New Adventures is delighted to announce the return of Doorstep Duets with two brand new short pieces for 2022: Ding Dong by New Adventures Dance Artist Sophia Hurdley and High Tide by New Adventures Dance Artist Daisy May Kemp.
Doorstep Duets was originally created in 2021 by New Adventures and Farnham Maltings as a response to social isolation. Offering free opportunities where people can enjoy world-class performance in their local neighbourhood, on their street, in local parks, and through community-based organisations. The aim of the project is to bring joy, escapism, and connection, and make dance more accessible to everyone.
For 2022, New Adventures and house are working with a number of venues and arts organisations across the Southeast of England, to bring the pieces to their local community, including: Farnham Maltings; Surrey County Council; Dance Woking; The Old Market, Brighton and Hove; Sussex Dance Network; Margate Pride; Gulbenkian, Canterbury; The Alex, Faversham; Mercury Theatre, Colchester; Dance Network Association; Watford Borough Council; Dacorum Community Dance; BEEE Creative and Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF).
The first free public performances of Ding Dong and High Tide are on Saturday 23 July 2022 at Farnham Maltings and the tour will end at the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival with performances on 10 and 11 September 2022. Further public listings to be announced here.
Escape from the everyday and immerse yourself in the stories, which in true New Adventures style, are lively, characterful, and full of happiness.
Ding Dong by Sophia Hurdley, is a touching duet that tells the story of an unlikely friendship between two detached individuals during unprecedented times.
High Tide by Daisy May Kemp invites you to come to the water’s edge to follow five people’s journeys as they navigate life’s choppy waters. If someone is all at sea we help them back on board, adjust the sails and continue together. No person is an island.
Sophia Hurdley joined New Adventures in 2002 and most recently starred as ‘Irina’ in The Red Shoes in 2019/20. She is a workshop leader for the company and works on the company’s outreach programmes and talent development schemes. Sophia’s choreography credits include: Happy Prince Musical, The Place.
Daisy May Kemp joined New Adventures in 2005 and most recently starred as ‘Queen Candy’ in Nutcracker! and ‘Netta Longdon’ in The Midnight Bell. She has taken on the roles of Dance Captain, Assistant to Tour Director, Resident Artist and Resident Practitioner, as well as working on New Adventures outreach programmes. Her choreography credits include Assistant Choreographer for La Traviata at Glyndebourne and for A Midsummer Night’s Dream at ENO.
The creation of these two pieces has been overseen by New Adventures Associate Artistic Director, Etta Murfitt MBE and New Adventures Take Part Creative Director, Kerry Biggin.
We have an ambition to reach even more people with Doorstep Duets this year and I can’t wait to see how the audiences connect to the work.
Etta Murfitt MBE, Associate Artistic Director
The New Adventures company dancers who will perform both pieces are:
Sam Archer created the title role of Edward Scissorhands in 2005 and more recently the iconic role of Svengali-like Impresario Boris Lermontov in The Red Shoes in 2019. He has also starred in Cinderella, The Car Man and Play Without Words.
Isaac Bowry was a member of young ensemble in Lord of the Flies in 2014. He joined New Adventures for the 2018/19 UK tour of Matthew Bourne’s iconic Swan Lake. He performed in Doorstep Duets in 2021 and most recently the 2021/22 UK tour of Nutcracker! and The Car Man at the Royal Albert Hall.
Madelaine Brennan joined New Adventures in 2003 and appeared in Play Without Words. She has starred in numerous productions including the original cast of Edward Scissorhands in 2005, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Nutcracker! and most recently the original cast of Romeo and Juliet in 2019.
Cameron Flynn was a member of the young ensemble in Lord of the Flies in 2014. He joined New Adventures in 2019 as part of the original cast of Romeo and Juliet. He has also starred in the 2019/20 UK tour of The Red Shoes and most recently the 2021/22 UK tour of Nutcracker! and The Car Man at the Royal Albert Hall.
Savannah Ffrench was a member of the Romeo and Juliet young cast at the Birmingham Hippodrome in 2019. She is making her professional debut and New Adventures debut in Doorstep Duets having completed her training at Performers College.
Ashton Hall was a member of the of young ensemble in Lord of the Flies in 2014, and Romeo and Juliet young cast at Norwich Theatre Royal in 2019. He is making his professional debut and New Adventures debut in Doorstep Duets having completed his training at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Luke Murphyjoined New Adventures in 2006, and most recently starred in Lord of the Flies in 2014. He has also performed in Edward Scissorhands, The Car Man, Swan Lake, Nutcracker! and Sleeping Beauty.
New Adventures partners are Farnham Maltings and house. This programme is supported by Arts Council England.
