Behind the Scenes of a World Premiere

BEHIND THE SCENES OF A WORLD PREMIERE IN LEEDS

Watch the 3 minute film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyt0HFHFLWY

 

 

Phoenix Dance Theatre are preparing for their World Premiere this week and have released images of their rehearsals giving a sneak peek behind the scenes.

Windrush: Movement of the People is a contemporary dance piece commemorating the 70th anniversary of the arrival of SS Empire Windrush, the ship that brought the first large group of immigrants from the Caribbean to the UK in 1948 – it opens at West Yorkshire Playhouse this week, running from Wednesday 7thto Saturday 10th February before going on tour.

“I’m very excited about this new piece of work,” says Choreographer and Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance, Sharon Watson. “This event is a monumental part of UK history and it had a huge effect on our cultural landscape. To retell a version of the story in dance has been incredible to work on.”

Fusing music and dance to create the production uses a multi-cultural cast to tell an international story and celebrates a culture that is now part of the country’s fabric.

From 1948 to the present day; from Calypso to RnB via Blues, Ska and Reggae, composer Christella Listrassupports the story with an original soundtrack to the lives of the Caribbean British people and wider Black British Communities.

Windrush will be presented alongside Shadows by Christopher Bruce and Calyx by Sandrine Monin.

The World Premiere of Windrush: Movement of the People is at West Yorkshire Playhouse

7 – 10 February 2018 at 7.30pm

 

Tickets are on sale now priced from £13.50 to £31

Book online at wyp.org.uk or call Box Office on 0113 213 77 00

 

It then tours to:

Theatre By The LakeKeswick; Cast, Doncaster, Curve, Leicester; Schrittmacher, Aachen, Germany;

The Peacock Theatre, Sadlers Wells London; Birmingham Arts Centre; Northern Stage, Newcastle

 

LISTINGS:

 

Theatre By The LakeKeswick

Tuesday 20th February 2018 at 7.30pm

Tickets: £10 to £18

Box Office: www.theatrebythelake.com  / 017687 74411

The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

Tuesday 27th February 2018 at 7.30pm

Tickets: £19

Box Office: www.everymantheatre.org.uk / 01242 572573

Cast Doncaster

Wednesday 7th March 2018 at 7.30pm

Tickets: £16.50 U26: £14.50 Schools: £10

Box Office: www.castindoncaster.com / 01302 303 959

Curve Leicester

Friday 9th and Saturday 10th March 2018

Tickets: £10 to £16

Box Office: www.curveonline.co.uk / 0116 242 3595

 

Schrittmacher, Aachen, Germany                   

22 – 25 March 2018

http://www.schrittmacherfestival.de/

 

The Peacock Theatre, Sadlers Wells London

Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 April 2018 at 7.30pm

Tickets: £15 to £29

Box Office www.sadlerswells.com / 020 7863 8000

 

Birmingham Arts Centre

Friday 4 and Saturday 5 May 2018 at 7:30pm

Tickets: From £14.40

Box office: macbirmingham.co.uk / 0121 446 3232

 

Northern Stage, Newcastle

Wednesday 9th and Tuesday 10th May 2018 at 7.30pm

Tickets: From £10

Box Office: www.northernstage.co.uk / 0191 230 5151

Dame Berwick Kaler announces his 40th pantomime

Forty years on, Berwick Kaler is The Grand Old Dame of York

York’s legendary long-serving dame Berwick Kaler has announced the title of his 40th pantomime at the Theatre Royal.

Traditionally, he reveals the title of the forthcoming show on the last night of the panto – and this year was no exception. After the curtain came down on the final performance of this year’s highly successful production of Jack & the Beanstalk, he announced to the packed auditorium that the title of the 2018-19 pantomime as The Grand Old Dame of York.

As well as starring as Dame, Berwick writes and co-directs the world-famous pantomime with the cast including his regular panto ‘family’ including Martin Barrass, David Leonard and Suzy Cooper. York Theatre Royal Artistic Director Damian Cruden co-directs a show that is affectionately known by performers and the regular audience as ‘the same old rubbish’.

After playing panto villains, Berwick first put on a frock in Cinderella at York Theatre Royal in 1977. He played Philomena, one of the Ugly Sisters. He made his York debut earlier that year as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Apart from two years (1986 and 1987) when he was appearing in London’s West End, he’s been the Grand Old Dame of York ever since.

His opening words “Me babbies, me bairns” have become his catchphrase along with hurling Wagon Wheels into the audience and giving out bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale.

His first York panto script was for Aladdin in 1981. An absence of plot has become one of the hallmarks of his scripts. “Plots are for cemeteries,” he once joked. As well as variations on regular panto titles such as The Lad Aladdin and Robin Hood & His Merry Mam, he has created original pantos including Dick Turpin The Panto.

Panto co-director Damian Cruden said:

“This year is Berwick’s 40th and we are celebrating with a brand new pantomime The Grand Old Dame of York. The regular team will be back and we’re already hard at work in preparing next year’s extravaganza.

“Tohave served the York community with such steadfast dedication for 40 years is a huge achievement. Berwick is the nation’s greatest Panto Dame and he stands as equal to the greats like Dan Leno, Stanley Baxter and Jimmy Logan. He has created his very own unique Dame as all the greats do, with annual outings that have unstintingly entertained the people of York and beyond.

“Each year he creates a completely new pantomime with a team of dedicated professionals at YTR. His determination to maintain high production standards is echoed in YTR’s commitment to providing the best for our audiences. The York Panto with Berwick as its Dame is a yearly celebration with our community not to be missed!”

The Grand Old Dame of York will play from Thursday 13 December 2018 to 2 February 2019.

Tickets will go on sale on 1 March in person only from the York Theatre Royal box office.

The Show Making Headlines Around The World Announces Eight Of The Best!

THE SHOW MAKING HEADLINES AROUND THE WORLD ANNOUNCES EIGHT OF THE ‘BEST’

Lennon’s Banjo cast complete with original Beatles’ drummer Pete Best, who will also make guest appearances

Lennon’s Banjo makes its world stage premiere at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre in April – and the show is already making headlines around the world as one of the most hotly anticipated productions of 2018.

The final cast member in a brand-new comedy stage play coming to Liverpool about the quest to find John Lennon’s missing childhood banjo has been revealed.

Liverpool stage actor Danny O’Brien completes the exciting line-up of Lennon’s Banjo. The cast also includes Eric Potts, Mark Moraghan, Jake Abraham, Lynn Francis, Stephanie Dooley, Alan Stocks,and Roy Carruthers.

Also, it was recently announced that The Beatles’ original drummer Pete Best, will play himself in three special performances of the show’s two-week run.

 

Produced by Pulse Records Ltd in association with Bill Elms, Lennon’s Banjo opens at the Epstein Theatre on Tuesday 24 April, continuing through until Saturday 5 May. Tickets are on sale now.

Lennon’s Banjo is written by Rob Fennah, who will also co-produce the show. No stranger to theatre, Fennah wrote the stage play adaptation of Helen Forrester’s Twopence to Cross the Mersey which has enjoyed success spanning 20 years.

 

It was John Lennon’s mother, Julia Lennon, who introduced him to the world of pop music, teaching him to play rock and roll on a banjo, given to her by John’s grandfather. The play is about a quest to find the holy grail of pop memorabilia – the first instrument John Lennon learned to play, which has been missing for 60 years and is now worth millions to whoever finds it.

Mysteriously, the banjo went missing shortly after Julia’s death. One thing is certain though, if it did resurface it is estimated to be worth in the region of five million pounds.

Set in present day Liverpool, Lennon’s Banjo is based on the 2012 novel Julia’s Banjo written by Rob Fennah and Helen A Jones. A mix of fact and fiction, the production will be directed by Mark Heller.

For the first time, the full plot and characters featured in the stage comedy can be revealed.

 

LENNON’S BANJO – THE PLOT

When Beatles tour guide Barry Seddon (Eric Potts) finds a letter written by John Lennon, he unearths a clue to solving the greatest mystery in pop history – the whereabouts of Lennon’s first musical instrument which has been missing for 60 years. But Barry’s loose tongue alerts Texan dealer Travis Lawson (Danny O’Brien) to the priceless relic.

In an attempt to get his hands on the letter and the clues, he persuades his wife Cheryl (Stephanie Dooley) to befriend the hapless tour guide and win his affections. The race for the holy grail of pop memorabilia is on!

 

LENNON’S BANJO – THE CHARACTERS

 

Coronation Street and Doctor Who’s Eric Potts will play tour guide and Beatle nerd Barry.

Barry lives for just one thing, The Beatles. His love for the Fab Four is all consuming and probably the main reason he has never had a girlfriend. Oblivious to ridicule by his workmate, Sid, and so-called friends, Joe and Steve, he has only one true admirer, Brenda.

Star of Coronation Street and Emmerdale, Mark Moraghan joins the cast to play the part of ‘Beatles Shop’ co-owner Joe. Joe is the older brother of Steve. Both ex dock-workers, Joe harbours a nagging sense of guilt for persuading Steve to go into partnership with him and buy The Beatles Shop. After 20 years in the shop, all his hopes and dreams of a better life have long since evaporated.

Liverpool’s own Jake Abraham takes on the role of disgruntled ‘Beatles Shop’ co-owner Steve who, along with his brother Joe, has grown tired of his business tenure. Steve resents working in The Beatles Shop and misses the camaraderie of his old workmates. He feels his life is wasting away and craves for a more glamorous existence. Opening a bar in Tenerife is his ultimate goal.

Lynn Francis will play work-weary pub landlady Brenda. Brenda has clearly been through the mill. But underneath her dull appearance there still remains an attractive woman crying out for love. Unimpressed by loud-mouthed admirers like Sid, Brenda has her eyes set on a much gentler soul…Barry.

Danny O’Brien will be appearing in the role of Travis. Texan native Travis is not afraid to risk everything if it means making a fast buck.  But underneath the bullish bravado lurks a gentler character. Despite causing his wife no end of grief with all the wheeling and dealing, he desperately wants to be a winner and make her proud.

Stephanie Dooley has also joined the cast to play the part of Texan, Cheryl. Stephanie is best known for her roles in Emmerdale and Casualty.  Long suffering Cheryl does her best to stand by her husband Travis. She is the common sense in the marriage and tries to reign Travis in whenever she feels he’s getting over ambitious. She rarely succeeds.

Appearing in the role of Sid is Alan Stocks. A throw back to 50’s teddy-boy era, Sid fancies himself as a ladies’ man but in reality women wouldn’t touch him with a bargepole. Always on Barry’s case, Sid sees the tour guide as an easy target and enjoys winding him up at every opportunity.

Roy Carruthers will play ruthless Texan businessman Tony DeVito. Tony DeVito oozes the confidence of a successful businessman. Never seen without a cigar hanging from his mouth, he is used to getting what he wants. DeVito’s bravado is propped up by his hired muscle, Carl and Wayne.

Ex-Beatle Pete Best will appear as himself in three performances. Alan Stocks will portray Pete Best in all other performances during the two-week run.

Pete Best was The Beatles’ drummer between 1960 and 1962, playing more than 1,000 live performances including nightclubs and dance halls in both Liverpool and Hamburg. He recorded 27 songs as a Beatle, and he also played The Beatles’ very first show in Liverpool at the Casbah Coffee Club. Pete will appear in the 2.30pm and 7.30pm shows on Wednesday 25 April, and the 7.30pm show on Saturday 5 May.

Lennon’s Banjo’s are delighted to be working with its Fab Four Production Partners who are The Cavern Club Liverpool, The Beatles Story, Hard Days Night Hotel, and The Beatles Shop.

LISTING INFORMATION


LENNON’S BANJO

Epstein Theatre Liverpool
Tuesday 24 April – Saturday 5 May 2018

Preview Performance 24th April – ALL SEATS £16

Group Rates Available

HOW TO BOOK

 

Tickets are on sale now. 

EPSTEIN THEATRE

ONLINE:          www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk

CALL:               0844 888 4411

IN PERSON:     Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ | Mon-Thu 2pm-6pm, Fri & Sat 12pm-6pm

TICKETQUARTER
ONLINE:
          www.ticketquarter.co.uk

CALL:               0844 8000 410

IN PERSON:     Echo Arena Box Office, Kings Dock, Liverpool, L3 4FP | 12noon on Echo Arena event days, and from 9am – 6pm on Fridays

HARRIET WALTER AND CRAIG DAVID ANNOUNCED AS NEW PATRONS FOR NUFFIELD SOUTHAMPTON THEATRES

HARRIET WALTER AND CRAIG DAVID ANNOUNCED AS NEW PATRONS FOR NUFFIELD SOUTHAMPTON THEATRES

Ahead of the opening of their new venue – NST city, Nuffield Southampton Theatres today announces that Harriet Walter and Craig David will join the theatre as patrons, working alongside Samantha BondLaura CarmichaelTom Hiddleston and Celia Imrie. They also join the recently announced new associates, Inua Ellams and Drew McOnie adding to the breadth of ambassadors for the theatre.

As patrons of Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Walter and David will support and champion the upcoming season of work as well as the launch of the brand-new theatre.

Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Samuel Hodges, commented, ‘’As we prepare to open our brand-new venue – NST City, I am absolutely delighted that Harriet Walter and Craig David will be joining Samantha Bond, Laura Carmichael, Tom Hiddleston and Celia Imrie as patrons of Nuffield Southampton Theatres. They both bring extensive and diverse experience from across the arts making them the perfect pairing to join our team. We have an exciting year ahead of us, so I’m thrilled to welcome Harriet and David’s support ahead of our upcoming season that marks a big leap forward for NST and for the cultural landscape of Southampton.’’

In addition, NST has also launched the new Founding Friends membership scheme. This gives theatre lovers the rare opportunity to take part in a pivotal moment in NST’s history, enjoying a host of exciting events and benefits. Benefits include a naming inscription on the new donor wall at NST City, bespoke tours of NST City, complimentary tickets, invitations to NST press nights and post-show parties with the cast and opportunities to attend read-throughs, technical and dress rehearsals. For more information on getting involved, please visit: www.nstheatres.co.uk/support-usor call 023 8031 5500 x 517.

Listings Nuffield Southampton Theatres

NST Campus, University Rd, Southampton, SO17 1TR

NST City, Above Bar Street, Guildhall Square, Southampton, SO14 7DU

www.nstheatres.co.uk

Twitter: @nstheatres

Facebook: /nstheatres

Legendary Personalities to Join Sir Richard Stilgoe’s Orpheus the Mythical

Legendary Personalities to Join
Sir Richard Stilgoe’s Orpheus – the Mythical
The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JA
Friday 23rd March – 31st March 2018

So here is our story, more ancient than hist’ry,
With monsters and mortals and Gods on their thrones.

This March, the Orpheus Centre celebrate their 20th birthday with a musical extravaganza at The Other Palace. Highlighting their important work, alumni and current students from this pioneering disabilities charity will join forces with recent graduates from the Arts Educational School to present Sir Richard Stilgoe’s Orpheus – The Mythical.

This witty musical comedy of a Greek tragedy follows Orpheus on an expedition hindered at every stage by bored, capricious gods and a dodgy satnav. He joins the heroic Argonauts to vanquish a dragon to steal the legendary golden fleece. But on his return, his quest is not over. He must descend to the Underworld to rescue his wife Eurydice from the depths of Hades. Guiding the telling of this tale, the Greek Chorus will be played on different nights by Jane Asher, Rob Brydon, Bertie Carvel, and more.

Sir Richard Stilgoe said, We are performing with Arts Educational because we do inclusive stuff and not disabled stuff; the whole purpose of Orpheus is to mix young disabled people up with the real world and not separate them. These are terrific and confident performers who concentrate on what they can do rather than what they can’t. Orpheus changes young disabled people’s lives. It changes the lives of the staff and the 98 volunteers who work with them. It changes the lives of everyone who attends one of their shows. It has changed my life immeasurably.

Sir Richard Stilgoe founded the Orpheus Trust in 1998 in his former family home in Surrey to inspire young disabled people to greater independence though performing arts experiences. The Orpheus Centre offers a personalised study programme focusing on building independence, communication and social interaction skills through the arts, supported housing and a personal care service. The students stay at Orpheus for up to three years and are between the ages of 18 and 25 and have learning and/or physical disabilities. The focus
at the Orpheus Centre is on maximising lasting independence for the students.

War of the Worlds Review

Northern Stage, Newcastle – until 10 February.  Reviewed by Andy Bramfitt

4****

No one would have believed…

Ever since the now infamous radio retelling of H G Wells’ science fiction classic, The War of the Worlds has inspired creative interpretation, often using methods and technology of the time and adopting the location to best suit their needs. Jeff Wayne, with his seminal double album, was my favourite, the Tom Cruise Hollywood gloss version by far my least. This new imagining, set in the North East and featuring 4 interwoven stories, is by far the best I’ve seen on stage and one which attempts to leave the audience with a more pertinent twang of realisation in keeping with the current environmental challenges.

The premise is that our 4 characters are but mere ghosts, back to recount their experiences as the first wave of Martian invaders descended onto the North East coastline. Set just before the start of the 20th century, they draw on the undercurrent of change, the feeling that the rich are beginning to get richer and leave the have-nots well behind (something that rings only too clearly in the present day). The technological advancements seem to best serve the middle and upper classes, leaving the poor and working class adrift and struggling to eek out a place. Inequality besets every avenue and yet, through this sudden interruption to the social norm, they witness all levels thrown together in a battle to survive.

Laura Lindow, the writer and creator, has managed to remain very true to the essence of Wells’ original without it feeling like a substitution rewrite, indeed there are elements which most certainly serve to enhance the source text of which Wells would have surely approved. Peppered with colloquialisms and Victorian Geordie, it presents both as a fictional tale and a history lesson rolled into one and is instantly recognisable as Victorian Tyneside.

Lindow’s treatment of this great story is as much an inward reflection on how small mankind is, how pitiful our supposed achievements are and how the words preached about tolerance and coexistence are just hollow gestures; brilliant insight by Wells in 1898 and perfectly in tune 120 years later.

The cast, Jack Lloyd (Ridley), Luke Maddison (Boots), Charlotte Ryder (Jill) and Lauren Waine (Mo) give an imperious lesson in creating characters through the power of suggestion, and James Pickering’s use of a minimal set only serves to keenly focus the attention on the actors. Through their wonderful storytelling the small island stage becomes a moor, a chapel, a shipyard, poverty ridden back streets, tunnels and seashore. The brilliant soundscape of Mariam Rezaei transports you right into the heart of the industrial North yet this familiar aural tapestry is twisted into a threatening and scary horizon, driving the audience towards a precipice of uncertainty and never letting the heart rate drop to a comfortable rest.

Of all the scenes, only the finale felt a little contrived with the cast issuing a warning ultimatum of man’s refusal to protect the planet that protects them – not quite a Daily Mail headline but perhaps one which could have been more implied, leaving the audience to feed more on their own thoughts than being told to do so. That said, the feeling one is left with is simple – substitute the Martians for Big Business, despotic rulers, New World order, blatant commercialism or scant disregard for the natural resources and we too could suffer a cataclysmic disaster from which we will not recover.

Carlos Acosta at the Royal Albert Hall October 2018 – Celebrating 30 years in dance

CELEBRATING THIRTY YEARS IN DANCE
CARLOS ACOSTA
Royal Albert Hall, London 
2nd to 5th October 2018, 7.30pm
Tickets on sale HERE from 10am on Tuesday 6th February

Following on from his retirement from classical ballet in 2016, and to celebrate 30 years as a professional dancer, internationally renowned Carlos Acosta will return to the London stage this autumn to perform a mixed bill at the Royal Albert Hall from 2nd to 5th October 2018.

The full programme for this strictly limited engagement will be announced in due course.

Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta was a Principal Guest Artist of The Royal Ballet 2003–16. He has danced with many of the leading ballet companies in the world. He joined The Royal Ballet in 1998 and became a Principal Guest Artist in 2003. His many roles for the Company included Siegfried (Swan Lake), Albrecht (Giselle), The Prince (The Nutcracker), Des Grieux (Manon), Prince Florimund (The Sleeping Beauty), Basilio (Don Quixote) and Apollo. He has staged Don Quixote and created the new work Carmen for the Company. In the 2017/18 Season he returns as Principal Guest Répétiteur for The Royal Ballet.

Acosta was born in Havana and trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba, going on to dance with the English National Ballet, the National Ballet of Cuba and the Houston Ballet. The culture and history of his home country have been important influences throughout his career, and in 2003 his show Tocororo – A Cuban Tale, loosely based on his childhood, broke box office records at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. His 2007 autobiography No Way Home was a UK bestseller, and he published his first novel, Pig’s Foot, in 2013. His film appearances include in Day of the Flowers and Our Kind of Traitor. Since leaving The Royal Ballet he has founded the dance company Acosta Danza in Cuba and established his own dance school in Havana which opened its doors to its first students in September 2017.

Acosta has received many awards throughout his career, including an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance in 2007, a Prix Benois de la Danse in 2008 and an Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2014 Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. In 2014 he was appointed a CBE for services to ballet.

 

LISTINGS

CARLOS ACOSTA – A CELEBRATION
THIRTY YEARS IN DANCE

TwitterFacebook / Instagram / website

The Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, Kensington, London SW7 2AP

2, 3, 4 and 5 October 2018 at 7.30pm

Box Office:

Website:  www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2018/carlos-acosta-a-celebration

Telephone: 020 7589 8212

Sound of Music – Edinburgh Playhouse Tue 20 – Sat 24 Feb

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE IN 2018
WITH THE ‘5-STAR’ CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
 
THE VOICE FINALIST LUCY O’BYRNE RETURNS AS MARIA JOINED BY EASTENDERS & WEST END STAR
NEIL McDERMOTT AS CAPTAIN VON TRAPP
Bill Kenwright’s ‘Brilliant’ (The Mail) and ‘Stunning’ (The Echo) production of one of the greatest family musicals of all time, The Sound of Music, launches its 2018 tour around the UK on Tuesday 9 January at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley – following a Christmas season at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin from 19 December 2017.
Returning to the iconic role of Maria that has won her rave reviews previously is The Voice finalist Lucy O’Byrne. Joining Lucy as Captain Von Trapp is former EastEnders actor and West End star Neil McDermott. Neil is delighted to join this production of The Sound of Music having previously played the role of Rolf at the London Palladium.
Lucy O’Byrne who returns to the iconic role of Maria, became a household name when she was the runner up of BBC One’s The Voice in 2015. With Will.i.am as her mentor Lucy made history as the first classical signer to reach the final, impressing the nation with her stunning range. She won rave reviews for her performance as Maria Von Trapp in the 2016 UK touring production of The Sound of Music, being hailed as “quite possibly the best Maria since Julie Andrews herself” (The Scotsman) .  Following the tour Lucy won the coveted role of Fantine in Cameron Mackintosh’s world record-breaking musical phenomenon, Les Misérables which she performed in the West End until earlier this year.
 
Neil McDermott takes the role of Captain Von Trapp, famously played by Christopher Plummer in the much-loved film. Neil played the recurring role of Ryan Molloy in EastEnders between 2009 and 2016. Other television appearances include The Royal, Rosemary & Thyme, Doctorsand Casualty. As well as his work on the small screen, Neil is a regular on the stage, with starring roles in the West End including Chief Weasel in The Wind in the Willows (London Palladium); and Lord Farquaad in Shrek (Theatre Royal Dury Lane).
It all began with the story of the Trapp Family Singers and Baroness Maria von Trapp’s 1949 autobiography, which inspired Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse to create a Broadway musical in 1959.
 
The Sound of Music tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of WWII.
The unforgettable score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on stage, including ‘Edelweiss’, ‘My Favorite Things’, ‘Do-Re-Mi’, ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’, ‘So Long, Farewell’ and of course, the title song, ‘The Sound of Music’.
Produced by Bill Kenwright, directed by Martin Connor, choreographed by Olivier Award winner Bill Deamer, musical direction by David Steadman, this critically-acclaimed, wonderfully lavish staging of the classic and heart-warming musical is the perfect way to welcome in 2018.
 
Bill Kenwright presents a new production of
The Sound of Music
Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Suggested by ‘The Trapp Family Singers’ by Maria Augusta Trapp.
Presented by special arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe www.rnh.com
 
 
 
THE SOUND OF MUSIC 2018 UK TOUR DATES
 
Tuesday 19 December – Saturday 6 January                                     Box Office: 00353 1 677 7999
Dublin, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre                                                          Website: bordgaisenergytheatre.ie 
 
Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 January                                                           Box Office: 020 3285 6000
Bromley, Churchill Theatre                                                                       Website: churchilltheatre.co.uk
 
Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 January                                                         Box Office: 0844 871 3011
Birmingham, New Alexandra Theatre                                                  Website: atgtickets.com/Birmingham
 
Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 January                                                         Box Office: 0844 871 7648
Glasgow, Kings Theatre                                                                                             Website: atgtickets.com/Glasgow
 
Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 February                                                         Box Office: 024 7655 3055
Coventry, Belgrade Theatre                                                                     Website: belgrade.co.uk
 
Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 February                                                      Box Office: 029 2087 8889
Cardiff, New Theatre                                                                                  Website: newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
 
Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 February                                                      Box Office: 0844 871 3014
Edinburgh, Playhouse                                                                                 Website: atgtickets.com/Edinburgh
 
Tuesday 27 February – Saturday 3 March                                           Box Office: 01892 530613
Tunbridge Wells, Assembly Hall                                                                              Website:assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
 
Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 March                                                                              Box Office: 023 9282 8282
Portsmouth, Kings Theatre                                                                      Website: kingsportsmouth.co.uk
 
Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 March                                                            Box Office: 0844 871 3019
Manchester, Palace Theatre                                                                    Website: atgtickets.com/manchester

The Tin Foil Astronaut Review

Arc Stockton – 3 February 2018.  Reviewed by Andrew Bramfitt

★★★★ and a big ?

Every journey begins the same way, with the 1st step.

It was a cold & wet Saturday morning, a room filled with over 35 children aged between 2 and 8 and some anxious parents wondering just how soon it will be before anarchy breaks out yet from the very first minute until well after the final scene, every child and grown up was transfixed by the brilliant storytelling, wonderful characters and no small amount of very interesting science.

The Tin Foil Astronaut is an immersive, interactive and totally engaging play about Alba, a wannabee astronaut who, through ingenuity, imagination ( and plenty of tin foil) becomes the youngest person to travel to the furthest reaches of the Solar System. Alba, helped remotely by her Dad and guided by the Man in the Moon, overcomes the barriers of the kids at school thinking she’s a bit weird, ignores the grown ups telling her she’s too small and, despite being late for her tea (fish fingers and beans, her favourite) joins the space race.

Kitchen Zoo (founded by Hannah Goudie and Bob Nicholson and supported by the brilliant music of Jeremy Bradfield) state they ‘aim to create work for young audiences that is playful and vibrant’ and they hit the nail square on it’s bonce with this one. Blending live music, sound effects and puppets with real science, the 3 hand cast transport the audience into a make believe world which who knows, could be just the thing to encourage a young person out there to become the next Brian Cox or Helen Czerski.

If you have any little ones who love space, science or just great storytelling, treat them (and yourselves) to an hour of fun and facts that will leave you all talking for ages afterwards.

The Tin Foil Astronaut will be landing at these places

· 10 February: Arts Centre Washington

· 12 April: Bishop Auckland Town Hall

· 13 April: Queens Hall Hexham

· 14 April: The Witham

· 15 April: Gala Durham

· 22 April: Sage, Gateshead

· 5 May: Lyric, Hammersmith

ANYWHERE at Darlington Hippodrome

Darlington Hippodrome – until 4 February 2018.  Reviewed by Andrew Bramfitt

4****

A thoroughly modern and unique take on a history tour

The newly refurbished Darlington Hippodrome, formerly the Civic and before that the grandly titled The New Hippodrome and Palace Theatre of Varieties has such a rich history that it was begging for someone to take it all and make something of it. Other historic recountings have invested in video or multimedia sessions with the audience sat in a plush new lounge and furnished with an audio guide but that’s not the New Hippodrome’s style. For this, the brilliant ODDMANOUT have been engaged to work with the Hippodrome and the Hippodrome Theatre Company and have produced an innovative, interactive, entertaining and downright fun approach to both guided tour and history lesson.

Starting with a flashmob-esque opening number which I guarantee will leave you with the evening’s earworm, you are brought together in a small group and taken on a behind the scenes and screens tour of the new and old, while along the way being entertained by characters from literary and theatrical stardom.

The ‘cast’ – who seems to morph seamlessly between characters, guides and even audience are brilliant in making the history come alive. Stories from giants such as Carrol & Shakespeare are rammed hard up against the comedic shoulders of Barry & Paul, driven to ‘fight’ by Lewis and then cuddled by the quintessential British Dame, all done as you wind your way through the auditorium, changing rooms, stores and flys. Not only do you get to tread the boards and gaze out at the seats, but you get to spend time in the Green room, intruding on a rehearsal which would fit perfectly with The Play that Goes….

If you have ever been to the Hippodrome (or Civic), if you enjoy theatre in general but wonder what ‘behind’ is like or if you just love great entertainment and watching a very, very good cast please, PLEASE treat yourself and grab a ticket – it’s only on for an hour but it’s so much fun and you may just learn a little. If nothing else you will appreciate why you should take heed that There’s a Fish Train Comin’.