Soho Poly Theatre [image: ©University of Westminster archives]

Found theatre and poetry: disrupting the everyday

Accept an invitation to disrupt your working day with a lunchtime visit to London’s most famous ‘lost’ theatre – the subterranean home of the former ‘Soho Poly’, a radical pioneer of lunchtime theatre in the 1970s and 80s.

This audio experience is one part of a curated event that takes place as part of the Being Human Festival 2017.

Having been introduced to the lost theatre, explored an exhibition of rare memorabilia by original artistic director Fred Proud, and treated to some live poetry, the TlotT App will deliver a newly-commissioned piece of digital lunchtime theatre from award-winning collective Hannah Bruce and Company (Museum and Heritage Awards nominees, 2017).


Performance dates:

20-24 November 2017 | 13.00 daily (finishing at approx 14.15)


Booking:

Tickets are free, but booking is essential via the Being Human website.


TlotT App

The event utilises HB&Co’s TlotT App to deliver sound to audiences as they visit the lost Soho Poly Theatre in the basement of Westminster University. Audiences download TlotT onto their smartphones, tablets or iPods, enter a ticket code, and TlotT does the rest.

Once you have booked a ticket, you will receive an email with a ticket code, and detailed instructions about the app. If you don’t have a smartphone, tablet or iPod touch, don’t worry - its possible to borrow a device if you request it in advance.


Location:

University of Westminster
4-12 Little Titchfield Street
London
W1W 7BY

Please note: you will need to navigate steep stairs to access the lost theatre.


Credits:

Curator: Matthew Morrison

Artistic Director for HB&Co: Hannah Bruce

Dancer: Sophie Arstall

Writer: Rommi Smith

Sound: Jonathan Eato


The Making Of:

We responded to Matthew Morrison’s commission by making two short experimental pieces that aim to respond to both the 2017 Being Human theme of ‘Lost and Found’ and the spirit of experimental lunchtime theatre developed at the old Soho Theatre. Both pieces run back-to-back and are the first commissions for the space in 27 years. As the images below show all the work was recorded in the space on 14 and 15 October 2017.

Hannah Bruce and Company - 'Disrupting the Everyday'. 6 image of recording the work in the basement of the old Soho Poly Theatre. [clockwise from top left] Sophie Arstall wearing wireless microphones; ‘Beryl’ the binaural microphone; Sophie and Hannah Bruce considering the effectiveness of early takes; Hannah and Rommi Smith recording; ‘Beryl’ modelling her ear defenders; Hannah Bruce and Jonathan Eato listening back to recordings made on location.

[clockwise from top left] Sophie Arstall wearing wireless microphones; ‘Beryl’ the binaural microphone; Sophie Arstall and Hannah Bruce considering the effectiveness of early takes; Hannah Bruce and Rommi Smith recording; ‘Beryl’ modelling her ear defenders; Hannah Bruce and Jonathan Eato listening back to recordings on location.


Like our Facebook page for breaking news.With thanks to: The University of York, University of Westminster, the Being Human Festival 2017

[last updated: 22 November 2017]