Arc news: April 2010

Tickets now on sale for Barking & Dagenham's first
site-specific Community Play!

Barking and Dagenham-based theatre company Arc, is following the success of last year's Community Play with a brand new production; The Marvel of Muddy End written by Clifford Oliver, directed by Carole Pluckrose and performed by the Barking & Dagenham Community Players.

Bringing a first to the Borough this spring with a stunning site-specific production, Arc builds on the success of Trading Stories, which toured venues and parks around Barking and Dagenham during August 2009. With a 30-strong cast of local residents, students and workers, The Marvel of Muddy End is being created as a dynamic promenade piece taking up the ground floor of the refurbished warehouse The Malthouse - now the Borough's new Cultural and Creative Industries Centre at the heart of an ambitious regeneration scheme for East London.

 

The villagers of Muddy End make their living from the mud hauled up from the riverbank. It's a hard life, but theirs is a strong community and everyone's happy just the way things are - the way they've always been.  But things are about to change when the land is purchased by the dastardly new developers who plan to build new housing for their factory workers.  Suddenly the whole Muddy End way of life is under threat!  The mysterious Marvel appears and starts to put the evil plan into action.... but who will win?  The developers or the villagers?  And who on earth is the Marvel?!"

 

Arc's Community Play for 2010 offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a very different type of theatre experience. The audience will be invited to move about the space while the action happens around them. They will be able to explore a whole new world as the 1950s village of Muddy End and it's inhabitants are brought to life to tell their story.

Arc Project Manager Josh Cass says; "This show has something for everyone and is going to be a fantastic celebration of many hours of hard work and dedication put in by countless local people.  It's something the whole community can be very proud of! It also provides an excellent example of both community theatre and site-specific performance and offers a valuable learning experience for Drama and English students."

Tickets are now on sale for performances at The Malthouse on the following dates:

Tuesday 4 May at 7:30pm
Wednesday 5 May at 7:30pm
Thursday 6 May at 7:30pm
Friday 7 May at 7:30pm
Saturday 8 May Matinee at 3pm
Saturday 8 May at 7:30pm

Admission is £4 adults or £2.50 concessions, with reductions available for group bookings (please contact Arc for more details).

To book online, visit our Community Page or contact Josh Cass at Arc on 020 8594 1095, email Josh Cass

Alternatively, to book by post, please write with your requested dates and include your name, address and contact details and send or deliver along with your payment (cheques or postal orders made payable to Arc Theatre) to: Josh Cass, Arc, First Floor, The Malthouse Studios, 62-76 Abbey Road, Barking IG11 7BT.  All tickets will be held at the door for collection on the night.

Please note - performances are promenade style and will be unreserved seating/standing. Those with special needs or access issues should contact Arc.