Job Vacancy - Head of Production

This award winning, unique, producing Theatre is seeking a creative, knowledgeable and experienced Production Manager to lead its production team in a new phase of the Theatre’s development. Working closely with our Artistic Director, David Thacker, the post holder will be responsible for all aspects of production planning, creation and implementation of a season of at least eight plays together with a range of complementary events.

An in-depth experience of producing theatre is essential along with commitment, drive and outstanding leadership and management skills. For further details and an application form telephone 01204 529407 or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk

Closing date for applications 22/03/10
Interviews will be held on 29 or 30/03/10

Actors Guide to Survival @ Nexus Cafe

When: Friday March 5th, 7pm
Tickets: £5 ADVANCE ONLY
From: http://actors-guide-to-survival.eventbrite.com/

PART ONE
Come join us for the DVD launch on Amazon.co.uk of the latest future artists film, the ‘Actors guide to survival’ with a screening and Q+A by director Mark Ashmore
Can’t make the event? Get the DVD here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0036U9M3W

PART TWO
Everything an Actor in the NW of England could want to know about work, fringe, and networks to kick the year off and the career!

Come network with actors/writers/directors and casting directors in our 'Actors Lab',
24/7 theatre festival will be letting you know about acting opportunities at this years festival, http://www.247theatrefestival.co.uk/

Actingclass.co.uk will be on hand to let you know about training opportunities, http://www.actingclass.co.uk/

Hartshorn productions will talk about their West End debut and running venues at Edinburgh Fringe festival, http://www.hartshornhook.com/hh/

A must for the serious actor who wants to know about what creative and acting opportunities there will be in the NW this year. More info and links here
http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=27387

‘Actors Guide’ facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=394445110021&ref=ts

ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY

Random Friday...

Have just noticed that on the homepage of the National Theatre is an archive feature of David Thacker talking about Arthur Miller. Worth a watch. You can see it here...

The Hired Man Community Chorus Auditions

I put a call out a short while ago for people interested in taking part in a Community Chorus. You can read the original post here.

The details below outline what is required if you wish to take part in the production and audition for one of the roles and the commitment you will need to make if you are successful at your audition.

We are looking for people aged 18 years and over for this community production and these roles will be unpaid. No professional acting experience is required just enthusiasm, total commitment and lots of hard work! Also, you will be required to sing.

Workshop audition sessions will be held on Sunday 28 February and Sunday 7th March. Once your application form has been received you will be invited to attend at an allotted time on a first come, first served basis. Recall auditions will be held at on Sunday 14th March.

If you are successful in your audition:

• You must be able to attend all rehearsals in the schedule
• You will be required to appear in the production from Thursday 10 June 2010 – Saturday 3 July 2010, appearing in all shows throughout the run from Monday to Saturday each week
• The performances will commence at either 2 pm or 7.30 pm and are likely to last approximately two and a half hours (actual length of each performance will be confirmed nearer the time).
• You will be required to be at the Theatre one hour before each performance in which you are appearing for a warm up.
• A release form will need to be completed by you to confirm that you are able to be interviewed and photographed/filmed for publicity purposes.
  Please be aware that these roles are unpaid.
  

For an information pack (including rehearsal and performance schedules) and an application form please email info@octagonbolton.co.uk or call 01204 529407.

If you would like to apply for one of the places in the audition workshops please complete the enclosed application and release forms and to be considered you MUST return them by Thursday 25th February to the following address:

Lesley Etherington
Head of Administration
Octagon Theatre
Howell Croft South
Bolton
BL1 1SB

Auditions will be arranged via telephone on Friday 26th February so please provide us with a daytime telephone number.

Good luck with your audition!

Calling all Shakespeare Students

We are delighted to offer students that are studying Shakespeare tickets to see The Rape of Lucrece for just £5. Here are the details

Monday 22 February 2010

The Rape of Lucrece

Directed by Gareth Armstrong

“Shakespearean acting at its absolute finest” Three Weeks

“Powerful and horrifying...beautifully and excellently delivered by a master of his craft...You will rarely have the chance to experience great poetry brought to life this well” Fringe Review

"Sensational" Sir Trevor Nunn

Fresh from a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival.Olivier award-nominee and RSC actor Gerard Logan presents his tour-de-force solo performance of Shakespeare's great narrative poem in our Studio.

This is a brilliant, brutal narrative poem giving an account of the terrible crime of rape and its dreadful consequences. for victim and perpetrator.

Time: 7.30pm

To claim your £5 ticket simply call the Octagon Theatre Ticket Office on 01204 520661 and quote ‘Shakespeare Student offer’. Tickets are subject to availability.

Reminder: You can also get under 26s free tickets every night this week for A Midsummer Night's Dream. Read more here. Call 01204 520661 to book yours.

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/