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WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY PRODUCTION OF RICHARD III? For information on auditions and to find out how you can get involved visit www.curveonline.co.uk/get-involved/auditions
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SAT 25 JUL – SUN 9 AUG • STUDIO
A6 – Oadby Market Harborough
A426 – Lutterworth M1(S)
22 APR – 6 MAY 2015
GETTING HERE
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A CURVE COMMUNITY PRODUCTION
Curve is in the heart of Leicester City Centre in the Cultural Quarter. It is very convenient for public transport and car parking. Parking at the NCP car park next door is just £4.40 for Curve customers. Simply validate your ticket at Curve during your visit or pre-order parking when booking tickets online. For sat navs, use post code LE1 1TQ. Alternative parking is also available at the Queen Street Car Park, Queen Street, Leicester, LE1 1QW
TICKETS: 0116 242 3595 • WWW.CURVEONLINE.CO.UK
WELCOME Welcome to Inside Out Festival 2015 celebrating extraordinary artistic talent from across the East Midlands. In an exhilarating twoweek programme, we are thrilled to showcase new drama, dance, spoken word and music made by over 500 local artists. All of the shows presented in this year’s Inside Out Festival are made possible through year-round programmes at Curve that nurture our region’s talent. 1
At the heart of this year’s festival is the European première of the stunning new play Shiv by major American playwright Aditi Brennan Kapil. As well as the shows on our stages, we are excited to unveil the pop up Inside Out Studio 2 during the festival, where our Breakthrough Artists will showcase a range of brand new shows including new musicals, spoken word, and hip hop theatre. We also have many classes on offer, so anyone
looking to develop their own creative talents can participate in a range of dance, acting and playwriting sessions. None of these ground-breaking performances and events would be possible without our many supporters and of course our audiences – we hope you will all enjoy trying something new this festival! SUBA DAS CURVE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR DOWNLOAD YOUR FESTIVAL PLANNER AT
www.curveonline.co.uk/get-involved/inside-out-festival/
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SEE MORE FOR LESS WITH THE
COMBINE TWO SHOWS FOR JUST £10*. OR £12* WHEN BOOKING FOR THREE SHOWS. Available on shows marked with
Festival Ticket must be booked in person or by calling our Ticket Office on 0116 242 3595
TICKET 3
*
TICKET
Join the conversation @CurveLeicester #InsideOut
*Subject to availability. All shows must be booked together and offer cannot be redeemed against previous bookings. Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
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A CURVE PRODUCTION
WED 22 – SAT 25 APR • STUDIO Shiv is the heart-breaking and hilarious new play by leading American playwright, Aditi Brennan Kapil. This European première follows young American woman Shiv and her quest to find out the truth about her father, an aspiring poet who moved his family from India to the US, seeking a better life.
BY
ADITI BRENNAN KAPIL DIRECTED BY
SUBA DAS
“Rich in feeling, wide in scope, and teeming with poetry.” 5
The New York Times on the work of Aditi Brennan Kapil
As the beautiful and enigmatic Shiv begins a summer romance, the ghosts of her childhood begin to appear, and we learn of her loving but ultimately devastating relationship with her Star-Trek-obsessed Dad. Filled with sharp, witty observations on 21st century multicultural society, this stunning new play explores what it means to live in two worlds at once. Directed by Curve Associate Director Suba Das (Abigail’s Party, Pereira’s Bakery At 76 Chapel Road, Ok Tata Bye Bye), Shiv will form the centrepiece of Curve’s Inside Out Festival, and is created by an award-winning team from across the East Midlands. Associated Workshop available, see Common Wealth Theatre Workshop on page 21.
PERFORMANCE TIMES Wed – Sat 7.45pm Sat 2.30pm TICKETS £12* – £8* DISCOUNTED TICKETS £5* Under 26s 15% off for Members AFTER SHOW DISCUSSIONS (FREE)
Join Suba Das and the Shiv cast for a series of free post-show conversations with leading British Asian artists. FRI 24 APR: South Asian Women in a Western World: Discussion with Aisha Zia and Evie Branning, Common Wealth Theatre SAT 25 APR (2.30pm): Whose Sari Now: Performance extract and discussion with Rani Moorthy, Rasa Theatre *Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
TICKET
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Join Curve’s Affiliate Community Groups as they present three unique shows on our theatre stage.
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Nupur Arts, 2Funky Arts and Kainé Management Ltd run classes at Curve throughout the year. To find out how you can get involved visit: www.curveonline.co.uk/get-involved
NUPUR ARTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW
2FUNKY ARTS presents
KAINÉ MANAGEMENT LTD presents
FRI 24 APR, 7.30PM • THEATRE
SAT 25 APR, 7PM • THEATRE
WED 29 APR, 6PM • THEATRE
Nupur Arts celebrate their 25th Anniversary with a thrilling dance extravaganza. This show for all ages will feature Bollywood, street, jazz, tap and modern dance styles, as well as the one that started it all, Bharata Natyam.
This massive urban dance competition sees the most talented crews with the fiercest moves battle it out to win a whopping £1000 prize.
Oh Happy Days – The Finalé is the culmination event of an exciting singing project that has seen the development of ten school gospel choirs and one community choir in Leicester City and County. The finale performance will feature all choirs together with a special guest appearance by Bizzi Dixon (The Voice UK).
TICKETS £14* – £8*
LEICESTER’S BEST DANCE CREW
Featuring a special performance from 2014 winners DMU Steppers, expect stunning dance routines, with jaw-dropping moves!
TICKETS £16* – £10*
OH HAPPY DAYS – THE FINALE
TICKETS £10* – £6*
Join the conversation @CurveLeicester #InsideOut DOWNLOAD YOUR FESTIVAL PLANNER AT
www.curveonline.co.uk/get-involved/inside-out-festival/
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*Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
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INSIDE OUT PARK
INSIDE OUT PARK Highlights during the festival will include:
FAFUNIA
BBC INTRODUCING
SAT 2 MAY, 10AM – 3PM • MEZZANINE
THU 23 APR
The official launch of our Park space will include a barnstorming set by some of the East Midlands best new bands. WRITING EAST MIDLANDS PRESENTS
LYRIC LOUNGE SAT 25 APR
ENJOY A FULL PROGRAMME OF FREE ENTERTAINMENT AT OUR INSIDE OUT PARK The Inside Out Park is a breathtaking transformation of our foyer, designed by Kate Unwin. Drawing on Curve’s treasure trove of theatre scenery, props and furniture to create a fantastical nature-inspired wonderland, it is full of spaces to hang out during the festival. Why not grab a drink, pick up a script of a past Curve production and chill-out between shows?
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*Wed 22, Thu 23, Fri 24, Wed 29, Thu 30 Apr, Fri 1, Tue 5, Wed 6 May
On our Park Stage you will find free music and spoken word performances by some of the city’s most exciting talents open from 6pm to 10pm on weekdays*; and from 10am to 10pm on Saturdays, come and experience an eclectic programme suitable for all the family.
Keep an eye on our website for updates on the full programme www.curveonline.co.uk
DEVELOPED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CURVE THEATRE, LEICESTER
This spoken word extravaganza will be compered by rising Leicester star Jess Green, see page 11.
MAINSTREAM PARTNERSHIP WED 29 APR
A culturally diverse mix of artists and arts practitioners across the region, will present a unique showcase of international music, poetry and more.
Fafunia is a playful, interactive adventure for children aged 4 and up. Join Mr Imaginator as he gets ready for a celebration of imagination. Become a beautifully bizarre creature, make a mud house and help build a new home for Mr Imaginator. This is a magical new world for you to build, discover and imagine. The adventure starts with you… #Fafunia
FREE
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THE LYRIC LOUNGE
PERFORMANCE POETRY WORKSHOP WITH DEBORAH STEVENSON
OPEN MIC
SAT 25 APR, 10.30AM • SEMINAR ROOM B
A great opportunity to take to our stage and share your vocal talents.
The Mouthy Poets founder, passionate about giving everyone a voice, will guide you through techniques for generating and developing ideas. A space to try and share new things. Suitable for ages 14+.
FREE*
LETTERS THROUGH YOUR DOOR SAT 25 APR, 11.15AM • INSIDE OUT PARK This fun and exciting album and stage show for families is written and performed by award-winning songwriter David Gibb. Enjoy a performance packed full of catchy, toe tapping numbers featuring original songs as well as children’s songs from around the world.
FREE
Lyric Lounge – the pop-up live literature festival delivered by Writing East Midlands – will come to Curve on Sat 25 Apr for a full day of performances, workshops, open mics and jams, as part of the Inside Out Festival.
Join the conversation @CurveLeicester #InsideOut 11
With lots of fun on offer for children and families, events on the day will include:
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SING-A-LONG SILLINESS WITH DAVID GIBB SAT 25 APR, 1PM – 2.30PM • SEMINAR ROOM B David Gibb is an award-winning song writer and storyteller making music for little people, big people and everyone else in between. Come and help David make some new songs, and perhaps even help him perform them later, in this fun workshop for children and their families.
FREE*
*All events are FREE but advance booking is required.
SAT 25 APR, 12.30PM – 1.30PM • INSIDE OUT PARK
FREE
LIVING FOR THE CITY SAT 25 APR, 1.30PM • INSIDE OUT PARK An exploration of city life and sounds in the East Midlands through a hand-picked soundtrack of poetry and spoken word presented by Andrew ‘Mulletproof’ Graves, Panya Banjoko, Joe Coghlan and Spice (Jo-Anne Blackwood), with beats and music by DJ Psykhomantus. This event is curated by Melanie Abrahams and produced by renaissance one.
FREE
NARRATIVE MOVES WITH JOHN BERKAVITCH SAT 25 APR, 1.45PM • RR3 John Berkavitch is one of the UK’s most respected voices on the spoken word scene. His most recent work pioneers a combination of narrative spoken-word, hip-hop and contemporary dance, illustration, animation and music. Join him to explore how movement can give texture and change the pace of your narrative and performance.
FREE*
DOWNLOAD YOUR FESTIVAL PLANNER AT
www.curveonline.co.uk/get-involved/inside-out-festival/
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DEVELOPED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CURVE THEATRE, LEICESTER
DEVELOPED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CURVE THEATRE, LEICESTER
MOUTHY POETS
SHEEP SOUP PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS
MRS GREEN: THE MUSICAL
FEATURING JOHN BERKAVITCH
SAT 25 APR, 4.30PM INSIDE OUT STUDIO 2
FRI 24 APR, 9.30PM & SAT 25 APR, 12.15PM INSIDE OUT STUDIO 2 Photographer: Ashley Bird
Grab a seat at Mrs Green’s for a hilarious and heartwarming musical experience you’ll never forget. From her humble council flat, an ageing soul legend gathers her closest friends for one last hurrah. In association with Nottingham’s BAFTA awardwinning Television Workshop, Sheep Soup Productions bring you laughter, tears and catchy original songs inspired by the great soul and Motown divas... they will be stuck in your head for weeks!
Workshop available. See page 21
#MrsGreenTheMusical
TICKETS £6*
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“A reminder that life is a bull
to be grabbed by the horns!” Metro
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“A wonderful and truly endearing piece.” Edfringe Review
Mouthy Poets will unpack their suitcase and tell their stories using a unique blend of performance poetry, film and music. Their performance as part of Lyric Lounge will include a headline performance by Leicester’s own poetry giant, John Berkavitch, supported by Apples and Snakes. Berkavitch will treat us to an exclusive preview of his latest show, WRONG, which is supported by Breakin' Convention and Arts Council England. Suitable for ages 14+. #MouthyPoets
TICKETS £6* Workshops available, see page 12.
“A unique theatrical experience with a toetapping soundtrack.” Pop-Up Nottingham
*Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
TICKET
TICKET
*Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
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DEVELOPED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CURVE THEATRE, LEICESTER
CURVE YOUNG COMPANY PRESENTS
WANDERLUST
THE ACCORDION SHOP
SAT 25 APR, 8PM INSIDE OUT STUDIO 2
WED 29 & THU 30 APR, 7PM • STUDIO
THE GRAMOPHONES PRESENTS
BY CUSH JUMBO DIRECTED BY POOJA GHAI
Performed by Curve Young Company, The Accordion Shop by Olivier Award nominated writer Cush Jumbo, is a response to the London riots of 2011.
After last year's sell out, Small Acts Of Protest, the Gramophones return with Wanderlust. Armed each with a dictaphone and a pair of wellington boots, three women began a search to satisfy their lust for adventure. Hunting in forgotten corners of rural Britain, they each hoped to bring back the most exciting tale. What they found instead was something so much better…
Mister Ellody has quietly kept his accordion shop going on his local high street for generations. One day, he steps out of his door and witnesses an extraordinary incident: hundreds of young people are surging onto the street, and they’ve all received the same text message on their phones which simply says “RIOT. THE ROAD. 7pm TONIGHT.”
Wanderlust brings together a touching assortment of remarkable stories from very ordinary but very wonderful people. Woven together with original, live folk music, this is a funny, uplifting and beautiful production.
The play forms part of the National Theatre’s Connections programme for young people and will also be performed at the Warwick Arts Centre.
#Wanderlust
TICKETS £6* “Each of their shows has the “A search for happiness feeling of being a special & fulfilment by looking event, subtly unique and for real things in life unrepeatable.” with excellent music.” HATCH on The Gramophones
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#TheAccordionShop
“Witty lyrics and imaginative storytelling combine to create one hour of pure enjoyment.”
TICKETS £6*
Audience member
Rural Arts
*Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
TICKET
*Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
TICKET
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DEVELOPED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CURVE THEATRE, LEICESTER
DEVELOPED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CURVE THEATRE, LEICESTER
CHICKEN DUST
2MAGPIES THEATRE PRESENTS
VENTOUX
BY BEN WEATHERILL
WINNER OF CURVE’S PLAYWRITING COMPETITION 2014
WED 29 & THU 30 APR, 8.30PM INSIDE OUT STUDIO 2
SAT 2 MAY, 5.30PM INSIDE OUT STUDIO 2
“Ventoux is a God of Evil, to which sacrifices must be made.” Roland Barthes
A chicken farm in rural England. New boy Tim has just arrived for his first shift. The job is pretty simple: grab chickens seven at a time by their legs and ram them into cages for shipping. All of this in the dark, stomping around, ankle deep in chicken shit, muck and mud.
Mont Ventoux, the scene of the greatest ever stage of the Tour de France between Lance Armstrong and Marco Pantani. Their two lives, mirrored until that point, would never be the same again. Armstrong lost the race and just five years later Pantani lost his life. Now one is revered, the other disgraced.
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Ventoux is an incredible story about internal struggle, and the lengths we go to in order to achieve and succeed.
“A stunning, engaging and unusual piece.”
Featuring dynamic staging with projection, live and archive footage, 2Magpies Theatre use their unique storytelling to create a moving and inspirational theatre experience.
“Barnes and Wilks are fantastic storytellers.”
#Ventoux
TICKETS £6* 17
Workshop available, see page 21.
Stage Talk Magazine on 2Magpies Theatre’s The Litvinenko Project Nottingham Tab on 2Magpies Theatre
But the chickens are dying, rotting from the inside out. As disease spreads and pressure mounts, enter Oscar, the meticulous poultry inspector... This brand new play is a hard-hitting exploration of the human cost of our enormous appetite for cheap meat. Supported by Curve, Finborough Theatre, IdeasTap, Writing East Midlands and BBC Writersroom.
“There was a real feeling that anything could happen.”
Workshop available, see page 22.
#ChickenDust
Nottingham Arts Blog on 2Magpies Theatre’s The Litvinenko Project
*Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
His teammates are old-timers. This band of survivors don’t want much – just to stay in the countryside, catch the chickens, and earn the best living they can.
TICKET
TICKETS £6* *Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
TICKET
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DEVELOPED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CURVE THEATRE, LEICESTER
CURVE YOUNG COMPANY PRESENTS A WORKSHOP PRODUCTION OF
BILLY BOW
OFF THE FENCE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS
GIRLS WITH BALLS
A NEW MUSICAL BY ANDREW FISHER & IAN TALBOT DIRECTED BY THOMAS HESCOTT
BY ALISON DUNNE • DIRECTED BY GARY PHILLPOTT
FRI 1 & SAT 2 MAY, 8.30PM INSIDE OUT STUDIO 2
TUE 5 & WED 6 MAY, 7PM • STUDIO Inspired by a true, if tangled, tale from the Napoleonic War, Billy Bow is about a young, black Englishwoman named Mina.
Football – it’s a game of two sexes. In 1921, with women’s football at the peak of its popularity, the FA banned women players from their grounds.
Desperate to escape her murderous husband and captivated by her late father’s stories of the sea, Mina disguises herself as a man, Billy Bow, and joins the wartime British Navy. But she soon discovers the harsh reality of life aboard HMS Cormorant.
Leicester writer Alison Dunne tackles football and feminism head on with this new play inspired by true events.
Encountering danger, storm and battle, she finds friendship, respect and even love. However, Billy is menaced by another sailor, racist ex-slaver, Miller, who threatens to uncover her secret and get her sent back to the brutal embrace of her husband.
From factory girls to following your dreams, Girls With Balls takes an imaginative journey to reveal the true spirit behind the beautiful game.
After past musical triumphs, The Dreaming and Honk!, Curve Young Company's workshop production of Billy Bow features a soaring soundtrack and is a beautiful tale of triumph over cruelty and prejudice.
#GirlsWithBalls
TICKETS £6*
#BillyBow
Off The Fence workshop available, see page 22. 19
*Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
TICKETS £6* TICKET
*Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
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WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Inspired by our line-up of extraordinary artists? Then why not take part in one of our many workshops and classes...
COMMON WEALTH THEATRE: DEVISING TESTIMONIAL THEATRE FRI 24 APR, 10AM – 1PM OR 2PM – 5PM • SEMINAR ROOM A Fresh from a sell-out run at London's South Bank Centre, Common Wealth Theatre (winners of the Scotsman Edinburgh Fringe First Award, 2014 and the Amnesty International Special Commendation, 2013) offer a practical masterclass for writers, directors and theatremakers of all abilities on how to devise new theatre from verbatim text. Gain an insight into their unique devising process, which uses real people and places as a starting point. Please attend with a social issue or news item that you would like to explore! £3* or FREE when booking with Shiv either in person or when calling our Ticket Office on 0116 242 3595.
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SHEEP SOUP PRODUCTIONS: ACTING & IMPROVISATION
ACTORS CENTRE: AUDITION TECHNIQUES
FRI 24 APR • RR3 • 6PM Explore Sheep Soup's contemporary, naturalistic improvisational style in an exclusive workshop, developed alongside the BAFTA award-winning Television Workshop. Sheep Soup’s collaborative approach to performance promotes generosity, freedom and the confidence to keep every moment on stage highlycharged and full of purpose. Throw yourself in!
FRI 1 MAY 11.30AM – 5.30PM & SAT 2 MAY 10.30AM – 4.30PM SEMINAR ROOM A This two-day workshop, led by Sarah Hughes, Casting Director for Alan Aykbourn, is designed to give you lots of practice in all sorts of mock audition situations. You will work on a quick-fire mix of many different types of potential auditions. This workshop is aimed at an advanced level and for professional actors only. To apply or for more information, email the Actors Centre on reception@actorscentre.co.uk
£3*
2MAGPIES THEATRE COMPANY: DEVISING POLITICAL THEATRE THU 30 APR, 4PM – 6PM • RR3 Join 2Magpies Theatre to explore how real stories and real sources are portrayed in their performances – provoking questions about what it means to perform, to act and to represent real people. They will also be exploring how this mode of performance combines with technology to build the theatrical environment of the Tour de France in their Inside Out Festival show: Ventoux.
£3*
£60
ACTORS CENTRE: INTRODUCTION TO SCREEN ACTING FRI 1 MAY 11.30AM – 5.30PM & SAT 2 MAY 10.30AM – 4.30PM RR3 This course, led by Stephen Billington, is an exciting, dynamic and creative introduction to acting for camera. You will gain experience of the technical demands of acting on film, explore the differences between stage and screen acting and develop techniques that will help you produce powerful on-screen
*Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
performances. Working in a small group you will look at camera shots, characterisation, hitting marks, technical jargon, close-ups, movement and continuity. Suitable for those with little or no experience of acting on screen. To apply or for more information, email the Actors Centre on reception@actorscentre.co.uk
£110
POP CIRCUS: SUPERPOWERED CIRCUS WORKSHOP SAT 2 MAY, 10AM – 6PM • RR1 Have you ever dreamed about having a super human ability? If you did, what would it be like and how would it effect your life? Open to anyone aged 14-17 who is interested in exploring theatre, circus and movement, this free 1 day workshop will give you the chance to let your imagination run wild. From the team behind ZooNation shows such as Some Like It Hip Hop, you'll work with circus expert Kaveh Rahnama from the National Centre for Circus Arts and Curve Associate Director Suba Das, to learn some simple circus and drama skills and use these to create a story unique to you. Presented by Curve theatre in partnership with National Centre for Circus Arts and Popcorn Storm Productions.
£3*
OFF THE FENCE THEATRE COMPANY: WRITING WITH ACTORS IN MIND SAT 2 MAY, 12.30PM – 2.30PM SEMINAR ROOM B Suitable for anyone interested in writing for theatre this workshop will enable you to explore the collaborative process between writer and actor. Using extracts of contemporary text, you will gain an insight into how a script may be interpreted by actor and director.
£3*
BBC WRITERSROOM: TOP TIPS ON SCREENWRITING SAT 2 MAY, 3PM SEMINAR ROOM B Ever wondered how to send your script to the BBC? What grabs them and what puts them off? Join Joanna Blake, BBC Writersroom Development Producer, who will provide invaluable tips on script writing, outline the submission process and answer questions on screenwriting. Beginners and experienced writers welcome. bbc.co.uk/writersroom @bbcwritersroom #BBCGetCreative
FREE
JOÊL DANIEL: BREAKDANCE & HIP HOP CLASS SAT 2 MAY, 6.30PM • RR3 Join Curve Breakthrough Artist and award winning choreographer, Joêl Daniel for an expressive journey through break dance and hip hop. This workshop will include repertoire from previous works and techniques that will give you the opportunity to create your own style and practice. Some breaking experience is useful, but the most important thing is passion, curiosity and energy. Suitable for ages 14+
£3*
DOWNLOAD YOUR FESTIVAL PLANNER AT
www.curveonline.co.uk/ get-involved/inside-out-festival/
*Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.
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