Our As the world recovers from the pandemic, global threats continue to dominate our lives. The brutality of the Ukraine conflict, the environmental threat and growing up in this ever- challenging society. Playbox new programme draws on world drama and heart-warming story to thrill, entertain and challenge young artists and their audiences through the power of experiencing live drama. The line up includes opera, world drama, new commissions, musical theatre, children’s shows, special projects, cabarets and the launch of FOLIO.
An original new creation by Toby Quash commissioned by Playbox Theatre 2022.
Opens Thursday June 17th 2022
Inspired by Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a thrilling and epic new drama written for Playbox by writer Toby Quash. MARINER is a play for our times. An exciting and nightmarish journey that questions our place within the natural world and threatens our very survival as part of it. Working with Toby on the writing are members of Blank-Shift writer’s workshop.
The multidisciplinary production is directed by Artistic Director, Emily Jane Quash.
Thursday June 23rd 2022, Leamington Spa Art Gallery.
Playbox Theatre create a special performance for 2022 to compliment Leamington Spa Art Gallery summer blockbuster exhibition ‘Modern Pre-Raphaelite Visionaries’. The basis for this performance is a question …….’What is our response when we look collectively at art works?’ The performers deconstruct the originals yet remain connected to it.
After its initial Leamington premiere the work will be presented at the summer outdoor season at The Dream Factory, Warwick.
Summer opera double bill
CHARPENTIER’S ‘LES ARTS FLORISSANTS’
OFFENBACH’S ‘MESDAMES DE LA HALLE’
Sunday June 26th 2022
The Dream Factory becomes a summer festival destination from June 2022, when Leamington Music in partnership with Royal Birmingham Conservatoire present a summer opera double bill, conducted by Jeffery Skidmore, founder of Ex Cathedra and directed by Stuart Barker. A contrasting double bill of French operatic rarities.
This is followed on 15th & 16th July 2022 by:
Created by Emily Quash, Juliet Vankay and musical director, Richard Norris with Playbox actors and singers, a live band and a glorious selection of songs and music drawn from the musical theatre repertoire.
Playbox’s Summer open air Phoenix outdoor theatre will house events, drama, music and informal gatherings alongside the summer programme with further details to be released shortly.
A new look at a wonderful story loved by millions
Opens Friday 30th September 2022
Playbox’s ‘Young Production Company’ return this autumn with a sparkling production of the E.B. White classic, Charlotte’s Web – a tale of friendship, hope, loyalty and aspiration.
This beloved novel has been enjoyed by generations the world over. Who can forget Wilbur and his unlikely, devoted, spider friend, Charlotte, and her web-weaving endeavours to save his life. Artistic Director, Emily Jane Quash, stages the show and says “I remember reading Charlotte’s Web when I was six years old, then watching the wonderful Hanna-Barbera cartoon for my birthday and being utterly gripped and moved by every frame! I am really looking forward to finding inventive ways to bring the story to the stage and you can expect lots of colour, music, choreography and fun…with a small dose of mild peril along the way! I hope it will be a positive and uplifting experience for the cast, and for audiences”.
Opens Thursday November 10th 2022
The epic cycle Oresteia tells of the Trojan Wars and the shocking aftermath. This new version will be staged in a completely new configuration that allows spectators to be both immersed and involved as the drama unfolds. Consultant Director, Stewart McGill returns to complete the work that started with Medea in 2019, he says, ‘The whole of drama seems to originate with these epic plays and with the world turned upside down, once more they return to focus. For audiences the plays had a festival feel…a time when families went to the open-air amphitheatres for immersion in thrilling dramas of conflict, family, revenge and retribution. Our production will use text, music, dance and song to bring Orestes home to confront his fate after the destruction of Troy. It’s going to be big, bold and huge fun to stage.’
Opens Wednesday 21st December 2022
As previously announced Playbox Theatre celebrate the 400 Anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio with a year-long programme of productions, events and surprises.
For Christmas the project launches with a magical treat for the whole family as Founding Director of Playbox, Mary King stages Shakespeare’s most loved comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Playbox have built a reputation, since opening The Dream Factory in 1999, for its Christmas productions. This year is no exception as Mary outlines, ‘This is our first Shakespeare for Christmas and we are really excited to be creating a large and magical show for everyone. Deep in the timeless forest something very unusual is happening as Shakespeare draws together spells, young love, transformation and a collection of amateur theatre folk determined to make a wonderful show for a state occasion. For first timers, seasoned Shakespeare lovers and ‘festive spirits’ this Dream will leave everyone immersed in wonder.’
All the productions are in addition to the ever-expanding Training programme for young people across many art forms and genres. With the pandemic, hopefully, moving away the company are restoring and expanding the range of training available for 3 – 21year olds.
This programme, from Midsummer to New Year, will be supported by Studio productions in the smaller 50 seat Carousel studio, research and development programmes and open access community events for families in the locale.
For further information please contact:
Jessica Chapple info@playboxtheatre.com
