Touring the new Tara Arts theatre

Earlsfield has been lucky to have Tara Arts right at its heart since 1983 (read here for more about their history). In October 2014 they closed the theatre for a substantial renovation to update the fabric of the building and create a whole new venue. I was lucky enough to tour the new space recently with Jatinder Verma, the artistic director. It's a cliche, but his passion for the theatre and what they do within and beyond its walls shone through.

Even from the outside, the 1880s building combines respect for its heritage - the facade, the tree design that grows up the outside - with a modern sensibility.

The branching design reflects one of the original trees on site

The natural theme continues throughout the building. From the Devon earth theatre floor to the tree motif running through all sections of the building, there's a natural feel to the new theatre. From the tiny, bee-house containing courtyard to the green roof and solar panels, this is culture-meets-ecology on Garratt Lane.

Bricks from the original building have been painstakingly cleaned and re-used and combined with doors and woodwork imported from India and bright colour schemes (be sure to check out the loos...).

The new building has extended down to the basement with a green room and storage space, and now has offices and a rehearsal / classroom space above the theatre. It's accessible via lift and should provide useful venue hire for local groups too. The masterpiece is of course the theatre itself. I can't speak to the stagecraft side of things, but looking from the audience side the stage and surrounding space looks to lend itself to creative productions across lots of levels.

Tara Arts have a slew of new productions lined up, from Shakespeare to their own commissions, with the season starting in mid-September. I understand there will be a community open day soon for locals to come and have a look inside before the main season gets underway. Highly recommended!

If this has whetted your appetite, Tara Arts is looking for more volunteers: information and application forms are on their website.

Build the People's Tower with Tara Arts

Tomorrow you're invited to help build and demolish a giant, fantastical cardboard building this Spring, as the latest project from Circulate, London’s flagship outdoor touring consortium kicks off in Earlsfield.

Tara Arts, world famous in the 'Field, will be bringing the work of internationally renowned artist Oliver Grossetête to South London this Spring, as people from the local community are invited to help build a unique, temporary and impressive new tower constructed entirely from tape and cardboard. Inspired by the architecture of Gaudi Batllo House in Barcelona, the Musgum mud huts of Cameroon and the iconic Burntwood tree, this one-off design will be both realised and demolished in just one day, marking the latest in a series of work from Circulate – a London-wide network of cultural organisations established to build on the success of London 2012's cultural festival.

People interested in contributing to the build can sign up to join Burntwood school students in assembling sections of the tower, set to alter the skyline of Earlsfield over the course of just one day. The work is the latest in a series of cardboard creations by the artist whose designs have been realised all over the world, with UK projects including constructions at Glastonbury Festival (2013), Torquay Festival (2013) and Merchant City Festival in Glasgow (2012).

Burntwood School, Burntwood Lane, London SW17 0AQ

Saturday 23 May 2015, 9am – 7pm

FREE to register to help make the building on Sat 23rd go online to book www.tara-arts.com

Curtain up on the Tara Arts redevelopment

It was lovely to hear from local theatre stalwarts Tara Arts that they are now officially beginning the redevelopment of the current site - although demolition works have been underway for some time now.

Pleasure to join @Tara_Arts ‘ground breaking’ ceremony in #Earlsfield w Director Jatinder Verma, Dep Mayor & friends pic.twitter.com/87wndUJkyR
— Sadiq Khan MP (@SadiqKhan) November 24, 2014

The new theatre will not only be larger and more accessible, but will have a cafe bar, helping to up the offerings on that side of the railway bridge.

They say:

"Tara Arts today embarks on a year long project that will see its premises in Earlsfield transformed into a new national hub for the production and presentation of cross-cultural theatre, as well as offering a welcoming location for the local community.

The new building, on the site Tara Arts has occupied since 1983 which is due to open in December 2016 will offer:

• A centre of excellence for cross-cultural theatre, with a building inspired by a fusion of architectural styles from England and India

• A programme of theatre that will offer audiences from across London the best cross cultural contemporary & classical theatre, including work created on the premises

• Inspired by outdoor performance spaces in India, the first-ever ‘earth stage’ floor in Europe, in a 100-seat auditorium, an 84% increase on current auditorium capacity

• A dedicated space for artists to develop and share new work, with a particular focus on BAME artists

• Space for local community groups to develop their creativity and for local entrepreneurs to host meetings in a unique environment

• A fully accessible building with an enlarged foyer including a café/bar available to the local community and box office facilities open through the day

The new building will be contemporary in design, but draw on the building’s current Edwardian structure and will be energy-efficient, facilitating a 27% saving in energy costs, using sustainable materials throughout.

During the closure period, Tara Arts will focus on touring, including Black Theatre Live, a recently formed consortium of eight regional venues that will work to ensure sustainable touring of BAME theatre across England. The first production will be an Indian-influenced Macbeth directed by Tara Arts Artistic Director Jatinder Verma which is set to tour from February to May 2015.

The venue will reopen in December 2015 to host Tara Arts annual pantomime followed by the launch of a new season to include new work from Tara Arts and visiting companies."

Free summer spectacular with Tara Arts

Fantastic local theatre Tara Arts is currently undergoing redevelopment, but fear not! Tara Arts is hitting the streets with a host of exciting events.

This summer, Earlsfield will be treated to a host of happenings as part of 'Source'.

Highlights include:

An exhibition telling the story of London's forgotten rivers - 8-17 August

Story telling and children's play - 8 and 15 August

Outdoor show and street art on the Henry Prince Estate - 16-17 August UPDATE 14 AUGUST: These events have now been cancelled due to events beyond Tara Arts' control.

Source Sideshows - throughout August

Visit the Tara Arts website for a full list of events.

Costumes, community and a cake sale

Local cultural institution Tara Arts is preparing for their renovations with a theatrical jumble sale. To raise money for the new theatre they're putting old costumes, props, and furniture up for sale.

Join them for a rummage through history and a slice of cake on Saturday 5 April, 12-3pm. Everything you spend is in a great cause.

Have a spooky good time with an Earlsfield Halloween

If you're a fan of ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night, you're in for a treat this Halloween in Earlsfield.

Several local pubs are putting on Halloween-themed events:

• Bar 366 has a raunchy take on Halloween for couple and single girls only on Friday 26 October.
• The Pig and Whistle on Merton Road has a fortune teller, bush tucker trial (booking required), and costume competition on Friday 1st November. Kids are welcome till 9.30pm.
• The Wandle is having a Halloween Spooktacular on Saturday 2nd November with live music and prizes for best costume.

 

If you're after something a little scarier, Tara Arts welcomes some fantastic authors who will tell ghost stories in Earlsfield cemetery on Friday 8 November (discount for Wandsworth residents).

For something more family friendly, the Wimbledon and Wandsworth NCT is hosting a Halloween party for parents and children on Wednesday 30 October. Both members and non-members are welcome.

If you're looking for a costume, check out the charity shops on Garratt Lane for ready-made costumes or the makings of something original.

The police are offering advice to anyone with concerns about Halloween and Bonfire Night to help make sure everyone enjoys the events.

What's on in Earlsfield this weekend?

Another busy weekend in Earlsfield on 14-15 September.

Check out exciting free outdoor musical theatre from Tara Arts on Saturday (and cross your fingers for nice weather)
Take in a dark tale of human passion at Don Juan at Tara Arts
Help clean up the Wandle Trail on Sunday
Check out the new hot chocolate recipe at Belle Amie
Feeling peckish? Check out recent reviews of local eateries.

Or if the weather's miserable and you just want to console yourself with a pint and a Sunday roast, any of our great Earlsfield pubs will be happy to host you.

Get in a spin with Tara Arts in a musical on the move

On Saturday 14 September, Tara Arts and Circulate invite you to a "musical on the move" called Spin Cycle.

They say:

"Spin Cycle is a new show by Emergency Exit Arts, a leading light in outdoor arts. The essence of competitive games shows is taken into a performance on the streets and in town centres. The story tracks a team of competitors on an extreme shopping spree that ends with a challenge to everyone to come together to make a change to the way we live.

The audience encounters the Spin Cycle experience at a preliminary roadshow where they will be enticed to join a queue of extreme fans of the Spin Cycle cult. Once they have been invited into the roadshow they will be engaged in a playful and immersive experience that will sift people into teams based on their lifestyle choices.

Throughout the show the audience is guided by the Spinners, forty young people trained by EEA’s Street Arts Academy practitioners. Through text messaging and audience interaction anyone can be invited to become a Spin Cycle contestant."

The performance is free; meet at Tara Theatre on Garratt Lane at 7pm.