Collective Artistes are a group who specialise in producing both professional and community theatre, covering social issues. They are particularly concerned with Africa and its people. They were formed in 2002 when the principal administrators and performers had already been producing theatre together for five years. In 2006, they were granted charitable status.

Their latest production is called The African Company Presents Richard III and it is based on historical events. It is set in New York in 1821. The African Company was the first African American theatre troupe. This was sixty years before slavery ended. The historical facts are that the leading actors of this company were arrested for no apparent reason and the show was closed down.

The story told is of a rival theatre company importing an English actor for a production of Shakespeare’s Richard III and having concerns about the black ensemble’s rival production. With a helpful constabulary and trumped up charges the African Company’s production is duly closed down.

The play is written by Carlyle Brown and directed by Chuck Mike. It tours various venues including the Greenwich Theatre, the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough and the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth. It promises to sell well so you are advised to book your theatre tickets early.

SPRING AWAKENING TICKETS – LIVE AVAILABILITY

‘Spring Awakening’ at Novello Theatre London, 21st March 2009 – 31st October 2009

Winner of 8 Tony Awards on Broadway – Buy your Spring Awakening tickets with Concierge Desk London. We offer a great range of tickets for Spring Awakening at the Novello theatre, including ‘best seats’, and cheap Spring Awakening tickets. Also available, Spring Awakening tickets and dinner packages.

TICKETS:  £22.00 – £69.00

SHOW AND MEAL DEALS: From £25.00 (Ticket worth £17.50 alone) includes ticket and 2 course dinner at top West End restaurants

Show Type

Spring Awakening is a Musical

Show Overview

Inspired from Frank Wedekind’s 1891 controversial play, spring awakening is a story of teenage self discovery set in late 19th century Germany in an age when sex was an un-discussed,  taboo subject.

Wendla Bergmann is a beautiful adolescent girl, about to become an aunt for the second time. Curious as to where babies come from, the young Wendla is led to believe by her mother that a lady must simply ‘love her  husband with all her heart’ in order to conceive. 

Ultimately falling pregnant by Melchoir, a handsome and intelligent young man the naive Wendla meets in the woods by accident; Spring Awakening explores the journey from youth to adulthood, embracing forbidden subjects such as abortion, teenage sexuality, and suicide.

Banned in Germany shortly after it’s original release, Spring Awakening was never performed in English in it’s entirety for some 100 years. Re-written by Grammy Award winning American playwright Steven Sater in collaboration with singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening is a 21st century, rock musical adaptation of the groundbreaking play which took Broadway by storm, winning 8 tony awards including Best Musical 2007.

Now on tour, ‘Spring Awakening’ hits the West End stage on 21st march and promises to be one of the most talked about shows in town!

Show Age Suitability

Spring Awakening is suitable for Adults / Older Children (at least 15 years)

Theatre Information

Spring Awakening will be playing at the Novello Theatre, 5 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LD

Nearest Underground Station: Covent Garden Served by Piccadilly line

Take the Exit into the Piazza and the theatre is approximately a 10 minute walk
The theatre is a 5 minute walk from the station

Bus links: 1 4 6 9 11 13 15 23 26 59 68 76 87 91 139 168 172 176 177 189 253 341 521 RV1 and X68

Performance Information

EVENINGS
MONDAY TO SATURDAY: 7.30PM
MATINEES
WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY: 2.30PM

Running Time: TBC

Creative Team

Directed by: Michael Mayer
Book and lyrics by: Steven Sater
Music by: Duncan Sheik
Choreography by: Bill T. Jones

SPRING AWAKENING TICKETS – LIVE AVAILABILITY

The Orange Tree is London’s only permanent theatre in the round. Under artistic director Sam Walters it seems to specialise in unearthing and reviving plays. It has already started 2009 with a fantastic production of Mary Goes First, the 1913 comedy by Henry Arthur Jones. Now the venue is turning its attention to a new work.

Greenwash by David Lewis runs until the 21st of March. It deals with the ever topical subjects of sex, lies and climate change. The protagonist is Alan, a PR guru from America, who has worked in both Bush administrations and the oil industry. He is also a notorious womaniser. He lusts after Grace who is a lifelong supporter of all things ecological. His problem, of course, is how to convince her that he’s a nice guy really.

An intervention for Grace’s alcoholic brother Charlie seems like an opportunity too good to miss. However, also attending the intervention is a couple spiralling towards divorce and Charlie’s estranged wife. Needless to say, the evening becomes farcical amid the shocking revelations and seductions.

This promises to be an outstanding London show with a cast which includes Amanda Royle, Joy Richardson, Jonathan Guy Lewis, Miranda Foster, Stephen Beckett, Carolyn Backhouse and Richard Attlee.

Most people accept that the best time for most people to go to the theatre is the weekend. This has been recognised with shows such as The Lion King opening on Sundays and the National Theatre pioneering Sunday performances after reaching agreement with the actors’ union, Equity.

However, a new code of conduct being created by Bectu, the theatre technicians’ union and the Theatrical Management Association (TMA) could see venues cutting back on performances at the weekend.

The agreement is attempting to ensure greater adherence to health and safety regulations and ensure that workers get sufficient breaks between getting one show out of a theatre and the next one in.

The agreement is likely to lead to higher costs for venues. This will mainly affect touring shows. The new agreement states that staff should be given an absolute minimum break of 8 hours for every 24 hours worked. In almost any other industry this would be taken for granted.

It has been suggested that the new agreement will be tried out in the regions before being brought in across the country. It is less likely to affect a London show as usually these have longer runs and there is not the need for constant get-ins and get-outs.