"Closing the Gap Theatre, as the name suggests, want to close the gap between theatre-goers and theatre makers. With a few twists, they certainly succeed."
- Views From The Gods
The Proposal
Closing the Gap Theatre is delighted to confirm their UK Festival debut at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
We should start by saying that what we are currently working on is illegal in Russia. And if performed there, we
could be liable to a fine, deportation and/or 15 days in jail.
What for?
Performing a farcical play that features a same-sex couple.
The Proposal will be an all-new, interactive adaption, with our watchers challenged by props and set, arguments
about dogs over megaphones and enough irrational hypochondria to create mass panic.
In this modern version, however, we recast the couple as two women and throw the audience into the middle of
the action as puppet-masters of our puppet characters. They alone will control what the characters do, where
they move and even how much they can talk.
In our adaption the arguments are still the same, the insults, expectations, hypochondria and desire to be
right. This play is not a focus on same-sex marriage but simply, marriage. And that is where our argument is
stated. By refusing to reference the difference, we refuse its existence. It’s clear just how much LGBT
Russians are still fighting for their basic rights; to meet other LGBT people, to hold hands with someone they
love, to be true to themselves and to live without fear. And we hope to raise this important issue in an
entertaining but thought-provoking way at Glastonbury.
Closing The Gap is a young, London-based theatre company devising original, experiential theatre and founded
by Artistic Director, Joe Allan.
‘We want to close the gap between the theatregoers and theatre-makers, taking you out of the darkness of the
auditorium and into the light of the world we create. We will challenge your perceptions of theatre and your
expectations of what your role as an audience member is.’
You can catch our modern adaption of ‘The Proposal’ twice per day at 11:05am & 3:15pm on Friday, Saturday & Sunday in the Theatre & Circus Fields at Glastonbury Festival 2015.
Just added! We will doing a one-off London performance at Northcote Road Fete, Battersea on Sunday 12th July at 12pm.
Closest tube station: Clapham Common
Cast:
Stepan Stepanovitch – Ray Bethley
Ivanna Vasilevna – Kathleen Douglas
Natalya Stepanovna – Kate Hume
Creative Team:
Artistic Director – Joe Allan
Creative Producer – Jenny Coyle
Ray Bethley:
Since graduating from The Poor School in the summer of 2014, Ray has worked on ‘Relentless’ a music video and an animated web series, ‘visiting’ and theatrically at the Etcetera Theatre with Rannyzagoo. This summer he will be performing Tennessee Williams ‘Confessional’ at the Edinburgh Fringe and will also be seen as a recurring character in a new BBC3 drama series, ‘Deep Cuts’. He has a strong passion for physical theatre and motion capture.
Kathleen Douglas:
Kathleen, originally from Perth, graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Music Theatre from the Victorian College of the Arts, performances included “Clarice” in Dreamsong and “Anybodys” in West Side Story. In Australia she has appeared with the Australian Shakespeare Company in Alice in Wonderland, originated the role of “Sarah” in the Australian musical One More Year and regularly performed around Melbourne with The Improv Conspiracy. The cabaret she co-wrote and performed in, Fancy Meeting You, has had seasons in Melbourne and Perth. Since moving to London at the end of 2013 she has been performed in Moments at Chelsea Theatre, as “Alice” in Alice in Wonderland for Gary Starr Pantomimes, and as “Adela” in the workshop of Revolution the Musical. Previously for Closing the Gap she played the “Stage Manager” in Time: Four. Us Two. She is also a director and is currently the Resident Assistant Director at Omnibus.
Kate Hume:
Kate trained at The 'National Youth Music Theatre' and 'Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance'. Upon graduation in 2013, Kate played the role of Shirley in new musical, 'Passport to Pimlico', both in the workshop at the St James Theatre and in the full sight specific production. Other roles include London Clinton in 'The Daily Fail', at the Waterloo East Theatre, Jasmine in Aladdin with Pyramid Productions, Bessie in 'Claus', as part of the Page to Stage season at the Landor Theatre and 'Hope' in the workshop of new musical, 'Celeste', with P W Productions. In 2014 she played the role of 'Paige' in 'UCAS The Musical' and played 'Fairy Constance' in the UK tour of 'Santa in Love'. Most recently, Kate recorded an audiobook for Perfect Pitch Musicals.
