This page presents highlights of the company. The official Northern Gap Web site is at http://www.northern-gap.co.uk/index.htm   For the full details, please visit the Northern Gap site.

Disclaimer: This page is operated and maintained by the MichaelSheen.net WebAdmin, who is solely responsible for its content. Neither Mr. Sheen nor the Northern Gap is responsible for the content.  This page is entirely unofficial.
 

 

 

Northern Gap Theatre Company

 

Michael is the patron actor of the Northern Gap Theatre Company,  formed to give performance experience to talented and committed gap year students.  Manchester Metro Magazine has written two columns on Michael and Northern Gap:

 8 June 2007 (Michael's involvement with the company) 

 29 June 2007 (Michael expresses how the Company's enthusiasm is an inspiration for him.)

“And I want to be involved with Northern Gap as much as possible.” (Michael, 29 June 07)

 

From left: stage manager Emily McCulloch and aspiring actors Elyse Blemmings and Dean, professionals Jason Cheater and Michael Sheen, who is patron of the Northern Gap Theatre Company, actor Iain Smith and Helen Avouris, director and founder of Northern Gap Theatre Company

 

 

The Company produced a play Lady Bird this summer in the UK and received glowing praise while at the Buxton Fringe!  You can see more about Lady Bird on Northern Gap's My Space site.

The Ladybird Tour

As our first season as a company draws to a close, we reflect with some satisfaction on our achievements. The Ladybird tour was a great success, receiving a lot of positive feedback and two awards from the Buxton Fringe!  Ladybird won the Best Production award and Dean Aspen won the Best Actor award for his role as Dima.  In fact, four of the six Northern Gap actors were nominated for awards!

Although, sadly, Michael wasn’t able to see the show (being on the wrong side of the Atlantic!), we are preparing a DVD of the Buxton performance to send to him. He did manage to do a wonderful interview about his association with Northern Gap Theatre Company for the Manchester Metro Magazine, and this has generated a lot of interest.

We are now recruiting for our 07/08 company, so if you are aged between 18 & 25 and within travelling distance of Stockport and Salford (UK), where we rehearse, we would love to hear from you. Michael Sheen fans are especially welcome!

 Helen Avouris

Artistic Director – Northern Gap Theatre Company

 

A review of Northern Gap by John Wilson -

Northern Gap is a theatre group formed by Helen Avouris to give experience to students in their gap year before going on to drama school or university drama departments. I have to say it beats working in an Australian beach bar into a cocked hat as far as any employer/college can be concerned. It is a brilliant idea. I'm sure it will be copied, though it won't be bettered. Every actor is superb and the direction by Helen is strong and sure-footed. These young people are very lucky to have her. And we are very lucky they have come to the Fringe.