A group of young Isle of Wight performers are set to bring live theatre back to Brading New Town Hall for the first time in 5 years with the premiere of an original musical written, composed and produced entirely by local young people.
Lovestruck Alley will be staged at the venue on 21st August, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of the town hall as a community performance space.
The production has been created through the Brading Community Performing Arts Programme, a partnership between Brading Town Council and Tide Nor Time Players CIC, with young performers helping to develop the characters, script, choreography and performances throughout the creative process.
Set in a struggling 1980s bowling alley facing demolition, Lovestruck Alley features original songs, comedy, romance and larger-than-life characters. The story explores themes of friendship, first love, belonging and fighting for the things worth saving.
Unlike many youth theatre productions, Lovestruck Alley is a completely original musical rather than an adaptation of an existing show, allowing the cast to create a production unique to Brading.
The performance is the latest step in transforming Brading New Town Hall into a dedicated venue for live theatre. Since the launch of the Bullring Theatre project, improvements have been made to the stage, lighting and technical facilities to create a space for local performances and community events.
Paul A. T. Wilson, Director of Tide Nor Time Players CIC, has said:
“One of our ambitions has always been to create opportunities for young people to make original theatre. Lovestruck Alley is the result of months of creativity, hard work and collaboration. The cast have helped bring these characters to life and have been involved throughout the creative process.”
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The performance forms part of the Brading Community Performing Arts Programme, which aims to provide affordable and accessible opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop practical theatre skills and produce high-quality performances for local audiences.
The show gets underway at 18:30 on 21st August, with doors opening at 18:00, at Brading New Town Hall, High Street, Brading.
Admission is free, although donations to support the group will be welcomed on the night. As seating is limited, booking is recommended.
