- ARTS CENTRE RENAISSANCE CONTINUES
SOUTHPORT
Arts Centre experienced a renaissance in 2002 under the guiding hand
of new Programme Manager, Jake Roney, and audiences have been
lapping it up. “We’ve been completely bowled over by the
response to the new programme”, says Marketing Manager,
John Sprackland, “Our expectations for audience numbers have
been exceeded in every area. Particularly pleasing were the instant
success of the monthly Children’s Theatre Matinees and the quite
astonishing level of support for Folk events. It gave us such a buzz
to see a full main house enjoying the traditional song and dance of
the English Roots show last month and knowing that people had
travelled from Yorkshire and Shropshire to come to Southport Arts
Centre”.
The
revival continues this season with a programme packed with
entertainment from across the world. This month the ‘Folk, Roots
& Acoustic’ programme continues with a special event; a rare
UK date from the outstanding Irish traditional pairing of fiddler Martin
Hayes and Chicago-based guitarist Dennis Cahill (Wednesday
22 January ). One of the highlights of the season is a
double-bill of cutting-edge contemporary World Music featuring, from
France, Lo’Jo, and North African duo DuOud, who mix
the traditional sound of the oud (a type of lute) with modern beats
(Friday 11 April). There’s Tommy Emmanuel, the
‘guitarist’s guitarist’ from Australia (Saturday 8 March) and,
from the southern states of the USA, bluesman Eugene Hideaway
Bridges (Saturday 22 March). An Acoustic Blues double-bill
featuring acclaimed singer Helen Watson and British
slide-guitar genius Michael Messer opens the Blues season
(Saturday 25 January) and the English tradition is again well
represented by the perennial Fairport Convention (Wednesday 5
February) and The Big Session (Sunday 23 February) featuring
folk-rockers Oysterband, Arts Centre favourite Eliza
Carthy and some of the best emerging performers on the scene.
Dance
fans will welcome a return visit by Henri Oguike Dance Company (Wednesday
5 March) and flamenco from Arte Flamenco Puro with Juan Martin, one
of the world greatest guitarists (Friday 21 March).
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Sherlock
Holmes; The Last Act! (Thursday
27 February), featuring a highly-praised solo performance by Roger
Llewellyn as the great detective, is one of the forthcoming theatre
treats;
the award-winning comedy classic Withering Looks, from Lip
Service Theatre Company, is another (Friday 4 and Saturday 5 April).
Children’s
Theatre Matinees resume with The Snow Children (Saturday 18
January), Southport Film Guild continue their presentations with Iris
(Tuesday 21 January) There’s
also jazz, local band nights and a new Acoustic Club (Friday
10 January). For full details of an exciting season at Southport
Arts Centre, call 01704 54001 and ask for a brochure.
Henri Oguike Dance Company
Above.
The Snow Children
Above.
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