Warwick Arts Centre’s entire autumn programme launches Thursday 25 August, with big names including comedian Catherine Tate, singer/songwriter Billy Bragg and actors Imogen Stubbs and Natalie Casey leading the way. The Coventry venue, famed for its theatre, has one of its strongest ever programmes this Autumn. Frantic Assembly & The State Theatre Company of South Australia’s Things I Know to be True, co-produced by Warwick Arts Centre, tells the story of a family and marriage through the eyes of four grown siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents’ love and expectations. Written by Andrew Bovell, and brought to life by Frantic Assembly’s Artistic Director Scott Graham and State Theatre Company’s Artistic Director
Geordie Brookman, Things I Know to be True, features the all-star cast of Matthew Barker, Natalie Casey, Richard Mylan, Kirsty Oswald, Ewan Stewart and Imogen Stubbs and includes Frantic Assembly’s signature physical energy.
Terence Rattigan’s classic 1936 comedy, French Without Tears, is brought to the stage by English Touring Theatre and follows the hilarious activities and calamities of a group of young men who fall for the charms of a beautiful visitor to their French Summer school. The exuberant Kneehigh return with a music and dance bonanza, retelling Michael Morpurgo’s story of war prejudice and love – 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips.
Comedy this season, comes in the form of household names and comedy circuit greats, including Catherine Tate, Romesh Ranganathan, Nina Conti, Seann Walsh and Ross Noble. Folk favourites Kate Rusby, Billy Bragg and Seth Lakeman and rock ‘n’ roll royalty, Queen’s Brian May, head up an exciting music programme.
Warwick Arts Centre will continue the popular series of Masterclasses, with workshops in foraging, stand-up and floristry available. Several University of Warwick alumni theatre companies will return with their critically acclaimed shows in the Emerge Festival, and Music Centre students will, once again, delight audiences with a host of classical music concerts.
Family shows continue to be at the heart of the programme. From the fabulous puppets in the Eric Carle favourite – The Very Hungry Caterpillar to the tale of Molly’s Marvellous Moustache it’s sure to be a season full of laughs for the little ones. Our family Christmas will kick off with the Family Weekend: The Wonders of Winter and culminate with Julia Donaldson’s wonderfully imaginative, and ever popular, Stick Man.
Orchestral visitors include British musical institution, The Hallé, and the mammoth soundscape of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra and a Concert Series programme that is complemented by a series of live screenings from the Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
The Mead Gallery’s stunning exhibition, The Human Document showcases the captivating photography of persuasion from 1930’s America (originally curated by Edward Steichen in 1962 for the Museum of Modern Art in New York) alongside photography from world renowned contemporary artists.
Our dance programme has an international feel, and features some of the most celebrated artists in the world. The Aditi Mangaldas Company’s Inter_rupted combines the ancient art of Kathak with a 21st- century sound, rhythm and light and is presented by Dance Umbrella, and East Midlands based Aakash Odedra Compnay choreographs sublime dance and spoken word in the piece I Imagine.
Julia Carruthers, Programme Director at Warwick Arts Centre, said: “Our autumn season has something for everyone. Thrilling, internationally acclaimed performances, interesting and emotionally charged exhibitions, film, music, dance, circus, comedy, family shows filled with laughter – it’s a perfect recipe for the most enjoyable of times. We will, as always, welcome back old friends of ours with open arms, and if you have never visited us before then I think autumn 2016 is the perfect time to do so!”
Thousands of brochures have been printed to announce the bumper autumn season. The new design features audience members and staff to showcase the people that make Warwick Arts Centre what it is. Photographed by Birmingham photographer, Adrian Burrows, the images form part of a series for the 2016-17 brochures and features many areas of the University of Warwick campus. Regular visitors to the Arts Centre can expect one through their letterbox for the Bank Holiday weekend, or they can be picked up from the venue from Thursday when the new season is fully on sale.
