Disney’s The Lion King announces a second UK and Ireland tour as it celebrates 20 years on the London stage

Disney’s The Lion King announces a second UK and Ireland tour
as it celebrates
20 years on the London stage
 

The Walt Disney Company UK and Ireland has today announced that the award-winning musical THE LION KING will embark on a second UK and Ireland tour. THE LION KING will open in Bristol in September 2019 and move on to Edinburgh in December 2019. Further cities will be announced in due course.

Tickets for the Bristol run will go on sale in February 2019 and for the Edinburgh run in March 2019. Patrons can sign up for priority access to tickets at www.thelionking.co.uk  

The tour coincides with THE LION KING celebrating 20 years at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Since the UK premiere in London on Tuesday 19th October 1999, THE LION KING has entertained over 15 million theatregoers and remains the West End’s best-selling stage production and the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time.

In celebration of this anniversary, the company will host a gala performance, perform at live events and on TV, and celebrate its many charity and outreach partnerships.

The previous tour of THE LION KING broke attendance records across the nation. With a cast of over 50 actors, singers and dancers, the story of THE LION KING is miraculously brought to life using masks, puppets and striking costumes to tell the story of young Simba’s epic adventures as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and becoming king.

The stunning simplicity of THE LION KING is the work of a team of designers which drew on diverse cultural influences to recreate the rich colours and vast expanses of the African savanna in this daring and inspiring reinvention of one of the most successful animated films of all time.

Julie Taymor’s internationally-celebrated stage adaptation opened on Broadway in 1997 and 25 global productions have now been seen by more than 95 million people. Performed in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), productions of THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway, London’s West End, Hamburg, Tokyo and Sapporo, Madrid, Scheveningen in Holland, Daegu in South Korea and on tour across North America – a total of nine productions running concurrently across the globe. Having played over 100 cities in 20 countries on every continent except Antarctica, THE LION KING’s worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.   

Julie Taymor, one of the world’s most innovative directors, brought a vast array of disciplines to THE LION KING, including extensive experience staging epic theatre and opera productions, exploring classic myths through ritualised puppetry, mask, and movement. THE LION KING was the first musical she directed in the commercial theatre, and Taymor made Broadway history by becoming the first woman to win the Tony Award® for Best Director of a Musical.  

The show’s full creative team, which won five Tony Awards® for its work on THE LION KING, reunited in 1999 to recreate the show in London. Julie Taymor and Michael Curry created hundreds of masks and puppets. Scenic design is by leading British designer Richard Hudson and lighting is by Donald Holder. Costume design is by Julie Taymor, and choreography by Garth Fagan. The book was adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay.

The original score from the animated film was expanded for the stage and now features 15 musical numbers.  

As well as writing completely new songs, South African composer Lebo M created an evocative blend of African rhythms and chorales, with additional material by Julie Taymor and Mark Mancina. Elton John and Tim Rice have added three new numbers to the five that they wrote for the award-winning score of the animated film. The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, including the Academy Award®-winning Can You Feel The Love Tonight and the haunting Shadowland.

THE LION KING is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.

Motown the Musical Review

Bristol Hippodrome – until 2 February 2019

Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock

3***

The show depicts the life of Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown and the show takes place on the day of the 25th Anniversary of Motown’s birth with flashbacks to Gordy’s humble beginnings. Gordy, played by Edward Baruwa had poise onstage and carried the role well. The stand out performance, for me, was ‘Do you Love me?’. This was a real feel good performance that had the audience clapping, singing and dancing along as well as providing some outstanding vocals. Karis Anderson as Diana Ross exuded grace and elegance and had good vocals, to give a performance Diana Ross would be proud of. 

The set was quite limited, but filled the stage and was used multiple times throughout the show. The technical support given to the show aided the audience’s imagination, with bright lights, projections and 1960’s patterns displayed on a screen, this was no mean feat to produce. The costume created by Emilio Sosa was true to the time and flattering for all members of cast, taking you back to the early 1960’s. Choreographers Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams provided dynamic dance routines that were carried out well by cast members. 

However, some vocals and performances left much to be desired. As with any show, there are perfect performances and some that fall a little below the mark and it was a shame that Motown was the latter, with a few flat notes and some stiff acting. Nevertheless, if you like Motown Music and are interested in the history of its creation, this is the show for you. The songs are extremely well known and you may be ‘Dancing in the Streets’ on your way home. 

Kiln Theatre: FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR UK PREMIÈRE OF FLORIAN ZELLER’S THE SON

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR UK PREMIÈRE OF FLORIAN ZELLER’S THE SON

KILN THEATRE PRESENTS

THE SON

By Florian Zeller

In a translation by Christopher Hampton

Director: Michael Longhurst; Designer: Lizzie Clachan; Lighting Designer: Lee Curran

Composer and Sound Designer: Isobel Waller-Bridge; Casting Director: Amy Ball

20 February – 6 April 2019

As the world première of Ishy Din’s Approaching Empty opens at Kiln Theatre, the company’s Artistic Director, Indhu Rubasingham, announces the casting for the UK première of Florian Zeller’s The Son, in a translation by Christopher HamptonMichael Longhurst directs Amanda Abbington, Laurie Kynaston, John Light, Oseloka ObiAmaka Okafor and Martin Turner. The production opens on 26 February, with previews from 20 February, and runs until 6 April.

The Son is the 4th première in the opening season at the newly refurbished Kiln Theatre, following Alexis Zegerman’s Holy Sh!t, Stephen Sharkey’s adaptation of Zadie Smith’s White Teeth and Ishy Din’s Approaching Empty. 46% of the customers who have booked for the opening season are first time attenders (White Teethattracted over 58% new customers to the theatre); with 24% of bookers from Brent or Camden; and 15% of audiences are the least likely to be engaged in the arts (10% higher than the national average). White Teeth was the fastest selling show in the venue’s history with the majority of performances at 95% capacity (of an increased capacity compared to the old auditorium), making it the also the most financially successful show in the theatre’s history.

‘It’s just that I’m not like the others.’

As a family breaks down, a son begins to unravel. Nicolas is skipping school, lying to his family, hiding strange objects under his mattress. Is this typical teenager behaviour or a warning sign of hopelessness?

The highly anticipated UK première of The Son follows the sold-out Olivier Award-winning The Father (Theatre Royal Bath, Tricycle Theatre, West End, national tour) and the critically-acclaimed The Mother. The Soncompletes this trilogy of plays and has been nominated for 9 Molière awards including Best Play in a Commercial Theatre and Best Playwright.

Florian Zeller is a French novelist and playwright. Zeller won the prestigious Prix Interallié in 2004 (Fascination of Evil) and several Molière Awards for his plays La Mère(The mother)and Le Père(The father). L’Autre, le Manège, Si tu mourais, Elle t’attend, La Vérité(The truth)andUne heure de Tranquillité were successfully produced in France and internationally. L’Envers du décor, starring Daniel Auteuil was produced in Paris in 2016. Avant de s’envoler was on the same season, and recently played at the Wyndham’s Theatre (The Height of the Storm) with Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins directed by Jonathan Kent. Le Père (The father), was nominated as Best New Play at the 2016 Olivier Awards, with Kenneth Cranham winning for Best Actor in a Play. It also received two nominations for the 2016 Tony Awards – Best Play and Best Performance by an Actor, the latter was won by Frank Langella. This play has been performed in over 35 countries. Christopher Hampton has translated most of Zeller’s plays into English; and his plays have received many international awards.

Christopher Hampton has translated plays by Ibsen, Molière, Chekhov, Yasmina Reza (including Art and Life x 3) and Florian Zeller’s The Father, The Mother and The Truth. He won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the adaptation of his own play, Les Liaisons Dangereuses (released as Dangerous Liaisons). He was nominated again in 2007 for adapting Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement. His television work includes adaptations of The History Man and Hotel du Lac.

Amanda Abbington plays Anne. Her theatre credits include The God of Carnage (Theatre Royal Bath), A Little Princess (Royal Festival Hall), Abigail’s Party (Theatre Royal Bath/UK Tour), God Bless This Child (Royal Court), Love Me Tonight (Hampstead Theatre), The Safari Party (Stephen Joseph Theatre /Hampstead Theatre), Something Blue (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Taming of the Shrew (Queen Mother Theatre) and Tin Soldiers (New End Theatre/Grace Theatre). For television her credits include Flack, Safe,  Sherlock, Mr Selfridge, Being Human, Case Histories, Psychoville, Man Stroke Woman, Booze Cruise, Teachers and Coupling; and for film, We The Kings, Crooked House, Another Mother’s Son and Ghosted.

Laurie Kynaston plays Nicolas. His theatre credits include The Ferryman (Gielgud Theatre), JumpyThe Winslow Boy (Theatre Clwyd). For television, his work includes Derry Girls, The Feed, Cradle to Grave, Murder Games and Our World War; and for film, How To Build a Girl, Undercliffe and England is Mine.

John Light plays Pierre. Theatre credits include Mary Stuart (Duke of York’s Theatre), The Winter’s TaleA Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe), Three Days In The Country (National Theatre), The Blackest Black (Hampstead Theatre), Julius Caesar (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Thom Pain (Based on Nothing) (The Print Room), Luise Miller (Donmar Warehouse), The Master Builder, Certain Young Men (Almeida Theatre), True West (Sheffield Crucible) and Apologia (Bush Theatre). For television, his work includes Agatha Raisin, Mars, Maigret, Father Brown, Silk, Dresden, North and South, Cambridge Spies, Band of Brothers, Love in a Cold Climate and Aristocrats; and for film, Albert Nobbs, Scoop, The Lion in Winter and A Rather English Marriage.

Oseloka Obi plays Nurse.His theatre work includes Timbuktu (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Edward II(Greenwich Theatre), Crossing the Line (Cockpit Theatre), Twelfth Night, Richard II (Drayton Arms Theatre) andWe Raise Our Hands in the Sanctuary (Albany Theatre).

Amaka Okafor plays Sofia. Her theatre credits include I’m Not Running, Macbeth, Saint George and The Dragon, Peter Pan (National Theatre), Hamlet (Almeida Theatre), Grimly Handsome, I See You (Royal Court Theatre) and Hamlet (Barbican).

Martin Turner plays The Doctor. His theatre work includes The Plague (Arcola Theatre), The Crucible(Storyhouse), Uncle Vanya (Theatr Clwyd and Sheffield Theatres), The Haunting of Hill House (Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), The King’s Speech (Chichester Festival Theatre and tour), Medea (National Theatre), Twelve Angry Men (Garrick Theatre and Birmingham Rep) and A Life of Galileo (RSC). For television, his work includes A Very English Murder, Mother’s Day, Follow the Money, Maigret, New Tricks, The White Queen andDark Matters; and for film, Urban Hymn and Labirent.

Michael Longhurst directs. His credits include the recent revival of Caroline or Change (Chichester, Festival Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, and Playhouse Theatre), and Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus (National Theatre) and Nick Payne’s Constellations starring Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall at Royal Court Theatre and in the West End, and with Ruth Wilson and Jake Gyllenhaal on Broadway. Longhurst also worked with Gyllenhaal on his American stage debut in If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet (Roundabout Theatre, New York). Other credits include Gloria(Hampstead Theatre), Belleville (Donmar Warehouse), Bad Jews (Theatre Royal Bath/West End), and Linda(Royal Court Theatre). Longhurst was recently appointed Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse.

www.KilnTheatre.com

Twitter: @KilnTheatre / @KilnCinema

Full Casting & ENO Orchestra Announced For London Run Of Notre Dame de Paris

FULL CASTING & ENO ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCED FOR THE LONDON RUN OF THE ORIGINAL SPECTACULAR

NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

THE LONDON RUN WILL CULMINATE WITH THE 5,000THPERFORMANCE OF THE SHOW

The worldwide hit based on the classic novel

Wednesday 23 – Sunday 27 January 2019 | London Coliseum

Nicolas Talar for Enzo Products Ltd and Adam Blanshay Productions are pleased to announce the full casting forNotre Dame de Paris. Twenty years after its Parisian debut, and after receiving international acclaim in 23 countries worldwide, the French musical is set to be performed at London Coliseum. The original French production in London will be performed with English surtitles and a live orchestra from Wednesday 23 – Sunday 27 January 2019, with a national press night on Wednesday 23 January 2019 at 7pm. The London run will culminate with the 5,000th performance of the worldwide hit show.

This is the original French production, composed by Richard Cocciante with lyrics by Luc Plamondon, directed by Gilles Maheu and choreographed by Martino Müller.

The production stars Angelo Del VecchioHiba TawajiDaniel LavoieRichard CharestAlyzée LalandeMartin Giroux and Jay, who are all members of the principal cast in the current world tour.

The producers are also thrilled to confirm that the singers will be accompanied by the stunning ENO Orchestra with Matthew Brind conducting.

Based upon the acclaimed 1831 novel Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo, Notre Dame de Paris will feature an international ensemble of singers, dancers and acrobats to tell the tale of the hunchbacked cathedral bell-ringer, Quasimodo, and his desperate love for the gypsy, Esmeralda.

Italian born Angelo Del Vecchio plays Quasimodo. Angelo has a long professional history with Notre Dame de Paris, and is the only singer in the world to have performed the show in three languages. Angelo first played the role of Quasimodo in 2011 in the tenth anniversary tour of the Italian version of the production (September 2012 – Verona Arena). Following this, he joined the international show (the English version) and performed in many Asian and European counties. Since 2014, Angelo has taken part in the revival of the Notre Dame de Paris Original French Tour in South Korea, Taiwan and Lebanon. Other credits include playing the role of Benvolio inGiulietta e Romeo, a popular opera, with which he toured around Italy in 2007 and 2008, and being part of the artistic cast of Rock Revolution as a soloist.

Hiba Tawaji plays Esmeralda, a role she has portrayed all over the world since 2016. Hiba is a Lebanese trilingual (Arabic, French & English) singer & actress. She was spotted very early on by one of the most influential producers & composers in the Arab world, Oussama Rahbani, with whom she has released 3 studio albums in Arabic, each album gaining the critics’ & public’s acclaim. The Rahbani family, pioneers in the musical theatre sector in the Arab world, entrusted Hiba with the lead female role in 4 of their creations. Over the years, Hiba became a big star in the Arab world, performing on some of the most prestigious stages and festivals in the region. Following this, she had always dreamed of extending her horizons, so she took an enormous gamble by participating in The Voice France in 2015. After a journey that was highly praised by the public & the media, she made it to the semi-finals, and is currently working on new music in French, English & Arabic. In 2017, she was the very first female singer to ever perform on stage in Saudi Arabia. Her performance garnered International media exposure making it an historical event in Hiba’s career & in Arab women’s battle for emancipation & gender equality.  

The role of Frollo is played by Daniel Lavoie, who is an original cast member of Notre Dame de Paris, having been in the show since its inception in Paris in 1998. Daniel is a Canadian born author, composer, actor and comedian, most famous for his unforgettable song Ils s’aiment. Daniel is an established poet-pianist, and is known for his striking performances in daring projects such as Notre Dame de ParisHuman Rights Now, Le Petit Prince, la télésérie Félix Leclerc, Douze hommes rapaillés, La licorne captive and, more recently, Piaf à 100 ans. Vive la Môme! and Fortitudes. Daniel has won a dozen Félix Awards in Quebec, four Victoires de la Musique in France and a World Music Award for his participation in the song Belle from Notre Dame de Paris, and has twenty albums to his name. He is also the author of two volumes of poetry Finutilité and Particulitésand has composed for Maurane, Isabelle Boulay, Eric Lapointe, Céline Dion, Mireille Mathieu and many others.

Richard Charest plays Gringoire. He first came to Notre Dame de Paris in 1999, when he crossed paths with the famous lyricist Luc Plamondon, who entrusted him with the future of the role of Phœbus. From 1999 to 2006, he did a series of performances in French around the world, playing the powerful role of the poet Gringoire from 2005, and went back on the road again in 2012 with the English version of Notre Dame de Paris. He recently celebrated his 1000th performance of the show. Other credits include Rabbi Jacob (alongside popular French comedian Eric Métayer), Il était une fois… Joe Dassin (Grand Rex, Paris and on a European tour) and Big Bazar (at the famous festival Les Franco Folies de Montréal in June 2010 and on tour around Quebec in 2011).

The role of Fleur-de-Lys will be played by Alyzée Lalande. Alyzée Lalande is the original Fleur-de-Lys from the 2017 touring cast. She started her career with the show Jean le fidèle and the comedy On ne magouille pas avec les impôts, by Thomas de Montgolfier, at the Théâtre Le Temple. She then landed the lead role in the musical Peau d’âne, directed by Ismaël Djema, at the Théâtre de la Madeleine, continued her journey withJonas le musical, directed by Sébastien Tellier, and then with L’île aux trésors, also directed by Djema. In 2015, she joined the Théâtre Mogador with Le Bal Des Vampires, directed by Roman Polanski, followed by Le Voyage Extraordinaire de Jules Verne, where she brought the puppet hybrid Anna Verne to life, under the direction of Rabah Aliouane.

The role of Phœbus is played by Martin Giroux. He first became famous as a contestant on the second season of Star Académie in 2004. In 2003, Martin was diagnosed with a very rare cancer on his left wrist and his albumLa vie ça s’mérite was inspired by his battle. He announced that he had gone into remission in 2008. Martin is an experienced stage, television and musical performer, whose credits include Dracula, Joe Dassin – La Grande fête musicale, Big Bazar and Party Time. He took over the role of Phœbus in Notre Dame de Paris at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.

Completing the principal cast is Jay who plays Clopin. Jay is best known for being a member of several bands. He was a member of the French group ‘Poetic Lover’ from 1997 to 2000. They had six singles and two albums in the national charts. After Poetic Lover’s split, he joined the R&B and hip-hop group ‘Class Vegas’ in 2001.  Since 2013, he has been a member of the soul group ‘Vigon Bamy’. Their first work entitled Les Soul Men, reached number 7 in the French charts and became a gold album. In 2002, he participated in Luc Plamondon and Romano Musumarra’s musical Cindy.

All the principals can be heard on the 2017 Notre Dame de Paris live cast recording which is widely available.

The cast is completed by acrobats Abdel Kader Diop, Jonathan Gajdane, Nathan Jones, Samuele Poddi and Alberto Poli, break dancers Alex Besnier and Pasquale Fortunato, singers Elhaida Dani, Julien Mior, Florian Robert, Rodrigue Galio and Roland Julienne and dancers Domenico Ausilio, Giulia Barbone, Wilfried Bernard, Luca Calzolaro, Gianluca Falvo, Alexandre Lacoste, Giuseppe Marino, Marta Marino, Joane Nabonne, Emanuele Pironti, Anaïs Replumaz, Martina Ronchetti, Julie Vlieghe and Roberta Zegretti.

Long before Notre Dame de Parisbecame an international success, the show’s composer Riccardo (aka Richard) Cocciante was already established as a successful international artist-singer-composer with more than 40 albums to his name in Italian, Spanish and French. His musical education is self-taught, allowing him to explore a vast range of musical expressions and compositions: from songs to musical operas, from film soundtracks to intimate and rigorous music for the theatre or casting and directing young singers in his “People’s Opera”. A second career as composer of “People’s Opera” becomes obvious to him, and he consequently decided to suspend his singing and recording career.

If there is one name associated with French songwriting around the world, it is without doubt that of Luc Plamondon. This prolific songwriter has written over 500 songs and five musicals, the most famous of which –Starmania and Notre Dame de Paris – have been seen by millions of spectators and sold as many albums around the world. He encountered Diane Dufresne, who became his muse all through the seventies, for whom he wrote 75 songs. He was called on to work for all the biggest names of pop music in Quebec and France. His career reached a peak in 1992 with a tribute album that Céline Dion dedicated to him entitled Dion Sings Plamondon. With composer Michel Berger, he wrote the first French rock opera, Starmania, which premiered in Paris in 1979. An unprecedented success in several languages. His other musicals include La légende de Jimmy (1990). His greatest triumph, Notre Dame de Paris, which opened in Paris (1998) continues to tour around the world.

Ahead of the twentieth anniversary performance, producer Nicolas Talar says:

 “Myself and our wonderful cast are delighted to be bringing this classic tale to the London to celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary. Almost two centuries after the novel captured imaginations, we have been fortunate enough to travel all over the world with this fabulous show. And as an anniversary gift, and to show our excitement at bringing Notre-Dame de Paris to London, our first performance will be, we believe, the London Coliseum’s first ever one price performance at the amazing rate of £50, so we can share this story with as many people as possible. The earlier you book the better the seat you get.”

Having sold out performances across 16 countries and been translated into nine different languages, Notre Dame de Paris originallydebuted at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, 1998. Following its opening, the production was commended in the Guinness Book of World Records 2000 for its record success for a musical during its first year.

The music is composed by Richard Cocciante, with lyrics by Luc Plamondon.

Victor Marie Hugo (1802-1885) was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic movement and is considered one of the greatest French writers. Hugo’s best-known works are the novels Les Misérables, 1862, and Notre-Dame de Paris, 1831, both of which have had several adaptations for stage and screen.

Director Gilles Maheu is a multidisciplinary artist: an actor, writer, director, teacher, set designer, choreographer and filmmaker. Gilles Maheu has been a leading director for 40 years, in Canada as much as abroad.  He is also the co-founder of two theatres in Montreal (l’Espace libre and l’Usine C) and, in 2015, he was named a Compagnon des Arts et des Lettres du Québec for his important contribution to Quebec’s cultural life. With his company Carbone 14, he toured over 30 countries and received over forty prestigious awards for his shows Le Rail in 1985, Hamlet-machine d’Heiner Muller in 1987 and Les Âmes mortes in 1996. In 2004, he directed the musical Don Juan by Félix Gray in France, Canada and Korea, winning the awards for best production and best direction in Quebec. In 2007, he was the artistic director for the creation of the musicalButterflies in Beijing and, in 2008, he directed Cirque du Soleil’s Zaïa in Macao, China.

Set Designer Christian Rätz studied in Lyon (École des Beaux-Arts) and Strasbourg (ESAD).  He has designed numerous sets for dance, opera and theatre in France and abroad. He designed the sets for a number of operas by M. Leiser and P. Caurier. As far as the theatre is concerned, over the last few years he has designed sets for the following productions: Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov, In the Solitude of Cotton Fields by Bernard-Marie Koltès at the Evora Drama Centre in Portugal, Le Missanthrope, suite et fin by Molière and Courteline at the Théatre de Carouge, Trolius and Cressida at the Almada Theatre in Portugal. Between 2012 and 2014, he directed Opus Null with texts by Jean Arp, Incidents ou début d’un très beau jour d’été by Daniil Harms andL’heure d’alsacien. He has been in charge of classes at the L’École de Théatre National de Strasbourg since 1978 and he handled the responsibility for training student scenographers at l’ESAD from 2008 to 2011.

Originally a dancer, choreographer Martino Müller, joined the Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT I).  Martino ventured into choreography in 1992, when he applied to join NDT II, the junior group of the Dutch company.  His first piece of choreography, Who’s Watching Who, turned out to be a striking debut and received an important award from the Dutch arts organisation. That same year, Martino was invited to work for the Festival der Künste in Bad Gleichenberg, Austria, which led him to a production called A Woman Can Take You to Another Universe – Sometimes She Just Leaves You There, which NDT I later included in their own repertoire.  NDT I then asked him to create a new piece.  The premiere of this creation, entitled Heidi, took place in 1994.  Since then, he has choreographed for numerous prestigious dance companies, such as the Lyon Opera Ballet, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Komische Oper Berlin, the Ballet Gulbenkian in Portugal, the Stuttgart Ballet, Balletmet in Columbus, Ohio, USA, the Göteborg Ballet in Sweden, the Basel Ballet, the Bern Ballet, the Lucerne Theatre, the Israeli Ballet in Tel Aviv and the Croatian National Theatre. Notre Dame de Paris, nominated for a prize for Canadian theatre in 2000, is Martino Müller’s first time choreographing for a musical.  He has since choreographed for Cirque du SoleilZaiaI Promessi Sposi and Peter Pan, The Never Ending Story. The most innovative choreography that Martino has worked on was for the new musical production of Cendrillon.  

As a visual artist, Costume Designer Caroline Van Assche’s vision is holistic.  Her progressive costumes allow the audience to see the depth of the characters and the actors to adopt them through more ways than just acting. She began her career in costume in 2002 with Céline Dion’s show A New Day in Las Vegas, followed by an aquatic show at Wynn Las Vegas with Franco Dragone. She then became Franco Dragone’s artistic director.

For more than thirty years, Lighting Designer Alain Lortie has worked with singers from Quebec and Europe: Jean-Pierre Ferland, Diane Dufresne, Robert Charlebois, Daniel Bélanger, Peter Gabriel, Francis Cabrel, Eros Ramazzotti, and more. He has been named lighting designer of the year by l’ADISQ, received the Masque des Éclairages for Les âmes mortes (1996) and won a Dora Mavor Moore Award in Toronto for Oedipus Rex (1997).  Among his big creations are Starmania (1993), Notre Dame de Paris (1998), Arturo Brachetti (1999), Cavalia(2003) and Odysseo (2011).  From 2001 to 2005, he was the artistic director for the Fête de la lumière at the festival Montréal en Lumière.  He also collaborated on Cirque du Soleil’s productions Soleil de minuit (2004),Delirium (2006), Zarkana (2011) and Toruk, The First Flight (2015). In 2014, he joined up with Franco Dragone for the permanent production of Han Show (2014) in Wuhan, China.

www.NotreDameDeParis.co.uk

020 7845 9300*

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE AND THEATRE ROYAL STRAFTORD EAST’S CO–PRODUCTION OF EQUUS

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE AND THEATRE ROYAL STRAFTORD EAST’S

CO–PRODUCTION OF EQUUS

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East present

Equus

By Peter Shaffer

UK tour: 15 February – 11 May 2019P

Director: Ned Bennett; Designer: Georgia Lowe; Lighting Designer: Jessica Hung Han Yun

Composer and Sound Designer: Giles Thomas;Movement Director: Shelley Maxwell

Assistant Director: Denzel Wesley – Sanderson;Casting Director: Anne McNulty CDG

Casting Associate: Lucy Casson

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East today announce the full cast for Ned Bennett’s bold new production of Peter Shaffer’s critically-acclaimed classic, psychological thriller Equus. Bennett directs Robert Finch (Frank Strang/Horse), Keith Gilmore (Harry Dalton/Nurse/Horse), Ethan Kai (Alan Strang), Syreeta Kumar (Dora Strang/Horse), Norah Lopez Holden (Jill Mason/Horse), Ruth Lass (Hester Salomon/Horse), Ira Mandela Siobhan (Young Horseman/Nugget) and Zubin Varla (Martin Dysart) completes the cast. The production opens at Theatre Royal Stratford East on 21 February, with previews from 15 February and runs until 23 March prior to embarking on a UK tour to Cambridge Arts TheatreTheatre Royal BathBristol Old VicThe LowryNorthern Stage and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

Inspired by a true story, Peter Shaffer’s gripping and transfixing psychological thriller is re-imagined by award-winning theatre director Ned Bennett in this major new revival for 2019.

Equus explores the complex relationships between devotion, myth and sexuality.

When teenager Alan Strang’s pathological fascination leads him to blind six horses in a Hampshire stable, psychiatrist Dr. Martin Dysart is tasked with uncovering the motive behind the boy’s violent act. As Dysart delves into Alan’s world of twisted spiritualty, passion and sexuality, he begins to question his own sanity and motivations in a world driven by consumerism.

Sir Peter Shaffer’s (1926 – 2016) plays include The Salt Land, The Prodigal Father, Balance of Terror, Five Finger Exercise (Evening Standard Drama Award), The Private Ear, The Public EyeThe Royal Hunt of the SunBlack ComedyWhite Lies, The Battle of Shrivings, Yonadab, The Gift of the Gorgon, Lettice and Lovageand Amadeus (Evening Standard Drama Award and Tony Award for Best Play)His plays adapted for film includeFive Finger ExerciseThe Royal Hunt of the Sun, Equus and Amadeus (Academy Award for Best Picture), for television The Salt Land and Balance of Terror, and for radio The Prodigal Father and Whom Do I Have the Honour of Addressing?. In 1994, Shaffer was Visiting Professor of Contemporary Drama at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford. He was awarded the CBE in 1987 and was knighted in 2001.

Robert Finch plays Frank Strang/Horse. His theatre credits include Jerusalem, Journey’s End (The Watermill Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Mercury Theatre Colchester), A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream (Stafford Festival Shakespeare), Anne Boleyn (Shakespeare’s Globe / ETT tour), Edward II (Rose Theatre), Terms of Endearment (York Theatre Royal), The Wings of The Dove (Minerva Theatre), Dangerous Corner (Theatre Royal Windsor)and Wait Until Dark (Garrick Theatre).

Keith Gilmore plays Harry Dalton/Nurse/Horse. His theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe). Film credits include Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.

Ethan Kai plays Alan Strang. His theatre credits include Goats (Royal Court Theatre) and Returning to Haifa(Finborough Theatre). His television credits include Emmerdale as series regular Kasim Sabet; and for film, Instrument of War.

Syreeta Kumar plays Dora Strang/Horse. Her theatre credits include The Breakfast Plays (Traverse Theatre), Made in India, The Husbands (Soho Theatre), Twelfth Night, Midnight’s Children, Hamlet, Camino Real, Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Shakespeare Company) and Little Red Riding Hood (Theatre Royal Stratford East). Television credits include Coronation Street as series regular D.C. Leslie

Norah Lopez Holden plays Jill Mason/Horse. Theatre credits include The Winter’s Tale (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Almighty Sometimes, Our Town (The Royal Exchange), Othello (The Tobacco Factory), Ghosts (HOME).

Ruth Lass plays Hester Salomon/Horse. Theatre credits include The Tempest (Barbican, BITE Festival), Hamlet(LIFT Festival), Wagner Dream (Barbican), Martin Yesterday (Royal Exchange Theatre), Live Like Pigs (Royal Court Theatre) and The House of Bernarda Alba (Young Vic).

Ira Mandela Siobhan plays Young Horseman/Nugget. Theatre credits include Feast (The Young Vic), Lifeguard (The National Theatre of Scotland) and FELA! (The National Theatre).

Zubin Varla plays Martin Dysart. His theatre credits include Fun Home, Bartholomew Fair (Young Vic), The Enchantment, Attempts on Her Life, The Life of Galileo, Cyrano de Bergerac, Celestine, The Hour That We Knew Nothing Of Each Other (National Theatre), Julius Caesar (Lyric Hammersmith), Two Gentlemen of Verona, Faust (Swan Theatre), Midnight’s Children, The Tempest (Barbican), Roberto Zucco (The Other Place), The Painter of Dishonour (Gulbenkian Studio), Twelfth Night (Donmar Warehouse), Paradise Regained (Royal Court Theatre), In the Heart of America (Bush), Teeth ‘n’ Smiles (Sheffield Crucible), Jesus Christ Superstar (Lyceum Theatre),Beautiful Thing (Duke of York’s Theatre), Dr Foster (Menier Chocolate Factory), Hello and Goodbye (Southwark Playhouse), A Connecticut Yankee in the Court of King ArthurRomeo and JulietLady Be Good (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Antigone for Warehouse Productions (Old Vic) and Amadeus (UK Tour). Television credits include Deep State as Said, Our Girl as Qaseem, Strike Back as Leo Kamali, Saddam’s Tribe, Little Dorrit andHolby City as series regular Rafi Raza.

Ned Bennett directs Equus. He is an award-winning theatre director, who trained at the Royal Court Theatre, the National Theatre and LAMDA. His work includes the Evening Standard Award-winning An Octoroon, which opened at the Orange Tree Theatre in Spring 2017 and transferred to the Dorfman last year, and Buggy Babywhich opened at the Yard Theatre in March 2018. He directed the Bruntwood Prize-winning Yen at the Manchester Royal Exchange which transferred to the Royal Court in 2016, and Pomona which was commissioned by the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and transferred to the Orange Tree, and then to the National Theatre. Pomona and Yen won Bennett the UKT Best Director award 2015. Pomona won four Off-West End awards: Best Director, Best Production, Best New Play and Best Lighting Design.

Tour Dates

Theatre Royal Stratford East

15 February – 23 March 2019

Press night: Thursday 21 February, 7pm

Box Office: 020 8534 0310 / www.stratfordeast.com

Cambridge Arts Theatre

26 – 30 March 2019

Box Office: 01223 503333 / www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Theatre Royal Bath

2 – 6 April 2019

Box Office: 01225 448844 / www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Bristol Old Vic

16 – 20 April 2019

Box Office: 0117 987 7877 / www.bristololdvic.org.uk

The Lowry

23 – 27 April 2019

Box Office:  0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Northern Stage

30 April – 4 May 2019

Box Office: 0191 230 5151 / www.northernstage.co.uk

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

7 – 11 May 2019

Box Office: 01483 440000 / www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF ALEX OATES’ ALL IN A ROW

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF

ALEX OATES’ ALL IN A ROW

Paul Virides Productions, Evelyn James Productions and United Theatrical present

The World Première of

ALL IN A ROW

By Alex Oates

Directed by Dominic Shaw; Assistant director: Annabelle Hollingdale; Designer: PJ McEvoy

Puppet Design and Direction: Siân Kidd; Lighting Designer: Rachel Sampley

Southwark Playhouse

14 February – 9 March 2019

Paul Virides Productions, Evelyn James Productions and United Theatrical today announces the full cast of the world première production of Alex Oates’ All in a Row. Dominic Shaw directs Charlie Brooks (Tamora), Simon Lipkin (Martin), Michael Fox (Gary) and Hugh Purves (Laurence). The production opens at Southwark Playhouse on Monday 18 February, with previews from Thursday 14 February, running until Saturday 9 March.

Laurence likes pizza.
Laurence is about to go to school.
Laurence thinks it’s okay to wee on mummy’s pillow.

Like any couple, Tamora and Martin have big hopes and dreams. But when your child is autistic, non-verbal, low-functioning and occasionally violent, ambitions can quickly become a pipe dream.

In a household brimming with love, resentment and realisations, meet Tam, Martin, and Laurence’s carer Gary as they struggle to care for their beloved boy. On the night before social services finally intervenes, who is the victim here? Who was the traitor? And who do you blame when you can no longer cope?

Inspired by his experiences working as a carer for over a decade, Alex Oates’ new play is a kitchen sink comedy-drama filled with heart… and French Fancies.

Charlie Brooks plays Tamora. Her theatre credits include Monogamy (Park Theatre), How The Other Half Loves (UK tour), A Streetcar Named Desire (Curve Leicester), Beautiful Thing (UK tour/Arts Theatre) and Our Country’s Good (Liverpool Playhouse). For television, her credits include Moving OnSuspects, as series regular Janine Butcher in EastEnders, and Wired. And for radio, Tightrope (BBC Radio 4).

Michael Fox plays Gary. His theatre credits include A Lie of the Mind (Southwark Playhouse), An Enemy of the People (National Theatre), As You Like It (Luxemburg/UK tour) and Edmund Kean (Watford Palace Theatre). For television his credits include as series regular Andy in Downton AbbeyEndeavorMarvellousThe ArkNew WorldsLittleBigMouth, and Mrs Bradley Mysteries.  For film his credits include Downton Abbey, Dunkirk and Good People.

Simon Lipkin plays Martin. His theatre credits include Nativity! The MusicalThe Wind in the WillowsHoneymoon in Vegas and I Can’t Sing! (London Palladium), Whisper House and Miss Atomic Bomb (The Other Palace), Guys and Dolls (Phoenix Theatre), The Lorax (The Old Vic), Rock of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre), Avenue Q (Noël Coward Theatre), Spamalot, The Wedding Singer (UK tour), Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory), As You Like It (Southwark Playhouse), Alice in Wonderland (Nuffield Southampton Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Arts Theatre), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Above the Arts), Oliver! (Grange Park Opera), Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (New London Theatre). For television his credits include Doctor WhoCasualtyThe BillNo Strings Attached and The Amazing World of Gumball. For film his credits include Nativity Rocks!,Show DogsNativity III and The Muppets – Again.

Puppeteer Hugh Purves plays Laurence. He trained as part of the inaugural year of The Curious School of Puppetry in 2016. His theatre credits include Clementine’s Fabulous Roadshow (Mark Mander Productions) and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (Shakespeare’s Globe).

Alex Oates has been shortlisted for The Old Vic 12 and Papatango Prize, and long listed for the Bruntwood Prize. His other theatre credits include Silk Road (How to Buy Drugs Online) (VAULT Festival/Live Theatre/Trafalgar Studios), Rules for Being a Man (UK tour), Pig (Hull Truck Theatre/New Diorama Theatre),Hansel (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Hull Truck Theatre), People Will See Me and Cry (Arcola Theatre), Time Warner Ignite (Old Vic Tunnels); and for television, Match Not Found and EastEnders: E20.

Dominic Shaw directs. His directing credits include Silk Road (How to Buy Drugs Online) (VAULT Festival/Live Theatre/Trafalgar Studios), Secret Garden (Barn Theatre), A Memory For Forgetting (Arcola Theatre), Get Got (Edinburgh Festival Fringe) and Thirteen Days (The Other Palace). As an Associate Director his credits include Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre), Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre/UK tour) and Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre/UK and international tour). As an actor his credits include Wicked (Apollo Victoria) and Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre).

ALL IN A ROW                                                                                                                                    Listings

Southwark Playhouse

77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD                                                                                                                                    

Nearest Tube:Borough/Elephant and Castle                                                                       

14 February – 9 March 2019

Relaxed performance to be announced.

Box Office020 7407 0234

www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

@allinarowplay

@swkplay

Tickets:

£22 (£18 concession)

Previews: £14

Linzi Hateley reprises her role as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers 2019 tour

WEST END STAR LINZI HATELEY REPRISES HER ROLE AS

MRS JOHNSTONE IN

BLOOD BROTHERS

SPRING 2019 TOUR

Bill Kenwright’s ‘Dazzling’ (Sunday Telegraph) production of the international smash hit musical Blood Brothers announces its 2019 Spring tour, opening on Tuesday 29th January at Malvern Festival Theatre. This iconic musical has been visiting theatres across the country throughout 2018, performing to sell-out houses and receiving standing ovations.

Considered ‘One of the best musicals ever written’ (Sunday Times), Blood Brothers, written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell has triumphed across the globe. Scooping up no fewer than four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Blood Brothers is simply ‘Unmissable and unbeatable’ (The Spectator).

Olivier Award nominated British actress Linzi Hateley returns to the seminal role of Mrs Johnstone. She said:

“Mrs Johnstone is an iconic role that I’ve always secretly dreamed of playing. I’m thrilled to perform it to audiences right across our country.”

Linzi has performed in countless West End productions, the most recent of which being the role of Donna in Mamma Mia. At just seventeen years old, Linzi was cast as the title role in the Royal Shakespeare’s production of CARRIE: THE MUSICAL, a role that would take her to Broadway. She went on to star as The Narrator in the London Palladium production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, alongside Jason Donovan as Joseph, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award.  Other West End roles include Éponine in Les Misérables, Roxie Hart in Chicago, Rizzo in Grease and Winifred Banks in Mary Poppins. She also starred as Helen in the National Theatre’s revival of London Road.

The cast for Blood Brothers includes Sarah Jane Buckley, Sean Jones, Mark Hutchinson, Robbie Scotcher, Danielle Corlass, Tim Churchill, Graham Martin, Amy Jane Ollies, Alison Crawford, Graeme Kinniburgh, Andy Owens and Josh Capper.

This epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981 before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse 35 years ago in 1983, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan. Blood Brothers also ran in London’s West End for 24 years, exceeding 10,000 performances, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.

Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret. The memorable score includes A Bright New DayMarilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.

When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet. It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax.

A sensational cast, incredible show stopping music, remarkable staging and five star performances make Blood Brothers an enthralling night of entertainment.

Willy Russellis undeniably one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley ValentineEducating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti. 

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Bill Kenwright presents

BLOOD BROTHERS

By Willy Russell

Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright

Designed by Andy Walmsley                                    Sound Designed By Dan Samson

Musical Direction by Tim Whiting                           Lighting Designed by Nick Richings

BLOOD BROTHERS – SPRING 2019 TOUR DATES

Tuesday 29 January – Saturday 2 February                                        Box Office: 01684 892277

Malvern Festival Theatre                                                                           Website: www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

Tuesday 5 – Saturday 9 February                                                           Box Office: 0114 249 6000

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield                                                                        Website:www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Tuesday 12– Saturday 16 February                                                       Box Office: 0115 989 5555

Theatre Royal, Nottingham                                                                      Website:www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23February                                                        Box Office: 01494 512000

Wycombe Swan                                                                                                            Website:www.wycombeswan.co.uk

Tuesday 26 February – Saturday 2 March                                           Box Office: 0844 576 3000

Bournemouth Pavilion                                                                                Website:www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 March                                                            Box Office: 01642 552663

Forum Theatre, Billingham                                                                        Website:www.forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk

Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 March                                                            Box Office: 00 353 (0) 64 66 7155

INEC, Killarney                                                                                                                Website:www.inec.ie

Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 March                                                            Box Office: 00 353 (0) 94 90 2311

Royal Theatre, Castlebar                                                                            Website:www.royaltheatrecastlebar.ie

Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 April                                                                    Box Office: 0844 871 3023

Princess Theatre, Torquay                                                                         Website:www.atgtickets.com/torquay

Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 April                                                                  Box Office: 0843 208 6000

The Lowry, Salford                                                                                       Website:www.thelowry.com

Monday 15 – Saturday 20 April                                                                               Box Office: 01492 872000

Venue Cymru, Llandudno                                                                          Website:www.venuecymru.co.uk

Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 April                                                                               Box Office: 0844 856 1111

Blackpool Opera House                                                                                              Website:www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

Tuesday 30 – Saturday 4 April                                                            Box Office: 02392 828 282

Kings Theatre, Southsea                                                                      Website:www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk

Tuesday 7 – Saturday 18 May                                                                  Box Office: 0844 848 2700

Leeds Grand Theatre                                                                                   Website:www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

THE WIDER EARTH – CELEBRATES DARWIN’S BIRTHDAY WITH SPECIAL GALA PERFORMANCE ON 12 FEB, HOSTED BY JULIA BRADBURY

CELEBRATING THE 210TH BIRTHDAY OF CHARLES DARWIN

THE WIDER EARTH

GALA NIGHT

TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2019

IN SUPPORT OF

THE QUEEN’S COMMONWEALTH CANOPY

AND

THE QUEEN’S COMMONWEALTH TRUST

HOSTED BY

JULIA BRADBURY

The Wider Earth – the critically acclaimed drama about the young Charles Darwin’s expedition on HMS Beagle playing at the custom-built theatre in the Jerwood Gallery at London’s Natural History Museum until 24 February – will hold a special VIP Gala Night on 12 February 2019. The gala, hosted by Julia Bradbury, will be held to celebrate Charles Darwin’s 210th birthday, and will support The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and the production’s official charitable partner The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.

Trish Wadley, on behalf of the producers of The Wider Earth, said, “as an Australian production with a global view, we are thrilled to support a Commonwealth initiative that encourages multiple nations to join together and create a meaningful green footprint on the planet for future generations.”

Julia Bradbury, best known for presenting BBC’s Countryfile and ITV’s Britain’s Best Walks and a forthcoming seriesJulia Bradbury’s Australia, is a passionate advocate for the conservation of the natural world, and a tireless campaigner against plastic pollution.   She said, “I am thrilled to be hosting The Wider Earth’s gala night. This theatrical celebration of discovery is a testament to the beauty of nature, and a reminder of our duty to protect the landscapes and wildlife that Charles Darwin loved so much.”

Tickets include a pre-show reception and are now available on request by contacting [email protected] by Friday 25th January.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy is a unique network of forest conservation initiatives that marks Her Majesty The Queen’s service to the Commonwealth and conserves indigenous forests across the globe. Through their voluntary commitment to this pan-Commonwealth initiative, the nations of the Commonwealth are acting together to address climate change and protect habitats and biodiversity for the future. QCC partner Cool Earth is an award-winning UK-based charity that works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction.

Project Coordinator Sophie Kisnorbo commented,

“The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy is honoured to have been chosen as The Wider Earth’s official charitable partner. It is a real privilege to work with The Wider Earth to continue Darwin’s legacy.”

The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust uses its network, platform and experience, together with the collaborative input of like-minded foundations and supporters, to enable young leaders to realise their dreams and hopes for the future. They are a platform for young change-makers across the Commonwealth, and a place where smart ideas are shared, sparking inspiration, and more and more people feel motivated and enabled to step up and take action – no matter how small. They find and fund young people whose bright ideas solve local problems in education, health, the environment and sport. They support those who have set up their own not-for-profit organisations, as well as those who are leading projects that help others. With the young people they work with, they aim to create a network where mentorship, resources and skills are shared. Their work demonstrates the values of the Commonwealth in action, through the leadership, energy and optimism of its young people.

Featuring a cast of seven people and 30 extraordinary hand-crafted puppets representing the exotic wildlife Darwin encountered, The Wider Earth is an ingenious coming-of-age story which celebrates the incredible complexity of our planet and Darwin’s adventurous spirit as he faced perilous environments and unknown dangers on his bold voyage. Written and directed by Dead Puppet Society’s creative director David Morton, the idea for The Wider Earth was conceived at a residency in Cape Town in 2013 with the Handspring Puppet Company – the creative team behindWar Horse.

Following sold-out seasons in Brisbane and Sydney, The Wider Earth has found the perfect home at the Natural History Museum. The Museum is custodian to many of the specimens Charles Darwin collected on his expeditions and its 350 scientists continue in his footsteps of exploration and discovery, seeking solutions to the major issues facing the natural world. This is the first time a performance-based theatre has been constructed in the Museum and adds an exciting new element to the wide-range of exhibitions and events which already attract over 4.5 million visitors every year.

The Museum’s scientists, led by paleobiologist Professor Adrian Lister, author of Darwin’s Fossils, have worked closely with the creative producers of the show to ensure it is rooted in authenticity.

The Wider Earth is presented by Trish Wadley Productions, Dead Puppet Society and Glass Half Full Productions.

9 TO 5 The Musical – Louise Redknapp statement

LOUISE REDKNAPP – 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL

The producers of 9 to 5 The Musical said today..

“Due to an injury this week, Louise Redknapp has had to temporarily withdraw from performing the role of Violet in 9 to 5 The Musical. The recovery time recommended means Louise is no longer able to properly rehearse the show in the remaining time left before opening. Together we have made the difficult decision to delay Louise’s start date in the show. We hope that Louise will start performances sometime towards the end of March/early April 2019. Everyone at 9 to 5 wishes Louise a speedy recovery and we look forward to welcoming her back”.

The name of the actress stepping in to play the role in Louise’s absence will be announced shortly. Any patrons who would like to exchange their tickets to a performance when Louise has returned to the show should contact their point of sale.  

9 to 5 The Musical will have its first preview at the Savoy Theatre as planned on 28 January 2019.

Tyrone Huntley and Oti Mabuse bring AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ back to London at Southwark Playhouse

Paul Taylor-Mills and Mercury Theatre Colchester

in association with Tamasha Theatre Company

present

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
The FATS WALLER Musical

At Southwark Playhouse

From Friday 19 April to Saturday 1 June 2019

Paul Taylor-Mills and Mercury Theatre Colchester in association with Tamasha Theatre Company are delighted to announce a brand-new production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ – the first London revival inalmost 25 years – playing at Southwark Playhouse from Friday 19 April to Saturday 1 June, following its premiere at Mercury Theatre Colchester from Friday 15 – Saturday 30 March. Tickets are on sale now.

Celebrating the legendary jazz musician Fats Waller and his energetic, exuberant and effervescent music, Ain’t Misbehavin’ steps back into the 1920’s and the raunchy nightclubs of Manhattan.Join an extraordinary group of performers on a journey through a defining period of American musical history, the Harlem Renaissance – where musicians were free to experiment with new styles, and joints were jumpin’ with talented dancers, singers and instrumentalists jamming to a new beat known as swing.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ will be directed by Tyrone Huntley, making his directorial debut. Tyroneis best known for his acclaimed performance as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, for which he won the Evening Standard Theatre Award and received an Olivier Award nomination. Tyrone is soon to appear in Leave to Remain at the Lyric Hammersmith with other performing crediting including Angry (Southwark Playhouse) and Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre).

Ain’t Misbehavin’ will be choreographed by Oti Mabuse, making her debut as a theatre choreographer. Best known as a professional dancer on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing since 2015, Otiis also an 8-time South African Latin American Champion and one of the most successful South African dancers in the world. Oti is currently a Dance Captain and Mentor on BBC One’s new Saturday night dance and entertainment show The Greatest Dancer.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ first premiered at Manhattan Theatre Club in 1978 and transferred to Broadway the same year, where it won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The original West End production opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1979, and was followed by a revival at the Tricycle Theatre and Lyric Theatre in 1995. This new production will mark the first London revival in almost 25 years.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ is basedon an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr, with orchestrations and arrangements by Luther Henderson, vocal and musical concepts by Jeffrey Gutcheon and vocal arrangements by Jeffrey Gutcheon and William Elliott.

Casting and further creative team details are to be announced.

Twitter:

Southwark Playhouse @SwkPlay

Mercury Theatre Colchester @Mercury Theatre

Instagram:

Southwark Playhouse @SwkPlay

Mercury Theatre Colchester @MercuryTheatreColchester

LISTINGS

FRIDAY 15 – SATURDAY 30 MARCH

MERCURY THEATRE COLCHESTER

Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT

Performances: Tuesday – Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm

Tickets: £14.00-27.00

Box Office: 01206 573948 / www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

FRIDAY 19 APRIL – SATURDAY 1 JUNE 2019

SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD

Performances: Monday – Saturday 7.30pm, Tuesday and Saturday 3.00pm

National Press Night: Wednesday 24 April, 7.30pm

Tickets: £16 (Previews), £27.50 (Standard), £22 (concessions, valid Mon-Thu and all matinees)

Box Office: 020 7407 0234 / www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

ON SALE NOW