You Me Bum Bum Train

Last updated

You Me Bum Bum Train is an Interactive theatre performance devised by Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd in 2004. The pair met as art students in Brighton, where they were studying illustration and film. [1]

Contents

You Me Bum Bum Train gained critical acclaim in the London theatre community, winning the Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Prize and the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Outstanding Newcomer. [2]

It returned in 2011 in a former postal depot in Holborn, and a new version of the show – at Empire House in Stratford, East London in 2012 – was nominated for an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre. [3]

In 2015 the show was mounted again, this time in at what had been Foyles bookshop on London's Charing Cross Road where their last show, started on 25 February 2016, finished on 29 April. 13,242 volunteers took part in the 2016 show.

You Me Bum Bum Train raised £120,000 for charity in the last production.

Overview

[4] Hanna Hanra, writing for Vice, described it as a series of "highly detailed, absurd real life scenarios following one another on a nonsense high-paced narrative". [5] Ruby Wax, a passenger in 2015 said, “I’m in a really dark place right now. This is the only thing I’d get out of bed for, seriously it’s the best therapy.”

The entertainment magazine Dazed & Confused reported; "What was one of London's more obtuse treasures is set to become one of Great Britain's proudest moments." The Times said; "It leaves you questioning everything, and it's lots of fun." [6] Time Out magazine wrote; "My highlight of 2008 was You Me Bum Bum Train, if only real life were that interesting."

Reception

Accolades

Controversies

You Me Bum Bum Train has provoked controversy due to the fact that none of the performers are paid, though the directors stress that performers and crew are involved on a voluntary basis, that many are not trained professionals, and that they are under no obligation to stay during performances. [7] [8]

In November 2015, the trade union Equity criticised the £150,000 Arts Council England funding allocated to YMBBT, as it was advertising for professional dancers but not paying them despite selling tickets "at rates typical of a West End show." [9] [10]

In June 2016 the trade union BECTU criticised YMBBT for "exploiting workers after advertising for unpaid production interns." BECTU launched an investigation concerning "the legality of the “outrageous” internships, which would see successful applicants work at least two days each week for a minimum four hours each day." [11] [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth Tynan</span> English theatre critic and writer (1927–1980)

Kenneth Peacock Tynan was an English theatre critic and writer. Initially making his mark as a critic at The Observer, he praised John Osborne's Look Back in Anger (1956) and encouraged the emerging wave of British theatrical talent.

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are the oldest theatrical awards ceremony in the United Kingdom. They are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre, and are organised by the Evening Standard newspaper. They are the West End's equivalent to Broadway's Drama Desk Awards.

George Maguire is an English actor, known for being one of the three original cast members who carried the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical, which earned Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, becoming one of the youngest winners of the award.

The Bush Theatre is located in the Passmore Edwards Public Library, Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 as a showcase for the work of new writers.

Douglas William Hodge is an English actor, director and musician. He has had an extensive career in theatre, as well as film and television where he has appeared in Robin Hood (2010), Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return and Diana, Penny Dreadful (2016), Catastrophe (2018), Joker and Lost in Space, and The Great (2020–2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eve Best</span> British actress (born 1971)

Emily "Eve" Best is an English actress and director. She is known for her television roles as Dr Eleanor O'Hara in the Showtime series Nurse Jackie (2009–2013), First Lady Dolley Madison in the American Experience television special (2011), Monica Chatwin in the BBC miniseries The Honourable Woman (2014) and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in HBO's House of the Dragon (2022–2024). She also played Wallis Simpson in the 2010 film The King's Speech.

Bijan Sheibani is a British theatre director and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irish Repertory Theatre</span> Off-Broadway theatre company

The Irish Repertory Theatre is an Off-Broadway theatre company founded in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurence Olivier Awards</span> English annual theatre awards

The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply TheOlivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Awards, but they were renamed in honour of the English actor of the same name in 1984.

The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.

The Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oberon Books</span> British publishing company

Oberon Books is a London-based publisher of drama texts and books on theatre. The company publishes around 100 titles per year, many of them plays by new writers. In addition, the list contains a range of titles on theatre studies, acting, writing and dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise Gough</span> Irish actress

Denise Gough is an Irish actress. On television, she is best known for her roles in the BBC Two crime drama Paula (2017), the ITV miniseries Too Close (2021) and the Disney+ series Andor (2022–). Her films include Colette (2018), The Other Lamb (2019), Monday (2020), and Martyrs Lane (2021). She has received a number of accolades, including two Laurence Olivier Awards as well as a nominations for a Tony Award and a British Academy Television Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bertie Carvel</span> British actor (born 1977)

Robert Hugh Carvel is a British film and theatre actor. He has twice won a Laurence Olivier Award: for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his role as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical, and for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as Rupert Murdoch in Ink. For the latter role, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebe Fox</span> British actress (born 1987)

Phoebe Fox is an English actress, who was nominated for Olivier and Evening Standard awards for work in theatre. She has appeared in the Black Mirror episode "The Entire History of You" (2011), The Woman in Black: Angel of Death (2015), The Hollow Crown: Wars of the Roses (2016), and The Great (2020–2023).

The Samuel Beckett Award was a British award set up in 1983 and, over the next decade, awarded to writers, who in the opinion of a committee of critics, producers and publishers, showed innovation and excellence in writing for the performing arts. The award was established in honour of Irish Nobel Laureate, novelist, playwright and poet Samuel Beckett and in recognition of his distinctive contribution to world theatre and literature.

Supporting Wall was an award-winning London-based theatre and general arts production, promotion and management company, founded in 2008 by producers Ben Monks and Will Young and operated for nine years until 2017. The company's own productions primarily focused on new writing and contemporary theatre, while management and publicity work has included projects across theatre, comedy, film, festivals, live music and dance - including work at the BFI Southbank, Royal National Theatre and many others. During most of this time, Ben Monks and Will Young were also based at the Actors Centre as creative producers for the Tristan Bates Theatre. In November 2023 Will Young was appointed executive director of London's Royal Court Theatre.

Matthew Dunster is an English theatre director, playwright, and actor. He was the Associate Director of the Young Vic from 2005 to 2009 and the Associate Director of Shakespeare's Globe from 2015 to 2017. His production of Love and Money by Dennis Kelly was nominated for the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre in 2006 and his production of Mogadishu by Vivienne Franzmann was nominated for that same award in 2012. In January 2016 Dunster was appointed as a patron to the Arts Educational Schools, London.

Anna Fleischle is a theatre designer who has worked in theatre, dance and opera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Hunter</span> English theatre director (born 1978)

Sophie Irene Hunter is an English theatre director, playwright and former actress and singer. She made her directorial debut in 2007 co-directing the experimental play The Terrific Electric at the Barbican Pit after her theatre company Boileroom was granted the Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award. In addition, she has directed an Off-Off-Broadway revival of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts (2010) at Access Theatre, the performance art titled Lucretia (2011) based on Benjamin Britten's opera The Rape of Lucretia at Location One's Abramovic Studio in New York City, and the Phantom Limb Company's 69° South also known as Shackleton Project (2011) which premièred at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Harvey Theatre and later toured North America.

References

  1. ↑ Evening Standard interview, 11 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Barbican announces Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust award-winner". Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre - Olivier Awards". Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  4. ↑ Andrew Dickson (11 December 2012). "Best theatre of 2012, No 9: You Me Bum Bum Train | Stage". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
  5. ↑ Vice interview, 19 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Album review". The Times . Archived from the original on March 14, 2007. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
  7. ↑ Barnett, Laura (13 July 2012). "You Me Bum Bum Train gives actors a bad ride, says union". Theguardian.co.uk. London. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  8. ↑ Natalie Woolman. "Equity warns sell-out show of possible minimum wage breach - News - The Stage". Thestage.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
  9. ↑ "Equity questions Arts Council funding decision - Equity". Archived from the original on 2015-11-26.
  10. ↑ "You Me Bum Bum Train comes under fire from actors union".
  11. ↑ "BECTU launches probe into 'exploitative' You Me Bum Bum Train internships".
  12. ↑

Official website OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.