Blast Fest

This will be an evening that spans a range of artforms and presentation styles, drawing inspiration from a varied wealth of subject matter. Simply watch and enjoy or reflect and feedback. Join us at the dawn of something exciting and new, to support and inform the creations of current and next generations of theatre makers.

Orla Collier - ENDORMORE

Orla’s solo project, Endormore explores her experience of growing up in a small village in the Lake District. While Orla’s background is in contemporary dance, Endormore is a physical theatre performance piece, with her ‘emotion being the driving force for the piece’. Original music has been created for the work by independent musician, Molagon.

Dibby Theatre - TOXIC

Toxic is an explosive new play by award-winning playwright and HIV activist Nathaniel Hall (First Time, It’s A Sin) exploring the unique impact of HIV, homophobia, gay shame and toxic gender norms on gay male relationships. A mix of storytelling, movement, and an original pumping house music soundtrack, this semi-autobiographical show begins where First Time ended.

Natalie Bellingham – LOOK AFTER YOUR KNEES

“Look After Your Knees’ touches on themes of loneliness, tenderness & connection. It draws on Natalie’s own personal experiences of grief, loss & the complexities of family relationships. It explores some of the words we find difficult to say & the prisons we construct around ourselves. 

Gillian and Adam - AU

Adam York Gregory & Gillian Lees present Au – A performance for film as a response to current anticipation and active lobbying to rewrite the Human Rights Act 1998... 

“This Act was passed when the duo were 18 years old. It has been upheld and has served since then as the underpinning of our political and moral landscape in line with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Whilst at present the UK still upholds its commitment to participate in the ECHR, the UK’s Brexit Trade Agreement only codifies the agreements made to an extent - there is no actual mention of the ECHR and the drafting around the consequences of not upholding these commitments is worryingly vague. “

Andy Smith and Lynsey O’Sullivan - CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY

We are the citizens. This is our assembly. We are the actors in this story. What are we doing about the climate crisis? What are we not doing? What more could we be doing? What more should we be doing? As part of BLAST this year, acclaimed theatre-maker Andy Smith will present a work-in-progress extract from his new play Citizen’s Assembly, created in collaboration with Lynsey O’Sullivan. This new work is part of a series of works called Plays For The People. Plays where the people in the room play the people in the play.

Dale Edwards  - WORK IN PROGRESS

Dale’s interests are in creating issue-based theatre and his creative interests lie in combining technology, music and physicality to deepen storytelling.. His support from BLAST helps him continue to explore issues within the criminal justice system, with a team of other creatives.. 

Please note this event is Pay What You Decide