The Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) near Clapham Junction has gained a reputation for ‘fringe’ productions, i.e. productions that push the edge and are often experimental in nature. It’s gained a loyal following of supporters thanks to its reluctance to host anything mainstream and its willingness to allow performers to hone their craft and their productions via the BAC’s unique ‘scratch’ methodology. Scratch methodology refers to the practice of performing productions before they have been fully developed so that they can be fine tuned according to audience input.
Contemporary Dance
The Battersea Arts Centre, or National Theatre of the Fringe as it’s also known, was founded in 1980 and since its inception has added significantly to the Battersea property market, attracting residents who have a taste for art, culture and diversity. Performers who are lucky enough to land long-term contracts with the Battersea Arts Centre often rent property in the area to take advantage of the affordable rates offered by estate agents, not to mention the safe, family-friendly atmosphere.
The BAC has an eclectic range of performances lined up for the end of the year and leading into 2010, including:
- The Drawing Theatre – Creative Life Drawing by London Drawing can be described as a drawing workshop, but offers so much more than still-life sketches. Only one more workshop is scheduled for this year – Saturday the 5th December from 11am to 4pm. For £35 you can expect a combination of performance (movement, light and sound) and drawing where, according to the Battersea Arts Centre website, you’ll get to ‘explore the human figure in hidden spaces and architecture’. The result: a surprising revelation of untapped talent and collection of self-made drawings, collages and 3D drawings. Basic materials are included and the workshop is suitable for beginners up to experienced artists. Bear in mind, however, that the performance contains nudity, so no photographs or children allowed.
- Jiggery Pokery is a one-woman show that explores the life of one of Britain’s most famous comedic actors – Charles Hawtry. Amanda Lawrence is the woman behind the man in this instance and while many may wonder at her ability to accurately portray a man, her performance has been described as ‘absolutely brilliant’ and ‘mindblowing’, while The Stage remarked that ‘Amanda Lawrence was born to play Charles Hawtrey’. Jiggery Pokery runs from the 1st to the 19th December and tickets cost £12.
- From the 2nd December 2009 – 9th January 2010 you can catch 1984, an adaption of George Orwell’s novel by the Blind Summit Theatre. Rather a straightforward play, the Battersea Arts Centre presents a winning mix of physical theatre, puppetry and music. Tickets cost between £10 and £16, but if you want a more spectacular night out, consider The Big Brother Bash, which is a special performance of 1984 to raise funds for Amnesty International. The Big Brother Bash takes place at the Battersea Arts Centre on the 10th December and tickets cost £75 per person, which includes a £50 donation. The evening includes champagne, canapés and an after party.
- From the 12th to 16th January 2010, the Battersea Arts Centre and The Arches present Trilogy, by Nic Green. Styled as a ‘celebratory venture into modern-day feminism’ Trilogy uses volunteer female dancers to deliver a stunning three-part performance. Trilogy premiered at the Battersea Arts Centre at the BURST Festival 2009 to much critical acclaim and has gone on to win a Herald Angel Award. Currently, women of all types are sought to take part in performances of Trilogy at the BAC and the Barbicon. Tickets cost £12.
- The Eclipse, which runs from the 20th to the 22nd January 2010, is performed by The Baked Bean Theatre Company, which is a group of professional actors with learning difficulties. The story centres on a stranger who enters a seemingly quiet suburban street, but where unseen things simmer below the surface. Tickets cost £8.
If your tastes don’t quite extend to festive pantomimes, challenge your senses with some of the performances on show at the Battersea Arts Centre. If you consider yourself a ‘fringe’ aficionado you won’t be sorry.