artswith
by Amy Powell Yeates
A show for Jeremy Corbyn, women in wartime, Alexei Sayle and Bridget Christie are back, kidnapping of journalists reporting from high conflict zones, a documentary about Bobby Sands and political music from PJ Harvey and Attila the Stockbroker
Theatre #JC4PM Tour Coming soon National Tour Billed as “a tour for Jeremy Corbyn featuring stellar names from music, comedy, poetry and politics”, this show has played nine dates around the country and more dates are soon to be announced. Artists from varying disciplines have come together in support of Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign, which they believe has the potential to transform the way politics is conducted. Those involved so far have included gregarious comedian Josie Long, musician and activist Billy Bragg, Welsh soprano Charlotte Church, actress and comedian Shappi Khorsandi, journalist and comedian Mark Steel and film director Ken Loach, to name a few. Follow the website and social channels for news of upcoming gigs.
www.jc4pmtour.com
Women and War Festival 4-14 July So & So Arts Club, London An eclectic theatre programme comprising 16 shows from across the globe. The festival will bring together artists from America, Canada, Australia, Spain, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, South Africa,
22 | theJournalist
Iran and the UK. As well as drama, it will include comedy, music, dance, documentary, readings, discussion and photography exhibitions. The programme includes an “in
conversation” session with foreign correspondent Heidi Kingstone, preceded by a reading from Dispatches from the Kabul Café, her memoir of reporting from Afghanistan over four years. www.women
andwar.co.uk
Comedy Alexei Sayle:
Thatcher Stole my Trousers / In Conversation with Mike Neary 16 July
ousers / Buxton Festival In 1971, a 19-year-old Marxist art indepth Mark Thomas: Trespass Review
and moving document of Thomas’ observations of and challenges to the government, legal system and political parties. As the indefatigable campaigner
“Shout any number between 1 and 104,” demands Mark Thomas of his Tricycle Theatre audience – the declared number will dictate which anecdote Thomas reads from his book 100 Acts of Minor Dissent, a hilarious
and comedian and NUJ member – probably one of the most important working today – recounts his firsthand experiences of dissent with his trademark humorous subversive insights, the audience seem as though they would be happy to sit and listen to him read from 1 through to 104 all night. But these snippets are just his warm-up. In the second act, he performs
Trespass, his show about the privatisation of public spaces. His main focus is that of his beloved hometown London. He gleefully loiters with intention outside the new Nine Elms development “no
loitering” sign. He gets arrested as he marches around One Paternoster Square dressed as a sheep. He sketches on the pavement outside the RBS Building. The passion with which he
speaks about these events is combined with honesty in his storytelling – thankful when a charismatic passing jogger halts her exercise regime to rally passers-by and transforms what had been some fairly lacklustre loitering. It’s the formula Thomas has
mastered. It is totally infectious and does not allow its audience to leave without feeling angry and inspired. His new show, Red Shed, has
dates scheduled around the UK in June and July.
www.markthomasinfo.co.uk
attitude
student with a bizarre concern for the health of British manufacturing had his eye on what he perceived to be a tired British comedy circuit.
In this event exploring the territory of his latest book Thatcher Stole my Trousers, Alexei Sayle follows up his acclaimed memoir Stalin Ate My
electrifying ways. He recounts t the opening season of the Comedy Store, his
p e
ble me
experiences with alternative cabaret, the Comic Strip and the Young Ones, in a unique blend of social history and memoir.
h x
a th If you can’t catch him at Buxton
Festival, the book has recently been published by Bloomsbury.
www.alexeisayle.me
Homework and chronicles a time when comedy and politics came together in
H t
Bridget Christie: Work in Progress Until 4 July The Invisible Dot, King’s Cross, London Edinburgh Festival comedy award winner Bridget Christie has become loved for her feminist routines and witty observations on inequality in society – hence the name of her 2015 show A Bic for Her, where she riffed upon the ridiculousness of what she believed to be rather patronising sales techniques from said stationery company, among other topics. It’s likely that here she will be
testing out material for her show, entitled Mortal, which will run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival and, if you
Some of the best things to
see and do with a bit of political bite
For listings email:
journalist@NUJ.org.uk
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