Big Foot E-Book

Joseph Barnes Phillips

• Herausgeber: WS
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 81

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

With grime music and Guyanese folk stories, Joseph Barnes-Phillip's semi-autobiographical story is a comic, tragic and honest portrayal of becoming a man. The story follows Rayleigh as he negotiates the tensions of growing up and taking responsibility – to his pregnant girlfriend, to his sick mother, to his church, to the multi-cultural community he grew up in and somewhere in the mix to himself. When the euphoric highs of teenage life in south London collide with his mum's terminal illness, all Rayleigh wants to do it watch anime in his pants and eat indomie. Love, life and masculinity meet head-on as Rayleigh tries to find his feet, torn between the new girl in his life and being there for his mum, while trying not to make the same mistakes as his dad.

About the playwright

Joseph’s work as Co-artistic Director for HighRise Theatre and All Seeing Eye has seen him in collaboration with Cardboard  Citizens,  The  Arcola,  artsdepot,  The  Yard, Ovalhouse and more. Joe is also an actor and practitioner who  works  tirelessly  in  the  community  to  uplift  those around him as well as aiding them in overcoming their personal demons through the use of drama. This passion for  helping  people  has  led  him  into  some  extremely green pastures, within the last couple of years working as  Young  Company  Director  at  Orange  Tree  Theatre, Croydon Council, London Bubble Theatre, Soho Theatre, Centre Point, We are Spotlight and more.

About previous work

‘Friendly, funny and frank throughout.’ **** The Stage

Leseprobe

Joseph Barnes Phillips

Joseph’s work as Co-artistic Director for HighRise Theatre and All Seeing Eye has seen him in collaboration with Cardboard Citizens, The Arcola, artsdepot, The Yard, Ovalhouse and more. Joe is also an actor and practitioner who works tirelessly in the community to uplift those around him as well as aiding them in overcoming their personal demons through the use of drama. This passion for helping people has lead him into some extremely green pastures, within the last couple of years working as Young Company Director at Orange Tree Theatre, Croydon Council, London Bubble Theatre, Soho Theatre, Centre Point, We are Spotlight and more.

Big Foot is a passion project for him. It is supported by HighRise Theatre, Black Theatre Live and Stratford Circus Arts Centre.

When Joe grows up he wants to be a Time Traveller!

First published in the UK in 2017 by Aurora Metro Publications Ltd.

67 Grove Avenue, Twickenham, TW1 4HX

[email protected]

Big Foot copyright © 2017 Joseph Barnes Phillips

Cover design copyright © Feast Creative

Production: Simon Smith

With many thanks to: Marina Tuffier, Peter Fullagar and Anthony Crick.

All rights are strictly reserved.

For rights enquiries including performing rights, please contact the publisher: [email protected]

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Printed in the UK by 4edge Limited.

Ebook conversion by Swift ProSys.

ISBNs:

978-1-911501-99-2 (print)

978-1-912430-00-0 (ebook)

BIG FOOT

by

JOSEPH BARNES PHILLIPS

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Dominic Garfield, my partner in crime. Without his artistic guidance, knowledge and ability to take risks this heartfelt story would still be buried in the debris of my memories. Massive thanks you to Ashlie Nelson for believing in a vision and being mad enough to take a risk that others might not have done.

I’d also like to thank my wife Loyce Phillips, my daughter Ayla Phillips, my mother Linda Barnes Brae, my church committee at Liberty Christian Fellowship and my best friends Enoch Nsubuga and Nathan Roswess. These individuals form the little village that keeps me sane. They have walked through many difficult moments with me and they have helped to inform and mould this story. Big Foot wouldn’t be Big Foot without them.

Celebration of Life

While creating this play I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing some amazing young carers and the beautiful spirits that they have cared for. These people have transformed my theology of love and given me a window into the lives of those who deal with terminal illnesses and those who support them so fiercely. Big Foot takes a unique perspective in exploring the difficulties young carers faces juggling a co-dependent relationship and the issues of life.

Many thanks to:–

Linda Barnes Brae and family members

Ivy Kasote and family

Bridget Holder and family

CONTENTS

BIOGRAPHIES

BIG FOOT

About Highrise Theatre

HighRise is a theatre collective that seeks to spark conversation and build bridges between forgotten communities by representing the rhythm of the streets. With family roots spreading five continents HighRise has a unique approach to telling stories.

As well as creating acclaimed shows and experiences, they have a foot in several communities across London, where their work with and for disaffected young people has bred positivity, inclusivity and creativity.

Their style is energetic, physical, innovative, poetic and colloquial – using Hip Hop & Grime music on top of extreme play as a vehicle to tell honest stories from multicultural backgrounds.

Following a long list of critical acclaim in 2016/17 and Big Foot touring the UK this Autumn, HighRise is starting to make a name for itself as a company willing to take risks and bring a new flavour to the palates of audiences.

‘…dynamic & timely.’ ****

– Arusa Qureshi, The List (for The Concrete Jungle Book)

‘…Friendly, funny and frank throughout, they share an irresistible, knockabout charm…’ ****

– Fergus Morgan, The Stage (for Merryville)

‘…their rapport with each other makes sharing a room with them a thing of laughter and pleasure…’

– Maddy Costa, Guardian / Exeunt / statesofdeliquescence

www.highrisetheatre.co.uk

@HighRise_UK

About Stratford Circus Arts Centre

Stratford Circus Arts Centre is a dynamic performing arts centre based in the heart of Stratford’s cultural quarter, in the London Borough of Newham.

A combined arts centre presenting theatre, music, dance, circus and a range of workshops and classes, SCAC exists to give the communities of east London access to the highest quality art and artists in this country and internationally. SCAC inspires lifelong engagement, empowers and develops local talent and audiences through the arts.

Stratford Circus Arts Centre is:

• a place where the best artists in the country perform to local audiences

• a place where some of the most exciting artists in the country make work with local residents and schools, with a focus on creating new shows that represent and reflect the UK’s diverse communities

• a place for progression routes and performance platforms for the next generation of artists.

www.stratford-circus.com

@StratfordCircus

About Black Theatre Live

Black Theatre Live is a pioneering national touring consortium of eight regional theatres. Collectively the theatres are committed to effecting lasting change for Black, Asian Minority Ethnic theatre through a concerted programme of commissions and touring; and audience and sector development.

Following Black Theatre Live’s first tours in 2015 of Macbeth directed by Tara Arts’ Jatinder Verma; She Called Me Mother by Michelle Inniss starring BAFTA and Golden Globe nominee Cathy Tyson; in 2016 the award winning The Diary of a Hounslow Girl by Ambreen Razia; the UK’s first all-black Hamlet adapted by Mark Norfolk in 2016; and in spring 2017 An Evening With An Immigrant with Inua Ellams’ prior to his season at the National Theatre; we are delighted the autumn 2017 Black Theatre Live small-scale tour is Big Foot with HighRise Theatre.

Black Theatre Live is led by Tara Arts (London) with Derby Theatre, Queen’s Hall Arts (Hexham), Theatre Royal Margate, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Key Theatre (Peterborough), Stratford Circus Arts Centre (London) and the Lighthouse (Poole).

The Black Theatre Live national touring consortium is managed in partnership with the Audience Agency, Mobius Industries, Hardish Virk, King’s College London, Stage Text and Pilot Theatre.

Supported by Arts Council England, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, John Ellerman Foundation and the Ernest Cook Trust.

www.blacktheatrelive.co.uk

@BlackTLive

Big Foot Education Resource Pack

See the Black Theatre Live website for a free Education Resource Pack for activity across the national curriculum Key Stages 3 and 4.

Big Foot Stage Text Performance

Thursday 2nd November 2017, 7.30pm at Tara Theatre, London.

Big Foot Live Streamed Performance

Wednesday 18th October 2017, 7.30pm from the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre (Hexham) in partnership with Pilot Theatre, the performance will be freely streamed over the internet. Will include live pre-show interviews with the creative team from around 7pm and post-show Q&A from 8.30pm when audiences can send questions and comments in via Twitter and Facebook using #BigFoot.

Biographies

Dominic Garfield – Director

Dom is an actor, rapper, director, writer and wannabe samurai from London. He is the Co-artistic Director of HighRise Theatre and an associate artist with interactive theatre giants Coney. Dom’s work as a writer, director and practitioner has included partnerships with The Orange Tree, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Talawa, artsdepot, Latitude festival, BAC, Company 3 and Camden People’s Theatre.

Dom also works extensively with young people to keep sane and promote positivity. His practice uses theatre, street culture/music and a collection of games to engage the disaffected. He is the Co-director (with Joseph Barnes Phillips) of The Spotlight Youth Theatre and leads theatre driven employment programs for young people.

He studied on the Contemporary Theatre course at East 15 Acting School.

Joshua Azouz – Dramaturg

Joshua is a writer and a director. Writing credits include: 10,000 Smarties (Old Fire Station), The Mikvah Project (The Yard), and The Bike (Royal Court/Pimlico Playground). Directing credits include: Come In! Sit Down! (A Muslim-Jewish Theatre production at the Tricycle Theatre) and The Man Who Almost Killed Himself (Edinburgh Festival, BBC iPlayer & Odeons nationwide). Josh is currently under commission to The Bush and The Yard. He is also developing a new musical for the National Youth Theatre, about a boy who stole Queen Victoria’s knickers. In Autumn 2017, Josh will start an attachment with the National Theatre.

Nik Corrall – Designer

Nik’s upcoming projects include: Company (ACT Aberdeen) and Little Women (Hope Mills). His previous work includes: Some Lovers (The Other Palace), The Adventures of Pinocchio (Ambassadors), Concrete Jungle Book (Edinburgh Festival), Tick, Tick, Boom (ParkTheatre), Bad Girls The Musical (Pleasance Theatre), Battery Life and The Things People Do (Lyric Hammersmith), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Greenwich Theatre and Theatre Chipping Norton), Forever Plaid (St James’ Theatre, Radlett Centre and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds), Blue Stockings, Welcome to Thebes, Days of Significance, A Clockwork Orange, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Dying for It, Animal Farm and Love & Information (Royal & Derngate, Northampton), The Who’s Tommy and The Adventures of Pinocchio (Greenwich Theatre), Mucky Kid (Theatre 503); Portia Coughlan and The Verb, ‘To Love’ (Old Red Lion), Standby for Tape Backup (Soho Theatre and Shoreditch Town Hall),