Month: February 2018

Theatre 503 – until 3 February.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Lughnacy’s debut production is a charming relationship comedy drama that ensures the audience leaves with a definite warm and fuzzy feeling.

Bea (Orla Sanders) is dating the much younger Ellie (Leah Kirby), and is happy when they are together, but keeps her at arm’s length and will not commit fully to their relationship. At Bea’s birthday party (planned by Ellie), she sits alone and strikes up an awkward conversation with transvestite Jemima (John James). Intrigued by Jemima’s apparent self-awareness, confidence and charmed by her wit, Bea begins to meet with her, much to Ellie’s disgust. Once they spend the night together, Bea realises that she is attracted to Jemima, not James, and withdraws from both relationships.

Writer Joanne Fitzgerald has created three memorable characters, with Jemima flirty and bristly as a form of self-protection, and looking and acting much younger as James without his armour of makeup, but ultimately demonstrating a more empathetic and caring nature than either woman. Ellie is a complete pain in the backside, with her obsessive planning and future mapped out, but again Fitzgerald peels back the layers, with the help of alcohol, to reveal their neediness and loneliness beneath. Bea at first comes across as selfish and a bit cold, but again Fitzgerald reveals the mental anguish behind her actions as the play progresses.

Of all the flawed characters, Jemima/James seems to be the happiest in their own skin, and the gender politics and prejudices of their situation is never overstressed in the script. The pauses and glances say much more than words, and the tone never becomes preachy – Fitzgerald trusts the audience to grasp the play’s message themselves. The dialogue is witty and sharp, and even though some jokes are near the knuckle, you never feel that you are laughing AT the characters.

The cast work well together, with fine performances all round. The cast all excel in the latter stages as their characters are stripped of artifice. The ending leaves you hoping that these three lost souls have finally found the family they deserve.

This is writer Joanne Fitzgerald’s first full-length play, and it has great potential. I liked the simple uncluttered design and the moving panels, whether they were meant to symbolise Bea’s compartmentalised life or simply to show the shape of the room, the choreographed movement worked well most of the time. The Latin beat and dancing between scenes was a nice touch too, but, for me, slightly overused. With a little less business between scenes and perhaps a few additional scenes that expand on Bea’s past, this could be a tighter and even more satisfying production.

Him Not Her is only running for one week, but hopefully we’ll see this play again soon, and I am looking forward to seeing more from Lughnacy Productions.

The Lowry, Salford – until 3 February 2018.  Reviewed by Marcus Richardson

5*****

Hamlet, one of the most notable tragedies in not just theatrical but total history, the famous Shakespeare play is noted for its famous ‘To be, or not to be’ line. The just as famous Royal Shakespeare Company is known for giving a lot of the Bards play an exciting and modern feel to his plays whilst staying true to the text. Set with an indigenous African background whilst also set in Denmark.

The prestigious company never fails to live up to the name and always impresses the masses, the cast is the highlight of classical British theatrical talent and training, whilst finding the balance between relevant and engaging acting and the poetry that is Shakespeare. The main character of which the play is named, Hamlet (Paapa Essiedu) is a prince driven to forms of insanity after the death of his father. We follow his path of revenge and we see how people are manipulated though the new king, who is Hamlet’s uncle. The whole cast did not have a single mishap or any falters, this I can only expect from the company, we are given moments for ecstatic energy from job and comedy to the shocking moments that capture the tragedy to a t.

Rosencrantz (Romayne Andrews) and Guildenstern (Eleanor Wyld), the dynamic duo that are known throughout the theatrical world, the actors had such a good chemistry onstage capturing the true essence of friendship and friendliness.

The set and costume measures up to the cast, an impressive display of grand stage work. With costumes taking inspiration from African royalty, through this we are given this elegant, regal and aesthetic image throughout the whole entire show. Every since moment of the show a photo could be taken and you would have a poster material shot. What I found rather pleasing is that the actors weren’t confined to the stage and the whole venue became the performance space, this brings a whole new aspect and immersive show.

The show is a beautiful sad tale of revenge, the cast has total control and understanding of Shakespeare and this is the prime of classical acting in Britain, if not the world. This is one of the shows that I speak of living up to the bards name, the acting is done in a way that you don’t have to know Shakespeare to understand what is going on, this is the main thing that makes the play amazing.

NEW CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE WEST END

SMASH HIT THE COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY AHEAD OF ITS SECOND BIRTHDAY

 

Created by Mischief Theatre

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields

 

Ahead of its second birthday in the West End this spring, the critically acclaimed and Olivier Award-nomi nated The Comedy About A Bank Robbery announces a new company. After a year of good behaviour at the Criterion the second company have been released on parole, with a new band of inmates starting performances from 27 February. Joining the cast are Samson Ajewole (Cooper), Jenna Augen (Ruth Monaghan), Jack Baldwin (Officer Shuck), Leonard Cook (Robin Freeboys), Matt Douglas-Hunt (Mitch Ruscitti) and Peter McGovern (Warren Slax). Continuing their roles as the bars-crossed lovers are Samuel Fogell (Sam Monaghan) and Holly Sumpton (Caprice Freeboys), and literally completing the cast is Chris Leask (Everyone Else).

The understudies are Jack Whittle, Lydia Fraser, Jean-Luke Worrell, Samuel Thomas and Sarah Gage.

‘The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is one of the flat-out funniest pieces of theatre I’ve ever seen.’  Dominic Maxwell – The Times

 

Mischief Theatre’s smash-and-grab hit The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is a fast, fabulous comedy caper and the funniest show in the West End!

Summer 1958. Minneapolis City Bank has been entrusted with a priceless diamond. An escaped convict is dead set on pocketing the gem with the help of his screwball sidekick, trickster girlfriend… and the maintenance man. With mistaken identities, love triangles and hidden agendas, even the most reputable can’t be trusted. In a town where everyone’s a crook, who will end up bagging the jewel?

Book now for this dynamite comedy. It would be criminal to miss it!

Samson Ajewole plays Officer Cooper. Previous theatre credits include Damn Yankees (The Landor Theatre), The Life (English Theatre, Frankfurt) and La Cage Aux Folles (UK tour).

Jenna Augen plays Ruth Monaghan. Previous theatre credits include The Knowledge (Charing Cross Theatre), The Witches (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Bad Jews (Arts Theatre, St. James Theatre and Theatre Royal, Bath), The Way of the World (Chichester Festival Theatre), Sleeping Beauty (Birmingham Repertory Theatre) and Chicken Soup With Barley (Royal Court Theatre). Her work for television includes Episodes, The Night Watchand Penelope in the Treehouse.

Jack Baldwin plays Officer Shuck. Previous theatre credits include The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre), Hamlet (Park Theatre), The Time of Your Life (Finborough Theatre), The Sessions (Royal Albert Hall), The Exquisite Corpse (Southwark Playhouse), Twelfth Night, As You Like It (Cockpit Theatre), Dare Me to the Desert (King’s Head Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Shakespeare Conspiracy (Chelsea Theatre), To the Green Fields Beyond, Titus Andronicus (Linbury Studio), Messiah (The Bunker) and 10x10x10 (Pleasance Theatre).

Leonard Cook plays Robin Freeboys. Previous credits include The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre).

Matt Douglas-Hunt plays Mitch Ruscitti. He made his theatre debut in the Australian and New Zealand touring production of Jersey Boys and has most recently played Nick Massi in the final West End cast of Jersey Boys at Piccadilly Theatre.

Samuel Fogell plays Sam Monaghan. Previous theatre credits include The Donkey Show (Pride Camden) and The Marked (Theatre Temoin).

Chris Leask plays Everyone Else. Previous theatre credits include I Need To Vent (The Vaults Festival), The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Apollo Theatre and UK tour), Love Your Soldiers (Sheffield Crucible), Staunch (Arcola Theatre and Theatre503), Just for Fun: Totally Random (Camden People’s Playhouse) and Same Time Next Week (Edinburgh Festival).

Peter McGovern plays Warren Slax. Previous theatre credits include The Christmas Truce (Royal Shakespeare Company), Love’s Labour’s Lost, Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Shakespeare Company and Theatre Royal Haymarket), Barnbow Canaries (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Nell Gwynn (Apollo Theatre), The Madness of George III (Apollo Theatre and UK tour), Squirrels (Orange Tree), An Inspector Calls, The Shape Of Things, Vincent In Brixton (Theatre by the Lake), The History Boys (West Yorkshire Playhouse and UK tour), The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Royal & Derngate, Northampton), Kes (Liverpool Playhouse and UK tour) and Enjoy (Gielgud Theatre and UK tour). 

 

Holly Sumpton plays Caprice Freeboys. The Comedy About A Bank Robbery marks her professional stage debut.

Mischief Theatre was founded in 2008 by graduates of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Starting as an improvised theatre group on the London and Edinburgh fringes, they have grown into one of the UK’s leading theatre companies, winning the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy for The Play That Goes Wrong, and licensing their productions worldwide. Their newest show, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is currently running in London’s West End. In December 2016, Mischief made their TV debut on the BBC with Peter Pan Goes (Olivier Award Nominee 2016) which has also had two sell-out West End seasons, followed by A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong starring Derek Jacobi and Diana Rigg at Christmas 2017. The company is led by Henry Lewis, Artistic Director and Jonathan Sayer, Company Director.

Kenny Wax Ltd is currently producing productions of The Play That Goes Wrong on Broadway, in the West End and on tour in the UK. Following its continuing success in the West End, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery embarks on a UK tour in Summer 2018. In 2017 he produced a stage adaption of the Fellini masterpiece La Strada and a new Around the World in 80 Days. Kenny presented the world première production of Top Hat, which was the recipient of three Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, The Play That Goes Wrong which won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy 2015, WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Comedy and Best Play at the Broadway World Theatre Awards, Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Olivier Award nominated) and Once On This Island (Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 1995). Productions this year include a stage adaptation of Jilly Murphy’s The Worst Witch.

Directed by Mark Bell with Nancy Zamit for Mischief Theatre; Designer: David Farley

Costume Designer: Roberto Surace; Lighting Designer: David Howe

Associate Lighting Designer: Matt Leventhall; Sound Design: Jon Fiber for JollyGoodTunes

Musical Director and Arranger: Joey Hickman

 

 

 

The Comedy About A Bank Robbery Listings

Criterion Theatre, 218-223 Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, London, W1V 9LB

 

Box Office: 0844 815 6131

www.bankrobberycomedy.com

Twitter: @BankRobberyPlay

Facebook: BankRobberyComedy

PERFORMANCE TIMES

Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 7:30pm

Saturday matinee at 2:30pm, Sunday matinee at 3pm and Sunday evening at 7pm

TICKET PRICES

Sunday evening – Thursday:

£49.50, £39.50, £35.00, £29.50, £25, £20, £15, £10

Premium Seats £69.50

Friday – Sunday Matinee:

£52.50, £42.50, £38.00, £32.50, £28, £23, £18, £10

Premium Seats £72.50

 

AGE

11+

Lyric Hammersmith Announces
2018 Evolution Festival

The Lyric Hammersmith today announces it will be bringing its Evolution Festival back for a third year. Evolution showcases artists aged 16 – 25, celebrating the ground-breaking and exciting work beingproduced by young people in the capital. The four day multi-art form festival will run from Wednesday 14 – Saturday 17 March 2018.

This year the festival celebrates the importance of the individual and explores the idea of ‘Self’. The topics and related themes involve the discussion of identity, race, gender, health, stereotypes and culture. The Evolution Festival creates a safe and creative space for artists to share their work, represents the diverse and multi-cultural talent in London and allows artists to connect with a wider audience.

The festival features several projects developed by the Lyric including Stains, a collaboration with Wimbledon College of Art; The Blind Truth previously a scratch performance in Evolution 2017; and The Room of Possibilities performed by Journeys, the Lyric’s integrated company of disabled and nondisabled performers.

The festival will also premiere the newly formed Lyric Ensemble’s work in progress, directed by international director Anne Louise Sarks, ahead of their summer show.

Sean Holmes, Artistic Director of Lyric Hammersmith said: ‘Everyone here can’t wait for our third Evolution Festival. Vibrant, surprising and uniquely Lyric’.

For last year’s Evolution Festival the Lyric worked with 106 artists and performers aged between 16- 25. 67% of the artists were from BAME backgrounds and 82% of participants were female. The Lyric welcomed over 1,000 young people into the venue across 13 different shows and events and 65% of these audiences were new to the Lyric. Some of the productions showcased last year went on to be performed at the Ovalhouse, The Vaults Festival, and Camden People’s Theatre and have received funding from Arts Council England.

LISTINGS

Stains
Wed 14 & Thu 15 March 2018
7pm, 60 mins

A man is on trial for a crime of passion and self-preservation. In his final meeting with his defence lawyer he is offered a plea deal. He wants to tell a different story.

Inspired by verbatim accounts, Stains shines a light on the untold stories of the constant struggles of dealing with micro-aggressions.

Talks: Survival of the Fittest
Wed 14 March 2018
7:30pm, 60 mins
FREE

A panel discussion exploring the question “Is there enough space for us all to create?” This conversation will focus on the struggles of becoming an artist. Is it a competition or a collaboration? Our expert panellists will relate their experiences before opening it up to the floor.

Express Yourself
Wed 14 March 2018
8pm, 60 mins
Ages 16+

Join four young artists for an evening of new and developed work exploring the theme of self. The evening will feature: Make Love by Violet Vincent, Autistic Artistic by Jody Nolan, N.P.B.D by Alexandria Macleod, Feels by TD.Moyo and Weak Tea by Daniel Bailey

Talks: Black Is The New Black
Thu 15 March 2018
7:30pm, 60 mins
FREE

A discussion focussing on colour blind casting and whether or not it works. We will be exploring the pros and cons of colour blind casting using a range of recent stories, experiences and our expert panel.

Love Letters
Thu 15 & Fri 16 March 2018
8:30pm, 60 mins

‘My love has made me selfish… I see no further. You have absorb’d me’ John Keats. Love Letters is a show that explores the age old theme LOVE. Request your favourite love song, send us a love letter, sit back and enjoy a celebration of our greatest ability. Directed by Stef O Driscoll.

Lyric Ensemble: Work in Progress
Thu 15 & Fri 16 March 2018
8pm, 60 mins

The Lyric Ensemble is a group of 15 actors led by international director Anne Louise Sarks. The ensemble have been working together since September and this is your chance to catch a sneak preview of their work in progress before they showcase their full show in June 2018. Be one of the first to see this dynamic and surprising company in action.

The Blind Truth
Fri 16 & Sat 17 March 2018
7pm, 60 mins

Set in a dystopian future, The Blind Truth depicts a world in the aftermath of a war caused by inequality and injustice. Survival is key and there is hope in the remaining survivors. Four teenagers get an unexpected opportunity to share their stories of discrimination.

Journeys: The Room of Possibilities
Sat 17 March 2018
3pm & 6pm, 60 mins

In a world where we are faced with barriers at every turn the Journeys company have created a room where anything is possible…

Come and watch them make the most daring attempts and achieve the greatest feats. In this space it will be messy and wild and anything will be possible.

Journeys is a company of disabled and non-disabled actors and performers who seek to create new worlds in their performances.

Reel Talks: Wonder Women of
the Arts
Sat 17 March 2018
6:30pm, 90 mins
FREE

An intimate discussion with actors, producers, and directors. A prestigious panel will be talking about their experiences and answering any questions you might have about the industry and your own career.

Express Yourself
Sat 17 March 2018
8pm, 60 mins
Ages 16+
Join four young artists for an evening of new and developed work revolving around the theme of self. The evening will feature: For Heavens Cake by Rachel Vogler, Tentacles by David Gilbert and Rebecca Phillips, Shove It In by Aaliyah Antoine, Boys Like Us by Mateus Daniel and Rush by Tiwalade Olulode.

Fresh Faced Film Fest
Sat 17 March 2018
8:30pm, 60 mins
FREE

The fourth Fresh Faced Film Festival curated by TEAfilms in association with the Lyric Hammersmith will not disappoint. A selection of quality films by young directors will be showcased in front of a panel of film industry professionals.

AZ Mag Live Night
Sat 17 March 2018
From 9pm
Tickets £5

Celebrating the talents of young BAME people in the UK with a focus on LGBT+ performers. After last year’s sold out AZ Mag Live, expect an evening of poetry, singing and dance; hosted by AZ Magazine’s very own, Tay.

Bringing the sounds is one of London’s hottest DJ’s, Carmen London, with a fresh set giving you the chance to shake a leg and wrap up Evolution 2018.

Faces in the Crowd

March 13th – 31st, White Bear Theatre

Upstanding Productions brings the 10th anniversary production of Leo Butler’s raw and devastating Faces in the Crowd to the White Bear Theatre in March, examining the impact of 21st Century social and financial crises to the ordinary lives of a couple trying to make their way.

“bleakly funny (…) unbearably excruciating (…) catches the mood of the moment”  The Daily Telegraph on the Royal Court’s production of Faces in the Crowd

When Dave moved south to London he left behind his family, wife Joanne and mounting financial woes in favour of a playground of riches, sex and shopping. 10 years on and Joanne wants payback…with interest. Faces in the Crowd offers an insight into 21st century London and the debts we accrue in the wake of seeking out our ambitions.

“performances are clever and raise the game in this wistful adaptation” The Stage on Upstanding Productions’ Time of My Life

Upstanding Productions’ aim is to make inclusive, accessible theatre and film that focuses on the unheard voices, stories and issues of marginalised groups; making the marginalized mainstream. Previous shows have enjoyed critical acclaim at Riverside Studios, the Park Theatre and recent sell-out at The Tabard Theatre, Alan Ayckbourn’s Time of My Life.

Leo Butler was born in Sheffield in 1974. His work includes Made of Stone; Redundant; Lucky Dog (Royal Court); Heroes (National Theatre Education Tour); I’ll Be the Devil (RSC/Tricycle Theatre); The Early Bird (Queen’s Theatre, Belfast/Finborough Theatre); Juicy Fruits (Paines Plough/Traverse Theatre/Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester); Alison! A Rock Opera (co-composed with Daniel Persad – Royal Court/King’s Head Theatre/Spread Eagle Theatre); and Boy (Almeida Theatre).

Law Ballard’s directing work includes Upstanding Productions’ sell-out run of Alan Ayckbourn’s Time of My Life at The Tabard Theatre; Dahlia, which premiered at The Pleasance Theatre; the Immersive piece Unresolved at Stratford Fringe; and in collaboration with Cultercated Theatre and Theatre Delicatessen For Russia With Love.

★★★★★ “this production is a delight” The Times on The Lift

Grand Opera House York are delighted to announce that the 2018/19 pantomime will be CINDERELLA.

Three Bears Productions returns for the third year with everyone’s favourite pantomime, CINDERELLA.  The panto will run from Friday 14 December 2018 until Sunday 6 January 2019.  The cast will be announced at a later date.

Emily Thane from the Grand Opera House and Danielle Cooper from Principal York get in the Cinderella spirit with a backdrop of the magnificent staircase at the Principal York Hotel.

 

Reviews from last year’s pantomime Beauty and The Beast:

‘Everything about this production is outstanding. The sets are sumptuous, and the choreography (Emily Taylor) is brilliant, really top notch.’  York Mix

 

‘I like a good panto – and I wasn’t disappointed with this one.  Featuring lots of famous faces from the TV, it was full of giggles, songs and slapstick comedy.’  Yorkshire Wonders

 

Tickets are on sale now!

Box Office: 0844 871 3024

Online: www.atgtickets.com/york

 

Love, life and death at Nature Morte
Guildhall Art Gallery’s alternative celebration of Valentine’s Day
Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AR
Date: Friday 16th February 2018, 7pm – 10pm
Exhibition dates: Thursday 7th September 2017 – Monday 2nd April 2018

As romantic clichés take over, Guildhall Art Gallery is offering an alternative Valentine’s Day experience, inviting you to celebrate something that we all have in common: life and death. Inspired by the core themes in Nature Morte, this Late event promises an enjoyable night of music, art, drawing, and cocktails.

Watch a top-notch Victorian entertainment show, enjoy a variety of activities (including still life drawing, flower pressing or tote bag making) and hear a talk about ‘ethical’ taxidermy with Jazmine Miles-Long. DJ Museum of Vinyl’s life and death-inspired playlist will provide the soundtrack to the evening

Nature Morte, one of the largest exhibitions ever presented by the City of London Corporation at Guildhall Art Gallery, illustrates how leading artists of the 21st century have reinvigorated still life. With over 100 pieces from different disciplines going beyond the two-dimensional, including sculpture, digital, and sound, Nature Morte displays works by artists including Mat Collishaw, Michael Craig-Martin, Gabriel Orozco and Marc Quinn.

Elizabeth Scott, Head of Guildhall Art Gallery & London’s Roman Amphitheatre, said, Nature Morte celebrates the age-old themes of life and death and yet, when you reflect on these themes, love isn’t very far away. Life, death and love go hand in hand, and what better way to explore these themes than an alternative Valentine’s Day Late that celebrates the romantic, morbid and life-affirming?

The exciting events programme is as follows:

Talk on ‘ethical’ taxidermy with Jazmine Miles-Long (7pm and 8.15pm, Basinghall Suite)
Described as an ‘ethical’ taxidermist, Jazmine Miles-Long produces work using only animals that have died from natural causes. This is an exciting opportunity to discover and understand the techniques used to create her work. The audience will be able to handle objects and tools that show the process of taxidermy in different stages, while Jazmine also reveals some of the romantic stories in taxidermy historically. [please note: no dead animals will be used during the
talk.]

Memento Mori Still Life: Death Drawing workshop with Art Macabre (7 – 10pm, Undercroft)
Join London’s purveyors of death-positive creativity, Art Macabre, to create your own unique memento mori collage. Be inspired by a contemporary twist on a traditional still life set up in the space, with objects from fruit and bones to symbols of modern life. Cut and paste a DIY design that will remind you of your own mortality. A reflective, creative activity to help you explore and draw inspiration upon looking death in the face.

Don’t go into the Cellar present ‘Tea with Oscar Wilde’ (split into three acts, taking place at intervals throughout the evening, Amphitheatre)
A chat show with a difference brought to you by Don’t Go Into The Cellar! Theatre Company – the British Empire’s finest practitioners of top-notch Victorian entertainment. Join Oscar Wilde as he interviews a leading celebrity of the Victorian era, recounts a story or two and invites his audience to get ‘Caught in the Act’! Jonathan Goodwin plays the famed Victorian wit, in a show packed with comedy, music and audience participation.

15-minute tours of Nature Morte with Curators (Michael Petry, Roberto Eckholm (Museum of
Contemporary Art)) (7.30pm, 8.30pm, 9.30pm)
Join the curators of Nature Morte for a brief introduction to the exhibition, as they will highlight particular works and discuss what inspired them to create the show. This major exhibition is one of the largest shows ever presented at Guildhall Art Gallery – with works displayed by artists including Mat Collishaw, Michael Craig-Martin, Gabriel Orozco and Marc Quinn.

DJ Museum of Vinyl (7-10pm, Victorian Gallery)
Museum of Vinyl will be spinning an eclectic mix of sounds inspired by, and exploring the themes of, life and death.

Flower pressing ‘make and take’ activity (7-10pm, Victorian Gallery)
Flora has traditionally held a special place in the still life tradition. Explore the relationship between this symbolic motif and the passing of time, whilst pressing flowers and using your artistic skills to create your own keepsake to take away.

Tote bag decorating ‘make and take’ activity (7-10pm, Victorian Gallery)
Using stamps and stencils displaying the common themes of still life – flora, fauna, food, domestic objects and vanitas – you can decorate a tote bag and express your own thoughts on life, death and the transience of time to make your own still life creation in the form of a tote bag!

Nature Morte has been assembled by MOCA London.

The City of London Corporation, which owns and manages Guildhall Art Gallery, invests over £100m every year in heritage and cultural activities of all kinds. It is the UK’s largest funder of cultural activities after the government, the BBC, and Heritage Lottery Fund. It is also developing Culture Mile between Farringdon and Moorgate – a multi-million-pound investment which will create a new cultural and creative destination for London over the next ten to fifteen years. This includes £110m funding to support the Museum of London’s move to West Smithfield and £2.5m to support the detailed business case for the proposed Centre for Music.

THE LAST SHIP
FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR STING’S DEBUT MUSICAL
Opens 12 March 2018 at Northern Stage, ahead of UK & Ireland Tour

The full cast and creative team has been announced for the UK premiere of The Last Ship – the acclaimed musical by internationally renowned musician Sting – which is to premiere in the UK when it opens at Northern Stage in Newcastle on 12 March 2018.

Rehearsals for the production, which has a TONY-nominated original score and lyrics composed by Sting, began this week. It will play from 12 March – 7 April in Newcastle before embarking on a major UK & Ireland Tour.

The Last Ship, which was initially inspired by Sting’s 1991 album The Soul Cages and his own childhood experiences, tells the story of a community amid the demise of the shipbuilding industry in Tyne and Wear.

Writer and director Lorne Campbell said, “We have brought together a remarkable cast and team of creatives from across the UK with a core of incredible performers from the North East, many of whom are only a generation away from the shipyard workers of the Tyne and the Wear. This personal connection to the project brings an enormous passion and resonance to the company.”

The casting of Joe McGann (Jackie White), Charlie Hardwick (Peggy White), Richard Fleeshman (Gideon Fletcher) and Frances McNamee (Meg Dawson) was announced last month.

Completing the cast are Michael Blair (Yard Worker), Joe Caffrey (Billy Thompson), Matt Corner, (Young Gideon & Yard Worker), Marvin Ford (Ferryman & Yard Worker), Orla Gormley (Cathleen & Yard Worker), Annie Grace (Mrs Dees), Sean Kearns (Freddy Newland & Old Joe), Katie Moore (Ellen Dawson), Charlie Richmond (Adrian Sanderson), Parisa Shahmir (Young Meg), Kevin Wathen (Davey Harrison) and Penelope Woodman (Baroness Tynedale).

This personal, political and passionate new musical from multiple Grammy Award-winner Sting, is an epic account of a family, a community and a great act of defiance. The Last Ship features an original score with music and lyrics by Sting as well as a few of his best-loved songs; Island of Souls, All This Time and When We Dance. It is the proud story of when the last ship sails.

Joe McGann, perhaps best known for his lead role as Charlie Burrows in the TV comedy series The Upper Hand, has had a wide career spanning theatre, television and film. Theatre credits include Elf (Plymouth Theatre Royal/ Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin, Dominion Theatre, West End, and Lowry, Salford); The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (UK Tour); Calendar Girls (three UK tours), Oliver! (London Palladium), Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (UK Tour, 2008), Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls (2006 ATG UK Tour).

Charlie Hardwick played Val Pollard from 2004 to 2015 and again in 2017 in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. For this role, she won the 2006 British Soap Award for Best Comedy Performance. Stage credits include Hyem (Theatre 503/Northern Stage) and Double Lives (Live Theatre).

Richard Fleeshman is a familiar face on our stage and screens having been acting since the age of 12 when he played the role of Craig Harris in Coronation Street for four years. A talented singer-songwriter, Richard’s stage roles include Sam Wheat in Ghost the Musical, a part he originated and played in the West End on Broadway, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls (UK Tour) and Bobby Strong in Urinetown (original West End production).

Frances McNamee is currently appearing alongside Kelsey Grammer in Big Fish (The Other Palace). Other stage credits include The Mother (Tricycle), Love’s Labour’s Lost, Love’s Labour’s Won (RSC), Punishment Without Revenge (Arcola/Theatre Royal Bath/Belgrade Coventry), Pride and Prejudice (Regent’s Park), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Royal and Derngate), The Borrowers (Northern Stage), Epsom Downs (Salisbury Playhouse), The Phoenix of Madrid, The Surprise of Love (Theatre Royal Bath) and Les Misérables 20th Anniversary Gala Performance (West End). Her film credits include Love in Fifteen Minutes.

The show is directed by Lorne Campbell, the artistic director of Northern Stage and has set design by the Tony Award-winning 59 Productions – the team behind the video design for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The Last Ship has orchestrations by Rob Mathes musical direction by Richard John, costume design by Molly Einchcomb, movement direction by Lucy Hind, lighting design by Matt Daw and sound design by Seb Frost. Other members of the creative team are dramaturg Selma Dimitrijevic, associate director Jake Smith, casting director Jenkins McShane Casting and associate musical director Sam Sommerfield.

Lorne Campbell said, “It has been in incredible journey to work with Sting and the rest of the team on shaping a show that hopes to connect to the political musical theatre legacies of Joan Littlewood and John McGrath in telling the story of epic societal change through the lens of those working communities
who are always the first to feel its effects.

“It is with great excitement we start rehearsals this week. Working from Sting’s remarkable score and lyrics, we have spent the last year building a show that not only tellsthe story of the resilience defiance of communities during the end of an era in British industrial history but also about the legacies of deindustrialisation
and the weakening of worker’srightsin the United Kingdom that we are living through today.”

North P&I Club will sponsor The Last Ship at Northern Stage. Paul Jennings, Joint Managing Director at North P&I Club said, “Northern Stage is one of the main cultural centres in Newcastle and their production of Sting’s The Last Ship has a strong historical resonance for North. As a leading mutual marine insurance group, North has provided commercial shipping insurance since we were founded in Newcastle in 1860. We’ve also been very impressed by the way Northern Stage outreach programmes engage with local communities and young people across the region and we hope this sponsorship will be the catalyst for more local businesses to support Northern Stage.”

The Last Ship is produced by Northern Stage in association with Karl Sydow and Kathryn Schenker. The show is at Northern Stage from 12 March to 7 April. For more information or to book tickets visit www.northernstage.co.uk

https://thelastshipmusical.co.uk/

www.twitter.com/LastShipOnStage

https://www.facebook.com/LastShipOnStage/

#TheLastShip

2018 TOUR DATES
Monday 12 March – Saturday 7 April
NORTHERN STAGE
northernstage.co.uk | 0191 230 5151

Monday 9 – Saturday 14 April
LIVERPOOL PLAYHOUSE
everymanplayhouse.com | 0151 709 4776

Monday 16 – Saturday 21 April
THE NEW ALEXANDRA, BIRMINGHAM
atgtickets.com/Birmingham | 0844 871 7647

Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 April
ROYAL & DERNGATE, NORTHAMPTON
royalandderngate.co.uk | 01604 624 811

Monday 30 April – Saturday 5 May
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
leedsgrandtheatre.com | 0844 848 2700

Monday 7 – Saturday 12 May
NOTTINGHAM PLAYHOUSE
nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk | 0115 941 9419

Monday 14 – Saturday 19 May
WALES MILLENIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF
wmc.org.uk | 029 2063 6464

Monday 4 – Saturday 9 June
BORD GAIS ENERGY THEATRE, DUBLIN
bordgaisenergytheatre.ie | +353 1 677 7999

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 June
FESTIVAL THEATRE, EDINBURGH
edtheatres.com | 0131 529 6000

Monday 18 – Saturday 23 June
THEATRE ROYAL GLASGOW
atgtickets.com/Glasgow | 0844 871 7647

Monday 25 – Saturday 30 June
YORK THEATRE ROYAL
yorktheatreroyal.co.uk | 01904 623 568

Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 July
THE LOWRY, SALFORD
thelowry.com | 0843 208 6000