Theatre Workshops Music Comedy
SPRING SEASON January - May 2017
edy by A Com Fo Dario
Box Office: 020 8292 9222
www.chickenshed.org.uk
Between 14 and 25? Want to get hands-on experience in a working theatre? Then Young Creators could be for you! creative delivery | directing | writing | devising | children’s and youth theatre direction | lighting | music technology & sound | creative composition & musicianship | dance & choreography | performances to children | wardrobe & costume | stage management | theatre make-up | and more!
Young Creators runs annually from September to July, and it’s free! Find out more by visiting www.chickenshed.org.uk/yc or by contacting Belinda McGuirk on belindamc@chickenshed.org.uk 020 8216 2755
Welcome to Chickenshed Chickenshed is truly a theatre company like no other, and we are absolutely delighted to share details of our new season with you. Whether you want to watch or get involved yourself, and whether you are young or old, this season offers a huge array of entertainment and activities. I will be kicking off our theatrical season with Dario Fo’s Trumpets and Raspberries, a fantastic farce of mistaken identity, kidnapping and marital disharmony. Chickenshed’s brilliant version of Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay was a huge favourite with audiences, and Trumpets and Raspberries is set to bring Fo’s anarchic hilarity back to the Studio Theatre! The season continues with our new production, Blowin’ in the Wind, inspired both by the iconic Bob Dylan song, as well as the famous speech in which Martin Luther King proclaimed, “I have a dream.” Both originated in the year 1963, and here together provide the starting point for a magical, musical mystery tour drawing inspiration from protest songs and the civil rights movement. This is followed by Refugee Boy, based on acclaimed poet Benjamin Zephaniah’s book, and which continues Chickenshed’s exploration of the issues surrounding refugees and immigration which were examined so powerfully in our recent sell-out run of Kindertransport. These three pieces all share an over-arching theme of freedom and identity, a theme which will continue through to the summer, with a truly amazing one-off event: Chickenshed is partnering with Amnesty International UK in a project entitled Dreams of Freedom, which will culminate in a mammoth production on Monday June 26 2017 at The Royal Albert Hall. However that’s not even all that’s happening here in Spring: we will of course present Tales from the Shed for our very youngest audiences, Saturday Shed is back and we are also delighted to announce the return of our Comedy Nights, Jazz and Jo Collins in the bar. With our Community Choir raising the roof in the evenings, anyone has a chance to get involved – and yes, we know it’s been said before but in this season there really, really is… something for everyone!! Lou Stein, Artistic Director
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Twitter @Chickenshed_UK Facebook /Chickenshed YouTube /ChickenshedTheatre Instagram/Chickenshed_uk Registered charity no : 1012369 American Friends of Chickenshed Inc: EIN No: 30-0099170
7 Feb - 4 Mar
A Comedy by Dario Fo
Directed by Lou Stein
Trumpets and Raspberries Tue 7 Feb - Sat 4 Mar
Political Strife. Confusion. Chaos.
Studio Theatre
No, not the aftermath of a certain referendum in 2016. This is Italy in the 1980s, the backdrop for Dario Fo’s madcap farce Trumpets and Raspberries.
Ages 11+ Previews n All tickets £10 Standard Matinee & Evening £15 (£12 concs) Schools £10 Peak Matinee & Evening £18 (£15 concs)
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Sign Interpreted: Sat 25 Feb 7.30pm Captioned: Tue 28 Feb 7.30pm
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Shed Talks
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Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual current events, is absolutely, purely and totally coincidental.
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Dario Fo was one of the key figures of European theatre and literature of the 20th and 21st centuries. A writer who ‘scourged authority while upholding the dignity of the powerless’, he was a thorn in the side of the political elite and ruling classes of Italy and beyond and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1997. This production marks the first major staging of this rarely seen work since his death in October 2016.
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Revolving around a real political figure, Gianni Agnelli, this fictional plot mixes satire with a strong political message. When wealthy Agnelli is injured in a failed kidnap attempt, he is rescued by humble Antonio, one of his employees. Antonio flees the scene when people start shooting at him, leaving his jacket on Agnelli’s body. The rich and influential Agnelli is taken to hospital in Antonio’s jacket, where he mistakenly has his face reconstructed in the poor Antonio’s likeness. Chaotic confusion ensues as Antonio finds himself the chief suspect in a kidnap plot - against himself!
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There will be a programme of activities, presentations and talks linked to the show. Workshops and talks for schools are also available on request. Please see our website for further details
www.chickenshed.org.uk/trumpets
blowin’ in the wind Conceived and Directed by Lou Stein
Photo: Ozier Muhammad
14 Mar - 2 Apr
Blowin’ in the Wind A magical, musical journey to hope
Tue 14 Mar - Sun 2 Apr Rayne Theatre Ages 8+ Previews n Stalls £12.50 (£7.50 concs) Gallery £5 Standard Matinee & Evening u Stalls £17.50 (£12.50 concs) Gallery £10 Peak Matinee & Evening Stalls £20 (£15 concs) Gallery £10
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Sign Interpreted: Fri 24 Mar 7.30pm Captioned: Sun 26 Mar 5.30pm Audio Described: Sat 25 Mar 3pm
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Protest, upheaval and discord – ultimately leading to hope, unity and shared optimism: Chickenshed unveils a brand new songbook musical featuring blues, gospel, folk and more. With a narrative thread linking protest songs and civil disobedience from the 1960s to the present day, a mirror is held up to reveal and reflect a sense of optimism that can prevail even during history’s darkest hours. Inspired by the historical resonances of two key events of 1963 – the release of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind, and Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream speech’ in Washington DC the production takes the form of an imagined voyage, a magical mystery tour, and ultimately a journey of hope and freedom. Featuring video projection, stunning set design, poetry, dance and physical theatre, the piece is a musical celebration of those ordinary people who have fought for an extraordinary ideal – the right to question how things are, and to dream of things as they could be. How many roads must a man walk down Before you can call him a man? How many seas must a white dove sail Before she sleeps in the sand? Yes, and how many times must the cannon balls fly Before they’re forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind The answer is blowin’ in the wind.
19 Apr - 13 May
Directed by Jelena Budimir
Refugee Boy Wed 19 Apr - Sat 13 May
This planet is for everyone, borders are for no one. It’s all about freedom. Benjamin Zephaniah
Studio Theatre Ages 12+ Previews n All tickets £10 Standard Matinee & Evening £15 (£12 concs) Schools £10 Peak Matinee & Evening £18 (£15 concs)
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Sign Interpreted: Tue 9 May 7.30pm Captioned: Thu 4 May 7.30pm
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Refugee Boy brilliantly continues Chickenshed’s exploration of the issues surrounding refugees and immigration, as recently examined so powerfully in the sell-out run of Kindertransport.
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The story follows Alem’s experiences in London in a warm-hearted tale of hope, family and identity. For Alem, the challenge is fitting in and growing up in a country very different from his own, and being there without the family he loves.
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Benjamin Zephaniah is a much-loved and celebrated British Jamaican poet, who has featured in The Times list of Britain’s top 50 post-war writers. Refugee Boy is a powerful and moving story based on his acclaimed book, and tells the story of 14 year old Alem, a refugee forced to flee his family and country for London in the late 1990s, to escape civil war at home in the disputed region between Ethiopia and Eritrea. As a child of parents from two regions, Alem is in great danger from both sides, and is forced to seek safety alone in the UK.
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Shed Talks There will be a programme of activities, presentations and talks linked to the show. Workshops and talks for schools are also available on request. Please see our website for further details
www.chickenshed.org.uk/refugeeboy
Tales from the Shed
Hugely entertaining shows for 0-6 year olds! £6 | Free to babies under 6mths 50mins Tales from the Shed are vibrant, interactive theatre shows that are perfect for young children. They are informal, lively and amazingly engaging as the performers and audience share the same space - children are always encouraged to make a lot of noise and to make the story happen. We guarantee that every show will be fun, really silly and that there will be plenty of colourful puppets and live songs. Every week we present different stories featuring the same much loved characters – from Can-Can the beautiful bird to laid back Lion Down and The Thing That Goes Blurgh!
At Chickenshed: Every Fri & Sat 20 Jan - 11 Mar Fri 11.30am, Sat 10am & 11.30am Additional half-term dates: Tue 14, Wed 15 Feb 10am & 11.30am Fri 17 Feb 10am
Radio Media Partner
“It is impossible to watch this production without a big beaming smile. Everything is so beautiful - the children, the actors - the setting, costumes and of course, the puppets. “All I can say is, if you have a child of any age - or even if you are in your second childhood - as I think I must be - then these wonderful people are appearing at their own theatre and all around the country. Get there, this is great!” êêêêêRemote Goat
Tales Birthday Parties! After the 11.30am Tales from the Shed Saturday show at Chickenshed (and weekdays during half-term) you can have a special birthday party in a designated area of the cafe. For your party you’ll get a mention during the Tales from the Shed show for the birthday boy/girl, a Tales character singing Happy Birthday at your table and delicious party food.
Party price £6.50 per child (plus price of show ticket) Minimum 10 children, maximum 50 A unique way to celebrate a birthday! Tales Parties can also come to your home – ask the Box Office for more information.
Music at Chickenshed Julian Marc Stringle presents It’s Clazzical Sat 28 Jan 8.30pm (Support Act 7pm)| Chickenshed Bar £25 (£20 advance) British Jazz Award winner Julian Marc Stringle and his Dream Band join forces with Sonia Slany’s Solid Strings to perform their brilliant and original fusion of classic melodies and pulsating Latin rhythms. Featuring stunning arrangements of masterworks by Aznavour, Bernstein, Gershwin, Jobim, Rodgers & Hart and many more. This event is seated but if you would like to reserve a table and dine with us on the night, please call Brothers Grill on 020 8440 2221 and book your place (subject to availability).
Jo Collins & Friends Sun 29 Jan 7.30pm | Chickenshed Bar (3hrs) £11 (£9 advance and concessions) The immensely talented co-founder of Chickenshed Jo Collins invites guests for a thrilling set of eclectic covers from pop to soul, funk, folk and more. So why not gather a group of friends, book a table and enjoy the wonderful sounds of Jo backed by her in-house band. Open mic! During the evening guests can take to the stage for a song or two as part of this fun, relaxed and highly enjoyable night out. This event is seated but if you would like to reserve a table and dine with us on the night, please call Brothers Grill on 020 8440 2221 and book your place.
Comedy at Chickenshed Comedy Night
Featuring The Pin and Liam Williams Fri 27 Jan 8pm | Chickenshed Bar Age 16+ £12 (£10 advance) Chickenshed is pleased to announce the return of our fabulous Comedy Night! The evening boasts an amazing line-up headlined by comedy duo ‘The Pin’ and Liam Williams. ‘The Pin’ have recorded two series of their own multi-award winning show for BBC Radio 4. They’ve also written for Walliams and Friend and The Tracey Ullman Show on BBC1, and have appeared on ITV, Channel 4, Comedy Central, and Dave. Comedian, writer and actor Liam Williams (part of acclaimed sketch group ‘Sheeps’) has twice been nominated for an Edinburgh comedy award, and recently created a four-part radio series Ladhood which aired on BBC Radio 4 earlier this year, and co-wrote the ‘alternative’ comedy pantomime Ricky Whittington which received critical acclaim during its recent run at the New Diorama Theatre. Further acts and MC to be confirmed, check website for details. This event is seated but if you would like to reserve a table and dine with us on the night, please call Brothers Grill on 020 8440 2221 and book your place.
Performance Workshops Saturday Shed
5-12 yrs
Sat 21 Jan - 11 Mar Ages 5-8yrs (Year 1+) 10am Ages 9-12yrs 11.15am Dance Studio (60mins) ÂŁ6 per session | 25% discount when pre-register for all 8 workshops These fantastic performance workshops, involving movement, drama, singing and story-making, are led by our highly experienced enthusiastic staff. Through energy and creativity, and as a part of our unique inclusive environment, participants build confidence, make new friends, and share something really special. Workshops are designed so that a child of any ability or experience can come to all sessions, or simply drop in.
Play in a Day
5-11yrs
Half-Term: 13 , 14, 15, 16, 17 Feb 10am - 4pm | Osidge Primary School Ages 5-11yrs ÂŁ32 per day | 50% discount for siblings In a change to our previous week workshop, Feb Shed, this Spring we are offering a series of individual days during February half-term. Over the course of an enjoyable day, through story-making, dancing, drama, singing and play, participants will work together in the morning to develop creative ideas that will then be developed in the afternoon, ending the day with a sharing of a short performance. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience. Participants will need to bring a packed lunch and snacks, and will be supervised by Chickenshed staff during breaks.
Easter Shed
5-11yrs
Mon 3 - Fri 7 Apr 10am - 4pm | Chickenshed Ages 5-11yrs ÂŁ130 | 50% discount for siblings Participants at these brilliant week-long events will explore and develop a wide range of performance skills through workshops that involve drama, dance, singing and story-making. Parents and friends will be invited in on the final afternoon to see a performance that has been devised throughout the week. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience.
Community Choir
21+
Every Wed 25 Jan - 8 Mar (excluding 1 Feb) 6.30pm (2hrs) | Ages 21+ Pay As You Go: ÂŁ7.50 per session An ongoing series of vocal sessions at which you can develop your singing skills as part of an ensemble. During the workshop you will learn and develop vocal arrangements and will gain skills, confidence and understanding about how the various parts are put together and then performed. Participants can expect a wonderful mix of songs arranged with a Chickenshed twist, and there are chances to perform throughout the year!
Support Scheme Available Chickenshed strives to make all of its activities open to everyone. If the cost of these activities prevents you from attending please contact Becca Murley, Membership Administrator, on 020 8216 2711 or beccam@chickenshed.org.uk.
26 June
Dreams of Freedom Mon 26 June Royal Albert Hall 7pm Tickets £5 - £25 available from the Royal Albert Hall Box Office 020 7589 8212 www.royalalberthall.com
One Incredible Evening: Six Hundred Performers and a Million Dreams Chickenshed will be staging a truly monumental performance at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 26 June 2017, inspired by Amnesty International UK’s wonderful children’s book Dreams of Freedom, which combines the words of human rights heroes (including Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Anne Frank, Malala Yousafzai and Aung San Suu Kyi) with beautiful illustrations from international artists including Oliver Jeffers and Chris Riddell. The performance at the Royal Albert Hall will be the culmination of a project lasting more than a year, comprising an extensive programme of workshops to gather children’s thoughts, opinions, ideas and dreams on the themes and images of the book. The Dreams of Freedom project and performance will bring together hundreds of children from many different state, independent and SEN schools, who will perform with 120 of Chickenshed’s Children Theatre members. They will be joined for the performance by the 100-strong Young Singers Choir to stage a powerful and inspirational celebration of children’s hopes for the future in the amazing and iconic West London venue. It’s going to be a truly spectacular celebration of freedom with over 600 children performing, and we very much hope to see you there.
To achieve great things, we must dream as well as do. Anatole France
In partnership with Amnesty International UK
The Weekend Itch
Join in!
The Weekend Itch! Youth Theatre Taster Day
Sat 18 Feb 1pm - 6pm | Chickenshed Ages 13-17yrs ÂŁ5 Ever thought about joining our Youth Theatre? Are your friends members but you have no idea what they do here? If so, then this half-day taster is the perfect chance to find out and join in! Led by our Youth Theatre Directors and supported by current youth theatre members, this weekend will introduce you to our performance and theatremaking processes for young people. Support Scheme Available Chickenshed strives to make all of its activities open to everyone. If the cost of The Weekend Itch! prevents you from attending please contact Box Office.
Support us At Chickenshed we celebrate diversity and inspire positive change by bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to create outstanding and inspiring theatre. Each year we must raise over £4 million to continue our pioneering work. By taking part in one of our challenges or initiatives you can play your part in creating a society where everyone can flourish. See more at www.chickenshed.org.uk/supportus. For further information on any of our challenges, or to register, please contact Julie Wood at juliew@chickenshed.org.uk or on 020 8216 2768.
Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 Sun 30 July With a route originally made famous by the world’s greatest cyclists at London 2012, this unique challenge follows a 100 mile route from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park through the capital and into the glorious Surrey countryside, before finishing on The Mall back in London.
Royal Parks Half Marathon Sun 8 Oct Put on your running shoes and take part in this spectacular half marathon! The 13 mile route takes in some of London’s most iconic landmarks as well as four of the capital’s Royal Parks.
How to book
Access
By phone or in person call the Box Office on 020 8292 9222 (18001 020 8292 9222 TypeTalk) Online www.chickenshed.org.uk (ÂŁ1.50 booking fee) Email bookings@chickenshed.org.uk Tickets can be collected from Box Office or posted to you for 35p
Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre that welcomes everyone. Captioned, Sign Interpreted and Audio Described performance dates are available on the event page and our website. Guide dogs or assistance dogs are welcome in the theatre with you, or can be left with Front of House staff. Please advise the Box Office of your requirements when booking.
Seating plan Chickenshed’s Rayne Theatre is a flexible space; please ask Box Office for details of specific seating configurations. Studio Theatre, Dance Studio, Bar and Amphitheatre events have unreserved seats. )
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Getting here Tube: Oakwood or Cockfosters (10-12 minutes walk).
Bus: 298, 299, 307 and N91 stop outside the theatre.
Enjoy a coffee and light snack, a delicious Mediterranean-inspired lunch or evening meal, or simply sample from a carefully selected range of juices, wines and beers. Restaurant and bar open from 9am Monday - Saturday and Sundays when there is an event. To reserve a table call 020 8440 2221
Parking: Free parking is available immediately outside the building, and access spaces can be reserved in advance through the Box Office. Address: 290 Chase Side, Southgate, London N14 4PE
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To request a large print or audio version of our season brochure please email accessbookings@chickenshed.org.uk or call the Box Office.
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Our venue is wheelchair accessible and wheelchair spaces can be booked for performances.
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Sennheiser infra-red system headsets or neck loops are available and can be reserved via the Box Office.