Preview: Life & Loves Of A Nobody at Washington Arts Centre

Her Life Is In Your Hands

The Life & Loves Of A Nobody

Washington Arts Centre

22^nd May 2015.

It is said that Andy Warhol suggested in 1968 that in the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.  Recent television talent competitions perpetuate this concept as real people try to find the spotlight and seem willing to do anything in order to do so.

Third Angel have developed a show which feels very familiar with a television style presentation. Rachael Walton and Nick Chambers open up by apologising for the protests outside though the audience are left in the dark as to why anyone would object.

Rachel is the contestant who has been selected after extensive auditions but before she puts in an appearance we are given her life story to date. The sequence of snapshots from her life that follows are very cleverly put together.

From the moments her parents are aware she has been conceived to the highs and lows of adult life, the audience are exposed to recognisable mundane, yet funny, aspects of  normal life. This produces many a laugh for the audience as they recognise the awkwardness of growing pains. This brought back memories of the 80s tv series “The Diary Of Adrian Mole aged 13 and ¾s. The rants between couples were both intense and often funny.

The stage design is very well thought out as butterflies, tower blocks and shadowplay houses appear without any pause in the action. Both set designer Andrew Stephenson and lightining designer Mark Howland need praise for the often subtle yet inventive solutions. The street lights reflecting on the river and the disappearance of the butterflies and raincoat exemplify the cunning design.

Rachael Walton also directs the show and has built upon the original concept of the girl who joined the circus.  The Life & Loves Of A Nobody is now a well paced reflection of life in the 21^st century – right down to the laminated floorboards.  The finale leaves the audience in suspense as they will reflect upon how a real television audience might behave in similar circumstances.  

A cracking reflection of the human condition which resulted in many laughs. Well worth seeing.

Read the original Jowheretogo Preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/preview-life-loves-of-nobody-at-arts.html

There will be one more show (Rapunzel) before the theatre at the Washington Arts Centre goes into the dark for its refit. After the exciting work has redeveloped the theatre space it will reopen in the Autumn. We wish the team at the Arts Centre every success in turning their plans into reality.

On The Web:

Website:  http://www.thirdangel.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thirdangeluk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirdangeluk

Tour:

Hexham Queens Hall Tuesday 2 -Wednesday 3 June 7.30pm

Tickets: £12.00 / £10.00 (Friends / benefit conc) / £5.00 (student)

Hexham Queen's Hall Web Link

Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre

Thursday 4^th  June – Friday 5^th June 2015 Tickets: £4.00 to £8.00

Hartlepool Web Link

Preview: May 2015 at Washington Arts Centre

May Preview at Arts Centre Washington.

Arts Centre Washington is located in the new town of Washington which sits in a position of equal distance between Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham.  The area has its roots in mining, the last pit closing in the area in the 1980’s.  Going even further back, the ancestors of George Washington who lived locally gave the area its name and one of the most famous north east legends, The Lambton Worm, supposedly took place a stones throw from the arts centre.

The arts centre itself is a converted 19^th century farm, a ruin rescued at the time of the development of the new town in 1972 when it was decided that a centre for arts and culture should be included in the vision for the area.  Originally called Biddick Farm Arts Centre, it has gone through several incarnations to become what is now a vibrant multi-arts centre that hosts a theatre, gallery, rehearsal rooms, artist’s studios, recording studio, café and award winning bar.  It is now owned and managed by Sunderland City Council.

Arts Centre Washington has a very distinct character.  The Gallery, which forms the central creative hub of the building, is a light and airy raftered space whilst the 110 seat theatre is converted from the main barn and retains its original stone walls and unique atmosphere.  Another barn has been converted into a multifunctional space that is used for a variety of purposes whilst the cowsheds now serve as a block of artist’s studios.  The café/bar in the courtyard allows customers to spill out into the sunshine on hot, summer days.

Arts Centre Washington exists to provide a mixed programme of artistic events and activities for all members of its community to experience and participate in the arts.  Events include theatre, music, dance and comedy with Saturday nights in the Low Barn playing host to the award winning Davy LampFolk Club.  There is also a packed programme of Classes andCourses - activities for all ages to take part in from salsa to sequence dancing; model making to messy play.

Arts Centre Washington’s main funder is Sunderland City Council with funding for special programmes and projects provided by Arts Council England and the Northern Rock Foundation.

Theatre Productions Coming up In May 2015:

Cloud 9, Saturday 2 May, 7.30pm, Tickets £6.50 / £5
Caryl Churchill's controversial and sexually explicit play deals with gender, role conditioning, sexual repression and the British Empire.

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Oresteia, Friday 8 + Saturday 9 May, 7.30pm, Tickets £6.50 / £5

The House of Atreus is drowning in blood. Vengeance begets vengeance in a vicious cycle as alluring as it is affronting. And from out the groaning carrion, something very old rises...

Macbeth, Thursday 14 May, 7.30pm, Tickets £6.50 / £5

An abridged version of Shakespeare's famous Scottish tragedy. An encounter with three witches, a desire for greed and a provocation from his wife begins Macbeth's tragic descent into madness. A drum, a drum, Macbeth doth come!

Measure for Measure, Saturday 16 May, 7.30pm, Tickets £6.50 / £5

An abridged version of one of Shakespeare’s greatest works. Combining comedy and tragedy, Shakespeare asks us to consider whether or not morality can or should be legislated.

The Life & Loves of a Nobody

Thursday 21 + Friday 22 May, 7.30pm, tickets £8.50 / £6 (Conc)
A story of hope, fame and love gone wrong from internationally acclaimed theatre makers Third Angel.  With their trademark edge-of-the seat storytelling, mixed with some very beautiful design and staging, Third Angel slowly reveal Rachel’s life story. Gripping, funny and moving, this story of an ordinary girl and her extraordinary life is truly spell-binding.

Rapunzel,

Thursday 28 May, 11am + 2pm, Tickets £6 / £20 (family, admits4)

Told in an inventive, visual and physical style with live music and magical design, Rapunzel is a delightful production for children about the curiosity and joys of growing up, risk taking and discovering who you are.  For children aged 3 – 7 years

Tickets:

For tickets and further details: www.artscentrewashington.co.uk

Box Office Opening Times: Monday: 9am - 5pmTuesday - Saturday: 9am - 8pm

Telephone Bookings: 0191 219 3455