WHAT THE BUTLER SAW!!

Brighton's ever-popular and innovative theatre/tea room/cabaret space the Emporium has come up trumps once again with a short run of the hilarious farce What The Butler Saw starring Brian Capron (Coronation Street, Where the Heart Is, Grange Hill)!

ORDER YOUR TICKETS HERE!

Talking Scarlet present 'What The Butler Saw'

Joe Orton's final play is a hilarious farce which revolves around Dr. Prentice, a psychiatrist attempting to seduce his attractive prospective secretary, Geraldine Barclay. As part of the job interview he convinces her to undress. When his wife enters, he attempts to cover up his activity by hiding the girl behind a curtain. His wife, however, is also being seduced and blackmailed by a Nicholas Beckett. She therefore promises Nicholas the post as secretary, which adds further confusion, including Nicholas and Geraldine dressing as the opposite sex. Dr. Prentice's clinic is then faced with a government inspection ...

What follows is a near faultless piece of theatrical invention as these ingredients form the basis for a perfect recipe of outrageous confusion!

Cast
Brian Capron as Dr Prentice
Jenny Funnell as Mrs Prentice
Michael Kirk as Dr Rance
Melissa Clements as Geraldine
Michael Adams as Nicholas Beckett
Duncan Drury as Sergeant Match

April 21st til May 9th
http://emporiumbrighton.com/butler/

A BRAND NEW FRINGE FESTIVAL FOR THE UK!

You've all heard of the phenomenally successful Edinburgh and Brighton fringe festivals which take place every year to ever-increasing audiences offering an eclectic mix of theatre, music, cabaret, stand-up comedy and other "non-mainstream" performing arts - well now an exciting new fringe festival is about to launch in the beautiful Surrey town of Guildford! 

Initially the brainchild of award-nominated Musical Director Niall Bailey and Musical Theatre star Nick Wyschna, the Guildford Fringe Festival has now been taken under Nick's wing and is up-and-running from the 1st July, promising a whole month of eclectic entertainment!

" Taking inspiration from the Edinburgh Festival, the Guildford Fringe Festival is a celebration of the art. It takes place between 1st and 28th July 2013, on a small scale for its first year with all the events taking place at the Star Inn on Quarry Street in the centre of Guildford.

The Festival will include theatre, cabarets, stand-up, quiz nights, comedy speakers, jazz, debates and musical theatre produced by some of the most up and coming companies around." 

To book tickets for any of the Guildford Fringe Festival events and shows follow this LINK.

Check out the Guildford Fringe Festival website HERE.

Follow Guildford Fringe Theatre Company on TWITTER.

Like Guildford Fringe Theatre Company on FACEBOOK.

Join the Guildford Fringe Festival 2013 on FACEBOOK.

Check out the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company WEBSITE. 

"EMPORIUM" - A BRAND NEW THEATRE VENUE IN BRIGHTON!

Something amazing and exciting has happened in an area of Brighton, East Sussex, not renowned for its cultural or artistic ventures apart from the beautiful old Duke of Yorks cinema on Preston Circus. A brand new professional theatre has opened up on London Road, home of the charity shop and boarded up ex-shops! In fact, the whole area seems to be undergoing some sort of regeneration of late; the almost-derelict Open Market is being given a multi-million pound revamp, as are the abandoned old Co-Op department store and The Level, a public green space which is also in the midst of a massive face-lift. Not to mention the brand new ethical supermarket, HiSbe Food, about to open up just down the road.

But I digress...Emporium is a new professional theatre which has opened up on London Road high street in the long-disused old Methodist chapel. They are still in the midst of renovations but have opened up a few months early in order to take part in Brighton's ever-growing fringe festival and the "distressed" look actually works in its favour, giving an edgier feel to the place, particularly effective in a "fringe" context. The main space as you walk in is a relaxed and comfortable tea room selling exquisite cakes and delicious loose-leaf teas. The whole area is very large and spacious and the perfect place to chill either before a show or to just pop into for a gossip during the daytime. 

The entertainment on offer at Emporium is eclectic encompassing theatre, cabaret & chat and various workshops & classes. During Brighton Fringe, the wonderful Fake Bush, an inspired Kate Bush comic tribute, makes her triumphant return to Brighton after almost two years away from these parts. There are also shows from international soprano Miranda Keys, The Speakeasy Three, an all-singing, all-dancing performance group and later in the year Emporium will be a partner venue for Brighton Pride's first Film & Arts Festival. 

So whether you want to attend an all-day creative workshop, share an evening of cabaret and fine dining or just want to relax over tea and cake one morning while out shopping, pop into Emporium on London Road...I can guarantee you'll be back for more! 

For booking information check out the Emporium website HERE.

Follow Emporium on Twitter.

Like Emporium on Facebook.

KNITTING, A PENGUIN AND A SLICE OF CAKE...

Knitting, a penguin and a slice of cake...battenberg to be precise! It all sounds very bizarre and intriguing but these are just a few of the elements that come together to form the heart-warming and hilarious play Me, As A Penguin by Tom Wells. The Guildford Fringe Theatre Company are presenting a brilliant comedy all this week at The Star Inn, Guildford every night from 7:30pm as directed by Tim Astley and starring Guy Adams, Molly Roberts, James Beedham and Simon Victor. 

Last night was press night and the buzz has been fantastic on Twitter and Facebook. There are tickets available for the rest of the week so why not pop along, have a drink and meet the cast? If you take your knitting with you, you also get a free slice of battenberg cake! It sounds very intriguing but apparently all will be revealed at the performance...so bring your knitting and come along!

The doors open at 6:30pm, the show starts at 7:30 and the running time is approximately one hour and ten minutes. 

Tickets, priced at £12.50 (£10 for concessions) are now on sale. Click here to book online.  

Alternatively, you can call 01483 444334 or buy them in person at Guildford Tourist Information Centre on the High Street!

And finally you can always buy tickets on the door at the venue from 6:30pm but it's cash only!

Me, As A Penguin is only playing until Saturday 8th December so make sure you see it now while you can! You can find more details about the play over on the Guildford Fringe website. The Happy Zone crew will be there on Friday evening so we may see some of you then! 

Click here to buy your tickets online!

The Star Inn is on Quarry Street, just off the High Street (on the right just before the cobbled/pedestrianised section starts).  See the map below.