The performing highlights of the festival will include the following:
As more information is available it will appear on the website so pop back from time to time.
Performers: Further details about each Artist/Performer Footsbarn Travelling Theatre Footsbarn Travelling Theatre is one of the world’s leading touring companies performing for the most part in one of its circus big tops but also in theatres throughout the world. The company is renowned for its exciting adaptations of classics such as Shakespeare and Moliere, transcending the barrier of language with its unique blend of visual theatre, music and magic. In thirty five years, Footsbarn has produced nearly sixty plays, travelled the six continents and is a truly multi-national group. The actors possess a multiplicity of talents and theatrical techniques all of which inhabit and enrich every performance. Footsbarn began life in Cornwall in 1971 rehearsing in a barn owned by the Foot family, whence the name. In 1984 the company left Britain to take its brand of theatre to international audiences and remained without a base until 1991 when a farm was purchased in La Chaussée, central France. Today its base is a fully equipped production centre complete with workshops, rehearsal space, office and studios and a centre for education. Over the last 15 years Footsbarn has organised and staged numerous workshops, which have been taught by both actors from the company as well as professionals associated with Footsbarn. At present plans are being drawn up for a permanent school offering courses to both undergraduates and professionals. Dudley Performing Arts provides a high quality Arts Service that promotes opportunities for artistic and creative development across the whole community. Founded in 1996, Garlic Theatre is a visual theatre company that uses image, puppet animation, movement and live music to create theatre productions of artistic excellence. They aim to challenge, entertain and stimulate people of all ages through work which encourages imaginative play and develops a new awareness of the power of puppet animation. Their productions of Rapunzel, George and the Dragon, Sinbad the Sailor, Flea Circus, Fiddlesticks and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice have reached young audiences in theatres, art centres and schools throughout the United Kingdom. They have toured internationally to 15 countries outside the UK winning five separate awards of excellence at International Puppet Festivals. Together they create theatre with masks and toys and anything else that seems right at the time. They aim to entertain and to intrigue, to explore the epic through the intimate. Adults like what they do and children are equally charmed. They state themselves, and we could illustrate it no better, ‘In an age of global conflict where words are used as missiles, we hope that our crafted, tender and funny work waves a small mute flag of surrender to get the world laughing’ Deborah Ravetz and Mike Chase Deborah Ravetz studied literature and philosophy at York University and Fine Art at the Leith School of Art, Edinburgh and Grays School of Art, Aberdeen. She works as a painter and writer and teaches History of Art and Human Consciousness in various art schools and institutions. She is also studying for an MA in Social Sculpture at Oxford Brookes. Trading Faces has been devising shows since 1987. Audiences large and small, young and old have been delighted year after year with their dynamic characters, superb timing, stunning sets and costume design, independent lighting and original music. Their latest performance builds on the recent success of The Little Prince created by Trading Faces for Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company. Osun Arts Foundation The Osun Arts Foundation (OAF) is a non-profit making organisation based in Liverpool, and was founded in 1992. It works mainly, but not exclusively in schools, community and art centres introducing, demonstrating and teaching aspects of African culture, especially music, visual arts, drama, story telling and dance (and associated arts) of West Africa. Osun Arts acts as a producing and performing company of innovative and powerful traditional and contemporary African Dance and Music for national and international festivals, promoting cultural exchanges between Britain and other parts of Africa. Osun’s aim is to advance the education of the public concerning Africa and its art, anthropology and culture. Osun Arts encourage the public to engage in the overall experience of the performance, as opposed to just being passive spectators. As in previous shows, the artists encourage members of the public to participate in a traditional Yoruba dance at the end of the show. 'Osun' is the name for an African river. According to the oral tradition, it is the epitome of vitality, endurance, prosperity and hope. Among Africans, the free flowing and pure water of “Osun” symbolizes the undying spring of life, and since Arts and Culture is never viewed as being separate from everyday life of every African. This name signifies our history and traditional arts in living combination with our culture.
Click on the performer of your choice to discover more.
and their performances follow:
will be performing…
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
This Shakespeare favourite is brought to life with a feast of magic, masks and humour all within the stunning environment of their huge Big Top theatre tent.
Performances of A Midsummer Nights Dream by Footsbarn Theatre run throughout the festival. Due to high demand early reservations are recommended. This is an unmissable opportunity to see this inspirational, international theatre company perform within the UK.
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Dudley Performing Arts
will be performing…
Challenging Perspective
Dudley Performing Arts aims to deliver an accessible and high quality Arts service to unlock and develop the creative potential of the community of Dudley.
Young people of Dudley have been creating and working with mask and seeing how it can be used in dance, drama and music. Schools, community-groups and professional artists have taken the theme of masks for inspiration and created a unique response to today’s performance by young people from 8-22 years. The performance will also be supported by a professional performance by Dudley Performing Arts “The Company”.
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Garlic Theatre Company
will be performing…
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
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Please Note: Family tickets can only be
booked by Telephone: 01384 812812
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Steven Whinnery Company
will be performing…
Lying with the Animals
The Steven Whinnery Company consists of Daniel Gentely, Sophie Powell, James Wilson, Heather Uprichard and Steven Whinnery.
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Mas Soegeng Company
will be performing…
Journey to the World of Masks
Mas Soegeng was born in Java. When he was very young, like many children in Java, he became fascinated with Ketroprak and Wayang Wong. This traditional style of puppet theatre is based on the Hindu Ramayana and Mahabarata epics, combined with themes from Javanese folklore. They were often used to teach morals as well as to entertain, and is seen as a highly influential popular art form for spreading principles and social criticism. In his village, surrounded by theatre and dance, he studied with the elders and learnt his trade. Later Mas Soegeng went to live in Bali so he could study Balinese culture and in particular the Balinese mask theatre, Topeng. He was initiated by two of the grand masters of the time; Nyoman Pugra (theatre) and Wayan Rindi (dance). Now, having lived in France for the last 25 years, his style of performance has been enriched by Western theatre traditions. His show, therefore, is a meeting of different styles of theatre. It is a voyage with the characters, the Topeng ones travel from the Orient to our theatre; those from the West become both Oriental and Western.
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will be presenting the lecture…
But Now Face to Face
Mike Chase is an actor and mask-maker and Director. He trained in mask in Bali and Italy. He has acted with the Unfortunati, Trestle Theatre Company, The Rose Theatre Company. He established the Mask Studio in 1994. Mike has taught mime and mask in colleges and universities internationally for fifteen years and is currently the Artistic Director of the Glasshouse Arts Centre. Mike is the Festival Director for the International Mask Festival.
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Trading Faces
will be performing….
Alice
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will be performing…
Dance of the Gods
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Horse + Bamboo
will be performing…
In the Shadow of Trees
Horse + Bamboo Theatre create stunning visual theatre in which music and storytelling are central. Touring throughout the UK and internationally its company produce a full range of performances tailored to specific audiences with their unique blend of masks, film and puppetry. Originally tours were conducted by horse-drawn carriage but nowadays their popularity demands the use of motorised transport!
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Fabulous Old Spot
will be performing…
The Curse of Elverado
The Fabulous Old Spot Theatre Company was founded in 2004 and has produced five shows since then. The company specialises in taking its particular brand of theatre to community and village venues, aiming to create shows that all ages can enjoy. Using the masks and traditions of the commedia dell’arte they have attempted to root its surviving archetypes, not in some imagined Italian renaissance, but in a specifically English milieu to create theatre from the Merrie England that never was.
The shows might look small and smell like old style medieval theatre, but they aim to make you laugh today, at things that bother all and sundry.
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Fetch Theatre
will be performing...
Maze of Minos
With contemporary resonances, as we challenge the moral justifications for war and long-held ‘tribal’ feuds, The Maze of Minos stimulates debates as an ancient story is retold in a stunning piece of visual theatre and storytelling. Fetch Theatre’s puppetry and masks evoke the intense, dangerous and emotional content that runs through each of their stories.
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Mask Showcase
The mask showcase is a chance to see cutting edge mask performance incorporating elements of dance, drama, improvisation and comedy. This is an exciting opportunity for companies, professional and community based, to air work in progress and experimental research and get feedback. The format will be 6 – 8 short pieces by different companies followed by a discussion. Watch this space for news of the contributors.
If you would like to get involved please email Rebecca Marriott, Project Co-ordinator at mailto:rmarriot@ghc.rmet.org.uk
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The Glasshouse Arts Centre
will be presenting...
Mask Auction
There will be an auction of masks donated by the various mask-makers and companies involved in the Festival which means we have an extraordinary range for this occasion from masks that have been used in well known performances to masks used for training and therapy and masks made specially for this event. There will be various styles of masks including naïve, Greek acoustic, commedia dell’arte and half and full character masks.
With prices ranging from £5 to £200 we think this is a fabulous opportunity for teachers to find sets for use in education, collectors looking for masks from leading theatre companies, theatre practitioners to purchase masks for new productions and for the individual who simply wants a beautiful piece of art for their wall. Even if you are not interested in buying a mask, the auction promises to be a spectacle of live theatre as all masks will be demonstrated by mask trained actors in a spontaneous cabaret of characters. Everyone involved in the bidding will be offered a complimentary glass of wine.
The masks will be on display from the beginning of the festival on Friday 19th October in the Mask for Auction section of the exhibition. In the meantime, for images of the masks and details of their lot number and guide price, please check the website regularly as we will add these here as the masks are acquired.
If you have any masks you would like to donate to the auction please contact Rebecca Marriott on rmarriott@ghc.rmet.org.uk
Auction
Saturday 27th October 4.30pm
Venue: Lower Glass House
Running Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Entrance free
Suitable for all ages