Back with a December show after a glorious Autumn reboot, Performance in the Pub returns to Leicester with two shows about personal-as-political journeys; funny, striking and affecting by turn, this double bill of DIY performance moves from a work in progress about beauty pageants and dog shows to hitchhiking from Glasgow to Italy. Although I should say it’s technically a triple bill, because Victoria Melody comes complete with Major Tom, her Basset Hound. AN ACTUAL REAL LIFE DOG.
Also, I might make mince pies for the people who donate over a 5ver. MINCE PIES. Yes.
So, on the 6th of December PitP will be welcoming the brilliant:
Kieran Hurley with Hitch and Major Tom, a work-in-progress showing by Victoria Melody
Thursday December 6th downstairs at the Crumblin’ Cookie in Leicester (LE1 5YP). Doors at 7-7.30, show starts at 7.30-8pm, and should be done by 10pm. Break-even donation at full capacity is £5.
Event 5 came and went, one of the more technically demanding shows that I’ve do sound and projection and lights for, so was on my toes most of the night, but pretty much went to plan. Turn out was down on previously increasing numbers (by about 10 people) which made me a little sad, but I think having had so little time to flyer because of the PhD, and it being just after the summer break that was slightly to be expected. And I was still really happy to see the people who did come. Average donations were still over the 5ver that helps me approach break-even, the highest donation was £15! And another complete first timer who hadn’t seen theatre since he was at school, and lots of returners who started from that same position. But from here on in I really want to work at getting more people in. Trying to think through how to do that, I really do think it has to be physical word of mouth stuff. Wondering about playing with the music-world idea of a ‘street team’, possibly. If you’re reading this, Leicester-based (or nearby), and would be up for helping me spread the word, comment or drop me an email! Thanks, as always, go to the Crumblin’ Cookie for being so brilliant, supportive, feeding me and the artists, and waiving their venue costs. And additional thanks, this time, to Everybody’s Reading Festival for the substantial £200 grant for community-led work that they were able to offer. Reduced my loss over 5 shows from ~£700 to ~£500, only £100 a show, 20 more break-even donating audience members and it’ll be sound!
But yes. The art. A brilliant night, Sylvia Rimat and Sam Halmarack and his ace band the Miserablites were so good. Sylvia’s series of performance snippets that made up her work in progress If you Decide to Stay were a gentle and fascinating evocation of the beginning to phrase a question that is the beginning of theatre-making processes, and of the journey of getting to where we are, of deciding whether or not we want to be sat in this chair, here. And Sam Halmarack and the Miserablites were joyous and desperate and brilliantly funny and genuinely uplifting. But don’t just take my word for it, here’s some of the things I spotted people tweeting, facebooking (including a mini review!) and photos people took during The Miserablites. I love showing people theatre that they both want to and feel welcome to take pictures of on their phones. Like the best gigs, you know?
