OUR PLACE IS YOUR PLACE!
Summer 2019 theplacebedford.org.uk
Behind the Scenes
Our Partners
TRUSTEES Justin Phillimore, Brenton Jackson, Matt Baker, Rae Levene, Sarah Waller, Bipin Shah, James Pharaoh
VOLUNTEERS Finance and Billing:
Richard Moon
Bar Management:
Mike Cooper
Friends Coordinator:
Rae Levene
Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing.
Front of House Volunteers: Ron Singleton
Jennifer Ward-Fletcher
Kathy Frost
Bill Lay
Cory Walker
Donna Swann
Jennie Sewell
Chris Ingley
Sue Burnett
Phil Mardlin
Brenda Hart
Harri Mardlin
Cally Lawrence
Anne Jones
Carol Carter
Amanda Friman
Carol Wood
Philippine Thiery
Jon Evans
Sheila Bissell
Juliet Lawson
Roisin Atkinson
Lee Knapp
Janet King
Sue Hammond
Jenny Curzon
Paul Barnes
Wendy Trussell
Jenny Goodes
STAFF Facilities Manager:
Matt Baker
Technical and Content:
Dave Deans
Audience Development:
Elizabeth Howard
Programme Coordinator:
Alex Levene
Accounts and Finance:
Mervyn Lewis
Social Media & Marketing:
Lissy Malt
Our ambition is to make a positive difference by providing people with mental and community health care services that support their recovery.
Suppliers to The Place Theatre with Gelato John’s products offering delicious ices to audiences across the whole year.
Fundraising and Development: Laura Pottinger
2
Press and PR:
Simão Vaz
Administration & Volunteer Coordinator:
Jacquie Waterfield
The Blue Glass is a truly independent wine, beer and spirit merchant, based in Bedford. The Blue Glass are glad to be the supplier of choice for wine at The Place Theatre, and are very happy to be the new sponsor for the ‘That’s All Folk’, The Place Theatre’s strand of Folk Music programming.
Tickets for all shows are available online (with no booking fees) from: www.theplacebedford.org.uk/tickets YOU DO NOT NEED TO PRINT YOUR TICKET – JUST BRING THE BOOKING REFERENCE NUMBER. Shows marked
♥ have a special price for members of our Friends scheme; see our Friends information on P4.
The venue has very limited capacity to take telephone bookings. Please leave a message with your name and a contact number on our 24-hour answer phone and we will ring you back as soon as we can.
The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road Bedford MK40 3DE FREE ONSITE PARKING You can follow our activities online by going here:
/ThePlaceBedford
info@theplacebedford.org.uk
@ThePlaceBedford
@theplace_bedford
01234 354321 3
No organisation worth its salt can survive without good friends and supporters. We are lucky that we have them in abundance but we also like to welcome more into the fold. If you would like to be a part of the thriving community of The Place as it moves into the next phase of its development there are a number of ways in which you can join us:
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
BECOME A FRIEND OF THE PLACE
If you have time to spare, a talent or simply an interest in meeting people of a like mind , why not join our Front of House team or help with our marketing? To find out more about volunteering opportunities email:
Being a Friend brings with it many benefits. Look out for any shows marked with a in this brochure as these have a special price exclusively for our Friends. Friends tickets can be booked online (just show your membership card when you arrive). You also get to enjoy discounts on drinks at certain shows, special offers, invitations to exclusive evenings and advance notice of extra events organised after the brochure goes to print. The primary benefit our Friends have, though, is the satisfaction of helping to maintain Bedford’s only full-time community theatre. For more information about how to become a Friend pick up a leaflet in the foyer or speak to the Duty Manager when you next attend the Place or email:
volunteer@theplacebedford.org.uk or speak to the duty manager on performance nights. You are free to commit as much or as little as you want and any necessary training will be given. One thing we can guarantee is that you will be made welcome.
♼
friends@theplacebedford.org.uk
The Place Theatre is managed by Bedford Players Trust, a charity registration no: 290124 The Trust does not receive any revenue funding, though we have been very fortunate to receive capital and project funding from the following: The Harpur Trust, Arts Council England, Wixamtree Trust, The John Apthorp Charity, Sylvia Waddilove Foundation, The Frank Branston Trust, Unity Trust, The BFI Film Audience Network, The House of Industry Estate, The Theatres Trust, Bedford Community Dental Services, Santander Foundation, The High Sheriff of Bedfordshire - Julian Polhill and The Panacea Society, distributed through the Bedford and Luton Community Fund.
4
This Season What a Summer we are going to have here at the Place. Not only do we have some cracking productions from some favourite returning companies: Pantaloons, Hotbuckle, Townsend and ZooCo; but also new companies bringing work to Bedford for the first time. We’re sure you’ll show them the usual warm Place welcome. This season we have a large number of new and returning Spoken Word events, part of the plan to increase the ways in which the venue can be used. We’re looking forward to welcoming new audiences and local participants into the space alongside our regular theatre, music and film audiences. Make sure you check out the return of BEDSLAM, Bedford’s competitive poetry evening, with guest headliner, BBC Slam Champion 2018: Jess Green. The Place has always supported Refugee Week and never more so than this year with a week jam-packed with events and activities for all ages and interests. Raising awareness of the circumstances of refugees locally and worldwide issues facing displaced people, the week is presented in conjunction with Friends of Refugees, Bedford Creative Arts and The Higgins Museum. Kick Ass Women films continue throughout the summer and culminate on 14th July with a day of Audience Choices. We don’t know what they will be yet, so it’s great to have a surprise. What will you choose? Check out our social media channels for more information on how you can make suggestions and vote. And all this whilst we introduce our new ticketing system and website, which has been made possible by a substantial grant from Arts Council England and support from you through the 15 4 15 campaign. We’re very excited for this next step in our development and evolution. But none of this would be of any purpose if it was not for YOU. Use of The Place for meetings, rehearsals, performances and presentations is at an all time high. We’ve never been busier in house, and that is down to the people who make things happen (community arts groups, schools, charities and clubs), and also to you, the audiences, who continue to come out to support the work we do here. You continue to show your loyalty and trust in the programme and for that we are eternally grateful. Please continue to buy your tickets, which will be made easier with the new system, and to take the risks you do in supporting productions which are perhaps new to you. We cannot thank you enough!
ALEX LEVENE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: PROGRAMMING AND PARTNERSHIPS
5
Programme Strands Our professional and community programming continues to go from strength to strength, with previous strands continuing and new ones coming through. We’re always looking for artists and community organisations we can support to develop our programming, so if you have an idea, or know someone who may be interested in helping us, please get in contact with the team.
Refugee Week takes place every year across the world in the week around World Refugee Day on 20 June. Refugee Week is a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME After the successes of our 2018 strand of shows exploring Mental Health, we continue to bring theatre and films that explore the many different lived experiences. Presented in partnership with Mind BLMK, Bedfordshire and Luton NHS Mental Health services provided by ELFT, and other local organisations.
6
An established part of the UK’s cultural calendar, Refugee Week is now one of the leading national initiatives working to counter the negative climate, defending the importance of sanctuary and the benefits it can bring to both refugees and host communities. The Place is very happy to be continuing our long association with Refugee Week activities, working in partnership with local charities and venues to expand the programme of work and help spread the message of hope, foster greater understanding and raise awareness of the reality of refugee experiences.
FANTASTIC FOR FAMILIES As holders of the Family Arts Standard we believe in the importance of creating a positive atmosphere for the audiences of the future. With this in mind, we offer a range of programming and activities for a range of ages and to make them accessible to all members of the family group attending The Place. In order to achieve this, we strive to have clear pricing and ensure you are told of age appropriateness and that our staff and volunteers are helpful and able to respond to your questions and needs as parents or guardians. More details of the Family Arts Standard can be found in the leaflet available in the foyer. We are also proud of our reputation for being friendly and cosy and to display the Fantastic for Families logo.
We love an evening at the theatre, and we love sharing work with younger audiences, but we don’t want you to worry that your children are going to have a late night if they come to see one of our fantastic family shows. Extra special early evening performances that start at 6pm are aimed just at families and younger audiences that makes for an extra special evening together at The Place.
Saturday evenings have traditionally been the night when people go out looking for things to do for that ‘special occasion’.
On top of that... why not come to see a show in your pyjamas or onesies? You will also be supercomfy, and it adds a bit of extra special sparkle to a theatre experience.
At the Place we have recognised this for some time and since January we have been making an even greater effort to make the night more memorable. We are continuing these ‘special occasions’ for this season - and beyond.
Thanks to Community Dental Services UK’s CDS Action, we can provide all children attending with free toothbrushes and free toothpaste and everything you need to clean your toothie-pegs at the theatre - so all your children have to do when they get home is pop straight to bed.
Not only are the productions extremely entertaining, just right for a night out, but our front of house offer is even greater than it normally is. Special themed cocktails, drinks deals and nibbles, as well as many other ‘secrets’ known only on the night.
Look out for the #DramasInPjyamas hashtag on social media.
Look out for the ‘A Good Night Out’ logo in this brochure. 7
MINI FILM FESTIVAL
Kick Ass Women From hard hitting and brilliant documentaries, to classics of European and World Cinema, from the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’, to 2018’s best films. Another wide selection of wonderful films about inspirational and unconventional women, chosen by the team at The Place, and with a whole day of films selected by members of the local community. See online to vote for your favourites... The film is an exploration of women in protest across the North of England and marks 100 years since the start of women’s suffrage in the UK. The film is supported by the Women’s Vote Centenary Grant Scheme. ‘A tear in my eye while watching this film. The passion for this project really shines through. I can’t wait to see it again’ – Leigh Film Society Showing women’s lives from the suffragettes to the miners’ strikes, and much more, the film’s title is inspired by the first person we encounter in the film – suffragette Elizabeth Dean who, celebrating her 100th birthday, defiantly tells the camera: ‘Between you and I, I must have been born a rebel!’ 15mins before each screening this season – All Ages FREE
VOTE 100: BORN A REBEL (U) screens every time we run a film screening until August 2019.
TUE 23 APR 11AM & 2PM KICK ASS WOMEN
Moana (2016) PG | 1h 47min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy The ocean is calling Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker Writers: Jared Bush (screenplay), Ron Clements (story) Stars: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana’s island, she answers the Ocean’s call to seek out the Demigod to set things right.
£6 adults/£2 children 8
IN ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
WED 24 - THU 25 APR 7.30PM FRI 26 APR 6.30PM THE PANTALOONS
Odyssey Sing, O Muse, of the critically-acclaimed Pantaloons and their hilarious new verse adaptation of the most epic journey of all time… Stranded war hero Odysseus must struggle against the odds to get home to his wife; but can he battle his way through grumpy gods, naughty nymphs, monocular monsters and over a hundred sleazy suitors? All whilst wearing an Ancient Greek robe that looks suspiciously like a bedsheet? Or will he – and The Pantaloons – remain all at sea…? “Part alt rock band, part thespian… wholly charming” THE TIMES
£12/£10
10+
SAT 27 APR 7.30PM PRIMROSE PRODUCTIONS
Hancock & Co Following James Hurn’s sell out tour of 2018, he is back with his popular one-man, many voices, celebration of radio comedy classic Hancock’s Half Hour. James – a multitalented actor and impressionist – will be performing Hancock and Co, a brand new programme which includes one lost episode of Hancock’s Half Hour, and two episodes he has written himself in the same style as Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, with James voicing the entire cast. James is a master at recreating the accents and personas of such iconic 20th century British favourites as Tony Hancock, Sidney James, Hattie Jacques, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams. The show is performed in the style of a radio performance in front of a live audience, bringing to life the classic days of radio comedy.
£12/£10
12+
9
TUES 30 APR 7PM KICK ASS WOMEN
The Villainess (2017) 18 | 2h 9min | Action, Drama A female assassin leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks revenge. Director: Byung-gil Jung Writers: Byeong-sik Jung, Byung-gil Jung Stars: Ok-bin Kim, Ha-kyun Shin, Jun Sung Sook-hee is a trained assassin who was born to kill. She was just a little girl when the training started in Yanbian, China. After the death of her mentor, when the chance of starting a new life was given to her, she came to South Korea as a government agent…
£6
♥
IN KOREAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES VOTE 100: BORN A REBEL (U) SCREENS BEFORE THIS FILM. SEE P8 FOR MORE DETAILS.
WED 1 MAY 4-8PM
MY HEART MY HEART: Live Poetry Jukebox
BY ADIE MUELLER AND TRUI MALTEN An interactive installation combining poetry, visual art and performance Step into the Live Poetry Jukebox for an intimate and magical experience of poetry, visual art and performance! This interactive installation works like a music jukebox, only with poetry. You are invited to look at the beautiful ‘library’ of jars, containing miniature artworks connected to a poem. Choose one you feel particularly drawn to and listen to a live performance of ‘your’ poem!
FREE 12+ WED 1 MAY 7PM
Summer Season Launch With Spring in the air, now is the time for thoughts to turn to lighter evenings and getting out more; and where better than a night out at the theatre? Come along to the launch of our Summer season and find out what goodies are in store. This is a great opportunity to talk to members of the team about our forthcoming plans (which this year are particularly exciting as we have secured Arts Council England funding to improve many aspects of our offer) and catch up with fellow audience members. As usual, there will be ice creams from Gelato Johns and wine tasting from our partner at The Blue Glass, plus extracts from our community shows currently in development.
10
FREE
ALL AGES
THUR 2 MAY 8PM
BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST ‘Amidst the jesting and hilarity, they sit as fine an example of traditional English folk music as you’re likely to hear.’ Mike Ainscoe, Bright Young Folk Paul Hutchinson (accordion) and Paul Sartin (oboe, violin and vocals), “one of folk’s odd couples”, have for nearly 25 years wowed audiences around Europe, The States and Australia, with virtuoso musicianship tempered by wry humour. With extravagant lifestyles to support, as well as a love of music, their candle looks set to burn for a good few decades more. Singer, oboist, cor anglais player, swanee whistle aficionado, violinist and pianist, Paul Sartin is a BASCA-nominated composer, arranger, performer and teacher. A founding member of the BBC award-nominated ensembles Belshazzar’s Feast and Faustus (German Critics Award 2017) and the late Bellowhead, he is also Director of the Andover Museum Loft Singers. His latest publication is ‘Community Choirs Folk’ for Faber Music and Paul also arranged and directed the music for the 2017-18 revival of ‘The Transports’ (Guardian ★ ★ ★ ★ ★). He was awarded a First for his Masters in Traditional Music, and in 2007 received a 75th Anniversary Award from the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
£14
12+ (GENERAL AUDIENCES)
That’s All Folk sponsored by
11
FRI 3 MAY 7:30PM
THE PLACE & OUSEMUSE PRESENT
BEDSLAM with headliner Jess Green BEDSLAM returns for its bi-annual outing at The Place. The sizzle and zip of the poetry slam returns to Bedford. One Slam competitor will be crowned Spring champion 2019 (and receive a £50 prize!). Once the dust settles on the competition we welcome Jess Green to the stage to share some of her awardwinning poetry and spoken word. Jess Green hit the headlines when her poem ‘Dear Mr Gove’ went viral with over 290,000 views in the first week of its release on YouTube. Since then she has won critical acclaim for her shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and has performed at festivals including Glastonbury. Her poetry resonates with audiences from school halls to festival tents. Jess has a solemn wit which seeks to bring social and political issues to the forefront of her personal stories.
Current BBC Slam Champion at Edinburgh Festival 2018, Jess also brings her show: ‘A Self Help Guide To Being In Love With Jeremy Corbyn’ to The Quarry Theatre on 27th Sept 2019.
12
£10/£8.50/FREE FOR SLAM COMPETITORS
‘Jess Green’s writing never fails to stir hope, humour and righteous anger, often all at the same time. She articulates brilliantly the loves and losses every embattled Labour supporter will be familiar with, but the humanity and wit that shines through all of her work is universal, making this collection for the many, not the few.’ GRACE PETRIE
12+
VOTE 100: BORN A REBEL (U) SCREENS BEFORE THIS FILM. SEE P8 FOR MORE DETAILS.
MON 6 MAY 2PM KICK ASS WOMEN
The Eagle Huntress (2016) 1h 27min | Documentary, Adventure, Sport The spellbinding true story about a 13-year-old girl on an epic journey to gain victory in a faraway land. Director: Otto Bell Stars: Aisholpan Nurgaiv, Daisy Ridley, Rys Nurgaiv This spellbinding documentary follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old nomadic Mongolian girl who is fighting to become the first female eagle hunter in twelve generations of her Kazakh family. Through breathtaking aerial cinematography and intimate verite footage, the film captures her personal journey while also addressing universal themes like female empowerment, the natural world, coming of age and the onset of modernity.
£6/£2
IN KAZAKH & ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES VOTE 100: BORN A REBEL (U) SCREENS BEFORE THIS FILM. SEE P8 FOR MORE DETAILS.
MON 6 MAY 7PM KICK ASS WOMEN
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2017)
“this moody and gorgeous film is finally more about atmosphere and emotions than narrative – and none the worse for it” THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
1h 41min | Drama, Horror The first Iranian Vampire Western Director: Ana Lily Amirpour Writer: Ana Lily Amirpour Stars: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Marshall Manesh In the Iranian ghost-town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, the townspeople are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire. The first Iranian Vampire Western ever made, Ana Lily Amirpour’s debut basks in the sheer pleasure of pulp. A joyful mash-up of genre, archetype and iconography, its prolific influences span spaghetti westerns, graphic novels, horror films, and the Iranian New Wave..
£6
IN IRANIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES 13
WED 8 MAY 10.00 & 11.15 (60 mins)
Jackastory
(in association with ‘Rogan’s Books’) As part of our growing programme of events for the younger members of our audience to give them the excitement of being in a theatre watching a live performance, we are continuing our mornings of readings of well-known children’s books both past and present. Listen to members of the Place team read their favourite stories from when they were little or which they read to their own children. Maybe they are ones you had read to you as a child. Each session will last for about an hour with a break for refreshments. This will be a very relaxed event with young - and old - being invited to join the readers on the stage in an intimate and friendly atmosphere.
£3 inc. free coffee/tea/squash & biscuits Stories for 2 to 5 year olds Limited tickets available. WED 8 MAY 7PM WORDSETFREE & EDGERYDERS
culture Culture: A networked conversation about cultural growth and development ‘culture Culture’ is a curated deep inquiry into the most urgent challenges faced by cultural and art collectives across European cities. Culture culture offers participants a local/global platform for conversation and access to useful information and support which tends to be unavailable or expensive. Over six months, one question per month will convene artists, activists and cultural workers to a local meetup in locations across Europe where they will engage in constructive conversation and draw points of action for mutual support and collaboration. The meetups are synchronised to address complementary issues across each location, so each event feeds into the wider conversation. WordSetFree and Edgeryders Culture Squad will work with you, the participants, to produce and document the events, connecting our local stories into a bigger narrative, and connecting participants with resources from a network of thousands of people doing cultural and activist work across the world.
14
FREE
14+
The opening topic will be: ‘How can arts and culture create a secure environment for artists and citizens to lead the ongoing renovation and redefinition of civic spaces?’
THUR 9 – FRI 10 MAY 7:30PM
LIFEBOX THEATRE COMPANY/NO LOSS PRODUCTIONS
StageWrite 2019 Four plays, two nights, one fantastic festival. StageWrite 2019 returns to The Place in May for its seventh successful year. StageWrite is a hothouse for the development of new writing for theatre. Over two nights, professional actors will perform four brand new plays, selected from scripts submitted by emerging and established writers from all over the UK. Two performances will take place each evening, followed by questions for the writers, directors and actors.
£8/£6
14+
PRO
15
SAT 11 MAY 7:30PM
CYPHERS THEATRE COMPANY
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen “How can he say one thing and mean another?” Catherine Morland has grown up in the country, with only sensational novels and pop culture to inform her of life beyond the village. Leaving home for the first time, she expects heroes, bandits and adventures to await her. Reality is more complicated. Catherine discovers that friends can hurt, heroes aren’t always nice, and evil is sometimes just a point of view. How can real people ever be understood? Cyphers present Jane Austen’s timeless tale of growing up and getting it all wrong, with their playful style and fast-paced action.
‘remarkably inventive’ ★ ★ ★ ★ LONDON THEATRE1
£12/£10
12+
‘absolutely charming’ A YOUNGER THEATRE
PRO
TUES 14 – SAT 18 MAY 7:30PM
SWAN THEATRE COMPANY
Amy’s View by David Hare In 1979 Esme Allen (Jo Phillimore) is a well known West End actress caught in a changing West End climate that is trying for performers. A visit from her young daughter, Amy (Lissy Malt), with a new boyfriend Dominic (Simão Vaz), sets in motion a series of events which only find their shape sixteen years later. Swan Theatre Company present their final production in their 2018/19 season, Amy’s View by David Hare (Racing Demon, Skylight) directed by Paul Frecknall. Originally staged by the Royal National Theatre in 1997, before transferring to the West End in 1998 and Broadway in 1999, Amy’s View is a ‘diffuse, incisive, funny, moving, difficult, fascinating...rich play.’ The Times.
16
£7.50 (TUES ONLY)/£12/£10
12+
COMMMUNITY
MON 20 MAY 7:30PM
BEZNA THEATRE
Illegalised “I would like to ask the British what visa they had when they ruled us for 150 years?” Britain colonised 25% of the Earth’s land surface, subjugated 500 million people and justified the mass violence as a civilising mission. In the UK, migrants, refugees and those seeking asylum are scapegoated, detained without charge, interrogated, forced into destitution, deported without warning, suffocated, beaten and pushed to suicide by the British State’s anti-immigration and antiasylum policies. ILLEGALISED, from British-Romanian collective BÉZNĂ Theatre, is a journey through the Home Office’s human rights abuses against ‘the other’ that exposes the profit made from the illegalisation of human beings. ILLEGALISED, inspired and informed by interviews with migrants, refugees and those seeking asylum, is the first part of a protest cycle denouncing Britain’s dehumanising of people for power and profit from colonial times to today. ILLEGALISED is protest-theatre calling for solidarity.
£10/£8/£6(STUDENTS)
14+
PRO
VOTE 100: BORN A REBEL (U) SCREENS BEFORE THIS FILM. SEE P8 FOR MORE DETAILS.
TUES 21 MAY 7PM KICK ASS WOMEN
American Honey (2016)
“Part dreamy millennial picaresque, part distorted tapestry of Americana and part exquisitely illustrated iTunes musical”. GUY LODGE VARIETY
2h 43min | Adventure, Drama, Romance Wild and astonishing! An indelible epic of the open road! Director: Andrea Arnold Writer: Andrea Arnold Stars: Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf, Riley Keough Star, a teenage girl with nothing to lose, joins a travelling magazine sales crew, and gets caught up in a whirlwind of hard partying, law bending and young love as she criss-crosses the Midwest with a band of misfits.
£6
IN ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES 17
THUR 23 MAY 8PM
Ninebarrow A multi-award-winning folk duo, who are impressing audiences across the country with their innovative and captivating take on the folk tradition. Combining breathtaking vocal harmonies and melodies, they deliver songs and stories inspired by the landscape and history of the British Isles. Superb music, folklore and storytelling at its very best. ‘Horizon’ category for Best Emerging Artist
‘A rather lovely thing…like two halves of one voice’ Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
£14
That’s All Folk sponsored by
ALL AGES
FRI 24 MAY 7:30PM
‘Stunning’ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Maverick Magazine
TOWNSEND PRODUCTIONS
Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell, adapted and performed by Neil Gore.
‘The man of many characters’, actor Neil Gore, presents an Edwardian Magic Show using Magic Lantern and projected animation, with political conjuring tricks and live music and song, based on the classic novel The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. Robert Tressell’s novel about life in the building trades was first published over 100 years ago, and was barely noticed. Since then, in one edition after another, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists has been passed from hand to hand, and won itself a place not only in the folklore of working people, but also in literary history as the first authentic English working-class novel. In this entertaining one-man show we meet the familiar characters from the book; participate in the famous Great Money Trick; enjoy the scenes, speeches and songs that trace “twelve months in hell” as the painters and decorators struggle to maintain themselves and their families through hard work, poverty, and the constant fear of unemployment, whilst renovating a large town-house for the local mayor - Mayor Sweater. This witty, humorous, enduring and absorbing classic story is brought to life by Neil Gore using his extensive knowledge of the book and the play, having performed it in many versions over thirty-five years.
18
£12/£10
12+
PRO
SAT 25 MAY 2 – NOON OUR MINDS MATTER & BPT
Our Minds Matter, The Place Theatre and ELFT join forces for a day of conversation and activities about positive mental health. Afternoon events will be announced through our social media channels, but the day will culminate in a screening of CRAZYWISE followed by an open Q&A session with Mental Health professionals and Experts by Experience
CRAZYWISE 7PM
1h 22min | Adventure, Drama, Romance What if a psychological crisis was seen as having the potential to be a positive transformative experience, instead of a “broken brain”? Directed by: Phil Borges and Kevin Tomlinson Crazy...or wise? The traditional wisdom of indigenous cultures often contradicts modern views about a mental health crisis. Is it a ‘calling’ to grow or just a ‘broken brain’? The documentary CRAZYWISE explores what can be learned from people around the world who have turned their psychological crisis into a positive transformative experience. IN ENGLISH
FREE - DONATIONS ON THE DOOR
12+
SUN 26 MAY 2PM
FIDGET THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH LITTLEMIGHTY
Bird’s Nest Billy
Billy and Bo are best of brothers. They both have big hair. Bird’s Nest Hair! One day Bo starts school and Billy has no-one to play with. Suddenly a magical bird chirps out of his curly, bird’s nest hair. The bird grants him three wishes. Fidget Theatre brings Billy’s fantastical wishes to life with their trademark wit and warmth, blending imaginative storytelling, puppetry and playful audience interaction. Bird’s Nest Billy is an adventurous, playful show for 3-7 year olds and their grown-ups.
£10/£5/£25(FAMILY) 3-7 & FAMILIES
PRO
19
TUES 28 – FRI 31 MAY LITTLE SOLDIER PRODUCTIONS
7PM
Journey to the Impossible Did you own a Walkman, play Donkey Kong or watch The Goonies? We made this show for you (oh, and for your kids). The year is 1982, and three kids are in trouble. They’ve opened a door onto a parallel dimension: the city of Vernopolis, where no one has fun any more. By means of walkie talkies and magical bandanas, you’ll be taken with them through the Improbable and the Unlikely, via the Intriguing and the Unethical - returning not much older, hardly any wiser, but glad you went. Along the way expect a play within a play, epic songs, hip hop, a dash of Spielberg and Shakespeare, and other incompatible styles in this unashamedly 80s sci-fi coming-of-age adventure for all the family.
“a fun-filled nostalgia fest” THE STAGE Originally commissioned by Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter.
20
£12/£7/£32(FAMILY)
8+
PRO
“Smart, fast, and very, very funny, Journey to the Impossible is an uncynical fever dream of childhood nostalgia” EXEUNT
VOTE 100: BORN A REBEL (U) SCREENS BEFORE THIS FILM. SEE P8 FOR MORE DETAILS.
TUES 4 JUN 7PM KICK ASS WOMEN
Widows (2018) 2h 9min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Left with nothing. Capable of anything. Director: Steve McQueen Writers: Gillian Flynn (screenplay), Steve McQueen (screenplay) Stars: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki “Widows” is the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities. Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Viola Davis), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Belle (Cynthia Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.
£6
15+
IN ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
WED 5 JUN 7PM
WORDSETFREE
F.U.N. Bedford: Vol 1 F**kUp Nights: Conversations about failures and other mistakes LESSONS FROM ENTREPRENEURS WHO’VE FAILED AND SURVIVED F.U.N is a global movement where stories of failed business and projects are told, questioned and celebrated! In each F.U.Night, three or four entrepreneurs share their stories of failure, discussing what they were working on, what went wrong and what they learnt. A chance for us all to learn together, and beat the stigma that comes from trying but failing. “Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8”
£5
14+
PRO
There’s a chance after each story to ask plenty of questions and even the opportunity to get up at the end and share your own story during the open mic session. All of this accompanied by cheap booze and good friends.
21
THUR 6 JUN 10.00 & 11.15 (60 mins)
Jackastory
(in association with ‘Rogan’s Books’) As part of our growing programme of events for the younger members of our audience to give them the excitement of being in a theatre watching a live performance, we are continuing our mornings of readings of well-known children’s books both past and present. Listen to members of the Place team read their favourite stories from when they were little or which they read to their own children. Maybe they are ones you had read to you as a child. Each session will last for about an hour with a break for refreshments. This will be a very relaxed event with young - and old - being invited to join the readers on the stage in an intimate and friendly atmosphere.
£3 inc. free coffee/tea/squash & biscuits Stories for 2 to 5 year olds Limited tickets available. THUR 6 JUN 7:30pm HOTBUCKLE
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Adapted by Adrian Preater “I am no bird, and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” After a harsh and cruel childhood, the young Jane becomes governess to the daughter of the enigmatic Mr Rochester. As Jane and Rochester’s relationship grows, it is overshadowed by doubt, dark shadows and terrible secrets. Following the success of Wuthering Heights, “… beautifully handled … this is the company’s best yet” (BBC Radio Shropshire) and Far From the Madding Crowd, “… a magical production” (The Stage), Hotbuckle bring their inventiveness, humour and unique magic to Brontë’s compelling tale.
22
£12/£10
10+
PRO
TUES 11 - SAT 15 JUN 7:30PM BEDFORD DRAMA COMPANY PRESENT
Lysistrata – the Sex Strike by Germaine Greer and Phil Willmott, after Aristophanes “The women of Athens have had enough!” Athens is in the grip of a futile, destructive war with Sparta and its men are fighting abroad, taken away from their wives and families for long periods at a time. The women of Athens have had enough. At dawn, in a men’s bathhouse, leading society woman Lysistrata gathers an assembly of Athenian and Spartan women to discuss negotiating a peace treaty. Their tactics are simple: they will refuse their men sex until peace is declared. Hilarious, bawdy and profound, the story of Lysistrata continues to delight audiences worldwide. By arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.
£12/£10 15+ COMMUNITY
CALLING ALL SINGERS aged 14 – 26! Want to be part of this year’s
BEDFORDSHIRE YOUTH OPERA?
Bedfordshire Youth Opera has been running for over 37 years and is unique in the UK, providing an excellent platform for young people to experience opera and develop new skills. Each year the group works with a professional team during a Summer Course culminating in 5 fully staged performances at The Place Theatre, Bedford.
ADVERT
Formerly run by the local authority Music Service, Bedfordshire Youth Opera it is now managed by a Charity... www.bedfordshiremusictrust.org.uk/ The Youth Opera has been an inspiration to both singers and audience and has been the launch-pad for the careers of many internationally acclaimed artists including Rachel Nicholls, Carolyn Sampson, Tyler Clarke, Kitty Whately, Rebecca Bottone and Donna Lennard. Many past members have also gone on to become professional producers and directors, using the skills they developed here to nurture other young talents. Don’t take our word for it, just listen to past students telling you how much they enjoyed the experience www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hl5wB4Uxm8
TO JOIN IN THIS YEAR’S PRODUCTION email admin@bedfordshiremusictrust.or.uk or phone 01234 783054
23
18 - 20 JUNE 6PM-9PM BEDFORD CREATIVE ARTS
REFUGEE WEEK: Installations
Love From Syria Love From Syria is a soundscape developed by singer and composer Roshi Nasehi who, in 2018, worked with refugee families at the Kings Arms project in Bedford in a series of music-based workshops. Here, the group shared many traditional Syrian songs and stories, as well as their individual histories, which provided the basis for the piece. The final artwork is a beautiful, wistful piece of art, where sounds, inspired by shared songs, have been mixed and stretched to create seven minutes of audio, with each minute representing a year of the seven-year war in Syria. INSTALLATIONS WILL RUN EACH DAY BEFORE AND AFTER THE EVENTS.
FREE ALL AGES
24
Asma – Routes Bedford ‘Asma – Routes Bedford’, a large-scale puppetry and sound installation theatre piece by physical theatre ensemble, Theatre Témoin, will be screened here at The Place as part of Refugee Week 2019. “Come sit, I can tell you want to hear the story”. Meet Asma, a Syrian woman forced to leave her homeland. Hear how she and her young daughter Rose escape from the dragons who take their home and flee from the wizard’s burning mist, and begin the long road to find safety. Inspired by true stories from across the globe, ‘Asma Routes Bedford’ is a fantastical journey through danger, hope, and humanity.
VOTE 100: BORN A REBEL (U) SCREENS BEFORE THIS FILM. SEE P8 FOR MORE DETAILS.
IN ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
TUES 18 JUN 7PM KICK ASS WOMEN / REFUGEE WEEK
The Breadwinner (2017) 1h 34min | Animation, Drama, Family In 2001, Afghanistan is under the control of the Taliban. When her father is captured, a determined young girl disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family.
Parvana is an 11-year-old girl growing up under the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. When her father is wrongfully arrested, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy in order to support her family. Working alongside her friend Shauzia, Parvana discovers a new world of freedom – and danger.
Director: Nora Twomey Writers: Anita Doron (screenplay), Deborah Ellis (screen story) Stars: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Noorin Gulamgaus
With undaunted courage, Parvana draws strength from the fantastical stories she invents, as she embarks on a quest to find her father and reunite her family.
From executive producer Angelina Jolie and the creators of the Academy Award nominated The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, comes the highly-anticipated new feature based on Deborah Ellis’ bestselling novel.
Equal parts thrilling and enchanting, The Breadwinner is an inspiring and luminously animated tale about the power of stories to sustain hope and carry us through dark times.
£6
25
SPUN GLASS THEATRE PRESENTS
THIS SHOW TAKES PLACE AT
This Noisy Isle
Please meet at The Higgins Courtyard.
SCHOOLS SHOWS TUES 18 – FRI 21 JUN
(Times by Appointment)
PUBLIC SHOWS TUES 18 - FRI 21 JUN 4–4.15PM (shows start every 15 mins)
SAT 22 JUN 10AM – 12NOON, 1-3pm (shows start every 15 mins) This Noisy Isle is a treasure-hunt style performance for 7-11 yearolds and their families inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. This adventure through a strange, magical new world explores the refugee crisis in a new and inventive way. Created in partnership with Creative Arts East, The Garage, Norwich and Arts Council England.
You’ve washed up on a new shore... Can you navigate through this world where nothing is quite what it seems? The inhabitants of this island make strange noises and sprites hide around every corner. Where do you belong? Discover your own magical powers in this truly interactive family experience. Join us for a mission which will lead you through puzzles, meeting mysterious characters and steering your team through the choppy seas to search for your new home. Come prepared for the elements as much of this adventure takes place outdoors!
26
£6/£8/£20 (FAMILY)
PRO
WED 19 JUN 7:30PM
Red INK As part of BCA’s programme for Refugee Week 2019, hip hop dance company Wayward Thread will be performing “Red INK” here at The Place. An artful and pulse-quickening mix of hip hop and contemporary dance, Red INK is up-and-coming British-Asian choreographer Si Rawlinson’s first fulllength touring production and has sold out at venues including the Southbank Centre London.
£12/£10/£8 STUDENTS 8+
“Gorgeous muscular movement” Jonzi D, Breakin’ Convention “Boundary-breaking dance art chiming for change” Kate Hagan, The Wonderful World of Dance
PRO
A day of work by Friends of Refugees
THUR 20 JUN 3PM
THUR 20 JUN 7PM
FOR in collaboration with Bedford College present a brand new film project. Students from Bedford Girls School will be performing around the showing of the film.
FOR, together with Bedfordshire University, will be working with local people to perform this play highlighting the challenges of war that make escape to a new country the only option - no matter how dangerous. Drawing on testimony and the lived experiences of local refugees and asylum seekers, this new play seeks to go beyond the headlines.
Hidden Stories
Working with unaccompanied minors who are now living in Bedfordshire, Hidden Stories explores their journeys from their homelands and asks ‘what do you miss about life before?’ ‘what did you learn along the way?’ and ‘what most excites you about your future in the UK?’
FREE ENTRY 11+
Distant Voices
Food will be available to purchase on the night to raise funds.
MIN. DONATION OF £5
11+
27
VOTE 100: BORN A REBEL (U) SCREENS BEFORE THIS FILM. SEE P8 FOR MORE DETAILS.
WED 26 JUN 2PM & 7PM KICK ASS WOMEN
Sunset Boulevard (1950) 1h 50min | Crime, Drama, Thriller A screenwriter is hired to rework a faded silent film star’s script, only to find himself developing a dangerous relationship. Director: Billy Wilder Writers: Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder Stars: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim In Hollywood of the 50’s, the obscure screenplay writer Joe Gillis is not able to sell his work to the studios, is full of debts and is thinking of returning to his hometown to work in an office. While trying to escape from his creditors, he has a flat tyre and parks his car in a decadent mansion in Sunset Boulevard. He meets the owner and former silentmovie star Norma Desmond, who lives alone with her butler and driver Max Von Mayerling. Norma is demented and believes she will return to the cinema industry, and is protected and isolated from the world by Max, who was her director and husband in the past and still loves her. Norma proposes Joe moves to the mansion and help her in writing a screenplay for her comeback to the cinema, and the smalltime writer becomes her lover and gigolo. When Joe falls in love with the young aspirant writer Betty Schaefer, Norma becomes jealous and completely insane and her madness leads to a tragic end.
£6
IN ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
THUR 27 JUN 8PM SWING’S THE THING
Frank Sinatra: Concert for the Americas Swing’s the Thing return with the final part of their Sinatra Trilogy. Transporting you back to 1982 and to the 5000 seat open-air Greek-style amphitheatre in the Dominican Republic to recreate the Concert for the Americas. Sinatra always chose the best bands available for these events and this time was no exception. The Buddy Rich Orchestra were at the height of their popularity, as was Sinatra himself. Mel Peake and Swing’s the Thing know that they will have to be at their very best for this concert. The only thing they can’t deliver is the 5000 seats, so book early to avoid disappointment.
28
£12.50 ALL AGES
COMMUNITY
SAT 29 JUN 7:30PM
ZOOCO
Sirens ‘And before you can say damaged male ego, we’re holed up on a four foot square rock for the rest of eternity...’ When three Greek women defy the will of Zeus and are cursed with a deadly voice, the famous myth of the Sirens is born. But when they find out that the truth about them may have been a bit more than ‘tweaked’, they are catapulted to Hastings beach in 2019 with one mission: rewrite history. Using breathtaking visual storytelling, stunning projections and a lot of feathers, ZooCo’s award-winning show Sirens sticks two fingers up at gender expectations and asks, when your voice is silenced, how do you stand up and shout out? Audience favourites ZooCo return to Bedford again with the touring version of their Edinburgh preview show from summer 2018. Another opportunity to catch this wonderfully fast-paced explosion through ancient myths and modern life.
£12/£10 10+
PRO
SIRENS IS CREATIVELY CAPTIONED AND BSL INCLUSIVE
29
WED 3 – SAT 6 JUL 7:30PM (& 2.30 SAT 6) TOFFE APPLE
Funny Girl Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Bob Merrill. Book by Isobel Lennart from an original story by Miss Lennart. Produced for the Broadway Stage by Ray Stark. New York Production Supervised by Jerome Robbins. Original Production Directed by Garson Kanin Funny Girl brought global fame to Barbra Streisand 50 years ago and boasts some of the most iconic songs in film and theatre history, including People and Don’t Rain On My Parade. This ‘iconic, legendary, laugh-out-loud’ (The Times) musical tells the story of Fanny Brice, whose vocal talents and comedic ability see her rise from Brooklyn music hall singer to Broadway star. The musical is semi-biographical, based on the life and career of Broadway star, film actress and comedienne Fanny Brice. Toffe Apple are proud to bring this brand new production to the Place Theatre following on from their 2017 production of ‘The rise and fall of Little Voice”.
£15/£13/£12(GROUPS OF 20+)
12+
COMMUNITY
WED 10 – THUR 11 JUL 7:30PM GOLDINGTON ACADEMY
Into the Woods Jr. Book by James Lapine. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine. This amateur production is presented by arrangement with MTI Europe. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe Goldington Academy warmly invite you to share an evening celebrating our pupil’s passion for creative arts. The musical centres on a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse, and wind up changed forever.
£6/£4 30
8+
COMMUNITY
FRI 12 JUL 7:30PM
After a long hiatus PechaKucha returns to Bedford at The Place Theatre. Come and hear local creatives present their passions using just 20 images each shown for just 20 seconds. PechaKucha (or chitchat in Japanese) is a creative style of presenting that was created by two architects from Tokyo in 2003 who were fed up with lengthy presentations. Since then the concept has grown and PechaKucha talks now run in over 800 cities around the world, bringing together people from all creative backgrounds. If you’re interested in talking at a PechaKucha night, please get in touch: Alex Levene (al@theplacebedford.org.uk) You can find out more at: pechakucha.com/cities/bedford
DONATIONS OF £3
14+
VOTE 100: BORN A REBEL (U) SCREENS BEFORE THIS FILM. SEE P8 FOR MORE DETAILS.
SUN 14 JUL TIMES TO BE ANNOUNCED KICK ASS WOMEN
Films: Audience Favourites For the final day of the Kick Ass Women season we’re handing over the decision making to members of the local community. We’ll be asking for recommendations from all the people who were nominated online as part of our #KickAssWomenofBedford campaign, followed by a public vote to determine the final screenings. Stay tuned to our website and social channels to find out more information. Expect The Place’s normal blend of family friendly, critically acclaimed and cult classic screenings, as always, presented with English subtitles.
£6/£2
31
The Place Theatre are very excited to once again be presenting a whole heap of exciting new theatre and music as part of Bedfringe 2019. Returning to the theatre again after a long hiatus this year sees a packed schedule of work in the main house, as well as two new spaces that we’ll be setting up just for the festival. From intimate shows for 2 people, to outdoor Shakespeare; local musicians and international artists rubbing shoulders. Check out a few of the great shows we have coming up on these pages, and pick up a BEDFRINGE brochure to see more details of our complete program of work.
Book your tickets online at www.bedfringe.com 16 – 20 JULY 7PM- 9PM
17 JULY 6:00-8:00PM
SE THEATRE
A WRITING WORKSHOP WITH LIBERTY MARTIN
The Comedy of Errors SE Theatre Company travel from Shakespeare’s hometown in Stratfordupon-Avon to bring one the Bard’s earliest and most farcical comedies to The Place Theatre. The Comedy of Errors tells the story of two sets of identical twins who were accidentally separated at birth. Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, travel to Ephesus, which turns out to be the home of their twin brothers, Antipholus of Ephesus and his servant, Dromio of Ephesus. What follows is a series of wild, hilarious mishaps based on mistaken identities that lead to near-seductions, arrests, false accusations of infidelity, theft, madness, and even demonic possession. This production combines the comical nature of the text, with immersive live music and the warmth of a Summer evening to bring to the stage a Shakespearean production unlike any other.
£10/£8/£30 FAMILY OF 4 32
Write It Down, Dear
Nora Ephron observed that her fiction was frequently described as ‘thinly disguised’ autobiography when many male writers had mined their lives for material without being ‘hit with the thinly disguised thing’. This is a practical workshop for people who want to write a drama about life; the way it’s lived, imagined or somewhere in between.
£10 WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT
20 – 21 JULY THE OUTBOUND PROJECT
M.E.H. – (MASS EPIDEMIC HYSTERIA) 1518, France. A woman walks into the street and starts to dance. She is joined by over 200 people all unable to stop. Many of these people dance themselves to death. The exact cause is still unknown. 2018, England. A girl walks onto the beach and starts to dance. Mass Epidemic Hysteria: 1. Spontaneous, en masse development of physical and/or emotional symptoms among a group of people; 2. A socially contagious frenzy of behaviour in a group as a reaction to an event. Award winning physical / visual theatre company The Outbound Project explore the unexplained phenomenon of mass epidemic hysteria in this powerful, visceral, new piece of work.
22 – 25 JULY
22 – 26 JULY
LIFEBOX THEATRE AND NO LOSS PRODUCTIONS
THE FLANAGAN COLLECTIVE AND GOBBLEDIGOOK THEATRE
@ the festival Experience a taste of StageWrite, Bedford’s only annual new writing festival for theatre, now in its seventh year! Four brand new pieces are chosen from submitted scripts and will be performed by professional actors, with audiences invited to give feedback about what they have seen. StageWrite is a hothouse for the development of new writing for theatre, and a number of the plays that have featured in previous years have gone on to full production in Bedford and beyond. “StageWrite excelled my expectations; although performances were ‘script in hand’, production values were very high and felt like fully rehearsed productions.”
Orpheus
A tale of impossible, death-defying love told through hair-raising spoken word and soaring soul music, an award-winning retelling by The Flanagan Collective and Gobbledigook Theatre. An internationally award-winning modern retelling of an ancient myth. Dave is single and turning 30. He’s stood at the bar. Eurydice is a tree nymph. And Bruce Springsteen is on the juke box. A tale of impossible, death-defying love told through hair-raising spoken word and soaring soul music. The Flanagan Collective and Gobbledigook Theatre weave a world of dive bars, side streets and ancient gods. WINNER Best Theatre, Fringe World WINNER Best Theatre Award, Adelaide Fringe WINNER Summerhall Award, Vault Festival
ALSO! CHECK OUT THE PLACE’S EXCITING NEW INITIATIVE FOR BEDFRINGE 2019: SATURDAY 27TH JULY
THE PLACE ECO-BLACKOUT
A whole day dedicated to sustainable theatre and challenging theatre practices. We’re working with Staging Change and inviting artists and theatre makers whose work challenges the prevailing climate to present work in a new and inventive way. For one whole day we’ll be running our venue without any mains electricity! Expect a fascinating and fun day as we explore what could happen in a post-electric future. Bring your recyclable cups, jump on your bicycle and come join the revolution!
33
SUN 28 JUL – SAT 3 AUG VARIOUS
Over to you
Have you ever sat in the audience at one of our shows and thought ‘I’ve got a great idea for the use of this space’? Well, once again, for a week in July, The Place Theatre is throwing open the doors to you and your ideas and during this week all hire of the theatre is free to people with new ideas. Anything goes: WANT TO TRY OUT A NEW TYPE OF FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR YOUR CHARITY OR COMMUNITY GROUP? OR PERHAPS YOU WANT TO TRY RUNNING A FASHION SHOW FOR A LOCAL BUSINESS? OR ORGANISE AN EVENING OF COMPETITIVE COMPUTER GAMING USING OUR PROJECTION EQUIPMENT? The only surprise to us will be that you will have loads of new ideas that we never thought existed. There’s a simple online form to fill in with your event details, and we’re open to new applications until the end of May 2019. For more information check our Social Media pages, or email Simao Vaz: sv@ theplacebedford.org.uk
34
SUN 4 AUG 10:00 - 18:00
GAMEPLAY: Summer Games 2019 After the wonderful success of our inaugural GamePlay festival in January, The Place Theatre will be throwing its doors open again this summer for another day dedicated to games and gaming. Game Play: Summer Games 2019 is dedicated to all of the great things that happen when we play games together. The foyer will be filled with old computer games consoles again, allowing mum and dad to engage in some healthy rivalry with the kids on their favourite consoles from their youth. Expect to find all kinds of cosy places to relax and play. Ghost Valley RC will be back in the theatre with their live action remote-controlled car Mario Kart track, featuring timed races and a full leaderboard. Can you beat the best times from January? Bedford Board Gamers will be filling the rooms upstairs with a chance to get involved with a whole day playing some of the best and most exciting tabletop games, for players from 6-60+ yrs old. Another great opportunity for young people to be introduced to Table Top Role Playing Games will run upstairs, with the help of our new Young People’s D&D group. Best of all, the whole thing is super cheap, making it a great day out for the whole family.
£3/£10 FAMILY
7+
COMMUNITY
35
TUES 27 – SAT 31 AUG 7:30PM BEDFORDSHIRE YOUTH OPERA
Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann Estimated running time 2 hours 45 minutes Bedfordshire Youth Opera are back once again! They will be following up last year’s triumphant Candide with Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann. Three stories for the price of one! Expect more imaginative, witty and high-class entertainment from this wonderful young troupe, directed once again by Fred Broom and conducted by Ben Bottone. Not to be missed!
£17/£12 12+
COMMUNITY
FRI 6 SEP 7:30PM
The Place Autumn Season Launch Night Come along and find out more about our jam-packed programme for the Autumn season; meet the team and fellow audience members; see extracts from some of the community shows in development; and sample wines from our partner at Blue Glass and homemade ice cream from Gelato Johns. This will also give you the chance to let us have your views about the offer made to you and our new ticketing system and website.
36
FREE 12+
External Events SWAN THEATRE COMPANY
Poetry at the Eagle Bookshop Sun 5 May, 2 June, 21 July (BEDFRINGE SPECIAL @ THE PLACE) 7:00pm £5 ALL AGES Members of Swan Theatre Company and guests present an evening of poetry, lightly spiced with prose and drama, in the appropriately bookish surroundings of the: Eagle Bookshop 103 Castle Road Bedford MK40 3QP Tickets are available online or on the door.
The Eagle Bookshop RARE BOOKS and RARE PEOPLE FINE BOOKS and FINE PEOPLE SCHOLARLY BOOKS and SCHOLARLY PEOPLE SECONDHAND BOOKS and.... we’ll stop there! Books bought and sold at 103 Castle Road, Bedford www.eaglebookshop.co.uk 37
Coming
up in
Autumn
2019!
MON 30TH SEPT
THAT’S ALL FOLK
GRACE PETRIE
Grace Petrie’s unique takes on life, love and politics, and the warmth and wit with which they are delivered, have won over an army of loyal fans across the alternative, folk, political and comedy scenes.
FRI 4TH OCT
PENNED IN THE MARGINS & ANTOSH WOJCIK
HOW TO KEEP TIME: A DRUM SOLO FOR DEMENTIA
“Dziadek? Dziadek? Can you hear me?” Using just his voice and an electronic drum kit, awardwinning spoken word artist Antosh Wojcik explores the effects of dementia on speech, memory and family in his debut work for stage, How to Keep Time. 38
SAT 5TH OCT
HOUSE & KIERAN HURLEY AND GARY MCNAIR
SQUARE GO
A raucous and hilarious new play about playground violence, myths of masculinity and the decision to step up or run. “Riotously entertaining” ★★★★ The Independent
SUN 13TH OCT
THAT’S ALL FOLK
URBAN FOLK QUARTET: BIG BAND
UFQ’s cross-genre appeal sees them occupying a singular position, crossing scenes and continents and sharing bills with the most eclectic range of artists. It only gets wilder… “UFQ are impossibly wonderful” fRoots
SAT 30TH NOV - SUN 1ST DEC
LAMPHOUSE THEATRE
JUNGLE BOOK
Raised by wolves since birth, young man-cub, Mowgli is forced to leave his jungle home when he is threatened by Shere Khan, a terrifying tiger. Full of live music, comedy, puppetry and energy, this production explores the themes of growing up and staying true to yourself.
SAT 9TH NOV
THE PANTALOONS
OTHELLO
The critically-acclaimed Pantaloons relocate Shakespeare’s classic tragedy of jealousy and deception to a jazz-age setting, with live music, intense drama, and more than a hint of their own inimitable brand of theatrical mischief.
TUE 17TH MON 30TH DEC
THE PANTALOONS
CINDERELLA: XMAS SHOW
People of Bedford (and beyond)! You are cordially invited to Prince Charming’s Annual Ball 2019! Unfortunately due to a typo it will have to be held at The Place rather than The Palace... Nevertheless, please dress to impress (no rags, no Buttons allowed, sensible footwear advised) and note that illegally parked pumpkins will be towed.
39
Wider activities at The Place Bedford Creative Days Saturday mornings in term time. From 4 years WORKSHOPS AND PARTICIPATION BOOKING ESSENTIAL “Our aim is to encourage and develop the creativity in children through our weekly art and craft workshops here at The Place Theatre.” ‘Creative Saturdays’ workshops are open to all 4 to 13 year olds. We explore a range of different themes using many different materials and techniques. We take our inspiration from the changing seasons, the world around us, as well as different artists and cultures. Contact Philippa on 07824345042, email: creativedaysbedford@gmail.com or visit our website: www.creative-days.co.uk
40
Act One Theatre School Saturday mornings in term time and Tuesday afternoons (see below) WORKSHOPS AND PARTICIPATION BOOKING ESSENTIAL Act One Theatre School has been running successfully at The Place since 2002. There are three groups every Saturday morning in term time for Juniors, Intermediates and Seniors. Act One Beginners for 5 to 8 year olds takes place on Tuesday afternoons. Every year Act One gives pupils the opportunity to take part in the Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama, perform in a Showcase and take part in a Senior production. There are Speech and Drama lessons available after school preparing pupils for LAMDA examinations and holiday courses open to all in the Easter and Summer school holidays. Contact Sally Hammelev on 07988 762170 or email actone.theatreschool@ yahoo.co.uk for more information. New pupils are always welcome and a free trial session is offered to every prospective pupil.
41
Community Matters The Place sees itself very much at the heart of the artistic community of Bedford. We provide a home for the many community performance groups, many of whom have been with us from the beginning and provide about a third of our programming throughout the year. We also support a number of groups offering classes in Yoga, Pilates and children’s art, ensuring the venue is filled with all kinds of different activities. We also continue to host sessions from ELFT, with The Constellations young people’s recovery college running each week. We’re looking forward to supporting even more activity from them in the future. Q:Youth Bedford have made a home at the venue, and a new group for young RPG players is currently forming, led by young people. It’s a great time for us to have so many young Bedfordians coming to the venue and feeling at home here. A wonderful echo of the past use of this building. But our activity within the local community doesn’t stop at our doors; we have been getting out into the wider community through our Audience Development in the Community project, principally funded by the Harpur Trust. Through this work we have been able to identify and deliver a number of activities within the community which did not exist before, but for which there was a strong interest or a demand.
TOMORROW’S GREAT PAGEANT Tomorrow’s Great Pageant, part of the spring 2019 season, helped to establish and further strong links with the local LGBTQ community, and in the coming months we will connect through mask and performance with a group of young people with experience of domestic violence. In May/June we will conduct workshops in Bedford Prison that use drama and storytelling as a key to unlocking personal potential, and we are very lucky to have the financial support of the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire for these workshops, testimony to how the community gets involved in all sorts of different ways. We also look forward to a playwriting project with the Retired Caribbean Nurses Association; a music project that commemorates the reggae blues events popular in the 1970s; and exciting work with the community in the Kingsbrook and Cauldwell ward. However we are not resting on our laurels as we are still out in the community identifying groups that may want our help. If you would like to be part of this scheme please contact Elizabeth Howard (eh@theplacebedford.org.uk) for more information.
In conjunction with
RESIDENT REVIEWERS SCHEME A Resident Reviewers scheme that engages young people in writing performance reviews - including training workshops and access to subsidised theatre tickets. This project is able to continue thanks to a generous grant from the Frank Branston Charitable Trust, and as we move into the new season we have secured partnerships with both The Stage and A Younger Theatre.
Love talking about theatre? WE NEED THREE ‘RESIDENT’ REVIEWERS FOR OUR NEXT SEASON!
Keep an eye out on social media if you would like to get involved next season. Winners will be chosen in three age categories and their writing will be published across our social media platforms. Our new partners The Stage will provide mentoring, and there will be opportunities to visit their offices in London! We are running FREE review writing workshops on Wed 27 March & Wed 3 April at 4.30pm We also continue to support young people who are working towards an Arts (all age groups) – email Elizabeth Howard eh@theplacebedford.org.uk to book a place. Award. Call or email us for advice or to plan a visit.
42
To enter, please attend a show at The Place before Sat 27 April and send a review of your experience to eh@theplacebedford.org.uk by Tue 30 April. Winners will receive free tickets to a number of shows.
43
Our Season of Events SPOKEN WORD
FILM
MUSIC
THEATRE
Tues 23 Apr
FILM NIGHT
Moana
Thur 6 June
The Place presents
JACKASTORY
Wed 24 - Fri 26 Apr
The Pantaloons
The Odyssey
Thur 6 June
Hotbuckle
Jane Eyre
Sat 27 Apr
Hurn Davey
Hancock & Co
Tues 11 - Sat Bedford Drama Company 15 June
Lysistrata
Tues 30 Apr
FILM NIGHT
The Villainess
Tues 18 - Fri 21 June
REFUGEE WEEK: This Noisy Isle (Schools & Public)
Wed 1 May
Adie Mueller and Trui Malten
Poetry Jukebox
Tues 18 June FILM NIGHT
Wed 1 May
Bedford Players Trust
Autumn Season Launch
Wed 19 June
Bedford Creative Arts & The Place Bedford
REFUGEE WEEK: RED INK
Thurs 2 May
That’s All Folk
Belshazzar’s Feast
Thurs 20 June
Friends of Refugees & The Place Bedford
REFUGEE WEEK: Hidden stories & Distant Voices
Fri 3 May
The Place & Ousemuse
BEDSLAM with Jess Green
Sat 22 June
Spun Glass Theatre, The Place Bedford & The Higgins Bedford
REFUGEE WEEK: This Noisy Isle (Public)
Mon 6 May
FILM DAY
The Eagle Huntress
Wed 26 June FILM DAY & NIGHT
Sunset Boulevard
Mon 6 May
FILM NIGHT
A Girl Walks Home Alone
Thurs 27 June
Swing’s the Thing
Frank Sinatra: Concert for the Americas
Wed 8 May
The Place presents
JACKASTORY
Sat 29 June
ZooCo
Sirens
Wed 8 May
WordSetFree & Edgeryders
Cultural Conversations
Wed 3 - Sat 6 July
Toffe Apple
Funny Girl
Thurs 9 - Fri 10 May
Lifebox Theatre & No Loss Productions
StageWrite 2019
Goldington Academy
Into the Woods Jr
Sat 11 May
Cyphers Theatre
Northanger Abbey
Wed 10 Thurs 11 July Fri 12 July
WordSetFree
Pecha Kucha Bedford
Sat 13 - Sun 14 July
Justice in Motion
On Edge
Sun 14 July
FILM DAY & NIGHT
Audience Favourites
Tues 14 - Sat Swan Theatre Company 18 May
Amy’s View
Mon 20 May
Bezna Theatre
Illegalised
Tues 21 May
FILM NIGHT
American Honey
Thurs 23 May
That’s All Folk
Ninebarrow
Fri 24 May
Townsend Productions
Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
Sat 25 May
Our Minds Matter & The Place Bedford
Crazywise
Sun 26 May
Fidget Theatre & Little Mighty
Bird’s Nest Billy
Tues 28 - Fri 31 May
Little Soldier Productions
Journey to the Impossible
Tues 4 June
FILM NIGHT
Widows
Wed 5 June
WordSetFree
F**kUp Nights
Spun Glass Theatre, The Place Bedford & The Higgins Bedford
REFUGEE WEEK: The Breadwinner
Tues 15 - Sat Various 27 July
BEDFRINGE EVENTS
Sat 27 July
Closing Party
BEDFRINGE
Sun 28 July Various Sat 3 Aug
OVER TO YOU EVENTS
Sun 4 Aug
Summer Games 2019
Game Play
Tues 27 - Sat Bedfordshire Youth Opera 31 Aug
Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffman
Fri 6 Sept
Autumn Season Launch
Bedford Players Trust