Space Chats

Artistic Director, Adam Hemming, chats to Bewlay Dean-Stanton and Sonny Howes from Dead Dog Theatre and the stars of the show Frankie and Ruben. We discuss making comedy in cynical times, genuine love and friendship and new found freedoms, in advance of the run of Ruben at the Space (playing 5th - 9th July, including a livestream on the 7th and on demand access for two weeks after that).

The stage is set. The gun is cocked. The comedian wipes his brow and the puppet downs his drink. When it’s get a laugh or die trying: you’ll die laughing.

This immersive film noir farce will have you asking: Is every line a bad pun? How is the puppet alive? Is it meant to be a musical? When was the last time I told my family I loved them? And meant it? All these questions and more will go unanswered! No refunds, ya shmuck.

You can find out more about the Space, connect with us on the socials and see what's coming up at www.space.org.uk

Find out more about Dead Dog Theater by following them on Instagram: @deaddogtheatre

Theme Music: Monsieur Miaow by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Edit credit: Stephanie Schreiter

Artistic Director, Adam Hemming, chats to M J Coldiron (Jiggs) and Manuel Jiminez, composer and musical director from Thiasos theatre company. We discuss the right way to perform Greek theatre, gamelan and the movie Krull in advance of the run of Cyclops at the Space (playing 28th June - 2nd July 2022, including a livestream on the 30th June and on demand access for two weeks after that).

After the five-star success of their production of Aristophanes’ PLOUTOS (WEALTH) at the Space in 2020, Thiasos Theatre Company is delighted to return with Euripides’ Cyclops, the only surviving satyr play from Ancient Greece. It tells how the hero Odysseus, on his way home from the Trojan war, defeats the one-eyed cannibalistic giant Polyphemus with the help of some shipwrecked satyrs—the half-man, half-goat followers of Dionysos, god of wine and theatre—and their wine-loving “father,” Silenus. Thiasos brings this rarely-performed classic to life with vibrant song and dance drawn from the traditions of the Aegean and Mediterranean islands. There is heroism and suspense and plenty of earthy humour.

You can find out more about the Space, connect with us on the socials and see what's coming up at www.space.org.uk

Find out more about Thiasos: http://www.thiasos.co.uk

Theme Music: Monsieur Miaow by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Edit credit: Steffi Schreiter

Artistic Director, Adam Hemming, chats to Hanna Winter,  creator of the one woman show Snowflake. We discuss reading clowning, cabaret, inherited trauma and economics (!), in advance of the run of Snowflake at the Space (playing 21st - 25th June, including a livestream on the 23rd and on demand access for two weeks after that).

All snowflakes are unique. Some snowflakes also happen to be generation-defining artists.

A one-woman sledgehammer breaking the ice of fractured family dynamics with some truly bewildering comedy performance art. Ambitious, absurd and ass-kicking, SNOWFLAKE will also resolve everyone’s centuries of inherited trauma (promise).

You can find out more about the Space, connect with us on the socials and see what's coming up at www.space.org.uk

Find out more about Hanna Winter by following them on twitter: @winter_hanna

Find out about the Lost Cabaret: https://www.facebook.com/lostcabaret

Theme Music: Monsieur Miaow by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Edit credit: Steffi Schreiter 

Artistic Director, Adam Hemming, chats to playwright, Rachael Bellis,  director of The Collab. We discuss reading Shakespeare across the world, Rachael's work in Equity's D/deaf and Disabled Members Committee and her focus on the theme of power, in advance of the run of The Collab at the Space (currently playing until the 11th June including a livestream on the 8th, and on demand access for two weeks after that).

We apologise for the audio quality of parts of this recording, due to a technical issue.

Ella Blair is a rising star in the online video scene. Together with the help of her friend, Kat Daniels, a budding fashion photographer, Ella is building a platform and a business around sustainable fashion. When an opportunity arises to “collab” with superstar influencer Max Jessup on his latest video art project, Ella jumps headlong into it…but at what cost?

A story about fame, friendship and the #MeToo era in the online sphere.

“MAX: But you have to agree, when people talk about misogynistic paintings, this one comes up pretty often as something that exploits —

ELLA: I’m not interested in portraying how she was “exploited,” okay? As far as I’m concerned the scandal was that a situation that usually happened in private among normal people was being given the same reverence as Greek and Roman Myth. If all of what people get from this is “erm, why’s she naked and they’re all suited up, that’s so threatening!” then you’re missing the entire bloody point of your own project.”

You can find out more about the Space, connect with us on the socials and see what's coming up at www.space.org.uk

Find out more about Aequitas Theatre by following them on twitter: @AequitasTheatre

Find out about Rachael's work with Equity's  D/deaf and Disabled Members Committee by following her on twitter: @raeraelefay

Find out more about LaTanya Peterkin's new show If I Could Love here.

Theme Music: Monsieur Miaow by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Edit credit: Bethany Sharp 

Artistic Director, Adam Hemming, chats to playwright, John Berry,  writer of Happenings. We discuss the development of the show throughout pandemic restrictions, in advance of the run of Happenings at the Space (12th & 14th May, both livestreamed and on demand access for two weeks after that).

Jane is dangerously bored. Joe doesn’t understand her existential crisis. Fran’s spiritual awakening came courtesy of a hairdryer in the bath. How far will Jane go to make something, anything, happen? When value is measured in clicks and likes, who is she if nothing ever does?

Happenings is a black comedy, which descends into an uncomfortably close view of three thirty-somethings who are feeling distinctly short changed by life. It’s hard to evaluate how bad things are when you live under the shadow of the infamous Beachy Head cliffs. Things aren’t great, but they’re ok…right? Fran claims to have reached a higher state of consciousness, and Joe buries his head in the sand. It’s Jane who can’t breathe. The monotony, the boredom, the lack of insta-worthy posts… Life doesn’t seem this dull for anyone else. She needs to make something happen. Otherwise… what’s the point?

“I need something to shake the lethargy out of me, Joe! Not a car accident, or brain damage, just a little jolt… Re Awaken the inner child in me.”

“I’ll buy you a skateboard.”

You can find out more about the Space, connect with us on the socials and see what's coming up at www.space.org.uk

Find out more about Happenings by following Not Your Muse Theatre Company on twitter: @NymTheatre

Theme Music: Monsieur Miaow by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Edit credit: Stephanie Schreiter

Artistic Director, Adam Hemming, chats to theatre translator, Maya Goldstein,  writer and performer of Za'atar Rain. We discuss the real-life inspiration for the show and theatre-making at Goldsmiths, in advance of the run of Za'atar Rain at the Space (24th - 27th May, livestreams on  26th and 27th of May and on demand access for two weeks after that).

It all started with a pizza delivery.

A Pitta delivery, to be more exact.

Then there were the anonymous calls.

And then there was her.

Oh, and the border.

But I had to meet her.

Now how do I get there?

Maya is haunted by telephone calls and weird visions, only to discover that behind them stands a Lebanese girl called Luna, who implores her to come to Beirut. As Maya lives in Israel, Luna’s request should be impossible to turn into reality, but she is compelled to embark on this journey.

The encounters she has along the way, with Elon Musk, a sarcastic pigeon with a penchant for ABBA, a no-nonsense Jordanian Border guard and a sheep with a Scottish accent, punctuate and propel this journey into forbidden territory.

Through this semi-fictional quest, Maya realises that some connections are stronger than, and not susceptible to, the existence of borders.

“There’s a small city in the Middle East called Beirut. I have a friend there. A friend I will never be able to visit. I also can’t show you her face, or tell you her name. But let’s just say— she knows me for who I am.”

You can find out more about the Space, connect with us on the socials and see what's coming up at www.space.org.uk

Find out more about Za'atar Rain by following them on twitter: @Maya_Gold_M

Theme Music: Monsieur Miaow by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Edit credit: Adam Hemming

Artistic Director, Adam Hemming, chats to theatre translator, Charis Ainslie,  from the creative team behind This Last Piece Of Sky. We discuss the subtleties of translating for the stage and telling fantastical stories, in advance of the run of This Last Piece Of Sky at the Space (17th-21st May, livestream on 17th May and on demand access for two weeks after that).

Two cities, two young people.

Louis is triumphant: he has found the secret of the universe. But the line between genius and mania is thin, and Louis’s family struggles to cope with his behaviour. In hospital, as winter sets in, he dreams of a girl called Sarah.

Meanwhile, in the intense heat of summer, a family adjusts to living under a military coup. Checkpoints are springing up, neighbours have been arrested, music is banned.

Worse still, their daughter’s behaviour is attracting attention at school. Her name, as it happens, is Sarah…

A beautiful, lyrical play by French writer Kevin Keiss, translated by Charis Ainslie, that explores our ability to transcend boundaries and look beyond our accepted reality.

“There’s always a slight shimmer to reality

You can find out more about the Space, connect with us on the socials and see what's coming up at www.space.org.uk

Find out more about This Last Piece Of Sky by following them on twitter: @this_piece 

Find out more about Foreign Affairs at https://www.foreignaffairs.org.uk/

Theme Music: Monsieur Miaow by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Edit credit: Bethany Sharp

Artistic Director, Adam Hemming, chats to playwright and director, Magali Jeger, from Two Flats Theatre. We discuss Magali’s soon-to-be published novel, World theatre and historical fiction in advance of the run of The Dalton Sisters at the Space (10th-14th May, livestream on 11th May and on demand access for two weeks after that).

Soho, London; 1968. Salome stumbles upon a burlesque nightclub and finds herself in The Dalton Sister’s dressing room. She urgently needs a place to sleep and some money to make it through the week.

“Welcome to Honey Bliss Cabaret!”

The Dalton Sisters welcome Salome with (half-) open arms. But she quickly realises that there are secrets hidden behind all the sweet pizzazz. One name in particular gives them shivers: that of the previous dancer who this newcomer has the responsibility of replacing. What happened to Rue? And will Salome thrive or will she take a dive?

Between glasses of bubbly, sparkly costumes and the unwanted visit of a detective, the girls and their burlesque mother will have to decide the fate of the club as well as their own.

The Dalton Sisters is a whodunnit style, female–led play and explores burlesque, the late 1960’s liberation through sexualisation, sisterhood, LGBTQIA+ and the female experience.

“I don’t mean to be rude miss Novak, but could you please put some clothes on?”

You can find out more about the Space, connect with us on the socials and see what's coming up at www.space.org.uk

Find out more about Two Flats theatre here:- https://www.twoflatstheatre.com

Theme Music: Monsieur Miaow by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Edit credit: Adam Hemming

In episode 6, Artistic Director, Adam Hemming, chats to director Julia Sowerbutts from Ink. We discuss the short play format, Elvis Presley going to Glasgow and approaches to directing in advance of Ink on Tour coming to the Space (28th May). 

This selection of the best short plays from the INK Festival 2022 provides a thrilling night of East Anglian entertainment. Like perfectly formed pop tunes, these plays are by turn funny, alarming, touching and always unexpected. They provide a fantastic platform for the aspiring writer and a novel challenge for auteurs such as Miranda Hart. The pleasure of watching them is that they leave you wanting more.

5 ***** star review, The Upcoming

5 *****star review, Sardines Magazine

You can find out more about the Space, connect with us on the socials and see what's coming up at www.space.org.uk

Theme Music: Monsieur Miaow by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Edit credit: Bethany Sharp

In our 5th episode, Artistic Director, Adam Hemming, chats to Dorothy McDowell, Ana Pagu and Leah O'Grady from Not The Way Forward. We discuss life at Oxford university, adapting TV shows into classic novels and forgotten plays in advance of their run of Casterbridge at the Space (5th-9th April 2022).

When she was 21, Mary Henchard stood up in a bar and offered to sell her husband to the highest bidder. She has spent the last twenty years trying to recover.

When she was 21, Dearbhla Farfrae bought a one-way ticket to America. The night before she left, she did a good turn by an eccentric financier, and got the luckiest break of her life. Now a middle-aged millionaire, Mary Henchard thinks she has found a protegee to save her business. She has really found the woman who will ruin her life.

Not The Way Forward Productions’ reimagining of Thomas Hardy’s tragic novel charts the lives of two women growing up, growing old and growing into obsessive rivalry. With a set made out of cardboard, and a soundtrack of 00s hits, step into the high-pressure world of the London financial district, and watch this classic story brought to (modern) life.

“I don’t see why people who have got husbands and wives and don’t want them shouldn’t sell them to those in need of such articles – I’d sell mine this minute if anybody would buy him!”

You can find out more about the Space, connect with us on the socials and see what's coming up at www.space.org.uk

Theme Music: Monsieur Miaow by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Episode edit credit: Sierra Hoss