Chloe Lawrence
Programmes Manager
Alex and Eliza will return to ARC in September and I’m so excited to see it again. As this is an ARC Production we were very involved with the development and have seen many variations of the show including a very moving first sharing in our dance studio after only a few days of development with live music and Umar’s beautiful story telling. The final piece is beautifully moving, full of heart and sure to transport you to another place and time.
Alex and Eliza is also recommended by ARC’s Young Peoples Programme Coordinator Holly Gallagher.
Patrick Hollifield
Marketing Manager
Before I worked at ARC I’d been to the theatre maybe three or four time in my adult life, I just didn’t think it was for me. Thankfully after I started working here I started to feel more comfortable about giving it a try and now see theatre fairly regularly, at ARC and elsewhere. Even so I’m not always convinced that I’m going to enjoy all the work we have at ARC, but am still willing to give things ago.
Last October one of those shows came along that I really wasn’t sure about but I didn’t have anything else in particular happening on this Wednesday night so decided to give it a go. The show was This Really is Too Much by Gracefool Collective. To be perfectly honest I expected the quality to be good, it (almost) always is, and that it would be relatively enjoyable, but wasn’t expecting to be blown away.
This Really Is Too Much was a highly energetic (and yes at times, frantic) performance about all of the expectations that are placed on women in our modern society, and often all at the same time. I don’t remember all of the details, I can’t recall it word for word, or moment to moment. What I can remember is the overwhelming joy I took home with me. It’s the kind of warmth you can only walk away with when something hasn’t just engaged your brain, but also made you feel something too.
This September Gracefool Collective return to ARC with This is Not a Wedding, and I really cannot wait to see it. Even if you don’t immediately think it’s the sort of thing you’d like, I’d urge you to give it a go. You never know, it might surprise you!
Nick Wesson
Marketing and Press Officer
ARC is taking part in the second edition of The Gathering Sounds festival on Sat 28 Sep and the line-up looks great. It’s another six months until Stockton Calling so if you want to get your fix of some of the best up-and-coming bands in the UK across some of the best venues in Stockton, this should fill that gap nicely.
It’s got a really good mix of local talent and bands from outside the area. Ones to look out for if you haven’t seen the already are Be Quiet. Shout Loud!, Sophie & The Giants, Queen Zee, Marthagunn, and The Blinders.
Hayley Pink
Marketing Apprentice
I can’t wait to watch Margaret Atwood: Live in Cinemas. I’ve only recently read The Handmaid’s Tale and it feels like perfect timing that the sequel, The Testaments, is about to be released, and that ARC are one of the cinemas to host a live screening of the event.
Margaret Atwood is a woman that I’ve admired for many years, and although it took me a while to get round to reading The Handmaid’s Tale I’ve really loved her other work.
As well as being excited for the live screening, I’m also looking forward to buying my copy of The Testaments on the night from Drake’s Bookshop who will be here at ARC!