Month: July 2017

Park Theatre – 12 July – 12 August.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Kevin Elyot’s final play is a time twisting tale of forbidden love and lost chances that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. Set in the sitting room of a Victorian villa, Twilight Song jumps between the 1960s and present day as the characters’ web of secret liaisons and shattered dreams are unravelled.

The play begins in the present, with cocky estate agent Skinner valuing the house for Barry and offering extra services. An offer which Barry is keen to take up, as his mother is out for the afternoon. Back in the 60s, Isabella has settled for marriage with boring and placid Basil, and is pregnant with their first child – Barry (although this doesn’t stop her necking gin whenever possible). With the help of Uncle Charles, they have bought the villa and have employed a gardener recommended by Charles’s good friend Harry. Over the evening, the older men’s true past relationship is revealed, although Harry hides behind the façade of his happy family life.

Director Anthony Banks allows Elyot’s bittersweet and funny script to shine, and the cast’s timing has the lightest touch – the beats and silent looks convey as much as the lines. There are many laughs, but the overall tone of the play is lonely regret, with the life of Barry being no happier than that of Charles and Harry before homosexuality was decriminalised. James Cotterill’s design is stunning in its simplicity, with the patio doors lit beautifully as the sun sets. The lighting and sound during set changes is inspired, with an initially puzzling, but ultimately satisfying character exit included.

Bryony Hannah impresses as Isabella, full of repressed passion as a newlywed, and full of bile as the bitter old lady in the present (no aging makeup thank goodness, just dim lighting and a croaky venomous voice). As Barry/Basil, the wonderful Paul Higgins brings a depressed Alan Bennett vibe to the character of Barry, completely changing when he gets the chance to fill his hypodermic. Adam Garcia is suave and sexy as Skinner, and dangerous and sexy as the gardener, making the most of this pivotal role (and he sings!). Philip Bretherton and Hugh Ross are fantastic as Harry and Charles, with Bretherton’s stiff upper lip denial cracking subtly and Ross bringing a lump to your throat as the more flamboyant but heartbroken Charles.

Twilight Song is a wonderful theatrical treat, a story beautifully told, sensitively directed and expertly performed.

CASTING AND COMPLETED CREATIVE TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR
DICKENS UNCOVERED: A TALE OF TWO CITIES AND OLIVER
TWIST CREATED FOR EVERYONE AGED SIX AND OVER

Bringing two of Charles Dickens’s most popular stories out in the open as part of the 2017 season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Dickens Uncovered celebrates the greatest storyteller of London life.

Casting and completed creative teams have today been announced for A Tale of Two Cities (7 July – 5 August), a new play by Matthew Dunster adapted from the original novel, and Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six and over (17 July – 5 August) adapted by Anya Reiss especially for families.

“I am delighted that this group of 32 talented performers are coming together to reimagine these two iconic London stories. For those of us who read them alone at home, at school or on the tube, I hope we can reclaim them anew together in the Park. For those who only know them as titles, then let us take you on a trip back to the nineteenth century blockbusters, via 2017. This is Dickens uncovered for everyone.” (Artistic Director, Timothy Sheader)

Director Timothy Sheader has assembled a company of 21 actors to re-tell Dicken’s A Tale of Two Cities: Lydia Bradford, Sean Cernow, Claire-Louise Cordwell, Marième Diouf, Patrick Driver, Nabil Elouahabi, Lorna Gayle, Lewis Griffin, Nicholas Karimi, Nicholas Khan, Andrew Koji, Kevork Malikyan, Francesca Mills, Jude Owusu, Tim Samuels with Aliya Ali, Evie Buxton, Mia Dalley, Foyinsola Ighodalo, Kaitlyn Kou, and Olivea Puci sharing the children’s roles.

Developing their programme of work made especially for families, Caroline Byrne directs Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six and over in daytime performances alongside A Tale of Two Cities. A cast of 8 actors, Robyn Cara, Rina Fatania, Danny-Boy Hatchard, Michael Hodgson, Daniel Hoffmann-Gill, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Shaun Mason and Angela Wynter play multiple roles, with Tia-Lana Chinapyel, Lewis Fernée and Jordan Nash alternating in the title role.

Design for both productions is by Fly Davis.

The completed creative teams also include, for A Tale of Two Cities: Liam Steel (Movement Direction), Lee Curran, who received an Olivier Award-nomination for Jesus Christ Superstar (Lighting Design) and Christopher Shutt (Sound Design). For Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six and over, the creative
team includes Lucy Burge (Movement Direction), Joshua Anio Grigg (Sound Design) and Joe Dieffenbacher (Physical Comedy Direction). Casting for both productions is by Polly Jerrold.

Fatherland
Created by Scott Graham for Frantic Assembly, Karl Hyde and Simon Stephens
Booking opens today at the Lyric Hammersmith and as part of LIFT 2018

Today booking opens at the Lyric Hammersmith and LIFT for Fatherland, which opens at the Lyric in May 2018 as part of the Lyric’s Spring/Summer 2018 season and LIFT 2018. This bold new production, by Scott Graham, Karl Hyde and Simon Stephens, focusing on contemporary fatherhood in all its complexities and contradictions, premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre as part of Manchester International Festival.

This intensely physical production is performed by a 13-strong cast who will be joined by the Chorus of Others, a cacophony of voices, specially formed as part of Fatherland, for the production at the Lyric. Fatherland features exclusive songs and music written by Karl Hyde (Underworld) and Matthew Herbert.

Inspired by conversations with fathers and sons from the three co-creators’ hometowns across England, Corby, Kidderminster and Stockport, Fatherland explores identity, nationality and masculinity. In a vivid and deeply personal portrait of 21st-century England at the crossroads of past, present and future, Fatherland is a show about what we were, who we are and what we try to be.

Commissioned and produced by Lyric Hammersmith, LIFT, Manchester International Festival, Frantic Assembly and the Royal Exchange Theatre. Supported by PRS for Music Foundation.

Creative Team
Co-Author & Director Scott Graham
Co-Author & Composer Karl Hyde
Co-Author & Writer Simon Stephens
Designer Jon Bausor
Lighting Designer Jon Clark
Co-Composer & Music Producer Matthew Herbert
Sound Designer Ian Dickinson for Autograph Sound
Choreographer Eddie Kay
Dramaturg Nick Sidi
Casting Director Anne McNulty CDG

Booking Information
Lyric Hammersmith
Lyric Square, King Street, London, W6 0QL

Lyric Hammersmith
Tickets 020 8741 6850 | www.lyric.co.uk | No booking fee

LIFT
Tickets 020 7968 6808 | www.liftfestival.com

Fatherland
Friday 25 May – Saturday 23 June 2018
Mon-Thu & Sat 7.30pm; Fri 8pm
Also Sat & Wed 2.30pm (excluding Sat 26 May & Wed 30 May. No performance on Mon 28 May)
Free First Night: Friday 25 May at 7.30pm. For more information: www.lyric.co.uk
Previews: Saturday 26 – Wednesday 30 May 2018
Press Performances: Thursday 31 May at 7pm
Preview Tickets: £15, £20 | Tickets: £15, £20, £25, £35, £40.

Batley & Spen Youth Theatre Company

 Amongst the many tributes to the MP for Batley & Spen, Jo Cox, who was murdered just over a year ago outside her office, none will be more appropriate and memorable than HEAR THE PEOPLE SING.

Jo loved the theatre and her favourite show was LES MISÉRABLES.  In her Yorkshire constituency town, the musical will be performed by the newly formed Batley & Spen Youth Theatre Company in a pop-up theatre space donated by Oxfam. Jo Cox worked for Oxfam for 8 years, so nothing could be more fitting than the generous donation of a local Oxfam warehouse for these performances.

Newly formed Batley & Spen Youth Theatre Company has held auditions for LES MISÉRABLES, in which over 100 young people aged 13-19 from the immediate area will perform and work backstage. The creative team includes West End superstars in their own right: Nick Evans (Director); Donna Munday (Producer); Steve Moss (Musical Director).  In addition the team includes Julie Hobday (Choreographer) and Vivienne Buckley, Artistic Director of West Glamorgan Youth Theatre Company.

Alongside LES MISÉRABLES, the company is devising a companion piece called MORE IN COMMON (directed by Vivienne Buckley) which celebrates the values Jo Cox stood for: togetherness, collaboration, comradeship, equality. And for both shows, members of the young company’s production team will be able to shadow the experienced West End creative team in an intensive learning process during the three week rehearsal period.

Former actress Tracy Brabin, a friend of Jo’s who is carrying on her campaigning work as the new MP for Batley & Spen, has offered huge support and encouragement to this project, saying: “This is a phenomenal opportunity for Batley & Spen and I know our young people are going to grab it with both hands. It’s no secret that I am passionate about the arts and the career opportunities they bring. Culture can be a powerful force for change. I have complete faith in our local organisations and Nick Evans’s professional team and I am working hand in hand with them to enable the project to happen.”  Tracy is the Patron of Batley & Spen Youth Theatre Company and HEAR THE PEOPLE SING.

Kim Leadbeater, Jo Cox’s sister, said: “The performance of LES MIS at the heart of Jo’s constituency using local school children will be something of which she would have been very proud. It is very touching and well thought out and our family would like to thank all involved.”

Fee Gilfeather, head of retail brand for Oxfam, said: “We are delighted to be hosting these performances in Oxfam Wastesaver, our textile sorting house in Batley. Not only did Jo Cox work for Oxfam in her early career, but many of the team here met Jo when she visited the site as their MP. Indeed there are still many colleagues across the Oxfam family who will always remember Jo with love and admiration. This is a wonderful tribute to her memory and a great opportunity to bring together the local community to celebrate all that Jo stood for.”

Batley & Spen Youth Theatre Company is a registered charity and a limited company. It has five highly experienced Trustees whose experience spans theatre producing and management, finance, legal, charity and community work and creative industries. The company has already received significant local backing and support.

Thanks also to Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who has generously granted the rights to perform LES MISÉRABLES School Edition along with practical and financial support and to Oxfam for the pop-up venue.

BOOKING INFORMATION:

Dates and Times of Performances

Les Misérables

Weds 9 August at 7.30 pm

Thurs 10 August at 7.30 pm

Friday 11 August at 2.30 pm

Friday 11 August at 7.30pm

Saturday 12 August at 7.30 pm

More in Common

Sat 12 August at 2.30 pm

Venue

The Jo Cox Theatre, Oxfam Wastesaver, Mill Forest Way, Grange Road, Batley, Leeds WF17 6RA

Ticket Prices and How to Book Tickets

Tickets will be available in the week of 10 July.  Details can be found at www.wyp.org.uk

West Yorkshire Playhouse is generously providing Box Office services for the performances. Tickets can be booked online, by phone or in person at:

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UP

0113 213 7700 (Box Office)

Tickets from £8. There is a £2.50 transaction fee per booking (not per ticket). The fee applies to all phone and internet sales, but not face-to-face bookings.

For more information about the project please visit: www.hearthepeoplesing.com

To donate please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/bsyct/hearthepeoplesing

‘NOBODY PUTS BABY IN A CORNER’

DIRTY DANCING RETURNS TO LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

Worldwide phenomenon and West End hit, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, is set to mambo back to Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 24^th July 2017 for one week only.

Produced by Karl Sydow and Paul Elliott, and written by Eleanor Bergstein, original scriptwriter of the 1987 blockbuster film, the new UK production of the show features the much-loved characters and original dialogue from the iconic film as well as exciting new scenes. Hit songs include ‘Hungry Eyes’, ‘Hey! Baby’, ‘Do You Love Me?’ and ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’.

Set in the summer of 1963, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage tells the story of 17-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman, who, whilst on holiday in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, is uninterested in resort activities until she stumbles across an all-night dance party at the staff quarters. Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, Baby can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort dance instructor. Baby’s life is about to change forever as she becomes Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off.

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage originally opened at London’s Aldwych Theatre in 2006 with a record-breaking advance of £15 million; becoming the fastest ever selling show in West End theatre history.The first UK tour launched in 2011 before returning to the West End in 2013 to play at the Piccadilly Theatre; a second UK and Ireland tour soon followed. This record-breaking all new concept stars Lewis Griffiths as ‘Johnny Castle’, Katie Hartland as ‘Baby Houseman’ and Carlie Milner as ‘Penny Johnson’.

Dirty Dancing is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 24^th July to Saturday 29^th July 2017

Tickets are priced from £22.50 (RV) to £48

(prices include a £3 booking fee. Postage charge £1 where applicable)

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

Themes of journeys and hope continue as Hull Truck Theatre announce Part 2 of their Year of Exceptional Drama for Hull UK City of Culture 2017 Events from September – December 2017, on sale from Monday 26 June at 10am

Mark Babych (Artistic Director) and Janthi Mills-Ward (Executive Director), say: ‘This season we celebrate the many and varied journeys that people make towards a better life. Tales from South Africa, Ukraine and Dickensian Britain all combine to tell a story of hope, transition and change.

Highlights of the Freedom season include the opportunity to see the world class piece The Suitcase from the Market Theatre of Johannesburg, and a world première based on Marina Lewycka’s novel A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian.

As we reach the second half of what has already been an extraordinary year for the city of Hull, we hope the season reflects this spirit of optimism and renewal that we hope will carry us forward into a brighter and more unified future.’

Hull Truck Theatre productions

The season begins with The Suitcase (31 Aug – 9 Sept, press night 5 Sept) presented by Market Theatre Johannesburg, marking the internationally renowned theatre company’s return to the UK after a five-year absence. The production is presented with Hull Truck Theatre, Northern Stage, Derby Theatre, Dukes Lancaster, and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse in partnership with Freedom Festival, bringing world-class international performance to five northern cities, sharing programming and strengthening audience development. It will première at Hull Truck Theatre as part of Hull UK City of Culture’s Freedom season, before touring to Newcastle (14 – 16 Sept), Derby (20 – 23 Sept), Lancaster (27 – 29 Sept) and Liverpool (4 – 8 Oct).

Based on a true story about a young couple who leave their rural village to improve their life in the city, The Suitcase is never more relevant to our time, exploring issues of identity, migration, exile and celebration of the human spirit. It is adapted and directed by Market Theatre’s Artistic Director James Ngcobo from the novel by Es’kia Mphahlele, and features live music composed and written by legendary South African musician Hugh Masekela.

Hull Truck Theatre and Hull UK City of Culture 2017 present A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (22 Sep – 14 Oct, press night 26 Sept), a world première production based on the best-selling novel by Marina Lewycka. Adapted by Tanika Gupta (The Waiting Room at the National Theatre; Anita and Me at Birmingham REP) and directed by Hull Truck Theatre’s Artistic Director Mark Babych, this family comedy tells the story of retired Ukrainian engineer and tractor historian Nikolai and gold-digging bombshell Valentina. Nikolai falls for Valentina after the death of his wife, whilst his daughters unite to save what remains of his pension.

Hull Truck Theatre end their 2017 celebrations with a fresh take on the festive ghost story A Christmas Carol (1 Dec – 6 Jan), adapted by playwright Deborah McAndrew (An August Bank Holiday Lark; Till the Cows Come Home; The Grand Gesture) and directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse Associate Director Amy Leach (The Borrowers at Sherman Cymru; Kes and The Nightmare Before Christmas at West Yorkshire Playhouse; Dracula at Theatre Royal Bath). Set in Victorian Hull, this is a new adaptation of a Christmas classic with all the magical atmosphere and spookiness of Dickens’ original. Presented by Hull Truck Theatre and Hull UK City of Culture 2017, A Christmas Carol will round off the celebrations in Hull Truck Theatre’s Year of Exceptional Drama for 2017.

Performances from local theatre companies and artists

Hull Truck Theatre are proud to be hosting performances from several local theatre companies this season, including a production from one of their Supported Artists (a group of artists and companies who are part of Hull Truck Theatre’s professional development programme for established and early-career artists).

Hull Truck Theatre Supported Artists and Hull-based new-writing company Bellow Theatre present Bare Skin on Briny Waters (6 – 7 Oct), a show about two young women standing on a cliff edge steadily being blown on an unexpected course.

Pub Corner Poets present Sad Little Man (27 – 28 Oct), a stand-up tragedy performed by the mind of a young man in shock, featuring performance poetry, physical theatre, pounding music and projection. They developed the show at Hull Truck Theatre before touring it to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015, and it was part of the Hull UK City of Culture 2017 Emerging Theatre Companies Showcase at the New Diorama Theatre earlier this year.

Script Club present the new one-man musical comedy Drip (9 – 10 Nov), written by award-winning local playwright Tom Wells (Folk, Jumpers for Goalposts, and Broken Biscuits at Hull Truck Theatre). It tells the story of Liam, an optimistic 15-year-old who signs up for Beverley Road Bath’s first ever synchronised swimming team, despite being unable to swim. Hull Playgoers’ present Beautiful Thing by Jonathan Harvey (17 – 21 Oct), a glorious urban love story between two young men coming to grips with their sexuality.

Visiting drama

There is a wealth of visiting drama from across the UK, from contemporary performances and spoken word to raucous gig theatre.

Performance poet Luke Wright presents his politically charged modern epic What I Learned from Johnny Bevan (2 Sept) as part of this year’s Freedom Festival. With humour and humanity, Luke takes British politics through a story of friendship, class ceilings, and the hollow reality of the New Labour dream. What I Learned from Johnny Bevan is the winner of the prestigious Fringe First Award and Stage Awards for Acting Excellence.

Mind the Gap, England’s largest learning-disabled theatre company, present Mia (13 – 14 Sept). Performed by four learning-disabled artists, Mia examines the truths and myths about learning disability and parenthood in today’s society.

Paines Plough’s Growth (3 Oct) is a comedy about growing up and manning up from critically acclaimed writer Luke Norris (So Here We Are at the Royal Exchange; Goodbye to All That at the Royal Court). It tells the story of Tobes, a young man who successfully ignores a testicular lump for two years before it starts to get in the way. The show won a Fringe First Award at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Two performances explore the ideas of war and conscientious objection. Michael Mears tells a compelling, shocking and inspiring story of the men who said no to WWI, in one-man show This Evil Thing (29 – 30 Sept). The questions the show poses are as relevant and urgent as they were one hundred years ago. Not About Heroes (18 – 21 Oct) is about the unique relationship between celebrated WWI poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, who met in a military hospital in 1917 and bonded over a mutual hatred of war, love and poetry. The show is on the first part of a world tour to commemorate the centenary of the poets’ meeting.

Medea (24 – 25 Oct) is a startling, contemporary reimagining of the ancient Greek legend of passion and revenge, casting Medea as the ultimate outsider. Her monologue transports us from ancient Greece to modern Europe and back again in a provocative, blood-soaked collage of performance, opera and sexual confession, performed by acclaimed dancer and vocalist François Testory. François has collaborated with a range of world-class companies including Punchdrunk, Ballet Rambert and DV8 Physical Theatre. The performance features live music by composer and music producer Jonny Pilcher, who has worked with musicians including Lana Del Ray, Super Furry Animals, White Lies and Crystal Castles.

Dom Coyte and The Bloodmoneys’ Songs For the End of The World (2 – 3 Nov) obliterates the line between epic theatre and raucous gig. When the apocalypse arrives, astronaut Jim Walters is left suspended in orbit on his way to Mars, broadcasting his songs for the end of the world back to a silent Earth. Dom Coyte is a regular collaborator with Kneehigh Theatre, whilst his band The Bloodmoneys have toured and recorded with artists including Beth Orton, Scissor Sisters and Gary Newman.

Family performances

Families are at the heart of Hull Truck Theatre’s season, with family-friendly performances ranging from interactive adventures to breath-taking circus in addition to the family Christmas show A Christmas Carol.

Children can dive into the depths of their imaginations in the popular Finlay McGuigan’s Great Adventures in Storyland (30 Sept, 14 Oct, 25 Nov), the perfect interactive performance for little ones aged 3 to 6 and their families. The show sells out quickly so families are urged to book in advance.

Meet a chaotic family of misfits in The Hogwallops (27 – 28 Oct), a colourful, loud comedy that combines heart-stopping circus skills with slapstick and clowning. Perfect for children aged 3 plus and their families.

Following hot on the heels of The Gruffalo comes The Gruffalo’s Child (2 – 4 Nov), presented by Tall Stories Theatre Company. Based on the short story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, this musical adaptation brings the much-loved modern classic to life.

Circus and dance

Grania Pickard tells the true story of growing up with her autistic brother in He Ain’t Heavy (12 – 14 Oct), presented by Oddly Moving. Using physical theatre, aerial circus and audience interaction, Grania explains how her brother walks, talks and interacts with the world. She was the first artist to take part in Be Our Guest, Hull Truck Theatre’s week-long residency programme which provides artists with the time, space and support to develop a new piece of work.

The Hull Dance Choreographic Prize (11 Nov) returns for its fourth year at Hull Truck Theatre, promising an exciting evening of dance from companies across Yorkshire and the Humber. Prizes are awarded by a secret audience vote.

Music

Hull Truck Theatre welcome the Hull Jazz Festival presented by J-Night (16 – 18 Nov) in its 25th anniversary year, with performances from leading jazz musicians including clarinettist Arun Ghosh, singer Zoe Gilby, and an evening celebrating the iconic pop sounds of Shirley Bassey and Dusty Springfield.

Hillbilly Troupe and Friends (12 Sept) return with a celebration of local folk music, bringing together musicians from across Hull for an almighty jamboree, whilst 1960s folk rock group Electric Strawbs (24 Oct) take to the stage fronted by lead singer Dave Cousins.

Comedy

Comedy this season begins with Rich Hall’s Hoedown (13 Sept) on the second leg of its critically acclaimed tour. Rich is known for his television appearances on Have I Got News For You and QI, but if you’ve only seen him on TV you’ve short-changed yourself. The Hoedown begins as a withering dissection of Trump’s America and ends in a celebration of Americana, with stand-up, improvised ballads and impressive musicianship in-between.

Comedian Andy Parsons presents his new stand-up show Peak Bullsh*t (25 Oct), encouraging you to put on your lucky pants and party shoes and stop worrying about the world. Andy was a lead writer for the ground-breaking show Spitting Image, and has performed on numerous TV shows including Mock the Week, QI, and Live at the Apollo.

Phill Jupitus is back with Juplicity (21 Nov), an hour of tales, laughs and diversions from the chaos of his own life and the uncertain world that surrounds it. He’s best known for his 19-year-long team captaincy on BBC 2’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks, as well as regular appearances on QI and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue.

Cinema

Hull Truck Screen and Hull Independent Cinema continue to present the best independent films and live event screenings from around the world. Highlights include RSC Live screenings of Titus Andronicus (Aug 9) and Coriolanus (11 Oct), and the NT Live screening of Yerma with Billie Piper in her Evening Standard Best Actress award-winning role (5 Sept). More films will be announced throughout the season.

Discover more – don’t just see a play, discover it

Audiences can get closer to the shows made at Hull Truck Theatre through Discover events, which run alongside many productions.

Discover Days are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about how a play comes to life or to pose questions to the cast and creative teams. Tickets are £17.50, including a workshop, a matinee ticket and a post-show Q&A. This season’s Discover Days are: The Suitcase (9 Sept), A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (7 Oct), and A Christmas Carol (16 Dec).

Hull Truck Theatre also run post-show Q&As for many in-house and visiting productions, where audiences can ask the cast and creative teams informal questions after seeing the show. This season’s post-show Q&As are: The Suitcase (6 Sept), A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (4 Oct), Mia (following every performance), This Evil Thing (29 Sept), He Ain’t Heavy (12 Oct), and Medea (24 Oct).

Pricing initiatives and accessible performances

Hull Truck Theatre are committed to being as accessible as possible for all audiences. This season they are giving bookers more choice with a range of ticket options, multibuy savings, concessions, groups rates and Pay What You Can nights, as well as accessible performances including audio descriptions and captions (full details below).

Offers include the Dinner and a Show package (a ticket, a main course meal, parking and a show programme), the popular main-house Drama Deal and the new Studio Drama Deal which give audiences the chance to see more shows for less.

Hull Truck Theatre are running audio described performances for The Suitcase (7 Sept), A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (5 Oct), and A Christmas Carol (15 Dec), as well as touch tours for visually impaired patrons before each audio described show.

Accessible performances include gentler sound effects, additional lighting, and a relaxed and friendly attitude to noise and moving around the auditorium – accessible performances include A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (30 Sept) and A Christmas Carol (6 Jan).

Captioned performances include The Suitcase (8 Sept), A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (12 Oct), and A Christmas Carol (4 Jan).

MUSICAL ROYALTY BOTH ON AND OFF STAGE
at The Other Palace
From Page To Stage Summer Festival 2017
Burt Bacharach, Steven Sater, Honeyblood, Dick King-Smith, Charles Miller

Aria Entertainment’s From Page To Stage (FPTS) are delighted to announce their exciting musical concerts and the ten new musicals selected to be showcased during their Summer Festival at The Other Palace (Monday 14 August – Sunday 3 September 2017) including: musical royalty with Tony and Grammy Award winning writer Steven Sater (Spring Awakening) and Academy Award, Grammy Award winning pop legend Burt Bacharach’s new musical Some Lovers – a fully produced main house production; and titular royalty on stage in the studio, with the coming of age new family musical The Queen’s Nose by Charles Miller and Tim Sanders, adapted from the right royal author Dick King-Smith’s delightfully funny children’s book.

Fast becoming the world’s leading new musical theatre Summer Festival FPTS moves into The Other Palace, where night and day over the three weeks, the sound of music from new musicals from across the globe will be brought to life; both in the theatre and studio – and even the bar. From a record breaking 302
submissions from 15 countries, the selected new musicals will be showcased and performed by top West End performers, directors, choreographers, musicians and musical directors – showing each step of a new musical, with workshops, readings, showcases (25 minute tasters of musicals) and fully staged productions.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, owner of The Other Palace says: “I am thrilled that Katy Lipson is bringing From Page to Stage to The Other Palace, in August. It buoys my hope that The Other Palace will become a breeding ground for new musicals and a genuine hub for anyone interested in musical theatre.”

The Festival will open with the slick cutting-edge Song Writers Showcase (14 Aug), giving a professional platform for some awesome new musical songs from a plethora of musical genres, very clearly showing the calibre of shows on tap for three weeks at The Other Palace.

Creating a perfect FPTS mini Family Festival in the studio (28 Aug-02 Sept), The Queen’s Nose will be one of three family shows alongside the infectious tale of Chicken Little by Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary; and the first musical where the world of carnivores and herbivores clash in Dinostory by Luke Di Somma, Mark Anderson and Erin Carter.

The Festival includes darker musicals XY (15 – 17 Aug) book, music & lyrics by Oliver Houser, developed with Hunter Bird: “whilst studying on my undergraduate psychology course, I learnt about the psychologically harmful, non-consensual corrective surgeries still performed regularly on intersex infants.
It’s been percolating in me for 5 years….” – Christopher Dickins and Tom Wright’s Rebel Song (21 – 23 Aug), a topical love story adapted from the award-winning novel At Swim, Two Boys…… – and One Way (24 – 26 Aug), in which an astrophysicist is selected to go on the first one-way trip to Mars by Ben Bonnema
and Christopher Staskel.

Other exciting musicals being premiered at FPTS include: The Edinburgh 7 (24 – 26 Aug) by young bloods Christina Tweeddale & Catherine Myers (from the band Honeyblood), the Kielty Brothers and Jordanna O’Neill – their musical of women’s suffrage and their fight to study medicine in 1866…. – The comedy musical by Chris Burgess, The Girls of Downey Hall (24 – 26 Aug) based on Jenny Colgan’s best-selling novel Class ….and – Tasha Taylor Johnson (Feed Your Ego) and musical director Phil Cornwell’s Cult! (24 – 26 Aug) a comedy tale of an unlikely group of Doomsday Seekers.

And the headline show: Some Lovers (24 Aug – 02 Sept) – Bacharach’s first new score for the theatre since 1968s Promises Promises. Steven Sater says: “Love songs, that’s what I write. Burt and I had just written our first song together; and some months and any number of songs later I came to recognise how distinct
our songs were from those ubiquitous pop anthems of young love. Ours seemed invariably to express a sort of disaffection, a disappointment, a dark joy, or the renewed determination of a more mature, midrelationship romance. One day, in the heat of July in Los Angeles, as Burt and I laboured away on a Christmas song, I thought: what if we revisited that Depression-Era classic story, The Gift of the Magi? What became of those young Christmas lovers, twenty years after their happily ever after? And that was the beginning of Some Lovers.”

The first weekend of FPTS sees two special evenings in the Studio, with British composer Charles Miller in You Know How To Love Me (18 – 19 Aug). Joining him will be a host of West End artistes singing from his wonderfully surprising shows including: Brenda Bly: Teen Detective, When Midnight Strikes and The Return Of The Soldier – and Charles will be sharing his favourite behind-the-scenes stories.

And then the Closing Gala (03 Sept) and the icing on the cake of Aria Entertainment’s From Page To Stage Summer Festival is an evening with America’s finest: An Evening Of Songs From Spring Awakening Creators Duncan Sheik And Steven Sater. An extraordinary concert performance of Steven and Duncan’s many musical collaborations including: Spring Awakening, Phantom Moon, Nero, Alice By Heart, Umbrage, The Nightingale and A Home At The End Of The World – and maybe a sneak preview of their latest projects….. a unique ending to the world renowned festival From Page To Stage……

FPTS – From Page to Stage Summer Festival: Monday 14 August – Sunday 3 September 2017 The Other Palace – 12 Palace Street, Westminster, London SW1E 5JA.
Ticket prices from £7.50 – £20.
Box Office: theotherpalace.co.uk / 020 7087 7900

ARIA ENTERTAINMENT’s
MUSICAL ROYALTY both on and off stage at THE OTHER PALACE
SUMMER FESTIVAL 2017
DATES 2017
THE OTHER PALACE –

Monday 14th August Opening Songwriters Showcase (STUDIO) @ 7.30PM – concert

Tuesday 15th August XY (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – staged reading

Wednesday 16th Aug XY (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – staged reading

Thursday 17th August XY (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – staged reading

Friday 18th August You Know How To Love Me – A Charles Miller Celebration (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – concert

Saturday 19th August You Know How To Love Me – A Charles Miller Celebration (STUDIO) @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm – concert

Sunday 20th August DAY OFF

Monday 21st August Rebel Song (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – staged reading

Tuesday 22nd August Rebel Song (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – staged reading

Wednesday 23rd Aug Rebel Song (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – staged reading

Thursday 24th August Some Lovers (MAIN HOUSE) @ 8pm – full production
One Way, The Edinburgh 7, The Girls Of Downey Hall, Cult! (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – showcasing 4 x musicals in one night – 25 minutes each

Friday 25th August Some Lovers (MAIN HOUSE) @ 8pm – full production
One Way, The Edinburgh 7, The Girls Of Downey Hall, Cult! (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – showcasing 4 x musicals in one night – 25 minutes each

Saturday 26th August Some Lovers (MAIN HOUSE) @ 3pm & 8pm – full production One Way, The Edinburgh 7, The Girls Of Downey Hall, Cult! (STUDIO) @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm – showcasing 4 x musicals in one night – 25 minutes each

Sunday 27th August DAY OFF

Monday 28th August Some Lovers (MAIN HOUSE) @ 8pm – full production
Chicken Little and Dinostory (STUDIO) @ 1pm FAMILY FESTIVAL 5+ staged reading

Tuesday 29th August Some Lovers (MAIN HOUSE) @ 8pm – full production
Chicken Little and Dinostory (STUDIO) @ 1pm FAMILY FESTIVAL 5+ staged reading

Wednesday 30th Aug Some Lovers (MAIN HOUSE) @ 8pm – full production
Chicken Little and Dinostory (STUDIO) @ 1pm FAMILY FESTIVAL 5+ staged reading

Thursday 31st August Some Lovers (MAIN HOUSE) @ 3pm & 8pm – full production The Queen’s Nose (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – FAMILY FESTIVAL 5+ – staged reading

Friday 1st September Some Lovers (MAIN HOUSE) @ 8pm – full production
The Queen’s Nose (STUDIO) @ 7.30pm – FAMILY FESTIVAL 5+ – staged reading

Saturday 2nd Sept Some Lovers (MAIN HOUSE) @ 3pm & 8pm – full production
The Queen’s Nose (STUDIO) @ 2.30pm and 7.30pm – FAMILY FESTIVAL 5+ – staged reading

Sunday 3rd September Closing Gala: An Evening Of Songs From Spring Awakening Creators Duncan Sheik And Steven Sater (MAIN HOUSE) @ 8pm – staged concert

ARIA ENTERTAINMENT, SENBLA and HOPE MILL THEATRE
Present
50th ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION
HAIR EXTENSION! + INITIAL CASTING REVEALED

HAIR‘s new 50th anniversary production is to have a HAIR extension through to New Year 2018! The show was due to run until early December but already due to popular demand the show is now extending for a further 6 weeks to SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2018 – the perfect night out especially over the Festive Season!

The iconic tribal rock musical HAIR opens at London’s fully immersive Off-West-End theatre, The Vaults, from WEDNESDAY 4 OCTOBER 2017 and is now to run to SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2018 (press night Wednesday 11 October 2017 at 7.30pm.) .

Still ground-breaking at the age of 50, HAIR opened off-Broadway in 1967, so to open thisgenuinely new production off-West-End in 2017 is the perfect move for Hope Mill Theatre’sacclaimed production, directed by Jonathan O’Boyle – as relevant now as it was in the 60s.

1967 and HAIR‘s hippie-hood youngsters live as The Tribe, in the East Village of New York: yearning to change the world, questioning authority and the American flag. They are wild, colourful, free, sexually liberated beautiful people who join in protest and song – under the shadow of the Vietnam War. Featuring classic hit songs: Aquarius, Let the Sun Shine In and Good Morning Star Shine – and the story of youth and war still resounds throughout the world making this a
topical musical for the millennial generation. 2017 vividly sees the world protesting and marching, fighting for freedom of speech; from Trump to Brexit via Syria – the core spirit of HAIR.

Initial casting for this thrilling, young and moving production of HAIR includes: DANIEL BAILEY (Motown The Musical – Shaftesbury Theatre, The Lion King – Lyceum Theatre), ADAM DAWSON (Jet in West Side Story RSC Live – Stratford), JESSIE MAY (Fiona in Blondel – The New Union Theatre, Rock Of Ages – UK tour). And returning to the production are: NATALIE GREEN (Wicked – UK tour), LAURA JOHNSON (Rizzo in Grease – UK tour), SHEKINA MCFARLANE (Parade – Hope Mill Theatre, The Lion King – UK & International tour), ROBERT METSON (Ryan in Bear – Southwark Playhouse), LIAM ROSS-MILLS (Les Miserables – West End, Ben in Ushers: The Front of House Musical – Charing Cross Theatre), KORYANN STEVENS (West Side Story – Live Nation) and KIRSTEN WRIGHT (Our Seasons End – The AC Group).

Further casting to be announced, as the search continues to cast the roles of Berger, Hud and Margaret Mead!

The genuinely youthful cast will bring the original protest musical to life, in the intimate theatre seating just 200, revealing every emotion up close and personal through HAIR‘s drug fuelled journey.

Like a mini Woodstock, from the moment the audience arrive, The Vaults is transformed into a fully immersive 60s venue, with psychedelic, innovative creatives, iconic artwork and hippie flower power. With 60s themed pop up restaurants and themed drinks; plus stalls including: vintage 60s and tie dye clothes, 60s smiley badges and memorabilia, hippie wigs and flower headdresses,
vinyl’s – everything needed for a legal high. The audience then move through to the theatre space for HAIR – the musical that changed the face of the modern musical.

HAIR – book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, music by Galt MacDermot. Produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Ollie Rosenblatt for Senbla, Joseph Houston and William Whelton for Hope Mill Theatre and Associate Producers Guy James and Joe Brown. Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle (An American In Paris – Ass. Director Dominion, Ass. Director The Scottsboro Boys Young Vic & West End, The Judas Kiss Toronto & New York, This House – West End, Bull – Young Vic, Pippin – Hope Mill Theatre); Musical Director – Gareth Bretherton (The Verb, To Love – Old Red Lion, Seasons of Larson – Lyric Theatre); Choreographer – William Whelton (Our House – Union Theatre); Set & Costume Designer – Maeve Black (Adam & Eve…and Steve – Kings Head Theatre); Sound – Max Perryment (Start Swimming – Young Vic) & Chris Bogg (Yank! The Musical
– Charing Cross Theatre); Lighting Designer – Ben M Rogers (Jesus Christ Superstar – Scandinavian Tour) and Casting Director – Ben Newsome.

COME JOIN THE TRIBE – HAIR.

ARIA ENTERTAINMENT, SENBLA and HOPE MILL THEATRE
Present
HAIR 50th ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION
COME JOIN THE TRIBE – HAIR
The 50th Anniversary production of HAIR transfers to London from its critically acclaimed run at the Hope Mill Theatre,
Manchester.

VENUE: THE VAULTS (7AD, Leake St, London SE1 7NN)
PERFORMANCES: WEDNESDAY 4 OCTOBER 2017 – SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2018
Previews: Wednesday 4/10 7.30pm, Thursday 5/10 3pm & 7.30pm, Friday 6/10 7.30pm, Saturday 7/10 7pm & 10pm and Monday 9/10 7.30pm.
PRESS NIGHT: WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER 2017 at 7.30pm
Post press night performances: TUESDAY to SUNDAY (no performances on a Monday)
Tuesday – 7.30pm
Wednesday – 7.30pm
Thursday – 3pm & 7.30pm
Friday – 7.30pm
Saturday – 7pm & 10pm New Saturday timings from 05/12/17 = 3pm & 7.30pm
Please note: Saturday show time changes to 3pm & 7.30pm in new booking period from 05/12/17-14/01/18
Sunday – 3pm
FESTIVE PERIOD PERFORMANCES AND TIMES STAY THE SAME
TICKET PRICES: £25 – £50
Age recommendation: 14+ (this show contains nudity)
BOX OFFICE: 020 7401 9603
WEBSITE: www.hair50.com
TWITTER: @Hair50London

HAIR Hope Mill Theatre production
***** The Reviews Hub: ‘Stunning’
***** North West End: ‘Astounding’
**** The Guardian: ‘Sweetly enticing’ – Lyn Gardner
**** The Stage: ‘Thrilling! Jonathan O’Boyle’s production left me walking on air’ – Mark Shenton
**** Northern Soul
**** Musical Theatre Review

Sometimes it takes a woman to make a legend

Robin Hood: The Arrow of Destiny

York Theatre Royal, 4 August – 2 September 2017

Press night Tues 8 August, 7pm

Written by Richard Hurford

Original score by Rob Castell

Co-directed by Suzann McLean and Damian Cruden

Set and costume design by Jane Linz Roberts

Lighting design by Richard G Jones

Musical direction by Ed Thorpe

Fight direction Jonathan Holtby

This summer’s fun family show at York Theatre Royal puts a twist on the tale of the legendary hero of Sherwood Forest in Robin Hood: The Arrow of Destiny from 4 August to 2 September.

Written by Richard Hurford, the show is a hilarious re-working of the classic story with a magical mix of music, song, comedy, romance, masks and puppets. There’s also a lesson to be learnt – that there’s a lot more to becoming a hero than looking cool in green tights.

Making his stage debut as Robin Hood is Neil Reynolds, who appeared in the award-winning CBBC series The Secret Life of Boys. His other television credits include Find Your Tribe, The Adventures of T-Boy and Toonattik. Radio credits include Emil & The Detectives and The Ramayana, both on BBC Radio 4.

Siobhan Athwal, who plays Marian, comes to York from appearing in Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. She played Luce, one of the girl band members, in the Spice Girls stage musical Viva Forever in the West End.

Making his York Theatre Royal debut as the Sheriff of Nottingham is John Elkington. His credits include Beryl and Twelfth Night (West Yorkshire Playhouse), The Father and Brassed Off (Oldham Coliseum). He regularly plays the Dame in pantomime at Nottingham Playhouse.

Trevor A Toussaint plays Friar Tuck. Past credits include The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, The Harder They Come (Stratford East Theatre Royal) and Fences (London’s Duchess Theatre). Joanna Holden (Little John) and Ed Thorpe (Guy of Gisborne), who is also the show’s Musical Director, return from last summer’s Theatre Royal production of Sherlock Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles.

This theatrical treat for adults and children alike follows in the tradition of York Theatre Royal’s family summer shows including The Railway Children, The Wind in the Willows, Peter Pan, The Legend of King Arthur and Sherlock Holmes.

Times are hard for the poor people of Nottingham, which means things have never been better for the wicked Sheriff and his tax collectors. But, never fear, everything’s bound to turn out fine as soon as Robin Hood comes to the rescue. After all, he’s renowned for robbing the rich to give to the poor. Except what happens when he doesn’t?

Has Robin got lost in Sherwood Forest or are there darker forces plotting against the greatest folk hero of old England? There’s only one way to find out and only one person brave enough to try – step forward Marian. Follow her quest into the forest to discover why the legend of Robin Hood and his Merry People isn’t quite what she imagined.

Suzann McLean and Damian Cruden direct a cast that includes three teams of ten young people from the York area, who play villagers and merry people.

Suzann says: “Robin Hood has been everyone’s hero throughout history, and even though he is a myth, we aspire to his qualities. This is very much the role of Marian in our version. She uses her belief in Robin to become the brilliant human being that she is; a courageous leader, fighting injustice and standing up for her people.”

Damian says: “It’s the story of Robin Hood told from a different perspective. There are lots of surprises in our version but the familiar story and characters are all there – the Sheriff of Nottingham, the forest, the May Day festival with the archery competition and, of course, there’s tax collecting. The music is great and all original. There will be a lovely energy to it. It’s a show for all the family and promises to be a lot of fun.”

Join the outlaws. There’s a chance for young audiences to join the Outlaw School. Robin Hood is looking to recruit brave, cunning and loyal outlaws for his band of merry men and women with Outlaw School, for ages seven to 12, in the theatre foyer between 11 and 12pm on matinee days. Outlaws will have the chance to go on stage and receive an outlaw certificate from the Sheriff of Nottingham himself. Tickets £5.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Robin Hood: The Arrow of Destiny

York Theatre Royal, 4 Aug – 2 September

Matinees 2.30pm Wed to Sat (except Fri 1 Sept)

Evenings 7pm Tues, and Thurs to Sat

BSL performance Fri 1 Sept, 7.30pm

AD performances Thu 31 Aug, 7.30pm, and Sat 2 Sep, 2.30pm

Captioned performance Sat 2 Sept, 2.30pm

Relaxed performance Thu 31 Aug, 2pm

Tickets £24.50 – £14

Box office 01904 623568. yorktheatreroyal.co.uk