Seaton's Gateway Theatre celebrates a year since opening after pandemic

The Gateway Theatre in Seaton is celebrating an important anniversary this month.

On September 19, it will be exactly one year since it reopened following the pandemic, and after a challenging start, with audience numbers down for all theatres and performer costs up, the venue rose like a phoenix from the Covid ashes, and is now going full steam ahead into an exciting and full programme.

There is still much to do, including volunteer recruitment which is an essential part of The Gateway's operations. So if you would like to find out about volunteering, you can get in touch via the website thegatewayseaton.co.uk, drop in to collect a form or call 01297 625 699.

Meanwhile, the venue continues to offer a fantastic programme of events, including National Theatre Live and Royal Opera House screenings, Film Picnic Nights, live music and theatre.

The new 'Railway Children Return' double bill is arriving on platform number 1, with The Gateway's renowned Family Picnic Night on Friday, September 9 and a matinee on Thursday, September 15.

With the star from the original film, Jenny Agutter, playing a lead role, albeit as a grandmother, this sequel to the 1970 favourite, promises to have all the essential ingredients of the perfect family film.

This is also the first film sponsored by Western Power Distribution, which will be promoting its Priority Services Register, offering free support to vulnerable customers in the event of a power cut. They have a tailor made plan to offer practical and emotional help to carers of young children, the elderly or very ill, disabled, particularly people who rely on powered medical equipment.

Support includes:

• Proactively calling customers to check they are alright
• Providing information about the reason for the power cut and when power will be restored
• Special help through the British Red Cross

To get this free support, join WPD's Priority Services Register by calling 0800 096 3080 or visit www.westernpower.co.uk/psr. Theatre staff will also be handing out leaflets after the film that has more information.

The National Theatre Live is returning with Simon Godwin's hilarious production of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' on Thursday, September 8.

Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd), and John Heffernan (Dracula) lead the cast in this romcom of sun, sea and mistaken identity.

Set in the 1930s, the legendary family-run Hotel Messina is visited by the rich and famous, and when the owner's daughter falls for a soldier, the halls are ringing to the sound of wedding bells. However, not all the guests are in the mood for love and things soon start to get a bit tricky for the happy couple.

It's time to wave your Union flag, dress to the nines and find your loudest singing voice to join The Last Night of the Proms, live from the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, September 10.

Join your friends and family on this happiest annual celebration of the musical calendar. The BBC Symphony Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor, Dalia Stasevska, returns to host a concert that starts soprano Lise Davidsen and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who has performed live at the Gateway. You will hear Verdi, Wagner and Coleridge-Taylor, along with all your favourite songs and music. This is not a night you want to miss!