The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich has announced the full programme for the 14th annual Pulse Festival Ipswich from Thursday 29th May to Saturday 7th June 2014. Pulse Festival Ipswich is a part curated, part open application 10 day festival focusing on new and innovative work, offering audiences a bright and inspiring snapshot of contemporary theatre and performance.
The 2014 programme presents a diverse range of work by regional, British and international artists across a variety of genres, with highlights including:
Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model (Thursday 29 May)
In a provocative protest against global attempts to sexualise and commodify childhood for profit, award-winning artist Bryony Kimmings and her niece Taylor, nine, play the global tween machine at its own game by inventing dinosaur-loving, bike riding, tuna pasta-eating, alternative pop star Catherine Bennett. ★★★★★ Independent
Suitcase Day (Friday 30 May)
A Pulse initiative, launched at last year’s Festival, The Suitcase Prize is aimed at encouraging theatre makers to think in an environmentally and economically sustainable way. 10 work-in-progress performances will be presented that must be brand new and able to travel on public transport in luggage carried by those taking part. At the end of the day a panel of industry professionals will award £1000 to one of these bold and adventurous ideas.
Gym Party (Pictured, Saturday 31 May)
Last year, Pulse presented their first co-commission [to the festival], a work in progress of Made In China’s Gym Party in collaboration with Battersea Arts Centre, Mayfest, Sprint and Sampled Festivals. This year’s Festival presents the final version, which received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013. ★★★★ The Times
My Son and Heir (Saturday 31 )
A work-in-progress performance of a Pulse Festival Ipswich co-commission with MayFest, Sprint and Cambridge Junction, about parents who have a son born in the same year as the royal ‘Baby Cambridge’. Confronting the spectacle of the ‘New Royals’ and their strategic attempts to appear just like us, My Son & Heir is an anarchic celebration of the everyday heroism of parenthood.
Dance Night (Monday 2 June)
New to the 2014 Festival, DanceEast and Pulse Festival Ipswich presents Hetain Patel’s American Boy, and a preview of Wendy Houstoun’s Words Into The Dark
Raymondo (Thursday 5 June)
The World Premiere of a New Wolsey Theatre commission from playwright/performer Annie Siddons (Kneehigh, BAC, Unicorn, Bristol Old Vic). A show about growing up for grown ups, Raymondo weaves a dark, funny lyrical narrative of love and survival over an atmospheric live score.
The festival provides a platform for the development and presentation of new work by regional, British and international artists of vision, and aims to nurture artistic ambition and excellence across a range of art forms. The 2014 Pulse Festival Ipswich will present work across a variety of genres, from comedy to dance and everything in between, in various forms from tour-ready work to rehearsed readings, and works at an advanced stage of development.
The Pulse Festival opens on 29th May to Saturday 7th June 2014 at The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich. For information about the festival an to book tickets please visit www.pulseipswich.co.uk.
