New season launched for Cheshire Rural Touring Arts

Feb 14 2013 Flintshire Chronicle

Cheshire Rural Touring Arts has announced another diverse programme of events coming to village locations across the county.

The new season includes music from Wingin it, an upbeat acoustic guitar duo, and a trip to the roaring 1920s with The Joint is Jumpin’ from 52 Skidoo.

There is also opera from Relative Pitch Opera, telling the story of singer Florence Easton in The Nightingale of Southbank.

Celebrating love of all kinds around Valentine’s Day, Kepow Theatre performs A Crazy Little Thing Called Love.

Welcomed back is Farnham Maltings Theatre with a new play In Praise of Elephants, written by local writer Kevin Dyer, and there is also the local choir Handbag of Harmonies in Handbag – The Musical!.

Straight from the Edinburgh Festival is Theatre Temoin with The Fantasist, Nicholas Collet brings his one-man show Spitfire Solo and Maxwell Golden performs Country Boy’s Struggle.

There is also a high-energy performance of dance and physical theatre from Kosh Theatre with Café Chaos as well as Vamos Theatre with Finding Joy.

As part of CRTA’s new Cutting Hedge brand of performances, J Fergus Evans will give an intimate performance for nine people at a time in My Heart is Hitchhiking Down Peachtree St.

Cutting Hedge branded shows are part of a new partnership between CRTA and Axis Arts Centre, Crewe, to tour artistically challenging and unusual work in rural venues.

There will also be performances from Radio 4 poet Luke Wright with his energetic and topical poetry.

For younger audiences and their families, there is a cosmic adventure from M6 Theatre with Mavis Sparkle and storytelling for families from Snail Tales with A Bird in Your Ear. Music and puppetry from Little Cauliflower Theatre in its uplifting show Street Dreams will also be popular.

Performances are taking place at village halls and community centres across the region.

Cllr Stuart Parker, executive member for culture and recreation for Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “The bumper list of performances taking place across Cheshire West has something for every taste and age group.

“Cheshire Rural Touring Arts is extremely popular and I am sure this season of plays, music, comedy and drama will be welcomed in rural settings and locations throughout the borough.”

For a full list of venues and performance dates see the new season brochure, which can be downloaded from www.cheshireruraltouringarts.co.uk or you can request a copy to be sent to you in the post by calling rural arts officers Claire Smith or Jen Henry on 01244 972835 and 01244 977667 or emailing henrysmith@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Cheshire Rural Touring Arts is supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire East Council and the Arts Council of England. For more, visit www.cheshireruraltouringarts.co.uk.