Titchfield Festival Theatre to launch new live streaming productions

Theatre doors across the country are currently closed, with increasing concern as to the future financial viability of entertainment venues. However, despite the significant challenges facing the performing arts, Titchfield Festival Theatre (TFT) has announced plans to protect its patrons when the doors reopen and to reach new audiences.

Titchfield’s Artistic Director Kevin Fraser and his team have been busy during the lockdown preparing their venues in the light of any potential new regulations required by the authorities as part of the plans to reopen.

When the theatre gets the green light to start performances again, maintaining safe and social distancing is key. The theatre will operate a one-way system, is reviewing capacity and is to implement an even more strenuous deep cleaning system after every run and following each performance. 

To do this, the theatre has invested in a new ozone sanitising machine for the auditorium and other spaces - normally used in hospitals - which will thoroughly cleanse the theatre of any viruses or potential infection. The purpose is to thoroughly sanitise the auditoria and stage areas after each performance. TFT is to introduce a safety distancing system in the bars as well as the auditoria. Hand sanitising stations will also be available throughout the venues.

Keeping patrons safe is the key priority; however, it is not the only significant development. TFT is to invest in brand new, high quality HD cameras, mixing and streaming equipment to enable one of the UK’s largest community theatres to start videoing and streaming shows live.

The company has identified that many of their patrons are in a particular age range or are vulnerable, where they must still shield, TFT wish to reach out to these, often very faithful patrons, who have supported them in the past and still give a full theatre experience whilst still at home. The streaming will also introduce a new and wider audience to TFTs talents.

Kevin Fraser said, “Although we do not know yet when we can reopen, it is important to plan and to make changes to ensure social distancing as well as a safe environment. We have been truly humbled by the response from our patrons and we have received so many supportive messages.

“Reopening the theatre is posing a number of challenges: Cast members will have to get used to rehearsing and performing whilst socially distancing and we need to carefully consider our choice of plays, too; perhaps focusing on smaller productions.

“However, we approach the next chapter of our history with confidence and determination. Our investment in the new cameras and streaming equipment is the start. This will give us the ability to make sure that no-one who is shielding or self-isolating misses out by not being able to get to our venues. Each week when a show is scheduled to run then we will make sure that at least two nights of the run can be downloaded or streamed.”

Further details of our productions can be found on our website: https://www.titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/whats-on including the full 2020 brochure. Revised dates are to be published when known. Details of the 2021 season will be published later in the summer.

The Theatre has launched a new YouTube Channel and a page on its website with videos and information during the closure period.

For more information, please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/or contact our Box Office on 01329 556156.

Avenue Q at Titchfield Fesival Theatre

Cheeky and hilarious award-winning musical Avenue Q hits the Titchfield stage

Avenue Q is an award-winning, irresistible musical telling the story of several loveable characters from downtown New York – with the help of various bawdy, not very politically correct puppets….

Described as an adult Sesame Street or The Muppets on Acid, Avenue Q is sure to keep everyone entertained following the fortunes of Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate who moves to New York City with big dreams – and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone is looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a “purpose.”

Director of Avenue Q is experienced puppeteer Elliott Fendle who said: “Avenue Q is a great musical and hugely entertaining, packed with bad behaviour, rude songs and political incorrectness.

“The show is incredibly funny and when I first saw the musical performed 5 or 6 years ago, I knew that it was perfect for the Titchfield Festival Theatre stage.

“Avenue Q is full of jokes, raunchy humour and has plenty of catchy tunes – and the audience will love the puppets! It has been huge fun rehearsing the play and the superb cast and production team are really enjoying it. Most of the show is tongue in cheek and we are certain that everyone coming along to watch will have a fabulous time.”

This is the first time that Titchfield Festival Theatre has featured puppetry in a main production, hiring in a bespoke set of the iconic puppets especially for the show.

Avenue Q opens on Wednesday 9th October until Saturday 19th October 2019 at 7.30pm in the Oak Theatre, Titchfield Festival Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG. Matinee performances: Saturday 12th, Sunday 13th and Saturday 19th October all at 2.30pm.

Note: This show is not “fur” the little ones! Recommended 14+

For more information, please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/or contact our Box Office on 01329 556156.

Moviola returns to Festival Theatre

Titchfield Moviola is moving back their original venue, Titchfield Festival Theatre, and to the first Thursday in the month apart from November where it will be 1st Friday due to a prior booking at the theatre we hope you will continue to support us. 

The next showing, ‘Red Joan’ will be on Thursday 5th September

Synopsis

Red Joan (12A) Joan Stanley (Dame Judy Dench) is a widow living out a quiet retirement in the suburbs, then suddenly her tranquil existence is shattered as she is shockingly arrested by MI5.

For Joan has been hiding an incredible past; she is one of the most influential spies in living history. Cambridge University in the 1930s and the young Joan (Sophie Cookson), a demure physics student, falls intensely in love with a seductive attractive Russian saboteur named Leo.

Through him she begins to see that the world is on a knife edge and perhaps must be saved from itself in the race to military supremacy. Post-war and now working at a top secret nuclear research facility, Joan is confronted with the impossible: Would you betray your country and your loved ones, if it meant saving them?

What price would you pay for peace? Inspired by an extraordinary true story Red Joan is the taut and emotional discovery of one women’s sacrifice in the face of incredible circumstances. A women to whom we perhaps all owe our freedom.    

Autumn Season



Thursday 3rd October - Collette - (15)

Friday 1st November – Rocketman (15)

Thursday 5th December - Fisherman’s Friends (12A)

Panto Time - Oh no its not!

Classic children’s tale Peter Pan set to charm us all at Christmas, but its not a Panto

Peter Pan is the ultimate classic children’s story and this December JM Barrie’s celebrated fairy tale will be performed at Titchfield Festival Theatre.

The fantasy world of Peter Pan and his adventures with Wendy in Neverland has enchanted families for more than a century, since its first performance in 1904. The play contains so many rich and colourful characters which we will remember from our childhoods; Peter Pan, Wendy Darling and her two brothers, the fairy Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, and of course Peter’s archenemy and pirate, Captain Hook.

Peter flies to London every night to listen to the bedtime stories that Mrs Darling tells to her children.

One night when Mr and Mrs Darling are out at a party Peter sneaks into the Darling children’s nursery to steal back his shadow, which he had lost on a previous night. Wendy, the eldest of the Darling children is awoken by Peter.

He charms her instantly and persuades her to travel with him to Neverland so that she may tell stories to the lost boys who live there. Wendy and her brothers, John and Michael, fly to Neverland which is where their adventure with Peter really begins.

Kevin Fraser, Artistic Director of Titchfield Festival Theatre says, “At Christmas, we all enjoy so many traditional things which no doubt we remember from our childhoods. Everyone loves a great story, which is why Peter Pan is the perfect choice of production for our Christmas season this year; it is beautifully written and nostalgic, with plenty of great characters.

Peter Pan will be the first time that we have actors on stage flying – so we are really excited about that. We have also been extremely fortunate in assembling such a fantastic cast, who hope to build on the great success we had last year with Hansel and Gretel.

We know that families will love the story of Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up and his magical adventures in Neverland with Wendy. It is a story that will never grow old and we are sure that all the family will love it.”

Peter Pan’s Director is Jamie Ann Templeman who directed the popular story Goodnight Mister Tom last year, as well as other productions. The opportunity to direct Peter Pan is a dream which has come true for Jamie. She says, “Peter Pan is a story that I have grown up with and love immensely. It was the show that I just had to do! We are performing to the original script written by JM Barrie – it is the first-ever Peter Pan, written by Barrie as a play before the book was published.

This really is a classic adventure story; I am certain that everyone will fall in love with Peter and want to join him on his wonderful journeys of discovery in the fantasy world of Neverland.”

Peter Pan opens on Wednesday 12th December until Saturday 22nd December at 7.30pm in the Oak Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG. There will be a Sunday matinee on the 16th

December and a special production held on Saturday 22nd December (please contact the theatre directly for details).

For more information, please go to Titchfield festival Theatre or contact our Box Office on 01329 556156.

Liver Birds fly in to Titchfield

The Liver Birds: You Dancin’? You Askin’?

Two young women, Sandra and Beryl, share a flat in Liverpool. It’s the 1970s and their lives are filled with dreams, talking about boyfriends and of course, the trials and tribulations of everyday life.

The Liver Birds, written by friends Carla Lane and Myra Taylor became a hugely successful television programme in that decade, entertaining millions with its funny and amusing take on life as the girlspursue their romantic interests whilst keeping their interfering mothers at bay.

The TV sitcom has now been adapted for the stage and Titchfield Festival The atre are delighted to perform this comedy production, directed by Martin Crawley. Martin explains;

“The Liver Birds is a play which brilliantly captures that exciting period at the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s as women started to discover greater independence, with more freedoms at work and opportunities in their love lives.

This is a hilarious and entertaining show where you will be introduced to a constant stream of colourful and eccentric neighbours, ex-lovers, mothers, fathers and vicars, each who parade through the flat to add to the overall confusion.”

Kevin Fraser, Artistic Director for the Titchfield Festival Theatre says, “We chose The Liver Birds as it was a perfect play to follow on from our classic season. If you remember the 1970s you will love it, however there is plenty for younger audiences to enjoy and appreciate.

The play is suitably nostalgic, superbly co-written by one of Britain’s most popular writers Carla Lane, exploring the relationships of the two young women in an amusing and charming way.”

The Liver Birds opens on Wednesday 9 th May until 19 th May at 7.30pm in the main Oak Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG. The Sunday matinee performance is on 13 th May at 2.30pm.

For more information, please go to Titchfield Festival Theatre or contact our Box Office on 01329 556156

David Copperfield: Dickens enduring story comes to Titchfield

David Copperfield is Dickens’ storytelling at its best and this week Titchfield Festival Theatre brings this stunning adaptation to life, following previous productions including A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations. Charles Dickens considered David Copperfield to be his finest piece of work and without doubt, this classic will keep you entertained.

Image: www.posbrookpics.uk

The story of David Copperfield is of a boy making his way in the world, and finding himself as a man and as a writer. Throughout the play you will be introduced to all the favourite characters as David Copperfield wends his way through life with a loving mother and doting nanny through to a wicked stepfather, downtrodden schoolboy and a ‘working hind’ to his saviour in Aunt Betsy, Mr Dick and Tommy Traddles.

Working on a multi layered set representing rooms in David’s life the cast of 25 tell of David’s trials and tribulations, his heartache and eventual happiness. In true Dickens style, all the characters are colourful, vivacious and eager to tell a story. All of this is wonderfully told by this multi-talented cast, with many indeed playing two or three roles.

Artistic Director of Titchfield Festival Theatre and the director of David Copperfield, Kevin Fraser says,

“‘Of all the Dickens stories this has to be one of my favourites, it is crammed full of colourful characters and a rich tapestry of life runs through the whole book. Frank Veresi has brought us a wonderful adaption that our audiences will adore. Patrons are in for a treat, a roller coaster of emotions from laughter and fun to terror and grief. It is all here, just as Dickens wrote it using his own words. If you love Dickens, enjoy a great story or want a brilliant Victorian evening you simply can’t miss David Copperfield.”

David Copperfield opens on Wednesday 11th April until 21st April at 7.30pm in the Oak Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG.

For more information, please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/or contact our Box Office on 01329 556156.