About
New Diorama Theatre presents the world premiere of Container, a multi-vocal performance by Alan Fielden, exploring the violence and tenderness of living through catastrophe.
Drawing influence from Laurie Anderson’s music and Robert Ashley’s television operas, Container makes use of overlapping choral narratives, live music and polyphonic sound to explore alternative treatments of text, voice, and storytelling. Part concert, part poetry reading, like Philip Glass’ Einstein on the Beach for the Digital Age.
In a time of climate catastrophe and displacement, violent conflict, and mounting crises, Container opens up a space to experience a more empathetic view of humanity and reasserts the dignity and ambitions of the migrant figure; filled with love, horror, hope, overwhelm, joy, loss, resilience and rage. A cascade of images and characters, windows into the lives of others.
Container is brought to the stage by an ensemble of award-winning artists from some of the most exciting contemporary performance collectives - written and directed by Alan Fielden (JAMS), performed with Ben Kulvichit & Clara Potter-Sweet (Emergency Chorus), Jemima Yong (JAMS), with musical direction from Tim Cape (Bastard Assignments).
Wrap Around Events
All events are free to attend for Container ticket holders
Saturday 5 April (7:30pm performance) Post Show Dialogue
THE MAKING OF CONTAINER
Join the team behind Container after the show for a dialogue about the process of making the work and your experience of watching it. Chaired by Stella Green (writer, theatre maker & Artist Support at NDT).
Featuring: Alan Fielden, Jemima Yong, Ben Kulvichit, Clara Potter-Sweet, Tim Cape, and Diana Damian Martin
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Monday 7 April, Post Show Audience Chat
THEATRE CLUB
Do you love swapping thoughts on theatre? Come to Theatre Club: like a book group for theatre, we see shows and then chat about them afterwards. If you're seeing Container on or before 7 April join us in the bar post-show. You bring the chats, we'll bring the snacks. Theatre Club is facilitated by Maddy Costa.
Discount code: TCCONTAINER for £10 tickets for Theatre Club attendees
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Wednesday 9 April, Post Show Discussion
MUSIC AND THEATRE IN CONTAINER
Container exists between the worlds of performance and music, and has been played in music events, poetry libraries, and now a theatre space. Join us for a conversation between Klara Kofen (Waste Paper Opera), Tim Cape (Bastard Assignments), and Container's writer and director Alan Fielden, Chaired by Will Rene (Plastic Language on NTS Radio) to discuss the varied ways these artists have worked with music, text, and sound, to find new ways of storytelling.
Featuring: Klara Kofen, Tim Cape, Alan Fielden, and Will Rene
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Thursday 10 April, Post Show Discussion
STAGING CRISIS - DISCOMFORT, REAL WORLD HORROR AND VIOLENCES IN PERFORMANCE
Join us after Container for a post-show discussion on theatre’s role in crisis. How can theatre play a role in mobilizing and organising in a context where political and social movement is increasingly constrained? How does theatre engage with issues of migrancy, displacement, and violence—and how can it intervene?
Featuring: Anahí Saravia Herrera (performingborders and Cubitt Gallery) Tara Fatehi (From the Lips to the Moon), Alan Fielden, and Kei Franklin (Theatre No Theatre)
Unfortunately we are unable to offer captioning on this panel event, despite it being on the captioned performance date. Please accept our sincerest apologies.
Quotes & Reviews
Reviews for Container
★★★★★ "Compelling, gorgeous, brilliantly overwhelming and soothing, Container is the most exciting production I’ve seen this year." - London Theatre 1
★★★★★ "Container is an absorbing, brave and honest piece that intersects narratives about migration, violence and the “homeless, desperate, displaced”." - Theatre and Tonic
★★★★★ "It excited me – thrilled me actually – to see such talent making such an eccentric and vital piece of work. I loved it." - Darker Neon
The Company
Credits
Writer, Director & Performer - Alan Fielden
Deviser-Performer - Jemima Yong
Deviser-Performer - Clara Potter-Sweet
Deviser-Performer & Lighting Designer - Ben Kulvichit
Deviser-Performer & Musical Director - Tim Cape
Scenography - Alan Fielden & Clara Potter-Sweet
Dramaturg - Diana Damian Martin
Voice Coach - Darius Hulme
Sound Designer & Production Manager - Kendell Foster
Producers - New Diorama, Jemima Yong, & Kei Franklin
Associate Artists - Amy McCauley, Nat Norland, Imogen Sage
Promotional Artwork - Noelle Mason