IMPORTANT INFORMATION - Meet the Mukherjees

Please be advised that Meet the Mukherjees has been re-classified as suitable for ages 15 and over. You should also be warned that the production contains occasional strong language, will feature smoking on stage and some male nudity. Yup, a real-life naked man, well I never!

UPDATE: Despite featuring on our leaflets and posters, I also have to tell you that Shiv Grewall (from BBC Radio's Silver Street) will no longer be appearing in this production, so apologies if you are a Shiv fan. Full cast details will be published in due course.

Spring and Port Wine - IMPORTANT INFORMATION

For those of you that haven't yet booked a ticket to come and see Spring and Port Wine you really need to get a wriggle on! I know that sounds like the usual 'marketing' spiel to sell tickets but we are really having no problems selling the tickets whatsoever, quite the opposite. In fact, they are flying out the door and I wanted to give readers of the blog the heads up so if you want to see it, you should book tickets while they still have a chance. You can speak to our rather lovely people on Ticket Office (01204 520661) or you can get on t'interweb by clicking here.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

Road - the Movie

For your viewing pleasure, a short movie promo of Road.

You'll be pleased to note we managed to edit out the bad language for the video, but please be advised the production itself contains the frequent use of very strong language.

Thank you.

Road - the Reviews

Hello all,

It's Monika here. It falls to me to keep you updated with all things Octagon while the lovely Sally is boarding on the slopes of Canada. We're trying to keep our envy in check over here, but it is hard.

Luckily we have the reviews from press night to keep us entertained, and I'd like to share them with you. You can read the reviews here and here and here and here. We think you'll agree, as long as you don't blush when there's swearing on stage, this one's worth checking out.

We've also been in the press this week because of the smoking in Road, which has caused some great debates online. You can read the Bolton News article here, and the online debate here.

Thanks.

Road - Snapshots

Road opened last night and press night is tonight. The lovely Ian was here yesterday afternoon and has captured some great images. I know I always say that but it amazes me that with everything going on on stage, he manages not only to get his shots in focus but also captures some really lovely moments. Have a look.

Behind Closed Doors

In advance of the opening night of Road, I thought you might want to catch a quick glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes! Take a look at a few photos from the rehearsals.....

They look like they are having far too much fun, don't they? I am sure the cast won't be the only ones.

Blowing our own Trumpet

As I think I have mentioned before the 2007 / 2008 season is surpassing all expectations, with every show exceeding audience and income targets and the two most recent productions smashing all previous box office records at the Octagon. A Christmas Carol became the most successful production ever in Box Office terms at the Octagon Theatre, bringing in £220,000, (five years ago the Christmas production yielded £69,000). Following the festive fun, The Crucible opened to the highest Box Office figures for a non-Christmas show in the Theatre’s 40 year history and closed to a record high of £100,000. Schools travelled from as far as the Midlands and South Wales to attend this production of an Arthur Miller classic.

John Blackmore, Executive Director at the Octagon, says:

'This record-breaking season is the culmination of a staggering resurgence of the Octagon’s fortunes since 2000. Tribute must be paid to all those who have worked imaginatively, creatively and with outstanding dedication to lift the Octagon to its current level of achievement. None of this could have happened without the passionate support of our patrons, who have turned out in ever increasing numbers, our principal patron Sue Hodgkiss, and our principal sponsor the University of Bolton. It has been an inspiring experience to see and feel the love and appreciation in which the Octagon is held by our community and those who have worked here, as exemplified by this 40th anniversary season.'

The season was made up of four World Premieres; Lisa’s Sex Strike, which was a co-production with Northern Broadsides, And Did Those Feet, Meet the Mukherjees and the specially re-commissioned end of season show Once Upon a Time in Wigan – LIVE!, as well as featuring classics such as Oh What a Lovely War and The Crucible. And Did Those Feet won Best New Play at the Manchester Evening News Awards and Lisa’s Sex Strike toured nationally, following its triumphant run at the beginning of the Octagon’s 40th Anniversary Season.

Jim Cartwright’s Road opens at the Octagon on Thursday 6 March, having already exceeded its closing target.