Brand New Festival Announced – Nottingham Playhouse Unlocked

For a three-week period, this Autumn, Nottingham Playhouse will open its doors to the public for the first time since March to host an exciting and eclectic festival of live and live-streamed events. Nottingham Playhouse Unlocked will bring back the vitality and magic of theatre to an audience who have been starved of it since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic six months ago. With a programme that features a mix of world class performers, East Midlands talent, specially created work and work in progress, the festival is a celebration of live performance with its focus firmly on the future.

With a line up including West End stars Jodie Prenger, Rosalie Craig and Sandra Marvin with a programme of songs that made their careers, East Midlands based writer Naomi Obeng’s new work about mixed race identity, Mark Gatiss reading ghost stories on Halloween, and a new work from playwright James Graham, each of the talents featured has a particular relationship with Nottingham Playhouse and each are excited about bringing live performance back to the main stage.

With social distancing measures in place a strictly limited number of tickets will be available to attend the live events held in the theatre auditorium to ensure that a safe environment is created for audiences and performers alike. All the events will also be streamed live so audiences who are not able to attend in person can attend virtually.

Artistic Director of Nottingham Playhouse, Adam Penford says –

‘Whilst we’ve continued to make work online throughout the pandemic, it’s time to re-engage audiences and artists on stage again. We’ve curated a programme that combines local theatre-makers and our associate companies, alongside household names, including the world premiere of a new James Graham play, providing employment and encouraging audiences back into the venue. The festival will be stripped-back and simple, top-class talent coming live from the Playhouse stage.

“Ensuring the venue is Covid-safe for audiences, staff and freelancers is our first priority and we will follow the latest Government guidelines. It’s a financial risk to be programming theatre again in this environment, but we have a responsibility and desire to do so. I can’t describe the buzz of excitement at the Playhouse to be producing live theatre again and hope audiences will support us as we navigate how to get theatre back on the road again.”

The programme comprises:

Wednesday 21 October 2020, 7.30pm
Rootless Island Baby
A staged reading of this brand-new play from Nottingham Playhouse Associate Artist Sarah ‘Rain’ Kolawole. Directed by Madeleine Kludje.
(Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University)

Friday 23 October 2020 at 7.30pm and Saturday 24 October 2020 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Bubble
Nottingham Playhouse Associate Artist, James Graham (Ink, This House, ITV’s Quiz), returns to his home city with a love story for today.
(Sponsored by Nottingham City Transport)

Tuesday 27 October 2020, 7.30pm
Major Labia
Major Labia is a comedy collective of witty women. Here to tackle inequality through vaginal comedy. Creative Associates at Nottingham Playhouse. Graduates of the BAFTA-winning Television Workshop.
(Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University)

Wednesday 28 October 2020, 7.30pm
A Double Bill of New Work by East Midlands Talent
Ben Norris: A Short Tour of the Heart and Naomi Obeng: Where it lands
(Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University)

Friday 30 October 2020 at 7.30pm and Saturday 31 October 2020 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Ghost Stories with Mark Gatiss
Featuring Jade Anouka
As the nights draw in this autumn, the master of spooky tales, Mark Gatiss, invites you to turn the lights down low and gather round to hear him read some of his favourite ghost stories, live from the Nottingham Playhouse stage.
(Sponsored by Brewin Dolphin)

Tuesday 3 November 2020, 7.30pm
New Commission
A work-in-progress performance of the winner of Nottingham Playhouse’s recent call out for a new piece of work by an East Midlands artist/s or company. The call out deadline is 1 September 2020 and details of the winning submission will be announced at a later date.

Wednesday 4 November 2020, 7.30pm
WOLF
Armed with just a chair, Lewis Doherty mimes every prop, makes every sound effect and brings to life over thirty characters in this cyberpunk, neon-noir, one man action packed blockbuster movie!
(Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University)

Friday 6 November 2020 at 7.30pm and Saturday 7 November 2020 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Rosalie, Sandra and Jodie: Live in Concert
Live from the Nottingham Playhouse stage, three West End leading ladies perform a programme of the songs which made their careers. Join Rosalie Craig, Sandra Marvin and Jodie Prenger, with Amy Shackcloth on keys, in this celebration of musical theatre.
(Sponsored by Russell Scanlan)