Month: March 2018

Jack Studio Theatre – until 14 April 2018.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

This is another impressive Arrows & Traps production – an engaging, atmospheric and intelligent adaptation of Chekhov’s classic.

In a provincial garrison town one year after their father’s death, the Prozorov sisters dream of returning to Moscow. Priding themselves on their cultured and educated upbringing in Moscow, the sisters’ scathing and snobbish attitude to the locals is demonstrated most acutely by their treatment of their brother Andrei’s sweetheart Natasha at the beginning of the play.

The sisters never get to Moscow, instead the city becomes a beacon of hope for a new life of fulfilment, freedom and happiness to each of the sisters as their dreams stagnate over the years. Eldest sister Olga (the always impressive Cornelia Baumann) is gradually squeezed out of running the Prozorov household by Natasha after her marriage to Andrei, middle sister Masha (Claire Bowman, in a passionate performance) is unhappily married to local schoolteacher Kulygin (the wonderful Stephen MacNeice – just watch his eyes when he is insisting that he’s a happy man) but begins an affair with dashing officer Vershinin (Toby Wynn-Davies), and youngest sister Irina (luminous Victoria Llewellyn) looking for meaning in her life through work, but longing to find her true love in Moscow, is courted by two very different officers.

Ross McGregor brings the humour of Chekhov’s story to the forefront, so it’s not all doom and gloom, and there are some lovely musical flourishes, including a singalong guaranteed to get your feet tapping. The different philosophical attitudes of the characters are treated with respect, from Vershinin’s hope that small acts will eventually lead to social change to Chebutykin’s nihilism, and their musings aren’t allowed to become too preachy, thanks to McGregor’s dynamic direction.

ART AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson and Stephen Tompkinson are set to star in Yasmina Reza’s Olivier, Tony and Moliere award-winning comedy ART at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 April 2018.

The comedy, which raises questions about art and friendship, concerns three long-time friends, Serge, Marc, and Yvan. Serge, indulging his penchant for modern art, buys a large, expensive, completely white painting. Marc is horrified, and their relationship suffers considerable strain because of their differing opinions about what constitutes ‘art’. Yvan, caught in the middle of the conflict, tries to please and mollify both.

Based on the original production by Matthew Warchus, ART is directed by Ellie Jones and produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers.

David Pugh said: “It is 20 years since Dafydd [Rogers] and I first produced the comedy masterpiece ART in the West End, and the original post-London tour played for 78 weeks. This time, we want to break our own record; in fact, we want to play as many theatres as Sir Ken Dodd played in his wonderful career. With this marvelous cast, we think we have every chance!”

ART is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 April 2018

Tickets are on sale now priced at £14 (RV) to £38.50

(prices include a £3 booking fee. Postage charge £1 where applicable)

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

Hull Girl to Appear in Acclaimed Opera

Skelton Hooper Dancer to appear as Joy in Madama Butterfly at Hull New Theatre

Ellen Kent’s award-winning production of Madama Butterfly returns to Hull New Theatre on 28 March and as always Ellen is making it a community affair with one lucky student from the Skelton Hooper School of Dance and Theatre taking on the role of Sorrow in this exquisite production of Puccini’s masterpiece.

Elicia, aged 3 from Hull, will appear opposite Maria Hee Jung Kim from the National Opera, Seoul, Korea who sings the tragic Cio-Cio San. After being seduced and then deserted by Lieutenant Pinkerton and being shunned by her family and friends, Cio-Cio San names her child Sorrow, ever hopeful that Pinkerton will return so she can rename the child Joy. However when Pinkerton finally does return with his new American wife, Cio-Cio San ends up taking her own life, racked with despair over his betrayal.

Elicia’s mother Suzanne said: “Elicia is really looking forward to being in the opera. She has been reciting her lines every day and has recently done a ballet solo performance so she’s not nervous. She is a very confident and bubbly child; she loves dancing and being the centre of attention”.

Limited tickets for Madama Butterfly are still available. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk.

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR JUDY UPTON’S CONFIDENCE

 

Boundless Theatre presents

CONFIDENCE

by Judy Upton

Director: Rob Drummer; Designer: Amelia Jane Hankin; Sound: Father; Lighting Designer: Zoe Spurr

Southwark Playhouse

Wednesday 23 May – 16 June 2018

 

Boundless Theatre today announces the full cast for a major revival of Judy Upton’s Confidence. First performed in 1998 at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Artistic Director of Boundless, Rob Drummer, directs the previously announced Tanya Burr in the role of Ella. She is joined by Anna Crichlow (Ruby), Vauxhall Jermaine (Edwin), Will Pattle (Dean) and Rhys Yates (Ben). The production opens at Southwark Playhouse on 25 May with previews from 23 May.

 

Mixtapes, Argos catalogue Christmas lists, VHS. Crop tops, chokers, disposable cameras, Boundless Theatre is bringing the 90s back. As another summer season on the seafront gets underway Ella is turning up the heat in a high stakes game to get as far away as possible. Whilst Ruby keeps the café going and Dean mans the ice cream kiosk, Ella learns there’s no fast track to success.

 

‘If you’re not interested in earning a new pair of Nikes by the end of the day…complete designer wardrobe by the end of the week…all the beers you can drink…if you don’t want to meet Uma Thurman…then okay, stay here, as King of the Slackers, that’s fine by me.’

 

Confidence, will explode back on to stage, for a new generation of dreamers.

 

Judy Upton is an award-winning playwright and her stage plays include Ashes and Sand (George Devine Award), Bruises (Royal Court), Sunspots and People On The River, (Finborough Theatre), To Blusher With Love (Channel Theatre), Know Your Rights (Red Room at Battersea Arts Centre), Sliding With Suzanne (Royal Court/Out Of Joint), Team Spirit (National Theatre), The Girlz (Orange Tree Theatre), Gaby Goes Global (New Wimbledon Theatre), Flick To Kick (Cambridge Hotbed Festival), Noctropia (Hampstead Theatre) and Come To Where I’m From (Paines Plough).

 

Anna Crichlow plays Ruby. Her theatre credits include Common (National Theatre), Pride and Prejudice (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and The Lost Art of Lost Art (Edinburgh Fringe Festival). For film her credits include Memento Amare.

 

Tanya Burr makes her professional stage debut as Ella. This year, she has starred in Go90’s Love and Cheese as part of the Love, Daily series. She has appeared in pilot series, Making It, appears in the forthcoming Bulletproof and plays the lead in the forthcoming Disconnect – a short film. Tanya also runs a successful YouTube channel.

 

Vauxhall Jermaine plays Edwin. Theatre credits include Old Man and Princess (Soho Theatre). For television his credits include The Attack, The Five, Suspects, This is England ’90 and the forthcoming The Virtues. For film, his credits include Peter Rabbit, 90 Minutes, Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, Svengali and Weekend.

Will Pattle plays Dean. As a recent graduate of The Brit School this will be Pattle’s professional stage debut.

 

Rhys Yates plays Ben. His theatre credits include Rockstar (Lyric Hammersmith), Table (Stratford Circus). Television credits include Britannia, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, Plebs; and for film Postcards from London and Common People.

 

Rob Drummer joined Boundless Theatre in July 2016 as Artistic Director and his previous work for the company includes Natives by Glenn Waldron. He previously worked as co-director on the company’s production of Sense by Anja Hilling at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA), alongside Andrea Ferran. He was a mentor to emerging playwrights from the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Norway on the European Writers’ Lab component of the company’s Theatre Café Festival. Prior to becoming Artistic Director of Boundless Theatre he was Associate Dramaturg at the Bush Theatre where he ran the Literary Department, responsible for all playwriting work including the commissioning and development of new plays for production. He has established ongoing partnerships with Playwrights of New York (PoNY), delivered projects with Kudos Film & Television and established a partnership with Drama Centre London and Oberon Books on the Student Guide to Writing: Playwriting. Before joining the Bush he was the first Literary Manager for HighTide Festival Theatre where he supported the expansion of the festival, doubling the number of productions and for HighTide he also directed Eisteddfod, Endless Poem and Perish. As a Dramaturg and director he has worked with playwrights at theatres including the National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Contact, York Theatre Royal and Theatre503. He was one of the first recipients of an Artists’ International Development Fund from the Arts Council and British Council and spent time working in South Africa with playwrights and theatre makers at the Baxter and Market Theatres.

 

www.boundlesstheatre.org.uk

@boundlessabound

CONFIDENCE

Listings

Southwark Playhouse 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD

Wednesday 23 May – 16 June

Tickets: £12 – £20

Box office: 020 7407 0234 www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

@swkplay / #boundlessconfidence

Share Cannon and Ball’s Dressing Room

The legendary comics make a welcome return to the city

Funnymen Cannon and Ball invite audiences to join them backstage as their hit show The Dressing Room returns to Hull New Theatre on Wednesday 11 April, by popular demand.

The hilarious comedy play, written by Bobby Ball, combines sitcom with variety and comedy as Tommy Cannon and Bobby find themselves embroiled in the crazy shenanigans of compere Stu Francis and fellow comic Johnnie Casson.

Cannon and Ball shot to fame in the 1980s when they landed their own ITV series the creatively named The Cannon and Ball Show and the duo continue to bring their unique brand of northern comedy to stages across the country to this day, entertaining multiple generations of families.

The Dressing Room gives a nostalgic nod to a bygone era of comedy genius, a genuine laugh out loud experience that will have the entire family rolling in the aisles. Tickets on sale now. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk.

Royal & Derngate announces Christmas double bill of world premieres for its Made in Northampton 2018 season

Jill Murphy’s
The Worst Witch
A new play by Emma Reeves
Directed by Theresa Heskins

Royal stage – Tuesday 27 November to Sunday 30 December 2018

Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb’s
The Everywhere Bear
Directed by Peter Glanville
Composed by Julian Butler

Underground Studio – Thursday 29 November 2018 to Sunday 6 January 2019

As the venue’s Christmas 2017 productions of The Jungle Book and The Singing Mermaid tour the UK, Royal & Derngate’s Artistic Director James Dacre announces two world premiere productions for the venue’s Made in Northampton Christmas line up this year, The Worst Witch and The Everywhere Bear. The Royal’s Christmas Show for 2018 will be an original story for the stage byEmma Reeves (Royal Television Society Award for Best Children’s TV Programme and 2017 British Screenwriters Award for Best Children’s Programme) based upon Jill Murphy’s beloved series of classic novels The Worst Witch. The production will be directed by Theresa Heskins (2017 UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People).

The Worst Witch is the story of an ordinary girl who finds herself in an extraordinary place: a school for witches. Now in her final year, accident-prone Mildred Hubble and her fellow pupils leave a trail of mayhem behind them as they find themselves at the centre of a battle that’s being fought for their future.

The Worst Witch will take to Northampton’s Royal stage from Tuesday 27 November to Sunday 30 December 2018, with a national press night on Friday 30 November. This world premiere production is co-produced with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, Novel Theatre and Nica Burns and will embark on a major national tour after its run at Royal & Derngate.

Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch stories have sold more than five million copies and been made into films and TV series by HBO, ITV and CBBC. Jill commented: “My first trip to the theatre aged four, opened up a magical world – so real to me, that I had to be restrained from climbing onstage to help the children in peril! My mum was quite cross with me, but I never wanted the show to end and sang the songs loudly all the way home on the bus. Imagine how proud I feel, all these years later, seeing my own Mildred Hubble on stage with all the characters from Miss Cackle’s Academy. I still feel thrilled to bits when I go to the theatre and I just know The Worst Witch is going to be a magical production.”

Emma Reeves added: “We’re creating a brand new story as well as revisiting moments from the books. Jealous Ethel Hallow is out to spoil Mildred’s fun, and Miss Hardbroom is opposed to all fun in general. But, without giving too much away, Mildred faces a greater danger than she ever imagined as an old enemy returns, with a plan for revenge that could threaten not just the Academy, but the whole world… “

Winner of the Royal Television Society Award for Best Children’s Television Programme, and of the 2017 British Screenwriters Award for Best Children’s Programme for the television adaptations ofThe Worst Witch, Emma Reeves’ screen writing credits include Eve, The Dumping Ground, Young Dracula and The Story of Tracy Beaker. Her stage work includes the Olivier Award-nominated and critically acclaimed adaptation of Hetty Feather (UK tour and West End).

The production will be directed by Theresa Heskins, Artistic Director of the New Vic Theatre, Staffordshire. Theresa commented: “This year, when we’ve seen the start of a rebalancing of power within our society, it feels like an important time to be creating a play about young women who are learning, collectively and individually, to use their power; and the danger if they decide to use it not for good but for ill.”

Theresa’s past productions include The Snow Queen which won the 2017 UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People. Her wonderfully inventive and hugely popular production of Around the World in 80 Days was nominated for the same award, in both 2015 and 2017, and will tour to America in 2019.

Furthering Royal & Derngate’s commitment to making work in their Underground Studio to introduce young audiences to the magic of immersive theatre, the venue will also be staging another world premiere for Christmas 2018, with an adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb’sThe Everywhere Bear, which comes to Northampton for the festive season after playing at its co-producing venues Polka Theatre and Little Angel Theatre.

This captivating and beautiful story springs to life with rhyme, original music and delightfully expressive puppets in an exciting production, adapted and directed by Polka Theatre’s Peter Glanville (Moominsummer Madness, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, 2014 OFFIE for Best Production for Children for Peter Pan), with music composed by Julian Butler. Aimed at under 7s and their families, the show will run from Thursday 29 November 2018 to Sunday 6 January 2019.

Royal & Derngate’s Christmas 2017 co-production of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, adapted by Jessica Swale with original music by Joe Stilgoe and direction by Max Webster is currently touring the UK. Its upcoming dates include Newcastle Theatre Royal, Plymouth Theatre Royal, Norwich Theatre Royal and Nottingham Theatre Royal. Their production of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ The Singing Mermaid, adapted and directed by Samantha Lane with original music by Barb Jungr is currently playing a 10 week London season with co-producers Little Angel Theatre ahead of further touring across the UK.

For more information or to book tickets, call Royal & Derngate’s Box Office on 01604 624811 or visitwww.royalandderngate.co.uk.

Made in Northampton is sponsored locally by Michael Jones Jeweller.

@RoyalDerngate / #MadeInNorthampton / #WorstWitchThePlay / #EverywhereBear18

www.carolineorchange.co.uk | @carolinewestend

WEST END TRANSFER ANNOUNCED

STARRING OLIVIER AWARD-WINNER SHARON D. CLARKE

Ambassador Theatre Group, Gavin Kalin Productions, Glass Half Full Productions and Rupert Gavin
In association with Hampstead Theatre 
Present
The Chichester Festival Theatre Production of

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Book and lyrics by TONY KUSHNER
Music by JEANINE TESORI
Directed by MICHAEL LONGHURST

• West End transfer announced for Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’scelebrated musical, directed by Michael Longhurst.

• Sharon D. Clarke to reprise the title role of Caroline Thibodeaux.

• Playhouse Theatre, London from 20 November 2018 to 9 February 2019 following sold out engagements at Chichester Festival Theatre and Hampstead Theatre.

• Tickets on sale from 10am on Saturday 24 March 2018 viawww.carolineorchange.co.uk

Caroline, Or Change, the celebrated musical written by Tony Kushner, author of Angels in America, with a soaring score from Tony Award-winning Jeanine Tesori, will transfer into the West End’s Playhouse Theatre from 20 November 2018 to 9 February 2019.

Hailed by critics, in a virtuoso performance as Caroline Thibodeaux, Olivier Award-winning actress Sharon D. Clarke will reprise the title role when the production transfers to the West End this autumn. Further casting is to be announced in due course.

Directed by Michael Longhurst, this five-star production received phenomenal critical praise when it opened at Chichester Festival Theatre last year and again following its transfer to Hampstead Theatre, where it is currently sold-out until 21 April.

Louisiana, 1963. Revolution is in the air, though not so much for Caroline, the poorly paid maid toiling endlessly in the sweltering basement of the Gellman household. It’s a fantastical, magical place amidst the piles of laundry and singing washing machines, especially for eight-year-old Noah Gellman who sneaks downstairs to see her whenever he can. Yet a simple gesture to leave more money in Caroline’s pocket is about to test who and how far the winds of change can ever really reach…

Winner of the 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Caroline, Or Change is a playful, funny, and deeply moving portrait of America at a time of momentous social upheaval, set to an uplifting and profound score of soul, blues, classical and traditional Jewish folk music.

Partly inspired by his own boyhood, the book and lyrics are by Tony Kushner. Kushner is author of the ground-breaking Angels in America, his two-part epic drama about the AIDS epidemic in 1980’s New York which recently ran at the National Theatre, is currently playing at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York, was made into an HBO mini-series and inspired an opera and musical work.Kushner’s film credits include screenplays Fences starring and directed by Denzel Washington, Lincoln, Munich which he co-wrote for Steven Spielberg and forthcoming remake of West Side Story, also for Spielberg. Other credits include The Intellectual Homosexual’s Guide to Capatilism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, Hydriotaphia, Slavs!:Thinking About the Longstanding Problems of Virtue and Happiness and adaptations of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children and The Good Person of Szechwan.

Music is by Jeanine Tesori. Tesori wrote the Tony Award-winning Best Original Score to Fun Home, alongside Lisa Kron’s book and lyrics, the music for Broadway, West End and inernational touring Shrek The Musical, eleven new songs for the stage adaptation of Thoroughly Modern Millie and the score for Broadway production, Violet. In addition to Caroline, Or Change, her work with Tony Kushner includes incidential music for Mother Courage and Her Children and their opera A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck. Film scores include Nights in Rodanthe, The Little Mermaid: Ariels Beginning and Mulan II. Tesori’s opera The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me, premiered at the Kennedy Center in 2013.

Michael Longhurst directs. His credits include the recent revival of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus(National Theatre) and Nick Payne’s Constellations starring Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall at Royal Court and in the West End and with Ruth Wilson and Jake Gyllenhaal on Broadway. Longhurst also worked with Gyllenhaal on his American stage debut in If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet(Roundabout Theatre, New York). Other credits include Gloria (Hampstead Theatre), Belleville(Donmar), Bad Jews (Theatre Royal Bath/West End), and Linda (Royal Court).

Olivier Award-winner Sharon D. Clarke is to reprise her critically-hailed performance in the role of Caroline Thibodeaux. Clarke has enjoyed a long established stage career with credits including Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Amen Corner (National Theatre), Ghost The Musical(Piccadilly Theatre), The Life (Southwark Playhouse), Porgy and Bess (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre) and We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre). On TV, Clarke is known for playing Lola Griffin in BBC’s Holby City.

Ambassador Theatre Group, Gavin Kalin Productions, Glass Half Full Productionsand Rupert Gavin, in association with Hampstead Theatre, present the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Caroline, Or Change. Book and lyrics by Tony Kushner, music by Jeanine Tesori and is directed by Michael Longhurst, with designs by Fly Davis, choreography by Ann Yee, musical direction by Nigel Lilley, lighting by Jack Knowles, sound by Paul Arditti, casting by Charlotte Sutton CDG and children’s casting by Debbie O’Brien.

LISTINGS

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Book and lyrics by TONY KUSHNER
Music by JEANINE TESORI
Directed by MICHAEL LONGHURST
Starring SHARON D. CLARKE 

Playhouse Theatre
Northumberland Ave, London WC2N 5DE

www.carolineorchange.co.uk | @carolinewestend

Performance schedule:

First performance: 20 November 2018
Final performance: 9 February 2019

Monday to Saturday performances at 7.30pm
Thursday and Saturday matinee performances at 2.30pm

Running time: 2 hours and 35 minutes including one interval

Box office details:

Website: www.carolineorchange.co.uk
Telephone: 0844 871 7631
Prices from £20

Musical proving to be a bit of a drag

With just 4 weeks to opening night a local theatre company is finding that musical theatre can be a bit of a drag. Members of Darlington Operatic Society (DarlingtonOS) are putting the final touched to their latest production Priscilla Queen of the Desert – a show that is quite unlike any other.

Based on the 1994 smash hit movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert follows the journey of two drag queens, Tick (Nick Holmes) and Adam (Luke Oldfield), and a transgender woman, Bernadette (Julian Cound), as they travel across Australia in their bus, named Priscilla. Tick has been asked to perform at a hotel in Alice Springs by his estranged wife, Marion. Taking Adam and Bernadette along with him, the trio drive from Sydney to the remote resort town in the middle of the desert.

Tick tells his companions that the trip is a favour to his ex-wife, but does not reveal that he also has a young son he does not know, but who now wants to meet his father. As they head west, Tick, Adam, and Bernadette learn to accept and support each other, whilst encountering a number of strange and colourful characters along the way. Adam is forced to realize that not everyone is accepting of his flamboyant lifestyle, whilst Bernadette opens up to the possibility of love again following the death of her husband. Upon reaching Alice Springs, Tick finally meets his son, Benji, who accepts his father’s drag queen persona. The trio perform at the resort and realize that they have forged a bond that will last forever.

The music for Priscilla is a hit parade of infectious dance songs from the 70s and 80s by Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Donna Summer, The Village People, Kylie Minogue and many others and includes “I Will Survive”, “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, “Hot Stuff”, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, “True Colours” and “I Love The Nightlife.”

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a flamboyant, heart-felt, disco-fuelled musical that is guaranteed to get the audience up on their feet.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 18 to Saturday 28 April. Thursday April 26 is a BSL Interpreted performance. There is a 14+ age recommendation on this show. Tickets are available now from www.darlingtonos.org.uk or by calling the ticket hotline on 01325 244659. Tickets for Priscilla are not available through the Hippodrome box office.

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL

BASED ON THE STORY OF THE SMALL FACES

AT THE AMBASSADORS THEATRE IN LONDON’S WEST END

FROM 28 MARCH TO 2 JUNE 2018

GALA NIGHT ON WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH AT 7.30PM

Full casting is announced for the Ambassadors Theatre run of the critically acclaimed ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL, with book by Carol Harrison and music and lyrics by the Small Faces. The show transfers to the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End on 28 March, following a sell-out season at the Arts Theatre.  The 10-week run at the Ambassadors Theatre will begin with a Gala Night on Wednesday 28 March and will end on Saturday 2 June 2018.  Tickets are now on sale.  

 

Joining the previously announced cast are Mark Newnham as alternate Young Steve Marriott, Rikki Lawton as Jimmy Winston, Tamsin January and Connor Barrister. 

 

Carol Harrison plays Kay Marriott and Chris Simmons plays Steve Marriott, with Samuel Pope as Young Steve Marriott, Stefan Edwards as Kenney Jones, Stanton Wright as Ronnie Lane, Alexander Gold as Ian McLagan, Karis Anderson as P.P. Arnold and Russell Floyd as Don Arden.  Also in the cast are Danielle Johnson, Daniel Beales, Alfie Harrison-Foreman, Dani Acors and Emily Daniels

 

ALL OR NOTHING is the story of four charismatic young kids from East London with humour, attitude, passion and, above all, talent.  They became the Small Faces and were rocketed into the big time, only to discover the path to success is paved with exploitation, betrayal and, ultimately, tragedy. 

 

In 1965, a new phenomenon erupted out of London’s East End.  It was the essence of all that was cool.  It was Mod.  ALL OR NOTHINGfollows the rise and demise of the Small Faces, the band who encapsulated all that was Mod – a unique blend of taste and testosterone, clothes-obsessed and street-wise – but most of all, a dedication to rhythm ‘n’ blues.  The musical celebrates the unique sound of this iconic Mod band, with all the Small Faces’ hits, including Whatcha Gonna Do About It, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday, Itchycoo Park and, of course, All or Nothing.

 

The show is endorsed and supported by many of those who feature in its story, including singer P.P. Arnold and Steve Marriott’s daughter, Mollie Marriott, who is the show’s vocal coach and creative consultant.

 

ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL is directed by Carol Harrison, with set design by Rebecca Brower, lighting design by Peter Small, sound design by Chris Drohan, choreography by Cameron Hall and musical supervision by Pat Davey.  ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL is produced in the West End by Rock ‘n’ Roll Productions.

A 29-track cast recording, as well as a limited edition 15-track blue vinyl LP, is available now from the show website, www.allornothingmusical.com, and is also available from the Ambassadors Theatre during the show’s run.

 

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

 

ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL

 

Ambassadors Theatre:

28 March – 2 June 2018

 

Ambassadors Theatre

West Street

London WC2H 9ND

 

Performances:  Monday – Sat 7.30pm, Thurs & Sat matinee 3pm

Tickets:  From £27.50

Box Office: 020 7395 5405

 

Running Time:  2 hours, 35 mins, including interval

N.B.  Contains strong language

 

www.allornothingmusical.com

@AONTheMusical

FULL CAST CONFIRMED FOR

MOLIÈRE’S TARTUFFE

Featuring GEORGE BLAGDEN (Versailles), SEBASTIAN ROCHÉ (Man in the High Castle) and OLIVIA ROSS (War & Peace)

 

Joining previously announced PAUL ANDERSON (Peaky Blinders) and AUDREY FLEUROT (Spiral)

Theatre Royal Haymarket | 25 May – 28 July 2018

 

George Blagden, Sebastian Roché and Olivia Ross are among the latest actors to have joined the West End cast of Tartuffe, alongside the previously announced Paul Anderson and Audrey Fleurot. In the West End’s first ever dual-language production, Molière’s classic comedy re-imagines Tartuffe as a radical American evangelist who uproots the life of a French film tycoon in Hollywood.

Tartuffe will premiere for a limited ten-week West End run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from Friday 25^thMay 2018.

Sebastian Roché will make his West End stage debut as Orgon, a French media mogul living in Hollywood, who unwittingly becomes hoodwinked by Tartuffe. Sebastian’s screen credits include the HBO series Young Pope alongside Jude Law, Man In The High Castle (Amazon) and The Vampire Diaries (The CW). His stage credits include Julie Taymor’s Broadway production of The Green Bird (Mandell Weiss Theater) and Salome opposite Al Pacino (Square Theatre). He also co-stars in the upcoming second season of the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated series Genius.

George Blagden joins the cast as Damis, Orgon’s son. George’s best-known roles to date have included Grantaire in the film adaptation of Les Misérables (Working Title Films), King Louis XIV in Versailles (BBC Two) and Athelstan in Vikings (Amazon), as well as roles in Black Mirror (Netflix) and Wrath of the Titans (Warner Bros. Pictures).

Olivia Ross plays Mariane, daughter of Orgon and brother of Damis. Olivia’s screen credits to date include playing Mademoiselle Bourienne in War & Peace (BBC One) and Queen Joan in Knightfall (History), as well as stage performances in Blue Stockings, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Henry V (The Globe).

The full cast includes Paul Anderson as Tartuffe (Peaky Blinders, The Revenant), George Blagden as Damis (Versailles, Vikings), Jaz Deol as Valère (The Halcyon, Code of a Killer), Zachary Fall as The Officer (Poldark, Versailles), John Faulkner as Monsieur Loyal (Little Boy Blue, Mary Queen of Scots), Audrey Fleurot as Elmire (Spiral, The Intouchables), Paikan Garutti as Laurent (Songe d’une nuit d’été, Courteline), Annick Le Goff as Madame Pernelle (Le Petit Lieutenant), Claude Perron as Dorine (Amélie, Chrysalis), Sebastian Roché asOrgon (Man in the High Castle, Young Pope), Olivia Ross as Mariane (War & Peace, Shakespeare’s Globe: A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Vincent Winterhalter as Cléante (Spiral, Nicolas Le Floch).

L.A. Present day. French media tycoon Orgon has re-located to Tinsel town with his family, his heart set on becoming Hollywood royalty. With a new studio to his name, and a palatial Beverly Hills mansion, his empire seems infallible. But all is not as it seems, as Orgon falls under the seductive spell of Tartuffe, a radical evangelist. So comprehensively has Tartuffe hoodwinked Orgon that he looks set to steal his fortune, drive away his son, seduce his wife and marry his daughter.  

Paul Anderson will make his West End debut as Tartuffe, a duplicitous evangelist who holds Orgon’s family under his seductive spell. As well as starring in the hit drama Peaky Blinders (BBC & Netflix) as Arthur Shelby, Paul Anderson has held leading roles in The Revenant (20^th Century Fox), Legend (Working Title), In the Heart of the Sea (Warner Bros. Pictures) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Warner Bros. Pictures). Paul Anderson will also appear as Guy of Gisborne in Leonardo DiCaprio’s upcoming Robin Hood film (Summit Entertainment) later in 2018.

Audrey Fleurot will play Elmire, Orgon’s wily wife who endeavours to avoid the beguiling effects of Tartuffe’s charm. Audrey Fleurot’s leading roles have included Joséphine Karlsson in the BAFTA nominated Spiral (Canal + / BBC), Magalie in the multi award-winning international hit film The Intouchables (Quad), Hortense in Un village français (Tétra Média) and as herself in Call My Agent! / Dix pour cent! (Netflix).

As befitting the Theatre Royal Haymarket, which was known to the play-going world as ‘The New French Theatre’ following it’s opening in 1720, this adaptation of Tartuffe will alternate between English with French surtitles and French with English surtitles to reflect the unfolding plot.

Written in 1664, Tartuffe, or The Impostor became regarded as one of Molière’s most celebrated comedies, complete with some of the greatest classical theatre roles. Set present day in Donald Trump’s America, the play’s trenchant mockery of human frailties remains as relevant as ever in this darkly comic adaptation of the classic satire.

www.TartuffePlay.com