Theatre Absolute

This looks ace!

We are ecstatic to announce the return of EGO’s showcase extravaganza - EGO Live & Eclectic! 🎶🎤

Join us for a night where local talent, artists, and performers take the stage, promising an array of truly unforgettable live performances.

📅 Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM.

BOOK TICKETS https://bit.ly/EGOLIVE

Lots going on with Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art this weekend including workshops and cycle rides! 🚴 🎨

Great org!

We're thrilled to launch our new P**A Foundations programme this month!

Hear from Creative Scotland and Arts Council England about the benefits of supporting parents and carers. Join our FREE webinar ➡️ https://ow.ly/za0Y50Q4Eoo

It’s been one year today that the Shop Front Theatre closed and as we near the end of the first commission in our new series Project:Public it has been a delight to work with photographic artist and filmmaker Adele Mary Reed. 🎥

Emerging from the Shop Front Theatre into a post venue world, we find ourselves taking time to ponder, considering our relationship to the public sphere as we go forwards, our relationship as artists to place, and the huge value we continue to find in collaboration. 💗

Take a moment to watch the film ‘Polaroids, Podcasts and Perambulation’ created by Adele, and do take some time to read her conclusory blog and listen to the accompanying podcasts! 🌆

Polaroids, Podcasts and Perambulation full project: https://theatreabsolute.co.uk/commissions/polaroids-podcasts-perambulation/

Blog post: https://theatreabsolute.co.uk/polaroids-podcasts-and-perambulation-a-conclusion/

More info on Project:Public: https://theatreabsolute.co.uk/projects/project-public/

The film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvE9ukNa-0I

Polaroids, Podcasts and Perambulation by Adele Mary Reed for Project:Public A short film shot on Super 8 by Adele Mary Reed in Coventry, UK for Theatre Absolute's pilot commission for Project:Public. Featuring dialogue with artists J...

Amazing opportunity with China Plate!

CHECK THIS OUT ⬇

Our mission is to develop a new model of creating and producing theatre that opens up the way performance is made, who makes it and who it’s experienced by.

As part of an AHRC-funded Midlands4Cities PhD opportunity, supervised jointly by the University of Birmingham and University of Warwick, China Plate is giving unprecedented access to our work to investigate how new modes of practice enable creative communities to work together to make positive change.

A studentship can be undertaken full-time or part-time. It includes payment of tuition fees for UK and International applicants, a tax-free maintenance grant, plus other funding opportunities to support research expenses.

For more information, please visit our website: chinaplatetheatre.com/opportunities

📷 Iona Firouzabadi

Excited to be gearing up to share a brand new film piece created in response to Project:Public by Adele Mary Reed in collaboration with Chris O'Connell and Julia Negus.

Sunday 5th November marks one year since we closed the Shop Front Theatre so we’ll be publishing Adele’s film to celebrate what we’ve been working on since then in our post-venue landscape 🏙️

Keep an eye on our social media on Sunday! 💫

Film still: Chris O’Connell outside The New Inn, Bull's Heads Lane, Coventry, 17th July ‘23

Adele, our pilot commission artist for Project:Public, has been editing some lovely grainy footage shot whilst exploring with Julia back in July on Hearsall Common during their walking talking podcast 👂 Listen again here:

https://soundcloud.com/user-841454344/julia-oconnell-and-adele-mary-reed

Keep an eye out for the video to be shared online this autumn! 🍂

Check out these wonderful exhibitions in Cov xx

👏👏👏

Coventry Libraries are delighted to announce the new Poets Laureate for Coventry 2023-2025!

The prestigious titles go to John Bernard as Poet Laureate, a gifted poet and rapper and Aamani Kanda as Young Poet Laureate, a talented young poet with enormous potential.

We look forward to working with them during the next two years.


Coventry Writing West Midlands Poetry on Loan Nine Arches Press

Chris has been creating further cycling documentation and thought pieces over on his YouTube. His latest video “Did YouTube ruin my ride?” follows a hill just outside Coventry that piqued his competitive spirit.

“The hill runs up and through a village called Maxstoke, and it all came about when someone posted their time climbing it on Strava. At 1.2 miles it’s got an average gradient of 4% with parts of it reaching 11% - I wondered what I could achieve.”

Check out the video and subscribe to see Chris’ other pieces responding to cycle rides:

Did YouTube ruin my ride? Cycling up Maxstoke Hill #cycling #bikes #roadcycling Cycling for me is always about the ride and the experience, I’m really not one for competition or speed or racing. But there’s one hill just outside Coventry...

John Prevc - The Art of Slow

Thursday 12th October 2023 at 7.30 p.m.

at St. John the Baptist Church Hall, Fleet Street, Coventry, CV1 3AY.

All welcome. Free for members. £2 donation for non-members

Architect and CovSoc member, John Prevc, will speak at our October meeting. John is a Coventry Kid who was brought up in Keresley and who attended Cardinal Newman school. He is an architect, urbanist and university teacher who now works as a consultant. He has worked with some of the UK’s most extraordinary architects and has been involved in projects such as the British Museum, St Pancras Station Eurostar Terminal, Dresden Railway station and buildings and masterplans for Nottingham and York universities.
John will talk on the subject ‘The Art of Slow”. CovSoc members have often mentioned the idea that things are being done too quickly and that there is little time to consider things properly. The talk will address this issue from a physical environment perspective.

Upcoming workshops at The Pod - Coventry 😍

Wednesday 4th October 2023: ‘Thoughtscapes’ We are delighted to collaborate with Dr Bing Lu (twitter: ) on this (and future) Politics & Pakora gatherings.

Bing is a staff member in the Faculty of Arts at University of Warwick and has a belief in community, connectivity and communication. Bing is passionate in empowering human agency through reading, reflecting and re-creating.

This third gathering aims to create a space where participants can collectively navigate the landscapes of their thoughts and collaboratively generate new insights and knowledge. Participants are encouraged to bring their recent reading or books they have read to the table and then share insights about how what the book mean for them. During the process, Bing would provide some tips in terms of how to develop our feelings into creative book reviews.

The book reviews/other products could potentially contribute to the POD's existing Zine collection. The event aims to create an environment where participants can collectively navigate the landscapes of their thoughts and collaboratively generate new insights and knowledge.

*Thoughtscape refers to the inner landscape of thoughts, ideas, and perceptions that exist within an individual's mind. It encompasses the interconnected network of thoughts, emotions, memories, and imaginings that shape an individual's cognitive and emotional experience. The term "thoughtscape" is a metaphorical concept used to describe the subjective and personal realm of mental activity.

In this context, the word "Thoughtscape" signifies the exploration and sharing of diverse thoughts and reflections among participants. It represents the collective space where participants engage in intuitive thinking, introspection, and the exchange of ideas. This session will focus on the reading and reviewing of different books.

‘Thoughtscapes’ will be programmed every 6 weeks.

As with all Politics & Pakora evenings the cafe team will create a wholesome vegan appetiser. The evening is free and no need to book but do be ready to participate.

These sessions come highly recommended if you're interested in taking action on climate change - provided by our friends at Grapevine Cov and Warks x

Final few days to sign up to be part of a free national pilot exploring the power of conversations to broaden support for .

Teaming up with Larger Us, we will be sharing tried and tested tactics to help you have better conversations with neighbours, colleagues and acquaintances about .

So if you struggle to know how to start talking to people, worry about not having all the facts, or don’t want to come across as preachy – this very practical training is for you!

🌍 Build your active listening and storytelling skills
🌍 Stay curious even when conversations get challenging
🌍 Live out your values – be the change you want to see
🌍 Have fun – test out this programme with us!

Find out more about joining our workshop on Monday evening (6-8pm) online here: https://bit.ly/46rXyYC

Connecting For Good Cov

ID: An image of climate change protestors holding placards with a green tint over it and bold white text saying, "Last chance! Mon 2 Oct: Climate Change Conversation Training. Join us online 6-8pm, www.grapevinecovandwarks.org).

This looks fab! x

Join the Coventry Society at Drapers Hall on Sunday 17th September from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. for a Community Heritage Showcase. Joining us will be:

Historic Coventry Trust
Jane Cobbett (textile historian and artist)
Westwood Heath Local History Group
Your Tour Guide
the Freeman’s Guild
the Weavers House
Coventry and District Archaelogy Society (CADAS,
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (Sherbourne Valley Project), and
Aaron Law with a photo display.

We hope to see you there!

🌆🏘️ Project:Public update 🏭🌃

We hope you’ve all been having a lovely summer! Over the past few weeks, artist Adele Mary Reed has been continuing to develop a series of Polaroids following on from the walking podcasts produced early in August with Chris and Julia (check out our previous posts!)

Considering public space, un-public space, hidden space and the future, you can find all of the images and podcasts at her commission page: https://theatreabsolute.co.uk/commissions/polaroids-podcasts-perambulation

The final stage of her commission for Project:Public’s pilot project is to create a short super8 film shot during the walks with Julia and Chris. Stay tuned for its arrival in November 💫

Support the wonderful Foleshill Community Centre

🎉 Join Our Mission: Transform Our Community Centre! 🎉

Are you ready to make a real difference in our community? We have an exciting opportunity for you to be part of a transformation that will benefit us all. Our beloved community centre has been a hub of togetherness for years, but it’s time to take it to the next level.

We need your support to improve its facilities, ensuring a brighter, more vibrant future for everyone who walks through its doors.

Find Out More and Donate Today!💥 https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/foleshill-community-centre-sports-hall

Well worth a trip to Commongroundcoventry to see this beautiful photography and text exhibition. Check out Jon Randle's trailer below x

Migrating Dreams and Nightmares - A John Berger and Jean Mohr Exhibition at Commonground - Exhibition Trailer Mindriot Productions and Commonground presents our exhibition trailer for 'Migrating Dreams and Nightmares' a new exhibition of images and text John Berger…

Immerse yourself in play, movement and performance with Highly Sprung Performance Co. - bursaries available

💥 Artists... save your spot! Our next Professional Intensive is on Saturday 16th September, with bursaries available to give a 50% discount.

Our Professional Intensive is a unique opportunity to be immersed in a day of movement, play, and building contact and ensemble skills. Enter our rehearsal room and get to know our creative process. Explore the signature choreographic methodology informing our performance, and train the Highly Sprung way!

HIGHLY SPRUNG PRO INTENSIVE
🗓️ Saturday 16th September 2023
📍 Daimler Powerhouse, Coventry
🎟️ £60, bursaries available

More info and booking on website at highlysprungperformance.co.uk/product/highly-sprung-professional-intensive/

Deliver books across Coventry! ❤️📚

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to put this recruitment on hold. There are still many Coventry City Council jobs to apply for, including in libraries: www.careers.coventry.gov.uk
JOB VACANCY
Willing and able to travel to all Coventry library locations?
Deliver books to numerous locations across Coventry
Part-time position of 22 hours
Permanent contract
Closing date 17 September 2023
Find out more and apply now:
https://careers.coventry.gov.uk/jobs/job/Library-and-Information-Assistant-Housebound-Library-Service/8130
Coventry Coventry City Council Job Shop

Check out this year’s programme with Coventry Biennial

📣 Programme announcement!

Immerse yourself in the work of 15 diverse artists and groups as they delve into humankind's connection with the natural world ✨

Taking place from 6 October 2023 – 14 January 2024, ...like a short cut through the brambles, will be hosted in galleries and historic buildings across and the wider region, including Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Compton Verney, Warwick Arts Centre & Coventry University.

Mark your calendars, read the full programme, and book your tickets for : https://www.coventrybiennial.com

📸 Dinh Q. Lê, 'Chincha Norte Island'. Photo courtesy of Artangel and the artist.