The North East Theatre Guide: Preview: Soapbox Tour at Newcastle Alphabetti

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Public Address - THE SOAPBOX TOUR

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Wednesday 14^th October 2015

– Spoken word artists not afraid to explore real life issues –

Public Address: The Soapbox Tour is a unique, theatrical spoken word show, giving voice to the passions and stories within us all. Directed by award-winning writer, performer and theatre maker Hannah Silva, the show features an ensemble of dynamic spoken word artists. Justin Coe delivers an entertaining coming-of-age tale exploring sexuality, whilst trans poet AJ McKenna looks at love in its many guises through an interactive, fierce but fun poetry-live-art crossover; Jasmine Gardosi shows searing intensity in a powerful snapshot study of mental health, as Shagufta K presents a web woven from the mythological past to the urgent present.

Henry Raby, Justin Coe, Jasmine Gardosi, AJ McKenna,

Shagufta K, Helen Seymour, Ingrid McLaren, Keisha Thompson

Photo: Suzi Corker Photography

This diverse group has been brought together by Apples and Snakes, England’s leading organisation for spoken word. Guest artists Henry Raby (York), Keisha Thompson (Manchester), Ingrid McLaren (Nottingham), and Helen Seymour (Canterbury) will join the ensemble throughout the tour. In the South West, budding poets from Plymouth Young Writers Squad will also perform.

Justin Coe, Jasmine Gardosi, AJ McKenna, Shagufta K

Photo: Suzi Corker Photography

Produced by Apples and Snakes, England's leading organisation for spoken word and performance poetry, Public Address demonstrates and nurtures the skills and diversity of writers prevalent on the UK spoken word scene, whose written skills and dedication to the craft are responsible for the art form's recent explosion into the mainstream. Public Address will open in Newcastle on Wednesday 14 September before setting off on a national tour. On Sunday 25 October, the ensemble, along with the four guest artists, will give a flagship performance of the newly commissioned work at Bloomsbury Theatre Studio, as part of Bloomsbury Festival.

Hannah Silva, Public Address Creative Director, commented: 'Working with such talented and dedicated poets from across England has been a pleasure and a privilege. The artists have taken the opportunity to take risks with their work both in terms of content and performance, directing them has been a thrilling and rewarding experience.'

Shagufta K

Photo: Suzi Corker Photography

Lucy Crompton-Reid, Apples and Snakes Director, commented: 'I’m very excited about the forthcoming Public Address: The Soapbox Tour, and particularly pleased that for this – our third national Public Address Tour – we have been able to commission original new work from eight fantastic, diverse and thought-provoking spoken word artists and performance poets, with the support of the John Ellerman Foundation. I can’t wait to see the show – directed by the pioneering artist Hannah Silva – which I’m sure will be a thrill for all audiences, whether or not they have experienced spoken word before.'

Tickets:

Apples and Snakes presents The Soap Box Tour on Wednesday 14th October 2015.

Bar Opens: 18:30
Show Begins: 19:30
Tickets: £5 Ticket Online Link

The Alphabetti Theatre.

18 New Bridge Street

Newcastle-upon-Tyne,

NE1 8EW

www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

On Tour:

Wednesday 14 October, 7.30pm Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle NE1 8AW  
Saturday 17 October, 8pm          The House, Plymouth University, Devon PL4 8AA  
Sunday 25 October, 7:30pm        Bloomsbury Theatre Studio, London WC1H 0AH
Monday 26 October, 7:30pm       Nuffield Theatre, Southampton SO17 1TR
Friday 13 November, 7.30pm       Hexagon Theatre, Mac Birmingham, Birmingham B12 9QH