Theatre Bench & Bunker Theatre Announce InMotion Festival

Theatre Bench & Bunker Theatre are pleased to be collaborating to present the InMotion Festival this August. From tap to physical theatre, funk music to jazz bands, the Festival will have something for everyone and will get you up and moving this summer. This year's festival will be headlined by Theatre Ad Infinitum, who are bringing the critically-acclaimed 'Translunar Paradise' to London for the first time in five years. They will be joined by contemporary tap ensemble Old Kent Road with 'Fall Out' as well as a new show commissioned for the Festival by Dirty.Tap.Funk.

Theatre Bench & Bunker Theatre wanted the Festival to reflect the broadest possible definition of 'movement', and in order to pursue this aim we are announcing an open call-out for submissions from companies across the spectrum of dance to present their shows with us this summer. Companies interested in participating in the Festival should send a show pack and links to video content to InMotion@TheatreBench.com.

Bunker Artistic Director Joshua McTaggart said, "The Bunker is thrilled to build on its tradition of housing some of the country's most innovative emerging dance companies with InMotion taking over the entire space this August. It will also be a privilege to welcome Theatre Ad Infinitum and their astounding production of Translunar Paradise to The Bunker. This breathtaking piece moved me to tears when I first saw it at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013, and I cannot wait to see its beauty grace our stage in London Bridge."

Theatre Bench Creative Producer Jim Croxford said, "When I discovered The Bunker's creative team were thinking of launching an annual festival of dance this summer, I leapt at the chance to work with them on it. I've often felt the way we define 'dance' is too narrow, and audiences can find it unapproachable or difficult to engage with. I wanted this festival to have something for everyone, to make your laugh or cry, and most importantly, to make you want to dance."

Theatre Ad Infinitum co-Artistic Director George Mann said, "I'll never forget the first performances of this piece and the response of audiences. Translunar came from such a personal impulse - my father was dying of lung cancer and I felt that I was living in a country and a culture that didn't offer me a way to deal with my grief - the grief I felt knowing he would die; the grief I felt when he died. From this feeling I set about making this show of love, loss and letting go. Sadly my father passed before we completed and premiered the production. But the response was heart-warming - the show created what I can only describe as a communal space of grief - a place in which people could share in a feeling of loss and profound love. It was extraordinary. As were the stories audience members shared with us after every show. It was a humbling and unforgettable experience and I look forward to sharing this show once more."

Theatre Ad Infinitum presents:

Translunar Paradise

Theatre Ad Infinitum's breakthrough smash-hit returns to London for the first time in 5 years

Written and directed by George Mann

30 August - 2 September 2017, 7:30pm (Matinee Friday/Saturday 3pm)

First seen at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2011, Theatre Ad Infinitum's multi award-winning, wordless tale of life, death and enduring love returns to the Pleasance. Original performers George Mann and Deborah Pugh are joined by Sophie Crawford to retell with precise gesture and touches of humour the story of widower William who escapes to a comforting world of fantasy and memories rather than confront his grief. From beyond the grave, his wife Rose returns to help him let go. This poignant, life-affirming tale uses intricate and lifelike hand-held masks to travel back and forth through William and Rose's relationship, wordlessly conveying a lifetime of memories in 75 minutes.

The production won multiple awards in the UK and abroad, including Mervyn Stutters' Pick of the Fringe, the Brave New World Award and Audience Award at the Sarajevo MESS Theatre Festival in Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Best Theatre Direction Award at ACT Festival Bilbao Spain, The Argus Angel Award, Brighton Festival 2012, The Netherlands' Wijkjury First Prize Award 2014 and The Observer Iron Man Award for actress and musician Kim Heron.

A company whose work shifts in style as they explore each new subject, Theatre Ad Infinitum are showcasing several of their hit productions this year for the company's 10th anniversary. Odyssey also returns to the Pleasance at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, following the return of Light to Battersea Arts Centre in June. Bucket List, the company's new production for 2016, garnered critical acclaim, a Spirit of the Fringe Award and enjoyed a London premiere at BAC and an extensive UK tour.

Theatre Ad Infinitum is an international ensemble of theatre-makers based in Bristol, UK, that develops new and original theatre for diverse audiences. Led by Co-Artistic Directors, Nir Paldi and George Mann, the group has been creating and touring critically acclaimed, award-winning productions for 10 years. Theatre Ad Infinitum's mission is to create theatre that examines social and political themes through innovative storytelling and bold experimental styles, making something completely different each time. The company has recently become an Associate Artist at Bristol Old Vic and is an Associate Artist Alumni at Bush Theatre (2011-2013) The Lowry (2011-2017) and Redbridge Drama Centre (2009-2017).

@TheatreAdInf | #TranslunarParadise | www.theatreadinfinitum.co.uk

Running Time: 75 minutes | Suitable for all ages

Cast

Sophie Crawford, George Mann, Deborah Pugh

Company Information

Directed and written by George Mann

Originally co-devised by Kim Heron, George Mann & Deborah Pugh

Music by Kim Heron & George Mann Dramaturgy by Amy Nostbakken and Nir Paldi

Lighting design by Peter Harrison Costume by Clare Amos

Set design by Francesco Gorni Masks by Victoria Beaton

Photos by Alex Brenner

Performance details:

30 Aug - 2 Sep InMotion Festival of Dance

THE BUNKER
53a Southwark Street
London, SE1 1RU

7:30pm, Fri/Sat matinee 3pm: £15 (£13 concs)

www.bunkertheatre.com | 0207 234 0486

Box Office Hours: Mon - Fri, 10am - 5pm

Translunar Paradise was developed with BE Festival, Birmingham; The Lowry, Salford Quays; Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham; Redbridge Drama Centre, London; The Ustinov Studio Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath. Supported by Arts Council England; Rose Bruford College, Sidcup; Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh and PULSE Festival & New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich.

Old Kent Road presents:

Fall Out

See the Sound. Feel the Movement.

15 - 20 Aug 2017 7:30pm (Sat matinee 3pm, Sun matinee 5pm)

Who We Are

Old Kent Road was founded by artistic director Avalon Rathgeb in 2014, aiming to gather the very best tap dancers and musicians that have inspired her journey, to create unique passionate tap choreography, bigger and better than the sum of its parts.

We are a passionate group of tap dancers who are together raising the game in the UK tap dance scene. We want to bring our expertise to the British public and share the wonder of the form by working together to develop our distinctive choreography, paying homage to our history and jazz culture along the way.

We train weekly, to share our ideas and experiences and have now developed a company language and a body of work. In 2015 we were invited to share the first stage of 'Fall Out' at Resolution - the UK's biggest dance festival. In 2016 we were awarded Arts Council England funding to create and perform our first full-length show, which we performed at the Blue Elephant Theatre, as part of Brighton Tap Festival Gala and at the Tabernacle in London.

'Fall Out' marks Old Kent Road's Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut.

Fall Out

The show begins a journey through quintessential jazz entangling movement within the graceful perspective of tap dance. Conversations of question and answer between soloists of the band and the performers, expose emotions and trigger manoeuvres back and forth between each art form on stage.

Lead by a live band, the dancers in 'Fall Out' take an experimental ride attempting to understand a journey of falling out of love. In particular, these fervent dancers find ways to uncover their passion, love and raw relationship for tap dance. Using the sparse set up of the wooden boards concealing how love can never be defined, Fall Out pushes the boundaries of strength and intensity through the bare sounds of music and dance, articulated through complex rhythms and spectacularly technical performance.

So we ask you, how did it feel, when you fell out of love?

A Word From the Artistic Director

My vision is for tap dance to be seen by people of all ages, backgrounds, genders and cultures. To see the positivity the form brings and to showcase our most proficient dancers in one show, accomplishing something that they love.

My vision and hope for the company in the long term is to allow young technical tap dancers to know that there is a company that they can aspire to be a part of once they have finished their training, that there is a an objective in their pursuit.

@Old_Kent_Road | #FallOut | www.oldkentroadtap.com

Running Time: 40 minutes | Suitable for all ages

Company Information

Artistic Director: Avalon Rathgeb

Company Manager/Rehearsal Director: Lexi Bradburn

Producer: Jim Croxford for Theatre Bench

Dancers: Adele Joel, Ryan Campbell-Birch, Jamie Spall, Alastair Crosswell & Helen Duffy

Band: Flavio Li Vingi (drums), Ollie Haycock (guitar), Hannah Jackson (vocals), Annette Walker (keys)

Photography: Luke Das Costumes: Carolyn Rathgeb

Performance details:

Previews 15 - 17 August InMotion Festival of Dance

Press Night 18 August THE BUNKER
53a Southwark Street
London, SE1 1RU

7:30pm, Sat matinee 3pm, Sun matinee 5pm: £15 (£13 concs, £10 previews)

www.bunkertheatre.com | 0207 234 0486

Box Office Hours: Mon - Fri, 10am - 5pm

About Bunker Theatre

The Bunker is an Off-West End theatre housed in a former underground parking garage in London Bridge. The space has been transformed from its original abandoned state into a unique 110-seater Studio Theatre to house plays, musicals, dance, music, and a host of other performances.

With four concrete pillars marking out the thrust performance space, an eclectic mix of audience seating on three sides of the stage, and a snug bar tucked into the corner of the venue, The Bunker has a unique character of its own.

The Bunker believes in theatre with purpose, providing a home in which ambitious artists can share their work with adventurous audiences. The relationship between audience and artist is at the forefront of the work that The Bunker programmes, and this interaction extends beyond just the performance itself. The doors to The Bunker open an hour before a show so audiences can grab a drink, find a seat, and explore the space of the theatre. The Bunker also plays host to a variety of post-show events that are inspired by the main house production, including dance responses, plays in development, and spoken word pieces. The Bunker is a place to pitch up early and to stay late into the night, where you can be entertained but also have the opportunity to discuss and debate what you have seen that night.

Twitter: @BunkerTheatreUK Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bunkertheatreuk

About Theatre Bench

Theatre Bench produces original musicals, plays, dance and music, by new and emerging British creatives. Nurturing & encouraging new talent in a variety of disciplines, unbound by subject or genre, Theatre Bench has gone from strength to strength since launching in 2012.

We produced the world premiere of Craig Adams & Ian Watson's 'LIFT' at Soho Theatre in February 2013. In 2014 we produced 'Carthage' and 'Thérèse Raquin' at the Finborough Theatre and co-produced acclaimed choreographer Drew McOnie's 'Drunk' at the Bridewell Theatre with the McOnie Company. 'Thérèse Raquin' transferred to the Park Theatre later the same year.

We also launched the album 'Rush of Life' by Julie Atherton, featuring new songs written for her by Dougal Irvine, Benedict, George Maguire, Lance Horne and Craig Adams.

Theatre Bench produced the world premiere of 'These Trees are Made of Blood' at Southwark Playhouse in Spring 2015, a political cabaret about the Dirty War in 1970s Argentina. We also co-produced 'Teddy' by Tristan Bernays, with music by Dougal Irvine, also at the Southwark Playhouse and 'Claustrophobia' at The Hope Theatre Islington.

In 2016 we co-produced 'The Brink' at Orange Tree with W14 Productions, and 'Every Seven Years' at Illuminate Festival.

In addition to mainstream theatre productions we've produced and supported a number of shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, including work by Theatre ad Infinitum, Christina Bianco, The Mac Twins, Jason Hewitt, Sooz Kempner and Alex Gwyther.

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