All In Your Head
14 February, 7pm
Originally set to be performed at feminist festival Calm Down, Dear from Camden People’s Theatre, this one-woman performance is based on real accounts of women who have experienced domestic violence and coercive control.
The play has been created and directed by Lucy Dear and is performed by Naomi Sparrow, with the script written by Safaa Benson-Effiom. Developed in collaboration with wellbeing practitioner Lou Platt of I May Destroy You, it aims to be educational and offer healing.
A panel discussion with survivors and sector voices will follow the performance.
Age guidance: 14+
Cost: Pay what you can
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The Color Purple - at Home
16 February - 7 March
The cast of The Color Purple (image credit: Maneul Harlan)
Following the success of Sunset Boulevard - At Home, Curve will be streaming a fully reimagined concert version of the 2019 production, co-produced with Birmingham Hippodrome. Based on Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple is set in racially divided Southern America and celebrates life, love and the strength to stand up for who you are and what you believe in.
The play stars T’Shan Williams as Celie and is directed by Tinuke Craig alongside musical director Alex Parker.
Age guidance: The performance contains themes and references of an adult nature.
Cost: £20 per household, with 2,000 free tickets to be offered to NHS staff.
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Hymn
17 - 20 February
Featuring Adrian Lester and Danny Sapani, the Almeida Theatre presents a new play by Lolita Chakrabarti, which asks what it takes to be a good father, brother or son. Hymn is directed by Blanche McIntyre and the play will be live streamed from the Almeida Theatre each night.
Age guidance: 13+
Cost: £10 - £40 (includes donation)
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Chichester Festival Theatre’s Spring Season
24 February - 25 March
Featuring interviews, community events and online performances, CFT presents a musical Spring season.
‘Facing the Music’ interviews, hosted by Edward Seckerson are:
Patricia Routeledge
24 February, 7pm
Imelda Staunton
3 March, 7pm
Giles Terera
10 March, 7pm
Philip Quast
17 March, 7pm
Sheila Hancock
24 March, 7pm
On 22 March and on demand until 25 March, an encore stream of Celebrating Sondheim will be available, broadcast on the composer’s 91st birthday.
Cost: From £10
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Billionaire Boy
2 - 18 April, 2pm and 5pm
Car Park Party presents David Walliams’ 2010 children’s novel, Billionaire Boy, performed at 15 different sites across the UK. The Covid-safe production about a child who is the richest boy in the country but is in need of a friend is a collaboration between Birmingham Stage Company and Coalition Agency.
Billionaire Boy is adapted and directed by Neal Foster, who said: ‘It was wonderful to be part of a magical enterprise in 2020 bringing live theatre to families desperate for the joy and connection theatre provides, so we are delighted to be presenting our production of one of David Walliams’ most popular stories which began its national tour in 2019 and was abruptly halted by Covid.
‘The show’s actors are thrilled with the opportunity to return to a new stage with a story that demonstrates the importance of friends and family at this critical time for the world.’
Cost: From £49.50 (+£2.50 booking fee)
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Talking Gods
Digital Festival: 5 - 9 April, 7.30pm
Orpheus
Arrows & Traps presents a digital season of five reimagined Greek myths, each offering snapshots of the modern world filled with pathos, comedy, music, love, tragedy and loss. A different play will premiere each night, followed by a Q&A on Zoom, and will then remain available online for free.
Produced by Chris Tester and written and directed by Ross McGregor, the stories explore climate change, mental health, artificial intelligence, gender identity, and familial relationships. The reimagined myths are Persephone, Orpheus, Pygmalion, Aphrodite, and Icarus.
Age guidance: 15+
Cost: Free, donations welcome
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