"What's Next" - Middle Weight Theatre

Peter Anderson • Apr 16, 2024

The history of humankind lives on a timeline of exploration, and this is what's next...


Middle-Weight Theatre is a UK tour of their brand-new original drama "What’s Next?." Based on historical events, What’s Next? is a compelling one-woman play about Harriet Quimby, a ground-breaking character in aviation history who broke cultural standards and reached new heights as the first woman to receive a pilot's licence in the United States.


This thrilling new production sheds light on an often-overlooked historical milestone: the awe-inspiring adventure of the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel. Written by Matt Roberts and directed by Tom Stabb, What’s Next? will open in Bristol this April before embarking on a UK tour visiting cities across the country. Director Tom Stabb said:


“Seeing a new piece of theatre come together is always a special process. What’s Next? is no exception, literally elevating things to a whole new level.” Writer and producer Matt Roberts said: “Harriet Quimby's story is an amazing and inspiring one - and I'm so happy I've been able to play a part in bringing her achievements to the attention of a modern audience."


Playing the title role is Victoria Lucie(below), who made her West End debut playing Miss Casewell in London’s longest running play The Mousetrap. Other stage credits include The Night Pirates, (The Rose Theatre, Kingston and National Tour), The Importance of Being Earnest, Charleys Aunt, The Hound of the Baskervilles and many more with The Worcester Rep.


Victoria Luce said: “I am not only honoured to be asked to play such a strong and pioneering woman of history, but hugely excited to be reunited with old friends and new at Middle-Weight Theatre after performing with them in 2015.” For further information on the tour, tickets and indeed Middle-Weight Theatre please go to Middle-Weight Theatre Company (middleweighttheatre.com)

Charlie Clark's Yama Rama head out on tour

By Peter Anderson • 20 May, 2024
Introducing… YAMA RAMA. The latest project from Astrid founder Charlie Clark (lead vocals, guitar), it sees him forming a brand new band with Christopher James Johnston (vocals, guitar), Mark Makay (bass), and Michael Wilson (drums). One of Scotland’s best-kept musical secrets, Charlie Clark is a multi-talented songwriter, musician, and more. A fuzzy, folky, psychedelic lament dotted with shades of Kurt Vile to Fleet Foxes and their seventies forefathers, “Some Days” is the newest track to be revealed by the Scottish-based quartet. While free-wheeling in its sonic flow, its troubled lyrics in-fact trace back to one of the most tumultuous periods in Clark’s life. As he explains: “‘ Some Days’ was written about a month after my life fell apart in May 2023 when the event I’d been organising for the two years prior to that never took place. The song was written in the eye of the storm as it were. Going through liquidation, losing No Big Deal, my reputation screwed, breaking up with my partner and trying to keep it together enough to be a good Dad ." At a certain point antidepressants stopped working and hedonism, as appealing as it may seem, is not an option for me. In November last year I basically accepted I was going through “The Dark Night Of The Soul”…….again. Kind of a common thread on my records now .” Despite the weight of the world laying heavily upon his shoulders, Clark found an inner strength in music to help him in his time of need. Founding his new band, Yama Rama, and writing “Some Days” as a direct response to the troubles he faced, he adds: " I just needed time alone to meditate on where to go from here. From that point I reevaluated what was important to me, what serves me, how I use my time and people I allow in my life. I had to completely shed a lot of emotional weight I’ve been carrying and everything that happened made me re-evaluate why I do music. Writing the song basically helped me get through it.” “Some Days” was recorded and produced by long-time collaborator Jason Shaw at Fuzzface Studios in Largs, in February 2024. Directed by Clark, the new single also arrives with an official video shot on the cliff tops of the village Gress, Clark’s birthplace on the Isle of Lewis and loosely inspired by elements of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s ‘El Topo’. As Clark adds: "“ I wanted the video to feel intimate but with a sense of scale behind it." "There’s such a distinct remoteness and sense of isolation where I come from and I wanted to capture that, looking beautiful but still haunting. I was lucky enough to have worked with the artist and photographer Nitin Vadukul (Iggy Pop, Radiohead, Snoop) before he passed away in 2018when I lived in the US. We edited a number of music videos together, so there’s a lot of little nods to Nitin in this video.” Not only can be hear "Some Days" but more of Yama Rama's music and live. The Scottish Quartet head out later this week on a tour. For full information about everything Yama Rama please go to https://www.yamaramamusic.com/ or https://linktr.ee/yamaramamusic

"Swim Aunty, Swim" World Premiere at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre

By Peter Anderson • 20 May, 2024
A poetic story of friendship, loss, sisterhood, motherhood, and the sublime power of water Swim, Aunty, Swim! will have its world premiere at The Belgrade Theatre Coventry on Monday 20th May until Saturday 1st June. This new play by Siana Bangura , is directed by Madeleine Kludje, and produced by The Belgrade in association with tiata fahodzi. with set design by Claire Winfield, costume design by Naomi Thompson, lighting design by Ryan Joseph Stafford, sound design by Duramaney Kamara, movement direction by Gaby Nimo, dramaturgy by Chinonyerem Odimba, drama therapy by Samantha Adams, and production management by Adrian Sweeney Fatu is in search of a new life and a fresh start. Leaving London behind, she makes her way to Coventry, where she forms a friendship with fellow members of her new church, Aunty Blessing and Aunty Ama. This fiery, entertaining, and sharp-witted duo of West African women in their prime, are also navigating changes and transitions in their own lives. What begins as light-hearted fun and a distraction from the mundane routine of life and church, becomes a ritual of healing and rebirth, after a season of grieving. On Ama’s whim, the three of them embark on a watery challenge that might just send them out of their depth. This heart-warming and powerful new play, is where West Africa meets the West Midlands in a truly universal story that will connect with everyone. Swim Aunty Swim! stars Anni Domingo (Mansfield Park, UK Tour and The Watermill Theatre Newbury) as ‘Fatu’ and Midlands born Sam Baker-Jones (HERE, Southwark Playhouse) as ‘Danny’, will be Coventry-based Evelyn Duah (A New Way to Please You & Believe What You Will, Royal Shakespeare Company) as ‘Ama’, and Karlina Grace-Paseda (Abel and Cain, Hampstead Theatre & Witness for the Prosecution, London’s County Hall) as ‘Blessing’. Director Madeleine Kludje said, “ I have been waiting to direct a play that centres older, West African women at the heart of the story and as main characters onstage. This story follows three incredible women on a journey to finding themselves at crucial moments in their lives with swimming and friendship guiding and sometimes pushing them towards healing and rebirth. This is a witty, warming and heartfelt story that we can all relate to about rediscovering who we are after difficult moments within our lives.” Swim, Aunty, Swim! is one of The Belgrade Theatre’s flagship in-house produced productions, developed in close collaboration with Tiata Fahodzi. The show is part of the new strand of work under the leadership team’s creative vision for the people of Coventry and the wider region; the next step in the Belgrade’s long standing commitment to the process of co-creation and artistic excellence. The play runs until Saturday 1st June for tickets and further information please see https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/swim-aunty-swim/ or contact the Box office: 024 7655 3055 boxoffice@belgrade.co.uk Images above: Madeleine Kludje, Siana Bangura, Sarah Githuru below: Karlina Grace Paseda, Anni Domingo, Evelyn Duah, Sam Baker Jones
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