Friday 19 March 2010

Top of the World - on the road

Hi all,

Since our last blog we have been down to Reading at the brilliantly run South St. The team reported that George Band an original member of the 1953 expedition came to see the show and loved it. I cant say how chuffed i am at this, but shame though i missed meeting him but heh i get to share the news with you.

all the best

mark

Tuesday 9 March 2010

From the Top of the World team on the road...

Hello,

We’re about a third of the way through the tour now, and we're having a very exciting time on the road. There have been some beautiful venues, for both breath-taking scenery - such as Theatre by the Lake in Keswick - to really warm, inviting and intimate venues such as The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre in Havant and Pocklington Arts Centre near York. We’ve also managed to find some fine eating-holes to satisfy Eugene’s huge appetite (for such a small person). A special mention to J’s CafĂ© nr Portsmouth for the “Gutbuster Brekkie” it really did what it said on the tin!

We’ve met a real diverse mix of theatregoers including your hardened theatre regulars and first time viewers. To all of these people, we would like to give a huge personal thanks to you all, for taking time out of your busy schedules to come and support Spike Theatre!

The response has been fantastic, with comments such as:

“A fun packed night”

“I wasn’t expecting what I saw and was thoroughly entertained”

“Creative, Innovative, Quirky, and thoroughly enjoyable evening, we hope to see you again”

At one point we even had the weather of the real mountaineers as the heavens opened and dumped a heavy flurry of snow on us as we travelled from Darlington to Kendal! We were told that the road had been closed by the “Snow Gates” and were quite excited to hear that people's worlds can be turned upside down by snow gates…. However this didn’t stop us. We set about digging the van out of the snow and found an exciting route over the hills, where we paused to carry on our behind-the-scenes filming of the tour and to sing our show song ‘Top of the World” with a backdrop of snow capped hills and covered fields. A truly Hillary and Tenzing-inspired resilience to reach our destination in Kendal!

Our three night run on home turf at Unity Theatre, Liverpool allowed us to settle for a few nights at home as usually we pull up, get in, perform, say good bye, pack up and hit the road to another beautiful Travelodge somewhere up the country. We managed to sell out two of the three shows and the audiences were amazing! Excellent reviews from both the Echo and the Daily Post have given us a real boost on the road. We genuinely haven’t stopped laughing since the three of us met up for the first time in rehearsals. And now joined by Jon - our super technician - we try and transpose our relationship of commitment, humour, fun and comradeship on to the stage to create a performance that includes all of the audience.

On Tuesday we head out again, down to St Albans and beyond, check out our schedule to see when we’re at a venue near you! It would be great to see you there.

All the best,
Tomo, Eugene, Jamie and Jon

Top of the World Tour Dates


MARCH
10th
The Maltings Arts Theatre, St Albans
8pm
01727 844 222
www.stalbans.gov.uk/mat

11th
Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
7:30pm
01329 223 100
www.ashcroft.org.uk

12th
Wadham School, Crewkerne, Somerset (Take Art Rural Touring)
6pm
01460 270 123
www.takeart.org

13th
Kilve Village Hall, Somerset (Take Art Rural Touring)
7:30pm
01278 741 157
www.takeart.org

14th
Churchinford Village Hall, Somerset (Take Art Rural Touring)
5pm
01823 601 422
www.takeart.org

16th & 17th
South Street, Reading
8pm
0118 960 6060
www.readingarts.com

18th
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
7:30pm
01902 321 321
www.arenatheatre.info

19th
Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead
8pm
01442 228 091
www.oldtownhall.co.uk

20th
Rolvenden Village Hall, Kent (Applause Rural Touring)
8pm
07874 214 916
www.applause.org.uk

23rd
Appleby Village Hall, Cumbria (Highlights Rural Touring)
7:30pm
01768 352 210
www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

24th
Block Theatre, Driffield School, Yorkshire (Artery Rural Touring)
7:30pm
01377 253 631 x 272
E: ecollinson@driffield.e-riding.sch.uk

25th
Dent Village Hall, Cumbria (Highlights Rural Touring)
7:30pm
01539 625 022
www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

26th
Village Hall, North Newbald, Yorkshire (Artery Rural Touring)
7:30pm
01430 827 679

27th
Whalton Village Hall, Morpeth (Highlights Rural Touring)
7pm
01670 775 386
www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

28th
Shire Hall, Howden, Yorkshire
7:30pm
01430 431 535
www.howden-live.com


APRIL
1st
Forest Arts Centre, Walsall (Black Country Touring)
7:30pm
0845 111 2900
www.whatsonwalsall.co.uk

4th
The Lowry, Salford
7:45pm
0843 208 6010
www.thelowry.com

8th
E M Forster Theatre, Tonbridge School, Kent
7:30pm
01732 304 241
E: boxoffice@tonbridge-school.org

9th
Kings Lynn Arts Centre
7:30pm
01553 764 864
www.kingslynnarts.co.uk

Saturday 6 March 2010

Top of the world and other news

Hi,

Since our last post we have been very busy, up and down the country and receiving positive plaudits from critic's, venues and audiences alike. Spike are currently planning for the rest of the year and into 2011, we have some great ideas which we will share with you soon.

all the best

mark