RicNic
  • Home
  • Apply Now
  • About RicNic
    • The RicNic Team
    • RicNic Stories
    • Past Productions
  • Our Programme
    • Engage
    • Empower
    • Evolve
    • ArtsMark
    • Our Branches >
      • RicNic Hampshire >
        • Thoroughly Modern Millie (2019)
        • Gypsy (2018)
        • West Side Story (2017)
      • RicNic Oxford >
        • A Chorus Line (2019)
        • Anything Goes (2018)
        • Sweeney Todd (2017)
      • RicNic London >
        • In the Heights (2018)
        • Into the Woods (2017)
      • RicNic Burton
  • Blog
  • Support Us
    • Friends Scheme
    • Corporate Partnerships
  • Contact
Following the great success of Guys & Dolls in 2016, the award-winning RicNic Hampshire company were proud to return to Winchester's Theatre Royal with the great Bernstein classic, West Side Story!

Keep reading to find out more about RicNic 2017 from those who knew it best - the West Side Story company! For more insight, you might also want to check out Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Looking back at West Side Story...​ 

West Side Story 2017 was one of RicNic Hampshire's most successful productions, featuring a great mix of old hands and RicNic newbies. A bit of time has now passed since the curtain fell on the final night, so we've decided to delve into our archives and take a sneak peek into the production process.
Picture
​Below are a selection of images that we took during rehearsals, which gives a bit of insight into the hard work (and FUN) that goes into putting the shows together. We hope looking through these snaps makes you as nostalgic and happy as it does us. Roll on RicNic 2018, we say!

CURTAIN DOWN

August 26th marked the final curtain down on our 2017 production of West Side Story. With heavy hearts, we will all miss this amazing show, and the working with such a phenomenal company. 

While we are sad to leave this special show behind, we are excited to be looking ahead to RicNic 2018 where even more opportunities will be opening up for young, aspiring theatre fans!

We must take this opportunity to thank everyone who has allowed this to be possible. In any capacity, your support has let this happen, so thank you for enabling us to continue to open free-access to the Arts for young people across the county!​

SceneOnePlus: 'Right from the start, each actor’s intent, concentration, focus, energy, pace and characterisation are absolutely first-class.'

​Until 2018!
                                                                                          Rehearsal and promotional photography: Tim Beavis 
                                                                                                                                        timbeavis.myportfolio.com

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

RicNic, unlike many youth theatre companies, has no participation fees meaning that we rely heavily on donations for support. We believe that everyone from any background should have the oportunity to explore theatre, and what it is like to preform on a commercial stage! Your donation goes directly into the budget of the current show, and will most likely help to fund succeeding shows. Without support from donations and sponsors, we would be unable to give young people the unique experience RicNic has to offer. 

Please visit our Friends Scheme page to learn more about supporting RicNic.


FAQs

How much does it cost to be involved?
It's completely free! What makes our youth theatre company different is that we don't charge people to be involved. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience and be involved in theatre no matter what their background is. 

When are the rehearsals?
Rehearsals take place within the first three weeks of August, usually Monday to Friday in our base location, Winchester. This year they will be from July 31st - August 26th.

What happens if I'm not around for the whole of August?
​We appreciate that for many of us, August is a time for lying on a beach working on your tan, reading a good trashy novel, so we try to accommodate as much as possible. Although it isn't always necessary for everyone to be there all the time, we do expect and require a reasonably high attendance. We only have three weeks to put on a show, so we need to much time together as a group to bond, create, and perfect. 

When are the shows?
The shows run from August 23rd-26th.
FURTHER AUDITION DATE ANNOUNCED
After an incredibly successful first two rounds of auditions, we are so thrilled at the way the RicNic Hampshire 2017 is shaping up. Disappointed you missed out? Don't worry, there is still a chance to get involved with this award-winning company! We are having another audition day, Saturday 3rd June - 10am-3pm, The Pilgrims' School. 

Send us an email at hampshire@ricnic.org.uk with the following details:
  • Name 
  • Age (D.O.B)
  • Any previous experience you feel you'd want us to know

See you there!

AUDITION DATE ANNOUNCED

Picture
Are you aged 16-21? Do you have a passion for performing? Do you want to be part of a unique theatre company run entirely by young people? Well now's your chance!

After our seven-time award nominated production of 'Guys & Dolls', we are ecstatic to be embarking on our 2017 revival of West Side Story! Thrilled to embrace and celebrate the young talent of in and around Hampshire, and what they have to offer.

RicNic Hampshire is made up entirely of 16-21 year olds and we are excited to be on the look out for our next cast, searching for enthusiastic young performers to join us in our dynamic revival of this timeless classic.

We will be at Henry Beaufort School, Saturday, April 8th and Tuesday, April 18th, 10am-3pm, looking for our new 2017 cast. THIS COULD BE YOU!

Interested? Send us an email at hampshire@ricnic.org.uk with the following details:
  • Name 
  • Age (D.O.B)
  • Any previous experience you feel you'd want us to know
  • Your preferred audition day
Get in touch with us with that and we'll do the rest. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email!

We can't wait to hear from you!
​
Graphic Design: George Davison http://cargocollective.com/davison


SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: West Side Story

Picture
We are pleased to announce that our summer 2017 show will be the much loved Bernstein classic, ​West Side Story!
​

"Maria...I've just met a girl named Maria" 

We are thrown straight in the middle of a heated battle between the leading gangs of the west side - the local Jets and the foreign Sharks! These gangs confront each other in their school gym ready to proclaim a fight, however, unknowingly kindling the love of two unsuspecting souls. 

​Adapted from Shakespeare's ​Romeo and Juliet this wonderful show tells the story of Tony and Maria who, whilst being uncontrollably drawn to each other, find their relationship compromised, and themselves in the midst of a cultural divide - unaware of the consequences their love will bring.

As West Side Story reaches it's sixtieth anniversary of it's original Broadway production, the issues that rise throughout the show have never been more current. 

The original 1957 Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein, marked Sondheim's Broadway debut as the lyricist. The production was nominated for six Tony Awards including Best Musical in 1957. The 1961 film adaptation, directed by Robert Wise and Robbins, starred the likes of Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, and Rita Moreno. The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won ten!

If you're aged 16-21 and have a love of theatre, whether on the stage, behind it or below it then please do get in touch with us - we can't wait to hear from you!

Picture
Picture
Tweets by ricnichampshire

Latest News!
​

August 2017

RicNic Hampshire 2017 is here!

July 2017

With everything falling into place, it's a few more weeks before our talent cast and band start rehearsing. Watch this space!

Get your tickets now before they sell out! 
​
April 2017

​Another audition day has been announced: Saturday 3rd June. Check out the blog for more details!

March 2017

We are delighted to announce the audition dates for our summer show:

West Side Story
     -  Saturday, April 8th
     -  Tuesday, April 18th
10am-3pm, Henry Beaufort School - Theatre

To apply for an audition, email use at 
hampshire@ricnic.org.uk

Details should include:​
     - Name  
     
- Age (D.O.B)
     - Any previous experience
     - Your preferred audition day

March 2017
SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: West Side Story!

​December 2016
We're very pleased to announce that our production team for 2017 has now been finalised!

Producers - Josie Hayden and Matthew McLaughlin
Director - Emily Pacey
Musical Director - Lottie Mitchell


Stay tuned for more news!
©RicNic 2019
contact@ricnic.org.uk
RicNic is a registered charity in the UK (number 1158837)  
c/o Flat 28 Westminster Mansions, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BP
Privacy Policy
Safeguarding Policy​

  • Home
  • Apply Now
  • About RicNic
    • The RicNic Team
    • RicNic Stories
    • Past Productions
  • Our Programme
    • Engage
    • Empower
    • Evolve
    • ArtsMark
    • Our Branches >
      • RicNic Hampshire >
        • Thoroughly Modern Millie (2019)
        • Gypsy (2018)
        • West Side Story (2017)
      • RicNic Oxford >
        • A Chorus Line (2019)
        • Anything Goes (2018)
        • Sweeney Todd (2017)
      • RicNic London >
        • In the Heights (2018)
        • Into the Woods (2017)
      • RicNic Burton
  • Blog
  • Support Us
    • Friends Scheme
    • Corporate Partnerships
  • Contact