North Wall Jan - May 2016 Brochure by The North Wall Arts Centre

Jan-M ay 201 6

Comedy

Crusading stand-up comedy with a conscience from Mark Thomas & Bridget Christie

Art

Stories of war: Peter Rhoades’ drawings from Gaza, and conscientious objector Hugo Powell’s sketches and sculpture

Music

Folk from Bella Hardy and her trio, plus frenetic jazz piano & a Norwegian collaboration from OCM

Theatre

Opera Up Close present Arias from Shakespeare, and Bryony Kimmings returns with Fake It ’til You Make It

Family

A wild kite-flying adventure, The Elves and the Shoemaker re-heeled, and an operatic Odyssey

“At the Wall, the stars were laid out like worlds or ideas, uncountable as the trees in a forest” Neil Gaiman

It has been busy at The North Wall over the last few months – our production of Song of Riots enjoyed a sold out run at BAC and then went to the Stockholm Fringe where it won the Audience Award. We were also delighted to welcome Ariane Mnouchkine and Le Theatre du Soleil with the Ecole Nomade in September; and we have ambitious new plans for work with young artists through our ArtsLab programme, led this summer by firm favourites of ours, OperaUpClose. The company will also be staging two new works here over the next season: an evening of Arias from Shakespeare, as well as their latest venture Ulla’s Odyssey, part of an exciting new strand to their work. Who says opera is just for grown-ups? Ulla is performed by adults for children (they are allowed to bring their parents. If they behave well. There may well be ice cream.) The programme here is a very important part of what we do. We believe that the arts should be made available to audiences outside of London at an affordable price. Sometimes it is an act of brinkmanship, with the current funding crisis hitting younger companies and small to mid-scale touring work. This spring, we have some extraordinary writers and artists in our line-up who want to get us all thinking and engaging with challenging ideas. Here are a few of my picks. UK Theatre Award Winner Iphigenia in Splott by writer Gary Owen comes to us after a run at The National Theatre. It is a passionate and shattering work that drives home the high price people pay for society’s shortcomings.

MultiBuy Rewards

We’re offering super savings when you book for two or more selected shows: *2 shows – save £1 per ticket *3 shows – save £1.50 per ticket *4 or more shows – save £2 per ticket Look out for the multi-buy logo alongside selected events. To take advantage of this offer, just make your booking by Saturday 30th January. Tickets must be booked in a single purchase. Valid for up to two tickets per show on full price and concessions only.

Fake It ’til You Make It was one of the shows I enjoyed this year in Edinburgh. Charming, funny and honest, it challenges us to think in new ways about masculinity and depression. Also from Edinburgh, Nijinsky’s Last Jump is a beautiful piece of dancetheatre that won a Fringe First. This is an unsentimental but tender tribute to the troubled genius, Vaslav Nijinsky. I loved it. Luke Wright has been described as one of the most brilliant performance poets of his generation. What I Learned from Johnny Bevan is his first solo theatre show: a powerful coming-of age story that focuses on the relationship between politics and class. There is a great line-up of exhibitions in the gallery. In April, try to catch Peter Rhoades’ Gaza – a set of extraordinary drawings that give you an insight in to the chaos and tragedy of Operation Cast Lead of 2008-9. Other highlights include: Coulrophobia - inspired clowning madness from Pickled Image to brighten up the glooms of January. Mark Thomas proves you can be very, very funny as well as being heroically principled with Trespass. We also have Land of Our Fathers, a powerful new play by Chris Urch, and music from the beautiful voice of folk singer Bella Hardy. Please come and enjoy the arts with us. We do it for you. We can’t do it without you.

Lucy Maycock Artistic Director Programme design: white space | www.white-space.net The North Wall photography: Colin Willoughby, Philip Vile

Programme design: white space | www.white-space.net The North Wall photography: Colin Willoughby, Philip Vile

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For younger children and their families... M6 Theatre presents

Tadpole

SATURDAY 27 FEBRUARY

SUNDAY 10 APRIL

M6 Theatre presents

Lyngo Theatre presents

Tadpoles

The Curious Adventures of Pinocchio Crickets, cats, foxes and, of course, the world-famous puppet, spring out of a collection of dusty, old magic books, while Patrick Lynch from CBeebies pulls all the strings and turns all the pages to bring to life the true story of Pinocchio, no lie. Who nose? He might even find his father and become a real boy. Come and join him on his incredible journey…you’ll have a whale of a time.

www.m6theatre.co.uk Recommended age: 5+ Performances: 11am & 2pm Tickets: £8 (concessions £6)

www.lyngo.co.uk Recommended age: 4+ Performances: 11am & 2pm Tickets: £8 (concessions £6)

SUNDAY 15 MAY SUNDAY 20 MARCH Theatre of Widdershins presents

The Elves and the Shoemaker Elvis Schumacher, cobbler and craftsman, has worked all his life creating the most beautiful footwear. But now he’s hit hard times. With one piece of leather left and Bunyan’s factory growing, can anyone help him? This well-known and well-loved tale has been re-heeled by Theatre of Widdershins in their own inimitable style. Beautifully crafted set and puppets, sublime music, and a kaleidoscope of miniature shoes make this show a magical must-see. www.widdershins.co.uk Recommended age: 3+

Old Saw presents

Meadow Created by Little Angel Associate Artist Greta Clough The grass remembers. It remembers you. It remembers me. And it remembers the animals that called the meadow home Time changes everything. In a post human world, only the grass remembers the way things used to be. Meet the animals and insects that lived in the meadow, and see their stories come to life. Told with handcrafted puppets and a stunning original score by Paul Mosely. www.oldsaw.co.uk Recommended age: 3+

Performances: 11am & 2pm Tickets: £8 (concessions £6)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Family

Captain Clever is good at code breaking and problem solving. Captain Conker is superfast and not scared of anything (except spelling). A tadpole catching competition begins a transformation of the way the superhero duo think about themselves and each other – just in time for them to save (a little bit of) the world... together! M6’s brand new production is a highly visual, energetic show about rivalry, strengths, weaknesses and... superheroes!

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For older children and adults... FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY

The Wrong Crowd in association with Soho Theatre presents

OperaUpClose presents

Kite

Ulla’s Odyssey

A lonely girl is taken to live in her grandma’s airless flat where the windows are shut tight. Her memories of seagulls and sand dunes begin to fade in the silence. One night a handmade kite comes to life and heralds the start of a wild adventure and the chance to find what seemed lost forever. Inspired by stories such as The Snowman and The Red Balloon, Kite is a play without words, with originally composed music, dance, puppetry, and of course kites. From acclaimed theatre company The Wrong Crowd, creators of inventive, playful and compelling new theatre (Swanhunter, The Girl with the Iron Claws), Kite is a poignant love-song to the wind, freedom and the joy of play for audiences of all ages.

Sixteen year old Ulla is attempting to become the youngest person to sail the world single-handedly, with only her cat Binnacle to keep her company. All is not plain sailing, as our heroine encounters mythical creatures and obstacles on her journey, including Cy-ops, a one-eyed, over-keen robotic customs official who mistakes her cat for smuggled contraband. Meanwhile the voices of the Sirens, Ulla’s friends and family, call out to her from across the waves, tempting her to give up her lonely voyage and come home. Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose present this new opera, inspired by Homer’s Odyssey. Featuring live music and puppetry, this show is suitable for children aged 7+, families and any adult with a sense of fun and wonder.

Family

FRIDAY 22 – SATURDAY 23 JANUARY

Theatre

Opera

www.wrongcrowdtheatre.co.uk Recommended ages: 7 to adult

www.operaupclose.com

Performances: Friday 1.30pm & 7pm, Saturday 2pm & 6.30pm Tickets: £10 (concessions £8)

Performances: 1.30pm & 7pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £10, children £8)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Recommended ages: 7 to adult

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TUESDAY 19 – WEDNESDAY 20 JANUARY

FRIDAY 29 JANUARY

Pickled Image presents

Luke Wright and Paul Jellis present

Coulrophobia

Dik and Adam are traditional clowns in a very untraditional situation. They somehow find themselves in a world where everything is made of cardboard: chairs, tables, a lift, musical instruments and even a boat. They have no idea why they are here or what they are supposed to be doing; only that their actions seem to be beyond their control, almost as if someone else was making them perform against their will.

What I Learned from Johnny Bevan A story of shattered friendship, class ceilings, and the hollow reality of the New Labour dream. At university the whip-smart, mercurial Johnny Bevan saves Nick, smashing his comfortable, middle class bubble and firing him up about politics, music and literature. Twenty years later, as their youthful dreams disintegrate with the social justice they hoped for, can Nick save Johnny from himself? Luke Wright delivers a multi award-winning hurricane of a performance. With humour and humanity he takes British politics head on, challenging the rise of New Labour, David Cameron and the abandonment of those left behind.

Theatre

“A strikingly assured performance of a compelling piece of writing” ★★★★ The Scotsman

Adam D J Laity

“A pulsating, neatly handled piece of poetic storytelling” ★★★★ The Guardian

Told through a series of outrageous sketches, slapstick and mime, the two clowns discover that they are indeed trapped in this cardboard world and being controlled by an evil presence: the diminutive yet terrifying Poco the Clown. The only way to escape their dilemma is to dupe two members of the audience into taking their places. Will this be possible? That depends on how persuasive they can actually be...

“ One of the most dynamic companies working in the South West. Inventive, imaginative and of high quality” Gareth Machin, Artistic Director, Salisbury Playhouse www.pickledimage.co.uk Age Suitability:16+ Contains strong language and nudity Performances: 8pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £12)

Age Suitability:14+ Performance: 8pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £12)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Theatre

WINNER 2015 Fringe First Award WINNER 2015 Stage Award for Acting Excellence

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TUESDAY 9 – WEDNESDAY 10 FEBRUARY Theatre503, Tara Finney Productions and Wales Millennium Centre present

Land of Our Fathers by Chris Urch

3 May 1979, South Wales. Thatcher is counting her votes, Sid Vicious is spinning in his grave and six Welsh miners are trapped down a coal mine. As the men await their rescue, secrets emerge and accusations fly. Within two weeks, everything they believe in and everything they know will have changed. Winner of Time Out’s Critic’s Choice and Fringe Show of the Year, Chris Urch’s critically acclaimed debut play is packed full of blistering comedy and echoes a generation of lost voices.

Theatre

“ Blisteringly good” ★★★★★ Time Out “ Breathtaking” ★★★★★ The Public Reviews “ Undeniably powerful” ★★★★ The Guardian

Polly Thomas

www.theatre503.com

Age Suitability: 14+ Contains strong language Performances: 7.30pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £12)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

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SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY OCM presents

Alexander Hawkins Ensemble “ One of the most unique voices in contemporary music” Clifford Allen, Ni Kantu A rare home-town gig for one of the most in-demand international jazz pianists. Alexander Hawkins’ music combines jazz approaches seamlessly with contemporary composition, blending both forms to draw you into a world which is exciting and unique, frenetic and reflective. The ensemble is a dazzling mix of musicians, with collective credits including work with Charlie Haden, John Surman, Jack DeJohnette and Sons of Kemet.

“ Emotions and melodies that’ll strike awe in the hearts of anyone” The Quietus www.ocmevents.org

Music

Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £10)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

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FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY

WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH

Show and Tell with United Artists present

Karla Shacklock Company presents

Kieran Hodgson: Lance

The Happiness

Fast, fun, thoughtful and physical, The Happiness is a provocative and entertaining adventure, by award-winning choreographer Karla Shacklock. Using the company’s trademark combination of breakneck choreography, spoken word and live sound, The Happiness is an emotional and colourful explosion of joy, grief and confusion. Combining first person stories, case studies from across the globe and referencing a whole host of philosophers and self-proclaimed happiness gurus, the work throws happiness up for all to question, see, experience and, ultimately, feel.

Dance

Co-commissioned by Pavilion Dance South West and Theatre Bristol, with support from Arts Council England, Bristol Old Vic and Arnolfini. www.karlashacklock.com

In 2003, Lance Armstrong won his 5th Tour de France title, and a young boy in West Yorkshire believed in him. Now a character comedian, he (the boy) sets out on tour with a heartfelt and hilarious story of growing up, betrayal by professional athletes, and redemption. Lance was nominated for Best Show at the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2015 and had a sell-out four-week run in London’s West End last autumn. Farrows-Creative

Kieran starred in BBC2’s Making Dad’s Army this Christmas, and featured in BBC2’s Count Arthur Strong and the movie Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.

“ An absolute gem of a comedy show... every line of his script is wired for laughter” ★★★★★ The Guardian

Comedy

“ Hodgson has here served up a one-man effort that lets his comedic talents roar as never before… Tour de France? Tour de force, more like” ★★★★ The Telegraph www.showandtelluk.com Age Suitability:14+ Performance: 8pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £12)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £16 (concessions £13)

// Booking: 01865 01865 319450 319450 or or www.thenorthwall.com www.thenorthwall.com

WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH

FRIDAY 11 MARCH

Actors Touring Company presents

Adverse Camber presents

Living With The Lights On

The Old Woman, the Buffalo, and the Lion of Manding

by Mark Lockyer Meet Mark. The thing is I’ve got myself into a bit of a mess… Mark’s an actor. I keep forgetting my lines. I’ve left my girlfriend and I’m beginning to stink.

Theatre

Hilarious, touching and utterly bonkers, a gripping story of a life lived at the edge.

The Birth of Sundiata Keita, visionary leader of the great Malian empire, is told across West Africa as a story of kingship and battle. Discover the rarely heard story of Sundiata’s mother, his great-grandmother and the extraordinary circumstances of this legendary leader’s birth. This inspiring tale reaches across the centuries, from its origins in thirteenth-century Africa to the recent conflicts of our own time when its telling was forbidden. In an epic and uplifting performance of majesty, humour, and passion, the acclaimed storyteller Jan Blake is accompanied by the virtuoso, award-winning Raymond and Kouame Sereba from Cote d’Ivoire. Delicate and dramatic by turn, their song and music – which includes the extraordinary Dodo mouth bow – cradles the story in an evocative soundscape. www.adversecamber.org

Music

Mark Lockyer trained at RADA. For the last 30 years he’s been at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Old Vic, Young Vic and the Royal Court working with Ken Campbell, Mark Rylance and Sam Mendes.

Theatre

Mark was an actor. And to make matters worse I’ve met the Devil.

Niall Walker

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“ Mark is one of the most compelling, extraordinary and fearless artists I’ve had the pleasure to work with. This show is a remarkable tour de force” Rufus Norris, Artistic Director of the National Theatre Actors Touring Company returns to The North Wall following their acclaimed productions of Martyr, Illusions, Crave, The Events and The Golden Dragon www.atctheatre.com Age Suitability:14+ Contains some strong language Performance: 8pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £12)

Age Suitability:14+ Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £12)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

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SATURDAY 12 MARCH

WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH

Casa Margarita presents

Bella Hardy: With the Dawn

La Casa del Amor/The House of Love Thrilling Spanish music is brought to life in this riveting fusion of stories, song, solo and ensemble pieces that sparkle like gems amidst an extraordinary percussive soundscape where, amidst the sudden clatter of castanets comes the vibrant song of the nightingale. Casa Margarita is a twinkling courtyard that draws captive audiences into the very heart of Seville.

“ Funny, sad, witty, heartbreaking with adventurous performers, exciting percussion and an untraditional approach, this extraordinary show crosses music and theatre performance genres to reach out to established and new audiences” Classical Music Magazine www.casa-margarita.co.uk

2015 was a breathless year for Bella Hardy which saw the release of her seventh solo album, With The Dawn, to great critical acclaim. A summer of opening appearances across the UK and Ireland for Grammy Award winning Mary Chapin Carpenter was topped off by a main stage performance at the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival and from there followed a fantastic headlining tour in the autumn. Now she heads out in the spring of 2016 for a selection of special, scaled back performances across the UK. Performing as a trio with regular stage companions Anna Massie (Blazin’ Fiddles) and Tom Gibbs, this is a rare opportunity to hear Bella’s stunning compositions in a more intimate setting. A more reflective sound than ever before, Bella’s soaring kite-like voice is married to lyrics that poetically question everything she’s seen and done up till now, following a year on the road.

“ Nothing short of a masterpiece” The Sunday Times ★★★★★ The Financial Times ★★★★ The Guardian www.bellahardy.com

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £12)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Music

Droll, quaint, witty and passionate, the House of Love is performed by internationally acclaimed musicians, and narrated in English.

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SATURDAY 9 APRIL OCM presents

The UK premiere of a collaboration to excite both contemporary and traditional music fans. Renowned viola player Garth Knox (playing viola d’amore and medieval fiddle), and one of Norway’s most versatile singers, Unni Løvlid, find a shared passion for folk music, intoxicated by the brilliantly atmospheric live visuals and design of Tord Knudsen (Nils Petter Molvaer, Punkt Festival etc). Their stunning first performance together took place in Oslo last year as part of the Folk conexions series, curated by BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction presenter Fiona Talkington for Riksscenen arts venue. Supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.ocmevents.org

Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £10)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Music

vlid

Folk conexions: Garth Knox, Unni Løvlid, Tord Knudsen

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MONDAY 11 – TUESDAY 12 APRIL

FRIDAY 15 APRIL

Sherman Cymru presents

OperaUpClose presents

Iphigenia in Splott by Gary Owen directed by Rachel O’Riordan

Arias from Shakespeare

“Music oft hath such a charm” Shakespeare at the opera

Theatre

Spectacular show-stoppers from Verdi’s Macbeth and the quickwitted wordplay of Much Ado About Nothing and Falstaff rub shoulders with well-loved songs like Schubert’s Who is Sylvia? and lesser known operas inspired by the Bard. “What gets me through is knowing I took this pain, and saved all of you from suffering the same.” Effie’s life spirals through a mess of drink, drugs and drama every night, and a hangover worse than death the next day - till one night gives her the chance to be something more. Inspired by the enduring Greek myth, Gary Owen’s powerful drama drives home the high price people pay for society’s shortcomings. Effie will break your heart.

These bite-sized jewels of music theatre are performed by a quartet of singers accompanied by a virtuosic pianist, in semi-staged scenes of romance, comedy and drama which will surprise, delight and entertain.

WINNER UK Theatre Award for Best New Play 2015

“ By any measure going, this is perfect theatre: intelligent, moving, and horribly, horribly relevant” ★★★★★ The Guardian www.shermancymru.co.uk Age suitability: 14+ Contains strong language and adult themes Performance: 8pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £12)

Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: £22 (concessions £18)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Opera

OperaUpClose mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death with a performance of songs, operatic arias and ensembles inspired by his plays and poetry, performed in the company’s engaging, intimate and theatrical style.

Lakin McCarthy presents

Steve Ullathorne

TUESDAY 19 – WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL

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WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL Lakin McCarthy presents

Mark Thomas: Trespass

Bridget Christie: A Book for Her

Trespass carries on from where Mark’s previous show 100 Acts of Minor Dissent left off.

Why has Bridget been sending her stained underpants to George Osborne at HM Treasury every month? Which method actor has been playing the character comedian Nigel Farage since 2010? Is Rachel Dolezal black or white? What’s the difference between Eddie Izzard and Caitlyn Jenner? All this and more will be revealed in Bridget’s tenth solo show.

With his usual odd mix of theatre, stand-up comedy, activism, a dash of journalism, and a dollop of mayhem, Mark Thomas asks the question: if the ramblers of the 1930’s were here now, what would they do to open up the cities? How do we turn the skyscrapers and corporate squares into our playgrounds?

Following her hugely successful, multi award-winning five-star shows A Bic For Her and An Ungrateful Woman, and her first book A Book For Her (Century, Random House), Bridget Christie comes to The North Wall with her brand new show.

Mark sets out to try and carve a small space in the urban world where mischief and random chance can lurk. No one knows where this show is going to end up.

Age suitability: 16+ Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: £16 (concessions £13)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

“Another cracking show from the current queen of crusading UK comedy” ★★★★★ The Guardian

Age suitability: 16+ Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: £16

There will be a post-show book signing with books available to purchase at the theatre or you can bring your own well-thumbed copy.

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Comedy

“A consummate comic and crackerjack storyteller with heroically undimmed principles” ★★★★ The Scotsman

WEDNESDAY 4 MAY Company Chordelia presents

Nijinsky’s Last Jump

Created, directed and choreographed by Kally Lloyd-Jones Nijinsky’s Last Jump combines theatre and dance to evoke the legendary 20th century dancer’s journey from global success to the desolate isolation of mental illness.

Inspired by the rhythmic obsession of Nijinsky’s diaries, Young and Old Nijinsky consider their life together, on and off stage, trying to make sense of the loss of self.

“ Impeccably researched and beautifully performed” ★★★★★ The Guardian “ A remarkable new piece by Company Chordelia” ★★★★★ The Herald “ A memorably tender but unsentimental portrait” ★★★★ The Times www.chordelia.co.uk

FRIDAY 6 MAY Unlimited Theatre presents

Am I Dead Yet? Death is no longer a moment. It is a process. A process that can be reversed. Two friends, talking (and singing) about what happens when we die, how we think about dying, and most importantly, how some of us might be brought back. Performed by Unlimited founding members Jon Spooner and Chris Thorpe, Am I Dead Yet? is filled with stories and songs about death and dying and how we don’t talk about it enough. Am I Dead Yet? is inspired by research into contemporary developments in resuscitation science and made in collaboration with Emergency Care professionals.

“ Vibrantly theatrical and typically absorbing” ★★★★ Independent “ Chris Thorpe and Jon Spooner’s electric view on the dying process will rewrite your expectations for your final end… an hour of heart-restarting performance” ★★★★ The Stage www.unlimited.org.uk

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £16 (concessions £13)

Age Suitability:14+ Contains come strong language Performance: 8pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £12)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

// // Booking: Booking: 01865 01865 319450 319450 or or www.thenorthwall.com www.thenorthwall.com

Theatre

Dance/ Theatre

As the passionate obsession of the young Nijinsky comes face to face with the searching inner life of the older Nijinsky, this sharp and tender show portrays a poignant intimacy of genius and madness, youth and age, and both the performing and private self.

Susan Hay

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THURSDAY 12 – FRIDAY 13 MAY

Fake It ’til You Make It by Bryony Kimmings and Tim Grayburn

Richard Davenport

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SATURDAY 14 MAY

CALM Gig – Save the Male!

Award-winning artist Bryony Kimmings’ heart-breaking and life-affirming new show about clinical depression and men. Bryony is an outrageous, hilarious and fearless performance artist from London.

Theatre

Tim is an outrageous, hilarious and fearless account manager from a top advertising agency. Bryony and Tim are a couple. Bryony spends most of her life on tour, trying her best to change the world. Tim spends most of his life at a desk trying his best to sell the world. Six months into their relationship, Bryony found out that Tim suffers from severe clinical depression. He had kept it a secret for a very long time. Fake It ’til You Make It is Bryony Kimmings’ new work about clinical depression and men made in collaboration with Tim. A wickedly warming, brutally honest and heart-breaking show about the wonders and pitfalls of the human brain, being in love and what it takes to be a ‘real man’.

“ Warm and illuminating… it could even save lives” ★★★★ Telegraph “ This is a life-and-death love story, done with a lot of imagination and self-deprecating charm” ★★★★ The Times www.bryonyandtim.com

www.thecalmzone.net www.duotonemusic.com

Performances: 8pm Tickets: £16 (concessions £13)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £10)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Music

“ Deeply affecting” ★★★★★ Evening Standard

“Being silent isn’t being strong” An evening of live music in aid of CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – an organisation dedicated to preventing male suicide through challenging masculine stereotypes and encouraging men to talk. Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 40 in the UK, and 78% of all suicides in the UK are male. The Thames Valley has recently become a CALMzone to tackle this urgent issue. We are delighted to welcome North Wall regular Duotone back to headline this gig. Further acts and full line-up to follow – watch this space!

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THURSDAY 19 MAY Theatre Re presents

Blind Man’s Song

While a blind man walks around his room with unsteady steps, a story of love, hope, courage and unquenchable vision unfolds. Ahead of an international tour and following sell-out runs at the 2015 London International Mime Festival, Latitude and the Edinburgh Fringe, critically-acclaimed Theatre Re presents a wordless tale about the power of imagination, blending physical theatre, mime, illusions and a live musical score.

“ Superb… like a Beckett play designed by Magritte” ★★★★ The Stage “ A superbly smooth, nuanced production…beautifully evocative choreography” ★★★★ The List

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £14 (concessions £12)

// // Booking: Booking: 01865 01865 319450 319450 or or www.thenorthwall.com www.thenorthwall.com

Theatre

www.retheatre.com

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TUESDAY 12 – FRIDAY 29 JANUARY

TUESDAY 2 – FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY

Kb Bishara:

Emma Hockley:

Identity in Individualism

This exhibition is a poetry in motion / visual story that explores humanity, love and survival. Photographed by Kb Bishara, the exhibition features a collection of black and white works documented over 10 countries. The purpose of the project is to tackle the subconscious social perception towards the less fortunate and rather create a revolution of the mind whilst reminding people of the selfless basics of humanity. It’s also a testimony that there is beauty in the rough, ignited and catalysed by the power of love, towards life, others and self. www.room8935.com

Mind in Flux

// Gallery: Mon-Fri: 10am-4pm, Sat: 12pm-4pm // www.thenorthwall.com

Art

Earlier this year, Emma was awarded the Oxford Art Prize at the O3 Gallery. Her work fuses elements from religious traditions, personal photographs, nature and topical media images to address existential dilemmas whilst appropriating styles and influences from both her formal art education as well as her many travels. Emma’s interaction with her work is a physical process. From scraping and burning to stitching and sanding, her quest to find the desired multisensory surface is reflective of her inner battles to find comfort and happiness. The abstract works are more spontaneous, born from her passion for texture and what she finds to be the meditative act of painting. These generally single-colour pieces work as a breathing space from the energy of the busier, more image-packed paintings. www.emmahockleyarts.co.uk

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TUESDAY 16 – SATURDAY 27 FEBRUARY

TUESDAY 22 MARCH – SATURDAY 2 APRIL

Andreea Zahiu:

Autism Family Support Oxfordshire:

Inner Country

Andreea Zahiu’s art is a journey of the ‘pilgrim’ soul, a narrative of its effort to become and to come where meaning can be found and stone become more than stone, the same way that in poetry, words become more than words. As a foreigner living and working in Oxford she became more and more aware of the way our identity is shaped by language, geography, culture - stripping all off, what is to be found and where lies our true identity? Andreea was trained in the ancient art of mosaic making in Italy (Ravenna) and France. She works with small pieces of natural stone, each cut individually with a hardie and a hammer. This act of cutting and its rhythmic effort has a meditative effect, bringing body and soul into dialogue, deeply interconnected.

Brain Dancing

An exhibition featuring artists on the autistic spectrum and their family members. Integral to the AFSO Brain Dancing Festival – celebrating the wonders of autism and culminating with World Autism Awareness Day on 2 April - the exhibition will showcase autistic perception and creativity. The Brain Dancing Festival will include creative workshops, a flash-mob in central Oxford, and showcasing the charity’s award-winning work in the autism community as well as their innovative future plans.

TUESDAY 1 – FRIDAY 19 MARCH

St Edward’s School: Mixed Years Exhibition

‘Teddies always leads the way in art and drama’ TATLER SCHOOLS GUIDE

Contact the Registrar 01865 319200 registrar@stedwardsoxford.org www.stedwardsoxford.org

// Gallery: Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

// Gallery: Mon-Fri: 10am-4pm, Sat: 12pm-4pm // www.thenorthwall.com

Art

St Edward’s Art Department proudly presents the best work of the year. The Mixed Years exhibition will showcase the breadth and depth of the students’ work across the year groups. From paintings to print, drawings to textiles and ceramics, the exhibition will illustrate the diversity of the students’ talents and exhibit a magnificent selection of the best work from some of these young and aspiring artists.

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TUESDAY 5 – SATURDAY 23 APRIL

WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL – SATURDAY 21 MAY

Peter Rhoades:

Hugo Powell:

Peter Rhoades is a tutor in Fine Art at Christ Church College, Oxford.This set of drawings was made in response to press imagery taken from the Israeli assault on Gaza, named “Operation Cast Lead” of 2008-9. Peter was struck by the savagery of the attack by one of the most powerful military forces on earth on a very weakly defended population. His response, at the time, was augmented and focused by a newspaper article by Professor Avi Shlaim of St Antony’s, Oxford, an eminent expert on the Palestine/Israel issue. A subsequent attack, of even worse dimensions, took place in 2014. The drawings are intended as a testament to the ongoing deprivations and suffering of the Palestinian people. www.peterrhoadesphotography.co.uk

Powell’s sculpture explores themes of spirituality, symbolism, nature and form, working in stone, clay, wood, bronze, and using found objects. This retrospective brings together work from his whole career for the first time, from early abstractions in wood, through to the magnificent bronze “Dancing Phoenix” completed two weeks before his death in 2014, aged 94. Exhibited alongside the sculpture are sketches from his time as a field nurse and conscientious objector in the Second World War, maquettes and papers demonstrating his rigorous working practices, and documentary footage of his studio. Powell’s work has been selected for the Henry Moore Institute’s archive and is represented in several respected private collections, including an early self-portrait in the Ruth Borchard Collection. This exhibition showcases the career of a dedicated and passionate sculptor.

Gaza

Shapes and Meanings: A Retrospective

Art

// Gallery: Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

// Gallery: Mon-Fri: 10am-4pm, Sat: 12pm-4pm // www.thenorthwall.com

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WEDNESDAY 25 MAY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SATURDAY 11 JUNE

Clive Wright:

A Sideways Look

// Gallery: Mon-Fri: 10am-4pm, Sat: 12pm-4pm // www.thenorthwall.com

Art

This is Clive Wrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fifteenth solo exhibition. Over time the look of his pictures has inevitably changed, although his core interests remain unaltered. He admires many European works of art, especially those that are imbued with layers of meaning. Coupled with this is his long standing enthusiasm for the art of distant lands, especially the Asian countries. The bold paintings in this exhibition give an immediate impression of exuberance; closer examination of the large canvases often reveals a more complex and unsettling picture. Clive regularly depicts the somewhat quirky events and people that he sees in the town where he lives. He regards these as little celebrations of local character. Other works reflect his interest in national and international events. Occasionally the two themes fuse but, whatever the subject, the viewer is always aware of his love of seductive colour and lively composition.

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The North Wall Trust exists to create and promote high quality arts at every stage: for those who come to watch and participate; for those who make the work you see here; and for those who will go on to write, create, direct and perform in the future.

The mission of the North Wall Trust is to promote and perpetuate the arts, providing opportunities for all through our: Public programme showcasing new writing and experimental theatre Arts Laboratory supporting creativity and development for young talent and professionals Education and community projects giving more young people the chance to participate and enjoy the arts Our supporters are the people who make this possible. The North Wall Trust is a charity and relies on vital support from individuals and trusts to support the creation of new work and opportunities in the arts for people of all ages. To find out more about how you can get involved, please contact: Susie Billings North Wall Development billingss@thenorthwall.com The North Wall is grateful for the generous support of St Edwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School and the Garfield Weston Foundation The North Wall Trust is a registered charity no. 1146851

Ashley Good

SUPPORT THE NORTH WALL Vibrant, engaging, live

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rth Wall o N e h T t a y r o t a r Arts Labo

How do we do this? Through our varied programme of cts workshops and proje top in collaboration with arts professionals.

February Half-Term

masterclass with DANCE HAPPY: a 3-day acklock Company dancers from Karla Sh February Friday 19 - Sunday 21 loring dance-based Spend three full days exp reographing your own cho and character creation create a new short movement vocabulary, to piece of work. includes ticket to Karla Cost: £80 for 3 days – ss’ on Wednesday ine Shacklock’s ‘The Happ 2 March L THEATRE LECOQ AND PHYSICA 21 February Saturday 20 – Sunday ed company Theatre laim Led by Deb Pugh of acc to be a fantastic Ad infinitum, this promises mime and movement two-day introduction to the ques LeCoq at his Jac by red techniques pionee tion in Paris. famed actor training institu Cost: £50 for 2 days.

For Young Writers an new writing Part of our StageWrite programme playwrights and We are seeking talented across the UK to from 25 18 directors aged with an ensemble work intensively for 2 weeks rs and writing cto dire , of professional actors ate with public min cul will t jec pro mentors. The gs and din rea performances of rehearsed staged extracts. lication and interview, Recruitment will be by app mit a short script. and writers will need to sub le on the website. Application packs availab rge and board and Participation is free of cha lodging is provided. Friday 8 April 7pm Scratch Performance: £5) Tickets: £6 (concessions

For 18 - 25 year olds:

ArtsLab Summer Residencies

day 13 August Monday 18 July - Satur

ArtsLab Community

t involved: e g n a c u yo w o h ’s re ArtsLab supports He For 18 - 25 year olds: s: old s r 13 - 18 year talented young artist Fo TheatreCraft t n g e in day 8 April m u ve rs o u M Tuesday 29 March - Fri considering or p ts. Masterclasses a career in creative ar d Directors

performer, designer, Are you an aspiring young d 18-25? Come and musician or technician age tional professionals, work with a team of inspira the making of a new in you h looking to work wit tion is free of charge piece of theatre. Participa provided. Auditions is and board and lodging in the spring d hel be and interviews will

How to get involved: Contact Sherrell Perkin T: 01865 319457 / all.com E: perkins@thenorthw Visit / www.thenorthwall.com projects.php to find out more.

FRIDAY 4 – SATURDAY 5 MARCH

Children And Animals by Florence Read directed by Tom Bailey I don’t get many couples.

Florence Read’s previous work includes Twin Primes, Blow, and A Town Called Freedom; she won the 2015 OUDS New Writing Festival, and has had her work produced nationally and internationally.

Read’s work asks difficult questions without ever providing answers, always through the dark and alluring lyricism that has become the hallmark of her writing. Thomas Bailey’s previous plays include The Pillowman (Oxford Playhouse 2014), Romeo and Juliet (OUDS/Thelma Holt International Tour 2015), and A Town Called Freedom (The North Wall Studio 2015). This play is produced by Ellie Keel and Tim Bano.

Age Suitability:18+ contains scenes which may be upsetting Performances: 8pm Tickets: £12 (concessions £8)

Artists in Progress at The North Wall Since 2006, the North Wall has run a series of free residencies for young artists in training to grow and develop their talent. With this production, we hope to develop a new strand of work that takes our residential projects to the next level and allows our past participants the opportunity to direct, act, design and produce their own work, at the earliest stages of their career, under the mentorship of the North Wall. Unlike the work produced during our residencies, this isn’t a scratch performance or rehearsed reading: this is bold, new theatre presented by artists in progress.

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SATURDAY 30 APRIL – MONDAY 2 MAY

National Theatre Connections 500

The National Theatre’s Connections festival celebrates the talent and passion of young theatre-makers. This year, NT marks the 21st anniversary of Connections. 500 youth theatre companies and 10,000 young people from every corner of the UK, working with 44 partner theatres, will perform twelve outstanding plays drawn from the 150 commissioned by the NT since the festival began. The North Wall are delighted to be hosting this exciting festival once more – keep your eye on our website for more details. www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/connections Performances: Saturday 4pm & 8pm, Sunday – Monday 11am, 3pm & 7pm Tickets: £4 (concessions £3) per show

THURSDAY 16 JUNE Performed by the children of SS Philip and James Primary School

There’s No Way of Knowing Written by N.E.A. Carter Directed by Jon Bliss

November 12th, 1990. Roald Dahl is set to leave his home for the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, never to return. Tired and in discomfort, he enters his writing hut for the last time. That is to retrieve the beginning of his latest story. Only to discover it’s vanished! And then there’s a knock at the door... In this tale, celebrating the 100th year of one of Britain’s most celebrated writers for children, we watch the relationship between writer and story unfold. Full of songs, humour and a magical poignancy, There’s No Way of Knowing is a play for all ages. Performances: 3.30pm & 6.30pm Tickets: £7.50 (concessions £5.50, children £3.50)

// Booking: 01865 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com

Community

Theatre

Night-time in a hotel room: ever the theatrical petri dish for ethicalexperiments-come-catastrophes. A couple share a miniature rosé, hoping that the cash they got out is enough to pay for the sex they don’t want.

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OXFORD CITY CENTRE 1 mile

Parking: Two public car parks are five minutes’ walk from the North Wall (see map). There is limited on-street parking in South Parade. Park and Ride: from Pear Tree or Water Eaton until 11pm, Mon-Sat. By train: Oxford and Oxford Parkway stations are both two miles away from The North Wall. By bus: Buses run frequently to Summertown from Oxford City Centre. The bus stop is South Parade. For more info on travel and parking visit www.summertown.info Access: The North Wall has full disabled access and facilities. We also have infra-red and audio-loop systems for people with hearing difficulties.

Booking Information Groups One ticket is free with every ten purchased. Concessions Where indicated, these apply to schoolchildren, full-time students, UB40s, over 60s and registered disabled. The carer for a wheelchair user receives a free ticket.

School Groups £7.50 tickets on selected shows. Accompanying staff members go free. Multibuy Great reductions when booking two or more shows at the same time (see page 2 for details).

Make a meal of it with Cibo! (at 4 South Parade, just a step from The North Wall) On performance evenings North Wall audience members can enjoy a pre- or post-show meal and receive 25% off their bill. Dated ticket or other proof of attendance on the night must be shown.

Keep up to date with news and offers Don’t miss out – join our mailing list by registering on the homepage of our website or email contact@thenorthwall.com. www.thenorthwall.com The North Wall is part of St Edward’s, Oxford: charity number 309681

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Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and from 5pm on performance days. Saturdays 12pm – 4pm. Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays.

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The North Wall Arts Centre

Box office: 01865 319450

Booking fees: Cash Payment: no booking fee. Card and Online Payments: £1 per transaction.

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The North Wall Arts Centre South Parade, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7JN

Online booking: www.thenorthwall.com Email: contact@thenorthwall.com

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At a glance event guide DATE

EVENT

CATEGORY PAGE

Jan 19-20 Jan 22-23 Jan 29 Feb 9-10 Feb 12 Feb 20 Feb 26 Feb 27 Mar 2 Mar 4-5 Mar 9 Mar 11 Mar 12 Mar 20 Mar 30 Apr 9 Apr 10 Apr 11-12 Apr 15 Apr 19 - 20 Apr 27 Apr 30-May 2 May 4 May 6 May 12-13 May 14 May 15 May 19

Coulrophobia Kite What I Learned from Johnny Bevan Land of Our Fathers Ulla’s Odyssey Alexander Hawkins Kieran Hodgson: Lance Tadpoles The Happiness Children And Animals Living With The Lights On The Old Woman, the Buffalo and the Lion of Manding Casa Margarita The Elves and the Shoemaker Bella Hardy Folk conexions The Curious Adventures of Pinocchio Iphigenia in Splott Arias from Shakespeare Mark Thomas: Trespass Bridget Christie: A Book For Her NT Connections Nijinsky’s Last Jump Am I Dead Yet? Fake It ’til You Make It CALM: Save the Male! Meadow Blind Man’s Song

Theatre Family Theatre Theatre Family Music Comedy Family Dance Theatre Theatre Storytelling/Music

8 6 9 10 7 13 14 4 15 44 16 17

Music Family Music Music Family Theatre Opera Comedy Comedy Community Dance Theatre Theatre Music Family Theatre

18 4 19 21 5 22 23 24 25 45 26 27 28 29 5 31

Exhibitions Jan 12-29 Feb 2-12 Feb 16-27 Mar 1-19 Mar 22-Apr 2 Apr 5-23 Apr 27-May 21 May 25-Jun 11

Kb Bishara Emma Hockley Andreea Zahiu St Edward’s School Autism Family Support Peter Rhoades Hugo Powell Clive Wright

See page 46 for special offers and full details of concessions.

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