Day: 14 December 2021

A Very Artsreach Christmas!

Festive online performances to enjoy at home this winter

Dorset’s touring arts charity, Artsreach, is excited to release details of its special Christmas gift to audiences across the County this winter; a series of performances available to enjoy online in the comfort of your own home; from Christmas classics and a seasonal celebration with a Dorset twist, to an interactive online murder mystery!

Celebrate the festive season with a mesmerising performance of Charles Dickens’ timeless, transformative story ‘A Christmas Carol’, devised, adapted and performed especially for film by veteran Cornish actor and founder member of Kneehigh, David Mynne. Expect Dickens’ original words with added silliness. Silliness? Bah humbug! ‘A Christmas Carol’ is available to enjoy online anytime until midnight on Sunday 2 January. E-tickets are free but donations to Artsreach are welcomed.

Enjoy ‘A Dorset Christmas with The Ridgeway Singers and Band’ and hear the story of how our ancestors celebrated Christmas in this film which features music, song, story and dance. In December 2020 Artsreach was delighted to support The Ridgeway Singers and Band, led by Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries, to capture an alternative festive offering that’s truly inspired by Dorset! With tunes and songs from the Puddletown and Hinton St Mary manuscripts and new carols in the West Gallery tradition, interspersed with readings, archive photographs and other images from across Dorset, plus a special performance of ‘While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night’, expect a heart-warming seasonal celebration of all things Dorset! Captured and edited by Pageant Productions, ‘A Dorset Christmas’ is available to watch anytime until midnight on Sunday 2 January. Again, e-tickets are free but donations to Artsreach are welcomed.

Finally, Sharp Teeth Theatre return after their runaway global hits, Sherlock In Homes I: Murder at The Circus and Sherlock In Homes II: Murder On Ice, with a brand new and better-than-ever online interactive murder mystery – Murder at the Games! On your marks, get set, go… to 1960 to solve a crime that will make your heart race. Could it be the chill of the cold war or the heat of the Italian sun? Zoom into Rome’s Olympic village to find out. You’ll interrogate the suspects and attempt to unmask a murder with your fellow audience members as you pit your wits against some of the UK’s most talented performers and improvisers. Only you can solve this case! Take part in this online murder mystery on Thursday 6 January at 2:30pm or 8pm. Advanced booking is required and e-tickets are £10 per device (not per person).

Artsreach Co-Director Kerry Bartlett said “Whilst we await the start of our brand new spring programme of live performances in rural communities, we are delighted to be able to spread some Christmas cheer to our audiences at home through this digital programme!”

E-tickets for all events are available from the Artsreach website, and whilst the events are free to view, donations to Artsreach are welcomed. For further information and to register, visit www.artsreach.co.uk

Recruiting NOW for the Pentabus Young Writers Groups

Pentabus Theatre Company’s ground-breaking Young Writers Group offers two free playwrighting programmes for young people aged 16-30 from rural areas. Participants will write a short play for a professional production. The National and Local groups both begin in January 2022, so no matter where you’re based, you can take part.

Each course offers a series of workshops, leading up to a professional production of work in the summer. The Young Writers will decide the subject of their play and work through different drafts with in-depth support and feedback from professional playwrights, actors, directors and designers.

Pentabus Artistic Director Elle While said: ‘I can’t wait to be inspired by the voices of the next generation of Pentabus’ Young Writers who will be participating in our Local and National playwriting courses. Invigorating and dynamic new writing is at the heart of our organisation and bringing the Young Writers’ work to life in professional productions is one of the highlights of the Pentabus Programme.’

The Local Group will be run through a combination of online evening sessions and in-person weekend sessions in Hereford. The course tutors are Florence Espeut-Nickless (Pentabus Writer in Residence) and Ant Stones (Associate Playwright for Guildford Shakespeare Company). The National Group will be take place via a series of online evening session, run by Tom Powell (Pentabus Writer in Residence 2020), alongside Ant Stones. 

No previous experience of playwrighting is necessary. This programme is aimed at young people who may not even know they’re writers yet.

Former Young Writer Ruth Cowell said: “It’s been the push I needed to stop waiting for permission to consider myself an artist or a writer. Having the support of Pentabus has really changed how I view my place in the industry and given me the self-confidence to make my own work and opportunities.”

Contact youngcompany@pentabus.co.uk to register your interest or for more information.

Digital Resources

www.pentabus.co.uk 

Twitter: @pentabustheatre | Facebook: www.facebook.com/pentabustheatre  Instagram : pentabustheatrecompany   YouTube: www.youtube.com/pentabustheatre

Live & Local: Developing Artists in Rural Touring day for Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Artists

  • Are you or do you consider yourself to be a professional arts organisation or performer?
  • Do you ideally live or work in either Lincolnshire or Nottinghamshire or have strong links to either or both counties?
  • Have you considered rural touring?

Live and Local, through its Developing Artists in Rural Touring (DART) programme, is looking to find and support artists interested in rural touring.

We are running a whole day for performing artists and arts organisation to find out about opportunities to tour performances in rural locations with Live & Local. At the event you will get to meet our friendly and helpful staff, meet performers and promoters as well as having an opportunity to tell us about yourselves. We are prioritising those artists who work or are based in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. You could be a musician, dancer, spoken word artist or theatre maker.

Details of the Day

  • Tuesday 8th February 2022
  • Venue – Newark Civil War Centre
  • Time 10.00 to 4pm for a 10.30 start.

We will fund each company (up to 12) £200 to come along and we’ll treat you to lunch and tea and coffee too.

How can I be part of this?

Apply by completing the application form by Friday 14th Jan at 5pm. You will need to be available on the 8th February to apply.

For more information and to download the application form please go to the link Jobs at Live & Local (liveandlocal.org.uk)

What is the selection process?

Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:

  • Links to one of both counties
  • Artistic quality
  • Interest in rural touring

Please also feel free to email Steve Wilson, Artist Engagement Officer,  Steve@liveandlocal.org.uk if you have any questions.

What happens after the programme?

We will be looking to support those organisations/individuals further through mentoring support with the aim for you to be able to have a show ready for rural touring.

About Live & Local

Live & Local is an arts organisation with more than 20 years’ experience of touring professional performing arts into rural communities. From its base in Warwick, it has grown to serve 8 counties, being: Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire. We currently programme about 500 shows a year in 300 rural locations. Take a look around the website to find out more.