Theatre Workshops Comedy Music Talks
SPRING
SEASON January - April 2015
Box Office: 020 8292 9222
www.chickenshed.org.uk
Welcome to Chickenshed Our new spring season offers an eclectic, entertaining and inspiring calendar of events and shows - and for the first time we have three different spring shows taking place throughout March. Individually and collectively they showcase the significant breadth of our work, and two of the productions focus on social issues in fresh and interesting ways in our Just Theatre season. Our vibrant Tales from the Shed shows for young children return in January with all the colourful puppets, songs, dance and general silliness that audiences have come to know and love, and April will see the first Tales Big Day Out extravaganza of the year. A huge highlight for February will be our Emerging Writers’ Week, which returns for its fourth year following sell-out performances in 2014, and is going from strength to strength as it continues to grow and diversify. This year we’ll be celebrating with a festival feel involving various exciting spoken word events such as readings, poetry and sketch shows, all taking place before and after the evening performances in and around the building. The wealth of new writing nurtured within the Chickenshed Writers’ Group is outstanding - and if you have an interest in the creative process, from writing to seeing a play directed and then performed to a live audience, there’s a whole day’s Play in a Day workshop to come and get involved with! With such creativity, energy and enthusiasm surrounding Emerging Writers’ Week, this will be an absolute feast of new writing! Our spring shows in March open with a production suitable for everyone aged 7 and up: Changing Stages. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see a colourful medley of performances that showcase everything that makes Chickenshed amazing - from our performers to our ethos and beliefs in inclusivity. It will be an uplifting and entertaining musical show featuring a large cast drawn from our children’s and youth membership, students and professional actors.
Brothers Grill 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
Following this will be our Just Theatre spring shows, which place questions of justice centre stage through two very different but equally absorbing productions. For these we have taken personal stories about people and relationships, personal loss, and hope for the future as starting points for a wider discussion of social justice and fairness. 12:one is a tense courtroom drama that highlights the importance of the individual in the face of many, and how prejudice can cast a long shadow over justice and its implementation. “as the mother of a brown boy...” is an iconic and beautiful piece of physical theatre that has previously toured to Edinburgh and been shortlisted for numerous awards. It’s a powerful true story about a mother who remembers the life, and untimely death, of her mixed race son and his struggle for identity and brilliantly showcases our unique performance style. We invite you to come and see both of these compelling Just Theatre productions with a 25% discount off the price of both shows, and 13-25 year olds can buy tickets for just £5 per show, courtesy of our continued support from StubHub!. The shows under the Just Theatre banner will also provide a great platform for further discussions, especially for educational groups. Included in the Just Theatre season will be various events, forums and discussions - please check our website nearer the time for more information. A variety of workshops for children and adults are also on offer throughout the spring season and during the school holidays: Feb Shed and Easter Shed. Our spring season also sees our usual comedy, music and enthralling jazz nights, so we truly believe we offer something for everyone! We look forward to welcoming you to Chickenshed soon!
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Emerging Writers’ Week Festival of New Writing
18—21 feb
Wed 18 - Sat 21 Feb Studio Theatre 7.30pm performance with Offstage fringe events Thu-Sat at 6.30pm and after the show Matinees: Fri 20, Sat 21 at 2pm Approx 2hrs 10mins inc. interval Ages 14+ £7 | £5 for groups of 10 or more Sign Interpreted: Fri 20 Feb at 7.30pm Schools workshop: Fri 20 Feb at 12pm
Now in its fourth year, Emerging Writers’ Week continues to grow and diversify, driven by the wealth of new writing nurtured within the Chickenshed Writers’ Group. The week will showcase an array of new work as well as two longer pieces as cornerstones to the evening. One is a spoof of the 1970s Blaxploitation films set in Edmonton. The other is a development of a play introduced last year about the myth and legend surrounding the influential Blues singer and musician Robert Johnson. Along with the programme in the Studio each night, there will also be Offstage fringe events taking place in and around the building before and after the evening performance: readings of new plays, extracts of work in progress, sketch shows and more. Audiences are set to enjoy fresh and energetic new writing that wears its heart on its sleeve during this informal, entertaining and inspiring week.
Play in a Day workshop Sat 21 Feb 10am including evening performance Chickenshed Ages 14+ | £10 Come and be hands on in the creative process! Taking place throughout the day, you will work with some of the writers from the week to create a brand new piece which will be workshopped, written, rehearsed and then performed in the evening at the final show! This promises to be an experience to remember and a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in the creative process to take part.
CHANGING STAGES Thu5— Sun 8 Mar
Changing Stages is a wonderful opportunity to see a colourful medley of performances that showcase Chickenshed’s amazing diversity and breadth of work. With a range of performers, pieces and styles combining effortlessly together as one, Changing Stages will celebrate and demonstrate our ethos and beliefs in inclusivity and its power to create outstanding theatre through an uplifting and entertaining musical show. Elements of performances will be presented together in new and exciting ways to offer an inspirational perspective on the work taking place within Chickenshed all year round. Featuring a large cast drawn from our membership, students and professional actors, Changing Stages will be a performance highlight of the year.
Thu 5 - Sun 8 Mar Rayne Theatre Approx 1hr 40mins inc. interval Generally suitable for ages 7+ £10 (£8 concs) Thu 5, Fri 6, Sat 7 at 7pm, Sun 8 at 5.30pm Matinees: Sat 7 at 3pm, Sun 8 at 1.30pm Sign Interpreted: Sun 8 Mar at 1.30pm
Thu 12 - Sun 15 Mar Rayne Theatre | Approx 1hr Ages 11+ £10 (£8 concs) Book for both Just Theatre shows and receive 25% discount £5 to 13-25 year olds with StubHub! Thu 12, Fri 13, Sat 14 at 7pm Sun 15 at 5.30pm Matinees: Fri 13 at 1pm, Sat 14 at 3pm, Sun 15 at 1.30pm Sign Interpreted: Sat 14 Mar at 7pm
Our Just Theatre season opens with an extraordinarily dynamic, taut and absorbing show that epitomises the central theme of justice on trial. 12:one is a courtroom drama in which a jury considers an apparently open and shut case. A teenager stands accused of the murder of her father. A guilty verdict would mean the death penalty in the world of the not too distant future – where prejudice has begun to cast a lengthening shadow over justice and its execution. Combining drama with music and song, the jurors deliberate and weigh the case against the girl, which initially might seem to be beyond question. However, one juror finds the courage to stand alone, to question the girl’s circumstances and the failures of society and the system to protect her. The accused’s life hangs in the balance. Will the jury reach a unanimous verdict, and what will it be? And what will be the repercussions for both the individual and society?
“as the mother of a brown boy...” ‘Universally relevant’ The Observer ‘Urgent and heartfelt’ The Independent ‘Vivid and compelling’ Time Out
Thu 19 - Sun 22 Mar Rayne Theatre | Approx 1hr Ages 11+ £10 (£8 concs) Book for both Just Theatre shows and receive 25% discount £5 to 13-25 year olds with StubHub! Thu 19, Fri 20, Sat 21 at 7pm Sun 22 at 5.30pm Matinees: Fri 20 at 1pm, Sat 21 at 3pm, Sun 22 at 1.30pm Audio Described: Sat 21 Mar at 3pm Captioned Performance: Sun 22 Mar at 1.30pm
Talking Points
One of our iconic pieces of theatre, “as the mother of a brown boy...” concludes our Just Theatre season that places questions of justice centre stage. This is an incredibly personal and powerful true story about a mother who remembers the life, and untimely death, of her mixed race son and his struggle for identity in a multi-racial society. A beautiful exploration of a young life told through dance, physical theatre, music and multimedia, “as the mother of a brown boy...” looks at the truth behind an individual’s life choices, questions injustice within society and intolerance, but above all honours the value of relationships, love, and ultimately, hope. This critically acclaimed production was shortlisted for ‘Best Original Work by a Collective/Ensemble’ in the 2007 Total Theatre Awards as well as the ‘Freedom of Expression Award’ by Amnesty International at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and is a seminal piece of Chickenshed’s work that brilliantly showcases our unique performance style.
Is it fair, is it just, and is it right? Fri 20 Mar | 2.30pm (post show) FREE
to ticket holders
A youth-led discussion on fairness and justice.
What role can the arts play in social change? Sat 21 Mar | 8.15pm (post show) FREE
to ticket holders
Featuring invited colleagues from the arts and other charities engaged in campaigning on matters of social justice.
Tales from the Shed
Hugely entertaining shows for 0-6 year olds! £6, free to babies under 6mths (50-60mins) 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!
Radio Media Partner
At Chickenshed in the Studio Theatre: Every Fri & Sat 23 Jan - 21 Mar (excluding Fri 6 & Sat 7 Mar) Fri 11.30am, Sat 10am & 11.30am Plus half-term dates & times: Thu 19 Feb at 10am & 11.30am Fri 20 Feb at 10am
Tales Big Day Out Sat 18 Apr 10am-12.30pm | 2.30pm-5pm | Chickenshed Ages 0-6yrs | £8, free to babies under 1yr Welcome the start of the warm weather with a bang! Tales Big Day Out is an enjoyable and entertaining outing for all the family, whether you’re familiar with the Tales world or you’re coming along for the first time. Children will have the opportunity to take part in a great interactive workshop and watch a fun performance of Tales from the Shed, then everyone will come together for a huge Tales extravaganza outside in the amphitheatre. There will also be other free activities to discover and enjoy. Activities and performances will be inside if there is bad weather.
Tales Birthday Parties! After the 11.30am Tales from the Shed Saturday show at Chickenshed (and Thursday or Friday during half-term) you can have a special birthday party in a designated area of the bar. 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 £5.75 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.
Adult Theatre Workshops No previous participation, experience or an ability to read music is required - all you need is an interest in singing and plenty of enthusiasm!
Community Chorus Every Wed 21 Jan - 25 Feb (excluding 4 Feb) 6.30pm (2hrs) Ages 21+ Pay As You Go: ÂŁ8 per session ÂŁ40 for 5 weeks of workshops 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.
Support Scheme Available: Chickenshed strives to make all of its activities open to everyone. If the cost of this activity prevents you from attending please contact Matthew Lyons, Head of Membership, on 020 8216 2721 or matthewl@chickenshed.org.uk.
Performance workshops for young people Saturday Shed Every Sat 24 Jan - 21 Mar (excluding 7 Mar) 5-8yrs for Year 1 and up (10am) 9-12yrs for up to Year 8 (11.15am) Dance Studio (60mins) Pay As You Go: £6 per session Termly Membership: pre-register for all 8 workshops for a 25% discount A great opportunity for young people to develop their performance skills using our proven teaching methods and unique performance style. Led by our highly experienced and energetic staff, each fun session will involve movement, drama, singing and storymaking. Every workshop is different and designed so that a child of any ability can come to all sessions, or drop in to one session from time to time.
Feb Shed Mon 16 - Fri 20 Feb | 10am - 4pm* Ages Year 1-8 | £130 | 50% discount for siblings
Easter Shed Tue 7 - Fri 10 Apr | 10am - 4pm Ages Year 1-8 | £105 | 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. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience. Participants will need to bring a packed lunch and snacks, and they will be supervised by Chickenshed staff during lunchtimes and breaks. *The performance on Fri 20 Feb will be at Chickenshed but we will be using a nearby alternative venue during the week - please check our website nearer the time for details.
Study at Chickenshed BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Two-year full time course. Equivalent to three A-levels. Foundation Degree in Inclusive Performance The FdA course is a two-year full time course, leading to a nationally recognised qualification. BA Degree in Inclusive Performance Study with us for a further year after the FdA course to gain a full BA degree qualification.
Chickenshed offers a unique opportunity to learn and perform in a working theatre. We have flexible entry requirements because we appreciate that talent and passion can’t always be measured by exam results. We have a great success rate both in retaining students and achieving results - our recent successes include a 98% pass rate for our BTEC course and 25% of our recent graduates achieving the equivalent of a First on our Foundation Degree. We are also rated ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED. Applications close August 2015. Bursaries available. Find out more and apply by visiting the website or contacting
Zoe Hayes, Education Coordinator zoeh@chickenshed.org.uk 020 8216 2729 www.chickenshed.org.uk/courses
support act, Chickenshed Bar (45mins) go to Chickenshed to support our work. Comedy and7pm 8.30pm main act, Chickenshed Bar (3hrs) Music nights
All proceeds from comedy and music events
Comedy Night Thu 26 Feb 8pm | Chickenshed Bar (3hrs) Ages 16+ | £10 adv | £12 Comedy Nights at Chickenshed are fast becoming the place to be for a relaxed and very funny night out, attracting well-known headline acts as well as showcasing rising stars. The full line-up of acts will be confirmed on our website nearer the time. Please check for details or visit www.chickenshed.org.uk/register and join our e-list to be the first to hear!
Live music with Jo Collins & Friends Sat 24 Jan | Sat 28 Mar 8.30pm | Chickenshed Bar (3hrs) £9 adv and concs | £11 Jo Collins is an immensely talented singer-songwriter and is Director of Music at Chickenshed. Backed by her in-house band, Jo plays a thrilling set of eclectic covers taking in pop, soul, funk and folk. During the evening guests are also welcome to take to the stage for a song or two as part of this fun, relaxed and highly enjoyable Saturday night event.
Jazz nights
7pm support act, Chickenshed Bar (45mins) 8.30pm main act, Chickenshed Bar (3hrs)
Julian Marc Stringle presents ‘It’s Clazzical’ Fri 30 Jan | £15 adv | £17 2014 British Jazz Awards nominee Julian Marc Stringle and his Dream Band join forces with Sonia Slany’s Solid Strings to perform their brilliant and original fusion of jazz-funk and classic melodies. ‘Julian is an immense talent. His performance has ‘worldclass’ written all over it. He has given a much neglected instrument a new lease of life.’ Sir John Dankworth
Alec Dankworth presents ‘World Spirit’ Fri 27 Mar | £15 adv | £17 Electric and acoustic jazz bassist Alec Dankworth returns to Chickenshed to present a remarkable evening of global song and jazz, taking in South America, Europe and Africa, including tunes written by the likes of Ellington, Handy, Jobim, Ibrahim and Flek. The exceptional line-up continues with jazz soloists Brandon Allen on tenor sax, Emily Dankworth on vocals and Paul Clarvis on percussion.
The Clarinet Maestros
with Julian Marc Stringle and Ken Peplowski Fri 24 Apr | £15 adv | £17
Jazz at Chickenshed is supported by County Instruments
Renowned American clarinet ace Ken Peplowski and Europe’s foremost jazz clarinettist Julian Marc Stringle will be backed by phenomenal pianist Craig Milverton’s Trio, featuring Sandy Suchodolski on bass and Nick Milward on drums, for an evening of sparkling swing and unforgettable ballads from Sammy Cahn, Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse, the Gershwins and many more. ‘Ken Peplowski is arguably the greatest living Swing clarinettist.’ Russell Davies
Support us Virgin Money London Marathon Sun 26 Apr Voted number 1 in the world’s top 10 marathons by Runner’s World, the London Marathon is a fantastic road race through the capital’s sights. A fast and flat course, it gives runners a great chance to set personal bests. With direct entries for 2015 closed, running for Chickenshed is a brilliant way to ensure you can get a place. If you would like more information or to apply contact
Jacqui McLeod on jacquim@chickenshed.org.uk or call 020 8216 2790.
London to Paris Cycle Challenge Thu 11 - Sun 14 Jun Registration: £99 | Minimum sponsorship: £1,450 Get on your bike for Chickenshed! We’re looking for adventurous cyclists to take on this iconic route from London to Paris. You’ll be joining a group of 100 people for a 3-day ride covering nearly 500km. Along the way you’ll be accompanied by an experienced support team and support vehicles and will stay overnight in hotels. This is a challenge like no other, and the sense of achievement you’ll experience will be one you’ll treasure forever. If you would like more information or to apply contact
Madeline Cross on madelinec@chickenshed.org.uk or call 020 8216 2768.
How to book
Donate a ticket
By phone or in person call the Box Office on 020 8292 9222 (18001 020 8292 9222 TypeTalk) Online www.chickenshed.org.uk (£1.50 booking fee) Email bookings@chickenshed.org.uk Tickets can be collected from Box Office or posted to you for 35p StubHub! Discounted theatre tickets for 13-25 year olds thanks to StubHub!. See show pages.
Please support our initiative which enables young people who couldn’t otherwise afford to go to the theatre to see a Chickenshed show. Call or email the Box Office to donate.
Getting here Tube: Oakwood or Cockfosters (10-12 minutes walk).
Bus: 298, 299, 307 and N91 stop outside
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. 24
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Support us There are a number of fun and rewarding ways you can support our work and secure Chickenshed’s future. Find out more at www.chickenshed.org.uk/supportus
Friends Scheme Join Chickenshed’s Friends Scheme from just £7 a month. Visit www.chickenshed.org.uk/friends for details.
the theatre. 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
Access 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. Sennheiser infra-red system headsets or neck loops are available and can be reserved via the Box Office. Our venue is wheelchair accessible and wheelchair spaces can be booked for performances. To request a large print or audio version of our season brochure please email accessbookings@chickenshed.org.uk or call the Box Office. Visit www.chickenshed.org.uk/access for more information.