Saturday, May 23
13:00 – 13:50: A Chip in the Sugar
Author: Alan Bennett
Group: Rover Rep, Hamburg
A Chip in The Sugar is one of the most popular monologues from Alan Bennett's Talking Heads Series. Middle-aged Graham, who still lives with his mother, finds life becoming complicated when his mother meets an old flame.
The Rover Rep Theatre was established in 2003 by Rebecca Garron as Hamburg's first and only professional pub theatre group. For ten years it provided native English-speaking actors and directors living in Hamburg with the opportunity to work professionally in their native language and to introduce the German public to significant contemporary playwrights writing in English.
14:00 – 14:30: Tech Booth
Author: Daniel J. Karpenchuk
Group: University Players, Hamburg
Eternal Love on the opening night proves to be quite a challenge for Darryl and Christine in the tech booth. The play is so ridiculous that not even the director shows up, the actresses hate each other, Darryl hates his job, Christine hates Darryl’s girlfriend – and and no one ever appreciates the stage managers!
14:40 – 15:10: The Scheme
Author: Mike Riepl
Group: FEST, Frankfurt
On the brink of initiating an infallible, long-planned, money-spinning scheme one of two partners suddenly finds he can’t provide the essential final touches. Tensions rise as his frustrated partner does his utmost to bring The Scheme to a successful conclusion after all. However, a surprise visitor inadvertently brings the conflict to a dramatic head.
15:20 – 15:50: The Night of the Cupid
Author: Giorgi Rossi
Group: InPlayers, Amsterdam
Giorgi Rossi, a Brazilian actor, has been playing the character of Cupid, the God of love, for seventeen years. Here, Cupid appeals for your help and humor to survive with his romantic and happy little monologue about Love.
16:00 – 16:30: Elements of Imperfection
Group: Tat Company, The Hague
This one act performance portrays an array of specifically chosen Shakespeare Sonnets supported by drone sounds of female voices based on ‘Lied von Shakespeare’ by Brahms. The performance uses a psycho-physical approach in which transformation, impulse, imagination and inner and outer gesture are central.
Sunday May 24
13:00-14:00: Body Language workshop
Group: Giorgi Rossi, InPlayers, Amsterdam
When it comes to acting, the way you carry yourself can communicate far more than the words that come out of your mouth. For actors, studying body language is extremely important - to go into the ‘skin of the character’ one needs to look into every aspect of their body language. This workshop seeks a greater understanding of one’s own body and to develop a predicted reading of the others.
14:10 – 14:40: Songs from a Native Son
How better to celebrate FEATS in Hamburg than with some of the world's most popular songs composed, though you may not have known it, by one of Hamburg's native sons? A trio of local actors and singers who have worked with several of Hamburg's English-language theatres will be treating you to some big-band music you're bound to recognize.
14:50 – 15:20: Lane 147 – One Act for Calais
Author: Stuart John Marlow
Group: ACTS, Stuttgart (Performance and scripts in aid of refugee charities)
Calais harbour, once a featureless hurdle on the route to England, is now a vast fortress, protecting vulnerable car ferries against thousands of refugees who are storming the harbour walls. But intrepid midlands motorist, Michael Leslie, shows no fear. Ah, but then there’s a sudden twist to the whole story.
15:30 – 15:45: Who’s on First?
Group: Hamburg Players
This famous Abbott and Costello comedy routine evolved from early 20th century Vaudeville and English music hall routines using comic misunderstandings of names and words. The subject, baseball, touches a cultural nerve in the United States and the routine runs in a continuous loop at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
15:45 – 16:00: Audition
Author: David Crowe
Group: Tagora
This play was inspired by the Theatres Act of 1968, which abolished the powers of the Lord Chamberlain to censor stage performances in Britain. This sketch takes place about a year later, when theatrical liberties had become a part of life for those in the business – but but maybe not for the aspiring performers.
16:10 – 16:40: Bedtime
Author: Mary Gallagher
Group: Hamburg Players
It’s that time of day when you’re supposed to sleep but can’t because your mind is exploding with too many thoughts. Kitty and Tina, two pre-teen sisters in the 1950’s, ponder Life’s big questions such as: what does forever mean? The Hamburg Players Madeleine Lange and Elena Kaufman present this heart-warming one-act play.
Monday May 25
15:00 – 15:30: Jane O’Brien and Band
Jane presents her own brand of gutsy songs: a spicy mix of jazz and pop, with chilled out beats and Irish roots tempered with passion and a wry look at where we are at today. She is backed by four top-class musicians: Torge Niemann on guitar, Ralf Kamphuis on vibraphone, Karlo Buerschaper on bass and Björn Puls on drums. Cool jazz pop with a very warm heart.
15:40 – 16:10: Love, Loss and What I Wore
Authors: Nora and Delia Ephron
Group: Hamburg Players, Hamburg
Ellen Bergman, Valerie Doyle, Rebecca Garron, Carol Kloevekorn and Amy Lee perform a series of monologues and ensemble pieces about women, clothes and memory covering all the important subjects: mothers, prom’ dresses, mothers, buying bras, mothers, hating purses and why we only wear black.
16:20: FEATS Skit
The one and only, the legendary! Don’t miss the traditional Festival revue.