When: December 2011
Where: BAC, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN
£: Prices vary
What is it?
Visit BAC this Christmas and celebrate with some of the best theatre makers in the UK today – from fairy tales for adults to serious comedy for kids, new shows cooking up and being shared with audiences for the first time, poetry, spoken word, storming live music, a Christmas Fair throughout December outside on Town Hall Road, and an unmissable New Year’s Eve party.
‘Christmas at BAC is packed with things to celebrate both inside and out – a place to see great work, to eat, meet perhaps buy a present or two and to toast the coming year. We’ve brought some shows that we’ve loved over the past year to Battersea, and we’re excited about the new work that will be cooking up with our audiences across the building. Last years’ BAC Christmas show is now playing at the National Theatre, so come along to Battersea for the chance to catch next year’s big thing.’- David Jubb and David Micklem, Artistic Directors, BAC
Some highlights:
BAC Christmas Market
When: Every Thursday, Friday (2pm – 8pm) & Saturday (10am – 6pm) until 24th December 2011
£: Free entry
What is it?
This December, BAC has transformed Town Hall Road (next to the theatre) into a lively and buzzing Christmas Market. Buy your Christmas presents, pick up a tree or pop down for a warming glass of mulled wine and a bit of musical entertainment.
Chris Goode & Company’s The Adventures of Wound Man and Shirley
When: 9th & 10th December 2011 at 7:30pm
£: 10 (concessions 6)
What is it?
Shirley is a teenage boy with a girl’s name, growing up in suburbia and feeling like the weirdest kid in the school. Nothing makes much sense to him, and his heart belongs to a classmate who barely knows he exists. Wound Man is an unconventional superhero, sprung from the pages of a medieval medical textbook, with an alarming assortment of weapons sticking out from every part of his body. Wound Man has just moved into a house on Shirley’s street — and he happens to have a vacancy for a teenage sidekick…The Adventures of Wound Man and Shirley is a funny and touching story by Chris Goode about two unlikely friends and the adventures they share.
Fridge City with Polarbear and Friends
When: 9th December 2011 at 8pm
£: 10 (concessions 6)
What is it?
Join spoken word artist Polarbear and friends for a night full of stories and live sounds. Experience crafted tales from some of the best storytellers around and join in with the collaborative improvised story forming games. It’s all about the stories.
Featuring: John Berkavitch, Daniel Marcus Clark, Zia Ahmed, Toby De Angeli, Nichol Keene, Rachel Rose Reid, Polarbear and special guests.
Josie Long’s Christmas Show: Scratch
When: 9th – 10th December 2011 at 7:45pm
£: Pay What You Can
What is it?
Josie Long is working on a show for Christmas. It will be a story, with music, and it’ll be better than Stay Another Day by East 17; but not as good as Fairy Tale of New York (original version) because what is?
John Hegley’s Christmas Crackers
When: 10th – 31st December 2011, 2:30pm & 7pm
£: 9 (7 concessions)
What is it?
Crammed into this festive celebration are tales of tails of dogs, dads and Daleks, verses about voles, and an attempt at some unicorn noises. There is a story about the man who thought his television was a pet, some challenging ideas, boisterous bits of joining in and much laughter.
Mixing poetry, songs and screwball stories, join John as he leads you on a surreal and fantastical Christmas journey with some deep stuff and a little bit of dancing. Age Guide: 7+
Richard Marsh’s Skittles
When: 15th – 16th December 2011 at 8:30pm
£: 10 (6 concessions)
What is it?
A story about love. (And sweets, which are more reliable). Richard Marsh’s debut solo show Skittles is a tale of broken dreams, trans-American road trips and a seductive mistress called Sorrow. Fusing poetry and prose, Skittles is a deeply funny and truly moving account of losing love and learning to put yourself back together again.
Tassos Stevens: Jimmy Stewart, An Anthropologist From Mars, Analyses Love And Happiness In Humans (And Rabbits)
When: 15th – 17th & 22nd – 30th December 2011 (except 24th December) at 9pm
£: 8 (5 concessions)
What is it?
Taasos Stevens is playing a Martian Jimmy Stewart on a quest to understand love. You’re the audience playing the planet Earth entirely from a sitting position with drink in hand (if you like). This is a piece of pop-up playful storytelling with an impossible sound system. It’s played theatres, living rooms, lecture theatres, pubs, and parks: across the planet Earth. It’s about the imperial unit of measurement of human feeling, a man who falls to Earth, and at least three other impossible things. And there’s the odd joke.
Each night will take place in a different space. Pick the one that suits you.
Thursday 15th: Café – The performance will be in a public space with other café users around you.
Friday 16th: Out and About – A walking performance in the streets around BAC (bring a coat!).
Saturday 17th: Fireplace Room – In cosy and warm surroundings.
Thursday 22nd & Friday 30th: New Committee Room – Cosy surroundings…just on a larger scale.
Little Bulb’s The Mother of All Goose Parties
When: 17th December 2011 at 7:30pm
£: 10
Little Bulb return to BAC this December, for a one night only musical Christmas party. Treat your sweet senses and dancing legs to the party’s sonic antipasti of sassy pseudo-fiesta funk, water story power folk, electronica gender anthems, dirty agro railway blues plus a bit of the strummy soft stuff for the lovers or the lonely.
There is much more going on, so why not check out the website and find some festive fun!
More info: Visit www.bac.org.uk or phone the box office on 020 7223 2223.