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We're delighted to announce the first ever Performance in the Pub event, happening on the 2nd of Feb 2012, at the Crumblin' Cookie at the heart of the city of Leicester. 

The first show will be a double bill of solo story-telling theatre. We put these two shows together because although they go in very different directions, they both start in the same place; with the end of a relationship. Somewhere we've all been.

Tassos Stevens will be performing Jimmy Stewart. Here's how Tassos explains Jimmy Stewart: "it's just a story informally told to you, it's about love, it is funny (in both senses of the word). My favourite quote is "a magical show: tender, questioning, hopeful and sad" by Maddy Costa here."

Tassos is co-director of the Agency of Coney, who take playful and gaming experiences all over the world. He's worked on iPhone games (Papa Sangre), with the National Theatre, the Science Museum, in schools and lots more. Tassos is a warm, funny, and brilliant storyteller, and this show is especially designed for pubs and back rooms. 

Ira Brand will bring us Keine Angst. This is Ira describing it: "It's a funny, touching and very honest piece about fear as something that is designed to protect us but can sometimes hold us back from being who we really want. It's about what it feels like and what it means to be afraid, about sensible fears and illogical anxieties, and, most importantly, about how to be brave."

Ira is a solo performer, as well as a main artist in up and coming collectives like Tinned Fingers and Antique Women. She describes her work as 'handmade', it is often developed alongside audiences, and happens in unusual places. The show is really brilliant, involves some cool playing with a mic/projection, and is about the stuff that scares us.

Doors will open at 7pm, and the shows will start just after 7:30, each show will be 45-60 minutes approx, and there'll be a 25 minute break in between for people to get more drinks!

WHY IN A PUB?

Because we're so bored of all these divisions between art forms. And big shiny buildings that act like cathedrals to art/theatre/etc. They have their place, but the problem is it’s not a place that’s a part of most people’s lives. The pub, on the other hand, is. That’s why a pub. Single-form buildings only work heavily subsidised by either government (arts council) or large-scale commercialism (cinemas, large music venues), or alcohol (small venues). The latter is way more fun, so let’s fill nooks and crannies of these buildings with theatre, performance, dance, exhibitions, craft, music and more. Make our cities exciting, varied places to be. This is our contribution.

HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST? (WHY DONATIONS)

How much does it cost us, or how much does it cost you? Well, basically we are working for free, we pay for the travel, food and accommodation of the performers, who are giving their time for free. All the promotion, printing, deposit for the venue, website building, and everything is upfronted by PitP, and hopefully paid back by the money people donate for tickets. That leads us to:

How much does it cost you? Well actually that’s another important thing, that you can ‘trial’ this stuff, that if you really don’t want to spend a 5ver or whatever on it, that you can just walk in, and sit down, and see what you think, and maybe pay afterwards if you liked it. Or pay next time. That’s why it’s ‘donation based’ ticketing. If you’re looking for a guide price, though, it costs us roughly £450-£500 to put on each show. If we sell out the venue at £5 each ticket then we break even. More is more to roll forward into more print/acts/etc. So if you want to help more happen £5 or over is ACE, you’re effectively only paying £2.50 per nationally or internationally known performance at that price ;) also; buy drinks. More drinks bought = venue deposit back.