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tips | features | interviews | listings | discounts may 2013 // issue #03 // feat: captain blood’s revenge, scratch...
EXCLUSIVES INSIDE: >> 25% off tickets: festival & fringe Best of Punched
newspaper
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>> Glyndebourne’s first children’s opera >> fringe city saturdays >> 1 question: jess cheetham
shhhhush!
setting beckett peace and quiet rediscovered to music
Based on the award-winning book, VARMINTS is the story of one animal’s quest for quiet. We asked Jude Merrill, Artistic Producer of Travelling Light Theatre Co., to tell us about more about the show...
Varmints is described as a dance-theatre show. What does this mean? It’s high quality dance work but the directorial credits are shared between the director and the choreographer, so it will be a fusion of dance and theatre. It’s also got a lot of projection and lighting so I think on stage it will look very different from the way it looks currently in rehearsal. How did you discover the story? It’s from a book by Helen Ward and Marc Craste. Inspiration for the book came from Helen’s realisation that there was no place in England where you could go and get real peace and quiet at the moment. She wrote Varmints in a sense of frustration about not getting the peace and quiet everybody needs in their lives. While in the country to do some writing, she could hear traffic all the time and it was killing the sounds of bird song.
the birds the bees streams flowers insects leaves moles grass moss skies soils
varmints Dance is obviously a wonderfully expressive medium which doesn’t tie up all the knots and doesn’t give you all the answers. But that said, the show does have a very clear storyline throughout.
soundtrack to the show? Composer Benji Bower has created all the original music for the piece. He is a very inspired composer and the music lifts the show enormously.
It sounds like a choreographer’s dream what has Wilkie Branson (choreographer Is there a message you’d like audiences to take away with them? It’s quite an enigmatic story about a and Bboy) brought to the project? wilderness that is taken over by the building The intention is to remind people of the need of a huge Metropolis. One of the little He’s certainly having a lot of fun with it, as for there to be under-developed parts of the creatures who lives there ends up saving a he’s performing in the show too. He’s bought world, for there to be moments where we piece of the wilderness before it is swallowed his particular skills to the piece, so there is a can breathe, places where we can see the sky up by the city. The story follows his heroic lot of hip-hop work and b-boy moves, there’s and still hear birds and bees and moles. We journey with this plant that he’s grown and also a contemporary dance element too. need to take care with the world. I think it’s nurtured in the dark. The ending of the book I think sometimes people are put off dance got a very strong environmental message in is very open, and our intention with this piece because they think it’s going to be too it too. It’s a message which young children in is to let the audience use their imaginations, unresolved and too unexplained and - particular absorb and embrace very readily. and try not to be too descriptive about what although I said we want the audience to we think happens at the end. We want people use their imaginations - this isn’t an abstract to make up their own minds. piece. I think the audiences will really care VARMINTS Tue 21 - Wed 22 May, TOM The Old Market, How closely does the show follow the book? about the hero, the little varmint. It’s quite an Hove. 6pm [+1.30pm Wed 22] // £9.00 [£6.00], emotional piece so I think there’s a lot in there Families £25.00 [2 adult, 2 child], Schools Some bits are imagined which aren’t in the to interest people of all ages. £5.00 tickets book - we’re trying not to add to the story, but just try to interpret what we find in the book. And the music... tell me a little about the [Words: Chris Challis.]
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avast, ye! feature
Captain Blood’s Revenge, Glyndebourne opera’s world premiere performance produced for children
Promising a pirate party full of songs and merriment, Glyndebourne’s brand new opera follows the tale of Salty Sue and her quest to become a singer, yo ho hoing with the likes of Pegatty and Billy Bone along the way. Savvy?
Captain Blood’s Revenge is an original Glyndebourne commission in co-production with Brighton Festival, with music by Lynne Plowman and words by Martin Riley. This is the first time Glyndebourne has commissioned an opera specifically for children from the very beginning, giving them the chance to demonstrate the potential of opera, and expanding it’s parameters. They say that “this is an opportunity to reach a new audience, show what can be done with the art form, and show how versatile it is.” With this in mind, the creators highlight that children can be less forgiving than adults and as such they “think about the most interesting and engaging way to tell a story”, explaining that “there are cartoon elements of the show, but it’s got to be a play, it’s got to have emotion. It’s got to be fun and entertaining, but it’s also got to take you somewhere.” Strong characters and a strong narrative help introduce the uncommonly heard operatic voice to this new audience. It’s also a highly interactive performance, allowing children to experience the quality and the power of opera close up. The opera is set in a tavern, where the audience are incorporated into the show as customers in the tavern. From rehearsals,
“this is an opportunity to reach a new audience, show what can be done with [opera]”
the audience reaction to being addressed by a singer is quite considerable; “you get a jaw drop, it’s very entertaining to be directly addressed by someone singing. It’s such a different way of singing to other musical theatre. The athletic training of the voice, training and training, and the support, and the lungs for an effortlessness with that massive sound, for practical reasons, to get a sound like that across an audience without a microphone.” Captain Blood’s Revenge introduces new ideas, and the interactive nature, will help bring this new sound world that is opera to children. The production team assert the importance of introducing children to opera. “It’s an extraordinary art form, and you might
want to get a key into it but sometimes you need a way into it that may not be watching classical operas.” There is also a five-piece band as part of the performance and a postperformance ‘pirate parade’ where children are invited to dress up and celebrate. Captain Blood’s Revenge is a ground-breaking piece that challenges our perceptions of what opera should be. With highly talented performers, a gripping storyline, a colourful set and audience participation, it should be a thrilling experience.
CAPTAIN BLOOD’S REVENGE
24 may, 6pm // 25 may 11am & 3pm // £9.00 [6.00], Families £25.00 [2 adults, 2 children] [Words: Jenny Lindop.]
snaps of event highlights at we’ve come this far... some The Old Market, earlier this May
Tony Haase performed his live, phsychadelic disaster movie, THE DAY THE FAIRY DUST LANDED, on Monday 13. Awesome animation accompanied Tony’s terrific tale.
NICK PYNN AND KATE DAISY GRANT made magical music from a dazzling array of instruments, from violas to wine glasses, on Thursday 09. Photo: Peter Williams.
TrailBlaze’s SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES has begun showing guests a Brighton they never knew. Their interactive tour continues throughout May, on Fri & Sun events. £5-6 only!
This newspaper is produced and distributed by TOM - The Old Market.
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take to the
streets
All photography from Krysalis Photography krysalisphotography.com
saturdays at Fringe City The streets are most definitely alive this month, as Fringe City brings the performing hoards to Brighton Centre. Taking over New Road every Saturday in May, Fringe artists are enthralling passers by with dance, cabaret, comedy, or an especially eccentric costume.
Last Saturday, No Fit State Circus brought a cavalclade of actor / acrobats to the main stage outside the Unitarian Church before processing through the streets on towering, wheeled high chairs. Also on the main stage, Brighton favourite Movin’ Melvin Brown tap danced and sang to the delight of a packed impromtu audience.
This year, Brighton Fringe have introcuded smaller stages to Fringe City, providing a chance for more intimate performances such as The Girl With No Heart, (above left) an enchanting puppet show - to perform. Fringe City is your chance to soak up the festival vibe, enjoy some free live entertainment, and maybe even chat with some of the performers. Seen something you like? Take the plunge and get yourselves tickets to the shows; that’s what festivals are all about! May Saturdays 12-4pm, New Rd, Brighton
JESS CHEETHAM - theatre-maker, writer, reviewer - runs Scratch Sessions at TOM, a place for artists to perform new work. JESS... WHY ARE SCRATCHES SUCH AN IMPORTANT SPACE FOR ARTISTS? It is important to run Scratch Sessions to give artists a chance to get risky ideas performed in front of a supportive audience. A scratch performance is an opportunity to try something bold or different. Artistic processes can often be quite insular and the scratch platform allows the ideas to be expressed and discussed with others before they are presented as a final piece. Audiences are the most important element in a performance, they can be quite hard to come by, and often transform the piece. Scratch Sessions offers the chance to get your ideas seen. Scratch Sessions, Sunday 19, 3pm, £1.00 OTD
just one
question
@TOMvenue RT @LizzyMace Tried to flyer a lady yesterday, she said “I’ve seen that, it’s brilliant! ... Oh! You were in it!” #romcomcon @MaceAndBurton @ marlytheatre RT @WarrenTheatre Someone is absolutely butchering Love Cats on the Old Steine. I don’t love those cats... RT @RoughGuides Get down to Brighton this weekend for @ brightfest – the city has come to life and the party is in full swing! RT @Boolander83 Join us @KateBushMusic @brightonfringe for Kate Bush flash mob dance 25 May http://ind.pn/11yCr5F RT @jondwill ‘Lover Duck’ by the #ceramicist @AngelaLEvans @ ‘2 Knoyle’ #IndependentTrail #artistsopenhouses #art #Brighton RT @ElizCro Michael Rosen speaks about language and knowledge evolving - So spot on @ MichaelRosenYes #BF2013 RT @jen_h_williams @TOMvenue @LesEnfantsTerr Saw ‘Trench’ in Brighton last night - left the theatre a total wreck. Beautiful, original, heartbreaking work
Got something to share? Insider tips? Fascinating find? Let us know: info@theoldmarket.com Editor: Will Sawney, Contributors: Chris Challis, Jenny Lindop, Krysalis Photography, Peter Williams
offers, discounts & what’s on...
Best of Punched
The Drawing Circus: Prologue
Stand Up For Labour
End Brighton Fringe with a bang; a club night extravaganza show with festival vibes. Fri 31 May, 8pm - Late, £16.50 >> £2.00 off via carnivalesque.co.uk
Dark & musterious. Featuring live music and nude models to be drawn by those attending. Mon 27 May, 4pm & 8pm, £12.00. >> £10 tickets for groups 4+
// TOM’s Bar
at The Old Market A lively cultural space, hosting its own
Touched Theatre & Friends
Think you know puppetry? Think again. Brighton’s sell-out puppetry night for grown ups. Sun 26 May, 8pm, £10-12 >> 25% off tickets with code “PUN13”
Brighton & Hove Labour Party
Comedians & politicians provide laughs at the coalition government’s expense. Sat 25 May, 8.30pm, £9-14 >> 2-for-1 with code: “Labour241”
www.theoldmarket.com // 01273 201 801
Carnivalesque: The Animal Ball
for full listings and to book tickets:
TOM’s May 2013 event programme is bursting with vibrancy, comprising both Brighton Festival & Brighton Fringe events. From internationally-renowned theatre to decadent club nights, and a whole range of family-friendly shows, we’re sure you’ll find lots to get stuck into this month...
how to find TOM We are 10min walk West from Brighton centre, or on any Western Rd bus route (get off at Co-Op). Parking on seafront or at NCP, slightly East.
events as well as supporting those of TOM’s Main House next door. Open weekends 1-6pm & All shows.
Fringe Venue 145 | Upper Market Street | Hove | www.theoldmarket.com
10min walk from Churchill Square along Western Rd. Tickets: theoldmarket.com | 01273 201 801 This newspaper is produced and distributed by TOM - The Old Market.
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