University of Bedfordshire Theatre Programme October - December 2014

Comedy – Dance – Family – Music – Theatre – Visual Arts

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

October - December 2014

Arts and Culture Bedford and Luton

Come and see‌

Comedy Page 5

Music Page 9

Dance Pages 6 and 11

Theatre Pages 7, 8 and 10

Ticket and Venue information Contact the University box office: Tel: 01234 793197 Email: boxoffice@beds.ac.uk Visit: www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

Family Pages 12 and 13

Visual Arts Page 4

University of Bedfordshire Theatre University of Bedfordshire Polhill Avenue, Bedford MK41 9EA Parking: free onsite parking available during evenings and weekends.

Judith Blake Theatre

Twitter: @UoBarts

University of Bedfordshire University Square, Luton LU1 3JU

Facebook: /UoBtheatre

Parking: onsite parking for Blue Badge holders only.

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 For our autumn season we are bringing the brightest and best new talent from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to Bedford and Luton. Our broad themes this year include International programming and work that examines gender politics and identity. Highlights include the fast-paced and witty, Solfatara by Catalan company Atresbandes. Performed in Spanish with English surtitles, the translation is integrated into the action in a way that ensures it is completely accessible to all.

Innovative beatboxing theatre show BLIND enjoyed significant critical acclaim at this year’s Fringe. Featuring UK beatboxing champion Grace Savage, it explores what young people hear in today’s world from their parents, their peers and the school playground, resulting in a powerful and political show. Choreographer Joe Moran is an important new voice in British dance and his triple bill Assembly includes a bold exploration of masculinity.

Young people that we work with through our schools networks tell us that they want to see more performance pieces that are relevant to their lives, so in November we present a new play for young people by writer David Lane called FREE. The performance is followed by a text-back session where young people can explore the ideas raised in the show.

For our final professional show this season, we are particularly delighted to welcome Stopgap, the UK’s leading dance company that integrates exceptional disabled and non-disabled dancers. Artificial Things marks the choreographic debut of new artistic director Lucy Bennett and features dancer David Toole, who played a leading role in the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in London.

The University recently became a partner in a major initiative led by the Stopgap to develop artists and audiences for integrated work and we look forward to presenting more work from their second company, Sg2 in the spring.

From leading edge photography to forward thinking folk, via comedy, theatre and dance, we are sure you’ll find something to challenge, inspire or delight you this autumn.

Professor Helen Bailey Executive Dean, Academic Partnerships

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Visual Arts

Performing Small Spaces Performance: Tuesday 14 to Friday 17 October 2014 12 noon - 4pm Exhibition: Monday 20 October to Friday 24 October (during University opening hours) Campus Centre, University of Bedfordshire, Luton FREE EVENT

Have you ever experienced a sense of stillness while time moves forward? Have you ever noticed how the body is in flux even when it pauses?

Performing Small Spaces takes this idea of stillness in motion and brings it to the University of Bedfordshire. Photographer Rachel Cherry, performer Marina Collard and writer Gemma Seltzer will present this site-specific performance work throughout the day and audiences are invited to engage with movement, text and photography.

We want you to use your cameras and mobile phones to contemplate, capture and share the still moments with us. Details of related events and information on how you can get involved can be found here: www.facebook.com/perfss

Performing Small Spaces has been commissioned by dancedigital and the University of Bedfordshire and is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Image: Richard Cherry

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Comedy UNFOLDING THEATRE in association with NORTHERN STAGE presents

Best in the World Wednesday 15 October, 7.30pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5

There is a world that can transport us from the ordinary to the extraordinary, where we are one perfect throw away from greatness, a place where we can all be champions. That world is darts.

Through this noble sport, Alex Elliott asks the unfathomable question: “What does it mean to be best in the world?”

Join him on a hilarious, occasionally heroic and heartwarming journey, featuring true stories of success, live darts and celebrations of our own personal triumphs. Motivational bananas included. This uplifting show will renew your faith in life and darts.

Who knows? You might be the best audience in the world.

“There can only be one word for it: magic theatre”

 The Guardian

Finalist for TOTAL THEATRE AWARDS 2012

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Dance

Assembly A triple bill of new dance by Joe Moran Wednesday 22 October, 7.30pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5

Three works by choreographer Joe Moran, a fresh voice in British dance. Each a very different response to the question ‘what can dance say, today?’ Full-bodied dancing, stillness, virtuosity and overblown masculinity all come under inspection in this arresting evening of dance.

Moran performs his compelling solo Decommission, presented with the bold all-male ensemble, Arrangement and his trio Obverse, to a striking sound score by BAFTA-award winning sound artist Kaffe Matthews.

“A good-humoured inspection of ‘overblown masculinity’ ’’ – Seen & Heard International “Thoughtful, challenging and wide-ranging” – Time Out Assembly is produced by Dance Art Foundation and generously funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and The Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation. Developed with support from The Place, South East Dance, Movingeast, Artsadmin and Merseyside Dance Initiative.

Obverse (2012) was commissioned for The Place Prize for dance sponsored by Bloomberg.

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Theatre ATRESBANDES presents

Solfatara Friday 24 October, 7.30pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5

What happens when your fear comes round for dinner and your deepest, darkest thoughts refuse to lie low?

Fast paced, explosive and hilarious, Solfatara brought the house down throughout the Best of BE tour in 2012 and at BE Festival in Birmingham. Its run at Edinburgh Fringe 2013 at Summerhall met with an equally enthusiastic reception from both audiences and critics and was nominated for a Total Theatre Award.

In an atmosphere of simmering intensity, a young couple exchange brittle conversation across a dinner table. A row over puff pastry causes their frustrations to erupt with catastrophic honesty, as a masked figure goads them into voicing their true feelings. Performed in Spanish with English surtitles, the translation takes on a life of its own, providing a subversive commentary on the action whilst ensuring that the piece is completely accessible.

“Raucously funny... Profound, humane and perturbing, Solfatara is a powerful piece from an emerging international company we should hear more from” – Matt Trueman, The Scotsman “Fresh, imaginative, tight.”★ – Time Out

Age guidance 16+ (contains strong language and sexual content)

“Absurdly vicious and hilariously subtitled” – Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

Photo: Alex Brenner

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

8

Theatre THE PAPER BIRDS THEATRE COMPANY presents

BLIND

Wednesday 29 October, 7.30pm, Judith Blake Theatre, University of Bedfordshire, Luton Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5

A beatboxing theatre show unlike any other. UK beatboxing champion Grace Savage explores what young people are hearing in the world today, from motherly advice to what we learn in the school playground and the music charts.

An exploration of the influences on young people today, this energetic and powerful show will have you on the edge of your seat.

Following critical acclaim at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, multi-award winning The Paper Birds (in a Thousand pieces, Thirsty, On the One Hand) returns with this staggering, noisy, unapologetic and political show.

“Savage’s beatboxing is fabulous.” – The Guardian Age guidance 15+

★– What’s On Stage ★– The List

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Music

The Old Dance School Saturday 8 November, 8pm, University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £12, Concessions £10, NUS £7

The Old Dance School’s expansive landscapes of ear-bending contemporary folk place them as true innovators of the genre. Duelling fiddles, soaring brass crescendos, and irresistible grooves, their live show charts their remarkable journey from ballet school basement jam sessions and cowshed rehearsals, to remote lighthouses, to headline appearances at international festivals.

The Old Dance School takes its name from the old Betty Fox School of Ballet in Birmingham, then legendary jam session venue, where the band first formed in

2007. Championed by BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, the septet’s provocative songs and cinematic sound has received plaudits throughout the country, from press and audiences alike, including Songlines Top Of The World 2010, and The Scotsman’s Album of the Year.

Members of The Old Dance School have performed, recorded and toured with artists such as Martha Wainwright, Cerys Matthews, Graham Coxon, Zoe Rahman, Michael McGoldrick, Neil Yates, Jim Perrin, The Destroyers, Kevin Dempsey, and Chris While.

★ “The music is magic in their hands.” – Maverick ★ “Classical quality, jazz imagination, folk sensibility, rock/roots energy… Masterful” – Scotsman ★ “Abundantly creative, energetic, fresh and supremely innovative.” – Living Tradition

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Theatre

Half Moon Theatre

FREE

A play for teenage and adult audiences by David Lane Wednesday 12 November, 4.30pm and 7pm (The 7pm performance will be British Sign Language interpreted) University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5

How far would you run to find freedom?

A hard-hitting story of two teenagers, brought together through the dynamic discipline of free-running.

Kris and Zara share a city but can’t find a place to rest. Haunting memories mix with an uncomfortable present as they keep on running, unable to face the consequences of their pasts – unable to stop or think for even a moment.

FREE tells the story of two teenagers, brought together through the dynamic discipline of free-running who face life-changing choices when a practice designed for self-improvement and freedom starts to cage them in. From dusk til dawn, against the backdrop of a sterile urban skyline, Kris and Zara form an obsessive relationship with one another, their city and the sport they know is pushing them to the limits of what is safe. Twisting together the real and the imagined, FREE asks what we’re running away from and if we’re ever willing to stop and confront what we’ve left behind.

Inspired by his on-going work with young people, David Lane’s script has been developed in consultation with teenagers and speaks with the authenticity of their voices.

FREE runs 60 minutes (no interval) and is immediately followed by a textback session.

Age guidance 13+

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Dance

Artificial Things Wednesday 26 November, 7.30pm University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £10, Concessions £7, NUS £5

Slowly suffocating in each other’s company, a group of individuals seek escape in a bash of riotous rock-n-roll. However, their wild disorder descends into playground politics and reveals some uncomfortable truths.

In this cinematic and evocative production Stopgap Dance Company creates a compact world of riddles that question our notions about unity and co-existence.

Artificial Things features dancers David Toole from DV8’s multi-award winning film Cost of Living, alongside Amy Butler, Laura Jones, Chris Pavia and David Willdridge.

Yoshifumi Inao of Batsheva Dance Company is the guest choreographer for the opening scene.

Stopgap Dance Company is the UK’s leading dance company that integrates exceptional disabled and non-disabled dancers. The company’s original productions are devised by its dancers and collaborators, working as an ensemble under the artistic direction of Lucy Bennett.

“Bold and disarming.” ★– What’s On Stage

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Family WRIGGLE DANCE THEATRE in association with THE CORE AT CORBY CUBE presents

Once in a Blue Moon Sunday 2 November, 11am and 2pm University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £8, Concessions £5

It’s the moon’s birthday and he is having a party! We are all invited, but how do we get there? Join us as we journey to the moon through strange and distant lands and meet some curious characters along the way. Incorporating dance, live music and audience interactivity, this dance theatre piece offers 3 – 6 year olds and their grown-ups a truly magical experience.

“Once in a Blue Moon is a true delight, the performance is magical and captivating, whilst being cozy and welcoming. Well written and beautifully performed!”

Toddle About Magazine

Running time 55 minutes

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

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Family

Pigeon

by LUNABUG THEATRE in association with LITTLEMIGHTY Sunday 16 November, 2pm Monday 17 November, 11am University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £8, Concessions £5

Travel back 100 years to the battle fields of the First World War, when pigeons saved lives by flying vital messages behind enemy lines.

This is the incredible true story of one of those birds, who became known as ‘Cher Ami’.

First there was an egg and in that egg was a tiny little pigeon.

The pigeon hatched and grew and learnt to fly. But soon the call came. This young bird was growing in a time of terrible war.

Every man was needed to fight, and every pigeon was needed too.

Charmingly inventive puppets, original live music and delightfully daft characters combine to uncover a remarkable historical story.

Audience comments

For ages 6+ and their families

“…really funny as well as poignant.”

“Don’t change anything!”

– Leila, aged 8 “My favourite part was all of it!”

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England Developed with the support of Barnsley Civic, Harrogate Theatre and Pegasus Theatre Lunabug Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of PRS Foundation for Music

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

14

Dance

Junior TestBeds IX Wednesday 19 November, 7.30pm University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

Now in its sixth year, the Junior Research Institute continues to provide 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.

Dance Evening for All 2 Friday 28 November, 7pm University of Bedfordshire Theatre, Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

Members of the University of Bedfordshire Dance Society have come together to deliver their second annual evening of dance. The evening will showcase students from different courses performing a variety of dance styles from ballet and contemporary to Hip-hop.

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

Theatre

Dance

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Student assessment performances are open to all and free for schools and colleges to attend. For start times and details of content and recommended ages contact the box office.

Process to Production Friday 28 November University of Bedfordshire Theatre Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

BA Theatre and Professional Practice first year students perform for an audience as a theatre ensemble. Working as a company within the professional framework of the rehearsal process, the students have developed their skills in using text, movement, voice and visuals to create and shape performance material.

Performing Innovation Friday 5 December University of Bedfordshire Theatre Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

Performing Arts students work collaboratively to create an interdisciplinary devised performance project inspired by the work of Pina Bausch.

Choreographic Resolutions Thursday 11 and Friday 12 December University of Bedfordshire Theatre Bedford Tickets: £5, Concessions £3

Over two evenings, students share their choreographed solos. This unit of study by provides students withsponsored the opportunity to engage in substantial independent choreographic research and to undertake in-depth investigation of improvisatory and compositional strategies and approaches.

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

01234 793197

Arts and Culture Bedford and Luton

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre

Diary October to December 2014 Tuesday 14 – Friday 24 October

Performing Small Spaces

Luton

Wednesday 15 October

Best in the World

Bedford

Wednesday 22 October

Assembly

Bedford

Friday 24 October

Solfatara

Bedford

Wednesday 29 October

BLIND

Luton

Sunday 2 November

Once in a Blue Moon

Bedford

Saturday 8 November

The Old Dance School

Bedford

Wednesday 12 November

FREE

Bedford

Sunday 16 – Monday 17 November

Pigeon

Bedford

Wednesday 19 November

Junior TestBeds IX

Bedford

Wednesday 26 November

Artificial Things

Bedford

Friday 28 November

Dance Evening for All

Bedford

Friday 28 November

Process to Production

Bedford

Friday 5 December

Performing Innovation

Bedford

Thursday 11 – Friday 12 December

Choreographic Resolutions

Bedford

Comedy – Dance – Family – Music – Theatre – Visual Arts

www.beds.ac.uk /theatre

01234 793197