The Stafford Festival Shakespeare secret's out!



The Producers of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this year’s Stafford Festival Shakespeare Production, can exclusively reveal that Peter Rowe will be returning as Director following the hugely successful Romeo and Juliet. On returning Peter said: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a very special play and it’s not for nothing that it’s the favourite outdoor Shakespeare. It’s a beautiful play about illusion and reality and how close being in love is to being mad and the madness of being in love”

Peter has been able to discuss early ideas for the show, revealing a late Victorian setting for the production, listing Victorian style brass bands and Gilbert and Sullivan as key influences.

On reflecting back on the 2012 Stafford Festival Shakespeare production Peter commented: “we had a really good company and I was very proud of the show” After a particularly wet summer last year Peter added: “I think A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the one play that can cope with anything! If it does pour with rain it’ll add to the story and the experience. But I do think it’ll be a better experience all round if it’s drier than last year!”




Eric Potts

  The first cast member to be confirmed is Eric Potts, in the role of Bottom. Eric last performed to critical acclaim at Stafford Festival Shakespeare in 2011 as Dromio of Syracuse, in The Comedy of Errors. He is also fondly known for playing Diggory Compton in Coronation Street. Peter added: “there couldn’t be a better part for Eric, we’re going to have a lot of fun!”

When discussing the iconic comedy role Eric commented: “I’ve wanted to play this role since leaving Drama College! I did a radio version a few years ago but it’s taken 26 years to be able to play Bottom on stage!”

He added: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream is such a wonderful balance of comedy and love story, there’s something there for everyone. I think its one of Shakespeare’s best comedies and I know with the way we’ll be doing at the castle with live music it’ll be absolutely magical”.

On working with Director Peter Rowe again Eric said: “the way Peter has directed over the last few years has made it very accessible and I think people who perhaps would have been slightly afraid of spending hard earned money on watching Shakespeare know they’re going to get a real fun evening they’re going to enjoy”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed at Stafford Castle 27^th June-13^th July. Tickets are available from £10-£23.50 and can be reserved by calling the Box Office on 01785 254653 or by visiting www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.co.uk 

Featuring the festivals much loved combination of original music, celebration and unique setting, this magical comedy is set to again be a highlight in Staffordshire’s cultural calendar.




Eric with Phylip Harries in Comedy of Errors 2011

 









Award winning youth theatre to perform brand new play as part of National Theatre Connections!



A sneak peek of the set

Stafford Gatehouse Youth Theatre will be performing at The MET Studio from Wednesday 27^th February to Saturday 2^nd March as part of National Theatre Connections, a nationwide celebration of new plays for young people.

Connections is produced by the National Theatre and supported by a number of individuals, trusts and foundations.

Each year new plays are commissioned for and about young people from some of the best contemporary playwrights, for performance by schools and youth theatres all over the UK and Ireland, making Connections one of the world’s largest celebrations of youth theatre.

SGYT will be performing Don’t Feed The Animals by Jemma Kennedy.

Richard Poynton, director of the show commented: “I shortlisted five of the ten plays written for the National Theatre Connections, then the group read all five and voted on which they would rather perform. Not only has this play never been performed before, it’s the first time this group have worked together”.

Don’t Feed The Animals is an energetic show about Sparks Circus, which is on its way down. The owners have been forced to sell their star attraction Tiny the elephant and a rival circus is poaching their artistes. With a busy bank holiday weekend approaching, it’s down to acrobatic twins Zack and Missy to fill the house and stop their family business going under. When a local gang of bored youths volunteer to help them, the twins are faced with the task of training an un-trainable mob in circus skills.

Richard added: “as it’s a new play, the actors are creating these roles for themselves, rather than looking to what other people have done in the past. In the play, a group of youths are challenged to put on a circus performance in the space of 24 hours, and it's been quite a challenge for us to be able to put that piece together, as it's a performance within a performance.  However, Circus is really about challenging the status quo, turning things on their head and unsettling authority and Don't Feed The Animals is really about how this group of demonised youths choose to express themselves and undermine authority within the circus genre”

Don’t Feed The Animals will be at The MET Studio from Wednesday 27^th February to Saturday 2^nd March at 7.30pm. Richard concluded: “People should book as it's the chance to see a great new play performed with energy, enthusiasm and a bit of circus pizazz thrown in for good measure!”

Tickets are just £7 (£6 concession) and can be reserved by calling the friendly Box Office on 01785 254653 or by visiting www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk




Some of the SGYT cast in rehearsal

 

It's only Rock 'n' Roll...but we LOVE it!

Beauty and The Beast, the Rock 'n' Roll pantomime smashed box office records to become one of Stafford Gatehouse Theatre's most successful pantomimes ever. Over 16,000 people from Stafford and surrounding areas came to watch the show.

Producer of Beauty and The Beast, Derrick Gask commented: "we couldn't have asked for a better end to the year. The audience repsponse to the rock 'n' roll format has been fantastic and I can't thank our loyal audience enough for choosing Beauty and The Beast as their pantomime entertainment this festive season".

The theatre can exclusively reveal that the panto for the festive season in 2013 will be...

Sleeping Beauty, the Rock 'n' Roll pantomime!

Written by Peter Rowe, who also wrote Beauty and The Beast and Dick Whittington, it tells the classic fairy tale in a fun and fresh way. When Princess Susie falls to cruel Witch Morgana’s curse, can she be rescued in time by her childhood sweetheart Simon Steadfast? Or will she succumb to evil Morgana’s son Mordred’s slimy charm?

The show is filled with classic hits such as Wake Me Up Before You Go, Celebration and Don’t Leave Me This Way, all played live on stage by a cast of talented actor musicians. The show will open on Wednesday 11^th December 2013 and run until Saturday 11^th January 2014.

Tickets will be on sale from February 1st and up until April 2013, panto fans can snap up tickets frozen at 2012 prices. You'll be a fool to miss out on this fantastic offer, so to grab a bargain simply call our friendly Box Office from February 1st on 01785254653 or visit www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

Beastly surprise at All Saints Infant School!

On Friday December 7th Stuart King and Lila Clements made a visit to All Saints Infant School, Ranton.

Stuart and Lila performed some of the classic songs featured in Beauty and the Beast and the children got their own instruments out and joined in!

Stuart commented: "I absolutely love doing trips like this. I know a classroom of kids dont want to stand and watch me sing a song- they want to join in, which is what panto is all about- the audience feeling like they are part of the show!"

There is less than a week until Beauty and The Beast, the rock 'n' roll panto opens. The first two performances are schools matinees, making today's trip even more appropriate.

Stuart added: "seeing every child grab an instrument, sing along and make a load of racket was great fun- even if the teachers had their fingers in their ears!" 

The show fuses all the slapstick fun of a traditional pantomime with live rock' n' roll, with a cast of talented actor/musicians playing more than 20 classic hits live on stage including Hot Stuff, Let Me Entertain You, Sweet Child O' Mine and You Can't hurry Love.

This beautiful love story is set to give audiences a Christmas to remember with the very best in live music and all the slapstick fun of a traditional pantomime.

As handsome Prince Promising is crowned the country's King, a party is in the air, but disaster strikes as he rejects an offer from the Wicked Witch. Casting a terrible curse she turns our handsome hero into a horrible Beast. To reverse his fate the Beast must win the heart of Beauty and take her hand in marriage. Meanwhile in a land not so far away Peacock Beauregard and his three daughters, Beauty, Vanity and Luxury, have lost their fortunes and have been forced to move in with Dame Bessie Bigbreaths on her farm.

To book your tickets to find out if the Beast can be tamed, the curse can be broken and if Peacock can decline the womanly charms of Dame Bigbreaths, simply call our friendly Box Office on 01785 254 653 or visit www.stafforgatehousetheatre.co.uk

Rehearsals begin!

                             Christmas magic begins at Stafford Gatehouse!

Rehearsals are under way for this year’s Rock n Roll Pantomime extravaganza, Beauty and The Beast. The highly talented cast have been bringing the Gatehouse Theatre to life as they pick up their instruments and rehearse the many great rock n roll numbers for the performance.

Playing the show’s heroes, Prince Promising and Beauty, are Michael Fletcher and Jessica Dyas. Michael trained at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, where he won the Philip Holt Prize for Excellence and he was also a top 20 finalist for the ITV1 search for a Superstar with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Jessica has recently finished a run in the West End with Dreamboats and Petticoats as well as starring in the UK tour of this show.

Not forgetting the essential pantomime ingredient…the flamboyant and hilarious dame! Andrew Williams will be returning to the Gatehouse to play Bessie Bigbreaths after his fantastic appearance as Sarah the Cook in last year’s pantomime hit, dick Whittington.

With all the traditional pantomime fun of slapstick comedy, audience participation and plenty of Christmas magic, Beauty and The Beast is a real feel good feast for the whole family, from the little ones through to Grandma and Grandpa.

Children will be mesmerised by stunning set changes, lively puppets and of course, a magical fairy. Adults will be tickled by the naughty dame and the whole family will be singing and dancing in the aisles to huge popular classics such as You Cant Hurry Love, Hot Stuff, You’ve Got a Friend, Man I Feel Like a Woman, Keep on Running, Let Me Entertain You, played live on stage by a cast of talented actor musicians.

Tickets for Beauty and The Beast are on sale now, and it runs from Thursday 13 December 2012 until Saturday 12 January 2013. Tickets are £16.95 for Adults and £12.95 for concessions.  There’s also specially priced offers of First weekend saver and New Year saver tickets available now for just £12.00.

Early booking is advised and tickets can be reserved and purchased by calling our friendly box office on 01785 254653 or by booking online at www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

Win a Christmas party!

Tired of the same old Christmas party?

Why not get your team together for the

Ultimate Rock n Roll pantomime party

That will see you and your colleagues dancing in the aisles!

This year Stafford Gatehouse Theatre is offering you and your colleagues the chance to win 10 tickets* to see our Rock n Roll Panto Beauty and the Beast.

Jammed packed with huge popular classics such as You Can’t Hurry Love, Hot Stuff, You’ve Got a Friend, Man I Feel Like  a Woman, Keep on Running, Let Me Entertain You and many more this show is guaranteed to have you dancing in the aisles this festive season.

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize simply email the answer to the following question plus the name of the company you work for to ehogan@staffordbc.gov.uk 4pm on Monday 12 November 2012.

Name one of the songs that feature in Beauty and the Beast, the Rock n Roll Panto………….

*  The prize can only be claimed for performances on selected dates, is strictly subject to availability and no cash alternative will be offered. Prize does not apply to tickets already purchased. Selected dates include 7pm performances on 14/12/12, 15/12/12, 2/1/13, 3/1/13, 10/1/13, 11/1/13

                                            

Golden age with loan of golden period Stradivarius

Manchester Camerata will soon be serenading Stafford with the sound of a 1709 Stradivarius thanks to a generous loan by benefactor Jonathan Moulds, President of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s European business. The instrument will be played by leader Giovanni Guzzo while on extended loan to the Manchester Camerata. Only a handful of orchestras world-wide are privileged to have a Stradivarius of this quality for their leader to play.

Jonathan Moulds was born and raised in Halifax, West Yorkshire and is now a keen philanthropist. He comments, "I hope my investment in the Manchester Camerata at this critical time will shine a spotlight on this outstanding orchestra. I continue to support those Institutions I believe not only have leadership and talent of exceptional calibre, but wish to engage more broadly with the local communities. I believe the Camerata is a very good example of this."

The Stradivarius was made in 1709 during the violin maker’s ‘golden period’ (1700-1723). It was during this period of time that Stradivarius produced many of the most outstanding and priceless instruments which exist today. Manchester Camerata itself is entering its own golden period under the inspirational guidance of the renowned Hungarian musician Gábor Takács-Nagy. The appointment of Giovanni Guzzo alongside Takács-Nagy has created a dynamic music making partnership which, alongside the outstanding musicians already in the Camerata’s ranks, has taken the orchestra’s playing to another level.

Moulds, well known as a major patron of the Arts, is also well known for loaning violins to talented young violinists, including Scottish-born violinist Nicola Benedetti.

Camerata’s Chief Executive Bob Riley believes that the orchestra’s commitment to changing lives through the power of live music chimes with Moulds’s own personal philosophy - ‘if a child in Wigan, Longsight, Blacon or Rochdale has an opportunity to see and experience music and in particular the sound of one of the highest quality violins in the world, then we hope that this eye and ear-opening experience will inspire them to make music themselves ’.

Staffordshire’s county town will be welcoming this beautiful Violin on Wednesday 17 October 2012 during Manchester Camerata’s first concert of the season at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre. The Stradivarius will feature in a concert dedicated to Mozart’s favourite concerto, his Horn Concerto No. 4.

Tickets for this performance are priced at £15.00 and £13.00 concession. We are also offering tickets for under 26’yrs at £5.00 and under 16’s for just £3.00. To purchase your tickets now contact box office on 01785 254653 or visit www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk.