Tour de Beryl
Maxine Peake’s witty, charming and critically acclaimed play celebrates the life of unsung sporting legend Beryl Burton – the greatest woman on two wheels.
When Beryl Charnock met keen cyclist Charlie Burton she was smitten, not only with Charlie but with the thrill and freedom she found on her bike. She would out-work the men in the rhubarb field, she could out-class the cyclists on the road and still find time to knit young Denise a cycling jumper – though it wasn’t meant to come down to her knees!
Beryl Burton MBE, OBE, wife and mother – five times World Pursuit Champion, thirteen times National Pursuit Champion and twice World Road-race Champion. She was one of the most astonishing sports people ever.
Starring Rebecca Ryan, Samantha Power, Lee Toomes and Matthew Ganley.
‘Burton’s story…brought to theatrically inventive and comically free-wheeling life’ – The Telegraph (4 stars)
‘Maxine Peake’s affectionate sprint through her life presents Burton as true Yorkshire grit’ – The Independent (4 stars)
‘Peake’s compassionate homage’ – The Guardian (4 stars)
‘Playful charm’ – The Observer (4 stars)
Director: Rebecca Gatward
Associate Director: David Crowley
Designer: Naomi Dawson
Lighting Designer: David Holmes
Sound and Video Designer: Mic Pool
Beryl was first presented at West Yorkshire Playhouse in June 2014, timed to coincide with the start of the Tour de France in Leeds. It was such a hit that we brought it back in June 2015 and were delighted to be awarded funds, from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, to take Beryl on tour. We’ll be visiting a number of theatres we have toured to before and some we have not. In addition, in an exciting development for everyone at the Playhouse, we’re creating a technically simpler version of the production so we can also visit arts centres, village halls and community centres.
TOUR VENUES & DATES:
Wed 23 Sept
Lowther Pavilion, LYTHAM ST ANNES, Lancashire
www.lowtherpavilion.co.uk
Thur 24 Sept
Forum, NORTHALLERTON, North Yorkshire
www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk
Fri 25 Sept
Victoria Hall, SETTLE, North Yorkshire
www.settlevictoriahall.org.uk
Sat 26 Sept
St John’s Church, SHAROW, North Yorkshire
www.ruralarts.org
stjohnssharow@gmail.com
01765 450554
Thur 1 Oct
Century Theatre, COALVILLE, Leicestershire
www.centurytheatre.co.uk
Fri 2 Oct
Chilwell Arts Theatre, BEESTON, Nottinghamshire
www.chilwellartstheatre.co.uk
Sat 3 Oct
Broadbent Theatre, WICKENBY, Lincolnshire
www.broadbent.org
Sun 4 Oct
Assembly Rooms, BARTON-ON-HUMBER, North Lincolnshire
07717587850 or 01652 633951
Wed 7 Oct
The Witham Hall, BARNARD CASTLE, County Durham
www.thewitham.org.uk
Thur 8 Oct
The Old Fire Station, CARLISLE, Cumbria
www.oldfirestation.carlisle.city
Fri 9 Oct
Amble Parish Hall, AMBLE, Northumberland
www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Sat 10 Oct
Bardon Mill & Henshaw Village Hall, BARDON MILL, Northumberland
www.bardonmill-villagehall.co.uk
Thursday 15 Oct
Talbot Theatre, WHITCHURCH, Shropshire
www.artsalive.co.uk
Fri 16 Oct
Tarvin Community Centre, TARVIN, Cheshire
www.tarvincommunitycentre.org
Sat 17 Oct
Sparc Theatre, BISHOPS CASTLE, Shropshire
www.sparctheatre.co.uk
Sun 18 Oct
Conquest Theatre, BROMYARD, Shropshire
www.conquest-theatre.co.uk
Wed 21 Oct – SOLD OUT
Longcroft School, BEVERLEY, East Riding of Yorkshire
01482 870751
Thur 22 Oct – SOLD OUT
Spotlight Theatre, BRIDLINGTON, East Yorkshire
www.spotlighttheatrebrid.co.uk
Fri 23 Oct – SOLD OUT
Lund Village Hall, LUND, East Riding of Yorkshire
01377 217776
Sat 24 Oct – SOLD OUT
Swanland Village Hall, SWANLAND, East Riding of Yorkshire
01482 634863
Wed 28 – Sat 31 Oct SOLD OUT
Stephen Joseph Theatre, SCARBOROUGH
www.sjt.uk.com
01723 370541
Mon 2 – Wed 4 Nov
The Lowry, SALFORD
www.thelowry.com
0843 208 6000
Thur 5 – Sat 7 Nov
New Wolsey Theatre, IPSWICH
www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
01473 295900
Tue 10 & Wed 11 Nov
Lawrence Batley Theatre, HUDDERSFIELD
www.thelbt.org
01484 430528
Thur 12 – Sat 14 Nov
Pomegranate Theatre, CHESTERFIELD
www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk
01246 345222
Mon 16 – Wed 18 Nov
Nottingham Playhouse, NOTTINGHAM
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
0115 941 9419
Thur 19 – Sat 21 Nov
Cast, DONCASTER
www.castindoncaster.com
01302 303 959
Tue 24 – Sat 28 Nov
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, BIRMINGHAM
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
0121 236 4455
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