Focus on The Arts Centre at Edge Hill University

Some of you may be familiar with The Rose Theatre at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk. However, you may not be aware of the recent changes, including a change of name, so we thought we’d provide you with a handy recap and update.

The Rose Theatre was built in the 1960s, originally as a venue for Edge Hill University’s drama students. It threw its doors open to the public for the first time in 1993, and since then has gone from strength to strength delivering a diverse professional programme including theatre, film, literature and dance. In 2006 folk and acoustic music were added to the menu, attracting artist such as Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, Tim O’Brien, June Tabor, Martin Simpson, and Maddy Prior. They’ve also played host to up-and-coming folk singer-songwriters, including Bella Hardy on her first tour back in 2007.

Extensive refurbishment of the Rose Theatre during the summer of 2012 has been at the heart of the University’s newly-developed Arts Centre which now houses the Performing Arts Department, The Rose and Studio Theatres. The £2m overhal includes a new staging floor, audio-visual equipment and (hooray!) comfier seats, as well as a new bistro and an outdoor amphitheatre space.

Officially launched in October 2012, The Arts Centre (as it’s now known), in partnership with Friends of Folk, continues to promote folk music as part of its programming, and a number of their events are listed below.

The Arts Centre is fully accessible, with ample free parking. Tickets can be booked by phone on 01695 584480 or online at edgehill.ac.uk/artscentre

A list of all the music events can be found at edgehill.ac.uk/rosetheatre/whatson/music

• Friday 22nd February – The Tannahill Weavers
  The one-of-a-kind dynamic Tannahill Weavers perform spellbinding Scottish traditional music at its best.

• Friday 8th March – State of the Union
  Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams perform a raw mix of English pop and American acoustic slide guitar. Support from local musician David Hirst (Misery Guts)

• Saturday 6th April – Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham
  Celebrating 25 years, fiddle & accordian duo Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham are back with their trademark foot-stomping rhythms and banter.

• Saturday 20th April – Faustus
  The Fabulous Three! Multi-award winning Faustus perform superb ‘frill-free folk music’.

• Saturday 18th May – Karine Polwart
  Nominated for three awards at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2013 – Folk Singer of the Year, Best Album, and Best Original Song

• Saturday 1st June – Celtic Fiddle Festival
  The Celtic Fiddle Festival are Kevin Burke (Ireland), Christian Lemaitre (France), Andre Brunet (Canada) & Nicholas Quemener (France).

Focus on The Arts Centre at Edge Hill University