Theatre News

Independent theatre-makers feature on BBC Four this weekend

”On Stage: Live from Television Centre” is produced by Battersea Arts Centre and hosted by Kirsty Wark

Battersea Arts Centre
Battersea Arts Centre
© Morley Von Sternberg

Battersea Arts Centre will be bringing an ambitious evening of live theatre right into the nation's front rooms this Sunday. The London theatre is producing On Stage: Live from Television Centre on BBC Four from 9pm on Sunday 15 November.

Hosted by Kirsty Wark, On Stage… will feature a host of independent theatre makers over two hours, including physical theatre company Gecko and Jess Thom, whose show Backstage in Biscuit Land is about how she deals with Tourette's syndrome.

Richard DeDomenici will also recreate BBC clips from the likes of Top of the Pops and Blue Peter, while Thom will stage a musical finale featuring a choir, brass band and dancing biscuits. The programme takes the form of four 30-minute theatre shorts which feature comedy, dance and drama. They feature new work and adaptations of existing pieces with short pre-recorded segments.

It will be the first time the Television Centre has seen live performance since its closure in 2013.

Elsewhere on screen, the hit show Brainstorm by Islington Community Theatre will be available exclusively on iPlayer. Brainstorm looks at the science behind adolescent brain development.

'Personality to burn': Jess Thom
Jess Thom

Jonty Claypole, Director of Arts at the BBC, said: "Live at Television Centre will make a connection between one of the great factories of live TV and some of the most pioneering new talent working in theatre today."

Director of Battersea Arts Centre David Jubb said: "So I am excited by this first step in UK theatre and for these five independent theatre makers to present their work to a larger audience on television."

If you are watching the programme, tweet #LiveFromTVC to join in the conversation. The programme will be available on BBC iPlayer for 30 days after the live transmission.