Month: June 2018

It was an inspired idea to hold the press launch for brand new musical, Knight of the Rose, at a medieval banquet.  And what a fabulous launch it was.

Surrounded by medieval characters singing Tudor love songs and performing juggling and contortionists acts –  in the midst we had the cast of Knights of the Rose performing extracts from the show.

And boy can they sing!  If this little extract is anything to go by, then this show is going to be a massive hit.

It claims to be a classic rock musical of Shakespearean proportions. Featuring the ultimate playlist including legendary ballads and timeless anthems from Bon Jovi, Meatloaf, Bonnie Tyler, No Doubt and many more.

At the Arts Theatre from 29 June – more details can be found at knightsoftherose.co.uk

 

London Coliseum – until 30th June 2018

Reviewed by Elizabeth J Smith

4****

Two big Show”s in one, “Wunderbar”

Kiss me Kate is the story of a 1940’s production company’s opening night of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew where the two lead character’s, Fred Graham ( Quirijn De Lang) and Lilli Vanessi (Stephanie Corley) are bickering ex-spouses whose worlds are set to collide. Then you have show girl Lois Lane (Zoe Rainey) and her gambler boyfriend (Alan Burkitt), who is being pursued by gangster’s, to set the scene for some funny antics and battle of the sexes.

“Another opening another show” is a spectacular full company piece, full of energy and sets the pace for the whole performance.

Quirin De Lang gives an excellent performance as Fred Graham, being enough of a chauvinist to get the message across but turns on a little more campness when playing Petruchio. His stage strut contained just enough mincing with effeminate hand gestures.

Stephanie Corley plays the diva in both roles (Lilli/Kate) and once again turning up the bitchiness to play Kate, the shrew, a bad tempered, aggressive and overly assertive woman.

Zoe Rainey is the energetic Lois Lane and Bianca, skilfully the two characters emerge in the Shakespearean part providing some laughs and her rendition of “always true to you in my fashion” is sweet and sassy.

Alan Burkitt, Lucentio, gives a most energetic tap dance performance with the song “Bianca” and racks up the laughs with “Tom, Dick and Harry” (Jack Wilcox/Piers Bate)

Bring on the two gunman ( Joseph Shovelton / John Savournin) for some farcical comedy as they too have to perform Shakespeare and their rendition of “Brush up your Shakespeare” brought back memories of great double acts like “Morecome and Wise” with their physical differences providing some great choreographed funnies.

The big company numbers filled the stage with sizzling choreography and great characteristics for both performances. “Too Darn Hot” was filled with sexual tension and you could feel the temperature rise, Paul (Stephane Anelli) leaves you feeling breathless after his performance.

The choreography by Will Tuckett and David James Hilston was inspired, capturing the humour of the piece and filling the stage for a wonderful visual impact. The costumes, Colin Richmond, provide the divide between the two pieces, as does the set design which gives you a real felling that you are watching two separate performances.

The singing in this performance is a delight to listen to. All the cast have wonderful voices that
were clear and powerful without the over singing you can get in more contemporary pieces today.
Just because you have a big voice doesn’t mean you need to use it.

My only criticism is of Malcolm Ridley (Harrison Howell) who I felt dropped his character accent
from time to time, which I found slightly distracting.

If you fancy a big night out, with great singing, great dancing and a lot of giggles, capturing all the
razzmatazz of a big Broadway show “Kiss me Kate” delivers on all levels.

Bread and Roses Theatre – 17 June touring UK until 21 July

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3***

Blackpool, 1953, and young miners Tommy and Eddie are ready to enjoy their yearly holiday together. With every other guesthouse full, they book into Withering Heights on Sea, run by snobbish and nosy Gladys, helped reluctantly by her daughter Maureen. The only other residents are Gladys’ mother Red Ethel, former communist showgirl and Mr Elbridge, a heterosexual transvestite gathering the courage to walk from the north to the south pier dressed as his female alter ego. Eddie tries to convince Tommy to leave with him, instead of returning to Yorkshire, but Eddie is hiding his true reasons for this sudden need to start afresh.

Based on a true story, told to writer/director Karlton Parris by Tommy and Eddy in the 1980s, the story of the two lovers is inspiring and uplifting as they escape from their restricted lives in the Yorkshire mining village, but the characters surrounding the men are so big and loud that this central story is in danger of getting swamped. At times the play feels like a tender love story trapped inside a Carry On film.

The shabby set, with tatty furniture crammed with bric-a-brac, evokes the feel of a less salubrious boarding house, with simple projections used to signal in which room each scene is set. Gladys (Wendy Laurence James) is a complete caricature, slipping double entendres into every conversation and bullying her tender-hearted daughter Maureen (Mollie Jones). Macaulay Cooper and Kyle Brookes are convincing as the two lovers, but the scenes where Maureen gives Tommy advice are where Cooper lets Tommy’s innocence shine through. Linda Clark as Red Ethel steals every scene she’s in with a wonderfully OTT performance full of foul-mouthed reminiscing about her time in Russia while Dominic McCavish is outstanding as Mr Elbridge, with not much to do in the first act, but some quietly brilliant scenes in the second.

Parris obviously loves these characters, but there’s just too much going on, with lots of needless postcard humour taking the focus away from the courage and beating heart at the centre – the stories of Tommy, Eddie and Mr Elbridge. This is a story that should be shared, but a lot of work is needed to fashion a coherent and wholly satisfying play.

Park Theatre – until 7 July

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3***

In Alan Bowne’s 1986 play, the US government’s response to the fatal spread of an unnamed disease is brutal. Those who have tested positive are tattooed and placed in a quarantine zone, known as Beirut. With squalid living conditions, dehumanising lesion inspections and the constant threat of a painful death, Beirut is a living hell. Life for negatives isn’t a bundle of laughs either – sex and pregnancy are capital crimes, cameras monitor every move, and any negatives having contact with positives are strung from lampposts as deterrents. In 1986 this must have seemed like an improbable dystopian nightmare, but in Trump’s America this doesn’t feel too much of a leap.

Bowne’s AIDS allegory is packed with passion and anger, with Blue (Louise Connolly-Burnham) breaking into the quarantine zone to be with her boyfriend Torch (Robert Rees). The two actors spend most of the play in their underwear, playing a cat and mouse game of seduction as Blue tries to convince Torch that this is where she wants to be, with him. The characters are brash and bitter, with Torch unwilling to live with the guilt of perhaps infecting Blue, and Blue raging against her life without love or passion. Both actors give committed and convincing performances, but the amount of dry humping involved becomes a little tedious.

The issues surrounding loss of freedom and dignity, and the sacrifices made, are still relevant and are brought to the forefront each time an outbreak of serious disease hits the headlines, along with ongoing prejudice against HIV+ people. But Beirut is definitely a play of its time, a wild howl against an unknown and terrifying disease that feels overly melodramatic after decades of breakthroughs in AIDS treatment.

Step Out of The Ordinary and into The Carlisle Fringe

• THIRD EDITION OF RAPIDLY GROWING FRINGE FESTIVAL TO ANIMATE AND INVIGORATE CARLISLE FROM 24^TH AUGUST TO 2^ND SEPTEMBER

• OUTSTANDING WORK SHOWCASED FROM UK’S UP AND COMING ARTISTS ACROSS 90 SHOWS, OVER 10 DAYS IN 11 VENUES

• TICKETS ON SALE NOW VIA www.carlislefringe.co.uk

Today one of the UK’s friendliest cities unveiled the third edition of one of the UK’s fastest growing cultural festivals, Carlisle Fringe, which takes place from 24^th August to 2^nd September.

Placing community and artistic collaboration at its core, Carlisle Fringe is centred around the historic city and its people. The jam-packed programme is a reflection and celebration of the city, showcasing the hugely creative local talent alongside national work, harnessed and embraced by the collaborative spirit and passion for cultural creativity over ten days and nights of cultural class.

Fringe audiences new and old are asked to Step Out of the Ordinary, take a punt on something new and delve into the diverse festival programme which explores a range of issues and themes such as female empowerment and disability across established and emerging theatre, music, comedy, dance and cabaret shows and events, the majority of which are free to attend.

Made in Carlisle is a fresh new addition to the programme for 2018 which features lots of locally produced shows, including exciting emerging artists who will present brand new shows exclusively for the festival.

We Know Now Snowmen Exist is a brand-new piece of theatre created by Cumbrian based director, Lexie Ward tells the story of four girls who go camping in the mountains and never return.  Inspired by the true story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident, this new piece of theatre is created by an all-female cast and crew.

The Last Leaf is a piece of theatre created by Chloe Sturrock and Harri Elizabeth of emerging company Semiotic Theatre Productions.  The piece will continue the development of mixed form using BSL to combine hearing and non-hearing worlds through playful interpretation of visual performance.

Over Hear Carlisle is an interactive piece of performance technology that can be downloaded and accessed anywhere in the city, created by Amie Petricca-Lear.   Users will be able to take part in an immersive solo experience which will guide them through the heritage of the city as over-heard by generations of citizens from Carlisle.

These three new pieces have been supported and developed as part of the festival’s Creative Sparks programme which offers funding, creative space and support for new works being created from Carlisle.

Patchwork Soap Opera will be a live installation by local collective, Patchwork Opera, and is a show for one person at a time, using familiar images from around the city against a soundtrack of prose created by the energetic collective.  The show will run continuously throughout the festival and will take place in the city centre.

Arts Council England are proud to support a number of shows at this year’s Fringe. The Duke is a new solo show from Shôn Dale-Jones weaves together the tragi-comic fate of a family heirloom – a porcelain figure of The Duke of Wellington, the quandary of a scriptwriter stretching his integrity and an unfolding disaster as thousands of children flee their homes. KAYA explores human experiences of displacement through dance, drawing on the strength and resilience of those searching for belonging in a new community, while In Our Hands uses innovative puppetry, a striking set and an original score to transport you out to sea to follow the story of Alf the trawler fisherman.

An Outdoor Village and Container Theatre will run in the centre of the city for the ten days of the festival and will include free music as well as non-stop entertainment. There will be a pop-up café, licensed bar and open-air stage running throughout the day featuring forty different music acts. This includes fantastic local talents such as The MustangZ Trio (Whitehaven), Chris James Blues (Carlisle) and My Little Brother (Carlisle).

The March for the Unsung Woman, will take over the traditional Pageant to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of The Representation of People Act, and will be produced by Prism Arts.  Ten new puppets will help tell the powerful story of some of Cumbria’ strongest and most influential woman throughout history, together with ten pink boxes that will be hidden across the city that tell the story of each of the women.

Shows and events will take place across the city, including the Festival Village right in the heart of the city centre with a pop-up theatre, festival bar, and ten days of live music from all over Cumbria. Additional programme highlights include;

Theatre

Circled in the Radio Times, a storytelling show from the creator of John Peel’s Shed and Sky 1’s After Hours about a box of old copies of the Radio Times and the changing nature of the way we watch television.

The Life and Soul, written by Chris O’Connor from acclaimed Red Ladder Theatre Company, the piece tells Jim’s story, a story he’s never told about coming to terms with not quite fitting in.

Hymns for Robots, innovative theatre company Noctium explore the life work of Delia Derbyshire – the unsung genius behind the Doctor Who theme tune and trailblazer of electronic music through their unique style of drama, comedy and Expressionism with the explorative use of analogue and digital music creation.

The Unknown Solider, a story of comradeship, betrayal and of promises both broken and kept following the carnage of World War One. A new theatre piece from Grist to the Mill by the award nominated writer of Casualties, Ross Ericson.

Luke Rollason’s Planet Earth III, is a low-budget, one-man nature documentary set in a future where our worst predictions came true – following ecological collapse, thousands of endangered species are extinct, including the BBC.  Who said an intern couldn’t make Planet Earth III??

Comedy

Georgie Morrel: A Poke in the Eye, as heard on BBC Radio 4, join Georgie Morrell for her critically acclaimed debut solo show. Using her wit, charm and anecdotes, Georgie tells the story of how she went blind but now she can see… literally!

Ray Bradshaw: Deaf Comedy Jam, 1 in 6 people suffer from hearing loss. 2 of those people are Ray’s parents. Full of hilarious, eye-opening tales about growing up with deaf parents, Deaf Comedy Fam is a first for comedy as each show is performed by Ray simultaneously in both spoken English and British Sign Language.

Dead Man’s Chest, an interactive technological comedy adventure through a 1990s detective show, with comedian David Callaghan. Bring your smartphones and stupid heads.

Katie Pritchard: TSKETCHYWETCHYWETCHY, join self-appointed freelance historical tour guide, Katie Pritchard, as she takes you on a high-octane tour of her history loving brain. Katie will bring history to life LIVE before your very eyes with the use of some catchy music (because singing about history is snazzy).

Jamie MacDonald: Blinkered, razor sharp comedy brought to you by Jamie, Scotland’s best story teller. He’s charming, disarming and outrageous. 37-year-old Jamie MacDonald is a Glaswegian stand-up comedian, writer and voiceover artist who just happens to be blind.

Alfie Ordinary: Help! I Think I Might be Fabulous, with confetti cannons, LGBT anthems and puppetry, Alfie challenges the norm, questions what it really means to be a man, and presents a world where equality truly exists.

Dance

Velvet Petal, tough girls and pretty boys living life in the margins, dreaming about being at the centre. Velvet Petal explores the transformative power of beauty, created out of whatever is on the bedroom floor. This fresh new work from Scottish Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Fleur Darkin is inspired by the life-cycle of the monarch butterfly and Robert Mapplethorpe’s polaroid’s.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dance Ahead, Limbik Theatre and University of Cumbria are proud to present a unique adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Co-created by Zoë Leigh Gadd and Ben Samuels in February 2018 and reworked for Carlisle Fringe Festival the work offers a hilarious take on a classic, specifically devised to appeal to a younger audience 8+years.

Supported by Arts Council England

The Duke, a new solo show from Shôn Dale-Jones explores kindness, generosity and the value of what we do, and raises money for Save The Children’s Emergency Fund. Funny, poignant and playful, The Duke weaves together the tragi-comic fate of a family heirloom, the quandary of a scriptwriter stretching his integrity and an unfolding disaster as thousands of children flee their homes.

KAYA explores human experiences of displacement, drawing on the strength and resilience of those searching for belonging in a new community. Ceyda Tanc is a choreographer creating dynamic dance influenced by her Turkish heritage and highlighting the intersection of modern Britain’s diverse cultures. Ceyda’s work challenges gender stereotypes by utilising the virtuoso movements of male Turkish dancers for her all-female company.

In Our Hands follows Alf, a trawler fisherman at the top of his game. But times are changing and so is the industry, will Alf adapt in order to survive? Follow a fish’s journey from sea to plate, watch a seagull’s ridiculous attempt to find food and witness a father and son reunite.

Graham Main, Executive Producer of Carlisle Fringe said;

‘’It’s fantastic to see our wonderful city embrace the idea that Carlisle is capable of presenting a festival of this scale. The collaboration and community working together to create this magical festival is testament to the spirit that makes Carlisle unique.  We encourage local people and visitors to the city to go and support the programme and be playful with the festival.’’

Tickets for the 2018 Carlisle Fringe are on sale now via www.carlislefringe.co.uk, by calling 01228 812611 or by calling into the festival pop-up Box Office at Carlisle Town Hall.

Carlisle Fringe is produced by Elektronika, a cultural producer based in Carlisle and Dumfries with the generous support of Carlisle City Council, Arts Council England and Cito Services.

Harrogate Theatre – until 23 June 2018

Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood

5*****

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em starring Joe Pasquale, comes to Harrogate Theatre, the only one of two Yorkshire stops on its UK Tour. Based on Raymond Allen’s original 1970s TV sitcom, which originally stars Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer, this stage production is written and directed by Guy Unsworth. The sitcom was first aired at a time of political and social tensions worldwide were at its height and the continuous shift of changing attitudes towards traditional societal conventions and behaviours.

Pasquale who is received warmly when he first appears on stage plays the leading role of Frank Spencer, a well-meaning character with good intention and his interpretations of situations lead to mishaps. Co-starring is Sarah Earnshaw as Betty Spencer, Frank’s long suffering wife and Susie Blake, his mother in law who disapproves him and their marriage.

Frank Spencer (Pasquale) goes about his personal and family business with mishaps along the way which is hilarious and certainly brings the house down, literally as well as figuratively, with a number of DIY accidents from good intentions turned into shabby unauthorised workmanship. The interpretation of events as the plot unfolds have a double edge sword and innuendoes which appears that Frank has missed the point but the audience certainly haven’t. The dialogue is suggestive and cleverly written at a time where the real meaning, if said directly, is considered taboo as it defied the traditional attitudes and conventions then. Social etiquette is intended but becomes farcical with innocent like actions. With prolonged pauses the audience can pre-empt what may or may not happen.

Simon Higlett’s set works very work well with the production with each drama orientated DIY/structural mishaps perfectly timed and Matt Haskins’ lighting and Ian Horrocks-Taylor’s soundscapes to compliment it. One can think of a similar vein to the staging of Mischief Theatre’s The Play That Goes Wrong.

Pasquale, a successful comedian and actor in his own right, certainly is the star and his unmissable charm perfectly portrays the role of Frank Spencer. He certainly puts his talent, heart and soul into the performance and reaches deeply to the audience who reel with continuous laughter from the very beginning. Rest of the cast gives stellar performances for their character portrayals to make Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em successful.

Laughter and applauses from beginning to end and nostalgia and fashion from the 1970s are reminisced. A very entertaining evening and some no doubt will go down Memory Lane. Sitcoms, like farces, aspire to ordinary people with uneventful lives which become extraordinary with physical comedy. It is shown that many households whose family lives has or had centred on the successful sitcoms in then that “golden era”.

Whether one is a Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em fan or not this is a production that a ticket should be prioritised for a good evening out.

LEEDS GRAND THEATRE ANNOUNCES FIRST SHOWS FOR 2019

leedsgrandtheatre.com / 0844 848 2700

Priority tickets on sale from Wednesday 20 June / General from Wednesday 27 June 2018

BENIDORM- LIVE! *** THE FULL MONTY *** KINKY BOOTS *** THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL 

*****

 

Monday 18 to Saturday 23 March 2019

 

BENIDORM – LIVE!

 

See your favourite stars from the Solana hotel live on stage.

 

Derren Litten’s smash hit ITV comedy Benidorm is set to bring sunshine and smiles to Leeds as the first ever stage version of the ITV comedy announces an extension into 2019 after scorching sales for 2018’s sunbaked dates.

 

Litten has written an all new set of Alicante escapades for the much-loved cast members, including Jake Canuso (Mateo), Janine Duvitski (Jacqueline), Sherrie Hewson (Joyce Temple-Savage), Shelley Longworth (Sam), Tony Maudsley (Kenneth) and Neptune’s very own Asa Elliott.

 

Critically acclaimed Benidorm has received two National Television Awards, a TV Quick Award and nominations at the British Comedy Awards and BAFTAs.

 

*****

 

Monday 25 to Saturday 30 March 2019

 

THE FULL MONTY

 

Based on the smash hit film, this hilarious, heartfelt and award-winning production returns to Leeds Grand in 2019.

 

Telling the story of six out-of-work, impoverished steelworkers from Sheffield with nothing to lose, The Full Monty originally took the world by storm in 1997 and has since become one of Britain’s most successful stage shows.

 

Written and adapted for stage by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy, The Full Monty will star Gary Lucy as Gaz alongside Andrew Dunn, Louis Emerick, Joe Gill, Kai Owen and James Redmond. The show features hits by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones.

 

*****

 

Monday 8 to Saturday 20 April 2019

 

KINKY BOOTS

 

Kinky Boots, the winner of every major Best Musical award, including an Olivier and a London Evening Standard BBC Radio 2 Audience Award, is set to strut into Leeds in April 2019

 

Inspired by true events, with a book by Broadway legend and four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles), and songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots is a joyous musical celebration about the friendships we discover, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind.

 

Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos.

 

*****

 

Monday 29 April to Saturday 4 May 2019

 

THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL

 

The House on Cold Hill is the best-selling novel by Peter James (author of the award-winning Roy Grace series), and now becomes the fourth play in his box office smash hit and critically acclaimed stage franchise following the sell-out success of Not Dead Enough, The Perfect Murder and Dead Simple on stage.

 

The House on Cold Hill is a modern day ghostly thriller that will send shivers down audience’s spine and make them think twice about returning home to a dark, empty house after the show!

 

*****

BELINDA LANG AND JONATHAN COY

TO STAR IN THE 2018 UK TOUR OF

TOM KEMPINSKI’S AWARD-WINNING PLAY

DUET FOR ONE

 

Storyhouse, Chester – until Saturday July 7th 2018

Reviewed by Julie Noller

5*****

Brought to the Storyhouse stage as part of their made by season, The Crucible tells the truthful yet fanciful turn of the events surrounding the 1690’s Salem witch hunts. Written by playwright Arthur Miller in a time that saw parallels drawn against the red mist descending upon 1950’s America and the highly publicised McCarthy hunts for un-American behaviour.

When I printed our tickets in the foyer and noted that we would be sitting in the Circle, it never occurred to me the wonder of a thoroughly modern theatre. That the floor had been raised and we would be sitting not looking down towards the stage but actually on a level with it.

The Direction by Geraldine Alexander is superb, the set is simple yet effective. Once the play begins you believe you are in the woods with the dancing hysterical young girls, you believe you could be sitting in the attic as part of the mob crowd passing judgement on the families and small isolated townsfolk of Salem. The dialect spoken is predominantly Yorkshire reminding us somewhat that these Puritan people were settlers, the god fearing folk who left the shores of England for the new world.

This is a stellar cast and all acting deserves a mention for being strong, a total masterclass of the craft and fine art of storytelling. You will be shaking your head in disbelief, you will find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat as thanks to Millers skills in retelling the bare simple facts you wonder how it ever got past the point of no return. From the start poor slave girl Tituba (Natasha Bain) with her soulful Bajan chants finds her cards marked. She is loyal yet she appeals to the sensitivities of the young girls and their curious minds. No good christian girl could be guilty of witchcraft surely their must be devils work at hand and who else could be to blame than a foreigner (this fact rises up even today and shockingly stares you in the face). Daniel Flynn as the ambitious and pious Reverend Parris who ultimately abuses his position from preaching hell’s eternal fires to pointing the finger of blame. Burying his head and refusing to look towards his own daughter and niece. He makes you hate and pity him all at once whilst equally looking towards him with blame in your heart for you can see how simply things escalated out of control. Gay Soper as Rebecca Nurse, is a gentle caring old woman who stands accused, she to me is a voice of reason as she speaks of the young girls with calmness saying they need patience and in time they will return to normality. She comes to be accused simply for being a midwife and in a time where unexplained infant deaths and grief must be because of witchcraft. Executions do take place but thankfully off stage, highlighting the powerful and emotive subject, elevating the grusomness to imaginative levels of shock and repulsion. Leigh Quinn as misguided young servant Mary Warren appears to show some understanding of events and faced with her mistresses arrest and masters distress admits her part in the pretence. She can not explain why her actions were so, simply as one so young she doesn’t have the vocabulary or understanding. And neither it soon becomes apparent do the adults. Judge Hathorne (David Nellist) for one who claims to uphold the law, listens to no one who may speak reason and truth but lives by the letter of the law in a black or white Utopian land where the devil exists and must be banished. Reverend Hale (a brilliant Freddy Elletson) who at first appears a somewhat weak if not a man of books, refuses to pass judgement on any citizen as in his mind, he does not know them well enough to pass judgement. Finally finds his voice to decry the court proceedings all too late for the mob rule with fear, the accused confess to save being hanged. Our hero if we must have one and you wonder if it is the voice of Arthur Miller talking, is John Proctor (masterful Matthew Flynn) a strong willed and strong bodied farmer who attempts to complain about how Reverend Parris scares and cares more for his own means than his congregation. How sermons of hells fires are not preaching goodness but driving away his flock, are met with disbelief and point towards his guilt as the devils bidder. His sins of the flesh with a young Abigail Williams (Eleanor Sutton) who as the icy cold teenage ring leader is as calculating as any scorned young woman could be. She is callous and spiteful but oh so clever. You wonder if her friends have any idea how she controls them not with witchcraft but her own selfish personality. The plain truth is outed in one simple line by accused Elizabeth Proctor (Mary Doherty) she wants me dead and wants to take my place. It’s the age old tale of jealousy raising it’s head, wanting something she can’t and as god dictates should not have. Yet here she is as a strong willed teenager rebelling and not living by any rules but her own.

The Crucible is a magnificent play with a strong moral code that remains relevant even by today’s standards. You see the harm one person can do if lies are allowed to grow and develop. You look towards today’s society with it’s infatuation over social media and realise this is our witch hunt, teenagers and adults alike show no remorse over repeating hurtful comments and lies are quickly spread to destroy lives. It makes you wonder what comes next and as humans will we ever learn from our past?

DAN LOONEY, ADAM PAULDEN,

JASON HAIGH-ELLERY, SELLADOOR WORLDWIDE AND GAVIN KALIN ANNOUNCE

INITIAL CASTING

FOR THE UK AND IRELAND TOUR OF

THE AWARD-WINNING SMASH HIT MUSICAL

 

“ROCK OF AGES”

KEVIN KENNEDY TO PLAY ‘DENNIS’, ZOE BIRKETT ‘JUSTICE’, JODIE STEELE ‘SHERRIE’, LUKE WALSH ‘DREW’,

LUCAS RUSH ‘LONNY’, ANDREW CARTHY ‘FRANZ’

VAS CONSTANTI ‘HERTZ’

AND RHIANNON CHESTERMAN ‘REGINA’

OPENING AT THE CHURCHILL THEATRE, BROMLEY

ON 20 SEPTEMBER 2018

Dan Looney, Adam Paulden, Jason Haigh-Ellery, Selladoor Worldwide and Gavin Kalin are delighted to announce initial casting for the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the award-winning smash-hit musical “ROCK OF AGES”opening at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley on 20 September 2018. www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk

Kevin Kennedy will play ‘Dennis’, Zoe Birkett ‘Justice’, Jodie Steele ‘Sherrie’, Luke Walsh ‘Drew’, Lucas Rush ‘Lonny’, Andrew Carthy ‘Franz’, Vas Constanti ‘Hertz’ and Rhiannon Chesterman ‘Regina’. Further casing to be announced soon.

Kevin Kennedy is probably best known for his portrayal of ‘Curly Watts’ in “Coronation Street”. His West End theatre credits include ‘Amos’ in “Chicago” at the Adelphi Theatre and “We Will Rock You” at the Dominion Theatre. Kevin has played both ‘Caractacus Potts’ and ‘The Child Catcher’ in the hit musical “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, becoming the first actor to have played both roles. He has also appeared in the national tours of the musicals “The Rocky Horror Show”, “The Commitments” and most recently Kay Mellor’s “Fat Friends”.

Zoe Birkett is probably best known as the highest placing female contestant in ITV’s Pop Idol, 2002. She most recently appeared as ‘Rachel Marron’ in the UK tour of the “The Bodyguard The Musical”. She has also appeared in the West End productions of “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” and originated the female lead in “Thriller Live”. Her other theatre credits include the ‘Acid Queen’ in “Tommy” and ‘Maureen’ in “Rent”. She can currently be seen in Channel 5’s “Get a Holiday Body”.

Jodie Steele has appeared in the UK and International tour of “Wicked”, “War of the Worlds” in the West End at the Dominion Theatre, “Heathers the Musical” and “Myth”, both at The Other Palace, “Legally Blonde” at Kilworth House and the national tours of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Fame”.

Luke Walsh has appeared in many shows including “Boybands Forever” in Germany and ‘Caesar’ in “Antony and Cleopatra”, ‘Billy’ in “The Rabbit King” and “Smorgasbard”, all at Another Way Theatre. He has also appeared in the independent film “Don’t Let Go”.

 

Lucas Rush appeared as ‘St Jimmy’ in “American Idiot”, both in the West End and on tour. For this role he received a WhatsOnStage Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. His West End credits include ‘Roger’ in “Grease” at the Piccadilly Theatre and “We Will Rock You” at the Dominion Theatre. He has also appeared in the World Arena Tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar”, ‘Joe Vegas’ in the national tour of “Fame” and most recently the national tour of “Thoroughly Modern Mille”.

Andrew Carthy has appeared in the West End productions of both “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Loserville”. His other credits include “Guys and Dolls” at Kilworth House, the UK tour of “The Wedding Singer” and “Wicked” in Germany.

 

Vas Constanti’s many West End credits include “In the Heights” at King’s Cross Theatre, “Miss Saigon” at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and ‘Riff Raff’ in “The Rocky Horror Show” at the Duke of York’s Theatre. He has also appeared in the national tours of “Oklahoma!” and “Flashdance – The Musical”.

Rhiannon Chesterman was in the original cast of the musical “Mrs Henderson Presents” at the Theatre Royal Bath and then the Noel Coward theatre in the West End. Rhiannon has also appeared in the UK tours of “Grease” and “Hairspray”.

 

“ROCK OF AGES” is an LA love story lavished with over 25 classic rock anthems. Lose yourself in a city and a time where the dreams are as big as the hair, and yes, they can come true!

This hilarious musical comedy features the songs, including We Built This City, The Final Countdown, Here I Go Again, Can’t Fight this Feeling and I Want To Know What Love Is, played loud and proud by an awesome live band.

WARNING: CONTAINS SERIOUS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DEBAUCHERY!

Now a global smash with extensive runs in London’s West End, on Broadway and in Las Vegas, the show has also been made in to a star studded Hollywood movie.

“ROCK OF AGES” has a book by Chris D’Arienzo and Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp. It is directed and choreographed by Nick Winston (“The Royal Variety Performance”, “Annie” and “The Wedding Singer”) designed by Morgan Large (“The Woman in White”, “Top Hat” and “The Christmasaurus”) and has lighting design by Ben Cracknell (“Young Frankenstein”, “Sunset Boulevard” and “Annie”). Sound design is by Ben Harrison (“Hairspray”, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and Million Dollar Quartet”) and musical supervision is by Barney Ashworth (“Sunny Afternoon”, “Grease” and “Mrs Henderson Presents”).

ROCK OF AGES – UK Tour 2018/2019

2018

THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2018

The Churchill Theatre, Bromley www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2018

Manchester Opera House www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester

TUESDAY 2 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER 2018

Wycombe Swan Theatrewww.wycombeswan.co.uk

MONDAY 8 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER 2018

Darlington Hippodrome www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 20 OCTOBER 2018

Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie/

TUESDAY 23 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER 2018

Liverpool Empire Theatre www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire

TUESDAY 6 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2018

New Theatre, Cardiff www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

TUESDAY 13 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2018

New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/

TUESDAY 20 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2018

The Orchard Theatre, Dartford www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

MONDAY 26 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER 2018

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

 

2019

TUESDAY 22 JANUARY – SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 2019

Glasgow Kings Theatre www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre

TUESDAY 29 JANUARY – SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2019

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/venues/his-majestys-theatre

TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2019

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/

TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2019

The Hawth, Crawley www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/The-Hawth

TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 2 MARCH 2019

New Wimbledon Theatre www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre

TUESDAY 5 MARCH – SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019

Ipswich Regent Theatre www.apps.ipswich.gov.uk

MONDAY 11 MARCH – SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2019

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry www.belgrade.co.uk/

TUESDAY 19 MARCH – SATURDAY 23 MARCH 2019

New Theatre, Oxford www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/

TUESDAY 2 APRIL – SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2019

Theatre Royal, Nottingham www.trch.co.uk

 

TUESDAY 16 APRIL – SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019

Bristol Hippodrome www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome/

TUESDAY 23 APRIL – SATURDAY 27 APRIL 2019

Grand Opera House, York www.atgtickets.com/venues/grand-opera-house-york/

TUESDAY 30 APRIL – SATURDAY 4 MAY 2019

Edinburgh Playhouse www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse/

TUESDAY 7 MAY – SATURDAY 11 MAY 2019

Royal & Derngate, Northampton www.royalandderngate.co.uk/

TUESDAY 14 MAY – SATURDAY 18 MAY 2019

Swansea Grand Theatre www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseagrandtheatre

TUESDAY 21 MAY – SATURDAY 25 MAY 2019

New Victoria Theatre, Woking www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre/

TUESDAY 25 JUNE – SATURDAY 29 JUNE 2019

Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury www.marlowetheatre.com

TUESDAY 2 JULY – SATURDAY 6 JULY 2019

Winter Gardens, Blackpool www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

MONDAY 8 JULY – SATURDAY 13 JULY 2019

Wyvern Theatre, Swindon www.swindontheatres.co.uk

TUESDAY 16 – SATURDAY 20 JULY 2019

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton www.mayflower.org.uk

TUESDAY 23 JULY – SATURDAY 27 JULY 2019

Sunderland Empire Theatre www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire