NEWS Archives - Page 55 of 78 - North West End UK

22Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

OFFIES 2021

We were delighted to be able to attend this year’s Off West End Awards which were hosted online by Geoffrey Brown, Director of Off West End with a number of special guests in attendance. The awards began with an introduction by Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, welcoming everyone and joining in our hope that theatres can re-open soon. Special guests included Judi Dench, Linda Marlowe, Su Pollard, Michelle Terry, Sharon D Clarke, Samuel West, Sonia Friedman, Brian Blessed, Stephen Fry and Louise Jameson, all sending messages of congratulations and encouragement. Using the fringe streaming platform Scenesaver ( www.scenesaver.co.uk ), we were treated to a reminder of the diversity of shows that have been available to watch this year, in spite of the challenging environment. ...

Shane Richie to star in digital revival of Scaramouche Jones or the Seven White Masks

22Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Shane Richie to star in digital revival of Scaramouche Jones or the Seven White Masks

Much-loved and multi-talented stage and screen actor Shane Richie (EastEnders; The Entertainer; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here) will take on the role of the titular tragic clown in the digital revival of Justin Butcher’s absorbing solo show, Scaramouche Jones. Filmed in a London theatre, and available to stream on Stream.Theatre from Friday 26th March to Sunday 11th April, this is the latest production from Ginger Quiff Media - the OnCom award-winning team behind the acclaimed revivals of Martin Sherman’s Rose starring Dame Maureen Lipman, and Little Wars (The Guardian and New York Times top picks) featuring Juliet Stevenson and Linda Bassett. Richie swaps the I’m A Celeb Welsh castle for the digital stage, taking on the role made famous by the lat...

Strong casts announced for next three Sound Stage Productions

22Feb

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NEWS

Strong casts announced for next three Sound Stage Productions

Pitlochry Festival Theatre and The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with Naked Productions have announced three more strong casts for their forthcoming Sound Stage plays. Sound Stage will premiere Tennis Elbow, the new comedy from playwright and artist John Byrne, the creator of the BAFTA award-winning BBC television series Tutti Frutti, and the critically acclaimed plays The Slab Boys Trilogy. The new play, running from 30th April – 2nd May, will be Byrne’s first for 13 years, and is the follow up to his acclaimed 1977 debut play Writer’s Cramp. It’s a bittersweet comedy about the life and work of a mischievous lost artist trying to make her way in the world. Directed by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman, Tennis Elbow’s exciting cast wi...

All-star cast for The Picture of Dorian Gray at Bolton Octagon

21Feb

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All-star cast for The Picture of Dorian Gray at Bolton Octagon

Russell Tovey, Stephen Fry and Joanna Lumley head an all-star cast for a digital production of The Picture of Dorian Gray at Bolton Octagon. They’ve joined forces with Barn Theatre in Cirencester, the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield and the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich will co-produce The Picture of Dorian Gray with Theatr Clwyd in Mold and the Oxford Playhouse in Oxfordshire to offer the production as co-producers. Fionn Whitehead is in the title role, are Alfred Enoch as Harry Wooton, Lumley as Lady Narborough, Emma McDonald as Sibyl Vane and Tovey as Basil Hallward with Fry as the Interviewer. From the creative team behind the critically acclaimed What a Carve Up!, the belo...

“Save A Seat” Raises Funds For Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet

17Feb

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NEWS

“Save A Seat” Raises Funds For Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet

This past festive season, audiences were asked to Save A Seat as part of a new fundraising campaign by Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet. Today, both Birmingham cultural institutions are pleased to announce that over £15,000 in donations were raised thanks to the generosity of audiences and the incredible support of match-funders, global law firm DLA Piper in Birmingham. The fundraising initiative aimed to help cover the lost income from some of the seats left empty during the run of The Nutcracker at The REP after performances in front of socially-distanced live audiences were cancelled due to local tier restrictions. All proceeds will be split equally between The REP and Birmingham Royal Ballet. Audiences now have the opportunity to watch another extraordina...

COVID threatening diversity in theatre, forcing diversification, research suggests

13Feb

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NEWS

COVID threatening diversity in theatre, forcing diversification, research suggests

The team behind a major research project, looking at the impact on theatre freelancers of COVID-19, has spoken of the risks to diversity, and the emotional toll they are uncovering around the UK. Theatre-makers are seeking alternative income and considering their futures. The failure to address long-standing inequalities is also leading to increased activism among theatre freelancers. The Freelancers in the Dark project, a collaboration between East 15 Acting School, Manchester Metropolitan University and Queen’s University Belfast, is asking freelance theatre-makers, organisations and venues from across the UK to help chart the impact of COVID-19. Two surveys have been launched, to look at the effects on all aspects of UK theatre. Early responses highlight the financial impact on f...

Pam Ferris and Toby Jones lead strong cast for Mark Ravenhill’s new play

13Feb

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Pam Ferris and Toby Jones lead strong cast for Mark Ravenhill’s new play

Call The Midwife’s Pam Ferris and Detectorists star Toby Jones lead a strong cast for Mark Ravenhill’s new play Angela The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Pitlochry Festival Theatre, in association with Naked Productions and BBC Radio 3, are presenting the auto-biographical work as part of their new online Sound Stage project airing from 26th – 28th March with tickets going on general sale from Monday 22nd February. Angela centres on the playwright’s mother at the age of 84, and living with dementia, as she looks back across her life intercutting between old age, her memories and mind failing, and her youth. Ravenhill explores her growing up, moving away from her roots as the world of drama welcomed her. Angela looks at her struggle with depression and the challenges of he...

13Feb

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NEWS

Turn Your Home Into a Half-Term Theatre

A brilliant way to keep the children entertained (and give parents a welcome break!) is to give them a free trip to the theatre with Scenesaver’s wonderful online selection of shows and print off theatre tickets. There’s a huge choice for all ages. Pick your shows and turn your home into a theatre. The children can get dressed up for the treat, if you’ve some popcorn or ice cream for the interval even better, and at the appointed time, lower the blinds, let them sit down in front of the TV or laptop, turn on Scenesaver, turn off the lights and relax! Scenesaver is a great way to introduce children to the magic of theatre and to encourage them to use their imaginations. There is drama, puppetry, magic, circus and a whole host of different theatrical experiences from just 10 minut...

Birmingham Hippodrome to release a series of films to celebrate Chinese New Year

9Feb

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Birmingham Hippodrome to release a series of films to celebrate Chinese New Year

Birmingham Hippodrome will be sharing a series of films from Friday 12th February to welcome in Chinese New Year and celebrate The Year of The Ox. The Hippodrome has commissioned filmmaker Craig Bush and Artist Frances Yeung to create a series of short films reflecting the cultural celebrations and traditions that take place during Chinese New Year. Made in collaboration with the Chinese Community Centre Birmingham, the films will be shared over a seven-day period and explore how the local community in Southside have adapted their celebrations in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. Chinese New Year, commonly referred to as the Spring Festival, celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar and in many Chinese communities, a full week’s holiday is taken ...

Dream – live, online performance leads the way in future audience experience

9Feb

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Dream – live, online performance leads the way in future audience experience

Theatre, music and ground-breaking technology combine in Dream, an exhilarating glimpse into the future of live performance inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Created by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in collaboration with Manchester International Festival (MIF) Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF) and Philharmonia Orchestra, Dream is the culmination of a major research project called Audience of the Future which helped develop Skepta’s mixed-reality rave for MIF19, DYSTOPIA987. Gabrielle Jenks, Digital Director at Manchester International Festival said: “Audience of the Future has been an invaluable space for world-leading organisations to consider the future of virtual production and understand the opportunities and challenges of working with real-time technolog...