Welcome to ACT Aberdeen's crowdfunding page for our amateur production of
Cabaret! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and (hopefully)
supporting this wonderful show!
Introduction
Cabaret is set in a
glamourous yet seedy nightclub in 1930s Germany as the Nazi party begins its
rise to power. Acting as an allegory about the way people become bystanders and
ignore the evil going on around them, the show explores how quickly, and with
such little resistance, Berlin became unsafe for the Jewish and homosexual
communities. This is represented by the struggle of many of the performers and
guests at the fictional Kit Kat Klub within the show.
We see this show
as a perfect way to mark and reflect on a monumental anniversary and act as a
clear call to action in the present; focusing on the contemporary relevance of
the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, and considering our individual
responsibilities not to be bystanders to hate crime and prejudice.
Our vision for Cabaret
is to create an immersive piece of theatre that defies convention and will blur the lines between performance and
spectator. We hope to give the audience an experience that feels more like they
are entering a real life cabaret in 1930’s Germany, rather than an evening at
the theatre. This will be the first time we
have attempted
a production on this scale in our 50 year history.
What You Get
We have a range of perks on offer for supporters,
including exclusive first night tickets, which are not available anywhere
else, and invitations to our first night party.
About Us
ACT Aberdeen is a charity which provides
facilities, expertise, training and support, enabling the people of Aberdeen to
experience and participate in performing arts at
all levels. We believe in the power
of the arts to change and enrich lives, and we believe everyone should have the
opportunity to access and take part in high quality arts experiences. Our aims
are to:
- To provide a distinctive cultural offer with
diversity, engagement and accessibility at our core.
- To champion, support and celebrate local
talent.
- To increase and develop audiences and users.
- To provide opportunities for learning at all
levels.
- To create the best possible physical
environment for the creation, presentation, participation and enjoyment of
the arts, one that is accessible, sustainable and at the heart of the
community.
More than 100,000 people pass through ACT
Aberdeen's doors each year, with over 40 professional, amateur and youth
companies relying on us as the only mid-scale theatre venue in the North East
of Scotland.
About the Production
From the
moment audience members pass through the front doors of the building, they will
be immediately transported into the world of 1930’s Berlin and the Kit Kat
Klub.
To commemorate Holocaust Memorial
Day in 2016 ACT Aberdeen are producing a unique event, of which Cabaret, the
musical, will be the centrepiece. Based on John Van Druten's play ‘I Am a
Camera’, adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s short novel ‘Goodbye to Berlin’,
‘Cabaret’ is set in early 1930s Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power. The
seedy Kit Kat Club is at the centre of the action, and features 19-year-old
English cabaret performer Sally Bowles and her relationship with young American
writer Cliff Bradshaw.
A sub-plot involves a doomed romance between German boarding house owner
Fräulein Schneider and a Jewish fruit vendor Herr Schultz. The Master of
Ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub oversees the action, and the club serves as a
metaphor for ominous political developments in late Weimar Germany.
The venue will be transformed to look like a
nightclub with a 1930s style burlesque and entertainment during the interval,
and before and after the performance. To counterpoint the lighter
entertainment of the musical and burlesque offerings, our exhibitions spaces will
host an experiential journey of life in the concentration camps, giving
participants a vivid impression of the suffering of those who perished in the
Nazi gas chambers. The exhibition will take people on a journey from the Nazi
holocaust through the fifteen confirmed acts of mass genocide since the end of
World War Two, drawing attention to the fact that, to this day, acts of mass
murder by states are still continuing, despite a United Nations vow, in 1945,
that they must never occur again.
ACT Aberdeen is working with the award winning,
London based team of David Adkin and Derek Anderson in order to stage this
amateur production. David is a theatre producer whose shows have been seen in both
London’s West End and Internationally. Derek is a theatre director and designer
originally from Aberdeen, who started his theatre career with us at ACT
Aberdeen at the age of 15. Together,
they created the sell-out and critically acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd:
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in London starring David Bedella. The show was
the inaugural production at the Twickenham Theatre and was the Winner of the
Best Off-West End Production and nominated for Best Musical Revival at the 2015
Whatsonstage Awards.
Risks & Challenges
This is an ambitious amateur production for ACT Aberdeen and demonstrates our desire to
create truly different and exciting theatrical productions in Aberdeen. Risks
will be mitigated by working with an experienced Director and Producer, as well
as a superb cast and our talented in house production team.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you are unable to help financially at this time, there are other ways you can support ACT Aberdeen: