Mikron Theatre Company plans 2021 tours after fundraiser

Mikron Theatre Company are planning to tour two new shows in 2021 after a successful fundraising drive.

Mikron Artistic Director Marianne McNamara and Producer Pete Toon in 2019. Photo: Mark Kelly

Mikron Theatre Company will stage Amanda Whittington’s Atalanta Forever, a new play that tells the story of women's football in the 1920s, and Polly Hollman’s canine comedy caper, A Dog’s Tale.

The West Yorkshire-based Company, who have been touring the UK’s canals, rivers and roads for the past 48 years, had to cancel their entire 2020 season due to the coronavirus outbreak.

They launched an appeal to raise £48,337.49 for the 2021 tour, which will also mark the company’s 50th anniversary, and went on to hit their target much earlier than expected. At the latest count, they have received £49,960, with more money coming in via mikron.org.uk/appeal.

The company’s artistic director, Marianne McNamara, said: “We cannot thank people enough. We are absolutely humbled by the support we have received. It is a testament to not only how valued the company is but also to the work we have done for the last 50 years.

“We've had letters and emails from all over the world – Texas, Catalonia and the Netherlands and of course every corner of the country from Cornwall to Cromarty – saying how much Mikron means to them and that they couldn't see us miss out on our 50th year of touring.

“Every penny raised over the minimum amount we needed for the appeal will, of course, be used wisely, and carefully. We have Tyseley, our narrowboat to keep shipshape, and we will be able to continue our aims of developing new writers, directors and creatives for the future of Mikron and the industry as a whole.”

Based in the village of Marsden at the foot of the Yorkshire Pennines, Mikron Theatre Company tour for most of the year onboard a vintage narrowboat and put on their shows in places that other theatre companies wouldn’t dream of: a play about growing-your-own staged in allotments, a play about bees performed next to hives, a play about chips to audiences in a fish and chip restaurant as well as a play about hostelling in YHA youth hostels and another about the RNLI at several lifeboat stations around the UK.

Since they were formed in 1972, they have written 64 original shows, composed and written 384 songs, issued over 236 actor-musician contracts, spent 30,000 boating hours on the inland waterways, covered 530,000 road miles, performed over 5,060 times and performed to over 428,000 people.

MIKRON THEATRE COMPANY WEBSITE