QUEUEING LINES UP TO JOIN THE OLYMPICS

A mystery benefactor has set up a foundation to promote the art of queueing. The Q Foundation’s stated aims are to “promote excellence and innovation in queueing, whenever and wherever it occurs” and “celebrate the cultural distinctiveness of the British queue as a progressive post-colonial force for good.”

A Queue

Moreover the group are lobbying for the recognition of queueing as an Olympic sport. “Nobody’s told us it can’t be done,” said a spokesman. “Where there’s a queue, there’s a way.” It is claimed that Britain’s celebrated Queuers could sweep the board should the activity become recognised by the IOC.

The identity of the benefactor behind the idea is a closely guarded secret, but rumours that he or she is a London-based Russian oligarch have been hotly denied. “Nyet,” said a spokesman.

Editorial notes:
The National Theatre will be hosting a masterclass by the Q Foundation by its outdoor River Stage on Friday 31st July 1.10pm onwards.

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/welcome-to-the-national-theatre/river-stage/week-2

Just a normal weekend: Capsule & the OakMobile at the V&A; and The Whale in Belgium.

Make/Believe at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Having formed part of the award-winning UK National Exhibit at the Prague Quadrennial (the slightly less frequent Theatre Design equivalent of the Venice Biennale), the designs for Capsule and the OakMobile are now on show at the Make Believe at the V&A in London. At a packed private view last night, curator Kate Burnett praised the scope, vision and creativity of the work being done by British set and costume designers across the world. She stressed the importance of this exhibition, which runs at the Victoria & Albert museum until January 3rd 2016, as a rare but significant opportunity for the public to experience the breadth of design work being done, but also especially the ‘hidden’ work – which may not take place in traditional theatres or feature in national press reviews – but is nevertheless key to, and illustrative of, the innovation and vitality of this sector. The Prague Quadrennial Jury said “This award recognises the richness and diversity of an exhibition that shows high quality work from across the spectrum of contemporary performance design – in a variety of venues, and embracing space, light, media and costume. The complexity of the selection shows scenographers working in many different ways and, importantly, a confidence in the way scenography can shape productions and engage audiences in multiple ways.” Needless to say we’re very chuffed to be a part of this!

A Festival of Whales

As we write, the Whale is en route to Belgium to appear at the Salto Festival – which is all about whales and also features a huge professional and community cast performing a new version of Moby Dick. The script has been translated into Flemish and we’ll be training up a couple of locally-based performers to prepare to dive! If you *happen* to be in Menen this weekend, do pop along and say ‘Hallo!’.

Wheeled Theatres Out in Force

The Talking Birds ‘fleet’ of aluminium mini-theatres on wheels has been out in force this weekend. And as we write, both the Whale and the OakMobile will now be making their respective ways back to the stables. The OakMobile has been out at CoCoMad at Cotteridge Park in Birmingham today, whilst the Whale has been down south at the Winchester Hat Fair. Do toot our lovely drivers Greg and Jonathan if you pass one of them on the road!