North Wall Brochure Autumn 2013 by The North Wall Arts Centre

Sept-D ec 2013

“What a story these old walls could tell…” American proverb

Comedy

Madness and mayhem from the likes of Mark Thomas, Tom Deacon, and Ellie Taylor!

Art

A feast of photography, the art of anatomy, plus basketry, Italy and the painting of music.

Music

The legendary Ralph McTell returns, plus folk, jazz and a celebration of Britten’s life and work.

Theatre

An epic journey to Svalbard, exhilarating spoken word and ground-breaking new writing by David Greig.

Kids’ Theatre

Bear Hunts, Billy Goats, Tubas and Boats: Fun and laughter from favourites old and new.

Welcome to our Autumn season. I hope you will be excited by what we have lined up for you. Here are a few of my top picks… There are three shows that I saw in Edinburgh in 2012 that I have been hoping to bring to Oxford. But touring is expensive and funding hard to secure so there is often a delay before companies can get on the road and bring their work to a wider audience. These three are worth the wait. Angus, Weaver of Grass tells the heart breaking true story of a young man born and bred on South Uist whose life is devastated by World War II. Simple, beautiful and honest, this piece has toured the Highlands and Islands and is only playing a very few dates in England. I urge you to see it. Juana in a Million was another piece I saw in Edinburgh. With so much outrage in the media about immigration, it is a real revelation to listen to the story of a Mexican woman forced by circumstances to leave her country and travel to London. Humbling and inspiring, this one woman show really taught me about some of the realities of economic migration. Also from the Fringe, Monkey Bars: a poignant and often very funny verbatim show which takes the words of children and puts them into the mouths of adults. The result is a valuable insight into the preoccupations of the young. I am also delighted to welcome back ATC with David Greig’s new play The Events. I am a huge fan of this writer’s work. This latest play examines the limits of empathy and a community’s response to atrocity. Then there is OperaUpClose with Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore transposed into the glamorous world of 1950’s Hollywood, the delightful NIE with their brand new show North North North and the remarkable dancer Jonathan Goddard in Dracula by Mark Bruce Company - the show promises to be a dancetheatre treat. Oh, and comedian Mark Thomas with 100 Acts of Minor Dissent. Describes my life, really. Hope to see you here in the autumn. Tell people about us. Bring a friend. Enjoy the arts. Lucy Maycock Artistic Director

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

! d e v l o v n I t Ge NEW

201 n m u t or Au

North Wall Friends Scheme At The North Wall, we are proud to be able to programme high quality work at an affordable cost to our audiences The Arts Centre also exists to provide artists with opportunities to create and develop new work, as well as supporting emerging artists through our residential outreach projects.

North Wall

Friends

Help us to keep doing what we’re doing: support The North Wall by joining our brand new Friends Scheme. Join now for your chance to experience a wealth of benefits: • Early receipt of season brochures – sent first class direct to your home • £1 off up to 2 tickets every time you book (excluding children’s shows and hires) • Special Friends’ performances – free drinks and extra discounts • ‘Meet the Cast’ opportunities with Late Bar • Invitation to our outreach performances • Priority notification of special ticket offers – your chance to get the best deals! All this for a cost of just £35 per year! Be our Friend - call the Box Office to join now: 01865 319450

Become a North Wall Explorer… Step through the Wall and come on an adventure! The North Wall Explorers’ Club invites all children up to the age of 11 to travel with us into tales old and new. Each child who signs up will receive a Passport of Adventure to collect stickers each time they visit the theatre, as well as a special membership badge. Children who collect five stickers will get a free ticket to any of our kids’ shows as a reward for their doughty deeds!

SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER

FRIDAY 22 – SATURDAY 23 NOVEMBER

Thingumajig Theatre presents

Little Angel Theatre presents

Hullaba Lulu

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt based on the book by Michael Rosen

“A must see family show” The Stage

www.thingumajig.info Recommended for age 5+ Performance: 2pm Tickets: £7

SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER Theatre of Widdershins presents

The Three Billy Goats Gruff and other Furry Tails…

What really happened between the wolf and his three porky friends? Why was Goldilocks wandering in the woods? And how did the goats overcome a mighty troll? The perplexing mysteries of fairy tales are explored and explained by the wonderful Theatre of Widdershins with the help of fun, laughter, some gorgeous puppets and a soundtrack that will stick in your head long after you’ve left the theatre. www.theatre-of-widdershins.co.uk Recommended for age 3+

Performances: 11am & 2pm Tickets: £7

Our friends at Barefoot Books run themed activities, storytelling sessions and café discounts alongside all of our kids’ shows. To find out more or to book online go to: www.barefootbooks.com/oxford-calendar

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

We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. What a beautiful day! We’re not scared. A family go on an expedition of a lifetime – running down the grassy bank, wading through the cold river, squelching over the oozy mud, stumbling into the dark forest, then peering into a cave… what will they find? Little Angel Theatre brings Michael Rosen’s thrilling and funny adventure to life in a brand new puppetry production directed by Little Angel Theatre’s Artistic Director Peter Glanville and with music and lyrics by renowned singer-songwriter Barb Jungr. www.littleangeltheatre.com Recommended for age 2+ Performances: 11am, 1.30pm, 4.30pm Tickets: £7

Join us for a winter warmer after the show on Friday to celebrate Christmas Light Night! See p25 for more details…

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

Kids’ Theatre

An eccentric couple travel their strange monochrome world in a quirky land-boat, until their lives are turned upside down by a new arrival – the adorable and colourful Lulu. In her ever-changing forms, Lulu teaches the couple all about love, play and, eventually, how to say goodbye. Hullaba Lulu is sure to captivate young and old with engaging characters, live music and a spellbinding story.

TUESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER

TUESDAY 10 – WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER Chris Goode & Company and Unicorn Theatre present

Monkey Bars by Chris Goode

Theatre

Award-winning writer Chris Goode asked forty eight- to ten-year-olds to talk about their lives. About being scared, getting lost, being brave, growing up. About the adult world that surrounds and awaits them. About family and faith and their favourite sweets. In Monkey Bars, their words are spoken by adults – playing adults in adult situations. Monkey Bars is a funny and endlessly surprising verbatim show which offers a revelatory insight into what children are trying to tell us about their lives that we don’t always hear.

“Hilarious and poignant by turns… beautifully staged.” ★★★★ The Telegraph “A cool, sobering and quietly passionate reality check… humbling and deeply moving.” ★★★★ The Scotsman www.chrisgoodeandcompany.co.uk Recommended for age 14+

£5 Student Tickets limited availability

Theatre Centre presents

Advice for the Young at Heart It’s 2011 and 1958 and London is rioting. Candice is ordered by her gang-leading boyfriend to lure Clint into a honeytrap. Haunted by her grandfather’s mistakes, she stands at a crossroads. Will she do as she’s told, or will she learn to be true to herself before history repeats itself? Advice for the Young at Heart by BAFTA-winning Roy Williams is a modern tale for riotous times. Spanning three generations and exploring race, family and misguided loyalty, the story is propelled by the energy of a restless generation determined to carve itself a fresh identity. www.theatre-centre.co.uk Recommended for age 14+

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11)

Performances: 3pm & 8pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11) School Groups £8

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

TUESDAY 24 – THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER

“ One of the most interesting and adventurous British dramatists of his generation.” The Telegraph on David Greig

Actors Touring Company, Young Vic Theatre, Brageteatret & Schauspielhaus Wien present

The Events written by David Greig directed by Ramin Gray

At Claire’s choir rehearsal, something terrible has happened, leaving her life and her community torn apart. David Greig’s daring new play asks how far forgiveness will stretch in the face of atrocity. Featuring local choirs and a soaring soundtrack, The Events tells of tragedy, obsession and our destructive desire to fathom the unfathomable. Greig’s recent plays include Midsummer, Dunsinane, and The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart and the new musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Actors Touring Company presents the best of international contemporary theatre. Recent productions at The North Wall include The Golden Dragon, Crave and Illusions.

“There’s no faulting Ramin Gray’s beautiful, eloquent staging.” ★★★★★ The Scotsman on ATC’s Illusions www.atctheatre.com £5 Student Tickets limited availability

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11)

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

Theatre

Screams echo through corridors. The sound of gunfire rings through a forest. Terrified children are led across a playground.

WEDNESDAY 2 – THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER New International Encounter presents

North North North in association with the Key Theatre & The North Wall

From the company that brought you Past Half Remembered, join NIE on their next trip to the great white North...

Theatre

In July 1897, three Swedish adventurers set out from Svalbard, headed for the North Pole in a hydrogen filled balloon. Their aim was to discover new lands, to map the undiscovered Arctic and to plant the flag of Sweden at the pole. At 2:30pm on the 11th July they cut the anchor lines and floated up into the cold arctic air. They were never seen alive again. Using an international cast and a delightful mix of projection, physical theatre, storytelling and live music, NIE invite you to join them on an exhilarating journey into a little known story from one of the world’s last great wilderness areas. A journey full of hope and daring-do, of frostbite and patriotic songs, of seal meat and sharing a sleeping bag… Established in 2001, NIE have created 17 original productions and toured to 29 different countries spanning 3 continents.

★★★★ What’s On Stage Recommended for age 12+ www.nie-theatre.com

£5 Student Tickets limited availability

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11)

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

WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER curious directive in association with Watford Palace Theatre present

After the Rainfall

Theatre

It’s 2023 and John is alone in a village hall in Cumbria. There is a media storm about his new book, After the Rainfall, which calls for revolution. His book compares the ancient and intricate ways ants communicate to how humans use Twitter and other social media sites as fuel for change. We travel backwards in time to three other stories exploring the different ways humans choose to spread ideas. Flying high over the stunning Egyptian desert, navigating the British Museum and investigating a quiet village green: curious directive use a breath-taking mix of multimedia, movement and sound to create a mesmerising piece of adrenalinefuelled theatre.

“ A company clearly destined for great things…this is intelligent, highly original theatre” ★★★★ The Telegraph “Jack Lowe and his ensemble continue to push boundaries and fire imaginations” ★★★★ The Metro www.curiousdirective.com Performance: 8pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11)

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

£5 Student Tickets limited availability

THURSDAY 17 – FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER

Juana in a Million

Horse + Bamboo presents

performed by Vicky Araico Casas directed by Nir Paldi

Debates about immigration policy flame daily in the press, feeding political bonfires. Do we forget that each immigrant’s story tells of a unique human destiny?

“This is a powerhouse performance that is funny, fierce and heartbreaking.” ★★★★★ Female Arts £5 Student Tickets limited availability

Angus: Weaver of Grass Angus MacPhee’s life is a tale of illness, lost traditions and magical hats of grass, stunning like sunbursts. Raised on South Uist, and deeply affected by WWII, Angus spent fifty years in a psychiatric hospital in Inverness. He did not speak; instead he wove remarkable costumes from grass which feature in the Collection de l’Art Brut, Switzerland. Featuring beautiful Gaelic singing and grass replicas by Joanne B Kaar, internationally renowned theatre company Horse + Bamboo use sounds, songs and images of the Outer Hebrides to tell this moving, poignant tale.

Theatre

A young Mexican woman arrives in London, her single suitcase filled with little more than dreams of security and happiness. Juana’s encounters in this strange foreign land shed unexpected light on her identity as a woman and as a Mexican, weaving a moving tale of survival, betrayal and hope. Winner of a Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival (2012) and nominated for an Off West End Award for best female performance (2014), Juana in a Million is a powerful one-woman show exploring true stories of immigrants to the UK. Friday 18 Oct: Post-show panel discussion on Latin American migration issues with speakers from the University of Oxford.

“ Physical, emotional and aural beauty... their collective artistry is awesome.” The Stage www.horseandbamboo.org

“A beautiful piece of physical theatre.” ★★★★ The Telegraph

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11 )

Performances: 5pm & 8pm Tickets: £15

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

This show will take place in the North Wall studio, therefore seating is limited.

TUESDAY 29 OCTOBER

THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER

house presents Transport with Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

Tangram Theatre Company presents

As You Like It by William Shakespeare

A fantastical tale of love in exile. Critically-acclaimed Transport reinvents this popular favourite among Shakespeare’s comedies. Rosalind, the daughter of an exiled leader, falls in love with Orlando. Separately the two are banished from their homeland by Rosalind’s dictator uncle. In the wild depths of the forest they find unexpected freedom and are reunited with friends and family.

“An utter treat” ★★★★ The Telegraph on 1001 Nights www.transport-theatre.eu

Albert Einstein: Relativitively Speaking

A musical celebration of the ideas, ideals and idiosyncrasies of the man whose theories sparked a revolution in modern science. Join Albert Einstein, the genius behind the über-coolest moustache in scientific history, for an hour of science, silliness and the wurst sausage joke ever. Combining comedy, songs and gloriously bad puns alongside fun explanations of the science behind his landmark theories and some rather surprising revelations into the great man’s personal life, this is a show for anyone who wants to go on a hilarious and thought-provoking journey into the mindbending scientific mysteries of the modern world. Don’t miss this wunderbar new show from the boys behind international smash hits Crunch! and The Origin of Species... Recommended for age 12+

£5 Student Tickets limited availability

Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11)

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11)

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

Theatre

A vibrant, touching, and timely story about love, statelessness, and above all the human capacity to endure, brought to you from the innovative company behind Invisible, 1001 Nights, Elegy and Europe.

TUESDAY 5 – WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER Mark Bruce Company in association with Tobacco Factory Theatre, Pavilion Dance and Wilton’s Music Hall present

Dracula directed and choreographed by Mark Bruce

“Jonathan Goddard is Britain’s finest male contemporary dancer.” The Observer

“Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring.”

Theatre/ Dance

Jonathan Goddard plays the infamous Vampire Count, whose sinister and ruthless ambitions challenge the very fabric of Victorian society. As his victims and opponents rally against him they must face the darkness and savagery within themselves. Bruce’s company of ten exceptional dancers bring Bram Stoker’s haunting, erotic tale to life in a heart wrenching and magical dance theatre production. With an eclectic mix of music from Bach and Mozart to Ligetti and Fred Frith, Bruce explores choreographic styles ranging from the subtlety of classical etiquette to visceral contemporary dance. www.markbrucecompany.com Recommended for age 14+ Performance: 8pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11)

£5 Student Tickets limited availability

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

FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER OperaUpClose presents

L’Elisir d’Amore Music by Donizetti

In a new English version by Thomas Eccleshare

Theatre/ Opera

Adina is the hottest star in Hollywood – and Nemorino adores her. When an ambitious army officer makes a very public proposal to Adina, Nemorino is in despair, until Dulcamara, the smooth-talking stylist, comes to his rescue with a remedy which he promises will win Adina once and for all. Donizetti’s warm-hearted opera sparkles with wit, great tunes and a keen-eyed dissection of the way love can confound even the cleverest of us. Director Valentina Ceschi sets The Elixir of Love at a glamorous 1950’s garden party at the height of Hollywood’s Golden Age. OperaUpClose returns to The North Wall for a third season following the success of Olivier award-winning La Bohème and The Barber of Seville. With an orchestration by conductor John Gibbons, featuring a live piano, viola and saxophone accompaniment

“A little gem... The whole thing fizzes from start to finish as a piece of unpretentious fun.” ★★★★ The Telegraph ★★★★ Time Out ★★★★ Evening Standard

Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: £25 (concessions £20)

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

SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER

WEDNESDAY 27 NOVEMBER

N.O.N.C.E.

Show and Tell and The Arches present

An underemployed artist lands the job of ‘poet-in-residence’ at a high security prison. Follow him into every dark corner, helping dangerous criminals to escape... through creative expression!

by Kieran Hurley A coming-of-age story exploring rebellion, apathy and the irresistible power of gathered youth. With techno. Lots of techno.

by Steve Larkin

Steve Larkin’s critically acclaimed spoken word theatre show based on real life events returns to the North Wall after a sell-out performance last year:

“A modern tornado of SLAM.” ★★★★★ Oxford Theatre Review

Spoken Word

Recommended for age 16+

Beats tells the story of Johnno McCreadie, a teenager living in a small suburban Scottish town at the time of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act – a new piece of legislation which effectively outlawed raves, or “public gatherings around amplified music characterised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats”. Following sell-out runs at Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre and London’s Bush and Soho theatres, Kieran Hurley’s astonishing mix of intricate, wellobserved storytelling and exhilarating music and visuals, breaks out on tour.

“A tremendous piece of storytelling.” ★★★★ The Guardian

£5 Student Tickets limited availability

“The most exhilarating, urgent response to the 2011 summer riots that I’ve ever seen.” ★★★★ The Independent “An outstanding show; clever, ruthless, compassionate and full of political insight.” ★★★★ The Scotsman

£5 Student Tickets limited availability

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11)

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

Theatre/

www.stevelarkin.com

Beats

Spoken Word

Theatre/

“Spellbinding... run to this show!” ★★★★★ Uptown, Canada

FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER - SATURDAY 4 JANUARY •••••••••••••••••••••••• Creation Theatre Presents

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe adapted from the original Work by CS Lewis Directed by Charlotte Conquest. Adapted by Stephen Luke Walker

ASLAN IS ON THE MOVE that will mark the 50th anniversary of the death of one of Oxford’s most famous sons, C.S. Lewis.

What if there was another world inside an old wardrobe? A world under the rule of a cruel queen, where everyone lived in fear and it never stopped snowing.

With live music, comedy and plenty of 1940s charm, Mr Tumnus and Mr & Mrs Beaver can’t wait to meet you there.

This Christmas you can join the Pevensie children on the greatest adventure of their lives.

“A truly festive occasion, perfect for all the family” The Oxford Times (Aladdin and the Magical Lamp, 2012)

Creation Theatre returns to The North Wall for its third magical and imaginative family Christmas show in the year

“A Christmas show to warm the heart of any miser” The stage (A Christmas Carol, 2011)

Recommended for age 5+

Performances: Selected matinees at 10.00am and 2.00pm, evening shows at 7.30pm. Selected evening shows 6.00pm. Full schedule at www.creationtheatre.co.uk Tickets: £13.50-£30 (concessions available, ask at the Box Office.) Special offers for groups of ten or more. Shadow Puppet Workshop for Christmas Lantern Parade Saturday 2nd November, 1pm - 4pm (Workshop – North Wall) Friday 22nd November, from 5.30pm (Lantern Parade – City Centre) Create giant shadow puppets on the theme of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Make and animate puppets and masks, and then operate them behind a moving shadow screen for an unusually theatrical contribution to Oxford’s famed Christmas Lantern Parade, this year celebrating C.S. Lewis, Son of Oxford! Age Suitability: 8 – 15 years Cost: £5 including all materials Please note, participants should be available on both dates. Places strictly limited.

PLUS: North Wall WINTER WARMER, Friday 22nd November, 4pm – 6pm Join us in the foyer for hot seasonal refreshments as a warm-up to the Lantern Parade, where a Very Special Guest may be making an appearance to delight young and old. Ho Ho Ho! THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE © copyright CS Lewis Pte Ltd 1950. The Chronicles of Narnia®, Narnia® and all book titles, characters and locales original to The Chronicles of Narnia are trademarks of CS Lewis Pte Ltd. Use without permission is strictly prohibited.

Theatre

It’s been winter in Narnia for ever so long. Always winter and never Christmas, can you imagine?

WEDNESDAY 23 – SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER

Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare

A very 21st-century tale of power, corruption, and sexual desire. Somewhere in small-town America, Vince ‘the Duke’ has held political office for years. Popular and charming, he has turned a blind eye to the vice and degradation that surrounds him – and things have gone too far. His virtuous deputy Angelo seems the perfect candidate to turn things around. But Angelo’s obsession with Isabella, a woman he can never have, corrupts and consumes him – and he condemns her brother Claudio to die on trumped-up charges. Isabella is forced to choose between her chastity and saving Claudio, and must also resolve her growing feelings for the mysterious priest, newly arrived in town. A company with over 50 years’ experience of staging vibrant Shakespeare, Oxford Theatre Guild returns to the North Wall with this dynamic new production. www.oxfordtheatreguild.com Performances: 7.30pm (Saturday matinée 2.30pm) Tickets: £13 (concessions £11)

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

Amateur Theatre

Oxford Theatre Guild presents

So Television presents

So Comedy Live! A chance to see some of the nation’s best up and coming comedians at our regular comedy nights from the producers of BBC1’s The Graham Norton Show. With more acts still to be announced, here’s just a taster of what’s on offer this season…*

THURSDAY 5 SEPTEMBER TOM DEACON TV presenter and Radio 1 DJ Tom has been making waves on the comedy circuit for the last six years.

“Slick stagecraft, bags of energy.” Chortle “With looks, confidence, charm and great material, expect other comics to lynch him.” The Sunday Times

THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER DANIEL SIMONSEN Dan’s star has risen since swapping his native Norway for Britain, taking home the award for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012.

“Packed with laugh-out-loud moments.” Guardian

THURSDAY 7 NOVEMBER ELLIE TAYLOR Ellie is best known for presenting Snog Marry Avoid on BBC3 and can also be seen on Channel 4’s 8 out of 10 Cats.

THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER Lakin McCarthy presents

Mark Thomas: 100 Acts of Minor Dissent Mark Thomas is well versed in the art of creative mayhem and over the years his troublemaking has changed laws, cost companies millions and annoyed those who most deserved to be. Now he returns to what he does best, mischief. Joyously bad behaviour with a purpose. After his award winning show Bravo Figaro, Mark sets himself the task of committing 100 Acts of Minor Dissent in the space of a year. Mark catalogues everything from the smallest and silliest gesture to the grandest confrontations and the results are subversive, hilarious, mainly legal and occasionally inspiring. www.markthomasinfo.co.uk Recommended for age 16+

“Charismatic, personable and bright.” Chortle “Sparkling and energetic company… the potential to go on to really great things.” Three Weeks

Performances: 8pm Tickets: £13 (concessions £11)

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £15 (concessions £10)

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

Comedy

*Please note: Line-ups are subject to change Recommended for age 16+

A weekend of concerts, talks and presentations, based on works from Benjamin Britten’s early years. Presented by Britten in Oxford, a year-long celebration of the work and life of Benjamin Britten in his centenary year. www.britteninoxford.co.uk.

www.britten100.org

The Young Britten

SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER

Britten, the Young Genius Britten was a child prodigy, who in maturity wrote extensively for children and was passionate about music education. Experts in Britten’s extensive body of juvenilia and his young life, join young performers for an event based on works from his early years.

Southbank Sinfonia plays Young Britten The young stars of Southbank Sinfonia perform the music of a similarly young Benjamin Britten, who like these vibrant players, was a new talent setting out to conquer the world. Programme to include Britten’s Double Concerto, Plymouth Town and Sinfonietta and guest composer Michael Berkeley. Conductor Nicholas Cleobury.

“ A dashing ensemble who play with exhilarating fizz, exactness and stamina” The Times Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: £25, £15 & £10 (concessions available)

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

With John Bridcut, Lucy Walker and musicians from the Oxfordshire County Music Service. Study Day: 10am – 5pm Tickets: £25 (concessions £10)

Celebration of Youth presented by St Edward’s School. This varied programme will feature extracts from Britten’s St Nicolas, Ceremony of Carols and Friday Afternoons performed by the St Edward’s and Dragon School choirs. Instrumentalists from Headington School and the County Music Service will perform string quartets and solo items. The concert will celebrate both the early work of Benjamin Britten as well as the quality of these youthful performers. A concert by students from St Edward’s School, Oxfordshire County Music Ensembles and Headington School. Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: Free, but booking is required. Call the box office on 01865 319450

Music

A study day exploring the emergence of Britten’s compositional style from very early experiments to the discovery of a unique personal voice.

FRIDAY 20 SEPTEMBER

SUNDAY 20 – Wednesday 23 October

The Oxford Lieder Master Course

The Oxford Lieder Master Course returns to the North Wall for four days of masterclasses. Exceptional young singers and pianists will receive coaching from world-class professionals on all aspects of the song repertoire. This year’s course will be led by renowned pianist Roger Vignoles, who will be joined by four ‘guest tutors’ to give classes that promise to be insightful and fascinating for participants and audience alike. Course Times: 10am-6pm Tickets: £3 half day, £5 day pass, £15 four day pass. No advance booking required.

SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER

Wild Swim If most modern music leaves you starved of both technical mastery and poetical seriousness then Wild Swim have got what you need. Influenced by the likes of Radiohead, Grizzly Bear and Fleet Foxes, as well as drawing inspiration from the electronic strains of Aphex Twin and Four Tet, Wild Swim meld the acoustic and electronic to create a sound that is truly original.

“ These Oxonians are associates of the octave-leaping vocal, custodians of instrumental excellence” The Guardian “ An epic, slow-build debut” The Sunday Times “ A dark, limpid slice of hypno-rock” The Times with support from:

Kill Murray

£5 Student Tickets limited availability

ENGAGED WITH LEARNING, ENGAGED WITH LIFE

“Music, drama and art are high profile... richer here than in many more prominent schools.” The Good Schools Guide Offering A Level with the Extended Project plus the IB Diploma. Free places are available through means-tested scholarships and bursaries.

Combining a diverse range of influences, Kill Murray have crafted a unique sound, drawing inspiration from the likes of Pavement, LCD Soundsystem and Metronomy. Performance: 8pm Tickets: £10 (concessions £8)

// Booking: // Booking: 0186501865 319450 319450 or www.thenorthwall.com or www.thenorthwall.com

Please contact the Registrar: 01865 319200 registrar@stedwardsoxford.org | www.stedwardsoxford.org

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

Music

Wild Swim’s first singles, “Echo” and “Another Night” have been making waves, particularly with the support from BBC introducing, Radio 1’s Huw Stevens and Jen Long, as well as BBC 6’s Tom Robinson. Blogosphere and printed news alike can sense that a storm is brewing. And with their next single, “New Dawn”, approaching, it just might be; make sure you’re there when it breaks.

Thursday 17 October 2013 11am Study Day for Primary & Prep Schools: Join Dominic Harlan for a special interactive concert for youngsters aged 8-11, with soprano Sarah Gabriel and baritone Philip Smith. All tickets free. Teachers should contact the St Edward’s School Music Department on 01865 319219 to book.

SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER

Ralph McTell One More For The Road

SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER OCM presents

Bringing together some of Europe’s finest jazz players and composers Schlippenbach Trio are one of the longest running jazz trios in the world; Evan Parker (Saxes), “one of jazz music’s greatest living instrumentalists” (Times), Paul Lovens (Drums), performed in an early incarnation of Kraftwerk and became part of the backbone of European Jazz. Alexander von Schlippenbach (Piano) is one of Europe’s premier jazz bandleaders. Ralph McTell has enjoyed a 48 year career and autumn 2013 sees this quintessential singer-songwriter-guitarist embarking on his “One More For The Road” tour.

Noszferatu are one of the UK’s most versatile new music groups; Finn Peters (saxes, flutes), winner of the Radio 1 Worldwide awards, has been profiled by Gilles Peterson and Mr Scruff. Ivo de Greef (piano) brings a love of tango to the project. Damien Harron (percussion) is a prolific performer and composer.

Ralph’s shows feature beautifully crafted narrative songs, combined with dextrous finger-style guitar playing and evocative story-telling, and will of course include the Ivor Novello award-winning ‘Streets of London’.

Both trios perform separately and combine in specially commissioned works by award-winning Polish composer Hanna Kulenty, Hans Koller and Oxfordshire–based composer Joe Cutler.

Performance: 8pm Tickets: £25 (concessions £20)

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

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

Music

Double Trio: Noszferatu vs Schlippenbach Trio

THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER OCM presents

Kathryn Tickell & The Side Kathryn Tickell, long known as one of the foremost performers on the Northumbrian Pipes, has become one of the best loved of the U.K’s folk artists. Her unsurpassed talent shows itself in all her 14 albums and 3 BBC Proms performances over her 25year career.

There’s much excitement surrounding this new group, whose music ranges from forceful and driving to evocative and heart-felt; expect much from this BBC Folk Awards “Musician of The Year”.

“ Tickell may well be the best living advertisement for English folk music” The Daily Telegraph Performance: 8pm Tickets: £16.50 (concessions £10)

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

Music

In this new project she teams up with some equally talented and eclectic performers: harpist Ruth Wall has worked across genres, including artists Goldfrapp and Graham Fitkin; accordionist and clog dancer Amy Thatcher has a strong folk pedigree with bands such as The Shee; and Louisa Tuck is principal cellist at Northern Sinfonia (the youngest principal cellist of any UK orchestra).

MONDAY 2 – SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER

Victoria Rees: Tone: The Sinfonia Drawings

This collection of drawings was produced whilst working alongside the Southbank Sinfonia and the band Jesus Jones. ‘Working with the Sinfonia has been inspirational and a wonderful experience. When drawing in front of classical musicians I have to be utterly aware of their personal space. It is a respectful process. By contrast being on stage, drawing Jesus Jones during their concerts has enlightened me to the physical strength and courage of the band, it is all there on the night and this has enriched my work.’ The Sinfonia and band drawings are exhibited with large studio pieces and small sculptures. The Sinfonia scarf will be on show for the first time alongside the 2013 Garsington opera scarf series.

www.victoriarees.co.uk

TUESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER

Oxfordshire Basketmakers Travelling Lines

www.oxfordbasketmakers.com

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

Art

An exhibition of selected work by Oxfordshire Basketmakers exploring the ways in which lines of thought, materials, traditions, techniques and experience are woven through contemporary basketry. It aims to encourage visitors to look at baskets and basketry with new eyes and to forget the image of the stereotypical basket as a useful container with a handle. Now that cardboard and plastics have virtually usurped the basket, today’s basketmakers have been liberated! Earth, Fire, Water – a Site-Specific Educational Commission The North Wall has teamed up with basketmaker Clair Murphy in commissioning a group of Year 10 GCSE Art students from John Mason School in Abingdon to create a large site-specific piece for the Gallery as part of this exhibition.

TUESDAY 15 OCTOBER – FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER

Oxford Photographic Society: Annual Exhibition 2013

Oxford Photographic Society was founded in 1889 and is one of the oldest photographic groups in the country. The aim of the club is to promote, foster and appreciate all forms of photography and their annual exhibition is designed to showcase the breadth and talent of its members. They encourage participation no matter what level of experience a member may have. They offer a full and varied programme throughout the season which includes guest speakers, trips, special interest groups, photo-walks, mentoring and competitions. They also have an active website where members can show their images, make comments and share information.

www.oxfordphotosociety.co.uk

TUESDAY 12 – FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER

Matt Collier: Precisely Wrong “...optimistic about metamorphosis, an accumulative sensibility, my patient is mindful and manipulative, unravels the elements for abstraction, dyscrasia sets in lying on a lonely bed, utterly dynamic about lines – desiring to be an instruction, attempts to draw blood from the chess board, opposing parts with each layer as spirituality is debunked by hierarchies, the only significant breakthrough is absurdity reincarnate, the inside of every animal is an epic of the baroque and beautiful.” – the surgeon said. Matt Collier graduated with a BA in Fine Art from Wimbledon College of Art and at the Glasgow School of Art (MFA). His practice of drawing and painting utilises the world of medical, anatomical and botanical imagery that negotiate a hybrid science fiction of excessive and sometimes decorative bodily manipulations. His work is exhibited internationally.

www.mattcollier.com

Gary Jo Gardenhire:

Italian Painting, Drawing and Sculpture Gary Jo Gardenhire is an American artist who trained in the States and lives near Spoleto, Italy. His work has been influenced by thirty years of living in Umbria. Choice of colours, motifs and composition are interwoven with Mediterranean contrasts, materials and landscape. Gardenhire now spends half of his time in London - a stark contrast to rural Italy – and he adds fractured urban images to his previous rustic mix. In his paintings and drawings, shapes, colours, and cultural or commercial images are repeated and altered over and over to form dense, elegant surface. Works on paper are then sometimes divided into pieces and reassembled as collage. Sculptures, initially designed for Gardenhire’s personal garden, have developed in the same vein: discards, which are recycled and reinterpreted, take on a new life. This is to be his first show in England.

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

Art

TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER – FRIDAY 3 JANUARY

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o Diam Box office: 01865 319450 P Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and cliffe gs Thorn until curtain-up on performance days. nin n e ry J Fer eth on Saturdays 12pm – 4pm. ab Croft arst z h i c l e M e E B Online booking: www.thenorthwall.com eton Email: contact@thenorthwall.com Mor Booking fees: OXFORD CITY Cash Payment: no booking fee. CENTRE 1 mile Card & Online Payments: £1 per transaction. Gallery: Entrance to the Gallery is free. Opening hours are 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday and during performances in the Theatre. Saturdays 12pm – 4pm. 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 rail station is 2 miles 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.

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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.

Students and school groups Special £5 ticket offer for some shows. Contact box office for availability.

Make a meal of it with Cibo! (at 4 South Parade, just a step from The North Wall) On performance evenings North Wall customers can enjoy a pre or post show two course meal for £9.95 or 25% off the price of alla carta dishes. 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

At a glance event guide DATE

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