Wick Theatre Group – 24th March 2021
Keeping the Stage Light Burning Bright
Weekly Stories from Around the World – Free Online
Keeping you company until we can welcome you back into the Theatre again
Fresh from the success of the online Ghostly Christmas Advent Calendar, multi-award winning Wick Theatre bring you another selection of filmed stories starting at Easter.
The stories in the Advent Calendar, still available on line, have been viewed all around the world. Across Europe was a surprise, but the fact that they have been viewed in Australia and New Zealand came as a shock. To honour that, the net they have cast for stories has extended to all round the world.
“We were bowled over with the response” explains producer Suse Crosby, “people took the time to write comments and feedback how they were enjoying them, which was so wonderful to hear: it took the place of theatre applause” she says.
This time produced by Suse Crosby and film maker Phil Nair-Brown, Guy Steddon who was integral to the design of the Advent Calendar, is still very much involved in supplying ideas for stories. “While things are still so uncertain as we continue to climb out of lockdown and winter, we felt it was important to keep you company, until we can welcome you back into the theatre again” Suse adds.
Instead of the focus on ghost stories and all things scary, these stories are a mixture of everything. From Aesops fables to Shakespeare sonnets, from Grimm fairy tales to contemporary pieces; these have a different flavour to the Christmas Advent Calendar, sometimes showing a slightly different style of story telling. “Some of these are brighter, more in keeping with how we move from Spring eventually into Summer” says film editor Phil Nair-Brown.
These stories feature Wick Theatre Company members who have been regulars on the stage over the years, who are just as keen to come back to perform as we all are for it to be safe to return to theatres again. There are also at least three contemporary pieces of fiction whose authors have given permission for the pieces to be performed on film.
“We continue to have discussions about when we can put a live show on again, but everything is still so uncertain” continues Suse. “Until that time, we wanted to make sure that people know we are still thinking of ways to entertain our audiences” adds Phil.
This series launches on Good Friday with “Rumpelstiltskin” as collected by the Brothers Grimm, read by Guy Steddon. The plan is one film per week, at 5.00 pm each Friday. The title and the times are affectionate homages to well known children’s programmes from the 70’s onwards which Wick Theatre hope will be recognised by many now adult theatre goers. All films will be free to view on the Wick YouTube Channel and Facebook page. Previews and links will also be on Instagram and Twitter.
Produced by Suse Crosby and Phil Nair-Brown
Press enquiries:
Susanne Crosby 07729 812274
suse@susannecrosby.com
Wick Theatre Company