DRUNKEN NIGHTS III Set for George Tavern, 11 March
By: Tyler Peterson Feb. 23, 2015
Wednesday 11 March 2015 (8pm)b At The George Tavern, nr. Shadwell station. FREE ENTRY - no ticket required.
Contemporary performance company Drunken Chorus are back again next month with another instalment of DRUNKEN NIGHTS - a unique series of live performance events for pubs, now in its third year. Each night features a range of live artists, who have taken inspiration from the traditions of the Great British pub. Featuring unexpected theatre, off-beat stand-up comedy, experimental dance - and maybe even a good old fashioned sing-song. DRUNKEN NIGHTS is all about exciting contemporary performance in pubs - the producers throw out the rule books of theatres and galleries, and guarantee you a night of surprising, unexpected and extraordinary performance on tap. All of the acts take place in the main bar area so audiences can enjoy the evening from the comfort of their bar stool.
Drunken Chorus have been providing support for the three artists / companies over the last two months, and will present their work as a triple-bill next month in London, as well as Lancaster. Chris Williams (Artistic Director of Drunken Chorus) says: 'DRUNKEN NIGHTS is a unique series of events, in that all of the work is created in response to a pub environment. That could be in terms of form, like a music gig or stand up comedy set, or through content, like drinking culture, pub traditions or famous pub scenes from film and television. We take this work, put it in a pub and let people stumble across it.'
Performing at the next event, on Wednesday 11 March 2015, are: Theatre State with a pint-slinging, raucous performance that asks audiences to share with the whole pub what really makes them angry; Rob Gregson telling a personal story of a journey from South to North, intertwined with the life of Paul Heaton, the lyrics of the Housemartins and a keg of beer; and Jasmine Lee, with an absurdist performance involving a giant shrimp, Edith Piaf, and a basil plant on a lead!
This year the project is taking place not only in London, but in Lancaster also, supported by Live at LICA and Lancaster Arts City. It marks the continued expansion of the project, and demonstrates its wide appeal to audiences. This year, the London venue is the George Tavern on Commercial Road (nearest station: Shadwell), which last year attracted big names such as Kate Moss and Sir Ian McKellen to its 'Save the George Tavern' campaign.
The three artists presenting work in March were selected from 18 scratch performances in 2014 (which in turn had been selected from almost 100 proposals to perform at DRUNKEN NIGHTS). The final three received a career-changing package of development support throughout January and February 2015, with residencies at Rich Mix in Bethnal Green and Live at LICA in Lancaster. They received a small budget, production support and mentoring sessions with established artists. Mentors included Louise Mari (founding member of Shunt, and creator of Nigel & Louise's Basement Grotto), Jon Haynes (founder and joint director of Ridiculusmus, currently touring The Eradication of Schizophrenia in Western Lapland) and Andy Smith (solo performer and collaborator with Tim Crouch - most recently on Adler & Gibb at the Royal Court Theatre).
Sheena Holliday, Co-Director of Drunken Chorus says: 'This project is different to what a lot of people think of as 'pub theatre' - we're not hidden away upstairs or in a back room - we're right there in the bar, where the rules of theatre don't apply and anything can happen. The events are free and anyone can just turn up on the night, so we get lots of unsuspecting drinkers and passers by. We love the sense of risk that creates.'
Events are compered by the Non Applicables, who were supported in the first year of DRUNKEN NIGHTS, with their Guide To The Perfect Night Out, and have since performed at festivals and events around the country. They now return to guide audiences through the latest series of pub performances.
This is the third year of the project, which is once again supported by Arts Council England, with continued support from Rich Mix in London, and new partners making the project possible in the North-West - Live at LICA and Lancaster Arts City.
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