Tiebreak Theatre
Encyclopedia
Tiebreak Theatre was founded in 1981, in Norwich
, England
. It functioned as a Theatre in Education (TIE) and young people's theatre company until April 2006, when it closed following a funding decision by Arts Council England
.
The company was founded by David Farmer
and Jon Oram at Norwich Arts Centre
. It moved base several times, finally residing at Norwich Playhouse
. The company toured schools and theatres across East Anglia
, especially in its home county of Norfolk
. Most of its productions were also toured across the UK to theatres, art-centres and festivals.
Tiebreak was run by an administrative team of three, employing freelance actors, writers, composers, designers and other artists to produce theatre productions and workshops for young people and their families. The company also toured internationally to Ireland, Germany and several children's festivals across western Canada and the USA.
Tiebreak received commissions from such prestigious agencies as The Natural History Museum, Forest Enterprise and The National Trust
. The company was known for its innovative approach to a wide range of work including live music theatre, new writing commissions, participatory projects and issue-based plays. Writers included Kay Adshead
, Leslie Davidoff and Neil Duffield. Most of the company's last productions were written by Artistic Director David Farmer, who left to pursue a freelance career in writing, teaching and directing. (BBC Norfolk interview http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2005/02/25/theatre_preview_jack_and_beanstalk_tiebreak_feature.shtml) He was replaced in 2005 by Dianne Hancock until the company's closure in 2006. (The Stage article http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/9438) Tiebreak produced 66 productions which were seen by an estimated audience of 500,000.
. (The Stage review http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/11841/mouse-and-mole)
Frog in Love (2002) by David Farmer, based on books by Max Velthuijs
. (Sunday Times Critics' Choice 2003, Time Out Critic's Choice 2003). (Edinburgh Evening News review http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/reviews/Frog-in-Love.2449756.jp)
The Snow Egg (2001) by Kay Adshead
Jack and the Beanstalk (2000) by David Farmer, commissioned by the Lyric Hammersmith. (The Stage review http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/6920/jack-and-the-beanstalk)
Singing in the Rainforest (1989) devised by the company. Commissioned by The Natural History Museum and performed at the Unicorn Theatre
, London, Vancouver International Children's Festival and the Scottish Children's Theatre Festival.
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It functioned as a Theatre in Education (TIE) and young people's theatre company until April 2006, when it closed following a funding decision by Arts Council England
Arts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
.
The company was founded by David Farmer
David Farmer
David Farmer is a theatre director, playwright, drama consultant and yoga teacher.- Biography :Trained as a primary school teacher, David Farmer worked first as an actor and teacher before setting up Tiebreak Theatre Company in 1981...
and Jon Oram at Norwich Arts Centre
Norwich Arts Centre
Norwich Arts Centre is a live music venue, concert hall and theatre located in St. Benedict's Street in Norwich, Norfolk, England. It has a capacity of 290 for standing music concerts and 120 for seated events. The centre also includes visual art galleries and multi media teaching facilities.The...
. It moved base several times, finally residing at Norwich Playhouse
Norwich Playhouse
The Norwich Playhouse is a theatre in St George's Street, Norwich, Norfolk, England. It opened in 1995 in a nineteenth century building that was once a maltings, and is a venue for theatre, comedy, music and other performing arts. It seats 300. It has as its patron actor and comedian Stephen...
. The company toured schools and theatres across East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
, especially in its home county of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. Most of its productions were also toured across the UK to theatres, art-centres and festivals.
Tiebreak was run by an administrative team of three, employing freelance actors, writers, composers, designers and other artists to produce theatre productions and workshops for young people and their families. The company also toured internationally to Ireland, Germany and several children's festivals across western Canada and the USA.
Tiebreak received commissions from such prestigious agencies as The Natural History Museum, Forest Enterprise and The National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. The company was known for its innovative approach to a wide range of work including live music theatre, new writing commissions, participatory projects and issue-based plays. Writers included Kay Adshead
Kay Adshead
Kay Adshead is a British actress, poet, and playwright. Her television credits include Christine in the BBC television series Dinnerladies, Barbara Fletcher in Family Affairs, Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights, Victoria Wood As Seen On TV, Crime Traveller, Mother's Ruin, and One Foot in The...
, Leslie Davidoff and Neil Duffield. Most of the company's last productions were written by Artistic Director David Farmer, who left to pursue a freelance career in writing, teaching and directing. (BBC Norfolk interview http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2005/02/25/theatre_preview_jack_and_beanstalk_tiebreak_feature.shtml) He was replaced in 2005 by Dianne Hancock until the company's closure in 2006. (The Stage article http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/9438) Tiebreak produced 66 productions which were seen by an estimated audience of 500,000.
Selected Productions
Mouse and Mole (2005) by David Farmer, based on books by Joyce DunbarJoyce Dunbar
Joyce Dunbar is an English writer. She primarily writes books for children, and has published over seventy books. Dunbar is perhaps best known for Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go To Sleep, This Is The Star, and the Mouse And Mole series...
. (The Stage review http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/11841/mouse-and-mole)
Frog in Love (2002) by David Farmer, based on books by Max Velthuijs
Max Velthuijs
Max Velthuijs was a Dutch painter, illustrator and author. He was one of the most famous children's illustrators in the Netherlands. In 2004 he received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustrators....
. (Sunday Times Critics' Choice 2003, Time Out Critic's Choice 2003). (Edinburgh Evening News review http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/reviews/Frog-in-Love.2449756.jp)
The Snow Egg (2001) by Kay Adshead
Kay Adshead
Kay Adshead is a British actress, poet, and playwright. Her television credits include Christine in the BBC television series Dinnerladies, Barbara Fletcher in Family Affairs, Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights, Victoria Wood As Seen On TV, Crime Traveller, Mother's Ruin, and One Foot in The...
Jack and the Beanstalk (2000) by David Farmer, commissioned by the Lyric Hammersmith. (The Stage review http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/6920/jack-and-the-beanstalk)
Singing in the Rainforest (1989) devised by the company. Commissioned by The Natural History Museum and performed at the Unicorn Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
The Unicorn Theatre is a producer of professional theatre for children in Britain. It is based in a RIBA Award–winning centre in Tooley Street, in the London Borough of Southwark, opened in 2005...
, London, Vancouver International Children's Festival and the Scottish Children's Theatre Festival.
External links
- David Farmer's drama resource website includes descriptions of individual productions by Tiebreak.