The Lost Happy Endings - Rehearsals start tomorrow

Esther McAuley as Jub in The Lost Happy Endings.

Rehearsals start at mac, Birmingham tomorrow.

We have a superb cast:

Alison Halstead

Toyin Omari-Kinch

Caroline Parker

and Esther (pictured)

Photograph by Adrian Burrows

www.adrian-burrows.co.uk

Our Creative Team is:

Producer - Louisa Davies (mac)

Designer - Laura McEwen

Puppetry Direction - Sean Myatt

Movement and Choreography - Joanne Moven

Lighting Design - Lizzie Moran (mac)

Sound Design - Dan Jones (mac)

Graphic Design for Projection - Nick Shale (mac)

The whole shebang is being held together by our production team:

Production Manager - Frances Rice (mac)

Stage Managers: Patricia Davenport, Sarah Ware

Janine Roebuck - Deaf Opera Singer

Red Earth has been working on ideas for artistic collaborations with Janine Roebuck, a professional opera singer who is deaf. As well as opera she sings musical theatre and is best known for her comedy roles. She works regularly with Richard Baker on Classical Music cruises, with whom she also performs Happiest Days - a tribute to the golden years of Joyce Grenfell featuring her best loved monologues and songs.

Listen to her beautiful version of:

O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini

Auditions for The Lost Happy Endings

Red Earth Theatre - Call for Performers

The Lost Happy Endings adapted from the book by Carol Ann Duffy, illustrated by Jane Ray, co-produced by Red Earth Theatre and mac (Midlands Arts Centre), Birmingham

Venue: mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham

Production Dates: 19 November, 2010 - 3 January, 2011

Rehearsals: 25 October - 18 November, 2010

For further show information, please go to:

http://www.macarts.co.uk/page/3649/performance/216

What Red Earth Theatre is looking for:

4 performers for an ensemble cast with the following skills / experience:

• Devising experience

• Physical theatre

• Dance

• Puppetry

• A commitment to working in an integrated and inclusive company

Desirable:

• British Sign Language Level 2 or above

Auditions:

London - Thursday 2 September

Birmingham - Monday 6 September

Recalls (group audition):

Birmingham - Thursday 9 September

Pay based on Equity/ITC minimum.

Please email or send hard copy of CV and headshot by Tuesday 17 August, 2010:

Email: admin@redearththeatre.com

Postal Address:

Amanda Wilde (Co-Artistic Director)

Red Earth Theatre

c/o Nottingham Playhouse

Wellington Circus

NOTTINGHAM

NG1 5AF

Co-Production for Christmas 2010

Red Earth Theatre is joining forces with mac (Midlands Arts Centre) Birmingham in a co-production of The Lost Happy Endings, a truly compelling, surprising and beautiful story for children of all ages by Award-Winning Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy.

Jub’s job is important and she is very proud of it. She collects and sends out the Happy Endings from all the stories in the world in time for everybody’s bedtime. But one night she is caught by a wicked witch who steals all of the happy endings... What if the shoe didn’t fit Cinderella? What if the prince’s kiss didn’t awaken Snow White? What if the big bad wolf gobbled up Little Red Riding Hood?

Wiser and cleverer than the witch, Jub dreams up a perfect plan to outwit her, and like all good fairy tales, this one has a happy ending.

This deeply imaginative and wonderfully inventive story by the nation’s favourite writer and best-loved poet is brought to the stage by Red Earth Theatre and mac. Red Earth’s trademark humour, energy and ingenuity promises a delightful show with puppets, music, dance and lots of surprises.

New Inclusive Theatre for Young Audiences Recommended for Age 6+

BSL Integrated

The Lost Happy Endings © Carol Ann Duffy 2006

Illustration ©Jane Ray 2006

Adapted and directed by Wendy Rouse & Amanda Wilde.

Designed by Laura McEwen.

For more information about performance dates, times and ticket prices, click on the link below for mac (Midland Arts Centre) website:

http://www.macarts.co.uk/page/3649/performance/216

Cymatics - Visualising Sound

Finding ways to make music visual.

Red Earth Theatre worked with final year students from De Montfort University, Music, Technology and Innovation department to explore the principles of CYMATICS (soundwave technology - creating different patterns from different frequencies). The students made and road-tested a prototype water box. Placed on a speaker, the water in the box responds to the different sound waves produced by the music. Different wave patterns emerge as the music changes.

Have a look at the video to see how it works.

D/deaf volunteers gave their responses. They thought the visualisation of sound waves like this would help them access music in a theatre performance. They thought that Red Earth Theatre could project these patterns on to their stage sets, alongside the performers. The audience could link the action to the music. If the water was lit, with different colours to suggest the mood of the music as well, that would be even better.

Thanks to CURVE, Leicester, The Ear Foundation, Nottingham, 3D (Derby Deaf Drama) and Will Ogden for their help in our research.

The Feeling of Sound

Final year students from De Montfort University, Music, Technology and Innovation Department, worked with Red Earth Theatre to research a variety of prototypes that would give D/deaf people visual and sensual access to music.

The students made a fingertip prototype sound box. Each finger is placed on a separate speaker pad and picks up vibrations from different sound wave frequencies. The sensation in each finger is different.

So, the hand feels the different changes in rhythm, pitch and volume that make up the whole piece of music.

Members from 3D (Derby Deaf Drama) road tested the sound box and were very positive about its possible applications in theatre.

Members of 3D said accessing music in different ways would enhance their overall experience of theatre. Put the sound box with the actions and images on stage and meaning is heightened for D/deaf audiences.