Surrounded by stars of the stage, screen, and television including: James Fleet, Cyril Nri, Trevor Peacock, Peter Benson, and Phyllida Law, David Edelstein explained the FNR's mission to raise money for The Theatrical Guild (TTG). TTG is a charity that supports active and former backstage and front of house employees that have hit hardship or require support.
The 2011 event follows hot on the wheels of the successful 2010 inaugural First Night Ride. Last June an international posse of entertainment and backstage professionals raised £10,000 by motor-biking around some of the UK's most historic and interesting theatres.
In just eight days they travelled from London's National Theatre down to East Sussex's Glyndebourne then up to Scotland's Tron via Bath, Wales and the Lake District. In all they visited over 18 theatres including: Leicester's Curve, Stratford Upon Avon's Royal Shakespeare Theatre and finishing up at London's Hampstead Theatre - a gruelling itinerary by anyone's standard.
TTG's President, Phyllida Law said at the launch of the 2011 ride, "We're delighted with the interest already expressed in 2011's First Night Ride. We've had tremendous support from theatres, corporate sponsors, and individuals from the entertainment industry. I'm actually intending to do the ride in a sidecar alongside James Fleet."
Next year's ride will also coincide with TTG's 120th anniversary. Karen Nichols, administrator for the Guild says, "Besides helping those with welfare issues, TTG can offer support to backstage and front of house staff with their career development. We can only keep doing this because of the generous support the industry gives us and from fundraising initiatives like FNRs. We're absolutely delighted that once more the FNRs will ride out of the wings and into the wind."
The 2011 ride will kick off from the National Theatre, London with a press launch and breakfast. First stop will be Bury St Edmunds. The next few days will see FNRs visit Norwich, Castle Acre, Beeston; Nottingham; Hull, and Liverpool. This will be followed by a ferry trip over to the Isle of Man and an opportunity for participants to ride around the famous TT Circuit. Next FNRs will take to the hills of Wales then head southeast to Stratford upon Avon to see a show in the newly regenerated RST Theatre. Having visited many interesting and historically significant theatres en-route, the Ride will once more finish in London.
Also like last year, FNR's will keep a daily blog, photo diary and video record on their social networking site. Sponsors can set riders challenges live and keep up with all the latest news in real time as the group continues to embrace the latest in cutting edge communications technology!
Brenda and David Edelstein conclude, "June will come around all too quickly so if anyone would like to get involved either as a rider, a sponsor or a host for one of our many stops along the route, please do email us at: info@firstnightride.com. We hope to exceed this year's total of £10,000 in raised funds. It's truly fantastic that in this day and age people are still willing to give up their time and energy for an event like this."
(Jim Evans)
