Promoters Page

the play

“Full English, a brilliant production from
Bradford based company Bent Architect.”
Yvette Huddleston, Yorkshire Post

FULL ENGLISH explores personal histories from the Canterbury Estate, where Natalie Davies grew up, along with her mother and her Nan, Cath - a reggae loving, dance enthusiast.

Back in the late fifties, migrant workers started to arrive from Pakistan and Bangladesh. These young men soon met and started to fall in love with local lasses, including Cath.

Using first hand stories, FULL ENGLISH is a poignant, funny and life-affirming homage to the strength of women. Those who married Pakistani men and brought up mixed race children. Those who struggled with their identity. Those whom never really belonged to any particular culture or race. Those who constantly had to stand up against racists. Those who just didn't care.

Just as Natalie becomes a mother herself, her beloved Nan is diagnosed with dementia. FULL ENGLISH charts Natalie's journey as she attempts to piece together the fragments of her own identity through understanding the courage & tenacity of her Nan's story.

What emerges is a love letter - between young people who loved across the boundaries, to Natalie's Nan, to Bradford and to the courage of women everywhere facing prejudice.

why full english and why now?

"The issue of hybrid identities is very timely, and the play explored
what it means to uncouple our sense of national identity
from notions of whiteness."
Audience Feedback

Over the past few years, it feels like our society has become polarised. Ideas and opinions can feel very black and white. But what about the areas in between, the people caught in the middle of the maelstrom of local, national & international events? FULL ENGLISH gives us a unique insight into the those lives and the resilience of real people, especially women, who have forged their own paths.

To read more about our Associate Artist, Natalie Davies' creative journey, click HERE.

the team

"The production brought you into the show, you felt part of it and all the actors were warm,
likeable and believable. I also loved the music, dancing and singing
which I wasn’t expecting. Oh and the comic timing was perfect!
The love story was beautiful and so sad, I really felt
like I’d been on an emotional journey!
It was just brilliant!"
Audience Feedback

FULL ENGLISH brings together an award-winning creative team who have a huge range of experience creating highly successful shows which weave strong storytelling through with superb visual direction. An accomplished and multi-tasking ensemble of 3 cast members bring the story vividly to life.

See full bio's here: TEAM

AUDIENCES

"Absolutely brilliant performance. My girls are from a blended family and one
struggles with issues around identity so it felt very personal and uplifting
- to be '100 percent me' as the girls quoted at the end."
Audience Feedback

The show appeals to drama audiences and is also a great audience developer, attracting diverse audiences and first time attenders to the show through the specialist subject matter.

The show caught the attention of audiences from the outset, the initial run selling out in just 2 hours (additional performances were added and sold out immediately) with multiple requests to both the company and the venue to restage the production so audiences could bring family, friends and, in a number of cases, their entire school to see it!

* The story of FULL ENGLISH is based on the real, lived experiences of Natalie Davies & her family. As such, the show contains a small amount of language in the depiction of racist experiences which some audiences may find offensive without prior warning.

PERFORMANCE RUNS

"Bent Architect always present interesting, thought-provoking, very
human productions, full of heart– and their latest is no exception."
**** Yorkshire Post

One week runs are most effective, but we are able to consider split weeks.

FINANCES

We are currently sourcing funding to subsidise the costs of the tour, but will be looking at a guarantee of £1,000 set against a 70/30 split (negotiable subject to funding).

marketing

"I really enjoyed working with you all, really great to have such support from
the company from day one in making sure this would be a success."
Alex Corwin, Marketing Manager, Kala Sangam Theatre

Full marketing support from the company is provided, with a Marketing Pack, PR support, a promo video, web based campaigns and local media angles.

Despite being sold out, FULL ENGLISH featured on BBC's Look North. View the clip HERE.

Media activity from the initial runs includes:

Media: Newspapers: Radio: Web:
BBC Look North The Yorkshire Post BBC Radio Leeds Twitter campaign
BBC Online article The Telegraph & Argus BCB Radio Facebook page

TECHNICAL REQIREMENTS

FULL ENGLISH is suitable for small to middle-scale theatre venues. A full tour rider and LX plan will be provided and the show tours a Technical Manager, who operates LX & VFX, the book and the floor. An in-house sound operator is required. An LX pre-rig is required for a same day get in. We tour a flexible set which is designed to fit on stages of minimum 5m x 5m.

FULL ENGLISH is flexible in its staging, whereby it can be performed on the flat in thrust 'cabaret-style' (to enable social distancing in a relaxed format) or end-on with raked seating, depending on the venue.

Click here to download a copy of the original LX plan (subject to change for the tour).

full_english_lx_plan_final.pdf
File Size:	463 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

engagement

"Of all the theatre I've seen over the last few years, this is the piece that I would most like to get our students in front of. Natalie's story is the story of so, so many of our students. I also feel that Full English has the absolute sweet spot for teaching of accessibility, humour, powerful emotion and depth - I think the script as well as the show itself could potentially be a powerful teaching tool."
Feedback from a teacher during the initial run

A full programme of post-show talks will be offered for the tour free of charge to venues. An Education Pack for schools is being prepared, with curriculum links to creative, social history and PHSCE topics. Other events such as workshops can be arranged in partnership with individual venues.

TOUR BOOKING ENQUIRIES

"I came along with my 2 daughters, aged 12 and 14 and we all thoroughly enjoyed the play.
My daughters are from dual heritages and faiths- English, Indian Sikh, Pakistani
and sometimes struggle with their identity so
it felt the play had been written for us.
Audience Feedback

We are happy to discuss the production and requirements with you & your teams.

If you would like to receive any further information, or discuss a booking, please contact:

Jude Wright
Bent Architect
07968 165 744
jude@bentarchitect.co.uk

Click here to download this pack as a pdf:

full_english_promoters_information.pdf
File Size:	1163 kb
File Type:	pdf