The Octagon Blog Has Moved!!

Out with the old and in with the new! We have an exciting new home for our new blog here so please come and visit us for all of the latest news, reviews, production images and more!

We can now be found at: http://blog.octagonbolton.co.uk

Rafta Rafta - Reviews

Friday was the press night for Rafta Rafta, and I have to say that my first press night at the Octagon was a brilliant experience! Met lots of lovely new people and thoroughly enjoyed the show. As did a lot of other people as well if the reviews are anything to go by, check them out here and be impressed!

"WOW... a glittering play that captures the diversity on offer at the Octagon and captures just the right mix of comedy and social realism. Brilliant." THE BOLTON NEWS Read more here...

"This excellent in-the-round production, proving the original's ongoing relevance, is a fine centenary tribute." CITYLIFE.CO.UK Read more here...

"A strong ensemble and great script make this an incredibly entertaining night at the theatre." UK THEATRE NETWORK Read more here...

"An extremely funny play that had the whole audience rocking with laughter." THE BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE Read more here...

"...the future looks extremely bright for the arts in the North West, in particular for the wonderful Octagon." DICKIEANDBUTCH.COM Read more here...

Making a song and a dance for more men!

'Sure, he's cute - but if only he could sing!'

It will come as no surprise to women in the North West that there is a shortage of men out there, but what about men who can sing?

Emmerdale star Amy Nuttall (pictured above) is making a desperate plea for male singers to form part of the community choir in Bolton Octagon’s forthcoming production of The Hired Man.

Directed by David Thacker, and starring Amy Nuttall in one of the lead roles, the production includes a community chorus that is made up entirely of volunteers from the Bolton area.

However, it would seem that there is a distinct lack of vocal confidence amongst Bolton’s male population, with a staggering three quarters of the choir consisting solely of women!

The Octagon would like to redress this balance and give the men of Bolton the opportunity to tread the boards and raise the roof! So, if you think you can carry a tune, are over the age of 18, male, and willing to commit your time, then please contact Elizabeth Newman for more details: elizabeth.newman@octagonbolton.co.uk.

New Arrivals

It's all change in the Communications Department here at the Octagon - well for the time being anyway! Sally Boyd, resident blog expert, is now on maternity leave and I will be taking the helm until her return. Any comments, news, thoughts are all welcome so keep them coming!

Sally barely had time to put her feet up and enjoy her new-found freedom before her baby was on the way, little Maisie arrived on Saturday 1 May and both mum and baby are doing well - congratulations from all of us at the Octagon!

Last Laugh at the Octagon - Reviews

This week is your last opportunity to catch Comedians here at the Octagon, running until Friday 8 May, so make sure you squeeze some space in the diary to come along this week!

If you’re still in need of a little persuasion then take a look at some of the stunning reviews received so far...


"Rated 4/5" THE INDEPENDENT read more...

"Comedians is an immensely funny, thought-provoking play which, in David Thacker’s energetic revival, entertains on so many different levels." THE STAGE read more...

"It is a really good play featuring intelligent debate about how we portray our society through comedy and the real meanings and motivations behind that portrayal…" BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE read more…

"There was a period, during the rise of alternative comedy, when Griffiths's drama about a night class for old-school club entertainers looked as if it might have become obsolete. Now that at least three British universities offer modules in standup – not to mention the furore over Jimmy Carr's "edgy" material and "Sachsgate"– it warrants another look." THE GUARDIAN read more...

"...thanks to the outstanding cast and direction at the Octagon, it is Trevor Griffiths who has the last laugh." THE BOLTON NEWS read more…

Comedians - production photos

Well, today is the press night of Comedians and it coincides with my last day in the office and having seen the quality of the production photos I am leaving the blog on a high. They look smashing.

So there will be a few changes going on here over the coming months. A new Octagon blogger, a new face in our department as well the fruition of some other projects that have been going on in the background - more to be revealed at a later date. Exciting times...

Beating Berlusconi! - Reviews

Beating Berlusconi! is on tour and is getting some really nice reviews. It arrives here on Thursday 29 April. If you are, dare I say it after the run of And Did Those for fear of upsetting all those Wanderers, a Liverpool FC fan or just a fan of Liverpool then this show is unmissable...

"A must for anyone, theatre fan, LFC fan or otherwise. Any play that can genuinely bring out the laughter and tears in equal measure is worthy of any stage." LIVERPOOL DAILY POST Read more here...

"That's the magic of this production: it's not the story of one man, it's the story of many men and as the many characters make up the play, these many men make up Liverpool and their shared experience of one day in Istanbul is part of the cultural glue which binds them...It's not a play about football, it's a play about the heart of a city and how and why it beats." LIVERPOOL ECHO Read more here...

"Footage from the history of the city, the club and, most importantly, Istanbul adds to the intensity and reality of the raw emotion in the show. This play may have been tailor-made for local audiences but it is this that has made it such a nationwide success.

Whether or not Liverpool go all the way and lift the Europa League this season, the homecoming performances of 'Beating Berlusconi' at the end of May which relive one of the greatest nights in sporting history makes this show a must-see for anyone, football-obsessed or otherwise." CLICK LIVERPOOL Read more here...