PAST PRODUCTIONS

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This changes everything

By Joel Horwood

Alongside a small team and 45 inspiring and imaginative young people from City of London, we transformed a black box studio into a very (very) dark, interactive oil rig. Included on board was an all-encompassing tarpaulin tent, practical lights only (including floodlights), laundry stations, cooking stations and even seagull plucking stations… it was an unforgettable experience.

Each individual involved is a fierce artist. This project quickly became one of my proudest, most important, relevent and nourishing ones yet.

Thank you to everyone involved, you made it happen.

To view a film portfolio of the project, please get in touch.

The Creative Team

Director Charlotte Everest

Assistant Directors Charlie Swann, Spencer Matthews

Producers City of London, City of London School for Girls

Lighting Design Tom Lynch

Sound Design Tom Lynch

Costume and Set Design

Rosalind Myers, Sophia Behrens, Alice Puertas De Souza, Rose Zhang, Darcy Attwood

About

Sniffing flowers

A headphone verbatim project sharing true stories of LGBTQIA+ experiences in Gloucester.

Produced by KLS & Associates in association with Strike A Light.

Generously funded by Arts Council England this project followed on from the first in our series of shows with specific communities using the headphone verbatim tool to elevate the representation of marginalised voices in the arts. Our first project in 2022 was with a schools community in East London and we created a show called Wild Wild Things. With this project, we worked with two different organisations and two different communities. in collaboration with Nottingham Playhouse and their ensemble players who meet once a week we produced a work called Nothing But a Number. With Strike a Light in Gloucester we worked with the queer community to produce Sniffing Flowers. Find out more here.

The Project.

Headphone Verbatim theatre is an intimate storytelling method that allows the audience to enter other people’s worlds. It is embodied activism. The technique allows every breath, every utterance, every idiosyncratic detail of the speaker to be brought into the room by the performer. Performers listen simultaneously to the original recordings through headphones as they perform.

We work with participants on the subject they choose to talk about. Participants are then taught the three parts of headphone technique: Interview, Edit and Performance. From over 30 recorded interviews gathered by participants in each group and from meticulous editing that participants deliver, a performance is created to platform often unheard stories and experiences.

Thank you to the project’s funding body, Arts Council England, and our partners and most importantly, to everyone who let us interview you for this project, and allowed us to share your stories!

Photos by Camilla Adams.

DREAM SCHOOL

A new play by Francis Grin

Co-Produced by Mrs C’s Collective and Space Productions

When is a story ready to tell? Who wins and who loses when we ‘cash in’ on our trauma?

Inspired by a true story, DREAM SCHOOL is a thriller about a group of students who accidentally find themselves in a cult.

When a student's father, Bobby, moves into the student halls, his charisma, care and knowledge are enticing. But as he drives the students towards self-improvement, boundaries become blurred and their safety is uncertain. A decade later, ex-student Betty assumes it’s safe to tell their story. But are they just one memory away from reliving it all?

DREAM SCHOOL is an exploration of the relationship between storytelling and trauma, asking the question, ‘when is a story ready to tell and how do we tell it?’. This project forms part of A Call for Safe Practice, a long-term ambition to provide accredited guidance and training on how to make trauma-informed art safely, made possible thanks to the University of Greenwich, Arts Council England and all those who have donated and supported us.

“Both of these scenes, and much of what happens in Dream School, offer beautiful examples of safe, effective ways to depict trauma onstage. The piece presents a myriad of possibilities that I’m sure other artists will steal in the hopes that we have more moments in theatre in which we can explore and (more importantly) learn from tragedy.”

— ALWAYS TIME FOR THEATRE

Cast

Celeste – Iona Champain (she/her)
Tom – Felix Kai (he/they)
Betty – Jennie Eggleton (she/her)
Naomi – Jahmila Heath (she/they)
Bobby/Mike – Justin Butcher (he/him)
Alex/Client – Charlie Cassen (he/him)

Producers – Mrs C’s Collective and Space Productions
Writer – Francis Grin (she/her)
Director – Charlotte Everest (she/her)
Composer and Sound Designer – Jose Guillermo Puello (he/him)
Lighting Designer – Ben Garcia (he/they)
Set and Costume Designer – Caitlin Mawhinney (she/her)
Access Advisor – Shona Louise (she/her)
Creative Psychotherapist – Caroline Brindle (she/her)
Intimacy Director – Abi Battersby (she/her)
Stage Manager – Fiona Munro (she/her)
Assistant Stage Manager – Daisy Parker (she/her)
Graphic Designer – Meg Amirghiasvand (she/they)
Photographer and Videographer – Rosalind Alcazar

Shadow Creatives
Aisa Nerva-Culley (he/they); Rosie Rose (she/her); Em Franks (they/them)

Welcome to mine

By Francis Grin, MK Gallery, 2022

“Anything feels better than facing the unknown.”

Writer Francis Grin

Director Charlotte Everest

Producer Rosemary Hill

Cast

Raphael von Blumenthal

Lucia Young

Ali Perotto

“Excellent as ever”

— The Play's The Thing

as she likes it

A two-week R&D

By Chloe Wade, The Dukes Lancaster, 2021

As She Likes It is a peek behind the sepia cigarette smoke and passionate embraces of Old Hollywood, as seen through the eyes of its archetypes. A darkly comedic explosion of multimedia, verbatim, cabaret and drag; a contemporary Brechtian-style play that poses the question: How much has changed between the Hollywood of yesteryear and now?

THAT WAS ALL BY FRANCIS GRIN

BROUGHT TO YOU BY MRS C’S COLLECTIVE

THE SPACE THEATRE, LONDON, OCTOBER 8TH-10TH 2020.

That Was All is a one-woman show about families, memory and how to make sense out of the unspoken. It was championed and published by Stagescripts as part of their 10th anniversary in 2019.

This was That Was All’s third run in London, previously seen at OSO Arts Centre and Theatre 503.

Director Charlotte Everest

Writer Francis Grin

Her performed by Jennie Eggleton

Sound Design JP Guerrier

“You might explore a selection of belief systems, dip your toes in some new age sciences. You might take up yoga, meditation and a plant based diet. You might even spend a day with a world renowned Mexican healer wondering why you keep walking around with the strangest feeling, and a distant memory of a pub-crawl with your dad.
The endless pints, the samba dancing, the drunken philosophy and the look in dad’s eye when he got a free round on the house. “Jesus Christ” dad said, “Finally get a free pint now that I’m – ”

“What a treat to see art on stage”

— The Spectator

“Compelling”

— Everything Theatre

That Was All Trailer

Labyrinth Diet by Laura Horton

As part of Foreword Festival, June 2021, the Space theatre

Winner ONCOMM Award for Best Production.

Director Charlotte Everest

Writer Laura Horton

Laura Anjelica Serra

Designer Constance Villemot

Produced by the Space theatre

“Superb at evoking the hoops through which women make themselves jump to conform.”

— The Stage

“Laugh out loud funny
4 stars”

— A Younger Theatre

“The body is under examination in this play, so expect it to be taking centre stage as the complex story of the relationship with oneself unravels. We follow the narrative of Louise, a 36-year-old woman at a clothes swap party, as she clutches onto a yellow summer dress that may just be holding her and her life together.

In this production, the validity of our own journey and narrative is put under the spotlight, questioned and held accountable. The power we have to affect that narrative is what our protagonist is looking to understand.”

— Charlotte Everest in conversation This Week London

Roar/Restored (a double bill)

Mountview Theatre

THE ROARING GIRL BY THOMAS DEKKER & THOMAS MIDDLETON

THE BEAU DEFEATED BY MARY PIX

Director Stephen Hudson

Associate Director Charlotte Everest

Set and Costume Rhyannon Richardson

Lighting Design Mark Dymock

Sound Design Matthew Giles

Photography Robin Savage

WINDED BY AMY LE ROSSIGNOL

part of CATALYST FESTIVAL

MOUNTVIEW ACADEMY OF THE ARTS, 2019

Writer Amy Le Rossignol

Director Charlotte Everest

Her Wallis Hamilton-Felton

Producer Rebecca Lyle

Winded, The Film

Director Charlotte Everest

Her Wallis Hamilton-Felton

DOP Maxim Levy

Editor Maxim Levy

The below film was created in response to Winded by Amy Le Rossignol, following its run at Catalyst Festival 2019.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

by alan frayn

Braeburn Theatre, NAIROBI, KENYA

21ST NOVEMBER - 2ND DECEMBER 2018

CREATIVE TEAM

Writer Alan Frayn

Director Charlotte Everest

Production Manager Ben James

Stage Manager Leigh Hill

Choreography and Movement Direction Charlotte Everest

Music Director Simon Mwaniki

Set Design Taryn Childs

Associate Set Designers Jenny Childs, Felix Yakhama, Duncan Wambua, Patrick Lukalu

Costume Designer Puis Mudavi

Associate Costume Deisgners John Mutusi and Jenny Childs

Light Designer Wilfred Onyango

Associate Light Designers Felix Yakhama, George Kiarie

Back Stage Team Joanna Garner, Duncan Wambua, James Chege, James Nzioka, Justice Liyai, Patrick Lukalu, Ritchie Mistri

CAST

“She is a hands-on professional

Enchanting and spicy

Departure from tradition, director Charlotte Everest dared in this wildly inventive pantomime

Revolutionising the old model without ruffling too many traditionalists’ feathers.”

— Business Daily Africa

Principles

John Irungu

Joanna Hechle

Razan Gubara

Jazz Mistri

Jenny Childs

Joanna Garner

Shelina Allport

Elijah Brown

Rafe Garner

Terry Childs

Samantha Mihajlovic

Neil Roberts

Corinne Childs

Kit Garner

Kosta Burgess

Kate Snow

“Her work is magical, such an exciting young talent. She connected with us all!”

— NRG Radio

Ensemble

Izyan Kiggundu

Josephine Lohay

Marlon Onyango

Milka Gweka

Roman Chen

Rio Konishi

Hansil Tank

Gabriella Mwangi

Matilda Tricks

Luis Baptista

Isabella Bruckner

Shannon Bell

Chessie Needham

Jonathan Pang

Chloe Steelman

Shlock Saini

Kanishka Kislaya

Amanda Heinasmaki

Filippo Fassio

Dancers

Niharika Barsnet

Sanghamitra Phillips

Chemtai Koech

Nomvula Naphanro

Milka Gweka

Chessie Needham

BLACKOUT

BY DAVEY ANDERSON

A unique collaboration with rapper Huw Bradbury (aka Legoman/ The Book Thieves).

BRAEBURN LITTLE THEATRE, NAIROBI, KENYA.

Anderson’s gripping script is interpreted through Bradbury’s own music as Legoman and The Book Thieves, orchestrated into a visceral performance by director Charlotte Everest as she completes her residency in Nairobi, Kenya.

Director Charlotte Everest

Peter Huw Bradbury

Producer Braeburn Theatre

Production Manager Harriet Reed

Music Huw Bradbury (aka Legoman/The Book Thieves)

NUNS BY ROBERT LUXFORD

BROUGHT TO YOU BY DUTCH DAME PRODUCTION & SHE’S DIVERSE

THE TRISTAN BATES THEATRE, 15TH JANUARY-26TH JANUARY 2019

Nuns is a satirical comedy about three rebellious Nuns and how they plot to overthrow the mother superior in order to establish smoking rights for themselves. The youngest, Sister Bernadette is being seduced into the cause by Sister Catherine and Sister Rozza during one of their secret smoking sessions. They have a secret that they believe will bring the Mother superior to her knees.

Dutch Dame’s gritty and witty take on Luxford’s Nuns draws you into a world of questioning patriarchal traditions and whether there is room for change in a systematically oppressive world. How far is too far? These sisters are willing to find out.

CAST

Sister Catherine Natalya Wolter-Ferguson

Sister Bernadette Cecile Sinclair

Sister Rozza Rebecca Wilson

Mother Superior Gillian Broderick

CREATIVE

Director Charlotte Everest

Executive Producers Cecile Sinclair & Natalya Wolter-Ferguson

Producer Valerie Isaiah Sadoh

Set Designer Tara Usher

Ella Marke Graphic Designer

“BONGS, CHAIN SMOKING, LIQUOR, SEX TAPES, BLACKMAIL AND A DESIRE TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM. NO, IT’S NOT A COLLEGE, IT’S A CONVENT!”

Sister Rozza (Rebecca Wilson) and Sister Catherine (Natalya Wolfer-Ferguson)

“Second to nun”

— The Spy in the Stalls

“5 Stars
*****”

— Female Narratives

“An utter delight...Superb

Like Life of Brian in high heels”

— Beverly Andrews

“5 Stars
*****”

— Live London Post

Sister Bernadette (Cecile Sinclair) and Sister Catherine (Natalya Wolfer-Ferguson)

LIVING LATINO

A devised piece, IN ASSOCIATION WITH METRO AND QUEER MONTH AT THE KING'S HEAD, AUGUST 2018

Over eight weeks, a group of queer Latinos living with or affected by HIV, received basic acting training and access drama therapy sessions. During the first few sessions they shared their own life stories of how it is to be living as queer Latino migrants in the UK. Four professional actors joined and they worked together to devise stories and develop a show that took place at the King’s Head Theatre during their Queer Month in August 2018.

The workshops was facilitated by Sebastian Palka the Artistic Director of Big Boots Theatre Company, Charlotte Everest and Weronika Kucharska Drama Therapist. METRO's project lead is Tony Furlong.

To find out more about METRO's emerging communities work with Latinos and Latin Americans, visit the Latino Seguro section of their website.

Workshop Facilitator Sebastian Paulka

Workshop Facilitator & Dramaturg Charlotte Everest

Drama Therapist Weronika Kucharska

Cast

Charity users of METRO completed the cast alongside actors:

Emma Zadow

Aaron Kehoe

Sammy Attalah

Adam Sabatti

Charlotte Everest and Sebastian Paulka with METRO charity users.

FLASH BY FRANCIS GRIN

KARAMEL CLUB JUNE 6TH-9TH, LONDON

"WHEN FOUR TEENAGERS COME TOGETHER FOR A CLASS PROJECT, ALCOHOL AND BOREDOM LEAD TO A SADISTIC GAME. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN NO ONE ACKNOWLEDGES THE VIOLENCE?"

FLASH EXPLORES SEXUAL AGGRESSION IN YOUTH CULTURE AND THE LANGUAGE SURROUNDING IT.

Writer Francis Grin

Director Charlotte Everest

Producer Emma Craggs

Videography & Photography Maxim Levy

CAST

Christian George John

Carrie Jennie Eggleton

Laura Kathryn Crosby

Ollie Aaron Douglas

PASSION PLAY

BY PETER NICHOLS

SELL-OUT IMMERSIVE AND SITE-SPECIFIC PIECE, LEEDS, 2016

Set in a townhouse in Leeds across ten nights, this production was applauded for its use of performance art and immersive practices to reconstruct both the site and the play.

“Words cannot describe what an incredible experience that was. Every person in the cast and crew should be so proud - what an achievement

I thought it was absolutely amazing, definitely one of the best things I’ve seen

This was one of the best immersive experiences I have witnessed to date. Not only was the character portrayal believable and professional, the space played a fundamental part in the experience.

Still reeling from the matinee - could watch it over and over again

You made us laugh, cry and get very very angry! Haven’t stopped talking about it since we left.

The narrative of the piece was subtly intertwined in each room with hand written notes or lipstick stained words on the living room walls.

The audience were lead to surround the small spaces with little ability to leave, no matter how uncomfortable they felt.”

— Audience guest book

CREATIVE TEAM

Director Charlotte Everest

Assistant Director Jonny Dowsett

Producers Andrew Brown and George Bissett

Designer Bobby Bates

Artwork Ella Marke

CAST

James Louis Dunbavin

Eleanor Lydia Harrison

Kate Ellen Maslin

Jim Dean Hull

Nell Anna Thrussell

Agnes Sophie Strickland-Clark

PEOPLE USED TO HAVE ANGELS ON THEIR SHOULDERS. BUT THERE IS A GAP MANIFESTING IN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUBLIC SPEECH AND PRIVATE THOUGHT AND THAT IS PEOPLE'S UNKNOWABILITY. JEER FROM THE FRONTLINE OF MARITAL BETRAYAL, ADULTERY, LUST, LOVE. THIS IS AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE TO GET INTIMATE WITH.