The Cambridge New Writing

Theatre Festival

The Junction 26-29 January

www.menagerietheatre.co.ukTickets: 01223 511511

(Box Office open: Mon-Sat, 1pm-6pm)

Book online at: www.junction.co.uk

Supported by

Ten years on from the first Hotbed, Menagerie teamsup with The Junction once again to present a festivalpacked with new writing, new ideas and new faces.

This year, as well as performing in Cambridge (26th-29th Jan), we will be heading to Soho theatre (30thJan) to present the ‘best of the fest’.

Looking at the programme, it seems impossible tosee what will indeed be the best of the fest (it alllooks so good!), but what is certain is the potentialfor a weekend of amazing discoveries, uniqueexperiences and wonderful stories…

The main commissions this year are typical of theenduring Hotbed ethos: new voices alongsideestablished ones. We have three One Act Plays:Necessary Evil from emerging young writer BenjaminAskew; Piglet from Writers’ Guild Award Winner, EdHarris and Forgive Our Paranoia from the multipleFringe First winner, Chris O’Connell.

Complementing the main plays are nine new ten-minute monologues which will be produced invarious locations and at various times throughout thefestival (including over breakfast, lunch and tea!).Pieces feature work from Menagerie AssociatesJanice Okoh, Steve Waters and Danusia Iswaszko aswell as a plethora of new and established regionaland national voices. For everything from road trafficaccidents to phantom pregnancies, dodgy careeradvice and plenty in between, there really issomething for everyone in these Roaring Voices!

Education and debate have always been at the heartof Hotbed and this year is no different. Join our panelof experts in a state of the new writing nation debatechaired by Guardian Critic Lyn Gardner, or amasterclass from award-winning playwright MikeBartlett, Soho writer-in-residence Thomas Eccleshareor Hotbed writer Chris O’Connell.

The Guest Production this year is going to be ourbest ever. Silent, from Ireland’s amazing Fishamblecompany, is a moving yet hilarious portrayal of lifeon the streets of Ireland. Winning a plethora ofawards, including a Fringe First, The Guardiandescribed this show as “simply stunning”.

Other events include storytelling (featuring TheDevil, The Tsar and The Three Dry Biscuits with BenHaggarty), commissioned BBC short radio plays inlistening stations, short films and free foyer eventsfeaturing music and poetry. And to top it all, wehave our legendary charity One-Page-Play-Comp-Athon and the Hotbed Marathon, where you cansee all the commissioned plays and monologues inone sitting!

Bringing all this to life will be the nine-strongHotbed Acting Ensemble featuring actors who haveperformed with The RSC, National Theatre and TheRoyal Court.

Ticket packages are available throughout thefestival so you can get real quality plays and eventsfor real value for money. Call the box office on01223 511511 for details.

So… why not take a risk (but not a gamble) andjoin us for Hotbed 2012!

The Producers

Menagerie creates, supports and inspires newwriting in the East of England. We work with artistsat all levels, from first-time writers to nationallyrecognised playwrights, as well as an outstandingensemble of designers, actors and producers.www.menagerietheatre.co.uk

Special Thanks

To our partners: The Junction and Soho Theatre; ourfunders: Arts Council England and our sponsors:TTP and Headline.

Headline: ‘a specialist Education RecruitmentCompany operating in Cambridgeshire,Huntingdon, Norfolk and Suffolk’.

We think. We Write. We Right?

Welcome to Hotbed 2012… our tenth anniversary festival!

Three commissions from threeexceptional voices. One act playsto inspire, engage and entertain.

Necessary EvilBy Benjamin Askew

‘We both believe in good and evil, sir.The difference is that I know which is which.’

Imprisoned and tortured young Lizzy Malkin can feelher faith in her powers begin to falter. Condemned byhis own methods, witchfinder Matthew Hopkins isfaced with an impossible truth; either he is guilty oreveryone he sent to their death was innocent. As theCivil War rages outside, both must pick a side andboth must have their belief restored.

Young Royal Court writer Benjamin Askew usesvisceral and lyrical contemporary verse to explosiveeffect in this powerful two hander.

Thurs 26 – 8.15pmSat 28 – 7.00pmSun 29 – 3.00pm£8/£6 / 50 mins

One Act Plays

PigletBy Ed Harris

As the saying goes ‘you don’t know what you’ve got tillit’s gone’, right?

So why not buy a painting by one of the BritishMasters, and destroy it? Then we’ll see what its truevalue is…

Thoughtful, tricky and amusing, life challenges art inthis new Masterpiece (or is it a fake!!??) from EdHarris.

A regular writer for Radio Four, Ed Harris’ play MongrelIsland was commissioned by Soho Theatre, and in2011, he won the Writers’ Guild Award for his radioplay Troll.

Fri 27 – 7.00pmSat 28 – 5.00pmSun 29 – 6.00pm£8/£6 / 50 mins

Forgive Our ParanoiaBy Chris O’Connell

Fleeing from London to escape an act of violence thathas overtaken their lives, Beth, Joy and Ash stumbleonto the coast. Here, at the edge of England, they areforced to reckon with the past and with each other.

Chris O'Connell, founder of Theatre Absolute andmultiple award winner for his Street Trilogy, serves up astorm of dreamers, chancers and prophets mixed witha healthy dose of revenge.

Thurs 26 – 7.00pmSat 28 – 4.00pmSun 29 – 4.30pm£8/£6 / 50 mins

D. AndromacheBy Katy Walker

A poetic journey into the conflictingemotions of Andromache, wife ofHector - the tragic hero of the TrojanWar - offering insight into the worldof those on the side-lines, left behindto wait and hope.

Katy is an exciting debut writer.

E. The SurprisingGermination ofAndrea FitzgeraldBy Alison Carr

‘We all know that if you swallow theapple pips, a tree will grow insideyour belly. And if we all know it, thenit must be true’.

And it certainly is true for AndreaFitzgerald in this tale of desperationand hope found in the most unlikelyof places.

Alison has written for The NationalTheatre, The Old Vic and PainesPlough. Her play Monkey and Mewas a Finalist for The Journal ofCulture Newcomer of the Year Award2006.

F. Mind DetoxBy Esther Shanson

‘My body is a bit... bollocks. Wouldyou call that a negative belief?’

In an exhilarating journey into thedepths of psychology, Nicola sees amind detox therapist to discuss herrelationship with her body and hercataclysmic descent into negativity.

Esther is a scientist as well as awriter. She completed the MPhil(B)in Playwriting at the University ofBirmingham and has belonged tothe Royal Court and Paines Ploughwriting groups.

G. ToiletBy Gari Jones

With a fascination for the simplicityof the every day and the banalsnapshots of life under amicroscope, Toilet shows a man athis most vulnerable. The body iscompromised and he is at itswhim. In this state, he attempts tofind some control on life in all itsguises as outside the party rages.

Gari has worked with the NationalTheatre, The Gate Theatre, the OldVic and the Mercury Theatre,Colchester.

H. Kitchen SinkBy Tamsin Astbury

Through Katie – a housewife, aConservative Councillor and thegreat granddaughter of a Suffragette– come four generations ofwomen’s voices in a compellingexploration of the qualities andinequalities of female experience.

Tamsin has been a member of theRoyal Court and Soho TheatreYoung Writers’ Programmes.

I. AscensionBy Danusia Iswaszko

What can help Henry Denton as hepushes a bolder up Primrose Hillonly to see it roll down again whenhe reaches the top? Obliged to starthis journey from the beginning,how will this modern day Sisyphuscope?

Danusia is a Menagerie associatewriter, actor and director. She hasworked for the National Theatre,and her play One Glass Wall wasshort-listed for the Pearson Prize in2004.

Set 1 (F,G,H,I)Fri 27 – 1.00pm£8/£6 / 50mins

Set 2 (A,B,C,D,E)Fri 27 – 8.15pm£8/£6 / 1hr

A. Death of a CyclistBy Steve Waters

A poignant, bleakly comic pieceimagining the moments after deathas a woman struggles to come toterms with the biggest shock of all.

Steve has had recent hits at TheBush and Donmar Warehouse andis now under commission toChannel Four Films, Out of Joint andThe West Yorkshire Playhouse.

B. The TalentedMister...By Janice Okoh

Inspired by the difficulties in today’sjob market, a young graduate takesdesperate measures and seeksadvice on how to cheat an interviewfrom a larger than life Mr fix-it.

Janice is an award-winningplaywright. She is a MenagerieAssociate writer, and in 2011, herplay Little Birds won the BruntwoodPrize.

C. The Odyssey ofDimitri AmirasBy Kit Lambert

Using an imaginative combination ofpoetry, mythical imagery and thebroken English of a broken man,Dimitri sits in his holiday trailer onthe edge of an eroding cliff,dreaming of floating home to hisnative Greece.

Kit Lambert is under option for a newITV drama series and a new sitcomwith Hat Trick. His first play, TheCustom House was shortlisted forthe Kings Cross New Writing Award.

Roaring Voices

Nine 10 minute monologues…

www.menagerietheatre.co.uk

This series of events enables you to enjoy somefood, whilst listening to three Hotbed monologuesfrom actors sitting around the table with you!

Food for Thought: Breakfast Enjoy coffee, juice, breakfast and three Hotbedmonologues.

Sat 28 – 10.00am – A,C,FSun 29 – 10.00am – H,D,E£10/£8 / 1hr

Food for Thought: Lunch Enjoy a drink, some lunchtime snacks and threeHotbed monologues.

Sat 28 – 12.30pm – H,G,ISun 29 – 1.00pm – A,B,F£10/£8 / 1hr

Food for Thought: Tea Enjoy a drink, some tea-time snacks and threeHotbed monologues.

Sat 28 – 6.00pm – B,D,E£10/£8 / 1hr

Food for Thought: Monologues

Hot NewsPerformance A play-in-a-day performance responseto the week’s news from youngperformers, directors and writers aged16-19. More imaginative, energeticand engaging than Newsnight!

Sun 29 – 7.30pm PWYW / 40 mins

The Devil, The Tsar & The Three Dry Biscuits Performance storytelling byBen Haggarty

Ben Haggarty embarks on arumbustious tale ofoutwitting and trickery. Inthis Russian fairy-tale, amagical sack can solve allyour hunger problems,doctors wield drinkingglasses in place ofstethoscopes, and asoldier determined tooutwit death learns thata good game of cardscan get you both intoand out of a whole lotof trouble.

Young Hotbed...Ben’s romper-stomper performances have earnedhim an international reputation. His shows areenergetic, always playful, sometimes dark, andunashamedly magical.

For everyone aged 8 and over

Sat 28 – 11.30am£8/£6 / 1hr

Fishamble: The New Play Company presents

SilentWritten and performed by Pat Kinevane

Directed by Jim Culleton

Produced by Marketa Dowling

Composed by Denis Clohessy

Homeless McGoldrig once had splendid things.But he has lost it all – including his mind. He nowdives into the wonderful wounds of his pastthrough the romantic world of Rudolph Valentino,in this brave, bleak, beautiful new production.SILENT is currently wowing audiences on itsextensive touring.

Sat 28 – 8.15pmSun 29 – 8.15pm£14/£10 / 1hr 15 mins

Supported by Culture Ireland.

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Guest Production

Thu 26 January

F 5.30pm: Hotbed Short FilmsOA 7.00pm: Forgive Our ParanoiaOA 8.15pm: Necessary EvilOPP 9.15pm: One-Page-Play-Comp-Athon

Fri 27 January

WD 10.30am: Page to Stage: Workshop 1M 1.00pm: Roaring Voices (F,G,H,I)WD 2.00pm: Writers’ WorkshopF 2.30pm: Hotbed Short FilmsWD 6.00pm Hotbed Writers’ Conversation OA 7.00pm PigletM 8.15pm Roaring Voices (A,B,C,D,E)OPP 9.15pm One-Page-Play-Comp-Athon

Sat 28 January

WD 10.00am Page to Stage: Workshop 2M 10.00am: Food For Thought: Breakfast S 11.30am: Family StorytellingM 12.30pm: Food for Thought: LunchR 1.00pm: EllenWD 2.00pm: State of the Nation S 3.00pm: StorytellingWD 3.15pm: Getting to Where You Want To BeS 4.00pm: StorytellingOA 4.00pm Forgive Our ParanoiaOA 5.00pm PigletOPP 5.30pm: One-page-plays: Young WritersM 6.00pm: Food for Thought: TeaS 6.00pm: StorytellingS 7.00pm: StorytellingOA 7.00pm: Necessary EvilGU 8.15pm: SilentOPP 9.45pm: One-Page-Play-Comp-Athon

Sun 29 January

M 10.00am: Food For Thought: BreakfastWD 11.00am: MasterclassM 1.00pm: Food for Thought: LunchR 1.00pm: MarvelF 2.00pm: Hotbed Short FilmsWD 2.00pm: Homelessness: a discussion

3.00pm: Marathon Part 1:OA Necessary Evil andM Roaring Voices Monologues E, G, H

4.30pm: Marathon Part 2: OA Forgive our Paranoia andM Roaring Voices Monologues I, F, B

6.00pm: Marathon Part 3:OA Piglet and M Roaring Voices Monologues A, D, COA 7.30pm Hot NewsGU 8.15pm SilentOPP 9.45pm: One-Page-Play-Comp-Athon

The Final

OA One Act PlaysM MonologuesR ReadingsWD Workshops / DiscussionsOPP One Page PlaysF FilmsS StorytellingGU Guest Production

Diary

All events take place at The Junction

For tickets call: 01223 511511or online at: www.junction.co.uk

www.menagerietheatre.co.uk

Other Events

One-Page-Play-Comp-AthonThe One-Page-Play-Comp-Athon is a firmlyestablished and much loved part of Hotbed. Thewinner, decided by the audience, receives £250 todonate to a charity of their choice. Each play mustbe on just one piece of paper. Eight mini-plays eachnight, all performed by our Ensemble Company.

This year, the competition also has a specialcategory for Young Writers, (aged14-18), where thewinner receives £50 to donate.

Thurs 26 – 9.15pm Fri 27 – 9.15pm Sat 28 – 5.30pm (Young Writers)Sat 28 – 9.45pmSun 29 – 9.45 (The Final) PWYW / 45mins

Storytelling for Grown-upsFour different, exciting stories from Storyteller BenHaggarty, especially for grown-ups (12+)!

Just ten tickets per performance!

Sat 28 – 3.00pm, 4.00pm, 6.00pm, 7.00pm£5/£4 / 30 mins

Hotbed Short FilmsA series of short films by new and acclaimed, local,regional and international film-makers. Filmsinclude Tom Bidwell’s Oscar nominated Wish143.Check website for an up-to-date programme.www.menagerietheatre.co.uk

Thurs 26 – 5.30pm (1.5hr)Fri 27 – 2.30pm (1hr)Sun 29 – 2.00pm (1hr)PWYW

Readings

EllenBy Ros Connelly

Featuring Helen Cartwright

A staged reading of extracts from this new play thatexplores Ellen Terry’s remarkable life, relationshipsand views on acting through her interpretations ofShakespeare’s heroines.

Sat 28 – 1.00pmPWYW / 1hr

MarvelBy Elizabeth Moynihan

Produced in association with the Abbey TheatreDublin

A reading of this new play which explores the themesof greed, neo-slavery and power, both sexual andeconomic, through the intriguing relationship betweenMarvel, a young girl from Liberia working as anescort, and Dion, a married Futures and Hedge fundinvestor.

Sun 29 – 1.00pmPWYW / 1hr

MarathonAre you brave enough to come and see all the OneAct Plays and all the Monologues in just one sitting?If not, then join us for Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3 of ourMarathon as we close the festival in spectacularfashion!

Sun 293.00pm: Marathon Part 1: Necessary Evil and Roaring Voices Monologues E, G, H£8/£6 / 1hr 15mins

4.30pm: Marathon Part 2: Forgive our Paranoiaand Roaring Voices Monologues I, F, B£8/£6 / 1hr 15mins

6.00pm: Marathon Part 3: Piglet and Roaring Voices Monologues A, D, C£8/£6 / 1hr 15mins

For Parts 1, 2 & 3 of Marathon£20/£16

Hotbed Writers’Conversation Come and talk to the Hotbedwriters! A discussion chaired byMenagerie Literary Associate,Jacqui Honess-Martin.

Fri 27 – 6.00pmPWYW / 1hr

Page to Stage: Workshop 2Led by Fringe First Award-winningplaywright, Chris O’Connell, thisworkshop interrogates the idea ofan imaginative framework as abeginning point for writing. Beforeplot and character, there issomething else. You. Your voice.Ideal for writers, but equallysuitable for all professional andamateur theatre practitioners.

Sat 28 – 10.00am£15/£12 / 2hrs

Getting To WhereYou Want To Be In association with The Writer’sCompass (NAWE).

Are you heading in the direction youwant with your career? Usingexercises from The Writer’sCompass DIY Guide to ProfessionalDevelopment Planning, thisinspirational workshop with writerand experienced workshop leader,Andrew Burton, will enable you toclarify your current situation,identify specific goals and decipherwhere you would like to be in thefuture.

Sat 28 – 3.15pm £20/£15 / 2.5hrs

Andrew Burton is a freelance ArtsConsultant, Project Manager andAccredited Coach, specialising in

literature projects, freelance writing,and coaching. He is literaryconsultant at the University ofEssex’s Lakeside Theatre.

Hotbed Masterclass'Craft and Instinct'An amazing opportunity to workwith award-winning playwright,Mike Bartlett. Hone your skillswhilst nurturing andchannelling an instinctiveapproach to your work. Suitablefor all theatre practioners notjust writers!

Sun 29 – 11.00am £30/£20 / 2hrs

Mike Bartlett is a multi-awardwinning writer. In 2007, he was"writer in residence" at the RoyalCourt Theatre. In 2010 his playCock (Royal Court Theatre) won the2010 Laurence Olivier Award forOutstanding Achievement In AnAffiliate Theatre. Recent workincludes: Love Love Love;Earthquakes in London and 13(The National Theatre 2011-12).

Homelessness: a discussionIn association with thehomeless charity FLACK, adiscussion following on fromSaturday night’s performance ofSilent by Fishamble, reflectingon the issues confrontingpeople living on the streets.

Sun 29 – 2.00pm PWYW / 1hr (all proceeds go toFLACK)

State of the NationA discussion on new writingchaired by Guardian theatrecritic Lyn Gardner with a panelof distinguished new writingartists and producers.

Sat 28 - 2.00pm PWYW / 1hr

Page to Stage:Workshop 1 Presented in association with SohoTheatre.

An interactive workshop with VerityBargate winning writer ThomasEccleshare. The workshop willfocus on the generation of writingand getting new work to breathe onstage. Suitable for all professionaland amateur theatre practitioners:actors, writers and directors.

Fri 27 – 10.30am£15/£12 / 2hrs

Writers’ WorkshopPresented in association with SohoTheatre.

Verity Bargate winning writerThomas Eccleshare and Hotbedwriter Danusia Iswaszko.

The workshop will focus on thegeneration of ideas and the creationof structure for your written work.Suitable for professional andamateur writers.

Fri 27 – 2.00pm£15/£12 / 2hrs

Thomas Eccleshare won the 2011Verity Bargate Award, for his scriptPastoral, which will be performed atSoho Theatre. He currently has a TVsitcom in development for theBBC and is the Pearson Writer inResidence at Soho Theatre.

Workshops & Discussions

Tickets &

Information

All events take place at The Junction

Ticket prices:from £6 to £30 – please see individual shows forprices.

PWYW = Pay What You Want

Packages:Any two core shows purchased in one transaction:£14/£12

Any 3 core shows purchased in one transaction:£16/£14

Parts 1, 2, 3 of Marathon:£20/£16

Core shows: One Act Plays (Necessary Evil, Piglet,Forgive Our Paranoia) and monologues (excludingFood For Thought series)

You can buy tickets for any Hotbedperformances in person at:The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge CB1 7GX

By telephone: 01223 511511Or online: www.junction.co.uk

www.menagerietheatre.co.uk

Coming Soon

Egusi SoupA comedy about life, deathand… soup. By Janice Okoh

Directed by Paul Bourne

As a British-Nigerian family pack their suitcasesand prepare to head home for a funeral theyrealise they will need to get rid of some excessbaggage first! A fast, furious and funny newfamily drama about life in London, death inLagos and soup on the kitchen table.

A brand new comedy with plenty of spicy bits…

18 – 19 May, The Mumford Theatre Cambridge23 May – 9 June, Soho Theatre, London 14 – 16 June, The Mercury Theatre, Colchester.

Hotbed at

Monday 30th January – Best of

the Fest at Soho Theatre

1pm – 4pm

Tel: 020 7478 0100

www.sohotheatre.com

For more information aboutHotbed events, the writers, the

ensemble, latest news and offers,visit our website at

www.menagerietheatre.co.uk