It’s a bumper month for news from around the venues. Let’s dive straight in…

ROB’S MADE UP WITH FILM ROLE!

Rob Anderson, Stagecoach’s Global Teaching Training and Development Manager, has been cast in a new feature film, Makeup, which is now available for download via all major streaming services!

Rob has worked for Stagecoach for 12 years teaching Dance and Further Stages Plus at Stagecoach Southgate, whilst he attended dance and drama school training in London.

In Makeup he plays the role of a burlesque/cabaret dancer in semi-drag. Rob said: “I relished playing the character. The film struck a chord – it is about inclusion, friendship and finding inner courage to be yourself. The character Dan played by Will Masheter, is struggling with their identity and seeking a safe space to be their authentic self. I was incredibly grateful to land a scene with Will, where I say the line, which upon reflection is something I often say to my students to support and reassure them before a performance – ‘As soon as you’re on stage, those nerves will go away’.”

Rob added: “The line I spoke in the film echoes the Stagecoach message of ‘Creative Courage for Life’. The films ethos is about self-acceptance, and the importance of friendship and being an ally, especially important for this Pride month.”

And watch the trailer for Makeup below!

AND THE WINNER IS!…

The G Live team recently celebrated a win for Best Live Music Venue at The 2023 Surrey Awards! Surrey Rocks Magazine put on a fabulous awards show at Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking to recognise the very best Surrey businesses. The awards were in aid of Prostate Cancer UK and winners were chosen by the public. Congratulations team!

GREEN FINGERS!

The Orchard Theatre Gardening Club celebrated its two year anniversary in June. Established during the pandemic, the team now have over 75% of the grounds around The Orchard filled with beautiful flowers, bushes and trees, and the lavender yields are looking and smelling especially amazing. The team have also expanded Dartford Council’s goal of increasing bio diversity and the pollen corridors. The team also have uniforms, a shed full of tools and a great relationship with a small business that provides them with plants!

PRIDE BAKE SALE

The Churchill Theatre Bromley held a Pride Bake Sale for staff during Pride Month. Colleagues baked gorgeous cakes and raised money for Akt, a charity working to provide safe homes to homeless LGBTQ+ individuals. Venue Marketing Executive, Jemima Rex, said: “We’re all about Pride at The Churchill and are looking to be part of leading Bromley’s first ever Pride March next year!”

CONGRATULATIONS GABRIELLA

Southend Sous Chef Gabriella Janosi (above) recently completed and passed her BA (Hons) Event Management course and will graduate in October. She plans to start a Masters later this year. Well done Gabriella!

HASTINGS RACE FOR LIFE

White Rock Theatre Box Office Supervisor, Tracy-Anne Mitchell, our Box Office Supervisor took part in the Hastings Race for Life at Alexandra Park last month, walking 10km in aid of Cancer Research UK. Conditions were hot and sunny and she raised a fantastic £320!

There’s also a Charity Music Night (above) on 29 September in the White Rock’s Sussex Studio organised by Tracy-Anne. The fundraising event is back for a fifth time with proceeds going to St. Michael’s Hospice and the Judy Beard Unit at the Conquest Hospital, Hastings.

Tracy-Anne is grateful for the care she received there in 2018 and 2019. She said: “The staff made a difficult time more bearable. It was reassuring to know they were at the end of a telephone when I was struggling. I am grateful for everything they did for me. I have always been keen to support St Michael’s Hospice who have cared for several friends and supported their families.”

TECHNICIAN’S IN TRAINING

Nine of our developing technicians recently completed their ABTT Bronze Award certificated training.

The Association of British Theatre Technicians Bronze Award Course is a SCQF Level 7 qualification which is recognised through the industry. This is a practical course which intertwines theory to ensure day-to-day skills are validated with the correct technical knowledge to keep colleagues safe.

Caroline Hatley, Training and Skills Development Manager, said: “Technicians can attend this course at ABTT training venues, but this is the second year that we’ve hosted it. This has the benefit of not only providing a great L&D progression opportunity for our developing technicians, but also allows the Technicians to spend a week with fellow colleagues from our other venues which helps to build a lasting group-wide bond.”