News
Artrix is a venue which likes to cater for a broad cross section of the community. To this end, we have introduced a new cinema initiative: ‘Special Screenings’.
Every other month we will be showing a family film and welcoming audiences who have special needs along with their carers. The auditorium will be partially flat-floored to accommodate wheelchairs and all patrons will be made aware that this screening may be noisy. It will also be understood that some patrons may need to move in and out of the auditorium during the film. Carers will qualify for the concessionary ticket price if they are accompanying someone with special needs.
Look out in this and future brochures for the ‘Special Screening (Special Needs)’ and ‘Special Screening (Parent & Baby)’ tags to see which screenings best suit your needs!
My Week With Marilyn 7.30pm Tuesday 31st January Special Screening (Parent & Baby)
Puss in Boots 11am Tuesday 14th February Special Screening (Special Needs)
This year's Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber Business Awards were staged on Thursday 21st July in the beautiful setting of Worcester Cathedral.
Artrix were awarded the Community Enterprise of The Year Award.
Mike Ashton, Chief Executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce said: "Businesses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are making a significant contribution to the growth of the economy. The companies that entered demonstrated just how they are doing this and the standard was of entries was exceptional. All the winners were of a high standard and I know that in a few categories the judges had difficulty in selecting just one winner. I want to congratulate all the companies that won and entered.
BROMSGROVE STANDARD, 31st MAY
LEE EVANS, ARTRIX, MONDAY 30th MAY
LAUGHTER legend Lee Evans lifted the lid on his new material and the roof of Bromsgrove's Artrix in the process.
The comedian, who played the venue on Monday and Tuesday (May 30 and 31), left no stone unturned when it came to both subjects covered in his routine and the facial expressions and sound effects to go with them.
Sweating under the stage lights, he covered everything from taking up different sports, shopping, weddings and disagreements had by husbands and wives to bankers, insurance brokers, estate agents, Post Offices, Crimewatch, getting old, aeroplane journeys and everything in between.
Seeing this amazing performance, which was close to two-and-a-half hours and must have seen him cover every inch of stage, it was easy to see why he is hailed as one of the greatest comedians of this generation, and why the 602 tickets were snapped up in less than an hour when they went on sale back in March.
And, after he exited the stage to a standing ovation, the packed house thought it could not get any better.
But it did - the 47-year-old came back to perform his trademark mime to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody that his fans have come to know and love.
Artrix has been a popular venue for Lee Evans over the years to road-test his material, before he takes it on his sell-out arena tours. And, judging by this performance, if he ever wanted to come back to Bromsgrove to do the same in the future, he would be welcomed back with open arms so he could fill the venue with people and laughter again.
Artrix, Bromsgrove
Tuesday, March 15
Alan began his set with a warning that, as this tour is a warm-up ahead of his Spexy Beast 2011 tour, there may be some ‘ropey’ parts but this was completely
not the case. I can’t think of one joke which fell flat on its face and the topics up for scrutiny, from stag dos and his health to recycling and the general public’s obsession with wearing his glasses, were all greeted with roars of laughter from the audience.
If the full tour is even half as funny as this show then he has absolutely nothing to worry about, I can’t think of a single person who would not be charmed by the tales from his childhood right through to his rise to fame. The question and answer part at the end was also refreshing and definitely something I’d like to see him do more of in future shows.
Credit must also go to his warm up act Josh Widdicombe who proved himself one to watch as he took to the stage and really got the audience laughing straight away. His interaction with the audience provided much hilarity and I’d definitely recommend people go to see him if he brings his own show to Worcestershire in the future.
Harriet Ernstsons
BIG SCREEN TREAT FOR CATSHILL PUPILS
Bromsgrove Advertiser report 8 October 2010
Children at Catshill Middle School were given something of a treat recently, as Artrix brought its cinema all the way out to their school for a night at the movies.
About 200 children from the school got to watch their own chosen film, fantasy adaptation Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief on the big screen.
This is the first time the new huge new state of the art mobile screen and projection equipment has been used in the community, and TC Peppercorn, education and outreach co-ordinator for the Artrix was thrilled with how well it worked.
She said: “Our very first outing of the new equipment took place without a hitch, and I was absolutely delighted to see the enjoyment on the faces of the audience, it makes our job very worthwhile.”
The evening went down well with both the pupils and the teachers, and headteacher, Paul Essenhigh added: “We are delighted with the attendance and positive comments that we received from pupils and parents alike.
“The pupils enjoyed the film as well as a break from their usual routine and it has ensured that our school year has commenced with an exciting start.”
Titus Andronicus Wednesday March 31st
New College Production at Artrix Bromsgrove
It was with apprehension one approached a student production of Titus Andronicus on a cold wet Wednesday afternoon but the result was a stunning experience of Gothic proportions in an imaginative interpretation of Shakespeare’s most bloody play. Director Daniel Tyler harnessed the talents of his students in this ambitious show, while the superbly designed programme supported the production by ensuring that the audience followed Shakespeare’s complex and improbable plot, promising ‘Regicide, filicide, rape, amputation, decapitation, involuntary cannibalism and buckets of plain old homicide.’ And, I might add, an unusual use of red ribbon!
The flexibility of the Artrix performance space was used to dramatic advantage. A disciplined ensemble of various Romans and Goths provided the backdrop to some outstandingly mature performances. Grace Maries’s pathos and degradation as the raped and mutilated Lavinia was as moving as Lucy Morton’s vengeful and malicious Tamora, Queen of the Goths, was unnerving, while Matthew Boland and Marcus Smith were convincing as the Queen’s debauched and violent sons. Loz Bourne and Nikita Penny as Saturninus and Marcus carried contrasting roles with clarity and conviction. Accolades to William Bousfield as Aaron, Tamora’s diabolical lover and malcontent who relished his unrepentant role and prowled the stage with real menace, but the tour de force was Corey Campbell’s Titus Andronicus, the military victor subjected to unnatural abuse and suffering on his return to Rome. His unexpectedly mature voice and range of characterisation carried an already strong production to levels of real professionalism.
Theatre Club Spring Brochure
Artrix, Bromsgrove
Friday, March 18
AS SOMEONE fortunate enough to live through the decade of mini skirts, the Summer of Love and British music at its powerful peak, A Sixties Night Out was exactly what it said on the brochure.
The Ivy League and The Fortunes combined perfectly to transport the audience on a wonderful musical trip down memory lane to a much happier time and gave one or two of the younger members of the audience a taste of what they missed out on.
Despite some enforced changes to the line-up of The Fotunes, they along with The Ivy League were note perfect and as good as they were when they were storming the charts 50 years ago with hits like Tossing and Turning and Caroline. It was not just the music that got the audience clapping and singing along but there were plenty of anecdotes and jokes as well to keep people entertained.
As well as their own hits there were songs by other artists from the decade and of course no sixties night out would be complete without paying homage to the Fab Four and The Beatles medley from both groups to finish at the end was well received. The standing ovation that followed was more than deserved.
It may be more than half a century ago now, but thanks to this magnificent show the spirit of the decade that changed a nation lives on. This truly was a proper sixties night out, just like it used to be.
