First ever UK tour of new musical Son of a Preacher Man

SON OF A PREACHER MAN

 

THE FIRST EVER UK TOUR OF THE NEW MUSICAL SON OF A PREACHER MAN WILL COME TO GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK FOR A ONE WEEK RUN FROM TUESDAY 3 TO SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER  

 

TICKETS ON GENERAL SALE NOW

Son of a Preacher Man, a heart-warming new musical featuring the soulful music of Dusty Springfield, with a book by Warner Brown and directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood, embarks on a national tour starting at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre from Monday 4 September 2017.

Three broken hearts, one Soho hang-out, and the only man who could ever help them…

Welcome to the Preacher Man, the swinging 1960s Soho joint where the kids danced the night away to the latest crazes and dared to dream of love, while the legendary owner, The Preacher Man himself, dispensed advice to cure the loneliest of hearts.

Only, that was a long time ago and all that remains are the memories, the stories and the myths. Until now, that is, when three random strangers, generations apart but all in need of help with their hopeless love lives, are inexplicably drawn to the site of the original venue. The Preacher Man is long gone, but his son, with help from the wonderful Cappuccino Sisters, might just find it in himself to channel the spirit of The Preacher Man and once more give these three lovesick strangers the look of love.

Featuring the greatest hits of Dusty Springfield, including “The Look Of Love”, “I Only Want To Be With You”, “Spooky” and of course, the classic “Son Of A Preacher Man”, this sparklingly funny and sweetly touching new musical play by internationally renowned writer Warner Brown will have you laughing, crying and singing your heart out to some of the greatest songs ever written.

Directed and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood, Son of a Preacher Man comes to Grand Opera House York for one week only. You only want to be with us!

Choreographer Craig Revel Horwood said:  

 

‘I am delighted to bring to life for the very first time this wonderful story created by Warner Brown, with soulful songs from the legendary Dusty Springfield’s iconic music catalogue. I hope that audiences in York will come to love this warm-hearted and uplifting new musical as much as I do.’

General Manager Lizzie Richards at Grand Opera House York, said:

‘Son of a Preacher Man’ will feature many of the greatest hits of Dusty Springfield, including “The Look Of Love”, “I Only Want To Be With You”, “Spooky” and the classic “Son Of A Preacher Man”

It will be the perfect way to start this October.’

Warner Brown works internationally and is well known for his work in musical theatre and straight plays, encompassing both traditional and avant-garde forms.

He wrote ‘the most popular family show of all time’, the arena production Walking With Dinosaurs, creating an entirely new genre of theatrical presentation and winning many international awards.  Currently playing in venues from Madison Square Garden to the Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, an episode of CSI: Las Vegas has been based upon the show and it has even been parodied on The Simpsons.

Warner is currently working on multiple developing projects, including the Broadway musicals The Gold Room and The Thomas Crown Affair, both with composer Michael Feinstein; the opera Empty Spaces, with composer Joshua Schmidt, for Florentine Opera in the USA; the musical A Little Danger, with composer Michael Reed, for the St Petersburg Theatre in Russia; and the screenplay for the movie A Minute To Midnight for Bill Kenwright Films. He is part of the consortium, including choreographer Arlene Phillips and musical director Mike Dixon, for the new internet-based project Reality.

Writing credits include Half A Sixpence (UK Tour), The Biograph Girl (Phoenix Theatre), Cinderella (London Palladium), The Black and White Ball, which opened in London and for which The Cole Porter Trusts granted Warner stage rights to the songs of Cole Porter, Flickers (Broadway’s Circle-In-The Square Theater), The House on the Corner (Edinburgh International Festival) and, in addition, Tallulah For A Day and Sleep With Friends. Plays include Laughing Dove, Wavelength and The Prospero Suite, directed by John Doyle.

Warner has worked extensively in Europe, most recently writing the musical Garbo, with music by ‘Meatloaf’ rock legend Jim Steinman. He also has extensive writing credits for the BBC and was Script Associate of the BBC Classic Musicals Series, for which he adapted fourteen musicals featuring many international stars.  Warner was the subject of the BBC Two TV documentary The Making Of A Musical. Warner is co-sponsor of the international music prize The S&S Award, named in honour of his late parents.

Craig Revel Horwood is a well-known face on television in the UK and now internationally for his role as a judge on all fifteen series of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing and for directing and appearing as a judge in the Live Tour.

Craig’s recent credits as director and choreographer include the current UK tour of Sister Act, the previous UK tours Brother Love Travelling Salvation Show and Chess; for television, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and Just the Two of Us; and for film, the feature film Paddington 2. In addition, he recently directed the all-star concert version of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies at the Royal Albert Hall. Other credits as a theatre director and choreographer are: West Side Story (Prince Edward), Miss Saigon (Drury Lane), Hey, Mr Producer! (Lyceum), Spend Spend Spend! (Piccadilly Theatre; Olivier nomination for Best Choreography), Pal Joey (Chichester Festival Theatre), Guys and Dolls (Sheffield Crucible), Paradise Moscow (Opera North), Carmen (Holland Park), My One and Only (Piccadilly Theatre; Olivier nomination for Best Choreography), Beautiful and Damned (Lyric Theatre), Arms and the Cow (Opera North), The Ballet Boyz: Yumbo Vs Nonino (Festival Hall, Sadler’s Wells, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden), The Hot Mikado (Watermill Theatre and UK Tour; Martin Guerre (Watermill Theatre), Sunset Boulevard (Watermill Theatre and Comedy Theatre, West End), Spend Spend Spend! (Watermill Theatre and UK Tour) and Copacabana (Watermill Theatre).

He recently returned to his roots as a performer in musical theatre, starring as Miss Hannigan in the UK national tour of Annie, and in Christmas 2016 as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley. Other performing credits include Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Orchard, Dartford in 2014 and at the Swan, High Wycombe in 2015. Previously, Craig starred as the Wicked Queen in Snow White at Venue Cymru, Llandudno in 2009, The Hawth, Crawley in 2010 and The Orchard, Dartford 2011. He reprised his role at The Swan Theatre, High Wycombe in 2012 and the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend in 2013.

Amongst his numerous TV credits, highlights include winning the BBC Two series Maestro at the Opera, the final of which saw him conduct Act II of La Bohème at the Royal Opera House. He was also a grand finalist on the hit cooking show, Celebrity MasterChef and participated in and won Ready, Steady, Cook.

 

Book                                                                      Warner Brown

Director & Choreographer                           Craig Revel Horwood

Set & Costume Designer                              Morgan Large

Musical Supervisor & Arrangements      Paul Herbert

Lighting Designer                                            Richard G Jones

Sound Designer                                                Richard Brooker

Associate Director & Choreographer      David James Hulston

Casting Director                                               Anne Vosser

Son of a Preacher Man is produced by Brian Berg, John Sachs, Andrew Berg & Kimberley Sachs for

Eclipse Live, Michael Park for The Infinite Group, Paul Tyrer & Jamie Clark for TBO Productions,

Churchill Theatre Bromley and executive producers Andrew Green and Ben White, all on behalf of Dusty Touring Ltd.

 

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT:

               

www.sonofapreachermanmusical.com/

New play about infertility heads to the Brighton Fringe

Pure Fluke Theatre presents:


BLOCKED
May 18th – May 24th 2017, The Dukebox Theatre

Pure Fluke Theatre bring their new production Blocked to the Brighton Fringe 2017 – a searing dissection of the dangerous functions of humour in a new play about the silence society imposes on the infertile and how one woman, despite achieving fame and success, cannot bear to not bear a child.

“curious and effective (…) skilfully written and handled” There Ought To Be Clowns

We meet a comedienne at the top her game. Her audacious routine challenges women’s bovine desire to have children – she advocates abortion, because of overpopulation. She is exposed as an unreliable narrator as she unwittingly reveals she has been trying for years and admits to the traumas of failed IVF treatment and the hurtful flippancy of the fertile world, and her tight comic act descends into a squirm-inducing meltdown, yet retains the high octane comedy till the bitter end. Dropped by her agent/husband for her furious tirade, she ends up playing at low rent dives – but realises nobody is listening.

“comic gem (…) genuine laugh out loud moments” Grumpy Gay Critic

In the event of tragic life events like cancer or death, there is a grieving period and the loss is acknowledged publicly, allowing the griever to move on. Infertility is a constant rollercoaster of hope and disappointment over many years, causing severe anguish for those who spend all their time and money on treatment, which doesn’t work for the majority. The silently infertile rarely receive adequate support or help, making it difficult to function in a society which reveres children and marks social occasions with family celebrations.

Robert Winston, the inventor of IVF (and former oncologist) regrets how unregulated the fertility industry is today and says ‘infertility is worse than cancer’. He has said he has found it difficult to get interviews, as ‘no newspaper wants to publish this’.

“snappy dialogue & wonderful characters” Camden Fringe Review

Pure Fluke Theatre create daring, comic roles for women over age 35. Previous work includes In a Better Place (Brighton Fringe 2015), a sold-out, promenade, site-specific show at The Hotel Pelirocco; and How To Make Money From Art (Camden Fringe 2015).

DISNEY’S ALADDIN ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST AUTISM-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE AT LONDON’S PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE

Disney’s hit new musical ALADDIN, which opened in the West End in June 2016 is pleased to announce its first dedicated Autism-Friendly Performance will take place on Tuesday 29 August 2017. Tickets are now on sale. It follows the success of previous such performances at The Lion King, whose upcoming Autism-Friendly Performance on 4 June 2017 has now sold out.

The Autism-Friendly Performance of ALADDIN is specially designed to make the West End production more accessible to autistic people. Disney Theatrical Productions will work closely with The National Autistic Society, the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families, to deliver the performance.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. There are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK. Although everyone on the autism spectrum is different, people may be under or oversensitive to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours, which can make everyday life extremely challenging. They can also find social situations and unexpected changes a challenge, which can sometimes lead to extreme levels of anxiety.

Nancy Shakerley, Development and Education Manager for Disney Theatrical Group, said:“We understand that Autism Friendly Performances can make theatregoing a more accessible and relaxed experience for people with autism as well as their family and friends.

Building on the success of the last three Autism Friendly Performances at The Lion King, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with the National Autistic Society in holding our first Autism Friendly Performance at Aladdin this summer, just one year after opening in the West End.

Daniel Cadey, Autism Access Development Manager at the National Autistic Society, said:“We were delighted to be offered the opportunity to work with Disney Theatrical Productions and the Prince Edward Theatre on this hugely successful show.

“There are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK, and many struggle to cope with unfamiliar places and everyday sights and sounds which others are able to filter out, such as artificial lighting, background music or traffic noise.

“Autistic people and their families tell us that they would love to visit the theatre, but because of sensory issues and anxiety in unfamiliar surroundings, they are prevented from doing so. Aladdin’s production team have taken great care in adapting the show, including having a ‘visual story’ online which can help autistic people prepare for their visit in advance. This means that for some of the audience on 29 August, this will be the very first time that they are able to experience the thrill of a live performance.” 

These dedicated Autism-Friendly Performances of ALADDIN include modifications to the booking process, performance and the theatre environment, including:

  • The theatre’s foyer includes designated quiet and activity areas; staffed by experts in autism throughout the performance should anyone need to leave their seats.
  • Slight adjustments are made to the performance itself, including the reduction of jarring sounds or strobe lighting that face the audience.
  • The cast of ALADDIN along with Prince Edward Theatre box office and front of house staff have been given training to understand the needs of an audience made up of adults and children who are autistic.
  • A specific website has been set up for this performance, linking to a dedicated booking page. The website includes a downloadable ‘visual story’ to help people with autism understand the process of a visit to the theatre, thus aiding their comprehension of the experience and reducing anxiety by explaining each step from arriving in the foyer to the final curtain call.

Audience members can find out more information and purchase tickets athttp://www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk/autismfriendly. Tickets are sold at a specially reduced rate and can be selected on a virtual map of the auditorium.

Now in its third record-breaking year on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre, where it has been seen by more than 1.5 million people, ALADDIN’s global presence has grown to five productions on three continents. The show is now playing at Tokyo’s Dentsu Shiki Theatre Umi, Stage Theatre Neue Flora in Hamburg and Capitol Theatre in Sydney, ahead of moving to Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne in April 2017.

ALADDIN features the timeless songs from the 1992 animated film as well as new music written by Tony®, Olivier© and eight-time Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Little Shop Of Horrors). With lyrics from Olivier Award and two-time Oscar®winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony and Olivier Award, three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida), and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), and a book by Beguelin, Aladdin is directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).

Dean John-Wilson plays the role of Aladdin alongside Jade Ewen as Jasmine in the new musical based on the classic Academy Award®-winning animated film. Broadway cast member Trevor Dion NicholasLondon stage debut as Genie and is joined by Don Gallagher as Jafar, Peter Howeas Iago, Irvine Iqbal as the Sultan, Nathan Amzi as Babkak, Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Kassim and Rachid Sabitri as Omar.

LISTINGS

Disney’s ALADDIN – an Autism-Friendly Performance

Tuesday 29 August at 1.30pm
Tickets on sale
http://www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk/autismfriendly/

ALADDIN
Prince Edward Theatre
28 Old Compton St
London W1D 4HS

Box Office number: 0844 482 5151
www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk

Facebook: Aladdin London
Twitter: @AladdinLondon
Instagram: @AladdinLondon
#AladdinLondon

Spanish performer Joan Vazquez brings back to London his acclaimed Sondheim show

Joan Vázquez
‘Something’s Coming – a Sondheim tribute’
Live at Zédel
Monday, 26th June 2017, 7.00pm
Spanish performer Joan Vázquez brings back ‘Something’s Coming – a Sondheim tribute’ as part of Live at Zédel summer season, after his acclaimed London debut last Fall.

Accompanied by himself on piano, Joan celebrates music theatre genius Stephen Sondheim with legendary songs such as “Losing My Mind”, “Finishing the Hat”, “Send in the Clowns” or “Being Alive” while delivering Mr. Sondheim’s witty quotes on the state of the art, love and life.

Joan  will  be  joined  by  special  West  End  guest  star appearances to be announced.

Regarding his upcoming concert in London Joan says: ‘I am very excited about bringing the show back to Zédel. Making my London debut here was literally a dream come true. I couldn’t be more grateful for such a warm welcome. I’m a huge fan of London theatre life and I felt both a great responsibility and an incredible thrill to perform for a West End audience. I have to say they made me feel at home.

Regarding Sondheim’s work he says: ‘Sondheim is my favourite composer since I played Frank in Merrily We Roll Along in Barcelona and my admiration won’t stop growing. He can take me with just one chord and sometimes with even less. You always know it’s him. His words are beyond. So deep and yet so simple. He’s a wizard.

Stephen Sondheim is an Academy-Award, Tony and Pulitzer winner for Company, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, Follies, Sunday in the Park with George, Merrily We Roll Along, Passion and Into the Woods.
Joan’s credits include Claude in Hair, Frank in Merrily We Roll Along, Sky in Mamma Mia! and Lockwood in The History Boys, in the recent Barcelona and Madrid productions. Other credits include Abdullah in the world première of Bagdad Café directed by Percy Adlon, My Fair Lady, and the first Spanish production of Rent, directed by Abby Epstein and Michael Greif.

Joan has regularly worked with repertory companies in Barcelona such as Gataro, The Zombie Company, La Barni or El Musical Més Petit, in revues, cabaret and fringe productions such as Flor de Nit, Le Llaman Copla and Off- Broadway. His writing credits include Se Fue En Un Barco (The Ship that got away), a play about Spanish post-war refugees.

Joan’s debut solo album ‘Something’s Coming – a Sondheim tribute’ with the songs from the show is available on iTunes.

Reviewers have said:
“Joan, making his London debut at Live At Zédel, treated a full house to 17 of Sondheim’s finest compositions in a pleasing 75-minute show. […]
It’s always good to hear someone new and, from the warmth of the applause, this won’t be the last visit from this likeable señor.”
Musical Theatre Review
Images available for download at

LISTINGS
Joan Vázquez ‘Something’s Coming – A Sondheim Tribute’
Conceived, directed and performed by Joan Vazquez
Monday, 26th June 2017, 7.00pm
Live at Zédel
The Crazy Coqs
20 Sherwood Street, London W1

BOOK TICKETS
Tickets: £20
Website: https://www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs
ON SALE NOW!

Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace return in their hottest show yet… Tango Moderno

Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace

return in their hottest show yet…

TANGO MODERNO

Tango superstars’ new show to capture the heat of the street

 

 

Strictly superstars Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace return to the stage with their most audacious and thrilling show yet, Tango Moderno. The production opens at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury on Thursday 7th September, ahead of a major UK Tour.

Tango is the rhythm of the city, the heat of the streets and the pulse of life. Tango Moderno is the irresistible hot new stage spectacular from Vincent and Flavia: dance partners for over two decades, world champions, Strictly favourites and acclaimed West End stage stars, whose previous productions Midnight Tango, Dance Til Dawn and The Last Tango have all been acclaimed, sell-out hits.

Having originally intended The Last Tango to be their farewell tour, Flavia commented:

As we were creating our last show, we developed a number of new routines with so much raw choreography. It was thrilling to still be discovering new numbers for Vincent and I to dance, but we just couldn’t accommodate them in the production. We toured the country with the show and were overwhelmed by the support from our audiences and from people asking us to continue. Vincent and I spoke at the end of the tour and we decided that we wanted to continue; we love dancing together, we are having so much fun and a year after our last UK tour, we are more excited than ever to share this new work and show with our audiences.

The new production fuses together Ballroom, Latin, and Argentine tango to give you a performance that smoulders with desire.  With classic steps, they create a Tango for today.

 

Tango Moderno is directed by Olivier Award winning choreographer and director Karen Bruce and produced by Adam Spiegel Productions (Motown The Musical, The Producers, Dance ‘Til Dawn, Midnight Tango, Love Me Tender).

Website:      www.TangoModerno.com

Facebook:    facebook.com/vincentandflavialive

Twitter:         @vfvincentflavia

  TANGO MODERNO – 2017 UK TOUR

Thursday 7 – Saturday 9 September                 Box Office: 0844 871 7607

Aylesbury Waterside                                                               Website: www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 September                              Box Office: 0844 871 3012

Bristol Hippodrome                                                  Website: www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 September                              Box Office: 0844 871 3011

Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre                                Website: www.atgtickets.com

Monday 25 – Saturday 30 September                              Box Office: 08448 11 21 21

Newcastle Theatre Royal                                       Website: www.theatreroyal.co.uk

 

Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 October                                         Box Office: 020 3285 6000

Bromley, Churchill Theatre                                    Website: www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 October                     Box Office: 0844 871 3018

Manchester Opera House                                     Website: www.atgtickets.com

 

Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 October                     Box Office: 01253 290190

The Grand Theatre, Blackpool                                             Website: www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Tuesday 31 October – Saturday 4 November                Box Office: 0844 871 7645

Woking, New Victoria Theatre                                             Website: www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 November                               Box Office: 0844 871 7652

Milton Keynes Theatre                                                           Website: www.atgtickets.com

 

Monday 20 – Wednesday 22 November                         Box Office: 0844 871 3022

Sunderland Empire                                                   Website: www.atgtickets.com

 

Thursday 23 – Saturday 25 November                              Box Office: 0844 871 3014

Edinburgh Playhouse                                                               Website: www.atgtickets.com

Further tour dates in 2017 and dates through 2018 to be announced soon

The King and I Review

York Theatre Royal – until 18 March.  Reviewed by Marcus Richardson

I went to see ‘The King And I’ at the York Theatre Royal by the amateur theatre group York Light Opera, which has a 10 day run until the 18th of March. The classic Roger and Hammerstein Musical set in Siam features a teacher who goes to Bangcok to teach the kings many children.

For me the show wasn’t my cup of tea as it took too long to finish and scene changes were on the longer side which is something a theatre goer I don’t really like.

The set and costume of the show was visually stunning and made great use of the stage at the theatre, with the ballet scene and how they used the river when telling the story of ‘The Small Hose Of Uncle Tom’, this scene of the play was rather funny for the first few parts however it just went on too long and I lost interest in what was happening. The costumes were all rather splendid as the chorus had multiple outfits that were colourful and suited the oriental style to a T.  Anna’s outfits were also very good with a big skirting on her dresses and this elegant ballgown for the party. The set also was rather impressive as it filled out stage nicely and no space was wasted and everything looked in place, just when the scenes were changing they took too long and the movement of props were clunky and loud.

One of the best parts about the play was the cast and that includes the chorus of many wives and children, I was rather surprised at how good the children were as my past experience of child actors have never been good ones, and with the amounts of them it made for great comical affect and the scenes where all the wives on stage were defiantly one of the highlights of the play.  My favourite scenes was when all the wives were seeing the locket and reacting to it. The leading lady Anna Leonowens played by Emma Dickinson had a delightful voice to listen and the memorably song of getting to know you lives up to the film version by Deborah Kerr. The King Played by John Hall was also good at giving a great performance of the character creating comical affect over anything else, his portrayal was both visually and vocally hilarious with his interaction with Dickinson.

Overall I felt that the show had many great aspects and strong features however in total I didn’t fall head over heels as it took too long for scenes to move along and there were too many song For Anna even though she had an amazing voice. Even though it wasn’t my cup of tea a lot of the audience members enjoyed the show and loved the singing, maybe this is an age thing as most of the audience were in the older age range. If you loved the King and I film in sure that you would love the show and if it was part of your childhood then I’m definite. I wouldn’t say I want my personal opinion to deter you from watching this performance as it was good overall just not my thing.

Escaped Alone Review

The Quays Theatre, Lowry, Manchester – Tuesday March 7th 2017.  Reviewed by Julie Noller

Upon collecting my tickets I was thrilled with my programme which appeared in book format with a full copy of the forthcoming play written by Caryl Churchill. The usher informed myself and everyone else entering that the play would be 50 minutes long without an interval and as such be prepared before entering to have any comfort breaks now and to please turn off all mobile phones as the theatre will need to be pitch black. Eeeekk what is going to happen?

Indeed the theatre was plunged into total darkness but around us was the sound of children laughing, birds singing – it must be summertime! The lights illuminated the stage, where the set was a plain old garden fence with an open gate it reminded me of looking towards a television set with the edges of the stage framing it. And there on stage stood a woman looking nervous, she spoke to us yet it wasn’t clear if she knew we were there or just generally thinking out loud. Her voice was unmistakable as Linda Bassett of Call The Midwife fame. We hear voices off stage appearing to drift through the open gate from the garden beyond. The lights dim to pitch black something we are going to have to get used to. Cue scene change to inside the garden where sits the aforementioned Mrs Jarrett and 3 others – this could be me in a mere 20 years time, sat with my friends in my garden enjoying a gossip and a cuppa. The play is somewhat surreal and indeed I understand why you are discouraged from leaving for you need to be aware at all times – simply blink and you may miss a minor detail that will lead to a misunderstanding.

My understanding of Escaped Alone was different to my friends and will probably be different to yours. I believe it is all down to the individual’s interpretation. Go with an open mind, prepare to be puzzled, go for a drink afterwards. Enjoy every detail of this 50 minute play and then allow 2 hours minimum to discuss! It’s very thought provoking, for that reason I thoroughly enjoyed it. Brilliantly acted from bizarre to scary to emotional. Why all those things? Well it appears to touch on the topic of today without actually saying it – mental health.

We have 3 good friends sat together in the safety of a garden (we never find out who the garden belongs to, all of them? None of them? I even questioned if they are real)

Sally (Deborah Findlay), Lena (Kika Markham) and Vi (June Watson), it’s very obvious they have been friends a very long time. Just as expected they know each others flaws and fears which are tolerated. They each finish the others sentences both in knowledge and also a sense of protection.

As the play progresses the theatre is often plunged into total darkness, to have a spotlight illuminate Mrs Jarrett stood solitary at the edge of the stage with a bright orange coil of light lit up surrounding the frame of the stage edge she addresses us the audience. These breaks in the mundane life of the 4 woman sat drinking tea during summer filled me with confusion, had there been a nuclear holocaust? Some disaster? Was Caryl Churchill trying to bring our attention to some catastrophe (you can see early on I was already questioning everything and starting to look for clues). These breaks were sometimes amusing, other times I wondered should I feel amused? Should others be laughing? Should I feel emotional?

Back to the garden each time where life continues over general chit chat with glimpses into each of our ladies lives – Vi had been away for a period of 6 years, we later find out she had stabbed her husband in ‘self defence’, Sally an ex GP who appears to have missed a diagnosis of cancer in one of her patients, Lena who had been a highflyer in an office was now scared to go out alone.

We are treated to a glimpse into each ladies ‘head’ as the lights dim on all the others periodically allowing us to see what their friends do not. Making me sense that we don’t always show our true selves to those around us, everyday life is quite often an act.

Sally who has an intense fear of cats and checks everywhere they might be inside her house, Lena looks for rooms with nothing which is better than dealing with things, Vi who can’t love a kitchen and despairs at the lost relationship with her son.

The play ends with Mrs Jarrett who has her time alone within the garden spotlight, chanting 2 words ‘terrible rage’ each chant getting louder and quite frankly scaring me into what would happen.

What follows is a joke about chickens crossing the road and then Mrs Jarrett makes her leave thanking the ladies foe her tea and closing the gate she leaves and the play ends.

I feel anything I write should contain a spoiler alert clause don’t let my confusion or questioning put you off this play as I’ve said its only 50 minutes long, brilliantly acted and very thought provoking as to how and why the 4 women had ‘Escaped Alone’ .

York’s Pilot Theatre + Tamasha’s play set in India’s surrogacy industry: Made In India, 7+8 April

Tamasha and The Belgrade Theatre in association with Pilot Theatre present

MADE IN INDIA

written by Satinder Chohan, directed by Katie Posner

at York Theatre Royal on 7 + 8 April at 7.45pm

www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk / 01904 623568 / £14

 

Satinder Chohan explores the global and personal implications of India’s surrogacy industry in a thrilling new play about motherhood and blood ties between women and nations. The play brings together Tamasha and The Belgrade Theatre with York-based Pilot Theatre and is directed by Pilot’s associate director Katie Posner.

In a surrogacy clinic in Gujarat, three women meet. It’s Londoner Eva’s last chance for motherhood. For village girl Aditi, dairy worker and single mother, surrogacy is a lifeline out of poverty – a chance to giver her own daughters a better chance in life. For clinic owner and businesswoman Dr Gupta, it’s all just another transaction. But with the backdrop of profound global forces, can it possibly remain that simple?

India has been regarded as the world’s ‘surrogacy hub’, one of a handful of countries legally offering commercial surrogacy to parents internationally, although the industry was not fully regulated. The industry was estimated to be worth over £1.5million, with surrogates themselves stated as being able to earn up to £6000. During 2016, a change to the law was drafted so that surrogacy would become legal only to heterosexual Indian couples married for five years.

Satinder Chohan, playwright: ‘I felt compelled to write a play with surrogacy at its heart as it is such a controversial subject loaded with conflicting emotion, culture and politics. I felt connected to the subject as, with my Indian village roots, the Indian women acting as surrogates that I had read about in news stories could be any number of my female relatives or indeed myself if my parents had taken a different path in life. At the same time, I wanted to explore the wider global issue of which surrogacy is a part – the commodification of everything’ in a time when morals are easily sacrificed for financial markets and how we, as privileged Westerners and consumers rely on worker all over the world to provide the material stuff of our lives.’

Satinder Chohan’s first production Zameen (2008, Kali Theatre + UK tour including Soho Theatre) told the story of a suicidal farmer and his family in India. Crossing The Line (Heat and Light, Hampstead Theatre) touched upon twenty-something Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean and KabaddiKabaddiKabbadi (2012, Kali Theatre + Pursued By A Bear + Mercury Theatre, Colchester) engaged with the lives of illegal immigrants in the UK.

Tamasha’s relationship with Satinder began in 2007 when she took part in Tamasha Developing Artists (TDA) New Writing Course. Lotus Beauty, her subsequent commission for the company was showcased at the Gate Theatre in 2010. Tamasha nominated her successfully for the Off-WestEnd.com 2013 Adopt-a-Playwright award, through which she developed Made In India.

Fin Kennedy, Artistic Director, Tamasha: ‘Tamasha is very proud to have been involved with Made in Indiasince its outset, supporting Satinder’s idea through the Adopt-a-Playwright scheme and working closely with her to develop the play as the situation she was writing about was continually changing. Her play is extremely moving as it is about human lives affected by different desperations, against a backdrop of profound global forces. As a company we are excited to be taking on tour a play for our times, which raises vital questions about the West’s ongoing relationship with the developing world.’

First Dates Announced for Jersey Boys UK and Ireland Tour

THE AWARD-WINNING, SMASH HIT

WEST END AND BROADWAY MUSICAL

JERSEY BOYS

TO EMBARK ON SECOND UK & IRELAND TOUR

FROM DECEMBER 2017

Due to overwhelming public demand, the producers of JERSEY BOYS are delighted to announce a second UK & Ireland Tour, to open at the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham on 16 December 2017.

JERSEY BOYS first opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 18 March 2008 and moved to the Piccadilly Theatre in March 2014. The Olivier Award-winning West End production will close on Sunday 26 March 2017 following nine amazing years in London. The first UK & Ireland Tour of JERSEY BOYS was a record-breaking success and ran for 18 months, from 4 September 2014 to 5 March 2016.

JERSEY BOYS is the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks.  These four boys from New Jersey became one of the most successful bands in pop history, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and sold 175 million records worldwide, all before they turned 30.  The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’SherryWalk Like A ManDecember, 1963 (Oh What a Night)Big Girls Don’t CryMy Eyes Adored YouLet’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got)Bye Bye BabyCan’t Take My Eyes Off YouWorking My Way Back to YouFallen AngelRag Doll and Who Loves You.

Winner of Broadway’s Tony, London’s Olivier and Australia’s Helpmann Awards for Best New Musical, JERSEY BOYS is the winner of 57 major awards worldwide and has been seen by over 24 million people worldwide.  JERSEY BOYS can currently be seen across the United States on its US National Tour.  The BROADWAY production closed on 15 January 2017 as the 12th longest running show in Broadway history.

JERSEY BOYS is written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe.  The National / UK & Ireland Tour production is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team, led by director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo, with scenic design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Steve Canyon Kennedy and projection design by Michael Clark.  The orchestrations are by Steve Orich and the music supervision and vocal arrangements by Ron Melrose.

The UK & Ireland Tour of JERSEY BOYS is produced by Dodger Theatricals and Ambassador Theatre Group, with Joseph J Grano, Pelican Group, Latitute Link and Rick Steiner.

For further details, please visit www.jerseyboysuktour.com.

Facebook: facebook.com/JerseyBoysLondon/
Twitter: @JerseyBoysUK
Instagram: @JerseyBoysUK

LISTINGS INFORMATION

16 Dec 2017 – 6 Jan 2018               Birmingham New Alexandra                                0844871 3011                                                                                                                 www.atgtickets.com/birmingham                          On sale 10 March

9 – 20 January                                  Liverpool Empire                                                  0844 871 3017                                                                                                              www.atgtickets.com/liverpool                               On sale 23 March

23 January – 3 February                  Milton Keynes Theatre                                         0844 871 7652                                                                                                               www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes                        On sale 23 March

6 – 17 February                                Stoke Regent Theatre                                        0844 871 7649                                                                                                                www.atgtickets.com/stoke                                   On sale 23 March

20 February – 3 March                     Hull New Theatre                                                01482 3 306                                                                                                                   www.hulltheatres.co.uk                                       On sale 24 March

20 – 31 March                                  Sunderland Empire                                              0844 871 3022                                                                                                                 www.atgtickets.com/sunderland                         On sale 23 March

3 – 14 April                                       Glasgow King’s Theatre                                      0844 871 7648                                                                                                              www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre           On sale 23 March

 

Rosie Kay Dance Company at York Theatre Royal

ROSIE KAY DANCE COMPANY presents

MK ULTRA
PRESS NIGHT AND PERFORMANCE
Wednesday 5 April, 7.30 pm

·        New work from the choreographer of Sunshine on Leith

·        MK ULTRA reunites award-winning 5 SOLDIERS creative team
·        Lady Gaga designer Gary Card creates his first costume designs for contemporary dance
 
A new dance work inspired by the bizarre realm of pop culture, mind control conspiracies and Illuminati imagery.
Rosie Kay Dance Company, headed by artistic director and choreographer Rosie Kay and winner of Best Independent Company at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards in 2015, will tour to York Theatre Royal with its new work MK ULTRA on 5 April for one performance only.
 
Rosie Kay is one of the UK’s leading female choreographers and is renowned for her athletic movement, rigorous research and intelligent theatricality. Kay, a research associate to the University of Oxford School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, choreographed the hit feature film Sunshine on Leith and is best known for the five star and award-winning 5 SOLDIERS. 
 
Following several years exploring the weird world of conspiracy theories, inspired by the bizarre realm of pop culture, mind control and Illuminati imagery, MK ULTRA will bring a hypnotic, high energy, supercharged mash-up of dance, music and imagery to the stage.
Renowned for tackling important, pertinent and challenging subject matters, RKDC looks at a weird world of symbolism, hidden messages and occult signs and deconstructs it for an aware and an unaware audience.
MK ULTRA is a CIA code word for a real LSD fuelled brainwashing technique developed by the US military. Popular conspiracy theory believes that MK ULTRA is still active and programmes high profile public figures and celebrities such as pop stars Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Rhianna – puppets of the ‘Illuminati’, a shadowy elite intent on creating a New World Order of authoritarian world government.
 
In MK ULTRA, Kay, with a typically fearless eye, delves deeply into this world and conjures up something entirely new, subverting the subversive. If you didn’t know about the Illuminati, you soon will and if you did, expect MK ULTRA to shatter the Illuminati’s illusory control.
 
For MK ULTRA, Kay is reunited with the award winning 5 SOLDIERS creative team- composer Annie Mahtani (Asylum, Supernova and 5 SOLDIERS); set and video designer Louis Price (designs include: The Emperor, Young Vic/Théâtre de la Ville de Luxembourg; The Rotters Club, Birmingham Rep; Stravinsky: Tales, Philarmonia/RFH Southbank; The Etienne Sisters, Theatre Royal Stratford; The Funfair, HOME, Manchester and 5 SOLDIERS); lighting designer Mike Gunning (designs include: The Emperor, Inkheart, Romeo and Juliet, HOME, Manchester; Crime and Punishment, Moscow Musical Theater; The Drowned Man, Punch Drunk; Dangerous Lady, Theatre Royal Stratford East; The Second Mrs Tanqueray, The Rose Theatre Kingston; The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The Alchemist, Everyman, Liverpool; and 5 SOLDIERS); and dramaturg Tessa Walker.
Marking his first design for contemporary dance is MK ULTRA’s costume designer Gary Card. A set designer, illustrator and one of London’s most talked about talents, Card has worked with pop stars such as Lady Gaga, designing props and headdresses for her Monster Ball tour. His clients have included Comme Des Garçons, Topshop, House of Holland, Nike, Adidas, Stella McCartney and Penguin.
Rosie Kay, artistic director of Rosie Kay Dance Company, said:MK Ultra is the result of three years intense research, which have taken me through the world of surveillance, state police, torture and brainwashing, through to pop culture, mainstream media and celebrity breakdowns, all the way back to politics and a comment on the post-culturism state we are in now.
Spending time exploring the deep rabbit hole of conspiracy theory took me into strange realms of CIA brainwashing, celebrity training and Illuminati symbolism hidden in pop culture.  At a time when everything is fake, or at least we don’t trust what’s real any more, MK Ultra looks at what this world really feels like and what affect it is having on us, whether we know it or not.
I’m working with the most exciting team, which includes costume designer Gary Card who has worked with everyone from Stella McCartney to Lady Gaga. Long-time collaborators return with Louis Price doing set and video design, Annie Mahtani composing and adapting high produced pop, and Mike Gunning designing the lighting. Tessa Walker joins as dramaturg from Birmingham REP.
Be prepared for high-energy, high-octane dance, a mash up of dance styles, subliminal and secret messages, incredible video, light and costume visuals, music that wraps around your senses and a deeper, darker political edge. Be prepared, there is twerking.
MK ULTRA will feature seven outstanding dancers- Shanelle Clemenson, Harriet Ellis, Shelley Eva Haden, Lizzie Klotz, Joao Maio, Ryan Munroe and Oliver Russell.
MK ULTRA is supported using public funding by Arts Council England and is commissioned by DanceXchange, Warwick Arts Centre & Birmingham Repertory Theatre.