Looking back at…Staying Alive

written by Kat Roberts

15th January 2015, Pleasance Theatre
10-29th November 2015, Pleasance Theatre

“There’s nothing worse than old friends…they always think they know exactly who you are.”

Mary had a son. Now her son is dead. And that is all. But Jen is having a dinner party, just like they used to, a chance to catch up. No pressure. Nothing big. Just old friends. It would be great to see you. If you’re free. If you’re ready.

Staying Alive follows Mary’s efforts to build herself a life, after his death. Is it possible to regain any sense of normalcy? If not, how will her friends support her today, a year from now, 5 years from now?

Winner of the first annual Blackshaw Showcase Award, Staying Alive was developed with support from Blackshaw, culminating in a one night industry performance at the Pleasance Theatre in January 2015. The show returned to The Pleasance for a two week run and the playscript was published by Nick Hern Books. Kat Roberts’ Staying Alive is a real success story and one that Blackshaw is immensely proud of.

Proof that given enough time, talent and perseverance, theatre that really says something about the human condition can be made.

Female Arts

Highly original, nuanced and enlightening…deeply observed social comedy…compelling from start to finish.

Remote Goat

It’s so painfully familiar and human…an elegant exploration of how friendships can break down and change under the weight of tragedy.

Exeunt Magazine

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CAST

Mary – Rachel Nott
Jack – Jonny McPherson/Alexander Pankhurst
Jenn – Eleanor Burke
Nathan – Brendan Jones
Portia/Sarah/Social Worker – Emily Rae
Will/Administrator – Stephen Ashmore-Blakely
Tom (voice) – Laura Mortimore

CREATIVES

Director/Producer – Ellie Pitkin
Assistant Director – Marcus Bazley
Set and Costume – Michelle Bristow
Lighting and Sound – Andrew Crane
Producer – Vikki Weston
Photography – Richard Stratton

We have tons of interviews, reviews, photos and more.

More Staying Alive

Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 84

• Listen to the Q&A session from the end of our WAF writing workshop (featuring Blackshaw’s Director, Ellie Pitkin, Blackshaw’s Project Manager, Vikki Weston, and writers; M. J. Starling, Chris Buxey and Kat Roberts.
• Strat & Alex Do Art: this time they try their hand(s) at haiku
• We announce that ‘The Final Adventure of Frankie Fightwell’ will be played in full in the next episode (released 20th June).

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Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 83

Pop this in your earholes – the fantastic Chris Buxey, Kat Roberts, and M. J. Starling discuss writing – the discipline of writing, how to write ‘real’ dialogue, and more!

Chris Buxey

He wrote ‘The Final Adventure of Frankie Fightwell’, which is our next show for Wandsworth Fringe at the Putney Arts Theatre! Find out more about Chris on his website and our blog – http://blackshawonline.com/blog/announcement-the-final-adventure-of-frankie-fightwell-cast-and-creatives/

Kat Roberts

She wrote ‘Staying Alive’, our 2014 Showcase Award Winner, which went on to have a run at the Pleasance Theatre with Blackshaw, AND was published by Nick Hern books! Kat is now developing a new play, and writing scripts for TV.  Find out more about ‘Staying Alive’ on our blog – https://blackshawtheatre.wordpress.com/category/theatre/staying-alive/

M. J. Starling

He wrote ‘Audience with the Ghost Finder’, which we produced at Wandsworth Fringe 2013, and London Horror Festival 2013! Find out more on his website and listen to the radio play version on our blog – https://blackshawtheatre.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/the-blackshaw-arts-hour-episode-17/

The Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 33

_{This week on the show Iasha is joined in the studio by Matt and Helen. Matt kicks things off with a review of Creed and then we discuss Oscar nominations. Iasha talks about The Revenant and we discuss the next film review coming up in a fortnight.}

_{As this is the first live show of 2016 for The Blackshaw Arts Hour, Helen takes us through an Arts Thing of the Year. We talk about all the amazing things coming up this year from theatre at The National to exhibitions and cabaret. Keep an eye on the blog for Helen’s wrap up linking you to all these fantastic events.} 

_{We heard a new writing night piece written by Kat Roberts called Age UK performed at one of Blackshaw’s New Writing Nights last year.} 

_{Up next was Episode 3 of Great Expectations, our co-production with Cyphers Theatre.
If you’ve missed any of the episodes so far, go back and have a listen, they are appearing on the podcast as stand alone episodes every other week. Episode 4 will be airing live on the 14th of February so be sure to tune in to The Blackshaw Arts Hour on Wandsworth Radio.}

_{Also, make sure to keep up to date with all of Cyphers’ upcoming shows here and subscribe to The Blackshaw Arts Hour on iTunes or listen below.}

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Looking back at 2015

We’ve had a corker of a year, and as we settle down in front of the fire with a mulled wine in hand and snazzy christmas jumper firmly on, we thought we’d take you through the highlights…

 

The Blackshaw Arts Hour on Wandsworth Radio (fortnightly from Jan 2015)

Subscribe on iTunes.

Available to download or stream here.

Read more about it and listen to past episodes.

 

10-29th November 2015 – Staying Alive by Kat Roberts, at the Pleasance Islington

Published by Nick Hern Books.  Buy your copy here.
“explosive emotion…a strong cast…lively and full of wit…” West End Wilma

“Proof that given enough time, talent and perseverance, theatre that really says something about the human condition can be made.”
Female Arts

“highly original, nuanced and enlightening…deeply observed social comedy…compelling from start to finish”
Remote Goat

“wonderfully human…a really powerful exploration of grief – honest and tender…”
London Theatre 1

Read more here.

 

25th November 2015 – Blackshaw’s Scare Slam, at the Horse & Stables, Lambeth

Read more here.

 

4-5th July 2015 – Alice in Wonderland by Richard Stratton, at the British Home as part of the Streatham Festival

Read more here.

 

Sunday 7th June 2015 – Blackshaw’s 5th Birthday Party!

Read more here.

 

2-16th May 2015 – Alice in Wonderland by Richard Stratton, at the Battersea Library
A sell-out run, as part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe.
“…creative, imaginative and seemingly effortless style…The whole performance buzzed with energy, fun and joy.”
London Theatre 1

“The fun-filled show brims with chaos, madness and high jinks…the wild but classic tale of Alice in her fantastically retold Wonderland.” – A Younger Theatre

Read more here.

25th March, 17th May, 29th July, 30th September 2015 – New Writing Nights at the Horse & Stables, Lambeth

 

 

 

Read more here.

 

9-14th March 2015 – Character by Florence Vincent, at the Tristan Bates Theatre
“a delightful theatre production on in Covent Garden. Funny, nostalgic, well acted 2 hander” – London Culture Blog

“a witty play…reminiscent of Ab Fab’s Edina and Saffy” – In & Around Covent Garden magazine

Read more here.

 

15th Jan 2015 – Staying Alive by Kat Roberts, at the Pleasance Islington 
One night only industry showcase – Winner of Blackshaw’s Showcase Award 2014.

Read more here.

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

 

See you in 2016.

 

Ellie & the Team at Blackshaw

 

 

Staying Alive: Production Photos

Photos by Richard Stratton

 
Cast pictured…
Mary – Rachel Nott
Jack- Alexander Pankhurst
Jenn – Eleanor Burke
Nathan – Brendan Jones
Portia/Sarah/Social Worker – Emily Rae
Will/Administrator – Stephen Ashmore-Blakely
Creative Team pictured…
Director – Ellie Pitkin

 
At the Pleasance til 29th Nov: Buy your tickets now!

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Staying Alive: Review from West End Wilma

Another great review.

explosive emotion…

a strong cast…

lively and full of wit…

Read the review in full here.

 

Buy your tickets for the show here.

 

 

Staying Alive: Review from Female Arts

Another fab review, this time from Female Arts.

– Female Arts

Nott delivers a nuanced performance as Mary…an impassioned declaration of her raw, aching soul that would move even the most stoic of people.

I suspected Staying Alive would be a good play, but upon watching it I realised how complete it is – the structure, the performances and direction, the emotionally-true characters…Proof that given enough time, talent and perseverance, theatre that really says something about the human condition can be made.

 

Read the review in full, here.

 

Buy your tickets now.

 

 

Staying Alive: Review from Remote Goat

Remote Goat reviewed Staying Alive, and it’s a corker!

 

– Remote Goat

 

An unexpectedly funny look at bereavement new play Staying Alive, currently showing at the Pleasance Islington, defies its inescapably grim subject matter.

…highly original, nuanced and enlightening…deeply observed social comedy…

compelling from start to finish

Read the review in full, here.

Book your tickets now.

 

Staying Alive: Review from Exeunt Magazine

The 2nd review for Staying Alive is in!

It’s so painfully familiar and human…an elegant exploration of how friendships can break down and change under the weight of tragedy

Rachel Notts’ restrained performance as Mary gives the play its heart…Alexander Pankhurst and Eleanor Burke also do great work as Jack and Jenn…Brendan Jones puts in a really strong performance as Nathan

• Exeunt Magazine (read the full review here)

Buy tickets now!