LAWRENCE: Scandalous! Censored! Banned! and The Bridewell Theatre

Welcome back to Access London and Thank You once again for helping to support Access for All to the Arts. This week sees a strictly limited run (one week only) of 'Lawrence: Scandalous! Censored! Banned', the musical, based on the life of D H Lawrence opening at The Bridewell Theatre, in the City (just off of Fleet Street). "Set between 1907 and 1930, Lawrence is a compelling story with an exciting and diverse musical score that captures the spirit and passion of D H Lawrence the man, the writer and the lover." Lawrence was the author of titles that include, Lady Chatterley's Lover, Sons & Lovers, Women in Love and The Rainbow.

From humble beginnings as a Nottinghamshire miner's son, David Herbert Lawrence finally breaks away from the stifling love of his mother, Lydia, and the brooding intensity of his girlfriend, Jessie, to pursue his quest as a writer. This is a story of hope, restlessness and rejection set against a profoundly moving and turbulent public love affair with Frieda von Richthofen, a German baroness. Frieda gives up her children and her comfortable life as a Professor's wife to embark on a tumultuous roller-coaster ride with Lawrence, the working-class genius. Inspired firstly by his life and the people in his home town, Eastwood, Lawrence writes Sons and Lovers, then The Rainbow, then Women in Love. His writing is new and brave, spontaneous and passionate, sexually explicit, and often scandalous! ... it rocks the establishment. Labelled a "peddler of pornography", many of his books are censored or banned - but he passionately clings to his beliefs and struggles on. Finally, penniless and with no hope of his work being published, and even accused of spying for the Germans, Lawrence and Frieda leave England in search of a better life. They travel but never settle for long, with Lawrence constantly drawn to England ... the "country of my heart". When they return in 1926, Lawrence witnesses the miners' desperate fight for fair wages and rights against the might and greed of the wealthy mine owners. This inspires him to write what will become the most daring and notorious novel of its day. As the first edition of Lady Chatterley’s Lover rolls off the press, Lawrence finally collapses from an illness he has been fighting since birth. At the end of a life that saw much of his work censored and reviled, Lawrence - with Frieda by his side glimpses a future where he will at last be recognised as one of the greatest English novelists of the 20th century: “I will rise like the Phoenix from the ashes of my life".

Broadway star, Bart Shatto is reprising the role of Lawrence, following his run in the New Orleans production in 2009. The cast includes, Garth Bardsley, Nick Wyschna, Christiane Noll, Lindsay Hamilton, Diana DiMarzio and Tony Oakley. Performances run from Tuesday 22nd - Saturday 26th October every evening at 7.30. There is also a matinee on Saturday 26th at 2.30pm. Tickets can be booked online HERE

Access Information: The entrance to Bridewell Theatre and Bar is in Bride Lane. Access is over a threshold stone of 10-15cm. Ramps are available and can be placed over the threshold to assist with Access for wheelchair users. Unfortunately, the building itself, and the lifts used to Access the auditorium mean that the Bridewell is not suitable for mobility scooters. For wheelchair users and those who cannot manage stairs, Access from the threshold to the auditorium is via a stairlift (230kg weight load) and to the theatre bar and WC via a platform lift (340kg weight load). The Bridewell is an intimate theatre space and currently doesn't have the use of a hearing loop system. If you are a wheelchair user or need to make use of the ramps or lifts during your visit, it is advised that you telephone ahead to the theatre so that someone can be there to assist you, the theatre can also only cater for 2 wheelchair users for any one performance. The telephone is staffed Monday - Friday on 020 7353 3331. Enquiries about assistance dogs can also be made to the number.

The Sound Of Music & Kilworth House Theatre

Welcome back to Access London and Thank You for continuing to support Access for All to the Arts. Today's post focuses on a venue outside of London...Kilworth House Theatre, Leicestershire and its forthcoming production of The Sound Of Music.

"'The Sound of Music' is quite simply one of the most popular musicals of all time. As their final collaboration Rodgers and Hammerstein have created a true classic of musical theatre based on the heartwarming, true story of the Trapp Family Singers. Maria, a young nun in an Austrian convent regularly misses her morning prayers preferring to go to the hills to sing. Deciding that Maria is too high spirited and needs to learn something about the real world before she can take her vows, the Mother Superior dispatches her to serve as a governess for the children of the widowed Captain Von Trapp. Rodgers and Hammerstein's unforgettable score delivers some of the most memorable songs ever written for the musical stage including 'Edelweiss', 'My Favourite Things', 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain' 'Do-Re-Mi' and, of course, the title song. 'The Sound of Music' originally opened on Broadway in November 1959 and since then has gone on to touch the hearts of all ages around the world. Uplifting , fun yet always moving 'The Sound of Music' is an unmissable treat for all the family."

Running at Kilworth House Theatre, set in the beautiful grounds of Kilworth House, this is a show not to be missed this Summer. The Sound Of Music runs from the 21st August until the 16th September 2012. Evening performances start at 7.30pm Tuesday-Sunday, with matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and some Sundays. The fabulous cast for this production includes.... Helena Blackman (Maria) @helenablackman Rebecca Caine (Elsa) @RebeccaCaine Ian Knaur (Georg) Russell Wilcox (Max) @russwilcox Dom Hodson (Rolf) @DomHodson Jan Hartley (Mother Abbess) Hazel Gardner (Liesl) @IAmHazelGardner

Access Information: "The whole of the Kilworth House Theatre site including the car park is accessible for wheelchair usersand those with mobility difficulties. Within the auditorium there are four spaces on Row A reserved for wheelchair users. In each case there is a seat next to the wheelchair space for an accompanying person. We prefer to speak directly to the customer about their specific needs and allocate them the best seats available to serve these needs. There are reserved parking spaces for wheelchair users only and we have our own wheelchair available on request. Access between the Hotel and the Theatre: There is a well marked path between the hotel and the theatre suitable, if necessary, for a wheelchair. For clients with mobility difficulties we can provide transport by golf buggy between the hotel and the theatre entrance and vice versa, commencing one hour before and immediately after the show. Hearing Impairment: The theatre has installed an induction loop system for those who use a hearing aid. It is necessary to set your hearing aid to the T position before the performance starts. Assistance Dogs: Kilworth House Theatre welcomes assistance dogs and is happy to cater for their needs when attending a performance. Please notify the box office when booking to enable us to allocate the best seats available to serve their needs.

I found box office staff dealing with Access bookings to be extremely helpful. The Sound Of Music's Access tickets policy allows for a free companion ticket to be booked alongside the Access ticket. Access tickets need to be booked via the box office directly on 01858 881939 (Mon-Fri 10am - 4pm). For more information about Kilworth House Theatre, please see their site at www.kilworthhousetheatre.co.uk *Some text and images taken from Kilworth House Theatre website. Additional images from Rebecca Caine

Access London - Theatre Update

Welcome back to Access London and thank you once again for your support for better disability access and awareness in the Capital.

Today's post is an update for all theatre and music lovers out there...

The much anticipated Lincoln Center Theatre Production of Rodgers and Hammersteins's South Pacific is set to take the UK by storm from August this year. The show opens at The London Barbican for a 7 week run on 15th August and from then beings a UK tour to include: Milton Keynes, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, Southampton and Oxford.

The production enjoyed a successful, 2 year run in New York and now UK audiences will get the chance to see the show. With a fabulously talented cast, this is one show not to be missed this summer. Access London will be seeing the show at the beginning of its run and there will be a more detailed post shortly after on this blog.

The Barbican has good Access for those using a wheelchair or mobility scooter. It also has a great Access Scheme that allows you to register your personal access needs so that the best available seating and options are available to you. Blue Badge holders can also reserve a parking space, free of charge, onsite from an hour before the performance starts.

I cannot comment on the Access to all the venues featured on the UK tour so if you are wishing to see the show outside of London, I would recommend contacting the relevant theatre or venue.

To register on The Barbican's Access Scheme and book tickets for South Pacific CLICK HERE




To book tickets for all other venues on the UK tour, see the SOUTH PACIFIC UK WEBSITE



Other news sees the premature and sad closure of Lend Me A Tenor at London's Gielgud Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. This production was due to run until November 2011 but it was reported over the weekend that the show will close in London on Saturday 6th August!

The show has received some fantastic reviews and I have spoken to many that have seen it and really enjoyed it. There appears to be special offers on tickets for the remainder of its run and it would be well worth going to see it before it closes.

The Gielgud is Accessible to those using a wheelchair or mobility scooter via a side door on the same street as the stage door. A member of the front of house staff will meet you at the front of the theatre and take you to the entrance which enters near the cloakroom on the dress circle level. There are 2 allocated wheelchair spaces in the dress circle and other options for those who can transfer. To book Access tickets, please call 0844 482 5137. For all other ticket types, please call 0844 482 5138.

"This uproarious new musical comedy by Peter Sham and Brad Carroll is a riotous, unpredictable explosion of mistaken identities and unexpected romance – based on the award-winning West End and Broadway hit comedy by Ken Ludwig."

"This brand-new production is directed by Olivier award-winning director Ian Talbot (High Society, Anything Goes) and choreographed by Tony-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner (42nd Street, White Christmas). The cast includes the Olivier award-winners Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding."




COMING SOON: The London Eye, London Eye River Cruise, Access London Celebrates Phantom of the Opera's 25th.