Welcome to 2012

A belated Happy New Year from myself, Hugh Hughes and the rest of the Hoipolloi team. We're all really looking forward to the year ahead. It's certainly going to be busy and I hope you'll be able to join us along the way.

Hugh has already started the year with some very good news. His afternoon play version of Floating, created with BBC Radio 4 has been nominated for "Best Scripted Comedy Drama" at the first ever BBC Audio Drama Awards. The ceremony, to be hosted by David Tennant, takes place on 29 January and we'll let you know how he gets on.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us during the autumn. I certainly had lots of fun driving Hugh to a couple of places for performances of 360 and the year ended in style with the run of Story of a Rabbit at Sydney Opera House.

At present, we're in the thick of development for Hugh's brand new project, Stories from an Invisible Town. Here's a quick intro from Hugh...

Stories from an Invisible Town - An Introduction (by Hugh Hughes by hughhughes

It'll be both an online space and a live work, which will tour the UK in the autumn. We'll be announcing more information as the year progresses but if you're in Cambridge, you can get some sneak previews by joining Hugh for some further work-in-progress performances at The Junction. These take place on 8 March, 20 April and 25 May. More details here.

We look forward to sharing our work with you in the not too distant future and hope you'll be able to join us at some point this year.

Simon Bedford
Executive Producer, Hoipolloi

ps. if you live in or near Cambridge, we think these might be of interest...

NIE: Clown on stage - a master class at The Junction
This Master Class led by NIE’s Artistic Director, Alex Byrne will explore the physical preparation of the body for performance through work on pure and expressive movement and the playfulness of the actors in performance through games and group work. Alex will explore work in red noses as a way to access emotions, material and playfulness.

Saturday 4 February from 11am – 6pm
Suitable for ages 18+
Price: £35 (£25 conc)

To book: please visit www.junction.co.uk/artist/4058

HOTBED 2012: CAMBRIDGE’S NEW WRITING FESTIVAL

26 - 29 January at The Junction

12 new commissions, live literature, film showings, masterclasses, workshops, a One-Page-Play Competition and free foyer events.

Writers at Hotbed: Janice Okoh (Bruntwood Award Winner 2011); Ed Harris (Writers’ Guild Award Winner 2011); Chris O’Connell (Multiple Fringe First Award Winner), plus many more of the UK’s leading and up-and-coming writers.

Guest Production: Hotbed will host world-class production of SILENT by Ireland’s leading new writing company, Fishamble.  The show was the hit of the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and won a plethora of awards, including the prestigious Fringe First Award.

Box office: 01223 511511 or book online: www.junction.co.uk

Au revoir

It seems that all good things really must come to an end, alas, and so it is time for me to bid farewell and move onwards to pastures new. It seems like just moments ago that I was sitting in the bar at the Traverse theatre in Edinburgh writing my very first blog post, and even though it was longer ago, it feels that it is mere seconds (time is funny like that) since I came to the Hoipolloi office for the very first time for my interview with Simon, Louise and David. I was extremely flustered as I'd managed to trip over on the zebra crossing on Mill Road, making a complete fool of myself and causing a number of passers by to glance over and give me a patronising 'oh dear, you silly girl' look.

Having had the traditional 'oh cripes, I'm graduating and will no longer be protected from the world by the warm and familiar embrace of education' I realised that I needed to find something to do with my life. Of course I'd given up hope of finding a 'real job' ages ago and set my little heart on a life in the theatre. Luckily Hoipolloi took me on board, otherwise who knows where I would have ended up. Probably outside the backstage door of a theatre somewhere begging for a job. Or rocking gently in a 'home' muttering 'please can I direct plays'.

This year has been super, or as Hugh would put it, 'brilliant!' (insert welsh accent, thankfully you can't hear my appalling attempt). I won't list all of the best bits, - if I do I'll start to get ridiculously nostalgic and start to cry and though I don't know much about computers (although thanks to Simon I am definitely less technologically backwards than I was when I arrived) I'm guessing floods of tears never did them any good - but there have been hundreds. In fact I don't think I'll ever be able to drink a cup of fruit or green tea again without wistfully thinking back to the halcyon days spent in Dale's Brewery. Not only have I had a lot of fun, but I've also learnt many essential life skills which should equip me for the big bad world. These include how to write a blog, printing on headed paper, what a 'hashcode' is and navigating my way around Google Analytics. With all of this knowledge I think I'm going to be just fine masquerading as a real adult. After a recent conversation with Hugh I'm also keen to find out whether painting your legs yellow would make you run faster. If you see me running around with fluorescent legs one day, you'll know why.

To prevent this cascading into a total wallow of sentimentality I'm going to start rounding things up by saying a big thank you to everyone at Hoipolloi for a wonderful year. Thank you also to anyone who has read the blog. I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it, and good luck to the new interns! I'm leaving Cambridge to train to be a director in the big bright city of London, so as I won't be terribly far away, nor leaving the theatrical world, I'm hoping that this is not 'goodbye', but merely 'au revoir'.

Thanks to Peter Kaminski for the photo

My Name Is Sue (and other delights)

I'm sure that some of you will remember our passioned enthusiasm for a wonderful show called My Name Is Sue, which shared our venue in the Pleasance Courtyard at last year's Edinburgh Fringe.

David, our previous intern, even implored you to attend in a sentence written completely in capital letters (which is a very definite statement from someone who has a first in English from Cambridge University).

For those of you who missed it the first time, you'll be delighted to hear that it'll be making a visit to London's Soho Theatre this week.

So, what's the show about?

"Sue is a piano-wielding prophet who has so far kept her thoughts to herself. But now she is ready to let rip. She invites you into her lounge, where she'll sing through life from finishing school to Doomsday. Tales of schoolgirl passion and middle-aged longing, of ancient demons reawakened and of Armageddon sweeping through Cardiff town centre. Or she might just tell you what she had for lunch."

It comes most highly recommended (I've seen it at least 4 times now and still can't get enough) and this is what the papers have to say about it...

"Bizarre but brilliant... hysterically funny and beautifully played" Time Out (4stars)

"Certainly one of the most unusual, remarkable and memorable hours on the fringe" The Stage

It was also a Pick of the Week in this week's Guardian Guide.

Hopefully that's all whetted your appetite and now here's the clincher! If you go on and see the show this week (from Weds 16 to Sat 19 June), tickets are just £10!

The show runs from 16 to 26 June and tickets are available by calling 020 7478 0100 or online by clicking here.

*****

Also, for those of in Cambridge, we'd also like to recommend a visit to 3rd Ring Out.

Set inside shipping containers that become 'mobile command centres' on Parker's Piece, this is a very different sort of theatre. It's 2033 and the world has changed. Nature is taking revenge on industrial humanity and faced with a range of realistic futuristic scenarios, it’s up to you how the story develops.

I saw this intriguing piece on Saturday and it definitely made me think about what our environmental future might hold.

Performances take place on Parker's Piece from 17 to 20 June at 11am, 1.30pm, 4.30pm and 7pm each day and tickets cost £8 (£5 concessions).

Tickets are available from The Junction on 01223 511 511 or book online here.

*****

Enjoy!

Posted by Simon Bedford (Producer, Hoipolloi)

Hugh Hughes talks about In Rehearsal

There are some things you do in rehearsal that an audience never gets to see.
Sometimes there's good reason why they don't, but sometimes it's a real shame that they are not there. Sometimes the most exciting things happen in rehearsal that for some reason you can’t replicate in performance. Some people who make theatre will tell you that the rehearsals are their favourite part of the process. Some will argue that the rehearsal room is the most creative part of the theatre-making process – the part when you are really working hard to discover things, wrestling with ideas and charged with spontaneity.

I thought it’d be really interesting to try to share the rehearsal room with an audience in case an audience might also enjoy the rehearsal room experience more than the performance experience. Sioned says she loves going to restaurants where you can see the chefs preparing the food in the kitchen. She says that sometimes watching them make the food is more pleasurable than eating it.

The truth is that this is all a bit of an experiment. But one that’s got to be worth trying. I used to love watching the blacksmith at work. I’m not a blacksmith, but I will be at work.

Really looking forward to seeing you.

Hugh Hughes tells us about In Rehearsal

I bumped into a friend the other day who had seen In Rehearsal advertised in The Junction's brochure.

She said, "Hello Hugh, I see that you have an exciting new project going. I saw The Junction's brochure. It sounds a bit scary!" I asked why she thought it sounded scary and she said, "I’m scared that if I come I’ll be asked to participate and do some acting or I’ll be expected to come up with ideas." So, I thought I’d try to clarify what might happen if you come along:

I might ask you if you’d like to participate or not.
I might, if you’ve agreed that you’d like to, ask you to participate. I might not.
I might tell you some stories. I might ask if you’d like to discuss them.
I might show you some maps and tell you about the places on them.
I might try out some ideas for presenting a story.
I might try out ideas for how to begin a possible show.
I might do one long improvisation.
I might ask you to make suggestions to me what to do next.
I might show you some slides.
I might show you some films.
I might read you some poetry that I’ve written.

What I will do is share with you a process.

And, to be very honest with you, having thought about it some more, we should have called it In Development, not In Rehearsal.

Lastly, and most importantly, I would be thrilled to see you there. I’m really excited by the idea of developing my next show with you. I’m opening the doors when normally they would be shut.

Anything might happen. Come along.

My friend ended up saying she would, I hope you do too.

Posted by Hugh Hughes

Important numbers, coordinated accessories and free range eggs

In case you have been hiding in a remote hut in outer Mongolia for the past while, you may have noticed that there is this little general election thing coming up really rather soon (here in the UK).

In fact in exactly two weeks I will be donning my voting attire (this is actually the first general election I can vote in so I haven't got the outfit sussed yet, but I will be carefully planning something appropriate in which to visit the ballot box) and trotting over to the polling station.

Personally I think the whole thing is really rather exciting. Especially since the last thing I had a chance to vote for was whether my college should start using free range eggs in the canteen. As I'm sure you can imagine it was hardly a torturous choice. This time round the stakes are pretty high (not that I'm denying the importance of free range eggs however).

Obviously politics has a huge impact on all areas of our lives, but something I'll be looking out for is what all those men and women in suits and especially colour coordinated ties/other accessories are planning to do about the arts.

Now that it is a bit late for me to train as a doctor or become an astronaut or do something possibly requiring a science-y A level or two, I am now sort of stuck with career choices pretty much only involving options to do something vaguely artsy.

Despite being not terribly competent when it comes to numbers I stumbled across some figures which even my brain can munch on and ponder.

So, if between now and May 6th you spend a bit of time pondering over which party you might back, do spare a thought for what the parties policies on the arts are, bearing in mind the following*...

- Two thirds of the adult population enjoy the arts and go to theatres, cinemas, galleries, museums, historic sites. In fact more people visit theatre every year than football stadia.

- Two million people are employed in the cultural and creative industries.

- These industres grew by an average of 5% a year between 1997 and 2007, compared to 3% for the economy as a whole.

- The sector contributes £60billion (7.3%) a year to the British economy.

- The annual exports in British cultural goods amount to £11.6billion.

- Total cultural spending represents 1% of the NHS budget.

As you may or may not know, Hoipolloi receives regular funding from Arts Council England which enables us to produce the work that we do and tour it to audiences across the UK. Over the last few years we've also been lucky enough to take this work around the world, helping to highlight the wealth of creative talent this country has.

Just something to remember as you tick the box on 6 May!

Posted by Marieke Audsley (Marketing & Admin Assistant, Hoipolloi)

* We gathered this date from Cultural Capital: A Manifesto for the Future

Thanks to krystleblair for the photo

Hugh Hughes In Rehearsal

Yes, at last, a joyful moment akin to the delights of the first signs of spring/a mouthful of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream/waking up and realising it is Saturday: here it is, the announcement that... Hugh is coming to a venue near you soon.

That is, it will be near if you live somewhere with a postcode beginning with a C and a B. Hugh is going to be at The Junction, Cambridge in May. So whatever you have planned on May 21st and/or 22nd, then rearrange and book tickets to see Hugh Hughes in Rehearsal.

Hugh Hughes in Rehearsal
The Junction, Cambridge
Friday 21 May: 6.30pm, 7.45pm and 9pm
Saturday 22 May: 3.30pm, 4.45pm and 6pm

Many of you will have seen Hugh's previous productions so you'll sort of know what to expect when you go to see a Hugh Hughes show. But here is where we throw a figurative spanner into the works.

There is no show.

This is Hugh Hughes in rehearsal, and it will do exactly what it says on the proverbial tin. Hugh hasn't made a new show for you. Instead, he would like to invite you into his rehearsal room to help uncover stories, people and places from his past.

Who knows where the adventure will end up...?

Come and be part of a major theatrical happening. Rarely, if ever, do audiences get to see inside the mysterious 'rehearsal room', but now's your chance.

Tickets cost just £5 for each individual session lasting an hour, or if you're really dedicated, you can pay £12 to stay for all three sessions on either day.

Tickets can be booked through The Junction's box office on 01223 511 511 or online via their website.

See you there!

Wanted: Intern!

As much as it saddens me to say, my time here at Hoipolloi is coming to an end. They haven't got rid of me quite yet, but it is that time of year when we start our hunt for the next Hoipolloi intern. For anyone who is interested in the theatre, likes Cambridge (and fruit tea), and wants to be involved with a real live theatre company, the Hoipolloi internship is a great opportunity.

The post is extremely varied and can be tailored to suit the skills and interests of the individual. Some of the duties include writing the company’s blog, assisting with marketing campaigns, liaising with venues and writing press releases and copy for shows.

Previous interns have gone onto train at the Central School of Speech and Drama, L’Ecole Jacques LeCoq and the Theatre Directing MFA at Birkbeck, University of London.

The start date is flexible, but usually begins in September and lasts for about 10 months. It is an unpaid post, but as you only work in the office three days a week there is plenty of time for other employment alongside.

To apply for the position please send a CV and covering letter explaining why you are interested to marieke@hoipolloi.org.uk by Wednesday 7th April. Or if you have any questions about the internship, please feel free to get in touch.

Oh the mystery!

Secret agent Marieke here, working on a top secret, high profile mission, assigned by mastermind spy and not so evil genius, Simon Bedford. I have never been terribly good at keeping secrets, which is why you are getting some sneaky hints now, but I will have to keep schtum about the finer details for the time being. Rest assured the cat will come out of the bag before too long.

Anyway the secret project is seriously exciting. More exciting than the fact that we've recently won a gold medal at the winter Olympics. Now if you read last week's post you will understand that I am a ludicrously keen bean when it comes to winter sports (a strange combination of passions I know, skiing + theatre, but maybe linked in some quirky way...? Discuss.) so this should give you at least some idea of how brilliant the secret project is.

Clues: 1. I'm going to be searching through some Hoipolloi archive material over the next few days. 2. Hugh is involved. 3. If you're based in Cambridge, then make sue you keep a bit of space during the tail end of May free in your diaries (i.e. don't go on a month long cruise around the Bahamas or something like that. Stay here. You will not regret it). 4. If you're based in London, or nearby, or not but would like to visit London, then my magical mystical crystal ball says you shouldn't go away for an extended period of time in September (so that trekking holiday in Peru you had planned - cancel it).

Keep your eyes and ears open and keeping reading the blog as more information will be leaked soon.

In the meantime, whatever you do, don't forget that Hugh is hitting the road again next week and he would love to see you in either Oxford (3 March) or Liverpool (4 to 6 March).

Posted by Marieke Audsley (Marketing & Admin Assistant, Hoipolloi)

Thanks to laurakgibbs for the photo

Selling Out, Adding In

Things are about to get spectacularly busy here at Hoipolloi. Hugh will be commencing his latest Story of a Rabbit UK tour next Monday and there's plenty of other activity to report on too!

We mentioned back in September about our forthcoming Master Class at The Junction, here in Cambridge, on Sat 12 December. This has now officially SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone who's booked themselves in.

However, don't be too disappointed if you intended to book but didn't get a chance! We're giving you a second chance to come along. We have now added a further master class the following day on Sunday 13 December. This time it runs from 12noon until 7pm and is once again at The Junction.

There was already a waiting list for Saturday places so if you'd like to come along, I'd get yourself booked in for the Sunday pretty quick. Places cost £35 and are available by calling 01223 511 511.

And if you're in Cambridge next week, don't forget that Hugh will be performing his award-winning hit, Story of a Rabbit at Cambridge Arts Theatre on Wednesday & Thursday (4 & 5 Nov). Get your tickets here!

If you can't make it to Cambridge, he's also heading to Eastleigh (2 & 3 Nov), Edinburgh (11 to 14 Nov) and Leicester (18 to 21 Nov). To round the tour off, Hugh will be performing new show, 360, in the Drum Theatre Plymouth from 24 to 28 Nov.

Right, sales pitch over! Although from the outside it's been pretty quiet here at Hoipolloi since our return from Edinburgh, I can promise you we've been extra busy planning an exciting 2010.

I have some exciting news to announce in a couple of weeks (it's currently embargoed so I'm afraid no amount of bribery will make me spill the beans). And then we'll be drip-feeding you further announcements as we head into the new year!

I'm hoping that Hugh will be able to provide some updates on his tour over the next few weeks but in the meantime, here's a quick reminder of Story of a Rabbit...

Genuine or Genu-wine?

Posted by David Ralfe (Marketing & Admin. Assistant, Hoipolloi)

Hugh Hughes premiered brand new material last night in a sold-out show at The Junction in Cambridge. It was the first time Hugh had shared the work he has done on his new solo show with an audience, and he admitted to me just before he went onstage that he was a little bit nervous!

Here's what Hugh said about the show in the programme notes:

"In some ways tonight's performance will be very different from my previous shows. I will be onstage completely alone, with no set, costumes, props, music or multimedia.

But I hope that together we will be able to fill this empty space using our imagination. I believe this will allow me to share my experiences in new ways and to make more intimate connections with audiences than ever before."

I was in the rehearsal room with Hugh a little bit last week. It really was fantastically exciting to see Hugh continuing to experiment with theatrical forms, never content to re-use an old artistic formula, as he seeks new and different ways to communicate with his audiences.

There's a moment in the show when Hugh tells the audience about a game he used to play as a child, and we've found ourselves playing it in the Hoipolloi office today! If someone says something a bit unexpected, you ask, "Are you being genuine or genu-wine?" "Genuine" means they're telling the truth, "Genu-wine" means they're joking. It's a little childish but I think Hugh would approve of that!

All the performances for this week have now completely sold out but we very much hope to take Hugh's solo show out again in the near future.

Keep checking in with this Blog for all the latest updates!