Constantine

By Pipeline Theatre

Following their introductory tour early last year, DRIP DRIP DRIP has been recast and rewritten for its new nationwide tour in 2020.

We are fortunate to have the only performance in Cornwall on this tour, as the company journeys across the country, ending with a long run at the Pleasance Theatre in London.

In its new form and with a new cast, the play retains it’s powerful examination of racism and political extremism, in the context of our beloved NHS in 2020.

As with all Pipeline’s work, and with Jon Welch’s writing, this is a play that merits seeing for a second time, especially as it has evolved in keeping with the changing circumstances facing the country and the NHS.

And if you missed it last time, grab the only chance to see it at The Tolmen Centre, Pipeline’s home venue – from where all their work has originated.

THE STORY: Bed 6, Oncology ward, a local NHS hospital.

Behind the blue curtain – Daniel, a refugee from Eritrea, now training to be a nurse; Rahmiya, a second-generation Muslim doctor; and David, elderly white cancer patient and discredited academic, fretting about his cat, Roger.

Over time, carers and cared-for become an unlikely, dysfunctional family.

But as life ebbs, reality splinters. Glimpsed in the cracks: the Nazi euthanasia programme, a burns clinic in Africa, a cross-Channel human shipment. And drip by drip David’s far-right ideology seeps out, as he prepares his final incendiary lecture (assuming he lives long enough to give it).

Bonds break, and suddenly both Daniel and Rahmiya’s right to call the UK home seems to hang on a dead man’s lips.

Pipeline Theatre, known for indelible characters and immersive design, takes you into the dark corners with unexpected humour and poignancy, busting taboos while offering its love-letter to the NHS.

Below are a few sample reviews from the 2019 tour:

‘Pipeline Theatre might be a tiny company from deepest Cornwall, but its work is creating theatre for the enquiring mind. What they have exposed in this production is profoundly alarming and deserves a much wider audience.’
British Theatre Guide

‘This is an astounding piece of studio theatre, Pipeline is a company deserving of greater recognition.’
number9reviews

“This piece made me laugh, brought a tear to my eye and flung me into worlds I’d never taken the time to venture into before. Perhaps most importantly, it left a lasting, powerful impression and a little hope that we might move past this time of division. In a time where nationalism is the newest superbug, this couldn’t come sooner.”
Voicemag

Tickets £10 (concessions £7)

In association with Carn to Cove

Appealing to all ages, world class musicians are bringing an accessible programme of classical music to Constantine. This will include Weber’s exuberant Clarinet Quintet alongside works by Dvorak, Schumann and the hugely entertaining work Steamboat Bill Junior written by contemporary Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg in homage to Buster Keaton’s silent film of the same name.

Tickets £9, Child £7, Family £25
Free for 8 to 25 year olds – telephone bookings only – quote ‘Cavatina’.

“Mark Jenkin’s breakthrough feature is a thrillingly adventurous labour of love – a richly textured, rough-hewn gem in which form and content are perfectly combined. A refreshingly authentic tale of tensions between locals and tourists in a once-thriving fishing village.”……… Mark Kermode

Tickets £4

ROCKETMAN is an epic musical fantasy about the incredible human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years. The film follows the fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into international superstar Elton John. This inspirational story — set to Elton John’s most beloved songs and performed by star Taron Egerton — tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture.

Tickets £4

When a border guard with a sixth sense for identifying smugglers encounters the first person she cannot prove is guilty, she is forced to confront terrifying revelations about herself and humankind.

Tickets £4

Melissa McCarthy is magnificent as an odious literary forger abetted by Richard E Grant as her lounge-lizard drinking buddy.

Tickets £4

DLM are Andrew Cresswell Davis, Clare Lindley and Brian Mullan. They play guitars, cello, violin and ukuleles, and use three part harmonies to create a sound full of warmth and rich in dynamic contrast. Strong writing, beautifully arranged, and performed by three highly accomplished musicians.

Tickets £10.

‘Diamonds, Gold & Mobile Phones’ is the second, self- produced album by Edd Bateman’s West African Love Affair. The new release is a true romance of cross continental culture and an expression of concern, told in songs of lust for natural resources and longing for a better life by its people. Now with a new lineup back from touring Uganda with Kanda Bongo Man, the story is underpinned by the live dynamite trio of Jeannot Bel’s waterfall style Soukous guitar licks, Felix Ngindu’s hereditary Folklore drum beat and Edd’s omniscient Afro bass.

Expect to dance until you can’t stand.

Tickets £11.

by Luke Wright

I believed that Fukayama line: the end of history. But History didn’t end, did it?

Logan Dankworth, columnist and Twitter warrior, grew up romanticising the political turmoil of the 1980s. Now, as the EU Referendum looms he is determined to be in the fray of the biggest political battle for years. Meanwhile, Logan’s wife Megan wants to leave London to better raise their daughter. As tensions rise at home and across the nation, something is set to be lost forever.

The third of Fringe First and Stage Award Winner Luke Wright’s trilogy of political verse plays looks at trust and privilege in the age of Brexit.

“Luke Wright’s performances rumble with rage, passion and humour. They are also peppered with brilliantly smart observations. You will leave his show brimming with energy, heart pounding and brain whirring.” The Guardian

Written & Performed by Luke Wright
Directed by Alex Thorpe
Dramaturgy by Sarah Dickenson
Scored by Polly Wright
Lighting Design by Joe Price

Co-commissioned by Norwich Arts Centre, National Centre for Writing, Colchester Arts Centre, Freedom Festival

Running time: 1h
Age Recommendation: 14+

Tickets £10

Flats & Sharps, Cornwall celebrated bluegrass band, will be making their welcome second appearance at the Tolmen Centre on Sunday February 16th 2020.

Delivering energetic, enthusiastic and spirited Bluegrass to audiences all around the world, Flats and Sharps have been performing their unique take on this music for over eight years. Their shows include a wide variety of influences, from a fresh and modern outlook on foot-stomping Bluegrass material through to their powerful and well-crafted original songs, with beautiful moments everywhere in between. Their music perfectly blends strong harmonies and stonking solos, their incredible stage presence and energy create an evening that’ll have you dancing, laughing and singing along in no time.

Guy Masterson

Globally acclaimed for his smash hit solo works such as Under Milk Wood and Animal Farm, Guy Masterson now brings us Dickens’ classic festive fable. Bringing the entire story to life in a magical multi-character performance, Dickens’ extraordinary myriad of personalities – from Scrooge to Marley, Mrs Fezziwig to Tiny Tim – are stunningly animated in Masterson’s inimitable, multi award winning style.

Tickets £10, Child £5

Closer Each Day Company

Distinctly Dickensian and entirely improvised, created on the spot from your suggestions, a new comedy show, co-produced with The Wardrobe Theatre, a chance to enjoy improv in the time of cholera!

“Quick-witted, very watchable ensemble, razor-sharp in timing and delivery.” StageTalk

Tickets £10, Child £5

Orcadian fiddler Catriona Price and harpist Esther Swift have played together for over 10 years, bringing an adventurous mix of folk, jazz,pop and classical influences to their compositions and arrangements. Their last album, ‘Cracks in the Room’ was described in fRoots as “a boldly brilliant record, suffused with dark humour and wildly inventive musicianship”.

Tickets £11

An outstanding double bill: ‘Origami Mami’, Tentacle Tribe’s acclaimed female breaking trio featured at Sadler’s Wells ‘Breakin’ Convention’, is followed by ‘Nobody likes a Pixelated Squid’ , a “deconstructed street dance” inspired by the fluid movement of diverse land and sea creatures.

In association with Carn to Cove.

Tickets £10, £8, Children £5 Family £25

A rare chance to see one of the greatest of all Irish singers and musicians, in an intimate solo show. Andy has been hailed as “a tradition in himself ”, and has spent a 50+ year career playing in a dazzling variety of bands, notably Planxty and Patrick Street, and with such names as Christy Moore, Paul Brady and Dick Gaughan.

Tickets £12.50 Children half price

We are delighted to welcome back the Budapest Café Orchestra, led by leading violinist and composer, Christian Garrick., playing traditional folk & gypsy music with jazz and swinginflections whilst Klezmer, Romanian Doinas andHungarian Czardas are awarded fresh treatments.

”The music is magic in their hands”… Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3

Tickets £12

When his renowned Globe Theatre burns to the ground, devastated, Shakespeare returns to Stratford, where he must face a troubled past and a neglected family. Haunted by the death of his only son Hamnet, he struggles to mend the broken relationships with his wife and daughters.

Tickets £4

John Hegley

In an ideal world, John Hegley would be mass-produced and sold in the shops. Not his books, they’re already out there, but the man himself. He’d cheer everyone up and distract you long enough to forget what you were bothered about.Whether it’s at his ludicrous drawings, silly join-in songs, or clever and unexpectedly structured poems, he hits the spot with all ages and brings in the laughs. If everyone could see life and each other through his glasses I bet the world would be a sweeter, safer, better and funnier place.

Tickets £12, £10, £5 Children from 9.

A stunning double bill from Cube Theatre.

‘Karamazoo’ by Philip Ridley tells Ace’s story. She’s irresistible. Her image is everything and no one – no-one! – ever stands her up…until today.

‘Bike’ by Jon Welch
Karen’s parents, on Karen:, 17, fearless cycling champion; a sweet natured young lady. Karen’s parents are worried. She won’t come out of her bedroom. Which is odd, given she’s such a go-getter. Odder still is what she’s doing in there…

Tickets £8. In aid of the Sowenna Appeal.

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga fuse their considerable talents in the raw and passionate tale of Jack and Ally, two artistic souls coming together, on stage and in life. Theirs is a complex journey through the beauty and the heartbreak of a relationship struggling to survive.

Tickets £4

A teenage boy must deal with his mother’s complicated response after his father temporarily abandons them to take a menial and dangerous job.

Tickets £4

Halla secretly wages a one-woman-war on the local aluminum industry. But as she plans her boldest operation, she hears her application to adopt a child has finally been accepted.

Tickets £4

In the 1950s, a music director falls in love with a singer and tries to persuade her to flee communist Poland for France.

Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival, Pawlikowski creates another masterpiece to follow Ida.

Tickets £4

A trio of pitch-perfect performances from Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone drive Yorgos Lanthimos’s spiky period drama – a tragicomic tale of personal and political jealousy and intrigue in 18th-century England.

Tickets £4

We welcome a return visit from the virtuoso folk/blues guitarist and singer, nominated Musician of the Year at the BBC Radio 2Folk Awards 2018, and listed in Gibson Guitars’ Top 30 acoustic guitarists of all time. His last appearance was a sell-out so we recommend booking early.

“One of the virtuoso instrumentalists of the English music scene”

‘Sounds better than ever’ **** 4 Stars The Guardian

Tickets £15

The LPSO are much morethan a skiffle band! Theyare a musical/comedy showband following in the tradition of Spike Jones and his City Slickers but with a modern slant.

To the LPSO skiffle means “anything goes” as long as it is musical, entertaining and fun. Their performances are energetic, colourful, bizarre, tuneful, virtuoso and hilarious.

Tickets £11

Constantine Book Club Plus presents:

Multi award-winning William Dalrymple is the bestselling author of many books including In Xanadu, White Mughals, and most recently his collaborative book, Koh-I-Noor. Born in Scotland he now lives in Delhi with his family. A ‘master story-teller’ his work is meticulously researched. This is a rare opportunity to hear him speak in Cornwall.

Tickets £5

williamdalrymple.uk.com

Legendary free climber Tommy Caldwell tries to get over heartbreak by scaling 3000ft of an impossible rock face, the Dawn Wall of El Capitan.

Tickets £4

David William Bryan

Bursting with energy and bold theatrical strokes, David William Bryan tells the true story of his great uncle Arthur who never thought of going to war until the Liverpool bombing raids of the Second World War. In May 1941, he joins up. Deployed to Singapore, his ship is destroyed by Japanese dive bombers and he is declared missing.This extraordinary true story of survival is a dramatic tour-de-force.

‘A tour de force’ (The Scotsman)
‘A fresh sense of humanity’ (Stage)
‘A masterpiece’ (Broadway Baby)
★★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com)
★★★★★ (Britishtheatreguide.info)
★★★★★ (MyTheatreMates.com)
★★★★★ (Edinburgh Guide)
★★★★ (The Stage)
★★★★★ (Fringe Guru)
★★★★ (Edinburgh Reporter)
★★★★★ (Essential Surrey & Southwest)

Tickets £10

Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury.

Tickets £4