The Lowry continues to shine on its tenth anniversary
January – April 2010
Ten years ago, this week, The Lowry opened its box office and sold its first ever theatre ticket. Now The Lowry celebrates the beginning of its tenth year of cultural excellence, with performances from around the globe, fresh talent and big name stars coming together to delight audiences.
Treading the boards are both new and familiar faces. For the first time Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Wed 14 –Sat 17 April), one of the world’s most prestigious dance companies, perform at The Lowry. Legendary dancer Carlos Acosta makes one special performance (Thu 15 April), back with the company that helped him to stardom. Also new to Salford is Akram Khan (Thu 4 February), one of the most acclaimed choreographers working in Britain today who brings together dancers from the National Ballet of China and music from Nitin Sawhney. The seven Spanish brothers Los Vivancos (Thu 25 – Sat 27 March) present their only UK appearance with passion, excitement and raw Latin sensuality. The worldwide festival hit Traces (Mon 8 – Wed 10 March) is a unique, infectious, funky, pioneering brand of circus. This high-energy, dazzling display of urban acrobatics combines traditional circus skills with basketball, skateboarding, street and contemporary dance.
Candoco (Tue 27 April), who performed in The Lowry’s opening season, return to celebrate the venue’s tenth anniversary with a world première. After Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray wowed audiences on his last visit, the modern-day classic of Swan Lake (Mon 1 – Sat 6 March) returns. This iconic production is perhaps best-known for replacing the traditional female corps de ballet with a menacing male ensemble.
Following two sell-out weeks, Calendar Girls (Tue 9 –Sat 20 February) has become the fastest selling tour ever and has triumphed in the West End. Now it’s back for one final season starring Lynda Bellingham, Debbie Chazen, Letitia Dean, Jan Harvey and local girls Gemma Atkinson and Judith Barker. Winners of a Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Be Near Me, the Donmar Warehouse return with Serenading Louie (Tue 30 March – Sat 3 April). Lanford Wilson’s timeless portrait of two suburban American couples, exploring the destruction of dreams and the loss of passion and purpose. Three Sisters (Tue 2- Sat 6 March), from Lyric Hammersmith and Filter Theatre, delves beneath the surface to explore one family’s search for ever-elusive happiness.
Three British Comedy Legends are in focus this season. Jus’ Like That (Mon 22 - Sat 27 February), starring Clive Mantle (Casualty/Holby City), brings Tommy Cooper, one of the nation’s most beloved natural clowns, back to life. Direct from the West End comes the Kenneth Williams extravaganza, Stop Messing About (Wed 17 – Sat 20 March). Spike Milligan’s war memoirs are brought to life in Adolf Hitler My part in His Downfall (Tue 6 – Sat 10 April).
Hitting more of the high notes are Nanci Griffiths (Fri 5 February), Elkie Brooks (Mon 19 April), Boy George (Thu 22 April) and The Ukulele Orchestra (Sun 28 March).
Side-splitting fun is delivered by Sean Lock (Sun 11 April), Stewart Francis (Tue 26 January), Rhod Gilbert (Sun 18 April), Dave Gorman (Sat 13 March) and Stephen K Amos (Sun 21 February).
For the first time, the BAFTA Award-winning children’s TV show Peppa Pig (Thu 4 – Sun 7 February) is recreated live on stage using magical puppets. Youngsters’ favourite The Gruffalo (Tue 6 – Thu 8 April) returns with songs, laughs and scary fun!
In the Galleries, Lowry Favourites re-launches with a fresh new look as part of The Lowry’s 10th anniversary celebrations. The new displays bring the Galleries to life with photographs, sound and film. As well as a rich variety of paintings and drawings from The Lowry Collection, there are new loans from private collectors around the country. Internationally acclaimed fine art photographers Anderson & Low (Sat 16 January – Sun 11 April) have been shown around the world but their new exhibition Circus, is their first British exhibition outside London. In the third and final Transformations exhibition (April - September), The Lowry has commissioned new work for our challenging Promenade Gallery from Leo Fitzmaurice; one of Britain’s brightest contemporary artists. The relationship between advertising and art is explored by BJL, one of Britain’s most creative independent advertising agencies, in a new exhibition titled In Art & Advertising – A Creative Fusion (Sat 23 January – Sun 11 April).
Shows from the new brochure are now on public sale via the box office (0843 2086005).
Posted on Thursday, 05 November 2009 under Press General Press Theatre Press Galleries Press