Andrew McKinnon: Performances and events from Theatre North
Andrew McKinnon, course leader of Birkbeck's MA in Creative Producing, describes some of the activities of Theatre North - a theatre and live performance company based in Brighton, where he directs and stages work with writer / performer Martin Lewton.
Andrew McKinnon, course leader of Birkbeck’s MA in Creative Producing, describes some of the activities of Theatre North - a theatre and live performance company based in Brighton, where he directs and stages work with writer / performer Martin Lewton.
Plans for this year include a residency at The Basement Brighton and The Point Eastleigh as part of the EAST BY SOUTH EAST PROGRAMME, an Arts Council funded project developing infrastructure for the creation, presentation and touring of live art and contemporary performance practices in the regions.
Andrew writes, “We have already made a new short piece of work, ELECTRIC BLUES, which had two showings at The Basement in early March as part of the SICK! International Arts Festival; and we are now working on CODE OF CONDUCT, a full length piece about gay identity, on which we will receive mentoring and advice from distinguished live artist Adrian Howells.
At the beginning of April we will spend a week at The Point, using their inspirational Creation Space to develop this further; then show some of the work as part of UNDER CONSTRUCTION at The Basement on April 18th. Work on CODE OF CONDUCT continues throughout the summer.
In May we are taking another new work, HANDEL’S CROSS, to the INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN GAY THEATRE FESTIVAL for six performances and then giving a special one-off performance of the show for Birkbeck Arts Week.
Theatre North’s work has previously featured in Birkbeck Arts Weeks in 2011 and 2012; and last autumn we gave a showing of yet another new project in the august surroundings of the Keynes library – this was E2 – a very unusual new take on Marlowe’s Edward II.
I greatly enjoy feeding all that I learn from making this work into my Birkbeck teaching and seminars with students and colleagues.”