The nabokov Autmun 2011 Season is here!

Welcome to the nabokov Autumn season crammed full of theatrical treats, including 3 productions, the nabokov Arts Club and the brand new Vox Pop event!

This season sees 7 exceptional young writers’ work produced in 4 cities across 2 continents. 

YOUNG PRETENDER

by E V Crowe

September 2011

Presented by nabokov, Escalator East to Edinburgh and Hull Truck Theatre in association with Watford Palace Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester 

“It’s not a Scottish history lesson, more a three-act, three-handed chamber study of the cycle of teenage rebellion” - **** The Scotsman

“melding history with rock star swagger to pose questions about the hidden costs of conflict.” - **** Metro 

Charlie is 24. By the time he was 12 he had decided that there was just one thing that he was going to do with his life. And now he’s going to do it. He’s told everyone he knows that this is what he’s going to do. That this is who he is. 

Invade England and Scotland. 

“Tick.”

Inspired by the life of the infamous Bonnie Prince Charlie, Young Pretender is a thrilling ride that follows Charlie through the glorious triumphs and the bitter failures of his rebellion. 

Told with an exhilarating fusion of the modern and the historic, this sharp new play is about every young person who has ever stood up and tried to do something extraordinary.

 “Captivating” - The Observer

“Crowe’s writing zings off the page” and “Paul Woodson’s Prince is as magnetic as Mick Jagger” - The Independent 

“I could have watched hours more of EV Crowe's modern rewrite” - The Guardian

YOUNG PRETENDER by E V Crowe

Fri 2 – Sat 3 September 2011 // 8:00pm // also 5pm on 3 Sept

Watford Palace Theatre // Clarendon Road // Watford // WD17 1JZ

Tickets // £12.50 // 01923 225671, www.watfordtheatre.co.uk, or CLICK HERE!

 

Thurs 8 – Sat 10 September 2011 // 7:45pm

Mercury Theatre Colchester // Balkerne Gate // Colchester // CO1 1PT

Tickets // £10.50, £6.50 concs. // 01206 573948, www.mercurytheatre.co.uk, or CLICK HERE!

 

Wed 14 – Sat 17 September 2011 // 8:00pm // also 2pm on 17 Sept

Hull Truck Theatre // Ferensway // Hull // HU2 8LB

Tickets // £15, £10 concs. // 01482 323638, www.hulltruck.co.uk, or CLICK HERE!

 

VOX POP

10 October 2011

There’s a new challenge in town, and it’s looking right at you!

Vox Pop challenges the UK’s most exciting emerging talent to respond to what the pubic decide is the most important story on the news agenda.

Here’s how it works:

From Monday 26 September we’ll be asking you to vote online for what you consider to be the hottest topic of the moment.   

On Monday 3 October our artists will be presented with your decision. 

Then they’ll have just 7 days to create pieces of work in response before they are performed live at the brand new Cabaret Space at The Soho Theatre!

Get ready for a night of theatrical innovation in the heart of the capital.

 

VOX POP

10 October 2011 // Time TBC

Soho Theatre // Dean Street // London // W1D 3NE // Closest Tube: Tottenham Ct Rd / Leicester Sq.

Tickets // Price TBC // 020 7478 0100, www.sohotheatre.com

 

BUNNY

by Jack Thorne

October - November 2011

Presented by nabokov in association with Watford Palace Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester

“Amusing, poignant, bang on the money real – catch it if you can” - ***** WhatsOnStage

“Pretty much pitch perfect” - ***** Manchester Evening News 

The Fringe First Award winning production goes to London and New York.

"I don't like thinking. But I do. Think. All the time."

Scorching heat. A fight. A car-chase. A siege. Feisty 18-year-old Katie is thrust on white-knuckle ride through one extraordinary evening when her boyfriend is attacked on the street. Amidst the baying for blood and the longing for love, Katie is forced to decide her future.

This award winning, deeply personal new play from one of Britain’s most exhilarating young writers is an unflinching, heartbreakingly vulnerable look at the complexities of growing up and the complications of racial diversity in Britain today

“Electrifying” - **** The Scotsman

“Jack Thorne confirms his position as a powerful voice for Britain's youth" with writing that is "fresh and compelling". - **** The Independent 

“Rosie Wyatt gives a remarkable performance" - **** The Financial Times

BUNNY by Jack Thorne

12 - 29 October

Soho Theatre // Dean Street // London // W1D 3NE // Closest Tube: Tottenham Ct Rd / Leicester Sq.

Tickets // 020 7478 0100, www.sohotheatre.com, or CLICK HERE!

 

2 - 19 November // various times

59E59 Theaters // 59 East 59^th St // Between Madison & Park Ave // New York City // NY 10022, USA. // Subway: 4/5/6 or N/R/Q to 59^th & Lex.

Tickets // +1 212.753.5959, www.59e59.org

 

GROTESQUE CHAOS

by Michael McLean

illustrated by Graham Cheal

18 - 19 November 2011

nabokov have teamed up with the Liverpool Everyman to return to the fantastic Everyword festival with Grotesque Chaos by Michael McLean.  

An intense mash up of live action and animation, this one man show is an unflinching look at one of Liverpool’s most controversial sons: Derek Hatton. 

In 1982 he helped set up a free school in Croxteth.

In 1983 he held Thatcher’s government to ransom for £30,000,000.  

In 1985 he sent a fleet of taxis to make 30,000 council employees redundant.

Love him or hate him, Degsy is back, and there's a few things that he wants to say about 2011 Britain.

 

GROTESQUE CHAOS by Michael McLean

17 - 18 November 2001 // Time TBC

Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse

Tickets // 0151 709 4776, www.everymanplayhouse.com

 

THE NABOKOV ARTS CLUB

28-29 October

We've heard your anguished screams and tortured, sleepless nights. We've felt your pain. So it gives us great, great pleasure to announce the return of the nabokov Arts Club!  What's more, we're moving to an amazing new venue - Battersea Arts Centre!

That's right, the undisputed heavyweight champion of artistic happenings anywhere, ever, returns in style for a Halloween Weekend Spectacular! Taking over BAC for two consecutive nights, we'll be delivering that same high quality mix of live arts, great chat and outrageous dance moves that you've been yearning for.

We'll be announcing more soon, so keep your 'best night out in London' radars charged...

 

NABOKOV ARTS CLUB // OCTOBER

Fri 28 – Sat 29 November 2011 // Time TBC

Battersea Arts Centre // Lavender Hill // Battersea // SW11 5TN // Closest Train: Clapham Jct

Tickets // NOT YET ON SALE // www.bac.org.uk

And so it ends...but not for long!

As the final show ended, it seemed like only yesterday that we began the first day of rehearsals. What a fantastic group of people to have had the pleasure of spending the last 8 plus weeks working with.

We hope you've enjoyed coming on the journey with us and thank you to all those who saw the show and/or supported us on our lil' adventure...it's been a treat!

For those who didn't get to see the show in the old berg, there's no need to weep or lose sleep as you can catch us in Watford, Colchester and Hull over the next three weeks - oh yes - it doesn't finish here people! 

We can't wait to bring the show to the three fantastic venues we have lined up. So if you avoided the UK rain and caught some rays this summer then brighten up your September and get along to see YOUNG PRETENDER (although don't stand to close to us as we're a pretty pale bunch and we get jealous easily).

The upcoming venues/dates/times are:

    Watford Palace Theatre 2 - 3 September, 8pm (also 5pm on 3

    Sept)

    buy tickets now

    Mercury Theatre Colchester 8 - 10 September, 7:45pm

    buy tickets now

    Hull Truck 14 - 17 September, 8pm (also 2pm on 17 Sept)

     buy tickets now

And here are a few more reasons to pop along...

    “It’s not a Scottish history lesson, more a three-act, three-handed

    chamber study of the cycle of teenage rebellion” - ****

    The Scotsman

    

    “Captivating” - The Observer

    “Crowe’s writing zings off the page” and “Paul Woodson’s Prince is

    as magnetic as Mick Jagger” - The Independent

    “I could have watched hours more of E V Crowe's modern rewrite”

    - The Guardian

    “melding history with rock star swagger to pose questions about

    the hidden costs of conflict.” - **** Metro

Thank you again to everyone and look forward to seeing you in the very near future.

nabokov peeps x

 

Young Pretender: Series 1

Ok, so we may have taken the Alternative Fringe Award for ‘Show most likely to end up on TV’ in the Guardian a little too far...

For those of you who may enjoy it, here is our version of the DVD cover for nabokov and HBO’s Young Pretender: Series 1

Young Pretender  

Underbelly (Belly Button), Cowgate. 

4-28 August

16:40

1 Hour  

Follow us: www.nabokov-online.com / @nabokovtheatre #youngpretender

Young Pretender voted as most likely Edinburgh play to be made into a TV show by The Guardian

In the Guardian’s Best of the Fringe Alternative Awards Young Pretender has been voted most like show to grace HBO!

 

 “I could have watched hours more of EV Crowe's modern rewrite” 

    “bookend it with a glitzy credit sequence and you've got one of

    those great box-set dramas HBO makes so well. Please?

    Someone?”

Read the full article here

Well we couldn’t agree more!  So if you are reading this Mr and Mrs HBO then please join us in nabokov’s first venture into the world of television…

Young Pretender  

Underbelly (Belly Button), Cowgate. 

4-28 August

16:40

1 Hour  

Follow us: www.nabokov-online.com / @nabokovtheatre #youngpretender

 

4 Stars in The Scotsman and a great mention in The Independent's round up of the Festivals biggest hits!

The Scotsman has come out with a fantastic review for Young Pretender!

    "Nabokov's appearance in Edinburgh last year produced Fringe First winner Bunny, and audience numbers suggest expectation levels have risen sharply this time out. Fortunately, this is a show, co-produced with Hull Truck Theatre, which meets them with stylish effort and clarity of purpose.”

    “It’s not a Scottish history lesson, more a three-act, three-handed chamber study of the cycle of teenage rebellion”

    “Paul Woodson is gifted what must surely be one of the roles of this year's festival as Charlie.”

Read the full review here

And a great mention in The Independent in Alice Jones’ round up of the Festival’s biggest hits:

    “In the theatre, the most exciting writing has come from young talents like E V Crowe, whose Young Pretender gets inside the surprisingly modern head of Bonnie Prince Charlie, in order to probe the manipulative charm of leaders” 

Read the full article here

So with just over a week left at the festival get yourselves along to the show!

Young Pretender 

Underbelly (Belly Button), Cowgate. 

4-28 August

16:40

1 Hour 

Follow us: www.nabokov-online.com / @nabokovtheatre #youngpretender

Boddie Prince Charlie's Bad Boy Challenges - The Finale: Arthur's Seat

All good things must come to an end, annoyingly, and it's my final challenge.

Now, this challenge is a little different to the others. It's not really stereotypically Scottish because... well, it's just climbing a big hill. Nevertheless, Arthur's seat is a pretty big part of Edinburgh (literally and metaphorically) and so it seems an apt conclusion to the end of Boddie Prince Charlie's Bad Boy Scottish Challenges. It's almost as if physically walking up the hill and looking over the city represents also my attempts to mentally 'climb' and get to grips with the challenges of working for nabokov, prior to looking back over my time with the company before I depart...

Dammit they told me not to be sentimental.

Anyway, without telling anyone that I initially, mistakenly, said “So when are we heading up to Andrew's Chair?” (Look, that sounds quite similar) it was time to face my challenge.

And look – here's Arthur's Seat at Sunset!

Man that's beautiful. I'm so glad I was there to take that picture. I'd really have been annoyed to miss such a spectacular photo opportunity....

Okay, I'll level with you guys – I didn't take the photo. It's from the internet.

The weather on the day I was meant to go up was absolutely miserable – dark skies chucking it down with rain. Honestly, the photo would have been rubbish. Not that it matters to you, dear readers! You've still got a great picture. In fact, the picture you've got here is WAY better than anything I would have taken on my crappy camera... So, whilst some of you may say I technically 'failed' the last challenge, I think we should all agree that, actually, I was just doing everyone a great favour. Go me.

But on an honest note, scenic beauty really isn't a rare thing in Edinburgh – the city itself is full of amazing architecture, as well as a great big beautiful castle slap bang in the middle. It's hard not to fall in love with the place.

So... This is it.

I don't want to start with the sentimentality again, but to say I've enjoyed my time with nabokov couldn't be more of an understatement. I've LOVED it. I've had such a great experience and to be given the opportunity is something I'll always be extremely grateful for. (Thanks guys!) Whilst I know I'm kind of 'meant' to say it, I'm genuinely so proud (if pride is the right emotion) of 'Young Pretender' and truly think that it's an amazing play. EVERYONE involved has done such a superb job.

Feel free to follow me on twitter @CharlieWarley8 (I deserve some sort of self-promotion, right?) and, of course, keep up to date with nabokov as per with the social networking stuff below!

I hope you enjoyed my challenges. And even if you didn't, I did, so... swings and roundabouts.

Peace and love.

Boddie Prince Charlie.

Young Pretender 

Underbelly (Belly Button), Cowgate. 

4-28 August

16:40

1 Hour 

 

Follow us: www.nabokov-online.com / @nabokovtheatre #youngpretender

Boddie Prince Charlie's Bad Boy Challenges - Day Four: Bagpipes

We're coming to the end of my Bad Boy Scottish Challenges now, and, let's face it, for bagpipes to not be included is about as likely as Zooey Deschanel turning up at my doorstep and declaring her love for my incomparable persona...

Anyway, conventional self-deprication aside (over-analysing?) this was definitely the hardest task of the lot. You might think it would be easy. Bagpipes are surely sold in every other shop in Edinburgh, right?

Wrong.

Look, maybe we missed something, but we genuinely struggled to track them down! Eventually we found a shop, though the price was a slight issue...


So there was no chance I was gonna get a go on one of those. 

But, refusing to give up, we pushed on and tracked down some slightly cheaper types...


‘Junior Playable’ or, more aptly, ‘Kids Bagpipes’, to be exact. But that's fine. It's not embarrassing at all, trust me...

Now, even though we had bagpipes I could technically use, actually using them was a little tricky seeing as I had absolutely no idea where to start.


There's a lot of pieces.

"What did you do!?" - I hear you all type furiously into twitter and other social networking tools (that's right, nabokov are down with the kids). But stop typing - I'll tell you! We found a bit of a Scottish legend named 'Donald McDermott'. *

Now, Donald knows his stuff. He's been playing the bagpipes for years and years, and he even performed a couple of amazing tunes for us!


He also divulged a load of fascinating facts! (Which, coincidentally, can easily be found online for anyone who doesn't know a bagpipe legend.) For instance - Bagpipes were once used by Scots to "frighten away their enemies on the battlefield". Kind of makes sense (no offence to the Scots, but they are quite loud).

Also, there's a myth that in 1745 (that's right, the date in which 'Young Pretender' is set!) bagpipes were banned, but historians have no proof of this. Not that this effects the play at all seeing as we don't feature the bagpipes once. (Don't have a go, I'm just trying to get some sort of actual 'information' into this.)

Another interesting fact is that the original bagpipe was "made from the whole skin of a dead (obviously) sheep". Similarly, I learned earlier this week that Haggis was prepared in a sheep's stomach. A lot happened with sheep in Scotland back in the day didn't it? Obviously wasn't just the wind making them shake...

So - there's another blog filled with fun, facts and... frolicking! What more could you want? 

Hopefully I'll be delivering a final challenge for ya'll soon!


*May not be an actual person.

 

Young Pretender 

Underbelly (Belly Button), Cowgate. 

4-28 August

16:40

1 Hour 

 

Follow us: www.nabokov-online.com / @nabokovtheatre #youngpretender

Boddie Prince Charlie's Bad Boy Challenges - Day Three: Kilt Wearing

So, perhaps one of the most stereotypical of the lot – Kilts! There’s no way I could go to Scotland without trying a few…

The day started with a surprise when an angry store owner told us he wasn’t too keen on us blogging about their kilts. Maybe they thought we’d be a bit harsh about their designs and materials, what with us being fashionistas and all...

But anyway, we found a great little place called W. Armstong & Son, which is a wonderful antique clothes place. (See, look at all of that publicity, angry store owner… Now who’s angry. Well, you still are, but even more angry I bet.)


So, I gave kilt wearing a go! We tried to get a load of different colours 'cause, you know, we're mental. The first example is below:


Now, to most people that probably looks fine. Good, if anything. (That might be pushing it, but give me a chance…)

However, Chris Starkie (our superb Scottish actor) soon notified me that, actually, kilts are meant to come to the knees and no further. So actually, I looked like a bit of an idiot. Still – first attempt right? The second would be better….

Well, that’s what I thought.

Actually, I realised that wearing it the proper way only showed off my tiny legs and made me look… well, less like this:

And more like this:

Plus, it was really quite heavy as it was a ‘heavyweight’ tartan. (That’s about as technical as I can get when it comes to kilts, sorry.)

Anyway, I continued to try them on, and the last one, which is the most stereotypically Scottish in my eyes (for some reason I only ever think of kilts in the colour red) was this:

I’m not sure what nabokov wanted me to learn from this experience. I… um… well, kilts are quite comfy. And normally expensive (though totally worth it). Er… That’s about it.

I kind of fell like I’ve cheated everyone here.  I’ll copy some facts about kilts from Wikipedia:

The kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear, originating in the traditional dress of men   and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century. Since the 19th century it has become    associated with the wider culture of Scotland in general, or with Celtic (and more specifically Gaelic)    heritage even more broadly. It is most often made of woollen cloth in a tartan pattern.

Wow, wasn’t that interesting?

Check back tomorrow guys for another ultimate Bad Boy challenge! (I’m sorry, I didn’t call them that…)

 

Young Pretender 

Underbelly (Belly Button), Cowgate. 

4-28 August

16:40

1 Hour 

Follow us: www.nabokov-online.com / @nabokovtheatre #youngpretender

4 stars for Young Pretender in Metro!

Another cracking review for the show up in Edinburgh:

    “melding history with rock star swagger to pose questions about

    the hidden costs of conflict.”

    “Young Pretender adds a contemporary sheen to a familiar

    character.”

Unfortunately the review is only in print and hasn’t come out online yet, but we’ll link the full review as soon as we can!

And we also thought we’d share a bit of audience feedback with you too from edfringe.com:

    “Outstanding play, clever, funny and gripping... a must see”

    - Alan Wellburn

    “This is a must-see: the vicious circle of youth in rebellion,

    generation after generation with their hopes of changing the

    world. It is an age-old story told for a modern age”

    - Christine McDerment

Read the full comments here

So if you are up in Edinburgh and haven’t seen the show, then what are you waiting for!?

Young Pretender 

Underbelly (Belly Button), Cowgate. 

4-28 August

16:40

1 Hour 

Follow us: www.nabokov-online.com / @nabokovtheatre #youngpretender

Boddie Prince Charlie's Bad Boy Challenges - Day Two: Whiskey

It's the second day of my Bad Boy Scottish Challenges. And I had the really laborious, difficult task of whiskey tatting… Poor, poor me. 

Anyway, we tracked down a great shop called, wait for it, 'The Whiskey Shop'. For some reason we thought it might have just what we were looking for. 

 

 

And it did! 

I was able to try four top whiskeys, and out of proper kegs - yeah, KEGS! How cool is that? And I can tell you that each whiskey is named after where it's made. See - this blog is entertaining AND informative.

I started with the 18 year old whiskey (called 'Macallan'), which definitely had the nicest taste but also had a real kick afterwards - as seen here:

Before

 

After

The second, which was the favourite of my glamorous assistant Lottie (no picture, sorry) was 'Ben Nevis' which had a distinctive soft, chocolate orange taste. Pretty tasty!

The third was a particularly fruity whiskey, 'Deanston', and the last (the name of which escapes me... which is nothing to do with the amount of alcohol consumed by that point, honest) was a smokey flavoured one. And I mean smokey - imagine putting some ash into a glass and you're half-way there. (Apparently drinking it last was a good idea as well as the flavour is so strong, to drink it first would have overpowered the others… See, more facts!) 

But they were all really tasty and I didn't really realise how different whiskeys could be! See, there's more to alcohol than getting drunk. Apparently. 

 

 

Big thanks to Chris Welch (pictured below) who helped us out and provided the tasters - a great guy who really knew his stuff! 

 

 

 Keep checking back to see what else I get up to across the week…

 

Young Pretender 

Underbelly (Belly Button), Cowgate. 

4-28 August

16:40

1 Hour 

Follow us: www.nabokov-online.com / @nabokovtheatre #youngpretender