Month: July 2018

ATG Productions, Chichester Festival Theatre, Gavin Kalin Productions, Glass Half Full Productions, present
Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of

KING LEAR
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Jonathan Munby

Duke of York’s Theatre, London from 11th July to 3rd November 2018

£5 TICKETS MADE AVAILABLE AS PART OF CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE’S PROLOGUE SCHEME FOR 16-25 YEAR OLDS.

Chichester Festival Theatre’s highly successful Prologue scheme, which enables 16-25 year olds to purchase £5 tickets across all productions in the theatre’s Festival season, has been extended to include the eagerly anticipated West End run of Shakespeare’s King Lear.

With an ensemble cast including Ian McKellen (King Lear), Sinéad Cusack (Kent), Danny Webb (Gloucester) and Kirsty Bushell (Regan), this critically-acclaimed production, directed by Jonathan Munby, will run at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London for 100 performances only from 11th July to 3rd November 2018, following a sold-out season at Chichester Festival Theatre last year.

The limited number of £5 Prologue tickets to King Lear can be purchased by 16-25 year olds, on the day of performance and in person from the Duke of York’s Box Office, when proof of age ID will be required.

Chichester Festival Theatre is committed to providing affordable tickets to world-class theatre, and particularly in reaching and growing younger audiences with the aim of encouraging independent theatregoing and kick-starting a life-long love of theatre in young people. Under the leadership of Daniel Evans (Artistic Director) and Rachel Tackley (Executive Director), the price of Prologue tickets for 16 to 25 year olds has been brought down to £5 with tickets made available for all productions in the Festival season including talks with casts and creatives, late night cabarets and other social events for young theatregoers.

For further information and to sign up to the Prologue scheme, visit the Chichester Festival Theatre website.

The cast of King Lear at the Duke of York’s Theatre will include Kirsty Bushell (Regan), Richard Clews (Gentleman Informer / Old Man), James Corrigan (Edmund), Sinéad Cusack (Kent), John Hastings (Curan / Doctor), Anthony Howell (Albany), Lloyd Hutchinson (Fool), Jake Mann (Burgundy / Lear’s Knight), Michael Matus (Oswald), Ian McKellen (King Lear), James Millard, Johanne Murdock, Jessica Murrain, Claire Price (Goneril), Daniel Rabin (Cornwall), Caleb Roberts (King of France), Scott Sparrow (Albany’s Man), Luke Thompson (Edgar), Anita-Joy Uwajeh (Cordelia), John Vernon, and Danny Webb (Gloucester).

It is also announced that King Lear will be broadcast live to cinemas across the UK and internationally on Thursday 27th September with National Theatre Live. NT Live currently screens to 2500 venues across 60 countries.

Two ageing fathers – one a King, one his courtier – reject the children who truly love them. Their blindness unleashes a tornado of pitiless ambition and treachery as family and state are plunged into a violent power struggle with shocking ends.

Tender, brutal, moving and epic, King Lear is considered by many to be the greatest tragedy ever written.

ATG Productions, Chichester Festival Theatre, Gavin Kalin Productions and Glass Half Full Productions present Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of King Lear by William Shakespeare which is directed by Jonathan Munby, designed by Paul Wills with lighting by Oliver Fenwick, music and sound by Ben Ringham and Max Ringham, with movement direction by Lucy Cullingford and fight direction by Kate Waters.

THE NORTHERN POWERHOUSE

THE HISTORIC PAVILION THEATRE

SET TO BECOME CREATIVE HUB ONCE AGAIN!

SELLADOOR WORLDWIDE & WINTER GARDENS BLACKPOOL

COLLABORATE TO PROGRAM EXCITING NEW WORK ACCESSABLE TO NORTHERN AUDIENCES & RESTORE THE PRESTIGIOUS GRADE 2 LISTED BUILDING

As the Winter Gardens Blackpool today celebrates its 140^th anniversary, plans have been unveiled revealing a partnership between global producers Selladoor Worldwide and operators Blackpool Entertainment Company to bring a fresh lease of creative life to the historic Pavilion Theatre, based within the grade 2* listed venue. During this joint venture, Selladoor Worldwide will lead on programing the space with both produced and received work, whilst Winter Gardens Blackpool will focus on the renovations to save and restore the theatre back to its full former glory for future generations to enjoy.

 

Selladoor Worldwide are one of the UK’s leading Regional Theatre Producers, producing 8 productions in 2017 that performed outside of the country’s capital, with a total of 9 productions set to do so throughout 2018. From the very outset, the company’s aim has been to make accessible work for all audiences, which has therefore invigorated Selladoor Worldwide to create a base in the North of England, to ensure full coverage across the country.

 

Selladoor’s Northern Powerhouse will be based out of the Pavilion Theatre in Blackpool, the oldest venue in the Winter Gardens complex. The venue was part of the original 1878 build and was an entertainment hub, catering to large crowds at the turn of the 20th century. Although a stunning and richly decorated building, with opulent interior designs, this building is no longer used as a theatre, and is currently listed as ‘at risk’ by the Theatres Trust.

 

Selladoor Worldwide are therefore extremely proud to partner with Blackpool Winter Gardens to protect and revitalise this venue to once again be an important entertainment hub for the town of Blackpool and surrounding northern cities such as Manchester and Liverpool. The theatre space will be used for event theatre as well as non-conventional and immersive theatre, helping to diversify the artistic programming and cultural experiences available to the residents of Blackpool.  Due to Blackpool having one of the lowest engagement rates in the UK, Selladoor Worldwide and Winter Gardens Blackpool have been working closely to establish what will benefit and empower the members of the public to ensure engagement rates increase and sustain for future generations, as well as restoring one of the city’s most important and historically significant buildings back to its former glory.

 

Executive Creative Producer David Hutchinson for Selladoor Worldwide says: “A town as bold as Blackpool is the perfect location for our Northern producing base to make waves in the north of the country. Our decision to base a dedicated team in Blackpool will enable us to focus on cultural development and engagement in the town and surrounding areas. With a new and stimulating programme of work to feature at The Pavilion Theatre, complimented by a broad selection of Selladoor’s touring productions that regularly perform at the Winter Gardens, we are extremely excited to see a town that is very dear to our hearts, flourish and succeed as it’s members of public deserve”.

 

Michael Williams, Managing Director at Blackpool Entertainment Company, operators of the Winter Gardens Blackpool says: “We are delighted to launch the partnership between Blackpool Entertainment Company (BECL) and acclaimed producers Selladoor Worldwide. This heralds an exciting new direction, which will offer unparalleled opportunities to the local community whilst bringing back into year-round use of the Pavilion Theatre. In addition, we will be utilising other spaces in the venue for a wide range of exciting and engaging projects over the coming years.

 

The partnership is a unique and exciting opportunity to use the arts as a catalyst for positive change and a vehicle to encourage both opportunity and aspiration through a wide range of commercial and community developments”.

 

Tom Stickland from the Theatres Trust has said: “The Winter Gardens’ Pavilion Theatre has evolved throughout its life to reflect the changing tastes for public entertainment opening as a music hall before becoming a theatre in 1885 and adapted for cinema in the 1930s. Restoring performance use to this historic space will unlock one of Blackpool’s jewels and help protect it for the future”.

MAMMA MIA! CAST COOL OFF AT MANCHESTER’S HISTORIC VICTORIA BATHS

The ensemble cast of Mamma Mia! landed in Manchester during the hottest spell of this Summer’s heatwave and as you would expect from performing night after night in a high-energy musical, the dancers from the hit show were very much feeling the heat.

Luckily for them, Manchester’s Victoria Baths is just down the road from the theatre and offered the eight dancers the perfect chance to chill out and cool down in-between performances.

Posing for photos in their wetsuits and flipper costume as seen in the show, the cast had fun hanging around the magnificent Gala Pool and were all smiles for the cameras as they squeezed into the traditional changing cubicles which are lined up alongside the poolside.

The dancers even had a chance to practice their moves at the bottom of the newly-restored pool – but luckily for them, the pool was empty and their costumes remained dry and ready for the evening’s performance!

Described as ‘the most splendid municipal bathing institution in the country’ when the historic building opened its doors in 1906,  Victoria Baths was built of the highest quality materials with many period decorative features including stained glass, terracotta tiles and mosaic floors.

Victoria Baths has today been partially restored, thanks to £5m in total which has been raised from a number of sources, by far the biggest being a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund which came to Victoria Baths as a result of winning BBC’s Restoration programme in 2003.

MAMMA MIA! is showing at the Palace Theatre until 14 July. For tickets and latest availability, visit www.atgtickets/manchester or call 0844 871 3019.    

A Touring Consortium Theatre Company Production in association with Everyman Theatre Cheltenham and Ewing Entertainment

POPULAR YORK ATTRACTION RETURNS TO THE TIME OF RICHARD III

 

This summer The York Dungeon is celebrating the reign of the Yorkist King.

 

History has no lack of controversies, and there is certainly no other English monarch that has invited more argument and debate than Richard III. First there was the question of whether he should be buried in York or Leicester, but this summer, The York Dungeon is asking one question that still has no answer: was Richard III a Hero or Villain?

The Dungeon is inviting guests to decide for themselves, as they take some of their most popular shows back in time to the Wars of the Roses, when Richard III ruled over the city.

“We’re all hugely excited here at The Dungeon” says performance manager John Andrews, “The new changes  tell a story we’ve never told before, and the audience, as always, will be directly involved in that story, with plenty of surprises on the way”.

Richard III marks the 3^rd character in the yearlong Yorkshire Rogues & Legendscampaign at The York Dungeon, and John hopes it will reignite some debate about the Yorkist King.

“Obviously you have Shakespeare’s version of Richard III, as this grotesque villain, but we want to portray the Richard that York loved; the man who had so many connections to the city, that a lot of people seem to have forgotten”.

Stuart Jarman, General Manager adds ‘The burial debate was one of great interest and conflict in York as many believed it should have been Richard’s final resting place but the Dean of York’s back door deal with her old haunt; Leicester denied the city, and Richard, of this’.

Families and other guests can still expect the full Dungeon experience, with the attraction open every day this summer.

As John summarises: “You’ll still meet all of York’s famous characters, from the Vikings to Dick Turpin, with plenty of scares and laughs to be had!”

Richard III – Hero or Villain? runs from the 21^st July to 2^nd September.

For more information, head to: www.thedungeons.com/York

SHEFFIELD PEOPLE’S THEATRE RETURN TO THE CRUCIBLE STAGE WITH THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF

SONGS FROM THE SEVEN HILLS

 

CRUCIBLE

A Sheffield People’s Theatre Production

World Première

SONGS FROM THE SEVEN HILLS

By John Hollingworth, Claire McKenzie and Scott Gilmour

18 July – 21 July

Director: Emily Hutchinson; Designer: Kevin Jenkins

Movement Director: Darragh O’Leary; Musical Director: Matthew Malone

Lighting Designer: Gary Longfield; Sound Designer: Nick Greenhill

Sheffield People’s Theatre have devised this brand new musical, bringing to life stories inspired by the people of this proud city of steel. The community theatre company take to the stage with a heartfelt ode to our vibrant and vital city built on seven hills.

Thirty people were interviewed to create Songs from the Seven Hills, and the company is comprised of 51 cast members and six band members – the youngest cast member is 13 years old, and the oldest is 91 years old. They have spent 169 hours in rehearsals, and the set has taken 72 hours to build. The production itself uses 350 props, and 125 costumes.

Seven Hills, Six Stories, One City…

Noisemaker is the award-winning writing partnership of actor/ writer Scott Gilmour and composer Claire McKenzie. Both graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the pair work throughout the UK and internationally creating innovative, original work to challenge the expectations of musical theatre. As individuals, they have worked with a wide variety of companies including National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Lyceum Edinburgh, Dundee Rep, Citizens’ Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre, Channel 4 Films and the BBC. Noisemaker credits include Atlantic (Assembly/AMTP Northwestern, Chicago/Royal Conservatoire of Scotland- Herald Angel Award Winner 2017), Little Red and The Wolf (Dundee Rep Theatre – Nominated for Best Production for Children and Young People UK Theatre Awards and Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2016), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh), Forest Boy (NYMF, New York/The Other Palace, London/Edinburgh Fringe Assembly – Winner of S&S Award for Best Musical in Development, The NYMF 2016 Publishing Award), The Girl Who (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse/Edinburgh Fringe Assembly), Freakshow(The Roundhouse/ The Arches – Winner of the Scottish Daily Mail Drama Award 2012).

John Hollingworth‘s first full-length play, Multitudes, played at the Tricycle Theatre in early 2015 under the direction of the theatre’s Artistic Director, Indhu Rubasingham. He was subsequently awarded attachments to the National Theatre Studio and the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Other work includes Come to Where I’m From(Paines Plough), and – as co-editor with Max Stafford-Clark – a new version of Rita, Sue and Bob Too (Out of Joint). Also an actor, he is perhaps best known for playing Captain Henshawe across three series of Poldark onBBC One, and can currently be seen in The Norman Conquests at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Emily Hutchinson is Creative Projects Manager at Sheffield Theatres.  She trained at Central School of Speech and Drama. Hutchinson has a number of directing credits at Sheffield Theatres, most recently the Sheffield People’s Theatre productions of What We Wished For and A Dream by Chris Bush, Hospital Food by Eugene O’Hare and Hearts by Luke Norris, which transferred to National Theatre’s Temporary Space in July 2014 as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival.

 

Season at a Glance

LOVE AND INFORMATION

Until 14 July

 

SONGS FROM THE SEVEN HILLS

18 July – 21 July

 

STEEL

13 September – 6 October 2018

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

27 September – 20 October 2018

 

CLOSE QUARTERS

25 October – 10 November 2018

 

KISS ME, KATE

7 December 2018 – 12 January 2019

 

RUTHERFORD AND SON

8 – 23 February 2019

 

HANG

21 February – 9 March 2019

 

STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE

15 March – 6 April

 

West End:

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE

Apollo Theatre

Booking until April 2019

 

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Twitter: @crucibletheatre @SheffieldLyceum

MGCfutures BURSARY PROGRAMME OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR THE THIRD YEAR

ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY – A GALA FOR THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE WITH ALL PROCEEDS GOING TO MGCfutures

 

Artistic Director of MGC, Michael Grandage today announces the third annual MGCfutures Bursary Programme is now open for applications; and in addition, a special gala performance of The Lieutenant of Inishmore.

 

MGCfutures is a charity, formed in 2012. The bursaries programme was launched in 2016 for arts practitioners who show a commitment to their chosen career and look to progress to the next stage of their development.

Applicants can apply for bursaries from £500-£5000, to support careers across the theatre industry. Bursaries in previous years have supported a range of projects including directors and producers who needed help towards funding a workshop, choreographers, a theatrical milliner who needed help to buy tools for his work and designers who needed to invest in computer assisted design programmes or workshop space.

This year, for the first time, the company has partnered with the Gate Theatre to offer a £2500 bursary for a BAME designer to work as design assistant on a show in the Gate’s new season. As well as working full time on a show at the Gate, the bursary recipient will receive mentoring and support from the Gate’s Associate Director, Anthony Simpson-Pike and their Associate Artist Rosie Elnile. The bursary recipient will also receive support through a career clinic workshop and help in making connections with other designers whose work they admire. Finally, the design assistant will become a Gate Theatre Alumni Artist after the project, with access to all of the ensuing support that brings, as well as further mentorship from MGCfutures.

 

Michael Grandage said today, “I am delighted the MGCfutures Bursary programme goes from strength to strength. After only two years, we can already see the impact the bursaries are making amongst key practitioners, and how they have benefitted, not just from the financial aspect, but from the support and mentoring MGC provide alongside this. With the special Gala performance of The Lieutenant of Inishmore, we will be able to raise more money to continue to help theatre makers of the future.” 

 

Applications must be submitted via the MGCfutures website – www.mgcfutures.com – before 12 noon on 6 August.  Please note, bursaries are not available to support training or as commercial investments in productions.

Also announced today is a charity gala performance of Michael Grandage’s critically acclaimed production of Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore on 6 September with all proceeds going towards MGCfutures. Tickets start at just £20 and are on sale from 11am on 10 July via www.delfontmackintosh.com. For corporate packages, please contact: Andrew Broadley [email protected].

MGCfUTURES

The future of theatre depends on young people. They are the theatre makers and theatre goers of tomorrow. MGCfutures reaches out to people of different ages and backgrounds, providing information, guidance and support through mentorship, the Bursary scheme, online resources, workshops and participatory activities.  It is also committed to enabling young people to visit the theatre who might otherwise not be able to do so.

 

MGCfutures is a charitable organisation, governed by a Board of Trustees. MGCfutures Education Associates, Dominic Francis and Samantha Lane, develop workshops and online materials to support theatre-goers to get the most out of their experience, especially those visiting a theatre for the first time.

 

MGCfutures is also supported by the charity’s patrons: Judi Dench, Dawn French, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Daniel Radcliffe, Simon Russell Beale, Sheridan Smith, David Walliams and Ben Whishaw.

 

“MGCfutures understands that artists need practical support, as well as encouragement and mentorship, in order to be empowered to make good work. It’s exactly the investment I need at this stage in my career to keep raising my ambitions.”

Isley Lynn – MGCfutures Bursary recipient, 2016

 
To find out more about the charity’s work, and how to get involved, please contact via the Education Associates at [email protected]

 

• The MGCfutures Bursaries are funded through money raised by the company itself. As the company continues to expand the scheme, individual donors and supporters are being sought.

 

• The recipients of the awards are selected from an industry panel including Michael Grandage. After the panel, each recipient will be met with to discuss their bursary and the support MGCfutures will give each one moving forward.

Twitter @MGCfutures

Facebook- MGCfutures

https://www.facebook.com/MGC-Futures-888165627994320/

www.mgcfutures.com/bursaries/#

FULL CAST &

FURTHER VENUES ANNOUNCED FOR

LISA GENOVA’S BEST-SELLING NOVEL

STILL ALICE

OPENING 12 SEPTEMBER 2018

NATIONAL PRESS NIGHT 19 SEPTEMBER

 

Eva Pope, Martin Marquez, Mark Armstrong, Ruth Ollman, Micah Balfour and Anna Andresen will join the previously announced Sharon Small in Christine Mary Dunford’s newly adapted version of Lisa Genova’s best-selling novel, STILL ALICE, directed by David Grindley.

 

The tour will open at the Sheffield Lyceum, running from 12 to 15 September. The newly announced venues are Cambridge Arts Theatre from 16 to 20 October, Theatre Royal Plymouth from 30 October to 3 November, Liverpool Playhouse from 6 to 10 November and Glasgow Theatre Royal from 13 to 17 November.There will be a national press night on Wednesday 19 September in Richmond.

 

Eva Pope most recently played Matron Bottomly in Hetty Feather (CBBC) and DI Heather Ashton in Silent Witness (BBC 1). Her other recent TV credits include regular character Rachel Mason in Waterloo Road (BBC 1), for which she received a nomination for Best Actress at the NTS Awards, Tanya Pooley in Coronation Street (ITV) from 1993 to 1994, and Laura Edison in Holby City (BBC 1).

 

Martin Marquez has had a prolific stage and television career. His notable TV roles include the leading role of Gino Primirola in two series of Hotel Babylon (BBC 1), Paul Franks in The Job Lot (ITV2) opposite Russell Tovey, and Hunter Russell in Modus (BBC 4) opposite Kim Cattrall and Greg Wise. His theatre roles include Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe), Charles Holroyd in Husbands and Sons(National Theatre), Captain Dana Holmes in From Here To Eternity (West End), and Moonface Martin in Anything Goes (National Theatre and West End).

 

Mark Armstrong is best known for playing series regular Spanner opposite Michelle Keegan in Our Girl, which is currently airing on BBC 1. He played Rab in Frankenstein (National Theatre) opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, and appeared in Design for Living(Salisbury Playhouse) and Men Should Weep (National Theatre).

 

Ruth Ollman has recently graduated from Guildhall School of Acting and her roles whilst training include Irene in Crazy For You, Mrs Hubble in Great Expectations, Jessica in The Merchant of Venice and Dionysus in The Bacchae.

 

Micah Balfour played series regulars Jermaine Bailey in Emmerdale (ITV) from 2015-16 and PC Benjamin Gayle in The Bill (ITV) from 2007-10. Micah is reprising the role of Doctor Davis in Still Alice, having played it at West Yorkshire Playhouse earlier this year. His other theatre credits include Frank Barber in Mr Foote’s Other Leg (Hampstead Theatre and West End) and Market Boy and The Royal Hunt of the Sun (National Theatre).

 

Anna Andresen’s theatre credits include Mary Sidney in Emilia (Shakespeare’s Globe), Mollie Ralston in The Mousetrap (West End) and The 39 Steps (West End). Her television credits include Silent Witness (BBC 1) and Fortitude (Sky Atlantic).

 

STILL ALICE follows 50 year-old Alice Howland, a renowned linguistics professor at Harvard University, as she battles with early-onset dementia and explores the effects the disease has on identity, family and relationships in this uncompromising yet tender portrayal. In 2014, Genova’s novel was adapted into a film starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart, for which Moore won the Academy, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Actress.

 

Television and stage star, Sharon Small, reprises the role of Alice, her first UK tour in almost twenty-five years, having played it at West Yorkshire Playhouse earlier this year. She is best known for playing Barbara Havers in The Inspector Linley Mysteries (BBC1), Trudi Malloy in Mistresses (BBC 1), Christine opposite Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette in the film adaptation of About A Boy, and most recently as Brigitte Rayne in Trust Me opposite Jodie Whittaker (BBC 1).

 

STILL ALICE has set and costume design by Jonathan Fensom, lighting design by Jason Taylor, sound design by Gregory Clarke and is produced by Michael Park.

 

Website:  www.stillaliceplay.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stillaliceplay

Twitter: @StillAlicePlay         

 

Running time: 90 minutes, no interval

Age Guidance: 11+

 

2018 TOUR SCHEDULE

12 – 15 September                  Sheffield Lyceum Theatre                                        0114 249 6000                                                                                                         www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk                                        

 

18 – 22 September                 Richmond Theatre                                                    0844 871 7651

                                                www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre            

 

25 – 29 September                 King’s Theatre, Edinburgh                                       0131 529 6000

                                               www.capitaltheatres.com/kings                                  

 

2 – 6 October                         Norwich Theatre Royal                                             01603 630 000                     

                                              www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk                                  

9 – 13 October                       Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford                                        01483 44 00 00

                                               www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk                                          On sale 27 July

                                                           

16 – 20 October                     Cambridge Arts Theatre                                            01223 503333          

                                               www.cambridgeartstheatre.com                                 

 

30 October – 3 November       Theatre Royal Plymouth                                           01752 267222                                                                                                           www.theatreroyal.com                                                On sale 13 July

 

6 – 10 November                    Liverpool Playhouse                                                0151 709 4776

                                               www.everymanplayhouse.com                                   

                                            

13 – 17 November                  Glasgow Theatre Royal                                             0844 871 7647

                                                www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow     

 

20 – 24 November                  Festival Theatre, Malvern                                          01684 892277          

                                               www.malvern-theatres.co.uk                                                         

Arts Award Day for Bradford schools
as part of the Children & the Arts Start programme
run by the Alhambra Theatre

Start, created by Children & the Arts, is a three-year engagement programme of arts activity between selected cultural organisations and local schools that tackles inequality by working only with the children who need it most, who are at risk of missing out on a creative and cultural education.

Children from local schools have made visits to the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford over the last year to see a selection of shows as part of the Start programme during the first year of the programme. They have been working with the team at the Alhambra Theatre in workshops to develop their critical eye and have fun creating their own artistic work.

Participants from the majority of these local schools have been working towards an Arts Award as an addition to their engagement with the Start programme. Arts Award is a nationally accredited range of unique qualifications that supports anyone aged up to 25 to grow as artists and arts leaders, inspiring them
to connect with and take part in the wider arts world through taking challenges in an art form.

The local Start schools participating in the Arts Award are: Beckfoot Upper Heaton, Bradford College, Feversham College, Hilltop C of E Primary School, Samuel Lister Academy and Southmere Primary Academy.

Start participants are doing the Discover or Bronze level Arts Award, which involves taking part in different arts activities (Alhambra Theatre visits, workshops in school and talks/events); finding out about artists and
arts organisations (working on arts heroes and finding out about how the Alhambra Theatre operates); experiencing arts events (visits to the Alhambra Theatre including pantomime, War Horse and Awful Auntie); and sharing arts skills with others (feedback and sharing with other pupils and parents).

On Wednesday 11 July, a selection of students and teachers from Bradford College, Feversham College, Samuel Lister Academy and Beckfoot Upper Heaton will attend a Start schools Bronze Arts Award Moderation Day at The Studio (adjacent to the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford). The students have put
together a portfolio or arts log in their own choice of format; there are 119 portfolios submitted for this Bronze Arts Award (one per student) and these are being ‘judged’ by an Arts Award moderator at the session. The moderator will look at a selection of the portfolios and agree if they have passed. The moderator will also look at the portfolios from the students who attend on the day and ask them to share their experience of the project and ask them questions about what they have done during the process.

Hilltop C of E Primary School and Southmere Primary Academy have done the Discover level Arts Award. There is no moderation at this level and the students won’t be attending the moderation day; but approximately 80 students from these schools have taken and passed the Discover level Arts Award.

The Start programme is proven to raise the aspirations of young people, building confidence and helping with learning and development in school. It also provides teachers with training for them to deliver the arts programme, helping pupils realise their full potential and making links to the curriculum.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, says:
“I am delighted that so many young people from across Bradford have been able to participate in the Arts Award opportunity as part of the Start programme. Hearing about their enjoyment of seeing shows and participating in workshops during the first year of the programme has been truly inspiring and energising.

The Start scheme is a fantastic way to give children access to quality culture and theatre, which ultimately enriches every part of their learning journey through school and beyond. I’m really looking forward to hearing from the Bradford schools and students over the next 2 years of the project.”

FROM WEST END TO ‘RAINBOW TOUR’

NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE AUTUMN 2018 TOUR OF

TIM RICE & ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S

WORLD RENOWNED MUSICAL MASTERPIECE

 

E V I T A

INCLUDING WEST END STARS

LUCY O’BYRNE, MIKE STERLING & GLENN CARTER

AT THE CHURCHILL THEATRE BROMLEY FROM TUE 24 – SAT 28 JULY

 

êêêê

The Independent, The Sunday Times, What’s On Stage, Radio Times, Broadway World, The i, Mail On Sunday, Gay Times, British Theatre

 

êêêêê

‘Stunning’ Mark Shenton

êêêêê

‘A sensationally good production of Webber and Rice’s greatest musical’ The Stage

After captivating audiences for the past 10 years in the UK, embarking on two West End seasons and following an international tour, Evita returns to the UK with a brand new cast for the 2018 autumn season. The musical opens at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking on 17 July 2018 before visiting Bromley from 24 – 28 July for exclusive London dates. The tour finishes in Southsea in November.

Led by three of the finest musical theatre stars and saying ‘Hello, Buenos Aires’ for the first time is Lucy O’Byrne (The Sound of Music, Les Misérables) in the iconic role of Eva Perón, with Mike Sterling (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables) as Juan Perón and, award-winning West End leading man, Glenn Carter (Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar – on stage and screen, Les Misérables)

as Ché. They will be joined by: Oscar Balmaseda(Magaldi) and Cristina Hoey (Mistress).

Completing the cast is: Emmanuel Alba (Ensemble),Verity Burgess (Ensemble), Callum Fitzgerald(Ensemble), Riva Grant (Ensemble), Samuel John Humphreys (Ensemble), Bethan Jacks (Ensemble),Joe McCourt (Ensemble), Benjamin McMillan(Ensemble), Chrissie Perkins (Ensemble), Oliver Slade (Ensemble), Chris Stoddart, (Ensemble), Mike Ward (Ensemble), Kirsty Whelan (Ensemble) andYuval Zoref (Ensemble).

Telling the story of Eva Perón, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Perón, Evita follows Eva’s journey, which ultimately led her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’ by the Argentine people.