ONE NIGHT IN BOLTON
BY BECKY PRESTWICH
OCTAGON THEATRE, BOLTON.
Co-directed with Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham
One Night in Bolton was originally written as a stage play to open the new Octagon in summer 2020. However, restrictions caused by Covid-19, including limitations on youth theatre groups meeting in person, meant the project needed to be reimagined.
It was reworked into a radio play.
Octagon Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham said: “One Night in Bolton is a wonderful new play by Becky Prestwich, performed by our fantastic Young Octagon company. It’s a real love letter to Bolton, and imagines the lives of Octagon audience members over more than 50 years, since the original building opened in 1967 to the present day.”
One Night in Bolton tells the stories of Julie and Ray - two fictional audience members who were there at the opening night of the original theatre in 1967.
From that eventful night through to the present day, the show promises a celebratory, uplifting story about the Octagon, growing up and what makes a community.
Performed by the Young Octagon Company and featuring a community choir, be prepared for laughter, jokes, treasured memories and some singing along at home.
Trailer
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Written by Becky Prestwich
Directed by Joe Gilmour & Lotte Wakeham
Sound Design by Matthew Masson
I became Youth Theatre Director at Octagon Bolton in 2018, just as the building was closing for a huge refurbishment.
After a year in post, I made the case for a new Young Company, which would be a dedicated year-long programme for those young people most dedicated and interested in theatre.
Working closely with Artistic Director Lotte Wake, we commissioned a new play from local writer Becky Prestwich, performed by the new Young Octagon company, to reopen the refurbished theatre in 2020.
I was excited to work with Lotte and Becky and especially thrilled to be directing on the main stage at the Octagon, my mum’s childhood theatre. Unfortunately the universe had other plans! We converted the script into an audiodrama, which we recorded in lockdown. The project was still immense fun and provided me with a whole new set of skills, from commissioning writers to directing audio drama.