Free Tickets during A Week Less Ordinary

We are celebrating a year of the A Night Less Ordinary scheme with an extra special week of events this half term. This landmark scheme, launched by the Arts Council in February 2009, gives young people under the age of 26 the chance to see a range of theatre in venues across the country for free.

So far, the Octagon has welcomed more than 1,500 young people to the theatre as part of the scheme, many of them attending the theatre for the first time. Overall the Arts Council aims to give more than 600,000 free theatre tickets to under 26 year olds across the UK over the next two years.

To celebrate the first year anniversary of the scheme, theatres around the country will be taking part in A Week Less Ordinary this half term holiday. For every evening performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Monday 15 Feburary - Friday 19 February) the Octagon will be giving away a limited number of free tickets for anyone under 26. The Octagon’s Artistic Director, David Thacker, believes this production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the perfect show to mark a year of this free theatre ticket scheme. He said:

“The A Night Less Ordinary scheme has been a huge success for the Octagon and we have been delighted to welcome a new wave of young people to the theatre and see what they think of the work we produce. A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been designed with young people in mind, and the young cast bring the play to life with energy and humour. By giving away free tickets for every evening performance this week, we hope even more under 26s will be able to experience this hilarious and passionate play.”

What’s more, for one week only, theatres around the country will be giving you the chance to see famous faces in unusual places, with actors taking some time away from the stage to serve behind the bar or sell you some tickets. Come to the Octagon in A Week Less Ordinary and you may well be surprised by who is serving you an interval ice cream.

The free tickets for under 26s are strictly limited. For more details call the Octagon Ticket Office on 01204 520661 to claim yours.

A Midsummer Night's Dream - the reviews...

It seems that the reviews of A Midsummer Night's Dream are a mixed bag. The critics can't seem to agree whether staging the production against the psychedelic backdrop of the late 1960s is inspired or incomprehensible. I have to say it worked for me. The woodland fairy world seems to represent an altered state of consciousness. And an altered state of consciousness is obviously the state that many of the characters reside in, having been drugged by the mischievous fairies so the parallels with 1960s hippy trippy subculture, for me, seem extremely clear. Plus, the set, lighting, use of space and costumes add up to a fantastical visual spectacle. There seems to be a divide over pace also with some saying it rattles along and others that it is on go slow.

There are some stunning performances. For me, Kieran Hill as Bottom, was wonderful. Charming and charismatic but also willing to also make a bit of an ass of himself to hilarious effect. Paula Jennings is captivating as the sensuous, nay, sexy Titania (am rethinking whether to bring my husband to this one as I think he is more than likely to fall under her spell!). According to a lot of the gentlemen I spoke to her white mini dress played a mesmerising supporting role!! I also loved Russell Dixon as Peter Quince who managed to have the audience in stitches without uttering a word and the very watchable Kiruna Stamell...

Judging by the laughter and resounding applause coming from the very young audience on Friday afternoon, it seems that they enjoyed it immensely, despite the running time of over 3 hours. So perhaps, and dare I say it for risk of offending, this one will enjoyed by the young or the young at heart....

"THE debate as to whether or not time and place should be tampered with in Shakespeare’s plays will rage for as long as his work is staged, but if the Bard was to witness this mesmerising production he would surely send a sonnet of approval in the direction of the Octagon." THE BOLTON NEWS Read more here...

"All in all, this is a passionate, gripping and humorous version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with standout performances from Kieran Hill (as Bottom), Russell Dixon (as Peter Quince) and, of course, the multi-talented music fairy, Carol Sloman. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, find the romance within you and head towards the intimate Bolton Octagon- as this Dream is well worth going to see!" WHAT'S ON STAGE Read more here...

"Despite being a little too long for comfort this is an excellent production of Midsummer Night’s Dream and a fine addition to The Octagon’s programme." THE PUBLIC REVIEWS Read more here...

"David Thacker’s award-winning experience as resident director of the RSC proves invaluable in this potentially exhilarating, accessible, although overlong, production of one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays." THE STAGE Read more here...

"Designer Ashley Shairp’s acid-coloured playground of a forest, teeming with bouncing balls and magic lanterns, seems to unleash the potential in every character... Vanessa Kirby’s heart-broken Helena sets the stage alight... Rob Edwards’ magisterial Oberon... Kieran Hill makes an unusually good-looking Bottom... Russell Dixon’s Peter Quince runs off with the comedy honours... The handling of the verse is uniformly excellent, and David Thacker’s inspired use of the entire auditorium really brings the show alive..." UK THEATRE NET Read more here...

And a transcript of Clitheroe Advertiser's review here...

Director David Thacker and designer Ashley Shairp have had a ball in creating the Octagon’s production of one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream – both literally and metaphorically!

This is a wonderful psychedelic interpretation set in 1967, the summer of love in San Francisco, the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper, Cardin and Courregges, and also anti-Vietnam war protests and the coup that put the Colonels in charge of a repressive regime in Greece. Theseus’ court is militaristic and his bride-to-be Hippolyta is unhappy. But when the young lovers and the Athenian workmen escape to the woods they find themselves in a surreal world of multi-coloured, multi-sized plastic balls that roll around the stage giving a sense of fun and anarchy, which eventually envelopes everyone.

The diverse cast are terrific. Rob Edwards is both Theseus and a thoughtful, complex Oberon. Paula Jennings is Hippolyta and a wonderfully sexy sixties ‘bird’ as Titania. Rosie Jones, Vanessa Kirby Jake Norton and Nick Underwoood are delightfully charming and confused as the lovers. However, special praise must go to the ‘Rude Mechanicals’ who double as Palace Guards and weirdly costumed fairies. Kieran Hill is an appealing Bottom. Russell Dixon gives another of his superb performances as Peter Quince. His interpretation of Quince delivering the prologue in the play within a play is masterful. They are well supported by some wonderfully comic performances from Laurence Clark, Brendan Quinn, Russell Richardson and Kiruna Stamell. The whole is masterminded by Puck, an unusual but clever interpretation by Leo Atkin. The final act is hilarious.

As I left, I followed several members of the audience who were still giggling, complaining of stomach ache with laughing so much! I was in a similar state plus having the unattainable desire to be able to wear mini-skirts and high-heeled, white PVC boots again!

"Thacker’s biggest success is with most productions’ weak-link, the young lovers caught in their elders’ world...Every line is well-crafted to give meaning...a production where the human spirit replaces external order as the foundation for society." REVIEWSGATE. Read more here...

"the military junta is ­magically transformed into Sergeant Pepper and his band, and a quartet of young people conduct an experiment in free love aided by mind-altering ­substances. It's a metaphor so obvious it seems surprising no one has thought of it before, but Thacker's concept fits the play like a velvet glove over an iron fist." THE GUARDIAN Read more...

More reviews

Read British Theatre Guide here
Read Citylife review here
Read Lancashire Evening Post here
A mention in The Observer review here

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....

Bar Assistant Required

The William Hare Bar at the Octagon Theatre requires a committed, reliable, Bar Assistant to serve customers in a quick, efficient and pleasant manner. The Bar is open from 6.00 pm –11.00 pm Monday to Saturday each week and from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm on matinee performance days. Hours for this post are approximately 12 - 15 per week over 3 days.

Every four weeks during the production season the bar is closed from Monday to Wednesday, this is called Tech week. The bar is also closed during the summer maintenance period usually between July and August, when there is no work, and on some evening dates during December when hours will be reduced accordingly.

For further details and an application form please ask at The Spotlight Café, telephone 01204 529407 or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk

The Octagon Theatre positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community. http://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/

Schools invited to free Dream event

An important note from our friends at the University of Bolton. They have contacted me to let you know that schools, colleges and youth groups with a passion for The Bard have an opportunity to investigate A Midsummer Night's Dream with academics from across the country.

The University of Bolton, in partnership with us here at the Octagon Theatre, are running an Investigate Day to explore the fascinating world of Shakespeare, with particular reference to A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Places are free, but must be booked before Friday 5 February, due to popularity. The event, for 14 year olds and over, is on Saturday 27 February, from 9.30am at the University, and concludes with a matinee performance of the play at the Octagon Theatre.

Key speakers will take those attending on a whistle-stop tour of Shakespeare and will explore how his work has transcended across many genres and mediums.

There will be a range of presentations by professionals, who will put Shakespeare under scrutiny. These include:

• Dr Mel Gibson from the University of Northumbria and EmmaVieceli a Graphic Artist at Self Made Hero Publishers, who will be discussing the graphic novel versions of Shakespeare's work;


• Brid Andrews, from the University of Bolton who will bediscussing the filmic adaptations of the play and


• Professor Richard Wilson, from Cardiff University who is an expert in the field of Shakespeare's work.

Said organiser, Rebecca Albrow, Creative Industries Project Manager at the University:

'This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone aged 14 yrs or over that has a passion for Shakespeare's plays.'

For further information please contact Rebecca Albrow (e) R.A.Albrow@bolton.ac.uk (t) 01204 903332. You can read more about the event on our website.

You can read an interview with Vanessa Kirby who play Helena in the production here and another in Citylife with Kiruna Stamell here.

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....