End of year round-up

It’s been quite a year for On The Run.  Last year, I didn’t even have the confidence to refer to us as ‘On The Run’ because On The Run was really just Hannah and I in a dingy rehearsal room, scratching our heads and crossing our fingers that this show we were making would turn out OK. 

The Edinburgh Fringe changed all that.  We performed our show So It Goes to a lot of people and they reacted in exactly the way we had hoped: by crying, laughing and sharing their own stories of loss.  We can’t wait to take the show on tour next year. 

We’ve just announced our first London date, at Clapham Omnibus on January 29^th, with more performances to follow in the Spring.

Recently, we’ve shared some of our approaches to Autobiographical Theatre in a workshop for IdeasTap members and we’ll be doing the same again, in a workshop on February 14^th at Vaults Festival.  It’s free and participants get discounted tickets for performances at Vaults that day.

2014 was also the year we launched No Such Thing, our night of short-form theatre, in partnership with our good friends Rhum and Clay Theatre Company and the New Diorama.  No Such Thing #1 ran in February with six amazing acts and #2 was just last week, when we performed our own brand new piece ‘Greek Tragedy’: a lovingly, deranged spoof of theatre’s most murderous genre.  We’ll be bringing No Such Thing back next year and it will keep giving a platform to bold, short-form work and new, exciting collaborations.

Hannah and I started making So It Goes way back in 2012.  But 2014 was the year we came into the world.  Let’s raise a glass to everyone who helped us get there including, of course, to all our audiences.

Finally, here’s to 2015 when we’ll be performing So It Goes in London, around the UK and maybe even back in Edinburgh, if you’re lucky!  We’ll be running more workshops.  No Such Thing will be back for more.  And we’ll start work on a new show... more news on that soon!

Much love, David (and Hannah) xx

PS We’d like to wish you a happy Christmas with this five minute slice of joy.

So It Goes comes to London in January

We are very excited to announce our first London date for So It Goes!

We'll be bringing the show to Clapham Omnibus on January 29th for a one-off performance, with more London and UK dates to be announced in the new year.

The Omnibus is one of the friendliest venues we've ever visited, so we're delighted to be performing there!  Tickets are available here.

To find out more about So It Goes and to see what the critics said at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, click here.

Boredom

We've got a real treat for you this morning.

Fresh from its premiere at No Such thing last week, we bring you Boredom, a short animated film by Chris Harrisson.

When Chris isn't working with his company Rhum and Clay, he's only co-running No Such Thing with me or designing our So It Goes posters and flyers.

Hit him up at www.haveyoulostme.com or @haveyoulostme

No Such Thing photos

Thanks to Mihaela Bodlovic for these photos from last week's No Such Thing.  Six amazing acts, including our loving spoof 'Greek Tragedy'!

The acts at No Such Thing #2 were:

Alicia Kidman and co. - Oscillations
Chris Harrisson - Boredom
Les Soeurs Souches - Ka-Tchang!
Finger and Thumb - Blues Bear
Fye and Foul - Cathedral
On The Run Run vs. Milk Teeth with friends - Greek Tragedy

Credits for Greek Tragedy:

Performed by Hannah Moss, Chris Harrisson, Olivia Rose, Charlotte Farmar, Rachel Lincoln
Directed by Kristoffer Huball and David Ralfe
Devised by the company

No Such Thing approacheth - December 7 & 8

Oh, look!  It’s our lovely flyer for No Such Thing.  Six fantastic acts in one evening.  The last one sold out in advance, so book ahead now!

Flyer design by Chris Harrisson aka @haveyoulostme

IdeasTap workshop

We're excited to announce that we're running a workshop on 'Approaches to autobiographical theatre-making' for IdeasTap members in London on November 29.

We'll be exploring how we can use our own lived experiences - from the extraordinary to the everyday - to make theatre which is inventive and universal, giving an insight into how we made So It Goes and also borrowing from David's Lecoq training.

It's a free workshop is open to anyone with an interest in making theatre, professional or otherwise. You need to be a member of the IdeasTap network to sign up but that's also free and straightforward.

Sign up for the workshop here.

No Such Thing line-up announced!

We're delighted to announce the line-up for the next No Such Thing at the New Diorama Theatre on December 7 and 8.

We'll be featuring dance, mask and clown theatre, hand shadow puppetry, multimedia performance and spoken word.  David and Hannah will also be creating a brand new piece for the night, as part of a fantastic ensemble of Lecoq performers.

The full line-up...

Alicia Kidman presents Oscillations, a playful collaboration between dancers and live double bass.

Les Soeurs Souches, a slapstick duo fresh out of the Jacques Lecoq School in Paris, present Ka-Tchang! in which two warring sisters fight over loose change.

Finger and Thumb Theatre Company present dazzling hand shadow puppetry in Blues Bear.

Tom Wainwright brings Barry The Beaver, a no-nonsense poetry-slamming beaver.

Fye and Foul share Cathedral, an immersive audio piece to be experienced in near-darkness.

On The Run’s David Ralfe, in collaboration with Kristoffer Huball aka Milk Teeth (with help from a fabulous ensemble of performers) present Greek Tragedy, a darkly comic and partially deranged tribute to Western theatre’s most murderous genre.

No Such Thing is a home for bold, short-form theatre, curated by On The Run's David Ralfe and Rhum and Clay Theatre Company's Christopher Harrisson.  Twice a year, we put out an open call for applications and curate an eclectic line-up of short, self-contained pieces from across the theatrical spectrum.

We had an enormous number of responses, so thanks to everyone who applied to be a part of it.

The last No Such Thing sold out well in advance, so book ahead here!

RIP The Spaceape

A couple of years ago, Hannah and I were panicking about what to name our theatre company.  Our first work in progress performance of So It Goes was a few days away and we didn’t yet have a name to put in the programme.

So It Goes is about Hannah’s dad’s battle with cancer and on the way to rehearsal one day I found myself listening to an EP by vocalist and poet The Spaceape, which dissects his own battle with a rare form of the disease. 

“Living out my life like I’m on the run” was the refrain which stuck in my head and it’s where we get our name. 

Running already featured prominently in the show because Hannah’s dad loved running.  This, along with Spaceape’s take on living with cancer as living life ‘on the run’ meant it felt like the perfect name for us.

Stephen Samuel Gordon aka The Spaceape died this week from his illness and I want to share the track with you.

RIP The Spaceape.

David

Up next: So It Goes tour and No Such Thing

We've almost recovered from our exhausting but exhilarating Edinburgh Fringe.  So what next?

A few people have been in touch to ask about future plans for So It Goes and we can reveal that we're working with Tom Searle at Show And Tell Productions to put together a Spring Tour for next year. We'll hope to announce tour dates over the next few months, so stay tuned!

Before then, we're delighted to be bringing No Such Thing back to the New Diorama Theatre in partnership with Rhum and Clay Theatre Company.

We piloted No Such Thing in February and we're delighted to announce that it is set to become a regular fixture at the New Diorama, extending to two nights.

No Such Thing is a showcase of short-form physical, visual and experimental theatre pieces which we curate and occasionally perform in, alongside Rhum and Clay.

The first No Such Thing featured puppetry, clowning and physical theatre and you can bet the next will be just as varied and exciting.

The first No Such Thing completely sold out in advance, so book ahead for the next one, taking place on Sunday 7 and Monday 8 December.

If you're a theatre-maker with a piece you'd like to perform at No Such Thing, get in touch asap! Application pack is here.

Finally...

Our No Such Thing comrades and ex-Lecoq classmates Rhum and Clay have a new show called 64 Squares opening on 23 September at the New Diorama.  Book here!

So long, farewell.

Thank you Edinburgh Fringe.  This has been amazing.

Two years ago – exactly two years, because we were in Edinburgh on the last day of the festival – Hannah told me she wanted to make a show about her dad.  We’ve been working on it ever since.

We can’t express how happy we are that So It Goes has entertained and moved people.  We’re delighted that a show which is so personal has had such a universal resonance.  Nowhere but Edinburgh would an unknown company like us have the chance to share their work with the kinds of audiences we have enjoyed.

For a long time On The Run was just Hannah and me, scratching our heads and wondering if we’d ever pull this off.  More recently, we’ve been lucky to have an amazing team around us, so thanks to our Designer Emma, our long-suffering Stage Manager Lucy, Lighting-Designer-and-more Celia, champion Flyerers Charlotte, Katie and Nikki, Simon The Godfather and the remarkable Nancy Poole.  We couldn’t have done it without you.

Please stay tuned to this blog, our website and our Twitter feed for news about So It Goes and On The Run. 

Finally, A Big Hand For The Audience. Really.

So It Goes - Edinburgh Fringe round-up

So It Goes sold out its final fourteen performances.  Thank you to our wonderful audiences (and our tireless flyering team!)

Here’s a round up of what people have said about the show.

The Times

«««««

“I've never seen a depiction of grief which is as deft, daring, amusing and moving as this one."

We also had Five Star reviews in Three Weeks, Broadway Baby and British Theatre Guide.

The Telegraph

««««

"This young company have a very bright future"

The Independent

««««

"One of this year's breakthrough shows.... a perfectly-formed fringe-sized gem."

The Scotsman

««««

"A powerful expression of what happens in those moments when words fail us."

Evening Standard

««««

"I told myself I wouldn’t cry – and held firm until the final five minutes."

Fest (Matt Trueman)

««««

"A gorgeous, expansive tribute"

We also had Four Star reviews from The Skinny, The Stage, A Younger Theatre, The Student Newspaper, Fringe Biscuit and Public Reviews.

The Guardian interviewed Hannah for this feature on how the death of her father inspired the show.

Dominic Maxwell (The Times), Lyn Gardner (The Guardian), Matt Trueman (Fest), Jake Orr (A Younger Theatre founder) and the BBC named So It Goes in their round-ups of must-see shows throughout the festival.

Ellen Davis-Walker wrote a beautiful piece for e-journal Bleak Bleak Bleak, exploring the nature of mourning via our show.  (Click here and go to page 25).

We even had a personal hero of mine come and see us...!

I saw an amazing show today called So It Goes, at the underbelly everyday at 5.30pm. I can't recommend it enough #soitgoes
— Josie Long (@JosieLong) August 8, 2014

Finally, here's what our audiences said:

Pffff BROKEN by @ontheruntheatre 'SO IT GOES' @FollowTheCow Beautiful show in so many ways. Well done and thank you for sharing your story
— James Cooney (@jkcooney) August 21, 2014

Cried my eyes out at @ontheruntheatre #soitgoes - my pick of the fringe this year. (And I usually only cry at great sporting achievements)
— Samuel Dent (@samuel_dent) August 21, 2014

@ontheruntheatre #SoItGoes is the most honest and touching show I've seen this Fringe. Utterly moved. @FollowTheCow @edfringe #unbored
— Handshake Uppercut (@HandshakeCut) August 21, 2014

Still recovering from #soitgoes : so beautiful. So gently, cleanly beautiful. Gosh, @hoganem & @matttrueman were right to recommend #edfest
— KateMaltby (@KateMaltby) August 17, 2014

One of the best shows I've seen, audience (and me) in floods of tears, #soitgoes, hard one to beat #fringe
— Eriko Kobayashi (@Berikoful) August 16, 2014

The most beautiful, imaginative, emotional & ultimately life-affirming show you will see at this year's #fringe! #soitgoes @ontheruntheatre
— Jason Hewitt (@JasonHewitt123) August 16, 2014

Brilliant and moving performance from @ontheruntheatre of #soitgoes had me laughing one moment and crying the next. Go see! #EdFringe
— Helen Raynham (@HRaynham) August 16, 2014

Well, @OnTheRunTheatre's #SoItGoes was wonderful. I might not watch any more theatre this Fringe and just leave on an incredible high.
— Rachel Burnham (@RachieBurnham) August 23, 2014

The home straight

The end is near.  Just two performances to go and only a handful of tickets left for each.  (Book ahead here!)

Our latest review is Four Stars from Fiona Mountford in the Evening Standard (read here).

Everything I’d like to say at this point is already said in this excellent piece by Lyn Gardner called ‘A Big Hand For The Audience’.

Holkham Beach, Norfolk

Photos from our research trip to Holkham Beach, Norfolk a few months ago.

So It Goes continues at 5.30pm today at Underbelly, Cowgate with just a few tickets left our last three performances.

Critics' Twitter Round-Up

So It Goes has sold out its last few performances with only a few tickets left for today, so do book ahead for 5.30pm at Underbelly, Cowgate.

Meanwhile, on this morning's blog, I'm rounding up what the critics have said in 140 characters...

Dominic Maxwell, The Times

My favourite show of #edfringe so far: So It Goes, extraordinary debut from @ontheruntheatre. Review: http://t.co/NgkL7MGHPe #TimesReview
— Dominic Maxwell (@dominicjmaxwell) August 8, 2014

Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

So it Goes @FollowTheCow is ingenious exploration of coping with grief which tries to find a way to say what cannot be spoken
— lyngardner (@lyngardner) August 9, 2014

Jake Orr, A Younger Theatre

Still feeling weepy from So It Goes by @ontheruntheatre, I haven't cried that much at theatre in years. Tender, joyous & heartbreaking
— Jake Orr (@jakeyoh) August 16, 2014

Susan Mansfield, The Scotsman

First play at #edfringe2014 that left the critic in serious need of Kleenex. Nice work #soitgoes @FollowTheCow!
— Susan Mansfield (@wordsmansfield) August 4, 2014

Matt Trueman, Fest Theatre Editor

Another year, another show about a dead father that's left me a bawling mess. So It Goes at Underbelly is a beautiful little thing.
— Matt Trueman (@matttrueman) August 7, 2014

Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard

Was right not to wear mascara to #soitgoes @FollowTheCow. Weepy, wonderful and uplifting all at once.
— Fiona Mountford (@FionaLondonarts) August 8, 2014

Four Stars in The Telegraph, The Independent, The Skinny & Fringe Biscuit

We had a whole slew of reviews and press yesterday, including Four Star reviews from The Telegraph, The Independent, The Skinny and Fringe Biscuit, whilst the BBC listed So It Goes as one of nine Edinburgh 'Hot Tickets'.

In The Telegraph, Laura Barnett wrote:

"A couple of times each summer, the Fringe throws up a surprise hit: a gem of a show, from an unknown company, that sets tongues wagging and audiences flocking...

This is a gorgeous, profoundly moving show, and one that suggests this young company have a very bright future."

For The Independent, Holly Williams called So It Goes:

"one of this year's breakthrough shows" and "a perfectly formed fringe-sized gem".

For The Skinny, Leonie Walters writes:

"On the Run prove that the line between grief counselling and Fringe theatre may be so fine as to be non-existent.  The piece becomes a thing of both visual and narrative beauty as well as a therapeutic tool."

So It Goes sold out again yesterday and tickets for today are going quickly, so book ahead here for today's show at 5.30pm at Underbelly, Cowgate!

Here's to you

Yesterday we bade farewell to our Designer Emma Tompkins, as she boarded a train back to the Real World.  It’s been an absolute joy collaborating with Emma.  We’ve always had a lot of visual ideas for the show but Emma allowed us to take them to the next level, as well as adding a ton of her own. 

We’re delighted to have found a Designer who’s so willing to play with us. As soon as she came on board, we felt the rehearsal room lift. 

So here’s to Emma Tompkins: Designer of Shows, Maker of Things, Inventor of Games.

Five Stars in Broadway Baby

Our latest review is FIVE STARS in Broadway Baby.  Reviewer Thea Hawlin described the show as "visually stunning, deeply moving and beautifully executed".  Read the full review here.

We had a lovely day off yesterday, despite Hurricane Bertha.  (Only in Edinburgh would I be running to buy a woolly hat in August!)

We're back with a vengeance today at 5.30pm in Underbelly, Cowgate.  Tickets for today's show are selling fast, so book ahead!

Matt Trueman's Fest Editorial

Fest’s Theatre Editor, Matt Trueman has written his weekly Editorial on So It Goes and Ross Sutherland’s Stand By For Tape Back Up, another show about grief.

Matt gives So It Goes Four Stars and calls it “a gorgeous, expansive tribute”.  Read the full piece here.  We think it captures the show beautifully and we're looking forward to seeing Ross's show soon.

Tickets are already selling fast for So It Goes today and we sold out over the weekend, so book now for the show at 5.30pm today at Underbelly, Cowgate.

FringeFaves: Men In The Cities, Confirmation, KlangHAUS, So It Goes, Increasingly Impossible Acts, Standby 4 Tape Back-up, The Object Lesson
— Matt Trueman (@matttrueman) August 9, 2014

no big deal but...

Gosh, we were delighted to have Josie Long in the audience a few days ago.  We’re HUGE fans of Josie’s work and we're over the moon that she enjoyed the show. 

Josie’s show Cara Josephine is on at The Stand at 8.40pm every day and is an absolute must see.

I saw an amazing show today called So It Goes, at the underbelly everyday at 5.30pm. I can't recommend it enough #soitgoes
— Josie Long (@JosieLong) August 8, 2014

Featured in today's Family section of The Guardian

We're featured in today's Family section of The Guardian!

Laura Barnett came to meet Hannah at our "ramshackle East London rehearsal space" (makes us sound so cool...) a few weeks ago to talk about the creative process and personal experience behind the show.

It's a lovely write-up, which you can read in full here.

So It Goes continues today, 5.30pm at Underbelly, Cowgate.

Five Stars in The Times & Four Stars in The Scotsman

Big day yesterday!  We got a Four Star review in The Scotsman.

Susan Mansfield called the show "a near perfect marriage of form and subject and a powerful expression of what happens in those moments when words fail us."

Read the full review here.

Then things got even better, with a Five Star review in The Times!

Chief Theatre Critic Dominic Maxwell had already tweeted that So It Goes was his favourite show of the Edinburgh Fringe so far and in today's paper he writes:

"I've never seen a depiction of grief which is as deft, daring, amusing and moving as this one."

Full review here.

Meanwhile, Fest's Theatre Editor Matt Trueman saw the show yesterday and tweeted:

Another year, another show about a dead father that's left me a bawling mess. So It Goes at Underbelly is a beautiful little thing.
— Matt Trueman (@matttrueman) August 7, 2014

I'm off to have a little cry now.
— Matt Trueman (@matttrueman) August 7, 2014

We celebrated with a trip to see No Fit State in their very own big top tent.  It was mind-blowingly brilliant and we can't recommend it highly enough!

So It Goes is back today, 5.30pm at Underbelly, Cowgate. 

A Tweet From The Times

The Times' Chief Theatre Critic Dominic Maxwell came to see the show yesterday and tweeted that it was his favourite show of the Edinburgh Fringe so far!

Favourite show of #edfringe so far: the deft, daring, amusing, very moving So It Goes, a study of grief @FollowTheCow #timesreview #soitgoes
— Dominic Maxwell (@dominicjmaxwell) August 6, 2014

Five Stars from Three Weeks

Morning all.  We had a lovely review from Three Weeks published yesterday - Five Stars!

"I simply adored ‘So It Goes'.  It’s a wonderfully inventive and moving show about grief, and how hard it is to talk about a loved one who has died... A profoundly affecting experience: just lovely." 

Read the full review here.

Join us at 5.30pm at Underbelly, Cowgate for today's show.

#SoItGoes was one of the most touching & heartfelt shows I have ever seen. I laughed & cried (at the same time) Simply wonderful. Thank you.
— Miss Chanandler Bong (@amy_bamy) August 6, 2014

An incredible performance from @ontheruntheatre with So It Goes. Heart warming, beautifully simple, and incredibly moving. Absolute must see
— Minotaur Theatre (@minotaurtheatre) August 6, 2014

Great show at #edfringe. I can highly recommend So It Goes! #soitgoes. Heartfelt show, great performances.
— The Blackbird (@MeetBlackbird) August 5, 2014

People buzzing about So It Goes @ontheruntheatre. A true story about love and loss. Catch it daily at the Underbelly Cowgate 5.30pm #unbored
— PostScript Journal (@PostScriptJour) August 5, 2014

Four star review - A Younger Theatre

Our first review is out!  It’s Four Stars, from Adam Foster at A Younger Theatre.  He describes So It Goes as “a wonderful piece of wordless storytelling.”  Read the full review here.

Our flyering team will be hitting the streets soon to find today’s audience.  Do say hello if you see them around!  We owe them big time for getting such lovely big, responsive audiences in every day so far. 

Thanks also to the team at Fresh Air Radio where we did a lunchtime interview yesterday (pictured).  The podcast will be available to download soon.

So It Goes is back at 5.30pm today at Underbelly, Cowgate.  You can book online here.

Below is some of our Twitter buzz...

First play at #edfringe2014 that left the critic in serious need of Kleenex. Nice work #soitgoes @FollowTheCow!
— Susan Mansfield (@wordsmansfield) August 4, 2014

Just saw a touching, funny and very personal theater piece about the loss of a father with almost no words spoken, #soitgoes, #edfringe
— Tom Van Avermaet (@VanAvermaetTom) August 2, 2014

#soitgoes is brilliant: moving, uplifting, inventive, honest...just lovely.
— Andrew Leask (@andyleask) August 2, 2014

Left show quite teary. Most emotional thing I've seen at festival is #soitgoes lots of people drying eyes on way out https://t.co/Av8ngpW03G
— Richard Davidson (@monkeybood) August 4, 2014

Come join the fun

Two shows down and yesterday's, in particular, was a belter!  Having a fantastic time at the Fringe and can't wait for this afternoon's show.

Say hello to our Street Team if you see them on patrol and join us at 5.30pm at Underbelly, Cowgate if you can.

A few kind tweets below.  Thanks also to Richard Davenport for our latest production shots.

Highlight of edfringe so far has to be bawling my eyes out @ontheruntheatre show 'So it goes'. This place is literally the bees knees.
— lucas burt (@lebburt) August 2, 2014

@ontheruntheatre A few members of @minotaurtheatre came to see your show today, and it was absolutely wonderful - so imaginative and moving!
— Susannah Rose Martin (@SusannahRoseMN) August 2, 2014

No idea how people choose theatre at #edfringe apart from by recommendation so here's mine: @ontheruntheatre's So It Goes is *wonderful*.
— Gary Dunion (@garydunion) August 1, 2014

@ontheruntheatre two Gits went to see SO IT GOES - and were leaking from their EYES! Ppl - do the underbelly double - WINKY + SO IT GOES.

— Fat Git Theatre (@FatGitTheatre) August 2, 2014

Let's get this party started

Here we are, enjoying the Underbelly Press Launch at the Edinburgh Fringe last night!

Feels great to be here, as ever. We're incredibly excited about opening the show this afternoon.

SO IT GOES is at 5.30pm at Underbelly, Cowgate.

Edinburgh Fringe here we come!

So that's our previews done.  We survived the heatwave and had a lovely couple of weeks rehearsing and performing at The Rag Factory, off Brick Lane.

Shout out to Suzzle, purveyor of the best coffee on Brick Lane.  (Morale in a cup.)  To The Rag Factory who were as supportive and caring as ever.  And to the full So It Goes family - Emma, Lucy and Celia - who've worked super hard all through this hectic and sweaty week.

Today we're packing our bags and by tomorrow we'll be in Edinburgh.

See you there!

David & Hannah x

So It Goes Previews

Last night we staged our first Edinburgh Fringe preview at The Rag Factory in London.  Back to rehearsals today to keep fine tuning!

Performances are tonight and tomorrow at 7.30pm.  

Last night sold out, so do book ahead!

Catch the show in London soon

It’s Friday night and we’ve just finished Week Two of rehearsals for So It Goes.  There’s still a lot to do but we’re very excited about the direction the show is taking!

Don’t forget, if you can’t make it to Edinburgh, you can see the show in London from 24-26 July at The Rag Factory, off Brick Lane.

More info on our website: www.ontheruntheatre.co.uk

Our new Edinburgh Fringe poster

We proudly present our brand new poster and flyer for the Edinburgh Fringe!

All thanks to the talented Chris Harrisson.

Find Chris on Twitter: @haveyoulostme

Or on his website: www.haveyoulostme.com

Hello, world

Hello!

Welcome to our brand new blog.  We've set this up so that we can bring you updates from our rehearsals in July and from the Edinburgh Fringe throughout August.

In the meantime, find out more about us and our new show So It Goes over at our website: www.ontheruntheatre.co.uk

Come back soon!

David & Hannah