On 5th June 2010 a group of bikers, hailing from all sectors of the entertainment technology industry, will don their leathers and helmets and embark on an eight-day, 1400-mile motorbike tour of the UK. Their mission: To visit as many interesting and historical theatres as they can and raise pots of money for The Theatrical Guild (TTG).
At 10:00hrs, following a complimentary breakfast, press and photo call at the National Theatre, the bikers will hit the road. Waving them off at the Theatre Square will be supporters from the stage and screen including: Belinda Lang, Liz Robertson, Ramin Karimiloo (Phantom in Love Never Dies), Tim Pigott-Smith, Issy van Randwyck, Julian and Jamie Glover, Jane How, Trevor Peacock, Tilly Tremayne.
Their first stop is Glyndebourne Festival Opera. Riders will be given a backstage tour and then continue on to Howard Eaton Lighting for lunch. The day will culminate with diner and a show at Chichester Festival Theatre. The remaining event packed, seven-day trip will take in the following sites and venues:
June 6th –The Mill at Sonning; Stonehenge; Bath Theatre Royal
June 7th – Cardiff Millennium Centre; Swansea Grand Theatre; Craig Y Nos; Liverpool
June 8th – The Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness; Theatre on the Lake, Keswick
June 9th – Glasgow
June 10th –Newcastle Gateshead; Richmond
June 11th –J. & C. Joel; Leicester Curve
June 12th –Stratford-Upon-Avon; Burford; London – Hampstead Theatre
The ride will conclude on Saturday 12 June, just in time for the start of the 2010 Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference.
You can track the First Night Rider’s progress, communicate with the participants live and set them challenges – before, during and after the event – on the First Night Riders Blog (see below). There you will find riders online diaries along with photos and videos of the trip.
First Night Riders is generously supported by a number of industry associations and companies including: ABTT, Blitz Sound, Cameron Mackintosh, ETC, Hall Stage, Harmer PR, Howard Eaton, Charcoalblue, The Fifth Estate, J&C Joel, PLASA, Prompt Side and Triple E Ltd – however there’s always room for more!
Taking to the road this year are: Rob Barnard, Neil Collins, David Edelstein, Charles Haines, Darrell Hewitt, Chris Higgs, Simon Nicholls, Al Parkinson, Michael Powell, Mike Cucciare and Bill Sapsis from the USA, Jack Tilbury and Sarah Rushton-Read.
Stephen Pennington with Brenda Edelstein and Robert Hamilton and Scott Miller from Canada will drive the Chase cars.
You can sponsor any one of the participants by following the links on the FNRs website. To pledge your support and sponsor The First Night Riders or to keep track of their progress visit the following websites.
First Night Riders website: http://www.firstnightride.com.
First Night Riders Blog: http://firstnightriders.ning.com.
Hi there
Thanks very much for publishing our press release on the First Night Riders.
The only thing is that n the press release it states that the riders will depart on the 5th June 2010, not as you say above – today!
Could I trouble you to correct the mistake.
Very many thanks
Sarah
Oops, not sure how I managed to get that wrong, sorry! It’s corrected now, best of luck on your adventures, we’ll be sure to cover them.
No worries, many thanks for putting it right so quickly!
As it goes I’ve also made a mistake. Where it mentions the National Theatre (para 2) can you remove ‘Royal’ and change ‘Stage Door’ to ‘Theatre Square’.
So sorry to be a pain.
Also feel free to link to our blog where we will be reporting live from every venue we visit. Of course if you fancy dropping in on us anytime during the trip we would be delighted to welcome you.
All the best for now
Sarah