Theatre Royal Stratford East Announces New Season At Gerry's Studio

Theatre Royal Stratford East today announces the first full season of work to be showcased in their studio space, Gerry's Studio, running from October to December 2017. Gerry's Studio opened last year, situated just opposite the main theatre and has previously housed productions including Rani Moorthy's Whose Sari Now? and Door Ajar Theatre's A Midsummer Night's Dream follow up Thisbe.

The season opens with Worklight Theatre's production of Fix - a brand new ensemble show looking at addiction, based on research and interviews with addicts. This is followed by the world première of a new play by Stephanie Martin - Joy. The Clamour theatre company production follows a young woman with downs syndrome and opens on 26 October. November brings The Butch Monologues which plays from 8 - 10 November for 3 nights only, presenting a powerful and often humorous collection of secret stories exploring sexuality and vulnerability.

Gerry's Studio then hosts a part interactive performance, part dating agency, Binaural Dinner Date in their Kitchen space, which invites genuine applications from individuals looking for love, or existing couples who want a very different dating experience. The season concludes with FEEL Theatre's Sensory Circus - a specialised UV, circus and puppetry performance for young people with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities.

Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, Kerry Michael said today, "I am thrilled to see Gerry's Studio's first full theatre programme in my outgoing season here at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Gerry's Studio has been growing in popularity since its establishment and this season compliments the main house and remains true to our values. This will bring a real buzz to the venue and I am looking forward to seeing Gerry's Studio full of emerging artists enjoying working here and chilling out in our café and bar so that it can really become a hub for the next generation of creatives."

Gerry's Studio producer Daisy Hale said today "Gerry's Studio is a space to be daring, and that is exactly what these exciting companies are. These artists are continuing to make the East London theatre landscape a place that challenges traditional notions and makes it a unique experience. I think more than ever now we need to champion and nurture those voices that are often forgotten, and those who are breaking the norm in both narrative and form. We will also see this in our live events programme building in the adjacent Gerry's Studio's Kitchen space, showcasing diverse cabaret, poetry, pop up events and artistic gatherings. It is my hope that this is the first of a long line of innovative artists to pass through our doors. This can be your space, if you have an idea, come and talk to us about it."

Worklight Theatre present

Fix

Written by Joe Sellman-Leava and Michael Woodman

4 October - 21 October

Directed by Katharina Reinthaller

This a story, from us to you. With lights... and music. This is a tale about love and connection. About the bonds within brains. And the bonds between brains. And stretching them to breaking point. About taking one day at a time. And living for tomorrow.

Internationally acclaimed Worklight Theatre present a brand-new ensemble show about addiction. Based on research and interviews with addicts and the people who love or work with them, Fix follows three very different people battling three very different vices.

Age guidance: 16+

Clamour Theatre Company present the world première of

Joy

A new play by Stephanie Martin

24 October - 4 November

Press night: 26 October, 7:30pm

Director: Melanie Fullbrook; Dramaturgy and Creative Consultant: Stephen Unwin

"You know what I hate the most? I open my mouth to say something and before I've even said anything I can see people ready to say "no", to shake their heads. Disability is a shit word, I'm not using it anymore. So, I've decided, I am not a pet. I am just me. And I love being me"

London, 2017: Joy is getting older and is ready to go everywhere and do everything, encouraged in this by her new friend Sue. Joy likes art club, romantic films, hanging out with her boyfriend, her part-time job at the pub and getting drunk with her sister. Joy's Dad just want to keep her safe. The world's a dangerous place, after all.

Joy's working on a project for college, about people like her in London in 1871. In her day-dreams Joy sees two Victorians sisters, who risk everything, travelling across an angry and hostile city, determined to reach safety, freedom and a new home.

Joy is a story of family, friendship, freedom and control.

Age guidance: 14+

hotpencil press and Vital Xposure present

The Butch Monologues

Written by Laura Bridgeman

8, 9 and 10 November

Directed by Julie McNamara;

Developed and performed by The Drakes, a London based group of butches, transmen and gender rebels

A powerful and often humorous collection of secret stories exploring sexuality, vulnerability and desire. These monologues are taken from interviews with butches, masculine women, gender rebels and transmen from around the world.

The Butch Monologues brings together a collaboration between hotpencil press - an independent not for profit UK publishing house promoting high quality, unique, and re-visited works- under the leadership of Laura Bridgeman; Vital Xposure, a bold, dynamic touring theatre company under the creative leadership of disabled artist, Julie McNamara; and The Drakes, a group of butches, transmen and gender rebels, who joined together in the spirit of masculine solidarity, with the aim of promoting female masculinity and butch pride.

ZU-UK present the world première of

Binaural Dinner Date

Written and directed by Persis Jadé Maravala

16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30 November

1, 2, 3 December

What are the dos and don'ts of a first date? What questions need to be asked and what questions need to be avoided at all costs?

Following sold-out previews in July, ZU-UK bring you the world première of interactive performance Blind Dinner Date at Gerry's Studio's Kitchen.

You are the date.
Are you looking for love? Aren't we all? What if you could find it for an evening, without having to think about what to say and how to behave? What if someone - a waiter... a DJ... a heartbroken lonely actor... was there for you?

In Binaural Dinner Date a voice in your ear guides you through the perfect date. What is the worst that could happen? Getting to know the depths of another human being, and perhaps even yourself? Oh, and you get a free drink.

Part interactive performance, part dating agency, Binaural Dinner Date invites genuine applications from individuals looking for love, or existing couples who simply want a very different dating experience.

After you have made your booking, please use this link to inform ZU-UK of your dating preferences.

@iamzuuk | www.zu-uk.com

Age guidance: 16+

FEEL Theatre present

Sensory Circus

14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23 December at 10am & 12pm

A show for young people with Profound Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD)

Blast off into space with Neo, our little alien puppet and discover the magical wonders of circus planet!

Join FEEL Theatre on another one of our wonderful, sensory journeys! A specialised glow - UV, circus and puppetry performance for young people with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities, concentrating on visual perception, concentration, visual tracking and focus. A new, different and fun form of therapy where the participants can get involved too.

Providing a 30-minute glow performance with UV lights and fantastic music, followed by a 30-minute sensory play and exploration of some glow toys with the participants and their parents/carers. These glow toys include finger lights, UV juggling scarves, juggling balls and more as well as glow sticks for participants to wear throughout the performance, to keep and take home.

Age guidance: 7-18

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