NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL 2018 SEASON

NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE
ANNOUNCES FULL 2018 SEASON

  • NYT TODAY ANNOUNCES ITS SUMMER/AUTUMN 2018 SEASON
    WHICH INCLUDES WORK IN LONDON, ACROSS THE UK AND
    INTERNATIONALLY
  • A NEW AUDITION ACCESS FUND, SUPPORTED BY NYT ALUMNUS
    AND PATRON HUGH BONNEVILLE, WILL PROVIDE FREE SUPPORT
    FOR SCHOOLS AND YOUTH GROUPS WHICH HAVE LOST DRAMA
    PROVISION
  • THE NYT REP COMPANY RETURNS FOR A SIXTH YEAR THIS AUTUMN
    WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF VICTORIA’S KNICKERS DIRECTED
    BY NED BENNETT AND PRODUCTIONS OF EVAN PLACEY’S
    CONSENSUAL AND A GENDER FLUID MACBETH AT THE SOHO
    THEATRE AND GARRICK THEATRE RESPECTIVELY
  • SUMMER PROGRAMME AT THE CRITERION THEATRE SEES
    FACEBOOK SCANDAL EXPLORED IN NEW PLAY F-OFF, DIRECTED BY
    PAUL ROSEBY, AND PREMIERE OF SOPHIE ELLERBY’S FUNCTION
  • CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ADAPTATION OF MOHSIN HAMID’S MAN
    BOOKER SHORTLISTED NOVEL THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST
    DIRECTED BY PRASANNA PUWANARAJAH WILL RUN AT
    EDINBURGH FESTIVAL IN AUGUST AFTER BRADFORD LITERATURE
    FESTIVAL RUN
  • SOCIAL INCLUSION COURSE ‘PLAYING UP’ TO STAGE TORTOISE BY
    MARK WEINMAN AT THE BUNKER THEATRE, DIRECTED BY MATT
    HARRISON FROM 11-14 JULY
  • NEW COMMISSIONS BY PLAYWRIGHTS ASIF KHAN, RACHEL DELAHAY,
    LUKE BARNES AND NESSAH MUTHY TO BE DEVELOPED AND
    PREMIERED AROUND THE UK INCLUDING IN BIRMINGHAM AND
    SKELMERSDALE
  • KAREN TURNER ANNOUNCED AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
  • NYT CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS OUTREACH INTERNATIONALLY IN
    WORLD PREMIERE OF FLOOD CO-PRODUCED WITH THE HONG
    KONG YOUTH ARTS FOUNDATION
  • LAUNCH OF FIRST DIGITAL STORYTELLING COURSE IN
    PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS AND NEW
    ALTERNATE REALITY SHOW IN DEVELOPMENT AT MEGAVERSE XR
    THEATRE LAB IN SHEFFIELD
  • TICKETS GO ON-SALE AT WWW.NYT.ORG.UK FROM 11 JULY

Paul Roseby OBE, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT) has today announced the summer and autumn season of work for 2018

Founded in 1956, the NYT is the UK’s leading youth arts organisation and is recognised as the leading provider of free alternatives to formal theatre training, with alumni including Dame Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig, Chiwetel Ejiofor CBE, Rosamund Pike and Sir Daniel Day Lewis. Paul Roseby has been at the helm of the organisation for the past 15 years and last month received the OBE in recognition of services to drama and young people in the Queen’s 2018 Birthday Honours. Throughout his tenure he has facilitated over 150,000 creative educational opportunities for young people, established financial sustainability for thecharity, championed diversity and launched numerous new programmes to successfully support and showcase the best young talent in the arts. As part of the NYT’s ongoing commitment to outreach and access, today also marks the launch of NYT’s new Auditions  Access Fund, supported by NYT Alumnus and Patron Hugh Bonneville, which will grant £37,500 over three years to fund free preparation workshops, auditions and bursaries at 30 schools and youth groups around Great Britain which have cut drama provision

Paul Roseby OBE said:

As opportunities for young people to engage in drama in schools have sadly decreased, the demand for National Youth Theatre opportunities are up and we’re responding to that by working in more venues around the country than ever before this year. Whilst this puts increased pressure on fundraising, we’re grateful to all those enabling this expansion, not least our generous Patron and alumnus Hugh Bonneville who is supporting a new free auditions initiative around Great Britain. At far reaching venues from King’s Lynn to Edinburgh, we’ll also be developing and staging wide-reaching new content, responding directly to the #MeToo movement, disenfranchised working-class northern voices and the impact of social media on mental health, all wrapped up with a dob of wit, grit and brave storytelling.”

NYT Patron and alumnus Hugh Bonneville said:

The chance for young people to explore their creative talents is essential for their development. For some, taking part in drama can inspire a career in the creative industries; for all, it provides invaluable skills, building confidence in communication and self-expression. The decline of drama in schools and cuts to local youth theatre groups is a reality, which is why I am establishing the NYT Audition Access Fund. This initiative will give young talent in specially selected areas of the country where access to drama is under threat the chance to audition for and experience the National Youth Theatre for free. Becoming a member of the NYT changed my life and I’m delighted to be playing my part in
giving the next generation a similar opportunity.”

NYT REP SEASON 2018

The 2018 summer and autumn programme includes the sixth annual REP season, featuring the world premiere of Victoria’s Knickers by NYT alumnus Josh Azouz (Buggy Baby) directed by Ned Bennett (An Octoroon, Pomona, Buggy Baby, Yen). The play was developed as part of NYT’s 2017 summer Epic Stages course. Following its 2015 premiere, the REP also stages Writer’s Guild Award winner Evan Placey’s Consensual directed by Pia Furtado exploring teenage testosterone, teacher-pupil relationships and the age of consent in the UK. Victoria’s Knickers and Consensual will this year take place at Soho Theatre (22 October – 10 November) following five successful seasons at the Ambassadors Theatre. The REP Company will then perform a gender fluid version of Macbeth, at the Garrick Theatre abridged by Moira Buffini and directed by Natasha Nixon, running from 20 November to 7 December. In January the REP will present a fourth production, directed by the newly appointed 2018 Bryan Forbes Bursary Director Meghan Doyle (coDirector of The Letter Room and recently Assistant Director for East is East – Northern Stage/Nottingham Playhouse and James and the Giant Peach – Northern Stage)

The NYT REP is inspired by the traditional repertory theatre model and was set up by Paul Roseby in 2012 to provide a much-needed free alternative to expensive formal training whilst  embracing the best and diverse young talent to work with leading institutions culminating in three productions in London theatres. This year, 56% of the REP Company are actors of colour and over half come from low-income backgrounds. 25% of actors in this year’s REP Company are Asian, two of whom are from East Asian backgrounds

REP alumni include Sope Dirisu, recently seen in the Young Vic’s The Brothers Size and in the title role of the RSC’s Coriolanus for which he was nominated for the 2018 Ian Charleston Award alongside fellow REP alumna Hannah Morrish, nominated for her portrayal of Lavinia in the RSC’s Titus Andronicus

Meghan Doyle, 2018 Bryan Forbes Bursary Director, said: “As a working-class female director living in the North East you can imagine that opportunities to work in theatre are scarce, and so it is without exaggeration that this Bursary is life-changing for me.”

SUMMER PROGRAMME

The NYT’s summer and autumn programme follows a successful spring season attracting large young audiences for James Fritz’s The Fall and Dennis Kelly’s DNA at Southwark Playhouse, and The Host by Nessah Muthy at St James’s Church Piccadilly. In London, the 2018 summer programme at the Criterion Theatre sees the Facebook generation put the social network on trial in F-Off a new part-devised/ part-scripted play created by NYT’s Artistic Director Paul Roseby, writer Tatty Hennessy and the NYT Company. A cast of 30 will interrogate the highs and lows of Facebook, acting as judge and jury as they delve into the darkest depths of social media (20 August). This will be followed by Function (17 September) a new play about female liberation by up-and-coming writer Sophie Ellerby whose debut play Three was commissioned by NYT at the Arcola Theatre last year and who has since had new work staged at the 2017 HighTide Festival in Walthamstow. It will be directed by Lynette Linton, who was nominated for Best Director at the Stage Debut Awards in 2017

This year NYT have launched a new partnership with Diverse City, focussing on its programme to become more accessible to young disabled actors. The programme includes new initiatives, with every pupil at Highshore School, a special educational needs school in Southwark, taking part in a free NYT workshop. NYT Associate Artists will also receive free training from Diverse City on best inclusive practices

On 10 and 11 August NYT members will take to the National Theatre’s River Stage with the UK’s leading professional circus company, Extraordinary Bodies, (a partnership between Diverse City and Cirque Bijou). Thirty NYT members and Associate Artists will perform with 15 young disabled actors from Highshore School as part of the Community Choir of Extraordinary Bodies’ ground breaking new show, What Am I Worth?

In 2019 the programme will see the NYT deliver relaxed accessible auditions with partners including Highshore School in Southwark and Diverse City in Dorset

PLAYING UP – SOCIAL INCLUSION COURSE

NYT’s social inclusion course ‘Playing Up’ returns in 2018 with the brand new play Tortoise by Mark Weinman, which delves into virtual reality and escapism and the pressures to succeed, at the Bunker Theatre from 11-14 July and directed by 2014 Bryan Forbes Assistant Directors Bursary recipient Matt Harrison (The Fall, Southwark Playhouse)

Now in its tenth year, the course, for 19 – 24 year olds not in full time education, employment or training, creates productions and commissions new work. It has an 85% success rate of moving young people into higher education, further training or employment

Recent alumni of Playing Up include Ria Zmitrowicz, one of the leads in the BBC’s Three Girls which won best mini-series at the 2018 BAFTAs, as well as Seraphina Beh who won Best Emerging Actress Award at the IARA Awards 2017

NATIONAL PROGRAMME

This year, NYT expands nationwide with a series of new play commissions, free workshops and festival appearances. Having received its world premiere in 2016, followed by a critically acclaimed run at The Yard in 2017, Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist will be performed at Edinburgh Festival (14 – 26 August) following its recent appearance at the Bradford Literature Festival. Adapted by Stephanie Street (Sisters) and directed by Prasanna Puwanarajah (recently seen in Doctor Foster and Patrick Melrose) the production looks at the ironies of prejudice and representation in a post 9/11 New York

NYT has also commissioned four acclaimed playwrights to develop work which reflects the issues facing different areas of the country. In Bradford, Asif Khan’s new comedy Imaan Imran will follow the story of an actor-turned-Imaan; in Birmingham Rachel De-Lahay will develop The Hole, a new play about taboo; in Skelmersdale, Luke Barnes will write Lost Boys New Town a play about masculinity in post-industrial towns directed by Zoe Lafferty (The Host) and Nessah Muthy has written new play The Cure which explores issues around disability

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME

As one of the pioneering organisations for youth arts globally, NYT will continue to expand its international outreach working with Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation (HKYAF) on the world premiere of Flood by Rory Mullarkey, directed by NYT Associate Artist Joel Scott. NYT makes its Hong Kong debut with the dystopian work Flood, a NYT commission staged in a collaborative production with HKYAF and ArtisTree. A bold and visceral telling of what happens when land turns to water, the performance featuring young talent from HKYAF combines elements of contemporary physical theatre, music and voice, Cantonese song, and video imagery.

Performances will run from 20 to 22 September 2018

PILOT DIGITAL STORYTELLING SCHEME AND MEGAVERSE XR THEATRE
LAB IN SHEFFIELD

NYT will also be launching a brand new Digital Storytelling course this summer, in collaboration with Central Saint Martins. The course, led by NYT Digital Associate Ben Carlin, will explore the ways in which virtual reality and digital technologies can be utilised for theatrical storytelling. The one-week London-based programme aims to discover and develop a new generation of digital theatrical talent.

The course is open to 15 to 25 year olds and runs from 27 August – 1 September.

A new production exploring the relationship between artificial and emotional intelligence will be developed with Digital Associate Ben Carlin and director Sean Hollands (DNA) at the MEGAVERSE XR Theatre Lab in Sheffield, as part of a R&D project exploring how to extend the corporeal immediacy and humanity of live performance through burgeoning immersive technology

FUNDING

As well as the NYT Audition Access Fund supported by Hugh Bonneville, the last 12 months has seen major supporters the David Pearlman Charitable Foundation and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation increase their support. New major supporters from the last year include the Pureland Foundation who are supporting NYT’s new writing for three years and the L&Q Foundation, a major new supporter of the Playing Up programme and its tour of Snakes and
Ladders by Rebecca Manley to London schools. NYT’s annual fundraising gala dinner Putting On the Blitz Kids in association with EON Productions will take place on Monday 26 November at Café De Paris. NYT’s President Barbara Broccoli will chair the event committee

 

 

The Great Gatsby becomes longest running immersive show ever in the UK

The Great Gatsby becomes the longest
running immersive production in the UK
Gatsby’s Drugstore, 84 Long Lane, Borough, London SE1 4AU
Now running until Monday 31st December 2018

This summer, The Great Gatsby has become the longest running immersive production in the UK. The Guild of Misrule’s extraordinary retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel continues to invite audiences into the decadent world of 1920s jazz and excess. It has now extended to run until the end of the year

This unique immersive theatrical experience has proved immensely popular and, by public demand, has continually extended since it first opened Gatsby’s Drugstore on 1st June 2017. This longevity has seen the show encounter new challenges, maintaining a strong presence at the forefront of the development of immersive theatre, and becoming one of the industry leaders in finding ways to
allow this ever-changing genre to continue to grow

First conceived in 2015 when director Alexander Wright and producer Brian Hook were running The Fleeting Arms – a pop arts and community pub in an abandoned building in York – the journey of this production has been remarkable. The following year the show ran again in York with a parallel
production in Sheffield in partnership with Theatre Deli. The Great Gatsby first came to London as part of VAULT Festival in 2017 and sold out before the show opened. Since then the show has run in Wales in co-production with Theatr Clwyd, at Halifax’s Square Chapel, and the august surroundings of Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. All while the show has played night after night in London,
inviting audiences in to the hedonistic world of F Scott Fitzgerald’s extraordinary tale

With this long run has come some incredible facts. Since first opening its doors, The Great Gatsby cast and audiences have: said 11,076,000 scripted words in the drugstore, served 52,555 shots of gin, used 2114 meters of cable, said ‘Old Sport’ 9,088 times, drunk 2,176 bottles of champagne, held 284 performances in the drugstore and 525 performances worldwide, been watched by 38,000 plus people and 75,000 plus people worldwide, contributed £303,323.67 in taxes to the economy by London run, spent 598.5 hours of stage time at Gatsby’s Drugstore, been on stage for 1,102.5 hours in total, employed 64 people (32 female, 32 male)

The Great Gatsby allows audiences to fully immerse themselves into the world of Jay Gatsby and the glamour of the Roaring 20s. With cocktails, dancing and scandal, this heart-racing adaptation of this seminal jazz-age story puts the audience at the heart of the action

Producer Brian Hook comments, Whenever we make a show at The Guild of Misrule, we look tell a story in the most exciting and visceral way possible. With our iteration of The Great Gatsby, the plan was simple: take the rich fusion of dancing, sex, lust, hate, passion and greed, hot jazz and a never quenched thirst for excess, and then explode that narrative over an entire building. Gatsby has proved itself to be a phenomenon, inviting our audiences directly in to an experience, something they can get dressed up and throw themselves into, and we are damn proud of every audience member who accepts Mr Gatsby’s invitation to join his little parties. For us, creating work is always about how to best tell incredible stories, and how to invite our audiences in to the heart of that world. The Great Gatsby has proved to be an incredible invitation

Since opening its secret door in December 2015, across the roof of an empty pub in York, the Gatsby phenomenon has kept growing and growing, and shows no sign of slowing down

[…] the conviction of the acting, the quality of the music and the frenetic explosions of flapper dancing distil the spirit of the book like liquor in a prohibition-era teapot. (Guardian, ★★★★)

Evita Review

Churchill Theatre Bromley – until Saturday 28 July 2018

Reviewed by Elizabeth J Smith

5*****

From West End to Rainbow Tour

Evita first opened in the West End in 1978, 40 years ago, and made a star of Elaine Paige. It tells the story of a poor illegitimate child, Eva Duarte, who dreamed of stardom, she achieved more than anyone would imagine.

After leaving home and arriving in Buenos Aires she forges a career as an actress and radio star. After a devastating earthquake hits the town of San Juan, Eva attends a charity concert and meets, the also ambitious, Colonel Juan Domingo Peron. Together they rise through the military and social ranks to become Argentina’s President and First Lady.

Eva’s philanthropy earned her the love of the people, while behind the scenes she was feathering her own nest by laundering money through her charity. Her life was cut short at the age of 33 when she died of cancer. She remains, more than a half a century after her death, an icon.

Lucy O’Byrne did a superb job portraying this champion of the people, her excellent vocal range and superb diction meant you could follow the story with ease. Her acting skills also left you in not doubt that there was an ambitious side to Eva, using any method to get ahead or dismiss any rival in her way without a second glance. Her rendition of Don’t Cry for me Argentina stirred real emotion from the audience, combined with the beautiful gown she wore and the simple set made this a show stopper moment.

Mike sterling who played Eva’s husband and president of Argentina Juan Peron, also delivered a stunning performance. With his deep velvety vocals and reserved military feel, his performance only proved how different the characters were and why their relationship was often frowned upon. I’d be so good for you demonstrating how their symbiotic relationship served them both.

Che, the narrator of the story, played by Glenn Carter, open with Oh what a circus expresses his disdain for the couple. Glenn’s facial expressions and reactions as the story unfolds left you in no doubt how Che felt about the situation.

Christina Hoey, the mistress, performed Another Suitcase In Another Hall with such emotion it made my spine tingle. Beautifully sung Oscar Balmaseda, Magaldi, portrayed the slightly seedy night club singer with style and humour.
The company created all the sections of society, upper classes, lower classes and military with excellent choreography by Bill Deamer, with the regimented movement of the military, the stiffness of the upper classes and the Tango feel of the people.

The show moved at a great pace, with effortless scene changes and wonderful costumes. The whole performance evoked real emotion from the audience.
Eva Peron’s fear was that she would be forgotten but while Evita can enthral audiences as this one did her name will live on.

Kevin Elyot’s COMING CLEAN – West End Transfer

KING’S HEAD THEATRE’S

REVIVAL OF KEVIN ELYOT’S FIRST PLAY

COMING CLEAN

TRANSFERS TO LONDON’S WEST END NEXT YEAR

PLAYING TRAFALGAR STUDIOS 2

FROM 9 JANUARY TO 2 FEBRUARY 2019

NATIONAL PRESS NIGHT FRIDAY 11 JANUARY 2019

 

The King’s Head Theatre, Making Productions Limited and Joe C Brown are delighted to announce the West End transfer of Kevin Elyot’s Coming Clean. Adam Spreadbury-Maher, Artistic Director of the King’s Head Theatre, will direct the production, which will run at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 9 January to 2 February 2019, with a national press night on Friday 11 January 2019.

In 2017, Adam Spreadbury-Maher directed the 35th anniversary production and the first London revival of Coming Clean, Kevin Elyot’s first play.  The play premiered at the Bush Theatre on 3 November 1982. Coming Clean looks at the breakdown of a gay couple’s relationship and examines complex questions of fidelity and love.

The play is set in a flat in Kentish Town, north London, in 1982.  Struggling writer Tony and his partner of five years, Greg, seem to have the perfect relationship.  Committed and in love, they are both open to one-night stands as long as they don’t impinge on the relationship.  But Tony is starting to yearn for something deeper, something more like monogamy.  When he finds out that Greg has been having a full-blown affair with their cleaner, Robert, their differing attitudes towards love and commitment become clear.

In his foreword to Kevin Elyot: Four Plays (Nick Hern Books, 2004), Elyot writes, “From 1976 to 1984 I’d acted in several productions at the Bush Theatre, and Simon Stokes, one of the artistic directors, had casually suggested I try my hand at a play.  I presented them with a script entitled Cosy, which was passed on to their literary manager Sebastian Born.  He responded favourably and, largely through his support, it finally opened on 3 November 1982 under the [new] title Coming Clean.”

Written 12 years before his most famous play, My Night With RegComing Clean won Elyot the Samuel Beckett Award for writers showing particular promise in the field of the performing arts.

Theatre critic Michael Coveney wrote of Elyot in his obituary for The Guardian in 2014, “In writing about the human heart and the art of living… Elyot transcended categorisation and produced a small body of stage plays that will reward revival, and not just as period pieces.”  Coveney goes on to describe Coming Clean as “an elegiac play about sexual relationships at a time when Aids was still a barely credible rumour in Britain, but there was a sense of foreboding in the final scene.” 

Director Adam Spreadbury-Maher (recent King’s Head Theatre productions include the European premiere of Tommy Murphy’s Strangers in BetweenLa Bohème and Trainspotting) will be joined by set designer Amanda Mascarenhas (An Unknown Place, Ovalhouse Theatre, 2016) and lighting designer Nic Farman (Shock TreatmentLa BohèmeCosì fan tutteMadam Butterfly, and F*cking Men for the King’s Head Theatre). 

Coming Clean is being produced in the West End by Kings Head Theatre, Making Productions Limited and Joe C Brown.

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

9 January – 2 February 2019

Trafalgar Studios 2

14 Whitehall

London

SW1A 2DY

Performances: Monday-Saturday 7.45pm*, Thursday & Saturday 3pm (*7pm on Friday 11 January)

Ticket Prices: from £25 (previews: all tickets £15)

 

Box Office: 0844 871 7632

 

Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/trafalgar-studios

‎Twitter: @KingsHeadThtr

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingsheadtheatre

Instagram: @kingsheadtheatre

 

Cast and creative team announced for the world premiere of The Lovely Bones

A Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Northern Stage co-production in association with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse

WORLD PREMIÈRE
The Lovely Bones
By Alice Sebold
Adapted by Bryony Lavery
Directed by Melly Still

 

  • ALICE SEBOLD’S GLOBAL BEST-SELLING BOOK, THE LOVELY BONES, IS BROUGHT TO LIFE ON STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME
  • THE LOVELY BONES RECEIVES ITS WORLD PREMIÈRE IN A CO-PRODUCTION BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE, ROYAL & DERNGATE  AND NORTHERN STAGE IN ASSOCIATION WITH LIVERPOOL EVERYMAN & PLAYHOUSE
  • ADAPTED BY BRYONY LAVERY, DIRECTED BY MELLY STILL AND COMMISSIONED BY BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE
  • DESIGNED BY ANA INÉS JABARES-PITA WITH ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED BY DAVE PRICE, LIGHTING DESIGN BY MATT HASKINS AND SOUND DESIGN BY HELEN SKIERA
  • CHARLOTTE BEAUMONT TO PLAY SUSIE SALMON, IN A CAST INCLUDING PETE ASHMORE, EMILY BEVAN, BHAWNA BHAWSAR, SUSAN BOVELL, NATASHA COTTRIALL, KEITH DUNPHY, KARAN GILL, JACK SANDLE AND AYOOLA SMART

The full cast and creative team have been confirmed for the world première of The Lovely Bones, one of the best-selling novels of the 21st century. Adapted for the stage by Bryony Lavery from Alice Sebold’s story and directed by Melly Still, it will open at Royal & Derngate, Northampton on 1 September 2018 before transferring to partner theatres Everyman Liverpool, Northern Stage, Newcastle and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. The show will also tour to The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich.

Alice Sebold’s coming-of-age tale captured the hearts of readers throughout the world when it was first published in 2002. An unforgettable story about life after loss, The Lovely Bones achieved critical acclaim and became an international best-seller. It won the Indies Choice Book Award for Adult Fiction 2003.

The Lovely Bones tells the story of young Susie Salmon, who is just like any other girl. She wants to be beautiful, adores her charm bracelet and has a crush on a boy from school. There’s one big difference though – Susie is dead. Susie can only observe while her family cope with their grief in their different ways. Her father, Jack, is obsessed with identifying the killer. Her mother, Abigail, is desperate to create a different life for herself. And her sister, Lindsay, is discovering the opposite sex with experiences that Susie will never know. Susie is desperate to help them and there might be a way of reaching them.

In the 10-strong ensemble cast, the part of Susie Salmon will be played by Charlotte Beaumont, well known for her role as Chloe Latimer in TV series Broadchurch, with recent theatre credits includingThree Winters at the National Theatre. Jack Salmon will be played by Jack Sandle (War Horse, National Theatre; Running Wild, UK tour), Emily Bevan (The Haunting of Hill House, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse) as Abigail Salmon, with Ayoola Smart (Othello, Unicorn Theatre; The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare’s Globe) as sister Lindsay. Kevin Dunphy (The Rivals, Bristol Old Vic) takes the role of Mr Harvey. The cast is completed by Pete Ashmore as Len Fenerman/Samuel, Bhawna Bhawsar as Ruana Singh/Franny, Susan Bovell as Lynn/Cop/Mrs Flanagan, Natasha Cottriall as Ruth Connors/Buckley Salmon and Karan Gill as Ray Singh/Principal Caden.

Playwright Bryony Lavery’s acclaimed work includes the Tony Award-nominated Frozen (revived in the West End in spring this year), Stockholm (Frantic Assembly), Kursk (Young Vic) and Beautiful Burnout (National Theatre of Scotland and Frantic Assembly). Her other adaptations include A Christmas Carol (Birmingham Repertory Company), Treasure Island (National Theatre), Brideshead Revisited (York Theatre Royal/ETT) and most recently Brighton Rock (Pilot Theatre).

Bringing The Lovely Bones to life on stage is director Melly Still, whose credits include the acclaimed Olivier and Tony Award-nominated production of Coram Boy (National Theatre and Broadway), My Beautiful Friend (Rose Theatre Kingston) and several recent productions for Glyndebourne, the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The production is designed by Ana Inés Jabares-Pita whose credits include Wish List (Royal Exchange and Royal Court) and The Driver’s Seat (National Theatre of Scotland), with lighting design by Matt Haskins (Death of a Salesman, Royal & Derngate UK tour; Turn of the Screw, Opera North), sound design by Helen Skiera (Instructions for Correct AssemblyBodies, Royal Court) and movement direction by Mike Ashcroft (The Christmas TruceHenry IV parts 1 & 2, RSC). Music will be composed by Dave Price whose original scores include From Morning to Midnight (National Theatre) and Cymbeline (RSC).

#LovelyBones18

 

Listings Information:

Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP
National Press Night: Friday 7 September at 7.45pm
Dates
: Saturday 1 to Saturday 22 September 2018
Times: Evenings 7.45pm (except Wednesday 5 September 7pm)
Matinees – Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm (excl. Saturday 1 September)
No performances on Sundays
Tickets: From £11*
Box Office:  01604 624811 or online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk
* A charge of £3 applies for all transactions of £15 and over. Does not apply to Groups, Friends or Disabled Patrons, and is per-transaction, not per-ticket.

Everyman Liverpool, Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BH
Dates: Tuesday 25 September to Saturday 6 October 2018
Press Night: Wednesday 26 September
Tickets
: Tickets from £10
Box Office: 0151 709 4776 or online at www.everymanplayhouse.com

Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RH
Press Night: Tuesday 9 Oct, 7.30pm
Dates
: Tuesday 9 October until Saturday 20 October 2018
Times: Evenings 7.30pm, Thursday 11 October, 6pm
Matinees Wednesday 10,Saturday 13 & Saturday 20 October 2pm
No performances on Sundays
Tickets from £10
Box Office
:  0191 230 5151 or online at www.northernstage.co.uk

Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham
B1 2EP
Dates
: Tuesday 30 October until Saturday 10 November 2018
Times: 7.30pm Monday – Saturday, apart from 7pm on Wednesday 31 Oct.  Matinees at 2pm on Thursday 1, Saturday 3, Thursday 8 and Saturday 10 November
Tickets: From £10 (subject to availability)
Box Office: 0121 236 4455 or online at www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

New Wolsey Theatre, Civic Drive, Ipswich IP1 2AS
Dates: 
Tuesday 13 November until Saturday 17 November 2018
Times: 7pm Tuesday, 7.45pm Wednesday to Saturday, 2.30pm Matinees Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Saturday 17 November
Tickets: From £10 (subject to availability)
Box Office: 01473 295900 or online at wolseytheatre.co.uk

Royal & Derngate, Northampton

BAT OUT OF HELL Extends Through to January 2019

JIM STEINMAN’S AWARD-WINNING

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL

EXTENDS BOOKING PERIOD

AT THE DOMINION THEATRE, LONDON

UNTIL 5 JANUARY 2019

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical will be extending into 2019, with a new booking period at the Dominion Theatre from 27 October 2018 to 5 January 2019 going on sale at 12.00noon today, Thursday 26 July 2918.  The winner of the Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical 2017 began previews at the Dominion Theatre on Monday 2 April, with a gala performance on 19 April 2018.

The cast of Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical at the Dominion Theatre is led by Andrew Polec, winner of the Joe Allen Best West End Debut in the Stage Debut Awards 2017, as Strat and Christina Bennington as Raven, with Rob Fowler as Falco and Sharon Sexton as Sloane.  Also starring are Alex Thomas-Smith as Tink, Danielle Steers as Zahara, Wayne Robinson as Jagwire, Giovanni Spanó as Ledoux and Patrick Sullivan as Blake.  At certain performances, the role of Strat will be played by Simon Gordon or Jordan Luke Gage.  Patrick Sullivan will leave the London company on Saturday 1 September and Ryan Andersen will be joining as the new Blake.  Also in the cast are Kyle Anthony, Emily Benjamin, Christopher Cameron, Georgia Carling, Natalie Chua, Jonathan Cordin, Rob Copeland, Hannah Ducharme, Isaac Edwards, Collette Guitart, Eric Hallengren, Vicki Manser, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky, Aston Newman Hannington, Eve Norris, Joseph Peacock, Kyle Roberts, Craig Ryder, Dawnita Smith, Courtney Stapleton, Julie Stark, Charlotte Anne Steen and Sam Toland.

Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical wowed critics and public alike when it played limited seasons at Manchester Opera House, London Coliseum and Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre in 2017, and has been seen by over 650,000 people to date.  A new production opens in Toronto for a three-week engagement this autumn as the first stop in a multi-city North American tour.

In April 2018, Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical announced a wide-ranging global partnership to support the Invictus Games Foundation, the governing body of the Invictus Games, a global sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans.

Bat Out Of Hell became one of the best-selling albums in history, selling over 50 million copies worldwide.  16 years later, Steinman scored again with Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, which contained the massive hit I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).

For the stage musical, the legendary and award-winning Jim Steinman has incorporated iconic songs from the 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.

Jim Steinman’s 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.  

Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical has book, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography by Emma Portner, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set design by Jon Bausor, costume design by Jon Bausor and Meentje Nielsen, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestration by Steve Sidwell, casting by David Grindrod CDG, fight direction by Stuart Boother and musical direction by Robert Emery.

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Randy Lennox & 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 (N.B.  Performances will be at2.00pm & 8.00pm on Saturday 8 September)

 

Tickets:  from £15.00

Box Office:  0845 200 7982

Current Booking Period:  to 5 January 2019

Running Time:  2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)

Christmas 2018/19 Performance Schedule

Mon 17 December – 7.30pm

Tue 18 December – 7.30pm

Wed 19 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Thurs 20 December – 7.30pm

Fri 21 December – 7.30pm

Sat 22 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

 

Mon 24 December – No Show

Tue 25 December – No Show

Wed 26 December – 7.30pm

Thurs 27 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Fri 28 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Sat 29 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

 

Mon 31 December – 7.00pm

Tues 1 January – 7.30pm

Wed 2 January – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Thurs 3 January – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Fri 4 January – 7.30pm

Sat 5 January – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

The Scarecrows Wedding Review

Leicester Square Theatre – until 2nd September 2018

Reviewed by Elizabeth J Smith

4****

THE BEST WEDDING EVER
The Scarecrows Wedding follows a farmer who narrates the tale of his two scarecrows Harry O’ Hay and Betty O’ Barley, on their quest to fill their wedding list to have “the best wedding yet, no scarecrow will ever forget”.

The show opens with the characters meeting the audience and follows with a lively song. The music is provided by the cast members playing a variety of instruments throughout including the violin, banjo, guitar, accordion, box drum and mouth organ.

The farmer, Mark Kane, tells the tale and also provides the characters that the scarecrows encounter on their journey around the farm collecting the things on their list. The imagination in creating theses characters was genius, sock hand puppet for the geese, a space hopper for the toad and a ruck sack for the very slow and hilarious snail. Reginald Rake, the Spanish lothario, who tries to steal Betty’s heart, brings a great energy to the stage. With great expressions for all
the characters you could see the transformation from one to the other and the children laughed out loud, especially the snail.

The two scarecrows, Phillippa Hogg and Mathew Burns, were played to perfection expressing their true love for each other and their excitement at getting married, all while playing their instruments.

The scenery gave you the impression of open fields and farm yard chaos, with minor changes to create each new scene, even a pond.

My reviewing partner was my 7 year old niece who laughed, clapped and said the wedding dress was the best bit!

Highly recommend for an afternoon school holiday trip.

DELFONT MACKINTOSH THEATRES

DELFONT MACKINTOSH THEATRES’ AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME OF STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS AND RENOVATION CONTINUE.

Having recently completed the spectacular reinvention and restoration of the VICTORIA PALACE, which reopened with the smash hit musical HAMILTON, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres (DMT) are continuing the upkeep of their buildings by turning their attention to implementing a recommended programme of restorative works which will include strengthening and extending the life of the ceilings of its other theatres and completing the restoration of its auditoriums.

All but two of Delfont Mackintosh’s London theatres are now in their second century of continuous operation as public buildings and they contain some of London’s finest plaster work.  Over the past few years our theatres, along with many others in the West End, have been subjected to extensive surveys of their original fabric.  The results of our survey, undertaken by leading historic plaster and paintwork conservationist Richard Ireland and structural engineer Chris Boydell of Conisbee, have shown that work is now required to ensure these unique historic buildings will last another 100 years. This will necessitate that four of our five playhouses, all designed by the great Edwardian architect William Sprague, will each need to close for a period of two to four months to complete the necessary works within the next three years.

The first theatre to undergo these improvements will be the Wyndham’s commencing early next month. It will be followed by the Noel Coward and the Gielgud in 2019 and the Queen’s in 2019/20. At the Novello over 50% of the required work has already been completed and the remainder can be achieved without any loss of performances. The two other musical houses, the Prince of Wales and the Prince Edward, built in the 1930’s have both already had major reconstruction during the last 15 years and don’t require immediate works and will be dealt with at a later date when the hugely successful productions of THE BOOK OF MORMON and ALADDIN eventually complete their runs.

These theatre closures will take place between scheduled productions apart from the Queen’s, where LES MISERABLES, the world’s longest running musical continues to play to 95% capacity in its 33rd year. This Theatre also requires a major renovation backstage.  It has had little refurbishment since reopening in 1959 after bomb damage from the Second World War destroyed the entire Front of House and rear Auditorium.  As the extraordinary run of LES MISERABLES looks set to continue for many years to come, the closure will also allow an opportunity to restore Sprague’s original boxes and loges as well as improving other facilities.

Plans are being finalised to ensure that this legendary musical success will continue its run in the West End during the Queens Theatre closure and an announcement with these arrangements will be made in the autumn.

Cameron Mackintosh said, “Having just completed the hugely rewarding but very expensive restoration of the Victoria Palace, news of the timing of these works which are necessary to ensure that my other theatres will be in tip top condition for actors, producers and audiences, long after the final curtain has dropped on me, was not the most welcome.   There are major financial consequences, not just the considerable cost of the capital works, but the knock on costs of closing these theatres for several months will run into many millions of pounds. However, I love these buildings and luckily my success as a Producer has given me the resources to preserve their life for another 100 years – so that the show can go on and on and on!”

Interview with Ross Noble

ROSS NOBLE

‘EL HABLADOR’

UK TOUR 2018

Q&A

Ross Noble likes to keep his fans on their toes. For more than 20 years the Geordie comedy wonder has been spinning spontaneous stand-up, regularly touring the globe and playing to packed houses.

In a Ross Noble show, the mischievous comic takes his audience on a meandering journey full of ridiculously funny stories, whimsical tangents and offbeat observations – and his unique brand of semi-improvised stand-up has won him a legion of fans.

But just when it feels like the 42-year-old comic’s career is becoming predictable, he steers into completely new territory. Quite literally, in the case of his Dave TV shows – ‘Freewheeling’ and ‘Off Road’ – that follow him on motorcycle adventures. But more recently in Mel Brooks’s West End musical, ‘Young Frankenstein’, which saw him nominated for an Olivier and win a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.

Now, Noble’s ditched the choreography and is back on the road with a brand new stand-up tour, ‘El Hablador’. I talked to him about Christmas albums, giant skulls and working with Mel Brooks.

This is your 16th UK tour, with 68 dates announced so far. After 20 years on the road, do you still enjoy travelling the country?

‘It would be hard work if I didn’t! Is that how many shows it is? That seems like a daft number – I’ll put on two extra dates, just to make it up to 70. But, yeah, I do still love it. The great thing about stand-up is you’re face-to-face with real people.’

You’ve said that when you started touring you ‘didn’t really live in the real world’. Has that changed?

‘When I started all I did was tour – I was just a vessel. I’ve got more of a balanced life now, but I can still retain the essence of being in the moment. I realised quite early on that stand-up can teach you everything you need to know about life, which is: have one eye on the future, and have one eye on the past, but live in the present.’

How would describe what your stand-up now compared to your early days?

‘When I started people said I was “surreal”, and that’s a bit of a lazy description, because it sort of implies that anyone could do it. Now, I think I take the building blocks of the real world and then stretch and manipulate them. It’s more like “magic realism” than “surrealism” – that’s the way I see it… And that’s the most pretentious thing I’ve ever said!’

You recently recorded a spoof magazine show for Radio 4. How did you find writing that compared to stand-up?

‘I enjoyed the discipline, and creating something that is incredibly detailed and precise. Some people get writer’s block, whereas once I get an idea of something I want to do, I just got for it.’

In your Dave TV show ‘Ross Noble: Off Road’, you put yourself and your motorbike through the gruelling Scottish Six Days Trial. Did you take much convincing to do it?

‘That was something that I was doing anyway! We went to the channel and said, “We’re doing this, shall we film it?” and they went, “Definitely!” Hopefully we can do another series. I’d like to, but we can only really do it if we can up the ante.’

On the opposite end of the spectrum, you recently showcased your singing talents in ‘Young Frankenstein’.

‘And my dancing! I was Olivier nominated, you know? But I don’t like to talk about it… [Laughs]’

How did you find working with a living comedy legend, Mel Brooks?

‘Mel was phenomenal. He constantly tinkers with everything, changing punchlines around, cutting entire scenes…’

He’s 92 now. Did he show any sign of approaching retirement?

‘Not at all. The last time I spoke to him he was talking about projects that he passionately wants to do. Even though he’s got this incredible body of work – and he’s aware of that, because he keeps reminding you that he’s a living legend – he’s not hung up on the big picture, he’s all about the detail. He’s just as bothered about the nuance of it all.’

After singing and dancing, how have you found transitioning back to solo stand-up?

‘It is nice to be doing it again, because I feel like I’m exercising different muscles – still comedy muscles, but different types of comedy muscles. On stage the transition’s been fine, but off stage it’s been a bit weird.’

Because you’re no longer part of an ensemble?

‘Yeah, but not just an ensemble, a real world-class team. Going back to being just me, making all the decisions – in one way it’s the ultimate freedom, but sometimes giving yourself a restriction can be quite liberating in itself.’

After an Olivier nom, have you thought about incorporating any songs into your other work?

‘What, like releasing a Christmas album? I’d like to do more musicals, if the right thing came along – I enjoy it. But just because you enjoy singing doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Though I do have a couple of ideas for things that are not quite musicals, but sort of musicals, which I’m working on, but I won’t say what because it’ll jinx it or something!’

That sounds wise. Something you can talk about, then, is ‘El Hablador’. What do you have in store?

‘I’ve got a giant inflatable skull on stage: its mouth fills up with smoke and I walk out of it!’

Outlandish inflatable sets have become a trademark of your stand-up shows. How did they start?

‘The sets have always been a bit “Spinal Tap”, there’s no need for them, it’s just funny to have these big, over-the-top creations on stage. People turn up and go, “Woah!” and then I don’t really mention it.’

Can you see yourself still working at 92, like Mel Brooks?

‘Having spent time working with Mel, I can, actually. Sure, he’s had more success than any other comic on the planet, so you could say, “Of course he’d still be going!” But I do look at him and think: there really is no reason to slow down.’

Ross Noble: El Hablador is on tour, Sep 9-Dec 14. www.rossnoble.co.uk.

Interview by Ben Williams.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

September – December 2018

Recommended 15+

ROSS NOBLE EL HABLADOR TOUR SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2018

 

SEPTEMBER

SUNDAY 9TH GLASGOW THEATRE ROYAL 0844 871 7647

WEDNESDAY 12TH EXETER CORN EXCHANGE 01392 665938

THURSDAY 13TH YEOVIL OCTAGON THEATRE 01935 422 884

FRIDAY 14TH SALISBURY CITY HALL 01722 434434

SATURDAY 15TH SHANKLIN, IOW SHAKLIN THEATRE 01983 868000

SUNDAY 16TH BOURNEMOUTH PAVILLION 0844 576 3000

TUESDAY 18TH SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE 01792 475715

WEDNESDAY 19TH BARNSTAPLE QUEENS THEATRE 01271 324242

THURSDAY 20TH SHREWSBURY THEATRE SEVERN 01743 281281

FRIDAY 21ST SHREWSBURY THEATRE SEVERN 01743 281281

SATURDAY 22ND CHELTENHAM EVERYMAN THEATRE 01242 572573

MONDAY 24TH NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL 01603 630000

TUESDAY 25TH SWINDON WYVERN THEATRE 01793 524481

WEDNESDAY 26TH SWINDON WYVERN THEATRE 01793 524481

FRIDAY 28TH BELFAST ULSTER HALL 028 9033 4455

SATURDAY 29TH DUBLIN OLYMPIA THEATRE 353 818 791 330

OCTOBER

TUESDAY 2ND CRAWLEY THE HAWTH 01293 553636

WEDNESDAY 3RD CARDIFF ST DAVIDS HALL 029 2087 8444

THURSDAY 4TH BASINGSTOKE THE ANVIL 01256 844244

SATURDAY 6TH OXFORD NEW THEATRE 0844 871 3020

SUNDAY 7TH STAFFORD GATEHOUSE THEATRE 01785 619080

WEDNESDAY 10TH BUXTON OPERA HOUSE 0845 127 2190

THURSDAY 11TH HULL CITY HALL 01482 300306

FRIDAY 12TH LINCOLN ENGINE SHED 0844 888 8766

SATURDAY 13TH LOUGHBOROUGH TOWN HALL 01509 231914

TUESDAY 16TH BRISTOL HIPPODROME 0844 847 2325

WEDNESDAY 17TH HIGH WYCOMBE WYCOMBE SWAN 01494 512000

THURSDAY 18TH NORTHAMPTON ROYAL & DERNGATE 01604 624811

FRIDAY 19TH HARROGATE ROYAL HALL 01423 502 116

SATURDAY 20TH SHEFFIELD CITY HALL 01142 789 789

SUNDAY 21ST YORK GRAND OPERA HOUSE 0844 871 3024

TUESDAY 23RD DONCASTER CAST 01302 303 959

WEDNESDAY 24TH HALIFAX VICTORIA THEATRE 01422 351158

THURSDAY 25TH COVENTRY WARWICK ARTS CENTRE 024 7652 4524

FRIDAY 26TH COVENTRY WARWICK ARTS CENTRE 024 7652 4524

SATURDAY 27TH COVENTRY WARWICK ARTS CENTRE 024 7652 4524

SUNDAY 28TH DERBY THEATRE 01727 844488

TUESDAY 30TH ST ALBANS ALBION ARENA 01727 844488

WEDNESDAY 31ST ST ALBANS ALBION ARENA 01727 844488

NOVEMBER

FRIDAY 2ND CARLISLE SANDS CENTRE 01228 633766

SATURDAY 3RD EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE 0131 529 6000

TUESDAY 6TH PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL 0844 847 2362

WEDNESDAY 7TH TUNBRIDGE WELLS ASSEMBLY 01892 530613

FRIDAY 9TH LONDON PALLADIUM 020 7087 7747

SATURDAY 10TH LONDON PALLADIUM 020 7087 7747

SUNDAY 11TH BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM ALEXANDRA 0844 871 7660

TUESDAY 13TH KINGS LYNN ALIVE CORN EXCHANGE 01553 764864

WEDNESDAY 14TH IPSWICH REGENT THEATRE 01473 433100

THURSDAY 15TH LEICESTER DE MONTFORT HALL 0116 233 3111

FRIDAY 16TH CAMBRIDGE CORN EXCHANGE 01223 357851

SATURDAY 17TH SOUTHEND CLIFFS PAVILLION 01702 351135

SUNDAY 18TH BRIGHTON BRIGHTON DOME 01273 709709

WEDNESDAY 21ST NEWCASTLE CITY HALL 08448 11 21 21

THURSDAY 22ND NEWCASTLE CITY HALL 08448 11 21 21

FRIDAY 23RD NEWCASTLE CITY HALL 08448 11 21 21

SATURDAY 24TH NEWCASTLE CITY HALL 08448 11 21 21

SUNDAY 25TH BARROW IN FURNESS FORUM 01229 876557

WEDNESDAY 28TH CREWE LYCEUM 0127 036 8242

THURSDAY 29TH CREWE LYCEUM 0127 036 8242

FRIDAY 30TH MANCHESTER APOLLO 0844 477 7677

DECEMBER

SATURDAY 1ST NOTTINGHAM ROYAL CONCERT HALL 0115 989 5555

SUNDAY 2ND SCARBOROUGH GRAND HALL 01723 357869

WEDNESDAY 5TH GUILDFORD G LIVE 01483 369 350

FRIDAY 7TH LIVERPOOL EMPIRE 0844 871 3017

SATURDAY 8TH MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL 01642 729729

TUESDAY 11TH LLANDUDNO ARENA 01492 872000

THURSDAY 13TH LEEDS TOWN HALL 0113 224 3801

FRIDAY 14TH LEEDS TOWN HALL 0113 224 3801

Cast of Dirty Dancing announced!

DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE ANNOUNCES EXCITING CAST FOR

FORTHCOMING 2018/19 UK TOUR

 

UK TOUR HITS THE ROAD SEPTEMBER 2018 AT

THEATRE ROYAL BRIGHTON

WITH NEW DATES ON SALE FRIDAY 20 JULY

 

 

Producer Karl Sydow is delighted to announce casting for the new 2018/19 UK tour of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, as well as additional dates for 2019 in Ipswich, Manchester, Guildford, Grimsby, Glasgow and Bristol – on sale on Friday 20 July.

 

The show opens in Brighton on Thursday 20 September 2018 before touring to Dartford, York, Stoke, Hastings, Southend, Birmingham, Preston, London (New Wimbledon Theatre), Plymouth, Oxford, Gateshead, Bradford, High Wycombe, Torquay, Swansea, Bromley, Edinburgh, Woking, Aylesbury and Wolverhampton.

Further 2019 dates to be announced.

 

The iconic story of Baby and Johnny, featuring the hit songs ‘Hungry Eyes’, ‘Hey! Baby’, ‘Do You Love Me?’ and the heart stopping ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’, returns to the stage, following two blockbuster West End runs, three hit UK tours, and multiple sensational international productions. 

 

Michael O’Reilly will star as ‘Johnny Castle’, one half of one of the best-loved duos in popular culture. Michael is making his professional debut in the show after graduating in dance and musical theatre from Bird College, and is thrilled to be donning Johnny’s iconic shades and leather jacket. While training he performed as a dancer at The Classic BRIT Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards and appeared in Magic Mike Live on the Britain’s Got Talent 2018 final.

 

Kira Malou, will star as idealistic ‘Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman’. Kira is a member of the Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage family already, having played the role of ‘Baby’ regularly during the 2016-17 UK tour, as well as being a member of the ensemble. A previous winner of The Stage Scholarship, Kira has performed as a dancer with Ellie Goulding on Children in Need, and at the UEFA World Cup opening ceremony. She has also just finished her first TV series playing the lead role of ‘Mimy’ in the new Disney series School Hacks.

 

Simone Covele will star as ‘Penny Johnson’Since graduating in 2013, Simone has performed extensively in her home country of Australia, as well as internationally, and was a soloist at the world-famous Moulin Rouge in Paris.

 

Joining Michael, Kira and Simone will be Lynden Edwards as ‘Dr. Jake Houseman’, Lori Haley Fox as ‘Marjorie Houseman’, Lizzie Ottley as ‘Lisa Houseman’, Alex Wheeler as ‘Billy Kostecki’, Jack McKenzie as ‘Max Kellerman’, Greg Fossard as ‘Neil Kellerman’, Colin Charles as ‘Tito Suarez’, Mark Faith as ‘Mr Schumacher’ and Sian Gentle-Green as ‘Elizabeth’. Also joining the company are Amelia Armstrong, Tom Bowen, Shaquille Brush, Stan Doughty, Katie Eccles, Millie Hood, Kieran Kuypers, Ben Mabberley, Sophia McAvoy, Alessia McDermott, Carlie Milner, Oliver Ramsdale, Ashley Rumble, Miles Russell and Austin Wilks.

 

It’s the summer of 1963, and 17 year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is about to learn some major lessons in life as well as a thing or two about dancing.

On holiday in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, she shows little interest in the resort activities, and instead discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles across an all-night dance party at the staff quarters. Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, Baby can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort dance instructor.

 

Her life is about to change forever as she is thrown in at the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off, and two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.

 

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage originally opened at London’s Aldwych Theatre in 2006 with a record-breaking advance of £15 million, making it the fastest ever selling show in West End theatre history. The production became the longest running show in the history of the Aldwych Theatre and played to over 2 million people during its triumphant 5 year run.

 

Since its Australian debut in 2004, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage has become a worldwide phenomenon, with productions staged in the USA, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore and throughout Europe, consistently breaking box office records. Recent tours in France, Germany and Australia were all sell out smash hits. The first ever UK tour of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage launched in 2011 and then returned to the West End in 2013 playing at the Piccadilly Theatre in London, prior to launching a second UK and Ireland tour. A further tour and West End Christmas season followed in 2016/17.

 

Produced by Karl Sydow & Joye Entertainment in association with Lionsgate, Magic Hour Productions and Triple A Entertainment Group, and written by Eleanor Bergstein – script writer of the phenomenally successful 1987 film – the production features the much-loved characters and original dialogue from the iconic film, as well as exciting extra scenes.

 

www.dirtydancingontour.com #dirtydancing /@ddonstage

 

DIRTY DANCING 2018/19 TOUR DATES

 

 

Thu 20 – Sat 29 September 2018

Theatre Royal Brighton

www.atgtickets.com/brighton

0844 871 7650

On sale now

Mon 1 – Sat 6 October 2018

Dartford Orchard Theatre

www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

01322 220 000

On sale now

Tue 9 – Sat 13 October 2018

York Grand Opera House

www.atgtickets.com/york

0844 871 3024

On sale now

Mon 15 – Sat 20 October 2018

Stoke Regent Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/regent-theatre

0844 871 7649

On sale now

Tue 23 – Sat 27 October 2018

Hastings White Rock Theatre

www.whiterocktheatre.org.uk

01424 462 288

On sale now

Tue 28 October – Sat 3 November 2018

Southend Cliffs Pavilion

www.southendtheatres.co.uk

01702 351 135

On sale now

Mon 5 – Sat 10 November 2018

Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/birmingham

0844 871 7647

On sale now

Tue 13 – Sat 17 November 2018

Preston Guild Hall

www.prestonguildhall.co.uk

01772 804 444

On sale now

Mon 19 – Sat 24 November 2018

London New Wimbledon Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/new-wimbledon-theatre

0844 871 7646

On sale now  

 

Tue 27 Nov – Sat 1 December 2018

Plymouth Pavilions

www.plymouthpavilions.co.uk

0845 146 1460

On sale now

Tue 4 – Sat 8 December 2018

Oxford New Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/oxford

0844 871 3020

On sale now

Sat 19 – Fri 25 January 2019

Gateshead Sage

www.sagegateshead.com

0191 443 4661

On sale now

Mon 28 January – Sat 2 February 2019

Bradford Alhambra Theatre

www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

01274 432 000

On sale now

Mon 4 – Sat 9 February 2019

High Wycombe Swan

www.wycombeswan.co.uk

01494 512 000

On sale now

Mon 11 – Sat 16 February 2019

Torquay Princess Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/torquay

0844 871 3023

On sale now

Mon 18 – Sat 23 February 2019

Swansea Grand Theatre

www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseagrandtheatre

01792 475715

On sale now

Mon 25 February – Sat 2 March 2019

Bromley Churchill Theatre

www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

020 3285 6000

On sale now

Mon 4 – Sat 9 March 2019

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

www.capitaltheatres.com

0131 529 6000

On sale now

 

Mon 18 – Sat 23 March 2019

Woking New Victoria Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/woking

0844 871 7645

On sale now

Mon 25 – Sat 30 March 2019

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury

0844 871 7607

On sale now

Mon 1 – Sat 6 April 2019

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

www.grandtheatre.co.uk

01902 429212

On sale now

Mon 8 – Sat 13 April 2019

Ipswich Regent Theatre

https://apps.ipswich.gov.uk/

01473 433 100

On sale Friday 20 July


Mon 22 – Sat 27 April 2019

Manchester Palace Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/manchester

0844 871 3019

On sale Friday 20 July

Tue 30 April – Sat 4 May 2019

Guildford G Live

www.glive.co.uk

01483 369 350

On sale Friday 20 July

Mon 6 – Sat 11 May 2019

Liverpool Empire

www.atgtickets.com/liverpool

0844 871 3017

On sale Friday 20 July

Tue 14 – Sat 18 May 2019

Grimsby Auditorium

www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk

0300 300 0035

On sale Friday 20 July

Mon 20 – Sat 25 May 2019

Glasgow King’s Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/glasgow

0844 871 7648

On sale Friday 20 July

 

Mon 1 – Sat 6 July 2019

Bristol Hippodrome

www.atgtickets.com/bristol

0844 871 3012

On sale Friday 20 July

 

 

FURTHER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED