Saturday, November 23

NEWS

BAFTA-nominated Ruth Madeley leads cast for new season of monologues from Bolton Octagon
NEWS

BAFTA-nominated Ruth Madeley leads cast for new season of monologues from Bolton Octagon

This summer Bolton Octagon are producing a season of 10 new audio recordings of monologues written by local writers. The monologues were penned by winners of the ‘One Night In Bolton’ writing competition inspired by the play which was due to be the opening performance at the theatre as it reopened after 2 years of construction. Due to the impact of COVID-19 the reopening of the theatre has been delayed, and instead the Octagon decided to inspire creativity in lockdown by running a creative writing competition. The monologues will be released online over the summer and a selection broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester. Bolton actor and BAFTA nominee Ruth Madeley, known for her role in the BBC’s critically acclaimed drama Years and Years, who will be performing The Queen of Bolton Baths...
Mikron Theatre Company smash fundraising target in less than three weeks
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Mikron Theatre Company smash fundraising target in less than three weeks

Mikron Theatre have smashed through their fundraising target of £48,337.49 in only three weeks which means they can stage their 50th year of touring in 2021.  That very specific target was the shortfall they calculated cancelling their entire 2020 season had cost the Yorkshire based company, but their incredibly loyal band of fans built up over the last 48 years rallied round to keep them afloat. The company have been touring the UK’s canals, rivers and roads onboard a vintage narrowboat putting on their shows in places that other theatre companies wouldn't even think about from a play about growing-your-own shown in allotments to a work about chips to audiences in a fish and chips restaurant. The runaway success of this appeal means Mikron can tour two brand new shows in...
My Darling Christopher – Homemakers, HOME
NEWS

My Darling Christopher – Homemakers, HOME

Created as part of a wider theatre project in association with RADA, the short film My Darling Christopher will be shared as part of HOME Manchester’s Homemakers Festival. My Darling Christopher has been written, cast, shot and edited all during lockdown by Hot Coals Theatre, who create visual theatre accessible to both hearing and d/Deaf audiences in a shared experience. My Darling Christopher is based on the true story of Clive, a young boy who lost his sight and hearing due to Meningitis complications. His father Christopher is serving in the Navy when he receives a heartfelt letter from his wife, Dorothy. At the outbreak of World War Two, Clive is 15 years old and attending Goring School, after evacuation from Margate School for the Deaf. English, British Sign Language and Visual...
Life in lockdown for Young Everyman Playhouse
NEWS

Life in lockdown for Young Everyman Playhouse

Young Everyman Playhouse will sign off their 2019/20 year with a radio drama recorded from their homes during lockdown. In collaboration with the Everyman’s Hope Street neighbours Liverpool Arts Bar and local freelancers, the youth theatre has created The Visit – a seven-part drama following student Ashley’s trip to a friend’s family home during reading week. The audio drama was created at a time when projects the young theatre makers had been working on for some time could no longer take place. Following lockdown, the young actors, producers, directors, marketers, technicians saw their production of Macbeth and the annual YEP Directors Festival, postponed. Despite this, YEP have continued to work on creative projects during lockdown, improving their own wellbeing and working with...
Hale Barns Carnival Announce A Mini-Edition Event For July
NEWS

Hale Barns Carnival Announce A Mini-Edition Event For July

Hale Barns Carnival have announced that it will return after all in 2020, with a mini-edition event following the relaxing of the government rules regarding outdoor events.  The organisers have moved quickly to turn around a fantastic night of entertainment on Saturday 18th July, the date the original festival was due to take place. This smaller event will take place on the grounds of the newly refurbished Bulls Head Pub & Hotel on Wicker Lane, Hale Barns and will feature two award-winning tribute acts performing live on stage to a socially distanced outdoor audience with outdoor bars and food on site with an innovative new waitress/ festival location order delivery service The community focused event will this year feature big show performances by two of the greatest tribut...
Cinderella WILL go to the ball in 2021!
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Cinderella WILL go to the ball in 2021!

Producers The Really Useful Group announced today that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical Cinderella will now world premiere at The Gillian Lynne Theatre in London on Wednesday 7th April 2021, with previews from Friday 19th March 2021. Andrew Lloyd Webber said “Whilst I continue to impress on the government that theatres can reopen safely based on The London Palladium model, it has become clear that we need to move the opening of Cinderella to next Spring.  My teams have been working throughout lockdown to prepare the show and are raring to go, but there are key elements, not least casting and the building of sets and costumes, that take months of forward planning and can only start as we get further down the road to normal.  So, the show will absolutely go on, just a little la...
You’re Late! You’re Late! For A Very Important Date!
NEWS

You’re Late! You’re Late! For A Very Important Date!

Site-responsive and immersive theatre-makers Creation Theatre and Big Telly Theatre Company present an innovative and fresh take on Lewis Carrolls’ Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Teaming up with Charisma.ai, ground-breakers in interactive and immersive storytelling technology, this digitally advanced production, blends live acting and the latest in AI and online video techniques. Audiences will be invited to dive down the rabbit hole to experience a magical theatrical experience, meeting their favourite characters from this much-loved classic along the way. While venues remain in lockdown in the UK, the show bridges the worlds of theatre, art and technology and reunites the successful creative team behind The Tempest Live. Alice will be performed live each time across four weeks. ...
Artistic Director, Gemma Bodinetz announces departure from Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
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Artistic Director, Gemma Bodinetz announces departure from Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse

Artistic Director, Gemma Bodinetz announces departure from Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse After 17 years as Artistic Director of the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres (E&P), Gemma Bodinetz today announced she will step down later this year. During her successful tenure she helped contribute to Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture, built a Stirling Prize winning theatre for the city, produced a great deal of wonderful theatre including directing many productions that have delighted audiences here and across the UK. Gemma re-invigorated Liverpool as a place of theatrical excellence. She has championed the work of Young Everyman & Playhouse, particularly inspiring many young women into the industry and supported the growing work in communities across the city regio...
New Vic Theatre Reschedule Opening of Marvellous to Spring 2021
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New Vic Theatre Reschedule Opening of Marvellous to Spring 2021

Marvellous, a brand-new play based on the life of local hero, Neil ‘Nello’ Baldwin, was due to take to the stage in the theatre’s newly refurbished auditorium in September. However, due to the uncertainty around when theatres will be able to safely start rehearsals for shows and also reopen to the public for performances, the New Vic has taken the decision to reschedule the production to a later date and now hopes to stage this inspiring show in April 2021. Theresa Heskins, New Vic Artistic Director said: “A New Vic production like Marvellous takes months of planning, and many people are involved in its creation. From our in-house team to freelance actors and creatives, and of course Neil himself, it is a huge endeavour – and much of the work happens before we even start rehearsals....
£1.57 billion investment to protect Britain’s world-class cultural, arts and heritage institutions
NEWS

£1.57 billion investment to protect Britain’s world-class cultural, arts and heritage institutions

Department for Digital Culture, Media, and Sport; HM Treasury PRESS RELEASE £1.57 billion investment to protect Britain’s world-class cultural, arts and heritage institutions · Cultural and heritage organisations to be protected with £1.57 billion support package · Future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues will be protected with emergency grants and loans · Funding will also be provided to restart construction work at cultural and heritage sites paused as a result of the pandemic Britain’s globally renowned arts, culture and heritage industries will receive a world-leading £1.57 billion rescue package to help weather the impact of coronavirus, the government announced today. Thousands of organisations across ...