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Post by Dave B on Nov 22, 2022 10:35:53 GMT
And launched!
Full programme of over 500 shows. Really really missed this so absolutely delighted it is back now.
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Post by Dave B on Jan 4, 2023 13:15:02 GMT
Anyone planning to catch a show or three here? It all starts in just a couple of week. There's a lot of good stuff in the lineup.
I'm looking forward to seeing Scratches again after a night at JST in 2021 and and this lot have all jumped out with more likely to end up on my booked list.
Thirst
The Ballerina
Arcadia 87
This Is The Land
The Net Kill
The Freshwater Five
Supernova
A Guest
We’ll Be Who We Are
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Jan 5, 2023 14:48:32 GMT
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jan 9, 2023 23:00:32 GMT
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Post by zahidf on Jan 10, 2023 11:54:40 GMT
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Post by Dave B on Jan 27, 2023 23:55:03 GMT
Lovely to be back at VAULT this evening. Despite having seen quite a few concerns about sales on Twitter and an offer or three earlier in the week, the soldout board was full this evening with a second board added! Most immediate change is that the loud music is gone! The bars are quieter, you can sit and chat and work out shows etc. Better booze selection now at all bars too, hurrah! Just the one show for us this evening, Cordelia Butters Investigates which was a spoof true crime podcast. It made us laugh quite a bit and while a solid nothing special three stars, it was fun. Grabbed flyers and a programme so looking forward to finding another booking or three  |
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Post by talkingheads on Jan 30, 2023 8:29:12 GMT
I saw comedian Janine Harouni's work in progress the other day, absolutely fantastic. I assume she will go to Edinburgh, well worth a watch.
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Post by Dave B on Jan 30, 2023 9:20:27 GMT
We had planned 2 shows and ended up seeing 5 over three days. A lot busier now, shows and bar areas. For anyone interested, the bar prices are surprisingly good. Their craft beer is £5.80 a pint, a medium wine was around the same and my better half reports a huge improvement in the wine selection as it's moved from 'drinkable' to 'nice'! Large cans of craft beer are £3.80 which for a venue is fantastic value. The £49 Vault Pass is great value if you are going to have a drink or um four. 4 tickets and 4 drinks which brings a ticket price for a show down to under £7 - not bad when some ticket prices are £17! You can email the box office to book or do it in person, FOH are all lovely and helpful and really enthusiastic to suggest or recommend shows or just have a chat.
Cordelia Butters InvestigatesA spoof true crime podcast, Sarah Kempton is best known for voiceover work but moves this into a satire on the ubiquity and format of true crime podcast. Funny and well performed, helps to be a little familiar with the trope but also pointedly skewers the number about the murders of women. For A Brief Moment And Never Again SinceBlurbed as a piece about what happens to the family when someone is convicted for a horrible but unstated crime, but turns out to not really be about this and it's seeing their relationship and her visiting him in prison after. Less about the interesting concept and more about a two hander between a couple with one in jail. Disappointing as the original sounded really interesting, performances and staging were off. Hard pressed to give it 2 stars. I note, and it may be a grain of salt, that various have said on twitter this was a poor performance and the one before and after were a lot better, what little reviews I've seen might support this but... *shrug*. ButcheredBrilliant stuff. Physical theatre combined with absurd satire about being ground down by your job and having your dreams and creativity and art destroyed. The rat race, everything for the people above you. Brave work by the team, deliberately repetitive and everything happens for longer or more often than you want, like a joke being held too long but it passes over a level of unnerving to the audience so effectively. Amazing sound, a proper full synced soundtrack of music and effect. Utterly loved this. 5 stars. ThirstYikes. Everything and the kitchen sink thrown into this concept and oh boy does it meander and then all of a sudden something happens and we are somewhere else and the people are someone else and there is a 3 minute or so interlude and it's all a bit WTF. It was only afterwards while re-reading the blurb that we realises this was meant to show that 'all this has happened before'. Ugh. Lots of ideas and some that could develop but yikes. CaceroleoIs it a play, is it a film? Well there is a lot going around about this piece about domestic violence. Huge buzz for it online and at Vault. It's experimental and different and does have a fantastic central performance. More than one comment suggests a huge gender divide with it landing for female critics but not for male. Very glad I don't have to write more than this for it as I wouldn't know where to really go. It's still with me this morning, thinking about it. I can tell you that for me it was not a 1 star nor a 5 star and that's all I've managed to go to so far! |
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Post by zahidf on Jan 30, 2023 9:57:18 GMT
I saw in Clay, a lovely one women musical set in France, and Welsh Ladies, gig theatre looking at welshness and womens live, which was odd but fun
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Post by foxa on Jan 31, 2023 16:47:26 GMT
Advice - In a couple of weeks, I am going to the Vaults Festival for the first time (I know, I know.) The show I'm seeing is at the Network Theatre - I think it's a little bit away from the main action. Any advice on a good place for a quick drink, etc.? ( Dave B loved your reviews! Makes me feel guilty for not being more adventurous and going more. The bar prices sound good - hoping the Network has a bar? On social media, I saw a sad little sign outside the venue seeming to suggest it was missing the bustle of the other spaces) |
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Post by zahidf on Jan 31, 2023 20:40:13 GMT
Your best bet is probably old for station or the windmill a little down the Cut.
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Post by theatrescribe on Jan 31, 2023 22:25:07 GMT
I like Cubana on Lower Marsh just a few minutes walk away - good drinks (with a cheap happy hour) and great food!
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Post by foxa on Jan 31, 2023 22:49:01 GMT
Thanks so much for the recommendations!
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Post by Dave B on Jan 31, 2023 22:52:27 GMT
Advice - In a couple of weeks, I am going to the Vaults Festival for the first time (I know, I know.) The show I'm seeing is at the Network Theatre - I think it's a little bit away from the main action. Any advice on a good place for a quick drink, etc.? ( Dave B loved your reviews! Makes me feel guilty for not being more adventurous and going more. The bar prices sound good - hoping the Network has a bar? On social media, I saw a sad little sign outside the venue seeming to suggest it was missing the bustle of the other spaces) Network is separate, has it's own way in from the Vaults under Waterloo. It's on Lower Road. It's a bit stupid as there is a way through from the main section where bars etc are and they use to have a way through there but not anymore. I don't know that there is a bar in there, I have not yet been in there. The last time I was in there, there was not and the bar was up in the section of Vaults where Cavern is. I'd be a bit surprised if they don't have something in there now. I don't think it will quite capture the hustle and bustle of the main area so you will miss out a bit of atmosphere - but you can just come around and inside to Vaults. Only the actual venues are ticketed, anyone can come in to see the bars and food stall and grab flyers or merch etc. For the first time, I would 100% suggest it's worth checking in before or after. Do note if you come before, you cannot bring drinks from inside the main around to Network.
And thank you |
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Post by foxa on Feb 1, 2023 9:31:36 GMT
Thank you so much, Dave B - super useful. After I go, I'll post back! |
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Post by Dave B on Feb 2, 2023 22:40:42 GMT
Double bill last night. First foxa, I listened to the show announcements and while they confirmed that you cannot bring drinks out to go to Network, they do announce that there are drinks available once you are in there.
I was there for an early show and when I get there around 6, it was *really* quiet. Not much atmosphere at all. A lot of late comers let in to The Ballerina and when it finished around 8, at least a couple of the bars were busy and there were queues for some shows. Just the one show marked as sold out. Annoyingly as I had time between shows, I have yet to see a single offer appear on the daily offers chalkboard, so instead I explored a new beer
Quick reviews
The Ballerina
In an un-named French speaking African country (or a stand-in for one) a British diplomat has been captured and is interrogated by a high ranking member of the regime. It's a long show for VAULT, 75 minutes or so and the two central performances are excellent, really really impressive back and forth between them. He oozes charisma and danger and power and she keeps us all guessing if she is just a diplomat or a ballerina or is she something more. The script wanders a bit (a lot at one point) but in a sign of committed performance, the interrogator water-boards the prisoner and this was real enough that she took in enough water to visibly splutter out not to mention in Vaults I was close enough to see that the cable ties they put on were *tight*. Feels like a work in progress but a huge amount of talent and I would be very, very keen to see it after another pass is taken, I think it could turn out to be excellent. Now though, intense, good and memorable!
Don't Smoke In Bed
Jack has been assaulted, physically and sexually by his grinder date. Coming home to his uni flat, flatmate Molly reaches the limits of what she can do to help her friend. Trauma and the impact of it in strange and not so strange ways. Two very young and very strong actors really help with this. Some characterisation feels a bit off but the chemistry between them and the shaking of their friendship works really well. Glad I caught it.
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Post by Dave B on Feb 7, 2023 8:46:40 GMT
Still no offers showing on the deals board despite quieter days and shows. A bit frustrating to be honest. We are seeing a lot and prices are not all that cheap. We'd happily see more in between shows or even semi at random if they'd start using this up. I've two hours between shows next time I'm there, without a deal or something really interesting popping up, that's long enough to leave to sit in the nice warm pub around the corner with my book. I just... I don't get it. Of course I know nada about the business or behind the scenes so *shrug*
Delta P This is advertised as a work in progress but having paid full price for my ticket, I think it's open for fair comment. Three men are in a pressure bell working well underwater on oil pipelines. They share backgrounds (yawn) and work through the safety checks repeating them over and over (yawn), homophobic jokes lead to conflict (way out of place especially at this VAULT festival) and then things turn weird. Basic story is interesting and the ending is 100% interesting but wow this needs so much work.
Scratches Yup, loved it. Rave reviews flying around and a best of the fest type nom from Vaults, which is nice to see especially with low audiences. The story of Girl who self harms, it's funny (hilarious) and sad and wonderful and brave. Some slight updates since I saw a scratch night (no pun intended) in 2021, several of the small audience openly in tears at more than one point. Very emotional. A huge 5 stars and something that I very much hope gets some wider recognition.
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Post by Dave B on Feb 9, 2023 9:40:38 GMT
Me again. Heh, maybe I should have titled this Dave's Vault Festival 2023.
Three shows for me last night, two I was interested in and another that I thought would be interesting to fill some time. Update on Dave's Deals Board watch - it is being used now.... to sell playtexts. There is a bundle of the 5 previous Vault books for £35 (a good price if interested) but no shows. Bah. Four shows sold out last night though which is a lot better than middle of the week last week. There are however offers (cough cough) around for a lot of shows and not just midweek now, so again I simply do not understand why the deals board isn't in use and why the special offers section on the website has no updates and why the odd bundles that use to come on social media aren't around. Still, what do I know?
Well, I'll come to the shows in a moment but I was queueing for the one I fitted in with a cough cough offer, it was FAR from full and had maybe 2/3 of the seats available. Someone joined the queue by me and at the top realised after her ticket didn't scan that she had booked for *last* night. At which point FoH sent her to the desk to buy another ticket. She said she couldn't afford it and told her friends that she'd have to see them later and started to head off. Thankfully a manager/supervisor was around and at least the usher mentioned it to her, who basically just let her in straight away. The show was widely seatfilled, not sold out and the lady had bought a full price ticket for the night before, why oh why oh why would you just not let her in? The seats are free to a bunch of a the audience, the performer/company want bums on seats and she'd made a mistake but one that still meant she'd given 'em money!! Surely you use some discretion and just let her straight in. No-one looses there... again what do I know?
I also took myself up to the cocktail bar which was quiet and had a nice old-fashioned. Reasonable price (£9) and a generous pour. A nicer spot to sit if you have more time between shows, couches and a lot of cushions. Though worth noting that it's not just cocktails, has a bar service too and special offers on some things (last night was bottles of wine).
Right, three shows.
The Silver Bell
Loved this, didn't realise it was Irish until it started. Lovely, hugely believable and warm relationship - we hear the background for this couple how they met (hilariously in the Brockley Jack) and how they end up together. It's smart and funny and touching and *warm*. Just nice to be there and to see this depiction of their love. Not to last as one is diagnosed with MND and has a painful final two years. The other's grief overwhelms him and leads him to use his physics (ish) day job into a way to punch though universes to find a way they can still be together. It's really really strong for the first 3/4 and wanders a bit towards the end but the two lads are great and I was completely caught up in their relationship. 4 stars.
All By Myself This was a random choice and not something that would have really caught my eye but I had the opportunity and I'm glad I saw it but it's a part of Vault and Fringe theatre that just isn't for me. It's a 'movement-led' performance about a vlogger after the world has ended. It's funny and her performance was really good. I'm glad it has a stage and some sort of an audience and that Vault showcases it. If it is your thing, then it's probably great. Not one I can give a fair rating for.
General Secretary
Two inexperienced young women are appointed as General Secretaires of the UN, placed in charge of the world. Funny throughout but it is odd how comedy is so subjective sometimes. Going back to the well for the same joke (Mussolini etc) 3 times in one bit was hilarious and I loved it but going back to the same joke (Cat, Laurie etc) 3 times in another piece had me rolling my eyes in despair. A lot of laughs, a fair bit of sly humour and a great ending - talk about going out on a high. I did enjoy it but most of the audience seemed to enjoy it more than I did... I might be a grumpy old git. 3 stars.
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Post by Dave B on Feb 10, 2023 11:28:49 GMT
Back in my thread, we caught two shows last night. Borders. Not the full title, the board won't accept the Hebrew characters. Two men match on grinder, there locations are close by. They chat, they get on well but when they move from sexting to meeting up, one is in Israel and one is in Lebanon. They talk and love blooms through their conversations, their exploration of their romantic and sexual pasts, plans for the future, coming out to family. Lots of complexity in their relationship and simple staging has them addressing the audience, never seeing each other. A small wall, moved to create scenes but always with a barrier. It delves less into the differences/conflict between their two countries or traditions but instead the differences between them and their own choices in life. Very much enjoyed this. A very strong 3 stars from us.
Death Suits You. Death is a bit fed up of not getting credit for all the work he does, planning all our deaths and how he'll carefully move us out of this world. Singing and dancing and poetry and prose. It's an electric performance from Sam Hooper whois ridiculously talented, just when you think wow, he goes and does something else to top it. A loose view through some deaths and how he planned them out and then a piece about death's role, his thankless role. It's really great and he's really great so I feel a bit harsh here.. it's also almost a showreel. The story and idea is great but it's maybe been developed too much to focus on Hooper's abilities. A series of narratives or vignettes intersperses with singing and dancing (wow the movement), it just doesn't quite hang together in a way that does justice to his talent. Still another very strong 3 stars.
One quick show for me at the weekend (This Is The Land) and then nothing until late next week. Hopefully some of you lovely people will have stopped by the festival and the thread by then |
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Post by foxa on Feb 10, 2023 12:14:52 GMT
I'm seeing something Friday 17th Feb (Compositor E) so will report back on that for sure.
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Post by zahidf on Feb 10, 2023 13:22:59 GMT
I also saw All by Myself, which was clever but i wasnt sure it worked 100%
I also saw 'Love me or ill kill myself', and 'Police Cops, Badass be my name' which were very funny shows
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Post by n1david on Feb 15, 2023 10:58:49 GMT
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Post by Dave B on Feb 15, 2023 11:33:27 GMT
That is some terrible news ... but is it just me or are they really unclear on just what the £150K is needed for? They haven't found a new venue that needs paying for, they are asking people to help them find one.
I love VAULT, clearly, and think this would be a(nother) huge hit to the fringe/pub/cabaret scene but the scant info while asking for a lot of money is a bit odd.
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Post by foxa on Feb 15, 2023 12:40:13 GMT
It is a huge hit for new writing/emerging companies. The news of this on twitter crossed with people tweeting about desperately trying to find even remotely affordable housing for the Edinburgh Festival. The Vault Festival seems like a place where new artists could try out their work without absolutely losing their shirts. (I remember seeing a show in Edinburgh years ago where the comedian broke off to say - 'instead of doing this show, I should have just burned £5000 in my back garden.' I suppose now it might be more like tens of thousands.)
But yes, I wasn't quite sure exactly what the fundraising was aimed at - some of it, I assume to pay staff to make plans for the future?
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Post by zahidf on Feb 15, 2023 12:44:12 GMT
Terrible news, and shame on the landlord for screwing over so many artists. Scumbags
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Post by Jon on Feb 15, 2023 13:39:59 GMT
Is the Vaults owned by Network Rail or someone else.
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Post by joem on Feb 17, 2023 0:02:54 GMT
Went to Compositor E today by Charlie Dupre. A play about one of the typesetters of Shakespeare's first folio which weaves together fact, fiction and the works of Shakespeare to create an interesting story of witchcraft in Jacobean times.
A two-hander with the author himself acting the part of Isaac the owner of the typesetting business and Harry Pudwell taking on the role of John Pudwell, the troubled young apprentice.
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Post by foxa on Feb 18, 2023 0:30:53 GMT
Wow - the Vault Festival was buzzing tonight - all the bars packed, lots going on. Lower Marsh Street was so busy that a tourist stopped to ask me if it was busy because it was Friday or for some other reason. The Festival must give a real lift to local businesses.Hope it can find a new home. Saw Compositor E (which joem describes very well) at the Network Theatre and enjoyed it.It helps if you know a bit about Macbeth and James I. It has an excellent sound design and some clever projections. Then had a drink in the big packed bar to get a bit of the festival vibe. |
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Post by Dave B on Feb 18, 2023 12:33:14 GMT
Two recent shows.
This Is The Land.
Improvised dance around the four seasons and their and our relationship with the land... at least that's what the promos suggest. I really struggled with this, without any sort of narrative it is very hard to follow. The programme notes help a little but only in giving a very broad overview. The movement and sound are excellent and the tech work with the looping etc is top notch. I left confused though and feeling like I needed a thread through to be able to both follow and fully enjoy the piece. A high level of talent from all involved but one that for me just missed the mark or more accurately passed me by entirely.
How We Begin.
Beautiful tender piece about falling in love with your best friend even though she has a boyfriend. Superbly performed and an absolute joy to sit there and watch. I was smiling throughout. Smart and tender and with just four cushions and no props or stage decoration, it felt so intimate and the audience completely drawn into their relationship. Funny too, the script bringing a lot of laughs and a lot of joy. 5 stars, very memorable, loved it.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Feb 19, 2023 13:45:18 GMT
The Unconventionals
A musical about queer life in London in the 1930s. Some very talented performers, both in terms of acting and vocals, but they need to take a serious look at the framing device of the show. The opening scene takes place in modern day London and there are two young characters doing some kind of treasure hunt, and they can somehow see and speak to a ghost? of a man who has been there for 40 years? It didn't make much sense and we never see them again. The rest of the show was about as expected from your typical festival musical.
Parma Violets
This was a well-attended sweet play about a burgeoning relationship between two young women - one Catholic and one from the traveller community. It could have done with the finest smidge more staging. I appreciate it's a minimally staged show owing to the constraints of a festival show, but it felt a little like someone had forgotten one bag of props - one of the characters has a camera and takes pictures multiple times in different scenes, but don't actually give her a camera as a prop. She also reads from a book at the start and end, but there's no book. It also needs to be about 5 minutes longer, as the pacing in the last 10 minutes feels a little off. But really sweet and probably my favourite festival show so far.
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