When: 29th September – 17th October 2015
Where: Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, London N1 6SH
£: Tickets cost £16.50 – £14 (suitable for ages 14+)
What is it?
Using live performed testimonies and stories of people researched locally, Outside Edge’s new devised theatre performance reflects the splintered, chaotic and at times absurdly comic world of people who have been affected by addiction, chemical or otherwise. Today, Hoxton has become known amongst crack cocaine users as ‘Rockston’, as it is the main supply area in London for crack cocaine.
Rockston Stories is part of Hoxton Hall’s relaunch season, and will be directed by Susie Miller and supported by patron Mark Rylance as Associate Director.
The cast is an ensemble of professional actors and Outside Edge company members all who have past experiences with substance abuse. Their experiences are integrated into the show, with some performing personal testimonies. The audience will experience a live cabaret through the perspective of someone in active drug addiction, travelling through time and space; immersed into the parallel worlds of Hoxton Hall’s history from Victorian musical hall to temperance society meetinghouse, to its present incarnation as a centre of diverse arts. The space becomes scattered with stories of people living through addiction, different worlds emerge and clash, shattering expectations in a confrontation with the truth about addiction.
Outside Edge Theatre is the only theatre company working nationally and internationally to produce work focused on substance-misuse. They aim to support people affected by chemical addiction by working with them to recognise their potential, and build skills and confidence in all stages of recovery.
Hoxton Hall has been pioneering East London creative activity since 1863 and is one of the last surviving saloon style Victorian Music Halls. In the Music Hall era Shoreditch boasted more than ten Music Halls and although only two remain in East London, the area is once again a hot bed of creativity and young talent. The venue closed for refurbishment in 2013 after its 150th anniversary season and reopens this summer ahead of the autumn 2015 season.
More info: edgetc.org