Category Archives: Performing arts

London Bubble explores politics and apathy in run-up to 2015 general election

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Do you believe in our democratic system? Or do you share Russell Brand’s view? Either way,  London Bubble wants to hear from you.

In 1950, 84 per cent of the UK population voted in the general election. In 2010 only 65 per cent bothered. At the last election less than 30 per cent of 18-25s exercised their right to vote.

We pride ourselves on ‘our democratic system’ but do we believe in it. Or is the system just too big to change?

London Bubble Theatre Company is looking for volunteers to help it take a snapshot of people’s feelings about the electoral system.

Between now and the next election the company will be recording conversations between people on different sides of the debate and creating a play to be performed by a community cast.

The project is called Hopelessly De-Voted and young people from Southwark and Lewisham have already set about interviewing a range of people. 18-22 year olds have interviewed Baroness Jones of the Green Party; Ipsos MORI pollster Ben Page; and new Grange ward councillor Damian O’Brien who won his Southwark Council seat by just six votes.

Now young Bubble members are widening their search and are interested in interviewing members of the general public who either strongly believe in the system, or who steadfastly refuse to vote.

They are interested in talking to a range of ages so if you have something to say, please get in touch. (Or perhaps you come from Belgium or Australia where voting is compulsory, or from Estonia where not only can you vote by phone, but you can change that vote at any time leading up to Election Day!)

The research stage of the project is being supported by the Arts Council of England and Bubble will be working with campaigning group Bite the Ballot, to turn the words of voters, politicians, cynics and sceptics into a script reflecting Londoners love-hate relationship with our political system.

If all goes to plan the piece will be performed by a inter-generational community cast in the Spring 2015, during the run up to the election in May. And who knows, it might even increase the turn out.

Those interested in contributing to Hopelessly De-Voted should contact Claire Sexton at London Bubble on 020 7237 4434, [email protected]

Autumn drama groups at London Bubble

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London Bubble, our local theatre company, runs a range of drama groups and classes for adults and children.

Their autumn term starts on 15 September and booking is now open.

Read on for further details as supplied by London Bubble themselves…

 

ADULT DRAMA CLASS AT LONDON BUBBLE
Wednesdays, 7-9pm
5 Elephant Lane, SE16 4JD

New term starts Wednesday 17th September

Come and play?  Our classes are suitable for people with no experience of theatre making and for old hands alike.  Sometimes we work with scripts; sometimes we create work from our imaginations.  The classes are designed to help you develop your confidence and a range of performance skills.
Why not come for a taster class to give it a try?

For more information and class fees please visit www.londonbubble.org.uk
Call 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]


TEA BREAK THEATRE
every Wednesday at London Bubble
4.30-6.30pm

restarts after a summer break on 17th September
Free and fun

Tea, cake and a chat followed by a gentle workshop to make friends, tell stories and share laughter.
Open to everyone aged 18 and over. We hope you can join us.

To find out more about the group please get in touch.
Call 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]

 

YOUTH THEATRE AT LONDON BUBBLE
Mondays, 6.30-8.30pm
5 Elephant Lane, SE16 4JD

New term starts Monday 15th September

Suitable for anyone aged 12 and over who would like to develop their performance skills and confidence.

For more information and class fees please visit www.londonbubble.org.uk
Call 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]

 

INTERGENERATIONAL DRAMA GROUP AT LONDON BUBBLE
Thursdays, 6.30-8.30pm
5 Elephant Lane, SE16 4JD

Starts 18th September

Help us research and develop ideas for our next intergenerational production. All ages welcome but children under 12 need to be accompanied by an older member of their family.

For more information and class fees please visit www.londonbubble.org.uk
Call 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]

*****

EVENING DRAMA GROUPS FOR ALL AGES AT LONDON BUBBLE THEATRE

New term starts w/c 15th September

London Bubble runs a weekly theatre making groups and we’d love you to join us. No previous experience necessary, just come with enthusiasm!

Our theatre groups are friendly, fun and creative, and include games and exercises which will help to develop confidence and a range of performance skills.

Find out more at www.londonbubble.org.uk

CLASSES FOR CHILDREN:
Youth Theatre: Mondays 6.30 – 8.30pm Starts 15th September

6-8 year olds: Tuesdays 5-6.30pm Starts 16th September
Saturdays 10-11.30am Starts 20th September

9-11 years: Tuesdays 6.30-8pm Starts 16th September

CLASSES FOR ADULTS:
Wednesdays 7-9pm Starts 17th September

 

Venue: London Bubble, 5 Elephant Lane, London SE16 4JD
By train: Rotherhithe
By tube: Bermondsey, Canada Water
By bus: 47, 188, 381, C10, P12


Class Fees:
Under 18s: £66 (£33 concessions) per term plus £15 (£10) annual registration fee
Adults: £88 (£44 concessions) per term plus £15 (£10) annual registration fee

Discounts available for Members of Bubble (MOB).
Find out more about membership by calling 020 7237 4434.

HOW TO BOOK

To find out more or register for a class:
call: 020 7237 4434
email: [email protected]
Sign up online: www.londonbubble.org.uk

 

7,000 brave the rain to attend Bermondsey Carnival

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Cllr Dora Dixon-Fyle, Southwark’s cabinet member for adult care, arts and culture said: “I just want to say a massive thanks to everyone who organised, got involved and attended Bermondsey Carnival on Saturday in Southwark Park.

“It is always a highlight of our events calendar and despite some typical British summertime weather 7,000 of you turned out to enjoy the fantastic line-up of music, dance, food and funfair – it was amazing to see so many of you getting into the spirit of the day!”

 

Tea Break Theatre: new group for older Southwark locals

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Rotherhithe based London Bubble Theatre has secured funding from United St Saviour’s Charity to run a free theatre group for older Southwark residents. Tea Break Theatre will run on Wednesdays from 4.30pm – 6.30pm and will gently introduce participants to the pleasures of sharing and creating stories alongside tea and cake.

The new group, formed as part of Bubble’s continuing focus on involving people of all ages in theatre making, will be led by a specialist artist, Julia Voce. Julia has been working with residents in Frank Whymark House and Ronald Buckingham Court, facilitating conversations and leading interactive workshops.

Tea Break Theatre will explore the effect gentle, creative workshops have on personal resilience and health.

For more information visit www.londonbubble.org.uk or call 020 7237 4434 to speak to Julia / Claire.

In Curious Company: intergenerational community dance & storytelling project

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Southwark based Arts Odyssey has secured Arts Council England funding to work in partnership with Canada Water Culture Space to deliver its cross arts and intergenerational participation and performance project In Curious Company.

What makes us curious? Curiosity, a human quality which pushes us to inquire, explore and learn inspires this project. Arts Odyssey will be exploring the curiosities of their local Southwark community through contemporary and creative dance, storytelling and creative writing.

Initially, Arts Odyssey will offer free taster workshops for families, disabled and non-disabled youth and adults.

Participants will learn new creative and technical dance, writing and storytelling skills whilst having fun and meeting new people.

Arts Odyssey will then work regularly with a group of youth and a group of adults, building towards an evening of performance, sharing and entertainment at Canada Water Culture Space.

Participants will work with professionals and be given the opportunity to create their own movement with others in friendly and enjoyable weekly sessions.

The newly formed youth dance company and Odyssey Community Adult Dance Company will start rehearsing in April ready to entertain an audience of 150 people at Canada Water Culture Space in June. Using Canada Water Library as a resource they will creatively explore what interests them, what they find peculiar, funny or bizarre.

Louisa Pestell, artistic director of Arts Odyssey, said: “Arts Odyssey prides itself on offering high quality dance opportunities accessible to all. In Curious Company is particularly exciting for us because working in partnership with Canada Water Culture Space and creative writer and storyteller, Sandra Agard, enables us to provide access to fun and free cross-arts participation opportunities for a wider range of people regardless of their age or previous experience.”

Young carers perform at Surrey Quays

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Thanks to funding from British Land, the arts charity Create has extended art:space, its creative arts programme for young carers, to Southwark.  Working for the first time with KIDS Siblings Project Southwark, the multi-art form project culminated last week in two performances  at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.

During January and February, different groups of young carers have been involved: photography produced by the first group (taken at venues including Surrey Quays Shopping Centre and Surrey Docks Farm) was used as inspiration for music activities, which has in turn been used as the soundtrack for dance participants to create original choreography.  Last week’s performance  showcased the music, dance and photography to an audience of friends, family and the general public.

The Office for National Statistics estimates that nearly a quarter of a million children in England and Wales are caring for a relative, whilst 27% of young carers aged 11-15 miss school and 68% experience bullying and social isolation.  Many care for 50 plus hours a week – more than the average adult working week.  Create uses the creative arts to help young carers develop trust, social skills and supportive relationships with their peers, enhance their self-confidence and self-esteem, and most importantly have fun away from their caring responsibilities in a safe, non-threatening environment.

Create’s co-founder and chief executive, Nicky Goulder said:  “Thanks to continued funding from British Land, we are delighted to be working for the first time with youngcarers in Southwark. The project has given them an opportunity to get creative and have fun away from the responsibility of their caring duties.  It is our huge privilege to give them this opportunity.”

Ian Moore, manager of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, said: “This is the first time Surrey Quays Shopping Centre has been involved in art:space and it’s been a joy to have the young carers visit and take photos of the centre.”

Volunteers wanted for local history theatre production

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Over the last year, London Bubble Theatre Company has interviewed more than 45 people from Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Deptford as part of their intergenerational local history project.

Supported by funding from the Heritage Lottery, From Docks to Desktops aims to explore the history of Work in our  area and explore how it’s changed since the time of Stevedores, Dockers and Peak Freans.

Bubble’s intergenerational, community cast are now working with a script, created entirely from these interviews, and are planning performances in November 2013.

“We’ve been delighted with the response to our call out for people willing to share their stories, but Bubble is still in need of more volunteers to help transcribe the interviews and take these stories back out in to the local community,” said a spokeswoman for the comapny”

Can you help? Whether it’s offering a few hours to transcribe an interview or giving time to support taking the road show out and about.

If you’d like to help, Bubble would love to hear from you.

If you would like to help Bubble and are able to give a few hours of your time please contact Claire Sexton on 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]

Autumn term youth and adult theatre at London Bubble

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YOUTH THEATRE

Mondays, 6.30-8.30pm
5 Elephant Lane, SE16 4JD

New term starts Monday 16 September

Suitable for anyone aged 14 and over who would like to develop their performance skills and confidence.
This term the youth theatre will work towards a performance in December.

ADULT DRAMA CLASSES

Wednesdays, 7-9pm
5 Elephant Lane, SE16 4JD

New term starts Wednesday 18 September

Come and play?  London Bubble’s classes are suitable for people with no experience of theatre making and for old hands alike.  Sometimes they work with scripts, sometimes they create work from our imaginations.  The classes are designed to help you develop your confidence and a range of performance skills. This term the adult group will work towards a performance in December. Why not come for a taster class to give it a try?

For more information and class fees  visit www.londonbubble.org.uk

Call 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]