Across two meteorologically fickle September weeks, Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter witnessed what could almost be called a happening. Not a common occurrence, it had done well to court a range of reactions from onlookers: bafflement, delight, flitting interest, scorn, intrigue. And that’s to say nothing of what the paying audience thought. This was Gem of aContinue reading “Crafting & Grafting”
Tag Archives: Birmingham
What a weekend!
At 11.30am on 9th September we sit near Chamberlain’s Clock in Golden Square and the magic begins. The clock exerts its power and time becomes fluid. As writers, we see our words spring to life when the actors arrive to take the audience with them on their journey round the Jewellery Quarter. There are storiesContinue reading “What a weekend!”
History – what is it good for?
Everyone studies History at school but what do we learn? There are so many different histories – kings and queens, wars, political, social, Commonwealth, world. How does it help us? The philosopher Santayana said ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ Judging by the number of times history repeats itself, we’reContinue reading “History – what is it good for?”
Director Announced!
We’re thrilled to reveal Jennifer Davis as our director for Gem of a Place, opening in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter on the 9th of September. Hailing from Coventry, Jen is a Junior Associate at the King’s Head Theatre and Women and Theatre’s Lead Artist Practitioner. She works with writers, theatre makers and performers to produce workContinue reading “Director Announced!”
Green door, what’s that secret you’re keeping?
According to the 1956 hit song, ‘there’s an old piano and they play it hot behind the green door’. It’s a tune that was running through my head as I approached a battered green door in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. However, rather than finding a smoke-filled speakeasy, I discovered an entirely different world of wonders: aContinue reading “Green door, what’s that secret you’re keeping?”
The power of collective strength
Google searches for ‘how can I join a union’ went up by 500 per cent at the end of June, driven by coverage of the rail strikes and by the growing number of planned industrial disputes fuelled by the cost-of-living crisis. My short play for GEM OF A PLACE – about women penmakers being urgedContinue reading “The power of collective strength”
Follow Me
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.Continue reading “Follow Me”
Behind Bars: Ghosts of the Lock-Up
Our first site-specific production, Behind Bars took place within the walls of a 130 year-old Victorian prison. Kicking off with nine performances in October 2018, the show’s notoriety got it sent back to the clink for a further twelve performances the following year. Click ‘continue reading’ or scroll down for older posts about the show.Continue reading “Behind Bars: Ghosts of the Lock-Up”
Theatre is back!
Postponed from last year due to the pandemic, rehearsals are now underway for BOLDtext Playwright’s latest site-specific show, Power of Invention, celebrating Birmingham’s Lunar Society – with a wonderful all-female cast, stage manager and director. The RSC’s Katy Stephens is joined by Adaya Henry, Itasha James and Simran Kular, with direction from Janet Steel, stageContinue reading “Theatre is back!”
Power of Invention cast announced!
We are delighted to introduce our wonderful all female cast for Power of Invention. Come on down to Soho House and meet Birmingham’s famous Lunar Society – some of the greatest thinkers in history… Adaya Henry Adaya is an actor, Spoken word artist, facilitator and proud Brummie. In 2018 she went viral with a poemContinue reading “Power of Invention cast announced!”
BOLDtext Playwrights 