Events
One of Britain’s most versatile actors who has appeared in everything from Dennis Potter dramas to Casualty is joining the cast of a supernatural thriller written by top playwright Alan Ayckbourn.
Joe McFadden has confirmed he will join the cast of Haunting Julia starring opposite Duncan Preston (Emmerdale, Dinnerladies), when the haunting play comes to Norwich Theatre Royal on November 5-10.
Joe McFadden. In Haunting Julia this November at Norwich's Theatre Royal.
The Scottish actor has appeared in a wide range of stage productions including Rent at the Shaftesbury Theatre, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying at Chichester Festival Theatre, and even Aladdin at the Lyceum in the West End.
His versatility has also spread to TV and he first came to small-screen prominence when he played the lead role of Dallas McCabe in Dennis Potter’s hit BBC comedy-drama Lipstick On Your Collar.
Joe’s other television roles including the BBC’s acclaimed production of The Crow Road, PC Joe Mason in ITV’s popular Sunday night hit Heartbeat, and the troubled drifter Alistair in Casualty.
He is joining the cast of the first-ever UK tour of the critically acclaimed London production of Haunting Julia written by the popular comedy writer Alan Ayckbourn.
Also in the cast are popular stage and TV actor Duncan Preston, and veteran actor Richard O’Callaghan who has enjoyed a wide-ranging career ranging form the UK theatre tour of Educating Rita and Twelfth Night at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre through Carry On films to Z Cars, Dalziel and Pascoe, and New Tricks on TV.
It also boasts a strong creative team. The director Andrew Hall has most recently been seen on TV playing Marc/Marcia Selby on Coronation Street and he is also an acclaimed director. His production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf starring Matthew Kelly was a huge critical and commercial success, and he has also just directed the European premiere of John Morogiello’s Engaging Shaw in Vienna.
Penned by renowned playwright Alan Ayckbourn, Haunting Julia breaks away from the writer’s normal rich seam of comedy to examine grief, obsession and the supernatural. The chilling production follows a father’s obsessive investigation into his daughter’s death trying to discover if she committed suicide or whether someone else was involved.
Haunting Julia, Monday 5-Saturday 10 November at 7.30pm, and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets £5.50-£23. Discounts for Friends, Corporate Club, Over-60s, Under-18s and Groups.
BOX OFFICE 01603 630000. For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
NORFOLK’S FIRST SKIN LOUNGE IS OPENED
Norfolk could well become the new capital of happy, healthy complexions after celebrations took place at 18 Bridewell Alley in Norwich recently, when local Presenter Helen McDermott officially opened Norfolk’s first Skin Lounge.
Mrs McDermott was at Skin Therapist, Louise Thomas-Minns’ new ‘U and Your Skin’ Lounge, which offers bespoke facials, and skincare treatments.
Speaking at the opening, Mrs McDermott commented, “It is great to welcome a new business to Norwich and I wish Louise the best for the future.
‘’The new concept of a Skin Bar, and indeed Lounge, will definitely bring a whole new dimension to Norwich, and the excitement and interest at the launch event, showed just that’’.
Louise Thomas-Minns & Helen McDermott at the opening of U and Your Skin.
Mrs Thomas-Minns comments, ‘’I trained locally at Great Yarmouth College where I later, in my career, went back to teach beauty and am very excited about my new premises in the city centre, where I can educate people about skin health’’.
Louise has been a Skin Expert for over 16 years, and for the past five years she has been running her ‘U and Your Skin’ business from her home in the Golden Triangle & from her Skin lounge in London.
Louise’s passion for skin health stems from her own personal battle with acne, which she has particular empathy for.
At 18 Bridewell Alley, clients can enjoy ‘U and Your Skin’ signature, bespoke facials, which Louise developed after a decade of research and experience.
This bespoke treatment encompasses a three dimensional approach science, nutrition and holistic therapy, to treat clients’ skin issues on a unique personal basis, rather than offering one facial suits all approach.
Louise comments, “It is a general misconception that we are a conventional beauty salon – though my team and I only offer bespoke ‘U and Your Skin’ facials, which I have developed over the last 10 years. We only entertain Cosmeceutical products which have clinical evidence to back up their results & of which I have worked with for 14 years”.
The ‘U and Your Skin’ Lounge also offer supplementary treatments such as massage, lash tinting, electrolysis for hair removal and brow shaping. Also on the Skin Lounge menu are advanced cosmetic procedures such as skin tag, Milia and facial red vein removal. A new red light therapy called Omnilux revive was also launched at the event, which offers clinically proven treatment for psoriasis, lines & wrinkles & enhances Louise’s signature facials.
For more information or to try a fabulous ‘U and Your Skin’ bespoke facial for yourself, visit www.uandyourskin.co.uk, or call 01603 633633.
National Trust to debut new Wallace & Gromit animation over Jubilee Weekend
The National Trust has launched a campaign today teaming up with national treasures Wallace and Gromit to help lead the country’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The loveable duo’s NEW mini animation will be shown for the first time ever at Trust places including Felbrigg Hall and Anglesey Abbey in the East of England. The funny flick has been specially created for the National Trust festivities and shows the pair preparing for the big weekend, by scaling the ladders to hoist the bunting up around a magnificent Trust manor.
The green grass carpet will be rolled out for the mini animation – A Jubilee Bunt-a-thon – and a behind the scenes documentary, which are to be exclusively screened at the Trust’s 70 Jubilee parties across the country. Their films have already met with the royal seal of approval with Camilla declaring that Wallace and Gromit are Prince Charles’ “favourite people in the world”.
The one-minute animation begins in the familiar setting of 62 West Wallaby Street with the ever faithful and long suffering Gromit sitting at his sewing machine making miles of bunting to adorn National Trust places across the country.
Tony Berry, Visitor Experience Director of the National Trust, comments:
“The National Trust and Wallace and Gromit are two of Britain’s greatest treasures and we felt it fitting that in this summer of celebration we should bring them together. We are holding our very own premiere of Wallace & Gromit’s Jubilee Bunt-a thon at our properties. It was made exclusively for the National Trust and we are really excited that it will encourage the nation to join us for an extra special Diamond Jubilee celebration.”
Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit, comments:
“I have to pinch myself when I think how far Wallace and Gromit have come; from ideas in my head, to ‘film stars’ working with great organisations such as the National Trust, which the nation holds dear to its heart. At Aardman we are thrilled that Wallace and Gromit have had a chance to explore all the Trust has to offer – from helping to put up bunting to enjoying their Wensleydale cheese platter at a picnic. Wallace and Gromit are in for a cracking summer at the National Trust.
“The National Trust has a special place in my heart from a childhood memory of completing a paint- by- numbers at Stourhead, to Montacute House, on which we based Tottington Hall in the Curse of the Were-rabbit.”
Wallace & Gromit’s Jubilee Bunt-a-thon will be shown on 4th June at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk (11am – 10.30pm) and at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire (10.30am – 5.30pm), where there will be some cracking Jubilee parties. As well as the debut of the mini animation and behind the scenes ‘making of…’ film, throughout the day visitors will be able to sit back, relax and watch some of our favourite Aardman films. There will be Wallace and Gromit model making workshops with trained Aardman animators (places limited on the day), themed trails, a variety of fun games for children and exclusive themed retail and catering treats for all the family.
Also, at Felbrigg Hall you can stay late and watch live coverage of the BBC’s Jubilee Concert from Buckingham Palace, where entry will be free.
For a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Wallace and Gromit film visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wallaceandgromit.
The film in numbers:
30 – number of people who contributed to the making of the film
3 – months it took to make
500 – hours taken to complete from storyboard to post production
60 – metres of bunting used to decorate West Wallaby Street and National Trust property
8 – hours spent brushing the grass with a fork to achieve the correct look
30 – kilograms of plasticine used
4 – number of Gromits used in filming
254 – weight in kilograms of the National Trust property in the film
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