Information - The Old Savoy - Home of The Deco Theatre

Feb

Where better to tie the knot than at the historic Old Savoy Theatre!

Tags: Deco Theatre, Northampton, The Old Savoy, wedding receptions, weddings

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We’ve exciting developments afoot at our theatre. The Old Savoy is at an advanced stage in the process of becoming a licensed wedding venue. By the time things are on their way back to how they were – hopefully, the not too distant future – we will be at the point of being able to offer a full wedding, or civil partnership, service.

That means:

The ceremony can take place within our theatre
The reception can take place within our theatre
And if you want to have an evening celebration, we will host that too.

Ours is a venue with a rich history dating back to 1936, and we’re proud of its awesome ambiance and architecture. And on your big day we have the facilities – in The Doré, The Glen and the fabulous and atmospheric Art Deco auditorium – to cater for the arrival of guests, the mingling, the ceremony, the reception, and the evening party.

There are also plenty of opportunities for great photos, around and about the theatre, and as a venue that hosts a wide variety of events, functions, and parties – including wedding receptions – you can rest assured that no stone will be left unturned to ensure your special day is a perfect day.

For further information, and to arrange an appointment to visit us, email ‘weddings@theoldsavoy.co.uk.

We will guide, help, and support you from start to finish: making your wedding a day to remember is as precious to us at it is for you.

Exciting times!

Sep

Old Savoy offering a heritage experience with free journey down Memory Lane

Tags: cinema, Heritage Week, Northampton, Singin' in the Rain, The Deco, The Old Savoy

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The Old Savoy theatre is celebrating Heritage Week with a difference this year.

The management team is inviting visitors to come and take a look around the iconic building – rebranded as The Old Savoy last year – enjoy a short talk on the history of the theatre, and if they wish, then enjoy a FREE screening of the classic 1952 film, ‘Singin’ in the Rain.

If visitors wish to make their visit even more memorable, they can enjoy a bite to eat while watching the film: booking a table seat in the stalls, and for £9.95, enjoy a platter of delicious food, and a pot of tea or coffee.

These seats are limited, and available by calling our Box Office on 01604 491005.

If you simply want to watch the film from the circle, without the food option you can book tickets online: www.thedeco.co.uk/events

There will be three screenings each day, between Wednesday, September 16th, and Friday the 18th: at 11.45am, 2.30pm, and 5pm.

The pre-screening talk will be delivered by popular entertainer and local legend Clive Fletcher, who will be familiar with anyone who has come to annual Christmas Panto’s at The Deco, which is housed at The Old Savoy.

“We’re really excited about this,” said house manager Jill Roach. “This is an opportunity to see, and learn about,our wonderful theatre, and watch a famous film as you would have done all those years ago when we were The Savoy.

“The only thing we can’t do is provide entertainment by an organist during the interval, more’s the pity,” she said. “But we’re just trying to do something different, and take our visitors down Memory Lane at a significant town centre venue in Northampton history.”

‘Singin’ in the Rain’ is an iconic comedy-romance, based around the transition from silent to talking movies; it’s full of great music and songs, and legendary for the classic ‘Singing in the Rain’ song and dance routine by the star of the film, Gene Kelly – who was also its co-director. Co-stars included Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor and Jean Hagen.

The Old Savoy opened on May 2nd, 1936, as The Savoy. In the 1960s and 70s it was The ABC, hosting live music as well as screening films. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Cliff Richard are among the legendary acts who performed there.

Stage Right Productions began putting on live entertainment at The Deco Theatre in 2009, and took over the running of the whole building last year.

As usual social distancing and COVID-19 safety guidelines will be observed.

Sep

We’re hosting another weekend of great cinema, following a Bank Holiday ‘thumbs up’

Tags: Bambi, cinema, Pitch Perfect, Rocketman, Saturday Night Fever, The Old Savoy, Toy Story

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What a great weekend we had as our theatre went back to its roots and became a cinema for the Bank Holiday. Indeed, the feedback has been terrific – so we’re doing it again later this month!

We’re putting on five iconic films over the weekend of September 26th/27th, and again, there is something for everyone:-

Toy Story
Saturday Night Fever
Bambi
Pitch Perfect
Rocketman

As with Bank Holiday weekend – and, for that matter, with every visit to our theatre – it goes without saying that your well-being will be paramount at all times; all groups coming to watch a film will be socially distanced from others.

Downstairs in the stalls there will be tables for groups of four or six, disabled seating too.
All tables will be placed in a two-metre square area.
If you chose to sit downstairs, you will be able to order a selection of food to your table, including a cheese and anti-pasta platters, or afternoon tea.
You can also order buckets of bottled beer, which can include, if you wish, wines and small bottles of spirits, along with cans of soft drinks.
If you choose to sit in the upstairs seating, there will be two seats kept free either side of your group, as will three seats in front, and three behind each individual

You can also stop by before the film at our newly opened Golden Globe café, serving hot and cold drinks, and a selection of snacks, including pizzas, hotdogs, candy floss, popcorn and more. Again, we have organised this to respect social distancing, and all orders will be taken via our table service.

We will also be selling tubs of ice cream, and calypsos, during the interval.

Schedule:

Saturday, September 26th:

1645: Toy Story

2000: Saturday Night Fever

Sunday, September 27th

1300: Bambi

1530: Pitch Perfect

1900: Rocketman

Ticket prices:

Matinee performances

Table seating

Adult £6.50

Over 60/Student £5.00

Family of 4 £5.00 each

Family of £5.00 each

Family of 6 £5.00 each

Upstairs

Adult £5.00

Over 60/Student £3.50

Family of 4 £3.50 each

Family of £3.50 each

Family of 6 £3.50 each

Evening Performance after 6pm

Table seating

Adult £8.50

Over 60/Student £7.00

Family of 4 £7.00 each

Family of £7.00 each

Family of 6 £7.00 each

Upstairs

Adult £6.50

Over 60/Student £5.00

Family of 4 £5.00 each

Family of £5.00 each

Family of 6 £5.00 each

And finally: you will be expected to wear a ‘face mask’ while inside our theatre – except when sitting at your table if you’ve booked to watch the film downstairs, and have ordered food and drink, or if you’re using the Golden Globe cafe during your visit.

Thank you, as ever, for your support!

Oct

Deco to the rescue, and children’s Christmas show will now go ahead!

Tags: Collar & Cuffs Co, Northampton, The Christmas Clock, The Christmas Clock Returns, The Deco, Theatre

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The Deco Theatre is delighted to be hosting the award-winning, multi-sensory musical theatre company, Collar & Cuffs Co, when they perform the all-new ‘The Christmas Clock Returns’ in The Glen Suite on Sunday, December 8th – and we’ve saved the day by doing so!

Their popular Christmas children’s show is normally hosted at Delapre Abbey, but an administrative mishap left them potentially them with no venue. When The Deco heard about the problem, we were only too pleased to make our room available so that the organisers, the parents, and most importantly the children, were not disappointed.

“We’re absolutely delighted that The Deco has been able to step in and save the day, and can’t thank them enough” said Julia Collar, of Collar & Cuffs Co. “It was a genuine oversight, and the Delapre team feel really bad about what happened, but these things happen, it’s lovely that there’s a happy ending, and we can’t wait to be putting on our show at The Deco.”

‘The Christmas Clock Returns’ is a musical multisensory adventure about the excitement in the countdown to Christmas. Join the Spirits of Christmas exploring traditions of the festive season, and also discover lots of great tips for helping children cope with excitement and anticipation – a production suitable for children up to seven years old, and fully inclusive for special needs.

Said Julia: “It’s a very relaxed environment, with small audiences all inter-acting together and having fun, and we would love you to join us for one of the two performances we’ll be putting on at The Deco on December 8th.”

For more information, visit http://www.collarandcuffs.org/the-christmas-clock.html

Jun

Sam’s back – and looking forward to producing another Panto winner at The Deco!

Tags: family entertainment, Jack and the Beanstalk, Northampton, Panto, Sam Munday Webb, The Deco

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After the success he had directing last year’s Christmas Panto ‘Cinderella’, Sam Munday Webb will be back at The Deco performing the same role this year, for ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’.

This time, Sam will be concentrating solely on his role as director, having doubled up last year as one of the ‘Ugly Sisters’, forming a superb, and hilarious, double act with Colin Ridgewell. But he wants to dedicate his total attention to putting on a fantastic Panto.

Indeed, The Deco is in perfect hands: Sam is a student of Panto, and an acknowledged expert in the field; he is also the executive producer of the Annual British Panto Awards, which he helped launch four years ago, and which is fast establishing itself as one of the big awards ceremonies of the showbiz calendar.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be working with The Deco again this year,” said Sam, who runs the Brackley Youth Theatre in the town where he lives, and has recently launched a consultancy offering specialist coaching in presentation skills. “The Deco’s a lovely theatre, and it has deservedly established itself as a venue for top class, and affordable, Panto for all the family.

“I absolutely loved every minute of last year’s Panto experience at The Deco; I wanted to create something fresh and modern, but embedded in tradition, and I certainly believe we succeeded.

“The cast were a pleasure to work with, the standard of the talented young singers and dancers supporting us was amazing, the audiences were awesome, the feedback was immense, and the team behind the scenes were fantastic and incredibly supportive.

“I didn’t need to think about it when I was offered the opportunity to do it again,” said Sam. “But this year I thought it best to totally dedicate myself to my duties as a director: playing one of the Ugly Sisters was great fun, and doing it with Colin was a laugh a minute, but I’m going to be totally hands-on behind the scenes.

If anyone knows what makes good Panto, it is Sammy – a Panto fanatic, be it as a performer, director, or a member of the audience, and he has a phenomenal knowledge of its history and tradition.

So as an expert in Panto, what makes a good show?

“For me personally, I love the relationship between audience and performer,” he said. “I love the freedom of interaction with the audience during the show; the off-the-cuff laughs that you can have, and adapting the script throughout the run to make it relevant to issues in the news.

“The camaraderie, banter, and respect among the cast last year made it a pleasure to turn up every day, during rehearsals and the run of the Panto, and if the audience see you all having fun together on stage, and enjoying it as much as they are, then you’re on to a winner.”

For tickets for ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ at The Deco: www.thedeco.co.uk, or call the Box Office on 01604 491005. Alternatively, call in at The Deco, on Abington Square, between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday.

For more information about the Panto Awards, visit the website: https://www.pantomimeawards.co.uk/

May

‘Fame’ opportunity beckons for youngsters taking part in The Deco’s Summer workshop!

Tags: Fame Jr, Northampton, Summer Workshop for youngsters, The Deco, Theatre

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The Deco Theatre is offering an amazing opportunity to youngsters between six and 17 years old during later this year, with the opportunity to take part in their Summer Holiday Youth Theatre Workshop in August.

The Workshop runs for a week from August 5^th, from 10am to 4pm each day, with the finale, on Saturday, August 10^th, when the youngsters will be performing the musical ‘Fame! Jr’ to a live audience at 2.30pm and 6.30pm.

For £155 – and £100 for siblings – youngsters taking part in the Workshop will spend a week learning, rehearsing and then performing two shows on the Saturday. The fee includes a DVD of the show, and two free tickets for one of the live performances; extra tickets cost £10.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for children from six to 17 to take part in a youth drama and dance project, in an actual theatre and performing on stage before a live audience at the end of the project,” said Jill Roach, House Manager at The Deco Theatre.

“This project has been incredibly successful since we started doing it a few years ago, with the finished product each time phenomenal, and we’re really excited to be doing it again this year.”

All participants are welcome to audition for main parts of the show. Those auditions will be held on Sunday, May 19^th, from 10am to 1pm, and the following day, on Monday, May 20th from 5pm to 8pm. Call backs will be on Saturday 8th June from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.

‘Fame! Jr.’ is set during the last years of the “Fame School,” New York City’s celebrated High School for the Performing Arts on 46th Street (1980-1984). The musical follows the bittersweet but inspiring story of a diverse group of students as they commit to four years of gruelling artistic and academic work in order to achieve their dream of “hitting the heights” and putting their “name in lights.” But it’s not always plain sailing!

Please call The Deco theatre on 01604 491005 for a registration/audition pack or email us at hello@thedeco.co.uk.

Feb

Here’s to you Mrs Robinson – ‘The Graduate’ is being performed as a stage play at The Deco in May!

Tags: Northampton, The Deco, The Graduate, Theatre, White Cobra Productions

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It was a cult novel, one of the iconic films of the 1960s, and more recently it has become an acclaimed stage play.

And ‘The Graduate’ – made famous by the film starring Ann Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman in 1967, and featuring the Simon and Garfunkel hit song ‘Mrs Robinson’ – is being performed on stage at Northampton’s Deco Theatre this May.

The theatre is teaming up with the award-winning White Cobra Productions, with three performances between Thursday, May 16th, to Saturday, May 18th.

“White Cobra did some outstanding productions at The Deco last year, and we are delighted to welcome them back,” said Jill Roach, House Manager of the Deco Theatre. “Having loved the film, I’m really excited about seeing The Graduate performed on stage, and I have no doubt that White Cobra will deliver another top class production for our audiences.”

Set in California in the 1960s, Benjamin Braddock is a confused young man. Having just graduated, he finds himself uncertain about his future, disconnected from his purpose, and increasingly alienated from the upper-class, suburban, “plastic” world of his parents.

Fighting panic and boredom, he is deeply conflicted but ultimately willing when Mrs. Robinson, the unhappily married, alcoholic, and charismatic wife of his father’s business partner, lures him into an affair. But Benjamin’s life becomes complicated when he falls in love with Elaine, Mrs Robinson’s upbeat daughter.

The stage adaptation of The Graduate is a dark comedy, full of rapid-fire dialogue between fascinating and horrifying characters, while exploring family dysfunction, parental expectations, crumbling marriages, and the naive, yet disillusioned, dichotomy of youth.

“As well as being a great film, The Graduate lends itself brilliantly to the stage,” said Richard Jordan, of White Cobra Productions. “It’s up there with other movies which have worked so well as theatre pieces, such as The Full Monty and Billy Elliott, and we can’t wait to bring it to the Deco stage in Northampton.”

To book tickets: https://www.theoldsavoy.co.uk/event/the-graduate/ or call 01604 491005.

Jan

Lost Voice Guy heading up a top-class comedy line-up coming soon to The Deco

Tags: Ahir Shah, Jack Barry, Lee Ridley, Lost Voice Guy, Sean McLoughlin, stand-up comedy, The Deco

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Britain’s Got Talent winner Lee Ridley – the Lost Voice Guy – kicks off a season of stand-up comedy at Northampton’s Deco Theatre when he brings his one-man show to the town on February 9^th.

Lee, 38, won the £250,000 first prize last June, and with it an appearance at the Royal Variety Performance, which he did to much acclaim. He has also established himself as one of the country’s favourite stand-up comedians, and his touring show is playing to packed houses.

Following Lee to The Deco later in the month is Jack Barry, another acclaimed performer who takes to the Deco stage on February 23^rd, with more great comedy in March and April.

Ahir Shah is stopping off at The Deco on March 15^th, during his nationwide tour where he performs his stand-up show ‘Duffer’ which won him much praise, and played to full houses, at the Edinburgh Fringe last summer – a show that saw him earn a second successive nomination for Best Show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

Completing a quartet of top class comedians at The Deco is Sean McLoughlin on April 5^th. Fresh from being the warm-up act for Ricky Gervais during his UK tour last year, Sean will be performing his show ‘Hail Mary’, a show that led ‘Time Out’ to describe him as “…the best comedian you have never heard of.” He hopes this tour will rectify that low profile, though he is very well known to regular audiences on the comedy circuit.

“We’ve four fantastic stand-ups coming to The Deco and we’re really looking forward to providing our audiences with some great, fun, nights out,” said House Manager Jill Roach.

“Obviously Lee has been very much – and very deservedly – in the public eye following his Britain’s Got Talent success, but trust me, Jack, Ahir and Sean are all top class, and will each deliver a brilliant show.”

For more information about all four comedians, and all shows at The Deco, go to www.thedeco.co.uk, or call the Box Office on 01604 491005.

Jan

Elvis to rock up at The Deco, as Simon brings acclaimed tribute show to town

Tags: Deco Theatre, Elvis, Northampton, The Deco, tribute

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Northampton’s award-winning Elvis Presley tribute performer Simon Patrick is coming home to put on a show in his home town.

He’s performing at The Deco Theatre in Abington Square on Saturday, January 26^th, and to add the rock and roll theme of the evening, he is being supported by tribute artists to Billy Fury and Shakin’ Stevens, along with The Viva Las Vegas showband, and backing singers.

“It’s always great to come home, and The Deco’s an amazing venue, I’m really excited to be performing there” said Simon. “It’s going to be an amazing evening performing as ‘the King’ live in concert, with awesome support in Johnny Red as Billy Fury and Dean Ryan as Shakin’ Stevens, and there’ll be a fantastic atmosphere, so come join the party!”

Simon, and Elvis fan since he was four years old, has been performing tribute shows to his hero for over 20 years. Back in 2007 he was the winner of Great Britain’s Best Elvis Tribute Artists, won the ‘Elvis European Championship’ three years later, and has been a finalist in the ‘Ultimate Elvis Competition’, staged in Memphis, USA.

Said Jill Roach, house manager at The Deco: “We’re absolutely delighted to be hosting Simon at The Deco, his show’s are amazing, and he very much justifies his reputation as one of the best Elvis tribute shows in Europe, let alone the UK.

“It’s a fantastic night out, and if you love Elvis, and a rock n roll night out, you’ll go a long way to beating this.”

For tickets, go to www.thedeco.co.uk, call the Box Office on 01604 491005, or pop by at The Deco, in Abington Square, Northampton, between 10am and 4pm Monday to Saturday.

Dec

Lydia’s loving being back at The Deco, and looking forward to exciting times in 2019!

Tags: Cinderella, Lydia Lucy, Northampton, Panto, The Deco

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Singer Lydia Lucy is back at The Deco this Christmas, which is great news for everyone who’ve told us how much they enjoyed her Panto performances in Peter Pan last year, and Beauty and the Beast in 2015. And despite a busy schedule, Lydia had no hesitation, she tells us, in accepting the invitation to play Cinderella this Christmas.

Actually, to describe Lydia’s schedule as ‘busy’ is to grossly under-estimate it. Perhaps ‘manic’ is more appropriate, or even ‘non-stop’. The bottom line is this: Lydia works incredibly hard; and such is her flourishing career as a singer and performer, her workload as taken her to many parts of the world this year, as well as all over the UK.

So, by her own admission, appearing in Panto in Northampton throughout December is rare stability. And anyway, she loves being at The Deco. “I really do,” she says. “It’s a wonderful family atmosphere: I love the team behind the scenes who work so hard, and are always so helpful and obliging, I love working with the cast – some familiar faces, but those I hadn’t met before are fab – and the audiences at Deco Pantos are always so much fun, and fantastic to perform to.”

It was after her first Deco Panto appearance in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ that Lydia went off to compete in the TV talent show ‘The Voice’, where she made it through to the Grand Final, and finished third. She made such a big impression to so many, that she has barely had a day off since!

And though she can’t give too much away at the moment, she is already excited about what 2019 holds, with exciting opportunities about to come her way.

“I’d love to say more, but it’s all under wraps at the moment,” said Lydia. “Suffice to say I’m excited, but then I’m very lucky, because I’m doing what I love: singing and performing; it’s so busy, it’s crazy at times, but always great fun.

“But doing Panto is great fun too, and crazy in a different way, because we all have so much fun on and off stage.

“And what’s more, we’ve got another fantastic show lined up, with a great cast, and yet again, an amazingly talented team of young local performers and dancers supporting us, so it’s all very exciting.”

‘Cinderella’ is at The Deco Theatre, Abington Square, from December 7 to 29. For tickets, www.thedeco.co.uk, call the Box Office on 01604 491005, or call by in person between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday.

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