Sarah Peterkin, Director of Take Art Rural Touring, said“Since the County Council funding cuts in 2011 we are only able to offer half the amount of shows to Somerset communities, 60 instead of 120, but because we have not compromised on quality, the popularity of the scheme remains strong. Audiences across the county are averaging at about 70% and growing.”
The Rural Touring scheme is supported by over 40 fantastic volunteer promoters, who give hours of their own time to work with Take Art to put on professional shows in village halls and local theatres.
Jane Hole, Neroche Village Hall promoter, said “Our Take Art shows have been great fun to work with, to host, to meet the performers and for that special time when the hall is alive with people having fun and enjoying themselves. I know the financial times are hard at the moment but the rural touring programme seems to be battling on and still attracting classy acts.”
This Season in Rural Touring
We have eleven different shows touring Somerset from September to November 2014, kicking off with the hugely amusing Tom Wainwright and his comedy double bill Buttercup and Barry the Beaver.
POWERFUL THEATRE
In a more serious vein Red Ladder (see above pic) will be performing their inspiring 1918 suffragette story ‘Wrong ‘Un in six Somerset venues. Also in theatre the much beloved Pip Utton returns with his new show Casanova, certain to ruffle a few doilies and upturn the odd cake tray. In early November Kali Theatre will be inviting you to the reception of an interracial marriage between a girl from the country and a boy from the big city, in My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding a thought provoking comedy in the style of an actual awkward wedding.
ROOF RAISING MUSIC
This season also offers a range of musical entertainment including a three-stop October tour from Canadian folk/pop singer-songwriter Ian Sherwood, from Nova Scotia and a November outing from the six-piece string band The Buffalo Gals (see above pic).
The part Maori and part Scottish, all female trio, Pacific Curls, are also visiting Somerset this Autumn to offer an enthralling and heady world music sound to four rural venues.
UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURES
The season draws to a dramatic, panoramic and windswept conclusion with TV wildlife filmmaker Ben Osborne and his show Himalayan Journeys (see above pic), a personal account (with eye-popping photos) of one of the greatest adventures on Earth.
You can find out more about all our shows, books tickets and learn how to support rural touring in Somerset by visiting our What's On Section.
ENDS
To request images/further information please contact Louise Monks, Marketing & Communications Manager for Take Art: 01460 249450 / louise@takeart.org
Take Art is a pioneering arts charity, serving the towns, villages and rural communities of Somerset. We do this by providing accessible opportunities for people of all ages to participate, experience and work within the arts.