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Dateline: 29th August, 2010 News from the North West
West End Ghost to preview in ManchesterThe much hyped screen-to-stage musical transfer of 20-year-old hit Hollywood weepy Ghost is to be previewed at Manchester's Opera House for a seven-week run from next March before moving to London in the summer. The stage show has been adapted by the original screenplay writer Bruce Joel Rubin with music and lyrics by half of pop duo The Eurythmics Dave Stewart with songwriter and producer Glen Ballard and will be directed by Matthew Warchus. Illusions will be designed by top stage illusion designer Paul Kieve who has designed illusions for such shows as The Lord of the Rings, The Witches of Eastwick, Scrooge and The Invisible Man. Casting is to be announced shortly. The production will run at the Opera House from 28 March to 14 May 2011. Public booking will open on 10 September 2010.
Everyman refurbishment given planning permissionLiverpool City Council has granted planning permission for the major refurbishments planned to Everyman Theatre on Hope Street. The £28m refurbishments, funded by a combination of public and private funds including £15m from Arts Council England, recently suffered a setback after the freezing of grants from the North West Development Agency left it with a £2.4m funding shortfall. Council leader Councillor Joe Anderson described the plans as, "a vital redevelopment for the city’s future. The Everyman is a real gem in Liverpool’s cultural life and while it will have a new look it will retain its unique spirit."
Ex-Eastender joins Octagon castFormer EastEnders star Michelle Collins—Cindy Beale in the soap—will appear at Bolton's Octagon Theatre in February as the nurse in Romeo and Juliet. Artistic director David Thacker, who will direct the production, said, "I wanted to cast someone who is sexy, honest, charismatic and witty but, most importantly, can empathise with the pain and grief that the Nurse has known in her life. Michelle is a wonderful actress and I know she will bring a humanity and authenticity to the part". Collins has appeared on screen and stage many times but this will be her first appearance in a Shakespeare play. She said, "I’m thrilled to have the opportunity of being in my first Shakespeare play at such a special theatre. I really hope that many people from Bolton and the north west who’ve never seen a play by Shakespeare before will come and give this a go". Also appearing in the production will be David Ricardo-Pearce as Romeo and Jade Anouka as Juliet with Rob Edwards and Paula Jennings as Lord and Lady Capulet. The play runs at the Octagon from 3 February to 5 March 2011.
Coliseum auditions for youth panto chorusOldham Coliseum is looking for girls aged 8 to 15 years who can sing, dance and act for the chorus of its Christmas show Sleeping Beauty. The chosen girls will work in two teams of eight, initially rehearsing for two evenings per week plus Saturdays from 25 October to 13 November then for the whole of tech week from 15 to 20 November. For the show run, each team will perform two shows per day every other day. Auditions will take place on Sunday 19 September. To reserve a place, call Anne-Louise on 0161 624 1731.
Organised Chaos script callOrganised Chaos Productions, which will celebrate its first birthday this week, has put out a call for new scripts for its second year's productions. The group is looking for original, unproduced work of between 50 minutes (for a one-act play) and full-length suitable for a studio space and with no more than 6 actors in the cast. The last production from the 2009 script call, Joy With Child by Kim Wiltshire, will be seen at Taurus Bar in Manchester next month, and one of the earlier productions, The Benefit of Time by Terri-Ann Brumby, will be at New Wimbledon Theatre Studio in London in October. Over the last year, the company has taken productions to Buxton Fringe and Preston Fringe festivals. Scripts can be submitted at the company's web site at www.organisedchaosproductions.co.uk/scriptcall.html. There is an administration fee of £10. The closing date for entries is 1 September.
NW productionsOldham Coliseum will produce Lawrence Till's stage play Kes based on the classic Barry Hines novel A Kestrel for a Knave from 3 to 25 September directed by artistic director Kevin Shaw and starring Adam Barlow as Billy Casper. Swedish circus company Cirkus Cirkör makes its north west debut at The Lowry in Salford this week with Inside Out accompanied by live music from Swedish rock band Irya’s Playground from 30 August to 1 September. Also at The Lowry, Busting Out is described as "a raucously entertaining celebration of the female body" containing music, stand-up comedy, theatre and cabaret created by Emma Powell and performed by Australian performers Emma and Bev Killick for just one night on 2 September. In Just For Tonight by Rebekah Harrison from Milk and Two Sugars Theatre Company at Salford Arts Theatre, we watch a scene unfold between prostitute and client and are reminded that even in the most unlikely places there may be a glimmer of hope. Standnotamazed presents a show that is part-love story and part-magic show in Love and Other Magic Tricks at The Lowry on 3 and 4 September. Manchester's MaD Theatre Company launches its latest production Thai Brides and Teacakes about a couple who, after being unsuccessful in their attempt to adopt a Vietnamese orphan, turn their attentions to the local men as potential sperm donors at The Met in Bury on 4 September. Outdoor theatre specialists Illyria will perform its adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in Tatton Park in Knutsford on 4 September. Reporter: David Chadderton Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
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