Theatre Bristol and Bristol Old Vic are pleased to announce 5 live performance commissions from Bristol Artists to appear in the BOV programme between April 2009 and March 2010.
- The Tragic and Disturbing Tale of Little Lupin by Luci Gorell Barnes
- Buzzard by Timothy X Atack
- White Caps by Wilkie Branson
- Make Better Please by Uninvited Guests
- Pedestrian by Tom Wainwright
Theatre Bristol and Bristol Old Vic are working together to support and build on the exciting energy and vision of artists making live performance in Bristol. This co-commissioning strand is just one of many steps on the journey and has been sparked by a shared desire to demonstrate a pathway to production for local practitioners, and develop a shared sense of adventure amongst artists and audiences.
The first commission to be presented is Buzzard, a funny, bittersweet fable about modern people and how we deal with our unhappiness. Tim is a Birthday Buzzard. He’s employed to wear a large Buzzard outfit, knock on your door, tramp into your home and tell you exactly what you’re doing wrong with your life. Then he does a little dance, and leaves. It’s a very popular service.
Buzzard is written and performed by Bristol-based writer, composer and film-maker Timothy X Atack. He has toured with comedians Matt Lucas and David Walliams, recorded albums and gigged across the world with his band Angel Tech, won awards for his short film-making and screenplays, and is an associate artist at Arnolfini in Bristol.
Buzzard | Studio | Wed 23 – Sat 26 September 2009 | £10/£7 concession | 8pm | 2pm Sat mat
October sees The Tragic and Disturbing Tale of Little Lupin, a promenade piece for families taking audiences into the secret hidden spaces of Bristol Old Vic. With its roots in the rich, dark soil of fairy tales, The Tragic and Disturbing Tale of Little Lupin tells the story of a girl who is not like others and of how life in the woods can take unexpected turns. It is created by Luci Gorell Barnes, a theatre director and visual artist based in Bristol. Her research into belonging and dislocation, and her work with socially marginalised groups underpins this multi-layered, entertaining and original work.
The Tragic and Disturbing Tale of Little Lupin | Promenade | Tue 27 – Sat 31 Oct 2009 | £10/£7
2pm, 4pm, 7pm Tuesday – Thursday | 2pm, 4pm, 6pm Friday – Saturday
Commissioned by Theatre Bristol, Bristol Old Vic and Bristol Do
Early next year we present the next two pieces; in the Theatre Royal, Make Better Please, a devised site-specific piece based on collected stories and hopes for Bristol and the theatre, created by Uninvited Guests, and Pedestrian, by playwright and performer Tom Wainwright. The final commission White Caps is by Wilkie Branson and urban dance company Champloo. It is a dance and film piece taking place in Bristol Old Vic Studio in the spring.
Make Better Please is a major new work by one of Bristol’s foremost performance companies.
A work that is drawn from people’s experiences in the city, taking Bristol Old Vic as the centre of that research.
Somewhere between a show and a séance, the audience will join the company around a huge table on the Theatre Royal stage, for a work which hopes to purge the bad memories and seek out the points of romance, beauty and hope within the city.
Make Better Please | Theatre Royal Stage | 24 – 27 Feb 2010
Pedestrian – a solo show about walking down a neverending pedestrianised shopping concourse…pursued by a giant fish. A perversely comic daydream-cum-nightmare about chuggers, flashmobs and attempting, unsuccessfully, to supress “the fear.”
This show marries the physicality of Tom Wainwright’s previous productions ‘One’ (2004) and ‘Everything is Mailer Daemon’ (2007) with an edgy satire which speaks about the world we live in through an unremittingly daft, borderline-inappropriate visor. Pedestrian features collaboration with Simon Wainwright of Imitating The Dog, who has created a spellbinding moving image and sound design.
Pedestrian | Studio | 24 – 27 Feb 2010
White Caps is a new dance work, based on a hybrid live performance and film format. The project is directed by Wilkie Branson, one of the UK’s most highly regarded bboys and a pioneer of the expressive bboying movement.
White Caps | Studio | 10 – 13 Mar 2010
Original Information:
Theatre Bristol and Bristol Old Vic are working together to support and build on the exciting energy and vision of artists making live performance in Bristol.
As one of many steps on this journey we would like to commission 4 live performance projects from Bristol Artists to appear in Bristol Old Vic’s programme in 2009/2010
This is an open call.
For further information including how to apply please click on the links below.
