Ushering in a new theatre

by Andrew Wilson

15 May 2018

Celebratory cake served on May 5th 2013, the night of Park Theatre’s “soft opening.” (Photos courtesy Jacki Reason).What you ask long-time usher Jacki Reason what she remembers of the early days of Park Theatre, she mentions pulling plastic off the new seats – on opening night.Not the famous opening night of These Shining Lives, the drama that marked the …

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Poorly Paws...

by Hazel - Park Theatre Dog

Friday, 4 April, 2014

So I'm at the end of a week in bed... I have to say anyone out there who suffers from disabilities I feel that I've had a small glimpse of what a bed ridden life must be like - highly frustrating to say the least. I'm only allowed to go outside to "use the facilities" and walks are out of the question until I heal. I should really take you through the journey though - as many of you will not know how I came to be laid up in bed for a week.  I enjoy swimming. It's one of the simple pleasures life brings and it is my passion. My favourite game is …

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THE HYPOTHETICAL AUDIENCE

by Brackets Digital

Wednesday, 21 November, 2012

One of the best things about working at Park Theatre is the range of activities involved in the standard working day.  That's partly because building a theatre and programming the work that will bring it to life is a perilous juggling act.  And it's partly because we're a very small team trying to cope with a huge variety of tasks, many of which are completely new to us. 'If you build it they will come' is a mantra that we throw around every now and again, but the reality is slightly more complicated than that.  It takes time and effort to at…

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THE SECOND TERM

by Brackets Digital

Wednesday, 7 November, 2012

Exactly one year ago today, fresh faced and bushy tailed, I arrived in the Park Theatre development office in Greswell Street to begin my first day as part of the Park Theatre family.  At that time the first steel joists hadn't arrived on site, the construction office had a 'WE LOVE SUPERYACHTS' sticker on the door, and we were around £400,000 short of an Education Floor.   As far as I'm aware we are still pro superyachts, but the sticker has long since disappeared into the rubble, to be replaced by an outreach space that we hope will outlive al…

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HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY TRANSMISSION

by Melli Bond

Tuesday, 6 November, 2012

It's been 2 years now that Transmission is up and running and it's high time we came out of the lime light and said hello! Transmission is a weekly workshop co-founded by myself and fellow actress/singer/producer/director Ursula Campbell. We have designed it for the working actor who likes to keep in touch with established and emerging theatre makers in …

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TENNIS

by Brackets Digital

Wednesday, 19 September, 2012

I had been working at Park Theatre for a few months before I learned what was really going on.  Jez leaned in - a nervous moment - and whispered to me, ‘can I tell you a secret?’  I told him he could, and promised that I’d never put it on a blog or anything.  ‘The thing is’, he said, ‘I’m really only in it for the tennis.’  I nodded; yes of course.  ‘It dawned on me that in most jobs it’s hard to find time to work on your backhand.  And so I thought: why don’t I build a theatre, and…

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REHABILITATION

by Brackets Digital

Wednesday, 4 July, 2012

I'm on the second fund raising application of the week, and as always it's intriguing to analyse and tease apart the criteria for each trust.  This particular form asks for applicants to demonstrate a 'rehabilitative or therapeutic benefit' of the project, and has forced me to think more carefully about whether an education floor can be used not only to improve lives, but to turn a troubled life around.  I'd be fascinated to hear of anyone who has personal experience of this, or knows of any research on that subject.  Are there any limits to what we can…

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CHANGING SPACES

by Brackets Digital

Wednesday, 27 June, 2012

Not long ago, Finsbury Park was one of London’s least inspiring green spaces, unloved during the day, and dangerous at night.  A recent grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund has turned that around, and North London’s kite is really flying again.  It’s one of my favourite places in town, part orchard, part heath, depending which gate you enter through.  It has a boating pond, tennis courts, an outdoor gym and an athletics track.  You can play American Football, Baseball, or Softball (whatever that may be).  Did you know that you can run all the wa…

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