Dream team reunion...

Russell Dixon - Quince

It seems that this old theatre world is a small one. As I think I mentioned here, David has directed many a Shakespeare production (15 of Shakepeares plays and over 22 productions at the last count) but his first for the RSC was the Olivier award-winning Pericles. Funnily enough, it was also the debut at the RSC for Russell Dixon (who will appear as Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream) and the lead was played by Rob Edwards who is also reuniting with David as he is playing Theseus/Oberon on the Octagon stage. I am hoping that this trio brings us luck and more accolades for our upcoming production.

Rob Edwards - Theseus / Oberon

What's New...

I have to apoologise for neglecting the blog for a little while. We have been in the midst of compiling and preparing print and the website for our brand, spanking new range of BoltON special events.

I can't tell you too much now about the programme but all being well events will be going on sale next week. There are some really good new events coming up, as well as some existing favourites, so keep your eyes peeled on our What's Pages for more info. If you want to be notifed by email about special events, then you can sign up to our enewsletter here.

Not only are we updating our special events programme, we are also smartening up front of house with some lovely shiny new displays for production photos and leaflets. Plus, if you have been in the theatre recently you may have noticed that we have installed some screens too. Hopefully, our Front of House facelift (well more of a nip and tuck really) will be ready for it's 'grand reveal' early February. I cannot assure it will look 10 years younger but I think it will be a more confident version of itself. Sorry I am getting carried away with the makeover analogies. Someone call Gok Wan....

Call for scripts for 24:7 - deadline approaching...

A letter from our friends at 24:7.

Dear writers...

While you're huddling around the fireside, what better opportunity is there to finish off that script?

Flash forward to next summer! Your show may be one of those participating in 24:7 Season Seven...

Remember that the deadline for submissions to 24:7 2010 will soon be upon us: Thursday 14th January

It must be original, unpublished and no longer than 60 minutes. We seek to present premières, so your script must not have been performed in a mainstream context, in any medium. If it has had a rehearsed reading or ‘test’ performances, that may be OK. If you have questions about a specific submission, it would be best to email us before submitting. We can confirm that the reading fee has been maintained at £30 per script submitted.

For full details, along with our new online submissions procedure Click Here.

To sum up then, the key dates for 24:7 2010 are:

Script submission deadline: 14 January
Invitations to participate: on or around Monday 19 April
Big Gathering: Monday 10 May
Media Launch: on or around Tuesday 8 June
Festival Week: Monday 26 July - Sunday 1 August.

Love from

David at 24:7 Theatre Festival x

So you heard the man - get a-scribbling and a-sending and a Happy New [Writing] Year to you all!

A dreamy start to the new year....

Here at the Octagon, we are set to welcome in the New Year with one of William Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s the next in a season of plays that has included the multi-award winning and totally wonderful All My Sons and the magical Oliver Twist, the best selling Octagon show of all time. If we combine the tension and emotion of All My Sons with the magic and wonder of Oliver Twist then I think we are onto a winner...

When two pairs of lovers take flight to the forest to escape the tyranny of Theseus’ regime, what follows is a night of utter magical confusion. A Midsummer Night’s Dream features some of Shakespeare’s best loved characters, including Bottom the weaver, who is transformed into an amorous donkey! This is a large-scale production for our little theatre, complete with live music, will be directed by David himself. When I caught up with him this is what he had to say about the play.

“No play like it had ever been written – and no play like it has been written since. Workmen, lovers, royalty and the fairy kingdom bumping into each other as they all try to deal with the problems, joys and delights of the force that holds so many of us in its unpredictable grip – LOVE. Like many of the productions of Shakespeare that I’ve most enjoyed directing, and have been most appreciated by audiences, I’ve decided to set this in a modern context – in this case, the late sixties. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a passionate, funny play that never fails to surprise me – and I hope our ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ will release its dynamic energy and reach the Octagon’s audience in ways that may surprise them too.”

David has a fine pedigree with the work of Shakespeare. During his time as Resident Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the Young Vic in London he directed many of the country’s finest actors in Shakespeare productions, including Clive Owen, Natasha Richardson and Tom Wilkinson. His production of Pericles for the RSC won him the UK’s top theatre prize: an Olivier Award for Best Director.

The cast of fourteen includes one of the region’s best loved actors, Russell Dixon. His television credits include Coronation Street and Dalziel and Pascoe, and he starred as Rafe in the Octagon’s record-breaking production of Bill Naughton’s Spring and Port Wine in 2007. He is joined by Kiruna Stamell who recently appeared in Channel 4’s comedy drama Cast Offs, but is best known for her scene-stealing role in Baz Luhrmann’s smash-hit film Moulin Rouge. When I met her the other day, she told me she had read the blog (hi Kiruna). This production also sees a professional theatre debut for award-winning stand-up comedian Laurence Clark.

The rest of the cast has a youthful look including Vanessa Kirby, who returns to the Octagon following her acclaimed professional theatre debut in our recent productions of All My Sons. It was a performance which earned her the Biza Award for best up and coming actor, company or initiative at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards 2009.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is at the Octagon from Thursday 4 February to Saturday 6 March 2010. Tickets are from £9 on 01204 520661, or can be bought online at www.octagonbolton.co.uk/MidsummerNights.asp

We have some more...

We have received a few more great reviews for Oliver Twist from The Guardian, The Independent and The Observer, no less. I have posted them with the others and you can read the full run down by clicking here...

Here are the new ones...

"The show has enough of the feel of a theatrical extravaganza, the flavour of a gaudy musical and yet the intimacy of the dark social novel on which it is based to beguile all ages." THE INDEPENDENT Read more here...

"If there's a more finely detailed, authentically Dickensian performance this year, I shall eat my head as well. ****" THE GUARDIAN Read more here...

"Dawn Allsopp's quasi-expressionist set... Robert Pickavance's snakily self-interested Fagin... Andrew Price's blustering Mr Brownlow... Esther Ruth Elliott's tortured Nancy... Tim Frances's murderous, drink-bemused Bill Sikes... fast-paced, interlocking narratives (cleverly segued in Deborah McAndrew's astute adaptation and delivered with dramatic drive in Josette Bushell-Mingo's tumultuous production, modulated by Conrad Nelson's atmospheric score..." THE OBSERVER Read more here...