• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Tickets

Ink Festival 2018 Suffolk

April 12, 2018 by Paul Hegarty Leave a Comment

Ink Festival 2018 provides a platform for a sweeping range of creative activities in East Anglia, with a local focus and national aspirations. Artistic Director, Julia Sowerbutts and her creative team present a slickly timetabled range of newly commissioned works over the course of a two-day feast of creativity at The Cut in Halesworth, Suffolk.

This year the festival has a new original musical theatre piece, Heart of Winter by Tim Connor and Lisa Buddle. Director Susan Raasay keeps the focus on the strong lyrical narrative as it charts the emotional rise and fall of Kate (sung with terrific vocal dexterity by Rebecca Trehearn) who struggles to make sense of a broken relationship. Bold and contemporary, Heart of Winter and their creative team are a real find that will bring colour to your cheeks, if not bring a tear to your eye.

 

On the main stage The Inkredible 5 (Richard Curtis, Esther Freud, Blake Morrison and Steve Waters) provided a series of short micro plays, some funny, touching or intriguing, but all entertaining. All of these will tour East Anglia after the festival – pioneering stuff to test the demand for an evening of short scenes or one act pieces, but this seems to be the style of INK – do it, but do it differently.

INK is probably also the only festival in the country to provide a space for Radio Theatre, where an opportunity is given to audiences to hear and see a range of radio plays. Short, sometimes pithy but always entertaining and at times fascinating, these include pieces like Her Mother’s Voice (Astrid Ronning), presenting vintage footage with wit and style. Others were directed by Tim Bentinck (of David Archer fame) and Richard Blaine, a well established local actor, writer and director. Such a mix gives testimony to the spirit of the festival, with performers swapping through mediums and creating a proper community feel amoungst the theatrics.

Plays included thought-provoking and edgy The Girl Who Wasn’t There, a piece the aftermath of a drug fuelled booze binging evening. Ten-minute Cold Call caused a stir as a sympathic look about a disintegrating relationship in a call centre, with Bus Stop (written and directed by Daniel Allum) a comedic highlight. Allum is a great find as he clearly has keen ear for dialogue and sharp eye for character – certainly one to watch. Humbug, (written by Martha Loader) explores two estrange lovers meeting up after 9 years and uncovers the traumatic split causing a seismic rift between two upwardly mobile 30-somethings with a digital past that refuses to go away. Rosy Carrick’s performance poetry delivers as dense, passionate, thoughtful and entertaining. Overhearing her 5 year old daughter talking with her friend about the slaughter of pigs and cats was vividly funny and her recounting of those attention seeking ‘hole-in-the heart playground chums’ equally entertaining.

In the studio INK presented a cycle of plays focussed around the number 147, directed by Dugald Bruce-Lockhart. In Blood Pressure by Jan Etherington, Darrell Brockis played the sensitive vampire looking for a regular blood transfusion on the NHS with an endearing quality that captured all the comic elements of the situation. The Bogeyman by Wally Smith cleverly explored the feelings and character of Jim (beautifully pitched by Michael Shaw) as he rummaged and poked about the discarded possessions of the recently deceased man at number 147. However the standout had to be play 147. Here the wonderfully composed, stylish and succinct Penelope Rawlins – robot 147  – is brought home with understandable delight by Raymond (Michael Shaw). Scott’s play challenges ideas about men and relationships both intimate and platonic, and who can really be said to be in control.

INK Festival offers a diverse range of activities – 8 performance spaces with over 40 new productions, talks and workshops. Now in its third year it seems to be going from strength to strength, having started with around 15 new shorts plays in 2015 to recent submissions in the range of 200 new scripts and films – all by writers with East Anglian connections. There is work to appeal to all age groups, proving that regional that (and East Anglia in particular) is bursting with creativity!

Author: Paul HegartyPaul is a reviewer and an experienced actor who has performed extensively in the West End (Olivier nominated) and has worked in TV, radio and a range of provincial theatres. He is also a speech, drama and communications examiner for Trinity College London, having directed productions for both students and professionals and if not busy with all that he is then a teacher of English.

Filed Under: Featured, News Tagged With: Ink Festival

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Silent Faces on Godot is a Woman’s first UK Tour

Silent Faces return to the stage with their signature style of playful and political physical theatre, interrogating permission, patriarchy, and [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Max Rinehart on The Retreat

We spoke to actor Max Rinehart about his experience working on the European premiere of Jason Sherman’s The Retreat at [Read More]

NEWS / Frozen Light celebrate 10 years with Sensory Symposium

The UK’s premiere company for adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities invites industry professionals of all genres and sensory [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Jenny Foulds on Life Learnings of a Nonsensical Human

Performer Jenny Foulds tells us about her forthcoming one woman show Life Learnings of a Nonsensical Human, coming to the [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Monique Touko on We Need New Names

We Need New Names is a defiant and exuberant coming-of-age story follows a young girl from the playgrounds of Zimbabwe [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Max Rinehart on The Retreat
  • Monique Touko on We Need New Names
  • Beached- Soho Theatre
  • Complicité's A Minute Too Late at the National Theatre
  • Katy Owen: How to Apply to Drama Schools*
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • The Adrian Pagan Award is Back - Could You Win It?
  • Does Small to Mid Scale Theatre Touring Actually Work?
  • The Cherry Orchard- a translation for modern times and a modern audience? The Young Vic
  • The Bacchae - National Student Drama Festival 2015
  • Paul Hegarty
    Contributor

  • April 12th, 2018
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook11TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!