REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCE 2018 SEASON

REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCE
2018 SEASON


• Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel’s Olivier Award-nominated production of PETER PAN by J. M. Barrie returns in the final year of First World War Centenary Commemorations
• Max Webster directs Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT, with original music by Charlie Fink
• Maria Aberg directs the mean green monster musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffith
DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE plays daytime performances for ages 3+
• Full creative team confirmed for THE TURN OF THE SCREW including conductor Toby Purser and designer Soutra Gilmour

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have today announced details of their 2018 season, which includes Peter Pan, As You Like It, Dinosaur World Live, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Turn of the Screw, a co-production with English National Opera.

The season opens on 17 May 2018 with Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie (17 May – 15 June), a revival of their 2015 Olivier Award-nominated production, in the final year of the First World War Centenary Commemorations. For the wounded soldiers of WW1, imagination is their only escape. Yet as they’re transported to the fantastical lagoons and pirate ships of Never Land, allegories of the war they’ve left behind are ever present. George Llewelyn Davies, later killed in action in 1915, was one of the children who inspired J. M. Barrie to create the iconic character of Peter Pan. Remembering him, and a generation of Lost Boys, the production enchanted young and old alike during its original, critically
acclaimed run. Kids go half price at most performances.

Directed by Open Air Theatre Artistic Director Timothy Sheader (Jesus Christ Superstar, To Kill a Mockingbird, Running Wild) and Liam Steel (Lord of the Flies, Into The Woods), set design is by Jon Bausor who recently won the UK Theatre Award for The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic). Costume design is by Jon Morrell, puppet design and direction by Rachael Canning, composition and sound score by Nick Powell, lighting design by Rick Fisher, sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, fight direction by Kate Waters, casting by Polly Jerrold and musical supervision/musical direction by Candida Caldicot. The Season Associate Director (Voice and Text) is Barbara Houseman.

Also confirmed is the full creative team for The Turn of the Screw (22 June – 30 June), a co-production with English National Opera. Members of the ENO orchestra will be conducted by ENO Mackerras Fellow Toby Purser. Timothy Sheader directs with design by Soutra Gilmour, who previously designed Into the Woods at the Open Air Theatre / Public Theatre, New York. Lighting design is by Jon Clark, sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, and casting by ENO Head of Casting, Michelle Williams.

The story of unearthly encounters at a remote country house, and of a young governess desperate to protect her children, finds chilling new levels of suspense in this unique outdoor production of Benjamin Britten’s masterly reworking of Henry James’ classic novella.

Next, Max Webster directs William Shakespeare’s As You Like It (06 July – 28 July). Returning to the Open Air Theatre following his production of Twelfth Night re-imagined in 2014, Max recently directed A Winter’s Tale (Edinburgh Lyceum), The Twits and King Lear (Northampton Royal & Derngate), and
The Lorax, which is currently playing at the Old Vic.

In the mythical Forest of Arden, a world of transformation where anything is possible and anything permissible, two young people discover what it really means to be in love. Design is by Naomi Dawson who recently designed Dr Faustus (Royal Shakespeare Company) and Brave New World (Northampton
Royal & Derngate). Movement direction is by Polly Bennett, original music composed by former ‘Noah and the Whale’ frontman, Charlie Fink (The Lorax), lighting design by Lee Curran (Jesus Christ Superstar) and sound design by Gareth Fry.

This warm, open-hearted production promises adventure, sibling rivalry, mistaken identity and romance – Shakespeare comedy as you like it.

Playing daytime performances, Dinosaur World Live (14 August – 09 September), is a new interactive show for all the family (ages 3+). This 50-minute show is written and directed by Derek Bond (Sweet Charity / Little Shop of Horrors, Royal Exchange Manchester), puppet design is by Max Humphries and
puppet direction by Laura Cubitt who, with Dinosaur World Live puppet consultant Toby Olié, previously worked on Running Wild at the Open Air Theatre. Set and costume design is by James Perkins, lighting design by John Maddox and sound design by Tom Mann.

Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a prehistoric world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs – including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Dinosaur World Live will announce further tour dates for 2018 in due course.

The 2018 season concludes with the mean green monster musical Little Shop of Horrors (03 August – 15 September). Book and lyrics are by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman with screenplay by Charles Griffith.

For the misfits of Skid Row, life is full of broken dreams and dead ends. But there’s hope on the horizon for flower shop assistant, Seymour, when he discovers a mysterious new plant with killer potential. Will his newfound fame and fortune win the attention of kind, sweet, delicate Audrey? Can he finally break free and be happy…whatever the consequences?

Making her Open Air Theatre debut, the production is directed by Maria Aberg. Maria’s recent work includes Dr Faustus, The White Devil, As You Like It, King John, The Gods Weep, Days of Significance (all Royal Shakespeare Company), Hotel (National Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Exchange Manchester), The Chairs (Theatre Royal Bath), Alaska (Royal Court) and Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox (Nuffield/Lyric Hammersmith). Design is by Tom Scutt whose credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Open Air Theatre), King Charles III (Almeida/West End/Broadway), The Deep Blue Sea, Medea (National Theatre), Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Weir (Donmar Warehouse) and Constellations (West
End/MTC New York/Royal Court). Musical supervision is by Tom Deering (Jesus Christ Superstar, On The Town), lighting design by Howard Hudson (On The Town), sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph and casting by Stuart Burt.

IT’S ALIVE at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre…somewhere that’s green!

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s award-winning production of Jesus Christ Superstar opens at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, USA in April 2018. Timothy Sheader directs with design by Tom Scutt, choreography by Drew McOnie and lighting design by Lee Curran.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Memberships are on sale now and priority booking for Members will open at 11am, 08 November. Visit www.openairtheatre.com/membership for more information.
Public booking opens at 11am, 06 December.

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
Box Office 0844 826 4242* | openairtheatre.com
Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4NU
Social Media
Twitter: @OpenAirTheatre / #OAT2018
#PeterPan / #TheTurnoftheScrew / #AsYouLikeIt / #DinosaurWorldLive / #LittleShopOfHorrors
Facebook, Google+: RegentsParkOpenAirTheatre
*Lines open from 9am – 9pm. £1.50 per ticket telephone booking fee applies. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge. A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies for telephone and online bookings for Dinosaur World Live.

LISTINGS
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2018 season:

Peter Pan
By J. M. Barrie
Directed by Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel
By arrangement with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity

Thursday 17 May – Friday 15 June
First preview: 17 May

Performances:
Tuesday – Sunday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm)
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm)
No matinee 19 or 23 May; extra matinee on Thursday 14 June
_____________________
Regent’s Park Theatre and English National Opera
The Turn of the Screw
Music by Benjamin Britten Libretto by Myfanwy Piper
After a story by Henry James
Directed by Timothy Sheader

Friday 22 June – 30 June
First preview: 22 June

Performances:
Monday – Saturday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm)
Wednesday & Saturday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm)
No performance on Thursday 28 June; no matinee 23 June
_____________________
As You Like It
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Max Webster

Friday 06 July – Saturday 28 July
First preview: 06 July

Performances:
Monday – Saturday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm)
Thursday & Saturday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm)
No matinee 07 July
_____________________
Dinosaur World Live
Created by Derek Bond and Max Humphries

Tuesday 14 August – Sunday 09 September
Performances:
Monday – Wednesday: 2.15pm (gates 1.45pm)
Friday & Sunday: 10.30am (gates 10.00am) & 1.00pm (gates 12.30pm)
Saturday: 10.30am (gates 10.00am)
No performances 03 – 06 September; No 1pm performance on Sunday 02 September.
_____________________
Little Shop of Horrors
Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken
Based on the film by Roger Corman, Screenplay by Charles Griffith
Directed by Maria Aberg

Friday 03 August – Saturday 15 September
First preview: 03 August

Performances:
Monday – Saturday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm)
Thursday & Saturday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm)
No matinee 04 or 09 August

TICKETS
Peter Pan, The Turn of the Screw and As You Like It: £25 – £55
Little Shop of Horrors: £25 – £59
Dinosaur World Live: All tickets £16.50 (£15 ticket + £1.50 booking fee)
________________________________________________________________
Season Ticket
Available when purchasing a ticket for all of the following productions in the same transaction: PeterPan, The Turn of the Screw, As You Like It and Little Shop of Horrors.
Band A Season Ticket: £185 (saving of up to £39)
Band B Season Ticket: £145 (saving of up to £38)
• No per-ticket online or telephone booking fee; a one-off £4.50 telephone transaction fee applies.
• Cannot be combined with any other concession or discount.
• All tickets must be booked in the same transaction and in the same price band.
Previews
Early Bird: £5 off price bands A – C during previews (excluding Dinosaur World Live) when booked before 30 April 2018; thereafter, £2 off all prices during previews (excluding Dinosaur World Live).
Groups 10+
£5 off price bands A – C. Valid all performances, excluding Dinosaur World Live and excluding all Saturday Evening performances. A £4.50 transaction fee applies. This applies on top of the Preview and Early Bird Preview pricing. Call 0844 826 4242*, Monday – Friday, 9am – 9pm.
*Calls cost 7ppm plus your telephone company’s usual access charge.
Senior Citizens Matinees
£25 best available weekday matinees (cannot be combined with any other discount or concession).
U18
Half Price Tickets on all performances excluding Saturday evenings and Dinosaur World Live (£1.50 telephone booking fee applies. No online booking fee).

A full performance schedule is available at www.openairtheatre.com/schedule
All information correct at the time of going to print. For latest information visit
www.openairtheatre.com
_____________________

FIRST LOOK: The Exorcist images

Production photography of The Exorcist – Phoenix Theatre – is released today ahead of opening night tonight (31 October)

The Exorcist is booking to 10 March 2018. Starring Peter Bowles (Father Merrin), Clare Louise Connolly (Regan), Adam Garcia (Father Karras) and Jenny Seagrove (Chris).

 

Ian McKellen  features  as the voice of the Demon. 

A play by John Pielmeier.
Adapted from the novel by William Peter Blatty.
Directed by Sean Mathias.

LISTINGS

Bill Kenwright presents

THE EXORCIST

A play by John Pielmeier. Adapted from the novel by William Peter Blatty. Directed by Sean Mathias.

By Special Arrangement with Ben Sprecher and Stuart Snyder.

In Association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Phoenix Theatre Charing Cross Rd

London

WC2H 0JP

PLEASE NOTE this production contains material which may shock and offend. Recommended age guidance 18+.

Booking to 10 March 2018 Monday – Thursday 8pm ‘Friday is Fright-Night’ 6pm evening and ‘Fright Night late show’ 9pm Saturday 4pm and 8pm

www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-exorcist/phoenix-theatre/ 0844 871 7629 Facebook: @TheExorcistLIVE Twitter: @TheExorcistLIVE

Graham Norton and the cast of WEST END BARES raise over £50000

Last night was the eighth annual star-studded fundraiser, WEST END BARES, which saw over 100 of the hottest performers from the West End stage bare all in RUBY STRIPPERS, alongside an array of celebrity hosts at the Novello Theatre, raising well over £50,000 so far, breaking last year’s record. The final amount will be announced in due course.

This year’s celebrity hosts included Graham Norton, Mark Gatiss, Adam Garcia, Tom Allen and Summer Strallen.

All of the money raised goes to The Make A Difference Trust to fund HIV and AIDS projects that raise awareness, educate and provide care and support in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Audiences joined the much loves characters of Oz for a night combining the naughtiness of burlesque with the magic of the West End at WEST END BARES: RUBY STRIPPERSwww.madtrust.org.uk

Tim Crowther’s new play about grief to be the last production at Theatre N16

November 28th – December 16th, 7.30pm, Theatre N16

In the final show at Theatre N16’s Balham home at the Bedford pub, Tim Crowther’s first full-length play about dealing with grief, ‘tis unmanly grief, looks into the big messages of how men don’t speak about their emotions and the important role women play in the world.

Everyone deals with grief differently, but when Tom returns home with the corpse of his father, denial takes on a whole new meaning. As the body decomposes and Tom retreats further from reality, Katie conceals her recent news of pregnancy and embarks on her first trimester alone.

Tim Crowther originally trained as an actor at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (Oct ’97 – July ’00). As an actor, Tim also worked extensively at RADA (as actor/ collaborator) on various rehearsed readings of new writing projects. His time at RADA has not only informed his writing but also his collaborative approach in the rehearsal room – he recognizes the importance of all creative voices when gearing up to a production. In 2010, Tim took time out from the acting to train as a teacher at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Sept ’10 – July ’11). His first job on leaving RCSSD was teaching Theatre at The BRIT School (Sept ’11 – July 15),

Following his stint as Theatre Teacher, he returned back to training, attending Goldsmiths University (Oct ’15 – Jul ’16), where he completed a one-year full time MA in Writing for Performance and Dramaturgy. It was here that, whilst building his portfolio of writing, that ‘tis unmanly grief was conceived. This will be Tim’s first professionally staged full-length play, but it follows a number of staged extracts including: an excerpt taken from ‘tis unmanly grief – staged as part of Pint Sized at the Bunker Theatre towards the end of 2016; Assisted (a monologue), was staged as part of Nothing to Declare and Playground Antics (a short piece) was staged as part of a charity evening in support of Contact-a-Family, at Slam Kings Cross.

Theatre N16 is a trailblazing London fringe venue, focused on producing and programming top quality new writing and selected existing works. Theatre N16 is proud of their commitment to the welfare and development of creatives, operating under an Equity Fringe Agreement. This promoting and nurturing of talent means that Theatre N16 is a bastion for development within the context of a society in which the arts are increasingly struggling to stay afloat.

 

Mad Women in My Attic! Review

The Other Palace Studio Theatre – 28 October.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Monica Salvi invites you to become fellow inmates in her lunatic asylum for this tragi-comic therapy session with her own psychothera-pianist.

After being continuously typecast as the crazy characters in musicals, Salvi’s deliciously dark cabaret celebrates the madwomen that have inspired brilliant songs. Mad-eyed and mischievous, Salvi delights in the quirks of the women, and has a voice that soars through the songs brilliantly.

Carrying on her stories as she changes into ever more bonkers costumes, Salvi channels Norma Desmond and Bertha Rochester with powerhouse vocals, but is equally at home with Sondheim and Kander & Ebb. There’s lots of flirting with musical director Michael Ferreri, who manfully keeps a straight face throughout, and shows his own vocal talent in the lovely duet I Had a Dream About You. Another Maury Yeston number, By the River, is a guaranteed tearjerker, and Salvi is heart-breaking in her vulnerability as she gazes into the distance.

The laughs come fast and hard, along with some disturbing insights into damaged psyches that will set you giggling with a slight twinge of guilt. Salvi is such an energetic and beguiling performer that she even manages to make the old chestnut of audience participation – the percussion band – hysterical and slightly dangerous. Speaking of dangerous, the gentleman chosen to perform the Masochism Tango with Salvi deserves an award for remaining stony-faced as madness reigned all around him.

Monica Salvi’s incredible voice and her perfectly judged repertoire of songs makes Mad Women in My Attic! a stunning cabaret, full of wit and weirdness that will have the audience smiling, singing and squirming in quick succession.

Full Cast Announced: The Grinning Man at Trafalgar Studios, opens 6 December

CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Bristol Old Vic and Trafalgar Entertainment Group

present the Bristol Old Vic production of

THE GRINNING MAN
A new musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo

Directed by Tom Morris

 

 “The best puppetry since War Horse” The Mail on Sunday

The best British score in years” WhatsOnStage

An extraordinary amalgam of fairytale, puppetry,
romantic drama and black comedy
” 
StageTalk

Trafalgar Studios
Opens 6 December 2017
Tickets on sale now

Full casting has been announced for the critically acclaimed production of The Grinning Man, directed by Tony award-winning Tom Morris (War Horse) and based on the classic Victor Hugo (Les Misérables) novel, The Man Who Laughs, which opens at the Trafalgar Studios on 6 December.

 

Sean Kingsley (Les MisérablesBilly Elliot) and Ewan Black (Sleeping BeautyThe Merchant of Venice), who previously co-starred in the award-winning Bristol Old Vic production of the musical, have been confirmed to play Ursus and Trelaw in the West End premiere. Sanne den Besten (Les Misérables,Mamma Mia!), new to the cast, will play Dea, a blind woman who is the childhood friend and closest companion to the show’s title character Grinpayne.

This updated production of The Grinning Man follows the critically acclaimed premiere of the show in autumn 2016 at Bristol Old Vic. Louis Maskell (My Fair Lady, West Side Story), who was recently nominated for Best Performance in a Musical for his role in the Bristol production, will again lead the cast in the title role of Grinpayne, the show’s disfigured hero. Julian Bleach (St George in the Dragon,Shockheaded Peter, The Tempest), who also starred in the Bristol season, plays the role of the deliciously corrupt court clown Barkilphedro.

Joining the cast are Mark Anderson (The Toxic Avenger), Julie Atherton (Avenue Q), Jim Kitson (Much Ado About Nothing), Sophia Mackay (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds her Chameleon Skin) and Amanda Wilkin (Hamlet). Completing the company are James Alexander-Taylor, Christina Bloom, Jonathan Cobb, Leo Elso, Claire-Marie Hall, and Loren O’Dair.

The Grinning Man is a romantic gothic musical love story, set in a fantastical world with a dark heart, and brought to life by Kneehigh writer Carl Grose (Dead Dog in a Suitcase) and “powered by an outstanding score” (Sunday Times) by Tim Phillips and Marc Teitler. Macabre, magical and visually astonishing, this ultimately elating love story is a distinctive delight.

The show reunites Tom Morris with two puppeteers who began their careers inside Joey and Topthorn in the original production of War Horse – Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié – now leading their own brilliant puppetry company Gyre & Gimble. 

When it opened last year as the climax of Bristol Old Vics 250th anniversary programme the critics raved: the Telegraph cited its “blackly comic brilliance”; the Daily Mail hailed it as “weird and wonderful, a dark delight”; the Guardian said the production “deftly walks a tightrope between romantic and grotesque… it defies theatrical convention by keeping its hand on its heart and its tongue in its cheek”.

The Grinning Man is produced by Bristol Old Vic, Trafalgar Entertainment Group, Eilene Davidson, Richard O’Brien, David Adkin and Neil Laidlaw.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Previews:                           From Wednesday 6 December

Press night:                       Monday 18 December at 7.00pm

Performances:                   Monday – Saturday at 7:30pm, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2:30pm
Box Office:                        
www.atgtickets.com/trafalgarstudios / 0844 871 7632

Ticket Prices:                    From £15.00

Website:                           TheGrinningManMusical.com

Twitter:                             @GrinningManLDN


The producers of The Grinning Man are delighted to continue Bristol Old Vic’s commitment to ensuring that tickets to the highest quality productions remain affordable and accessible, particularly to younger audience members, by offering the following special rate:

£25 UNDER 25 RATE: A general under 25 rate of £25 (redeemable for any standard-priced seat, subject to availability at time of booking) will be available throughout the run for every performance Monday – Thursday inclusive.  Meaning that anybody under 25 will be able to see the show during the week at this special accessible rate. This rate will be available through ATG Tickets, the principal ticketing provider for Trafalgar Studios.

BRISTOL OLD VIC

Bristol Old Vic is the longest continuously running theatre in the UK, and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2016. Under Artistic Director Tom Morris, the historic playhouse aims to inspire audiences with its own original productions, both at home and on tour, whilst nurturing the next generation of artists, whether that be through their 350-strong Young Company, their many outreach and education projects or their trailblazing artist development programme, Bristol Ferment.

Bristol Old Vic uses its funding to support experiment and innovation, to allow access to their programme for people who would not otherwise encounter it, or be able to afford it, and to keep their extraordinary heritage alive and animated.

Since 2016, while the theatre continues to present work, it has simultaneously been undergoing a multi-million pound redevelopment project to transform its front of house space into a warm and welcoming public building for all of Bristol to enjoy, create a new studio theatre and open up its unique theatrical heritage to the public for the first time. The project is due to be completed in autumn 2018.

www.bristololdvic.org.uk  

TRAFALGAR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Trafalgar Entertainment Group is a live entertainment business that owns and operates distinctive, stylish cultural buildings as well as creating, distributing and live-streaming innovative content. Based at the iconic Trafalgar Studios in London’s West End, it is the latest venture from Sir Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire OBE – two of the most influential entertainment entrepreneurs of the last 20 years.

www.trafalgarentertainment.com

Casting announced for Rothschild & Sons

Arnold Mittelman in association with Park Theatre.
presents
The UK premiere of
 
Rothschild & Sons
“A family willing to risk everything”
 
Park Theatre, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP
For a limited run from 24 January -17 February 2018
 
Rothschild & Sons, a musical by Broadway songwriting legends Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick(Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me) and Tony-nominated writer Sherman Yellen, directed by Jeffrey B.Moss, is the story of Mayer Rothschild, his wife and sons, who despite being trapped behind ghetto walls, dream of a day when they are no longer locked in or anyone like them locked out.
 
This re-imagined musical was inspired by the book The Rothschilds by Frederic Morton and includes several never-before-heard songs in its UK premiere.
 
The stellar cast of Broadway and West End actors is led by Tony nominee Robert Cuccioli as Mayer and Glory Crampton as Gutele, roles they created to great acclaim in the New York premiere of  Rothschild & Sons, and School of Rock’s Gary Trainor as Nathan Rothschild.
 
 
 
This uplifting and universal tale follows the rise of the Rothschild family from their humble home in the Jewish ghetto in Frankfurt, Germany, to the heights of European prominence. Mayer Rothschild is an ambitious young merchant anxious to make something of himself in a world that openly despises Jews. He marries, has five sons, and ultimately, by use of his quick wit and perseverance, transforms his family into an international banking empire serving the royal courts of Europe. But Mayer’s main objective is to see the ghetto walls torn down before he dies and for this he, his wife and his sons, are prepared to risk everything. 

Robert Cuccioli, making his West End debut, is best known for his critically acclaimed performance in the Broadway hit Jekyll & Hyde, for which he received a Tony nomination, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award. Robert made his Broadway debut as Inspector Javert in Les Miserables, and was most recently seen on Broadway as Dr. Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin in Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. 
 
Glory Crampton is a veteran Broadway actress & singer. She performed the role of “Christine” in Phantom of the Opera  as well as starring in The Fantasticks, My Fair Lady, Hello Dolly, Carousel and Guys and Dolls amongst many others.
 
Gary Trainor, whose past work includes the West End productions of Beautiful: The Carole King MusicalI Can’t Sing and The Shawshank Redemption, comes to Rothschild & Sons fresh from playing the role of Dewey in School of Rock.
 
Others in the cast are David Delve, Richard Dempsey, Tom Giles, Tom Lloyd, Kris-Marc Joseph, Joanna Strand, Tony Timberlake and Stephen Webb.
 
American musical theatre composer Jerry Bock, who died in 2010, received the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama with Sheldon Harnick for their 1959 musical Fiorello! and the Tony Award for Best Composer and Lyricist for the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof, again with Sheldon Harnick
 
 Sheldon Harnick began his career in the 1950’s with songs in revues both on and off-Broadway. As well as creating Fiorello and Fiddler on the Roof with Jerry Bock, they also wrote She Loves Me (Grammy), The Apple Tree and The Rothschilds. Other musicals include Rex (Richard Rodgers), A Wonderful Life (Joe Raposo) and A Christmas Carol (Michel Legrand). Harnick also contributed songs to the films ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ and ‘Blame It on Rio’ (music by Cy Coleman) and Aaron’s ‘Magic Village’ (music by Michel Legrand). The 1970’s saw Sheldon Harnick’s entry into the field of opera. His collaboration with Jack Beeson produced Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, Cyrano, and Dr. Heidegger’s Fountain of Youth. Among his other opera collaborations are Coyote Tales (Henry Mollicone) and Love in Two Countries (Thomas Shepard). In 2016 he was awarded a Tony Lifetime Achievement Award.
 
Director Jeffrey B. Moss is an award winning director whose work includes the development of new plays and musicals such as Golden Boy and Rags as well as Before The Dream , Passin’ It OnThe Jazz Club, Mermaids, based on the MGM film, and Charles Strouse’s Real Men. He has staged over 35 national and international tours.  Recent productions include the debut of Legally Blonde in China. New York shows include Mayor, Some Enchanted Evening and Rothschild & Sons.
 
Musical director Ben van Tienan’s credits include the UK tours of Funny Girl, Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsWest Side Story, and The Rocky Horror ShowChicago (Hong Kong) and Ordinary Days (Australia). He has worked extensively as an Associate Music Director on Wicked (Singapore), Doctor Zhivago (Australia, Seoul), West Side Story (Australia, Europe) and Chicago (Australia, Singapore).
 
New York based choreographer Denis Jones’ credits include Roundabout Theatre Company’s  Holiday Inn (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Chita Award nominations for Best Choreography),  Honeymoon in Vegas and Mary Poppins at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse.
 
Costume design is by Pam Tait whose work at the Royal Court has included Restoration and Top Girls. She has also designed for film and TV including ‘Politician’s Wife’, ‘Queer as Folk’ and ‘Sid and Nancy’.
 
Lighting designer Jack Weir’s design for The Boys In The Band (Vaudeville Theatre)  was nominated in the 2016 WhatsOnStage Awards and The Broadway World Awards for Best Lighting Design. He was double nominated and short-listed in the 2016 OffWestEnd awards and in 2014, he was recipient of the ETC award from The Association of Lighting Designers. 
 
Video & projection are designed by Louise Rhoades-Brown. Her recent credits include Bugsy Malone(Leicester Curve), The Trial of Jane Fonda (Park Theatre), Ray Mears Tales Of Endurance (UK Tour),An Evening With Ray Mears (UK Tour), Box Of Photographs (Polka Theatre) and Legally Blonde(Leicester Curve).
 
Arnold Mittelman has had a distinguished career of artistic and educational achievement creating almost 300 diverse productions of plays, musicals and special events. He has helped found and/or lead four major not-for-profit theatres as well as producing numerous commercial theatrical productions for Broadway, off- Broadway and the West End. In 2007 he was named President and Producing Artistic Director of the not-for-profit National Jewish Theater Foundation (NJTFoundation.org ). For over two decades Arnold Mittelman was the Producing Artistic Director of the renowned Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida.
 
 
Listings information:
 
 
Venue: Park200, Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP
Dates: 24 January – 17 February
Times: Evenings Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Thu & Sat 3pm
PN:                  Monday 29th January, 7pm
Ticket prices: Previews £18.50, Standard £20.00 – £29.50, Concessions £18.50 – £22, Child £15, Young Patrons £10 (24 – 31 Jan), Groups: buy 10 tickets get the 11th free
Telephone booking fee: 10% (capped at £2.50 per ticket)
Box office:       020 7870 6876www.parktheatre.co.uk
 
Twitter: @Rothschild_Sons/ @parktheatre
Instagram: @Rothschild_Sons/theparktheatre
Facebook: Rothschild & Sons /parktheatrelondon
 

Lazarus Theatre’s year-long residency at the Greenwich Theatre continues with Golding’s 20th Century epic: Lord of the Flies.

AWARD WINNING
LAZARUS THEATRE COMPANY
 
  • William Goldings’ 20th Century epic Lord of the Flies announced as show 2 in Lazarus Theatre Company’s year-long residency at the Greenwich Theatre.
 
Lord of the Flies
William Golding, Adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams
In association with the Greenwich Theatre
13th – 24th March 2018
The Greenwich Theatre
Directed by Ricky Dukes
 
“What are we? Humans? Animals? Or savages?”
 
William Golding’s explosive 20th century classic hits the stage in an all new ensemble production. Eleven children, one island… an incredible adventure turns into a fight for survival.
 
Lord of the Flies is the second production in our year-long residency at the Greenwich Theatre which begins in January 2018 with the return of our ★★★★★ production of Marlowe’s Edward II.
 
Artistic Director’s Note
“Goldings’ novel is one of the greatest examinations of our society, a truly modern classic, to stage a brand-new ensemble production of Lord of the Flies as part of our year-long residency at the Greenwich Theatre is a real honour.
Ricky Dukes, Artistic Director
 
Listings
Dates 13th – 24th March 2018, Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
Venue The Greenwich Theatre
Tickets £25.00, £15.00, £10. Concessions are £15 on top price seats.
PRESS NIGHT Thursday 15th March 2017 at 7.30pm
 
Social Media:
Twitter @Lazarustheatre #Golding #LordoftheFlies / Facebook LazarusTheatreCompany
★★★★★ “This remains a visionary company who have once again brought us a stunning and thoughtful adaptation. Not to be missed.”
View from the Gods on Tamburaline

Cast announced for The Claim | UK Tour | November 2017 – January 2018

Cast announced for The Claim
UK Tour: 22nd November 2017 – 31st January 2018
Shoreditch Town Hall, London: 16th – 26th January 2018
Press night: Wednesday 17th January 2018, 7.45pm

Ncuti Gatwa (Romeo and Juliet, Home Theatre; Shakespeare in Love, Duke of York Theatre; 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, Globe Theatre), Yusra Warsama (The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Universal Pictures; Sonnet Sunday, The Globe; Our Girl, BBC1) and Nick Blakeley (Theresa Vs Boris, BBC2; Twelfth Night, Orange Tree Theatre; Goodbye Christopher Robin (Fox Searchlight) will bring the world premiere of The Claim to life.

The Claim is a comically absurd and quietly shattering journey to the heart of our tolerant and fair society. Written by Tim Cowbury (Made in China) and directed by Mark Maughan (Michael Grandage Company), The Claim explores one of the most pressingly global issues facing society today: migration and the prejudice that surrounds it. Accompanied by wraparound activities designed with organisations like UNESCO, The Claim is the only contemporary work to both satirise and humanise everyone around the Home Office interview table.

Serge stands before us. He has a performance to give. But why is he here? What is he claiming has happened to him? And what has Willy Wonka got to do with it?

The Claim gently invites you into the most British of interviews, then morphs into a dizzying onslaught of bureaucracy and prejudice. The play simultaneously abstracts and faithfully charts the journey of a single asylum claim. A bold, imaginative response to the stories of those seeking refuge in the UK, The Claim asks what happens when your life is at stake and all you have to save it
are your words.

Cowbury comments, We live in a time that’s more fractiously globalised than ever before, where the language of place and identity is unprecedentedly loaded and paradoxical. Few situations embody this moment as absurdly and tellingly as the substantive interview at the heart of every asylum claim in the UK. The interview room is a cauldron of words, in which refugees are asked to define themselves via a translator in a way that satisfies the UK’s criteria. Behind the barrage of questions asked of refugees are deeper questions we need to ask of the ourselves: who we are, what we stand for, what histories we may or may not have moved on from.

As solitary ‘guest’ Serge is subjected to the quiet violence of questions from two nameless ‘hosts’, The Claim mines the asylum system to expose more deep-seated problems and surreptitious prejudices in the UK. Cowbury’s excitingly intense and fast-paced dialogue uses word-play to create a gently absurd metaphor for an unjust system that disguises itself as an instrument of justice.

Using much first hand research into the refugee experience in the UK, the creative team have spent two years researching and developing the show by spending time at immigration courts, working closely with asylum seekers and refugees and working with representatives from migrant organisations. Key organisations the team have worked with include: Freedom From Torture,
GRAMNet, Counterpoints Arts, Right to Remain, Ice and Fire and Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre.

A comprehensive programme of wraparound activities will provide audiences and participants with safe spaces for learning, reflection and dialogue. Activities include: a specially commissioned series of testimonies written by refugees in collaboration with Freedom From Torture, one-off legal surgeries for those soon to face the Home Office interview, post-show discussions, Q&As and much
more.

The Claim seeks to not just raise awareness, but to ask bigger questions of the UK’s relationship with asylum seekers.

Box Office Tickets are available from individual theatre box offices.
See https://www.theclaimshow.co.uk/.
Twitter #theclaimshow

Performance Dates
22nd – 23rd Nov The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield – 7.45pm
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

28th Nov – 2nd Dec The Bike Shed, Exeter – 7.30pm
www.bikeshed.co.uk

10th – 13th Jan Royal Exchange Theatre, Mancheser – 7.30pm
www.royalexchange.co.uk

16th – 26th Jan Shoreditch Town Hall, London – 7.45pm
www.shoreditchtownhall.com

29th Jan Gulbenkian, Kent – 7pm
www.thegulbenkian.co.uk

31st Jan Platform Theatre, Glasgow – 7pm
www.platform-online.co.uk

EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION COMES TO SHOREDITCH TOWN HALL

A Wardrobe Ensemble, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, and Shoreditch Town Hall co-production

education
education
education

  • FOLLOWING SELL-OUT EDINBURGH SUCCESS THE WARDROBE ENSEMBLE’S EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION WILL TRANSFER TO SHOREDITCH TOWN HALL FROM 17 – 21 APRIL 2018

THE PRODUCTION WAS THE WINNER OF BOTH THE SCOTSMAN FRINGE FIRST AWARD AND THE STAGE EDINBURGH AWARD
Award-winning theatre company The Wardrobe Ensemble has announced today that their smash-hit Edinburgh Festival production Education, Education, Education will come to Shoreditch Town Hall from 17-21 April 2018. Recipient of The Scotsman Fringe First Award and The Stage Edinburgh Award the production played through August to both sold out audiences and widespread acclaim at the Pleasance Dome and is currently on a UK tour.

Following their exploration of sex, relationships and intimacy in 1972: The Future of Sex, The Wardrobe Ensemble dissects education and responsibility at the dawn of Blair’s Britain in 1997 in Education, Education, Education. Recent winners of The Kevin Spacey Foundation Artists of Choice for theatre, The Wardrobe Ensemble use irreverent humour and inventive theatricality to confront issues that are most pertinent to the twenty-first century experience.

It’s May 1997. Tony Blair has won the election and Katrina and the Waves have won Eurovision. Channel 5 is a month old. No one knows who Harry Potter is.

At the local secondary school it’s a different story. Miss Belltop-Doyle can’t control her year 9s, Mr Pashley has been put in charge of a confiscated tamagotchi and Miss Turner is hoping that this muck up day goes more smoothly than the last. Things can only get better.

Education, Education, Education follows bright but disruptive student Emily Greenslade through the day, as she takes justice into her own hands with far-reaching consequences.

Education, Education, Education is The Wardrobe Ensemble’s love letter to the schools of the 90s and asks big questions about a country in special measures, exploring what we are taught and why, and where responsibility lies.

The cast of Education, Education, Education will include: Greg Shewring (Paul McIntyre), Ben Vardy (Tim Pashley), Kerry Lovell (Louise Turner), Jesse Meadows (Susan Belltop-Doyle), Emily Greenslade (Emily Greenslade), James Newton (Tobias) and Tom England (Hugh Mills). Education, Education, Education has been devised by The Wardrobe Ensemble and directed by Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton.

Earlier this month The Wardrobe Ensemble also announced that it will now work in collaboration with international touring theatre company Complicité as part of their Complicité Associates programme. Work as part of this relationship will be presented in 2019.

Education, Education, Education is a co-production between The Wardrobe Ensemble, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, and Shoreditch Town Hall, supported by Kevin Spacey Foundation and Arts Council England. The production was rehearsed and developed at Royal & Derngate.

LISTINGS

A Wardrobe Ensemble, Royal & Derngate and Shoreditch Town Hall co-production:

Education, Education, Education
17 – 21 April 2018, 7.30pm
Press Night: 18 April 2018
Box Office: 020 7739 6176 / www.shoreditchtownhall.com