The Joys of Wigan

Returned from Australia, directly onto the Battersea Arts Centre CTN tour with Victoria Melody. A privelidge of a different kind, as on this tour we genuinely reach a different demographic – the idea of the CTN tour is that it visits theatres in areas with ‘cultural deprivation’. What that often means is that we go to the little performing arts centre and theatres and school halls that provide the only cultural hubs for their areas, and have a loyal band of tireless and inventive programmers, campaigners and volunteers keeping them afloat and adding endless value to their local environments.
My favourite? The Old Courts, Wigan, hands down. Super friendly, really edgy acts, and an active an up for it audience. They danced in the aisle, and brought the town to life for me.