Arts Centre Washington has announced its autumn season. The theatrical programme opens on 16 September with a double bill from Operating Theatre Company, The Living Room and For the Best, two dramas which, in the company’s trademark style, explore health and social care issues.
On 1 October, Precious Cargo presents Into Thin Air, which looks at how we cope in an increasingly pressurised world where everyone feels the need to succeed at everything.
Contender Charlie (in association with China Plate and Warwick Arts Centre) performs Macbeth—Blood Will Have Blood from 21 to 23 October (various times during the day) for children aged 9 to 13, an accessible introduction to Shakespeare’s story of ambition, greed and the abuse of power. The production uses pre-recorded scenes to create a dramatic on-screen world, a surround-sound soundtrack and live performance from a solo actor on a break-neck journey through the blood-soaked world of Macbeth.
Summoned by the arrival of the audience, a macabre Porter leads us into the dark heart of Shakespeare's play, offering young audiences a glimpse of life under Scotland’s tyrant King.
In contrast on 29 October, We Are Brontë is a piece of comic visual theatre inspired by the real and imaginary worlds of Yorkshire’s literary siblings, presented by Publick Transport using stand-up, clowning and improvisation.
OpenWorks Theatre and Company of Angels, in association with Derby Theatre, present And Now: The World!, a story about being young in a digital world; about being a superhero caught in a web; about being able to spend more time with your friends online than face to face, on 12 November.
RedCape Theatre makes shows inspired by true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Be Brave and Leave for the Unknown looks at the nature of bravery both epic and domestic, large and small. In warzones and waiting rooms, on roadsides and railway platforms, against all the odds, we discover a world bursting with bravery. The production comes to Washington on 18 and 19 November.
On 26 November, Daniel Bye performs his Edinburgh Fringe show Going Viral, produced by ARC Stockton. A new virus has broken out. Everyone in the world starts weeping. What now?
Finally on 10 December at 1:30 and 7:30 Box Clever, presents its new take on A Christmas Carol.
There are also for family shows in the season:
- Theatre Hullabaloo and Theatre by the Lake present Bear & Butterfly on 13 October. One day, Bear’s life changes forever when, deep in the branches of the tree he hears the munching and a crunching of a bright green Caterpillar.
- Then on 17 October, Mimika Theatre presents Landscapes, a magical journey through four different worlds and the animals that live there.
- Paines Plough and Half Moon bring Our Teacher’s a Troll to the theatre on 24 October. Two terrible twins with a talent for turmoil rule their school with terror and tyranny. That is, until the arrival of a new head teacher with green scaly skin, sharp gnarly fangs, and a long spiky tail…
- From 1 to 5 December, tutti frutti productions and York Theatre Royal present Snow Child by Emma Reeves. As autumn leaves fall and the foxes, wolves and bears hide among the trees, we hear a magical story about family, love and the power of dreams.