Beacon Arts Centre, October - December 2019 Brochure

October-December

www.beaconartscentre.co.uk

LIGHTING UP LIVES

IN INVERCLYDE

2019

EVENTS AT A GLANCE

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER

EVENT

Genre Date Details

Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits Musical Theatre Thu 3rd - Sat 5th P4 Horse: Flying Solo Live Music Sat 5th P4 Stewart Francis: Into the Punset Comedy Sun 6th P5 The Box Dance Tue 8th P5 The Stars of Irish Country Show Live Music Wed 9th P6 Memories are Made of This Live Music Thu 10th P6 Count Arthur Strong Comedy Fri 11th P8 The Led Zeppelin Story Unledded Tribute Sat 12th P8 The Bob Dylan Story Tribute Sun 13th P9 Shackleton’s Carpenter Theatre Sat 13th P9 Slug Family Mon 14th P10 The Stornoway Way Theatre Tue 15th P10 The Rubettes Live Music Wed 16th P11 Treppenwitz Live Music Wed 16th P11 Opera Highlights Opera Thu 17th P13 Christine Bovill:Tonight you belong to me Variety Fri 18th P13 A Vision of Elvis Tribute Sat 19th P14 Jane Godley: Beyond the Fringe Comedy Wed 23rd P14 Home Theatre Thu 24th P15 Fibres Theatre Fri 25th P15 Frankenstein: A Radio Play on Stage Theatre Fri 25th P16 The Wild West Show Family Sat 26th P16 The Darker Side of Musicals Musical Theatre Sat 26th P18 Islands in the Stream Tribute Sun 27th P18 The Circle/Process Day Dance Tue 29th P19 Animal Families and Me with Gordon Buchanan Talks Wed 30th P19 Tommy Tiernan: PaddyCrazy Horse Comedy Thu 31st P20 The Gathering Theatre Fri 1st P20 Beyond the Barricade Musical Theatre Sat 2nd P21 The Wedding Planners Comedy Sun 3rd P21 Nativity! The Musical Family Wed 6th - Sat 9th P24 SongWriters Uncovered Series 2019 Live Music Thu 7th P24 Good with People: A Play, a Pie and a Pint Theatre Tue 12th - Sat 16th P25 Black Men Walking Theatre Wed 13th P25 The Magic of the Beatles Tribute Fri 15th P26 The Lions of Lisbon Theatre Sun 17th P26 Danny John-Jules: I’ve Gotta Be Me Musical Theatre Wed 20th P27 Respect: The Aretha Franklin Songbook Tribute Thu 21st P27 A Wee Blether with Gregor Fisher Talks Sat 23rd P28 Galoshans Festival Festival 25th Oct - 1st Nov P29 Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Panto Thu 28th / Fri 29th / Sat 30th P29 Jack & the Beanstalk Panto 6th-31st P30-31 Christmas by Candlelight Live Music Mon 16th P32 A Christmas Carol; A Radio Play on Stage Theatre Thu 19th / Fri 20th / Sat 21 P32 Coming Soon P33 Exhibitions P34-35 Information and Access P36-37

Welcome to the Beacon Arts Centre’s Autumn/Winter Season It’s the mission of the Beacon Arts Centre to light up lives, and we have much on offer this season to do just that.

We’re proud to host a UK exclusive - a very special wee blether with legendary Scottish actor Gregor Fisher, looking back on his life and celebrated career.

Other television stars known for making us laugh, who will soon be performing at the Beacon include Tommy Tiernan, Stuart Francis and Janey Godley, with her already sold-out Beyond The Fringe show.

This season’s music offering is particularly strong, and we’re delighted to welcome Scottish Opera for its second visit this year, with Opera Highlights. In addition, we have shows celebrating music legends The Beatles, Elvis, Led Zeppelin and Aretha Franklin.

Our dance programme includes a very welcome return visit from Scottish Dance Theatre with double-bill The Circle and Process Day, and Julia James-Griffiths’ The Box. Strictly Come Dancing star, Danny John-Jules, will take us on a journey through Sammy Davis Jnr’s life in I’ve Gotta Be Me. We’re thrilled to be a part of the fifth annual Galoshans Festival, with a return of No Nonsense Productions’ Frankenstein, Felix O’Brien’s The Gathering and Shoogalie Road Productions’ The Darker Side of the Musicals.

Following the great success of A Play, A Pie and A Pint in April this year, we’re looking All information correct at the time of printing. For the most up to date information visit www.beaconartscentre.co.uk or follow us on social media. @thebeaconartsc

@thebeaconarts

@thebeaconarts

Beacon Arts Centre is proud to be funded and supported by

forward to its return in November with Good With People. Other theatre productions to look out for include Black Men Walking and Fibres, a Stellar Quines and Citizens Theatre co-production. Of course, local companies play a vital role at the Beacon and we look forward to SongWriters Uncovered, Thistle Theatre’s production of Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits, Greenock Light Opera Club’s Nativity! The Musical and Greenock Players’ pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Don’t miss our other festive highlights Christmas By Candlelight and No Nonsense Productions’ A Christmas Carol – A Radio Play on Stage.

We’ll round off 2019 with our pantomime, which promises to be our biggest and best ever with the giant story of Jack & the Beanstalk with Still Game stars Jane McCarry and Mark Cox returning alongside fellow Beacon panto favourites Jimmy Chisholm and Lee Samuel.

Our Creative Learning programme continues with Beacon Youth Theatre and our range of dance classes, as well as lots of other opportunities to take part. In addition to attending performances and taking part in classes, there are many other ways in which you can support our work – look out for details in the following pages and on our website.

As always, we thank you for your continued support of the Beacon and look forward to welcoming you throughout this Autumn and Winter season.

Pauline Kane Theatre Director Front cover image by Kris Kesiak Produced by GMP Print using vegetable inks on FSC approved paper.

In addition, all the carbon emissions generated in printing will be offset by planting broadleaved trees in a local community woodland resulting in the print becoming completely carbon balanced.

Greenock Arts Guild Limited trading as Beacon Arts Centre is a registered charity in Scotland Company No. SC024805 Registered Scottish Charity No. SC003030.

TAKE PART

We believe in the power of the arts to inspire and empower our community. Therefore, we are committed to embedding outreach and creative learning throughout the heart of the Beacon’s activity with the aim of reaching as many people as possible.

For more information please see our website for further details or contact kate@beaconartscentre.co.uk or call 01475 723723.

Beacon Youth Theatre

Winter Term runs every Saturday from 2nd November – 21st December P1-2: 10-10.45am P3-7: 10.45am-12.45pm S1+: 1.15-3.15pm First session FREE for new members

Beacon Youth Theatre invites young people aged 5-21 to use their imagination, share ideas, tell real life stories and collaborate to make them come alive on stage.

With the playful and structured facilitation of sessions from our professional leaders, members will: • Develop acting and performance skills • Create original scripts and performances • Learn about the technical aspects of theatre • Build confidence • Make new friends • Work as a team to create high-quality work

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October-December 2019

The Rayne Foundation, RS MacDonald Charitable Trust, Cairn Energy, the Elizabeth Frankland Moore & Star Foundation, J & JR Wilson Charitable Trust, Cruden Foundation, Barrack Charitable Trust and MRs Gladys Row Fogo Charitable Trust.

DANCE

PLATINUM DANCE Winter Term: 28th October – 23rd December Every Monday 10-11am Cost: £3 drop-in/£18 full block Platinum Dance offers physical and mental health benefits for those aged 55+ whilst partaking in fun and accessible dance activities. Reactivate old dance skills or learn some new ones in this supportive and focused environment.

ADULT DANCE LAB Winter Term: 28th October – 23rd December Every Monday 6.30-7.30pm Cost: £6 drop-in/£45 full block Our Adult Dance Lab is open to anyone 16+ of any experience level. This class focuses on providing participants with a deeper understanding of contemporary dance technique and choreography.

DANCE FOR PARKINSON’S Every Tuesday until 3rd December Class 1-2.30pm Social Café 2.30-3.15pm Cost: £5 /companions go free Dance for Parkinson’s can develop the participants’ balance, coordination, confidence and creativity in a fun and friendly environment. The Dance for Parkinson’s programme has been generously supported by Dance Base, Scottish Ballet, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Parkinson’s UK. Grateful for the support received from;

SCOTTISH DANCE THEATRE MASTERCLASS Saturday 26th October 10am-12noon Beacon Arts Centre Young People aged 12-18 FREE In conjunction with their upcoming double-bill production of The Circle and Process Day (see page 19) Artistic Director Joan Cleville and Rehearsal Director Francesco Ferrari will be leading this free one-off masterclass for young people.

SCHOOLS

Creative Learning at The Beacon aims to offer an extensive and inclusive programme to revitalize your school’s engagement with your local arts centre.

With a wide range of workshops, events, resources and ticket rates on offer, we aim to support you to deliver the Expressive Arts curriculum and create life-enhancing and inspirational experiences for both you and your pupils.

Information on offers will always be emailed out to you. If you are interested in gaining more information or joining our schools mailing list please contact: kate@beaconartscentre.co.uk

COMING SOON

Keep your eyes on our website and social media for one-off masterclasses and workshops, and for information in how to get involved in our upcoming Beacon Community Ambassadors Group for your voice to be heard in the development of our Creative Learning Programme.

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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OCTOBER THISTLE THEATRE COMPANY

RANDAN

LIVE NATION

STEWART

Presented through special arrangement with and all authorised performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) 122-124 Regent Street,3rd Floor, London, W1B 5SA.

FLYING SOLO

Thu 3rd - Sat 5th Oct | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £18

Saturday 5th Oct | 8pm

Broadway’s greatest musical legends meet Broadway’s greatest satirist in Gerard Alessandrini’s hilarious, loving and endlessly entertaining tribute to some of the theatre’s greatest stars and songwriters, featuring parodies of Les Misérables, Hairspray, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked and many more.

Following their success with Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, Greenock’s Thistle Theatre Company take on the long-running Off-Broadway musical revue Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits, in a production that is sure to delight music-lovers of all ages.

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FRANCIS Into the Punset

JULIA JAMES-GRIFFITHS

THE BOX

STUDIO £15

Sunday 6th Oct | 8pm

MAIN AUDITORIUM £21.50 | 16+

Tuesday 8th Oct | 7.30pm

Horse McDonald is an utterly unique singer/ songwriter. Writing and performing for over 30 years, she has nine albums under her belt and many classic songs in the back catalogue, including Careful, covered by Will Young. This is a rare opportunity to experience a solo performance in intimate surroundings in which her voice will, in the truest sense, soar. Songs from the heart and soul of one of Scotland’s greats!

Star of Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo and 8 Out of 10 Cats, Stewart Francis embarks on a brand-new show, in this, his last tour EVER! See him before he heads off ... INTO THE PUNSET.

1 in 4 of us live in The Box at some point.

What are we going to do about it?’

Combining exquisite choreography and thought-provoking social commentary presented with feeling and humour, The Box is a powerful and inspiring new work exploring issues around mental health, domestic abuse and the judicial system. Four talented dancers offer an innovative and playful way to connect with a sometimes difficult-to-talk-about subject.

‘Brilliant … McDonald owns one of the finest voices of modern times, soul and intelligence combined’ Q Magazine

Winner of Dave’s Funniest Joke of the Fringe, this one-liner wizard has become a household name in the UK and Ireland and around the world, thanks to his perfectly crafted gags and expert timing.

‘One of the funniest comedians in the world’

Craig Ferguson

October-December 2019

MAIN AUDITORIUM £10/£8 (conc) | 13+

‘The use of dance, humour and drama to demonstrate a genuine empathy for mental health issues was so clever, wellconstructed and engaging … brilliant’ Audience member

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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OCTOBER JMG MUSIC GROUP

Wednesday 9th Oct | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £24.50/£21.50 (conc)

Join a superb line-up of four of Ireland’s favourite country music stars. Longford’s popular Mick Flavin, country queen Louise Morrissey from Tipperary, the multi-talented Stephen Smyth from County Down and Tyrone’s own Curtis Magee have between them notched up over 30 No. 1 songs and toured all over the world to packed houses.

Each star will showcase their hit songs in the company of the fantastic band Keltic Storm. Don’t miss this evening of top-quality entertainment.

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Thu 10th Oct | 2:30pm £15 7pm £17/£15 (conc) MAIN AUDITORIUM Take a fast-moving, roller-coaster of a journey through some of the greatest songs of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s performed by a superb cast of stunningly costumed singers and dancers, plus a dash of humour from one of the UK’s top comedians Colin Francis. Featuring huge hits from The Four Seasons, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Elton John, Abba and many more, Memories Are Made of This is sure to be a show to remember.

‘An all-round fantastic show … absolutely brilliant’ Welwyn Hatfield Times

October-December 2019

ON SALE NOW!

15th April 2020, 7:30pm Tickets £30/£28 (conc) VIP Meet & Greet Available!

Tickets £56

OCTOBER LIVE NATION

ARTISTES INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT

ARTISTES INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT

HI LO PRODUCTIONS

THE BOB DYLAN STORY Isle of Wight Festival 50th Anniversary Greatest Hits Show

Sunday 13th Oct | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £22/£20 (conc)

IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE? Friday 11th Oct | 8pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £20

In this, his brand-new show, Count Arthur Strong, the all-round entertainer we know and love from the telly, seamlessly combines the very best showbiz entertainment you’ll currently find – in the world, possibly? – wrestling with some of the big questions that others shy away from. Such as: Are we alone in the universe? Is there life on Mars bars?

2lbs of potatoes.Packet of Ginger Nuts.

Don’t lose this shopping list.

‘Do not miss this not-to-be-missed type of thing! If I wasn’t in the show, I’d defnitely be in the audience watching myself intently’ Arthur

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Saturday 12th Oct | 7.30pm

MAIN AUDITORIUM £20

Scottish-based The Led Zeppelin Story Unledded have been playing to appreciative audiences throughout the UK and Europe since 2004.

Now they return to take fans old and new on an exciting unleaded two-piece electro-acoustic trip.

In true Page and Plant style, where nothing is off limits, The Led Zeppelin Story Unledded introduces a string section for a new high-energy and contemporary experience.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dylan’s famous Isle of Wight comeback show, reliving the classics-packed set, including the joyous I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight, the whimsical Quinn the Eskimo and the venomous Maggie’s Farm. Performed by genuine Dylan fans and with evocative visual projections, The Bob Dylan Story also features Like a Rolling Stone, Mr Tambourine Man, Blowin’ in the Wind, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, All Along the Watchtower, The Times They Are a-Changin’, Lay Lady Lay and many more.

And don’t forget to shout ‘Judas’!

SHACKLETON’S

CARPENTER Written by Gail Louw Performed by Malcolm Rennie

Sunday 13th Oct | 8pm STUDIO £15/£12 (conc) | 12+

In 1915 Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance sank in Antarctica, crushed by the ice, leaving him and his crew of 27 stranded.

The ship’s carpenter, Harry McNish, was the only man who challenged ‘The Boss’ out on the ice floes, but also played a vital role in ensuring all were saved. Now alone and destitute, in his fevered mind, plagued by the ghosts of the past, McNish relives the Endurance expedition. How did he come to antagonise the hero of Antarctica?

‘90 minutes of riveting storytelling’ Surrey Advertiser

October-December 2019

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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OCTOBER VISIBLE FICTIONS

DOGSTAR THEATRE COMPANY IN ASSOCIATION WITH AN LANNTAIR

The

Stornoway Way

by Kevin MacNeil

Directed and Created

by Dougie Irvine and Melanie Jordan

Monday 14th Oct | 2pm STUDIO £5 | 7+

Slug is munching through your prizewinning cabbages, eating your roses and leaving slimy trails all over the lawn.

Slug is taking over your thoughts and tormenting your dreams. Slug needs to be stopped. But Slug doesn’t care!

Join us for the battle of the century as gardener takes on slimy foe. Slug is a comic clowning adventure with no words for all those aged 7 and up.

Tuesday 15th Oct | 8pm STUDIO £12/£10 (conc)

A musical tragicomedy by Kevin MacNeil Roman Stornoway, a struggling musician, and his best friend Eilidh are disaffected underachievers who use alcohol to fuel and delay their dreams of escape from the island. Eventually they make their way to the city, where Roman is smitten by the mysterious Hungarian student Eva, and things go terribly wrong …

Adapted by Kevin MacNeil from his bestselling novel, irreverent, humorous and honest, The Stornoway Way is a bittersweet theatrical romcom with an exciting soundtrack featuring Indie originals and traditional songs in Gaelic and English.

“The best Scottish book since trainspotting…full of wisdom, jokes, poetic language an mind burning imagery.”

The Scotsman

TREPPENWITZ Wednesday 16th Oct | 8pm Wednesday 16th Oct | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £23.50

Original lead vocalist Alan Williams brings you the authentic vocal sound in this tribute to the music of The Rubettes, who hit the scene in 1974 with their worldwide No. 1 hit Sugar Baby Love, following up with hits including Tonight, Juke Box Jive, I Can Do It and Baby I Know.

The show features unplugged Rubettes and solo tracks with anecdotes, and all The Rubettes’ greatest hits. If you’re a 1970s music fan, don’t miss one of the few genuine articles still around!

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October-December 2019

STUDIO £12/£10 (conc)

Treppenwitz is the meeting of pianist Matthew Aplin (Mansion of Snakes, KOG, Zongo Brigade), bassist Tom Riviere (Family Band) and drummer/ Leeds College of Music lecturer Steve Hanley (Jamie Taylor, Svarc Trio, Richard Iles).

Treppenwitz’s central philosophy is that the world of sound is interconnected, and different strains of music represent outgrowths from the same seed. Passages of explorative beauty and space sit comfortably alongside energetic bursts of freedom, held together by the connective tissue of improvisation.

The trio’s second album, The Kennedys at Beaver Point, was released by New Jazz Records in January.

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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A ROOM WITH A VIEW

BUSINESS EVENTS

SOCIAL GATHERINGS WEDDINGS

Our Gallery Suite is an idyllic setting for events, from wedding to parties, conferences to creative space for workshops, classes and more.

The flexible space can be set up to suit your party size and event type, with a dedicated team on hand to bring your event to life.

To discuss your event, please contact us at events@beaconartscentre.co.uk or, if you would prefer to talk through your requirements, call us on 01475 723723.

OPERA HIGHLIGHTS WITH FOUR SINGERS & A PIANIST

Thursday 17th Oct | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £15/£5 (Under 26s)

Enjoy a bumper crop of operatic highlights performed by four fantastic singers and a pianist, including Delibes’ Flower Duet, Vaughan Williams’ Blue larkspur in a garden and many more from the likes of Mozart, Lehár and Scottish Opera’s Composer in Residence Samuel Bordoli. Whether you’re new to opera or a seasoned fan, Opera Highlights is a perfect night out.

‘A splendid evening, with beautiful music performed with verve and humour.

And on our doorstep! I’d go again at the drop of a hat’ Audience member, Opera Highlights 2018

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Friday 18th Oct | 8pm STUDIO £15/£12 (conc) | 12+

Brand-new show from the award-winning, five-star Glaswegian chanteuse. With her heart-melting, smoky, evocative voice, Christine cherry-picks some of the most celebrated songs and engrossing stories from the Jazz Age – the era of Prohibition, women’s suffrage, radio, flappers, vamps, F Scott Fitzgerald, Dorothy Parker, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Lindbergh and Bessie Smith. A decade of heroes and villains; of sex scandals; literary giants and criminal low lives – all beautifully bound in the seductive rhythms of jazz.

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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OCTOBER MRC PRESENTS

NORWELL LAPLEY PRODUCTIONS LTD

JANEY GODLEY

ACTIVE INQUIRY

A STELLAR QUINES AND CITIZENS THEATRE CO-PRODUCTION’

BEYOND THE FRINGE Wednesday 23rd Oct | 8pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £16/£14 (conc) | 16+

Saturday 19th Oct | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £22.50

NEWS ALERT … Janey Godley is on tour.

So, tell all the Sandras, Big Frank and all the lassies fresh from Zumba to grab the soup pot and get ready for the ‘Queen of Scottish Comedy’. Hot from her recent appearances on Have I Got News for You and Breaking the News, and with over 20 years of performing award-winning comedy around the world, Janey is excited to bring her hilarious new show to Greenock!

Come see the woman who Billy Connolly called ‘A f**king great comedian’.

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Thursday 24th Oct | 7pm STUDIO £8/£5 (conc) | 14+

At Home. Oya has to leave. Gregor watches the letterbox. Home uses puppetry, movement and first-hand accounts to explore why Home is not always where the heart is. Exploring issues including mental health, domestic abuse and addiction, Home shows us the problems and asks us to be a part of the solution.

Starring Rob Kingsley, winner of The National Tribute Music Awards’ best Official Elvis Show and No. 1 Male Tribute, A Vision of Elvis is internationally renowned as the best Elvis Presley tribute concert touring the world today.

Enjoy a true Elvis concert experience and all his greatest hits as you ride this emotional roller coaster through time.

HOME

Devised and performed by people with lived experience, Active Inquiry use their renowned forum theatre style to question what Home means to each of us and ask how Home can be safe and secure for everyone. Presented in partnership with Shakti Women’s Aid, The Bethany Christian Trust and The Alma Project.

SOL

OUT D !

October-December 2019

Written by Frances Poet Directed by Jemima Levick

Friday 25th Oct | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £16/£14 (conc) | 14+

A story of love, laughter and the untold legacy of Glasgow’s shipyards.

Written by award-winning playwright Frances Poet (Gut), Fibres is a big-hearted and laugh-out-loud play about what it means to entwine our lives with another, in sickness and in health.

A story told by four characters who show a very Glaswegian resilience and wit, the play asks: Can we ever cut the cords that bind us, and who will catch us if we do?

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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OCTOBER NO NONSENSE PRODUCTIONS

BEANSTALK PROJECT Beacon Arts Centre is committed to reducing the venue’s carbon footprint and endeavour to bring a ‘green’ mindset to our creative and strategic work.

Friday 25th Oct | 8pm

Saturday 26th Oct 1pm & 3.30pm

STUDIO £12/£10 (conc)

MAIN AUDITORIUM

Three plucky 1940s actors present Mary Shelley’s classic Gothic novel as a radio play, complete with live sound effects and period music. Can it be done?

Yee-hah! Saddle up, partners as Funbox head out onto the prairie for The Wild West Show. Grab your cowboy or cowgirl boots and spurs and join Anya, Kevin, Gary and Bonzo (formerly of The Singing Kettle) for a rootin’, tootin’ hoedown.

Following their sold-out Edinburgh Fringe triumph Para Handy, No Nonsense Productions (It’s a Wonderful Life, Dracula) return with this chaotic comedy performed as part of Greenock’s Galoshans Festival.

£13.50 adult & £48 family ticket

Jam-packed with singalong favourites like Skip to My Lou and She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain, and some brand-new songs too, The Wild West Show is a right-rollicking rodeo ride for all the family.

Remember to come dressed for the Wild West – big people too!

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October-December 2019

We are proud members of the Green Arts Initiative, which was set up by Creative Carbon Scotland to support sustainability work across the cultural sector.

This year we won a Green Arts Initiative competition, pitching a creative idea to tackle environmental sustainability.

Inspired by this year’s pantomime Jack & the Beanstalk, we will supply bean seeds to local schools and encourage them to grow their own mini beanstalks. Participating pupils will also be offered ‘green arts’ workshops with activities including creating seasonal decorations with recycled craft materials and natural handmade paint.

The project will be supported by Belville Community Gardens who will provide expert advice and house the ‘mini beanstalks’ over the winter.

If your school would like to be involved in this project please contact: Kate Stevens, Creative Learning Coordinator by email kate@beaconartscentre.co.uk or phone 01475 723723 This project has been sponsored by GMP Print Solutions whose environmental policy is to offset the carbon they produce by planting broadleaf trees in local community woodland.

Supported by

Sponsored by

OCTOBER SHOOGALIE ROAD PRODUCTIONS

SCOTTISH DANCE THEATRE

THE CIRCLE

THE DARKER SIDE OF MUSICALS

BY EMANUEL GAT

PROCESS DAY

BY SHARON EYAL

Photo©Brian Harvey

Tuesday 29th Oct | 7.30pm

Saturday 26th Oct | 7.30pm Bar £12/£10 (conc) | 14+

Join Shoogalie Road as you’ve never seen them before for an evening of musical theatre featuring excerpts from Jekyll and Hyde, The Phantom of the Opera and Sweeney Todd.

With a brand-new script by Filipa Fallow linking all three shows, you can expect a few plot twists along the way!

Sunday 27th Oct | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £23

Leave your 9 to 5 worries at the door and get ready for a night in the company of country music royalty!This thigh-slapping stage show brings together the glamour and multi-megawatt personality of Dolly and the charisma and energy of Kenny in hit after hit, including Jolene, Ruby, 9 to 5, Lucille, Here You Come Again, The Gambler, I Will Always Love You, Coward of the County, and, of course, the smash hit Islands in the Stream.

The ultimate tribute to two country music legends.

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JO SARSBY MANAGEMENT

October-December 2019

MAIN AUDITORIUM £13

Join Scotland’s leading contemporary dance company in this extraordinary programme by two of the most internationally acclaimed choreographers of our times.

Emanuel Gat’s The Circle literally emerges in front of the audience’s eyes as 11 outstanding dancers collectively weave together intricate choreographic patterns live onstage.

Process Day by Sharon Eyal is a sensory experience that transforms the dancers into sleek, nocturnal beings veiled by haze and shadow.

ANIMAL FAMILIES AND ME with Gordon Buchanan

Wednesday 30th Oct | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £20 Have you got any burning wildlife questions?

TV wildlife presenter and cameraman Gordon Buchanan has travelled across the planet and will definitely have some interesting answers! Animal Families and Me is a show for any wildlife enthusiast who wants to enjoy spellbinding stories of the natural world from a man who has experienced danger face-to-face.

Join Gordon for personal recollections of his globetrotting travels as he delves into a world of weird, wild and wonderful wildlife, all illustrated with his own film footage and photography.

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

MICK PERRIN WORLDWIDE LTD

FELIX O’BRIEN

MRC PRESENTS

TOMMY TIERNAN PADDY CRAZY HORSE Thursday 31st Oct | 8pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £20/£18 (conc) | 15+

Tommy Tiernan is back on the road with his brand-new show. He rants and raves, he dances and acts. He tries to be very silly and very serious at the same time. With high theatricality and lots of sweary language, this is a fast-paced and exuberant celebration of everything that’s wild, wrong and wonderful about being alive right here, right now.

‘There is a spirituality to Tiernan that makes him stand out. The church’s loss is comedy’s gain …imperious’ The Irish Independent

the gathering Friday 1st Nov | 8pm

STUDIO £12 | 16+

Murder. Witches. Demons. Ghosts.

Love. Death. Taxidermy. Join us for an evening of haunting, hilarious, hellishly Hallowe’eny horror. Gather round. Laugh. Cry. Scream.

Warning: This show contains strong language and content which some people may find disturbing.

A new musical comedy by Gillian Duffy and Alyson Orr

Saturday 2nd Nov | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £23.50/£22

In 2019 Beyond the Barricade, the UK’s longest-running musical theatre concert tour, celebrates 20 years of presenting the very best of Broadway and the West End performed by former principals from Les Misérables.

The 2019 tour features David Fawcett (Valjean), Andy Reiss (Enjolras and Resident Director for the national tour of Les Misérables), Katie Leeming (Éponine) and Poppy Tierney (Cosette), all accompanied by a live band.

Beyond the Barricade gives musical theatre songs a bold concert format treatment and every performance concludes with the stunning finale from ‘Les Mis’.

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October-December 2019

Sunday 3rd Nov | 7.30pm STUDIO £15/£13 (conc)

Mairi has her dream job running the ‘I Do’ wedding agency, but it’s not all plain sailing – she has to deal with Bridezillas, wild Hen Nights and making sure there’s always Prosecco on tap!

Mairi is also single; she can’t find her Mr Right. And to make matters worse, her colleagues are both in relationships.

As Mairi searches for romance, she stumbles upon a secret that threatens to plunge the agency into chaos …

The Wedding Planners is the hilarious girls’ night out you won’t want to miss!

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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SUPPORT US

Beacon Arts Centre is a charity operating at the heart of the community, working in partnership with other local and national organisations to provide life-enriching creative, social and educational experiences.

With over 100,000 visitors to the venue each year, the Beacon makes a positive economic impact on the region, attracting people from Inverclyde and beyond.

You can support our work in a number of ways including: • Round-up donations • Becoming a patron • Our Take a Seat campaign • Leaving a lasting legacy • Corporate support

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October-December 2019

To find out more about ways in which you can support the Beacon, visit www.beaconartscentre.co.uk and, if you would like to discuss any of our support options, please contact Jill Thomson, Development Manager at jill@beaconartscentre.co.uk 01475 723723.

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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NOVEMBER AUGUST SHELAGH MCKAY JONES

ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe www.mtishows.co.uk

Wed 6th - Fri 8th | 7.30pm Sat 9th Nov | 2.30pm & 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £18 /£16 (child) available only on Wed & Sat matinee family of 4 £15 (per ticket) Every child has one Christmas wish – to star in a nativity – and at St Bernadette’s School they’re mounting a musical version.

Only trouble is, teacher Mr Maddens has a Hollywood producer coming to see the show. Join him, his crazy teaching assistant, Mr Poppy, and all the pupils as they struggle to make everyone’s Christmas wish come true.

Full of yuletide joy, Nativity! The Musical features all the singalong hits from the original 2009 film, plus a host of new songs filled with the spirit of Christmas.

GOOD WITH PEOPLE

by David Harrower

Tue 12th - Sat 16th Nov | 1pm Sat 16th Nov | 6pm

Thursday 7th Nov | 7pm STUDIO £8/£6

Dubbed ‘Inverclyde’s hidden treasure’ by Love and Money frontman James Grant, SongWriters Uncovered returns, featuring rising stars Martha L. Healy and Elaine Lennon, who have both played Nashville’s acclaimed Bluebird Café.

Evan returns to Helensburgh, West of Scotland, home to the nation’s nuclear defence program and once a thriving holiday resort. A place he’s been trying to avoid. Haunted by his past and afraid of his future, he finds Helen working at the Seaview Hotel. Good with People is a haunting two-hander tracing one town’s path of personal and political destruction.

David Harrower is an internationally acclaimed playwright who currently lives and works in Glasgow. *Produced by A Play, A Pie and A Pint at Oran Mor, presented in association with Beacon Arts Centre.

Pies and pints are available one hour before performances.

This is an amateur production

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STUDIO £15

October-December 2019

Directed by Dawn Walton Written by Testament

Wednesday 13th Nov | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £15/£12 (conc) | 14+ ‘We walk. Though we are written into the landscape you don’t see us. We walked England before the English.’

Thomas, Matthew and Richard walk. They walk the first Saturday of every month.

Walking and talking. But this walk … Out in the Peaks, they find themselves forced to walk backwards through two thousand years before they can move forwards.

Black Men Walking is the first story from Revolution Mix, spearheading the largest national delivery of new Black British stories.

‘Powerful, political, lyrical’ The Stage

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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NOVEMBER AUGUST

AUGUST FAIR PLEY

NIGEL WEST

KEY ENTERTAINMENT

A Play of Two Halves by Ian Auld and Willy Maley. A staged reading with live music.

Updated, Adapted and Directed by Martin McCardie. Musical Director Dave Anderson.

THE LIONS OF LISBON Friday 15th Nov | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £24/£22 (conc)

If you’re looking for an authentic dose of ‘Beatlemania’, look no further!

The Magic of The Beatles is one of the UK’s leading Beatles tribute shows, playing to ecstatic sell-out audiences around the world.

The stars of this lavish production not only look and sound like the Fab Four, they generate the same incredible excitement and unique sense of humour too.

The Magic of The Beatles brings all the hits you know and love, including Love Me Do, She Loves You, Help!, I Feel Fine, Hey Jude, Let It Be and many more.

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Sunday 17th Nov | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £15/£13.50 (conc) | 14+

In May 1967, 10,000 of the greatest supporters in the world embarked on the most important crusade since the quest for the Holy Grail. They lived on borrowed time and borrowed money, arriving in Lisbon with a fistful of escudos and a heartful of hope.

They came in search of paradise and found it in Portugal.

A cast of ten, plus live band, recreate the humour, passion and occasional calamity that accompanied a Glasgow & District XI showing Europe’s finest how the beautiful game should be played.

October-December 2019

Wednesday 20th Nov | 7.30pm

Thursday 21st Nov | 7.30pm

The star of Red Dwarf, Death in Paradise and Strictly Come Dancing goes on tour, singing and dancing his way back to his musical theatre roots as he takes you on a journey through the life of showbiz icon Sammy Davis Jr.

Pay tribute to the Queen of Soul!

MAIN AUDITORIUM £25

Danny John-Jules performs some of Mr Wonderful’s best-known hits while telling the compelling story of the world’s greatest all-round entertainer. The almost unbelievable life of the coolest cat ever will leave you feeling enlightened, but most of all entertained!

MAIN AUDITORIUM £24/£22 (conc)

Join world-class vocalists Stacy Francis, Cleopatra Higgins, Tanya Edwards and Cleo Stewart, accompanied by a live band and gospel choir, on a nostalgic musical journey packed with Aretha Franklin’s greatest hits.

This stunning two-hour show directed by Racky Plews (Footloose, American Idiot), with script and choreography by Tiffany King, features Think, I Say a Little Prayer, A Natural Woman, Son of a Preacher Man, Respect and many more.

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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In conversation

A Wee Blether with

GREGOR

FISHER Saturday 23rd Nov | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £25/£22 (conc) | 16+

Join Gregor Fisher in conversation with Director Nigel West for an evening of chat, reminiscence and stories from childhood to present day.

An amusing light hearted review of a life and career well lived….and still living ….

Gregor Fisher is, of course, most well known for his iconic character, and Scotland’s favourite philosopher, Rab C Nesbitt. But there has been much more to this actors career than his string vested pal!

From Films such as Shakespeare’s The Merchant Of Venice with Al Pacino and 1984 with Richard Burton to Grandpa Potts in the stage musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, TV’s Scotch and Wry alongside Ricky Fulton to that all time favourite Love Actually.

Join us for a wee blether and let’s see what comes up!

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October-December 2019

Snow White and the SevenDwarves Thu 28th & Fri 29th Nov | 7.30pm Sat 30th Nov | 2.30pm & 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM Tickets £12 Family of 4 ticket £42 / Buy 10 tickets get 11th free Christmas time is panto time. Start your festive season with a story for the ages.

Greenock Players presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, their much-loved annual pantomime. Greenock Players’ panto has been a fixture of Inverclyde Christmas’ for decades, and thousands of children young and old have made it a part of their celebrations. Filled with music, laughter, colour and romance, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves will charm you and tickle your funny bone all at the same time. Cheer on the goodies, boo the baddies and sing along to a host of all-time favourite songs.

Book your tickets now for the perfect start to Christmas.

This is an amateur production.

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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A GIANT of a pantomime!

Morning Matinee Evening Fri 06 Dec

10am

7pm

Come and join us for the biggest panto in Inverclyde this festive season with Jack & the Beanstalk at the Beacon Arts Centre.

Sat 07 Dec

1pm

5pm

Sun 08 Dec

1pm

5pm

Poor Dame Trot and her son Jack hardly have a bean to their name, and to make things worse the village is being terrorised by a wicked giant. Can Jack defeat the giant, win the heart of his one true love and solve his economic woes?

Tue 10 Dec

10am

7pm

Wed 11 Dec

10am

7pm

Thu 12 Dec

10am

7pm

Fri 13 Dec

10am

The show stars Still Game’s Jane McCarry as Queen Grizelda, Mark Cox as Fleshcreep, River City’s Jimmy Chisholm as Dame Trot and the hilarious Lee Samuel as Simon.

The quartet return by popular demand having proved a huge success in the Beacon panto over the last few years.

Mon 09 Dec

No Performances

Sat 14 Dec

7pm 2pm

7pm

Sun 15 Dec

1pm

5pm

Mon 16 Dec

No Performances

Tue 17 Dec

No Performances

Wed 18 Dec

10am

7pm

Thu 19 Dec

10am

7pm •

Fri 20 Dec

2pm

7pm

Sat 21 Dec

2pm

7pm

Sun 22 Dec

1pm

5pm

Mon 23 Dec

1pm

5pm

Tue 24 Dec

1pm

5pm

Wed 25 Dec

Merry Christmas

Thu 26 Dec

No Performances

Book your tickets now as Jack & the Beanstalk is a pantomime not to be missed!

Fri 27 Dec

1pm

Sat 28 Dec

2pm

7pm

For more information why don’t you download the Imagine Theatre App?

Sun 29 Dec

1pm

5pm

Mon 30 Dec

1pm

5pm

Tue 31 Dec

1pm

5pm

Once again the Beacon Arts Centre will have all the ingredients for a perfect family panto, with a dastardly villain, a hapless comic and a hilarious panto dame, as well as spectacular sets and costumes, fabulous songs and dances and bags of slapstick fun!

5pm

Schools: £8.50. One teacher free with every 10 pupils Standard Performances: £20, £17 upper circle (Concessions £18, £14) Family of 4*: £65, £49 upper circle Family of 5**: £79, £59 upper circle Groups of 20 + £16.50, £14.50 upper circle Premium Performances: £22, £19 upper circle (Concessions, £20, £16 upper circle). Family of 4*: £73, £57 upper circle Family of 5**: £89, £69 upper circle Groups of 20+ £17.50, £15.50 upper circle.

Babes in Arms: £2 Disabled companions free *Must include at least 2 children **Must include at least 3 children • BSL performance Online Booking Fee: £2.20

DECEMBER CALEDONIA ARTS

NO NONSENSE PRODUCTIONS

Christmas by

Candlelight Monday 16th Dec | 7.30pm MAIN AUDITORIUM £20/£18 (conc)

Christmas by Candlelight celebrates Christmas the only way we know how - with Music.

Featuring some of the best loved Christmas Songs and Carols Sung by West End Actress and Singer Aileen Donohoe (Wicked) with Musical Director Robert Scott and special guest John McGill from Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Special.

A Country Night in Nashville 20th February 2020 | 7:30pm Tickets £25

COMING

A

R A D I O

P L A Y

O N

S T A G E

BY TONY PALERMO

Thu 19th & Fri 20th Dec | 7:30pm Sat 21st Dec | 2:30 & 7:30pm STUDIO £13/£12 (conc) Following seven consecutive years of It’s a Wonderful Life (‘A perfectly formed triumph’ Tempohouse; ‘A terrific indulgence’ Love Books Group), No Nonsense Productions return with a brand-new show for 2019: A Christmas Carol; A Radio Play on Stage.

Dickens’ masterpiece is brought to the stage as a 1950s radio broadcast; by four actors in front of a studio audience.

Featuring live sound effects and an original score, this imaginative retelling of the classic Yuletide ghost story is sure to be a festive treat for everyone. Exclusively at the Beacon

SOON The Legends of American Country Show 11th January 2020 | 7:30pm Tickets £21.50/£20(conc)

Now seen by over 300,00 fans, direct from Ireland, Europe’s No 1 award winning Country music show The Legends of American Country returns for another fantastic night of toe tapping Country classics.

Some Guys Have All the Luck: The Rod Stewart Story 2nd February 2020 | 7:30pm Tickets £24/£23 50 years on from the release of Rod’s first album, Some Guys Have All The Luck: The Rod Stewart Story is back at Beacon Arts Centre with a brand new show, bringing to the stage a fantastic live concert celebration of one of rock music’s most successful artistes of all time.

The Sound of Music 6th& 7th February 2020 | 7:30pm 8th February 2020 | 2:30 & 7:30pm Tickets £18/£16 (conc) Join Inverclyde Musical Youth Theatre as they present the final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein, The Sound of Music, which was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical! *under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.

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October-December 2019

A Country Night In Nashville recreates the scene of a buzzing Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville, perfectly capturing the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of country music.

Dance to the Music 26th February 2020 | 7:30pm Tickets £27 / VIP tickets available Dance To The Music is a sumptuously beautiful, glamorous dance show created, directed and choreographed by ex-Strictly Come Dancing professional Kristina Rihanoff. Kristina is excited to tour the show with even more fabulous costumes, stunning vocals and breath-taking choreography.

You Win Again: Celebrating the Bee Gees 7th March 2020 | 7:30pm Tickets £25

Prepare to experience the distinct sound of one the greatest bands to have ever graced the stage in this unforgettable concert spectacular. Immerse yourself in the brothers’ music through the sixties, seventies and eighties – including hits they wrote for artists such as Celine Dion, Diana Ross and Dolly Parton.

Elaine C Smith 25th January 2020 | 7:30pm Tickets £25/£23 (conc)

Elaine C Smith fresh from her BAFTA award winning performance as the unhinged Christine in the BBC2 hit sitcom Two Doors Down and her RTS award for the STV production Burdz Eye View returns to the stage with her hugely successful one woman show.Smith presents a sparkling mix of intelligent stand-up, storytelling, music and occasional outbursts of communal singing with a couple of more than interesting guests plus there is even a chance to question the woman herself.

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EXHIBITIONS Craigmarloch 30th Sept - 11th Oct Craigmarloch are excited to have an exhibition of work from the very talented pupils of Craigmarloch school.

Pupils within the Secondary department have been creating and preparing art works and crafts to have their very own gallery of art.

They simply loved creating it and hope you enjoy viewing it.

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Commute 14th Oct – 9th Nov

by Derek Mitchell Where do you find the time to make images?... The spaces in between.

Derek Mitchell explores the gaps between locations on his commute to work and around Scotland. Creating images from the patterns, lights, architecture and people that inhabit those spaces. This exhibit brings together glimpses of our everyday environments that most people rush past, heads full of caffeine and eyes glued to phones.

Since graduating from Glasgow School of Art in 2011 with a degree in Environmental Art, Mitchell returned to photography as a primary creative tool, stating the immediacy of the medium, its ability to fluidly switch from a realist to graphic representation as a completely immersive creative experience, found on the streets around us.

October-December 2019

Campbell Skinner 13th – 30th Nov Campbell Skinner is a Greenock born and based award winning photographer.

The exhibition at the beacon provides the opportunity for me to share my interest in the different areas of photography including local scenes, Scotland, nature, sport and abstract Photography. Photography is fun, its creative and provides memories to treasure. It is always rewarding when others appreciate and enjoy the images you have created. It is all about capturing the moment or creating something different.

“This is my first exhibition in my home town so I am keen that everyone has the opportunity to see the work I do.”

Glimpses 5th – 31st Dec

by Anne Goldrick Distilling the essence of the landscape and capturing an atmosphere within her paintings is a constant theme in Anne’s work.

Her new work breaks with the notion of the carefully constructed view and instead offers fleeting glimpses and reflections as they may be encountered on a journey through a landscape.

Flickering light and moving shadows draw the viewer in and hint at the rhythm of the journey, accompanied by an ever-changing horizon.

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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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 full-time 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’ UnionProof of entitlement must be shown when collecting tickets.

Access Register

We have a free Access Requirement Register (ARR) in order to improve our service to you.

The information you provide for the Register will be stored on file to help find the best available seats for you quickly and easily.

You can join the Access Requirement Register by filling in a form which is available from the Box Office or on our website.

ACCESS Groups

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

Booking Fee

We charge a £2.20 online transaction fee which goes towards our processing costs.

Fees are waived for tickets purchased in person or over the phone.

Lost Tickets

Lost tickets can be reprinted for 50p per ticket on the day of the performance.

Family Friendly

We are breast-feeding friendly. There are baby-changing facilities for both men and women to use.

Disability Friendly

Beacon Arts Centre is fully accessible with wheelchair spaces, stair 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 fully compostable cups and paper straws. We recycle and are working to reduce our energy use.

Wi-Fi

We have FREE Wi-FI throughout the building.

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-todate timetables.

Take a

Seat

Support the Beacon Arts Centre We are offering a unique opportunity to ‘Take a Seat’ in the main auditorium of Beacon Arts Centre, and to have it named in your honour, or in honour of a friend or loved one. Your name (or desired name) will be added to a plaque and affixed to the back of the seat.

You can Take a Seat with a Donation of £500 Your donation will be used to support all aspects of the theatre’s work - from the staging of plays, to our extensive programme of education and outreach activity.

Please note free Personal Assistant (essential carer) tickets will only be available to those on the Access Requirement Register, although it is not a requirement for you to join the Access Requirement Register in order to book tickets.

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How to get here

To make a donation visit beaconartscentre.co.uk/take-a-seat

October-December 2019

BOOK TICKETS AT www.beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

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Selladoor Productions and Dundee Rep

Adapted for stage by

© DC Thomson & Co. Ltd. 2019

present

SCOTT GILMOUR & CLAIRE MCKENZIE for Noisemaker

AGE RECOMMENDATION 5+

Thu 12 - Sat 14 Mar Thu – Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm | Tickets from £13.75 Box Office: 01475 723 723 beaconartscentre.co.uk