WHAT’S ON SPRING PROGRAMME JANUARY - APRIL 2014 THEATRE|COMEDY|FESTIVALS MUSIC|FILM|CLASSES WORKSHOPS|CAFÉ BAR BOX OFFICE: 01483 444789 www.electrictheatre.co.uk WELCOME... ... to our jam-packed Spring season. We are thrilled to announce that we have recently received the Mayor’s Award for Access, which is in recognition of our positive contribution to improving access and opportunities for the people and Borough of Guildford. We also had our very first Family Festival during the October half term, which was part of a nationwide initiative. It was lovely to see so many familiar and new faces. If it was your first visit to the Theatre then we hope that you had fun. We have another festival coming up in February. Have a look at page 8 to find out more. Highlights this Dpring include our Indie Film Festival in January (p4), comedian Lee Hurst with his new stand up show (rescheduled from November last year, p5), Guildford Spring Music Festival (p12, 13), The Jungle Book, performed by our resident youth theatre The Man In The Moon (p14), and a special family Easter treat - Jack and the Beanstalk performed by the acclaimed Lyngo Theatre (p15). Our season is also packed full of musicals and plays performed by fantastic local performance groups which include The Music Works, Godalming College, Surrey Mozart Players, Guildford School of Acting, the Performance Preparation Academy, The Pranksters Theatre Company, George Abbot School, Guildford Opera, Lost for Words and Guildburys Theatre Company. We hope to see you at the Theatre soon! The Electric Theatre Team GATA is an umbrella organisation of about 20 societies and groups including theatre and opera companies, singing and youth groups, as well as dancers and film makers. The Association works towards advancing public education in the dramatic arts in and around Guildford. It has been a major ally of The Electric Theatre, having been instrumental in its founding. Many of the groups perform at The Electric Theatre year in, year out – why not drop in and see what they’re up to, and maybe join in too? Keep an eye out for auditions, or other ways of getting involved behind the scenes. Visit www.gata.org.uk for more information. 2 @Electric Theatre The Electric CAFÉ BAR is a great place to meet friends, have a break from Guildford town centre and relax by the River Wey. OPENING TIMES Monday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm (non performance days) Please check with the Box Office to confirm Sunday opening times. FAMILY FRIENDLY With additional activities like colouring in and children’s books, our Café is a great place for families to unwind in central Guildford. HIRING SPACE The Electric Theatre has a number of spaces for hire including our Auditorium, the Farley Room and Café Bar with Riverside Terrace. In the heart of Guildford and close to transport links, the Theatre provides bright and contemporary spaces ideal for parties, meetings, workshops and performances. For more details please contact us on 01483 444787 or email [email protected]. SAT 11 JANUARY THE FRIENDS’ QUIZ NIGHT Following a full house last year, The Friends of The Electric Theatre are hosting another Quiz Evening with Paul Kassell as their new Quiz Master. Bring along your friends and enjoy your own picnic in the break (all drinks must be purchased at the Café Bar) during this fun filled, ‘puzzling’ evening. Proceeds go towards purchasing amenities for the Theatre. Your support is very much appreciated and by becoming a Friend you can support the Theatre in so many ways, including becoming an usher for performances. For more information look on page 21 of this brochure. 7.30pm for 7.45pm start (8 people per table) Tickets £8 Friends £6 Book early to avoid disappointment BOX OFFICE: 01483 444789 www.electrictheatre.co.uk 3 JANUARY FILM FESTIVAL MON 13 JANUARY, 8pm UNTOUCHABLE (15) Dir. Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano - 2012 - France - 1hr 52min A true story, witty and moving, about two men who should never have met: a quadriplegic aristocrat injured in a paragliding accident and a young man from the projects who becomes his caregiver and restores his lust for life. “Believe the hype – this irreverent take on disability is charming and uplifting.” The Guardian TUE 14 JANUARY, 8pm A SIMPLE LIFE (PG) Dir. Ann Hui - 2012 - Hong Kong - 1hr 58min A Simple Life is a deeply moving story about the relationship between a young man and a family servant, handled with exquisite affection by director Ann Hui. The story follows Roger and his elderly family maid Ah Tao after she suffers a stroke.“A film that will fill you with a sense of hope.” Little White Lies WED 15 JANUARY, 7.30pm A HIJACKING (15) Dir. Tobias Lindholm - 2013 - Denmark - 1hr 39min The cargo ship MV Rozen is heading for harbour when it is hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. With the demand for a ransom of millions of dollars a psychological drama unfolds between the CEO of the shipping company (Søren Malling) and the Somali pirates. “A nail-biter of a thriller…” Globe and Mail THU 16 JANUARY, 7.30pm U-CARMEN E-KHAYELITSHA Dir. Mark Dornford-May - 2005 - South Africa - 2hr 6min Originally mounted on stage by the innovative Dornford-May, this South African version of Carmen reworks Bizet's familiar tunes by adapting them into Xhosa to tell the tale of Carmen's doomed affair with otherwise involved policeman Jongikhaya. “This was basically the best idea ever.” Village Voice FRI 17 JANUARY, 7.30pm TYRANNOSAUR (18) Dir. Paddy Considine - 2011 - UK - 1hr 31min Joseph, a man plagued by violence and a rage that is driving him to self destruction, earns a chance of redemption that appears in the form of Hannah, a Christian charity shop worker. “You won't find two finer performances in recent times than those by Mullan and Colman.” Toronto Star SAT 18 JANUARY, 7.30pm BLUE JASMINE (12A) Dir. Woody Allen - 2013 - USA - 1hr 38min After everything in her life falls apart, including her marriage to wealthy businessman Hal, New York socialite Jasmine moves into her sister, Ginger's, modest apartment in San Francisco to try to pull herself back together again. “A career-best Cate Blanchett dazzles in Woody Allen's heartbreaking missive.” Little White Lies Tickets £7 Concessions & ET Friends £5.50. If watching 3 films or more £6.25 (£4.75) each If watching 5 films or more £5.75 (£4.25) each. A film brochure with full details is available from The Electric Theatre or online at www.electrictheatre.co.uk. 4 @Electric Theatre FRI 24 JANUARY LIVE NATION LEE HURST “THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO AAARGGH!!!” In his new tour, stand up comic Lee Hurst is travelling throughout Britain to find out what really winds you up. Mostly people get on with living their lives, but everyone has at least one thing that pushes their button and sends them over the edge. What's yours? Come along for a night of laughter and letting off some steam. Lee is known throughout the comedy business as someone who can pull laughs out of thin air with his razor sharp ability to improvise and ad lib comedy on the spot. Everyone witnessed this when he first hit our TV screens on Have I Got News For You and They Think It's All Over. He is also a regular guest on Channel 5's The Wright Stuff. 8pm Tickets £16 Concessions £14 (Suitable for ages 16+) SAT 25 JANUARY THE MUSIC WORKS LET’S MAKE MUSIC! The Music Works presents "Let's Make Music!". As a local music school based in Milford Surrey, they are excited to be staging their latest concert. All their students aged from four to 80 are performing, showing off their skills in singing, keyboards, guitar, drums and classical instruments. There will also be some special guest performers. Friends and family will join them for three fun performances with the audience making music too. 4pm, 6pm, 8pm Tickets Free Only available to family and friends of the performers. SUN 26 JANUARY THE ELECTRIC COMEDY CLUB Our comedy nights have been going for over a decade and always guarantee a good night out. To kick off the Spring season we have the daft, but very funny, Brian Higgins, dynamic and energetic Johnny Kats, and newcomers Adi Knight and Ian Lane. Compered by Dave Thompson. 7.45pm Tickets £8 On the door £9 Please note that acts may be subject to change. All tickets subject to a booking fee. BOX OFFICE: 01483 444789 www.electrictheatre.co.uk 5 MON 27 JANUARY WED 29 JANUARY GODALMING COLLEGE GUILDFORD JAZZ CONTEMPORARY MUSIC JAZZ CAFÉ SHOWCASE 2014 Laura Jurd is a London based trumpet player, Performed by members of the contemporary music composer and improviser who is making enormous additional studies course at Godalming College. waves on the British jazz scene. She won the prestigious Dankworth prize for composition at just This showcase gives many keen musicians the 19, and at the age of 21 was the first woman in nearly opportunity to get involved with popular music 20 years to take the Worshipful Company of performance. It also provides a wonderful Musicians' Jazz Award. opportunity for the BTEC Music Technology students to provide all of the live sound for the evening, “sophisticated and technically awesome...delivered giving them invaluable work experience. There will with the assurance of a budding trumpet-improv be six College bands delivering a wide range of original.” John Fordham, The Guardian styles, and a couple of special guests who are well known in the local area.