PROJECTS

Thatcher-Rite

An interactive performance exploring the personal and political legacy of Margaret Thatcher. The audience are invited to Mrs. Thatcher’s very own traditional English tea party. With lip-sync, clown, and verbatim theatre the audience are encouraged to bring their anger or admiration in the comforts of cake and cucumber sandwiches.

Created and performed by Jack, who grew up in Thatcher's former constituency, Thatcher-Rite puts the personal and political side by side. Her mark on the cultural, social and political notions of Englishness begs the question,“Has Mrs. Thatcher truly left us?"

Directed by Lila Robirosa

Costume by Corinna Francavilla

Produced by Mia Young

Touring to Nottingham, Lincoln, Sheffield and London. Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

At Nonsuch Studios in Nottingham on the 13th October. Get tickets here.

Made with the support from artsdepot, Raze Collective, Something To Aim For and HighRise Theatre.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ North West End

"I was overcome with conflicting emotions for about an hour as I considered the absurdity of political performativity... The performance combined multimedia with the public’s involvement in an exceptionally clever way."

★ ★ ★ ★ One Show More

"A perfect way to start a conversation and to reflect on what you stand for and what kind of community you would like to be part of."

Photo by Imogen Cleverley.

UK New Artist Collective

Selected from a national open call, The New Artist Collective is a cross-disciplinary group of 18 artists, who will work collaboratively as well as individually over from November 2022 to October 2023 in Lincoln; sharing work, undertaking commissions and collective activities and taking part in training, networking and mentoring.

Find out more about the the UK New Artist Collective here.

Photo by Ronnie Danaher.

The Children are Leaving

In development and co-created with Robyn Olivia. Commissioned by Drunken Chorus.

A collection of scenes and performances that grapple with the tension of bringing new life onto a dying planet. The personal desire to start a family is placed side by side with the end of the world alongside an abundance of puppets for good measure.

First developed as part of Camden People's Theatre's annual artist development programme, Starting Blocks. Further commissioned and supported by Drunken Chorus for A Bit of A Do Festival.

GUSH by Abby Vicky-Russell

Neil is a plumber from Sheffield.

He’s been called in on short notice to fix a leak, so a contemporary dance troupe can continue performing their very important piece exploring the relationship between pomegranates and vulvas.

He can fix taps, sinks and baths with his eyes closed – but hasn’t got a spanner for what matters most.

Written and Performed by Abby Vicky-Russell

Directed by Will Armstrong

Assistant Directed by Lois Pearson

Produced by Jack Boal

★★★★★ The Reviews Hub

"GUSH proves to be an ingenious and fresh way of approaching a vital discussion"

★★★★ Broadway World

★★★★ Fringe Biscuit

★★★★ Creative Reviews UK

★★★★ Lost in Theatreland

Origins Award nominee at VAULT Festival 2023.

Supported by Sheffield Theatres.

Longlisted for the BBC Popcorn Award at Edinburgh Fringe 2023.

Photo by James Klug.

idiots. gay idiots.

A vaudevillian cabaret night where funny gay idiots are funny, gay and idiotic. Platforming the best new and established alternative comedy performance. Expect drag, clowns, comedians & straight-up tomfoolery.

"For fans of comedy or performance art who’d like a dip into a more alternative selection of performers, it provides an eclectic and, ultimately, entertaining evening" - The Reviews Hub

"London's best cliche-free drag nights, 2022" - Time Out

More info at gayidiots.com

Photo by James Klug.

PAST PROJECTS

NewGens & The Concrete Jungle Book 2020-22

NewGens is a youth collective overseen and delivered by HighRise Theatre, with the aim to give underrepresented creatives a route into higher education and job opportunities in the arts.

The NewGens made their debut with The Concrete Jungle Book - a Hip-Hop musical retelling of the classic story.

★★★★★ - Always Time For Theatre

★★★★ - Theatre Weekly

★★★★ - North West End

★★★★ - Musical Theatre Review

★★★★ - Lost In Theatre Land

"The enthusiasm of the cast is what engages the audience with The Concrete Jungle Book, but even its youngest patrons won’t fail to pick up on the underlying themes that make this such an important piece of theatre, one which reinvents Kipling’s original in a way that Disney could never have hoped to achieve." - Theatre Weekly

Photo by Alex Brenner