The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard
by Anton Chekhov translation by Michael Frayn
"Frayn's translation, which strikes me as splendidly lucid and alive...will be acted again and again" (New Statesman).
In Chekhov's tragi-comedy - perhaps his most popular play - the Gayev family is torn by powerful forces deeply rooted in history and the society in which they live. Their estate is hopelessly in debt and when urged to cut down their beautiful cherry orchard and sell the land for holiday cottages, they are confronted by an impossible decision. "At the time when The Cherry Orchard was written, the years before the revolution of 1905, Chekhov considered revolution in Russia irreversible and desirable."
ACT Diploma in Acting Yr2 Students Public Show
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By April De Angelis
The year is 1669: a bawdy and troublesome time.
Theatres have just reopened after seventeen years of Puritan suppression. There is a surge in dramatic writing and English actresses appear on stage - the first time female actors have been allowed to perform in public.
Playhouse Creatures focuses on five of the most famous (Nell Gwyn, Elizabeth Farley, Rebecca Marshall, Doll Common and Mary Betterton) to provide a moving and often comic account of the precarious lives of Restoration actresses.
Directed by Mark Carroll
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12/04/2024 7:30 pm - 13/04/2024 9:30 pm
Punchline
by Andrew Kay
It’s the end of the day and the end of an era. Comedian Terry has arrived at the club where once he was the headline act but now is reduced to introducing exotic dancers and bands. In a career where the world of comedy was dominated by men and racism and misogyny were the norm Terry talks about his experiences working alongside some of the greats – Les Dawson, Tommy Cooper, Ken Dodd and Larry Grayson, and how alongside those stars his career never reached the heights that theirs did. As time moved on his style of comedy was rapidly eclipsed by the new Alternative Comedy scene.
As Terry prepares to go on stage he talks about comedy, his life on the road and on stage. Gradually Terry reveals not only how his career has changed but also his private life in a tragic-comic tale of clubland life and domestic abuse.
Punchline is an entirely new work by Andrew Kay whose previous play I Will Survive won the drama competition at the Word On Worthing literary festival and his second play Morning Glory opened at The Two Brewers in London, had a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe and was revived at Theatre Royal Brighton’s studio format season for two sell out performances and great reviews.
Punchline stars Coronation Street legend Brian Capron, whose career on stage and TV has seen him in hit series Grange Hill, Where The Heart Is, EastEnders and playing the iconic role of serial killer Richard Hillman in Coronation Street.
Punchline is directed by Rupert Charmak whose short feature I Am Super is currently doing the festivals rounds and recently privately screened the film to a sellout audience at Soho House, Brighton. Rupert is a writer, director, actor and fight choreographer for film and TV. He recently finished working on ITV’s Grace, starring John Simm, where he was assisting the producers. He trained as an actor at Mountview Academy and has been working as a performer for over 10 years.
Punchline is produced by Brighton entrepreneur Steve Barrey aka The Liquorice Dragon and brought to audiences by Liquorice Dragon Productions.
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14/04/2024 2:30 pm - 14/04/2024 4:30 pm
Punchline
by Andrew Kay
It’s the end of the day and the end of an era. Comedian Terry has arrived at the club where once he was the headline act but now is reduced to introducing exotic dancers and bands. In a career where the world of comedy was dominated by men and racism and misogyny were the norm Terry talks about his experiences working alongside some of the greats – Les Dawson, Tommy Cooper, Ken Dodd and Larry Grayson, and how alongside those stars his career never reached the heights that theirs did. As time moved on his style of comedy was rapidly eclipsed by the new Alternative Comedy scene.
As Terry prepares to go on stage he talks about comedy, his life on the road and on stage. Gradually Terry reveals not only how his career has changed but also his private life in a tragic-comic tale of clubland life and domestic abuse.
Punchline is an entirely new work by Andrew Kay whose previous play I Will Survive won the drama competition at the Word On Worthing literary festival and his second play Morning Glory opened at The Two Brewers in London, had a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe and was revived at Theatre Royal Brighton’s studio format season for two sell out performances and great reviews.
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Punchline is directed by Rupert Charmak whose short feature I Am Super is currently doing the festivals rounds and recently privately screened the film to a sellout audience at Soho House, Brighton. Rupert is a writer, director, actor and fight choreographer for film and TV. He recently finished working on ITV’s Grace, starring John Simm, where he was assisting the producers. He trained as an actor at Mountview Academy and has been working as a performer for over 10 years.
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03/05/2024 7:00 pm - 05/05/2024 8:10 pm
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In the East End of London the fires of rebellion and change have burned for centuries. In 1888 the Matchgirls strike leads the way in industrial action and the formation of the Trades Union movement, then in 1968 the women of Fords in Dagenham strike, leading to the introduction of equal pay legislation.
Between all of this, in 1928 Sara Wesker forms the United Clothing Workers Union, is elected to the Communist Party of Great Britain's Central Committee and fights at the Battle of Cable Street. She also just happens to have a nephew who is a famous playwright. This is her story.
Chopped Liver & Unions is a story from a century ago but is very much a play for today. Last year's debut at the Brighton Fringe was "highly recommended" by Fringe Review and it went on to win excellent reviews and audience feedback and an OffFest nomination, as well as being a "Pick of the Fringe" at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
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03/05/2024 9:00 pm - 05/05/2024 10:00 pm
Ireland, 1923.
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09/05/2024 5:00 pm - 09/05/2024 6:00 pm
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A tiny margin of error causes a future time traveller to end up in the present day and, as they await recovery, we learn about what brought them here – as well as the events that led our species to a future without war, death, suffering or free will.
Set against the backdrop of escalating nuclear war, the rise of Artificial Intelligence, global warming, and the next phase of the human race, this gripping and thought-provoking solo piece is Brave New World meets Black Mirror and sparks a conversation that needs to be had.Voice Mag BEST NEWCOMER AWARD – Brighton Fringe 2022
”an incredible one-man show with heart, intelligence and vitality” ★★★★★ (The Reviews Hub)
“a thoroughly thrilling dystopian sci-fi social commentary” ★★★★★ (Voice Magazine)
“a very clever concept which is brilliantly revealed to the audience one bit at a time” (Chris Neville-Smith’s blog on theatre) -
09/05/2024 7:00 pm - 12/05/2024 8:00 pm
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We present the world premiere of an important new play exploring the extraordinary ideas of Luigi Pirandello. Unlike anything you have seen before, alive with unusual stories, fascinating characters, and unexpected twists and turns, this very original play will give you a lot to talk about.
Luigi Pirandello (1867 – 1936) was an Italian writer who won the Nobel prize in 1934. His most famous play “Six Characters in Search of an Author” is still performed today. This passionate and enigmatic man spent much of his life looking for answers to the puzzling contradictions of existence. He saw human beings as lost in a maze and social life as a drama in which we all hide behind masks. One of the great thinkers of the twentieth century, his ideas had a wide impact and inspired Beckett, Pinter and Sartre.
At times at times a hilarious satire on social customs, at times a poignant exploration of the human condition, this is a play not to be missed.
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10/05/2024 9:00 pm - 11/05/2024 10:00 pm
RANK.
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Grania Dean Studio
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10/05/2024 9:00 pm - 12/05/2024 10:00 pm
Plastic & Chicken Bones
A tiny margin of error causes a future time traveller to end up in the present day and, as they await recovery, we learn about what brought them here – as well as the events that led our species to a future without war, death, suffering or free will.
Set against the backdrop of escalating nuclear war, the rise of Artificial Intelligence, global warming, and the next phase of the human race, this gripping and thought-provoking solo piece is Brave New World meets Black Mirror and sparks a conversation that needs to be had.Voice Mag BEST NEWCOMER AWARD – Brighton Fringe 2022
”an incredible one-man show with heart, intelligence and vitality” ★★★★★ (The Reviews Hub)
“a thoroughly thrilling dystopian sci-fi social commentary” ★★★★★ (Voice Magazine)
“a very clever concept which is brilliantly revealed to the audience one bit at a time” (Chris Neville-Smith’s blog on theatre) -
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