When coming to see plays at the Coliseum you might have been keen to find out more about how a production has been put together. An awful lot goes into every production that we stage and there are several ways in which you learn more about this process…
The first port of call is the production programme that we produce for each play. This is packed full of information about the play, e.g. articles on the writer, the themes of the story, how the production was designed, biographies if of each cast member etc.
We organise an In Conversation series which is hosted at Oldham Central Library ahead of an evening performance on a Wednesday for each production. During which I am ‘in conversation’ with someone from the production such as the director or designer. You can find out a little bit more about the play and look back at the career of the interviewee.
Back in the theatre we also have post-show discussions where some of the cast or director who talk about the process of putting the play together and what it’s like to play the different characters. These are proving to be really popular and I think they have a stronger resonance when they happen straight after the performance – and they’re free. A few weeks ago there was a post-show discussion with Maggie and Sue of LipService and the bar was packed!
You may have also noticed that we now have a listening station in the front of house area. Here you can pop some headphones on and hear a quick interview with one of the cast about David Copperfield.
If you are interested in delving a bit deeper into a particular playwright then you can come along to Theatre Works – currently focusing on Alan Ayckbourn. This consists of a series of eight practical based acting workshops that will culminate in a script-in-hand performance of one of his most famous plays. Theatre Works occirs weekly on Wednesdays from 6 February and costs £45 Full/£35 concessions (package includes a free ticket to see Sugar Daddies). The course started last week but if you contact the education team on 0161 785 7007 / education@coliseum.org.uk then I’m sure they can fit you in.
We have Discovery Days for school groups as well which allow students to work with the actors and members of the company before each matinee performance. Each Discovery Day will focus on the director’s interpretation of a play and elements of technical theatre.
The dates are all listed in our season brochure and online so make sure you don’t miss out on all the exciting ways you can get a little bit more out the productions at the Coliseum. And who said DVD extras are just for film and television??
See you at the theatre.
Kevin Shaw,
Artistic Director
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