Present Moment: November 2010

In January-February 2010, 3860 people came to Stratford Circus to see Present Moment’s production of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus.

Here, in conjunction with Stratford Circus and Circus Media, we present art inspired by the story of Doctor Faustus, created by young people from the outer East London boroughs.

THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID: A DEVISED THEATRE PROJECT

Project Director:
Jules Tipton

Directors:
Chris Buckingham
Adrian Figueroa
Ria Knowles
Oscar Ward

On 16 January 2010, a group of young people came from all over Newham, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Waltham Forest. Most of them had never met each other before. They worked as a whole group, learning specialist theatre skills, in a series of voice and movement workshops led by theatre professionals. That evening, they watched the Present Moment production of Doctor Faustus.

The following Friday they met again. They devised and rehearsed all weekend and every night until the showcase performance of their work on 27 January at Stratford Circus. Each piece is was inspired, in some way, by the themes of the play and the style of the Present Moment production.

One of the pieces from, "The Price That Must Be Paid", can be viewed below.

TEMPTATION & DESIRE: A PLAYWRITING PROJECT

Project Director:
Shannen Owen

Playwright Mentors:
Kat Joyce
Nicholas McInerney
Charlotte Thomson
Sheila White

In November & December 2009, over 40 young people between the ages of 14 & 18, from Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Newham, Havering and Barking and Dagenham began writing their own ten minute play based on themes of Doctor Faustus. They received a variety of workshops with professional playwrights and actors to support the process.

8 plays by 10 young people were cast and rehearsed with Present Moment’s company of actors. Directed by the professional playwrights, by Joss Bennathan (Present Moment’s Artistic Director) and by Jules Tipton (Associate Director), the plays moved from page to stage. The plays were also published.

One of the pieces from, "Temptation and Desire," can be viewed below.

THE PRICE OF MY SOUL: SNAP SHOT SHORT FILMS

Circus Media Manager:
Sammy Gildroy

Project Manager:
Tom Stoddart

Project Manager:
Annette Telesford

Project Officer:
Donna Bamford

Workshop Leader:
Alice Knight

Mentored by media professionals, young people not in education, employment or training, were the creative driving force for this project, which took place in January 2010. The film has been screened at Stratford Circus and as part of the Film East Festival.

THE MODERN SEVEN DEADLY SINS: A VISUAL ARTS INSTALLATION PROJECT

Project Director:
Eliza Williams

Artist In Residence:
Cristina Ottonello

A large scale mobile, shown below, was on exhibition at Stratford Circus throughout the run of the production.