CONTEMPORARY ART THEATRE & COMEDY PERFORMANCE & SPOKEN WORD KIDS & FAMILY LIVE MUSIC & JAZZ DANCE
What’s On August 2015 – January 2016
SEE ART / MAKE ART
Our world is for everyone We are a pioneering arts centre that has been designed to accommodate everyone. Being accessible and inclusive means everyone can be involved: audiences, performers and staff alike. Our world is designed for everyone. Whoever you are, you’re welcome. 2
Book now!
IMAGE: LaPelle’s Factory,
photo by Julian Hughes
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Contemporary Art Theatre & Comedy Kids & Family Performance & Spoken Word Live Music & Jazz Dance Event Diary How to book How to find us
@AttenboroughAC
/attenborougharts 33
The inspiration continues…
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“The arts are not a prerequisite of the privileged few. The arts are for everyone – and failure to include everyone diminishes us all”
I M AGE : Leicester Mercury Archive at University of Leicester
Lord Attenborough Maiden Speech to the House of Lords, 1994
Attenborough Arts Centre’s work is inspired by Richard Attenborough, a world leading filmmaker, acclaimed actor, philanthropist and lifelong patron of the arts. Lord Attenborough was an inspirational talent and pioneering thinker, our founding
patron and a hands-on man who helped establish our arts centre. Handing the patronage to his son Michael, we continue to follow Richard’s vision and his legacy striving to include everyone in great art, culture and learning.
Welcome to our Autumn season As we enter into the final phase of our building extension, we are delighted to welcome you to another exciting season of inclusive fabulous performances that will take you to all corners of the globe! By November we will offer you a whole range of new art facilities with our new gallery, moving towards being open seven days a week. Keep an eye out for our new gallery opening this autumn. Join us to spot the stars of the future, through our artist-led events organised with our partners Tetrad and Hatch. We continue supporting exciting new work, thanks to our Arts Council England funding. We are proud of our growing reputation for showcasing and mentoring local performers. We welcome two outstanding companies from the first year of our In Good Company artists’ development scheme – in partnership with Derby Theatre and Mansfield Create Theatre. Once seen, never forgotten, LaPelle’s Factory and Spiltmilk Dance promise to be great nights out! See a whole range of exciting dance work by Lewys Holt, Gillie Kleiman, and Quickshifts collective. We are particularly thrilled to host Australian dancer Caroline Bowditch’s superb and sell-out sensation Falling in Love with Frida. I fell in love with the piece and think you will too- as it is inspired by the colour and vibrancy
of Mexico, and the passion and power of Frida Kahlo’s paintings. Spoken word events continue to delight audiences and we are delighted to once again be hosting Fringe events for the University of Leicester’s Literary Leicester. We are also hosting a moving evening of war poetry from around the world, The Hundred Years’ War, a follow up from the stunning success of the Being Human tour. We are delighted to welcome a whole host of deeply inspiring music and performance, reflecting Leicester’s diversity and the richness of the Indian sub-continent, with new work by Phizzical, Rishi Arts and Colours of Melody. After a sell-out season during the Spark Festival, we bring you magical children and family shows: The Nose That Nobody Picked, The Forest and Krazy Kat’s The Singing Ringing Tree, and our popular sell-out Baby Disco, appealing to kids, toddlers, and grownups alike. Finally I can’t resist telling you about He Had Hairy Hands a simply sensational and deeply silly musical for Halloween by rising stars Kill the Beast. I laughed so much I fell off my seat! We will be awarding prizes for the best Halloween costume, so this promises to be a highly entertaining evening! Michaela Butter M BE Director
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THE NEW GALLERY The new home for contemporary art in Leicester will be opening soon! FREE ENTRY
I M AGE : Tony Heaton, Gold Lame, 2014. Conceived by DaDaFest in partnership with the Bluecoat. Photograph by John Barraclough.
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3 major exhibitions each year Over 300 square metres of exhibition space, doubling the size of the building Funded by Arts Council England, University of Leicester and over 1,000 generous donors
OP EN IN G EX H IBIT ION Art, Life, Activism: Contemporary art and the politics of disability Opening in autumn 2015
Make a difference to your new gallery. Join our new friend scheme and support our fantastic exhibition programme. More details will be announced soon.
Don’t miss the opening of our brand new gallery and our first exhibition! Art, Life, Activism draws on our own history as a centre for inclusive art practice, bringing you a thoughtprovoking look at intersection between art and disability. Art, Life, Activism draws together selected works by artists’ Tony Heaton, Noemi Lakmaier, Aaron Williamson, Bobby Baker and photographer David Hevey. Each artist explores various aspects of disability politics through their work. Using sculpture, performance, film and drawing to address a diverse range of concerns, they explore political activism, the labour market, medical treatment, access, sexuality and hidden history; they challenge the social, economic and cultural forces that characterise disability.
IM AGE : Tony Heaton, Great Britain from a wheelchair, 1994.
Visit our website and join the mailing list to stay up to date with the latest news, information and offers.
Donate and be a generous benefactor of our new gallery. Please support us at: www.le.ac.uk/breakingbarriers
www.attenborougharts.co.uk 7
Attenborough Forum
Art, Life, Activism: Talks and performance Thursday 10 December, 5.30pm £10 4 hours Join our panel of experts and arts professionals for a discussion about contemporary art and political activism. Speakers include Shape Arts Chief executive and artist Tony Heaton, artist Aaron Williamson, performer and campaigner Bobby Baker, and Professor Richard Sandell, from University of Leicester’s School of Museum Studies. As part of the evening, experience Bobby Baker’s performance Drawing on a Mother’s Experience. First performed in 1988, the work had almost 300 performances by the year 2000. Now a grandmother, and as determined a feminist as ever, Baker chooses to revisit the performance, reflecting on the experience of early motherhood from an older and wiser vantage point, and to bring it up to date. Nigel Slater, Observer: “I would go without food for a week just to get a ticket for her next show.”
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Coming soon: Lucy + Jorge Orta Saturday 30 January– Sunday 24 April 2016
Arts Bar CafÊ The perfect place to meet with friends at any time of the day or evening. Enjoy our high quality coffees and teas, as well as a range of hot and cold drinks, including alcohol. We also offer a range of hot and cold food, with all recipes devised by the University’s award winning Executive Head Chef.
Our world is for everyone Access and inclusion are at the heart of our philosophy and we aim to provide a friendly, creative environment where disabled users can engage fully with all our activities. Our building enables access for everyone regardless of physical needs. Please contact us if you require a copy of this brochure in other formats.
Attenborough Forum Debates & Lectures The Attenborough Forum is a space for anyone interested in critical discussion, art form development, continuing professional development, research and symposia, including artist talks. 9
Theatre & Comedy IMAGE: He Had Hairy Hands
Midlands Creative Projects presents
D.A.N.C.E Tuesday 22 September, 8pm £5 / £4 1 hour (18+) Comedians will say what they want. Dancers will move how they will. But can they work together? D.A.N.C.E. is developing a new comedy experience, where comedians and dancers alike share the stage to entertain you. Featuring performances from Lewys Holt, Sally Doughty, Dan Nicholas and more.
The Hundred Years’ War: the Somme to Afghanistan Friday 2 October, 8pm £10 / £8 / £5 95 minutes (14+) Three performers, live music and striking imagery are combined to create a heartwrenching drama whose every word is charged with poetry. Presenting thirty-five extraordinary war poems written between 1914 and 2013, this brand new production fuses poetry and theatre to create a distinctive and deeply moving portrayal of life under fire. In association with Bloodaxe Books and the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.
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Black Coffee Theatre
Kill the Beast presents
One Last Waltz
He Had Hairy Hands
Sunday 25 October, 7pm £10 / £5 70 minutes (12+)
Thursday 29 October, 7.30pm £12 / £5 75 minutes (14+)
Alice is becoming more and more forgetful. Her daughter Mandy is always on hand to help out, but the strain is becoming too much. A long forgotten photograph stirs a memory and lures Alice back to the Crown Hotel in Blackpool. Hoping for a chance to dance in the tower ballroom one last time, mother and daughter set out. But Blackpool isn’t how Alice remembers, and things become too much for her as she finds herself getting lost in the past. Based on real life events and experiences, this funny and touching new play explores the difficulties in coming to terms with Alzheimer’s disease.
The year is 1974, the sleepy town is Hemlock-Under-Lye, and when werewolf attacks threaten tea-time, there’s only one person you can call...
Stay for a post-show discussion with Black Coffee Theatre and The Alzheimer’s Society.
This multi-award-winning, criticallyacclaimed comedy, tells a 1970’s detective werewolf mystery wrapped up in a hilarious Hammer Horror. Kill the Beast returns with a new tale of supernatural slaughter - combining beautiful projections, original music and quite an important pigeon. A highly entertaining hour and ten minutes that manages to make blood and guts seem as delightful as a homemade cake. ****The Scotsman
IMAGE:
The Hundred Years’ War: the Somme to Afganistan
Take part in our fancy dress competition at the performance of ‘He Had Hairy Hands’. There will be a prize for best Halloween costume! 11
Kids & Family
Baby Disco Sunday, 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm £5 per child, accompanying adult £1 1 hour (0 – 6 years) Baby Disco is back by popular demand! Boogie babies, tap-dancing toddlers and mini disco-divas are invited to dance their way on a journey through sound and movement. Our Princess Diana Hall is transformed into a multisensory environment with disco lighting and thematic video projections. Learn some dance moves from Alison Bacon and dance to DJ James Kelly’s musical soundtrack. Our next themes are: Jungle 13 September Winter Wonderland 6 December
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Parkin presents
The Nose That Nobody Picked Book launch Sunday 31 October, 2pm FREE 30 minutes (4+) Before the show, before the songs … there was the book. Hear David read from the original book with Little Big Nose, Christopher and Dr Skinner popping in to sing a song or two. And because it is Halloween David will be sure to read some of the scary bits! A CD of the show comes free with every book. Performance Tuesday 22 December, 11am and 1pm £7 / party of four £25 45 minutes (4+)
Join us in this ripsnorting yarn for all the family with songs — and snot. Christopher, a keen but unorthodox gardener, finds a living nose raised by slugs in his garden. In their hunt to find Little Big Nose a face, they encounter Doctor Skinner, an eccentric plastic surgeon, who has connections to the nose’s past and sinister intentions for its future. Expect mountains of mucus, toe tapping tunes and two nostrils full of magic. Supported by Arts Council England, Attenborough Arts Centre, and Lincoln Drill Hall.
Do you want to learn some awesome dance moves with your kids? Join Alison Bacon’s dance courses for under 4s. See our Creative Learning guide for more details.
Frozen Light in association with The New Wolsey present
Krazy Kat Theatre Company presents
The Forest
Sunday 29 November, 3pm £7 / party of four £25 50 minutes (3 - 7 years)
Saturday 7 November, 1pm and 4pm £10, Free for personal assistants 1 hour Trapped in lives filled with daydreams, Thea and Robin both crave an escape from their everyday routines. One day they are drawn into the dark and mysterious forest and find themselves on an unexpected journey of self-discovery filled with surprising encounters and experiences that change their lives forever. An intriguing multi-sensory tale which immerses audiences in a world full of new sights, sounds, smells and sensations. The Forest is an adventure for teenagers and adults with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) and their companions.
The singing ringing tree
A funny family show featuring sign language, exquisite puppets and big laughs... A selfish and haughty Princess, a friendly Prince who is turned into a bear, and an evil Troll with designs on the kingdom, tell you a fast moving and tricksy tale of youthful optimism, inspired by this famous German fable. The Princess’s self-centred behaviour makes her ugly. The bear tells her that she will regain her beauty only if she changes her ways. Despite the Troll’s attempts to keep her and the Prince apart, the magical and mysterious Singing Ringing Tree finally lives up to its name. Suitable for deaf and hearing audiences.
Supported by Arts Council England.
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Our new Children in Need programme has officially started with children and young people taking part in different FREE workshops and visiting professional performances at our accessible venue. Take Part and Learn Schools and Groups Guided tours and workshops responding to our fantastic exhibition programme for schools, groups and home educated families are available throughout the year, helping you find new and exciting ways of delivering Arts Award and the creative curriculum. We work with a range of university departments such as Physics and Astronomy, to create new and engaging cross-subject learning opportunities.  Our specialist artists and professional companies develop workshops and events linked to our What’s On programme, including post-show discussions, tailored projects and backstage tours. Contact us arts-education@le.ac.uk
To register on the scheme, book a place or find out more details, please contact Hema on: hrm14@le.ac.uk 0116 223 1425 or visit our website: www.attenborougharts.com
Keep in touch We produce a free termly newsletter. Please contact our Learning Team for more details, to subscribe please email: arts-education@le.ac.uk
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Performance & Spoken Word IMAGE: Action Hero at
previous Hatch event, photo by Julian Hughes
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust / BrightSparks: Arts in Mental Health group / Attenborough Arts Centre present
World Mental Health day Celebration Sunday 27 September, 7pm £3 / Free to mental health service users, family and friends 2 hours 30 minutes Join the annual showcase of the multiple talents that exist within the mental health community of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Supported by Charity of Carlton Hayes Hospital, Arts Council England, NHS East Mids.
The Venus Papers: Lydia Towsey’s Book Launch and Scott Bridgwood’s Exhibition Preview Tuesday 29 September, 7pm FREE, booking advised 2 hours Join renowned artists: poet/performer, Lydia Towsey, figurative painter, Scott Bridgwood and musician, David Dhonau – for this very special book launch and exhibition preview. The Venus Papers relocates Botticelli’s Goddess to a UK beach in the 21st century – what would she do if she found herself here, now?
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From a mother dancing in front of a TV... to a psychopathic Barbie, murderous mozzarella and road trip across the Spanish Badlands...a brief, scored reading, will be followed by the opportunity to explore Bridgwood’s figurative paintings over soft drinks, Blue Nun and nibbles... Supported by Everybody’s Reading and Attenborough.
Take part in Scott Bridgwood’s life drawing courses. Find all the details in our Creative Learning guide.
Penny Pepper presents
Lost in Spaces Saturday 17 October, 7.30pm £12 / £8 75 minutes (16+) Award-winning writer, poet, performer and rights activist, Penny Pepper presents this unique one-woman show. Penny’s work is a remarkable chronicle of our times, interlinking the personal and the universal through poetry, spoken word and music. Join Penny on her tumultuous, life-long quest to carve out her own unique space in our contrary world. Labels are subverted, barriers are broken. Spaces are redefined. Friends and lovers found – and lost. Showcase Smoothie presents
Healthy Culture book and film launch Hatch: Blood, Sweat and Tears Sunday 11 October, 5pm FREE Hatch brings together a special selection of the most exciting artists and performers from across Leicester, the East Midlands, and the country. Experience brand new works and barnstorming contemporary masterpieces, prepared with an open heart to move you right out of your seat. Endurance, struggle, joy, sorrow, life and death are all up for grabs in an unmissable, unforgettable evening of live events. For more information and a full line up visit www.hatchnottingham.org.uk
Thursday 22 October, 7pm £3 / FREE – Booking advised 150 minutes (16+) Join us for the hugely exciting premier book and film launch of ‘Healthy Culture’ – a high profile project designed to boost the health of people across Leicester, Leicestershire and beyond. Featuring the nationally acclaimed Showcase Smoothie alongside the locally based Bradgate Writers, Look-A-Lady-Ukuleles and Fosse Music Collective. The event includes a free, delicious (and healthy!) interval buffet plus cameo appearances from the great and good of Leicester’s arts and health scene. Supported by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and funded by NHS England (EMCSN).
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Literary Leicester Wednesday 11, Thursday 12, Friday 13 November Join us for the University of Leicester’s leading spoken word festival. Celebrating its 8th anniversary, the festival continues to bring a wealth of sessions with awardwinning, renowned writers, and fringe events across campus. Visit our website for full details.
will share everyday stories, electrifying performances, rhythmic wordplay - and a free buffet! Championed by international poet/performer, Jean Binta Breeze MBE and Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford OBE, Showcase Smoothie has been featured by the BBC, Video Nation and the British Film Institute (BFI). Led by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), supported by Attenborough Arts Centre and Arts Council England.
Tetrad presents
Us and Them
LaPelle’s Factory presents
Sunday 22 November, 7pm £6 / £4 3 hours (16+)
CLOUDCUCKOOLANDERS
A performance platform for emerging artists from the midlands area that scratch work and engage people in dialogue about contemporary performance. Us and Them brings together people who are excited and inspired by innovative, bold and thought provoking experiences of performance. Watch performances by members of Tetrad Collective, alongside developing work from guest artists within the fields of comedy, dance, theatre, live art and multimedia performance.
Showcase Smoothie Thursday 26 November, 7pm £3 / FREE to mental health service users 2 hours (16+) Showcase Smoothie is a literature and music based project focused on men of black origin and their experiences of mental health issues. In this one-off event, Showcase Smoothie collective artists
Saturday 28 November, 8pm £10 / £7 75 minutes (15+) It’s movie night! A night in and a night out all at once! LaPelle’s Factory can’t have you over to their place – the sofa isn’t big enough – so they’re holding tonight at Attenborough Arts Centre instead. Using truths, lies and wild fantasies, your two hosts invite you on a hilarious and mysterious headtrip that crashes through old films, pop delusions and odd expressions of love. Drawing on the domestic and the cinematic, CLOUDCUCKOOLANDERS is a truly unique examination of mad couples, personality cults and the changing faces of the cinema. Expect charm. Expect thrills. Expect popcorn.
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WORD! Xmas Secret Santa Special Tuesday 15 December, 8pm Pay What You Decide! 2 hours (16+) WORD! is the longest running poetry and spoken word night in the Midlands. Join us for this sizzling secret Santa one-off Xmas special, featuring Santa, mince-pies, fairy lights, the notorious WORD! raffle and
some of the finest poetic talent in the region. Sign up to perform as part of the open mic, from 7pm in the Arts Bar Cafe. Festive/wintery work particularly welcome but anything goes! All for the thrilling pleasure of ‘Pay What You Decide’ via brown envelopes and no questions asked at the end. Workshop with Bobba Cass before the night, 4–6pm - to book your FREE place email secretagentartist@hotmail.com I M AGE : LaPelle’s Factory. photo by Julian Hughes.
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Live Music & Jazz I M AGE : La Bella Band
Colours of Melody events:
Raag Anuraag: the passion for music Sunday 30 August, 7pm £5 1 hour and 40 minutes Come and celebrate Colours of Melody’s 8th birthday at Attenborough Arts Centre. An evening of Raag ensemble blended in western influence and traditional style of Indian classical and light classical music, performed by Tofail Ahmed and his students from varous cities in the UK. Rishii Chowdhury will be accompanying the concert with his Tabla.
Ek Sham Shyam Par Saturday 21 November, 7pm £5 1 hour and 40 minutes Kirti Karsandas performs this solo recital: a musical evening on Lord Krishna. Kirti is a student of Tofail Ahmed, learning classical and semi classical music for 10 years. She is going to perform a mixed selection of Raag, Tarana, Bhajan and Ghazal. Kirti will be accompanied by Tofail Ahmed on Tabla, Paresh Chavda on Harmonium and Josh Vande Hey on Saxophone. 19
Colours of Melody events:
Khayal: Imagination Friday 4 December, 7pm £10 1 hour and 40 minutes Immerse yourself in this North Indian classical vocal music evening, performed by one of the UK’s leading Indian musicians, Tofail Ahmed. Tofail will perform Khayal, Thumri and Tarana with remarkable Riyaz and control of vocal expressions on the melodic canvas of various Raags. He will be accompanied by upcoming musician Rishii Chowdhury on Tabla, Paresh Chavda on Harmonium and Shobhana Patel on Tanpura.
Yaadein: A tribute concert to Ustaad Mehdi Hassan Saturday 16 January, 7pm £10 1 hour and 40 minutes Join Colours of melody in this concert to honour Ghazal maestro Ustaad Mehdi Hassan. The evening will present a number of this maestro’s popular Ghazals, performed by Ashraf Khan, a student of Tofail Ahmed, who has been studying classical and semi classical music for several years. Ashraf will be accompanied by Kamalbir Singh on Violin, Paresh Chavda on Harmonium-Keyboard and Tofail Ahmed on Tabla. Leicester Jazz House events:
Yazz Ahmed Trio Friday 25 September, 8pm £10 / £5 2 hours 20
Yazz Ahmed – trumpet and flugelhorn Dave Manington – electric bass Ralph Wyld – vibraphone Since the release of her debut album ‘Finding My Way Home’ in 2011, British Bahraini trumpeter Yazz Ahmed has established herself as a rising star on the jazz scene. Her performances with Radiohead, Kenny Wheeler and Courtney Pine are testimony to the breadth of her musical concept. Yazz has translated a wide range of influences into the unique trio she leads.
Nic Meier / Pete Oxley Duo Friday 30 October, 8pm £10 / £5 2 hours 30 minutes Oxley and Meier bring together an eclectic range of seasonings to the jazz palette, drawing on influences from Spain, Brazil and the Far East and using different steel and nylon stringed guitars excessively in each concert. ‘Travels to the West’, Oxley and Meier’s debut album in 2012, was recorded whilst touring in the West Country. This showcases original compositions and features music by Chick Corea, Milton Nascimento and Pat Metheny.
Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock Duo Friday 27 November, 8pm £12 / £5 2 hours 30 minutes Tommy Smith – tenor saxophone Brian Kellock – piano One of the UK’s best known jazz exports, Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith, played with Gary Burton at the age
of 18. Since 1995 Tommy has led the critically acclaimed Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, which has toured around the world and performed with many of the world’s best known jazz musicians. This concert features his fellow Scot Brian Kellock, who has led a long-running trio since 1988, and recorded in the duo format with Liane Caroll, Herb Geller, Tam White and of course Tommy Smith!
Tori Freestone Trio Friday 11 December, 8pm £10 / £5 2 hours 30 minutes Tori Freestone – tenor saxophone Dave Manington – double bass Tim Giles – drums Tori Freestone has worked as a performer and composer at the highest level for over a decade. A veteran of both the Leeds and London music scenes, and a versatile sidewoman with Ivo Neame, Rory Simmons, Andy Sheppard and Neil Yates among others. Tori has also garnered critical notice with her group ‘Compassionate Dictatorship’ (co-led with Jez Franks), becoming one of the leading lights in the Loop Collective. Her trio showcases her robust and individualistic tenor saxophone sound and the interaction between three of the most inventive and eclectic musicians around today.
Take your music improvisation skills further in our Jazz performance course. See our Creative Learning Guide for full details. Parkin Presents Thursdays at 8pm £6 / £4 2 hours 45 minutes (16+) Tired of loud guitar bands in smelly pubs? Come and enjoy the unique Parkin Presents experience. Cherry picked piano pop in a charming atmosphere that will make you see the stars of the Midlands music scene in a whole new (candle) light. Outside of the noisy pubs, this is a chance to get up close and delicate with your favourite songsmiths. Thursday 1 October A Bösendorfer Piano, lopsided charm, brilliant local artists and a hell of a headline act by Annabel Sophie McKendrie. Annabel is “controlled but soulful … with a burnished, beautiful tone across her whole range, this is a voice worth seeking out.” Live Unsigned Thursday 17 December Featuring Katherine Rose, stunningly beautiful with a fantastic voice, and original sparkling songs… Katherine is almost too good to be true. When you see her perform live it is hard not to fall a little bit in love. Join us for Katherine and other great local acts, Santa Dave and probably a choir. Ho Ho Ho! 21
La Bella Band Sunday 8 November, 7.30pm £10 / £5 1 hour 45 minutes (8+) From Tunbridge Wells to Timbuktu: La Bella Band take you on a journey through classic songs from the 1920s to the present day, with a few original compositions thrown in for free. Listen to great music with two ukes, a cajon, some sublime harmonies and a fez or two a good time is guaranteed for all.
Join La Bella Band in a fun musical afternoon workshop before the ukulele concert and get your ticket for free. Try it yourself! Join Rishi’s Yo Tabla! course and learn to play the Indian hand drums, Tabla. See our Creative Learning guide for full details. Rishi Arts presents
Antara Saturday 14 November, 7.45pm Sunday 15 November, 12pm £7 50 minutes (8+) Join Rishii Chowdhury and his Yo Tabla! students for this special event, accompanied by Kathak dance students from Aarti’s Dance and Arts Academy. Enjoy this magical evening of inspiring live tabla, dance and popular melodious compositions that will unveil the next 22
generation of Indian classical musicians and dancers.
Freshly Brewed Saturday 12 December, 7.30pm £10 / £8 / party of four £20 1 hour ‘Freshly Brewed’ is an immersive music and dance experience taking you to India’s Assam region with a strong undertone it’s most famous export: Assam tea. The music is composed by brother and sister duo Rishii Chowdhury and Dr Samyami Sangeeta Chowdhury-Sarma with live dance by Kesha Raithatha. Freshly Brewed will treat the audience with the traditional rituals of Assamese tea and indigenous snacks to replenish the mind and soul for a sensory experience. Supported using public funding from Arts Council England
Twilight Gigs Sunday 4 October, 5pm Sunday 11 October, 2.30pm FREE 90 minutes Continue the rugby world cup celebrations with fantastic live music and performances in our café. Enjoy a drink, have a bite to eat, while experiencing great performances. See full line-up on our website.
Soundbites Tuesdays, 12.45pm FREE Enjoy lunch at the Arts Bar café and experience a variety of delightful live music. See full line-up on our website.
Live Music at Fraser Noble Hall Knighton Opera presents
Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin Thursday 1, Friday 2 October, 7pm Sunday 4 October, 3pm £12 3 hours and 30 minutes Eugene Onegin meets Tatyana, who falls in love with him. Onegin rejects her love and leaves to travel the world, after his best friend gets killed. When Onegin returns several years later, he finds Tatyana is married. Onegin realises he is in love with her, but is now left having lost everything he cares about. Leicester Community Concert Band presents
Festive fun! Wednesday 16 December, 7.30pm £8 / £6 / party of four £18 2 hours 30 minutes This concert is the perfect occasion to start your family Christmas celebrations! Come along and join in a fun packed programme of traditional carols and favourite Christmas songs, combined with some classic items from the Wind band repertoire. Not forgetting the mince pies! Knighton Chamber Orchestra presents
Concert of Classical Music Saturday 23 January, 7.30pm £10 / £8 / £3 2 hours 30 minutes Prokofiev Concertino for cello and orchestra, piano concerto No 3 Beethoven Symphony No 8 With over 10 years of experience,
Knighton Chamber Orchestra brings you three magnificent classical music works. Russian composer Prokofiev’s highly melodic and original music, features the use of the piano as a highly rhythmic instrument in concerto No 3. We are delighted to welcome our piano soloist, Francois Salignat back, accompanied by local soloist Anne Mee playing the rarely heard Prokofiev concertino for cello. The programme will be completed with Symphony No 8 by Beethoven.
University of Leicester Sinfonia Saturday 14 November, 7.30pm Venue: Clarendon Park Congregational Church £10 / £8 / £3 2 hours Elizabeth Medrow – leader Michael Sackin – conductor Eleanor Wilkinson – violin Mendelssohn Overture: Hebrides Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor Sonja Grossner Humoreske Beethoven Symphony No 7 in A major Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto is an all-time favourite. We’re delighted to welcome back Eleanor Wilkinson as soloist. Eleanor is a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra. She is steeped in the Austro-German tradition from having lived and studied in Vienna. What better to do than to precede it with one of Mendelssohn’s finest shorter pieces and follow it by Beethoven’s intensely life-affirming Seventh Symphony, by way of a brief lighter interlude in the form of Sonja’s piece.
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Dance I M AGE : Caroline Bowditch
Art Shark Rockabilly special Saturday 26 September, 7pm £6 2 hours (16+) Join this haven for the casual sketching of costumed performers, enjoying great entertainment. Performers will hold short poses for the audience to sketch. Rockabilly special will feature a catwalk from Lucrezia designs, unconventional clothing inspired by 1950s cuts. Performances by Chicas Locas Burlesque, compered by stand-up comedian Kirsty Munro. Prize for our favourite sketch of the evening and booby prize for the best (or worst!) ‘opposite hand’ drawing. Everyone is welcome. Don’t forget to bring your sketchpad and pencil! 24
Gillie Kleiman presents
DANCE CLASS: a performance Friday 23 October, 6.30pm and 8.30pm £10 / £5 1 hour (14+) This dance class wants to be a show (it wants to shine, be in the limelight). This performance wants to be a class (it wants you to learn, wear comfy clothes). This danceclassperformance invites you to do some dancing and do some watching (even at the same time). Performed by Gillie Kleiman, a Dance4 Associate Artist, the show is open to all levels of dancers and spectators. Please bear in mind that all should come in comfortable clothing and be prepared to watch and dance without shoes. You won’t sweat too much, honest.
Chicas Locas Burlesque Showcase Sunday 31 January, 7.30pm £6 2 hours and 30 minutes (16+) A glamorous night showcasing a mix of group and solo routines from Doe Demure’s Chicas Locas Burlesque group.
Fuelled Dance Theatre presents
Fuelled Saturday 24 October, 7pm £8 / £5 1 hour Join this evening of excitingly fresh contemporary dance from one of the East Midlands most anticipated emerging dance company. Watch three works by Fuelled Dance Theatre, accompanied by a performance from guest company The Jack Stinton Dance Company. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy highly energetic and fast paced work. Chicas Locas Burlesque
Boolesque creepshow Saturday 31 October, 7.30pm £6 2 hours and 30 minutes (16+) Get your spooky costumes out and join a Halloween night of Boo-lesque with performances by Doe Demure’s burlesque group, Chicas Locas. Compered by the frighteningly funny comedian Paul Savage from Wolverhampton. Take part in our fancy dress competition. This promises to be a sell-out show, book tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Our beloved compere Mrs Marjorie Hawkins is back! Due to pension cuts and bills to pay Mrs Hawkins has taken up a new career as compere and vocalist. Although never married she is known to one and all as ‘Mrs’ to prevent men becoming over friendly with her. Don’t let the grey hair fool you! Mrs Hawkins is a versatile compere who has hosted shows introducing acts to over 2000 people at a biker’s festival. Dance4 presents
Of, Or At A Fairly Low Temperature Thursday 5 November, 7pm £7 / £5 50 minutes (16+) A dance show about a man trying to be cool. How much denim do I wear? How many beards do I grow? Does my mum think I’m ‘cool’? Is there literally anything else that matters in life? Are acronyms still ‘in’? OOAAFLT is a performance project that examines what is meant by being ‘cool’. It mixes contemporary dance with storytelling and comedy to question what is ‘cool’ these days. Lewys will play music, dance, play dress up, improvise and talk through some issues. Personas will shift, activities will 25 25
blur and insecurities will be illuminated. This semi-autobiographical show makes Lewys consider the things that are most important to him: to be ‘cool’ or to be himself, and he will ask you to consider the same thing.
Quick Shifts Sunday 15 November, 6pm Sunday 24 January, 6pm £6 / £4 2 hours The Quick Shifts Improvisation Collective return by popular demand for another season of: •
Dance (The manipulation of movement)
•
Improvisation (To make something up on the spot)
•
Conversation (A talk, especially an informal one, between two or more people, in which news and ideas are exchanged)
Supported by Dance4, the evening includes a lively conversation between artists and audience.
and legacy of painter Frida Kahlo (19071954), exposing little-known facts about the infamous woman, remembered for her art. Falling in love with Frida is the reclaiming of a disabled artist, a love like obsession, an enquiry into how we shape what we are remembered for. Affinities and parallels are drawn and the tale of ‘the great concealer’ is skillfully revealed through powerful yet fragile bodies. This performance will be BSL interpreted.
Camilla Dallerup in conversation Saturday 19 September, 7.30pm £10 / £5 Camilla Sacre-Dallerup has been a successful competitive athlete in the world of ballroom dancing for over 25 years. She was part of the original cast of Strictly Come Dancing and won the trophy in 2008. Join us for a conversation about her years as a top athlete and to talk about her selfhelp / autobiography Strictly Inspirational, published in 2015.
For opportunities to participate visit www.quickshiftsimprovise.org Caroline Bowditch presents
Falling in love with Frida Friday 20 November, 8pm £15 / £12 55 minutes (16+) Caroline Bowditch presents her intimate and enticing show exploring the life, loves 26
Falling in Love with Frida Post Show discussion. Stay for a FREE post-show discussion with Caroline to find out more about this incredible show, inspired by Frida Kahlo.
Spiltmilk Dance presents
Blast From The Past Thursday 3 December, 8pm £10 / £5 1 hour and 45 minutes (5+) It’s time to get quizzy! Join Spiltmilk Dance in a glitzy quiz full of familiar rounds, brain teasers and challenges from iconic British gameshows. Get stuck in and have fun with our charming hosts, all the family can team up. Throughout the evening, audiences are taken on a journey through the popular music, fads and fashions that have shaped British culture over the last 60 years. Think Tea Dancing with tea cups, Tupperware parties to Elvis and a choreographic love letter to Woolworth pick and mix sweets!
IM AGE : Spiltmilk Dance
Doe Demure presents
Phizzical presents
A peculiar night of gothic entertainment
Fangs of fortune
Sunday 13 December, 8pm £14 / £12 2 hours (16+) Ready for Christmas? If you are not, join this peculiar night of gothic entertainment compered by musician, drag prince, host of ‘Car Boot Cabaret’ and all round fabulous man, Alfie Ordinary, all the way from Chichester. Catch him whilst you can! Freakish sideshow, burlesque, tribal fusion belly dancers, best dressed competition… an anti-Christmas night out not to be missed!
Friday 18, Saturday 19, Sunday 20 December, 8pm £10 / £8 / £5 1 hour Experience a new imagining of the ancient Chinese legend of Madame White Snake through dance and circus. A powerful shape-shifting snake spirit transforms into a beautiful woman and falls deeply in love with a medicine man. She relinquishes her divine powers to devote herself to him. A demon hunter uncovers her true identity and decides that such a union goes against the laws of nature. He will stop at nothing to destroy her. Can love conquer all?
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What’s On Diary d ay a n d m o n t h
time
type
event or activit y
pa g e
30
7pm
Live Music & Jazz
Colours of melody: Raag Anuraag: the passion for music
19
Sun
13
11am, 1pm, 2.30pm
Kids & Family
Baby Disco: Jungle
12
Sat
19
7.30pm
Dance
Camilla Dallerup in conversation
26
Tue
22
8pm
Theatre & Comedy
D.A.N.C.E
10
Fri
25
8pm
Live Music & Jazz
Leicester Jazz House: Yazz Ahmed Trio
20
Sat
26
7pm
Dance
Art Shark: Rockabilly Special
24
Sun
27
7pm
Performance & Spoken Word
World Mental Health day Celebration
15
Tue
29
7pm
Performance & Spoken Word
The Venus Papers: Book Launch and Exhibition Preview
15
7pm
Live Music & Jazz
Knighton Chamber Opera: Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
23
August Sun September
October Thu 1, Fri 2
28
Thu
1
8pm
Live Music & Jazz
Parkin Presents: Annabel Sophie McKendrie and more
21
Fri
2
8pm
Theatre & Comedy
Midlands Creative Projects: The Hundred Years’ War: the Somme to Afghanistan
10
Sun
4
3pm
Live Music & Jazz
Knighton Chamber Opera: Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
23
Sun
11
5pm
Performance & Spoken Word
Hatch: Blood, Sweat and Tears
16
Sat
17
7.30pm
Performance & Spoken Word
Penny Pepper: Lost in Spaces
16
Thu
22
7pm
Performance & Spoken Word
Showcase Smoothie: Healthy Culture book and film launch
16
Fri
23
6.30pm, 8.30pm
Dance
Gillie Kleiman: DANCE CLASS: a performance
24
Sat
24
7pm
Dance
Fuelled Dance Theatre: Fuelled
25
Sun
25
7pm
Theatre & Comedy
Black Coffee Theatre: One Last Waltz
11
Thu
29
7.30pm
Theatre & Comedy
Kill the Beast: He Had Hairy Hands
11
Fri
30
8pm
Live Music & Jazz
Leicester Jazz House: Nic Meier / Pete Oxley Duo
20
Sat
31
2pm
Kids & Family
Parkin: The Nose That Nobody Picked Book launch
12
Sat
31
7.30pm
Dance
Chicas Locas Burlesque: Boo-lesque Creepshow
25
Thu
5
7pm
Dance
Lewys Holt: Of, Or At A Fairly Low Temperature
25
Sat
7
1pm, 4pm
Kids & Family
Frozen Light: The Forest
13
Sun
8
7.30pm
Live Music & Jazz
La Bella Band
22
Performance & Spoken Word
Literary Leicester
17
November
Wed 11, Thu 12, Fri 13 Sat
14
7.30pm
Live Music & Jazz
University of Leicester Sinfonia
23
Sat
14
7.45pm
Live Music & Jazz
Rishi Arts: Antara
22
Sun
15
12pm
Live Music & Jazz
Rishi Arts: Antara
22
Sun
15
6pm
Dance
Quick Shifts
26
Fri
20
8pm
Dance
Caroline Bowditch: Falling in love with Frida
26
Sat
21
7pm
Live Music & Jazz
Colours of melody: Ey Sham Shyam Par
19
Sun
22
7pm
Performance & Spoken Word
Tetrad: Us and Them
17
Thu
26
7pm
Performance & Spoken Word
Showcase Smoothie
17 29
Fri
27
8pm
Live Music & Jazz
Leicester Jazz House: Toni Smith and Brian Kellock Duo
20
Sat
28
8pm
Performance & Spoken Word
LaPelle’s Factory: CLOUDCUCKOOLANDERS
17
Sun
29
3pm
Kids & Family
Krazy Kat: The singing ringing tree
13
Thu
3
8pm
Dance
Spiltmilk: Blast From The Past
27
Fri
4
7pm
Live Music & Jazz
Colours of melody: Khayal: Imagination
20
Sun
6
11am, 1pm, 2.30pm
Kids & Family
Baby Disco: Winter wonderland
12
Thu
10
5.30pm
Contemporary Art
Attenborough Forum: Life, Art, Activism
8
Fri
11
8pm
Live Music & Jazz
Leicester Jazz House: Tori Freestone Trio
21
Sat
12
7.30pm
Live Music & Jazz
Rishi Arts: Freshly Brewed
22
Sun
13
8pm
Dance
Doe Demure: A peculiar night of gothic entertainment
27
Tue
15
8pm
Performance & Spoken Word
WORD! Xmas Secret Santa Special
18
Wed
16
7.30pm
Live Music & Jazz
Leicester Community Concert Band: Festive fun!
23
Thu
17
8pm
Live Music & Jazz
Parkin Presents: Katherine Rose and more
21
8pm
Dance
Phizzical: Fangs of fortune
27
22
11am, 1pm
Kids & Family
Parkin: The Nose That Nobody Picked - Performance
12
Sat
16
7pm
Live Music & Jazz
Colours of melody: Yaadein: A tribute concert to Ustaad Mehdi Hassan
20
Sat
23
7.30pm
Live Music & Jazz
Knighton Chamber Orchestra: Concert of Classical Music
23
Sun
24
6pm
Dance
Quick Shifts
26
Sat
30
Contemporary Art
Lucy + Jorge Orta Exhibition opens
8
Sun
31
Dance
Chicas Locas Burlesque: Showcase
25
December
Fri 18, Sat 19, Sun 20 Tue January
30
7.30pm
How to book Online: www.attenborougharts.com Call us: to pay by debit or credit card on (0116) 252 2455. Pop in: book over the counter. Post details of the tickets you would like. Add a cheque for the total made payable to ‘University of Leicester’ to Box Office, Attenborough Arts Centre, PO Box 138, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 7HA. If we post your tickets to you, whether ordered online, by phone or by post, we charge £1 postage and packing. Box office open Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 7pm, and one hour before all performances (closed Bank Holidays, 24 December – 3 January). Tickets also available from: The Point, University of Leicester Students’ Union, Percy Gee Building (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm, term time). T: (0116) 223 1181 Visit Leicester, 7-9 Every Street, Town Hall Square, Leicester. T: (0116) 225 4000 (credit card bookings accepted) and at www.goleicestershire.com Access: We are fully accessible to disabled people. We have: »» Induction loop systems. »» Wheelchair accessible toilets. »» Four car parking spaces for blue badge holders. »» A spacious adult changing facility with a height-adjustable changing bed, hoist and shower, made possible by funding
from Leicester City Council’s Disabled Childrens’ services, mosaic: shaping disability services and the University of Leicester. »» Free public wifi.
Disabled patrons requiring particular assistance are entitled to a free ticket to bring a personal assistant. Sorry, we only give refunds if a performance or event listed in this guide is cancelled. Every effort has been made to ensure all information is correct at the time of printing. However, we reserve the right to make amendments as necessary. Our performance details include guidance on age suitability and approximate duration (including interval unless otherwise stated). As this information is provided by the promoters / performers, we regret we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Concessions: Over 60s (performances and events only) Under 19s and NUS member. ES40 holders Those in receipt of incapacity allowance, severe disablement allowance, disability living allowance, and disability working allowance, unless otherwise stated. Proof of concession may be asked for. A discount may be available for parties of 10 or more. Please ask when booking. Please provide proof of entitlement. Buy your tickets in advance and avoid the queues – we do not charge a booking fee, however you book. 31 31
How to find us
5 MINUTES BY BIKE
We are only 10 minutes’ walk from the railway station, and 15 minutes’ walk from the City Centre
15 MINUTE WALK
B USE S: 47, 47a, 48, 48a,
80 / 80a C A R PAR KING:
Railway Station (10 min walk to Attenborough)
AF TER 6PM AND W EEKEND S:
Free at the Medical Sciences Building next door.
LO N
New Walk Museum & Gallery
NEW
DON
WA L
ROA
D (A 6)
K
ville
Roa d
Attenborough Arts Centre, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 7HA
PRINCESS ROAD EAST
REGENT ROAD
Regent College
LANCASTER ROAD
Fire Station
UNIV ERSI TY ROAD
C YCLE PARKING:
In front of the Medical Sciences Building.
WAT ERLO O WAY (A59 4)
Pay and display on Lancaster Road and in Victoria Park (De Montfort Hall, entrance on Granville Road). Four blue badge spaces at Attenborough.
Gran
W EEKDAYS:
Victoria Park De Montfort Hall
War Memorial Free Parking evenings & Weekends (Medical Sciences Building)
B OX OFFI CE : 0116 252 2455 E M A I L : arts-centre@le.ac.uk W E B : www.attenborougharts.com TE XT RE L AY S E RV IC E : 18001 0116 252 2455
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