Traditional theatre keeps actors a safe distance away, preferably on a stage. Barring a serious mishap, nothing is expected to go wrong, and the realms of possibility remain confined. Even better, one may watch a play which was written a few hundred years ago, well ingrained in the public consciousness. This will restrict the number of surprises.

Tin Box Theatre Company take a different tack. They invite the theatregoer to a derelict coffin factory at night with no electricity. They lead them through the eerie vacant space by torchlight, gather them in close, and tell them stories of a dead woman.

The show used a range of theatrical tools to tell the story, stimulating all the senses, from the olfactory assault of the dusty old factory, to snatches of physical theatre, close-up storytelling, and audio overlaid with headphones. It was a really great show from a young company, and not creepy as it might have been, for a show in a coffin factory.

I spent the afternoon sitting behind a desk in mac distributing instructions for Katie’s iPhone app geo-located bandstand experience. In a prominent position in the foyer, I saw all sorts, like the these guys, queuing for a ticket…

The Bandstand show seemed to go well, people downloaded their apps, pointed their cameras at the QR code, and bing, the experience downloaded and ran on their phone. As they walked up to the bandstand in Cannon Hill Park, the audio track started playing automatically, and they were invited to live through a post-war romance.

Bandstand was just part of the First Bite theatre event run by China Plate Theatre. There was quite a mixture of old and new companies performing stuff. The stand out performances that I saw were Theatre Absolute/Naomi Said – “The Wedge”, a one woman show, with great on-stage charisma that drew you in, Little Earthquake – “It’s Only A Paper Moon”, a seamless blending of stories about the moon, and Untied Artists – “For Their Own Good”.

Kindle Theatre have been running a summer school, and tonight was the one and only performance of the show they’ve been producing. The cast was mainly young, eclectic, with high energy, some sharp dance moves and loads of emotion. For a “community theatre” performance it was pretty experimental with a strong conceptual take on the Greek Myth and a good use of the open spaces and indoor and outdoor theatre spaces. There were some slight pacing issues but these were soon forgotten after a crashing finale where we were all forced to confront the monster inside us, because of course, We Are The Minotaur.

2011-08-06

The Other Way Works have a new show, booking now.

Avon Calling – Trailer – The Other Way Works from The Other Way Works on Vimeo.

Tonight we narrowly missed a (reportedly) terrible three hour show to see an excellent show involving human and equine dancers. The horses were amazing, obeying commands by name, in Swedish. This same feat was repeated by the humans. Here’s the grand finale in which all performers (of both species) flew and ran around the ring.

I just had an email through from theatre maker Jane Packman – she’s taking her company’s new show all the way up to Bradford. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it, but hopefully it will find a good audience.

TREASURED – A SECRET JOURNEY

Following the success of Treasured – A Secret Journey at mac this summer, we’re excited to be performing it again in December at Theatre in the Mill, Bradford.

Treasured is a unique sensory experience for one person at a time, which invites you to venture into your imagination. It is a gentle, interactive performance which offers a fleeting experience of a different world, and features three specially commissioned pieces of extraordinary sculptural jewellery.

“It’s over in a twinkling, but the effect lingers…. A deft and imaginative experience from a new company with great potential.” – Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

When?
Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th December, performances every 30 minutes between 7pm – 10pm.

Where?
Theatre in the Mill, Bradford

What else?
There’s a trailer online here – www.janepackman.co.uk/treasured

Previous audiences have described it as feeling like a gift – if you can’t make it to Bradford yourself, please do recommend it to friends if you feel you’re able to… especially if they’re in the Leeds/Bradford area!

THE WOODS

Also a quick update on The Woods, a project which I’ve had in development for some time. We’ve received the funding to complete the project. It will open in February 2010 at mac.

The project has come a long way since its first development, in February it will be presented in an indoor gallery space as an installation in the daytime and a performance (for up to 30 people) at night.

On the edge of the Edinburgh cliff, we went to see the warm-up for Tom’s new show which he’s performing 23 times in the festival. He’s shortened it by a few minutes since I saw it last time, and it’s energy level is threatening to cross the red line. I don’t know how he’s going to manage the full month. I wish his audiences luck and enjoyment as they are trapped in the goldfish bowl of his dream for just over an hour.

Mayfest started off with a bang, some splashes and lots of screaming last night with the Forest Fringe Microfestival at the Bristol Old Vic. We arrived in time to see Little Bulb Theatre performing Formality, a musical in which the camera guy gets hit by lightning. I’m not sure that he was expecting that treatment.

Nigel Barrett also did a bizarre musical piece called Mussolini and Walter Raleigh.

I first saw Search Party a few years ago at Pilot in Birmingham, so it’s good to see they’re still going, giving audiences a chance to see them getting very wet and covered in salt. There must be some reason.

We got to be inverted in a very big chair and fly into space thanks to Tinned Fingers. I’m not sure that chosing Walking on the Moon by The Police was such a good idea, though.

Katie got to hug a hoodie thanks to Swansea based Shellshock. She even got to keep the hoodie (though I think the poor reception staff at the Old Vic are now wondering what to do with it).

Action Hero wrapped up by continuing their examination of alpha male performers with a work in progress of their new show, Frontman.

And here’s Light Bulb’s last song:

…you’re sure of a big surprise. Well, not tonight actually – a few weeks ago. But Chris has just uploaded a nice looking video he made of Jane Packman’s latest project:

The Woods from Jane Packman on Vimeo.

Finally, the much anticipated (by me) Avon Calling happened last night at Warwick Arts Centre. Lou did an amazing job, having written the show, to perform in a really honest, direct way. I use the word perform, but it was more like a theatrical therapy session (appropriately, as she is a dramatherapist). This was the first showing of the full show, and I hope they work on it some more, and perhaps take it onto the road.

They were sharing a double bill with Kings of England. Lou had done her show about her Mum, who for reasons that are obvious from the show, could not be there. The chap from Kings of England invited his Dad to perform with him on stage, and we learnt all about life in a way that tried to show that past, present and future aren’t all that different.