Alphabetti Theatre presents
hope is a 4 letter word
micro-commissions
We are delighted as part of this production to have been able to provide eighteen micro-commissions to create and perform a piece of art, with the starting stimulus the poem “wanting lorca tattoo” by gobscure, which is referred to throughout the production. These guest artists will be performing their responses on set nights during the run as part of the performance. Please see below for artists and dates.
Tues 16th April – Sat 4th May 2024
Times: 7:30pm plus 1pm Saturday Matinees
Tickets: Pay What You Feel (16th – 20th April)
£15 - £3 (23rd April – 4th May)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Access performances: Captioned, Wednesday 24th,
Audio described, Wednesday 1th,
Relaxed, all Saturday Matinees
Below is a list of the Micro-Commissions running alongside hope is a 4 letter word
Ruth Lyon
Tuesday April 16th
Newcastle’s Ruth Lyon celebrates strength in vulnerability and the allure of imperfection, challenging societal norms – all unravelling through offbeat anti-folk, commanded by her soulful vocals and witty yet raw lyricism; influenced by Aldous Harding and Regina Spektor. She sits on the Board of Trustees at The Glasshouse and is a disability activist/ambassador for Attitude Is Everything.
Toni Hurford
Wednesday April 17th
Toni began writing whilst training as a counsellor. Her path with wellbeing has been a theme, both as 'patient' and helper (at its most basic level), and was mentored by Survivors' Poetry (in 2011). Currently preparing a second pressing of her 2023 debut pamphlet, Lucidities, Toni blogs at ablindcatchinthesun.com.
Appy
Thursday April 18th
Artist Zoe Kendall uses their performance practice to create Appy, the first living and breathing pea. Appy explores the changes within themselves, from being a garden pea to becoming human. They try to understand how they fit and exist in the world through the joy of singing and absurdist humour.
Claire Ogah
Friday April 19th
Dr Claire Ogah is a versatile, expressive, and unconventional artist who excels in interpreting cultural vibes through her creativity, digital illustrations, wearable art, music, spoken word and storytelling With a Doctorate in Public Health, specialising in domestic violence against women and culture. Claire’s artistic expression tells the story of her existence between two major cultural spaces that have resonated with her. She is passionate about inspiring hope in women as an evangelist of anti-food poverty, an advocate for women rights. Representing her beliefs, insights, and experiences as a citizen of the world, around the fusion of black African and European culture and identity.
Hannah Walker
Saturday April 20th - 1pm
Hannah Walker is an actress and theatre maker who creates autobiographical shows to open up conversations about social issues. Her current show Gamble (★★★★★ A Youngish Perspective) is about online gambling addiction and is on a National tour. She is an Associate Artist with The Six Twenty and is a reader with InterAct Stroke Support.
AJ McKenna
Saturday April 20th - 7:30pm
AJ McKenna has performed poems while stripping, handcuffing herself to a microphone stand and having dry rice thrown at her in an attempt to understand the true meaning of love, though not, as yet, all at the same time. She wrote A Lady of a Certain Rage, names and songs of women, Incidents of Trespass, England is the Enemy, and most recently Secrecy's Jurisdiction. She blogs fairly regularly at Wrestling Emily Dickinson
C. Mae Bloom
Tuesday April 23rd
C. Mae Bloom lives and works in Newcastle. She works cross-discipline, but always materially, between sculpture, print and works on paper. She is interested in symbolic languages of object and image, particularly things that show signs of use or history, or hold an emotional reverence.
Harrison Rowley-Lynn
Wednesday April 24th - Captioned
Harrison Rowley-Lynn is a young, queer performer and facilitator based in the North East. Some of her recent credits include Night Classes (Unfolding Theatre), Soapbox Racer (Alphabetti) and SketchSlap (SoreSlap). She facilitates with a number of organisations across the North East, working primarily with young people.Harrison is very excited to be a part of this project!
Zoe Murtagh
Thursday April 25th
Zoë is an award winning artist based in Newcastle making work on themes of gender, queerness, the environment and class. She has worked as an Associate Director for the National Theatre and as a Creative Associate at the RSC. Her short film 'After the Break' was produced by New Creatives North and BBC Arts.
Lindsay Nicholson
Friday April 26th
Lindsay Nicholson is a theatre maker and facilitator who practises theatre for social change. Lindsay has worked as Co Artistic Director at Workie Ticket Theatre CIC, Young Company Lead Facilitator and Director at Northern Stage, street performer for Curious Arts and is currently developing her debut solo show which debuted at Byker Arts Festival 2023.
Degna Stone
Saturday April 27th - 1pm
Originally from the Midlands, Degna Stone is a poet, poetry editor and occasional theatre maker based on Tyneside. Previous theatre credits include White Rabbit, Red Rabbit (Live Theatre, 2013), Probably (Coracle Productions, 2019) and The Lies (Alphabetti Theatre, 2023).
Coggin Galbreath
Saturday April 27th - 7:30pm
Coggin Galbreath is a writer, performer and drag artist based in Newcastle. Their current projects include a country-western cabaret about anti-trans laws in Texas, a musical about a gang of magic children hiding out in a launderette, and a romance novel about gentrification.
Audrey Cook
Tuesday April 30th
Audrey Cook is a theatre maker, performer, and writer from Teesside. Known for their recent solo show 'Ricky the Itch', Audrey has since been appointed associate artist at ARC Stockton, were a finalist for Performing Artist of the Year at the North East Culture Awards, and has been creating surreal, daft and folky art all over the region with the likes of MIMA, BBC Tees, Tees Women Poets, and Tees Valley Arts.
Taliraw
Wednesday May 1st
Taliraw. Czech artist, Cellist, Singer and Composer. Tali oscillates in between ambient/Art-Pop, Lo-fi Hip-Hop, and Indie cello folk. After the release of ‘English Weather’, Tali has performed around the region, notably at the Alphabetti Theatre, Prohibition Bar, or Cumberland Arms. She sings in both English and Czech, and tells stories from her life using spoken word.
Liberty Hodes
Thursday May 2nd
Liberty Hodes is an artist and performance maker based in Newcastle Upon Tyne who makes work of multiple disciplines that can't be untangled from cardboard and a sense of humour. They have recently been a standing stone, a grit salt bin, a victorian coastal bridge, and even more.
Mack Sproates
Friday May 3rd
Mack Sproates (they/he) is a queer theatre-maker, facilitator and zine maker. They make joyful, silly and educational work which aims to help marginalised people’s voices be seen and heard. He has worked on shows such as *gender not included (Curious Arts), An American Werewolf in Teesside (ARC Stockton) and Happy New Quee-Year (Alphabetti). Their work is inspired by pop culture, cartoons, music, comedy, gender and gremlins.
Eddie Doyle
Saturday May 4th - 1pm
Eddie Doyle is a craft brewer, singer and writer from Newcastle Upon Tyne. She draws inspiration from the voices of European folk and multi-genre storytellers in her music, written and visual art. She makes work for herself in her free time, and finds her stillness in that creative practice.
Worm Saliva
Saturday May 4th - 7:30pm
Worm Saliva is the evolving ambient music project of Newcastle-based artist and musician Jayne Dent (Me Lost Me, Bitchfinder General). Improvising with voice, samples and an assortment of objects, e-textile gadgets and synths, no two performances are the same, occasionally featuring projections, textile installations and audience participation.