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YORKSHIRE COSPLAY CON 2016
SHEFFIELD ARENA
SATURDAY 11^TH & SUNDAY 12^TH JUNE

This Summer, why not join the thousands of Anime, Cosplay, Comic Book, Sci-Fi and Video Gaming fans, as they embark on the ultimate, fun-packed weekend out at the Sheffield Arena Sturday 11^th & Sunday 12^thJune.

Tickets are now on sale in person at the Arena Box Office, by phone on 0114 256 5656 or online atwww.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

Tickets  are priced from £9.90 for adults & £7.70 for children (including booking fee) when booking by phone or online & from £9.45 for adults & £7.35 for children (including booking fee) when booking in person at the Arena Box Office. Early Bird Entrance & Weekend tickets also available.

Yorkshire Cosplay Con is an action fuelled, family friendly, geek convention like no other. It’s an event where characters (from film, tv, popular culture, anything that can be imagined…) come to life. Cosplaying (or ‘Costume Play’) is for everyone; from little children in fancy dress, to adults who want to embrace an alter-ego; from people who want to pretend to be someone else for a day or just people who like to dress up. From professional costumers, to handcrafted costumes that have taken years to perfect, you are likely to see a whole array of wonderful characters, a collection of which you could never imagine coming together in any other setting.

The event will have an action packed stage schedule with a variety of performances, plus a massive selection of stalls with all sorts of geeky, quirky and unusual items. Over the weekend there will be a range of guests from TV and Movies, as well as authors and graphic novelists. A wide range of activities are planned that are suitable for the entire family, including workshops, card and video gaming events, roleplay games, and more!

Yorkshire Cosplay Con we pride themselves as being the ultimate family friendly convention, so bring along the kids for free face painting and balloon modelling. Children will even get a chance to show off their own outfits in our increasingly popular kids cosplay competition on stage. We will have some amazing photo opportunities across the weekend, with recognisable props from your favourite tv shows and films, vehicles, and costumers – so, come and get your ‘selfies’ involved!

Yorkshire Cosplay Con will be in it’s 6th year and Summer 2016 at Sheffield Arena is set to be the biggest and best yet! From humble beginnings with the intention of bringing like-minded people together, it has grown to be one of the largest, most popular, events in the Yorkshire calendar.

Tickets are now on sale in person at the Arena Box Office, by phone on 0114 256 5656 or online at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

RSC ANNOUNCES RECORD FIGURES AT 2014/15 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND CALLS FOR EVERY CHILD TO HAVE A GREAT FIRST EXPERIENCE OF SHAKESPEARE

The Royal Shakespeare Company calls for every child to have a great first experience of Shakespeare, as it announces record figures for 2014/15 at the Company’s AGM in Stratford-upon-Avon today.

During the year, the RSC sold over 1.8m tickets for 28 productions and co-productions, giving 2048 performances and touring for 70 weeks during the year.  Its education programmes reached over 530,000 children and young people.

Gregory Doran, RSC Artistic Director, said: “We know great Shakespeare teaching can inspire young people, building confidence and skills in speaking, writing and listening – all essential for a successful future life.  The RSC approach, drawing on rehearsal room techniques, can change lives. Having had such success working with young people in the last year, we want to invite all schools across the country to join us to make 2016 a year to celebrate Shakespeare’s work with their students.  They can mark the 400th anniversary in the classroom, by watching a free broadcast or a live performance, or taking part in our Dream Team initiative, which runs alongside our 2016 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation.”

Students from Stratford College performed a verbatim theatre piece at the AGM, devised by Aileen Gonsalves, which highlighted the impact of RSC Education’s work across the UK.

Sam Colborne, Director of Creative Learning, Treviglas Community College in Cornwall, one of 400 schools in the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network, reported:  “What has happened has been, quite simply, life-changing. My teaching has been reinvigorated, refreshed and broadened… and the experiences of our students changed beyond anything we (or they) considered before. We have created shows to be proud of, and brought our community a little closer to Shakespeare, and perhaps even to each other. We’ve achieved outstanding lesson gradings from Ofsted, using approaches you have taught us. We have gained a pride we simply would not have discovered without the RSC.”

Gregory Doran continued:  “Shakespeare reminds us so eloquently what it is to be human and gives us a 360 degree view of life.  Our successes in 2014/15 in reaching new audiences show his continuing appeal and the power of live theatre to inspire and challenge us.  We have had a great year, not only with Shakespeare, but new plays like our acclaimed productions of Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies and Tom Morton Smith’s dazzling Oppenheimer, and classics from Shakespeare’s contemporaries, with our ‘Roaring Girls’ strand celebrating great roles for women.

“As we prepare for 2016 and the biggest Shakespeare anniversary ever, we want to reach the widest possible audience, with thrilling, contemporary work – made in Shakespeare’s home town and shared across the world.  From productions in Stratford and a brand new exhibition and studio theatre, to a national tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Shakespeare’s ‘Great Cycle of Kings’ playing in London, China and New York, as well as worldwide cinema broadcasts, there is a rich programme on offer. As we look forward to 2016, I am grateful to all our sponsors, donors and friends, for all their support in bringing our work to audiences everywhere.”

The RSC also reported a strong financial year in 2014/15, with income of £63.9m, 75% generated through box office, commercial activities and fundraising, alongside public investment from Arts Council England of £15.8m.  Box office increased by 5% to £34.3m and trading income by 3% to £7m. The Company continued to offer a wide range of ticket discounts to open up theatre to everyone, with over 72,000 schools tickets, 19,000 family tickets and 20,000 BP £5 tickets for 16-25 year olds, and welcomed 570,000 day visitors to its Stratford home.  It also maintained its commitment to accessible performances, offering captioning, audio description, relaxed and signed performances, as well as touch tours.

The success of Matilda The Musical in London and other commercial transfers helped generate a surplus.  Having helped to balance the books in previous years, the profits are allocated to a strategic investment fund, from which they are spent on projects to help sustain the Company’s future, including funding the ‘Live From Stratford-upon-Avon’ cinema broadcasts.  The high quality live screenings have now reached over 420,000 people since they began in 2013, and the RSC screened 5 films for free to schools across the UK last year, alongside live Q&As with the creative teams.

The RSC’s annual review can be found here:

http://www.rsc.org.uk/about-us/our-work/annual-review.aspx

A BRUSH WITH BASIL

Family favourite Basil Brush will be appearing at Darlington Civic Theatre on Saturday 10 October.

Basil Brush is a star with an outstanding ability to entertain and make people of all ages laugh and smile. He’s cheeky, irreverent, charming, naughty, quick-witted, scheming and foxy, but at the same time he’s kind, caring and affectionate.

Basil has celebrated over 50 years in entertainment and The Basil Brush Show on BBC TV has been seen by millions of viewers all over the globe from 1968 through to today. The show was BAFTA nominated and voted best comedy show on TV.

Now, Britain’s most loveable fox is back on the road along with his TV chum Mr Stephen (aka Chris Pizzey). Together they will take you on a journey of laughs, storytelling and song in a brand new specially written ‘live’ stage show packed with fun and excitement.

Come and join in the mayhem, along with Mr Stephen who is continually interrupted by naughty uncontrollable Basil!

A show for all the family and you’ll also be able to meet Basil and Mr Stephen afterwards.

So in Basil’s words..”Boom Boom!”

The Basil Brush Show is as Darlington Civic Theatre on Saturday 10 October at 2.30pm. Tickets are £14 Adults, £13 Children and £42 for a Family ticket.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

Jack and the Beanstalk

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK

Friday 11 December 2015 – Sunday 3 January 2016

Starring Scooch, Stuart Wade, Jade Ellis and Chris Casey

New Pantomime Productions return to the Grand Opera House York for the 17th year this Christmas with their spectacular family pantomime.

A fun packed show for all the family with crazy costumes, silly Jokes, live music, and a chance to boo the baddies, here at the Grand Opera House York this winter.

Fee Fi Fo Fum look out folks ‘cos here it comes – the best family panto in York

Jack lives in a small village with his Ma. They are very poor and when they look in the kitchen cupboards for food all they can find is a piece of mouldy cheese, a rotten apple core and a pair of smelly socks. They must do something – but what? Find out what happens when Jack takes their old cow to the market and ends up selling her for 5 beans…

Tickets for the panto go on sale on Tuesday 21 April at 10am. Call 0844 871 3024 to book yours now. For group bookings call 01904 678705. To book online go to www.atgtickets.com/york The theatre box office is open from 12 noon until 5:30pm for those who would like to book in person.

CHRIS CASEY has previously starred as Chester the Jester, SLEEPING BEAUTY, Simon Barry, New Pantomime Productions; REASONS TO BE PRETTY, Clifford Dean, English Theatre of Hamburg; FUNNY ABOUT LOVE, Robert Rumpf, English Theatre of Hamburg; ORESTES, Ricky Dukes, Lazarus Theatre Company, The Space; A GUY AT WORK STORY, Justin Michaels, Old Red Lion; MACBETH, Ricky Dukes, Lazarus Theatre Company, Blue Elephant Theatre; LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST, Nick Young, Rainbow Theatre Co., Worthing; HENRY V, Nick Young, Rainbow Theatre Co., Greenwich; A PATRIOT FOR ME, David Harris, Charing Cross Theatre; THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN.

JADE ELLIS came into the music industry via ITV 1 talent show The X-Factor where she was a finalist mentored by judge Tulisa. During her time on the music entertainment series she quickly gained a reputation for her brilliant powerful vocal renditions, her determination to have success in her career

SCOOCH are Russ Spencer and Caroline Barnes. They represented the UK in 2007 at the Eurovision song Contest in Finland. Russ wrote the song ‘Flying the Flag (For You)’, signed to Warner Bros, which stormed the charts reaching No.5 in the UK. Scooch hold the record for the highest charting Eurovision single since the UK last won the contest in1997. Originally formed in 1999, Scooch signed to EMI and gained 4 Top 20 hits including the Top 5 single ‘More Than I Needed to Know’, all culminating in the album ‘Four Sure’. Worldwide Scooch scored No.1 singles in Japan and Australia.

As a TV presenter Russ has hosted the game show Make Your Play (ITV) Generation X (BBC), Glitterball (ITV) and The Great Big British Quiz (Channel 5). He has also presented shows for The Disney Channel, MTV and The Syfy Channel. TV acting work includes Footballer’s Wives (ITV) and Shameless (Channel 4). He has made numerous panto appearances including Jack in Jack & The Beanstalk (Princess Theatre Torquay) and the Prince at the Regent Theatre Stoke on Trent, Lighthouse Poole, Broadway Theatre Catford, Floral Pavilion New Brighton, Civic Theatre Doncaster and Theatre Royal Windsor in productions of Cinderella, Snow White, Puss in Boots and Sleeping Beauty.

Caroline Barnes was born in Leeds. She was in the original West End Cast as Dance Captain of Mel Brooks’ musical The Producers (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), followed by the UK Tour. Other theatre credits include Resident Choreographer on the 2014 New Zealand Tour of Annie with Su Pollard, 42nd Street (London Palladium), Cats (U.A.E. Tour), Grease (Tour), Santa Claus The Musical (Marina Bay Sands, Singapore), Wayne Sleep’s Explosive Dance (Royal Albert Hall), Robin Hood (Wimbledon Theatre), Fairy Fantastica in Puss In Boots (Theatre Royal Windsor), Fairy Snowflake in Snow White (Floral Pavilion, New Brighton) and Princess Jill in Jack & The Beanstalk (Princess Theatre, Torquay). Caroline has also appeared in two Royal Variety Performances.

Her television work includes Coach Trip (Channel 4), Footballer’s Wives (ITV), Shameless (Channel 4), Tickled Pink (ITV) and commercials for American Express, EasyJet, Nectar and Calvin Klein for which she also choreographed. Currently Caroline is choreographing a new production of The Wizard Of Oz which will open at the Pavilion Theatre Bournemouth in February.

STUART WADE is a co-founder and a patron of “Theatre-Play” drama schools for children based in Yorkshire. He worked in theatre for seven years at the much respected Actor’s Workshop before deciding to further enhance his training at Mountview Theatre School in London. However, three weeks into his three year course, he was offered the part of ‘Biff’ Fowler in ITV’s Emmerdale. A role he continued to play for nearly six years. Other theatre credits include Dr. Frankenstein in Frankenstein: Mephistophiles in Faustus: Hamlet in Hamlet: Molina in Kiss of the Spiderwoman: Grant in Perfect Pitch and The Gentleman Caller in The Glass Menagerie. He has made many other television appearances, as well as presenting for ITV/Granada, and has also taken various roles for BBC Radio 4. More recently Stuart has progressed as a producer and director developing a series of charity concerts such as ‘A Night To Remember’, involving stars of London’s West End and television. He has also directed several of New Pantomime Productions shows including the 2006/7 ‘Cinderella’ at the Princess Theatre, Torquay and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Grand Opera House York.

Further casting to be announced

EMPIRE CINEMAS CATTERICK COMPLETES RECRUITMENT OF NEW STAFF AHEAD OF CINEMA OPENING

         30 new roles created for Catterick and surrounding areas

         500+ applications received from locals to work at the new cinema

        Empire Cinemas Catterick opens its doors to the public October 23^rd

Empire Cinemas, the largest independently owned cinema chain in the UK, today announces the appointment of their new team of 30 staff members at Empire Cinemas Catterick. After receiving over 500 job applications, and interviewing over 100 candidates, Empire Cinemas Catterick has confirmed a team of 30 people, compiled of a variety of ages and experiences. The new state-of-the-art cinema is being built as part of the Princes Gate Complex to bring entertainment to residents of Catterick and surrounding areas.

Reporting to Dave Thomas, the recently appointed General Manager of Empire Cinemas Catterick, the new team has begun their hands on practical training at Empire Cinemas Sunderland and Newcastle. Inductions have also taken place at Catterick Golf Course whilst the Catterick site is developed, fitted and completed. The team is in place ahead of the much anticipated seven-screen cinema launch on Friday 23^rd October.

The new team at Catterick will endure a busy first week with the new releases of Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension and The Last Witch Hunter out on the cinema’s opening day, and advanced screenings of the new James Bond film Spectre from Monday 26^th October. Tickets and listings for the new cinema will be available in the next few weeks through the Empire Cinemas website: www.empirecinemas.co.uk

Dave Thomas, General Manager of the new Catterick site said: “We’ve been absolutely delighted with the high calibre of candidates applying to work at the new cinema in Catterick. We’ve secured a brilliant new team and they can’t wait to meet the public on October 23^rd.”

Justin Ribbons, CEO of Empire Cinemas added: “Under the leadership of the new General Manager Dave Thomas, we are extremely proud of the new team’s effort to date in training and have every confidence they’ll do a fantastic job when the cinema opens to the public.”

FREE FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY AT SHEFFIELD THEATRES’ FUN PALACES WEEKEND

Join Sheffield Theatres on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October as the doors are thrown open for a fun-filled weekend of free workshops, tours and activities in its first ever Fun Palaces Weekend.

Open to all ages and abilities, the weekend will feature a wide range of free, exciting ,creative and theatrical activities, giving a fun insight into what happens both on stage and behind-the-scenes at the theatre.

Dress up and strike a pose in the Theatrical Photo Booth; enjoy musical merriment from our wandering minstrels; make your own blood bags – crucial for any theatrical fatalities; record your own voice-over with the Sound Team and see yourself in a better light with a crash course in Lighting Design.

For those with on-stage aspirations, there will be a professional dance master class led by Victoria Hinde, familiar to audiences from her roles in Anything Goes, Oliver and My Fair Lady, a Singing Workshop from Anything Goes’ Musical Director Tom Brady and even a Family Stage Combat Workshop, where you can learn how to throw a theatrical punch or plant a stage slap on your nearest and dearest!  Families can also embark on a Penguin Hunt or get crafty and design a special Fun Palaces poster.

Ever wondered what it’s like behind-the-scenes?  Join the crew on a Hard-Hat Tour and watch theLyceum stage transform before your eyes, as the team build a set, learn about the star-studded history of the Crucible and if you dare, wander the Lyceum after hours, in search of the ghostlyLavender Lady.  Meanwhile over in the Crucible’s Adelphi Room, take part in Sheffield Theatres’ first ever Silent Disco, dancing to your own personal soundtrack to suit your mood!  Or if you prefer something louder and later, Crucible Corner will be holding an Open Mic night for any wannabe musicians.

With so many different amazing activities on offer – what will you do?

Sheffield Theatres’ Fun Palaces Weekend is on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October from 10.00am, for the full schedule of free activities and to book onto specialist workshops, visit sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or visit the Box Office on Tudor Square. Touch tours and BSL support is available – please advise the Box Office when pre-booking your activities.

ALL STAR 60s SET TO ROCK IN DARLINGTON

Some of the stars of the biggest 60s bands are to play together at Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 7 October.

Imagine five amazingly talented, iconic 1960s bands who have enjoyed phenomenal success throughout their musical careers, getting together to perform all their hits, and you have the fantastic All Star 60s Show.

Bringing you all their hits and more in one spectacular show are Brian Poole and the original Tremeloes – Chip Hawkes & Dave Munden alongside The Troggs and Badfinger featuring Bob Jackson. The Ivy League and The Pacemakers will round off this fabulous array of talent.

Featuring hit songs including Here Comes My Baby, Suddenly You Love Me, Silence is Golden, Twist and Shout, Do You Love Me, Wild Thing, Love Is All Around and many, many more.

Don’t miss this unforgettable show which will have you rocking in the aisles.

The All Star 60s Show is as Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 7 October. Tickets* are £26.50 & £28.50.

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

Arrows and Traps present:

TITUS ANDRONICUS
20 October – 14 November, 7.45pm (2.45 matinees Saturdays)

With previous accolades including multiple 5 star reviews & critical acclaim, Arrows & Traps Theatre Company are proud to continue their new “Love In A Time Of War” season at the New Wimbledon Studio with a darkly comic Titus Andronicus this coming October/November. With support from patrons Gyles Brandreth & David Bedella, this exciting new company are setting the benchmark for new adaptations of the Bard’s work on the Off West End stage.

***** “sparky, funny and charming” (What’s On Stage)

Victorious Titus Andronicus returns to Rome a war hero, but his home has changed in his absence.  There are daggers in every smile, and the empire is bleeding from within.  Soon the Andronicus family are being picked off one by one, innocent bystanders in a grubby, merciless game of thrones.  Titus must fight to save his children, his sanity and his legacy, before all is lost.

**** “Shakespeare as it should be done: with an open mind and lots of heart” (Plays To See)

In Arrow & Traps’ production, this blood-soaked play is given the gleefully macabre sincerity it deserves.  An unrelenting carnival of carnage set in a crumbling coliseum.  This is the Shakespeare that Shakespeare would have loved – a new take on an old story, protean and thrillingly articulate; a physical spectacle of stab wounds, stumps and sawdust, packed full with goading malice and passion. Using its repertory company of actors, Arrows & Traps explore bold discoveries in new dramatic territory, creating a mercilessly physical spectacle whilst staying faithful to Shakespeare’s words and intentions.

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Title: Titus Andronicus
Company: Arrows & Traps
Performance Dates: October 20th 2015 – November 14th 2015, Tuesday to Saturday, 7:45pm, Saturday matinee, 2:45pm
Running Time: 2 hours including 15 min interval
Venue: New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, London SW19 1QG
Ticket Price: £16 (£14 concessions)
Box Office: ATG (www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-studio), 0844 871 7646
Travel: Wimbledon station (6 min walk), South Wimbledon station (13 min walk)
Links: Website (www.arrowsandtraps.com), Facebook (www.facebook.com/arrowsandtraps), Twitter (twitter.com/arrowsandtraps)

RECKLESS SLEEPERS EAT THEIR WORDS.

Internationally acclaimed performance company Reckless Sleepers bring their production The Last Supper to York Theatre Royal from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 October. The Last Supper is a unique event that has toured around the world since 2002. With a limited audience of just 39 people, The Last Supper is an unusual invitation to dinner in the De Grey Rooms Ballroom.

Featuring real, invented, past and future scenarios, The Last Supper is part performance and part meal. The half-remembered words of well and lesser known characters from history are written on rice paper and consumed by the performers. They are accompanied by the forgotten last meals of inmates on death row, as thirteen ‘last suppers’ are served to members of the audience.

Written and directed by Reckless Sleepers Artistic Director Mole Wetherell and performed by Leen Dewilde, Tim Ingram and Mole Wetherell, The Last Supper has been performed both around the UK and further afield in countries including Australia, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Switzerland and Portugal. Time Out Sydney described the performance as something “…that holds your attention for days after”.

Artistic Director Mole Wetherell said:

The Last Supper is a performance where we invite our audience to dinner, to eat and drink with us while we speak and then eat the last words of famous people throughout history. These ‘last suppers’ are the last meal requests of prisoners on death row. Some manage to eat the meals others don’t; too self-conscious or just plain horrified by the concept and the food sits there accusingly, filling the room with a special aroma.

The Last Supper takes place in the De Grey Rooms Ballroom on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 October at 7.30pm and on Friday 9 October at 7pm and 9.15pm. Tickets are on sale now priced at £25, £20 concessions (£1 transaction fee per booking) from York Theatre Royal Box Office or by calling 01904 623568 or securely online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

COMEDY LEGEND HEADING TO DARLINGTON

In his sixty-first year as a professional entertainer, comedy icon Ken Dodd will appear at Darlington Civic Theatre on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October.

Ken Dodd’s incredible and hugely successful career as a professional entertainer now spans over sixty fun-filled years.

He is a comedian of unrivalled legendary status, a national treasure who has been entertaining audiences for a lifetime of happiness and laughter.

Ken said “Entertaining gives me a true feeling of plumtiousness, I’m fizzing like a bottle of champagne with the cork out! Discovering I could make people laugh was like being kissed by an angel.”

A true crusader on behalf of live theatre, the Ken Dodd Happiness Show takes him on a virtual non-stop tour of the UK – clocking up thousands of miles each year.

Don’t miss this fun-filled show for all the family, with non-stop gags, guest artistes and a selection of songs presented in Ken’s unique and varied style.

The Ken Dodd Happiness Show is as Darlington Civic Theatre on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October. Tickets* are £19.50 & £21.

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk