Party like it’s 1971!
The Dukes reaches its 40th birthday this autumn and is having a public party to celebrate.
This one-off event will be staged at Lancaster’s grand Ashton Hall, just a stone’s throw from The Dukes in Moor Lane which first opened its doors to the public in autumn 1971.
The Dukes 40th Anniversary Fundraiser takes place on Thursday, September 22 from 7.30pm until midnight. It will be a glittering evening of delicious food from Lancaster’s Touro Brazilian restaurant who sponsor The Dukes autumn season; dancing, and top class entertainment.
Dukes favourites, the multi-talented Slightly Fat Features variety troupe will be on the bill and there’s music from Get Carter plus performances from the best talent Lancaster can offer.
All money raised will kick-start fundraising for the next generation of Dukes young people’s projects and future home produced professional shows which have been a mainstay of the Lancaster theatre over the past four decades.
The event will also see the launch of The Dukes exclusive 40 Club for patrons who want to support the theatre as it looks ahead to the next 40 years.Individuals and groups are invited to join in the fun as The Dukes prepares to party the night away.
Tickets(including food) are priced £35 each or book a table for ten priced £300. Tickets are available from The Dukes Box Office on 01524 598500 or www.dukes-lancaster.org
Editor’s Notes
The Dukes theatre and independent cinema first opened its doors to the public in autumn 1971.
The Dukes is Lancashire’s only building based theatre to produce inhouse plays as well as hosting a wealth of quality touring work. The Moor Lane venue also includes one of the North West’s few independent cinemas, a gallery with an all-year-round exhibition programme, and a café bar.
DT3, also in Moor Lane, is The Dukes youth specific venue. It houses The Dukes Creative Learning Department who work in partnership with Lancashire County Council Young People’s Service to deliver a vast range of creative participatory opportunities in theatre, film, music and mixed media.
To mark its 40th anniversary, during October The Dukes is staging a Pub Season featuring two homegrown plays – Two(October 6-October 29) and High Vis(October 13-15) – plus a range of complementary touring shows all performed in The Round which will be transformed in to a pub for the month.
The 40th annual Christmas show will be The BFG, presented in The Rake from November 25-January 7.
