FREE Open Day with activities for all ages!
On Saturday, 19 September, we will welcome visitors for a special Open Day, inviting the community to explore the stories, skills and traditions that have shaped Prescot in the past and continue to shape its future.
Coinciding with this year’s Heritage Open Days and inspired by their theme, Everyday Histories, the FREE event will celebrate the people, places and everyday moments that connect us across generations. From the crafts and industries that built Prescot’s reputation, including watchmaking, cable manufacturing and farming, to the enduring legacy of Shakespeare’s work, the Charity’s Open Day will shine a light on the hidden histories of the theatre and the stories beyond the stage.
Visitors will have the opportunity to discover more about Shakespeare North Playhouse through a programme of activities designed to engage audiences of all ages. Interactive workshops led by the Learning & Engagement team will encourage creativity and exploration, while behind-the-scenes opportunities will reveal the many ways the charity serves its community beyond performances. Audiences will gain insights about Shakespeare North’s artist development and learning & engagement programmes, the fundraising that helps make creative opportunities accessible to local people, and how venue hire and events also help support its charitable work.
The Open Day will launch a new Find My Seat experience, inviting audiences to explore the theatre from different perspectives. With a focus on accessibility and inclusion, visitors will be encouraged to try a range of seating options and discover how the venue works to ensure everyone can enjoy live theatre in a way that suits them.
The event also provides a fitting introduction to the our autumn production of Macbeth, directed by Ben Crystal. Performed using a cue-script based, quick raise process and staged by candlelight, the production reflects the company’s commitment to exploring the rich heritage of Shakespeare’s original performance practices while bringing them vividly to life for modern audiences.
As Heritage Open Days takes place across the country, our contribution offers a distinctly local perspective on a national celebration. By connecting Prescot’s remarkable industrial heritage with contemporary creativity, the Open Day invites visitors to consider how everyday lives, past and present, shape the communities we belong to.
Further details and the full programme will be announced soon.
In The Cockpit
Find your most comfortable seat option as part of our new Find Your Seat launch, testing our backrests and .
Experience the theatre candlelit and ready for Macbeth. See the candelabras that will illuminate the live performers.
Speak to our expert volunteers who will be onhand with insights and knowledge into our building and its history.
In The Studio
The main focus in the Studio will be backstage careers and the team of people that help bring productions to the stage. Recommended for ages 7+ but anyone is welcome to join.
We will be running hands on demonstrations for lighting and sound:
Lighting
Explore how lighting can change the look of a set and the atmosphere of a scene. Build lighting to represent some of Shakespeare’s most famous locations – moonlight through Juliet’s bedroom window, Titania’s bower, a tempestuous sea.
Sound
Investigate how sound design helps us build the worlds you see onstage. Experiment with everyday objects to create the sound effects like thunder and rain, wind in trees, footsteps and more.
More interactive activities TBC.
In the exhibition gallery
TIME TBC
Curious about taking your creative project to the next stage? Join Tip Tray Theatre as they share their experience of ORIGIN8 and how the programme helped them develop their work, explore new ideas and take their project forward. You’ll get an insight into what it’s really like to be part of ORIGIN8, the support available to artists and how the programme can be shaped around the needs of your project. We’ll also talk you through the application process and help you decide whether ORIGIN8 could be the right next step for you!
In The Bar & Kitchen
Information TBC
In the Learning Centre
Activities TBC.
In the Performance Garden
Activities TBC.
In the foyer
Lineup TBC.
