Month: September 2018

The Time Travellers’ Ball

A new immersive theatrical experience

opens at

THE BUZZ

London’s Newest Venue

THREE DECADES • TWO LOVERS • ONE IMMERSIVE ROMANCE

London’s first ever purpose-built immersive theatre venue, The Buzz, is delighted to announce its opening production The Time Travellers’ Ball, from Wednesday 28 November.

The Time Travellers’ Ball is an evening of dance, decadence and drama through the decades – a time hopping love story to London, and the must-do night out for the festive season.

Audiences are invited to travel through the decades, starting as a flapper in the roaring 1920s, onto the fabulous 1950s as a jive queen and further on to the disco of the groovy 1970s, all through the story of young lovers Edward and Norma (assistants to one Charlie Chaplin). This ninety-minute immersive experience invites audiences to be part of the party and learn the dances of the decades as cocktails flow and the love story flourishes. All are encouraged to dress glamorously in a decade of your choice.

Co-producer, Emma Brünjes said: “We’re thrilled to welcome you all to The Time Travellers’ Ball, a show we’ve created specifically to open our new venue, The Buzz. Be prepared to laugh, cry and, of course, dance! We can’t wait to see you in your finery, to sup a cocktail or three and – importantly – to escape through time.”

Created and Produced by Limelight Productions and ebp.

The Buzz is based at the vibrant Mercato Metropolitano, which offers an array of artisanal cuisines for you to enjoy before or after the show. Cocktails can also be purchased at The Buzz.

Written and directed by                Richard Lewis

Designed by                                        Tom Paris

Choreography by                             Jacquie Storey

Lighting Design by                            Peter Small

Sound Design by                               Brvnjes

Associate director                            Hannah Ellis

Cast to be announced.

Jon Ronson’s

PSYCHOPATH NIGHT

with very special guests

At The Bristol Hippodrome on Friday, October 19

Following his total sell-out tour of Psychopath Night, Jon Ronson returns with more UK shows in October, heading to The Bristol Hippodrome on Friday, October 19.

Throughout this highly entertaining evening, Jon recounts the adventure of a lifetime – the funny, terrifying and utterly compelling events that led to his bestselling book The Psychopath Test.

Is it true that psychopaths rule the world? Or have we gone labelling-crazy?

Psychopath Night includes very special guests Mary Turner Thomson and Eleanor Longden. Neither Mary nor Eleanor appear in Jon’s book, but it wouldn’t exist without them.

We’re being oblique because we don’t want to spoil the extraordinary twists and turns in their stories. If you don’t know who they are, don’t Google them. The less you know the better.

Jon Ronson is an award-winning writer and journalist. He is the author of many bestselling books, including The Men Who Stare at Goats, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, Lost at Sea, The Psychopath Test, and Them: Adventures with Extremists. His screenplays include Frank (starring Michael Fassbender) and the recent Okja (directed by Bong Joon-Ho). He lives in London and New York City.

Churchill Theatre, Bromley – until Saturday 29 September 2018

Reviewed by Elizabeth Smith

4****

Madagascar the musical is the tale of captive zoo animals who like this life, being looked after by the humans, not having to worry where their next meal is coming from or who will take care of them when they are sick and the adoration of the visiting humans. However not all the animals are content. Marty the Zebra dreams of live in the wild, running free and having adventures. So also do a gang of penguins who want to get home to Antarctica.

One evening Marty’s curiosity gets the better of him and he ventures into the New York city to get a train to the mid west. Hotly pursued by his best friends Alex the lion, king of New York city, Melman the hypochondriac giraffe, Gloria the sassy hippo and the army like regiment of penguins. When they are captured in the city by tranquilliser gun they awake to find themselves on a slow boat to Africa. The penguins have other ideas and cause a mutiny, taking charge of the boat and heading home. Their navigation skills are zero and the party end up in Madagascar.

Here they meet the flamboyant King Julien, who wants the help of the strangers to defeat the meat eating Fusa. However, being away from their usual civilised surroundings it becomes apparent that a hungry lion and a zebra can’t really
be friends. Meanwhile the penguins made it to the Antarctic realised its too cold and set sail for New York. En route they stop at Madagascar, before anyone gets eaten and they all return home as friends forever.

Matt Terry gives a powerful performance for the self assured Alex the lion king.
Antoine Murray-Staughan dances his way around the character of Marty. Jamie Lee-Morgan is the convincing hypochondriac giraffe, whose puppetry skills have you watching the giraffes head not the human face. Timmika Ramsay, Gloria the hippo, sings like a gospel diva. Jo Parsons brings the house down with his camp version of King Julien and the the crowd dancing in their seats. All the puppeteers were fantastic and bought the creatures to life.

The set of crates on the wings was a little over powering but the scene changes worked well. The music was a little bland with only “Move It” really standing out as a show stopper.

Over all the young audience laughed, clapped and danced their way through the performance and I wouldn’t hesitate in taking a Madagascar fan to see the animation come to life.

Royal Theatre, Windsor – until 29th September

Reviewed by Heather Chalkley

3***

My Mother Said is a rebellious play, giving women of that era and today an opportunity to have a voice as creatives, playwrights, directors and actors. Considered one of the most significant plays of the 20th century the production team had big shoes to fill. The Director Michael Cabot makes a valiant attempt, but is sadly lacking in the maintenance of the story line. Keatley is quoted as saying “Our memories aren’t chronological. The order is dictated by what you need to tell.” This is reflected in the constant to-ing and fro-ing between the decades throughout the piece. It is imperative for the audience that these transitions are well sewn together, but I found myself getting lost, having to retrace quickly to connect the storyline.

Having said that, the calibre of acting was very good. I particularly liked Carole Dance’s Doris, presenting a believable, innocent child one moment and a loving grandmother the next, finally an excited young woman in the bloom of first love. Connie Walker presented Margaret as a strong, stoic child, daughter and mother, portraying the martyrdom that so many women have felt no choice over. Kathryn Ritchie’s Jackie was real and tangible, daring to go against the norms set by her parent’s generation, wanting more than to be the dutiful daughter and mother, striving for success in her chosen field. Finally Rosie. Felicity Houlbrooke gave Rosie a depth of understanding that so many young people have and are not credited for. She allowed Rosie to unfold into the story as the glue that kept her family connected.

In the end the play is a vehicle to show that the many layers of truths and untruths wound around the children, out of perceived love and protection, were perpetuated by social conventions to keep women in their place. This came across, although the fast pace left the storytelling wanting at times.

Hull New Theatre until 29th September 2018

Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams

4****

The Beatles provided the soundtrack for my childhood and then later as solo artists for my teens. So every song that was played last night brought back happy memories for me and I suspect for a lot of those in the audience.

Let It be is the concert that I never got the chance to see but is also a concert that in actuality never happened. When entering the theatre there were four large “old fashioned” television screens showing black and white news clips. They then played clips and radio clips from the early 1960s about the Beatles before Let It Be, the musicians, appeared on the stage to recreate the Beatles performance at the Royal Variety Performance. More news reel clips were followed by the performance at the Shea stadium, very cleverly staged with feedback from mikes, screaming fans and musicians clearly unable to hear themselves. The Sergeant Pepper era was then recreated with psychedelic backdrops and for Strawberry Fields Forever the gates of the Strawberry Field children’s home being projected as a backdrop. Finally before the interval we were taken to the roof of the Apple building for what was to be the Beatles final live performance. In the second half we were asked to imagine that the Beatles had got back together to play again on the occasion of John Lennon’s birthday in 1980. This “concert” had performances of the music from solo careers, some rock and roll and some Beatles favourites.

Emanuele Angeletti (Paul McCartney), John Brosnan (George Harrison), Ben Cullingworth (Ringo Starr) and Michael Gagliano (John Lennon) were all superb. Each is clearly a very talented musician and as a band they were very tight and together. Liverpudlian accents were a little wobbly at times but this didn’t matter as the music was the star. Michael Bramwell, the Musical Director provided very skillful musical support helping to create a wonderful sound. They very quickly had the theatre audience on their side and up on their feet and received a well-deserved standing ovation at the end. When the lights came up the majority of the audience remained on their feet applauding and clearly wanting more – a first for me!

This show has a real feel good factor and superb musicianship – you will come out with a huge smile on your face and singing a variety of Beatles songs!

Darlington Hippodrome – until Saturday 29 September

4****

Summer Holiday has arrived in Darlington, complete with a big, red, double-decker London bus.

Based on the 1963 film starring Cliff Richard; Summer Holiday tells the tale of four London based bus mechanics, who plan to go on holiday to St Tropez in their bus to show how a bus can work as a holiday and place to stay in one.  The boys – Don (Ray Quinn), Cyril (Rory Maguire), Steve (Billy Roberts) and Edwin (Joe Goldie) – bump into the girls after their car breaks down.  Angie (Laura Marie Benson), Alma (Alice Barker) and Mimsie (Gabby Antrobus) are the girl group “Do- Re-Me”, on their way to Athens.  In the middle of this, singing sensation Barbara (Sophie Matthews) runs away from her domineering mother Stella (Taryn Sudding) and manager Jerry (Wayne Smith).  Stowing away on the bus she claims to be a 14 year old boy called Bobby.

The live band led by Rob Wicks sometimes drowned out the sound of the singers – but with most of the audience singing along anyway no one seemed to mind.  The costumes were fabulous and, as always, Racky Plews choreography was superb. Kudos too to the stage crew manoeuvring the bus which clearly had a mind of its own.

If I had to be picky I would ask why Ray Quinn, who seems to have a natural “cheeky chappy” persona was playing Don in a very stiff “Trevor Howard” type style?  But the accent never slipped so well done for that.

Gloriously cheesy, packed full of hit songs and full of nostalgia this is a fun night out and its worth a visit (revisit) if only for the sight of Ray Quinn dressed only in a pair of small white pants singing Bachelor Boy.

In Darlington until Saturday and on tour around the UK  summerholidaythemusical.co.uk 

 

 

September is leaving us and we are slipping into October and the shows keep coming at

The Majestic Theatre Darlington

This weekend, Saturday 29 September,  we have comedian Nish Kumar – we are down to the final few tickets for this so if you don’t buy now you’ll miss this hilarious night out

Ticket prices start from £18

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

On Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd October the talented students from Darlington College are performing their Induction show Think Outside the Box

This is a Pay What You Decide performance

Doors open at 6.00 – show starts at 7.00pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Friday 5 October brings us the play Communicate.  This intimate and gripping account of life and death has been developed in association with Cruse Bereavement Care.

Use the codes CRUSE and SPEAKUP for 50% off ticket prices

Ticket prices start from £5

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

On Saturday 6 October International Drag Artist Shayanne O’Shea presents Fabulush Cabaret.  The team of talented entertainers will leave you wanting more of a fabulush time

Ticket prices start from £10

Doors open at 7.30 – show starts at 8.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Star of our opening show Chris Cross presents Magic at the Majestic on Friday 19 October.  A world class variety show featuring magic, comedy, sideshow, song, dance and much much more!  Expect the Unexpected!

Ticket prices start from £8

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.00pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

On Saturday 20 October in the intimate setting of the bar Driven Serious return to the Majestic.  Come and enjoy music and drinks and the brilliant atmosphere

Ticket prices start from £7.00

Show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Apollo Theatre Company and Spike Milligan Productions present The Goon Show on Thursday 25 October.  This acclaimed 5* production is live on stage at the Majestic

Ticket prices start from £15

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Ahoy there ship mates Double Trouble return to the Majestic with Pirates of the Spooky Lagoon.  A brand new show full of swashbuckling fun for all the family and we have twice the fun with two shows at 2.00pm and 6.00pm on Thursday 1 November.

Tickets prices start from £9

Doors open one hour before each show

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Award winning cabaret star, and the UK’s most successful juggler, Mat Ricardo had run out of tricks – so he bet everyone in the world he could learn any trick they could think of!  Mat Ricardo Vs The World premieres at the Majestic on Friday 2nd November

Ticket prices start from £10

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

* AGE 10+

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Chris Mallon presents his debut show Damfino on Saturday 3 November.  An evening of mind reading, psychological entertainment and psychic illusions. Tickets are selling quickly for this show

Ticket prices start from £6

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

On Friday 9 November we are Made in Motown who aim to recreate the classic sound of Detroit in the 60’s and 70’s

*UNDER 18’s MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT

Ticket prices start from £13

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Covering every aspect of Bon Jovl’s career – Bon Giovi perform all the greatest hits at the Majestic on Saturday 10 November

Ticket Prices start from £14

Doors open at 6.45 – show starts at 7.45pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Saturday 24 November brings us Hazel O’Connor Breaking Glass.  The film, a Q&A and a live performance.  A very special evening with award-winning singer songwriter Hazel O’Connor, featuring a rare screening of the digitally re-mastered uncut version of the film followed by an intimate Q&A and live performance of some of the films best loved songs.  Tickets are selling out fast!

Ticket prices start from £20

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

The Majestic Theatre Company and Darlington College Performing Arts Department present Peter Pan: A Christmas Show from Tuesday 11 to Monday 24 December.  A classic on stage – “I do believe in fairies, I do I do”

Ticket prices start from £3

Doors open at 6.00 – show starts at 7.00pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Coming in 2019

Comedian Fran Garriety returns on Friday 18 January

 

Spector Detectors on Saturday 19 January

 

Medium Toby Stockwell on Tuesday 5 March

 

Tribute band Coldplace on Friday 22 March

 

Smash hit play Death and the Maiden on Thursday 13 June

 

Tribute act Tina Turner Experience on Saturday 15 June

 

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR WATFORD PALACE THEATRE’S

ALL-FEMALE PRODUCTION OF MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

 

Watford Palace Theatre Company Presents

Much Ado About Nothing

By William Shakespeare

Director: Brigid Larmour; Composer and Sound Designer: Arun Ghosh;

Designer: Rebecca Brower; Lighting Designer: Aideen Malone; Movement Director: Sita Thomas

4 – 27 October

Artistic Director of Watford Palace Theatre, Brigid Larmour, today announces full casting for Watford Palace Theatre’s all-female production of Much Ado About Nothing. Larmour directs Joanna Brookes (Dogberry/ Antonio), Elly Condron (Don Pedro), Rebekah Hinds (Borachio/ Margaret), Emma Lane (Conrade/ Ursula/ Friar), Juliet Leighton-Jones (Musician), Nyla Levy (Hero/ Sexton), Pepter Lunkuse (Claudio), Anna O’Grady (Benedick), Emily Tucker (Beatrice), Tripti Tripuraneni (Don John/ Verges) and Julia Watson (Leonato).

 

Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy of misunderstandings, given a 1940s twist! Beatrice and Benedick love to hate each other, but their friends suspect them of deeper feelings… War hero Claudio is madly in love with Beatrice’s pretty young cousin, but how well does he really know her?

Set at the height of the Battle of Britain, our affectionate homage to the servicewomen of World War Two is a playful salute to the all-male productions of Shakespeare’s own time. Join us and step back in time to a Palace transported to the 1940s, complete with sandbags, Gin and It, and a Home Guard recruitment stall…

Joanna Brookes plays Dogberry/ Antonio. She returns to Watford Palace Theatre having performed in TheDaughter in Law. Other theatre credits include Monster Raving Loony (Theatre Royal Plymouth/ Soho Theatre), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Birmingham Rep), The Importance of Being Earnest(Nottingham Playhouse), The Physicists (Donmar Warehouse), The Rivals, Spring and Port Wine and TheAdmirable Crichton (New Vic Stoke), The Biggleswades (Southwark Playhouse), The Waltz of The Toreadors(Chichester Festival Theatre) and Romeo and Juliet (Exeter Northcott). Television credits include The Windsors: Royal Wedding Special, Man Down, We The Jury, Uncle, The Tunnel, Mr Selfridge, Law and Order UK, Boomers, Siblings, Taking The Flak, Phoneshop, Dancing on the Edge, Mrs Biggs, Bad Girls, Fifteen Storeys High, Jonathan Creek, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Sir Gadabout, Titmuss Regained and Survival of The Fittest; and for film, Their Finest, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, Criminal, Pauline, Kid Gloves, In the Loop, Dreams of a Life, The Infidel, Little Dorrit, Under Suspicion and The Fool.

Elly Condron plays Don Pedro. Her theatre credits include Tempest (RSC, Barbican), Jane Eyre (National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic), Some Girls (Park Theatre), Spokesong (Finborough Theatre), Titus Andronicus (Greenwich Theatre), Macbeth (R-ft Theatre, site-specific). Television credits include The Six Wives with Lucy Worsley, and for film, Wasp, Helping Hand and IT.

Rebekah Hinds plays Borachio/ Margaret. Her theatre credits include Grotty (The Bunker), Humble Boy (Orange Tree), Anita and Me (UK tour), The Government Inspector (Birmingham Rep/Ramps on the Moon UK tour – Olivier Award Nominated), Billy Liar (Royal Exchange), Around the World (Sadler’s Wells & Mint Theater, New York), The Little Prince – Concert (Savoy Theatre) and Sondheim Prom (Royal Albert Hall). For television her credits include Trollied, Inside no. 9, The Syndicate and Shameless; and for film, The Public Benefits and Woman of the Night.

Emma Lane plays Conrade/ Ursula/ Friar. His theatre credits include Priceless, I am the Centre, Faustus(Matchstick Theatre), Dark Sides (Rusi), Just Do Right, The Woyzeck Theory (Atramental Theatre). Television credits Uncle Dad; and for film Waiting and Gathering Storm.

Juliet Leighton-Jones (Musician). She returns to Watford Palace Theatre having performed in I Capture the Castle. Other theatre credits include Wind in the Willows (West Yorkshire Playhouse), eight seasons with The New Shakespeare Company (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Sweeney Todd (National Theatre), Kean (Old Vic), The Music Man (Chichester Festival Theatre), Flowers for Mrs Harris (Sheffield Crucible), Arabian Nights (Derby Playhouse) and six seasons with The International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

Nyla Levy plays Hero/ Sexton. Her theatre credits include Different is Dangerous (Two’s Company/Theatre 503), Street/Life (Cardboard Citizens), Like Mother, Like Daughter (Battersea Arts Centre), 100 Stories (Hackney Empire), Punjabi Girl (Rich Mix), The Rebel & The Runaway (G.L.Y.P.T), That Isis Play Innit! (The Space), Keywords(Lyric Hammersmith), Does My Bomb Look Big In This? (Battersea Arts Centre), Prevent Tours (Pint Sized Theatre), The Diary of a Hounslow Girl (UK tour), Magna Carter (National Theatre Studio) and Child of the Divide (UK tour); and for television, Guiding Lights.

 

Pepter Lunkuse plays Claudio. Her theatre credits include Holes (Nottingham Playhouse), Nell Gwynn (Globe/ETT), King Lear (Royal Exchange Theatre/Birmingham Rep/Talawa and broadcast), The Crucible (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Vertical Hour (Park Theatre), Liberian Girl (Royal Court at London 2014 Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict), Antony and Cleopatra (Chichester Festival Theatre). For television credits include Father Brown and King Lear; and for film, Sink.

Anna O’Grady plays Benedick. She returns to Watford Palace Theatre after performing in Time of My Life, Family Business and Our Father. Other theatre credits include Sherlock Holmes: The Final Curtain (Theatre Royal Bath & UK tour), The Events (Mercury Theatre Colchester), Sket (PMJ/Park Theatre), My World Has Exploded a Little Bit (Underbelly), Children of the Sun (National Theatre). For television her credits include Flowers; and for film, My Mum Is My Hero, Black Pond, Mars 1001 and Complicit.

 

Tripti Tripuraneni (Don John/ Verges). Her theatre credits include My Homemade Kite (Tristan Bates theatre), The Jungle Book (UK tour), Romeo and Juliet (National Theatre), Macbeth (National Theatre) and Paradise of the Assassins (Tara Arts).

Emily Tucker (Beatrice). For theatre her credits include Fortune’s Fool (Old Vic Theatre), A Warsaw Melody (Arcola Theatre), Suddenly Last Summer, Lady of the Lake, Fallen Angels (Theatre by the Lake), Shiver- The Tempest (National Theatre Studio), Twelfth Night, Henry V, King Lear, King Arthur (Guildford Shakespeare Company), The Man Who Pays the Piper, The Stepmother (Orange Tree Theatre), After the Ball (The Gatehouse), The Importance of Being Earnest (Courtyard Theatre). For television his credits include Not Safe For Work; and for film, Heretiks, The Seasoning House, Lady Macbeth, Missed Conceptions and Hush.

Julia Watson plays Leonato. She returns to Watford Palace Theatre having previously performed in The Deep Blue Sea. Other theatre credits include The Seagull and My Family and Other Animals (York Theatre Royal) Amy’s View (Nottingham Playhouse), Handbagged (Theatre by the Lake, Keswick), She Stoops to Conquer, Major Barbara and Wild Honey (National Theatre), Tosca’s Kiss, Love’s Comedy, The Stepmother and The Man Who Pays the Piper (Orange Tree Theatre). Her Television credits include series regular in Casualty, Never the Twain, Welcome to Orty-fou, The Yellow Wallpaper and Across the Lake, Not Going Out and Touch of Frost; and for film, Baar Baar Dekho.

Brigid Lamour is Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Watford Palace Theatre. Productions directed for Watford Palace include I Capture the Castle, Arms and the Man, Coming Up, Jefferson’s Garden (Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Best New Play 2015), Love Me Do (co-directed with Shona Morris) and Von Ribbentrop’s Watch, Fourteen, Perfect Match (part of WPT’s 2013 ‘Ideal World’ season), We That Are Left, Mrs Reynolds and theRuffian, Equally Divided, Our Father and My Mother Said I Never Should; and five pantomimes Aladdin, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty (co-directed with Shona Morris), Robin Hood, and Mother Goose. From 1998 to 2006 she was Artistic Director of West End company Act Productions, and adviser to BBC4 Plays. From 1993 to 1998 she directed a series of interactive promenade Shakespeares, Shakespeare Unplugged, for RNT Education. Lamour directed the premiere production of My Mother Said I Never Should at Contact Theatre, Manchester in 1987. She was Artistic Director at Contact from 1989 to 1994, commissioning plays including Excess/XS and Strange Attractors.

Watford Palace Theatre

Listings

20 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1JZ

https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Box Office: 01923 225671

IAN HISLOP AND NICK NEWMAN’S SATIRICAL PLAY

A TRADEMARK TOURING & WATERMILL THEATRE PRODUCTION

 ANNOUNCE SPECIAL GALA PERFORMANCE ON REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

AT THE ARTS THEATRE, LONDON

IN SUPPORT OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

 

To coincide with the commemoration of the end of WW1 there will be a special gala performance of Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s play The Wipers Times on Remembrance Sunday 11 November at 6pm at the Arts Theatre, Londonin support of The Royal British Legion’s Thank You campaign. The evening will include an introduction, post-show talk and Q and A with Ian and Nick and a reception. The play is currently on a UK tour and begins a 7-week season at the Arts Theatre on 18 October.

The Royal British Legion has launched a mass movement to say ‘Thank You’ to all who served, sacrificed, and changed our world during the First World War. The charity is calling on mass involvement from the public to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. Many events have been organised in the run-up to 11 November to say ‘Thank You’ to those who put Britain on the path to becoming what it is today.

Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s The Wipers Times – a stage adaptation of their award-winning BBC film – tells the true and extraordinary story of the satirical newspaper created in the mud and mayhem of the Somme, interspersed with comic sketches and spoofs from the vivid imagination of those on the front line.

In a bombed out building during the First World War in the Belgian town of Ypres (mispronounced Wipers by British soldiers), two officers discover a printing press and create a newspaper for the troops. Far from being a somber journal about life in the trenches they produced a resolutely cheerful, subversive and very funny newspaper designed to lift the spirits of the men on the frontline.

 Defying enemy bombardment, gas attacks and the disapproval of many of the top Brass, The Wipers Times rolled off the press for two years and was an extraordinary tribute to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. The production originally launched one hundred years after the Battle of the Somme and publication of The Wipers Times.

 The cast includes Emilia Williams, Dan Mersh, Clio Davies, George Kemp, Amar Aggoun, James Dutton, Kevin Brewer, Chris Levens, Joseph Reed and Sam Ducane. The Wipers Times is directed by Caroline Leslie, designed by Dora Schweitzer, with lighting design by James Smith, sound design by Steve Mayo. The composer is Nick Green, and Musical Director Paul Herbert. It is produced by Bob Benton & David Parfitt.

 

For tickets to this special performance go to: https://artstheatrewestend.co.uk/whats-on/the-wipers-times-royal-british-legion-charity-performance/

KINKY BOOTS, THE WEST END AND BROADWAY PHENOMENON, COMES TO HULL NEW THEATRE IN 2019

Kinky Boots, the winner of every major Best Musical award, is coming to Hull New Theatre from 11-23 November 2019 as part of its first ever UK tour.

From a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan, Kinky Boots is the heart-warming tale of Charlie Price who is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family shoe business, 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.

Inspired by true events, the show has proved an international success scooping three Olivier Awards, three WhatsOnStage Awards as well as six Broadway Tony® Awards.

With a book by Broadway legend and four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles), and songs by Grammy® and Tony® Award-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, this joyous musical celebration is about friendship, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind.

Composer and Lyricist, Cyndi Lauper said: “It has been a wonderful adventure and a privilege for me, to play a part in creating Kinky Boots. Everyone can relate to this universal story, and I am overwhelmed that people in the UK have embraced it with open arms. I am thrilled that this fabulous show will be touring the country!”

With direction and choreography by two-time Tony® Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Hairspray), who said: “I am delighted to see this big-spirited musical going on tour. Kinky Boots is very close to my heart, and I am really looking forward to taking this British musical all over the UK .”

Kinky Boots is produced by Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Playful Productions, CJ E&M, Jayne Baron Sherman, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Judith Ann Abrams, Yasuhiro Kawana, Jane Bergère, Allan S. Gordon & Adam S. Gordon, Ken Davenport, Hunter Arnold, Lucy and Phil Suarez, Bryan Bantry, Ron Fierstein & Dorsey Regal, Independent Presenters Network, Jim Kierstead/Gregory Rae, BB Group/Christina Papagjika, Brian Smith/Tom & Connie Walsh, Warren Trepp, and Jujamcyn Theaters, in association with Cameron Mackintosh.

Tickets for Kinky Boots at Hull New Theatre from 11-23 November 2019 go on sale to Extra Members from 10am on Thursday 27 September 2018 and from 10am on Friday 28 September 2018 to the general public. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk.