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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School AN AFFILIATE OF THE CONSERVATOIRE FOR DANCE & DRAMA

www.oldvic.ac.uk

Autumn–Winter 2014/15 Season

Road

Alice in Wonderlandand What She Found There

We've Got To Get To Bethlehem - A Nativity Play

Julius Caesar

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tour telling the Christmas story is a new version of the Nativity – We’ve Got to Get To Bethlehem by Neville Boundy. There are just two mornings to see this hugely popular show on sale to the public – at the Redgrave on Saturday 6 and Saturday 13 December; it’s a delightful way to spend a Saturday morning together and have a break from the shopping.

Finally for this season, straight after Christmas we take Toby Hulse’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar on tour to junior schools. Aiming to introduce young people to live theatre, many for their first experience, with Julius Caesar they will see this exciting story of friendship and betrayal set in a 21st century world to which they can relate. Again you can see this show on two Saturday mornings at the Redgrave – an opportunity for families to enjoy this introduction to Shakespeare together.

We very much hope you enjoy our new season - and there will be much more to entertain you in 2015 as well.

Paul Rummer Principal Jenny Stephens Artistic Director

Welcome to our Autumn / Winter season of theatre performances, bringing you four very different productions to be seen in Bristol.

At Circomedia in Portland Square we will be presenting Jim Cartwright’s Road in a promenade performance. Not for the faint-hearted, Road is a challenging piece of theatre written as a response to unemployment and social deprivation in working-class Lancashire during the 1980s. The show offers great passion and humour and a positive view of how people cope in adversity. First seen at the Royal Court in 1986, Road has won many awards and is often used as an A-level set text.

As a contrast, this year’s Christmas show at the Redgrave Theatre is Alice in Wonderland and What She Found There. Adapted by Philip Monks from Lewis Carroll’s ever-popular books, in which Alice encounters many quirky characters including the Mad-Hatter, the Cheshire Cat (and its grin), the Queen of Hearts, and the White Rabbit; this lively seasonal production is the ideal family treat.

Remember to book early – last year’s Christmas production was a sell-out.This year, our annual primary schools’

Welcome Autumn / Winter 2014-15

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Road Pages 4–5

Alice in Wonderlandand What She Found There Pages 6–7

We've Got To Get To Bethlehem -A Nativity Play Pages 8–9

Julius Caesar Pages 10–11

Calendar Pages 14–15

Road

CircomediaPortland SquareBristol BS2 8SJBox Office: 0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.uk

Alice in Wonderlandand What She Found ThereWe've Got To Get To Bethlehem - A Nativity PlayJulius Caesar

Redgrave TheatrePercival Road, CliftonBristol BS8 3LEBox Office: 0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.uk

Contents

BookingDetails

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CircomediaPortland SquareBristol BS2 8SJBox Office: 0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.uk

RoadBy Jim CartwrightDirected by Gemma FairlieDesigned by Andrea Montag

The award-winning play about Thatcher's Britain.

1987. A controversial leader is re-elected, the country lives in fear of terrorist attacks and is still reeling from the effects of recession. But for the inhabitants of a Lancashire street, there's a party to go to.

In this bold and confrontational promenade performance,the vagrant Scullery is your tour guide, introducing you to an array of characters all trying to find some kind of escape from their squalid existence.

Jim Cartwright's play is an arresting mix of humour and pathos, transporting the audience with energy, passion and poetry, leaving you uplifted and reminded of the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit.

This is a promenade production and contains strong language.

Fri 7– Sat 15 NovEves: 7.30pm Thu & Sat mats: 2.30pmTickets £15 full / £10 concession

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Alice in Wonderland

and what there.

foundshe

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Fri 28 Nov – Thu 18 Dec10am/ 2pm/ 7pmTickets: £15 full / £10 concession / £8 schools

Alice in Wonderlandand What She Found There...Adapted by Philip Monksfrom the books by Lewis CarrollDirected by Jenny StephensDesigned by Ruari MurchisonMusical Direction by John Telfer

Following our sell out production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, this year’s family Christmas play tells the ever popular story of Alice in Wonderland.Follow her down the rabbit hole for an adventureof magic, music and mayhem as she meets – amongothers – the White Rabbit, the Tweedle Brothers(Dum and Dee), Humpty Dumpty and the Mad Hatter.Will she escape the wrath of the Queen of Hearts? Will she find her way back to the riverbank? Find out at the Redgrave Theatre this Christmas.

Don't be late for avery important date!

Redgrave TheatrePercival Road, CliftonBristol BS8 3LEBox Office: 0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.ukAlice in

Wonderlandand what

found

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We've Got ToGet To Bethlehem

A Nativity Play

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Redgrave TheatrePercival Road, CliftonBristol BS8 3LEBox Office: 0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.uk

Sat 6 & Sat 13 Dec10am & 11.30amTickets: £7

We've Got To GetTo Bethlehem -A Nativity PlayWritten by Neville Boundy Directed by John HartochDesigned by Susan PearceMusical Direction by Pamela Rudge

The order has gone out from cruel King Herod - all his subjects have to travel to their cities of origin to be counted in a census. But for Joe, the carpenter and his young wife Mary, this involves a hard journey and a fear that they will have no proper lodgings at the very time when Mary's baby is due to be born.

And though all babies are special, this one is even more special than the others! Mary and Joe don't want to go, but they have no choice. They've GOT TO GET TO BETHLEHEM!

For over 30 years BOVTS has been taking nativity plays to primary schools in the Bristol area. For the very first time Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Chaplain and playwright Neville Boundy has created his own version of this ancient, familiar, magical tale.

Suitable: 5 yrs+.

We've Got ToGet To Bethlehem

A Nativity Play 9

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Julius CaesarBy William ShakespeareAdapted by Toby HulseDirected by Toby Hulse & Hannah Drake Designed by Angela Davies

Beware the ides of March...Following sell out performances of The Comedy of Errors and Romeo and Juliet, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School presents Julius Caesar, the most accessible of Shakespeare's masterpieces of Roman history - a rollercoaster tale of murder, politics and loyal friendships betrayed.

This brand new version, specially adapted for the understanding of young audiences, reimagines the play in a modern world of media manipulation, digital information and 24 hour news, whilst retaining the power and beauty of Shakespeare's original verse.

A thrilling and inspiring introduction to the work of the world's greatest playwright.

Suitable: 5 yrs+.

Redgrave TheatrePercival Road, CliftonBristol BS8 3LEBox Office: 0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.uk

Sat 31 Jan & Sat 7 Feb10.30amTickets: £7

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Youth Theatrefor 7–18 year oldsTerm time or holiday theatre skills experience

See our website for dates for all youth courses.www.oldvic.ac.uk 0117 973 3535

ACTiv8

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IfyouenjoyourproductionsandwouldliketosupporttheTheatreSchoolanditsstudentsfurther,youmightliketocontributetoourLINKbuildingprojectatourDownsideRoadsite.

Work has begun on the £1.5m redevelopment of the School's premises in Clifton. The School, whose alumni include the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis, Patrick Stewart, Pete Postlethwaite, Jeremy Irons, Samantha Bond, Olivia Colman and Naomie Harris, provides world class training for the professional arts and entertainment industry as well as contributing to the cultural life of the city of Bristol and the development of its young artists.

In support of this work, a new building known as The Link will provide much needed additional rehearsal studios and a

welcoming, accessible new entrance foyer to enhance the School's existing premises at Downside Road.Over £1m has been raised already from donors and the School has also invested a significant sum from its own reserves as part of its commitment to the project.The funds raised so far have enabled construction to get underway, with the new facilities due to open early in 2015. But the School is now appealing to Bristolians to raise the final £200,000 needed to fit out the new facilities with the most up-to-date equipment.For further information visit: www.oldvic.ac.ukor contact the School directly: 2DownsideRd,Clifton,BristolBS82XF01179733535simon.payne@oldvic.ac.uk

THEATRE SCHOOL REDEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY

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Alice in Wonderlandand What She Found ThereRedgrave TheatrePercival Rd, CliftonBristol BS8 3LE

Box Office:0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.uk

School groups: £8(please ring the Box Office)

Autumn/Winter 2014–15CalendarRoadCircomediaPortland SquareBristol BS2 8SJ

Box Office:0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.uk

NovFri 28 7.00pm £17/£11 Sat 29 2.00pm /7.00pm £17/£11DecTue 2 7.00pm £17/£11/£8Wed 3 10.00am/2.00pm £17/£11/£8Thu 4 10.00am/2.00pm £17/£11/£8Fri 5 7.00pm £17/£11/£8Sat 6 2.00pm /7.00pm £17/£11/£8Sun 7 2.00pm £17/£11/£8Tue 9 7.00pm £17/£11/£8Wed 10 10.00am/2.00pm £17/£11/£8Thu 11 10.00am/2.00pm £17/£11/£8Fri 12 7.00pm £17/£11/£8Sat 13 2.00pm/7.00pm £17/£11/£8Sun 14 2.00pm £17/£11/£8Tue 16 2.00pm/7.00pm £17/£11/£8Wed 17 2.00pm/7.00pm £17/£11/£8Thu 18 10.00am/2.00pm £17/£11/£8

NovFri 7 7.30pm £15/£10Sat 8 2.30pm /7.30pm £15/£10Mon 10 7.30pm £15/£10Tue 11 7.30pm £15/£10Wed 12 7.30pm £15/£10Thu 13 2.30pm /7.30pm £15/£10Fri 14 7.30pm £15/£10Sat 15 2.30pm /7.30pm £15/£10

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We've Got To GetTo Bethlehem - A Nativity PlayRedgrave TheatrePercival Rd, CliftonBristol BS8 3LE

Box Office:0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.uk

Julius CaesarRedgrave TheatrePercival Rd, CliftonBristol BS8 3LE

Box Office:0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.uk

DecSat 6 10.00am/11.30am £7Sat 13 10.00am/11.30am £7

JanSat 31 10.30am £7FebSat 7 10.30am £7

BOOKING NOW AND COMING SOON!The Merchant of Veniceby William ShakespeareDirected by award-winning RSC directorBill Alexander

Redgrave TheatreThu 19 - Sat 28 Feb Eves 7.30pmSat & Thu mats 2.00pm (no mat Thu 19)£15 full £10 concessionBox Office: 0117 973 3955www.oldvic.ac.uk

The Heresy of Loveby Helen EdmundsonDirected by Jenny Stephens

Bristol Old Vic StudioFri 6 - Sat 14 MarchEves 7.00pmSat & Thu mats 2.00pmBox Office: 0117 987 7877www.bristololdvic.org.uk

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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School AN AFFILIATE OF THE CONSERVATOIRE FOR DANCE & DRAMA

www.oldvic.ac.ukWorld Class Training– Made In Bristol

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