North East Theatre Guide: Preview: Stan’s Café: Made Up On Tour

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Stan’s Café presents

Made Up

Touring the North East from 24 May to 11 June.

Written and directed by James Yarker

Photo: Graeme Braidwood

Made Up is a heart-warming play about friendship and the faces we show the world. Using a sequence of dynamic live make-up applications, this is exactly the kind of playfully inventive theatre audiences have come to expect from Birmingham’s internationally acclaimed Stan’s Café.

Photo: Graeme Braidwood

Set in a Winnebago on a film set, Made Up is the story of the relationship between Kate, a young film star, and her make-up artist, Sue. Kate’s beautiful but scared, creating an act both in front of the camera and in her private life. Sue has her own unresolved issues and people she needs to make up with. Their time together in the make-up trailer develops into a special relationship.

Photo: Graeme Braidwood

Made Up is a collaboration between internationally acclaimed theatre company Stan’s Café and make-up artist Andrew Whiteoak, who has worked extensively in theatrical, film and TV make-up with notable credits such as Downton Abbey and Disney’s 2017 live action movie Beauty and the Beast. Artistic Director James Yarker and Andrew have worked together to devise a new production that features the live application of theatrical make-up, and reflects the relationship between performers and the make-up artists they work with.

Photo: Graeme Braidwood

“When I was approached by Stan’s Café to collaborate on Made Up I was immediately intrigued and excited by how ‘live’ make-up applications could work within a story. My task is to design make-up and effects that can be applied fluidly around dialogue, which is a particular challenge in itself. As we’ve set the first stones in place I’m even more fired up about how this will develop and believe we are creating something truly unique! Having worked in theatre, film and television for over 22 years it’s nice to be able to reflect, analyse and inform about the trusted relationship an actor and their make-up artist have and filter this into a beautiful piece of theatre” – Andrew Whiteoak, Make-up Designer.

Photo: Graeme Braidwood

Prior to the rehearsal process, James travelled to the North East of England to undertake research for the show with groups of women, and talk to them about their relationship with make-up and what it means to them as a part of their daily ritual. These conversations have influenced the play.

Photo: Graeme Braidwood

“A few years ago a student asked for a work experience placement in our Make Up Department. This request seemed ludicrous, as not only did we not have such a department but also in twenty years of making shows we had never once employed a make-up artist. However, this request did set us thinking, what show would we make if we worked with a make-up artist? The answer is Made Up.

Photo: Graeme Braidwood

It’s been fantastic working in rehearsals with the make-up artist, Andy Whiteoak. Together we have been building a sequence of make-up transformations that morph into each other over the course of 70 minutes, then with the actors we are building our show around these looks. It seems like a backwards way of working but it is leading to some exciting ideas we would never otherwise have thought of.” – James Yarker, Artistic Director.

Running Time 70 minutes

Suitable for ages 14+

On The Web:

@stanscafe | #madeup

www.stanscafe.co.uk

North East Tour Dates:

Tue 24 & Wed 25 May, 7pm - ARC Stockton Arts Centre

01642 525199 / www.arconline.co.uk

Thur 26 May, 7.30pm – Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham

01434 652477 / www.queenshall.co.uk

Tue 31 May, 7.30pm - Saltburn Community Theatre

01287 624997 / www.saltburnarts.co.uk