ARENA

THEATRE

Jan-Jul 2020

PLAYS FILMS DANCE MUSIC COMEDY

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HELLO! Welcome to the Spring 2020 season at the Arena Theatre, University of Wolverhampton.

Jan-Jul 2020

CONTENTS Performances

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Arena Film Theatre

It’s a new decade, but here at the Arena Theatre we are bringing in the New Year with some familiar favourites making their return to our stage with some brand-new shows: Blackeyed Theatre, Vamos Theatre and Gazebo Theatre to name but three.

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Theatre Supper

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Arena Venue Hire

Poetry and Storytellers

As ever, we are bringing you some of the best in local Midlands talent: with Paperback Theatre and Emma White – two alumni from ourArena Collaborative Theatremaker (ACT) evenings – taking to our main stage for the very first time.

Arena Collaborative Theatremakers

University Open Days

Learning and Participation At a Glance

How to Book

Our professional programme boasts a little something for everyone this season: Get Lost & Found are bringing us a Moomin-tastic show with Mischief and Mayhem in Moominvalley, whilst Morgan and West’s Unbelievable Science is bound to capture the imaginations of all little ones in the room.

How to Find us

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No Amps, No Chat, No Charge

With this in mind, you won’t want to miss out on an opportunity to immerse yourselves in our flourishing artistic scene: with our Arena Collaborative Theatremaker (ACT) evenings and Poets and Storytellers Assemble! (PASTA) nights motoring along stronger than ever.

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And let’s not forget: 14/48 Wolverhampton, the world’s quickest theatre festival, is BACK for its sixth year! We look forward to welcoming you soon!

Neil

NrD E I R F edge you

Neil Reading Venue Manager + The Team

TALK TO US!

Keep-up to-date with our latest news, links and last-minute ticket deals, and get an occasional peek behind the scenes...

@Arena_Theatre /arenatheatre

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HIGHLIGHTS 05

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Yin

Home of the Wriggler

Friday 31 January at 7.30pm

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Midsummer Thur 16 April at 7.30pm

SIGNED (BSL)

Thurs 27 Feb 7.30pm

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The Canterbury Tales

Sat 2 May at 7.30pm

AUDIO DESCRIBED

CAPTIONED

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Dead Good

Queer Lady M

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Thurs/Fri 5 and 6 March at 1pm and 7.30pm

Barking Tales Fri 12 June at 7.30pm

Friday 20 March 7.30pm

Youth Theatre Jan - July

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04 PERFORMANCES

PERFORMANCES Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists

POETRY SLAM Saturday 25 January 7.30pm

Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists present the fourth Wolverhampton Original Literature Festival Poetry Slam. Join your MCs, Steve Pottinger, Dave Pitt and Emma Purshouse for a slamtastic Lit Fest Saturday. Witness 15 poets battle it out in a live poetry competition to become Slam Champion 2018. Be bedazzled by bardic bravery, give your vote to a valorous versifier, whoop for a wordsmith. Who wins? The audience decides. Tickets: ÂŁ10

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PERFORMANCES 05

Vanhulle Dance Theatre

YIN Friday 31 January 7.30pm Contemporary dance and live music synchronise in a fearless, evocative piece performed by four female artists. In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describe how opposite forces are interdependent and need each other to co-exist. Yin reflects upon these universal symbols, drawing inspiration from the natural lifecycle and lived experiences. Highly visual, captivating choreography, haunting vocals, baroque piano and sound design subtly cross over, playfully questioning society’s perceptions of sexuality and power. Recommended age: 12yrs+ Tickets: £10

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06 PERFORMANCES

A gothic masterpiece of tempestuous passions and dark secrets, Jane Eyre tells the thrilling story of an orphan girl and her journey from a childhood of loneliness and cruelty to a life at Thornfield Hall and an unlikely relationship with the mysterious Mr Rochester. Falling in love, she gradually uncovers a hidden past to the gloomy, forbidding Thornfield Hall, a terrible secret that forces her to make a heart-wrenching choice.

Blackeyed Theatre

Thursday 6 at 7.30pm Friday 7 at 1.00pm (BSL/Audio Described) and at 7.30pm and Saturday 8 February at 7.30pm Tickets: £10

Don’t miss Blackeyed Theatre’s brand new stage adaptation of this great work of English fiction. Captivating, brooding and intensely powerful, JaneONLINE Eyre is a moving BOOK TICKETS arena.wlv.ac.uk and unforgettable portrayal of one woman’s quest for equality and freedom, and lives as one of the great triumphs of storytelling.

PERFORMANCES 07

Joss Arnott Dance

EMERGENCE TRIPLE BILL 2020 Friday 14 February 7.30pm

Following a hugely successful inaugural tour, Emergence, the postgraduate dance company of Joss Arnott Dance and the University of Salford, returns with a new cohort, two new works and the chance to see a reimagining of one of Arnott’s acclaimed productions.

Wubkje Kuindersma presents FUEL, a work inspired by the energy of this young, vital company, whilst James Wilton’s physical feast An Event asks how we feel in that moment between everything being fine and everything falling to pieces. Joss Arnott completes the bill with When Worlds Collide, his exhilarating, technical masterclass featuring an original, cinematic music score and stunning lighting. Tickets: £10

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08 PERFORMANCES

Quick Duck Theatre

YOURS SINCERELY Saturday 15 February 7.30pm

The year is 2017. Average graduate debt has hit £50,000, Kylie Minogue is making a comeback and Will Jackson has accidentally stolen 300 second class stamps from the post office. But he’s making them count. He’s going to write letters. From reconnecting with old friends and ex-boyfriends to run-ins with the marketing department at John Lewis, stamp collecting has never looked so sexy... Storytelling and lip-sync cabaret collide in this queer coming-of-age comedy about the complications of 21st century communication, based on real life correspondences. Tickets: £10

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PERFORMANCES 09

Starcross Youth Theatre

FOOTLOOSE Friday 21 February, 7.00pm Saturday 22 February, 2.00pm and 7.00pm Sunday 23 February, 2.00pm

Starcross Youth Theatre burst onto the Arena stage with their musical version of iconic 80s movie, Footloose. When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn’t prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing… To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score, with 80s classics such as Holding Out for a Hero, Let’s Hear It for the Boy and title song Footloose, Starcross Youth Theatre will surely leave you wanting to “kick off your Sunday shoes and cut loose!” An amateur production by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe. Book early to ensure you don’t miss out! Stage Adaptation by DEAN PITCHFORD and WALTER BOBBIE Based on the Original Screenplay by Dean Pitchford Music by TOM SNOW, Lyrics by DEAN PITCHFORD Additional Music by ERIC CARMEN, SAMMY HAGAR, KENNY LOGGINS and JIM STEINMAN An amateur production by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe

Tickets: : £12 full price / £10 concessions

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10 PERFORMANCES

Stan’s Cafe

HOME OF THE WRIGGLER Thursday 27 February at 7.30pm

Set far into the future, in a post-oil world, Home of the Wriggler follows four investigators enthusiastically piecing together the interwoven stories of families that once lived in the shadow of a huge car factory set for closure. Ambitious and witty, alive with ideas, built from true stories and industrial history, Home of the Wriggler is a playful kaleidoscopic soap opera. Its industrious performers, turning dynamos

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to light the stage with car headlights, bring to life dozens of humdrum fragments of everyday moments. Together, they create a poetic and heartwarming story of a community getting on with living their lives while a huge corporate drama unfolds around them. From Birmingham’s own Stan’s Cafe, who have been touring to international acclaim since 1991.

Tickets: £10

PERFORMANCES 11

fingersmiths

MY MOTHER NEVER SAID I SHOULD Friday 28 and Saturday 29 February at 7.30pm A moving and funny exploration of the lives of four generations of women in one family. Shifting back and forth in time, we see their loves, expectations and choices play out against huge social change from the 1900s through to the 1980s.

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Tickets: £10

YOU ARE ALWAYS YOUR MOTHER’S CHILD, MY MOTHER USED TO SAY.

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Presented in British Sign Language and spoken English and featuring a cast of one hearing and three d/Deaf actors, this production’s visual, physical storytelling captures the rich breadth of communication styles that have always been used by the d/Deaf community.

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Vamos Theatre

DEAD GOOD Thursday 5 March, 7.30pm Friday 6 March, 1.00pm and 7.30pm (Audio Described)

Let’s start...at the end. Bob and Bernard have only two things in common: they’re both dying… and they’re not going down without a fight. So, with a bottle of Bollinger and the keys to Bernard’s Bentley in hand, they decide to hit the road, and take on one final, deathdefying adventure. Funny and poignant in equal measure, Dead Good is a new production for 2020, touring the UK and Europe.

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It’s a witty, wordless theatre show about the ultimate shared experience. Recommended age: 12yrs+ Accessible to deaf audiences without a signer.

Dead Good is a co-production with Corn Exchange Newbury and a co-commission with London International Mime Festival, made with support from The Leche Trust and Worcestershire County Council.

Tickets: £10

PERFORMANCES 13

Open Theatre

TWISTED TALES Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March at 7.30pm

A flustered storyteller is joined by a mischievous mockingbird as he follows Hansel and Gretel deep into the forest. All is not what it seems, as the characters start to tell their own version of this peculiar adventure. Come along and meet the wicked witch and her really rather eccentric chefs in this

truly imaginative version of Hansel and Gretel. Live music, hilarious performances and a mesmerising design ensure that this play will entertain and amuse the entire family. Tickets: ÂŁ10

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14 PERFORMANCES

Northern School of Contemporary Dance

VERVE: MIXED BILL Thursday 19 March at 7.30pm

Physically ambitious, strikingly original dance. VERVE’s exceptional dancers tackle new works by Olivier award-winning dance theatre maker Botis Seva, prolific dancer-turned-choreographer Lali Ayguadé, rising star in Scandinavian contemporary dance Mari Carrasco, and maverick choreographer Douglas Thorpe. VERVE is the internationally touring postgraduate company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD). Tickets: £10

PERFORMANCES 15

1623 Theatre Company

QUEER LADY M Friday 20 March 7.30pm

Performed by Shane Gabriel, Lady Macbeth comes to life like you’ve never experienced before. Queer Lady M invites you to enter her world of passion and shade, outrageous lip-syncing, cheeky dancing and sassy conversation. But what happens when Shane removes the makeup and puts Lady M to bed? Find out in 1623’s funny and moving exploration of a unique relationship between a fierce drag queen and her anxious alter-ego who join forces to fight tragedy and celebrate queerness. Queer Lady M brings together devised performance, Shakespeare and drag while exploring the real-life experiences of working-class, gender-fluid artist Shane Gabriel. Tickets: £10

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16 PERFORMANCES

Luke Baker

MAGIC ATTACK Saturday 21 March at 7.30pm

Luke Baker’s one man show Magic Attack comes to Wolverhampton for one night only. It promises to be a show not to be missed: filled with magic tricks, cheeky comedy and mind reading. Recommended age: 14yrs+

Vital Xposure

MEDICINE’S MONSTROUS DAUGHTERS

Tickets: £10

Thursday 26 March 7.30pm

Different women. Different times. Same system.

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THAT WAS FUNNY AND MAGICAL. KEN CHENG, AS SEEN ON E4’S THE HANGOVER GAMES

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AMAZING MAGIC! RICHARD JONES, WINNER OF BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT

Two powerful plays, inspired by real life events, are woven together across time to expose unpalatable truths about the treatment of people deemed ‘different’ or ‘damaged’ and asks how much of our humanity do we lose in search of the cure? Julie McNamara’s Monstrous Daughters is told from the perspective of Mad Mary, on the run from ‘the specimen collectors’ and searching for her lost baby.

Medicine, the extraordinary debut play by Omikemi, looks at contemporary experiences of the mental health system by women of African heritage and unravels a hidden tale of unethical medical experimentation and exploitation. Tickets: £10

Join us for TEDxWolverhampton 2020 Saturday 4th April 2020, 10am – 5pm Aftershow Party: 6:30 – 11pm On Saturday 4th April, 2020, TEDxWolverhampton will be returning to the City for another fantastic day of live speakers, deep discussion and amazing connections! The theme of TEDxWolverhampton 2020 is Ctrl+Alt+Del, where we’ll be exploring ideas that challenge, turn long held and accepted norms on their heads, challenge the status quo and reset and reboot our thinking. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Tickets: £20 Available through The Arena Theatre Box Office. For further information visit: www.tedxwolverhampton.com or www.ted.com

18 ARENA FILM THEATRE

JOIN US

ARENA

FILM

THEATRE

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Join us at the Arena for a packed season of films specially selected for your enjoyment. We’ll be presenting a blend of recent releases, classics, revivals, award winners and sing-alongs in order to get your week off to a flying start. Head on over to our website to keep up to date with listings for the Spring 2020 season. 

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AUNT/NIECE Tuesday 4 February at 7.30pm FOOL’S GOLD Tuesday 3 March at 7.30pm GUSH Tuesday 7 April at 7.30pm CONNOR ALEXANDER Tuesday 2 June at 7.30pm TBC Tuesday 7 July at 7.30pm What are the region’s most-dynamic theatremakers up to? Now is your chance to find out: for just £10, you can not only see new work but also enjoy a meal AND drink included as part of the ticket price. Food is served from 7.00pm, with performances commencing at 7.30pm.

20 ARENA VENUE HIRE

HIRE THE ARENA

PERFORM IN OUR 150-SEAT AUDITORIUM

AN IDEAL VENUE FOR PERFORMANCES, MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES All of our spaces have state-of the-art equipment, full technical support and our own tailored range of hospitality and catering.

Complete with in-built conference equipment, our Seminar Room can accommodate 30 in boardroom style, or up to 50 with seating in rows.

Our 150-seat main Auditorium is fully accessible and equipped for theatre, concerts and multimedia presentations. Our prices are very competitive, and we’re conveniently located - close to plenty of parking, and rail, tram and bus links - right in the centre of Wolverhampton.

Contact Neil Reading to discuss hiring the Arena for your production or business event:

01902 321 321 / neil.reading@wlv.ac.uk

POETRY AND STORYTELLERS 21

PA S T A

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POETS AND STORYTELLERS ASSEMBLE

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PASTA is an open mic night with a difference. Each month we ask people to perform a piece they’ve written on a theme which was chosen at the previous event. (We’ll advertise the theme on social media and online so everyone can join in). Then we have a break so folk can grab a drink and have a chat. Depending on numbers and the vibe we might draw another theme out the hat and see what people can create in

TUESDAYS AT 7.30PM

28 JANUARY 25 FEBRUARY 24 MARCH 28 APRIL 26 MAY 30 JUNE 21JULY

the short time of the break – a chance to try your hand at speed writing and see what you come up with. Or, if people prefer, we may just come back and open the floor for open mics on any subject. If you want to perform simply pop along to the night and see Emma, Dave, or Steve. Slots are about five minutes long, and we’re especially keen to welcome people who haven’t performed before.

18 COLLABORATIVE 22 PERFORMANCESTHEATREMAKERS

ARENA COLLABORATIVE

THEATREMAKERS Are you an emerging artist based in Wolverhampton? Are you a student at the University of Wolverhampton studying the Performing Arts, or with an interest in any aspect of the performing arts? We’re looking for writers, performers, devisers, directors and designers to join us. Arena Collaborative Theatremakers (ACT) allows students, recent graduates and emerging artists the space to develop their own work, with support from industry professionals. The collective meets in the Tilstone Studio at the Arena, giving an opportunity for artists to present their ‘work in progress’ to a small audience, allowing them to develop their projects in a safe, creative space.

{ { ACT meeting dates this Spring:

TUESDAYS

14 JANUARY 11 FEBRUARY 10 MARCH 21 APRIL 12 MAY 9 JUNE 14 JULY AT 7PM

NO AMPS NO CHATS NO CHARGE 23

NO AMPS NO CHAT NO CHARGE

No Amps, No Chat, No Charge is our monthly acoustic evening presented in partnership with our friends at Cellar Rooms Rehearsal Studios. Featuring some of the Midlands’ finest songwriters, the night gives you a chance to listen, in the warm, completely free of charge! Line-ups for the following evenings will be announced closer to the time via our website and social media channels, including Facebook /arenatheatre and Twitter @Arena_Theatre

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12 FEB 18 MAR 15 APR 17 JUN AT 7.30PM

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PERFORMANCES

2019 2019 2020 OPEN DAYS OPEN DAYS OPEN DAYS Undergraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate 17 August 2 February 13 June 12 October 15 August June 15 16 November 17 August Postgraduate Postgraduate Postgraduate 19 March 19 25 June 21 September March

28 27 November June

BOOK NOW AT: WLV.AC.UK/OPENDAY BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321

OPEN DAYS 25

26 PERFORMANCES

Gazebo Theatre

WANTED Friday 27 and Saturday 28 March at 7.30pm

In the midst of a time of uncertainty, division and political unrest, a young woman wrestles with her own isolation and call to respond… Wanted explores the stories of extraordinary ordinary women who share a passion for standing up for what is right! This powerful new play features an array of historical figures: Irena Sendler, who rescued more than 2,500 children from the Warsaw ghetto during the Nazi occupation; Olive Morris, British Black Panther and avid activist for women and squatters’ rights; Phoolan Devi, the fearsome Bandit Queen; and a woman way ahead of her time, Dr James Barry.   

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Wanted is written and performed by  Tonia Daley-Campbell, Therese Collins and Pamela Cole-Hudson; the trio wowed audiences in The Sistren and now return to the stage accompanied by two new talented performers to again explore how the past and present collide in a powerful drama littered with humour, honesty and heart.   In celebration and recognition of Women’s History Month 2020.

Tickets: £10

PERFORMANCES 27

Reform Theatre

MIDSUMMER by David Greig

Thursday 16 April at 7.30pm

University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre

It’s midsummer. It’s raining. Two thirtysomethings are sitting in a bar waiting for something to turn up.

CREATING MUSICAL THEATRE

Bob is a failing car salesman on the fringes of the underworld. Helena is a high-powered divorce lawyer with a taste for other people’s husbands. She’s out of his league, and he’s not her type. But with a Tesco’s bag full of cash, they embark on a lost weekend of bridge-burning, car chases, wedding bust-ups, midnight trysts and hungover self-loathing.

Friday 3 April at 7.30pm

Second year musical theatre students premiere their brand new musical featuring song, dance, tears and laughter, with an original score, choreography and script all devised by our talented students. Tickets: £7.50 full price / £5 concessions

A collaboration between playwright David Greig and singer-songwriter Gordon McIntyre, Midsummer opened at the Traverse Theatre in October 2008 and was revived for an international tour in the summer of 2009. Tickets: £10

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28 PERFORMANCES

Omnibus Theatre

SEXY LAMP Sexy Lamp brilliantly combines comedy, original songs and storytelling to shed a bright light on how ridiculous the industry can be and why Katie is refusing to stay in the dark any longer.

Tickets: £10

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Ever since Katie was cast as the lead in her primary school Christmas show ‘Santa’s Snow Mobile’, she believed there was a place for her in show business. Since then, named, speaking and fully clothed roles have been hard to come by…

“AND SO I FIGURED IF MCDONALD’S CAN CALL ITSELF A RESTAURANT, I CAN CALL MYSELF AN ACTOR.”

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Friday 17 April 7.30pm

PERFORMANCES 29

Get Lost & Found

MISCHIEF AND MYSTERY IN MOOMINVALLEY Saturday 18 April at 11.00am, 2.00pm and 4.00pm Be sure to pack your imagination and join us on an unforgettable journey to Moomin Valley! Based on the much-loved Moominland novels by Tove Jansson, this gentle heart-warming show tells the story of a year in Moominvalley featuring favourite characters Moomintroll, Snufkin, Little My and Thingumy & Bob.

Magical puppetry, an ingenious set, original music and songs, and interactive play (including a snowball fight!) will delight young audiences and encourage them to immerse themselves in a unique participatory story-telling experience. The iconic Tove Jansson illustrations are recreated in a magical pop-up book. Expect snow, surprises and plenty of Moomin mischief! Recommended booking is 1 adult and 1 child Tickets: ÂŁ7

30 PERFORMANCES

Lewys Holt

PHRASES AND FOOTNOTES Thursday 23 April at 7.30pm Tickets: £10 Dance artist Lewys Holt likes to improvise and make use of text and humour in a way that only he can. This new double bill of works, Phrases and Footnotes, fuses dance and text with a sprinkling of comedy. Prepare to get reflective, to be confused, and most of all, to sit down for a reasonable amount of time with a brief intermission.

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Footnotes Footnotes are additional information at the bottom of the page, which can add some context to what is being discussed in the main text. At other times, they are frightening glimpses into what the author is really thinking underneath it all. Phrases Miscommunication and confusion are often things to be avoided but what if you just lay into them? What if there’s actually nothing else? Big questions. Don’t worry. There’s a PowerPoint…

PERFORMANCES 31 35

Roaring Girls

BEACH BODY READY Saturday 25 April at 7.30pm It’s the season of cutting carbs, hitting it hard at the gym and shaving everything from the chin down. Summer has rocked up and coerced us all into thinking about how awful our bodies are. We’ve been shamed, dehumanised and humiliated for how we look, and we’ve had enough.

Beach Body Ready sees The Roaring Girls smash their way through ingrained fears, food insecurities, and toxic advertising in this defiantly feel-good show which sticks two fingers up to everything the media says we should look like. Created in The Roaring Girls’ semi improvised style, Beach Body Ready blends impassioned rants with cheesy fitness routines, and live, informal chats with a beach trip on film, accompanied by a banging soundtrack. Tickets: : £10

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32 PERFORMANCES

Jasmin Vardimon Company

JV2 Thursday 30 April at 7.30pm

Rejoicing in youth culture has always been at the heart of the JV2 programme. This electrifying new production celebrates the intrinsically fresh approach of two emerging choreographers, in collaboration with the vast experience of the multi-award winning choreographer Jasmin Vardimon. The established JV2 Professional Development Diploma was developed by Jasmin Vardimon Company, with the mission to encourage, cultivate and nurture young talent and young audiences.

Tickets: ÂŁ10

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PERFORMANCES 33

David Mynne

THE CANTERBURY TALES by Geoffrey Chaucer

Saturday 2 May at 7.30pm

Some stories are romantic, some are bawdy, others scary And there are tales about the devil that should make you oh so wary. Some are beautifully poetic and some a little coarser; A medieval medley from the pen of Geoffrey Chaucer!

This is Chaucer... but not as you’ve ever seen it. From the company that brought you A Christmas Carol, Dracula and The Odyssey comes a one-man performance of The Canterbury Tales. Revered as one of the most important works in English literature, The Canterbury Tales paints an ironic and critical portrait of English society in the middle-ages.

Experience a journey down the foul and fetid footpaths of 14th century England: all of life is here in these bawdy, funny, serious and sometimes shocking short stories. There will be middle-ages naughtiness and nonsense. There may be tights and a codpiece. There will, no doubt, be some medieval swearing... Let’s party, like it’s 1387!! Recommended age: 12yrs+ Tickets: £10

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34 PERFORMANCES

Emma White

Friday 8 May at 7.30pm Ophelia falls in love. Her world view realigns as she becomes infatuated, dreaming romantic visions of new landscapes and colour. Then he leaves. Deranged by rejection, Ophelia finds no choice but to end everything. Standing at the water’s edge, its darkness seems irresistible… and somehow utterly beautiful. Hamlet’s Ophelia is brought into the 21st century in this interactive one-woman show, scrutinising our world obsession with finding beauty in female tragedy. Tickets: £10

PERFORMANCES 35

University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre Department presents:

SOHO CINDERS Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 May 7.30pm Don’t be late for the ball! The search for the glass slipper is on, as our final year Musical Theatre students perform a modern adaptation of the Cinderella story. Tickets: £10 full price / £8 concessions

DEBUT Tuesday 12 May 7.30pm First year musical theatre students present work from exciting new composers. Presented in collaboration with Musical Theatre West Midlands. Tickets: ££7.50 full price / £5 concessions

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May 7.30pm Join our final year Musical Theatre students, as they perform their take on this classic Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice musical. Tickets: £10 full price / £8 concessions

36 PERFORMANCES

University of Wolverhampton Drama Department

THE WORM IN THE BLOOD Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 May at 7.00pm

Our final year Drama students take to the stage for their performance of The Worm In The Blood. The blood-soaked revenge plays of the 16th and 17th century have inspired theatre and filmmakers from Edward Bond to Sarah Kane, John Ford to Quentin Tarrantino. They range in tone from the outrageous black comedy of The Revenger’s Tragedy to the philosophical and theological debate of Hamlet. Some of them deal

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with madness and despair, most with violence and excess, all of them with the human being’s capacity for savagery and redemption.

The Worm in The Blood takes extracts from these plays and presents them in a 21st century context; a demi-monde in which corrupt politicians rub shoulders with celebrity chefs and gangsters. Tickets: £7 full price / £5 concessions

PERFORMANCES 37

Morgan & West

UNBELIEVABLE SCIENCE Saturday 30 May 2.00pm

Magicians, time travellers and all-round spiffing chaps Morgan & West present captivating chemistry, phenomenal Expect explosive thrills, chemical spills and a risk assessment that gives their stage manager chills, all backed up by the daring duo’s trademark wit, charm and detailed knowledge of the scientific method. Leave your lab coats at the door – it’s time for Unbelievable Science! On TV, Morgan & West have fooled Penn & Teller (Fool Us, ITV1), competed to be the Next Great Magician (ITV1), and even attempted to escape The Slammer (CBBC). Please note: Morgan & West take full responsibility for any horizons broadened, passions enflamed or minds blown during the course of the show.

HUGELY TALENTED. Daily Mirror

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SUPERBLY CRAFTED. The Stage

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Tickets: £7

PUT QUITE SIMPLY…GREAT SCIENCE WITH HILARIOUS HOSTS! Primary Times

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38 PERFORMANCES

Paperback Theatre

Friday 5 June at 7.30pm When workaholic Kate is ‘gifted’ a blow-upboyfriend by her colleagues, she keeps it as an act of defiance. Soon, the doll becomes the only person she dares to be herself around... but as it begins to take on a mind of its own, Kate comes face to face with the dangers of letting someone in. A touching and hilarious exploration of the challenges, joys and pitfalls of allowing yourself to be vulnerable, Me and My Doll is a romantic comedy with a twist. Tickets: £10

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PERFORMANCES 39

Harriet Dyer

BARKING TALES Friday 12 June at 7.30pm

This award-winning mental health comedy night is headlined by Harriet Kemsley (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Bobby and Harriet Get Married, Roast Battle, etc.) and hosted by Harriet Dyer (BBC Radio 4, BBC3, BBC Ouch, Absolute Radio), plus full support.

Acts perform material relating to mental health in a bid to get people talking. A night for those with mental health problems to feel comfortable enough to find the funny in often seemingly dark times, with supporters of those affected also very much welcome in a safe space for everyone involved. Tickets: ÂŁ10

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40 PERFORMANCES

Jaivant Patel Dance and Arena Theatre presents

SAMARPAN MAHOTSAV, A CELEBRATION OF CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE Saturday 13 June at 7.30pm

Samarpan translates as ‘dedication’. This vibrant showcase of Indian classical dance – including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi and Manipuri – celebrates the dedication of its practitioners to its form present in the UK today. The form is renowned for its geometry, rhythmical footwork, intricate hand gestures and virtuosity in performance. Featuring breathtaking performances by Akshay Prakash, Ranjitha Chawalloor, Tiyahsa Dutta Paul, Natalie Rout, Vinod Nair, Sankari Mridha, Ash Mukherjee, Jaivant Patel, Shyam Dattani, Archita Kumar, Parbato Chaudury, Meera Patel and Suhani Dhanki-Mody.* Tickets: : £10

#JPDSamarpan20

* line-up subject to change

Image courtesy of Matt Cawrey

Curated by Arena Theatre associate artist, Jaivant Patel, we once again present a beautiful evening of rich British South Asian arts, heritage and culture, following on from the success of last year’s event.

14/48

41

[

7 writers, 7 directors, a team of actors, designers, and musicians + 48 hours = 14 world premier plays.

[

Image courtesy of Matt Cawrey

Friday 26 and Saturday 27 June at 8.00pm and 10.30pm

“IT’S A BRILLIANT, ENERGETIC NIGHT OF NEW THEATRE, TWICE. YOU’D BE MAD TO MISS IT!”

Tickets: £7 full price and £5 concessions (for one night only) Ticket offer: £10 full price and £8 concessions (for both nights when purchased together)

14/48 Wolverhampton is the Wolverhampton satellite of “The world’s quickest theatre festival” in which 14 new plays are written, directed and performed within a 48-hour timespan. The concept is simple: assemble some of the most talented artists in the region, apply a stringent deadline, add a few extra resources for good measure and see where their combined creativity leads them. The Arena Theatre is giving audiences the exciting opportunity to witness seven brand new plays each day – written, rehearsed and performed in 48 hours. For more information on the festival visit: 1448uk.com

AUDIO DESCRIBED

42 SUMMER SHOWCASE

Starcross Youth Theatre

SUMMER SHOWCASE Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July at 7pm Starcross Youth Theatre return to the Arena for their annual Summer Showcase. With performances celebrating their productions from the last 12 months and their success in LAMDA (Acting and Musical Theatre) examinations, plus performances from their Juniors group and Moms Tap for Fun group, this promises to be an entertainment extravaganza certainly not to be missed! Tickets: ÂŁ10

2020

Friday 10 July 9.30am-3.00pm Saturday 11 July 10.00am-4.00pm

A celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths.

wlv.ac.uk/scifest wlvscifest

@STEMResponseWLV

STEMResponseWLV

44 LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION

LEARNING + PARTICIPATION Wolverhampton Grand Theatre + Arena Theatre present

YOUTH THEATRE Arena Theatre’s exciting collaboration with the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

Performers will work alongside professional actors to improve their acting skills, and sessions will focus on technique as well as working towards two shows a term, with the hope of working towards a community production at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Youth Theatre Members will also have the opportunity to participate in specialist workshops with professional touring companies! Weekly rehearsals will take place every Monday evening – excluding half term and Bank Holidays – here at the Arena Theatre.

Juniors = ages 9-13 Seniors = ages 14-18

Term 3:

Monday 6th January – Monday 10th February (6 weeks) (9 hours)

Term 4:

Monday 24th February – Monday 30th March (6 weeks) (9 hours)

Term 5:

Monday 20th April – Monday 18th May (3 weeks) Excludes Monday 4th May and Monday 11th, plus additional 6 hour sessions on Sunday 3rd May and Saturday 9th May (16.5 hours)

ARTS AWARD 45

AT THE ARENA

Arts Award is a national qualification for 7-25 year olds, which supports young people’s development as artists and arts leaders.

Term 6:

Monday 1st June – Monday 13th July (7 weeks) (10.5 hours) Each term costs £110, and can be booked from the Grand Theatre Box Office on: 01902 429 212

It’s a great way to develop creative and leadership skills, whilst getting a qualification recognised nationally by employers and educators. We offer Arts Award at Bronze and Silver levels, and accept young people from ages 13-18. Look for the Arts Award icon in this programme to find Arts Award events/ performances. Visit the Arts Award website

artsaward.org.uk

or contact us to find out more. Activity support by Arts Connect West Midlands as part of their Partnership Investment programme.

BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk

46 AT A GLANCE DATE

WHAT’S ON

14 Jan

Arena Collaborative Theatremakers

25 Jan

Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists – Poetry Slam

4

28 Jan

PASTA

21

31 Jan

Vanhulle Dance Theatre – Yin

4 Feb

Theatre Supper

6, 7 and 8 Feb

Blackeyed Theatre – Jane Eyre

11 Feb

Arena Collaborative Theatremakers

22

12 Feb

No Amps, No Chat, No Charge

23

14 Feb

Joss Arnott Dance – Emergence Triple Bill 2020

7

15 Feb

Quick Duck Theatre – Yours Sincerely

8

21, 22 and 23 Feb

Starcross Youth Theatre – Footloose

9

25 Feb

PASTA

21

27 Feb

Stan’s Café – Home of the Wriggler

10

28 and 29 Feb

Fingersmiths – My Mother Never Said I Should

11

3 Mar

Theatre Supper

19

5 and 6 Mar

Vamos Theatre – Dead Good

12

10 Mar

Arena Collaborative Theatremakers

22

13 and 14 Mar

Open Theatre – Twisted Tales

13

18 Mar

No Amps, No Chat, No Charge

23

19 Mar

Northern School of Contemporary Dance – Verve: Mixed Bill

14

20 Mar

1623 Theatre Company – Queer Lady M

15

21 Mar

Luke Baker – Magic Attack

16

24 Mar

PASTA

21

26 Mar

Vital Xposure – Medicine’s Monstrous Daughters

16

27 and 28 Mar

Gazebo Theatre – Wanted

26

3 Apr

University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre – Creating Musical Theatre

27

4 Apr

TEDx Wolverhampton – Ctrl Alt Del

17

7 Apr

Theatre Supper

19

15 Apr

No Amps, No Chat, No Charge

23

16 Apr

Reform Theatre – Midsummer by David Greig

27

BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321

PAGE 22

5 19 6

AT A GLANCE 47 DATE

WHAT’S ON

PAGE

17 Apr

Omnibus Theatre – Sexy Lamp

28

18 Apr

Get Lost & Found – Mischief and Mystery in Moominvalley

29

21 Apr

Arena Collaborative Theatremakers

22

23 Apr

Lewys Holt – Phrases and Footnotes

30

25 Apr

Roaring Girls – Beach Body Ready

31

28 Apr

PASTA

21

30 Apr

Jasmin Vardimon Company – JV2

32

2 May

David Mynne – The Canterbury Tales

33

8 May

Emma White – Ophelia

34

7 and 9 May

University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre – Soho Cinders

35

12 May

Arena Collaborative Theatremakers

22

12 May

University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre – Debut

35

15 and 16 May

University of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre – Jesus Christ Superstar

35

20 and 21 May

University of Wolverhampton Drama Department – The Worm in the Blood

36

26 May

PASTA

21

30 May

Morgan & West – Unbelievable Science

37

2 Jun

Theatre Supper

19

5 Jun

Paperback Theatre – Me and My Doll

38

9 Jun

Arena Collaborative Theatremakers

22

12 Jun

Harriet Dyer – Barking Tales

39

13 Jun

Jaivant Patel Dance – Samarpan Mahotsav: A Celebration of Indian Classical Dance

40

17 Jun

No Amps, No Chat, No Charge

23

26 and 27 Jun

14/48 UK – 14/48 Wolverhampton

41

30 Jun

PASTA

21

3 and 4 Jul

Starcross Youth Theatre – Summer Showcase

42

7 Jul

Theatre Supper

19

14 Jul

Arena Collaborative Theatremakers

22

21 Jul

PASTA

21

BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk

48 HOW TO BOOK

BOOK ONLINE

arena.wlv.ac.uk

TICKET OFFERS

BOOK BY PHONE

From just £10 a year you can become a friend of the Arena, helping us continue our important development and outreach work. As a thank you, our Friends receive a number of benefits, including discounts on tickets to all Arena Theatre shows, except for Independent + Amateur events, or any shows priced under £8. Visit the Arena website for full terms and conditions.

01902 321 321

BOOK IN PERSON

Arena Theatre Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton WV1 1SE Box Office opening times Monday to Friday - 10am until 5pm We’re also open one hour before each show.

Booking fees

When you book online, in person or over the phone there are no booking fees

Concessions

Details of ticket price concessions are included within each show listing. They are available if you are under 16, a student in full-time education, over 60, a recipient of Job Seekers Allowance, University of Wolverhampton staff and/or alumni. Please bring proof of status. Please note that for Independent and Amateur productions, concessions and discounts may vary.

Refunds

Tickets are not normally refundable, but may be exchanged - subject to availability.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

Dr. Kinny Gardner BEM Arena Theatre Patron Dave Holland Arena Theatre Patron Jaivant Patel Associate Artist

Friends

Schools and colleges

Teacher-led school and college groups are entitled to free tickets for accompanying teachers. Please call the Box Office for full details.

Group bookings

We offer one free ticket for every ten purchased by a group, for the same show. Please call the Box Office for full details. We reserve the right to make discounted ticket offers to selected customers at any time.

GIFT VOUCHERS ift the g ur Give e with o hers. r t a uc e of th heatre vo ena Ar aT Aren sable on ws. See U ho .uk s e r t c Thea na.wlv.a . are details for

SEATING PLAN 49

SEATING PLAN Reserved Seating

When booking your tickets you can choose where you sit (subject to availability). Simply choose from the seating plan below.

ENTRANCE

K1

K2

K3

K4

K5

K6

K7

K8

K9

K10

K11

K12

J1

J2

J3

J4

J5

J6

J7

J8

J9

J10

J11

J12

J13

I1

I2

I3

I4

I5

I6

I7

I8

I9

I10

I11

I12

I13

I14

H1

H2

H3

H4

H5

H6

H7

H8

H9

H10

H11

H12

H13

H14

J14

J15

AISLE HOUSE MANAGER 8 7

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STEPS DOWN

G2

G3

G4

G5

G6

G7

G8

G9

G10

G11

G12

F1

F2

F3

F4

F5

F6

F7

F8

F9

F10

F11

F12

E1

E2

E3

E4

E5

E6

E7

E8

E9

E10

E11

E12

D1

D2

D3

D4

D5

D6

D7

D8

D9

D10

D11

D12

C1

C2

C3

C4

C5

C6

C7

C8

C9

C10

C11

C12

B1

B2

B3

B4

B5

B6

B7

B8

B9

B10

B11

B12

A1

A2

A3

A4

A5

A6

A7

A8

A9

A10

A11

A12

3 2 1

SOUND DESK 9 10 11 12

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BALCONY

BALCONY

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STAGE/PERFORMANCE AREA

ARENA FOYER BAR AND COFFEE SHOP

15 16

You and fellow members of the public can now pop in to the Arena Theatre for coffee and cake or a glass of wine and bite to eat. Our foyer bar and coffee shop is now opening its doors Monday to Saturday from 10am for the Spring 2019 season, enabling you to enjoy the Arena experience for much longer if you’re waiting for curtain-up in the main auditorium. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for further news on what will be on the menu in the build-up to our season starting.

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BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321 • ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk • EMAIL arena@wlv.ac.uk Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SE. Disclaimer: All prices and times correct at time of going to print. Please check the website for latest updates