Come and take part in this!

This is an invitation for you to participate in a brand new production being performed at Lichfield Garrick Studio Theatre, May 9^th & 10^th 2014. We are holding some initial workshops before Christmas for anyone who would like to be involved as actors, musicians or backstage help. Everyone is welcome - if you are unsure if this is for you, then come to the workshops and give it a try!

Based on the theme of temptation.....at the CROSSROADS: The Bible, Burlesque and The Blues .......a piece of theatre that uses the arts of storytelling, blues music and dance to deliver a witty but thought provoking question........................................................what if?

If you would like to come along and be part of this community arts project, led by Lichfield Mysteries and Fired Up Theatre Company then please come along to the workshops:

The Lichfield Room, Wade Street Church, Frog Lane, Lichfield

Tuesday 19^th and 26^th November 7-30-9-30 pm

Wednesday 11^th and 18^th December 7-30-9-30 pm

For further details visit: www.lichfieldmysteries.co.uk

www.fireduptheatre.co.uk

or email jilltaylor@lichfieldmysteries.co.uk

at the CROSSROADS

Open auditions and workshop opportunities for all abilities to be part of unique performances at The Garrick Studio Theatre in May 2014.

‘Standin’ at the crossroad, risin’ sun goin’ down

I believe to my soul now, po’ Jesus is sinkin’ down

In his hour of need Jesus is about to make a pact with the devil, and if that deal goes ahead what will that mean for the souls of the future?

As part of the build up to Lichfield Mysteries 2015, the company that produced The Wall, Quadrophenia, 23, The Colin Grazier Enigma and The Fell Walker are now looking for budding actors, dancers and musicians to contribute and take part in:

CROSSROADS: The Bible, The Blues and Burlesque.......a piece of theatre that uses the arts of storytelling, blues music and dance to deliver a witty but thought provoking question........................................................what if?

If you would like to come along and be part of this community arts project, led by Lichfield Mysteries and Fired Up Theatre Company then please come along to the following workshops at The Lichfield Room, Wade Street Church, Frog Lane, Lichfield:

Tuesday 19^th and 26^th November 7-30-9-30 pm

Wednesday 11^th and 18^th December 7-30-9-30 pm

For further details visit: www.lichfieldmysteries.co.uk

www.fireduptheatre.co.uk

or email jilltaylor@lichfieldmysteries.co.uk

                                          

Poets are the nicest people

I've just got back from having a lovely afternoon cup of tea with Gary Longden. Although we have had email communications for quite some time we have never met, so it was lovely to be able to spend some time chatting about poetry, Mysteries and arts related stuff in general. Gary writes poetry, performs poetry and is very passionate about the power of words. He's a leading light in the Lichfield Poets and also writes arts reviews for several blogs, newspapers etc. A while ago, Gary did some excellent workshops at Swinfen HMP&YOI for the Mysteries and he and Mal Dewhirst will be the practitioners for our Changes creative writing project (which will hopefully be underway in the not too distant future).

Catching up with friends

I've just got back from catching up with Friends2Friends. They are such a lovely, welcoming group of people. Their exciting news is that they have just become a registered charity and to celebrate the occasion they had put together and performed  a short drama about the group. This had focused their thoughts on what they wanted to do next May for their 2nd birthday, and was a bit of a 'trial run'. They thought the format worked well so want to stick to the overall plan but alter the content for our work with them. Their activities are structured around five themes: fundraising, life-skills, activities, learning and socialising. They are going to choose one thing from each theme from the past 2 years to turn into a short scene so that they end up with a drama representing what Friends2Friends is all about.
I am going back to see them again at the start of November when we will write down the  5 stories. They are also going to look out some photographs of the events so that we can build up a picture to turn into the drama. We will include some songs as well for those who prefer singing to acting.
I'm really looking forward to seeing them again and hearing their ideas and plans.

Shoebox

I've just got back from having a catch up meeting with Margaret from Shoebox Theatre in Tamworth who are hoping the research and devise their own Mummers Play.

This collaboration with Lichfield Mysteries is one of the ways Shoebox hope to sustain their work with an intergenerational group of vulnerable people. We are looking to run the project in 2014 – they would be working towards an outdoor performance so sometime between May – September? They are very flexible re. dates so we have some breathing space to put the funding in place. We are planning two research sessions and eight rehearsals with two professional practitioners.

It was good to chat 'community arts' with Margaret. It's in the nature of the job that sometimes you can feel a bit isolated (particularly when you are glued to the computer doing funding bids!), so it's helpful to have someone to compare notes and bounce ideas around with.  Fingers crossed for our respective funding bids!

Quick update

Well, it's been a while since I last posted on the blog but I've been busy in the meantime starting to put things in place to make our projects happen. I've applied for funding for one, got funding for another and I'm in the process of sourcing funding for the other two. I have also now found some lovely arts practitioners for all of the projects.
The current plan is that Changes will do their writing project over the winter and have a presentation event maybe around Easter time 2014, Friends2Friends will work on their drama in the new year ready for their presentation in May 2014 and 'At the Crossroads' will begin work in December ready for the performances at Lichfield Garrick Studio on May 9th & 10th 2014.
I'm meeting Margaret from Shoebox Theatre next week to make some detailed plans for their work so watch this space...

Temptation!

Ideas are now really starting to come together for our work with Tamworth Repertory Company. We are planning to engage participants in devising a new piece of work on the theme of  temptation involving writing, drama, music and film - working title 'Crossroads' - although our participants may have other ideas! We are looking at starting work in October with some introductory workshops and will be looking for participants to contribute to all aspects of the performance including acting, performing music, writing lyrics, costume, front of house, programme and leaflet production and any other aspect where the community can be involved  in its creation and performance. Provisional performance dates are the 9th and 10th May 2014. Watch this space and check out the Lichfield Mysteries blog, website, Facebook and Twitter for more details of the project and how you can get involved.