Category: Uncategorized

THE SURVIVAL TOUR

UTILITA ARENA NEWCASTLE 3rd October 2021

How can you cycle further than from Land’s End to John O’Groats in the UK?

Take #TheSurvivalTour bike ride!

Six industry professionals support #WeMakeEvents with 1,500km fundraiser

Starting at Utilita Arena Newcastle on Saturday 3rd October and finishing in London on Sunday October 18th, five industry stalwarts (plus one driving the bus!) will cycle between 80 and 125km per day, representing the UK tour season that never happened this year. Stopping off at over 50 of the most iconic festival, tour and performance venues that have all been standing empty, dark and silent, since the start of lockdown, all in all the tour will cover over 1,500km. (See tour locations and route map below.)

The tour aims to raise awareness of the plight of the million-plus workers in the UK events industry, a sector regarded as the best in the world, to raise funds for Backup #WeMakeEvents’ chosen charity that provides help to employees, freelancers and their families suffering in the entertainment sector, and to kick off ‘RESTART’, the next phase of the #WeMakeEvents campaign.

The five riders and driver of the support vehicle, provided by Crossland Bussing, all have established careers in the events industry, having worked with the biggest names in the world including Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, Roger Waters, Florence & The Machine, Mumford & Sons and more. Heading up the initiative are Steve Reynolds and Loud Sound colleagues Mike Trasmundi along with. Mark Ward of Proper Productions and colleagues Harry Ford and Tyler Cole-Holmes,

According to Steve Reynolds it was so important, professionally as well as personally, to try to help. “Having worked in the entertainment and events business for so many years we all felt we HAD to do something, both to raise awareness to the public, who rarely see us behind the scenes, and inform the Government of the impending collapse of this sector, one that has grown year-on-year and is regarded as the best in the world, and is on the brink of collapse.

“Most of our friends and colleagues work in this industry, we know their families and they are suffering. In fact, it’s like a big extended family, and we couldn’t stand by and let it just disappear without trying to help. So, to anyone reading or listening, please come and join us (it’s imperative for safety and COVID compliance that everyone has to register) or, if you can, make a donation on our donations page, thank you so much.”

Route

3rd October: Newcastle > Northallerton

4th October: Northallerton > Leeds

5th October: Leeds > Manchester

6th October: Manchester > Warrington

7th October: Warrington > Sheffield

8th October: Sheffield > Nottingham

9th October: Nottingham > Coalville

10th October: Coalville > Birmingham

11th October: Birmingham > Oxford

12th October: Oxford > Bristol

13th October: Bristol > Glastonbury

14th October: Glastonbury > Bournemouth

15th October: Bournemouth > Portsmouth

16th October: Portsmouth > Brighton

17th October: Brighton > London

18th October: London (travelling between landmarks)

Gary White of #WeMakeEvents added, “We’re delighted Steve and the team are helping in this way. It’s a typically generous gesture that we’re used to seeing from this industry. We’re extremely aware that many in our industry are suffering a sharp decline in their mental health and, with little or no work or income for the past six months and no prospect of jobs until at least spring 2021, it’s important that we all pull together and raise funds to help them. If you’re thinking of joining the ride, why not invite an industry friend who might be in that position to get involved to join you for the day and be a part of it.” To get involved you must register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-survival-tour-tickets-122224255037 and join the team for a day’s ride, or, if that sounds a little too energetic, you can help by donating to the charity on https://we-make-events.raisely.com/thesurvivaltour.

Covid-19 statement

Underlining the professionalism of the industry, the event hosts have taken all the necessary precautions and worked with authorities to ensure the safe running of the event and that social distancing will be complied with.

Do not attend if you, or anyone you have been in contact with, has had any Covid-19 symptoms in the last ten days.

Please adhere to social distancing and try to keep no less than 1 metre away from anyone who is not from your household or in your bubble

About #WeMakeEvents

Our industry is important and contributes billions of pounds each year to the UK economy. Due to COVID-19 it needs immediate help. We want our future to continue to create millions of memories with the stories to match – it’s what we do best.

Without significant and immediate support, the entire live entertainments sector supply chain is at risk of collapse. #WeMakeEvents is a campaign to raise public, government and media awareness in support of the live events sector which employs over circa 1,000,000 highly skilled people in the UK, all of whom have had no work for the past four months, with little likelihood of restarting until Spring 2021.

The campaign is being run by a large and growing industry collective of trade bodies, businesses and freelancers affected by the shutdown, all working together. It spans online and social messaging, video, case studies and legal outdoor events to gain media attention, with specific activities having occurred on 11th August and the Global Day of Action on 30th September, our voice is beginning to be heard.

Our aim is to have significant financial support extended for the people and companies in this sector until they can return to work. We call on you to stand as one, united in our common cause to save our industry. Join our campaign #WeMakeEvents to get the UK Government to act now for immediate and sustained financial support by visiting #WeMakeEvents.

Sign. Share. Call. Record.

WeMakeEvents platforms: ·

Website address – offical: https//www.wemakeevents.com ·

Facebook:@wemakeeventsoff: https://www.facebook.com/wemakeeventsoff ·

Twitter: @WeMakeEventsoff: https://twitter.com/WeMakeEventsoff ·

Instagram:@wemakeeventsofficial: https://www.instagram.com/wemakeeventsofficial ·

LinkedIn:wemakeevents-official: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wemakeevents-official

Barn Theatre | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Website

WATCH ROB HOUCHEN & CELINDE SCHOENMAKER IN REHEARSALS FOR MARRY ME A LITTLE

• ROB HOUCHEN AND CELINDE SCHOENMAKER WILL STAR IN THE NEW REVIVAL PRODUCTION OF THE SONDHEIM MUSICAL MARRY ME A LITTLE FROM 16 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER
• VIDEO CAN BE FOUND ON YOUTUBE HERE

The Barn Theatre have released a sneak peek video of Rob Houchen (Les Misérables, The Light in the Piazza) and Celinde Schoenmaker (Rocketman, The Phantom of the Opera) performing “All Things Bright and Beautiful (Part 2)” in rehearsals for the theatre’s upcoming revival production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Marry Me A Little

Rob Houchen and Celinde Schoenmaker will star in the new revival production from 16 October to 8 November.

Conceived by Craig Lucas and Norman René, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the charming and bittersweet one-act musical follows two single strangers as they explore their secret, unshared fantasies whilst they are left alone in their studio apartments on a Saturday night.

The production breathes new theatrical life and meaning to a collection of trunk songs that were culled from the original productions of some of Sondheim’s iconic musicals including Follies, Company and A Little Night Music.

Last year Rob Houchen and Celinde Schoenmaker starred alongside one another in the 2019 London premiere of the Adam Guettel musical The Light in the Piazza at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. They later reprised their roles for the production’s American transfer to the Los Angeles Opera in October 2019.

The production will be directed by Kirk Jameson (Just So, Madagascar) with musical staging by Sam Spencer-Lane (The Last Five Years, Aspects of Love), set and costume design by Gregor Donnelly (Daddy Long Legs, Aspects of Love) and musical direction by Arlene McNaught (SIX, Little Miss Sunshine).

Marry Me A Little is produced by the Barn Theatre in association with Anthology Theatre.

The Barn Theatre have also announced Waylon Jacobs (Hamilton, Memphis, The Last Five Years) will star in the title role of the world premiere of Alan Pollock’s new adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic story Peter Pan from 21 November 2020 to 3 January 2021.

Swings and Roundabouts  A short film by Frances Loy  Starring Melissa Woodbridge and John Heffernan, a film about grief after miscarriage  Copa Shorts Film Fest 2020: 7 – 10 November  Further screenings TBA Trailer: https://vimeo.com/396241390  swingsandroundaboutsfilm.com

Charting the grief of a couple who have lost a child, Swings and Roundabouts is a new short film addressing the heart-breaking realities behind the statistic that one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage. Prompted by a mother’s distress in a playground, Sarah (Melissa Woodbridge) is sent into a spiral of grief and panic. Her husband Paul (John Heffernan) tries to provide the emotional and practical support she needs, but as he struggles with his own grief the chasm between them widens. John Heffernan is most recently known for his role as Jonathan Harker in Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat’s Dracula on Netflix. 

Swings and Roundabouts is the debut film from writer and director Frances Loy and producer Libby Brodie, theatre makers turned filmmakers who have created this film as women and mothers who know that miscarriage is a subject that is ignored in vast areas of arts and media. The film is sponsored by Kodak and shot entirely on 16mm film. 

Producer Libby Brodie said, “One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth but this is rarely reflected in mainstream media which can leave those experiencing it feeling isolated, ignored, confused or misguidedly guilty. Creatively led by brilliant, international, female filmmakers, we hope this film fosters conversation on the issue for both men and women and sheds light on this common tragedy.” 

Writer and director Frances Loy said, “Miscarriage happens through no fault of the mother, the father, the fates. This scientific fact and common statistic doesn’t make it any less painful, doesn’t stop parents grieving the loss of a child they’d hoped for, doesn’t stop them blaming themselves and doesn’t stop them keeping this sad secret in the hope of not upsetting people outside of this experience. 

“In researching the story I realised I had many female friends I’d spoken to about their miscarriages in the past, so I made more of an effort to talk to male friends who had gone through the same. So often this is seen as a women’s issue because of course the physical process happens to the mother – but it’s a human issue. Among the things I heard from men were “I am not entitled to grieve”, “it’s my job to support her”, “I don’t know any other dads who have been through this”. It was important to me to show the emotional repercussions of miscarriage on the father, without diminishing the experience of the mother. This is a story of the shared and individual grief one couple goes through when they experience miscarriage.” 

Frances Loy is a theatre director whose work has traversed from traditional spaces to immersive experiences to virtual reality, from London to New York and Los Angeles. She co-founded and was Artistic Director of alternative space company Theatre Delicatessen in London from 2007-2012. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2013 she has built immersive experiences for brands and commercials, directed work in traditional spaces and dabbled with 360 VR filmmaking; she also directs audiobooks for Penguin Random House, recently collaborating with Jeff Goldblum on Norman Einstein’s The Last Palace. Frances has recently shadowed on shows such The Orville (Fox), Tales of the City (Netflix) and Grace and Frankie (Netflix). 

Swings and Roundabouts stars John Heffernen and Melissa Woodbridge. John Heffernen’s television credits include playing Jonathan Harker in Netflix’s Dracula, and include lead or featured guest parts in Brexit, Collateral, Dickensian, The Crown, Luther Season IV, Ripper Street and Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell. Melissa Woodbridge recently starred as Elvira opposite Angela Landsbury in Blithe Spirit. She features in the new series of David Mitchell and Robert Webb’s TV comedy Back, and plays the lead in Dawn King’s new feature film My One and Only due for release in 2021. 

John Heffernan said, “I thought the script for Swings and Roundabouts was really fascinating. It takes a real skill to write a short film and this script painted such a beautiful portrait of Paul and Sarah. The subject matter is also important. Baby loss is something which isn’t often addressed, and it needs to be. It happens so often but that’s not mirrored in the television and film that I’ve seen.” 

Running Time: 11 mins | Suitable for ages 12+, contains themes some viewers may find upsetting 

Company information 

Writer and director Frances Loy 

Producer Libby Brodie 

Editor Jay Tanner                                 Production designer Kat Heath 

Director of photography David Bird      Production manager Natalie Gothelf 

Executive producer Rachel Gold 

Cast 

Sarah: Melissa Woodbridge       Paul: John Heffernan 

Jen: Olivia Squier 

Listings information 

7 – 10 November (further dates TBA) 

Copa Shorts Film Fest 2020 

https://xerb.tv/channel/csff2020-/virtual-events

THE THEATRE CHANNEL

SPECIAL HALLOWEEN THEMED EPISODE

ON SALE NOW – LAUNCHING ON 30 OCTOBER

LINZI HATELEY RETURNS TO CARRIE –

THE MUSICAL IN WHICH SHE MADE HER DEBUT

ALSO STARRING

AIMIE ATKINSON, SOPHIE ISAACS, BRADLEY JADEN, JOSH PITERMAN

ON SALE NOW – TICKETS AVAILABLE TO BOOK HERE

Adam Blanshay Productions and The Theatre Café are pleased to announce details for the second episode of The Theatre Channel – a specially extended Halloween themed episode with songs from Dracula, Carrie, and Jekyll and Hyde. The episode is available to purchase now, ahead of its release on 30 October, and details will be released in the coming weeks of further exciting and high-profile performers who will join the line-up.

The Theatre Channel is a brand-new web series showcasingwell-known musical theatre classics – a unique hybrid of stage and screen. Performed by the cream of British and international musical theatre talent, each episode is staged and filmed with high production values on location at The Theatre Café in the heart of the West End, making full use of the whole space – from the bar seating area all the way up to the roof – and feature a mix of 5-6 standalone performances, ordinarily set in a café, bar or restaurant. Many of the performances are supported by the Café Four, a regular cast made up of other West End talents.

British musical theatre legend Linzi Hateley will revisit the musical that launched her career at the age of seventeen when she played the title role in Carrie in Stratford and on Broadway. She will perform the number “When There’s No One” – returning to the show as Carrie’s mother, the role originally performed by Barbara Cook and Betty Buckley.

The Halloween episode will include the following talent and performances:

Linzi Hateley (Mamma Mia!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Blood Brothers) singing When There Is No One from Carrie

Bradley Jaden (Les Misérables, Wicked) and Sophie Isaacs (Six, Heathers: The Musical) singing Life After Life from Dracula

Josh Piterman (The Phantom of the Opera) singing The Confrontation from Jekyll and Hyde

Aimie Atkinson (Pretty Woman, Six) with song to be announced.

The first episode – starring Tarinn Callender, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Oliver Ormson, Matt Henry MBE, Lucie Jones, Jenna Russell and Jodie Steele is available to purchase and download via www.thetheatrecafe.co.uk/channel – once purchased, audiences are able to watch episodes unlimited times.

The Theatre Channel’s Café Four is comprised of Alyn Hawke (Oklahoma, Follies, 42^nd Street), Emily Langham (The Boy Friend, Oklahoma, West Side Story), Sadie-Jean Shirley (City of Angels, Ghost: The Musical, Aladdin) and Alex Woodward (Mamma Mia, Hairspray). 

Adam Blanshay said, “Halloween is beloved by children of all ages, and what better way to mark the holiday than to celebrate with a special Halloween-themed episode! There are many spooks and surprises in store. We hope the episode combines the right amount of camp fancy-dress fun with stirring epic performances. Moreover, may theatre fans rejoice as Linzi Hateley groundbreakingly revisits her roots with a stirring performance from Carrie- for the first time ever stepping into the shoes of Margaret White.”

The Theatre Channel is produced by Adam Blanshay Productions and The Theatre Café, with direction and choreography by Bill Deamer and musical supervision by Michael England, set and costume design by Gregor Donnelly, lighting design by Jack Weir, sound design by Keegan Curran, videography by Ben Hewis and hair and makeup by Diana Hudson.

www.thetheatrecafe.co.uk/the-theatre-channel

@AdamBlanshayPro

@thetheatrecafe

#TheTheatreChannel

THE SHOW WILL GO ON WITH CONNECT2YOU

     LIVE ENTERTAINMENT WITH A PURPOSE

Starting this month, West End stars and some of the UK’s most talented stage and screen artists will perform to care home residents through Connect2you, a campaign which provides COVID safe bespoke live performances ensuring that the ‘Show Will Go On’ for members of the community across the UK who have been hardest hit by COVID 19 Pandemic.

Care homes are one of the sectors hit hardest by Covid-19 with many cut off from their loved ones to keep them safe. Connect2you is bringing a little magic to their doorsteps with live outdoor shows from self-contained solar powered stage vehicles of differing sizes to fit small or large spaces, where performances will always be from a safe distance.

Conceived during the pandemic, Connect2you’s goal is to lift spirits and connect people with song, joy and laughter by bringing live entertainment to their doorsteps; whilst offering many talented artists who usually appear in West End shows, tours, pantomimes and concerts the opportunity to perform.

Following a hugely successful pilot in September at Gold Care Homes – Acton Care Centre, where Connect2you brought joy and delight to the faces of the residents and care workers, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback, The Fremantle Trust Care Homes are hosting a series of performances starting later this month kicking off the official launch of Connect2you.

Lisa Denning founder of Connect2you says “We want to take our shows to people of all ages across the UK who are shielding, vulnerable, isolated, or are not able to access the ‘new’ wave of on-line entertainment, whilst giving talented professional artists the opportunity to perform and be paid.

We will visit care homes, hospitals, hospices, respite centres, day centres, homeless shelters, food banks and more to reach out to people and communities of all ages who will benefit live outdoor shows especially created for each audience to include music, comedy, ‘celebrity anecdotes’ and individual segments and video messages. We know that specific songs not only give pleasure to all but can be invaluable for dementia sufferers”.

Connect2you will continue to operate through the winter, but if the weather is too severe or an area goes into total lockdown, the show will be rescheduled for the first available opportunity.

Audiences in care homes, hospitals, hospices or sheltered accommodation will be able to see and hear the live performances through open doors and windows and if they can’t be outside and live feeds can be facilitated to screens inside, plus the show can also be streamed to friends and family in their own homes too.

During the Christmas season Connect2you will include carol singing, mini panto sketches and Father Christmas with his elves to add extra seasonal cheer up and down the country including children’s hospitals.

Companies can get involved by sponsoring live shows in the social care sectors, donating goods and by booking Connect2you for their staff or customers to enjoy. 

Connect2You relies on donations and partners to help this important work happen. There are many ways you can get involved with Connect2you to find out more visit www.connect2you.co.uk and follow us on Twitter@connect2_you  Instagram @conn.ect2you Facebook @ Connect2You and Linked In to make a donation [page%20gf.me/u/y3bfs4]click here  

Watch the video here

CHARLOTTE LUND APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IRIS THEATRE

Iris Theatre, the resident theatre company of the Actors’ Church in Covent Garden, today announces the appointment of Charlotte Lund as Executive Director working alongside Artistic Director Paul-Ryan Carberry. She takes up her role immediately.

Charlotte Lund said today, “Iris Theatre has always been a unique place for artists, in particular those in the early stages of their careers and I’m really excited to work with Paul-Ryan and the team to continue to grow and expand the companies offering. I look forward to further developing our START and PLATFORM programmes over the coming months, supporting bold, inventive and inspiring theatre makers and finding new ways to reach audiences in this challenging time. We’re hugely grateful to our amazing audiences and patrons for their generous donations through the summer and their ongoing support as we continue to secure Iris’ future.”

Paul-Ryan Carberry, Artistic Director of Iris Theatre, also commented, “I’m so delighted to be welcoming Charlotte to our team here at Iris Theatre. Charlotte carries with her an incredible passion for artist development and I’m really looking forward to working alongside such a talented producer and facilitator. Together, we will continue to battle through this crisis ensuring that Iris Theatre will always be a home for early-career artists in the heart of central London.”

Sofi Berenger, Chair of the Board, added, “If there is one thing Iris Theatre has proved over the last year, it’s that we refuse to stand still or be defeated. We are delighted to welcome Charlotte to our Iris family. Her experience and passion for nurturing theatre makers looking to establish careers within the industry is undeniable and makes her a perfect fit for our charity. I am very excited for the future of the organisation under this leadership team – if I were you, I’d watch this space.”

Charlotte Lund is an independent creative producer with over 10 years’ experience working in the UK and internationally. She has worked with some of the UK’s leading companies including Tall Stories, Fuel, Punchdrunk and Gate Theatre in Notting Hill, as well as producing large scale community projects with The National Trust and with remote communities in Spain. Lund specialises in international touring and artist development, working with independent artists and theatre makers around the world to develop exciting, innovative opportunities and platforms for new work. Making theatre accessible and affordable is a key component of her work, from designing and implementing access strategies and programmes for companies, working with Mousetrap Theatre Projects on their relaxed performances in the West End and producing work with and for neuro-diverse artists and audiences.

IRIS THEATRE

Iris Theatre is a charity and the resident theatre company of the Actors’ Church, committed to developing artists early in their careers. As well as its long-running outdoor summer season, Iris presents new work through the year at the Actors’ Church and creates opportunities for training for artists of all backgrounds and disciplines through its PLATFORM and START programmes.

Facebook:           /IrisTheatre

Twitter:               @iristheatre

Instagram:          iris_theatre

ST PAUL’S COVENT GARDEN, ACTORS’ CHURCH
Known affectionately as the Actors’ Church because of its long association with the theatre community, St Paul’s is located in the heart of the West End on Covent Garden Piazza. Designed by the theatre designer and architect Inigo Jones and built in 1633, St Paul’s serves as the Parish Church of Covent Garden and much of Theatreland. As well as Iris’s events, the church hosts a wide variety of theatre, memorial services and concerts, totalling around 300 events a year.

www.iristheatre.com

Facebook:          /IrisTheatre

Twitter:               @iristheatre

Instagram:         iris_theatre

The Industry Minds Awards 2020 will be held on Monday 30th November 2020 at
The Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.
The ceremony will be hosted by Industry Minds & The Hope Mill Theatre Patron
Denise Welch, who is a leading advocate for mental health in the arts industry.
For the second year, the ceremony will recognise those pioneering and furthering
mental and physical health in the creative arts.

The ceremony will welcome a socially distanced audience into The Hope Mill
Theatre to celebrate, support and raise awareness for mental health in the creative
arts. The ceremony will further be live streamed to ensure everyone can access
this years awards.

Joseph Houston, Artistic Director of Hope Mill Theatre said:

“We are so thrilled to be hosting this years Industry Minds Awards at Hope
Mill Theatre. We have long admired and supported the work that the Industry
Minds teams have been doing within our currently fragile industry, supporting
new graduates as well as offering mental health support. It has been the
toughest year our Industry has faced in a lifetime and being able to offer
something positive at this time, as well as something that celebrates the
amazing work many in our industry have continued to do is so important. It is
also very special to have our own Patron and industry minds advocate
Denise Welch hosting.”

Founders Scarlett Maltman & Cathy Read said:

“We are delighted to still be able to run the awards this year as we feel awareness
of mental health is needed more than ever right now.
We are equally delighted to be hosting the ceremony at The Hope Mill Theatre in
Manchester. We were welcomed to The Hope Mill in January by founders Joseph
Houston and William Whelton where we ran our first mental health seminar of the
year, so to end the year with the awards is very significant to us, especially in the
current climate.”

Alongside other mental health charities, The Industry Minds Patron and Trustee
Committee will finalise this years shortlist and winners. Nominees will be
announced at the beginning of November.

The evening will include special guest performances from Northern talent and 2020
graduates. Further details on this will be announced later this month.

Tickets will go on sale on Monday 5th at 5pm. All tickets will be available by
visiting The Hope Mill Theatre Website:

Behind-the-scenes images and casting revealed for Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show

imitating the dog and Leeds Playhouse have today announced full casting for the outdoor premiere of DR BLOOD’S OLD TRAVELLING SHOW. New rehearsal images have also been revealed, giving an enticing glimpse of the high-tech treats in store for returning theatre audiences.

The production’s cast will feature imitating the dog regulars Laura Atherton (Night of the Living Dead™ – Remix and A Farewell To Arms, imitating the dog); Matt Prendergast (Night of the Living Dead™ – Remix and The Zero Hour, imitating the dog) and Keicha Greenidge (Heart of Darkness, imitating the dog, and In the Club, BBC).

The inventive storytelling skills of theatre innovators imitating the dog are used to great effect as they create a deliciously dark tale of mischief, immorality, and long-buried secrets. Drawing on horror movies and the traditions of carnival shows, Dr Blood and his motley crew tell a tale of the price paid for pursuing ambition, hypocrisy, and greed. Set in a mythical ‘North’ and made for these strange times of lockdown, imitating the dog bring all their theatrical and technical acumen to this unique outdoor entertainment.

Produced by imitating the dog and Leeds Playhouse, DR BLOOD’S OLD TRAVELLING SHOW is written and directed by imitating the dog’s co-artistic directors Andrew Quick and Pete Brooks and will premiere on Playhouse Square from 7–8 October. It will then tour to the Piece Hall, Halifax (9–10 Oct), The Lowry, Salford (17 Oct), Lancaster Square, Lancaster Arts and Dukes Lancaster (20–21 Oct) and Belgrade Square, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (23–24 Oct).

Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show, Playhouse Square, Leeds Playhouse

7 – 8 October

Book online leedsplayhouse.org.uk. Box office 0113 213 7700.

2020 TOUR DATES

7­–8 Oct, Playhouse Square, Leeds Playhouse

leedsplayhouse.org.uk

9–10 Oct, The Courtyard, The Piece Hall, Halifax

thepiecehall.co.uk

17 Oct, The Lowry, Salford

thelowry.com

20–21 Oct, Lancaster Square, Lancaster Arts

lancasterarts.org

23–24 Oct, Belgrade Square, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

belgrade.co.uk

Full tour info: imitatingthedog.co.uk

National Theatre partners with Audible to support next generation of young playwrights across UK

The National Theatre is partnering with Audible as the Official Audio Partner for its New Views playwriting competition to support the next generation of writing talent across the UK.

Through this partnership the National Theatre and Audible plan to work with a young writer to adapt their script and publish it in audio. The participant will be supported throughout the process, gaining invaluable experience in audio development.

New Views is the National Theatre’s annual playwriting programme and competition for 14 – 19-year olds which supports students to write their own play with mentoring from professional playwrights, online workshops and masterclasses alongside bespoke training for teachers. Each year one play is selected from hundreds of entries to be produced at the NT with a professional cast and crew, alongside rehearsed readings of eight shortlisted plays. Previous winning and shortlisted scripts will act as a catalogue of plays that may be adapted by the playwright for Audible.

Audible, the leading provider of audio storytelling, is also supporting the National Theatre with the digital delivery of the adapted programme in response to Coronavirus. Participants will be able to access playwriting masterclasses and Audible’s expansive back-catalogue of audio content, in addition to online recordings of NT productions and digital workshops from the NT. 

Lisa Burger, Joint Chief Executive of the National Theatre said, “Young writers and theatre-makers are the future of our theatre industry and we are committed to supporting the development of new talent by continuing to provide opportunities and platforms for young people right across the UK in these challenging times. New Views encourages participants to explore their creativity, engage in debate and develop their ideas with the support of fantastic contemporary writers. We are excited to begin our partnership with Audible to develop brilliant new scripts for their platform and ensure the talented voices of the next generation are heard far and wide”. 

Kevin Addley, Country Manager at Audible said, “This exciting partnership with the National Theatre’s New Views programme allows us to help support the theatre at a difficult time for the arts. Discovering and supporting young talent has never been more vital, and we look forward to being able to celebrate new young talent in the coming months”.

Applications for schools to take part in New Views 2020-2021 are currently open until Wednesday 7th October. To find out more and to sign up visit: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learning/schools/secondary-and-fe/new-views

MARCH FOR THE ARTS PROTEST RALLY TO TAKE PLACE

IN LIVERPOOL THIS WEEKEND

Muster begins 12pm on Saturday 3 October at Metropolitan Cathedral

Rally to March through the city centre to St Georges Hall with Speeches

Organisers appeal to attenders to put Covid safety at forefront of minds

A protest March will take place in Liverpool city centre this weekend to raise awareness of the devastating impact lockdown has had on the Arts Industry across the region.

The March on Saturday 3 October from 12noon will bring people together who work in and support the industry which currently lies in ruins due to the Coronavirus pandemic, with restrictions continuing further. The Governments support has been welcome but is not enough. The protest was originally postponed when the 1.57bn was announced, three months later, the rescue package hasn’t been delivered, furlough is ending, SEISS is ending, organisations remain closed and Rishi Sunak recently described the industry as ‘unviable’.

The peaceful March will begin at the steps of the Metropolitan Cathedral and move through the city centre to a rally with speakers at St George’s Hall Plateau, the speakers will represent a diverse section of the industry including the Artistic Director of Everyman Playhouse Gemma Bodinetz,Adam Flanders of BECTU and actor Tayo Aluko to name a few.

This weekend was chosen to build on a weeklong of protests up and down the country, from the Creative Performance Protest to We Make Events to The Panto Parade. Monday 5th October is the deadline for the Arts Council to have informed/distributed the arts rescue package for round one applicants and this Saturday is also the start of the Conservative Party Conference.

March For The Arts has been organised collectively by three people working in the industry, Liz Barker, Becky Webb and Gemma Dunne, who are dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of the arts and championing those who work in arts industries.

The organisers said “We believe the time is now to march and rally, without further financial support our industry cannot afford to operate with social distancing in place. Until social distancing is no longer required, we must have financial support that reflects our economic value of £111.7bn annually outside of this crisis. We can’t raise awareness to the changes we want to see, if we can’t be seen.

“We also understand there are concerns with the rising number of Covid cases in Liverpool.  Protests are still allowed in current legislation and whilst people are able to eat out, drink out, play sports in groups both at professional level and at amateur then we can protest at the Government’s lack of support for an industry that is unable to open, affecting hundreds and thousands of workers up and down the country, as well as the health and wellbeing of us as a society.

“Social distancing is important to us – we want to ensure everyone attending is 1m+ from the next bubble, is wearing a facemask unless medically exempt, and have plenty of hand sanitizer! We are keeping a track on numbers through the facebook event or by people emailing us confirmation of attendance, to ensure it remains a safe March.”

People can register at [email protected] or

via the facebook event www.facebook.com/events/841228963296071/

People are encouraged to attend in their work clothes or costume, to create banners or placards and are welcome to bring their musical instruments or other theatrical props such as puppets and to display their art.

The protest encourages all genres across the creative industries to come together, such as theatre, music, comedy, events, dance, or community engagement. If people are unable to attend or are cautious about attending, then they can also support the protest via social media on the day.

Website: www.marchforthearts.com

Twitter: @MarchforTheArts

Instagram: @MarchforTheArts

Facebook: /MarchforTheArts

Hashtags we use are: #FairFundingForAll #MarchforTheArts #SaveTheArts #WeMakeEvents #FreelancersMakeTheatreWork #WeAreViable #LetTheMusicPlay #CreativePerformerProtest