Raising the curtain on a new season of drama and more
Drama, stand-up comedy, live music and an exhibition from young local artists help make up a busy spring programme at Arts Centre Washington (ACW). Theatre highlights include I, Malvolio on February 15, which explores the character of Malvolio, the pompous manservant to Olivia in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Later in February, on the 27th, ACW will host a completely different type of show – Woke, by Testament, a beatboxing, storytelling stand-up comedian and rapper.
Other theatre highlights include Odyssey, a hilarious new verse adaption of the most epic journey of all time (March 13), and The Time Machine, Stephen Cunningham’s fresh take on H.G. Wells’ legendary tale (April 11).
There’s also drama aimed squarely at young people and families.
First of all there’s Thief, Fox and Phoenix, the tale of a mischievous thief who, along with his friend the fox, goes on a quest to find the enchanted phoenix, on Friday, February 22.
Another family show is Chicken Licken: a TaleJam, the tale of a young chick who can’t decide what to do.
The show is a musical storytelling experience, exploring an old fable in a new way with fun, fake news and feathers. Chicken Licken: a TaleJam is at ACW on April 13.
The programme includes performances from two stand-up comedians – Anna Nicholson and Patrick Monahan. Anna’s show, Woman of the Year, is on Saturday, November 2, and was a sell-out show at Edinburgh Fringe.
Patrick’s show, #Goals!, was also a hit at Edinburgh and will be performed on Friday, March 22.
As well as the popular, regular Davy Lamp Folk Club, held at ACW on the first Saturday of every month, the spring includes two top tribute bands.
10CCLO, who perform a brilliant repertoire of 10CC and ELO hits on March 8 and March 9.
Later in the same month, Sabbra Cadabra will perform the hits of Black Sabbath (March 23).
A regular at ACW, the Youth Arts Exhibition, returns for its annual showing between February 1 and March 9.
To book tickets, visit https://www. artscentrewashington.co.uk