Lemons Review

Barons Court Theatre, London W14 – until 26 May 2019

Reviewed by Antonia Hebbert

3***

A play that strictly limits the number of words that can be said sounded too interesting to miss. Sam Steiner’s 2015 play Lemons, or to give it its full title Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons, is set in a world where people are allowed only 140 words per day. We see this through the relationship of struggling musician Oliver (Charlie Suff) and relatively affluent lawyer Bernadette (Jemima Murphy), in intense scenes that hop back and forth in time. (This might be baffling if you didn’t have a programme to explain the 140-word law theme.)

The play raises concerns of power inequality and freedom to speak, and director Hamish Clayton hopefully suggests parallels with Britain’s current difficulty-that-must-not-be-named. This is stretching things – the imagined ‘hush law’ is never explained or debated, so it never feels like a really political thing. We only ever see its effect on two people, although we do hear about protest marches. Lemons is much more interesting on a personal level, as an exploration of the way a relationship evolves over time. Suff and Murphy make this a gripping show – they are thrilling to watch, and their intensity never lets up as they search for different ways to communicate and run the gamut of things that can’t be said, or shouldn’t be said, or should be said that aren’t. Choreographed movements, soundtrack and lighting (Gregory Jordan) all effectively convey the ebb and flow of their feelings for each other. The play could maybe have been a few minutes shorter, but the dense, ideas-packed script leaves you satisfyingly full of things to think about for a long time after.

Search for Snow White

The que outside York’s Grand Opera House on Wednesday morning for auditions for the role of Snow White in this years pantomime. Picture by David Harrison.

Yorkshire’s very own Snow White

The Grand Opera House York held an audition yesterday to find a local Snow White to star in this year’s pantomime Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. The successful auditionee will be announced on Monday 13 May and will then be available for interviews. Rehearsals will start at the beginning of December with the rest of the cast, including our panto dame, the ever popular, Steve Wickenden and this year’s baddie, Mark Little as The Evil Sorcerer.   The rest of the cast will be announced at a later date.

The panto will be directed by Chris Moreno and produced by 3 Bears Productions, who made their Grand Opera House debut in 2016 with Aladdin, followed by Beauty and The Beast and last year’s Cinderella.

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs will run from Friday 13 December 2019 until Saturday 4 January 2020.

The Lehman Trilogy opens in the West End

THE LEHMAN TRILOGY OPENS IN THE WEST END
 

Following sold-out runs at the National Theatre and in New York at the Park Avenue Armory, the NT and Neal Street Productions’ critically acclaimed production of The Lehman Trilogyarrives in the West End, opening for a limited 16-week run this Saturday.

The Lehman Trilogy, by Stefano Massini, adapted by Ben Power and directed by Sam Mendes (The Ferryman, Skyfall), plays at the Piccadilly Theatre until Saturday 31 August.

Additional seats are now available to book across the run and a limited number of £25 day seats will be available to purchase for each performance, to be booked in person from 10am each morning at the Piccadilly Theatre Box Office.

The Lehman Trilogy transfers to the West End direct from the production’s triumphant New York debut at the Park Avenue Armory, where it garnered huge critical acclaim. The New York Times called it a ‘magnificent play, a genuinely epic production out of London, directed with surging sweep and fine-tooled precision by Sam Mendes…with a design team that understands the value of simplicity in doing justice to complex matters.’ The production has been nominated for two Drama Desk Awards; Luke Halls for Outstanding Projection Design and Nick Powell for Outstanding Music in a Play, and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or off-Broadway play. The winners will be announced later this month.

The story of a family and a company that changed the world, told in three parts on a single evening.The Lehman Trilogy weaves through nearly two centuries of Lehman lineage. On a cold September morning in 1844 a young man from Bavaria stands on a New York dockside. Dreaming of a new life in the new world. He is joined by his two brothers and an American epic begins. 163 years later, the firm they establish – Lehman Brothers – spectacularly collapses into bankruptcy, and triggers the largest financial crisis in history.

Simon Russell BealeAdam Godley and Ben Miles play the Lehman brothers and a cast of characters, including their sons and grandsons, in an extraordinary feat of storytelling, until 3 August. From 5 August, Dominik Tiefenthaler will play the role of Emanuel Lehman alongside Simon Russell Beale and Adam Godley.

The Lehman Trilogy features Olivier Award-nominated set designs by Es Devlin, costume design byKatrina Lindsay, video design by Luke Halls, and lighting design by Jon Clark. The Composer & Sound Designer is Nick Powell, the Co-Sound Designer is Dominic Bilkey, with music direction byCandida Caldicot, movement by Polly Bennett and voice by Charmian Hoare. The Associate Director is Zoé Ford Burnett.

A talk, Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles on The Lehman Trilogy, will take place on stage at the Piccadilly Theatre on Friday 7 June at 3pm. The actors reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in The Lehman Trilogy, from originating the roles at the National Theatre in 2018, through taking the show to New York and now performing in the West End. This talk will include an audience Q&A session.

The world premiere of Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy opened at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan in 2015. It turned out to be Artistic Director Luca Ronconi’s final production before his death. A long-term admirer of Ronconi’s, Sam Mendes was inspired to begin planning an English adaptation for Neal Street Productions. Ben Power was commissioned to create a new version of this epic play, using a literal English translation by Mirella Cheeseman.

The Lehman Trilogy is produced in the West End by the National Theatre and Neal Street Productions.

THE BAR HAS BEEN RAISED THE HIPPODROME IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STRUT & FRET PRESENT A GROUNDBREAKING NEW THEATRICAL INSTALLATION IN THE REVAMPED LOLA’S UNDERGROUND CASINO LAUNCHING ON 21 MAY 2019

THE BAR HAS BEEN RAISED…

THE HIPPODROME IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 

STRUT & FRET PRESENT

A GROUNDBREAKING NEW THEATRICAL INSTALLATION IN THE REVAMPED

LOLA’S UNDERGROUND CASINO

LAUNCHING ON 21 MAY 2019

The Hippodrome, in partnership with Strut & Fret (Blanc de BlancLimbo and Madonna’s Rebel HeartTour), have redeveloped Lola’s Underground Casino by adding a new digital theatrical installation which, alongside gaming, features live pop-up performances. This groundbreaking new installation opens from 16 May 2019, with the official press launch on Tuesday 21 May 2019

The Hippodrome has a long history as the centre of entertainment in London. From the early days of the indoor circus, to Talk of the Town, and now, a casino-based entertainment complex, currently housing the box office breaking production, Magic Mike Live. Continuing to amaze, surprise and entertain customers, the evolved Lola’s offers audiences a new space in the Hippodrome to enjoy great drinks and food, alongside this innovative new take on entertainment and all the excitement of a live casino environment. 

Featuring the latest technology, the show includes three extraordinary live pop-up performances every hour, performed against a 10-metre video wall backdrop. 

Join HM secret service in an evening of Double-O-Heaven featuring some of the greatest hits from your favourite Bond movies. 

Fly to Sin City and hit the Las Vegas strip with sensational showgirls, sizzling sorcery and mind-blowing magic.  

Travel through time and watch the history of The Hippodrome theatre unfold as vintage meets digital in our circus show.  World-class performers bring to life tales of bygone days. 

What happens at the border between real and imaginary?

New Acting School Brings The Acting Revolution To Manchester

THE ACTING REVOLUTION BEGINS IN MANCHESTER!

JAMES BAKER DELIVERS FRESH APPROACH TO DEVELOPING ACTORS AT NEW TRAINING SPACE

One of the Manchester region’s most exciting emergent directors, has announced the creation of a new acting school – The A Space.

rpt

James Baker has taught at some of the U.K.’s most prestigious drama schools and Universities and has created a name for himself as an inspirational teacher and director. After 15 years of training actors, directing theatre and winning high accolades in the theatre world, James recognised a gap in high quality skills training for actors in the North West. 

Baker said: I care deeply about actors and the training they receive outside of London which is affordable and of a certain merit”

The A Space is an acting school with a difference- it places the focus on the artist at the heart of the actor. Actors will create, play, test, and above all else, exercise their artistic muscles with the support of professionals. The engaging and inspiring space will be the setting for actors as they develop their skills and technique under Baker’s no-nonsense approach.  The in-depth, practical classes promise to stretch, challenge, and elevate actors in a unique and holistic way that will prepare them for the industry.

The school will offer 4 twelve-week terms per year that will be weekly on Wednesdays from 6pm-9pm. The term structure creates consistency and sustain quality of teaching. Each term will focus on a specific technique with clear practical application and outcomes. Actors will also benefit frommovement and voice classes throughout their training.

James Baker on training structure“I want to ensure those attending get focussed training which has an end objective and in which learning can be measured – I’m passionate – I don’t want to create a transient and unfocused environment. I care about your training.”

The A Space is different! The school promises to only recruit14 actors, max and not oversubscribe the course. This will foster personal and high-level focussed training to nourish and develop actors’ technical tool kit and add rigour to their skills. The course time also sets the space apart, providing 3 hours of quality instruction rather than the 2 hours typically offered.

This is an incredibly valuable opportunity for actors in the North West to enhance their skills and stand out in a region that has a growing reputation for producing amazing theatre talent.

Classes begin Wednesday 5 June. There is sure to be a lot of interest and spots are limited – interested actors are encouraged to enrol quickly!

DETAILS

Classes Start: Wednesday 5th June (then every following Wednesday)

Time: 6-9pm

Location: Friends’ Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS

Cost: £110 per month

TO ENROL or for more info contact [email protected] / Twitter: @TheASpace

Lyn Paul to reprise her role as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers for the final time

LYN PAUL TO REPRISE HER ROLE AS

THE ‘DEFINITIVE MRS JOHNSTONE’

FOR THE FINAL TIME IN ‘BLOOD BROTHERS’

Bill Kenwright’s ‘Dazzling’ (Sunday Telegraph) production of the international smash hit musicalBlood Brothers returns this summer with a three-week season at Cork Opera House from 5 Augustbefore embarking on a UK tour.

‘The definitive Mrs Johnstone’ (Manchester Evening News) Lyn Paul returns to the iconic role for the final time. Having first played her in 1997 and on numerous tours, Lyn played Mrs Johnstone in the final West End performances at the Phoenix Theatre in 2012. She has also starred in the UK tour ofCabaret in 2013 as Fraulein Schneider, in Boy George’s musical Taboo and in Footloose – the Musical.

Lyn said: “I am beyond thrilled to be returning to BLOOD BROTHERS in this iconic role. I’m honoured to have been given the opportunity to undertake this “Farewell Tour” by my good friend, Bill Kenwright. It’s such a privilege to be able to play Mrs Johnstone one final time”.

Lyn rose to fame in the early 1970s as a member of the New Seekers. She was the featured vocalist on their 1972 Eurovision Song Contest entry, ‘Beg, Steal or Borrow’ and lead vocalist on the 1974 number-one hit ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’. The groups biggest hit was ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing’, adapted from an advertising jingle for Coca-Cola, which sold over 20 million copies and remains one of the 100 best-selling singles in the UK.

Further casting for the tour will be announced in due course.

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).

This epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981 before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. It has since completed sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan and 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 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, brilliant book, show stopping music, remarkable staging and five-star performances make Blood Brothers an enthralling night of entertainment.

Willy Russellis one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His theatre credits includeEducating RitaShirley Valentine, Breezeblock Park and Our Day OutEducating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two-year run in the West End and was made into a film 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 Kelvin Towse                        Lighting Designed by Nick Richings

Emmerdale’s Kelvin Fletcher Will Make Your Wishes Come True As He Stars As Aladdin At St Helens Theatre Royal This Christmas

EMMERDALE’S KELVIN FLETCHER WILL MAKE YOUR WISHES COME TRUE THIS CHRISTMAS

STAR ANNOUNCED TO PLAY ALADDIN AT ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL

Regal Entertainments are delighted to announce that award-winning actor, writer and director, Kelvin Fletcher, will be playing the title role in their panto production of Aladdin coming to St Helens Theatre Royal this Christmas.

Best known for his role as Andy Sugden in ITV’s Emmerdale, Kelvin will lead an all-star cast whenAladdin flies in to St Helens Theatre Royal from Sat 7 Dec ’19 – Sun 12 Jan ’20.

Further cast to be announced shortly.

Kelvin became one of the leading and most popular characters in the hit ITV soap. His character won the hearts of the nation and was widely regarded as one of the standout actors and was regularly involved in some of the show’s biggest storylines, winning Best Actor and Best Dramatic Performanceat the British Soap Awards.

The star also recently participated in ITV’s The All New Monty: Who Bares Winswhich saw a group of celebrities strip-off to raise awareness of the importance of early health checks in preventing prostate and testicular cancer. He is also a guest reporter for the Channel 5 show Spring Time On the Farm.

Kelvin’s writing and directing credits include short film Gomez and the comedic play Doormen, which was performed at the Comedy Store and Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Kelvin Fletcher said: “I am very excited to be joining the cast of Aladdin and can’t wait to spend Christmas with audiences of St Helens.”

There’s nothing wishee washee about Regal Entertainments’ spectacular panto which will whisk audiences off to Old Peking for a genie-ous adventure this Christmas.

Join hero Aladdin as he battles the evil Abanazer and his dastardly plan to rule the world with the help of one very special lamp.

With larger-than-life washerwoman mum Widow Twankey, hapless Wishee Washee, the Genie of the Lamp, Slave of the Ring and a beautiful princess, this is a show full of eastern promise.

St Helens Theatre Royal manager, Chantelle Nolan said: “We are thrilled to announce Kelvin as our leading man Aladdin, in what promises to be a high-flying adventure this Christmas. He was on our screens in one of the country’s biggest shows for 20 years and we are delighted to welcome him to St Helens.

“We still have plenty more cast announcements to come, so watch this space. And be sure to book your tickets to Aladdin early to guarantee the best seats!”

St Helens Theatre Royal invites audiences on a magical carpet ride this Christmas time when Aladdinflies in from Sat 7 Dec ‘19 – Sun 12 Jan ’20.

Tickets are on sale now! Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment.

For more information, please visit: www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

Like us on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/St-Helens-Theatre-Royal

Follow us on Twitter: @TheatreRoyalStH

LISTING DETAILS

Regal Entertainments Ltd presents Aladdin

Dates: Saturday 7 December 2019 – Sunday 12 January 2020

Times: Various

Tickets: From £13*

*All prices are inclusive of a £1 per seat transaction fee. On-line bookings are subject to an additional 50p per seat on-line processing fee.

THEATRE ROYAL BOOKING DETAILS

Book in person at the Theatre Royal Box Office, Corporation Street, St. Helens, Merseyside WA10 1LQ (Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm). Alternatively, call 01744 756 000 or log on to:www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com.

Little Red Riding Hood: World première of children’s ballet announced

Little Red Riding Hood

World première of children’s ballet announced

World Première

28 October – 2 November 2019

Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds

northernballet.com/hood

Northern Ballet has announced the World Première of an adaptation of the classic fairytale, Little Red Riding Hood. The production will be the seventh children’s ballet created by the Company in the lasteight years, and will première at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre in Leeds with 17 performances from 28 October – 2 November 2019, before touring nationally in 2020.

Little Red Riding Hood follows in the footsteps of the Company’s six previous children’s ballets, which have achieved huge popularity both live on stage and in CBeebies TV adaptations. This new ballet will reimagine the well-known children’s story to tell the tale of a kind little girl who comes across a very hungry wolf in the forest. But is he really such a big, bad wolf? Lasting approximately 40 minutes, the ballet has been created especially for young children and families to experience live dance, music and theatre together.

With an all female creative team, Little Red Riding Hood will feature choreography by Northern Ballet company dancer Mariana Rodrigues, set designs by Marjoke Henrichs, lighting by Abbi Fearnley, costume designs by Mariana Rodrigues in collaboration with Kim Brassley and Carley Marsh, and music composed by Eloise Gynn, played live by members of Northern Ballet Sinfonia.

Daniel de Andrade, Artistic Director of Northern Ballet’s Children’s Ballets, said: ‘We are thrilled to announce Little Red Riding Hood as our next ballet for children. Over the last few years it has been a pleasure to bring the joy of live ballet to so many families and provide opportunities for young childrento attend the theatre, often for the very first time. We are now excited to continue that tradition withMariana’s official choreographic debut, Little Red Riding Hood.

Tickets for Little Red Riding Hood at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre are on sale now with tickets priced at £7.00 for adults and £5.50 for children. Tickets can be booked online at theatreleeds.com or by calling the Box Office on 0113 220 8008. Booking early is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.

Jude Christian appointed new Associate Director of HOME Manchester

Jude Christian appointed new Associate Director of 
HOME, Manchester

HOME, Manchester’s multi-art form centre has announced the appointment of Jude Christianto the new role of Associate Director.

Jude will work alongside Director & CEO Dave Moutrey, Executive Director Jon Gilchrist and HOME’s Artistic Team to support the development of new work, artists and companies and taking a creative lead in the making of work produced by HOME.

Jude is a director, writer and theatremaker. Her work as a director includes Dark Night of the Soul (Shakespeare’s Globe); Trust, Blue and I’d Rather Goya Robbed Me Of My Sleep Than Some Other Arsehole (Gate); My Mum’s a Twat, Bodies and Lela & Co. (Royal Court);Parliament Square (Royal Exchange/Bush) and othellomacbeth (HOME/Lyric Hammersmith). As an associate director and dramaturg she has also worked on The Darkest Corners andThree Sisters (RashDash); The Seagull and Shopping and Fucking (Lyric Hammersmith) andCarmen Disruption (Almeida). Her work as a writer includes Dick Whittington (Lyric Hammersmith) and Nanjing (The Yard/Shakespeare’s Globe/Royal Court). Jude was previously Resident Director at the National Theatre Studio, an Associate Artist at The Yard and the Lyric Hammersmith, and Dramaturg at RWCMD. She is an Associate Artist at the Gate Theatre.

Jude Christian said today: “HOME is a place where people, art and ideas mingle and collide, where radical cultural and social movements can germinate, in the way that Manchester does best. I’m massively chuffed to be joining the team, and looking forward to creating and nurturing new work in this brilliantly eclectic building.”

HOME’s Director & CEO Dave Moutrey said: “We’re delighted that Jude will be joining the team here at HOME. Her experience of creating original work and supporting emerging artists will be vital as HOME moves into an exciting new period. In what was a hugely competitive field, I felt Jude’s distinctive artistic approach will have a fundamental impact on the work we’re developing here at HOME.”

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CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR NOISES OFF AT LYRIC HAMMERSMITH – INCLUDES: MEERA SYAL, LLOYD OWEN AND DANIEL RIGBY

CASTING ANNOUNCED

Noises Off

By Michael Frayn

Directed by Jeremy Herrin

A Lyric Hammersmith production.

27 June 2019 – 27 July 2019

The Lyric Hammersmith today announces the cast for Michael Frayn’s award winning Noises Off,which runs from 27 June – 27 July 2019. Returning to the Lyric for the first time since its triumphant premiere in 1982, Jeremy Herrin (All My Sons, Wolf Hall, This House), will direct a new production of this iconic British comedy for fans to enjoy and new audiences to discover.

The role of Dotty Otley is played by BAFTA Television Award nominee Meera Syal, most known forBeautiful Thing, Absolutely Anything and the BBC’s critically acclaimed The Kumars at No. 42. Joining Meera, Lloyd Dallas, the director of the play-within-the-play, is played by Lloyd Owen, who earlier this year starred alongside Sheridan Smith in the ITV drama Cleaning Up. Playing Garry Lejeune is comic actor Daniel Rigby, known for playing Eric Morecambe in BBC Two’s Eric & Ernie, for which he won the Best Actor at the BAFTA Television Awards and the National Theatre’s One Man, Two Guvnors.

Further casting includes Lois Chimimba (Almeida’s Three Sisters, BBC’s Trust Me) as Poppy Norton-Taylor, Jonathan Cullen (Merry Wives of Windsor) as Freddie Fellows, Debra Gillett (Madness of King George III, Limehouse) as Belinda Blair, Amy Morgan (TravestiesMr Selfridge) as Brooke Ashton,Enyi Okoronkwo (The Cherry Orchard) as Tim Allgood and Simon Rouse (Hangmen, Local Hero, The Bill) as Selsdon Mowbray.

With technical brilliance and split-second timing, Noises Off takes audiences behind the scenes with a company of actors in a hilarious and heartfelt tribute to the unpredictability of life in the theatre.

Michael Frayn said “It’s a great personal pleasure for me, of course, to see my play come home, after all its travels around the world in the last forty years, to the theatre where it took its first hopeful but still uncertain steps.”