Warwick Arts Centre announce 380-show bumper Autumn season - The Coventry Observer

Warwick Arts Centre announce 380-show bumper Autumn season

Coventry Editorial 28th Aug, 2015 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

BOASTING 380 shows over three months, Warwick Arts Centre is pulling out all the stops for its Autumn season.

With household names including comedian Michael Palin, singer/songwriter Lucy Rose and actors Greta Scacchi and Simon McBurney topping the bill, the Coventry venue promises ‘one of its strongest ever’ programmes.

The season stats with a duo of co-productions between the Warwick Arts Centre and renowned theatre practitioners.

Fresh from its runaway success at the Edinburgh International Festival 2015, the first co-production – Chris Goode’s Weaklings – promises to test the borders of reality and fiction in a murky online world from October 7 – 8.




Complicite’s The Encounter will then take to the stage as the second production with the Arts Centre from October 8 until October 10, telling the story of a photographer lost in the Amazon, using innovative sound technology to transport audiences deep into the rainforest.

Big, heartfelt stories are set to explode onto the Coventry stage with Kneehigh’s exuberant, musical take on John Gay’s beloved The Beggar’s Opera with their new show Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs) from Tuesday, October 27 until Saturday, October 31 and renowned theatre company Headlong’s interpretation of Tennessee Williams’ classic The Glass Menagerie, starring Greta Scacchi from October 10 until October 14.


The Autumn season also promises laughs for all with comedians ranging from Michael Palin, Nina Conti and Bill Bailey to Alex Horne, Robert Newman and Nish Kumar.

Home-grown talent Lucy Rose – who rose to fame from her Warwickshire roots – is returning to the Midlands for one night only on Friday, November 13 while the Asian Dub Foundation take to the stage on October 28 to show off their take on the score to George Lucas’ classic sci-fi film THX 1138.

As part of the University of Warwick’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, the Arts Centre is hosting a series of talks, discussions and workshops in The Festival of the Imagination from Friday, October 16 to Saturday, October 17 while the end of 2015 sees the return of the popular Christmas Lectures.

Throughout the season the Warwick Arts Centre is also offering a range of learning opportunities through its Masterclasses in video journalism, stand-up and writing available.

This season will also see the return of several University of Warwick alumni theatre companies – including Walrus theatre, Barrel Organ, Fellswoop Theatre and Dumbshow – return with their critically acclaimed shows as part of the Emerge Festival from November 3 til November 5.

The Warwick Arts Centre also promises more family theatre than ever before – from a tale of straw-crossed lovers in Julia Donaldson’s The Scarecrow’s Wedding (October 3 til October 4) to Ellen Harvard’s story of chaos and calm, Hurricane Boy (October 25).

Kid Carpet returns to make nonsense music and rock‘n’roll theatre in October, and City of London Sinfonia will perform Paddington Bear’s First Concert with a special guest narrator on Sunday, October 25.

Other orchestral visitors include the Dresden Philharmonic from Coventry’s twin city, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Northern Sinfonia in a Concert Series programme that is complemented by opera from Ellen Kent with Carmen and Tosca, plus a series of live screenings from the Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

For the first time ever, The Mead Gallery will open its doors to the public on Sundays, offering even more opportunities for visitors to enjoy its exhibitions – including free sculpture exhibition, Making It.

As Christmas approaches, Warwick Arts Centre will host its Winter Festival throughout December featuring concert from Armonico Consort, The Orchestra of the Swan and the BBC Big Band alongside family theatre in The Gruffalo’s Child and the magical, walk-through adventure of The Lost Gift.

Encouraging people to get their tickets, Matt Burman, Head of Programme and Audiences at Warwick Arts Centre, said: “We’ve got a cracking autumn season for everyone, filled with laughter, top tunes, good times for families, entertaining nights out with friends and thrilling, internationally acclaimed performances, art and films.

“If you’re an old friend of ours we look forward to welcoming you back; if you’ve not visited us before, what are you waiting for?”]

Tickets for all the show are available online at www.warwickartscentre.co.uk or via the box office on 02476 524524.

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