ISSUE FIVE SUMMER 2012
Welcome FROM THE DIRECTOR Dear Friend Thanks so much for your continued support of the Wyvern Theatre. The 2011-12 financial year saw our average audience numbers grow for the third year in a row. This is a fantastic achievement and a ringing endorsement from local people that they are enjoying the mix of productions we host here. The last month alone has seen us with three major West End hit shows performing at the Wyvern and I am determined to continue this over the coming year. Amongst the many exciting productions you can enjoy in the future we are delighted to announce that our 2012-13 pantomime will be ALADDIN and that once again the fabulous Keith Chegwin will lead the cast. Last year’s Cinderella proved to be our most successful pantomime ever and we promise more of the same traditional Christmas magic this year. But book early – the shows sell out! I am also delighted to welcome Leslie Grantham, Michelle Gayle and Louis Emerick in an all-star cast of the spoof murder mystery SOAP OPERA in September. I do hope you can join us for this as we seek to bring more plays to the Wyvern. Please do get in touch with me to let me know what you would like to see more of at the Wyvern – I look forward to hearing from you.
Derek Aldridge E-mail derek@wyverntheatre.org.uk Twitter @DerekWyvern
THE MAGIC BEGINS… The Wyvern works throughout the year with Qdos Pantomimes and One From The Heart to produce the annual family pantomime. It may only be April, but attention has already turned to headdresses for this year’s spectacular production of Aladdin. “Qdos Pantomimes will be costuming twenty-seven pantomimes this year,” says Teresa Nalton, wardrobe consultant. “five of these twenty-seven are Aladdin!” Aladdin will see the return of Keith Chegwin, after his highly-praised performances in last year’s Cinderella, and will boast a brand-new script, singing, dancing, the genie of the lamp, stunning sets, an abundance of comedy and beautiful costumes. Aladdin, starring Keith Chegwin, will run at the Wyvern Theatre from Saturday 8 December 2012 to Sunday 6 January 2013. Book tickets today at wyverntheatre.org.uk or by calling the Ticket Office on 01793 524 481.
SEE INSIDE…
NEW SHOWS ON SALE
at the Wyvern 2012 at the Wyvern Theatre promises to be full of great entertainment with shows to suit all ages.
RICHARD STREET – THE TEMPTATIONS
Soap Opera Mon 17Wed 19 Sep
Jim Davidson Sun 23 Sep
Sat 15 Sep
Chris and Pui Roadshow
The Sensational 60s
That’ll Be The Day
Fascinating Aida
Wed 17 Oct
Thu 1 Nov
VaginA MONOLOGUES
Milton Jones
Wed 21 Nov
Wed Apr 3 2013
Mon 15 Oct
Freddie Starr
Jenny Éclair
Wed 7 Nov
Wed 14 Nov
Greg Davies Sun 18 Nov
Sun 4 Nov
Friends
SPECIAL OFFERS
Extravaganza On Ice Sun 6 May £3.00 off
We’ll Meet Again Tue 29 May £2.00 off
Bugle Boy Tue 8 – Wed 9 May £3.00 off on Tue 8 May
Sleeping Beauty Tue 12 – Wed 13 Jun £2.50 off Tues
The Fureys & Davey Arthur Tue 15 May £2.00 off
Memories of Test Match Special Fri 1 Jun £2.00 off
Andy Hamilton Wed 16 May £2.00 off Halfway to Paradise Thu 17 May £2.00 off
Last Night of the Proms Sat 2 Jun £2.50 off Joe Longthorne Sat 16 Jun £2.50 off
Tony Stockwell Wed 23 May £2.00 off
Motown’s Greatest Hits Sun 17 Jun £2.50 off
Roy Orbison & Friends Fri 25 May £2.00 off
Richard Digance Sun 24 Jun £2.00 off
Jim Davidson loves food and loves cooking…and now he has put together a book of all his favourite recipes. The Wyvern Theatre have been given one of those recipes to share with you…
Jim Davidson’s Beef Stroganoff (serves 4) from Jim Davidson’s Cookbook
This truly famous dish is really tasty and works great with skinny chips. The trick is to hardly cook the meat. If you over cook it, it tastes like a paratrooper’s boot… with his foot still in it!
INGREDIENTS 2 lumps of fillet steak (or cheaper stuff if you’ve had a bad week!) 2 tbsp olive oil 2 small onions, sliced 2 cups of mushroom Sliced Knob… of butter
1 garlic clove, crushed 1 tbsp paprika (or more – up to you) 1 tbsp French or Dijon mustard Salt and FGB pepper A noggin of brandy, set on fire A big dollop of crème fraiche 2 tbsp chopped FL parsley
METHOD • Cut the steak into thin long strips and season. • Heat a large frying pan on the stove and add half the olive oil. Quickly brown the steak & cook in batches*. Don’t over- do it. Remove and set aside. • Add the rest of the olive oil and fry the onions for about 5 minutes until softened. • Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for further 5 minutes. Add the knob… of butter and garlic. • Add the meat, paprika, mustard and season with salt and pepper. • Flame with the brandy, then quickly add the crème fraiche, mix well and cook till hot. • Add the chopped parsley and serve with skinny chips. Sometimes sour cream is as good as crème fraiche. As always keep adding bit till it tastes the way you want it. * The reason to do it in batches is that it tends to boil itself if you bung it all in, making the meat taste like a camel traders saddle!
Jim Davidson appears at the Wyvern on Sun 23rd September. To book tickets visit wyverntheatre.org.uk or call or Ticket Office on 01793 524481
WORD SEARCH
Win tickets to see Soap Opera I
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Leslie Grantham, (aka the infamous Dirty Den from BBC1’s Eastenders), Chris Ellison (DCI Burnside from ITV1’s The Bill), Louis Emerick (Mick Johnson from C4’s Brookside/ PC Walsh from BBC1’s Last Of The Summer Wine), Michelle Gayle (BBC1’s Eastenders) and the hilarious Kev Orkian star in a brand-new comedy at the Wyvern from Mon 17-Wed 19 September. Soap Opera is a spoof murder mystery set behind the scenes at the failing TV soap, ‘Hollyenders Street’. For your chance to enter into our prize draw and win a pair of tickets to see Soap Opera just complete the wordsearch. The answer is the one television Soap Opera that cannot be found in the wordsearch
EASTENDERS CORONATION STREET NEIGHBOURS HOLLYOAKS
BROOKSIDE EMMERDALE CROSSROADS FAMILY AFFAIRS
To enter please email answer along with your name, address, e-mail and contact telephone number to jenny@wyverntheatre.org.uk or send your entry to Newsletter Competition, Wyvern Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon, SN1 1QN. Closing date is 31 May 2012. A prize draw for all entries will be held on 7 June and the winner will be notified by email, telephone or post.
Interview with PAUL SPICER
Richard Loftus, Wyvern Theatre Marketing Manager, caught up with An Evening of Dirty Dancing’s producer Paul Spicer to find out more about the show. DIRTY DANCING IS QUITE SIMPLY ICONIC – WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE SHOW THAT APPEALS TO SO MANY PEOPLE? I think it’s the feeling of nostalgia that you can’t resist, especially as it’s that boymeets-girl love story which we all know and love. Throw in some of the most iconic music ever written and some classic one-liners and you have the recipe for perfection. DO YOU REMEMBER WATCHING THE FILM FOR THE FIRST TIME? I actually wasn’t allowed to watch the film when it first premiered because my mum had deemed it too rude! I don’t think it’s very raunchy really. It’s a very real, heartwarming story and if anything it made me want to dance more than go out and be inappropriate! Our show is most certainly family viewing.
AS PRODUCER OF AN EVENING OF DIRTY DANCING, WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE SONG FROM THE FILM? I love Hungry Eyes and so does the audience, every time it starts up they go crazy! I also love (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life, which won the soundtrack an Oscar when it was first released.
AND FINALLY, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG PEOPLE LOOKING TO BEGIN A CAREER IN PERFORMING? Don’t wait for the phone to ring, go out and get it yourself. Create and conjure your own opportunities, and most importantly, be amazing at what you’re good at and know you’re own restrictions.
WHAT CAN AUDIENCES EXPECT FROM AN EVENING OF DIRTY DANCING? It’s a celebration of the music from the film. We basically present you with all the massive songs from the soundtrack with full on choreography performed by an incredible cast of West End performers. We totally encourage the audience to get up and dance the night away, the atmosphere is always electric. AS WELL AS PRODUCING, YOU ALSO PERFORM AND HAVE AN ALBUM, LOVE SONGS & LULLABIES, DUE OUT LATER THIS YEAR – WHAT IS NEXT ON YOUR TO DO LIST? We’re touring An Evening of Dirty Dancing all over the UK well into the year so that is a main focus, but I’m aching to get back on stage. I just filmed a pilot for a new British drama series and the album is on-going. You can follow me on Twitter for all the latest@spiceboy81 and for any An Evening of Dirty Dancing updates follow @stageacts.
An Evening of Dirty Dancing will be appearing at the Wyvern Theatre on Friday 6 July. Book tickets today at wyverntheatre.org.uk or by calling the Ticket Office on 01793 524 481.