stalbanslife

Verulamium Park

February’s weather is cold and dull but  there is plenty on in this city for the family to get out and enjoy. Here are just a few examples but follow the links to find out lots more about each venue.

ST ALBANS ARENA – THE ST ALBANS GANG SHOW 2011

Wed 16th – Sat 19th February 7.30pm (Matinee Sat 2.30pm) Tickets £6-£13

32nd time for this very popular show! Energetic song, dance and comedy by the local guides, scouts and young leaders. Ph Nicola Wells 01727 830397          www.alban-arena.co.uk   for address and more details

MUSEUM OF ST ALBANS – HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

21st – 24th Feb 10.30am – 12.30pm Theme of Medieval Mayhem Sessions for 6 to 13 year olds. Book in advance at the museum or tel 01727 819340 www.museumofstalbans.co.uk

VERULAMIUM MUSEUM - MEET QUEEN BOUDIKA

26th Feb from 2 – 4.30pm It’s a wonderful experience to listen to Queen Boudika tell her stories and engage the children. Entry FREE for residents. www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

PLAY IN THE PARKS (Feb Half Term Break)

Play in the parks offers free activity sessions for children 8 yrs and under in parks all over the district! No need to book, just turn up. This year, some of the sessions will be indoors too. Contact Mark Caldwell on 01727 827 667 or lots of interesting information is available for families on www.activestalbans.com

WILLOWS FARM VILLAGE - LAMBING SEASON

21st – 26th Feb. As always, Willows Farm Village has a host of exciting events lined up including new lambs to be enjoyed everyday, Triston the Tractor – rides, Ice Rink, Country Fair Rides and Meet the Shepherd! Click on www.willowsfarmvillage.com for lots more info including times, prices and membership.

TRESTLE ARTS THEATRE – PETER AND THE WOLF

Sun 6th Feb, 2pm and 4pm. Performance of Prokofiev’s musical tale including folk songs, gypsy music and classical favourites. Suits age 3 upwards and runs for 45 mins. Family tickets £25. click www.trestle.org.uk to find out about all the shows running in the coming months and to book tickets.

Touring theatre company Peppermint Muse has made a bold choice with its next production, Death and Dancing, which is coming to St Albans in the first week of February.  Written by Claire Dowie, who based the play on some of her original stand-up comedy material, Death and Dancing is set against the backdrop of eighties sexual politics. It is a fast and furious comedy that attacks conventional notions of gender and labelling.

When Max (male) meets Max (female) on the dance floor at university he fancies her even though he is gay and she is a lesbian. Whilst telling the story of their friendship the two characters demonstrate some hilarious observations on clichéd gender behaviour. Director, John Stenhouse comments, “The play is funny, sometimes shocking and very moving as these two characters challenge themselves and society’s categorisation and control.”

He continues, “It has also brought with it an interesting logistical challenge as the male actor has to try on dresses – finding suitable frilly numbers that will fit a man’s shoulders and chest is not that easy!”

Death and Dancing promises to be a fun and thought-provoking piece, although it does contain adult language and themes. The production runs from Wednesday 2nd – Saturday 5th February 2011, 8pm nightly @ OVO Pudding Lane, 29a Chequer Street, St Albans

AL1 3YJ. Tickets (£12.50/£7.50) can be bought online www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo or via the box office on 07807 521436 (no booking fee).

About Peppermint Muse

Peppermint Muse is a touring theatre company aiming to bring refreshing, inspiring and exciting work to new and seasoned audiences. We also strive to nurture new talent and offer learning opportunities whether on stage or as part of a production team. We welcome contact from potential new actors, directors, writers and production associates as well as any financial donations or offers of resource that will enable the company to continue keeping thought provoking theatre alive.

Peter Pan by Ayletts Garden Centre

The snow has arrived and the Christmas Pantomime and Show Season in St Albans is about to start! How very timely! There are wonderful events lined up in the city this year so if you haven’t already booked a ticket, read the list below and see what might appeal to your family.

–Abbey Theatre is holding the wonderful classic ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ from Thur 16 to Tue 28th Dec.  This story, by Charles Dickens (who has spent time in St Albans!) is about the mean Ebenezer Scrooge. He learns to give up his bad habits and embrace the spirit of giving. This promises to be a fun and lively family production as you meet Bob Cratchit, Fred and the jolly Freeziwigs; but brace yourself for the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future!

BOX OFFICE 01727 857861, Westminster Lodge, Holywell Hill, St Albans. Parking spaces at the Theatre.

–St Albans Arena are treating us to PETER PAN from 10th dec – 2nd Jan.   Well-known Larry Lamb (EastEnders) and Katy Ashworth (CBeebies) are amongst a great line up of fun characters. I saw Peter Pan at the Arena years ago and enjoyed it as much as the children did. Top humour on all levels! Evolution will be dazzling us with costumes, comedy and theatre sets. As ever, audience participation will inject that buzz we need in this cold weather!

BOX OFFICE 01727 844488, Civic Centre, St Albans. Parking spaces near cinema and in nearby Maltings Shopping Centre. www.alban-arena.co.uk

–Maltings Art Theatre will hold ROBINSON CRUSOE AND THE PIRATES from Tue 21 – Sun 26 Dec. This venue is very popular with St Albans families and parking is in same building as the theatre.

Robinson Crusoe, washed up on a desert island which has buried treasure. Pirates find out about his search and the adventure begins!

BOX OFFICE  01727  844222  The Maltings, St Albans

–Trestle Arts Base has something different with THE SNOW DRAGON from Wed 29 Dec to Sun 2 Jan.  Billy the Goat is told that the mysterious Snow Dragon will bring him lots of goodies but has he been naughty or nice? Suitable for age 3 upwards, there is lots of storytelling, comedy and songs to create a magical feel for all the family.

BOX OFFICE  01727 850950   Russet Drive, St Albans www.trestle.org.uk

If you make it to any (or all!) of the above, we welcome your comments or tips. Enjoy.

A few years ago, I asked Imogen de la Bere what she would consider to be the essence of life. ‘Truth‘ was her reply. Interestingly, the OVO philosophy of theatre is that the ‘emotional truthfulness of the acting should supply everything.’

There is no doubt that this passion and philosophy for truth has shone through in Imogen’s latest play, Chekov’s Three Sisters at  OVO Theatre.  I don’t know a great deal about the Russia of early 1900 but it just took a few minutes of feeling the misery of the actors to know that things were pretty bleak and desperate.

 The cast were incredibly credible (especially Anna Franklin and Jo Emery) and I loved the mixture of despair, longing and fun with music interweaving throughout. Passion also  plays a large part in Three Sisters and this was simply heart-melting………By the end I had to remind myself that I was in St Albans not Russia!!  The upstairs bar (which just had to be inspected) served divine wine and as a bonus, I could sit by the window in this lovely bar-with-a-view!

Notes; Three Sisters  continues until 27th November (excl 22nd/23rd) at the OVO Theatre in Pudding Lane, St Albans. Prices range between £7.50 – £12.50 and online bookings on www.ovo.org.uk  / tel 07807 521436

The Winter’s Tale, July 2010

Rooftop Theatre Company are delighted to be performing their next production, The Winter’s Tale, in the stunningly restored 14^thC  Kingsbury Barn, St Albans.

Shakespeare’s compelling drama The Winter’s Tale is a moving story of the consequences of jealousy and tyranny and the power of remorse. Leontes, King of Sicilia is thrown into violent rage and jealousy at the perceived affair between his wife Hermione and best friend Polixenes. The results resonate through 16 years and across the seas to Bohemia. After this the redemptive effects of time, love and forgiveness bring a surprising and bittersweet conclusion.

Rooftop Theatre Company, based in St Albans, have a strong track record of entertaining and accessible productions of Shakespeare’s plays. Their most recent was Twelfth Night at the Old Town Hall which followed Taming of the Shrew and Love’s Labour’s Lost at Inn on the Park. They present plays in a visual and dramatic style with innovative interpretations which drive the energy and passion of the plot. They seek unconventional venues and their productions complement the surroundings. Kingsbury Barn provides a perfect setting for the contrasting locations in The Winter’s Tale: the corrupt Court of Sicilia and the bucolic earthiness of Bohemia.

“Innovative direction, good acting and an unusual (and magnificent) setting…a delight.”
Candy Whittome, St Albans Arts on Twelfth Night

“Extraordinarily compelling…Rooftop have lifted open-air Shakespeare in St Albans to a new dimension”
Herts Advertiser on Love’s Labour’s Lost

Performances:

Thursday 8^th July                    7.30

Friday 9^th July                         7.30

Saturday 10^th July                  7.30

Monday 12^th July                    7.30

Tuesday 13^th July                   7.30

Thursday 15^th July                  7.30

Friday 16^th July                       7.30

Saturday 17^th July matinee    1.30

Saturday 17^th July                  7.30

Tickets

Full price                                 £12.00

Concessions (students, unwaged) £10.00

Children under 14                   £8.00

For tickets and further details: www.rooftoptheatre.co.uk, 01727 846397