2nd - 4th June 2010

At Hull Truck Theatre

Box office:01482 323638

Theatre • Music • Dance • Poetry • Literature • Film • Art • University • City • M

ERGE

WelcometoMerge

Hello, and welcome to the Merge Arts Festival. Have a seat, get a drink, enjoy yourself.

We were sitting in a London pub almost a year ago now, when we decided that it’d be great to have a new writing festival in Hull. We were mid-way through a day of short, new plays at Kilburn’s Tricycle Theatre, and wanted to bring back with us some of the buzz we felt. Since then, Merge has grown into a multi-arts event and is far bigger and more complicated than we’d ever imagined possible.

We hope you’ll find something you love, some things you like and maybe something that just gets you talking. There are events happening all day from 10am(!), so dip in and out. There’s music, dance, theatre, cabaret, performance art, poetry, film and all sorts!

Merge is a big showcase of performing and creative talent from the University of Hull, and our aim throughout this last year has been to bring the University and the city a little closer together.

Naturally, Merge didn’t simply happen; there’s a small army of people that

we must thank. These helpful folk are listed below, but we’d like to extend especial thanks to the University of Hull’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences for their generous sponsorship. Merge has relied on its managers: Emma, Amber and Rachael. Emma has been a constant source of support and an invaluable second opinion on a wide range of issues. Amber and Rachael, despite only joining us recently, have both taken on large workloads with tiny deadlines and handled them admirably. We’d also like to thank Sarah-Jane Dickenson, Nick Lane and Ava Hunt for their

unflagging support of this young project.

Finally, thanks to all our artists, and to you for coming – enjoy it!

Thanks,

Richard & Zoe

Merge Arts Festival Directors

Merge is: Artistic Director Richard T. Watson

Technical DirectorZoe Hughes

Events ManagerEmma Gregory

Technical ManagerAmber Hine

Publicity ManagerRachael Abbey

Merge’s tech crew has done a great job – be nice to them: Stage ManagersClaire Moate, Rebecca Tollhurst and Lia Nicalou

Foyer ManagerJade Potter

CrewPippa Eveleigh, Stacey Fox and Harriet Ward

Foyer artistsJonathan Greenall, Septa Sharvia and Tom Parker

Our special thanks and gratitudeNick Lane, Ava Hunt, Matt Thompson, Staff at Hull Truck Theatre, Sarah-Jane Dickenson, Richard Tall, Staff at the University of Hull’s Department of Music and Drama, Staff at the School of Arts and New Media (University of Hull Scarborough Campus), the University of Hull’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Jane Ellison, Andy Magson and Bartuf Printing, Keira Walker, Kate Booth, Will Langdale, Venetia Stefanu, Stef Harris, Paul Holloway, Jeffrey Brown, Chris Staros & Top Shelf Productions, The Tricycle Theatre (Kilburn), http://www.photoshopbrushes.com/

June 2nd8.30pm

The Foyer

Launch

Hull University Big Band

In August, Hull University’s Big Band will be wowing the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – the world’s biggest arts festival – and are raising funds for their trip. They’ll greatly appreciate any small contributions...

Featuring:Matthew Newby - Tenor SaxaphoneBenjamin Ten-Bruggencarte - Tenor SaxaphoneAndrew Robinson - Barritone Saxaphone/Alto SaxaphoneDaniel Blows - Alto SaxaphoneAnnabel Weeden - Alto saxaphone

The Devotease

Devised by the company

An 18+ display of burlesque and neo-burlesque, which will tease you and tantalise you. Limited seating, so be quick!

The original production of this show included:

Emily LeeLeah CulfLouise FisherLeigh-Anne SchofieldCarly Medlock

Line-up subject to change

Jak Masters - Alto SaxaphoneCraig Brown - TromboneJack Swift - TromboneMark Sheldrake - Trombone/Bass TromboneRob Gales - TrumpetPeter Kench - TrumpetNathan Higgins - TrumpetRebecca Norman - TrumpetAlex French - KeyboardChris Legg - KeyboadCarry Rhea - Bass GuitarNick Calpin - Electric GuitarIsaac Draper - Eletric GuitarJake Buckley - Drums

Twenty-minute playsJune 3rd & 4thThe Studio

New Writing

10:00 amMilk, Two Sugars

By Emma Martin

The first play of the day at the Merge Arts Festival is a gentle comedy with a serious side, to ease us all into the Festival... There’s a discount on tea/coffee and croissants! That’s right, a caffeine kick and a croissant, along with a cheap, short play - what more could you want?

Director: Natalie Bowen

NICOLE: Lizi CoombsJAMES: Forest WatkinsETHEL: Renee-Leah LondonLUCY: Hannah Oxley

12:00 noonClumsy. An Adaptation

Based on the graphic novel Clumsy by and (C) Jeffrey Brown

Sam Oliver’s adaptation of Jeffrey Brown’s popular graphic novel is the second of the day’s plays at the Merge Arts Festival. Come and watch a relationship unfold before your eyes.

Adapted and directed by Samuel Oliver

JEFFREY: Tom BoothJEFFREY: Michael HotchkissTHERESA: Sophie TolandTHERESA: Katie Waller

2:00pmThe Beautiful South

By Thomas Peel

The third play of the day at the Merge Arts Festival is a highly topical and current look at religious prejudice and attitudes to difference. It also has a great soundtrack.

Director: Hana Walker-Brown

MR PROCTER: Joe AstonMRS PROCTER: Sian BennettVICTOR: James Robinson

4:00pmMurderous in Tent

By Ian Farnell

The fourth and final play of the day at the Merge Arts Festival - a dark comedy about camping clowns. Something terrible has happened in the woods...

Director: Richard T. Watson

PEDROLINO: Mark HarveyZEPPO: Joel RedgraveGIGGLES: Alice PrinceGASPARD: Natalie Russell

June 3rdThe Studio

Script Scratch

Night

Hello Sunshine

By Roxanna Kennedy

Directed by Emma Baker

A: Huw AllenB: Andrew HayesC: Ralph BoothD: Lee RobertsYELLOW: Jess Neale

Telepathetic

Written and directed by Sarah Davies

ROGER: Ani PanellFATHER: Monde SibisiSISTER: Amber RowsallMOTHER: Renee Leah London

35 Years and Just One Sock

Written by Andrew Fowler

Directed by Andrew Fowler

MAURINE: Lizzie Perry

Romance is Dead

Written by Andrew Fowler

Directed by Andrew Fowler

CLIVE: James Frewer

The Scene

Written and directed by Richard Watson

A MAN: Samuel Lannacombe OliverA WOMAN: TBC

June 3rdProgramme11:00amThe FoyerPiano Recital

Mike Edgar

1:00pmThe FoyerClassical soloist

Ying-Ying Chang

3:00pmThe FoyerString Quartet

Gavin Usher - Violin ILaura Eggelshaw - Violin IIColin Webb - ViolaAndrew McKenzie - Cello

5:00pmThe StudioThe Jazz Stallions

Featuring:Matthew Newby - Tenor SaxaphoneAlex French - KeyboardAndrew Robinson - Alto SaxaphoneJack Swift - TromboneDom Helson - DrumsJamie Moore - Bass GuitarIsaac Draper - Electric GuitarJake Buckley - DrumsLizzie Hawes - Vocals

6:30pmThe FoyerSplit Lip Open Mic Night

Tom Peel

7:45pmThe StudioDance: It is one thing to dance on a beach...

Pamela WalinckHelen Arnold Steve Johnson Laura Clack Katy Munroe-Farlie

10:00pmThe FoyerGilbert & Sullivan Society (HUGSS) Variety Night

Alexa ShawLisa McKinleyAbi SpearSteph CorbettRosie OwenChris WelburnMatthew RyanKeira WalkerRory Oliver

The Jazz Stallions, the filthiest, funkiest jazz band this side of the Humber, have played in Hull Truck’s Foyer recently. We promoted them to the Studio.

June 4th11:00amThe FoyerFlute Choir

Carisse Rooke Lynette Le Riche Zoe Tempest-Jones Lorna Brown Chloe Dexter Kathryn Bhatia Amy Stutznegger Chris Dove Rebecca Bradley Mona Keshmiri

1:00pmThe FoyerThe Warren’s Act

3:00pmThe FoyerClarinet Choir

Nuno DuarteSarah MoffatJames AndersonFiona ButcherLaura Hunt

5:00pmThe FoyerThe Warren’s Act

6:00pmThe StudioFilm shorts

The Dig

Written and directed by Will Langdale, Tom Revell and Lauren Wing

The end is nigh, and it’s unreasonable. In this apocalytic vision, who’s watching who?

Running order TBC

The Clarinet Choir perform at this year’s Summer Concert, with a Last Night of the Proms theme

twitter.com/merge_arts_fest

Search “merge arts festival” on Facebook

Line-up subject to change

Wednesday 2nd June Thursday 3rd June Friday 4th June

08:3009:0009:30

10:00Milk, Two Sugars - Studio (tea/coffee/croissant)

Milk, Two Sugars - Studio (tea/coffee/croissant)

10:3011:00 Foyer - Piano Recital Foyer - Flute Choir11:3012:00 Clumsy - Studio Clumsy - Studio12:3013:00 Foyer - Classical soloist Foyer - Warren Group Music Act13:3014:00 The Beautiful South - Studio The Beautiful South - Studio14:3015:00 Foyer event - String Quartet Foyer - Clarinet Choir15:3016:00 Murderous in Tent - Studio Murderous in Tent - Studio16:3017:00 Jazz Stallions - Studio Foyer - Warren Group Music Act17:30 Jazz Stallions - Studio18:00 Films - Studio18:30 Split Lip - Foyer19:0019:30 [19:45-20:15] Dance from HUSC - Studio20:00 [19:45-20:15] Dance from HUSC - Studio

20:30LAUNCH

Big Band - FoyerScript Scratch Night - Studio

21:00 Script Scratch Night - Studio21:30

22:00The Devotease - Studio

G&S (HUGSS) Variety Night - Foyer

22:30The Devotease - Studio

23:00

The Studio

The Foyer