A New Work Festival showcasing “the most dynamic and exciting talent from the Midlands” is to be held at Curve theatre, Leicester.
Formerly kown as Inside Out, the New Work Festival will take over spaces around the theatre’s building and will include productions and activities for all ages.
Several performances will be staged direct from runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, including Olivier Award nominee Caroline Horton who will open Curve’s festival with All of Me on Wednesday 16 October.
Lewis Doherty takes two parody performances to Curve: WOLF, a “neon-noir cyber-punk action thriller”, on Friday 18 October and BOAR, an “epic fairytale”, on Friday 25 October.
Theatre company Fat Rascal and Curve breakthrough artist Jack Britton will return from Edinburgh to perform Mighty on Tuesday 22 October. Fat Rascal will also present its musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 October.
As part of Black History Month celebrations, Curve associate company Serendipity takes BHM Live Showcase to Curve on Thursday 17 October, with new performances from Isaac Ouro-Gnao, Joshua Nash, Jordan Douglas, Akeim Toussaint Buck and a new film from Jaha Browne.
Curve will host Diwali family day on Saturday 19 October, filling the theatre with live performances and free activities between 11AM and 3PM. In the evening, Curve affiliate company Nupur Arts will celebrate youth with a selection of classical Indian dance and music in Yuva Nartan Utsav.
On Thursday 24 October In Good Company, the professional, creative and business development programme for theatre-makers and companies in the Midlands, will present PlayShuffle which will showcase local talent and aspiring new playwrights.
The festival will also include the Basement Bunch and Toby Clark’s feminist play The Eden Effect (Monday 21 October), Curve breakthrough artist Louise White’s immersive, ocean-based production for families Washed Up…with a Turtle Named Reggie (Saturday 26 October) and works-in progress throughout the festival from Curve breakthrough artists Lewys Holt, Si Rawlinson and Enter Edem.
The festival has been curated by Curve’s new work associate Beth Shouler who joined the theatre in April 2019. She said, “all of us at Curve love to find new and distinctive shows made by extraordinarily talented artists. We’re thrilled the festival will showcase some of the best work being made by contemporary theatre-makers in the UK.
“It’s a real celebration of the talent in the Midlands as every performance has creatives or performers from the region. There’ll also be workshops, surgeries and opportunities for artists to network.
“All of us at Curve hope audiences have as much delight watching these shows as we have. Ultimately they’re fascinating stories told in inventive and beautiful ways that make for a really great night out.”
The festival runs from Wednesday 16 until Saturday 26 October.