Month: December 2015

Full adult casting has been revealed for the UK and Ireland Tour of Billy Elliot the Musical in 2016.

Annette McLaughlin, Martin Walsh and Scott Garnham will star in the first ever Billy Elliot tour, which opens at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on Wednesday 24th February 2016.

Annette McLaughlin is set to play ballet teacher Mrs Wilkinson, alongside Martin Walsh as Billy’s dad and Scott Garnham as Billy’s brother, Tony.

Billy Elliot the Musical will end its run at the Victoria Palace Theatre on 9th April 2016 after 4,600 performances and eleven years in the West End, as the theatre closes for refurbishment. The first UK and Ireland Tour has announced dates until May 2017, visiting Sunderland Empire (6th-30th April 2016), Bradford Alhambra (10th May-11th Jun 2016), Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (14th Jun-16th Jul 2016), Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin (26th Jul-3rd Sep 2016), Edinburgh Playhouse (20th Sep-22nd Oct 2016), Bristol Hippodrome (25th Oc-26th Nov 2016), Manchester Palace Theatre (29th Nov 2016-28th Jan 2017) and Southampton Mayflower (7th Feb-4th Mar 2017) during its run, with the final tour date currently at the Birmingham Hippodrome (7th Mar-6th May 2017).Further casting news announced also revealed that Andrea Miller will play the role of Billy’s grandmother. The full adult cast includes Phillip Aiden, Jonathan Alden, Leo Atkin, Tom Bainbridge, Deborah Bundy, Jack Butterworth, Luke Cinque-White, Donna Combe, Wayne Fitzsimmons, Nikki Gerrard, Abbie Louise Harris, Paul Hutton, Leon Kay, Charlie Martin, Kris Manuel, Barnaby Meredith, Daniel Page, Georgina Parkinson, Amy Rhiannon-Worth, Rachel Spurrell, Sebastian Sykes, Rafe Watts and Luke Zammit. The child cast will be announced in early 2016.
The stage musical is adapted from the 2000 film of the same name and includes the film’s original creative team: scriptwriter Lee Hall (book and lyrics), Peter Darling (choreographer) and Stephen Daldry (director). It additionally features music by Elton John, and has scenic design by Ian MacNeil, costume design by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher, sound design by Paul Arditti, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Martin Koch. Julian Webber is associate director.Set in a northern town against the backdrop of the 1984/85 UK miners’ strike, Billy Elliot the Musical is the inspirational story of a young boy who swaps his boxing gloves for ballet shoes when he discovers a passion for dancing.

It made its world premiere at the Victoria Palace Theatre in May 2005 and was subsequently nominated in nine categories in the 2006 Laurence Olivier Awards, winning four awards, including one for ‘Best New Musical’. It has since been produced in countries all around the world, winning ten Tony Awards and ten Drama Desk Awards on Broadway and seven Helpmann Awards in Australia.

To date, Billy Elliot the Musical has been seen by over 5.2 million people in London and nearly 11 million worldwide, has grossed over $800 million worldwide and is the winner of over 80 theatre awards internationally.

Annette McLaughlin previously played Mrs Wormwood in the West End production of Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre), and has also appeared in Trevor Nunn’s revival of Anything Goes at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Her other stage credits include the Open Air Theatre’s Henry IV Part I, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Camelot. She also starred in Brief Encounter on Broadway.

Martin Walsh is a stage and screen actor largely known for his TV appearances in Coronation Street, Game of Thrones,Emmerdale, Downton Abbey and many more. His stage credits include Chips With Everything (Royal National Theatre),Hobson’s Choice (Young Vic Theatre) and Perfect Pitch (Coliseum Theatre).

Scott Garnham was most recently seen in Jest End at the Waterloo East Theatre and previously appeared in the West End in the world premieres of Made in Dagenham (Adelphi Theatre) and I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical (London Palladium). His other West End credits: include A Little Night Music (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre), Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre) and Eurobeat (Novello Theatre). His other stage credits include: title of show (Landor Theatre), Never Forget(National Tour) and Honk! (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough). He also appeared in Matt Lucas’ BBC television seriesPompidou in 2014.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL – UK AND IRELAND TOUR 2016/2017
WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 2 APRIL 2016
PLYMOUTH THEATRE ROYAL
www.theatreroyal.com
ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL – SATURDAY 30 APRIL 2016
SUNDERLAND EMPIRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 10 MAY – SATURDAY 11 JUNE 2016
BRADFORD ALHAMBRA
www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 14 JUNE – SATURDAY 16 JULY 2016
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF www.wmc.org.uk
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 26 JULY – SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2016
DUBLIN BORD GAIS ENERGY THEATRE
www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER 2016
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE THEATRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2016
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2016 – SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2017
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 7 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 4 MARCH 2017
SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER THEATRE
www.mayflower.org.uk
ON SALE 2 FEBRUARY 2016

TUESDAY 7 MARCH – SATURDAY 6 MAY 2017
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
www.birminghamhippodrome.com
ON SALE 8 APRIL 2016

Victoria Palace Theatre
Evenings: Monday to Saturday 7.30pm
Matinees: Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
Currently booking to 9th April 2016

 Royal Festival Hall  16 December – 3 January.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

I am not overly fond of clowns, so I was a little dubious about this show – but within the first minute I had lost my heart to the sad little yellow clown on the stage. When he was joined by the green clowns in their bizarre wide-brimmed hats, the magic was complete. Think Winnie the Pooh surrounded by Eeyore and his dysfunctional family. These are not sinister white faced clowns, but sweet, droopy nosed fools with simple white eye and mouth patches and five o’clock shadows.

I am still not sure what on earth was going on – at times haunting, surreal, hysterical, poignant and downright baffling, Slava’s Snowshow is an enchanting spectacle touching the child in all of us. The physical skills and delicacy of the clowns are breathtaking and had the audience sitting open mouthed in wonder.

The classic what’s at the end of the rope gag, a disastrous voyage on a bedstead boat, a touching  Brief Encounter homage (yellow clown and a coat stand! Beautiful), a murder leading to an hysterically over the top death throes dance (and instant recovery) and an unintelligible phone call that nevertheless puts you through the emotional ringer are all packed in amongst wonderful parades, songs and absurd moments.

The green clowns’ realisation that they can conduct the audience’s cheers was delightful and is just one highlight of the interaction during the show.

Sitting in the front stalls is a risk if you are not a fan of audience participation – handbags are snaffled, snow is scattered (although gently swept off the heads of the front row by the yellow clown), water is sprayed and seats are clambered over. The whole audience gets the chance to experience a giant cobweb, a spectacular snowstorm and balloons… lots of giant balloons.

Music by Beethoven, Vangelis, Carl Orff, Fiorino and other wonderful composers adds to the magic, along with a simple but beautiful set and stunning lighting design.

Slava’s Snowshow is full of joyful wonder and heartwarming innocence, and is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Tears were streaming down my cheeks and I was laughing so loudly that at one point the clowns just stopped and stared at me. This is uplifting and unforgettable entertainment. I think I want to be a clown when I grow up.

I urge you to see this show. You will leave trailing snowflakes, unable to stop smiling and wanting to hug everyone you see.

THEATRE ROYAL BATH PRODUCTIONS presents

Helen George in

AFTER MISS JULIE by Patrick Marber

A version of the play by August Strindberg

Directed by Anthony Banks

Theatre Royal Bath Productions is delighted to announce the pre-West End UK tour of Patrick Marber’s AFTER MISS JULIE, with Helen George in the title role. The production opens at the Theatre Royal Bath on 24^th May, followed by a short UK tour, including the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford w/c 30^th May; Cambridge Arts Theatre, w/c 13^th June; Theatre Royal Brighton, w/c 4^th July; Richmond Theatre, w/c 11^th July; Milton Keynes Theatre, 18^th July (further tour details to be announced).

Set in 1945 in an English country house, on the eve of Labour’s landslide victory at the end of the second world war, this compelling and erotic psychological thriller is inspired by Strindberg’s 1888 masterpiece.

During a summer ball, the beautiful daughter of the peer who owns the house, wanders into the servant’s quarters. As she flirts with her father’s handsome chauffeur, indifferent to the presence of his fiancée, what begins as game-playing ignites into passion with devastating consequences.

Helen George plays Miss Julie. Well-known for her role as Trixie Franklin in Call the Midwife, she recently received huge praise for her thrilling performances on Strictly Come Dancing. Helen’s stage credits include the leading role of Sharpay Evans in the stage adaption of HIGH SCHOOL MUSCIAL; Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE WOMAN IN WHITE; two of Nick Bagnall’s productions. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and BY JEEVES, COMPANY (Kings Head); PLAN? (ETT/Milton Rooms); and LOVE NEVER DIES (Adelphi Theatre).

Patrick Marber’s plays include DEALER’S CHOICE, which won the 1995 Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy, and the huge international hit, CLOSER, which won the Evening Standard award for Best Comedy, the Critics’ Circle and Olivier awards for Best New Play and was made into a BAFTA Award-winning film in 2004.

Anthony Banks has directed Lucinda Coxon’s HERDING CATS (Hampstead & Theatre Royal Bath); James Graham’s BASSETT(Bristol Old Vic); Dennis Kelly’s DNA (National Tour); Bryony Lavery’s CESARIO and MORE LIGHT, Lucinda Coxon’s THE ETERNAL NOT and Michael Lesslie’s PRINCE OF DENMARK (NT) and Mark Ravenhill’s THE EXPERIMENT (Soho Theatre & Berliner Ensemble). He was an associate director at the NT until 2014 where he commissioned and developed a hundred new plays for NT Connections.

On Patrick Marber’s script:

“Patrick Marber’s fiercely intelligent reworking… a triumph” Daily Telegraph

“Zinging dialogue, laced with ruthless wit and semi-repressed desire” The Times

 “Ingenious … hypnotic” Independent

THEATRE ROYAL BATH LISTINGS INFORMATION:

Dates:                        Tuesday 24^th – Saturday 28^th May, 2016

Times:                         Tuesday & Wednesday, 7.30pm; Thursday – Saturday, 8pm

                                      Thursday & Saturday matinees, 2.30pm

Box Office:               01225 448844

Tickets:                      £18.50 – £34.50

CINDERELLA PRESSING ALL THE RIGHT BUTTONS

This year’s Darlington Civic Theatre pantomime, Cinderella, is proving a great hit with audiences.

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to the pantomime and Cinderella at Darlington Civic Theatre is proof enough that the all-time classic rags-to-riches story is simply the best when it comes to traditional family entertainment.

A fantastic feature at the Civic Theatre – apart from the beautiful auditorium and friendly staff, is the audience feedback board. Audience members are encouraged to write their comments about the show on a luggage label and attach it to the board using one of the colourful magnets supplied.

One current post reads “I loved Pudsey – it is the best show I’ve been to in my life” and another reads “The best thing I loved about the pantomime is that Buttons is really funny”.

In fact, looking at the board, the underlying feeling is that Buttons is a huge hit with children and adults alike. The role of Buttons is to tie the whole pantomime together, to be the narrator guiding you through the show. It requires a performer who is completely comfortable breaking the ‘fourth wall’, someone who has an instant connection to a theatre full of excited children and it helps if they can throw in some magic tricks along the way.

Matt Edwards brings his unique brand of performance to the role of Buttons at the Civic Theatre. Matt is a one man comedy experience but his warmth towards every cast member lifts the pantomime to another level. He combines magic and laughter with ease and is guaranteed to have any audience rolling around the aisles.

Matt told us “I started getting involved in magic at the age of five and have never lost my enthusiasm to learn new tricks or performance techniques. I joined the junior section of my local Magic Society in Ipswich and was also enrolled as the 300th member of the Young Magicians Club run by the world famous Magic Circle.”

When it comes to magic, Matt considers ‘entertainment’ to be the key word. “I like to dazzle and amaze audiences with routines that are mixed with humour and a great deal of skill, but I also like to feel the audience are involved in the tricks somehow.”

You can still catch Matt and the rest of the Cinderella cast as it runs until Sunday 10 January 2016. For tickets and more information visit darlingtoncivic.co.uk or call 01325 486555.

Star Wars: The Force Awa-corns is Top of the Pops this Christmas as popcorn demand increases ahead of major film release

·         Brits set to Chew-bacca on 2.4 million bags of popcorn over the next 3 weeks

·         Popcorn production at Tommy Tucker increased by 33% to meet STAR WARS demands

·         Total production for the year up to 60 million servings, nearly Obi-Wan portion for each UK citizen

·         Empire Cinemas Strikes Back with tickets available for a whole-Yoda extra screenings for the biggest film release of the year

Ahead of the much-anticipated release of Star Wars, which opens at Empire Cinemas on 17^th December, Tommy Tucker have stepped up production to meet exceptional requirements for everyone’s most pop-ular film snack; popcorn. Tommy Tucker will be continuing to support its cinema partners as the film hits the big screen, which will tie in with the release of the prepacked Star Wars popcorn assortment – with orders for 2.4 million bags taken already for delivery over the next 3 weeks.

Tommy Tucker’s Operations Director, Shaun Noakes, commented: “We have increased our output by 33% to meet the increased demand. This has bumped our total production for the year to 60 million cinema servings (almost 1 portion for everyone in the UK!). Star Wars fans certainly love their popcorn!”

Star Wars opens at Empire Cinemas from 17^th December. The UK’s largest independent cinema chain has put on numerous extra screenings across its 18 cinemas to meet extremely high ticket demands ahead of what looks set to be 2015’s biggest film release. Additional shows have been added to meet demand, tickets still available at: www.empirecinemas.co.uk

Theatre N16  14th – 17th December.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

This is a little gem of a show, with some fantastic ideas and a lot of love for the films.

The show begins with parenting and life tips from a slacker Star Wars fan to a new father who has made a Deathstar crib for his baby – you just screw the top off and pop it in!

The host, Toby Wan Kenobi then introduces each piece, in between telling some god-awful Star Wars jokes and making blue milk for an unfortunate audience member.

The next piece investigates the faces behind the stormtroopers’ masks, and has two discussing the staff canteen and their indignation that the rebels have attacked during lunch. They then begin imagining their own backstory, as the writers of the film were too selfish to flesh them out, in a sweet exchange with a very funny ending.

Jar Jar Binks’ first day as a galactic senator is reimagined. Everything will be fine and he’ll earn everyone’s respect, if he can just get out of the toilet. We hear his internal dialogue, which is coherent and funny, and his horror when he pratfalls and says one of those annoying “Mesa whoopsie” lines. Whether lusting after the female wookie in the next cubicle or smoking a death stick, this Jar Jar is much more fun than the original – perhaps they could add some of these lines to the film to ease our pain?

A riff on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead, with two imperial guards opening cans of special brew after a pivotal battle is another gem – in between discussing the old man and black mask they chat about their contracts and pay, and think about a career change – maybe a job that requires more speaking?       

The final piece is perhaps the most poignant of the night, with two men waiting excitedly, in full costume, for the new Star Wars film to begin. One begins to question the direction of his life, and whether obsessing about films, the collection of memorabilia and attendance of conventions is the way to find a partner and have a fulfilling life – bewildering his friend who cannot see what is wrong with his life. A very downbeat ending to the evening, but very fitting.

The writers, Steve Robertson and John Hickman, Andrew Maddock, James C Ferguson, Victoria Taylor Roberts and Phillip Lawrence have all created fantastic pieces, with lots of laughs and tenderness for the characters, some of whom were neglected in the cinema, and the fans.

Even if you haven’t seen the films, you’ll enjoy  this show, and if you are already a fan – you will love it.

ELF THE MUSICAL’S

RECORD-BREAKING RUN

AT THE DOMINION THEATRE

The smash hit musical ELF has already broken several box office records during its current 10-week run at the Dominion Theatre in London, where performances began on 24 October.  The show has broken the box office record three times for the highest selling show since the Dominion Theatre opened, and has also beaten the Dominion’s box office record for the highest grossing week ever.

The Gala Opening Night on Thursday 5 November was in aid of Alzheimer’s Society and raised a gross box office figure of £82,588 for the charity.  In addition, the producers will be donating £100,000 from takings on Christmas Eve to two charities – Teenage Cancer Trust and Louise Plowright for her cancer treatment in South Korea.

ELF is currently running at London’s Dominion Theatre for a strictly limited 10-week season until 2 January 2016.

The full cast for the London premiere of the smash hit musical ELF is led by Ben Forster as Buddy, Kimberley Walsh as Jovie, Joe McGann as Walter Hobbs and Jessica Martin as Emily Hobbs, with Jennie Dale as Deb, Mark McKerracher as Santa and Graham Lappin as Store Manager.  Also in the cast are Katie Bradley, Charlie Bull, Nicola Coates, Alex Fobbester, Anton Fosh, Charlotte Gale, Francis Haugen, Matt Holland, Tash Holway, Paul Hutton, Mark Iles, Ceili O’Connor, Debbie Paul, Joanna Rennie, Barnaby Thompson and Ed White.  Harry Collett, Ilan Galkoff, Noah Key and Ewan Rutherford will alternate the role of Michael.

Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit starring Will Ferrell, ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

ELF features a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), with songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer). The production will feature direction and choreography by Morgan Young (Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), set design and costumes by Olivier Award winner Tim Goodchild, lighting design by Olivier Award winner Tim Lutkin, vocal arrangements by Phil Reno, dance arrangements by David Chase, orchestrations by Doug Besterman, video design by Ian William Galloway and sound design by Clement Rawling.  Musical direction and supervision will be by Stuart Morley.

Michael Rose and U-Live in association with the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin present the Theatre Royal Plymouth production of ELF at the Dominion Theatre, London.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

24 October 2015 to 2 January 2016

Dominion Theatre

268-269 Tottenham Court Road

London W1T 7AQ

Performances:  Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm*, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm**

*no evening performance Thursday 24, Friday 25, Saturday 26, Thursday 31 December & Friday 1 January

**extra 2.30pm matinees on Monday 21, Tuesday 22, Thursday 24, Monday 28, Tuesday 29 & Thursday 31 December

See website for ticket prices:  www.elfthemusical.co.uk / www.dominiontheatre.com

Box Office:  0845 200 7982

Running Time:  2 hours 25 minutes (including interval)

York Grand Opera House – Sat 19 December – Sun 03 January 2016.  Reviewed by Marcus Richardson

The York Grand Opera House chose to hold the much loved tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, with faces such as, Russ Spencer as Jack Trott and Caroline Barnes as Princess Jill; this duo came to fame during the 2007 Eurovision contest with their song ‘Flying the Flag’, the couple of singers were unknown to most of the audience but they delivered amazing vocal with great credit to Caroline.

I found the performance overall funny and enjoyable, however at some points I got a bit tired with a simple dialogue, but having children as your target audience is the reason behind this. With most of the audience being children from beavers and brownies the audience were involved with the performance shout as loud as the can to join simple Simon’s gang (Chris Casey), it was clear to see that they’re were enjoying it. They even made it funny to the adults with jokes about the Dame (Stuart Wade). The scene that stood out for me was when they had their own version of the 12 Days of Christmas. Involving 5 toilet rolls and other household items, this scene was absolutely funny and manic with toilet rolls thrown into the audience and all the cast members falling over each other one stage the Fairy Peapod (Jade Ellis) standing watching the hysteria that was happening before her eyes.

One note of Ellis’ performance she sang ‘Listen’ from the musical Dreamgirls, she sang this with absolute perfection and her performance was second to none but it didn’t fit the scene lyrically and had me confused.

Over all I found the performance enjoyable and I would encourage anyone to watch but I solid make sure that you bring your family as it’s a family performance where you can laugh with your children and see their faces light up when they watch the tale that is Jack and the Beanstalk.