News

23/12/08 - DOUBLE DVD SET NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER

This set comprises of THE PERFORMANCE filmed by Hoylake Movie Makers and a storybook documentary filmed by CAPRISTAR PRODUCTIONS £8.00 +p&p - Please email us for details

PLEASE NOTE the full set of photographs of the performance and rehearsals can be viewed and ordered from www.wallaseyaps.org.uk and follow Wirral 08 for All long The River

16/06/08 - COMMUNITY PRODUCTION WELCOMES VIPS

The recent production of ALL ALONG THE RIVER received tremendous reviews and was attended by many special guests. On the first night The Mayor of Wirral – Councillor Adrian Jones was full of praise for the whole company and their wonderful performances.

Clare Kirwan (poet) The Mayor, John and Sue Gorman and Ros Free (Children and young people's dept) and her husband Ian.  Supporting Hand in Hand Theatre production on the first night of All Along The River
Clare Kirwan (poet) The Mayor, John and Sue Gorman and Ros Free
(Children and young people's dept) and her husband Ian. Supporting
Hand in Hand Theatre Production on the first night of All Along The River
Mayor of Wirral -  Cllr Adrian Jones meets narrator Ella Redvers- Rowe
Mayor of Wirral - Cllr Adrian Jones meets narrator Ella Redvers- Rowe
who is a pupil at St Mary's College.

On Friday afternoon, a community performance was held to which local schools and care homes were invited. Angela Eagle MP for Wallasey attended along with Andy Myers, the regional representative from The Lottery and other local officials.

Bev welcomes Angela Eagle MP to their community production Friday 11th July 2008
Bev welcomes Angela Eagle MP to their community production Friday 11th July 2008

The show, a musical pageant performed by children from seven local schools and other community groups, was highly praised as being an excellent community event. Wirral TV was also in attendance to gets some footage of the proceedings.

Angela Eagle MP for Wallasey meets some of the cast
Angela Eagle MP for Wallasey meets some of the cast
Angela Eagle MP for Wallasey meets some of the cast.
Sommerville dancers and smugglers and wreckers from Mount Primary

After the Saturday matinee, a prize giving was held for winners of the creative writing and visual arts competitions held earlier in the year by Hand in Hand Theatre Productions. The guest of honour was local writer Anthony Peake who has received international fame with his best-seller “Is there life after death?” Anthony commented on how good it was to see such wonderful local talent and presented prizes to children from Mount Primary, Liscard Primary, Greenleas Primary and Park Primary. Please visit Anthony's website at www.anthonypeake.com.

Anthony Peake who write best seller - "Is there Life after death" Anthony Peake who write best seller - "Is there Life after death"
Anthony Peake who write best seller - "Is there Life after death" presents prizes to
Billie Gifford and Gray Burdett of Mount Primary for their creative writing and to
Allanah Bruce for her winning photo - a special prize of the photo being mounted and
framed was donated by Wallasey Amateur Photographic Society.

Over 150 local people from juniors to senior citizens were involved in this mammoth production, which took place at St Mary’s Catholic College. Bev Clark, writer and co-ordinator said; "It was very hard work but so rewarding to see so many people engaging and enjoying this musical celebration of The River Mersey".

"The children who performed were all wonderful and a credit to their schools. It was fantastic to be joined by The Totally Talented Music Workshop who performed two songs brilliantly and to work with Wallasey Ladies Choir, who actually recorded their songs for us and were played over Somerville Primary dancers. With so many people on stage we couldn’t fit in the choir as well!"

"The production was honoured to have a prologue written by The Young Poet Laureate for Wirral – Holly Green –who performed her poem” Seven Steps and Home” to an accompaniment by flautist Clare Lawton."

Liam Corcoran, the musical director, brought together a band of young musicians and singers, all of whom made a brilliant contribution and their drummer, Alex Randells, stole the show when he came out from behind his drums to sing "My Friend The River".

Hand in Hand Theatre Productions have received dozens of emails and phone calls saying how much the show, its content, presentation and the performances were enjoyed (projects update)– and the big question! What’s Next?

Bev, who is having a well-deserved summer break just says, "Watch this space!" look at this website for all the latest photos of the production and rehearsals.

28/05/08 - Stop press...Stop press...

We are delighted that members of the community music group TOTALLY TALENTED will be joining All Along The River to perform two songs....take a look at their website..... www.totallytalented.co.uk

HAND IN HAND get a HEADSTART

Local arts organisation, Hand in Hand Theatre Productions, have just been awarded lottery funding from Awards For All towards their forthcoming production of ALL ALONG THE RIVER. This musical pageant - a celebration of The River Mersey- will take place at St Mary's College, Wallasey in July.

Bev with awards for all certificate for £8,350
Bev with awards for all certificate for £8,350

It's celebrations all round, as the not-for-profit group have also organised creative writing and visual arts competitions in local primary schools. Four overall winners were chosen from dozens of finalists displayed at Wallasey Library last week. The judges - John Gorman (writer) Clare Kirwan (poet) Bob Warwick &Dennis Holt (photographers) and Helen Marina (artist) after careful deliberation, decided the winners in each section were as follows-

  • Best Creative Writing: Joint winners - Billie Gifford - My Mersey Poem and Gray Burdett - Mersey Mysteries both year 5 students of The Mount Primary School Wallasey
  • Best Artwork: Kathryn Weir aged 7yrs from Liscard Primary School
  • Best Photo: Allannah Bruce who is just 6yrs old from Greenleas Primary
The Judging Panel
Photo - judges - Bob Warwick (WPSA), Helen Marina (Artist), John Gorman (writer), Bev Clark (HH TP), Chris Murphy (Education Officer Merseytravel), Clare Kirwan (poet) and Dennis Holt (WPSA)

Full details of winners, runners-up and highly commended entries can be seen on our competitions page.

Lottery FundedAspireMersey Waterfront & Wirral 08Wirral Borough Council and Youth MusicWirral Youth TheatreWallasey Amateur Photographic Societyt Mary's College, WallaseyMerseytravelSound Steps