Tag: Andy Crane

Looking back at…Some Treachery: A Miss McSkimming Mystery

On By elliepitkinIn 10th Anniversary, Some Treachery

by Richard Stratton

13th May 2017, Putney Arts Theatre

A live radio play (hilarious sound effects included). A seemingly trivial case soon reveals a dastardly plot that could shake the very foundations of the British Empire. With her faithful valet by her side, Miss McSkimming must get to the bottom of it.

What do you do when you love new writing, audio drama and live theatre? Combine them all of course! The first of our live foley extravaganzas, Some Treachery, set the bar very high. Richard Stratton’s script and the interplay between the foley team and the actors created a brilliantly intriguing spectacle for the audience.

CAST

Jessica Bailes
Ellie Pitkin
Chris Starkey
Helen Stratton
Richard Stratton

CREATIVES

Director – Ellie Pitkin
Live Foley – Andrew Crane
Live Foley – David Turnbull
Sound engineer – Rebecca Hitchcox
Recording Manager – Vikki Weston

Listen to the radio play
See more photos

Looking back at…The Scare Slam & Halloween Tales

On By elliepitkinIn 10th Anniversary, Halloween Tales, Scare Slam

Halloween Tales, 30th October – 1st November 2014, The Selkirk Upstairs

‘You think it’s all me and it’s not. It’s not always me.’

It starts as a normal night-shift – and then you start to see double…

Duncan Gates’ chilling short play, Fetch, alongside some spooky fireside stories, formed our first foray into scary short stories. Halloween Tales was almost certainly the spooky seed from which did grow the horror-bloom: Blackshaw’s Annual Scare Slam.

The Whistling Room by William Hope Hodgson, read by M. J. Starling

Wailing Well by M. R. James, read by Duncan Gates

Fetch by Duncan Gates

There’s a bunch of lovely photos, interviews, and behind the scenes joy available to browse.

CAST

ROSIE MARSH Ally (Fetch)
BRYONY TEBUTT Vic (Fetch)
ALEX YAGHMA Col (Fetch)
M. J. STARLING Storyteller
DUNCAN GATES Storyteller

CREATIVES

ELLIE PITKIN Director & Producer
MICHELLE BRISTOW Set & Costume Designer
ANDREW CRANE Sound Design/Tech Operation

Halloween Tales
Scare Slam

The Scare Slam, annually, October 2014-present

From the mind of Blackshaw associate, Helen Stratton, the Scare Slams were born. Over the years (we’ve done 5) the Scare Slam has been performed at The Horse & Stables, The Old Red Lion, and The Pleasance Theatre, as part of the London Horror Festival.

The show has provided a platform for the telling of terrifying short stories and poems. All in the dead of night. To the gentle hiss of a geriatric smoke machine…

Scare Slam 2015

Scare Slam 2016

Scare Slam 2017

Scare Slam 2018

Scare Slam 2019

You can drip some fear into your ear, and listen to the audio of the Scare Slams, whenever you like.

Listen to Scare Slam 2015
Listen to Scare Slam 2016
Listen to Scare Slam 2017
Listen to Scare Slam 2018
Listen to Scare Slam 2019

Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 92

On By elliepitkinIn Arts HourLeave a comment

This episodes includes…

  • The fifth and final episode of ‘Black Shuck’ by Duncan Hands – Art and Martha were reunited, but that pesky fisherman has turned up and could ruin everything! Can Martha see him off before they’re discovered? In this, the final episode of the series, what will happen to Art and Martha out on the Norfolk Marshes? Will they make it back with their loot? Will they make it back at all…?
  • Another couple of clips from 2017’s Scare Slam – Big Eyes by Liam Steward-George (performed by Jessica Brindle), and The Watcher by Joseph Willis
  • PLUS a couple of clips from 2016’s Scare Slam (so retro) -Lucy’s Tea Party by Molly Beth Morossa, and The Dewey Ones by Ben Whitehead

Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 91

On By elliepitkinIn Arts HourLeave a comment
  • Matt reviews Ant Man & The Wasp/The Spy Who Dumped Me
  • The Scare Slam – it’s a-comin’! Apply to take part. Tickets now on sale.
  • We play a taste of what you can expect from the Scare Slam – a piece from last year’s show, The Fatberg of Whitechapel by Reece Connolly
  • We chat about Blackshaw’s mates, Non Zero One and their brilliant project, Put Her Forward
  • It’s that time again – Victoria Sadler’s round up of female playwrights at off-west end London theatres this year (Spoiler – representation is still a bit rubbish, boo!)
  • The penultimate episode of Black Shuck – Art and Martha heard a seal, and then a pair of glowing, spooky, eyes appeared – but turned out to be the lights of the boat – drop off secured, Martha was left alone…until the dog turned up…so where is Art? And is that dog, just a normal dog?!

Listen to the podcast here:

Relevant Links

Ant Man & The Wasp – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5095030/?ref_=nv_sr_1 

The Spy Who Dumped Me – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6663582/?ref_=nv_sr_1 

The Scare Slam Tickets – http://bit.ly/ScareSlam2018

The Scare Slam, apply to take part – http://blackshawonline.com/whats-on/ 

Non Zero One: Put Her Forward – http://putherforward.com/ and http://www.nonzeroone.com/projects/put-her-forward/ 

Victoria Sadler:  2018 Theatre in Review: Challenges for Female Playwrights Continues –  http://www.victoriasadler.com/2018-theatre-in-review-challenges-for-female-playwrights-continues/ 

 

Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 90

On By elliepitkinIn Arts HourLeave a comment

Ellie & Matt are on their holidays, so here’s a quick fix of the Blackshaw Arts Hour to keep you going –

Black Shuck Episode 3 – we’ve heard the tale of legendary Black Shuck, and poor old lopsided Rob’s Dad – we basically had the bejesus scared out of us – so, what was that terrifying noise?!

Talking of terrifying, we can now reveal that Blackshaw’s Scare Slam will be back at the London Horror Festival in October! Details here.

Listen to the podcast here:

 

Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 88

On By elliepitkinIn Arts HourLeave a comment
  • Matt reviews Mission Impossible: Fallout & The Incredibles 2
  • Ellie chats about Mama Mia: Here We Go Again
  • We play another round of Fringe Roulette
  • It’s the first episode of radio drama ‘Black Shuck’ by Duncan Hands!

 

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Miss McSkimming – Photos

On By elliepitkinIn Arts Hour, Some TreacheryLeave a comment

What at first seems like a trivial case soon reveals a plot that could shake the very foundations of the British Empire. With her faithful valet by her side, Miss McSkimming must deal with butlers, the police, mysterious men in the shadows and a hippo, to get to the bottom of what could be her biggest case yet.

A rollicking comedy with a chic lady investigator and mysteries abounding, this piece promises to delight audiences, young and old!

Performed by Jessica Bailes, Ellie Pitkin, Chris Starkey, Helen Stratton and Richard Stratton, with live foley from Andrew Crane and David Turnbull.

Recorded live at the Putney Arts Theatre on Saturday 13th May 2017, as part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe.