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JAMES HADDRELL
» Art, Drama, Music, Language & Wine
Exciting Horizons Claire Allen talks to Greenwich Theatre's artistic director James Haddrell When you took over as artistic director five years ago; what was your original vision? There wasn’t one single vision - which was challenging. I wanted to bring more children’s theatre to Greenwich and to commission more approachable theatre for families, which wasn’t just the Christmas panto. I also wanted to acknowledge the change in demographic in the community by creating a programme which didn’t just rely on adaptations of classic dramas and texts, but instead appealed to people of different ages, ethnicities, professional backgrounds and financial positions. So we reduced ticket prices, made the theatre more comfortable and began working with new and emerging theatre companies. What makes Greenwich Theatre so exciting right now? Every year we take on young theatre companies, and have a reputation for attracting them and helping them along their way. For Greenwich Theatre audiences this means seeing interesting and high quality productions, which end up in the West End and cities like New York, Dublin and Madrid, before anyone else. We’ve now reached a point where there is a great variety on show, and something different to see each week. Helen Mirren, Ali Smith and director Lucy Bailey have all recently been made patrons of Greenwich Theatre, but what are your personal highlights? There was a point last year, when I was number crunching, and realised the symmetry in our audience numbers having doubled though our funding had halved. Having achieved that in five years felt like a very pure outcome. At the same time we do owe a huge thanks to Royal Greenwich - it is our additional funding which has reduced so drastically, not that from the local authority. While the arts across the country struggle with reducing resources, with some county councils cutting arts funding altogether, Royal Greenwich has bucked a national trend in maintaining our funding despite major reductions from other sources. Hopefully our increased audience figures prove them right in having such faith in what we do. What can audiences expect from Greenwich Theatre in 2013? Our annual Greenwich Theatre’s Children’s Festival returns this Easter, and having scooped two Broadway World awards for Rent last year, look out for news of another big musical heading for Greenwich this autumn. We have a huge range of shows coming up, so come and see a production you’re sure you’ll like, then come back and take a risk and see something completely different. Trust us. For full listings please visit: www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk
Don’t miss our monthly theatre column starting here in our April issue.
courses. One-to-one instrumental & vocal tuition for all age groups, plus a range of courses. The Conservatoire, Lee Road Blackheath, SE3. Info: 020 8852 0234 or info@conservatoire.org.uk » Blackheath Decorative & Fine Arts Society. Stimulating lectures and intriguing outings. Fourth Thursday of the month except August and December. 2.30pm. www.artsinblackheath.org.uk. St Mary’s Hall, Cresswell Park, Blackeath SE3. » Embroidery and Soft Furnishing Workshops. Learn hand and machine embroidery, soft furnishings and ‘get to know your sewing machine’. All levels welcome. 10am12noon & 1-3pm. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. All day workshops on 3rd Saturday of each month. 020 8464 1662. St Josephs Convent, Plaistow Ln, Bromley BR1 2PR. » Greenwich Decorative & Fine Arts Society. Monthly lectures at King William Court, Room 315, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10. 8pm on 2nd Monday of the month, except April & August. Refreshments from 7.15pm. New members welcome. 020 8852 6248 or www.gdfas.org » Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park. Drop-in activities for Sunday. 10am-5pm. Free. Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park Trust for Urban Ecology, John Harrison Way, SE10. 020 8293 1904. » Greenwich Tour Guides Association. Walks start at 12.15pm & 2.15pm from the Tourist Information Centre, Pepys House, 2 Cutty Sark Grdns, SE10. £7 (£6 conc). Tel: 07575 772 298 or email: guides@greenwichtours.co.uk » Greenwich Market. Tues - Collectables & crafts. Weds - Food market with local producers & organic produce. Thurs & Fri - Antiques, collectables, arts & crafts. Weekends & Bank Hols - Arts & Crafts & Food. 10am-5.30pm, www.shopgreenwich.co.uk 020 8269 5096. Greenwich SE10. » Guided Walk in Maryon Wilson Park. This park includes an animal park & deer enclosure. 1.15pm & 3.30pm tour of the animals every Wed. Extra tours Mon & Fri in school hols. Free. Maryon Wilson Park, Thorntree Road, Charlton, SE7. Park Ranger Service, 020 8319 4253. » Knitting & Crochet Workshops. Learn to knit or crochet with beginners, intermediate and advanced classes. 11am – 1pm every Friday and Saturday. £15 per 2-hour session. Book your space online at www.knitshop.co.uk or call 020 8144 4523, Boutique Outlet, 326 Lee High Road, Lee Green SE13 5PJ. » Learn Tarot Cards. Develop your intuition and communication skills. Private tuition and workshops with experienced reader, inspiring teacher. Email: marieclaire@tarotgift.com www.tarotgift.com Tel: 07791 139 380, 020 8293 1737. » Sing it out. Stress-relieving singing group for local people interested in singing as a way of relieving stress. All abilities catered for. First session FREE. Evening sessions Wednesday 8pm. Mother & baby sessions Thursday
1.30pm. Maze Hill area. Email toria@singitout. co.uk or call Toria on 07747 794 321.
EVERY MON » Lewisham Choral Society. New season's rehearsals. New members welcome. For more details visit www.lewishamchoralsociety.org.uk 8pm. St Laurence's Church, Community Centre, Bromley Road, Catford SE6 2TS.
EVERY WED » Keep Fit & In Shape + Line Dancing. 10am - 12 noon. Donation £5 to Cancer Research UK. 020 8852 7127. Kingswood Hall, Kingswood Place, off Dacre Park, Lewisham SE13.
EVERY THURS » Blackheath Morris Men. Practice 8.45-10pm. St Marks Church Upper Hall, Greenwich South Street SE10. Free. Contact John on 020 8461 2440. www.blackheathmorris.com » Rotary Club of Greenwich. For like-minded business people to meet & help the community. Fred Nunn 020 8858 6410. Charlton Football Club, Floyd Rd; Charlton SE7 8BL.
EVERY FRI » Lunchtime Concert. 1pm – 2pm. Free. Charlton House, Charlton Rd; SE7 8RE. 020 8856 3951. » Tangoworkout. Classes connecting Tango with health and well being, for men and women. 7.15pm – 9.15pm – beginners and intermediate classes. £7. West Greenwich Community Centre, 141 Greenwich High Road, SE10 8JA.
2ND SAT OF EVERY MONTH » Forest Hill Farmers’ Market. 9.30am-2pm. Forest Hill Pools, Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HZ.
EVERY SUN » Blackheath Farmers’ Market. 10am-2pm. Blackheath Station Car Pk; Blackheath SE3.
THIRD SUN OF EVERY MONTH » Eltham Farmers’ Market. 10am-3pm. Passey Place. Off Eltham High St, Eltham SE9.
EVERY SUN & 2ND TUES » Blackheath Quakers. Quaker meeting for worship. 10.30am-11.30am every Sunday, and 1pm-1.30pm on the 2nd Tues of each month. Visitors welcome. Call 07908 587 695 for current venue or visit www.blackheathquakers.org.uk
UNTIL 7 APR » Current Exhibition. Featured artists: David Bowyer (Until10 Mar), Nikki Braunton (12 – 24 Mar) and Angela Brookes (Mar 26 – Apr 7). Tues–Sun, 10am–5.30pm. 020 8858 1569. Greenwich Printmakers Gallery, 1A The Market, SE10 9HZ.
UNTIL 13 MAR » Illuminated World. Exploration of early photography from an extraordinary local man, Arthur Boswell’s (1880-1966). 10am-5pm, last entry 4.30pm. Adults £7, con/under16s £5, family £20. Bexley Heritage Trust, Hall Place, Bexley DA5
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