Foursight Theatre to close in May 2012 following the national tour of Bette & Joan: The Final Curtain
16 December 2011
You may be aware that Foursight Theatre was unsuccessful in its application to be part of Arts Council England's new National Portfolio from April 2012. After consultation with staff, board members, associate artists and other partners we have taken the difficult decision to close the company in May 2012.
Our work in 2011/12
Our final year of operation is, however, very much business as usual with an exciting programme of work. This includes:
Bette & Joan: The Final Curtain
- In March/April 2012 we embark on a national tour with our brand new comic-drama, which looks at the lives of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Click here for further details.
- We opened the show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2011, where it received excellent reviews. We then transferred to Jacksons Lane, London and the show previewed at mac birmingham.
- The Explorers: a project for parents and pupils at West Park Primary, designed to increase parental engagement at the school.
- Lost For Words: a project for KS1 pupils designed to develop, and thereby improve, pupils' speaking and writing.
- Our co-production with the Portuguese company Teatro do Montemuro performed on the main stage at Teatro Nacional, Lisbon, in June 2011
Leaving a legacy
We are keen to make sure we leave a legacy from our work and to this end:
- A physical and digital archive of the history of the company and its work will be held at Wolverhampton City Archives, Wolverhampton having been the home of the company for almost 25 years. Click here for contact details .
- A digital archive will be held at Exeter University's International Arts Archive for Performance Practice Research. This archive will contain documentary evidence on every production Foursight Theatre has produced in its 25 year history. The company was founded by graduates of Exeter University. Click here for contact details .
- Copyright for each of the company's shows will be held by the creative lead for the production. Contact details will be available from May 2012 for anyone wanting information on how they can stage any of company's work.
We see this final year as an opportunity to celebrate our 25 year history, which has seen the company working with fantastic artists and partners, regionally, nationally and internationally; creating an innovative and vibrant body of work including Thatcher The Musical!, Can Any Mother Help Me?, Six Dead Queens and an Inflatable Henry, The Corner Shop and Reans Girls, to name just a few of our productions.
And we would like to take this opportunity to thank audience members, artists, partners and funders for their encouragement and support.
For further information, contact Thomas Wildish, General Manager of 01902 714257 or at thomaswildish@foursighttheatre.co.uk