The Old Rep Theatre is excited to announce a brand-new BOA season for Spring and Summer. Shows on the calendar include performances from Acting, Writing, Directing and Screencraft pathways from their respective academies BOA Creative, Digital & Performing Arts Academy and BOA Stage & Screen Production Academy.
Kicking off the season next week will be BOA Creative, Digital & Performing Arts’ Year 13 Acting Pathways, first with David Elridge’s coming-of-age tale Market Boy. The story follows the story of 13-year-old, Boy, as he navigates his turbulent teenage years learning everything about the world, and women, from Trader and the other shoe-stall lads, amidst a huge host of other characters who inhabit the market day to day. The talented cast play over 40 different characters with energy, commitment, and stamina. Trust us, it's a play like no other. Market Boy will be at the theatre from Tuesday 16 – Thursday 18 April.
Continuing the Year 13 Acting run is Mike Bartlett’s 13. This fast-paced rollercoaster of a play propels you through the early 2000's in true London style. Written in 2011, it is as relevant today as it was then and continues to reflect our ever terrifying and ever evolving political world. However, this is not just a play about politics, it's about humans, our flaws and foibles, our ability to exploit power and the fragility of life itself. 13 will be at The Old Rep from Tuesday 23 – Thursday 25 April.
Finishing off the 3-week-run of fantastic Year 13 Acting shows will be Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman. Set during The Troubles, Northern Ireland, 1981. The Ferryman tells a story of the family of a former IRA terrorist, living in their farmhouse. The Ferryman will be at the theatre from Tuesday 30 April – Thursday 2 May.
Daniel Branch, Assistant Principal of BOA Creative, Digital & Performing Arts Academy said ahead of the BOA Acting season:
“BOA Acting students are relishing the opportunity to showcase their skills at The Old Rep this April and May. The season of three productions will see the Year 13 BTEC students demonstrate their stagecraft on the historic stage as their final assessed performance, before moving on to various universities and drama schools around the country to further their training.”
The Old Rep Theatre will also be joined by students from the BOA Group’s other academy, BOA Stage & Screen Production Academy, for their Year 13’s Showcase Extravaganza on Wednesday 8 May. Their Writing, Directing & Screencraft pathway students present a culmination of their hard work, dedication, and passion as an emerging group of talented Actors, Writers, and Directors.
It will include the premiere of the one-shot film The Protest – a journey of raw emotion exploring the complexities of interaction and social issues for a group of young people within the backdrop of a city protest and a local café.
There’s also the opportunity to watch some incredible performances in their personal projects as each piece invites the audience to witness the realms of their imagination and storytelling achievements.
On Friday 10 May the psychological-horror production The Other Minds will take to the stage. The show is presented by the production company RedMind Productions, formed by BOA Stage & Screen Production Academy students, who will also be performing in the show. The show follows troubled characters Jane, Hannah and Daisy as they explore their different relationships, complex personality traits and individual mentalities.
Across all the shows, backstage and technical support, as well as costume, hair and make-up, will also be provided by BOA Stage & Screen Production Academy students.
Musical Theatre, Dance and Acting pathway showcases for June and July are due to go on sale in the next couple of weeks. So, stay tuned as The Old Rep and BOA academies will announce on their respective social media channels, you can also keep up to date with all on sale and event information there too.
The Old Rep Theatre and BOA Group’s partnership began in 2014, after the BOA Group successfully tendered for the theatre. Ever since, the group aims to ensure that the theatre is a vibrant hub for the provision of high-quality arts, performance, and training for young people at the heart of the West Midlands. The Old Rep hosts student performances throughout the year alongside regularly timetabled lessons.
All tickets are available to book for the upcoming season via www.oldreptheatre.co.uk (Online booking fee applies). Tickets can also be purchased over the phone with the theatre’s Box Office team on 0121 359 9444 (Phone line opening times apply).
