"The Grand Reopening Night"

Nottingham Arts Theatre.

It's always the best news when I hear of a theatre re opening again, and it was so good to hear that the Nottingham Arts Theatre tonight re opened its' doors for their first public performance since Covid forced them to close last year. The arts, as we all know, have been hit hard by the pandemic, and local theatres have been hit hardest as they depend on the paying public to keep their heads (sometimes) above water.

Tonight was an evening of songs from the musicals, dance, comedy and poetry, and a chance to see faces, both old and new, singing and dancing for our entertainment, and reminding us all, just how talented local theatre folk are, and also what we have been missing for so long at the Nottingham Arts Theatre.

We were treated to performances from the Arts Theatres staff and volunteers, Rhythm Nation Studios, The People's Theatre Company, the Nottingham Arts Theatre's Summer School, as well as cast performances of upcoming musicals, all to whet our appetite for the coming season.

We were invited to be their guest from the off as they started with the "Beauty & The Beast" classic Disney tune, and then we were into the promotion of the People's Theatre Company November show "Jeff Wayne's War Of the Worlds" with Sam performing "Forever Autumn".

There were songs from "Les Miserables", "Miss Saigon", "Seussical", "Avenue Q", "The Greatest Showman", "Shrek", all in the first act, along with beautiful solos of "On My Own" from "Les Miserables" and "Tomorrow" from "Annie", plus a taste of the September production of "Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" from Louis Barnes-cupit and some of the cast.

Come the second act and a rousing version of "Amazing Grace", which is featured in the new musical about Aretha Franklin's life, currently starring Jennifer Hudson as Aretha, paved the way for some wonderful ensemble numbers like "Welcome To The Rock" from "Come From Away" and "Seasons Of Love" from "Rent", through songs from "The Lion King", "Wicked", "Sing", "Oliver", "42nd Street", "Grease" and "High School Musical".

Then there were the emotional music selections for the evening with Mariah Carey's "Hero", Eva Cassidy's version of "Over The Rainbow" and "Starmaker" from The Kids From Fame, a song that is much deeper than the pop world gave credit to, and especially when we reflect over the last 18 months, and the people who have made us all feel like stars in our everyday life, who may now not be with us.

If there is one way to guarantee a standing ovation, it is to get everyone standing up for the final number and the perfect song for this was "Lean On Me", the Bill Withers classic, again a song with an immense meaning for today. We all, even me, rose and sung along with the talent on stage, as a thank you for the entertainment and a promise to support the Arts Theatre, now more than ever. In all honesty, this showcase would have received a standing ovation anyway.

For me, this kind of showcase is a wonderful evening to star spot, and within the young performers there were several who stuck out who I really hope develop the love of performing. And while I am on that note, it was great to see the smiles on the faces of the young kids who looked like they were really enjoying what they were doing, and not just because they were told "eyes and teeth".

I loved seeing the newbies, just starting out, enjoying their first flush of audience adoration, and I know several young performers who I have had the pleasure to see head south to London's drama and dance schools, and have become successful and now have turned professional, from the Arts Theatre.

I also loved seeing the seasoned local performers back on stage again, Mike Pearson, Barry Hobbs, J J Gill, Patrick McChrystal, Laura Ellis, Marie Rogers, Chris Teasdale, Ray Samuel Mcleod, Amy Rogers-Gee, to name a few.

I, for one, am so pleased to see inside the Nottingham Arts Theatre once more, and it reminded me just how much I have missed the people and the productions from this lovely local theatre. It also reminded me of the talent that has lay, for most part, dormant, just waiting for the theatre doors to re-open and to once more, explode into life.

Welcome back, we've missed you.