BBC Radio Lancashire comes to Williamson Park.

Yesterday, Williamson Park was not only taken over by production teams and actors, but also by the team of BBC Radio Lancashire!

Each year the radio station relocate to Williamson Park and have an afternoon of live broadcast, speaking to lots of people involved with the theatre in the park.

Amy Leach, Our Peter Pan Director

Mark Melville, Our Peter Pan Composer

One of our Youth Theatre playing Tinkerbell!

Guy Christiansen, Creative Learning Director with Lucas Button, one of our Youth Theatre playing Michael.

Joe Sumsion, The Dukes Director.

You can listen to all the action and interviews on BBC Listen Again until July 5th 2010 here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p008gl0m/John_Gillmore_28_06_2010/

Peter Pan in Williamson Park is almost upon us! Previews start this Friday 2 July.

Peter Pan will be running in Williamson Park from Friday 2 July until Saturday 7 August.

Tickets are available from The Dukes box office on 01524 589500 and more details can be found at http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/.

Peter Pan: Meeting the Lost Boys

While The Dukes has been innundated with lovely professional actors over the past few weeks, we have also had the pleasure of meeting 9 fresh young actors who will be playing our lost boys. Aged between 15 and 20, some have come through The Dukes Youth Theatre and others have come through the open auditions held in April and May this year. We eventually whittled down the auditionees to nine very talented young actors. Each will play 2 nights a week in their role of either Tootles, Michael or Tinkerbell.

The Lost Boys with the rest of the Peter Pan cast.

We wanted to know more about our lost boys so we asked them a bit about themselves and their role... read on to found out about our nine young thespians!

Peter Pan will be running in Williamson Park from Friday 2 July until Saturday 7 August.

Tickets are available from The Dukes box office on 01524 589500 and more details can be found at http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/.

Peter Pan: Meet... Tootles!

First up is Tootles who will be played each week by Noah Richmond, Harry Jamson and Rosa Cooper-Davies.


So guys, have you been involved in projects at The Dukes before?

Harry: Yes, I have been involved in Dukes Youth Theatre since a young age, most recently in Macbeth.

Rosa: Yes! I’ve been a member of the Dukes Senior Youth Theatre since January 2009 and been involved with all the projects with them including “The Things She Sees” and “It Snows”. I was also involved in the play “One Small Stone…”


What drew you to the opportunity of being part of the young company?

Rosa: It looked like a lot of fun! But at the same time, a good challenge and give me some good experience to *boast about* refer to when acting in other projects.


What challenges does this project pose for you?


Harry: Working with a professional cast, and the long rehearsals will be challenging.

Rosa: Fast costume changes and getting in the scenes before the audience arrive.


What's the most exciting thing about playing your role?

Harry: The most exciting thing is working with a professional cast!

Rosa: Working with such a lovely cast, at the same time as being in the beautiful surrounds of the park. We also play a shadow and a mermaid which are all exciting because we get to wear lots of cool costumes.


What discoveries were made about your character through rehearsal that perhaps weren’t explicit in the script?

Harry: He’s quite friendly with Slightly, but almost afraid of Nibs. He is supposed to act mischievously.

Rosa: Tootles is Slightly’s best friend :)


What kind of games and exercises have you been playing during rehearsals?

Rosa: All kinds! Lots of stuff where we get to play around with our characters. This is particularly interesting because as non-speaking characters you find new ways to express the characters’ thoughts and emotions.

Harry: We have been using the dances and name game, but also a variation of ‘Granny’s footsteps’.


What have you particularly enjoyed about the Peter Pan process so far?

Harry: Probably being in the park!

Rosa: Definetly working in the park.


Is there anything that you have found particularly difficult?

Rosa: Remembering everyone’s names!


What tips would you give to other emerging performers?

Harry: Be prepared to wait; Act confidently, if you do you are more believable; Have fun, it looks better if you do.

Rosa: Get involved with the youth theatre at DT3; Try out EVERYTHING; Don’t be picky. Any role is a good role, if you make it one.

Peter Pan will be running in Williamson Park from Friday 2 July until Saturday 7 August.

Tickets are available from The Dukes box office on 01524 589500 and more details can be found at http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/.

Peter Pan: Meet... Tinkerbell!

Next we have Tinkerbell who is played by Erin Whalley, Sadie McLoughlin and Paige Thornton!


Have any of you been involved in projects at The Dukes before?

Erin: Yes, I go to the Youth Theatre, so do projects there and other ones during the holidays.

Paige & Sadie: Nope


What made you choose to audition for the role?

Erin: I heard about it through DT3 and wanting to perform and enjoying being in the park made me want to do it.

Paige: A close friend told me about it.

Sadie: I was doing my work experience at The Dukes, and they told me about it and said I should audition, which made me want to do it!



What challenges does this project pose for you?

Sadie: Getting myself organised!

Erin: Scheduling and balancing home life and rehearsals.

Paige: Listening skills and not getting easily distracted.


You're all playing Tinkerbell- what is the most exciting thing about this role for you?

Paige: It’s very exciting because I can relate to her as she is energetic, moody and fast.

Sadie: It’s very exciting being really girly, and moody! It’s good fun and I’m excited for the costumes.

Erin: It’s very well known, so I’m excited about making it my own.


What discoveries were made about your character through rehearsal that perhaps weren’t explicit in the script?

Paige: She is sulky but cares dearly for Peter.

Erin: The cheekyness has come through.


What kind of games and exercises have you been playing during rehearsals?

Paige: We have played a game called ‘yes lets’, a tig like game and we did a Lost Boys dance!

Erin: Teamwork (cat and mouse) and working without vocal communication.


What have you particularly enjoyed about the Peter Pan process so far?

Sadie: Meeting the professionals!

Erin: Working with the adult cast and rehearsing in the park.

Paige: I’ve loved rehearsing the first scenes with the professionals.


And conversely, is there anything that you have found particularly difficult?

All 3: Nothing so far!


What tips would you give to other emerging performers?

Erin: Expect to sacrifice other clubs/things and see all of the fun elements all of the time.

Paige: Take advice and constructive criticism; Listen to the director at all times; Have fun but be sensible.

Peter Pan will be running in Williamson Park from Friday 2 July until Saturday 7 August.

Tickets are available from The Dukes box office on 01524 589500 and more details can be found at http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/.

Peter Pan: Meet... Michael!

Finally out of our lost boys we have Michael, played by Vincent MacDonald, Lucas Button and Paul Munro.

Have you been involved in projects at The Dukes before, and if so, what?

Vincent: I have been involved in many youth theatre productions at The Dukes that are held in DT3.

Paul: Yes, for a year. I was in Macbeth.

Lucas: Yes – I have been a member of DT3 for many years and in various performances including Can’t Pay Won’t Pay, Macbeth and Spring Awakening. I was also in ‘A Christmas Carol’ with The Dukes Theatre (I was one of the Tiny Tims!).


How did you you hear about the show and what made you want to act in it?

Vincent: A letter was handed out at Youth Theatre and I thought that it would be really good to get involved.

Lucas: I love acting and really enjoy working with a professional team. I want to be an actor and so if there is a good opportunity I will be up for it. Being with the Dukes Promenade season is a dream come true.

Paul: I started acting in Cyprus, so I wanted to keep it going when I moved to Lancaster.


What challenges does this project pose for you?

Vincent: This is a big commitment and a lot of time needs to be put into this production.

Lucas: Properly getting used to the harsh rehearsal performance schedule and trying to fit my school work in around rehearsals. Having enough energy for a whole day of school and late rehearsals.

Paul: Not speaking too much!


You're all playing Michael- what is the most exciting thing about this role for you?

Lucas: Michael looks up to his brother and sister almost as mother and father and it is nice to play a role that is younger than I actually am because you can explore childhood games and adventures. Its really fun to play all the lovely games with the other actors!

Vincent: The most exciting things is just being able to perform in such a big production like this.

Paul: I get to be rolled down a hill in a pram!


What discoveries were made about your character through rehearsal that perhaps weren’t explicit in the script?

Paul: Even though I follow John around, I always agree with Wendy in our sibling talks.

Lucas: I have found that Michael looks up to Wendy and John as almost a mother and father. Like role models.


What kind of games and exercises have you been playing during rehearsals?

Vincent: We have been doing a dance which is in the performance but it is being used as an exercise at the moment.

Paul: Zip, zap, zop. Role play and stuff like that.

Lucas: We have been doing trust exercises and also getting used to the movement of our bodies and creating new ways of moving.


What have you particularly enjoyed about the Peter Pan process so far?

Vincent: I have particularly enjoyed being pushed about in a pram and doing my pre-show act which is trampolining. But I have really enjoyed doing the whole show it is a great experience.

Paul: Scene one was really fun!

Lucas: Probably the rehearsals because they are so fun but at the same time I am learning so much about how much people rely on you to do your best, to take notes so you don’t forget anything and to help the other actors if they need it.


And conversely, is there anything that you have found particularly difficult?

Paul: Not having lines!

Vincent: Not really but sometimes it is a bit hard to keep up.

Lucas: I think that what has been a challenge is the long days when we have rehearsals and getting up for school in the morning after later rehearsals! - but nothing that is really to do with 'the play' like script learning or the rehearsing itself.


What tips would you give to other emerging performers?

Paul: Wear warm clothes for outside work; Concentrate; Let yourself go.

Lucas: The first one would definitely be to have confidence in what you want to do because if you are scared of what people might think of you then you wont perform to your best. The second one would be to audition for lots of things because even if you don’t get the part you wanted it’s the actual experience that counts and the more practice you have of auditions the more confident you start to feel. Last tip would be enjoy what you are doing because there is nothing worse than committing to something and then regretting it or not enjoying it.

Peter Pan will be running in Williamson Park from Friday 2 July until Saturday 7 August.

Tickets are available from The Dukes box office on 01524 589500 and more details can be found at http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/.

The Lost Boys in Rehearsals.

Now you've met the Lost Boys, take a look at them in action in rehearsals up at Williamson Park.

Peter Pan will be running in Williamson Park from Friday 2 July until Saturday 7 August.

Tickets are available from The Dukes box office on 01524 589500 and more details can be found at http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/.

Bumper Stickers are everywhere!

This year we have been running a 'Bumper Sticker Giveaway' for our promenade theatre in the park, Peter Pan.

The general idea is that people can pick up a bumper sticker from a number of places in the areas of Lancaster, Preston, Blackpool and South Lakes, and display it on their car. Every day in June our team has been out looking for bumper stickers and when we find one that person wins 2 free tickets to see Peter Pan in Williamson Park! So far we've been finding lots of bumper stickers in Lancaster and the South Lakes.

There are still two weeks to go though and we're hoping to find some more in Blackpool and Preston!

If don't yet have a bumper sticker, you can pick one up from the following places, or just email The Dukes box office with your address and we'll send one to you!

Lancaster and Morecambe Area
Collect your sticker from:
The Dukes
Lancaster VIC
Lancaster Library
Morecambe VIC
Morecambe Library

South Lakes Area
Collect your sticker from:
Kendal TIC
Lanternhouse
Plato’s
Longlands

Preston Area
Collect your sticker from:
The Harris Art Gallery
The New Continental, South Meadow Lane
Leyland Leisure Centre
Preston TIC

Blackpool Area
Collect your sticker from:
Arnie Aardvark’s Children’s Playbarn at Blackpool Zoo
Visit Blackpool offices
Barista, Birley Street
Fairhaven Lakeside Café, Lytham St. Annes



Good luck! And make sure to check our Facebook & Twitter pages, or our website, to see if we have spotted your bumper sticker!

For more details on the bumper sticker campaign go here: http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/bumper-sticker-ticket-giveaway

To check if you bumper sticker has been spotted go here: http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/news

Peter Pan will be running in Williamson Park from Friday 2 July until Saturday 7 August.

Tickets are available from The Dukes box office on 01524 589500 and more details can be found at http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/.

Venturing into the Mermaids' Lagoon

On Tuesday our Peter Pan cast braved the waters of Williamson Park lake! The lake will feature as the Mermaids's Lagoon in this Summer's production of Peter Pan so the cast were getting to grips with the location.

Some of the actors were in a nice traditional blue rowing boat...

Others were enjoying more interesting Polka dot pedal boat numbers...!

Peter Pan will be running in Williamson Park from Friday 2 July until Saturday 7 August.

Tickets are available from The Dukes box office on 01524 589500 and more details can be found at http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/.

They're here!

The new cast for Peter Pan, our summer show in Williamson Park, arrived in full force on Monday! A quick meet and greet was followed by a full read through, with accents galore!

Introducing...!

Our park director, Amy Leach

David Acton as J M Barrie, Captain Hook and George Darling

Kate Copeland as Mary Darling, Tiger Lily and Starkey

Guy Hargreaves as Smee and Nana

Stacey Cadman as Wendy

Gareth Cassidy as Slightly

Gregor Henderson-Begg as Peter Pan

Sam Jones as John Darling

Already sounding like their respective characters, you can be sure that these guys will be working very hard over the next month to create a summer spectacular not to be missed.

Peter Pan will be running in Williamson Park from Friday 2 July until Saturday 7 August.

Tickets are available from The Dukes box office on 01524 589500 and more details can be found at http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/.

It's a hit!!

The Gift and The Glory is now in full swing of its month-long run here at The Dukes- and has met with rave reviews and great audience feedback. Read what they've been saying about The Dukes' new double-bill below...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2010/apr/04/the-gift-and-the-glory The Guardian

http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/27760/the-gift-the-glory The Stage

http://www.lep.co.uk/theatrereviews/The-Gift-and-the-Glory.6201435.jp Lancashire Evening Post

Getting To Know You...

We managed to tear The Gift and The Glory actors away from their hectic rehearsal schedule to answer a few burning questions...

Noel White- Tom

Have you experienced any outdoor incidents or misadventures in the past?

I went skinny dipping in a strangley quiet bay near Marseille while on a trip with a mate over 20 years ago, only to discover we were splashing about near the outlet of a sewage pipe! The moment of realisation that the warmth of the water was entirely man-made haunts me still.
[Noel]

In the early 90s my boyfriend at the time was a Derbyshire lad whow was into rockclimbing. He
took me up to Black Rocks in the Peak District, harnessed me up and tried to get me to climb an 'easy' stretch about four times my height. Half-way up I got completely freaked out and scared, threw a total tantrum and had to be hauled up to the top because I was too scared to do any actual climbing! [Nicky]

When teaching briefly, I took a group of children to an outdoor pursuits centre at Buckden in Yorkshire. Trying to encourage, I threw myself into abseiling- only to descend in jerks into the path of a mini-waterfall - to the cheers of the kids and other teachers at the top! [Anne]

My dog attacked a sheep and I had to rescue it (the sheep, not the dog). [Jim]

Jim Kitson- Jed

Do you have a favourite place in The Lakes?

I worked at the Theatre by The Lake in Keswick recently and for the first time experienced and therefore understood the appeal of fell walking. Standing on Latrigg in two feet of snow with Derwent Water and the North Lakes stretching out before me makes it my favourite place. [Noel]

Ullswater is fantastic- I had only ever driven through The Lakes, before managing to spend a weekend there. Fantastic! [Anne]

If you could go back in time 20 years and offer your character any advice, what would it be and why?

Have more sex while you're young...it dries up. [Jim]

In the words of 'Hey Jude,' "Don't carry the world upon your shoulders." [Anne]


Are there any similarities between yourself and the character you play?

Irreverance and humour as a default position; constant fear of impending old-age! [Nicky]

I'm fortunate to have a few friends I have known most of my life so can recognise the verbal shorthand that Tom and Jed share. Tom is more organised and emotionally steady than me. [Noel]

Too many. [Jim]

A tendency to think I've got to keep smiling in the face of disaster! [Anne]





















Nicky Goldie- Joy


What is your personal favourite moment in the play and why?

I like all the bits that reminded me of me- they made me laugh (mostly at myself!) [Nicky]

Singing 'I'll Fly Away'...amongst others too numerous to mention! [Anne]


Do you have any previous connection to The Dukes or Lancaster?

None, but happy to have now! [Jim]

I played Heracles in last year's Williamson Park production of Jason and The Argonauts, and returned soon after to play Slim in Of Mice and Men in the main house. [Noel]

I had a brilliant time rehearsing and playing in My Mother Said I Never Should! [Anne]

I was The Queen/Mum in the B.F.G. at The Dukes in 1900 and frozen stiff!! [Nicky]

The Gift and The Glory begins its run here at The Dukes on Wednesday 31st March at 7.30pm in The Round.









Anne Kavanagh- Lizzie

A Day In The Country...

Cast and crew wisely wrapped up warm last week, as they ventured out to Grasmere to try to get a feel for the sights, sounds and emotions they hope to translate to the stage in the shape of upcoming homegrown production The Gift and The Glory.

Tracing the same route as the characters take around Codale and Easdale tarns in the play, they wanted to see what it was like to 'walk a mile in their shoes.' All in the name of research, of course...

The Gift and The Glory opens on Wednesday 31st March.

Hello!!!

They've arrived!!

The Gift & The Glory actors Jim Kitson, Noel White, Nicky Goldie and Anne Kavanagh have rambled their way through the Lakeland foothills and arrived safely here at The Dukes.

After a swift meet and greet, cast, crew and staff sat down in The Gallery for the first read-through of the scripts.

Later, the cast joined directors Joe Sumsion and Louie Ingham for early rehearsals, and took the opportunity to practice getting to grips with some of those tricky high notes!