Caution Collective and Friends
Beautiful Thing
Ooh La La It's BollywoodSummer Sublets is a new pilot as part of Furnace, West Yorkshire Playhouse's new work development programme, where we have some rehearsal space available during the summer months which we've been keen to share with artists who are developing new projects.
Following an application process we are delighted to announce that we have seven companies and solo artists in residence with us throughout July and August, each developing new work.
The artists and their new projects are as follows:
TheatreState
TheatreState present the story of Fanny Hill, feminism and what went wrong. Inspired by John Cleland's eighteenth century erotic novel Fanny Hill, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, TheatreState charts the supposed rise and fall of female power as characters from across the ages collide.
This company merge Live Art, theatre and film to create new work from old. They are Interested in subverting classic texts to dissect and celebrate modern life in the UK. Whilst in residence at the Playhouse they will be developing 'The Fanny Hill Project' (working title) with a view of developing the project further and presenting at the Edinburgh Fringe for 2013.
I See Yellow Theatre Company
I See Yellow are a new company made up of Leeds University graduates who want to make theatre which takes inspiration from real life stories and experiences of mental illness. With a grant from 'Leeds for Life Foundation' and in association with Aspire, Leeds Early Prevention Psychosis Service, they will be spending some time at the Playhouse creating a devised piece around true stories of psychotic episodes.
Sarah Wallis
Sarah Wallis is a Leeds based playwright, most recently her play The Rain King was presented as part of the Playhouse's new writing season at Theatre in the Mill. She will be spending some time this summer workshopping her play idea, Laridae, in conjunction with the Playhouse's resident Assistant Director Samuel Wood and a group of performers. The play concerns a Yorkshire coastal village falling into the sea, and a boy who falls in love with the personified spirit of his boat. Sarah will use the time at the Playhouse to start collaborating with performers far earlier in the process than she would normally have a chance to.
RashDash
RashDash are a physical theatre company based in Leeds who make messy, powerful work. They will be spending time their time as part of Summer Sublets rehearsing The Ugly Sisters, which was originally developed at the Playhouse as part of the Transform 12 Festival.
The Ugly Sisters delve into the realms of Cabaret and sends the story of Cinderella hurtling into the 21st century; where tabloids rule the world, lipo is a lunchtime activity, and starring in a TV show is every girl's dream... Newly famous and freshly out of rehab the sisters are finally ready to reveal the truth.
The Ugly Sistersis supported by ACE and is made in collaboration with Director Kyle Davies (TongueTied Theatre) and psychedelic funk trio Not Now Bernard. The show will premiere at Northern Stage at St Stephens at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer.
Matthew Bellwood
An Icy Manis a storytelling piece about the cold. On a winter's night, a woman goes out walking in the snow and encounters a stranger in a frozen field. The next morning, she wakes up and finds that everything has changed …
Matthew is a Leeds-based storyteller, working primarily within the oral tradition.
An Icy Manis an original piece that draws on Northern folklore and myths and legends about ice and snow. He is interested in ways of telling that bring the teller and the audience closer together. In this project, Matthew is keen to explore how miniatures and models might be used to create an immersive story-world. As a performer, Matthew has told stories in venues around the world but is particularly interested in the city of Leeds, where he has worked extensively with a wide range of community groups, schools and arts organisations.
Whispers
Whispers is a new piece of work written and directed by Elise Rohde-Hanssen (Associate Artist at Freedom Studios, Bradford) in collaboration with video artist Jez Coram and designer Christian Taylor.
Set in Norwayin WWII; a mother and son separated by War, neither knows if the other is dead or alive. An epic journey through the frozen winter wilderness as they cling to the hope that they will one day be reunited. With live music, dance, acting and projections, the company will bring this story to life.
Foolish Men
Simon and Matt are men that think that they're feminists. But it's difficult to know for sure as they feel like they can't really talk about it. They've been given the impression that blokes aren't allowed. But is it all in their heads?
Matt and Simon can't work it out alone, so they're going to need more men; Foolish Men.
Foolish Men is a new collaboration made up of Leeds based artists Simon Brewis (theatre director and facilitator) Matt Rogers of Uncanny Theatre, and producer Gloria Lindh, who are creating a new piece of participatory work exploring the role men can, might or should play in current feminism. They'll be working with 16 all male participants to generate material for this new show, more information about how to get involved will follow.
For more information about Summer Sublets, or any of the other initiatives as part of Furnace, please contact amy.letman@wyp.org.uk