Overseas Writers: BBC Radio Playwriting Competition

The International Radio Playwriting Competition is run by the BBC World Service and the British Council, in partnership with Commonwealth Writers and is now in its 23rd year.

It is a competition for anyone resident outside Britain, to write a 53-minute radio drama for up to six characters.

There are two categories: one for writers with English as their first language and one for writers with English as their second language.

The two winners will come to London and see their play made into a full radio production, which will then be broadcast on the BBC World Service.

They will also each receive a £2,000 prize and there are certificates for runners-up.

The play must be in English, unpublished and must not have been previously produced in any medium.

Whether you’re experienced, new, or somewhere in between, BBC World Service want to hear from you.

Deadline: 31st July 2012

BlackLab Awarded Berwick Festival Commission

The North East Photography Network and Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival have announced that Mishka Henner and David Oates (known collectively as BlackLab) have been awarded a funded commission to create a new work for this year’s Festival, which runs 19th – 23rd September 2012.

BlackLab were selected from an extremely competitive field of over 100 applications from as far afield as Bangladesh and New Zealand and from across Europe and the UK, responding to the Festival’s theme for this year, Pictures in Motion, which explores the relationship between the still image and the moving image, with most applications coming from artists working across both photography and film.

The newly commissioned 15-min film will consider the nostalgic idea of the photographer as recorded in stills, literature, moving images, documentaries and archive footage and questions whether the role of the photographer will become redundant in a society where CCTV and mass observation are becoming the norm.

Throughout the run of the Festival the work will be installed at Shoregate Icehouse in Berwick, while a one-off World Premiere screening will also take place at The Maltings Theatre & Cinema.

The full Festival programme will be announced on 17th August.

 

 

 

7th Camden Fringe starts end July

2012 marks the 7th year of the Camden Fringe, which will be taking place from the 30th July to the 26th of August across the borough of Camden. The Olympics has stolen a few venues, but they’ve been replaced and the number and quality of shows has not been affected by the sporting summer ahead. There are currently 126 different productions under starters orders.

The Camden Fringe has been running since 2006 when 57 performances were hosted by the Etcetera Theatre. In 2007 the Camden Head was bought in as a 2nd venue and these original two spaces on Camden High Street still host the bulk of shows. After 5 years of growth and large jump in the number of participating venues in 2010, the Camden Fringe has now reached a consistently high level of performances and spaces.

This year, as well as the familiar Camden People’s Theatre, New Diorama, Etcetera Theatre, Upstairs at the Gatehouse and the Camden Head, there will again be shows at the Black Heart, Camden Eye and Pirate Castle. The new signing for this season is The Tristan Bates Theatre in Covent Garden, and The Forge, Lauderdale House and Theatre Collection are all added to the list of venues.

Rich Mix Theatre, Dance London: June 29th, 30th

Stand By Premiere, plus other work

Claudia Palazzo

In western society women are taught to be individual and independent. Dependence on other people is looked upon as weak. Same too with dependence on substances. Are these two categories of dependence are similarly devastating? When is independence destructive? Choreographer Maddy Wynne-Jones tackles these questions with the courage and innovation that has become her trademark.

Stand-By will be premiered in a triple bill celebrating the versatility, diversity, and momentum of the Tempered Body collective, presenting in addition two brand new works by TBDT dancers Claudia Palazzo and Holly Blakey.

Tempered Body Dance Theatre have been gaining recognition since their beginning in 2007. Founded by Canadian choreographer Maddy Wynne-Jones, the company has been Resident Company of Chisenhale Dance Space since 2009, and Associate Company of Rich Mix since April 2011

www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/tempered-body-dance-theatre/

Kilburn Film Festival – Five Continents in North London

28 June to 8 July

Kilburn Film Festival features film from Nigeria, India, Ireland, Brazil, France, Senegal, Japan, Australia and more, plus classics and films by artists, by older people, by children. With talks refreshments and music.

One highlight is the Films by Artists evening on 5 July.

TIME CLIPS THE WINGS OF LOVE: Si Sapsford / 2012 . Evoking the innocence of old Hollywood films and inspired by a woman’s memory of her first sexual awakening as she reflects on the passage of time.

HOPE AND GLORY: Si Sapsford / 2012 . A boy running in snow is juxtaposed with conversation between former crew members of Steve Fosette’s multihull Cheyenne reflecting on the politics and bureaucracy of the Jules Verne 2004 non-stop round the world race.

IN PROGRESS: Noemi Lakmaier /2012. Femininity, disability and the expectations and stereotypes associated with both are explored through filming a woman’s face as she performs ambiguous yet seemingly private tasks. http://www.noemilakmaier.co.uk

DOUBLE PENDULUM: Faisal Abdu’Allah / 2012 Faisal teamed up with scientists to show how polluted air in East London could threaten athletes at the Games and how pollution shortens the lives of the people living near them, the poor, who are often from ethnic minorities. Features athlete Jeanette Kwakye and footballer Anthony Grant. http://www.faisalabduallah.com

Tin Tabernacle, 12-16 Cambridge Rd., NW6 5BA

www.kilburnfilms.co.uk

Spirit of Rio, at Battersea Arts

Part of LIFT and the London 2012 Festival. 8 July 3-10pm

This summer the spirit of Rio will be landing on the streets of London as the Rio Occupation London rolls into town.

Marking the link between London 2012 and Rio 2016, 30 of the city’s most exciting artists will be turning up the Brazilian heat in London in the run up to the Olympics with an eye-watering series of performances, parties, pop-up films and music events presented across the city.

This month-long occupation kicks off with a big Brazilian party thrown at Battersea Arts Centre featuring film, theatre, music and DJs including João Brasil . So grab yourself a caipirinha, explore the building and enjoy the best Rio has to offer all wrapped up in one long party.

www.bac.org.uk

Chortle’s Fast Fringe

Leicester Square Theatre, Tues 26th June

28 of the best comedy and variety acts heading to Edinburgh perform extracts of their festival shows on one amazing – if ridiculously busy – bill.

With  Rhys Darby, Nina Conti, Boy With Tape On His Face, Thomas Nelstrop, Late Night Gimp Fight, Dana Alexander, Hal Cruttenden, The Beta Males, Pete Johansson, Eddie Lizzard, The Noise Next Door, John Robins, Chris Dugdale, Luke Benson, Sean McLoughlin, Wes Zaharuk,  Jim Campbell, Up & Over It, Jonny & The Baptists,  Danny McLoughlin, Catriona Knox, Paul F Taylor,  Chris Stokes, David Trent, Funk Rocket 5000, Liam Mullone, Adam Hess,  Four Screws Loose and MC Susan Calman.

www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

Cabaret Award at Edinburgh Fringe

Time Out and Soho Theatre are delighted to announce that they are joining forces to present the first cabaret award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; TO&ST launching for the 2012 festival.

TO&ST will celebrate quality and brilliance in cabaret. With one award given to the show the judges believe is the best cabaret show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. As well as the industry recognition the winner of the award will be offered a two week run at Soho Theatre and will have a full feature about their show in Time Out.

There are three judges for the award, they are Time Out Cabaret Editor Ben Walters, Soho Theatre Comedy & Cabaret Producer Steve Lock and Artistic Director of the Glasgow Cabaret Festival Frodo McDaniel; they see all eligible shows and decide the winner of the award.

There will be a maximum of six shows shortlisted for the award; this shortlist will be announced on Wednesday 15 August 2012 with a celebratory show for the shortlisted shows the weekend of Saturday 18 August. The winning show will be announced on Thursday 23 August 2012.

Follow the awards on twitter @TOASTAward and at facebook.com/TOASTAward

Further information from Amy Belson: amybelson@sohotheatre.com

 

Halifax Festival – Starts 6 July

Here are some of the events from the first day.

MUSIC
Let’s Celebrate!
Friday 6 July, 7.30pm. Tickets: £7, Concession £5, Under 21s £3
A musical celebration by Calderdale Music Service and guests AT Halifax Minster.

THEATRE
Before Bedlam Theatre Company
A Bowl of Bedlam
Friday 6 July, 7.30pm.  Tickets: £27.50 inc. 3 course meal. (pre-booking essential)
Grand Salon, Le Metropolitain
Enjoy a night of fantastic food and engaging theatre in the beautiful and historic Grand Salon.

MUSIC
Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers
Friday 6 July, 7.30pm.  Tickets: £15, Concession £12, Family £45
Piece Hall
Thundering rhythms on huge taiko drums in a spellbinding display of fluid grace, precise choreography and sheer athleticism.

THEATRE
A One Night Stand with Barrie Rutter
Crossley Gallery, Dean Clough
Friday 6 July, 7.30pm.  Tickets: £11, Concessions £9
An intimate and entertaining choice of readings, memories and anecdotes from someone who will always have the gob for it.

www.halifaxfestival.co.uk

 

UK Premiere, The Coming Storm

19 – 23 June. At Battersea Arts Centre. Part of LIFT Festival

Employing devices from puppet theatre, song and naive dance, Forced Entertainment tell an epic story that (they say) is resolutely too big for the stage. In a style as inventive as it is absurd, wrong-headed theatrical tricks take their place alongside an increasingly preposterous narrative, and for the first time in the Forced Entertainment’s work, live music. This darkly comic and haunting tale promises to explode audience expectations.

www.forcedentertainment.com