Three Reasons To Visit The Arches Theatre This Summer
Supporting an independent business ...
Posted by David Pibworth on 14/03/2023 @ 8:00AM
The Arches Theatre is the area's premier outdoor theatre in Clifton Reynes near Milton Keynes and is very well known, but if you need any more reasons as to why you need to visit this summer, then here are three more ...
DOT Production perform Pygmalion at The Arches Theatre during our 2022 season!
Firstly, you'll be supporting an independent business. The Arches Theatre is an independent and family-run outdoor venue owned by David Pibworth. As a huge advocate of the arts, David wanted to bring more theatre and culture to the area. His aim has always been to support local theatre companies and host touring troupes to create an eclectic lineup each summer.
"It has been very important to him to keep ticket costs low so more people can enjoy the theatre!"
Now, entering our sixth year, we have continued to attract a wealth of artists to our outdoor stage, including leading actors and choreographers from the West End. We are very proud of how far we have come and how, with your support, we were able to continue through the pandemic. Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years. We hope you will continue to join us every summer for more fantastic outdoor theatre.
Secondly, you'll be able to experience theatre in a new way. Experiencing theatre in the great outdoors can't be beaten! Just the novelty of being in the open air, somewhere unexpected and enjoying a live performance is such a wonderful experience that doesn't happen very often. The nature of outdoor theatre allows the actors to wander through the crowd and encourage a lot of interaction and audience participation. It can make a performance immersive and exciting.
We host our outdoor theatre schedule during the summer months when the weather tends to be better. However, being in the UK, during the summer we can get all sorts of weather! We have experienced it all at The Arches. Come rain or shine, the show will go on. We ask our audiences to come prepared for all types of weather.
And lastly, you can enjoy local and professional theatre troupes. We have a wealth of local theatre companies in the area, and we want to give them the opportunity to come and stage a production at our outdoor venue. We want to show audiences just how fantastic these local troupes are.
We also support professional companies who are touring. They are all fantastic and offer something different in terms of performance, staging, production and more. In recent years, we have also added live music to the line-up.
"We keep this to one weekend in August!"
Our varied lineup, which includes family shows, Shakespeare, classics, comedy and music, means that there is something for all theatre lovers. We have a great programme so far, with a few more acts to be announced so book your tickets today!
Our season starts on 27th July and ends on 2nd September. For our full summer schedule, please visit our What's On page and we'll see you soon.
Until next time ...
DAVID PIBWORTH
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more about The Arches Theatre, it may be a great idea to give me a call on 07879 414110 or 01234 241357 and let's see how I can help.
David is the owner and Artistic Director of The Arches Theatre in Clifton Reynes near Milton Keynes. Productions are underneath some flood arches on the disused Midland railway line (Bedford to Northampton). It is equidistant from Bedford, Northampton and Milton Keynes. You bring your food, drink and chairs and enjoy the varied shows that are produced. This year - 2022 - there are 12 productions on throughout the season, from Shakespeare to Ripping Yarns plus a music weekend.
David has been involved in 'Light Ent' for many years, working with Ray Galton and Alan Simpson adapting the scripts of 'Steptoe and Son' and those of Tony Hancock to the stage. He has produced shows for Norman Wisdom (which makes him feel old), Al Murray, and Joe Pasquale amongst others, and also worked in the music business promoting and producing shows with Chas and Dave, Neil Inness, Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk and others of that ilk.
He is also the director of a film school for young people in his home town of Olney as well as supporting many local events.
He recently negotiated permission from Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais to stage a short run of 'Porridge' on stage which proved a success.
This year the annual charity performance at The Arches Theatre will be the last of 'Ripping Yarns' by Michael Palin and Terry Jones, with the profits being donated to The National Brain Appeal' for research into dementia as David's father and uncle died of it, as did Michael Palin's friend and writing partner Terry Jones. Last year they raised an astonishing £10,000 and are hoping to get somewhere close again with the support of audiences and sponsors.
David also has a stage hire company and his wife Julie runs a livery yard, so they are surrounded by horses, dogs, light entertainment and and a 17 year old daughter.
He plays in a comedy jazz band and collects strange props such as the Spitting Image puppets of Denis Thatcher and Alan Bennett, the child catchers bike from the stage show of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and various other 'things' all of which he sells to raise money for the Arches Theatre, although he always finds it hard to part from these props. However as the theatre receives no funding at all, he is always devising ways to keep it going! Sponsors are always welcome!
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