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Comedy Course & Comedy Evening with The Feast, 11-14 April

kat — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:11:10 +0000

The Feast and Women & Theatre present:
Faithful & Funny
Exploring faith Creating Friendships Changing lives

Free Youth Comedy Course with Mrs Barbara Nice

Laughter is a powerful force, and can be used to lift up or tear down. We believe young people can be Faithful & Funny

Calling Christian and Muslim young people!! Come and join local comedian Mrs Barbara Nice, a stand-up comedy star with TV credits including Phoenix Nights and Coronation Street, on a comedy course that will make stand up comics out of total beginners. You also get the chance to perform at our Youth Faithful & Funny Evening at the end. There are only 10 places, so book now!

Course held Monday 11 April to Thursday 14 April, 10am to 12pm
At The Springfield Centre, Cnr Springfield and Woodlands Roads, Moseley, B13 9NY.
Free for all students, year 10 and above. Refreshments included.
For more information or to join the course contact Helen Tomblin, on 07968 695 812 or helen@birmingham.anglican.org

Interfaith Youth Comedy Evening

Featuring Birmingham local DUNCAN LOGAN, along with Christian and Muslim young people performing stand-up comedy. Hosted by MRS BARBARA NICE.

Thursday 14 April, 7.00pm
at The Springfield Centre, cnr Springfield and Woodland Roads, Moseley.
Free curry and refreshments served.
Free, for Age 15+, everyone welcome.

This special comedy evening features stand-up from a group of Christian and Muslim young people who have been taking part in a comedy course with Mrs Barbara Nice (of Coronation Street and Phoenix Nights fame). Come and support them as they share their newfound skills alongside Barbara Nice and headlining act Duncan Logan, one of the most original, freshest and cleanest acts on the comedy circuit.

‘I really want to book this guy again and again’ – Juice Comedy.
‘Naturally talented, naturally funny’ – Surgery Comedy
‘Fantastic night definitely book him again’ – Stafford Boat Club

Course and comedy night made possible by Westhill Endowment, Women & Theatre and the Diocese of Birmingham.

Stanhope Community Comedy Evening

bianca — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:43:15 +0000

Local men from Highgate perform their own stand-up comedy
Hosted by Mrs Barbara Nice

Wednesday 8th December 2010 at 7.30pm
Stanhope Hall Community Centre, Ketley Croft, Highgate, B12 0XG

Free for all ages, curry and refreshments included!

After the success of the Stanhope Women’s Comedy Night and the Stanhope Young People’s Comedy Night, the men are at it too!

This special comedy evening features stand-up from a group of Highgate men who have been taking part in a comedy course with Barbara Nice (of Coronation Street and Phoenix Nights fame).

Come and join us for a night of laughter and fun – Featuring new local acts and the hilarious Steve Day to round it all off!

‘A great night-well worth it!’
‘This was a good, fun packed evening. It should happen again. The food was good too!’

Please find a map below; Stanhope Hall is on the corner of Emily Street and Ketley Croft:

View Larger Map

This project has been funded through the Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust’s Mental Health Grants Programme 2009-10 and supported by the Digbeth Trust.

See Me, Hear Me – Local Research

bianca — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:18:38 +0000

Following the success of Tuned In, Women and Theatre are currently working in collaboration with visually-impaired children from Priestley Smith School on Beeches Road, Perry Barr. Our aim is to bring together the students with members of the neighbouring communities to build strong links and relationships where there have previously been none. The students will then work with us to create an original piece of theatre titled See Me, Hear Me to be performed at the school in March 2011 (dates TBC). There will also be a creative exhibition of word, sound and image on show at the school to accompany the performances.

The project offers local residents the opportunity to visit Priestley Smith School and find out more about what happens there. It will also benefit wider community audiences by enabling them to see a high quality theatre performance about a subject matter they can relate to.

All of our plays and programmes are rooted in the experiences of real people, and so every project begins with a period of research, at the heart of which is talking to people about their experiences.

This is where we need your help!

We are looking for local residents to share with us their stories, memories and tales of the people and history involving Perry Barr – Particularly the Perry Beeches/Priestley Smith School site, Beeches Road, and the surrounding local area. This is a genuine opportunity for sharing and strengthening local community relationships, and our findings will form part of the creative exhibition at the school.

To be part of this valuable research, please contact Pippa/Bianca/Terina by phone, e-mail or post.

Women & Theatre
The Friends Institute, 220 Moseley Road, Highgate,
Birmingham B12 0DG

Tel: 0121 440 4203
Fax: 0121 446 4280
Email: biancaprentice@womenandtheatre.co.uk

Become part of our Community Cast for The Palace of Wasted Dreams! Development weekend 6th & 7th November

kat — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:51:14 +0000

Community Cast – now recruiting!

The Palace of Wasted Dreams is the culmination of a two-year project called Wasted, a new participatory musical theatre project exploring and giving voice to women’s relationship with alcohol. Non-drinkers very welcome! The Palace of Wasted Dreams will take place at the Mac in spring 2011.

How can you get involved?
We are recruiting volunteer performers who will learn and perform new songs, be part of scenes, and work alongside professional actors to make up the cast of The Palace of Wasted Dreams. That means if you like singing or acting or both this would be a great project for you – everyone is welcome (16+) no experience necessary!

We’d also like help in other aspects – costume, set building, spreading the word and helping coordinate. So if you don’t fancy being on stage – but you do want to get involved in other aspects do get in touch.

Dates for the Diary

Development Weekend – Saturday 6th November and Sunday 7th November 2010, @ mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, 11am – 4pm
To find out if this is for you come along and learn more about the project. During the weekend we’ll be sharing scenes already developed, learning some of the songs and finding out more about the project. By the end of the weekend we’ll be looking for people to sign up to be part of the cast. Please dress in comfortable clothing.
THIS IS NOT AN AUDITION – there’s no criteria to be part of the project.

Rehearsals:
If you do want to be part of the project then it’s important you’re able to commit to the rehearsal and performance dates below.

Week One
Wednesday 19th January – 7.00pm – 9.30pm
Thursday 20th January – 7.00pm – 9.30pm

Week Two
Wednesday 26th January – 7.00pm – 9.30pm
Thursday 27th January – 7.00pm – 9.30pm
Saturday 29th January – 11.00am – 4.00pm
Sunday 30th January – 11.00am – 4.00pm

Week Three
Tuesday 1st February – 6.30pm onwards for tech rehearsals
Wednesday 2nd February – 6.30pm onwards for dress rehearsal

Performances Dates:
3rd, 4th, 5th February and 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th February

What Next?
Let us know you’re coming to the Development Weekend – and we’ll look forward to meeting you properly then and sharing The Palace of Wasted Dreams with you! Please contact Bianca Prentice on 0121 440 4203 or email biancaprentice@womenandtheatre.co.uk with queries or to let us know you’re coming on the Development Weekend.

Wasted: Second Summer School starting on Monday 23rd August

kat — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:31:58 +0000

The second of our two Wasted summer schools is fast approaching, so book now! The first was a great success, just check out some of the lovely feedback:

An excellent course, that I will never forget.

Brilliant. A truly exhilarating experience. Challenging but highly supportive. Wonderful workshop leaders who were genuinely passionate about the subject matter…shame it has to end!

I am delighted in what we’ve all achieved and the journeys we’ve been on. I have been personally challenged and have loved being in a creative learning environment with fabulous girls. I love the power of theatre, making people laugh and cry. Touching lives.

This course has really enabled me to be myself and voice my opinions to a group of wonderful adults, but still feel like an equal and as though I am respected for being me.

Our exciting new project, Wasted will be an interactive, experiential new piece of participatory musical theatre, which explores and gives voice to women’s changing and complex relationship with alcohol.

During the week long inter-generational summer school, we will work with community participants, creating material that will inform the final performance. The group will respond to some of our research material about women & alcohol, contribute ideas, explore their own stories and devise drama scenes and characters. Together, we will create scenes, informal theatre moments and short films to present in and around mac. There will also be opportunities to stay involved with Wasted and perhaps contribute to the final production!

The workshop week will be led by core Women & Theatre member Janice Connolly.

Book now to reserve your place. Non drinkers very welcome!

Mon 23 – Fri 27 Aug
10am-4pm in the lovely new Foyle Studio at mac
Fee: £50 (£40 conc)
Please note that this course is for women only, age 16 plus

To book call mac on 0121 446 3232 or visit

Wasted is being produced in association with mac, and will be performed in February 2011.

Wasted Summer Schools at mac – book now!

kat — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:58:34 +0000

Women & Theatre are holding two Summer Schools at mac in July and August, which are two fantastic chances to get involved with our exciting new project, Wasted. Wasted will be an interactive, experiential new piece of participatory musical theatre, which explores and gives voice to women’s relationship with alcohol. Wasted is being produced in association with mac, and will be performed in February 2011.

Whether it’s teenage girls binge drinking illicitly, women in their 20s and 30s drinking as part of their busy social lives and careers, or older women drinking more at home, alcohol has become a greater part of women’s lives over the past half century. (Drinkaware)

During each week-long inter-generational summer school, we will work with community participants, creating material that will inform the final performance. The group will respond to some of our research material about women & alcohol, contribute ideas, explore their own stories and devise drama scenes and characters. Together, we will create scenes, informal theatre moments and short films to present in and around mac. There will also be opportunities to stay involved with Wasted and perhaps contribute to the final production!

The workshop weeks will be led by core Women & Theatre members Janice Connolly and Terina Talbot.

Book now to reserve your place. Non drinkers very welcome!

Mon 26 – Fri 30 Jul
Mon 23 – Fri 27 Aug
10am-4pm in the lovely new Foyle Studio at mac
Fee: £50 (£40 conc) a week
Please note that this course is for women only. We welcome all ages from 16 plus

To book call mac on 0121 446 3232 or mac’s website

Barbara Nice & Gals in Comedy Fundraising Night – 16th September!

kat — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:05:44 +0000

Our last Comedy Fundraiser event was such a swinging success that we’ve decided to hold another one! We invite you to join us for a comic feast to raise funds for a new Company van!

Women & Theatre presents

Barbara Nice & Gals
Comedy Fundraiser

Barbara Nice “As hilarious as it is possible to get” The Scotsman.
***** The Independent
***** Chortle

Wednesday 16th September 2009
The Glee Club Birmingham, The Arcadian Centre
Doors 7.30pm / Audience in by 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Admission £15
Allocated seating / club menu available
Box Office: 0871 472 0400/ www.glee.co.uk

Following last year’s sell-out Comedy Night, Women & Theatre are back at The Glee Club to bring you another warm, friendly and hilarious night of laughter on Wednesday 16th September from 7.30pm.

Comedy legend Barbara Nice has been driving Women & Theatre’s iconic purple van, the length and breadth of the UK, gathering a high quality line up of the Nation’s funniest women including Jo Enright, Annette Fagon and Kerry Godliman.

Described as “a hybrid between Mrs Merton and Victoria Wood” (The Times), Barbara Nice “doesn’t just blur the gap between audience and performer – she obliterates it” (Edinburgh Evening News.)

Barbara Nice is the comedy creation of Women & Theatre’s Artistic Director and founder member Janice Connolly. Janice has also been seen in Peter Kay’s award winning Phoenix Nights. Other TV credits include Max and Paddy, Thin Ice BBC, Dead Man Weds ITV and Coronation Street.

Everyone welcome!

Women & Theatre is a Birmingham-based company with 25 years experience of creating illuminating and accessible new theatre about things that matter. Women & Theatre is an award-winning company and has been pioneering new ways of addressing contemporary issues through performance since 1983. The company creates engaging drama, which promotes the spiritual, social, physical and mental well being of the whole community. We aim to reflect the language and lives of ordinary people, giving voices to those not usually heard.

Throughout the years, Women & Theatre has held the belief that laughter is food for the soul. Within all our work there is always a healthy dollop of humour that we bring to audiences across Birmingham, the West Midlands and the UK. Securing a new van for the company will keep us reaching diverse communities and professional audiences for many years to come!

All proceeds to Women & Theatre new Van Fund!
Women & Theatre (B’ham) Ltd. Registered in England & Wales No. 1998448; Registered Charity No. 518580

The Cervical Monologues on Tour in Sandwell

kat — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:13:53 +0000

Cervical Monologues is one of our most popular plays, an engaging collection of monologues exploring life, love, sex and the cervical screening process. Since its premiere in 2005, Cervical Monologues has been updated with new monologues to reflect women’s experience even more widely. Now Birmingham’s answer to The Vagina Monologues is back for a two week tour of Sure Starts in Sandwell, thanks to Sandwell PCT. Selected dates of the tour are open to the public, so if you’d like to catch the ladies in action, you can come along to:

Friday 30th January, 1pm at Hillside Childrens Centre
Tuesday 3rd February, 6pm at Priory Family Centre
Thursday 5th February, 1.30pm at Galton Valley Children’s Centre
Friday 6th February, 1.30pm at Greenacre Children’s Centre (Brandhall Primary School)

Gang Culture Project with Leicester Y Theatre

kat — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:39:04 +0000

Women & Theatre have been commissioned by Leicester Y Theatre to produce Bare Drama, a new piece of theatre exploring gang culture and gang prevention. The piece explores the reasons why young people become involved in gangs, and the consequences, including criminal activity, that may follow. Writer and Director Michael Aduwali researched extensively amongst young people in Leicester to create a lively script that rings true with real life experiences.

Bare Drama will tour to schools and youth centres in Leicester in November. Aimed as a preventative tool, the piece encourages young people to look at the consequences of their actions and make informed choices. Director, Michael Aduwali, commented, “This is exciting co-production with the Y that promises to be an energetic and moving piece will make young people think and hopefully affect change.”

We are keen to explore opportunities for this piece to be performed in other areas where this issue is a concern, and if you are interested in the project please do contact us.