Fairport Convention & Kieran Goss - 03.02.12

Before I begin telling you about Fairport Convention, it's very much worth mentioning their support act, Kieran Goss, who delighted the audience for half an hour or so beforehand.

 

As well as being very small, he shared some hilarious anecdotes and heartfelt tunes with us before concluding his set by accompanying Fairport in the first song of theirs.

Though I wasn't around when Fairport Convention first began playing, I can imagine that they are just as good now, in their 45th year of playing, as they were then, if not better! Thanks to google I can find a 'what they looked like then' picture:

I had the privilege of seeing the show from the very top of the hall (in the lighting booth, actually)  and got to see every member of the band pick up various instruments and play them with no trouble at all. And here's what they look like now:

Each member of Fairport Convention (except the drummer) had their moment in the show to lead a song or chat to the audience, and each of their songs had a bit of a story behind it, which was nice for people, like myself, who had never seen Fairport before.

Their tunes were cheerful and catchy, and the band's ability to sing in three part harmony, both unaccompanied and whilst playing their respective instruments, was quite refreshing.

Definitely worth seeing if they come to you.

Great show, guys!

-Hilary Shepherd, Marketing Officer

If you liked Fairport Convention, we think you will love The Hamsters and King King

Ockham's Razor - 01.02.12

Safe to say, I was completely blown away by Ockham's Razor.

The first piece of the night was titled 'Arc', and as far as I was aware, told the story of three friends stuck on a raft in the middle of the sea. Though as we aren't lucky enough to have a sea in the Drill Hall auditorium, the performers had to make do with a grid in mid-air. Observe:

The three characters (who I'm imaginatively call green girl, pink girl and boy) were entwined in a love triangle.

The developing love between the green girl and the boy caused the pink girl so much jealousy she tried to push each of them off the raft, consequently the raft started rocking (rotating 360 degrees several times), allowing the performers to execute some fantastic acrobatics.

The second piece, 'Memento Mori', revolved around the idea of death as a dance. The pink girl  and the boy returned - he, dressed head to toe in a white body suit with hands and face painted white, acting as death. This time, the raft had been substituted for a trapeze:

In this piece, she was fighting death, and via some more amazing tricks and precarious balancing acts, death always seemed to find a way to control her, and in the end I think the audeince are to assume she lost. Sniff.

Finally, we got to 'Every Action...' (my favourite). This was funny but still as impressive. Four strangers meet in front of suspended rope, and between them hoike each other up to mid-air and try to out-do their fellow performers with ever more impressive tricks.

And just as they begin to get the hang it, they lose the end of the rope and the show tantalizingly ends with this:

After lots of applause we were treated to a question and answer with the team which proved insightful and funny.

We very much hope to see Ockham's Razor again with a brand new show in 2013.

10/10

-Hilary Shepherd, Marketing Officer

If you liked Ockham's Razor, we think you will love Retina : Layers of Skin and Earthfall.

WHAT YOU MISSED - "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"

The pantomime is now officially over! It's been with us a grand total of 21 days, and at two shows nearly every day, that's a lot of Snow White!

If you didn't make it this year, here's a snapshot of what you missed, but be there for next year :)

Tickets for 2012's Peter Pan already on sale - ring 01522 873894 to book...

- Hilary Shepherd, Marketing Officer

The Unthanks - 07.12.2011

Having only ever seen The Unthanks perform their traditional clog dancy folky main stay I was intrigued to see how they would interpret the works of Antony and the Johnsons and Robert Wyatt.

The answer was a resounding “brilliantly” from everyone who came to see them.

There’s something truly magical about beautiful lyrics sung with a Northumberland accent. It becomes haunting, melodic and moving. Add to that the skill and variety of musicians and musical instruments played during the performance and you have something utterly breath-taking to behold.

On the subject of instruments I’ve heard the saw played many times but never actually seen it. Watching one musician so adeptly switch mid song between violins and saw to create some truly ethereal sounds was captivating.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Antony and the Johnsons, I find Antony himself a remarkable person with a beautiful voice and an incredible talent for song writing. To hear his music so lovingly reimagined by a band that is obviously huge fans as well was more than a match for the original songs.

The second half of the performance focused on the works of Robert Wyatt. Someone who until this point I hadn’t realised I’ve been listening to for years. Their interpretation of “Dondestan” sung by the entire band while Becky and Rachel Unthank clog danced the melody accompanied by a trumpet was mind blowing! While their rendition of “Free Will and Testament” with its tongue twister lyrics was deftly and delicately handled to produce something ethereal and spell binding.

The entire show was punctuated by The Unthanks trademark humour and the whole performance left me moved and talking about it to anyone that would listen for days.

-Andy Farenden, Box Office Assisstant

Music of the Spheres - project with sinfonia ViVA 06.12.11

This project aimed from the start to involve young people in creating their own music. Lincoln College, Nettleham Primary and Monks Abbey Primary Schools met at The Collection in October 2011 to take inspiration from The Four Seasons installation.

Following that, each school, with the help of workshop leader James Redwood, (double bassist Dave and viola player Nina) exercised their imaginations and wrote songs and instrumental music about enjoying the four seasons, change and the journey of life. 

As well as their own compositions, the children and students learnt two songs (complete with actions) to incorporate into the final concert:

"Ah poor bird

Take thy flight

Far above the sorrows of this dark night"

And......

"Seasons change with time

As the earth circles so slowly

Dancing round the sun

Hear the planets spin

Orbiting, ever evolving

Music of the spheres"

It was truly inspiring to see so many children get stuck in to music, and to also get to listen to ViVA playing Astor Piazzollo's 'Four Seasons of Buenos Aires' as well as some Bartok in between each specially composed piece.

 

It was a privilege to have been part of something that introduced so many kids to some great music, but as well as that it was FUN! Kids can be hilarious.

 

If you didn't get to see it this year, please PLEASE try and make it next year (fingers crossed it will be going ahead next year) - you won't regret it!

-Hilary Shepherd, Marketing Officer

This Is Just To Say... 26.11.12

"Would you call yourself a serial apologist?" asked Hannah Walker of the 12 people gathered round the table for her discussion-come-poetic-performance of 'This is Just To Say'.  How often do you find yourself apologising on a day-to-day basis?  Is 'sorry' always the right thing to say and do we always mean it?

For this exploration of apology, the Room Upstairs was transformed into a cosy, twinkling, confessional as guests drank wine and pondered the 'terribly British' overuse of this get-out-of-jail-free tool.  We measured the validity of one apology against another, we shared our own apologies, we read apologies from people from all over the country and we listened as Hannah twisted and turned the words into insightful, sometimes tongue-in-cheek sometimes heartfelt, verse.

This wasn't an average theatre experience.  You couldn't sit back and let the evening wash over you - the content was too real and too personal for that.  As Hannah gently questioned, explained, and shared her own experiences, we scribbled thoughts and ideas, asked our own questions and confronted our own lost apologies. 

For an hour I shared a conversation with a group made up of friends and total strangers, got lost in thought, and was moved to the verge of tears before laughing so much that my sides ached.  The discussions we had, the lines she spoke and the words I wrote stayed with me long after I had returned home and for me, that's exactly what theatre should do.

- Charlie Kemp, Audience Development and Participation Project Worker

BEHIND THE SCENES - "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"

Pantomime season has begun!

That means that everything Jamie Marcus Productions could possibly need from now until January 2nd is in our Auditorium as we speak...

 (Coming into work Monday morning shows that since Friday things have even spread into the Cafe Bar)

As well as all the backdrops there are numerous props hanging around - you may be able to guess who some of them belong to or where they appear in the story...

But the crew found it hard work shifting and lifting everything....

And here's a sneaky preview of the first dress rehearsal in the Drill Hall - in real pantomime style!

-Hilary Shepherd, Marketing Officer