Stately home to be theatre

ONE of Cheshire’s finest stately homes will be turned into a theatre for one night – courtesy of Warrington college students.
More than 60 performing arts and music students will take part in a series of dance and musical pierces in different rooms at Arley Hall on February 14.
Contemporary dance and live music will be performed in the library, dining hall and on the ornate staircase.
General manager Garry Fortune said: “We’ve not seen anything like this at Arley before and it will be a unique way for people to see the hall.
“We’ve been working closely with the students and it sounds like they have come up with some great ideas about how to use the space.”
The students, from Warrington’s Priestley College, have devised the choreography and production arts students have taken responsibility for managing and marketing the event.
Jess Collins, 17, said they were looking forward to performing in the grandeur of the house, which is owned by Lord and Lady Ashbrook.
“It is an amazing set in itself,” she said. “We’re hoping to bring it to life with some great music and performances.”
The youngsters have been rehearsing for the event at college in spaces marked out to the size of Arley’s historic rooms.
Guests will be greeted with a complimentary glass of wine and nibbles in the Tudor Barn before making their way into the hall itself.
There will be two performances, one starting at 7.30pm and the other at 8.30pm.
Tutor Mark Edgington said: “There will be an element of choice to the performance because people will be able to wander around the hall and decide what they want to watch as they go.”
Tickets for the two performances – which can each accommodate 100 people – are available by calling Priestley College on 01925 633591 and asking for the cash office between 10am and 2pm.