SQUINT ANNOUNCE ONLINE WRITING AND DEVISING WORKSHOPS
Following the success of their online workshop programme launched during the first lockdown, theatre company, Squint, led by Andrew Whyment, today announce a further series of writing and devising workshops to equip and empower participants with tools and practice that can be applied to their own projects.
Since launching the programme last year, Squint have hosted 25 workshops to hundreds of participants from across the UK and internationally from countries including Norway, Spain, Brazil and the USA. The latest series of workshops comprises three strands: Get Writing, Keep Writing and Get Devising, led by facilitators from a variety of disciplines including directing, acting and writing: Lee Anderson, Kane Husbands, Louise Roberts, Sid Sagar and Andrew Whyment.
Participants can book for one-off sessions or for a series,running 3 February to 9 June 2021, with further dates to be announced. Squint in partnership with the Compass Collective, Open Door and the National Youth Theatre are also offering 25 participants from low-income backgrounds free places.
Andrew Whyment, Artistic Director of Squint and one of the workshop facilitators, said today, “Our online workshops have allowed us to share our practice more widely and affordably than ever before and we have nurtured the beginnings of playwriting projects around the world. The opportunity to share a virtual space with a diverse and international group of Writers and Theatre Makers during this time has been energising and inspiring. The fact that, in the face of adversity, groups of artists join us week in, week out to grow and develop together is testament to the strength of the global theatre community”.
GET WRITING
This workshop is aimed at participants who need a jumpstart with their writing. Each workshop explores a different starting point for a story and introduces practical tools for developing structure, character and dialogue.
KEEP WRITING
For participants who are currently writing a play. Each workshop focuses on a different aspect of a script and helps participants to develop their work and clarify their ideas.
GET DEVISING
For Directors and Theatre Makers who want to tool up with fresh devising practice from the Squint toolbox.
Each workshop is two-hours in length and takes place on Zoom with 15-20 participants per session. To find out more or to book please visit: www.squinttheatre.com/book.
Workshops are £10 per session. Discounts available when booking a series of 5 or 10 sessions using codes ‘BOOK5SAVE5’ or ‘BOOK10SAVE10’ at the checkout.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday 3 February, 6-8pm GMT – Get Writing: Action
WITH LIVESTREAM AVAILBLE VIA THEATRE DISCOVERY PLATFORM THESPIE
Revised dates have now been confirmed for Monday Night at the Apollo – a brand-new concert series for 2021, to be performed in front of socially distanced audiences at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, and simultaneously livestreamed to viewers at home via the theatre discovery platform Thespie, which is dedicated to bringing the best live and recorded theatre to audiences around the world
Originally scheduled for January and February, the concerts have been postponed because of the national government restrictions and venue closures. Tickets are on sale now for Monday 12 April, Monday 26 April and Monday 10 May. In light of the current restrictions, the producers will still review each date as it approaches and react accordingly according to government guidelines at the time.
The series will feature intimate evenings of conversation and song hosted by Greg Barnett (Miss Littlewood, Duchessof Malfi), with some of the West End’s best-known performers singing an eclectic mix of music from their favourite genres. Performers will share their most cherished memories and experiences from their careers, alongside performances of music which is personal to them, in a relaxed and informal theatrical celebration.
Monday Night at the Apollo has been conceived of to support the theatre industry, and ten percent of proceeds will be donated to Acting for Others, an organisation made up of 14 individual theatrical charities.
Whilst individual concert line-ups have not yet been confirmed, performers who are committed at this stage to appearing in the series include Aimie Atkinson (Six, Pretty Woman), Declan Bennett (Jesus Christ Superstar, Once), Rosalie Craig(Company, City of Angels), Arthur Darvil (Once, Sweet Charity), Kerry Ellis (Wicked, Les Misérables), Hadley Fraser (Les Misérables, City of Angels), Cassidy Janson(& Juliet, Beautiful), Lucie Jones (Waitress, Rent), Renée Lamb (Six, Little Shop of Horrors), Cedric Neal (Chess,Mowtown the Musical), Jamie Muscato (Heathers, West Side Story), Julian Ovenden (Merrily We Roll Along, Showboat), and Layton Williams (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Billy Elliot the Musical).
The announced artists have agreed to have their names associated with ‘Monday Night At The Apollo’ to show their support for both this production as well as the wider reopening of the industry. Their performances will be subject to availability and any changes to the cast will be announced on a rolling basis. Announcement of line-ups for individual dates will happen at least four weeks prior to each.
Producers Greg Barnett and Hugh Summers said, “We’re so excited to be announcing revised dates and further cast for ‘Monday Night At The Apollo’. In light of the newly imposed national coronavirus restrictions, we feel it was the correct decision to postpone the original performances. Public health and the safety of our audiences is our utmost priority and will always be the most important factor in informing any decisions we make. With that said, we truly believe that we are on the way back to reopening theatres and feel it is important to press ahead with getting these concerts staged. It in no way dampens our spirits, rather it strengthens our resolve to get the industry restarted. In doing so, we hope to be able to raise funds for ‘Acting For Others’ to continue to support the thousands of freelancers who these latest restrictions will hit the hardest. Theatre and its audiences know how important it is to get back to normal, especially in these seemingly crucial final months. Therefore, we ask your support, kindness, and when needed, patience, as we navigate the difficult road ahead.”
This concert series is musically directed by George Dyer, and produced by Greg Barnett and Hugh Summers for Wild Mountain Productions Ltd. Wild Mountain Productions Ltd was founded in 2020 to produce live theatre, with new and challenging work at its core.
This January and February, stream.theatre presents over fifteen unmissable events to keep people entertained, many of which are receiving their streaming premieres.
The season celebrates brilliant drama, starting with two plays exploring American politics: John Moore’s Waiting for Obama, and the celebrated production of Kennedy: Bobby’s Last Crusade.
Critically acclaimed productions of Little Wars and Philip Ridley’s The Poltergeist bring more drama to the platform, before Janie Dee stars in an exclusive rare revival of Terence Rattigan’s All On Her Own.
There’s plenty for musical fans too, with hotly anticipated new musical The Sorcerer’s Apprentice making its world premiere on stream.theatre in February.
Later, two outstanding foreign language musicals also make their UK streaming debuts: Seoul’s Sejong Center hugely popular production of Frank Wildhorn’s Xcalibur and Moscow Peretta Theatre’s breathtaking production of Anna Karenina.
Online venue stream.theatre offers a digital stage for Arts organisation, producers, and artists to record, stream and host a wide variety of new pay-per-view streaming content. Visit www.stream.theatre for full information.
LISTINGS:
Potted Panto (continues until 24 January)
7 classic pantomimes in 70 hilarious minutes! Double Olivier nominees Dan and Jeff return for a tenth anniversary festive season of Potted Panto, hot on the heels of their world tour and Las Vegas residency of Harry Potter parody Potted Potter. In a madcap ride through the biggest stories and best-loved characters from the wonderful world of pantomime, our dastardly double act dash from rubbing Aladdin’s lamp to roaming the golden streets of Dick Whittington’s London and making sure that Cinderella gets to the Ball. It’s all unmissable fun, whether you’re six or 106. This exclusive streamed version of the show was captured with a live audience at the Garrick Theatre during the show’s tenth anniversary West End season in 2020. Viewer age advice, ages 6+.
Run Time : 70 minutes (approx)
Ticket Price : £15.00 plus £3.00 transaction fee
Waiting for Obama (until 17 January)
The year is 2016. A Colorado Springs family is convinced that President Barack Obama is coming for their guns. And they’re right.
John Moore’s critically acclaimed “Waiting for Obama” was an official selection of the New York International Fringe Festival.
The cast recently gathered to create a new radio-play version, videotaped exclusively for stream.theatre. Written by John Moore.
Untapped (10, 17, 24, 31 January)
“Untapped” celebrates Musical Theatre Graduates from the past 10 graduating years, learn about each performers individual experience of working in the theatre industry and watch them perform with a superb 3 piece band. Untapped presents four different performance dates & four different casts, and each evening is hosted by Christopher Howell. This performance features Chris Howell, Muirgen O’Mahony, Helen Gulston, Ben Barrow, Amelia Walker, Karen Wilkinson, Adam Colbeck-Dunn, Laurie Evans, Bella Bowen, Kyle Birch, Shannon Herbert, Sinead O’Callaghan. This event’s run time is 90 minutes.
Roles We’ll Never Play – West End (15 – 17 January 2021)
Following on from two successful years of concerts in London, Tom Duern presents Roles We’ll Never Play, recorded live during its sell out run at the Apollo Theatre, in the heart of London’s West End in December 2020.
Now is your chance to see this critically acclaimed production from the comfort of your own home!
Roles We’ll Never Play will see performers singing songs outside of their casting brackets for one night only… There are NO limits! Featuring an exceptional cast of over 25 performers and a live band, expect big performances and show stopping vocals.
The concert is directed by Sasha Regan with Musical Direction by Flynn Sturgeon and hosted by Carl Mullaney. The concert is produced by Tom Duern.
Please note, the show contains some strong language.
Run Time : 2hr 30min (including a 20 minute interval)
Ticket Price : £15.00 plus £3.00 transaction fee
Kennedy – Bobby’s Last Crusade (18 – 24 January 2021)
This solo play portrays Kennedy during his short, electrifying run for President in 1968. Follow Bobby from his announcement to enter the race to his last speech at the Ambassador Hotel. The play combines many of his famous speeches, as well as his private apprehensions and some of the more personal moments of his exhilarating campaign.
The Poltergeist (25 – 31 January, then on Demand in February)
From master storyteller Philip Ridley comes the four star OnComm Award Winning play The Poltergeist. ‘Art’s my hobby too.’ Hobby?! Sasha was destined to take the art world by storm. At the age of fifteen pop stars wanted his paintings, and a new exhibition was going to make him a millionaire. But now he lives in a run-down flat with his out-of-work boyfriend, serves in a stationers, and no one’s even heard of him… what went wrong? Philip Ridley’s darkly comic new play is about art, family, memory, and being haunted by the life we never lived. Please not this event features Strong Language, Use of Prescription Drugs and Themes of an Adult Nature. This event’s run time is 75 minutes.
One of the greatest living British writers, Philip Ridley’s previous plays include The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Radiant Vermin, The Pitchfork Disney, Tender Napalm, Dark Vanilla Jungle, and Mercury Fur, as well as the screenplay for the 1990 film The Krays. With four stars: “Rare and unmissable. Will be talked about for years.” – Theatre Weekly “Tightly wound, highly disciplined and unashamedly relentless.” – Broadway World. “Ridley and Tramp’s fast-paced and moving production, has done something truly remarkable.” – OX Magazine. “Compelling, absorbing, vital, frantic, unmissable.” – Everything Theatre.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (26 February – 14 March 2021)
This enchanting new British musical explores the extraordinary world of a sorcerer and his rebellious daughter, as she discovers the explosive possibilities of her newfound magical powers.
Against the backdrop of the Northern Lights, a small town has been pushed to the brink of collapse in a bid for progress and prosperity. To rescue Midgard from certain destruction, father and daughter must heal their relationship and work together. This gripping family-friendly story sees brooms coming to life and love blossoming anew.
Acclaimed musical theatre writers Richard Hough and Ben Morales Frost have created this gender-swapped twist on the timeless poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which also inspired the Dukas symphony that memorably featured in the Disney film Fantasia.
Directed by Charlotte Westenra (The Wicker Husband, Watermill), the cast of ten includes Dawn Hope (Follies, National Theatre), David Thaxton (Olivier Award for Passion, Donmar Warehouse) and the professional debut of London School of Musical Theatre graduate Mary Moore in the title role.
This production was filmed at Southwark Playhouse in January 2021 and is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
Run Time : 2 Hours plus an interval (approx)
Ticket Price : £15.00 plus £3.00 transaction fee
The Last Five Years (29 – 31 January)
Filmed at the Southwark Playhouse in November 2020.
Jason Robert Brown’s Drama Desk Award winning musical, The Last Five Years, is an emotionally powerful and intimate show about two New Yorkers who fall in and out of love over the course of five years.
The musical’s unconventional structure unfolds as Cathy tells her story in reverse, from the end of their turbulent relationship, whilst Jamie tells his story chronologically from the spark of their initial meeting. The two characters meet only once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.
Now, this iconic musical returns to London in a bold new actor-musician production with the actors on stage at all times and playing the piano to add a new narrative dimension to the story, accompanied by a four piece band.
Little Wars (1 – 14 January 2021)
Featuring critically-acclaimed performances from Linda Bassett and Juliet Stevenson, the compelling production of Little Wars brought together an incredible all-star female cast, including Debbie Chazen, Natasha Karp, Catherine Russell, Sarah Solemani and Sophie Thompson, directed by Hannah Chissick. The streaming raised over £7,500 for Women For Refugee Women during its initial run. This incredible charity continues to support women in need during this difficult time.
Little Wars unites literary figureheads Gertrude Stein (Bassett), her girlfriend Alice Toklas (Russell), Dorothy Parker (Chazen), Lillian Hellman (Stevenson) and Agatha Christie (Thompson), with anti-fascist freedom fighter Muriel Gardiner (Solemani), in this deliciously comic and touching drama about the power of coming together for a shared cause. Tensions are high and secrecy lingers in the air, but with libations flowing and the threat of World War II looming the guests are close to boiling point. This event’s run time is 120 minutes. Little Wars is produced by Thomas Hopkins & Michael Quinn for Ginger Quiff Media in association with Bailey Harris-Kelly and Guy Chapman.
RUN TIME: Approx 120 minutes.
Falling Stars (1 – 14 February)
Peter Polycarpou (Man of La Mancha, London Coliseum; City of Angels; Donmar Warehouse; Birds of a Feather) and Sally Ann Triplett’s (Finding Neverland, Broadway; Viva Forever, Piccadilly Theatre; EastEnders) Following the impending cancellation of live performances, the company quickly came together to create a filmed adaptation, providing audiences with an unmissable opportunity to experience the 1920s revelry from their own home during lockdown. With theatres forced to close their doors, Ginger Quiff are aiming to make the theatrical experience accessible for all. Falling Stars is the charming story of a lost songbook; hidden away in an antique shop on the East Finchley High Road, its discovery unlocks the beautiful refrains of a bygone era. This event’s run time 60 minutes.
Conceived and written by Polycarpou, the song cycle is an homage to the composers, collaborators, and publishers of the 1920s, who created some of the greatest music of all time. This musical revue captures the spirit of the age as Polycarpou and Triplett serenade audiences with the music of Charlie Chaplin, Irving Berlin, Buddy De-Silva, Ray Henderson, Vincent Youmans, Carl Schraubstader, Arthur Freed, and Meredith Wilson. Directed by Michael Strassen (Godspell 50th Anniversary concert; Billy; Assassins),
Wolverhampton Literature Festival (12 – 14 February then on demand)
Wolverhampton Literature Festival returns for its fifth year in February 2021. Hosted by City of Wolverhampton Council the festival aims to amplify the voice of authors, poets, writers, storytellers, puppeteers, podcasters, vloggers, publishers across the UK. Celebrating our creative communities living and from the Black Country and further!
Over a three-day period, taking place on the 12-14 of February, the programme of events features a variety of entertainment, which consist of talks, performances, readings, and practical workshops. It provides a high-quality experience for audiences by delivering engaging, exciting and thought-provoking events. There is something for everyone to enjoy, engage with and feel empowered by and as result re-lighting Wolverhampton through the power of literature.
Events include: Invisible Voices: In conversation with Shobna Gulati, In Conversation with Kuli Kohli, Aldona Grupas: The Immigration Stories of the Lithuanian Community and many more.
Tickets range from free to £12 plus fees.
All On Her Own (16 – 21 February 2021)
A powerfully atmospheric one-woman play, Terence Rattigan’s All On Her Own tells the story of Rosemary who, alone at midnight in London, has a secret burden to share that is both heartbreaking and sinister. Two time Olivier & Evening Standard Award-winner Janie Dee plays Rosemary Hodge in this thrilling new digital production directed by Alastair Knights.
The play began life as a piece for television, broadcast on BBC2 on 25 September 1968. It was first performed on stage at the Overground Theatre, Kingston, Surrey, in October 1974 and was most recently seen at the Garrick Theatre in April 2015 starring Zoe Wanamaker as part of the Kenneth Branagh Season.
Running time: approximately 25 minutes
Ticket pricing: £8 + booking fee
Anna Karenina (15 – 21 February 2021)
Based on the novel by LEO TOLSTOY & captured in front of a live theatre audience from the Moscow peretta Theatre .
This Anna Karenina, presented in Russian with English subtitles, is a spectacular, breathtaking, high-tech musical production based on the masterpiece by Leo Tolstoy. The dramatic and tumultuous love story between Anna Karenina and a dashing military officer, Alexey Vronsky, takes place amidst the glitter and luxury of the Russian nobility in the second half of the 19th century. The musical’s characters struggle with overwhelming love and betrayal, passion and duty, and hope and desperation. Although almost a century and a half has passed since the time of the story, the timeless quality of events unfolding before the audience remains both gripping and touching.
The production features music from composer Roman Ignatyev and a new libretto by Yuliy Kim, one of Russia’s foremost contemporary songwriters.
XCALIBUR (22 – 28 February 2021)
The musical scene thrives in South Korea with Xcalibur. The production showcases the journey of King Arthur, exploring his discovery of new-found responsibility as a young leader and getting married to the love of his life, Guinevere only to experience a reality far from what was expected.
Xcalibur, directed by Stephen Rayne, premiered in Korea on June 15, 2019 at the sprawling Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Korea. The production was the most anticipated show of the Korean season with an all-star cast including Kai, in the role of King Arthur, and was the latest collaboration between Grammy- and Tony-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn, playwright Ivan Menchell and lyricist Robin Lerner.
All Male G&S: Pirates of Penzance (29 March – 5 April 2021)
Filmed live at the Palace Theatre, London in December 2020.
Sasha Regan’s All Male Company of pirates and their winsome lasses are set to bring audiences one night of joy and laughter with their inventive new take on Gilbert & Sullivan’s much loved THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. Features a shipshape cast singing songs including: “I am a Pirate King”; “Oh, happy day, with joyous glee” and “A rollicking band of pirates we”. They are sure to raise the roof off the Palace Theatre!
Expect plenty of onboard japes from the swashbuckling crew who are braving the high seas with rum and hand-sanitisers to bring you a socially distanced, Covid-secure show. A much-needed escape for families and friends who are looking for some festive spirit to banish lockdown blues.
The production was first staged at The Union Theatre in the heart of Southwark over a decade ago where it was a runaway success winning Best Off-West End Production at The WhatsOnStage Awards in 2009. Pirates transferred to Wilton’s Music Hall for a 6-week run and on to The Rose Theatre, Kingston before the All Male Company set sail on a tour of Australia culminating in a month-long run at the prestigious Sydney Theatre thanks to Cate Blanchett, then co-artistic director. There was a subsequent UK Tour in 2015 and another critically acclaimed run at the beautiful Wilton’s Music Hall last year.
The shortlist has been announced for the National Campaign for the Arts’ (NCA) Hearts for the Arts Awards 2021.The awards celebrate the unsung heroes of Local Authorities who are championing the arts against all odds. This year’s winners will be selected from the shortlist by a judging panel of key arts industry experts and practitioners, including:
Le Gateau Chocolat, Drag artiste and cabaret performer
Paul Hartnoll, musician, composer, founder member of Orbital
Samuel West, actor, director, Chair of the National Campaign for the Arts
Despite the incredible hardships faced by Local Authorities in 2020, this year’s awards have seen the NCA receive a record-breaking number of nominations, as local communities turned to the arts for solace, strength and connectivity during the pandemic.
The Hearts for the Arts Awards were launched five years ago to highlight the achievements of Local Authorities continuing their arts services against a backdrop of severe financial cuts. Previous judges have included Susie Dent, Gary Kemp and Olivia Colman. Previous winners have included Hackney Council’s Windrush Generations Festival and Plymouth Music Zone.
Nominations were received from across the UK for each of the three award categories: Best Arts Project; Best Arts Champion – Local Authority or Cultural Trust Worker; and Best Arts Champion – Councillor.
The shortlist was judged by representatives from this year’s award partners: Culture Counts, Local Government Association, Wales Council for Voluntary Action, National Campaign for the Arts, UK Theatre and Voluntary Arts Wales.
The shortlist is made up of an exciting mix of exemplary projects and people utilising creativity to strengthen their local communities, economies, and wellbeing. From hosting online festivals to delivering creative toolkits for young people, and from opening brand-new cultural centres to innovating artistic collaborations with health professionals, this year’s shortlisted entries are the clearest case studies for the necessity of creativity to all our lives.
Samuel West, Chair of the National Campaign for the Arts, said:
“After such a difficult year for all those in local authorities and the arts – a year of loss, postponement and distance – to be able to celebrate these shortlists, full of people and projects that brought us together in new and life-saving ways, is a real joy. We’d like to thank our partners for working hard to make this year’s awards happen, and especially the local authorities who have been adapting and promoting their arts services at a time when communities have needed them most. I am thrilled that Hearts for the Arts can show some love for the creativity, ingenuity and commitment of those on this year’s shortlists”
The shortlists are:
Best Arts Project
Mole Valley Arts E-Live – Mole Valley District Council
The Creative Cabin – East Devon District Council
Necklace of Stars – Derbyshire County Council
N17 – Haringey Council
Create & Learn PlayKits – London Borough of Wandsworth (Arts Service)
Festival of Hope – Bolton, Carlisle, Cheshire West and Chester, Lancashire and Sefton
Dippy on Tour (North West) – Rochdale Borough Council & Link4Life Cultural Trust
Barnsley Museums: Families in Lockdown – Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Summer Hubs – Flintshire County Council
The Box, Plymouth – Plymouth City Council
Falling on your Feet – Durham County Council
Sea Folk Sing – Kent, Medway, and Swale
Best Arts Champion – Local Authority or Cultural Trust Worker
Sara O’Donnell – London Borough of Wandsworth
Andy Dawson – Inspire Youth Arts
Paul Cowell – Medway Council
Claudia Cartwright – Mole Valley District Council
Best Arts Champion – Councillor
Councillor Janet Emsley – Rochdale Borough Council
Councillor Jonathan Simpson – London Borough of Camden
Councillor Dale Heenan – Swindon Borough Council
Councillor Karen King – Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
The winners of the Hearts for the Arts Awards 2021 will be announced on Valentine’s Day, 14 February.
With the UK back in lockdown and many families looking for engaging, fun or educational ‘at home’ activities for their children with schools closed, the British Pantomime Academy have furthered their option to offer youngsters from 8 – 18 years old a unique opportunity to engage with the arts, drama, language and script writing in their one hour courses available online.
The British Pantomime Academy’s ‘Kids Masterclass Workshop’ is designed to introduce youngsters aged 8-14 or 14-18 to all elements of the theatrical world. The interactive online workshop features numerous classes and techniques, where youngsters will learn about the traditions and craftmanship of theatre. There are also options available for one off celebrity driven masterclasses to master skills such ventriloquism with Britain’s Got talent Finalist Steve Hewlett.
The British Pantomime Academy was founded in 2019 bringing workshops and courses to students of all ages. In 2020 these classes were taken online as the UK’s first Online Pantomime Workshops, with a focus this year on providing youngsters with fun and interactive sessions to keep the magic of theatre alive when the opportunity to go along in person or attend much-needed classes may not be available.
Kev Orkian Founder of the British Pantomime Academy says “We launched our online courses in 2020 in a year where everyone, not least our children had their lives and routines disrupted and a lot of simple pleasures taken away from them. Many after school clubs, extracurricular activities, performing arts classes and academies have had to close and as we now know this may continue into 2021 for some time. Many young people enjoyed and benefited from our classes last year and with this new extended lockdown we want to continue to support families and children to learn about and have fun in all elements of the performing arts which we know is so important to their growth and well-being.”
“We are keenly aware that families are looking for fun, rewarding and engaging experiences for their children and we hope the BPA can offer help and support to entertain and engage youngsters through learning as we move further into the New Year”
CURVE LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT HOME-SCHOOLING DURING LOCKDOWN
Curve theatre will support home-schooling during the third national lockdown with a brand new educational initiative, Curve Classroom.
Available on Curve’s website and YouTube channel, the free sessions will be available every weekday from 4pm and delivered by a range of leading artists including performers Molly Lynch, Garry Robson, Cathy Tyson and Hareet Deol, Designers Grace Smart and Kate Unwin,Directors Tinuke Craig and Julia Thomas, Choreographers Kesha Raithatha, Lee Proud and Mel Knott, Writer Jess Greenand Composer and Curve Associate Tasha Taylor Johnson, as well as a number of Midlands-based artists local to Curve in Leicester.
The programme has been created following consultation with parents and teachers and lessons will include English language and literature, analytical thinking, vocal exercises, character work and choreography workshops, as well as puppetry, disability awareness and LGBTQ+ history. Curve Classroom will provide an educational resource for all ages, from children to adults, as part of Curve’s commitment to lifelong learning.
The first Curve Classroom lesson, song writing with Leicestershire-based Composer, Lyricist and Writer Jude Taylor, is available to watch now.
Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said:
“Throughout the pandemic, we have tried to respond positively and contribute meaningfully to the lives of our communities and audiences. Now in our nation’s third lockdown – and as our theatre continues to work online – we are launching our very own Curve Classroom to support home-schooling led by Curve practitioners.
“Many of the creative skills we use on a daily basis in making theatre are transferable to other aspects of life and can support teaching and learning across the curriculum. Literacy, music, complex problem-solving, forming well-reasoned arguments, teamwork and developing the imagination, are just some of the skills our practitioners will share in their online tutorials.
“We sincerely hope these daily sessions will help support learning and the incredible work being done by teachers, parents and carers, whilst also offering young people an insight into the creative industries and the incredible wealth of talent and resources we have to offer. We’d like to extend huge thanks to our army of freelance actors, local artists and practitioners who have responded so positively to our call out to join the Curve Classroom.”
Once released, each video session will remain online for access at any time.
This new initiative sees the theatre build upon its existing database of online content produced and shared since its doors were closed in March 2020. Alongside activities for young people, Curve has also shared archive recordings of previous Made at Curve productions, in-depth conversations with leading theatre-makers and new commissioned work created by local artists and community members. To explore Curve’s database of online content, visit – www.curveonline.co.uk/the-show-must-go-online/
CASTING IS ANNOUNCED FOR LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES’ SHERLOCK HOLMES IMMERSIVE ONLINE ADVENTURE, ‘THE CASE OF THE HUNG PARLIAMENT’
Casting has today been announced forSherlock Holmes: An Online Adventure. “The Case of the Hung Parliament” by the Olivier nominated creators of Alice’s Adventures Underground, Les Enfants Terribles. Richard Holt (Alice’s Adventures Underground, The Games Afoot, United Queendom) will play Sherlock Holmes. The cast also includes Amy Adele, Miranda Heath, Yasmin Keita, James Marlowe, Michele Moran and Oliver Tilney.
Running from 27th January to 10th March 2021 this innovative and immersive online adventure blurs the lines between theatre, gaming, escape room and board game. Public or private shows are available to purchase here.
In collaboration with virtual reality company LIVR (and suitable for 12+), Les Enfants Terribles are utilising the last 15 years’ experience of creating live immersive shows and expanding their repertoire with this online ‘whodunnit’ which will invite audiences alongside live actors to follow in the footsteps of the great detective himself as they encounter live performances, immersive 360 technology and more than 100 clues to discover and solve.
Don the deerstalker and become Baker Street’s finest detective. Travel back to Victorian London and delve into the world of Sherlock Holmes where powers of deduction will be required to solve the case before time runs out. As the newest recruits of Scotland Yard, audiences will have to make their own conclusions and decisions by interviewing suspects, reading reports, searching for hidden clues and researching old facts.
Written by Oliver Lansley and Anthony Spargo with inspiration taken from the 2016 live show The Games’ Afoot, this online, multi-sensory and intricate world will premiere on 27th January with tickets on sale now.
THE NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPORTS LEARNING WITH DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND TEACHERS
The National Theatre continues its commitment to supporting teachers and young people across the UK with at home digital resources and learning opportunities in 2021. From full length productions available to stream, a playwrighting course, online activities for primary age pupils, resources exploring backstage theatre and the annual Drama Teacher Conference – now online – there is something for both students and teachers.
Free streaming for state schools
The National Theatre Collectionisa digital library of 30 world-class productions available to schools and universities worldwide. Productions include adaptations such as Small Island and Jane Eyre, Shakespearean tragedies Othello and King Lear, American classics such as A Streetcar Named Desire (Young Vic) and productions especially adapted for primary schools.
National Theatre Collection is available free of charge for state schools and Further Education colleges across the UK through Bloomsbury Publishing’s Drama Online platform and teachers can share log-in details with students to watch productions from home when remote learning. New learning resources added for this year include introductory teaching packs, lesson plans and workshop ideas and access to behind-the-scenes content such as rehearsal diaries.
Other academic institutions including libraries, universities, independent and international schools can access National Theatre Collection via a one-time payment for the full collection, or via an annual subscription in partnership with ProQuest and Bloomsbury.
Online learning for teachers
The NT’s annual Drama Teacher Conferencewill be taking place digitally during the February half-term (15-20 February 2021) and is open to drama teachers across the UK. The conference includes webinars, panel discussions and live interactive sessions with leading creatives in the industry, including theatre directors Katie Mitchell, Marianne Elliottand Matthew Xia, designer Bunny Christie and actor Maxine Peake. Sessions are £5 each with bursaries available for state schools.
Additional digital resources
To discover NT Learning’s range of digital resources including the New Views playwriting course with scripts, video collections about theatre-making, digital exhibitions, recorded talks and resource packs exploring NT productions visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learning/at-home.
Alice King-Farlow, Director of Learning at the National Theatre said, “The National Theatre is determined to continue supporting teachers and students with resources and opportunities to learn about theatre-making, particularly while the majority of young people are learning from home. We are inspired by the way drama teachers have adapted to deliver the subject in new ways and hope the National Theatre Collection will give young people a chance to explore landmark productions while theatres remain closed. We look forward to connecting with drama teachers across the UK through our virtual Drama Teacher Conference to explore new approaches to drama with some of the most exciting practitioners across the industry and continue growing a community of remarkable teachers to share skills and learnings together”.
Bank of America is the National Theatre’s Partner for Learning.
The Mohn Westlake Foundation supports nationwide Learning programmes for young people.
The National Theatre Collection is supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Fondation Hoffmann, Sidney E. Frank Foundation, The Attwood Education Foundation, The Candide Trust, The Cranshaw Corporation for Mrs. Robert I. MacDonald, Graham and Joanna Barker, The Borrows Charitable Trust, Barbara G. Fleischman, Linda Hackett and members of the NT Collection Syndicate.
Papatango today announces that the 2019 Papatango New Writing Prize-winner Shook by Samuel Bailey – which was due to transfer to the West End when the pandemic hit – has been filmed and will be available to watch online from Friday 5 February until Sunday28 February 2021.
Tickets are £10, and give audiences access to stream the show for 48 hours after purchase via www.papatango.co.uk/shook – captions available. Papatango will mark the production’s online première with a live Q&A with the cast and creative team across its social media channels at 7.30pm on Friday 5 February.
“An astonishingly brilliant production… One of the best debut plays I have ever seen”
Saturday Review, Radio 4
The Other Richard
Featuring the original cast – Josef Davies (Jonjo), Josh Finan (Cain), Andrea Hall (Grace) and Ivan Oyik (Riyad) – and with the original set/costume designs by Jasmine Swan and sound design by Richard Hammarton, the capture of the play was directed by Papatango’s Artistic Director George Turvey in collaboration with BAFTA-winning and multi-Emmy-nominated director James Bobin.
George Turvey, Artistic Director of Papatango, said today, “Having suffered the loss of the West End transfer, we are delighted to have found a way to share Sam’s fantastic play with a wider audience. We are hugely grateful to James, the cast, and the whole creative team for pulling together under difficult circumstances to make it possible. We hope that audiences around the world enjoy watching it as much as we did making it.”
The play, inspired by true stories, looks at three young offenders who are due to become fathers while incarcerated. As Cain, Riyad and Jonjo embark on parenting classes under the instruction of Grace, their different histories slowly emerge and their different futures take shape. Both funny and poignant, Shookexamines the young people society shuts away.
Shook won the 2019 Papatango New Writing Prize, debuting to critical acclaim at Southwark Playhouse, and was nominated for 7 OffWestEnd Awards and The Stage Debut Award for Most Promising Playwright. It became the best-selling world première in the venue’s history, and sold out on tour across England and Wales.
Following his debut, Samuel Bailey is now under commission from Paines Plough and Theatre Royal Plymouth, as well as developing a new film with the award-winning director Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) for 42. He was born in London and raised in the West Midlands. He began writing plays in Bristol and developed work with Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory Theatres and Theatre West before moving back to London. He is an alumnus of the Old Vic 12 and Orange Tree Writers’ Collective. Shook was originally supported by the MGCfutures bursary programme, and was his debut full production.
Josef Davies plays Jonjo. His theatre credits include Bent (National Theatre), Hangmen (Royal Court Theatre, Wyndham’s Theatre), The 306 (National Theatre of Scotland), and Junkyard (Headlong). For television, his credits include Chernobyl, World on Fire, Silent Witness, Shakespeare and Hathaway, The Bisexual, Curfew, Call The Midwife, and Uncle. For film, 1917, The King, Dumbo, Undercliffe, and The Limehouse Golem.
Josh Finan plays Cain. His theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and The Merry Wives of Windsor (RSC), The Nutcracker (Theatr Clwyd), Champ (Tobacco Factory Theatres), E15 (Lung Theatre, Northern Stage), The Barricade (Theatre503), Takeover – Pancake Day (Bunker Theatre), and Dolly Wants to Die (Lung Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Underbelly Theatre). For television, his credits include Doctors and Guerrilla; and for film, Surge, Hellboy, and The Current War.
Andrea Hall plays Grace. Her theatre credits include Ares (Vaults Festival), The Wild Duck (Almeida Theatre), The Notebook of Trigorin (Finborough Theatre), Hyacinth Blue (Clean Break), Talkin’ Loud (Theatre503), Abena’s Stupidest Mistake (The Drill Hall), Parting Shots (Bootleg Theatre), Large Tales (Nottingham Playhouse), The Palace of Fear (Leicester Haymarket), and Johnny Dollar (Bloomsbury Theatre). For television, her credits include Unforgotten, The Child in Time, Broadchurch, Flack, Humans, Joe All Alone, Apple Tree House, Trauma and Thirteen.
Ivan Oyik plays Riyad. His theatre credits include Blue Orange (Birmingham Rep – for which he was nominated for The Stage Debut Award for Best Actor in a Play) and Red Pitch (Ovalhouse).
James Bobin is a British screen director, writer and producer. His film credits as a director include The Muppets, Muppets Most Wanted, Alice Through The Looking Glass and Dora and the Lost City of Gold. For TV, his credits include Da Ali G Show, Flight of the Concords and The 11 O’Clock Show.
George Turvey co-founded Papatango in 2007 and became the sole Artistic Director in January 2013. Credits as director include Shook (Papatango, UK tour), Hanna (Papatango, UK tour), The Annihilation of Jessie Leadbeater (Papatango at ALRA), AfterIndependence (Papatango at Arcola Theatre, 2016 Alfred Fagon Audience Award, and on BBC Radio 4), Leopoldville (Papatango at Tristan Bates Theatre), and Angel (Papatango at Pleasance London and Tristan Bates Theatre). Turvey trained as an actor at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) and has appeared on stage and screen throughout the UK and internationally, including the lead roles in the world première of Arthur Miller’s No Villain (Old Red Lion Theatre and Trafalgar Studios) and Batman Live World Arena Tour. As a dramaturg, he has led the development of all of Papatango’s productions. He is the co-author of Being A Playwright: A Career Guide For Writers, published by Nick Hern Books.
ABOUT PAPATANGO
Papatango discover and champion new playwrights, especially people who would otherwise have no pathway into theatre, through a range of grassroots opportunities – all free, open to anyone in the UK and Ireland, and anonymously assessed. Papatango’s motto is simple: all you need is a story.
Papatango’s flagship opportunity is the Papatango New Writing Prize, the UK’s biggest annual playwriting award. It attracts over 1500 entries each year from every region, and guarantees its winner a full production, publication, commission and royalties, while every entrant receives personal feedback. It is an unmatched commitment to launching brilliant new talent with maximum impact and supporting aspiring playwrights at all levels.
Winners have been evenly divided between men and women, aged from their 20s to their 50s, and 70% have been state educated. Since being launched by Papatango, they have gone on to win BAFTAs, OffWestEnd and Royal National Theatre Foundation awards, premiere in over 20 countries, and work with the RSC, National Theatre, BBC and HBO, among many other leading organisations.
As well as the Prize, Papatango offers a yearly Resident Playwright scheme, taking an emerging playwright through commissioning, development and production of a new play. Previous Residents have won an Alfred Fagon Audience Award, adapted their play for BBC Radio Four, been commissioned by Headlong, the Tricycle Theatre, and the North Wall Arts Centre, and seen their work tour nationwide with Papatango.
Papatango also run GoWrite, which each year provides completely free training in playwriting, including productions and publication, for over 3000 budding writers at state schools, regional venues and community centres. GoWrite has developed plays which have gone on to be staged at Hampstead Theatre, the Vaults Festival, Old Red Lion Theatre, Arcola Theatre, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Luton Hat Factory and the Quarry Theatre, Bedford.
In 2019 Papatango launched WriteWest, a playwriting programme across south-west England which provides free training, performances and seed funding for hundreds of grassroots writers and producers in this critically under-served region.
Within 12 hours of the theatre shutdown in 2020, Papatango launched Isolated But Open, a programme to nurture creativity and support freelancers bearing the brunt of the pandemic. It inspired 2063 new plays, producing and publishing 12 of these in free digital incarnations which have since been enshrined in the British Library’s permanent archive as a nationally significant cultural achievement.
Papatango’s first book, Being A Playwright: A Career Guide for Writers, was published in autumn 2018 by Nick Hern Books. It topped Amazon’s best-seller list in the playwriting category, and has been described as a “phenomenon for playwriting good…a bible for playwrights” by Steve Waters and “enlightening…an excellent tool for playwrights” by Indhu Rubasingham.
ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL ANNOUNCE AN ONLINE EXTENSION
TO THEIR 5-STAR CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST UNTIL END OF JANUARY
St Helens Theatre Royal have today announced they will extend the online version of their 5-star socially distanced production of Beauty and the Beast until the end of January and is available to purchase and watch now.
Beauty and the Beast recently ran for the festive period from Friday 11 December and was due to finish on Sunday 3January, unfortunately due to a change in Tiers by the government, the show was forced to closed on Wednesday 30December.
Audiences who missed the show at Christmas had the option to enjoy the critically acclaimed production from the comfort of their own homes, a link to purchase tickets was available until 10 January, this was a specially filmed version of the Christmas Eve performance.
Now the theatre has extended the online run to allow parents to treat their family throughout the month of January to beat those lockdown and January blues.
St Helens Theatre Royal were one of a few venues across the UK who opened their doors for a Christmas pantomime after being closed for 9 months, due to the current Covid pandemic. The highly anticipated show proved to be a popular choice during the festive season and was praised by audience members and critics alike.
Theatre Royal manager Chantelle Nolan commented:“We are thrilled to be able to extend the online version of our popular Christmas production until the end of the month, January is normally such a dead month and even more so due to the strict lockdown restrictions and being told to stay at home. To watch theatre online from the comfort of your own home could be a lovely treat to children, giving them something to look forward to after doing their schoolwork or at a weekend and it also supports the theatre through the lockdown period.
“We are proud to say that during our 36-show Christmas run, we didn’t have a single positive case and no cases reported to us via the public or track and trace. Our staff and full company were tested on a regular basis and we were delighted to receive constant feedback from customers saying how safe they felt in the theatre. We are really looking forward to bringing back audiences into the theatre for live performance and our Easter Pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears which is now on sale.”
The full cast of Beauty and the Beast is Jamie Greer as Potty Polly; Abigail Middleton as Madame Botox; Scott Gallagher as French Frank; Olivia Sloyan as Belle; Andrew Geater as The Beast; Tim Lucas as Gaston; and Jenna Sian O’Hara as Fairy Rose.
The show is directed by Chantelle Nolan, written by Liam Mellor, with choreography by Nazene Langfield, and Callum Clarke is musical supervisor.
Get ready to go on a family adventure with the fabulous family friendly pantomime, Beauty and the Beast. This is the timeless story of Belle, a beautiful young woman who falls in love with the most unexpected of princes, who has been cursed to look like a hideous beast. Will the Beast learn to love and be loved? Will the spell be broken in time for all to live happily ever after?
Follow St Helens Theatre Royal on social media channels:
Facebook: St Helens Theatre Royal
Twitter: @TheatreRoyalStH
Instagram: @TheatreRoyalStH
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST REVIEWS
“Beauty & The Beastis one of the best pantomimes Regal Entertainment have presented in a long time” The Reviews Hub ★★★★★
“Regal Entertainments have well and truly pulled out all the stops to ensure their first live show in a long 9 months is an unforgettable one” Opening Night ★★★★★
“a very entertaining and superb pantomime” Writebase 10/10
“The visuals and effects in the show will mesmerise you” North West End ★★★★
“the best pantomime I have ever been to” Skem News
