The Central Nervous System – consisting of the brain and spinal cord, is responsible for the complex functions and various systems that power the human body. The brain, an organ of soft nervous tissue contained within the skull of vertebrates, functioning as the co-ordinating centre of sensation, intellectual and nervous activity. Diagnosed with incurable cancer around the time she’d been cast for a show at the National Theatre, in the part of the brain responsible for speech, language and memory, writer and director Phoebe Frances Brown, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy, explores her health journey so far – The Glad Game focused on Phoebe “finding herself in the hardest of times, finding gladness in the saddest moments and of continuing to do what she loves.” Due to show at the Nottingham Playhouse from late September, the MAC Birmingham in mid November and supported by charity Brain Tumour Research, Phoebe tells us more about her important show.
Hero – (noun) a person who is admired for great brave acts or fine qualities. The ‘hero’ is an archetype often portrayed within our literature, from fairy tales, to fantasy novels, to comic books as being the idealised embodiment of perfection, the one that ends up defeating the bad guys and saving the day. I’m sure, however, within our daily lives, we all have our very own ideas as to what heroes look like to us, and what this concept means within the real world. Exploring this concept of the ‘hero’ within his show Catching Comets, writer and director Piers Black tells us more about revisiting the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe piece, working with the creative team to realise the production and what we can expect!
Marking 40 years since the devastating events of the Brixton Uprising of April 1981, caused as a result of racial tensions between the Black community and the police, non zero one explore the impact of the historical event years later in their interactive, audio tour – On These Streets.
Finding connection, whether on a friendship or romantic level, is an important aspect of our lives, these connections shaping our day to day. Placing a focus on this, from the perspective of three single leads having just celebrated their 60ths, Invisible Me gives voice to viewpoints seldom heard.
With the build up to COP26 taking place from late October, various arts organisations have created works responding to the climate conference, opportunities to respond to the climate crisis creatively and working within communities to encourage conversation and explore possible solutions welcoming collaboration. Contributing to this crucial conversation with his newly created work Murmurations, playwright and Professor of Scriptwriting at the University of East Anglia Steve Waters, in collaboration with Tangled Feet, National Trust’s Wicken Fen Nature Reserve and RSPB Strumpshaw Fen Reserve explores “what we need from nature and what nature needs from us in a world recovering from sickness.” Showing as part of Great Big Green Week, which falls from Saturday 18th until Sunday 26th September 2021, the show will take place at both reserves. Ahead of the site specific piece, Steve tells us more about the show.
Aalapi – roughly translating as “be silent because what we’re hearing is beautiful” in the Inuktitut language perfectly sums up this production, a celebration of home, family and freedom.
Magic – (Verb) To move, change, or create as if by magic. A phenomenon often attributed to mythological tales, magic is a key component of the fantasy world, a means to manipulate circumstances, matter and time. Expanding on this facet further in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new musical The Magician’s Elephant, Illusion Designer and Magic Consultant John Bulleid – whose credits include When Darkness Falls at The Park Theatre, The Ocean at the End of the Lane which he is the Illusion Associate of, playing at the West End as well as being the current Magic and Illusion Assistant of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tells us more about his creative process!