TWO of South London's
parks are to be the settings for two family shows this summer.
Brockwell Park in
Brixton and the Streatham Rookery Gardens will play host to
Goldilocks And The Three Endings and Alice In The Walled Garden
respectively between now and August 17.
They are being
presented by Lambeth-based theatre company Sixteenfeet which has been
bringing its summer promenade productions to venues in South London
for the past four years.
After last year's
successful run, Alice In The Walled Garden makes a welcome return and
will once again bring Lewis Carroll's famous tale to life.
Audiences will enter a
fantastical world inhabited by some iconic characters including the
Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Mock Turtle.
The performance
features original music, which is played live by the cast of
actor-musicians.
This year it is
transferring from the walled garden in Brockwell Park to Streatham.
It will make way for a
brand new show, Goldilocks And The Three Endings, penned by
Brixton-based Andrew Walsh.
And if you think you
know the story of Goldilocks, think again because Andrew says he's
given it a bit of a twist.
"It's a fairytale
and based on the classic texts of some well known stories so there is
a mix of recognisable characters all in the one play," he says.
"I love fairytales
and as a writer they are very important because you learn story
structures from them but they have changed a lot over many years.
"Goldilocks is an
interesting character but how she is portrayed today is very
different from how she started out - she was originally an old woman
- so this is my take on her and moving the story on again for a new
generation."
The action is set in
Everwasland which is in danger. The villain is missing, the Midnight
Clock is ticking and everyone and everything could disappear in a
heartbeat.
It's up to Goldilocks
and the Prince Charming - and the audience - to help save the day.
"It's been really
fun to write because it's not like a normal theatre show where you
just sit and follow the story," says Andrew.
"With this one the
audience is very much involved and it's really interactive.
"It starts off as
a typical production but about half way through the audience gets to
choose which characters they want to follow, what they do and what
happens in the end - hence the title!
"By getting the
audience to take part by influencing what happens it will bring it to
life more so it's very exciting and gives it a nice twist."
The interactive nature
of the show has been inspired in part by Andrew's work writing video
games.
"I started out in
theatre but then moved into writing for TV shows such as Emmerdale,"
he explains.
"But then from
there I've done all sorts of stuff including writing video games
which is great fun but totally different to writing a script.
"In a game you
have to give the player the element of choice and I thought this
might be a good thing to bring to Goldilocks, although at times it
was quite complicated.
"It's all scripted
so there is no element of surprise or improvisation as far as the
actors are concerned but there is for the audience.
"It's funny,
really entertaining and action-packed with lots of live music which
is performed by the actors, and because it's aimed at a family
audience there are different levels and elements for adults and
children to take from it."
As in previous years it
will be a promenade production whereby the audience follows the
actors as they move about the garden.
"The Walled Garden
the most beautiful space and really lends itself to this kind of
show," says Andrew. "It's had to be quite carefully
choreographed because the audience chooses who to follow and they
move to different parts of the garden.
"I'm really
pleased with the result and all we need now is for this glorious
weather to hold!"
Goldilocks And The
Three Endings is on at Brockwell Park until August 10 and Alice In
The Walled Garden is at Streatham Rookery Gardens between August 7
and 17. Call 07958 448 690, visit www.sixteenfeet.co.uk or email
info@sixteenfeet.co.uk to book tickets or for full listings.
