FRINGE REPORT

reporting the edge credits Search Fringe Report home | about | news | contents | gossip | photographs | venues | brighton | dublin | edinburgh | film | features | interviews | awards | fashion | recipes | no more drinks | newsletter | links | contact Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut Camden People's Theatre & The Vortex of Blame As a headline, 'Camden People's Theatre Opens Basement' droops. But it's no ordinary basement. Lord Burns likes it. And Chris Goode suspects weapons of mass destruction ... For 9 years, Camden People's Theatre straddled a black hole (writes John Park). Artistic Director Chris Goode calls it a 'vortex for blame', and thought of alerting Hans Blix to the possibility that weapons of mass destruction might be concealed underneath the theatre. Drug addicts overdosed on the stairs (though that's pretty normal for fringe theatre - they were probably the audience). Now, in what Chris Goode calls 'a disaster', the basement's been tidied. Worse, all the junk, lost sets, and unposted cheques that made it 'the largest lost property office in London', has been skipped. And in an enlightened meeting of arch-capitalism and the right-on forces of progressive Camden social action, a pristine new theatrical space has arrived. The financial saviour is Abbey (used to be National), which gave the theatre Ł12,000 to re-start its community arts work by salvaging its basement. Lord Burns, chairman of Abbey, and an exceptionally wily politician (he chaired the government's enquiry into fox-hunting, survived, ran the National Lottery, and survived again) has followed the project from its start. He's a new and timely friend to the theatre, which he discovered while driving to work across the road. Timely, because it celebrates 10 years life in 2004 - and the rest of the theatre needs a facelift. basement opened The theatre asked Abbey for financial help. Abbey's Ann Gordon liked the project - which maps Abbey National Charitable Trust Limited's priority of giving money to projects helping the disabled and disadvantaged. 'We're pleased to have been involved', says Lord Burns at the opening ceremony on 1 December 03. 'We moved here in September 2002 from Baker Street. We want to be part of the community.' Ann Gordon suggested he didn't visit the site at that point. 'The comparison (of the state of the basement) with then and now's a tribute to all involved', says Burns, and congratulates everyone. The basement is, well, a basement. It's white, it's clean, it has nice lights. The lavatories are being refurbished too, the stairs aren't too steep, and there's a lift for wheelchair users and others. Camden People's Theatre Chair Shaun Glanville thanks Abbey, and Carlton TV Trust who support the theatre's community work, West Euston Partnership Integrated Youth Project, and Samuel Lithgow Youth Centre. He thanks construction project manager Kate Bowe, and Teri Sayer who heads the theatre's community arts work. one-handed pianist Chris Goode ruefully admits there's nowhere to hide excuses now that the black hole's disappeared. The place everything lost could be blamed on has gone for good. Thanking Abbey, he says 'It's going to get us back in the game and keep us there. Community work is encoded in our instincts. We've lost ground recently. It's been like trying to play the piano with one hand. It's nice now to be able to use this (basement). Community arts becomes part of the fabric of the building.' Camden People's Theatre can seem a mystery to many. Apart from its blank and anonymous facade, across the dual carriageway from Warren Street tube, its title contains at least two queazy words, and one of them isn't 'theatre'. stalinism, dried fruit When Michael Moore (Stupid White Men, Bowling For Columbine) played The Roundhouse in 2002, middle-class people weren't going because, according to newspaper reports, Camden was thought unsafe. And Camden was legendarily one of the 'loony left' councils that kept Labour out of national government. So it's not an adjective of choice if seeking popularity. Coupled with 'People's' it suggests a theatre run on Stalinist lines, with cupboards stuffed full of dried fruit, staffed by people with Tuf boots, steel-framed glasses, dungarees, woollen socks hand-knitted with alternating coloured rings, and men called Jonty. The reality is delightfully different. Certainly, it takes its community work seriously - in the sense of commitment. And it focuses on putting on the best new writing it can find (eg 20 Seconds). A glance at the theatre's (admittedly earnest) website shows the level of thought that sustains it and the intellectual rigour of its officers. But there is fun there. And there are canapés. In fact the opening, with champagne and very exotic food, is highly West-End. Before there's any actual falling-over, it's upstairs to the theatre to see what the Community Arts Project does. On a typical night at the theatre, the first point of contact is likely to be the charming and welcoming actress Natasha Bolonkin, who manages front of house, sells tickets, and runs the informal bar. She's here tonight greeting guests, and handing them over to Teri Sayers, Director for Community Arts, who's organised tonight's performance. performance Onstage, 9 performers are on seats fanned inwards from left and right towards a central projection screen. Nearer the audience are 5 older ladies. At the back, 4 fairly naughty-looking boys. In the street, the young and old convenionally encounter each other during mugging; tonight it's theatre. The performers introduce themselves (no surnames, like an AA meeting): 'I'm Dorothy. And if I only had a little humility I'd be perfect.' They're straight into 10 Commandments About Ageing: 'Thou shalt not hesitate to spend the family fortune. Love they neighbour - but be discreet.' stage combat, no kissing The boys act a routine about adult attitudes - and not wanting to be kissed by them. The ghost of William Brown may be lurking. 'Hello, I'm Cathy, I'm an old person'. Cathy delivers a witty speech about exactly what that entails. There's a film of kids in the street with a rap soundtrack over. The four boys do a fight in stage combat. A film behind shows their training by the theatre - they're having a great time. A film compares old people eating at long tables at a local day centre, and children eating, and talking about how and when they eat. The four boys perform a sketch imitating types of food including turkeys and hamburgers. pushing the boundary What comes across is the fun. It's moving too, if one's heart isn't entirely set in stone. Unconventional as theatre, even for fringe. But theatre, fortunately, is not definable, and this particular theatre delights in pushing the boundary. Director Teri Sayers is a huge enthusiast for community arts. 'I've loved the arts since I was a child. The joy of working with different people, offering opportunities to bring something new and exciting to life - you can't measure it.' 'The impact of community artists and managers can be extraordinary. It brings up goose bumps when a child - who one week earlier was subdued and withdrawn - runs up to you at the end of a project, full of smiles, throwing their arms around you to say thank you for giving them such a great time!' buzz 'Camden People’s Theatre works in the community. It’s a new phase, full of challenge. I was invited onto the Board to offer advice and support with the opening of the basement studio.' 'We aim to bring creativity to the area. There's a wealth of cultures, ages, ambitions and plans. We want Camden People's Theatre to be a crucial part of the neighbourhood - and people who live here to be part of the theatre. The idea is for the building to buzz with the rhythm of youth drama groups and creative projects. We're hoping local parents and workers will come to see evening shows - and perhaps perform themselves. We have the basement studio. We have to find the funding - then we can do the work. It’s only a matter of time!' cottaging Tonight's audience includes Lord Burns (Abbey), Liz Delbarre (Carlton Television Trust), the basement refurbishment's delightful and gorgeous project manager Kate Bowe (when she led me into the men's lavatory, I was hoping it was to demonstrate Camden People's Theatre revolutionary crossover project in heterosexual cottaging. Sadly it was just to explain how much building work remains), actors Sebastien de Morelos, Wishbone Theatre's lovely Karen Glossop, and (see list below) the theatre's directors. credits Credits - The Basement (in programme order): Thanks to: Electrics & Plumbing - Steven Bryant. Design - puppyshunter.com. Decoration - Andy Jennings, Robert Jasinski, Sharon Wymark, Victoria Wainwright, Kai Simmons. Clearing, Cleaning - Simone Aquino, Patrizia Paolini, A4 Waste Removal. Catering - Above The Salt. Photography - Lorraine Cawley. Project Manager - Kate Bowe. Matthew Gentry - Abbey Community Relations. Abbey National Charitable Trust Limited (sponsor). Credits - The Project and Performance (in programme order and wording, no surnames provided): Elders: Beryl, Cathy, Dolly, Dorothy, Hazel, Rosa. Workshop Tutor - Tony Collins. Young People: Cem, Jordan, Owen, Wassil. Workshop Tutor - Hannah Griffin. Photographs & Video - Lorraine Cawley. Project Manager - Teri Sayers. Technical Manager - Kate Gallon. Thank you: Sadeka Choudhuri. Liz Delbarre - Administrator, Carlton Television Trust (main sponsor of project). Josie & Mark - Hillwood Resource Centre. Maureen, Freddie, Nick - Samuel Lithgow Youth Centre. Hennie - Calumet Photographic Ltd. Katie Dennis - Westminster Kingsway College. West Euston Partnership Integrated Youth Project. CPT Personnel: Chris Goode - Artistic Director. Shaun Glanville, Lynne Kendrick - Associate Directors. Natasha Bolonkin - Front of House Manager. Paul Sullivan - Press. Board of directors: Shaun Glanville - Chair. Martin Sutherland - Deputy Chair. Lynne Kendrick - Company Secretary. Kate Bowe - Treasurer. Colette Bowe. Mark Clough. Adam Kenwright. Paul Murray. Teri Sayers. END John Park - December 03 Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012 www.fringereport.com

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