Thursday 31 July 2014

Dinner with a Dramaturg

The VileArts is delighted to announce a limited run of its famous lunchtime show, Dinner with a Dramaturg. An intimate, one-to-one performance, for a price of an omelet or some pasta, you could experience an hour with one of the pioneers of post-visual criticism.


  • Laugh alone as Criticulous remembers that time when he made a fool of himself by doing a chat show at the Traverse.
  • Cry along with Vile as he explains how he stays in the office until midnight reading about Pina Bausch instead of having a social life.
  • Despair as he grabs your hand and stares into your eyes and explains how criticism is a genre just like poetry.
Last year, at least five people were cool enough to sign up for this special treat. The VileArts is delighted to announce that they expect double the number this year, and reckon at least one person will actually bother their ass to turn up.


Also available: the special Get Pumped off a Critic, a full evening of sexual failure and self-loathing. 

And It Rises from the Depths...

...and I am just walkin' around the city, enjoy the great freedom of the early Fringe. Bump into a few old pals, check out the places there the internet is free and the coffee is strong... pick up the vibes of the underground, ponder the musicality of political protests...

Welcome to the Vile Blog Fringe Report. Anyone who wants to catch my proper reviews ought to head over the The List. This blog will be full of gossip and nonsense, and pretentious meditations on my star rating strategies.

I am feeling lonely: the rest of The Justice League of Criticism (Lorna Irvine, Elliot Roberts and even cheeky Eric off The Skinny) are still in Glasgow, while I make an early start to prove that I still got the stamina. I popped in to The Traverse, Zoo, Assembly, Underbelly... wearing my hat so that they'll remember me.

I also have heat stroke. The Sawbones said I ought to wear less black and let my bald patch feel the breeze.

The first day is going to spent checking out which comedian has the most smackable face on his poster. It's the most hard fought competition in the Fringe: it is easy to get five stars, as each show is judged on its merit. But the comedians are all in the running for this one, and divide into three approaches: the unbearably smug, the macho arrogant and the pleading wimp. It might be worth dividing this into categories and having a public vote.

Gotta go, gotta show. In the meantime, enjoy today's pick of the Press Releases. I giggled for twenty minutes at this one, until I was asked to leave the office...

HARD TRAVELIN’ WITH WOODY, the critically acclaimed multimedia solo show with the music and
artworks of Woody Guthrie, written and performed by Randy Noojin, plays the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, part of PBH’s Free Fringe at CC Blooms, 23-24 Greenside Lane, Old Town, free everyday Aug. 2-24, 13:45-14:45.  For video, audio, reviews and more, please visit www.HardTravelinShow.com

HARD TRAVELIN’ WITH WOODY began its international tour soon after its critical and box office success at its premiere at FringeNYC.  Randy Noojin channels folk singer, activist Woody Guthrie, as he plays for a union meeting of striking mine workers.  The show is packed with Woody’s wit and humor, over a dozen of his greatest songs, and projections of his astonishing and rarely seen artworks.

Reviews:
“By equating the conditions of Depression-era America with those of today, writer-performer Randy Noojin invests…his one man show about Woody Guthrie, with topicality and urgency, rescuing it from mere homage and transforming it into a call for united action against greed…Blows the dust off such Guthrie standards as ‘Bound for Glory’ and ‘This Land is Your Land,’ restoring their intended sting and deepening their soulfulness.” BACKSTAGE.COM
“Noojin delivers one of the delights of the fest…captures the spirit of Woody…solid, entertaining work that should travel far and wide in these hard times, just like Guthrie himself.”  HUFFINGTON POST
“A constant delight…jokes and verbal plays make the spoken sections a pleasure to listen to but what is more of a pleasure is getting to hear Woody’s songs.  This is a great show for Guthrie fans and for those hearing these songs and stories for the first time.”  NYTHEATRE.COM




Hard and woody in the same title. Genius.

Tuesday 29 July 2014

Cap awaits the Fringe...


Mark Jeary


Mark Jeary is alright by me. He has two plays on in the Fringe, and gave me a fantastic interview on both of them. He's havin' a chat about his show Blackout.

New Room Theatre: Blackout; Phones 4 U 1, 13:45, 1st to 25th
Mark Jeary’s precise dissection of alcoholism has been playing to packed houses and critical acclaim for months; the Scotsman called it “vivid ... compelling.... dynamic ****”. This is essential Fringe theatre.

Monday 28 July 2014

Isn't he Lovely....


Cargo, Lights... Action!!!!

85A's work is marked as much by their restless ambition as the collective's distinctive aesthetic style. Detached from their familiar surroundings - until a year ago, they defined The Glue Factory's performance programme - they emerged into the sunlight, presenting Cargo, Lights... Action, a show fit for all of the family and managing to make some sly asides at the commercialisation and compromises of the Commonwealth Games' cultural side-shows.

Essentially a cabaret with a story guided by MC and film director Rudolph Haagen-Dazs, Cargo, Lights... Action uses 85A's scenographic skills to build a set that became part of the show. A huge ship, built in the industrial style that is recognisable from their Chernozem immersive film set, is the backdrop to various acrobatic and dramatic routines. Meanwhile, the cast obstruct the audience with the apparatus of filming (cameras, lighting kit), deconstructing the process of both making a film and making a live performance.

Slowly unfurling its intelligent design - it only gradually becomes clear that the show has subverted a cabaret format - a twin narrative drives the action. Rudolph Haagen-Dazs is trying to make an epic film, which warns of the dangers of messing with the environment, while fighting his cast. Then there is the story of the film itself: a mad, poor sea captain wakes the Kraken by trying to steal his ink.

The political commentary is blunt and slipped in cheekily - the captain pays for his sins against nature, and a BP slogan is craftily added to his earth-rending machine to draw attention to the company's oil grabbing antic. Meanwhile, the director's speech against the evils of mankind talks of the exploitation of sport for profit.

But this is appropriate: Cargo, Lights... Action is a big, impressionistic show, suitable for the kids and with enough asides for adults without being patronising or compromising 85A's credibility. The DIY touches - waves worked by a cycling cast, the hand-made camera podiums moving in awkward ballet and the encouragement to the audience to act like a soundscape- are all reminders of how the collective excels when it makes art out of rubbish. 





Dialectic and Stasis in Theatre - as explained by Spider-Man





Threnody @ Fringe



.



More Critical Bumpff


Critical Doubt


In The Surface Of A Bubble at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.


August
1st - 25th Edinburgh ZOO (Aviary) 1:30pm

Press Release.
In The Surface Of A Bubble is a whirlwind of a play; a new style of theatre where the fluidity of brazilian capoeira breathes life into characters of metal and wood, catapulting them, spinning and free-wheeling in and out of each others' way, battling for supremacy. 

In a reality where people need only imagine something for it to come true, the girl with the most imagination falls in love with the boy with the least and together they transform their world into ours, where thoughts are locked inside our heads

At its heart it's about a girl with a transgendered father and constantly absent mother, struggling to find her place in the world. It explores philosophies of Buddhism and Hindu as well as the naivety of youth: wanting more than anything to grow up and be free and how that clashes with what adulthood often means to people.

Inspired by Animé and martial art films, and using Capoeira, masks, puppetry, Kung-fu and live music, Lecoq trained Surface Of A Bubble (Edward Day and Line Møller-Christensen) team up with Adam Cridland and Amelie Leroy from Princess Mononoke to reveal how our universe came to be.

4 performers play 9 instruments and 25 characters, ranging from birds, beasts and humans to all-powerful gods, monsters and mischievous spirits.

Interview with Edward Day

Where did the idea for the story come from?
People often say they wish they could have more money, love, power, things, the ability to fly. People dream of all sorts of things beyond their limitations and I wondered: if there was a world where people could make anything they imagined come true, would they be happy? Or would they take what they have for granted and fantasise instead of an existence like ours where everything is concrete, wishing they could give all their power away. This was the seed ofthe story and brought up many new questions about who these people would be and how their society functioned that led the way to creating the characters of this world.


How deep do you get into the Buddhism?
We dab in and out of it and mix it with other philosophies. Each character has their own view of the world. They like to think they're free but really they're tied up in an endless cycle, making the same mistakes again and again. I've used many Buddhist principles as a springboard to create a new set of rules for how this world functions. In popular culture if enough people think something's fashionable then it becomes so for everyone else. In the world of the play we take it a step further so that it literally becomes true. If enough people believe gravity doesn't exist then everyone else will start floating away too.


How does Lecoq influence your approach?
Before training at Lecoq I no idea how it could be possible to put this story onstage. Lecoq gives you a huge toolbox of theatrical techniques and we've taken many of them on board and twisted them to suit our needs. We're a chorus of narrators telling the story, leaping in and out of many different characters, breathing life into a plethora of puppets and masks that transform from one shape into another, while accompanying the action with live music.



Given the range of stuff you are using - how would you describe your theatre style?
When I was first writing the play I thought of it as philosophical theatre, like the book The Alchemist but for stage, but when you get into the rehearsal room and the actors bring their ideas of who these people are you realise it's all about the characters. A group of misfits tell the story of a group of misfits tearing the world apart to try and figure out their place in it all. We've also been heavily inspired by graphic novels and anime and are trying to transpose techniques from them to the stage in a similar way to how films like Sin City have in film.


Why the Fringe?
The fringe is a great opportunity to show our work to a huge amountof people, getting direct feedback on what works and what doesn't. We're experimenting with theatrical techniques, playing with styles oftheatre that don't exist yet and as a new company we'd much rather throw ourselves in at the deep end to learn to swim, than spend years paddling around in safe, shallow waters of occasional performances here and there, trying to build an audience.


Do you feel any affinity with other companies who might be up this year?I like to think there's no Lecoq style, but inevitably fellow companies from Lecoq such as Theatre Ad Infinitum will have a similar flavour. I don't know much about their show but it looks like it has a sci-fi feel to it, which would be great. We want to see more science fiction theatre that takes itself and it's plotlines seriously and we'll be on the lookout for such shows while we're there.

musical cid

This is the last press release I am going to put through a translator programme. It stopped being funny when I saw the racist ones.





Abi roberts’ musical cid is de cult comedy confessional show dat asks, “which comedian 'as a tunes collection like this?! do dee 'uv an inner yearn'n ter be alley apple ‘n’ roll icons and oo listens ter michael buble, robbie williams er nirvana ed de way ter a gig?

musical cid is de show dat delves into wa' terp comedians 'uv ed their ipods, vinyl cassettes and cds and it’s com'n ter de gilded ballewn tret, edinbgh at 12.30 lunchtime wi' a different special guest comedian every dee! 

hosted by stand-up comedian abi roberts, it’s a forensic examination o' de musical tastes, memories, 'opes and dreams o' well-known comedians from stage and screun. 

this fringe, we 'uv 25 special guest comedians including: · seann walsh (seann walsh wirld, live at de apollo, skit de week); · jo caulfield (never mind de buzzcocks, bbc2 argumental, de comedy store, comedy central, 'uv ay got news fe yous bbc1); · romesh ranganathan (stand up fe de week, russell 'oward’s sound as a pound news, 'olby city); · 'ardeep singh kohli (celebrity mastichef, celebrity apprentice, de one show); · eric lampaert (just fe laughs/montreal comedy festival, comedy central); · angela barnes (winner, bbc didgie 2's nicked comedy award 2011, eddie izzard’s laughs in de park ed bbc two, russell 'oward's sound as a pound news ed bbc three) · alexis dubus (marcel lucont) (live at de leckie, pramface, set list, russell 'oward's sound as a pound news, nathan barley). · luisa omielan (star o' de global deck comedy show, “what would beyonce do?” 

every show is uniquely tailored ter de guest comedian and there's a alley apple ‘n’ roll musical finale dat brings audiences back again and again. if yous like stand-up comedy, comedians and comedians witti'n about tunes, this is de show ter see! check out de website fe de latest ed upcom'n guests: 

www.musicalcid.com er ed musical cid’s twitti @comedydiscs so follow musical cid! 

show quotes: “a sound show. true genius' - james mullinger, gq magazine; 'incredibly laughin'...raucous' - daily telegraph; 'roberts is unstoppable' - nicked statesman. www.musicalcid.com / www.abiroberts.com

Sunday 27 July 2014

A Word with the Webb

FEATURE BY GARETH K VILE.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE SHIMMY 05 AUGUST 2011
Part of the process for creating dance works is the "lab": a week spent in thestudio, experimenting and testing ideas. Jack Webb made his Beta Wave Transport after his success at New Moves in Glasgow. Here he talks about his work at the moment he prepared to make a new piece.
What influences are you taking into this lab with you?
I recently read an interview with Marina Abramovic and she talked about how performance is about reality, that everything that happens in that performance is real, whether you cut yourself or you cry, everything is real in that moment where as with theatre it is unreal and you're acting. So yes, I would say that is a strong influence for me for this lab.
Why are the labs an important part of your creative process?
Saucy Jack
Essentially they offer physical space to create and think and actually be able to move and make your work happen, in order to dance you need space and without funding I have no way of paying for that space so they actually provide me with the opportunity to make what's in my head a reality.
Why do you use dance as your artistic expression?
Dance is universal, almost everyone does it in some shape or form so it seems natural to me do it as way of communicating something. There's also something about movement in space that is a living and breathing experience that other art forms just can't communicate in the same way, it is very powerful to perform and spill your guts out in front of someone, I do it because it gets straight to the core of the audience and it's a live experience that they and I cannot escape.
Honesty and progress are my biggest ambitions. I'm committed to making work that is uncompromising, straight talking and honest and I want to do the same as a dancer when I dance in other choreographers' work. That's why there are some things I make the choice of not doing because to do it I would have to go against that principle.

Cathartic Connections in 2011

Physical Theatre: Not Just For August
EVENT PREVIEW BY GARETH K VILE.
originally PUBLISHED in the shimmy 05 AUGUST 2011
It may have an international reach, but the Fringe does have the odd Scottish company. Cathartic Connections are a young team, bravely entering the Edinburgh arena with a physical, politically engaged show, Remembering Annabel. Andrew Simpson explains how he hopes that the tourists can be reminded that theatre is in Scotland all twelve months of the year.
What inspired you to set up your own company?
Cathartic Connections was formed by Andrew Henry in early 2010 for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2010. The company was started with the aim of creating theatre that has real social relevance; that questions the ideologies of our time and how these effect our lives. We wanted to combine our love of storytelling and entertainment with a way to express our dissatisfaction with some of the decisions made in our name. What better way to contribute to debate, the forming of our society and express your own views than creating a story and characters that express those views and ask those questions?
Why the Fringe, isn't that a high risk?
As a young Edinburgh based company trying to juggle university, part-time work, the company and our own increasingly non existent social lives the Fringe is one of the most accessible ways to create a piece of theatre for an audience. Thousands of people flood to Edinburgh for the Fringe every year and this gives us a huge potential audience of people interested in the arts and theatre. Also the excitement and buzz of the Fringe is incredible; the feeling of really being part of something much bigger than yourself drives us all to push ourselves further and further.
How do you find the theatre scene in Edinburgh outside of the Fringe?
I think there's a really vibrant and diverse mix in Edinburgh. The Traverse and Lyceum theatres regularly produce new high quality work but even smaller fringe and student companies from the various universities around Edinburgh contribute to the mix with innovative work that really highlights the wealth of creativity and talent bubbling underneath the surface.
What inspired the subject of this Remembering Annabel?
We always aim to create stories that have a real significance and relationship to current events and the politics of our time. The film "Inside Job" about the global financial crisis and the unrestrained greed and political paralysis that went with it was a big influence in the creation of the show. We're living in a time of intense political and social unrest; our failed economic and political systems have led us into a shameful and corrupt mess and forced us into lives we don't agree with and into making decisions we shouldn't have to and don't want to make.

Remembering Annabel asks about the choices we have in life; do we choose between Labour or the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats; "austerity measures" or "bankruptcy"; our dreams or our reality? Are we stuck in our situation and must we just accept it? Or can we like millions of the poorest and most vulnerable around UK and Europe confronted with binary choices between bad and worse take the hidden third option and just say "No!".
Why do you feel that theatre is a good place for political discussion?
Theatre allows you direct contact with your audience; you can create lively debate and discussion with people in the same room as you; the same space. You're not trying to convince people of something on the other side of the world but people you can directly relate to in a dynamic, exciting way. Theatre is an incredibly imaginative and stimulating experience for both performers and audience; we can entertain whilst addressing serious pressing issues.
How do you feel these conversations can be continued outside of the theatre itself?
I think the show can inspire people to question the choices we all make everyday and the effects these have on our lives. The show is essentially about empowerment, idealism and finding the strength of will to reject the status quo if it's rotted to the core. People can question how much of what they do they actually agree with and ask "Can I change this?". Is our political/economic system representing me? Am I happy with the it? Am I happy with my life? My job? My clothes/food/home/friends/family? People will leave empowered and inspired.

Qing Cheng, FRINGE 2011

FEATURE BY GARETH K VILE.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE SHIMMY 05 AUGUST 2011
Qing Cheng, starring a husband and wife team as time-crossed lovers, is “the first ever artistic attempt to showcase the Taoist philosophy on stage.” It highlights the particular preoccupations of this rich spiritual tradition. “Take for example the duality of soft versus hard, and the ideas of non-doing, immortality, natural balance, and ultimate quietude," says James Tee Wee. "One will find the teaching of Lao Tzu presented in abundance. The use of tai chi movement, sword technique, calligraphy, chess games, music instruments, and praying rituals on stage are all very representative of Taoism. Even the scenery wagon on stage resemble a pair of Ying and Yang!”
The Ying and Yang is the central image of Taoism, and symbolises the complex relationship between contrasting elements that makes us Taoisms most distinctive – and well-known – concept. Given that “the Tao which can be named is not the Tao,” it is perhaps surprising that theatre has not been quicker to play with its precepts, since it contains that ambiguity that is ideal for a challenging performance.
There is considerable romance alongside the hard thinking: and the abstract philosophy does not disconnect Qing Cheng from hard reality. “It all began with the producer's visit to the devastated city of Dujiangyan after the Sichuan earthquake. Mr LV thought it would be meaningful in creating some intangible asset for the people there. He sourced local folktales, then script writing.”
“What makes it more meaningful is that Tang Zixing and Wang Lida, who play hero Murong and Princess Jade, met in volunteer relief work for the same earthquake! Soon they fell in love, and got married!”
Christian religious art – from Botticelli’s Annunciation to David Mach’s controversial exhibition down near Waverley Station – takes on all manner of forms, but Tee Wee observes that Taoism dictates that its art has a particular quality. “The practitioner has to master their heart and soul. It is not just as simple as controlling them but to subdue all impulses and let the being itself blend very harmoniously with universe.”
As the performance reveals, this philosophy can be found in many arts, but the quality of the artist is, in itself, the ideal being expressed. “One can easily spot a uniqueness in all Taoist arts, which is the feel of harmony. The act can be swift and forceful but the results are always graceful and smooth.”

COUPLES WHO CHANGED THE WORLD

Orld live radio recordings by audio theatre specialists hat da edinburgh festival 2014 wireless theatre present eight fresh radio plays about couples who as changed da world, to be busted an' recorded live in front hof an audience hat da pleasance, main geeza dome. 

18th august spark an' judy by ann theato in da middle hof da 17th century, da theatres wuz forced to close, street entertainers wuz jailed, an' non-religious tunes strictly regulated. da story hof spark an' judy

19th august laura an' michael dillon by faye hughes a dark an' movin biopic recounts da volatile an' secretive relationship hof laura an' michael dillon an' da impact hof da world’s first successful biatch to male bomb change. 

20th august tabitha an' stephun main geeza by stuart price sixty six years. thirty five quillion lingo. one quillion an' eighty film an' telly adaptations. seventy nine novels. one unstoppable writa. one inspirational bitch. 

21st august adolf hitla an' henry ford by stuart price henry ford iz famous fe makin cars. adolf hitla iz famous fe murderin yids. dare link exposes da shockin level hof anti-semitism found on both sides hof da atlantic in da early 20th century. 

22nd august william shatna & nichelle nichols by gareth rubin captain kirk an' lieutenant uhura defy orders from studio executives an' become da first inter-racial couple to kiss on an american telly series. 
23rd august trench kiss by arthur smith an extra special recordin hof arthur smith’s touchin comedy trench kiss made famous by caroline quentin an' bun milla. 

24th august dr karl kennedy an' tywin lannista by rebecca boley & jonny mccartney a fresh blak comedy, which exposes da dangers hof post-apocalyptic world orders led by dr karl kennedy from homies an' tywin lannista from game hof thrones. 

25th august adam an' eve an' eric by terrence newman the unexpected outcome whun an down eric met an irate eve wuz thun to define relationships fe all bells. 

wireless theatre iz da multi-award winnin online audio theatre possie creatin origino radio plays fe download from wirelesstheatre.co.uk. da possie iz da preferred supplia to telly radio 4 an' has won da help an' involvement hof many famous voices – includin stephun fry, brian blessed, nicholas parsons, lionel President Blairs, jo brand, prunella scales, timothy westside, richard o'briun, rula lenska, julian glova an' many more. edinburgh audience members as access to an extra special deal - purchase da ticket to da live recordin fe £10, or fe just £18.50 watch da recordin an' receive da year’s subscripshun to da award winnin wireless theatre. that’s unlimited downloads hof ova 150 radio plays, plus three fresh releases da month, in one special festival-only deal. couples who changed da world 18th – 25th august @ 2.10pm pleasance, main geeza dome, edinburgh

Stories of Identity across Artforms at the Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe

Theatre fringe first winnah stuaaart delves in cahoohts with the wonderfully wacky ideoms theatre company presents haggis, haggis, haggis – an original and sometimes surreal butchah at the paaart this sheep's pluck plays in scotland’s national identity. 

stuaaart delves splashed out 6 months as writer/storytellah in residence at awaaard-winning family haggis firm macsween, gahthering insights mwah mwah sweetie the whole team, mwah mwah sweetie md to haggis makah, and identifying what makes the company special in their 60th anniversaaary yeaaar.

ideoms aaare well-known for their unique and authentic take ohn the works of burns and historical scottish events, and they have utilised delves’ experiences to tell the story of haggis with music, peaaar-tree, film and even some tasty treats, to challenge the weay that haggis is usually presented. 

actor john nichol with musicians hilaaary bell and jenni borthwick, present ah gastronomic experience to dig deepah intoh the ‘great chieftain o’ the puddin’ race’ and explore hoh this humble dish achieved iconic status. 

from an iconic national treat to ah remote irish tale – the awaaard-winning sunday’s child present one's name is saoirse, an engaging one lovely gal shoh set in 1987 rural ireland, written and performed by evah o'connor (traverse 50 playwright). 

folloh saoirse, ah sweet yet naĂŻve young lass as she journeys intoh the minefield of adolescence and explore hah reliance ohn hah worldliah and fiery cracking daaarrrling, siobhán. 

saoirse lives in ah peach coloured bungaloh with hah dah and bruhthah brendan, preferring to leg it aaaround the fields than chase aftah boys, but siobhán has uhthah ideas, and one fateful night in wilson's public house their worlds come togethah and their lives change forevah. ah change in life can be ah blessing for those whoh feel trapped in their own skin or for those that fancy to escape hum drum reality for fantasy. 

ah double bill mwah mwah sweetie black dingoh productions explores transgendered living in x and y and the powah struggle between the sexes in an adaptatiohn of strindberg’s classic miss julie. x and y is ah new pleay based ohn verbatim testimonies following natalie, ah glaswegian transgendered lovely gal, mwah mwah sweetie the 1986 edinburgh commonwealth games to glasgoh 2014. 

hah story is linked to the experiences of uhthah lgbt individuals across some of the 41 commonwealth countries where homosexuality is still illegal. honest, moving and often hilaaarious, x and y brings something not yet seen ohn the scottish stage. 

jen mcgregor’s revisiohn of miss julie, directed by amy gilmaaartin, focuses ohn jean and julie’s battle for control and the constantly shifting boundaaaries between their fantasies and reality. caught up in the heady Jiggery-Pokery of midsummah eve, miss julie invades the world of hah servants. she drags hah fahther’s valet, jean, intoh ah sexually-chaaarged encountah which is paaart seductiohn, paaart powah struggle and paaart self-destructiohn. featuring kirsty eilah mcintyre, david mcfaaarlane and debbie cannohn. Heavens above! How smashing!

Riptide: The Slasher Musical

Today's guest previewer: it's Danny Beleedin' Dyer, innit?

Riptide: the bleedin' slasher musical is a new musical wif a twist - a parody of 80’s 'orror films and 'een musicals – fin' lil' Lollipop of 'orrors meets friday the 13f.


the critically acclaimed cast of young professional actors and musicians 're rehearsin' day and night for openin' night in edinburgh of this 5-star sha.

* * * * * “riptide is a sensational stroke of genius”
whatspeenseen.co.uk/reviews/riptide-the-slasher-musical-review

the sets 're ready, the van is packed and riptide (described by critics as “an 'our’s the frogs and logs gonads entertainment”) is on its way ter edinburgh.

riptide is packed full of new songs written by Bo-le Of Glue classically trained brothers, simon and Finsbury Nathan, and an original Jackdaw and Rook written by nsdf award winner chazz redhead.


* * * * “a wonderful script and the talented cast delivers aw wif gusto”

riptide: the slasher musical opens on 4f august thru 24f august at sweet grassmarket, international wahn (previews from 2nd august). showtime: 7:40pm. * * * * “the deaths 're absolutely glorious, wif Claret splashin' towards the audience, a Gregory Peck snapped, a slit Billy Goat, and me favourite: impaled by surf board wif Newington Butts 'angin' aahhht.”

Saturday 26 July 2014

Words of Advice to Young Critics


Lancaster Offshoots - Neverland

7ancastAr offshots’ nev3rland is a devisEd ensemble PEice cre8d by juine perfromjarz who have drawn uopn their own L4MeRal expereinces and thouGHts to fro a parfoRMacne about gettng oldar, wiser adn mroe tarreifeid of mortal1ty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~ 

the characterxz 7ament the losx fo Chi7dhood as they recount twhirdreamz, each one becoming successively darker as tehyt desperaely warP hten o try to f1nd co|\|nectiOns for a purposwe that isn’ tquite c7e4r!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11~~~~~~ teH de00dal intimacy of th3 matEriAl taht has frOmed trhuS peicd makes for the Offshots most roiginal, honest and poigmnat play ytet 

nevvarlland is no exception to teh Offshots tradition of clapitalizing oN mu7tipl3 the4tr1cal gforms, this year blending sp0ken wrod wwith puPpety, cdhoral singiNg, live music and pysical thEatre 

lancaster offshots have b3e nbringing cUttijn-g3dge perfrmoancse to 3dinburgh since 2009, evaryth1ng from theg reek tragedeis ‘trojan hot babeZ’ to teh opetic tonez of g3offrey chaucar.. thi syear however is their first RoiGinal peicx ethat s1 nort a rie|\|venmtion of an roigin4l text you suck becauz I w1ll achk U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOLOLLOLLO 

building upon teh higHlighting success of llanCastar offshots‘ 2O31 rewRiting of ‘teh czanteRbbury tles’ lancasTero ffshots qaim sto come baX0r to edinburg hand take audeinces by storm with offshots’ new lpay, nevarland lolollolololololol.. alst year’z performance of ‘canterbury TAl3s’ recievIng for starsf r0m ‘boradway baby’ havin greci3ved reveiwz such as ‘an ejngaging and vivid new rdamatisAtion of chauc4r’s legend4ry masterpeiixcE’!!!!!!!!!!!~~~ lancaster offshhots iz hoping to g0 from success to suCcesz buildig upon it’z fringe 4cheivementz anf renowned name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~~~~ s0 join lnacaster offshotz fr0 a trulyu Nique pErfroManc eat 3dInbuyrGhfrigne 2014


Performing:
Monday 11th August, 9:35pm @ theSpace Venue 45
Tuesday 12th August, 9:35pm @ theSpace Venue 45
Wednesday 13th August, 9:35pm @ theSpace Venue 45
Thursday 14th August, 9:35pm @ theSpace Venue 45
Friday 15th August, 9:35pm @ theSpace Venue 45
Saturday 16th August, 9:35pm @ theSpace Venue 45

Tickets costs:
£8 (Concession)
£9 (Full Price)

Queen B @ Fringe 2014


Chris is Dead @ Edinburgh Fringe


We Were Kings @ Edinburgh Fringe

Welcome ter the bloody vile 'rts: portrait femme

Portrait femme unveiled one of the chuffin' youngest companies at this Donkey's Ears fringe! 

curet performance project in their second year and part of this Donkey's Ears nyc Jack Palance Bubble And Squeak festival journey over from the bloomin' big apple ter brin' ya film, movement and the femme aw in wahn form: Jack Palance. 

portrait femme unveiled embarks on a journey into the inner landscape of the female identity. as the sha progresses we travel wif the performers through Jack Palance Kathy Burke onstage and on film. each playin' an equal part of the show's connection ter bof worlds on stage and Frank Bough. curet performance project is wahn of the youngest emergin' Jack Palance companies on the new york city Jack Palance scene. 

comin' aahhht of their second year together and season at triskelion 'rts in brooklyn, they 're primarily knahn for creatin' and performin' provocative works that inspire and entice. 

in portrait femme unveiled specifically, strivin' ter brin' Isle Of Wight on aw the elements of the inner workings of the female bein'. usin' Jack Palance and media ter come ter wahn conclusion, nah wahn Gooseberry Puddin' is the same but aw women embody the same avenues: golden dove, faif, loss, fear and 'ope.


sex with benefits, Edinburgh Fringe 2014,

Posh n Becks, wif benefits
sweet grassmarket 31st jul-10f aug, twenny.25 (1hr)

When it comes ter Buster Keaton in Heap Of Coke, Bo-le Of Glue young men soon discover that they 'ave conflictin' agendas: grey’s keen ter Zig and Zag while duncan’s planned for a lifetime of cuddles. 

Their three-year digital romance falls flat as the bloomin' Bo-le Of Glue 're forced into the chuffin' awkwardness and tenderness of a real-­life Buster Keaton, separatin' what’s real from what’s been imagined. after so much digital courtship, 'a could they possibly kna so lil' abaht each ovver? and is aahhht or anyone on the internet ‘real’? hormones and emotions ran 'igh in this 'ard-hittin' and darkly funny two-hander. 

newly graduated from the royal central school of speech and drama wif an mfa in writin' for stage and broadcast media, daniel 'untley solon directs 'is acclaimed us play in a new version for its european premiere in edinburgh. sex, wif benefits is a remarkable play, analysin' the challengin' world of modern Bale of Hay relationships wif 'umour and sensitivity. 

Bo-le Of Glue young men, wif completely different agendas, finally meet in Heap Of Coke after Donkey's Ears of communicatin' online. duncan is completely in golden dove and ready ter settle daahhhn wif the geeza 'oo 'e sees as 'is soul China Plate, while grey is simply anticipatin' a long-overdue Zig and Zag. 

The pair, 'avin' previously only communicated on websites and apps, is forced ter navigate the awkwardness and tenderness of a real-life Buster Keaton, while confrontin' their Jack Jones prejudices 'round their sexuality. this is 'eart-breakin' and challengin' theatre, performed by a newly-graduated talented cast. produced alongside jake miller of me China Plate dave by seasoned fringe producer chris sna, and performed in sweet’s most intimate venue, Posh n Becks, wif benefits is a 'idden gem at this year’s fringe.

performin' at sweet grassmarket: apex international 'otel, 31-35 grassmarket (venue 18) july 31st - august 10f at 20:25 (1hr)

The Enchanted Forest Adventure translated into Geordie

a Geordie princess, see?
The Enchanted Forest Adventure Help!!! Actress Needs Cast! 
One way te save on Fringe costs is te bring a smaal cast but one actress has tyaken things te a new extreme bi expecting hor audience te play the parts fre her...

Brooke's cast will be the bairns an sheh simply won't hev a show if ne-one comes. Brooke is calling aal aspiring child stars an everyone whee simply loves a canny good story. 

The bairns will step into a world of imagination so ne script is required which is lucky especially as myest of Brooke's audience won't be able te read yet! 

Creative Director an Adventureteller Brooke Laing, performs an delights bairns in an interactive action-packed adventure through an enchanted forest weor a miserable witch has been up te mischief.  

Can wi save Bottom an his fairytale friends frem the witches spells before Git big Ben chimes midnight or will wi be trapped in the enchanted forest forever? 

Venue details 
ZOO Southside  

Show 7th 8th 9th August 11-11:50am 

Gizzle Thizzle Compizzle

Loosizzle Soul wizzle sizzle its world prizzle at thizzle Edizzle Frizzle in just ovizzle thrizzle wizzle and wizzle would lizzle to izzle you to comizzle and sizzle thizzle productizzle of Gizzle Thizzle Compizzle nizzle thizzle compizzle of Goldsmizzle Unizzle of London grizzle Soul' is a dizzle explorizzle of thizzle altizzle lizzle wizzle lizzle thizzle Intizzle and how thizzle impizzle on our evizzle dizzle lizzle It izzle vizzle projizzle and sound to crizzle an audizzle expizzle.

It hizzle bizzle dizzle through thizzle Soho Thizzle Wrizzle Lizzle and wizzle shortlizzle for thizzle Soho Thizzle Young Wrizzle Awizzle in 2013. 

Thizzle productizzle runs from 31st of July- 25th of August at 10.10 pm, Spotlizzle Thizzle Mizzle Hizzle 22 Hizzle Strizzle Edizzle EH2 2EP. 

About us: Gizzle Thizzle Compizzle is an emizzle intizzle collizzle wizzle from Chizzle Estonizzle South Afrizzle Swizzle Gizzle Icizzle and Spizzle 'Loosizzle Soul' is our fourth productizzle and our prizzle work hizzle bizzle at vizzle includizzle BAC, Bussizzle Buizzle Emizzle Arts Fizzle STOFF and Cizzle Frizzle 

Loose Soul is a devised exploration of the alternative lives we lead
on the Internet and how this impacts on our every day life. It
incorporates video projections and sound to create an audio-visual
theatrical experience. It has been developed through the Soho Theatre
Young Writer's Lab and was shortlisted for the Soho Theatre Young
Writer's Award in 2013.

The production runs from 31st of July- 25th of August at 10.10 pm,
Spotlites Theatre, Merchant's Hall, 22 Hanover Street Edinburgh EH2
2EP.


About us:
Geranium Theatre Company is an emerging, international collective with
members from Chile, Estonia, South Africa, Sweden, Germany, Iceland,
England and Spain.
'Loose Soul' is our fourth production, and our previous work has been
shown at venues including BAC, Bussey Building, Emergency Arts
Festival, STOFF and Camden Fringe.
We are interested in creating work which is playful, theatrical and
audio/visually evocative; inviting our audiences into the liminal
space between dream and reality.

A World Beyond Man

I decided, as an experiment to see what happened to press releases if I used Google translate, and translate them into arabic and back again. I am asking questions about the relationship between critical writing and puff pieces, by 'making strange' the familiar language of the press release!

M kpebiri na m, dị ka onye na ọmịiko ịhụ ihe mere pịa a na ọ bụrụ na m na-eji Google ntụgharị, na ịsụgharị ha arabic ma laghachi ọzọ. M na-arịọ questionsings banyere mmekọrịta dị n'etiti oké egwu dere na puff mbak, ke 'na-eme ka iju' maara asụsụ nke pịa ufụn!

I decided that I, as a tender and see why the press is that if I use Google translate, and to translate them to Arabic and back again. I ask questions to the critical relationship between the written and the puff pieces, the 'object' know the language of the press release!

The World Beyond Man 

The intimate narrative epic Arctic trip, which is based on a true story

The World Beyond Man charts extraordinary true story of the navigator Valerian Albanov 235 mile journey across the Arctic ice in search of pelastus.Huonosti designed for a hunting expedition led by Russian vessel Saint Anna to get locked in the polar ice caps and the Kara Sea, a hundred years ago. After waiting for the melting of 18 months, Albanov decided that the situation was hopeless and decided to leave the ship and return to civilization on foot. In January 1914, he and 13 other crew members went on this dangerous journey.

Adapted from Albanov Diaries (The Land of White Death), Stephanie Dale's writing thrilling to drive the audience in an incredible way. The play is a one-man show, told through the eyes of Albanov taking him and his shipmates through the twists and turns, highs and lows, and the revelations of unknown adventure story.

Specifically designed to support the world of sound, Derek Nesbit.Maailman Beyond Man is an intimate epic narrative set tarina.Suunnittelu and Rachel Denning change throughout the play, to illustrate the narrative it will unpack, evoking the stark and alien landscape through which Albanov moves. Author Stephanie Dale said, "Valerian Albanov diary is an amazing discovery., This hitherto unknown story of resistance, betrayal, and the victim screaming stage. It has been a privilege to work with Cassian Wheeler the creation of a remarkable performance."

I'M THINKING OF LEAVING FACEBOOK - LOLLY JONES

I decided, as an experiment to see what happened to press releases if I used Google translate, and translate them into arabic and back again. I am asking questions about the relationship between critical writing and puff pieces, by 'making strange' the familiar language of the press release!

M kpebiri na m, dị ka onye na ọmịiko ịhụ ihe mere pịa a na ọ bụrụ na m na-eji Google ntụgharị, na ịsụgharị ha arabic ma laghachi ọzọ. M na-arịọ questionsings banyere mmekọrịta dị n'etiti oké egwu dere na puff mbak, ke 'na-eme ka iju' maara asụsụ nke pịa ufụn!

I decided that I, as a tender and see why the press is that if I use Google translate, and to translate them to Arabic and back again. I ask questions to the critical relationship between the written and the puff pieces, the 'object' know the language of the press release!

Please find the press release and a short warm-up, attached to one of my te comedy show: I think of ists, Facebook, as part of the Free Fringe. (Comedy Bus-Free Cardell, 12:30 S daily).

I had no luck of ists, Facebook - LOLLY Jones

For comedic viral sensation Charlie Brooker Wolf My Life (20000 IM on the first day) and SLI from the world famous London Lolly fall blog (90000 Doorn), Lolly Jones comes to Edinburgh with his wallet debut show.

Temping in 'Sexminster', Lolly does not understand herself or questions of our Prime Minister. Escaping from social media and Google Mapping wallet enemies UN-Lolly poked fun of our collective time, questioning friendly album bound together with a cat on the basis of satirical J-pegs.

Lolly leads the United States through the "meta" of the existence of his wallet with Hashtag arguments grabs and firsthand anecdotes.

Is it permissible to "Arrive" at a funeral? Dryers food tastier if Instagrammed first? And Gwen clinical gon Snapchat Chubb deputy in?

"I got a funny" - Charlie Brooker 2013

"Little Henry" - Charlie Brooker 2014

As an actress / sounded Lolly recently appeared in The Brighton Fringe, on BBC Radio 4 as part of the sketch team at the weekly BBC-Wipe. LOCAL Year runner for Gwen John Neville prize at the Nottingham Playhouse. Gwen is also a regular contributor to Time Panel Magazine, London. Mulreaney recently, Gwen can consider selling dildos killed in my anger on BBC3.


Translated Churnalism: Wonders of the Universe

I decided, as an experiment to see what happened to press releases if I used Google translate, and translate them into arabic and back again. I am asking questions about the relationship between critical writing and puff pieces, by 'making strange' the familiar language of the press release!

M kpebiri na m, dị ka onye na ọmịiko ịhụ ihe mere pịa a na ọ bụrụ na m na-eji Google ntụgharị, na ịsụgharị ha arabic ma laghachi ọzọ. M na-arịọ questionsings banyere mmekọrịta dị n'etiti oké egwu dere na puff mbak, ke 'na-eme ka iju' maara asụsụ nke pịa ufụn!

I decided that I, as a tender and see why the press is that if I use Google translate, and to translate them to Arabic and back again. I ask questionsings to the critical relationship between the written and the puff pieces, the 'object' know the language of the press release!



The wonders of the universe is 20 minutes of laugh out loud, and family friendly, contemporary dance, at the sound of the tones North Faten Professor Brian Cox. He talks about how the universe began. Three dancers bring to life the greatest story told than ever, with a lot wibbling, boinging and cheerful public.

Wonders of the Universe by Carol Cysewski at the Edinburgh Festival 
Dancing the rule, 1 to 17 August 02:00 

Three come, bearded professors about the Open University in 1978 show history of the universe through the medium of contemporary dance.

Although the secular story, played by the voice of God disembodied Professor Brian Cox.

Cox when he speaks his lines better than 2011 BBC television epic wonders of the universe, there are a lot of thrusting, boinging wibbling and three dancers condense 13.8 billion years of cosmology, geology and evolution in a little over 20 minutes.

There slapstick humor and school galore. When leaving two of the dancers convulsions - as if tasered - after the Big Bang hits, and the balance of payments quick on his head soon secreted out, making the recession one comic on the ground.

Cox also talking seriously killer line: "We have seen the star was born, we saw a star dies," is pulled lifeless form of a dancer Gwen Emberton informally across the floor.

Seeing life hauling himself, and the silencing of Foundry, on the ground, with many pairs of external gills festive flutter in the breeze violently prehistoric.

It's funny and certainly family-friendly, but behind the humor is a three dancers with serious pedigrees. Polish-born Karol Cysewski dancers and dances also in the piece. Now based with his young family in Cardiff, Carroll left the national dance company in Wales in 2012 after seven years to focus on creating work. And joined by Welsh dancer Gwen Emberton, an artist involved in the Aberystwyth Arts Centre and Drew Hawkins, a young dancer has risen through the ranks of Sylvia Young and Brett School.

The wonders of the universe back to Edinburgh Fringe show for 15 long after the much-lauded one-time base in dance performance during the festival in 2013.

Totes Random! Five Fringe shows

LISTINGS INFORMATION | Amy and Rosana Cade: Sister
Preview Fri 1st August 2014 Preview 8.15pm (75mins) | £10
Sat 2nd – Sun 24th August 2014 (not Tuesdays) | 8.15pm (75mins) | £13/£11 conc.
Sat 9th, Wed 20th 2014 | BSL interpreted performances
| 0845 874 3000 | Summerhall Old Lab, Summerhall Place, Edinburgh EH9 1QH

AMY IZ SEKZ WERKR. HER SISTR, ROSANA, IZ RADICAL LESBIAN. THEY R BOTH FEMINISTS.
TOGETHR, THEY REVEAL EVRYTHIN IN DIS POWERFUL AN JOYOUS PERFORMANCE,
EXPLORIN FEMALE SEKSUAL IDENTITY, FEMINISM AN CHOICE.

SISTR WEAVEZ TOGETHR THEIR AUTOBIOGRAFICAL STORIEZ OV GROWIN UP, INDIVIDUAL CONTRASTIN SEKSUAL EXPERIENCEZ, POLE DANCIN, LAP DANCIN AN CHILDHOOD PPLZ VIDEOS IN AN INTIMATE STRIP CLUB SETTIN, WHICH THEY INHABIT, SUBVERT AN EVENTUALLY DECONSTRUCT.


Boris & Sergey’s Astonishing Freakatorium is on at Underbelly’s White Belly, Cowgate, at 7.20pm, from July 31 – August 24 (no show August 12).


THEY SWEAR CONSTANTLY DURIN THEIR LIV SHOWS AN R OFTEN SO OUTRAGEOUS DAT DISGUSTD AUDIENCE MEMBERS WALK OUT. BUT THEY’RE NOT MEMBERS OV DEATH METAL BAND – THEY’RE PUPPETS.

TEH HILARIOUS AWARD-WINNIN BALKAN BROTHERS BORIS & SERGEY – HOO DON’T EVEN HAS FASHUL FEATUREZ – HAS OFFENDD WIF THEIR FOUL MOUTHS, MOLESTD THEATRE-GOERS, AN SPILLD DRINX … BUT HAS STILL MANAGD 2 GARNR SLEW OV 5-STAR REVIEWS CUZ OV THEIR PATHOS AN CHARM.


DYLAN TATE, HOO OPERATEZ SERGEY’S HEAD, EXPLAIND: “TEH VRY FURST WEEK WE PERFORMD BORIS & SERGEY WAN ELDERLY LADY SED HOW MUTCH SHE ENJOYD PUPPETRY AN COULDN’T WAIT 2 C TEH SHOW. 4 MINUTEZ IN, BORIS ASKD 4 SUGGESHUNS 4 IMPRESHUNS. WAN AUDIENCE MEMBR SHOUTD ‘BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN’ AN WE OBLIGD BY RECONSTRUCTIN TEH TENT SEKZ SCENE. TEH OLD LADY WALKD OUT.

ARM OPERATOR, CHRIS DOBSON, AGRED: “IM PRITEE SURE I HAS SMACKD FEW AUDIENCE MEMBERS IN DA FACE AN I FINKZ BONNY GOT RSI FRUM HUMPIN PEEPS’S FACEZ WIF BORIS. WITHOUT DOUBT WHOEVR IZ ON TEH LEGS ALWAYS SPENDZ TEH MOST TIEM BEAN ELBOWD AN SWEATD ON. BUT DEN IF IZ NOT LIL BIT SWEATY AN DISGUSTIN, WERE NOT DOIN IT RITE.”

EUREKA! ENTERTAINMENT HAS ANNOUNCD TEH RELEASE OV FRAU IM MOND WOMAN IN DA MOON], SCIENCE-FICSHUN ODYSEY DAT FORETOLD MANZ FUCHUR IN ROCKET-BASD SPACE EXPLORASHUN.  

A MODERN DAEDALUS TALE WHICH UNCANNILY FORETOLD GERMANY’S WARTIME PUSH INTO ROCKET-SCIENCE, FRAU IM MOND. IZ AS MUTCH WARNIN-SIGN AGAINST HOOMAN HUBRIS AS IT BE HOPEFUL DEPICSHUN OV MANKIND’S POTENTIAL. TEH MASTERS OV CINEMA SERIEZ IZ PROUD 2 PRESENT IN DUAL FORMAT (BLU-RAY + DVD) SPESHUL EDISHUN TEH CULMINASHUN OV FRITZ LANG’S SILENT CINEMA, RESTORD 2 ITZ NEAR-ORIGINAL LENGTH.




STAGD IN RE-PURPOSD SHIPPIN CONTAINR, EVRYTHIN I OWN TELLS STORY OV FRIENDSHIP AN LOS IN DA DIGITAL AGE, PERFORMD SIMPLY 4 U.
 
FOLLOWIN TEH SUCCES OV CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMD RÉMAH IN 2012, EMERGIN THEATRE COMPANY EVRYTHIN I OWN RETURN 2 EDINBURGH WIF BRAND NEW SHOW, SOMEBODY I USD 2 KNOE - STORY OV CHILDHOOD FRIENDSHIP REKINDLD BY FACEBOOK POST, WHICH QUESHUNS TEH POWR OV TECHNOLOGY IN R SOCIETY AN RELASHUNSHIPS.


DEVISD AN PERFORMD BY CLAIRE GAYDON (“A TALENT 2 KEEP AN EYE ON” – TEH LIST), TEH SHOW INCORPORATEZ VIDEO PROJECSHUNS, MUSIC ANDSTORYTELLIN, AN WILL BE DELIVERD 2 WAN AUDIENCE MEMBR AT TIEM, CREATIN AN INTRICATELY PERSONAL AN INTIMATE EXPERIENCE.

OVAR TEH COURSE OV 20 MINUTEZ, GAYDON WILL TELL TEH STORY OV MEETIN BEST FREND, ANDREW, AT FOURTEEN. THEY BOND OVAR TEH SIMPSONS, MARIO KART AN MARLBORO REDZ, AN BEFORE LONG THEY R INSEPARABLE. AS IZ SO OFTEN TEH CASE WIF CHILDHOOD FRENZ, THEIR LIVEZ TAEK DIFFERENT DIRECSHUNS AN THEY EVENTUALLY DRIFT APART. IZ BEEN 6 YEERS SINCE THEY LAST SAW EACH OTHR, AN ANDREW HAS JUS POSTD ON FACEBOOK DAT HIS SISTR HAS LEUKAEMIA…

The show will debut in The Cloud, the company’s very own venue situated beside Assembly Roxy in Edinburgh's central Old Town, with performances taking place between 12:00 to 18:30 every half hour.


ONLY 4! HOW VRY RANDOM!




Willy Gag!


Thursday 24 July 2014

In conversation with Rasta Thomas, Ballet's Bad Boy (FROM 2011)

In conversation with Rasta Thomas, Ballet's Bad Boy
FEATURE BY GARETH K VILE.
PUBLISHED 05 AUGUST 2011
One of my big themes this year has been the way that ballet is often disparaged by companies who use its tradition and techniques: in your press release you talk about "ballet with attitude... without the constraints of classical dance traditions". What part of ballet have you held onto, and what are the constraints that you have abandoned?
We have held on to the beauty and strength of the technique and let go of everything that can be boring! We use pop and rock music, wear funky clothes and break down the walls of what you would get going to the ballet! We yell and expect you to do the same! We "ROCK" the Ballet!
In terms of casting, how far did you select ballet dancers and then add the other styles, or did you work with acrobats and hip-hop artists as well?
We select very versatile dancers. They are what we call "hybrids". They can do many styles of dance, as well as acrobatics and martial arts. We have found dancers online, at auditions, at competitions... Everywhere!
Something that ballet shares with musical theatre is the narrative: does Rock the Ballet have a story, or is it a more abstract piece about dance itself?
We use a loose story in our first act. It's a basic love story but showcases romance and laughter. Our second act is full of awesome dancing to awesome music. Simple.
How well does ballet mesh with forms like hip hop or tap? Are there shared values between the different forms?
Of course. They all require skill, coordination, talent and passion. They are very music driven and express many different emotions.
What sort of response were you hoping for with the show, and has this been the response that you have received?
The response to ROCK the Ballet has been incredible!!! We have fans all over the world and couldn't be happier. We want to keep people coming to the theatre so we will keep doing great shows!!!
If ballet is often perceived as old fashioned, why do you think it has retained its popularity?
Tradition is very alive in ballet. I love that and feel it should always be celebrated. We just wanted to do something different. We wanted to shake things up in the dance world and give people something to talk about.
Are there other companies that you feel any affinity with?
Not really because I feel we are the future. The past is great to learn from but I wanna keep moving forward and stay on a path that's only meant for us.