Find out how three of Winchester’s performing arts charities have joined forces to celebrate contemporary performance...
RAW offers audiences a programme of fresh, innovative and experimental shows featuring drama, dance, music, song, spoken word, and immersive and interactive elements.
Play to the Crowd, Hampshire Cultural Trust and Discarded Nut, have joined forces to celebrate contemporary performance with the creation of RAW – Winchester’s contemporary performance week. This year’s week will run from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 March with performances taking place at Theatre Royal Winchester, The Arc and The Nutshell.
At Theatre Royal Winchester
Theatre Re’s The Nature of Forgetting (26 – 27 March) about a man called Tom who, living with young onset dementia, is preparing for his 55th birthday party when past memories come flooding back. A life-affirming journey into a weakening mind, where broken does not have to mean defeated.
Platform 4’s The Alice Project (25 March) – a sonic journey through the Wonderland of Alice, weaving original music together with Lewis Carroll’s text, and voices from interviews exploring transformation, identity and growing older. A homage and fascinating audio adventure down the rabbit hole, with a four-piece band of multi-instrumentalist performers. Expect twisted melodies, layers of sonic colour, smiling cats, tearful mock turtles, and percussive teacups…
James Wilton Dance’s BACH Reimagined (29 March) an innovative performance that breathes new life into the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, a legendary composer known for his intricate and beautiful pieces. Featuring athletic and graceful dancers, against the backdrop of an electrifying live performance by Canadian cellist Raphael Weinroth Browne.
"I am very excited about RAW! We want to encourage the public to step out of their comfort zone, take some risk and try something a little different to what they may normally choose to see."
Deryck Newland, Chief Executive of Play to the Crowd
At The Arc
Lose Your Own Adventure (29 March) a comedic new work in progress where the audience dives into a nostalgic world of 1980’s fantasy and video games. Steve the Surefooted has dreams of being a renowned adventurer – slaying dragons, vanquishing warlocks and protecting the innocent. You, the audience, decide the path of this story... can you guide him on the path to success?
Tomorrow Might Not Happen; Now (28 March) the ‘inventive left field comic’ Nate Kitch takes the guardrails off what stand-up can be in this show which is sort of about a painting which is sort of about nothing...
Mind Games (27 March). Two shows in one! Panda-monium’s ‘Cabaret of Wellbeing’ is a fun, interactive show appealing to people of all ages, cultures & backgrounds. It’s all about getting happy through song, spoken word, and Panda activities. Stewart Taylor's new show, ‘Virtually There’ uses spoken word and physical comedy to explore the difference between our fantasy lives and our reality
“RAW is a fantastic addition to the live performance offer in Winchester, and it’s great to be part of this collaboration that is bringing something new to the city”
Paul Sapwell, Chief Executive of Hampshire Cultural Trust
At The Nutshell
Chicken (29 March) Sunday’s Child’s five-star production of Eva O’Connor and Hildegard Ryan’s play which tells the story of Don Murphy, a proud Irish man, a hopeless ketamine addict and one of his generation’s greatest actors. He also happens to be a chicken. Across one fateful night, the feathered Oscar winner shares his star-studded story with an intimate audience - from getting his big break, to his first bird on bird sexual experience, to navigating life in the celebrity spotlight.
Lady Carol (28 March) after hit runs at the Edinburgh fringe and internationally, Lady Carol brings original songs, comedy covers and fabulous musical storytelling to Winchester with an introductory set from Mercury to set the tone and transport the audience into Carol’s hauntingly glamorous cabaret world.
"We have curated an exciting programme of contemporary work for our first RAW week from 5-star fringe sell-outs to acclaimed performances. I urge you to book your tickets, to take some creative risks and try something new!"
Harriet Morris, Executive Director of The Nutshell
RAW | Winchester's Contemporary Performance Week is an annual collaboration across Winchester's arts venues aiming to showcase exciting and extraordinary contemporary performances across the city.
The inaugural RAW contemporary performance week has been made possible thanks to UK Shared Prosperity Funding through Winchester City Council.
