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Parakeet

5th & 6th December 2019
Words by Brigitte Aphrodite
Music by Quiet Boy
Directed by Rob Drummer
Design by Alex Noble

BOUNDLESS THEATRE AND BOOM SHAKALAKA PRODUCTIONS PRESENT

Following a successful run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe at Paines Plough’s Roundabout @ Summerhall, Parakeet is returning to the stage at the Gulbenkian on the 5th of December and as part of Dreamland’s Nowland on 6th December in Margate.

In Margate an isolated teenager forms a band and finds her voice with the help of a gang of exotic birds. Dust is an energetic and woke teenager from Thanet and Tam an Eritrean refugee facing many uncertainties take Girl under their wings. Together they are The Parakeets.

Parakeet is a genre-crossing status quo defying musical about finding your flock and ruffling feathers, a feast for the ears, eyes and heart told through irresistible song, punk poetry, electronic sounds and cutting edge fashion. In a world full of uncertainties, only one thing is for sure: it’s time to discover the new spirit of punk, a gentler punk –punk with empathy.

#ParakeetLive

Book Tickets for Parakeet at the Gulbenkian→

Venue

Gulbenkian Theatre (5th December)

Performance start time: 13:30 / 19:30

University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NB

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Olby’s Soul Café (6th December)

Performance start time: 18:30

3-5 King St, Margate, CT9 1DD

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Price

£5-13

Age Guidance

14+

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Edinburgh, UK. 28.07.2019. Boundless Theatre and Boom Shakalaka present "Parakeet", written by Brigitte Aphrodite, in the Paines Plough Roundabout, Summerhall, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The performers are: Michelle Tiwo (GIRL), Isabel Oliver (DUST), Lula Mebrahtu (TAM), Brigitte Aphrodite (PARAKEET #1) and Quiet Boy (PARAKEET #2). Directed by Laura Keefe, with design by Alex Noble and lighting design by Sherry Coenen. Photograph © Jane Hobson.
Edinburgh, UK. 28.07.2019. Boundless Theatre and Boom Shakalaka present "Parakeet", written by Brigitte Aphrodite, in the Paines Plough Roundabout, Summerhall, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The performers are: Michelle Tiwo (GIRL), Isabel Oliver (DUST), Lula Mebrahtu (TAM), Brigitte Aphrodite (PARAKEET #1) and Quiet Boy (PARAKEET #2). Directed by Laura Keefe, with design by Alex Noble and lighting design by Sherry Coenen. Photograph © Jane Hobson.
Edinburgh, UK. 28.07.2019. Boundless Theatre and Boom Shakalaka present "Parakeet", written by Brigitte Aphrodite, in the Paines Plough Roundabout, Summerhall, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The performers are: Michelle Tiwo (GIRL), Isabel Oliver (DUST), Lula Mebrahtu (TAM), Brigitte Aphrodite (PARAKEET #1) and Quiet Boy (PARAKEET #2). Directed by Laura Keefe, with design by Alex Noble and lighting design by Sherry Coenen. Photograph © Jane Hobson.
Edinburgh, UK. 28.07.2019. Boundless Theatre and Boom Shakalaka present "Parakeet", written by Brigitte Aphrodite, in the Paines Plough Roundabout, Summerhall, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The performers are: Michelle Tiwo (GIRL), Isabel Oliver (DUST), Lula Mebrahtu (TAM), Brigitte Aphrodite (PARAKEET #1) and Quiet Boy (PARAKEET #2). Directed by Laura Keefe, with design by Alex Noble and lighting design by Sherry Coenen. Photograph © Jane Hobson.
★★★★ “Pulsing with a punky beat, Parakeet flies in with a vibrancy and youthfulness that is hard to resist.” British Theatre
  “And when these punks sing, the show soars with an energy you could only dream of harnessing.” The Guardian
  “I want to know what battles are next. I want one more song. Or really, is it just that Parakeet’s music and colour make the whole thing so catchy that when I left, I wanted to go straight back in and watch it again?” Exeunt

Cast

Jennifer Dixon Performer

Jennifer Dixon is a British/Malawian actor and theatre maker based in London. Recent credits include: for all the women who thought they were Mad (Hackney Showroom); Willow (Bunker) and for TV: Brain in Gear (BBC Pilot).

Isabel Oliver Performer

Isabel Oliver is an actor, singer, songwriter and musician. Her acting credits include Titus Andronicus (Teatro Dei Borgia, Italy). She also performs as a singer musician in a variety of venues and at festivals, including regularly at Spinning Yarns Theatre.

Lula Mebrahtu Performer

Lula Mebrahtu is an Eritrean-born actress, DJ and presenter. She performs regularly as lula.xyz at festivals and events worldwide. As a presenter, she regularly fronts shows for the BBC and hosts jazz festivals. Her acting credits include Concrete Jungle, The Lucumi Choir and Death of a Pebble Dancing (Edinburgh Festival Fringe).

Brigitte Aphrodite Writer and Performer

Brigitte Aphrodite is a punk, feminist showgirl, and poetical music performance artist who has a loyal following due to her approach to multidisciplinary art and social expression. In her former years she has toured her music with the likes of Kate Nash and Josie Long.  Bri is most recently known for her critically acclaimed show – ‘My Beautiful Black Dog’ – a part gig, part theatre, modern day, punk musical exploring depression. The show sold out at the Edinburgh Fringe circuit, was featured on the BBC 10 O’clock News and in the Guardian and Elle magazine. Gathering momentum in 2015/16 the show went on to tour the UK and sell out dates at the Southbank Centre. Wellcome Trust funding was awarded to the ‘MBBD movement’ and a workshop, based on the show, its narrative and the language we use around mental health was developed and delivered in schools around the country.

Quiet Boy Composer & Performer

Singer songwriter Quiet Boy, signed to Universal records in 2005 and has appeared at most major UK festivals including Radio 1 stage at Leeds and Reading. Touring extensively, and has appeared with Prodigy, Echo and the Bunnymen, System Of A Down. Full tours with Kasabian, Fratellis, Mick Jones (Clash), Carl Barat (The Libertines). Many appearances on TV and Radio. Quiet Boy has recorded an album with legendary Producer Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, Kaiser Chiefs). Recently commissioned as Composer and Musical Director for critically acclaimed gig theatre ‘My Beautiful Black Dog’ and further work in development and composing on projects with Bush Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, The National Theatre and most recently The Vaults Festival with a new piece by Katie Bonna.

Creatives

Brigitte Aphrodite Writer and Performer

Brigitte Aphrodite is a punk, feminist showgirl, and poetical music performance artist who has a loyal following due to her approach to multidisciplinary art and social expression. In her former years she has toured her music with the likes of Kate Nash and Josie Long.  Bri is most recently known for her critically acclaimed show – ‘My Beautiful Black Dog’ – a part gig, part theatre, modern day, punk musical exploring depression. The show sold out at the Edinburgh Fringe circuit, was featured on the BBC 10 O’clock News and in the Guardian and Elle magazine. Gathering momentum in 2015/16 the show went on to tour the UK and sell out dates at the Southbank Centre. Wellcome Trust funding was awarded to the ‘MBBD movement’ and a workshop, based on the show, its narrative and the language we use around mental health was developed and delivered in schools around the country.

Quiet Boy Composer & Performer

Singer songwriter Quiet Boy, signed to Universal records in 2005 and has appeared at most major UK festivals including Radio 1 stage at Leeds and Reading. Touring extensively, and has appeared with Prodigy, Echo and the Bunnymen, System Of A Down. Full tours with Kasabian, Fratellis, Mick Jones (Clash), Carl Barat (The Libertines). Many appearances on TV and Radio. Quiet Boy has recorded an album with legendary Producer Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, Kaiser Chiefs). Recently commissioned as Composer and Musical Director for critically acclaimed gig theatre ‘My Beautiful Black Dog’ and further work in development and composing on projects with Bush Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, The National Theatre and most recently The Vaults Festival with a new piece by Katie Bonna.

Rob Drummer Director

Rob joined Boundless Theatre in July 2016 as Artistic Director and become sole CEO in 2019.  Rob leads the organisation including commissioning new work and developing artists and projects as well as leading strategy for engaging young adults across the artistic programme.  Currently working with Arts Council England on the strategic development of the Impacts & Insights Toolkit, Rob is passionate about new ways to innovate around more audiences engaging with theatre and better understanding the impact of the arts on young adults specifically.

For Boundless, Rob has directed NATIVES by Glenn Waldron (2017), CONFIDENCE by Judy Upton (2018), RADIO ELUSIA by Nina Segal (2020) & ADDICTIVE BEAT (2022).

Before joining Boundless he was Associate Dramaturg at the Bush Theatre where for three and a half years he ran the Literary Department and was responsible for all playwriting work including the commissioning and development of new plays for production.  He has established partnerships with Playwrights of New York (PoNY), delivered projects with Kudos Film & Television and established a partnership with Drama Centre London and Oberon Books on the ‘Student Guide To Writing: Playwriting’.

Prior to joining the Bush Rob was the first Literary Manager for HighTide Festival Theatre where he supported the expansion of the festival, doubling the number of productions and before leaving the company directed Luke Barnes’ ‘Eisteddfod’ (Latitude), ‘Endless Poem’ (London 2012 Festival) and ‘Perish’ (HighTide & Public Theater, New York).

As a Dramaturg and Director Rob has worked with playwrights at theatres including The National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Contact, York Theatre Royal and Theatre503. Rob was one of the first recipients of an Artists’ International Development Fund from the Arts Council and British Council and spent time working in South Africa with playwrights and theatre makers at the Baxter and Market Theatres.

rob@boundlesstheatre.org.uk

@robert_ad

Alex Noble Production Designer

BIO XXX

 

 

@alexnoblezine

Ideas

Brigitte Aphrodite On The Inspiration Behind Parakeet
23 May 2019

Brigitte Aphrodite tells us a little about the inspiration for Parakeet and what audiences can expect. The show is about a young girl’s journey to make a new kind of…

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