In a change to our scheduled programme......
Tue 4 October 2022
In a change to our upcoming programme we will now be making a chabge to our December Studio show.
We will now be presenting the comic masterpiece by Patrick Barlow, ‘Ben Hur’. The workshop will be on Tuesday 4th October starting at 7.15pm, led by Bethany Gail.
They said it was unachievable!
They said it couldn’t be done!
But now the greatest book ever penned is brought to the stage by a towering team of six (3m, 3f), and possibly more, actors – turning Nantwich Players theatre into one of the most authentic versions of Ancient Rome ever seen!
Ben Hur.Ben Hur? Really? Who the devil would think of adapting Ben Hur for the stage? Well, actor-playwright Patrick Barlow, well-known for his adaptation of Hitchcock’s ‘The 39 Steps’, has certainly pulled out every stop imaginable to create a totally hilarious and epic ‘goes wrong’ script with high energy and extreme silliness akin to the Monty Python team. Lovers of Carry On and Monty Python will ‘get’ this. The show is daft but as clever as it gets, and everything snaps to grid as far as things going wrong is right.
Ben Hur comes complete with...
Stunning combat (featuring the latest 3D technology)!
A 103% bona fide chariot race (with REAL chariots)!
An authentic sea battle (with REAL water)!
A decadent and unexpurgated Roman orgy (suitable for all ages)!
The story follows an amateur theatre troupe as they produce the massive tale of the fictional Jewish prince and merchant Judah Ben-Hur. He falls to Galley Slave and rises to Champion Charioteer within Jerusalem during the life of Jesus Christ, while the actors struggle along through the piece as rivalries form and offstage romances interfere. Complete with chariot race, sea battle, and stage combat, Patrick Barlow weaves his compressed style popularised by The 39 Steps into one of the largest stories ever told.
"More quick changes and tomfoolery than an entire run of Monty Python." - The Guardian
"Patrick Barlow's small-scale take on this epic tale is a palpable hit." - Evening Standard.
Performance dates will be the 15th to the 18th of December 2022 at 7:45pm nightly.
Workshop
The workshop will take place on Tuesday 4th October at 7.15pm on the stage.
As usual for Studio, instead of a traditional audition, this will be a workshop. It will be led by Bethany Gail, who will direct the production assisted by Sandie Laughlin. So, nothing to learn for the workshop… you can request a copy of the script from me ahead of the workshop if you wish but there will be nothing to learn. Just have an idea of which roles you like the look of and feel you can bring to life. Now is your chance to get involved with a Studio piece – please come along!
The workshop will look at the comedy style, include a couple of fun exercises and playing with some scenes. From this process a cast will be selected and announced in the usual ‘Studio’ way.
Also, there is an opportunity to help out with Direction – someone who would like to shadow the Director and Assistant Director, get used to how we put productions on at Nantwich, maybe preparing for your Directorial Debut!. If you are interested please come along to the workshop.
For any more information contact Beth on bethany-gail@live.com or for a script, contact me by replying to this email.