TakeArtBrochureJantoJun2020 FINAL YUMPA

Absolutely
Smashing It
A new season of
shows, workshops,
projects & creative
adventures
Spring
Forward
Joining forces
with U.Dance
for the ultimate
Dance Festival
Rural
Arts
Take Art in
2020. Why
Rural Arts
matter to your
community
Photo credit: Spring Forward 2019 © Len Copland
2020 SPRING SEASON January - June
facebook.com/takeart twitter.com/takeart www.takeart.org

CONTENTS
Welcome to Take Art's Spring 2020
brochure. Discover What's On and
what's new in your corner of Somerset.
Edition
What's On
4 Word/Play: Rainbow Fish Speak Easy
5 Maria Ferguson: Essex Girl
6 Paprika: In Concert
7 Harbottle & Jonas: An Evening With
8 Protein: The Little Prince
9 WÖR: Back to the 1780's!
10 Luke Wright: Poet Laureate
11 Diversity Forum: Wanted Access
Everywhere
12 Pip Utton: At Home with
Will Shakespeare
13 Pip Utton: And Before I Forget,
I Love You, I Love You
14 Spitz & Co: Les Gloriables
15 John Osborne: John Peel’s Shed
16 Mr & Mrs Clark: Louder is Not
Always Clearer
17 Tor Theatre: The Fire Catcher
17 Can’t Sit Still: Oh no, George!
18 Andrew James Brown: The Moon
Under Water
19 Teater DOS: Sitaraha - The Stars
20 Spring Forward Dance Festival 2020
30 Listings
Projects & Features
22 Little Big Dance
23 The SoundWaves Network
24 Word/Play
25 BARN
26 Rural Arts Feature
Keep up to date with our latest
news and events by joining our
mailing list. Sign up
www.takeart.org
call 01460 249450
email info@takeart.org
2
What's On
January - June 2020 | Take Art

Take Art Offices, Flaxdrayton Farm
A Message from
Chief Executive, Ralph Lister
This season, we think it’s time to celebrate
the rural focus of our work! At the front and
centre of our activity lies our rural touring
programme. Take Art started, back in 1987,
as a rural touring agency and while we have
expanded to explore other creative outlets,
the commitment to placing high quality
shows within the heart of village life remains
as strong as ever.
The team of volunteer promoters involving
40 villages and 200 volunteers annually are
an essential part of the mix and without their
passion and energy we simply couldn’t reach
rural audiences. Take Art has, nevertheless,
developed all manner of programmes that
connect and enrich the lives of Somerset’s
residents and you can read about our current
programme in this issue.
There are comparatively few rural based
arts organisations nationally that are funded
regularly by the Arts Council of England.
Some of us are working together to advocate
for locally based and funded arts agencies
that know and understand their local
communities.
We are doing this by asking the Arts Council
to recognise the imbalance of funding that
means rural communities do not get their
equal share of government funding; we are
also writing articles for the national press and
getting airtime on the national media.
Much of this work goes under the radar but
it is important all the same. As ever we value
the support we get from Somerset local
authorities. If you would like to know more
please dive into the brochure beyond, where
you can read our feature on Rural Arts on P26.
Ralph Lister,
Executive Director
Book online at www.takeart.org What's On 3

AUDITIONS
WHAT'S ON
Rainbow Fish Speak Easy
Word/Play
For the broken and the brilliant
(and all their friends)
Rainbow Fish Speak Easy is a much beloved
spoken word poetry night for Yeovil, with open
mic slots available for anyone with an original
poem to share. The event, hosted by BBC
Somerset poet Liv Torc, is fun, funny, tender
and tremendous; with tips for successfully
navigating the human condition in all its
luminous, ludicrous and lunatic dimensions.
The show comes out of Take Art's
'performance poetry on prescription' Word/
Play project, which helps adults with mental
health or learning challenges find new ways
to talk about their lives. Along with an open
mic and a short performance from the latest
Word/Play group, each Rainbow Fish Speak
Easy features an exciting poetry headliner.
In January we are thrilled to welcome Matt
Harvey, writer, poet, enemy of all that’s
difficult and upsetting, Matt’s way with
words has taken him from Totnes to the
Wimbledon Tennis Championships via
Saturday Live, the Edinburgh Festival and
the Work section of the Guardian. He is
host of Radio 4’s Wondermentalist Cabaret,
creator of Empath Man, and author of The
Hole in the Sum of my Parts, Where Earwigs
Dare and Mindless Body Spineless Mind.
In February we will be headlined by uber
mother, poet, author and joy-spinner
Thommie Gillow. The May headliner is still
to be announced.
Email livtorc@yahoo.com for an open mic slot.
DATES & DETAILS
..............................................................
Thur 23 Jan / Thur 20 Feb / Thur 21 May
The Hub, Yeovil | 7.30pm | Min £5 donation
Tickets on the door | 01460 249450
4
What's On
January - June 2020 | Take Art

Essex Girl
Maria Ferguson
“Essex Girl: a young workingclass
woman from the Essex
area, typically considered as
being unintelligent, materialistic,
devoid of taste and sexually
promiscuous.” Collins Dictionary
Kirsty is a sixteen-year-old girl growing up in
00s Brentwood. She likes WKD, Elton John,
pie and mash and Charlie Red body spray.
She's on a quest to win Sexy Ricky's heart
and pass her GCSEs. She also has a secret
to tell you. One she can't tell anyone else.
Follow Kirsty's story through the house
parties and Irish pubs of Essex. From West
Ham matches to choir practice, pre-drinks to
registration, she will tell you what it's really
like to be an Essex Girl.
Essex Girl is the second show from awardwinning
theatre maker and real-life Essex
Girl, Maria Ferguson (Fat Girls Don’t Dance).
Her latest show is a monologue about
growing up surrounded by expectation, of
inappropriate relationships, female friendship,
secrets, desires and alcopops. It questions
how the Essex Girl stereotype influences
young girls, what they want, what they think
they deserve, and how they are treated.
Wonderfully funny and ultimately hard-hitting,
this show will resonate with a wide audience,
particularly millenials, or anyone who has got
very drunk at a house party.
www.inncrowd.org.uk
DATES & DETAILS
................................................................
Mon 27 Jan | 8.15pm | (food from 7pm) | York
Inn, Churchinford | Donations | 01823 601468
Book online at www.takeart.org What's On 5

In Concert
Paprika
Balkan Folk from the Wild Wild East
Paprika started out as a Balkan band made
of classically trained musicians, who also
happened to love playing traditional and
gypsy music. Their focus is on bringing
rare and lost Balkan music back to life
through their unconventional formation of
two accordions, guitar and percussion, with
regular guest members on violin and bass.
Fiery melodies and foot-tapping rhythms
are interspersed with lilting laments,
fusing together Eastern European, Balkan,
Gypsy and Classical music in a whirlwind
performance of frenzied virtuosity. Their
Balkan ballads and dance songs, known as
Kolos in Serbia, or Horas in Bulgaria and
Romania, have taken them into the clubs
and festivals of the UK and beyond, from
Glastonbury and WOMAD to the Royal Albert
Hall and Sydney Opera House.
They say that music is the language of the soul
and nothing could be truer for Paprika. This is
a high energy musical experience from a very
exciting group.
“A must see” Cerys Matthews, BBC
www.paprikamusic.com
DATES & DETAILS
.................................................................
Thur 30 Jan | 7pm | Holford Village Hall
£10/£5 child | 01278 741249
Fri 31 Jan | 7.30pm | Porlock Village Hall
£10/£5 child | 01643 863150
Sat 1 Feb | 7.30pm | North Cadbury
Village Hall | £10/£5 child | 01963 440705
6 What's On
January - June 2020 | Take Art

An Evening With...
Harbottle & Jonas
Disarmingly honest with added tingles
Regulars on the BBC2 Folk Show and BBC6
Music, Harbottle & Jonas are coming back to
Somerset to provide an evening of stunning
musical entertainment. Together the husband
and wife duo combine the rich traditions of
folk music with original and contemporary
interpretations, through a blend of closely
intertwined vocal harmonies.
Each song has been carefully crafted and
researched, and is always accompanied with
a great story and a good degree of humour,
however macabre the content may be! Songs
cover a range of social, political and historical
issues; encompassing family, villages swept
into the sea, polar expeditions, historical
characters and peculiar narratives. Their
music is original and unique, performed on an
array of instruments, including the concertina,
harmonium, banjo, stompbox, acoustic guitar
and dobra.
So warm up your vocal chords, pack your
hankies, put on your finest tweed and prepare
yourselves for an unforgettable evening of
beautiful folk music.
www.harbottleandjonas.com
DATES & DETAILS
..............................................................
Fri 31 Jan | 6.45pm | Lamyatt Village Hall
£15/£7.50 child | includes refreshments
01749 814934
Book online at www.takeart.org
What's On 7

The Little Prince
Protein
The famous story for ages 5-105 yrs
Welcome to the incredible story of The
Little Prince, retold in this live show by a
pilot stranded in the desert. Find out how
the Little Prince leaves behind his own tiny
asteroid and beloved rose and journeys
through the universe, coming face to face
with the baffling world of grown-ups! Have
you ever heard of a king who reigns over
nothing? Or a businessman obsessively
counting stars?
Once on planet Earth, the Little Prince
is welcomed by a mysterious snake
and a truly wise and friendly fox before
encountering the lone pilot. Together
they discover the power and beauty of
friendship and the complexity of love.
Based on the world-famous story by
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little
Prince is brought to life using Protein’s
award winning mix of dance, humour and
spoken word.
With an original score by Frank Moon,
the show invites us to look at the world
through one’s heart and to reconnect with
our inner child.
“Luca Silvestrini is the sharpest of comic
choreographers” The Guardian
www.proteindance.co.uk
DATES & DETAILS
..........................................................
Sun 2 Feb | 3pm | Hatch Beauchamp
Village Hall | £10/£4 child | 01823 481909
Photo credit: © Chris Nash
8 What's On January - June 2020 | Take Art

Back to the 1780's!
WÖR
Bringing new life to forgotten music
Almost 300 years ago, musicians from
around Antwerp, Brussels, Gent and Leuven
decided to write down their favourite music.
As time passed the music was left to gather
dust, along with the faded manuscripts.
That is, until now! With their finely textured
arrangements WÖR injects new energy
into 18th Century tunes from the Flanders
region of Belgium. Their innovative
arrangements and superb musicianship
shine an inventive spotlight on these long
forgotten tunes. Playing saxophone, fiddle,
accordion, guitar and bagpipes, five young
Belgian musicians will rock your socks off
and stir your soul.
WÖR have released two albums, Back
to the 1780's and Sssht and have toured
extensively throughout Europe and
America, as well as packed village halls in
Somerset in January 2019.
“Wör’s album is brilliant. It’s very exciting
to hear a young band reinterpreting old
manuscripts in a refreshing and new way.”
Sam Sweeney, BBC Radio 2
Support for this show is provided by the
General Representation of the Government of
Flanders in the United Kingdom.
www.wearewor.com
DATES & DETAILS
................................................................
Thur 6 Feb | 7.30pm | Norton Sub Hamdon
Village Hall | £10/£5 child | 01935 881227
Sun 9 Feb | 7.30pm | Curry Mallet &
Beercrocombe V. Hall | £10 | 01823 481364
Fri 28 Feb | 7.30pm | Dulverton Town Hall
£10/£8 student | 01398 323818
Sat 29 Feb | 8pm | Bruton Club
£10/£5 child | 01749 813694
Book online at www.takeart.org What's On 9

Poet Laureate
Luke Wright
Eat your heart out Simon Armitage
Following a sell-out run in Edinburgh,
spoken word legend Luke Wright hits
the road with his rousing new show,
commissioned by the Inn Crowd.
With the new Poet Laureate announced
in 2019, Wrighty’s on a mission to write
poems to unite a country divided by
austerity and Brexit. Can it be done?
Can one poet ever really represent an
entire nation? Big-hearted and quick
witted, Wright’s poems have been
lauded by everyone from Patti Smith
to The Libertines. A Fringe First and
Stage Award winner, Wright is truly a
wordsmith and raconteur at the top of
his game.
"Fierce, wistful, romantic and witty by
turns, this is a sensational hour of poetry."
The Stage *****
"Pulsating poetic story-telling."
The Guardian
www.inncrowd.org.uk
DATES & DETAILS
.........................................................
Thur 6 Feb | 8pm | Eli's Pub,
Huish Episcopi | £6 | 01458 251757
10 What's On
January - June 2020 | Take Art

Wanted
Access
Everywhere
Photo Credit: Johnathan Clover
Leg by Jackie Hagan
Arts & Culture Diversity Forum
A day to discuss disability and the
arts in rural areas
What more can be done to support disabled
people in the arts as artists, participants,
and audiences in rural areas? A recent study
has shown the South West is trailing behind
when it comes to engagement in disability
arts. We think the Somerset Diversity Forum
offers a great opportunity to address this.
Up country, Rural Arts North Yorkshire
is working with Unlimited, a national
commissioning programme enabling new
work by disabled artists to reach UK and
international audiences. Together they are
holding a conference/action day to discuss
arts and disability. They have invited the
Somerset Diversity Forum to join them via
live digital hook up. Think Eurovision: "Hello
Bridgwater, Thirsk calling."
Simultaneously in North Yorkshire and
Book online at www.takeart.org
Somerset we will run practical sessions, with
a focus on realistic solutions, and then come
together digitally to discuss our findings.
Take Art is working with Somerset Film and
Somerset Art Works to deliver this day,
which aims to increase confidence and
build networks by providing an honest and
open space to move the conversation about
disability and the arts into action.
If you are an artist, performer, venue manager,
member of the public or anyone who works
in arts and culture with an interest in issues
around disability, then do come and join the
conversation at the Engine Room in Bridgwater.
DATES & DETAILS
................................................................
Thur 13 Feb | 11.00am – 3.30pm | Somerset
Film, The Engine Room, Bridgwater | Free
Book at takearttheatre@gmail.com
What's On 11

At Home with
Will Shakespeare
Pip Utton Theatre
Pip brings to life the ultimate bard
Pip is internationally respected as one of the
world’s finest solo performers. His style is to
adopt the persona of the famous people he
plays. You may have seen him as Adolf, Bacon,
Churchill, Dickens or even Thatcher! Now It's
Will Shakespeare and he's not to be missed!
In At Home with Will Shakespeare, Pip Utton
gives us all the chance to spend time with the
great (but somewhat mysterious) man; a man
who loves, laughs, drinks, sings, dances and
cries, and in between is forced to write some
plays and poetry to make a living. Living a
double life, as a family man and landowner in
Stratford on Avon, and as the great playwright
in London, Pip allows us to meet his wife, his
loves and his children.
This is a fun show, both moving and engaging,
bringing the audience right into the centre of
the character exploration.
“Shakespeare comes to life masterfully.
Poetic, fun and beautiful”
theaterpardijs.nl
www.pip-utton.co.uk
DATES & DETAILS
..............................................................
Sat 8 Feb | 7.30pm | The David Hall, South
Petherton | £10/£9 student | 01460 240340
Sun 22 Feb | 7.30pm | Holford Village Hall
£10/£5 child | 07463 674230
Fri 28 Feb | 7.30pm | Wedmore Village Hall
£12 raked seating/£10 ordinary seating
01278 641370
Sat 7 Mar | 7.30pm | Charlton Horethorne
Village Hall | £10 | 01935 814199
12 What's On January - June 2020 | Take Art

And Before I Forget
I Love You, I Love You
Pip Utton Theatre
A moving and affectionate performance
Pip’s performances are renowned for his
ability to ‘break the fourth wall’, speaking
directly with the audience, involving them with
the emotions, making them an essential part
of the performance. This play is no different.
Based on his and his brother’s experience of
seeing their mum deteriorate and die from
Alzheimer’s, it’s a moving and affectionate
performance about the devastating effects of
the disease; not only on the sufferer but on
family, friends and carers. It’s a journey full of
smiles, laughter, love and tears.
Recently Pip won the Stage Special Award,
Fringereview.co.uk Award for Outstanding
Theatre, the Valery Kashanov International
Award for International Monodrama, and in
2018 a Lifetime Achievement Award from the
Turkish Ministry of Culture.
"Beautifully constructed one-man show
shedding light and love on the frailty of the
human condition." ***** The Stage
"Nothing I can say about this show will do it
enough justice" ***** Broadway Baby
www.pip-utton.co.uk
DATES & DETAILS
................................................................
Sun 1 Mar | 6pm | George Reynolds Centre,
Crewkerne | £10 | 07967 301747
Sat 25 April | 7.30pm | Combe St Nicholas
Village Hall | £10/£8 child (from village shop)
01460 62138
Book online at www.takeart.org What's On 13

Les Gloriables
Spitz & Co
Inspired by Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables
Legendary French actress Gloria Delaneuf
has created a life-changing piece of theatre
which will reunite Europe. She has dreamed
a dream, and her hapless assistant Josephine
has promised to build a barricade. Expect a
master class in mutiny - French style. Vive la
Revolution!
Les Gloriables is a riotously silly, very physical
and highly visual theatre show, created
by award-winning French/English female
comedy duo Spitz & Co. This show is the third
in their trilogy, following on from Gloriator
and Gorilla. Two shows that gained them a
fantastic reputation in village halls across
SW England, where audiences adore their
humour.
“Catch them now before they’re selling out
the Albert Hall!” Mel Giedroyc
“I have never seen a piece of theatre three
times and still cried my eyes out with
laughter…until now.” Audience member
“Riotous slapstick and immaculate comic
timing.” The Stage
www.spitzandco.com
DATES & DETAILS
..............................................................
Fri 7 Feb | 8pm | Kingsmead School,
Wiveliscombe | £10/£6 student | 01984 624442
Sat 8 Feb | 8pm | Kingsdon Village Hall
£10/£6 child | 01935 841402
Fri 6 Mar | 7.30pm | Goathurst Village Hall
£10 | 01278 662382
Sat 7 Mar | 7.30pm | Hatch Beauchamp
Village Hall | £10/£5 child | 01823 481909
14 What's On September January - December - June 2020 2017 | Take Art

John Peel’s Shed
John Osborne
The loveliest thing you’ll see all year
Writer and theatre maker John Osborne
returns to the stage, this time with his
Edinburgh sell-out show John Peel’s Shed.
A storytelling show about radio, music and a
whole heap of records.
In 2002 John Osborne won a competition on
John Peel’s BBC Radio show; his prize was
a box of records that took him eight years
to listen too. John Peel's Shed is an ode to
radio and those records, many of which are
rare recordings by obscure and now defunct
bands.
The show was broadcast on BBC Radio 4
and has performed at Glastonbury, Soho
Theatre and across the country. It is an
absolute favourite on the rural touring scene.
“Beautifully written, funny and poignant”
The Scotsman
“I could have listened for hours”
***** The Independent
www.johnosbornewriter.com
DATES & DETAILS
................................................................
Fri 6 Mar | 8pm | The David Hall, South
Petherton | £10/£9 student | 01460 240340
Sat 7 Mar | 7.30pm | Clapton & Wayford
Village Hall | £12.50/£5 (inc. food) | 01460 75313
Fri 20 Mar | 7.30pm | The Black Swan,
Langport | £7.50/£6 students | 01458 251836
Sat 21 Mar | 7.30pm | Norton Sub Hamdon
Village Hall | £10/£5 child | 01935 881227
Thur 26 Mar | 6.45pm | Lamyatt Village Hall
£15/£8 child (inc. buffet) | 01749 812420
Fri 27 Mar | 7.30pm | Ashbrittle Village Hall
£10/£5 child/student | 01823 672131
Book online at www.takeart.org
What's On
15

Louder is Not Always Clearer
Mr & Mrs Clark
A true, funny story, for all our ears
Meet Jonny; a teacher, workshop leader and
avid football fan. He’s an artist, a campaigner
and he’s just become a father. He is also deaf,
loves to dance and can’t hear the music unless
the bass is turned right up.
Jonny was born deaf and grew up in a hearing
family, surrounded by hearing friends who did
not use the word deaf. In fact, some of those
people didn’t know Jonny was deaf until they
saw this show.
Louder is Not Always Clearer is a tender funny
show about the importance of connecting
with others and how hard that can be. It’s the
story of one man, who despite appearing to be
sociable and confident is also vulnerable and
at times isolated. It’s the very human story of
trying to fit into a world when you don’t quite
match the mould.
Using projection and mime, dance and drawing
along with Jonny’s natural charm and humour,
this show brings the audience together in a
beautiful singing, signing, laugh-along way.
www.mrandmrsclark.co.uk
DATES & DETAILS
................................................................
Fri 13 Mar | 8pm | Churchinford Village Hall
£10/£7.50 child/student (+£6 ploughmans &
pud - book in advance) | 01823 601468
16 What's On January - June 2020 | Take Art

The Fire Catcher
Tor Theatre
Good old-fashioned family theatre
Oh no,
George!
Can’t Sit Still
George really wants to be good.
But George has seen a cake.
What will George do?
Meet Coyote… She’s fast and fearless,
cunning and kind! But there are two things
she doesn’t like. One is being cold, so she
decides to steal fire and give it to the world!
And the other is narrators because they’re
a bit, y’know, boring. So imagine her
surprise when she finds a narrator telling
her story… The story of The Fire Catcher!
Physical theatre and storytelling collide in
this fast and fun-packed performance that
boasts bags of opportunities to howl along!
Suitable for children 3+ and their adults.
Tor Theatre were set up in 2006 by Angela
Laverick and David Reakes. Angela tours
nationally with companies such as Vamos
Theatre and you will quite possibly have
heard David’s voice on BBC Radio 4 in the
afternoon play.
www.tortheatre.co.uk
Oh no, George! is the delightfully playful tale
of a dog who wants to be good but just can’t
resist temptation. Adapted for the stage for
for 3-7 year olds from Chris Haughton's
award winning book, Oh no George uses
acrobatics, slapstick and live music to bring
George’s struggle with his willpower to life.
Commissioned by ARC Stockton and
The Civic in Barnsley, the show is created
by Can’t Sit Still, a Bristol based circus
theatre company who tell stories, start
conversations and try to change the world!
This production follows the success of Plink
and Boo in 2018-19, which toured to 20
theatres, libraries and community centres.
www.cantsitstill.net
DATES & DETAILS
...............................................................
Sat 25 Apr | 3pm | Mark Village Hall
£6/£4 child | 01278 641370
DATES & DETAILS
.............................................................
Sat 18 Apr | 5pm | Roadwater Village Hall
£6/£3 child | 01984 640976
Book online at www.takeart.org What's On 17

The Moon Under Water
Andrew James Brown
George Orwell liked pubs. Andrew
James Brown LOVES pubs. All pubs!
Taking Orwell’s 1946 essay The Moon
Under Water as a starting point, Andrew
James Brown looks at the joy of pubs,
their essence and their greatness, and,
most importantly the people in them.
Why not join him on his colourful
journey through pubs great and small,
from chain pub to gastro, travelling
through city gin-palaces and country
inns across parquet flooring and sticky
carpet alike.
This humorous look at pubs and people
takes in history, philosophy, musings,
poems and tales of booze, horse
brasses and Morris dancing, all washed
down with a warm lager or two.
Do you like pubs? If so,
you'll like this. Hopefully.
DATES & DETAILS
..........................................................
Sat 18 Apr | 8pm | Kings Head Inn, High
Ham | £7.50 (inc. food) | 07931 227272
10 18 What's On January - June 2020 | | Take Artt

Sitaraha - The Stars
Teater DOS
Powerful stories of Afghanistan women
Sitaraha – The Stars tells the stories,
of three women living in very different
historical periods in Afghanistan, all having
experienced war and religioius oppression
in their lives.
The first story is about Halima: a young
woman awaiting her execution sometime
in the 2000s. She has been charged
with adultery and sentenced to death by
stoning. The second is from Gul Begum: a
young woman who lost all her family in the
war in 1892, becoming a slave to the war
lords. The third is Sara: a woman affected
by the civil war during the 1980s.
Women and their stories have forever
been suppressed and restrained in
Afghanistan. Monirah Hashemi, who
plays all the women, is an actor, singer,
dancer and playwright who uses film
and theatre to help women build their
self confidence, express their ideas and
stand up for human rights.
Monirah left Afghanistan six years ago
to start her life in Sweden where she has
been working with Riksteaterm Värmland
and Teater DOS.
www.teaterdos.se
DATES & DETAILS
...........................................................
Fri 24 Apr | 7.30pm | Chilthorne Domer
Village Hall | £10 | 07967 937797
What's On
19

older dancers and digital content to the
programme and this year and we are looking
forward to even greater diversity of dancers
and choreography.
Dance Festival 2020
TAKE ART
In 2020 we are uniting with U.Dance
for the best Dance Festival ever
Now in its 15th year, Spring Forward Dance
Festival is back with an unrivaled offering
to the entire Somerset and South West
dance community, featuring groups of all
ages and backgrounds, showcasing their
work on a professional stage. Last year
saw the introduction of community groups,
As ever all three platforms will feature
exciting dancers and dance groups from
across Somerset and beyond but in a twist
from the usual programme, the McMillan
Theatre platform will be hosting the South
West regional U.Dance platform, which
will feature up to 14 aspiring groups, all
hoping to be selected to go to the national
U.Dance Celebration in Glasgow on the 12-
19 July. This event is being run by Take Art in
partnership with Pavilion Dance South West.
See page 20 for details.
Bracketing the U.Dance platform, the two
Spring Forward showcases at the Tacchi
Morris Art Centre and Octagon Theatre, will
continue to offer even more opportunities for
14 20 What's On

dancers and dance audiences, all making
vital and engaging work they want to share
with their peers and local audiences.
DATES & DETAILS
...............................................................
PLEASE BOOK DIRECT FROM VENUES
...............................................................
DAY ONE: COMMUNITY & DIGITAL
Fri 6 Mar | 7pm | Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre,
Taunton | 01823 414141
The first platform event at the Tacchi Morris
Art Centre will showcase community dance
groups of all ages and genres. This event will
also offer groups the opportunity to screen
dance and digital pieces.
DAY TWO: U.DANCE 2020 PLATFORM
Sun 29 Mar | 7pm | The McMillan Theatre,
Bridgwater | 01278 556677
The South West regional U.Dance platform,
where groups from across the region can
apply to perform, all competing to go to the
national U.Dance finals is Glasgow. See P20.
DAY THREE: YOUTH & COMMUNITY
Tue 28 Apr | 7pm | Octagon Theatre, Yeovil
01935 422884
The last event at the Octagon Theatre in
Yeovil will feature over twenty groups and
performances from young dancers and
community groups of all ages. Enjoy a
kaleidoscope of choreography, including
Jazz, Contemporary, Street Dance and
Dance Theatre, featuring the nationally
acclaimed Somerset Youth Dance
Company, local school groups, youth dance
companies and Somerset dance schools.
For more information about Spring Forward
please visit: takeart.org/spring-forward
What's On
21

Anusha Subramanyam
Little Big Dance
Take Art has joined forces South East
Dance, Dance East and Yorkshire Dance for
a major new national three-year early years
dance project. Little Big Dance supports
choreographers and dancers to make
captivating and diverse work for and with the
under-fives and their families.
In this first round of Little Big Dance, taking
place during 2019/20, four artists have been
selected to develop shows with and for
nursery children in four areas of England that
have little or no access to the arts. These
artists are Anusha Subramanyam, Takeshi
Matsumoto, George Fellows and Stopgap
Dance Company.
We’re thrilled to announce that Dancer,
choreographer and Director of Beeja, Anusha
Subramanyam is Take Art's very first Little
Big Dance artist. Anusha is using the sights,
sounds and smells of a train ride through India
as the starting point for her new dance piece.
She has been working with nursery children
in Frome and the Merlin Theatre to help her
develop her idea.
All of the artists will receive support from a
dramaturg and an early years development
specialist to ensure they take away new skills
and knowledge from the experience. They will
then pitch their ideas to a commissioning circle
that includes Dance Umbrella, The Birmingham
Hippodrome and Strike a Light Festival. Of the
eight projects pitched, two from each phase
will be selected for production and will go on
to tour nationally to venues and pre-school
settings in Autumn 2020 and 2022.
Little Big Dance is supported with more
than £371,000 investment from Paul Hamlyn
Foundation and the Arts Council England.
Find us online
To find out more about Little Big Dance
and the next steps for the project please visit
www.southeastdance.org.uk
www.takeart.org/little-big-dance
22 Projects
September January - December - June 2020 2017 | Take Art

The SoundWaves Network
The SoundWaves Network, which started in
2018, is a Youth Music funded early childhood
music education programme incorporating a
strong element of training for the current and
future early childhood workforce in the South
West. The SoundWaves Network is centred
in Plymouth, Bristol and Somerset, working
with early childhood settings, universities,
advisory teams and Music Education Hubs.
THE LEARNING COMMUNITIES
Regionally, our current and future workforce
development programme is now into its
second year. In our Bristol Early Years
Music learning community, we are proud
to be working with St Paul’s Nursery, The
Chessel Centre, UWE, City of Bristol College
and Bristol Plays Music. In Plymouth we
are working with the University, Plymouth
Music Education Hub, St Jude’s Pre School
and Freshlings. The 2020 Somerset learning
community is still to be announced.
OUR EARLY YEARS MUSIC TEAM
We are incredibly proud of our Early Years
Music team, Roger Luxton, Eliza Wylie, Rachel
Thame, Jude Cummins, Georgia Bourne and
Amy Hardwick, who have continued to discuss
and develop their practice, working effectively
in our Early Years settings, mentored by Take
Art’s Early Years Music Lead Jane Parker. Five
of these practitioners are either past or current
students studying at The Centre of Research
for Education in Birmingham, for the MERYC-
England CREC Certificate of Music Education:
Early Childhood. This is a national qualification
awarded by Trinity College London.
Find us online
For regular updates on how The Soundwaves
Network is changing the face of Early Years
Music provision in the South West visit
www.takeart.org/soundwaves-network
F. SWavesNetwork T. @SWavesNetwork
Book online at www.takeart.org Projects 23

chance to build peer support, develop
skills and find new ways to communicate
in a safe and fun environment. Each project
concludes with a live performance in front of
friends and family.
Take Art is excited to announce a new phase
of the social prescribing project Word/Play,
taking place at The Hub in Yeovil, where
a group of 12 service users attend regular
spoken word poetry workshops, aimed at
building their confidence and giving them
the freedom and encouragement to tell their
stories.
Word/Play has been a hugely successful
project for Take Art. It started in 2012 and
over that time has worked with eight separate
groups of adults, experiencing either learning
related challenges or poor mental health.
Working with professional performance
poets Liv Torc and Roz Hilton for 10+ weekly
sessions, participants take part in spoken
word workshops, where they are given the
This phase of the project, which is the fourth
incarnation, will also support the spoken
word poetry night The Rainbow Fish Speak
Easy, by funding another year of the popular
bi-monthly event, which also takes place at
The Hub. The RFSE provides a much needed
platform for the Somerset poetry community
as a whole. The event is co-run by previous
Word/Play participants.
The current group will be taking over half
of the next RFSE on 23 January at the Hub
(see P4), which is headlined by Radio 4
regular Matt Harvey. The public and local
community are invited to come and watch
their performance and share in their journey.
Find us online
www.takeart.org/word-play
18 24 What's Projects On
September January - December - June 2020 2017 | Take Art

BARN
“Somerset feels like it has a
real theatre community again.”
BARN is a three-year theatre initiative
(2017-19) to support Somerset’s emerging
theatre-making sector to develop, test and
showcase new work in a predominantly rural
context.
Pirates of the Carabina
Thanks to Esmée Fairbairn, after a
wonderfully productive three years, phase
one of our BARN initiative has now drawn
to a close. Looking back over the brilliant
success of the last three years our minds
are drawn to the 2019 BARNfest that took
place in October. A two-day theatre festival
of some of the most fabulous and diverse
work made and produced in Somerset.
Taking place in and around the Brewhouse,
the event was attended by 117 people
including 50 performers. There were nine
full length productions, eleven extracts of
work-in-progress, discussions and vital
networking. Also Taunton’s first ever oneminute
festival; a theatrical experience for
one audience member at a time, lasting just
one minute each! It is impossible to pick
out particular highlights so we will let the
photos and feedback comments speak for
themselves. We eagerly anticipate news of
BARN phase two starting in summer 2020…
“BARNfest…. it’s a miracle”
“Great variety from one-minute
wonders to full productions and
everything in between.”
“I loved being part of BARNfest,
great opportunity to share our
work in a trusted, safe, supportive
atmosphere."
Jordan Cottle
Bear Trap
Photo credit: Richard Tomlinson (image 1) DavidSimsPictures (images 2-4)
Book online at www.takeart.org Projects 23 25
Networking

Fighting for a Future
Take Art's Chief Executive Ralph Lister
believes that England’s rural arts
infrastructure could disappear entirely within
the next five years unless ACE takes steps to
readdress the funding imbalance.
He would like to see a better balance in
funding between urban and rural areas as
ACE finalises its new ten-year strategy:
“Art fights loneliness and isolation
really well at the local theatres and
arts centres, it’s exactly the sort of
thing we stand for. It’s not posh stuff
in the evening, it’s social glue.”
Actor Samuel West, BBC, Countryfile
There is no denying, rural communities are
getting a raw deal when it comes to funding
for arts and culture. There are nearly 12
million people living in the UKs countryside
and around nine million in London but the
disparity in funding is huge.
In England, the Arts Council’s main funding
pot allocates rural areas just £5.50 per head
compared to London’s £18. According to
Arts Council England (ACE)'s recent Rural
Evidence and Data Review, of the £1.6bn
which ACE is providing to its National
Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) from 2018 to
2022, less than 3% (£40m) is going to rural
areas – despite 18% of England’s population
living in these parts of the country.
England’s rural arts leaders have serious
concerns about the future of their
organisations and are calling for more
support – whether through Arts Council
funding, partnerships with city-based venues
or organisational development schemes.
26 Features
“A modest tweak in their NPO funding
levels for rural-based NPOs could
result in a significant positive impact.
An increase from approximately
2.5% to 5.0% would mean finding a
further £40m out of the total budget
and result in a 100% increase in rural
funding – and thereby a massive
increase in activity.” Ralph Lister
At the moment there is all to play for but it
is crucial for all rural arts organisations to
advocate for a shift in funding priorities.
September January - December - June 2020 2017 | Take Art

Take Art's Rural Legacy
Take Art is a very well established Arts NPO
that has a love of rural arts pulsing through
every nerve and sinew of its being. As well as
an extremely successful rural touring scheme,
Take Art also offers a number of rural arts
projects that support communities and the
creative industries. Many of these projects
help the most disadvantaged in our society
and significantly strengthen community life.
Rural Touring
“Rural touring is about more than
just performances... it plays an
important part in the social life
of small communities, it involves
people of all ages and backgrounds,
it can be a catalyst for community
development.”
Only Connect, François Matarasso
Take Art works internationally with the RIOTE
and SPARSE projects, supporting new
European networks to establish their own
schemes. It does this by sharing the touring
model it has developed over three decades.
To add to this Take Art has just launched the
UK leg of international project RURITAGE,
a three-year initiative aimed at supporting
the rural areas of Crewkerne, Chard, South
Petherton and Ilminster through a celebration
of local food and the arts.
Take Art is historically a rural arts charity. We
believe people living outside cities and large
towns should have access to the best live
arts experiences at an affordable price. That's
why we started the rural touring scheme,
which has been successfully serving the
villages, towns and communities of Somerset
since 1987.
The rural touring scheme was set up to bring
professional, high quality music, theatre,
dance and performance to local venues and
communities across Somerset.
It relies on the partnership between local
volunteer promoters and Take Art. By
working together, memorable social events
are organised in rural areas where people
live and meet. These events can help play a
Book online at www.takeart.org Features 27

vital role in keeping villages alive and vibrant,
strengthening communities and improving
health and wellbeing. The Take Art rural
touring team have years of expertise to share
with promoters, venues and artists.
Rural Touring Audience
THE TAKE ART EFFECT
Take Art Rural Touring has been busy this
decade. Here are some of our achievements
in rural Somerset since 2010:
Rural Touring | Spilt Milk Dance
• We have put on 900 performances
• We have worked with 5,600 volunteers,
helping 180 communities put on
performances in their villages
• Our audiences numbers run to over
65,000 people, mainly from rural
communities
• We have paid artists and theatre
companies over £300,000 to bring and
make work in Somerset
Rural Touring | Fine Chissel © Paul Blakemore
The Rural Touring
Dance Initiative
The Rural Touring Dance Initiative (RTDI) was
launched in 2015 with the aim of bringing
exciting and innovative dance theatre and
dance performance to rural locations, using
the established rural touring schemes to help
make this happen successfully.
RTDI | Protein Dance
The project offers some of the most dynamic
and charismatic contemporary dance
companies in the UK.
Take Art is one of the partners within the
project, alongside leading dance institution
The Place; Birmingham-based independent
producing studio China Plate and the
National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF).
26 28 September International
Features- December International
2017 | Take Art
RTDI | Mr & Mrs Clark.
January - June 2020 | Take Art

The project aims to seek out great dance
companies that are excited to tour rurally,
while supporting rural promoters and
schemes to build audiences for dance in rural
spaces.
THE TAKE ART EFFECT
Since it began in 2015:
• Approximately 250 RTDI performances
have been staged in rural venues across
the UK and have been seen by over
10,000 audience members.
• The dance companies who have been
touring include Uchenna Dance, Lost
Dog, Luca Silvestrini’s Protein and Joan
Clevillé Dance
• The project has received overwhelmingly
positive response from participating rural
touring schemes and promoters
You can see two RTDI shows in our current
programme from Protein Dance (page 8) and
Mr & Mrs Clark (page 16).
RURITAGE (like heritage but for rural areas) is
a large scale four-year international project,
taking place in 25 countries, with 38 partners,
all aiming to prove that the arts and culture
are, and always have been, fundamental to
the survival and success of rural communities.
Each of the 38 partners in the project is
working on a different cultural and rural
collaboration. In the UK, Take Art will be
focusing on the arts and food, bringing
together local people, food growers, theatre
companies and artists. The aim is to explore
how the arts and culture could join forces
with farmers, growers and distributors to
build happier and healthier communities.
Take Art aims to create a Hub at the centre
of the four communities, Crewkerne, Chard,
South Petherton and Ilminster, where people
from the health, food, social and arts sectors
can come together to plan events and activity
that combines food and culture. These might
include travelling theatre shows that feature
cookery and/or local history, creative farmers
markets, storytelling in orchards, barn dances
and apple and produce festivals.
RURITAGE in Somerset will run until 2022
and will feature a whole programme of regular
activity, devised in collaboration with the
community and the arts and food sectors.
What you can do to help!
What we know from 33 years working in rural
arts, is that they play a vital role in tackling
some of the key social and health issues of the
times – and it’s about time more money was
invested into the hearts of our communities.
On BBC Countryfile, Samuel West went onto
say, “If you think that more of this stuff should
go on in your village or your community you
should be writing to your MP's and your
Councillors, saying this stuff is important
to you because it brings us together and it
makes us happier and healthier and more
human.”
You can find out about all our rural arts
activity at www.takeart.org
Article Sources
Arts Professional | Five years left for Rural
Arts? | 5 Sept 2019 | Author Jonathan Knott
BBC | Countryfile | 23 June 2019 | Story
presented by Tom Heap
Book online at www.takeart.org
Features
29

Listings
To book, call or email the local box office. To book online and for full information
about all shows and the accessibility of venues please visit www.takeart.org
Date Time Company Event Venue, Sat Nav, Postcode & Tel Page
Thur 22 Jan
7pm
Mon 27 Jan 8.15pm
Take Art
Word/Play
The Inn Crowd
Maria Ferguson
Rainbow Fish
Speak Easy
Essex Girl
York
Thur 30 Jan 7pm Paprika In Concert
Fri 31 Jan
6.45pm Harbottle
& Jonas
An Evening With
Fri 31 Jan 7.30pm Paprika In Concert
Sat 1 Feb 7.30pm Paprika In Concert
Sun 2 Feb 3pm Protein The Little Prince
Thur 6 Feb 7.30pm WÖR
Thur 6 Feb
8pm
The Inn Crowd
Luke Wright
Back in the
1780's
Poet Laureate
Fri 7 Feb 8pm Spitz & Co Les Gloriables
Sat 8 Feb 7.30pm Pip Utton
At Home with
Will Shakespeare
Sat 8 Feb 8pm Spitz & Co Les Gloriables
Sun 9 Feb 7.30pm WÖR
Thur 13 Feb 11am Diversity Forum
Thur 20 Feb
7pm
Take Art
Word/Play
Sat 22 Feb 7.30pm Pip Utton
Fri 28 Feb 7.30pm Pip Utton
Fri 28 Feb 7.30pm WÖR
Back in the
1780's
Wanted: Access
Everywhere
Rainbow Fish
Speak Easy
At Home with
Will Shakespeare
At Home with
Will Shakespeare
Back in the
1780's
The Hub, Yeovil
BA21 5EA | 01460 249450
Inn Churchinford
TA3 7RF | 01823 601468
Holford Village Hall
TA5 1SD | 01278 741249
Lamyatt Village Hall
BA4 6NH | 01749 814934
Porlock Village Hall
TA24 8JH | 01643 863150
North Cadbury Village Hall
BA22 7QX | 01963 440705
Hatch Beauchamp Village Hall
TA3 6SG | 01823 481909
Norton Sub Hamdon Village Hall
TA14 6SF | 01935 881227
Eli's Pub, Huish Episcopi
TA10 9QT | 01458 251757
Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe
TA4 2NE | 01984 624442
The David Hall, S.Petherton
TA13 5AA | 01460 240340
Kingsdon Village Hall
TA11 7DX | 01935 841402
Curry Mallet & Beercrocombe V. Hall
TA3 6SY | 01823 481364
The Engine Room, Bridgwater
TA6 3BL | 01460 249450
The Hub, Yeovil
BA21 5EA | 01460 249450
Holford Village Hall
TA5 1SD | 07463 674230
Wedmore Village Hall
BS28 4SF | 01278 641370
Dulverton Town Hall
TA22 9EX | 01398 323818
4
5
6
7
6
6
8
9
10
14
12
14
9
11
4
12
12
9
30 Listings
January - June 2020 | Take Art

Date Time Company Event Venue, Sat Nav Postcode & Tel Page
Sat 29 Feb 8pm WÖR
Sun 1 Mar 6pm Pip Utton
Back in the
1780's
Before I Forget
I Love You...
Fri 6 Mar 7pm Take Art Spring Forward
Fri 6 Mar 7.30pm Spitz & Co Les Gloriables
Fri 6 Mar 8pm John Osborne John Peel's Shed
Sat 7 Mar 7.30pm Spitz & Co Les Gloriables
Sat 7 Mar 7.30pm Pip Utton
At Home with Will
Shakespeare
Sat 7 Mar 7.30pm John Osborne John Peel's Shed
Fri 13 Mar
8pm
Mr and Mrs
Clark
Louder Is Not
Always Clearer
Fri 20 Mar 7.30pm John Osborne John Peel's Shed
Sat 21 Mar 7.30pm John Osborne John Peel's Shed
Thur 26 Mar 6.45pm John Osborne John Peel's Shed
Fri 27 Mar 7.30pm John Osborne John Peel's Shed
Sun 29 Mar 7pm U.Dance Spring Forward
Sat 18 Apr 5pm Tor Theatre The Fire Catcher
Sat 18 Apr
8pm
Andrew
James Brown
Fri 24 Apr 7.30pm Theatre DOS
The Moon
Underwater
Sitaraha -
The Stars
Sat 25 Apr 3pm Can’t Sit Still Oh No, George!
Sat 25 Apr 7.30pm Pip Utton
Before I Forget
I Love You...
Tue 28 Apr 7pm Take Art Spring Forward
Thur 21 May
7pm
Take Art
Word/Play
Rainbow Fish
Speak Easy
Bruton Club | BA10 0HQ
01749 813694
George Reynolds Ctr, Crewkerne
TA18 8DA | 07967 301747
Tacchi-Morris, Taunton
TA2 8PD | 01823 414141
Goathurst Village Hall
TA5 2DF | 01278 662382
The David Hall, South Petherton
TA13 5AA | 01460 240340
Hatch Beauchamp Village Hall
TA3 6SG | 01823 481909
Charlton Horethorne Village Hall
DT9 4PB | 01935 814199
Clapton & Wayford Village Hall
TA18 8PS | 01460 75313
Churchinford Village Hall
TA3 7RG | 01823 601468
The Black Swan, Langport
TA10 9RQ | 01458 251836
Norton Sub Hamdon Village Hall
TA14 6SF | 01935 881227
Lamyatt Village Hall
BA4 6NH | 01749 812420
Ashbrittle Village Hall
TA21 0LF | 01823 672131
The McMillan Theatre,
Bridgwater | 01278 556677
Roadwater Village Hall
TA23 0QY | 01984 640976
Kings Head Inn, High Ham
TA10 9DE | 07931 227272
Chilthorne Domer Village Hall
BA22 8RD | 07967 937797
Mark Village Hall
TA9 4NY | 01278 641370
Combe St Nicholas Village Hall
TA20 3NY | 01460 62138
Octagon Theatre, Yeovil
BA20 1UX | 01935 422884
The Hub, Yeovil
BA21 5EA | 01460 249450
9
13
20
14
15
14
16
15
16
15
15
15
15
20
17
18
19
17
13
20
4
Book online at www.takeart.org
All details correct at time of going to press. Listings 19 31

Take Art Events this Season are in:
1 Ashbrittle
2 Bruton
3 Bridgwater
4 Charlton Horethorne
5 Chilthorne Domer
6 Churchinford
7 Clapton & Wayford
8 Combe St Nicholas
9 Crewkerne
10 Curry Mallet
11 Dulverton
12 Goathurst
13 Hatch Beauchamp
14 High Ham
15 Holford
16 Huish Episcopi
17 Kingsdon
18 Lamyatt
19 Langport
20 North Cadbury
21 Norton Sub Hamdon
22 Mark
23 Porlock
24 Roadwater
25 South Petherton
26 Taunton
27 Wedmore
28 Wiveliscombe
29 Yeovil
23
22
27
24
15
12
3
18
2
11
14
1
28
6
26
13
10
19 16
17
25
5
20
4
21
8
9
29
Find us online
For more information on Take Art including our
events, projects and news, visit our website:
www.takeart.org
Follow us on:
Facebook, Twitter & Issuu
Mailing list
If you would like to receive a copy of the programme
through the post, or sign up to receive our e-bulletin,
email info@takeart.org or sign up at www.takeart.org
7
Get in touch
01460 249450
info@takeart.org
Take Art Ltd
The Mill
Flaxdrayton Farm
South Petherton
Somerset TA13 5LR
Registered Charity No: 298671
Registered in England: 2203943