Behold the crown..

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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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Orchestra Unwrapped

Orchestra Unwrapped is an outreach programme devised by the internationally acclaimed Philharmonia Orchestra. On Thursday 3 March a small group of Blue Apple performers from the Blue Apple Singing Group attended a workshop at The Anvil in Basingstoke that provided the opportunity to hear and work with a live orchestra. The group travelled by train, accompanied by Mary Richards, Blue Apple volunteer, and Georgiana Robertson, Blue Apple’s Chair Emeritus.

The programme included a specially devised hour-long concert offering our participants the opportunity to experience orchestral live music in an engaging and exciting way within a venue they may not have visited otherwise.

Who are the Philharmonia?

Founded in 1945, the Philharmonia is based in London at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall whose exceptional players come from all over the world and tour internationally. Unusually in 1964 it became a self-governing orchestra.

Below are photos of Blue Apple performers Paul Smith, James Elsworthy and Grant Powell alongside Mary Richards and Georgiana Robertson at The Anvil during their visit. (Please scroll).

Below is a very short clip of the performance on stage to give you a flavour of the event.

Lawrie Morris shares his ambitions

“I grew up watching Shakespeare - that’s my first experience of actually acting.”

— Lawrie Morris

Blue Apple core performer Lawrie Morris talked to artistic director Richard Conlon recently about his early love of Shakespeare, his ambitions and his love of Strictly!

Watch the interview in the video below.

Blue Apple actor Lawrie Morris

World Holocaust Memorial Day 2022

Today on World Holocaust Memorial Day we reflect on the lives damaged or destroyed by the Nazi regime.  Among those were many thousands of people with learning disabilities who were forcibly sterilised or murdered. Blue Apple advocates for the development of a more inclusive and equal society and is committed to the development of integrated and progressive opportunities within the arts for people with learning disabilities to enhance their social, personal and artistic skills and achieve public recognition for their talents. #WorldHolocaustMemorialDay

Mencap appoints Blue Apple performer Tommy Jessop as ambassador

Tommy Jessop at rehearsal for Blue Apple’s performance of The Tempest in 2019

We are delighted that Blue Apple performer Tommy Jessop has become an ambassador for Mencap, advocating for and encouraging other people with learning disabilities to pursue their dreams. "Tommy plans to use his new position to get rid of the idea that people with a learning disability cannot do certain things. "People with a learning disability should be able to do anything we want, for example getting married or being a role model for people to look up to." Tommy told The Mirror he had 'always' wanted to be an actor after starting out with local theatre company Blue Apple Theatre, which was founded by his mother Jane. Photo credit: Mike Hall

Ambassadors

Lawrie and Anna at the Winchester Rotary Club event in August 2021

Blue Apple performers Anna Brisbane and Lawrie Morris were invited to attend a very special and select event at the Sir John Soane's Museum in London in September. ‘Keats by Candlelight’ comprised a selection of the poet's writings performed in the stunning surroundings of The Soane at Lincoln's Inn Fields. They attended to raise the profile of their recent production of ‘Frankenstein’ in order to garner support for a possible future international tour of the piece which was premiered in July at the Theatre Royal Winchester.

Lawrie and Anna also accompanied Chair of Trustees Georgiana Robertson to a Winchester Rotary meeting in August to give an inspiring presentation on Blue Apple’s successes and future plans!

Performers Lawrie Morris and Anna Brisbane outside the Sir John Soane’s Museum