This extraordinary adaptation of the classic Alice in Wonderland directed by Michael Hunt with set and costumes by Bettina John, re-imagines Wonderland as a curious modern landscape, reminiscent of computer generated images. This is where Bettina John starts her design exploration, the world of the internet with all its real and surreal aspects, especially when it starts taking over real life.

Photographs by Roman Gorbatovskogo

The Rhine gold (Das Rheingold) , guarded by three nymphs, holds immeasurable power. When the dwarf Alberich renounces love to steal it, he unwittingly sparks a battle for domination which will stretch from the depths of the river to the mountaintop home of the gods.
Jonathan Dove‘s acclaimed Rheingold orchestration is performed in London for the first time since its premiere in the 1990s, with 18 live musicians from the Orpheus Sinfonia and an exceptional cast of singers, many of whom are giving role debuts.

“A key to any performance of the Ring is the director’s conception of who these people are, is this straight story telling about Germanic/Norse gods, a take down of capitalism or what? Bettina John’s imaginative set linked the balcony to the main playing area by a staircase made of ‘cardboard boxes’, with elements of the Ring’s iconography drawn on them, and on the floor. This meant that the work opened with what should have been the climax, the vision of the newly created Valhalla (drawn onto boxes piled high on the balcony). The idea of creating it out of the detritus around us, seemed to be central; Burbach’s programme note says ‘the story is triggered by a man stepping into a space that looks like something one might find in a Dalston back alley’. ” (Rober Hugill)

Adapted by Graham Vick and Jonathan Dove
Orchestrated by Jonathan Dove
Director Julia Burbach
Set and Costume Design by Bettina John
Music Director Peter Selwyn
Robert Price
Lighting Designer

Paul Carey Jones – Wotan
Claire Barnett-Jones – Fricka / Wellgunde
Gareth Brynmor John – Donner
Seth Carico – Alberich
Kiandra Howarth – Freia/Woglinde
Angharad Lyddon – Flosshilde
Philip Sheffield – Loge
Andrew Tipple – Fasolt
Marianne Vidal – Fricka/ Wellgunde
Harriet Williams – Erda
Dingle Yandell – Fafner

Pornography is Simon Stephens’ stark and shattering new play that powerfully captures a portrait of a fractured, insecure Britain.

One week in July 2005: Live 8, the G8 summit and the announcement of the 2012 Olympics host city. Britain feels like the centre of the world. World-changing politics, gigantic charity concerts, the chance to host the Olympics; everything’s happening, and everyone is talking about it. In schools, offices, streets, shops, parks and homes ­ there’s a buzz in the air, a sense of anticipation. But in less than an hour all that enthusiasm was to be crushed after a violent attack on the Londoners.

Written by Simon Stephens
Set and Costume Design: Bettina John
Directed by David Henson
Venue: Lawrence Hall
Cast: BA 3rd year graduating students from the London College of Music

Inspired by ‘alternative facts’ and appropriation ‘formerly known as plagiarism’ (Grayson Perry), this work considers influence and context, whilst grovelling in homage, sampling, borrowing, cribbing, paching, stealing and imitating as a means to create Alternative Fakes.

This dance piece was commissioned by The Place, London School for Conteporary Dance, choreographed by artist and choreographer Liz Aggiss being inspired by artists such as Jerome Bell, John Cooper Clarke, Martha Graham, Dore Hoyer, Suzanne Linke, Bronsislava Nijinska and Jack Stanford.

With her design Bettina John makes use of a punkrock aesthetic and taps into a tradition of appropriation, exploring a fine line of invention and re-invention.

Dancers:

Jimmy Adams
Sarah Bateman
Ruben Brown
Frankie Hickman
Reece McMahon
Ruby Portus
Thomas Whiting
Sally Mayhew
Marcell Proske
Erena Reilent
Amy Toner