Central Production of Boudica Tours to Leicester's Curve Theatre

From 28 – 29 November Central’s production of Tristan Bernays’ Boudica, performed by BA (Hons) Acting Musical Theatre students working alongside students from BA (Hons) Theatre Practice, toured to Leicester’s Curve Theatre.  This followed a successful, sold-out run at Central from 20 – 23 November.  The production formed part of the School’s annual East Midlands Project, and it also featured the School’s first ever relaxed performances for public audiences.

Central’s East Midlands Project began in November 2012 at the Guildhall in Derby with a production of Wedekind’s Spring Awakening. It was arranged and overseen by Principal Lecturer and Central’s Course Leader for Acting Musical Theatre Wendy Gadian, Produced by alumnus Joe O’Neill (who hails from Derby) and Directed by Jenny Quayle in collaboration with DERBY LIVE!  Funding was generously provided from the Pilkington Trust. 

Subsequent touring productions have included Spring Awakening, Too Clever By Half, Man of Mode, Pentecost, The Crucible, #DR@CULA, and Lost Empires.  Venues have included Leicester’s The Y Theatre, The Haymarket Theatre Leicester, and The Curve.

Now in its seventh year, the goal of the East Midlands Project continues to be providing students who are about to embark on their professional careers with the opportunity to perform and work in a professional theatre under touring conditions.  As a part of Central’s Outreach work, the East Midlands Project is also key to ensuring that the School draws on talent from all parts of the UK and is actively reaching out and connecting with communities across the country, thus inspiring and encouraging the next generation of young performers and theatre makers.

Alongside the performances, the cast, creative and production teams held workshops together with Central staff as well as post show Q&A sessions where school students in attendance could quiz them on their burning questions: “What is it really (really) like to go do drama school?” “What do you need to do to get in?” “How do you survive London?” and many more.  Staff and Students working on the project love the opportunity to meet and talk to students in the East Midlands and the project has become one of the annual highlights for those involved.

This year, Central was also delighted to be able to include relaxed performances within its schedule for Boudica.  Relaxed performances provide an inclusive environment for audiences to engage and participate in theatre in a way that best suits them and offers a welcoming environment to those who may find the conventions of theatre challenging.  In November 2019, Central held its first relaxed performances as a part of the run for Boudica - on Saturday 23rd November at Central and then again on Friday 29th November at The Curve Theatre in Leicester.  Alongside these performances, Central’s Front of House team and Staff from across the School attended accessibility and Front of House training delivered by Access All Areas and, alongside this, the School’s first Visual Guide was published.

For more information on Central’s BA (Hons) Musical Theatre and BA (Hons) Theatre Practice please visit the course pages, and don’t forget to check to see if you’re eligible for a free audition.  You can find out more about Central’s Outreach work here.

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