Arts Council England
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‘Being Human’ stars urge students to enjoy a free night out and a hot date – at their local theatre
If you’re looking for a different way to spend an evening without spending any cash, then some legendary characters would like to recommend your local theatre.
Stars of the hit BBC Three series 'Being Human', including Aidan Turner (brooding vampire Mitchell), Russell Tovey (conflicted werewolf George) and Sinead Keenan (George’s girlfriend Nina) are all huge fans of live theatre and they’re urging students across England to try it – for free – with the Arts Council England scheme A Night Less Ordinary (www.anightlessordinary.org.uk).
The cast of ‘Being Human’ have been talking to the Arts Council about what a great experience live theatre is – and why it’s a brilliant place to take a date! They also discussed what drives their supernatural characters and how Mitchell, George and Annie might choose to spend A Night Less Ordinary.
Aidan Turner, who as well as turning vamp in ‘Being Human’, recently turned a lot of heads as the lust-lorn Pre-Raphaelite artist Rossetti in BBC2’s ‘Desperate Romantics’ says: “Going to the theatre is such a different experience than seeing a movie or sitting about watching TV. It’s the reason I started acting. You’ve got to go.”
And Russell Tovey, best known as Rudge in the award-winning History Boys before finding his inner animal in ‘Being Human’, added: “When you really connect wtih someone on stage, when you really feel emotionally moved by someone, it’s the most incredible feeling. And is it impressive to take a date to the theatre? Yes – completely!”
During the first three months of the scheme, more than 50,000 free theatre tickets were given away through A Night Less Ordinary but there are hundreds of thousands more available to anyone under 26. With over 200 theatres across England taking part there’s a theatre event to suit everyone – from comedies to tragedies, musical theatre, dance, modern mime, plays, circus and much more.
Just go to www.anightlessordinary.org.uk and enter your post code into the search box to find a free night out at a theatre near you. The site also includes exclusive celebrity interviews, competitions and offers, there’s a Facebook group where you can discuss your theatre-going experiences and you can sign up to receive e–news about the offer.
The exclusive National Union of Students (NUS)/A Night Less Ordinary interviews with Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey and Sinead Keenan also include behind the scenes glimpses of the filming of series 2 of ‘Being Human’, which is due to air on BBC Three in the New Year. You can watch it all now online at www.nus.org.uk.
Notes to Editors:
More images of the 'Being Human' cast and behind-the-scenes shots are available on request.
1. A Night Less Ordinary is an Arts Council England initiative supported by £2.5 million extra funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The initiative will provide 618,000 free theatre tickets for under 26 year olds in more than 200 venues across England, between February 2009 and March 2011.
2. Arts Council England works to get great art to more people. We develop and promote the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm’s length from government.
Between 2008 and 2011, we will invest £1.6 billion of public money from government and the National Lottery in supporting the arts.
This is the bedrock of support for the arts in England. We believe that the arts have the power to change lives and communities, and to create opportunities for people throughout the country.
