Warwick Arts Centre’s 40th Anniversary Season

I spoke to Head of programme and audiences, Matt Burman, to find out what the art centre has to offer this 40th anniversary season. The programme definitely doesn’t disappoint, packed with exciting things across all the venues with something for everyone.

Matt Burman started out as a professional violinist, and having worked with many performing arts venues and companies, including Forced Entertainment, has been with the Arts Centre for 3 years now.

Burman told me about the importance of the programme and connecting an art form with an audience. He explained how the success of the arts centre came from intelligent programming ‘Ensuring we have a really strong contemporary programme but at the same time having that backed up with a strong mainstream programme.’ Highlighting that the most important thing was ‘that journey of an artist and an audience and that moment at which they meet. It’s about making people laugh and cry, seeing the expression on their faces and seeing how they respond to pieces.’

The artistic quality of the programme shines through this 40th anniversary season, Matt stressed how ‘4 decades of incredible programme are being celebrated here, as well as the relationships we’ve had with a lot of returning artists as theatre companies.’ With a huge choice of events, to get you started here are Matt Burman’s suggestions for students.

In the Mead Gallery this season we see the Execution of Maximilian by Edouard Manet. Burman described this exhibition as a ‘key piece this season’. It depicts that fatal moment when the young Emperor Maximilian of Mexico was shot. Burman stressed how the quality of the Mead exhibitions is always so high and this season is no exception, with free entry to see everything on display there is no excuse not to go.

Burman highlighted to me a great dance piece in the theatre, The Five & the Prophecy of Prana describing it as having ‘elements of Manga, hip-hop and Kunfu films’ saying it was like ‘Kung Fu panda brought up to date, made in to something which is going to be visually stunning, have great music, and blend elements of street-dance and martial arts.’ This piece is sure to be high energy and engaging.

The arts centre has seen some legends of the comedic world in its 40 years of entertainment and this season is no exception with the likes of people such as Noel Fielding, The Noise Next Door and Ross Noble.

Another part of the programme Burman recommended was L’apres-midi d’un Foehn by company Non Nova. This piece will be in the Helen Martin Studio, a smaller performance space. Although it is in the Family programme it is mesmerising for all ages and only 25 minutes in length. A juggler manipulates plastic bags using a circle of fans to create a vortex and the bags begin to dance beautifully in the space. Burman spoke of his fondness of the piece, ‘It’s like a Ballet of plastic bags… Very simple but you will find yourself completely amazed by it. She gives them life in a way you wouldn’t think possible.’

This brilliant 40th anniversary celebratory season also brings us the Lyric Hammersmith: Secret Theatre Company. Five great shows in both the Theatre and the Helen Martin Studio. Among these is Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. Burman stressed the importance of seeing all five shows ‘They All really exciting in different ways, I’d really recommend A Series of Increasingly Impossible Acts, a really funny and unexpectedly moving piece of work.’ He went on to explain how audience members call the shots in the show, by picking names out of a hat to decide the fate of the actors.

In the Butterworth Hall, named after the arts centre’s founder John Butterworth, we see a great mix of contemporary and classical music. Burman spoke fondly of the hall, ‘Whenever I go and see a gig in the hall, whether it’s classical or non-classical, it’s such a great place to hear music.’ The Theatre, this season, also brings us some great music. Burman recommended British folk singer John Smith and went on to explain how ‘people may not expect to hear music of that quality in the theatre, and it would be great to see more students there.’

The Arts Centre is full of things to do and see, and this year with the 40th celebration just around the corner there is no reason not to get involved. Emerge is a programme running from 28th to the 31st October at the Arts Centre in co-operation with IATL. There will be free talks, workshops, panel discussions and scratch work for students to get involved with. 4 Warwick born theatre companies, Fellswoop, Fat Git, Dumnshow and Kill the Beast, will also be performing to showcase and triumph the work of Warwick students. You can see all four shows for just £18. Burman spoke fondly of the student programme he has created, saying ‘There is a huge amount of brilliant theatre making happening across campus all the time… We wanted to celebrate that and also support the development of future work.’ There is more to be announced on Emerge this week. These workshops will continue throughout the year, and more may well be opening up, so watch this space.

Another great way to get involved is to work for the Arts Centre. Having employed 750 students last year, there is clearly something for everyone. Whether it’s in the box office, bar work or interning with the marketing department as a STAR (student arts representative) its great CV experience and you get to see shows for free.

The main message I got from Matt Burman, was that there is something in this programme for everyone, ‘We are a public cultural institution at the heart of campus, and we are here for everyone, both students and the public.’ With many student tickets at only £6 I’m really running out of reasons why you shouldn’t get yourself down to the box office and see what part of the programme is for you.