DOCSLIB.ORG

JOKES for JUSTICE 23Rd FEBRUARY 2017 - 7:00 PM @ the BEDFORD PUB (BALHAM)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
JOKES for JUSTICE 23Rd FEBRUARY 2017 - 7:00 PM @ the BEDFORD PUB (BALHAM) JOKES FOR JUSTICE 23rd FEBRUARY 2017 - 7:00 PM @ THE BEDFORD PUB (BALHAM) Nish Kumar, Sofie Hagen, Jonny & the Baptists and Sophie Willan will perform at Jokes for Justice, a comedy fundraiser for South West London Law Centres to be held on the 23rd February 2017 - 7.00pm at The Bedford Pub in Balham (77 Bedford Hill, London SW12 9HD - http://thebedford.com/). Jokes for Justice will raise money for South West London Law Centres and help them protect access to justice in the face of devastating government cuts to legal aid. About South West London Law Centres: The Law Centre’s specialist lawyers help make access to justice a reality for some of the most vulnerable people in the country. We also coordinate fifteen free advice clinics every week across SW London attended by volunteer lawyers to share their expertise with the community. Whether we are helping victims of sex trafficking claim asylum, assisting benefit claimants with appeals or preventing families from facing eviction and homelessness, the Law Centre is committed to making sure every day people can understand and enforce their rights at a time when their lives are in crisis Government cuts to legal aid have had a devastating impact on access to justice, cutting our income by over 40%. Ten Law Centres across the country have closed down since 2013, leaving some of the most marginalised members of society without advice and representation. Jokes for Justice will provide vital funds to support our work and help ensure that we can continue to address the needs of our communities and the people who need it most. About the comedians Nish Kumar's current show is “Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Unless You Shout the Words Real Loud", He has supported Milton Jones and David O’Doherty, and appeared on Comedy Central’s The Alternative Comedy Experience curated by Stewart Lee, Live at the Comedy Store and Stand up Central. He has also been on The Josh Widdicombe Show on XFM, BBC Radio 4 on The Now Show and more recently was the host of BBC Radio 4 Extra Newsjack. http://www.nishkumar.co.uk/ Sofie Hagen is revered in her home country of Denmark and across the UK. Tackling taboo subjects with charm, razor-sharp timing and a hugely likable personality, she has won multiple awards including Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer 2015 and the 2014 Chortle Awards Best Newcomer. Described by the Independent as “eye catchingly odd and disarmingly honest...” Sofie is seen and heard on BBC3, BB1, Radio 4, Comedy Central, Channel 4, TV2 Zulu and The Guilty Feminist Podcast. http://www.sofiehagen.com/ Jonny & the Baptists – real names Jonny Donahoe & Paddy Gervers – have rapidly become one of the UK's hottest live musical comedy acts. Winning rave national reviews for 2016 climate change comedy The End Is Nigh, they have also enjoyed regular broadcast work, major festival appearances, and once topped the iTunes Comedy Chart with single Farage. Alongside, Jonny has been nominated for a New York Drama Desk Award for his hit one-man show Every Brilliant Thing on international tour, now an HBO special (broadcast over Christmas 2016). http://jonnyandthebaptists.co.uk/ Sophie Willan is a comedian, educator and writer who has had a sell out Edinburgh Fringe Festival show with On the Record, secured funding of over £100K for her dynamic multi platform project Stories of Care Manchester and is a leading ambassador for homeless and care experienced young people. The List describes her as ‘Wise, confessional and bloody funny’ whilst London is Funny acclaim Sophie as ‘an exciting new force in British comedy’. http://www.sophiewillan.com/ Tickets available here: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/jokesforjustice For more details about Jokes for Justice please contact: Mandy Groves (Project Officer) E: [email protected] T: 0208 682 9164 F: 0208 043 0665 T: @swllawcentres W: Swllc.org Address: South West London Law Centres, 5th Floor Davis House, Robert Street, CRO 1QQ .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I Eventss I FOOD on Staffordshirewhatson.Co.Uk
    Staffordshire Cover Online.qxp_Staffordshire Cover 24/11/2016 10:29 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 372 DECEMBER 2016 SCOTT CAPURRO Staffordshire AT LICHFIELD GARRICK ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On staffordshirewhatson.co.uk inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide p02 (IFC) Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2016 16:08 Page 1 Contents December Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:22 Page 2 December 2016 Contents Shrewsbury Winter Festival - festive fun in the town’s Quarry Park page 47 Placebo Josh Widdicombe Marvel Universe the list Alternative rock band celebrate Devon funnyman plays the Superheroes assemble for live Your 16-page 20th anniversary Wolverhampton Civic... Midlands show week-by-week listings guide page 14 page 20 page 45 page 53 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 39. Film 42. Visual Arts 45. Events @whatsonwolves @whatsonstaffs @whatsonshrops Wolverhampton What’s On Magazine Staffordshire What’s On Magazine Shropshire What’s On Magazine Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Whats On Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MAGAZINE GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Rhian Atherton [email protected] 01743 281726 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, David Vincent, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine.
    [Show full text]
  • Jarred Christmas
    Jarred Christmas COMEDIAN, WRITER, TV & RADIO PRESENTER, IMPROVISER AND ACTOR ‘BEST CHILDREN’S SHOW’ NOMINEE – LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL 2017 ‘BEST COMPERE’ - CHORTLE AWARDS 2016 New Zealand Sensation Jarred Christmas is one of the most innovative and exciting stand-ups on the UK circuit. A sought-after headliner famed for his quick-witted spontaneity, masterful skills of improvisation and energetic storytelling; Jarred is a regular at the Edinburgh Festival, and at comedy clubs and International festivals around the globe. He is a regular team member at The Comedy Store’s weekly topical show The Cutting Edge and was recently named Best Compere at the 2016 Chortle Awards; scooping the title for the second time. A dynamic onstage persona combined with the ability to improvise with anything that’s thrown his way makes Jarred’s comedy sizzle with originality. Early in his career he supported both Ross Noble and Tommy Tiernan on UK tours. He has since written and performed in countless shows at the Edinburgh Festival and has toured the UK in his own right with his solo shows Jarred Christmas Stands Up and Let’s Go Mofo. Combining his superlative improv and stand-up comedy skills (not to mention vocal agility), Jarred has recently developed The Mighty Beatbox Gameshow and a child-friendly version The Mighty Kids Beatbox Gameshow which he hosts alongside acclaimed beatboxer The Hobbit. The show has played at festivals around the UK including Edinburgh and the Leicester Comedy Festival. The kid’s version of the show was nominated for ‘Best Children’s Show’ at this year’s Leicester Comedy Festival.
    [Show full text]
  • The Guilty Feminist Army a Podcast for a Refreshed Politics of Feminism
    CONJUNCTIONS: TRANSDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CULTURAL PARTICIPATION CONJUNCTIONS, VOL. 6, NO. 1, 2019, ISSN 2246-3755 THE GUILTY FEMINIST ARMY A PODCAST FOR A REFRESHED POLITICS OF FEMINISM NATALIE DIDDAMS CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: NATALIE DIDDAMS, ASSOCIATE LECTURER AND PHD STUDENT AT MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY. EMAIL: [email protected] © 2019. NATALIE DIDDAMS. THIS IS AN OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION-NON COMMERCIAL 3.0 UNPORTED LICENSE (HTTP://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/BY-NC/3.0/), PERMITTING ALL NON-COMMERCIAL USE, DISTRIBUTION, AND REPRODUCTION IN ANY MEDIUM, PROVIDED THE ORIGINAL WORK IS PROPERLY CITED. CITATION: CONJUNCTIONS: TRANSDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CULTURAL PARTICIPATION, VOL. 6., NO. 1, 2019 DOI: HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG./10.7146/TJCP.V6I1.117257 KEYWORDS AFFECT, LAUGHTER, BODY, FEMINISM, FOURTH WAVE, GUATTARI, SUBJECTIVATION, TECHNOLOGY, ONLINE, ACTIVISM ABSTRACT IN THIS PAPER, I DISCUSS THE AFFECTIVE POTENTIAL OF LAUGHTER IN THE HUGELY POPULAR COMEDY PODCAST SERIES; THE GUILTY FEMINIST. SPECIFICALLY, I EXPLORE HOW THE SOUNDS OF LAUGHTER – AS DISSEMINATED BY THE PODCAST – CAN LEAD TO EXPLOSIONS OF EMOTION IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE; SETTING THE BODY IN MOTION AND LEADING TO NEW WAYS OF THINKING, FEELING AND BEING. WHILE THESE PUBLIC EXPLOSIONS OF EMOTION CAN BE TRANSGRESSIVE, I POSTULATE THAT THEY CAN ALSO RELIEVE SOME OF THE TENSION CREATED BY THE NEGATIVE AFFECTS SWIRLING AROUND FEMINISM, WHICH, ACCORDING TO AHMED, “IS ALWAYS ASSUMED TO BE BRINGING OTHERS DOWN” (AHMED, 2010:65). USING GUATTARI’S IDEAS ON THE PRODUCTION OF SUBJECTIVATION, I ARGUE THAT THESE EXPLOSIONS CAN INTENSIFY THE EMERGENCE OF A GLOBAL, INTERSECTIONAL FEMINIST COMMUNITY, PROVOKING A CONSIDERATION OF HOW PODCASTS SUCH AS THE GUILTY FEMINIST COULD EXTEND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ONLINE ACTIVISM WITHIN CONTEMPORARY FEMINISMS.
    [Show full text]
  • 8 June 2018 | Hills to Hawkesbury Living Read Online: 02 4789 0622
    8TH JUNE 2018 – 22ND JUNE 2018 VOL 35 – ISSUE 12 IT IS A 5KM RUN, JOG OR WALK, every Saturday at 8:00 AM. The event takes place at Ham Common Bicentenary Park, Hawkesbury Valley Way, Richmond NSW. Opposite RAAF airbase. COST FREE! But please register before your first run. We all run for our own enjoyment. Please come along and join in whatever your pace! DENPADS™ Sandstone Denture Cushions MARK VINT Bathroom renovations False teeth troubling you? MARK VINT starting from Sales DENPADS CAN HELP! 9651 2182 $9,900 Buy Direct From the Quarry They: ▪ Relieve sore spots on tender gums 9651 2182 Prices Local Experienced 270 New Line Road ▪ Hold dentures firm and comfortable 270 New Line Road starting from tilers, vinyl installers Dural NSW 2158 9652 1783 ▪ Prevent dentures from moving or [email protected] NSW 2158 $59+gst/sq m to service the clicking [email protected]: 84 451 806 754 for tiling Hills district. Gabion Spalls $16.50/T (min) Available for both upper and ABN: 84 451 806 754 lower plates 1800 733 809 75mm - 150mm for baskets WWW.DURALAUTO.COM Visit us at unit 3A/827 Old Northern Road, Dural NSW 2158 AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL CHEMIST WWW.DURALAUTO.COM www.duraltiles.com.au 113 Smallwood Rd Glenorie www.denpads.com.au June 6 2014:H-H 2011 5/06/2014 11:15 PM Page 7 June 6 2014:H-H 2011 5/06/2014 11:15 PM Page 7 You may be surprised to learn, for instance, that research shows beet greens may: You may be surprised to learn, for instance, that research shows• Help beet ward greens off osteoporosis may: by boosting bone strength •• Help Fight ward Alzheimer's off osteoporosis disease by boosting bone strength •• Fight Strengthen Alzheimer's your immunedisease system by stimulating the production of antibodies and white blood cells • Strengthen your immune system by stimulating the If you'veproduction never of tried antibodies beet greens and white before, blood don't cells let them intimidate you.
    [Show full text]
  • ANNIE LEVY Make-Up Designer and Hair Stylist Special FX Artist Visa and Social Security for North America
    ANNIE LEVY Make-Up Designer and Hair Stylist Special FX Artist Visa and Social Security for North America FILM & TV STARSTRUCK – SEASON 2 Hair and Make-up Designer Avalon Television / HBO / BBC1 Director: Jamie Jay Johnson SEXY BEASTS Hair and Make-up Designer Lion TV / Netflix Directors: Sam Campbell, Roman Green THE ROYAL WEDDING LIVE WITH CORD & Personal Hair, Make-Up & SFX to Kristen Wiig TISH Director: Andrew Steele HBO & Sky Atlantic WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE (USA) Personal Hair & Make-up to Josh Duhamel TLC / Shed Media US Director: Graham Sherrington MY FAVOURITE SKETCH Personal Hair & Make-up to Sally Phillips ITV/ Potato Director: Richard Pengelley A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN XMAS SPECIAL Personal Hair, Make-up & SFXto Jack Whitehall SKY ONE/ CPL Productions Director: David Taylor JAMES ACASTER: REPERTOIRE Personal Hair & Make-up to James Acaster Netflix/ Turtle Canyon Media Director: Stuart Laws PROFESSOR GREEN: DANGEROUS DOGS Personal Hair & Make-up to Professor Green BBC Three/ Antidote Director: Matt Pelly JOLT Crowd Supervisor, Hair & Make-up Metropolitan Studios Director: Tanya Wexler THE FAST SHOW CELEBRATION Hair & Make-Up Designer Gold/ Crook Productions Director: Paul King/ Angus McIntyre GRINGOLANDIA Hair & Make-Up Designer (series 2-3) Netflix/Lone Star Productions Director: Cristobal Ross CLASS DISMISSED Hair & Make-Up Designer (Series 2-4) BBC ONE Director: Dermot Canterbury STATH LETS FLATS Hair & Make-Up Designer (Pilot) Channel 4 Director Dan Clarke JONNY PELHAM’S COMEDY SHORT Hair & Make-Up Designer Sky One Director:
    [Show full text]
  • Living up to Expectation
    upfront LIVING UP TO EXPECTATION Alex Ulyet chats to the hotly-tipped young comedian Josh Widdicombe ahead of his forthcoming appearance at this year’s Comedy Port. ew up-and-coming comedians can claim way, Josh isn’t looking to just copy what has gone into, but hopefully it will be nice and I’m looking to have had a better year than Josh before him, and it is clearly keen to create his own forward to it. You just have to hope that people will Widdicombe. Having been nominated at style. “I think you should watch as much comedy as come along because they want to see you. It doesn’t Fthe Edinburgh Comedy Awards for Best possible, and then you will hopefully pick up what really matter where you are playing; it’s just a good Newcomer and the Chortle Best Breakthrough you like and become your own kind of person. If that laugh.” Act; along with national appearances on Channel makes sense.” Having already received such strong critical acclaim, 4’s Stand Up For The Week and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Despite already having a very positive 2011 so far, it would be perfectly understandable if Josh feels a the past twelve months have seen the Devon-born Josh has plenty left in the tank as he continues to strong sense of expectation and pressure every time comedian settle his name at the top of a long list of tour the UK this autumn with his debut show, If he walks out on stage to perfume.
    [Show full text]
  • A Sheffield Hallam University Thesis
    Reflections on UK Comedy’s Glass Ceiling: Stand-Up Comedy and Contemporary Feminisms TOMSETT, Eleanor Louise Available from the Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive (SHURA) at: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/26442/ A Sheffield Hallam University thesis This thesis is protected by copyright which belongs to the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Please visit http://shura.shu.ac.uk/26442/ and http://shura.shu.ac.uk/information.html for further details about copyright and re-use permissions. Reflections on UK Comedy’s Glass Ceiling: Stand-up Comedy and Contemporary Feminisms Eleanor Louise Tomsett A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Sheffield Hallam University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy October 2019 Candidate declaration: I hereby declare that: 1. I have not been enrolled for another award of the University, or other academic or professional organisation, whilst undertaking my research degree. 2. None of the material contained in the thesis has been used in any other submission for an academic award. 3. I am aware of and understand the University's policy on plagiarism and certify that this thesis is my own work. The use of all published or other sources of material consulted have been properly and fully acKnowledged. 4. The worK undertaKen towards the thesis has been conducted in accordance with the SHU Principles of Integrity in Research and the SHU Research Ethics Policy.
    [Show full text]
  • Jarred Christmas
    Jarred Christmas COMEDIAN, WRITER, TV & RADIO PRESENTER, IMPROVISER AND ACTOR ‘BEST CHILDREN’S SHOW’ NOMINEE – LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL 2017 ‘BEST COMPERE’ - CHORTLE AWARDS 2016 New Zealand Sensation Jarred Christmas is one of the most innovative and exciting stand-ups on the UK circuit. A sought-after headliner famed for his quick-witted spontaneity, masterful skills of improvisation and energetic storytelling; Jarred is a regular at the Edinburgh Festival, and at comedy clubs and International festivals around the globe. He is a regular team member at The Comedy Store’s weekly topical show The Cutting Edge and was recently named Best Compere at the 2016 Chortle Awards; scooping the title for the second time. A dynamic onstage persona combined with the ability to improvise with anything that’s thrown his way makes Jarred’s comedy sizzle with originality. Early in his career he supported both Ross Noble and Tommy Tiernan on UK tours. He has since written and performed in countless shows at the Edinburgh Festival and has toured the UK in his own right with his solo shows Jarred Christmas Stands Up and Let’s Go Mofo. He is currently playing to packed theatres across the UK hosting the All Star Stand Up Tour. The show features a world-class line-up of comedians and Jarred is honoured to be hosting the show for the second year running. Combining his superlative improv and stand-up comedy skills (not to mention vocal agility), Jarred has recently developed The Mighty Beatbox Gameshow and a child-friendly version The Mighty Kids Beatbox Gameshow which he hosts alongside acclaimed beatboxer The Hobbit.
    [Show full text]
  • SARAH KENDALL Comedian/Actor
    SARAH KENDALL Comedian/Actor Since bursting onto the scene at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival, London-based Australian Sarah Kendall has performed at many of the world’s leading comedy festivals – including Montreal, Kilkenny, Edinburgh, Melbourne and Hong Kong. She has been nominated for many of the industry’s most prestigious stand-up comedy awards, most recently for the ‘big one’ – receiving a nomination for the 2015 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award for A Day In October. Sarah’s writing and performing credits include Beehive (Channel 4) and Comedy Cuts (ITV) and she is a regular cast member of Clare in the Community. She has made numerous appearances on television and Radio 4, including As Yet Untitled with Alan Davies, Russell Howard’s Good News, Best Behaviour, The Now Show, and Dilemma. Sarah regularly returns to Australian shores. In 2014 she toured Touchdown to all the major comedy festivals in Australia, and was awarded the comedians’ choice “Piece of Wood Award” at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Her show, Shaken, also garnered glowing reviews at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe, and at the 2017 MCF. Touchdown, A Day in October and Shaken were all recorded for a series on BBC Radio 4 called “Sarah Kendall: Australian Trilogy”. Her recording of A Day In October, won her the best scripted comedy prize at the 2018 BBC Audio Drama Awards. A second radio series recently dropped on BBC Radio 4. Sarah has recently completed on Frayed, a TV series she created, wrote and stars in. The show was produced by Merman Television (Motherland/BBC, There She Goes/BBC, Women on the Verge/UKTV, Catastrophe C4/Amazon), the production company founded and run by award-winning duo Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford, in association with Guesswork Television.
    [Show full text]
  • Sci-Fi Sisters with Attitude Television September 2013 1 LOVE TV? SO DO WE!
    April 2021 Sky’s Intergalactic: Sci-fi sisters with attitude Television www.rts.org.uk September 2013 1 LOVE TV? SO DO WE! R o y a l T e l e v i s i o n S o c i e t y b u r s a r i e s o f f e r f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t a n d m e n t o r i n g t o p e o p l e s t u d y i n g : TTEELLEEVVIISSIIOONN PPRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN JJOOUURRNNAALLIISSMM EENNGGIINNEEEERRIINNGG CCOOMMPPUUTTEERR SSCCIIEENNCCEE PPHHYYSSIICCSS MMAATTHHSS F i r s t y e a r a n d s o o n - t o - b e s t u d e n t s s t u d y i n g r e l e v a n t u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d H N D c o u r s e s a t L e v e l 5 o r 6 a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o a p p l y . F i n d o u t m o r e a t r t s . o r g . u k / b u r s a r i e s # R T S B u r s a r i e s Journal of The Royal Television Society April 2021 l Volume 58/4 From the CEO It’s been all systems winners were “an incredibly diverse” Finally, I am delighted to announce go this past month selection.
    [Show full text]
  • A Conversation About King Rocker Between the Quietus, Stewart Lee, Michael Cumming and Robert Lloyd
    No Image: A conversation about King Rocker between the Quietus, Stewart Lee, Michael Cumming and Robert Lloyd. It looks like a music documentary. Look, there’s a famous person [Stewart Lee] walking out of a train station telling viewers where they are and why it’s important. Now they’re telling us what is going on and why we’re here. It feels like a music documentary. And King Rocker, Michael Cumming and Stewart Lee’s film about Robert Lloyd and The Nightingales is one. It’s also not. You’d expect a film by the director of Brass Eye and Toast of London, and the comedian behind some of the most brilliant stand-up ever to come from these shores to be funny and smart but the experience of King Rocker explodes those expectations. It’s not hyperbole to say this is one of the best music documentaries of all time. Hilarious and brilliantly knowing about the form of music documentaries and caustic about the music industry and fame, at its moving heart it’s a wonderful homage to and portrait of a true outsider artist and inspiring comeback story that in the already boiling maelstrom of 2021 feels profoundly necessary. The film follows Stewart Lee and Robert Lloyd as they talk about Lloyd’s life as front-man and creative driver of post-punk favourites The Prefects and latterly The Nightingales. Through a series of funny and insightful conversations as they hunt down a famous 1970s public art sculpture of King Kong that is central to both men’s stories, the pair and assorted friends, acolytes and naysayers including the rest of the band and family members plus Frank Skinner, John Taylor (yep, of Duran Duran), Nigel Slater (!) and Robin Askwith (!!) discuss the past, the ups, the downs and the hazy memories of it all.
    [Show full text]
  • Analyse the Extent to Which Controversial Theatre Can Be Accommodated on a West End Stage
    Analyse the Extent to Which Controversial Theatre can be Accommodated on a West End Stage. Olivia Rook Jane Milling asserts that London’s West End (WE) is familiar to tourist audiences for its ‘remarkably stable’ repertoire, consisting largely of ‘literary musical adaptations’, ‘musical adaptations of films’ and ‘compilation musicals of popular musical trends’.1 This suggests that the WE is almost entirely motivated by the commercial successes of the megamusical. Audiences have a ‘horizon of expectations’ when they visit a WE theatre, as they associate the area with a particular cultural experience.2 New work is measured against the audience’s expectations and ‘The closer it correlates with this horizon, the more likely it is to be low, pulp, or ‘culinary’ art’.3 This disparaging perspective is shared by many in the industry; indeed, Peter Brook argues that during the mid-twentieth century, shows had become ‘weak, watery, repetitive, drab and silly’.4 However, there have been challenges to these long-running musical productions, leading to the development of more innovative theatre. This essay will focus on the work of the Royal Court (RC), in particular, Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem, and the journey of Jerry Springer, The Opera from scratch theatre to the WE. Citing Frank Parkin’s model of ‘social democracies’, it will be explored how far and in what ways these examples of controversial theatre abide by the ‘dominant system’ established in the WE: of palatable, long-running musicals.5 By focusing on modes of controversy, the idea of celebrity, processes of production and critical response, this essay will determine whether Springer and Jerusalem abide by a ‘subordinate system’, and thus comprehend and comply with the dominant, or whether they are being ‘radical’ and oppose any sense of a normative status, deviating too far from audiences’ ‘horizon of expectations’.
    [Show full text]