Flourish 2012

The ball keeps on rolling down at the Barbican Theatre – the stage is barely swept before a new season of work begins and this time it is the Flourish Season, showcasing ten different companies every Friday night (bar one) from February to April.

Back for its second year after a sell-out first season, Flourish performances at the Barbican Theatre are all about supporting new and emerging artists in the South West and also providing a place for people to come and see exciting and innovative performances from a variety of talented dancers, musicians, actors and theatre makers. Flourish Fridays are a chance to spot the hidden gem, for promoters to seek out hidden talent and for performers to take to the stage in one of the region’s most well respected arts organisations.

Flourish Fridays offer not only the chance for audiences to see an amazing mix of theatre, dance, spoken word and film, they also nurture new companies with the hope that these companies will go on to play a big part in sustaining the next generation of live performance in the region and beyond.

Almost every Friday night throughout February to April, we are offering you the chance to see some of the most exciting work being created in the region for between £5 and £10 per ticket.

The line up is an eclectic mix. Theatre delights include Optimism by Uncanny Theatre – blending dark clowning with multimedia, Translunar Paradise by Theatre Ad Infinitum – an exquisitely delicate and moving mask and mime show as well as an immersive theatre piece, Stand + Stare by The Guild of Cheesemakers – meet at the theatre and get taken to a secret location where you will learn more about a mysterious supernatural cheese while tasting a selection of wine, cheese and breads...(really you get to try them!)...

International Clown Troup,  Le Navet Bete return to the Barbican, this time with Napoleon: A Defence. Anyone who managed to see their Christmas Show – The Greatest Story Never Told – will know what a joy they are to watch.

Dance fans can see Totnes based Impermanence Dance: Blanched Stories, an interdisciplinary collaboration between dancers, musicians, poets and visual artists inspired by early motherhood. Dance double bill from Guest Suites and Soliloquy feature dancers and musicians and a durational film piece based on the Cornish landscape respectively. Promnesia features dancers and actors from the theatre’s own Future Artists programme who take you on a journey that explores the difference between being alone and being lonely.....despite having 859 friends on facebook.

Songstress Mama Tokus hits us with some gospel truths in a sing-a-long-pray-alonga ecumenical expedition into faith, spirituality and belief systems from Satanism to Scientology and MC and poet Jack Dean brings us Under Stokes Croft, a live graphic novel with stop-motion animation based around the infamous night of the Tesco Riots!

Every show will finish with a post show discussion for a chance to talk directly to the performers and let them know what you thought.

Last year the Barbican Theatre developed two companies that went on to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where they got 5 star reviews. This year applications to take part in Flourish were overwhelming – 10 got through. See if you can spot the next big thing. As award-winning choreographer Matthew Bourne of male Swan Lake fame recently said:

“Early on in my career the Barbican Theatre took a risk and promoted my company’s work. Events like Flourish are essential to the future of live performance in this country”.

Flourish 2012 company Stand + Stare are equally vocal about their support for the Flourish programme. “We're really excited to be part of Flourish 2012 with our newly re-developed production, The Guild of Cheesemakers. We are currently planning a tour of the show, so it's really helpful to have the opportunity to play the work to the tour bookers etc who the Flourish team are inviting. We are based in Bristol, but we're keen to attract audiences across the region and nationally, so this is a great showcase for us in the Southwest.

We really like the approach the Barbican has to developing new work and we're delighted to have this opportunity to be part of their programme and to develop our relationship with this exciting theatre”.

Emily Williams, Creative Producer at the theatre says that the Flourish season gives Plymouth audiences the chance to see some of the newest work in the region first. “Transulanar Paradise by Theatre Ad Infinitum, who are based in Bristol and who I saw at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival,  is one of the best pieces I have ever seen and to be able to programme it into Flourish gives me the chance to pass it on to audiences who might not otherwise get the chance to see it.”

For more information about Flourish go to www.barbicantheatre.co.uk or ring the box office on 01752 267131