Warwick, New Year’s Day 2023
The start of a New Year brings in a Playbox tradition – the announcement of a new season for The Dream Factory in Warwick.
It is now 24 years since Playbox created the unique facility for young people in the town and this season places emphasis on the skills, imagination and talent of young people of all ages.
Our annual festival opening gets the 2023 season off to a blockbuster start. Over 100 young people and directors revisit the company’s extensive back catalogue and stage memorable scenes from previous productions. Starry Nights never fails to deliver excitement to The Dream Factory, as the production is rehearsed and staged in just one week. This special project is anything but a nostalgia show, as each new cast bring their own approach and response to the work.
Created by Playbox Theatre and based on The Medieval Mystery Play Cycles of York, Wakefield, Coventry and Chester.
Central to the Playbox Theatre’s policy of reviving past ‘landmark’ productions, we are delighted to welcome a new ensemble, who will revisit the epic staging of The Mysteries.
Telling the story of the World, from Creation to Doomsday, the work is freely adapted from the Mystery Cycles, so popular with communities in the Late Middle Ages.
Blending a wide mix of styles and techniques, the production was originally staged in 2011and toured to Gloucester Cathedra! and Coventry Cathedra!, before returning to The Dream Factory in 2012.
The final performance was staged at Swan Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon in 2015.
This brand-new staging will reflect our changing times and challenging social and political contexts making it, as originally intended, – A Play For Our Times.
Playbox Theatre celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio containing most of the works we know were written by him.
Playbox’s Shakespeare Young Company stage two special events during Spring as part of the Folio year, following A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest Experiment in
December.
‘Let Not My Love Be Called Idolatry‘ is a performance piece of Shakespeare’s Sonnets, presented out of the building at locations to be announced.
Often, we say we know very little about the life of William Shakespeare. What were his deepest thoughts, his passions, feelings and responses to a challenging and rapidly evolving world? The Sonnets are illuminating and a pathway of discovering the true man.
Dates to be announced. This work is supported by The Reynolds Foundation
The writer of the best-selling book, Death By Shakespeare, joins SYC for an exploration of scenes and slaughter from her book.
Kathryn will speak and SYC will execute full-bloodied moments in a not-to-be-missed, once only event on Shakespeare’s Birthday – April 23rd.
Ahead, the Folio year continues with a massive participatory event,
‘Shakes-Scene‘ involving over 1,000 children and young people from across Warwickshire as we stage The Complete Works using song, physical theatre and text.
There will be productions for very young children based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest, and the Autumn Season will see a large-scale production, Chimes At Midnight – Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, inspired by the film of Orson Welles and the culmination of his lifelong love of Shakespeare.
Playbox Young Production Company is a special performing ensemble of under 14s.
Following last season’s hugely popular production of Charlotte’s Web, the choice for Summer 2023 is Annie Junior – an edited, yet perfectly shaped, adaptation of the hit musical.
With its lovable characters and memorable songs, this is an ideal family summer treat.
Playbox Theatre, in partnership with Leamington Music, bring to Warwick the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire production of Jonathan Dove’s family opera The Enchanted Pig.
Following last summer’s Double Bill by the Conservatoire, the Festival event is again a central feature of the summer programme with performance, workshops and lively surround events.
Further Details will be revealed shortly.
This musical celebration closes the season in the Main Space as Playbox Theatre’s Musical Theatre Ensemble, along with live accompaniment, stage a beautiful cabaret for a summer night.
The new production builds on the huge success of last year’s staging and returns with a new collection of material.
Alongside the Main House season of work, Playbox Theatre creates a wide-ranging Training And Performance Programme covering all aspects of performance and technical arts. Members develop skills in Theatre, Voice, Shakespeare, Musical Theatre, Movement and Dance, Acting for Screen and Radio, Technical, Creative Writing and Stage Combat. Our programme is delivered weekly and through special Holiday Courses and Projects.
ln our 50 seat Studio, Carousel, there will be further performances of New Work, Classical Experimentation and Research/Development created by members in an informal setting.
Details will be released in advance of every event. The Studio is the Hub for our Professional Training Programme.
Playbox Theatre is a Creative Partner of Warwick District Council and is grateful for their ongoing support. The company also thank, The Friends Of Playbox Theatre and The Reynolds Foundation for their continued support of Playbox.
We are also grateful to the members of our 500 Club, for their support: Aubrey Allen, NFU Mutual Central Warwickshire, Focus Referrals, Wooden Nest and Regency Fireplaces.
A New Year and a new beginning as children and young people across the region return to their unique creative centre that is the envy of many across the UK in being a ‘House’ devoted to the work and participation of the young.
If you would like us to supply photographs for any of the above information, we would be delighted to do so. Please email Emily@playboxtheatre.com to arrange.
For further information please contact info@playboxtheatre.com, Or call 01926 419555.