Summer of culture

20 | July 4, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News

Theatre, film and art festival round-up

Summer of culture In last week’s What’s On we brought you a happy-go-lucky run-down of all the local music events. But as we delved into the swirly, artsy world of festivals, we realised we’d missed a trick or two by just focusing on the music side of cider and sun-drenched summer partying. So, to rectify that, over the next four pages is ELLA WALKER’s guide to the best on offer locally in the spheres of theatre, art, writing, film and comedy. Go be cultural.

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HE Junction has real knack for supporting up and coming talent, and the Hotbed Festival is just another example of how wonderful they are at it. Joining forces with the Menagerie Theatre Company in Cambridge – who are firm believers in ‘Thinking Through Theatre’ – they are hosting four days of events, workshops and shows in various states of completion. Here’s what you should expect:

What’s Up Doc?

This strand of the festival uses six short plays, performed in pairs, to tackle some big questions. The collaborative pieces have been devised with expert help from ‘Docs’ – ie leading experts in their fields – and take in the absorbing, mystifying subjects of landing on the moon, death, sleep, how to begin somewhere (or somehow), dithering and the art of disappearing.

One Act Plays

Three one-act plays have been exclusively commissioned for the festival, showcasing the talents of some truly up and coming playwrights.

Why Can’t We Live Together? by Steve Waters is a breakneck-paced look at life amidst the War on Terror; bloominauschwitz by Richard Fredman explores the trials and adventures of the charming Leopold Bloom as he tears through European history; and Swimming by Jane Upton discusses how tough it is to forge your own path and escape from home (in this case, home is the Isle of Wight).

Hotbed Festival ᔡ Hotbed Festival: Cambridge New Writing Theatre Festival, Cambridge Junction, Thursday, July 11 to Sunday, July 14, at various times. Tickets individually priced from £3-£20, Saturday and Sunday day passes £28-£30 from (01223) 511511 or www.junction.co.uk

for by a Uruguayan immigrant); plus see artist Chris Dobrowolski’s All Roads Lead to Rome (he travels from Colchester to Rome in his Triumph Herald Estate), and actress Ellen Terry interprets Shakespeare’s ‘triumphant’ women.

Works in Progress and Readings

The festival isn’t just about perfectly polished pieces of theatre, it’s also a chance for people to try out new

Guest Productions

Some leading theatre companies are also getting in on the act. Little Bulb Theatre is presenting Squally Showers, a “fantastical balletic farce” chock-a-block full of bizarre characters; 3er Drama is showcasing El General Darcy y la Chica (a tale of a British general being cared

Editor: Paul Kirkley Writer: Ella Walker Email: whatson@cambridge-news.co.uk, ella.walker@cambridge-news.co.uk

material and see what works, and what doesn’t. Genetics, chance, choices and the difficulties of life and love are topics explored in three pieces still being worked on, while Cambridge scriptwriting group WRiTEON will also share the best some of their members have to offer – you might even be tempted to join them.

Workshops

Budding playwrights and directors can cut their teeth in the world of theatre in a series of specialist workshops – come armed with ideas and prepare to soak everything up.

Learn the art of writing the perfectly metred, perfectly rhyming pop poem with

performance poet Luke Wright; pick up a knack for staging, developing characters and directing with Jim Culleton, the artistic director of Fishamble; get your head around using plays to communicate at On Thinking in Public; and get practical with acclaimed writer Fraser Grace in What Just Happened?

One Page Play Competition

The shortlist has been confirmed and this year 25 one-page plays (including a selection written by under-16s), are set to be performed live with the audience acting as the judging panel. You’ll get to vote on your favourite pieces (do you want funny? heartfelt? awkward? disturbing?), and the overall winner will get £125 to donate to their charity of choice. There will be heats throughout the festival, with the final at 10pm on the Sunday. n For more information and a breakdown of the full line-up, visit www.junction.co.uk.

Cambridge News | cambridge-news.co.uk | July 4, 2013 | 21

CHECK OUR OUR EVENTS CALENDAR AT CAMBRIDGE-NEWS.CO.UK/WHATSON – AND ADD YOUR OWN

Win tickets to see The Amen Corner at the National Theatre

HOT STUFF: Main picture, Menagerie Theatre; above, Jane Upton in Swimming; below left, Silent, featuring Pat Kinevane; and Squally Showers by the Little Bulb Theatre; facing page, astronaut Alfred Merril Worden, who features in a What’s Up Doc short play, What Did It Feel Like to Go to the Moon?

RUFUS Norris (Table, London Road, Death and the King’s Horseman) returns to direct an exhilarating new production of James Baldwin’s celebrated play The Amen Corner at the National Theatre in London.

Running until Wednesday, August 14, Marianne JeanBaptiste plays Sister Margaret and is joined

by Sharon D Clarke and Lucian Msamati.

As the Gospel singing soars, Sister Margaret, uncompromising pastor of her Harlem church, has a congregation in revolt against her hardline leadership. Their resentment escalates with the return of her absentee husband, a trombone-playing sinner, and the wayward conduct of her son. Charges of hypocrisy hang in the air and Margaret’s devout world looks perilously close to falling apart.

Beautifully expressed through the rousing beat of the gospel choir, the community’s sense of love, grief and spiritual survival will be given full voice by the Company and the London Community Gospel Choir.

What’s On has have five pairs of tickets to give away to see the show, valid Monday-Saturday (excluding Saturday evening) until Tuesday, July 30, subject to availability.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question: Q. What is the name of The Amen

O u td o o r S um m er S cr ee ni ng s

IT’S tough to think of anything better than a blanket, a picnic and a massive screen projecting the beautiful, bearded face of Ben Affleck against the sky. Or Daniel Craig – I’d happily take that scenario with a suited and booted Daniel Craig too.

The guys at the Cambridge Film Festival clearly had the same dream.

For their annual summer series of outdoor screenings (more family day out in the park than Greasestyle drive-in, but still, I’m sure you’ll be able to find hotdogs and popcorn from somewhere), Argo and Skyfall are already on the bill.

This year you will once again

ᔡ Cambridge Film Festival: Outdoor Summer Screenings, various dates, prices and locations throughout July, August and September. Visit www. cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk

be able to catch films outside at Grantchester Meadows, the Varsity Hotel roof terrace and Jesus Green Lido, but also the Newmarket Memorial Gardens and Childerley Hall in Dry Drayton.

However, we’re most excited about a series of three screenings in the grounds of the exclusive and historic Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket. Usually not open

to the public, the Jockey Rooms will be flung open for film fanatics from August 29-30 for Argo, Skyfall and Quartet (tickets are already on sale and cost £12.50 from www. picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Arts_ Picturehouse_Cambridge/).

And then it’s just a hop, skip and a month or two until the full, twoweek long Cambridge Film Festival in September (19-29).

Can’t wait that long? The outdoor cinema programme will officially kick off on Saturday with free films at the festival’s pop-up cinema tent on Parker’s Piece at The Big Weekend 2013.

Corner’s director?

Send your answer, together with your name, address and daytime phone number to Amen Corner Competition, PO Box 268, Cambridge CB24 6HF, to arrive no later than Friday, July 12.

Or you can email the answer, together with your details to competitions@cambridge-news. co.uk.

Please put “Amen Corner competition” in the subject box.

Your details may be used by Cambridge Newspapers and shared with interested third parties. If you would prefer for your details not to be used in this way please write the words ’NO CONTACT’ in the subject box of your email or on the front of your envelope.

22 | July 4, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News

The critical list: more hot tickets

Words: Ella Walker

Summer of culture

Cambridge Open Studios ᔡ Cambridge Open Studios, various locations in and around Cambridge, Saturday – Sunday, every weekend in July, 11am – 6pm. Free entry. Visit www.camopenstudios.co.uk ART fiends can employ their skills as nosy neighbours during Cambridge Open Studios this summer. Over four weekends in July more than 260 local artists will be throwing open the doors of their studios, workspaces and galleries for the general public – and it’s free. Chat, muse, buy art and be inspired.

Here are our quick fire picks from each discipline: Ceramics – Rachel Dormer’s porcelain tableware is simple, classic and lovingly made Drawing – Roxana de Rond creates intricate, whimsical drawings overlaid with water colour Furniture making –John Lewis (no, not the department store), uses green wood in his work Digital art – Helen Imogen Field explores the beauty of India using an iPad Illustration – Debbie Bellaby’s quirky designs have won her a book deal featuring Fred the Fabulous Flamingo Jewellery – Emma Mitchell’s nature inspired silver filigree designs are bespoke and adorable Mixed media – the guys at Rowan Humberstone create earthy sculptures and 2D masterpieces Painting – Colin Wiles’ abstract paintings are pretty quirky Photography – Eleanor Curtis’ photos are black and white and use film with a focus on documentary Sculpture – Justin Rowe’s beautiful book sculptures are just stunning Textile art –Barbara Gronn’s machine embroidery is delicate and intricate Printmaking – see James Hill’s prints and have a go making your own at St Barnabas Press For specific dates, addresses and details of artists and venues taking part – and to download a programme – visit www.camopenstudios.co.uk.

Artists’ Marquee

Billed as: “Where art meets the countryside”, Burwash Manor is getting in on the Cambridge Open Studios act (more of which later), with its Artists’ Marquee this month.

The plan: four sunny July weekends, 14 artists. Reckon you can manage it?

There will be paintings, sculptures, illustrations, textiles, screen prints, photography, ceramics and illustrations to peruse during the event, and here are five of our favourite artists and designers to spot.

1. Andy McKenzie

The Cambridge based screen printer has a knack for making everyday objects sing, working with collage, paper prints, fabric and wood. Look out for his bright and quirky illustrations of retro radios with watercolour.

2. Alice Thompson

Working from her garden studio (very

arty!), Alice has overlaid an illustration degree with a fine art style. Her pieces bubble with colour, splashed with vibrancy and feature chalk, pastel, acrylic, pencil and water colour. Cambridge city is a regular muse.

3. Heather Stowell

Jeweller Heather has a passion for vintage buttons, particularly if they’re made from glass, enamel or mother of pearl.

The magpie collects and transforms the buttons into new contemporary designs, including necklaces, earrings and cufflinks.

Having taught art extensively in South Africa, where she grew up, Denise’s compositions are bright, bold and rammed with colour. We love her rainbow-drenched bird pieces.

Art Festival ᔡ Romsey Art Festival, Romsey area, launches on Saturday, August 3 and runs for two weeks. Visit http:// romseyartfestival2013.blogspot.co.uk. and ‘collabradoodle’, while Hope Street Yard is set to become a magical place of floating lanterns and installation art (the aim is to set your dreams free), and will be home to an arts and crafts market featuring local creators, if you’re in need of a good shop.

Local poets will get a chance to voice their ideas at a stand-up poetry evening (if you’re not already signed up but would quite like to give it a go, there will be open mic slots of the night), join a writing workshop and contribute to an artistic 2D map of the area which has become an on going project.

Basically, if you are at all creative, go along, celebrate Romsey’s diversity and see what you can achieve.

Edgy, arty and with a line-up filled with quirky, alternative bands you might not recognise now (but you will, oh you will by the end of the night): yep, it’s Wysing Arts Centre’s annual music festival.

This year it’s been titled Space Time: Convention T, and spins loosely on the theme of hidden systems and structures, featuring live music, spoken word, film, art and family activities.

All the action takes place across three outdoor stages (including the Amphis stage made out of recycled materials), at Wysing’s rural site, so pack a rain mac and a camping chair.

When it comes to the bands, Canandian electronic expert Aaron Funk, AKA Venetian Snares (the godfather of ‘breakcore’ apparently), is headlining the main stage, with the likes of Russell Haswell, Cut Hands and Blood Music, and

5. Laura Chaplin

Mixed media artist Laura uses printing, dying, colour removal and lamination techniques to create her multi layered art cloth. Her designs are incredibly intricate and look like they’d make beautiful wallpaper.

The Artists’ Marquee will kick off with a preview evening on Friday, July 5. All in aid of Tom’s Trust, so sip Pimm’s, try your luck in the art raffle (you could win a piece by one of the featured practitioners), and listen to live music from 5pm until 8pm.

Wysing Arts Centre, Space Time: Convention T

Romsey

The Romsey community in Cambridge has decided to showcase how artsy and cultural they are with the first ever Romsey Art Festival. Local venues and art groups are getting involved with some fun, collaborative projects for everyone to get stuck into.

The Cambridge Art Salon is hosting an eco-conscious clothes swap where you’ll be able to trade in old glad rags for new ones, keep your worn togs out of landfill by learning to up-cycle them and have your newly styled look immortalised in a photo booth.

Hot Numbers Café on Gwydir Street is hosting a Drink and Draw event with artist Sa’adiah Khan.

Bring along pens, paint, chalk and pencils for a social experiment

4. Denise Spalding

ᔡ Artists’ Marquee, Burwash Manor, Barton, Saturday – Sunday, every weekend in July, 10am – 6pm. Free entry. Visit www.burwashmanor.com

Wysing’s musician in residence Luke Abbott will be headlining the Amphis stage.

On the Open Studio Stage, artists Plastique Fantastique, visual performer (using lots of light) Benedict Drew and Margarita Gluzberg (who use 10 record players playing birdsong to create an immersive soundscape), will be showing what they can do.

While largely music based, techy families can get stuck into a handson workshop with the new Raspberry Pi. It’s a credit-card sized computer that plugs into TVs and keyboards

ᔡ Wysing Arts Centre, Space Time: Convention T, Wysing Arts Centre’s Bourn site, Saturday, August 31, noon until late. Tickets £15 - £30 from www. wysingartscentre.org – nifty, huh? And it was designed in Cambridge (of course).

Then there’s New York based artist Keren Cytter who will be showcasing a specially commissioned video piece-cum-live performance. Born in Israel, Keren’s work tends to explore the darker sides of life: sex, love, violence and murder. She’s joining forces with Keira Fox and Charlie Feinstein from Maria and the Mirrors, and David Aird of Vindicatrix (both will be playing live on stage too).

The foursome will have prepped and invented in-residence at Wysing before the festival, so it will definitely be worth discovering what they’ve come up with.

There will also be stalls and activities being run by arts groups, collectives and designer types, such as Bad Timing, Banner Repeater, CHEWDAY’S, Arnaud Desjardin, Candice Jacobs and more.

To find out more about the festival, check out Wysing director Donna Lynas’ blog at www.wysingartscentre. org/online/blog.

Cambridge News | cambridge-news.co.uk | July 4, 2013 | 23

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Cambridge Shakespeare Festival “C

ᔡ Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, various Cambridge University College Gardens, Monday, July 8 – Saturday, August 25 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £15, concessions £11 from (01223) 357851 / www.cambridgeshakespeare.com

As You Like It “ALL the world’s a stage,” wrote Shakespeare, but was he imagining it could be as bright and free-loving as the swinging sixties? Probably not. That’s what he’s getting though.

The playwright’s lovesick comedy As You Like It is set to be performed at the ADC by the Historyonics Theatre Company – the Cambridge based drama group with a penchant for all things historical – and it’s infinitely more flower power than usual. The troupe has re-envisioned the classic tale of Rosalind and Orlando with peace, love and daisy chains much higher on the agenda.

Beautiful Rosalind and downtrodden Orlando fall helplessly in love while at court, but separately find themselves

ᔡ As You Like It, The ADC Theatre, Tuesday, July 9 – Saturday, July 13 at 7.45pm. Tickets £9-£10 from (01223) 300085 / www. adctheatre.com banished and exiled; Rosalind for being a latent threat to Duke Ferdinand’s rule, and Orlando in fear of his brother’s murderous intentions.

They flee to the mysterious Forest of Arden, where Rosalind’s father, the exiled Duke Senior, is running a hippie commune, and Rosalind conceals her identity by dressing up as the boy Ganymede. Then along rambles Orlando, pining for Rosalind and happy to take instruction in the ways of love from saidGanymede. You can

AN one desire too much of a good thing?” Nope, we’re thinking not, and it looks like the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival (CSF) has a similar idea. Throughout July and August CSF is performing some of the greatest works of the Bard in some of the most secretive and exclusive University College gardens in the city.

Whether farce, romance or tragedy takes your fancy (or you’d just like to picnic and take a sneaky look at the greenery), you can settle down for a theatrical evening as the sun folds away. Doesn’t it sound romantic? The actors will be trussed up in full period costume and performing with live Elizabethan music to boot.

There are eight plays to choose from (or you can get a season ticket and go along to every single one), and they’ll be performed in the gardens of Robinson, Trinity, Downing, King’s, St John’s and Homerton College.

From Monday, July 8 – Saturday, July 27 you’ll be able to see the farcical The Comedy of Errors bubbling with slapstick and mishaps at Robinson College; the witty Much Ado About Nothing in which Beatrice and Benedick battle their affections at St John’s; the betrayal ridden Cymbeline shot through with troubles

see where this is going…

Expect some fun-loving hippy costumes, wild dancing and songs from The Kinks, The Lovin’ Spoonful and The Spencer Davis Group, as well as new original music written especially for the show. Director Chris Hudson said: “If there is one historical period I would love to have been around for, it is the 1960s, so setting this production in that era has been great fun. The cast have really enjoyed doing the hippy hippy Shake-speare!”

Good luck joining in with that.

of the heart at Downing; and of course, Romeo & Juliet, the greatest love story ever written – fact – at King’s.

From Monday, July 29 – Saturday, August 17, Homerton College gardens will overflow with the magical mysticism of fairy tale A Midsummer Night’s Dream, while the murderous and power-hungry Richard III will lose his temper at St John’s College, and Hamlet will see the ghost of his father at Trinity College.

From Monday, July 29 – Saturday, August 24 the final production, whimsical romantic comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona, will play out at Robinson College.

Do not miss out – regardless of the weather.