News

The snow’s all melted and the foyer and theatre have been stripped of their festive apparel… It can only mean one thing: Christmas is well and truly over and we’re looking forward to a spring season jam-packed with comedy, Shakespeare, mystery, poetry and more. To see everything that’s coming up in the next few months, click here.

Shakespeare kicks off…

And so the Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory team are now into their second week of rehearsals for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The season’s media launch takes place tomorrow at City Inn, with special guest Stephanie Cole, so next week’s weekly update will include the exclusive highlights! In the meantime, here’s a bit of info courtesy of SATTF about who’s playing whom in the forthcoming season (further details available via SATTF’s website).

“We are delighted to announce the return of Chris Donnelly to the company, playing Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Stephano in The Tempest. Chris played Puck in SATTF’s first version of The Dream back in 2000, and was last seen as Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew. Jay Villiers (last seen as Claudius in Jonathan Miller’s Hamlet) steps into the duel roles of heroic Theseus and the vengeful and passionate Oberon; with SATTF neophyte Amy Rockson taking on the beautiful Queen of the Fairies; Titania. With them in tow are Christopher Staines as Puck (Ariel and Caliban in The Tempest) and Bristol actress Nadia Williams as the 1st Fairy.

For our lovers we are proud to present Ffion Jolly as Hermia (also Miranda in The Tempest) with Rebecca Pownall as her cherry bosom buddy Helena, Jack Hardwick (just left BOVTS) as her Lysander with Benjamin Askew (Ferdinand in The Tempest) as the hot-headed Demetrius.

In Byron Mondahl’s 3rd season for the company he leaves Octavius behind to take up Flute with David Plimmer (last seen as Telegin in our Bristol Old Vic co-production of Uncle Vanya), Felix Hayes (currently wooing audiences with his versatility in the Tobacco Factory’s Ali Baba) and Alan Coveney as his mechanical bedfellows being led by Jonathan Nibbs’ Quince (also Alonso in The Tempest).”

Ghostly goings-on down at the Brewery…

Get your tickets quick for Robert Lloyd Parry’s final installment of his sell-out MR James Trilogy. Lyn Gardner gave A Warning to the Curious a well deserved tip-off in her weekly What To See column, so we’re expecting tickets to start flying out the door. You might have heard Robert recently on Radio Bristol being interviewed by Graham Torrington. Catch him again this coming weekend on the Saturday Surgery.

So you want to be an actor?

15-19 February

Well, you may not want to be, but chances are there’s a 14-16 year old somewhere near you who does! The TF’s innovative weeklong February half-term course is a must for budding thesps in years 10 and 11. Offering a unique combination of practical skills-based workshops in areas such as voice and movement, in combination with fascinating industry tutorials, providing advice on everything from the pros and cons of drama school to working with agents, So you want to be an actor? is inspiring insight into a challenging and rewarding career. Click here to find out more.

The course is being led by Bristol-based director and former actress Caroline Hunt. Caroline and will include masterclasses from director Andy Burden (Alice Through the Looking Glass (2008) and A Christmas Carol (2009) for Tobacco Factory Theatre), Gary Owston (voice and speech tutor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and director of the Bristol Acting Academy) and Chris Donnelly, frequent performer with Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory and co-ordinator of their education programme.

“I really enjoyed myself and learnt so much. It has inspired me and given me a boost of energy to improve myself as an actor.”
Philip, 16, So you want to be an actor? 2009

John Bishop sells out!

Yet another comedy show has been squeezed into the TF’s hectic schedule thanks to the sell-out success of comedian John Bishop. The additional matinee has been scheduled for 4pm on Sunday 14 February. Click here to find out more.

Celebrating the TF’s supporters

Just before Christmas, the TF and other south-west arts organisations were given the opportunity to celebrate the support of their donors and volunteers at a special event at Exeter Cathedral organised by Arts and Business. The TF nominated Fan for Life and theatre volunteer Simon Inch as our Cultural Champion and were delighted to have the chance to give him a big public pat on the back. Seven Bristolians in total have been identified as “cultural champions” for their work in the arts. Malcolm Stewart and Ruth Essex from Artspace Lifespace, Simon Baker and Jacqueline Young from Royal West of England Academy, Rhiannon Jones and Sarah Corfield from Trinity Arts Centre and Leela Grant from the Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory joined other individuals from all over the south west for the awards.

Guest speaker MP Ben Bradshaw, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “Without the profound generosity and commitment of donors, volunteers and supporters up and down the country, the arts – and all of our lives – would be much the poorer.”

Click here to find out more about how you could support the Tobacco Factory Theatre and help it go from strength to strength.

Distribution

On the subject of supporting the TF, have you ever considered lending a hand to help spread the word about our shows in your local community? If you’ve got a spare half an hour or so every fortnight and would like to encourage new audiences to discover what the TF has to offer, then we need you! Please contact Carrie on 0117 902 0345 or email theatre@tobaccofactory.com to find out more.

See you next week…