Very Good Times

Well I can thoroughly say that the entire audience loved last nights performance of Very Hard Times by Publick Transport. Having met Angus Barr (PT's Artistic Director) through performances with Gonzo Moose, we immediately booked their first show, 20,000 Leagues Under the Office, and haven't looked back. This show was the best yet.

It started with Angus coming on to introduce himself as the director and lead actor, explaining that he found Dicken's original 'Hard Times' in a library. After being turned down by larger theatres he has decided to tour the show himself with minimal set, rehearsal time and casting. Angus then asked the audience to bear with them as they were still ironing out some creases... Then, with more current government issue references than an episode of 'Have I Got News For You', the three try to tell the original story of a down and out couple struggling to survive.

Performing as his alter-ego, Angus was constantly directing and correcting Wayne and Philippa throughout the show and being a right snobby pain in the bottom. I quite liked this version of Angus, but finally Philippa, who played Chloemiddia, snapped and more drama ensued to hilarious climax. 

When I first had an idea of where they were going with the 'performance within a play', I immediately thought of the Farndale series... which have always been a favourite with our student performers. However, Publick Transport managed to perfectly execute the comedy so that it wasn't cheesy or over-done. Their application of melodramatic techniques was not only very funny, but will be a great point of reference for our students in the future. 

My favourite part was when Philppa flipped out and Angus tried to carry on the show over her rant. He kept running around and speaking all of the lines for her and Wayne as the latter looked on helplessly. Either that or when he was playing chess with himself... imagining that there was another 'him' on the other side of the table. But only because I do that sometimes.

If you run a venue then I urge you to book these guys. If you're a theatre-goer then I urge you to go and see this show, any show by Publick Transport. Keep up to date with them by their website and Facebook. 

Very Hard Times

It's getting chilly again out there, isn't it? So why not spend Wednesday evening been warmed up with belly laughs!

Due to funding cuts, this is likely to be our last professional theatre company in for a while. Please come and show your support in these Very Hard Times.

Wednesday 2nd March
7.30pm
Tickets: £5 students, £6 adults

Arriba!

Swindon Samba is drumming up new members, via this very special 5 week beginners' course, which starts on Tuesday 15 March.

You can find out more, and download a booking form at www.swindon- samba.co.uk.

What do you think?

Here's the first draft for The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty. What do you think? Can you read the egg splash writing ok?

The plan is being rehearsed as we speak by our GCSE students. They will perform on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th March in the theatre. Both evenings will also show a short GCSE Exam Preview, a work in progress by the students who will be performing in front of the external examiner. This will be a great opportunity for them to perform their ideas and give them time to polish the pieces before them exam. It will be great to have your support!

Tickets are on sale soon and will be £3 for students and £4 for adults.

Each ticket will also be entered for a free prize draw to win an Easter Egg! Yum, yum!

Spring is coming!

The evening's are getting longer, is starting to warm up a little, I'm starting to remember what it's like to wear flip flops... It must be almost time for the Spring Music Concert!

This will be a farewell concert for our Year 11 musicians and so they are working hard to prepare for their send off. You can look forward to ensemble and solo pieces with some compositions from the students themselves! Don't miss out. Tickets are on sale soon so get Wednesday 30th March in your diaries...

Listen to this...

You may have heard me ramble on about Luke and John from Nizlopi in the past, but unfortunately that wonderful little band are no more. Here's a teaser from Luke though. He's over in Ireland recording some more material and it's lovely, lovely, lovely. Go Luke! I'll let you all know as soon as I hear anything more...

Very Hard Times

Our next show, Very Hard Times by Publick Transport, has now been added on our theatre Facebook page. If you haven't already, make sure you 'like' us and RSVP to the event! As a fan, you'll be the first to hear about new shows and you'll also be privy to our exclusive FB discount (available on all in-house performances).

Guest Review: The Nothing Show

I'd actually forgotten how delightfully funny this show was! Stewart first came to the theatre in May 2008 and I remember how much we all enjoyed his quirky little character. It was great to hear so much laughter as our intimate audience shared in his morning routine, with everything going smoothly the first time round, before a faulty alarm clock turns everything on it's head.

The real delight was in the details. As there was no set, props or soundtrack, Stewart mimed everything, adding sound effects where appropriate, to create a multiple room, two story house! My favourite bit was when he made it in to the kitchen and was listening to Radio 4 whilst making his tea. Stewart just repeated 'Radio 4, Radio 4' in low, soft tones so it sounded just like a Radio 4 DJ. We all laughed all the way through, until some shocked giggles started the final applause as Stewart left the house... with no clothes on! (Again, don't worry, this was all mimed!) A cheeky and innocent ending for a cheeky and innocent character.

Stewart worked with a group of our students in a physical theatre workshop before the show. The resulting piece opened the night with a great response from the audience...

Vicky Edgerton, Year 10, writes... "The Nothing Show can be summed up in one word, amazing. No verbal conversation, no props, and no sets yet still brilliant. The overall show was very entertaining, with no chance to be bored or without a grin on your face. Just as you think things are going to calm down something happens to shock you and make you laugh all over again.

The show was split into two parts. There was the student part and Stewart Wright’s part. The student part was easy to follow and always different, coming up with new scenarios to make school life interesting. That was certainly entertaining as they all linked in to what was happening and the way it was all done so casually was fantastic! Stewart Wright was a wonder to watch, with the repetitive waking up routine. Though you knew what was happening and had seen it before, there were small new things that happened, always holding your attention. It was absolute genius. I cannot find fault with this performance as I really enjoyed it, as did my sisters. Never before have I seen that kind of show and I didn’t know what to expect but I was very pleasantly surprised and would recommend if the chance ever arose, take it and see this show"

News from Marie-Lou

MJUK present CARMEN by Bizet

A sumptuous and daring production of Carmen with performances by some of Gloucestershire's finest opera talent. Directed by international opera singer Maria Jagusz and choreographed by established dance artist Marie-Louise Flexen, this production promises to awaken new audiences to the magic of this timeless classic.

8th - 12th February at The Playhouse Theatre, Cheltenham. All shows start at 7.30pm and tickets start at £13.50. Call 01242 522852 for more information.

The Nothing Show

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. The treats don't end in December though... roll on January 21st...!

Stewart Wright (Bridget Jones' Diary, Doc Martin) will spend the afternoon working with a group of Bradon Forest students to create their own piece of physical theatre in the style of The Nothing Show.

Always engaging and by turns hilarious, whimsical and shocking. The Nothing Show is a tour de force of contemporary clowning. Dedicated to the contemplation and celebration of everyday life, this show is for anyone who would prefer to stay in bed, thinks call centres are the devil’s work and finds the daily rush to beat the clock a complete turn-off.

The two pieces will then be intertwined and performed for your entertainment that same evening!

With The Nothing Show Stewart Wright and Craig Edwards have created a vivid and rich world of possibilities through nothing more than the performer’s skill and the audience’s imagination. The clown – our hero – is on an adventure to escape the hamster wheel of routine daily life and discover a brave new world.

This is an exciting opportunity for our students to work with and perform alongside a contemporary professional actor, using more traditional physical theatre performance skills and techniques. The final collaborative performance will be a one off experience for both actors and audience members!

Stewart Wright first came to the Bradon Forest Theatre in May 2008, when he performed The Nothing Show as a work in progress. We are very excited to welcome him back for this unique performance. Back in 2008 our GCSE students came up with a piece in response to The Nothing Show, based on a scene from Dario Fo's 'Archangels Don't Play Pinball'.

It will be very interesting to see what happens when performer and students are on stage at the same time!

The Nothing Show
Friday 21st January 2011
7.30pm
Tickets: £5 students, £6 adults