THE ROYAL THEATRICAL FUND ANNOUNCES ITS CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 2018

THE ROYAL THEATRICAL FUND ANNOUNCES ITS

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 2018

The Royal Theatrical Fund, a member charity of Acting for Others, today announces its Christmas Festival2018, with a fantastic line up of theatre royalty coming together in support of the charity. The festival takes place at the Charing Cross Theatre on Tuesday 11 December at 6.30pm.

The evening includes special appearances from Samantha Bond, Sir Derek JacobiDame Maggie SmithPeter Polycarpou, Harriet Thorpe and performances from The Royal Theatrical Fund Choir with more to be announced on the night.

Tickets are £20 and include mulled wine and mince pies.

www.trtf.com                                              Twitter: @theRTF1839

www.actingforothers.co.uk                      Twitter: @ActingForOthers

 

Christmas Festival 2018 

Listings

Charing Cross Theatre

The Arches, Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NL

 

Ticket bookings: 0207 836 3322

Not Such Quiet Girls Review

Howard Assembly Room at Opera North, Leeds – until 2 December 2018

Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood

3***

Not Such Quiet Girls, a contemporary piece of work, makes its world premiere and is part of Opera North’s Before War and After season to commemorate the centenary of the ending of the First World War.

Written by Jessica Walker and co-produced by both Opera North and the Leeds Playhouse Not Such Quiet Girls is about women experiencing the war first hand serving at the front. The story is told by three characters, Mary (Tara Divina), Tony (Cora Kirk) and Harry (Laura Prior) and they are supported by an all female Chorus of Opera North.

There isn’t a lot of text that commemorates solely on women and their war efforts at the front during the First World War. Walker works innovatively and creatively with what is available and incorporates the experiences into this production. This includes women working as volunteer ambulance drivers and experiencing same sex relationships though at the time hidden from public consciousness. Not to mention the freedom they had from serving at the front abroad and away from home and its socialistic expectations and responsibilities. Not Such Quiet Girls explore these experiences with the three characters working as volunteers and a passionate relationship between Tony (Kirk) and Harry (Prior) emerges even if it’s constrained with “consciousness” and “duty”.

Opera North is known for its musical and operatic ingenuity and creativity and it was the case here with Joseph Atkins’ cleverly arranged music hall styled musical numbers. The numbers are performed beautifully by all the cast which fully supports the story being told. However it is felt that the spoken texts between each of the songs could have been projected more with appropriate soundscapes and movements.

The production, under the direction of Jacqui Honess-Martin, is well staged and intimate with its war costumes, courtesy of Polly Sullivan. The space is well used with the action happening in the middle of the hall as opposed on a traditional stage at the front and the production is certainly well co-ordinated and delivered.

Opera North ought to be commended for their creativity in bringing a variety of collaborative productions on stage and link to themes and past events that significantly matter to the past, present and certainly in the future. Not Such Quiet Girls along with Kevin Puts’ Silent Night are appropriate choices this season for commemorating the 1918 Armistice.

 

SHEFFIELD THEATRES COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORK RECEIVES GALA BOOST

SHEFFIELD THEATRES COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORK RECEIVES GALA BOOST

 

Sheffield Theatres held its annual fundraising gala on Thursday 8 November to generate support for its extensive community engagement programme. The event raised £53,000 which will enable the Theatres to continue its programme of Dementia Friendly activity as well as expanding its work with children and young people in the City Region.

The annual event includes a stunning three course meal served on the Crucible stage – allowing guests the unique experience of enjoying an actors-eye view of the iconic theatre. In addition, there were performances from the company of Kiss Me, Kate, and a finale which brought Everybody’s Talking About Jamie alumni, Josie Walker, back to the Crucible to perform the heart-wrenching He’s My Boy.

An auction of money-can’t-buy theatrical prizes formed the centre-piece of the gala, which featured: the opportunity to spend a day on set of the film of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, with a chance to feature in a walk-on part; exclusive access to the band call for Standing at the Sky’s Edge when Richard Hawley’s music and songs will be performed by the company for the first time; and the chance to win dinner with Sir Ian McKellen.

The funds raised go towards Sheffield Theatres’ vital community projects, including engagement with young people and schools, and Dementia Friendly projects.

Dan Bates, Chief Executive at Sheffield Theatres, said: ‘This remarkable result is testament to the tremendous support we receive from our donors and supporters. The passion and talent of the team here, combined with the overwhelming commitment of our donors makes for a fantastic night that will make a huge difference to our city and its citizens over the coming year.’

Robert HastieArtistic Director added: ‘It’s an exciting time at Sheffield Theatres. Our programme to ensure our theatres are for everyone is expanding at a thrilling rate: from Dementia Friendly projects; growing numbers of Relaxed, Captioned, BSL interpreted and audio described performances; opportunities for local artists through our Making Room; Fun Labs and Fun Palaces; outstanding engagement with children and young people through schools programmes and ticketing initiatives, we are doing more than ever before.

 

We belong to everyone and we’re committed to ensuring that anyone can be part of what we do on our stages, in our buildings and across our city. The gala was a celebration of that energy, and the money we raised will help to realise our ambitions. We’re very, very lucky to have friends and supporters in the city who share our determination to make great things happen.’ 

Dick Whittington Review

Theatre Royal Windsor – until 6th January 2019

Reviewed by Heather Chalkley

4****

Steven Blakeley and Robert Miles have written a great script with a good balance of traditional panto, interwoven with present day songs, plenty of bawdy humour and slapstick jokes. Basil Brush is timeless and sets Windsor’s panto apart from the crowd, alongside awesome vocals from Marti Webb (Fairy Bowbells) and Megan Jones (Alice Fitzwarren). Anita Harris (Queen Rat) made a devilishly classy villain – we could have had another song from her perhaps. Apart from the surprise rock ‘n’ roll number from Mike Read (Alderman Fitzwarren/Captain Fisheye), he was a bit lacklustre throughout and needs lessons in musical comedy theatre!

Stars of the show for me were Kevin Cruise (Idle Jack) and Steven Blakeley (Sarah the Cook), bringing the full panto experience to life with their ad libbing and great comic timing. Sarah the Cook had me laughing from the moment she came on to the stage. Idle Jack’s Abba scene got the whole audience to their feet and dancing. My only slight disappointment, I have seen the classic 12 Days of Christmas and ‘it’s behind you’ scenes delivered better, however they still got
the audience to spontaneously participate.

The costumes gave life to the caricatures and proper glamour and glitz throughout. The young performers and ensemble really lit up the show with their professionally delivered dance routines. The production team took full advantage of the beautiful old theatre, celebrating 80 years of panto there this year! An all round family entertaining performance.

Bonnie Langford joins 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED

FOR

DOLLY PARTON’S

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton, Book by Patricia Resnick

and Directed by Jeff Calhoun

Based on the 20th Century Fox Picture

BONNIE LANGFORD

JOINS

LOUISE REDKNAPP, AMBER DAVIES, NATALIE McQUEEN

AND BRIAN CONLEY

AT THE SAVOY THEATRE FOR STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON

28 JANUARY – 31 AUGUST 2019

Dolly Parton is delighted to announce full casting for 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at the Savoy Theatre, London for a strictly limited season from 28 January – 31 August 2019. Bonnie Langford will play ‘Roz Keith’, joining the previously announced Louise Redknapp as ‘Violet Newstead’, Amber Davies as ‘Judy Bernly’, Natalie McQueen as ‘Doralee Rhodes’ and Brian Conley as ‘Franklin Hart’.

The cast also includes Victoria Anderson, Alexander Bartles, Ashley Campbell, Simon Campbell, Rhiane Drummond, Demmileigh Foster, Llandyll Gove, Lucinda Lawrence, Jenny Legg, Christopher Jordan Marshall, Natasha Mould, Sean Needham, Jon Reynolds,  James Royden-Lyley, Giles Surridge, Sasha Wareham and Emily Woodford.

Bonnie Langford was most recently seen as ‘Carmel Kazemi’ in “EastEnders” for which she won a 2015 British Soap Award. She can currently be seen as ‘Dorothy Brock’ in 42nd Street” at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Her other West End credits include the original cast of “Cats”, “Me and My Girl”, “Sweet Charity”, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “Spamalot”. She played ‘Roxie Hart’ in “Chicago” at both the Adelphi and Cambridge theatres as well as on Broadway. Her touring credits include “Fosse”, “Guys and Dolls” and “9 to 5 The Musical”. She appeared in the 2006 series of ITV1’s “Dancing On Ice”, skating her way to the final and returning for the All Stars season in 2014.

Louise Redknapp most recently starred as ‘Sally Bowles’ in the national tour of “Cabaret”. In 2016 she reached the final of “Strictly Come Dancing”. As a musician Louise has sold millions of records. She was a member of the band Eternal before embarking on a highly successful solo career, with her first live shows in 15 years selling out all over the UK.  Amber Davies graduated in 2016 with a Diploma in Musical Theatre from the Urdang Academy. Her credits whilst training include “Bring It On”, “My Favourite Year” and “Memphis”. Last year, Amber was the winner of the hit ITV reality series “Love Island”Natalie McQueen is currently appearing in the West End as ‘Lauren’ in “Kinky Boots” at the Adelphi Theatre. Her other credits include “Murder Ballad” at the Arts Theatre, “Wicked” at the Apollo Victoria and “Les Misérables” at the Palace Theatre. Natalie has also appeared in the UK and Ireland tour of “Wonderland”. Brian Conley’s many West End credits include ‘Edna Turnblad’ in “Hairspray” at the Shaftesbury Theatre, ‘Caractacus Potts’ in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at the London Palladium, the title role in “Jolson” at the Victoria Palace and ‘Bill’ in “Me and My Girl” at the Adelphi Theatre. His touring credits include the title role in “Barnum” and ‘Fagin’ in “Oliver!”. Brian’s TV credits include “An Audience with Brian Conley”, “The Grimleys” and “The Brian Conley Show”, all for ITV.

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL features a book by Patricia Resnick, the legendary film’s original screenwriter, and an original Oscar, Grammy and Tony award-nominated score by country legend and pop icon Dolly Parton. It tells the story of Doralee, Violet and Judy – three workmates pushed to boiling point by their sexist and egotistical boss. Concocting a plan to kidnap and turn the tables on their despicable supervisor, will the girls manage to reform their office – or will events unravel when the CEO pays an unexpected visit? Inspired by the cult film this hilarious new West End production is about teaming up, standing up and taking care of business!

 

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL is written by Patricia Resnick, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. It is directed by Jeff Calhoun, choreography by Lisa Stevens, design by Tom Rogers, lighting design by Howard Hudson, musical supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Mark Crossland, musical direction by Andrew Hilton and casting by Victoria Roe.

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL Original Broadcast Cast Recording is planned for re-release via Dolly Records/Sony Music.

Based on the 20th Century Fox Picture. Originally produced on Broadway by Robert Greenblatt, April 2009.

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group and Selladoor Worldwide with Gavin Kalin Productions, Glass Half Full Productions, Showtime Theatre Productions, Hartshorn – Hook Productions and Kilimanjaro Live.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL

Savoy Theatre, Savoy Court, London, WC2R 0ET

Limited season – 28 January – 31 August 2019

Box Office: 0844 871 7687

Performances: Monday – Saturday 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday 2.30pm

Website: 9to5themusical.co.uk

Instagram[http://:%20www.instagram.com/9to5themusicaluk/]: @9to5themusicaluk

[http://Facebook:%20www.facebook.com/9to5TheMusicalUK/]Facebook: 9to5TheMusicalUK

Twitter: @9to5MusicalUK

YouTube: 9 to 5 The Musical

Manchester panto transforming lives through participation – It’s Behind You, performed by a company of adults who are homeless

Manchester panto transforming lives through participation –  It’s Behind You, The Edge Theatre’s Christmas show performed by a company of adults who are homeless  

An Edge production in association with The Booth Centre

It’s Behind You 

13- 15 December 2018. 

 

As panto season gets into full swing across the country, The Edge Theatre – a unique award-winning arts space based in Chorlton, Manchester – is preparing to stage a pantomime with a difference. 

IT’S BEHIND YOU is performed by a company of adults who are homeless. In addition to providing an entertaining night out, the theatre’s alternative Christmas panto offering is credited with transforming lives through the opportunity to participate in high quality art.

 

Created in association with The Booth Centre, the pantomime is directed by Janine Waters, co-founder and artistic director of The Edge, Manchester’s award-winning theatre for participation. IT’S BEHIND YOU is performed by a company of 15 individuals from varying backgrounds aged from 21 to 70s, who are all either currently homeless or at risk of homelessness. This is the third year that The Edge is staging its annual pantomime and many of the company are returning – these include Danny Marlow (21), who says:

 

I found myself homeless two years ago while at university – I fell in with a bad crowd, and lost everything. I slept rough on doorsteps, in tents and under bridges. It felt awful, it was lonely – I had nobody and nothing. Eventually I knew I needed to make a change and I visited The Booth Centre for some help. From there, I became involved in the weekly drama sessions with Janine Waters. The sessions gave me the chance to forget my problems, concentrate on something I’m good at, and the chance to be someone else. My confidence has really improved. I’ve got a bounce back in my step and a smile on my face, it feels like I’ve found myself again. I’m in accommodation now, and working towards getting myself sorted.”

 

The opportunity to take part in IT’S BEHIND YOU makes a real impact in transforming lives, creating self-confidence and being an outlet for change – leading to positive experiences that can help counter negative behaviours and risks associated with being a vulnerable adult in a situation of homelessness.

 

Janine Waters, artistic director of The Edge says,

 

“It is such a privilege to be part of this unique theatre company, who work extremely hard to produce high quality, entertaining theatre despite the adversity that they face in other areas of their lives. We work hard, but we have so much fun – you wouldn’t believe the joy in the rehearsal room. People who may have slept rough the night before turn up ready to work, fully committed to each other, to the professional singers and creative team, and to achieving something that they can be proud of. The benefits are huge and life changing.

 

Many of our actors do not have contact with their families and tell us that the theatre company at The Edge has become their family. We work together, we support each other, we take individual and collective responsibility. Working in partnership with the Booth Centre means that together, we are able to provide a holistic approach to improving people’s situations. Of course housing, access to health care and employment are vital, but in order to address some of the issues that might have made people homeless in the first place, so too are the skills developed by being part of The Edge’s theatre company.  The skills that will then help people stay in their new accommodation and employment.

 

People have learnt to read because they want to learn their lines and follow the script. Theatre helps people develop their emotional literacy and empathy, conflict resolution and anger management. People who have been the victims of abuse and exploitation (which many vulnerable people sleeping on our streets have) can carry anger with them throughout their lives.  Our theatre company puts a great deal of emphasis on developing the communication skills that bring about a peaceful end to a situation of conflict. And theatre gives us access to stories and stories help us imagine a better life for ourselves; they help us to see alternative narratives to the ones we’ve found ourselves in and to re-write our stories if we don’t like them.

 

Achieving personal goals and being publicly rewarded for it can change the way you feel about yourself in quite a profound way. Raising self-esteem is an essential component in improving life chances. Taking part in these productions is an incredibly powerful tool to help people begin to see themselves in a new and positive light. You just have to sit in the audience and watch them perform and you’ll see what I mean.”

 

 Homelessness in Manchester has risen 41% in the past two years. CEO of the Booth Centre, Amanda Croome MBE, says of the work, “Drama has a transforming effect….many members of the group have moved onto employment, to take up education and training courses, or have entered detox, as a direct result of the boost they have got from working with The Edge”

 

Tickets for It’s Behind You are now on sale. The recommended age is 16+. For more information please visit:http://www.edgetheatre.co.uk

A new production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT returns to the London Palladium

A NEW PRODUCTION OF THE ICONIC MUSICAL RETURNS TO THE LONDON PALLADIUM

FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED RUN

Casting for the role of Joseph to be announced at a later date

 

Performances will begin Wednesday 26 June 2019

Michael Harrison and The Really Useful Group are pleased to announce that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the first major musical collaboration by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, is to be re-imagined in a brand new production at the iconic London Palladium next summer.

Opening on Wednesday 26 June, the new production will have an entirely new creative team to be announced soon. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will play a strictly limited 11 week summer season through until Sunday 8 September 2019. Tickets go on General Sale on Friday 7 December.

Released as a concept album in 1969, the stage version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has become one of the worlds most beloved family musicals. The multi-award winning show, which began life as a small scale school concert, has been performed hundreds of thousands of times including multiple runs in the West End and on Broadway, international number one tours, and productions in over 80 countries as far afield as Austria and Zimbabwe and from Israel to Peru! The show features songs that have gone on to become pop and musical theatre standards, including Any Dream Will DoClose Every Door To MeJacob and Sons, There’s One More Angel In Heaven and Go Go Go Joseph.

Told entirely through song with the help of the NarratorJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat follows the story of Jacob’s favourite son Joseph and his eleven brothers. After being sold into slavery by the brothers, he ingratiates himself with Egyptian noble Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the advances of Potiphar’s wife. While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and he soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled showman, the Pharaoh. As Joseph strives to resolve Egypt’s famine, he becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man and eventually reunites with his family.

One of stages most sought after roles, stars who have previously played the title character include Jason Donovan, Phillip Schofield, Lee Mead, Joe McElderry and Donny Osmond.

 

 

For further information, please see www.josephthemusical.com

SEASON INFORMATION

London Palladium

8 Argyll Street

London

W1F 7LA

Performance Dates

Wednesday 26 June – Sunday 8 September 2019

Performance Times

Mon – Sat: 7.30pm

Matinees vary during weektime and weekends across the season, please check the website

Tickets

On General Sale from 10AM Friday 7 December 2018

From £20 (Previews from £10). Pay no booking fees at www.josephthemusical.com

 

For further information, please see www.josephthemusical.com

Avenue Q Tour cast announcement

WHAT’S THE FUZZ ALL ABOUT

AVENUE Q UK 2019 TOUR CAST ANNOUNCED

Guess Q’s back! The naughtiest puppets in town will be coming to a venue near you as comedy musical Avenue Q returns next year to tour the UK with all of your favourite fuzzy friends, opening at Portsmouth Kings Theatre 25 January 2019.

Following five years in the West End, sell-out runs worldwide and smash hit tours in 2014, 2015 and 2016 (packed with mischief, bad behaviour and political incorrectness!) Tony Award-winning Musical, created by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez ,Co-creator of Book of Mormon and writer of the songs for Disney’s Frozen, is an irresistibly charming tale of the loveable characters on a downtown New York street trying to make sense of life’s burning issues.

Cast announced today includes Megan Armstrong, Jasmine Beel, Ellis Dackombe, Chloe Gentles, Nicholas Mclean, Robbie Noonan, Saori Oda, Cecily Redman, Lawrence Smith, Oliver Stanley and Tom Steedon

Meet Princeton, a bright-eyed graduate who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fiancée Christmas Eve; Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his closet gay Republican roommate Rod, an Internet ‘sexpert’ called Trekkie Monster, Lucy the Sl*t (the name says it all!) and a very cute kindergarten teacher named Kate Monster. Featuring hysterically funny songs including The Internet is for Porn and Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist, Avenue Q is a hilarious musical with a warm (and very fuzzy) heart.

Avenue Q first opened Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in 2003, before transferring to Broadway later that year where it won three Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. In 2006 it transferred to the West End where it ran for five years before touring the UK. It has appeared in more than ten countries all over the world.

Avenue Q is produced by Selladoor Worldwide (producers of Footloose, Little Shop of Horrors, Flashdance –  The Musical and Fame –  The Musical), Showtime Theatre Productions and in association with Richard Darbourne Limited – Avenue Q is directed and choreographed by Cressida Carré, designed by Richard Evans, Lighting Designed by Charlie Morgan Jones and Sound Designed by Chris Bogg.  Puppets are designed by Paul Jomain of Q Puppets with Puppet Coaching by Nigel Plaskitt.

Hilarious, cheeky and uproariously entertaining, with a cast of 11 hugely talented performers and puppets, Avenue Q is the musical like no other.

So don’t let your life suck – book your tickets today! (Suitable for audiences 14+)

 

LISTINGS

25 Jan – 02 Feb           Kings Theatre Portsmouth  – www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk  – 023 9282 8282

04  – 09 Feb                 Wimbledon New Theatre – www.atgtickets.com/wimbledon – *

11 – 16 Feb                  New Alexandra – Birmingham –  www.atgtickets.com/birmingham    – 0844 871 3011 *

25 Feb – 02 Mar         Chester Storyhouse – www.storyhouse.com – 01244 409 113

11 – 16 Mar                Basildon Towngate –  www.towngatetheatre.co.uk   – 01268 205 300

18 – 23 Mar                Derby Theatre –  www.derbytheatre.co.uk   – 01332 59 39 39

25 – 30 Mar                Bradford Alhambra –  www.bradford-theatres.co.uk   – 01274 432000

01 – 06 Apr                  Marlowe Theatre Canterbury –  www.marlowetheatre.com   – 01227 787787

08 – 13 Apr                  Wirral Floral Pavillion – www.floralpavilion.com  – 0151 116 0000

15 – 20 Apr                  Cheltenham Everyman  – www.everymantheatre.org.uk  – 01242 572573

22 – 27 Apr                  Reading Hexagon – www.readingarts.com/hexagon/ – 0118 960 6060

29 Apr – 04 May         Ipswich Regent Theatre –  www.ipswichregent.com   –  01473 433100

06 – 11 May                Dunstable Grove Theatre – www.grovetheatre.co.uk –   01582 60 20 80

13 – 18 May                Gaiety Theatre Dublin – www.gaietytheatre.ie – 0818 719 388

20 – 25 May                Leicester Haymarket – www.haytheatre.com  – 0116 296 1236

27 May – 01 Jun          Edinburgh Kings Theatre – www.capitaltheatres.com –  0131 529 6000

03 –  08 Jun                 Brighton Theatre Royal –  http://www.atgtickets.com/brighton   – 0844 871 7650 *

10 – 15 Jun                  Wolverhampton Grand – www.grandtheatre.co.uk –  01902 42 92 12

17 – 22 Jun                  Cardiff New Theatre – www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk    – 0292 087 8889

24 – 29 Jun                  Glasgow Kings Theatre www.atgtickets.com/glasgow  – 0844 871 7648 *  

15 – 20 Jul                   Nottingham Theatre Royal – www.trch.co.uk – 0115 989 5555

29 Jul – 03 Aug            Sheffield Lyceum www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk  0114 249 6000

07- 10 Aug                   Belfast Waterfront Theatre – www.waterfront.co.uk –  +44 (0)28 9033 4455

                       

* Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.

 

Find us on Facebook/Instagram and Twitter @AQUKTOUR #WhatTheFuzz #AvenueQUK

The Story of Marie Lloyd Review

York Theatre Royal – 28 November 2018

Reviewed by Marcus Richardson

4****

The Story of Marie Lloyd came to the York Theatre Royal as a fundraiser with the Olivier nominated Elisabeth Mansfield taking the only role in the show. Marie Lloyd is known as the Queen of Music Hall, if you’re over a certain age I’m sure you will know her songs and her witty performance style. We the audience watch as Mansfield unpacks her life alongside music through her years. The fundraiser for York Theatre Royal is to help with the youth theatre and various community projects through the city of York.

Mansfield takes us on a journey filled with laughs and good times, however we are treated to moments in the play where more serious issues are handled, this is done perfectly and at times you are put into a silence with the huge contrast throughout the play. Being a one-woman show all of the performance is on Mansfield, with a lot of lines to learn and music to work with I am impressed as can see why she was nominated for an Olivier, a mastery of the role and the stage. Although being a one-woman show there was someone playing the piano on stage a lovely touch to the performance, it really brought the music hall aspect to life and if the music was on track it would of felt dead, so I’m pleased.

The stage was simple and classical nothing fancy, no stage tricks, just a stage with a piano and a area filled with costumes table and a chair, costume changes were done on stage in character which made a few audience members laugh as the flirt outs character made humour in the moment. The way the show is presented is almost noted in the show itself, when the character talks about how a stage should just have a performer on and nothing else.

The only thing to note about the performance is you really need to be the target audience to fully get the show, which is above 60 at the least, which I am not. I didn’t understand anything to begin with, I grew to appreciate the show as it went on, and after the show, when the show started I was dreading what I was about to watch, even for the first few minutes but the play explored her life in a way we can understand the life of Marie Lloyd. The older people were singing along having a good time. Mansfield shows everyone what it means to be a quality performer

New Play Exploring One of History’s Most Compelling Mysteries Comes To Park Theatre

Park Theatre and Breaking Productions present the World Premiere of
ROSENBAUM’S

RESCUE

9 January – 9 February 2019| Park Theatre

 

Casting has been announced for Rosenbaum’s Rescue, the World Premiere play exploring the true story of how over 7,000 Danish Jews managed to escape the Nazi occupation in 1943. Starring Olivier Award-winner David Bamber, Neil McCaul, Dorothea Myer-Bennett and Julia Swift, the production unearths new accounts behind one of history’s most compelling mysteries. Directed by Kate Fahy and written by A. Bodin Saphir.

October, 1943. Seven and a half thousand Jews flee Denmark in fishermen’s boats, crossing the water to Sweden and to safety from the occupying Nazi regime. To some, a miracle rescue of biblical proportions. To others, the question remains: how did thousands of Jews slip through the grasp of the most powerful war machine ever assembled?

 

Hanukkah, 2001. At a remote home on the snowy Danish coast, it’s time for two old friends to bury the hatchet. Lars and Abraham have not seen eye to eye for decades, but old tensions refuse to thaw as Lars’ relentless pursuit of the truth concerning the flight of Danish Jews during WWII challenges Abraham’s faith, patience and memories. And when an old secret surfaces and threatens the very foundation of their relationship, fact starts to blur with fiction.

 

Playwright A. Bodin Saphir said:

 

“ ‘Rosenbaum’s Rescue’ is inspired by my grandparents’ story of escape from Nazi occupied Denmark. Although he rarely talked about it, my grandfather was witness to a moment in history that contemporary historians now believe to be an important piece in the puzzle to understand why the ‘rescue’ of the Danish Jews was so successful and who was responsible for its success.

Armed with a perspective and information unavailable to their predecessors, a new generation of Danish historians are re-examining that ‘Miracle Rescue’ and their conclusions have proven shocking. This play is a testament to the evolution of that narrative from a black and white fairytale to a more complex, and in many ways, a more profound truth of a thousand greys. And although my grandfather found it difficult to speak of that time, I feel that now his story has finally been heard.”

 

Olivier Award-winning actor David Bamber plays Abraham. David’s stage credits include: Communicating Doors (Menier Chocolate Factory), Harvey (UK Tour/Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Glee Club (Bush & Duchess Theatre), Three Birds Alighting on a Field (Royal Court Theatre), Search & Destroy, Byrthrite, Billy Karate, My Night with Reg (Best Actor Olivier Award 1995 – Royal Court), Betty Blue Eyes (Novello Theatre) and The Oresteia, The Long Way Round, Hamlet, Racing Demon, Wind in the Willows, Troilus and Cressida, Merchant of Venice & Honk (National Theatre). His recent screen credits include: The Darkest Hour, Borg Vs McEnroe, Mad to be Normal, Queens of Mystery (Acorn), Gunpowder (BBC), Trust (FX Productions), Victoria (ITV), Silent Witness (BBC), Call the Midwife (BBC), A Very English Scandal (BBC), Snatch (AMC), Tina & Bobby (ITV), Camping (Sky Atlantic), Quacks (BBC),  Death in Paradise (BBC), Doctor Who (BBC), Father Brown (BBC) & What Remains (BBC). 

 

Neil McCaul plays Lars. His stage credits include: The Other Place (Park Theatre), Fatherland (Lyric Hammersmith, Manchester Royal Exchange), After Electra (Theatre Royal Plymouth/ Tricycle Theatre), Guys and Dolls (Chichester Festival Theatre), Calendar Girls (Noel Coward Theatre), OedipusAccomplices (National Theatre), Mr England (Crucible Theatre), Merchant of Venice, Trelawney Of The Wells (Old Vic), Privates On Parade (Piccadilly Theatre), Guys and Dolls (Savoy Theatre/ Chichester Theatre) and Soho Cinders (Soho Theatre). His TV credits include: Benidorm, Midsomer Murders, Dark Matter, Doctors, Foyle’s War, Holby City, Blue Murder, Most Mysterious Murders, Nostradamus, Fifty Five Degrees North, Crossroads, EastEnders, Hearts and Bones, Lock Stock, People Like Us, Where the Heart is (series 3), A Wing and a Prayer, Tandem, Ruth Rendell: Road Rage, Comedy Nation, Does China Exist? and the Father Ted Christmas Special.

 

Dorothea Myer-Bennett plays Eva. Her theatre credits include: Holy Sh*t (Kiln Theatre), The Winslow Boy (Chichester Festival Theatre/Birmingham Rep/UK Tour), The Lottery of Love, The Philanderer (Orange Tree), The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe/World Tour), Pericles (Shakespeare’s Globe), Richard IIIUncle Vanya (West Yorkshire Playhouse), This Was A Man (Finborough Theatre), As You Like It, Arcadia, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Richard III, The Misanthrope, Comedy of Errors, King Lear and The Cherry Orchard (Tobacco Factory). Her TV credits include: Holby City (BBC), Jude the Obscure, Dead Man Talking (BBC) and Plastic People (Green Dot).

 

Julia Swift plays Sara. Her theatre credits include: Philadelphia Here I Come and Orpheus Descending (Donmar Warehouse), Revelations (Comedy Theatre), Broken Glass (National Theatre), Royal Borough and Ambulance (Royal Court), The German Connection (Young Vic), The Relapse (Old Vic Theatre) and Two Gentlemen of Verona & All’s Well That End’s Well (Royal Shakespeare Company). Her TV credits include: Doctors (BBC), Casualty (BBC), Doc Martin (ITV), Holby City (BBC), Midsomer Murders (ITV) and The Bill (ITV).

 

Director Kate Fahy, returns to Park Theatre where she directed Jean-Claude Carriere’s Little Black Book in Park90. She also directed Oliver Cotton’s play Wet Weather Cover at The King’s Head and in the West End’s Arts Theatre. Kate is also an actress, with recent credits including Handbagged (Roundhouse Theatre Washington DC/Tricycle Theatre), A Lie Of The Mind (Southwark Playhouse), Winter Solstice (Orange Tree Theatre) After Electra (Tricycle Theatre), Martin Crimps’ Definitely The Bahamas (Orange Tree Theatre) and Edward Albee’s The Goat (Almeida Theatre /Apollo Theatre).

A filmmaker and writer, A. Bodin Saphir has written and directed a number of acclaimed short films. He produced and co-directed the award winning documentary Who’s Gonna Love Me Now? and is Author in Residence at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Rosenbaum’s Rescue is his first play.

 

www.parktheatre.co.uk

Box office: 020 7870 6876*

LISTINGS

ROSENBAUM’S RESCUE

Venue: Park200, Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, N4 3JP

Dates: Wed 9 Jan – Sat 9 Feb 2019

Age guidance: 14+

Performances: Evenings Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Thu & Sat 3pm

Captioned: Wed 6 Feb 7.30pm

Prices: Previews £18.50, Standard £18.50 – £32.50, Concessions £16.50 – £23.50, Child (Under 16) £15 – £20*
Booking: www.parktheatre.co.uk / 020 7870 6876

*10% telephone booking fee, capped at £2.50 per ticket.