Old Vic's Voices Off Series Launches Alongside THE HAIRY APE, Starring Bertie Carvel
By: BWW News Desk Nov. 03, 2015
The second series of events aligned with Matthew Warchus' new season at The Old Vic continue with the THE HAIRY APE, which opened 29 October. The events aim to stimulate debate surrounding topics brought to light in Eugene O'Neill's iconic American story of class and identity.
Old Vic Voices Off reflects the colorful and wide-ranging approach to Matthew Warchus' first season, and offers audiences a chance to get closer to the heart of Old Vic shows. As well as Q&As with casts and creative teams, leading voices in the arts, media, science and politics will explore themes raised by productions on The Old Vic main stage.
A classic expressionist masterpiece, THE HAIRY APE is directed by multi-award-winning director Richard Jones and stars Olivier Award winner Bertie Carvel. It tells the story of Yank (Carvel), a laborer who revels in his status as the strongest stoker on a transatlantic ocean liner. But when Yank is called a 'filthy beast' by the overbred daughter of a steel merchant, he experiences an awakening of consciousness that leads him on a journey through the wealthy neighborhoods and disenfranchised underbelly of New York society. Searching for a way to belong, Yank is forced to confront primal questions about his true place in the world.
Further events will soon be announced to coincide with the opening of the new stage adaptation of Dr Seuss's THE LORAX.
In Conversation: Richard Jones and Sarah Angliss
Tonight 3 November 2015
9.15-9.45 p.m.
The Old Vic Auditorium
Join Director Richard Jones and Sound Designer and Composer Sarah Angliss in conversation as they talk about the process of creating and integrating Sarah's soundscape into THE HAIRY APE. Old Vic New Voices' Director Alex Ferris will host the half hour of conversation between Richard and Sarah as they also talk about their working relationship and their decision to work with "found sounds."
This post-show event is followed by an artistic development opportunity for 40 emerging artists. For more information, please see The Old Vic website.
Old Vic Voices Off and Old Vic New Voices presents:
Making Concrete Connections: Speed-Networking
Tuesday 3 November 2015
9.45-10.45 p.m.
Mark's Bar at The Old Vic
Are you a director interested in working with innovative sound in your future productions? Or perhaps you are a sound artist or composer interested in working in theatre but don't know where to find directors interested in your work?
Having been inspired by Richard Jones and Sarah Angliss and their working relationship, this is an opportunity for emerging theatre-makers -- 20 directors and 20 sounds artists -- to meet each other and find out about each other's work. To express an interest in attending please email OVOO@oldvictheatre.com by 12 noon on Friday 23 October 2015 stating your name and whether you are a director or sound artists. Places will be allocated by lottery and will include a free ticket to IN CONVERSATION: Richard Jones & Sarah Angliss. You will hear whether you have been offered a space in the speed-networking event by 6 p.m. on Monday 26 October.
Post-show Q&A with Bertie Carvel
Thursday 12 November 2015
9.15-9.45 p.m.
The Old Vic Auditorium
An opportunity to get closer to the heart of THE HAIRY APE by listening to Olivier Award-winning actor and star of the production, Bertie Carvel (Doctor Foster, Matilda the Musical), as he talks to us about how he prepared to play one of the most iconic parts in American drama.
What attracted Bertie to the role of Yank? How did he work with Richard to bring him to life? And can he identify with the character's search to belong? These and other questions will be posed to one of our leading actors in British Theatre today.
The audience is invited to ask Bertie a question. Please Tweet @oldvictheatre #AskBertie by 9 p.m. on Thursday 12 November.
Post-show Lecture with Owen Jones: HOW THE CLASS SYSTEM IS JUSTIFIED IN 21st CENTURY BRITAIN
Wednesday 18 November 2015
Post-show Lecture, 9.15-10 p.m.
The Old Vic Auditorium
THE HAIRY APE is a timeless story of class and identity. It tells the story of Yank and his awakening of consciousness to class and the sense of belonging. Taking Yank's desire to topple the class structure as a starting point, writer and political commentator Owen Jones will take us on a journey through the murky territory of today's class system in modern Britain.
"I guess with class, for me, my starting point is it's an economic thing rather than a cultural thing: a postman who listens to the opera is still working class; an aristocrat who reads The Mirror is still an aristocrat and so on..." [Owen Jones, 2015]
Do class boundaries still exist? If so, who is responsible for erecting and maintaining them? And are they as deep and rigid as they were in 1922 America when Eugene O'Neill wrote THE HAIRY APE?
Come and listen to Owen Jones discuss these matters after a performance of the production on 18 November 2015.
There will be opportunities to buy copies of Owen's CHAVS: THE DEMONIZATION OF WORKING CLASS and THE ESTABLISHMENT: AND HOW THEY GET AWAY WITH IT at the event.
The Old Vic is located at The Cut, London SE1 8NB. THE HAIRY APE by Eugene O'Neill runs Sat 17 Oct - Sat 21 Nov 2015, Mon - Sat 7.30 p.m.; Wed & Sat 2.30 p.m. Contact the box office at 0844 871 7628 or go online at oldvictheatre.com/voicesoff for more about the series.
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