Showing posts with label Traverse Theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Traverse Theatre. Show all posts

Friday, 12 August 2011

Fringe Festival Frenzy



picture copyright Brian Hartley

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is now approaching it’s second weekend and although Vox Motus doesn’t have a production this year we couldn’t entirely keep away from the madness so here are our recommendations of shows that we have been involved with and shows we have just seen so far and loved..

A Conversation with Carmel (St George’s West 2.15pm)

Co-directed by Candice, designed by Jamie and produced by Susannah this show definitely has a Vox Motus influence on it. It is an honest interrogation of family relationships and a beautiful celebration of the older person’s experience and place in society told through dance, theatre and film. A Guardian dance pick of the Fringe and only on for 9 performances don’t miss it!


The Wheel (Traverse various times)

Zinnie Harris’s ambitious new play is a journey through the landscape of war and a symbolic comment on the corruption of childhood innocence. Featuring some powerful performances and illusion design by Vox Motus’s Jamie Harrison, the production has just been awarded a Fringe First.

Untitled Love Story (St George’s West 6pm)

Fire Exit’s new production is a lyrical and intelligent meditation on love told through four different monologues. It features beautiful sound and lighting design by Graham Sutherland, who has done many a brilliant sound design for Vox Motus.

Federer vs Murray (Assembly 12.30pm)

Originally produced by A Play, A Pie and A Pint, this tragi-comedy by Gerda Stevenson is another play that tackles the subject of war through personal relationships and an enduring love of tennis... It features the lighting design of Simon Wilkinson who is a core creative associate of Vox Motus and a brilliant lighting designer.

Other shows we have enjoyed….

We have barely scratched the surface of what is on offer yet this year so there may well be a second blog post before the end of the festival but here’s what we have loved so far…

Dance Marathon (Traverse 7.15pm)

A four hour dance competition may not sound like fun but trust me it is. Inspired by the Dance Marathons of Depression era America it is joyous, immersive and life affirming. Go and dance your socks off.

Tonight Sandy Grierson will Lecture, Dance and Box (Assembly various times)

Another show that originated at A Play, A Pie and A Pint. This is part lecture, part theatre and part stand up comedy. Find out about the extraordinary life of Arthur Craven – poet, thief, boxer and great grandfather among many other things. Featuring a mesmerizing performance by Sandy Grierson, you’ll come out scratching your head about how much of what you have been told is true.


I Hope My Heart Goes First (St George’s West, 2pm)

An exploration of love by teenagers on the brink of discovering all of its joys and woes. This is at times energetic, angry, funny, poignant and touching. Created and performed by Junction 25 - a performance collective aged 13 – 20. This autobiographical piece is original and accomplished.


Tuesday, 15 June 2010

Edinburgh antics

Vox Motus have been mostly focussing our attention on all things edinburgh of late. Firstly we can now proudly and officially announce that our festival venue is Traverse One which we are incredibly excited about. Full details of of the Traverse's festival programme can be downloaded here: http://www.traverse.co.uk/downloads/Traverse%20Festival%20Brochure%20final.pdf

It looks like a very strong and varied programme with everything from existential clowning to ballet.

On Sunday the Bright Black posse headed back through to Edinburgh to attend the CATS awards as we were nominated for Best Technical Presentation. Although we were pipped at the post by Perth's Jane Eyre and it's collapsing house we had much theatre celebratory fun. A full list of nominees and winners can be found here: http://www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com/

Having very much enjoyed the tea and cakes at the Traverse on Thursday and the canapes and Kir Royales at the CATS on Sunday Vox Motus is now open to any other offers of events that involve free food and drink...

Friday, 23 April 2010

Watch this Space!















Vox Motus have an exciting new production opening this summer

THE NOT SO FATAL DEATH OF GRANDPA FREDO

“I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.” Woody Allen

A frozen body found in a woodshed wreaks havoc in the local community, forcing them to confront questions of science, faith and immortality. Inspired by an incredible true story, Fringe First 2008 winners Vox Motus present a pitch dark comedy featuring a host of eccentric characters, original live music and stunning design.

“ faultless, fast-paced, brilliant sense of style...a cutting-edge comic-strip show for theatre” The Scotsman on festival sell-out success Slick.

“A technical and emotional triumph.” The Stage on Bright Black


http://www.voxmotus.co.uk/


[image credit - Gary Birnie http://www.garybirnie.co.uk/]

Full production details coming soon!

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

Heading East...


While the Bright Black cast and crew have a well deserved week's holiday Jamie, Candice and Susannah are heading off to Lithuania (Europe's "best kept secret" according to Lonely planet..)
Along with several other scottish companies such as Vanishing Point, Plan B, the Traverse Theatre and Grid Iron, we will be participating in the IETM theatre and dance networking event in Vilnius, discovering what Lithuanian theatre and dance has to offer (Chekov seems to be particularly popular) and no doubt sampling some local hospitality. News and pictures from our trip to follow when we return to these shores.
(image Peter Adams/ Getty images)

Tuesday, 15 September 2009

Bright Black opening!

A sneak preview of Bright Black to whet your appetite! The show previews tonight and opens tomorrow night at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh.
www.traverse.co.uk

Photographs by Tim Morozzo
www.morozzo.co.uk



Wednesday, 20 August 2008

Herald review

We got a really good review in the Herald today (all this attention will be going to our heads!)

"the Biggars are straight out of Viz comic by way of Harry Enfield's The Slobs... Slick both by name and by nature this is one show that won't go down the pan."

Read the review in full

Sunday, 17 August 2008

Slick Review - The Scotsman

The reviews are starting to pour in for the show now. Check out this 4 star review from the Scotsman:

"Jordan Young's performance as the face of wee Malcolm is beyond praise and the rest of the four-strong cast give him terrific support, in a show whose whole creative team deserve a standing ovation."

http://living.scotsman.com/13870/Theatre-review-39Once-and-for.4397413.jp

Friday, 15 August 2008

Slick shortlisted for an award!

We are excited by the fact that Slick has been shortlisted for a Total Theatre Award! Watch this space for further info on the awards ceremony etc (oh the glamour!)

In other news we are sending out our intrepid ambassadors Lucy and Jen to flyer for the show along the Royal Mile this afternoon, fingers crossed it doesn't rain...

Tuesday, 12 August 2008

Opening Night Approaching!

Vox Motus’ Edinburgh Fringe debut is finally here and our first week is pretty much SOLD OUT!

We unloaded the van at the Traverse yesterday, rigged our lights, set our marks and now we’re ready for an audience. Even though it was a day off for all performances at the Traverse yesterday the bar was still jumping by the time we emerged from our subterranean fit-up. What a great Festival hub!

Things I am most looking forward to:
A much earned drink after Press Night
Meeting up with friends who have travelled from as far a field as Australia to make it to the Fringe
Finally seeing some shows that don’t involve obese puppets
Donning a frock and making the most of the Festival parties

Things I am not looking forward to:
The last train back to Glasgow
Queuing for returns when shows I am desperate to see have sold out
Navigating wet Edinburgh streets in high heels after donning a frock and making the most of the Festival parties

Candice

Friday, 4 July 2008

The Final Countdown

It's been manic here at Vox Motus HQ over the last few months as we prepare for the launch of our new show, Slick.

SLICK has been the obsession of Artistic Directors Jamie and Candice since one caffeine fuelled afternoon back in 2006 when they came up with the story of a cat that survives among the bizarre inhabitants of a destitue tenement. The cat has now morphed into a nine year old boy called Malcolm Biggar but the other inhabitants are no less bizarre! The script has been developed along with Stephen Greenhorn (creator of River City and writer for Doctor Who) and is Vox Motus’ first production involving puppetry.

We have developed a concept that marries puppet bodies with human faces creating a world that exists somewhere between cartoons, puppet theatre and a magic show . The result is a gloriously lunatic world that we think people will remember long after they've left the theatre.

We'll have some more information on the genesis of the play over the next few weeks, but here's a rundown of the show tour dates:

Slick tour dates
  • Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh: 12th - 24th August
  • Eden Court Theatre, Inverness: 29th - 30th August
  • Rutherglen Town Hall, Rutherglen: 9th September
  • Byre Theatre, St Andrews: 11th September
  • Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock: 12th September
  • Tron Theatre, Glasgow: 16th - 20th September
  • Lemon Tree, Aberdeen: 23rd - 24th September
  • Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling: 26th - 27th September