Month: July 2017

SCREENINGS AT CITY VARIETIES MUSIC HALL

 

Following the success of Hedda Gabler and the highly anticipated Twelfth Night, the City Varieties Music Hall is set to strengthen its live and encore streaming offering with productions including Angels in America, Yerma and Black Sabbath – The End of the End.

Having recently installed state-of-the-art cinema equipment, the country’s most famous music hall is able to stream live and pre-recorded events, as well as art and museum exhibitions to Leeds audiences. The programme for 2017 is as following:

 

What: NT Live presents Angels in America (Part 1 and 2 – encore screening). Saturday 19^th August and Saturday 26^th August respectively.

 

Angels in America is a complex, often metaphorical, and at times symbolic examination of AIDS and homosexuality in 1980s America. Written by American playwright Tony Kushner, Angels in America is set in two parts, each lasting approximately four hours. The cast includes Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, Nathan Lane, James McArdle and Russell Tovey.

 

 

What: NT Live presents Yerma (live screening). Thursday 31^st August.

Award-winning actress Billie Piper stars in Simon Stone’s radical production of Lorca’s achingly powerful masterpiece Yerma. Set in contemporary London, Yerma tells of a young women’s desperation to conceive with unthinkable consequences.

 

What: John Le Carre – An evening with George Smiley (live streamed). Thursday 7^th September.

In aid of Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors without Borders (MSF)

Broadcast live from London’s Royal Festival Hall, John Le Carre, author of ‘The Spy Who Came In From The Cold’, ‘Tinker Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ and ‘The Night Manager’ (amongst others), will discuss the full breadth of his career and reflect on the continuing story of his most famous creation, spy George Smiley. The event will include readings and a rare Q&A session.

 

 

What: David Gilmour Live in Pompeii (screening of 2016 live recording). Wed 13^th September.

 

On July 7th & 8th 2016, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame performed two spectacular shows at the legendary Pompeii Amphitheatre in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. For one night only the recording will be streamed across the UK.

The show includes songs from David’s career, including the title tracks of his two most recent No. 1 solo albums ‘Rattle That Lock’ and ‘On An Island’. Also included are other solo and Pink Floyd classics such as ‘Wish You Were Here’, ‘Comfortably Numb’, ‘One Of These Days’ and a very special performance of ‘The Great Gig In The Sky’ from ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’, which David rarely plays as a solo artist.

 

What: Black Sabbath – The End of the End (screening of February’s 2017 live recording). Monday 2^ndOctober.

 

The End of The End chronicles the final tour of the greatest metal band of all time. After nearly 50 years together, the Birmingham band took to the stage in February 2017 for the last time in their home city, bringing down the curtain on their final tour. They performed genre-defining, generation-spanning songs in front of a sold-out arena and, in exclusive new interviews, talk frankly about how it was lived.

Tickets for the Live Streaming events at City Varieties Music Hall are on sale priced at £15 and £17

 

Book online at cityvarietiesmusichall.co.uk or call box office on 0113 243 0808

KARA LILY HAYWORTH

FIGHTS OFF THOUSANDS OF HOPEFULS TO PLAY

CILLA BLACK

IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

CILLA THE MUSICAL

Following weeks of open auditions at venues up and down the country – the producers of Cilla the Musical have found their star. Kara Lily Hayworth has fought off thousands of hopefuls to be named as the girl who will step into the Legend’s coveted shoes in the first ever musical about the star’s life.

Cilla – The Musical, is a spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series based on the early life of Cilla Black, by BAFTA award winner, Jeff Pope (The Moorside, Philomena, From The Cradle To The Grave, Mrs Biggs). The new musical, opens in Cilla’s hometown at the Liverpool Empire from Thursday 7th – 16th September before embarking on a nationwide tour.

Kara queued for four hours at London’s Dominion Theatre to have her chance to audition in the first rounds. She made it through to the final 30 before being chosen to do her final audition at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Robert Willis said, ‘We wanted somebody who wasn’t going to impersonate my mum but someone who could capture her spirit. Kara came in with her huge personality and amazing voice – when I saw the response of the audience at the Cavern, I knew we’d found her!”

Originally from Watford, Kara trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She recently performed in Secret Cinema’s Moulin Rouge and this will be her first leading role in a big new musical…and her first time on tour!

She said “When I was 11 I was shopping out with my mum and bumped into Cilla and asked her for an autograph. I told her I wanted to be an actress – she laughed and said ‘It’s a tough industry, but if you really work hard and go for it, you’ll be just fine.’ She was a huge inspiration to me as a child; I grew up watching her on Blind Date every Saturday night with my Nan. To be chosen to play her is such an honor and I’m so excited to take on the role. To open in her hometown of Liverpool is so special and a real privilege.”

The story follows the extraordinary life of the ordinary teenage girl from Liverpool, Priscilla White, and her rocky, yet incredible, rise to fame. By the age of just 25 she was recognized as international singing star Cilla Black. By the age of 30 she had become Britain’s favorite television entertainer headlining series’ of Blind Date, Surprise Surprise and many more.

The musical score will be the ultimate soundtrack to the 60’s including Cilla’s greatest hits Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, alongside a backdrop of the legendary “Liverpool Sound” including the Beatles’ Twist and Shout, and American influences like California Dreamin by The Mamas and The Papas and many more.

Cilla The Musical is produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield, alongside Executive Producer Robert Willis

CILLA – THE MUSICAL

WRITTEN BY JEFF POPE

DIRECTED BY BILL KENWRIGHT & BOB TOMSON

Liverpool Empire Theatre atgtickets.com/Liverpool

7 – 16 September 0844 871 3017

Edinburgh Playhouse atgtickets.com/Edinburgh

19 – 23 September 0844 871 3014

Milton Keynes Theatre atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

26 – 30 September 0844 871 7627

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton mayflower.org.uk

3 – 7 October 023 8071 1811

New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham atgtickets.com/Birmingham

10 – 14 October 0844 871 3011

Blackpool, Opera House wgbpl.co.uk

17 – 21 October 0844 856 1111

New Theatre, Cardiff newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

31 October – 4 November 029 2087 8889

New Wimbledon Theatre atgtickets.com/Wimbledon

7 – 11 November 0844 871 7627

Regent Theatre, Stoke atgtickets.com/stoke

14 – 18 November 0844 871 7649

Palace Theatre, Manchester atgtickets.com/Manchester

21 – 25 November 0844 871 3019

Bradford, Alahambra Theatre bradford-theatres.co.uk

28 November – 2 December 01274 432 000

Dartford Orchard Theatre orchardtheatre.co.uk

16 – 20 January 01322 220 000

York, Grand Opera House atgtickets.com/York

23 – 27 January 0844 871 3024

Glasgow, Kings Theatre atgtickets.com/Glasgow

30 January – 3 February 0844 871 3024

Oxford, New Theatre atgtickets.com/Oxford

13 – 17 February 0844 871 3020

Derngate Theatre, Northampton royalandderngate.co.u

20 – 24 February 01604 624 811

Newcastle, Theatre Royal theatreroyal.co.uk

27 February – 3 March 0844 811 2121

Bristol Hippordrome atgtickets.com/Bristol

13 – 17 March 0844 871 7627

Woking, New Theatre atgtickets.com/Woking

20 – 24 March 844 871 7645

More tour dates to be confirmed soon.

Visit cillathemusical.com for all the latest tour and audition information

Twitter: @CILLAMUSICAL

A Christmas Carol at Windsor Castle

This December, for the first time, an immersive Christmas performance will be staged in the magnificent State Apartments at Windsor Castle.

Throughout the festive period, nine family-friendly evening performances of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol will be presented by theatre company Watch Your Head. The performances will take place in the Castle’s two largest rooms, where the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret performed Christmas pantomimes during the Second World War.

Tailor-made for Windsor Castle and using Dickens’s own words from his public readings of the classic tale, the production will feature live music and immersive elements, transporting the audience into a Victorian Christmas.  Visitors will accompany Ebenezer Scrooge from the Castle gates to the Waterloo Chamber, where Jacob Marley awaits to conjure his haunting dreams of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.  A cast of actors and musicians performing all around will transform the colossal space into Dickensian London, before the audience follows Scrooge into St George’s Hall to celebrate his new-found festive spirit beneath the Castle’s spectacular Christmas tree.

The event will form part of a programme of Victorian-themed activities at Windsor Castle this Christmas.  Monarchs have been celebrating Christmas at Windsor Castle since the 12th century, but it was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who introduced many of the Christmas traditions that we know today.  Prince Albert is credited with popularising the German tradition of Christmas trees while enjoying the festive season at the Castle, and the Queen and Prince Albert were often seen ice skating and enjoying winter sleigh rides in the Castle grounds.

It was during this period that Dickens first published A Christmas Carol in 1843, and it has remained a festive classic ever since.  The work can be seen in miniature in the library of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, built in the early 1920s as a perfect replica of an aristocratic Edwardian residence and housed ever since at Windsor Castle.

Jemima Rellie, Director of Content and Audiences, Royal Collection Trust, said, ‘Windsor Castle at Christmastime evokes images of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their young family celebrating around the Christmas tree. As part of our Victorian-themed festive programme, we are excited to be staging an immersive Christmas performance in the State Apartments for the first time, and are sure that audiences will enjoy a unique experience that they will treasure for years to come.’

Sara Langridge, Producer, Watch Your Head, said, ‘We are so delighted to continue our relationship with Royal Collection Trust in this way – A Christmas Carol really is the perfect story for this magical place and we can’t wait for audiences of all ages to share this wonderful experience at Windsor Castle.’

Their third collaboration with Royal Collection Trust, Watch Your Head’s latest production follows their recently staged immersive performances of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Castle’s Moat Garden.

A Christmas Carol is directed by Sasha McMurray, with costumes designed by Annina Pfeul and an original score by Joseph Reuben.

Ekaterina Krysanova, Semyon Chudin, Maria Alexandrova and
Vladislav Lantratov of the Bolshoi Ballet
with students of London Russian Ballet School present
Romantic Revolution
London Palladium, Argyll Street, London W1F 7TF
Monday 18th September 2017, 7.30pm

For one night only, London Russian Ballet School (LRBS) will continue its collaboration with the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet and Theatre, bringing ballet and classical music to young people in London

700 children from Lambeth, Brent, South West and West London, who have never visited a theatre to see ballet and most of whom have never heard of the Bolshoi Ballet, will join the audience at the London Palladium for free, with transport provided. Romantic Revolution is a philanthropic endeavour to engage these young children in ballet and impart the richness of this art.

Leading Bolshoi principals will present an outstanding programme with LRBS students, to include the spectacular classic Don Quixote. A new work will be premiered which has been specially created for Alexandrova and Lantratov. Accessibility is the driving force of Romantic Revolution with tickets priced affordably to enable as wide an audience as possible to see Bolshoi artists perform.

LRBS, based in Clapham, is a vocational school and charity which teaches ballet to and educates young people from widely diverse backgrounds. Its Artistic Director, Evgeny Goremykin, danced with the Bolshoi Ballet for over twenty years and founded the school on the principles of his own ballet education with a dominant ethos of opportunity and inclusivity.

The goal of the school is to give students the best of the past in order to work for the future; in this vein, students train with former artists of the great theatres and ballet schools of Russia where tradition and knowledge are passed from one generation to the next. LRBS believe that the Russian method, one of the finest in the world, may be applied to any individual with great success.

Dame Gillian Lynne comments, The London Russian Ballet School is an inspirational, tough and practical ballet school. It is extremely good and inspired by the addition of the Bolshoi’s impeccable standards. Russian ballet training has always been extremely effective and important and these children are very lucky to be able to be part of the beautiful art that ballet incorporates and also to have the chance to develop, lead and inspire the talent within their souls. I am in a unique position to talk about Russian Ballet training given that I was lucky enough to work with Vera Volkova during the war who also trained Margot Fonteyn. Dance has no barriers, it is a universal and powerful art which will always endure and should be accessible to all. This year, over 700 children have been invited to the London Palladium in September to see the LRBS pupils perform with leading principal artists from the Bolshoi Ballet, something they would otherwise never have been able to do. It will give them a chance to experience the extreme discipline of this teaching which will lead to their
enjoyment of the beauty of ballet and the enriching of their souls which this kind of training will produce

LRBS has an extensive outreach performance programme to engage young children in the world of ballet and classical music. It regularly performs for over 3,000 children each year in local underprivileged schools. These children experience ballet accompanied by young musicians in their school halls. The Head of Inclusion from a Lambeth Primary commented, It was lovely to see our children’s full attention taken by such a wonder on the stage…and for nearly all it was the first time that they had seen a ballet production on stage.

The Wedding

Gecko’s most ambitious show to date visits HOME for a limited run

 

Award-winning physical theatre company Gecko’s new show The Wedding focuses on personal and political marriage. With a performing company of nine, this is Gecko’s most ambitious show to date and visits Manchester’s HOME for a limited run (12-16 September). 

www.geckotheatre.com / @GeckoTheatre / Facebook.com/GeckoTheatre1

 Gecko is an award-winning and internationally-acclaimed physical theatre company, led by Artistic Director Amit Lahav. Established in 2001, Gecko has developed 6 full-length shows, numerous youth projects and workshops and celebrated its 15^th anniversary last year.

We are all married, bound by a contract.

But what are the terms of this relationship? And can we consider a divorce?

 

Gecko’s seventh creation, The Wedding, is inspired by the complexities of human nature: the struggle between love and anger, creation and destruction, community and isolation.   

The extraordinary ensemble of nine international performers guides audiences through a blur of wedding dresses and contractual obligations, a dystopian world in which we are all brides, wedded to society.

Combining movement, imagery and provocative narratives in Gecko’s trademark style, The Wedding brings these contracts into question with an emotionally charged and spectacular performance.

We all want to believe in our journey, but where are we heading? Is it too late to stop, to go back, to fall in love, to start again?

Amit Lahav, Gecko’s Artistic Director, has devised a rigorous and productive process of developing a show over a period of two years, including an initial phase of development followed by a Creation Tour in which the show changes and progresses dramatically. The Wedding’s first work in progress was shared in June 2016 at Pulse Festival in Ipswich and the show’s Creation Tour took place in spring 2017 (Northern Stage in Newcastle, New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry).

“Walked in to watch a play. Left feeling ready to change the world.” Audience response at New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich

“So glad people are making such raw, powerful theatre.” Audience response on Twitter

 

Autumn tour dates include: HOME in Manchester (12-16 September), Exeter Northcott 21–23 September), Lighthouse in Poole (3 October) and Hall for Cornwall in Truro (6-7 October).

Supported by Arts Council England and Ipswich Borough Council. The Wedding is a Gecko production co-commissioned by DanceEast and New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich, Northern Stage, HOME Manchester and Beijing 707 N-Theatre Co. Ltd (Edinburgh Fringe Showcase in China) in association with Lighthouse, Poole and Warwick Arts Centre, supported by The Point, Eastleigh.

 

Amit Lahav, Gecko’s Artistic Director said: “Our first experience with HOME was last year with Institute. I think we all felt that there was a chemistry with the HOME team and its place in the City; a shared vision regarding our style and approach to performance. So there was little surprise that the audience’s response was so warm and energised. We are delighted that HOME have supported us through the process of making The Wedding and look forward to developing our relationship with our Manchester friends.”

Walter Meierjohann, Artistic Director: Theatre, HOME, added: “We are thrilled to welcome back Gecko to HOME. This award-winning company is internationally renowned for their visual and ambitious work, putting audiences at the heart of the narrative. For The Wedding, Amit Lahav explores personal and political marriage – in typical Gecko-style: poetical, inspiring, moving and entertaining.”

Tango Moderno at Hull New Theatre

Strictly Come Dancing stars bring show to venue in February

Strictly Come Dancing stars Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace are bringing their hot new stage show to Hull New Theatre in February.

Tango Moderno is the irresistible spectacular from the pair, who have been dance partners for more than two decades, world champions and West End performers.

Vincent and Flavia’s famous tango style will combine with dazzling theatrical flair to bring audiences a tango for today.

Tango is the rhythm of the city, the heat of the streets and the pulse of life, intoxicating the world with its incredible passion and intensity.

This new production follows the incredible successes of Vincent and Flavia’s Midnight Tango, hailed as ‘a triumph’ by the Daily Telegraph, the ‘utterly unmissable’ Dance Til Dawn (Smooth Radio) and the ‘fabulous must-see’ The Last Tango (Radio Times), promising a classic yet fresh and modern show.

Tickets for Tango Moderno at Hull New Theatre from Tuesday, February 6 to Saturday, February 10 2018 are from £18 with concessions available. They go on sale at 10am on Friday, July 7.

Extras members receive a £10 discount on the opening night and a £4 discount on Wednesday to Thursday performances on the top three ticket prices, including premium seats. Extras members can also access 24-hour priority booking from 10am on Thursday, July 6.

Book at the Hull City Hall box office or call 01482 300 306. Visit our new website www.hulltheatres.co.uk to book online.

FAT FRIENDS THE MUSICAL GOES ON SALE AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE, SHEFFIELD

 

Sam Bailey (X Factor, Chicago) and Jodie Prenger (I’d Do Anything, Shirley Valentine) star alongside Former England cricket captain, and star of Sky’s League of Their Own, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff in Fat Friends – The Musical at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield from Mon 12 – Sat 17 February. Tickets go on sale to members on Sat 8 July and on general sale on Sat 15 July.

The award-winning Jodie Prenger who recently appeared in Shirley Valentine at the Lyceum Theatre, will lead the company in the beloved role of Kelly Stevenson with Freddie Flintoff playing opposite her as her fiancée Kevin Chadwick. They are joined by Sam Bailey, who rose to fame winning the tenth series of The X Factor, who plays the role of Betty.

Fat Friends – The Musical is written and directed by BAFTA and multi award-winning Kay Mellor. Kay is one of the UK’s most prolific writers whose extensive television credits include hit series ofBand of Gold, The Chase, The Syndicate, In the Club and whose stage credits include A Passionate Woman.

Fat Friends hit television screens in October 2000, following the lives of a group of overweight friends as they struggle with the absurdities of modern dieting. Running for five years on ITV, the show starred Alison Steadman, Gaynor Faye and Lisa Riley and launched the careers of James Corden and Ruth Jones. Written by Kay Mellor, the show was nominated for multiple awards including the BAFTA for Best Drama Series.

Fat Friends – The Musical features original music and songs composed by Nicholas Lloyd Webber, design by Bretta Gerecke, musical supervision, orchestrations and arrangements fromSimon Lee, sound design by two time Olivier Award winning Gareth Owen and lighting design from Tony Award nominated Nick Richings.

The ‘weight’ is over; Packed full of warmth, life and weight loss, this brand new stage show reunites our favourite foodie friends in an original musical bulging with hopes, humour and heart. Join the infamous group of loveable characters as they are put through their Zumba paces at their local branch of Super Slimmer’s by the lovelorn Lauren whilst Kelly fantasises about fitting into the wedding dress of her dreams. Fat Friends offers a generous serving of hilarious fun with a sprinkle of romance on top!

Fat Friends – The Musical comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Mon 12 February – Sat 17 February. Tickets can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and are priced from £21.00. Concessions and group discounts are available.

 

Quays Theatre, The Lowry, Manchester – 3rd July 2017.  Reviewed by Julie Noller

Back in the 90’s my teenage self never actually watched Waiting For God, therefore I was looking forward to what I perceived would be a play of light humour or light entertainment to coin that old TV phrase. My friend on the other hand was really excited as she had loved the show.

The Lowry is the last stop on its U.K tour yet the cast showed no sign of tiredness. The set made clever use of the space with the two apartments either side of the stage and any set changes being subtle and swift, a table added to centre stage for the dining hall inside Bayview, a hospital bed for the hip replacement and birth scene (note to reader not at the same time) chairs added for hospital waiting rooms, wow all this in just under two hours! In a nutshell it was indeed light entertainment, I chuckled, I thought of my own parents, of my Grandparents, of my future. It was full of witty one liners with the sarcasm very typically British.

Originally penned by Michael Aitkins as a stage play, it’s polished and at most times it moves with fast paced slickness, written with Mick Jagger in mind – The Jagger Syndrome. The idea that generations are changing how we no longer retire at 65 and put our feet up. The characters are all written with great understanding of age and its many issues from Jane (Emily Pithon) Harvey (Samuel Collings) Sarah (Joanna Chase) and Geoffrey (David Benson) all younger.

Portraying the naivety that youth exudes, searching for perfection, dreaming, hope. Love connects them to our twilighters (don’t call them senior citizens) who are superbly portrayed by Nichola McAuliffe as Diana Trent, deliciously naughty giving me some hope for life in 20 years time, I want to start plotting and behave very badly. She knows she shouldn’t but when you’re bored with playing solitaire (and cheating with yourself) after years as a War photographer, she discovers that there’s nobody stopping her, challenging her still sharp mind. She wants to drink gin and dance (hip permitting) she wants to feel like a woman – which of course she is, but we are all guilty of viewing those in twilight years as no longer man and woman but tagged as old – such a shame. Jeffery Holland is a far cry from Spike in Hi-di-Hi, as Tom Ballard he’s led a life, his son is hen pecked and it was interesting to see how the characters interact, with Diana encouraging him to stand up to his wife, maybe not with the result he ideally wanted but showing that regardless of age, trials and tribulations of life affect us all. Tom is a sharp dresser and we are never truly sure if he has some genuine senior moments or just enjoys playing with peoples insecurities, he does show an amazing level of understanding towards Dianas personality, allowing her to be herself, a woman but also to bloom. One of my stand out giggles is when Tom turns round in hospital ready to walk away with Diana, he shows no sign of the embarrassment that cripples many of those with youth on their side. He expertly flashes his bottom to the audience, oh those gowns, we’ve all complained about them.

My friend informed me that it was true to the TV series however that ran for five series. I found it was exactly as expected well acted, enjoyable, slick and gave me and the rest of the audience a night of light laughs. I aspire to be like Diana for all her toughness and acting she had a mellow side and emotion briefly showed with the birth of baby Diana, however not for long. Here’s to days to come in our Bayviews of the future drinking gin and behaving badly.

FREE PLACES AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE TO ATTEND SHEFFIELD THEATRES’ SUMMER SCHOOL

 

Local theatregoers have donated over £5000 to give 23 young people across South Yorkshire the opportunity to attend Sheffield Theatres’ Summer School completely free of charge.

The generous donations from supporters of Sheffield Theatres will enable 23 young people, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend the Summer School without financial support, the opportunity to develop their skills in acting, singing and stage craft at the UK’s Regional Theatre of the Year. The funded places also include support for food and travel costs.

Sheffield Theatres’ Summer School runs from Monday 31 July – Sat 12 August (excluding Sat 5 & Sun 6 August) and have three different age groups: ages 9 -12, 13 -15, and 16 -25, as well as a Technical Summer School for young people aged 16+  who are interested in learning about Stage Management, Lighting and Sound. No previous acting or theatre experience is needed, with the two weeks culminating in a performance in the Crucible’s Studio Theatre.

If you would like to apply for a fully funded place for Sheffield Theatres’ Summer School contact [email protected] for further information or call 0114 249 6000. Summer School places start from £150.00 and are available by calling 0114 249 6000 or visiting sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

 

Sheffield Theatres Listings:

Crucible Theatre

Mon 31 July – Sat 12 August (excluding Sat 5 & Sun 6 August)

Ages 9 – 12
10.00am – 1.00pm | £150.00
Ages 13-15
10.00am – 4.00pm | £185.00
Ages 16-25
10.00am – 4.00pm | £185.00

Technical Summer School
Ages 16+ | £185.00

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

THE UK AND IRELAND TOUR OF

 

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S

SUNSET BOULEVARD

STARRING

RIA JONES AS ‘NORMA DESMOND’ AND DANNY MAC AS ‘JOE GILLIS’

 

PRODUCED BY MICHAEL HARRISON, DAVID IAN AND CURVE

 

DIRECTED BY NIKOLAI FOSTER

OPENING AT CURVE
ON SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2017

Michael Harrison, David Ian and Curve are delighted to announce full casting for the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical SUNSET BOULEVARD. Directed by Nikolai Foster, the tour will open at Curve on Saturday 16 September 2017 (press night Thursday 28 September). Tour schedule below with more dates to be announced soon. sunsetboulevardthemusical.com

 

Joining the previously announced Ria Jones as ‘Norma Desmond’ and Danny Mac as ‘Joe Gillis’ will be Adam Pearce as ‘Max Von Mayerling’, Molly Lynch as ‘Betty Schaefer’, Dougie Carter as ‘Artie Green’ and Carl Sanderson as ‘Cecil B DeMille’.

The rest of the company includes Bernadette Bangura, Matthew Barrow, Benjamin Chambers, Joanna Goodwin, Kristoffer Hellström, Iain Mattley, James Meunier, Gemma Naylor, Fiona O’Carroll, Joanna O’Hare, Jessica Paul, Sam Peggs, Tom Vincent and Barney Wilkinson

Last year, Ria Jones played the role of ‘Norma Desmond’ at the London Coliseum when Glenn Close was indisposed, receiving rave reviews and standing ovations for her performance. Ria has recently starred as ‘Dorothy Brock’ in “42nd Street” at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Her West End credits include ‘Fantine’ in“Les Misérables”, ‘Grizabella’ in “Cats” and ‘Florence’ in “Chess”. Her touring credits include ‘Alex’ in “The Witches of Eastwick”, ‘Mrs Overall’ in “Acorn Antiques – The Musical”, ‘Reno Sweeney’ in “Anything Goes” and ‘The Narrator’ in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.

Danny Mac captured the nation’s hearts and received overwhelming support during his incredible time on BBC1’s “Strictly Come Dancing” making it all the way to the final. He most recently starred as ‘Gabey’ in “On The Town” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. His other musical theatre credits include “Wicked” and “Legally Blonde”.

 

Adam Pearce’s many West End credits include “Les Misérables” at the Queen’s Theatre, as well as the original casts of “Love Never Dies” at the Adelphi, “The Light Princess at the National Theatre and “Urinetown” at the St James Theatre.  Adam has also appeared in “Evita”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Sweeney Todd”, all at the Adelphi.

Molly Lynch most recently appeared in English National Opera’s “Carousel” at the Coliseum, where she has also appeared in “Sweeney Todd”. Her other credits include “Fiddler on the Roof” at Grange Park Opera.

Dougie Carter recently played ‘Jean-Michel’ in the national tour of “La Cage Aux Folles”. His West End theatre credits include “Les Misérables” at the Queen’s Theatre and “Alice” at St James Theatre.

Carl Sanderson’s many West End credits include “Cats”, “The Phantom of the Opera”, “Acorn Antiques – The Musical” and “Starlight Express”. His other theatre credits include the national tours of “My Fair Lady” and “Hairspray” as well as “Guys and Dolls”, “The Music Man” and “The Pajama Game” all at Chichester Festival Theatre.

One of the all-time great musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award®-winning (Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical) masterpiece SUNSET BOULEVARD is a compelling story of romance and obsession, based on Billy Wilder’s legendary film, with Don Black and Christopher Hampton’s wonderful book and lyrics. This much-loved score includes the title number Sunset Boulevard, With One Look, As If We Never Said Goodbye, The Greatest Star Of All and The Perfect Year and will be performed by a full orchestra.

In her mansion on Sunset Boulevard, faded, silent-screen goddess, Norma Desmond, lives in a fantasy world. Impoverished screen writer, Joe Gillis, on the run from debt collectors, stumbles into her reclusive world. Persuaded to work on Norma’s ‘masterpiece’, a film script that she believes will put her back in front of the cameras, he is seduced by her and her luxurious life-style.  Joe becomes entrapped in a claustrophobic world until his love for another woman leads him to try and break free with dramatic consequences.

SUNSET BOULEVARD UK AND IRELAND TOUR 2017/18 – sunsetboulevardthemusical.com

2017

SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER

CURVE, LEICESTER  www.curveonline.co.uk

TUESDAY 3 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE www.atgtickets.com/edinburgh

MONDAY 9 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER

NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL www.theatreroyal.co.uk

MONDAY 16 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 21 OCTOBER

SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE  www.swanseagrand.co.uk

MONDAY 23 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 4 NOVEMBER

MANCHESTER PALACE www.atgtickets.com/manchester

MONDAY 6 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ABERDEEN www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/venues/his-majestys-theatre

MONDAY 13 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 18 NOVEMBER

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME www.birminghamhippodrome.com

MONDAY 20 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER

BORD GAIS ENERGY THEATRE, DUBLIN www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes