The FringeGuru guide to the VAULT Festival on on Sunday 15 March

Zoe has scored an invite to the 71st Annual Tony Awards, one of her dreams but there’s only one catch, she’s not nominated- She’s a seat filler, oh and she’ll have to face a big fear; wearing high heels. As a disabled woman who was never gifted in the beauty department, it’s time for Zoe to rise to the challenge and become a star in her own sense. She just wants to feel normal and looks like any other girl there. Zoe must find a dress, shoes and transform herself into a glamazon as she’s gonna be cozying to some of America’s biggest stars (Former V.P Joe Biden to name a few) and getting a first hand experience of what it’s like to be involved in the biggest show in Theatre. Think of it as a game of musical chairs but with famous people and one very starstruck fish out of water. <br/> Zoe is an alias but this story is about Zoe. She is a theatre marketing intern an off Broadway theatre. Living in New York is great but the hustle is real. Zoe is at odds with what she sees herself artistically. She wants to be an Actor and a Writer but she’s a tadpole in the ocean when it comes to talent. In New York, everyone’s a star and only stars get invited to the biggest night out... .or do they? <br/>This is the story of ‘Zoe’, a young, disabled woman who is living in New York and passionate for the arts. It is a true story based on the life of Arianne Hutch (the writer & performer).

Mustard Doesn’t Go With Girls is an inclusive feminist musical for the modern
child. Join us in the surreal town of Bow-on-Tie, a town deeply rooted in
tradition and run by the dubious mayor Croque Madame (or is it Croc?!). When
the children start mysteriously disappearing, eight-year-old Abigail decides to
investigate further, embarking on an adventure where social norms are
questioned and the town’s secrets are uncovered. Will Abigail and the rebel
children be able to prevent their horrific fate, and by doing so change the town’s
divide of boys and girls?<br/>Using an original score, slick movement and strong characters this production
seeks to poke fun at fairytales from the past whilst creating new storylines for
the young generation of today. Join Abigail on her journey towards being heard
in a society that is stuck in the past. The show is empowering for both children
and grown-ups, of whatever gender, showing that you can be anyone and
anything you want to be.

The Kola Nut Does Not Speak English explores the cultural history of a first generation Nigerian-British woman of Igbo descent<br/>A gripping new play from multi award winning company Nouveau Riche. Written by Tania Nwachukwu, we follow the people of Eze as they fight to preserve their beloved kola tree. <br/>Using African theatre practices, call and response, dance, song, and poetry, this is a loud, unapologetic, passionate embrace of who we are and the importance of a Nigerian-British woman preserving her own history.<br/>The Brand Nouveau Initiative, in partnership VAULT Festival, brings together a group of the best black and minority ethnic emerging artists ready to take the next step in their careers. The scheme provides opportunities to expand their networks, receive first class mentoring from our award winning team, and benefit from creative space, time and research opportunities.<br/>Following successful productions at New Diorama and Soho, this is your chance to experience the next generation of theatre practitioners collaborating together to create exciting, brand new work.<br/>Praise for Nouveau Riche -<br/>WINNER - Underbelly and New Diorama UNTAPPED Award (Queens of Sheba)
BEST NEW PLAY - Off West End Award Nomination (Typical)
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE - Off West End Award Nomination (Typical)

You're invited to join the Super Scary Film Club (4 Kids). <br/>Every kid in the neighbourhood has gathered to watch all the scariest films, back-to-back, all in one night! <br/>Super Scary Film Club is a family-friendly celebration of staying up late and watching scary films with your friends. An hour of sketches, songs, and silliness, parodying iconic horror movies throughout the ages. Guaranteed to bump your geese and raise your hairs!<br/>Written by Maxwell Tyler (co-writer of One Duck Down - Family Show of the Year VAULT 2018), and presented by Burn Bright Theatre (Frankenstein at the London Horror Festival - “mesmerising” *****). <br/>Grab your popcorn and enjoy our monster movie marathon for brave kids and even braver adults.<br/>Join the Club!

Ben and Nicole live in the UK. They have everything they want – a nice house, good jobs and a steady marriage. However, a chance encounter confronts them with an ominous question: is it selfish to start a family in a world that’s beset by climate crisis? Bourne is a new play that explores the moral suburbia of climate crisis and the destabilising effect it might have on the most mundane of marriages. <br/>Bourne is a work in progress play, written by Megan Smith and produced by Double Yellow Theatre Company.

"It's one thing to start living as male, it's another thing entirely to work out what kind of man you want to be..."<br/>Ash Palmisciano is just your average guy... who also happens to be trans. He's lived as male for a year now but he still feels like there's something missing. That is until he meets Jay, the uber-macho new guy at work, who's brash, arrogant... and exactly the kind of man Ash wants to be! After a wild night out together in Leamington Spa where Jay teaches him to man up, strut and banter, Ash embarks on a quest to become THE ULTIMATE LAD. It's a quest that will take him from working as a peasant at Warwick Castle to romancing a princess at Euro Disney as he as he learns all the wrong lessons about masculinity...<br/>For as Ash is about to find out, life as 'top lad' isn't really all it's cracked up to be...<br/>A work in progress written by and starring award-winning actor Ash Palmisciano (Summer in London, RSC's King Lear), THE ULTIMATE LAD is a hilarious and life-affirming autobiographical story about lad culture, being yourself, and the rules men feel they need to live by, told by someone who has experienced masculinity from both sides. <br/>Co-written and directed by Olivier Award-winner Jon Brittain (Rotterdam, Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho, Baby Reindeer). <br/>Praise for Ash Palmisciano<br/>WINNER - Best Newcomer at Inside Soap Awards 2018
WINNER - Best Soap Newcomer at I Talk Telly Awards 2018<br/>Praise for Rotterdam<br/>Evening Standard **** "Smartly observed and very funny"
Time Out **** "Warm, witty and wise"<br/>Praise for Baby Reindeer<br/>Guardian **** "Jon Brittain’s production tightens its grip with terrible inexorability"
The List **** "Expertly structured and paced"

“And we're running.
Sprinting.
Darting toward the light -
- and the sound.“<br/>10th September 2008, 10:28am. The Large Hadron Collider is activated for the first time.<br/>Fireworks is an experimental piece of new writing exploring the dichotomy of whether the connections we make in life form through fate, or are random events in a chaotic universe. Paralleling two narratives in two timelines, this is a story about love, faith and the science behind CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.<br/>Written by Alex Robins
Directed by Jack Bradfield
Performed by Gráinne O’Mahony and James Murphy Stevens<br/>https://twitter.com/FireworksShow<br/>Developed with support from Theatre Royal Plymouth, Plymouth University and Down Stage Write.

Safe Sex was Fierstein's personal response to living in the time of AIDS. It was his attempt to deal with his own confusion about AIDS. This show is really from the heart, and it has all the anger and frustration of those responding to the AIDS crisis.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, commonly known as AIDS, first emerged in the United States in the year 1981. Cases of the disease were first reported in Los Angeles and New York when young, healthy, gay men began to develop unusual infections as a result of weak immune systems. Safe Sex is a humorous and honest tale of two male lovers living their lives together in the early years of the AIDS crisis in New York City. Is it best to abstain from sex altogether? Or is avoiding sex an excuse for being intimate? How far do we let fear control our lives. Fierstein brings to life with feeling and emotion the difficulties and joys of loving.

Hey WhatsApp?
When did we last see each other face to Facebook and have a good old Twitter?
We are plugged in and turned on 24/7 with constant connection at our fingertips but when do we ever switch off?<br/>In a world where the majority of the population would rather communicate through Apps than face to face, a savvy start up creates a saviour space for millennials who feel overwhelmed. Zone Out allows users to unplug and be with their thoughts in peace until they are ready to connect. When one woman is running and the other is seeking will they find the solace they are looking for? <br/>Welcome to Zone Out - would you like to connect to another user? <br/>The central themes of this play are friendship, loss, loneliness, and finding connections. The piece has evolved out of an exploration into the notion of communication in the modern day and particularly how women’s voices are shared and heard.

Award-winning New Zealand comedian Nic Sampson presents his epic new stand up show about one of the dumbest sporting events of all time. <br/>On a blistering hot afternoon in August 1904, thirty two athletes representing four nations entered the third Olympic Marathon in St. Louis. Only fourteen finished.
What happened in between was a perfect storm of rank incompetence, unforgivable stupidity, brazen cheating, wild dogs, and rat poison.
This is a true story. <br/>- As seen on The Brokenwood Mysteries, Power Rangers, Steen Raskopoulos Improvises With Friends
- Winner, Best Newcomer - NZ International Comedy Festival 2014
- Nominee, Best Show - NZ International Comedy Festival 2016 <br/>“Sampson is at the peak of his game... a beautiful gem of comedic goodness.” - Three
"Possibly nothing in this year's comedy festival will make you laugh harder." - New Zealand Herald
?"This is a world class hour from one of the country's best performers. It's essential." - Stuff

At the time of writing this description (25th October 2019) the Hong Kong AntiELab protestors are entering their 20th week of action. Where will they be as you are reading this? Freedom-Hi is a synthesis, and by March 2020, possibly a retrospective, of theatre and performance art made by UK based Hong Kong and British East Asian artists during the protests. Personal experiences and geo-political commentary combine in an act of total theatre. We don’t know how this ends, this will never end-every thing about this show is subject to change. <br/>Peace is not peaceful
Acquiescence is violence
????
????
???
??
???
??
(Eternal Peace by Gabby Wong) <br/>Artist line up (subject to change): Bonnie Chan, Chung Yik Sau, Gabby Wong, Isabella Leung, Daniel York-Loh and Jan Chan.
Compiled by Kim Pearce for Papergang Theatre.
Produced by Clarissa Widya for Papergang Theatre. <br/>Image by Alexander Newton / Image Design by Kim Pearce

It's the July 25th 2019. It's hot, too hot!<br/>The metaphorical gates of hell have opened for new Prime Minister Boris Johnson, so screw it, let's extend our overdraft limits for a cheeky pint.<br/>'I've had a week that even Craig David would shy from writing a song about, and now it's just too fuck'n hot'.<br/>A bold, physical and frankly piping hot piece of new writing. A dark comedy about friendship, fear and a fucker of a week. <br/>VAULT Festival Award Winners RedBellyBlack Theatre present '39 degrees'.<br/>Directed by Alistair Wilkinson (Digging Deep, VAULT Festival 2019, 'Crucial theatre' -Lyn Gardner)<br/>* * * * * ‘Mesmerising’ - The UpComing review for 'Ok, Bye'<br/>* * * * * 'Robust and elegant, full of the marrow of life' - LondonTheatre1 review for 'A Year From Now’ <br/>PS. (Nelly's 'Hot In Here' will not be featured, not even once)!<br/>Written by Kate Goodfellow
Choreographed and performed by Ruth Newberry-Payton and Kate Goodfellow.

Tokyo 2020: Yu, 39, career-driven but recently dumped by her long term job, keeps beating her head against societal pressures to get married. Sick of the patriarchy and feeling powerless, she struggles to fit in her own country. Can the answer to her self-doubt lie in following her great-grandmother Takako’s footsteps and travelling to San Francisco? Armed with an airplane ticket and Takako’s diary, Yu sets out to find herself. <br/>San Francisco 1920: Takako, 16, stares at the numerous men waiting on the dock. Armed with only a photo and a marriage certificate, she tries to recognise her new husband who she has never met, in a land she has never been. Facing down hostility and cultural differences, Takako, one of the many Japanese Picture Brides of the early 20th century, bravely sets out to create a home for herself in America. Lonely in a land that both welcomes and resents her, she finds solace in keeping a diary where she writes about her struggle. Can her diary help light the way for a great-granddaughter who she will never meet? <br/>BAABA’S FOOTSTEPS straddles time and place, but remains a story about love and belonging. Touching, infuriating and downright funny, Yu and Takako’s stories intertwine as two generations of women struggle to find their way in societies that do not accept them. From Japanese-American internment camps during WW2 to sexist work policies of 2020, we vortex through three eras by the hands of two women, struggling to find their places in lives set up for them by others. <br/>BAABA’S FOOTSTEPS is a new play, written by Susan Hingley, premiering at the VAULT Festival. It is proudly supported by the Arts Council England.<br/>- Lemon House Theatre on BAABA’S FOOTSTEPS:
"BAABA’S FOOTSTEPS takes you across different locations and time periods, but remains a story about home. It balances poignant moments with laugh-out-loud ones, with Susan weaving them together to create a story that shows that you can question your identity at any age.”

The Haus Of Kunst is a collective of diverse artists, a platform for established and embryonic artists to experiment and showcase modern and classic art forms.
A diverse group of Artists each bringing their own unique flair to the show, meticulously curated each one as varied and eclectic as the next.<br/>The Haus Of Kunst is ready to open her doors to more voyeurs who want a little something special for the hearts and minds
Guests from all walks of life are encouraged to delve into the mysterious waters of The Haus Of Kunst, to be fully immersed in a new approach to live entertainment, each room of the Haus is intriguing and beguiling. <br/>Bold and daring The Haus Of Kunst celebrates passionate, disciplined, craftsmanship: and boasts an elite and diverse roster of international and local artists, from the UK right through to Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Russia, Greece and more.
Spectators will be charmed, teased and challenged with a dazzling array of performance disciplines: Actors, Singers, Musicians, Dancers, Drag, Burlesque, Circus, pole, sideshow, clowning, queer art and many more.<br/>A cabaret revolution is upon us! We intend on being pioneers – Come through our front door if you dare...

"Seeking apprentice for highly paid job opportunity working for hazardous waste removal company. Willing to get their hands dirty. Relevant experience not necessary. Competitive remuneration package". Apply within.<br/>Francine and Marla, employees of a hazardous waste removal company, are on the hunt for a new apprentice.  Having just escaped a life of misfortune, Belinda walks through the door, ready for her interview.  The process is absurd, but it’s not a problem for hopeful applicant Belinda who, unbeknownst to her future employees, is overqualified... VERY overqualified. Unfortunately, this job isn’t quite what it seems and someone is about to find themselves in a very sticky situation.<br/>Following its success as part of Flux Theatre’s EMERGE Night at The Bunker in June 2019, BIN JUICE showcases this all-female dark comedy, showing the dirty side of an already filthy job. Supported by an award-winning team comprised of writer Catherine Kolubayev, director Jessica Daniels, Resident Director of Girl From the North Country, and producer Kitty Wordsworth, BIN JUICE is a story of loyalty, revenge and secrecy. We’re all hiding from something... or someone. <br/>“Some jobs require getting your hands a little dirty... ”

In the last couple of years Paul McCaffrey has performed to over half a million people while supporting his comedy heroes Sean Lock and Kevin Bridges on their UK tours and has gone down an absolute storm. Join Paul for a work in progress of his brand-new hilarious show. As seen on Live at the Apollo, Impractical Jokers, Russell Howard's Good News, and Stand up Central.
'McCaffrey is going to make it big any day now. Grab your chance to say ‘I saw him when... ’ - The Scotsman
'Never anything short of gut-bustingly hilarious' - GQ

Glitch is a monologue about autism, grief, small towns and video games. <br/>Kelly’s autistic, never left her hometown because of it, and now she’s facing her Dad’s declining health. She’s frustrated, stuck, and looking for a way out - although she doesn’t realise it until it potentially arrives, in the form of a video game speedrunning contest offering both a cash prize and (friendly) rivals who might become friends.<br/>Kelly might be trying to save her Dad like the heroes in her favourite games, but she comes to realise she can’t control everything: change is going to happen, whether she (or her brain) likes it or not.<br/>As Kelly navigates her grief, paired with her new experiences and the often-judgemental viewpoints of her hometown’s locals, she comes to understand what her Dad has been trying to tell her all along. Other people have been writing Kelly’s story for too long, based on assumptions about her labels rather than her as a person. Maybe it's time for that to change.<br/>Glitch is about the stories we tell about those seen as different, the impact that has on the people being spoken about, and asks the question: surely it's past time we let everybody create their own stories?

A seamless blend of sharp spoken word poetry, dark comedy and original music, #Hypocrisy examines Western privilege, and reminds us that in complacency lies the most heart-stopping terror.
Lost in the bliss of foreign travel, Imogen joyfully succumbs to the spoils of Western privilege. Returning to Scotland, a harsh society confronts her. Dangerous politicians prevail, fake news is king and social media sympathy pours forth for Western terror victims, yet backs turn on the migrant crisis. What staggering hypocrisy.

A Hip Hop dance theatre work in response to Joseph Toonga’s latest touring work Born to Manifest - A male duet that illuminates the experiences of young black British men. Conveying the relentless incidents that continue to occur today and simultaneously champions cultural identity and challenges racial stigmas.<br/>The young men of the Let’s Shine Mentorship programme reveal the complexity of their individual journeys and the results of the prominent social stereotypes that continue to cause oppression.

Featuring movement and a club soundtrack Trying To Find Me is a semi- autobiographical show about the shame of pain. The show exposes the secret, heart-breaking and wonderfully honest and funny world of Ann — a black woman in her early 30s looking for love and in many ways, trying to heal. <br/>It incorporates BSL, creative captioning, visual sound technology and audio description, utilising a variety of communication styles woven into the narrative and movement fabric of the piece

Resonate plunges into the mania of addiction affliction merging physical theatre, hip hop dance and spoken word. A pulsating lyrical journey into the soul of a modern young man from multi award winning company Nouveau Riche, written by Ntonga Mwanza.<br/>The Brand Nouveau Initiative, in partnership VAULT Festival, brings together a group of the best black and minority ethnic emerging artists ready to take the next step in their careers. The scheme provides opportunities to expand their networks, receive first class mentoring from our award winning team, and benefit from creative space, time and research opportunities.<br/>Following successful productions at New Diorama and Soho, this is your chance to experience the next generation of theatre practitioners collaborating together to create exciting, brand new work.<br/>Praise for Nouveau Riche -<br/>WINNER - Underbelly and New Diorama UNTAPPED Award (Queens of Sheba)
BEST NEW PLAY - Off West End Award Nomination (Typical)
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE - Off West End Award Nomination (Typical)

He’s dead, and it’s her job to prepare and present his body for his family’s final goodbye. She often imagines what each person’s life was like. But today she doesn’t have to imagine who he is. She knows him.<br/>Faced with the body of the man who raped her eleven months ago, When We Died is a striking new play about one woman’s choice to confront her trauma and tell her story, on her terms.<br/>An early version of the play was longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting in 2017. Extracts have been presented as work-in-progress for PILOT Nights and China Plate’s First Bite Festival (both at Midlands Arts Centre, 2019). When We Died premieres at VAULT Festival after further development supported by Pleasance Theatre’s LABS residency, the University of Northampton and the Travers Foundation.<br/>The show contains an account of rape, and descriptions of dead bodies. Please note, at no point is rape presented onstage.

"It's one thing to start living as male, it's another thing entirely to work out what kind of man you want to be..."<br/>Ash Palmisciano is just your average guy... who also happens to be trans. He's lived as male for a year now but he still feels like there's something missing. That is until he meets Jay, the uber-macho new guy at work, who's brash, arrogant... and exactly the kind of man Ash wants to be! After a wild night out together in Leamington Spa where Jay teaches him to man up, strut and banter, Ash embarks on a quest to become THE ULTIMATE LAD. It's a quest that will take him from working as a peasant at Warwick Castle to romancing a princess at Euro Disney as he as he learns all the wrong lessons about masculinity...<br/>For as Ash is about to find out, life as 'top lad' isn't really all it's cracked up to be...<br/>A work in progress written by and starring award-winning actor Ash Palmisciano (Summer in London, RSC's King Lear), THE ULTIMATE LAD is a hilarious and life-affirming autobiographical story about lad culture, being yourself, and the rules men feel they need to live by, told by someone who has experienced masculinity from both sides. <br/>Co-written and directed by Olivier Award-winner Jon Brittain (Rotterdam, Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho, Baby Reindeer). <br/>Praise for Ash Palmisciano<br/>WINNER - Best Newcomer at Inside Soap Awards 2018
WINNER - Best Soap Newcomer at I Talk Telly Awards 2018<br/>Praise for Rotterdam<br/>Evening Standard **** "Smartly observed and very funny"
Time Out **** "Warm, witty and wise"<br/>Praise for Baby Reindeer<br/>Guardian **** "Jon Brittain’s production tightens its grip with terrible inexorability"
The List **** "Expertly structured and paced"

Take Care follows the real-life story of Pam, a woman struggling to move her mother into a care home that’s closer to her. <br/>Along the way we meet other carers, NHS staff, politicians, journalists and MP’s all involved in the care system for older people.<br/>Darkly humorous, this documentary play shines a light on the hidden voices of carers and exposes the workings of a care system in desperate need of repair.<br/>***** 5 stars from The Scotsman
“Beautiful, heartbreaking and comical. This is more than theatre, this is real”<br/>***** 5 stars from Theatreworld
“This ingenious dark comedy will prick your conscience” <br/>All text in the production is word-for-word what people have said to us either in interviews or published in press releases and public speeches. The interviews have been collected over 5 years and we continue to add to them.<br/>After each show there is an optional informal post-show discussion at the Time For Change space at VAULT Festival. It is an opportunity to talk about the issues and subject matter raised in the production, share experiences, carry on the discussion around care and generally meet people and chat. Everyone is welcome, so come along, grab a drink, and say hello!

“And we're running.
Sprinting.
Darting toward the light -
- and the sound.“<br/>10th September 2008, 10:28am. The Large Hadron Collider is activated for the first time.<br/>Fireworks is an experimental piece of new writing exploring the dichotomy of whether the connections we make in life form through fate, or are random events in a chaotic universe. Paralleling two narratives in two timelines, this is a story about love, faith and the science behind CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.<br/>Written by Alex Robins
Directed by Jack Bradfield
Performed by Gráinne O’Mahony and James Murphy Stevens<br/>https://twitter.com/FireworksShow<br/>Developed with support from Theatre Royal Plymouth, Plymouth University and Down Stage Write.

A work in progress hour of comedy and storytelling from Funny Women Awards Finalist and star of BBC's Socially Awkward Situations. The perfect appointment if you've ever suffered from heartache, addiction to Love Island or a similarly embarrassing medical problem. With songs, characters, and a plethora of unfortunately true stories to keep you chortling to yourself for the rest of the evening.
"Kirsty is a smart character comic... grabs the gig by the funny bits, nowhere will a pound buy you more laughs" - The Scotsman.
"Excellent" - The Metro.
"For an excellent hour of comedy, this really cannot be missed" - Bunbury Magazine *****

A Brand SKANKING new solo show - from Yorkshire!<br/>The Producer calls SKANK 'A Tesco Value, Northern Fleabag' which looks great in this opening blurb...<br/>Meet Kate. She’s a Skank. <br/>She could be a successful writer, if she could just concentrate. Instead, her head is filled with recycling concerns, genius ways to ensnare Sexy Gary, and the persistent fear that her internal organs are against her. <br/>Clementine Bogg-Hargroves reveals the witty, dark and often filthy thoughts of an ambitious twenty-something grappling with her uncertain future. How can someone so confident be so terrified? If you like Comedy, drama, and twenty something witty angst, step inside the world of SKANK - the performance has many 4 out 5 star reviews which look good on the poster.<br/>'A constantly funny play.' - British Theatre Guide
'skank is laugh-out-loud funny.' - She-Wolf
'Wickedly funny, yet touching.' **** The Play's The Thing

A devastating rise in sea levels has flooded out communities worldwide...but we're still alright. <br/>Unprecedented numbers of displaced people are taking to the seas in hope of finding a new home... which is fine, as long as it's not ours.<br/>Forest fires are burning in Portugal... but that's still far away enough, just about.<br/>It's 2049 and the world is struggling with climate change. Humans are taking steps to stem the tide; making veganism law, fossil fuels illegal and eradicating single use plastics. But these efforts seem futile and, in London, people are disappearing. In a little corner of the city we find Hanna, whose new friends and their never-ending supply of meat seem too good to be true. <br/>Hanna is the little bit of wilful ignorance that festers in all of us. Those in power feed on fear and fame and the masses are easily led. Greta Thunburg once urged 'our house is on fire', but Hanna can only respond with 'It's a rental, I've used blue-tack and the pipes are clogged with animal fat. Can I have my deposit back?'<br/>It's a world where the rich are feeding off the poor, quite literally, and it's every human for themselves.

Tokyo 2020: Yu, 39, career-driven but recently dumped by her long term job, keeps beating her head against societal pressures to get married. Sick of the patriarchy and feeling powerless, she struggles to fit in her own country. Can the answer to her self-doubt lie in following her great-grandmother Takako’s footsteps and travelling to San Francisco? Armed with an airplane ticket and Takako’s diary, Yu sets out to find herself. <br/>San Francisco 1920: Takako, 16, stares at the numerous men waiting on the dock. Armed with only a photo and a marriage certificate, she tries to recognise her new husband who she has never met, in a land she has never been. Facing down hostility and cultural differences, Takako, one of the many Japanese Picture Brides of the early 20th century, bravely sets out to create a home for herself in America. Lonely in a land that both welcomes and resents her, she finds solace in keeping a diary where she writes about her struggle. Can her diary help light the way for a great-granddaughter who she will never meet? <br/>BAABA’S FOOTSTEPS straddles time and place, but remains a story about love and belonging. Touching, infuriating and downright funny, Yu and Takako’s stories intertwine as two generations of women struggle to find their way in societies that do not accept them. From Japanese-American internment camps during WW2 to sexist work policies of 2020, we vortex through three eras by the hands of two women, struggling to find their places in lives set up for them by others. <br/>BAABA’S FOOTSTEPS is a new play, written by Susan Hingley, premiering at the VAULT Festival. It is proudly supported by the Arts Council England.<br/>- Lemon House Theatre on BAABA’S FOOTSTEPS:
"BAABA’S FOOTSTEPS takes you across different locations and time periods, but remains a story about home. It balances poignant moments with laugh-out-loud ones, with Susan weaving them together to create a story that shows that you can question your identity at any age.”

A new live music play about love, loss and lubrication. Based on a true story and pop-punk feminism. <br/>From the producers of the Fringe First award winning show Bobby & Amy and Three Weeks award winner writer Joel Samuels, comes a powerful gig theatre show that follows the coming-of-age story of a young woman spanning across eight years, from nineties shag bracelets to 21st century non-monogamous relationships.<br/>Featuring original music inspired by an eclectic mix of bands from Le Tigre to Veruca Salt, Sugar Coat is an exhilarating 60 minute journey of loud music, sexual content and many talented bad-ass womxn.<br/>**<br/>Sugar Coat is a 16 year old girl with good marks and a flair for music. But when she starts Year 13, her life changes forever. From bunking classes and using fake ID to snogging boys with greasy skin - she’s about to have sex for the first time. However, things don’t go exactly to plan. In fact, as the years go by, she has no idea what the plan ever was and how she’s supposed to navigate in this sexually confusing modern world.<br/>And she is not the only one. Around 300,000 women in the UK suffer from Vaginismus, an estimated 1 in 4 pregnancies in end in miscarriage, and non-monogamous relationships are at an all time high. Sex is anything but easy.<br/>Renowned director Celine Lowenthal, will lead the five strong cast of womxn actors and pop-punk musicians in an uplifting and liberating show about puberty, sex, feminism and reclaiming your body.

At the time of writing this description (25th October 2019) the Hong Kong AntiELab protestors are entering their 20th week of action. Where will they be as you are reading this? Freedom-Hi is a synthesis, and by March 2020, possibly a retrospective, of theatre and performance art made by UK based Hong Kong and British East Asian artists during the protests. Personal experiences and geo-political commentary combine in an act of total theatre. We don’t know how this ends, this will never end-every thing about this show is subject to change. <br/>Peace is not peaceful
Acquiescence is violence
????
????
???
??
???
??
(Eternal Peace by Gabby Wong) <br/>Artist line up (subject to change): Bonnie Chan, Chung Yik Sau, Gabby Wong, Isabella Leung, Daniel York-Loh and Jan Chan.
Compiled by Kim Pearce for Papergang Theatre.
Produced by Clarissa Widya for Papergang Theatre. <br/>Image by Alexander Newton / Image Design by Kim Pearce

It's the July 25th 2019. It's hot, too hot!<br/>The metaphorical gates of hell have opened for new Prime Minister Boris Johnson, so screw it, let's extend our overdraft limits for a cheeky pint.<br/>'I've had a week that even Craig David would shy from writing a song about, and now it's just too fuck'n hot'.<br/>A bold, physical and frankly piping hot piece of new writing. A dark comedy about friendship, fear and a fucker of a week. <br/>VAULT Festival Award Winners RedBellyBlack Theatre present '39 degrees'.<br/>Directed by Alistair Wilkinson (Digging Deep, VAULT Festival 2019, 'Crucial theatre' -Lyn Gardner)<br/>* * * * * ‘Mesmerising’ - The UpComing review for 'Ok, Bye'<br/>* * * * * 'Robust and elegant, full of the marrow of life' - LondonTheatre1 review for 'A Year From Now’ <br/>PS. (Nelly's 'Hot In Here' will not be featured, not even once)!<br/>Written by Kate Goodfellow
Choreographed and performed by Ruth Newberry-Payton and Kate Goodfellow.

Safe Sex was Fierstein's personal response to living in the time of AIDS. It was his attempt to deal with his own confusion about AIDS. This show is really from the heart, and it has all the anger and frustration of those responding to the AIDS crisis.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, commonly known as AIDS, first emerged in the United States in the year 1981. Cases of the disease were first reported in Los Angeles and New York when young, healthy, gay men began to develop unusual infections as a result of weak immune systems. Safe Sex is a humorous and honest tale of two male lovers living their lives together in the early years of the AIDS crisis in New York City. Is it best to abstain from sex altogether? Or is avoiding sex an excuse for being intimate? How far do we let fear control our lives. Fierstein brings to life with feeling and emotion the difficulties and joys of loving.

The Haus Of Kunst is a collective of diverse artists, a platform for established and embryonic artists to experiment and showcase modern and classic art forms.
A diverse group of Artists each bringing their own unique flair to the show, meticulously curated each one as varied and eclectic as the next.<br/>The Haus Of Kunst is ready to open her doors to more voyeurs who want a little something special for the hearts and minds
Guests from all walks of life are encouraged to delve into the mysterious waters of The Haus Of Kunst, to be fully immersed in a new approach to live entertainment, each room of the Haus is intriguing and beguiling. <br/>Bold and daring The Haus Of Kunst celebrates passionate, disciplined, craftsmanship: and boasts an elite and diverse roster of international and local artists, from the UK right through to Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Russia, Greece and more.
Spectators will be charmed, teased and challenged with a dazzling array of performance disciplines: Actors, Singers, Musicians, Dancers, Drag, Burlesque, Circus, pole, sideshow, clowning, queer art and many more.<br/>A cabaret revolution is upon us! We intend on being pioneers – Come through our front door if you dare...

"Seeking apprentice for highly paid job opportunity working for hazardous waste removal company. Willing to get their hands dirty. Relevant experience not necessary. Competitive remuneration package". Apply within.<br/>Francine and Marla, employees of a hazardous waste removal company, are on the hunt for a new apprentice.  Having just escaped a life of misfortune, Belinda walks through the door, ready for her interview.  The process is absurd, but it’s not a problem for hopeful applicant Belinda who, unbeknownst to her future employees, is overqualified... VERY overqualified. Unfortunately, this job isn’t quite what it seems and someone is about to find themselves in a very sticky situation.<br/>Following its success as part of Flux Theatre’s EMERGE Night at The Bunker in June 2019, BIN JUICE showcases this all-female dark comedy, showing the dirty side of an already filthy job. Supported by an award-winning team comprised of writer Catherine Kolubayev, director Jessica Daniels, Resident Director of Girl From the North Country, and producer Kitty Wordsworth, BIN JUICE is a story of loyalty, revenge and secrecy. We’re all hiding from something... or someone. <br/>“Some jobs require getting your hands a little dirty... ”

Winner of the BBC New Comedy Award, Japanese Londoner Yuriko Kotani is going to tell stories of her experiences and thoughts as a work in progress. In her second language.
As seen on Russell Howard's Stand Up Central and Pls Like (BBC3).

Join Aidan McCaffery for an hour of brutally honesty stand up comedy and personal storytelling as we finds out what happens when the alt-right invades his home life! <br/>Aidan talks us through his brother Gerard's journey from academic whizz to prisoner of her majesty to a snowflake-bashing, Trump-loving right wing troll. <br/>Of Aidan's comedy Edinburgh Comedy Award winner John Kearns says, 'Endearing, cheeky, looks younger than I presume he is and is most importantly, funny.'

Constance, a black mother struggles alone to raise Elijah, her vocally gifted 8 year old bi-racial son in London today.<br/>Constance desperately misses the guidance of her recently deceased larger than life Jamaican mother, Agnes whose no nonsense parenting and hymn singing defined their lives.<br/>Fighting to protect her son she must fend off the dangers that threaten his survival – his father, an unequal education system, her own crushing self-doubt and the "fried chicken at the bus stop boys".<br/>In a significant moment, with everything hanging in the balance, the only thing that matters is whether Elijah has perfect pitch or not. <br/>Will Constance be able to live up to her mother’s high expectations and be worthy of the Tiger Mum crown? Will she be fierce enough to see off those who endanger her precious cub? And will Elijah be able to sing with a roar when it matters most ?<br/>A heartwarming and playful one woman show which navigates the highs and lows of motherhood in a world where for some safety appears to have become a privilege for the few. <br/>A mesmerising piece of theatre which will make you laugh out loud, cry, shake your fist and think - all in equal measures.<br/>Included in Lyn Gardner's PICKS FOR VAULT FESTIVAL.

Britney have made wonderful shows before, don’t get me wrong, but this is their best yet. This show is a sketch show at the Vault Festival, and these ladies are very excited but also quite nervous to be so far underground. There’s something for everyone, literally. <br/>Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson have sold out a bunch of shows over the past coupla years (at Soho Theatre and Battersea Arts Centre and *an* Oxfordshire village hall) so why not see these two buffoons before they inevitably quit sketch comedy for more fulfilling careers. Critics have called them ‘hysterical’, ‘side-splittingly funny’, ‘a modern-day French and Saunders’; their agents are calling them ‘a bit of a risk’, and fans of the show are calling it... quits.<br/>For two nights only, Britney are returning to their roots with a brand new show. Two best mates and that’s all that matters.

In the hot summer of 2019, we set ourselves a mission –
We were going to watch the entire Logan Paul YouTube channel.
And make a show out of it.
Four hundred videos later, we’re starting to regret that decision.<br/>Part trash culture documentary and part delirious video fantasy, The Peaceful Defeat return to VAULT Festival with a new work-in-progress show about media, loneliness, and watching and watching and watching and watching and watching. And when it’s all done we’ll be selling t-shirts outside the theatre.<br/>Developed on Starting Blocks at Camden People’s Theatre.

From the multi-award-winning, ***** comedy duo Willis & Vere (The Starship Osiris, A Serious Play About World War II) comes the story of a controversial artist's rise to fame and subsequent downfall, created entirely from audience suggestions. Featuring videos, audience participation and guaranteed laughter*. Reviews for previous work: ***** (The Wee Review), ***** (Broadway Baby), **** (Steve Bennett, Chortle), **** (The Stage), 'Rip-roaring silliness’ (Time Out) and ‘Masters of their trade’ (British Theatre Guide). (*Laughter not guaranteed).

"We have flown around the world with our show, getting five wings across the board! This is a true story - embellished slightly as the years have gone on for entertainment value of course! Feel free to bring your breadcrumbs as well, we're not one of those fancy theatres where you can't eat nothin. Coo Coo!" - The Pigeons<br/>Two Pigeons present their 'high quality' theatre show about the dangers of roosting on a department store. They've been through a lot, and they re-tell their story in that special way only two pigeons can.<br/>This show is for anyone who has ever had a useless boss or a demanding customer, anyone who's ever been pushed to the edge by the 9-5, the 6-4 or the 2-11, anyone who just who needs a good laugh after a crap day at work. Pigeons on L'edge is a comedic birds eye view into the world of retail. Ignored, abused and unsupported - what happens when ordinary people go flying off the ledge into insanity?<br/>Disclaimer: You could say some of this is a culmination and satirisation of many true stories. But the Two Birds could never confirm that of course. Any resemblances to real persons or entities, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Combining first-hand accounts from WWII and Bulgarian folk tunes, “The Brief Life and Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria: Part The First” sets out to investigate the suspicious circumstances of our unlikely hero’s demise. I mean, it wasn’t every day that someone stood up to the Führer... <br/>Expect satire, revisionist history and live Bulgarian folk tunes as we explore the history of Boris, his sister and their motherland: the “fairytale” Kingdom of Bulgaria.<br/>Out Of The Forest Theatre returns to VAULT Festival after their sold out, Off West End Award-nominated CALL ME FURY and the multiple award-winning BURY THE HATCHET.<br/>By March 2020, here’s hoping every Boris is history.<br/>#MakeBorisHistory<br/>Written by Joseph Cullen & Sasha Wilson
Produced by Claire Gilbert for Out Of The Forest Theatre
Cast & creative team to be announced. <br/>??????? ?? ?? ????! <br/>??? ?? ???????

Jonny and Paddy don't know what the future holds for the UK or for the world. But they do know that it absolutely terrifies them. And it's time to stop being such cowards. In 2020 they will try their hardest to be brave. <br/>***** "Hilarious throughout and moving, Jonny & the Baptists will make you laugh until you cry and cry until you laugh, too. A must-see." Sunday Post