ARENA
THEATRE
Sep-Dec 2019
PLAYS FILMS DANCE MUSIC COMEDY
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321 • BOOK ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
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HELLO! Welcome to the Autumn 2019 season at the Arena Theatre, University of Wolverhampton.
Sep-Dec 2019
CONTENTS Performances
p04 - p35
Arena Film Theatre
We’re marking twelve months since our new-look programme started by offering even more films, Theatre Suppers, spoken word artists and acoustic music for you to enjoy live. There’s even chance for you to take part yourself by getting involved in our flourishing artistic scene: with our Arena Collaborative Theatremakers (ACT) evenings and Poets and Storytellers Assemble! (PASTA) nights motoring along stronger than ever.
p16
Theatre Supper
p17
Arena Venue Hire
Poetry and Storytellers Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
p21
Bar and Coffee Shop
University Open Days
Learning and Participation At a Glance
We’re also participating in Wolverhampton’s Funny Things festival, with The Barn Ultimatum and Bouncers guaranteed to get you rolling around in a fit of hysterics!
How to Book
How to Find us
p19 p20
No Amps, No Chat, No Charge
Our professional programme boasts a little something for everyone this season: Little Angel Theatre are here once again with their new show Emily Rising for the little ones and their mums and dads; and we have some of the best work in the Midlands heading our way with Toni Lewis and Lewis Doherty bringing their new pieces to us.
p18
p23
p24 p36 p38
p40 p42
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Neil
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 04
Peeling
Sat 28 September at 7.30pm
28
Skin Reimagined Thur 21 November at 7.30pm
SIGNED (BSL)
07
16
20
Emily Rising
Arena Film Theatre
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
Sat 12 October 11.00am and 2pm
29
Yaatra
Sat 23 November at 7.30pm
AUDIO DESCRIBED
CAPTIONED
Nov – Dec Monday nights
33
ACT Collection
Tues 10 December at 7.30pm
Aug – Nov
36
Youth Theatre 9 Sept – 13 July
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321 BOOK ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
04 PERFORMANCES
PERFORMANCES Taking Flight Theatre Company
PEELING Saturday 28 September 7.30pm In shadow, three performers await their brief moment in the light. Often blisteringly funny, at times almost unbearably painful; Peeling takes us backstage into a world of stories, of secrets, and a world where these fierce, intelligent women are always the chorus and never the lead. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
FIERCELY CLEVER AND UNCOMPROMISING The Guardian
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EXTRAORDINARILY POETIC… EARTHY, ACERBIC WIT The Stage
Outside Centre
PERFORMANCES 05
Red Earth Theatre
SOONCHILD Friday 4 and Saturday 5 October 7.00pm both nights, 2.00pm on Saturday
Dig out your snowshoes for an Arctic adventure with live music, 3D and shadow puppets, creative captioning, integrated sign language and song, and a cosmic Northern Lights show! Outside Centre
Set in the Arctic Circle, Soonchild is the story of John and his wife whose baby refuses to be born until she can hear the World Songs. John embarks on a quest to find the songs and save the world, aided by a cool cast of Polar creatures. So big-hearted, this show will melt an iceberg. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions. Saturday matinee: £9
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
06 PERFORMANCES
Shasha and Taylor Productions
EVERYTHING I SEE I SWALLOW “
Set against a backdrop of shifting generational attitudes to empowerment, feminism and sexuality, fusing theatre and aerial work with the erotic art of Japanese rope bondage shibari, Everything I See I Swallow is a fascinating exploration of epic themes in an intimate setting.
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I’M NOT JUST AN OBJECT. I’VE MADE A CHOICE. TO BE HERE, TO BE TIED, AND… NOT TO DENY MY SEXUALITY.
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An art curator discovers that her daughter has amassed over 50,000 followers by posting semi-naked images of herself on Instagram. Is this freedom of expression or exploitation, and what is the difference? When does art become pornography and vice versa? How does a mother protect her daughter and when does protection become control?
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Wednesday 9 October 7.30pm
Running time: 60 mins Recommended age: 16+ - contains scenes of a sexual nature/ strong language Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
PERFORMANCES 07
Little Angel Theatre
EMILY RISING
Saturday 12 October 11.00am and 2.00pm Emily wakes up one bright autumn morning to find that her feet can’t touch the ground, and no one can understand why. To everyone’s surprise Emily keeps rising higher and higher. From sleeping upside-down on her ceiling and flying above her school playground, to soaring over a starry-skied London, Emily’s adventure is just beginning. Emily discovers a world that looks completely different. She’s not scared at all – it’s fun being high up. But she’s not coming down… Tickets: : £9
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
08 PERFORMANCES
Paula Varjack
THE CULT OF K*NZO
Thursday 17 October at 7.30pm On 5 November 2016, Paula Varjack found herself queuing at 4.00 am outside a shopping centre in east London, for the collaboration between the high-end designer KENZO and H&M. Five hours later, she and 20 others were given ten minutes to shop a cordoned off section of a store. After paying at a till staffed by cheering, applauding sales assistants, she emerged carrying the largest shopping bag she had ever carried, in a complete and total daze. What had just happened? What was it about Kenzo? The Cult of K*nzo is a solo performance combining storytelling, videography, sound design and choreography, to playfully explore one woman’s lifelong desire for luxury, the ways in which luxury brands create that desire, and the journey of one man’s dream to become a fashion designer. Across all of these stories are outsiders, the tension between inclusion and exclusion, and the mysterious allure of high-end. Why do we want the things that we want? What’s in a brand? Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
PERFORMANCES 09
The Bone Ensemble
GULP!
Friday 18 and Saturday 19 October 11.00am and 2.30pm both days Maya LOVES water! Swimming in the sea, splashing in her paddling pool, squirting her sister with a water pistol... But, one summer day, she gets sucked up the bathroom tap – SQUOOSH! – and along the water pipes! WHOOAAHHHH!
Maya goes on an exciting journey, whooshing through oceans, plunging into rivers and floating in clouds, encountering a flood, a drought and fascinating people and creatures. Gulp! is an interactive story for all the family dripping with fun!
Tickets: £9
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
10 PERFORMANCES
Demi Nandhra
LIFE IS NO LAUGHING MATTER Thursday 24 October at 7.30pm
Life is No Laughing Matter is an autobiographical live art/stand up/theatre performance about mental illness, suicide and radical cure attempts.
Demi Nandhra sometime last year, on a date she can’t remember, was diagnosed with severe depression. She was told to eat a banana a day and think happy thoughts. Inevitably she got worse. So she bought a dog to save her. Part personal narrative, part social rant, part mess; Life is No Laughing Matter tells the exhausting and rather hilarious account of living with depression; from the urgency of finding a cure, to dissecting the cultural disease, to eating 56 bananas.
Outside Centre
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
PERFORMANCES 11
Fierce Festival
ALBUM
Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists
FINDING YOUR FUNNY ROOTS
Friday 25 October at 7.30pm ALBUM is a solo performance that unites text, song, and dance inside of the content of an album — a picture album, a song album, an autobiographical album, a herstorical album — finding ways to be an archive, or altar, for Valencia’s body. Through factual, humorous, and grave observations, a frame of self-identification is established and charged with the task to preserve and perform a self herstory as an album in image and song. Valencia’s relationship to urbanity, vampires, love, and marginality arise with equal importance as she orbits the primary curiosity: Who will write herstory? ALBUM starts this process — so the author of Valencia’s herstory can have good notes. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
Saturday 26 October at 5pm Join us for a chuckle down memory lane as we celebrate the Black Country comedians of the past and celebrate what makes us Black Country people laugh. Finding Our Funny Roots has been created by Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists, with help from our fabulous volunteers. This project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Tickets: £5
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
12 PERFORMANCES
Trevor Lewis presents
STAND UP FOR MYSTERY HOUR
Saturday 26 October at 7.30pm Who will you see it’s a Mystery! Fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe, we will have a special mystery guest presenting their full-length stand-up show.
Bits of Bob Theatre
THE BARN ULTIMATUM Sunday 27 October 7.30pm A Stand-Up for the Mystery Hour... better than a Kinder Egg Surprise. Unwrap, take a bite and don’t swallow the yellow thing inside, it could choke you. This acclaimed comedian from the UK and international circuit (who may have even shown up on TV!) is brought to you by renowned Edinburgh Fringe technician, Trevor Lewis. Aussie-born Trevor has come over to the UK to put his favourite comedians in the limelight and share them with you. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
One animal has uncovered a secret that will rock the whole farm. In this brand new comedy from Tom Allsopp, the peaceful world of the farm is about to come tumbling down around the ears, horns and udders of its inhabitants as the truth about their purpose in life is suddenly revealed. With their world turned upside down, these plucky animals will have to lean on each other! If you like the Bourne movies and farm animals, you’ll love this. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
PERFORMANCES 13
London Classic Theatre
NO MAN’S LAND BY HAROLD PINTER Tuesday 29 October at 7.30pm Wednessday 30 October at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
A chance meeting between two elderly writers in a North London pub leads to an alcohol-fuelled night of reminiscences and verbal sparring.
Starcross Youth Theatre
BOUNCERS by John Godber
Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November at 7.00pm It’s Friday night, it’s disco night – time for Bouncers to come alive! In this hilarious comedy Lucky Eric, Judd, Les and Ralph are the original men in black as they tell the tale of one night in a disco in the 80’s in this outrageous parody of Saturday Night Fever! All the gang are out on the town, the boys, the girls, the cheesy DJ, the late night kebab man and the taxi home, all under the watchful eyes of the Bouncers!
[ Tickets: £10
Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
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DON’T MISS THIS CHANCE TO SEE ONE OF JOHN GODBER’S CLASSICS. BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW BECAUSE IF YOUR NAME’S NOT ON THE LIST - YOU’RE NOT GETTING IN!
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Hirst, a wealthy recluse, invites Spooner, a down-at-heel poet, to his Hampstead townhouse for a nightcap. As the shadows lengthen and the whisky flows, their stories become more elaborate and improbable, until the arrival of two younger men forces events to take an unexpected turn. In his most beguiling and atmospheric play, Pinter interweaves truth, language and memory to create a world of dark comedy and subtle power games. Please note: No Man’s Land contains very strong language. Age recommendation 16+
This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
Lewis Doherty
BOAR
Friday 8 November at 7.30pm
Welcome to the Kingdom of Skadi. A distant land and place of adventure where pirates, bounty hunters and thieves do battle in a world on the brink of destruction. Boar and orphan Ylfa are on a quest for revenge until captured by the king and sent on a journey to rescue his daughter from the evil dragon Gorn. Who will survive in this Game-Of-Thrones style quest of epic proportions, formidable consequences and dark magic? Armed with just his wits and a chair, after critical success and a sell-out run of his One-Man debut thriller Wolf, Lewis Doherty presents Boar. Prepare for arrows to roll and heads to fly in this action-packed comedy of swords, sorcery and swill!
Tickets: ÂŁ14 full price / ÂŁ12 concessions
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
PERFORMANCES 15 Image courtesy of Matthew Cawrey.
Extant Jaivant Patel Dance and Arena Theatre present
DIWALI UTSAV, SITARON KE SANG Saturday 9 November at 7.30pm ‘Sitaron Ke Sang’ – a radiant brightness the stars illuminate in their togetherness – refers to Diwali, more popularly known as the Indian festival of lights. Arena Theatre Associate Artist, Jaivant Patel Dance once again presents a vibrant evening of South Asian dance in celebration of Diwali.
Diwali celebrates the joyous commencement of the New Year. It marks the start of new beginnings, the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. This globally celebrated festival is a time when families and friends come together for goodwill, feasting, fireworks and dancing. All are welcome to come and join us in celebrating this fantastic, diverse festival. #JPDDiwali19
Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
16 ARENA FILM THEATRE
JOIN US
ARENA
FILM
THEATRE
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. Visit our website to keep up-to-date with listings for September, October and November.
SPECIAL Elf
Monday 25 November at 6.00pm
Love Actually
Monday 2 December at 6.00pm
It’s a Wonderful Life
Monday 9 December at 6.00pm
Muppet’s Christmas Carol
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
Monday 16 December at 2.00pm AND 6.00pm
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HOLLY BOYDEN Tuesday 22 October at 7.30pm BROKEN SHELLS Tuesday 19 November at 7.30pm
NEAL PIKE: FIVE YEARS Tuesday 3 December at 7.30pm
From 1998-2002, Neal Pike attended Foxwood Academy, a special educational needs school in Nottinghamshire. Five Years is about trying to hold on to a sense of who you are during those messy, brutal and mundane years of adolescence. With warmth and humour that cuts to the bone, Neal Pike explores identity, community and the parts of him that were shaped by Foxwood.
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.
18 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 19
PA S T A
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POETS AND STORYTELLERS
{ { TUESDAYS AT 7.30PM
1 OCTOBER 26 NOVEMBER
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
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 20 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.
{ { Forthcoming ACT meeting dates:
TUESDAYS
13 AUG 24 SEPT 8 OCT 12 NOV AT 7PM
NO AMPS NO CHATS NO CHARGE 21
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
{ { WEDNESDAYS
23 OCT 13 NOV 11 DEC AT 7.30PM
22 BECOME A FRIEND
BECOME A FRIEND
FOR JUST £10 A YEAR, YOU CAN PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR ARENA THEATRE.
Help us to continue our important development and outreach work. Our Friends enjoy a wide range of benefits – contact us today to find more.
To become a Friend of Arena Theatre, pop into our Box Office on Wulfruna Street or call: 01902 321 321
FOYER BAR AND COFFEE SHOP 23
ARENA FOYER BAR + COFFEE SHOP
You 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 open Monday to Saturday from 10am, 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 the season.
4
PERFORMANCES
2019 2019 2019 OPEN DAYS OPEN DAYS OPEN DAYS Undergraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate 17 August 2 February 17 August 12 October 15 October June 12 16 November 17 November August 16
Postgraduate Postgraduate Postgraduate 19 September 19 21 September March 28 November 28 27 November June
BOOK NOW AT: WLV.AC.UK/OPENDAY BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
OPEN DAYS 25
26 PERFORMANCES
Gonzo Moose
ONCE UPON A TIME Thursday 14 November at 7.30pm
Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
It was cold. It was dark. It was almost certainly snowing… Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm are about to publish the final volume of what will become the greatest ever collection of fairy tales. But on the eve of their greatest triumph, a shadowy figure from their past lets it be known he intends to collect an old debt. Having previously thrilled audiences with hit shows The Thing That Came From Over There and What The Dickens?, Gonzo Moose are back with a comedy fairy tale adventure bursting with physical comedy, absurd jokes and magical illusion.
PERFORMANCES 27
Notnow Collective
PEPPER & HONEY Sonia Sabri Company
Saturday 16 November at 7.30pm
SAME SAME… BUT DIFFERENT Friday 15 November at 7.30pm
Same Same… But Different is a new family show, mixing Kathak and contemporary dance, live music and physical storytelling, to create a playful and colourful world, exploring our curiosities and fears, the times we feel different and when we belong. Inspired by the well-known Anglo-Asian phrase ‘same, same… but different’, meaning “Yes, something kind of similar, but not the exact same thing”, three dancer-musicians conjure a magical atmosphere where we celebrate our individuality, diversity and the bonds which connect us all. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
So, what’s home? As the era of post-Brexit Britain looms large, that question has never been more pertinent… That’s the question Ana, a young Croatian woman, poses as she settles in the UK. Written by a Croatian playwright and performed by a Croatian actor, Pepper and Honey is a poignant, subtle and timely play about the journey of change, cultural differences, trying not to feel like a foreigner in your adopted country and the conflict between upholding the traditions of the ‘old country’ and embracing those of the new. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
28 PERFORMANCES
ACE Dance and Music
SKIN REIMAGINED Thursday 21 November 7.30pm Rich in contrast and leaping gracefully between the old and new, Skin Reimagined explores what lies beneath the skin. Skin Reimagined is a powerful double bill which reignites ACE’s collaboration with international choreographers Vincent Mantsoe and Akiko Kitamura from Japan. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
Jo Tyabji
MOTHER LAND Friday 22 November at 7.30pm What do you feel? When they tell you you’re not Indian. When they ask you, quietly, politely, still holding your passport, to step to one side. When they tell you you’re not British. When they say you’re a terrorist. When they add your name, without you noticing, to a list. Punching fascists in the face through the medium of drag, Motherland is a visceral, full-bodied, dragged-up, queertastic howl of a show exploring nationalism, identity and our ability to speak out. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
PERFORMANCES 29
Image courtesy of Boneshaker Photography
Jaivant Patel Dance
YAATRA Saturday 23 November at 7.30pm
YAATRA is a captivating performance of solo Kathak and contemporary dance by British Indian artist Jaivant Patel. A fresh perspective on South Asian LGBTQ+ narratives, faith and spirituality; YAATRA celebrates two cultures and the intersectionality of living in one, while paying tribute to traditions, heritage and often untold stories of another.
#JPDYaatra
The performance feature a post-show discussion. Tickets: : ÂŁ14 full price / ÂŁ12 concessions
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
30 PERFORMANCES
Sunday 24 November 5.30pm RSM Stage Academy returns with their early years’ annual showcase. Featuring an array of young stars from the Academy, join their magical journey through enchanting and mysterious performances, which will leave you mesmerised from start to finish. But watch out - they might put a spell on you...
Tickets: £16 full price, £14 concessions
RSM Stage Academy
MAGICAL MYSTERIES BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
PERFORMANCES 37
Ali is alone, but she isn’t lonely. She’s fine. She doesn’t know where she is, but honestly, she’s fine. She has a microphone and loop station and feels content filling time with roleplays and soundscapes, summoned from her own memories and voice. She’s fine. But she still talks to ‘Kitty’…
Theatre in Black
LOOP Friday 29 November at 7.30pm
Loop is the second theatrical production from Theatre in the Black. Through an innovative combination of new writing, contemporary performance, and live looping audio, this play offers audiences a charming, candid, and melancholic narrative that guides you through the cycle of loneliness and the steps you can take to overcome it. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
32 PERFORMANCES
RSM Stage Academy
STEPPING IN STYLE Saturday 30 November at 7.30pm Sunday 1 December at 7.00pm
RSM Stage Academy return to the Arena Theatre after their sell-out shows Footlights & Curtain Calls and Centre Stage. It is their ninth annual showcase and features an array of students from the Academy, along with professional performers. If you want to be inspired and watch some outstanding performances, then don’t miss out on this show! Featuring show-stoppers from West End to Broadway musicals to the current music of today! Tickets: £16 full price / £14 concessions
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
PERFORMANCES 33
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
ACT COLLECTION Tuesday 10 December at 7.30pm
In Autumn 2014 the Arena Theatre launched Arena Collaborative Theatremakers: a new development project aimed at engaging local theatremakers across a wide range of disciplines.
The ACT Colletion brings together some of the highlights of this project to share with you – for one night only. Tickets: £5
Over the past five years we have developed a lively, creative community alongside showcasing work by a huge number of writers, actors, directors and theatremakers.
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
Wednesday 18 December at 7.30pm
frivolities are back! Tickets: £5
Join the staff, associate artists and partners of the Arena Theatre as we celebrate the joyous Christmas season with live entertainment, crafts, and mince pies. This event is fun for all the family!
Our partners and associate artists will be showcasing their talent in a live performance which is free for all to attend. If that wasn’t enough: fun, local craft stalls will be taking over our Tilstone Studio and Seminar Room, giving you the chance to pick up a lovely handmade gift for yourself and a loved one. When you’ve finished being crafty, there will be mince pies and winter-warming drinks to sate your appetite for festive yummy-ness
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
PERFORMANCES 35
Arena Theatre and Beautiful Shadows present
DARK TALES IN WINTER Thursday 19 December at 7.30pm, Friday 20 December at 7.30pm Saturday 21 December at 7.30pm In an abandoned country mansion, a single door guards a dark secret, and will not stay closed, and at the mouth of a dark railway tunnel, a lone signalman is assailed by ghostly visions... In the midst of winter, the Arena Theatre and Beautiful Shadows bring you two classic Victorian ghost stories, each newly adapted for the stage by a contemporary playwright and brought to life by a single performer.
In Charlotte Riddell’s mysterious tale a young woman attempts to solve the puzzle of the open door and secure a future for the owner of Ladlow Hall and herself, and Dickens’ classic tale tells of a lonely man driven to the brink of endurance by foretelling visions. These dark winter tales are set together in an evening of entertainment that will bring a delightful chill to the season. Tickets: £14 full price / £12 concessions
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
36 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 1:
Monday 9th September – Monday 21st October (7 weeks) (10.5 hours)
Term 2:
Monday 4th November – Monday 16th December (7 weeks) (10.5 hours)
Term 3:
Monday 6th January – Monday 10th February (6 weeks) (9 hours)
Term 4:
Monday 24th February – Monday 30th March (6 weeks) (9 hours)
ARTS AWARD 37
Term 5:
AT THE ARENA
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 is a national qualification for 7-25 year olds, which supports young people’s development as artists and arts leaders.
Term 6:
We offer Arts Award at Bronze and Silver levels, and accept young people from ages 13-18.
Monday 1st June – Monday 13th July (7 weeks) (10.5 hours) Each term will cost £110 and is available to book from 22nd July from the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01902 42 92 12.
It’s a great way to develop creative and leadership skills, whilst getting a qualification recognised nationally by employers and educators.
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
38 AT A GLANCE DATE
WHAT’S ON
13 Aug
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
20
17 Aug
University of Wolverhampton Undergraduate Open Day
24
19 Sep
University of Wolverhampton Postgraduate Open Day
24
24 Sep
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
20
28 Sep
Taking Flight – Peeling
1 Oct
PASTA
4 & 5 Oct
Red Earth Theatre – Soonchild
8 Oct
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
9 Oct
Shasha and Taylor Productions – Everything I See I Swallow
12 Oct
University of Wolverhampton Undergraduate Open Day
12 Oct
Little Angel Theatre – Emily Rising
7
17 Oct
Paula Varjack – The Cult of K*nzo
8
18 & 19 Oct
The Bone Ensemble – Gulp!
9
22 Oct
Theatre Supper – Holly Boyden
17
23 Oct
No Amps, No Chat, No Charge
21
24 Oct
Demi Nandhra – Life is No Laughing Matter
10
25 Oct
Fierce Festival – ALBUM
11
26 Oct
Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists – Finding Your Funny Roots
11
26 Oct
Trevor Lewis Presents – Stand Up For Mystery Hour
12
27 Oct
Bits of Bob Theatre – The Barn Ultimatum
12
29 & 30 Oct
London Classic Theatre – No Man’s Land by Harold Pinter
13
1 & 2 Nov
Starcross Youth Theatre – Bouncers by John Godber
13
8 Nov
Lewis Doherty – BOAR
14
9 Nov
Jaivant Patel Dance and Arena Theatre Present – Diwali Utsav: Sitaron Ke Sang
15
12 Nov
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers
20
13 Nov
No Amps, No Chat, No Charge
21
BOX OFFICE 01902 321 321
PAGE
4 19 5 20 6 24
AT A GLANCE 39 DATE
WHAT’S ON
PAGE
14 Nov
Gonzo Moose – Once Upon a Time
26
15 Nov
Sonia Sabri Company – Same Same… But Different
27
16 Nov
University of Wolverhampton Undergraduate Open Day
24
16 Nov
Notnow Collective – Pepper & Honey
27
19 Nov
Theatre Supper – Daisy Black
17
21 Nov
ACE Dance and Music – SKIN Reimagined
28
22 Nov
Jo Tyabji – Motherland
28
23 Nov
Jaivant Patel Dance – Yaatra
29
24 Nov
RSM Stage Academy – Magical Mysteries
30
25 Nov
Arena Film Theatre – Elf
16
26 Nov
PASTA
19
28 Nov
University of Wolverhampton Postgraduate Open Day
24
29 Nov
Theatre in Black – LOOP
31
30 Nov
RSM Stage Academy – Stepping in Style
32
2 Dec
Arena Film Theatre – Love Actually
16
3 Dec
Theatre Supper – Neal Pike
17
9 Dec
Arena Film Theatre – It’s a Wonderful Life
16
10 Dec
Arena Collaborative Theatremakers – ACT Collection
33
11 Dec
No Amps, No Chat, No Charge
21
16 Dec
Arena Film Theatre – Muppet’s Christmas Carol
16
18 Dec
Arena Theatre – Festive Frivolities
34
19, 20 & 21 Dec
Arena Theatre and Beautiful Shadows present – Dark Tales in Winter
35
BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
40 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. tr a uc e h of t heatre vo ena Ar aT Aren sable on ws. See U sho c.uk e r t Thea na.wlv.a . are details for
SEATING PLAN 41
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
5
4
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
13
BALCONY
BALCONY
6
G1
14
STAGE/PERFORMANCE AREA
15 16
ENJOY DINNER + A SHOW The Hungry Bistro £15 Meal for 1 or £30 Meal for 2 offer
Located in Wolverhampton City Centre, The Hungry Bistro aims to provide its customers with great home-cooked food at reasonable, honest prices. Individual diners can have a two-course meal and a large glass of wine for £15. If you’re dining with a friend or loved one, you can choose a two-course meal for £30 which includes a bottle of their finest house wine. 81 Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1EQ www.hungrybistro.com
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BOOK TICKETS ONLINE arena.wlv.ac.uk
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Gordon Stree
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ARENA
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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