The Artz Centre, usually known for its busy calendar of community arts-based events, played host this weekend to a neighbouring Chorley-based creative organisation, Junction 8 Theatre; providing the closing venue for the company’s hit touring production of “LANCASTRIANS”.
LANCASTRIANS, the new play written and produced by Junction 8 Theatre, was developed using the real words of 500 people, who were interviewed about living in Lancashire; many of these 500 people hailing from our immediate local areas of Skelmersdale and Ormskirk. Presented by just three actors, the play took audiences on a whistle stop tour of the entire County, recounting stories filled with moments of passion, comedy, resilience and grief; from Blackpool to Skem to Burnley and beyond. All whilst creating a true and brilliant snapshot of Lancashire life.
During its run at the Artz Centre, LANCASTRIANS sold over 170 tickets to local people, whom thoroughly enjoyed 3 performances of the new play, at the Artz Centre. The community-focussed event also featured traditional Lancashire-themed refreshments provided by Birchwood Catering, home of the local “Junk Food Cafe”; a fellow community initiative that transforms intercepted surplus food into nutritious meals. About working with the Artz Centre, Production Manager of Junction 8 Theatre, Phil Geller, commented: “It was an absolute pleasure to bring LANCASTRIANS to the Artz Centre in Skelmersdale. This is a building which has embedded itself in its local community, promoting the arts in a huge way; engaging a huge number of young people through incredible theatre projects. We performed our final show to a sell-out audience on Saturday evening, and it was brilliant to work in partnership with both Artz and the Birchwood Junk Food Cafe – it felt like a real community event, demonstrating true Lancastrian spirit!”.
During the weekend’s performances, as an added benefit for some of our local young people, Junction 8’s Artistic Director, Liz Stevenson, facilitated a free-of-charge and one-of-a-kind professional acting workshop to 26 Artz Centre students; focusing on the acting skills that she had explored with her cast of actors in the LANCASTRIANS production. The young people were also able to partake in a Q&A with the LANCASTRIANS creative team and cast members, giving them a greater insight into the world of professional touring theatre.
Claire McEvoy, of the Artz Centre team, commented: “This overall collaboration with Junction 8 Theatre has been a brilliant opportunity for the town, our local community, the Artz Centre and our students. High quality, professionally produced touring theatre does not usually ‘stop off’ in Skem, never mind theatre that celebrates the communities and County in which we all live and work. Liz and her team have been a creative inspiration to our local people, the Artz Team and our Artz students, and we look forward to hopefully working with Junction 8 again soon!”.
(See pictured, Liz Stevenson centre of photograph, surrounded by members of her LANCASTRIANS cast, Artz students and Artz staff).