Explore some of Jumped Up’s earliest shows and commissions - in Peterborough and across the country.
Workhouse Christmas
by Nick Wood
@ Peterborough Museum (2010) & The Old Still (2009)
With a community choir singing traditional carols as the audience is led around the public and private spaces in Peterborough’s most historic venues, Jumped Up’s professional actors (Caroline Rippen, Jason Webb and Liam Thomas) brought this famous Victorian poem to life for a sold-out run funded by Arts Council East.
“The best theatrical production I have ever seen in Peterborough...I was blown away...something to be really proud of.”
“It’s a superb production, offering something quite unique to normal Peterborough theatre experiences.”
House
by Fraser Grace, Peggy Riley & Nick Wood
@ Peterborough Festival & Hotbed Festival, Cambridge
Jumped Up’s first production in Peterborough. The audience enters a normal, suburban house and meets three characters looking for a second chance. Lucky is a young autistic man who has his own perspective on things. Ghostman wants a safe place and to keep his head down. Another’s devotion to a cause is diverting attention from her own problems. Perfectly and delicately formed, this production draws on Jumped Up’s ability to nurture new writing and its audiences.
“Lucky” went on to be developed into “My Name is Stephen Luckwell”, a full-length play for Nottingham Playhouse, and a radio drama for Radio 4.
“Compelling and sympathetic...brilliant drawn performances...quality writing.”
Galileo
by Peggy Riley
@ Site-specific tour of London Churches
Inspired by Brecht’s masterpiece “Life of Galileo” and Dava Sobel’s editing of letters from “Galileo’s Daughter” this ambitious project, created with and around the London communities and churches it toured to, punched well above its weight with music, singing, projection and film.
Peggy Riley's new script was delivered by a team of four actors (Vic Bryson, Rosanna Mason, Robin Samson and Mark Carlisle) and the production team (Kate Hall, Sophie Lascelles, Tim Pearce and Matthew Bailey)
“Chilly, uncomfortable but atmospheric...it’s almost possible to imagine yourself transported to the Vatican...Imaginative and resourceful...handheld spotlights blast a hidden speaker into the light...a startling symbol of the Church and science’s age-old quarrel.”
Taming of the Shrew
by Shakespeare
@ Eltham Park, London
Staged in an abandoned open-air theatre in South-East London this energetic production drew audiences into a rarely used park, highlighting the potential of the area to local people.
Cast included: Vic Bryson & Richard Cherry (pictured), Wendy Reed, James DeGazio, Kirsty Sandom, Steve Cornthwaite, John Dorney and Richard Glen.
Costumes by Magali Maurin.
“The rain kept off, the stars came out and the wedding feast was celebrated with champagne to the strains of Dean Martin’s ‘It’s Amoure”. Who could fail to be both amused and charmed by such an evening?”
Cold Draft on Tap
by Peggy Riley
@ Old Red Lion Theatre, London
Whether you believe that truth is science, angels, fairies or at the bottom of the beer bottle, having a belief is at least something. Take that away, and what do you have – a fear that it’s all down to you. This was Jumped Up’s first new-writing commission and our first Arts Council-funded production.
Cast included: Kirsty Sandom, Richard Cherry, Kathryn Akin, Ashley Collishaw, Adam Kimmel and Sally Crane.
Design by Lisa Southgate.
Serpent Kills
by Blake Brooker & Jim Milan
@ White Bear Theatre, London
Based on the true-crime exploits of the manipulative and deadly Charles Sobhraj on the 70’s hippy trail, this production created the heady atmospheres of Hong Kong and Goa, Bangkok and Kathmandu with a soundtrack straight out of 'The Doors' before the film was even made.
This production came about after Kate worked as an assistant director with Blake Brooker’s Calgary company, One Yellow Rabbit, and was part of a season of Canadian Theatre funded by the Canadian Counsel.
“The stage [is crowded] with vivid images of the perilous, fascinating, oppressive maelstrom that is ‘The East’”
I Only Want to be with You
by Barrie Keeffe
@ White Bear Theatre, London
Adapted by Barrie Keeffe from his earlier script “My Girl” with original music by Manfred Mann and Roland Gift, this was the first of many successful productions at The White Bear, one of London’s leading new-writing London fringe venues.
“...razor sharp and genuinely moving. Quite wonderful.”
“This is fringe theatre of the first order... Keeffe’s bitter-sweet two-hander burbles along like a lovable, stranguable snotty-nosed ‘Saarf’ London child. The delightfully funny script coats a bitter pill. Impressive.”
