Back to the lovely Swan by the Severn in Worcester. Thankfully intact in spite of last summers storms, which flooded the entire city centre but left the theatre with only marginal damage in the basement. The shows went on.
This was our fifth performance at the Swan since 2001, and was as well-managed as ever. Thanks to technicians Matt and Emma, and all the front of house staff for loving their work.
Flamenco Express, New Theatre Royal
Interior: Gallery moulding.
Rehearsal
Buleria.
“A small company of three dancers and four musicians filled the stage as if they were performing at a much bigger location yet kept intact the intimacy of the venue.
With a programme of traditional flamenco performed with unconventional interpretations, they managed to transport the audience not to the tacky Spanish holiday resorts of the 1970s but to the darker heart of the Iberian gipsy soul.
The dances were packed full of energy (exhausting the audience as much as the performers) and displayed impeccable precision and timing. Mention must be given to guitarist Jesus Alvarez whose dexterity and musicianship were stunning.”
Portsmouth News
The sad, fiery history of The Theatre Royal, as revealed by the missing half. This image was taken from approximately the position of the original backstage wall. The entire original stage, flytower and dressing rooms being destroyed in the fire of 1972.
The magnificent efforts of the theatre team over the years has not only reopened the house as a working venue, but also restored much of the decoration and fittings of the beautiful Matcham interior, one of the best acoustic spaces in British regional theatre, in our experience.
Thanks to Heather, Mike and all the team for making the day very simple, straightforward and creative.
Flamenco Express have played NTR five times since 1998, and it was obvious from the start that here was a venue which might have been made for flamenco. Apart from the acoustics, the intimacy of the galleries - as in all Matcham theatres - is a genuine aid to the performers, as is the spirituality of the vaulted auditorium.
The stage as a tablao - as a sounding board for flamenco purposes, is also excellent. Deep and crisp and even. June the twenty fourth wasn’t the feast of St Stephen, but the NTR shone brightly that night, as it always does for us.
From an entirely selfish point of view, the added bonus of the NTR, compared with most other Matcham theatres, is the fact that because the only stage is the old forestage, there is no rake, which can sometimes be troublesome for our dancers. This is a direct result of the fire - and if that doesn’t make the NTR a bona fide flamenco theatre, I can’t think what does. It is a building which has suffered, and which was reborn out of fire through improvisation and determination. It doesn’t take a gigantic suspension of disbelief for the audience and performer to tune in together to the spirit of such a space and relax into the business of making theatre.
Hopefully, when the final restoration is complete, it will stay same, only better.
Silky slick efficiency from the entire team at the Queen’s, from booking the date through the marketing operation to the performance of the technicians. Thanks to Jim and Alex, and to the front of house team.
Our first visit and hopefully not our last.
And an audience which knew really how to enjoy itself. And a modern audirorium with a crisp but warm acoustic, and a lively stage. And from a personal point of view, a theatre in which a journey from the dressing rooms to the front of house didn’t invariably end up in the car park - which can happen.
All this plus an ecological signature species for a theatre pet.
Another of the many pretty little theatres on the British regional circuit. Performing over the sea in a high wind was a new experience for most of the company, but the sheer gentility and elegance of the Pavilion seemed to defy the storm with sheer style, and the howling wind was tamed to provide a perfect soundscape for the timeless passion of flamenco. The music inside the theatre was as intense as the raging wind outside. God was our FX man that night.
Thanks to Jim and Roy for doing everything He couldn’t.
And to make the night almost perfect, Spain beat Italy in the semi-finals of Euro 2008. We had tried, with some determination, to book an Italian restaurant for supper after the show, where we could share the second half in a culturally meaningful way. But all in vain. All were closed. And don’t think we don’t know why. Vergogna sugli ospiti di Worthing. To have sipped Sambuca dei Cesari as the winning penalty sliced home would have been perfection. For us, anyway.
In the end we had to make do with a very nice pub, followed by a very nice Indian restaurant. But it wasn’t the same.
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Jesus at the half hour.
Seafront Worthing
Taking Shelter
© flamenco express 2008
‘Please Vote For Us to Win a National Lottery Award.’
Ana de los Reyes and Chris Mullett.
The lovely Little Theatre, Sheringham. Our third visit, and as much fun as ever.
Someone once said that civilisation could be summd up in the word ‘welcome’.
The Little Theatre, Sheringham may well be little, but it is very civilised.
‘POWERFUL GRACE and DYNAMIC RHYTHM’ by Megan Millar-McKeever for Remotegoat
Passion, drama, and hot summer nights. These are the things that come to mind when one thinks of flamenco dancing. What Flamenco Express added to this list of attributes was grace, strength and humour. If you have never been exposed to flamenco dancing before seeing this company perform is a great place to start, and if you are a connoisseur then you are guaranteed to have an enjoyable evening.
This small company, comprised of four dancers and four musicians, created a dynamic performance last Thursday night at the LABAN Theatre. The female dancers began the evening with a vibrant group piece, followed by a series of solo performances. Their steps provided a rhythm for the music created by the sweet sounds of the acoustic guitarists and the rough vocals of the singers. Through the performance the music built in speed and intensity seducing the listener while the dancers captivated with their powerful grace.
The impression the performers left on the audience was apparent as members of the audience rose to their feet applauding and children tapped away in the isles in an attempt to mimic what they had just seen. If you love dance, Spain or listening to a wicked acoustic guitar this show is a definite must see. I had a fantastic time and would recommend it to anyone.
Remotegoat. 2008
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Thanks as usual to Faye and the crew at The Bonnie Bird Theatre.
The Devonshire Park Theatre is a Grade II listed building designed by Henry Currey. It was built in 1884 and further improved by celebrated Theatre Architect Frank Matcham in 1903.
Attendance: 460.
Stage crew - excellent. Front of House - excellent. Stage - slightly more rake than flamenco likes, but not too bad and otherwise a sound tablao. Acoustics - fabulous.
Company: Ana de los Reyes. Mateo Solea, La Joaquina, Gemma de la Cruz, Rosa de Las heras, Chris Mullett, Jesus Alvarez.
