Third Angel at Greenbelt Festival

We’re really looking forward to (finally!) making it to the Greenbelt Festival this weekend, particularly as two Third Angel pieces will be there alongside two piece we’ve mentored. If you’re going to Greenbelt, and you want to seek us out, here’s where and when to find us…

photo: Elliot Roberts

Third Angel presents

CAPE WRATH

An epic journey in a stationary minibus

SATURDAY 23rd 11.00am,  3.30pm & 7.00pm

THE WILDERNESS (next to The Kindred 24 Hour Café)

To an audience of just 14, Alexander Kelly recounts what he learned as he followed in the footsteps of his Grandad – on a bus trip from the Midlands to the most northwesterly point of Scotland: Cape Wrath. Heartfelt, moving and funny, and one of the hits of last year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

Three shows on Saturday – in a minibus!

Sign up on Friday between 6–8pm at the minibus.

Age recommendation: 14 and over

Third Angel presents an

INSPIRATION EXCHANGE

SUNDAY 24th 12.00 – 5.15 pm

STAR POND

Third Angel’s Alexander Kelly would like to have a conversation with you, and do you a swap: idea for idea, inspiration for inspiration. Drop in for as long or short a time as you would like, swap a story or just listen, as we follow a trail to see what unexpected places we end up in by sharing our inspiration. You can find him in a bell tent by Star Pond.

Final storytelling at 5.00pm at the bell tent (Star Pond). Suitable for all ages.

plus…

Hannah Nicklin (with Alexander Kelly):
A CONVERSATION WITH MY FATHER
SATURDAY 23^rd 7.30pm & 9.30pm
This is a story about my dad (a retired policeman) and me (a protestor). It’s a story about fear, bravery, what it feels like to be kettled, SuperTed, the Lone Ranger, policing the people in front of you, and being sent out of class. It’s about working out what matters, and standing up to protect it. It’s about Them and Us.

It’s about me, and my dad.

There are also some jokes in it. Because serious things are worth laughing at a little bit.

Unfolding Theatre:

BEST IN THE WORLD
(Mentored by Third Angel)
SUNDAY 24^th 5.30pm & 7.00pm

There is a world that can transport us from the ordinary to the extraordinary, where we are one perfect throw away from greatness, a place where we can all be champions. That world is darts. Through this noble sport, Alex Elliott asks the unfathomable question: “What does it mean to be best in the world?”

Join him on a hilarious, occasionally heroic and heart-warming journey, featuring true stories of success, live darts and celebrations of our own personal triumphs. Motivational bananas included. This uplifting show will renew your faith in life and darts. Who knows? You might be the best audience in the world.

**

And if you’re going, we would also recommend that you see Bobby Baker on Saturday, too.

Edinburgh Blogpost 5: Postcard From Edinburgh

This was written midway through the Edinburgh Fringe, for the British Council's Edinburgh Showcase blog.

Postcard from Edinburgh

There comes a point when you’ve been in Edinburgh during the festivals for a few days when your body clock separates from the calendar, from the days of the week, and you don’t know when you are. The marker in the week isn’t the weekend anymore, it’s your Day Off. And, er, I haven’t got any of those this year. But in a good way.

As we knew it was going to be, 2013 is proving to be our busiest Edinburgh Fringe so far. It’s going extremely well, though – our best Edinburgh Fringe ever I’d say. Cape Wrath is sold out for it’s original run and we’ve had to put in extra shows for the final week. The audience response has been genuinely moving, and I’ve been really touched by their attentiveness, and the conversations people want to have afterwards.

A Conversation With My Father has just opened and is also going well – the piece suits the intimacy of the space at St Stephen’s and Hannah has really hit her stride here. Again great feedback and interesting conversations afterwards.

And then there’s The Bloody Great Border Ballad Project, which is a pleasure to be part of. A beautiful, rambling, exploratory celebration of an evening: music, song, story and debate. Inspired by the possibility of Scottish Independence, the varied contributions from some brilliant regular and guest balladeers, combine to create a fascinating and joyous discussion about the nature of borders themselves.

Which you would think is plenty to be going on with, but here we are, the island that is the weekend before Week 3, and there are two more shows to get up and running. The Desire Paths is our contribution to Northern Stage & Forest Fringe’s Make. Do. And Mend. event which will be an exploration of the routes we take habitually or by choice, and the idea of naming one thing after another.

And slowly moving from the back of my mind to the front is preparing for What I Heard About the World. This weekend I’m making five litres of fake blood, five cardboard planes, and buying wick for Molotov cocktails. Craig and the venue tech team are working out the logistics of how best to prep a 9.30am show. Rachael is back from holiday and gearing up for a week of Showcase networking. And Jorge, Chris and I will all be telling ourselves stories, separately, before we bring them back together for Monday’s get-in.

Oh, and we’re sourcing the free pastries we’ve promised the audience as a reward for making it down to St Stephen’s that early. And, I’m happy to report, people are pre-booking – so maybe see you there.

Third Angel and friends at the Edinburgh Fringe & Forest Fringe

So the Edinburgh Fringe brochure is out, and tickets are on sale. We're showing more work in Edinburgh than ever before, including opening a new show for the first time. Nearly all of this is being presented with Northern Stage at St Stephens (and is part of their DaySaver scheme - well worth checking out, because the whole programme is brilliant.)

The full schedule of Third Angel, and Third Angel artists', shows looks like this:

Third Angel presents
CAPE WRATH

An epic journey in a stationary minibus.

Written and Performed by Alexander Kelly

Directed by Rachael Walton

9 – 24 August 2013 (not 12 or 19)

14:00 and 15:30 (1 hour)

£11/£8

Northern Stage at St Stephen’s

Venue 73
, Box office: 0131 558 3047


Book online here.

“After he retired, my Granddad went on a trip from the Midlands up to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point of his native Scotland. He sat, looked at the sea, and thought about his life. Then he got up and went home. Over 20 years later, I got on a coach and followed in his footsteps. This is what I learned.”

Join 14 other passengers for a story of family, of fellow travellers, of whisky and chocolate, of the longest bus route in Britain. Heartfelt, moving, compellingly intimate, Cape Wrath takes you on a journey to the edge of the island, and wonders what we think about when we think about our lives.

Hannah Nicklin

A CONVERSATION WITH MY FATHER

made in collaboration with Alexander Kelly

Mentored & supported by Third Angel

14 – 24 August 2013 (not 20)

20:00 (65 mins)

£11/£8

Northern Stage at St Stephen’s

Venue 73
, Box office: 0131 558 3047


Book online here.

Watch the video trailer, and read more, here.

This is a story about them. This is a story about us. This is a story about my dad - a retired policeman - and me, a protestor. Its about fear, bravery, what it feels like to be kettled, Super Ted, the Lone Ranger, policing the people in front of you and being sent out of class. It's about working out what matters and standing up to protect it. It's about me, and my dad. 

"It’s gentle, it’s inclusive, it’s quietly but persuasively angry and political in perhaps the least alienating way possible." Exeunt Magazine

Northern Stage & Friends

THE BLOODY GREAT BORDER BALLAD PROJECT

Curated by Lorne Campbell

3 – 24 August 2013 (not 6, 13 or 20)

22:00 (75 min)

£11/£8

Northern Stage at St Stephen’s

Venue 73
, Box office: 0131 558 3047


Full listings and Book online here.

We'll be presenting a (slightly shortened) version of our new spoken word piece, 600 People, as part of this great project. Part protest, part prophesy, part poetry, part party. Writers, performers, balladeers and special guests from North and South of the border create an epic new ballad written with and for the audience, every night of the Fringe.

Alongside a series of newly commissioned "ballads" from Third Angel artists Lucy Ellinson, Alex Kelly and Chris Thorpe, plus brilliant people Kieran Hurley, Cora Bissett and Daniel Bye, a glittering array of guest artists will join our resident balladeers and the audience to source, form, hone and perform a mighty new ballad for our times. We'll try to be greater than the sum of our parts. 

Third Angel & mala voadora present

WHAT I HEARD ABOUT THE WORLD

A co-production with Sheffield Theatres and Teatro Maria Matos

In association with Worldmapper.org.

20 – 24 August 2013 

09:30 (70 mins)

£12/£8

Northern Stage at St Stephen’s

Venue 73
, Box office: 0131 558 3047


Book online here.

Yes, that's 9.30am. Theatre for breakfast! Free pastries! 

A theatre piece with two songs; one original, one karaoke... As the world seems to get bigger our understanding of it gets less reliable. How on earth can you know all the places you've been, let alone the places you haven't? 

Devised and performed by Jorge Andrade, Alexander Kelly and Chris Thorpe, What I Heard About The World is a bold, ridiculous, heart-breaking attempt to hold an accurate picture of the whole world in your head. A place with only five official haircuts for men. A place where you confess your sins to voicemail. A place where a radio station only broadcasts silence.

Returning to St Stephen's as part of the 2013 British Council Showcase.

"Gorgeous...makes you think about the world, makes you laugh about the world, makes you glad to be part of the world in all it's madness." Totaltheatre.org 

Northern Stage & Forest Fringe

MAKE. DO. AND MEND.

19 August, 10:30 - 16:30

More details here.

We'll be contributing a new piece of work to this brilliantly timely event, jointly hosted by Northern Stage and Forest Fringe:

"You are invited to a day of action. A gathering of the many kinds of people that make up the Fringe’s remarkable community, not to talk, but to act.

With the help of some inspirational and provocative contributors, we will spend the day imagining and implementing real solutions to problems you suggest. Our attempt to change theatre (and perhaps the world) for the better – in one day.

Beginning at St Stephen’s and concluding at Forest Fringe, with a collective jaunt between venues – including a new work created by Third Angel especially for the event."

And as if that is not enough... Third Angel artists Chris Thorpe and Lucy Ellinson are both opening new shows in the Edinburgh festivals, too:

Chris Thorpe and Hannah Jane Walker present

I WISH I WAS LONELY

12.15 (1hr 30)

16 - 25 August

Forest Fringe
Out of the Blue Drill Hall

Naturally the whole Forest Fringe line-up is brilliant, check out the details here.

The Gate presents

GROUNDED 

by George Brant

Performed by Lucy Ellinson

Traverse Theatre 1-25 Aug, times vary.

Details here.

So we'll be pretty busy up in Edinburgh in August. Do come and see us if you're there.