Welcome to the Virtual-Lancaster Performance Gallery - featuring local performance artists and entertainers listings below.

For plays and performance info see the
What's On Guide - Theatre Section

Bubble and Squeek
Web Link: www.bubbleandsqueek.co.uk
Contact melanie@bubbleandsqueek.co.uk or john@bubbleandsqueek.co.uk

As of April 2006: A dynamic theatre and media company set up by John Challis and Melanie Rashbrooke. They predominantly make visual theatre and we aim mainly to promote new original works. The company has a young dynamic cast; most of whom are just out of university and hoping to gain a career in the media industry. Warhol, which is written by the company’s directors, is Bubble and Squeek’s first major production, and enjoyed a successful and exciting three day run at The Sugarhouse Club in Lancaster in November 2005.
Warhol as a piece is constantly growing and adapting through improvisation work and, as a result of its successful run at the Sugarhouse Bubble and Squeek’s next venture is to take this piece, in a new and exciting form, to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2006.

Demi-Paradise Productions
Demi-Paradise Productions was founded by Stephen Tomlin in 2000 to perform indoor promenade productions of classical plays at Lancaster Castle – one of Britain’s last great working castles. The company’s interpretations of Shakespeare’s Richard 11 (2000), Measure For Measure (2001), Macbeth (2002) & All’s Well That Ends Well (2004), have reflected the history and continuing use of the building as a royal fortress, prison and courts; playing to capacity houses and generating rave reviews.
An association of regionally based performers and technicians, Demi–Paradise acts as a magnet and showcase for professional talent and is committed to creating a high quality, site specific, intimate experience of great drama from the often neglected classical repertoire. In addition, Deck The Hall With Boughs of Holly, the company’s Yuletide concert, is an annual fixture at both the castle and at Hoghton Tower, near Preston.
Contact : To be added to the Lancaster Castle events mailing list tel: 01524 64998 or see the castle website

Drama Factory
Started in 1990 as an after school class for young people. It now has over a hundred pupils in 12 different classes. A number have gone on to work professionally. The Adult Course is run every other year.
GINNY SCOTT graduated from the Webber Douglas Academy in London and worked professionally for 17 years in theatre, radio, television, and films. She continues to be involved with local amateur theatre, performing and directing regularly. She also teaches training and confidence skills.
DAVID ASH trained professionally at East 15 Acting School in London and has taught drama to adults and children for over 25 years. He is well known locally as an actor and director ,appearing regularly at the Grand Theatre . He is a leading exponent of Improvisation skills in the North West.
Info and syllabus tel: 01524 62819

Inner State Theatre Co.
Andy Andrews and Christine Bissell are a splendidly versatile two person theatre company of national repute. Their Truncated Theatre repertoire includes several slightly esoteric, very funny 30-minute outdoor shows. Their indoor shows can turn your entire hall into a role-playing themepark with dramatic and hilarious developments. Expect to see them locally at the Maritime Festival, the Georgian Festival and, of course, the Streettheatre Festival.

Freehold Theatre Co
Founded in 1995 and based in Lancaster, Freehold have built up a strong reputation for touring innovative, quality productions of modern classic plays by Harold Pinter, Brian Friel, D.H.Lawrence, Terry Johnson, Ronald Harwood and Alan Bennett to varied Theatre and Arts Centre venues in the North-West.
“A quality addition to the small-scale touring circuit” - The Stage.
Read a review of 'Three's Company' their excellent 2007 touring production.

FreeRange Theatre Co
Frog House, 54 Slyne Road, Lancaster LA1 2HU
Tel: 01524 68677. Fax: 01524 68677
Founded in 2001 by Wren Chapman and Hugo Chandor. Incorporated as a non profit-making limited company in October 2002, Freerange is a Lancaster based theatre company established to:
Tour professional theatre to rural communities with poor access to the arts in Lancashire and Cumbria
Enrich the quality of life in the region by developing ongoing working relationships with rural communities
W rite and deliver drama based workshops for businesses, schools, and community groups.
Create regional employment opportunities
Create work experience opportunities for students of the art.

The Green Room
98 St. Leonardsgate, Lancaster LA1 1NN.
tel: 07841520637
Independent drama workshop studio for children aged 7-13 years. The workshops have been set up in order to boost childrens self-esteem and confidence. Children participate in a variety of drama activities such as character building, improvisation including anti-bullying role plays, stage and theatre make-up, team work and much, much more. At the end of terms two and four the children put on a production for their families. The underlining ideology is to help establish confidence, trust and build strong relationships and self-esteem.
"Role play is an amazing way of developing children's social skills and building key relationships with their peers and developing good communication techniques. Drama is still a subject that is not widely taught in Primary schools nationwide and although role play is making its way into the literacy strategy it is still not enough to give children the chance to explore what drama is truly about.”
Natasha Smith B.A. Hons, L.A.M.D.A
The drama workshops cost £5 per session or £45 for ten weeks. Term Dates: 1st Term 17 July - 18 Sep. 2nd Term 3 Oct - 11 Dec. 3rd Term 2 Jan 2006 - 19 March. 4th Term 17 April - 25 June.

ImprovXpress
Group meets Mondays 6-8pm. The Three Mariners, Lancaster. Free. Lancaster's only comedy improv group. Improv is a form of theatre and a game without script or director. From an audience suggestion a scene is left to the players to make up as they go along. With David Ash. Info tel: 01524 380176. See www.yesand.com to get the general idea.

Lancaster Footlights Club
Thriving amateur drama group which approaches its work very "professionally." They first started performing in the 1920's, and bought the Grand Theatre in 1950 to save it from demolition. Ever since that time, the club has had to carefully balance its time between theatrical productions and the continuous work involved in running, maintaining and restoring an historic building. They currently produce six plays per season, including a Christmas Show which is specifically aimed at a junior audience, as well as one-act plays and a youth theatre production.
The Footlights can offer its members a wide variety of theatrical experience, and is glad to tap the specific interests of individual members; so whether you are keen to act, or to learn about backstage work or wardrobe, there will always be a place for you in the club.

Lancaster University Theatre Group
Lancaster University Theatre Group, c/o LUSU Societies Office
LUSU Building, Slaidburn House, Lancaster University, Lancaster
For general enquiries email us at theatregroup@lancaster.ac.uk
Read reviews of the LUTG's productions in our reviews section.

Limelight Productions
A new production company made up of local talent whose aim is to put Morecambe back on the map by staging productions and events solely in Morecambe and to raise money for the Winter Gardens and other charities in need. Produce the annual 'Panto in the Park' at Happy Mount Park. 20/1/05 (More details coming soon.)

Paul Nicholas School of Acting
Weekly sessions at Torrishome Methodist Church Hall for 7-15 year olds. Held 5-7pm on Mondays.
New sessions starting at St Paul's Parish Hall Scotforth Lancaster on Saturdays. These are for 7-15 year olds and will start on Saturday October 24th 2009 10-12 noon. Please come along to either of the above sessions or contact Susan on 07778694411

The Spotlight Club
Highly recommended live-writing event with local authors and performers. Held on the 3rd Friday of every month at The Yorkshire House, Parliament Street, Lancaster. 8.30pm start. Events comprise open mic session, poets, writers, comedy and music.

St John's Occasionals
The Committee of The Friend's of St John's have formed their own drama group of an enthusiastic bunch of amateur actors and singers. All members are volunteers and will be performing for the benefit of local charities.
St John's is long established as a concert venue and since April 2009 has widened the nature of events that it hosts. In addition to concerts and plays we now both arrange and host lectures, exhibitions, fares etc. We are not for profit and monies raised directly benefit either the upkeep of St John's and/or other charities.
Support for St John's and its events will ensure the survival of this historic building and benefit the wider community.

21st Century Demonstration
formed in 2003 on graduating from Lancaster University's Department of Theatre Studies. Aiming both to agitate and entertain, the company employs precise gestural performance, vocal dexterity and multi-media to disect the social and political systems that play out over our lives.

Warton Drama Group
Established over 25 years. The Village Hall has been the main venue for the performances, though there have been some memorable productions in the grounds of the Old Rectory. The actors come from many of the Lune villages and range in age from 10 to 65 plus! The emphasis is always on quality productions and, as a result, we usually put on only one performance per year.
Email: wilcock2000(at)hotmail.com

Whirlwind Theatre Productions
54 High Road, Halton, Lancaster, LA2 6PS.
Tel: 01524 811025.
The company provides excellent family shows for and with children aged between six and twelve years.
We specialise in good storylines, whether ancient parables, folk tales or new writing. We hope to encourage, stimulate and challenge a child's imagination by introducing them to the exciting world of theatre.
Whirlwind Theatre Productions is a non-profit company, limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 4757340. "We rely on sponsorship to keep ticket prices at an affordable level and offer the community projects to children for free."