Blue Apple is now working in partnership with Way Ahead in Southampton to run The Chestnut Theatre Company.
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.””
Shakespeare's birthday fundraiser on 23 April
Blue Apple’s Artistic Director Richard Conlon is taking on a special cycle ride on 23 April to raise funds for our summer production of Macbeth and give Blue Apple's cast the chance to step on stage with the professional support of a creative team of set and lighting design, audio/visual artists, musician and costume designer.
On 23 April, the day that is universally celebrated as Shakespeare’s birthday, Richard aims to ride from Royal Shakespeare Company’s theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Having cycled roughly 200 kilometres carrying a crown - on loan from the Royal Shakespeare Company - Richard will ceremoniously ‘crown’ actor Lawrie Morris at the completion of his ride at Theatre Royal Winchester.
Listen to Richard telling Sam Fraser about it on the BBC Radio Solent Lou Hannan show at 16:10 on 14/04/22
Find out more at Richard’s Just Giving page here.
Richard Conlon on his bike preparing for the fundraising cycle ride from Stratford upon Avon to Winchester.
From The Point to Theatre Royal Winchester
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.
Blue Apple actors in Autism Hampshire's #AutismAwarenessWeek webinar
Blue Apple took part in Autism Hampshire’s #AutismAwarenessWeek webinar which includeds talks and videos from a range of speakers, artists and performers on what community, inclusion, acceptance means to them. Actors from Blue Apple will be sharing from 2-2.30pm.
The webinar was on Wednesday 30th March 11am-3:30pm and will be available to watch online on YouTube in due course.
"To be or not to be.."
Boots made for walking?
A visit from Alton College
Blue Apple's Core company played host to performing arts students from Alton College this week to give them a flavour of how we work and what we aim to do with our performances and workshops. After joining in a warm-up and exploring what it means to be a strong performer they were treated to a few scenes from 'The Blue Apple Wizard of Oz' to see our ideas in action. We all had an amazing afternoon skill sharing and learning from each other as you can see from the photo below.
Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2022
Blue Apple is supporting Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2022 on Friday 18 March. All this week our performers are telling jokes for Comic Relief to help those around us most in need. To support the campaign please visit our JustGiving page. #RedNoseDay
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.
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.
Lawrie Morris shares his ambitions
“I grew up watching Shakespeare - that’s my first experience of actually acting.”
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