Oh What A Lovely War - What's Being Said....

Left to right: Matthew Kelly, Matt Rixon, John McArdle and Christopher Fry

Friday night was press night for Oh What A Lovely War. Not only that but there was also a surprise gathering for the Executive Director, John Blackmore, who has spent 40 years working in theatre so it was a double celebration.

Reviews

It is a challenging piece and requires a cast of 13 that can sing, dance, play instruments as well as act and that is all while juggling a series of instruments, hats and characters at impressive speed which is an achievement in itself! We're getting some good reviews:

'In terms of sheer all-round achievement this is the best show I’ve ever seen at Bolton. The Octagon is very proud of its reputation as a regional theatre, but there is nothing provincial about this first-class production which would be a credit to a theatre anywhere in the country.'

UK Theatre Net

You can read the rest of the review from UK Theatre Net here. Other reviews I have found so far are:

• The Bolton News here
• The Stage here
• Manchester Evening News here
• The Guardian here
• Lancashire Evening Post here

War photography

If you didn't come to see the production last night and can't wait until you do then have a look at some of Ian's lovely production images below!

Matthew Kelly as Field Marshall Haig

Men in uniform alert! Left to right: Jeff Hordley, Matt Rixon and John McArdle

If only army recruitment was still this glamourous. Left to right: Siena Lloyd, Ruth Alexander Rubin and Helen Power.

There are a few more on the website. Looks fantastic doesn't it? And if the pictures aren't enough you can read an interview with John McArdle here or watch him avoiding questions about his worst habits here....

War, huh, what is it good for?

Left to right: Jeff Hordley, Matthew Kelly and Matt Rixon.

In the words of the fabulous Joan Littlewood when asked why she wouldn't allow any of our main theatres to stage the show she replied 'I say to everyone: go and invent your own bloody show'.

Well, this time we didn't invent our own show, and Oh what A Lovely War opened last night to great success. You can read an article about Oh What A Lovely War in The Spectator (ooh get us!) here plus you can also read about what some of the cast have to say in the Bolton News article here.

More production images and reviews to follow as we receive them. But if you haven't already bought your ticket, and a lot of people have, you might want to ring Ticket Office (01204 520661) sharpish as they are selling like hot cakes - you have been warned!

Millboys, Chavs and Space Cadets

Millboys, Chavs and Space Cadets is a new musical production, commissioned by activ8 and Bolton Lads and Girls Club, and written by Mike Crowley.

Before the summer, over 100 young people took part in a range of idea-generating workshops led by writers and drama workers. Thirty of these participants were selected to form a company for the new play. This company of energetic young people worked intensively ovre two weeks of the summer to kick start the most ambitious piece of youth theatre ever created by the Octagon. You can read the diary of one of the participants here.

Millboys, Chavs and Space Cadets will be a multimedia musical journey through past, present and future of Youth Culture in Bolton. There will be two performances (3.00pm and 7.30pm) that will take place on 17 November at the Bolton Lads and Girls Club and they promsie to be a spectacular celebration of, not only local talent but also the rich culture of Bolton.

Please support the young people of Bolton and book your tickets at the Octagon Ticket Office on 01204 520661.

How do? How do? And how's that cup?

It seems due to this story in The Bolton News and its appearance in the final scenes of And Did Those Feet, the FA Cup we used in the show has become a celebrity in its own right.

The cast of And Did Those Feet with Gina Blackey and that cup! Image: The Bolton News

You can read the words associated with the image above here. During the run of the performance we have had people wanting to buy the cup; people climbing onto the stage at the end of the performance to touch the cup; in the true spirit of one of the themes of the play, a man has asked if he can hire it for his daughter's football themed wedding plus many wanting their photo taken with the cup including Dave Spikey. The cup asked if it could have its picture taken with the And Did Those Feet cast and the cast were very happy to oblige......

The Octagon's newly formed seven-a-side team proudly show off their trophy!

I am not sure yet what the future holds for the cup. What with celebrity appearances, all the press attention and photocalls, the last I heard it was thinking about whether to try and break Hollywood....and I guess if the cup doesn't make it then there is always Ebay!

Oh, oh oh, its a lovely Draw!

Illustration: Richard Foxton

So many apologies for the pun in the title for this post, I couldn't resist, but let me explain. Way back when we launched the Anniversary Season and put our fantastically good value (even if I do say so myself) Ruby Season Tickets on sale we included a Prize Draw for Season Ticket purchasers. Basically, all of those people that bought a Season Ticket between the end of April and mid-October were entered into the draw to win a pair of tickets to one of the Gala Nights we are hosting during the run of Oh What A Lovely War.

Last week, all the names of Season Ticket holders were put in a hat (it was a big hat as we have sold a fair few Season Tickets) and 5 lucky winners were drawn who will each receive 2 tickets.

And the winners are (drum roll please!) :

Mrs Judith Redfern (Bolton)
Mrs J Bunton (Warrington)
Mr P Fowles (Bolton)
Mr D Jackson (Bolton)
Mr P Coon (Warrington)

Congratulations to our winners - their invites have gone out in the post. If you know one of the above and fancy coming to our Gala night, then you might want to ask them nicely what they are doing with their 'guest' ticket.....

Reviewer of the Month

Over at the Manchester Evening News website, a review of And Did Those Feet is one of the entrants for October's Reviewer of the Month. This was spotted and kindly posted by Joanna over the the Pleased Sheep Forum (Thanks Joanna!).

And Did Those Feet @ Bolton Octagon
Dyan Colclough

THE audience is taken back to a time before footballers became a brand and the game united a community not profit driven entrepreneurs. Bolton Wanderers inclusion in the 1923 FA Cup Final is central to this uplifting play, however its message extends to parallel other unifiers of community.

A few years earlier WWI saw the community waving off their ‘team’ of men folk to fight for King and Country. James Quinn and Susan Twist (Hilda & Alf) brilliantly evoke the full consequences for those left behind when family members paid the ultimate price for victory.

Chris Finch convincingly portrays the spirit of their son whose presence shows the futility of a lost generation.

The Government's failure to deliver its promise of, ‘A land fit for heroes,’ saw soldiers returning to unemployment and social problems.

Here unity is again explored through the energetic and optimistic Jim, (wonderfully characterised by Paul Simpson), who with fellow comrades, believes that Revolution is the way forward. While the likes of Jim are seeking political change others put their faith in the Lord.

Hayley Jane Standing is perfectly cast as Martha a steadfast member of a dwindling congregation whose church is gradually losing its unifying influence.

This is highlighted through the wedding of Martha and Ted (superbly played by Jeff Hordley) which coincides with the cup final and even the vicar, would prefer to spend the day at Wembley.

Bob's enlightening narrative of the team's history throughout the play (captivatingly revealed by Martin Barrass) provides the thread which binds the community to football and Bob's 200 mile walk to Wembley encapsulates the depth of commitment its players exacted from those they represented.

There is no doubting that the audience has its emotions thoroughly exercised throughout this play and leave the theatre as equally united as those Wanderers supporters of 1923.

This is achieved through the collaboration of excellent writing, and directing and faultless casting.