You may have spotted team AFOAF milling about Blackfriars yesterday. We have teamed up with Roo London to capture the essence of this vibrant area as part of Another Day, and with the help of photographer Rachel Burnham, we reckon we’ve captured Blackfriars at its best.
Keep a look out for a preview of our fantastic poster image in the coming weeks.
On 24 and 25th September we will continue with the second round of auditions for Another Day. We saw some fantastic actors last month, but due to some difficulties with the Casting Call Pro messaging service, we weren’t able to see everytone that we wanted to. So now there is another opportunity for actors to attend our casting sessions.
You can apply and book your audition slot via the CCP listing: http://www.castingcallpro.com/uk/job_view.php?uid=234539
In the meantime, check out this video of some of the greatest actors’ auditions. We love this reminder that everyone starts somewhere. And for performers, that somewhere is usually in the audition room…
Last night I went to a really interesting theatrical evening presented by A Friend of a Friend Productions called ‘From Scratch’ which showcased new writers using 5 short plays in a read-thru format. Now, although I wasn’t there as a reviewer, I’m afraid the bug has got me and I have to put my thoughts and impressions into the written domain. So, here goes:
We are holding auditions this week for Another Day, our site specific promenade performance.
The character details are on Casting Call Pro, so log in and check them out. It’s a paid job despite the admin error on the listing….. We’re working on getting this corrected!
Check out the ad and show your interest; we’re looking for warm, talented actors to welcome to the A Friend of a Friend fold!
http://m.castingcallpro.com/uk/job_view.php?uid=234539
Another Day will be performed in Blackfriars on 20-22 and 26-29 October 2014.
On Friday 25th July, we used a little theatre sparkle to bring Samuel Bevington and Ernest Bevin back from the past for a special event with Southwark Council. This marks a preview of our Corporate Services events, so keep a look out for more information on how we can work with you to make your event a little more magical.
It was a fantastic day, and we love the photos by Bogdans Staiculescu.
Thank you to all of you who attended the inaugural From Scratch last night. We had a great time, and we hope that you did too.
From Scratch is an event designed to encourage the development of new work, and both we and of the playwrights involved are grateful for your feedback.
Thanks for coming! And don’t forget to tweet us what you thought: @FOAF_Theatre #FromScratch
Five plays, five actors, and three theatre experts for just £4! http://www.wegottickets.com/event/283436
From Scratch is the event bringing new work in the Arts to Blackfriars. Every two months we will assemble emerging creatives and present their work before an audience and a panel of industry practitioners who will both give verbal feedback as well as lead a discussion that reflects the concerns and interests of our participants and audience. Together we will create an inspiring environment for creatives to utilise as a stepping stone between page and stage, strengthening our community’s professional relationships and partnerships.
The inaugural From Scratch casts the spotlight on new writing and short plays.
Harper Ray is an award winning theatre maker notable for directing highly visual and immersive works, including the multi-award winning Muse of Fire (Shakespeares Globe). His last production was described as: “The best theatre experience ever!” – The Guardian
Harper is passionate about the emerging artists of great Britain and has numerous writing credits of his own. He recently worked on Bert and Dickie, a BBC period drama and wrote additional material for children’s musical, which was nominated for the 2012 DarkChart theatre award. Harper is currently directing two new works which explore famous plays from alternative perspectives for the Globe. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, a 21st Century Leader with Battersea Arts Centre/Arts Council England and a professional Member of Directors Guild of Great Britain.
In the last two weeks he has been nominated for a Drum Award and a British Interactive Media Award.
www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsR/ray-harper.html
www.harperray.co.uk
www.shakespearesglobe.com/muse
Tamaryn Payne is a successful actress and voice artist working in commercial film, television, shorts and independent/fringe theatre.
She is most well known for her role as Annalise Appleton in Hollyoaks, and was recently featured in Aria Entertainment’s acclaimed production of Blood Wedding at the Courtyard Theatre.
In 2013 she appeared as Jenny Clarke in Vendetta, a feature film directed by Stephen Reynolds, and as Evie in the horror comedy Stalled directed by Christian James.
She is represented by Simon & How Associates.
www.simon-how.com
Dr Karlien van den Beukel is a Senior Lecturer and Course Director BA (Hons) Creative Writing in the Department of Culture Writing and Performance.
After her MA degree in English Literature at the University of Utrecht, Karlien completed her doctoral research on the influence of dance on modernist poetics at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University.
Before joining London South Bank University, she worked at the BBC in Specialist Factual Arts programme making and in independent broadcast production.
Her research interests include modernist poetry and twentieth century dance, and digital poetics in translation.
The Special Ones
Madness, misanthropy and Hegel’s ‘extraordinary man’ theory collide as two haters cruise our streets looking for fresh targets – people in shorts, those who speak in regional accents, cyclists… anyone, really: ‘Scum!’
Written by Richard Cabut
richard.cabut@btinternet.com
@richardcabut
*
Tale Of Two Cities (When I Remember Pablo and Tour Guide)
Tale Of Two Cities is a study of what it means to live in a big city. These two monologues look at modern life in New York and London
Written by Anna Forsyth
forsyth_anna@hotmail.co.uk
http://annaforsyth.org
@annaforsyth
*
Himself to Himself
Lynda and Charles find that their comfortable lifestyle is rocked when their next door neighbour turns out to be a serial killer…
Written by Steven Lancefield
stevenlancefield@hotmail.com
*
Waterloo Bridge
Alan and Ann are secretly in love with each other. With the help of a drunk stranger, can they find their way back to each other?
Written by Carrie Walsh
c.walshlet@gmail.com
walshlette.wordpress.com
*
Sex and Pyjamas
Every Saturday night Simon and Matthew end up in bed together. It’s just sex though. It doesn’t mean anything. Obviously. Until the pyjamas make their fateful appearance.
Is there really such a thing as friends with benefits?
Written by James Robert-Moore
james_1197@hotmail.com
www.jamesrobertmoore.co.uk
@jamesy_moo
*
 |
 |
 |
| James Robert-Moorewww.spotlight.com/3335-7837-5531 | Kate Humewww.spotlight.com/7811-0194-4209 | Philip Honeywellwww.spotlight.com/0130-6729-3538 |
 |
 |
|
| Ashley Beckettwww.spotlight.com/9170-0191-1248 | Verity Quadewww.spotlight.com/5416-9089-5909 |
From Scratch has been directed by Patrick Maubert
WHEN: Monday 28th July 7:30
WHERE: Nolia’s 11, 56 Stamford St, London SE1 9LX (map)
HOW MUCH: £4
Tickets are limited, reserve in advance to avoid disappointment: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/283436
We’ve got a fantastic cast lined up for tomorrow’s readings. They will be performing five short plays directed by Patrick Maubert at tomorrow evening’s From Scratch. Grab your tickets for the bumper bargain price of £4
The plays are:
Sex and Pyjamas by James Robert Moore
Special Ones by Richard Cabut
Waterloo Bridge by Carrie Walsh
Tales of 2 Cities by Anna Forsyth
Himself to Himself by Steven Lancefield
Kate Hume
www.spotlight.com/7811-0194-4209
Philip Honeywell
www.spotlight.com/0130-6729-3538
James Robert-Moore
www.spotlight.com/3335-7837-5531
Ashley Beckett
www.spotlight.com/9170-0191-1248
Verity Quade
www.spotlight.com/5416-9089-5909
WHEN: Monday 28th July 7:30
WHERE: Nolia’s 11, 56 Stamford St, London SE1 9LX (map)
HOW MUCH: £4
Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Tuesday 22nd July
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/283436
As part of our BLACKFRIARS STORIES project, we’re working with a hot team of emerging playwrights who will be writing the short plays that will form our Autumn production ANOTHER DAY. We’re keen to introduce the playwrights to you, so we’re kicking off with the delightful Lucy Beacon.
So, Lucy, how did you end up becoming a part of ANOTHER DAY?
I wrote a short play called ‘Rostov’ which was chosen for last 
year’s Theatre Breaks festival in Camden, and AFOAF was involved in that festival too. I’m interested in the use of pre-recorded spoken word in theatre, and Ice Cream (by Mark Abbey) used some in a particularly inventive way. I got chatting backstage to the director, Patrick, about the audio and how he’d used it to get round a difficult staging issue. He introduced me to the rest of AFOAF, and they were all so lovely that when an opportunity arose for me to work with them, I jumped at the chance!
What have you been up to since then?
Since the Theatre Breaks festival I’ve had a couple of short plays produced. The first was for Lost Theatre’s ‘Five Minute Festival’ in which I had a comedy called ‘The Pudding Club’. It was set in a maternity clinic and featured one man, two women and a whole lot of trouble! I was delighted when it won the judges’ vote for best piece of the evening. I also had a play, ‘Trap Doors’, on at the Bush Theatre’s ‘Ambush’ evening earlier this year. It was a real honour to have my play performed on that stage as it’s the theatre that inspired me to start writing drama.
You’re a busy bee! What is it that inspired you to write in the first place?
I always wanted to write but it took hitting 40 and a mini midlife-crisis to actually get me to sit down and do it. I love theatre and so writing drama was the natural choice for me. I’ve worked in the music industry most of my life and so that’s a passion for me too. Perhaps I could put both of those elements together and write a musical one day!
So what’s your process when you’re working on a new play?
As I’m quite busy, I find it useful to ‘write’ in my head before I put it down on paper. It’s a good way to work as I usually know at least sections of the play before I start. I try to write both the beginning and end of the play before I sit down to type – the middle sections usually happen at the computer. My favourite place to write is on the bus. I love listening to snippets of conversations as people step on and off public transport. There’s something about getting only part of a story that fires the imagination much more than hearing it all.
As you know, ANOTHER DAY is all about life in Blackfriars. We’d love to hear some of your own experiences….
Although I’m not a Southwark resident, I worked in the area briefly and my sister is still based here. I’ve spent a good deal of time in Southwark over the last twenty years and it has always felt like a creative area. As well as going to the more established creative hubs of theatres and galleries, I’ve stumbled across impromptu drama on the streets, and been to innovative music venues. It’s a great place.
I’ve always loved it down by the river in this part of London. The view both upstream and downstream is stunning – especially at night. I love people watchingand the riverside is a perfect place to take a seat and watch the world go by. I’ve really enjoyed researching the historical details of the area as part of Another Day – both the recent history and that of previous centuries.
Lucy has written ‘Ribbons’ as part of ANOTHER DAY.
You can follow Lucy on Twitter: @lucybeacon
The theme for the inaugural From Scratch event is Short Plays and will take place on Monday 28th July at 7:30pm. We are delighted to announce the line-up:
Sex and Pyjamas by James Robert Moore
Special Ones by Richard Cabut
Waterloo Bridge by Carrie Walsh
Tales of 2 Cities by Anna Forsyth
Himself to Himself by Steven Lancefield
The plays will be workshopped and directed by Patrick Maubert, then performed script in hand before a panel of experts who will lead the audience in a feedback and discussion session with the playwrights. Please welcome our esteemed panel:
HARPER RAY
Harper is a multi award winning Theatre maker. He recently created and directed the sellout show ‘Muse of Fire’ at Shakespeare’s Globe.
DR KARLIEN VAN DEN BEUKEL
Karlien is a Senior Lecturer and Course Director BA (Hons) Creative Writing in the Department of Culture Writing and Performance at London South Bank University.
TAMARYN PAYNE
Tamaryn is a successful actress and voice artist working in both commercial film (Vendetta, 2013), television (Casualty, Hollyoaks), shorts and independent/fringe theatre (Blood Wedding by Aria Ents, 2013).
WHEN: Monday 28th July 7:30
WHERE: Nolia’s 11, 56 Stamford St, London SE1 9LX (map)
HOW MUCH: £4
Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Tuesday 22nd July
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/283436