Updated: 18 February 2012

Tim Willis Artistic Director, Loft Theatre Company

Mary MacDonald’s production of the classic drama The Miracle Worker provided us with a thought-provoking start to our 2012 programme. It also saw the very welcome return of young performers to our stage, which required us to (successfully) negotiate the Children in Performance legislation that has so frustrated us in the past!

Following on – and including more young performers and newcomers to our stage – is Gordon Vallins’ production of Jez Butterworth’s West End and Broadway multi-award-winning smash-hit play, Jerusalem, a lively and frequently alarming snapshot of 21st-century England, that has been hailed as an instant modern classic. We were extremely fortunate to secure the rights for this ground-breaking play, and the early signs suggest that this will be an exciting, memorable and very different production.

As you may have already seen, we have recently confirmed our July production – a delightful adaptation of the much-loved Ealing comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt, to be directed by Rachel Tompkins (née McArthur). This should ensure March is a busy month here at the Loft, as in addition to The Titfield Thunderbolt we will also be holding auditions for our September and October productions – Mindgame and The History Boys – to be directed by Darren Scott and Steve Smith respectively. There is also an open ‘song and dance’ workshop planned for early April for those who may be considering auditioning later in the month for our December show, West Side Story. Full details for all four shows appear on the audition page.

As advertised in last month’s column, we have also seen an open artistic evening which took place here at the theatre on 9 February. This was an opportunity for anyone remotely interested in discussing all things artistic to come along and air and share their views. I was delighted with the turnout and the positive contributions from those who attended on the night – minutes to be published on the website shortly – and look forward to holding similar sessions in the future. Coupled with the now regular opening of the theatre bar on Friday nights, there are more and more opportunities for you, our members and patrons, to influence our decisions as we start to make plans for our 2013 programme.

Spring will soon be upon us and we look forward to busy and exciting times, so please do get in touch if you wish to discuss your ideas, raise any suggestions or just comment on what is happening at the theatre.

You can call me on 07818 032752, or email ad@loft-theatre.co.uk.

Tim Willis
Artistic Director

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