Three short plays by STEVEN BERKOFF, DAVID ELDRIDGE and REBECCA LENKIEWICZ.

Inspired by the eclectic characters of the East End three multi award winning writers investigate the streets where these characters roam and uncover their secrets. In an hour of theatre especially curated for EAST, Arcola presents three new and rarely seen short plays by London writers Steven Berkoff, David Eldridge and Rebecca Lenkiewicz.  An original one off theatrical treat that is not to be missed.

A wide range of organic, fairtrade food and drink will be on offer from Waterhouse Restaurant at the Arcola’s Eco Bar.

CAST includes:
Pandora Colin, Danny Dalton, Madeleine Herrington, Amanda Lawrence, Joseph Marcell, Paul Moriarty, Linda Robson

WRITERS:
Steven Berkoff – Purgatory

Are you an actor? Do you like Shakespeare? A hostel madam gets her comeuppance when she takes on an unusual new lodger. A touching satire about first impressions and chance encounters.

Steven Berkoff is one of the UK’s greatest living playwrights, actors and writers. Original stage plays include East, West, Messiah: Scenes from a Crucifixion, The Secret Love Life of Ophelia, Decadence, Harry’s Christmas, Massage, Acapulco and Brighton Beach Scumbags.

Rebecca Lenkiewicz – Flowers In Her Hair

Two strangers negotiate the rituals of a blind date. But they quickly find themselves revealing far more than they intended. A sweet and savage look at the ridiculousness of love.

Rebecca Lenkiewicz is the award winning writer of Her Naked Skin (NT), The Night Season (NT), A Soldiers Tale (Old Vic) and Soho: A Tale of Table Dancers (Arcola).

David Eldridge – The List

Mother’s dead, but she’s left a list behind. As brother and sister try to hear her final words, father can’t escape the brutal truth. A miserable comedy set in the fading light of the real East End.

David Eldridge is the award winning writer of Festen, which transferred to the West End in 2006 from the Almeida, Under the Blue Sky (West End), Market Boy (NT) and Incomplete and Random Acts of Kindness (Royal Court).

DIRECTORS:

James Grieve, Artistic Director of East based theatre company nabokov – The List

Fiona Morrell – Flowers In Her Hair

Hamish Pirie – Purgatory

Cycle East gives the chance to explore what’s on offer in the East End, by using different modes of transport including bikes to sample a range of high quality performances at diverse venues across the East End.

Cycle East provides you with the opportunity to watch new and rarely seen shorts by a selection of East End playwrights including Steven Berkoff and David Eldridge at one of the most sustainable theatres in the world, the Arcola in Dalston, watch Mercury Music Award nominees Portico Quartet perform at Toynbee Studios historic theatre and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of St John-at-Hackney Church with a special vocal performance by Helen Chadwick Group. Each venue has been selected for its atmosphere which provides a space for quality art and relaxation in an interesting setting. Each venue provides a selection of refreshments to help you refuel before continuing on your journey!

There will be three shows at each venue on Sunday 8th March at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm. Each show will last approx 1 hour.

For further information on cycle routes for Cycle East and safe cycling go to:
 http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/cycleeast

Portico Quartet
Toynbee Studios, Theatre at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm
Portico Quartet are four young musicians based in London and causing quite a stir. Forging contemporary jazz with modern classical tendencies (think Steve Reich and Philip Glass) along with many other genres, they have created an inimitable sound that has been compared to the Penguin Café Orchestra, EST and The Cinematic Orchestra amongst many others. For EAST 09 they’ll be performing music from Mercury nominated debut Knee Deep In The North Sea as well as new tracks from their hotly anticipated second album, to be released later this year.
“As traditionally hook based as anything from rock, to hip hop” The Guardian
“Haunting, beautifully austere sound” Metro

Helen Chadwick Group
St John-at-Hackney Church at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm
Taking inspiration from South America’s poets and rhythmic patterns, this concert is a feast of Chadwick’s rich harmonic songs, sometimes accompanied by stepping and body percussion. Helen Chadwick Group are joined by Catalan singer Mariona Sagarra who opens the concert singing from the balcony using the glorious acoustics of St John’s to full effect. “Chadwick…an exquisite find” The Guardian

VENUE ADDRESSES:

Arcola Theatre
27 Arcola Street, London E8 2DJ
(Dalston Kingsland)
www.arcolatheatre.com

Toynbee Studios, Theatre
29 Commercial Street London, E1 6AB
(Aldgate East)
www.artsadmin.co.uk

St John-at-Hackney Church
Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PD
(Hackney Central)
www.stjohn-at-hackneychurch.org.uk