Where else can you see Darth Vader, Paul Young, Michael Portillo, Frankenstein and Maddy Prior, the answer is at The Atkinson this autumn!
The new season of events and exhibitions at The Atkinson brings together some of the very best names in entertainment, art, cinema, music and comedy as well as hosting its second annual Big Blues Festival, its family festival Kidsfest, Southport Fiddle Festival and did we mention, the new Star Wars Exhibition, May The Toys Be With You?
May The Toys Be With You opens its doors on Saturday 19 November (Southport Christmas Light Switch On Day) at 12pm. It is an absolute must see for fans of Star Wars and the silver screen. It is one of the UK’s finest collections of vintage Star Wars toys and original cinema posters and memorabilia. Entrance to the exhibition is £3 adult/£2 child/£8 family (up to 4, must include one adult). Star Wars is the perfect Christmas treat for families of all ages and big kids especially!
As part of our Christmas Light Switch on One Big Day Celebrations (19 November) audiences are invited to take to the seas with Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs 2: The Magic Cutlass from 2.30pm. Flinn, Pearl and Tom are in the middle of their school play their old nemesis, Mr T the T-Rex, appears and kidnap the children forcing them to hunt for the secretive Magic Cutlass! Will fearless Flinn be able to outwit the pirate dinosaurs? Will Pirate Pearl be brave enough to battle the dangerous dinos and will terrified Tom be back in time for Tea? All aboard for a non-stop action packed theatrical experience with live music, puppetry and dastardly dinosaurs!
With lots of free arts and crafts and activities going on around the venue and Christmas treats in the Bakery and our shop stocked with unique not on the high street gifts and present ideas for all ages – why wouldn’t you pay us a visit?
Family fun doesn’t stop there, with the return of Kidfest between 22-30 October. This year’s family festival includes lots of Spookport and Southport Children’s Comedy Festival events as well as tales about Dragons (Dotty The Dragon – Saturday 22 October, ages 3-7 years), Beauty and the Beast (Tuesday 25 October, ages 5+) and we welcome Comedy for Kids and CBeebies ‘Spot Bots’ stars in a brand new comic misadventure. Bad Guys is packed with songs and slapstick silliness! (Monday 24 October – relaxed performance available). Ages 5-11 years
For our little audiences we have Sponge (Wednesday 26 October, Ages 0-4 years) – a show that embraces all things spongy! The performers reveal small and large scale sponge environments for children to squash, role, pop and squeeze.
Tim Quinn returns to The Atkinson with his Comic Book Workshops (Thursday 27 October) book in to get lots of tips on how to create brand new super hero characters.
The multi-award winning performer and storyteller Danyah Miller brings to life another enchanting tale by Michael Morpurgo in Why the Whales Came (Saturday 5 November, ages 7+).
We prepare for Christmas with a jam-packed programme of events with appearances from Santa himself in Santa Saves Christmas (Saturday 10 December).
We then join Edmund, Lucy, Susan, Peter, Mr Tumnus and of course, Aslan himself as we open the wardrobe into Narnia with C.S.Lewis’ magical tale, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. This is the perfect treat for all ages this Christmas (Wednesday 21-Thursday 22 December).
Our festive programme this year includes Sounds of Christmas, L’Orchestra dell’Arte come together with their full orchestra for a very special evening family Christmas concert (Sunday 11 December) featuring soloist Kathryn Rudge and the wonderful choir of Holy Trinity Church, Southport.
It wouldn’t be Christmas without an adaptation of A Christmas Carol (Wednesday 30 November). This traditional tale by Charles Dickens of ghosts past and present, complete with periodical costume, song, dance and an original music score!
The Houghton Weavers invite you to celebrate Christmas with them (Tuesday 6 December), Maddy Prior returns with her Carnival Band (Friday 9 December), Los Pacaminos the seven-piece tex-mex band featuring Paul Young take to the stage after their sell-out show back in the old Southport Arts Centre Days (Friday 16 December). The Demon Barbers are a BBC award-winning team of musicians and dancers who are having a Lock In ‘Christmas Carol’ showcasing the very best festive live music, song and dance! (Saturday 17 December).
Comedian Ellie Taylor is making a real name for herself across the comedy circuit appearing on all the big panel and entertainment shows on TV and radio. She brings her brand new stand-up show Infidelliety (Friday 28 October) that deals with that pesky bit of marriage known as monogamy!
Happy Hour from Merseyside’s very own Tmesis Theatre is the fast-paced comedy exploring our 21st obsession with happiness and success (Thursday 13 October). While Austentatious (Thursday 3 November) takes us back to the world of Jane Austen for an evening of improvised comedy based on a single audience suggestion!
The Atkinson keeps the laughs coming with the return of Mark Steel asking Who Do I Think I Am? (Thursday 24 November) and of the regular Laugh out Loud Comedy Club on the first Saturday of every month continues to bring the best in comedy to Southport.
This Halloween we dare you to join us for an evening of spine-tingling terror with The Haunting at Greenacre Cottage by Ginificient Productions (known previously as Tiny Giants) . A couple’s weekend away with their new born baby takes a dark turn (Thursday 27 October).
Mary Shelley’s masterpiece Frankenstein fuses Gothic horror, theatrical storytelling and live music from Black Eyed Theatre Company (Saturday 26 November).
Roger McGough + LiTTLe MACHiNe bring vintage, classic and surprising poems set to music to The Atkinson (Saturday 15 October). While the best-selling author, radio and TV personality Gervase Phinn entertains on Friday 25 November.
We also continue to show the new Southport Film Guild programme including The Lady in the Van (Wednesday 5 October), Mustang (Wednesday 2 November) and Oscar success Brooklyn (Wednesday 7 November). Don’t worry if you are not a member, films are priced at £4.50 each and available on the night!
The Bolshoi Ballet season begins in October with The Golden Age (Live) (Sunday 16 October) followed by The Bright Stream (Recorded) (Sunday 6 November) and The Nutcracker (Recorded) (Sunday 18 December).
The Entertainer (Live) is set against the backdrop of post-war Britain. John Osborneʼs modern classic conjures the seedy glamour of the old music halls for an explosive examination of public masks and private torment. Rob Ashford directs Kenneth Branagh as the Archie Rice, with John Hurt as Billy Rice in the final production for Plays at the Garrick season. (Thursday 27 October).
Outstanding watercolours from leading artists including JMW Turner, John Constable, and John Singer Sargent are on display in the new major exhibition Tinted Steam & Liquid Light: Watercolour Paintings from Turner to Sargent. The work is all part of The Atkinson’s and Williamson Art Gallery’s rich collections. Many restored only recently and on display for the first time in decades. This exciting exhibition is available to view until Sunday 6 November.
Discover Ancient Egypt and the Museum are free family destinations for all ages to enjoy together. They are open 10am-4pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 3pm on Sundays. Just pop in and find out more.
With talks, community activities, free taster activities and a library with 50,000 books to discover – have you been to The Atkinson yet?
To book your tickets for one of our events please visit theatkinson.co.uk or call our friendly Box Office team on 01704 533 333.
Tell us about your visit through Facebook: TheAtkinsonSouthport, Twitter: @AtkinsonThe share your images on Instagram: @TheAtkinsonSouthport
-ENDS-
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For interviews, press tickets or press images please contact Emma.Lloyd@sefton.gov.uk or call0151 934 2129
Posted on 19 September 2016 under General news