Category: ComingUp

Chopped Liver & Unions

Chopped Liver & Unions

Thu 2nd October 2025

Blur Fire Theatre Company present
Chopped Liver & Unions
by J.J. Leppink
The East End of London has burned with the fires of rebellion for centuries. Most recently, from the Matchgirls of 1888 to the “Made in Dagenham” workers at Ford’s in Dagenham in 1968, its women have fought for change. Sara Wesker fought harder than most. Forty years after the Matchgirls and forty years before the Ford Workers, in 1928 Sara led a 12 week ground breaking strike in the garment industry. An ardent trade unionist and prominent Communist Party activist, Sara sang on the picket lines, galvanised a traditionally compliant workforce and in 1936 fought at the Battle of Cable Street. This is her story.

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Sarah McQuaid

Sarah McQuaid

Sat 31st May 2025
One of the most instantly recognisable voices in current music.” —Trust The DocSarah McQuaid’s lush, chocolatey voice combines with her engaging personality, “subtle mastery onstage” (Huffington Post) and “brilliant musicianship” (fRoots) on acoustic and electric guitars, piano and (occasionally) drum to create a truly immersive experience. Born in Spain, raised in Chicago, holding dual Irish and American citizenship and now settled in rural England, she brings the eclecticism of her background to her “captivating, unorthodox songwriting” (PopMatters) and choice of material, spanning genres and defying categorisation. All this is abundantly demonstrated by her new live album and video series The St Buryan Sessions — but needs to be savoured in person to be fully appreciated.

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Performance Poetry with an Edge from James Domestic & Virginia Betts

Performance Poetry with an Edge from James Domestic & Virginia Betts

Friday 23rd May 2025 7:30pm

An Evening with James Domestic & Virginia Betts

James Domestic and Virginia Betts team up for an evening of poetical entertainment that you will not want to miss!

Domestic has been wowing crowds across the country throughout 2023/24 with his quirky, humorous, and often poignant observations on the minutiae of everyday life effortlessly crafted into irreverent, punk-ish poems. He’s appeared on BBC Radio a number of times, guested on various podcasts, and even performed on BBC Breakfast telly as part of a feature on the 50th anniversary of Ceefax. With several books to his name, most published by Earth Island Books, and support slots with Luke Wright, Attila The Stockbroker, and Andy Riley, he’s feted by poets and musician alike:

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Luke Wright JOY

Luke Wright JOY

Thursday 8 May 2025, 7:30pm

Following the smash hit success of his Silver Jubilee show (“the best thing he’s done and that’s saying something.” ★★★★★ Telegraph) Luke Wright returns with a new set poems that get to grips with the idea of JOY. Is it possible, as a 42 year old to feel pure unbridled happiness, and what does it look like?

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Philip Clouts Duo

Philip Clouts Duo

Friday 25th April 2025 7:30pm
Cape Town born pianist and composer Philip Clouts’ South African roots have inspired a voyage of discovery that has led to him soaking up the joyful passion of Caribbean calypso, the bluesy melodies of middle eastern praise songs, the exuberant sway of Cuban dance music and the tuneful essence of Gospel while honouring jazz heroes including Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett.

The Philip Clouts Quartet has been a major focus of his composing and playing, and the latest album ‘Umoya’ is titled from the Zulu word for ‘life force’. Philip’s career has included playing at Ronnie Scott’s, Birmingham Symphony Hall and the Glastonbury Festival. His music has been played on BBC’s Jamie Cullum Show, and Jazz FM has praised it, saying “it has a very infectious feel-good quality.”

In this setting Philip will be presenting his work in an intimate context with just a bass player, highlighting the wide variety of moods in the music, and will also be playing some pieces from the jazz repertoire.

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A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2 BY LUCAS HNATH

A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2 BY LUCAS HNATH

Fri 11th April 2025 – Sat 12th April 2025

OLD SCHOOL THEATRE presents
A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2
BY LUCAS HNATH
At the end of Ibsen’s classic, ground breaking 1879 play, A Doll’s House Nora walks out on her marriage, home and young
children. Playwright Lucas Hnath builds on Ibsen’s seminal work by imagining what happens when Nora returns years later
with an urgent request. Old School Theatre Company presents Hnath’s rich, stand alone sequel, eloquently exploring
traditional gender roles and social class still inherent in today’s society. A Doll’s House, Part 2 received its UK premiere at the
Donmar Warehouse, London in 2022.

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Operation: RADAR

Operation: RADAR

Tue 1st April 2025 – 6th April 2025

Black & White Productions revisit how RDF (or RADAR as it came to be known) was developed at Orfordness & Bawdsey with a new play – OPERATION:RADAR

It’s a race against time as Boffins Robert Watson Watt and Skip Wilkins try to come up with solutions to the impossible problems of detecting aircraft and IFF (identifying friend or foe) before they succumb to the bleak conditions of Orfordness or Hitler unleashes the might of the Luftwaffe and wipes out the RAF before the flying boys have got their socks on!.But as they re-establish operations at Bawdsey Manor and Churchill piles on the pressure, will Air Marsall Dowding retain his sanity long enough to be any help? And even if they do find answers – who will operate the new Chain Home Stations now all the men are being called up?
With live music and a mixture of new songs and old favorites from the period this

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ELI LEV

ELI LEV

Saturday 22nd March 7.30pm Tickets £15/£13 Rising singer-songwriter Eli Lev is making the world a smaller place, one song at a time. Eli pens lyrics and melodies for everyday enlightenment—songs that resonate because they’re heartfelt, earthy, and offer the wisdom he’s gained through lifelong travel and self-discovery. The Maryland-based artist has just completed his epic …

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