The President Insists the Show Must Go On

Warwick Arts Centre's Christmas show - The Twits - performed alongside visit from President Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair at Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, Thurs 14 Dec 2000

On Thursday 14 December at 2pm, when President Clinton and the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, make their visit to Warwick Arts Centre at the University of Warwick, another important event will happen just a few metres away. The Arts Centre's Christmas show - Roald Dahl's The Twits - will take place in the theatre, whilst President Clinton and Tony Blair give their speeches on Globalisation in the Butterworth Hall.

Despite strict security regulations, and unprecedented pressures on the building, President Clinton and officials at the White House were adamant that the children who had booked to see The Twits on Thursday should not miss out on their Christmas treat.

Students from Mount Nod Junior and Infant School, Coventry, Wellingborough School, Northamptonshire, Long Lawford Primary School, near Rugby, Quinton House School, Northamptonshire, and South Charnwood High School, Leicester, will all attend the performance, which starts at 1.30pm.

Roald Dahl's The Twits, is Warwick Arts Centre's best-selling Christmas show ever. Adapted from the author's hugely popular book by top children's writer David Wood, it has attracted record number of school and public visitors. Directed by Kathi Leahy and designed by Tom Conroy it stars Isabel Ford and Richard Fletcher as Dahl's most disgusting creations, Mr and Mrs Twit.

Notes for Editors:

What does it take to organise a presidential visit?

• 2 helicopters
• 350 extra telephones
• 4 ½ miles of cableing
• 150 extra computers
• 40 flower arrangements
• 53 pots of paint
• 900 cans of coca-cola

13th December 2000
For further press information and interviews please contact:
Sarah Hoyle, Press & PR Officer, Warwick Arts Centre, on 024 7652 3804
or Peter Dunn, Press Officer, University of Warwick, on 024 7652 3708
Warwick Arts Centre is fitted with an on-line broadcast quality television and radio studio, including a BBC compatible ISDN line.