Theatre group stays afloat (From Stroud News and Journal)

Theatre group stays afloat

A UNIQUE waterborne theatre company is on its 34th tour of the national waterways this summer, and will be making a brief stop at the Space in Stroud, despite the venue being landlocked.

The four actor-musicians of Yorkshire-based Mikron Theatre Company are spending the summer on board a the 69-year old narrowboat, Tyseley, bringing live theatre to audiences in pubs and other canal and riverside venues all over the country.

With original songs and music, Wheel of Fortune charts the changing fortunes of the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals, which connect Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Once important corridors for commerce and pleasure, these waterways fell into decline and decrepitude, but, following their recent restoration, the two great Scottish cities are linked again, this time by one of the modern engineering marvels of the waterways, the Falkirk Wheel, the world's only rotating boat lift.

Mikron's four versatile actors this year, Ellen Callender, Laura Sydonie, Robert Took and Daniel Wexler, are also talented musicians, who each play several instruments, including clarinet, saxophone, violin, guitar, keyboard, harmonica, flute and African drum.

They are also touring a second production, Village Voices, which takes place at the Haw Bridge Inn, Tirley, near Gloucester, on Monday, August 15 at 7.30pm.

Food is available before the show. Tickets are not needed as the company will take a collection.

Wheel of Fortune is at the Space, Lansdown, Stroud, on Sunday, August 14 at 7.30pm. Tickets, at £8 or £6 concessions, are available from StroudPrint, 6 London Road or Stroud Tourist Information Centre.