With our doors currently closed due to coronavirus, our Front of House and Audience Development Coordinator Ash will be publishing a weekly blog to help to continue this cultural exchange, digitally. By sharing creative activities, live streams, resources and opportunities on offer from the university, our friends, associate artists and colleagues.

Each week, a member of the New Adelphi Theatre team will also be recommending an online activity or experience that has uplifted them during this time of social-distancing.

We will also be sharing good news stories and special mentions about our incredible colleagues who are working tirelessly to fight against this pandemic. Until we meet again, enjoy our pick of offerings from our wonderful industry friends – and let’s continue to Nurture the Arts Together, at home. Stay safe.  

BOLLYWOOD FOR BEGINNERS:

Multi-award-winning alumnus Ria Meera Munshi is offering a range of online Bollywood dance classes which take place every Tuesday at 7pm and Sunday at 11am. With the support from MIF, Ria ran a free workshop on Facebook live last week; you can revisit the video on YouTube to get a taster of what’s on offer! Full details can be found on Ri Ri’s Dance Academy website.

ARTISTS SURVEY:

Help our friends at HOME understand how their venue can support artists as they start to think about life after lockdown. Artists, you can be part of the conversation to help shape HOME’s plans by taking part in this short survey. See the STREAM section below to find out more about how HOME has been supporting artists during lockdown.

OCTAGON ONLINE:

The Octagon Theatre Bolton is hosting a selection of fun, educational and creative activities for all the family on their lovely new website. This includes patchworking tips, creative writing challenges, storytime for young ones and a theatre group to help those over 50 stay connected and creative!

The Octagon was due to reopen this summer, after a major redevelopment, but the interruption to construction means that their grand reopening season has been delayed. The Octagon has a very special place in my heart, having worked there (alongside many other Salford Univerity alumnus) before joining the University. It’s the place I learnt many of my Front of House skills from, with guidance from the wonderful Meena and Sarah. It’s one of the friendliest theatres I’ve ever been to and wish them all the best when they do re-open. I can’t wait to see how the space has been reimagined!

HOMEMAKERS:

Watch this series of new commissions which invites artists to create work at home, for an audience who are also at home.

Kevin Jamieson, Head of Programme at HOME, said: “In these very challenging times performing art venues can’t operate as business as usual. Our Homemakers project allows us to commission new work from a diverse array of live art makers from all over the country to explore new ways of making art that continues to push boundaries. These projects will range from playful to thoughtful, interactive to personal, and we are looking forward to finding out how theatre can continue to connect people, artists and audiences in these isolating times.”

Head over to HOME’s website and Pay What You Can to support new works from Bryony Kimmings, Plaster Cast Theatre and Chris Thorpe & Yusra Warsama.

WATCH ON iPLAYER:

The BBC are showcasing some of the most exciting artists working in performance, including; Hofesh Shechter Company, Jess Thom (Touretteshero), Kate Tempest and Akala. Plus Manchester’s very own Eggs Collective and Contact Theatre! Our friend Roxy Moores produced the film adaptation of I told my Mum I was going on an R.E. trip… which was described as a “vivid, clever piece that fuses tough subject matter with wicked humour and moments of pungent emotion” by the Guardian.

PARTY SKILLS THROWBACK:

As part of their Rewind series, MIF are streaming Party Skills For The End of The World which took place at the University of Salford’s Centenary Building and our beloved old Adelphi back in 2017. Booking is open from 18th May with limited capacity. “Come and hang out, make some friends, learn some new skills – and dance like nobody’s watching…”

Adelphi Building, Peru Street, Salford 1960. Image Source: University of Salford Archives and Special Collections

LIFE AT SALFORD:

Have you applied to study with us in 2020 and want to know about societies, student life and Salford? Why not join the University of Salford Students’ Union and our current students TOMORROW, who will be live over on the @salforduni Instagram from 4pm to answer your questions!

HEROES IN MOTION CHALLENGE:

Fancy yourself an animator? Help Waterside Arts Centre mark their 16th Birthday and celebrate the heroes in our lives by making a short, home-made animation. The chosen entries will feature in an extra special screening when the Waterside reopens! The project is open to all ages and abilities, so what’s stopping you? More info, inspiration and tips on their website.

POORLY DRAWN OPEN CALL:

Poorly Drawn is a Manchester-based creative and collaborative project which focuses on chronic illness, disability and mental health conditions. They create zines, host workshops, talks and more, with support from Contact. They have an open call out for responses to nature and health whilst in lockdown. Submit your art, photos, stories and collages by Monday 18 May.

As a creative with a chronic health condition, I am a huge supporter of Poorly Drawn, Sick Festival and DANC (who I featured in my second blog) – check out the incredible work they are doing!

Hannah Briggs, Marketing and Box Office Coordinator: “The time for art is now!!”

“Lockdown has been a very strange time and I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling that!

I am currently hunkered down with my family in Essex; I imagine many have gone to stay with family like me. I figured it would be a good thing – if there’s anyone I’m very used to tolerating for long periods of time, it’s my family. I say this in good faith, as we have made things work very well. We enjoy family dinners, spend relaxed evenings watching Poirot, and make every Sunday an art and crafts day. There are challenges as well, but it’s to be expected in every household.

For me, I have begun to write again, working on old plays and scripts I had left in a metaphorical drawer a while back. I know a lot of people have used this time to continue those creative pursuits that you never usually have time for. I love to write leisurely when I have a lot of time on my hands, so as you can imagine it doesn’t happen often! But in times like this, it couldn’t be a better time to create – it’s what the world needs right now.

For theatre, the National Theatre are making some of their shows available on Youtube, with their project National Theatre At Home, which I’ve enjoyed immensely. Currently their Frankenstein with Jonny Lee Miller is free to watch; a really incredible and moving performance!

And finally, I’ve become a first-time Aunt in the last few weeks. My niece Magdalene Rose Prior was born on the 27th of April and she couldn’t be more beautiful. I’m absolutely over the moon and in love! In such dark times it’s so wonderful to be reminded that life still goes on, babies are being born, spring is here and there is always, always art to be made – and to share!”

Congratulations Aunty Hannah and family!

Happy Birthday to our Venue Manager Mark!

Mark has worked at the University since 2006 and in that time he has supported thousands of students with their live performance work and has nurtured the growth of the New Adelphi Theatre from its conception. He is daft as a brush and never fails to make us laugh! Staff, students and artists alike will no doubt join us in wishing him many happy returns!

Happiest of happy birthdays Mark! Hope you have a safe and government-approved day! Lots of love Hannah x

Happy Birthday Mark! Hope you have a lovely day, filled with lots of snacks. Thanks for being a great boss and, more importantly, a great TV programme recommender – Georgia.

To the best Venue Development Manager an Artistic Director could wish for, Happy Birthday to you from the comfort of my home to the chaos of yours! (Two children under 2 = chaos)! Niki

Happy Birthday Mark! From Adam, Dave, Charlie, Jonathan and Josh. Hope you have a great day! (within government guidelines, of course)

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Until next week, stay safe.
Ash and the New Adelphi Theatre Team.

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Header photo credit: Nick Harrison