HACKNEY
EMPIRE
SPICE FESTIVAL
LISTINGS
The Hackney Empire Spice Festival is an exciting, three-week
arts showcase featuring more than 50 events in and around the Hackney Empire,
from music, literature and art to comedy, fashion and drama. A celebration of
all things Hackney.
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*Spice festival*
Cuba
50: Orquestra Aragon and Yoruba Andabo
25
June
8.00pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£17.50 Concs: £2 off
A
night of steaming Cuban dance music showcasing the African and rural roots of
contemporary styles.
Produced
by the Barbican and supported by Arts Council England
Part
of Barbican Summer.
Marking
their 70th birthday and founded in Cienfuegos, Orquesta Aragon became
international stars during the cha-cha-cha boom of the 1950s and have come to
exemplify the charanga tradition of the island – riffing strings and flutes,
producing a lighter, folkier and more rural sound. Yoruba Andabo is a company
of singers, percussionists and dancers performing original West African music
styles. Born out of spontaneous musical get-togethers held at the Havana
harbour in 1961, the group preserves and celebrates the irresistible power of
Cuba’s African rhythms.
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*Spice festival*
Outspoken
Dance
26
June
7.30pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£12.50 Concs: £2 off
Outspoken
Dance returns with its unique blend of dance theatre and spoken word. This
packed showcase celebrates some of the UK's most prolific Hip Hop and
contemporary dance companies alongside emerging talent. Don't miss this
dazzling line up of presenting a dazzling line up of performance poets, MCs and
dance artists, with master of ceremonies Jonzi D.
*Spice festival*
2Divide
& Memories
Friday
26 & Saturday 27 June
7:30
pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Studio Theatre
Price(s):
£12.50 Concs: £2 off
Two
fantastic physical theatre/dance piece: 2Divide and exploration of division and
biploarity and Memories an intimate interpretation of how our past actions and
experiences shape our current emotional and physical state.
2Divide
“One,
two. Are you there?” This performance explores division and bipolarity.
Division within ourselves, division between me and you, between us and them.
Bipolarity as our contemporary syndrome, between left and right, North and
South, East and West. 2 Divide is about the lack of unity and the tendency to
create conflict that can happen in our own brain or in a war field. Absurd,
personal and mythological narratives come together through the languages of
physical theatre, sound and installation.
Memories
Pepa
Ubera invites you to an intimate interpretation of how our past actions and
experiences shape our current emotional and physical state. Presented with an
improvised musical score by Jules Arthur and Nick Wildsdon, the piece is a
delicate dialogue between contemporary dance, violin and electronics.
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*Spice festival*
Naked
Truth
Tuesday
30 June
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£15.50, £16.50, £18.50. Concs £14.50
Lisa
Riley
(the larger than life star of Emmerdale & Fat Friends) leads an all-star
Cast from stage and screen including Trudie Goodwin (The Bill), Julie Buckfield (Hollyoaks) and Abi Titmuss.
It's
a women thing, as five very different women struggle hilariously to conquer
pole dancing for an event to raise awareness and money for a breast cancer
charity. Real Women, Real Lives
Tailor-made
for Women, The Naked Truth, is the hit comedy Play from Dave Simpson, the
writer of the smash-hit comedy "Girls Night Out".
Now
in its fourth fantastic tour, this Show has had people on their feet all over
the UK. Set in a pole dancing class (the latest get-fit craze) The Naked
Truth is a brilliantly funny play about sisterhood.
As
their stories unfold and unravel, they share laughter and tears in this
hilarious, sad and ultimately moving Play.
The
Naked Truth is a poignant and uplifting comedy, a call to all women and
celebrating strength through adversity.
Its
a Show for women, about women, that men absolutely must see (if they
dare!).
"Better
than marriage guidance" - Yorkshire Post.
If
you were touched by "Calendar Girls" and amused by the manoeuvres of
"Stepping Out" you'll be splitting your sides and moved to tears by
The Naked Truth.
JULY
*Spice festival*
Magic
Bullet
Weds
1 & Thurs 2 July
Venue:
Hackney Empire Studio Theatre
£12.00
full prices
£10.00
Concs
Join
Christian Lee for an evening of magical frolics. The extraordinary, avant-garde
yet ironic Lee has got a lot to say and do, all in the name of pure
entertainment. Reminiscent of Tommy Cooper, and Vic Reeves, Christian might be
a little daft, but he is dedicated. He's not just a nutter with explosives to
hand. Au contraire, he is the "king of comedy magic" (Time Out)
"Flashy
conjuring from Christian Lee"
Three
Weeks
"Mighty
magical talents"
Evening
Standard
"Fabulous
magic-riddled comic Christian Lee"
Time
Out
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*Spice festival*
Ballet
Black
Thursday
2 July
7.30pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£12.50 - £16.50. Concs: £2 off
Inspirational
and innovative, Ballet Black is a neo-classical ballet company which honours
the traditions of classical ballet while breaking new ground with cutting edge choreography.
The
company is now an essential part of the classical ballet landscape and is the
perfect showcase for dancers of black and Asian descent, as well as acting as a
platform for both new and established choreographers.
Not
surprisingly, Ballet Black attracts dancers, choreographers and designers from
around the world. In recent years, the company has worked with Richard Alston,
Shobana Jeyasingh and Liam Scarlett; this time there will be new works from
choreographers including Martin Lawrance, Antonia Franceschi and Will Tuckett.
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*Spice festival*
Gypsy
Hotel
Friday
3 July
8.00pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£14.50
The
Urban Voodoo Machine, your hell-raising hosts in red'n'black, will bring you
their lurching sea shanties, debauched murder ballads, messed-up tangos and whiskey-soaked
gypsy stomps to Hackney Empire to celebrate the release of their long awaited
debut album Bourbon Soaked Gypsy Blues Bop'n'Stroll
The
Fire Tusk Pain Proof Circus
Fire,
motorbikes, straitjackets, chainsaws, whips, knives and flying usherettes: The
FTPPC drags circus, kicking and screaming into the 21st century on an
unstoppable, rock 'n' roll rollercoaster ride to Hell!
Gawkagogo
Elepant
Man Elvis, Norma Guntz and more freakshow cartoon fun!
The
Cesarians
Had
rock'n'roll been born in 1930's urban Europe, and not 1930's rural America, it
would have been like this; part Kurt Veil, part Jacques Brel, part Ernst
Kirchner and part klezmer!
Empress
Stah
This
Trapeze Artist, Burlesque Starlet & Twisted Cabaret Performer will be
"Hanging From The Chandelier"!
Lady
Ane Angel
The
Snake-Charmin' Fire-Eater!
dj
Scratchy
Our
resident wax-spinner who has toured with the Clash, The Pogues and Gogol
Bordello amongst others!
Frank
Sanazi
The
Ubermeister of Lounge sings his hit "Strangers On My Flight"!
Texas
Chainsaw Orchestra
From
the people who brought you "The Texas Chainsaw Travelling Horror Picture
Show" comes this all new hard-hitting 13-piece. A hell-raising horror
swing ensemble that explodes with big band versions of spooky rock-n-roll
songs!
Lalla
Morte
The
Parisian baguette bashing burlesque brunette!
Missy
Macabre
Burlesque
gone bad in a bathtub full of broken Glass.
*Spice festival*
NAKED
SPLENDOUR
Friday
03 July
Two
Shows at 7.00pm & 9.00pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Studio Theatre
£12.50
Full prices
£10.50
Concs
A
funny, poignant one man show, written and starring actor and comedian Philip
Herbert
Ever
wondered how it feels to be totally naked in a room full of strangers? A room
full of strangers intently studying every inch of you?
Philip
Herbert has been a life class and portrait model for over 30 years. He has
worked from Hampstead to Hackney, Barnet to Brixton and at most London Art
Schools, The Tate Modern, The Prince's Drawing School and art classes for
teenagers to 'old dears'.
He
has stories to tell; the highs and lows, occasional prose, the cold
rooms , difficult tutors, stroppy students and the one time he fell
asleep and the entire group went off for lunch and left him (snoring but still
posing without moving a muscle )!
THIS
PERFORMANCE CONTAINS MALE NUDITY"
"He
is just a bag of guts" said one tutor, "there's so much flesh - it's
amazing" pronounced an over excited student, “I was hoping for a female
model" ranted a sad old man.
It
is unusual for the life model to speak unless spoken to during class but on
this occasion the model speaks.
You
will have the opportunity to draw, sketch, paint or just watch. Drawing Boards
, Paper, pencils and charcoal will be provided upon request and Philip will be
offering short poses to begin with moving onto a couple of longer poses
towards the end of the show.
There
will also be an opportunity to ask questions and exhibit the work as part of
this on-going project.
THIS
PERFORMANCE CONTAINS MALE NUDITY
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*Spice festival*
BURLINGTON
BERTIE
Tuesday
7 July
Two
Shows - 3.00pm & 7.30pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Studio Theatre
£10
( £8 Concs)
Classic
Music Hall from the heart of the East End. Miss Dolly Gardner will be
performing 'Oh Mr Porter', 'Waiting at the Church' 'Doing the Lambeth Walk',
'If I was the Only Girl in the World', 'Old Kent Road' and many more. Plus
comedy and characters. www.lightsoflondonproductions.co.uk
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*Spice festival*
The
Kat and Tameka Show
Thursday 9 July
8.00pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£14.50, Concs £2 off
Join
us for another evening of mayhem and madness with two of our favourite Hackney
Empire regulars Kat and Tameka Empson
Kat
(MTV Base and Choice FM) and Tameka (best known as Mrs Aphrodite in the Big
Life and for the BBC’s Three Non Blonds) get together again by popular demand
to bring you their very own variety show with comedy, sketches, songs and
dance. Special guests include Kelly Le Roc and Eddie Nestor with more to be
announced.
Directed
by our very own Susie McKenna this promises to be a night not to be missed.
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*Spice festival*
Vex
Saturday
4 July 7:00 pm
Sunday
5 July 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm
Venue:
STUDIO THEATRE
Price(s):
£3
School’s
never been so exciting
Just
because I got the gun don’t mean I have to do all the shootin’
A
gripping drama about youth, dreams and darkness, a theatre piece that mixes poetic
hip-hop, turn tables and text. Set in the turbulent terrain of an inner city
comprehensive, Vex highlights the story of Tigs, a young boy growing up, trying
to navigate his way through school life and his dreams for the future.
Mr
Fuller’s English class are studying Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men for their
upcoming GCSE. But does this 1930s exploration of the American Dream with Lenny
and George’s longing to “live of the fatta the land” have anything to say to
today’s teenagers.
Simon
Parker the writer and director, along with DJ/composer Excalibah has
collaborated with the pupils from St Bonaventure’s Catholic Comprehensive
School and neighbouring girls school St Angela’s Ursuline School. Year 12
pupils studying drama, music, media and citizenship studies will be performing
alongside and Max Gold who plays Mr Fuller. They have been exploring the
language in the play mixing Shakespeare’s prose and Newham slang. First
performed at The Half Moon Theatre November 2008
Written
and directed by Simon Parker
Soundscape
by Excalibah
Presented
in collaboration with St Bonaventure’s School and St Angela Ursuline School
Newham London.
Funded
by Jack Petchy - The Goldsmiths Company - The National Lottery - Arts Council
England
Find
us at: www.cryingoutloud.org
or on Facebook
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*Spice festival*
E8’s
Pride!
4
July
8.00pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£14.50, Concs £2 off
Celebrate
Pride with a feast of Americana this 4th July as Hackney Empire drags the party
eastside for alternative Pride night we've all been corralled into
finger-lickin good shape by everyone's favourite country radio 4 star Tina C - she's a weapon!
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*Spice festival*
Spice
on the Square
Sun
5 July
From
12pm
Venue:
Hackney Town Hall Square
Once
again, Spice on the Square will spread a little sunshine and bring Hackney
together with street shows, fun for the kids, Fashion, arts, crafts, food
markets, and your chance to dazzle in the All Comers Talent Quest,
Dance-A-Round and Clown-A-Round.
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*Spice festival*
Hackney
Empire Sings
Sunday
5 July
6.00pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£12.50 Concs: £2 off
Hackney
Proms invites Helen
Chadwick
and friends to dedicate a concert in memory of the Hackney GP, DR Gaby
Tobias.
This
celebratory concert is a tribute to those who inspire.
One
voice, many voices, many voices as one.
An
uplifting feast of, grooves, rifts, echos, rhythms and choruses with influences
from people and poets across the world
A
community singing workshop programme will also be presented.
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*Spice festival*
Giants
of Comedy
Friday
10 July
8.30pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
£15,
Concs £2 off (in advance)
£17.50 on the Doors (No Concs)
A
hilarious night of comedy featuring comedy giants Dibbi, Felix Dexter, Glenda
Jaxson, hilarious young comic Babatunde and suprise guests... hosted by Dibbi
& Rollo......that’s right!..Dibi AND Rollo...see Wayne ‘Dibbi Rollins’ as
you’ve never seen him before......Steppin outa da frock! ...Fresh out from his
tour de force comic performances in the smash comedy Dis Shoodbe On TV!
Book
early and bring a hanky!
*Spice festival*
Red
Hot East End Comedy
Saturday
11 July
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£14.50, Concs £2 off
Celebrating
the new wave of East End Comedy.
In
recent years these comics have developed a massive following throughout London
and now is the time to stage the first ever Red Hot East End Comedy show. Join
compere Shazia Mirza as she introduces the worldly wise xray
vision top quality humour of Paul Chowdhry and the new star
of the London comedy scene Imran Yusuf supported by Isma
Almas, Joe Bor & introducing rising young
comedy star, Ahir Shah
Its
about time Britain’s burgeoning Asian comedy scene is recognized for what it
is, hilarious, perceptive, professional and underrated. The time has come
to stop waiting in the wings for recognition and for it to come out and prove
its worth. We guarantee that all lovers of great stand up will enjoy this
dynamic sizzling new wave of red hot comedy, generated in the East End's iconic
Hackney Empire.
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*Spice festival*
UK
Unsigned
12
July
2.00pm
& 7.00pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£12 - £14 Concs: £2 off
As
UK Unsigned celebrates its ninth year, MTV and Choice FM's Kat
returns to host the UK's biggest non-televised new talent production. 72 acts
across 15 categories from all across the UK will give the performance of their
lives at the UK Unsigned Grand Finals to follow in the footsteps of past star
finalists Leona Lewis, Fundamental and the Flawless Street Dance Group.
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*Spice festival*
Hackney
Proms & Battuta: a Mendelssohn anniversary concert
14
July
7.30pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£12.50 Concs: £2 off
No.
3, Leipziger Straße: an evening at home with the Mendelssohn family.
Hackney
Proms and Battuta return to the Empire for another fascinatin historical
concert, presenting an evening in 1820s Berlin at the home of the remarkable Mendelssohn
family. Chamber music and songs by the child prodigies, Fanny and Felix, and by
the old masters
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*Spice festival*
East
by South East Comedy Search: Play The Empire
Weds
15 July
7.30pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price:
£3.50
Got
what it takes to Play the Empire?
It's
comedy season at the Empire as we gear up for our new, two month East by South
East Comedy Festival extravaganza. To launch the festival, we are looking for
young comedy talent from Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets &
Waltham Forest. Are you entertaining, creative and funny? Are you 16 to 25? Got
a funny idea to share? We want to hear from you! So check out the website
eastbysoutheast.co.uk and get signed up. But hurry, submissions close on June
15!
For
more information visit www.eastbysoutheast.co.uk
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*Spice festival*
Cross
Road Blues
16
July
7.30pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£14.50, Concs £2 off
Brutal,
poetic and ultimately devastating, Cross Road Blues recreates one of the most
compelling myths in American music: Robert Johnson’s alleged pact with the
devil, hatched out at a crossroads one dark Mississippi midnight.
Previously
performed as a fringe two-hander, receiving five-star reviews and sell out
crowds, the play has now been reinvented on a Wagnerian scale. The addition of
an expansive choral score, performed by a twenty-voice choir accompanied by a
six-piece acoustic blues ensemble, promises to make this a unique and truly
frightening piece of theatre.
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*Spice festival*
The
291 Show
Summer
Holiday Special
Fri
17 July
8.00pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
£14.50
Join
Delroy, Dibbi and the Delroy Murray Band for a very special, extra fine, summer
serving of the 291 experience.
This
year's one night only 291 Showcase will present the cream of the crop; sweetest
singers, hottest dancers, hilarious comedy and the most ridiculously funny big
prize game show.
Don't
miss Delroy Murray's singing, song writing and music classes run weekly from 30
March. More details to be announced.
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*Spice festival*
Best
of New Act of The Year
Sat
18 July
8.00pm
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
The
heavenly Jo
Brand
presents the best of new comedy talent from the definitive annual comedy
competition, New Act of The Year.
Fergus
Craig
(Winner of New Act 2009) with Seann Walsh, David James, Lady Garden, Jim
Park, Craig Murray and Jason Patterson. Come and see the comedy
stars of the future perform in the comedy highlight of the summer!
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Hackney
Empire in association with Birmingham Rep and Nottingham Playhouse present…..
Once
on this Island
24
July - 16 August
Evenings
and Matinees
Venue:
Hackney Empire Theatre
Price(s):
£12.50, 15.00, 17.50, 19.50. Family tickets: £40, £48, £60. Concs: £2 off
Join
us for a jubilant Caribbean musical this Summer.
Once
On This Island is a vibrant and passionate story infused with infectious reggae
and calypso rhythms. It tells the story of a beautiful peasant girl who falls
in love with a wealthy Creole planter. However the course of true love is put
to the test as the young girl must prove to the island's mythical gods that the
power of love is stronger than death.
Once
On This Island is the highly acclaimed Broadway musical adaptation of the
popular fairy tale The Little Mermaid written by Tony award-winning authors
Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. The musical received its European premiere at
The REP in 1994 when it won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
Joining
the cast will be actress and singer Sharon D Clarke, best known for her
role in the popular TV drama Holby City and as a judge on the recent Last Choir
Standing. As an acclaimed singer Sharon has appeared in many West End shows
including We Will Rock You, Chicago, Guys & Dolls and The Lion King.
Every
Friday and Saturday after the show we’ll be keeping our doors open for
Pay-What-You-Can Cabaret! There’ll be live entertainment, Caribbean cocktails
and a chance to party with the cast. Profits from our cabaret nights will help
fund our Education and Outreach programmes.
Book
and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Music
by Stephen Flaherty
Based
on the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy
"90
minutes of rousing musical theatre. One lush tune after another. Everyone is
likely to emerge from the theatre ready to dance down the street"
New
York Times
"Vivacious,
exotic and scored to a calypso-reggae beat Once On This Island is a Caribbean cruise
of a musical that offers audiences an abundance of diversions and sunny ports
of call" LA Times
BSL
Perf: Sat 1 Aug 2.30pm & 7.30pm
HACKNEY
EMPIRE THEATRE
291
MARE STREET LONDON E8
Box
Office: 020 8985 2424
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