Curve invites Leicester and Leicestershire to join its 5th birthday celebrations
Curve is inviting the people of Leicester and Leicestershire to take part in its 5th Birthday Celebrations this autumn, as the theatre marks its first big milestone with a full programme of festivities and events.
Over the past five years Curve has welcomed over 750,000 people to enjoy critically acclaimed productions in all three theatre spaces. Alongside this over 50,000 people of all ages have taken part in community activity at Curve, either performing in a community production, learning new skills as a member of its Curve Young Company or over 55s groups, attending a talk, exhibition or workshop.
Curve plays its part in Leicester’s economic development, and has established an enviable reputation as a unique venue for large scale national conferences, as well as supporting local business events and the De Montfort University graduation ceremonies. So much so, that in addition to its award winning theatre productions, earlier this year Curve was awarded the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at The Leicester and Leicestershire Tourism Excellence Awards, recognising its value to the visitor economy.
Fiona Allan, Curve’s CEO commented
“Our 5th Birthday is a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate Curve’s many achievements over the past five years and take the opportunity to thank all of our loyal supporters. Also, to remind those in the city and county who may not yet have been to visit – now’s definitely the time!
“For this reason, we are throwing open our doors on Saturday 7 September for our first public open day in five years. A whole programme of guided tours, workshops, family activities, exhibitions, and theatrical spectacles will be on offer absolutely free of charge. Whether you are a Curve regular who’d like a sneak peek behind the scenes, or a first time visitor who wants to see the marvellous ‘inside/out’ theatre for themselves, there will be plenty to see and do, and we would love for you to join our celebrations. The 5th Birthday Open Day is our way of saying thank you, and giving back to the so many people who’ve supported us and helped us succeed.
“On 4 December, the 5th anniversary of the day Her Majesty The Queen officially opened Curve will be the opening night of Curve’s brand new production of Chicago. We plan to give away hundreds of tickets to this evening so members of the public will have the chance to experience an evening on the red carpet. And our 5th Birthday season will conclude with a Gala Concert on Sunday 12 January, a one-off fundraising event to support Curve’s charitable work in the community.”
Celebrations will kick off with a free, fun-filled, action-packed 5th Birthday Open Day on Saturday 7 September that will take the community behind the scenes of Leicester’s award winning theatre and offer opportunities to join in large scale, spectacular events in our theatre spaces. Highlights of the day will include the opening of a 5th Birthday Photography Exhibition, curated by Pamela Raith, in Curve’s newly launched Gallery Space marking the history of Curve and broad range of work the theatre has created and presented over the past five years.
Curve is also reaching out to the community to share their best memories and experiences of the theatre. A stunning Digital Mosaic for the Curve Foyer Screen will be created and unveiled at the 5th Birthday Open Day. Members of the public can upload in a photo themselves as a five year old and their fondest Curve memory – in just 140 characters – to form part of a living, expanding digital tribute at www.curvemosaic.co.uk.
Events continue into October with a Half Term Family Arts Week from21 – 26 October featuring a range of free workshops and activities each day including the Curve Children’s Choir; dance classes; birthday cake-making and decorating workshops with Curve’s chef; Movement Classes led by Moving Together; storytelling and craft making activities. Children also need to keep their eyes peeled for a dinosaur or two wandering around the building!
Bollywood’s centenary will be marked during Curve’s week-long Diwali celebrations from 28 October – 2 November. The dream factory at the heart of Indian cinema, producing over 800 films a year will be the inspiration behind a vibrant programme of free Foyer events, shows and exhibitions. Bollywood dance workshops will be held by Curve’s Community Affiliate Group, Nupur Arts, who will also be making their debut performance in the Theatre with a brand new show, In the Land of Fairpur. The week will conclude with Diwali Hangama,a spectacular evening of music, comedy and dance presented in association with Sabras Radio.
The final event marking Curve’s 5th Birthday will be a glittering charity night at the musicals. Introduced by Curve’s Artistic Director Paul Kerryson, the gala concert will celebrate the international reputation of musicals created in Leicester including the critically acclaimed productions in our first five years at Curve: The Light in the Piazza, The King and I, West Side Story, 42nd Street, Gypsy, Oliver!, Hello, Dolly!, Sweeney Todd andChicago.
Curve’s 5th Birthday is being supported by media partners, BBC Radio Leicester, the Leicester Mercury, Pukaar News,Eureka!, Sabras Radio and Un.titled.
For more information on Curve’s 5th Birthday Autumn Season visit www.curveonline.co.ukor call the Ticket Office on 0116 242 3595.
ENDS
For further information and interview requests please contact:
Clair Horwood, Media Officer on 0116 242 357 or c.horwood@curveonline.co.uk
CURVE 5th BIRTHDAY PROGRAMME
Curve 5th Birthday Open Day
Sat 7 Sep, 10am – 6pm
The Open Day on 7 September is Curve’s gift to the community. A free day for all the family packed full of opportunities to get involved in spectacular events in its theatre spaces, explore Curve and maybe break a few records! The day will feature guided backstage tours; technical demonstrations showing off the capabilities of one of the country’s most advanced stages, music and comedy performances by some of Leicestershire’s best local talent; drop-in dance, music and drama workshops; free arts, crafts and henna; and free performances throughout the day by Curve’s resident artists.
Photography Exhibition
Sat 7 Sep – Sun 12 Jan
Curve Gallery Space, curated by Pamela Raith
Taking over the newly-launched Curve Gallery Space as part of the 5th Birthday celebrations, a spectacular exhibition of photography will be unveiled marking the history of Curve and the breath-taking range of work the theatre has created and presented over the past five years.
Digital Mosaic
Sat 7 Sep – Sun 12 Jan
A chance for audiences share their memories and experiences of Curve. Working with technology partners, Un.titled, a stunning digital artwork for the Curve Big Screen will be created and unveiled at the 5th Birthday Open Day. Members of the public can send in a photo themselves as a five year old and their fondest Curve memory to form part of a living, expanding digital tribute to Leicester’s world-class theatre. For details of how to upload an image, visit www.curvemosaic.co.uk
Half Term Family Arts Week
Mon 21 – Sat 26 Oct
Visit Curve during October half term for a fantastic week of birthday celebrations for all the family to enjoy. Each day Curve will be offering a wide range of pre-bookable workshops and activities available to take part in including the Curve Children’s Choir; Dance Classes; Birthday Cake-making and decorating workshops with our very own Chef; Movement Classes led by Moving Together; Storytelling and Craft Making activities. Children also need to keep their eyes peeled for a dinosaur or two wandering around the building!
Diwali Week at Curve
Mon 28 Oct – Sat 2 Nov
This year, Bollywood, the dream factory at the heart of Indian cinema, producing over 800 films a year reaches its 100th Birthday. As Curve marks Diwali – The Hindu Festival of Lights, we also take a moment to celebrate one of the most vibrant elements of Indian culture in the 21st Century.
DIWALI HANGAMA
Sat 2 Nov
Building on the success of last year’s Diwali Hangama, Sabras Radio, the Midlands’ largest Asian radio station, joins Curve once more to present a spectacular evening of music, comedy and dance. With an all-star line-up to be announced, join us as Kash Kumar, Raj Baddhan and other Sabras personalities host an eclectic night of entertainment as the culmination of Curve’s Diwali celebrations.
Chicago Opening Night – Curve’s Official 5th Birthday
Tue 4 Dec
Five years to the day since Her Majesty The Queen opened Curve, experience the glamour of the red carpet at Curve’s opening night of its brand new production of the Tony Award winning musical Chicago on the theatre’s official birthday.
5th Birthday Birthday Gala Concert
Sun 12 Jan
Join Curve for a glittering charity night at the musicals introduced by Curve’s Artistic Director Paul Kerryson and starring the Chicago cast and orchestra, along with special guest stars. The final event marking Curve’s 5th Birthday, the concert will celebrate the international reputation of musicals created in Leicester including the critically acclaimed productions in our first five years at Curve: The Light in the Piazza, The King and I, West Side Story, 42nd Street, Gypsy, Oliver!, Hello, Dolly!, Sweeney Todd and of courseChicago!
Ticket Prices:
£80 includes ticket, dinner, welcome drink, programme and exclusive meet the Cast after the show
£50 includes ticket, invitation to a drinks reception and programme
£30Gala Concert ticket only