Director: Scott Le Crass Imagine Theatre are back producing this year's panto Sleeping Beauty at the Stafford Gatehouse. Mark Rhodes and David Phipps-Davis return with another classic panto full of innuendo and fun. The production has assembled quite the team of panto pros. Rhodes is the likable, yet daft Hilarious Harry. While Phipps-Davis steals the show. Every... Continue Reading →
Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Richard Cheshire It's been 17 years since Stafford Gatehouse produced Hamlet for it's Shakespeare Festival, this year starring local Benedict Shaw as the starring role. The Gatehouse Theatre has shaken up the annual production, not just producing its first trategy since Freedom Leisure moved the festival indoors, but also shines a... Continue Reading →
Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Sean Turner Musical Director: Stephen Hyde Set in a Cornish Harbour Town, the 32nd Shakespeare production in Stafford is Twelth Night. Complete with original music by folkband the Cornish Fishermen, there's certainly no doubting that if music be the food of love play on. Sean Turner moves the action to 1950s... Continue Reading →
Writer: Eric Potts Director: Richard Cheshire Choreographer: Verity Bray Musical Director: Clive Fishlock Imagine Theatre are premiering their first production at Stafford Gatehouse this year, producing Beauty and the Beast, a title that is proving increasingly popular on the panto circuit. Under the watchful direction of Richard Cheshire, it's another strong Gatehouse panto full of... Continue Reading →
Last year, I wrote an open letter to Stafford Borough Council and the Gatehouse regarding the future of Stafford Festival Shakespeare. That open letter led to over an hour long open conversation at the Gatehouse between both Councillor Trowbridge and area manager of Freedom Leisure Liz Hustle and myself. It was clear from the discussion... Continue Reading →
It's been a long road, but Stafford Festival Shakespeare 2023 took place earlier this year. While the cabinet analyse what it feels is right, its the right time to properly sit back and analyse what worked, what didn't, what was promised, and what was delivered. Let's first cast our minds back to the original reasons... Continue Reading →
A report due to be discussed by Stafford Borough Council on the 7th December will ask the cabinet to A) Move the production to the Gatehouse for a second year running B) delegate responsibility for the productions venue to an unelected appointed 'Head of Welfare' This is a breaking news story with further news to... Continue Reading →
In 2023, the Stafford Gatehouse will produce what promises to be an immersive production of a Midsummer’s Night Dream. While not much of the production has been announced, it's being suggested two award winning household names will be staring in the production. More news on that early next year. The performance runs: June 23rd -... Continue Reading →
On the 6th of December, I wrote an open letter to both Freedom Leisure and Stafford Borough Council regarding the future of Shakespeare at Stafford Castle. The concerns I had and the ideas around making the production more sustainable. From the letter, I was pleased to meet with representatives from Stafford Borough Council, Freedom Leisure,... Continue Reading →
To Freedom Leisure and Stafford Borough Council, My fear with this decision to move Stafford Shakespeare to Stafford Gatehouse is that Freedom Leisure, approved by Cabinet is losing touch with the long term artistic ambition of the Gatehouse and is growing further away with its local community. It is clear both parties want Shakespeare in... Continue Reading →
The Theatre Twittic 