NEW SPACE FESTIVAL, THE FIRST EVER FESTIVAL OF NEW WORK IS ON AT PAISLEY ARTS CENTRE ON FRIDAY 20 – SATURDAY 21 MARCH
The first ever New Space Festival makes its Renfrewshire debut on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March at Paisley Arts Centre. The festival is an opportunity for Paisley and the wider community to experience new work – plays, theatre, music and performances before anyone else and for artists and companies to try out new work in front of an audience. The festival is co-curated by Jordan Blackwood, a local theatre director and facilitator and Carla Marina Almeida, Performance Programmer, Cultural Services, Renfrewshire Leisure.
Lewis Sherlock - Puppetry Scratch Night - Fri 14 June 2019 - Roxy Assembly (© photographer - Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com) -2297 - Lewis Sherlock
The Festival organisers said: ‘New Space is all about giving artists the opportunity to test out new ideas in a relaxed, supportive and creative environment. For the inaugural festival, six artists are being given space, time and resources to develop new work. The result of what happens in the rehearsal spaces will be shared over two evenings, giving audiences the opportunity to be the first to see new work that will one day become full productions. We’re putting new stories at the forefront, come and join us!’
Programme: 
Friday 20 March, 7.30pm 
FLESH by Kirsty May Hamilton
Flesh invites the audience to tour the prototype of a new world. Spectators are welcome to capitalise on an institution breeding sin free vessels in a future utopian state. Flesh weaves fragments of live art, video artistry and spoken word into an experimental theatre performance. This sharing of work explores the political potential of poetic language.
Unexpected Item by Suzi Cunningham and Dylan Read
Unexpected Item presents a surprise encounter between two of Scotland’s finest theatre/dance/performance artists. It deals with themes of connection and resistance and celebrates latent energy through humour, physical commitment and formal subversion.
Text Me When You Get Home by Siren
Text Me When You Get Home is gig theatre exploring hyper-vigilance necessitated by women in Glasgow’s club scene. Blending live music, storytelling and poetry, it examines rape culture, female solidarity and the aftermath of the #metoo movement.
Lewis Sherlock - Tech - Puppetry Scratch Night - Fri 14 June 2019 - Roxy Assembly (© photographer - Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com) -2419 - Lewis Sherlock
Lewis Sherlock – Tech – Puppetry Scratch Night – Fri 14 June 2019 – Roxy Assembly (© photographer – Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com)
Saturday 21 March, 7.30pm 
Thread by Kick the Door
An original musical about a changing town on the edge of a changing world. Thread follows Ellie, a young girl who has to return home after the passing of her mother to help her sister sort through her childhood home. It explores change, both within our own homes and within our communities.
The Thief by Lewis Sherlock
Here comes the Thief now! He’s given up stealing for slim pickings and pilfering purses in order to pocket the big prize. A theatre-going audience, he knows are totally minted…He’s gonna get away with him too, or so he thinks, because Picasso once said that ‘Art is theft’ – isn’t it? The Thief is a small puppet with a human head who directly responds to audience suggestions for actions whilst attempting to steal their possessions.
Men At Work by Wonder Fools
Men At Work will combine storytelling, movement and video design to create an exciting and dynamic piece of new contemporary theatre examining the mental health crisis on construction sites. In the UK, more than one construction worker takes their own life every day, 3.7 times the national average. The piece will be based on interviews with real people within the industry, explore workplace banter and demonstrate the importance of human connection.
For further information, interviews, photographs contact: Wendy Niblock PR: wendyjniblock@btinternet.com / 07961 814834
LISTINGS:
New Space Festival
Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March, 7.30pm
Paisley Arts Centre
£10/£6 concession plus booking fee
0300 300 1210 / www.renfrewshireleisure.com/new-space
Author

Founder of Paisley.org.uk in 1998 and constantly strives to change peoples attitudes to the town, Brian is a self described Paisley Digital Champion who promotes Paisley via any means necessary. You can also follow me on X