Hello!

It’s just six weeks to go now before the biggest ever GothlaUK, on July 15th-17th.

Very many thanks to all of you who have been supporting the event by signing up to workshops and the Friday showcase.

Seven workshops have sold out and several of the remaining ones are down to the last five or even three spaces, including Sashi’s masterclass and the Neo Training Programme by Excalibur Dance Company on Friday afternoon.

Be sure not to overlook Sabrina’s ‘How to Command the Room,’ on Saturday afternoon.

The showcase is filling up. We have long passed the limit that we had to impose in previous years, so if you haven’t booked and want to be sure of a seat, or just haven’t got round to booking your workshops, head over to the bookings page now.

Open Stage is filling up nicely and we would urge you to get your ticket(s) in advance. It’s being held at Redeemer on Saturday evening, like last year, when everyone seemed to have  a tremendous time watching everyone else perform. Several of our showcase performers have joined us through Open Stage on earlier occasions.

Download the Open Stage application form and return it to Rosie by email.

Ibis Hotel, Car Parking and venues

As we’re on the other side of Leicester for this year’s event, our preferred hotel has changed. We’re currently booking into the Ibis Hotel on Constitution Hill (LE1 1PL), just behind the railway station. Google Street view of Ibis Hotel

Map view of Ibis Hotel.

PLEASE NOTE: There is no car parking to speak of at the hotel, but there is a 24 hour car park in sight which you enter via Fox Street. Study the map, and you’ll note that St George’s Way goes past the hotel, round the corner and then there’s a turning on the left into Campbell Street which feeds into Fox Street. It’s all one-way.  Fox Street on Google Street View.

The Friday night showcase, the souk and several of the workshops will be held at The Y!  (LE1 6EY).  Street view of The Y! Don’t be put off by the painter in the window. This photo was taken two years ago and the Y! has now been totally refurbished.

The ‘stalls’ area of the theatre will be laid out in cabaret style for Friday night with row seating up in the gallery overhead.

Here is a map showing the two workshop venues at The Y! and Studio 79. Mike Burton has offered to act as a guide on Saturday.

Studio 79, LE1 1TG, is right across the road from the new Phoenix Square housing Leicester’s film centre. It has a rather nice cafe on the ground floor.

If any of you have time to go and have your feet nibbled at Dr Fish up on Belgrave Gate, ask Heike for the discount code when you see her!

I hope that’s given you some idea of what to expect.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions. Bridie deals with bookings, HRH Lucretia with the souk, Rosie with the showcase programme and Open Stage, and me, as ever, with the website and newsletter.

Are you getting excited? C’mon, I can’t hear you yet…

Sue

PS Location map on our website

Hello Gothla-goers

Hope you’re enjoying the first taste of Spring.

You’ve all certainly sprung off the mark with booking up workshops for GothlaUK in Leicester, 15-17th July. If you have been leaving booking until later, we really do recommend that you don’t leave it too long. Four workshops have sold out already, and others are filling fast.

Sold Out!

• Sera Solstice – Solar and Lunar
• Bex Priest – Corpus Sanguis
• Sashi – Body II

Close to selling out

• Morgana – Trinity Infinity
• Sashi – Mind II
• Beverley Spracklen – Goth Rock Combos

There’s strong interest in all the other classes too.

We’ve sold well over half of the tickets for Friday showcase, even though it’s a bigger venue, and Open Stage, where you can strut your stuff on Saturday, is half sold.

The GothlaUK team is really grateful to you all for supporting us by booking, and if you have not yet, urge you to visit the bookings page as soon as you can to ensure that you are not disappointed.

Venues

All new venues this year with a lot more space. Bridie, HRH Lucretia and Sue went to Leicester last week to check them out. Friday Showcase and one workshop per session for Saturday 16th will take place in The Y Theatre.  Two workshops per session will be hosted at Studio 79 on Midland Street, just five minutes away. We walked it so can confirm the timings. The Ibis Hotel stands halfway between the two.

On Sunday 17th, we shall be using the Sports Hall at The Y for one workshop per session.

A small, but perfectly formed souk (HRH Lucretia) will be at the bar at the Y, in the entrance area before the theatre. The bar will be open all weekend.

Open Stage will take place at Redeemer again, followed by Club Night. Usual location at the end of Belgrave Gate, so that involves a walk across the centre of Leicester.

If you fancy a walk in that direction during the day, Hems is still running Brazillia with all day breakfasts, and Dr Fish will nibble your toes at a discount. Just ask the GothlaUK team for the discount code during the weekend.

All these venues are marked on the map on the website. We’ll also be drawing a plan to show how to reach Studio 79 from The Y. Mike Burton has offered to be our guide.

Car Parking

There is hardly any car parking at the Ibis Hotel. Reception have advised us to use a 24 hour car park just 100m away on Fox Street. The price is £5.80 a day. There is an NCP car park next to The Y on East Street, but it is HORRENDOUSLY expensive, as is the Rutland Street car park next to The Curve.

To get to Fox Street, you need to pass the Ibis Hotel on St George’s Way, coming from the north, take the second left into Campbell Street which turns left into Fox Street. It is a one-way system. If you use the map on our website, you can zoom in and check all this out.

Don’t forget, the Ibis Hotel, just behind Leicester Railway Station, is offering GothlaUK attendees £45 for bed and breakfast per room per night, max occupancy 2 persons (unless the 3rd occupant is a child), for people who phone up and say they are attending Gothla UK. Phone 0116 248 7200.
Do get in touch with us if you have questions. We’re also on Facebook and Twitter.

Sue

The Gothla UK team is excited and pleased to announce that we have secured a new venue for 2011.

We shall be moving across the centre of Leicester to the Y, a long-established centre at the YMCA for aspiring performers.

This means, dear readers, that all of Gothla will finally be under one roof. The Friday hafla will be in the theatre which can seat more than twice as many as at IAC. Studios are ample in size and you will be able to browse the souk in the coffee bar. Open Stage is another story and we’ll let you know on that one.

The Y is in East Street, Leicester, just across the road from the railway station.

Bridie has begun negotiations to secure a special rate at the Ibis Hotel nearby, and there’s also a Premier Inn on the other side of the road. Bridie asks particularly that you do NOT phone the Ibis Hotel now as any arrangement has yet to be confirmed.  We’ll let you know in due course.

All these venues will be marked up on the location map on our website as time goes by.

Why haven’t we moved here before? The Y has been undergoing a long period of refurbishment and has only become available within the last few months.

The move is very good news for Gothla and we look forward to your support next July 15th-17th, 2011.

Sue

The souk will be downstairs in the Village this year, in the right hand bar and the back room.  No stairs to climb!

You’ll find tribal and goth finery, jewellery, a selection of CDs and DVDs, and according to HRH Lucretia, some “Fabulously, inexpensive, exclusive items!”

And of course, stock from Ariellah and other instructors.

Sue will be manning the GothlaUK table in the souk on Saturday and Sunday, so please go see her if you any questions about workshops, venues and tickets.  Incidentally, she hopes to be having her right hip replaced at Leicester General Hospital on 21st July, so be kind!

All venues can be found on our website.  View the map.

Apologies for an earlier posting stating that GothlaUK 2009 venues would be on the other side of Leicester.

We had to withdraw our previous plan courtesy of the ‘credit crunch.’

But happily, we have been able to book the 2008 venues for GothlaUK 2009.

This means we shall be at the British Theatre Dance Association, also known as The International Arts Centre, for Ariellah’s masterclass and Morgana’s improver class on Friday afternoon 17th July, in the BTDA theatre on Friday evening and for all classes on Sunday 19th July.

Saturday classes will be held in Studio 79 and at Quebec Club.

Details of venues.