Month: February 2019

Tea For Two series of talks announced for

MT FEST UK

A two-week festival of new musical theatre

Presented by Paul Taylor-Mills

At The Other Palace

From Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February 2019

Paul Taylor-Mills is delighted to announce Tea For Two, a programme of intimate and frank conversations as part of MT Fest UK at The Other Palace. Taking place in the Studio throughout the festival, Paul will be in discussion with some of the industry’s celebrated musical theatre practitioners, with each talk also including an audience Q&A. All tickets are £10.

The Tea For Two lineup features industry leaders including casting director David Grindrod, choreographer Arlene Phillips, producer Danielle Tarento, theatre critic Mark Shenton and director/choreographer Drew McOnie.

The full Tea For Two line-up is:

Monday 11 February, 10.30am

Good Thing Going: The relationship between Agent and Casting Director

David Grindrod (Casting Director) and Alastair Lindsay-Renton (Agent at Curtis Brown) discuss the complex relationship between casting director and agent, sharing their wealth of experience of the casting process. David Grindrod is one of the West End’s leading casting directors, whilst Alastair Lindsay-Renton represents some of the most distinguished figures in musical theatre including Jason Robert Brown, Alfie Boe and Carrie Hope Fletcher.

Tuesday 12 February, 2.00pm

Gotta Get A Gimmick: Marketing a New Musical

James Charrington (Chief Executive of Dewynters), Emma De Souza (Head of Media and Marketing for SOLT), Dawn Farrow (CEO of Boom Ents) and Sita McIntosh (COO for WhatsOnStage) discuss the ways in which branding and marketing can make or break new musicals. Join some of the most influential figures in theatrical marketing as they look at some of the most distinctive campaigns for new musicals, the most common mistakes in marketing new work, and where they see marketing for new work in the future. 

Saturday 16 February, 11.00am

We Can Do It: You’ve Made a New Show… Now How to Get it On

Danielle Tarento (Producer) and Victoria Saxton (Executive Director of Mercury Musical Developments) discuss the often daunting process of reaching out to producers and organisations, sharing their top tips for getting your work in front of the right person, at the right time, in the right way, and how to remain positive and passionate when you get that ‘no’.

Monday 18 February, 10.30am

Dancing Through Life: Making new musicals move

Arlene Philips (Choreographer) and Joanne Clifton (Performer and Writer) call on their wealth of dance experience, from Strictly Come Dancing to their theatre work as choreographer and performer, to discuss their approaches to creating new work and finding distinct physical languages in musicals. Joanne is about to embark on writing her first musical and will speak frankly about the transition from dancer to writer and the crossover of skills. 

Tuesday 19 February, 11.00am

I Can Do That: The Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts in Auditions

Paul Wooller (Head of Casting for Cameron Mackintosh Ltd) has a wealth of experience casting new work and some of the most successful West End musicals, from Hamilton to Les Misérables. In this invaluable session, he will answer all those questions you always wanted to ask about best audition practice.

Wednesday 20 February, 11.00am

Everybody’s Got The Right: The Changing Face of Criticism and How New Musicals are Reviewed

Mark Shenton (Theatre Critic and new musicals advocate) looks at the changing face of theatre criticism, how the digital age has affected the way we read reviews, the shifting ways in which new work is reviewed in the UK.

Saturday 23 February, 11.00am

No One is Alone: The Art of Collaboration

Drew McOnie (Director and Choreographer) shares his experiences of leading creative teams and companies through the challenging process of creating a new musical. He and Paul Taylor-Mills will discuss their past projects together as director and producer (In The Heights, The Wild Party), sharing their thoughts on the collaboration needed to effectively create new work.

MT Fest UK is a two-week festival of new musical theatre at The Other Palace from Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February 2019. The festival will present new work by both emerging and established writers, as well as programming talks and concerts from some of the most celebrated performers, writers and producers currently working in musical theatre. All tickets to events and performances will be between £10-15.

Tickets for all Tea For Two talks are on sale now

www.MTFestUK.co.uk

Twitter @Fest_MT

Instagram MTFestUK

Richmond Theatre – 30 January 2019

4****

Swan Lake is ballet composed by Tchaikovsky, which depicts a tragic love story between a Prince and the Queen of the Swan. Swan Lake is one of the most popular and well known ballets and is being brought to life by Moscow City Ballet. Moscow City Ballet presents Swan Lake at Richmond Theatre.

As a ballet virgin I was excited about seeing this world renowned ballet.

The conductor enter the auditorium to a slight ripple of the string section bow’s tapping against their stands, but no fan fare from the audience. Once the music began I was filled with anticipation for the ballet to begin. The curtain rises and the set was somewhat under whelming, perhaps as the stage is small the space was kept clear of scenery and props for the dancers to fill the stage. They certainly did.

The palace is set for a party to celebrate Prince Siegfield birthday and all the courtiers are there to raise a glass and celebrate. I wasn’t sure initially who the lady in the long dress was but realised she was the Queen informing the Prince it was time to chose a bride. On hearing this the Prince runs off to the lake where he encounters a bevy of swans. The ballet dancers were effortlessly graceful and really en-captured the characteristics of a swan. The Prince is not alone as the evil sorcerer watches his every move. Odette, the Queen of the swans appears and captivates Prince Siegfield. She glided around the stage as if on ice, with delicate legs movements replicating the shiver a swan does with its feathers. Her arms portrayed the neck of a swan, beautiful.

Rothbart the evil sorcerer shadows the Prince’s movements with menace. On returning to the palace the Prince is presented with a number of female suitors from different parts of the world, depicted by the fabulous costumes. This was also a show case for other ballerina’s to shine. I especially liked the Spanish entourage.

I did not know the story and as there are no words spoken I found it a little hard to grasp what was going on. I felt this would of been helped by a little more expression from the dancers, some of the ensemble pieces felt flat as if just going through the motions, with some timings seeming a little off. However, the jester bursts on to the stage and demands your attention. His expressions did convey more of the general plot to me.

The orchestra were faultless and I felt myself drifting away to the lake via the music rather than the dance. The oboe player gave me goose bumps and I was impressed by the harp player, which was in fact a keyboard.

The whole performance was executed with huge talent, expertise and poise. With leaps, lifts and awe-inspiring pirouettes, that left me feeling dizzy just watching. An intriguing introduction to the ballet world, well worth a visit.

York Inspirational Kids Fashion Show

Grand Opera House York

Saturday 30 March 2019 at 2.30pm

A fun afternoon with disabled children & young people and their families who will take you on a journey of creativity, colour and inclusion. Be ready to smile. Fundraising for Stimul8 – to build a leisure and training facility for disabled children and young people in York.

Having a disabled child of her own, Ruth Thompson realises the difficulties faced by many families when trying to access mainstream activities. Her 14 year old daughter was born with a virus called Cytomegalovirus (CMV), which caused to her to have a stroke, attacked her optic nerve causing her to be born blind, though she now has a little bit of vision, severe epilepsy and learning difficulties. As Georgina has grown up Ruth became aware of more and more gaps in provision for play and development. Despite having the vision for Stimul8 7 years ago, with the help of her business partner Jo Rodwell the pair have resurrected the plans and begun fundraising to build a state of the art facility providing nursery care for very complex needs children, fully adapted play centre and NVQ/ training hub plus some paid work for disabled children and young people.

Ruth says ‘As Georgina has grown I’ve become more and more aware of the gaps in provision and just knew I needed to do something about it. With Jo’s help we know this is going to make a difference to so many families.’

Ruth also runs York Inspirational Kids, a support group for families who have a disabled child. They decided to get involved with York Fashion Week to show fashion designers, retailers and others involved within the fashion industry that disabled children also want to be fashionable but need a few adaptations to be made to help them access everyday clothing. Items such as adjustable clothing, adapted fastenings such as magnets or Velcro, fashionable shoes with Velcro fastenings in adult sizes and seamless clothing to accommodate sensory issues.

Jo says ‘at the end of the day they’re just children who want to have fun and dress like their peers. If they need wider legs to help go over splints, higher waists or longer tee shirts to enable wheelchair users not to get cold then it really shouldn’t be too much to ask. Just getting a wheelchair into some of the stores can be impossible. This fashion show will highlight these children’s fashion needs and will showcase what some retailers are doing to accommodate them. We are so grateful that the Grand Opera House also thought this was a priority too and is enabling us to put on this show. ‘

The aim of the show is to raise awareness, encourage inclusivity as well as raising funds to build Stimul8.

Tickets on sale from Friday 1 February at 10am

Ticket Price: Adults £5, Children £2

Box office: 0844 871 3024

Online: www.atgticketrs.com/york

Richmond Theatre- until 3rd February 2019

Reviewed by Sara Garner

4.5****

The Moscow City Ballet received a heart-warming welcome on a cold winters evening in the beautiful Victorian Richmond theatre in their production of Pytor Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Sleeping Beauty. Whilst waiting for the ballet to begin the Hungarian Alba Regia Orchestra (that travels with the ballet) warmed up adding to the anticipation which had reached its peak in my 10-year-old companion for the evening.

The Prologue starts with King Florestan and his Queen celebrating the christening of their daughter Princess Aurora. The master of ceremonies Catalabutte is delightfully camp and comical as he realises that he has forgotten to invite the Fairy Carabosse. Carabosse arrives with an entourage of dark prowling goblins. There is no doubt that the character is an evil fairy wielding a decorative staff intent on retribution and casts her curse predicting that one-day Aurora will prick her finger and die. The Lilac Fairy appears and revokes the curse, promising that Aurora will not die but fall asleep along with the court for 100 years. Aurora will only be awakened by a prince’s kiss after a hundred years.

Act one moves forward to introduce Princess Aurora (Lilia Orekhova) at her 16th birthday party celebrations where the ballerinas capture every small girls dream of being a ballerina in exquisite costumes throughout, accompanied by garlands and flowers intricately incorporated in every movement of their performance. Princess Aurora leads her 4 comical suitors around the stage in a merry dance accompanied by confident and breath-taking dancers conveying their emotions on their faces as well as through their incredible dancing perfectly harmonised with the orchestra. Of course, Aurora receives a gift of a spindle from Carabosse and inevitably pricks her finger which leads Aurora and the court into a sleep for 100 years thus ending Act One.

Act two opens after 100 years has passed, the dancers costumes have changed along with the mannerisms of the court. Prince Florimund (Kozhabayev Talgat) appears in a dreamy sequence dancing hypnotically with Princess Aurora in a forest. The Lilac Fairy guides the Prince to reach King Florestan’s Palace where he defeats Carabosse and awakens the Princess with a kiss and the whole court becomes alive.

Act three opens in the palace ballroom where the court celebrates the wedding of the handsome Prince and beautiful Princess with a grand ball. 15 couples dance in perfect unison and there are appearances from 3 fairy tale characters who attend the wedding to pay their respect which leads to the ballets overall charm and magic.

As the company took their bows the audience showed their understandable appreciation, which was echoed to the orchestra too who reignited my love of classical music. If you get the chance to see this enchanting, magnificent ballet, treat yourself not matter your age.

Sonia Friedman Productions presents
ROSMERSHOLM
By Henrik Ibsen
In a new adaptation by Duncan Macmillan
Directed by Ian Rickson

• IAN RICKSON WILL DIRECT A NEW PRODUCTION OF IBSEN’S CLASSIC STUDY OF A COUNTRY IN POLITICAL FLUX IN A NEW ADAPTATION BY DUNCAN MACMILLAN
   
• TOM BURKE WILL STAR AS JOHN ROSMER AND HAYLEY ATWELL WILL STAR AS REBECCA WEST, WITH FURTHER CASTING TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
   
• THE PRODUCTION WILL PREVIEW FROM APRIL 24th AT THE DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE, WITH AN OPENING NIGHT ON MAY 2ND
   
• TICKETS GO ON SALE ON FRIDAY 1ST FEBRUARY AT 1PM WITH 20% OF ALL TICKETS ON SALE AT £25 OR UNDER

Henrik Ibsen’s classic examination of a country in state of political flux has been adapted byDuncan Macmillan (People, Places and Things, 1984, Every Brilliant Thing). The sharply prescient play will be directed by Ian Rickson (Jerusalem, The Birthday Party, Translations), with set and costumes by Rae Smith, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Stephen Warbeck,sound by Gregory Clarke and casting by Amy Ball CDG.

‘‘Now I see that love is selfish. It makes you a country of two. At war with the rest of the world.”

An election looming. A country on the brink. A rabid press baying for blood.  At the centre of the storm is Rosmersholm, the grand house of an influential dynasty. This is where the future will be decided by John Rosmer – a man torn between the idealised hope of the future and the ghosts of his past.  

The role of John Rosmer will be played by Tom Burke who was recently seen on the London stage in The Deep Blue Sea at the National Theatre and Reasons to Be Happy at Hampstead Theatre. He is best known for playing the lead role in Strike, the BBC television adaptation of the Cormoran Strike novels by JK Rowling, published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Other notable television roles include Athos in the BBC series The Musketeers and Dolokhov in the BBC literary-adaptation miniseries War and Peace. His latest film, The Souvenir, premiered at this year’s Sundance Festival.

Hayley Atwell will play the role of Rebecca West. A prolific actress across stage, TV and film, her most recent theatre work includes Measure for Measure at the Donmar, Dry Powder at Hampstead Theatre and The Pride at Trafalgar Studios.  She won great acclaim for her performances in the BBC adaptations of Howards End and The Long Song last year. Widely known as Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and subsequent TV series Agent Carter, she also starred in The Duchess, Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella and most recently Christopher Robin. Her latest filmBlinded by the Light, directed by Gurinder Chadha and based on the book by Sarfraz Manzoor premiered at Sundance 2019.

Further casting will be announced soon.

Rosmersholm is the tenth collaboration between Sonia Friedman Productions and director Ian Rickson following celebrated West End productions of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party, Old Times and Betrayal, and Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem (West End and Broadway), The River(Broadway) and Mojo (West End). He also worked with SFP on productions of The Children’s Hour(West End), Electra at the Old Vic and The Seagull on Broadway. Rickson was artistic director of the Royal Court from 1998 to 2006.  His recent stage productions include Translations, Evening at the Talk House and The Red Lion (National Theatre), The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (West End),Against (Almeida Theatre) and The Nest (Lyric Belfast/Young Vic). 

Duncan Macmillan is an award-winning writer and director who previously collaborated withSonia Friedman Productions on the West End and Broadway run of 1984, which he co-adapted/co-directed with Robert Icke. His other plays include People Places and Things which enjoyed huge success in London and New York, Lungs, Every Brilliant Thing, 2071 (co-written with Chris Rapley), The Forbidden Zone and most recently City of Glass adapted from Paul Auster’s novel.

Rosmersholm will play at the Duke of York’s Theatre from April 24th, with an opening night of May 2nd. The run will end on July 20th. Tickets are on sale from Friday 1st February at 1pm with 20% of all tickets available at £25 or less.

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

ARTHUR MILLER’S DEATH OF A SALESMAN

A Young Vic, Elliott & Harper and Cindy Tolan Production

DEATH OF A SALESMAN

By Arthur Miller

Directed by Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell

Young Vic, Main House

1 May – 29 June 2019

Artistic Director of the Young Vic, Kwame Kwei-Armah, today announces the full cast for Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, a co-production with Elliott & Harper Productions and Cindy Tolan.

Following her recent award winning success on Company and Angels in America, Marianne Elliott will co-direct this production with Miranda Cromwell, who worked as Associate Director on both of those shows. 

Wendell Pierce (making his UK stage debut as Willy Loman), Sharon D. Clarke (Linda Loman) and Arinzé Kene (Biff Loman) will be joined by Ian Bonar (Bernard), Trevor Cooper (Charley), Martins Imhangbe (Happy Loman), Joseph Mydell (Ben Loman), Nenda Neurer (Letta), Jennifer Saayeng (Miss Forsythe), Matthew Seadon-Young (Howard Wagner and Stanley) and Maggie Service (The Woman and Jenny) in the production, which opens on 9 May, with previews from 1 May.

“I don’t say he’s a great man…but he’s a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid. He’s not to be allowed to fall in his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person.”

Directed by Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell, Design by Anna Fleischle, Lighting Design by Aideen Malone, Sound Design by Carolyn Downing and Casting by Charlotte Sutton CDG.

Arthur Miller (1915-2005) was born in New York City and studied at the University of Michigan.  His plays include All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, A View from the Bridge, After the Fall, Incident at Vichy, The American Clock, Broken Glass, Mr. Peters’ Connections, and Resurrection Blues. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949. Other works include the novel Focus, the screenplay The Misfits, the memoir Timebends, and texts for the books In Russia, In the Country, and Chinese Encounters, in collaboration with his wife, photographer Inge Morath.Newly published collections include CollectedEssays and Presence: Collected Stories.

Ian Bonar returns to the Young Vic toplay Bernard. Previous theatre credits for the Young Vic include Ma Vie en Rose. His other theatre credits include Jellyfish (Bush Theatre), Be Prepared (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/VAULT Festival), Arden of Faversham, The Witch of Edmonton, The Roaring Girl (RSC), The Blackest Black (Hampstead Theatre), Brilliant Adventures (Royal Exchange Theatre), Me as a Penguin (Arcola Theatre), and DNA and The Miracle (National Theatre). His television credits include Damilola: Our Loved Boy, New Blood, Holy Flying Circus, and Going Postal; and for film, Interlude in Prague, Spectre, Skyfall, Kon-Tiki, Starter for 10, 1234, Atonement, and How to Lose Friends & Alienate People.

Sharon D. Clarke plays Linda Loman. Her theatre credits include Caroline, Or Change (Chichester Festival Theatre/Hampstead Theatre/Playhouse Theatre), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Amen Corner – for which she won an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress (National Theatre), Ghost The Musical (Piccadilly Theatre), The Life (Southwark Playhouse), Porgy and Bess (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre) and the forthcoming Blues in the Night at Kiln Theatre. Her television credits include as series regular Lola Griffin in Holby City, Doctor Who, Informer and Flowers; and for film, Tau, The Darkest Universe, Sugarhouse, Secret Society and Beautiful People.

Trevor Cooper plays Charley. His theatre credits include An Enemy of the People, Heartbreak House (Chichester Festival Theatre), Chimerica (Almeida Theatre/Harold Pinter Theatre), All That Fall (Arts Theatre/59E59, New York), King Lear (Tobacco Factory Theatre), There is a War, The Swan, Playing with Fire (National Theatre),House of Games, Measure for Measure, Awake and Sing, The Late Henry Moss (Almeida Theatre), Arcadia(Duke of York’s Theatre), By the Bog of Cats (Wyndham’s Theatre),and The Lieutenant of Inishmore, King John and The Prisoner’s Dilemma (RSC). His television credits include as series regular Sergeant Woolf in Call the Midwife andLen Clifton in This Country, The Windsors, Wolfblood, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, Ballot Monkeys, Wizards vs. Aliens, Murphy’s Law and Tess of the D’Urbervilles; and for film, Postcards from London, Crooked House, A Quiet Passion, Happy-Go-Lucky, Until Death, Dear Wendy and Vanity Fair.

Martins Imhangbe plays Happy Loman. His theatre credits include The Tragedy of King Richard II (Almeida Theatre), An Adventure, The Royale (Bush Theatre), Absolute Hell, The Barbershop Chronicles (National Theatre), Luce (Southwark Playhouse), Octagon (Arcola Theatre), The Skriker (Royal Exchange Theatre), Lionboy(Complicite UK/international tour), Romeo and Juliet (Orange Tree Theatre), and A Human Being Died that Night (Hampstead Theatre).

Arinzé Kene returns to the Young Vic toplay Biff Loman. Previous theatre credits for the Young Vic include Been So Long. His other theatre credits include Misty – also written by Kene (Bush Theatre/Trafalgar Studios), Girl from the North Country (The Old Vic / Noël Coward Theatre ), One Night in Miami (Donmar Warehouse),Decade (Headlong), The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre), Daddy Cool (Shaftesbury Theatre/international tour) andTorn (Arcola Theatre). As a playwright his credits include One Voice, Good Dog, God’s Property, Little Baby Jesusand Estate Walls. His television credits include The Long Song, Flack, Informer, Crazy Face, Our Girl andYoungers. His film credits include Been So Long, The Pass, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them andFreestyle.

Joseph Mydell returns to the Young Vic to play Ben Loman. Previous theatre credits for the Young Vic include A Season in the Congo and Elektra. His other credits include The Tragedy of King Richard II, Richard III (Almeida Theatre), Hamlet (RSC), The Comedy of Errors, Edmond, Angels in America ­– for which he won Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor (National Theatre), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Novello Theatre), Mother Christmas and Anna in the Tropics (Hampstead Theatre). His television credits include Mrs. Wilson, Homeland, The Missing and Space Precinct; and for film, Woman in Gold, Tonight You’re Mine and Mammoth.

Nenda Neurer plays Letta. She represented Rose Bruford at the 2017 Sam Wanamaker Festival, playing Vittoria in The White Devil. Her other theatre credits include White Teeth (Kiln Theatre), Jerusalem, The Borrowers (The Watermill Theatre) and Romeo and Juliet (Orange Tree Theatre).

Wendell Pierce plays Willy Loman. His theatre credits include Cost of Living (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Queenie Pie (Kennedy Center), The Piano Lesson (Walter Kerr Theatre), Serious Money (Royale Theater) and The Boys of Winter (Biltmore Theatre),  The Good Times are Killing Me (Minetta Lane Theatre), Tis a Pity She’s A Whore, Cymbeline, Two Gentleman of Verona (Joseph Papp Public Theater), The Cherry Orchard (Classical Theatre of Harlem), Broke-ology (Lincoln Center) and Fences (Pasadena Playhouse). Pierce is also a Tony Award winning producer of Clybourne Park. His television credits include as series regular Det. Bunk Moreland in The Wire, Robert Zane in Suits, Antoine Batiste in Treme, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Confirmation, Chicago PD, Unsolved, The Odd Couple, Ray Donovan, Advocate’s Devil, Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story, Strapped, Life Support and With Two Lumps of Ice; and for film, Selma, Horrible Bosses, Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part Two, Parker, Lay the Favorite and One Last Thing – for which he won the Acting Award at the LA Film Festival.

Jennifer Saayeng plays Miss Forsythe. Her theatre credits include Caroline, Or Change (Chichester Festival Theatre), Ragtime (Charing Cross Theatre), Les Liaisons Dangereuses, City of Angels (Donmar Warehouse), The Etienne Sisters (Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Color Purple (Menier Chocolate Factory), A Long and Happy Life (Finborough Theatre), Ghost (Piccadilly Theatre) and Not Quite Gospel (Birmingham Rep). Her television credits include Emerald City, Vera and the forthcoming Summer of Rockets.

Matthew Seadon-Young plays Howard Wagner and Stanley. His theatre credits include Company (Gielgud Theatre), Assassins (Gate Theatre, Dublin), Big Fish (The Other Palace), Beautiful (Aldwych Theatre), Billy Elliot(Victoria Palace Theatre), Sweeney Todd (ENO), Urinetown (Apollo Theatre), The Architects (National Theatre),School for Scandal (Theatre Royal Bath), She Stoops to Conquer (National Theatre) and Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre). His film credits include Pride and Les Miserables.

Maggie Service plays The Woman and Jenny. Her theatre credits Annie Get Your Gun (Sheffield Theatres), Rules for Living, TABLE, Collaborators, Earthquakes in London, London Assurance (National Theatre), The Country Wife (Royal Exchange Theatre), A Flea in her Ear (The Old Vic), Well (Apollo Theatre) and Girl with a Pearl Earring (Theatre Royal Haymarket); and for film London Road.

Marianne Elliott is Artistic Director of Elliott & Harper Productions, a company she founded in 2016 with producer Chris Harper. Her credits for the company include Company (Gielgud Theatre – winner of Evening Standard Award for Best Director and Critics Circle Award for Best Musical) and Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle (Wyndham’s Theatre). Her other directing credits include Angels in America (National Theatre/Neil Simon Theatre – winner of Olivier and Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play), co-direction of War Horse(National Theatre/New London Theatre/Vivian Beaumont Theater – winner of Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (National Theatre/Apollo Theatre/Gielgud Theatre/Ethel Barrymore Theatre – Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Director), Saint Joan (National Theatre – Olivier Award for Best Revival, South Bank Show Award) and Pillars of the Community (National Theatre – Evening Standard Best Director Award).

Miranda Cromwell’s directing credits include Half Breed (Talawa Theatre/Soho Theatre/India tour), Magic Elves, Hey Diddle Diddle, Sense (Bristol Old Vic), Pigeon English (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), The Rest of Your Life(Bush Theatre) and Death and Treason (UK tour). As Associate Director to Marianne Elliott her credits includeCompany (Gielgud Theatre) and Angels in America (National Theatre/Neil Simon Theatre) and to Melly Still onCoram Boy (Colston Hall). As Assistant Director her credits include, Strife, An Enemy of the People (Chichester Festival Theatre), hang (Royal Court Theatre), and Swallows and Amazon and Faraway (Bristol Old Vic).

Listings                                                                                                                                 Death of a Salesman

Young Vic

66 The Cut, Waterloo, London, SE1 8LZ

Box Office:                          020 7922 2922

www.youngvic.org

Death of a Salesman

Main House

1 May – 29 June 2019

Performances:                  Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm

Matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm 

Access Performances

Captioned:                          Thursday 20 June, 7.30pm

Audio Described:              Tuesday 11 June, 7.30pm

Tickets:                                 £10, £20, £30, £40 (Concessions available)  

Previews:                            £10, £20, £25 (Concessions available)

WISE CHILDREN ANNOUNCE EMMA RICE TO STEP INTO ROLE OF NORA CHANCE DURING FINAL WEEKS OF UK TOUR

Wise Children and The Old Vic present

The world première of

WISE CHILDREN

By Angela Carter

Adapted and directed by Emma Rice

Co-produced by the Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Oxford Playhouse and York Theatre Royal

Wise Children today announce that Artistic Director, Emma Rice will be stepping into the role of Nora Chance in the critically acclaimed production of Wise Children. Rice will be taking over the role from Etta Murfitt, between 26 March – 6 April, covering performances at Richmond Theatre and Belgrade Theatre.

‘Let’s have all the skeletons out of the closet, today, of all days!’ It’s 23 April, Shakespeare’s birthday.’

In Brixton, Nora and Dora Chance – twin chorus girls born and bred south of the river – are celebrating their 75th birthday. Over the river in Chelsea, their father and greatest actor of his generation Melchior Hazard turns 100 on the same day. As does his twin brother Peregrine. If, in fact, he’s still alive. And if, in truth, Melchior is their real father after all…

A big, bawdy tangle of theatrical joy and heartbreak, Wise Children is a celebration of show business, family, forgiveness and hope. Expect show girls and Shakespeare, sex and scandal, music, mischief and mistaken identity – and butterflies by the thousand. Emma Rice brings her unique, exuberantly impish vision to Angela Carter’s great last novel, Wise Children, launching her new theatre company of the same name.

Emma Rice said today, “We’ve been on such a glorious adventure with our company Wise Children, and I can’t think of a better way to finish our debut tour than stepping into the limelight alongside our wonderful cast to perform in Richmond and Coventry. It’s an honour to share the stage with them and I’m very much looking forward to it!”

Emma Rice is the proud and excited Artistic Director of her new company, Wise Children. As Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe (2016/18), she directed Romantics Anonymous, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Little Matchgirl (and Other Happier Tales). For the previous 20 years, she worked for Kneehigh as an actor, director and Artistic Director. Her productions for Kneehigh include: The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk,Tristan & Yseult, 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, The Wild Bride, The Red Shoes, The Wooden Frock,The Bacchae, Cymbeline (in association with RSC), A Matter of Life and Death (in association with National Theatre), Rapunzel (in association with Battersea Arts Centre); Brief Encounter (in association with David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers Productions); Don John (in association with the RSC and Bristol Old Vic); Wah! Wah! Girls (in association with Sadler’s Wells and Theatre Royal Stratford East for World Stages); and Steptoe and Son. Other work includes: the West End production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Oedipussy (Spymonkey); The Empress(RSC); and An Audience with Meow Meow (Berkeley Repertory Theatre). Brief Encounter was revived this year at the Empire Cinema Haymarket.

Tour Dates

Bristol Old Vic

Until Saturday 9 February

www.bristololdvic.org.uk

Box Office: 0117 987 7877

HOME Manchester

Tuesday 26 February – Saturday 2 March

www.homemcr.org

0161 200 1500

York Theatre Royal

Tuesday 5 March – Saturday 16 March

www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Box Office: 01904 623568

Storyhouse Chester

Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 March

www.storyhouse.com/

Box Office: 01244 409 113

Richmond Theatre

Tuesday 26 March – Saturday 30 March

www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/

Box Office: 0844 871 7651

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 April

www.belgrade.co.uk

Box Office: 024 7655 3055

The Wardrobe Ensemble and Shoreditch Town Hall present

The Young Theatremaker’s Toolbox

@WardrobeEnsemble / www.thewardrobeensemble.com

@ ShoreditchTH /http://www.shoreditchtownhall.com/

• The Wardrobe Ensemble to run a theatre programme in devising and ensemble-based theatre for ages 16 – 25 at Shoreditch Town Hall 18– 22 February 2019.
• Please find company outreach images and photos from Education, Education, Education here: https://we.tl/t-YeyeriT7ai (Credit: Graeme Braidwood)
• More information on booking can be found here: https://shoreditchtownhall.com/whats-on/the-young-theatre-makers-toolbox

The week will be facilitated by members of multi-award winning theatre company The Wardrobe Ensemble and will culminate in a showing of a new piece of work to an invited audience of friends and family.

The theme of the week is The Young Theatremaker’s Toolbox andaims to equip participants with a broad range of skills from which to approach devising theatre. The week will give an insight into The Wardrobe Ensemble’s creative process, including ways of generating text, physical theatre and ensemble work.

We welcome individuals who are interested in testing their creativity, with no prior experience necessary, and seek to have a rehearsal room that is diverse in experience, perspective and background. We will work on a first come first served basis.

Details

Venue: Shoreditch Town Hall, EC1V 9LT

Date: 18 – 22^nd February 2019

Timings: 10am – 6pm

Age suitability: 16 – 25

Price: £150 (some bursaries available)

Info: Please contact Emily if you have any questions, access needs or want to know more about the programmme.

‘A company that knows exactly what it is doing’ – The Guardian

Full casting announced for

MT FEST UK

A two-week festival of new musical theatre

Presented by Paul Taylor-Mills

At The Other Palace

From Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February 2019

Paul Taylor-Mills is delighted to announce full casting for the Taster Menu series of new musicals featuring as part of MT Fest UK. Playing at The Other Palace from Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February, the series will showcase eight new musicals through 45-minute semi-staged sharings.

AA (11-13 February)featuresConnor Byrne as Irish Bob, Emma Lindars as Abby, Rosemary Ashe as Angela, Dan Buckley as Bar Man, Matt White as Bert, Scott Garnham as Dave, Sooz Kempner as Lena, Declan Bennett as Rickie, Jenny O’Leary as Rose, Scott Paige as Simon and Matt Henry as Twirley.

Nerds (11-13 February)features Dan Buckley as Bill Gates, Kane Oliver Parry as Steve Jobs, Scott Garnham as Paul Allen, Bronté Barbé as Myrtle, Oliver Ormson as Steve Wozniak, Jenny O’Leary as Thekla, Scott Paige as Tim, Rebecca Lock as Sally/Oracle and Matt White as Narrator.

First Date (14-16 February) features Liam Doyle as Aaron, Sophie Isaacs as Casey, Dean John Wilson as Man 1, Natalie Douglas as Woman and Russell Wilcox as Man 2.

Porn, the Musical (14-16 February) features Russell Wilcox as Alfred Itchcock, Liam Doyle as Dr Jonny, Natalie Douglas as Mrs Bugeja, Sophie Isaacs as Sandy and Dean John Wilson as Stefan.

But I’m a Cheerleader: The Musical (18-20 February)features Bronté Barbé as Megan, Carrie Hope Fletcher as Graham, Jamie Muscato as Jared, Matt Henry as Mike, Ben Forster as Larry,Stephen Hogan as Lloyd and Luke Bayer as Clayton.

Bloody Bloody Jessica Fletcher (18-20 February)features Harriet Thorpe as Jessica, Verity Rushworth as Victoria, Connor Byrne as Mr Drake, Jemma Alexander as Lulu, Russell Walker asSeth and Steven Serlin as Tom.

The Astonishing Return of… The Protagonists (21-23 February) features Christina Bennington as Penelope, Rob Fowler as Voltman, Leo Ihenacho as Dr Zappus, Oliver Ormson as Fishboy and the voice of Nathan Amzi as Narrator.

Killer Queen (21-23 February) features Izuka Hoyle as Jeanne, Christina Bennington as Marie Antoinette and Leo Ihenacho as Vilette.

The Taster Menu series will also feature current Arts Ed students Jessie Angell, Billy Downes,George Griffiths, Ahmed Hamad, Emily Hammond, Emilia Harrigan, Jonathan Hermosa-Lopezand Connor Lewis.

MT Fest UK is a two-week festival of new musical theatre at The Other Palace from Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February 2019. The festival will present new work by both emerging and established writers, as well as talks and concerts from some of the most celebrated performers, writers and producers currently working in musical theatre. All tickets to events and performances are £10-15.

Casting is by Will Burton.

Tickets for all MT Fest UK events are on sale now

For further information on the full MT Fest UK programme

visit www.MTFestUK.co.uk

Twitter @Fest_MT

Instagram MTFestUK

Cambridge Arts Theatre – until 3rd February.

Reviewed by Boo Wakefield

4****

Set in an immaculate kitchen in North London, Caroline’s Kitchen, written by Torben Betts, tells the story of Caroline Mortimer (Caroline Langrishe) who is a well-established TV cook. She has a beautiful house, a successful husband, Mike (Aden Gillett) who loves golf and a son, Leo (Tom England) who has just graduated with a 1st class degree. The play follows the evening where Caroline is rehearsing another episode of her cooking programme and Leo arrives home from university. This should be an evening of celebration but Caroline’s perfect private and public lives are set to clash with hilarious and disastrous consequences.

Whilst most of the first half was spent setting the scene and introducing the characters, the second half was fast moving and full of laughter with unexpected twists and turns to Caroline’s life through her family and her flirtatious PA, Amanda (Jasmyn Banks), her carpenter Graeme (James Sutton) and his wife Sally (Elizabeth Boag). Although a devoted couple, Caroline and Mike have a difficult and complicated relationship both with each other and with Leo, who drops several bombshells shattering the image of a perfect son.

There is a thunderstorm brewing outside adding to a dramatic undertone throughout the evening and as the storm ends, the play draws to an unexpected and amusing conclusion.

Congratulations must be given to Caroline Langrishe who was hardly off the stage all evening. The repartee between the characters was incredibly fast keeping you on your toes as it wove the many story lines together. Aden Gillett played the over powering husband and father with relish whilst Tom England’s Leo grew stronger as his revelations were exposed. A thoroughly enjoyable play which had all the audience still chuckling as we left the theatre – a good sign of a great piece of entertainment.

Caroline’s Kitchen has been reworked by Betts from his play Monogamy which toured last year. The play continues to tour nationally until 13th April 2019 and will transfer to New York later in 2019.