By no means a definitive list, a selection of audience members from the last 20 years have nominated and commented on some of the stand-out memorable performances witnessed at the Isle of Dogs venue. We’d like to recognise every performer that has added to the history of the venue, from lead roles to third spear-carrier from the left, from virtuoso musicians and legendary comedians to theatre companies taking their first steps, we thank you for entertaining our audiences.
Read part one here.
Add your favourites by tweeting us @spaceartscentre – and don’t forget the hashtag #Space20 as we celebrate our 20th year!
Ben Gunn, Ugly Sisters and Maddid
4 – 6 in a series of 20 memorable performances celebrating 20 years at the Space
Matthew Gould as Ben Gunn (and the cheesettes)
In the Summer of 2010, Space Productions took on Phil Willmott’s hugely enjoyable adaptation of the classic Treasure Island. A fantastically talented ensemble cast brought the pirates to life with great gusto and a little sauce. Towards the end of the piece, we find Ben Gunn left alone with his thoughts which are never too far away from his favourite food, cheese. Unexpectedly, Ben breaks into song, using well known hits and replacing key words with cheese (or types of cheese). ‘The Circle of Cheese’, ‘Let it Brie’ and ‘I’m Singin’ in the Cheese’. Matthew Gould arranged the piece alongside our pirate pianist Marc Forde and performed the piece with incredible energy. With the audience already tittering away, Ben Gunn is joined on stage by the cheesettes – Jamie Richards, Amber Elliott, Raya Myntevik, Vicki Gaskin, Amy McGavin and Maddie Moate – all adorned with large blocks of cheese on their wrists. The laughter escalates throughout the numbers until the audience realise they have to join in with a version of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and the final crescendo on ‘I will always love cheese’ never failed to bring rapturous applause. It was a superbly executed comedy routine, delivered by some fine actors with buckets of enthusiasm and not a little cheese!
Stephen Barden & Rob Stott as The Ugly Sisters
With the success of the Graduate behind them, Space Productions decided to take on two Christmas shows in 2009. Lucy Frederick, performer in The Master and Margarita and The Graduate at the Space, turned her hand to writing an original comedy based at the venue, The Space Christmas Space Show (set in space). The play featured a fictional Centre Director and a host of characters based on the Cinderella story. Chief amongst these were the owners of the Space, re-cast as the Ugly Sisters, Sylvia and Cherie. Taking on these roles, in their best falsetto voices, were Space regular, Rob Stott and newcomer to the venue, Stephen Barden.
In the great tradition of pantomime dames, Stephen and Rob had some excellent put-downs, superb comic timing and a wonderful combination of masculine and feminine qualities. Clearly relishing the roles, great pleasure was taken in marmalising both English and French phrases whilst outlining their dastardly plans. Added to this was the comedy value of two tall men in heels playing alongside a rather diminutive actor in the lead role!
The play also featured members of WorkSpace, our adult community group, performing alongside professional actors and one of these recalls working with the two. ‘Stephen was a gem to work with and a generous performer and Rob was absolutely hilarious in the role and contributed brilliantly to the comedy of the play’.
Vala Ómarsdóttir as Maddid
Vala (pictured above left) is both director and performer of MADDID, a company she co-founded with the Space’s own Mari Rettedal-Westlake. Back in 2007 she performed the solo performance of What Now, Maddid? the company’s debut piece. Maddid, a young girl on a quest to become the person that she promised herself she was going to be. As the performance began the lights came up on a girl, upside down in a sofa… she starts twisting and twirling trying to express why she’s there in the first place, and the reason for the audience to witness it. It’s strange, a bit bizarre but hugely charming! Vala drew the audience in from the start and kept them there until the end. As she asked her audience ‘do you understand? can you be in my head…it would help… can you understand me?’ more than a few people were observed sitting on the edge of their seat, unaware that they were nodding their heads.
Vala is a strong performer who has since moved on to perform with renowned companies such as Tangled Feet and Bottlefed. She still creates her own work in MADDID with Mari and has just returned from another tour in Iceland. She recently graduated from Goldsmiths with glowing reviews from her tutors there.