piece explores his relationship with his wheelchair and how it is a part of who he has become.

Traces

Slide with the Sun

Reflecting the patterns we create through the traces we leave and the threads that connect us. As our trails cross and our patterns interweave we create a web of support that allows us to keep moving forward.

‘Slide with the Sun’ captures the dancers in four moments, allowing the audience to witness the individuals acts of each dancer, the interacting dancers, their competitive relationships and their resolve. Each moment suggests a bigger picture; the intention being the discovery of a perfect act.

Stopgap Dance Company will present a training day for emerging dance artists at the University of Bedford in June – contact the Box Office for details.

These events are part of an Arts Council funded Strategic Touring partnership led by Stopgap dance Company and The Point, supported by Embrace Arts, University of Bedfordshire and Zinc Arts.

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Dance

Choreographic Practice Thursday 12 March, 7.00pm University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford

SHIFT Dance Company double bill

Tickets: £5, Concessions / NUS £3 Friday 13 March, 7.00pm University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions / NUS £3

MA Dance Performance and Choreography and MA Community Dance Leadership students present a range of new works that explore work for stage, dance for camera and durational performance.

Photo: Rachel Cherry

SHIFT Dance Company presents two newly commissioned works by choreographers Adriana Borreillo and Helen Parlor. SHIFT Dance Company is the performing group for students undertaking the MA Dance Performance and Choreography course and this University premiere follows a national tour of these works to theatres and universities around the country.

For further information about the MA course or the performance contact the course coordinator tamara.ashley@ beds.ac.uk

This event is particularly recommended for anyone working toward an Arts Award

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Literature and Spoken Word

Fantastic Fiction Thursday 5 March, 6.00pm, John Smith’s bookshop, The Mall, Luton FREE event – no need to book

Published authors LESLEY MCKENNA, EDWARD COX and TIMOTHY J. JARVIS will give readings from their latest works which span the genres of fantasy, horror and weird fiction.

Lesley McKenna is a senior lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Bedfordshire, and a published prose poet, her pamphlet Amaranthus Caudatus, Love Lies Bleeding was published by Kater Murr Press in 2010. Lesley specialises in horror and fantasy fiction, she is also a writer of weird short fiction, and is currently writing a dark fantasy novel.

Edward Cox had his first short story published in 2000 and spent much of the next decade earning BA (Hons) and Master’s degrees in Creative Writing. He then went on to teach creative writing at the University of Bedfordshire. The Relic Guild is his first completed novel, and it is the result of more than ten years of obsessive writing.

Timothy J. Jarvis is a writer and scholar with an interest in the antic, the weird, the strange. His first novel, The Wanderer, which has been described as ‘a fiendishly wrought labyrinth of tales within tales,’ and ‘a little like wandering through a library assembled by some insane devotee of fantastic atrocities and excesses,’ was published

by Perfect Edge Books in the summer of 2014.

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Literature and Spoken Word

International Women’s Day Dr Bushra Ahmed

Tuesday 10 March, Coffee/tea available from 12.30pm, talk starts at 1.00pm PM06 Postgraduate Centre, University of Bedfordshire, Luton FREE event – no need to book

International Women’s Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality. The University’s Arts and Culture team is joining forces with BedsSU to promote the values of International Women’s Day. At this talk, Dr Bushra Ahmed tells us her journey to becoming a neuroscientist from her early education in Pakistan via Japan, where she completed a PhD in Neuroscience, research in America on epilepsy and gene therapy before coming to University College London to work on brain injury models using gene therapy technology. Dr Ahmed came to the University of Bedfordshire in 2005 where she is a Principal Lecturer in Biochemistry, Portfolio Leader for Postgraduate study and Course Leader in Biomedical Science.

Follow #womensday

Innovative Poetry Tuesday 10 March, 5.15pm La Dolce Vita, Park Street, Luton FREE event – no need to book

A reading by Keith Jebb, published poet and course coordinator for Creative Writing at the University of Bedfordshire followed by readings by four alumni of the University; Juliet Troy, who completed an MA Creative Writing at Royal Holloway University and helps run the Blue Bus reading series in London, Cathy Weedon (aka c-weed) who went on to read a Masters by Research in Creative Writing at the University of Bedfordshire with her poetry series 1-50, Clive Gresswell who is also reading his Masters by Research and Lilly Bonhomme who graduated last year.

Our literature, poetry and spoken word events form part of Luton’s inaugural Wordfest – a celebration of the word in all its forms. For details of the full programme visit www.lutonculture.com or search #wordfest.

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

Literature and Spoken Word

Much to Tweet about Nothing Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 March, FREE online event

To mark National Shakespeare Week, University of Bedfordshire creative writing student Anya Hobbs will present her own interpretation of Much Ado about Nothing, delivered through the medium of Twitter. Follow @ClaudioB89, @Hero_Sparkles93, @TheOnlyBen89 and @BuzzyBea90 to see the story unfold over two days.

Hip-hop Shakespeare Live Thursday 19 March, 6.30pm UKCCA, St Mary’s Road, Luton Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5

The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company (THSC) presents an interactive live performance. A selection of the company’s singers, rappers and poets, featuring spoken word artist Lorianne Tika-Lemba, aka Lori-Analytical and rapper Young Deacon (Ryan Henry) are accompanied by members of THSC’s energetic live band, all performing a medley of songs inspired by scenes and themes from famous Shakespeare plays and sonnets. Founded in 2008 by MOBO award winning hip-hop artist Akala, The Hiphop Shakespeare Company is a musical theatre production company that explores the social, cultural and linguistic parallels between the works of William Shakespeare and that of modern day rappers. THSC has previously collaborated with Ed Sheeran, Bashy, Ms. Dynamite, TY, Zena Edwards, Kate Tempest, Polar Bear, Dizraeli, Anthony Anaxagorou and Angelina Roz. For details of free schools workshops with the company on the day of the performance contact access@beds.ac.uk

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Family LES PETITS THEATRE COMPANY presents

Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs Friday 27 February, 4.30pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5 Age Guidance: 4+ Based on the award-winning book by Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto

Join Flinn as he discovers a Pirate hiding in a cupboard, hold on tight as the cupboard falls away and together we tumble into a real life adventure!

All aboard for a non-stop action-packed theatrical experience with live music, puppetry, physical performance and dastardly dinosaurs! Ignite your child’s imagination through the magic of theatre and storytelling.

Presented by Les Petits, the new children’s theatre company from the internationally acclaimed Les Enfants Terribles

“Lots of fun!” **** Time Out “Adults and children alike will be delighted”**** Edinburgh Spotlight “Has all the right ingredients to entertain a child” ***** Three Weeks “Brilliant“***** Fest

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Family MAKIN PROJECTS presents TIERNAN DOUIEB with his brand new family comedy show

Everything You’ve Ever Needed To Know Ever (And Some Extra Stuff) Tuesday 31 March, 2.00pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5 Age Guidance: 6+

Do you know everything?

Tiernan definitely thinks he does.

Luckily for you, he’s chosen to share his knowledge by answering some of the most important questions children need answers to.

He knows what the universe is made of, why you can’t run with scissors but hairdressers can wave them in your face, how hard you have to jump before you can’t come back down, how the bubbles in fizzy drinks are put there and why trees.

An hour of very silly comedy for kids, adults, robots and things that go ‘yargle’.

If you like Comedy Club 4 Kids – you’ll love this!!

“He had delighted giggles running round the room” ***** The Telegraph “Tiernan is never patronising and has a fantastic rapport with the kids, generating plenty of laughs for both them and the adults alike.” ***** Three Weeks

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Science

Mystery Thursday 12 March, 7.00pm Judith Blake Theatre, University of Bedfordshire, Luton Tickets: £8, Concessions / NUS £5

A mind-bending foray into what we don’t know, Neil Monteiro uses incredible stunts and demonstrations to prove that our methods of thinking are not as clear as we imagine. Called “...amazing, amusing and bemusing”, Mystery is brain food that’ll make you gasp and laugh in equal measure.

This entertaining performance for adults will appeal to anyone who enjoys magic, science and spectacle.

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Science SCIENCE THEATRE presents

Strange Science Tuesday 24 March, 4.30pm Ian Dixon Lecture Theatre, University of Bedfordshire, Luton Tickets: £8, Concessions / NUS £5 Age Guidance: 6+

Strange Science contains many demonstrations so incredible you’ll find it hard to believe they’re real! During the show, the presenters will connect up a sound system using only people, use an invisible torch to see in the dark, control electromagnetic fields with their hands and you’ll even see a live demonstration of an object disappearing while you watch!

This entertaining and educational show for schools and families lasts one hour.

Performances for schools will take place throughout the day on 24 and 25 March – for times and group booking rates contact access@beds.ac.uk

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Dance

Showcase: University Dance Company Tuesday 21 April, 7.00pm University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

Performance Premiere – an evening of four new dance pieces performed by the undergraduate dance company. Each year final year undergraduates work as part of a small scale touring company to create four new works to tour. This year work has been choreographed by Adrian Look, Kirsty Russell, Rachel Farrer and Sadie Hunt.

Photo: Simon Richardson

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Dance

Student assessment performances are open to all and free for schools and colleges to attend. They are particularly suitable for students working towards an Arts Award, although some may contain adult themes and language. For details of content and recommended ages contact the Box Office.

Dance Technique and Choreography Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 May, 6.30pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

Final year performing arts students present individual choreographic projects exploring a range of techniques.

Community Dance Day Monday 11 May FREE all day event on the Polhill Campus, Bedford

As part of this second year unit in dance and leadership, students will plan, design, create and deliver a day of community dance activities. A range of performances, workshops and interactive dance activity will be offered for a variety of community groups.

Dance and Innovation Monday 18 May, 6.00pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £3

First year dance students work with dance artist Diccon Hogger to produce a new hybrid performance piece, exploring the use of digital technology in live dance work.

Choreographic Resolutions Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May, 7.00pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £5 Concessions £3

This group choreography unit of study requires third year dance students to work independently to choreograph their final dance works. The pieces can explore a range of performance mediums, including live theatre work, film, installation and located dance works.

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Theatre and Performance

Junior TestBeds IX Wednesday 18 March, 7.00pm University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

Performing Innovations: Interdisciplinary Performance

The University of Bedfordshire’s Junior Research Institute continues to provide regular research opportunities to undergraduate students and Testbeds gives a performance platform to students who have successfully applied to engage in an independent practice-led research project. The evening includes dance, performance and theatre work.

Thursday 30 April and Friday 1 May, 6.30pm

Acting and Devising

Deconstructing Hope

Wednesday 20 May, 6.30pm

Monday 25 May, 7.00pm

University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford

University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford

Tickets: £3

Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

First year Performing Arts students come together to present a devised piece of work choreographed and directed by dance artist Rhiannon Faith.

In this tutor-led unit, second year performing arts students present a new musical theatre piece developed with support from international professionals.

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

Studio Theatre, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

In this series of solo performances, final year performing arts students demonstrate the breadth of their engagement with theatre, dance and performance work.

01234 793197

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Theatre

Festival of One-Act Plays Monday 27, Tuesday 28, Wednesday 29 April, 7.00pm and 8.30pm University of Bedfordshire Theatre and Studio Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3 for one; £8/£5 for two; or £15/£10 for a Festival pass for all five performances

In their final year, Theatre and Professional Practice students come together as small companies to create and present short plays of no more than 50 minutes. For further details of each performance and the final running order visit the theatre website or Facebook page.

PIECES DE PUZZLE presents

You. I. We. A devised performance exploring national and cultural identity and the forces that divide us and unite us.

ALL SORTZ presents

We Are Watching You A devised piece exploring privacy in our contemporary world through the stories of Edward Snowden and George Orwell’s 1984.

Showcase: Step Up 2 Tuesday 2 June, 6.45pm University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

After a successful showcase of theatre work last summer, the Department of Performing Arts and English has extended their format to include dance, theatre, musical theatre, poetry and spoken word, site specific performances, installation and film work in this celebration of student success.

Throughout the season there will be a number of other free sharing events of new works in progress, scratch nights and new writing performances – some from published works and others written or devised by our students. These may be of particular interest to anyone considering a degree in theatre or performing arts or working towards an Arts Award. Dates include 26 February, 20 March, 28 April, 7, 8, 14 and 15 May and 21 June.

For full details or an invitation to any of these events contact the Box Office.

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

SHADING THE EBONY presents

Just Ebony A devised performance exploring representations of black female identity through time.

CHINA DOLL THEATRE presents

Broken Dolls A devised performance exploring the social pressures on women in contemporary Britain and their relationships with mental health.

SOUP THEATRE presents

sponsored by

They Came From Earth A self-penned play charting the relationship between John and Nancy on a make-orbreak journey into space.

01234 793197

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Hosted by

Becky Brunning

rd ch in The Lounge Tuesday 3 Mar rtain at 7:45pm Doors at 7pm, cu

Tickets just ÂŁ4!

With

Matt Green

and featuring: Jimmy Ginger, Neil McFarlene & Athena Kugblenu

For other information on Beds SU events and activities, visit bedssu.co.uk/events

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

Arts and Culture Bedford and Luton

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

Diary February to June 2015 Wednesday 18 February

The Date

Bedford

Friday 27 February

Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs Bedford

Wednesday 4 March

Exhibition

Bedford

Thursday 12 March

Choreographic Practice

Bedford

Friday 13 March

SHIFT Dance Company

Bedford

Thursday 5 March

Fantastic Fiction

Luton

Tuesday 10 March

International Women’s Day

Luton

Tuesday 10 March

Innovative Poetry

Luton

Thursday 12 March

Mystery

Luton

Tuesday 17 – Wednesday 18 March

Much to Tweet about Nothing

Online

Wednesday 18 March

Junior TestBeds IX

Bedford

Thursday 19 March

Hip-hop Shakespeare Live

Luton

Friday 20 March

Symphonia Academica

Bedford

Tuesday 24 March

Strange Science

Luton

Tuesday 31 March

Everything You’ve Ever Needed to Know Ever

Bedford

Tuesday 21 April

Showcase: University Dance Company Bedford

Monday 27 – Wednesday 29 April

Festival of One-Act Plays

Bedford

Thursday 30 April and Friday 1 May

Performing Innovations

Bedford

Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 May

Dance Technique and Choreography

Bedford

Monday 11 May

Community Dance Day

Bedford

Monday 18 May

Dance and Innovation

Bedford

Wednesday 20 May

Acting and Devising

Bedford

Monday 25 May

Deconstructing Hope

Bedford

Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May

Choreographic Resolutions

Bedford

Dance – Theatre – Literature – Science – Music – Family

www.beds.ac.uk /theatre

01234 793197