ORANGE TREE THEATRE ANNOUNCES
SPECIAL UNDER THE ORANGE TREE FUNDRAISER
HOSTED BY GYLES BRANDRETH FOR
PRIMARY SHAKESPEARE PROJECT
With guests featuring Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Penelope Wilton, Paul Chahidi, Anne Reid, Robert Lindsay and Derek Jacobi
With Tom Littler’s critically acclaimed production of Twelfth Night currently in performances, Orange Tree Theatre (OT) today announces a special Shakespearean Under the Orange Tree fundraiser celebrating Twelfth Night on Sunday 19th January. The afternoon hosted by Gyles Brandreth will feature guests including Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Penelope Wilton, Anne Reid, Paul Chahidi,Robert Lindsay and Derek Jacobi in support of the OT’s Primary Shakespeare, which introduces young people to Shakespeare through interactive workshops and performances.
For one afternoon only this cast of legendary Shakespearean actors will look back on their performances in Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s masterpiece of mistaken identity – all accompanied by Stefan Bednarczyk, currently performing as Feste in Twelfth Night for which he is also composer.
For over 30 years, the OT’s Shakespeare in Schools projects have ignited a love for theatre and Shakespeare, reaching over 10,000 children last year with timeless stories of magic, drama, and inspiration. The proceeds from this event will ensure children across the borough of Richmond and beyond have access to a creative education via workshops and live performance.
Orange Tree Artistic Director Tom Littler said today, “Every child deserves to enjoy a creative education, but years of cuts risk making creativity the preserve of a privileged few. At the Orange Tree, we are redoubling our commitment to our Shakespeare in Schools projects. For thousands of local children every year, our Primary Shakespeare project is their first experience of stepping into a theatre; their first time watching the lights go down; the first time they have encountered the thrill of live performance. With workshops in schools followed by a specially adapted performance at the OT, this project creates joy and laughter, inspires imagination, enriches language, develops empathy, and ignites a spark to last a lifetime. We are so grateful for the generosity of these amazing artists in creating this utterly unique fundraising event. By coming to the Twelfth Night Party, you will help keep these vital projects surviving and thriving.”
Additions to the lineup will be announced shortly. Artist lineup subject to change.
Tickets for Orange Tree Patrons and Ruby Members are now on sale. Tickets for Bronze, Sliver and Gold Members will go on sale at 11am on Tuesday 10 December, before general sale for any remaining seats opening at 11am on Wednesday 11 December, subject to availability.
Tickets are £150, including complimentary fizz on arrival, with proceeds directly supporting OT’s Shakespeare in Schools projects. You can also support the OT further with a £250 pay-it-forward ticket, which also includes complimentary fizz on arrival, as well as supporting access to Shakespeare for an additional six children.
There will be an allocation £35 tickets for Under 30s and standing tickets will be available for £25.
Next year, OT will also present Julius Caesar for Primary school audiences directed by Community Director Francesca Ellis and brought to life in a lively, interactive retelling. The programme includes a two-hour workshop in school and a visit to the Orange Tree Theatre for a performance of Julius Caesar. Full details and how to book can be found via www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk/community
ORANGE TREE THEATRE
LISTINGS
1 Clarence Street, Richmond, TW9 2SA
Box Office: 020 8940 3633 (Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm)
Performance times:
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
GUARDS AT THE TAJ
Until 16 November
TWELFTH NIGHT
23 November 2024– 25 January 2025
OT UNDER 30 Night: Friday 13 December
TREASURE ISLAND
18 – 22 December 2024
2025 Season
CHURCHILL IN MOSCOW
3 February – 8 March 2025
OT UNDER 30 NIGHT: Friday 21 February
Audio Described Performance: Wednesday 5 March at 7:30pm
Captioned Performance: Tuesday 4 March at 7:30pm
Relaxed and distanced performance: Tuesday 25 February at 7:30pm
OT on screen: Tuesday 11 – Friday 14 March
PLAYHOUSE CREATURES
15 March – 12 April 2025
OT UNDER 30 NIGHT: Friday 28 March
Audio Described Performance: Wednesday 9 April at 7:30pm
Captioned Performance: Tuesday 8 April at 7:30pm
Relaxed and distanced performance: Wednesday 2 April at 7:30pm
OT on screen: Tuesday 15 – Friday 18 April
Touring to:
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Theatre Royal Bath
BEN AND IMO
19 April – 17 May 2025
OT UNDER 30 NIGHT: Friday 2 May
Audio Described Performance: Wednesday 14 May at 7:30pm
Captioned Performance: Tuesday 13 May at 7:30pm
Relaxed and distanced performance: Wednesday 7 May at 7:30pm
OT on screen: Tuesday 20 – Friday 23 May
IN PRAISE OF LOVE
24 May – 5 July 2025
OT UNDER 30 NIGHT: Friday 20 June
Audio Described Performance: Wednesday 2 July at 7:30pm
Captioned Performance: Tuesday 1 July at 7:30pm
Relaxed and distanced performance: Wednesday 25 June at 7:30pm
OT on screen: Tuesday 8 – Friday 11 July
ABOUT THE ORANGE TREE THEATRE
We are a local theatre with a global reputation.
A show at the Orange Tree is close-up magic: live, entertaining, unmissable. We’re an intimate theatre with the audience wrapped around the stage. We believe in celebrating what it means to be human. We believe in putting people at the centre of the stories we tell. And we believe in the power of a writer’s words, an actor’s voice, and an audience’s imagination to transport us to other worlds and other lives.
We punch above our weight to create world-class productions of new and contemporary drama, revitalise classics and re-discoveries, and introduce children and young people to the magic of theatre.
We are deeply rooted in our local community in South West London. We work with thousands of people aged 0 to 100 in Richmond and beyond through participatory theatre, bringing generations together to build confidence, connection, and joy. Our ground-breaking Primary Shakespeare and Shakespeare Up Close projects pack the theatre with children and ignite a spark to last a lifetime.
We’re a registered charity (266128). With only 180 seats and no support from Arts Council England, we rely on the generosity of our audiences and donors to raise £650,000 a year. These funds support our outstanding work on stage and in the community and invest in the next generation of talent.
Artistic Director Tom Littler
Executive Director Hanna Streeter
Website orangetreetheatre.co.uk | Email [email protected]
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