Support The Jorvik Play - Exciting Viking Theatre

by Old York Theatre in York, United Kingdom

Support The Jorvik Play - Exciting Viking Theatre

Total raised £1,430

raised so far

35

supporters

Developing an exciting immersive Viking show, to tour unconventional theatre spaces, celebrating the rich storytelling of Viking mythos!

by Old York Theatre in York, United Kingdom

We're still collecting donations

On the 13th January 2025 we'd raised £1,430 with 35 supporters in 84 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.

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Hi there, thanks for stopping by! 

It's my great pleasure to introduce you to the company, the individual artists behind it and to give you an insight into what this project is all about, and why we believe it is so important.

The Company

Old York Theatre is a new company and we are creating exciting, immersive and dynamic Theatre experiences in interesting and unusual places. Our show will debut at the Jorvik Viking Festival and then go on an initial tour of the North of England including Manchester and Hull!

Meet the team

Charlie Blanshard - Writer/Actor/Co Producer  

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Charlie Blanshard is a Yorkshire born actor and writer, who is loud and proud about his Yorkshire roots. Charlie’s passion for performance is lit by his want to tell Northern stories on screen and stage and shine a light on the many talented artists that call the North home.

Charlie is a graduate from Rose Bruford College with an MA in Actor Performer Training. Since graduating he has toured Europe with the English Theatre Company, performed Shakespeare in Dubai on the QE2 and has worked with many fantastic companies and individuals on his door step in the city of Hull.

Charlie relishes the challenge this project presents for him as a writer, producer and actor. Pushing himself into multiple different disciplines. Expanding his tool box which will allow him to champion working in the arts in a Northern city. Training to be an actor at drama school in London really opened Charlies eyes to the disparity between the theatre industry in the North and the South. It is Charlie's firmly held belief that new, exciting and dynamic theatre should have a greater representation and be produced in the North. "Why must people have to travel far to see new, innovative and great theatre? Why don't we bring it to them?" 

Charlie is especially excited about exploring the use of non-traditional theatre spaces. From Tudor halls to pubs. Anywhere, anytime. Charlie believes bringing live performance and theatre to these venues is really important, it opens up the world of performance to people not from a theatre background. It breaks boundaries and perceptions of what people think theatre is and removes barriers that prevent them seeing it. 

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Oliver Strong - Actor/Co Producer/Fight Choreographer 

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When he's not rolling massive foam dice on a giant table dressed as a goblin, or fighting off evil kings with a literal flaming sword - Oli Strong is a much more serious (kinda) theatre actor. Raised in the everlasting drizzle of Wales but now returned to his Yorkshire roots; Oli has over ten years experience of acting and making fun, unique and exciting shows.

Oli is incredibly excited about the opportunity to bring action and storytelling together in a way that draws on and honours such a rich mythos. Oli cannot wait to bring a unique project to such an exciting festival! 

When Oli was a child he visited Yorkshire from his birthland of Wales to reconnect with the heritage of his mothers family. Visiting many places that his ancestors had lived and worked. During this tour of Yorkshire, Oli had the opportunity to visit the Jorvik Viking Center and his imagination was captured immediately. Upon returning to Yorkshire as an adult, Oli has forged a strong connection and laid down roots in the area.

These visits have inspired a lifelong love of Viking-inspired media: From fantasy novels, to tv shows and videogames, Oli has immersed himself in as much as he could find - so the opportunity to debut a new show at the Viking Festival and then tour the wider parts of the North is a dream come true.

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"Faustus" - 2022 - Larkin Media

Jack Chamberlain - Director/Co Producer

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Jack is a Hull based theatre director and producer. He has been directing theatre since 2014 and is fascinated by live performance’s ability to transform public spaces. You might happen upon his shows when you are out exploring your local area or doing your weekly shop. You might also find it housed in a theatre or your local community centre.

Jack has directed several different shows that have been performed in unusual spaces. Most recently was ‘Grimm’, an immersive performance set in Grimsby and performed in pubs and bars around Hull with a story about forgotten heritage, the families of fishermen and the trawlers that made it.

Jack absolutely loves taking theatre into places you won't normally find it and inviting audiences to take part in live performance. Cast as warriors in a recently victorious Viking army, 'Jorvik' audiences will be taken on an epic journey of mythology and mirth. What can be more fun than that? 

"GRIMM" - 2024 - Isaac Johnson"Grimm" - 2024 - Isaac Johnson

'Jorvik' The Play

At it's heart, Jorvik is a play about what Legacy really means to the individual. It's about loss, faith, glory, family, love and having a great time while we are still around to enjoy it.

To really understand why this play is so important to us, it's imperative to understand what led to this piece being written in the first place. 

Growing up not far away and visiting York most weekends Charlie's heart was captured by the history of the city. As a child his imagination often wandered to thoughts of "who walked these streets before me? If the walls had ears, what would they have heard? What victories were toasted here? What losses were mourned?" Charlie felt connected to the city to such an extent that it awoke a passion for history in him. With a particular fondness for the Vikings, Romans and Greeks. This fuelled a heartfelt desire to one day tell those stories. 

Stopping to look around, Charlie could see the influence - the legacy - that these histories have left on this city. Street names to days of the week - undeniable heritage that has stood the test of time.

Legacy was such a fascinating concept to Charlie, and the Myths and legends that still survive today captured his imagination. The stories of epic quests and heroes spoke to the storyteller in him. Over many years he realized there was something deeper, beyond the stories. Really, at the root of it all is human connection and human struggle. Charlie realised that really, we aren't as different as we think to our ancestors. For example - our desires, while modern at a glance - are deeply rooted in that same human condition: The need to be remembered. Instead of pursuing fame, success or social media status - the Vikings wanted infamy, songs, saga's and poems. A totally different era, but a comparable obsession with legacy.

Jorvik is an exploration of this idea, a celebration of life, of family and the love we leave behind. Expect big characters, song, fights and plenty of table banging. This is a play that leans heavily into the myth, it rejoices in the fantastical and is delivered in the spirit of larger than life storytelling! Join us on this adventure and help us find Valhalla!

So how do your donations help?

To make our project the best it can possibly be requires funding, the majority of which we will apply for from Arts Council England. As part of our bid to secure that funding we need to attain a percentage of 'match funding'. Think of your donation as one brick in the wall, and with enough single bricks we can build something truly amazing!

Every donation helps us reach our goal, but we have offered some incentives to help us reach our target! Please check them out  and consider supporting us to deliver what we know will be a fantastic night of mythos and mirth!

With our warmest thanks,

Charlie, Jack and Oli

Or enter custom amount

Rewards

This project offered rewards

£100 or more

Personalised Viking video £100 reward

Viking shout out video - full costume and prop video experience. Think cameo, but with sharper swords.

£30 or more

Special Thanks - £30 Reward

See your name in lights! Your name featured on our flyer shouting out our thanks for your support.

£50 or more

Signed poster - £50 reward

A signed poster from the cast and crew of our debut performance!

£1,000 or more

Oli gets a rune tattoo - £1000 reward

Oli will get a runic tattoo of your initials in Viking runes on his back. No really, he actually will!

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