Hot on the heels of the venue’s 10th anniversary celebrations, this week The North Wall launches a new programme of work for Spring 2018. Highlights include:
- The world premiere of Fragment, a piece of gig-theatre about love, loss and heartache by double Fringe First award-winner, Iron Shoes. First developed at The North Wall’s ArtsLab residency in summer 2014, the show features original songs of redemption and recovery by acclaimed composer, and Kneehigh Associate Dom Coyote. BAFTA-winning actress Monica Dolan (W1A,Appropriate Adult, The Witness For The Prosecution) performs her critically-acclaimed one woman show The B*easts in March, and former North Wall writer-in-residence Sam Potter presents her latest play, Hanna, in January.
- April sees the return of Alchymy Festival following its enormously successful launch in 2017. Celebrating the bold and the brilliant, the new and the controversial, and embracing the North Wall’s tradition of nurturing emerging talent, the festival will showcase 8 new productions across the weekend, as well as a programme of workshops, panels and networking events with the UK’s leading theatrical lights.
- The Inspiring People series, a joint venture between The North Wall and its principal sponsor, St Edward’s School, is a new strand of work for 2018. This new series of talks gives a platform to renowned speakers from a wide range of fields – from art history and neurosurgery to theatre and environmental science. Half of all tickets have been offered free to local schools, reflecting both the school and The North Wall’s commitment to educate and inspire.
- Harriet and Robert Fraser’s The Long View is an exhibition that invites the viewer to slow down and pause with seven remarkably ordinary lone trees in Cumbria. Taking place during Oxfordshire Art Weeks, the exhibition is the result of two years’ worth study by the artists: the resulting photographs and poetry, together with installations and journal entries, offer a rare insight into these trees in all weathers, all seasons, night and day. Other exhibitions in the Spring calendar include work by the Oxford Scribes and Oxford Photographic Society.
- 2018 is set to delight comedy fans as familiar faces such as Griff Rhys Jones, Ellie Taylor and Sarah Millican take to The North Wall stage. It’s been nearly a decade since Sarah Millican last performed at the venue; her latest show, Control Enthusiast, promises to deliver funny, frank material and a great night out.
Tickets for all events are on sale now.
The launch of the Spring season also coincides with a new era in The North Wall’s artistic leadership: recently appointed co-directors John Hoggarth and Ria Parry joined the organisation in early November. In a joint statement, John and Ria said, “We have enjoyed a vibrant relationship with The North Wall over several years, touring work here, leading ArtsLab residencies, and visiting the gallery and theatre as audience members. It is our absolute pleasure to be overseeing the organisation’s next chapter. We are hugely excited by The North Wall’s steadfast support for bold work and emerging talent, and we look forward to enhancing its reputation as a centre of excellence. We intend to nurture and build a space and spirit that supports and inspires the next generation of artists from Oxford and beyond.”
