UK THEATRE NETWORK IS SEVEN YEARS OLD !

Hiya

When Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg was still in junior school, and Tom's Myspace was merely a local US site with a few thousand members, UK Theatre Network was born. On July 1st 2001 to be precise.

I was starting off my second career as an actor and there was no website available which supported developing performers, and many independent productions were struggling to get publicity in order to gain recognition and build an audience.

At that stage, I was performing in Mack and Mabel in Jersey at night, and by day, in my IT job, I was managing the migration of the entire Queen's bank Coutts, from London to Jersey for the Royal Bank of Scotland, before being responsible for the launch of Intelligent Finance. In parallel, I had also setup the Casting Network for independent film resource Shooting People and had been issuing a daily newsletter for two years. With all of that, I still had spare time to get the roof down in my car and drive from St Helier's to the beautiful St Brelade's Bay to read the Sunday papers on the beachfront. That's when the idea hatched.

The website was launched and 100 members immediately joined.

Seven years later, I still have both careers and I've performed in dozens of musicals, lots of independent film, TV commercials and fringe plays. I've also got the filmmaking bug, and I'm growing my skills in TV presenting on Sky. You'll also find me in one of the skyscrapers at Canary Wharf on a regular basis where I now advise on IT Security and Project Governance.

So.....now you know what happens behind the scenes of the weekly newsletter and online website that you visit regularly. I hope you'll continue to visit and offer your support, click on the links and tell your friends. I'm keen for the UK Theatre Network to continue to spread around the world, and be around long after I've retired to a Hawaiin island. Though somehow the word retiring doesn't seem appropriate for me. I'm likely to still be connected in some technological way !

This weeks newsletter is PACKED full of news, reviews, videos of theatre, standup and gigs. Feel free to use the SHARE button on the page and spread around YOUR network.

Have a fantastic weekend. I'm off to Hyde Park to watch THE POLICE and ERIC CLAPTON, and I am REALLY looking forward to it.

Douglas

editor@uktheatre.net

http://www.uktheatre.net/

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Book section updated

http://www.uktheatre.net/viewpage.aspx?ID=136

Raindance courses

http://www.uktheatre.net/viewpage.aspx?ID=248

Dress Circle theatre products

http://www.uktheatre.net/viewpage.aspx?ID=247

New UKTheatre.TV videos

http://www.uktheatre.tv/

UKTheatre News

THE HALF PRICE THEATRE TICKET BOOTH COMES TO BRENT CROSS

http://uktheatre.net/news.aspx?NewsID=114756493753386

Festival News - The shoe must go on...

http://uktheatre.net/news.aspx?NewsID=120694407446728

New season - Shakespeare's Globe to stage its first new play set in modern London

http://uktheatre.net/news.aspx?NewsID=124847383958461

West End Debut - Pop Idol Finalist & Dancing on Ice Star Gareth Gates Makes His West End Debut in Spoonful Charity Gala

http://uktheatre.net/news.aspx?NewsID=145827543545737

Festival News - Sundance Launches $1.2 Million Scheme To Support Independent Feature-Length Documentary

http://uktheatre.net/news.aspx?NewsID=191770849005665

Awards - HOLIDAY ON ICE CELEBRATES AT GROUP TRAVEL AWARDS

http://uktheatre.net/news.aspx?NewsID=172296976883658

New Season - The Regent Theatre reveals its Spellbinding autumn season

http://uktheatre.net/news.aspx?NewsID=172296976883658

Summer Workshops - CLASS ACTS AT THE YVONNE ARNAUD

http://uktheatre.net/news.aspx?NewsID=972465197561327

UKTheatre Articles

Connie Fisher will appear alongside the Olivier-nominated Alistair McGowan in her first full stage role since The Sound of Music.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=137370489684437&CatID=7

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ‘Q'... AVENUE Q TURNS 2!

CELEBRATE WITH THE BRASHEST BUNCH OF CHARACTERS YOU'LL EVER SEE!

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=374679036328572&CatID=8

The 39 Steps

THE 39 STEPS SCOOPS TWO TONY AWARDS ON BROADWAY

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=128904845027566&CatID=8

Jay Johnson: The Two And Only

Forget everything you think you know about ventriloquism

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=192163267695275&CatID=8

UKTheatre Reviews

A Knock At the Door- A New Musical

Although obviously done on a small budget, this did not stop the creators from putting on a very professional showcase.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=116558872131116&CatID=114

Les Miserables- New Cast June 23rd

Les Miserables is the longest running musical in the West End.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=154843873015366&CatID=114

Dick Barton, Special Agent

Phil Willmott's hilarious spoof Dick Barton, Special Agent is at Harrogate Theatre, from 26 June to 12 July.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=507632890153785&CatID=114

All You Need Is Love!

Step back into the 60s with David King's nostalgia fest, "All You Need Is Love". Get ready for a trip down memory lane as the cast of this entertaining and enthusiastic show storm through hit after hit, from a wide range of 60s artists, covering a huge genre spectrum

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=123915482364866&CatID=114

And Then There Were None - Theatre Royal, Glasgow - 23rd-28th June 2008

The recently formed Agatha Christie Theatre Company (the brainchild of producer Bill Kenwright) head to Soldier Island , for another of the great author's classic plays.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=179919778246561&CatID=114

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE COTTON DRESS GIRL

Paula Wilcox plays movie icon Bette Davis

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=191287877443727&CatID=114

RAY, BOB & FRIENDS - At It Again!

Ray Spencer and Bob Stott return to The Customs House, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, for three performances only,with a brand new show filled with laughter and music.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=696860488038551&CatID=114

ME & CILLA

Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, presents 'Me & Cilla' by Lee Mattinson. Set in the present day, the action takes place on Christmas Eve in the Stephenson's through-lounge. Cilla's making last minute preparations for her big festive party, but something tells me something's going to happen tonight . . .

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=598894699204023&CatID=114

Suburbia at the Southwark Playhouse

Lost Theatre have transformed the space of the Southwark theatre into the forecourt of a small corner shop for their production of Eric Bogosian's Suburbia.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=137291709923608&CatID=114

RELATIVELY SPEAKING

Beautifully crafted, wonderfully funny and charmingly English, 'Relatively Speaking' was Alan Ayckbourn's first great West End success and turned him into a household name. When it opened at The Duke of York's Theatre in 1967, the critics hailed the arrival of a great new comic talent.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=169019678424742&CatID=114

RIOT

Political, comic and satirical and highly relevant to a modern day UK of racial and religious tensions, 'Riot' is now being revived at its original venue before transferring to the Unity Theatre in Liverpool.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=178035839731906&CatID=114

Hugh Hughes - The Story of a Rabbit

Hugh Hughes doesn't really exist, although if you watch the show you would swear he is as real as a human being can be stood six feet in front of you on the stage.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=186378791874712&CatID=114

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

An extremely powerful revival of Robert Bolt's dramatisation of Sir Thomas More's tragedy at York Theatre Royal.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=448734581888717&CatID=114

WHAT'S ON - ENGLAND REGIONAL

Southbank Centre

All the events in July

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=208693153933311&CatID=7

Almeida Summer Festival

A feast of contemporary opera, concerts and theatre to brighten up your summer.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=115520848812884&CatID=7

Frozen

Fresh Glory productions present Bryony Lavery's nerve-shredding, topical thriller-of-the-mind Frozen in its first London revival since the National Theatre staging in 2002.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=138787018347281&CatID=7

Mela

Experience the thrills, spills and drama of the mela this summer as West Yorkshire Playhouse present the World Premiere of Mela from 28 June to 12 July.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=118004548311135&CatID=7

UKSTANDUP

Comedy week in Swindon Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre and Hattie Hayridge & Norman Lovett.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=320233436571515&CatID=124

UKStandup - Brendan Burns Fresh from his 2007 triumphant run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last summer where he was awarded comedy's highest accolade, The If.comedy award (formerly the Perrier Award), for his show So I Suppose This Is Offensive Now, Burns is now touring again.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=168871844422897&CatID=124

Stephen Merchant - Work in Progress A rare opportunity to see one of the country's finest and funniest Comedians.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=183100764724275&CatID=124

UKGIGS

World Premiere of 'Ethiopiques' at the Barbican! Ethiopian legends Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulatu Astatqe, Getachew Mekurya and Alemayehu Eshete appear onstage together for the first time ever at the barbican's Main Hall tonight! Shellalalalalala!!!

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=117293160431488&CatID=122

Melt Banana and Rolo Tomassi at ULU

If you like well crafted and accessible pop music with a celtic tinge.. maybe give this one a miss.

If you enjoy the kind of daft-but-always-amusing punk that future kids listen to then catch Melt Banana on tour!

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=127598577534525&CatID=122

SWING 'N' SINATRA with Five Star Swing Five Star Swing recreates the exciting sound of the big band days, with hits from the Rat Pack, Glenn Miller and Ella Fitzgerald.

Carlinhos Brown drums it into you at the Barbican! There's a carnival in the Barbican's Main Hall as Brazil's finest Carlinhos Brown and Mr Catra pick up the funk and run with it as part of the Barbican's ongoing Groove nation's season.

http://www.uktheatre.net/articles.aspx?DoAction=Display&ArticleID=153189737674898&CatID=122

THIS WEEK'S DIARY

7/1/2008 Festival -Hackney Empire 2008 Spice Festival

http://www.uktheatre.net/events.aspx?DoAction=ViewEvent&EventID=107351995973812

7/1/2008 Play - RAMSHORN SUMMER SEASON

http://www.uktheatre.net/events.aspx?DoAction=ViewEvent&EventID=110640278261468

7/2/2008 Play - Virginia Woolf Gets A Makeover

http://www.uktheatre.net/events.aspx?DoAction=ViewEvent&EventID=139122168977846

7/5/2008 Concert - Candi Staton, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Lobi Traore, Afel Bocoum + more tbc

http://www.uktheatre.net/events.aspx?DoAction=ViewEvent&EventID=143048564932656

7/5/2008 Course - The SPROUT Ideas "Intro to Impro" Weekend

http://www.uktheatre.net/events.aspx?DoAction=ViewEvent&EventID=116315732975541

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Message Added: June 28th, 2008 at 5:45 am