2014
2014 was a fantastic year. We went from local performances produced for local people to sending our unique musical, The Wind Road Boys to Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It played to full houses throughout its run and all just after we’d written and performed a new musical, Home Fires. It was a year of spectacular productions and bursts of creativity. A quiet year, only 20 major projects on top of our regular workshops!
School Workshops
January, 2014
The year got to a great start with a wide range of school workshops for primary-aged school children. The workshops focused on dance, drama, music and the joy of performing.
Over 600 primary school children in disadvantaged areas were engaged in arts-related physical activities, skills building workshops and confide4nce-building.
Easter Art Workshop
March, 2014
The waterproof floor cloth and the waterproof coveralls came out in abundance for our Easter 2014 ‘Decorate a Bonnet’ workshop. Led by local artists, we turned our centre over to supporting young people to engage in activities during the Easter holidays. A wild and wonderfully messy time was had by all.
Speech and Drama Examinations.
March, 2014
More examinations to support young people’s aspirations in the performing arts. Building skills, opportunities and aspirations in speech and drama. A great qualification and a great confidence builder for young people.
Into Metrocentre Performance
June, 2014
Intu MetroCentre commissioned performance. A wonderful performance which attracted hundreds of shoppers.
We performed excerpts from our original musicals to over 10,000 shoppers in the second biggest shopping mall in the UK.
The Wind Road Boys at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
August, 2014
A rip-roaring residency at the 150-seater Masonic Hall in Edinburgh filled the seats every night for The Wind Road Boys. Every night, we had queues around the block (as well as the now-customary standing ovations) and our mini performances on The Royal Mile were picked up by international TV crews. Our large cast of students and some professionals gave everyone the experience of a lifetime.
Performed to over 1500 Edinburgh Fringe theatregoers in 10 days, our Royal Mile performances were so packed, multiple international TV crews took interviews with our team. We were also featured on Radio Black Diamond.
Chilton Showcase.
October, 2014
A wonderful event giving our young people the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of friends, peers and total strangers.
Alice
October, 2014
Metta Theatre created a wonderful production at The Enter Centre, as part of the Take Off Children’s Festival of Theatre. ‘Alice’ had magic, storytelling, engaging characters and lots of lessons for young minds. An audience hit and a wonderfully imaginative puppetry.
Etherley Commemoration.
November, 2014
An evening of entertainment, but also poignancy as we take the audience on a journey from care-free songs of musicals to the poignant message in our Remembrance commemoration songs. A varied evening packed with talent, smiles and a few tears.
Student Technical Experience - Assembly Rooms, Durham
November, 2014
Two Enter students with an interest in the technical side of theatre were given a wonderful opportunity to experience technical theatre preparations for incoming show. The Assembly Rooms, Durham (owned by Durham University) hosted the two young people and they had a wonderful time and we able to practise their new skills in house.
Charity Shoe Box Appeal Support.
December, 2014
The third of a host of regular, annual support events for the community. A local church, which runs a shoe box appeal all year, invites us to help them back the hundreds of boxes needed to be sent to children across the world who won’t, otherwise, get a Christmas present.
Community Choir.
January, 2014
We created a community choir to help improve the mental health of local residents.
Mayor's Civic Reception
February, 2014
The Mayor of County Durham laid on a special reception for Enter CIC staff and volunteers at County Hall, the seat of civil and ceremonial management within the County. We were celebrated for our work within Durham communities and were shown around the Hall and our staff and volunteers had a wonderful time.
Tom’s Midnight Garden.
March, 2014
A community theatre trip to see the iconic production suitable for children of all ages.
We took nearly 100 children on a theatre trip to this spectacular production at Darlington Civic Theatre (now Darlington Hippodrome). Children were so engrossed you could hear a pin drop – and the odd sweetie wrapper.
Zendeh - Professional Theatre Workshop
April, 2014
A wonderful professional theatre workshop from Zendeh, based in Newcastle. Their workshop focused on control situations and communicating effectively and respectfully with other through role play and characterisation. Great workshop and great lessons for young people.
The Sage - Sage One Recording
June, 2014
We recorded a new version of The Wind Road Boys and had it burned to CD. Well done to all our student and professional cast. We’d been thinking of committed these amazing songs to tracks for some time, but were finding it hard to find a recording studio big enough for our cast. We didn’t want to think small – we ask our students not to think small, so we eventually came u with the idea of The Sage – Sage One. We enquired and just made it happen.
Home Fires.
July, 2014
Once again, our writers wrote a musical to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of First World War. Seen through the eyes of a few soldiers and families, the drama and powerful songs explode onto the stage with passion and energy. Enter has established itself as a powerful new theatre writing company. The performance took place at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland.
Palace Green DLI Service
September, 2014
A performance as part of the Durham-wide service which commemorates the fallen and those who have sacrificed for their country. In honour of and to raise finds for the Durham Light Infantry Museum.
We were asked to perform our WW1 musical, Home Fires to a celebrity audience and one made up of veterans, Chelsea pensioners and current service personnel on Palace Green, Durham.
Hansel and Gretal
October, 2014
Horse and Bamboo brought their mesmerising production for ages 5+ to The Enter Centre. The magical puppetry really brought this cautionary tale to life and there were lots of oohs and aahs in the audience. Part of the Take Off Children’s Festival of Theatre.
Ferryhill Remembrance Ceremony.
November, 2014
Another outing for our students who have been learning about the sacrifices made by serving and past personnel.
Santa’s Magical Experience.
December, 2014
The second of our annual Santa’s Magical Experience. Children come with families to experience a performance, and an interactive tour of Santa’s Workshop and see Santa. Each child gets a present that fits their needs and Santa even speaks to them personally (as parents send on the child’s ‘good/naughty’ status as well as the wonderful things they may have done for the family and any hopes and dreams they have).
Like what we did during 2014?
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