Foil Arms & Hog UK Tour Stops Off At Chester’s Storyhouse

Off The Kerb Productions present:

FOIL ARMS & HOG

OINK UK Tour 2018

STORYHOUSE, CHESTER – FRI 6 APRIL

Quite simply, a sensation” – EDINBURGH FESTIVALS MAGAZINE

 

“An effervescent hour of fast-paced gags, fizzing with energy, invention and great lines” – CHORTLE

 

Very funny” – ROWAN ATKINSON

With nine million hits on their YouTube channel, Foil Arms & Hog have a fast-growing fan-base; their weekly sketches, filmed in Dublin, include the hilarious WTF is Brexit?,US Immigration Test  and How to Speak Dublin.  The boys are equally in their element, however, when performing live to sellout audiences, and for this reason they are taking to the road in 2018 with a big tour of the UK and Ireland and stop off at Storyhouse in Chester on Friday 6th April.

 

If you like the videos, you’ll love the live show OINK, for no better reason than that the show encapsulates all the irreverent mirth of the vids – but with the added bonus of being longer.  And live.

 

OINK is a fast-paced sketch show that features a collection of songs for the elderly, a baggage handler’s interpretive dance, and a shop that naively sells balaclavas and nothing else. Need we say more?

 

And what is, or who are, Foil Arms & Hog? Well they are three young Irishmen by the names of Sean Finegan, Conor McKenna and Sean Flanagan, who met at University College Dublin while studying architecture, engineering and genetics, and decided to give all that up to pursue the noble art of being downright silly, yet observational, yet sometimes very topical and refreshingly philosophical.

 

Since then the boys have come a long way, and as well as fill venues with laughter at their live shows they have embraced the digital universe to become veritable internet stars. Besides the YouTube nine million, they also have well over half a million Facebook followers and a fair few on Twitter too. All because they do concise, tightly-filmed stories that are both culturally relevant and absurd. But most of all, as Rowan Atkinson testifies, the trio are “very funny”.

 

Performing live is what FA&H do best though, and besides their native Ireland they have toured the UK, US and Australia – to rapturous applause. In 2018 they’re touring around Ireland and the UK. It’s guaranteed laughs all round, so go see them live, in the flesh, without a dodgy broadband connection in sight.

 

Further Information & Tickets:  www.offthekerb.co.uk

 

www.foilarmsandhog.ie

www.youtube.com/user/foilarmsandhog

www.facebook.com/foilarmsandhog

@foilarmsandhog

 

TOURING SCHEDULE:

 

MARCH:

 

Wed 14 Mar – Thu 15 Mar     Glasgow Comedy Festival, Garage    0844 873 7353http://www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com

 

APRIL:

 

Friday, 6 April             Chester, Storyhouse              01244 409 113            www.storyhouse.com

 

Saturday, 7 April        Birmingham, Town Hall         0121 780 3333            www.thsh.co.uk

 

Thursday, 19 April      Manchester, Dancehouse     0161 237 1413            www.thedancehouse.co.uk

 

Friday, 20 April           Durham, Gala Theatre           03000 266 600            www.galadurham.co.uk

 

Thursday, 26 April      Exeter, Corn Exchange           01392 665938            www.exetercornexchange.co.uk/

 

MAY:

 

Thursday, 10 May      Hammersmith, Apollo           0208 563 3800            www.eventimapollo.com

TIM RICE AND ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S WORLD RENOWNED MUSICAL MASTERPIECE – EVITA – FROM WEST END TO ‘RAINBOW TOUR’

FROM WEST END TO “RAINBOW TOUR”

 

TIM RICE and ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S

 WORLD RENOWNED MUSICAL MASTERPIECE

 

EVITA

 

 

****

The Independent, The Sunday Times, What’s On Stage, Radio Times, Broadway World, The i, Mail On Sunday, Gay Times, British Theatre

 

*****

‘STUNNING’ Mark Shenton

 

After 10 years in the UK and two West End seasons, Evita is captivating audiences across the world as it continues on an International and UK tour in 2018. Having already visited Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates, the story of an ordinary woman’s meteoric rise to power at a time of extraordinary political unrest is about to embark on a tour of the UK and Italy, opening at Torquay Princess Theatre on the 13 March.

 

Returning to the role of Eva Perón is Madalena Alberto, a role she received critical-acclaim for at London’s Dominion Theatre in 2014. Considered as one of the West End’s prominent leading ladies, Madalena is renowned for some of the most coveted roles in musical theatre, including Fantine in Les Miserábles (25th Anniversary Tour, The Barbican, 02 Arena), Grizabella in Cat(London Palladium) and the title role in Piaf (Leicester Curve)Her most recent credits include The Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol (Lyceum Theatre), Polly in Pollyanna (Tristan Bates Theatre) and a guest lead in BBC’s Holby City. Alongside her acting career, Madalena is a songwriter and performs solo concerts regularly.

 

Fresh from the recent West End production in July 2017, leading Italian performer Gian Marco Schiaretti will continue in the role of Che, a character who reflects the voice of the Argentine people. Linked to Eva by destiny; he brings balance to the story of Eva’s rise to fame. Gian’s most recently played the title role of Tarzan in Disney’s Musical Tarzan, in Stuttgart. Prior to this he played Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet across Italy.

 

Leading London and Broadway performer Jeremy Secomb joins the cast of Evita as Juan Perón. Jeremy most recently starred in the theatre production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Barrow Street Theatre) in the title role on Broadway, previous to which he played Javert in Les Miserables (Queens Theatre) and Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre).

 

The cast is completed by: Oscar Balmaseda (Magaldi); Cristina Hoey (Mistress); Kellie Gnauck (Ensemble); Bethan Jacks (Ensemble); Samuel John Humphreys (Ensemble); Benjamin McMillan (Ensemble); Verity Burgess (Ensemble); Riva Grant (Ensemble); Callum Fitzgerald (Ensemble); Joe McCourt (Ensemble); Emmanuel Alba (Ensemble); Yuval Zoref (Ensemble); Oliver Slade (Ensemble); Jessica Ellen (Ensemble); Kirsty Whelan (Ensemble); Anthony Ray (Ensemble); and Mike Ward (Ensemble).

 

Telling the story of Eva Perón, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Perón, Evita follows Eva’s journey, which ultimately led her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’ by the Argentine people.

 

With more than 20 major awards to its credit, an Oscar winning film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, and featuring some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including Don’t Cry for Me ArgentinaOn This Night of a Thousand StarsYou Must Love Me, and Another Suitcase in Another Hall; Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s extraordinary musical Evita is an iconic classic not to be missed! 

LISTINGS

EVITA 

Lyrics by TIM RICE

Music by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright

Designed by Matthew Wright

Choreographed by Bill Deamer

Sound Design by Dan Samson

 

www.kenwright.com

 

DATES & VENUES 

 

DUBAI OPERA HOUSE                                                             dubaiopera.com

Mon 22 Jan – Sat 3 Feb                                                         +971 4 440 8888

Evening Performance: 8pm

Friday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

TORQUAY PRINCESS THEATRE                                            atgtickets.com/torquay

Tues 13 – Sat 17 Mar                                                             0844 871 3023

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME                                                 birminghamhippodrome.com

Tues 20 – Sat 24 Mar                                                             0844 338 5000

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

TRURO HALL FOR CORNWALL                                                hallforcornwall.co.uk

Tues 27 – Sat 31 Mar                                                             01872 262 466

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

SHREWSBURY THEATRE SEVERN theatresevern.co.uk

Tues 03 – Sat 07 April                                                           01743 281 281

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE                       Swansea.gov.uk/swanseagrandtheatre

Tues 10 – Sat 14 April                                                           01792 475 715

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

CHESTER STORYHOUSE                                                          storyhouse.com

Tues 17 – Sat 21 April                                                            01244 409 113

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

BRADFORD ALHAMBRA                                                         bradford-theatres.co.uk

Tues 23 – Sat 28 April                                                           01274 432 000

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

TURIN TEARTRO REGIO TORINO                                            teatroregio.torino.it

Fri 04 – Wed 9 May                                                    +39 011 881 5557

Monday – Saturday: 8pm

Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

Sunday Matinee: 3pm

 

GLASGOW KINGS THEATRE                                       atgtickets.com/Glasgow

Tues 14 – Sat 19 May                                                            0844 871 7648

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

 

NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL                                                theatreroyal.co.uk

Tues 22 – Sat 26 May                                                            0844 811 2121

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

GRIMSBY AUDITORIUM                                                          grimsbyauditorium.org.uk

Tues 29 May – Sat 02 June                                       0300 300 0035

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

*Casting still to be confirmed for the following dates: 

 

WOKING New Victoria Theatre                                              atgtickets.com/woking

Tues 17 – Sat 21 July                                                             0844 871 7645

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

BROMLEY Churchill Theatre                                        churchilltheatre.co.uk             

Tues 24 – Sat 28 July                                                             020 3285 6000

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

BELFAST Grand Opera House                                                 goh.co.uk

Tues 31 July – St 11 August                                      028 9024 1919

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

BOURNEMOUTH Pavilion Theatre                             bournemouthpavilion.co.uk

Tues 21 – Sat 25 August                                                      01202 055 660
Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm


CARDIFF Wales Millennium Centre                            wmc.org.uk

Tues 26 Aug – Sat 1 September                                         029 2063 6464

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

CRAWLEY Hawth Theatre                               parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth

Tues 18 – Sat 22 September                                                01293 553 636

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

COVENTRY Belgrade Theatre                                      Belgrade.co.uk

Tues 25 – Sat 29 September                                                02476553055

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

LONDONDERRY Millennium Forum                           millenniumforum.co.uk          

Tues 9 – Sat 13 October                                                        028 7126 4455

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre                              aberdeenperformingarts.com

Tues 16 – Sat 20 October                                                      01224 641 122

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

BRIGHTON Theatre Royal                                           atgtickets.com/brighton

Tues 29 Oct – Sat 3 November                                             0844 871 7650

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

 

SOUTHSEA Kings Theatre                                           kingsportsmouth.co.uk

Tues 13 – Sat 17 Nov                                                             023 9282 8282

Evening Performance: 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm

John Dagleish and George Maguire – A Long Way From Home

Adam Blanshay Productions Present:

John Dagleish and George Maguire in

A Long Way From Home

featuring Adam Sopp on Piano

New Wimbledon Theatre is pleased to announce a brand new show in our intimate Time & Leisure Studio featuring Olivier Award winners and stars of Sunny Afternoon John Dagleish and George Maguire

After sell-out London engagements at Live at Zedel and Pizza Express Live, come share an evening of stories and songs which have inspired them on their journey through life…from early days at home to the brisk winter days of 2018. This promises to be an intimate and up-close show, with music spanning across eras and genres.

John Dagleish (Sunny Afternoon, A Christmas Carol-Old Vic, A Winters Tale– Garrick Theatre, Beaver Falls, Larkrise to Candleford) and George Maguire (Sunny Afternoon, 20th Century Boy, EastEnders) have many things in common: They both have a love for music; they’ve got crazy vocal skills; they’re both very handy with a guitar; they’ve got amazing hair and they’ve both come A Long Way From Home. Last but not least; they both won Olivier Awards for their roles in Sunny Afternoon.

Don’t miss this evening of music in our intimate studio Space

Listings

Show A Long Way From Home

Date Sun 25 Feb

Times 8pm

Website http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/a-long-way-from-home/time-and-leisure-studio/

Booking Line 0844 871 7646

THEATR CLWYD: RICHARD HARRINGTON JOINS KATHERINE PARKINSON IN WORLD PREMIERE OF LAURA WADES HOME, I’M DARLING

RICHARD HARRINGTON JOINS KATHERINE PARKINSON IN WORLD PREMIÈRE OF LAURA WADE’S HOME, I’M DARLING
 
Theatr Clwyd and the National Theatre today announce star of Welsh crime drama Hinterland, Richard Harrington will join the previously announced Katherine Parkinson in the world première production of Laura Wade’s Home, I’m Darling. Making her National Theatre debut, Tamara Harvey, Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd, will direct this first-time co-production which opens in the Emlyn Williams Theatre on the 3 July with previews from the 25 June ahead of transferring to the Dorfman Theatre in July.
 
On joining the company Harrington said “I’m so excited to be returning to Clwyd to open their first co-production with the National Theatre and I’m thrilled to be working with Laura and Katherine again under the watchful eye of the formidable Tamara Harvey. Tamara has been creating some incredibly inspiring work up in North Wales, staging the première of this play shows her ambition and as usual I’m terrified. Laura’s work has a unique style that through sheer hard graft feels effortless. Katherine makes it look as natural as breathing in and out. Just hope I can keep up!”
 
How happily married are the happily married?
 
Every marriage needs a little fantasy to keep it sparkling.  But behind the gingham curtains, being a domestic goddess isn’t as easy as it looks…
 
Acclaimed Welsh actor, Richard Harrington, returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Johnny, where his credits includeStone City Blue. Other theatre credits include Coriolanus (National Theatre of Wales), Red Bud and Gas Station Angel (Royal Court Theatre), Look Back in Anger (Theatre Royal Bath), Other Hands and Art & Guff (Soho Theatre), Unprotected Sex (Sherman Theatre) and House of America (Fiction Factory/UK tour). For television he is perhaps most well-known for his role in the crime drama Hinterland. Further credits include Death in Paradise, Father Brown, Inspector George Gently, Requiem, Poldark, Wolfblood, Burton, Larkrise to Candleford, Crash, Land Girls, Collision, Missing, New Tricks, Sold, 5 Days, Bleak House, Dalziel and Pascoe, Spooks, Gunpowder; Treason and Plot, Hustle, Rehab, Hidden City, Score and Care. For film his credits includeThe Dark Outside, The Last Summer, Just Jim, Elfie Hopkins, The Shooter, Daddy’s Girl, The All Together, Joyrider, Mathilde, Secret Passage and House of America.
 
Katherine Parkinson will lead the company in the role of Judy. Her recent theatre credits include Dead Funny(Vaudeville Theatre), Before the Party, The Lightning Play (Almeida Theatre), Absent Friends (Harold Pinter Theatre), 66 Books (Bush Theatre), School For Scandal (Barbican Theatre), Season’s Greetings (National Theatre), Cock and The Seagull (Royal Court Theatre), Other Hands and Flush (Soho Theatre), Cigarettes and Chocolate (King’s Head Theatre), The Unthinkable (Sheffield Crucible), Antigone and The Increased Difficulty of Concentration (Gate Theatre), Camille (Lyric Hammersmith), Frame 312 (Donmar Warehouse) and The Age Of Consent (Bush Theatre). Television credits include Humans, Hang Ups, The Kennedys, The Honourable Woman, The IT Crowd, Extras and Doc Martin. Film credits include Guernsey, The Boat That Rocked, St Trinians 2, How To Lose Friends And Alienate People and Easy Virtue.
 
Laura Wade is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. Her credits include Tipping the Velvet (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, adapted from the novel by Sarah Waters), Posh (Royal Court Theatre and West End), Alice (Sheffield Theatres), Kreutzer vs. Kreutzer (Sydney Opera House and Australian Tour, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Royal Festival Hall and UK tour), Other Hands (Soho Theatre), Colder Than Here (Soho Theatre and MCC Theatre New York), Breathing Corpses (Royal Court Theatre), Young Emma (Finborough Theatre), and 16 Winters (Bristol Old Vic Basement).  Film credits include The Riot Club and Britain Isn’t Eating.  
Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd, Tamara Harvey directs. Her inaugural production for Theatr Clwyd was Much Ado About Nothing, followed by the première of Elinor Cook’s award-winning play, Pilgrims, David Hare’sSkylight and most recently the première of Peter Gill’s version of Uncle Vanya. She has directed in the West End, throughout the UK and abroad, working on classic plays, new writing, musical theatre and in film. Her previous credits include the world premières of From Here To Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre), Breeders (St James Theatre), The Kitchen SinkThe Contingency PlanSixty-Six Books and tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ! (Bush Theatre), In the Vale of Health (a cycle of four plays by Simon Gray), Elephants and Hello/Goodbye(Hampstead Theatre), and Plague Over England (Finborough Theatre & West End). Other theatre includes Kreutzer vs Kreutzer (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse/Royal Festival Hall), Bash (Trafalgar Studios),Whipping It Up (New Ambassadors), One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Gielgud & Garrick Theatres), Educating Rita (Menier Chocolate Factory & Theatre Royal Bath) and Pride and Prejudice (Sheffield Theatres).
 
Theatr Clwyd 
Listings
Raikes Lane, Mold CH7 1YA
Box Office: 01352 701521
Tickets £25 – £10
Twitter: @Clwydtweets Facebook: /TheatrClwyd
 
THE GREAT GATSBY
The Dolphin Hotel
Thursday 22 February – Sunday 25 March
 
THE ASSASSINATION OF KATIE HOPKINS
Emlyn Williams Theatre
Friday 20 April – Saturday 12 May
 
HOME I’M DARLING
Emlyn Williams Theatre
Monday 25 June – Saturday 14 July

Cast announced for Bat Out of Hell at Dominion

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

JIM STEINMAN’S AWARD-WINNING

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL

AT THE DOMINION THEATRE, LONDON

FROM 2 APRIL 2018

GALA NIGHT ON THURSDAY 19 APRIL 2018

With the show’s stellar leads, Andrew Polec and Christina Bennington, previously announced, the full company has now been cast for the 2018 West End run of Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical, winner of the Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical 2017.  Performances will begin at the Dominion Theatre in London on 2 April, with a Gala Night on Thursday 19 April.

The cast of Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical at the Dominion Theatre will be led by Andrew Polec, winner of the Joe Allen Best West End Debut in the Stage Debut Awards 2017, as Strat and Christina Bennington as Raven, with Rob Fowler as Falco and Sharon Sexton as Sloane.  Also starring will be Alex Thomas-Smith as Tink, Danielle Steers as Zahara, Wayne Robinson as Jagwire, Giovanni Spanó as Ledoux and Patrick Sullivan as Blake.  At certain performances the role of Strat will be played by Simon Gordon or Jordon Gage.  Also in the cast will be Kyle Anthony, Emily Benjamin, Christopher Cameron, Georgia Carling, Natalie Chua, Jonathan Cordin, Rob Copeland, Hannah Ducharme, Isaac Edwards, Collette Guitart, Eric Hallengren, Vicki Manser, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky, Aston Newman Hannington, Eve Norris, Joseph Peacock, Kyle Roberts, Craig Ryder, Dawnita Smith, Courtney Stapleton, Julie Stark, Charlotte Anne Steen and Sam Toland.

Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical wowed critics and public alike when it played limited seasons at Manchester Opera House, London Coliseum and Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre in 2017, and has been seen by nearly 500,000 people so far.  The show has received the most nominations for a musical in the 2018 WhatsOnStage Awards, with eight nominations.

Bat Out Of Hell became one of the best-selling albums in history, selling over 50 million copies worldwide.  16 years later, Steinman scored again with Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, which contained the massive hit I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).

For the stage musical, the legendary and award-winning Jim Steinman has incorporated iconic songs from the Bat Out Of Hell albums, including You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth, Bat Out Of Hell, I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, as well as two previously unreleased songs, What Part of My Body Hurts the Most and Not Allowed to Love.

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical is a romantic adventure about rebellious youth and passionate love, set against the backdrop of a post-cataclysmic city adrift from the mainland.  Strat, the forever young leader of The Lost, has fallen for Raven, daughter of Falco, the tyrannical, ruler of Obsidian.  

Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical has book, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography by Emma Portner, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set design by Jon Bausor, costume design by Jon Bausor and Meentje Nielsen, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestration by Steve Sidwell, casting by David Grindrod CDG, fight direction by Stuart Boother and musical direction by Robert Emery.

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Randy Lennox & Tony Smith.

Website:  www.BatOutOfHellMusical.com

Twitter & Facebook:  @BatTheMusical

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical

 

Dominion Theatre

268-269 Tottenham Court Road

London W1T 7AQ

Performances:  Mon-Sat at 7.30pm, Wed & Sat matinee at 2.30pm*

*There is no 2.30pm performance on Wednesday 4 April

Tickets:  from £15.00

Box Office:  0845 200 7982

Current Booking Period:  2 April – 28 July 2018

Running Time:  2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)

Blood Brothers at The Majestic Darlington

This is the play version of the hugely successful musical (which is currently being performed professionally and is not available for amateur performance). Darlington College will perform the lesser known parent of the musical. It tells the tale of twin brothers and what happens when their mother decides to have one of them adopted. Their contrasting upbringing and the hand fate deals them is fast-moving, perceptive and ultimately tragic.

Willy Russell’s career spans more than four decades; born in Liverpool in 1947, he left school at 15, became a women’s hairdresser, part-time singer/songwriter performing on the local folk scene, before returning to education and becoming a teacher Whilst at St Katharine’s College, Willy began writing drama and, in 1972, took a programme of three one-act plays to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

 

This show has been painstakingly put together by performing arts students at Darlington College and please support these young performers.

 

Show starts 1900hrs

Ticket prices £8.50

Tuesday 6 March to Wednesday 7 March

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/228000

The Majestic Theatre – Great Times in the Heart of Darlington

The Majestic Theatre, Bondgate, Darlington, DL3 7JT
P: 01325 633255  
 
Ticket Bookings & Event Listings:
 
Theatre Information: 

A great year for charities at Grand Opera House York

Buckets of donations for local charities

Grand Opera House York is very happy to announce that money raised during the run of Beauty and The Beast for various local charities, such as RDMCC , Brain Tumour Research,  Salvation Army,  Lord Mayor’s charities, York Hospital Dementia Appeal and  SNAPPY (during the Relaxed Performance, came to a staggering £4254.57.

The total raised throughout the year during many of the theatre’s productions came to an impressive £10,999.13.

Clare O’Connor, Deputy General Manager said:

‘After having made the decision to focus largely on local charities, we are absolutely delighted to have raised so much for these very deserving charities over our pantomime season, and indeed over the financial year so far.  This year’s pantomime audience have been more generous than ever, the proceeds of these collections will go a long way to help make a difference to the lives of others, and we look forward to working with more local charities in the coming months.’

Photo of Grand Opera staff members by David Harrison

L to R: Gordon Glover, Clare O’Connor, Megan Conway, Celestine Dubruel.  Front row: Magnus Leslie  

Learning disabled artists react to their treatment in the UK in striking new immersive show

Presented by Access All Areas
Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT
Tuesday 13th – Wednesday 28th March 2018

Learning disabled artists campaign and provoke in a striking new piece of theatre in East London

This March, award winning theatre company Access All Areas will present MADHOUSE re:exit – an interactive, immersive experience at Shoreditch Town Hall, inspired by the institutionalisation of people with learning disabilities in the UK. This innovative production will then transfer to the Lowry’s festival Week 53 in May.

Set in a corporate care facility that promises a revolution in social services, five learning disabled artists will take the audience on a fantastical, disruptive journey that explores what institutions mean to people with learning disabilities today.

With a refusal to be silent, and a history of being ignored, these artists will reside in a maze-like institution, growling to be heard, and waiting for a revolution that is forever promised. Illusionist David Munns questions whether the Victorian label of freak persists today; choreographer DJ Hassan spins between joy and loneliness; Dayo Koleosho asks how easy it is for learning disabled people to live independently; Imogen Roberts celebrates the ancient Olmec tribe who worshipped those with Down Syndrome as gods; and acclaimed performance poet Cian Binchy imagines himself as London’s oldest baby.

Binchy, who was the autism consultant on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and whose autobiographical show The Misfit Analysis is now touring the world, began to respond artistically to how government cuts effect his life after Theresa May was confronted by a voter with a learning disability on the campaign trail. For Binchy, this now infamous exchange highlighted how
little the government understands the support needs of people with learning disabilities

Binchy comments, People with learning disabilities aren’t listened to. There isn’t the right support for people like me with milder learning disabilities. We used to be locked away in institutions for life.  Now we’re just stuck at home, and in some ways it’s like our bedrooms have become like institutions because we’re stuck there with nothing to do. We’re just ignored, and treated like we don’t exist.

Over two years, Access All Areas has been working with people with learning disabilities, both professional artists and community participants, to learn about how previous generations of people with learning disabilities were treated, and to respond to how government policy effects people with learning disabilities today. MADHOUSE re:exit has built on the legacy of Mabel Cooper, a learning disabled resident of a long-stay hospital, who campaigned to have these institutions banned in the UK and pressed the button that blew up one of the last of these hospitals.

Access All Areas will stage unique pop-up performances linked to MADHOUSE re:exit around London before the main performances in March. Cian Binchy will appear at Duckie at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Saturday 3rd February, DJ Hassan at The Places’s Resolution Festival on Monday 19th February and Imogen Roberts at Steakhouse Live Festival 2018 on Sunday 25th February

Artistic Director of Access All Areas, Nick Llewellyn, comments The history of the institutionalisation of people with learning disabilities being locked away in long stay hospitals is a very recent history, with the changes that were long fought for being forgotten and the progress being vanished from the public consciousness. With MADHOUSE re:exit, we cross-reference the past with our current
climate and the lack of a holistic support structures for people with learning disabilities. We examine how the four walls of the hospitals where people were locked away from society are now being replaced with the four walls of people’s bedrooms, as they have a lack of opportunities for engagement or support. We show five different artists’ experiences of contemporary confinement, whilst finding parallels with the past.

Defiantly different (The Guardian on Access All Areas).

MADHOUSE re:exit has been developed with the Barbican, Shoreditch Town Hall, The Lowry, Battersea Arts Centre, Wellcome Trust, Arts Council England, and the Open University.

BIRMINGHAM STAGE COMPANY ANNOUNCE A BRAND-NEW INSTALMENT OF HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN – PART FOUR!

BIRMINGHAM STAGE COMPANY ANNOUNCE A BRAND-NEW INSTALMENT OF HORRIBLE HISTORIES:

BARMY BRITAIN – PART FOUR!

 

Birmingham Stage Company presents

The world premiere of

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN – PART FOUR!

Written and Directed by Neal Foster

2 August – 1 September

Press performances: 3 August 2pm & 4pm, 4 August 11am

 

Apollo Theatre

 

Birmingham Stage Company today announces the world premiere of a brand-new production of Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Four!. This marks Horrible Histories’ seventh year in the West End and makes Barmy Britain the only show in West End history to launch a fourth sequel!

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Four follows the sell-out successes of Barmy Britain – Parts One, Two and Three as well as the most recent ‘Best of’ productions. Barmy Britain – Part Fouropens on 3 August with previews from the 2 August and runs until 1 September. Tickets go on sale via Amazon Tickets pre-sale on 5 February and general sale on 9 February.

 

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! So it’s time to prepare yourselves for Horrible Histories Live on Stage with a brand new show featuring all new scenes in Barmy Britain – Part Four!

Be reduced to rubble by the ruthless Romans! Would you be shaken or stirred by Richard III? Mount a mutiny against King Henry VIII! See Mary Tudor knock the spots off Mary Queen of Scots! Will Queen Elizabeth I endure her terrible teeth? Would you be hanged by King James I for being a witch? Peep into the world of Samuel Pepys and help Georgian detectives find the headless man! Take a trip into the night with the night soil men and discover how to survive the first ever train ride!

After six sensational years in the West End, Barmy Britain is back with a brand-new world première!

Terry Deary is the creator of Horrible Histories and one of Britain’s best-selling authors of the 21st Century. He’s also the tenth most-borrowed author in British libraries. There are around 50 Horrible Histories titles with total sales of 25 million in 40 countries. Terry is also the author of over 200 fiction and non-fiction books for young people including his series of books Dangerous Days.

Neal Foster is Actor/Manager of The Birmingham Stage Company. Since its foundation the BSC has staged over eighty productions and become one of the world’s leading producers of theatre for children and their families. During the BSC’s twenty-six year history, Foster has performed roles including Grandma in George’s Marvellous Medicine, the title role in Skellig at The New Victory Theatre, New York, Storey in Awful Egyptians (Sydney Opera House) and Rex in Barmy Britain(Garrick Theatre and Apollo Theatre). As a director, his work includes Fantastic Mr FoxTom’s Midnight GardenThe Jungle Book (all national tours) and Barmy Britain – Part One! Two!, Three!(Garrick Theatre), The Best of Barmy Britain (Apollo Theatre) and More Best of Barmy Britain(Garrick Theatre). He has adapted and directed the national tours of Awful Auntie and Gangsta Granny by David Walliams. Gangsta Granny made its West End debut at the Garrick last year.

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Four is directed by Neal Foster, designed by Jackie Trousdale, lighting by Jason Taylor, sound by Nick Sagar and music by Matthew Scott.

Horrible Histories Live On Stage shows are created by The Birmingham Stage Company. BSC has been touring Horrible Histories for thirteen years throughout the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, New Zealand and Australia. Other current productions include David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny and Awful Auntie and Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine.

Horrible Histories shows are recommended for ages 5 to 105 (106 year olds may not like them)

www.barmybritain.com

Twitter: @HHLiveOnStage

Facebook: birminghamstage

 

Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain – Part Four Listings

Apollo Theatre

31 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES

Box Office: 0330 333 4809

www.nimaxtheatres.com

Ticket prices: £15.50, £19.50, £24.50, £27.50

Booking fees apply for all on-line and phone bookings, and all tickets include a 50p restoration levy

There are no booking fees for tickets purchased in person at the theatre

2 August – 1 September

Running time: 70 minutes

The biggest wardrobe in ballet: 27 princess tutus, 40 costume rails & 100 wigs

The biggest wardrobe in ballet: 27 princess tutus, 40 costume rails & 100 wigs

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s dazzling production of The Sleeping Beauty returns to The Lowry

At The Lowry from Wed 28 Feb – Sat 3 March 2018

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of The Sleeping Beauty returns to The Lowry from Wed 28 February until Sat 3 March.

The Sleeping Beauty is one of the grandest ballets ever created, with a classical score by Tchaikovsky and original choreography by Marius Petipa. The opulent world of Imperial Russian ballet, with its marvellous mixture of virtuoso dance, fairy tale characters and dazzling spectacle, has delighted audiences for over a hundred years. Sir Peter Wright’s 1984 production for Birmingham Royal Ballet, with designs by Philip Prowse, is acclaimed as one of the best in the world.

Resplendent in a shimmering palette of blush pink and gold, the wardrobe of The Sleeping Beauty is the largest and most complex of any ballet inBirmingham Royal Ballet’s repertory. The expert costume and wig departments begin work as soon as the ballet is announced, preparing themselves for months of repairing and renovating original costumes, dressing wigs and ponytails, fitting new costumes on dancers and ensuring every fine detail will be ready for the opening night of The Sleeping Beauty.

The Sleeping Beauty wardrobe – facts and figures:

The Sleeping Beauty is Birmingham Royal Ballet’s biggest production in terms of costumes and wigs, and the only which requires an entire articulated lorry just for wardrobe.

There are 66 wigs, 31 ponytails and 1 beard in The Sleeping Beauty, all prepared and applied by a dedicated wig department.

There are 40 rails of costumes and 17 wicker skips in The Sleeping Beauty wardrobe – including 4 rails of Princess Aurora tutus alone.

The dancer playing Princess Aurora wears 3 tutus throughout the ballet. With 9 ballerinas cast in the lead role, each with their own complete set of costumes, the wardrobe team must prepare 27 Aurora tutus.

It takes approximately 1 week to make a tutu base, or skirt, and about 4 weeks to complete the entire process. There are usually three fittings with the dancer who will be wearing the tutu.

The court lady dresses weigh just over 1 stone each, and the dress for the evil fairy Carabosse weighs much more.

Many of original costumes are still in use today, including Birmingham Royal Ballet Assistant Director Marion Tait’s own Princess Aurora tutu.

Throughout the run of The Sleeping Beauty, the costume staff can spend up to 3 hours each day repairing costumes.

The Sleeping Beauty produces so much laundry that the washing machines are in constant use throughout the show.

The wardrobe includes 8 baskets of shoes – some ballerinas will use 10 pairs of pointe shoes or more throughout the tour.

Listings

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty
Date: Wed 28 Feb – Sat 3 March
Performance times: 7.30pm, Thu & Sat 2pm.
Tickets: £19 – £50