<img src='' title='Event Category: Theatre' alt='' id='templ_icon_' width='' height='' /> Event Category: Theatre

Flying High Young Company from Arnold, Nottingham invites you to come and follow Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion along the Yellow Brick Road to self-discovery where the Wizard of Oz is not all he seems. This is a retelling of a well-known story with original songs by professional musician/actor, Jack Quarton, also from Arnold. Through creative storytelling with a modern eco-friendly twist, The Wizard of Oz is performed by a vibrant young company who had sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. This a show for all the family and not one to be missed.

“It is truly a delight to experience the enthusiasm and dedication of these budding artists, who play multiple parts with quick costume changes.  Each one brings life to their characters in a charming and unique way.  Every performer delivers their lines convincingly. They work well together as an ensemble, understanding the dynamics across the staging.  They are very well-rehearsed and know how to engage the children with the story and audience interaction.” – Patricia Silver (Fringe Review 2024)

Prices: Full price £10.00/Children £8.00/Family £32.00 (4 people)

Preview: 22^nd December at 12.00pm – Adults £5.00 (Up to 4 children go free with at least one paying adult) – Child tickets will automatically default to free once an adult ticket is added

Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero, Jefferson Steele, arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard but a sleepy Suffolk village and the cast are a bunch of amateurs. Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and insecurity are tested by the enthusiastic amateur thespians – who are not averse to a spot of ego, vanity and insecurity themselves. As acting worlds collide and Jefferson’s career implodes, he discovers some truths about himself and his relationships with other people… along with his inner Lear!

by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman

This production contains occasional bad language.

Performed by The Bonington Players

We cannot believe that this year marks 25 years since Flying High Expressive Arts was established. From being based at Kingswell Junior School in 1999, moving to Arnold Hill Academy, then St. Mark’s Church Hall & Christ the King Academy to finally, our current venue, Pondhills Lane Community Centre & the Bonington Theatre.

On our journey we have produced 13 National Theatre Connections plays and performed at Sheffield Crucible, Nottingham Playhouse, Derby Theatre & the Royal National Theatre, taken 17 shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, performed 4 Christmas shows at the Bonington Theatre, been selected for County & Regional Youth Dance platforms and a dance exchange to Berlin, participated in Mansfield Junior Showtime, Inspire Youth Arts Showcases, Mansfield Drama festivals, Arnold Christmas Lights, Carnivals, Summer Fairs and created our own Christmas and Summer Showcases annually. In addition, we have achieved 100% pass rate for around 200 young people taking GCSEs and A Levels in Dance and Drama & Theatre outside school and presently, 88 Lamda exams taken from Grade 2 – 8 with 100% pass rate and 82% Distinctions.

We are proud of our inclusive CIC (Community Interest Company) status and in our 25^th Year, we aim to move towards becoming a registered charity so that we can continue to provide for all members of our community and share our love of theatre arts and how they can inspire us all to ‘Fly High’.

This is an open invitation to anyone who has ever been part of Flying High Expressive Arts in any way to join us so get dressed up and let’s celebrate.

Flying High Past & Present Reunion Party 7pm – 11pm

Tickets: £10 all tickets

Calling all parents, alumni and current members to join us for a past and present reunion celebration filled with music, dancing, memories, photos, videos, a grazing table of food and drinks available to purchase from the bar. Under 14s must be accompanied by at least one adult or they will not be able to attend.

Watson. An old soldier with a few bruises and a cracking story to tell.

1894. Watson is alone. His beloved wife Mary and the great Sherlock Holmes are both gone. But London seethes with false reports and rumour. It is time to set the record straight.

So Watson tells his tale… a tale of long buried secrets, betrayal and death. For there is a shadow in the gutters of London. A spider’s web of poisonous intrigue lies across the city. Someone is playing a long game and Holmes and Watson face their greatest ever challenge. But as Watson unravels the story, is the game really over?

Presented by Live & Local

Flying High Expressive Arts CIC invite you to join us for our annual Summer Showcase where we share with you, our wonderful young people’s talents and creativity in a series of scenes, dances and songs. We have a short version of Peter Pan from our Junior Drama group, a song from ‘Annie’ from our young singers, creative dance pieces from our Youth Dance group, and a mixture of original drama pieces from our senior groups including an informative portrayal of how the teenage brain is wired very differently from adults!

We also have our Young Company sharing at least two of the songs from preparations of their 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, an original version of The Wizard of Oz which, in addition to the Fringe will be performed at the Bonington Theatre on 22nd & 23rd December – a Christmas family show.

The showcase will last approx. 2hrs 20mins including an interval.

Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and all of your favourite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in Seussical JR., a fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

Performed by children from New Youth Theatre.

Presented by New Youth Theatre.

Embark on this thrilling production of Into The Woods performed by a cast of 30 talented young performers that has rehearsed in just under a week.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and the book by James Lapine, this magical tale follows a Baker and his Wife as they attempt to undo a spell. Their journey intertwines with many classic fairy-tale stories, creating a dramatic, yet comedic narrative which reminds us that not all fairy-tales have happy endings.

This show is perfect for those wanting to escape into a storybook world of princes, princesses, wolves and giants and be transported to a place where wishes do come true – albeit with unforeseen consequences.

Creative Team:
Directed by Abigail Pidgeon
Choreography by Megan Hindley
Musical Direction by Harry Hindley

*This amateur production is performed in arrangement with Musical Theatre International–

The Bonington Players are pleased to announce that, following sold-out seasons at the National Theatre and in the West End, and a national tour, we are proud to bring Laura Wade’s Olivier Award-winning comedy to the Bonington Theatre.

How happily married are the happily married?

Every couple needs a little fantasy to keep their marriage sparkling. But behind the gingham curtains, things start to unravel, and being a domestic goddess is not as easy as it seems!

One Singular Sensation!🎩

A love letter to theatre, A Chorus Line will be directed/choreographed by Megan Hindley, with musical direction by Harry Hindley. With a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban, A Chorus Line features iconic songs including ‘One’, ‘I Hope I Get It’, ‘Nothing’ and the hit ballad ‘What I Did For Love’.

Flying High Youth Theatre and Drama groups perform extracts from past NT Connections plays, followed by Flying High Young Company’s 2023 production of Wind/Rush Generation(s) by Mojisola Adebayo. This play is about the British Isles, its past and its present written for all young people to perform regardless of their cultural background, skin colour, ability or gender.

Tickets: £8.00 each (£5.00 under 25s)
Age recommendation: 14+
Warning: Some strong language and references to disturbing events in the past

*Please note, this performance will start at 7.30pm, not 7pm as previously stated