The Forest Fringe Microfestival - BAC
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ON APRIL 2 and April 3, 2010, Forest Fringe are bringing their unique brand of theatre to Battersea Arts Centre in The Forest Fringe Microfestival, as part of a month long tour.
The cult Edinburgh company have won numerous awards including the 2009 Peter Brook Award, a Scotsman Fringe First and a Herald Angel, and were named in The Stage’s 100 most influential people in theatre.
Audience members buy one ticket for the whole night and wander the building, discovering intimate encounters, audio tours, works-in-progress and more from some of the most innovative theatre artists in the UK.
The Microfestival will feature one-on-one performances from Brian Lobel, Mel Wilson, Emma Benson and Tania El Khoury, as well as installations created by Forced Entertainment’s Tim Etchells and artist Charlotte Jarvis.
SHUNT’s Mischa Twitchin will be staging a performance in the basement and legendary East London collective Stoke Newington International Airport will be taking over the bar and running it in their own, inimitable style.
The event will also see the launch of the Forest Fringe Travelling Sounds Library, an archive of audio performances, made from recycled hardback books and mp3 players and featuring original work by Stan’s Café, Unlimited Theatre and poet Ryan Van Winkle, amongst others.
Forest Fringe, which resides in an unconverted church hall at the heart of the Edinburgh Festival, has been widely celebrated for providing a unique space for risk and experimentation, allowing artists to try new ideas and formats free from the usual financial strains associated with producing work on the festival fringe.
Last year’s programme included one-on-one encounters, audio walks, installations, workshops, daredevil stunts, epic folk operas, performance poetry, games, stories, parties and much more besides.
BAC Joint Artistic Director David Micklem writes: “BAC is delighted to be supporting Forest Fringe, a venue rooted in a spirit of experimentation. We welcome a new environment for artists and audiences where shows can be developed and the future of theatre given room to seed.”
Tickets £10, £6 concessions.
Time: 7pm to 10pm.
For more information call the box office on 020 7223 2223 or visit www.bac.org.uk
Following the BAC dates, the tour continues to The Arches, Glasgow (April 16 and 17), National Theatre Wales’ Assembly Programme (April 23 and 24) and the Bristol Old Vic as the opening of Mayfest.