̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - ADC Theatre

A cornucopia of delights on show at Open Cambridge this weekend

pbh25 — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 14:29:22 +0000

This Friday and Saturday sees the tenth Open Cambridge festival taking place across the city. Many parts of the ̽��ֱ�� and colleges, as well as over 20 partner organisations in the city, are opening their doors and offering the public a chance to enjoy amazing architecture, exciting exhibitions, and engaging events.

There are three strands to this year’s festival, which is the largest and most diverse Open Cambridge ever with over 97 events. ̽��ֱ��main Open Cambridge festival showcases treasures across the city and ̽��ֱ��, from historic libraries to magnificent gardens, hidden art collections, and specialist museums. It also offers fascinating glimpses behind closed doors at places like the fire station, the Cambridge Mosque, the ADC Theatre, and the Guildhall. All events are free, and many are drop-in.

̽��ֱ��Old Library at Christ’s College has a remarkable exhibition on poets and poetry from every walk of College life, from John Milton’s Paradise Lost, one of the most famous poems in history, to never-before seen work by a nineteenth-century College servant. ̽��ֱ��exhibition, curated by graduate trainee Beth Slater, features a rarely-seen copy of Paradise Lost that has been heavily annotated by the poet William Cowper. Cowper covered his copy with scathing remarks about the work’s editor, Richard Bentley, whom Cowper accuses of “childish conceits” that are “below the dignity of a true critic.” Another forthright poet in the exhibition is Ezra Pound, who describes his own letter to Christ’s College Fellow W.D. Rouse as “nine parts ego-explosion” and tells Rouse that the Greek poet Pindar was “certainly full of prune juice.” But possibly one of the most intriguing exhibits is a book of poetry by college servant John Wisken. Wisken worked as a scullion in the college kitchens for over fifty years in the nineteenth century, lighting fires, cleaning dishes, and serving food to students and fellows. He captured this hard-working life in his epic poem A Day in Michaelmas Term, or Twenty Years the Same, which opens “Although a Dirty Scull I dont see why/ I should not at the Muses have a shy”.

̽��ֱ��beautiful gardens at Madingley Hall are open on Friday 8 September. ̽��ֱ��garden’s creative planting scheme draws its inspiration from the history of the Hall and of botanical science at Cambridge but uses a modern sensibility in mixing plants. ̽��ֱ��floral border is influenced by the concept of a traditional kitchen garden, with plants for culinary, medicinal, dyeing and aromatherapy uses, including wood betony – a traditional remedy said to help ‘sour belching’ and cramps – and colchicum, an autumn crocus that is used to treat gout and cardiac conditions and known by the intriguing common name ‘naked lady’. ̽��ֱ��medicinal plants in the garden are not limited to its borders: clippings from its yew trees have been used to manufacture the cancer drug Docetaxel. Tours led by Richard Gant, the head gardener, will explore all these aspects of the garden, and more.

Wolfson College is exhibiting the art of two British painters who specialise in imaginative, evocative paintings of people. Both Eileen Cooper RA and Richard Sorrell paint from memory more than from life, and their images of people always tell a story, though often it is up to the viewer to decide what that story is. Cooper’s work is characterised by its focus on women and their experiences of work, friendship, and motherhood; the bold figures in her colourful works seem to dance off the page, yet preserve a private quality than encourages the viewer to look more closely. Richard Sorrell’s paintings derive their power from the contrast between their serene pastel colours and the recognisable, often awkward, social encounters they portray.

̽��ֱ��India Unboxed strand of the festival celebrates the UK-India Year of Culture 2017 and the 70th anniversary of Indian independence with a range of talks and exhibitions. A fun, hands-on event for the whole family is Mill Road Celebrates India, a full day of activities run by the Mill Road History Society and partners, with valued support from Mill Road traders. Come on down to the Deaf Centre (behind Cutlacks) on Saturday 9 September and join in with a range of activities, from a Bollywood dance class to a puppet show. A talk by historian Jo Costin will tell the fascinating story of Dr Upendra Krishna Dutt and his Swedish wife, a remarkable couple who lived on Mill Road one hundred years ago and filled their home (the Petersfield Surgery) with international idealists and radical politicians. There will also be a session called ‘Bring an object, tell a story’, with local women from the Indian subcontinent introducing treasured objects that they brought with them when they moved to the UK and explaining why they are important.

Open Eddington features over 25 events showcasing Eddington, the ̽��ֱ��’s new development at North West Cambridge. With families and students having moved in to the first homes over the summer, Eddington is now a living, breathing community. Members of the public are invited to visit and find out more about the innovative architecture and sustainable design that make Eddington one of the greenest developments in the country. There are also fun activities for children including a cycle cinema, where pedal power generates the electricity to show a film, and a Roman street party inspired by archaeological finds at the site.

Sue Long, the Open Cambridge Co-ordinator, speaking about Open Cambridge said “this has been a huge City and ̽��ֱ�� collaboration and we are very grateful to all our partners for their hard work. In particular, I want to thank the sponsors, Keir, without whom this weekend would not be possible”.

Details of the events mentioned in this article:

Numerous Verse, an exhibition at Christ’s College Old Library, is open 10am to 4pm on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September. Free, drop-in.

̽��ֱ��gardens at Madingley Hall are open from 2:30pm to 7pm on Friday 8 September. There are 40-minute guided tours of the gardens at 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30pm. Free, drop-in. http://www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk/events/madingley-hall-gardens

A Woman’s Skin by Eileen Cooper RA, and paintings by Richard Sorrell are on view at Wolfson College between 3 and 5pm every Saturday and Sunday until 24 September. Free, drop-in.

Mill Road Celebrates India takes place at the Deaf Centre, 8 Romsey Terrace, 10:30am-5pm on Saturday 9 September. Free, drop-in. For a detailed programme of events, see http://www.millroadhistory.org.uk/event/mill-road-celebrates-india/

For full details of Open Cambridge 2017, visit the website, www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk

From medicinal plants at Madingley Hall to the Indian doctor who shook up Mill Road a century ago, a huge range of exciting events is planned for Open Cambridge 2017

Although a Dirty Scull I dont (sic) see why I should not at the Muses have a shy.

John Wisken, Christ's College servant for 50 years.

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For image use please see separate credits above.

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New season of ADC shows begins early January

sj387 — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 16:21:11 +0000

̽��ֱ��renowned ADC theatre, known for alumni such as John Cleese, Sir Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson, will continue to build its reputation with a formidable term of amateur-run shows.

From one-man stand up, to Broadway classics, to a dark reimagining of classic children’s tales, the ADC offers a wide range of shows in its upcoming programme of events.

In mid-January, audiences can watch as the cunning and unscrupulous anti-hero Richard III rises to power before losing the throne less than three years later. Other Machiavellian leaders can be seen in George Orwell’s 1984, a depiction of a dystopian future where opposition is futile, dissent is a crime, and defiance means death.

For a lighter evening’s entertainment, stand-up comes in the form of Pierre Novellie’s Mighty Peter, Ben Pope’s Cheese (And Other Things That There Are), and the self-titled act Phil Wang and Jonny Lennard. There is also this term’s comedic highlight, the Footlights Spring Revue, this year called ̽��ֱ��History of Everything. Running at the beginning of March, it promises viewers a chronological odyssey through the history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the invention of the iPhone and everything in-between.

Musicals are well represented this term, with regular events such as the 24-hour musical and the Musical Theatre Bar Night being held alongside the Broadway favourites Guys and Dolls and Anything Goes. Another musical, of a different nature, is Into the Woods, a darkly enchanting journey woven out of the tales of Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel.

Other top shows include Pornography, described as ‘a portrait of our own England seen through a kaleidoscope’, ̽��ֱ��Other Line, an ‘undomestic drama’ examining female choice, and Blue Stockings, Jessica Swale's debut play following the 1896 female attendees of Girton college, fighting for their right to education and graduation. Ted Hughes’ 21st century translation of Euripides’ Alcestis will also be performed, reflecting on timeless questions about morality, selfishness and politics.

Visit http://www.adctheatre.com/whats-on.aspx for more information, and to book tickets.

From Richard III to Guys and Dolls, the ADC theatre will play host to an eclectic mix of shows in the coming months

James Bowe

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Pilgrims and Boys arrive at the ADC

ns480 — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:00:55 +0000

Dramatised and adapted by Mike Poulton, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales offers a humours and familiar collection of characters. Together they aim not for divinity but debauchery. They seek to entertain an audience – the very essence of the Tales. As the pilgrimage was arranged, the Host proposed a competition: whoever tells the tale “of best sentence and moost solas” shall dine at the expense of the other pilgrims. What followed was one of the finest and best-known collections of stories ever known in the English language.

Richard Bates of the ADC Theatre said “I'm personally very excited about The Canterbury Tales as it brings a style of theatre to the ADC stage which we don't usually see in our 7.45pm mainshows -combining drama, music and puppetry in innovative ways to breathe new life and a real sense of fun into these old tales.”

̽��ֱ��pilgrimage begins 7 February to 11 February at 7.45pm.

̽��ֱ��Boys in the Band premiered off-Broadway to ecstatic reviews on 14 April 1968. It was the first play to openly portray gay men, and was performed only a few blocks away on the night of the Stonewall Riots of ’69 which is often seen as the first fight-back against the NYPD discriminating against sexual minorities. ̽��ֱ��Boys in the Band represents a landmark feat that helped combat the stigma of homosexuality in an era before Gay Pride parades that are now common place throughout Europe and North America.

Richard Bates adds, “ ̽��ֱ��Boys in the Band was a very important play for gay people in the 1960s, and was later made into a successful film. ̽��ֱ��stage version is very rarely performed outside of the US, so we are immensely proud to host this production of such a thought-provoking work.”

̽��ֱ��Boys in the Band makes its Cambridge debut at the ADC Theatre 14 February to 18 February at 7.45pm. For tickets and other enquiries, please contact the ADC on 01223 300 085.

Canterbury Tales and ̽��ֱ��Boys in the Band highlight a dynamic February schedule at the ADC Theatre.

ADC Theatre

Canterbury Tales

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No shortage of storylines to unravel at the ADC Theatre this summer

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:18:22 +0000

̽��ֱ��Combined Actors of Cambridge, which has aimed to provide the opportunity to demonstrate local talent for the past 45 years, undertakes the task of realising the work of the prolific comic playwright.

̽��ֱ��light and entertaining narrative follows the creative block of the Pendon writer’s circle as they search for inspiration. Throughout the piece the audience is led to explore the unleashed imagination of a writer. When Arnold, chairman of the circle, is left alone we are shown the full potential of the artistic mind as creative juices begin to flow. A series of varying fictional narratives become confused and interwoven to great comic effect. There is no shortage of storylines to unravel here.

Ayckbourn’s witty observations give a reminder that life is full of absurdities. ̽��ֱ��ADC theatre will be a place of improbable but entertaining fiction this summer.

Continuing the summer program is Anton Chekhov’s tragic comedy ̽��ֱ��Cherry Orchard. Bawds, a leading Cambridge amateur theatre company of restoration plays, produced their version of Tom Stoppard’s adaptation on their 30^th anniversary.

In a piece which explores the futility of trying to hold onto the past, Chekhov’s last play draws stark contrasts between old and new Russia as Mme Ranevskaya fights to pay back debts in order save her family estate from auction. ̽��ֱ��piece holds prominence today as it echoes the modern fragile economy and the decisions that have to be made by those who risk losing everything.

Given the choice, will Ranevskaya save her home or save the cherry orchard and the integrity it holds? A comedy laced with dark, tragic elements reaches the ADC theatre from the 12^th – 16^th July.

̽��ֱ��wit of Alan Ayckbourn returns to Cambridge at the ADC theatre this July (5th – 9th), with the first local amateur production of Improbable Fiction.

ADC Theatre

̽��ֱ��Cherry Orchard

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MaD playwrights let loose at ADC Theatre

th288 — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:30:20 +0000

̽��ֱ��event, now in its fourth year, was founded by WRiTEON a local group of actors, writers and directors who aim to support and nurture emerging talent through workshops and showcase events. ̽��ֱ��performances take place over five evenings this summer (July 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th & 17th).

Original pieces of drama will have the opportunity to have their world premiere in the city, performed by a mix of professional and experienced amateur actors. With minimal staging and script in hand performances of the twenty minute pieces, the informal evening can be seen as a stepping stone for the writers. In a venue which has provided a platform for such theatre luminaries as Sir Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson, the event has attracted writers from the length of the country.

Over fifty pieces were submitted, with no limit on genre or theme, artistic director Graeme Curry noted that they had been "very impressed with the range, quality and imagination shown by this year's submissions".

Within the selected group are three students from Cambridge ̽��ֱ��. They will not only get to see their creations brought to stage, but will furthermore receive feedback from the audience on their work to conclude a quirky night of theatre.

An evening of comedy, tragedy and absurdity can be found at the MaD festival this summer at the ADC Theatre.

Link

ADC Theatre: http://www.adctheatre.com/

Twenty-six new playwrights are let loose next month in Cambridge’s ADC Theatre for the annual MaD (Monologue and Duologue) festival.

ADC

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Witchcraft and heartbreak at the ADC Theatre

bjb42 — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Dido & Aeneas is one of the earliest English operas. ̽��ֱ��story is based on Book IV of Virgil's Aeneid, and recounts the love story of Dido, Queen of Carthage and the Trojan hero Aeneas, and her despair at his abandonment of her.

In Carpenter’s reinterpretation of Dido & Aeneas the storyline, melodies and lyrics are all taken from the classic opera by Henry Purcell. However, what makes this show different is Carpenter’s entirely original re-scoring of the work. ̽��ֱ��reinterpretation takes its musical inspiration from Schwartz (Wicked!) and Sondheim (Sweeney Todd), and uses a large modern band with a drum-kit and bass guitar. ̽��ֱ��show runs from 16 – 19 February, 2011

̽��ֱ��ADC’s next show is Posh, which is in its second ever production – after premiering at the Royal Court, London. Posh is a witty, cutting dissection of power and privileges in a dining society at Oxford ̽��ֱ��. ̽��ֱ��play raises disturbing questions about the social elite who run Britain through birthright.

Director Joshua Stamp-Simon said: “Posh is of huge social relevance for all of us, and performing it in Cambridge, just a minute’s walk form the Pitt Club, has a certain irony that makes this something very special”

Posh opens at the ADC Theatre on Tuesday, 22 February, and runs until Saturday, 26 February, 2011.

Two new shows coming to the ADC Theatre include the premiere of Jeff Carpenter’s reinterpretation of Henry Purcell’s first (and only) all-sung opera Dido & Aeneas and Posh by Laura Wade.

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Spring season at the ADC Theatre

bjb42 — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

This season features an emphasis on musical theatre, after the sell-out success of Jonathan Larson’s Rent in November. March sees the resident company, Cambridge ̽��ֱ�� Amateur Dramatic Club, bringing perhaps the greatest musical of all time, West Side Story, to the stage.

Expect to be entranced by the beautiful melodies of Tonight and Somewhere, the irresistible rhythms of America and I Feel Pretty whilst being dazzled by the spectacle of dance and fight scenes alike in this definitive work in the cultural landscape of the last century. West Side Story runs from March 15–26.

Earlier in the season, Triple Loop presents Spring Awakening, a new musical. Based on Frank Weekend’s ground breaking 1890s play which was banned for over 100 years for being too sensationalist. Spring Awakening has changed the face of musical theatre. With an edgy rock score it expresses the anguish and ecstasy of discovering sexualities in a hard-hitting production. It runs from February 1-5.

A week later, camp cult hit Jet Set Go! runs from February 9-12. After high-flying runs in Edinburgh and London, Cambridge ̽��ֱ�� Musical Theatre Society bring the one and only cabin crew musical to the ADC in one of the first ever regional productions of this new British musical comedy by Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary.

̽��ֱ��Way Through the Woods, a musical re-telling of the story of Snow White shows off home grown musical composition. With a new score and a twisted take on familiar characters, this is a devilishly dark retelling of the classic fairytale. ̽��ֱ��Way Through the Woods runs from January 19-22.

Marketing Manager, Richard Bates, said: “Musicals always go down well at the ADC so we’re pleased to be able to bring the best of both classic and contemporary Broadway to the stage this season. I’m sure our programme will be popular with both regulars and new audiences.”

There is also a wide selection of drama to look forward to ̽��ֱ��European Theatre Group kicks off the term with their production of Shakespeare’s ̽��ֱ��Taming of the Shrew, after a successful winter tour around central Europe. This energetic company look set to delight audiences once again with a compelling production of one of the Bard’s finest comedies. It runs from January 18 - 22.

̽��ֱ��Amateur Dramatic Club presents a special mid-season run of Michael Frayn’s celebrated farce Noises off. Set around the production of a play-within-a-play, Noises Off is a hilarious exposé of what goes on behind the scenes, and the mishaps that can so often happen under the limelight. ̽��ֱ��idea came to Frayn as he was watching a performance of one of his comedies from the wings. Frayn said: "It was funnier from behind than in front and I thought that one day I must write a farce from behind.” Noises Off, promises to be a riotous night at the theatre, and runs from February 9 – 19.

A unique feature of the ADC is the staging of two shows a night within ̽��ֱ�� Term. After the curtain falls on the first performance of the evening, the stage is turned around in matter of minutes for the Lateshow at 11pm. This late evening slot affords the theatre huge flexibility in its programming. As well as the usual late night laughs from Footlights Smokers, and ̽��ֱ��Pin, a new sketch show from Footlights regulars, the theatre has range of diverse dramatic programming.

Lateshows this season include the truly powerful 2007 play Pornography by Simon Stephens, set around the motivations of a suicide bomber on July 7 2005. Other lateshows including Fantasmagoria, a prequel to the Frankenstein myth and a new adaptation of Henry Purcell’s 1680 opera Dido and Aeneas, presented within a more contemporary musical idiom.

Details of the entire season, as well as advance booking, are available online at adctheatre.com. Tickets can also be booked at the theatre, or over the phone on 01223 300085.

̽��ֱ�� ̽��ֱ��'s ADC Theatre has launched its spring season, once again including an eclectic mix of the best drama, comedy, dance and music from students, town and national companies.

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Jumping to delusions - how the brain takes dangerous shortcuts

bjb42 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Speaking at tonight’s Café Scientifique, Professor Paul Fletcher of the Department of Psychiatry at ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge will explain how scientists study behaviour, image brain oxygen levels, and manipulate humans with pharmacological agents in order to uncover how such delusional beliefs might arise.

According to Professor Fletcher: “Given scientific observations on the normal processes of the brain and belief formation, perhaps the delusional beliefs of mental illness can be more easily understood and can be recognised as not so far from rationality as they might first appear.”

̽��ֱ��event, part of the Café Scientifique series, is a friendly informal gathering for everyone interested in chatting about the science that is changing our lives. Each month a different scientist discusses their work and takes question from the floor.

Tonight’s free event is at 7.30 – 8.30 pm at the Larkum Studio, ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge. Refreshments are available. Please arrive early to guarantee a seat.

̽��ֱ��series is sponsored by the Medical Research Council and organised as part of the national Café Scientifique forum in association with ̽��ֱ��Triple Helix Cambridge, a student society that explores interdisciplinary issues surrounding science.

Why do some people with mental illnesses entertain bizarre and seemingly irrational beliefs that make their lives a misery?

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