Gangsta Granny Solo Dancer by Wyvern Theatre

Wyvern Theatre

Gangsta Granny Solo Dancer

Hear what Nigel Havers has to say about his latest play, Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest'. The Wyvern's Laura James caught up with him on opening night at Richmond Theatre.

Nigel Havers on The Importance of Being Earnest

Participants in our 2015 Summer Youth Project production of Hairspray describe their experiences at Wyvern Theatre.

Hairspray Cast on the SYP15 Experience

We sent the cast of 'Shaun of the Dead LIVE' a few questions and they sent us this hilarious PODCAST! Don't miss their unique LIVE SHOW on Thu 18 June: http://bit.ly/Shaun15

Shaun Of The Dead LIVE! Podcast

We caught up with Matt Fox of 'Madam Renards' to discuss their Swindon-based Mini Fringe Festival.

In conversation with Matt Fox - Madam Renards Mini-Fringe Festival

In 2002 the Wyvern Theatre presented Dick Whittington from Friday 13 December to Saturday 11 January 2003. The production starred Doctor Who's Colin Baker as the hilarious Sarah the Cook, with Geoffrey Hayes as Idle Jack and Pollyann Tanner as Dick Whittington. Pollyann Tanner is a well-known director, choreographer, performer and teacher now based in Swindon, who first performed at the age of two! As a performer she has played leading roles in many West End musicals, national tours, rep theatre and more than 35 pantos, alongside many leading names including Charles Dance, Danny la Rue, Wayne Sleep, Barbara Windsor to name but a few. She presented a popular Saturday morning show and can be seen on numerous TV commercials worldwide. Pollyann now runs Tanwood School for Performing Arts, which was established by her mother Mollie in 1944. The school provides training in all aspects of the profession, combining all styles of dance, singing, and acting to pupils from 2 – 75 years of age for those working towards a career or purely for leisure. A brand-new production of Dick Whittington will run at the Wyvern Theatre from Sat 6 December - Sun 4 January, starring Nigel Havers as King Rat. Book tickets today at swindontheatres.co.uk

Panto Archive: Pollyann remembers playing Dick Whittington

In 1973 the Wyvern Theatre presented it's first ever production of Dick Whittington. The production starred Kent Baker as the hilarious Sarah the Cook, with Gerald Moon as Idle Jack and Paddy Glynn as Dick Whittington. Paddy has gone on to play many theatrical roles, her most recent in Camera Lucida at the Barbican. She has also made appearances in Ricky Gervais' Channel 4 sitcom Derek and the BBC's hugely popular Doctors. On Monday 10 November 2014, Paddy met Kristian Morse who is due to take on the role of Dick Whittington at the Wyvern Theatre this December. This role will be his first professional production since graduating from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. The pair met for coffee in Archway, near the statue of Dick Whittington’s cat. The statue, which was erected in 1821, is allegedly built on the very spot where Richard Whittington heard the bells of London ring out. A brand-new production of Dick Whittington will run at the Wyvern Theatre from Sat 6 December - Sun 4 January, starring Nigel Havers as King Rat. Book tickets today at swindontheatres.co.uk

Panto Archive: Paddy discusses playing Dick Whittington with Kris

Tommy the Cat, from this year's pantomime at the Wyvern Theatre, sends a message to Swindon. Barnaby trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. His television credits include Luther (BBC) and Miliband of Brothers (Channel 4). Film credits include A Lifelss Life (Chocolate FIlms) and Tristan in the Cowshed (Electric Shorts). Theatre credits include Damn Yankees!. His theatre credits whilst training include: Spring Awakening, The Producers, Sweeney Todd, Much Ado About Nothing, Cardiff East, Me and My Girl, Ashgirl, Half A Sixpence. Barnaby Hughes will star as Tommy the Cat in Dick Whittington at the Wyvern Theatre from Sat 6 December - Sun 4 January. Book tickets today at swindontheatres.co.uk

A Message from Tommy the Cat

On Thursday 4 September, the Wyvern Theatre provided an audio described performance of Agatha Christie's Black Coffee. Following last year’s production of Agatha Christie’s Go Back For Murder, the Agatha Christie Theatre Company return to Swindon with a brand-new drama produced by Bill Kenwright. Black Coffee is the first play ever written by Agatha Christie and in it we are introduced to Hercule Poirot - the only fictional character ever to receive a full-page obituary in the New York Times. Bill Kenwright said: “The Wyvern Theatre in Swindon has a very special place in my heart. It was there over four decades ago, right at the start of its life, I produced my very first major musical. ‘West Side Story’ opened at the Wyvern and went on to have a successful life ending up at the Shaftesbury Theatre in the West End. So it’s my great pleasure to congratulate them on hearing that they are offering audio description and touch tours for their visually impaired patrons. After a long gap we have started visiting the Wyvern again with our productions, and it’s innovation like this that keeps us all happy.”

Agatha Christie's Audio Described Performance Introduction - Set Description

It’s time to prepare yourselves for Horrible Histories live on stage with a brand-new show Barmy Britain...featuring all-new amazing 3D effects! Prepare to do battle in the frightful First World War! It’s the horrible history of Britain with the nasty bits left in! Can you beat battling Boudicca? Has William Wallace met his match? Would you lose your heart or head to horrible Henry? Can evil Elizabeth entertain England? Will Parliament survive gunpowder Guy? Can King Charles keep his head? Would you stand and deliver to dastardly Dick Turpin? Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain runs at the Wyvern Theatre from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 September. For more information visit swindontheatres.co.uk

The cast of Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain perform an extract from the show

Swindon 105.5FM's Sean Hodgson recently spoke to Almost Legal Productions' Olly Ward, who plays the title character in Blackadder. The stage-adaptation of the classic TV show will be performed at Swindon Arts Centre from Friday 27 to Saturday 28 June. Almost Legal Productions bring a British classic from screen to stage with their adaptation of 2 classic episodes of the Ben Elton and Richard Curtis comedy Blackadder. Blackadder is a comedy set in different historical periods that features the ill-fated exploits of the mean-spirited Edmund Blackadder and his dim sidekick Baldrick. Almost Legal Productions is a collective theatre and film production company based in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Swindon 105.5 is a non-commercial radio service in Swindon, by Swindon, for Swindon. Licensed by OFCOM as a Not For Profit community broadcasting organisation and funded by grants, donations, corporate support, fund-raising events and support in-kind.

Swindon 105.5FM speak to Captain Edmund Blackadder

If you love dance, then Flashmob is a show you cannot miss! See the stars of TV dance shows headlined by the spectacular Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer, from BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, World Street Dance champions Flawless from Britain’s Got Talent, as well as Oliver-nominated Tommy Franzen (BBC1’s So You Think You Can Dance) contemporary duo Alleviate and Irish fusion duo Brosena from Sky 1’s Got to Dance. This show offers you the chance to immerse yourself in the joy of dance: from Latin to Locking, from Celtic to Contemporary and from Jazz to Jump Jive. You will laugh, cry and be on your feet for this dynamic production that celebrates the powerful emotions that dance can bring to an audience. Tickets are 'strictly' limited for Flashmob at the Wyvern Theatre on Monday 30 June. For more information visit https://swindontheatres.co.uk

Behind-the-scenes #28: Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer

Direct from a West End season comes this first national tour of Luke Kempner’s tour-de-force impressions comedy, in an extended version featuring exclusive new material. As celebrities start appearing at the Abbey, cultures clash and eras hilariously collide in this brilliant new parody, which takes in many other popular TV shows and familiar modern voices to help the cast of Downton save the estate from financial ruin – again! Having made his name with YouTube hit Downstairs At Downton, and appearances in musicals including Les Mis and Avenue Q, Kempner’s debut solo show won critical acclaim and sell-out audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe last year. Luke Kempner's The Only Way Is Downton comes to Swindon Arts Centre on Wed 23 April. Book online at swindontheatres.co.uk

Luke Kempner performs an extract from The Only Way Is Downton

When Newton Faulkner emerged in 2007 he was the fleet-fingered prince of sparkling guitar pop. The 22-year old kid from Surrey had a million-selling, Number One hit with his debut album 'Hand Built By Robots'. Singles 'Dream Catch Me' and 'I Need Something' were the festival sound of the Summer. As were his innovative covers of Massive Attack’s 'Teardrop' and the theme from Spongebob Squarepants. In August 2013, Faulkner released his fourth album, 'Studio Zoo', which was recorded while being streamed live on the internet. The Wyvern Theatre’s Marketing Manager recently spoke to this headline act from Wychwood Festival about Spongebob Squarepants and performing live on stage. Wychwood, The Family Festival, returns to Cheltenham Racecourse for its 10th Birthday in 2014 over the weekend of 30th May – 1st June. The Wyvern Theatre is an official ticket partner to Wychwood Festival. Day and weekend tickets are now on sale at swindontheatres.co.uk

On the phone with Newton Faulkner

Ahead of performing at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre, Pasha Kovalev spoke to Marketing Manager Richard Loftus about Strictly Come Dancing and his brand-new show with Katya Virshilas. Pasha Kovalev started dancing at the age of 8. In September 2011, Pasha joined the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing as the new professional dancer of its ninth series. In his first series he was partnered with Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey. The two made it all the way to the finals, finishing as runners-up to Harry Judd and his partner Aliona Vilani. In 2012, Pasha was partnered with Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh. The pair were the series runners up. In 2013, Pasha partnered Countdown’s Rachel Riley. An Evening with the Stars of Strictly, starring Pasha Kovalev and Katya Virshilas, will run at the Wyvern Theatre from Monday 14 – Wednesday 16 April. Book tickets today at http://swindontheatres.co.uk

On the Phone with Pasha Kovalev

The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, has 635 seats and every seat is designed to be no further than 70ft from the stage. The venue offers a mixed programme of concerts, comedy, dance, drama, musical theatre and local amateur productions. The Wyvern Theatre has a vibrant team of 30 staff members and an additional 30 front of house members.

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