May - August 2023

Greenock Arts Guild Ltd celebrates 10 years of the Beacon Arts Centre

May-August 2023

Brownbear (Acoustic)

S Fri 5 May

8pm

Standard/£15

Concession/£13

In celebration of their new album, Demons, Brownbear embark on an intimate acoustic tour.

Having supported the likes of The Libertines and Michael Kiwanuka, over the last few years Brownbear have gone from being a top-tipped act to a Scottish headline staple, delivering blistering live performances of their unique indie-soul sound.

Frontman Matt Hickman says, ‘Inverclyde is where my career started. To be returning here with the new record is an amazing feeling.’

With support from Jamie Coleman

West College Scotland + Queen Margaret University Honours students presents

BA Hons Drama, Theatre and Performance Degree Showcase

S

Tickets/£10

West College Scotland and Queen Margaret University Honours students present:

Tue 9 May

Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott (7pm)

Wed 10 May

Turn of the Screw

adapted by Ken Whitmore from the novel (7pm)

Thu 11 May

The River by Jez Butterworth (7pm), followed by The

Approach

by Mark O’Rowe (8:30pm)

Matthew Hickman presents

Image © Grieg Grierson

FREE TO

Creative Minds: Community Arts Festival 2023 Tue 16 & Wed 17 May

Beacon Arts Centre will host a Community Arts Festival in May 2023 bringing together some of the amazing Creative Minds who work and live across Inverclyde.

#CreativeMindsFest

The venue will be an open space during the festival with workshops, talks, events, and demonstrations open to everyone. FREE admission to all events.

EVENTS AT A GLANCE

Tuesday 16

• BREAKFAST LAUNCH | 9:30am | Cafe

• PLATINUM DANCE - OPEN CLASS | 10am - 12 noon | Lindsay Wood and McCaffer rooms

• DANCE FOR PARKINSON'S - OPEN CLASS | 1 - 3pm | Lindsay Wood and McCaffer rooms

• CREATABILITY - DRUMMING WORKSHOP | 5pm - 7.30pm | Main Theatre

• YOUR VOICE RECOVERY HUB - HERE COMES THE SUN | 5pm - 6pm | Studio

• INVERCLYDE FAITH IN THROUGHCARE - GARY LITTLE, BANGERS AND BINGO + SOBER RAVE | 6pm - 10pm | Main theatre

• BEACON YOUNG COMPANY & INVERCLYDE YOUTH THEATRE (KAYOS)

WITH SURGE - STREET THEATRE | From 5:45PM | Outdoors

• COMPASSIONATE INVERCLYDE FRIENDSHIP HUB - VISUAL ART | All day | Offord room

• CLYDE PRIDE - MASK EXHIBITION | All day | Upstairs foyer

• INVERCLYDE DEMENTIA RESOURCE CENTRE - PHOTOGRAPHY | All day | Upstairs foyer

• INVERCLYDE WOMEN CREATE - ILLUMINATED REFLECTIONS | All day | Board room

• INVERCLYDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST HERITAGE GROUP

WITH MAGIC TORCH - COMIC BOOK EXHIBITION / WIKIPEDIA PROJECT | All day | Downstairs foyer

• INVERCLYDE SHED - AUDIO TRAIL + VISUAL ART | All day | Upstairs foyer

• KATIE ARMSTRONG 'SKETCHES' - FILM | All day | Café

• BEACON ART GROUP - TEXTILE ART | All day | Lindsay Wood & McCaffer Room

• TOURS | Various times | Backstage

Wednesday 17

• AFTERNOON TEA RECEPTION | 2pm | Upstairs foyer

• BEACON YOUNG COMPANY & INVERCLYDE YOUTH THEATRE (KAYOS)

WITH SURGE - STREET THEATRE | 7pm | Outdoors

AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

• BRANCHTON SENIOR YOUTH CLUB - FESTIVAL OF COLOURS DANCE PARTY | 7pm - 8pm | Outdoors

• INVERCLYDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST HERITAGE GROUP

WITH MAGIC TORCH - COMIC BOOK EXHIBITION / WIKIPEDIA PROJECT | All day | Downstairs foyer

• INVERCLYDE SHED - AUDIO TRAIL + VISUAL ART | All day | Upstairs foyer

• KATIE ARMSTRONG 'SKETCHES' - FILM | All day | Café

• BEACON ART GROUP - TEXTILE ART | All day | Lindsay Wood & McCaffer Rooms

• COMPASSIONATE INVERCLYDE FRIENDSHIP HUB - VISUAL ART | All day | Offord room

• INVERCLYDE WOMEN CREATE - ILLUMINATED REFLECTIONS | All day | Board room

• CLYDE PRIDE - MASK EXHIBITION | All day | Upstairs foyer

• TOURS | Various times | Backstage

• PUBLIC PIANO | All day | Upstairs foyer

Take Part

Dance for Parkinson’s

Tuesday 16 May (Open class | FREE)

Tuesdays from 23 May - 29 Aug 1-3pm | £5 (carers go FREE)

Platinum Dance

Mondays

10-11am or 11am-12 noon

£5 per class

Beacon Youth Theatre

Sundays

Glowbugs 10:45am (5-8 years)

Sparks 11:45am (9-12 years)

Beacon Young Company

Sundays 1:30pm

£48 (6-week block)

For more information on classes, visit beaconartscentre.co.uk

Sketches

T Thu 25 May 7:30pm Standard/£12

Concession/£10

Described as a ‘brilliantly bizarre … beautiful whirlwind’, Sketches is inspired by JS Bach’s Violin Concerto in A Minor and features a group of dancers, a string quartet and an onstage DJ.

This new production by choreographer Katie Armstrong has been created in collaboration with multi award-winning DJ and composer Mariam Rezaei.

Keep your eyes peeled for the Sketches Film Project, featuring excerpts from the live show captured in locations across Inverclyde, chosen by local people.

On Our Way To Lisbon

S Thu 25 May 8pm Standard/£15

Concession/£13

Celtic’s 1967 European Cup win is one of the great sporting legends of all time. Two fans recreate the epic campaign that saw Jock Stein’s young team sweep aside the best that Europe had to offer.

Playing everyone – players, crowds, commentators, managers – Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden set the glory of the famous victory against the drab reality of their Glasgow existence. Was Celtic’s triumph the best moment of their lives? To find out, put on that scarf, dust down your passport and witness Celtic steamroller the best teams in Europe to become the immortal Lisbon Lions.

www.isosceles.biz

Katie Armstrong presents

Isosceles Theatre Company presents

Image ©Eoin Carey. Design: Gallusness.

S Sat 27 May

3pm

Standard/£12

Concession/£10

Children's Classic Concerts invites you on a captivating journey to explore how gypsy jazz began; from the vibrant colours of India, to the pyramids of Egypt, through the countryside of Eastern Europe and the cobbled streets of Spain and France.

This inspiring and interactive concert is perfect for 4-12-year-olds and their families, so come along for a jam-packed hour of toe-tapping tunes!

Joined by Seonaid Aitken and her band, Rose Room.

S Fri 2 and Sat 3 Jun

7:30pm

Standard/£12

Concession/£10

Mitchie and her friends arrive at Camp Rock ready to spend another summer jamming and having the time of their lives. But the new, flashy Camp Star now threatens Camp Rock’s very existence. To keep the doors open, Mitchie steps up, rallies her fellow Camp Rockers and gets them into top shape for the ultimate showdown!

Total Kayos take to the stage to bring you a classic story of rivalry and power, Disney’s Camp Rock: The Musical.

Children's Classic Concerts presents

Total Kayos presents

Child Minder

S Wed 14 and Thu 15 Jun

8pm

Standard/£12

Concession/£10

Joseph, a famous New York child psychiatrist, has returned to his childhood home of Edinburgh. But he’s haunted. Not just by a past he thought he’d escaped. Not just by all that he has buried. But physically, in his swanky flat. He didn’t realise it was the same place he assessed Sam that fateful day. Who turns hospitals into luxury apartments? But Sam’s not left and now, neither can Joseph. Meanwhile, Cindy screams in labour in Manhattan and Manhattan screams with her. This is the world premiere of ChildMinder, an eerie psychological thriller from local playwright and real-life child psychiatrist, Iain McClure, directed by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir.

Virtuoso Saxophone with Dean Walker Garrity

GS Sun 2 Jul

3pm

Standard/£15

Concession/£13

Under 26/£5

With support from Creative Scotland + Traverse Theatre

Contains strong language and detailed discussion of abuse.

Dean Walker Garrity is at the forefront of the next generation of saxophone virtuosos, following in the footsteps of artists like Jess Gillam, who have made the saxophone an ever-more popular classical instrument. Though still a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Dean has already performed a concerto with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. With his brilliant technique, appealing repertoire and a wonderful way of linking with audiences, Dean presents a programme mixing classical and modern. He is accompanied on piano by Anna Rostopchina.

Michelle McKay presents

Beacon Arts Centre presents

T Thu 20 Jul

7:30pm

Standard/£26

Concession/£23.50

Restricted view

upper circle/£20

An all-star cast of the Emerald Isle’s most talented performers, accompanied by the fabulous Keltic Storm Band and worldchampion Gaelforce Irish dancers, takes you on a journey through the decades of a globally loved culture in Ireland The Show. Featuring well-known ballads and foot-stamping singalongs from the legendary Pogues, Fureys, Dubliners and Makem & Clancy, a string of hilarious stories and jokes from our awardwinning Tyrone comedian and energetic reels and jigs from our fiddling Derry maestro and the supremely talented vocals of our Keltic voice from Donegal, if it’s all things Irish you like, then this is the show for you!

T Fri 18 Aug

7:30pm

Standard/£18

Concession/£16

Under 18s/£6

Opera Bohemia, Scotland’s professional touring company, returns to the Beacon with John Leo Wilkie's acclaimed chamber production of Puccini’s masterpiece, Madama Butterfly. The star cast is led by Scottish soprano Catriona Clark, already highly acclaimed in the role of Cio-Cio-San, with former Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Louise Collett, Alexander Gibson Opera School graduates Cameron Mitchell and Seumas Begg, and American-born baritone Whitaker Mills, who recently made his Metropolitan Opera debut. Performed in an arrangement for piano (Andrew Brown) and violin (Colm O’Braoin) and sung in Italian with English subtitles, this tale of love, sacrifice and heartbreak promises a memorable night for opera lovers and newcomers alike.

JMG Music Group presents

Opera Bohemia presents

T Thu 10 Aug

7.30pm Standard/£27

Restricted view upper circle /£20

Becky is the overly loyal Maid of Honour whose life unravels as she leads her best friend Sarah on a wild ride down the road to matrimony. Things go awry as competition between Becky and Sarah’s new Best Friend Forever Tiffany threatens to upend the wedding planning that has been in the making since primary school. Prepare for dance-offs, sing-offs and shout-offs at the ‘Hen do of the year’ … held in a caravan. Will this story have a happy ending or will the best friends rip each other apart? Grab your pals for a night out filled with laughter and tears (and more laughter).

Robert C Kelly and GBL Productions presents

Summer Exhibition

Sat 8 Jul - Sat 26 Aug

Beacon Arts Centre’s Summer Exhibition is open to everyone living in Inverclyde.

DROP-OFF DATES:

Mon 3 Jul 10 - 4pm and Tue 4 Jul 10 - 4pm

Entry forms are available from Beacon Arts Centre from Thu 1 Jun

Image © Ruby Flowers

Served between 10am - 4.30pm

The nights are getting longer. The buds are blooming and the temperature is rising so why not join us to taste our brand new menu - packed with a huge selection from small plates to light bites and loaded fries.

Seasonal pre-theatre menu available between 5 - 6.30pm Book your table online at www.beaconartscentre.co.uk or call on 01475 460274

INFORMATION

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Full conditions of ticket sales are available at the Box Office and on the website. Please note that Beacon Arts Centre operates a strict no-refunds policy.

BOOKING TICKETS ONLINE:

beaconartscentre.co.uk

Telephone: 01475 723723

In Person: Beacon Arts Centre, Custom House Quay, Greenock PA15 1HJ

CONCESSIONS

Concession rates are available on many performances and apply to the following groups: Children (under 16, or over 16 in fulltime education) • Young Scot cardholders and students • Senior citizens • Those in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, and Employment and Support Allowance recipients • Disabled patrons. Carer and assisted companion tickets are also available • Members of Equity, BECTU, Scottish Society of Playwrights and Musicians’ Union. Proof of entitlement must be shown when collecting tickets.

ACCESS

To book access seats please call 01475 723 723/option 1.

Online booking beaconartscentre.co.uk

Our modern venue has easy access to all levels via lift.

MAIN AUDITORIUM

There are 9 wheelchair positions with companion seats in our main house: 5 in the stalls and 4 in the circle.

STUDIO THEATRE

There are 3 wheelchair positions with companion seats in our Studio.

TRANSFER SEATS

We understand that some of our customers may wish to transfer into a seat. Please advise Box Office if you will be transferring into a seat for the performance and our FOH staff will be happy to store your chair for you until required.

GALLERY SPACES AND CAFÉ

All other visitor spaces are fully accessible to all. Guide, hearing and other working dogs are welcome in all parts of the theatre. Please advise when booking if your dog will remain with you during the performance. There are separate, accessible toilet facilities located at each of the principal seating levels.

Our venue has an induction loop with staff fully trained to help. Disabled parking spaces are situated to the front of our main door.

ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES

BSL/Audio Described and Captioned Performances are detailed on our website.

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE:

Our visual story and symbol resources are available to download on our website here: beaconartscentre.co.uk/accessibility/. If your visit would be helped by an orientation appointment beforehand, we will be pleased to welcome you. To arrange please email karent@beaconartscentre.co.uk

We have a 360 tour of our venue available here: beaconartscentre.co.uk/accessibility/. Please let a member of staff know if you may require use of a chill out area during your visit and we will do our best to accommodate this.

ACCESS REGISTER

Our scheme makes it easier to book the right seats for you and helps our staff deliver excellent and consistent service. It does this by only asking you once about

your requirements to ensure a great visit. You can join easily by either filling out a form at Box Office or Online.

Personal Assistant (essential carer) tickets are only available to those registered to the scheme; however, it is not a requirement to join the scheme in order to book tickets. By joining the scheme and booking concession tickets you agree that the ticket (s) will only be used by a disabled person (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) and their essential carer. Customers who intentionally give false information will be removed from the register.

GROUPS

For certain performances, we offer one free ticket with every 10 purchased.

BOOKING FEE

We charge a £2.20 online and phone transaction fee which goes towards our processing costs. All booking fees are subject to change as we develop our services. We charge £1.50 for postal delivery.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

We are breast-feeding friendly. There are baby-changing facilities.

DISABILITY FRIENDLY

Beacon Arts Centre is fully accessible with wheelchair spaces, lifts and an induction loop. Our staff are fully trained to help.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

We aim to be as green as possible and are proud to use compostable utensils and packaging in our Cafe. We recycle and are working to reduce our energy use.

WI-FI

We have FREE Wi-FI throughout the building.

HOW TO GET HERE

Beacon Arts Centre is situated on Custom House Quay, opposite the Custom House, and is within easy reach of Greenock town centre and close to all public transport links.

BY ROAD

Beacon Arts Centre is off the A8 behind Greenock Police Station. Turn into Brymner Street at the Police Station and then right into Custom House Place. We have free customer parking to the rear of the building and to the left of the building in front of the Custom House.

BY TRAIN

Greenock Central railway station is 500 metres away up a slight gradient, with a frequent service on the Glasgow Central/Gourock line. Journey times from Glasgow are approximately 30 or 40 minutes and services run until 11pm (an hour earlier on Sundays). Check scotrail. co.uk for up-to-date timetables.

31 MAY - 3 JUNE | BEACON ARTS CENTRE, GREENOCK

Booking details: beaconartscentre.co.uk

Box Office: 01475 723723