Even though it is my local theatre, it is not often I get a chance to visit this Harrogate gem. As it happens I didn’t get to see any of the splendid auditorium this time either, as the function to which I was invited was held in the Stalls Bar, located in the cellar! It is an intimate venue and just the thing for this informal get together of some of the finest young, and not so young, talent in the area. It certainly put the fun in fundraising.
I will try my best not to make this piece sound like the minutes of some surreal board meeting, but the number of artists who wanted to contribute to this venture meant that they were only able to do about five to ten minutes each. My dilemma was that I couldn’t write a full review based on a taster but I also thought it unfair to omit mention of any of them.
Taking Up Space is the first project from the newly formed All Points North Productions, a theatre company created by Amie Burns Walker and Rachael Halliwell. It is a new writing showcase which will commission four female writers between the ages of 40 and 80, or young lasses as I call them, pairing them with female directors, dramaturges and actors to create performances later in the year in Leeds and Sheffield.
Rachael Halliwell
I can’t remember when I was last at an event with such a wide variety of performers. After an introduction from the wonderful Rachael Halliwell, the playwright, producer and conduit for new talent, she went into a long-distance excerpt from Amie Burns Walker’s new play, Forty Elephants, about girl gangs in London at the turn of the last century. Amie was in Edinburgh so on the other end of an amplified phone call which gave a surreal effect to the performance. It did, however, underline the skill of the two actors being able to convey the dialogue without having the benefit of being able to see each other. I am no Mark Rylance but I imagine that it is a lot more difficult than it looks. I can’t wait to see the finished article when it comes to Yorkshire.
As the word Fundraiser in the title would suggest, the object of the exercise was to stick some dosh into the coffers enabling Taking Up Space to, well, take up space. I had envisioned a series of raffles, auctions and straightforward shaming to take up most of the evening, but none of it, the only money it was even suggested we part with on the night was the fiver for the ticket. Even then we got a badge and a wristband. That was the second wristband I had been given at a gig that week so I was feeling pretty cool.
The other preconception that I took with me to the theatre was that there would be a fair amount of man bashing, and, to be fair there was a bit, but nothing, at least partially, undeserved. Anyway, the inclusion of a couple of male performers indicated that we hunks would be tolerated.
Ellen Carnazza. This is not Ellen’s normal ‘Friday night out on the razz’ garb, but a nod to The Land Girl.
Ellen Carnazza was the next actor on stage giving us a scene from Badapple’s new play The Land Girl. For those fortunate enough to be too young to know what Land Girls were, and for the benefit of my readers based in foreign parts, they were women who wanted to contribute to the effort during the Second World War, and so went to work in agriculture so that farmhands could fight at the front. Once again, I hope I can see the full play when it is in the area.
The first male performer was Rufus Beckett who performed two of his songs which he originally sang with Harrogate Youth Theatre, until they discovered he was 38 years old! They were Love Come Let Me Out and Birds On A Wire, not the Leonard Cohen song but a Rufus original. Mr Beckett returned later in the evening to bring the show to a close.
The next treat was Carole Carpenter who gave us a couple of women empowerment tunes, her words, not mine, Walking On Broken Glass, the Annie Lennox Classic, and Flowers by Miley Cyrus. It seemed weird to hear two such powerful songs played so beautifully on the violin, sometimes less is more.
Another superb instrumentalist followed, Heather & Her Harp. Once again we were given a whole new interpretation of songs, this time Blondie’s Denis; Heather’s own composition, Will Love Be The Meaning and then Mr Rock & Roll, the Amy MacDonald hit.
Musical Theatre came next, courtesy of Ian Jervis, who has graced the West end stage and so is no slouch. We were not made privy to the shows in which he performed darn sarf but I suspect one may have been Les Miserables, as he regaled us with a performance of Empty Chairs At Empty Tables from that particular musical before changing tack completely for the classic A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.
The next artist was Agne, one of the graduate performers from Leeds Conservatoire to entertain us, which she did superbly with two of her songs, Let Me Go and Bottle Of Love. Both plaintive and enhanced by the Scandinavian accent.
As Agne’s took to the stage, a woman entered the room and sat at my table. I was somewhat distracted from the beautiful singing wondering if I was about to be hit on, or maybe just hit. It wasn’t until Agne had finished that the mystery woman picked up her mobile, which had been lying on the table and proceeded to shout down it to someone at the other end. The language was ‘flowery’ to say the least and the room was stunned into silence for a few seconds. It was then we realised that we had a comedienne in our midst and she continued her telephonic rant as she walked onto the stage, kicked her shoes off, doffed her coat and went into a stand-up routine. I won’t say it was blue, but half way through a chap I could have sworn was Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown walked out in disgust. She was hilarious. Her name is Francesca Lia Tremayne, an actress, and Aunty Shazza is her comedy alter ego.
Next on stage was another Leeds Conservatoire representative in Amara who began with a song called Don’t Cross Me, I might only be a man but I’m not that stupid. They then recited a poem called Amara, not a work of narcissism but a touching piece written about them by their father, before finishing with another song The Way I Want Tonight.
Elmien was up next with pieces of her poetry. She is not a professional poet, but Editor-In-Chief of a medical publication aimed at doctors and nurses. The warm smile and soft South African accent had me enchanted, even though one of her pieces, Managers, was not the most complimentary verse I have ever heard with regard to men!
It was then back to drama with local actor Lucy Mizen with a speech from the Barbie film, you will no doubt recognise her from her tv work. I don’t know about everyone else but I was tickled pink.
The final act of the evening – although, as already mentioned, Rufus Beckett came back to give us a couple more songs – was Lily Renwick who insisted that she was not a poet and then recited a verse called Train Poem! Being a woman, therefore adept at multitasking, she then sang a song called Snow Blow before performing a monologue, Lily is yet another artist from Leeds Conservatoire thus proving what an amazing pillar of education that establishment is.
After the live music it was time for some banging tunes from DJ Colin to get us all in party mood and throw some shapes. Unfortunately I was taking the photographs so you are not able to see my groovy moves. Phew!
I would like to finish by thanking Rachael for inviting me to this event, I had a blast. I sat next to her dad, Jim, and we had a good old moan, as Yorkshiremen do when they get together, but sadly I walked home alone having failed miserably to pull Aunt Shazza. Maybe I will have better luck if I ever see her slinking down Briggate!
My admiration for Rachael knows no bounds in that, instead of doing what I have heard other actors do and go on about there being no parts for women, she has just got on with writing and producing some herself. I have seen a couple of her plays which have both been superb, although I admit to not being a big fan of immersive theatre. I am not acquainted with Amie but it is obvious that she shares the same philosophy. About roles for women, not immersive theatre!
The performances of Taking Up Space will take place on Friday, 6th October at Tanya Moiseiwitch Playhouse, Sheffield at 1.30pm and on Saturday, 25th November at Bramall Rock Void in Leeds Playhouse at 7.30pm.
Should you wish to make a contribution to enable this venture to be the success it deserves, then please scan this QR Code to the Go Fund site.
Feature image from All Points North Productions. Photographs by Stan Graham
Tyke It To The Limit 