News: events

Registration for our next free Introduction to Geese workshop is now open.

Date:  Thursday 03 May 2018, 2pm

Venue:  Woodbridge House, Moseley, Birmingham

For more information, click here

We will be delivering a post-show discussion following the below performance of Our Country's Good on 23rd May 2018 at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Wednesday 23rd May 2018 - 19:30

Venue: Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Presented by A Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company, in co-production with Ramps on the Moon.

Both a comedy and a powerful drama, Our Country's Good shows us how we can escape the chains that bind us.

In 1787, ships each with over 700 convicts on board set sail on an eight month voyage. When they arrive in Australia, their survival is by no means certain: supplies are running out, the convicts are stealing food or trying to escape and the guards are threatening mutiny.

Our Country's Good tells the extraordinary true story of a group of convicts and a young officer who rehearse and perform a play - Australia's first theatrical production. With opposition from the officers and a leading lady who may be hanged, the odds are stacked against them.

This is a great opportunity to hear about our work delivering theatre-based projects in prison settings. Our CEO Andy will provide a fascinating insight into a theatre world that is often hidden and discuss the modern challenges and opportunities that we face. There will also be a brief demonstration of our work.

Tickets are available from the REP website we are pleased to be able to offer tickets for £10 - just use the code COUNTRYGEESE at checkout.

The code is only valid for the 23rd May performance, and there is a limit of two tickets per person
This production of Our Country's Good is presented by A Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company, in co-production with Ramps on the Moon.  Geese are not performing, we will be presenting the post show discussion only.

Geese is turning 30 and as part of a series of special events,  we will be hosting The Art of Recovery - a symposium exploring the value of the arts in recovery - at the Hexagon Theatre, mac Birmingham on 09 May 2018.

The Art of Recovery

Wednesday 09 May 2018 - 1:15pm to 4:00pm

Venue: Hexagon Theatre, mac Birmingham

What is the value of the arts for people in recovery? What do people in recovery contribute to the arts? 

1:30pm - Geese Theatre Company's community ensemble, Staging Recovery, will start the symposium with a performance, followed by a Q&A with the cast
2:15pm - break
2:30pm - Paul Bayes Kitcher will introduce the work of Fallen Angels Dance Theatre
2:50pm - in discussion with a Staging Recovery ensemble member
3:00pm - panel discussion exploring the value of arts for people in recovery, and what people in recovery can contribute to the arts. Confirmed panel: Paul Bayes Kitcher(Fallen Angels Dance Theatre), Andy Watson (Geese Theatre Company), Carly Jones(SIFA Fireside) and Vicky Price (Wolverhampton Grand Theatre)

This is a free event but with limited capacity, so we advise you reserve your place now by clicking here.  When booking tickets, there will be an opportunity to submit a question for the panel.

Panel Members

Paul Bayes Kitcher 
Artistic Director,
Fallen Angels Dance Theatre
Previously a dancer for Scottish Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet, in 2011 Paul founded Fallen Angels Dance Theatre. Paul delivers participatory projects within addiction/recovery rehabilitation, community settings and criminal justice settings. 

Vicky Price
Associate Director,
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
Vicky began her career at The Birmingham Rep and moved to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in 2009 where she is now Associate Director of Development and Communications.  The Grand are currently working in partnership with Geese and the Haven, Wolverhampton, delivering a creative project with women who have experience of domestic abuse.

Andy Watson
CEO, 
Geese Theatre Company
Andy joined Geese Theatre Company in 1997 and became Artistic Director in 2003. He is the current Vice-Chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance and sits on the Women's Prison Estate Advisory Group. Andy received an MBE for services to the arts in Criminal Justice in the 2018 New Year's Honours. 

Carly Jones
CEO,
SIFA Fireside
Carly has more than twelve years’ experience in the voluntary sector at local, national and international organisations that support some of society’s most marginalised groups. She is currently CEO at SIFA Fireside which assists homeless and vulnerably housed adults in Birmingham.

Throughout our 30 years, we have collected thousands of stories from people we have helped, worked with, supported or moved and we will be sharing 30 of them throughout the coming year. We hope that they bring back memories for some as well as inspiring others. 30for30 will highlight the voices of previous and current participants of our projects and performances, artists that we have collaborated with and, of course, company and Board members from thoughout the years.

To kick us off, our first story had to be from Clark Baim, founder of Geese Theatre Company UK:

On June 10th, 1987, we had our very first rehearsal in the drama studio at the University of Warwick near Coventry, England. Thirty years later, the Company, based in Birmingham, England are going stronger than ever, leaders in the field of applied theatre in criminal justice and related settings in the UK and beyond. It’s my great joy to now be on the Board of Trustees for the Company (a registered charity), after founding the UK Company and working there until 1999.

As I see the Company move from strength to strength under the Directorship of Andy Watson, I also reflect with gratitude and amazement at the many people who have committed so much talent, service, passion and creativity to the important work of using drama as a medium for promoting positive change in individuals, in institutions and in society. 

Would you like to be a part the story? There are many ways for you to be involved in our 30for30 campaign. You can donate £30, or what you can afford, by clicking here, or you can join our team of fundraisers and support our projects by entering your own personal challenge and making Geese your charity of choice. To get involved, please email 30for30@geese.co.uk

We are delighted to be teaming up with our friends Clean Break to deliver another joint masterclass for theatre artists and criminal justice professionals interested in the specialised field of arts in the criminal justice system.

This exciting opportunity to train with two of the leading organisations in theatre and criminal justice will be co-facilitated by our CEO/ Artistic Director, Andy Watson and Clean Break's Head of Education, Anna Herrmann

Date:  01 November 2017

Time:  10am - 4.30pm

Venue:  The Lowry, Salford

Cost:  £55-£85 (bursaries available)

For more information and details of how to book, click here