NEW WAVE Theatre 2024: Winners Announcement

THE NEW WAVE PROGRAMME

Bloomsbury has always been a hub of creativity and the New Wave opportunities in art, music and theatre seek to nurture the new wave of talent, at the start of their professional careers, by offering exhibition space and performances during the festival with cash prizes and grant support for the winners. Bloomsbury Festival and invited panellists from local institutions and professionals have selected entries for presentation in each of the three categories of New Wave emerging talent.

Speaking about this year’s competition, Festival Director Rosemary Richards said: “We are delighted in 2024 to exhibit and present work of 20 emerging professional artists (and their associates) in fine art, music and theatre, to take this step into their chosen careers. These are all outstanding talents selected by panels of professionals, representatives of the venues, and leading specialist institutions, and we could not be prouder of the work we are sharing with our audiences”.

NEW WAVE THEATRE 2024

The 2024 New Wave Theatre programme is supported by Bishop & Sewell, with prizes and support for writing from Rugby School Macready Theatre, Tramshed, and Bloomsbury Radio at Bloomsbury Institute offer prizes for winning writers. The New Wave theatre programme is additionally supported by Arts Council England.

Presented at City Lit John Lyon’s Theatre:

THE ENCRYPTED FOREST by JIM OSMAN
An evening of folktales for the digital age, inspired by post-internet art, weird fiction, cosmic horror, and traditional folktales.

ATTEMPTS ON A BIRCH TREE by GEORGINA DETTMER (I AM I AM)
A live theatrical experiment. In 2015 Katie fell in love with a tree. Join theatre company, I AM I AM, as they attempt to fall in love too in this prize-winning play about the climate crisis and falling for things you shouldn’t.

THE DAISY CHAIN by PRINCESS BESTMAN
Ted-talk-gig-theatre styled performance looking into the realities of England’s foster care system. Fusing audience participation and music with playful commentary, the Daisy chain focuses on
transformative approaches and the restoration of hope.

Presented At Westminster Kingsway College Theatre:

3 COUPLES, 2 BREAKUPS, 1 BARBIE AND THE BERLIN WALL by SQUARE PEGS, MACREADY THEATRE YOUNG ACTORS’ COMPANY (WRITTEN BY GEROGINA DETTMER)
Eight teenagers (and a Barbie doll) invite you to a joyfully absurd, fast-paced, fun-filled play about love – in all its weird and wonderful forms.

GOODGIRL by PARBATI CHAUDHURY (LIT PATH PRODUCTIONS)
A new play on a radical, tender reimagining of parenthood and family. Hold the hands of Suhana, Padma, and Brinda as they push through the final few weeks of Suhana’s longed-for pregnancy. A work-in-progress from Lit Path Productions with writing, movement, and direction by Parbati Chaudhury, and music by Archita Kumar.

Presented on Bloomsbury Radio:

HADDOCK by MAX RAEBURN
This radio play mimics a folktale, and follows an Irish couple in the 1950s questioning their faith in their religion, each other and themselves.

Presented at Holy Cross Church:

SOGYA by PATRICK BAYELE (THE AVIELI ARTHOUSE)
A visceral Afro-Centric theatrical experience honouring World War II Commonwealth soldiers who sacrificed their lives. Audiences are invited to reclaim lost legacies in this lyrical epic. Developed and presented by The Avieli Arthouse led by Patrick Bayele, Esther Foga and Aixa Amarante Naranjo.

Images
Top: SOGYA – The Avieli Arthouse; Photography by Luan Da Silva, designed by Arthur Bayele
Bottom: Attempts on a Birch Tree – I AM I AM; Image by Aaron Hammond Duncan