Macready moves out for autumn shows in Rugby
The historic grounds of Rugby School will become the setting of an array of shows this autumn.
While the Macready Theatre is being refurbished, the venue will be staging a number of productions at venues around the school.
First up on September 21 is Animal Farm, presented in Collingwood Hall. George Orwell’s barnyard masterpiece is presented by Sam Blythe in a globally renowned, multi-award-winning solo adaptation. In the high-energy performance, Blythe embodies every character - from the idealistic Boxer to the sinister Napoleon.
The world-renowned Onyx Brass quintet perform in The Chapel on October 15. Whether performing timeless classical repertoire or showcasing some of the 200-plus contemporary works they have commissioned from leading composers, the musicians have captivated audiences from major European concert halls to New York's Juilliard School.
Music lovers can transport themselves from Rugby to the cabarets of Montmartre with Swing from Paris, an all-string jazz quartet delivering a vibrant evening of Parisian-flavored vintage jazz and stylish swing. Inspired by legends like Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, the virtuosic group - featuring violin, guitars and double bass - have won praise for their tight ensemble sound and inventive arrangements. They boast appearances everywhere from the French Embassy to the Django Reinhardt Festival in France. Swing from Paris play at the Temple Speech Room on October 22.
The classic tale The Wind in the Willows comes to Collingwood Hall on October. From the peaceful pleasures of Ratty’s beloved riverbank to the fearful frights and wicked weasels of the Wild Wood, join Mole and Ratty on their marvellous adventures, along with gruff old Badger and magnificent Mr Toad.
And historian, bestselling author and award-winning producer Philippa Langley presents The Princes in the Tower: How History’s Greatest Cold Case Was Solved at Temple Speech Room on November 2. Langley is renowned for her investigations into the life and times of King Richard III. In 2012, through her Looking For Richard Project, she discovered Richard III’s remains beneath a Leicester car park. She later launched The Missing Princes Project, an international investigation into the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. In this talk, Langley shares the meticulous research, collaborative discoveries and compelling conclusions behind her quest to solve one of history’s greatest mysteries.
Visit macreadytheatre.co.uk to book or for more information.