FUTURE ELEMENTS: LILIAN BAYLIS STUDIO-12.03.16

It's that time of year again when Breakin' Convention pay homage to the future dancers of UK hip-hop, and I'm always keen to be there to cheer them on from the sidelines.

Head of the organisation and regular MC Jonzi-D handed the baton over to Tyrus to host the evening who performed a self-choreographed piece last year ( click link for post and video for future elements 2015) who did a great job, and wowed the audience with his rap 'Mr President' which he wrote and produced himself.

Dance crew 'Jack in the Box' kicked off the night with 5 young dancers who displayed a range of different hip-hop styles, with strong showmanship and energy.

'Elementz Youth' are a new youth collective who performed their latest work under the direction of Elementz Ent. founder Lindon Barr and Manny Tsakanika. This was a great display of team work and ensemble hip-hop dance. 

Lashelle serenaded with a raw vocal performance and a great display of her vocal range, passion and power. 

Impressed is an understatement when it comes to describing 'Maverick and Malachi.' The duo, who took the Wandsworth 'Young Performer of the Year' award in 2014 have been performing together ever since, and use their combined lyrical and beat-boxing talent to deliver bars about issues that matter.

They are currently working on a documentary about the importance of creativity within the National Curriculum- a topic that is very close to my heart. A huge well done and dose of encouragement are being sent from me to you boys! Keep using your abilities and talents to move people and spread the word.

Unity Youth took the final performance slot of the evening. Did a tornado enter the room? Did a volcano erupt? Yes! Both at the same time. Known for their clean lines, tour de force energy, stamina, intensity and...my favourite...choreography to grime music, they came unapologetically and conquered. I'll always champion their work as a true demonstration of hip-hop excellence. 

The Future Elements music video project always has a heart and a message worth reflecting upon, and this time it was Karma. see the music video below:

To be involved in the Future Elements Music video project next year, you can email:

education@breakinconvention.com


To the Hip-Hop young performers of the future...keep doing what you are doing because you are already making waves.

Myself with Natasha Gooden-Future Elements Mentor and Breakin' Convention artist

SCARY SHIT-THE AFTERMATH 28.02.16

Photo by Tina Remiz

When you ask for your friend to quickly help you with something, you might ask them to hold your hand before taking off on a dreaded flight or, they may hold your glass of wine whilst you adjust your bra, I mean, sure you might even get them to curl your hair if you ask them politely, but it's not every day you get them to deliver air into your mouth using a foot pump. This was the image presented to me as I placed my bottom on a Pleasance 'main space' seat somewhere in the third row and looked ahead.

So yeah, I guess you could say it was clear from the beginning that the show might incur some themes of nervousness, potential hyperventilation and quite possibly friendship.

I saw Rhiannon sitting there in her pink fluffy pants and orange wig, and giggled to myself. I saw Maddy with her thick black eyeliner, clearly a dancer, and thought she looked cool. I wanted to pick one to identify with, but I stopped myself for fear of missing the point.

The first section of the show in which Rhiannon and Maddy outlined who they were, and why they were there (to ultimately talk about fears and unravelling scary things through the process of performance, sharing the sessions they had participated in with psychotherapist Joy Griffiths who is also Rhiannon's mother-in law) was certainly helpful, and perfectly set up their charm and characteristics, so it was safe to say, I liked them.

The choreographed 'pink poncho piece' was also a unique way of laying out the various fears and phobias that people can suffer from, bizarre as some of them seemed. It's most certainly the first time I've smiled for a whole five minutes whilst listening in detail to a list fears and phobias and their meanings.

Rhiannon's open-ness and vulnerability throughout the show made it, well, just a real pleasure. People say that when someone is vulnerable and open with you, you're likely to get that back from them. In my head and heart, Rhiannon's dialogue with us in the audience made me reflect, and only supported the personal work I already do myself to keep growing talking, and being vulnerable in order to connect and be happy.

I also saw the importance of Maddy's presence, not only as the 'friend' who had been drawn into the process to support her buddy, but also to remind me how vital it is to be kind to yourself if you're not ready to talk about things, and to express your needs in any way you like until you're ready for the next stage of facing up to a life challenge or fear.

Maddy's spoken word piece 'Baby Box Blood Bath' was a highlight for its directness with language, movement and womanliness if I do say so myself.

Photo by Tina Remiz

So if 'Scary Sh*t' achieved anything for me personally (because I don't see it fit to talk on behalf of anyone else) it's opened up another pathway to understanding that there are processes that can be followed when facing scary sh*t in our lives, that we are not alone, and that whatever you need to do...it's okay.

Thank you for letting me share in your experiences ladies, and I hope others will take their own little package away from your show as I have :)

With thanks to Abstrakt publicity

Rhiannon Faith presents 'scary shit': 20.02.16 & 26/27.02.16

Scary Shit

Saturday 20 February, Rich Mix & Friday / Saturday 26 & 27 February, The Pleasance, London.

www.rhiannonfaith.com

(Don’t) be afraid. (Don’t) be very afraid.

When I watched this trailer, I thought about how cool it would be to see two performers showing their vulnerability and putting 'fear' out there for all to see and examine. As a person who has been closely following a path of getting to grips with my own fears and vulnerability (Brenè Brown and Oprah have been hitting up my screens a lot recently y'all) this is a show I am genuinely excited to see. Check it out...

   

   

We all have personal fears, be it public speaking, smear tests, heights, phones, fertility, failure... But what if you could take time to cure these fears? Would you become a better person? Would the world be a better place?   

Scary Shit is the latest work by the up-and-coming UK choreographer Rhiannon Faith. Describing herself as ‘a hopeless romantic,’ this young British dance and performance-maker uses movement and whatever else it takes, theatrically-speaking , to expose and examine what she refers to as ‘those impulsive, messed-up and fragile facets of the human condition.’ Think dance-theatre with a big heart and a smutty mouth.

 Scary Shit is a humorous, tender, imaginative treatment of fears, phobias and (female) friendship. It’s a show about being a woman and asking for help. Riding the rollercoaster of a moving and courageous real-life experiment, Rhiannon Faith and Maddy Morgan share their experiences after attending CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) sessions with the psychologist Joy Griffiths in order to learn more about themselves and maybe, just maybe, find a future free of fear. 

Previewed at Colchester Arts Centre, Arts Depot and the Garage in Norwich, Scary Shit was selected and shared at Open Lab Barbican and Sprint at Camden People’s Theatre. The show follows a real life transition from scary shit, to recovery and healing, in a language of dance, theatre, comedy and therapy.

 Scary Shit: Imagine a world without fear… “A brilliantly physical set of mental ordeals” Alice Saville (Exeunt)

 "Rhi is a brilliant choreographer and a cheeky little minx with a madcap mind." Bryony Kimmings, performer and performance-maker

 Date & Time:  Saturday, 20 February,  8pm Venue: Rich Mix, LondonMore info: http://www.richmix.org.uk/

Date & Time:  Friday & Saturday, 26-27 February, 7.30pmVenue: The Pleasance, LondonMore info: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/

Post in conjunction with Anna Goodman from Abstrakt publicity 

'I know there's gonna' be good times' in 2016 for the following reasons:

Hello!

It has been a while since I have posted up about a show, and I am returning to say 'Hey...I'm back!'

My short time away from the blog has really been due to tending to my 'career garden of life' (and expanding my corny vocabulary).

Since starting the blog, I left my beloved Drama department in very good hands, and decided to pursue what might be called a Portfolio Career. So now, I have a Radio show on Vibe 107.6 in Watford, I present across various different platforms, I teach, act, 
 write comedy and perform as part of a sketch duo. 

So just a few small changes that I've been adjusting to since leaving the security of my full-time job!

Writing this blog over the past year has taught me to never give up and follow your dreams, as so many of the performers I have written about or interviewed have demonstrated. They have been truly inspiring, and I hope this blog inspires you to seek out some of the fantastic dance, theatre and comedy shows that are coming up this year in my treasured city. 

Whether you are visiting from afar (do come in) or live around the corner (local estate or mews development) all are WELCOME!

Come and enjoy the bloody great talent that we've got...because we've got bucket loads!

Hope to see you around

Jen x

WONDER.LAND: NATIONAL THEATRE (OLIVIER)- 24.11.15

The saying 'curiosity killed the cat' could have many meanings when it comes to the famous tale of 'Alice in Wonderland.' If i'm being honest, my curiosity for the production had waned a little since booking tickets back in July.

This was by no means because I didn't think it would be any good...it's been on my 'SHOWS COMING UP' list since I started the blog! If I were to self diagnose my lack of awe and wonder at this stage, i'm prescribing a case of 'all Alice'd out.' Having put on two 'Alice' productions in my previous Drama teaching career, you get a little 'squeezed' of all creative thought avenues with this story.

Thankfully, a long enough gap had passed between my 'Alice' shenanigans, and there have been so many non-Alice events that this had enough exciting elements to prick my ears up again.

After chewing the fat about our semi-crap past few weeks, my buddy and I arrived tired but caffeinated to a lobby full of technological interactions! This snapped me right out of my commuter frenzied state and hooked me into the present moment. The ideal mind-set was emerging as I waltzed around creating an avatar on an i-pad, taking Cheshire Cat selfie's and making music 'a la BIG' on a plasma screen. My friend and I were in the perfect playful mood and we grew curiouser and 
curiouser.

Why should you go and see this?

The play isn't a re-telling of 'Alice', but uses Alice as a stimulus to layer another story on top. We meet Aly, who is a young mixed-race girl, and is finding it hard to deal with being a teenager that isn't comfortable with who she is.

Aside from her 'Kevin and Perry' approach to her views on her Mum ('Your Mum' by the way is one of the simplest yet catchiest songs of the production and will be playing over in my head tonight guaranteed) Aly's endearing yet irresponsible 'Russell Brand-alike' father lives apart from her. She's also being bullied about her weight and how she looks by three charming teenage girls at school.

Cue the disaffected teenager who seeks life online storyline. Except, this wasn't the package we were delivered. Aly who sets up an account on gaming site 'Wonder.land' makes an Avatar so different to herself, that it takes up the form of familiar blonde, petite Alice. She decides to explore the online world through her avatar and in doing so, takes a journey that lots of us may have experienced growing up; a joy-ride in trying to work out who we are.

Alice goes from self-loathing, to different emotional states throughout the story, and we get to see flickering moments between 'online' and 'real-life'. The use of projections was excellent and the graphics were ingenious (as the National Theatre always are when it comes to this kind of stuff!)

The play didn't just highlight the 'escapism' and artificial side of having an online presence, but it also examined how it could be an amazing and creative outlet. It didn't just have a 'bash' at youngsters either which I felt was more representative of daily life. I spend as much time on my phone now as the average teen, not because I'm a disaffected person, but because I'm doing more work in the media industry and have to plug away at my social media and constantly apply for things!

Costumes were impressive yet unpredictable, with one of the most amusing costumes being the oversized Mouse who also gets the award for funniest lines in the play:

'Hiding underneath this fat mouse face is 100% DENCH!'

Best bits for me were:

• The initial appearance of the floating 'Alice Avatar' and the use of the gauze and projections to create the illusion that she was in a virtual world 
• The White Rabbit who reminded me of Donnie Darko
• The Caterpillar and his 'body parts'
• The Zombie attack scene which was choreographed so well and the use of graphics and animation here too
• The Teacher was a very strong character and most popular with the audience. An example of excellent casting 
• The 'tube' being created out of trolleys and a moving slow vehicle-I never get tired of a theatrical 'tube' representation I must say!

I also thoroughly enjoyed the score and could feel the blurry touches of Damon Albarn all over the place. There was a funky yet indie feel to the music, but musical conventions were not neglected and at times, even the 'slowies' which normally send me to sleep had some wonderful harmonies.

There were highs and minimal weak spots. I liked the 'father' character, but felt his scenes held less strength in them. This could be due to the 'believe-ability' factor, although it wasn't entirely lost on me.

I was impressed and left smiling 'Cheshire Cat style' after this, and it had everything a modern National Theatre production should have. Go along and expect to be delighted!

INTO THE HOODS REMIXED- PEACOCK THEATRE: 24.10.15

I'd have to agree with Emma Thompson on this one...yes THE Emma Thompson who said that 'they (ZooNation) are one of my favourite things about this city'. 

This show pretty much encompassed everything I love, not only about London, but also my teenage years, my fondness for dance and generally everything that I think is important. 

I have decided that this post will take the form of a list, otherwise I am in danger of dramatically hero-worshipping for the whole post and I've already done that before.

Please see below for a list of things that this production included that were important to me, and will hopefully resonate with you when you go and see it (oh you must!):

1. A well chosen selection of hip-hop music, edited neatly, including big favourites of mine such as (oh wow I'm having to put a sub-section in the sub-section here):

a) Outkast-Ghettomusick
b) Teardrop-Massive Attack
c) Heard em' Say- Kanye West ft Adam Levine
d) Witness the Fitness- Roots Manuva
e) Overnight Celebrity- Twista

AND MORE (or I'll be here all night)

2. Thoughtful, fast-paced, slick choreography that showcased the dancers skills, the neat editing of the music, and just generally they were (to quote the great Ashley Banjo) ON POINT!

3. A witty narrative- just when you think it will get predictable (which is part of the charm of a fairytale right?) The story 'nips it in the bud' before your brain has to, so you get a feeling of being in-tune with the show. Clever or what!

4. That lighting tho'! ZooNation always get me with this one. Well done Jenny Kershaw (lighting programmer) for those colourful spots and areas that get lit up when the rest of the cast are in darkness...I liked it...I liked it a lot.

5. Animation- A huge 'big-up' here to the animation team. A stand out section had to be in Scene 3 when we were touring 'Beanstalk Towers' and being led up and down the building. That gave me a definite idea of overall style and looked effective. It reminded me a little of the animation used in 'The Animals and Children took to the Streets' by 1927 who are renowned for their stunning animation. However it still had it's own identity, and my personal favourite sections were Spindarella's character entering the ball, and simple moments like the spinning Vinyl's and Jaxx's timer appearing on the wall. It all added huge effect.

6. High levels of creativity- There aren't many shows that can execute what ZooNation manage to achieve here. Firstly the 'spin' on the characters themselves is clever and hilarious. 'Rap-on-Zel' particularly got a huge laugh at the announcement of her name. Jaxx (who get's a little rendition of a Basement Jaxx song every time he appears) as a take on Jack at the basement of 'beanstalk towers'. 'Big Teef' records in which Wolf is the Boss. 

This is why I feel so strongly that we should take our kids to see this. In schools that are working creatively, this way of thinking and adapting will very much compliment their sense of invention and adaptation for their story-writing. We know and teach 'Magpie-ing' so that children know they can take ideas and add it to their nest of creativity. Adapting is something they are very familiar with and can use more and more to improve their work. The creativity in this show is inspiring and ingenious and it left a mark with many in the audience of varying ages. 

Stand-out performances were given by Natasha Gooden who played Lil' Red. I was blown away when I saw her at the Freestyle Funk Forum earlier this year (see the post about it here) because her musicality and strength are off the scale. She hits every movement and beat so sharply that it's like watching a solo optical illusion! Corey Culverwell who I recognised from previous shows and of course from BoyBand on Britain's Got Talent this year also deserves a mention for very similar reasons. He has mastered his craft well and it shows. 

I hope my list gives you an idea of how nuts I am about this kind of theatre, but also the reasons why. If you want something that will make you proud of our city, that will entertain you, that will challenge your children and make you laugh , and that will remind you that dancers aren't there to perform behind someone on a festival stage, but are there because they truly deserve it...get down to see this, before it sells out!

Tickets can be booked by following this link:

Into the Hoods: 23.10.15-14.11.15

@zoonation

@jendubble

INTO THE HOODS-REMIXED: IT'S BACK! 23.10.15-14.11.15 PEACOCK THEATRE

IT'S THE HIP-HOP STORYTELLING EVENT OF THE YEAR!

This is NOT a show to be missed.

The twisted Hip-hop fairytale which originally hit London's West End in 2008 has been refreshed, revamped, re-jigged, re-buffed, re-whateveryouwannacall it! It's been given a makeover and brought right up to date. 

It's set to have the humour, wit and pace of the first show under the direction of Sadler's Wells associate Kate Prince who is, quite frankly, a NARRATIVE WIZARD if you ask me. 

What's more, if you're not based in London, it doesn't have to matter this time, because it's going on a national TOUR.

YES!

This is a big deal for ZooNation as the Peacock Theatre is usually the only spot to catch them doing their thang when they work on a large scale.

Tour Information:

London, Peacock Theatre

23 October – 14 November 2015

Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Grand 

25 – 27 February 2016 

Blackpool, The Grand Theatre

1 – 2 March 2016 

Dartford, The Orchard Theatre 

8 – 9 March 2016 

Leicester, Curve

14 – 15 March 2016

Truro, Hall for Cornwall

18 – 19 March 2016

Sheffield, The Lyceum

22 – 23 March 2016 

Brighton, Brighton Dome

25 – 26 March 2016 

Southampton, Mayflower Theatre 

28 – 29 March 2016 

Canterbury, Marlowe Theatre

1 – 2 April 2016 

Manchester, Manchester HOME 

5 – 9 April 2016 

Show outline

Set in the ‘Ruff Endz Estate’, the story follows two lost school children who have been tasked to find an iPhone as white as milk, trainers as pure as gold, a hoodie as red as blood and some weave as yellow as corn. Along the way, they meet DJ Spinderella, wannabe singer Lil Red, vivacious rapper Rap On Zel, budding music producer Jaxx and embark upon a storybook adventure into the heart of a pulsating community!

If there are any Teachers out there looking for some twisted Fairytale inspiration for your classes (I know it pops up in the curriculum a lot!) this show would be IDEAL. 

Sure we can all take our kids to the pantomime, and sure pantomimes have their place in the theatre world (a very important place as well) but trust me, take your kids to be inspired by a show like 'Into the Hoods-Remixed' and they will thank you for the cool choreography, the massive music, and for being on their level. 

Children's story writing and creativity in the classroom is on a higher level than ever before, and finally there is a production to match the imagination we require from our kids. 

To find out more and to book tickets, click on the link below:

Tickets for: Into the Hoods- Remixed 2015 Tour