Willy Russell and Dancin’ Thru The Dark Monday 8th February 2010 at Picturehouse@FACT

CLAPPERBOARD PRESENTS…
Willy Russell and Dancin’ Thru The Dark
Sponsored by Barclays

Monday 8th February 2010, 7pm at Picturehouse@FACT

Clapperboard Presents… Dancin’ Thru The Dark, an adaptation of  Willy Russell’s play Stags and Hens in which a group of girls and local lads venture out for a night of pre-marriage stag and hen party celebrations which ends in the groom’s friends taking the law in to their own hands when they discover the bride has developed a crush on another man, leading her to have second thoughts about marriage.  Directed by Mike Ockrent, cast: Claire Hackett, Con O’Neill, Simon O’Brien, Angela Clarke, Mark Womack, Louise Duprey, Conrad Nelson, Colin Welland, Conrad Nelson, Julia Deakin.

Whiston born writer Willy Russell, who is now one of the most respected and world renowned writers, became interested in writing drama after meeting his now wife Annie. Previously he had written songs, which were performed at local Folk Clubs and songs and sketches for local radio programmes before returning to college to become a teacher.

Willy Russell’s  first success was a play about The Beatles called John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bert, which ran for eight weeks in the Everyman Theatre, then moved to the West end in 1974, where it received Evening Standard and London Theatre Awards for Best Musical. He then went on to write Educating Rita, which was turned into a film starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters in 1983, Blood Brothers, Shirley Valentine and Stags and Hens all of which are internationally known.  Willy received Laurence Olivier Awards for Blood Brothers, Educating Rita and two for Shirley Valentine. He has also written for Television, his most successful being Our Day Out which was broadcast in 1976, and more recently performed as a musical at Liverpool’s Royal Court.

Willy Russell also released a Novel in 2000 called The Wrong Boy, which was hugely popular and has been translated into 15 languages.

Willy Russell said

“I’m delighted to be associated with Clapperboard and glad to be able to make some small contribution to a project that concerns itself with engaging the spirit and creativity of the young.   If I was remotely still young myself, I know I would be knocking on Clapperboard’s doors and trying to be involved”.

Willy will participate in a Question and Answer session after the screening of Dancin’ Thru The Dark.

Clapperboard Presents… is a new initiative by Maureen Sinclair to raise funds for the Clapperboard Youth Project.  It is also an excellent opportunity for new and established media and creative players to network ideas and support for the benefit of all.

Income raised from Clapperboard Presents… will go toward the Clapperboard Youth Project. Tickets are £10 each, Concessions £7.00 from FACT box office now.   Tickets include a complimentary after show drink sponsored by Alma de Cuba.

Next year’s participants include:  Chris Eccleston, Alan Bleasdale, Margi Clarke, Jimmy McGovern, Christine Tremarco, Stephen Graham, Nik Powell, Ricky Tomlinson, Paul Abbott.

Clapperboard UK Ltd is a non profit making organisation and has worked successfully with more than one thousand young people between the ages of 12-19 across the North West bringing creativity into their lives.

Partners and sponsors of Clapperboard Youth Project include: Merseyside Police, Bermans Solicitors, Lime Pictures, Knowsley Housing Trust, Merseytravel, Bananafish Management, Bill Elms Associates, Pinewood Studios, Panavision, Liverpool Echo, Government Office North West, Deutsche Bank, Community Foundation for Merseyside, EventSinc and Forward Culture, Hope Street Hotel, Alma de Cuba.

For further event information, how to become a partner or sponsor please contact Maureen Sinclair at Clapperboard UK on telephone 07973 783140 or info@clapperboarduk.com or Bill Elms at Bill Elms Associates on 07930 454376 or email bill@billelms.com .