Download Extant theatre company stages The Chairs by Eugene Ionesco

Extant theatre company stages
The Chairs by Eugene Ionesco. Translation by Martin Crimp
And announces new funding project
Extant, Britain's only professional performing arts company of visually impaired artists presents
the classic drama The Chairs by Eugene Ionesco, translation by Martin Crimp. The play will
open at Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton on Wednesday 16 April – Friday 18, 7.30pm. And
then transfer to the Albany Theatre, Deptford London from Tuesday 29 April - Friday 2
May, 7.30pm.
The Chairs focuses on an elderly couple who welcome a series of invisible guests to their
isolated house. Their home is an undefined space where anarchy, ageing and anxiety collide,
scattering a chaos of comic pathos.
The play will be directed by Maria Oshodi, Artistic Director of Extant with a cast of blind and
visually impaired actors, creating a new and exhilarating interpretation of this classic text. It will
offer an exciting and thought provoking twist of performances from visually impaired actors
interacting * with what’s visible and what is not.
“standout theatre experience of the year’’ The Guardian (on The Question)
The cast includes Heather Gilmore whose long association with Extant includes Sheer which
toured in 2012 and also with Clean Break theatre; And John Wilson Goddard whose stagework includes ‘Resistance’ for Extant theatre and Noel Greig's ‘Working Hearts’ for Graeae.
His television roles include The Bill (ITV), Changing Step (BBC Scotland) and The Day of The
Triffids (BBC1).
Director Maria Oshodi’s first play, ‘The S Bend’ was produced by Royal Court Theatre’s
Young Writers Festival and later by The Cockpit Theatre. She has written a variety of plays
including, ‘Blood, Sweat and Fears’, ‘From Choices to Chocolate’ and ‘Here Comes a Candle’
which all toured nationally. Maria also wrote the screenplay ‘Mug’ for Channel 4 and this
summer will embark on a British Council fellowship to Los Angeles for a residency with Watts
Village Theatre Company.
“Not only is she someone to watch, she is someone who should be applauded.”
The Stage (on Maria Oshodi)
The innovative sound design by Peter Bosher promises to create a dynamic theatrical
experience for sighted and visually impaired audiences alike. The Chairs Assistant Director is
Julie Osman, set and costume designer is Andrea Carr and Lighting design by Steve Lowe.
© Copyright © 2014 Kim Morgan PR
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Other news from Extant:
The Digital R&D Fund for the Arts - Nesta, Arts and Humanities Research Council and public
funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England - has awarded Extant £125,000.
The money comes from a £7 million fund to support collaboration between arts
organisations, technology providers, and researchers. It is a partnership between Arts Council
England (www.artscouncil.org.uk), Arts and Humanities Research Council (www.ahrc.ac.uk)
and Nesta (www.nesta.org.uk).
Extant’s project ‘Flatland’, will explore how cultural experiences could be created in which it
makes no difference whether audience members are blind or sighted. The company will create
an installation based on the 1884 novella ‘Flatland’ and will be set mainly in total darkness to
represent an absent third dimension, and encourage sighted audiences to focus on using their
other senses. The installation will feature actors, a physical set and pre-recorded and live audio
delivered through headphones and speakers alongside haptic navigation devices – devices
that use the sense of touch – to guide people through a space. The project will take place in
Spring 2015.
LISTINGS INFORMATION: The Chairs will be performed from Wednesday 16 April – Friday 2
May
ARENA THEATRE, WOLVERHAMPTON
Wed 16 April 7.30pm
Thurs 17 April 7.30pm
Fri 18 April
2.30pm & 7.30pm
Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SE
£10 full/£8 concession
www.arena.wlv.ac.uk
Box office 01902 321 321
THE ALBANY, DEPTFORD
Tuesday 29 April – Friday 2 May, 7.30pm
Douglas Way, London SE8 4AG
£12 full/£10 concession/£5 supporters and carers
www.thealbany.org.uk
Box office 020 8692 4446
For images, interviews and further information please contact Kim Morgan Press & Marketing
on 020 7277 9559 / 07939 591 403 [email protected]
-ENDS-
© Copyright © 2014 Kim Morgan PR
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