Forced Entertainment: Signal to Noise at Lancaster Arts

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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Forced Entertainment: Signal to Noise

Nuffield Theatre, Lancashire
6 November 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Forced Entertainment: Signal to Noise at Lancaster Arts. A man in a wig holding two bottles of wine
Image courtesy of Hugo Glendinning.
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Now in their 40th anniversary year, Forced Entertainment have been at the forefront of developments in theatre and performance for four decades. Renowned internationally for pushing the boundaries of contemporary theatre, we’re thrilled that Lancaster Arts welcome our favourite theatre company back to the Nuffield Theatre, where they’ve regularly performed since 1985.

A heady mix of performance mayhem and theatrical deconstruction, Signal to Noise is a show to celebrate 40 years of Forced Entertainment tearing up the theatrical rulebook. Expect a wondrously fragmented performance of movement, rehearsals, altercations, scenery changes and unexpected weather reports.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Forced Entertainment: Signal to Noise. Image courtesy of Hugo Glendinning.

Six performers, silly wigs, rows of costumes and a stage full of office chairs, pot plants and tables, create a unique space for a compelling discourse between performer and spectator. However, the performers’ voices are not their own but lip-synced language generated by AI. Throughout the 90-minute performance, they summon an uncanny and repetitive world of chatter, patter, unfinished jokes and off-topic interviews. There’s an overarching question of what’s human and what’s not, and what’s real life and what’s just pretending.

The speech and movement is flanked by Tim Etchells’ eclectic soundscape, comprised of everything from filmic atmosphere to noise, xylophones to slowed classical beats, trumpets, grunge guitars and birdsong. However, as with all of Forced Entertainment’s work, the performers – with their energy, inventiveness and rebellion – sit at the heart of the work.

Based in Sheffield, Forced Entertainment have been key players in the development of contemporary theatre language, and the debate on the form itself. The company’s work explores and often explodes the conventions of genre, narrative and theatre itself, drawing influence not just from drama, but from performance art, dance, music culture and popular forms such as cabaret and stand-up. With an impressive archive of groundbreaking experimental work, Forced Entertainment’s longevity and contribution to the growth and development of British theatre is to be commended.

Happy 40th birthday Forced Entertainment. Catch Signal to Noise when the party comes to Lancaster Arts this November.

Where to go near Forced Entertainment: Signal to Noise at Lancaster Arts

Lancaster arts proms
Lancaster
Gallery
Lancaster Arts

Lancaster Arts is Lancaster University’s public contemporary cross-arts organisation and showcasing work that spans boundaries and art forms.

Lancashire
Library
The Ruskin Library, Lancashire

The Ruskin Library is a library of the University of Lancaster which houses the Whitehouse Collection of material relating to the English poet, author and artist John Ruskin and his circle.

GB Antiques Centre, Lancaster
Lancaster
Shop
GB Antiques Centre

GB Antiques Centre is now the country’s biggest indoor antiques and furniture centre, attracting 220,000 visitors every year. Recently extended, and set all on one floor, there’s 120 individual dealers, each with their own specialties, offering an amazing choice and variety of wares.

Lancaster Brewery
Lancaster
Bar or Pub
Lancaster Brewery

Brewhouse & tap with an outdoor beer garden. Tours and tasting sessions are also available at this award-winning brewery.

Lancaster
Bar or Pub
Aquila Pizza

You can order online or over the phone to get your pizza fix. With regular deals on multiple pizzas and breads available for delivery and collection across Lancaster and Morecambe mid-week and weekends then keep your eyes on Aquila’s website and social channels.

Lancashire
Restaurant
The Herbarium

This plant-based cafe and bar serves delicious vegan breakfasts and coffees in the day, before transforming into a fantastic dinner venue in ‘Herb after Dark’.

The Port of Lancaster Smokehouse eatery
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Shop
Port of Lancaster Smokehouse

The Lancaster Smokehouse is a family owned business using traditional methods to smoke foods. It is based on the Lune Estuary in the small village of Glasson Dock.

The Dukes, Lancaster
Lancaster
Theatre
The Dukes

Lancashire’s only producing theatre hosts exciting seasons of work featuring new writing and the classics in a converted church in central Lancaster. The Dukes is also a cinema, hosts gigs, talks and other special events, run a youth theatre and is a popular all day cafe bar.

Lancaster
Event venue
The Storey Creative Industries Centre

Multi-purpose venue comprising an auditorium and lecture theatre, gallery space, café bar, Visitor Information Centre, hireable meeting rooms and conference/events spaces and private offices.

Lancaster
Library
Lancaster Library

Sitting in the heart of Lancaster is the Lancaster Library. When not serving its usual function, this beautiful space is occasionally transformed into an unlikely gig venue.

Lancashire
Bar or Pub
The Stonewell Tap

The Stonewell Tap is a lively craft beer bar on Church Street, Lancaster, which boasts 16 craft beer taps and 4 real hand-pulled ale pumps.

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