What's On at the Beacon June-Oct 2015

what’son

June – Oct 2015

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Beacon Arts Centre Custom House Quay, Greenock PA15 1HJ 01475 723 723 beaconartscentre.co.uk beacon-arts-centre @beaconarts

welcome We’re delighted to launch another packed programme to keep you, your family and friends entertained, welcoming the very best in music, drama, dance, comedians and local theatre to our spaces.

Over the coming months we’re excited to be hosting the day-long Pioneers of Performance dance festival, supporting emerging artists in this field; the third Inverclyde Folk and Roots Festival, which is establishing a reputation as an important date in the traditional music calendar; and the inaugural Galoshans Festival, a major new public arts festival for everyone to get involved with.

Alongside that, we’re delighted to have return visits from some of our most popular performers, including MacFloyd, Craig Hill, Scottish Opera, Phil and Aly, Timeless Productions and our associate company, Rapture Theatre as well as some new faces in the form of Michelle McManus, Irish crooner Michael English, and Hairy MacLary.

There’s plenty to keep your little people busy too; theatre and dance summer schools are running in July, in addition to our regular classes, as well as a selection of exciting and stimulating shows for the October break.

We’ve recently launched a new menu at Bistro at the Beacon, so do pop in to see what’s new. With stunning views over the Firth of Clyde, we’ve created a relaxing atmosphere for you to enjoy a drink, snacks or a meal, whether you’re coming to a show or not.

We hope you can join us soon!

Pauline Kane, General Manager

Keep in touch Receive our brochures straight to your door, or get regular email updates to your inbox. Just call on 01475 723 723 or sign up on our website via the button on the homepage, and let us know how you prefer to hear from us.

Accessibility at the Beacon Arts Centre We are fully committed to making our work and spaces accessible to all. > Wheelchair access throughout the building, including 9 wheelchair spaces in our main theatre and 6 in our studio > Assistance dogs are welcome > Induction loop available > There are 2 accessible WCs > There are 8 disabled parking bays at the main entrance

How to get here Beacon Arts Centre is situated at Custom House Quay, in easy reach of public transport and road links.

By train We are 500m from Greenock Central on the Glasgow Central/Gourock line. Approx 30/40 mins from Glasgow.

Bus stops are located along Rue End St and Dalrymple St, just a short walk from the venue.

By road Beacon Arts Centre is just off the A8. Turn into Brymner St and then turn right into Custom House Place. Parking is on street, in around Custom House Quay and Victoria Harbour.

At peak times alternative parking is available via Virginia Street.

Thank you for your support We are grateful for the support of our audiences, patrons, donors, key funders, charitable trusts and sponsors.

>>> Doors Open Day 12 Sept We're throwing open our doors and you’re invited!

Join us for events the whole family can enjoy including behind-the-scenes backstage tours, technical demonstrations, pop-up performances and much more. Watch out for announcements about the full programme online nearer the time.

The Greenock Arts Guild Ltd, trading as the Beacon Arts Centre is a not-for-profitorganisation.

Registered in Scotland Company no. SCO24805. Registered Scottish Charity no. SC003030.

theatre VOX MOTUS, NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND AND TIANJIN CHILDREN’S ART THEATRE

Dragon Tue 11 Aug, 7pm I Main Theatre I Preview £10

Written by Oliver Emanuel. Conceived by Jamie Harrison, Oliver Emanuel and Candice Edmunds.

A show for adults, teenagers and children with vivid imaginations; Dragon returns to the Scottish stage following international tour dates.

Tommy can’t sleep. He hasn’t been able to since his mum died a year ago. Since then, life has gone from bad to worse. His dad is a grief-stricken mess, his big sister ignores him, and he’s become a target for the school bully.

Then, one restless night, Tommy goes to his bedroom window, throws back the curtain and… …a dragon is looking at him. Straight in the eye.

Dragon is an extraordinarily visual story told without words, featuring fast-moving physical theatre, puppetry and original music. ‘it’s unlikely...that audiences in Scotland will ever see a more beautiful, thoughtful and fiercely theatrical treatment...’ ★★★★The Scotsman Winner Best Technical Presentation: Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland 2013/14 Best Show for Children and Young People: UK Theatre Awards 2014

NB Previews are like a ‘test-drive’ for theatre shows.

It’s the first time the play has been performed in front of an audience and so, very rarely, things can go wrong. This is why previews are sold at a slightly lower ticket price – but it all adds to the excitement.

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theatre CITIZENS THEATRE

Scarfed for Life Fri 21 Aug, 7.30pm I Studio I £10 (£8 Concession) I 14+ DIRECT FROM THE EDINBURGH FRINGE Scarfed for Life is set against the backdrop of the first Celtic and Rangers clash of the season.

To get away from the fitba frenzy the girls are getting pampered in a 5-star spa. The men are left in charge of the teenagers and the DIY... whit could go wrang?!

Funny, hard-hitting and thought provoking, this is the story of two teenage outsiders caught in the crossfire of polite, suburban prejudice and garden equipment. Scarfed for Life is presented

by Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre, highly-regarded as a leading producer of drama confronting modern-day sectarianism.

“A loud, lively piece about sectarianism in Glasgow... a mix of broad, mouthy comedy and serious agitprop” The Scotsman Contains strong language.

theatre STOIRM ÒG IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH CUMBERNAULD THEATRE PRESENT

SPECTRE TOWN Wed 2 Sep, 7.30pm I Studio I £10 (£8 Concession) Inspired by the bothy ballads of Scotland’s North East, playwright Elspeth Turner (The Idiot at the Wall, 2012) and acclaimed director Matthew Lenton (Vanishing Point) explore the fraying boundaries between past, present, and future. Weaving poetry, Doric, wild horses, and song, this courageous new play deftly wrestles with tradition, power, and the loneliness of modern life.

‘Your dignity – I’ve been trying to save your hypocrisy – I’ve been trying to conceal to right your wrongs and sing the songs of managing strife but life is no horse-taming woman-shaming system-blaming picnic.

And I’m the Heidbummer today.’

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theatre AL SEED

Oog Sat 12 Sep, 7.30pm I Studio I £10 (£8 Concession) I 14+

New dance-theatre from multi-award winning choreographerperformer Al Seed. Oog is an intensely physical and poetic exploration of the trauma of conflict and the psychological damage it inflicts, leading audiences deep into the fractured mind of a shell-shocked soldier. “…visual imagery that sometimes takes the breath away… an experience that will leave no-one who sees it completely unchanged.” The Scotsman.

Oog is a companion piece to The Factory which won the Jury Prize at the Arena Festival, Nuremberg, was shortlisted for a Total Theatre Award, and enjoyed performances at the ICA, London, as part of the London International Mime Festival, 2006. Supported by Creative Scotland and The Arches, Glasgow

theatre

Black is the Color of my Voice Sun 13 Sep, 7.30pm I Studio I £10 (£8 Concession) I 12+

Written and performed by Apphia Campbell.

Directed by Arran Hawkins.

Inspired by the life of Nina Simone, Black Is The Color Of My Voice follows a successful jazz singer and civil rights activist seeking redemption after the untimely death of her father. She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.

Direct from sell-out performances in Shanghai, New York and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Apphia Campbell embarks on her debut UK tour.

‘Apphia Campbell is nothing short of sensational… she will make you cheer for her, smile with her and then sting your eyes with tears.’ ★★★★★Broadway Baby

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theatre SOLAR BEAR

Kind of Silence Sat 19 Sep, 7pm I Studio I £10 (£8 Concession) I 14+

Devised and directed by Danny Krass.

Design by Kai Fischer.

Kind of Silence explores senses and the way we communicate. The ‘silence’ represents not only something we hear, but something we experience through the ways we can or cannot communicate.

This production, created for Solar Bear by Danny Krass, will place sound at the heart of this performance for deaf and hearing audiences. Addressing the nature of sensory experiences, the exploration of music and movement in a deaf context will form the heart of this work.

Danny Krass and Kai Fischer will use new technologies that will transpose music so that both deaf and hearing performers will feel the same vibrations and rhythms that will inspire this piece of visual and physical performance.

theatre RAPTURE THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH BEACON ARTS CENTRE

The Last Yankee Thurs 1 Oct, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £12 (£10 Concession) To celebrate the centenary of Arthur Miller, Rapture Theatre is producing one of the legendary writer’s last great plays.

Leroy Hamilton, a descendant of one of America’s founding fathers and ‘The Last Yankee’, lives a modest life as a carpenter and has eschewed the pursuit of the American Dream. This has estranged him from his wife, Patricia, who is in hospital and suffering from depression. Over the course of one day, Leroy and Patricia try to come to terms with Leroy’s choices and Patricia’s ‘illness’, and they take a tentative step towards reconciliation and a brave new future.

The Last Yankee reflects Miller’s themes of the devastating consequences for those who ‘fail’ to achieve the mythical riches of the American Dream.

Supported by Creative Scotland and produced in association with the Beacon, Rapture Theatre is proud that The Last Yankee will be part of the Scottish Mental Health Film and Theatre Festival 2015.

Humorous and ultimately uplifting, The Last Yankee is classic Miller.

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theatre SOLAR BEAR

Tribes Thu 8 Oct, 7.30pm I Main Theatre £12 (£10 Concession / £5 Deaf Theatre Club) I 14+

By Nina Raine. Directed by Gerry Ramage.

Tribes is a poignant yet biting drama about love, family and finding one’s voice.

Billy is a young man born deaf and raised in a loud, opinionated family and yet his parents and siblings never bothered to learn sign language, meaning Billy had to adapt to a hearing world. When he meets Sylvia, a young woman from a deaf family who introduces him to Deaf Culture, Billy suddenly feels confidence and a sense of belonging to a ‘tribe’ he’s never known before.

Nina Raine’s second play is a fascinating dissection of belonging, family and the limitations of communication. This production is presented by Solar Bear Theatre Company who work to make theatre accessible for everyone. Accessible to deaf and hearing audiences. All performances will be captioned.

Contains strong language.

There will be a Deaf Theatre Club (DTC) event for this performance run by Solar Bear, with pre-show introduction, and post-show discussion. To book email events@solarbear.org.uk or text 07900 852595.

theatre CHRISTINE BOVILL

Piaf Sat 10 Oct, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £16 (£14 Concession) 2015 marks the centenary of Edith Piaf’s birth. Christine Bovill will be performing her award-winning show at some very special events to mark this anniversary.

No glamour. No gimmicks. No pretence. Nothing but a voice, singing of life’s triumphs and tragedies. Christine Bovill’s Piaf is a powerful theatrical homage to one of France’s most endearing icons; celebrating some of her best known songs, threaded with Piaf’s story, and Christine’s own remarkable journey in the world of chanson.

An award-winning songwriter in her own right, Bovill has toured throughout Europe with her self-penned homage to the Little Sparrow, appearing on BBC Newsnight and on BBC Radio 4’s series, Soul Music. Piaf was awarded the Fringe laurels for Total Sell Out Show 2011 and 2012. It received 5-star reviews from some of the most respected publications including The Scotsman.

“Something that will stay with you for the rest of your life” Sunday Times

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theatre TERRA INCOGNITA

My Friend Selma Wed 14 Oct, 2pm I Studio I £5 I 8+ Written and performed by Victoria Beesley. Directed by Joe Douglas.

When I was 8 years old, my dad set up a charity to help people in danger escape the war in a place called Bosnia.

He brought fifty of them over here on big coaches. We moved into an old boarding school with these refugees, to help them settle in. We lived there for four months. It was brilliant – there was a playground in my front garden, we had lots of visitors, people were always feeding me and I learnt to ride a bike! But the best thing about living there was meeting my friend Selma.

My Friend Selma is the remarkable real-life story of one girl’s journey from war in Bosnia to safety in the UK. It is the tale of an incredible journey, a world turned upside down, loss, friendship, courage and conkers.

Created with support from Creative Scotland.

‘It has already created that unforgettable image – of the exuberant life-force of children, facing down a terrible war.”

Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman “I would give this show 280,000 out of 5.” Erin, aged 9

theatre NS4 PRODUCTIONS

Singin’ I’m No a Billy He’s a Tim Sat 24 Oct, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £15 I 16+

On the day of an Old Firm clash, a Rangers and Celtic fan end up sharing a courtroom cell. Their only hope of escape is betting on the match to pay their fines. While taking turns to watch the game on a TV through their cell door, the pair bicker their way through every entrenched cliché of ‘Scotland’s shame’ from religion to politics and national identity. But aided by their kindly turnkey Harry – whose worries for his sick grandson help put their petty quarrels into perspective – they’re forced to reach a grudging understanding.

Des Dillon’s brilliant satire of bigotry in Scotland and its connection with the nation’s two biggest football teams first scored critical acclaim at the Fringe in 2005, and has since been a near-constant fixture in theatres in Scotland.

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local theatre OAKLAWN SOCIETY

Fair Broke the Day Sun 12 Jul, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £12 As dusk gathers on the final night of the allied withdrawal from Gallipoli, the men of the Greenock Battalion await the midnight hour. However, for four of them – fate has one final obstacle to throw their way.

Directed by Sue MacPhee, this specially commissioned drama boasts an exceptional local cast. Gordon Blair, Chris Gavin, Kevin Murphy and Lyall Trotter combine to make this Greenock première the outstanding event of the summer.

Performed on the centenary of the 1/5th Argyll’s action of 12 July 1915, all profits will be donated to The Greenock Dardanelles Memorial Fund.

Suitable for mid-teens upwards.

local theatre THE GREENOCK PLAYERS

A Night of One Acts Fri 28 – Sat 29 Aug, 7pm I Studio I £10 The Greenock Players present a great evening’s entertainment with A Night of One Act Plays.

Performed by the cream of local talent and drawing from their combined knowledge of theatrical repertoire, the evening offers a varied mix of short plays. Join them for a great night of drama.

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dance

VISION MECHANICS

In Her Shadows Tues 13 Oct, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £12 (£10 Concession) I 14+ A dance-mindscape featuring aerial and physical theatre which is supported by stunning visual projections and haunting music. In Her Shadows is a visual performance that explores a young woman’s relationship with the complexity of her depression whilst challenging the stigmas that surround it.

Two female performers tell the story of a young woman called Amy. After being overseas for years, she returns home to Scotland to find a new place to settle down. With the unexpected rejection from her mum, Amy is tested, pushed and thrown into her own mental turmoil.

In Her Shadows is a new collaboration between A Blank Canvas and Jabuti Theatre, with award-winning director Cora Bissett. As part of the autumn 2015 tour, In Her Shadows will be prominently featured in the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival and Aberdeen Dance Live.

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dance Pioneers of Performance A one day festival of modern moves and ferocious fun.

Wed 9 Sep I The Workroom I Supported by Creative Scotland.

COLLETE SADLER

We Are the Monsters Wed 9 Sept,10.15am £5 (£8.50 linked offer with Chalk About) No two people – or monsters – are exactly the same. Come along and meet some scratchy, shimmering creatures and multi-coloured mini monsters, playing and interacting with one another, their arms and legs moving in strange, impossible ways. This humorous dance performance for children seeks to portray and discover the monster hiding in all of us! Followed by a one-hour workshop for children aged 4 – 9, using movement, live music, images and props to explore the idea of what makes us different.

A CURIOUS SEED PRODUCTION, ORIGINALLY CREATED BY CHRISTINE DEVANEY AND LEANDRO KEES

Chalk About Wed 9 Sept, 1pm £5 (£8.50 linked offer with We Are the Monsters)

Chalk About is a playful, funny and sometimes moving look at how we see ourselves and others, featuring dance, chalk, chat and one perfect scene containing everything you could wish for. Join Christine and Niels on their journey as they ask some BIG questions about identity and the meaning of life. What makes us who we are? Is it where we are from?

Or how we talk? Or is it about the way we dance?

‘Utterly engaging’ Herald (Performing Group, DE). Commissioned by Imaginate.

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dance An Evening of Dance Wed 9 Sept, 7pm I The Workroom I £10 (£8.50 Concession)

ROBBIE SYNGE

Douglas This solo performance stems from actions imagined

by Robbie Synge, while performing various daily tasks at home in the Highlands.

One man interacts, through movement, with a roomful of everyday objects, and a kind of human, environmental and psychological ecology emerges.

Can body become thing and thing become body?

Sharing the spotlight with inanimate materials, this is a world of the untypically grand and the beautifully unspectacular. Douglas seeks connections and feedback from his surroundings – conversations that go nowhere and everywhere.

ANNA KRZYSTEK

Face On In this multimedia piece, a lone figure is waiting.

At once both immediate and distant, she appears in relation to the time, space, sounds, objects and filmed images that surround her. A vivid soundscore, minimal monochrome video and choreographed motifs all juxtapose with each other, inviting the viewer to experience a sublime state of intimacy as the figure connects to the sequence of changing situations.

“Krzystek’s total immersion in the physicality and intention of every nuance is like a magnet” Herald

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dance showcase DANCE 1 STUDIO

Boogie Woogie Wonderland Fri 19 & Sat 20 Jun, 7pm I Main Theatre I £7.50 This year our talented dancers will take you on a journey to Neverland and the moon and then on a wintery journey to the frozen north followed by a colourful carnival! Along the way there will be a sprinkling of fairy dust and glitter with some boogie woogie to get your feet tapping.

There are a few more surprises in store and anyone who loves dancing will not want to miss watching our dancers from age 2 to 52 performing Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Cabaret, Disco and Pom Cheer.

All proceeds are going to local charities: Parkinson’s, RNLI, Down’s Syndrome, Yorkhill Children’s Hospital All tickets are £7.50 and available from: Pamela Stewart 07748 141 007 / pameladance@btinternet.com June Stewart 01475 522 821

ELMA WHYTE SCHOOL OF DANCE

Dance Date Sat 27 & Sun 28 Jun, 7pm I Main Theatre I £13

The Elma Whyte School of Dance has been one of Scotland’s premier independent dance schools for over 40 years. Under thetutelage of Adelle Maasz (Principal & retired dancer) and Elma Whyte (Vice President of the B.A.T.D.) the school continues to produce dancers with excellent technique, many of whom have gone on to perform on some of the world’s great stages. Our annual show is among the finest of the dance school shows anywhere in the country and we are delighted to be a part of the Beacon’s programme.

YDANCE (SCOTTISH YOUTH DANCE)

Project Y Thu 30 Jul, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £6 (£4 Concession)

A collection of new dance works choreographed by Anna Kenrick (YDance Artistic Director), Jürg Koch, Yael Flexer and Errol White, performed by over 20 of Scotland’s exceptional young dancers.

Come and see the 2015 Project Y tour created in four weeks by four choreographers and touring four venues in Scotland this summer. #ProjectY

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comedy

Des McLean Sat 26 Sep, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £13 (£11 Concession) I 16+

Des McLean is back in Greenock with his hilarious new stand-up show. This will be one of the most popular nights of the 2015 tour and the multi-award winning comedian can’t wait to unleash a whole stack of new material at one of his favourite venues.

Having spent the last few years starring as Tommy Sheridan in the hit comedy show ‘I-Tommy’ and touring the USA, New Zealand Australia and Canada, this is Des at his best, a master storyteller, with endless funny observations on life.

Come and see why Billy Connolly describes him as one of his favourite stand-up comedians.

“Right out the top drawer, hilarious, hysterical” The Herald www.desmclean.com

comedy MZA & CHiLL PRODUCTIONS

Craig Hill Playing with My Selfie!

Sat 17 Oct, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £14 (£12 Concession) I 16+ Get snap happy with Scotland’s favourite kilted treasure for an evening of gloriously camp,no-holds-barred comedy... live and unleashed!

Hot on the heels of last year’s hysterically funny, sold-out national tour, don’t miss the chance to see Craig flashing his kilt pins, striking a pose and calling for ‘Lights, camera... and, most definitely, action!’

The Independent has raved that Craig was ‘Riotously funny... he’s that rare thing, a naturally funny comedian’ and we absolutely agree!

A deliciously wicked evening of pure, unadulterated fun.

Bring your Auntie…

Bring your Hubby…

Bring your Selfie! www.mrcraighill.com ‘Absolutely hilarious!… A laugh-out-loud performance from beginning to end…’ ★★★★ The List

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family

Magic Sho Sat 17 Oct, 10.30am & 1.30pm I Studio I £7.50 I 5 – 8 years

Shona Reppe is Magic Sho. ABRACADABRA!

Magic Sho waves her magic wand and a small white rabbit suddenly appears. She saws the rabbit in half, she levitates him under a silk handkerchief. She puts him into a velvet bag and smashes him into a million pieces with a hammer before (magically) making him whole again.* It’s all going really well – so why does the rabbit look so unhappy?

A brand new show for ages 5 – 8 years featuring a rabbit who never misses a trick and a magician who sometimes forgets to say the magic word. *Please note: no rabbits (not even toy ones) are harmed in this show

family NONSENSE ROOM PRODUCTIONS & ABA INTERNATIONAL TOURING

Hairy Maclary’s Cat Tales Mon 19 Oct, 2pm I Main Theatre £9 (£8 Concession, £32 Family of 4) I 2 – 8 years A brand new show featuring your favourite characters including Hairy’s feline friends.

Following the huge success of The Hairy Maclary and Friends Show, Nonsense Room return with a new set of stories featuring Hairy Maclary, Hercules Morse, Bottomley Potts, Muffin Maclay, Bitzer Maloney and Schnitzel Von Krumm as well as Slinky Malinki, Scarface Claw, Stickybeak Sid and more.

The same mix of fun, storytelling and catchy songs will be hugely popular with new audiences and those who saw the original.

“Fans of the storybooks cannot fail to enjoy – every child should see it” ★★★★★ One-4 Review 16

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family BEACON ARTS CENTRE PRESENTS

11 Dec 15 – 2 Jan 2016

‘One of the best pantomimes in Scotland’ The Herald on Jack and the Beanstalk 2013 On sale 9am, Wed 1 Jul

festival A new family-friendly festival, inspired by the tradition of Galoshans.

A weekend of performance in the theatre, on the streets and in the parks, with events for everyone to get involved with!

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light entertainment

Forbidden Nights Wed 16 Sep, 7.30pm I Main Theatre £20 (First 5 rows £23.50)

Forbidden Nights is a classy new all-male variety show with full theatre production and explosive choreography.

Forbidden are skilled and professionally trained performers, hand-picked from around the UK with charisma, undeniable talent, sparkling personality and honed physiques in equal measure. They can sing, they can dance and they are VERY easy on the eye. Featuring a vocalist, aerial artist, pole performer and fire act all delivered with an element of naughtiness – but not so naughty that you can’t bring your granny. Think Cirque du Soleil meets Magic Mike!

Suitable for ages 18 to 80.

light entertainment

Michelle McManus Reality – The Musical Thu 24 Sep, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £15 After receiving 5-star reviews at the Edinburgh Festival, columnist, television presenter, actress and singer Michelle brings Michelle McManus’ Reality – The Musical to Greenock. An upfront and humorous take on her life since winning Pop Idol just over a decade ago, with famous show tunes from the West End and Broadway.

From Chicago to Cabaret, Les Misérables to Chess, this fabulous evening of entertainment is set to have everyone singing along and laughing with Michelle as she recounts some of the ups and downs of her life as a TV reality show winner and exactly how she feels about Simon Cowell and Gillian McKeith.

‘A very, very good comedian... the new queen of the one woman show’.

Daily Record

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light entertainment MA PROMOTIONS

Mad About the Musicals 10th Anniversary Sun 4 Oct, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £23 (£21 Concession)

Starring Gareth Gates and Michael Courtney Taking you on a whistle-stop tour from the heart of London’s theatre land to the glitz of Broadway, Mad About the Musicals is back once again, celebrating the very best songs from the shows we all know and love!

With a host of your favourite numbers from the pen of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Kander & Ebb, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Boublil & Schönberg, the talented cast will evoke the true spirit of the stage, with brilliant vocals, incredible dancing, stunning costumes and West End musicians to bring you the very best show in town.

From the poignant All I Ask of You to the dramatic One Day More, you can sit back and enjoy two hours of unforgettable London and New York favourites, brought to you by a cast direct from the West End, including Gareth Gates and Michael Courtney – a slice of pure entertainment!

‘The best show of its kind’ Encore Magazine

light entertainment TIMELESS THEATRE

Memories are Made of This Thu 15 Oct, 2.30pm & 7pm Main Theatre I £14 (£12 Concession & Matinee) Nostalgia just doesn't come any better! Another sensational show from the producers of Memory Lane, All our Yesterdays and Rolling back the Years. One of the biggest shows of its kind in the UK, taking the audience on a thrilling and breathtaking musical journey through the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s, with stunning costumes and brilliant choreography.

West End and international vocalists, along with the stunning Memory Lane dancers, perform some of the greatest hits from each decade including songs by Connie Francis, Frank Sinatra, Everly Brothers, Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, Abba, Barry Manilow, Jersey Boys, Michael Bublé and many more.

‘Bright, colourful, slick... gave the audience just what they wanted...’ Leicester Mercury.

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live music FIREFLY MUSIC

Phil & Aly Thu 3 Sep, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £16 Phil & Aly, two of Scotland’s most acclaimed traditional musicians have been delighting audiences across Scotland with their masterful, versatile and amusing performances and leading us in the dance on BBC’s live Hogmanay show for over two decades.

Oct 2013 saw the legendary folk duo receive the Sunday Mail Great Scot Award’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

live music GREENOCK MEDICAL AID

Peter Morrison and Friends Sat 19 Sep, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £15 Peter Morrison is one of Scotland’s most popular and accomplished singers.

Starring in the hugely successful Songs of Scotland TV series in the seventies launched him on a singing career that has taken him literally all over the world.

Apart from producing and promoting his own shows in every Scottish theatre he has sung in all the major British concert halls – the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican Centre, Manchester`s Bridgewater Hall, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Edinburgh`s Usher Hall .

For 25 years he was one of the principal soloists in the BBC`s famous Friday Night is Music Night.

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live music TODD GORDON

Sinatra: 100 Years Wed 7 Oct, 7pm I Main Theatre I £16 (£14 Concession) 2015 marks the centenary of the birth of Frank Sinatra.

In celebration, Todd Gordon – one of the world’s finest interpreters of the Sinatra canon – brings his new show to the Beacon. Featuring many of the biggest hits along with other gems Ol’ Blue Eyes recorded during his illustrious career including Summer Wind, Strangers In the Night, You Make Me Feel So Young and New York, New York.

‘Doing it his way, the ghost of Sinatra lives on through the work of one his most polished admirers’ The Times

live music

Michael English Wed 14 Oct, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £18

An accomplished musician and songwriter, and Ireland’s top country star, Michael English is now a big name on the circuit and his energetic performances always leave the crowd wanting more. His first performance at the Beacon will include hits from his new album Dance all Night and his phenomenally successful album Country Roots.

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live music

MacFloyd: Wish You Were Here Thu 22 Oct, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £15 (£13 Concession) MacFloyd return to the Beacon Arts Centre in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Pink Floyd's classic Wish You Were Here album which will see them perform this masterpiece in its entirety. The show will also include a varied mix of Floyd classics including material from Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, The Division Bell and more.

In a show lasting over two hours, you will witness a level of musicianship that is second to none ensuring MacFloyd's position as arguably the best Pink Floyd cover band in the UK. The fans are in for the usual display of lasers and visual effects. Along with an impressive light show, the band take great pride in performing all the Floyd numbers with accuracy thanks to a talented and enthusiastic line-up. Only in this way, MacFloyd are able to perform every detail in Pink Floyd's music completely live!

MacFloyd will take you on a journey which promises to transport you back in time... if only for a night.

live music SCOTTISH OPERA

Mozart’s Così fan tutte Tues 27 Oct, 7.30pm I Main Theatre I £14 (£5 Under 25s) In opera, the path of true love rarely runs smooth, and no more so than in this light-hearted tale of love, lust and fidelity. When Don Alfonso wagers that he can prove all women are fickle, Ferrando and Guglielmo willingly accept, convinced that their fiancées could never be unfaithful.

The men disguise themselves and each attempt to seduce the other’s wife-to-be.

The women resist at first, but a bit of Don Alfonso’s trickery is enough to spark talk of a double wedding…

Be transported to 1950s Italy in this stylish and romantic telling of one of Mozart’s best-loved operas, featuring a sublime score performed by some of the best young singers around.

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beaconartscentre.co.uk I 01475 723 723

live music

Inverclyde Folk & Roots Festival 8 – 25 Oct Now in its third year, the Beacon is delighted to welcome an eclectic programme of artists for its annual celebration of all things folk and roots.

Look out for announcements about the line-up.

project

The Beacon Arts Centre is delighted to be working in partnership with Inverclyde Council to design and deliver an innovative year-long outreach justice project, Hidden, for ages 12 – 26. The programme will consist of creative and urban arts workshops and events, to explore themes of pleasure seeking and risk taking while raising aspirations and improving physical and mental health for identified young people.

Participation is on a referral basis or bespoke projects developed.

For more information contact Sharon Miller: sharon@beaconartscentre.co.uk 01475 723 723

beaconartscentre.co.uk I 01475 723 723

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Activities and classes There are lots of ways you can take part. We have classes where you can try your hand at theatre and dance, as well as special projects throughout the year.

Beacon Youth Theatre (Saturdays) Term Dates: Sat 22 Aug – Sat 3 Oct Age/school year

time

cost per term (7wks)

P1 & 2

10 – 10.45am

£31.50

P3, 4 & 5

10.45 – 12pm

£38.50

P6 & 7

12pm – 1.15pm

£38.50

S1 & 2

1.15pm – 2.30pm

£38.50

S3 up to 21yrs

2.30pm – 3.45pm

£38.50

Classes are paid for in a block booking. New participants can ‘Try before you Buy’.

Mon 13 – Fri 17 Jul Primary 1 to 2: 9.30am – 12.30pm £30 Primary 3+: 9.30am – 4pm £80 Summer School is run by our experienced team of professionals who specialise in making theatre with, and for, children and young people. Everyone is welcome to join this fun and exciting theatre programme which will result in a unique performance in the Beacon’s studio theatre.

To book or for more information call the Beacon on 01475 723 723 or e-mail: laura@beaconartscentre.co.uk

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Photo: Andrew McGregor

Beacon Youth Theatre Summer School

Activities and classes Beacon Dance Term Dates: Mon 17 Aug – Fri 9 Oct We offer dance classes for all ages that focus on dance technique, confidence, communication, self-expression, and performance skills, as well as being a great way to meet new friends and have lots of fun!

For children and young people Age/school year

time

cost per term (7wks)

Micro movers

16 mths – 4 years Mon 11am – 12pm

£40

Flying Feet

4 – 7 years

Mon 5.30pm – 6.15pm

£40

Young Groovers 8 – 10 years

Mon 6.30pm – 7.30pm

£40

Contemporary

Mon 5.30pm – 6.30pm

£40

11 – 13 years

Classes must be paid for in a block booking. New participants can 'Try before you Buy'.

For adults Dance Workout

Mon 6.30pm – 7.30pm

£5 per week

Platinum Project 60+

Mon 10am – 11am

£2 per week (donation)

Photo: Andrew McGregor

Creatability: Coming soon...

Creative movement classes for young people with additional support needs.

To register your interest and for more information contact Gail Sneddon: 01475 723 723 / gail@beaconartscentre.co.uk

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BYDC is a creatively adventurous dance performance company for young people from 14 – 21 years. Company members get a chance to develop contemporary technique, learn exciting performance skills, expand their choreographic talents and perform nationally. BYDC prepares young dancers for pathways to further education and training in dance.

Photo: Gail Sneddon

Beacon Youth Dance Company

S3 to 21yrs I Thursday I 5pm – 7pm I £2 per week (donation)

YDance Project Y Foundation Course Mon 6 – Fri 10 July The Project Y Foundation Course offers dancers aged 12 – 18 a chance to work alongside a choreographer from YDance, the national youth dance organisation of Scotland, for one week to create and develop a new contemporary dance piece to be included in the programme of the 2015 Project Y tour*. This is a great opportunity for dancers to work with a choreographer, develop their choreography skills, strengthen their dance technique and to perform on a professional stage as part of an annual national tour.

Past Foundation Course participants have gone on to complete a four-week intensive Project Y Performance Course, dance in the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland and enter full-time professional dance training.

Participants can use the Foundation Course to gain an Arts Award.

For more information please contact Gaynor Milne on 0141 552 7712 or visit www.ydance.org If you would like to pick up a Project Y Foundation Course application form from the Beacon or find out more about dance opportunities please contact Gail Sneddon (Dance Developer) on 01475 723 723 or gail@beaconartscentre.co.uk * See p14 for details of the Project Y performance (Thu 30 Jul).

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Events and hires

The Beacon Arts Centre’s adaptable event rooms allow us to create a range of different spaces, for business or pleasure. The layout of these rooms can be tailored to meet your individual needs and are suitable for events of all sizes; including conferences and seminars, workshops, private meals and celebrations, functions, exhibitions and performances.

Each of our spaces is fully accessible, with wireless broadband available throughout the building, and additional technical support available on request. Full length windows create light and bright spaces, with panoramic waterfront views over the Clyde Estuary, giving wow factor to any occasion.

Our in-house catering and bar facilities offer a range of options to suit every style of event and budget.

Weddings We want you and your guests to have an experience that will be special and memorable for years to come. Our spaces can accommodate up to 150 guests and our event team can help advise on trusted suppliers. Call us to arrange a personal viewing and to discuss arrangements.

Contact Laura Queen, Events Co-ordinator: laura.queen@beaconartscentre.co.uk / 01475 723 723 27

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The Beacon Arts Centre is Inverclyde’s home to the arts, welcoming and encouraging events and activities that reach into every part of our community. We need your help to ensure the future of the Beacon is a bright one.

Support Us Show how much your theatre matters Join the UK-wide campaign to show Inverclyde Council how much you value their support of your local theatre!

Have your voice heard now at mytheatrematters.com Join the conversation on Twitter @theatre_matters The aim of the campaign is to encourage you, the public, to tell our local councillors about about the positive power a vibrant arts scene has in our community, so sign up today… mytheatrematters.com

Sponsor a seat in our theatre to celebrate a lasting memory Sponsoring a seat can be done for yourself or as a special gift for an important person in your life.

For £500 your chosen seat will carry a plaque inscribed with your dedication and we guarantee a minimum 10 year display.

Your donation will be used to support all aspects of the venue’s work – from the staging of plays to our extensive education and outreach programme.

If you would like to sponsor a seat or find out more about the scheme please contact Jill Thomson, Development Manager on 01475 600 351.

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You can also help us by: round-up donation When purchasing theatre tickets online you can round up your sale to the nearest pound, and help us do that little bit more in bringing the arts to everyone. gift aid it By allowing us to claim Gift Aid on your donation, your gift becomes worth even more – we can reclaim 25p for every £1 donated by an individual taxpayer from HMRC.

Visit Us Mon – Sat 9am to 8pm Sun 12pm to 6pm (Open ‘til 8pm when there’s a performance) Call us on 01475 723 723.

We will hold your tickets for collection or will post them to you for £1. Credit card sales are subject to a £1 fee.

Look us up at beaconartscentre.co.uk Online bookings are subject to £2.20 per transaction

Group Bookings 1 free with every 10 tickets purchased (this offer excludes Local Theatre and Showcase events).

Concessions Concession prices are available where advertised and apply to Senior Citizens (60+), Students, Children (16 and under), Registered Disabled and Unemployed.

Concessions must be claimed at time of purchase and proof of eligibility shown.

Assisting companions for disabled patrons are admitted free of charge.

Refunds Once you have bought a ticket it is non-refundable, unless the performance is cancelled or rescheduled.

Terms and Conditions 1.Tickets should be checked at point of purchase as mistakes cannot be rectified later. 2. Latecomers will be asked to wait until a suitable break in the performance. 3. Management reserves the right to refuse admission and to alter the advertised programme if it proves necessary. 4. The use of cameras and recording equipment in the Main Theatre and Studio is prohibited. 5. Mobile phones should be silenced before entering performances.

6. Every audience member must have a valid ticket, even infants. 7. The Beacon Arts Centre reserves the right to introduce special offers and discounts on tickets at any time.

Booking Information

01475 723 723 beaconartscentre.co.uk

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June 19 & 20

Boogie Woogie Wonderland

27 & 28

Dance Date

July 12

Fair Broke The day

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Project Y

August 11

Dragon

Beacon Arts Centre

21

Scarfed for Life

27 & 29

A Night of One Act Plays

Custom House Quay, Greenock PA15 1HJ

September 2 Spectre Town 3

Phil & Aly

9

Pioneers of Performance Collete Sadler We are the Monsters

01475 723 723 beaconartscentre.co.uk

Pioneers of Performance Curious Seed Chalk About Pioneers of Performance Robbie Synge Douglas Pioneers of Performance Anna Krzystek Face On 12

Oog

13

Black is the Color of my Voice

16

Forbidden Nights

19

Kind of Silence

19

Peter Morrison and Friends

24

Michelle McManus Reality – The Musical

26

Des McLean

October 1

The Last Yankee

4

Mad About the Musicals

7

Sinatra: 100 Years

8 – 25

Inverclyde Folk and Roots Festival

8

Tribes

10

Piaf

13

In Her Shadows

14

My Friend Selma

14

Michael English

15

Memories are Made of This

17

Magic Sho

17

Craig Hill Playing with My Selfie!

19

Hairy Maclary’s Cat Tales

22

MacFloyd Wish You Were Here

24

Singin’ I’m no a Billy he’s a Tim

27

Mozart’s Così fan tutte

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