culture live events drama shock: uk leads … · 2018-03-10 · drama there’s a reason the world...
TRANSCRIPT
Drama Advocate: Clare Burton
Mobile: 07708 993 234
e-mail: [email protected]
DRAMA SHOCK: UK LEADS THE WORLD! A very curious thing happens when we enter a theatre...
…we agree to let our everyday common sense self be stashed away in the cloakroom for a couple of hours. Shorn of this impediment, our imagination is free to enter worlds populated by kings, saints and murderers; where time moves backwards as well as forwards and anything can happen within the few square feet in front of us. All this with the comfort of knowing we can pick up our sensible selves again on the way out.
New York may have the edge on Musicals and ‘Shows’, but when it comes to the very best Drama there’s a reason the world beats a path to England’s door...
As you can see below, Preston & District U3A has a rolling programme of classic drama. ‘Live on Screen’ events in our local Odeon and Vue cinemas bring many within easy reach; the opportunity of comparing traditional and contemporary versions of Macbeth is quite unique;
I believe it would be a crying shame to miss out!
Clare Burton -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classic Drama ‘on Screen’ in Preston: RSC Live: Twelfth Night - Odeon & Vue; Wed 14 Feb; 7pm
NT Live: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - Odeon & Vue; Thurs 22nd Feb; 7.00pm
Oscar Wilde: Lady Windermere’s Fan - Odeon; Tues 20th March; 7.15pm
NT Live: Julius Caesar - Odeon & Vue; Thurs 22nd March; 7.00pm
RSC Live: Macbeth - Odeon & Vue; Wednesday 11th April; 7.00pm
National Theatre Live: Macbeth - Odeon & Vue; Thurs 10th May; 7.00pm
Oscar Wilde: The Importance of Being Earnest - Tuesday 19th October
Your cultural event advocates don’t organise formal bookings to live on screen events - just turn up and you’re fairly sure to find a group of friends in the foyer...
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Drama and Shows in Liverpool: Liverpool has a
vibrant theatre scene; The Empire is a commercial ATG theatre - whilst Everyman and Playhouse are subsidised by The Arts Council…
Menopause: The Musical looks like fun - I’m organising a party booking on Sunday 25th February…
Sunset Boulevard could be good too - but we need someone to arrange tickets and travel...
CULTURE LIVE EVENTS
World Class Drama in Manchester: Manchester has two commercial ATG venues - The Opera House and The Palace; HOME, The Lowry and The Royal Exchange are all subsidised by the Arts Council and others.
I will be going to the following drama events; please contact me (Clare) if you would like to join a U3A group outing. There are several more first class drama productions in need of an advocate / event organiser in our events calendar - please get in touch with me if you’d like to help…
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Brief Encounter - Lowry Theatre Tues 20th Feb; 7.30pm
“I’m a happily married woman. Or rather I was until a few weeks ago”. Your heart dances - but you are in love with the wrong person... Noel Coward’s “Brief Encounter” is remembered as one of the most haunting love stories ever “...that has put the soul back into storytelling.” (The Guardian)
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Frankenstein - Royal Exchange Mon 12th March; 7.30pm
This gripping adaptation of Frankenstein by celebrated playwright April de Angelis marks 200 years since the publication of Mary Shelley’s famous Gothic horror. Monday 12th is a half price preview; contact me ASAP
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Art - Lowry Theatre Wednesday 28th March; 7.30pm
Three men. Three friends. One white painting. ART is one of the most successful comedies ever. ART is the WINNER of Olivier, Tony, Moliere and every other major world theatre award. ART is a masterpiece..
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Mary Stuart - Lowry Theatre Tuesday 17th April; 7.30pm. Two queens. One in power. One in prison. It's all in the execution. Schiller's political tragedy takes us behind the scenes of some of British history's most crucial days. Playing both Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart, Juliet Stevenson and Lia Williams trade the play's central roles, decided at each performance by the toss of a coin...
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The Cherry Orchard - Royal Exchange Sat 5th May; 2.30pm.
Chekhov’s final masterpiece; full of wild humour & piercing sadness …
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Happy Days - Royal Exchange Sat 26th May; 7.30pm. Maxine Peake in Samuel Becketts surreal production...
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The War Horse - Lowry Theatre Tuesday 26th June; 7.30pm. The outbreak of World War One. Joey, young Alberts horse is sold to the Cavalry and shipped to France. Fate takes him on an extraordinary journey… Albert cannot forget Joey and embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home…
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Queens of the Coal Age - Maxine Peake at The Royal Exchange again, but this
time as the author. 28th June to 21st July; more details to follow...
Drama in the Finest Regional Theatres:
The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon The RSC is doing amazing things these days; if you happened to be taken to a production when you were at school, I’m pleased to tell you that the 1930’s cinema style auditorium is no more - having been replaced with a much more intimate performance space.
The smaller Swan theatre has a similar, intimate design and hosts wonderful ‘experimental’ productions. If you plan carefully you can get a return train fare for under £15, and the Premiere Inn - just a stones throw from the theatre - offers advance booked twin rooms from £40 to £65.
Both theatres offer two production ‘in repertory’, so (again with a little careful planning) it’s possible to see three shows in two days with a travel and accommodation budget of less than £50 per person. My current plan is to see three productions on 11th & 12th July:
* ‘Mrs Littlewood’ - Joan Littlewood’s best known production was ‘Oh What a Lovely War’.
* ‘Macbeth’ - A contemporary version - which has a live screening on 11th April.
* ‘Romeo and Juliet’ - Set in a fascinating world, rather similar to todays... (On screen 18 July).
If the possibility of this outing interests you please get in touch with me ASAP; I intend booking my seats and making hotel/travel arrangements by the end of February to get the lowest prices...
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Drama and Musical Shows in London:
The West End offers ‘commercial’ shows with a budget that cannot be matched in a regional touring theatre and the National Theatre (together with others such as the Harold Pinter and the Almeida have the potential to attract the worlds finest dramatic talent simply because of what and where they are...
There are several current/future West End productions I would love to see including a very highly recommended production of ‘The Birthday Party’ at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This is running until mid April; I am toying with the idea of going to the matinee on 14th April when seats are available from £20 and Virgin are currently offering day returns from £31. Please get in touch TODAY if you are interested :) I will be suggesting more London productions at the next planning meeting on 19th March.
Clare Burton