Each year, 6 artists or companies develop new work from scratch over an intensive and collaborative ten-week residency at CPT. These selected artists meet weekly to share practice, ideas and their developing works. They are also given space to develop their project and practice. This event is the showcase of their work. This year's participants include Vic Chen, Faizal Abdullah & Héctor Manchego, Hannah Calascione, Maddie Wakeling, Dan Egg and Laurie Stevens.
Please note that tickets for the 5pm show only give the ticket holder access to green satanic thrills by Hannah Calascione. Tickets for the 6pm show only give you access to perfomances of: 9x9, David's One-Man Band, A Couple of Strangers, RoadSide & MANBOX. If you would like to see all 6 performances, you must book a ticket for the 5pm and 6pm shows.
Performed at 5pm in the Basement (running time approx 20mins):
green satanic thrills by Hannah Calascione
This is a kaleidoscopic hurtling through, fields, allotments, streets and time to uncover the meaning of property in an ecological crisis. What happens if we melt, rot and decay the structures upholding the literal and imaginary maps of England, and think like a microbe. What would be left? What does it mean to worship the commons? Can we love something that isn’t ours?
Performed at 6pm in the Theatre (running time approx 2 hours 20 mins including interval):
9x9 by Victoria Chen
Zee is losing control. The world has fallen apart and nobody talks to them anymore. So, they immerse themselves in a world of numbers, grids, patterns, logic and certainty. Where the answers are clear and the solutions surely exist. Where human interaction isn't necessary, and it doesn't matter if Zee forgot to send that email or got distracted once again. Bringing solace and comfort, Sudoku becomes Zee's sidekick as they go on a mission to save the world... or so they think.
9x9 takes you into an off-kilter world of social isolation and its impact on mental wellbeing and neurodivergence, presented through a game of logic and patterns.
David's One-Man Band (F*ck You, Steven) by Laurie Stevens
Fourteen-year-old David has just been punched in the face by his best friend. He didn’t punch back, because violence solves nothing (and also because, thanks to puberty taking its sweet time, he’s not exactly ready for a fight). A solo character/clown piece with live music exploring teenage boys’ friendship, anger and attitudes to conflict.
A Couple of Strangers by Héctor Manchego and Faizal Abdullah
How often has our perception of others been formed by the information we received on social media, news channels, and political campaigns – our interpretation based only on the information we are allowed to see? How often do we see the accurate and complete person, the other, the foreigner, and their journey, beyond the numbers and algorithms?
A Couple of Strangers explores the meaning of belonging and the differences in class, privileges, and opportunities among immigrants in the UK. It tells the story of two roommates with different cultural backgrounds and migration statuses who meet in a shared house in London and embark on a journey of discovery and camaraderie as they move forward to the next appointment with the Home Office.
RoadSide by Maddie Wakeling
The council wants to criminalise roadside dwellers. Milly sets out over the fields to ask questions. But instead of answers she meets riddles on the dancefloor and shadows at the fireside. Inspired by interviews with roadside dwellers across the southwest and drawing on the musical history of the new traveller community, from festivals to free parties to songs around the fire. Roadside asks impossible questions about why people choose to live as they do.
MAN BOX by Dan Egg
Dan Egg is technically a man. Before that, he was definitely a boy. He went to an all boys catholic school (which was an absolute nightmare) and also shared a tricky relationship with his biological father, which is probably why he was scared of men for so long. Since then, Dan has worked extensively with men who perpetrate abuse. He believes our society has a problem with men – yes, all men - and so is creating his first solo show to explore this. MAN BOX is a show about masculinity, queerness and how the patriarchy is failing all of us.
Tobi King Bakare and this theatre deserve a shout-out for such a young, diverse audience. There is so much talk about audiences being full of over 60s and why, why can’t theatres get the crowds in to reflect society in general? Well, I’m happy to say that on a rainy Thursday evening, the theatre was completely full.
Caiti Grove on Before I Go in CPT's Spring 2023 season London Theatre Reviews
