Crescent Theatre Blog

Festen is still the best thing that I’ve seen on Birmingham Reps stage and when I was asked to help direct the Crescent version with Kerry Murdock (June 5th - 12th) I couldn’t refuse. It’s not easy though. Apart from the subject matter (don’t want to give away too much here for those that don’t know the play) that has to be tackled amongst the wreckage of a 60th birthday celebrations, it’s a large play to co-ordinate: 14 actors including a 9 year old to play the Little Girl (Conny Rose) , a dinner party with starter, main course, pudding and breakfast the following morning (props hell, in other words) and a setting of a large hotel. All in all a very big challenge for actors, directors, stage-managers, props people and fight choreographer (fortunately Kerry  is an advanced Stage Combateer). We’re now on the home stretch of rehearsals though and all the hard work is beginning to pay off. It be performing in the Ron Barber Studio after the run of Acorn Antiques.

“What reason weaves, by passion is undone.”

The Changeling is now on in the studio until the 15th May. Book your tickets now!

Lots of fun being had by the Acorn Antiques company at the moment in the rehearsal room. Not long to go now until their first night on the 22nd May.

This weekends deadline was for the Festen publicity image which I very much like. Thanks to actors Matt Bartlett and Andrew Cowie for giving up their time and to Matt Banwell at Aptronym.co.uk for the design work.

'Where blood and beauty first unlawfully fir'd their devotion and quench'd the right one.'

The cast and crew of The Changeling are working hard in the run-up to opening on Saturday 8th May. This is the time when all the technical details start to be put in place and it all starts to come together. The costumes are looking A-M-A-Z-I-N-G thanks to costume designer Alan Marshal and his dedicated team of makers. The costume team have been working all hours to realise Alan’s designs and from the fittings I’ve seen so far, we are in for a real costume treat! Meanwhile lighting and sound are putting the finishing touches to their plots, aiming to create a dark, visceral and stylised experience for the audience. It’s all looking and sounding great so be sure to book your ticket.

The acclaimed play by Charlotte Keatley ‘My Mother Said I Never Should’ has it’s first night tonight in the Ron Barber Studio. Directed by Tony Madden it runs until April 24th.

Acorn Antiques by Victoria Woods is another ambitious production at the Crescent that we’re all looking forward to. Today’s rehearsal was all about learning the choreography for Mrs O’s entrance!

As there is no show in the studio this week it was the Changeling company that gratefully took the chance to rehearse tonight in the space that they will be performing in. First night is Saturday 8th May.

On this blog we mostly talk about plays you can buy tickets to but there is a whole other side to The Crescent Theatre including music-making. The biggest-selling show of the year is always the Christmas Wassail and there are regular slots in the season for musicals but the musical director, Gary Spruce, also creates opportunities for people to come together and make music throughout the year, sometimes in public and sometimes not. This recording was part of an educational project to encourage young people to make music which included a jazz band, a skiffle band and solo singers. This piece is Palestrina’s Alma Redemptoris Mater sung by members of The Crescent Theatre in St Paul’s Church in The Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham. If you’d like to hear more then the same people will be singing in the Christmas Wassail and if you’d like to join in then please apply to join the theatre through the membership page.