Nottingham Playhouse Unlocked Festival. 21 October to 7 November 2020. William Russell.

There is life out there beyond the West End, which still seems as dead as the Dodo, although there are stirrings on the London fringe. The Nottingham Playhouse is one regional house setting about opening its doors to the public with live performances on its main stage. The programme opens with Rootless Island Baby, a new play by Sarah 'Rain' Kolawole, followed by the world premier of Bubble, a new play by James Graham on 23 and 24 October. The Unlocked Festival will end with Rosalie Craig, Sandra Marvin and Jodie Prenger singing some of the songs which made their careers on 6 and 7 November.Full details of the programme can be found on the Playhouse web site.
Artistic Director Adam Penford said that although they had made work on line throughout the pandemic the time had come to re-engage live audiences and artists on stage again.
"We have curated a programme that combines local theatre-makers and our associate companies, alongside household names, including the world premier of a new James Graham play," added. "The Festival will be stripped back and simple, top-class coming live from the Playhouse stage. It's a financial risk to be programming theatre again in this environment, but we have a responsibility and a desire to do so."
So there you are Nottingham audiences - the next step is up to you to support the venture.