LIVE PROGRAMME
“Pure delight … A joy to watch” Dance Europe 2008
The Wellingborough Technical Players presents
The Darling Buds of May
box office 01933 270 007
A comedy by H E Bates. This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.
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Black Ram Theatre Company presents
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Written by Tom Stoppard Directed by Ross McGregor Produced by Louis Selwyn
This production transports the audience into the ‘perfick’ world of the Larkin family. Living in a junkyard in Kent, Pop and Ma ensure that their boisterous family squeeze every drop of enjoyment out of life and never let a cloud darken their days. An evening’s entertainment of charm, comedy and warmth suitable for all the family.
Stoppard’s famed modern masterpiece plays out the comic flip side of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, as seen through the eyes of his most enigmatic duo, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Complete with musicians, acrobats and circus performers, blazing fire and trailing glitter, the plot follows these vaudeville anti-heros as they trip, traipse and fall through the dark world of Hamlet in search of hope and purpose, leaving greasepaint and sparkle in each footprint.
Tue 27 Apr – Sat 1 May, 7.45pm Sat 1 May, 2.30pm £8 Tue & Sat matinee £10 Wed – Fri & Sat evening Studio Genre: Community Drama
Wed 28 Apr, 7.30pm £14 (£12) Schools £8, plus 1 free teacher for every 10 purchased Friends £1 off Genre: Drama
FILM
New English Contemporary Ballet 2010
In a sparkling programme of new works by four contrasting choreographers including Ballett Basel’s Richard Wherlock and Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood, NECB brings a stylish fusion of ballet, contemporary dance and popular culture to the stage. Exciting, expansive and energetic, the company’s dancers display their virtuosity and versatility with elegance and panache providing an evening of dance which offers something for all tastes. Thu 29 Apr, 7.30pm £16 (£14) Schools £8, plus 1 free teacher for every 10 purchased Friends £1 off Genre: Dance
“A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it” Alfred Hitchcock 25
FILM Ben Barnes takes on the title role in this adaptation of the classic novel by Oscar Wilde directed by Oliver Parker. When the strikingly handsome Dorian arrives in Victorian London he is swept into a social whirlwind by the charismatic Lord Henry Wotton (Colin Firth) who introduces Dorian to the hedonistic pleasures of the city. When a portrait of Dorian is unveiled, such is its beauty that Dorian makes a vow to stay forever as young and handsome as he is in the picture - even at the cost of his soul. As his behaviour becomes ever more outrageous, Dorian’s countenance remains unchanged but the portrait begins to show a different picture.
Nora Ephron directs this feelgood drama starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Stanley Tucci about the lives of two women and their passion for cooking. Julie Powell (Streep) is the French cook who became an American household name through her TV cookery shows of the 1960s and 1970s. Julia Child (Adams) is the young American woman who in 2002 attempted to cook all 524 recipes from Julie’s cookbook and chronicled it in an online blog. The intertwined stories of Julie and Julia show the parallels that exist in their very different lives.
Tue 5 Jan, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: 112 mins
Thu 7 Jan, 2.30pm & 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: 123 mins
The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus (12A) Christopher Plummer stars as Dr Parnassus in this fantasy adventure directed by Terry Gilliam. The immortal doctor has wagered the soul of his daughter with the devil and then vies to win her back with the aid of a mysterious shape-shifting stranger. Together they embark on a wild and surreal journey through parallel worlds to save the girl and undo the mistakes of the past. Heath Ledger appears in his last ever film role with Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell.
Mon 18 Jan, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: 122mins
Love Happens (12A)
Creation (PG)
An Education (12A)
The Soloist (12A)
Couples Retreat (15)
When best-selling self-help author Burke Ryan (Aaron Eckhart) headlines a grief seminar in Seattle, he is beset with memories of his wife’s death three years earlier. Charming hotel florist Eloise (Jennifer Aniston) has sworn off men to focus on her business but when the two of them unexpectedly meet there is an instant attraction. As each struggles with the hurt of love and loss, together, they must learn that to move forward they must first let go of the past. If they can do that, they’ll find that, sometimes, love happens when you least expect it.
What happens when a world-renowned scientist, crushed by the loss of his eldest daughter, conceives a notion which will prove the non-existence of God? This is the story of Charles Darwin and his master-work, The Origin of Species. It tells of a global revolution played out in the confines of a small English village, a passionate marriage torn apart by the most dangerous idea in history, and a theory saved from extinction by the logic of a child. Directed by Jon Amiel and starring Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly and Jeremy Northam.
Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is an intelligent young woman on the brink of her 17th birthday destined for a promising future at Oxford University and beyond. Stifled, however, by the tedium of adolescent routine, she involves herself in a whirlwind romance with the mysterious and older playboy David (Peter Sarsgaard). As she is introduced to an exciting new life of concerts, clubs and late-night suppers, Jenny must choose between this exhilarating new life and her old. Set in 1960s London, the memoirs of journalist Lynn Barber are adapted for the screen by novelist Nick Hornby and co-stars Alfred Molina and Emma Thompson.
Jamie Foxx stars as the real life musical prodigy Nathaniel Ayers, who dropped out of the Julliard School after developing schizophrenia and became a homeless musician on the streets of Los Angeles. Robert Downey Jr is Steve Lopez, the tired LA Times journalist who developed a close relationship with him. Together they must find a way to conquer their deepest anxieties and frustrations to find a brighter future for them both. Joe Wright directs.
Four couples embark on a journey to a tropical island resort. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the other three are set on enjoying some fun in the sun. They soon discover that participation in the resort’s couple’s therapy is not optional. What follows is a hilarious look at real problems faced by all couples. Based on his own original idea and starring Vince Vaughn, the film also stars Sex and the City’s Kristin Davis.
Tue 19 Jan, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: 108 mins
Thu 21 Jan, 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: 108 mins
Mon 25 Jan, 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: 99 mins
Tue 26 Jan, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: 116 mins
Thu 28 Jan, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: 113 mins
www.thecastle.org.uk
Julie & Julia (12A)
All films £5
FILM box office 01933 270 007
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Dorian Gray (15)
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All films £5 28
George Clooney leads an all-star cast in this quirky dark comedy. Reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) encounters Lyn Cassady (Clooney) claiming to be part of the New Earth Army – an experimental unit with psychic powers who can read the enemy’s thoughts, pass through solid walls and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now the unit’s founder (Jeff Bridges) has gone missing and Cassady’s mission is to find him. Inspired by Jon Ronson’s bestselling non-fiction book, this is an eye-opening and often hilarious exploration of the US government’s attempts to harness paranormal abilities to combat its enemies. Mon 1 Feb, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: 93 mins
Bright Star (PG) Written and directed by Jane Campion, this riveting period drama explores the three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and fashion student Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish) which was tragically cut short by Keats’ untimely death at the age of 25. Despite the efforts of Fanny’s mother (Kerry Fox) and John’s best friend (Paul Schneider) to prevent the relationship, the unlikely romance blossoms as Fanny nurses John’s sick younger brother and John teaches Fanny all about poetry. Bright Star wowed the audiences at this year’s Cannes Festival.
Tue 2 Feb, 2.30pm & 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: 118 mins
Dead Man Running (15) Notorious gangster and loan shark Mr Thigo (Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson) gives reformed ex-con Nick (Tamer Hassan) exactly 24 hours to come up with the money he is owed. As a guarantee, Thigo’s men hold Nick’s wheelchair-bound mum (Brenda Blethyn) as a hostage, leaving him no choice but to comply. Enlisting the help of his best friend, Bing (Danny Dyer), the boys embark on a frantic race against the clock. Their mission takes them from the dog tracks of East London to the underground drug scene of rural Manchester as they try every trick in the book to get the cash before it’s too late. Wed 3 Feb, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: 91 mins
Amelia (cert TBC) Hilary Swank stars as the free-spirited American pilot Amelia Earhart whose early aviation triumphs and meteoric rise to fame were accompanied by a tempestuous relationship with publisher George Putnam (Richard Gere) and a passionate affair with Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor). Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and the first pilot - male or female - to fly unaccompanied across the Pacific. Her life was cut short in 1937 when she mysteriously disappeared while attempting to circumnavigate the globe.
Mon 8 Feb, 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: 111 mins
Twilight Saga: The New Moon (cert TBC)
FILM Glorious 39 (12A)
The teen vampire saga based on the bestselling novels by Stephenie Meyer continues. Following her ill-fated 18th birthday party, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire lover Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) but finds solace in a deepening relationship with the irresistible and mysterious Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). But Bella puts herself in grave danger as she becomes entangled in a dark supernatural secret and faces the prospect of a potentially deadly reunion with her beloved Edward that is a far cry from the one she’d hoped for.
Fantastic Mr Fox (PG)
Mon 15 Feb, 7pm Adults £5, Under 16s £2.50 Running time: tbc
Sat 20 Feb, 4pm Adults £5, Child £2.50 Running time: 86mins
When three angry farmers, Boris, Bunce and Bean, attempt to protect their livestock and commit themselves to ridding their farms of plundering animals once and for all, the local animal community becomes trapped underground with too little food to go around. Wily Mr Fox is forced to come up with a fantastic plan to outwit the farmers and save his life and that of his starving family. Featuring an all star cast of voices including George Clooney in the title role, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Michael Gambon and Jarvis Cocker, director Wes Anderson uses old-time stop-motion animation techniques to bring Roald Dahl’s much-loved fable to the big screen.
Stephen Poliakoff writes and directs this tense conspiracy thriller set in rural Norfolk in the days leading up to the outbreak of World War II. Anne (Romola Garai) is a beautiful young actress with a seemingly perfect life. She is the adored eldest daughter of a prominent Tory politician (Bill Nighy) and passionately in love with Foreign Office official Lawrence (Charlie Cox). But as the storm clouds of war gather, Anne stumbles upon some secret recordings of government meetings that reveal dark secrets about Britain’s relationship with Nazi Germany, and she finds herself inextricably caught in a tangled web of deceit and betrayal. The all-star British cast includes Julie Christie, David Tennant, Christopher Lee, Hugh Bonneville and Jenny Agutter. Thu 25 Feb, 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: 128 mins
www.thecastle.org.uk
box office 01933 270 007
The Men Who Stare at Goats (15)
All films £5
FILM
FAMILY DAY... FAMILY DAY... FAMILY DAY...
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The Box (12A)
Nowhere Boy (cert TBC) Nine (cert TBC)
A French drama based on the true story of artist Séraphine de Senlis. In 1914, a German art critic rents an apartment in a small town north of Paris. When he espies an interesting painting in the drawing room of the apartment, he is amazed to discover that it is the work of the building’s cleaning lady: the rough, plain and somewhat emotionally unhinged Séraphine (Yolande Moreau). Before long it is clear a major new talent has been discovered but can the art world make room for a woman who matches none of its entry criteria? This insightful and beautiful film won 7 French César Awards including Best Film and Best Actress. Subtitled.
Norma and Arthur Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) are an average suburban couple who receive a wooden box as a gift which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box will bestow $1 million upon its owner with the simple press of a button. But pressing the button will cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world someone they don’t know. With just 24 hours to make their choice, Norma and Arthur find themselves with a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.
Imagine John Lennon’s childhood: a lonely teenager, curious and sharp, growing up in the shattered city of Liverpool. Two incredible women tussle for his love: Mimi, the formidable aunt who raised him and Julia, the spirited mother who gave him up. Yearning for a normal family, John escapes into music where he finds a kindred spirit in the young Paul McCartney. But just as John’s new life begins, the truth about his past leads to a tragedy he would never escape. Poignant and powerful, this is the untold story of the boy who created The Beatles. With Aaron Johnson as John Lennon with Kristen Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff.
Rob Marshall, the Academy-Award winning director of Chicago, directs this sultry and enchanting musical based on the classic Broadway show. Set in early 1960s Venice, the film follows famous film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he struggles to complete his latest project on the eve of his 40th birthday. At the same time, he must balance the numerous colourful women in his life: his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his muse (Nicole Kidman), his producer (Judi Dench), his deceased mother (Sophia Loren) and a woman from the depths of his past (Stacy Ferguson) whilst being interviewed about his life and work by an American journalist (Kate Hudson).
Mon 8 Mar, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: 126 mins
Tue 9 Mar, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: 115 mins
Mon 15 Mar, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: tbc
Wed 17 Mar, 2.30pm & 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: tbc
Sherlock Holmes (cert TBC)
Where the Wild Things Are (PG)
The Victorian detective Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr Watson are seen as they’ve never been before in this new all-action thriller directed by Guy Ritchie. Robert Downey Jr’s Holmes is a modern, bohemian man of action and intellect. Jude Law’s Watson is no longer the bumbling fool of old but a sharper character with an eye for the ladies and a taste for gambling. Together they face a mysterious new nemesis - Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) - a cult leader who harbours the most deadly of intentions.
Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s fantasy adventure is adapted for the big screen by Spike Jonze. Max (Max Records) is the young boy who has misbehaved once again and been sent to his room by his mother (Catherine Keener). Here Max lets his imagination run free and he sails to the land of the Wild Things: a whole new world where huge, hairy creatures live and where Max is crowned king.
Thu 18 Mar, 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: tbc
Tue 6 Apr, 3pm Adults £5, Child £2.50 Running time: 100 mins
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Alvin and the All About Steve Chipmunks: The (12A) Squeakquel (cert TBC) Mary Horowitz (Sandra Bullock) falls The world-famous, pre-teen, singing chipmunk trio return. Alvin, Simon and Theodore are forced to put aside their music superstardom to go back to school. Here they will get the chance to save the school’s music department if they can win first prize in a battle of the bands. But the Chipmunks unexpectedly meet their match when they encounter Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette - three female singing chipmunks known as The Chipettes. Romantic and musical sparks fly in the ensuing face-off between the two chipmunk bands. Thu 8 Apr, 3pm Adults £5, Child £2.50 Running time: tbc
for handsome news cameraman Steve (Bradley Cooper) after one short but sweet blind date. Convinced they are soul mates, and encouraged in her chase by the self-serving actions of news reporter Hartman Hughes (Thomas Haden Church), over-zealous Mary follows Steve across the USA in the hope that her feelings are returned. Along the way, she befriends an endearing group of oddball characters who embrace Mary for what she is and, despite Steve’s indifference, help Mary to discover her true value.
Tue 13 Apr, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: 98 mins
www.thecastle.org.uk
Séraphine (PG)
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All films £5
All films £5
box office 01933 270 007
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PARTICIPATION
All films £5
box office 01933 270 007
Up In The Air (15)
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Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate downsizing expert who loves his life on the road but is forced to fight for his job when his company downsizes its travel budget. Bingham will be forced to spend more time at home just as he is on the cusp of a goal he’s worked towards for years: reaching five million frequent-flyer miles, and right after he’s met the frequent-traveller woman of his dreams (Vera Farmiga). This dramatic comedy received great acclaim at this year’s Toronto Film Festival.
44 Inch Chest (cert TBC)
The Lovely Bones (cert TBC)
It’s Complicated (cert TBC)
Jealous husband Colin Diamond (Ray Winstone) is devastated when he discovers his wife’s infidelity. So, with the aid of a gang of close friends, he plots to kidnap his wife’s young lover to restore his wounded ego. An all-star British cast that includes John Hurt, Tom Wilkinson, Ian McShane and Steven Berkoff appear in this explosive revenge drama.
Directed by Peter Jackson and based on the best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones centres on the story of Susie - a murdered young girl who watches over her family and her killer from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance and her need to see justice against her desire for her family to heal. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz star alongside Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci.
Nancy Meyers writes and directs this comedy about love, divorce and everything in between. Jane (Meryl Streep) has three grown-up children, owns a thriving restaurant and has an amicable relationship with her exhusband, attorney Jake (Alec Baldwin). But then an innocent meal together turns into an affair. With Jake now remarried to the much younger Agnes (Lake Bell) and Jane involved with architect Adam (Steve Martin), should Jane and Jake move on with their lives or is love truly lovelier the second time around?
Here at The Castle we have a range of workshops and projects on offer that invite children, young people and adults to get involved! There are regular performance platforms and opportunities to participate in regional
Wed 14 Apr, 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: 109 mins
Mon 19 Apr, 8pm Friends 2 for 1 Running time: tbc
Mon 26 Apr, 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: tbc
Tue 27 Apr, 2.30pm & 8pm Friends Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price Running time: tbc
and national festivals. For more information about our participation programme or to request a registration form, please contact our participation team on 01933 221847 or visit www.thecastle.org.uk/participate CYMT presents: Seussical the Musical 2009
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