January 2012 Newsletter

Happy New Year! We hope that you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Year, and that 2012 is already off to a successful start.

Our January 2012 Newsletter is now available via the Newsletters page. This issue focusses on our February 2012 production of The Hound of the Baskervilles - a fast-paced comedy based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous book. Tickets are selling fast so don't delay - contact our Box Office on 01926 863334 between 2.00pm and 8.00pm! Also featured is:

• Auditions for Charley's Aunt
• Update from our Management Team meeting
• A back look at our Pantomime and Christmas events

Finally, our next Play Reading for Fun will take place in the Theatre Foyer on Thursday 23 February at 7.30pm.

December 2011 Newsletter / Christmas Party

Our December 2011 Newsletter (pdf, 3.7mb) is now available on our Newsletters page and focuses on our 2011 Pantomime Dick Whittington. Also featured is:

• An Obituary of Peter Soesan who sadly passed away recently.
• Announcement of our Playreading for Fun evenings - the next one is on Thursday 12 January 2012.
• News of the 100 Club
• Update from the recent local Little Theatre Guild meeting held at the theatre.

Finally, we announce our:

2011 Christmas Party

Our annual Christmas Party will be held on Saturday 10 December in the Foyer of the theatre. Places are very limited so please contact Karen Shayler via our Contact Us page or put your name up on the list in the Foyer.

Peter Soesan [Updated]

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Peter Soesan.

Peter never recovered from the accident he had whilst at home two weeks ago and sadly passed away this morning. He was a long-term member of the Priory and had played an active role in the theatre during that time including being on the Management Committee for some years. Peter was also a strong supporter of Organ Donation and his wishes have been carried out to the benefit of others.

He will be greatly missed by us all and we extend our deepest sympathies to Claire and the family at this difficult time.

Details of the funeral arrangements will follow in due course.

Richard Collett
Chairman, Priory Theatre 

Update on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 8:37PM by Priory Theatre

The funeral service for Peter will take place on Thursday 10th November at 11.30 am at Christ Church, Helvellyn Way, Brownsover, Rugby, CV21 1JF.

The committal will follow at Canley Crematorium, Coventry at 1.30pm.

Peter's wife, Claire, has expressed her wish to see as many Priory members there as possible.

The Winter's Tale - PRESS RELEASE

The Priory Theatre in Kenilworth is proud to present William Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale'.

If you already enjoy Shakespeare, you will know that this is a terrific tale. If you are trying the Bard for the first time, this is a great starter. It has everything: comedy and tragedy, tears and laughter, love and hate, song and dance, kings and shepherds.

The jealousy of King Leontes brings tragedy to his family and his new-born baby is cast out. Sixteen years later, we see her as a young woman, deeply in love and surrounded by joy and gaiety. As always, the path of true love does not run smooth, but soon all is resolved; families are re-united and everything ends happily.

Director Dixie Atkins is a 35 year veteran member of The Priory Theatre, and has directed over 30 productions up and down the country. Dixie said; ’This is the third Shakespearean production at The Priory theatre in it's 78 year history. We are exceptionally proud to be part of the RSC Stages project. All the cast are working very well together, with all cast members benefitting from a section of the cast who have performed Shakespeare previously'.

Michael Boyd, RSC Artistic Director explains the RSC Open Stages project:

‘RSC Open Stages is a new project that aims to embrace, develop and celebrate amateur theatre, re-forging the bond with the world of professional theatre while opening up access to Shakespeare for performers and audiences alike. Over 2011/2012 the RSC, in partnership with a number of regional theatres and amateur theatre associations, will run a national programme of skills sharing events and showcases, with amateur societies from across the UK producing their own RSC branded Shakespeare themed productions. The RSC wants to lead a step change in the relationship with the amateur sector; to recognise its rich traditions, open our doors to its work and collaborate with partners nationally to leave a significant legacy.’

The Winter's Tale runs from Monday 24th October to Saturday 29th October at the Priory Theatre, Kenilworth
Box Office  is on 01926 863 334 (between 2pm and 8pm)

Priory Newsletters

As discussed at the Priory Theatre AGM, we are running a trial of distributing the Priory Theatre newsletter electronically.

The first newsletter - our August 2011 edition - has been published on the new Newsletters page that can be found under the News menu.

We have updated our mailing list subscription options to include an option to allows subscribers to set their preference as to whether or not they wish to receive the newsletter electronically.

If you are not already a subscriber, and want to be notified when a new newsletter becomes available, subscribe to our mailing list.