Nigel Powlson, arts and entertainment editor of the Derby Telegraph and feature reporter of the Metro, reviews the vibrant city arts scene over the last twelve months.  He calls the year "a shining year of creativity" and views the reopening of Derby Playhouse as Derby Theatre as one of the major highlights.  He also enthuses that 1623 "continued to be innovative and entertaining in 2009" and that, among our "brainwaves", was Emergency Shakespeare at QUAD, where we performed scenes of peril from fourof Shakespeare's plays before volunteers from St John Ambulance sprang into action to save the day.  The full article is on the Derby Telegraph website at http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/entertainment/Shining-year-creativity-country-sit-notice/article-1662341-detail/article.html

We performed some special festive Shakespeare earlier today at Boo, a fairtrade shop on Sadler Gate in the Cathedral Quarter of Derby.  Titania the fairy queen (played by Elizabeth Rose) fell in love with Bottom the weaver (played by Ben Adams), who was turning into a donkey while a group of bemused Christmas shoppers looked on. Two performances took place both in, and in front of, the shop window to provide some alternative entertainment for shoppers on a cold wintry day. Bottom and Titania at Christmas was part of the pilot event for Derby Arts Fringe, which is finding ways of bringing art to the windows of both trading and empty shops throughout the city centre.  Photographs of our performances - taken by Mark Tunstall - can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/1623theatre/sets/72157623123503838/

Have you ever wondered what would have happened if Romeo had called in help when he first found Juliet in the tomb?  Or if Ophelia had been dragged out of the stream and given the kiss of life?

Find out when a team of St John Ambulance volunteers saves the Shakespearean Day by intervening in 1623 theatre company’s performances of emergency scenes from a number of Shakespeare’s plays.

Joseph Wright's magnificent painting of Shakespeare's tragic young lovers Romeo and Juliet will be brought vividly to life by five-star 1623 theatre company from September 1st to 3rd.