The newly refurbished Westlands Yeovil will stage an impressive programme of opera, ballet, music, theatre, classic cinema and childrens’ theatre and film this spring. Some events are live, beamed direct from a major international theatre or concert hall. The programmes start at the end of March.
Horsington’s Penny Nagle’s ,company Flaming Lassie Ltd has been appointed by the centre to run its film and event Cinema programme.
The first event is The Royal Opera House’s much loved classic “Sleeping Beauty” which will be screened at 7pm on Wednesday 29th March. Following this will be the full Royal Opera House season including Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” on Sunday 2 April at 2pm, George Balanchine’s fabulous ballet “Jewels” on Sunday 16th April at 2pm, Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton’s “The Dream/Symphonic Variations/Marguerite and Armand” on Sunday 11 June at 2pm, and as a grand finale the wonderful Jonas Kaufman makes his role debut in Verdi’s “Otello” on Sunday 2 July at 2pm.
Music events include “From the New World” by the Berliner Philharmoniker Live from Berlin conducted by the charismatic conductor Gustavo Dudamel on Friday 9 June at 6.30pm. The orchestra will perform John Adam’s “City Noir” and Dvořák’s symphony From the New World.
Theatre events on screen include the fantastic David Suchet as Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde’s “Importance of Being Earnest”. This production was critically acclaimed with four stars from every national newspaper, and really brings new comedic insight to the play.
Film Events include Mel Brooks’s satirical comedy “The Producers” followed by a talk on comedy by Anil Gupta, whose Producer credits include The Office, Goodness Gracious Me, and Citizen Khan on Sunday 21 May at 2.30pm. Actor Olivia Williams (Sixth Sense, Rushmore, Lucky Break, The Halcyon) talks about “To Kill a Mockingbird” after a screening of the film on Sunday 4 June at 2.30pm.
For children aged 7-13 Bruton’s Youth Cinema Foundation workshops how to make a film with The Castaway Theatre Group before a screening of “Bugsy Malone” on Sunday 18 June at 2.30pm.
All tickets are reasonably priced and easily available on line or from a real live person at the Octagon Theatre Box Office in Yeovil. Tel 01935 422884.
(Westlands is now part of the Octagon Theatre)
http://www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk
Penny Nagle MD of Flaming Lassie told the Blog, “ We are thrilled to be working with Adam’s team at the new Westlands Yeovil, which is growing and diversifying the existing cultural offering for the area with these new screen events”.
Adam Burgan, Arts and Entertainment Manager of The Octagon Theatre says “We are excited to welcome guests to the refurbished Westlands venue with comfortable seats, a great bar, friendly service and accessible parking. We’re delighted that Penny and Flaming Lassie have created this screen programme with us which we hope all our audiences will enjoy”.
Background to the Westlands re-development There are many other events on at Westlands.
Editor’s note: Penny is behind more exciting cultural developments to be staged in Wincanton’s town hall. Watch this space.