Spotlight on BTECMost successful panto in a decadeDeveloping artistic directors of the future

STAGEWHISPERS

FROM YOUR THEATRESUMMER 2016

NEWS AND FEATURES SALISBURYPLAYHOUSE

THE SALBERGCAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME COMPLETEDFollowing a fundraising campaign andgenerous donations from both funders andaudience members, the refurbishmentprogramme of The Salberg has beensuccessfully completed, along withimproved access facilities in the main foyer.Development Officer Rebecca Moore tells usabout the recent improvements.

We are delighted to share that we haveachieved our ambition to upgrade TheSalberg and install automatic foyer entrancedoors as part of our ongoing Capital plans toensure that Salisbury Playhouse is a fit-for-purpose regional hub of artistic excellence.The space is now able to fully support ourprogramme of new work and enable ourvision to support the next generation ofartists, offering an adaptable space forwriters, directors, designers, emergingcompanies and audiences.

Above all, improvements to the insulationmean that we can now offer a year roundfacility. The Salberg is more comfortable foraudiences, artists and students working inthe space, whilst also contributing to thetheatre’s sustainability. By installing newlighting and sound equipment we are, for thefirst time, able to offer facilities which arerelevant to twenty first century theatre-making. The new equipment is alsosignificantly more environmentallysustainable with greater energy efficiency.The new seating in The Salberg has beenvery well received by artists and audiencesalike. It offers greater flexibility in terms of

the configuration of the space as well asvastly improved comfort. It has also helpedimprove accessibility for those inwheelchairs.

Alongside our audience members over 4,000participants regularly use The Salberg everyyear through involvement in our Take Partprogramme and our Stage ’65 Youth Theatreperforms in the space every year. Wecurrently run highly successful BTECPerformance Arts and Production Artscourses, in partnership with WiltshireCollege, and The Salberg is regularly used tooffer the students practical experience ofmaking theatre.

The improved facilities will also enable us tooffer a year-round programme for a variety ofcommunity groups, enhancing thoseengagement opportunities we currently offerand allowing us to invite even more users toparticipate in highly subsidised or freeactivities. Those existing groups, which willreap huge benefits from the upgrade includeMind the Gap, Beginners Please and DANCESIX-O. Those who take part in BackstageTours, our Play in a Day programme and ourresearch and development programme foremerging artists and new work will alsobenefit.

Thanks must go to our outstanding technicalteam which has been fastidious in ensuringthe smooth transition from using our largelyobsolete equipment to installing new lightingand sound equipment. We now have a spacewhich can offer more

flexibility, greater comfort and the latestequipment.

Thank you to all those who generouslysupported this project

Arts Council EnglandFrank and Elizabeth BrenanCleansing Services GroupCharles HartHills Waste SolutionsThe Holliday FoundationPaul and Sue HallidenThe Walter Guinness Charitable TrustWiltshire Area BoardDonors to the Big Give 2014Donors to the Sponsor a Seat appeal

MEMBERS COFFEE MORNINGMembers enjoyed the chance to

chat with Salisbury Playhousestaff over coffee and freshly

made cake, hearing moreabout what happens behind-the-scenes including all thelatest fundraising news from

our Membership department.

Thank you to all those Members who cameand made the event such a great success -we hope you enjoyed your morning with usas much as we did.

We’ve also had some great feedback and willbe developing this event for the future. So ifyou’d like to join us at our next MembersMorning, then watch this space for Autumn2016 – dates coming soon! You can evenbring a guest along with you!

BECOME A MEMBERMembers receive a range of benefitsincluding exclusive ticket discounts, prioritybooking and invitations to season previews.

To find out more please visitwww.salisburyplayhouse.com/support-us/become-a-member or contact EmilyCondley on 01722 345161.

Cinderella, 2015/16

"12 YEARS IN A ROW- BEST PANTOYET!"

Audience Member

Salisbury Playhouse celebrated itsmost successful pantomime in over adecade with its 2015-16 pantoCinderella. Over 24,000 peopleenjoyed the production with 95% ofavailable seats being sold and someaudience members returning severaltimes to see the show.

Audiences were drawn from a widearea including Southampton,Basingstoke, Swindon and Bath withover 40% of bookers being first timevisitors to Salisbury Playhouse. Over110 school groups came to seeCinderella with many childrenenjoying their first experience of livetheatre.

The theatre also programmed its firstRelaxed Performance of a MainHouse show.

Relaxed Performances are particularlysuitable for those with an AutisticSpectrum Condition, learningdisability or sensory andcommunication disorder and aim togive those who otherwise might feelexcluded the chance to experiencelive theatre.

Christmas 2016 will see SalisburyPlayhouse produce a new productionof Aladdin and tickets are already onsale. Packed with songs, adventure,comedy and traditional pantomimefun, Aladdin promises to be amagical treat for all the family.

Salisbury Playhouse is delighted thatdirector Ryan McBryde and writerAndrew Pollard will return to createanother action-packed show for allages.

Tickets for school parties cost just£8.50 at many performances andthere are generous discounts forgroup bookings.

Aladdin runs in the Main House atSalisbury Playhouse from Saturday 3December 2016 until Saturday 7January 2017 and, to avoiddisappointment, early booking isadvised as many performances ofCinderella sold out.

CELEBRATINGSALISBURY PLAYHOUSE PANTO SUCCESS

"ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY FANTASTICPANTO AT SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE LASTNIGHT, GUARANTEED FUN EVERY YEAR! -THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LAUGHS!"Audience member

Cinderella, 2015/16

Cinderella, 2015/16

"YOU HAVE SURPASSED YOURSELVES!CRYING WITH LAUGHTER ALONG WITH‘BIG PEOPLE’ NEAR ME! FAN-TAST-IC!"Audience member

THE STAGE

THE REVIEWS HUB

Salisbury Playhouseand WiltshireCollege jointly runBTEC courses inPerforming Arts andProduction Arts.Much of thestudents’ teachingtakes place at thePlayhouse, givingthem a fantastic

insight into the running of a professionalproducing theatre. Tom Sherman is theBTEC Course Leader and tells us a littlemore about the Performing Arts course.

I’ve been passionate about theatre since myschool days. When I was unable to performI was often found rigging lanterns andbuilding sets - anything just to be involved.I went on to get a BA(Hons) in Theatre, Filmand TV studies at Aberystwyth Universitythen spent a further two years years honingmy acting skills at Bristol Old Vic TheatreSchool, (where I first met Zoe Kiely!).

The course is vocational, meaning we aim togive the students as close to the feeling ofbeing in the profession as possible. Much of

the assessment is practical withrehearsing and performing taking

up much of the time. We alsospend a great deal of timeresearching, evaluating anddeveloping key skills that willenable the students to progress inthe profession should they sochoose. Skills include voice

development, physical theatre, mask work,movement, creating a character,improvisation and devising. We then applythese skills to various styles of theatre.

As the course is run in Salisbury Playhouse,the students are in the enviable position ofseeing, meeting and occasionally workingalongside industry professionals. Thesupport from resident staff and visiting artistsmakes this an exceptional learningenvironment.

Students have recently toured local primaryschools and appeared in Theatre Fest West.They are now working towards their end ofyear showcase which will take place in theMain House on Tuesday 14 June. The firstyears are exploring the wonders andchallenges of classical theatre while thesecond years are selecting their own piecesto celebrate their learning over the past twoyears.

On completing the course some studentshave chosen to take the transferrable natureof the skills into other careers such as retailand tourism but the majority choose to go onto Higher Education to further develop theirskills and knowledge. Such destinationsinclude Bath Spa University, MiddlesexUniversity, Plymouth University, ChichesterUniversity, Manchester MetropolitanUniversity and East 15 drama school.Production Arts students have also beenaccepted onto courses at Bristol Old VicTheatre School and RADA.

To apply for the course go online and visitthe Wiltshire College website where you cancomplete an application. You will require aminimum of 5 GCSEs including English andMaths. You will be invited to interviewwhere you'll be asked to prepare a shortaudition speech and discuss your interestand experience in theatre.

www.wiltshire.ac.uk

BTECCREATIVE LEARNING AT SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE

STUDENTS HAVE RECENTLY TOUREDLOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS ANDAPPEARED IN SALISBURYPLAYHOUSE'S ANNUAL FESTIVALTHEATRE FEST WEST.

THE SUPPORT FROM RESIDENTSTAFF AND VISITING ARTISTSMAKES THIS AN EXCEPTIONALLEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

TeechersTheatre for Children

STUDENTS ARE INENVIABLEPOSITION OFSEEING, MEETING

AND OCCASIONALLYWORKING ALONGSIDEINDUSTRYPROFESSIONALS.

Zoe Kiely is theBTEC ProductionArts Tutor. Havingmoved to Salisburyaged 12 she joinedStage’ 65 YouthTheatre and a love oftheatre was born!

Having completed the BTEC Performing Artscourse at Wiltshire College, Zoe spent twoyears at Bristol Old Vic Theatre Schoolstudying Stage Management and TechnicalTheatre. After graduating Zoe worked as afreelance Stage Manager in venues rangingfrom the Bush Theatre (famous for newplays) to large-scale musicals in London’sWest End. From 2000-2008 Zoe wasfortunate enough to tour the world withCirque du Soleil as Head of Props.

The BTEC Production Arts studentsexperience all areas of technical theatreincluding stage management, prop making,lighting and sound operation and design.The Performing Arts students produce morethan ten shows a year, from workshops tofull productions on the Main House stage,and the Production Arts students provide thetechnical support for all of these.

Being based at the Playhouse gives thestudents access to industry professionals anda fantastic insight into what goes on behindthe scenes of a busy producing theatre. Theknowledge gained from this is a hugeadvantage when competing for places atdrama school, university or for industryapprenticeships.

To apply online please visit the WiltshireCollege website where you can complete anapplication form. You will require aminimum of 5 GCSEs including English andMaths.

BTECCREATIVE LEARNING AT SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE

Wind in the Willows

BEING BASED AT THEPLAYHOUSE GIVES THESTUDENTS ACCESS TO INDUSTRYPROFESSIONALS.

BTEC PRODUCTION ARTSSTUDENTS EXPERIENCE ALL AREASOF TECHNICAL THEATRE.

For more information about BTECPerforming Arts, BTEC Production Arts orStage '65 Youth Theatre, visit Take Part onour website.

www.salisburyplayhouse.com

SNAP SHOT45 Stage '65 Youth Theatre memberstook to The Salberg stage in April toperform Stay Brave Brian Gravy

Volunteer Archivist Arthur Millie looks backat some of the young directors who havetrained at Salisbury Playhouse.

Growing up in North London, Rupert Gooldloved playing with his soldiers. Instead offighting with them, he enjoyed rearrangingthem and putting them in groups. Hedescribes himself as a geek at school but hislove of order and the English language ledhim to study English at Trinity College and toachieve his ambition of working in thetheatre.

After assisting at the Donmar Warehouse fora year, he arrived at Salisbury Playhouse in1996 as a recipient of the Regional TheatreYoung Director Scheme to work alongsideJonathan Church.

Howard Thomas, the Managing Director ofABC Television, founded this scheme in1960. It aims to place talented emergingdirectors in theatres where they can developtheir skills and learn what it takes to run aregional theatre.

Rupert Goold soon made his mark and areviewer of his production of Travels with myAunt wrote: “If this is how he’s beginning his

career, then we should watch out for afamous future”. The sorcerer’s apprenticesoon became the sorcerer as his careerquickly reached dazzling new heights and heis now Artistic Director of London’s AlmeidaTheatre.

The earliest Salisbury Playhouse recipient ofthis award was Roger Clissold who arrived atthe Playhouse in 1965 having been awardedone of the ABC TV production scholarships.Reggie Salberg soon recognised his immensetalent and he was given The Tempest todirect. A local critic commented: “Here is aplay that is wonderfully alive, splendidlyexplicit and unfailing in its entertainment”.Roger, of course, went on to become ArtisticDirector of Salisbury Playhouse in 1976 andhis work remains an important milestone inSalisbury Playhouse’s history.

Another apprentice who is now weaving hisown theatrical magic is Douglas Rintoul. Hearrived in 2000 and remembers working onRough Crossing where he had to run backand forth across the stage with items offurniture pretending to be a storm. LikeRupert Goold, his childhood helped to shapehis career as he directed his first play aged 7

at his primary school. Joanna David, whoworked with him on Copenhagen, said:“He’s the most exciting director I’ve workedwith for a long time – the profession islucky to have him”.

Salisbury Playhouse has been lucky inreceiving many talented, emergingdirectors as part of this scheme andhelping to shape their futures. Thelatest recipient is Jo Newman whoarrived in 2015 and, as she nearsthe end of her 18 monthplacement, recently directed ThisLand which was performed in TheSalberg in April.

Rupert Goold once commented:“Directing a play is like runningtowards a wall and hoping itbecomes a door just before thecurtain opens”. It is hoped thatmany more doors will open forSalisbury Playhouse as part of thisexcellent scheme and that manymore talented, emerging directorswill be able to rearrange their ownsoldiers as they plan their ownfuture campaigns.

To find out more about theRegional Theatre Young DirectorsScheme visit www.rtyds.co.uk

Travels with my Aunt, 1997 This Land, 2016

My Perfect Mind, 2013

"IF THIS IS HOW HE'S BEGINNINGHIS CAREER, THEN WE SHOULDWATCH OUT FOR A FAMOUSFUTURE"

"HERE IS A PLAY THAT ISWONDERFULLY ALIVE, SPLENDIDLYEXPLICIT AND UNFAILING IN ITSENTERTAINMENT"

Salisbury Playhouse productions have beenseen across the country this season as thetheatre has been collaborating with partnercompanies to produce work that can beseen by an even wider audience.

In a co-production with Pentabus TheatreCompany, This Land, a newlycommissioned play by Siân Owen, has beentouring rural venues across England, Walesand Northern Ireland. Directed by thePlayhouse’s Resident Assistant Director JoNewman, the play explores the effect offracking on a village community and looks

at our relationship with the ground beneathour feet. Following the rural tour, whichincluded dates in areas where the prospectof fracking is a very real possibility, ThisLand had a two week run in The Salberg.This Land will be live streamed fromPentabus Theatre in Shropshire intoBattersea Arts Centre on Friday 6 May aspart of A Nation’s Theatre Festival, bringingthe play to an even bigger audience.

Salisbury Playhouse has also joined forceswith Octagon Theatre Bolton and New VicTheatre Newcastle-under-Lyme to present

one of the most breathtaking musicals of alltime – Singin’ in the Rain. Rehearsals havetaken place in both Bolton and Salisbury inpreparation for the opening night inSalisbury on 5 May. The production runs atSalisbury Playhouse until 28 May beforemoving to Bolton then Newcastle-under-Lyme. With stunning tap dance routines,memorable music and, of course, rain, thispromises to be a highlight of thespring/summer season.

REARRANGING THE SOLDIERSTHE REGIONAL THEATRE YOUNG DIRECTORS SCHEME

Rough Crossing, 2000

"WHAT A GLORIOUS FEELING"

5 - 28 MAY 2016

CO-PRODUCTIONSAT SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE

DANCE SIX-0Miriam Higginsupdates us on whatthe JMK Directors’group has been gettingup to.

It has been aninteresting term for theJMK Directors’ group.First we got together toread The Homecoming

by Harold Pinter. I was allowed to choose theplay and I decided on the Pinter because Ihave always found his work engaging and heleaves you with plenty of questions, plus itwas a classic I’d never read. Surprisingly Iwasn’t the only one and we all had somethingto say about it at the end – it’s a divisive play!

In January we had a workshop with directorNatalie Ibu where we discussed her careerprogression and the type of work Tiata Fahodzi(where she is the Artistic Director) produces.Afterwards we saw her production of i knowall the secrets in my world in The Salberg.

In February we had a workshop with directorAdam Penford who discussed his rehearsalprocess and, just as importantly, the pre-rehearsal process with us before we saw hisproduction of Deathtrap in the Main House.We were also lucky enough to meet the castwho came down to the bar afterwards to talkabout the show.

There are lots of exciting projects planned forthe summer term – view the website for themost up to date informationwww.salisburyplayhouse.com/artist-development/jmk-directors/

Former Stage ’65 member and award-winning playwright Barney Norris hashad his debut novel, Five Rivers meton a Wooded Plain published.

'There exists in all of us a song waitingto be sung which is as heart-stoppingand vertiginous as the peak of thecathedral. That is the meaning of thisquiet city, where the spire soars intothe blue, where rivers and storiesweave into one another, where livesintertwine.'

One quiet evening in Salisbury, thepeace is shattered by a serious carcrash. At that moment, five lives collide– a flower seller, a schoolboy, an armywife, a security guard, a widower – allfacing their own personal disasters. Asone of those lives hangs in the balance,the stories of all five unwind, drawntogether by connection and coincidence

into a web of love, grief,disenchantment and hope that perfectlyrepresents the joys and tragedies ofsmall town life.

A number of Barney’s plays have visitedThe Salberg in recent years includingEventide, Visitors (for which he won theCritics’ Circle Most PromisingPlaywright Award) and Every You, EveryMe.

Barney says “This novel is a map ofSalisbury, the city I grew up in, andwhat it's meant to me over the years. Iwanted to put as much of the life of thecity I knew as possible into the book,and I hope readers in Salisbury willenjoy recognising parts of their world,and maybe discovering sides of the citythey didn't know”.

Five Rivers met on a Wooded Plain isout now.

DANCE SIX-O, a contemporary dancecompany for older performers, is based atand supported by Salisbury Playhouse.Launched in September 2015, with twoopen classes and a performance Company,DANCE SIX-O has proved very successfuland achieved so much.

Three weeks after being established, theCompany performed as supporting cast withLila Dance, in their production of The Delugeat Salisbury Arts Centre. February saw themshow their own work Dance Me(choreographed by rehearsal director RozConlon) to an audience of dancepractitioners at a Breathe event in Taunton.March started with an amazing weekendworkshop with Adrienne Hart of NeonDance. That was followed by inspiringworkshops at Sadler’s Wells ElixirDevelopment Day, and a sharing of Dance

Me, along with other elders companies. Thefeedback from industry professionals wasinvaluable. DANCE SIX-O’s most recentperformance was at D-Fuse, a danceplatform, at The Point Eastleigh.To round off its pilot year, DANCE SIX-O andSalisbury International Arts Festival havecommissioned Charlotte Spencer tochoreograph a brand new dance work, ThisVery Moment - We Gather, to be performedon the Salisbury Cathedral north lawn onFriday 3 and Saturday 4 June.

Bookings for Wednesday classes (10am-11am and 11.30am-12.30pm) can bemade via the Ticket Office on 01722320333.

For information about the Company pleasecontact Vicky Thornton:vickythornton.creativeproducer@gmail.com

CONGRATULATIONS

Deathtrap, 2016

Deathtrap, 2016

JMKDIRECTORS

……IF YOU LOVE DANCING,AGE IS NO BARRIER……

Orbital & Pavilion Dance South West. DANCE SIX-0 visits the Dance In Time event at Pavilion Dance in Bournemouth.

The 5th annualTheatre Fest West Festival

took place over Easter and wasbigger and better than ever. Over a two-

week period performances took place in TheSalberg at Salisbury Playhouse as well as atthe partner venues – Salisbury Arts Centre,The Pound arts centre Corsham, TrowbridgeArts and Wiltshire Music Centre.

The Festival started with an invitation fromSalisbury Playhouse, Theatre Bristol, TakeArt and Activate to anyone working in theatrein the south west to come together tocelebrate live performance from the region.Resident Assistant Director Jo Newman tells

us more about the day.

The Symposium started with a panel offantastic artists and makers at various stagesin their careers. The artists were asked:- What's the biggest obstacle you've overcomeas an artist?- How do you sustain your practice andyourself as a person (is there a difference)?- If you could demolish one barrier you comeup against when making work, what would itbe?

The panel each shared rich and provocativeaccounts and the overriding sense of concernseemed to be that, though artists are the fuelof the entire industry, the way things aremakes it difficult for artists to sustainthemselves, even incredibly successful andwell established artists – a feeling that wecan’t go on as we are. Questions were raisedabout how artists can sustain themselves,both artistically and in terms of their physicalhealth; how to navigate yourself out of a holeyou are placed in as a young artist making aparticular ‘kind of work’; the barriers that existfor the next generation of artists; femaleartists noticing that in their mid-30s they areoften the oldest woman in a room of theatre

makers; how difficult it is for venues – theyare under huge financial pressure, andsometimes the biggest obstacle is not findingan audience.

In the afternoon industry professionals ledvarious sessions covering the realities oftouring, outdoor theatre, artist and producerdevelopment, rural touring and the benefits ofworking in a cultural cold spot.

Phil Hindson from Arts Council England alsoheld individual Grants for the Arts surgerysessions, providing invaluable advice forcompanies and individuals on applying forfunding.

All day the building was buzzing withimportant conversations, and it was a greatopportunity for people making theatre in theregion to connect, celebrate and discuss.Among the many thoughts and conversationsfrom the day, something which came outstrongly was that artists and venues need tokeep talking and working together todemystify processes, change unhelpfulstructures and to make sure that brillianttheatre can continue to thrive across the southwest.

Jo Newman in rehearsals forThe Magna Carta Plays, 2015

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Cover Photo: Nathan Bessell in the Myrtle Theatre Company and Salisbury Playhouse production, Up Down Man. Photo by Richard Davenport.Photographers: Jay Brooks, Peter Brown, Laura Jane Dale, Richard Davenport, Pete McAuley, Gemma Mount, Keith Pattison, Justin Smith,

Lydia Stamps, Richard Stanton and Robert Workman.

FOOD AND DRINK AT SALISBURY PLAYHOUSEOur light and airy Foyer Café is a great place to meet friends, haveinformal meetings or just take a break from shopping.

Open from 9.30am Monday to Saturday, the Foyer Café offers hotand cold drinks and a tempting selection of handmade cakes, sconesand treats as well as made-to-order sandwiches, salads and soups.

A seasonally changing menu of delicious hot food is available to orderfrom the Foyer Café from 5.30pm on performance evenings (last pre-show order 6.45pm) and prior to matinees.

The Hawkings Skyliner - pre order on 01722 345172 aMediterranean Platter (v) or Dorset Cheese Platter with a half bottleof Champagne or bottle of Prosecco and have them waiting for you ata reserved table upstairs during the interval (£29 for 2 to share).