Highlights of Q20's 2015!

We've put together a page of highlights from 2015 - an overview of some of the events we were involved in this year, including brand new costume creations, events close to home (like our Open Day at Dockfield Road Creative Arts Hub), or way off in Scotland for some Frozen-inspired fun.

Take a look, and let us know what you think. Was your event included?

The Launch of 'The Learned Goose' by Q20's Jo Brandon!

We're delighted to report that tonight is the launch of The Learned Goose, the first full collection of poetry by Jo Brandon, Q20's lead administrator!

The event is being held at the Heart Centre in Headingley, Leeds from 18.00 this evening. The night will feature a reading from the collection, a Q&A session and some delicious themed-refreshments!

Full details of the event can be found here.

Congratulations to Jo and good luck for this evening!

Frozen-inspired Event Lights Up Bo'ness, Grangemouth, Denny and Stenhousemuir

It's been a great few weeks - and even better weekends in the towns of Bo'ness, Grangemouth, Denny and Steinhousemuir!

On 21st Nov, Bo'ness and Grangemouth had a treat when four Frozen-inspired characters arrived to switch on their Christmas lights. In tribute to Disney's Elsa and Anna, the characters provided a magical singing performance, met with the excited crowds and took lots of pictures!

Kids were delighted to see their favourite movie come to life! The Falkirk Herald have a great article with a few pictures of all the special performances that went on - including a visit from Santa!

On the 28th, it was the turn of Denny and Stenhousemuir to get a taste of the Frozen-inspired magic. Great events - well done Falkirk Delivers!

Excited to announce we've got a HUGE #keepchristmaslocal giveaway coming later today! In the meantime, here's what we got up to at the Festive Lights Switch On last week in Falkirk 󾔒󾔐󾔒
Posted by Falkirk Delivers on Tuesday, 1 December 2015

Q20's Signing Santa at MetroCentre is featured in the Daily Mail Online and the Mirror

This year intu MetroCentre asked Q20 to supply a Signing Santa and Signing Miss Santa for two special Sundays - where children with hearing difficulties would be able to tell Santa what was on their Christmas wish list ... in sign language!

The first date (22nd Nov) was really successful and we are certain the second Sunday (27th Nov) will go just as well - however, we didn't expect the great reaction that has been occurring online!

The original video, uploaded onto intu MetroCentre's Facebook page by mum, Hayley Cairns, has already has over 100,000 views, and now the story has made it into two national newspapers' online content - including this article by the Daily Mail and this one by the Mirror. The article has also been featured on Chronicle Live.

It's very gratifying to see that your work has been appreciated by such a large number of people - we're very proud of our two performers and we look forward to many more Signing Santa events in the future!

Christmas is underway!

The lights have been switched on, the decorations have gone up - that's right, we're in the countdown to Christmas! And already it's been an amazing few weeks.

Our Toy Soldiers have been up and down the country, providing fun performances and supplying customer service assistance - everything from providing useful information for those visiting shopping centres, to carrying heavy shopping for weighed-down customers. Keep an eye out at intu Victoria Centre, Nottingham this weekend for the Soldiers, and also Gateshead MetroCentre this Saturday as part of Black Friday.

You'll also see the Toy Soldiers aboard the East Lancashire Railway Santa trains, starting this week. Along with our helpful Elves, they'll be providing lots of fun and magic for the visitors this winter - with a special appearance by Santa!

Speaking of Santa, one of our favourite events this season has been the special Signing Santa appearances at intu MetroCentre. The two special Sundays (22nd and 29th Nov) bring Santa to meet children with hearing difficulties, so they can tell him what they'd like for Christmas ... in sign language! The event has proved hugely popular and we hope our Signing Santa will make many more appearances next year!

Be sure to follow us on Twitter for updates on all the magical things we've been up to this Christmas!

Master Class Workshops - Get Your Tickets Now!

Our Master Class series continues!

So far we've had some absolutely brilliant workshops for the Hula Hoop and Improvisation classes (sadly our Clowning class had to be cancelled at the last minute, however we hope to be able to provide a replacement workshop in the future) - with more on the way!

Yesterday, Q20's John Lambert and Circus Skills workshop-leader Richard Gillett were invited to BCB Radio 106.6FM to let people know about the workshops and the great opportunities to learn a new skill or try out a brand new hobby. If you missed it, you can listen to the radio show for all the information here.

After that we've got Stage Fighting with Ian Stapleton (who also did a brilliant day of stage fighting workshops for our Half Term Theatre School), Cabaret with Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights' Janice Connolly (aka Barbara Nice) and a Costume Making workshop with the amazing artist team, Burnett & Catt.

These workshops are not to be missed, so make sure you get your tickets now and we'll see you there!

Urgent Appeal: Save Shipley's Santa Show!

For the last six years, Q20 Theatre has been proud to bring a spectacular Santa and Sleigh show to the streets of Shipley, the home of Q20 Theatre and also many of its employees and performers.

Sadly, due to council budget cuts this year's show is in jeopardy - funds have fallen short by around £5000 of the total costs.

Q20 has put together an appeal in the hope that local private businesses will sponsor the event - an appeal which was also published today in local newspaper the Bradford Telegraph and Argus.

You can read the full article here, and we're very grateful to anyone who is able to share and promote our appeal to save the Shipley Santa show!

Shipley Street Arts Festival: Half Term Theatre School ... A Massive Success!

We're so fantastically happy that the Shipley Street Arts Festival: Half Term Theatre School was such a great success, and we'd like to say a special thank you to all the brilliant workshop leaders and participants who made it so special.

Every day was dedicated to a particular theatre discipline, with an exciting mix of things to try for these young beginners.

The first day was dedicated to Clowning and Circus Skills. The kids had a great time letting out their inner clowns ... the red noses helped! Workshop leader Stephen Finegold (and his son and assistant for the day, Joseph Finegold) were very popular - we had lots of requests to have them back for another Clown workshop!

In the afternoon, they tried lots of different circus skills, such as juggling, diablo and plate spinning. Dan Collins led the exciting class - he's been touring with circuses for a long time and has even been on the big screen!

Day Two was all about Theatre Arts. Jenny Birch - a past student of Calderdale Theatre School, with whom Q20 worked to create this theatre school - led the students in an introduction to puppetry. The kids got to try out some puppets made by Jenny, and also make some of their own, using every day items that can be found around the house.

The theme returned to clowning for the afternoon session - artist Morwenna Catt led a workshop in making clown costumes! Using old clothing and a few special accessories, the kids each made spectacular costumes - perfect for showcasing those clowning skills they learned yesterday!

Even the Corgi got dressed up!

Day Three was all about Stage Fighting. Ian Stapleton is an experienced director and teacher - and his assistant, Patrick Costello, is also one of his past pupils! It was an exciting day of performing armed and unarmed combat - with swords swishing, en garde!

Finally, Day Four was all about Movement. These proved to be a very popular sessions, hosted by our neighbour and friend, DM Academy and ex-Calderdale Theatre School pupil, Katie Allcott (with some assistance by Jenny Birch). In the workshops, the kids learned about how movement is used to express ideas and feelings, and how it can be used for physical theatre and dance.

We'd like to say a special thank you to everyone who was involved and thanks to all our attendees and parents for making the classes such a great success. 

With so many of our participants saying they'd like to do more workshops with us, we can't wait to start putting together the next lot!

Special thanks to: Stephen Finegold, Joseph Finegold, Jenny Birch, Adam Garrett, Morwenna Catt, Ian Stapleton, Patrick Costello, Deana Morgan and DM Academy, Katie Allcott and Gillie Kerrod.

Black Friday: Celebrate the American Way!

An increasingly popular event in the shopping calendar, the deals and savings to be found on 'Black Friday' is an American tradition, taking place the first Friday after the national holiday of Thanksgiving.

This year it's set to take place on Friday, 27th Nov - so why not join in on the American theme?

Our Stars and Stripes characters have been very successful in the past in embracing an American loving of shopping for savings before Christmas. We've also sent out American icons like Marilyn Monroe!

We also offer a different take on the American-theme with our Native American characters!

An alternative take on Black Friday might include our toy characters, as Santa starts his Christmas shopping!

There are loads of ideas and options available for Black Friday events, suitable for any theme or promotion. 

Contact Q20 now for ideas and prices!

Email: info@q20theatre.co.uk 

Tel: 01274 221 360

Presenting ... our new website!

If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, you may have already noticed that we're very excited about our new website, which launched last week.

We're very proud of it, and grateful to everyone who put in so much work to bring it to life!

Be sure to stop by for brand new images, inspiring ideas, fabulous themes, slideshows showcasing our most successful events, and information about the company and the kind of work we do.

We hope you'll enjoy browsing through our new site, but most of all, we hope you'll be inspired to work with us to make your events spectacular and memorable!

www.q20events.co.uk

Halloween is almost upon us!

It promises to be our spookiest Halloween yet with so many of our ghosts and ghouls heading out across the UK this October!

We're once more taking to the East Lancashire Railway spooky trains with a few grizzly characters to frighten you half to death. See this brilliant video from last year for a taste of things to come ...

To get your tickets, just go to the East Lancashire Railways website.

We're sending our spectacular new characters - the Mexican-themed 'Day of the Dead' stilt-walkers, and last year's new creation, 'The Bouncing Bats' to Bradford's Oastler Market for the 30th & 31st October.

We're sending Dracula and a Wicked Witch to the Lowry Outlet Mall ... be sure to stock up on garlic!

Esme & Beastie are off to Darlington! He's such a cuddly monster!

There's also fabulous Halloween cut-n-colour workshops in Chester and Hatfield's Galleria and so much more!

So keep an eye out - you may just see something spooky from Q20!

Shipley Street Arts Festival: Half Term Theatre School

We're very exciting about the upcoming Shipley Street Arts Festival: Half Term Theatre School!

The Theatre School - which will be taking place 26th - 29th October - is a great opportunity for all youngsters (aged 11-15) who may be interested in a future career in theatre and the arts.

The four days of fun include taster sessions in four theatre disciplines: Circus, Theatre Arts, Stage Fighting and Movement.

Each day will include two workshops on a specific area within those categories, all run by theatre professionals who can provide a great insight in what being an artist really involves.

The Theatre School is being run in partnership with Calderdale Theatre School and the local DM Academy.

Whether your child would like to attend all four days or just one, they're more than welcome to come along and have a fantastic time dancing, clowning, designing their own creations or taking part in an epic (staged!) duel.

Prices:
4 days: £30 per child
2 days: £17.50 per child
1 day: £10 per child

Contact info@q20theatre.co.uk for further information.