We hope you're doing OK, as we all try our best to adapt to new ways of living and working. Such a lot to take in and rethink, isn't there? And juggle while trying to find a bit of balance. We're with you.
QUEER LADY M national tour
Following our first statement a couple of weeks ago, we've been continuing to take the advice from the NHS and keeping to the rules of the government (stay in unless you're a key worker), while speaking with the venues where we were going to continue the tour of QUEER LADY M and community workshops in the coming weeks.
Sadly, we have to cancel the following tour dates:
Fri 17 and Sat 18 April - The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
Sun 19 and Mon 20 April - King's Head Theatre, London
Fri 22 May - The Theatre Shop, Clevedon
If you've bought a ticket for one of the shows, please consider donating it to the venue. Box offices are taking big hits, as are other income streams dependent on shows and other activities including workshops. We all need to make sure that the arts are still with us when lockdown is over.
We are working on ways to bring you aspects of QUEER LADY M online through social media while our website is down (it has its own virus). There's a thread of tweets at twitter.com/queerladym with the script and photos from the show, if you'd like to take a look there. More content soon, when we can make it and share it with you.
STAR-CROSSED LOVERS
At 1623 Learning, we've been working to bring you an online version of STAR-CROSSED LOVERS, our new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, which was due to play at the Martin Harris Centre this month.
Thanks to the team, who have been working at home on creating videos and photography, we now have a new take on the show which is playing out at twitter.com/isolatednurse.
The STAR-CROSSED LOVERS team are Jamie Brown (editor), Corinne Kilvington (Nurse), Michael Muyunda (Romeo), Ben Spiller (director) and Sophie Whitebrook (Juliet).
This new free online version of STAR-CROSSED LOVERS has been made possible thanks to support from Martin Harris Centre and funding from the University of Manchester.
1623 LEARNING
Teachers, students, parents, life-long learners - 1623 Learning is open for all your Shakespeare-related queries. Contact our learning director jamie.brown@1623theatre.co.uk or send us a message by social media. Ask us anything about Shakespeare and we'll do our best to help out. We'd love to hear from you
SHAKESPEARE QUIZ
1623 artistic director Ben Spiller is running a weekly quiz on Sharing Shakespeare - our participatory group on Facebook. This happens on Fridays at 8pm, BST. The questions are text and image based, and cover a range of themes, plays, productions, characters, actors and quotes. Head over and check it out. Lots of fun, if you like that sort of thing.
SUPPORT FOR THEATREMAKERS
In Good Company are offering theatremakers online surgeries called OFF THE RECORD, to listen to concerns, offer advice and signpost to other sources of support including financial and well-being. You can contact Ben or Sophie via In Good Company website, ingoodco.org.uk, or social media channels. They have been an incredible help to us and we recommend whole-heartedly.
FUTURE OF THEATRE
This is so uncertain right now. As we all make use of digital platforms to share and watch existing work, create and play out new work and think about future possibilities, let's not forget that theatre is all about a shared experience in the same space while breathing the same air. It will happen again. We're not sure when, but it will.
In the meantime, when you watch and enjoy other people's work on screen, please donate what you can to them to help secure their future as artists. If you enjoy a screening by one of the largest companies, please consider splitting your donation between them, your local theatre, companies and artists' emergency funds such as this one coordinated by Rafia Hussain: bit.ly/ArtistsCoronaImpactFund.
STAY IN TOUCH
Please let us know how you're doing, keep on looking after yourself, your family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and community.
Love, solidarity and best wishes
Ben, creative director
Chris, creative producer
Jamie, learning director
Elaine, comms associate
1623 theatre company presents a national tour of
QUEER LADY M
A fabulous fusion of drag, autobiography and Shakespeare
Performed by Shane Gabriel (Funny Girls), Lady Macbeth comes to life like you've never experience before.
There's outrageous lip-syncing, cheeky dancing and sassy conversation as Queer Lady M invites you to enter her world of passion and shade.
But what happens when the show is over, when Shane removes the makeup and puts Lady M to bed? What stories will come to light as we're invited into Shane's twilight world?
Find out in 1623's funny and moving exploration of a unique relationship between a fierce drag queen and her anxious alter-ego who join forces to fight tragedy and celebrate queerness.
Queer Lady M brings together drag, devised performance and Shakespeare while exploring the real-life experiences of working-class, gender-fluid artist Shane Gabriel.
Difference Engine captioning available at all performances
The Difference Engine delivers captions to your smartphones or tablet via a free app. If you would like to use the Difference Engine, please arrive a few minutes earlier than you normally would to get setup. Look out for information leaflets at the venue.
The Queer Lady M team
SHANE GABRIEL performer | TIM HEYWOOD set and costume designer | REBECCA LEGG assistant director | CHRISTOPHER LYDON composer and producer | ADAM McCREADY sound designer | MICHAEL PINCHBECK dramaturgical support | LUCY J SKILBECK outside eyes | BEN SPILLER director | KITTY WINTER movement director
Thanks to Sarah Brigham from Derby Theatre, Michaela Butter and John Kirby from Attenborough Arts Centre, Lue Douthit from Play On! Shakespeare, Bill Rauch from Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and audiences at the scratches and previews for supporting the development of the show.
