Theatre / clevedon
Clevedon’s Theatre Shop to open this month
Pictured above: Living Spit’s Stuart McLoughlin (l) and Howard Coggins (r), with fellow actor Craig Edwards (centre)
Local companies The Theatre Orchard and Living Spit are joining forces to transform an empty Clevedon retail unit into an ambitious Theatre Shop, aiming to revive the heart of the town’s high street this spring.
A joint venture between the two theatre companies and Clevedon’s Curzon cinema, Theatre Shop will open for trade on Thursday, April 23, with a first season of theatre, music, magic, dance, cabaret, comedy and street arts – some 51 performances and events across 32 days.
From Living Spit’s (pictured above) topical comedy The Devil and the Shopkeeper via Verity Standen’s brilliant ‘play for voices’ Mmm Hmm (see our review here) to Somerset-hailing comedian Richard Herring, the bill is as eclectic as it is impressive.
Theatre Shop satellite performances will also spill out into the iconic Curzon cinema, where live premieres include an Election Night special (Thursday, May 7). With Songs from the 70s, singer Kate Dimbleby (below) will go up against her own father David, who will be hosting his final BBC Election Broadcast on the same night.
Fiona Matthews, Creative Producer for The Theatre Orchard says: “There is widespread excitement across North Somerset about the Theatre Shop season, showcasing some of the UK’s best performance in a vibrant shop-front theatre right on the high street. This isn’t black box stuff for those in the know; it’s an exciting programme of culture for everyone, presented in the places and spaces that they visit every day.”
Elsewhere Peter Lord, Aardman’s Creative Director, has given the project his whole-hearted endorsement. “You can’t beat the feeling you get from sharing a space with a live audience and performers,” Peter says. “The humanity, the intimacy and the sense of community that come from these shared experiences seem to be to be right at the heart of being human. And why should the big cities have a monopoly on this? Projects such as Theatre Shop thrive because committed and passionate people can work a special magic in successful small communities like Clevedon.”
Theatre Shop runs from 24 April-22 May 2015. For a full rundown of events visit www.theatreshop.org.uk
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