Don't miss the latest show from Sydenham's own professional theatre company Spontaneous Productions!
Telling the incredible story of former Sydenham resident Sir Ernest Shackleton and his perilous voyage to the antarctic between 1914-16 ENDURANCE: THE ERNEST SHACKLETON STORY will run for 6 performances only at St Bart's Church, Westwood Hill, next to the Shackleton family home. (SE26 6QR)
Written and directed by Jonathan Kaufman, with additional scenes by members of the company's ScriptHub workshops, this promises to be the company's most ambitious and entertaining show yet.
Tickets are now on sale here: https://spontaneousproductions.co.uk/ev ... pril-2025/
Shows at 7.30pm Fri 25/Sat 26/Sun 27 April and Fri 2/Sat 3/Sun 4 May, performances last approx 2 hrs including interval.
Please note the show is suitable for adults and older children (some intense scenes, mild bad language, implied offstage violence), so parental guidance is recommended.
Advance booking is recommended, with remaining tickets on the door subject to availability.
Endurance: The Ernest Shackleton Story at St Bart's Church 25 April-4 May
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Spontaneous
- Posts: 170
- Joined: 29 Jul 2015 21:22
- Location: Sydenham
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Spontaneous
- Posts: 170
- Joined: 29 Jul 2015 21:22
- Location: Sydenham
Re: Endurance: The Ernest Shackleton Story at St Bart's Church 25 April-4 May
Important update!
We are thrilled to announce that for the performance on Saturday 3rd May we will be joined by guest of honour Mensun Bound, the Director of Exploration on the two expeditions to the Weddell Sea which led to the rediscovery of The Endurance in March 2022.
Mensun will be taking part in a Q&A session after the performance. He will also be selling and signing copies of his Sunday Times best-seller, ‘The Ship Beneath the Ice’, which chronicles the quest to find the wreck.
As we expect tickets to sell very fast for this event, we highly recommend booking in advance here:
https://spontaneousproductions.co.uk/ev ... pril-2025/
Tickets may be available on the door, subject to availability, from 30 minutes before the performance.
Thank you!
We are thrilled to announce that for the performance on Saturday 3rd May we will be joined by guest of honour Mensun Bound, the Director of Exploration on the two expeditions to the Weddell Sea which led to the rediscovery of The Endurance in March 2022.
Mensun will be taking part in a Q&A session after the performance. He will also be selling and signing copies of his Sunday Times best-seller, ‘The Ship Beneath the Ice’, which chronicles the quest to find the wreck.
As we expect tickets to sell very fast for this event, we highly recommend booking in advance here:
https://spontaneousproductions.co.uk/ev ... pril-2025/
Tickets may be available on the door, subject to availability, from 30 minutes before the performance.
Thank you!
-
Spontaneous
- Posts: 170
- Joined: 29 Jul 2015 21:22
- Location: Sydenham
Re: Endurance: The Ernest Shackleton Story at St Bart's Church 25 April-4 May
Good morning!
There are just TWO more performances of ENDURANCE; THE ERNEST SHACKLETON STORY this weekend - Fri 2 & Sun 4 May, as the Sat 3 May performance, featuring a Q&A with Mensun Bound, the man who found the Endurance, is now sold out. Tickets for the remaining performances here https://spontaneousproductions.co.uk/ev ... pril-2025/
Performances at 7.30pm, suitable for adults and older children (see website for details). Please arrive early (no later than 7.10pm) to get the best seats.
Audiences have been hugely impressed with our latest production, with comments including:
Absolutely loved the Shackleton performance this eve! Brought my elderly neighbour down who really loved it too. Thanks for putting it on, I’ll keep an eye out for future productions and offer my hand as a volunteer when opportunities arise! (Posted on Instagram)
We saw your impressive production of Endurance last night. It was the 1st time we'd seen any of your productions and I want to make sure I don't miss your next one. (by email)
Excellent use of lecterns to tell the story; Great to hear the other characters summing up at the end!
A truly innovative and imaginative telling of the Endurance story. Very well acted, great interplay across the roles. Well done
This was so great - an evening to remember for sure and evocative to be next door to his childhood home.
Brilliant to see Shackleton’s story in Sydenham
VERY ENJOYABLE
It was fantastic - thanks all of you!
Excellent, thought provoking. Acting very creative
A VERY GOOD PRODUCTION
WONDERFUL WELL DONE
Very imaginative - great performance!
Absolutely fantastic - loved it
It was truly excellent
A triumph! Well done all!
Thanks for a wonderful show
Excellent show, excellent cast
Inspiring! Thank you
Great characters. Nice atmosphere. Loved the church venue
Great show!
And here's a review from Judith Banbury-Silk of Morley College Writers Group:
I thought I would write to thank you for the production of the play about Ernest Shackleton which I saw on Saturday 26th April at St Bartholomew's Church.
I've attended several of your plays before and this exemplified the high standard of writing, directing, staging and production of Spontaneous Productions.
It was educative, informative and moving.
I admired the excellent choice of venue in the locality of Shackleton's family and upbringing.
The inclusion of scenes from Shackleton's childhood gave us an insight into his experience of ill-treatment and discrimination.
The depiction of the obstacles - including funding - Shackleton had to overcome before setting up the expedition was impressive.
You demonstrated the hardships of the expedition itself including having to sail into unknown territories
The performances were wonderful - there were skilled adaptations between scenes and costume changes
The writing was lucid, convincing and powerful.
The staging was innovative, the sound effects were powerful.
The images using the 'magic lantern' on the backdrop were really effective.
Shackleton's heroism was depicted tempered by all its flaws giving a fully-rounded character.
Watching the performance was an amazing experience.
Thank you
Judith
There are just TWO more performances of ENDURANCE; THE ERNEST SHACKLETON STORY this weekend - Fri 2 & Sun 4 May, as the Sat 3 May performance, featuring a Q&A with Mensun Bound, the man who found the Endurance, is now sold out. Tickets for the remaining performances here https://spontaneousproductions.co.uk/ev ... pril-2025/
Performances at 7.30pm, suitable for adults and older children (see website for details). Please arrive early (no later than 7.10pm) to get the best seats.
Audiences have been hugely impressed with our latest production, with comments including:
Absolutely loved the Shackleton performance this eve! Brought my elderly neighbour down who really loved it too. Thanks for putting it on, I’ll keep an eye out for future productions and offer my hand as a volunteer when opportunities arise! (Posted on Instagram)
We saw your impressive production of Endurance last night. It was the 1st time we'd seen any of your productions and I want to make sure I don't miss your next one. (by email)
Excellent use of lecterns to tell the story; Great to hear the other characters summing up at the end!
A truly innovative and imaginative telling of the Endurance story. Very well acted, great interplay across the roles. Well done
This was so great - an evening to remember for sure and evocative to be next door to his childhood home.
Brilliant to see Shackleton’s story in Sydenham
VERY ENJOYABLE
It was fantastic - thanks all of you!
Excellent, thought provoking. Acting very creative
A VERY GOOD PRODUCTION
WONDERFUL WELL DONE
Very imaginative - great performance!
Absolutely fantastic - loved it
It was truly excellent
A triumph! Well done all!
Thanks for a wonderful show
Excellent show, excellent cast
Inspiring! Thank you
Great characters. Nice atmosphere. Loved the church venue
Great show!
And here's a review from Judith Banbury-Silk of Morley College Writers Group:
I thought I would write to thank you for the production of the play about Ernest Shackleton which I saw on Saturday 26th April at St Bartholomew's Church.
I've attended several of your plays before and this exemplified the high standard of writing, directing, staging and production of Spontaneous Productions.
It was educative, informative and moving.
I admired the excellent choice of venue in the locality of Shackleton's family and upbringing.
The inclusion of scenes from Shackleton's childhood gave us an insight into his experience of ill-treatment and discrimination.
The depiction of the obstacles - including funding - Shackleton had to overcome before setting up the expedition was impressive.
You demonstrated the hardships of the expedition itself including having to sail into unknown territories
The performances were wonderful - there were skilled adaptations between scenes and costume changes
The writing was lucid, convincing and powerful.
The staging was innovative, the sound effects were powerful.
The images using the 'magic lantern' on the backdrop were really effective.
Shackleton's heroism was depicted tempered by all its flaws giving a fully-rounded character.
Watching the performance was an amazing experience.
Thank you
Judith