Lotte Wakeham Archives - North West End UK

Julie Hesmondhalgh brings her one-woman show to Bolton’s Octagon Theatre in February

18Jan

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Julie Hesmondhalgh brings her one-woman show to Bolton’s Octagon Theatre in February

Corrie legend Julie Hesmondhalgh is performing her auto-biographical one-woman show These I Love at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre for a limited run in February. In this show Julie who found fame playing the big hearted Hayley on the Weatherfield cobbles returns to her Lancashire roots. It’s a journey of discovery and a hymn to Julie’s own working-class childhood in Accrington, to her beloved dad and to the healing power of daftness. Julie is a long time and passionate supporter of regional theatres so is generously contributing her show to support the Octagon, which is a registered charity. She is currently on TV screens starring in the smash hit ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which has done so much to finally bring justice to hundreds of postmasters and postmistresses wro...

The Book Thief – Octagon Theatre, Bolton

23Sep

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

The Book Thief – Octagon Theatre, Bolton

As a reviewer, it is rare to see a new play or musical that you instantly know will be a smash hit. It is rarer still when that show has heart, humour and a positive message from a troubled part of history for our uncertain present. It is unknown when wrapped up as a musical bathed in warmth and optimism with stunning production values. However, tonight, I was fortunate enough to witness such an event with the opening of 'The Book Thief' at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton, undoubtedly the highlight of my theatrical year. Based on the eponymous novel by Markus Zusak, a worldwide phenomenon upon publication in 2005, we are introduced to Liesel Meminger (Niamh Palmer alternating with Bea Glancy), a nine-year-old girl in 1930's Germany. She is put into foster care by her mother following her...

Cast announced for world premiere of<br>The Book Thief

4Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Cast announced for world premiere of
The Book Thief

Ahead of its world premiere at the Octagon Theatre Bolton this autumn, the musical adaptation of The Book Thief announces its cast. Directed by the Octagon’s Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham (One Man Two Guvnors, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Peter Pan, Octagon Theatre) and choreographed by Tom Jackson Greaves (Amélie, Criterion Theatre), the script is penned by award-winning author Jodi Picoult (My Sister’s Keeper) and Timothy Allen McDonald (adaptor of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka and James and the Giant Peach), with music and lyrics by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson (Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, Walt Disney Animation Studios) and musical direction, orchestrations and arrangements by Matthew Malone. This spellbinding production is based on Markus Zusak’s worldwide best-selling novel and follow...

1Jun

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

One Man, Two Guvnors – Octagon Theatre

After a critically acclaimed National Theatre premiere, a UK tour, an award-winning West End transfer and a Broadway run which kickstarted James Corden’s stratospheric stateside success, there can’t have been many people left who hadn’t seen the original production of One Man, Two Guvnors. And then the pandemic struck. Another 200,000 tuned in to the NT Live performance. One of the theatrical highlights of lockdown. It’s a brave programmer then who opts to revive Richard Bean’s adaptation of Goldoni’s commedia dell'arte classic The Servant of Two Masters. It’s a gamble that’s largely paid off. For anyone unaware, 1700s Venice has been replaced by 1963 Brighton. That aside, Bean’s adaptation is surprisingly faithful. Both to the plot and themes of upper-class stupidity, gender equ...

The Hound of Baskervilles opens at Bolton Octagon in July

2Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The Hound of Baskervilles opens at Bolton Octagon in July

Bolton’s recently refurbed Octagon Theatre’s first inhouse production will be the Sherlock Holmes classic, The Hound of the Baskervilles. The comedy adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic adventure will be directed by the Octagon’s artistic director Lotte Wakeham and adapted for the stage by Steven Canny and John Nicholson. It’s the familiar story with a comic twist of world-renowned detective Sherlock Holmes and his colleague Dr Watson unravelling the mystery surrounding the untimely death of Sir Charles Baskerville. With rumours of a cursed giant hound on the loose, they must act fast to save the Baskerville family’s last remaining heir. Leading the case as the famous sleuth is Salford born actor and Octagon Youth Theatre alumnus Reuben Johnson joine...

Bolton Octagon announce reopening season

6May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Bolton Octagon announce reopening season

Bolton’s Octagon Theatre have announced their reopening season after a two year redevelopment programme that closed their stages and then more postponements due to Covid-19. Their opening show will be The Hound of the Baskervilles running from Thursday 1st July – Saturday 7th August as world renowned detective Sherlock Holmes and his colleague Dr Watson unravel the mystery surrounding the untimely death of Sir Charles Baskerville in this brilliantly farcical adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic novel. It’s adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson, and directed by the Octagon’s Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham. Ahead of the first production opening the venue will ‘warm up’ the new building with a number of events throughout May and June. Opening the Warm Up season is a ...

First look at the revamped Octagon Theatre in Bolton

17Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

First look at the revamped Octagon Theatre in Bolton

The creative team at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre have released the first photos of their new building revamped after a £12 million redevelopment programme. Over the last two years the town centre theatre has been completely modernised with updated performance spaces, brand-new participation facilities, improved front-of-house experience and expanded backstage facilities. Like all other theatres the space has been dark for the last year, and they will confirm a reopening date in the coming weeks following the recent announcement of the Government’s roadmap of when theatres can reopen their doors. “The reimagined Octagon benefits from more internal space, is more environmentally friendly, has vastly improved accessibility and enhanced customer and backstage facilities for everyone...

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

21Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

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...

Bolton Octagon are back with a live online production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

2Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Bolton Octagon are back with a live online production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Bolton Octagon are back with a live online production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Bolton Octagon are back with their first bash at a live streamed production offering an online version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as the theatre’s £12million redevelopment is completed before reopening in December. They are working with Guildford Shakespeare Company (GSC) to present streamed performances from Thursday 24th to Saturday 27th September 2020. This is a new version of GSC’s acclaimed open air production, which was directed by the Octagon’s Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham, who also directs this latest online version. The 75-minute production, which will be live streamed on Zoom, features a cast of six actors. Making their Octagon Theatre debuts will be Jack Whit...

21Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Octagon Bolton announces reopening date

After two years the multi-million pounds rebuild at Bolton's Octagon is over and they reopen their doors on Friday 4th December. But theatre goers will have to wait a bit longer to sit in the new auditorium as they are only opening their spanking new Kitchen & Bar, a friendly space for casual eating, drinking and socialising. They will also be hosting some creative workshops, along with a series of festival events. The delay to the building caused by the pandemic, and the lack of a date from the government of when it will be safe for audiences to return without social distancing, means the Octagon have taken the difficult decision to postpone their previously announced productions. Their intriguing new musical version of Charles Dickens’ festive classic A Christmas Caro...