Blue Apple’s 2023 main summer show is Animal Farm. Tickets now on sale.
Fabulous feedback for Lashings of Ginger Beer
The Mayor and Macbeth
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
