In summer 2019 it was anounced that the Birmingham Weekender would be going ahead. Planned for the beginning of October, it left us with less than three months to devise, pitch, and produce a show for the festival. To find out what we came up with click ‘continue reading’ or scroll down for older posts.
Follow Me turned out to be a sometimes giddy, often unhygienic, and always revealing walking tour of Digbeth’s hidden history: the one that exists in BOLDtext’s minds. Accompanied by a bijou sound system, the audience were guided from the coach station, via the Digbeth Institute and the Custard Factory, to the Old Crown pub. On the way they peaked in on childhood memories, visited the site of bad decisions, and crept past passionate exchanges. Unusually for BOLDtext, the writers took centre stage, performing revealing autobiographical monologues, and pulling back the curtain on our shared experience of this vibrant artery at the heart of Birmingham. It even featured live salsa dancing, a conga, and the chance to buy a pint at the end!
“I had a great time on Sunday @BhamWeekender checking out the @Bold_Text across #Digbeth with their brilliant promenade piece called Follow Me.”
Tweet by audience member
“Well the BirminghamWeekender was a little different this year, my highlight was today’s Follow Me from the super talented folk that make up @Bold_Text Thank you for such an entertaining walk & talk! I never thought I’d ever (knowingly) be singing outside the @O2InstituteBham!”
Tweet by audience member
Written & performed by: Stephen Jackson, Liz John, Helen Kelly, Vanessa Oakes, Tim Stimpson, and Julia Wright. Directed by: Sayan Kent.
Funded by Birmingham City Council/Culture Central
BOLDtext Playwrights 