Ventnor Blog

Following the success of Peter Pan at the end of last year, Ventnor Theatre Group will be holding auditions this Sunday for their next production.

‘BUDDY’ the world’s most successful rock ‘n roll musical is due to be staged at Ventnor Winter Gardens in May (details to follow shortly).

The musical tells the story of the last three years of Buddy Holly’s life, from his initial success and hit records (True Love Ways, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy and more) to his tragic death at the age of just 22.

Auditions will be held at the Winter Gardens, on Sunday 20th January starting at 2.00pm.

The group are particularly looking for young male performers, who must be able to sing and act with convincing American accents.

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Ventnor resident and organiser of the Christmas Variety Show, Louis Lawrence is planning a fun packed Easter variety show with a circus theme.

However, he can’t put a show on without the acts, so has asked us to put out a call for performers of a professional level.

Louis’ vision includes a juggler, a plate spinner, a rope artist, acrobats, clowns, a trampoline act and how about some performing dogs etc.

You get the idea.

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You might remember back in December, we gave you details of a new youth theatre group being set up in Ventnor.

The Invent Theatre Company is the brainchild of writer and director of The Bench in the Park, Jack Whitewood.

The theatre company has been founded by young people, supported by business and community representatives, and aims to provide opportunities in all fields of their work.
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Here at VentnorBlog, we’re extremely proud to be involved with a new creative initiative starting in Ventnor next year. Regular readers of the blog will remember Jack Whitewood, the writer and director of The Bench in the Park. We were stunned by Jack’s writing and directing skills, as well as his drive and ambition, so not in the least bit surprised when he told us about a new theatre group he was planning to set up. Read on and Jack will tell you the rest. Ed

New Year, New Challenge?
Earlier this year twenty-five students aged fifteen and sixteen produced a play with no adult direction or management. The result ‘The Bench in the Park’, a full length war time drama, was received with great support and was a stunning example of what can be achieved by young people.
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If you were unfortunate enough to miss the wonderful Peter Pan panto last week at the Ventnor Winter Gardens, but need your dose of panto before the end of the year, fear not.

Quay Arts plays host to The Smith Family Panto - Or Sleeping Mother Whittington in Boots!

From the title we’re sure you can work out that this is going to be a mash up of various panto stories, but what’s really special is that Quay Arts have a great offer on the tickets.

Buy two tickets and get the third one free, that way you can take your little darling and their best friend too.

Give the box office a call on 01983 822490

If you haven’t bought your tickets yet for the Ventnor Theatre Group’s production of Peter Pan, get your skates on, because they are selling like hot cakes.

We hear that the Sunday matinee is now fully booked and Saturday night almost sold out.
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Tickets for the forthcoming Ventnor Theatre Group production of Peter Pan are flying out of the door (after being paid for, we’re pleased to say).

We’ve heard lots of people say that they plan to attend performances but haven’t bought tickets yet.

This is proving to be a very popular panto, so if you haven’t bagged your tickets yet, make sure you get down to the Winter Gardens between 12-2pm (open every day) and hand over your cash. (more…)

Panto season is upon us and Quay Arts are getting in the festive spirit of goodwill and bringing you a very special offer.

This years panto at Quay Arts promises to be totally off-the-wall.

It’s brought to you by Forest Forge, who you might remember from A Christmas Carol, and this year they are putting on The Smith Family Panto - or Sleeping Mother Whittington in Boots!

It’s a hilarious ‘Billy Liar’ style Christmas fantasy,with out of work panto dame, Cliff Smith, in love with his pretty next door neighbour, Cindy Ella - a girl with two ugly sisters.
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You’ll have seen the posters in shop windows, or perhaps the banner across the High Street in Ventnor and maybe even read it on VentnorBlog, so you’ve got no excuse for not buying your tickets yet for the forthcoming Ventnor Theatre Group’s panto, Pater Pan.

I’ve been sitting at the back of the hall every Monday and Thursday night, watching the rehearsals over the last few weeks. (more…)

This years Christmas Panto performed by The Ventnor Theatre Group will be an adaptation of the wonderful J M Barrie story, Peter Pan.

With a cast from as young as six years old up to 80, you’re assured of plenty of variety with swashbuckling pirates, twinkly fairies and pesky lost boys.

The show features music from Mary Poppins, High School Musical and The Bee Gees, as well as many other popular classics, all adapted to fit the story line beautifully.

Tickets are £6.50 for adults and £5.50 for OAP/kids with performances will be be on Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th at 7.30pm with the final performance on Sunday 9th at 2.30pm.

To book your tickets for this fabulous show, call the box office on 857581 or pop in to the Winter Gardens between 12-2pm every day and from 6.30pm on show nights.

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Or do you have family members who are?

If so, this upcoming family comedy at Quay Arts might be right up your street.

Our favourite arts venue is offering two chances (3pm and 6pm) to catch this parody of the Harry Potter stories and the whole Harry Potter phenomenon as told by Dan and Jeff (best-known for their storytelling slot on BBC’s Blue Peter) in November.

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Coming up at Quay Arts in just under three weeks time, is an opportunity to catch some excellent new theatrical comedy, when Gonzo Moose perform ‘You Don’t Need To Know That’.

Apparently inspired by Kafka’s The Trial, the play is an exhilarating collision of comedy, drama, slapstick and puppetry, performed by the theatre company, Gonzo Moose, whose backgrounds in circus and physical theatre, create a hilarious, ludicrous and disturbingly anarchic world where anything can happen and frequently does.

So what’s it all about? Essentially, it’s a story of human survival in the face of absurdity, an ordinary man, who minds his own business, awakes one morning to find a police inspector at the foot of his bed.
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Another event connected to Quay Arts this Saturday is a theatre performance of Aleksei Arbuzov’s Old World.

According to the promotional blurb, Old World promises a heart-warming, poignant performance with a pleasant balance of wit and charm brought to life by some of the finest, talented cast and crew in the country.

It’s a delightfully observed and touching story which reminds us that it’s never too late to find someone to grow old with. A story of hope and compassion which will appeal to audiences of all ages and tastes.

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If you’re looking for something a bit more cultured than going down the pub on Saturday night, there are still some seats available for Threadbare Greebo at Quay Arts.

Apparently, this latest play to hit Quay Arts was inspired by the factual accounts of vulnerable young people, and the playwright’s own experience of growing up with the stigma of mental illness.

The result is a raw and compelling piece of new writing, which is complemented by a completely original soundtrack of experimental music and multimedia projections filmed on location in East London.
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The Quay Arts Theatre season kicks off this Thursday with The Cow Play, a dark comedy with a provocative performance about the transformation of a woman into a cow!

If you thought it sounded interesting and was planning to go along, you’re in for a treat. Quay Arts are so keen to promote the new writing and develop their audience that they’ve decided to offer this production free of charge.

The play has had great reviews and looks like it could be a super free night out.

All you have to do if turn up, choose a seat in the Anthony Minghella Theatre and sit back an enjoy. There will be a box for donations at the end of the performance if you would like to show your appreciation, but it is stressed that there is no obligation to part with your cash.

Coming up near the end of the month there’ll be a chance to take part and enjoy a new literary festival on the Isle of Wight.

The idea is to bring together a season of events to celebrate, encourage and involve writers of all kinds, ages and backgrounds at a range of Island venues.

There’ll be all sorts of events happening over the three weeks between 24th September and 15th October, including, book launches, performance poetry, theatre, musicals, storytelling, song writing and short films with a literary theme will be presented by local and mainland artists over the festival period.
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If you haven’t been to the theatre recently, how about giving Quay Arts’ latest a go?

The Cow Play, is described as being a dark comedy with a provocative performance about the transformation of a woman into a cow!

Here’s what others have to say about it ….

Refreshing… An unnerving and mature understanding of adult relationships…
Caroline Raphael - Commissioner Drama & Entertainment, BBC Radio 4

Heartbreaking
David James - Chair of the Writer’s Guild
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Today sees the final performance of Ventnor Theatre Group’s hugely successful, We Will Rock You.

If you haven’t been to see the show yet, I’d urge you to give up a couple of hours of sunshine this afternoon and get down to the Winter Gardens for the 2.30pm start.

There are so many people to praise in this wonderful production, but it’s got to be said first of all, that Sunny Brown’s Scaramouch is incredible.
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Don’t forget that tonight is the penultimate performance of the fabulous We Will Rock You show at the Ventnor Winter Gardens.

There is no show on Saturday and the final performance will be on Sunday at 2.30pm.

Get your tickets now by calling the box office on 857581. Don’t miss out.

If you went along to see the excellent production, In The Spotlight, over the summer by the Ventnor Theatre Group and felt inspired to get involved in the next one, put this date in your diary.

For auditions will be taking place for the Chrhistmas pantomime Peter Pan, on Sunday 9th September at the Winter Gardens from 11am.

There are many parts for adults and teens that require singing and reading at the audition.

As well as a few parts for older children and the junior and senior chorus.

The Peter Pan of Pop won’t be taking part, but you could, so if you fancy something different in the evenings running up to Christmas, why not have a go.

The rehearsal nights will be Mondays and Thursdays. Dates for the show are expected to be 7th, 8th, 9th, 15th, and 16th December but this is subject to change. Natch, we’ll keep you posted.

Don’t forget that tonight is the opening night for We Will Rock You at The Ventnor Winter Gardens.

Having spoken to the those working behind the scenes at yesterday’s dress rehearsal, it sounds like it’s going to be an amazing show.

“The story takes place in a tongue-in-cheek dystopian future where originality and individuality are shunned, and a lone “Dreamer” appears who can fulfil a prophecy that will enable the return of rock ‘n roll.”

Pulled together by husband and wife team, Chris and Jeanie Brown, who brought you the hugely successful Les Miserable last year, this production is sure to raise huge interest from around the Island.

We hear that tickets for the Friday night performance are almost sold out, with other nights selling fast.

The production runs every night (7.30) until Friday, nothing on Saturday and a matinee (2.30) on Sunday.

Tickets are available from the Winter Gardens box office on 857581

In case you didn’t realise, tonight is the last chance to see the brilliant performance of Ventnor Theatre Group’s In The Spotlight.

Here are some of the rave comments left on the blog about the performance ….
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When I received a press release last week from the Council with the title “Summer Of Fun At Island’s Theatres “, I thought, “Brilliant, extra publicity for the Winter Gardens”.

I started reading the press release and it highlights several shows at Medina Theatre, The Venue and Shanklin Theatre. I kept scanning back over it to check that I hadn’t skipped a paragraph, because nowhere to be seen were details of the performances of “In the Spotlight” or “We Will Rock You” at The Ventnor Winter Gardens.

I am sure that this must be just an oversight and another press release will be going out to all publications this week highlighting the wonderful shows we have on in Ventnor over the summer.

[image courtesy of Isle of Wight Historic postcards]

Chris and Jeanie have been at it again and in about three weeks time, you’ll be able to see the fruits of their (and the casts) hard labour.

Auditions took place earlier in the year and the rehearsals have been happening over the last few weeks. You will’ve seen the posters splashed around the Island and I am of course talking about the much anticipated Ventnor Youth Theatre’s production of We Will Rock You.

Chris tells us that they were very lucky to get hold of the last license to put on the schools version of the show in the UK. This is because the producers have decided to extend the West End performance for another season.

Anyway, if you haven’t seen it in the West End, now is your chance. It sounds like a great story and with the music of Queen throughout, you won’t want to break free until the very end (sorry).
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Josie da Bank has been up to her old tricks again, cooking up more delectable designs to breathe magical life into all corners of Bestival land this September.

This year, the surrealism starts off at a bar in down town Da Da Land.

Continental Drifts, the UK’s largest purveyor of festival weirdness will be making sure that during the day there you’ll have plenty to do in Da Da Land.

Picture yourselves rocking, rolling and jiving your way through the day, whilst picking up skills from some of the hilarious workshops. Apparently they’ll have everything, from nipple tassles to the latest gypsy dance moves.

But as we know life changes in the evening at Bestival and this arena will be no exception.
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