It's back! After a "very entertaining" (London Reviews) summer event Encompass Productions presents the autumn BARE ESSENTIALS - an acclaimed night of new work from emerging international writers showcasing theatre at its most elemental. The diverse range of fantastic short plays include everything from moving drama to hilarious comedies, and at our next event are:
'Poison' by Rebecca Robinson 'Rebekah: Female Soldier' by Nicola O’Connor 'The Art of Tea' by Daniel Damiano 'End up Like Julie' by Ilan Wachsman 'Love in Freefall' by Simon Jackson 'Sniper' by John Foster
Even the most bare bones performance can be gripping - all you need is a room and an audience!
PERFORMANCES
WEDS 22ND - THURS 23RD - FRI 24TH OCTOBER, 7.30PM
TAKE COURAGE THEATRE (ABOVE THE AMERSHAM ARMS)
388 NEW CROSS ROAD, LONDON SE14 6TY
NEAREST RAIL/TUBE: NEW CROSS & NEW CROSS GATE
£7 ENTRY ON DOOR - £5 GOLDSMITHS STUDENTS WITH VALID NUS CARD
Are you a writer with a piece of work you want to see realised at Bare Essentials? Then Encompass Productions want you!
SELECTED PRESS QUOTES FOR BARE ESSENTIALS AND ENCOMPASS:
"Minimal staging...maximum polish. A great mix of work, Encompass achieved a very entertaining evening." - London Reviews
"Admirable...a great chance to see a good selection of theatre audiences possibly wouldn’t be exposed to." - Bargain Theatreland
"It’s great to see acting being focused on rather than masked by gimmicks. If you like new writing then this is for you!" - Everything Theatre
"Moving, entertaining...outstanding. A creative explosion that'll delight, entertain and move."
****** EdFringe Review
"Fresh...funny and fast-paced. A true delight to watch." **** Official Theatre
"The brilliant Encompass continue to push themselves with exciting, fresh material. Great things to come." **** Female Arts
It's time for a catch up! In this update we'll be letting you know everything we've been up to since our last production Who Is Moloch?, including the celebration of our third year as a company. We'll also look back at the show and give our first little hint as to what we'll be doing next...
IN THIS EDITION...
EP turns three!
Theory - watch a sci-fi film made in 48 hours!
"The Uphill Struggle" - documentary and article on Encompass
Rachael Owens becomes Associate Artistic Director
New Producers!
Encompass lead seminar at Goldsmiths, University of London
Lancaster students interview us on the art of successful crowdfunding
A look back at Who Is Moloch? by Pamela Carralero
Photos galore: The Month of Moloch events, production stills from Who Is Moloch?
What are we doing next? Your first clues...
EP turns three!
30 live events, 3 productions and many memories later and Encompass turned three years old on the 25th of April! We'd like to thank everyone who has supported us so far, and promise plenty of great things ahead. This next year is certainly our most exciting yet!
Josh, Owen, Rachael and Jonathan celebrating our three years!
Want to see everything what we've done in our three years? Check out our retrospective photo album Encompass - Our Story So Far...
Theory - a sci-fi film made in 48 hours!
In the near future, the leader of a theocratic political party announces the creation, and widespread distribution through the country's water supply, of AquaPuri 66: a formula which can eradicate every disease known to humanity, but which unknown to any save its Government backers also severely control brain activity, both thought and emotion.
We recently teamed up with Devolutions to help them make 'Theory', a short film made for the Sci-Fi London 48 Hour Film Challenge! Written by Adam Paul Hollingworth and directed by both he and Anis Alamgir, this production felt very "Encompassy" and so we were delighted to be involved. You'll see plenty of familiar faces including Andy Miller, Jonathan Woodhouse, Lily Carrie all from Who Is Moloch? and Christopher O'Shaughnessy (Stormin' Norman). You'll also hear Encompass composer Alex Burnett's haunting score. Check out the film below!
"The Uphill Struggle" - documentary and article on Encompass
"How does a struggling production company become successful?"
We were humbled to be featured in a documentary and article all about the challenges of being an emerging production company. The Uphill Struggle takes a frank and honest look at our highs and lows, our history and where we want to head next. Ever wonder why we're called "Encompass"? Now's your chance to find out!
Rachael Owens, associate director of Who Is Moloch? and What It Feels Like has been made our new associate artistic director. Rachael is a founding member of Encompass and looks forward to her new role at a very exciting time for the company.
New Producers!
We're welcoming two new producers to the Encompass team, George Calderwood and Sam Holmes! George is a newcomer to EP whilst Sam previously worked as an associate performer and associate producer of the company.
Encompass lead seminar at Goldsmiths, University of London
EP were once more invited to lead a seminar on forming an arts company to Theatre and Performance students at Goldsmiths. This was a chance for artistic directors Jonathan Woodhouse and Rachael Owens to reflect on our three years, the trials, the triumphs and to advise the next generation of emerging creatives. Here's what second year Peer-Assisted-Learning mentor and Theatre and Performance undergraduate Samuel Ben had to say:
"Designed to inspire...brilliant, open and honest. I wish to thank Jon and Rachael for their attendance and hope that their link with the PALs in the Theatre and Performance Department at Goldsmiths remains strong in the coming years."
Lancaster students interview us on the art of successful crowdfunding
Who Is Moloch?had the mysterious United Western Coalition watching over their soldiers...and little did we know that a group of students from Lancaster university were watching us - in particular the Who Is Moloch? crowdfunding campaign on Sponsume! Their economics module on social entrepreneurship meant that they had to follow successful campaigns and we were asked to be a case study.
You can check out their video interview with Encompass artistic director Jonathan Woodhouse here and their learning pack here. Gain an insight into what crowdfunding is and how powerful a tool it's become!
A look back at Who Is Moloch? by Pamela Carralero
Pictured: the Who Is Moloch? cast, Pamela Carralero (Writer) and Zuri Warren (Director)
Thank you to all who came to see Who Is Moloch? in London! Audience numbers were consistently good and we had a number of full houses, a rarity for any new show in a new venue on the London fringe circuit. The play moved many people and provoked some very interesting debates about the topics of World War III, Shakespeare and literature, psychotropic military drugs and of course who Moloch actually is!
During the course of the run we received positive reviews from several reputable publications:
Haunting...Who Is Moloch?' raises a lot of questions”
What’s On Stage
"Impassioned performances. Dark and complex...innovative."
The Londoneer
"A highly dramatic show with big deas"
Everything Theatre
“Poetic...tragic. Innovative, intelligent and interesting."
Views from the Gods
Thank you to all who helped put this show together (especially our patrons!), and to everyone that came to any of the Month of Moloch events and of course Who Is Moloch? itself! We hope to see you at our upcoming events and productions later this year!
You can listen to two tracks from the critically acclaimed soundtrack by Alex Burnett below:
Photos galore!
Feast your eyes on these photo albums from our Facebook page:
We've some very special announcements for you as 2011 draws to a close...
SHOOT FROM THE HIP! are hitting London with their own brand of off-the-cuff comedy now EVERY WEEK!
Following their fantastic appearances all over London (and even winning an Improvaganza event at the Edinburgh Fringe) everyone's favourite new comedy troupe are coming to the renowned Top Secret Comedy Club every Tuesday!
Never the same show twice, everything SHOOT FROM THE HIP! perform on stage is completely unrehearsed and unpredictable. You give the locations, you give the characters...and remember with no script there are no limits!
So bring anyone and everyone with you for a night of improvised chuckles right in the heart of London's West End at Top Secret!
After our two comedy Residencies last month we're making our way to The Brownswood for another fantastic evening of live comedy, this time raising money for the 'Crisis' charity! It'll be our last Residency event of the year and will feature some great live comedians including:
Sam Holmes - Jim Stoten - Andy Barr - Phil Boothman - Guy Fletcher - SHOOT FROM THE HIP!
All profits will go to 'Crisis at Christmas' which provides vital services for homeless people over the festive season and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. So come and join us for one last time this year for a cracking night to celebrate all things Christmas...and all things comedy!
Encompass gave a successful talk at Goldsmiths, University of London last week on 'forming a company'. The talk was led by Artistic Director Jonathan Woodhouse and Research and Dramaturge Christopher O'Shaughnessy.
"The aim was to give an optimistic but realistic idea of what it takes to form an arts company, and how to keep it going. We charted our journey so far, the ups, the downs and also talked about our process. It was a great turnout and it was fantastic to hear everyone's questions. To be told by people afterwards that they were inspired was very humbling and it means we achieved our goal."
Jonathan Woodhouse, Artistic Director
BECOME PART OF ENCOMPASS PRODUCTIONS!
We will soon be announcing opportunities to join Encompass for our upcoming productions! We are looking for both performers and crew members to join the teams for our short film 'Stormin' Norman' and our yet-to-be-announced next theatre project! If you're interested in finding out more details, send us an email to enquiries@encompassproductions.co.uk!
We hope you're able to join us at our last events of 2011 - expect more updates soon!
We've already had The Residency: Live Comedy Nights at Mascara Bar, London bringing the funny twice this month and now...THE RESIDENCY HITS THE END OF NOVEMBER IN A BIG WAY WITH TWO MORE EVENTS!
THE MONKEYS FOREHEAD - EGHAM, SURREY
After our Halloween Special last month we're returning to the Monkeys Forehead with another brilliant evening of live music, prizes and fantastic drinks deals. It'll be our last Egham Residency of the year and will feature some great live acts including:
Kelly Oliver - Lucy Gooch - Vivienne Youel - Danial Mahathir, Sophie Foulds & Charlotte Lewis - Grace Holliday - Robbie Brown (new act!)
Is there anywhere better to spend your Friday night? We think not - so come along!
We're proud to announce our first London-based music Residency with a return to the Mascara Bar, London! Get ready for a night of astonishing new musical talent featuring both Residency favourites and acts making their Residency debut including:
Elena Bella - Rosie Vize - Lizzie Fisher - Vivienne Youel - Third Conduct - Isla - Del Gentilini - Tom Sochas
What a night! Bring yourself, your friends, your family, your loved ones, the bloke off the street...this music needs to be heard and we want you all there in support of it!
Encompass Productions will be giving a talk at Goldsmiths, University of London on November 30th. Jonathan Woodhouse (Founder & Artistic Director of Encompass) will be giving an insight into the process of forming a new company - the trials, the tribulations, the highs and the lows, and will also be answering questions from students.
"I'm very honoured to be a guest at the UK's leading creative university. Encompass is only nineteen months old and despite its success so far we are very much a company still in its infancy - however I believe Goldsmiths has the right idea in asking a new company to talk about their experience so far. It keeps things relevant, allowing us to more closely reflect on our process and the challenges of being a new company existing in the current arts climate. It means we can be realistic and optimistic at the same time. We hope the talk will be both informative and inspiring."
Joining Jonathan from Encompass will be Christopher O'Shaughnessy, Researcher and Dramaturge for the company. A portion of the talk will also be dedicated to a Q&A on 'The Lady', the upcoming motion picture from legendary filmmaker Luc Besson. The film chronicles the life of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (Michelle Yeoh) and her husband Dr. Michael Aris (David Thewlis), with Jonathan starring opposite the pair as their eldest son 'Alexander Aris'. More information, images and trailers from the movie can be found at http://www.useyourfreedom.com/.
NEW VIDEO SKETCH FROM SHOOT FROM THE HIP!
Our resident funny people loved performing at the first two comedy Residency events this month...but they've also been hard at work at writing and filming some new sketches! Check out what life is like with the Pumpkin Queen at the link below - let us know what you think!
We've got more hilarious sketches for you coming soon, as well as an improv show at The Brownswoodon Monday 5th December! More details soon!
OUR NEXT ARTISTIC PROJECT!
In case you've missed it, we recently announced our next artistic endeavour. Stormin’ Norman is a short film written and directed byPaul G Raymond, produced and created by Encompass Productions.
Stormin’ Norman follows Norman, a homeless man living in the London suburbs. We journey with Norman through the ups and downs of his everyday life until he meets Sarah, a young woman who dares to break the routine.
The company are incredibly excited about this brave new adventure, which is expected to start shooting in Winter 2012. The piece is currently in research and development and the cast will be announced in December. We'll have vacancies for film crew positions available with more information soon. Interested? Email us!
About the writer/director
Paul G Raymond serves as the media coordinator of Encompass and was most recently seen playing the part of 'Lester' in our hit production 'What It Feels Like'. He is also a performer in our improvised comedy troupe SHOOT FROM THE HIP! - you can find out more information about Paul here.
WEBSITE UPDATES
-A brand new 'videos' page for SHOOT FROM THE HIP! where you'll be able to watch all their brilliant comic sketches!
We hope to see you at one of our many upcoming events and shows!
