_THE FACTION SOLOS 2021
In 2014 we started a project that looked to develop a solo show for each acting member of the ensemble and associate artists working with directors Mark Leipacher and Rachel Valentine Smith. We could have never guessed that this work would have made such an impact. In 2021 our first work post pandemic closures was a UK tour of a triple bill of solo shows
DOUGLASS - a brand new piece of work by Bonnie Greer and performed by Jude Owusu; MEDEA/WORN a revival of Anna Maria's performance of Emily Juniper's radical retelling
and DUENDE a new piece of work co created by Amelia Donkor and Rachel Valentine Smith devised out of Lorca's 1928 lecture of the same name.
The work was powerful, raw and totally unique to us. As we continue as a company - and more so an ensemble we will continue to interrogate and celebrate the form of solo work in our company.
Above photography Christa Holka
A MIGHTY, FEROCIOUS MEDEA... INVENTIVE AND SENSITIVELY DIRECTED...
"CEREBRAL, RAW...STIMULATING... A JOYFUL AND REFRESHINGLY OPTIMISTIC CALL TO CREATE ART IN THE FACE OF OUR PAST AND PRESENT STRUGGLES."
★★★★
THE STAGE
_THE FACTION SOLOS 2014-2017
A series of solo shows adapted from classic drama and literature. This is a major project in our commitment to developing new ways to bring new writing and the classics together and interrogate our ensemble practice.
In September 2014 The Faction premiered a season of classic solo shows that comprised of three triple bills running in rep under the name REPTEMBER at New Diorama Theatre. This pioneering project saw some of the most daring names from world literature celebrated through the voices of our most exciting emerging writers. These unique plays proved so popular with our audiences we reproduced them in January 2016 at New Diorama and Wiltons Music Hall under the name TRANSFORMATIONS. These shows are available for touring at different points in the year.
_THE PLAYS
Directed by Rachel Valentine Smith or Mark Leipacher
AN ARAB WOMAN SPEAKS
by Dario Fo and Franca Rame
Originally created with and performed by Sahar Assaf
BORKMANN
by Ibsen adapted by Mark Leipacher
Originally created with and performed by Alexander Guiney
DUENDE
a lecture by Lorca newly devised by Kate Sawyer and Rachel Valentine Smith
Originally created with and performed by Kate Sawyer
DOGS DIALOGUE
by Cervantes in a new version by Gareth Jandrell
Originally created with and performed by Natasha Rickman
FAUST
by Goethe in a new version by Gareth Jandrell
originally created with and performed by Cary Crankson
recreated with and performed by Christopher Hughes
JOAN OF ARC
by Schiller specially adapted by Mark Leipacher*
Originally created with and performed by Kate Sawyer
*This adaptation comes from our full company 2015 production
THE MAN WITH THE FLOWER IN HIS MOUTH
by Pirandello adapted by Mark Leipacher
Originally created with and performed by Lachlan McCall
MEDEA/WORN
by Euripides in a new version by Emily Juniper
Originally created with and performed by Anna Maria Nabirye*
*an early version was originally performed by Sakuntala Ramanee
METAMORPHOSIS
by Kafka in a new version by Gareth Jandrell
Originally created with and performed by Tom Radford
MY LAST DUCHESS
after Browning's poem in a new version by Jessica Siân
Originally created with and performed by Amelia Donkor
PROMETHEUS
by Aeschylus in a new version by Will Gore
originally created with and performed by Mark Leipacher
OFF WESTEND TBC AWARD NOMINATION (for projects outside of categorisation)
OFF WESTEND AWARD NOMINATION MOST PROMISING PLAYWRIGHT Emily Juniper
OFF WESTEND AWARD NOMINATION BEST PERFORMANCE (MALE) Tom Radford
'A TWISTED TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY EDGE'
PLAYS TO SEE ★★★★★
'AN IMPORTANT EVENT FOR THEATRE LOVERS AS IT NOT ONLY EXPOSES THE WORKS OF GREAT FAMOUS WRITERS, BUT ALLOWS NEW WRITING TALENT INTERPRETING THESE AND LINKING THEM TO A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY WORLD. THE STORYTELLING IS CLEARLY DRIVEN BY PASSION AND THE FACTION’S EYE FOR DETAIL IN TEXT AND AESTHETICS MAKES THIS EVENT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO CATCH'
A YOUNGER THEATRE
'STAGED WITH CLARITY, INTIMACY AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING AESTHETICS'
BROADWAYWORLD ★★★★
'INGENIOUSLY CONCEIVED AND COMES AS A MARVELOUS SURPRISE. SUFFICE TO SAY, IT DEMANDS AN EXPRESSIVELY PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE FROM SAWYER AND SHE FULLY DELIVERS, VIVIDLY ENTERTAINING BUT WITH A TRAGICOMIC NOTE THAT BLOOMS BEAUTIFULLY LATE ON. LORCA MAY NOT HAVE REFERENCED PENÉLOPE CRUZ, SIMON COWELL OR NICK CAVE DIRECTLY IN HIS WORK BUT THE UPDATING IS BEAUTIFULLY DONE AND MAKES GREAT ARTISTIC SENSE...
OUT TO BE CLOWNS ON DUENDE
'NATASHA RICKMAN’S SPELLBINDING AND BRAVE PERFORMANCE
A YOUNGER THEATRE ON DOGS DIALOGUE
'TRANSFIXING THE AUDIENCE WITH A BLISTERING INTENSITY THAT IS HARD TO IGNORE'
OUT TO BE CLOWNS ON FAUST
CHRISTOPHER HUGHES’ MEPHISTOPHELES IS A TOUR DE FORCE, AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF ACTING THAT FEELS UTTERLY ORGANIC
PLAYS TO SEE ON FAUST
