In summer 2021 the Den was built for the second time outside Spinners Mill in Leigh.
Celebrating the local community across 8 days, THE DEN IN LEIGH hosted 27 socially distant performances, events and workshops. Resulting in 768 audience members, 80% of which were from the Leigh & Atherton area.
Performances included BLOODY ELLE – THE GIG a new version of Lauryn Redding and Bryony Shanahan’s critically acclaimed show. SOME PEOPLE FEEL THE RAIN Written by Kieran Knowles, Directed by Hannah Sands. LocalTALE, the 7 wining plays from the Leigh Ambassadors playwriting competitions. FLY HALF THE PLAY a new play with original songs that tells the tale of a rugby playing steel worker from South Wales. DIGITAL GHOST HUNT, created by KIT Theatre in collaboration with the Leigh Ambassadors. Spinners Mill’s mysterious supernatural sightings were investigated in this promenade performance.
“Such an exciting place for our local talent to be nurtured and to thrive”
“Loving The Den! Community spirt at its best”
“This really means a lot to the people of Leigh to have you here”
“An absolutely excellent venue with equally excellent entertainment. Some People Feel the Rain left me feeling inspired. Thank you”
OUR PLACE, was the performance result of a week-long drama course with young people from around Leigh. LEIGH DRAMATICS showcased local talent with performances from A Will & A Way and St Joseph’s Players. We also had THE COMEDY DEN lunchtime comedy, THE STORY DEN, storytelling sessions for under 10s and a SPOKEN WORD NIGHT, an evening of spoken word and poetry.
The opening night event featured a screening of MAKING STEADY PROGRESS, a poem written by Kieran Knowles in collaboration with the Leigh Ambassadors filmed across Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley. There was a prize giving ceremony for LocalTALE playwriting competition and a performance from EVERYTHING HUMAN RIGHT’S Kubatana Dance Group.
The Den at Spinners Mill Video
As part of the Den we offer an eight week Front Of House training course to develop confidence, communication and work skills, specifically targeting unemployed people within the area. This course has been designed to upskill people in the local community. It is a joy to see the trainees progress and wonderful to have local people welcoming local audiences into the Den.
“I’ve done shadowing before, but this was so different, everyone at the Royal Exchange was so welcoming”
“Opening night, I came a few hours early because I was so excited. I’d tell everybody and anybody, I’ve been telling shopkeepers about this”
The Festival - day by day...
Thursday 5 August
5pm
Digital Ghost Hunt
Spinners Mill has many stories to tell of people who have worked there since it opened in 1912. For over 100 years, people have reported mysterious supernatural sightings. This summer we’re looking for a team of young people to help us solve the mystery of these ghostly happenings. Created by Elliott Hall of King’s Digital Lab and Tom Bowtell of KIT Theatre in a co-production with the Royal Exchange Theatre. Supported by King’s College London, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England.
Friday 6 August
12pm & 4pm
Digital Ghost Hunt
Spinners Mill has many stories to tell of people who have worked there since it opened in 1912. For over 100 years, people have reported mysterious supernatural sightings. This summer we’re looking for a team of young people to help us solve the mystery of these ghostly happenings. Created by Elliott Hall of King’s Digital Lab and Tom Bowtell of KIT Theatre in a co-production with the Royal Exchange Theatre. Supported by King’s College London, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England.
6:30pm
Our Place
Following a week-long drama course in Spinner’s Mill, young people from around Leigh have created this performance from scratch based on their experiences of Leigh and what the town means to them.
7:15pm
LocalTALE
7 winners of the Leigh Local Exchange Ambassadors Group Playwriting competitions 2020 & 2021 will show across two evenings at the Den.
This performance includes 15 minute extracts from GREEN LEAVES by Mary Berry, DREAMS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS by Pegeen Murphy, BATTERY LOW by Alison Ormrod and HOPE IS A FLOWER by Amy Drake. Directed by Maria Zemlinskaya.
Saturday 7 August
11am
The Story Den
Storytelling sessions suitable for under 10s from some special guests. Get comfortable and lose yourself in an adventure as they share their favourite stories and captivating tales.
12pm & 3pm
Digital Ghost Hunt
Spinners Mill has many stories to tell of people who have worked there since it opened in 1912. For over 100 years, people have reported mysterious supernatural sightings. This summer we’re looking for a team of young people to help us solve the mystery of these ghostly happenings. Created by Elliott Hall of King’s Digital Lab and Tom Bowtell of KIT Theatre in a co-production with the Royal Exchange Theatre. Supported by King’s College London, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England.
1pm
The Comedy Den
Hosted by Katie Mulgrew
Join award winning writer, actor and stand up comedian, Katie Milgrew (heard on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2 and seen on CBBC and ITV2) and other comedians for a hilarious lunchtime treat.
Bloody Elle – The Gig
A Royal Exchange Theatre production in association with Rebel Productions
Fresh from its run at the Royal Exchange, Bloody Elle – The Gig, is a new version of Lauryn Redding and Bryony Shanahan’s critically acclaimed show arrives in Leigh. Featuring the songs from the show as well as some special covers that inspired the work, Lauryn Redding will weave the story of Elle and Eve throughout the night and create an intimate and uplifting experience about falling in love for the very first time. Beautiful, funny, warm and inspiring, the show is stuffed full of those stomach-flipping-time-stopping moments – a touch, a glance, a kiss – that everyone will recognise.
Sunday 8 August
11am & 2pm
Digital Ghost Hunt
Spinners Mill has many stories to tell of people who have worked there since it opened in 1912. For over 100 years, people have reported mysterious supernatural sightings. This summer we’re looking for a team of young people to help us solve the mystery of these ghostly happenings. Created by Elliott Hall of King’s Digital Lab and Tom Bowtell of KIT Theatre in a co-production with the Royal Exchange Theatre. Supported by King’s College London, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England.
2pm
Leigh Dramatics
With performances including A Will & A Way, performing a selection of monologues and St Joseph’s Players doing a series of scenes from ‘Private Lives’, the afternoon promises to showcase local talent with an exciting variety of performances highlighting the best of Leigh amateur dramatics.
Wednesday 11 August
12pm
Lunchtime Talk: Setting up a Theatre Company
Every wondered how companies begin? Maybe you and a group of people have creative ideas but you don’t know where to go from there. Or do you want to perform your theatre show but can’t understand how to do this? Come to this talk, hosted by Justina Aina, Assistant Producer at the Royal Exchange Theatre as she talks about how to set up a theatre company.
2pm
Elders Company Taster Workshop
The Royal Exchange Theatre’s Company is for people aged 60+ who want to take part in regular drama and performance workshops and learn more about theatre. The group of around 25 people meet weekly at the theatre to perform, socialise and expand their knowledge. Join us for this taster workshop to experience the work and see if you fancy joining our company.
6:15pm
Artist Mixer
Come along and meet local artists from all disciplines for a good chat over a drink. This informal event is the chance to share ideas and exchange opportunities with other artists from across Leigh.
7:15pm
Fly Half The Play
A father. A Son. A Club. A Town. A Game. Fly Half.
Fly Half is a new play with original songs that tells the tale of a rugby playing steel worker from South Wales. Set in an industrial town, this play is a celebration of working class families who head out to the match each week, stand pitch side with pride, supporting their local team. A lyrical hymn to one man’s passion for his family, his town and his beloved game.
Thursday 12 August
12pm
Open Office Hours
If you’re trying to understand more about jobs in theatre or you want to ask specific questions about working in the arts, book onto our Open office Hours surgeries with members of staff from the Royal Exchange Theatre. Have a cuppa, pull up a seat and we can chat 1:1.
6:30pm
Some People Feel The Rain
Written by Kieran Knowles, Directed by Hannah Sands
Sometimes it feels like the rain will ever stop. That the world will wash away. Some People Feel The Rain is about a family sheltering from the storm, kicking as hard as they can to stay afloat. It’s about coming together while your falling apart. It’s about love, community, and hope.
7:45pm
Spoken Word Night
Join us for an evening of spoken word and poetry. With performances from Afshan D’Souza-Lodhi, Channique Sterling-Brown, and Nasima Begum.
Friday 13 August
7:30pm
Some People Feel The Rain
Written by Kieran Knowles, Directed by Hannah Sands
Sometimes it feels like the rain will ever stop. That the world will wash away. Some People Feel The Rain is about a family sheltering from the storm, kicking as hard as they can to stay afloat. It’s about coming together while your falling apart. It’s about love, community, and hope.
6:30pm
LocalTALE
7 winners of the Leigh Local Exchange Ambassadors Group Playwriting competitions 2020 & 2021 will show across two evenings at the Den.
This performance includes 15 minute extracts from THE TREE FROM YOU OR ME by Charlotte Kirton, 25 & OVER by Sarah Teale, ON THE STREETS OF COVID by Tom Stocks. Directed by Gitika Buttoo.
Saturday 14 August
12pm
Set and Costume Design talk
From Amanda Stoodley, award-winning set and costume designer
If you saw Bloody Elle – a Gig Musical or if you’re simply interested in theatre design and directing, this is the talk for you! Listen to Bloody Elle set and costume designer, Amanda Stoodley and Joint Artistic Director and Director of Bloody Elle, Bryony Shanahan as they talk about how they created the world for Bloody Elle and how a designer and director work together to immerse an audience a show.
6pm
Some People Feel The Rain
Written by Kieran Knowles, Directed by Hannah Sands
Sometimes it feels like the rain will ever stop. That the world will wash away. Some People Feel The Rain is about a family sheltering from the storm, kicking as hard as they can to stay afloat. It’s about coming together while your falling apart. It’s about love, community, and hope.
7:30pm
Catching Comets
After discovering a comet hurtling towards Earth, Toby snaps and turns into the action hero in his own movie on a mission to save the world. Flashback a year: Toby is knocked off course when somebody crashes into his life.
