tips | features | interviews | listings | discountsmay 2013 // issue #03 // feat: captain blood’s revenge, scratch...

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settingbeckettto mu-sicVarmints is described as a dance-theatre show. What does this mean?

It’s high quality dance work but the directorial credits are shared between the director and the choreographer, so it will be a fusion of dance and theatre. It’s also got a lot of projection and lighting so I think on stage it will look very different from the way it looks currently in rehearsal.

How did you discover the story?

It’s from a book by Helen Ward and Marc Craste. Inspiration for the book came from Helen’s realisation that there was no place in England where you could go and get real peace and quiet at the moment. She wrote Varmints in a sense of frustration about not getting the peace and quiet everybody needs in their lives. While in the country to do some writing, she could hear traffic all the time and it was killing the sounds of bird song.

It’s quite an enigmatic story about a wilderness that is taken over by the building of a huge Metropolis. One of the little creatures who lives there ends up saving a piece of the wilderness before it is swallowed up by the city. The story follows his heroic journey with this plant that he’s grown and nurtured in the dark. The ending of the book is very open, and our intention with this piece is to let the audience use their imaginations, and try not to be too descriptive about what we think happens at the end. We want people to make up their own minds.

How closely does the show follow the book?

Some bits are imagined which aren’t in the book - we’re trying not to add to the story, but just try to interpret what we find in the book.

Dance is obviously a wonderfully expressive medium which doesn’t tie up all the knots and doesn’t give you all the answers. But that said, the show does have a very clear storyline throughout.

It sounds like a choreographer’s dream - what has Wilkie Branson (choreographer and Bboy) brought to the project?

He’s certainly having a lot of fun with it, as he’s performing in the show too. He’s bought his particular skills to the piece, so there is a lot of hip-hop work and b-boy moves, there’s also a contemporary dance element too.

I think sometimes people are put off dance because they think it’s going to be too unresolved and too unexplained and - although I said we want the audience to use their imaginations - this isn’t an abstract piece. I think the audiences will really care about the hero, the little varmint. It’s quite an emotional piece so I think there’s a lot in there to interest people of all ages.

And the music... tell me a little about the

>> 25% off tickets: Best of Punched

EXCLUSIVES INSIDE:

VARMINTSTue 21 - Wed 22 May, TOM The Old Market, Hove. 6pm [+1.30pm Wed 22] // £9.00 [£6.00], Families £25.00 [2 adult, 2 child], Schools £5.00 tickets

[Words: Chris Challis.]

TOM The Old Market’s

soundtrack to the show?

Composer Benji Bower has created all the original music for the piece. He is a very inspired composer and the music lifts the show enormously.

Is there a message you’d like audiences to take away with them?

The intention is to remind people of the need for there to be under-developed parts of the world, for there to be moments where we can breathe, places where we can see the sky and still hear birds and bees and moles. We need to take care with the world. I think it’s got a very strong environmental message in it too. It’s a message which young children in particular absorb and embrace very readily.

shhhhush!the birdsthe bees

skies

grass

insects

moss

soils

flowers

molesleaves

streams

varmints

Based on the award-winning book, VARMINTS is the story of one animal’s quest for quiet. We asked Jude Merrill, Artistic Producer of Travelling Light Theatre Co., to tell us about more about the show...

peace and quiet rediscovered

>> Glyndebourne’s first children’s opera >> fringe city saturdays >> 1 question: jess cheetham

This newspaper is produced and distributed by TOM - The Old Market. View This Online: www.theoldmarket.com/paper

feature

CAPTAIN BLOOD’S REVENGE24 may, 6pm // 25 may 11am & 3pm // £9.00 [6.00], Families £25.00 [2 adults, 2 children]

[Words: Jenny Lindop.]

Captain Blood’s Revenge, Glyndebourne opera’s world premiere performance produced for children

Promising a pirate party full of songs and merriment, Glyndebourne’s brand new opera follows the tale of Salty Sue and her quest to become a singer, yo ho hoing with the likes of Pegatty and Billy Bone along the way. Savvy?Captain Blood’s Revenge is an original Glyndebourne commission in co-production with Brighton Festival, with music by Lynne Plowman and words by Martin Riley. This is the first time Glyndebourne has commissioned an opera specifically for children from the very beginning, giving them the chance to demonstrate the potential of opera, and expanding it’s parameters. They say that “this is an opportunity to reach a new audience, show what can be done with the art form, and show how versatile it is.”

With this in mind, the creators highlight that children can be less forgiving than adults and as such they “think about the most interesting and engaging way to tell a story”, explaining that “there are cartoon elements of the show, but it’s got to be a play, it’s got to have emotion. It’s got to be fun and entertaining, but it’s also got to take you somewhere.”

Strong characters and a strong narrative help introduce the uncommonly heard operatic voice to this new audience. It’s also a highly interactive performance, allowing children to experience the quality and the power of opera close up.

The opera is set in a tavern, where the audience are incorporated into the show as customers in the tavern. From rehearsals,

the audience reaction to being addressed by a singer is quite considerable; “you get a jaw drop, it’s very entertaining to be directly addressed by someone singing. It’s such a different way of singing to other musical theatre. The athletic training of the voice, training and training, and the support, and the lungs for an effortlessness with that massive sound, for practical reasons, to get a sound like that across an audience without a microphone.”

Captain Blood’s Revenge introduces new ideas, and the interactive nature, will help bring this new sound world that is opera to children. The production team assert the importance of introducing children to opera. “It’s an extraordinary art form, and you might

want to get a key into it but sometimes you need a way into it that may not be watching classical operas.” There is also a five-piece band as part of the performance and a post-performance ‘pirate parade’ where children are invited to dress up and celebrate.

Captain Blood’s Revenge is a ground-breaking piece that challenges our perceptions of what opera should be. With highly talented performers, a gripping storyline, a colourful set and audience participation, it should be a thrilling experience.

we’ve come this far...

Tony Haase performed his live, phsychadelic disaster movie, THE DAY THE FAIRY DUST LANDED, on Monday 13. Awesome animation accompanied Tony’s terrific tale.

NICK PYNN AND KATE DAISY GRANT made magical music from a dazzling array of instruments, from violas to wine glasses, on Thursday 09. Photo: Peter Williams.

TrailBlaze’s SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES has begun showing guests a Brighton they never knew. Their interactive tour continues throughout May, on Fri & Sun events. £5-6 only!

some snaps of event highlights at The Old Market, earlier this May

“this is an opportunity to reach a new audience, show what can be done with [opera]”

avast, ye!

Got something to share? Insider tips? Fascinating find? Let us know: info@theoldmarket.comEditor: Will Sawney, Contributors: Chris Challis, Jenny Lindop, Krysalis Photography, Peter Williams

@TOMvenue RT @LizzyMaceTried to flyer a lady yesterday, she said “I’ve seen that, it’s brilliant! ... Oh! You were in it!” #romcomcon @MaceAndBurton @marlytheatre

RT @WarrenTheatreSomeone is absolutely butchering Love Cats on the Old Steine. I don’t love those cats...

RT @RoughGuidesGet down to Brighton this weekend for @brightfest – the city has come to life and the party is in full swing!

RT @Boolander83Join us @KateBushMusic @brightonfringe for Kate Bush flash mob dance 25 May http://ind.pn/11yCr5F

RT @jondwill‘Lover Duck’ by the #ceramicist @Ange-laLEvans @ ‘2 Knoyle’ #IndependentTrail #artistsopenhouses #art #Brighton

RT @ElizCroMichael Rosen speaks about language and knowledge evolving - So spot on @MichaelRosenYes #BF2013

RT @jen_h_williams@TOMvenue @LesEnfantsTerr Saw ‘Trench’ in Brighton last night - left the theatre a total wreck. Beautiful, original, heart-breaking work

JESS CHEETHAM - theatre-maker, writer, reviewer - runs Scratch Sessions at TOM, a place for artists to perform new work.JESS... WHY ARE SCRATCHES SUCH AN IMPORTANT SPACE FOR ARTISTS?It is important to run Scratch Sessions to give artists a chance to get risky ideas performed in front of a supportive audience. A scratch performance is an opportunity to try something bold or different. Artistic processes can often be quite insular and the scratch platform allows the ideas to be expressed and discussed with others before they are presented as a final piece. Audiences are the most important element in a performance, they can be quite hard to come by, and often transform the piece. Scratch Sessions offers the chance to get your ideas seen. Scratch Sessions, Sunday 19, 3pm, £1.00 OTD

just one question

The streets are most definitely alive this month, as Fringe City brings the performing hoards to Brighton Centre. Taking over New Road every Saturday in May, Fringe artists are enthralling passers by with dance, cabaret, comedy, or an especially eccentric costume.

Last Saturday, No Fit State Circus brought a cavalclade of actor / acrobats to the main stage outside the Unitarian Church before processing through the streets on towering, wheeled high chairs. Also on the main stage, Brighton favourite Movin’ Melvin Brown tap danced and sang to the delight of a packed impromtu audience.

This year, Brighton Fringe have introcuded smaller stages to Fringe City, providing a chance for more intimate performances - such as The Girl With No Heart, (above left) an enchanting puppet show - to perform.

Fringe City is your chance to soak up the festival vibe, enjoy some free live entertainment, and maybe even chat with some of the performers. Seen something you like? Take the plunge and get yourselves tickets to the shows; that’s what festivals are all about!

May Saturdays 12-4pm, New Rd, Brighton

take to the streets

saturdays at Fringe CityAll photography from Krysalis Photography krysalisphotography.com

offers, discounts & what’s on...

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Fringe Venue 145 | Upper Market Street | Hove | www.theoldmarket.com10min walk from Churchill Square along Western Rd. Tickets: theoldmarket.com | 01273 201 801

how to find TOM// TOM’s Barat The Old MarketA lively cultural space, hosting its own events as well as supporting those of TOM’s Main House next door.Open weekends 1-6pm & All shows.

Best of PunchedTouched Theatre & Friends

Carnivalesque: The Animal Ball

Stand Up For LabourBrighton & Hove Labour Party

Dark & musterious. Featuring live music and nude models to be drawn by those attending. Mon 27 May, 4pm & 8pm, £12.00. >> £10 tickets for groups 4+

Think you know puppetry? Think again. Brighton’s sell-out puppetry night for grown ups. Sun 26 May, 8pm, £10-12>> 25% off tickets with code “PUN13”

End Brighton Fringe with a bang; a club night extravaganza show with festival vibes. Fri 31 May, 8pm - Late, £16.50>> £2.00 off via carnivalesque.co.uk

Comedians & politicians provide laughs at the coalition government’s expense. Sat 25 May, 8.30pm, £9-14>> 2-for-1 with code: “Labour241” fo

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TOM’s May 2013 event programme is bursting with vibrancy, comprising both Brighton Festival & Brighton Fringe events. From internationally-renowned theatre to decadent club nights, and a whole range of family-friendly shows, we’re sure you’ll find lots to get stuck into this month...

We are 10min walk West from Brighton centre, or on any Western Rd bus route (get off at Co-Op). Parking on seafront or at NCP, slightly East.

The Drawing Circus: Prologue