SAVVY Theatre | Year In Review

2013 and prior

Trying to encapsulate all of the work created since our inception as a company in 2007 is impossible. We launched SAVVY with an inter-generational production of "Second From Last in the Sack Race" at the Charles Cryer Theatre, which was the perfect vehicle to start our SAVVY journey - bringing older and younger theatre makers together. This then continued with other notable productions including "The Snow Queen" (bringing Action Replay and our Young Company together), and the audio/visual community project Imagine Water . We worked with local SEMH and SEN pupils on a year-long drama project, unlocking the Tudor History of Carew Manor through jousting tournaments and banquets.

We produced two touring shows based on the reminiscence and experiences of two of our Adult Company members. "Coke Floats & Chemo" was based on the blog of the same name by Yvonne Newbold, MBE and "The Girl on the Platform" was a fully-masked production, that featured Brenda, talking about her memories as a WWII evacuee.

Despite this being our 'early days' as a theatre company, SAVVY was already finding its voice and its purpose, developing exciting and unique community-led work.

In Addition

We continued our work with Wandle Valley Academy, producing their annual Christmas shows, and bringing in professional artists to work with them, including fight directors, puppeteers and drummers from the West End production of STOMP . It was during this period that we started our annual traditional of bringing groups together at Christmas, starting with a shared production of "Romeo & Juliet" at the Secombe Theatre in Sutton.
We also had fun every summer at Guilfest performing at the theatre tent, while our Young Company took part in the National Theatre's annual Connections Festival. We continued to set up partnerships with local organisations including Bloomin' Arts and the Orpheus Centre, as well as the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre.

For three years took part in the Surrey Youth Drama Festival at the Ivy Arts Centre, hosted the annual Sutton Youth Drama Festival at the Secombe Theatre and launched the Equally Diverse Training Programme at Fairfield Halls, for adults with a learning disability, wanting to learn more about other aspects of theatre including Front of House, backstage, design and facilitation.

We Lost Elijah

By Ryan Craig

The SAVVY Young Company once again took part in the National Theatre's Connections Festival. Their 2013 production was performed at both the Charles Cryer Studio Theatre and the Capitol Theatre, Horsham.

Journey to X

by Nancy Harris

Especially written for the 2012 National Theatre Connections Festival, it was performed by the SAVVY Young Company at both the Charles Cryer Studio and Chichester Festival Theatre.

Cloud Busting

By Helen Blakeman

The SAVVY Young Company performed 'Cloud Busting' as part of the National Theatre's Connections Festival in 2011.

Romeo & Juliet

Secombe Theatre, 2011

Puppetry and percussion took the lead in this poetic reinterpretation of Shakespeare's ultimate story of love and war. Performed by the Action Replay Drama Group with support from the SAVVY Young Company. This production project was shortlisted for the National "Children & Young People Now!" Award.

The Giant Puppet Project

On Sunday, 8th June 2008, members from the ALL STARS drama group (for adults with learning disabilities), supported by SAVVY Young Company members, began working with Di Jones, a visual artist from EMERGENCY EXIT ARTS on the creation of a giant puppet. At the end of the 6 weeks, the project was completed and the puppet developed by the group then formed a vital part of their OUTDOOR SUMMER STORIES promenade event, held on Sunday, 20th July at the AWS Leisure Gardens in Croydon.

Commedia, Swordplay & Tumbling

The 3rd Annual Sutton Youth Drama Festival

Secombe Theatre, Sutton

This weekend provided workshops in stage fighting techniques, circus skills, Commedia del Arte, slapstick and clowning, working with Albert & Friends Circus, Rc-Annie and Strangeface Theatre.