The Paper Birds to Take BLIND on UK Tour, Oct 6-Nov 15

The Paper Birds present BLIND. Following its sell out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, UK Beatboxing Champion and star of National Theatre's Home Grace Savage performs this most unlikely of musicals, considering the auditory influences on young women. A UK Tour, devised and directed by The Paper Birds and starring Savage, is set for 6th October to 15th November 2014.

An interrogation into the influences on young women today, Grace Savage acts as quite literally a mouthpiece for her generation, exploring the songs, sounds and statements our world is making and the impressions these gradually form on our lives. Powered by one woman's voice, Blind considers the things young women overhear, that they are told by their mothers, or learn in the school playground or the pop charts and asks how this background (and foreground) noise affects the people we become.

Grace Savage said: "as a beatboxer and an actress, Blind is one of the most refreshing, unique and exciting projects that I have had the privilege to work on in my career so far. There are a few beatboxing shows floating around but I think we have created something truly unique and theatrical in a way that has never been seen before. I have admired The Paper Birds' work for years and working with them has allowed me to integrate beatboxing with narrative in a way that feels meaningful and impactful. Not just the fun party trick or gimmick it can often become. Blind is about challenging perceptions, exploring identity and just opening our eyes that little bit more....coloured with some serious bass from my face along the way."

The Paper Birds Artistic Director Jemma McDonnell said: "we know that young people are bombarded with images in the media of how they should look, what they should wear, the body shape they should aspire to have, but we became more interested, not in what in what young people are seeing in the world, but what they are hearing . Alongside this, we wanted to take beatboxing to a new level, as in the show it represents Grace's identity; it is her voice, and she wants to speak."

Grace Savage is the UK's official female Beatbox Champion (2012 and 2013) and recently played 'Jade' in a revival of Home at The National Theatre, following a sell-out run in August 2013. She has worked within such prestigious companies as The Vocal Orchestra (Headline act at E4 Udderbelly tent, Bristol Old Vic, QEH Southbank Centre), Lyrix Organix (Mayor of London Showtime festival tour and Glastonbury 2013) and The Demon Barbers tour of Lock In (Best Live Act Radio 2 Folk Awards 2009). She is also working on her solo album with producer Dee Adam (Newton Faulkner/Andreya Triana/Loick Essien) having recently supported Newton Faulkner on his UK tour which included two nights at Shepherds Bush Empire, London.

The Paper Birds strive to create and share devised work that is culturally, socially and politically observational and conversationally urgent. Their productions emerge from a female perspective, and aim to address and evoke discussion, thought, and emotion when and where it is most needed, whilst retaining the company's signature visual and physical approach. The company enjoyed hugely successful sell out runs at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe with both Blind and also Broke. Previous performances include the critically acclaimed In A Thousand Pieces (Fringe First and Fringe Review award winner, 2008), and the highly celebrated sell-out show Thirsty in 2011 and 2013's On the One Hand, with Northern Stage at St. Stephen's. The company has previously been shortlisted for Amnesty International Freedom of Expression award, The Stage's Best Ensemble and Total Theatre's Best Young Company.

For more about the show, visit www.thepaperbirds.com or follow @ThePaperBirds. For more about the star, go to www.gracesavageofficial.com or follow @_GraceSavage on Twitter. Running Time: 1 hour | Suitable for 15+.

TOUR LISTINGS:

6 Oct Mylor Theatre, Truro College

College Road, Truro TR1 3XX

7.30pm | £10 (£7 concs)

www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/events | 01872 267525

9 Oct The Garage, Norwich

14 Chapel Field N, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1NY

8pm | £10 (£5 concs)

www.thegarage.org.uk | 01603 598646

10 Oct Bedales Olivier Theatre, Petersfield

Steep, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 2DG

7.30pm | £10 (£8 concs)

www.bedales.org.uk | 01730 711511

14 Oct The North Wall, Oxford

South Parade, Summertown, Oxford, OX2 7JN

8pm | £13 (£11 concs, limited £5 student tickets)

www.thenorthwall.com | 01865 319450

15 - 16 Oct The Marlowe Studio, Canterbury

The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS

8pm | £12 (£11-£8 concs)

www.marlowetheatre.com | 01227 787 787

19 - 20 Oct New Diorama Theatre, London

15-16 Triton Street, Regent's Place, London NW1 3BF

7.30pm | £12 (£10 concs)

www.newdiorama.com | 020 7383 9034

21 Oct Jersey Arts Centre, St. Helier, Jersey

Phillips Street, Phillips St, JE2 4SW, Jersey

8pm | £15 (£10 students)

www.artscentre.je | 01534 700444

23 Oct Hull Truck Theatre, Hull

50 Ferensway, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire HU2 8LB

8pm | £12 (£10 concs)

www.hulltruck.co.uk | 01482 323638

4 Oct Theatre in the Mill Bradford

Off Shearbridge Road, Bradford BD7 1NX

7.30pm | £8 (£6 concs, limited £3 student tickets)

www.brad.ac.uk/theatre | 01274 233200

26 Oct Bonded Warehouse, Sunderland

Chester Road, Sunderland SR1 3SD

7.30pm | £8.50 (£6 concs)

www.sunderlandstages.co.uk | 0191 219 3455

27 - 28 Oct Live Theatre, Newcastle

Broad Chare, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3DQ

7.30pm | £14-£10 (£12-£5 concs)

www.live.org.uk | 0191 232 1232

29 Oct University of Bedfordshire, Luton

Bedford Campus, Polhill Avenue, Bedford MK41 9EA

7.30pm | Prices TBC

www.beds.ac.uk/theatre | 01234 793197

1 Nov The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe

Promenade, Ilfracombe, Devon EX34 9BZ

7.30pm | £11.50 (£8.50 members, £6.50 U25s)

www.northdevontheatres.org.uk/landmark.php | 01271 324242

3 Nov The Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter

162/3 Fore Street, Exeter EX4 3AT

7.30pm | £12 (£8 concs)

www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk | 01392 434169

6 Nov The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, Havant

56 East Street, Havant, Hampshire PO9 1BS

7.30pm | £ 12.50 (£11.25 concs)

www.thespring.co.uk | 023 9247 2700

7 Nov Canada Water Culture Space, London

21 Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 7AR

7.30pm | £10 (£8 concs)

www.canadawaterculturespace.org.uk | 020 8692 4446

8 Nov mac birmingham

Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH

8pm | £14 (£12 concs)

www.macbirmingham.co.uk | 0121 446 3232

12 Nov Cast, Doncaster

Cast, Waterdale, Doncaster DN1 3BU

7.45pm | £12.50 (£10.50 concs)

www.castindoncaster.com? | 01302 303 959

13 Nov The Lowry, Salford

Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, Manchester, Greater Manchester M50 3AZ

8pm | £12

www.thelowry.com/studio | 0843 208 6010

14 - 15 Nov Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds

The Electric Press, 3 Millennium Square, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 3AD

14 Nov 11am & 1.30pm, 15 Nov 2.45pm & 7.45pm | £10.50 (£8.50 concs)

www.carriageworkstheatre.org.uk | 0113 224 3801

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