Uncategorized

19/05/2017

Things we have learnt this week

Sometimes, in this weird little world of entertainment, we learn something awesome and exciting. This week has not been one of those weeks.

Things we have learnt this week….

Most people don’t actually read all the words in an email.
In Suffolk, seagulls are the size of chickens.
Travelling back late at night, the chances are at least one major road will be closed causing a minimum of an hours delay.
When driving on uncommon roads, watch out after flash floods – them pools be deeper than ye think.
Don’t leave your jacket in the lighting box of a theatre – leave it with the rest of your equipment, it’s a long way to go back and get it!
Drummers should not eat pot noodles in bed.
Every office should have a ‘bullshit button’.
Excel Spreadsheets are the devils work.
Do not write ‘standing ovulation’ when you mean ovation.
Pens are subject to the 3 second rule.
Sharing Pizza with strangers is just weird, but shouting ‘don’t touch my slice’ makes you look weirder.
The person who brings cakes to the meeting is the favourite instantly.
Buying Vapo rub is always funny.
Everyone wants to be an actor.
Do not attempt to re-organise a garage full of show gear in the rain.
Mice can swim.
Gaffer tape fixes everything.
Neil Sedaka is 5ft 5”
If you live in Clacton you will eventually paint your water butt to look like a minion or fill your garden with ‘quirky’ ornaments.
Vinegar is also known as ‘non brewed condiment with colour’.
Don’t take a ‘short cut’ if you have never set foot in the place before.

21/04/2017

Very British Events for St George’s Day

St George’s Day falls on the 23rd April and of course celebrates Saint George, who wonderfully wasn’t even English. He has become England’s symbol and martyr namely for for slaying Dragons and being rather chivalrous towards a lovely princess. This act obviously certifies him for Sainthood and so we celebrate him once a year by watching displays of jousting and reenactments dragon slaying. It’s a perfect excuse for dressing up as a knight or in medieval dress and feel very English. One fabulous venue that we enjoy visiting, Hever Castle will be hosting their Knights once again this year which is a lovely place to stroll around and enjoy. (Side note: Stop by and have a look at The Festival Theatre where The Rat Pack will be returning to open the theatre season)

If like us, chainmail is not a look that you normally sport, then it’s best left to the professionals and we know the right people to call to make this possible. As well as the wonderful jousting displays you will find all over the UK this weekend, you are also bound to come across a few well known faces with look-a-likes of The Queen and lovebirds Will’s and Kate right at the top of the list of our ‘most British’ list.
If that doesn’t float your Royal Britannia then we can help put together your own ‘very British’ event,
A few suggestions include,
Pearly Kings and Queens
An English Sports Day, perfect for corporate events
Brass Bands
Red, White and Blue room theming
Themed Hostesses or Royal look-a-likes
Beside The Seaside themed event

Enjoy St Georges Day, and watch out for Dragons… unless you’re a Princess of course, then don’t panic, you will be rescued in the nick of time!

21/03/2017

Oh! Carol visit Scotland

Last weekend the Oh Carol Team enjoyed a trip to Scotland and wow, do you Scots know how to party!

A van, a car and 8 sleepy people drove the 414 miles from London to Falkirk ready for the first show of the weekend. After a few stops we were very pleased to arrive and to be met with the possibility of a cup of coffee having been pointed in the direction of a kettle – a very important feature that almost every theatre forgets.

The good people of Falkirk seemed to enjoy the show and danced and sang along loudly (nearly in tune too) throughout and on leaving the theatre we received some brilliant feedback and responses.

Pitlochry

The following day we made our way to the beautiful Pitlochry, enjoying the drive through the hills and passing a few distilleries on the way. After a mean Scottish breakfast, thanks to the good people of Cafe Biba, and some accidental Whisky related purchases (more here) we made our way to the Festival Theatre.

It certainly wins our award for ‘theatre surrounded by loveliest scenery‘.

Festival Theatre
If you get a chance then you must visit, they have an exciting mix of music and drama as well as their own summer season. We had expected a slightly restrained audience, but of course the singing started and they were up on their feet in no time at all.

Oh Carol Show

Another 7 hour drive later and we arrived back in London rather tired but appreciative on the great venues and people that work there. Scotland is a fantastic place to visit and the Scots obviously enjoy there live entertainment in it’s many forms which is great to see.

Audience

We will be returning (of course!), and look forward to revisiting Dundee, this time for two nights (1st & 2nd June) and visiting Greenock (3rd June).

More details here.

06/03/2017

In the Press

This month we are very excited to feature in Open Air magazine and the Spring edition of Wetherspoon’s Magazine.

Open Air is a specialist publication for outdoor events, glamping, festivals and such like. Open Air have an entertainment feature this month and we were flattered to be asked to add some ‘wise words’. The need for big named stars and celebrities is becoming more and more commonplace in the events world and with the addition of clever tech, often other options are overlooked and those working with smaller budgets can feel restricted. Trevor advised on just how entertainment can be used to improve your event, no matter what size your budget.

You can read Trevor’s interview with them here.

At the start of January the Oh! Carol gang gathered in Wetherspoon (where else!) for a post New Years drink. Any follower of the show will be familiar with our love affair with Spoons.

Wetherspoon is the place where we can grab some food after a long drive or in between sound checking and everything else, it’s quick and responsibly priced a most of the towns and cities that we visit have one somewhere. With this is mind they sent their photographer along to say hello and to take a few snaps.

Did you know that they have a magazine?
There are over 280,000 copies spread throughout the UK, read by over 2 million customers; they even have an app which you can download.

The Spring issue is out now and features a nice interview and a picture of the gang.

13/02/2017

Surprising News from North Devon Theatres’ Trust

This year is flying by, we are already into February and a cold bitter spell is covering the country.
A sharp freeze of another kind has again befallen the touring theatre community in North Devon. The news that the North Devon Community Trust has gone into administration and has been forced to close the doors of both The Queens and Landmark has send a collective chill through the spines of producers and touring shows. This leaves North Devon without a venue for live theatre and many people jobless.
More information can be found via The Stage

The Trust has blamed the falling audiences and the significant reduction of council grants for it’s financial troubles. Of course, we understand councils are under increasing pressure but surely they must understand the enormous benefit local theatres bring to the local, and wider community. Within a few hours of the announcement residents had got a petition together and a Facebook group.

We very much hope that someone will come to the rescue and manage to get these lovely theatres open again.

We were due to visit with Oh! Carol on 30th June and hope to be able to do so. We have not had any information from theatre staff or North Devon Trust. We attempt to plan our tour visiting theatres within a sensible distance of each other especially when travelling over 200 miles, as you can imagine this really does cause us some issues and impacts on other small production companies.
Nevertheless, you can find us at 1st July at The Regal Theatre in Redruth, Cornwall.

Please support your local theatre as often as you can and encourage others to do the same because theatre really does matter.

Image: via North Devon Journal

31/01/2017

January with the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Our January kicked off with The Tina Turner Experience’s first show at The Brindley, Runcorn. The music from the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll brought theatregoers out of their nice, warm, centrally heated cocoons and into a packed theatre. The fantastic show sold particularly well for a very cold January evening and went down a storm. We enjoyed reading the many happy messages from some of the audience members who loved every minute and danced throughout.

The clip below includes footage from that show to share with you, as you can see they are such a hard working group and the audiences love them and of course the music. If you are interested in booking (also available as a solo act) or you would like further information please ask us office@crowdedh.com

Our logistical plans for Oh! Carol’s first, of four, trips to Scotland are taking shape. There’s more about that to come but in the meantime you can have a look at the venues we are visiting throughout the year over on the Oh! Carol website.

25/01/2017

New for 2017

Welcome to our new website!

When theatres up and down the country close for panto season it gives us an opportunity to plan for the up and coming year and, as you can see, we have been busy! Our redesign is well underway, starting with our new company look and website. We hope the site will provide an insight into the sorts of entertainment, shows and event services that we offer.

This blog is brand new too and will feature information from both sides of our business. We’ll have news from the West End and provincial theatres, their specific issues, and of course news from the road whilst we travel to gigs (we will spare you the thrilling service station and motorway news!) Of course, there will be hotels, restaurants and pubs a plenty (including Wetherspoons – more on that particular brand shortly).
In relation to events we offer a summary of recent news and information from the corporate and private events business.