Free tickets for Sky Arts' Stagestruck judgement night at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Four of the UK's top amateur theatre companies battle it out to stage a production in the West End.
Stratford-upon-Avon audiences have the chance to watch the Stagestruck semi-finalists perform, and hear celebrity judges Miriam Margolyes, Bill Kenwright and Quentin Letts select the groups to go through to the final.
Sky Arts scoured the country for Britain's best amateur theatre groups for the new series, to be broadcast in summer 2012.
The series explores the stories and passions of amateur theatre members as they fine tune their craft to impress the judges, mentored by British stars of stage and screen.
Theatre luminaries Miriam Margolyes (Harry Potter, Black Adder and Wicked), Quentin Letts (BPA Theatre Critic of the Year 2010) and Bill Kenwright (Producer, Whistle Down the Wind and Blood Brothers) selected a shortlist of seven groups from a range of video auditions. The eighth group was chosen by public vote.
The eight finalists have been whittled down to four remaining groups, which will all perform an extract from Shakespeare's King Lear at the RSC's Courtyard Theatre in November.
During their five-week rehearsal period, each group has received a voice and movement workshop with the RSC's experts.
The judges can select only two of these groups to go forward in the competition, all of which will be featured in the series.
The four remaining groups are:
- Crossmichael Drama Club (Galloway)
- Regent Rep (Christchurch, Dorset)
- Strathclyde Theatre Group (Glasgow)
- Tell Tale Theatre Company (Toxteth)
Audiences are invited to watch the four semi-finalist groups perform an extract from King Lear on Sunday 13 November at the RSC's Courtyard Theatre from 2.30pm, with the judges' verdicts being delivered at the end of the afternoon's performances.
Tickets are free of charge, but places are limited. To reserve seats, call the RSC's Box Office on 0844 800 1110.