The Playhouse is coming up roses (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

The Playhouse is coming up roses

8:46am Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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Two decades ago, at a Smiths concert at Bradford’s Queens Hall, Eleanor Barrett handed Morrissey a bunch of plastic flowers.

“I was sitting on my boyfriend’s shoulders and just reached out and he took the flowers. I’ve never forgotten it,” grins Eleanor.

Fast forward 20 years or so, and Eleanor is back in her home city, clutching an armful of plastic flowers. With a red rose in her hair, and a red rose tattoo snaking up her arm, she’s setting up a striking installation, featuring a hundred rose trees, at Bradford Playhouse.

The Rose Garden has transformed the Studio theatre into an enchanting garden of flowers entwined around dead branches and a pretty wrought-iron gate. It has inspired a nine-day festival of events celebrating the historic theatre’s long-awaited emergence from administration.

Originally displayed in London, The Rose Garden is the ethereal setting for a range of performances, from aerial acrobatics to a fairies and bugs-themed picnic.

Now based in London as an artist, Eleanor has returned to Bradford to help the Playhouse move into its next phase of development.

It came about when The Rose Garden caught the eye of Playhouse managers Sam Musgrave and Aid Todd. They met Eleanor, who works with arts collective Shunt, and she offered to bring it to Bradford.

“The Rose Garden started as a search for self, an internal journey into a place of peace, so to have it here in Bradford is like coming full circle,” says Eleanor. “I’m inspired by Jung and the idea of a ‘garden of the mind’, a sense of self-peace. I wanted to create something you could become part of, somewhere you could reach a physical centre.

“It’s a very personal piece of work for me, and I feel very emotional about bringing it to Bradford, where I spent 24 years of my life.” The Rose Garden is made from reclaimed wood, some of which was donated by Bradford Parks, with paper roses attached. From tonight, it will be the setting for a series of performances, including live music, dance, film screenings, storytelling, games, crafts and an open mic session, taking the historic Little Germany theatre – for a time called The Priestley – into its future after what has been a challenging few years.

In 2001 it nearly closed, with debts of £14,000, prompting the Telegraph & Argus to launch a Save The Priestley campaign. A total of £25,000 was raised. Two years later, the theatre closed briefly; the directors owed £60,000 to creditors and struggled to find funding for its long-term future. A loan of £40,000, and £20,000 in private donations, saved it, then the company went into administration again.

Late last year the venue was re-launched, with a new name, a new look and new branding. Now it is out of administration and staffed by two managers, an administrator, creative director and consultant, all supported by Arts Council England. The emphasis is on attracting more diverse visitors and providing a platform for new artists and acts, while continuing to be a home for local amateur companies.

The cafe bar stages comedy and music events and a gallery space, and in the auditorium there are shows and film screenings, resurrecting the Playhouse’s previous role as an independent film theatre. There’s also a monthly cabaret night.

“The Rose Garden marks the start of a new era for the Playhouse,” says manager Sam Musgrave “We’re developing in an organic way, building on the creative energy of people using the building. People come to us with ideas and we embrace that. There’s a real buzz about the place. We’ve been inspired by the way Shunt works and we’re aiming for a similar process – changing the face and feeling of the venue each month with different events.”

The Playhouse has appealed to local artists to “make something beautiful from The Rose Garden.”

“When Aid and I saw it in London we fell in love with it,” says Sam. “It’s such an inspiring piece of work, it takes your breath away. We’ve devised a programme of performances that will take place within the Rose Garden. The idea is that audiences make their way through this beautiful enchanted garden where performers appear in various places.

“You’re very close to the action so there’s quite an intimate feel, and you have to go around the garden to see all the performances. On other nights the rest of the building will be used, too.”

Eleanor has been setting up the garden with a team of volunteers from the Playhouse – technician Matt Roberts, stage manager Hannah Payton and musician Matt White, who got involved with the theatre at an open mic night.

“People seem to be attracted by the positive vibes here,” says Eleanor. “I remember the Playhouse mainly as an indie film venue. It’s great to get involved in this new phase and reconnect with Bradford. I’m inspired by the work being done here – hopefully this project will be a springboard for more events to come.”

For more about events at Bradford Playhouse, ring (01274) 820666 or visit the website bradfordplayhouse.co.uk

What's on

Events inspired by The Rose Garden start tonight with Hatch Revisited and the launch of art exhibition The Cellar Garden. The Bradford Playhouse Ladies present Stitch And Bitch, and there’s a screening of an animation by Sarah Jane Palmer, contemporary tango by Slanjayvah Danza, performance art by Street Light Infidelity and a turn by foot-stomping folk hero Banjo Bill Lloyd.

TOMORROW: Films in the Garden from 7.30pm – a screening of short films and main feature film Pan’s Labyrinth SUNDAY, JULY 12: Fairies and Bugs Picnic – a family day from noon to 6pm. With music by ArtEast.

MONDAY, JULY 13: Quiet Garden – a chance to wander through the installation in a peaceful environment TUESDAY, JULY 14: Open mic.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15: Dance, film and music inspired by The Rose Garden THURSDAY, JULY 16: Performances of This Stripper Is Reversing; The Light From The Lamp; Tangled Thorns and live music from Miranda Vs The Croo and Boku FRIDAY, JULY 17: Eleanor Barrett (pictured) and Friends, with live music from Lumberjack Cowboy Heartbreak Trucking Company and Cuban Fiddle Crisis.