New Theatre Production – Theatre Making Workshop
04 Nov 2023
An Icon Theatre, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, Amina Khayyam Dance Company Co-Production, supported by The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Take part in Icon’s next immersive theatre and dance production to be staged at The Historic Dockyard Chatham in autumn 2024.
All ages, no experience necessary.
Backstage and performing roles available.
In Icon’s signature style, this new production will be created and performed by a 200-strong company of professional performers, a community cast and young artists and will explore the local, hidden histories of The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
Using a mix of breath-taking visuals, exhilarating choreography from acclaimed ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company (SYLVIA, Old Vic; Message In A Bottle, West End), spoken word and original new music, it will uncover the forgotten and hidden stories of a 400-year-old monument that has shaped our local and national identity.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for people who like thinking about where they live, meeting new people, sharing stories and making theatre. A range of performing and non-performing roles are available. There are no auditions, it is free to take part and no experience is necessary.
How We Make Shows
Mostly, Icon creates devised theatre shows in unconventional ways, and in hidden and forgotten spaces and places, everything from old forts to castles, riversides to car parks. You might remember our previous productions The Ballad of St John’s Car Park in St George’s Hotel, If Not Now at Rochester Castle and The Chatham Witch at Fort Amherst.
Generally, we bring a small idea or concept and invite local people and professional theatre-makers to create productions with us. We prioritise staging unheard local stories. Individuals, groups, schools and emerging artists get involved in way that suits them. They might offer their skills, their story or local history, take a leading role alongside a professional performer, support backstage creating costumes, or be part of a mass-dance routine that has been rehearsed in their school’s drama lessons.
The process usually begins with research and theatre-making workshops. Then, due to the large number of people who are involved, sections of the show are rehearsed separately, with everyone coming together for full company rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the performances.
Rehearsal & Performance Schedule
The full schedule will be shared in Autumn 2023. There will be early research and theatre-making sessions in autumn 2023, with regular rehearsals twice a week in August and September 2024. The production will be staged week commencing 29 September 2024.
Theatre-Making Sessions
To begin the rehearsal process, there will be early research and theatre-making sessions in autumn 2023 led by director, Nancy Hirst.
Saturday 4 November 2023, 1.30pm – 3.30pm, The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Saturday 11 November 2023, 1.30m – 3.30pm, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham
Saturday 18 November 2023, 1.30pm – 3.30pm, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham
Further details will be supplied once you’ve signed up.
Drop-In Sessions
We are running informal drop-in sessions where you can have a cup of tea with us and find out more.
Tuesday 17 October 2023, 2pm – 4pm
Chatham Library and Community Hub, Community Hub Chatham, Dock Road, ME4 4TX
Meeting Point: main desk
Nearest Parking: Chatham Riverside Car Park (Paid)
Saturday 21 October 2023, 2pm – 4pm
Nucleus Heart Community Space (Unit 67), Pentagon Centre, High Street, ME4 4HY
Directions: Upstairs above The Entertainer Toy Shop. This can be access by the lift or the escalator.
Nearest Parking: Pentagon Shopping Centre (Paid)
Nearest Bus Stop Waterfront Bus Station
To Take Part
You can express your interest in joining the community cast and company by filling in the form below or by:
Email: George at hello@icontheatre.org.uk
Telephone 01634 813179
Questions
Email: George at hello@icontheatre.org.uk
Phone: 01634 813179
Quotes
★★★★ “A sharp, impeccably performed and blazingly impassioned piece of theatre …simply terrific.” The Times
“This particular show was absolutely incredible to be part of. A true community feel … The actual performances were unlike anything I’ve ever been part of. You could feel the joy and pride charging through the air. A once in a lifetime experience for an amateur performer. Thank you so much”.
Community Cast Member
“Once every so often I get a chance to be part of an Icon show. It’s a magical, exciting, lovely time I get to share with amazing people. For a few weeks I feel alive and part of a community to which I belong”.
Community Cast Member
“Icon has been ahead of the curve in understanding that the arts have a role to play in bringing people together, helping them be heard by telling their own stories in their own way, and in the process creating a sense of pride in place and space.”
Theatre Journalist, Lyn Gardner
