Catherine Bennett resumes the weekly look at the performing arts world, with the sad end of Jerusalem, the luck of a cabbie, and French revolt. Do you hear the people sing?
Adam Alcock reviews Nigel Kennedy playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons and his own Four Elements at York Opera House.
Catherine Bennett highlights the trends in the performing arts world today.
Jonathan Cridford reviews 'Ghosts', one of the Freshers' plays for this year.
Given the resounding success and popularity of the performance societies on campus, it can come as a surprise that not only do ample York-based opportunities for acting, writing, and directing exist outside the university framework, but that some of our most talented students are already involved. One such group of artists, The Flanagan Collective, describes itself as a “York-based arts collective that seeks to break down the boundaries between art forms and to challenge traditional modes of storytelling”. Their first production, Made For Radio, tells the story of Jane and Harry, a young couple who perform radio jingles. But the advent of Jane's pregnancy, and her attraction to her new friends spells doubt in Jane's mind as she begins to question her own relationships. I spoke to Veronica Hare, the assistant director, along with cast members Freddy Elletson, Sarah Barker, and Fran Isherwood, about their experience with the play and their aspirations for the future.
“It's about pregnancy,” the cast joked, clearly alluding to the poster, which displays a pregnant woman draped in a white sheet. “It's about how we have a certain view of our own relationships,” explained Sarah, “when that comes into contact with another relationship, it can spark change and changes in perspective”. Fran agreed, adding that, “It's about self-image. It's about elephants in the room, about what people say, and what they don't, and why.” I asked the cast – many of whom are experienced in physical theatre - how it felt to work on a play with such relative simplicity, to which Freddy responded, “Simple does not mean unchallenging”.
Veronica then explained the genesis of the Flanagan Collective itself. “It's the brainchild of Alexander Wright (of Belt Up Theatre fame); the idea behind it is trying to get people involved in different art genres, encouraging new work and creating opportunities for young people.” Freddy, as one of the first actors to relish such an opportunity, discussed how he became attracted to the project, “What drew me to this was the idea of working on a project in a space outside the University, and doing a new script created by students and graduates, because everyone here is at the same level and in the same field.” Does this make it a learning process? “Yes,” answered Fran, “It's inspiring. We're all doing it for ourselves and each other. None of us are professionals.”
With Fran's response in mind, I asked how the Flanagan Collective, and the experience of Made For Radio, corresponded with the group's ambitions in the world of theatre. Veronica emphasised the structure the collective provided, pointing out that, “It's better to approach a theatre as a prestigious group, an established company, rather than as an individual, in order to get plays produced.” What about their individual aspirations? “A massive thing for DramaSoc people about finishing university is, What next?” Sarah explained. “Many people will say to you, you have to go to drama school, then you have to get an agent because an agent is the only platform. But the more I talk to people, the more I realise that you just have to get out there, and make the work for yourself. There are other ways in then spending thousands at LAMDA.” Fran followed up Sarah's statement with two simple words: “Just do.”
I noticed how the desk we were seated around was half-covered in crumbs from a hastily cut chocolate cake, which the group had clearly been eating between bouts of acting, while using the same desk as part of the scene. “It's been so relaxed,” said Sarah, “If anything, Joe [Hufton – the director] is laughing along with us.” I asked the group if they had any anecdotes from the rehearsal process. “Freddy's hilarious,” Fran said. “All four of us were chipping in to discuss how to best display Sarah's pregnancy, and then he and Bengee [Gibson – the fourth actor in Made For Radio] pretended to be pregnant. It's been a lot of fun”
Made For Radio is showing at the Upstage Centre Youth Theatre, 41 Monkgate, York, on Thursday 23rd – Saturday 25th June 2011, 7.30pm with tickets priced at £9 full price / £7 concession.
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