Studio Season at Theatre Peckham
From 22 – 29 February, Central’s Acting Collaborative and Devised Theatre students working alongside students from the Theatre Practice course, and in collaboration with Complicité Creative Learning, present a special studio season at Theatre Peckham.
The season features productions devised by the company of Jeanette Winterson’s Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. The productions have been adapted and directed by Complicité Associates Joyce Henderson and Catherine Alexander respectively, both of whom have been with the company at pivotal moments in its rich 36-year history.
The relationship between Central and international touring theatre company Complicité, who are in creative partnership on the School’s Collaborative and Devised Theatre course, offers students a unique opportunity to work with professionals from one of the world’s leading theatre companies. The season also features the work of students from across a number of Central’s undergraduate and postgraduate courses, such as Creative, Design, Production and performance work including Puppetry from Theatre Practice, Marketing and Promotional Assistance (Creative Producing), Assistant Direction (Actor Training and Coaching) and Dramaturgy (Theatre Criticism and Dramaturgy).
Hosting the season is Theatre Peckham, a brand new 200 seat theatre in Southwark focused on showcasing new talent and raising the awareness of different forms of theatre. Theatre Peckham aims to develop an exciting and diverse new programme of work which reflects and promotes the diversity of the local area. The theatre’s work encourages, supports and nurtures children and young people to discover the magic of theatre, and to develop their potential as young audiences, artists and theatre professionals of tomorrow.
Young people from schools, colleges and local theatre groups have been invited to attend performances of both productions, followed by post-show Q&A sessions where they can find out what it’s like to study at Central. Alongside this students from the Collaborative and Devised Theatre course, together with Complicité Creative Learning mentors, are offering a range of workshops to students at participating schools in order to help widen access to training and higher education. Find out more about Central’s Outreach work here.
About the productions:
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit is Jeanette Winterson’s first novel, published in 1985, which tells the story of a young girl, religious obsession, poverty, adoption and love. Since publication it has been found on the shelves of bookshop’, Cookery and LGBT sections, and now on the stage of Theatre Peckham devised and adapted by a new generation of theatre makers Set in the past and retold for today’s audience in which bible tales, life tales and fairy tales collide. A tale told by a girl, full of sound and fury, signifying everything.
Ray Bradbury’s dystopian world in Fahrenheit 451 is given theatrical life in this stylish and complex devised adaptation. Are we living in the future that this iconic 1950s novel imagined? Are we plugged in to our virtual lives and losing perspective? Have we become Bradbury’s anti-social beings who never interact on a meaningful level? This ensemble show uses immersive sound design and visuals along with object manipulation to bring the tale of Fahrenheit 451 into collision with life in 2020. this classic story has never been more important.
Running through 29 February, tickets (£10/ £8 Concession for one show, or £15/ £12 for both) can be booked directly through Theatre Peckham.
