EAST LONDON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL PRESENTS
Thanks for visiting Illyria!
East London Shakespeare Festival is committed to bringing high quality and accessible Shakespeare to East London audiences… and you don’t get more East London that Illyria - an exotic, romantic, at times dangerous land. Music floats on the air, while the rambunctious, larger than life residents seek out love and a good time. He’s, She’s and They’s explore & celebrate identity and self-expression, while some hide behind masks, and others are simply looking for an all-night party! Sound familiar?
Our Illyria will explore love & identity, drawing inspiration from the 1980’s, including Club Tropicana, Copa-cabana pool party, new romantic, Versace, Wham, David Bowie & Madonna.
Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most musical plays & East London Shakespeare Festival’s version will feature original music by Amir Shoenfeld, as well as some 80’s classics to get you dancing along to.
We hope you enjoy the party as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
37 Performances
3500+ tickets sold
29 x flower garland making workshops for 3-11 year olds
3 x school matinees/pre-show workshops – 251 students 7-16yrs
Community ensemble: 17 local people featured in 10 performances
3 Apprentice Schemes
Partnered with 13+ Community Partners & Local Businesses
21 Professional paid roles
The evaluation from our online survey, showeed that 99% of respondents “understood & enjoyed the performance," citing the key features as ‘joyful,’ ‘diverse cast,’ ‘beautiful setting.’ A huge majority walked or cycled to the show and their travel time was under 30 minutes. As such our age range was huge, with an audience made up of 0-90 year olds.
CREATIVE TEAM
Scott LeCrass - Director
Scott was born in Bristol, grew up in Birmingham, trained as an actor at Arts Ed and was a director on the Birmingham Rep’s first Foundry Programme.
He is an Associate Director for Pleasure Dome Theatre Company, where his previous productions include- A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lear, Lorna Doone, The Importance of Being Earnest, Macbeth, J.M. Barrie's The Twelve Pound Look. Last year, He directed Pleasure Dome’s 1st tour of Louisa which went to venues including Phoenix Exeter and The Landmark, Ilfracombe.
Other credits include:
Director- Rose by Martin Sherman starring Maureen Lipman (Hope Mill Theatre/Sky Arts/Broad-way HD), Elmer (UK and International Tour/Sell A Door), Sid (Arts Theatre and UK Tour), Country Music (Omnibus Theatre), The Witches (Watford Palace), Alice in Wonderland (Old, Rep, Birmingham), If You Love Me This Might Hurt by Matty May (Camden People’s Theatre), Education, Education Karaoke (Camden People’s Theatre), Darling (Hope Theatre).
Associate Director- Godspell (50th Anniversary Concert, Hope Mill Theatre), The Seven Ages of Patience (Kiln Theatre).
Assistant Director- The King’s Speech (Chichester/Birmingham Rep/UK Tour), Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice (Silvano Toti Globe, Italy), Coming Up (Watford Palace), A Christmas Carol (Birmingham Rep), Von Ribbentrop's Watch (Oxford Playhouse/Watford Palace), Kurt and Sid (Trafalgar Studios).
Last year, Scott’s digital production of Rose won an Off Com award and Country Music an Off West End award in 2020. He received a Best Director Offie and Broadway World Nomination for his productions of Sid and a Best Director Offie Nomination for Kicked in the Sh**ter. Alice in Wonderland was a runner up and a finalist for two What’s On Birmingham Awards.
Note from Director
“Twelfth Night was massively ahead of its time, with its exploration of gender, sexuality and identity. In 2022, these conversations have shifted. We want to celebrate the positive steps made forward with a production that is full of joy, colour and love.
Our version of the play is set in the 80’s - for me it was my earliest memory of gender fluidity - especially in the music and club scene - lots of the music from the era fits perfectly with the themes of love, chaos, expression and yearning”
George Alexander – Designer
George is a designer and illustrator working across a wide range of creative industries, specialising in theatre and costume. With a background in sculpture from Goldsmith University, George began working as a scenic painter in 2010 and has worked on a number of films and music videos since. George's style incorporates contemporary themes with a love of historical fashion and traditional making processes. His passion for extremes allows him to generate pieces that can vary from the wildly extravagant to the absurdly minimal. George's recent work includes a giant mural painted in the lobby of the Unicorn Theatre in London Bridge and an illustration collaboration with the Fashion and Textile museum.
George's designs feature in A Midsummer Night's Dream as the cushions in Titania's bower
Pieces are available to purchase:
Julia Cave – Movement Director
Credits as Choreographer and Movement Director include:
Home, I'm Darling (Theatre Royal BSE/Chipping Norton); Hamlet (Guildford Shakespeare Company); The Tempest (Jermyn St); The Smeds and The Smoos (UK Tour); Peter and The Wolf (Waterperry Opera); A Midsummer Night's Dream, Nell Gywnn and The Winters Tale (Changeling Theatre); Treasure Island(Bolton Octagon), Clown-Hearted (The Vaults); Pride and Prejudice; Sleeping Beauty (also Co-Director), Goodnight Mr Tom, Treasure Island, Our Day Out, Arabian Nights, Dick Whittington, Beauty and the Beast, Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella (all at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds); Pictures of Dorian Gray (Stephen Joseph/Jermyn St/Creation Theatre); Paperboy (Lyric Theatre, Belfast); Wizard of Oz (Salisbury Playhouse); Hadestown, Spring Awakening(Mountview); Lord of The Flies (Greenwich Theatre); Infinite Joy (Southwark Playhouse); Dick Whittington, Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk – also Director (Jordan Productions); Northanger Abbey (UK Tour); The Picture of Dorian Gray (English Theatre Frankfurt); Stig of the Dump (UK Tour and Arts Theatre, West End) – also Resident Director; The Night The War Ended, Help! Get Me Out of This Musical! (BYMT); Taming of The Shrew (Lazarus Theatre); Angels Punks and Raging Queens –as Assistant (Criteron Theatre, West End), King Lear (The Space), Thank You Haters (award winning music video), Women Of Troy (The Blue Elephant).
www.juliacave.co.uk
Amir Shoenfeld- Musical Director
Amir Shoenfeld is an award-winning composer, songwriter and music producer with experience in musical theatre, contemporary dance and pop music.
As composer, Amir has created scores for the dance-theatre company Second Hand Dance, including NIGHT TREE (2019), GETTING DRESSED (2017) and GRASS (2014). He is the composer of the audio mini-musical SHEILA THE TINY TURTLE, presented on the Bite-Sized Broadway podcast by IndieWorks Theatre (2022). Amir has won the Stiles & Drewe Best New Song Award (2020) as well as the Song for Our Time initiative, selected by Tony-winner Jason Robert Brown (2020).
As music producer/director, Amir produced the critically acclaimed album DESIRE LINES by Fictonian and worked as a musical director on JEWISH HOLLYWOOD (2022, Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Aria Entertainment) and THE LAST NATIVITY (2021, Iris Theatre). He has worked as musical director on many productions at Beit Zvi, Israel’s foremost drama school and produced the song ‘Nimeni Pe Drum’, representing Israel in the finals of The Golden Stag, Europe’s second largest pop song contest (2008).
Amir has worked as an Associate Lecturer on MA Musical Theatre at Goldsmiths College and he is an advanced member of BOOK Music & Lyrics (BML)
Instagram: @Amir_Shoenfeld
Twitter: @AmirShoenfeld
Website: https://www.AmirShoenfeld.com
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/amir-shoenfeld
Emily Mead - Stage Manager
Emily has been working as a freelance Stage Manager since graduating from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2019. Her work has taken her across many theatre venues, including Camden People’s Theatre, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Theatro Technis, The Cockpit and the National Theatre. This being her first outdoor production, Emily can’t wait to get stuck into touring and sharing Shakespeare with the local East London communities."
MEET THE CAST
PAUL CARROLL – Feste & Antonio
Paul hails from Ireland and early in his career toured as male soloist singer in Riverdance.
He's travelled the world as a singer and also lent his voice to original cast recordings of new musicals.
His acclaimed solo sketch show Forty Shades of Strawberry Blond played successfully at Leicester Square Theatre, Camden Comedy Club and Brighton Fringe.
Theatre credits: A Skull in Connemara (Nottingham Playhouse, Dir: Fiona Buffini), Victorian Women in Bed (London, Liverpool, Manchester), Outlaws to In-laws (King’s Head Theatre), The Non-Stop Connolly Show and Continuity (Finborough Theatre), Permanence by Fay Weldon and That Dark Place by Anna Jordan (Old Red Lion), An Incomplete History of Faces (Tristan Bates Theatre), Way Back (Pleasance London), Pentimenti; All in the Head (Red Kettle Theatre Company).
Screen Credits:
Feature film- Chosen;
Short films- The Wrong Change, Devon Gothic and Drone.
Online, he stars in the YouTube/Web comedy series: 'Thinking Inside the Box'.
AARON DOUGLAS - Sebastian
Aaron originally hails from the West Midlands. Born and based in Birmingham and London. He is a working-class, Global Majority, queer artist; half English, quarter Caribbean and a quarter Scottish.
He trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts on the PG Acting Course. As well as graduating from BA Theatre Studies at the University of Surrey.
As an actor-musician, he sings, plays guitar and writes and composes music.
Performance Credits: Interruptions (Jacksons Lane), Albatross (Playground Theatre), Money (Southwark Playhouse), The Proletarians (Criterion Theatre), Passing (Theatre Royal Haymarket & RADA Studios) and Michael Morpurgo's Kensuke's Kingdom (Pleasance Theatre)
As a writer, his short plays have been performed at Criterion Theatre, Theatre503, Arcola Theatre, The Vaults and Ambassadors Theatre. He is a commissioned and published playwright with James Graham’s Sketching. With an upcoming anthology of monologues published by Rikki Beadle-Blair’s Team Angelica showcasing diverse voices. Currently writing with Big Finish Productions.
URSULA EARLY - Olivia
Ursula is an East-Londoner – she was born and raised in Hackney and has lived in Waltham Forest for 10 years.
She trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Her TV credits include: Eastenders, Doctors, The Bill, Life Begins, The Life Class and several independent films.
Stage credits include: Please Right Back (1927), Midsummer Nights Dream (ELSF), The Endings (Soho Theatre & Nottingham Playhouse), Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Elbows, (Arts Theatre/Theatre Royal Stratford East), Powerhouse, Last Manor Standing and The Power Of Love (Pleasance Theatre, London & Edinburgh), Wives As They Were Maids As They Are and Animal Magnetism (Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and Haymarket, Basingstoke), Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night (Cambridge Shakespeare Company), Guests (Hall For Cornwall), Master Of Mayhem (Eastern Angles), Just For Fun (New End Theatre), Diamond (Kings Head), Blame (Sphinx Theatre Company – Tour), The Glimmer (Bristol Old Vic Studio).
PHILIP HONEYWELL
Theatre credits include: 'Twelfth Night' (Orsino / Feste) & 'Much Ado About Nothing' (Claudio / Dogberry, National Tours) 'Karaoke Play' (Darren, Bunker Theatre), 'A Clockwork Orange' (Various Roles, Park Theatre, Soho Theatre, International Tour), 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' (Lord Henry Wotton), 'Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde' (Henry Jekyll & Edward Hyde), 'The Importance of Being Earnest' (Algernon, all Italian Tours) 'Persuasion' (Captain Wentworth, Rosemary Branch Theatre), 'Birthday Suit' (Nick, Old Red Lion Theatre), 'Honey, Baby' (Pavel, White Bear Theatre), 'The Cow Play' (Owen, Rosemary Branch Theatre), 'Jane Eyre' (Various Roles, Rosemary Branch Theatre), 'The Oresteia: Eumenides' (Apollo, CPT), 'Venus Quarry' (Ed, Broadway Theatre Catford), 'Love In The Past Participle' (Arthur, Tabard Theatre.)
Film/TV: ‘Eastenders’ (BBC), ' The Time Travellers' (Jack Judd Films) 'Inner Workings' (Peter Greenhall Productions)
Audio Work : 'The Tiger Who Came To Tea' (ZipZap), 'Love Island, Interactive' (Unrd) and 'Wind Therapy' (Jack Judd Films)
ARYSHA KELLY - VIOLA
Arysha Kelly is an actress, writer and dancer. She trained at Artsed BA Acting, graduating in the class on 2021.
Twelfth Night is Arysha's professional debut.
HASSAN MAARFI - Orsino & Sir Andrew Aguecheek
Proud working-class actor born in Plymouth, Devon to British/Libyan parents. Trained at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (formerly Birmingham School of Acting), where he received the John Gielgud Bursary Award.
TV credits: The Left Behind (BBC - Winner of the 2020 BAFTA for Best single-drama)
Theatre credits: A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Purple Princess & Dear Wolfgang (Guildford Shakespeare Company), The Mullah of Downing Street (Warwick Arts Centre & Rubicon Theatre, Los Angeles), Macbeth (Proteus Theatre & UK Tour), The Key Keepers of Kabul (Tara Theatre), Silent Meat (Vaults Theatre), A Family Affair (Vienna’s English Theatre), Our Man in Havana (Minerva Theatre, Chichester)
When not acting Hassan can be found competing on the tennis courts around North London.
KATE THOMSON RAHMANIAN - MARIA
Kate trained at Arts Educational School. Her theatre credits are: Hear Me Now:LoveSexIdentityAmbition (Theatre503 and Blackfest), Helena & Hermia: Untucked (The Other Palace theatre), Raw (Cuckcoo Bang), Come Heavy Sleep (RSC Courtyard theatre), X&Y (Frantic Assembly), Aloclasp (Midlands Arts Centre).
ALISDAIR SAKSENA - Sir Toby Belch
Alasdair trained with the National Youth Theatre and with Philippe Gaulier in Paris. He is known in the UK as the only human in the critically acclaimed King Lear With Sheep. He has toured Europe with his comedy trio Lobster Quadrille.
APPRENTICE SCHEME
Each year, ELSF employs talented young professionals to join the team. Our aim is to discover and nurture new talent. In addition to a professional credit, ELSF provides mentoring and training.
FRANK ALEMITU BERTOLETTI - Fabian/Valentine
Frank is a non-binary Actor-muso hailing from the North. Since completing their Cambridge degree they have freelanced across the arts, working with NYT, NYJO, Tomorrow's Warriors, Southbank, The Royal Albert Hall et al.
After having to turn down a Guildhall masters, they are very eager to gain hands-on industry experience, that they might build a career thus. Performing has always been their passion, and they are absolutely over the moon to be joining the Twelfth Night cast.
BUSHRA BAIG - Apprentice Community Engagement Assistant
Part of our Kickstart team, facilitated by Crate, Walthamstow
Bushra has acted since she was in primary school and knew that she wanted to make it within the industry as an actress. In 2013, she joined Lewisham Youth Theatre and undertook some acting training from them. And she is still with them today, as a mentor and assistant director for young actors in Lewisham. In 2016, she attended London South Bank University and did a BA in Drama & Performance. Since graduating in 2019, she freelanced as an actress and did several exciting projects. At the start of 2021, she signed with an agent. She’s hopeful to make it on EastEnders and the West End stage one day. Currently, she is working with the East London Shakespeare Festival as their Creative Engagement Assistant.
CAT WINTER - Apprentice Production Assistanct
Part of our Kickstart team, facilitated by Crate, Walthamstow
Cat is currently doing an MA in Performance Making at Goldsmiths University. Having performed at the Bristol Old Vic, and Tobacco Factory Theatre, she is now composing an electronic opera and helping to produce her MA final show. Cat is really excited about the community aspect of our show and can’t wait to spend the summer in East London’s lovely parks!
COMMUNITY ENSEMBLE
Rosie Ward - Community Ensemble Director
As well as being Co-Artistic Director of East London Shakespeare Festival, Rosie is the founder & Company Director of UpFront Theatre Company. She is the Principal of Act Out Performing Arts Schools.
She is a professional actor & singer, and trained in Acting at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Theatre Credits include: Ariadne Ovid’s Metamorphoses (EdFringe & Vaults Festival, PantsOnFire), Cleopatra Anthony & Cleopatra & Goneril King Lear (Cambridge Shakespeare Festival); Lady Macbeth Macbeth – UK Tour & Viola Twelfth Night – Bloomsbury Theatre + UK Tour (Young Shakespeare Company); Soloist New Musicals Project – Leicester Square Theatre & Soloist British Musical Future Hosted by Stiles & Drewe – The Other Palace (As Told By).
Rosie is based in Leytonstone & has loved directing and working with our wonderful community ensemble this year; along with her 6 month old baby, who will be making his professional debut in the chorus!
Joining the company onstage for a selection of performances are our wonderful community ensemble:
Ace Harvey, Erica Djassi, Savio-Kevin Lubega, Fontanna Kennedy, Zoe Zhou, Tasmiyah Rahman, Tom Roberts, Fatma Bana, Eliska Elly Jurcikova, Raif Amlani, Caitlin Stevenson, Kitty, Gaby Marcon, Clarisa Carvalho, Zora Duric-Speare, Jagger Bence
Cabin girl: Erica Djassi
Sailors: Savio-Kevin Lubega, Eliska Elly Jurcikova, Tom Roberts, Clarisa Carvalho, Zora Duric-Speare
Olivia's Gentlewomen: Fontanna Kennedy, Clarisa Carvalho, Zora Duric-Speare, Caitlin Stevenson, Rosie Ward & Jagger Bence
Orsino's Crew: Raif Amlani, Erica Djassi, Savio-Kevin Lubega, Eliska Elly Jurcikova, Tom Roberts, Tasmiyah Rahman, Fatma Bana, Ace Harvey
Servant: Caitlin Stevenson
Officers: Kitty, Bushra Baig, Tasmiyah Rahman, Fatma Bana, Ace Harvey, Gaby Marcon
This opportunity was open to all: residents and participants joined us in rehearsals, as well as a workshop facilitated by industry professionals.
SYNOPSIS
Twelfth Night follows the story of Viola, who finds herself washed up alone on the shores of Illyria after a perilous shipwreck drowns her twin brother, Sebastian. Illyria is a dangerous land, so Viola disguises herself as a man, names herself ‘Cesario’ and goes to work for the Duke Orsino. The charismatic but indulgent Duke is desperately in love with the Lady Olivia, and makes sure everyone knows it. He bares his soul to Viola (disguised as Cesario) who quickly falls in love with him. Orsino sends Cesario to woo Olivia in his name but Viola’s romantic verses and turn of phrase quickly have Olivia head over heels in love with her / him! And so, the classic Shakespearean love triangle ensues!
Meanwhile, in Olivia’s household, Andrew Aguecheek, Maria, Fabian and Feste are wreaking havoc with their constant partying and noisy, all-nighters, led by the ultimate party animal, Sir Toby Belch; much to the frustration of Malvolio, Olivia’s pompous servant. After breaking up one too many of their benders, the gang plot their revenge, and succeed in tricking Malvolio into thinking Olivia is in love with him. They convince him to dress in yellow stockings and smile. Olivia thinks he is mad and orders him to be locked away.
On the other side of Illyria, a handsome young man who is the spitting image of Cesario is rescued from a shipwreck by local man, Antonio. It is Viola’s twin brother, Sebastian – who survived the storm after all. Sebastian heads to Orsino’s court, but on the way meets Olivia, who he thinks is the most beautiful woman in the world. Olivia is thrilled – finally! Cesario has fallen for her. Olivia and Sebastian (who she thinks is Cesario) marry immediately.
But of course, it isn’t long before the real Cesario… aka Viola… appears and denies marrying Olivia. Olivia is furious, at which point, the real Sebastian appears. Orsino, Olivia and all the passers-by marvel at these two men who are the mirror image of one another. Viola realises that she is reunited with her other half, her dearest twin survived, and she finally feels safe to reveal her true identity. Olivia and Sebastian marry; and Orsino declares his love for Viola, who he has come to love (in her male form); and they all live happily ever after!
If you have seen the show & enjoyed it, please share & tag us on social media
PRODUCERS - URSULA EARLY & ROSIE WARD
Ursula
Producing and Directing: Alongside being one of the founders and directors of ELSF she is director for Waltham Forest based theatre and community company Blackhorse Arts. She is also Producer and Programmer for Walthamstow’s performance venue CentreE17.
Rosie
Founder and Company Director of UpFront Theatre Company, touring educational PSHE workshops and plays around UK Schools. Principal at Act Out Performing Arts and co-founder and co-director of East London Shakespeare Festival.
The East London Shakespeare Festival aims to bring joyful, contemporary and professional productions to outdoor community spaces. We want to make Shakespeare accessible to all, be that creatively, financially or logistically. Alongside our fantastic productions, we are running a Community Programme including an Apprentice scheme for aspiring actors/directors; Community Ensemble for local people to get involved; Performances & Workshops for Local Schools and plenty of Volunteer opportunities. We have partenered with local companies and aim to support other local businesses though our productions.
MARKETING - ELODIE FORAY
Elodie Foray works in all aspects of theatre, from the stage, as an actor, backstage as a director, some way away from the stage as a playwright and in graphic designing and marketing. Some jobs are dull but there are few briefs that are more fun than “it’s Shakespeare and it’s 80s inspired, go!”.
PHOTOGRAPHER - RAH PETHERBRIDGE
Irish artist Rah Petherbridge has risen to popularity in her industry as a photographer and fine art painter combination. Offering the ability to create theatrical and classical scenery and then to photograph these creations with her dramatic lighting style.
Based in the UK, her photography has appeared in The National Portrait Gallery, The Guardian, and British Vogue, among many others.
Her scenic design and painting not only includes bespoke backdrops present in her portraiture but her painting has appeared on TV and theatre, in several BBC, ITV & Channel 4 Productions, music videos, and west end theatre productions.
Her collaborative union with the National Trust has provided a rich historical archive in her body of work. Inspired by the history of art, she has polished her master painting skills with acclaimed scenic James Rowse.
Whilst building a sparkling career Rah never fails to have her camera in hand to capture her journey leading to the captivating stories in her documentary diary which she relays with great heart and intamacy.
https://www.rahpetherbridge.com/
REHEARSAL PHOTOGRAPHER - MARIE SLEIGH
Marie Sleigh is the winner of our photography competition. She is a local photographer based in East London. She has a diploma in photography from the CASS School of Art, Architecture and Design and has exhibited widely across East London, including at the Rich Mix in Bethnal Green, theprintspace, Shoreditch and at the Shipton Street Gallery Bethnal Green. Her work focuses on the local community, identity and belonging.
The winning image has strength, boldness, naughtiness and sense of pure joy, which is exactly the sort of theatre and art ELSF are striving to make. It provided the inspiration for our marketing and design discussions for ‘Twelfth Night’.
This image also highlights the work of the Albert Kennedy Trust who support lgbtq+ young people aged 16-25 in the UK who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment and support young people to celebrate their lgbtq+ identities.
@aktcharityuk
The Twinny Set
@thetwinnyset
Marie Sleigh as photographer.
Our Venues
As an outdoor production, it was really important that our venues were as magical as our story. We have found some East London gems, that truly reflect the Illyria vibe.
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HIGHAM HILL HUB
Thank you to Lillian Gerber for allowing us to use the magical outdoor space at Higham Hill Hub.
Higham Hill Hub is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation based within Higham Hill Park whose social purpose is to facilitate, host and deliver a diverse range of activities & seasonal events for all generations of the community.
Higham Hill Hub’s facilities include a hall, small kitchen, toilets (including disabled toilet), and limited storage. The 6m x 12m hall includes a sprung dance floor and mirrors.
The building is wheelchair accessible and we also have a large, private lawn.
The Hub is affordable to hire for everything from classes and events, to meetings and birthday parties.
FELLOWSHIP SQUARE
Thank you to Abi Lemon, Sid Patrick at the Fellowship Funding Scheme.
Our press venue is the sensational Fellowship Square in Walthamstow, which has undergone an extensive renovation. Based outside the iconic town hall, Fellowship Square has become a vibrant new cultural hub for residents and families to enjoy, complete with colourful power-jet fountains and music. ELSF’s Twelfth Night will be central to Fellowship Square’s summer events programme, making us the first theatre production to transform this exciting space into a theatre.
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THE TEMPLE AT WANSTEAD PARK
Many thanks to Ben Rosendale, the Visitor Experience Manager for Epping Forest.
We are very excited to venture from Waltham Forest to Redbridge to the stunning Wanstead Park.
Wanstead Park was once a sculpted landscape surrounding the great Wanstead House, often compared to Blenheim Palace. Though the house is gone, the park remains and provides a perfect venue for relaxing and escaping the urban sprawl.
The park is also home to The Temple, one of our Visitor Centres - once a rich man's folly, and nowadays home to art and history exhibitions and the story of Wanstead House.
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KUKOOLALA CAFE GARDEN AT LEYTON JUBILEE PARK
Thank you to Joy at KukooLaLa Cafe & Greenspace, for allowing us to use the lovely space behind the cafe.
KukooLala has charm by the bucket load, and we can't wait to add some fairy magic into the mix.
We have been awarded the permanent contract to run the community cafe in Leyton Jubilee Park. It is our hope to make the cafe a meeting point for local residents to come together in a diverse warm space. Whether you need a formal, but light & airy meeting room or a magical garden, we can make your event a success. Just feeling lonely? Come for a chat. Are you a new parent or carer & looking to meet others? Check out our events or just head on down anytime & let the little one(s) have a go at our toybox for a well deserved break.
HOXTON COMMUNITY GARDENS
Thank you to Paul Fleming at Hoxton Trust.
The Hoxton Trust exists to make the area of Hoxton and Shoreditch a better place for everyone who lives or works there.
We do this by supporting those most economically and socially disadvantaged with opportunities to build their levels of skills, knowledge and confidence; by providing free legal advice and assistance to those without the means to otherwise obtain it; and by managing and maintaining a community garden for the health, wellbeing and general enjoyment of everyone.
Our award-winning garden is a private space for the benefit of everyone who lives and works in the area. It is maintained by our volunteers and is not a council-run park. The garden provides an oasis of beautiful green space in a densely populated urban area where more than 80% of people rent a flat (3 times the national average), most without their own garden. As well as a place to be, the garden hosts numerous groups and community events that help reduce isolation, break down barriers and boost social cohesion.
HIGHAMS PARK
Thank you to Gordon Turpin and Toni Hanshaw from the wonderful Humphry's Cafe
Set in the beautiful park “The Highams Park” and surrounded by nature with stunning views of Highams Park Lake, Humphry’s is a vibrant but relaxing café and community space.
Humphry’s is also home to many community based activities and is used as an exhibition space for work by local artists
CLISSOLD PARK
Thank you to Amarah White & Kimberley Jacobs
One of Hackney’s best loved traditional parks, Clissold Park was opened in 1889 and has held a Green Flag award since 2006. Green Flags are awarded annually to the best green spaces in the country.
Clissold Park and House were renovated in 2011 as part of an £8.9 million Heritage Lottery Fund restoration project.
Situated in the beautiful Clissold House, Park Life Café is the perfect place to unwind.
Enjoy locally roasted barista crafted Coffee which pairs excellently with tempting cakes and bakes that are made right here in Hackney.
Freshly made ‘to go’ food options are available for a tasty bite to eat on the move, as well as signature hot dishes from the kitchen. With a wide range of options available to suit all tastes and dietary requirements, there’s something for everyone.
The Old Bowling Green in SPRINGFIELD PARK
Thank you to Amarah White from Hackney Council.
Springfield Park officially opened as a public park in 1905 and takes its name from its unique geology. The park was formed from the grounds of three private houses, of which only Springfield House (The White House) remains.
The park is 14.73 hectares in size, with formal gardens and conservation areas and has extensive views across Walthamstow Marshes.
The park holds a Green Flag award. Green Flags are given to the best green spaces in the country and are awarded each year to make sure the quality of the green space remains high.
We have been hugely lucky to have our fair share of fairies, who have made this project possible.
Our Partners
WALTHAM FOREST COUNCIL
This project has been funded by Community Ward Funding from Higham Hill, Chapel End, William Morris and Leyton.
Special thanks to Cllr's Karen Bellamy, Simon Miller, Paul Douglas and Grace Williams.
They have been on board from the very early stages of this project and their continuing support and guidance has been invaluable.
SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUST
This project received a generous donation from Swire Chartiable Trust.
The Swire Charitable Trust is an independent UK grant making trust. Since 1975 we have been supporting charities that share our commitment to delivering positive and lasting change to UK society. We receive our funding from John Swire & Sons Ltd, the parent company of the Swire Group.
A huge thank you to Stow Brothers for generously covering our print. They have supported the project and have been sharing and spreading the word!
Established in 2014 in the heart of one of London’s most diverse and energetic areas,t they are estate agents with a real desire to redress the balance and do things differently.
Many thanks to Toni from Humphry's Cafe who is kindly providing storage space.
Food & refreshments will be available during the show and all of it is delicious!
Joy at KukooLala Cafe has been a huge supporter of the project when we first shared our idea 3 years ago!
Kukoolala is kindly donating rehearsal & storage space.
Food & refreshments will be available during the show and all of it is delicious!
Lillian Gerber at Higham Hill Hub was one of the first people to hear about our idea for the play and has been an invaluable support since then. They are kindly donating performance, storage and rehearsal space.
The outdoor space at Higham Hill Hub is truly magical; and hosts a huge array of projects for the community, including fantastic charitable work with PinPoint Inc & COG.
An enormous thank you to Max and Ruth Peters at CentrE17, which has been our main home for rehearsals.
If you enjoy our show, be sure to check out CentrE17's amazing programme of theatre, which spans from new writing, Children's Theatre and plenty of opportunites to get involved.
Many thanks to John Walker at Crate who facilitated our Kickstart Programme.
Introducing an exciting business community for creatives, retailers, food outlets and service businesses in the heart of Waltham Forest, E17. CRATE also offers all businesses accross the UK business support with the CRATE BOOST platform: boost.crateuk.com
ELSF partnered with BCE to share opportunities for students to get involved. We have had a blast working with these talented young people, who have conducted cast interviews, photographed rehearsals and helped with social media & ushering.
Huge thanks to Graham Goddard for organising.
We are very excited to be expanding to Hackney this summer.
Many thanks to Hackney Council, who have been sharing the project and engagement opportunities. As well as all their help securing some beautiful performance venues.
UpFront Theatre Company is kindly lending us their tour vehicle for the run. They have also provided assistance in writing the schools workshop.
UpFront Theatre Company is an educational theatre company providing interactive PSHE workshops for KS2-5.
Special thanks to Lizzy Renihan at Natural Voices, Sammy at RAW Academy, Ian Noble at Redbridge Drama Centre, UpFront Theatre Company, Act Out Performing Arts, Mary Dunne Theatre School for spreading the word about the project and sharing our opportunities to get involved.
Thanks to Joe & Emma Ward, Jack Bence & Rob Dent for their assistance with transport and kit.
© East London Shakespeare Company Ltd, Registered in England, Company No 064-961760
East London based theatre company