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.

Exclusive: Stafford Festival Shakespeare 2013

Magic is in the air as spellbinding fantasy revealed

to cast its spell next summer

Hear thee, Shakespeare fans! Following the hugely successful 2012 production of Stafford Festival Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, we are pleased to announce that the wait is now over to secure your tickets for next years enchanting production. 

Tickets for A Midsummer Night’s Dream will go on sale on Friday 31 August 2012 at 9.30am.  This year, early bookers will be able to take advantage of our early bird offer where you can save a whopping £5 off selected nights.  The early bird offer will end Monday 3 December 2012.

The offer will exclude the first night, Monday performances and matinees but it will see tickets for all other evenings available for as little as £12.50.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will commence on Thursday 27 June and run until Saturday 13 July 2013. 

2013 will see Stafford Festival Shakespeare stage one of the Bards best known farcical comedies.  Exploring the balance between reality and fantasy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream fuses the two worlds whilst recounting the tale of two sparring couples, contending for each other’s affection.

The passionate youngsters are confused in love and it soon becomes clear the objects of their affections do not marry. As the four head to the forest to clear their heads and mend their hearts they stumble upon the realm of the Fairy King and Queen. 

Our tale takes a nonsensical detour as magic and spells play with our young lovers’ dreams and changes the weight of their hearts.

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

Staged in the beautiful and ancient grounds of Stafford Castle, Stafford Festival Shakespeare has become an important event in Staffordshire’s cultural calendar. 

Offering all weather grandstand seating, accommodating an audience of up to 1000, the festival offers the perfect setting to start your summer, come rain or shine. 

To purchase early bird tickets simply call our friendly box office team on 01785 254653 or visit www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk from Friday 31 August 2012

Romeo and Juliet 2012

The Croc is ticking and Pan is on his way

Aspiring young thespians from Staffordshire will be heading to Neverland this summer with a sprinkling of fairy dust. 

May saw over 120 young people take part in an audition workshop day for just 80 places for the Stafford Gatehouse Summer School, which started on Monday 23 July 2012.

The group are working alongside professionals including director Elizabeth Rose; associate director Richard Poynton; musical director Michael Cotton; and choreographer, Verity Bray to produce a full-scale show, which will be performed at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on the main stage.

In addition to rehearsing the show, the lucky youngsters are also taking part in workshops covering all they need to know about the theatrical world. 

This year’s Summer School will see the children work towards a production of the children’s classic Peter Pan, which will be performed from Wednesday 8 – Saturday 11 August 2012.  

Join Wendy, John and Michael Darling as they are whisked away by Peter Pan to the exciting and magical world of Neverland. 

Filled with Pirates, Mermaids and fairies, Neverland is the place where children need never grow up.  But as the Darling children begin to enjoy their new home, disaster strikes as Captain Hook comes out to play.  Will Peter and Tinkerbell be able to save Wendy and her brothers from the clutches of Hook and free Neverland of the evil villain?

This family friendly show will provide a magical and enchanting afternoon or evening treat for children during their summer holidays and offers a unique opportunity for children to see other children performing.

Tickets cost £9.50 or £8.50 for concessions for the 7.30pm shows and £8.00 and £7.00 for concessions for the 2.30pm matinees on (no matinee on Friday 10^th August).

Tickets for Peter Pan are available from Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Box Office on 01785 254 653 or online by clicking here

interACT Community Dance Project

A group of 15 young adults aged between 16 and 30 from the Stafford area have been working hard over the last 12 weeks as part of the interACT Community Drama Project and created a performance called ‘They can work it out’, which will be presented at the Gatehouse theatre’s MET Studio on Tuesday 17 July.  This performance is being specially presented to the performer's friends and family.

During weekly sessions, the participants have chosen areas that are important in their lives and used drama, improvisation and writing to create a story about young people getting into work, with a hint of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. 

The project has been led by Drama facilitator Frank Conlan, supported by 7 volunteers and has been run in partnership with Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Staffordshire County Council and many other organisations in the town. 

Project Leader Frank Conlan is a drama practitioner, former Community Outreach Worker in Stafford, and has more than 10 years experience of working with people with learning disabilities, mental health issues as well as the homeless and unemployed.

Frank explained “At the start of 2012, I undertook research into the availability of community drama activities for vulnerable groups in the Stafford area, by running some drama workshops with potential participants and by interviewing key staff in statutory and voluntary organisations, which work with vulnerable groups.” 

Frank continued “The research identified that there is a great deal of interest and support for this type of work, and Derrick Gask, Artistic Programme Manager at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, was particularly keen to support this initiative in order to further develop the theatre’s link with the local community. As a result, it was agreed to run a pilot project in partnership with Stafford Gatehouse Theatre.”

Following the results 15 participants were recruited to the project, mainly young adults with learning disabilities, who attend Walton Hall Youth Club, organised by Staffordshire Young People’s Service, in addition to other unemployed young adults.

Sessions have been held every Monday morning over the past 12 weeks at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre and the group members have taken part in a programme of drama workshops involving icebreakers, games, discussions, activities, role plays, improvisation and mime.

The sessions focus on having fun whilst working hard and the participants have worked together to create the content of the final performance.