Latest news with #CurveTheatre
BBC News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Leicester: Car door awareness ride keeps memory of son alive
The family of a cyclist who died after being "car-doored" say an annual cycling event in his memory "keeps him alive".Sam Boulton died on his 26th birthday after he was knocked into the path of a moving van by a taxi door in London Road, Leicester, in July annual Ride for Sam event, which takes place on Saturday, raises awareness of the Sam Says campaign to educate drivers about safely opening car doors using the "Dutch Reach" father, Jeff Boulton, 60, told the BBC: "I know if [The Dutch Reach] had been adopted here, some would be alive today - it's such a simple thing." The safety technique, introduced in the Netherlands more than 50 years ago, was a response to deaths and accidents caused by doors being suddenly opened on method involves opening the door with the hand furthest from the handle, which means it is easier for the passenger or driver to look over their shoulder and check the side mirror for the Netherlands it is taught to children at school and is part of the driving campaigning by Sam Says, the Highway Code now includes guidance on the "Dutch Reach".Jeff, from Wigston in Leicestershire, said he would like to see the method taught to learner drivers in the UK. He described his son, who was a teacher in Coalville, Leicestershire, as a "very relaxed" and "witty" person."He was just a relaxed man. Nothing fazed him," Jeff added."He just knew which route he was going in life."The Ride for Sam event starts from the Curve Theatre from 18:00 BST and has been held annually since the year of Sam's route is likely to include Melton Road and Loughborough Road, Jeff culminates with a bike lift, where riders hold their bike above their heads, to commemorate Sam's life.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Autistic actress uses real experiences in new musical role
An autistic actress starring in a new musical says she is proud to represent the autism community and educate others on the Cailean was diagnosed with autism as a teenager and says she is drawing on her own lived experience to bring authenticity to the role. Katie is making her professional theatre debut in the musical Indigo at the Curve Theatre in Leicester. She plays Emma, a non-speaking autistic teenager with synaesthesia - a neurological condition found to enhance memory and learning - who has to adjust to a new family set-up. Originally from Glasgow, Katie graduated from The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in 2023."It feels really nice to represent a group of people who aren't often represented authentically in the theatre, she says of her role in Indigo. "It's really cool."Indigo shares the story of three generations of women all from the same family who come together after the grandmother Elaine is diagnosed with Alzheimer's and moves back into the family home with daughter Beverly and granddaughter adds that visitors come to see the show and each have their own personal individual connection to the story."Some people say they're coming into it with one particular angle, maybe with a family member who is dealing with Alzheimer's, or they might know someone who is autistic or perhaps don't know about autism."People are coming to it and learning something new from this story, which is important." Scott Evan Davis wrote the songs in the musical and says he does not want the full focus to be on Katie's character but how she uses her disability to educate others. "I want this to be a story about a family, healing, connections - with a character who happens to be autistic."Emma is fine who she is, and everybody else just needs to get on the same page. I always say it's about a story of a girl who has a hard time communicating, but she teaches others how to. That's the kind of story I wanted to tell."
Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Muriel's Wedding, Leicester Curve, review: A triumphant adaptation of the breezy Aussie romcom
Alongside Russell Crowe, Crocodile Dundee and Foster's Lager, PJ Hogan's classic, critically acclaimed film Muriel's Wedding is probably the most popular Australian export this side of the globe. No surprise then, given the current, seemingly ubiquitous trend for converting best-selling books and blockbuster films into musicals, that we now have this UK premiere production at the Curve Theatre, Leicester. Made in association with Sydney Theatre Company, it's based on the cult 1994 film which starred Toni Collette as Muriel Heslop, a lying, thieving, social misfit from the bigoted provincial backwater of Porpoise Spit who dreams of marriage and moving to Sydney, while finding solace in Abba songs and trying on wedding dresses. Far from a cynical cash in, this lavish spectacle gently presses all the right emotional buttons, even for those who don't know their Dancing Queen from their Waterloo or Fernando. In fact, who needs Cicero's or St Paul's disquisitions on the true nature of friendship when we have Muriel and Rhonda, the flawed but loveable protagonists of this feel good yet also tragic musical extravaganza? Muriel yearns to get married to boost her self-worth and escape her small town 'full of small minds' as well as her overbearing, philandering, bribe-taking politician father, and her ruthless coterie of bitchy faux-friends. Rhonda, by contrast, is a free-spirited, straight-talking rebel who, after being confined to a wheelchair by a debilitating tumour, wants to be taken care of in the big city by her best friend, far from the stultifying parochiality of her home town. While I never succumbed to the charms of the much vaunted film it is faithful to, this adaptation of the comedy-drama had me captivated by the end of the upbeat opening number Sunshine State of Mind. Directed with joyous panache by Simon Phillips (responsible for the West End and Broadway hit Priscilla, Queen of The Desert), the opulent set design by Matt Kinley – complete with Sydney Harbour bridge skyline – and Andrew Hallsworth's balletic choreography make full use of the expansive, revolving stage. The songs of the Swedish supergroup are beautifully offset by occasionally salacious but genuinely touching lyrics and rousing music by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall. Despite the odd implausible plot twist and a homosexual character whose 'coming out' feels slightly contrived, the show's irrepressible joie de vivre nonetheless compensates. Megan Ellis is wholly convincing as the inveterate fantasist ingénue in search of conjugal love and Annabel Marlow is equally excellent as Rhonda, unafraid to take on life on her own terms. Ethan Pascal Peters is endearing as Muriel's shy, potential boyfriend Brice while Stephen Madsen provides the requisite eye candy as Adonis-torsoed Alex, a Russian Olympic swimmer keen to procure Australian nationality by the titular marriage of convenience. Darren Day is suitably odious as Muriel's hectoring, narcissist father, fawning over his mistress at the expense of his long-suffering, catatonically meek and docile wife (Laura Medforth). Updated to reflect today's internet age, with Instagram accounts, social media followers and posts going viral all woven into the plot and songs, the show's slick embrace of contemporary technology makes it all the more engaging. Yet it remains a poignant ode to indomitable friendship, an unashamed celebration of outsiders, and a passionate vindication of those small town dreamers who ardently desire to be somebody. This triumphant production is as rewarding as it is sumptuous.
