Newsfeed....
Gangsta Granny wins Award!!
Gangsta Granny has won and been nominated for the following awards:
NOMINATED - "Best Entertainment & Family Show", OLIVIER AWARDS 2018
WINNER – “Best Children’s Show”, What’s On Reader’s Awards 2018
WINNER – “Best Home Produced Show”, What’s On Reader’s Awards 2017
NOMINATED – “Best Touring Play”, What’s On Reader’s Awards
NOMINATED – “Best Children’s Show”, What’s On Reader’s Awards
NOMINATED – “Best Young People’s Theatre Production”, UK THEATRE AWARDS
Peter Pan - Greenwich Theatre, London
Rae and Paul joined the creative team for the acclaimed Greenwich Theatre pantomime. 2016-17's production was Peter Pan, written and directed by Andrew Pollard.
Chantry Dance Company's 2016 UK Tour
Rae and Paul have choreographed two original ballets for CDC's 2016 UK Tour, 'Ulysses Unbound' & 'The Stacked Deck', both of which received fantastic reviews.
David Walliams' 'Gangsta Granny' - West End and UK Tour
Paul and Rae have choreographed Birmingham Stage Company's adaptation of the best selling book, 'Gangsta Granny' by David Walliams'.
Chantry Dance Company's 'DUOLOGY' UK Tour
Paul and Rae have choreographed two original ballets for CDC's 2015 UK Tour, 'Vincent - a stranger to himself' and 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik', both of which received fantastic reviews.
'The Queen of Spades' - Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma
Paul and Rae are reviving Richard Jones's production of 'The Queen of Spades' at Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma with original choreography by Linda Dobell.
'Our House' - the Madness Musical starring Suggs
Paul and Rae choreographed 'Our House' for Pimlico Opera at HMP YOI ISIS. The production starred Suggs, lead singer from Madness.
Un Ballo in Maschera - The Royal Opera House
Paul and Rae worked with Lucy Burge as assistant choreographers as well as dancing in The Royal Opera House's production of 'Un Ballo in Maschera'.
The Happy Prince & Other Original Works
Paul choreographed a new version of Oscar Wilde's 'The Happy Prince' for Chantry Dance Company's 2014 UK Tour. Also included in the programme were 'All I Can Do Is Be Me - the Bob Dylan Ballet' and 'Rhapsody in Blue', both also choreographed by Paul.
'Chasing the Eclipse' - Gravity Fields Festival
Chantry Dance Company (Paul and Rae) in partnership with Rosa Productions were commissioned to create an outdoor dance spectacle for the Gravity Fields Festival, September 2014 in Grantham. Paul choreographed the show, whilst Rae conceived it and danced the lead role of 'Scura' opposite 'Lumen' played by Dominic North (principal dancer with Matthew Bourne's New Adventures) alongside other Chantry Dance Company members.
'Queen of Spades' and 'La Traviata' - Grange Park Opera
Paul and Rae revived Antony McDonald's 2012 version of 'Queen of Spades' for Grange Park Opera for the 2014 summer season, as well as performing as featured dancer's in Lindsay Posner's 'La Traviata' for GPO.
'Die Fledermaus' - Royal Festival Hall
Paul and Rae choreographed 'Die Fledermaus' for the Royal Festival Hall in April 2014. The semi-staged production was directed by Simon Butteriss and conducted by John Wilson with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
'Sister Act', Pimlico Opera & 'Queen of Spades', Grange Park Opera
In early 2014, Rae and Paul worked with Pimlico Opera to choreograph Sister Act at HMP Bronzefield for a cast comprising both professionals and prisoners.
'Wallflowering', 'Horrible Histories', & 'Chicago....and all that jazz'
Paul, together with Rae, were extremely busy since CDC's 2013 tour choreographing three productions - 'Wallflowering' from Stroud Theatre Company plays at the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre Studio; Birmingham Stage Company's 'Horrible Histories - Horrible Christmas' is at Derby Theatre; and the Chicago revue for Best Parties Ever will play in Swindon at Lydiard Park.
OUT OF BOUNDS - Chantry Dance Company UK Tour
Chantry Dance Company, of which Paul is co-Artistic Director along with his partner, Rae Piper, has completed an extremely successful first UK Tour. Paul and Rae created four brand new pieces for the tour; 'All I Can Do Is Be Me - the Bob Dylan ballet', 'ad fidem', '404-not found', and 'Singing Day'.
The Engineer's Corset - The Brewery Theatre, Bristol
Paul and Rae worked with director Nick Philippou to research and develop 'The Engineer's Corset' - a play based around the story of the coin which became lodged in Isambard Kingdom Brunel's bronchial tract. Rae choreographed/movement directed the piece while Paul danced the role of 'Robert', Brunel's wife's manservant. The piece is looking to become a full production in 2014.
Glengarry, Glen Ross - The Ustinov Studio, Bath Theatre Royal
Rae and Paul worked with director Emma Earle again on a production of 'Glengarry, Glen Ross' for the Engage company at Bath Theatre Royal.
The Last Days of Mankind - Bristol Old Vic Theatre Royal
Rae and Paul choreographed/movement directed 'The Last Days of Mankind' - a joint production between Bristol Old Vic Theatre Royal and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. The production was co-directed by Toby Hulse and John Retallack. This was the UK Premiere of Karl Kraus's play.
Cherry Docs - BeMe Theatre, Munich
Paul and Rae worked with BeMe Theatre in Munich, movement directing for the German premiere of David Gow's 'Cherry Docs'. Braving audiences to examine their capacity for compassion, David Gow’s Cherry Docs provides an unsettling examination of hatred and intolerance, the explosive effect they have on our society, and the walls that confront us as we try to eradicate them. Shedding light on the dangers of extremism and the destructive path from fear to hate, this is a play that is bound to spark necessary debate, raise questions and encourage those bearing witness to seek answers.
Horrible Histories - Vile Victorians and Terrible Tudors
UK Tour, Birmingham Stage Company
Paul co-choreographed 'Horrible Histories' with Rae Piper for BSC which is touring the UK visting venues including The Lowry at Salford, The Theatre Royal at Windsor, His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen, and The Hackney Empire.
Chantry Dance Company - Triple Bill
The Village Underground
Paul created choreography for CDC's triple bill in collaboration with Ronald Corp OBE of 'The Yellow Wallpaper', 'Lullaby For a Lost Soul' and 'Songs of the Elder Sisters'.
Tom's Midnight Garden
Bloomsbury Theatre, Birmingham Stage Company
Paul co-choreographed 'Tom's Midnight Garden' with Rae, which is the 2012 Christmas show playing at London's Bloomsbury Theatre this year.
The Merry Widow - Royal Festival Hall
Paul co-choreographed with Rae December's production of The Merry Widow at The Royal Festival Hall. Simon Butteriss directed and conductor John Wilson led the Philharmonia Orchestra for this production.
The Magic Flute - Riverside Studios and National Tour
Paul co-choreographed with Rae for The Merry Opera Company again on their production of the Magic Flute which opened in February 2013, directed by Kit Hesketh-Harvey.
The Yellow Wallpaper, R&D
Chantry Dance Company
Paul completed an R&D period on a new ballet for Chantry Dance Company, The Yellow Wallpaper. The ballet is choreographed to a setting for strings and mezzo-soprano composed by Ronald Corp OBE.
‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ is set at just prior to the turn of the 20th century and is written as a series of diary entries by a woman whose physician husband, John, has confined her to the upstairs bedroom of a house he has rented for the summer. She is forbidden from working, socializing and writing (her passion), so she can recuperate from what he calls a "temporary nervous depression – a slight hysterical tendency". This diagnosis was commonly given to women of that period, and they were often subjected to Dr Weir Mitchell’s ghastly “rest cure”. The story depicts the effect of confinement and suppression on the narrator, and we witness the deterioration of her mental health to the point where she enters into dissociative psychosis. With nothing to stimulate her, she becomes fixated by the yellow wallpaper in her room and the impenetrable pattern on it. She imagines she can see firstly one woman creeping around behind the pattern of the wallpaper, then many. Eventually she comes to believe that she is one of them and has to get back behind the wallpaper. She locks herself in the room, and proceeds to rip off all the wallpaper in an effort to “get out at last”. The story ends with John witnessing his wife creeping and circling around the walls of the room. He faints and she continues to creep over his body.
The vision behind this work is to explore the themes of female subservience, creative repression and dissociative psychosis. The latter is addressed by splitting the role of the narrator into three parts – voice, mind and body - with one performer per part. An off-stage opera singer provides the voice, an actress communicates the workings of the mind, and a dancer gives physicality to the body. This gives the audience an opportunity to follow any one of the three distinct, yet interlocked interpretations, whilst serving to emphasize the nature of dissociation. The blurry boundaries of different levels of ‘being’ are also explored and exaggerated through the meshing of the three art forms.
Chinese Calligraphy, Music & Dance Concert
Sadler's Wells
This modern ballet which is choreographed to complement the work of renowned Chinese calligrapher, Li Binquan, marks Chantry Dance Company's debut work.
Chinese calligraphy is at the heart of traditional Chinese culture, when combined with modern dance the result is a stunning synergy of Eastern and Western culture. As calligraphy can be seen as visual interpretation of dance on paper, so the movements of a ballet dancer reflect the beauty and aesthetics of calligraphy.
'Anyone For Tea?'
A Lyric Hammersmith and Les Enfants Terrible co-production
Paul choreographed this new intepretation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The production was performed as part of the Lyric's 'Theatre in The Square' season, at Watford Palace Theatre's 'Imagine Watford' Festival, at Latitude Festival and at the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival. Emma Earle was director.
'La Traviata' for The Merry Opera Company
Together with Rae Piper, Paul has co-choreographed a modern version of Verdi's fantastic opera 'La Traviata'. With a new translation and direction by Kit Hesketh-Harvey, the opera plays in Highgate at Upstairs at the Gatehouse from 8th February -3rd March, before embarking on a national tour from March-July.
The show was nominated for 'Best Opera' by The Off West End Awards.
R&D at Sadler's Wells for 'The Borrowers'
Paul created the character of Pod Clock during a research and development period for Ojo Collective and Lenja Saenz at Sadler's Wells for a new production of 'The Borrowers'.
RING AROUND THE WORLD (English Pocket Opera Company - EPOC)
Paul was co-choreographer with Rae Piper for this production, which was a celebration of the 2012 Olympics and the biggest children's opera ever known. Working with 216 schools (one for every Olympic nation), EPOC created a production that played at The Unicorn and The Pleasance just prior to the start of the Games.
Gangsta Granny has won and been nominated for the following awards:
NOMINATED - "Best Entertainment & Family Show", OLIVIER AWARDS 2018
WINNER – “Best Children’s Show”, What’s On Reader’s Awards 2018
WINNER – “Best Home Produced Show”, What’s On Reader’s Awards 2017
NOMINATED – “Best Touring Play”, What’s On Reader’s Awards
NOMINATED – “Best Children’s Show”, What’s On Reader’s Awards
NOMINATED – “Best Young People’s Theatre Production”, UK THEATRE AWARDS
Peter Pan - Greenwich Theatre, London
Rae and Paul joined the creative team for the acclaimed Greenwich Theatre pantomime. 2016-17's production was Peter Pan, written and directed by Andrew Pollard.
Chantry Dance Company's 2016 UK Tour
Rae and Paul have choreographed two original ballets for CDC's 2016 UK Tour, 'Ulysses Unbound' & 'The Stacked Deck', both of which received fantastic reviews.
David Walliams' 'Gangsta Granny' - West End and UK Tour
Paul and Rae have choreographed Birmingham Stage Company's adaptation of the best selling book, 'Gangsta Granny' by David Walliams'.
Chantry Dance Company's 'DUOLOGY' UK Tour
Paul and Rae have choreographed two original ballets for CDC's 2015 UK Tour, 'Vincent - a stranger to himself' and 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik', both of which received fantastic reviews.
'The Queen of Spades' - Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma
Paul and Rae are reviving Richard Jones's production of 'The Queen of Spades' at Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma with original choreography by Linda Dobell.
'Our House' - the Madness Musical starring Suggs
Paul and Rae choreographed 'Our House' for Pimlico Opera at HMP YOI ISIS. The production starred Suggs, lead singer from Madness.
Un Ballo in Maschera - The Royal Opera House
Paul and Rae worked with Lucy Burge as assistant choreographers as well as dancing in The Royal Opera House's production of 'Un Ballo in Maschera'.
The Happy Prince & Other Original Works
Paul choreographed a new version of Oscar Wilde's 'The Happy Prince' for Chantry Dance Company's 2014 UK Tour. Also included in the programme were 'All I Can Do Is Be Me - the Bob Dylan Ballet' and 'Rhapsody in Blue', both also choreographed by Paul.
'Chasing the Eclipse' - Gravity Fields Festival
Chantry Dance Company (Paul and Rae) in partnership with Rosa Productions were commissioned to create an outdoor dance spectacle for the Gravity Fields Festival, September 2014 in Grantham. Paul choreographed the show, whilst Rae conceived it and danced the lead role of 'Scura' opposite 'Lumen' played by Dominic North (principal dancer with Matthew Bourne's New Adventures) alongside other Chantry Dance Company members.
'Queen of Spades' and 'La Traviata' - Grange Park Opera
Paul and Rae revived Antony McDonald's 2012 version of 'Queen of Spades' for Grange Park Opera for the 2014 summer season, as well as performing as featured dancer's in Lindsay Posner's 'La Traviata' for GPO.
'Die Fledermaus' - Royal Festival Hall
Paul and Rae choreographed 'Die Fledermaus' for the Royal Festival Hall in April 2014. The semi-staged production was directed by Simon Butteriss and conducted by John Wilson with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
'Sister Act', Pimlico Opera & 'Queen of Spades', Grange Park Opera
In early 2014, Rae and Paul worked with Pimlico Opera to choreograph Sister Act at HMP Bronzefield for a cast comprising both professionals and prisoners.
'Wallflowering', 'Horrible Histories', & 'Chicago....and all that jazz'
Paul, together with Rae, were extremely busy since CDC's 2013 tour choreographing three productions - 'Wallflowering' from Stroud Theatre Company plays at the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre Studio; Birmingham Stage Company's 'Horrible Histories - Horrible Christmas' is at Derby Theatre; and the Chicago revue for Best Parties Ever will play in Swindon at Lydiard Park.
OUT OF BOUNDS - Chantry Dance Company UK Tour
Chantry Dance Company, of which Paul is co-Artistic Director along with his partner, Rae Piper, has completed an extremely successful first UK Tour. Paul and Rae created four brand new pieces for the tour; 'All I Can Do Is Be Me - the Bob Dylan ballet', 'ad fidem', '404-not found', and 'Singing Day'.
The Engineer's Corset - The Brewery Theatre, Bristol
Paul and Rae worked with director Nick Philippou to research and develop 'The Engineer's Corset' - a play based around the story of the coin which became lodged in Isambard Kingdom Brunel's bronchial tract. Rae choreographed/movement directed the piece while Paul danced the role of 'Robert', Brunel's wife's manservant. The piece is looking to become a full production in 2014.
Glengarry, Glen Ross - The Ustinov Studio, Bath Theatre Royal
Rae and Paul worked with director Emma Earle again on a production of 'Glengarry, Glen Ross' for the Engage company at Bath Theatre Royal.
The Last Days of Mankind - Bristol Old Vic Theatre Royal
Rae and Paul choreographed/movement directed 'The Last Days of Mankind' - a joint production between Bristol Old Vic Theatre Royal and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. The production was co-directed by Toby Hulse and John Retallack. This was the UK Premiere of Karl Kraus's play.
Cherry Docs - BeMe Theatre, Munich
Paul and Rae worked with BeMe Theatre in Munich, movement directing for the German premiere of David Gow's 'Cherry Docs'. Braving audiences to examine their capacity for compassion, David Gow’s Cherry Docs provides an unsettling examination of hatred and intolerance, the explosive effect they have on our society, and the walls that confront us as we try to eradicate them. Shedding light on the dangers of extremism and the destructive path from fear to hate, this is a play that is bound to spark necessary debate, raise questions and encourage those bearing witness to seek answers.
Horrible Histories - Vile Victorians and Terrible Tudors
UK Tour, Birmingham Stage Company
Paul co-choreographed 'Horrible Histories' with Rae Piper for BSC which is touring the UK visting venues including The Lowry at Salford, The Theatre Royal at Windsor, His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen, and The Hackney Empire.
Chantry Dance Company - Triple Bill
The Village Underground
Paul created choreography for CDC's triple bill in collaboration with Ronald Corp OBE of 'The Yellow Wallpaper', 'Lullaby For a Lost Soul' and 'Songs of the Elder Sisters'.
Tom's Midnight Garden
Bloomsbury Theatre, Birmingham Stage Company
Paul co-choreographed 'Tom's Midnight Garden' with Rae, which is the 2012 Christmas show playing at London's Bloomsbury Theatre this year.
The Merry Widow - Royal Festival Hall
Paul co-choreographed with Rae December's production of The Merry Widow at The Royal Festival Hall. Simon Butteriss directed and conductor John Wilson led the Philharmonia Orchestra for this production.
The Magic Flute - Riverside Studios and National Tour
Paul co-choreographed with Rae for The Merry Opera Company again on their production of the Magic Flute which opened in February 2013, directed by Kit Hesketh-Harvey.
The Yellow Wallpaper, R&D
Chantry Dance Company
Paul completed an R&D period on a new ballet for Chantry Dance Company, The Yellow Wallpaper. The ballet is choreographed to a setting for strings and mezzo-soprano composed by Ronald Corp OBE.
‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ is set at just prior to the turn of the 20th century and is written as a series of diary entries by a woman whose physician husband, John, has confined her to the upstairs bedroom of a house he has rented for the summer. She is forbidden from working, socializing and writing (her passion), so she can recuperate from what he calls a "temporary nervous depression – a slight hysterical tendency". This diagnosis was commonly given to women of that period, and they were often subjected to Dr Weir Mitchell’s ghastly “rest cure”. The story depicts the effect of confinement and suppression on the narrator, and we witness the deterioration of her mental health to the point where she enters into dissociative psychosis. With nothing to stimulate her, she becomes fixated by the yellow wallpaper in her room and the impenetrable pattern on it. She imagines she can see firstly one woman creeping around behind the pattern of the wallpaper, then many. Eventually she comes to believe that she is one of them and has to get back behind the wallpaper. She locks herself in the room, and proceeds to rip off all the wallpaper in an effort to “get out at last”. The story ends with John witnessing his wife creeping and circling around the walls of the room. He faints and she continues to creep over his body.
The vision behind this work is to explore the themes of female subservience, creative repression and dissociative psychosis. The latter is addressed by splitting the role of the narrator into three parts – voice, mind and body - with one performer per part. An off-stage opera singer provides the voice, an actress communicates the workings of the mind, and a dancer gives physicality to the body. This gives the audience an opportunity to follow any one of the three distinct, yet interlocked interpretations, whilst serving to emphasize the nature of dissociation. The blurry boundaries of different levels of ‘being’ are also explored and exaggerated through the meshing of the three art forms.
Chinese Calligraphy, Music & Dance Concert
Sadler's Wells
This modern ballet which is choreographed to complement the work of renowned Chinese calligrapher, Li Binquan, marks Chantry Dance Company's debut work.
Chinese calligraphy is at the heart of traditional Chinese culture, when combined with modern dance the result is a stunning synergy of Eastern and Western culture. As calligraphy can be seen as visual interpretation of dance on paper, so the movements of a ballet dancer reflect the beauty and aesthetics of calligraphy.
'Anyone For Tea?'
A Lyric Hammersmith and Les Enfants Terrible co-production
Paul choreographed this new intepretation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The production was performed as part of the Lyric's 'Theatre in The Square' season, at Watford Palace Theatre's 'Imagine Watford' Festival, at Latitude Festival and at the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival. Emma Earle was director.
'La Traviata' for The Merry Opera Company
Together with Rae Piper, Paul has co-choreographed a modern version of Verdi's fantastic opera 'La Traviata'. With a new translation and direction by Kit Hesketh-Harvey, the opera plays in Highgate at Upstairs at the Gatehouse from 8th February -3rd March, before embarking on a national tour from March-July.
The show was nominated for 'Best Opera' by The Off West End Awards.
R&D at Sadler's Wells for 'The Borrowers'
Paul created the character of Pod Clock during a research and development period for Ojo Collective and Lenja Saenz at Sadler's Wells for a new production of 'The Borrowers'.
RING AROUND THE WORLD (English Pocket Opera Company - EPOC)
Paul was co-choreographer with Rae Piper for this production, which was a celebration of the 2012 Olympics and the biggest children's opera ever known. Working with 216 schools (one for every Olympic nation), EPOC created a production that played at The Unicorn and The Pleasance just prior to the start of the Games.
'The Most Incredible Thing' at Sadler's Wells.
The Most Incredible Thing - BBC 4
On Friday 1st July, Paul could be seen dancing in BBC 4's screening of this ground-breaking modern ballet. The production, which premiered at Sadler's Wells in London in early 2011, featured music specially composed by electronic pop legends the Pet Shop Boys and was choreographed and directed by Javier de Frutos.
On Friday 1st July, Paul could be seen dancing in BBC 4's screening of this ground-breaking modern ballet. The production, which premiered at Sadler's Wells in London in early 2011, featured music specially composed by electronic pop legends the Pet Shop Boys and was choreographed and directed by Javier de Frutos.