Two years on from the start of the pandemic and the impact of 2020 has started to emerge, the arts one of the most hardest hit as venues and institutions were forced to closed. With a lack of understanding as to when services could resume, an industry typically dependent on its live aspect, would find that adaptations would have to be made to continue to reach their audiences. A prominent adaptation that has started to emerge from the sector post pandemic is a digital strand of work, one where works are either pre-recorded and streamed or performances are live-streamed. Marking a new chapter within their over 200 year history, The Old Vic introduced the ‘OLD VIC:IN CAMERA’ initiative, allowing for over 108, 810 households in 94 countries to access live streamed performances from the comforts of their own homes, during such an unpredictable time period. Their online work as a result has seen them celebrated at both the inaugural Digital Culture Awards established by the Digital Culture Network with a win for ‘Content Creation and Distribution’ and at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards with a win for ‘Exceptional Theatre-Making During Lockdown’. Elizabeth Charlesworth, The Old Vic’s Head of Communications tells us more about what both awards mean to the team, working digitally and the venue’s hopes for the future.
Post World War II Britain, migrants from the commonwealth nations were invited to live and work here in an effort to help rebuild the country in response to the consequential labour shortage, 1948 marking the beginnings of a time period whereby migrants would go on to help start shaping a multi-cultural Britain, as migrants from Jamaica embarked on an unpredictable journey on the Empire Windrush, concluding at Tilbury Dock, Essex. A new chapter for all, with the hopes of establishing better lives for themselves, as well as providing for their families, the harsh realities of having to assimilate to a social and political climate not as welcoming would become clear. Migrants from various other Caribbean nations following suit and facing the same realities. Exploring this familiar tale of migration, writer Mia Jerome presents Rice & Peas, produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and due to play at Metal Culture, Southend-on-Sea from the 28th to 30th April. Looking back at couple Figgy and Edith’s last meal together in Grenada, 1948 before Figgy leaves for Britain, Rice & Peas boasts a specially crafted Caribbean menu by celebrated chef Jon Bentham – the title of course alluding to the West Indian staple, the show rooting all in the couple’s cultural heritage. Ahead of the show, Mia tells us more about exploring the story further, being supported by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Creative Estuary Commissions and working with Jon Bentham to realise the menu!
With both the Peckham (South East London) and Tobacco Dock (East London) Skylight Bar venues offering unique, panoramic views of their respective localities, they’re both the perfect venue for catching up with friends and loved ones, holding meetings or the perfect location for that much needed alternate setting if you’ve been working from home with their hot-desking facilities from £10 a day. From a choice of bottomless brunches, food and cocktails and live music, Skylight Bar – with their huts, booths and tables, Skylight Bar is a venue to visit. Celebrating a new edition to their cocktail menu, ‘The Dame Judi’ – named after the iconic actress of theatre and film and which is described as being ‘sweet and sharp with a full, rich finish from the Grand Marnier Cognac’, the new edition has been created not only to acknowledge the performer, but also to support access to drama training, with £1 from every sale going towards the Judi Dench Fund for Access to Drama Training set up in collaboration with renowned Peckham based drama school Mountview. We spoke to Skylight Bar who tell us more about the creative theatrical edition to their menu!
