Wyvern Theatre

Scarlet Roche is a former Wyvern Theatre Summer Youth Project participant and is currently playing the role of Veruca Salt in the West End production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Training: Gemma Short School of Dance and Theatre Arts in Swindon. Theatre includes: Swan Lake (English Youth Ballet – scholarship recipient). Scarlet is also an associate of the Classical Ballet Academy at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. Scarlet is absolutely thrilled to be playing the role of Veruca as her professional debut.

On Monday 13 January, the 2014 national tour of Rachel Wagstaff’s stage play Birdsong, adapted from the novel by Sebastian Faulks, was launched at the National Army Museum. This stunning piece of live theatre will be performed at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 July 2014. In pre-war France, a young Englishman, Stephen Wraysford, embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their worlds upside down. As the war breaks out, Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and through the sprawling tunnels that lie deep underground. Faced with the unprecedented horror of the war, Stephen clings to the memory of Isabelle and the idyll of his former life as his world explodes around him. The 2013 tour was hugely successful and critically acclaimed, seen by over 75,000 people and receiving 4 and 5 star reviews, with audiences calling the show ‘simply stunning’. Sebastian Faulks is thrilled the show is being re-mounted for 2

On Monday 13 January, the 2014 national tour of Rachel Wagstaff’s stage play Birdsong, adapted from the novel by Sebastian Faulks, was launched at the National Army Museum. This stunning piece of live theatre will be performed at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 July 2014. In pre-war France, a young Englishman, Stephen Wraysford, embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their worlds upside down. As the war breaks out, Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and through the sprawling tunnels that lie deep underground. Faced with the unprecedented horror of the war, Stephen clings to the memory of Isabelle and the idyll of his former life as his world explodes around him. The 2013 tour was hugely successful and critically acclaimed, seen by over 75,000 people and receiving 4 and 5 star reviews, with audiences calling the show ‘simply stunning’. Sebastian Faulks is thrilled the show is being re-mounted fo

On Tuesday 17 December, after the 10:30am performance of Jack and the Beanstalk, Dame Trot received a stocking filler from two of Swindon Rugby Club's most rugged athletes. David Cox and Troy Badenski presented Dame Trot (played by David Ashley) with one of their 2014 & 2015 Calendars, which raises funds for both the club’s much-needed £100,000 refurbishment and the Great Western Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit

Ahead of performing at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre, Chris Ramsey spoke to Marketing & Press Officer Laura James about his 'dangerous' credentials and his brand-new show. Fresh from a complete sell-out, twice extended 2012 tour, multiple appearances on Celebrity Juice and 8 Out of 10 Cats, and a starring role in BBC Two’s Hebburn, Chris embarks on a brand new tour for 2013/2014. Taking his brush with on air censorship as a jumping off point to muse on life, mistakes, expectation and offense, he examines what happens when you say the wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began on Monday 25 November. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. Following the second dress rehearsal, Producer Daryl Back discussed why this year's pantomime is Swindon's best one yet - plus, hear a snippet from the show when Fairy Nuff (Jennifer Greenwood) and Fleshcreep (Simon Wegrzyn) go head to head!

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began on Monday 25 November. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. During a short-break, Company Stage Manager Beth Sweeney and Assistant Stage Manager Adam Butcher revealed their roles in the show and how far they had got during the technical rehearsal so far...

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began on Monday 25 November. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. During the break of the technical rehearsal, Sound Designer Steve Brierley discussed cow noises and describes his role in putting together the soundtrack for Jack and the Beanstalk.

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began on Monday 25 November. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. Between running her lines, Jennifer Greenwood revealed a little more about her character Fairy Nuff ahead of this evening's full run through of the show.

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began on Monday 25 November. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. As the cast continue to rehearse, Lighting Designer Wayne Dowdeswell is working on the show's lighting in the main auditorium. Wayne trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He spent several seasons at Contact Theatre, Manchester before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company where he lit many productions for The Other Place, The Pit and Barbican Theatres. He was Lighting Supervisor for the Swan Theatre where his designs include: The Fair Maid of the West, Every Man in his Humour, A Jovial Crew, Titus Andronicus, The Jew of Malta, The Duchess of Malfi, Edward II, The Seagull, Tamburlaine the Great, The Country Wife, The Roman Actor, Sejanus. RSC lighting designs in the West End include: The Shakespeare Revue (Vaudeville), The Cherry Orcha

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began on Monday 25 November. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. Whilst the cast are on a day off from rehearsals, the technical team are busy at the Wyvern Theatre getting the shows set and props into the building. Stage Manager Dave Jell took a few minutes out to explain what the team had achieved so far.

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began on Monday 25 November. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. Before switching on the Christmas Lights in Cirencester, Keith Chegwin took time to reveal what had happened during Day Six of the cast's pantomime rehearsals. Keith is one of the UK’s most popular TV personalities. Recently audiences will have seen him on Dancing on Ice, the comedy series Extras and a one hour special of Life’s Too Short written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant for Keith Chegwin, Les Dennis and Shaun Williamson.

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began on Monday 25 November. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. After piecing together Act Two of Jack and the Beanstalk, Director Guy Unsworth took time out of the rehearsal room to reveal some of his favourite moments in the Wyvern Theatre's giant pantomime spectacular.

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began on Monday 25 November. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. Maria Holmes, Aaron Jenkins, Reece Kerridge, Billy Mahoney and Zac Watts took time away from their dance rehearsal to reveal what they had done during Day 4 so far and which of them would be taking on the role of Daisy the Cow in this year's show.

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began on Monday. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. Wardrobe Mistress Julia Saunders and Dame Trot (David Ashley) took time during a costume fitting to chat about the third day of rehearsals and what extravagant outfits Jack's mother will be donning this Christmas.

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began yesterday. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. Musical Director Robert Rayner and Fleshcreep (Simon Wegrzyn) took time out of rehearsals to chat about the second day of rehearsals and why One Direction fans should book tickets for this giant pantomime spectacular...

Rehearsals for the Wyvern Theatre's annual pantomime began today. Keith Chegwin, who returns to Swindon's number one entertainment venue, will ensure giant laughs will be had by the entire audience from Saturday 7 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014. Samuel Parker (Jack Trot), Hollie Evans (Jill Manypence) and Andrew Whitehead (King Manypence) took time out of their busy schedule to chat about their first day of rehearsals.

Hollie Evans, who plays Jill in this year's pantomime, made a visit to Swindon's Central Library on Saturday 2 November to tell the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Hollie trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Since her graduation, Hollie has workshopped with The Rambert Dance Company, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, has appeared in the Bradley Johnson Music Video and was featured on the Pawn Stars History Channel Commercial. Hollie recently played the role of Wendy in Peter Pan last year.

On Saturday 2 November, the Wyvern Theatre hosted a free workshop with illustrator Tony De Saulles. Tony is the illustrator of the extremely popular and nasty - Horrible Science series by Nick Arnold. There are now over twenty titles, each one more gruesome than the next! The acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories, Birmingham Stage Company, return to the Wyvern Theatre from Tue 26 - Sat 30 November with the astoundingly creative and engaging show Horrible Science . What are millions of animals doing in your kettle? Why don’t penguins get spots? Why do rabbits eat the same food twice? Why doesn’t the moon wander off? Could a 10 million volt battery float over your head? And how long would it take for your heart to pump enough blood to fill the theatre? Using actors and 3D Bogglevision, Horrible Science Live on Stage is guaranteed to thrill you and your children and get them asking lots more questions of their own.

Throughout the run of Russian State Ballet and Opera House’s visit at the Wyvern Theatre, front of house volunteers encouraged patrons to donate money in support of local tap dancer Matt Pidgeon and the England tap dancing team. On Monday 4 November, The Russian State Ballet and Opera House performed The Nutcracker; and on Tuesday 5 November, they performed Romeo and Juliet - bucket collections were held after each performance. Since the England tap dancing team are completely self-funded, Matt is currently fundraising for his share of the £25,000 it costs for the team to be able to compete in the World Tap Dancing Championships this December in Germany.