Here comes the sun

~ Things to do in Staffordshire this summer ~

The landlocked county of Staffordshire offers much more than oatcakes, ceramics and the idyllic British countryside. Staffordshire is bursting with world class scenery, hugely popular attractions and award winning events. As summer draws closer, the team at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre has drawn up its list of the best things to see and do in Staffordshire during the season ahead.

#7 Live music at Trentham

Set against the picturesque lakeside scenery of Trentham Gardens, the Trentham Estate’s five-week run of outdoor summer concerts is bound to draw a crowd. Running every Saturday from June 15, through to August 27, Trentham is encouraging attendees to dance their way through the decades with a range of live tribute bands.

If live music isn’t your thing, don’t worry, the Trentham shopping village, garden centre and Monkey Forrest will still be open for the summer.

#6 Gin Jamborees

Britain’s gin scene has exploded over the past twelve months and Staffordshire hasn’t escaped unscathed. A Gin Jamboree provides gin enthusiasts with the perfect excuse to sample some of the newest, most exciting gins on the market – many of them provided by independent, artisan producers.

The ongoing Gin Jamborees are held all over Staffordshire, but you will have to be quick – some of the events have been known to sell out in a matter of days!

 

#5 Take on the Ironman triathlon

Following the success of the 2015 event, the Ironman 70.3 triathlon will be returning to Staffordshire’s Shugborough estate on June 12, 2016. Consisting of a 1.2-mile swim in Chasewater reservoir, a 56-mile bike course through the country and a concluding 13.1-mile run - this fierce challenge is not for the faint hearted.

If clambering through mud isn’t your thing, don’t worry, Staffordshire has plenty more in store.

#4 Summer of Vintage Festival

Showcasing an impressive mix of vintage clothing, collectables, homeware and eclectic antiques from the 1930s to 1970s, the Summer of Vintage Festival at Uttoxeter Racecourse is likely to attract a thrifty crowd of attendees.

Arranged by Staffordshire-based event company, The Vintage Suitcase, the award-winning fair will run at Uttoxeter Racecourse on the weekend of August 6-7.

#3 Summer School take to the stage

This year, the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre’s Summer School will be performing an all new British musical, Loserville, written by Elliot Davis and James Bourne. Aspiring young actors from the Staffordshire area, aged between seven and 21, will have battled for their place in this year’s performance. The highly-anticipated production will run towards the end of the summer, from August 10-13.

#2 The Great British Food Festival

Returning to the Shugborough Estate for its fourth consecutive year, the Great British Food Festival is slowly defining itself as a staple event in any food lover’s calendar. The festival includes a jam-packed schedule of live music, chef demonstrations, cookery classes and the hugely popular ‘man vs food’ challenges.

The family weekend will be returning to the estate on July 9 and 10. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.
 

#1 Stafford Festival Shakespeare

Featuring a brand new creative team, the Stafford Festival Shakespeare will return to Stafford Castle this summer for a debut performance of the dark tragedy, Othello. Performed against the stunning castle backdrop, with covered grandstand seating and delicious dining options, the festival promises to be an unforgettable experience.

The open-air event will run from Thursday, June 23, through to Saturday, July 9 and has been described as the theatre’s boldest production yet.

To book your tickets, go to www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.com or call Stafford Gatehouse box office on 01785 619080.

Top five favourite villains

 

Everyone loves a good hero, but no story is complete unless the villain makes us question who's side we're really on. In celebration of The Stafford Festival Shakespeare's latest instalment - Othello, Stafford Gatehouse has put together the definitive list of villains so tantalisingly evil, we secretly love them.
One of Shakespeare's most popular tragedies, Othello is well-known as a play that gives the most lines and stage time to the villain, Iago. In fact, this character is so evil that Disney decided to name the parrot in Aladdin after him. Similar to the annoying-voiced cartoon bird, you can't help but admire the lengths Iago goes to in fulfilling his Machiavellian aims. Here are five more villains we love to hate.

Professor Moriarty
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brilliantly evil adversary for his equally magnificent protagonist, Sherlock Holmes, is a perfect example of a juicy villain. Described by Holmes himself as the 'Napoleon of crime', Moriarty was introduced primarily as a narrative device to kill off poor Sherlock.
However, in the recent BBC adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, Moriarty - played brilliantly by Andrew Scott - is a more traditional nemesis, a constant thorn in the side and perfect evil counterbalance.

The Joker
The Joker has popped up in thousands of storylines in the DC Comics universe and is best known for tormenting the masked hero, Batman. With a possibly tragic back-story - see the internet for heated debates - The Joker is the Dark Knight's antithesis in a way that is reminiscent of Sherlock and Moriarty.
Again, a modern adaptation of the character is probably now the most well-known. Heath Ledger's poignant performance as The Joker is both unnervingly psychotic and endearing. An impressive mix of emotions to inspire in an audience and also a perfect reason to make the list.

Dick Dastardly and Muttley
Owner of arguably the fastest car of all the Wacky Races competitors, Dastardly theoretically could have won every race along with his sniggering canine sidekick. However, the duo always decided to lay traps for the other racers - classic behaviour of an evil genius... and his dog. 
Failing to ever come first, Dastardly and Muttley have most probably had you shouting at the TV to get a move on and stop messing around with booby traps. Because no one wants the nauseating Peter Perfect to win really. 

The White Witch
Beautiful, regal and a big fan of winter, the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe initially comes across as a likeable character in C. S. Lewis' novel. She offers Edmund a hot drink and Turkish delight in an effort to win him over, but it soon becomes apparent her motives aren't all above board.
The White Witch's merciless command over her army of creatures is chillingly impressive and makes the final battle all the more tense. A fitting enemy, the White Witch is the perfect antithesis for Aslan's pure goodness.

Scar 
You might not know this, but The Lion King is actually based on a Shakespearean play - Hamlet. In the Disney story, Scar (brilliantly voiced by Jeremy Irons) plays the cruel uncle who murders the hero's father and exiles the son. Extremely hard to side with him based on this information.
However, Irons' natural bassy drawl gives Scar an air of sophistication and you'll find yourself siding with him in his contempt for the quite frankly annoying Zazu. In fact, some would argue it would benefit the story greatly if he just ate the bird at the beginning of the story.

So there you have it, the top five villains that make stories great. If you want to see another irrepressible villain lighting up the stage, The Stafford Festival Shakespeare's Othello is running between June 23-July 9, 2016. For more information or to purchase tickets go to www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk/en-GB/shows/othello/info. 

Five Words We Owe to William Shakespeare

Five words we owe to William Shakespeare




It's a given that one of your main woes as a teenager was trying to understand the Shakespearean language. As contemporary English language speakers, it can be difficult to get our head around Shakespeare's terms. That being said, you might be surprised to know that many of the words and phrases we use today originated from Shakespeare's plays.

Here, Derrick Gask, artistic programme manager, shares his top five words and expressions that originated from the Bard himself.


Break the ice

Not many people know that the phrase break the ice was first used to describe a social gesture in one of Shakespeare's plays. In The Taming of the Shrew, Tranio says that Petruchio needs to break the ice with Katherina before he can woo her.

Shakespeare chose this particular phrase because Katherina's character was cold and hard to crack. Petruchio needed to break through the ice to reach Katherina's heart. In the end, Petruchio's plan worked and the two married towards the end of the play.

The meaning of this phrase hasn't changed much compared to how we use it today, although it is no longer used in connotation with a person's character. If you break the ice in a room, you remove any tension, so everyone feels comfortable getting to know each other.


Mum's the word

This phrase is commonly used when someone is staying quiet. It originated from Shakespeare's 1592 play, Henry VI, part 2. When the Duke's servant, Hume is paid to help Eleanor find a witch, he tells the audience, "seal up your lips and give no words but mum."

This is because the audience is already aware that Cardinal and Suffolk have paid him to kill the Duke's wife. Today, mum's the word is commonly used when a person is sworn to secrecy.


Swagger

The word swagger was first used in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The first definition of the word is behaving in an insolent or arrogant manner. If someone has swagger, they display dominance over others, which has some relevance to how the word is used today.

Today, the word swagger is often used to describe someone who is well dressed and displays an often unfounded level of confidence.


Wild goose chase

The phrase wild goose chase first appeared in Romeo and Juliet, in 1592. Our understanding of the term today differs to Shakespeare's. Back then the meaning waws more literal and a wild goose chase was a chase in which horses followed a lead horse at a set distance, mimicking wild geese flying in formation.

Nowadays, the phrase refers to the undertaking of a task that will probably prove to be pointless.


Green-eyed monster

The notion that jealousy has green-eyes is probably older than Shakespeare, but it first appeared in print in his 1604 play, Othello.

Throughout the play, the most obvious jealousy is portrayed by Othello. As the play progresses, Othello grows increasingly jealous towards Cassio and Desdemona. During the play, Iago warns Othello that his jealousy is dangerous, by saying, "O beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on."

One of the best ways to make sense of the Shakespearean language is to watch modern iterations of his plays, such as the ones Stafford Gatehouse Theatre organises every year during Stafford Festival Shakespeare.


From June 23 to July 9, 2016, Stafford Festival Shakespeare will be showing its own production of Othello at Stafford Castle. If your friends and family have already purchased tickets, don’t be jealous, you can still get yours today.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.com/ or by calling Stafford Gatehouse Theatre's box office on 01785 619080.

Setting revealed for new Shakespeare production

The creative team behind our new production of Othello at Stafford Castle this summer have revealed more about the setting of the show.

Director Clare Prenton’s production of Othello will be set in the Italy and Cyprus of the mid 1950’s with an elegant and filmic design by BAFTA Scotland nominated film and theatre designer Francis Collier and music by Craig Adams. Craig is already known to Stafford audiences as the Musical Director of the last five Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomimes at the Gatehouse.

Othello Director Clare Prenton

Prenton’s collaboration with Gatehouse regular composer / arranger Craig Adams will explore Shakespeare’s music of the 1950s in both Italy and Cyprus contrasting the freedom and hedonism of the Venice with the claustrophobia of the military camp in Cyprus where Othello’s love for his new bride Desdemona is put under the microscope of jealous his supposed ‘true’ friend, the Machiavellian Iago whose lies set in motion a chain reaction of tragic events.

Clare Prenton who began her directing career at Regents Park Open Air Theatre as an assistant and who has directed open air Shakespeare productions for The British Shakespeare Company The RJ Williamson Company and Cambridge Shakespeare Festival is delighted to be back in the open air but this time with a tragedy.

She commented “I am really excited to have put this award winning team together. I have worked with Frances in Scotland and Craig in London, so for me to collaborate with these two talents in Staffordshire, is exciting. The opportunity to direct this might piece of work in such a wonderful setting is a privilege”

Clare, who was born and raised in Liverpool, but is now based in Scotland, is also delighted that friends and family plus her old English Literature teachers from the North West can come to see the play. “One of my first ever professional theatre jobs was directing a youth theatre workshop for the Young Vic Theatre in Staffordshire and the then Artistic Director Peter Cheeseman gave me some wonderful advice as a young director starting out 16 years or so ago, so it’s wonderful to be back in the area. Plus my children (they are only 6 and 9) are looking forward to its proximity to Alton Towers and the Monkey Forest once the show is up and running!” Prenton concluded.

Tickets for Othello are on sale now and can be booked by calling the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting the website www.staffordshakespeare.com.

The show will run at Stafford Castle from Thursday 23rd June until Saturday 9th July 2016.

A Taste of Italy for Shakespeare Festival

As preparations build for our Stafford Festival Shakespeare production of Othello, we are very excited to announce that Sugnall Walled Gardens will be returning to Stafford Castle with some delicious dining options, including picnics, pre-performance dining and on demand catering.

The picnics for two were a big hit last year, filled with mouth-watering fresh food and drinks, including freshly baked sourdough bread, olives, home-made quiche and cakes, with ingredients fresh from Sugnall’s very own walled gardens, all in a keepsake bag. The picnic bags are available for pre-order only, priced at £25.

On Friday and Saturday evenings (excluding Friday 24th June) you can treat yourself to a sit down meal in the hospitality marquee. For £34.95 per person, the team at Sugnall Walled Gardens will provide a delicious three course meal with tea, coffee and biscotti to finish. With Tuscan chicken, pea risotto and tiramisu being just a few of the courses on offer there will be something to excite all tastes.

Those after a quick bite to eat can grab some tempting treats from Becky’s barbecue gourmet grill. Baroness Becky will also be taking pre-orders for the interval too for those who feel peckish later on.

Orders for the picnic bags and pre-performance dining can be placed by visiting www.awwines.co.uk

The catering will be available for the entire run of Othello (pre-performance dining Friday and Saturday evenings only) from Thursday 23rd June to Saturday 9th July at Stafford Castle.

Tickets for Othello start from £13 and can be booked by visiting www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.com or by calling the box office on 01785 619080.

MET Comedy suggested line up 25.3.16

We’re kicking off Easter weekend with another sold out comedy night in the MET Studio! We’ve just had the suggested* line-up through, and if you were lucky enough to snap up a ticket you are in for a treat.

Elliot Steel

Following impressive performances and wowing audiences at The Latitude, V and Reading festivals in 2013, Elliot Steel is the new must-see comic name to watch out for.
Elliot regales confidence and a stage presence behind his years. his hilarious and honest routines are gritty real-life tales of growing up on a South London council estate – all delivered in his refreshingly individual style.

Catch him now before the stadium tour.

Andy White

Andy White is an energetic, confident and silly Brummie who combines silly voices and a mad afro to devastating comic effect. Andy has numerous media appearances, including the BBC New Comedy Awards on BBC Choice, Brand Spanking New on BBC Radio 7 and his winning performance on the Weakest Link comedian’s special!

Ivan Brackenbury

He's bonkers! Ivan Brackenbury's fantastic 'Hospital Radio Roadshow', complete with inappropriate records and bungled cues, is now a regular fixture on the live circuit. A daft, inept yet adorable radio DJ takes you on a hilarious broadcasting journey. This is a unique, wonderfully brilliant act, guaranteed to make you cry with laughter. An absolute must see.

Tomorrow night’s show has sold out but you can still book ahead for our future comedy nights by clicking here.

*Line up is subject to change. MET Comedy is suitable for ages 16+ only.

Très Très Cabaret line up for Friday 8th April announced!

Get ready for an evening of saucy decadence brought to you by Stafford's first, and only
burlesque and variety show: Très Très Cabaret!

Take your seat in the secluded intimacy of the MET Studio, before sampling the saucy delights that Très Très has to offer. And what a selection!

 

The first performer to be announced for our April 8th extravaganza is the one and only...SIR LEOPOLD ALEKSANDER A.K.A. THE MIGHTY MOUSTACHE!

Paragon of gentlemanly conduct, strongman, circus artist and adventurer: his feats of strength and skill will amaze, astound and amuse you!

 

We're also welcoming back the inimitable SCARLETT DAGGERS! This Rock ‘n’ Roll redhead will get you hot under the collar with her sizzling stage presence and pyromaniac tendencies!

 

From a Hot Rod greaser-girl to a B movie Cobra Queen, Scarlett certainly stands out from the crowd!

 

Performing across the UK, and internationally, for over eight years, her unique acts place her in high demand and you can catch her, up close and personal at Très Très Cabaret!

 

We're thrilled to announce that LILLY LAUDANUM will be gracing our stage for the very first time on April 8th!

 

Winner of the World Burlesque Games British Crown 2015, Lilly Laudanum is a burlesque performer whose playful parodies are anything but routine! Combining the historical humour of Carry On films, a heap of Victoriana and a penchant for bringing the dead to larger-than-life, Lilly Laudanum's acts poke a cheeky finger at some of history's most prominent figures!

 

Here at Très Très Towers were over the moon that Lilly is bringing her signature, award-winning act portraying Queen Victoria at her most disgruntled to the good people of Stafford!

 

Also returning to Très Très Cabaret we have British Burlesque Legend and International Superstar - AMBER TOPAZ!

 

She razzle dazzled her way into our hearts at our December show, and she had such a great time shimmy-shaking for you all that she couldn't wait to come back!

 

Amber Topaz has sky-rocketed her way to international stardom by enchanting her audiences with her hip shaking boundless energy, stunning vocals and saucy comedy shenanigans!

A regular headline act on national and international tours, performing to thousands of people at a time, this is a rare opportunity to watch her weave her magic in the up-close-and-personal surroundings of the intimate MET Studio!

 

All of this personally selected for your entertainment by our resident producer, promoter and performer: STAGE DOOR JOHNNY!

 

A flirtatious, lyrical lothario and seasoned comic raconteur with razor-sharp wit, he'll have you grinning, giggling and eating from the palm of his hand - sometimes literally!

He can be heard singing everything from Shirley Bassey to Guns ‘n’ Roses as well as ridiculous self-penned medleys to surprise and delight you!

Do. Not. Miss It. Book while you still can!

You can book your tickets here or call us on 01785 619080.