This year’s iteration of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017 runs from 12 – 28 May and with it comes a substantial programme of circus, literature, classical and contemporary music, dance, family activities, performance, theatre, visual arts and The Adnams Spiegeltent that befits the fourth biggest arts festival in the country.
Eyecatching inclusions include
- Taking a ride on a giant mechanical jellyfish
- Spending the night at a choral sleepover
- Relaxing on a deckchair at night under the Moon
- Enjoying a piece of theatre on a doubledecker bus tour of Norwich
And speaking of theatrical highlights,
- Luke Wright – Following the multi-award-winning What I Learned From Johnny Bevan, Luke Wright’s second verse play Frankie Vah explores love, loss and belief against a backdrop of scuzzy indie venues and 80s politics at the Norwich Playhouse.
- IOU – Rear View takes the people of Norwich on a tour around the city’s streets as a custom-made bus becomes the setting for an unforgettable journey from the celebrated IOU. Performers Cecilia Knapp and Jemima Foxtrot make reflections, predictions and observations that blur the line between reality and fiction in this moving production.
- Quarantine – Comprising three live performances and a film, Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring. is a piece of mass portraiture, epic in scale, ambition and subject. The production, from internationally renowned theatre company Quarantine, is a quartet about the human life cycle; living, dying, and our relationship with time.
- Stormy: The Life of Lena Horne – Written by and starring Camilla Beeput, Stormy: The Life of Lena Horne is a celebration of the titular movie star, activist and singer in her centenary year. Under the creative direction of Clarke Peters (Five Guys Named Moe), Stormy brings Lena to life, alongside a five-piece band, providing a thrilling musical evocation of one of the great African-American figures in 20th century entertainment.
The full programme can be downloaded here.
Marisha Wallace, currently the alternate Effie in Dreamgirls, is to play Celie in a a charity gala performance of The Color Purple with the British Theatre Academy. The concert will play at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 21st May with musical direction by James Taylor and choreography by Mykal Rand.
Joining her in the company is Wendy Mae Brown (assuming she’s not been too mentally scarred by touring in Ghost) as Sofia, Cavin Cornwall (Aladdin) as Mister, Tyrone Huntley (2016 fosterIAN nominee and Dreamgirls) as Harpo, Rachel John (another 2016 fosterIAN nominee for The Bodyguard) as Shug, Hugh Maynard (yet another 2016 fosterIAN nominee for Sweeney Todd) as Pa and Seyi Omooba (recently so electric Ragtime) as Nettie.
Monday 03 April, 1-4pm @ The Hat Factory, Luton LU1 2EY
Wednesday 05 April, 10am-5pm @ Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond TW9 2SA
Paines Plough are excited to announce their next round of open auditions in collaboration with their friends Revoluton Arts and the Orange Tree Theatre.
They’re looking to meet actors previously unknown to Paines Plough with a passion for new writing. You can apply in pairs for one of the dates from now until 10am on 21 March and then we’ll randomly select 15 duos to see in Luton and 30 duos for Richmond. They hope this means that everyone who wants to apply is able to, and that the selection process is fair to everyone.
In Luton, they’re only looking for actors who are originally from – or currently live – in Luton or wider Bedfordshire. If you’re not from Bedfordshire please do not apply for these open auditions.
Anyone is welcome to apply for the open auditions in Richmond.
Sounds good? Then read more here about how to apply…
Following an acclaimed, sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre, FRACKED! OR: PLEASE DON’T USE THE F-WORD will embark on a UK tour from April 2017. Alistair Beaton’s provocative new comedy takes us to an idyllic English village threatened by an energy company intent on drilling for shale gas.
