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John Pilger on Chagos & Lisette Talate

Petia — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:23:22 +0100

Last Friday, award-winning journalist John Pilger published a comprehensive essay in the New Statesman entitled 'The World War On Democracy'. John pays tribute to Lisette Talate, leading Chagossian activist who died two weeks ago, just as we were starting rehearsals. An exceptionally strong and intelligent personality key to the Chagossian's campaign to return...

A Few Man Fridays trailer

Petia — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:43:13 +0100

With much excitement, we reveal the e-trailer for Cardboard Citizens' upcoming A Few Man Fridays. We hope you find it intriguing and help us spread the word by sharing to your network. Let us know what you think in the comments section or by using #FewManFridays on Twitter.

Special thanks to our wonderful film-makers SDNA who put this together. You can see more of their work featured in the show itself.

Mind Unit Christmas Gift towards A Few Man Fridays

Petia — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:54:40 +0100

Our favourite Web Hosts Mind Unit have donated £500 towards the community participation element of A Few Man Fridays as result of a Eurovision-style Christmas competition amongst their clients who got to pitch a variety of projects.

We're very pleased and can't wait for them to come see the show in Feb- Mar and meet th...

A Few Man Fridays & "the footprint of freedom"

Petia — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:21:46 +0100

Prosper is an ex-Rasta lost in London, trying to make sense of his dog-filled dreams. Madame Talate remembers her island as a paradise and Teddy Hibbert loves turtles but has trouble remembering people. Their sotries collide in the dream turned nightmare of one Stu Barber.

Our office floor is now covered with boxes of flyers containing footprints in white and red (the image from below). I think A Few Man Fridays's...

First Look at A Few Man Fridays

Petia — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:31:52 +0100

Something has been brewing in our rehearsal room for two weeks now. Cardboard Citizens brand new play A Few Man Fridays which opens in February at Riverside Studios tells the story of the Chagossian people's brutal eviction from their islands in the 60's and 70's to make room for a US military base.

For those of you who keep a close eye on ...

No Fixed Abode at The Core, Corby

Petia — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:25:03 +0100

Cardboard Citizens Associate Artist Terry O'Leary has been devising and directing with a group with experience of homelessness from the local community in Corby. You can read stories from the rehearsal room and beyond on the project's blog: http://nofixedabodeplay.blogspot.com/

Today is 'D' Day as they finally perform three free shows with their brand new forum piece all devised over the last week. The play is called 'No Fixed Abode'...

TOTEM by Cirque De Soleil

Errol McGlashan — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:50:20 +0100

Just got back from watching Cirque De Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall.

(by the way - the Royal Albert Hall AINT on The South Bank; that's the Royal Festival Hall. The Royal Albert Hall is in Knightsbridge! I so love my bicycle!!! It always forgives me my mistakes and gets me to where I gotta get to i...

Cardboard Citizens Christmas Party

Stuart Grey — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:27:21 +0100

Season's greetings & a big thank you from all at Cardboard Citizens.

Take a look at this special holiday message from our hostel tour actors Andre, Shara, Jono and Helen.

Help us host a Christmas Celebration for all our Members, a special day just before Christmas to say thank you and celebrate all of their achievements over the past year. Help us make it happen. Text "CITZ11" to 70070 ...

Interview with the Hostel Tour actors

Grace Perry & Hostel Tour Actor's: Shara, Jono, Andre and Helen — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:18:31 +0100

1.    So the tour is ending this week, will you miss it?

S:     Yes and No. I’m going to miss performing and performing to different audiences everyday and meeting different people. I won’t miss the different routines every day, the whole works of the tour, it drains you. It’s consuming physically.

A:     Eventually yeah, I’m tired so...

A year in the life of...our Programme Director

Katherine — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:47:12 +0100

I joined Cardboard Citizens in Sep 2010, and here is the story of my time here so far.

Deep end, thrown in, swim. This pretty much sums up my first 3 months. I was first tasked with ensuring the hostel tour was successfully delivered, which in 2010 also involved dealing with a small vehicular collision, an actor breaking their arm and a showcase week that had a members meeting sandwiched between a matinee and evening performance just for good measure! Combined with trying to se...

Three Blind Mice Review by Jo Caird

Grace Perry — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:19:28 +0100

Click here to read a fabulous review by Jo Caird from What's On Stage of our Showcase and City YMCA performaces of Three Blind Mice.

Here are a few quotes:

'I was amazed at how effectively the company used theatre as a tool to explore how the attitudes...

Forum Theatre & Joker Training

Grace Perry — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:55:43 +0100

After 7 straight days of forum I can easily say I was exhausted, but I would do it all again. I’ve been volunteering with Cardboard Citizens since July now and two weeks ago I was lucky enough to be allowed on the Forum Theatre training week and the Joker Master Class training on the weekend following.

The first live piece of Forum I have seen is Cardboard Citizens’ current hostel tour Three Blind Mice by Bola Agbaje. This helped me realise the potential forum the...

Three Blind Mice goes to Pentonville

Andre Skeete — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:06:56 +0100

NB: Andre Skeete is one of the actors in this year's Hostel Tour Three Blind Mice

I have been really enjoying everything about this year’s Hostel Tour. It’s been a long and intense process but worth it. I love going into hostels, day centres and prisons.

On the 24th November we performed in HMP Pentonville Prision and it was a really great show. The gu...

Members Meeting - Elections & Kieran Jordan Tribute

Mike Sells — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:01:37 +0100

Congratulations to Trish Walsh and Chris Fallon who are the newly elected member’s representatives. Chris and Trish will join our current Reps Jono and Fi-fi in planning activities, attending board meetings and supporting our members. Welcome to the team. For anyone who missed it - Elections were held at the recent Members Meeting which took place at The Brady Arts Centre. After an update from Adrian about A Few Man Fridays some of the actors in Three Blind Mice – our ...

Mincemeat (recording for radio)

Ben Smithies — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:37:34 +0100

‘WHEN you wake up in the morning, you open your eyes...but I sometimes think it’s a pity we can’t talk about “opening your ears”. Because you sort of have to do it, in a way...well, in my profession, anyway...we have to be extra attentive to how everything sounds.’ – that’s what a sound recordist once said to me.

Here, now, I am with familiar faces in an unfamiliar setting: we are recording our play,

MARRIAGE by Nikolai Gogol

Petia — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:55:05 +0100

MARRIAGE by Nikolai Gogol

From the Author of 'The Government inspector' in a version by Mike Alfreds, directed by our friend and collaborator Penny Cliff, comes a classical Russian comedy about 1 bride, 4 men, 2 matchmakers and 1 family. Don't miss this fun filled show packed full of mischief and mayhem.

Featuring Cardboard Citizens member Sarah Cowan (break a leg Sarah)

Errol — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:54:06 +0100

As usual I’m running late and as usual when I’m running late I can’t think straight 'cos my heads in a state because I’m running late.

I smile at the woman I’m sat next to and I notice that her handbag was made out of some kind of fur because so slowly she moved it from the right to the left of her and I smile at her again. The name of the show is the Government Inspector.

The Government Inspector was written by someone called Gogol...

Forum Theatre and Chewing Gum – Twin Evils

Adrian — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:40:11 +0100

Augusto Boal often told his audiences about how Singapore had actually banned Forum Theatre – under his clear concern for the few Singaporean practitioners at the time, one could also sense some justifiable pride about this prohibition: if repressive authorities chose to ban something, that meant it had to be doing some good, something to unsettle or worry those in power. Perhaps it is slightly contradictory that these are also the people who famously don’t like chewing gum. But h...

A Taiwanese Postscript

Adrian — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:28:33 +0100

The history of Taiwan in the second half of the twentieth century is dominated by the figure of Chiang Kai Shek, who ruled with an iron grip till his death in 1975. On my day off, I set off to view his his grand memorial hall. En route, I passed various items of ‘street furniture’ and was struck by how in Taiwan even the electricity boxes (I think that’s what they are) are made more harmonious by freehand paintings of mountain scenes, evoking a more rural and peaceful settin...

The harmony of society: theatre of the oppressed adventures in Taiwan

Adrian — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:19:04 +0100

Just completed a week’s training work for the Applied Theatre Centre in Taiwan. The dynamo who runs the centre is Shuya Lai, who did time at Goldsmiths in London and the Applied Theatre course in Exeter. She has taught many people here, single-handedly introducing the concepts of this use of theatre, and both my Rainbow of Desires workshop, and my workshop on Theatre and Homelessness were very well attended. I also delivered a short talk about our work.

I was startled on the fir...

Casa @ Blue Elephant Theatre

Cathy — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:40:48 +0100

Big heavy coats come to life... Characters go through individual journeys... Sense of belonging and what makes a place home are questioned...

Last night I went with the lovely Lucy Martin (of Citz fame) to a tiny gem of a place called The Blue Elephant Theatre in Camberwell. The occasion was a performance starring Esther Escolano (also of Citz fame) called
Over the last six weeks our friends at the Roundhouse brought together a new group of young people, all with experience of homelessness, to devise a brand-new show which ran for two packed nights at the Roundhouse studio last week. The resulting show, We are very shocked and saddened by the violent death of Juliano Mer Khamis in Palestine.

He was obviously an exceptional person, of great bravery and commitment. There are a few brave people in the world who really risk their lives for their belief that theatre can change lives, societies, wars, history – he was one.

All at Cardboard C...

Cardboard Citizens’ Fundraising Dinner hosted by Kate Winslet raises £124,000

Petia — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:16:37 +0100

Cardboard Citizens had a big weekend. Last Saturday 19th March, we held our 2nd bi-annual Fundraising Dinner hosted by our Ambassador Kate Winslet. After months of hard work and preparation by staff and Members, we finally took over the magnificent Christ Church Spitalfields for a night of glamour, entertainment and some hardcore fundraising. It is an understatement to say that the evening exceeded our expectations.

Kate Winslet herself joined the cast of 40+ of our Memb...

Some brief thoughts on the birthday of Augusto Boal, inventor, discoverer and intrepid explorer ...

Adrian — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:05:09 +0100

If Augusto had been alive today, this would have been his 80th birthday.

Of course, actually, he is alive today, in that his work survives him and continues to grow. Like all great artistic innovators, his influence extends far beyond his lifetime – and in Augusto’s case, as we know, being the generous magician who handed over his tricks, all around the world practitioners are continuing to develop and experiment with his tried and tested methodology. From Bradford t...

Rainbow of Desires Training Course

Kathrine Quiller-Croasdell — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:51:23 +0100

I have just finished the Rainbow of Desires (Part 1) training course and I loved it. This is the first training course I have done with CC and it was filled with laughter and learning, along with a healthy dollop of personal exploration. As a dramatherapist I am familiar with Boal’s work, with Games for Actors and Non-Actors being a crucial resource for my own practice. However I have never before had the opportunity to immerse myself in the techniques of Rainbow of Desires for an exten...

In Case Of An Emergency

Valentine — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:30:56 +0100

At Cardboard Citizens we care for your safety. Yesterday Lisa, Cathy, Tas and Mike went on first aid training where they learnt all about reanimation techniques. Here you can see Cathy practising the kiss of life, and Tas illustrating what not to do when someone gets a head injury.
...

Spreading the Word

Valentine — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:06:23 +0100

We have just started an exciting new project in partnership with Spread the Word, an organisation that promotes creative writing in London.

A group of members have been working since last week with our long-time collaborator Penny Cliff: so far they have visited Dennis Severs' House round the corner and been digging into the archives at the extras4zero@gmail.com ...

Goal Setting With the Citz in the New Year

Tasneem — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:26:05 +0100

It’s the New Year, a good time to set some goals and try out Cardboard Citizens Information Advice and Guidance Service!

2011 has arrived and the start of a new year is a fitting time to think about what you want to achieve in coming months. If you want to make progress with getting in to education, training or employment and could do with some support, Cardboard Citizens is here to help!

Our new...

Another Glowing Totem Review

Sam — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:08:18 +0100

On Tuesday night I was offered the opportunity to see Cirque Du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall. Ordinarily I would not have the chance to see a show like that so I eagerly took the tickets and waited with anticipation to see what the show was like. I was not disappointed.
When we got to the Albert Hall we were shown to our seats, a private box for 4 people- Me, Edge, Fifi and her Mum. The show began in a spectacle of colour, sound and stunts and it continued to astound and impress th...

A Night at the Circus

Tasneem — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:02:28 +0100

What better way to start 2011 than a free trip to see the sparkly new Cirque du Soleil show, ‘Totem’, before it opens to the general public? That’s what I was thinking when I was told that I’d be accompanying members to the Royal Albert Hall to see ‘Totem’ as we had been donated a generous number of tickets by the Global Citizenship Service of Cirque du Soleil.

The positive response to the news that free tickets to Cirque du Soleil were on o...

Mike Joins The Cardboard Family

Rebecca — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:59:43 +0100

Welcome Mike, our new Project Manager of Hostel Tours, Membership Scheme, and Workshop Programmes. His job is to book venues for the shows, organize and run Members’ meetings, as well as other support services for Members. He is very excited to work for Cardboard Citizens and is enthusiastic about supporting the Members in accessing services.

Mike has always been involved with theatre in some way or another. He grew up in the Home Counties in Herfordshire and because ther...

Introducing...Taz, our new Information, Advice and Guidance Worker

Rebecca — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:06:30 +0100

Cardboard Citizens is very excited to welcome a new member to the team! Taz just started this week, so we wanted to learn a little more about her and what she will be doing.

Taz first met Cardboard Citizens when they partnered with Look Ahead and Tower Hamlets for the youth programme ACT NOW! At the time, she was working with Tower Hamlets as a Work & Learning Advisor to Look Ahead in Tower Hamlets and saw the positive impact Cardboard Citizens had on the participants in the works...

St Mungo's Carol Service

Tasneem — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:02:27 +0100

As the new Information Advice and Guidance Worker at Cardboard Citizens, I was expecting my first week to be brimful of discoveries and last night was no exception. On day two of working at the organisation, my boss asked me to go along to the St Mungo’s Christmas Carol Service to represent the organisation and show support to the Cardboard Citizens Choir who would be singing a few songs. Having been along to a few Forum Theatre shows and a few acting workshops, I was familiar with Card...

Forum First

Rebecca — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:51:59 +0100

NB: 'Or Am I Alone?' is still touring. You can catch the final showcase performance for the general public on 30th of November at Amnesty International, 7pm. Tickets are free and you can book here

Last week I attended my first ever Cardboard Citizens’ showcase, and it will be something I will always remember. Ever since hearing about Forum Theatre, I have been...

Measure For Measure: Work In Progress...

Adrian Jackson — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:15:33 +0100

Just back from research and development week on our Measure for Measure forum collaboration with Jana Sanskriti, with even greater respect for those guys and the work they do.

They do not stop and they are the real working Theatre of the Oppressed thing on the ground. And our project together for 2012 looks good. All sorts of insights. Watch this space...
...

My First Chess Tournament

Donovan — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:30:09 +0100

It all began with my chess mentor suggesting I partake in my first chess tournament. At first I was a bit nervous. I had always thought of myself as a casual chess player, but entering an official competition somehow changed that. With a little trepidation I agreed and registered for a local competition being held in NW London. The day soon arrived. It turned out that I would be playing five games at thirty minutes a game. Me being a novice I was put into an ungraded category and would have t...

Jono's Slant On The Hostel Tour

Jono Whitty — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:21:09 +0100

My 1st ever hostel tour in my 1st ever year!

My head was starting to swell with all the hype around acting in a touring theatre production. My face was on posters and flyers, even a six foot high one that promotes the show when we arrive at a new venue.

Jono a real life actor eh? Then, we did our first show in a day centre near Ladbroke Grove. My feet soon hit the ground when we forumed Suzanne’s story. It was then I saw what Cardboard Citizens was all about. Bringing re...

Letters from the front line

Terry — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:00:38 +0100

Where has the time gone ? It seems only a few weeks ago that we sat round the table and read for the first time Lizzie Nunnery’s fine script for our new hostel tour “Or am I alone”.

Now we find ourselves in the last week of rehearsals! Lines are being learnt and the set is appearing around us. Costumes arrived today which Is always exciting.

On the music front Jono is going great guns learning the guitar! We are all wandering round humming the tune...

From Pavement to Puppetry

Petia — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 11:36:18 +0100

Check out this article in the East London Advertiser about Andres Anguita, Cardboard Citizens' puppeteer of choice & the man behind the gorgeous masks we used for our Samba performance at Spitalfields Festival at the end of August.

"After a few workshops at Crisis Skylight, Andreas w...

Samba Magic @ Spitalfields Festival!

Yago — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:13:39 +0100

Samba samba sambaaaaaaa!!

Over the last few weeks we'd been learning and rehearsing some really cool samba tunes with Providence Row and we had this amaaaaazing gig last Sunday to top it all up at the Spitalfields Festival!

We had a solid band of 23 drummers and dancers—with fantastic voodoo-like costumes that our treasured costume and set designer Andrés designed for us—and our very talented mestre Lorraine and brazilian dancer Manuela made us perform to a ...

There & Back Again

Lydia — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:44:05 +0100

So, nine months after my first encounter of volunteering for Cardboard Citizens the time has come for me to say my goodbyes, for now at least. Whilst I have been with the company I have been looking after the London to Paris Bike Ride which took place on the 10th to the 13th September.

A huge well done to all the fearless cyclists that successfully made the trip across the channel and raised some crucial sponsorship money ...

Team Citz Make It Across The Channel!

Valentine — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:46:42 +0100

This is our team of intrepid cyclists as they arrived at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris after the three-day Down & Out London to Paris ride through Portsmouth, Caen and the French countryside. A million thanks and congratulations to everyone who took part!

Jenn is one of our actors and she was part of the adventure: read her blog A Younger Theatre:

"Shields as the protagonist of the play is edgy, and bursting with energy for the character he plays – it is clear that the work he has experienced with Cardboard Citizen&r...

The directors' debate: Are arts funding cuts a good idea?

Petia Tzanova — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:14:24 +0100

Our own Adrian Jackson was featured in The Guardian yesterday with an interesting article about arts funding cuts. David Parrish of Creation Theatre and Adrian debate the pros and cons of slashing public funding for the arts in the current climate.

Read the full article here
...

From Forum Week to Volunteering on ACT NOW

Celeste Danielle — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:13:45 +0100

Hi,

I am Celeste Danielle and I am a student at the Central School of Speech Drama. I have been attending workshops at Cardboard Citizens since January 2010. These workshops are great! The Forum workshops with Terry O’Leary allow me to explore some of the basic techniques of improvisation and introduced me to the essential elements of Augusto Boal’s Forum theatre.

A workshop led by Adrian Jackson in which we examine Sir William Shakespeare’s   Measu...

A New Kind of Family - A Workshop with Combatants for Peace

Adrian Jackson — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:45:36 +0100

Last week I had the privilege to lead a workshop for visiting group Combatants for Peace, which is made up of Palestinians and Israelis who were fighters but have laid down their arms to pursue a different course. We called the day the Rainbow of Occupation because the group wanted to spend some time looking at Augusto’s Rainbow techniques, and seeing how they might be applied to their situation. It was an experiment, but a rewarding one. Apart from the 16 or so CFP members, there...

First steps in Theatre of the Oppressed

Alyssa — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:55:14 +0100

A few weekends ago, Artistic Director and leading Augusto Boal expert Adrian Jackson led an introductory Theatre of the Oppressed workshop, partly as a fundraiser for Cardboard Citizens’ autumn “Down and Out” cycle from London to Paris (help us out and sponsor Adrian here) .

The workshop, attended by over 25 people, was – for me, and I’m sure the other workshop participants would agree – a ...

Theatrical fireworks from Manchester

Michael Oladeji — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:20:37 +0100

Note: Videos from the festival can be seen here

Yes peeps I am back for a daily dose of the arts and the festival has finally kicked into a roaring gear with the good impressions booming out of the Americans first wave hip hop theatre ensemble bringing in the beats, rhythms and vibrations. Using sounds, movement and a book?

"For colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf"

The Power of Theatre To Create Peace - Combatants For Peace

Jennifer Lewin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:43:05 +0100

Combatants For Peace are Palestinian and Israeli veterans who have decided to put down their guns and no longer believe in using violent means to resolve their conflicts: instead they are working toward promoting peace through dialogue and using theatre as a medium to achieve this exploration.

They are at the heart of the conflict in Palestine and Israel and often mount their work on the front lines, swopping roles so...

Manchester Greetings - Contacting the World

Michael Oladeji — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:03:23 +0100

Note: Michael & Billy, two of our ACT NOW graduates have joined Programme Director Tony McBride in attending the incredible Contacting the World international festival of youth performance in Manchester this week.
Check back for Billy & Michael giving us the daily scoop on what's going on up north. I hear there are some exciting stories.

First update today:

"Hello fellow members this is Michael Oladeji...

Flying visit from a future theatre maker

Zhane Fritz — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:12:35 +0100

Hi, my name is Zhané Fritz; I attend `The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology School ´ studying Theatre, I have a massive passion for the performing arts.
I have just started my work experience for two weeks as it is compulsory, I wanted to do something that interests me, so I thought I would love to work with a the...

Closing the Open Book

Alyssa — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:23:42 +0100

In the last week of rehearsals, ...AN OPEN BOOK has come together beautifully. We’ve worked tirelessly with designers Ben and Valentina on combining the show’s projected film elements with our theatrical stagings, not to mention playing with and fine-tuning all the original music Arun has helped us with! Now, we have exciting musical underscoring to several monologues, and one ensemble member has even created wh...

Making new friends & reconnecting with old ones

Adrian Jackson — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:56:53 +0100

On Saturday I hosted an introductory Theatre of the Oppressed workshop to raise funds for our cycle ride to Paris, and for the new local community cafe where I live, Bold Vision. It was a great mix of old and new faces and we enjoyed a day of sharing, learning and playing together . Hopefully Cardboard Citizens has made a few extra friends as a result. Thanks to everyne who came and contributed, love...

Back In Mauritius

Adrian Jackson — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:09:35 +0100

Back in Mauritius, recording the testimony of Chagossians for our new play, A Few Man Fridays. We will maybe build a lot of the narrative around a remarkable old lady called Lisette Tallat, who is fierce and feisty, and a surivivor. Yesterday after telling us more of her brave and unbroken life, she broke into the most beautiful Chagossian sega, and turns out to have a crystal clear, pitch perfect steady-as-a-rock voice. A gift to us – me and our collaborator Henri Favory, vete...

Greetings & Transformations

Alyssa — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:33:34 +0100

Hello, world! Welcome to the first of many blog specials, tracking our youth company’s progress in making ACT NOW’s new show, directed by Tony and Terry. The play happens in three weeks (and we quite expect you to be there).

Right now, we’re in rehearsal week two, and thought it’d be fun to share some of our process, including thoughts, drawings, videos, and photos that we may or may not use in the finished product - but we’re sharing with YOU, her...

Help From Across The Pond, welcome Alyssa

Petia Tzanova — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:06:56 +0100

The lovely Alyssa Ramos joined us last week all the way from Chicago, USA as the Youth & Employability Programmes intern for this summer.

Alyssa is currently a 4th-year student at Northwestern University. She is an actor, director, and teaching artist, and loves making theatre with and for youth (check out her theatre company at www.purplecrayonplayers.com if you’re ever in Chicago!). Alyssa is also passionate about de...

Elegy For An Underground Hero

Adrian Jackson — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:53:12 +0100

William Lyttle, who was an active participant in Cardboard Citizens workshops, has sadly died at the age of 79. He was a character, sometimes not the easiest man in the world to be with, but a sparky and unusual man.

He was perhaps best known as the Moleman of Hackney, famed for the elaborate network of tunnels he built leading out from under his house. Eventually he was evicted from the house by the council while they attempted to stabilise it. He frequently found ways to get back in...

What Andre Did Next

Valentine — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:56:03 +0100

Andre Skeete from last year's Hostel Tour just popped into the office and we were very excited to hear that he's off to Edinburgh this summer:

Hello! So after the hostel tour which finished in december, I honestly did not know what I was going to do. Luckily the lovely Cathy told me about an audition for a forum piece with Pindro...

Lizzie Nunnery To Write New Hostels Tour

Donna Walker — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:42:20 +0100

Our new forum theatre play, which will tour London's homeless hostels and day centres from October 2010, is a commission by Liverpool writer Lizzie Nunnery. On Monday Lizzie came round to meet some of the Citz, and we took the opportunity to do a small interview so you can get to know her...

Donna: How did you find the session today?

Lizzie: It’s been brilliant. It’s been a whole day of workshops, working...

Volunteering at Cardboard Citizens

Ffion Aynsley — Fri, 07 May 2010 13:35:53 +0100

Hello everyone, my name is Ffion. I have just started my internship here at Cardboard Citizens and am really happy to be part of such an exciting organisation. I’m doing administrative work in the office and have found that it is an incredibly welcoming, friendly environment and I am looking forward to finding out more about the projects going on and how the organisation works.

I’m currently doing a Masters in Spanish and Latin American Studies and am particularly interest...

Starting Points...

Cathy Weatherald — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:17:04 +0100

Thank you to everyone for coming to support the informal sharing of some of the outcomes of Act Now - Term 2 which was performed at Weiden+Kennedy's space on 31st March...

We have had a great term working every Wednesday night. Our sessions were inspired by the words and work of Noel Greig, who wrote Young People, New Theatre.

Noels’ process has encouraged us to use our own experiences as STARTING POINTS for character and scene development. We worked ...

First reports from Terry in Oz

Valentine — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:27:50 +0100

Terry finally managed to catch a plane back from Australia, where she was for almost 3 weeks running Forum Theatre workshops in Melbourne, hosted by Xris Reardon's Third Way theatre company.

Here is a report from one of the participants, Erica from Act Out, a Theatre of the Oppressed company based in Melbourne.

"From 7 to 11 April a group of theatre practitioners from around Australia came together for an invigora...

Getting ready for the big ride

Lydia — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:45:23 +0100

As some of you may know, from the 10th -13th of September some of us people will be cycling from London to Paris in aid of Cardboard Citizens. We have got a great team of fifteen willing and able cyclists and we even managed to persuade Adrian and Lisa to come along!

Nick, one of our actors who is taking part, is a bike expert so he will be taking us on a test cycle soon to check our machines and give us a few training tips...

If you are interested in joining us for the advent...

Kieran from Act Now reviews Counted

Kieran — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:48:51 +0100

On Thursday 15th April, ACT NOW took us to see the documentary-play Counted held at the debating chamber, county hall.

The last general election had a turnout of 61.3%, the local election had an even lower figure of 30% and half of 18-24 years olds are not registered to vote. The point of the play was to explore why so many people don’t bother to vote. Before the play, one year was spent interviewing people and asking them questions about their attitudes towards voting,...

The Directors' Forum

Valentine — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:48:37 +0100

Adrian was in Wales all of last week to take part in a collaborative workshop week organised by the Centre for Performance Research. This was the opportunity to further the development work he started for our upcoming play about the Chagos Island.

Read about his session on the workshops had brought Churchill's underground bunker to life with an original play inspired by the collections of the Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms and by the plot ...

Tower Hamlets 3rd Sector Excellence Awards

Valentine — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:31:26 +0100

On Thursday night at the Tower Hamlets 3rd Sector Excellence Awards we received the prize for "Improving Arts Activities" in the borough.

The event was a tribute to the achievements of the many community groups in the area. It was great to meet up with some of our neighbours and to find out about the brilliant work they do. Our friends at Toynbee Hall received an ...

ACT NOW see 'Off the Endz'

Cathy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:59:12 +0100

David, Kojo and Sharon grew up on a London estate. Now in their mid 20s, they're eyeing another kind of life. But how do you choose the right path when temptation lies around every corner? If your emotional or financial debt is sky high, how do you buy your way out?

Bola Agbaje's smart, savvy second play for the Royal Court asks whether being out of the system might be just as good as being in it.

Last Saturday the ACT NOW group went to see

Citz hit West Africa! (at the British Museum..)

Jono Whitty - CC Member — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:53:21 +0100

Tickets Tickets Tickets....Keep em coming Cardboard Citz. Sunday was my first time ever visiting The British Museum, and what a treat it was, the building itself was massive. It was like a building inside a building. When we walked in the sound of drums beckoned us into the centre of the huge hall, which had the most amazing dome roof in glass, and two african women dancing and wearing the biggest smiles you could imagine.

After the show we climbed the circular marble effect stair up ...

A postcard from the Indian Ocean

Adrian Jackson — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:23:32 +0100

Working with Henri Favory, veteran Mauritian theatre maker, on our Chagos Islands project, tentatively entitled A few Man Fridays.

This is the terrible story of the forced migration of a whole island people, to make way for the American base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. We are interviewing key players to gather material for our eventual co-production.

Today we had the privilege to interview a wonderful and brave fighting lady, Lise Tallat,...

My First Week at Cardboard Citizens

Donna Walker — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:58:47 +0100

Monday the 15th of February was a big day for me! The day I started my new job as Project Manger -Members Programme for Cardboard Citizens.

This is a huge step coming from a full time Social Care background! However, similar to most practitioners outside the Social Care role, I have been developing arts work and getting involved in creative projects where possible –but this is my first full time Arts Job! I am very pleased to have been appointed as your new Projects Mang...

Multitasking

Stuart — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:34:58 +0100

Billy Shields, one of the performers in STICK TO THE SCRIPT (September 2009) is volunteering in the office today, helping us send out a huge pile of 2009 Annual Reviews. Here he is having a break and looking deceptively quiet. Billy says he prefers to be on stage than in an office but he's doing a pretty good job so far.
...

Cardboard Citz' recession proof experience

Emilia — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:33:45 +0100

If you are aged between 16 and 25 you might easily be labelled as a child of ‘The Lost generation’. We’ve all read the statistics: up to one million young people unemployed, prime victims of the recession. But last week I heard evidence that if you are lucky enough to find a way to dig into your creative resources and push your motivation you can still change your fate.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Alexis, who in 2007 took part in Cardboard Citizen...

ACT NOW Term 2 update

Tony Mcbride — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:48:50 +0100

We’re approaching the halfway point in Term 2 of the Act Now year long programme. The group is averaging at around 25 young people per week, though last week we set the record at 35! There’s a committed core at the heart of the group which is great at welcoming newcomers who are still arriving. We aim to have a sharing of some work at the end of term and to this end we are working through a particular devising process Times Literary Supplement on 5th February.

“Among the 50 million corpses of the Second World War, the courier cadaver still exerts a singular fascination. Who was he? Last year, Cardboard Citizens, a homeless...

Only connect

Valentine — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:23:53 +0100

Back in October, our youth theatre company from the ACT NOW project was invited to perform their play Stick to the Script at the Redbridge Housing annual staff conference. The group shared their experiences of being a teenager in a hostel and trying to make a life for yourself. The interaction and dialogue between the young actors and their audience of social workers was impressive, and we just received an enthusiastic review from Redbridge Housing to confirm this...

&quo...

(Almost) Big In The States!

Valentine — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:53:49 +0100

We were very excited to find a small mention of us in yesterday's New York Times, in an article by Ben Brentley about theatre in London. Check it out on the New York Times website...

"The Cardboard Citizens troupe – which works with the homeless of London – scored a triumph last year wi...

Learn puppetry with Andres

Valentine — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:30:30 +0100

Andres, who created the amazing puppets for the Cardboard Citizens carnival float at the Thames Festival, is about to start a puppetry workshop at Crisis Skylight from Saturday.

The aim is to create a puppet show which will be premiered in May at a festival. Everyone is welcome to join in - no previous experience is required...

@ Crisis Skylight, every Saturday, 1pm to 5pm.
...

A mindblowing night, courtesy of Cirque du Soleil!

Valentine — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:08:43 +0100

Happy New Year everyone! To start 2010 in style, we went to the Royal Albert Hall last night, after the lovely folks from Cirque du Soleil sent us some free tickets to their show for Cardboard Citizens members.

Cirque du Soleil have a reputation for their modern take on circus - mixing the energy of street performance with lush and imaginative visuals - and Varekai! did not disappoint. As you can see from the pic below everyone present was so blown away that they burst into acrobatics...

Act Now workshops first term

Liz — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:58:17 +0100

Our new youth theatre, Act Now, finished their first term of workshops this week. Big love to all those who made it to Holloway Road each Wednesday evening - it's been a great start, and all because of your energy and input - thanks you guys! Have a look at the photos to get a flavour of the fun.

The new term starts on 13th January. If you, or anyone you know, are between 16 and 25, and not currently in education, employment or training then come along...

Mincemeat is Observer's 3rd favourite show of 2009

Valentine — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:37:59 +0100

The season of end-of-year top 10 lists is upon us... Check out Susannah Clapp's 2009 list in the Observer where Mincemeat comes third - right after Jerusalem and Enron!

"(...) For Cardboard Citizens' Mincemeat, Mamoru Iriguchi brilliantly remade the Shoreditch Cordy House into a bomb site, a refuge and the chilliest of morgu...

Freddie reports from this week's Board Meeting

Freddie Still — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:03:40 +0100

Hello all, went to my first board meeting last night as the new Board representative for Cardboard Citizens members. I did get a bit lost with all papers but I kept on the ball. At the meeting I got a full update on all of the company’s activities over the past 3 months.

Some of the things we talked about included the recent award (!!), ideas for 2012, and working more with Calcutta-based, Jana Sanskriti. The next term of workshops will start at Crisis Skylight on 11 January, an...

Donovan reports from Forum Training Week

Donovan Griffiths, Cardboard Citizens Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:20:42 +0100

I had a great time participating on the Forum week at The National Youth Theatre last week. It was great to be asked to come along and take part, especially as this was a course that cost a fair amount of money. Being a member of Cardboard Citizens and being invited was humbling.

The course itself was brilliant and I learnt so much in the week I was there. Working with such a diverse group of people, from Directors, would be Directors, school teachers, ...

Members Meeting @ Toynbee Hall, 17/11/09

Lucy Martin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:13:58 +0100

Our Members Meetings take place four times a year and we just had the last one of 2009... 50 members attended, from across our various projects and it was nice to see our members from the new youth theatre there. All the members watched a short film showing our work with the young refugee group, and all were clearly moved.

Our board reps Fifi and Donna (Kenny couldn't make it on the day) led various discussions on being a re...

Mincemeat Wins Design Award!

Valentine — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:14:46 +0100

Mincemeat has received the award for the best design at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2009!

Congratulations to Mamoru for a fantastic set, which looked amazing from every angle!

And thanks also to all the Citz who came in to give us a hand with the painting and building work and helped us transform Cordy House...

C...

Project Manager - Members' Programmes

Lisa — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:22:57 +0100

Following the sad news that our lovely Lucy is moving on to new pastures, we are seeking to recruit a Project Manager for the Members' Programmes at Cardboard Citizens. The role involves acting as a main point of contact for all participants / members, providing them with one-to-one support and running the performing arts workshop programme.

For more information and details on how to apply, please visit the jobs section of our website:

http://www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk/p124....

5 Star Review For Led Easy

Valentine — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:09:47 +0100

A great review of Led Easy on www.whatsonstage.com:

"The five stars awarded here are not just for the high quality of both David Watson's script and the performances, but for the overall work of Adrian Jackson's Cardboard Citizens, a theatre company that must surely rank as being amongst the most genuinely life-changing in the UK. "
...

Success Story

Valentine — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:52:37 +0100

Read the story of Lee, who acted in last year's Hostel Tour, on the London Councils' website...
...

East London Lines Interviews Ian

Valentine — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:54:22 +0100

Check out online mag East London Lines for an interview with Ian Kalman, one of the actors in Led Easy...

We also received a nice review by Mark Griffin, from the drama department at St Mary's College where we performed for the students: read it here.

...

Tell us a story!

Tony McBride — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:08:52 +0100

We have just had our 5th workshop of this term with an amazing number and mix of young people attending. In the last workshop there were over 20 actors who managed to end up all telling one story at the same time, with actions, as though they had just one voice and body between them – who’d have thought?

This fine display of ensemble storytelling was made possible by the group working through a process which had them playing word association, then creating stories on...

Standard Theatre Awards

Valentine — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:39:29 +0100

Great news: Mincemeat is longlisted for a Best Design award at the Evening Standard's Theatre Awards!

We are really happy for our designer Mamoru Irigushi, who did an incredible job in transforming Cordy House: see below one of the sets he created in the downstairs space (you can actually spot Mamoru sitting on one of the bunk beds!). The ...

Led Easy in Vienna

Jo Allitt — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:04:30 +0100

We arrived in Vienna and were met by Moki then travelled to the venue, WUK: a fantastic old building, possibly an old school or factory with a large cobble stone courtyard and ivy covering the buildings...beautiful! Apparently the building was squatted years ago by some of the organisers and participants in the festival, and it is now a thriving arts venue.

We were staying in two separate hostels which initially caused a little separation anxiety in the group, however Andre was comfor...

Led Easy in Salzburg

Terry O'Leary — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:52:51 +0100

Left the lovely mountains of Innsburg which had mysteriously disappeared by morning, leaving only a forest as a vista but by the time we reached the train station it started to reappear between the clouds as big mother snow capped Alps: we were not hallucinating.

Got on the train (remind me not to complain about British Rail). Arrived at Salzburg to be greeted by the lovely Caroline who took us to our accommodation, I have scored three duvets and four pillows, I like my create comfort...

Led Easy in Innsbruck

Jenn Lewin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:45:27 +0100

How did we do? I think the performance went well....once again the audience really enjoyed it.

One woman who got up on stage intervened with so much passion as she felt that the character of Eve should really learn to express herself and find her own voice no matter how that came out and she really went for it on stage with such honesty.

Another intervener wanted to go to a farm, this was very very funny, because as actors we became the animals. The guy that ca...

Led Easy Update

Jenn Lewin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:43:55 +0100

We are now in Graz and returning to London tomorrow, our final performance was last night at the Tanz & Theater Zentrum.

The whole World Forum Festival, which continues until the 1st November 2009, has been a wealth of dialogue, exchanges, workshops, presentations, performances, debates, questions, all paying homage ...

Board reps prepare for the members meeting

Valentine — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:36:05 +0100

Our three board representatives, Kenny, Donna and Fifi, who were elected by Cardboard Citizens' members to represent them on the Board of the company, are meeting today to prepare for our next members' meeting.

The Members' Meeting will take place at Toynbee Studios on Tuesday 17 November from 5 to 7pm. All Cardboard Citiz...

Led Easy in Linz

Andre Skeete — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:38:12 +0100

Hi everyone, had a great night in Linz. Performance was well received by the audience. The forum afterwards was great. There were a few people who spoke English but most of the audience did not. They all understood the three stories and were laughing at the jokes. I did not know what to expect when i heard we would be traveling to Austria, but if we get the same kind of reaction for the rest of the week i will be a happy man.

Andre

This week the team will be blogging from ...

Hostel Tour checks in from Austria!

Jennifer Lewin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:21:18 +0100

This is day three of our Hostels Tour at the World Forum Theatre Festival in Austria. I am writing this in Innsbruck, chilling out in our rooms.

We set out on Tuesday 21st October meeting at Liverpool Street Station, on a train to Stanstead airport and then on our plane. We landed at Linz airport and were greeted by a lovely man called Matthias who was our guide and one of the main orgainisers for the Linz part of this Forum Theatre Festival. We loaded a mini bus and taxi with all our...

Stage Combat, Week 5

Freddie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:46:42 +0100

This week there was no blood'n'gore (Lucy happy, Freddie sad) but we did learn how to hit some one’s face off the wall, a table, a chair and the ground. Without causing anyone any pain, we still made it look really good. The next workshop will be about how to put it together in sequence, and next week is the last week you can join in - after that it'll be getting too dangerous for newcomers!!

More to come, Freddie.
...

Kenny

Valentine — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:13:48 +0100

Yesterday we received an email from a photographer called Phil Hackett. On that day Phil was wandering around Islington taking pictures when he met our friend Kenny, who asked if he'd photograph him and some of his friends.

Kenny then told Phil to send us the picture: this is a great portrait and we thought it deserved to feature here. Thanks to Phil for letting us post it, and thanks to Kenny for thinking of us!

Stage Combat... getting messy.

Freddie Still — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:36:57 +0100

Stage combat 2 with Allison De Burgh

Last week we didn't end up learning how to fall/roll over a table. But we did learn how to do a hip throw, and do a shoulder roll (did get a bit dizzy doing that), as if you were being throw by someone. Some people did throw themselves in to it a bit TOO much! Also learnt how to fall backwards safely as if you have been shot - and how to faint in a safe way. Hope we get to the blood and gore next week (sorry Lucy).

More to come, Fred...

Staged Combat Classes Tested For You

Freddie Still — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:02:12 +0100

I am on a 10 week course of workshops to find out about stage combat. The 1st week we was punching, right hook, upper cut and pushing without pain to anyone. The second week we was poking someone in the eye, pulling on their hair and biting.

This is the second time I have done Stage Combat and it’s great fun. The next workshop will be on how to take a punch and falling over a table.

More to come, Freddie Still.
...

New Workshops At Crisis

Lucy — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:21:15 +0100

Our ten-week core workshop programme at Crisis Skylight has begun!

Our new Improvisation tutor Orlando Seale is a working actor/ director/ writer/ musician and is going down a storm. This class is great for those wanting to perform and those who just want to develop their confidence.

Another new tutor to Cardboard Citizens, Allison De Burgh, is teaching members how to convincingly gauge pe...

Led Easy Goes On Tour

Valentine — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:54:15 +0100

Our new Forum Theatre play, Led Easy by David Watson, goes on tour today and will visit over 30 hostels and day centres in London over the next two months.

Our first show tonight is at Hopetown, a large Salvation Army hostel for women located round the corner from us in Whitechapel. The team have been working hard for the past week to make a great looking show - it will be great to see how the audience reacts.

This year we have been invited to perform at the

Stick To The Script!

Cathy Weatherald — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:48:40 +0100

"I wanted to go home; I wanted to be good; I wanted to study and not do any mischief; but Lampwick said, “Why should you bother about studying? Why do you want to go to school? Instead come with me to Playland."         Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio

Cardboard Citizens new young people’s theatre company, ACT NOW, performed their first play Stick to the Script! last Thursday and Fr...

Cardboard Citizens Sparkle At Thames Festival

Lucy — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:12:01 +0100

Oh wow, what a performance! 40 participants took part in the annual night carnival for the Mayors Thames Festival, all dressed as Jersey Tiger Moths in black and orange, and glowed their way through the hyped up London crowds.

Our samba band was sooo cool, so crisp and so funky, giving our dancers a great excuse to dance the night away and provide much entertainment for the crowd.

Hostel Tour Rehearsal Room

Lisa — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:36:22 +0100

Hostel Tour rehearsals started at the begining of September. This year's play is called LED EASY, and the Director is Emma Bernard. We took some shots of everyone working hard at the People Show studios.
...

Fathers Inside at the Soho Theatre

Adrian Jackson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:38:19 +0100

I saw Fathers Inside last night at the Soho Theatre. Great show, featuring amongst others, our Kyle Thorne and Ayo Bodunrin – it is written by Philip Osment and directed by our NYT friend Jim Pope, and it resulted from a residency in a young offenders institution.

The play questions what we want from our fathers, and notes how defective they often are. Sounds much grimmer than it is, because it is delivered with great panache and a surprising amount of laughs. Catch it ...

Cardboard Citizens do CARNIVAL ARTS!

Lucy — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:05:10 +0100

For the 6th year running, Cardboard Citizens will have their place at the annual Mayors Thames Fesitival.

In preparation, we have been running workshops at Crisis Skylight and with Providence Row in samba drumming, dance and costume-making.

It's not too late to get involved in the performance, which takes place this Sunday 13th September. Just attend either dance, drumming or both this week in order to be carnival-ready for this weekend.

The carnvial procession s...

Act Now, Work In Progress...

Emma Bernard — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:06:18 +0100

I just wanted to report back on some beautiful work I witnessed last week on the youth theatre project. Tony and Terry, with the able support of Cathy, have facilitated a fantastically creative and focussed atmosphere with their group of 15 young people. A really diverse group seems to have gelled incredibly fast, thanks to some expert and sensitive leadership, and they all have their sleeves rolled up, taking on the task of making their own forum theatre piece.

They are about to be j...

Hostel Tour Cast Announced!

Valentine — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:58:58 +0100

The cast for this year's Hostels Tour is now confirmed: from left to right, Jennifer Lewin, Andre Skeete, Jo Allitt and Ian Kalman.

Jennifer and Andre have both worked with the company before and Jo and Ian joined us this year. The full cast met last week for the first time to shoot a publicity image, and we are delighted to welcome them all on board.

The new Hostels Tour play, LED EASY, is being written by David Watson, and will be directed by Emma Bernard and designed by Sop...

Linda Dobell

Adrian — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:26:30 +0100

Our good friend and collaborator Linda Dobell sadly died a week ago. After Augusto Boal, another great loss. Linda was a generous and extraordinary artist, a movement director and a compelling actor. The last piece of work she did was for Cardboard Citizens - the Spanish movement sequence in Mincemeat. She was great fun to be with. It is from her that I learnt to leave the rehearsal room standard aside when confronted with something dull, ' I am losing the will to live'. But I don't think she...

Samba 'Hens'

Lisa — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:12:00 +0100

This Summer Cardboard Citizens had a very special request for a very special lady and supporter of our work - Lara Pellini. Lara is getting married later this year and as part of her "Hen do" celebrations, we took our samba band to Hyde Park bandstand as a surprise. Lara and her friends had a great time, and Lara even had a go at being samba mestre! Cardboard Citizens would like to send Lara the best wishes possible in the run up to her special day.
...

A Clip From Keep Calm & Carry On

Valentine — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:17:30 +0100

Here is a clip from Keep Calm & Carry On - a brilliant film by Charlie Miller documenting a project we did with a group of young refugees and asylum seekers this summer. The film was shown at the Brixton Ritzy cinema last month, and you can order a full copy by emailing info@cardboardcitizens.org.uk.
...

More Citz On The Screen

Valentine — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:21:38 +0100

After Night Duty with Ian and Miguel, another short film by Dagmar Baumunk featuring one of the Citz: watch Kerry in Fishtale, or the tragic encounter between a mermaid and the man at the fish and chip shop...
...

Keep Calm & Carry On Stars Join The Roundhouse Summer Project

Emma — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:16:23 +0100

I just went to The Roundhouse to see the summer project performance by our young refugees group.

Eris, Abraham, Lidya, Ksanet, Tigisti, Amie, and a new Afghan boy called Ifan were performing - others had also been involved during the week. It was meant to be a live-feed screening of a silent film, which they had devised and rehearsed for the past four days. However the TV studio had been floode...

Keep Calm & Carry On Premieres In Brixton!

Lisa — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:27:30 +0100

Some snaps from the after party for the KEEP CALM & CARRY ON documentary which premiered at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton last week. The film was made by Charlie Miller.
...

Film Screening this Thursday (23rd July)

Liz — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:42:42 +0100

Coming up this week we have our screening of the Keep Calm and Carry On documentary.

Earlier this year a group of young refugeees and asylum seekers, working with director Emma Bernard and dance artist Joe Moran, devised a piece of theatre in response to the Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms, and the history of homelessness and displacement during wartime. The result, Keep Calm And Carry On, was performe...

BBC Talent Boost

Adrian — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:10:16 +0100

I went on Monday to an event run by the Actors Centre in connection with Talent Boost at the BBC, shown at the Jumeirah hotel in Chelsea.

Earlier last year, we signposted four Cardboard Citizens to the Talent Boost course, organised by the Actors Centre and the BBC and designed to showcase the talents of people under-represented in the acting business.

The film was called Seven Dials, and it was a fanta...

Operation 'More Bums On Seats' Is A Success

Valentine — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:51:12 +0100

Our fundraiser comedy night at the Hackney Empire on the 21st June, More Bums On Seats, was a huge success: the show raised an amazing £24,000 to support Cardboard Citizens.

We were lucky enough to bring together an fantastic line up of comedians: Stewart Lee, Richard Herring (currently experimenting with facial hair as can be seen below), Simon Amstell, Brendon Burns, Josie Long and the brilliant Jarred Christmas as the compere.

Thanks a lot to all the com...

The New Music Ensemble Is Playing This Friday

Liz — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:27:45 +0100

The Cardboard Citizens New Music Ensemble are gearing up for their performance at the Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston this Friday.

Founded and directed by award-winning, London-based Uruguayan composer and performer Reynaldo Young, CC New Music Ensemble is the UK's only homeless people's professional experimental music group.

Running for the last 7 years from weekly open-access workshops at Crisis S...

Kate Meets The Citz

Valentine — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:45:20 +0100

Our lovely ambassador Kate Winslet came to see the matinee show of Mincemeat yesterday afternoon, bringing a welcome touch of glamour to Cordy House...

...

Blogging about Mincemeat

Valentine — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:06:15 +0100

A great review on the website Spoonfed London:

"This play asks the audience to suspend their preconceptions regarding homelessness and to review their social conscience; and despite the fact that you aren't part of a faceless government cover up, you may find yourself buying a Big Issue on the way home. "
...

Mincemeat in the press again!

Lisa — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:12:31 +0100

Check out Susannah Clapp's review in last weekend's Observer:

"For its marvellous new production, Cardboard Citizens, the theatre company which works with homeless people, has squatted in Cordy House, Shoreditch. It has filled rough concrete rooms with spooks, rumours, red herrings and discoveries. Mincemeat is a wartime thriller, a terri...

Clem Interviews Cathy

Clementine — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:43:10 +0100

Guest blogger today is Emma’s daughter Clementine, 13, who was around at the office today as part of her school’s “Take your daughter to work” day. Clem had a productive day at Cardboard Citizens – made flyers for Mincemeat, helped out at the play, and offended her mother by noting that she was the oldest in the office. But she also interviewed Cathy Weatherald, our Project Manager. Read on to find out about Cathy’s role at Cardboard Citizens...

Ian & Miguel On The Screen

Valentine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:32:03 +0100

Ian and Miguel, both regulars from Cardboard Citizens' theatre workshops, feature in Night Duty, a new short film by director Dagmar Baumunk. Dagmar contacted us and Cathy put her in touch with the actors.

The film is on the Virgin Shorts website and it looks brilliant: watch it and vote so that it gets selected to be shown in cinemas!
...

On Serendipity...

Valentine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:59:38 +0100

Adrian posted an article on the Guardian blog today - on the random encounters that led to the creation of the play Mincemeat.

What do the man who never was and Lady Di have in common? Read on to find out...

One of the scenes that inspired Mincemeat: the final scene in Charlie Chaplin's Great Dictator...
...

Mincemeat on the Today Programme

Valentine — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:42:27 +0100

Adrian Jackson and historian Roger Morgan talk about Mincemeat on Today on Radio 4.

Listen here.
...

Mincemeat In The News

Cardboard Citizens — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:29:43 +0100

Press coverage is starting to come in for Mincemeat ! Have a look at the features we got in yesterday's papers:

Times review.

The Guardian.