Behind The Scenes footage from Forgotten People, Forgotten Planet
See some #BTS film footage from Blue Apple's Special Assignments Company 'Forgotten People, Forgotten Planet'. Now only one week to go! Make sure to put Friday 3 June, any time from 12-3pm in your diary!
Jubilee Performance by Blue Apple's Special Assignments Company
Brno welcomes The Wizard of Oz
Blue Apple at festival in Czech Republic
Blue Apple’s Wizard of Oz tours in the Czech Republic 1 to 6 May. Actors will join a festival with Polish Teatr 21, Czech Divadlo Aldente and young researchers from non-profit Rytmus. The aim of the “Be IN!” project is to break down stereotypes through theatre and related activities, show people new perspectives on world vision, arouse in them the ability to think critically, and lead them to self-knowledge and self-development, which ultimately has an impact on the change of our society.
Macbeth crowned in Winchester after epic ride from Shakespeare's birthplace
Macbeth tickets are now on sale
You can now buy tickets for Blue Apple’s Macbeth via the Box Office at Theatre Royal Winchester.
Thu 07 Jul 2022 - Sat 09 Jul 2022 at 7.30pm
or phone 01962 840 440 or email info@playtothecrowd.co.uk
Our Artistic Director Richard Conlon has been fundraising for this production of Macbeth by doing a sponsored cycle from Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, on Shakespeare’s birthday. The route is 200km and ends at Theatre Royal Winchester where Richard will crown actor Lawrie Morris who will be playing Macbeth with a crown - on loan from the Royal Shakespeare Company - that Richard will carry all the way on his bike. Funds raised will go towards staging Macbeth in July with the professional support of a creative team of set and lighting design, audio/visual artists, musician and costume designer.
To support the fundraising campaign please see:
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Behold the crown..
He's arrived safely! Here's a quick snap but more and better photos (from wonderful Mike Hall) will follow in due course. If you still want to support the fundraiser please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-conlon7
Arrived at last and coronation complete. Ambition fulfilled…
Richard now expects to arrive at Theatre Royal Winchester at around 6.30pm, See video below for latest update.
Eighty Six Miles in - still smiling and still crowning about
Beyond the half way point, Richard takes a quick stop near Wantage, Oxfordshire.
Richard and Michael just past Wantage, Oxfordshire at 12.15pm
Richard Conlon outside The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon at 7am on 23 April 2022
It is Shakespeare's birthday! Here is the crown - on loan from The Royal Shakespeare Company - that Richard will cycle from Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, all the way to Theatre Royal Winchester where he will place it upon the head of actor Lawrie Morris who will play Macbeth this summer.
On Saturday 23 April Richard will start his journey at 7am from The Royal Shakespeare Company and expects to arrive at Theatre Royal Winchester at around 6pm.
Over the years Blue Apple past productions have included Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, The Tempest and Hamlet. This summer Blue Apple will stage Macbeth at Theatre Royal Winchester.
Richard Conlon's cycle ride aims to raise the funds needed to stage Macbeth with the professional support of a creative team of set and lighting design, audio/visual artists, musician and costume designer. To sponsor Richard please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-conlon7
Crown on loan from The Royal Shakespeare Company
Actor Lawrie Morris who will play Macbeth in July 2022
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Wizard of Oz reviews and photos now available
We were all sad to postpone Wizard of Oz in January due to rising Covid cases but it was well worth the wait for the performance that followed. Thanks to the generosity of Winchester College we staged The Wizard of Oz at their QEII Theatre on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 April 2022. It was a joyous success and in addition to positive audience feedback the performance also received glowing reviews from art critics.
““I come away from the productions so impressed with the amount of work that everyone puts in, the quality that they produce and the enjoyment they all get from being a part of a big group.””
Preparing for Wizard of Oz
Special Assignments Company Playmakers Takeover
As Paul Arendt says "Art can shock us – spur us – into action. Perhaps, therefore, the most meaningful role for the arts, is as a call to action." See the Special Assignments Company’s call to action at the Playmakers Youth Takeover on Friday 1 April from 6.30pm at Theatre Royal Winchester. Here’s a little taster of Forgotten People, Forgotten Planet. Booking is at Playmakers Youth Takeover | Theatre Royal Winchester.
Wizard of Oz tickets now on sale
Blue Apple's Wizard of Oz
Book tickets here
7 to 8 April 2022 at 7.30pm
in The Winchester College QE2 Theatre
With guest vocal performances by
actress Miriam Margolyes and radio presenter Clare Carson
Tickets are now on sale here
If this is the ‘Wizard of Oz’ then who is the old lady in the Hampshire care home, and why are we moving from 2022 to 1970 and 1898? As memories fade and the mind plays its tricks, is someone confusing reality with childhood stories or Hollywood movies?
“I should have never trusted that damned-fool Baum man, shifty. Took everything I said and wrote it right down, in black and white. Not an original thought under his hat. And don’t get me started on that darned film! Ruby shoes indeed! The shoes were silver, the most beautiful things I ever saw. Silver…I should know…I wore them.”
Yes, there is a cowardly lion, confused scarecrow and a tin man searching for a heart – but this is Blue Apple Theatre taking on a classic, so expect the unexpected and be prepared to see the familiar from a fresh perspective.”
Performances at The Winchester College QE2 Theatre
Thursday 7 April 7.30pm | Friday 8 April 7.30pm
Ticket prices: Full price £15 | Family (any group of 4+) £12 | Play to the Crowd Members £12
Book tickets here
Illustration by Naomi Oppenheim. Poster by Rich Williams.
Miriam Margolyes adds her voice to Blue Apple's Wizard of Oz
Blue Apple is delighted to announce that acclaimed actress and BAFTA award winner Miriam Margolyes has gifted her voice to the role of teacher in our 7-9 January production of The Wizard of Oz.
The actress is famed for her roles as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, for several distinctive roles in the Blackadder series, for the part of Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence and so many more memorable performances on film, TV, stage, radio and audio books.
We feel very honoured that she has so kindly taken time out of her very busy schedule to record this part for Blue Apple.
Blue Apple’s Wizard of Oz will be staged at Theatre Royal Winchester and also live streamed.
Tickets on sale for Wizard of Oz in January
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 7-9 January 2022
Illustration by Naomi Oppenheim
“If this is the ‘Wizard of Oz’ then who is the old lady in the Hampshire care home, and why are we moving from 2022, to 1970 and 1898? As memories fade and the mind plays its tricks, is someone confusing reality with childhood stories or Hollywood movies?
“I should have never trusted that damned-fool Baum man, shifty. Took everything I said and wrote it right down, in black and white. Not an original thought under his hat. And don’t get me started on that darned film! Ruby shoes indeed! The shoes were silver, the most beautiful things I ever saw. Silver…I should know…I wore them.’
Yes, there is a cowardly lion, confused scarecrow and a tin man searching for a heart – but this is Blue Apple Theatre taking on a classic, so expect the unexpected and be prepared to see the familiar from a fresh perspective.”
Performances at Theatre Royal Winchester
Friday 7 January 2022 7.30pm / Saturday 8 January 2022 7.30pm / Sunday 9 January 3.30pm
Ticket prices: Full price £15 / Family (any group of 4+) £12 / Play to the Crowd Members £12
Book at: https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/whats-on/blue-apples-wizard-oz
Livestream webcast performances
Saturday 8 January 2022 7.30pm / Sunday 9 January 3.30pm / Ticket price: £10
Book at: https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/whats-on/blue-apples-wizard-oz-live-online
Double Premiere for Blue Apple Theatre and Theatre Royal Winchester
On Thursday 21 October 2021 a small group of Blue Apple performers stood on stage at Theatre Royal Winchester to talk about a very important film called See No Evil. Those performers all starred in a film designed to help people spot hate crime and protect vulnerable people from being exploited through a process known as ‘cuckooing’. This is when dealers convince a vulnerable person to let their home be used for drug dealing. They are often urban gangs who are involved in county lines drug trafficking. The film was premiered in the beautiful heritage theatre auditorium at Theatre Royal Winchester via their new surround sound cinema screen which has been recently installed thanks to generous support from the Garfield Weston Foundation. This was the first film to be screened on the new equipment that will in future enable Theatre Royal Winchester to not only host live performance but also to screen films and live-streamed performances from theatres from around the country and beyond.
On stage to explain the key themes of the film were Anna Brisbane, James Elsworthy and Tommy Jessop alongside outgoing Chair of Trustees Georgiana Robertson. Co-performer James Benfield was unable to attend the premiere.
Photos by Mike Hall.
The part-animated video, created in collaboration with Cass Productions, features four of Blue Apple’s actors who all have learning disabilities, as well as real-life police officers. See No Evil was developed with the Hampshire Police Crime Commissioner and Hampshire County Council. Speaking before the film was shown to invited guests from local organisations, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Councillor Luke Stubbs talked about the critical importance of crime prevention in the role of policing.
The film is designed for viewing alongside an educational workshop that includes drama and discussion activities, co-facilitated by members of Blue Apple Theatre. Free educational resources and the film can be accessed via Blue Apple's website at blueappletheatre.com/seenoevil
