Chickenshed
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Chickenshed (formerly known as Chicken Shed or the Chicken Shed Theatre Company) is a British theatre company based in Cockfosters, London. It was founded in 1974 in a disused chicken shed by Mary Ward and Jo Collins. The company produces theatrical and musical productions, performed by children of all backgrounds and abilities. As well as its London base, the company also has several other theatre workshops (known as "sheds") across the British Isles as part of its "Outreach" project.[1] It is registered as a charity under the name The Chickenshed Theatre Trust.
In 1999, company founder Mary Ward won the Creative Britons Award, to acknowledge her 25 years of work with the theatre,[2] while co-founder Jo Collins was awarded the MBE in the 2001 New Year's honours, for services to music.[3] The Chicken Shed theatre group has performed at a number of public events, including Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee celebrations in 2002.[4] A show to commemorate 100 years of J. M. Barrie's children's story Peter Pan was staged by the theatre company at the Albery Theatre, London in 2004, in order to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital.[5]
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[edit] Music
In December 1997, Chicken Shed released a single, entitled I Am In Love With The World, performed by children from the theatre. At bookmaker's odds of 4/1, the song was one of the contenders to become the UK Christmas number-one single.[6] However it reached only #15 in the chart, remaining in the Top 75 for six weeks.[7] The song was included on Diana Princess of Wales Tribute, a charity album recorded following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Diana had been the royal patron of the theatre and it was one of her favourite charities.[8][2]
Late 2003 saw the release of The Chicken Shed Album, a compilation that marked the 30th anniversary of the theatre company. Contributors to the album included supporters of the organisation, such as Cliff Richard, Emma Bunton, Bob Hoskins and Kenneth Branagh, as well as three tracks by Chicken Shed itself. Jo Collins & Chickenshed recorded a song, "Talk Through Me" for the 2007 show tunes album Over the Rainbow, in aid of The Association of Childrens' Hospices.
[edit] Discography
I Am In Love With The World (single, 1997)
- "I Am In Love With the World"
- "Don't Know If I Believe In Christmas"
- "Little Tommy"
The Chicken Shed Album (album, 2003)
- "Watch Me Come Alive" - Cliff Richard
- "As Far as the Eye Can See" - Gabrielle
- "I Am In Love With the World" - Chicken Shed
- "Sometimes" - Emma Bunton
- ""The Wedding Dance" - Dmitry Sitkovetsky
- ""Can I Love Him?" - Sam Brown
- ""Bits and Pieces" - Bob Hoskins
- "Trail My Soul" - Chicken Shed
- "Looking For Love" - Richard O'Brien
- "Will It Happen To Me?" - Barbara Dickson
- "Elijah" - Kenneth Branagh
- "First Love" - Chicken Shed
- "Mad Little Sad Boy" - Kenneth Branagh
- "Still Waters" - Misty Oldland
- "We Need Each Other" - Elaine Paige
- "Dream a We Real Yew" - Kenneth Branagh
[edit] References
- ^ ShedLink. ChickenShed. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
- ^ a b "Entertainment Theatre founder wins award", BBC News, 1999-05-18. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
- ^ "Honours in the arts world", BBC News, 2001-12-31. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
- ^ "Thousands parade for Queen", BBC News, 2002-06-04. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
- ^ "Show marks 100 years of Peter Pan", BBC News, 2004-12-19. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
- ^ "Girl power triumphs for second Christmas", BBC News, 1997-12-21. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
- ^ Roberts, David (editor) (2005). British Hit Singles & Albums, 18th edition, Guinness World Records Limited, p104. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
- ^ Our History. ChickenShed. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
[edit] External links
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