hello & welcome It gives me great pleasure to present the Arena Theatre Autumn Season Brochure 2009. This forthcoming season marks the ten year anniversary since the theatre opened in its current form. It continues to hold a unique place within both the University of Wolverhampton and wider community, providing as it does access to a range of arts and entertainment events that are not available anywhere else in the City or Black Country region.
contents September 8-12
West Side Story Wolverhampton Youth Music Theatre
18
Define Theatre 19
I would like to thank you for your continued support of the Arena Theatre and trust you will find this season’s programme as diverse, evocative and entertaining as ever.
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7
Arthur Smith in Variety Lives Arena Theatre and Lakin McCarthy Entertainment
8
October 1&2
Double Sentence Deafinitely Theatre
6
7
12
Call Mr Robeson Lakin McCarthy Entertainment
12 - 15
11
Hoof! Spike Theatre
9
11
Max Miller - The Cheeky Chappie Dave Sealey
8
10
With a Little Bit O’ Luck Dave Sealey
Kind Regards,
10
Two Gentlemen Of Verona UK Arts International
7
Professor Caroline Gipps Vice Chancellor University of Wolverhampton
7
Hiya and Higher Mrs Barbara Nice
30
29
Wishful Thinking Cambridge Footlights
30
6
Macbeth Pool Hayes Performing Arts School
29
6
Preserving The Heritage Piu Sarkhel
28
5
Switch ACE Dance and Music
The University’s Arena Theatre is inclusive, welcoming, open to all and is a keystone of the Widening Participation agenda. For example, the theatre welcomes over 3,500 children and young people each year to watch shows and a further 1,000 create and perform work at the Theatre. This gives scores of young people from the region unique access to the University and the benefits of Higher Education. Similar levels of engagement and experiences are common across the many diverse communities in the Black Country. Furthermore, the Arena is a nationally significant venue for the presentation and promotion of work by and for Deaf and Disabled artists and audiences.
5
Under Milk Wood Guy Masterson
24 & 25
4
Man Handled Void Physical Theatre
23
4
Sabha Sampad and Arena Theatre
21 & 22
29
Can’t Pay Won’t Pay
12
The Diary of Adrian Mole Wednesfield High School
30
BUY TICKETS
Must be the same number of tickets for each show. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer - other restrictions may apply
for two or more shows at the same time and get all your tickets for £5 each 16
Revenger’s Tragedy Jadis Shadows Productions
20
The Horrific Case of Mr Valdemar Rumpus Theatre Co.
21
Company Gavin Robertson 27
Reckless Sleepers 30 & 31
Little Earthquake
4 5 16
10
3&4
Krazy Kat Theatre 5
20
Body Of Work Motion Manual
25
20
Jesse Bannister and SAMAY Surdhwani
24
19
Club Class MIG Theatre Company
21
30
A Skull In Connemara Love & Madness
20
18
21
Elementary Father Brown Impetus Theatre and Jonathan Wyatt
21
25
An Night Of Off-Broadway New Wave Theatre
16 - 20
RENT - The Musical Punch Theatre
17 & 18
18
25
Resistance, Revolt and Rebellion Kindandgenerous and Emma Purshouse
12
Cool Rules! Knolove Productions
11 - 14
16
Othello Icarus Theatre Collective
6
11
24
Does Not Contain Nuts Funny Feet Comedy Night
A Tempest
31
Patrick and Bernadine at Christmas Something and Nothing
17
24
All Our Yesterdays Village Playhouse Youth Theatre
9
23
A Good Night Out Arena Theatre and Outside Centre
15
22
The Sorting Office Movers Theatre Co.
15
November
Romeo and Juliet Oddsocks
3
The Houdini Exposure
30
December 1&2
The Pilots
23
West End Story Reach For The Stage
14
House Of Pain Opus Theatre
29
14
Is That a Bolt In Your Neck Gonzo Moose
28
13
Six Sided Man
Crossings Julie McNamara
28
A Meeting of Minds Michael Lunts
23
26 & 27 13
31
The Snow Queen Screaminvoiceyouththeatre
28
Other Pages Arena Theatre Matinee Series Spring 2010 Preview How to Book Access Information At a Glance Calendar How To Find us
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Friday 18th September at 8pm
Can’t Pay Won’t Pay
Saturday 19th September at 7pm
DEFINE THEATRE
Dario Fo’s furiously paced farce is updated for 2009. It’s guaranteed to raise the roof - along with a few eyebrows..! Giovanni’s political convictions would normally see him straight, but with Antonia’s antics at the supermarket and Margherita’s miraculous pregnancy he’s got a lot on his (empty) plate... Desperate times call for desperate measures, but should Luigi really have eaten that olive...? And can they all elude the long arm of the law…? And what has all this got to do with the Pope anyhow.?
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions 4
Sabha
SAMPAD IN ASSOCIATION WITH ARENA THEATRE
Following on from the success of the first Sabha at the Arena last season we invite you to come and enjoy another showcase of local and emerging talent. There will be dance, music and spoken word, fusing South Asian tradition with contemporary influences from the West Midlands and beyond. The evening will include Sandeep Mishra on sarangi. Sandeep has added a new innovation and style to his music by blending a contemporary approach to this traditional instrument. Rohit Ballal’s poetry will cover a range of topics from social commentary and spiritual insight to unrequited love There will also be contemporary dance from Jyoti Parwana and Subhash Tickets: Viman, and hip hop from Sublime. £5 Full Price
and £3 Concessions
Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd September at 7.30pm
Man Handled
Wednesday 23rd September at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
VOID PHYSICAL THEATRE
A group of men descend upon their local pub, the conversation quickly turns to beer, boobs and betting. As the men attempt to handle their drink they are soon faced with something a little harder to swallow. The cards are on the table and the stakes are high when the masculinity of one man is questioned, will he fold or will he call their bluff?
Under Milk Wood
GUY MASTERSON
Dylan Thomas’ timeless masterwork is brought vividly to life in Guy Masterson’s astonishingly brilliant solo performance. All 69 ebullient inhabitants of Llareggub are beautifully recreated in an amazing feat of memory and virtuosity. It’s bawdy and beautiful, sad and sensual. If you’ve never seen Under Milk Wood before, this is perhaps the ultimate rendition. Don’t miss it!
This is exhilarating high energy physical theatre that explores the delicacy of male interaction and the after effects of one too many.
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
“It’s a feat of multiple characterisation impeccable timing, vocal dexterity and precise physical control, performed with tremendous sensitivity and panache The Guardian
Tickets: £9 Full Price and £7 Concessions Matinee Special £5 5
Thursday 24th September at 7.30pm Friday 25th September at 8pm
Saturday 26th September at 7pm
Photograph by Brian Slater
Switch
ACE DANCE AND MUSIC
Following Skin which came to the Arena in 2007, ACE return with another dance masterpiece. Six talented and athletic performers will amaze with their strength and agility, fast full-on percussive movement which is inspired by both contemporary dance and African and Caribbean movement styles. ACE’s directors Gail and Ian Parmel have collaborated with ex original Phoenix dancer Douglas Thorpe and Andile Sotiya to make highly personal work which will stimulate your senses and make you think and feel.
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Switch is an exciting blend of sophisticated dance, music and visuals which is set in a black and white space. Dancers move in slick precise unison with huge impact, contrasting with subtle moments, spoken word and theatrical expression.
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
Piu Sarkhel in
SURDHWANI IN ASSOCIATION WITH ASIAN MUSIC CIRCUIT AND ARENA THEATRE
Preserving The Heritage
Piu is a celebrated radio and recording artist frequently heard on All India Radio. She has performed at all the major classical music festivals in India and given many overseas concerts. Blessed with a superb voice she received training from her father Sri Kamal Banerjee and was inspired by one of the greatest ever vocalists of India the late Ustad Amir Khan. She has adopted his style and vocal technique of singing meditatively with a relaxed approach.
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
Tuesday 29th September at 7.30pm
Wishful Thinking
Wednesday 30th September at 2.30pm
CAMBRIDGE FOOTLIGHTS
JANICE CONNOLLY AND ARENA THEATRE
in Hiya and Higher
The past membership of the world famous Cambridge Footlights reads like a Who’s Who of British comedy having kick-started the comedy careers of countless famous faces. This year promises to be no different! Fresh from the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, enjoy the world famous Footlights Comedy Club as they perform their annual comic odyssey live onstage. Experience an all-new, full-length, original sketch comedy from some of the most talented and hard-working young comedians around. From monologue to many-logue, sketches to stories, get ready for a night of hilarity and creative humour. Tickets: So come and join the Footlights for an evening, because this is where the next generation of comedy begins!
Mrs Barbara Nice
£9 Full Price and £7 Concessions
Mrs. Barbara Nice, Stockport mother of five, is worried that we are living in a world of ever diminishing friendliness where we keep our selves to ourselves, heads down afraid to catch anyone’s eye. She wants us all to stand proud, be open and look the world right in the eye - or we won’t feel the benefit! Expect a friendly inclusive atmosphere, home truths, great timing and unique comic insights into the human condition Housewife Superstar Mrs Barbara Nice is the comedy creation of Phoenix Nights Holy Mary Janice Connolly.
“A hybrid between Victoria Wood and Mrs. Merton” (The Guardian)
All Tickets £5 7
Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd October at 8pm
Double Sentence
Tuesday 6th October at 7.30pm
DEAFINITELY THEATRE
When Tom Fry is sent to prison he finds himself not only being punished for the crime he committed but also punished for being deaf. Double Sentence is a play about a young man’s struggle to be understood in a world where even the loudest have to fight to be heard. Double Sentence uses British Sign Language, captions and spoken word to be accessible to both Deaf and hearing. Not suitable for young audiences Not suitable for young audiences
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Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
Two Gentlemen of Verona
TWO GENTS PRODUCTIONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH UK ARTS INTERNATIONAL
or Vakomana Vaviri ve Zimbabwe Using few or no props and a set that consists of no more than a trunk, the actors explore the text’s nuances from a distinctly Zimbabwean perspective, bringing Shakespeare’s verse to life in new and unfamiliar cadences. From Verona to Milan, via Harare and Bulawayo, two great friends, Valentine and Proteus, vie for the love of the same woman. When Valentine is Tickets: banished, their friendship is threatened and only £8 Full Price through disguise, deception and intrigue are they and reconciled. £6 Concessions
Wednesday 7th October at 2.30pm
Wednesday 7th October at 7.30pm
DAVE SEALEY
DAVE SEALEY
With a little bit o’ luck
Max Miller The Cheeky Chappie
A tribute to Stanley Holloway
Before the age of cinema and television, Music Hall was the centre of entertainment and no one more ahead of their game than the entertainer Stanley Holloway, whose meteoric rise to fame and fortune is documented by Dave Sealey in his tribute to the man, his music and his monologues. Meet such characters as Sam Small who refused to pick up a musket and Albert Ramsbottom, et by yon lion who wove their way into the hearts of the listening public; and favourite old time songs such as brahn boots and I’m getting married in the morning.
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions £5 Matinee Special
The career, critics, contemporaries, and saucy seaside postcard world of MAX MILLER Between generous helpings from Max’s legendary repertoire from both his White and Blue Books, DAVE SEALEY the life long music hall performer, reveals the quiet unassuming man beneath the make–up and gaudy apparel. With songs and laughs a-plenty, this show is as saucy as a seaside postcard from Brighton pier itself!
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions 11
Thursday 8th October at 7.30pm
Friday 9th October at 8pm
“Pure comic genius” Liverpool Confidential
Hoof! Spontaneous Theatre
SPIKE THEATRE
The Beast is back! This is spontaneous theatrical improvisation! A bare stage transforms into a visual, verbal and musical feast as five physical performers and two musicians catapult the audience into a totally improvised world. No hesitation, no conferring, and no audience intervention. NOT sketch comedy or impro games but two fantastical tales created quite literally on the Hoof! “An evening you will not forget for a while, mind-bogglingly clever, devastatingly funny, entirely original comedy.” 12
Liverpool Confidential
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
Call Mr Robeson
LAKIN MCCARTHY ENTERTAINMENT
The true and compelling story of a remarkable black American Paul Robeson, world famous actor and singer of the early 20th Century. When he challenged prejudice at the core of the United States of America, he was branded a traitor to his country, harassed, and denied opportunities to perform or travel. Featuring his most powerful songs including a dramatic rendition of Ol’ Man River, the show takes you on a rollercoaster journey through Robeson’s remarkable and eventful life. Tayo Aluko’s performance is a tour de force his strong and pleasant voice is more than able to cover Robeson’s standards with style and grace. Check out www.arenatheatre.info for video clips of Tayo’s performance
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
Friday 16th October at 8pm
Revenger’s Tragedy
Tuesday 20th October at 7.30pm
JADIS SHADOWS PRODUCTIONS
A new adaptation of the greatest Jacobean ‘Horror Tragedy’ of all, specially produced for the company by James Tudor. Ironic, iconic and sexy, brimming with the darkest humour, Revenger’s Tragedy drags an audience into a decaying, debauched society (not too far removed from our own) where morals hold no value- ideals have no worth! Vindice wants revenge; revenge against the tyrant Duke who destroyed his world. In disguise he sets out on his crusade and enters the world of The Court. Moving amongst the Duke and his truly dysfunctional family, he encounters more than he bargains for, and discovers that even his nearest and dearest are not above temptation. Looking Tickets: around him, at a world rotten at its very core, he £8 Full Price decides “Why stop at the death of a viper when and you may also destroy its wicked brooding nest!”
£6 Concessions Not suitable for young audiences
The Horrific Case of Mr Valdemar RUMPUS THEATRE COMPANY
The Horrific Case of Mr Valdemar is a macabre, mesmerizing tale of sex, money, death and hypnotism from the master of the modern horror story, Edgar Allen Poe. A stage hypnotist is intrigued to know whether the effects of his art can be experienced beyond the grave. When he meets Mr Valdemar, a man with only a short while to live, he imagines he’s found the perfect guinea pig...but when sex and money intervene, the results are predictably...and deliciously...horrific! Take a trip with us...beyond the grave Not suitable for young audiences
Tickets: £9 Full Price and £7 Concessions 13
Wednesday 21st October at 2.30pm
A Meeting of Minds
Friday 23rd October at 8pm
MICHAEL LUNTS
A Meeting of Minds is a fascinating mix of drama, music and the mysterious story behind Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto (best known as the soundtrack to the film Brief Encounter). Rachmaninov dedicated the concerto to the enigmatic hypnotist, Dr Dahl, following a series of meetings between the pair. Integrated into the action are live performances of some of Rachmaninov’s greatest music for piano, including the C Sharp Minor Prelude and the celebrated Second Piano Concerto itself.
‘This play hits all the right notes…Michael Lunts strips the stuffiness from classical music in this excellent show” Winnipeg Free Press
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Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions £5 Matinee Special
Six Sided Man
COMPANY GAVIN ROBERTSON
Inspired by cult novel The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart Tongue-in-cheek, darkly comic and highly imaginative, a psychiatrist decides to make every decision by following options given to a dice. As he delves further into giving up responsibility for his actions, and introduces a patient to the same idea, mayhem ensues and rules become twisted...
"Novel and intriguing - a seductive package" The Guardian
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
Tuesday 27th October at 7.30pm
Is That a Bolt in Your Neck?
Wednesday 28th October at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
GONZO MOOSE
Gonzo Moose are back! The Total Theatre Award nominees and masters of the absurd are back in the spoof gothic horror Is That A Bolt In Your Neck? Inspired by gothic horror movie classics of the 1930s, it is a fast-paced, rollicking ride mixing spooky paranoia, surreal nightmare and frantic farce. Suitable for audiences from ages 8 to 80, this is an ideal family show: packed full of hilarious slapstick, verbal wit, live music and magical illusion. With comedy and thrills galore you’ll gasp, laugh and be amazed at the horrific experiments, the mind-boggling love, and the sensational death-defying finale. This wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy Tickets: horror features three fearless actors, playing £8 Full Price over 30 roles in 75 minutes of fast-paced fun and and thrilling action. With irreverent humour and £6 Concessions a vivid physical style the show is extremely accessible, visually inventive and very, very funny.
House of Pain
OPUS THEATRE
Frank Turner’s hairdressing business is going down the plughole! Hard times calls for desperate measures! Frank decides to shut up shop and reopen as the House of Pain a lifestyle and spa experience where your every piercing and tattooing needs can be taken care of, oh, and they will do you a nice perm on the side! Hilarious, camp, nostalgic, fast-paced, incredibly clever and hugely enjoyable...and that’s just for starters!
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions £5 Matinee Special 15
Thursday 29th October at 7.30pm
The Pilots
Tuesday 3rd November at 1.30pm Wednesday 4th November at 10.30am
RECKLESS SLEEPERS
Two men are pretending to be pilots. Two men are pretending to be George Michael and Andrew Ridgely in the Club Tropicana video pretending to be pilots. This isn’t the first time this has happened. We’ve done this before. Many times. We’re professionals. I know what I’m doing and he knows what he’s doing. And what we’re supposed to be doing isn’t this and what we promised you in the publicity or in the brochures or whatever isn’t what we’re doing now... Two men are pretending to know what they’re doing. The Pilots follows a flight path from arrival to departure on a journey into uncharted territory. Not suitable for young audiences 16
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
A Tempest
KRAZY KAT THEATRE
Directed by Caroline Parker A brand new 50-minute adaptation of Shakespeare’s play with integrated British Sign Language accessible to all children aged 8 to 11. Featuring a deaf/hearing cast of four actors, plus puppets, music, song and sign language, this fast moving production uses Krazy Kat’s style of emotive image theatre and child–centred presentation. With fully integrated British Sign Language, A Tempest introduces children to the richness of Shakespeare’s language and storytelling.
All Tickets £3
Friday 30th and Saturday 31st October at 7.30pm
LITTLE EARTHQUAKE IN ASSOCIATION WITH ARENA THEATRE
The Houdini Exposure On Hallowe’en 2009, prepare to be amazed as Little Earthquake - those purveyors of the curious, the miraculous and the marvellous - mark the anniversary of Harry Houdini’s death with the world premiere of their brand new production. For two nights only, Little Earthquake will pitch its giant spirit cabinet at the Arena Theatre. Watch as they pull back the plush velvet curtains and transport you to the seedy backstreets of Soho, the illicit séances of Victorian England, and the dressing room of the greatest showman on Earth. Marvel at the electrifying tale of two deadly rivals who each believe they can answer the question on everybody’s lips... Can the spirits of the dead return? The stage is set for a spectacular showdown as one man, trapped in a tank filled with water, finally answers the question that has captivated them all. Not suitable for young audiences
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions 17
Thursday 5th November at 2.00pm and 7.30pm
Friday 6th November at 8pm
LAST FEW TICKETS REMAINING
Othello
THE ORIGINAL THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED AND ICARUS THEATRE COLLECTIVE
By William Shakespeare How do you convince a man to murder his own wife? In 16th century Venice, a military ensign passed over for promotion and consumed with jealousy plots the overthrow of his noble general, the mighty Othello. We bring the world of Othello vividly to life, featuring a live string quartet, original music from composer Ron McAllister, and an ensemble cast. We combine Shakespeare’s vivid language with some of Britain’s greatest talent to tell a dangerous tale of ambition, jealousy, and love. Tackling subjects of racism, belonging, and deception, this is a classic take on a Tickets: poignant tragedythat mercilessly explores every £8 Full Price inch of the human condition. A tempestuous journey and from scandal and intrigue to lust and vengeance.
£6 Concessions
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Adventures In Anti-Cool
BANXY, KNOLOVE PRODUCTIONS & MAKIN PROJECTS
Three knock-out and very individual Hip Hop theatre performances in the same evening! Banxy presents his new solo piece Ikky Wakk. Is Ikky still at the top of the Breakdance game or has age got the better of him? KnoLove Productions present their solo Cool Rules. A fierce uncompromising tale of pride, fear and hope exploring the explosion of violence Using physical lyricism with verbal dexterity Cool Rules brings you back to gritty urban reality with a bump. Topped off with Adventures in Anti-Cool, a fast and fun vignette of Hip Hop theatre what ifs, boldly going where no B’Boy has any right to be. Tickets:
£8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
Tuesday 17th November at 7.30pm Wednesday 18th November at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
LOVE&MADNESS
A Skull In Connemara BAFTA award winning writer Martin McDonagh’s bloodsplattered play, is part thriller-whodunit and part farce it is magnificent macabre magic. Did Mick Dowd’s wife die when he was drunk at the wheel or as a result of a deadly blow dealt by Mick? Since Mick is a gravedigger, and must exhume the graveyard every seven years to make way for new corpses, he’s now faced with the task of digging up his dead wife. Love & Madness are the resident theatre company at the Riverside Studios in London. Formed by Neil Sheppeck in 2000, the company regularly tours large scale productions of both classical theatre and more contemporary works around the country. We are delighted to welcome them to the Arena Theatre for the first time. For more information about this company please visit our website www.arenatheatre.info. Not suitable for young audiences
Tickets: £9 Full Price and £7 Concessions £5 Matinee Special 19
Friday 20th November at 8pm
Club Class
Saturday 21st November at 7pm
MIG PRODUCTIONS
Take your seats, Ladies and Gentlemen, for a charter flight to Portugal. This is high-camp and silly comedy set to the routines of Steps, with lots of turbulence and huge amounts of fun. With a cast of four playing everyone from cabin crew to baggage handlers (and even parts of the plane), expect smiling trolley dollies, smarmy pilots, bossy check-in staff and militant ground crew - that is if they’re not too busy taking industrial action! Not suitable for young audiences “It’s like Bouncers mixed with Radio 4’s Cabin Pressure - Don’t miss it!” Staffordshire Newsletter
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Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
Jesse Bannister and Samay
SURDHWANI IN ASSOCIATION WITH SAMPAD AND THE ARENA THEATRE
Jesse Bannister has become known internationally for his soulful and exquisite music fusing classical Indian music with the western sound of the Saxophone. SAMAY are a group of young and talented musicians who combine traditional forms with contemporary influences to reinvent the sound of Indian classical music.
Tickets: £9 Full Price and £7 Concessions
Tuesday 24th November at 7.30pm
Body of Work
Wednesday 25th November at 2.30pm
MOTION MANUAL
Body of Work is a highly physical dance composition of ambiguous body images, mixed movement styles, multimedia performance and strong references to the striking imagery of Cuban-American body artist Ana Mendieta. Four dancers with diverse backgrounds, ranging from contemporary to urban and African influences, investigate their physical heritage through reflective and skilfully crafted anatomical autobiographies. The eclectic movements merge with fascinating visual effects as images are projected on bodies in motion. Intriguing manipulation of objects and materials combine with an airy and captivating Tickets: soundtrack. £8 Full Price
and £6 Concessions
Elementary, Father Brown
IMPETUS THEATRE CO AND JONATHAN WYATT
Late Victorian England, a stately home, a host of eccentric characters, oh… and a body! Cardinal Tosca is found dead under mysterious, possibly scandalous, circumstances. The world’s greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, is summoned to investigate. But already on the scene is a shabby little priest, who also solves crimes. And his methods of detection are not exactly scientific. And finally, there’s a challenge - are you smart enough to solve the problem that is anything but Elementary, Father Brown?
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions £5 Matinee Special 21
Tuesday 1st December at 7.30pm Wednesday 2nd December at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
ODDSOCKS
Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare’s romantic love story about star-crossed lovers gets the full Oddsocks treatment when this nationally renowned company visits the Arena Theatre once again this December. Passion, power, love, longing, murder and much much more is on the cards as two troublesome teenagers meet amidst festive celebrations as their families ancient feud escalates. One wedding, a funeral and a less than efficient postal system combine to create comic mayhem and tragic consequences in the trademark Oddsocks style Wolverhampton audiences have become addicted to over recent years.
Tickets: £9 Full Price and £7 Concessions Family Ticket £28 22
Thursday 26th November at 7.30pm Friday 27th November at 11am
Crossings
Thursday 3rd December at 1.30pm
JULIE MCNAMARA AND COMPANY
A gripping new theatre piece by Julie McNamara. Shelley is on the run. Fifteen and pregnant, she’s looking for a way out of the gang. But Shelley’s broken the code, and we all know you don’t do that. In a raging storm she finds shelter on an old ferryboat at Canning dock. But this is no ordinary boat; this is the ghost of the Zong, a notorious slaveship with a murderous history. Shelley steps on board and is swept into the compelling stories of two powerful voices calling her to her future. But are they for her or against her, and will she ever find a way out? This production is signed and suitable for deaf people and BSL users.
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
The Sorting Office
MOVERS THEATRE COMPANY
“Inside every letter is a story waiting to be told...” What is the Sorting Office? A place where letters come and go. A place where messages go astray. A dark place where things go in, but may not come out... Ever wondered about the wealth of stories and experiences piled up inside the postbox? Movers are a Learning Disabled Theatre Company based in Leicester. They create unforgettable performances which can be enjoyed by all. Join them as they explore the stories of The Sorting Office when magic, music, movement and mystery combine to give you an unforgettable afternoon of entertainment.
Tickets: All Tickets £5 23
Friday 4th December at 7.30pm
A Good Night Out
Wednesday 9th December at 2.30pm & 7.30pm
ARENA THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH OUTSIDE CENTRE
Patrick and Bernadine -
SOMETHING AND NOTHING
Turkey and Tinsel Edition!
After their successful showcase earlier this year, Wolverhampton’s three Learning Disabled Theatre Groups return to the Arena Theatre with another show. The Albert Road Players, The Discoverers and WOW Drama Group celebrate International Day of Disabled People with a light hearted look at life.
It’s the hit comedy that audiences have come to know and love but in a sparkly and festive Christmas setting! Join Cabaret duo Patrick and Bernadine as they drag their tired old act around Britain’s grubbiest resorts on their annual Turkey and Tinsel Tour - that is until Bernadine announces that the time has come to chase a few showbiz dreams of her own! Book now for the Christmas season’s must see!!!
Audience comments about their last show
“I loved it! It was original, moving, warm and innovative.” “A good night’s entertainment.” 24
All Tickets £5
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions £5 Matinee Special
Thursday 10th December at 8pm
Does Not Contain Nuts
Friday 11th December at 8pm
FUNNY FEET COMEDY NIGHT
Following the success of last year’s show, Funny Feet returns to the Arena Theatre with another shot of comedy presenting some of the UK’s funniest women and finest stand up comediennes. This evening is hosted by Mrs Barbara Nice, everyone’s favourite Stockport housewife who’s given up the domestic bliss of Pound Stretcher for the glamour of comedy. Also featuring Annette Fagon, the brightest new comedienne to emerge from the UK’s thriving black comedy circuit and Jo Enright, broadly brummie and diminutive, brilliantly gifted caricaturist bringing exaggerated characters to life. Jo also starred in BBC 2 sitcom Lab Rats as a lovable scientist.
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
Resistance, Revolt, Rebellion
KINDANDGENEROUS PRODUCTIONS AND EMMA PURSHOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARENA THEATRE
A double bill of Civil Disobedience Remember when thousands of people stood together to protest against the introduction of the Poll-Tax? Love and Taxes a new live literature piece by Adrian Johnson and Jessi Eastfield recalls, using poetry and song, brave days of defiance and reflects some of the human stories that unfolded. Are You Sitting Comfortably? Poems of rebellion, revolution and armchair inactivism. Written and performed by Emma Purshouse spoken word artist and poetry slam champion.
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions 25
Wolverhampton WEDNESDAYS Wednesday 23rd September
Wednesday 7th October
Under Milk Wood
With a Little Bit O’ Luck
GUY MASTERSON
A tribute to Stanley Holloway DAVE SEALEY Wednesday 30th September
Mrs Barbara Nice in Hiya and Higher JANICE CONNOLLY AND ARENA THEATRE
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All shows start at 2.30pm. Book for 2 or more shows and get all tickets for £5 each
Wednesday 21st October
A Meeting of Minds MICHAEL LUNTS
As part of Wolverhampton Wednesdays we are delighted to present the Arena Theatre Autumn Matinee Series. All shows start at 2.30pm. There’s a selection of great shows for you to come and enjoy and, get home before the Rush Hour starts. Remember if you book for two or more shows you get all your tickets for £5 each.
Wednesday 28th October
Wednesday 25th November
House of Pain
Elementary, Father Brown
OPUS THEATRE
IMPETUS THEATRE CO AND JONATHAN WYATT Wednesday 11th November
Rent - The Musical PUNCH THEATRE
Wednesday 2nd December
Romeo and Juliet ODDSOCKS
Wednesday 18th November
Wednesday 9th December
A Skull In Connemara
Patrick and Bernadine -
LOVE&MADNESS
Turkey and Tinsel Edition! SOMETHING AND NOTHING
27
Tuesday 8th - Saturday 12th September at 7.30pm
Monday 28th September at 7.30pm
INDEPENDENT PROMOTIONS INDEPENDENT PROMOTIONS WOLVERHAMPTON YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
POOL HAYES PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL
West Side Story
Macbeth
In the streets of New York’s Upper West Side, rival gangs the Jets and the Sharks fight over turf in this classic retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Allegiances are clear cut until Maria and Tony fall in love and believe that this will be enough to end the hatred. This is a passionate and moving story of youth portrayed by young people with all the talent, vigour and charisma that audiences have come to expect from WYMT.
In a land ravaged by war and climate change, one man forces his way to the top - by any means necessary. But what is the cost - to his country, his family, his friends and, ultimately, to himself? Featuring 40 young people aged 11-14, the show is a version of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy Macbeth. Using a combination of the original text and contemporary narrative we investigate what Shakespeare’s work can mean to young people today.
Tickets: From £5 to £9
Tickets: £5 Full Price and £3 Concessions
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Monday 12th - Thursday 15th October at 7.30pm
Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th November (Various Times)
Saturday 28th November at 7.30pm
NDEPENDENT PROMOTIONS INDEPENDENT PROMOTIONS INDEPENDENT PROMOTIONS INDEPENDENT P WEDNESFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
PUNCH THEATRE
REACH FOR THE STAGE MUSICAL THEATRE
The Diary of Adrian Mole
Rent the Musical
West End Story
Sue Townsend’s internationally best selling novel is brought to the stage as a comedy with songs and dance. The play follows Adrian in an unabashed, pimples-and-all glimpse into the everyday life of a teenager.
Jonathan Larson’s revolutionary rock musical tells the story of a group of friends struggling to live and pay rent against the gritty background of New York’s East Village while holding fast to their bohemian ideals and pursuits. Confronting poverty, addiction, illness and the AIDS epidemic, these young artists strive to get ahead, find acceptance, and above all, establish a connection to their world and each other.
Come along and join us as we celebrate some of the West End’s most popular Musicals. The evening is packed full of favourites from The Sound of Music, Grease, Mamma Mia, Hairspray and many more timeless classics. Reach for the Stage Musical Theatre School are proud to showcase some of Wolverhampton’s most talented young performers. Don’t miss it!
An Amateur Production performed with the kind permission of Josef Weinberger Ltd
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Tickets: £5 Full Price and £3 Concessions
Tickets: £13.50 All Tickets
Not suitable for young audiences
Tickets: £8 Full price and £6 Concessions
Saturday 5th December at 7pm
Saturday 12th December at 7.30pm
Thursday 14th and Friday 15th January at 7pm
PROMOTIONS INDEPENDENT PROMOTIONS INDEPENDENT PROMOTIONS INDEPENDENT PROMOTIONS VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE YOUTH THEATRE
NEW WAVE THEATRE
DEEVA PRODUCTIONS
All Our Yesterdays
A Night of Off-Broadway
Aladdin
As a school project forces two distant generations together, both younger and older discover that they are not so different after all. Join us on a multi-media journey through the memories, hopes, fears, news headlines and music of multiple generations living in Wolverhampton today.
A gala performance showcasing the best in modern musical theatre featuring songs by composers such as Andrew Lippa, Jason Robert Brown and Jimmy Roberts. An evening totally dedicated to the most fresh, vibrant and exciting musical works of the modern day. Songs from many shows including: The Wild Party, I Love You, You’re Perfect... Now Change, Songs for a New World & Tick, Tick... Boom! An experience to take you to the heart of the Off-Broadway stage!
Join this new local company for a magnificent, magical, musical adventure from old Yuk Sung to ancient Egypt and back! Will Aladdin live happily ever after? Will the wicked Abanazer win through? And will Widow Twanky ever develop a respectable dress sense? Come and join in the fun to find out!
Tickets: £6 Full Price and £4 Concessions
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £7 Concessions
This is a charity event in aid of Compton Hospice
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions Family Ticket £24
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Tuesday 26th January at 7.30pm Wednesday 27th January at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Monday 1st February at 7.30pm Tuesday 2nd February at 2.30pm
SPRING PREVIEW SPRING PREVIEW SPRING PREVIEW SPRING PREVIEW SPRING PREVIEW SPRING
Alfie
BLACKEYED THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOUTH HILL PARK ARTS CENTRE
Made famous by movies starring Michael Caine and more recently Jude Law, Alfie is the brilliant, original stage play about a young man with an overwhelming desire for the ladies - the story of a cockney ‘Don Juan’ who swaggers and philosophises his way from conquest to conquest and carefully rejects anyone or anything that might touch him too deeply.
Romeo and Juliet
LOVE & MADNESS
A 90 minute adaptation of the classic tale. In the long hot summer they pray for the private night to be alone - away from the blistering passions of masculine honour and the vicious cycle of violence brought on by their families’ ongoing feud. In this cruel adult world of pride, envy and greed, youth and innocence have no place, and Romeo and Juliet must go to desperate measures to be together.
Not suitable for young audiences “One of the most innovative and critically acclaimed theatre companies on the touring circuit today” The Stage
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Tickets: £9 Full Price and £7 Concessions
Tickets: £8 Full Price and £6 Concessions
Tuesday 2nd February at 7.30pm Wednesday 3rd February at 2.30pm
Tuesday 16th March at 7.30pm Wednesday 17th March at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
SPRING PREVIEW SPRING PREVIEW SPRING PREVIEW SPRING PREVIEW SPRING PREVIEW SPRING
A Taste of Honey
LOVE & MADNESS
Shelagh Delaney was just nineteen when she wrote A Taste of Honey, first performed by Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop in 1958 and filmed in 1961. Jo’s relationship with her irresponsible mother, the Nigerian sailor who leaves her pregnant and the homosexual art student who moves in to take care of her while she waits for the baby to be born, are chronicled in this play which has become a modern classic.
Tickets: £9 Full Price and £7 Concessions
The Beauty Queen of Leenane
LONDON CLASSIC THEATRE
Set in the mountains of Connemara, County Galway, The Beauty Queen of Leenane tells the sardonic tale of Maureen Folan, a plain, lonely woman in her early forties, and Mag, her manipulative, ageing mother, whose interference in Maureen’s first and possibly final chance of a loving relationship sets in motion a train of events that leads inexorably towards the play’s terrifying denouement. Not suitable for young audiences Contains Strong Language “…wildly funny, deeply affecting and grotesquely macabre…an absolute cracker…” Daily Telegraph
Tickets: £9 Full Price and £7 Concessions 33
Arena Access
How to book
The Arena Theatre is fully accessible for all users and participants. However, to optimize your experience please advise the Box Office of your individual requirements in advance.
IN PERSON
A seating policy is available from the Box Office upon request and visitors who need to be accompanied are entitled to one complimentary ticket for their companion.
BY TELEPHONE
I Lift providing access to all levels. I Sennheiser Infra Red Enhanced Hearing is available headsets can be worn with or without a hearing aid. Please reserve your headset at the Box Office when you book your ticket. I For Minicom bookings please call (01902) 321 327. I Guide Dogs are welcome. I All areas and rooms signed in grade 2 Braille. I Audio CD and Large Print Brochures
are available on request from the Box Office. YOUR COMMENTS WELCOMED! We are always interested in your views about the Arena Theatre and our shows. Please feel free to chat to members of staff when you visit, write to us at Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SE or email: arena@wlv.ac.uk. Theatre Manager Marketing Manager Front Of House Technical Manager
Kevin O’Sullivan Andrew Ridal Andrew Jemmett Steve Payne
Arena Theatre Interns: James Clayton, Michelle Cox, Ruth Johnstone and Maria Kavalieros
At the Box Office (10am - 5pm Monday to Friday and one hour before the start of evening and weekend performances) where you can pay with cash, cheque or with most major credit and debit cards (excluding American Express).
You can book tickets over the phone using any major credit or debit card (except Electron and American Express cards). Unfortunately, we are unable to reserve seats without a payment to guarantee the booking.
BOOK ONLINE You can now book your tickets online for all of our shows 24 hours a day. It’s simple and secure. Just visit www.arenatheatre.info and click ‘Online Booking’.
CONCESSIONS Unless otherwise stated, concessions are available if you are under 16, a senior citizen over 60, a student in full-time education, registered unwaged, a Friend of the Grand Theatre or hold a Wolverhampton Leisure Card. Please provide proof of eligibility. PLEASE NOTE
For independent promotions the above concessions and discounts may vary. We reserve the right to make discounted ticket offers to selected customers at any time.
GROUP BOOKINGS One free ticket for every ten tickets purchased. Please call the Box Office on (01902) 321 321 for more information on our group booking services.
REFUNDS We regret that, under normal circumstances, we are unable to offer refunds. However, tickets may be exchanged subject to availability.
Calendar September
October
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WEST SIDE STORY
CAN’T PAY WON’T PAY CAN’T PAY WON’T PAY SABHA
MAN HANDLED UNDER MILK WOOD SWITCH PIU SARKHEL
MACBETH CAMBRIDGE FOOTLIGHTS ARTHUR SMITH
THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
DOUBLE SENTENCE
TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA DAVE SEALEY DOUBLE HOOF CALL MR ROBESON
THE DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE
REVENGER’S TRAGEDY
HORRIFIC CASE OF MR VALDEMAR A MEETING OF MINDS
SIX SIDED MAN
LIMELIGHT DANCE
IS THAT A BOLT IN YOUR NECK? HOUSE OF PAIN THE PILOTS THE HOUDINI EXPOSURE
November
December
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A TEMPEST OTHELLO COOL RULES!
RENT THE MUSICAL
A SKULL IN CONNEMARA
CLUB CLASS JESSE BANNISTER
BODY OF WORK ELEMENTARY FATHER BROWN CROSSINGS WEST END STORY
TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE
ODDSOCKS ROMEO AND JULIET THE SORTING OFFICE A GOOD NIGHT OUT ALL OUR YESTERDAYS SURDHWANI STUDENT SHOWCASE
PATRICK AND BERNADINE DOES NOT CONTAIN NUTS RESISTANCE REVOLT AND REBELLION OFF-BROADWAY
THE SNOW QUEEN
Book Online at www.arenatheatre.info
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HOW TO FIND US By Road The Arena Theatre is easily accessible by road, situated right in the heart of the city centre.
Car Parking Street parking is available outside and around the theatre on Wulfruna Street. The Civic Centre car park (adjacent to the University) is usually open until 10.30pm (please check on arrival). The nearest NCP car park to the theatre is Broad Street.
Public Transport The Arena Theatre is a 5-minute walk from the Railway, Bus and Metro stations. Wolverhampton has main line Network Rail links to Birmingham, Stafford and beyond. In addition, Bus companies provide links to all the surrounding towns in the area.
ARENA THEATRE Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SE. Box Office 01902 321 321 (Mon - Fri 10am - 5pm) Facsimile 01902 322 599 Minicom 01902 321 327 E-mail arena@wlv.ac.uk Website www.arenatheatre.info