Immediate Press Release
PRESS NIGHT & WINE RECEPTION: 2 November, 7-10:30pm
Theatro Technis, 26 Crowndale Road London, NW1 1TT
Press Contact: 07917 157 748 | msftmanagement@gmail.com
WHAT IS JIM CARTWRIGHT DOING AT THE DYS-PLA FESTIVAL GALA?
Part of Dyslexia Awareness Week, 1-7 November 2010
Jim Cartwright, the internationally acclaimed playwright of, ‘Two, ‘Road’ and ‘Little Voice’, is honored to launch the tour-de-force of dyslexic writing for stage. Our special guest welcomes the rebels, the mavericks, the dyslexics and the Press, to witness a new wave of playwrights, or ‘dyslexiwright’, as they were recently coined.
msft has consistently worked with dyslexic practitioners since 2007, to raise awareness of the creative benefits that neurodiversity contributes to story making. msft is the only production company dedicated to the creative development of works by dyslexic writers. Festival Producer, Lennie Varvarides comments, “These unique 3-D thinkers challenge traditional structure in writing for stage; One day we hope there will be a shelf in every library, dedicated to this new genre of text”.
The evening will present extracts from all the plays produced as part of the DYS-PLA Festival program, running from 2-6 November, together with a full production of, ‘I Could Be Anyone’, from our very own dyslexic activist, the infamous, Matthew Scurfield.
Matthew Scurfield is also an established actor who has previously worked with the legendary Steven Berkoff, and the author of the divisive book, Indictment Education and Flowering. This book itself is indicative of the failings of our current educational system. Indictment Education and Flowering is due for release in November to coincide with the DYS-PLA Festival.
For more information about the DYS-PLA or/and our partners, press pictures, or interviews, please contact the festival Producer Lennie Varvarides on: msftmanagement@gmail.com or by calling 07917157748
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Editors Notes: DYS-PLA Festival | 2 -6 November 2010 | Theatro Technis 26 Crowndale Road London, NW1 1TT | 7:00pm-11:00pm | £10-15 | Box Office: 01865 798797 | www.wegottickets.com | www.facebook.com/msftlondon
msft has consistently worked with dyslexic practitioners since 2007 to raise awareness of the creative benefits neurodiversity brings to the arts. From our humble beginnings in pub venues, under previous festival titles of ‘Dys(the)lexi’ and ‘dyssing-mondys’, we celebrate our biggest venture so far, the DYS-PLA festival of new plays by dyslexic writers.
We kick off the DYS-PLA festival with a Charity Gala night and wine reception, with our Special guest, Jim Cartwright, who will host the tour-de-force of dyslexic creativity. The evening will present extracts from each play programmed throughout the week, along with a full scale production of Matthew Scurfield’s dramatized autobiography, ‘I Could Be Anyone’. Over the DYS-PLA Festival week, (2-6th November) we will present a double bill of the following titles: Cheery Cack, written by Susan Sainsbury, directed by Janet Palmer, The Death Of Norman Tortilla, written by Charlotte Coates, directed by Tom Latter, Just a Game, written by Paul Hine, directed by Emily Jenkins and Susanna, written by N N Rakshin, directed by Adam Marchan.
For more information, please find us at www.facebook.com/msftlondon or to book tickets: www.wegottickets.com
Listing Information:
DYS-PLA Festival
2 -6 November 2010
7:00pm-10:30pm
Theatro Technis | 26 Crowndale Road London, NW1 1TT
Dyslexics are predominantly considered to be poor readers, bad writers and disorganized. Not desirable traits for a child, or partner and certainly not something you look for in an employee. Such a person could never be a talented playwright, right?
Wrong. Dyslexic story makers have a natural ability to think visually, and being 3-D thinkers they are able to construct new dimensions, both cinematic and theatrical. msft has consistently worked with dyslexic practitioners since 2007 to raise awareness of the creative benefits neurodiversity brings to the arts.
From our humble beginnings in pub venues, under previous festival titles of ‘Dys(the)lexi’ and ‘dyssing-mondyas’, we celebrate our biggest venture so far, the DYS-PLA festival of new plays by dyslexic practitioners.
We kick off the DYS-PLA festival with a charity Gala night and wine reception, inviting well known figures with an interest in the event to witness tour-de-force of dyslexic creativity.
The evening will present extracts from each play programmed throughout the week, along with a full scale production of Matthew Scurfield’s dramatized autobiography, ‘I Could Be Anyone’.
For more information on the festival as a whole, or to be involved as a guest speaker please contact the festival Producer Lennie Varvarides on msftmanagement@gmail.com or by calling 07917157748.
DYS-PLA Festival
2 November
7:00pm-11:30pm
Theatro Technis
26 Crowndale Road London, NW1 1TT
£15
Starting its second season, SPEECHMOTION returns to The Horse & Groom in Shoreditch on the last Tuesday of every month.
Programming both film and performance, each evening is a variety of wonders from some of the best poets, performers, musicians and filmmakers in town. Along with our featured and guest artists we bring you the promiscuity of an open mic and screen filled with those brave enough to come on down with their act or short film and step right up to one of the free slots available at the door.
Never shying away from the obscure, every SPEECHMOTION likes to offer a unique assortment of work that won’t be found under the same roof anywhere else.
We are proud to present for this month’s big show…
Visiting poet: Catherine Brogan, a SPEECHMOTION regular who will be helping us to kick the evening off in the absence of our resident poet from season one, SuperPennie.
Our guests: The Captain of the Rant, a well established member of the London poetry scene, The Captain combines a barbed wire wit with a ferocious delivery that has made him one of the most distinctive, and loudest voices out there today http://www.myspace.com/captainoftherantpoetry
Cyrus Mirza’shafa, with his short film Herons. Interested in a patient kind of storytelling, Cyrus makes films designed to last longer than their time on the screen. He is currently working on his first feature film http://vimeo.com/user3665846
The featured artists: The Purp, known for his production works in North London, he has worked with Warrior Queen and Shaxman, The Purp made his performance debut at last year’s SPEECHMOTION and is back here performing his latest work http://www.youtube.com/theprupbeat
Tom Geens, award-winning filmmaker screening his recent short You’re The Stranger Here. Going beyond the net curtains, Mr. Geens delves into the darker recesses of the middle classes. He has his own production company ‘The Chicken Factory and working on a feature film Boredom http://www.chickenfactory.co.uk
Mixing the sublime with the brilliant, the great with the odd SPEECHMOTION is sure to keep you on your toes, holding onto the edge of your seat with some of the most exciting and unusual acts and films around today.
RSVP on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/msftlondon to receive a discount on the door.
£5/4
Horse and Groom on Curtain Road
Last Tuesday of Every Month.
Dyslexics are predominantly considered to be poor readers, bad writers and disorganized. Not desirable traits for a child, or partner and certainly not something you look for in an employee. Such a person could never be a talented playwright, right?
Wrong. Dyslexic story makers have a natural ability to think visually, and being 3-D thinkers they are able to construct new dimensions, whether they be cinematic or theatrical. msft has consistently worked with dyslexic practitioners since 2007 so as to raise the profile of the creative benefits of neurodiversity.
From our humble beginnings in pub venues under previous festival titles of: Dys(the)lexi and dyssing-mondyas, msft celebrate our biggest achievement to date, the DYS-PLA festival of new plays by dyslexic practitioners.
We kick off the DYS-PLA festival with a charity Gala performance and wine reception, and invite well known and prominent dyslexic figures to witness tour-de-force of dyslexic playwrights.
The evening will present extracts from each play programmed throughout the week, culminating in a full production of Matthew Scurfield’s dramatized autobiography, ‘I Could Be Anyone’.
For more information on the festival as a whole, or to be involved as a guest speaker please contact the festival Producer Lennie Varvarides on msftmanagement@gmail.com or by calling 07917157748.
Dyslexics are predominantly considered to be poor readers, bad writers and disorganized. Not desirable traits for a child, or partner and certainly not something you look for in an employee. Such a person could never be a talented playwright, right?
Well, msft begs to differ and has been actively raising the profile of dyslexic story makers with its annual DYS-PLA festival since 2007.
Getting bigger each year, 2010 marks our most prominent DYS-PLA yet and to celebrate we are holding an Opening Night Gala with a Wine Reception on November 2nd 2010 at our host venue, Theatro Technis in Camden.
Recognizing the challenges faced and overcome by each writer, the fundamentals of writing being a dyslexic’s Achilles heel, the Gala will present an extract of each play programmed in the festival, culminating in a full production of Matthew Scurfield’s dramatized autobiography I Could Be Anyone.
For this we are looking for prominent members of the dyslexic community to help open the festival and be present at the Gala, as well as becoming Ambassadors for DYS-PLA in general. Ideally, we are looking for someone to act as guest speaker and a dyslexic celebrity to cut the ribbon, launching the festival in front of local and national press.
Anyone who would like to be our guest speaker and patron please contact the Festival’s Producer Lennie Varvarides on msftmanagement@gmail.com.
DYS-PLA Festival
2 -6 November
7:00pm-11:30pm
Theatro Technis
26 Crowndale Road London, NW1 1TT
£10-15
Monthly Writing and Reading Workshops for Stage & Screen
Upcoming Event: Sunday 25th of July 3.15pm-7.30pm
Whether they have hit a brick wall, or would simply like to take their words beyond the page, msft offers writers an opportunity to test out, and perhaps expand their work. On the last Sunday of every month writers, directors and actors congregate at The Others on Manor Road in Stoke Newington to actualize emerging playwrights and screenwriters scripts in a workshop/ rehearsal type environment.
Starting each session with a guest speaker, from the industry, sharing their thoughts on writing, Sunday Surgery aims to encourage participants to think about what the term good writing means to them.
Then breaking into groups, each script is worked on by a director and a team of actors who shape the material into a short performance for the end of the session, all of which is documented by photography and video. Through this the actors and directors try new things and the writer gets to see how theatre makers engage the text.
As a hub of talent Sunday Surgery is a great starting place for possible future collaborations and somewhere where practitioners can keep themselves limber. Every actor who participates in the event will be seen by the msft talent agency.
This month’s featured writer Matthew Scurfield, with I Could Be Anyone: Based on the experiences of growing up dyslexic before there was even a word for it, Matthew Scurfield’s intricate and powerful piece explores the struggle between a fixed linear world and those that can’t fit in with it.
Guest writers this month include Paul Hine and Gavin Curtis.
Listing Information
Every last Sunday of the Month
Sunday 27th June 3.15pm-7.30pm
Venue: The Others, 6-8 Manor Road, Stoke Newington, N16 5SA
Entry: ￡5
It is the last SPEECHMOTION of the season and to celebrate we are bringing back the artists, poets and filmmakers who have really shaken things up over the past twelve months.
SPEECHMOTION has a way of really bashing against your consciousness and like a good stiff drink, manage to be influential in one way or another!
With great style and vehemence SPEECHMOTION Favorites, take on the world and what a thrilling fight to watch, (much better than the football).
SPEECHMOTION welcomes a heady brew of poets, lovers and lunatics to the Horse and Groom for the last time and serve only the finest blend of film and performance, sound and vision, speech and motion…
POETS:
LOVERS:
And the LUNATICS:
Each SPEECHMOTION headliner works individually and unanimously to create an intoxicating evening of art to shake complacency and hopefully always stirs the audience.
Spaces are limited to 30 and we therefore strongly recommend you RSVP.
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Immediate Press Release – May 2010
Monthly Writing Workshop – Script and Screen
For anyone interested in new writing for stage and screen
msft offers a space where experienced and novice writers can develop creative ideas, build characters and push their writing to its dramatic limits. Also a great chance for actors to cut their teeth on brand new work, directors to hone their skills with up-and-coming writers, and casting directors/producers to scout for fresh talent.
Each month kicks off with a master class, aimed at the writers but useful for all, where tried and tested rehearsal techniques are applied to the writing process. The bulk of the afternoon is an open workshop/rehearsal space – writers are paired with directors and appropriate cast to work through their script, improvise new dialogue or flesh out a troublesome character. There follows a chance to present an extract of up to 5 mins to the whole group, and the day is rounded off by a structured feedback session. All punctuated with frequent trips to the fully stocked bar, and plenty of casual networking.
Sunday 30th May 3.15pm-7.30pm
Master class
“Imagery, Objects, Themes – understanding the layers of a script”
Applying practiced rehearsal techniques to the writing process, discover how the many layers of a script are unlocked by the director and used to inform the actor’s work. Aimed at writers, useful for everyone.
Featured Writer
Aisha Zia – The Other One
Mum, Dad and Daughter should be celebrating a special birthday, but the spectre of the child that ran away hangs over them all. A dark and powerful piece from a promising new voice in playwriting.
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Every Last Sunday of the Month in Stoke Newington!
msft’s latest event, merges the principles of a writers workshop with the antics of the rehearsal room so as to aid the development of Sick Scripts into Healthy Plays, (or Screenplays).
Sunday Surgery is divided into three structures, a bit like a play…how appropriate. The beginning, (master class in writing, this month’s topic: ‘Building Depth and Detail into Character’, run by Tom Latter), the middle, (workshop/rehearsal) and the end (presentation of work), all of which have a very dyslexic friendly approach; in line will all things msft, (but you do not need to be dyslexic to get involved).
By default Sunday Surgery has a layer of subtext called ‘networking’ and proves to be a wonderful way for producers to highjack new talent. Actors also come along in hope of flexing their muscles, as well as flirting with the possibility of being represented by msft management, (whose books are currently open). Let’s not forget the Directors who show up for the, ‘Drop In’ surgery.
Any writer with 1-5 pages of script they want to develop are encouraged to surrender it over to the directors/actors on the day. Sunday Surgery is a bit like the job centre for the artistically unemployed.
This month’s evening featured performance: Cockentrice, A famous chef, his talented protégé, his trophy wife and a whole lot of cockroaches, by Michelle Donkin, is a high-octane story about the business of celebrity restaurants. Directed by, Tom Latter, staring, Matt Palfrey, Nikky Arding, Tobias Deacon, and Katharine Hope.
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Listing Information:
Date: Sunday 28th March
Time: 3pm-7pm
Venue: The Others, 6-8 Manor Road, Stoke Newington, N16 5SA
Price: £4/3 (Facebook guest list get in for £3)
Email submissions to: msftmanagement@gmail.com
Facebook: msft
*Please be sure to bring enough copies per character.
The main acts for the October 27th 2009 are resident and published poet, Super Pennie, a hero with ability to wake the absent from their nothingness.
SpeechMotion’s guest poet, Jennifer Warren, is the extremely funny and slightly odd Canadian, who will have you laughing in seconds.
Guest filmmakers are Marianna and Daniel, who will be screening their new film, Longbridge.
Feature performer is comedy poet, Neal Zetter, who has been performing since 1989 at over 100s gigs in the West End comedy and poetry scene (clubs, arts centers, theatres, Soho Theatre, pubs, schools, youth centers, libraries, Royal Festival Hall Euro 96 Poetry Fest) as well as private parties, youth offending teams, NHS (mental health, drug and alcohol rehab groups) and a funeral. Neal also runs a poetry writing and performance workshops.
Featured filmmaker is the Italian film director, Andrea Lodovichetti, winner of the Best Short Film Golden Globe and the Looking for Genius Award (Babelgum Online Film Festival). SpeechMotion is honored to screen, The Devil, a short about an old peasant woman is at death’s door. Her son refuses to give her assistance and decides to put her in the care of Donna Cesira, for a fixed payment. Donna Cesira believes she’s struck a fine deal, but the days pass and the old woman won’t die…
The main acts for the 29th September 2009 are resident & published poet Super Pennie. SpeechMotion’s guest poet is Catherine Brogan, the winner of the Belfast Poetry Cup.
SpeechMotion’s feature performer is Jennifer Warren, the extremely funny and slightly odd Canadian who will have you laughing in seconds.
Guest film is a short entitled Firebird, made by students studying Media Practice at The University of Sussex in England. The story focuses on Floyd Tyler, who has recently lost the love of his life and is now haunted by her ghost. Floyd believes the only way to move on is to undergo an experimental treatment which eradicates memories, however the outcome of the procedure reveals surprising consequences.
Featured filmmaker, Andrea Lodovichetti, is the winner of the Best Short Film Golden Globe and the winner of the Looking for Genius Award (Babelgum Online Film Festival). SpeechMotion is honored to screen Sotto il mio giardino aka Under My Garden which has already won several prizes all around the world. The story is about Marco, a 10-year old boy who has a passion for insects, which lead him to discover a murder in his own back garden. He decides to carry out some investigations before involving the police.
The main acts for the 25th August 2009 are, resident & published poet, Super Pennie. SpeechMotion’s guest performer is Xperi Mental, who creates psychedelic visual theatre with UV light, a mixture of dance, Tai chi chuan, and juggling with Poi and small sticks.
SpeechMotions feature poet is Northerner, The Ruby Kid, who is a lyrical wordsmith with an impressive performance history for someone so young. The Ruby Kid has performed in front of over 500 people at Sheffield’s The Plug (in support of grime mega stars Wiley and Skepta) to intimate spoken-word sets at The Library House squat in Brixton. He has shared bills with Al Baker, Babar Luck, Master Shortie, Kid Acne, and Rodney P–to name a few–and will be performing tracks from his latest EP, Winter in The City.
Guest filmmaker is a recent graduate from Southampton Solent University, George Hollywood-Smith, with two of his shorts entitled, RET. RI. BU. TION and Immigration, which has had over 95,000 views on YouTube and has become an Internet cult classic.
Feature filmmaker is Sullivan Coredo from the South of France, with the debut screening of The Wizard/Le Magician–a short, surreal film about a nightmare full of meanings but unreadable. Sullivan Coredo will be present for a Q&A to help those without a dream dictionary to interpret the meaning of The Wizard/Le Magician.
Editors notes: SpeechMotion is in partnership with Maya Productions–producers of Write to Ignite, September 09, The Hackney Word Festival. ###
SpeechMotion, the latest’s addition to msft’s festival portfolio of fantastic events in East London, promotes the work of new storytellers, offering a unique mix of poetry and film. Speech Motion runs every last Tuesday of the month for the next 12 months and kicks off on 28th July 2009 at The Horse and Groom, 28 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3NZ.
Open mic performers/filmmakers may sign up at 7.00pm, ready for a 7:30pm start. Following the open will be a combination of programmed guest and featured artists each month. Featured artists get paid and the producers will be using the open mic/screenings as a way of scouting for new talent.
The main acts for the 28th July 2009 are guest poet and published writer Super Pennie, this month’s featured poet Camila Fiori, featured filmmakers Emily Stein and Charlotte Rodrigues, and guest filmmaker C.B. Legge.
Super Pennie is our guest poet this month. For more information and a full performance list, please visit Super Pennie’s MySpace page. You may also visit Super Pennie on YouTube.
This month’s feature poet, the passionate Camila Fiori. Camila has recently contributed to the London Poetry Pearl Anthology, as well as being the winner of a LifeFm/Young Creative’s writing competition and a performer at the London Literary Festival. Her delivery is enigmatic and her performance poetry is full of the kind of honesty that is as rare as sunshine in London. Some online links: Camila’s MySpace page (click on “photos” to see images of some recent projects), Red Velvet Curtain Club (click on “people” and “artists E-H”), Camila’s Spotlight page, and Camila’s Casting Call Pro page.
Guest filmmaker is C.B. Legge with his short film entitled The Robbery, a beautifully shot narrative that explores how the stories we create around other people’s lives, become reflections of ourselves.
Feature filmmakers include Emily Stein (a documentary photographer and filmmaker who runs photography workshops for teenagers) and Charlotte Rodrigues (an assistant producer for broadcast TV documentaries). They will be screening The Original Woodstockers, a short documentary about the original Woodstock veterans who refuse to give up their hippie lifestyle. Check out The Original Woodstockers via this link.
Editors notes: Call for participation SpeechMotion scouts for talent via the open mic/open screen and offers all features a maximum 20 minute performance/screening opportunity. Poets, storytellers, performers, and filmmakers please email initial interest by 15th of every month. If you would like to be considered as a feature (a paid position), please email us at msftmanagement@gmail.com for more information and submission guidelines.
SpeechMotion details: Every last Tuesday of the month from July 2009. Doors open at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start. Tickets:£4.00. Venue: The Horse and Groom, 28 Curtain Road, Shoreditch Tube: Old St/Liverpool St
Producer notes: Who is msft? The Storytellers Pedalstal. msft, formerly known as missfit productions, has been producing events since 2006 and specializes in raising the profile of emerging artists, across the creative spectrum, (poets, performers, film makers and playwrights). msft aims to create performance opportunities around London in quirky venues that promise to nurture creative talent and artistic innovation. Why? Because msft loves theatre. Not just the finished product, but all the drama that brings the product to life.
For more information, images, interviews or sponsorship, please contact festival director Lennie Varvarides at speechmotion@makingtheatrework.com ###
DYSSING MONADYS, is a permanent fixture of the London literary, fringe and film scene dedicated to the development of dyslexic theatre writers, performance poets, and filmmakers because dyslexia can be a gift, not a ‘cruel fiction,’ as implied by Graham Stringer, the Labor MP for Blackley, Greater Manchester.
DYSSING MONADYS opens on Monday 5 October 2009 as part of Adult Dyslexia Awareness Week and will be hosted at this year’s sponsor venue, Horse, 124 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7XG.
Comments by Professor Dennis Harding (The Times, May 31, 2009), implying that dyslexic people are “manipulating the assessment structure” and that dyslexia is more of a “guise” for poorly performing students to get away with bad spelling and grammar are extremely damaging.
Festival producer, Lennie Varvarides said, “DYSSING MONADYS and other events taking place as part of Adult Dyslexia Awareness Week will encourage dyslexic practitioners to come out of the creative closet, because dyslexia should no longer be a humiliating condition.”
Although people with dyslexia learn differently and struggle with left brain activities, they are often original storytellers, and msft, the engine behind the festival, hope that DYSSING MONADYS will encourage a more positive view of this learning difference.
Productions programmed for October 2009 include On My Own (written by N. Werenowska, directed by Alexandra Carey; Monday 5 and Wednesday 7 October), Seconds (by A. Morrisroe, directed by Alison Brown; Monday 12 and Wednesday 14 October), The Wisdom Den (by D. Christopher, directed by Tom Latter; Monday 19 and Wednesday 21 October), Awk–Word (by L. Varvarides, directed by Chryssanthi Kouri; Monday 26, Wednesday 28, Saturday 31 October 2009, Rosemarie Branch Theatre and extracts of the play at the DYSFEST Festival on 6th November).
All box office proceeds will be donated for the creation of a new charity called, DYS(the)LEXI, which will campaign and promote the creative writing of dyslexic story makers in the United Kingdom.
Festival details: Every Monday and Wednesday from October-November 2009. Doors open at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start. Tickets: £5/4. Sponsored venue: Horse, 124 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7XG. Tube: Lambeth North/Waterloo.
DYSSING MONADYS is sponsored and supported by Microlink, Adult Dyslexia Organization, Friendship School, Horse, and Arts Dyslexia Trust.
