Touring theatre continues at a community venue near you!!
Theatre is continuing on tour in Tamworth, bringing a variety of professional productions to community venues across the borough.
The project - Touring Theatre - has produced a range of high-quality shows that started from April this year. All performances have been staged in familiar but unusual community locations in a bid to increase opportunities for people to experience the arts.
Live & Local – the Midlands’ Rural and Community Touring Network – will continue to work with Tamworth community groups to provide volunteers with the tools they need to bring professional touring theatre companies to the town, including booking, promoting and selling the events.
The programme has proven a great success so far this year and has included five touring productions all performed in venues such as churches, a library and the Castle Grounds bandstand, attracting new audiences. Productions have included storytelling and puppetry of ‘The Fabularium – Reynard the Fox’, a particular hit with children and Mambo Jambo a popular acoustic duo.
Touring Theatre is part of the two-year Arts in Unusual Spaces project funded in partnership with Arts Council England, Tamworth Borough Council and the local community.
It includes a number of exciting initiatives for Tamworth, designed to bring the arts to all corners of the community. More information is available at http://www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk/arts-unusual-spaces.
Details of the next instalment of Touring Theatre is as follows:
Theatre Chipping Norton – Sherlock Holmes and the Crimson Cobbles
Sacred Heart Church (B77 2EA): Tuesday, October 17, 7.30pm
A witty, laugh-a-minute pastiche of Conan Doyle’s great detective sees Holmes stalking Jack the Ripper in the streets of London’s East End. As the evidence builds only one conclusion can be drawn – that the Ripper is actually Sherlock’s trusted partner Dr Watson. But will Holmes believe this shocking revelation? Tickets are priced at £8 adults, £6 concessions and £26 for group of 4 (standard tickets).
James Hickman and Dan Cassidy in Concert
St Francis Church (B79 8JB): Sunday, November 19, 7.30pm
A transatlantic folk and roots duo inspired by the traditions of America and Britain. Dan Cassidy is an exciting and virtuosic fiddler providing the tunes and harmony singing, while James Nathan Hickman brings driving guitar playing and wonderfully unique vocals to their mixture of new and old folk music. A show bursting with humour, heartbreak and excitement. Tickets are priced at £7.50.
Noble Jacks in Concert
St Francis Church (B79 8JB): Thursday, February 8, 7.30pm
This rip-roaring alt-folk band brings warm electro-acoustic interactions to its live shows, fused together with a mixture of lively, folky foot stomping rhythms and engaging lyricism. The band encompasses heartfelt, yet up beat songs, showcasing fiddle, blues harmonica and big anthem songs. Exhilarating and refreshing to hear, this band will be raising the roof in February. Tickets are priced at £7.50.
Tantz in Concert
Sacred Heart Church (B79 8JB): Friday, February 9, 7.30pm
A high spirited and original klezmer dance and gypsy style band. Offering a performance of great global music this remarkable six-piece band will bring joyous jazz infused music with an infectious vibe. Tickets are priced at £8 adults, £6 concessions and £26 for group of 4 (standard tickets).
Tickets are available via the Tamworth Arts and Events website at www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk/whats-on, in person from Tamworth Information Centre in Marmion House, Lichfield Street, or by calling the Box Office on 01827 709618. A transaction fee of £1 is payable on all online and telephone bookings. St Francis Church events also have tickets available from St Francis Vicarage, Masefield Drive.
Cllr Joy Goodall, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Environment & Culture, said: “The Touring Theatre project is working with groups of volunteers to provide them with the skills and confidence they need to bring touring theatre productions to venues in the community on a regular basis. As well as broadening the use of community venues, this will hopefully make it even easier for people to experience and enjoy theatre and the arts.”
