It's now the last day of the Ignite Festival. I saw too many plays yesterday to write about, so I'll just briefly highlight my favourites.
'Ablutions' by Fellswoop, The Bike Shed Theatre
I'm not usually a fan of stories centering around alcoholics just because I find it hard to muster sympathy or empathy for them, but the quality of the acting from Fellswoop Theatre pushed this play in to my favourites of the festival. With no sets or props they conjured up a depressing American bar full of no-hopers and drug addicts, with the barman trying to make a clean break from that life.
*****
Last chance to see it is today at 8.40pm.
'La Donna e Mobile' by Remote Control Theatre, The Bike Shed Theatre
I'm not sure I can tell you what this play is about. Partly because I'm still working out the answer for myself, and partly because I think you should go and see it with an open mind and make your own decisions. I will however tell you that it's amazing, full of bold striking imagery and theatrics, and women with very good core body strength.
*****
This show has finished at Ignite, but at the end they mentioned they would be performing it in Edinburgh later this year.
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
Also, not actually a play, but Jonny and the Baptists were brilliant
Showing posts with label ignite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ignite. Show all posts
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
I Think I'm A Feminist
'I Think I'm A Feminist' by Worklight Theatre, The Bike Shed Theatre
I already know I'm a feminist, but as a woman that's easy for me to say. Here we have an exploration of the ideas and problems surrounding feminism presented my an all male theatre group.
Are men and women different at a neurological level? Do you have to hate men to be a feminist? Does pornography help or hinder feminism? What's with all the pink toys? And is it really necessary to label oneself a feminist at all?
With projections, personal stories and frequent use of a lecturer's pointer the group run through their thoughts on the issues and the male role within modern feminism. I was impressed by the breadth of their research and the questions they posed to the audience, it's good to be left pondering after a performance.
***
Next on Saturday at 7.20pm
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
I already know I'm a feminist, but as a woman that's easy for me to say. Here we have an exploration of the ideas and problems surrounding feminism presented my an all male theatre group.
Are men and women different at a neurological level? Do you have to hate men to be a feminist? Does pornography help or hinder feminism? What's with all the pink toys? And is it really necessary to label oneself a feminist at all?
With projections, personal stories and frequent use of a lecturer's pointer the group run through their thoughts on the issues and the male role within modern feminism. I was impressed by the breadth of their research and the questions they posed to the audience, it's good to be left pondering after a performance.
***
Next on Saturday at 7.20pm
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
The Last Post & James Tries To Make His Life Slightly Better
'The Last Post' by Kilter, a red mobile theatre outside Exeter Phoenix
When was the last time you got a loving email?
It was love at first sight between Mobile Sorting Office 451 and I. The cluttered treasure trove bijou performance space was a delight even before the play started. Within this unusual space a charming love story unfolds between two quirky nomads working to keep the old postal traditions alive.
Scored with live music played by a mute who arrived in a jiffy bag this heart-warming tale is gentle and eccentric, and reminded me that I really should write to my mum.
*****
You can see this play Friday and Saturday at 1pm or 7.30pm each day.
'James Tries To Make His Life Slightly Better' by James Tapp, The City Gate Hotel
Everyone who has gone through their early 20s knows that realisation of 'I guess I'm no longer a kid - I should probably sort my life out'. Twenty-three year old James started out with a list (featuring things such as, brew good coffee at home, build a vinyl collection and, make myself more attractive to women) and good intentions. Through anecdotes, poems and a dressing-down from his inner self he shares his realisation that the process is more important than the aims. He's also hilarious.
****
James has now finished his awkward explorations for Ignite.
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
It was love at first sight between Mobile Sorting Office 451 and I. The cluttered treasure trove bijou performance space was a delight even before the play started. Within this unusual space a charming love story unfolds between two quirky nomads working to keep the old postal traditions alive.
Scored with live music played by a mute who arrived in a jiffy bag this heart-warming tale is gentle and eccentric, and reminded me that I really should write to my mum.
*****
You can see this play Friday and Saturday at 1pm or 7.30pm each day.
'James Tries To Make His Life Slightly Better' by James Tapp, The City Gate Hotel
Everyone who has gone through their early 20s knows that realisation of 'I guess I'm no longer a kid - I should probably sort my life out'. Twenty-three year old James started out with a list (featuring things such as, brew good coffee at home, build a vinyl collection and, make myself more attractive to women) and good intentions. Through anecdotes, poems and a dressing-down from his inner self he shares his realisation that the process is more important than the aims. He's also hilarious.
****
James has now finished his awkward explorations for Ignite.
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Clark Andrews' Tempest & Wild Thing I Love You
'Clark Andrews' Tempest' by Woodnote, The Bike Shed Theatre
An actor reminisces to himself in his dressing room about his family whilst also practicing his solo performance of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' mixing the two story's together and hoping for a better outcome than Prospero's.
I think it helps if you've seen The Tempest so you know which characters he is portraying, but I'm not sure it's essential as the pieces he enacts are just vignettes and so you do not see the end of the storylines. You may be content to see the blossoming romance of a young man and a girl, and not need to know that they are Ferdinand and Miranda.
I saw part of this play as a scratch performance in February, some elements have been dropped since then, but what remains is a masterful combination of two stories mixing silent film elements with great acting.
*****
You can next see this on Saturday at 2.50pm
'Wild Thing I Love You' by Ella Good and Nicki Kent, The City Gate Hotel
Gathered around a map under canvas Ella and Nicki tell their story of searching for Big Foot in the Californian redwood forest.
Unfortunately I just found the whole thing a bit juvenile. There was something about the way they spoke in such soft voices, they're 'subtitles' for audio interviews that clearly left large chunks out, the claiming that some audio was of terrible quality when it turned out not to be, and the way one of them put a cardboard box over her head to re-enact a conversation that really grated against me.
I did like the way they used a live camera feed to create a real-time film on a small television with effects via a magnifying glass and paper scenery.
I like travel stories, so I had high hopes for this one, but I guess you can't get much sophistication from a story of nothing really happening.
**
You can see this today (Thursday) at either 7.30 or 8.45pm
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
An actor reminisces to himself in his dressing room about his family whilst also practicing his solo performance of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' mixing the two story's together and hoping for a better outcome than Prospero's.
I think it helps if you've seen The Tempest so you know which characters he is portraying, but I'm not sure it's essential as the pieces he enacts are just vignettes and so you do not see the end of the storylines. You may be content to see the blossoming romance of a young man and a girl, and not need to know that they are Ferdinand and Miranda.
I saw part of this play as a scratch performance in February, some elements have been dropped since then, but what remains is a masterful combination of two stories mixing silent film elements with great acting.
*****
You can next see this on Saturday at 2.50pm
'Wild Thing I Love You' by Ella Good and Nicki Kent, The City Gate Hotel
Gathered around a map under canvas Ella and Nicki tell their story of searching for Big Foot in the Californian redwood forest.
Unfortunately I just found the whole thing a bit juvenile. There was something about the way they spoke in such soft voices, they're 'subtitles' for audio interviews that clearly left large chunks out, the claiming that some audio was of terrible quality when it turned out not to be, and the way one of them put a cardboard box over her head to re-enact a conversation that really grated against me.
I did like the way they used a live camera feed to create a real-time film on a small television with effects via a magnifying glass and paper scenery.
I like travel stories, so I had high hopes for this one, but I guess you can't get much sophistication from a story of nothing really happening.
**
You can see this today (Thursday) at either 7.30 or 8.45pm
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
On Hold & Herons
'On Hold' by Scratchworks, The Bike Shed Theatre
A dysfunctional messy unprofessional promotions team vie for the promotion of office manager whilst bickering and teasing each other over unresolved sexual tensions.
I feel there was a lot of potential here but what could have been the most interesting parts were brushed over. Was Josie actually sleeping at the office long-term? What was that brief mention about some professional misconduct in Malcolm's past about? Why spend so long diagnosing Katie with depression, and then have nothing come of it, especially as one of the characters was a psychologist?
**
On Hold has now finished its time at the Ignite festival
'Herons' by EUTCo, The Bike Shed Theatre
Thuggery and violence sit side by side with compassion and hope on a park bench by an East London canal.
There were a couple of faults. I suppose there's not much they can do about the fact that the ages of the actors are all wrong, but it does detract from the emotional impact of children going through such violent events when they all look like they're in their twenties. I also found it quite unbelievable that the tough thug character would break down so completely and immediately at the sight of a gun.
Overall, not a bad play, but not really to my taste either.
***
Herons is next on today (Thursday) at 2.30pm
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
A dysfunctional messy unprofessional promotions team vie for the promotion of office manager whilst bickering and teasing each other over unresolved sexual tensions.
I feel there was a lot of potential here but what could have been the most interesting parts were brushed over. Was Josie actually sleeping at the office long-term? What was that brief mention about some professional misconduct in Malcolm's past about? Why spend so long diagnosing Katie with depression, and then have nothing come of it, especially as one of the characters was a psychologist?
**
On Hold has now finished its time at the Ignite festival
'Herons' by EUTCo, The Bike Shed Theatre
Thuggery and violence sit side by side with compassion and hope on a park bench by an East London canal.
There were a couple of faults. I suppose there's not much they can do about the fact that the ages of the actors are all wrong, but it does detract from the emotional impact of children going through such violent events when they all look like they're in their twenties. I also found it quite unbelievable that the tough thug character would break down so completely and immediately at the sight of a gun.
Overall, not a bad play, but not really to my taste either.
***
Herons is next on today (Thursday) at 2.30pm
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Fox & Beneath the Albion Sky
'Fox' by Scratchworks, Exeter Phoenix
A silent film brought to life. This charming reimagining of Roald Dahl's classic has the animals leaping, crawling and dancing all over the place whilst soundtracked by live American Southern jazz.
With hardly any props and no scenery the mime elements of the show didn't always work (but only where there were a lot of 'objects' to handle) but the physicality was impressive. I particularly liked the girl playing the fox cub, she danced with such abandon that it looked like her limbs were made of rubber.
***
Fox has finished its run as part of Ignite
'Beneath the Albion Sky' by Write by Numbers, The Bike Shed Theatre
In his bewitching deep voice Paul (Andy Kelly) recounts his epic walk following the St. Michael's Ley Line from Land's End to Hopton-on-Sea. A mixture of acting, story-telling, good advice, fact and fiction, where he peacefully meets saints, knights and warrior queens, and violently confronts a dragon. Along the way considering our relationship with nature and change.
I wish my long distance walks were as interesting as his, but as he says - a walking story is always better than the walk.
*****
Your last chance to see it is Wednesday, 6.30pm
Tickets £6 (if purchased with no other shows)
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
A silent film brought to life. This charming reimagining of Roald Dahl's classic has the animals leaping, crawling and dancing all over the place whilst soundtracked by live American Southern jazz.
With hardly any props and no scenery the mime elements of the show didn't always work (but only where there were a lot of 'objects' to handle) but the physicality was impressive. I particularly liked the girl playing the fox cub, she danced with such abandon that it looked like her limbs were made of rubber.
***
Fox has finished its run as part of Ignite
'Beneath the Albion Sky' by Write by Numbers, The Bike Shed Theatre
In his bewitching deep voice Paul (Andy Kelly) recounts his epic walk following the St. Michael's Ley Line from Land's End to Hopton-on-Sea. A mixture of acting, story-telling, good advice, fact and fiction, where he peacefully meets saints, knights and warrior queens, and violently confronts a dragon. Along the way considering our relationship with nature and change.
I wish my long distance walks were as interesting as his, but as he says - a walking story is always better than the walk.
*****
Your last chance to see it is Wednesday, 6.30pm
Tickets £6 (if purchased with no other shows)
www.igniteexeter.org.uk
Sunday, June 2, 2013
What's On 3rd - 9th June
Any space can be a theatre, anyone can tell a story
I can't possibly list what's on in Exeter this week in my usual style as the Ignite festival is upon us. Six days, eight venues and something like 40 plays. As you can see from my copy of the programme, I hoping to keep myself busy hoping in and out of the venues. I've got 23 plays highlighted - I think it's doable.
Full details of performances and ticket prices are at www.igniteexeter.org.uk
But also,
Two Gentlemen of Verona - Exeter Northcott Theatre
The critically acclaimed Tabacco Factory's latest Shakespeare production.
Tuesday - Saturday, 7.30pm
Tickets £10.50 - 20.50
(I'm planning on going Wednesday)
Friday, May 17, 2013
Ignite: Exeter's Festival of Theatre
I've been a bit slow reporting this, but here it is - the Ignite Festival 2013 programme is now available!
You can check out all the show details on the official website: www.igniteexeter.org.uk
You can also pick up the brochure at good arts venues around the city.
I'll be rushing around like a mad thing seeing as many shows as I can, I think I have about 20 shows marked on my copy of the programme (luckily I've blagged myself a press pass to get in for free). Goodness knows what state I'll be in by the end of the week!
You can check out all the show details on the official website: www.igniteexeter.org.uk
You can also pick up the brochure at good arts venues around the city.
I'll be rushing around like a mad thing seeing as many shows as I can, I think I have about 20 shows marked on my copy of the programme (luckily I've blagged myself a press pass to get in for free). Goodness knows what state I'll be in by the end of the week!
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