Tag: blog

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

Looking back at…Alice in Wonderland

On By elliepitkinIn 10th Anniversary, Alice, Alice 2015

adapted by Richard Stratton

3-18th May 2014, The Selkirk Upstairs
2-16th May 2015, Battersea Library
4-5th June 2015, The British Home

There have been many iterations of Alice in Wonderland, but I bet no others have involved a knitted tea pot. Brilliantly reimagined by Blackshaw stalwart Richard Stratton, it was performed three different times, on three different stages, with three different casts – all racing around, causing havoc and delight in equal measure. Every single show was sold out, every single time. What a rush. You didn’t have to be mad to be involved, but it certainly helped.

this ingeniously directed production by Ellie Pitkin showcases all the theatrical tricks one can imagine…this resourceful and clever production

Public Reviews

an imaginative production…highly entertaining and engaging…a fun afternoon adventure

Everything Theatre

tightly directed and precisely performed – and gloriously silly

Cumbria PR

2014 CAST

EMILY RAE – ALICE
NATALIE WINTER – MARCH HARE/DOOR 2
ANGELA FERNS – THE QUEEN OF HEARTS/SHOPKEEPER
DEAN BRAMMALL – MAD HATTER/DOOR 3 /FLOWERS
LIAM FLEMING – TWEEDLE DUM/SOLDIER 2/DOOR 4
ALEXANDER PANKHURST – TWEEDLE DEE/SOLDIER 1/DOOR 1
NATASHA GREEN – CHESHIRE CAT
CLARE HARLOW – WHITE RABBIT/CATERPILLAR

2014 CREATIVES

ELLIE PITKIN – DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
OLIVER GORDON – ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
ZAHRA MANSOURI – COSTUME & SET DESIGNER
ANDREW CRANE – SOUND DESIGNER & TECH OPERATOR
CHLOE WALTON – ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
MATTHEW CONNELLY – ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
JONELL ROWE – ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
BRUCE ASHER – PUBLICITY DESIGN
VIKKI WESTON – PROJECT MANAGER/PUBLICITY
STANLEY WALTON – PUBLICITY & MARKETING
ROBERT HUGILL – PUBLICITY & MARKETING
BARNEY BARRON – PUBLICITY & MARKETING
NICK TATCHELL – PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY
ZAK THOMAS – PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY
MICHELLE BRISTOW – COSTUME & SET DESIGN ASSISTANT
SHINO MINAGAWA – COSTUME ASSISTANT
KIRSTY YOUNG – COSTUME ASSISTANT
NARA JEONG – COSTUME ASSISTANT

2015 CAST

EMILY RAE / RACHAEL STRATTON – Alice
ALEXANDER PANKHURST – Tweedle Dee/Caterpillar/Soldier 1/Door 1
NATASHA GREEN – Cheshire Cat
ROSIE MARSH – March Hare/Door 2
RICHARD STRATTON – Tweedle Dum/Soldier 2/Door 4
STEVE WICKENDEN – Librarian/Queen of Hearts
ALEX KHANYAGHMA – White Rabbit/Door 3/Flowers

2015 CREATIVES

ELLIE PITKIN – Director and Producer
MARCUS BAZLEY – Assistant Director
TEGAN CUTTS – Stage Manager
ANDREW CRANE – Sound & Lighting Designer & Operator
ZAHRA MANSOURI – Set & Costume Designer
MICHELLE BRISTOW – Associate Set & Costume Designer
VIKKI WESTON – Front of House Manager
SIMON ANNAND – Production Photography
ELLA OKEORE – Costume & Set Assistant
INEZ COONEN – Costume & Set Assistant
MARIA NOONE – Costume & Set Assistant
DODONA WHITE – Costume & Set Assistant
KATHERINE BURKE – Costume & Set Assistant/ASM

More about Alice 2014
More about Alice 2015

Looking back at…Character

On By elliepitkinIn 10th Anniversary, Character, Character 2015Leave a comment

Character by Florence Vincent

1-17th May 2014 at the Selkirk Upstairs
9-14th March 2015 at the Tristan Bates Theatre

Michelle is about to turn thirty and is not coping well. Desperate to do one good thing and finish her first novel before the big 3-0 arrives, she retreats to a countryside cottage with a typewriter, a lot of wine and her oldest friend Freya – who is harbouring problems of her own.

Character is the searingly funny and achingly dark story of two women trying to navigate their way through the modern world, and – in the process – keep their friendship afloat.

an odd-couple comedy…plenty of laughs

What’s Peen Seen

played with great energy and conviction…a fantastic chemistry on stage…laugh-out-loud funny…a stark reminder of what is so fun and exciting about fringe theatre

Remote Goat

a funny and moving story

Loose Lips

CAST
ANGELA FERNS – MICHELLE
CLARE HARLOW – FREYA

CREATIVES
ELLIE PITKIN – DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
OLIVER GORDON – ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
ZAHRA MANSOURI – COSTUME & SET DESIGNER
ANDREW CRANE – SOUND DESIGNER & TECH OPERATOR
CHLOE WALTON – ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
MATTHEW CONNELLY – ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
JONELL ROWE – ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
BRUCE ASHER – PUBLICITY DESIGN
VIKKI WESTON – PROJECT MANAGER/PUBLICITY
STANLEY WALTON – PUBLICITY & MARKETING
ROBERT HUGILL – PUBLICITY & MARKETING
BARNEY BARRON – PUBLICITY & MARKETING
NICK TATCHELL, ZAK THOMAS, RICHARD STRATTON – PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY

There are a bundle of Character blog posts from the archive – dive in!

2014: photos and behind the scenes fun
2015: photos and behind the scenes fun

The Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 42

On By blackshawtheatreIn Arts HourLeave a comment

This week on The Blackshaw Arts Hour, Iasha is joined by Matt and Vikki in the studio.

Matt review The Nice Guys starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling and we discuss what other movies are out there where the lead characters don’t actually “learn anything”.
We here a piece of new writing by Rosie Marsh called An Unexpected Guest. Starring Angela Ferns and Emily Rae, recording live at The Horse and Stables.
Vikki brings us a live arts thing of the week. We discuss Adam Drivers Ted Talk and the brilliant work he is doing bringing theatre to American Marines in various places around the world.
Corey Hulls explains the different stages of a night out in his essay, “The Nine Stages of Drinking” and we discuss the ‘colourful’ TONY awards from last week and the huge success of musical ‘Hamilton’.

 

 

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The Blackshaw Arts Hour Episode 12

On By blackshawtheatreIn Arts HourLeave a comment

This week Iasha, Matt and Vikki are in the studio bringing you all the art and theatre you need for the week ahead. Matt reviews the latest film to come out of the Fast & Furious franchise, Fast & Furious 7.

We hear an essay from writer Corey Hulls relating his forming of a band in the 5th grade to the amazing production of film and art that was created in the year 1999.

We discuss plays adapted from books in this week’s edition of Arts Thing Of The Week and hear Part two of The Whistling Room.

Don’t forget to tweet us @BlackshawUpdate  with your answer to “Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk” to be in with the chance to win a family pass to our upcoming production of Alice in Wonderland, opening on the 2nd of May at the Battersea Library! We announce the winner on next weeks show.

 

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The Blackshaw Arts Hour Episode 11

On By blackshawtheatreIn Arts HourLeave a comment

This week on the Blackshaw Arts Hour, Iasha, Ellie and Matt are in the studio reviewing the film It Follows. We hear from Vikki with another Arts Thing of The Week, this week we debate the usefulness and copyright issues surrounding the Clean Reader app.

We also announce the winner of the Blackshaw showcase New Writing Night and play a short live clip of Call It Even, the winning piece of new writing. Call It Even will be developed and performed in 2016.

Matt introduces us to another Carnacki story titled Whistling Room, part 2 of which will be played on the show next week. Tune in for the spooky conclusion!

 

 

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The Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 10

On By blackshawtheatreIn Arts HourLeave a comment

This week on a packed Blackshaw Arts Hour we had Matt return to the studio after a two week hiatus. He reviewed “Inappropriate Behaviour” and will be returning next week, once again, for another movie review.

 
We heard a short piece sent into us by Hannah Puddefoot called ‘Slow Down’, Hannah wrote and performed, and sound design was by Ian Ward.
 
Arts Thing of The Week was back and Vikki talked us through her experience with Shakespeare at an educational level and posed the question ‘What is the most effective way to teach Shakespeare to children?’
 
We heard another essay by writer Corey Hulls explaining the 9 stages of drinking on a night out with friends, as represented by popular culture characters and played ‘The Walrus and The Carpenter’, a short Lewis Carroll poem read by Alexander Pankhurst, as it was World Poetry Day on Saturday.
 
We also had the pleasure of being joined this week by two new Blackshaw voices. Emily Rae and Andrew Crane were in the studio to talk to us a little bit about Blackshaw’s upcoming production of Alice In Wonderland as part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe.FullSizeRender (10)
 
Emily will be playing Alice in the production, which starts in May, along with a fantastic cast, and Andrew is designing the sound and running the technical aspects of the show. For more information on Alice In Wonderland, tune in to the Blackshaw Arts Hour every Sunday from 6pm-7pm, we’ll soon be releasing our audio trailer!
 
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The Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 9

On By blackshawtheatreIn Arts HourLeave a comment

The highly anticipated Part 2 of Audience With The Ghostfinder is here this week on The Blackshaw Arts Hour!

Also this week on the show is poetry by Daisy Thurston-Gent and Owen Collins, a review by Corey Hulls and a piece of new writing by Marianne Powell performed by Emily Jane Kerr.

Enjoy and tune in next week on Wandsworth Radio from 6pm to 7pm!

 

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