About Théâtre Volière
Originally formed in Strasbourg, Théâtre Volière is a London based theatre and production company, making original plays, dance theatre and inter-disciplinary work, often in collaboration with other European artists and institutions.
Visit www.theatrevoliere.com/
Read Director Mick Wood's interview here
THE JUDGES
MARK BALDWIN OBE
MARK BALDWIN OBE
MARK BALDWIN OBE
Mark Baldwin was born in Lautoka, Fiji, in the South Pacific, and later raised and educated in New Zealand. Here he pursued a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Auckland, while studying both classical and contemporary dance.
He danced with Limbs Dance Company, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Australian Dance Theatre before joining Lond
Mark Baldwin was born in Lautoka, Fiji, in the South Pacific, and later raised and educated in New Zealand. Here he pursued a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Auckland, while studying both classical and contemporary dance.
He danced with Limbs Dance Company, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Australian Dance Theatre before joining London’s Ballet Rambert in 1979. Baldwin later left to became resident choreographer at Sadler’s Wells, where he established the Mark Baldwin Dance Company (1993 – 2001) creating over 40 works for both his own and other major dance companies nationally and internationally.
Awards
- Bonnie Bird Choreographic Award (1992)
- Time Out Award for Dance (1995)
- Southbank Show Award for 'The Bird Sings With its Fingers' (2001)
- French Grand Prix Award for Film for ‘Echo’ (1996), a collaboration with visual artist Anish Kapoor and composer Brian Ellas
- Arts Council England Dance Artist Fellowship for Outstanding Contribution to Dance (2002)
- Director of Rambert 2002 - 2018, winning 15 Critics' Circle Awards, 5 Olivier nominations and two Olivier Awards with numerous other nominations.
- 2019 De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance.
- 2019 Embodied Knowledge Mark's first solo visual art exhibition at Bermondsey Project Space London
Works
The Bird Sings With It's Fingers, Mark Baldwin Dance Company music by Julian Anderson.
Towards Poetry for The Royal Ballet staring Darcey Bussell with music by Julian Anderson.
Labyrinth for StaatsOper Ballet Berlin, music by Hans Werner Henze, set and costumes by Anish Kapoor.
Ae Fond Kiss for Scottish Ballet, music Stravinsky The Fairy's Kiss.
Banter Banter for Rambert music by Stravinsky, costumes by Issey Miyake.
Constant Speed commissioned by the Institute of Physics for Rambert music by Lehar.
Eternal Light for Rambert music by Howard Goodall.
The Wedding, Royal New Zealand Ballet, written by Whiti Ihimaera.
Comedy of Change with artist Kader Attia, music by Julian Anderson.
Seven For a Secret Never to be Told for Rambert with designs by Michael Howells.
What Wild Ecstasy for Rambert, Olympiad commission with music by Gavin Higgins.
The Strange Charm of Mother Nature for Rambert existing music by Bach, Stravinsky with original score by Cheryl Frances- Hoad, costumes by Stevie Stewart and Mark Baldwin.
Dark Arteries for Rambert original music by Gavin Higgins, set design Michael Howells, costumes by Stevie Stewart.
Not a Cloud in the Sky for Saarland State Theater, Saarbrücken Germany. Music; Mahler 4th Symphony,
M is For Man for Dance Groep Amsterdam, music by Louis Andriessen, costumes by Michael Howells.
In 2016, was awarded an OBE for his service to dance.
MARTIN FIGURA
MARK BALDWIN OBE
MARK BALDWIN OBE
Martin Figura was born in Liverpool and lives in Norwich. He is an award-winning poet as well as a portrait and social documentary photographer.
Performing poetry is what he likes best. He was a founder member of the poetry ensemble The Joy of Six in 2000, performing extensively with them in the UK and New York. He has gone on to tour the
Martin Figura was born in Liverpool and lives in Norwich. He is an award-winning poet as well as a portrait and social documentary photographer.
Performing poetry is what he likes best. He was a founder member of the poetry ensemble The Joy of Six in 2000, performing extensively with them in the UK and New York. He has gone on to tour the UK, Europe, Canada and India with several highly-acclaimed one-man shows based on his own collections, always pushing at the boundaries between spoken word and theatre.
His show Whistle won the Saboteur 2013 Best Spoken Word Show and was nominated for the Ted Hughes Award. His show Dr Zeeman’s Catastrophe Machine was shortlisted for the 2018 Saboteur Award. Shed, his most theatrical show to date, developed in association with Theatre Voliere and Norwich Arts Centre, will be performed at the Poetry Plays festival 2024.
Martin’s photography has been widely published and exhibited, including at the National Portrait Gallery.
Poetry
Whistle, Arrowhead Press 2010 (re-issued 2018 by Cinnamon Press)
Boring the Arse Off Young People, Nasty Little Press, 2010
Arthur, Nasty Little Press, 2010
Dr Zeeman’s Catastrophe Machine, Cinnamon Press, 2016
Shed, Gatehouse Press, 2016
My Name is Mercy, Fair Acre Press, 2022
Photography & essays
This Man’s Army, Dewi Lewis Publishing, Stockport, 1998
Work-Space-Work, A Happen Publication, Bedfordshire, 2007
Links
Visit Martin’s poetry website and his photography website
Read Penelope Shuttle’s review of Whistle
Listen to Martin reading his work on the Poet Casting website
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