Friday, November 15

NEWS

Pam Ferris and Toby Jones lead strong cast for Mark Ravenhill’s new play
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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 her...
Turn Your Home Into a Half-Term Theatre
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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 minute...
Birmingham Hippodrome to release a series of films to celebrate Chinese New Year
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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 t...
Dream – live, online performance leads the way in future audience experience
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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 technologi...
Manchester Camerata joins forces with brand new streaming platform: Virtual Circle
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Manchester Camerata joins forces with brand new streaming platform: Virtual Circle

As live performance restrictions remain in place at the start of 2021, Manchester Camerata is as determined as ever to reach out to and remain connected to its audiences, bringing its world class music to a national and global platform. With this in mind, “Britain's most adventurous orchestra” (The Times) is thrilled to announce its first ever concert for brand new streaming platform Virtual Circle recently launched by HarrisonParrott - one of the world’s leading arts management companies. Conducted by the internationally renowned Pekka Kuusisto, this brand new concert by Manchester Camerata - All Time Is Eternally Present - packs a real punch with an eclectic and exciting programme – its first of many planned for 2021. The full programme features rising star Saxophonist and BBC Radio 3...
PDSW invites audiences on a living room woodland adventure with Night Tree
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PDSW invites audiences on a living room woodland adventure with Night Tree

Creating new adventures for families to enjoy this half term, Pavilion Dance South West (PDSW) have co-commissioned Second Hand Dance’s Night Tree. This magical film is about one very special tree and a family’s gift to all the creatures in the wintry woods. Based on Eve Bunting’s book of the same name, this wonderfully endearing story encourages generosity in caring for nature and each other in a gentle sensory journey to explore from home. The film will be available for stream on a pay-what-you-can basis on PDSW’s website from Friday 19th February and is accompanied by a free print-at-home activity pack that includes details on how to create your own forest floor, bird feeder, and drawings and how to make a delicious hot chocolate. On Saturday and Sunday, there will also be a chance t...
New cast and revised dates announced for digital concert revival of Gatsby A Musical at Cadogan Hall
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New cast and revised dates announced for digital concert revival of Gatsby A Musical at Cadogan Hall

Acclaimed West End talent Jodie Steele (Heathers; Six The Musical) joins the digital concert rendition of Gatsby A Musical as leading-lady Daisy Buchanan, alongside Liam Doyle (Wicked; Legally Blonde) as Tom Buchannan, and Joe Frost (Jersey Boys; An Officer and a Gentleman) as George Wilson. The captivating socially-distanced revival will be filmed in the historic Cadogan Hall and made available to stream online from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th February 2021. They will be joining the previously announced Ross William Wild (Elvis Presley in Million Dollar Quartet) in the titular role, and four-time Olivier Award nominee Emma Williams (Mrs Henderson Presents; Zorro) as Myrtle Wilson. Further casting includes Blake Patrick Anderson (RENT; Be More Chill), Chanice Alexander-Burnett (Motown th...
Arcola Theatre to collaborate with researchers from Imperial College London to understand airflow and viral transmission in theatres
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Arcola Theatre to collaborate with researchers from Imperial College London to understand airflow and viral transmission in theatres

Arcola Theatre announces that their artistic team will be working with scientists from Imperial College London to explore air quality in theatres and how this affects aerosol transmission of viruses such as Covid-19. As theatres and arts venues continue to navigate audience welfare amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the project will explore how increased airflow can be used by venues and performance spaces to reduce viral transmission to increase the safety of visitors and improve arts access for immunocompromised people. The project aims to: • Explore ways in which Arcola can increase airflow in its indoor performance spaces • Use this exploration for facilitate conversations about airflow with other venues • Inform the development of Arcola’s new performance space, Arcola...
Fionn Whitehead to star in new digital production of The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Fionn Whitehead to star in new digital production of The Picture of Dorian Gray

Fionn Whitehead, star of Dunkirk and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, will take on the titular role in an upcoming contemporary digital adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic, The Picture of Dorian Gray. Most recently seen starring in the Lionsgate and Saban Films’ Don’t Tell A Soul, Fionn Whitehead is best known for his critically acclaimed performance as the protagonist Tommy in Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award nominated war film, Dunkirk. The Picture of Dorian Gray, from the team behind the celebrated digital production of What a Carve Up!, is set to push the theatrical form like its predecessor; utilising elements found in radio plays, films, documentaries as well as traditional theatrical techniques. Set in a profile pic-obsessed, filter-fixated world where online and reality blur...
Scottish Opera presents a filmed performance of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel
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Scottish Opera presents a filmed performance of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel

Scottish Opera premieres Humperdinck’s enchanting Hansel and Gretel in the latest Scottish Opera: On Screen, filmed at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal on 19th December. The whole family can immerse themselves in this modern adaptation of the classic fairy tale from Wednesday 10th February at 6pm, via the Scottish Opera website. Sung in English, with staging by Daisy Evans, this vivid and joyful reimagining of Humperdinck’s opera tells the heart-warming story of two children and their journey from an impoverished home, into the mystery and danger of the woods. Brought to life by Daisy’s unique staging, with a Christmas-crazed witch and a shopping trolley full of sugary sweets and garish goodies, Hansel and Gretel seem a long way from their simple family life. Packed full of charm and sparkle thi...