Courtesy of Emma Sheldrick.
The world of the imagination is a wonderful thing, something prevalent within our earlier years and encouraged, but fades as we grow older. Inspired by her time at the Yard Theatre’s Young Artist Club, 10 year old Mazvita would become enthralled by the idea of transforming into an egg – something picked up on by the Yard, who would then go onto contact performance artist Daniel Oliver who in turn would help to materialise this initial idea into The Egg Show – a show about… you’ve guessed it… eggs! Due to show as part of NOW23 at the Yard Theatre from 21st to 23rd April, Daniel tells us more about what to expect!
Mastering stillness and calm in our relentless day and age can quite understandably be a challenging feat to accomplish, our digital age continually keeping us connected to the outside world. Meditation a vital practise in helping to achieve a sense of living in the present and shutting off from distractions. Finding that a meditative environment was a byproduct of the creation of new piece IV, Bodyworker, Mixed Media Artist and Performer SERAFINE1369 (Jamila Johnson-Small) was able to achieve this in part due to sound designer Josh Anio Grigg’s score, amongst other factors. The show bringing together bodies in movement and stillness, in light and in darkness, and a speaking clock, to create a series of tableaux and moments of dancing with complete abandonment. Incorporating loose dancing emerging through tight structure, a system of movement and stillness – IV is a meditative play between instinctive rhythms and strict timing. Ahead of the show, to take place the from 25th to 28th April as part of the NOW23 Festival at The Yard, SERAFINE1369 tells us more about what to expect!
A figure not as well known to us here in the UK, Zejneba Hardaga, alongside the Hardaga family risked their lives to save the lives of Jews who faced the prospect of prosecution from the Nazis during WWII in Bosnia. An Islamic household, the gesture greatly showed the strength of community – the Hardaga family’s heroism seeing them rewarded with the ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ title post war, bestowed onto non-Jewish individuals who risked their lives to save others during the holocaust. Inspired by the efforts of this extraordinary family, writer and director Sabina Zejneba presents Sevap/Mitzvah, a film 50 years post war, where the tables have now turned and it’s now Zejneba’s turn to be protected from being hunted. Having recently taken part in this year’s Cleveland Film Festival, Sabina tells us more about the film. 
Kicking of their tour of FIREDANCE initially in February of 2020, Strictly Come Dancing professionals Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez, like many creatives at the time, found themselves having to ground their show to a halt in response to the ongoing pandemic. Last year however, a couple of years on from the crisis, as we all emerged from the disruption, both were able to reignite the show’s unrelenting flames and bring it back to our stages. Showing no signs of slowing down, having both recently competed on the 2022 edition of Strictly Come Dancing, the dynamic duo have shown that they’re back with a vengeance, more so than ever. Due to tour from 23rd February, starting off at New Theatre in Peterborough before concluding its run on Saturday 1st April 2023 City Hall in Sheffield, Karen tells us more about the show’s inspirations, working with Gorka and what audiences can expect!
Established in 1978, Sundance is one of the world’s most recognisable film festivals. Celebrating 45 years of championing independent cinema, the festival continues to showcase the very best of filmmaking. Returning to the festival, after his film Bump was selected to screen last year, filmmaker and actor Maziyar Khatam presents Baba this year – the second instalment of his offbeat, comedy-drama short film series, a personal homage to his upbringing and Iranian-Canadian heritage. Currently screening at Sundance, Maziyar tells us more about the film winning Best Canadian Short Film at Vancouver International Film Festival, working with the creative team to realise the film and what he’s learned from creating it.