Made in Somerset 2011 will showcase the best of Somerset theatre, dance and spoken word, taking place in venues big and small across Somerset and featuring some of the county’s most exciting home grown talent.
Running from Tues 4 to Tues 11 Oct, the Made in Somerset Festival will be an exciting mix of edgy debate, professional workshops and live shows, including 18 full-length performances.
“We are really excited about this year’s Made in Somerset Festival, because despite the devastating arts funding cuts in Somerset, we want to show that there is still hope, still talent and still cause to celebrate. This year’s festival is all about showcasing the best work being made in Somerset, while providing support, advice and skill sharing for Somerset practitioners working under really tough financial conditions.” Sarah Peterkin, Festival Coordinator
For the Somerset Arts Community
At the heart of this year’s Made in Somerset on Friday 7 Oct at 1.30pm, there will be a free afternoon of Open Space discussion at the Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre in Taunton. The Open Space will offer practitioners the chance to have their say about the funding crisis and find new positive ways to work in spite of the challenges.
This will be followed on Saturday 8 Oct by a whole day of professional workshops, showcases and activity for Somerset practitioners, taking place in numerous venues across Langport. There will be a choice of four inspiring workshops, including contemporary dance with Yolande Yorke Edgell and physical theatre from Lecoq trained George Mann from the multi award-winning ‘Theatre Ad Infinitum’.
Public Performances
To kick start off the Festival, local legend Tim Hill will be bringing the contemporary music theatre show Worlds Unknown to The Brewhouse in Taunton on Wednesday 5 Oct, while on Monday 10 Oct and Tuesday 11 Oct, the extraordinary theatre collective ‘Cartoon de Salvo’ will be showcasing their quirky new satire Pub Rock at the Rose and Crown in Langport.
For theatre and live literature enthusiasts, Take Art have programmed four performances of their co-commissioned work CountryBoy’s Struggle, a solo show by the extremely talented hip hop artist and performer Maxwell Golden.
For those of you looking for quality dance and movement, then don’t you dare miss Small Talk by ‘Probe Dance’ a short solo piece by Antonia Grove, choreographed by Wendy Houstoun. This takes place at 6.30pm at the Brewhouse on Friday 7 Oct just after the Open Space.
‘Probe Dance’ will be followed by the multi media otherworldly game show For Our Sins, a poetic, passionate and visually ecstatic journey through the 7 deadliest of modern emotions, by ‘The Women of Wondermentalist’, Liv Torc and Beryl the Feral.
The Festival will also showcase performances by Jane Flood, Actiontrack, Fire River Poets, Michael Loader and The Brewhouse Theatre on tour with their latest production of The Summer Set.
To book tickets and find out about all the events taking place at Made in Somerset, along with dates, prices and the latest news - go to www.takeart.org
NOTES TO EDITORS
For press passes to the festival, photographs, more information, or to arrange an interview please call Louise Monks on 01460 249450 or email louise@takeart.org