Octagon's many-sided season

Published: 14 November 2015
Reporter: David Upton

Look Back in Anger
Chip Shop the Musical Credit: Joel Chester-Fildes

Bolton Octagon has announced details of next year’s season.

Beginning the new year will be The Broken N Beat Collective, a contemporary blend of hip hop, theatre, and puppetry presented by Toxteth-based 20 Stories High and Theatre-Rites.

Also in February is the deadline for the first ever National Octagon. The venue is inviting writers aged over 16 to submit dramatic monologues to be produced on stage.

The first main auditorium production is a modern classic that considers the frustrations of a generation: Look Back in Anger, written by John Osborne and directed by Sarah Brigham.

In April, the Octagon welcomes a world première in the form of The Macbeth Curse, written by the acclaimed Terry Deary, author of the Horrible Histories books.

A joint production between the Octagon and Prime Theatre, it explores the magic and madness of Macbeth and Shakespeare.

Besides othjer community-based theatre events, the Octagon closes its 2015/2016 season in June with Singin’ in the Rain, directed by Elizabeth Newman.

In a co-production between the Octagon, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-lyme, and Salisbury Playhouse, the musical will be performed with live music, dance and, of course, rain.

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