'Way over there and back again -- in a week (!!!)
From Asian Age Nov 16, 2010 by Neha Jain:
The circular stage at the Lotus Temple has been turned into a barn and glints with lights to welcome Victor Hugo, with a leading English theatre group ... having opened its doors to stage its masterpiece, The Man Who Laughs, in New Delhi on November 14 and 16.
All things are in this laugh of mine, at which you laugh today!
...set in England in 1690. A nobleman, who has offended the King, is put to death and his son is punished with a permanent scar across his face: A grin that will remind him “to laugh forever at his fool of a father”. As he grows to manhood, the scarred boy journeys through our bizarre world, always half-sad and half-smiling.
The adventure of the play begins on the coast of Cornwall in a stormy night, where Footsbarn began its own epic journey 35 years ago and the protagonists are traveling clowns. Set against the background of a Shakespearean world, they travel ...
Renowned for their visually acrobatic adaptations of classics — Shakespeare and Molière, for example — that transcend the barrier of language with a unique blend of visual theatre, music and magic, the group will play in a mixed version of French and English ... our adaptation of the story has been appreciated by the audiences wherever we have performed, informed Paddy Haytor, artistic director of the group.
Footsbarn gets its name from the barn ... in Cornwall where the group began its rehearsals in 1971. The idea to set up the company was to take theatre to people who didn’t have access to it. We used to perform on the beaches, in villages and on streets ... In 1975, we started performing in a tent that could accommodate around 200 people.
(I was there, setting up that SAME tent!)
... During the late ’70s, we had to leave our country but we chose to be around Europe. The times were changing, theatre was evolving and so was the company. What began as an English theatre group started turning into an international group with Polish, French and Greek artistes joining it. Since then, we have been touring countries like France, Germany and India, conducting workshops and performing at various places. The language barrier no more exists and we perform in Greek, French and other languages as well, said Haytor.
The group first came to India in 1995 ... he has seen the Indian audience evolving and youngsters getting more and more interested in English theatre. The most amazing experience was when five Indians joined us when we did a workshop in Kerala. Though not all of them are with us ... Indian musicians are great to work with ... I find them eager to work with them for some good English productions. They are always open for cultural exchange and they love to talk. We are looking forward to building a theatre tent in India with Indian architects. This will open up the exchange of theatrical activities which will encourage more theatre tours to India, said Haytor.
After completing their Indian tour, the group is looking forward to work with Indian actors and musicians for their next production, The Tempest by Shakespeare, concluded Haytor.
On the Iberian Peninsula:
Workshop Katie Duck and Alfredo Genovesi Estudio tres Madrid Spain workshop November 19, 20, 21
Performance Katie Duck and Alfredo Genovesi plus student group Estudio tres Madrid Spain November 22
Workshop Katie Duck and Alfredo Genovesi Barcelona, Spain La Poderosa November 22-26
(Jango will be doing a Cabaret Cabron at Freedonia in Barcelona on November 27.)
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?
This ought to be GOOD:
December 10 Duck Projects Happy Homicide Zaal 100 Amsterdam 21:00 Direction: Katie Duck Performance: Sharon Smith Film: Ilaria Honsinger Music: Alfredo Genovesi and Andy Keep
George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars are starting a winter tour:
Nov 19 and 20 2010 8:00 PM and 10:30 PM
Yoshi’s San Francisco, California, US
This is an unusual type of gig for Parliament/Funkadelic -- two sets a night are almost unheard-of for the Funk Mob, and they RARELY book back-to-back venues.
I bet they'll be some AMAZING jams with the talent on hand by The Bay!
The rest of Funky 2010:
Dec 3 2010 8:00P -- B.B. King Blues Club & Grill New York, NY
Dec 4 2010 8:30P -- State Theater Portland, ME , US
Dec 9 2010 8:30P -- L.C. Pavilion Columbus, Ohio
Dec 10 2010 9:00P -- Stage AE Pittsburgh, PA
