MayFest Festival, hosted by University of Plymouth Performance

A celebration of theatre and performance
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Join us for a celebration of theatre and performance at The House, University of Plymouth from 20 May until 2 June 2024.
MayFest is a two-week long festival, run by and for the University of Plymouth Performance courses. The festival will include public events and creative workshops, aimed at supporting emerging artists and artist development, attracting new audiences, and creating a platform for networking between students, alumni, and industry professionals. 
MayFest will be followed by a weekend of shows presented by Plymouth Performance, in collaboration with The Arts Institute and Performing Arts, University of Plymouth, these performances will showcase professional emerging and established theatre makers.
See events listing below. 
Date: 20 May – 2 June 2024
Ticket information: Please see individual events for details on what’s on and how to book. 
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Talks and workshops
Students should book for talks and workshops using the links to MyCareer as part of Discovery Weeks 2024. 
For staff, creative practitioners and professionals and members of the public who would like to book a space on one of our talks or workshops, please email mayfest2024@gmail.com to reserve a slot. Please note that certain events have a limited capacity and all slots will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • For the Love of It – Fin Irwin – MayFest talk
    21 May 2024, 10:30-12:00, House Studio
    Book your place
  • Creative Leadership at Theatre Royal Plymouth – Tom Jackson-Greaves – MayFest talk
    21 May 2024, 14:30-16:00, The House Studio
    Book your place
  • Solo Performance Practice and Making – MayFest workshop
    28 May 2024, 10:30-12:00, The House Stage
    Book your place
  • Diaspora Storytelling Workshop – MayFest workshop
    29 May 2024, 10:30-12:00, The House Stage
    Book your place
  • International Touring and Collaboration – MayFest talk and workshop
    29 May 2024, 14:30-16:00, The House Stage
    Book your place
  • Movement and New Writing with Embers Ignite Theatre – MayFest workshop
    31 May 2024, 10:30-12:00, The House Stage
    Book your place

Student performances

Plymouth Performance Weekend
A weekend of shows presented by Plymouth Performance, showcasing professional emerging and established artists, including dance, theatre, spoken word, comedy, storytelling, performance and music.

The House line-up

Tickets £5 or free to University of Plymouth students via SPiA. 

Saturday 1 June

Close Enough by Cristina Varga [Everything But Theatre]
18:00-18:45 – Book your place
Close Enough is an autobiographical solo performance about belonging that challenges stereotypes around immigrant women from Eastern Europe. 
Perception Gap by The Decolonial Salon
19:00-19:45 – Book your place
African Diaspora Performance exploring the psychological pressures of an outsider refugee in exile – who am I? what am I becoming, what do I stand for? he asks. Can he survive by putting flesh on silences?
The Roaming Librarian by Flynn Roberts
20:15-20:45 – Book your place
The wandering librarian is celebration of stories. We meet the eponymous wandering librarian, a being tasked with the mission of walking the earth and giving those who need a story, the story they need. 
Double D's by Lauren Soper
21:00-21:45 – Book your place
Get your dancing shoes on and your gin and lemo in hand...Join Lauren as she navigates opening night of the new 2000s club ‘Double D’s.

Sunday 2 June

The Net by Gotcha Dance
18:00-18:45 – Book your place
An interactive show by Gocha Dance which promotes new awareness and appreciation of the marvellous world of our Nervous System, which codifies the stimulus via sensorial organs and transforms them into messages to connect us with our external world. 
I Don't Like Poetry by Beneath The Tracksuit
19:00-19:45 – Book your place
Robert Gillett aka Beneath The Tracksuit, brings you his creatively unique journey through poetry with poetry. There may be laughs, maybe tears and maybe some poetry.
Work by Claudia Jefferies
20:00-20:45 – Book your place
Work is a piece of experimental performance art that comments on the workforce as an entity, the things we say, and do, and the parts of ourselves we abandon in order to become and remain employed. 
Cat Rose & Jon Fazel
21:00-21:45 – Book your place
Music performance by musicians Cat Rose and Jon Fazal. Cat and Jon’s musical style has been described as 'dreamy catchy melodies that paint pictures in your mind' and 'John Lennon meets Laura Marling’. 
Creative Network Breakfast
1 June 2024, 10:00-12:30, The House (Studio) – Book your free place
Are you a creative based in Plymouth? Want to meet and share with others? Join our relaxed networking breakfast at the launch of Plymouth Performance Weekends. 
The second Plymouth Performance Weekend is hosted at Theatre Royal Plymouth, 6-8 June. See Plymouth Performance for more details.

SOAK Live Art

30 May 2024, 19:00, Leadworks
An experimental performance night featuring a mix of live art, spoken word poetry and music. SOAK showcases live art, dance, theatre and experimental sound and music practice in a regular series of performance nights, alongside artist-led events. The Arts Institute is pleased to be supporting the current series of events and SOAK’s work to connect with local artists and develop audiences beyond mainstream theatre and galleries. 
SOAK Live Art on a multicoloured background

Find out more

The House

Event photography and video

Please be aware that some of the University of Plymouth's public events (both online and offline) may be attended by University staff, photographers and videographers, for capturing content to be used in University online and offline marketing and promotional materials, for example webpages, brochures or leaflets. If you, or a member of your group, do not wish to be photographed or recorded, please let a member of staff know.