e u og
l a g a 2014
mecember D
Image: Hoodwink’s Winter Wonderland
issue
25
Festive FUN-FILLED December
From Reggae and Caribbean grooves to mind-boggling maths and a dusting of snow: December promises plenty of fun for all ages. In this month’s Magalogue enjoy interviews with resident company Hoodwink, Krazy Kat Theatre and our very own music programmer Thomas Brooman. Plus, enjoy a little sneak preview as we unwrap a few treats from our spring season. And with that, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
BIG NEWS New season, new seats After we close our doors for Christmas on Sunday 21 December, an exciting transformation will begin. When we re-open on Tuesday 13 January, there will be new seats in the main space and a brand new kiln to fire all our pottery students’ spring creations. You’ll have plenty of time to pick an event to test out the new seats, as we launch the spring season on Monday 8 December. If you’re not already on the e-list sign up now to be first to see our full spring programme or check out the website on the 8th.
www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk
Lasting Gifts Craft Shop open Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 3pm
Last shopping day before Christmas: Sunday 21 December Do you wish your money would go a little further at Christmas? At Salisbury Arts Centre it can! Nestled in our miniature Craft Shop are all manner of beautiful handmade gifts. As well as making original presents, every piece sold from the shop helps support Salisbury Arts Centre. We believe communities thrive when imaginations fly. We provide free events and activities for the whole community and run outreach projects for those who may not otherwise have access to the arts Income from the Craft Shop, Membership sales and the cafe all helps support that work so every penny you spend with us really does go so much further. What better gift for an arts lover than a beautiful artwork or membership that provides them with a year of discounts on films and performances and the knowledge that their gift is helping support the arts in Salisbury? With jewellery, ceramics, prints and books to choose from the Craft Shop is well worth a browse for special gifts this Christmas.
Pop in and browse our gift selection or call 01722 321744 to buy a membership today.
Image: Lynne Heller Images: Leigh Shepherd Domino Brooch, Sarah Targett Tea Towel, Stephanie Hopkins Necklace, Sarah Waters Felt
Film From a tense and gripping story of love and war to a tale of Vikings and Dragons, December’s films offer something for everyone:
Omar (15): Thursday 4 December 7.30pm A tense and gripping story of love and war in the Occupied Territories. Omar is accustomed to dodging bullets as he crosses the separation wall to visit his secret love. Captured after a deadly act of resistance, he falls into a cat-andmouse game with the military police.
Community Films: Wednesday 10 December 6pm A double-bill showcasing two recent films made by local young people, facilitated by Salisbury Arts Centre’s engagement team.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (PG): Saturday 20 December 11am A mythical animated tale of burly Vikings and wild dragons, based on the book by Cressida Cowell. Caught in a battle to protect the peace, can Viking Hiccup and Toothless the Dragon unite to change the future of men and dragons?
View all Autumn Films and book your tickets now>>>
STAFF PICK: Sam Adams, Marketing Co-ordinator Lilting (15) Wednesday 10 December 7.30pm Back in September I was lucky enough to catch Lilting before it hit our big screen here at the Arts Centre. After watching the trailer I just had to see it and travelled all the way to Exeter and boy was it worth it. Tissues at the ready, this one is an emotional one. Lilting follows the story of Chinese-Cambodian Junn (Cheng Pei-pei) and Londoner Richard (Ben Whishaw) in the wake of Junn’s son Kai’s untimely death. Junn is alone in a retirement home, speaks next to no English and has no remaining family. Richard, unbeknownst to Junn, was her son’s partner and in his own grief he reaches out to Junn through a translator – though she doesn’t know that her son was gay, or that he and Richard were together.
much broader sense. Hong Khaou weaves two timelines together seamlessly, relaying stories prior to Kai’s death relevant to plot and character revelations in the present day. It’s clear that this film is quite the heartwrencher but there are dashes of humour spattered throughout the film to keep things light. This comes across predominantly through the development of the relationship between Junn and Alan, a fellow resident at the retirement home. As with Richard, they don’t share a common language and with the addition of the translator they can finally communicate revealing uncomfortable truths with interesting consequences. I won’t give too much away but in the moments when I wasn’t moved to tears, I was overcome with laughter. Produced through Film London’s Microwave scheme, this film may have been made on a budget but is in no way lacking. I was transfixed until the very end (even through the tears). Love, loss, difference and understanding: Lilting is truly bittersweet.
As Richard and Junn connect over memories of the man they both loved, they come to understand each other and what Kai meant to them, regardless of them not having a common language. Cue the translator. This role is the key that unlocks all of these stories and not only helps them share these stories with each other but enables them to open up in a
Images: Omar, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Lilting
Tropical Party Thursday 11 December 8pm
W
ith the weather turning cold, we’re all dreaming of tropical beaches. We can’t promise blue skies, palm trees and sparkling waters but our Music Programmer Thomas Brooman has arranged the next best thing! We chatted to him about what to expect from the Tropical Christmas Party:
What gave you the idea for a Tropical Christmas Party? I thought that with winter surrounding us, but in the month for all things merry, it would be great to celebrate the season with tropical warmth and some great party music. How did you select the acts? Warming to the tropical theme, all of the artists provide a Latin experience, ranging all the way from Spain to the Caribbean. Talisman are the best Reggae band to have emerged from the fertile musical ground of Bristol and they are now on better form than ever. Talisman have great stage presence and musical energy and
it is great to welcome them to Salisbury. Michel Padron, from Cuba, is a brilliant band leader and trumpet player. His new band embraces both his Cuban heritage and his passion for the music of Jamaica. Added to the Latin mix is Flamenco dancer Elena Cabrera from Spain and Bristol’s DJ Ethix bringing some vintage reggae and ska. All in all an actionpacked night of treats. What can we expect from partying with bands from Cuba and Jamaica? Hopefully everyone will come with dancing shoes on and a smile in their heart and be ready to enjoy, share and celebrate good times... Do you have a party trick? I’ve got a great stunt that involves propping up the bar. It never fails!
Book your tickets now for a hot night of Reggae, Flamenco and Caribbean grooves>>>
Wish you were here?
Image: Cuba
laughter
therapy
Friday 12 December 8pm
E
veryone loved ‘Number Ninja’ Matt Parker on his last visit so what better choice for your final comedy dose of the year than Matt Parker: ‘Now in 4D’? Fresh from his sell-out 2014 Festival of the Spoken Nerd UK tour, Matt Parker is once more forming a maths + comedy venn diagram with lively stand-up and mind-boggling maths. Matt is a regular on BBC Radio 4’s Infinite Monkey Cage with Robin Ince and Brian Cox, and frequently pops up in various TV and radio news and light entertainment shows to talk about maths. He is a presenter on Discovery’s “You Have Been Warned” and Quest TV’s “World’s Top Five” along with recent guest appearances in Channel4’s “How to Find Love Online” talking stats and CBBC’s “How to Be Epic at Everything” solving Rubik’s Cubes. This year over a million people have watched Matt unboxing calculators and list imperial units on YouTube. Two sold-out Hammersmith Apollo audiences have watched Matt do maths on an OHP at Brian Cox and Robin Ince’s Christmas shows. Warning: Graphical Content (contains actual graphs)
“Capable of generating big laughs using the deceptively simple power of numbers” The Guardian Book your Matt Parker tickets now>>>
“Exponentially funny” Three Weeks
Image: Matt Parker
Hoodwink’s
Winter Wonderland Saturday 13 December 6 - 7.30pm
W
inter Wonderland has long been an annual highlight for families in Salisbury. Artistic Director of Hoodwink, Stephanie Jalland, told us more about the classic snow-filled event:
We had lots of fun exploring in Beneath the Trees back in October. For those who haven’t been to Hoodwink’s Winter Wonderland before, what can audiences expect? Winter Wonderland is a fun winter celebratory party for families to enjoy together (from aged 3 to Grandparents) - an antidote to the seasonal commercialism - and even though it may be raining outside it snows at Salisbury Arts Centre! The Queen of Light has promised a visit again this year and it’s hard to keep King Winter away. It isn’t a show but Hoodwink performers add a little magic and join in the fun. We always dance and play a few games but that means adults too as there aren’t many opportunities to dance with your children! There is a snowy balloon drop, wishes
made on stars, and snow! Wear a glow stick or bring a torch to help the Queen of Light brighten a wintry night! What would you like audiences to take away from the evening? A happy shared memory of the beauty of winter, snow, frost and ice and having fun together. You’re running a drop-in workshop on the day from 1 - 3pm. What will workshop participants be helping to create? Come and make a snowy crown to wear for Winter Wonderland or make paper snowflakes to scatter. And finally, what is top of your Christmas list? Snow!
Book your Winter Wonderland tickets now>>>
Let there be light on this cold winter’s night...
Image: Queen of Light, Hoodwink’s Winter Wonderland
Cinder-Ella
Sunday 21 December 11am & 2pm
C
inderella is a very familiar story but Krazy Kat theatre’s version still has plenty of surprises. We chatted to performer Kinny Gardner to find out more about their show for children aged 4 - 8 years and their accompanying grown-ups:
The show features fully integrated Sign Language. How do you go about creating work that is suitable for both deaf and hearing audiences? We use sign as the first language, looking at how the story needs to be told. Do we need to say anything, or is a visual effect enough? A moving picture, a shadow puppet scene, a mimed action can be just as potent as any spoken or signed dialogue. We are essentially a visual theatre that fuses comedy and languages to create accessible and witty experiences for young audiences. Does this pose any challenges in developing the work? Many! If there are two actors, with four hands, working two puppets… where do the hands come from to
sign the dialogue? It brings many challenges: the challenge of having to use your hands to both manipulate puppets and also sign, the challenge of creating clarity of statement to allow lip patterns to match signing and a need for constant reiteration of text as that is part of the sign language and very much part of Deaf culture. What would you like the audience to take away from the performance? A delight in play, a reflection on the immediacy of childrens reactions and the spontaneity of their enjoyment, an appreciation of the sense of hazard of childhood, and an allencompassing pleasure in seeing an old story newly told in bold and unexpected ways. As this is our Christmas Magalogue, what’s top of Krazy Kat Theatre’s Christmas list? You mean after world peace? Here at the ‘Kats’ we are looking for a few days off with our feet up and not having to repair any puppets or props for a few weeks!
Book Cinder-Ella tickets now>>>
Image: Cinder-Ella
Image: Altar Club by John Palmer
Altar Club NYE Wednesday 31 December 9pm
I
t’s the biggest live band party night in Salisbury. Altar Club NYE is back with another cracking line-up to see in the New Year in style. Altar Club New Year’s Eve brings together the best bands of the Altar Club series with live music, DJ sets until 2am and a pop-up bar on the Altar Stage. Catch Gecko, Las Pistolas, Stone Donkey Pilots, Corridors, Dirty Skankin Love Hornets and Nudybronque all on one party perfect line-up. Don’t forget to book your tickets in advance for special discounts. Tickets are £15 until 30 November, £20 in advance until 30 December and £25 on the door on the night (Members: £14 | £19 | £24).
Book your NYE tickets now>>>
MET Opera Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nßrnberg (Encore screening) Wednesday 17 December 5pm
T
his month’s screening of The Metropolitan Opera from New York comes in the shape of Wagner’s only comedy, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg:
Set in Nürnberg in the 16th Century, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is a grand 3 act opera rich in melody. Wagner’s only comedy revolves around the story of the mastersingers: a group of poets and musicians who pursue their craft according to traditions and rules. Eva, a goldsmith’s daughter, has been promised by her father as a prize to the winner of a singing contest. Meanwhile she has fallen in love with a knight. Can Eva’s knight rapidly master the singer’s art to win the contest?
Book tickets for Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg>>> View Spring 2015 Live in HD Screenings>>>
Big thanks to Naim Audio Autumn 14 Season Sponsor
A
s our final words on Autumn 2014 we’d like to say a massive thank you to our Autumn 2014 Season Sponsor Naim Audio. It has been great to work with such a well-respected company that shares our passion for music. We’ve really enjoyed learning more about their story: Naim founder Julian Vereker MBE (1945-2000) was a racing car driver, entrepreneur and self-taught engineer with a deep passion for music. Spending his spare time listening to and recording his friends playing live in the 1960s, Julian found that playback on his system at home fell woefully short of the experience he craved. Not content with second best he decided to design his own amplifiers and loudspeakers, ignoring accepted wisdom and focusing on aspects of performance that made music burst to life. These first designs laid the foundations for a range of iconic and award-winning hi-fi products that would reach well into the next century. This maverick approach to design, backed by 40 years of engineering and craft, fuels Naim’s progress today.
We love that passion, ambition and creative invention. By providing creative opportunities we hope to make imaginations fly and encourage people to dream big like Julian Vereker to help our community thrive. Find out more about Naim Audio>>>
Spring Preview On sale Monday 8 December 10am