|
|
||
|
News
|
||
|
News |
Dateline: 28th July, 2005
Watford One Year On The Watford Palace Theatre has been re-opened for a year. In that time it has produced (or co-produced) new plays, commissioned adaptations, a new musical, a pantomime, a classic drama and a modern comedy. Of these productions, following their success in Watford, both Sitting Pretty by Amy Rosenthal and the musical version of Bill Naughton's sexy cockney hero Alfie have tours planned for 2006. Over 90,000 people have visited the theatre in this first year with more than 25,000 seeing a piece of new writing. Of these, more than half are first time attenders. This includes an increasing number of young people and individuals who might not usually think of seeing a play. These early figures are impressive considering that WPT is a mid-scale venue seating 600 people and yet maintaining healthy houses for new work which is often perceived as a major challenge. The WPT team under the Artistic Direction of Lawrence Till is proud to join their London contemporaries; the Royal Court, Soho Theatre, The Bush and Hampstead Theatre as one of the country's leading homes for new writing. The theatre is committed to supporting new talent, and in its first year, writer Ian Kershaw had his debut play Get Ken Barlow produced, Jeremy Bond completed his Channel 4 Directors Scheme training placement directing a classic JB Priestley I Have Been Here Before, and, in association with Paines Plough and the Tron Theatre Glasgow, WPT produced David Greig's latest play Pyrenees. The appointment of Joyce Branagh as Literary Director has also enabled the theatre to establish a new writing group, work on specific projects with individual writers, produce rehearsed readings and expand links within the region. The Active department has continued to increase their work with young people throughout Hertfordshire. Their tour of Brecht's Mother Courage and her Children played to over 4,000 young people and performances of Lord of the Flies and The Love Of The Nightingale achieved record audiences. Also, 2005 was the venue's second year as a partner in the National Theatre's Shell Connections Festival, and hosted their regional showcase at the Palace Theatre for the first time. Following the £8.8m refurbishment, audience anticipation was strong with over one thousand people signing up to the new Circle membership scheme in the first twelve months. There are many local individuals and businesses who share WPT's core values of teamwork, creativity, respect, people and quality. In the autumn season, the Palace will present two contemporary dramas, one brand new play by Vanessa Brooks and a pantomime. Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
|
|
|
|
