Month: April 2017

NOW IN ITS RECORD BREAKING 33^rd YEAR

CAMERON MACKINTOSH

ANNOUNCES MAJOR CAST CHANGES FOR

THE WEST END PRODUCTION OF

“LES MISÉRABLES”

AT THE QUEEN’S THEATRE

FROM MONDAY 12 JUNE 2017

KILLIAN DONNELLY WILL STAR AS ‘JEAN VALJEAN’

CARLEY STENSON AS ‘FANTINE’

AND

HAYDEN TEE RETURNS AS ‘JAVERT’

From Monday 12 June 2017, there will be major cast changes at the West End production of “LES MISÉRABLES” at the Queen’s Theatre, which is now in its record breaking 33^rd year.

Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce that Killian Donnelly will star as ‘Jean Valjean’. He joins “Les Misérables” fresh from Broadway where he is currently playing the lead role of ‘Charlie Price’ in “Kinky Boots”. West End leading lady and former Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson, will join the company as ‘Fantine’ andHayden Tee returns to play ‘Javert’ from 17 July having performed the role at The Queen’s Theatre until 22 April this year. 

Also joining the company are Steven Meo as ‘Thénardier’; Karis Jack as ‘Eponine’, Jacqueline Tate as ‘Madame Thénardier’ and Hyoie O’Grady as ‘Enjolras’. Paul Wilkins will continue in the role of ‘Marius’ andCharlotte Kennedy will continue in the role of ‘Cosette’ having both originally joined the company in 2015.

From 17 July 2017 the full company will be: Emma Barr; Adam Bayjou; Oliver Brenin; Ciarán Bowling; Hugo Chiarella; Andy Conaghan; Killian Donnelly; Alice Ellen Wright; Sophie-May Feek; Hyoie O’Grady; Catherine Hannay; Antony Hansen; Holly-Anne Hull; James Hume; Karis Jack; Ciaran Joyce; Charlotte Kennedy; Katie Kerr; Rebecca Lafferty; Jo Loxton; John Lumsden; Anna McGarahan; Steven Meo; Jonny Purchase; Lauren Soley; Carley Stenson; Jacqueline Tate; Shaq Taylor; George Tebbutt; Hayden Tee; Lee Van Geleen; Danny Whitehead and Paul Wilkins.

Killian Donnelly is currently playing the role of ‘Charlie Price’ in “Kinky Boots” on Broadway, a role he originated at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in 2015, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award. His other theatre credits include: ‘Jackie Day’ in “Donegal”, a new play by Frank McGuinness, at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and ‘Huey’ in the original London cast of “Memphis” at the Shaftesbury Theatre for which he was also nominated for an Olivier Award.  He created the role of ‘Deco’ in “The Commitments” at the Palace Theatre and has also played ‘Tony’ in “Billy Elliot” at the Victoria Palace Theatre as well as’ Raoul’ in “The Phantom of the Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre. He first joined the company of “Les Misérables” in 2008, going onto play the role of ‘Enjolras’ from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, he played the role of ‘Courfeyrac’ in the “25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables” at The O2 Arena and also played the role of ‘Combeferre’ in the multi-award-winning film of the show, released in 2012.

Carley Stenson’s West End credits include ‘Elle Woods’ in “Legally Blonde”, ‘Princess Fiona’ in “Shrek The Musical” and ‘Lady of the Lake’ in “Spamalot”. Carley also starred as ‘Christine Colgate’ in the tour of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. She is probably best known for playing the regular role of ‘Steph Cunningham’ in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, for which she was nominated for several awards during her 10 years with the show.

Hayden Tee returns to the West End production of Les Misérables having played the role of ‘Javert’ in the West End from 9 January 2017 to 22 April 2017.  He has previously played the role on Broadway and in Dubai. He has also previously played the role of ‘Marius’. His other theatre credits include: “South Pacific”; “Little Women”; “Titanic”; “Cats” and “Into the Woods”.

Steven Meo’s previous theatre credits include “Pride & Prejudice” at The Regents Park Open Air Theatre and on UK tour; “The Taming of the Shrew”, “Boeing Boeing”, “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog” all for Theatre Clwyd; “The Distance” for Sheffield Crucible/Orange Tree Theatre and “Flesh and Blood” for Hampstead Theatre and on tour.

Karis Jack’s theatre credits include “The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin” at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East & Belgrade Theatre, Coventry; “Baddies: The Musical” at the Unicorn Theatre’ “Hairspray” at Curve, Leicester and on UK tour; “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Salisbury Playhouse and Mercury Theatre, Colchester; and “Urinetown: The Musical” at the Apollo Theatre and St James Theatre.

Jacqueline Tate’s previous theatre credits include: “Allegro” at the Southwark Playhouse; “Avenue Q” at the Wyndham’s Theatre, Gielgud Theatre and national tour; “South Pacific” at The Barbican Theatre and UK tour; “The Phantom of The Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre and “My Fair Lady” and “Evita” on international tour.

Hyoie O’Grady is making his professional and West End debut in “Les Misérables”.

Paul Wilkins has previously played the role of ‘Marius’ in “Les Misérables” in Manila, Singapore and Dubai. He made his West End debut in “Les Misérables” in 2015.

Charlotte Kennedy made her West End debut in “Les Misérables” in 2015.  She has also appeared in “Elaine Paige in Concert” at the Royal Albert Hall.

Tickets for “LES MISÉRABLES” are priced £12.50 – £72.50

Currently booking till 14 October 2017

Box Office: 0844 482 5160

Performances: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm

Matinees – Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm

www.lesmis.com

York Theatre Royal – 26 April 2017.  Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

Fresh from its sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Ten years, two friends and one fortune teller.

Written, devised and performed by Roxy Dunn and Alys Metcalf, we meet two friends, Libby and Sam, recent graduates, attending a festival where they have their fortunes read. One is told she will be successful in love, life and basically everything, whilst the other will not succeed and die a dramatic death before the age of 30.

We follow them through the years via the simple, yet very effective, prop of a flip chart, denoting the leap forward, or later in the show, the jump back in time. We see their lives unfold and take different paths, exactly how the fortune teller predicted. Would it have been any different if the fortunes had been the other way round and could they turn back time? And yes, we were treated to the Cher song of the same name, before they do turn back time.

In between the passing of the years Dunn and Metcalf frequently step out of character and explain their friendship and creative processes. I suppose you could say a story within a story. This was a new one on me and I must admit that I found it a bit strange a first, it added to the show and laughs.

Dunn has written a short, but decent script for both her and Metcalf and they work well together. They have great chemistry and delivered a good comedic performance. Metcalf showed great physicality in her performance which worked well with Dunn’s somewhat understated, in comparison, performance.

We were a small audience and it was very intimate, which added to the performance and I certainly felt engaged and involved. The staging was very simple with a flipchart, two cool boxes and a couple of cardis, but very effective.

It was 60 minutes of truly unexpected fun and what if?

BOTTOMLESS PROSECCO MAY AT PIER EIGHT

Throughout May 2017 Pier Eight Restaurant at The Lowry will be doing a bottomless prosecco offer.

Celebrate May at The Lowry’s Pier Eight restaurant with their bottomless prosecco offer. Throughout the month diners at Pier Eight on Thursdays to Saturdays after 8pm will enjoy bottomless prosecco with a three course meal.

Pier Eight’s seasonal menu includes a delicious honey roasted plums and goats’ cheese mousse served on a crisp flatbread to start; an 8oz ribeye steak with mustard rarebit, air dried tomatoes, fat chips and red wine jus for mains and can finish with a sumptuous chocolate crémeux served with hazelnut joconde and coffee whipped cream.

The bottomless prosecco offer is exclusively on Thu, Fri & Sat from 8pm onwards with last tables seated at 9.30pm. And is available when diners get three courses.

More information on Pier Eight Restaurant & the bottomless prosecco offer can be found on their website

Today, Thursday 27 April, Argyle Primary School in King’s Cross took part in Camden Council’s ‘Daily Mile’ campaign to boost walking in the borough. The children set off from the school (on Tonbridge Street) to the Ambassadors Theatre, to take to the stage with STOMP cast members Andrew Patrick, Rob Shaw, Rhys Shone and Sam Wilmott. They were also joined by Camden Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Angela Mason CBE.

Daily Mile is a project run in many of Camden’s schools, including Argyle Primary, which sees every child in the school spending 15 minutes a day running, jogging or walking on top of their regular PE lessons.

Councillor Georgia Gould, Camden Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Health, said:

“Brisk walking is one of the easiest ways to fit exercise into a daily routine and be active. It can be done anywhere, and can also be done creatively – as demonstrated by children from Argyle Primary School and the cast of STOMP.

“Camden is full of wonderful walking routes and the council also helps organise health walks, which are free and designed for anyone, including those new to exercise. Visit oneyoucamden.org/walking to find out how you can take part.”

Fraser Morrison, Stomp’s Casting Director and original cast member, said:

“Our show is based on movement and activity, so it was a natural link to join forces with Camden Council and Argyle Primary School for a campaign to get people of all ages more active. We cover several miles on stage every night, in which we try to convey the fun, excitement and exhilaration of physical exercise, whether you are sweeping the floor briskly with a broom or zipping through the supermarket on your shopping trolley. The benefits of exercise expand the health of mind and body.”

LONDON’S NEW HIT MUSICAL EXTENDS INTO 2018

TICKETS NOW ON SALE TO 27 JANUARY 2018

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

Exquisite production opens to an incredible 28 five-star reviews

AnAmericanInParisTheMusical.co.uk

Christopher Wheeldon’s stunning reinvention of the Oscar® winning film An American in Parishas been ecstatically received by audiences and critics since opening at the beautifully restored Dominion Theatre on 21 March 2017. The smash hit production has now extended booking, with tickets on sale until Saturday 27 January 2018.

The sumptuous new musical about following your heart and living your dreams is written by Craig Lucas and features the timeless music and lyrics of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, including I Got Rhythm, ‘S Wonderful, I’ll Build a Stairway To Paradise and They Can’t Take That Away from Me, together with George Gershwin’s sweeping compositions including ‘Concerto in F’ and ‘An American in Paris’.

Jerry Mulligan is an American GI pursuing his dream to make it as a painter in a city suddenly bursting with hope and possibility. Following a chance encounter with a beautiful young dancer named Lise, the streets of Paris become the backdrop to a sensuous, modern romance of art, friendship and love in the aftermath of war…

The cast is headed by the original, award-winning Broadway stars Robert Fairchild (as Jerry Mulligan) and Leanne Cope (as Lise Dassin), together with Haydn Oakley as Henri Baurel, Zoë Rainey as Milo Davenport, David Seadon-Young as Adam Hochberg and Jane Asher as Madame Baurel. Ashley Day is the alternate Jerry Mulligan (and he will assume the role from Monday 19 June 2017). The company also features Julian Forsyth and Ashley Andrews, Sophie Apollonia, Zoe Arshamian, Sarah Bakker, James Barton, Alicia Beck, Chrissy Brooke, James Butcher, Jonathan Caguioa, Jennifer Davison, Katie Deacon, Rebecca Fennelly, Sebastian Goffin, Alyn Hawke, Nicky Henshall, Genevieve Heron, Amy Hollins, Frankie Jenna, Justin-Lee Jones, Robin Kent, Kristen McGarrity, Julia J. Nagle, Daniela Norman, Pippa Raine, Aaron Smyth, Todd Talbot, Max Westwell, Jack Wilcox, Carrie Willis, Stuart Winter and Liam Wrate.

The new musical An American in Paris premiered in 2014 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris to ecstatic reviews before transferring to the Palace Theatre on Broadway, where it became the most awarded musical of the 2015/16 season, including four Tony® Awards. A major North American tour is currently playing.

With music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a new book by Craig Lucas, the new musical An American in Paris is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon with set and costumes designs by Bob Crowley, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound byJon Weston and projection designs by 59 Productions. The musical score is adapted, arranged and supervised by Rob Fisher with orchestrations by Christopher Austin and Bill Elliott, dance arrangements by Sam Davis and musical supervision by Todd Ellison. The UK Musical Director is John Rigby.

An American in Paris is produced in London by Stuart Oken, Van Kaplan, Roy Furman, Michael McCabe and Joshua Andrews.

Robert Fairchild is appearing with the support of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.

A Frantic Assembly and State Theatre Company South Australia production

Originally produced in collaboration with Warwick Arts Centre in association with Chichester Festival Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith

THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE

• FRANTIC ASSEMBLY ANNOUNCES A SECOND UK TOUR OF ITS HIT 2016 PLAY THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE
• WRITTEN BY ANDREW BOVELL AND CO-DIRECTED BY SCOTT GRAHAM AND GEORDIE BROOKMAN
• THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE WILL OPEN IN OXFORD ON 27 SEPTEMBER 2017 BEFORE TOURING TO SALFORD, LEICESTER, COLCHESTER, YORK, CHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON, POOLE AND LONDON’S LYRIC HAMMERSMITH
  Following a hugely successful 2016 Australian and UK tour, Frantic Assembly and State Theatre Company South Australia’s critically acclaimed Things I Know To Be True returns to delight audiences in the UK from 27 September 2017. Andrew Bovell’s new play will tour to Oxford Playhouse, The Lowry in Salford, Leicester Curve, Mercury Theatre in Colchester, York Theatre Royal, Chester Storyhouse, Southampton’s Nuffield, Poole Lighthouse and London’s Lyric Hammersmith.

As beautifully touching as it is funny and bold, Things I Know To Be True tells the story of a family and marriage through the eyes of four grown siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents’ love and expectations.

Parents Bob and Fran have worked their fingers to the bone and with their four children grown and ready to fly the nest it might be time to relax and enjoy the roses. But the changing seasons bring home some shattering truths.

Andrew Bovell said:

“The only reason to write a play is for it to reach an audience and for it to mean something to them when it does. I’m thrilled that UK audiences will have another chance to see this wonderful production.”

Scott Graham (Artistic Director, Frantic Assembly) said:

“I am immensely proud of this collaboration. It melted hearts on its first Australian and UK tours and I am looking forward to new audiences engaging with this beautiful play.”

Geordie Brookman (Artistic Director, State Theatre Company) said:

“We are tremendously proud of the way this gem of an Australian play has connected with U.K. audiences and feel blessed that, alongside our friends at Frantic Assembly, we can take the production to an even wider audience.”

Featuring Frantic Assembly’s celebrated physicality, and co-directed by Frantic Assembly’s Tony and Olivier Award nominated Artistic Director Scott Graham and State Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Geordie Brookman, Things I Know To Be True is a complex and intense study of the mechanics of a family that is both poetic and brutally frank.

Andrew Bovell is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest storytellers, for critically acclaimed plays including When The Rain Stops Falling, Speaking In Tongues and an adaptation of Kate Grenville’s The Secret River, as well as screen work including Lantana and A Most Wanted Man.

Casting for Things I Know To Be True will be announced in due course.
 

LISTINGS

27 – 30 September
Oxford Playhouse
On sale from Thursday 27 April
11-12 Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LW
01865 305 305
www.oxfordplayhouse.com

3 – 7 October
The Lowry (Quays Theatre)
On sale from Thursday 27 April
Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ
0843 208 6000
www.thelowry.com

10 – 14 October
Leicester Curve
Members on sale for members from Thursday 11 May 
General on sale from Monday 15 May
60 Rutland St, Leicester LE1 1SB
0116 242 3595
www.curveonline.co.uk

17 – 21 October
Mercury Theatre, Colchester
On sale from Thursday 27 April
Colchester CO1 1PT
01206 573948
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

31 October – 4 November
York Theatre Royal
On sale from Thursday 27 April
St Leonard’s Pl, York YO1 7HD
01904 623568
www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

7 – 11 November
Chester Storyhouse
Tickets on sale now
Hunter St, Chester CH1 2AR
01244 409113
www.storyhouse.com

14 – 18 November
Nuffield Southampton
On sale from Thursday 27 April
University Rd, Southampton SO17 1TR
023 8067 1771
www.nstheatres.co.uk

21 – 25 November
The Lighthouse, Poole
On sale from Thursday 27 April
21 Kingland Rd, Poole BH15 1UG
01202 280000
www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

11 January – 3 February
Lyric Hammersmith
On sale from Thursday 27 April
Lyric Square, King Street, London, W6 0QL
020 8741 6850
www.lyric.co.uk

Running time approx 2 hours, including an interval
Contains strong language
Suitable for ages 14+

LONDON TRANSFER ANNOUNCED FOR THE

HIGHLY ACCLAIMED WAR-TIME LOVE STORY

YANK! to open at Charing Cross Theatre, Monday 3 July

YANK!, the widely acclaimed musical production which recently received its UK première at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, is to transfer to London this summer. The moving, war-time gay love story will run at Charing Cross Theatre from Monday 3 July – Saturday 19 August 2017

Based on the true, hidden history of gay soldiers during World War, YANK! focuses on the life of Stu, a scared Midwestern youngster who is called up to serve in the forces in 1943 and becomes a reporter for Yank Magazine, the journal ‘for and by the servicemen’. Telling the stories of the men in Charlie Company, the musical explores what it means to be a man, and what it is to fall in love and struggle to survive in a time and place where the odds are stacked against you.

YANK! is based on the Off-Broadway hit production from 2010, with book and lyrics by American writer David Zellnik, with his brother Joseph Zellnik’s musical score paying homage to the timeless music of the 1940s. The musical is directed by James Baker, and is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Hope Mill Theatre, Ben Millerman with Jim Kierstead and Guy James.

Completing the creative team are James Cleeve as musical director; choreographer Chris Cuming; designer Victoria Hinton; lighting designer Aaron J. Dootson; sound designer Chris Bogg; and casting director Benjamin Newsome.

YANK! is the latest collaboration between leading London-based theatre production company Aria Entertainment and one of Manchester’s newest and leading arts venues, the award-winning Hope Mill Theatre. They first joined forces in January 2016 to spearhead the arts venue as a platform to showcase, revive and bring new musical theatre to the north of England. The transfer to Charing Cross Theatre is helmed by the three producers of the original production at Hope Mill, who are now joined by Jim Kierstead and Guy James.

Capturing the imagination of audiences, the creative collaboration between Aria and Hope Mill has previously garnered rave reviews for productions of the Tony Award-winning Parade and the cult classic Hair, which transfers to The Vaults this autumn for the 50th anniversary production.

Full casting for YANK! is to be announced.

Tara Finney Productions presents

the 20th anniversary production of Disco Pigs by Enda Walsh

Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY

Wednesday 12th July – Saturday 19th August 2017

Marking the 20th anniversary of its explosive British debut, Enda Walsh’s Disco Pigs comes to Trafalgar Studios starring Evanna Lynch (Harry Potter; My Name is Emily) and Colin Campbell (Dublin by Lamplight; Through A Glass Darkly).

When Walsh’s breathtaking breakthrough play premiered, the Guardian commented that it didn’t so much debut at the 1997 Edinburgh Fringe as erupt there. It was awarded both the George Devine Award and the Stewart Parker Award.

Born at the same time on the same day in the same hospital, Pig and Runt have been inseparable ever since. They speak in their own language, play by their own rules, and create a world for themselves in which boundaries blur between truth and illusion. Until, on their seventeenth birthday, they discover something more. As night falls, and the disco and drink take hold, they spiral violently out of control.

As we follow these two extraordinary teenagers through the streets of Cork City, drinking and dancing their way into the night, we witness with startling clarity how the nature of friendship can be changed forever. Endlessly playing with their own unique language, it’s impossible not to be swept along by their sense of youthful abandon. Desperate for a world beyond their mundane, everyday existence – amidst the bright lights of the Palace Disco – they draw us into their orbit, refusing to let us go

Enda Walsh comments, It seems shocking that Disco Pigs is 20 years old – but I trust that Evanna Lynch and Colin Campbell under the stewardship of John Haidar – will brilliantly send Pig and Runt crashing through their chaotic joint birthday.

Enda’s other accolades include the Caméra d’Or for his screenplay for Hunger and the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for Once.

Life of Galileo