PHOTOS OF COMPANY STAR, ROSALIE CRAIG SURROUNDED BY 88 BLUE BALLOONS CELEBRATING SONDHEIM’S 88TH BIRTHDAY

PHOTOGRAPHS OF COMPANY STAR ROSALIE CRAIG CELEBRATING STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S 88th BIRTHDAY AT THE THEATRE CAFE IN LONDON’S WEST END
 
Rosalie Craig, the star of Marianne Elliott’s highly anticipated new production of COMPANY by George Furth and Stephen Sondheim, popped into the Theatre Cafe on Shaftesbury Avenue today to launch a special all-day birthday party at the cafe surrounded by 88 bright blue balloons.  The celebrations were hosted in conjunction with COMPANY to mark the composer’s 88th birthday on Thursday 22 March 2018.
 
Anyone who buys a ticket for Elliott & Harper’s forthcoming production of COMPANY at the Theatre Cafe on his 88th birthday can save £8.80 on each ticket.  Other birthday treats at the Cafe include special COMPANY cakes for only 88p, and the chance for budding West End stars to win tickets to COMPANY by singing their favourite Sondheim song at the Theatre Cafe.  
 
The Tony award-winning comedy musical about love, life and marriage will star Rosalie Craig as Bobbi (a role originally written for a man), the Tony and Olivier winning Patti LuPone as Joanne and Mel Giedroyc as Sarah.
 
COMPANY, the multi-award winning musical which includes Stephen Sondheim’s iconic songs – THE LADIES WHO LUNCH, BEING ALIVE and SIDE BY SIDE, opens at The Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for a limited run on 26 September 2018.

MARK GOUCHER EXTENDS TOURING RIGHTS FOR HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL INTO 2021

HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL
UK TOUR
Directed by Paul Kerryson
Choreographed by Drew McOnie
HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL TO TOUR AGAIN IN
2020-21

Producer, Mark Goucher announced today that he has managed to extend his rights to tour Hairspray the Musical, with another tour being booked through 2020/21. This tour of Hairspray has taken to date over £10million at the box office with 4 months of performances still to come. Playing to packed houses, it has been a commercial and critical smash hit. A tour for 2020/21 is currently being booked.

Full dates and tickets are available at www.hairsprayuktour.com/tour-dates.

Featuring the iconic music and lyrics by Academy Award, Tony and Emmy winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, this much-loved musical comedy is choreographed by Olivier Award-winning Drew McOnie with direction from Paul Kerryson.

It’s Baltimore 1962, where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV. Tracy’s audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way.

Hairspray is a musical based on the 1988 film of the same name which starred Divine and Ricki Lake by cult filmmaker John Waters. With music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Hairspray originally opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 2002 and subsequently won eight Tony Awards. The production opened in London at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2007 and won four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical. Proving to be an international success, Hairspray has also opened in South Africa, Japan, South Korea, China and Dubai. Following the musical’s phenomenal success on stage, a film of the musical was released in 2007 which starred John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and James Marsden.

SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION

Facebook
www.facebook.com/HairsprayUKTour
Twitter  
@HairsprayUKTour
Instagram
@HairsprayUKTour
YouTube
www.youtube.com/HairsprayUKTour

 

LISTINGS

DATES AND VENUES

19 – 24 March 2018
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen AB25 1GL
Box Office: 01224 641122
http://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/venues/his-majestys-theatre
On Sale Now

26 March – 7 April 2018
Opera House, Manchester
3 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HP
Box Office: 0844 871 3018
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester/
On Sale Now

9 – 14 April 2018
Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes
500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ
Box Office: 0844 871 7652
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/
On Sale Now

16 – 21 April 2018
Empire Theatre, Liverpool
Lime St, Liverpool L1 1JE
Box Office:  0151 702 7320
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire/
On Sale Now

23 – 28 April 2018
Hull New Theatre, Hull
Kingston Square, Hull HU1 3HF
Box Office: 01482 226 655
http://www.hcandl.co.uk/
On Sale Now

30 April – 5 May 2018
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
The Promenade, Llandudno LL30 1BB
Box Office:  01492 872000
https://venuecymru.co.uk/
On Sale Now

8 – 12 May 2018
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS
Box Office: 01227 787787
http://www.marlowetheatre.com/
On Sale Now

14 – 19 May 2018
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Station Rd, Southend-on-Sea SS0 7RA
Box Office: 01702 351135
https://southendtheatres.org.uk
On Sale Now

21 May – 26 May 2018
Wycombe Swan
St Mary St, High Wycombe, HP11 2XE
Box Office: 01494 512 000
https://wycombeswan.co.uk
On Sale Now

29 May – 03 June 2018
Cheltenham Everyman
7 – 10 Regent St, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 1HQ
Box Office: 01242 572573
https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/
On Sale Now

11 – 16 June 2018
Stoke Regent Theatre
Box Office: 0844 871 7649
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/
On Sale Now

18-23 June 2018
Oxford New Theatre
Box Office:
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/
On Sale Now

25-30 June 2018
Newcastle Theatre Royal
Box Office: 08448 11 21 21
https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on
On Sale Now

2 – 7 July 2018
Eastbourne Devonshire Theatre
Box Office: 01323 412 000
https://www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk/venue/devonshire-park-theatre
On Sale Now

9 – 14 July 2018
Dublin Bord Gais
Box Office: +353 1 677 7999
http://bordgaisenergytheatre.ie/
On Sale Now

16-21 July 2018
York Grand Theatre
Box Office: 0844 871 3024
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/grand-opera-house-york/
On Sale Now

23-28 July 2018
Swansea Grand
Box Office: 01792 475715
http://www.swansea.gov.uk/grandtheatrewhatson
On Sale Now

30 July – 4 August 2018
Bournemouth Pavilion
Box Office: 0844 576 3000
https://bhlivetickets.co.uk
On Sale Now

Teletubbies say Eh-Oh to Hull

Teletubbies say Eh-Oh to Hull

Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po set for city debut

This April; gaze in wonder at the Hull New Theatre stage as it is transformed into the iconic Tellytubbyland.

For one weekend only, from Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 April, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po take to the stage in their first ever theatre show, created especially for little ones.

Look out for the Tubby Phone, Noo-noo and Sun Baby in a fun, bright and safe world which captures young children’s imaginations and encourages them to explore the world around them. Join in and enjoy beloved features from the TV series along with brand new songs; it’s never too soon to get young ones involved in the theatre,

Tickets for Teletubbies Live are available now. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk

PETER PAN CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT – REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE

REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCE
CASTING FOR PETER PAN

• TIMOTHY SHEADER and LIAM STEEL’S Olivier Awardnominated
production of PETER PAN by J. M. Barrie returns in the
final year of First World War Centenary Commemorations
• Launching the 2018 Season, performances start on 17 May
• FISTON BAREK takes the role of Peter Pan
• DENNIS HERDMAN takes the role of Captain Hook

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have today announced casting for Peter Pan (17 May – 15 June). A revival of their 2015 Olivier Award-nominated production, Peter Pan launches the 2018 season in the final year of the First World War Centenary Commemorations.

For the wounded soldiers of WW1, imagination is their only escape. Yet as they’re transported to the fantastical lagoons and pirate ships of Never Land, allegories of the war they’ve left behind are ever present. George Llewelyn Davies, later killed in action in 1915, was one of the children who inspired J. M. Barrie to create the iconic character of Peter Pan. Remembering him, and a generation of Lost Boys, the production enchanted young and old alike during its original, critically acclaimed run.

Kids go half price at most performances.
_____________________
Fiston Barek takes the title role of Peter Pan. Recent credits include King Lear (Old Vic) directed by Deborah Warner, and The Rolling Stone (Orange Tree / Manchester Royal Exchange). Other credits include Routes and Truth and Reconciliation (Royal Court) and Love the Sinner (National Theatre).

Dennis Herdman plays the role of Captain Hook. Recent credits include Around the World in 80 Days (UK Tour); The Lounge (Soho Theatre); The Winter’s Tale, Pericles, The Oresteia, Measure for Measure, The Night of the Burning Pestle (Shakespeare’s Globe); A Mad World My Masters (RSC / ETT); The Secret Agent (Theatre O / Young Vic); and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Told by an Idiot / Svenska Teatr). Television credits include: Knightfall (A & E Studios), Brum (Ragdoll/BBC), City Central, Close Up North and The Anorak (BBC).

The roles of Wendy, John and Michael are played by Cora Kirk, Theo Cowan and Omari Douglas. Cora Kirk made her professional debut in 2017 in the lead role of Irina in The People Are Singing (Manchester Royal Exchange) and recently played Lucy in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (West Yorkshire Playhouse). Theo Cowan has appeared in The Secret Garden (Theatre by the Lake); Comus (Shakespeare’s Globe) and Absence of War (Headlong), having previously appeared at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in Lord of the Flies. Omari Douglas has recently appeared in Five Guys Named Moe (Marble Arch); Tristan and Yseult (Kneehigh / Shakespeare’s Globe); The Life (Southwark
Playhouse); Annie Get Your Gun (Sheffield Crucible), and returns to the Open Air Theatre having previously appeared in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Elisa De Grey plays/puppeteers the role of Tinker Bell. Her recent credits include Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons A Reimagining (Sam Wanamaker); Running Wild (UK Tour); Goodnight Mr Tom (West End / UK Tour); No Way Out (Southwark Playhouse) and The Water Babies (Northern Broadsides).

The cast also includes: Sam Angell (Twin), Raphael Bushay (Nibs), Fred Davis (Twin), Caroline Deyga (Smee), Lewis Griffin (Tootles), Willy Hudson (Curly), Arthur Kyeyune (Pirate/Movement Associate), Kyle Lima (Starkey), Tim Preston (Slightly), Louis Quaye (Pirate), John Sandeman (Pirate/Fight Captain) and Ed Wade (Pirate).

Directed by Open Air Theatre Artistic Director Timothy Sheader (Jesus Christ Superstar, To Kill a Mockingbird, Running Wild) and Liam Steel (Lord of the Flies, Into The Woods), set design is by Jon Bausor who recently won the UK Theatre Award for The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic). Costume design is by Jon Morrell, puppet design and direction by Rachael Canning, composition and sound score by Nick Powell, lighting design by Rick Fisher, sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, fight direction by Kate Waters, casting by Polly Jerrold and musical supervision/musical direction by Candida Caldicot. The Season Associate Director (Voice and Text) is Barbara Houseman and Aerial Artistry and Technical Consultation is by Wired Aerial Theatre.
_____________________
Other productions in the 2018 season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre include Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw (22 – 30 June), in a co-production with English National Opera; Shakespeare’s As You Like It (06 July – 28 July); Dinosaur World Live for ages 3+ (15 August – 9 September) and Little Shop of Horrors (03 August – 15 September), book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan  Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman with screenplay by Charles Griffith.

MOREoutdoor events include The Guilty Feminist (15 July); Joe Lycett (22 July); Jimmy Carr (12 August); Simon Amstell (19 August) and The Luna Cinema present outdoor screenings of Spice World (26 August), The Greatest Showman (2 September) and Alien (9 September).

Visit www.openairtheatre.com for more information.

Great Apes Review

Arcola Theatre – until 21 April 2018.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3***

When artist Simon Dykes wakes up after a drug-fuelled night of partying, he is horrified to find that his girlfriend, and everyone else, have turned into chimpanzees. Under the care of alpha male psychiatrist Zach Busner, Simon is forced to face his chimpunity and rid himself of the delusion that he is human.

Will Self’s novel has been skilfully adapted for the stage by Patrick Marmion, with Self’s scathing satirical riff on social hierarchy and patriarchy providing plenty of laughs in Oscar Pearce’s production. The final scenes, where a Jane Goodall type chimp naturalist mourns the inevitable extinction of the human species as the chimps observe the humans in the wild provide a wistful, philosophical ending, but the play sometimes feels like a series of sketches lampooning easy targets such as the art world, NHS management and social snobbery. The obsequiousness and self-abasement of the males to their alpha never ceases to amuse, and the reimagining of London life for chimpanzees is sharp and clever.

The fine cast impress as chimps. There are no facial prosthetics – only brown harem pants, the odd use of mini crutches and the coaching skills of chimp expert Peter Elliott. The vocalisation and movement of the cast is utterly convincing, even the use of a frilly pink cushion to represent the females’ swollen oestrus becomes believable. Ruth Lass is outstanding as Dr Busner, full of alpha male posturing and arrogance, and Bryan Dick makes Simon ‘s plight sympathetic with his horrified reactions to chimp society. His transformation into a chimp is slickly subtle in Dick’s nuanced performance.

Great Apes is smart, twisted and thought-provoking fun – well worth a look.

FIRST LOOK – Rehearsal Photos for 2018 West End run of Jim Steinman’s BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL stars Andrew Polec as Strat and Christina Bennington as Raven, with Rob Fowler as Falco, Sharon Sexton as Sloane, Danielle Steers as Zahara and Wayne Robinson as Jagwire.

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL is a romantic adventure about rebellious youth and passionate love, set against the backdrop of a post-cataclysmic city adrift from the mainland. Strat, the forever young leader of The Lost, has fallen for Raven, daughter of Falco, the tyrannical, ruler of Obsidian. For the stage musical, the award-winning Jim Steinman has incorporated iconic songs from his Bat Out Of Hell albums, including You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth, Bat Out Of Hell, I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, as well as two previously unreleased songs, What Part of My Body Hurts the Most and Not Allowed to Love.

Winner of the Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical 2017, BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL has book by Jim Steinman, with early writing by Stuart Beattie, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib and choreography by Emma Portner. It is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Randy Lennox and Tony Smith.

Website: www.BatOutOfHellMusical.com

Twitter & Facebook: @BatTheMusical

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical

Dominion Theatre

268-269 Tottenham Court Road

London W1T 7AQ

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

*There is no 2.30pm performance on Wednesday 4 April

Tickets: from £15.00

Box Office: 0845 200 7982

Current Booking Period: 2 April – 28 July 2018

Running Time: 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)

FIRST LOOK – Rehearsal Photos for CHICAGO

CHICAGO stars Cuba Gooding Jr as Billy Flynn, Sarah Soetaert as Roxie Hart, Josefina Gabrielle as Velma Kelly, Ruthie Henshall as Mama Morton and Paul Rider as Amos Hart. 

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The Broadway revival of CHICAGO was choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse, directed by Walter Bobbie and produced by Barry and Fran Weissler. 

CHICAGO originally ran in London for 15 years, making it the West End’s longest running revival. CHICAGO has won six Tony Awards, two Olivier awards  and a Grammy. CHICAGO continues to run on Broadway, where it recently celebrated its 21st birthday, and around the world in multiple langues. It is the world’s longest running American musical. 

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Phoenix Theatre

110 Charing Cross Road

London WC2H 0JP

Box Office: 0844 871 7629 / www.atgtickets.com/shows/chicago/phoenix-theatre

Ticket Prices: From £20.00

Performances: Monday-Saturday 8pm, Wednesday & Saturday 3pm

Booking Period: Currently Booking Until 6 October 2018

Running Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes (with interval)

Website: ChicagoWestEnd.com

Twitter: @ChicagoOnStage

 

OLIVER PHELPS AND DEBORAH GRANT JOIN THE CAST OF EDGAR WALLACE¹S THE CASE OF THE FRIGHTENED LADY

OLIVER PHELPS AND DEBORAH GRANT 

JOIN THE CAST OF

EDGAR WALLACE’s

THE CASE OF THE FRIGHTENED LADY

ALONGSIDE GRAY O’BRIEN, DENIS LILL, PHILIP LOWRIE,

APRIL PEARSON, BEN NEALON AND GLENN CARTER

 

‘A MASTERPIECE OF CHILLING STAGE NOIR…NOT TO BE MISSED’

THE OBSERVER

Continuing a successful UK-wide tour throughout 2018, Oliver Phelps and Deborah Grant will join the cast of The Classic Thriller Theatre Company’s The Case of the Frightened Lady. Film star Oliver Phelps will make his stage debut, having played the character of George Weasley in one of the most successful film franchises of all time, Harry Potter. He is joined by TV’s Deborah Grant, who amongst her many roles has starred in the BBC’s Not Going Out and Bergerac.

«««««

‘THE BEST MURDER MYSTERY I HAVE SEEN SINCE

THE MOUSETRAP!… YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED’

WHATSGOODTODO

When Inspector Tanner is called in to investigate a ruthless murder at Mark’s Priory, the grand ancestral home of the Lebanon family, he quickly discovers that nothing is quite as it seems. The household is controlled by the family physician, the footmen behave more like guests than servants and the secretary Isla is afraid for her life. As Tanner moves closer to the heart of the mystery he uncovers a shocking and closely guarded secret… 

 

Following the phenomenal success of The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, which sold approximately two million tickets over a decade of first class productions, comes a new chapter from Bill Kenwright’s Classic Thriller Theatre Company.

EDGAR WALLACE is one of the most popular and prolific crime writers of the 20th Century and the brains behind the iconic film, KING KONGHaving written more than 150 detective novels throughout his career Edgar Wallace’s gripping page-turners are regarded as the bedrock of the modern thriller, and The Case of the Frightened Lady remains one of his most celebrated works. 

 

Making his stage debut is OLIVER PHELPS who was catapulted to fame at 15 years old when he starred as George Weasley in one of the highest grossing movie franchises of all time, Harry Potter. Oliver was cast alongside his twin brother James to play Ron Weasley’s mischievous older twin brothers. Other credits include the fictionalised biopic of Lenny Henry’s life Danny and the Human Zoo and TV series Kingdom alongside Stephen Fry and Celia Imrie.

DEBORAH GRANT has starred in the BBC’s Not Going Out, Bergerac and Roger, Roger. As well as her many TV and film appearances Deborah is a stage veteran; from her first performance on stage at the age of 4, she has performed in many West End and national touring productions and starred opposite Michael Crawford in the West End debut of Barnum at the London Palladium.

Continuing in the cast are: TV favourites GRAY O’BRIEN (Coronation Street, The Bill, Casualty), DENIS LILL (The Royal, Only Fools and Horses), PHILIP LOWRIE (Coronation Street), APRIL PEARSON (Skins), BEN NEALON (Soldier Soldier) and GLENN CARTER (Jesus Christ Superstar).

 

GRAY O’BRIEN is best known to TV audiences for his portrayal of the villainous businessman Tony Gordon in ITV’s Coronation Street and as Dr. Richard McCaig on the BBC medical drama Casualty. Most recently he starred in ITV crime drama The Loch which aired earlier this year. Other notable roles include Peak Practice, Taggart and the 2006 film The Queen.

 

DENIS LILL who starred as the much-loved character of Mr Rose in the long-running TV series The Royal has appeared in many popular television series from Z Cars, Doctor Who, Bergerac and Blackadder to the classic British comedy Only Fools and Horses. He also appeared in the 1989 blockbuster movie Batman and the 1996 film adaptation of Evita. 

Joining them is PHILIP LOWRIE, best known for playing one of the original characters, Dennis Tanner in Coronation Street, a role he played since the shows inception in 1960 until 1968, and again in 2011 until 2014. He also appeared in the television series War & Peace, Rules of Engagement and Home Fires. 

 

BEN NEALON is an Agatha Christie Company and Classic Thriller Company stalwart. On television Ben is best known as Lt Forsythe in the popular ITV award-winning drama series Soldier Soldier, and for his appearances in The Bill, Casualty, Doctors and EastEnders. He also featured in the Oscar-nominated Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India.

 

APRIL PEARSON made her television debut when she was just 9 years of age in the long-running medical drama Casualty. Her big break came in the hugely popular BAFTA award-winning TV drama Skins as Michelle Richardson. Her film debut came just a few years later in Tormented opposite Alex Pettyfer.

Completing the line-up is West End leading man GLENN CARTER. Carter has appeared in some of the biggest West End musicals such as Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Whistle Down the Wind, Grease and Les Miserables, as well as playing Tommy DeVito in the London premiere of Jersey Boys. His most memorable portrayal is perhaps as Jesus in the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber classic Jesus Christ Superstar. He played the role in the West End, on Broadway and in the Film.

The cast is completed by Callum Coates, Owen Oldroyd and Rosie Thomson.

The production is directed by ROY MARSDEN who is best known as an actor, particularly in his role as Commander Adam Dalgliesh in ITV’s P.D. James series, which he played for 15 years. But he has also been directing plays since he was 15 years old and had successful West End runs with Noel Coward’s Volcano and Agatha Christie’s (under the pen name Mary Westmacott) A Daughter’s a Daughter. This is now Roy’s third time directing a Classic Thriller Theatre Company production having previously directed Rehearsal for Murder and A Judgement in Stone.  

BILL KENWRIGHT

PRESENTS

THE CLASSIC THRILLER THEATRE COMPANY

GRAY O’BRIEN

DENIS LILL

DEBORAH GRANT

OLIVER PHELPS

PHILIP LOWRIE

APRIL PEARSON

BEN NEALON

GLENN CARTER

IN

THE CASE OF THE FRIGHTENED LADY

BY EDGAR WALLACE

A NEW ADAPTATION BY ANTONY LAMPARD

DIRECTED BY ROY MARSDEN

DESIGNER JULIE GODFREY 

LIGHTING DESIGNER CHRIS DAVEY   SOUND DESIGNER DAN SAMSON

For tickets and tour dates go to www.kenwright.com

Date

Venue

Website

Box Office

21 – 26 May

Milton Keynes Theatre 

atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

0844 871 7652

4 – 9 Jun

Eastbourne Devonshire Park

eastbournetheatres.co.uk

01323 412 000

12 – 16 Jun

Coventry Belgrade Theatre 

belgrade.co.uk

024 7655 3055

18 – 23 Jun

Southend Palace Theatre

southendtheatres.org.uk

01702 351135

25 – 30 Jun

Theatre Royal, Brighton

atgtickets.com/brighton

0844 871 7650

2 – 7 Jul

Swansea Grand Theatre

swanseagrandtheatre.co.uk

01792 475715

9 – 14 Jul

York Grand Opera House

atgtickets.com/york

0844 871 3024

16 – 21 Jul

Malvern Theatres

malvern-theatres.co.uk

01684 892277

23 – 28 Jul

Leeds Grand Theatre

leedsgrandtheatre.com

0844 848 2700

30 Jul – 4 Aug

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds 

theatreroyal.org

01284 769505

More dates to be announced

CABBAGE-CRUNCHING, CRIMINAL MASTERMIND GANGSTA GRANNY ON UK AND IRELAND TOUR

She’s back! The Olivier Award Nominated cabbage-crunching, criminal mastermind GANGSTA GRANNY is touring the UK and Ireland in 2018

Hot on the heels of a recent Oliver Award nomination, Birmingham Stage Company’s hit adaptation of David Walliams’ GANGSTA GRANNY is beginning a new tour of the UK and Ireland. Heading out on the road from 22 March – 15 July, Granny’s tour takes in Bath, Inverness, Dartford, Newcastle, Belfast and Dublin amongst many other towns and cities within its 16 week schedule.

The show first toured for 18 months from Autumn 2015 ahead of a successful West End season in the summer of 2017, but this will be Granny’s first stage appearance since being nominated for a 2018 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and Family.

From the stage at the Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre on the first tour, author David Walliams said of the stage adaptation: What a fantastic show! It’s truly brilliant! And so much better than the book!”

David began his publishing career at HarperCollins in early 2008 with his debut novel The Boy in the Dress. Then, after writing two other popular stories, in 2011 he published Gangsta Granny, which was shortlisted for both The Red House Children’s Book Award and for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. At Christmas 2013 a TV version of Gangsta Granny was shown on BBC One with an all-star cast including David Walliams himself. Gangsta Granny went straight to number 1 in the children’s book charts and his books have been translated into no fewer than 53 languages.

Gangsta Granny is adapted and directed by Neal Foster, the Actor / Manager of Birmingham Stage Company. On the eve of the second tour he said “I’m delighted Granny is out on the road again off the back of her Olivier Award nomination and I know she’s looking forward to stealing more hearts around the country.”

It’s Friday night and Ben knows that means only one thing – staying with Granny! There will be cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake and Ben knows one thing for sure – it’s going to be sooooooooo boring! But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret – and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could ever imagine, as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny!

Gangsta Granny is a must for all families as the show is enjoyed by everyone from 5 to 105! It’s both laugh out loud funny with some brilliant comic scenes but also has some very moving and truthful things to say about family relationships.

Gangsta Granny is touring from 22 March until 15 July. The tour dates are:

Hertford Theatre 22 – 24 March
Bath Theatre Royal 27 March 1 April 
Cheltenham Everyman Theatre 4 – 7 April
Chester Storyhouse 11 – 14 April
Worthing Pavilion Theatre 20 – 22 April
Inverness Eden Court 26 – 28 April
Preston Charter Theatre 2 – 5 May
Hereford Courtyard Theatre 8 – 12 May
Belfast Grand Opera House 16 – 19 May
Dartford Orchard Theatre 23 – 26 May
Newcastle Theatre Royal 30 May – 2 June
Grimsby Auditorium 6 – 9 June
Dublin Olympia Theatre 20 – 23 June
Carlisle Sands Centre 27 – 30 June
Hull New Theatre 5 – 8 July
Nottingham Theatre Royal 11 – 15 July