A world of theatre on Peterborough’s doorstep

Theatre companies, community groups, and local audiences are invited to take part in Platform 8, a new programme of performances, workshops and events in Peterborough, a three-year partnership with local company, Jumped Up Theatre and London’s Battersea Arts Centre

Jumped Up have been chosen to be one of the new partners on the successful ‘Collaborative Touring Network’ (CTN), which has been running since 2014, and is led by the award-winning Battersea Arts Centre (BAC).  The network also includes Hull, Wigan, Medway, Darlington, Thanet, Gloucester and Torbay.

Platform 8 will bring BAC and homegrown performances, events and workshops to Peterborough’s doorstep, popping up in venues across the city, presenting a mix of established and new theatre companies, and opportunities for homegrown projects to present their own work under the award-winning Battersea Arts Centre name.

Season One of Platform 8, will be this Autumn, from 1-7 November 2016

Denmarked by hip-hop artist and director of Battersea’s Beat Academy, Conrad Murray, will be at Peterborough Regional College on Thursday, 3 November, and Radius upstairs at The Solstice on Friday, 4th November.

Leeds-based Lung, who were a hit in Edinburgh this summer, present E15, a lively and stirring verbatim show that charts how a group of women led a campaign in 2014 for affordable housing in Newham East London. E15 will be at The Key Theatre on Sunday, 6 November and Paston Park Farm Community Centre on Monday, 7 November.

Local company, Lamphouse Theatre are being commissioned to create a festive evening of bonfire night entertainment, Smoke & Mirrors at The Green Backyard, which includes Inferno Fire Juggling, story-telling and live music.  Also on Saturday, 5 November, look out for, Can I Help You? a fun and interactive street-theatre piece by Rhinannon Armstrong will be in the city-centre.

Between 3 and 6 November, Rhinannon Armstrong will be bringing her emotional and sensitive digital installation The International Archive of Things Left Unsaid to Bewiched Coffee, Waitrose, Queensgate Shopping Centre and the Key Theatre.

More information about Platform 8 shows, workshops and events, and how to book is on www.jumpeduptheatre.com

Future seasons will include showcase events for local theatre companies and award-winning touring shows from the Edinburgh Festival

“It is very exciting that in the face of fierce competition that Jumped Up could secure this programme for Peterborough” explains Kate Hall, Jumped Up’s producer, “Platform8 will give Peterborough audiences a taste of exciting contemporary theatre which has had rave reviews across the country and feels exciting and relevant to our own lives.”

Jumped Up Theatre has produced events in Peterborough since 2006, including House, for Peterborough Arts Festival, and A Workhouse Christmas at The Old Still and Peterborough Museum, in addition Kate Hall directed Our Nobby for Eastern Angles and was the Arts Programme Manager for Vivacity from 2012-2015.  Kate has also worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company, English Touring Theatre and Manchester Royal Exchange.

To find out more email , sign up at the Jumped Up Theatre website or on social media (Twitter and Facebook.)

The Collaborative Touring Network programme is funded grants from the Arts Council England, Garfield Weston Foundation and Unlimited Impact.