Posted: 21/09/12
Spotlight on college’s new theatre venue
There has been live music, dance, comedy and cabaret at the town’s newest entertainments venue this week.
The Create Theatre, based at Vision West Nottinghamshire College, unveiled its first-ever programme on Wednesday (19 September) with an evening of live entertainment.
Create Theatre’s co-ordinator Adam Pownall welcomed more than 150 guests who saw acts by touring theatre companies Random Acts, Arletty Theatre, Threesome Theatre and its own performing arts students.
The launch event also featured Heart and Music – a cabaret style revue of songs from modern musicals – by locally-based Debut Theatre Company. Guests were able to look behind-the-scenes at the 150-seat venue and see the new programme which will offer a wide range of productions including comedy, drama, story-telling, contemporary and musical performances.
Future productions will be provided by the college’s own media, music and performance students, as well as local touring companies, who are being urged to hire the facilities and bring their shows to Mansfield for the first time.
Andrew Tucker, cultural services manager at Mansfield District Council, said: “The Create Theatre is a wonderful educational resource that’s helping train future performing artists and technicians who may one day be part of productions at the Palace Theatre.
“Because of the size of the respective venues, they complement each other perfectly and we’re looking forward to using Create for productions that are better suited to its stage than ours.
“I’m delighted Mansfield has another outlet for cultural expression. We have a spirit of co-operation rather than competition.”
Adam Pownall said: “I started out at West Notts as a student, based at the former performing arts facilities on Woodhouse Road, so to be working at this wonderful new theatre as a member of staff is absolutely brilliant.”
The next production at the theatre – Mission Improbable – takes place on Wednesday (26 September) at 7.30pm. This show is part of the Nottingham Comedy Festival. Following this will be Hard Graft Theatre’s production of I Heart Mansfield. This is a comedy production set on Mansfield’s Leeming Street and will run on Thursday (4 October).
To book tickets and view the theatre programme visit www.createtheatre.co.uk
