The White Plague: an immersive story of Londoners

Aim

We want to put on a new immersive show that follows a group of survivors through a blindness epidemic testing the limits of our humanity.

The White Plague

'The White Plague' is an immersive political play that places the audience at the heart of the performance, where they use all senses except their sight. The story imagines the collapse of London amidst a blindness epidemic and follows a small community of survivors locked up in an asylum. A woman that still 'sees' will start a revolt that will lead them to freedom. It is a visceral experience that explores the conflicts within culturally diverse communities but also the power of the biggest suppressed group: women.

* We plan to make the performance accessible for sight-impaired audiences by providing trained Front Of House staff, set or touch tours and info/synopsis material printed in Braille. 

- What is the aim of our project -

At present London is more diverse than ever, but following Brexit, the terror attacks, and unfortunate comments from public figures, certain minorities are facing a backlash. Women are also facing backlash for speaking publicly against inequality and abuse.  We want our audience to experience what it means to depend on a stranger and how important solidarity is during a crisis.

By staging our show at Landor Space and using a diverse cast, we will reach South London audiences with a political and imaginative piece of theatre that is relevant and affordable. Clapham and the neighbouring Brixton are home to a one of the most culturally diverse populations in London, making it the ideal location for an exploration of how diversity, segregation or inequality affects community cohesion.

We are working with the local Clapham Youth Centre and the Brixton Community Base in order to reach a diverse audience and give the opportunity to young people to attend a theatre-devising workshop and performances of 'The White Plague' for free.

- The Cast -  

Michal Keyamo 
Michal is a London based performer with credits including Hijabi Monologues (Bush); The Welcoming Party (MIF); Red Forest (Young Vic); and King Lear (Shakespeare’s Globe). Her experience extends to directing, working with Young Vic, Clean Break, Headlong and most recently Complicite as Assistant Director on the remount of, A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer. Currently, Michal is developing her first solo show.       

Graham Naiken  
Graham trained in devising theatre at Dartington College Of Arts. Since graduating he has worked as actor, puppeteer, storyteller, writer, film maker, workshop facilitator and director, at numerous established creative venues such as Eden Project, Tate Britain and South Bank Centre.      

Paul Croft  
Originally from Manchester, Paul is an actor, comedian, and improviser. Theatre includes; Royal Exchange Theatre, Belfast Lyric, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, West Yorkshire and Nottingham Playhouses,. A performer with Secret Cinema; Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back, Grand Budapest Hotel, and Dr Strangelove. Recent work; “The Sense of an Ending”, BBC Film directed by Ritesh Batra – “BAD ACID” by David Chaudoir -“Brexodus the Musical”, and a new musical “Doodle”.

Peter Losasso
Peter Trained at LAMDA. He won the Spotlight Prize 2016. Theatre includes: The Wipers Times (Watermill/Arts), The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas (Lindbury LAMDA), Posh (Greenwood LAMDA), Macbeth (Pleasance LAMDA), On the Shore of the Wide World (Lindbury LAMDA). Television includes: Passchendaele 100 (BBC), Tracy Beaker Returns (BBC). Peter is represented by Sarah MacCormick & Emma Higginbottom at Curtis Brown.

- Artistic Team -

Written & Directed by Alexander Raptotasios

Adaptation in English & Dramaturgy by Gul Y. Davis

Designed by Marie-Cecil Inglessi

Assistant Director: Esther Fernandez

Produced by James Haddrell

Alexander Raptotasios (Director) is a London-based theatre director from Greece, working freelance and as the artistic director of Ferodo Bridges CIC. He has studied Visual Art & Performance at Brighton University, Physical Theatre at St. Mary's University and Directing at LAMDA. His recent work includes 'Macbeth' (Pleasance, London), 'Our Last Gig' (LAMDA studios), Primark on Acid (3Space) and 'Across the Border' (BAC, Camden Fringe) which travelled to S. Korea, winning the Best New Director and Best New Play awards at the Miryang Festival in 2012. Other work includes assisting directing for the Actors Touring Company and Theatre Rites, and producing for Vacuum Theatre. 

Esther Fernández (Assistant Director) is a London-based director and actor from Spain. She trained as an Actor in Spain (Escuela de Actores de Canarias) and London (LSDA, London School of Dramatic Art). Her acting credits include The House of Bernarda Alba (2016), Twelfth Night (2015), South Kentish Town (2015), Colder than here (2014), Romeo and Juliet (2013), and La Umbria (2012). Esther has recently taken upon directing having assisted in Alice, (2018) Landor_Space.

- Previous run in Greece -

Since September 2017 we have been developing "The White Plague" with a group of international artists. We presented a first version in Athens in 2017 and we are now making a definitive UK version that will be about London and will incorporate local actors and creatives.

From reviews of the Athens run at BIOS:

• "A strange and different show. A peculiar condition of blindness that feels weird but soon proves to be effective in immersing us in the character's psyche and living conditions." 

(National Newspaper Avgi: http://www.avgi.gr/article/10971/8625921/mia-parastase-sta-typhla-)

• "Alexander's direction shapes a story inspired by Saramago's work with a surrealist suave. The result is a well-structured, dense and inspired piece of theatre that contains the reality of the human tragedy through the loss of identity and basic human rights."

 (Art Harbour: http://www.artharbour.gr/theatro/parastaseis/peri-tyflotitos-tou-jose-saramago-sto-bios-kritiki-lia-tsekoura/)

• "I was extremely impressed by what I experienced. It completely immerses you in a world that seems strange and feels depressingly familiar. It gives an incredible new perspective on a story first conceived by Saramago and definitely rewards its audience."

( Provocateur.gr: http://provocateur.gr/out-about/15555/phga-eida-peri-tyflothtos-sto-bios)

- Future touring -

Our plan is to take this show on a tour and reach audiences in many towns and cities of the UK. The show set-up is extremely simple and easy to travel and we can perform this piece in any kind of empty space as it does not require special lighting, set or lighting equipment. With your help we will attract the attention we need to book such a tour and take "The White Plague" across studios, schools and any unconventional spaces across England, Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland.

- The Company -

Ferodo Bridges is a theatre company founded in 2012 by an international group of artists based in London in order to create new performance, theatre and immersive experiences with a playful and international character. As a company we have always been interested in the relation between the audience and their experience of theatre. We have made shows in courtrooms, warehouses, offices and basements. We want each time to find a new form that reflects the subject we want to talk about and take the audience through an unexpected, entertaining and provoking journey.

Company Showreel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srjFtOcbe04&t=14s

- Follow us -

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhitePlagueUK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_rapter/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ferodobridges.cic

Get tickets here: https://www.landorspace.com/white-plague

Many thanks!

Ferodo Bridges

This project successfully funded on 1st April 2018