Jacksons Lane

• 14 shows and events for adults and children programmed over two months in the run up to Christmas including a new commission from Gandini Juggling
• Other highlights include Silver Lining’s one off special Sound Box; and Halloween cabaret event Spooks!
• Visitors can book tickets at http://www.jacksonslane.org.uk/book-tickets/
• Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, London, N6 5AA
• Contact jacksonslane@kallaway.com for further information or press tickets

Jacksons Lane, a leading arts space in North London, has announced a stellar season of new work for its 40^th Anniversary year. Ranging from contemporary circus to moving theatre, spoken word, award-winning comedy and dance, the programme reflects the organisation’s commitment to showcasing a vibrant variety of new work that breaks down artistic boundaries.

Based in a gothic church in Highgate, Jacksons Lane hosts over 250 performances a year. While the venue has become reputed for its work with contemporary circus, the producing and receiving venue celebrates a wide variety of performing arts and has been the launch pad for some of UK’s leading performers and companies.

Highlights of the 40^th Anniversary season include:

• 7 October - Silver Lining, associate Jacksons Lane artists for the 40^th anniversary year, will kick off their curated series of performance nights and caberets with a one-off special fusion of live music and stunning circus by multi-talented, musical circus artists in Sound Box. Expect singers doing handstands, torch songs on cyr wheels and arias in the air.
• 31 October - Jacksons Lane present blood-curdling burlesque, macabre music, spectral circus and eerie illusion with some horrifically talented artists in a frighteningly fantastic Halloween special called Spooks!
• 21 - 25 November - Gandini Juggling’s new commission from Jacksons Lane Meta will feature six jugglers and three dancers in the company’s cutting-edge style that blurs the lines between contemporary dance and circus.

 The 40^th anniversary is a year of firsts for Jacksons Lane, which opened as a cultural hub for North London in 1975. The new commission from Gandini Juggling and introduction of Silver Lining as associate artists follows the launch of Jacksons Lane’s first ever touring show The Hogwallops, co-produced by Lost in Translation. Touring around the UK throughout 2015 with support from the Arts Council’s Strategic Touring programme, the show is another demonstration of Jacksons Lane’s commitment to building new audiences for circus and supporting the art form’s progression. Another element of this support comes through the Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane Award for Circus, which was introduced at the in Edinburgh Fringe in 2014 and sees Jacksons Lane providing financial support and a two-week residency for the winning circus company.

As well as being one of the UK’s most respected launch pads and supporters of new circus work, Jacksons Lane prides itself on a long history of being at the heart of the community. It maintains a strong support network of local individuals and emerging artists as well as continuing a bustling programme aimed at families. Highlights of show for all the family include:

• 4 October 2015, 12 & 3pm - Jojo & Billie’s Tour De France (Suitable for ages 3-11) With live music, video, mime, several Gallic shrugs and many, many bicycles, Cie Animotion is once again going to swim the Channel to bring their unique mix of exciting and lively wordless performance to Jacksons Lane.
• 26 - 30 October - Handa’s Surprise (Suitable for ages 2-6) Travel to Kenya this half term and follow in Handa’s footsteps as she journeys to see her best friend Akeyo, in the next village. A blend of physical performance, puppetry, live music and song combine to create an intimate, magical production with audience participation.
• 5 December - 3 January 2016 – The Snail and the Whale (Suitable for ages 4+) Back by popular demand, Jacksons Lane favourites Tall Stories (creators of The Gruffalo and last year’s Emily Brown and the Thing) present The Snail and the Whale for Christmas 2015. This much-loved, sell out production is an exciting collaboration with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Snail and the Whale mixes storytelling, lots of laughs and fantastic new music played live on stage.

 

Full artistic programme for adults:

Silver Lining’s Sound Box 
Wednesday 7 October 2015, 20:00
Tickets: £11.95/£9.95
Genre: Circus
Fresh from an acclaimed 40th birthday production, Throwback, and continuing the Jacksons Lane’s partnership with the rising stars of UK circus, Silver Lining returns for a one-off special fusion of live music and stunning circus. Featuring a host of multi-talented musical circus artists, expect singers on handstands, torch songs on cyr wheels and arias in the air.

Iain Lee V Radio 
Thursday 8 October 2015, 20:00
Tickets: £14.95/£12.95
Genre: Comedy
Award-winning radio and TV presenter Iain Lee picks some of the most hilarious moments from the history of the wireless. Why did Nicky Campbell drop himself in it when talking about foxes? What do callers to local radio REALLY think about Mayor Boris Johnson and surely old lady professors know what you can and what you most definitely can't say on the radio? Despite appearing on radio (Five Live, Radio 4, XFM, BBC 3 Counties) and TV (The 11 O'Clock Show, This Morning, Big Brothers Bit On The Side) for over fifteen years, this is Iain's first solo show. Should be a right old laugh.

Life On Wheels 
21 – 24 October 2015, 20:00 and 15:00 Saturday matinee
Tickets: £12.95
Genre: Circus
On roller-skates and in the air, two women revisit the interweaving stories of their past lives and loves - from the post-war optimism of the late 1940s to the domestic realities of the 1950s and beyond. Bella Kinetika’s circus theatre show has physical feats that will take your breath away as they skate, spin and fly across the stage. Featuring the recorded experiences of real women and with a fabulous soundtrack of 40s and 50s music; Life on Wheels is a gentle, moving look back in time.

Keats, Love and Myth Understandings 
30 October 2015, 20:00
Tickets: £14.95/£12.95
Genre: Comedy
A selection of verses on the above topics, devised as an adult show, but tolerable to some 10 year olds. Verses concerning Keats's relationships with vegetables and surgery. A long look at love, both on, and off the buses and musings on the old chestnut of Orpheus's disruptive turn around. Deep and daft. Come and Sing.
‘Scandalously talented’ Sunday Times
'Awesomely mundane' Independent

SPOOKS! A Halloween Cabaret 
31 October 2015, 20:00
Tickets: £20
Genre: Circus
Suitable for 18+ content and nudity
Jacksons Lane summons you to a ghoulish feast of blood-curdling burlesque, macabre music, spectral circus and eerie illusion with some horrifically talented artists in this frighteningly fantastic night. Overseen by the dark lord of comedy magic Christian Lee (a distant relative of Christopher, allegedly), expect vampires on ropes, tantalising terrors of tease, ghouls on your lap and gothic glamour all around, including the queen of erotic neo-burlesque, the sensational MisSa Blue. The ticket includes a chiller cocktail on arrival, with a late bar and special medicinal concoctions to get your fangs into. Book early and dress to scare!

Outpost 
3 – 7 November, 20:00 and Sat matinee 15:00
Tickets: £14.95, £12.95 (3 for 2 Friday)
Genre: Circus
If you’re drunk on power can you ever sober up? Luis and BK are stationed at a remote border crossing between their two countries. BK believes that somewhere out there, mysterious creatures roam the desert. The chance discovery of a strange other-world takes the two guards on a journey into the dark heart of politics, tyranny and murder. Absurd comedy and grotesque puppetry combine to explore nationalism, leadership and the terrible consequences of using another man’s toilet.

Meta 
21 – 24 November 2015, 20:00
Tickets: £15.95, £13.95, Gala Night Wed 25 £40
Genre: Circus
The vertigo of structure, the infectiousness of the shocking. A show about making shows. A reflection on entertainment. In the 90s the Gandinis made a series of experimental pieces with Choreographer Gill Clarke that were performed at Jacksons Lane. For this commission they revisit those pieces with a show which is about itself, an elliptical reflexion on their journey through entertainment. There will be complex juggling, text, ballet dancing, hammers, nudity, tables and a comedy sketch.
Gandini are bursting with concepts and commentary about form, style and substance. They are excited about this dissection of things, about dwelling deeper into the anatomy of a show. Back at Jacksons Lane as part of the 40th birthday celebrations, this piece sees Gandini simultaneously looking back to the past, forward to the future, and trying to explain how to get from one to the other. With 6 jugglers and 3 dancers.

Meta 40^th Anniversary Gala 
Wednesday 25 November, 20:00
Tickets: Gala Night £40
Genre: Circus
The closing night of our brand new commission is also a chance to mark our birthday with you in style. On this very special evening, come and celebrate with a performance of Gandini Juggling’s Meta followed by a champagne reception with canapés, a chance to meet the artists and brilliant live music and entertainment at the post-show birthday party.

Children’s programme:

Jojo & Billie’s Tour De France 
4 October 2015, 12:00 & 15:00
Tickets: £8.95
Genre: Family
Suitable for ages 3-11
Find out what happens when a French boy and an English girl crash into each other and cannot repair their bikes, how they overcome the language barrier and how Billie discovers her love of all things French. With live music, video, mime, several Gallic shrugs and many, many bicycles, Compagnie Animotion is once again going to swim the channel to bring their unique mix of exciting and lively wordless performance to Jacksons Lane! For little and big ones. Don’t forget to wear a beret.

We’re going On a Bear Hunt 
Saturday 10, Sunday 11 October 2015, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:30
Tickets: £9.95
Genre: Family
Suitable for ages 2+
A family go on an expedition of a lifetime - running down the grassy bank, wading through the cold river, squelching over the oozy mud, stumbling into the dark forest, then peering into a cave… what will they find?
Little Angel Theatre brings Michael Rosen’s thrilling and funny adventure to life in this entrancing puppetry production. Returning to Jacksons Lane after sold out performances in 2013, this family favourite features music and lyrics by renowned singer-songwriter Barb Jungr.

Flyaway Katie 
18 October 2015, 12:00, 15:00
Tickets: £8.95
Genre: Family
Suitable for ages 2-7
After bringing Shoe Baby and Arthur’s Dream Boat, Long Nose Puppets return to Jacksons Lane with brand new Flyaway Katie! This inspiring flight of fancy about the power of imagination based on the popular children's book by Polly Dunbar with music by Tom Gray of Gomez. The show is bursting with colour, movement, puppets & surprises.
'Magical and beautiful'   The Guardian

Handa’s Surprise 
26 -30 October, 10:30, 12:00, 14:00 on Mon, Wed, Thurs; 10:30, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00 on Tues, Friday
Tickets: £9:95
Genre: Family
Suitable for ages 2-6
Travel to Kenya this half term and follow in Handa’s footsteps as she journeys to see her best friend, Akeyo, in the next village. Handa is taking 7 delicious fruits as a surprise – but 7 different animals have 7 very different ideas… could you resist the sweet-smelling guava? How about a ripe red mango or a tangy purple passion fruit?
A blend of physical performance, puppetry, live music and song combine to create an intimate, magical production with audience participation. Come and share in the magical tangerine surprise!
“A short, sunshiny little show with a delicious citrus finish.” Critics’ Choice Time Out

The Snow Dragon 
29 November, 12:00 & 15:00
Tickets: £8.95
Genre: Family
Suitable for ages 3+
Billy has everything a young goat could need – and more besides. On New Year’s Eve, Billy is looking forward to the annual visit of the legendary Snow Dragon, who will bring him even more goodies... But when Billy bumps into some hungry wolves in the forest, New Year’s Day seems a long way off. How will Billy escape? And has he been naughty or nice?
Toe-tapping songs and lots of laughs for everyone from Jacksons Lane favourites Tall Stories.
‘If you are a kid, if you have kids, if you ever were a kid, go and see The Snow Dragon.’ (Three Weeks *****)

The Snail and the Whale 
05 December – 03 January 2016
Tickets: £12.95
Genre: Family
Suitable for ages 4+
Back by popular demand, Jacksons Lane favourites Tall Stories (creators of The Gruffalo and last year’s Emily Brown and the Thing) present The Snail and the Whale for Christmas 2015. This much-loved, sell out production is an exciting collaboration with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
A tiny snail longs to see the world, so she hitches a lift on the tail of a humpback whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, experiencing icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins... But when disaster strikes and the whale gets beached, how will the snail save him?
Follow the tiny snail’s exciting journey, as seen through the eyes of an adventurous young girl and her seafaring father... The Snail and the Whale mixes storytelling, lots of laughs and fantastic new music played live on stage – in a show for everyone aged 4 and up.

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 Notes to editors: 

Box Office and Ticket Enquiries: 0208 341 4421 

Jacksons Lane

Ashlie Nelson, Marketing Manager

ashlie@jacksonslane.org.uk

 

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About Jacksons Lane:

Jacksons Lane is a multi-arts venue in Highgate North London. Housed in a striking red-brick conversion, the building is home to a 166 capacity theatre, a large scale dance and rehearsal studio, a café and bar and four other multi-purpose spaces.

The venue has a rich history of innovative work including a wealth of experimental visual theatre companies, as well as a strong history in contemporary dance and circus.

Jacksons Lane artistic vision is in the support of emerging and established artists working within the fields of contemporary circus and performance, and the production and presentation of exciting and innovative work. As such it is one of the UK’s leading producers of new small-mid scale circus, working across a range of strategic partnerships.

Jacksons Lane supports some 100 companies and artists every year, and offers valuable resources in the form of mentoring, technical support, promotion and production. It has a growing roster of Associate Artists who become advocates for ‘North London’s Creative Space’.

The building offers a range of spaces to facilitate the diverse disciplines within circus, whilst the height and depth of the award-winning theatre space offers support to such forms as aerial theatre, German Wheel and acrobatics.

Jacksons Lane’s artistic programme of performance and participation is far-reaching, inclusive and accessible whilst constantly seeking to develop, grow and break new ground.