The Roses’ Chronicle SPRING 2023
Dear Friends,
This is the second iteration of our chronicle, written exclusively for our members, where we hope to inspire and delight you. In this issue we reveal ways our Roses family get creative, including some incredible ways our staff use their free time from professional singing to Board Game design.
As I read the draft of this chronicle, I had an incredible feeling of pride and privilege to be working at the centre of creative community in Gloucestershire.
However, I also felt a pang of jealousy: despite working in this inspiring space surrounded by talent my own creativity has been a little on the back burner. Work and home life have taken over recently and I forget to prioritise my own creativity despite knowing the massive mental and physical health benefits it provides me.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to be more creative. The problem is that’s where I stop – I just do the thinking! While ideation is a crucial part of the artistic process, it’s really the doing that’s the important part – writing that book, getting the knitting needles out, putting paint to paper or dancing the dance.
I find that starting the doing is the hardest bit – so many creative gremlins get in the way! My dominant gremlin is ‘it’s not going to be good so why bother?’ To quote Annie Lamot, who writes brilliantly about the writing process, ‘Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life.’ For those of you like me, struggling to bring creativity into your lives, here’s some top tips and some blatant cheats to help you bridge the gap between thinking of the thing and doing the thing!
• To steal from the some of my business productivity books The One Thing and Essentialism, start with the minimum viable action – write for 2 minutes a day then stop, draw a simple line drawing, write one line of a song. Takes the pressure off and fits in with life! I love using an journaling app.
• Try and be bad at it instead of good at it. This is a game changer as it makes it about the process not the result, and definitely makes it more fun.
• Copy someone who’s already done it – don’t be afraid to write / paint / sing in the style of your favourite author / artist / singer. Let them be the fuel and spark of your creative fire.
• Use prompts that other people have created. Over lockdown I participated in the wonderful Isolation Journals created by Suleika Joauad, that provided a daily writing prompt for a huge community of amateur writers.
If you’ve got a bit more time and really want to connect with your inner creator, I highly recommend doing the 12 week self-directed creative discovery mapped out in Julia Cameron’s brilliant book The Artists Way.
I hope this Chronicle stokes the fire of your inner creator and gets those creative juices flowing. I can promise you it’s always worth it.
Jess Brewster Director
New Productions
First up in our series of ‘news’ is productions and we have a range of things to share including a special invite to come behind the scenes and meet some of the stars of our show.
Roses Young Creatives Debut
We are thrilled to announce that our Roses Young Creatives will be performing their first annual showcase; Matilda Jr! This end of year showcase is the product of six months of hard work for young performers from our Roses Young Creatives. Tickets are on sale now.
Invitation
Meet the Cast of Matilda Junior! On Saturday 8th July at 6pm, come and hear from our Roses Young Creatives about their experiences preparing for their debut show and join us afterwards for a pre-show drink in the bar. Please RSVP to Grace End grace.end@rosestheatre.org to let us know if you would like to join us for this very special event.
The Big Local Night Out at The Roses
Friday 5th May marks the first in a series of four of The Big Local Night Out, each featuring different headline acts, community groups and compered by local entertainer Tom Elliott. This sounds like something you might find at The Roses on any given night... but there is one huge difference between this show and the others you might see on our stage. That difference is this: Tom has secured funding to produce and run this series of events, enabling The Roses to keep 100% of the ticket income. Tom has succesfully trialled The Big Local Night Out in other venues and when he approached us to see if we were interested in being a part of it, our answer was unanimous.
If you are able to support this event, tickets are available online or via Box Office on 01684 290574.
Building Resilience Project with Tirlebrook Primary School
Alongside our community programme which runs all year round we also work closely with other community groups in the borough and seek to work together with organisations promoting arts and wellbeing across Gloucestershire. Throughout the Spring term we formed a new partnership with Cinderford Artspace and Tewkesbury Nature Reserve and delivered a project to support year 5’s at Tirlebrook Primary School to become more resilient, a challenge the school had identified following Covid and wanted to support them with ahead of SATs and the transition to secondary school.
Over the course of 10 weeks the children were given the opportunity to create a character of their choosing. These characters could be anything they wanted and through them the children were asked to think about how the characters would feel in different settings... perhaps they enjoyed a bustling theatre or maybe they would prefer a quiet corner of a nature reserve. Throughout the project the children took part in a range of activities from arts and crafts to drama to bring their characters to life. During the final session it was clear that confidence had grown as we enjoyed performances from many of the children and showcased their journey to that point with a gallery of work and photos from along the way on our stage for the parents and teachers to enjoy.
Tom ElliottNew Challenges
Next up in our series of ‘news’ this Spring is challenges and we’ve some local stories to tell and a challenge or two you might want to join in with.
Our Community Engagement Producer, Megan Dunford, is challenging herself to learn sign language
“I’m really enjoying testing my newfound signing skills with students from Milestone School; they always correct me when I’m struggling and it’s keeping me motivated! I practice at home through an online course, after completing my taster course through Gloucester College in Winter 2022. I’m hoping to do my level 1 at some point in the future.”
Our Technical Manager, Martin is competing in an international board game design competition
Our Technical Manager, Martin Worrall, has been getting creative designing his own board game for an international competition!
“I entered an International Board Game Design competition in July 2021 run by a games publisher based in China. I entered a Strategy game which I started work on in October 2016!
I’ve always been interested in Antarctic exploration and after playing the boardgames ‘Terraforming Mars’, ‘18XX’ and ‘Scythe’ and was inspired to create my own.
Called ‘Terra Nullius: Antarctica’, the premise is an alternative history where the ice sheet covering Antarctica has melted and the continent thaws out. You play a Nation trying to claim regions of land on which to operate your industries. Who can manage their nation’s resources most efficiently and become the most profitable nation?
I’ve made it down to the final 10 from an initial 130 and will find out in mid-April if I have made it to the final 5 with the winners announced in mid-June.”
Martin also hosts our very own board games evening every Monday at 6.30pm in Eric’s bar. It’s been growing steadily for months and now includes a pre-game pizza session. There’s no need to book, please feel free to join us!
New Quiz Night at The Roses
Looking for a local night out in Tewkesbury, how about joining our brand new Quiz Night?
On the second Tuesday of every month starting on the 11th of April we will be hosting a quiz night from 7.30pm in Eric’s Bar. There’s no need to book, just come along and get quizzing!
www.rosestheatre.org/support-us/fundraise-for-us
FANCY A CHALLENGE YOURSELF?
We have now launched ‘Fundraise For Us’, a new community fundraising strand where individuals and groups can challenge themselves and support our community programme all at the same time. For full details head to our website and get in touch using our Expression of Interest Form.
www.rosestheatre.org/support-us/fundraise-for-us
New Shows
Many theatres, including The Roses, used to launch their events in seasons, often just a month or two prior to their start.
Over the years the industry has moved away from this (although we still produce our well-read season brochure) as the longer an event is on sale, the better it does (and thanks to our incredible audiences, yourselves included, we now do sell out most events here).
Promoters like to get on sale the moment the ink is dry on the contract, often so they can start furiously marketing it themselves, and for this reason you can often find shows on sale over a year ahead of their visit to us. Here’s a round up of shows we have put on sale but haven’t actively announced yet... until now, to you.
The Albion Christmas Band
THU 21 DEC 7.30PM
Featuring the combined talents of Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention), Kellie While (Albion Band), Simon Care (Edward II) and the Guvnor himself, Ashley Hutchings MBE, this show takes you on a guided tour through the Christmas customs of Britain.
The King’s Voice –Gordon Hendricks As Elvis
SAT 20 JAN 7.30PM
The King’s Voice transports you through time from the ‘68 special through to the Vegas era, breathing soul into ballads and those iconic jumpsuit numbers that set the stage on fire.
There’s only one Elvis Presley and there’s only one artiste who captures his spirit on stage – the inimitable Gordon Hendricks
The ELO Experience
THU 7 MAR 7.30PM
The ELO Experience are the world’s foremost multi award winning tribute to The Electric Light Orchestra.
With a sensational string section, a stunning light show and large screen projection to further enhance the experience, this incredible show accurately reproduces the songs and sounds and takes you on a magical musical journey through time.
Tickets All £27.00
Tickets All £29.50
Some Guys Have All The Luck
SAT 9 MAR 7.30PM
Endorsed by Rod’s own family, Some Guys Have All The Luck – The Rod Stewart Story is back in theatres in 2024 with its hotly anticipated new production.
Widely acknowledged as the UK’s best, frontman Paul Metcalfe is breath-taking as Rod and captures all the excitement, energy and charisma of the legendary performer.
Count Arthur Strong
THU 14 MAR 7.30PM
Part one of Count Arthur Strong’s farewell tour. (Of the World. Potentially. Certainly Jersey).
Having consulted with top Harley Street specialists, Count Arthur Strong has decided to gradually phase in his farewell tour over a, yet to be specified number of parts, because of the likelihood of people doing ‘Cold Turkey’ in theatres over him.
Tickets All £29.50
Tickets All £29.00
Tickets All £25.50
An Evening of Burlesque
SAT 24 FEB 7.30PM
An Evening of Burlesque is filled with artistic spectacle that has enraptured audiences for centuries.
This sensational variety show brings together a bounty of beautiful stars for an unrivalled variety show for the 21st Century! Expect the unexpected with plenty of glitter and glamour!
It’s cocktails and cabaret o’clock!
Geoff Norcott: Basic Bloke
THU 29 FEB 7.30PM
On this his sixth UK tour, Geoff Norcott will be trying to make sense of the current cultural and political scene with his playfully provocative brand of humour.
Whether it’s the dire blandness of the two main parties or the shamelessly shoe-horned right-on messages in adverts and films, Geoff will continue to tread in areas much of comedy leaves well alone.
The Scummy Mummies: Greatest Hits!
FRI 1 MAR 7.30PM
Join Ellie and Helen as they celebrate ten years of scumminess!
For a decade now, the Scummy Mummies have been touring their hit comedy show to sold-out audiences around the country.
Now they’re bringing all their mostloved songs, sketches, and stand-up together for a night that will make you laugh till you wee.
Tickets All £32.50
Tickets All £18.00
Tickets All £25.50
UK Pink Floyd Experience
FRI 22 MAR 7.30PM
Celebrating over 50 years of one of rock music’s most influential bands, UK Pink Floyd Experience recreate the sights and sounds of the legendary band in concert.
This highly authentic show recreates the atmosphere of Floyd live.
Featuring top-flight musicians and complete with video projections, a stunning light show and of course, over 2 hours of incredible music!
Tickets All £28.00
The Ultimate Classic Rock Show
FRI 26 APR 7.30PM
Over two hours of classic rock anthems from artists including Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Free, The Eagles and Jimi Hendrix to name but a few.
Frankie’s Guys
SAT 4 MAY 7.30PM
Join Ellie and Helen as they celebrate ten years of scumminess!
For a decade now, the Scummy Mummies have been touring their hit comedy show to sold-out audiences around the country.
Now they’re bringing all their mostloved songs, sketches, and stand-up together for a night that will make you laugh till you wee.
Tickets All £29.50
Tickets £31.00–£24.00
