Following news of Birmingham’s Tier 3 status together with ongoing uncertainty about what will be possible post 16 December, Birmingham Royal Ballet has taken the difficult decision to move their 2020 adapted version of The Nutcracker online. The magical Christmas production will be streamed live from The Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday 18 December at 7.30pm, giving audiences an experience as close to watching it live in the theatre as is possible.
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The REP will be available to watch as a livestream event at 7.30pm on Friday 18th December. It will then be available to view as a video-on-demand recording from Saturday 19th to Thursday 24th December. Video-on-demand sales close at midnight on 21st December, but can be viewed until midnight on Christmas Eve.
Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta said ‘I guess you could say we’re trying to look on the bright side at the moment! By live streaming this new adapted version of our famous and much-loved production we can proceed with confidence and focus on making the event as special as possible for our wonderful audiences and now, wherever you are in the world, you can be part of it. I can’t deny it’s disappointing not to see everyone’s happy faces in the theatre, but we will plan to end the year on a Christmas high, finding ways of celebrating is important right now.’
Sean Foley, Artistic Director at The REP said: ‘We hope this newly announced Live Stream performance of The Nutcracker at The REP will bring a flurry of theatrical magic and seasonal warmth into families’ homes this Christmas. Teams at The REP and Birmingham Royal Ballet have been working tirelessly since new safety measures were announced to make this very special, one-off adaptation of the classic festive tale. We are tremendously excited to share it with thousands of people across the world at the same time – the first time ever a performance has been streamed ‘Live from The Birmingham REP’.
In light of the performances being cancelled the Company has again focused on finding solutions and decided to tackle uncertainties by enabling audiences to enjoy the world premiere of this new adaptation from home. After the cancellation of this year’s full production at the Royal Albert Hall, this will be the one chance to experience Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Christmas classic this year.
The full-length Nutcracker will be shortened to an 80-minute magical experience that will retain all of the most enchanting moments and characters you would expect and hope for – Snowflakes, Drosselmeyer, Fritz and Clara’s Christmas Eve party, King Rat’s battle, the Kingdom of Sweets dances from around the world, the iconic Sugar Plum Fairy and, of course, The Nutcracker Prince – and features the cherished Tchaikovsky score performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy.
Ticket holders for this pay per view production will also be able to enjoy some extra treats the Company have tied together with a seasonal red bow to make the experience as special as possible.
People who have bought tickets for the original live performances The REP will be contacted by the box office.
This year’s performance will ensure the safety of all performers, technical crew and staff.
Two performances featuring two different casts will be captured at The REP. The second film will feature three third year students from The Royal Ballet School performing Trepak, the Russian dance, and students from Elmhurst Ballet School dancing Snowflakes will be available for audiences to watch online in early 2021.
Birmingham Royal Ballet is committed to offering performance opportunities for students of the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School, especially at this time when such opportunities are so rare for students starting out in their careers.
Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s social media pages will reflect a celebration of The Nutcracker throughout the run, including exclusive new dance footage, ballet lessons for the very young and behind-the-scenes insights and the premiere of a new animated film inspired by The Nutcracker created with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s second company, Freefall, whose exceptionally talented dancers have learning disabilities.
The Nutcrackerat The REP
1st Cast:
Clara: Karla Doorbar
The Prince: César Morales
The Sugar Plum Fairy: Momoko Hirata
Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy
Running Time: 90 minutes – Including a short interval and exciting behind-the-scenes access
ORIGINAL THEATRE COMPANY RE-RELEASES FILMED PERFORMANCE OF ALAN BENNETT’S THE HABIT OF ART ON THURSDAY 3 DECEMBER IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEW DOCUMENTARY HOME MADE ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF ORIGINAL THEATRE ONLINE DURING THE YEAR OF COVID-19
When theatres were closed by the Government in March this year, Original Theatre Company’s second tour of Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art was shut down before it had opened. As the company was rehearsing on stage at the time, Original Theatre Company decided to film the whole production and then released it online on 26 March for two months. This became the start of a highly successful year of online productions for the company.
Original Theatre Company has now decided to re-release the film of The Habit of Art, starring Matthew Kelly and David Yelland and directed by Philip Franks, on Thursday 3 December until Sunday 28 February via originaltheatreonline.com. The company will, at the same time, launch part one of a three-part documentary, Home Made, which tells the story of how the company responded to the closure of theatres and went on to create to date four new online productions as well as the filmed versions of The Habit of Art and The Croft, which had also been touring when theatres were closed.
The Original Theatre Company was operating with no Arts Council support, relying solely on box office takings. With theatres closed and their tours of The Habit of Art and The Croft cancelled, they were facing financial ruin. They were determined to meet financial commitments made to actors, stage managers and suppliers, and find a way to survive.
Original Theatre Company’s online productions to date include the critically acclaimed lockdown productions of Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong Online, Louise Coulthard’s Watching Rosie and the new commission by Torben Betts, Apollo 13: The Dark Side of The Moon. The Haunting of Alice Bowles is a new supernatural thriller by Philip Franks, adapted for the first time from the M.R. James chilling short ghost story, The Experiment, which will be available to watch via originaltheatreonline.com from 7.30pm on 17 December 2020 until 28 February 2021.
Using behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews with the cast, crew and creatives, Home Made, directed by filmmaker Elijah Grant, tells the story of an unforgettable year in the life of a touring theatre company. Against the backdrop of national lockdowns, show closures and an industry on the edge, Home Made explores how Original Theatre adapted and survived and, in doing so, created ‘a new form of theatre’.
From filming The Habit the Art on the cusp of national lockdown to recreating Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong in actors’ bedrooms, to the challenges of filming zero gravity on iPhones for Apollo 13, this unique documentary is a love letter to theatre and the desire from audiences and freelancers across the country to continue making it and watching it against all the odds.
THEATRES have been hard hit by Covid-19, but a freelance stage manager has used the pandemic to realise her dream.
With playhouses closed up and down the country, Katie Patrick, from Hockley, Essex, decided to set up her own company, Play.make.theatre. And the fruits of her labours are due to come to fruition this month when Hansel and Gretel’s Camping Adventure opens.
As well as setting up the company, Katie has also written and directed the show. “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” she explained. “I have been a freelance stage manager for several for several years and, unfortunately with Covid-19, all my work I had lined up this has now been cancelled. “During lockdown I thought this is the time for me to try my own project. It gave me time to decide what Play.make.theatre was going to be, to write the work and decide how I was going to produce it. “I used the negative of the lockdown and tried to turn it into a positive, to use my downtime more productively in creating the company.”
Katie knew she wanted to produce a family show at Christmas and decided a modern take on the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale Hansel and Gretel would be ideal. She overcame her concerns about writing to pen the script and held auditions before casting Francesca Simons as Gretel and Amber Satchwell as Helga, the camp leader, and the Old Lady; Hansel is played by a teddy bear. Rehearsals started on Zoom before the end of the first lockdown meant they company could meet in person, while ensuring all the Government’s pandemic rules were observed.
One problem was those regulations meant there could be no singing, so another East 15 student, Serena Fyvie, wrote some poetry instead. Katie also got advice from friends and contacts in the theatre world, including Ivan Wilkinson, as things took shape. She also recruited theatre student Jamie Mather as the production’s technician. Now the company is hoping to stage the show between December 18-24 at Hockley Public Hall, subject to Covid-19 restrictions, in front of a socially distanced audience.
“It’s been challenging, but we’ve made it work and we hope people will enjoy it,” added Katie, who is hoping to present the show at other venues in 2021.
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, A Christmas Carol & Comedy Club 4 Kids
After postponing our annual Christmas pantomime, The Queen of Hearts, we are delighted to announce the return of Christmas spirit to Greenwich Theatre with a triple bill line-up!
First up we have a thrilling festive adventure set in an alternative history of England. Our own, home-grown production of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, directed by our artistic director James Haddrell (The Jungle Book, Here), tells the story of two brave and determined girls as they fight against ferocious wolves and battle their way through snowy wastelands to defeat their very evil guardian, Miss Slighcarp.
This exciting, fun-filled adaptation of Joan Aiken’s classic children’s novel, adapted by Russ Tunney, sees cousins Bonnie and Sylvia and their friend Simon the Goose-boy encountering a host of unforgettable characters as they discover that the wolves roaming the forests and fields outside may not be as dangerous as the wolfish adults plotting inside.
A magical, musical, wintry treat, this socially distanced family production is the perfect way to celebrate the festive season in true theatrical style. Alongside the live performance, we are also offering audience members the opportunity to join members of the cast in an online, interactive experience set in the same wintry world, where children will be able to be part of a unique interactive adventure, all from the comfort of their own homes.
Next, we welcome the triumphant return of European Arts Company’s socially distanced production of A Christmas Carol, a heart-warming production in the presence of the author himself.
A Christmas Carol was the first public reading Dickens gave of his own work, enacting it over 150 times to a phenomenal reception. For a limited time only, join us as European Arts Company magically recreate Charles Dickens’s famous performance of his best-loved Christmas story. Enjoy a seasonal treat in the spirit of Christmas past, present and future.
Finally, in this stellar line-up we are overjoyed to present Comedy Club 4 Kids. Since 2005, the Comedy Club 4 Kids has been getting the best family friendly stand-ups and sketch acts from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children (aged 6+) and their families. Join us this Christmas for some festive laughs for the whole family to enjoy.
With the global pandemic closing theatres across the country, Greenwich Theatre has been overwhelmed by the support provided by its local audiences, alongside funding support from Arts Council England. Now, after mounting the ambitious six-month online programme Greenwich Connects, the team are delighted to be injecting some festive spirit into the heart of the community and welcoming audiences back to the venue. With Government guidelines changing daily, the team at Greenwich are dedicated to providing and implementing safety measures to ensure the safety of audience, staff and performers without taking away from the magic of theatre.
James Haddrell, the theatre’s artistic and executive director, said: “We are delighted to have been among the first theatres to reopen our doors for live performance with shows resuming this month, and now to have found an alternative to the pantomime which sadly had to be postponed. Whilst it may not be viable to present our regular festive treat, I know that a trip to the theatre is key to so many families’ celebrations and I’m proud that at Greenwich Theatre we’ll be offering our own festive show alongside the eagerly awaited return of both European Arts Company and Comedy Club 4 Kids. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, presented in a brand new socially distanced production, is a thrilling adventure story that’s sure to delight the whole family this Christmas and fill the gap left by so many cancelled or postponed pantomimes.”
Title: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, A Christmas Carol & Comedy Club 4 Kids
Performance Dates: Wednesday, 9th December 2020 – Sunday, 3rd January 2021.
Full dates online.
Location: Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London SE10 8ES
As theatres slowly begin to open up to audiences and visitors, Ealing’s Questors Theatre has has emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of everyone coming through its doors. “We have set up some COVID-19 guidelines which follow the government’s latest guidelines, and will be in place until further notice.”
They are as follows:
Limited numbers will be allowed in the building at any one time;
We have a one-way system in place throughout the building to minimise crowding;
There will be hand-santitiser stations throughout the building;
Face masks must be worn at all times in the building unless you are exempt from wearing one;
We will be operating the venue with socially-distanced seating. Seats in our Playhouse Theatre will have coverings on them to show which are available to sit on and which are not;
Our Studio is currently closed for performances;
Until further notice, all tickets will be digital;
We ask you to not attend any event if you are unwell or have a temperature;
After the event, we ask you to vacate the premises as soon as possible;
We are sanitising and cleaning all areas and equipment at the end of each day;
If you are not visiting the theatre for an event, we kindly ask you to vacate the premises and wait elsewhere;
If you or anyone in your party subsequently falls ill after attending please notify us via C19@questors.org.uk
“We are excited to welcome you back to The Questors very soon, and hope to have more shows and events lined up in the near future!”
For information on upcoming productions: CLICK HERE