MAMMA MIA! Relaxed Performance on 16 November

MAMMA MIA! AND MOUSETRAP THEATRE PROJECTS
ONCE AGAIN PRESENT
A ‘RELAXED PERFORMANCE’ OF THE MUSICAL
AT THE NOVELLO THEATRE
ON WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER AT 6PM
Following the huge success of the previous ‘relaxed performance’ of MAMMA MIA! in 2013, the show’s producers and Mousetrap Theatre Projects (MTP) have decided to present a second ‘relaxed performance’ of the smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! at 6pm on Wednesday 16 November at London’s Novello Theatre. The performance will be for families with one or more children with special needs. Relaxed performances are designed to provide an opportunity for people with autism, learning difficulties or other sensory and communication needs who require a more relaxed environment. MTP’s long-term goal is to see regular relaxed performances in the West End. The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) is a great supporter of this project and both MTP and SOLT are working hard to try to ensure that relaxed performances become a familiar fixture in the theatre diary.
Judy Craymer, creator and producer of MAMMA MIA!, said, “I’ve always been proud of the fact that MAMMA MIA! appeals to all ages and backgrounds and really does have the feelgood factor. However, I was overwhelmed by the wonderful reaction of the audience at the last relaxed performance, so was delighted when Mousetrap Theatre Projects asked if we would hold another one. I know it also meant a great deal to all the cast and crew involved on that night three years ago. It was very special and one got a real appreciation for the inclusivity of theatre.”
Over 200 families attended the last relaxed performance of MAMMA MIA! in 2013, which included 504 young people, of whom 344 had special needs. The whole experience of the evening was received with huge delight, gratitude and enthusiasm by the audience. One parent wrote, “We had a fantastic evening, looking around it was overwhelming to see the responses of all the children with SEN (Special Education Needs). It was a great experience for them, they were able not only to see the performance but attend the event with their families, carers and siblings. Thank you!!!
Thanks to generous support from Littlestar, the producers of MAMMA MIA!, and Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, the owners of the Novello Theatre, Mousetrap Theatre Projects is able to offer tickets which are reduced especially for this performance, with children’s tickets starting from as little as £2.50 and adults’ from £5.00.
Prior to attending the performance, all families will be sent support materials including an education pack that explores themes and characters in the musical, a ‘Visual Story’ and a ‘Sensory Synopsis’. These resources help families prepare for their trip to MAMMA MIA!, and guarantee that the full theatre experience is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible for the whole family. The pack also recommends convenient travel routes and restaurants.
Susan Whiddington, Director of Mousetrap Theatre Projects said, “We are delighted to be able to offer this fantastic musical to families with children with special needs. After we offered the first relaxed performance of MAMMA MIA! in 2013, we have had so many families asking for it again!” To support families, MTP has a dedicated Relaxed Performance Project Manager who will assist families attending MAMMA MIA!. There will also be fully trained staff and volunteers on site to assist families at the theatre, as well as volunteer guides at the three local tube stations.
Mousetrap Theatre Projects is a theatre education charity founded in 1997 to enable young people with limited resources, access or support to engage with the best of London’s theatre. To date, it has provided opportunities for over 200,000 disadvantaged young people and young people with special needs to attend theatre, and currently offers 18 innovative theatre access, creative learning and youth engagement programmes for families, schools and in community settings.
MAMMA MIA! has been entertaining audiences in the West End since 1999 and is delighted to have this opportunity to work with Mousetrap Theatre Projects for this very special performance.
 
 LISTINGS INFORMATION:

 MAMMA MIA! Relaxed Performance

Wednesday 16 November
6.00pm

Novello Theatre
Aldwych
London WC2B 4LD
Prices:
Band A: Majority of Stalls and Dress Circle:                                                  Adult £20; Child £10
Band B: Rear of Stalls, Rear of Dress Circle & Grand Circle:                       Adult £10; Child £5
Band C: Sides of Grand Circle & Balcony:                                                    Adult £5; Child £2.50To book tickets, please go to: http://www.mousetrap.org.uk/index.php/special-educational-needs/relaxed-performances/current-relaxed-performance/mamma-mia-november-2016.html

The performance lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes (including a 20 minute interval).

 www.mamma-mia.com

Harry Potter-thon at Empire Cinemas starting this Sunday

image001 (17)Empire Cinemas’ across the UK showing all eight Harry Potter films for eight consecutive weeks

Ahead of the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (18th November); the first part of an amazing new Harry Potter spin-off series, Empire Cinemas has programmed an eight week Harry Potter-thon, showing in all 13 of their cinemas across the UK.

The Potter marathon kicks off with showings of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on Sunday 11thSeptember and continues every week, wrapping up on Sunday 30th October with the last instalment; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

The film screenings will be shown Sundays at 12pm, as well as Tuesdays at 6pm. Potter fanatics will be pleased to hear that they can see all the movies at the fantastic, credit crunch busting Sav£rday price, on both days.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them sees Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne seeking magical creatures in the many decades before Harry Potter arrives at Hogwarts. ‘Magizoologist’ Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) embarks on his mission to catalogue the world’s magical creatures, encountering extraordinary characters along the way, including a wizard named Graves (Colin Farrell).

Jon Nutton, Marketing Director of Empire Cinemas says, “We’re really excited to be hosting this Harry Potter-thon at our cinemas. There is a huge love for Harry Potter in the UK and with the exciting release of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them in November, this is the perfect time to get involved in some Pottermania.”

For further ticketing information visit www.empirecinemas.co.uk or call 08714 714 714.

What’s On at The Grand

image005 (1)WHAT’S ON AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

FOR THE REST OF 2016

leedsgrandtheatre.com / 0844 848 2700

Twitter: @grandtheatrels1

 

BRIAN MAY & KERRY ELLIS***CHICAGO***THE FULL MONTY***ELAINE PAIGE***

ROCKY HORROR SHOW***MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET***GHOST***THE COMMITMENTS***

***SIXTIES GOLD***

 

****************************

UNTIL SATURDAY 29th OCTOBER

OPERA NORTH IN RESIDENCE

For production details visit operanorth.co.uk

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SUNDAY 30TH OCTOBER

SIXTIES GOLD

The ultimate line up featuring The Searchers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, P.J. Proby, Wayne Fontanaand Gary Puckett & The Union Gap.

Tickets: £36.50

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MONDAY 31ST OCTOBER TO SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER

ROCKY HORROR SHOW

STARRING CHARLIE CONDOU & PAUL CATTERMOLE

This is the boldest bash of them all, so sharpen those stilettos and get ready for the biggest bash in Featuring all of its famous musical classics, including Science Fiction/Double Feature, Sweet Transvestite,Dammit Janet and of course, the classic floor-filler The Time Warp.

Be warned, this show has rude parts!

Tickets: £22 – £43

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MONDAY 7TH TO SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

STARRING JASON DONOVAN

On December 4, 1956, four star musicians gathered at Sun Records in Memphis, the studios of legendary record producer Sam Phillips, for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions of all time.

Million Dollar Quartet brings to life the night when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins got together for the first and only time and made rock ‘n’ roll history.

Featuring a score of rock hits performed by a stunning cast and starring Jason Donovan as Sam Phillips.

Tickets: £19.50 – £38

***********************

MONDAY 14TH TO SATURDAY 19TH NOVEMBER

GHOST THE MUSICAL

STARRING SARAH HARDING & ANDY MOSS

With a score written by multi Brit-Award winner Dave Stewart and Grammy award winning Glen Ballard, and script by the writer of the original film, Bruce Joel Rubin Ghost brings all the romance and magic of the classic story to life with stunning music and illusion.

Tickets: £20.50 to £41.50

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TUESDAY 22ND TO SATURDAY 26TH NOVEMBER

CHICAGO

STARRING JESSIE WALLACE, JOHN PARTIRIDGE AND HALEY TAMADDON

Based on real life events back in the roaring 1920s, nightclub singer Roxie Hart shoots her lover and along with cell block rival, double-murderess Velma Kelly, fights to keep from death row with the help of smooth talking lawyer, Billy Flynn.

Starring Jessie Wallace (EastEnders) as Matron ‘Mama’, John Partridge (EastEnders, Cats, A Chorus Line, Miss Saigon, Starlight Express ) as Billy Flynn and Dancing on Ice winner and Coronation Street star Hayley Tamaddon  as Roxie Hart.

Tickets: £23 to £47

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MONDAY 28TH NOVEMBER TO SATURDAY 3RD DECEMBER

THE FULL MONTY

STARRING GARY LUCY, ANTHONY EDEN, ANDREW DUNN, LOUIS EMERICK, CHRIS FOUNTAIN AND KAI OWEN

Based on his smash hit film, and adapted for the stage by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy, this hilarious and heartfelt production with a cast of fourteen. Not only has the play been getting standing ovations every night, but it was also voted best touring production by the UK Theatre Awards.

Tickets: £14 to £38.50

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MONDAY 5TH TO SATURDAY 10TH DECEMBER

THE COMMITMENTS

STARRING KEVIN KENNEDY, BRIAN GILLIAGAN AND ANDREW LINNIE

The Commitments is the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working class music fan, who shapes an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians and friends into the finest soul band Dublin has ever produced.

The Commitments musical has been adapted from the novel by Booker prize winning author Roddy Doyle himself and is directed by award-winning Jamie Lloyd.

Tickets: £25 – £49.50

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SUNDAY 11TH DECEMBER

ELAINE PAIGE

Elaine performs ‘Stripped Back’, which will see her perform her favourite tracks, from an array of contemporary songwriters, with a small group of musicians.

Tickets:  £32.50 to £59

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MONDAY 12TH DECEMBER

BRIAN MAY AND KERRY ELLIS

Queen legend Brian May and vocal sensation Kerry Ellis present an evening of acoustic music including stripped down versions of Brian and Kerry’s personal favourite songs showcasing Kerry’s exceptional voice with Brian backing her on both guitar and vocals.

Tickets: £46

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THURSDAY 15TH DECEMBER TO SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY

NORTHERN BALLET PRESENT

BEAUTY & THE BEAST

Northern Ballet’s Beauty & the Beast brings one of the world’s most famous fairy tales to life in a kaleidoscope of colour, set to an infectious score, including music by Saint-Säens, Bizet and Debussy, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia.

Tickets: £10 to £47.50

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OTHER SHOWS ON SALE FOR 2017:

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME***NORTHERN BALLET’S CASANOVA

***THE LORD OF THE DANCE***COUNT ARTHUR STRONG***MAMA MIA!***

***DIRTY DANCING***THE NATIONAL THEATRE’S JANE EYRE

Sister Act Review

REVIEW: SISTER ACT (Empire Theatre, Sunderland) ★★★

September 6, 2016 

For: West End Wilma 

https://www.westendwilma.com/review-sister-act-sunderland/

sister act

Ambitious club singer Deloris Van Cartier (Alexandra Burke) sees her controlling gangster boyfriend Curtis (Aaron Lee Lambert) commit murder and former schoolmate ‘Sweaty’ Eddie Souther (Jon Robyn) arranges police protection. The book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner follows the rough outline of Joseph Howard’s film starring Whoopi Goldberg. Somewhat incongruously, the safe house chosen by the cops is a convent, which gets shaken to its religious foundations by the heroine, in her new guise as Sister Mary Clarence. Appointed to supervise the tone-deaf choir, she turns them into a group of swinging sisters whose sudden fame imperils both her and their safety.

None of the songs from the film feature in the show, which is a shame. Alan Menkin supplies dutiful versions of the musical-theater standards: comic numbers for the club owner, Curtis and his henchmen; a romantic groove for Eddie and climactic soul-baring ballads for Deloris, the mother superior and Sister Mary Robert, in which each questions the tenets of their personal faith. But with the exception of a couple of roof raisers, the songs in “Sister Act” are more serviceable than memorable.

The show is billed as a star vehicle for Alexandra Burke but there are much brighter stars on the stage. Karen Mann as Mother Superior is amazing, especially in her “drunk” scene. Rosemary Ashe gives a masterclass in performance as Sister Mary Lazarus and Sarah Goggin is phenomenal as Sister Mary Robert.

Star of the show for me was Jon Robyns as Detective Eddie. He shows depth and warmth and real human heart in the role. His song “Sweaty Eddie” where he rips his clothes off from cop to Travolta back to cop was hilarious.

There are moments in the show which are very good, but this is a very average show being lifted up by some very outstanding performers.

FULL MONTY Tour has £5m Advance – Full Cast Announced

Gary-Lucy2c-Louis-Emerick2c-Kai-Owen2c-Andrew-Dunn2c-Anthony-Lewis-and-Chris-Fountain-in-THE-FULL-MONTY-credit-Matt-Crockett-e14EVEN BEFORE IT OPENS THE FULL MONTY TOUR

IS A BLOCKBUSTER WITH £5 MILLION ADVANCE

& EXTRA PERFORMANCES ADDED

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED

As previously announced, the 2016/17 UK Tour of Simon Beaufoy’s THE FULL MONTY is led by Gary Lucy as Gaz, with Andrew Dunn as Gerald, Louis Emerick as Horse, Chris Fountain as Guy and Kai Owen as Dave. Anthony Lewis will now be playing the role of Lomper, as Joe Absolom had to withdraw due to contractual filming commitments.

 

Anthony Lewis is best known as regular Marc Reynolds in Emmerdale. As a teenager, he played the title role in the children’s TV series Adam’s Family Tree and Scott Morris in Children’s Ward, the children’s TV series created by Paul Abbott and Kay Mellor. His films includes A Passionate Woman, Boy A, Girls’ Night and This Is PersonalThe Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper.

 

Also joining the cast will be Andrew Ashford, Adam Beresford, Pauline Fleming, William Ilkley, Jonathan McGarrity, Charlotte Powell, Jess Schofield and Fiona Skinner. The role of Nathan will be shared by Reiss Ward, James Burton, Monty Poole and Felix Yates.

THE FULL MONTY won the UK Theatre Award for Best Touring Production. The 2016/17 UK Tour will begin in Bournemouth on 21 September 2016, finishing at the Sheffield Lyceum on 15 April 2017. The advance box office for the tour of over £5 million is breaking records at theatres around the country and extra performances have already been added at Birmingham Hippodrome and the Leeds Grand Theatre.

Jack Ryder directs THE FULL MONTY and his credits include national tours of Tm Firth’s play Calendar Girls and the short film Act of Memory with Claire Skinner, Owen Teale and Anna Massey, which was officially selected for nine international festivals around the world including the Cannes Film Festival. As an actor, Jack is probably best known as Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders, a role he played for four years.

Gary Lucy is best known for his roles as Danny Pennant in EastEnders, DS Will Fletcher in The Bill, Kyle Pascoe inFootballer’s Wives and Luke Morgan in Hollyoaks, and was a past winner of Dancing on Ice. Andrew Dunn is best known as Tony in Dinnerladies and for his regular appearances playing Alastair Campbell on Bremner, Bird and Fortune. Louis Emerick played Mick Johnson in the long-running soap Brookside and PC Walsh in the even longer-running Last of the Summer Wine. Chris Fountain played regulars Justin Burton in Hollyoaks and Tommy Duckworth inCoronation Street, and he was runner-up of Dancing on Ice. Kai Owen is best known for his portrayal of Rhys inTorchwood and recently played Pete in Hollyoaks.

In 1997, a British film about six out-of-work Sheffield steelworkers with nothing to lose, took the world by storm becoming one of the most successful British films ever made. The story still resonates today, probably more so now than ever.

Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar- and BAFTA-winning writer of the film, has adapted his own screenplay for this hilarious and heartfelt stage production, which features the iconic songs from the film by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones.

THE FULL MONTY is Simon Beaufoy’s first work for the theatre. His screen credits include The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Salmon Fishing in Yemen, 127 Hours and Slumdog Millionaire, as well as The Full Monty.

The UK Tour of THE FULL MONTY has design is by Robert Jones, choreography by Ian West, lighting by Tim Lutkin and sound by Sarah Weltman, with casting by Marc Frankum.

The 2016/17 UK Tour of Simon Beaufoy’s THE FULL MONTY, based on the Fox Searchlight Pictures motion picture, is presented by David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and is a Sheffield Theatres production.

 

For further details, visit www.fullmontytheplay.com

Facebook:       The Full Monty UK
Twitter:             FullMontyPlay / #fullmonty

 

2016/17 TOUR SCHEDULE

21-24 September          BOURNEMOUTH Pavilion                           0844 576 3000

                                      www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk 

 

26 Sept – 1 Oct            NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal                      0115 989 5555          

                                      www.trch.co.uk

3-8 October                  MILTON KEYNES Milton Keynes Theatre   0844 871 7652                                      

                                     www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre  

10-15 October              NORWICH Theatre Royal                             01603 630000

                                      www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

 

17-22 October              INVERNESS Eden Court                              01463 234234

                                     www.eden-court.co.uk

 

24-29 October              EDINBURGH King’s Theatre                        0131 529 6000

                                      www.edtheatres.com

 

31 Oct – 5 Nov             MANCHESTER Opera House                      0844 871 3018

                                     www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester

 

7-12 November            LIVERPOOL Empire                                     0844 871 3017

                                     www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire                     

 

14-19 November          BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome                         0844 338 5000

                                     www.birminghamhippodrome.com 

 

21-26 November          CARDIFF Wales Millennium Centre             029 2063 6464          

                                      www.wmc.org.uk                                          

 

28 Nov – 3 Dec             LEEDS Grand Theatre                                  0844 848 2700

                                      www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

 

16-21 Jan                      NORTHAMPTON Royal and Derngate        01604 624811

                                      www.royalandderngate.co.uk                                  

 

23-28 Jan                      CAMBRIDGE Arts Theatre                           01223 503333     

                                       www.cambridgeartstheatre.com                             

                                                                                                                       

30 Jan – 4 Feb              BELFAST Grand Opera House                     028 9024 1919

                                      www.goh.co.uk                                               

 

6-11 February               SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn                  01743 281281

                                      www.theatresevern.co.uk 

 

13-18 February             DARTFORD Orchard Theatre                      01322 220000

                                      www.orchardtheatre.co.uk 

 

20-25 February             CANTERBURY Marlowe Theatre                 01227 787787

                                      www.marlowetheatre.com

 

27 Feb – 4 March         GLASGOW King’s Theatre                           0844 871 7648

                                      www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre  

                                                                                                                       

6-11 March                   LEICESTER De Montfort Hall                       0116 233 3111

                                      www.demontforthall.co.uk

 

13-18 March                 BRADFORD Alhambra Theatre                    01274 432000           

                                      www.bradford-theatres.co.uk                       

 

20 – 25 March 2017     SUNDERLAND Empire Theatre                   0844 871 3022

                                      www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire

 

27 March – 1 April        LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru                        01492 872000

                                     www.venuecymru.co.uk                                          

 

3-15 April                      SHEFFIELD Lyceum Theatre                       0114 249 6000

                                      www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk                         

Heartfelt and provocative lunchtime theatre at the Arts Theatre

Alex Dmitriev presents:

STRAIGHT TO THE HEART
October 10th – October 28th 2016, Above the Arts Theatre


Bringing lunchtime theatre back to the West End, director Alex Dmitriev directs three heartfelt and provocative short plays by American playwright Ken Jaworowski.

In each play, the characters’ alternating monologues lead you on an unexpected journey. Pulse – a son tells of confronting his father about his sexuality; a father teaches his son to stand up to bullies with lasting consequences; and a daughter takes her father on one last trip. One to the Head, One to the Heart – a father’s dream of a large family is set aside by the financial burden of caring for a disabled child, or is it? The Truth Tellers – a night out for two lonely people, will their lies keep them apart?

Alistair Brown, Nadia Shash and Daniel Simpson, under the direction of Alex Dmitriev, perform in each of the three plays. Ken Jaworowski is a staff editor for The New York Times. His play Acts of Redemption recently appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, while Believers, directed by Alex Dmitriev, was produced by the Workshop Theater Company in New York. Other plays include Never Missed a Day, Certain Souls and Interchange, which has been published by Broadway Play Publishing.

Alistair Brown’s recent credits includes Mr Perks in The Railway Children (National Tour). Nadia Shash trained at Birmingham School of Acting, and her recent credits include: The Bible (Shakespeare’s Globe), As You Like It and The Taming of the Shrew (Cambridge Shakespeare Festival), Much Ado About Nothing (The Scoop), The Wrong Sleep (Cock Tavern) and Stovepipe (HighTide/Bush Theatre/National Theatre). Daniel Simpson trained at East 15 and The Actor Works. Theatre credits include: Doonreagan (Jermyn Street Theatre), London Road (National Theatre) and Driving Miss Daisy (Julian Stonman UK – National Tour).

Alex Dmitriev, a New York based freelance director, has worked at regional theaters across the United States and Canada. His work in NYC has been at The Actors’ Studio, The York Theater Co. Irish Rep and the Abingdon Theater Company among others. In London, he directed Doonreagan (Jermyn Street Theatre) about Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and his mistress, Assia Wevill.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL ANNOUNCES NEW CAST WITH VIDEO OF MATILDAS LEARNING MAGIC TRICKS WITH ILLUSIONIST PAUL KIEVE

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  • SARA SHEEN AND ABBIE VENA JOIN ZARIS-ANGEL HATOR AND CLARA READ IN THE TITLE ROLE OF MATILDA 
  • BOOKING EXTENDS TO OCTOBER 2017 AS MATILDA THE MUSICAL CELEBRATES FIFTH YEAR IN THE WEST END AND THE CENTENARY OF ROALD DAHL 
  • BRAND NEW VIDEO RELEASED FEATURING THE FOUR ACTRESSES LEARNING MAGIC TRICKS WITH ILLUSIONIST PAUL KIEVE – AVAILABLE HERE
  • NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR ADULT ENSEMBLE AND CHILDREN   

Ahead of celebrations for its fifth birthday in the West End this autumn and Roald Dahl’s centenary on 13 September, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi award-winning production of Matilda The Musical has announced that Sara Sheen and Abbie Vena will join Zaris-Angel Hator and Clara Read in the title role from 13 September 2016. Tickets for the new booking period, which includes performances at the Cambridge theatre between 30 May and 15 October 2017, will go on sale on the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth, 13 September.

To mark the arrival of the show’s new young actresses, a video has been released today of the four girls taking part in a special magic workshop with Paul Kieve, the theatre illusionist behindMatilda The Musical’s on-stage magic and special effects.

Craige Els continues in the role of Miss Trunchbull, having first stepped into the girdle in September 2014. Also remaining in the company are Michael Begley as Mr Wormwood, Miria Parvin as Miss Honey and Rebecca Thornhill who plays Mrs Wormwood.

The rest of the adult cast comprises Richard Astbury, Oliver Brooks, Collette Coleman, Maria Graciano, Elliot Harper, Daniel Hope, Daniel Ioannou, Kate Kenrick, Katie Lee, Fergal McGoff, Tom Muggeridge, Matthew Rowland, Matthew Serafini, Biancha Szynal, Laura Tyrerand Sharlene Whyte.

The young performers who will be joining the London company in the three teams playing the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the rest of the pupils at Crunchem Hall are as follows:Nicholas Antoniou-Tibbitts, Molly Beech, Hannah Bouhamdi, Max Brophy, Olivia Calladine-Smith, Elena Cervesi, Lydia Coghlan, Anya Evans, Miles Harcombe, Michael Hawkins, Sam Jennings, Harrison Langham, Ben Lewis, Craig Noakes, Tia Palamathanan, Owen Pennington, Charlotte Ross-Gower, Alexander Stuckey, Felix Warren and Scarlett Wennink.

Child cast members Oliver Llewelyn-Williams, Maxim Samartsev, Ynez Williams, Maisy-May Woods-Smeeth and Dora Yolland will continue in their current roles.

Winner of over 70 international awards, including 15 for Best Musical, Matilda The Musical has been seen by more than five million people worldwide. Having swept the board at the 2012 Olivier Awards, winning a record-breaking seven awards, Matilda The Musical went on to open on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in March 2013. Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, the show won four Tony Awards® and a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theater for each of the four girls sharing the title role.

In 2015 the London and Broadway productions were joined by the North American and Australian tours. After opening to rave reviews in Sydney last year, the Australian production recently won a record-breaking 13 Helpmann Awards. Matilda The Musical will play at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre until November 2016 before touring to Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Matilda The Musical is produced in the West End by the Royal Shakespeare Company with André Ptaszynski and Denise Wood as Executive Producers. The production was developed with the support of Company Dramaturg Jeanie O’Hare and the RSC Literary Department.

Matilda The Musical is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus. The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and the special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE ANNOUNCES NAMES FOR 60TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

80037828db0eca75_800x800arMATT SMITH, DAISY LEWIS, HUGH BONNEVILLE & MORE ANNOUNCED FOR NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

  • MATT SMITH, DAISY LEWIS, HUGH BONNEVILLE, JESSICA HYNES, TIMOTHY DALTON AND GINA MCKEE ARE ALL TO APPEAR IN NYT’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY GALA  
  • JAMES BOND, DOCTOR WHO, LORD GRANTHAM AND THE BIGGEST CAST EVER IN THE WEST END? THE ONE-OFF DIAMOND GALA AT LONDON’S SHAFTESBURY THEATRE ON 18 SEPTEMBER 2016 IS TO STAR 30 ALUMNI AND 90 MEMBERS
  • THE CELEBRATORY EVENT WILL LOOK AT THE LAST SIX DECADES OF YOUTH CULTURE VIA NYT TALENT AND ARCHIVE  PRODUCTIONS
  • TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR AT WWW.NYT.ORG.UK 

Paul Roseby, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT) has today announced the initial line up of alumni who will join current members on stage in London’s West End on 18th September for the company’s Diamond Anniversary Gala.  Taking to the stage at the Shaftesbury Theatre in celebration of the company’s 60th birthday will be former members including: Matt Smith (Doctor Who), Daisy Lewis (Downton Abbey),Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Twenty Twelve, W1A), Timothy Dalton (James Bond),Jessica Hynes (Twenty Twelve, W1A) and Gina McKee (Our Friends in the North). More names are still to be announced.

Directed by Paul Roseby, the gala – ‘The Story of our Youth’ – is set to be one of the biggest casts in the West End with renowned alumni appearing alongside a cast of 97 of Britain’s best young talent and other former members. The one-off show will take a playful look back at the last 60 years of British youth culture, with NYT at its heart. The performance will race through the decades with scenes from the NYT archive, choreographed numbers, new alumni sketches and some extra surprise appearances from famous faces around the world throughout the night.

The Story of our Youth, which will showcase the best of current British talent, will also be a unique opportunity to see some of Britain’s best loved actors share a stage. From Daisy Lewis and Hugh Bonneville treading the boards together for the first time since ITV’s Downton Abbey, a once in a lifetime opportunity to see James Bond and Doctor Who in the same building, to brand new material from Ian Fletcher and Siobhan Sharpe, stars of BBC comedies Twenty Twelve and W1A.

Founded in 1956 the NYT is the pioneering force for youth theatre around the world and is recognised as the leading provider of free alternatives to formal theatre training, with alumni including Dame Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig, Chiwetel Ejiofor CBE and Sir Daniel Day Lewis. Since being founded the world’s leading youth arts charity has nurtured the talent of over 100,000 young people.

The NYT 60th anniversary programme continues throughout the year. After a sell-out season of new writing at the Finborough Theatre over the summer from the end of September they will present a fourth West End REP season at the Ambassadors Theatre. The company will give two West End premieres including an adaptation of Man Booker shortlisted novel Pigeon English byStephen Kelman, looking at immigration, knife crime and the harsh reality of adulthood in modern Britain and William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet set in post war London with Teddy girls and Teddy boys running amok.

More information at www.nyt.org.uk
@NYTofGB / @NYTREPcompany

Sister Act Review

 

Empire Theatre, Sunderland – 5th to 10th September 2016

Ambitious club singer Deloris Van Cartier (Alexandra Burke) sees her controlling gangster boyfriend Curtis (Aaron Lee Lambert) commit murder and former schoolmate ‘Sweaty’ Eddie Souther (Jon Robyn) arranges police protection.  The book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner follows the rough outline of Joseph Howard’s film starring Whoopi Goldberg.  Somewhat incongruously, the safe house chosen by the cops is a convent, which gets shaken to its religious foundations by the heroine, in her new guise as Sister Mary Clarence. Appointed to supervise the tone-deaf choir, she turns them into a group of swinging sisters whose sudden fame imperils both her and their safety.

None of the songs from the film feature in the show, which is a shame.  Alan Menkin supplies dutiful versions of the musical-theater standards: comic numbers for the club owner, Curtis and his henchmen; a romantic groove for Eddie and climactic soul-baring ballads for Deloris and the mother superior, and Sister Mary Robert too, in which each questions the tenets of her personal faith.  But with the exception of a couple of those roof raisers, the songs in “Sister Act” are more serviceable than memorable

The show is billed as a star vehicle for Alexandra Burke but there are much brighter stars on the stage.  Karen Mann as Mother Superior is amazing, especially in her “drunk” scene.  Rosemary Ashe gives a masterclass in performance as Sister Mary Lazarus and Sarah Goggin is phenomenal as Sister Mary Robert.

Star of the show for me was Jon Robyns as Detective Eddie.  He shows depth and warmth and real human heart in the role.  His song “Sweaty Eddie” where he rips his clothes off from cop to Travolta back to cop was hilarious.

There are moments in the show which are very good, but this is a very average show being lifted up by some very outstanding performers

On tour around the UK

UK & Ireland Premiere of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A Musical Comedy

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A MUSICAL COMEDY

TO PREMIERE IN UK & IRELAND

NEW TOURING PRODUCTION TO OPEN ON 20 APRIL 2017

 

United Theatrical, Aria Entertainment and Music & Lyrics Limited are delighted to present, in association with the Festival Theatre Edinburgh, the UK & Irish premiere of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a musical comedy, with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, the creators of multi award-winning Jersey Boys, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the characters created by Charles Addams. The UK & Ireland Tour, which will open at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh on 20 April 2017, will be directed by Matthew White.

Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows; she’s fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family! Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before — keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. All the usual clan are present – Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley et al.

The original Broadway production, starring Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia, ran for just under two years at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. The production also toured the US and international productions have been seen in Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Australia, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Marshall Brickman wrote or co-wrote the film screenplays for SleeperAnnie HallManhattanManhattan Murder MysteryFor the Boys and Intersection, and was head writer for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Rick Elice’s play, Peter and the Starcatcher, received nine nominations and won five 2012 Tony Awards. Andrew Lippa wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical, Big Fish, the music for the Broadway production of Aaron Sorkin’s play The Farnsworth Invention and the book, music and lyrics for the Drama Desk award-winning musical The Wild Party. He wrote the song called ‘Evil Like Me’, which was sung by Dove Cameron and Kristin Chenoweth in the 2015 Disney filmDescendants.

British director Matthew White has directed the recent UK Tour of The Producers, the UK Tour and West End run ofTop Hat, and, for the Menier Chocolate Factory, CandideSweet Charity (and West End) and Little Shop of Horrors(and West End).

THE ADDAMS FAMILY is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

For further information, please visit www.addamsfamilymusical.co.uk. Twitter: @AddamsFamilyUK

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

 

20-29 April 2017     Festival Theatre, Edinburgh             on sale 5 Sep

                             www.edtheatres.com                         0131 529 6000

 

9-13 May 2017       Royal & Derngate, Northampton       on sale 19 September      

                             www.royalandderngate.co.uk            01604 624811   

 

23-27 May 2017     Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury           on sale 5 September         

                             www.marlowetheatre.com                 01227 787787

 

30 May – 3 June 2017  Cliffs Pavilion, Southend                  on sale 21 September

                                www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk               01702 351 135

 

6-10 June 2017          Birmingham Hippodrome                  on sale 12 September

                                www.birminghamhippodrome.com    0844 338 5000

 

20-24 June 2017          Hall for Cornwall, Truro                    on sale soon

                                  www.hallforcornwall.co.uk                01872 262466

 

27 June – 1 July 2017        Nottingham Theatre Royal                on sale 12 September

                                              www.trch.co.uk                                  0115 989 5555

                                                                                                                         

4-8 July 2017               The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford      on sale 12 September

                                   www.bradford-theatres.co.uk            01274 432000

 

18 – 29 July 2017     Mayflower Theatre, Southampton     on sale 9 September                  

                                      www.mayflower.org.uk                       02380 711811

 

1-12 August 2017         Cardiff, Wales Millennium Centre     on sale 30 September

                          http://www.wmc.org.uk/                     029 2063 6464

 

15-26 August 2017 Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin    on sale 28 October  

                        www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie           0844 847 2455

 

29 August – 9 September 2017  The Lowry, Salford                           on sale 9 September                      www.thelowry.com/                           0843 208 6000      

 

Further tour dates to be announced.