Chickenshed
Encyclopedia
Chickenshed is a British
theatre
company based in Cockfosters
, London
. It was founded in 1974 in a disused chicken shed by Mary Ward
and Jo Collins
. The company produces theatrical and musical productions, performed by children, teenagers and adults of all backgrounds and abilities. It was the first company to start the idea of "inclusive theatre" - theatre that is open to everyone of all backgrounds and abilities. It doesn't hold auditions for any of its shows, and instead relies on previous knowledge of how hard working the members are. As well as its London base, the company also has several other theatre workshops (known as "sheds") across and beyond The British Isles as part of its "Outreach" project. It is registered as a charity
under the name The Chickenshed Theatre Trust. Their Christmas show in December 2008/January 2009 was The Twelve Days of Christmas. In June 2009, it was announced that the following Christmas show for December 2009/January 2010 would be Pinocchio
, which was actually the second time that Chickenshed had done that show. The show for December 2010/January 2011 was Badjelly's Bad Christmas
, which was created by the company based on Spike Milligan
's poetry and stories for children. The show for November and December 2011/January 2012 will be Cinderella
.
In 1999, company founder Mary Ward won the Creative Britons Award, to acknowledge her 25 years of work with the theatre, while co-founder Jo Collins was awarded the MBE
in the 2001 New Year's honours, for services to music. The Chicken Shed theatre group has performed at a number of public events, including Queen Elizabeth II
's golden jubilee
celebrations in 2002. A show to commemorate 100 years of J. M. Barrie
's children's story Peter Pan
was staged by the theatre company at the Albery Theatre
, London in 2004, in order to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital
.
's odds
of 4/1, the song was one of the contenders to become the UK Christmas number-one single. However it reached only #15 in the chart
, remaining in the Top 75 for six weeks. The song was included on Diana Princess of Wales Tribute, a charity album recorded following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
. Diana had been the royal patron of the theatre along with Dame Judi Dench who is also a great supporter and it was one of her favourite charities.
Late 2003 saw the release of The Chicken Shed Album, a compilation that marked the 30th anniversary of the theatre company. Contributors to the album included supporters of the organisation, such as Cliff Richard
, Emma Bunton
, Bob Hoskins
and Kenneth Branagh
, as well as three tracks by Chicken Shed itself. Jo Collins & Chickenshed recorded a song, "Talk Through Me" for the 2007 show tunes album Over the Rainbow
, in aid of The Association of Childrens' Hospices.
The Chicken Shed Album (album, 2003)
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
company based in Cockfosters
Cockfosters
Cockfosters is a suburb of North London, lying partly in the London Borough of Enfield and partly in the London Borough of Barnet. The counties of Hertfordshire and Middlesex respectively are still used in postal addresses.The name has been recorded as far back as 1524, and is thought to be either...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was founded in 1974 in a disused chicken shed by Mary Ward
Mary Ward
Mary Ward may refer to:* Mary Ward , 1585 - 1645, foundress of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an order of Roman Catholic nuns...
and Jo Collins
Jo Collins
Jo Collins was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for December 1964 and Playmate of the Year for 1965. Her original pictorial was photographed by Mario Casilli....
. The company produces theatrical and musical productions, performed by children, teenagers and adults of all backgrounds and abilities. It was the first company to start the idea of "inclusive theatre" - theatre that is open to everyone of all backgrounds and abilities. It doesn't hold auditions for any of its shows, and instead relies on previous knowledge of how hard working the members are. As well as its London base, the company also has several other theatre workshops (known as "sheds") across and beyond The British Isles as part of its "Outreach" project. It is registered as a charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
under the name The Chickenshed Theatre Trust. Their Christmas show in December 2008/January 2009 was The Twelve Days of Christmas. In June 2009, it was announced that the following Christmas show for December 2009/January 2010 would be Pinocchio
Pinocchio
The Adventures of Pinocchio is a novel for children by Italian author Carlo Collodi, written in Florence. The first half was originally a serial between 1881 and 1883, and then later completed as a book for children in February 1883. It is about the mischievous adventures of Pinocchio , an...
, which was actually the second time that Chickenshed had done that show. The show for December 2010/January 2011 was Badjelly's Bad Christmas
Badjelly's Bad Christmas
Badjelly's Bad Christmas was a play created and performed by the Chickenshed Theatre Company, based on the works of Spike Milligan. It followed the journey of two arguing sisters, Kate and Laura, who had gone to visit their Grandad for the Christmas after they pushed their mother to the verge of...
, which was created by the company based on Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
's poetry and stories for children. The show for November and December 2011/January 2012 will be Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
.
In 1999, company founder Mary Ward won the Creative Britons Award, to acknowledge her 25 years of work with the theatre, while co-founder Jo Collins was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in the 2001 New Year's honours, for services to music. The Chicken Shed theatre group has performed at a number of public events, including Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
's golden jubilee
Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...
celebrations in 2002. A show to commemorate 100 years of J. M. Barrie
J. M. Barrie
Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, OM was a Scottish author and dramatist, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan. The child of a family of small-town weavers, he was educated in Scotland. He moved to London, where he developed a career as a novelist and playwright...
's children's story Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
was staged by the theatre company at the Albery Theatre
Noël Coward Theatre
The Noël Coward Theatre, formerly known as the Albery Theatre, is a West End theatre on St. Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster. It opened on 12 March 1903 as the New Theatre and was built by Sir Charles Wyndham behind Wyndham's Theatre which was completed in 1899. The building was designed by...
, London in 2004, in order to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a children's hospital located in London, United Kingdom...
.
Music
In December 1997, Chicken Shed released a single, entitled I Am In Love With The World, performed by children from the theatre. At bookmakerBookmaker
A bookmaker, or bookie, is an organization or a person that takes bets on sporting and other events at agreed upon odds.- Range of events :...
's odds
Odds
The odds in favor of an event or a proposition are expressed as the ratio of a pair of integers, which is the ratio of the probability that an event will happen to the probability that it will not happen...
of 4/1, the song was one of the contenders to become the UK Christmas number-one single. However it reached only #15 in the chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, remaining in the Top 75 for six weeks. The song was included on Diana Princess of Wales Tribute, a charity album recorded following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
. Diana had been the royal patron of the theatre along with Dame Judi Dench who is also a great supporter and it was one of her favourite charities.
Late 2003 saw the release of The Chicken Shed Album, a compilation that marked the 30th anniversary of the theatre company. Contributors to the album included supporters of the organisation, such as Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
, Emma Bunton
Emma Bunton
Emma Lee Bunton is an English pop singer/songwriter and TV and radio presenter. She was a member of the 1990s girl group, the Spice Girls, in which she was known as Baby Spice as she was the youngest member. In 2010, she joined the judging panel on ITV's Dancing on Ice...
, Bob Hoskins
Bob Hoskins
Robert William "Bob" Hoskins, Jr. is an English actor known for playing Cockney rough diamonds, psychopaths and gangsters, in films such as The Long Good Friday , and Mona Lisa , and lighter roles in family films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Hook .- Early life :Hoskins was born in Bury St...
and Kenneth Branagh
Kenneth Branagh
Kenneth Charles Branagh is an actor and film director from Northern Ireland. He is best known for directing and starring in several film adaptations of William Shakespeare's plays including Henry V , Much Ado About Nothing , Hamlet Kenneth Charles Branagh is an actor and film director from...
, as well as three tracks by Chicken Shed itself. Jo Collins & Chickenshed recorded a song, "Talk Through Me" for the 2007 show tunes album Over the Rainbow
Over the Rainbow (2007 album)
Over the Rainbow - Show Tunes in Aid of the Association of Children's Hospices is a charity album of show tunes, recorded by various artists and released in 2007. It is in aid of...
, in aid of The Association of Childrens' Hospices.
Discography
I Am In Love With The World (single, 1997)- "I Am In Love With the World"
- "Don't Know If I Believe In Christmas"
- "Little Tommy"
The Chicken Shed Album (album, 2003)
- "Watch Me Come Alive" - Cliff RichardCliff RichardSir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
- "As Far as the Eye Can See" - GabrielleGabrielle (singer)Louisa Gabrielle Bobb is a multi-platinum selling, BRIT Award winning English singer, who records under the name Gabrielle. Gabrielle began her career temping during the day and singing for free in London clubs at night...
- "I Am In Love With the World" - Chicken Shed
- "Sometimes" - Emma BuntonEmma BuntonEmma Lee Bunton is an English pop singer/songwriter and TV and radio presenter. She was a member of the 1990s girl group, the Spice Girls, in which she was known as Baby Spice as she was the youngest member. In 2010, she joined the judging panel on ITV's Dancing on Ice...
- ""The Wedding Dance" - Dmitry SitkovetskyDmitry SitkovetskyDmitry Sitkovetsky is a Russian violinist and conductor.- Early life :Dmitry Sitkovetsky was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, to violinist Julian Sitkovetsky and pianist Bella Davidovich. His father died in 1958, when Sitkovetsky was just three years old and the family moved to Moscow where Dmitry...
- ""Can I Love Him?" - Sam BrownSam BrownSam Brown may refer to:* Sam Brown , singer/songwriter, daughter of the singer, Joe Brown* Sam Brown , artist and author, noted for his explodingdog web site...
- ""Bits and Pieces" - Bob HoskinsBob HoskinsRobert William "Bob" Hoskins, Jr. is an English actor known for playing Cockney rough diamonds, psychopaths and gangsters, in films such as The Long Good Friday , and Mona Lisa , and lighter roles in family films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Hook .- Early life :Hoskins was born in Bury St...
- "Trail My Soul" - Chicken Shed
- "Looking For Love" - Richard O'BrienRichard O'BrienRichard Timothy Smith , better known under his stage name Richard O'Brien, is an English writer, actor, television presenter and theatre performer. He is perhaps best known for writing the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and for his role in presenting the popular TV show The Crystal Maze...
- "Will It Happen To Me?" - Barbara DicksonBarbara DicksonBarbara Ruth Dickson, OBE is a Scottish singer whose hits include "I Know Him So Well" and "January February"...
- "Elijah" - Kenneth BranaghKenneth BranaghKenneth Charles Branagh is an actor and film director from Northern Ireland. He is best known for directing and starring in several film adaptations of William Shakespeare's plays including Henry V , Much Ado About Nothing , Hamlet Kenneth Charles Branagh is an actor and film director from...
- "First Love" - Chicken Shed
- "Mad Little Sad Boy" - Kenneth Branagh
- "Still Waters" - Misty Oldland
- "We Need Each Other" - Elaine PaigeElaine PaigeElaine Paige OBE is an English singer and actress best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, North London, Paige attended the Aida Foster stage school, making her first professional appearance on stage in 1964, at the age of 16...
- "Dream a We Real Yew" - Kenneth Branagh