A PARTNERSHIP between a top performing arts institute and local theatre is bringing a piece of the West End to West Lothian.
This week, students from The Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and Television will open the curtains on a new ten-year partnership between the performing arts college and Livingston’s Howden Park Centre.
Performing the Stephen Sondheim classic “Merrily We Roll Along”, final year Musical Theatre students will bring the award-winning show to West Lothian audiences on the 16th and 17th of October.
Directed by world class theatre creatives Cressida Carré and Jon Beales, audiences will be taken on an evocative journey through the unravelling of friendship and ambition over 20 years.
Mark Langley, Principal of The Scottish Institute said: “Our partnership with Howden Park Centre marks an exciting new chapter for not only the school, but we’re also seeing the growth in culture across West Lothian.
“It’s a privilege to be able to provide our students with such a high-quality experience from the rehearsal room to the stage, with industry renowned directors and shows.”
As part of the partnership, The Scottish Institute has secured 100 days and nights of performance each year for the next decade at the centre, mutually benefitting the students and the local community.
With a 290 seat capacity, the theatre will provide students with the opportunity to bring their learning outside of the classroom, transitioning their work from basic rehearsals to performing on a real stage to a paying audience.
John Burlington, Production Manager at The Scottish Institute said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Merrily We Roll Along to Howden Park Centre this week. The creative team, including our director fresh from the UK tour of Titanic the Musical, has been exceptional.
“Their expertise has provided our students with a unique opportunity to learn from industry leaders, making this production a standout in both artistic quality and educational value.”
“Merrily We Roll Along” follows the story of Franklin Shepard, a successful but disillusioned composer, and his two estranged friends, as it moves backwards through key moments in their personal and professional lives.
The show concludes with an ironic twist, as the three friends, full of optimism and ambition at the start of their careers, face a seemingly bright future. Notably, this is the same production for which Daniel Radcliffe recently won a Tony Award.
The Scottish Institute is Scotland’s only fully CDMT accredited performing arts institution, also holding accreditations from Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Council of Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT) and Imperial Society for the Teachers of Dance (ISTD).
To purchase tickets to Merrily We Roll Along visit:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/livingston/howden-park-centre/merrily-we-roll-along/e-rrvpog