A fresh stage of life as theatres raise curtain on transformation

There is something afoot.

In the past few years theatre audiences have begun to ask tricky questions of the venues where they receive their cultural fix. A well made play, a glass of wine at the interval and a comfy seat in the dark auditorium are still on the theatrical menu, but audiences are looking for thrilling experiences where they can see the whites of the performers’ eyes and take away something more.

This was amply demonstrated recently by the audiences of Mapping the City, a production from Leeds-based Slung Low which took groups of 30 on a mind bending tour of Hull, and the sell out run of The Mill, in which Bradford’s Freedom Studios led people through the history of the city and around a derelict mill.

Tuning into this zeigeist and making the most of it are West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds and Hull Truck Theatre.

Both theatres are holding what might most easily be described – although both venues are shying away from labelling it thus – mini Edinburgh Festivals.

Transform, at West Yorkshire Playhouse, runs to June 18, and sees 25 different events (performances is another word that might be used, but the collection of ‘happenings’ are so eclectic it doesn’t really do justice to what is going on) at the theatre. New writing, performance poetry, art installation, site specific theatre, workshops and more make up Transform.

The season began when curators Kully Thiari and Alan Lane challenged fellow theatre artists to come up with a piece of work to present at the Playhouse that was in some way ‘transformative’.

So it is that visual artist Shanaz Gulzar has transformed the bar area into a piece of installation art and the Courtyard Theatre has been literally transformed into a smaller, more intimate space which will cater for a variety of one-man shows.

The woman in charge of the mini-season of work is the Playhouse’s associate producer Amy Letman.

She says: “One piece is The Soldier’s Song, a big box that people can go in and using a touch screen, sing a song on a karaoke machine with a serving soldier.

“It’s at the top of the stairs and if you walk into the building, you can’t miss it – so that will transform the way we use that space and the way people see it.

“It’s not really a festival, but it inevitably has a festival feel about it, because there are so many shows coming in and out of the building during the period Transform is happening. I feel like this sort of work presented in this way is a response to what is happening culturally and politically; it’s about creating work in a new and adventurous way. It’s something that hasn’t been seen at the Playhouse before and it’s not necessarily about finding new audiences or anything like that, but about making people look at the theatre in a different way and experiencing it in a way they haven’t before.”

Over in East Yorkshire a similar concept is taking place. Theatre Brothel will see performances happening all over Hull Truck Theatre – the rooftop terrace is one confirmed spot, but chief executive Andrew Smaje says he wants to keep the rest a surprise.

“It is an opportunity for people to really explore this still new building,” he says.

“I think audiences want to be challenged and want to see new and interesting things, where they take a risk. That’s something that excites audiences.”

At Theatre Brothel audiences are asked a series of questions and then guided to see two out of a possible six shows being held around the building. One guarantee is that it won’t be an ordinary night out at the theatre.

Highlights of both festivals

Transform, to June 18:

Saturday June 11, The Tin Ring Workshop 10am to 1pm

The Mamba, The Tagore Project 7.45pm

Something Dark by Lemn Sissay 9.15pm

Monday, June 13,

Open House with Chris Goode and Company 11am to 10pm

Saturday, June 18,

Smoke and Mirrors, a cabaret including circus and old fashioned magic with a dash of fancy dress. 7.30pm

0113 2137700

THEATRE BROTHEL, June 14 to 18:

A series of six performances take place every night – the performers selecting which two shows the audience sees. Work includes A Prayer and What Would Judas Do? by Greyscale and work from Rash Dash and Tom Wells.

01482 323638