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2022-23 SEASON LAUNCH – SAVE THE DATE!

2nd March 2022

The date has been set for our 2022-23 Season Launch – our first “live” launch since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Make sure you get it in your diaries, everyone; 14th May 2022.

The productions making up the 2022-23 season will be announced and you will have the opportunity to chat to the directors afterwards about how you might like to get involved with their show – on or offstage!

It is also a great opportunity to catch up with friends, make new ones and enjoy a drink (or two) in the bar. Whether you are a familiar face, a regular audience member, or are coming along to the GWT for the very first time, everyone is welcome!

More information will follow soon, so keep your eyes peeled. We can’t wait to see you all there!

Welcome Back!

22nd October 2021

We were delighted to see so many of you back at the theatre for the production run of Pygmalion. It was a splendid week for everyone.

We look forward to seeing you at our next production Birdsong.

We want to continue to do all we can to keep you as safe as possible when you are visiting the theatre.

Having reviewed the COVID mitigation measures we put in place, we want to strengthen those some more.

So:

Please wear a face mask all the time when you are in the auditorium.

Please wear a face mask as much as possible when you are in the foyers.

When collecting your tickets from the Box Office, please try not to linger there, to avoid a queue building up.

When buying a drink from the bar, please use both serving points, to avoid a queue building up there.

Please use all available space in the bar, coffee bar and studio to help avoid overcrowding where possible.

Thank you.  Your co-operation is very much appreciated.

The GWT Management

We are Ready to Welcome You Back Safely

2nd October 2021

We are so looking forward to welcoming you back to the GWT! We have put in place a range of measures to help us all stay as safe as possible:

  • We have completed a very thorough COVID risk assessment.
  • The theatre has had a deep clean and we will be regularly cleaning all surfaces.
  • Hand sanitisers are readily available as are additional supplies of face masks.
  • We will be asking audience members to be kind enough to wear face masks in the auditorium and to try and maintain some social distance, where reasonable and possible.
  • Perspex screens have been installed at the box office, the bar and the coffee bar.
  • We have taken measures to improve ventilation and we will be keeping doors open as much as possible, before and after a performance and during the interval.

We know that you won’t attend if you are feeling unwell, with COVID symptoms and in such cases, we would of course refund your ticket or move your booking to another performance.

We can’t wait to see you all soon!

Your Theatre Needs You!

As we carefully plan to re-open our lovely theatre for the 2021 season, we could really do with increasing our pool of backstage and front of house volunteers.  There are so many opportunities to get involved at the GWT. 

We can offer support and training in all backstage departments, including set building, lighting, sound, props, stage management, crewing, and wardrobe.  It is huge fun to be part of a production team and we are willing to bet that all of you have skill sets and life experience which we would benefit from!  Why not give it a try?

If you would really rather avoid being anywhere near the stage (!) then there are also lots of “front of house” roles you could explore.  This might be box office, bar, coffee bar, or front of house management.  The commitment can be as little as once a month and again – there is plenty of opportunity for a chat and a laugh in the foyer (quietly!) once the audience have gone in!  

Companionship, personal development, a sense of satisfaction, service to your local community, and a lot of laughs.   And a bar.  What more could you want!

If you’re an actor and you’re planning to audition we particularly appeal to you, to consider getting involved in other aspects of the theatre this season.  Because without backstage and front of house volunteers, there would be no plays for you to be in! 

If you’d like to get in touch please go to Contact Us, above, and choose Email Drama Committee or Email FOH depending on which role(s) you’re interested in.  We’ll make sure your message gets to the right person.

Your Theatre Needs You!

Tales from the Green Room

There’s no better way for us to demonstrate the joy of “a life in the theatre” than to share Tales from the Green Room with you.   You can watch the film here.

Longstanding GWT member David Webster recently interviewed even more longstanding GWT member Colin Hill about his life and career, and the 55 years he’s spent acting and directing at the GWT.   It’s funny and informative.  Do check it out. 

Online content

During the pandemic we all very much missed the thrill of “live” performance but, in common with many other arts organisations, our creative writers, actors and directors did find opportunities to continue to make theatre, with a series of projects which we’ve been delighted to share with you over the past year or so.  Some of these were restricted by licence so we’re not able to make these available – but there is still plenty of content for you to enjoy on our YouTube channel

Mrs Warren’s Profession

If you missed our fabulous serialised audio version of George Bernard Shaw’s “Mrs Warren’s Profession” you can catch up with all four episodes on our You Tube channel.  It will remain there for you to enjoy!

Earlier in 2020 the short pieces you can see here – all involving GWT members you’ll probably recognise – were submitted to the written voice new writing event, which formed part of an Arts Festival usually presented live at the Stag Theatre. To keep the event alive during 2020 written voice wanted to make films and recordings of the pieces instead.

The Devil you Don’t

Written by Alice Higginson-Clarke this short play stars GWT actors Catherine Addy and Hannah Holland in a story of two young women ‘doing their bit’ for the refugee crisis. It is a story of friendship, dodgy driving and uncomfortable realisations. Thank you for supporting our theatre in these troubled times. This project was filmed in Covid-Safe settings whilst observing restrictions.

Click here to view this play

Sitting in Silence

Written by Mike Higginson, this short play examines the devastating after effects of the First World War on people of all walks of life. The cast features GWT actors; Maurice Tripp, Paul Harris, Lisa Harris, Katie Webster, Alice Higginson-Clarke, Dominic Higginson-Clarke, Gaynor Griffin and Sue Higginson.  This project was filmed in Covid-Safe settings whilst observing restrictions.

Click here to view this play

Tortoise

This monologue is taken from the play Tortoise written by Lisa Whitbread and performed by Gerald Bishop. Peter lives alone, he says quite happily and then his daughter decides to make his decisions for him. 

Click here to view this play

Zoom; Dogs and Dinosaurs

Sue’s embraced ALL the technology to keep in touch with her friends and family. But where does a Romanian dog rescuer fit in – and who on earth are Nips, Lethal and Dyson? This funny and touching monologue is written, and performed, by Brenda Joyce.

Click here to view this play

written voice is run by GWT members Lisa and Paul Harris; find them at https://www.facebook.com/writtenvoicetheatre/

4th June 2021