Meet the team: UK Tour Manager Caitlin Page

While we’re counting down the days until the London premiere of ITI’s new interactive show The Wedding Reception it’s the perfect time to catch up with UK Tour Manager and Production Assistant Caitlin Page who has been working on the show since the beginning. We interviewed her ahead of the London premiere and she shared some interesting insights with us.

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Hi Caitlin. When did you realise you wanted to work in the arts?
It has always been a part of my background. I guess originally I got into theatre because as a kid I had some speech problems and theatre was a great form of speech therapy. There was a turning moment though, during my first semester at university (I have a BA in Advanced Theatre and Applied Theatre) and I took a module called Applied Theatre Fundamentals which was about the use of theatre in a non-theatrical context – not just for entertainment but more for therapy. That really ignited something in me. After that course I started to look more at post-dramatic, new wave and contemporary work; I was intrigued by forms that push the boundaries and I realised I wanted to be involved.

Why do you like theatre; particularly interactive theatre?
There’s something very cathartic about being able to immerse yourself into a completely new environment away from the external world. Sometimes it’s nice to step away from all of the other stresses in your reality. When a show happens to you, with you and because of you there’s a heightened sense of reality that makes it much more believable, playful and entertaining.

What was the show that has influenced you the most?
I was part of a show in my second year at university called Antigone – the famous Sophoclean play – adapted by Eamon Flack. The show was highly interactive in parts and I found so much joy in engaging the audience. It made me realise how playful theatre can be. Playing is important for all people; it’s a great way to keep in touch with yourself, express ideas and stimulate further thought and development. From when we are children it is the primary way our brains synthesise and learn about the world. The experience of collective playfulness, like in interactive theatre, gives people a great sense of freedom. I think sometimes interactive theatre can be a scary concept to people but the truth is it’s a safe reality, a reality where you share an experience with strangers (who won’t judge you). Especially in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, people often find themselves sitting at a table with ten people they don’t know but as they start to talk and play they quickly build up a rapport with each other. It is a wonderful way to connect with other people.

Why do you like working at ITI?
I enjoy working in a creative industry with a sense of stability. My role in particular is great because there are so many different tasks that I am able to keep stimulated in diverse ways and always find myself with new challenges all the time. I like that it’s not too repetitive. The team is also very supportive. It’s a very lovely work environment.

What’s been your best moment at ITI?
I really liked the sense of completion that I got when we took The Wedding Reception and put it into rehearsal and then pushed it on stage at Brighton Fringe. That was a really good sense of fulfillment and I was proud to be a part of the production.

You were there at every stage of development for ITI’s new production The Wedding Reception. What was the hardest part?
At the time I was doing two full jobs between tour management and helping the production of the new show. It was great to have a challenge like that. I’d say the hardest part was having to sit on the sidelines while it was in development. Sometimes it would feel like I was invading a secret creative space – I was really close to the whole production but not exactly part of the show itself.

What do you like the most about the show?
I love Auntie Marge: she is absolutely mental and I swear I have an auntie just like her! Also Lynn! She reminds me of my family from Newcastle: the relentless insistence that she has to do something she thinks would benefit you even if you didn’t want it! I also really like the little moments between characters when things sync up: when something has clicked between two people you feel a sense of unity happening in the space. That real sense of connection between the characters pushes you into the story: it becomes more real.

What will people appreciate about this new show?
People will like the singing and the dancing; the show has a great way of energising you. Also the roving that happens – the interactive moments that you have with the single characters – is all very playful. Little by little after every performance the characters will develop more and more and become more multi-dimensional. This show has a lot of potential: the more you layer the characters, the more comedic material the show will have.

What are you excited about that is coming up?
I’m really excited about the new shows coming up in the future with ITI and the possibility of those shows touring across Australia and the UK. I like to watch shows grow as I did with The Wedding Reception and I know they are going to be excellent! I’m also very excited about Edinburgh Fringe: I look forward to seeing how The Wedding Reception will be received there.

After opening to excellent reviews at this year’s Brighton Fringe – ‘Highly recommended’ (FringeReview), ‘Thoroughly good fun’ (BN1 Magazine) – The Wedding Reception will have its London debut at Kingsway Hall Hotel in July and then play at Edinburgh Fringe from 11- 23 August. Here are some of our favourite moments from Brighton Fringe!

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Ben’s bike ride – a marathon for charity

Ben Hood – one of our performers – is currently cycling 600km from London to Amsterdam. And back.

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This might sound crazy, but it’s all for a brilliant charity: Venus Blazing Music and Theatre Trust helps children with severe learning difficulties to develop performance and social skills in a creative theatre and music environment.

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Ben left London on 30 June, passing through Dover, Calais, Bruges and Antwerp on his way to Amsterdam, returning via Rotterdam… he hopes to return (!) by 7 July. We hope he does too: Ben plays two characters in The Wedding Reception and is scheduled to appear in the show’s 23 and 30 July performances at Kingsway Hall Hotel in London’s Covent Garden.

Ben says: ‘Any donation at all would make a huge difference to the charity. And knowing that a few people are behind me when I’m lost in The Netherlands with raging saddle sores would help spur me on in a huge way!’.

This is the link to donate: it is really quick and simple and you can donate up until 30 July 2015!

 

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Happy June Faulty fans!

Summer is just around the corner in the UK, so in theory we can put umbrellas away and enjoy beautiful sunsets, barbecues and visits to the seaside. In theory. At time of writing, summer in London is colder than winter in Melbourne – but you get the idea!

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There’s just so much to do in June: music festivals start, summer solstice celebrations pop up, Wimbledon tennis to cheer… and coming to meet the Faultys, of course, at heaps of venues both Down Under and ‘Up Over’ (que?). We picked up Sybil’s calendar in the lost-and-found behind Manuel’s travel case, so you can see what she has to say about it all here…

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A most excellent TripAdvisor award!

TripAdvisor has awarded Faulty Towers The Dining Experience the 2015 Certificate of Excellence.

The Certificate is awarded as a direct result of consistently great reviews from TripAdvisor travellers for the show’s residency at Amba Hotel Charing Cross, a venue which itself is top of all London 4* hotels.

We are really proud of this important achievement and would like to thank our fantastic audiences for giving us such great feedback.

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150th Anniversary – Charing Cross Hotel

Today is the 150th birthday of Amba Hotel Charing Cross! Built in 1865, it has witnessed many of London’s huge and incredible changes and we are honoured to have called it home since 2012.

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A little history

When the Charing Cross Railway Company drew up plans for a new terminus on The Strand, it was obvious that they should include a grand hotel to rival those at Euston, Paddington and Kings Cross. Thus was born the Charing Cross Hotel.

Originally designed in sumptuous Franco-Italianate style by E.M. Barry – son of Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the House of Commons – this amazing Grade II listed building has been transformed for the modern age. Yet it retains that sense of refinement and luxury which made it one of the most prestigious places to stay in Victorian London.

Interesting facts 

– Also in 1865, Barry designed a replica of the Eleanor Cross for the forecourt of the station. The original was built in 1290 as a memorial to Eleanor of Castile, the wife of Edward I. It was demolished in 1647 by the Puritans.

– The site of the original Eleanor Cross – south of Trafalgar Square where the statue of King Charles I stands today – is the spot from where all distances from London are measured.

– It is often thought that Charing is named after Eleanor: ‘chère Reine’ (beloved Queen), but this is an appealing fallacy. The true derivation comes from an earlier, Saxon word ‘cyring’, meaning ‘at the bend of the river’.

– Charing Cross claims to be the site of the first Punch and Judy show to be held in England. Originally from Italy, the puppet show has become a national institution and a story familiar to children all over the UK.

Faulty Towers and Amba Hotel Charing Cross

Situated in the true heart of London, the hotel perfectly represents England’s culture and history. We’re really proud to have been performing the show there every week since 2012.

There are special events during the whole weekend 15-17 May, including a menu featuring 1865-style food, a Victorian-style photo booth to record events, room discounts, giveaways, and competition prizes.

And watch out for some action today from 4pm featuring Basil, Sybil and Manuel too!

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Bookings at London Charing Cross now open until 1 May 2016!

Great news! Tickets for the show’s London West End residency are now open for the whole of the coming year; that includes the pre-Christmas season and all private bookings outside of regular performance days.

Opened in October 2012, shows here in The Torquay Suite Theatre of Amba Hotel Charing Cross rank consistently high in TripAdvisor’s top London Theatre listings.

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Faulty Towers World Tour 2015

Did you know we are (really) touring the world in 2015?!

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What a busy weekend!

With shows at Fringe World, Adelaide Fringe and Amba Hotel Charing Cross in London, the Faulty Towers team was on fire! The first reviews for Adelaide Fringe came in and we also got some great feedback and reviews on our Facebook page and Tripadvisor! Valentine’s Day brought on a few surprises too!

At Adelaide Fringe:
Our intrepid heroes survived Friday 13th in the spectacular Fringe parade, and we opened our month at the Fringe on Saturday. Audiences took every opportunity to congratulate an adoring Basil and Sybil on a very Faulty Valentine’s Day.

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Expect the unexpected at Adelaide Fringe at Ambassadors Hotel until 15 March.

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 ‘An uproariously funny five-star comedic feast’ InDaily Read the full review here

‘If you walk away with one regret from Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, it will be that you didn’t experience it sooner.’ AdelaideGlam – Full Review

‘Faulty Towers the Dining Experience is a great tribute show with loads of belly laughs, and combined with the wonderful meal at the Ambassadors, it’s a must see at the Fringe this year’. The Clothesline – Full Review

At Fringe World Perth…FWP pics 1While all this is happening down South, audiences in the West, at Fringe World Perth, are sharing their pictures while being served at the Faulty Towers restaurant in Rigby’s.

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With many a full-house behind us, we close in Perth on 22 Feb, so get your tickets now!

In London’s West End…

In the meantime 14,470km away at Torquay Suite Theatre at Amba Hotel  in London…

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…Basil and Sybil celebrate Valentine’s Day in their own special way, while Manuel amuses himself in the kitchen. We continue to have five shows every week at this gorgeous venue throughout the year.

Want to be part of Faulty Towers The Dining Experience? Check our website for more info and sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about news dates and venues and special offers! We might be performing somewhere near you! 

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2015 has already kicked off!

I Love New York  Souvenir T-ShirtOur first stop this year was last weekend in New York City! Exciting right? We had some great feedback and are now looking to find the perfect venues for touring the US and for setting up a residency in NY. We’re open to ideas, as long as they can cope with Basil’s temperament…!

In London, another year in our residency at The Torquay Suite Theatre at Amba Hotel Charing Cross starts this weekend, with our fabulous cast serving you delicious ‘70s-style 3-course meals with, of course, a lot of laughs.

wow-copyMeanwhile, way over in Australia, our first stop is at Fringe World Festival in Perth, running from Friday 23 January until 22 February. Our dysfunctional trio are looking forward to dining and w(h)ining with you at the ever-welcoming Rigby’s Bar & Bistro!

Thinking of Valentine’s Day? We’re hosting unique Valentine’s Experiences in London, Adelaide and Perth and you can give gift vouchers for those too. For the rest of the world we also have shows on four continents!

Check our website for more information on dates and places, and sign up to the newsletter to get fresh updates of what we’re up to next.

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Happy New Year!

Happy 2015 everyone!

A big THANK YOU to all our audiences around the world for your support over the years… and we’re very much looking forward to seeing you again and meeting new friends this year.
By signing up to our newsletterbroadway you’ll get advance notice of all new tours.
Meanwhile, to whet your appetite… these are just some of the cities we’re visiting: Toronto, New York, Singapore, Sydney… these are the major festivals: Fringe World Perth, Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Brighton Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe… and this is our ongoing residency in London’s West End: The Torquay Suite Theatre at Amba Hotel Charing Cross*. (*formerly Charing Cross Hotel).
See you soon!

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#FaultyXmas Competition – The Winner!

B4SjwwACIAIdTqTShrinking the turkey, missing Xmas due to flight delays, snowstorms and time differences… Eating from McDonalds… Remember that time the table collapsed? – it was during the Christmas dinner… Thanks to all of you for sharing your #FaultyXmas stories on Facebook and Twitter. We had great fun reading them and now send congratulations to our winner, twitter follower @Karla Marx who had to spend Xmas alone with a six-pack of Wotsits… Now she and three friends can enjoy a 3-course Dining Experience, Faulty Towers style, hosted by Basil, Sybil and Manuel at The Torquay Suite Theatre – our London West End residency at Amba Hotel Charing Cross!

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Xmas Competition! Share your most ‘Faulty’ Christmas experience to win!

Awful gifts, awkward relationships, the dog ate the turkey when your back was turned or snowed in with unbearable relatives. What’s the most ‘Faulty’ Christmas experience you’ve ever had?

bow25aShare your stories with us on Twitter or Facebook using #Faultyxmas to be in with the chance of winning 4 tickets to have an even more Faulty experience with us at Torquay Suite Theatre at Amba Hotel Charing Cross in the new year. The more Faulty, the better!

Terms and conditions: entries accepted up until midnight on Tuesday 9 December 2014 (UK time). Prize will be in the form of a voucher, valid from January 2015 until August 2015 on any performances at the Amba Hotel Charing Cross, subject to availability. For more information on performance dates & times please see: www.faultytowers-uk.com 

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Royal Albert Hall

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You guessed it! It’s the fabulous Royal Albert Hall, and we’re thrilled to be appearing there 4-8 May – it’s a hugely exciting debut for us, and a first for them to have our kind of show. As always, there’s more info about us on our main site. Bookings are open now. Tickets are available only through the Royal Albert Hall itself.

And guess what? We’re returning to Sydney Opera House in June, too! Just watch this space…

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