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...

Five Reasons to See Comedians...

There is a nice little piece on the What's On Stage website on the reasons to see Comedians according to Richard Moore who stars as Eddie Waters. You can read the piece in full here...

I have also just seen some of Bolton Camera Club's exhibition being put up in the Bar. They went into rehearsals of Comedians and have taken some really nice photos of the cast preparing for the show. You can see some more of their photos here.

Comedians - meet the line up...

As these apprentice comedians prepare to perform their acts in front of a live audience, Eddie Waters [above], aka The Lancashire Lad, is delighted to introduce the stand out line up for Comedians (opening on 15 April) . Which of these comedians are set for stardom and which will fall at the final hurdle?

On the bill are:

Name: Mick Connor
Occupation: Builder
Hometown: Somewhere in Ireland
What they say
"I want to be famous. I want to be rich and famous. What's wrong with that...?"

Name: George McBrain

Occupation: Docker

Hometown: Belfast

What they say

"Tonight you will see...something! I have what it takes. And when you have it...by God you have it!"

Name: Gethin Price

Occupation: Van Driver
Hometown: Clayton
What they say
"I don't like telling what to think. That's all. I don't want telling what to feel"

Name: Ged Murray / Phil Murray
Occupation: Milkman / Insurance Agent
Hometown: Blackley
What they say
Ged "When are you gonna face it; you're not funny. You're a straight. You can't work on your own but I can."
Phil "I'd done clubs..Like the bloody wild west, both of 'em. There was nothing wrong with me. My troubles started when I took you on, believe me."

Name: Sammy Samuels
Occupation: Club Owner
Hometown: Middleton
What they say
"I wouldn't be seen dead working in a club like mine. I want the tops, I want TV, I want the Palladium"

Comedians in training

Rehearsals for Comedians are now in full swing. There are a few members of the company still to arrive but we should have a full compliment next week. I am delighted to hear that we may also be joined by Trevor Griffiths [Comedians writer] which is very exciting. You can see some more images of the rehearsals below.

The Hired Man - cast news

There is a nice piece in The Bolton News today about Amy Nuttall coming to perform in our upcoming production of The Hired Man. She talks a bit about why she wants to perform in Bolton and what attracted her to this production.

As she says in her interview:

"The score is very beautiful - it's very different to a lot of musicals out there..I like something that has got guts to it, that packs an emotional punch".

You can read the full article here.

As you can see from the photoshoot, Amy will be performing alongside Kieran Hill who recently appeared as Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and will soon be seen on stage (with an interesting new haircut) as Gethin Price in Comedians.

Comedians - an update

After And Did Those Feet we will welcome Trevor Griffiths’ landmark play Comedians to Bolton.

Set in Manchester in the mid-1970s, the play broke exciting new ground and is considered by many to have signalled a revolution in stand-up. It asks the question: is comedy just about the laughs? A group of ordinary men gather in a school for a night course in stand-up comedy. It’s run by ‘The Lancashire Lad’ Eddie Waters: once known as the hardest-hitting comedian on the circuit. He is determined to promote comedy as an art form and believes that comedians deliver more than just gags. On the night of his apprentices’ big performance, an agent arrives from London to open the door to fame and fortune for the lucky few. But at what price?

The role of Eddie Waters will be played by Burnley born and bred Richard Moore [above], who is celebrating his fiftieth year in the entertainment industry. He is best known for playing the popular Jarvis Skelton in Emmerdale and Curly in the hit drama Band of Gold. He said:

“The North West, and Bolton in particular, is rightly viewed as a spiritual home of comedy. It’s not a coincidence that while Comedians is on at the Octagon, Peter Kay is playing some o the biggest comedy gigs in stand-up history just up the road in Manchester. He’s very much a comedian in the mould of my character, Eddie Waters – a man of the people, in love with the craft of making people laugh.

“But the play is not just a comedy; it looks at what is an acceptable source for jokes. Has the time of the mother-in-law joke or the Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman joke passed? What is it okay to laugh at? In light of the national debate around Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, this is clearly an issue that will run and run!”

He is joined by Huw Higginson and Mark Letheren who are also appearing in the Octagon’s production of And Did Those Feet, and Kieran Hill and Russell Richardson who recently appeared at the Theatre in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The cast also includes Colin Connor, Howard Crossley, Brendan Foster, Simon Nagra, John Bramwell and Sevan Stephan.

Comedians will play from Thursday 15 April – Saturday 8 May 2010. Tickets are from £9 on 01204 520661, or at http://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/

And Did Those Feet - production images

I am delighted to report that And Did Those Feet opened last night. I have to admit that I have a huge soft spot for this show and I still think that the press night for the show last time around (during our Anniversary Season in 2007 when the show premiered) was one of the most remarkable atmospheres of any press night I have attended at the theatre.

So here we are on press night afternoon for And Did Those Feet 2010 and I can't wait to see how the show is received this time round. If you have booked for the show but have to wait a few days before you see it here are the production photos...

Below is a review of Midsummer Night's Dream as written by Lindsay Wilkes. Lindsay is one of our youth theatre participants (see her in the promo shot for Well Swung above) and is currently working towards her Silver Arts Award. As part of the arts award she needs to review a show and ensure it is ‘shared with an audience’. So I thought as the readers of my blog were a worthy and kind audience, I would share it with you as it provides a different perspective on how Shakespeare is viewed by one of our young people.

Midsummer Night’s Dream, is one of Shakespeare’s comedies. This production at The Octagon Theatre is directed by David Thacker.

The two main themes of theshow that stood out to me are love and drugs. The four lovers act as if they have been drugged and when lovers get a love juice put into their eyes, the cast act as if they are tripping. A big part of this production feeling uplifting rather than boring was the technical aspects such as lighting, set, costumes etc.

The set design was really cool and funky. It wasn’t what I expected at all, it is very creative. When asked to describe it to someone, my answer was “full of big balls”! The lighting is always changing which makes the moment when Puck delivers his final monologue stand out. The lighting here stays the same, which helps you to focus in on it. One of the good things about the lighting is that it’s illuminous and the glow in the dark lights are mint -you end up looking around the audience to see who’s clothes are lighting up the most.

For me Titania's costume is to die for. I didn’t think that the costume would be 1960’s as I thought the play was a lot older! Whoever designed these clothes [It was Ashley Shairpe - Ed]chose brilliant costumes. The funniest costume for me was Nick’s, who plays Lysander, as the costume is flares and a multi coloured shirt, nothing like I have ever seen in my lifetime.

Also I think that David has picked a brilliant cast. The first time I saw it I loved Paula, who plays Titania and Hippolyta. She was outstanding, but for me Jake’s (Demetrius) and Vanessa’s (Helena) performances have been consistent and strong every single time. The way they act is outstanding and they draw your attention with all the running about and shouting that they do! I was very impressed with Rosie’s performance and how she had real tears in her eyes as Rob (Theseus) shouts at her in the first half. Also Vanessa’s performance for me was amazing as she wants Demetrius so much, that the more he refuses her, the more she wants him. This for me is something a young person can relate to…if we get told we aren’t allowed to do or have something, it makes us work all the harder to get it!

I personally didn’t know that Shakespeare did comedies but watching this show makes me want to watch more of Shakespeare’s plays. Before this performance I really thought Shakespeare was a load of old balls, turns out it is, but not in the way that I first thought!

A very nice email...

We have been sent a very nice email from someone that came to see A Midsummer Night's Dream. We are also getting some really great comments on our new ' customer feedback wall' downstairs. the meial was so nice I thoought I would re-produce it here.

Dear Marie,

You went to such trouble to ensure that my children and I would enjoy the performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream today that I thought I would let you know that we really did!

A sensuous and seductive Titania (oh to be able to move like that!), a beautiful and truly sympathetic portrayal of Helena, a Lysander and a Demetrius in whom we actually believed, an absolutely side-splitting play within a play (wherein Bottom and Wall particularly surpassed themselves), a fiery and determined Hermia, wonderful music, great setting, divine costumes (I want Oberon's coat). It was just marvellous from start to finish.

My 10 and 8 year olds loved it and followed the script easily because it was so exquisitely delivered (isn't it incredible that the language is still so alive after all these years?). My 8 year old had tears rolling down his cheeks by the final act and my 10-year-old didn't interrupt once - rare indeed!

I have never yet been disappointed by the Octagon, but today was a real theatre-going climax for us. Thankyou so much, and please pass on our congratulations to players and producer.

Best wishes,

Dawn

PS there was but one moment of potential embarrassment when both children whispered simultaneously "what IS going on?" as Titania leapt upon the all-too-accommodating Bottom in the elevated bed and the lid was closed upon the bizarre lovers - I deftly sidestepped the issue with a "she is tickling him" and escaped unscathed (phew).

Thanks for taking the time to write in. So what do the rest of you think? How about making a comment below...

The Octagon Seeks Community Chorus

Some exciting news for anyone that has ever fancied gracing the Octagon stage.

The Octagon Theatre Bolton is looking for local people to take part of an exciting and major community project as part of its production of The Hired Man. This epic production, taking place in June this year, was adapted for the stage by Melvyn Bragg and features a stunning musical score by the award-winning Howard Goodall.

Elizabeth Newman, Assistant Director of The Hired Man said:

“The Octagon has always aimed to play a significant part in the community, getting people of all ages engaged in the arts and realising their creative potential. This ranges from the fantastic work done by activ8, our community and education department, to the involvement of nearly 30 young people from throughout the region in our festive production of Oliver Twist. The Hired Man will see the Octagon take on its most ambitious community event in recent years. It will climax with the chorus of local people performing alongside our professional company in our production of The Hired Man. We are looking for people who are passionate about theatre and, of course, love acting and singing!”

Auditions will take place at the Octagon Theatre on Sunday 28th February and Sunday 7th March, and recalls will happen on Sunday 14th March. For an information pack and an application form please email info@octagonbolton.co.uk or call 01204 529407.

And Did Those Feet - The Replay!

We are excited to soon welcome back one of our most popular plays in recent years: And Did Those Feet by Les Smith and Martin Thomasson. The show played to sell out audiences when it was first performed as part of the theatre’s fortieth anniversary season just over two years ago, and went on to win the Best New Play Award at the MEN Theatre Awards for 2007.

And Did Those Feet tracks the lives of two families in the build up to one of the most monumental days in Bolton’s history: Wanderers’ appearance in the 1923 FA Cup Final, the first to be held at the newly built Wembley Stadium. There’s the couple whose wedding plans are threatened when everyone else, including the Vicar, have their sights set on an even “bigger day” at the final. Then there’s the father mourning his footballer son who died in the Great War. And not to forget Bob Stott, who decides to walk 200 miles to London for the final. But can he really make it there in six days… especially as he has to make the perilous journey through Yorkshire?

Mark Babych, the former Artistic Director of the Octagon, directed And Did Those Feet when it received its world premiere in 2007. He is returning the Octagon for the first time to direct this revival of the play. He said:

“And Did Those Feet was one of the happiest memories I have during my time as Artistic Director of the Octagon and I am extremely honoured to have been invited back to revive the production. The play was an extraordinary success in 2007, touching hearts and connecting deeply with the fabulous Bolton audience. I always knew the play would be popular when we first commissioned it, but I was not prepared for the overwhelming wave of love for it once it had opened and throughout its run. Looking back it’s easy to see why the play touched so many people – memorable characters, emotional storylines, joyous theatricality, and a wicked Lancashire sense of humour all combine to make this a truly Bolton play that celebrates this wonderful town and its strength of community.”

Martin Barrass returns as Bob Stott, a performance which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards. He is joined by original And Did Those Feet cast members Susan Twist and Chris Finch. The other cast members include Naomi Radcliffe, who played Alison Wakefield in Coronation Street. Huw Higginson, best know for his ten-year spell as PC George Garfield in The Bill, also returns to the Octagon following his performance All My Sons.

And Did Those Feet is at the Octagon from Thursday 11 March to Saturday 10 April 2010. Tickets are from £9. To book call 01204 520661 or visit http://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/

I had a weird dream last night....

A Midsummer Night's Dream opened last night and I am more than a little excited. Ever since seeing the set model for this one, I have been looking forward to it with eager anticipation. The actual set more than lives up to it's model but even better as it is life-sized and the auditorium looks like a mixture of something out of Willy Wonka's factory, crossed with a ball crawl and the type of hallucinations you might have seen if you embraced the 1960s a bit too wholeheartedly!

And looking at the production images today has only heightened my desire to see this show. Although, I am a big fan of his work, Ian Tilton has outdone himself this time round as he has caught some fabulous moments despite the sheer number of cast and frenetic, crazy pace of the production. Take a look....

My admiration also goes to the wonders of wardrobe for the spectacular range of costumes and Ashley for his awesome design. It's going to be a good night....

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....

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...

Please sir, can we have some more...photos!

Due to popular demand (you know who you are) I have uploaded some more photos of Oliver Twist. We are lucky enough to have two teams of youngsters playing the role of the 'urchins' in the production so it was only fair I uploaded some images of the team not featured previously. So this is their chance to shine...