Performed from 5th-23rd December 2012 at Chester Town Hall.

Starring: Peter Alexander, Christopher Chamberlain, David Edwards, Linda Holmgren, Michelle Long, Andrew Melville, Ben Tolley.

Staged at Chester’s Victorian Gothic Town Hall. In addition to the professional actors, the prodcuction featured a large cast of community performers and children from local schools. It was adapted and directed by Russ Tunney, with musical direction by Matt Baker, film and digital media by Helen Newall and set and costume design by Judith Croft. Lighting design was by Stuart Harrison and choreography by Julia Williams. Adam Taylor was technical stage manager.

Starring: Melissa Daly, Ian Hayles, Tom Latham, Max Rubin, Harriet Barrow, Stavros Demetraki, Emma Higginbottom, and the Theatre in the Quarter Choir

Presented in the Great Hall of Hampton Court Palace to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible. Script by Helen Newall, music by Matt Baker.

Venue: Hampton Court Palace

Theatre in the Quarter brought together 12 schools, 11 choirs, a dance group, a concert band and a number of soloists to create Across the World an anthem for London 2012. Across the World incorporates Be The Best That You Can Be, a children’s anthem to inspire a new generation. Across the World tells the story of a Chester giant who, like an Olympic athlete in pursuit of gold, travels the world to find her dream. With music composed by Matt Baker and lyrics by Helen Newall, it was commissioned and led by the women’s choir, A Handbag of Harmonies. Music was by Matt Baker, choreography by Jo Henwood and Julia Williams. Musicians included Ruth Alexander, Karamba Samba and Chester Schools Concert Band under the direction of Tony Lewis.  

Across the World was first created as Chester’s contribution to Music Nation – a spectacular weekend in March 2012 of music around the UK, organised by the BBC and LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) to set the scene for the London 2012 Festival, the finale of the Cultural Olympiad. It was performed by over 700 people (and Giants!) to an audience of 5,000. The Across the World anthem and Be The Best That You Can Be were reprised as part of Chester’s spectacular welcome to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 17 May 2012, and also for the Olympic Torch on 29 May 2012 when it was performed in front of 25,000 people at Chester Racecourse.

This film tells the story of the rehearsal period. Participating groups in the Music Nation and/or Olympic Torch performances were:

Choirs
A Handbag of Harmonies, A Handbag for a Day Choir, CantataChester City Male Voice Choir, DecibellasFireflies, Frodsham and District Choral Society, Highfield Male Voice Choir, Tattenhall Community Choir, The Chester Ladies’ Choir, The Spinney Choir

Schools
Blacon High School, Chester Blue Coat CE Primary School, Dee Point Primary School, Dodleston CE Primary School, Helsby Hillside Primary School, Highfield Community Primary School, J H Godwin Primary School, Oaklands School, Sandiway Primary School, St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School, The Arches Community Primary School, The Bishops’ Blue Coat CE High School

Dancers: Homegrown Dance Theatre

Soloists: Sarra CooperRobert Clack Musicians, Chester Schools’ Concert Band Pianist, Ruth Alexander Rubin

Additional material supplied by Matt Dimbylow

Across the World was commissioned and led by A Handbag of Harmonies and managed and coordinated by Theatre in the Quarter. Its creation was supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire Rural Touring Arts

Watch the video HERE

Performed 4th December 2014 to 10th January 2015.

Staged in the round at St Marys Creative Space, Chester.

Starring Anne O’Riordan, Duncan MacInnes, Andrew Roberts-Palmer, Ben Tolley, Sophia Hatfield and David Edwards, supported by a chorus of local children. Written and adapted by Stephanie Dale, with music by Matt Baker. Directed by Peter Leslie Wilde. Design by Dawn Allsopp, lighting design by Stuart Harrison and choreography by Cariad Morgan. 

 ‘Multi-layered and inventive take on a familiar tale that manages to be both a clever reimagining and a faithful reproduction of Carroll’s fanciful worlds.‘ The Stage ****

‘A fantastic festive feast to make your Christmas extra special; absolutely not to be missed.’ WhatsonStage ****

Watch the video HERE

Best Days of our Lives was a highly ambitious and successful spectacle which celebrated the lives of all those who grew up and went to school in Blacon. Commissioned by Blacon Education Village, the piece iwas inspired by the stories of many people of all ages who were interviewed. The piece was written by Helen Newall and Matt Baker, and was directed by Matt Baker with choreography by Homegrown Dance Theatre led by Jukia Williams

The piece involved over 300 children from all 6 schools in Blacon, a community chorus of 60 peoople, a band of 6 musicians and 3 actors  - Francis Tucker, Rachael Rae and Judy Jones

The play was accompanied by a film which was created by Andy Davies and DeeVideo. It featured many people in Blacon with some stunning shots of the neighbourhood. Best Days of Our Lives enjoyed 3 sell out shows in Chester Cathedral.

Watch the video HERE

A performance project in partnership wth Chester Mystery Plays, Theatre in the Quarter and Churches Together in Chester.

The world famous Chester Mystery Plays (last performed in the nave of Chester Cathedral in 2013) is coming back to Chester two years early! The next production (which will again be in the Cathedral) is scheduled for 2018, but Chester residents and visitors will be treated to a performance of the Passion on Good Friday (25 March 2016). 

The performance was launched at a gathering at St Peter's Church on 19 January. Canon Precentor, Jeremy Dussek, was joined on the platform by Peter Speirs (Chairman, Churches Together in Chester City Centre, Jo Sykes (Chairman, Chester Mystery Plays) and Matt Baker (Artistic Director of City Passion).

An idea initiated by Chester Cathedral, Peter Speirs explained that the City Passion would "be a united presentation by all the churches in Chester, working with Chester Mystery Plays and Theatre in the Quarter."

"We are delighted that the Chester Mystery Plays Company, with Matt Baker as Artistic Director, is taking the lead in producing this event" continued Jeremy Dussek. "It will be an act of worship, bringing the story of Christ’s Passion to the people of Chester through music, singing and spoken drama - everything that Matt does so well - and we are looking forward to welcoming hundreds of people to the city centre to watch what I'm sure will be a wonderful production!"

"This will be another extraordinary community production", Jo Sykes commented. "There will be some performers that have participated in the Mystery Plays before, or in Theatre in the Quarter's joyous shows, but anyone else who would like to join us is very welcome indeed. All you need to do is sign up!"

"It's a relatively short, concentrated rehearsal period", Matt Baker explained. "We can accommodate anyone who wants to be in the chorus (which will double up as the crowd) and anyone who would like to play a portable musical instrument - we also have a few acting parts. Participants just need to be prepared to perform outdoors, whatever the weather, and to move from the Cross to the West door of the Cathedral via the Town Hall Square."

The performance will start at the Eastgate Clock and then process to the Cross with Jesus' entry to Jerusalem and the Last Supper. It will then move to the Town Hall Square for Gethsemane and the Trial, finishing at the West door of the Cathedral with the Crucifixion. It will feature Matt Baker's exceptionally beautiful music from the last three productions of the Mystery Plays, and looks forward to the next in 2018. This will be a free event, suitable for all the family.

The community company will also be joined by Chester's own Roman Soldiers led by Centurion, Paul Hartson, and the fabulous Karamba Samba.

Local primary schools will be involved - children wanting to join in independently would have to be accompanied to rehearsals (and the performance) by parents. "We're hoping that Mums and Dads will join us in the chorus!" laughed Matt Baker - "there'll be plenty of room!" 

Performed on the Streets of Chester City Centre, beginning on Eastgate Street and The Cross and ending outside the West Door of Chester Cathedral.

Thousands of people witnessed the final days of Jesus' life in this dramatic presentation through the streets of historic Chester. 

Directed by Matt Baker.

Venue: Chester city centre.

A fabulous season of Christmas entertainment at St Mary’s! Live theatre, cabaret, cinema, dance, classical music, choirs of all ages, magic, arts and crafts – all happening in Chester’s magical venue!

Using moving images from Cheshire photographs of the First World War, original music and stories collected from the Cheshire Great War Roadshow, Theatre in the Quarter will create a remarkable piece of theatre to mark the 'letting go into eternal history the memory of those Cheshire people who gave their lives in the war to end all wars'. 

This production will be workshopped by a group of talented young people during the summer of 2016 and the company's community chorus in the creation of a pilot of the piece by Helen Newall and Matt Baker, ahead of its full production in the city's new theatre in November 2018. 

Venue: St Marys Creative Space, Chester.

Starring: Harriet Barrow, Stavros Demetraki, Emma Higginbottom, Thomas Latham

Written by Helen Newall with music by Matt Baker, Forgotten Fortress was commissioned as part of Habitats and Hillforts, a three year project to explore, preserve and publicise the iron age hillforts along Cheshire’s Sandstone Ridge and their surrounding environments. The play also involved around 200 children from fourteen primary schools around Cheshire in a dramatic re-imagining of the impact of Rome’s conquest of Britain in the 1st century AD. Directed by Russ Tunney, design by Emma Cains, lighting design by Anna Barrett.

Touring to venues across Cheshire.

Watch the video HERE

In September 2008 the Pavilion at Chester Racecourse was transformed into a theatrical space to present this hilarious and moving play based on the problems and tensions experienced by a local community as it struggles to to maintain its sense of identity and pride in the face of change. Written by local playwright Rob Edmunds with music by Matt Baker, the show was brought to life by a company of twenty young actors and musicians.

Directed by Ally Cutler, design by Rhyannon Richardson, Lighting by Ben Willetts Choreography by Lindsay Ingoldsby.

Watch the video HERE

Starring: Roanna Cochrane, Emma Higginbottom, Tom Latham. Michael Magnet

Following on from the huge success of 2008′s sold-out tour of ‘Silent Night’, Theatre in the Quarter’s Christmas production was based on Chester residents’ recollections of Christmas during World War II. ‘Home for Christmas’ featured a cast of four professional actors supported by a choir drawn from local communities. The play toured for three weeks in December to venues throughout Chester and Cheshire. Written by Helen Newall with music by Matt Baker, Directed by Russ Tunney, design by Judith Croft. Choreography by Lindsay Inglesby. 

The play also featured a choir of 'evacuees' drawn from many Cheshire schools.

Watch the video HERE

Starring: Michael Cole, Melissa Daly. Ian Hayles and Tom Latham

James:a new historical play by Helen Newall with music by Matt Baker, Commissioned by the 2011 Trust to mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, one of the glories of English prose writing, James is a dramatic musical retelling of the story of King James I and VI, highlighting the religious struggles of the day, his obsession with witchcraft, the Gunpowder Plot and his subsequent speech to Parliamant pleading for religious toleration. As the king lay dreaming on his deathbed,Helen Newall’s script brought James’ turbulent times vividly and wittily to life. It was directed by Max Rubin and designed by Judith Croft, with lighting design by Adam Butcher. The cast was supported by a community choir singing Matt Baker’s evocative original score.

An accompanying film was created by staff and students of the Multimedia department at North Staffordshire University.

Touring venues in Cheshire and Merseyside, including Liverpool Cathedral

Watch the video HERE

This free large-scale community musical and dramatic event commemorating the early days of the First World War and the role that the railways played in the troops departure for the front, toured railway stations throughout. Cheshire and Greater Manchester, culminating in performances in St Pancras International in London. Performances were also staged at Tatton Park and Chester Cathedral and appeared on BBC and ITV.  Over by Christmas won the Performing Arts category at the 2015 Cheshire West And Cheshire Arts Awards and it won a national community rail award for its impact on communities. 

The piece involved over 350 participants, over 1000 children and attracted a total audience of over 20,000. 

A touring production performed from 7th September to 12th November 2014.

Watch the video HERE

To commemorate the Tricentenary of the Groves in Chester, Theatre in the Quarter will create a new promenade theatrical, musical and visual ‘spectacle’ focused around the theme of a grand 300th birthday party to which key historical and mythical ‘characters’ of the River Dee are invited. The piece will be episodic, and involve community actors, musicians and dancers in the performance. It will be heavily visual, calling on the partnership of Russell Kirk of Chester Midsummer/Midwinter Watch. 

Written by Helen Newall with music by Matt Baker

Venue: Along the river front (The Groves) in Chester City Centre

Theatre in the Quarter was commissioned to create a piece of street theatre which highlighted 3 very different real characters who lived through the First World War in Preston. It was incredibly moving for the commuity company to perform for relatives of those characters, some of whom had trvelled as far as the USA to see the performances in November 2015.

VENUE: Various in Preston City Centre, including the Cenotaph, the old covered market and the railway station.

See the video HERE.

Thank you to Matthew Stanton for the film and the images

This highly acclaimed show, built around the story of the Christmas Truce in the Great War, was TITQ’s first professional touring production. It was a sell out in all of the venues and starred Elizabeth Bassham, Paul Dabek, Thomas Latham and Jay McWinen.

Writer: Helen Newall, Composer and musical director Matt Baker. Director: Russ Tunney

Designer: Heather Shaw. Lighting: Ben Willetts.

Watch the video HERE

Starring: Aled Bidder, Hannah Good, Rhys Isaac Jones, Tom Lincoln. Supported by a community Choir.  Written by Helen Newall, with music by Matt Baker. Directed by Emma Lucia. Design: Judith Croft. Lighting  Design: Nick Beadle.

The production toured throughout Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Yotkshire from 31st October to 6th December 2014.

‘At once intimate and yet covering the whole panorama of places and happenings this play grips from the start and sweeps the audience along in a tale that is wryly humorous, touching, dramatic, romantic and a wonderful tribute to all those young people who ‘gave their tomorrow for our today’.’ WhatsonStage *****

‘Some Sunny Day’ was a weave of memories and stories from the Second World War, inspired by the people and the places of Chester’s Garden Quarter, and told by a company of talented young actor/musicians from the Chester area. The play was a magical theatrical timepiece, evoking, through drama and song, the real world of a close knit urban community of Chester, as it experienced the Second World War both at home and away. Performed to sell out audiences at Chester’s atmospheric Guild Hall.

Writer:Helen Newall, composer and musical director Matt Baker.

Directed by Ally Cutler, design by Cathy Cross, choreography by Lindsay Inglesby

Venue: Guild Hall, Chester.

Starring: Emily Barlow, Isla Carter, Paul Dabek, Michael Magnet 

On Christmas Eve, 1899, under the watchful eyes of a packed house in Chester’s music hall, the impossible happens!  The fate of two young lovers hangs in the balance as the lines between illusion and reality, love and ambition are blurred by their encounter with the beautiful and exotic magician known as Isis, the Star of Wonder, self-proclaimed possessor of the lost secrets of ancient Egyptian magic. Star of Wonder  used song and dance, magic and melodrama to explore the mysterious compact between playwright, actors and audience which creates the real magic of theatre. 

Writer Helen Newall; Composer/Music Director Matt Baker; Director Russ Tunney; Designer Emma Cains; Lighting Designer Mark Dymock; Illusion Consultant Paul Dabek; Choreographer Lindsay Inglesby; Technical Stage Manager Rebecca Loxton.

Star of Wonder toured venues in Cheshire and Lancashire including Blackpool Grand Theatre. 

Theatre in The Quarter’s second major production. Sweet Sixteen was  inspired by the stories and memories of people living in and around our city, as they remembered being sixteen years of age. The production, bursting with energy, music, dance, photo imagery and a very multi-talented company, performed to very large audiences at Chester’s Gateway Theatre in September 2006.

Written by Helen Newall, with music by Matt Baker. Directed by Max Rubin, lighting by Ben Willetts, design by Cathy Cross. Choreography by Lindsay Inglesby.

Venue: Gateway Theatre, Chester.

Presented at Chester’s Amphitheatre on 1st July as part of Chestival 2012. 

A community opera, with music by Matt Baker, script by Helen Newall.

Watch the video HERE

Choirs
A Handbag of Harmonies
Handbag for a Day Choir
Fireflies
Highfield Male Voice Choir
Tattenhall Community Choir

Dancers
Homegrown Dance Theatre  

Schools
Blacon High School
Dee Point Primary School
Dodleston CE Primary School
Helsby Hillside Primary School
Highfield Community Primary School
JH Godwin Primary School
Oaklands School
St Theresa’s Primary School
The Arches Community Primary School
The Bishops Blue Coat CE High School

Musicians
Chester Schools Concert Band
Karamba Samba
Tim Jones – piano

Giants
Chester the Giant City
Choreography – Jo Henwood

Soloists/Ensemble
Sam Baker
Robert Clack
Sarra Cooper
David Edwards
Akshay Gulati
Lemuel Knight
Chiara Lisowski Dantas
Maureen Tolefree

Special thanks to
Cruise St John the Baptist’s Church,
The Bishops Blue Coat CE High School

Theatre in the Quarter will create a new piece of theatre, highlighting the plight of young refugees in today’s radically uncertain world. Through drama, film, music and dance, comparisons can be made between these young people and those from more secure backgrounds.

The piece has involved research and development with a variety of focus groups including school children, youth theatre groups from Cheshire and refugees from North West England.

The play will be inspired by the real stories and reactions of young people who, for whatever reason, find themselves uprooted and dispossessed, without permanent home or stable family. This will be set against the stories and outlook of young people from Cheshire, who may not fully understand the situation of such dispossessed children.

The final production will be augmented with the offer of associated schools workshops and an education pack for school groups who will attend the performance and wish to extend the exploration of the subject matter.

Written by Stephanie Dale, music by Matt Baker. Directed by Kate McGregor and designed by Dawn Allsopp. Produced by Jo McLeish (The MediaRoom)

Venue: St Mary's Creative Space, Chester.

Young Theatre Makers tell a brand new musical story of the Rio Olympics.

A group of young theatre makers are about to present their new mini musical based on the forthcoming Olympics in Rio. Thirty young people from Blacon have been working hard in the creation of an original story which they are about to showcase next week. Rewind Youth Theatre is run jointly by the city’s Theatre in the Quarter and Cheshire Dance and supported by the Blacon Education Village and Avenue Services.

Mario is a young Brazilian dancer from Rio who is desperate for his young dance troupe to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, but sadly no-one seems to notice them when they perform every night on the city streets. Meanwhile the Queen of the Underworld is enraged as the Olympic Village has been built right over the gateway to their hidden world, trapping them beneath the earth. Through dance, original songs and stories, the young people have devised an enchanting story which brings these two worlds together. 

Matt Baker, artistic director of Theatre in the Quarter, said “The company was formed only last year, and this is already their third production. I have been blown away by the sheer passion of these young people from Blacon and I hope people across the city will come and see what they have created.” Lauren Tucker from Cheshire Dance added “These young people are so full of energy and whilst some of them may have ever danced before I think audiences will be delighted with how far they have come in a short time.” 

The Olympic Torch, devised by the company themselves will be performed next Monday 21 March, 7pm at St Mary’s Creative Space in the city centre and on Tuesday 22 March, 6pm at Blacon High School. Entry is free with donations gratefully received. 

Performed from 5th Dec 2013 – 11th Jan 2014 at St Mary’s Creative Space, Chester.

Starring: Katie Foster Barnes, Cassandra Charlick, David Edwards, Michelle Long, Ben Tolley, Winnie Southgate and Cat Stobbs. Supported by adult and children’s community choruses. 

Written and directed by Russ Tunney, with music by Matt Baker; design by Judith Croft; lighting design by Stuart Harrison; film / digital media by Helen Newall; choreograhy by Julia Williams. The stage manager was Sam Cheadle and the production manager Peter Herbert.

A professional and community cast of a hundred performers of every age, all drawn from the local community, presented our third original production in the beautiful and unusual setting of St Thomas of Canterbury Church, in the Garden Quarter of Chester. As Professor Crumple tried to explain the meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas, the audience were literally immersed in the atmosphere of carollers, mummers, scholars, choristers, children singing the Nativity story, St George and even the Lord of Misrule.

Written by Helen Newall, with music by Matt Baker. Directed by Gav Cross, Design by Cathy Cross, lighting by Ben Willetts.

Venue: St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Chester.

This large scale community musical was produced in partnership with the Hammond School, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. The cast of over a hundred was composed of community actors, Hammond School dance and drama students and members of Jigsaw, TIQ’s young people’s theatre company. See a short video clip here.

Written by Richard Wolfenden Brown and Matt Baker. Directed by Ruth Alexander Rubin. Composer/ Musical Director Matt Baker. Designed by Judith Croft. Choreography by Katherine Robinson.

Venue: The Hammond Theatre, Chester.