Sleep plays a vital role within our daily routines, the sleep-wake cycle a process forming one of our circadian rhythms – an internal 24hr clock supporting our survival. Delving into this cycle further in her new work Small Hours, showing online as part of IF Oxford from the 19th to 25th October, writer Ava Wong Davies talks about what inspired her to create the show, seeking scientific advice from the University of Oxford Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute and how she’s found creating work during this time.

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This year, we celebrate 7 years! Within this time, it’s been great to witness a variety of shows within the capital as well as regionally. We very much look forward to continuing this journey, and seeing what happens next. We’re living in a very transformational time, whereby changes are made within our industry and crucial conversations are being had, and we hope to keep you updated on companies and shows contributing to our theatre landscape. Each week, we bring you the latest theatre reviews and interviews, and have now introduced a newsletter. This is your chance to stay updated on the very latest theatre news, competitions and reviews!

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A response to current theatre closures and keeping in line with social distancing restrictions, Access All Areas Theatre have curated an 8 stage tour of Hackney, a tour offering insight into the thoughts and feelings of the company’s members during this unprecedented time. Starting off at Hackney Town Hall, the 90 minute tour not only places centre the voices of learning disabled and autistic artists but also highlights locations significant to the artists behind the audio.

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Having engaged the community of Barking and Dagenham for over 30 years, Studio 3 Arts is committed to putting ‘local people at the centre of everything they do’. Having launched their inaugural Groundbreakers Leadership programme earlier on this year, the initiative highlights the need to support our leaders of tomorrow – participants having gained the confidence to go on and build their own projects and inspire others to do the same. With applications now open for the next programme later on this year, Artistic Director Liza Vallance explains how applicants can get involved, what her hopes are for the initiative and what the £1.2m worth of funding awarded to the organisation to transform the 1960s Galleon Community Centre into a community arts centre means for the Barking and Dagenham community.

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Founded in 1987, Big Telly Theatre, founded by director Zoe Seaton has established itself as one of Northern Ireland’s most respected and long running theatre companies – their work spanning multiple sectors such as tourism and heritage. Adapting Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth for the digital stage, the production follows the director’s succession of well received online productions, her most recent – Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Ahead of the productions online showing as part of this year’s Belfast International Arts Festival, Zoe tells us more about her adaptation of the classic.

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With theatres and companies having to adapt to our new normal, the industry have responded by creating works available to stream online. Adapting their show Romantics Anonymous to this new format, Wise Children will offer a mixture of live performances and online streaming – performing to a socially distanced audiences, whilst also streaming their work with partnering theatres via their digital tour format. Ahead of the show, performer Omari Hardwick tells us how he feels about performing to a socially distanced audience for the first time since lockdown!

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Notably one of East London’s most well known streets, Brick Lane is the home to various vintage stores, market stalls and restaurants. An integral part of the Bangladeshi community since the 20th century, Brick Lane is a melting pot of culture, a welcoming environment adding to its charm. With a history spanning back to the 15th century – it’s name deriving from the manufacturing of bricks and tiles, there are various stories to be told about the street’s transformation ever since. Tapping into Tower Hamlet’s local history, Tamasha Theatre producers Debo Adebayo and Ellie Browning bring back their We Are Shadows: Brick Lane – an audio tour of the street. Debo and Ellie tell us more about the experience.

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Marking its 50th year, the Young Vic celebrates with a year-long programme paying homage to the venue’s legacy of creating ‘an experimental workshop for authors, actors and producers’ as well as factoring in affordability. Established by Royal National Theatre Associate Director Frank Dunlop, successive Artistic Directors Michael Bogdanov, David Thacker, Julia Bardsley and Tim Supple, Tim Supple, David Lan and now currently Kwame Kwei-Armah have shaped the venue into what it is today. Commemorating the past as well as envisioning the venue’s future, Kwame tells us more about the venue’s initial programme, possible plans for a block party to mark the important milestone and his hopes for the theatre moving forward.

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Returning with their hyper local radio show Radio Local; creatives Jenny Hunt and Holly Darton stop off at Nine Elms to bring listeners a mixture of gameshows, song requests, news bulletins, interviews with influential residents and more – ‘celebrating the joys and necessity of local radio and community.’ Ahead of their Nine Elms visit, Jenny and Holly tell us more about the show!

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An exploration of the Universal Credit System, Laura Lindow’s pertinent show Credit utilises research gathered by various organisations in Gateshead and Newcastle as well as the experiences of people on Universal Credit to start up a conversation and examine whether the system benefits those its meant to support. Initially programmed for April earlier on this year, Credit will be exclusively previewed online on Tuesday 16th September, followed by Q & As discussing this important topic further. Ahead of the streaming, Cap-a-Pie Theatre’s Artistic Director Brad McCormick tells us how he’s worked with Laura to develop the show, developing the show during this unpredictable time and the importance of the Q & A aspect of the preview.

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