pepper and honey digital

Pepper and Honey – Digital Premiere

by Past Project

Notnow Collective were delighted to receive funding from The Library Presents to create a digital version of “Pepper & Honey”. The world-premiere of Kristina Gavran’s play, delivered as a 2-part live audience experience*, took place on Saturday 12 (PART 1) and Saturday 19 (PART 2) December 2020. 


Pepper & Honey had both an audio described and captioned option available for audiences.

Pepper & Honey is a poignant, subtle and timely story about trying not to feel like a foreigner in your adopted country, and the conflict between upholding the traditions of the “old country” and embracing those of the new.

Ana has been on a journey. Croatian-born, she’s arrived in the UK, determined to make it home. She is now haunted by the voice of her Grandma yearning for Ana to come home. As Grandma bakes her traditional Croatian pepper biscuits (believed to bring the loved one back home), will this be enough to be reunited with her granddaughter? Where is ‘home’ to Ana now?

*participating audiences were invited to take part in the sensory experience

The Library Presents Programme is an exciting, diverse and inclusive programme of high quality arts activities with Libraries across Cambridgeshire. Funded by Arts Council England and created in partnership with Babylon ARTS

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NOTNOWcolour

Parents in Arts – Consultation Session

by Past Project

Presented by Notnow Collective and In Good Company

Hosted by Derby Theatre

In response to the recent conversations around issues and challenges parents in the arts face, In Good Company and Notnow Collective have teamed up to take action!

We gathered (expecting or existing) parent/carer artists or creatives, whether currently working, on parental leave, or considering going back to work. 

In this consultation session, we focused specifically on the Midlands region and the context in which local parent/carer artists, creatives, organisations and venues work.

We identified the needs and considered immediate and future actions for parent/ carer creatives in the Midlands.

The consultation was held in anticipation of a forthcoming Parent-Carer Scratch Night presented by Notnow Collective and In Good Company and hosted by Derby Theatre, which will be held on 21stSeptember 2019.  

This consultation was supported by PIPA Campaign

4

DADMAN: THE BATH-TIME WARRIOR

by Past Project

“There’s one thing no one prepared me for. Not the antenatal classes, the friends or family, even those who were already parents.”

 

This is a show about not babysitting your own kids.

 

After investigating motherhood in our first show “Wonderwoman”, Notnow Collectives talks fatherhood. It was quite complicated.

 

DadMan: The Bath-time Warrior deals with the surprise, shock and change brought on by the expectations of fatherhood.

 

We toured the show to 13 nationwide venues offering both BYOB matinees and evening shows.

So, here is THE TOUR:

The Quarry, Bedford

Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester

Stamford Arts Centre, Stamford

Cast, Doncaster

Square Chapel Centre For The Arts, Halifax

Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

BREWHOUSE Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent

MAC, Birmingham

Derby Theatre 

FARNHAM MALTINGS, Surrey

THE EGG, Bath 

HARROGATE THEATRE  

THEATR CLWYD, Mold

Creative team

Arnim Friess (LX and AV design)

Samuel Wilde (set and costume design)

Tim Thomas (composer 1)

Rich Stokes (composer 2)

Vicki Ayres (stage manager)

Philip Holyman (script developing dramaturge)

Claire Bowdler  (audience development officer)

Mothership (Leonie Hart and Rosie Gunn)  – project managers

Sam Baines and Penguin In The Room – marketing and social media

And finally, our magnificent cast:

Marcus Fernando (Dad#1), Alex Gartshore/Stuart Horobin (Dad#2), and a special guest appearance by Tina Hofman (Mum).

DadMan: The Bathtime Warrior was our 2nd show developed with the support from Arts Council England and Sir Barry Jackson Trust Fund, and in partnership with MAC Birmingham, Derby Theatre, Attenborough Arts Centre and Wolverhampton Arena.sustained.


We showed work-in-progress at Camden People’s Theatre, and were programmed on Suitcase Prize at Pulse Festival and Departure Lounge Festival.

What our audience said:

4508

Wonderwoman: The Naked Truth

by Past Project

Wonderwoman: The Naked Truth

One dream. 

Two mothers. 

Three small kids. 

No bedtime routine, and the show must go on.

Creative Team:

Devised and performed by Tina Hofman and Kristina Gavran

Dramaturgical support through R&D – Duška Radosavljević and Hannah Silva

Rehearsal director –  Oliver O’Shea

Sound and Light Designer – Jon Bates

Stage Manager – Tom Moseley

Photography and poster design –  Fernando

Audience Feedback:

  • Captured the complexity of motherhood. Uplifting. Lyn Gardner needs to see it.
  • Excellent thought provoking piece. Most enjoyable. Deserves to be seen by a wider audience.
  • Highly original, entertaining, but also very thought provoking.
  • Marvellously thought. Provoking ideas, interestingly presented. Definitely worth developing this project further. I would also love to see a sequel show presenting the father’s point of view.
  • Great to see a relaxed attitude to little babies in the theatre too – the little toddler in pink was totally part of the show!
  • I thoroughly enjoyed some adult time in a child-friendly environment! Loved the thought provoking content – great show. Thank you.
  • Great show and actors, good to see a play deal with real life issues. Great to be able to bring children.
  • I wish my partner/the dad could have seen it, it would be great to have a dad version.
  • As well thought and funny, exciting show that is great for all ages that really captures the idea of motherhood. Was really nice for the kids to move around as they wished, made a big difference to the children enjoying the show. Thank you.
  • A great experience. Not only was the show relatable but also it was great to be welcomed to a space where my little baby could also come.
  • 18 months into parenthood and this is definitely told the story of our experiences – including me as a first time dad with many competing ambitions (the writing and language learning) Loved it!
  • Very honest! No one speaks it out. Great show made me laugh! It’s truth I’m mum myself! Go, girls. The show should have as many plays as possible.

Supported by Arts Council England, Sir Barry Jackson Trust and mac, Birmingham.