Giant Olive Theatre Company
Encyclopedia
Giant Olive Theatre Company was founded in the summer of 2008 by George Sallis
and Andrea Hooymans. The Company's inaugural piece was 'Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
', (The Would Be Gentleman) by Molière
, which received critical acclaim. Shortly after this, Giant Olive was invited to be the resident company at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town
.
Giant Olive has quickly developed a reputation for a strong and diverse programme, from classical theatre, commedia dell'arte
, dance, contemporary plays and new writing. Within its first year, Giant Olive also produced Carlo Goldoni's 'The Hostess of the Inn', Sophocles 'Antigone' along with Dario Fo and Franca Rama's 'Adult Orgasm'.
In November 2008, Ray Shell
, former permanent fixture in the West End
(Starlight Express
, The Lion King
) was invited to direct 'A Christmas Carol
', which went on to receive rave reviews, including 5 stars from What's On Stage and 4 stars from Time Out.
In 2009, Antonia Franceschi (FAME
, New York City Ballet
) choreographed and performed in 'POP8', with additional choreography
from Rambert Dance Company
's Artistic Director, Mark Baldwin. 'POP8' which featured Ballet Black from the Royal Opera House
and Zoe Martlew, Cellist, secured Giant Olive's first Critics Choice in Time Out, and set the standard for high level dance at the venue.
The Company welcomed its first Patron
in 2009, Hugh Bonneville
, after he played the voice of Justice Fosse in Joe Crilly's 2009 British Premiere of 'Kitty and Damnation'. Mr Bonneville continues to support the ambition and heart of the Company.
"I’m honoured to be a Patron of Giant Olive Theatre Company, which has already firmly pinned itself to the London theatre map as a vibrant, small-scale but big hearted and ambitious company. It helps that I love olives."
The Company has managed to attract an impressive list of industry professionals, from the realm of theatre, TV, radio, dance and film, who continue to work with the Company on a regular basis.
Giant Olive established a not for profit
arm in October 2009, with the aim of making theatre more accessible to the local community and to those who wouldn't normally engage with the Arts. The Giant Olive is dedicated to supporting new talent through its NTA Programme, which subsidises productions and provides professional
training workshops and established 'Little Olives' at The Pirate Castle in 2010, which provides Saturday morning drama classes for 6-11 year olds.
, Camden Council and Choice FM
, Giant Olive ran workshops in Camden
with people affected by gun and knife crime as victims or perpetrators. Working with the experiences and stories told, Giant Olive produced a completely original streetdance musical
as part of the Camden Fringe Festival, with the production receiving critical acclaim. The team at Giant Olive are now in the process of trying to secure funding to take the ZIP Project on a National Tour, with the support of Local MP, Rt Hon Frank Dobson
, Councillor Tulip Siddiq
, Councillor Abdul Hai and Chief Superintendent Neil Wilson.
) was followed up with Sophocles, Antigone
, Carlo Goldoni's The Hostess of the Inn and the critically acclaimed Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist.
tradition, Giant Olive has produced new comedy with the likes of The Late Night Gimp Fight, 80s Movie Flashback, The Marvellous Dorians and the controversial Aaron Barshak.
and Franceschi set in Kentish Town
, and an additional film by Terry Braun also featuring Franceschi which was choreographed by Rambert's
Mark Baldwin. Performers included Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black dancers, resident at the Royal Opera House, Zoe Martlew on Cello and voiceovers from Franceschi and George Sallis directed by Patsy Rodenburg
. The production was supported by Camden Council. and received Critic's Choice in London's TimeOut.
In 2010, Giant Olive Theatre Company brought Choreographer Gary Lloyd on board to work on the ZIP project.
In 2011, George Sallis and Antonia Franceschi teamed up again to produce a Gala performance, to mark the closure of the Lion & Unicorn Theatre for refurbishment. The evening included performances choreographed by Richard Alston
, Mark Baldwin, Martin Lawrence, Jonathan Goddard with poetry directed by Patsy Rodenburg, and ‘Disco’ from Giant Olive’s POP8, again featuring Ballet Black.
Past productions of the NTA are 'Embers' directed by Arabella Wynne-Hughes, and Georg Büchner's 'Woyzeck', directed by Alan Marni.
and Footlights.
George Sallis
George Sallis is an artistic director, theatre producer and actor. In 2008 he founded the Giant Olive Theatre Company, which is resident at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town, London.-Productions:...
and Andrea Hooymans. The Company's inaugural piece was 'Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Le Bourgeois gentilhomme is a five-act comédie-ballet—a play intermingled with music, dance and singing—by Molière, first presented on 14 October 1670 before the court of Louis XIV at the Château of Chambord by Molière's troupe of actors...
', (The Would Be Gentleman) by Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
, which received critical acclaim. Shortly after this, Giant Olive was invited to be the resident company at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town
Kentish Town
Kentish Town is an area of north west London, England in the London Borough of Camden.-History:The most widely accepted explanation of the name of Kentish Town is that it derived from 'Ken-ditch' meaning the 'bed of a waterway'...
.
Giant Olive has quickly developed a reputation for a strong and diverse programme, from classical theatre, commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
, dance, contemporary plays and new writing. Within its first year, Giant Olive also produced Carlo Goldoni's 'The Hostess of the Inn', Sophocles 'Antigone' along with Dario Fo and Franca Rama's 'Adult Orgasm'.
In November 2008, Ray Shell
Ray Shell
Ray Shell is an African American, film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express...
, former permanent fixture in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
(Starlight Express
Starlight Express
Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe and Arlene Phillips , with later revisions by Don Black and David Yazbek . The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates...
, The Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
) was invited to direct 'A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
', which went on to receive rave reviews, including 5 stars from What's On Stage and 4 stars from Time Out.
In 2009, Antonia Franceschi (FAME
Fame
The words fame and famous are used in many contexts, most of them inspired by the concept of celebrity but Fame or famous may refer specifically to:* Fans of Adult Media and Entertainment Awards, created in 2006...
, New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
) choreographed and performed in 'POP8', with additional choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
from Rambert Dance Company
Rambert Dance Company
Rambert Dance Company, is a leading British dance company. Formed at the start of the 20th century as a classical ballet company, it would exert a great deal of influence on the development of dance in the United Kingdom, and today, as a contemporary dance company, it continues to be one of the...
's Artistic Director, Mark Baldwin. 'POP8' which featured Ballet Black from the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
and Zoe Martlew, Cellist, secured Giant Olive's first Critics Choice in Time Out, and set the standard for high level dance at the venue.
The Company welcomed its first Patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
in 2009, Hugh Bonneville
Hugh Bonneville
Hugh Richard Bonneville Williams, known professionally as Hugh Bonneville , is an English stage, film, television and radio actor.-Education:...
, after he played the voice of Justice Fosse in Joe Crilly's 2009 British Premiere of 'Kitty and Damnation'. Mr Bonneville continues to support the ambition and heart of the Company.
"I’m honoured to be a Patron of Giant Olive Theatre Company, which has already firmly pinned itself to the London theatre map as a vibrant, small-scale but big hearted and ambitious company. It helps that I love olives."
The Company has managed to attract an impressive list of industry professionals, from the realm of theatre, TV, radio, dance and film, who continue to work with the Company on a regular basis.
Giant Olive established a not for profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
arm in October 2009, with the aim of making theatre more accessible to the local community and to those who wouldn't normally engage with the Arts. The Giant Olive is dedicated to supporting new talent through its NTA Programme, which subsidises productions and provides professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
training workshops and established 'Little Olives' at The Pirate Castle in 2010, which provides Saturday morning drama classes for 6-11 year olds.
The ZIP Project (Gun & Knife Crime)
Giant Olive received its second Time Out Critics Choice in 2010, for its Community Outreach project, 'ZIP:Gun & Knife Crime', as featured on BBC News Online. With the support of The Big Lottery FundBig Lottery Fund
The Big Lottery Fund is a grant-making non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom created by the Government to administer the funding of "good causes" following the creation of the National Lottery. It has an annual expenditure of £630 million...
, Camden Council and Choice FM
Choice FM
Choice FM, branded on-air as London's Choice, is a brand used by the UK's biggest radio company, Global Radio for its network of black music radio stations...
, Giant Olive ran workshops in Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
with people affected by gun and knife crime as victims or perpetrators. Working with the experiences and stories told, Giant Olive produced a completely original streetdance musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
as part of the Camden Fringe Festival, with the production receiving critical acclaim. The team at Giant Olive are now in the process of trying to secure funding to take the ZIP Project on a National Tour, with the support of Local MP, Rt Hon Frank Dobson
Frank Dobson
Frank Gordon Dobson, is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Holborn and St. Pancras since 1979...
, Councillor Tulip Siddiq
Tulip Siddiq
Tulip Siddiq is a Labour Party councillor in Regent's Park and cabinet member for culture in Camden London Borough Council. In May 2010, she became the first Bengali woman in Camden Council.-Background and education:...
, Councillor Abdul Hai and Chief Superintendent Neil Wilson.
Classics
The Company's debut piece, Molière's 'The Would be Gentleman' (Le Bourgeois gentilhommeLe Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Le Bourgeois gentilhomme is a five-act comédie-ballet—a play intermingled with music, dance and singing—by Molière, first presented on 14 October 1670 before the court of Louis XIV at the Château of Chambord by Molière's troupe of actors...
) was followed up with Sophocles, Antigone
Antigone (Sophocles)
Antigone is a tragedy by Sophocles written in or before 442 BC. Chronologically, it is the third of the three Theban plays but was written first...
, Carlo Goldoni's The Hostess of the Inn and the critically acclaimed Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist.
Comedy
With the company firmly routed within the commedia dell'arteCommedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
tradition, Giant Olive has produced new comedy with the likes of The Late Night Gimp Fight, 80s Movie Flashback, The Marvellous Dorians and the controversial Aaron Barshak.
New writing
Giant Olive has established itself as a platform for new writing. Award winning playwright, Joseph Crilly, along with Piers Beckley, Sarah Henley, Katia Gregor and Ray Shell are the resident writers for the Company. Joseph Crilly returns this summer as part of the Camden Fringe http://www.camdenfringe.org/ with ‘Hearts of the North’, alongside ZIP:Gun & Knife Crime which is supported by the Big Lottery Fund and Camden Council. The Company has launched the New Talent Academy for emerging voices. This was initiated by a project with the National Theatre Archive and London South Bank University in which students on the Creative Production course staged a production of Lorca's 'Blood Wedding'.Dance
In June 2009 Giant Olive Theatre Company produced 'POP8' with Antonia Franceschi, a new dance theatre piece incorporating a short film by Tal RosnerTal Rosner
Tal Rosner is a London based filmmaker and video artist.Rosner is a graduate of Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London ....
and Franceschi set in Kentish Town
Kentish Town
Kentish Town is an area of north west London, England in the London Borough of Camden.-History:The most widely accepted explanation of the name of Kentish Town is that it derived from 'Ken-ditch' meaning the 'bed of a waterway'...
, and an additional film by Terry Braun also featuring Franceschi which was choreographed by Rambert's
Rambert Dance Company
Rambert Dance Company, is a leading British dance company. Formed at the start of the 20th century as a classical ballet company, it would exert a great deal of influence on the development of dance in the United Kingdom, and today, as a contemporary dance company, it continues to be one of the...
Mark Baldwin. Performers included Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black dancers, resident at the Royal Opera House, Zoe Martlew on Cello and voiceovers from Franceschi and George Sallis directed by Patsy Rodenburg
Patsy Rodenburg
Patsy Rodenburg, OBE is a British voice coach and theatre director. She is the Director of Voice at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has also worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre....
. The production was supported by Camden Council. and received Critic's Choice in London's TimeOut.
In 2010, Giant Olive Theatre Company brought Choreographer Gary Lloyd on board to work on the ZIP project.
In 2011, George Sallis and Antonia Franceschi teamed up again to produce a Gala performance, to mark the closure of the Lion & Unicorn Theatre for refurbishment. The evening included performances choreographed by Richard Alston
Richard Alston
Richard Alston may refer to:*Richard Alston *Richard Alston , Australian High Commissioner to the UK and former Australian senator...
, Mark Baldwin, Martin Lawrence, Jonathan Goddard with poetry directed by Patsy Rodenburg, and ‘Disco’ from Giant Olive’s POP8, again featuring Ballet Black.
Productions
The New Talent Academy Giant Olive's NTA has been set up to support new artists after graduation by offering opportunities to stage new shows under guidance (and support) of professionals in the theatre industry.Past productions of the NTA are 'Embers' directed by Arabella Wynne-Hughes, and Georg Büchner's 'Woyzeck', directed by Alan Marni.
Little Olives at The Pirate Castle
Little Olives Giant Olive runs classes on Saturday mornings for children aged 6–11. The classes include tuition in streetdance, drama, and skills development. Every week the skills development class bring in specialists to focus on different skills needed in Theatre, including voice, singing, puppetry, writing, mask work and physical theatre.Visiting companies
As well as hosting Giant Olive's own in-house productions the company produces work in collaboration with visiting companies and organisations. Giant Olive has co-produced work in association with a number of companies, including StageSpell Theatre Company, Gutted Film & Theatre Company, Soop Productions, The Sturdy Beggars, the National Theatre Archive, Interrupt the Routine productions, Little Everywhere and as part of its New Talent Academy, Cambridge University ADCCambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club
Founded in 1855, the Amateur Dramatic Club is the oldest University dramatic society in England - and the largest dramatic society in Cambridge....
and Footlights.
Productions
- 2010-11 A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Charles DickensCharles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
, Directed by Ray ShellRay ShellRay Shell is an African American, film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express...
Choreography by Donna King - 2010 ZIP:Gun & Knife Crime, Directed by Ray Shell, Choreography by Gary Lloyd, Produced by George Sallis.
- 2009-10 OLIVER TWIST, Charles DickensCharles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
, Adapted by Piers Beckley, Directed by Ray ShellRay ShellRay Shell is an African American, film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express... - 2009-10 SUPERNATURAL, Written by Aline Waites and Jago Turner, Directed by Mykal Rand
- 2009 KITTY AND DAMNATION, Written by Joseph Crilly, Directed by Rafe Beckley
- 2009 POP8 with Antonia Franceschi, Zoë Martlew and Cassa Pancho's Ballet Black
- 2009 GETTING OUT, Sarah Henley, Directed by Francis Watson and Gillian Foley
- 2009 DARK TALES, Hans Christian AndersenHans Christian AndersenHans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
, Directed by Rafe Beckley - 2008-09 A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Charles DickensCharles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
, Adapted by Piers Beckley, Directed by Ray ShellRay ShellRay Shell is an African American, film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express... - 2008 THE HOSTESS OF THE INN, Carlo GoldoniCarlo GoldoniCarlo Osvaldo Goldoni was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their ingenious mix of wit and honesty...
, Translated & adapted by Katherine Gregor, Directed by Andrea Hooymans and Alex Hunter - 2008 ANTIGONE, SophoclesSophoclesSophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
, Directed by Andrea Hooymans - 2008 ADULT ORGASM, Dario Fo and Franka Rame, Directed by Andrea Hooymans
- 2008 THE WOULD BE GENTLEMAN, MolièreMolièreJean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
, Directed by Andrea Hooymans
The Giant Olive team
- Group Artistic Director George Sallis
- Associate Artistic Director Tamzin Paskins
- Co-Founder and Head of Visuals Andrea Hooymans
- Creative Director Ray ShellRay ShellRay Shell is an African American, film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express...
- Associate Producer James Kermack
The Giant Olive patrons
- Giant Olive Group Barbara King
- Giant Olive Theatre Company Hugh BonnevilleHugh BonnevilleHugh Richard Bonneville Williams, known professionally as Hugh Bonneville , is an English stage, film, television and radio actor.-Education:...
Creative team
- Resident Artist Antonia Franceschi
- Resident Writer Joseph Crilly
- Resident Writer Sarah Henley
- Resident Writer Katherine Gregor
- Resident Writer Piers Beckley
- Resident Director and Choreographer Mykal Rand
- Associate Director and Choreographer Donna King
- Associate Director and Producer Alex Hunter
Production team
- Head of Technical Department Ciaran Cunningham
- Technical Operations Sarah Kelly
- Intern Production Assistant Sophie Jones
News articles about the company
- Political drama – Councillors praise young actors in ZIP: A Gun & Knife Crime. Camden New Journal, 2 September 2010, by Josh Loeb
- UK's gun and knife problem tackled by young actors, BBC News Online, 2 August 2010
- 'Show's over? Pub crises puts theatre group under threat' - Camden New Journal 07/01/10
- 'Curtains for pub theatre' - Camden Gazette 06/01/10
- 'Show-stopping first year for theatre company' - Camden Gazette 09/09/09
- 'Oliver Twist extends run' - IndieLondon 12/09
- 'The Lion & Unicorn Theatre Finds New Residents' - What's On Stage 13/10/08