Theatre goers in Leighton enjoyed a real treat on Thursday when acclaimed Shakespearean actor Simon Russell Beale appeared in the last night of the Bard’s story of money and power, Timon of Athens.
The great actor wasn’t there himself, of course, but Leighton Theatre staged a real coup over other venues in the district when it was chosen to be part of The National Theatre Live programme which sees live streaming of productions straight from the South Bank.
Those unable to get tickets to the sellout production were able to watch the entire performance in the comfort of their local Lake Street theatre. It’s set to be followed up with the Bolshoi Ballet’s Nutcracker and Don Quixote plus, in the new year, the NT’s new Alan Bennett comedy, People, which opens at the London venue this week, and award-winning American screen and stage actor John Lithgow in the Pinero farce, The Magistrate.
It was made possible thanks to a £50,000 investment in the site by Central Beds Council which enabled library bosses to buy state-of-the-art digital screening equipment.
Theatre manager Rachel Chanalaris welcomed patrons with a champagne gala reception which was attended by Central Beds and Leighton-Linslade councillor Brian Spurr and Leighton-Linslade town councillor Gordon Perham, plus other VIPs.
She told the audience: “We are tremendously excited about this. People across the world are watching this - we are part of a global network and it’s a really momentous occasion in Leighton Buzzard Theatre’s calendar.
“We must thank Central Beds Council which has supplied us with a significant amount of funding as part of their commitment to invest in libraries and to keep them open across the district. How exciting is this? It is a tremendous coup for us.”