Founder of Cut the Cord, a company committed to establishing an enriching theatrical partnership between the Nordic and UK theatre scene, Camilla Gürtler continues on with this mission with the latest edition of the New Nordics Festival, a five day celebration of live and digital contemporary works from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Set to take place at Jacksons Lane Theatre from the 12th to the 16th October, Camilla tells us more about creating this important platform for creatives, her hopes for the festival and what to expect from the event!
Supporting the Grade II listed theatre venue Jacksons Lane Arts Centre on their vision of becoming ‘welcoming, inspiring, accessible, visible, inviting and reflective of its personality and ambition’, architects Citizens Design Bureau, alongside Jacksons Lane’s Artistic Director and Executive Director Ade Berry and Monique Deletant will ensure the venue fulfils its pledge of achieving environmental sustainability, as well as adapting to a post Covid world. Architects katy Marks Jack Penford Baker tells us more about the redevelopment project.
Welcoming the next phase of Jacksons Lane’s architectural and artistic journey, Artistic Director Ade Berry and Executive Director Monique Deletant realise the venue’s vision of becoming ‘welcoming, inspiring, accessible, visible, inviting and reflective of its personality and ambition’ – a vision brought to life by architects Citizens Design Bureau. Currently under redevelopment, Ade and Monique tell us more about what to expect from the newly redeveloped venue.
Irene Danner-Storm hailed from a family of circus performers. One of few Jewish families to own a circus business, the Lorch family would suffer greatly from the horrifying rise of antisemitism and the Nazis’ rise to power; the devastating climate leading to the beginnings of WWII. A decline in business and facing the possibility of being sent to a ghetto or concentration camp, Irene would be the first within her family to flee to the Althoff Circus as a means of survival. Inspired by Irene’s incredible story, performer and theatre maker Stav Meishar presents her solo show The Escape Act – A Holocaust Memoir, a production close to Stav’s heart, having trained in circus arts and being the descendant of Holocaust survivors, we learn more about how Irene’s story has impacted her both personally and professionally.
Courtesy of David White
Making choices for ourselves can very often impact on the lives of those around us, even if we don’t necessarily think it. Often times we’re faced with not only thinking of what’s best for us in the short term, but what would also be of great benefit in the longer term. We try our best to make decisions that make everyone happy, but does that fulfil our own happiness? Probably not as we’re always having to compromise, however if you operate by the principle of honesty, your happiness becomes the focal point. Exploring honesty and expectations, Directors and Circus Performers Nikki Rummer and Jean-Daniel Broussé discuss their show ‘Knot’, playing throughout August at the Assembly Roxy as part of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Debuting a scratch performance of The Brownie Club at Watford Palace Theatre three years ago, Circus Performer and theatre maker Jessica Andrade would go on to develop a full length version of the show at Jacksons Lane Theatre. A theatre renowned for nurturing circus based work, Jessica’s pertinent show explores the topic of racism, something the performer has found she still, as well as many of us, confront today. Formed as a way to create a safe space from ignorant comments made by teachers and fellow students whilst at school; The Brownie Club was a friendship circle giving a voice to the marginalised and ignored. Ahead of the show in May, Jessica tells us more about the show’s creative process.
Yablochkov Candle is an aerial exploration from Finnish performer Ilona Jäntti and an incredibly unique vocal performance from singer-songwriter Aino Venna. The live music complements the acrobatics perfectly, or should I say the acrobatics complement the music, for each art form is of equal importance throughout.
Stephen Mottram’s Animata is part of the London International Mime Festival, the festival concludes in early February and is in its 40th year. Mottram creates two pieces, the first at around 40 minutes and the other to finish at around 10 minutes. Both animations intelligently combine art and science to produce extremely thought-provoking works.
Courtesy of David Fisher.
The new puppet theatre company, Les Antliaclastes is lead by Patrick Sims; former creative director of Buchinger’s Boot Marionettes, and based in Maillet, France. The UK premier of Here Lies Shakespeare, supported by Institut Francais and Arts Council England, is currently being shown at Jacksons Lane Theatre as part of the London International Mime Festival.
Courtesy of Jacksons Lane Theatre.
It’s the beginning of the year which means 1 of the most exciting theatre festivals will make its way to the capital. The London International Mime Festival has been amazing onlookers for 4 decades, bringing the world’s of circus, puppetry, mask, visual and physical theatre to life. Making his return to the festival, Stephen Mottram has distinguished himself as one of the world’s leading puppeteers, pushing the boundaries with his exciting shows and creations. Read on to find out more about his work…