Month: July 2019

INITIAL WEST END CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR “THE PRINCE OF EGYPT”

LUKE BRADY, LIAM TAMNE, CHRISTINE ALLADO AND ALEXIA KHADIME TO LEAD

 THE CAST OF THE NEW MUSICAL BASED ON THE DREAMWORKS ANIMATION FILM

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT BEGINS 5 FEBRUARY 2020 AT

LONDON’S DOMINION THEATRE

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, the brand-new stage musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell) and a book by Philip LaZebnik (Mulan, Pocahontas) and based on the celebrated DreamWorks Animation film, today announces initial casting for its West End premiere production.  Luke Brady and Liam Tamne will lead the cast as ‘Moses’ and ‘Ramses’ respectively, with Christine Allado as ‘Tzipporah’ and Alexia Khadime as ‘Miriam’. Further casting to be announced.

Luke Brady (Moses) trained at RADA and is best known for playing ‘Anthony Hope’ in Jonathan Kent’s acclaimed production of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd (West End and Chichester Festival Theatre). His other credits include: The Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare’s Globe and Tour); and St George and the Dragon (National Theatre).

Liam Tamne (Ramses) most recently starred as ‘Guiseppe Naccarelli’ in The Light in the Piazza at the South Bank Centre. He has also appeared in: Working (Southwark Playhouse); Spamilton (Menier Chocolate Factory); The Rocky Horror Show (UK Tour); The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and Wicked in the West End. He appeared on The Voice (Series 2) and Eurovision: You Decide.

Christine Allado (Tzipporah) starred in the dual role of ‘Peggy Schuyler’ and ‘Maria Reynolds’ in the original London cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. Her additional theatre work includes: In The Heights (Kings Cross Theatre); Here Lies Love (National Theatre); and Sweet Charity (Manchester Royal Exchange). Christine has also toured internationally with Andrea Bocelli as a guest artist and sang the role of ‘Maria’ in the BBC’s acclaimed documentary West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic.

Alexia Khadime (Miriam)has played leading roles in multiple West End musicals including: ‘Elphaba’ in Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked; ‘Nala’ in Disney’s The Lion King; ‘Eponine’ in Les Misérables and ‘Nabulungi’ in the original London cast of The Book of Mormon. Her additional theatre work includes: Welcome To Thebes (National Theatre); Ordinary Days (Trafalgar Studios); and ‘Rita Marley’ in One Love: The Bob Marley Musical (Birmingham Rep).

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT is directed by Scott Schwartz with choreography by Sean Cheesman;set designs by Kevin Depinet; costume designs by Ann Hould-Ward; lighting design by Mike Billings; sound design by Gareth Owen; projection designs by Jon Driscoll; illusion designs by Chris Fisher; orchestrations by August Eriksmoen; musical supervision and arrangements by Dominick Amendum; musical direction by Dave Rose and casting by Jim Arnold CDG.

Performances begin at London’s Dominion Theatre on Wednesday 5 February 2020, with an official West End premiere on Tuesday 25 February 2020, for a limited 32-week engagement. Tickets are now available via www.ThePrinceofEgyptMusical.com

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Philip LaZebnik and features 10 new songs written by Stephen Schwartz, together with 5 of his acclaimed songs from the DreamWorks Animation film, including Deliver Us, All I Ever Wanted, Through Heaven’s Eyes and the Academy Award®-winning When You Believe.

Journey through the wonders of Ancient Egypt as two young men, raised together as brothers in a kingdom of privilege, find themselves suddenly divided by a secret past. One must rule as Pharaoh, the other must rise up and free his true people; both face a destiny that will change history forever.

A milestone in cinematic achievement, DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt captivated audiences across the world and recently celebrated its 20^th Anniversary. Hailed as “an outstanding artistic achievement” (Variety) and “a stunning film” (The Guardian), it remains one of the most beloved and acclaimed animated feature films of all time.

The Academy Award®-winning song When You Believe, recorded by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey in 1998, went on to become a global hit. In 2007, Simon Cowell selected it as the winner’s single for the UK’s popular TV show The X-Factor, spending three weeks at the top of the UK charts.

Developmental productions of THE PRINCE OF EGYPT were presented at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley (winner of the 2019 Regional Theatre Tony Award®) and Fredericia Teater Denmark.

The West End premiere production of THE PRINCE OF EGYPT is produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (a division of Universal Theatrical Group), Michael McCabe and Neil Laidlaw.

Official website: www.ThePrinceofEgyptMusical.com

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @PrinceOfEgyptUK

LISTINGS INFORMATION

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT – A NEW MUSICAL

DOMINION THEATRE

268-269 TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD

LONDON W1T 7AQ

The theatre is adjacent to Tottenham Court Road Underground Station.

BOOKING:

TICKETS NOW ON SALE

www.ThePrinceOfEgyptMusical.com

Telephone bookings: 0345 200 7982 (or +44 161 876 2405 if dialling from outside the UK).

Operated by Quay Tickets, 9am-9pm, 7 days a week. No booking fees online, by telephone or in person.

£2.50 transaction charge for online and telephone bookings.

Groups and Schools (10+): www.ThePrinceofEgyptGroups.com or call 0344 847 2311 

Dominion Theatre Groups Department open 10am-5.30pm Monday-Friday (closed Bank Holidays).

Access:  020 7927 0929 or [email protected]

Ticket prices from: £19.50

Ticket prices include a £1.50 theatre restoration levy.

DATES:

32 WEEKS ONLY from Wednesday 5 February until Saturday 12 September 2020.

REDUCED PRICE PERFORMANCES WEDNESDAY 5 FEBRUARY – FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2020.

London Premiere Tuesday 25 February 2020.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Monday-Saturday 7.30pm*

Matinees Thursday** & Saturday 2.30pm

Running time: TBC

*London Premiere Tuesday 25 February 2020 at 7.00pm

**First Thursday matinee: 20 February 2020 at 2.30pm (Half Term)

Please note that there is no performance on Monday 10 February 2020

The production is recommended for ages 7+. Children under 5 cannot be admitted.

Extra shows added: Tuesday 14 April, Tuesday 11 August and Tuesday 25 August 2020, all at 2.30pm

ACCESS PERFORMANCES

Captioned: Saturday 16 May 2.30pm

Audio Described: Thursday 21 May 7.30pm

British Sign Language: Thursday 4 June 7.30pm

Official website: www.ThePrinceofEgyptMusical.com

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @PrinceOfEgyptUK

Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester – until 24th August 2019

Reviewed by Julie Noller

4****

The Open Air Theatre is as well known around Chester as The Cathedral or the Roman Legion who marches masses of school children through the streets. However you could be forgiven for thinking it had been a summer mainstay for longer than it’s celebratory 10 years in 2019.

I am ashamed to say for many reasons I have never ventured inside the wooden gates, perhaps more to do with the fact I am a wuss when it comes to the great British weather. However fear not, for it’s a whole experience unlike any other theatre you may visit. There’s a check list I feel I must share, you will be offered depending upon ticket either a directors style chair or perhaps like us sat up under cover (phew) a folding seat back (it’s a god send). Most importantly take a cushion, do not look at the rain and leave it in your car, you will not forgive yourself and neither will your derriere. The staff on duty are warm and friendly, if you have any issues they will quickly resolve them. Picnics are welcome and as throughout the 3 hour performance we heard plenty of corks popping, there’s a sense that it’s more of a social inclusion theatre experience. You may if the performance finishes late and ahem mother nature has been stamping her feet again, take a blanket. There were plenty of ponchos purchased because the front rows including those directors chairs are completely open to the elements.

There’s a sense with an open air production that you could be anywhere around the world, transported into an imaginary land and time, I loved the immersive atmosphere, striped back stage setting, lack of technology – after all Shakespeare didn’t have the use of sound decks and flashy lights. I’m a history buff and so I wondered if this is what it would’ve have been like to sit in The Globe Theatre, albeit they were a far harsher naughtier audience. Shakespeare the man, the genius. I’m sure when his plays were written he never believed hundreds of years from now, school children will have to study me. I’m sure if like me you were put of having to listen to others opinions of what you should interpret instead of like I did last night just sit and watch and enjoy a story that’s funny, naughty and full of slapstick humour.

Twelfth Night packs it in, each character full of depth and well rounded. I came to realise that it is the performer who must bring their interpretation of those words to life, I really feel there could be no stopping as to the fun they could have. The history of Twelfth Night is that it was written after the death of one of his twins, Hamnet in 1596. Some will say the story of twins separated in a shipwreck, where waves wash over you like grief washes over you may be a gentle look at grief and loss a child. You don’t need to have studied history to enjoy this performance just a love of humour and theatre. When Shakespeare himself passed away in 1616 he bequeathed many things but to Judith his surviving daughter (and twin) he left Twelfth Night, perhaps there’s a message in there and the story contains words that he was unable to say in life.

I may have mentioned Twelfth Night was written by Shakespeare, It’s one I didn’t fully understand and hadn’t read or even seen before. So the whole experience was an exciting one for me, thoroughly enjoyable and a night I would like to repeat again – perhaps with better weather though; damp as the night was it didn’t ruin the performance.

Marc Benga and Whitney Kehinde are our twins Sebastian and Viola/Cesario; they become separated in a shipwreck each fearing the other dead. Viola carves a life for herself as the male Cesario pursued by Olivia (Sarah-Jane Potts) who in turn is pursued by Count Orsino (Steven Elliott). Viola herself has a crush on the Count and the whole love triangle situation becomes a tad confusing and takes on a Benny Hill vibe. Some of the actors on stage are better at projecting their voices than others and if they turn their backs towards you then you may struggle to hear words clearly, some speeches do take a good ear to understand but not grasping every word doesn’t deflect from the story and somewhat chaotic scenes unfolding on stage.

Within the cast there are many who deserve a mention, Chris Wright as the mostly drunk Sir Toby Belch – even his name suggests a man of low morals. Seren Vickers, who sings and whips her guitar around the arena delighting us as Curio. The audience favourites as always are the camp and extremely amusing Malvolio (Samuel Collings) all I can say is wow those Yoga moves, wow those very very yellow stockings and whit woo that silky gown. Mitesh Soni as the equally camp and somewhat trying to be very manly yet failing Sir Andrew Aguecheek. We spend far too much time these days discussing gender and how we are perceived as if it’s a modern concept, yet here was Shakespeare over 400 years using gender fluidity and bringing those differences to life.

As always with Shakespeare he kept the masses happy, there’s some naughty words, sexual suggestion, hip flexes and wanton desire. But in equal measures there’s comedy, fun and laughter and the deep message of forbidden love, unrequited love but better still there’s a happy ever after ending. We left smiling not just at a great story brought to life but the rain had stopped!

Totally Thames 2019 announces full
festival programme
Sunday 1st – Monday 30th September 2019

Totally Thames 2019 has announced the incredible full programme of events for this year’s festival, exploring the environmental importance and the rich and varied cultural heritage of the capital’s river. Totally Thames encourages visitors from London and further afield to participate in artistic, historical and musical events in celebration of this iconic landmark

This year four amazing highlight events commemorate the river as the vital cultural centre of the city. The Ship of Tolerance, by renowned artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, brings together the works of 1000 children in the sails of a stunning ship, celebrating unity and diversity in the heart of London. Navigating the tides of history, Foragers of the Foreshore is the most significant exploration of mudlarking ever held. The Barking Stink tackles the rich, pungent history of London, diving nose-first into the infamous odours that used to emanate from Barking Creek. Tideway’s trailblazing Regatta London is coming to London at the end of September, an exciting mass participation event fundraising for local and national environmental causes as boaters of all kinds gather to race.

Totally Thames will see artistic, musical, dance and literary events celebrate the river this September with the return of the sensational Rivers of the World and the introduction of My Story of Water, an impactful new exhibition of jerry cans painted by children from Lagos, highlighting the importance of water itself. An exciting evening of tangoing on the Thames awaits with Mid-River Milonga, and the magic of the Bascule Chamber Concerts returns to this year’s festival. Thank You For Having Us is an adrenaline-filled performance challenging audiences to think about the impact of plastics on our natural environment, and Giles Walker’s Monster asks if the Thames could disappear under the weight of the capitalist machine.

Championing the heritage of the river as the vital centre of London’s history, its diverse culture and its connection to the rest of the world, Totally Thames 2019 is jam-packed with amazing events bringing together local communities with visitors from across the globe.

The Vaults, London – until 20 July 2019

Reviewed by Lisa Harlow

3***

Chaos theory is part of mathematics which demonstrates how a small change in the starting position of a chaotic system can make a big difference after a while.

This idea is explored in this Robbi Stevens The Chaos Theory Play through the eyes of three women who are led to breaking point by life’s traumas and trapped within destructive patterns of behaviour. Each are given the chance to go back to a particular moment in time to make a different choice. And haven’t we all had times in life where we had wished for the same grace?

The introduction is Hollywood movie style drama, with its use of cinematic style imagery and soundtrack. The tunnel venue shrouds the stage with ominous darkness and the regular booming of train wheels above add to the atmosphere and tension.

All of the issues tackled within this play are hard hitting and deeply embedded in a modern London cityscape: mental health, poverty, drug addiction, domestic abuse and sexual assault. Real life traumatic events from London’s history are also included.

The interrelationships of the characters are cleverly woven together as each of the women revisit an earlier decision which impacts on the others.

Becca (Shelley-Ann Harrison) and Aiden’s (Sam Londt) sugary sweet beginnings to their life together hold no clues to the thorny and abusive underbelly to their relationship and how this poison gradually pollutes the air and relationships around them.

Kieran E Sims, playing Becca’s brother and Caroline’s dad, and Kandice Morris as Alesha and Grace, bring the few welcome spells of humour. Kandice’s stage presence is powerful and she always raises a smile in the right places. Rory Kennedy multi-tasking as Mike, Harry and Paul also brought a lot of flair and fear each time he erupted on the stage.

This is not for the faint hearted. This is a play for those seeking a deeper exploration of an inner city’s darker underside and how many can seemingly get entrapped in its spider web of power dynamics, abuse and manipulation. The performances are convincing and the venue well suited for this purpose. Billed as 90 minutes, this actually ran for two hours: too long and my investment in its plotline began to fray.

However, at the heart of this seemingly dark play is a shaft of light: a message of how connection, love and hope can redeem anyone no matter how far gone.

This was a message worth waiting for.

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 20 July 2019

Reviewed by Jo Gordon

4**** 

Rock of Ages just about covers all that was wonderful about 80s – rock music, big hair, big sounds, big rock Gods and tiny tiny rock chick shorts!

Every classic rock anthem you can think cleverly entwined within the story about southern belle Sherries (Jodie Steele) new adventures on LA’s Sunset Strip. After gaining a job in the famous Bourbon Club owned by Dennis (Kevin Kennedy), she meets wannabe rock star Drew (Luke Walsh) in a boy-meets-girl will-they-won’t-they scenario which is thread throughout the whole show and keeps us guessing till the end.  After an incident with the superstar known as Stacee Jaxx (Kevin Clifton) things take a turn for the worst and Sherrie ends up working in a local strip joint. Meanwhile the areas club owners have a fight on their hands as German developer Hertz (Vas Constanti) and his son Franz (Andrew Carthy) plan to bulldoze the strip and rebuild it as a classier area. With the organisation of protests by local hippy Regina (Rhiannon Chesterman) just maybe it could all be saved.

A simple but effective backdrop of neon lights, industrial buildings and rugged rock club set the scene well and true to most rock dens I may have frequented on occasion in the early 90’s! 

The highlight for me was the shows narrator Lonnie (Lucas Rush), very funny at times and got the audience revved up at all the right points. On a whole its a strong cast that carry the predictable story well and all the popular tunes keep the audience playing air drums and signing along. I personally feel that the choreography of the dancing girls at times could be toned down a little and some of the “action” Jaxx received at times was a bit much in parts but that aside its a great easy watch, toe tapping production that appeared to bring in those who wouldn’t normally frequent a theatre which can only be a good thing!

Be warned though, after watching it you will be digging out the classic rock compilations and releasing your inner rocker in the car to work the next day…or maybe that’s just me!

Jenny King, Jonathan Church, Matthew Gale and Mark Goucher present

STEPHEN MANGAN

KARA TOINTON and SUE JOHNSTON

 in

The Man in the White Suit

Written and Directed by Sean Foley

Based on the play The Flower Within the Bud by Roger MacDougall and Screenplay by Roger MacDougall, John Dighton and Alexander Mackendrick.  

By special arrangement with Studiocanal

• FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE STAGE PRODUCTION OF THE EALING COMEDY CLASSIC
   
• WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY SEAN FOLEY, THE PRODUCTION WILL PLAY AT THEATRE ROYAL BATH AS PART OF ITS 2019 SUMMER SEASON FROM 5TH – 21ST SEPTEMBER, PRIOR TO OPENING AT WYNDHAM’S THEATRE IN PREVIEW FROM 27TH SEPTEMBER  WITH AN OPENING NIGHT OF 8TH OCTOBER 
   

The full cast and creative team is announced for Sean Foley’s hotly anticipated stage adaptation of classic Ealing Studios comedy The Man in the White Suit, which will have a three week engagement at Theatre Royal Bath from 5th September as part of its 2019 summer season before its world premiere at the Wyndham’s Theatre, London with performances from 27th September 2019 until 11th January 2020 and opening night on 8th October 2019.

Leading the cast of The Man in the White Suit will be the previously announced  Stephen Mangan as Sidney Stratton, Kara Tointon as Daphne Birnley and Sue Johnston* as Mrs Watson.

They will be joined by Richard Cordery as Birnley, Richard Durden as Sir John, with Delroy Atkinson, Katie Bernstein, Ben Deery, Matthew Durkan, Rina Fatania, Oliver Kaderbhai, Eugene McCoy, Elliott Rennie and Katherine Toy.

The Man in the White Suit is adapted for the stage and directed by double Olivier Award-winning writer, actor and director Sean Foley and has set and costume design by award-winning designer Michael Taylor.

Brand new songs have been written for this world premiere production by Charlie Fink, known for fronting indie-folk band ‘Noah and the Whale’ as well as being a composer for theatre and film including The Lorax (Old Vic) and A Street Cat Named Bob.

Choreography will be by Lizzi Gee, lighting by the Tony Award-winning Mark Henderson, sound by brothers Ben Ringham and Max Ringham, fights directed by Alison De Burgh and songs arranged by Phil Bateman.

When Sidney Stratton develops a fabric that never gets dirty and never wears out, manufacturers and trades unions are terrified by the threat it poses to their industry and their jobs. Only Daphne, the mill owner’s daughter, shows Stratton any sympathy as his world gradually falls apart before he finally finds love and a new idea.  

The 1951 iconic Ealing Studios comedy film starred Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood and Cecil Parker. It was directed by Alexander Mackendrick and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing (Screenplay).

Stephen Mangan’s theatre credits include a Tony Award-nominated performance in The Norman Conquests (The Old Vic / Broadway), Birthday and The People Are Friendly (Royal Court), Jeeves and Wooster (Duke of York’s), Hayfever (Savoy), Midsummer Night’s Dream (RSC) and Rules For Living (National Theatre). Stephen has an extensive list of television credits including Sean Lincoln in Episodes, and new comedy series Bliss. Previous TV credits include the BAFTA-winning British sitcom Green Wing, Free Agents, Dirk Gently. Film credits include Billy Elliot, Birthday, Postman Pat: The Movie (Voice), Rush, Beyond The Pole, Confetti and Festival.

Kara Tointon’s theatre credits include: Twelfth Night (RSC), Gaslight (UK Tour), Relatively Speaking (Wyndham’s), Absent Friends (Harold Pinter Theatre) and Pygmalion (Garrick). Her film work includes appearances in Let’s Be Evil, The Last Passenger, The Sweeney, Warrior Queen,Never Play With The Dead, The Football Factory and Just My Luck.  On television Kara has appeared in The Keith and Paddy Picture Show, Henry IX, The Halcyon, The Sound of Music Live,Mr Selfridge, Suntrap, Lewis, Bedlam, The Bill, Dream Team, Keen Eddie, Harry and Cosh andEastEnders.

BAFTA nominated and British Comedy Award-winning actress Sue Johnston’s theatre credits include Small Change (Donmar Warehouse), The Master Builder (Albery Theatre) and The Play What I Wrote (Wyndham’s). Sue has also played seasons at Manchester Royal Exchange, Bolton Octagon and the Bush Theatre. Best known for her television roles in The Royale Family andBrookside, other screen credits include The Cockfields, Hold the Sunset, Death on the Tyne, Murder on the Blackpool Express, Age Before Beauty, Walk Like a Panther, Good Karma Hospital, Moving On, Waking the Dead, Downton Abbey, Coronation Street, Rovers, Sex, Chips & Rock N’ Roll, Goodbye Cruel World, My Uncle Silas, Brassed Off, Little Dorrit, A Passionate Woman, Sugartown and Jam & Jerusalem amongst others. Sue was appointed OBE in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to Drama and to Charity.

Richard Cordery’s many theatre credits include Network, Power of Yes and ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore (National Theatre), Richard III, Henry VI, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, Merry Wives of Windsor, Volpone, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, and Henry IV part II (RSC), Sweet Bird of Youthand The Front Page (Chichester Festival Theatre), Waste (Almeida), Spring Awakening (Novello),Love Story (Duchess) and Waiting For Godot (Crucible Theatre Sheffield). Television credits include Marcella, Dickensian, Esio Trot, Inside No 9, Backup and Love Hurts. Film credits includeAbout Time, The Wife, Les Miserables and Social Suicide.

Richard Durden’s career spans 50 years with recent theatre credits including Ben Hur (Tricycle),Titus Andronicus and A Mad World My Masters (RSC), The Emperor and Gallilean (National Theatre), Shadowlands (Wyndham’s and UK Tour), Once Bitten and The Madras House (Orange Tree), Richard III and High Society (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield), and Orpheus Descending(Donmar Warehouse). Television credits include Back To Life, Ghosts, The Child in Time, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, The Last Days of Lehman Brothers, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard, andFingersmith. Film credits include Churchill, Star Wars: Episode IX, Oliver Twist, The Awakening,The Jacket and Batman.

Delroy Atkinson’s theatre credits include Sylvia (Old Vic), Present Laughter (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Firm (Hampstead), The Amen Corner (National Theatre), The Book of Mormon (The Prince of Wales), Avenue Q (Gielgud) and Five Guys Named Moe (UK Tour).

Katie Bernstein’s theatre credits include The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess and International Tour), Allegro (Southwark Playhouse), Mrs Henderson Presents (Noel Coward and Theatre Royal Bath), Urinetown (Apollo and St. James Theatre), Rent (UK Tour), Run (Polka) and Goodbye Barcelona (Arcola)

Ben Deery’s theatre credits include King Lear, Titus Andronicus, A Mad World My Masters(RSC), The Art Of Success, The Taste Of The Town (Rose Theatre Kingston), Death of a Salesman(UK Tour) and Insignificance (Theatre Clwyd). Screen credits include Father Brown, Call the Midwife and A Street Cat Named Bob.

Matthew Durkan’s theatre credits include Rosencrantz & Gildenstern Are Dead and Housed (Old Vic), The Secret Garden (York Theatre Royal), Kiki’s Delivery Service (Southwark Playhouse), Oxy & The Morons (New Wolsey Theatre), Nell Gwynn (Apollo) and The Cherry Orchard and Doctor Selavy’s Magic Theatre (New Wimbledon Studio).

Rina Fatania’s most recent theatre credits include Dead Dog in a Suitcase (UK Tour),Approaching Empty (Kiln), The Village (Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Tin Drum (Kneehigh, UK Tour), Oliver Twist (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Roller Disco (Soho) and Anita & Me (UK Tour). Screen credits include Wanderlust, People Just Do Nothing, Raabta and Mumbai Charlie.

Oliver Kaderbhai’s theatre credits include Margot, Dame, The Most Famous Ballerina in the World (Kings Head), The Best Man (Playhouse), Jumping on my Shadow (Lakeside Arts Centre), Hatch (Polka Theatre), One Minute (The Vaults), The Provoked Wife (UK Tour) and Go to Your God Like a Soldier (Old Vic Tunnels/The Underbelly).

Eugene McCoy’s theatre credits include La Mancha (ENO), A Christmas Carol and Groundhog Day (Old Vic), The Pajama Game (Shaftesbury/Chichester Festival Theatre), American Psycho(Almeida Theatre), Jersey Boys (Prince Edward), Little Shop of Horrors (UK Tour), They’re Playing Our Song (Menier Chocolate Factory), Oklahoma! (Chichester Festival Theatre) and Guys and Dolls (Piccadilly and Donmar Warehouse). Screen credits include Paddington 2 and Little Crackers.

Elliott Rennie’s theatre credits include Alice in Wonderland, Thumbelina and A Scarborough Christmas Carol (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Shakespeare in Love (Duke of York’s), The Jungle Bookand The B.F.G. (Derby Theatre).

Katherine Toy’s theatre credits include Coriolanus, Vice Versa and Salome (RSC), Much Ado About Nothing (Rose Theatre Kingston), As You Like It, Two Gentlemen of Verona and Stig of the Dump (Storyhouse Chester), Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Cyrano de Bergerac(Grosvenor Park, Chester) and Life of Galileo, Cyrano de Bergerac and The False Servant (National Theatre). As a musician, her credits include Comedy of Errors (RSC) and Wild Orchids (Chichester Festival Theatre).

This world premiere production will reunite Stephen Mangan and Sean Foley who created the Olivier Award winning comedy Jeeves and Wooster together. Foley also teams up again with Michael Taylor with whom he created the five times Olivier Award nominated The Ladykillers. Foley’s production will feature a cast of fourteen including actor musicians and a specially written score.

Based on the play The Flower Within the Bud by Roger MacDougall and screenplay by Roger MacDougall, John Dighton and Alexander Mackendrick, this world premiere production of The Man in the White Suit is presented by Jenny King, Jonathan Church, Matthew Galeand Mark Goucher, by special arrangement with Studiocanal.

*Sue Johnston will play the role of Mrs Watson for a strictly limited engagement until the end of November, with further casting to be announced.

LISTINGS

THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT

Theatre Royal Bath
Saw Cl, Bath BA1 1ET
5th – 21st September 
Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees 2.30pm 
www.theatreroyal.org.uk/
01225 448844

Wyndham’s Theatre
Charing Cross Rd, Covent Garden, London WC2H 0DA
First preview: 27th September at 7.30pm
Opening night: 8th October at 7pm
Final performance 11th January at 7.30pm
Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees 2.30pm
www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/theatres/wyndhams-theatre/

@whitesuitcomedy 
maninthewhitesuit.co.uk   

LONDON CLASSIC THEATRE ANNOUNCE

AUTUMN TOUR OF NO MAN’S LAND

London Classic Theatre present

NO MAN’S LAND

By Harold Pinter

Director: Michael Cabot; Designer: Bek Palmer; Lighting Design: Andy Grange

London Classic Theatre today announce their UK tour of Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land, with the company’s Artistic Director Michael Cabot directing Nicholas Gasson, Joel Macey, Graham O’Mara and Moray Treadwell. The new production opens at Hull Truck Theatre on 12 September, with previews from 5 September at Oldham Coliseum, and visits 22 venues in total before the tour concludes at Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on 2 November.

A chance meeting between two elderly writers in a North London pub leads to an alcohol-fuelled night of reminiscences and verbal sparring.

Hirst, a wealthy recluse, invites Spooner, a down-at-heel poet, to his Hampstead townhouse for a nightcap. As the shadows lengthen and the whisky flows, their stories become more elaborate and improbable, until the arrival of two younger men forces events to take an unexpected turn.

In his most beguiling and atmospheric play, Pinter interweaves truth, language and memory to create a world of dark comedy and subtle power games.

Artistic Director Michael Cabot said today “I’m absolutely thrilled to be working on No Man’s Land. It’s my sixth time directing a Pinter play so it goes without saying I’m a huge admirer of his work. The terrific success of Jamie Lloyd’s recent Pinter at the Pinter season has reinforced how his writing still has the power to intrigue and resonate with audiences today and we’re very excited about carrying the torch around the UK this autumn. No Man’s Land is a wonderfully complex, layered play but also full of comic nuance.  I’m delighted that Bek Palmer and Andy Grange, the team who worked on our productions of The Birthday Party and Betrayal,are joining LCT again for this new chapter.”

Nicholas Gasson plays Spooner. His credits for the company include The Caretaker, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me and Entertaining Mr Sloane. Other theatre credits includes Wings (Young Vic),The Dumb Waiter, The Lover (European Arts), James and the Giant Peach (No.1 tour), A Chip in the Sugar from Talking Heads (Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds), Season’s Greetings (The Mill at Sonning), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Greenwich Theatre), Pink for a Boy (Oldham Coliseum) and School for Wives (BAC). His television credits include Shadow in the North, Private Life of an Easter Masterpiece and Merlin.

Joel Macey plays Foster. His previous theatre credits include The Mousetrap (St Martin’s Theatre), Othello (UK tour), Tartuffe, Hamlet, All’s Well That Ends Well (Tobacco Factory) and Treasure Island (The Avenue Theatre).His television credits include 3am and Jess’s Suicide.

Graham O’Mara plays Briggs. His theatre credits include Government Inspector and The Three Musketeers(Young Vic), Alice (Sheffield Crucible), Food (Traverse Theatre) Borders (Arcola Theatre), Punts, Cans(Theatre503), Fatzer: Downfall Of An Egoist (North Wall Arts Centre), Carry On Jaywick (Vaults), BU21 (Trafalgar Studios), Romeo and Juliet, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Wind in the Willows, Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Storyhouse Chester), Sense and Sensibility (The Watermill Theatre), Horniman’s Choice, Hindle Wakes (Finborough Theatre), A Man of Letters (Orange Tree Theatre) and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice(Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds). Television includes Friday Night Dinner, Good Cop, Sirens, The Queen: 1974and Silent Witness.

Moray Treadwell plays Hirst. His credits for the company include Hysteria. Other theatre credits include Some Mother’s do ‘Ave ‘Em (UK tour), The Railway Children (London King’s Cross Theatre), Macbeth (Mercury Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds), Wait Until Dark and The Little Foxes (Perth Theatre), The Caretaker, The Last Yellow (Nuffield Southampton Theatre), Arsenic and Old Lace, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK tours). His television credits include Manchild, My Family, Murder Most Horrid, Beck, Ultraviolet, Wuthering Heights, Planespotting and Whose Baby Is it Anyway?. For film his credits include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and Round Ireland with a Fridge.

Michael Cabot directs. He is the founder and Artistic Director of London Classic Theatre. He has directed all forty LCT productions since their London debut in 1993, including My Mother Said I Never Should, Private Lives, Hysteria, The Birthday Party, Waiting for Godot, Absent Friends, Entertaining Mr Sloane, Betrayal, The Importance of Being Earnest and Equus. He has overseen the company’s transition from one of the success stories of the London Fringe in the late nineties to its current position as one of the UK’s leading touring companies. His freelance work as director includes three recent collaborations with award-winning playwright Henry Naylor, The Collector (Arcola Theatre 2014 & UK tour 2016), Angel (Edinburgh Festival Fringe première 2016) and Borders (Edinburgh Festival Fringe première 2017). Angel has won several theatre awards, including a Scotsman Fringe First and the Holden Street Theatres Edinburgh Award in 2016. The production transferred to the Adelaide Fringe in February 2017, winning the Adelaide Critics Circle Award, before playing at the 59E59 Theatre in New York as part of the Brits off Broadway season. Angel was chosen by The Times as one of the UK’s Top Ten productions in 2016. Borders won a Scotsman Fringe First and the Carol Tambor Best of Fringe Award. It also won the Adelaide Critics Circle Award and transferred to New York Theatre Workshop in June 2018.

www.londonclassictheatre.co.uk

Facebook: @LondonClassicTheatre

Twitter: @londonclassic1

No Man’s Land                                                                                                                                 LISTINGS

Oldham Coliseum Theatre                          

5 – 7 September

Box Office: 01616 242829

www.coliseum.org.uk

Hull Truck Theatre

11 – 14 September

Box Office: 01482 323638

www.hulltruck.co.uk

Theatre Royal, Winchester

17 – 18 September

Box Office: 01962 840 440

www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk

Lighthouse, Poole

19-21 September

Box Office: 01202 280000

www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

Octagon Theatre, Yeovil

24 September

Box Office: 01935 422884

www.octagon-theatre.co.uk

The Theatre, Chipping Norton

25-26 September

Box Office: 01608 642350

www.chippingnortontheatre.com

Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury

27 September

Box Office: 01684 295074

www.rosestheatre.org

Atkinson, Southport

28 September

Box Office: 01704 533 333

www.theatkinson.co.uk

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

1-5 October

Box Office: 01782 717 962

www.newvictheatre.org.uk

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre

10 October

Box Office: 01522 837600

lpac.co.uk

CAST, Doncaster

11 October

Box Office: 01302 303959

www.castindoncaster.com

Middlesbrough Theatre

12 October

Box Office: 01642 81 51 81

www.middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk

Connaught Theatre, Worthing

15-16 October

Box Office: 01903 206 206

worthingtheatres.co.uk

Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne

17-19 October

Box Office: 01323 412 000

www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

Queen’s Hall, Hexham

22-23 October

Box Office: 01434 652477

www.queenshall.co.uk

Phoenix Theatre, Blyth

24 October

Box Office: 01670 367 228

www.thephoenixtheatre.org.uk

Brunton, Musselburgh

25- 26 October

Box Office: 0131 665 2240

www.thebrunton.co.uk

Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

29 – 30 October

Box Office: 01902 321 321

www.wlv.ac.uk/arena-theatre

Cornerstone, Didcot

31 October

Box Office: 01235 515144

www.cornerstone-arts.org

Theatre Royal, Margate

1 November

Box Office: 01843 292795

www.margate-live.com

Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells

2 November

Box Office: 01892 678678

www.trinitytheatre.net

Cast announced for immersive adult
fairy tale Red Palace
The Vaults, Leake Street, London SE1 7NN
Tuesday 24th September 2019 – Sunday 12th January 2020

Showcasing cabaret, circus, dance and genre-defying performance, the cast has been announced for London’s new immersive masquerade ball, Red Palace. Shotgun Carousel invite their audiences to be escorted by a glorious array of audacious characters through swirling revelry to a place of glamour, danger and transformation where they can find their own fairy tale ending

The wholly female and non-binary cast of players, aerialists and cabaret artists includes Ella Prendergast (Secret Cinema presents Bladerunner: The Final Cut), Teddy Lamb (Since U Been Gone, HighTide), Porscha Present (Divine Proportions, The Vaults) and Emer Dineen (The Dark Side of Love, Camden Roundhouse). Actors and circus artists, EM Williams (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Harold Pinter Theatre), Rosie Rowlands (Anna Nicole, Royal Opera House), Emily Essery (Doctor Dolittle, UK tour), and Rebecca Solomons (Hive City Legacy, Roundhouse) will also join the company. Completing this ensemble production are Steffi Walker (Baba’s War, White Bear Theatre and War Festival), Megan Ford (Feminasty, UK tour), Eleanor Dillon-Reams (HoneyBEE, Edinburgh Fringe), Camilla Harding (The Tempest, Rose Playhouse), and Alice Morgan-Richards (Alice’s Adventure’s Underground, The Vaults)

Following the huge success of Divine Proportions, Shotgun Carousel return to The Vaults with a Gothic cabaret guided by an irresistible tale. Join The Prince and meet the court; witness the beautiful, the brilliant, the wanton, the bizarre – nothing and no one is what they seem. Gastro- storyteller and Masterchef semi-finalist Annie McKenzie will provide an exclusive menu for booked diners to enjoy a decadent evening of feast and fantasy (subject to limited availability). Red Palace is inspired by the vicious narratives of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen but these are not the fairy tale characters we think we know as Snow White joins Gretel, mermaids and the Big Bad Wolf. With the allure of the carnivals of Venice, topped up with the Gothic macabre of Edgar Allan Poe, audiences must dance, dine and discover the mystery at the heart of the masked ball. The stories threaded through the production look behind the mask to explore power and duplicity. The Red Palace sheds the binds of gender and sexual conformity to release a world of pleasure and freedom

Director Celine Lowenthal comments, I am so thrilled to be working with our extraordinary cohort of performers on Red Palace, and it is a pure delight to be able to introduce to our audiences such a fantastic range of experienced and charismatic artists. We are drawing together a phenomenal array of Shakespearean character actors, death-defying circus performers, cabaret and burlesque royalty, with some of the most experienced immersive and promenade actors in the UK. You name it, we’ve got it: tarot readers, improvisational comedians, singer-songwriters, contortionists, drag kings, MCs – all ready to bring their phenomenal array of talents to the wild and exciting Red Palace experience. And, as always with Shotgun Carousel, we are proud to be introducing to you an all-female/non-binary/trans* cast, celebrating, elevating, and providing a platform for the artists we most want to see centre stage. I can’t wait to begin our exciting new collaboration!

Deliciously risqué, the sybaritic evening is an all-encompassing voyage through a world where extravagance is the norm, labels are left at the door, and everyone can be who they truly are (Broadway World on Divine Proportions).

STAR CAST REVEALED FOR BAND OF GOLD PREMIERE AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

LAURIE BRETT, GAYNOR FAYE, KIERON RICHARDSON, SHAYNE WARD AND SACHA PARKINSON TO STAR IN KAY MELLORS PREMIER STAGE ADAPTATION OF BAND OF GOLD

Band of Gold – the premiere stage adaptation of Kay Mellor’s multi award-winning ITV series – today announces that Laurie Brett (EastEnders,Waterloo Road, Les Miserables), Gaynor Faye (Emmerdale, Playing the Field, Calendar Girls), Kieron Richardson (Hollyoaks, Heatbeat), Shayne Ward (Coronation Street, Rock Of Ages, X Factor winner) and Sacha Parkinson (Mr Selfridge, The Mill) will star in the production when it opens at Leeds Grand Theatre later this year.

Following the unprecedented sell-out success of Fat Friends The Musical, producer Josh Andrews and Kay Mellor have teamed up again for Band of Gold, to be directed by Mellor, which will run from Thursday 28 November to Saturday 14 December 2019 at The Grand, before embarking on the 2020 Tour.

Band of Gold was the ground-breaking crime drama that captivated over 15 million viewers each week when it aired on ITV in March 1995 starring (amongst others) Geraldine James, Cathy Tyson, Barbara Dickson and Samantha Morton. The nail-biting thriller tells the story of a group of women – Carol, Rose, Anita and Gina – as they battle to survive whilst working in a notorious red-light district. When one of their colleagues is murdered, they need to find the killer before they strike again.

Band of Gold is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Thursday 28 November to Saturday 14 December 2019.

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL

AT MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE

OPENING ON THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2020

FOR 12-WEEK SEASON

AHEAD OF WEST END TRANSFER

Producer Colin Ingram (Ghost – The Musical) and the creators of the film Back To The Future, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, are delighted to announce the casting of ‘George McFly’, ‘Lorraine Baines’ and ‘Goldie Wilson’ in the world premiere of BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical, which will open at the Manchester Opera House on 20 February 2020 for a strictly limited 12-week season, finishing on 17 May, prior to transferring to the West End.  Hugh Coles will play ‘George’, Rosanna Hyland ‘Lorraine’ and Cedric Neal ‘Goldie’.  They will be joining the previously announced Olly Dobson as ‘Marty McFly’.

Hugh Coles graduated from LAMDA in 2017 and landed one of the lead roles in last year’s British summer movie The Festival. He most recently finished working on the BBC series Defending the Guilty, playing young barrister ‘Liam’ alongside Will Sharpe and Katherine Parkinson. Hugh’s other screen credits include Urban Myths: The Mysterious Disappearance of Agatha Christie for Sky Arts and the final series of Doc Martin for ITV. 

Rosanna Hyland’s theatre credits include ‘Rosalie Mullins’ in School Of Rock The Musical (Gillian Lynne), ‘Alice’ in I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road (Jermyn Street), ‘Betty Hapschatt’ in Shock Treatment (King’s Head), ‘Hope Cladwell’ in Urinetown (Apollo), Shrek The Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Sister Act The Musical (London Palladium) and Carousel (The Savoy). 

Cedric Neal most recently was a semi-finalist on The Voice UK 2019 Series. He made his West End debut as ‘Berry Gordy’ in the original London cast of Motown The Musical. Neal was featured as ‘The Arbiter’ in the first revival of Chess at London’s Coliseum. He can currently be seen as ‘Willie’ in the Soho Theatre premiere of The View Upstairs. Other London theatre includes the critically acclaimed concert staging of Martin Smith’s musical King, portraying Martin Luther King Jr.,  Cy Coleman’s revue Rhythm Of Life (St. James’s Theatre), and ‘Sporting Life’ in the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Olivier nominated production of Porgy And Bess. Broadway credits include the Tony nominated After Midnight and the 2012 Tony Award-winning revival of Porgy And Bess. Television credits include The Good Guys (Fox) and Seasons 4 & 5 of the Emmy Award-winning drama Friday Night Lights (NBC-Universal). Film credits include Lost In London, which was written and produced by and starred Woody Harrelson.

Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical will have a book by Bob Gale and new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode.

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical will be directed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando (Urinetown, On The Town), alongside the multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team of Tim Hatley (set and costume design), Hugh Vanstone and Tim Lutkin (lighting), Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video), with choreography by Chris Bailey, illusions by Paul Kieve and musical supervision and vocal arrangements by Nick Finlow. Orchestrations will be by Ethan Popp, with dance arrangements by David Chase.

Back to the Future the movie was released in 1985, starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown. The film grossed $360.6 million (£279 million) at the box office worldwide and the total box office for all three films in the Back to the Future franchise was $936.6 million (over $1.8 billion in today’s money).

Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr Emmett Brown.  But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is produced by Colin Ingram, Donovan Mannato, Frankel/Viertel/Baruch/Routh Group, Gavin Kalin Productions, Hunter Arnold, Crush Music, CJ ENM, Teresa Tsai, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, Augury in association with Herman-Adelman, Kimberly Magarro, Robert L. Hutt, Ricardo Marques, Glass Half Full Productions.

Website: BackToTheFutureMusical.com  

Twitter: @BTTFmusical

Instagram: @BTTFmusical        

LISTINGS INFORMATION

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical

20 February – 17 May 2020

Opera House Manchester

3 Quay Street 
Manchester 
M3 3HP

Box Office: 0844 871 3018

Performances: 
20 Feb – 14 Mar: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm

17 Mar – 17 May: Tue – Sat 7.30pm, Wed, Sat & Sun matinees 2.30pm

Tickets: From £19.55