30s Sound and Vision Theatrical Extravaganza
1930s SOUND AND VISION THEATRICAL EXTRAVAGANZA TO BRING PLYMOUTH’S COLIN CAMPBELL COURT TO LIFE
Hidden City: Drive in Deco will transform Colin Campbell Court Car Park in Plymouth’s west end into a 1930s drive-in complete with bellhops, usherettes and dancers performing to big-band hits of the 30s & 40s.
From 31 March – 9 April 2011 audiences will be parking up for an evening of film, theatre, live music, radio broadcast and witness one of the city’s most intriguing buildings tell its own hidden life story.
‘Mr Smith’, a representative of the International Guild of City Tenders and world expert in decoding the residual electromagnetic imprints left by humans in buildings, will guide Drive in Deco audiences through the colourful life story of Colin Campbell House, having been drawn there by a cryptic and complex signal emitted from the structure. Working with Part Exchange Co, Mr Smith will be using his technological gadgets to de-code the residue embedded in the building and share the story with the audience tuned in on FM via their car radios. Mr Smith’s blog at www.hiddencity.org.uk reveals more about him and his journey of discovery.
As Colin Campbell House is decoded by Mr Smith, the building’s tale is told through intertwining lives spanning several generations all with their own unique stories. Staging Drive in Deco requires a large team of actors, musicians, dancers, technical crew and creative team to make this multi-sensory 360 degree production possible.
Scripted by Anita Sullivan (Pricked and The Owl Service at The Drum Theatre Plymouth, Torchwood for BBC Radio 4), Drive in Deco is based on original texts by Cathy McCabe and developed from an original idea by Plymouth University Research Fellow Alexis Kirke and Cathy McCabe.
The music is written by Alexis Kirke, composer-in-residence for the Plymouth Marine Institute, his most recent composition, Sunlight Symphony, used light sensors to make the rising sun play a large building (Plymouth’s Roland Levinsky Building) like a musical instrument! His music score for Drive in Deco promises to be equally innovative.
Directed by Part Exchange Co’s Rachel Aspinwall who co-director 2008’s highly successful Hidden City Festival, Drive in Deco features actors Eric MacClennan (Here’s What I Did with My Body One Day at the Drum and Volcano’s Romeo and Juliet at the Barbican Theatre) as Mr Smith and Ruth Mitchell (Pricked by Anita Sullivan at the Edinburgh Festival / Drum Theatre Plymouth and The Talisman at The Drum plus Part Exchange Co director) as Gloria.
Joining them across the FM airwaves are Tina Chiang (The Birthday Gift on BBC Radio 4’s Woman's Hour) playing Connie; child actor Felix Soper (Peter Pan at the Theatre Royal Plymouth 2007 / BBC’s Casualty / Waking the Dead final series screened 13 & 14 March) as Roy; Peter Ellis (Brownlow in ITV’s The Bill / Hidden City 2008) as Martin; Derek Frood (Pricked / The Talisman at The Drum Theatre Plymouth / Theatre Alibi regular company member) as Charles / Ugly Back; Cassie Williamson (The Man in the Red Scarf at the Barbican Theatre / Pilot’s Thumb Theatre Co) as Audrey; Justin Palmer (Downtown Dash for Part Exchange Co) as Saul / Ugly Back and Natasha Buckley playing an Ugly Back.
The musicians are led by Mike McInerney on Piano / Synthesizer, Ailsa Hughes on Cello and Shaun Lewin on Laptop.
Hoi Polloi’s Steffi Mueller has designed the set, costumes and props, and realised by Jacqueline Ball of Stiltskin. The sound designer is John Thurlsfield; film artist Tom Newell; lighting design is by Lucy Gaskell with choreography by Ben Dunks.
There are eight performances of Drive in Deco from Thursday 31 March – Saturday 9 April 2011. Gates open at 7.00pm with all performances starting at 7.30pm. Ticket holders for Drive in Deco are required to bring with them a radio receiver capable of receiving FM frequency broadcasts. The equipment can either be part of an in-car audio system or a portable / personal FM radio. Those with pre-booked car ticket holders should arrive from Western Approach, whilst all pedestrians and ‘on the night’ car tickets should arrive via Colin Campbell Court entrance.
Drive in Deco tickets are just £25.00 per car and available now from the box office at Royal Theatre Plymouth on 01752 267222 or online at www.theatreroyal.com
For more information on all Hidden City events visit www.hiddencity.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Usherettes and Bellhops are played by: Chloe Cavanagh, Bea Chapman, Chalie Eaton, Jess Fennel, Harriet Galvin, Kerri Jackson, George Jennings, Tom Kindell, Alice Ling, Nadjeschda Schaefer, Harry Scott, Bethany Thomson, Gemma Ward, Leroy Ward.
Cast list
Mr Smith - Eric MacClennan
Gloria - Ruth Mitchell
Connie - Tina Chiang
Roy - Felix Soper
Martin - Peter Ellis
Charles - Derek Frood
Audrey - Cassie Williamson
Saul - Justin Palmer
Ugly backs - Natasha Buckley, Justin Palmer, Derek Frood
Hidden City: Drive in Deco Thursday 31 March, Friday 1 – Sunday 3 April, Wednesday 6 – Saturday 9 April 2011. All performances start at 7.30pm (gates open at 7.00pm)
PRESS NIGHT: Thursday 31 March 2011 at 7.00pm.
Prices: Car parking ticket: £25 (no concessions)
Pedestrian tickets: £10 (concessions £7.50 for full-time students, senior citizens, disabled, under 18, groups 10+ Available on the door: “student drive-buy”: £10 per car if purchased on or after 7pm on the night (on presentation of valid student ID)
FM Radio Receiver Required: Ticket holders for Drive in Deco are required to bring with them a radio receiver capable of receiving FM frequency broadcasts. The equipment can either be part of an in-car audio system or a portable / personal FM radio. The audio for the performance will be broadcast on a set channel; the channel’s frequency will be shared with the audience on arrival.
Pre-booked car ticket holders should arrive from Western Approach, whilst all pedestrians and on the night car tickets should arrive via Colin Campbell Court entrance.
Drive in Deco tickets are just £25.00 per car and available now from the box office at Royal Theatre Plymouth on 01752 267222 or online at www.theatreroyal.com
Part Exchange Co: www.partexchangeco.org.uk
For more information and for Mr Smith’s blog visit: www.hiddencity.org.uk
MEDIA ENQUIRIES / INTERVIEW / PICTURE REQUESTS:
press@partexchangeco.org.uk or call Drew Aspinwall on 07952 784606.
Link to Production Shots © Kevin Clifford Arts Council England
https://picasaweb.google.com/106136420403866222896/PartExchangeCoSHiddenCityDriveInDecoCreditKevinCliffordArtsCouncilEngland?authkey=Gv1sRgCI6Vyd3xhdvANw&feat=directlink
Link to Cast Images:
https://picasaweb.google.com/106136420403866222896/DriveInDecoCastPartExchangeCo?authkey=Gv1sRgCMaSkNjrkYXDJw&feat=directlink
Link to Crew and Creative Team Images:
https://picasaweb.google.com/106136420403866222896/DriveInDecoCreativeAndCrewPartExchangeCo?authkey=Gv1sRgCLmHr5qlzffUqwE&feat=directlink
Publicity shots:
https://picasaweb.google.com/106136420403866222896/DriveInDecoPressShotsPartExchangeCo?authkey=Gv1sRgCPfsiPa-8Mq8Hw&feat=directlink
About Part Exchange Co:
Part Exchange Co create unique performances and events for sites and spaces that connect people with each other, their shared environment and the power of the imagination.
Part Exchange Co produce innovative site-specific work through collaborations with artists from across the art forms. We are committed to nurturing and supporting creative development, imaginatively engaging communities and building new audiences for arts activities in the process.
Part Exchange Co work aims to transform the way we think about and engage with the environment in which we live.
In 2008, Part Exchange Co commissioned 21 events in 11 venues and performed to nearly 3,000 people over one packed week.
Part Exchange Co, Barbican Theatre, Castle Street, Plymouth PL1 2NJ.
