Details

'Strangers at my Table' is an imaginative staging of the mind of a genius, Leonardo da Vinci. Inspired by the detailed notes and diagrams, jokes and fables of Leonardo's notebooks, the show uses storytelling, mask work and a highly visual style of theatre to bring the pages to life. 'Strangers at my Table' is the brainchild of Sabina Netherclift and Vanessa Earl, co-founders with Anna-Louise Plowman of the new theatre company, Jamworks. Having trained with Jacques Lecoq in Paris they have worked with, amongst others, the RSC, the Young Vic, the Clod Ensemble and the Gate Theatre as well as appearing in television and film. Their first collaboration together, 'Desire Caught by the Tail', opened to rave reviews in London before travelling to the Hong Kong fringe festival. Alan Rickman described it as "Really extraordinary company work, disciplined original and imaginative". "...Bawdy and grotesque...deliriously frivolous...very, very funny," raved Time Out. Their new production, the result of three years of workshops and collaborations with artists, musicians, architects, writers, actors and mathematicians, begins with the commissioning of the Last Supper and follows Leonardo's journey as he searches for the face of Judas. Struggles to secure funding have hampered the development, and by now most people would have given up and become welders. But not Jamworks. With a handful of famous friends and acquaintances, such as Toby Stephens (the sublimely wicked Gustav Graves in James Bond 'Die Another Day'), Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G) and the artist Gavin Turk, they have secured a collection of desirable auction items and are planning to use the funds raised to realise this production. The auction and final production is being partnered by The Old Truman Brewery as part of their 'Roots' programme. The starry auction will be held on Tuesday 15 April in the Boiler House on Brick Lane. Items up for grabs include: An Ali G outfit - James Bond miniature car - Self-portrait of Ronnie Barker - Picture of Shakespeare by Sir Ian McKellan - Drawing of Fagin by Jonathan Pryce - Vauxhall Supermodel dresses belonging to Kate Moss and Linda Evangelista. A professional auctioneer from Bonhams will be joined by surprise celebrity guests. Gavin Turk will be at the decks, providing ambient and dance sounds. Into the bargain, everyone who attends will get a discount on tickets for the first night of the play. Tickets are just £20 and will include a drink on arrival. For tickets email: info@jamworks.org or call 07736826888. The play itself will finally be prized from its shell in September. With director Matthew Smith on board (Assistant Director at the RSC 97-99), the company will confound expectations with 'Strangers at my Table', bringing a unique energy to the London stage.

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2003 (1 listings)