How does an emerging theatre company become associates at a venue they’ve never performed at? Well, when they’re as dynamic, committed and super-talented as Mrs C’s Collective are, it should come as no surprise.
The company were due to stage That Was All at the Space back in March, they were the next ones in when the lockdown hit. Since then, they’ve staged The Big Share online, presenting the work of their Writer’s Collective and launched The Reading Room, engaging theatre luminaries such as Marina Carr, Kwame Kwei-Armah and Mark Ravenhill, in discussions with emerging playwrights. For the Space, members of the company have been employed in different areas of the Locked Down, Looking Up online programme.
Now, their rescheduled show is finally going to perform at the East London venue, regardless of whether an audience can be there or not.
Artistic Director of the Space, Adam Hemming, explains ‘I knew when I met Francis and Charlotte, before I saw That Was All at Oso Arts Centre, that they had something special. Their ethos of supporting others, particularly new playwrights, and their passion for storytelling, resonated strongly. Then I saw Jennie perform this beautiful piece of theatre and it was pretty much nailed on from there. Since then, I’ve worked with each of them individually and as a collective and they’ve shown heart, insight and compassion in all that they do. I’m delighted that our audiences will finally be able to see That Was All.”
You might explore a selection of belief systems, dip your toes in some new age sciences. You might take up yoga, meditation and a plant-based diet. You might even spend a day with a world-renowned Mexican healer wondering why you keep walking around with the strangest feeling, and a distant memory of a pub-crawl with your dad. The endless pints, the samba dancing, the drunken philosophy and the look in dad’s eye when he got a free round on the house. “Jesus Christ” dad said, “Finally get a free pint now that I’m…”.
That Was All is a one woman show about families, memory and how to make sense out of the unspoken.
The Saturday matinee performance will be live-streamed so, even if government restrictions mean socially-distanced audiences can’t attend in person, the company will finally be able to perform at the Space.
View the trailer for That Was All and check out the COVID guide for audiences at https://space.org.uk/event/that-was-all/
