Switch Festival 2022

Spend a night at the theatre with the brightest new talent in Peterborough. One evening filled with a rollercoaster ride of plays, comedy and innovative new work.

Switch Festival 2024 will feature four short shows from up and coming writers, comedians, performers and directors all living and working in Peterborough.

The Switch Artists for 2024 are: Louise Garwood, Meena Dhokia, Ellen Kinsey and Jenna Unwin.

The four shows in Switch Festival include: a comedy about Karens, an apocalyptic farce, a verbatim piece inspired by personal stories and a stand up inspired one woman show exploring growing up and arranged marriage.

The four Switch artists were selected by Lamphouse Theatre from an open callout and are supported by the creative team to create their first piece of professional work. Each sharing will last approximately 20 minutes.

The shows may contain strong language 14+ advisory.

Artist bios:

Louise Garwood

Louise is an actor and theatre maker who has recently graduated from East 15 Acting School. With training in Acting and Community Theatre, Louise is excited to bring her new skills back to her home town of Peterborough. Since graduating in 2023, Louise has toured theatre for young people up and down the country, but is now ready to take the leap into creating her own work.

What’s the show about?

In the UK we have a severe issue which is going under the radar. A huge problem which is getting out of hand…

KARENS!

Karens have become menaces to our society and threaten national peace on a daily basis. These “women of a certain age” bully managers, terrorise the public, and exploit their privilege… Peterborough, it’s about time we stood up to them.

The People vs The Karens is an interactive comedy show where you, the audience, can unite to find a way of defying these ‘bob-wielding’ barbarians.

Will the public get the justice they deserve? Or will Karen come out on top?

Meena Dhokia

Meena lives and works in Peterborough. Ever since she can remember she has always wanted to be on stage or involved in creating something for the stage. Over the last 5 years she has joined and performed with the local amateur dramatics group Peterborough Mask Theatre.

About 2 and half years ago she had a go at doing stand up comedy. This culminated in being selected as a semi finalist for “So You Think You’re Funny 2022” held at the Gilded Balloon at the Edinburgh Fringe. Meena is super excited to have been given the opportunity to be a participant in the 2024 Switch Festival.

What’s the show about?

With the help of Switch and all it offers, Meena is hoping to create the beginnings of a one woman / stand up / comedy show WIP that she can feel confident enough to take to the next Fringe!

Ellen Kinsey

Ellen is incredibly excited to be participating in this year’s Switch Festival! As a performing arts student, she has recently completed her level 4 Diploma in Acting. Ellen has always loved writing scripts and creating her own performances, and has previously directed and performed in self-written plays, however, this will be her first professional experience in producing, which makes her even more thrilled for this opportunity!

What’s the show about?

Every week, a daughter returns home to have dinner with her parents. However, on this particular evening, everything changes when an unexpected announcement reveals that the world is ending in just 20 minutes. In a state of shock and panic, the family reacts in unusual ways, reminiscing about their lives as they try to come to terms with the impending end. Despite their efforts to have one last meal together, chaos ensues as the outside world interferes.

Jenna Unwin

Jenna is a dance and theatre artist based in rural Cambridgeshire. She has many credits as a performer and loves to incorporate true stories from real people in her own work. Jenna has dyspraxia; a neurotype which affects memory, coordination, cognitive processing and movement.  Jenna is a thoughtful, resilient, playful artist who thrives in finding new ways to tell the stories that make the fabric of humanity.

What’s the show about?

“…And then John farted and everybody died.” is a resourceful & energetic re-telling of stories exchanged with Peterborough locals. Using voice, moment and everything at her disposal this show is performed by one woman with a lot of questions; What’s your most embarrassing memory? What makes you laugh until you cry? Who makes you laugh the most? How much time do you spend with them? What are your hopes for the future? What are your hopes for the future of the world? How will it all end? And most importantly… Can a fart smell so bad it could kill you?