Preview: Autumn 2015 at Washington's Art Centre

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Arts Centre Washington’s Autumn season has a stunning range of shows to appeal to all tastes!

From Prog to Poetry, Barmy Brontë Sisters to Teacher Trolls.  There is theatre, music and art for everyone!

Over the summer months Arts Centre Washington’s theatre has undergone a substantial renovation and is now kitted out with brand new lighting and sound equipment as well as other improvements to enhance the audience’s experience. Making brilliant use of these new facilities will be…: 

The Peoples Republic of Poetry; on National Poetry Day, A Firm of Poets present a participatory revolution.  A quartet of poets face the audience; in turn they step up to the mic to perform their poems.  A cross between a poetic super group and ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’ the show is fast paced and never the same twice.  You can also have the chance to perform in the show by taking part in the pre-show workshop.

We Are Brontë

We Are Brontë is a piece of comic visual theatre inspired by the real and imaginary worlds of Yorkshire’s literary siblings.  This is physical theatre at its most superb, and its most silly!

Daniel Bye - Going Viral

Daniel Bye is Going Viral with his trade mark blend of comedy, storytelling and performance lecture. His brand new show comes straight from the Edinburgh Fringe and explores ideas around the spread of disease, panic and ideas and how as a society we react.

Plus much more, including show from Precious Cargo, Red Cape, Open Works and Operating Theatre.

Our Teacher's a Troll - Photo: Richard Davenport

As ever the centre has a fantastic programme of theatre for children and families, who can see Our Teacher is a Troll.  Two terrible twins rule their school with terror and tyranny. That is, until the arrival of a new head teacher with green scaly skin, sharp gnarly fangs, and a long spiky tail… 

or Landscapes where children aged 3+ can explore four very different parts of the world in an extraordinary  performance tent.

For schools Macbeth: Blood will have Blood will provide children with a first-hand account of the story from a macabre Porter.  Or younger children can take in the magical delights of Bear and Butterfly.

Live music is also in plentiful supply.  Look out for local up and coming act’s such Black Atom Movement, The Face + Smokin’ Trace gracing the stage for the centre’s unsigned bands night Hothouse.  Double take as Prognosis and Rubber Bullets perform tributes to the best of progressive rock (Pink Floyd, Yes etc) and 10cc respectively.  The arts centre is also very proud to be home to the award winning Davy Lamp Folk Club every Saturday night, upcoming highlights include Tom McConville, Allan Taylor, Jez Lowe & Steve Tilston, Bob Fox, Billy Mitchell and more!

Paul Myrehaug

Autumn also sees the return of The Grinning Idiot Comedy Club. After a hiatus of over a year the popular stand up night returns with a fantastic line up of Paul Myrehaug, Sammy Dobson and  David Hadingham plus awesome compere; ‘Hebburn’s’ Steffen Peddie!

If you want to take part in the arts the centre has a vast array of classes and courses to get involved in.  For adults there is Watercolour Classes, Community Choir, Amateur Dramatics plus dance and exercise classes on offer.  For Children Art Classes, Youth Theatre (including a brand new youth theatre for 13 – 19 year olds) and even a Samba Drum Circle!

A Christmas Carol

Looking forward to Christmas at Arts Centre Washington and it is packed full of theatre, music and dancing!  This year’s Christmas show will be ‘The Snow Child’, a magical story about family, love and the power of dreams suitable for children aged 3 +.  Combine that with Christmas Craft Fairs, a contemporary reworking of Dickens’ atmospheric Ghost Story A Christmas Carol, Festive Sing-a-long’s and a Monster New Year’s Eve Bash, this could be the best Christmas ever!

Tickets:

For more information on all Arts Centre Washington events visit www.artscentrewashington.co.uk  or call 0191 219 3455.

AUTUMN LISTINGS

Arts & Craft Fair  - Saturday 5 September

The Tom McConville Band - 5 Sept - The Davy Lamp Folk Club

Rubber Bullets: A Tribute to the Music of 10CC- Friday 11 September

Allan Taylor 12 Sept - The Davy Lamp Folk Club       

Sitting Room + For the Best - Wednesday 16 September - thought-provoking drama highlighting health and social issues by Operating Theatre.

Into Thin Air - Thur 1 Oct - a slick, intelligent exploration of the increasing pressure on everyone to succeed at everything

Arts & Craft Fair - Sat 3 Oct

Be Brave and Leave for the Unknown

The People’s Republic of Poetry Thur 8 Oct Come and celebrate National Poetry Day at A Firm of Poet’s participatory revolution

The Grinning Idiot Comedy Club Fri 9 Oct featuring  Paul Myrehaug, Sammy Dobson, David Hadingham + MC Steffen Peddie

Bear & Butterfly - Tues 13 Oct, Puppetry, live music and beautiful storytelling combine in this charming tale about love, loss and friendship, for ages 4+

Landscapes

Landscapes Sat 17 Oct Take a magical journey through four different worlds and meet the animals that live there in this amazing performance full of visual effects and stunningly lifelike puppets for ages 3+

Macbeth – Blood Will Have Blood  21 –  23 Oct

Our Teacher’s a Troll Sat 24 Oct suitable for ages 7+.   Two terrible twins rule their school with terror and tyranny. That is, until the arrival of a new head teacher with green scaly skin, sharp gnarly fangs, and a long spiky tail… 

We Are Brontë - Thurs 29 Oct physical theatre at its most superb, and its most silly

Prognosis: A Tribute to Progressive Rock - Fri 30 Oct

Fright Night – A Halloween Horror Marathon Sat 31 Oct – Featuring some of Christopher lee’s greatest performances  The Horror of Dracula, The Curse of the Werewolf, and The Wicker man (Directors Cut) 

Arts & Craft Fair Sat 7 Nov

Jez Lowe & Steve Tilston (Songwriter Tour) 7 Nov The Davy Lamp Folk Club

And Now: The World! Thurs 12 Nov - a story about being young in a digital world

Be Brave and Leave for the Unknown  18 + 19 Nov play looking at the nature of bravery both epic and domestic, large and small.

The Folk Degree Students ‘En Masse’ 21 Nov The Davy Lamp Folk Club

Going Viral - Thurs 26 Nov Daniel Bye presents his trademark blend of comedy, storytelling and performance lecture.

Hothouse  -  Fri 27 Nov – Some of the best unsigned bands take to the stage featuring  Black Atom Movement + The Face + Smokin’ Trace

Dick Gaughan 28 Nov The Davy Lamp Folk Club

Snow Child  1 – 5 Dec Family Christmas show running from 1 – 5 December, suitable for ages 3+,  

New Year’s Eve Monster Ceilidh Bash

Christmas Arts & Craft Fair - Saturday 5 December

Bob Fox 5 Dec         The Davy Lamp Folk Club

A Christmas Carol - Thurs 10 Dec - A brand new take on Dickens’ atmospheric Ghost Story of Christmas

Billy Mitchell and the Guilty Party 12 Dec The Davy Lamp Folk Club     

New Year’s Eve Monster Ceilidh Bash - 31 December