Month: February 2020

2020 SALISBURY INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE HUMAN MOVEMENT

Friday 22 May – Saturday 6 June 2020

Priority booking for Members from Friday 6 March

General booking from Friday 13 March

www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk

• Paralympian Ade Adepitan and world champion athlete Derek Redmond
• Dance from Hofesh Shechter Company and Ballet Central
• Music from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, jazz legend Jacqui Dankworth and Paraorchestra
• The international premiere of Congress at Salisbury Cathedral – a citizens’ assembly of people from Salisbury making their maiden speeches
• Comedy from big names in stand-up Mark Steel and Seann Walsh
• Move It! A day long fiesta of free performances, sport and activities along the route from Old Sarum to Salisbury
• Monumental cardboard reconstruction of the lost Bell Tower in the Cathedral Close from French artist Olivier Grossetête
• Free Family Fiestas at Bemerton Heath and Tidworth

Athletes, dancers, musicians and international artists will be part of the 2020 Salisbury International Arts Festival, announced today by Wiltshire Creative. Over 16 days from 22 May, more than 100 events with artists from countries including France, Spain, India and Australia will celebrate the beauty, courage and joy of human movement. The Festival will be a major part of Salisbury 2020: A City on the Move, marking the 800^th anniversary of the founding of modern Salisbury.

Artistic Director Gareth Machin, Associate Artist violinist Harriet Mackenzie and a team of curators, have put together a diverse programme of music, theatre, film, dance, spoken word, visual arts, family and free events.

Harriet will perform Bach’s incomparable solo violin Partita in D minor alongside ballet dancers in the premiere of a new piece of choreography, Bach and Ballet, which is a co-production between Wiltshire Creative and the Liberation International Music Festival in Jersey.

Harriet will also perform as part of a performance of Cecilia’s McDowall’s Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo – an extraordinary cantata for children’s voices that tells the story of Nujeen Mustafa, the young wheelchair-bound Kurdish refugee, and her remarkable journey across Europe.

The Festival will open on 22 May with Stone Songs composed by Howard Moody and featuring the Festival Chorus and La Folia musicians in a performance inspired by the Medieval chants that have resonated from the Cathedral’s stones since the 13^th century.

Other musical performances include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing Dvorak’s ‘New World’ Symphony in the grandeur of Salisbury Cathedral; jazz from Jacqui Dankworth and trio; and intimate acoustic arrangements from Mike Peters of the 1980s band The Alarm in Wilton Church. Paraorchestra, the world’s only integrated ensemble for virtuoso disabled and non-disabled musicians, will perform in Salisbury Cathedral, conducted by Charles Hazlewood.

Over the middle weekend of the Festival, the focus falls on the future of Salisbury through a series of fascinating events including the European premiere of Congress, a co-production between Wiltshire Creative and Australian theatre makers All The Queen’s Men. This remarkable citizens’ assembly will pair local people with wordsmiths to make their maiden speeches in Salisbury Cathedral.

The Festival will feature stunning dance performances from the acclaimed Hofesh Shechter Company, Ballet Central and Mapdance, which performs repertoire by renowned and upcoming contemporary choreographers including Noa Shadur and Ceyda Tanc.

Comedy comes from Mark Steel, with a new show guaranteed to make the world appear more strange than it is, and from Seann Walsh with a fresh show that mixes his best-loved routines with new, candid stories.

Familiar faces will feature in the spoken word programme, including Paralympian and TV documentary maker Ade Adepitan, long-serving Radio 4 Today presenter John Humphrys, explorer Sir Robin-Knox Johnston and author and foreign correspondent Christina Lamb.

Move It! on Sunday 24 May will be a day long fiesta of free outdoor music, sport, theatre, circus, dance and craft involving professional artists and community groups as they animate the route from Old Sarum to Salisbury Cathedral, retracing the movement of the relocation of the Cathedral to its current site. The day will begin with a multi-faith morning service on the site of the original cathedral at Old Sarum.

The Move It! journey will culiminate with the amazing work of French artist Olivier Grossetête, who, with the public’s help, will recreate the lost Bell Tower in the Cathedral Close in a stunning cardboard structure. He has recreated architectural sculptures across the world including China, New Zealand, France and Spain.

Family events will include free Family Fiestas in Tidworth and Bemerton, and  performances of Dr Dolittle by Ilyria Theatre in the garden at the Rifles Museum in the Cathedral Close.

Free outdoor theatre, dance and circus will also feature in the popular City Encounters event in Salisbury city centre on Sunday 24 May and Bank Holiday Monday 25 May.

Visual arts exhibitions include The Makers’ Tale at Salisbury Arts Centre examining craft in contemporary life and Flow State by ceramicist Jo Taylor at Arundells in the Cathedral Close.

Theatre performances will include Macbeth presented by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men in the open air in Rack Close, part of the Cathedral Close.

A full film programme follows the Festival themes of human movement and epic journeys, including screenings of The Grapes of Wrath, Ai Weiwei’s Human Flow and March of the Penguins 2.

Wiltshire Creative Artistic Director Gareth Machin said: “There will be something for absolutely everyone in and around Salisbury to enjoy at this year’s International Arts Festival, as we celebrate the beauty, courage and joy of human movement. We’re excited to be bringing international artists to Salisbury this summer celebrating dance, sport and incredible journeys alongside incredible music and so much more.”

The Festival runs from 22 May to 6 June 2020. General booking opens on Friday 13 March. Priority booking for Wiltshire Creative Members opens on Friday 6 March. The full programme can be found at wiltshirecreative.co.uk

Salisbury Festival has been enabled through wide charitable support, including major sponsorship from Wilsons Solicitors and event sponsorship from Parker Bullen Solicitors, Smith & Williamson and I N Newman Funeral Directors. The Festival is also supported by Sarum College, The Red Lion, Wadworth Brewery, Salisbury Reds, Salisbury Journal, Byron and The Dancing Moose and generous donations from private patrons.

THURSDAY 15TH APRIL 2021 UTILITA ARENA NEWCASTLE

THE TRUE STORY OF THE MARTIAN INVASION

THE MULTI- AWARD WINNING MASTERPIECE

JEFF WAYNE’S MUSICAL VERSION OF ‘THE WAR OF THE WORLDS’ – ALIVE ON STAGE RETURNS IN 2021

One of the most trailblazing arena tours of all time, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of ‘The War of The Worlds’ – Alive on Stage! returns to arenas throughout the UK in 2021.

Based on HG Wells’ dark Victorian tale, it remains a firm favourite to millions around the world, exciting audiences of all ages.

In 2006 TWOTW was already considered a cutting edge production with six trucks filled to the brim. But in 2021, which marks a momentous 15 years of live touring, the production be up to 12 trucks, and with it, a host of ingredients and special effects that will challenge and excite the senses. A stellar cast will also be announced in the next few weeks.

RETURNING:

· Liam Neeson in 3D holography as George Herbert, The Journalist

· The iconic 3-tonne, 35-foot tall Martian Fighting Machine firing real flame Heat Rays at the audience.

· The 9-piece Black Smoke Band and ULLAdubULLA symphonic string orchestra.

· Leaf drops over the audience.

· Mixed live in Surround Sound

UPDATED FOR 2021:

· The giant arched bridge now running from the lip of the stage out over the audience to the front of house desk.

· Three panoramic screens with 2 hours of cutting edge CGI and other content

· The incineration of a cast member in full view of the audience.

NEW FOR 2021:

· Lighting, pyrotechnics… and other-worldly special effects.

· Ground-breaking levitation effect.

· The release of deadly Black Smoke from the Martian Fighting Machine

Plus ‘The War of The Worlds’ author, HG Wells – appearing in sight and sound …and much, much more!

Jeff Wayne said: “For over four decades now I’ve lived out a dream of bringing the true story of HG Wells dark Victorian tale to listeners and audiences from around the world, while pushing technology to the limit both sonically and visually as time has moved on.

In 2019 we launched The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience in Central London. combining, immersive theatre, virtual and, augmented realities, holograms and other cutting-edge technology; giving audiences the chance to live through the Martian invasion of 1898.

Now our newest arena production combines these elements within the live performance medium, for an even more unique, emotional and at times, scary experience.”

Tickets will go on sale 9.00am Friday 6th March and are available online, from the booking hotline number 0844 493 6666 * or from 11.00am in person from the Utilita Arena Box Office. Accessible seating is available online, or by calling the accessible hotline on 0800 988 4440. Please note venue facility and booking fees will apply. *Call cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

ASK ME ANYTHING

A LOUD, LIVE LOVE SONG TO NOT HAVING
IT ALL FIGURED OUT

Ask Me Anything, a new immersive show in which members of the multi-award-winning theatre company, The Paper Birds become agony aunts for young people is coming to Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 March 2020.

Featuring real-life verbatim stories, the show is set to the original live music from the singer-songwriter Rosie Doonan.

Known as UK’s leaders of verbatim theatre with political and social slant, The Paper Birds devised Ask Me Anything inspired by magazine’s ‘problem pages’ they read growing up in the 90s and 00s. The company has asked young people living today in the era of mobile phones and Google to write and ask them anything. Nothing was off limits. The show, filled with The Paper Birds’ trademark mischief and mayhem, is its response. 

Jemma McDonnell, Co-Director of The Paper Birds said: “When we reached out and asked young people to write to us, we had no idea if any teenagers actually would! We were in equal measure thrilled and petrified when the letters began to come back in the post. What really struck us was the absolute honesty and vulnerability within the letters.

“Ask Me Anything is a celebration of this honestly and vulnerability; as well as messiness, imperfection, growth, mistakes, trials, experiments and risking it all. It is, and we are, a work-in-progress. We, like the young people who wrote to us, have not figured it all out and we are ok with that.”

So welcome to the 90s, era of dial-up Internet, pen pals and house phones where the Company explores the themes of cyber addition, self-expression, peer pressure, sisterhood and youth suicide, among others, using real-life verbatim stories of young people from across the UK.

Set in a teenage bedroom, Ask Me Anything features live video streaming and original live music from the celebrated singer-songwriter Rosie Doonan, BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards-nominee who performed with the likes of Peter Gabriel, Birdy and Chris Martin of Coldplay.

Ask Me Anything is for teenagers, grandparents and everyone in between who is also still figuring it all out. It’s about what we can teach the next generation and what they can teach us. 

The Paper Birds is a multi-award-winning devising theatre company with a vision to provoke change, one encounter at a time. It prides itself on taking complex, multi-faceted subjects and making them accessible. As story collectors, they spend time in communities, listening to personal experiences. In 2008, The Paper Birds began utilising the method of interviewing people and placing verbatim material within the script. The company has devised and produced 12 shows to date with Ask Me Anything being the 13^th.

Ask Me Anything comes to Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 March 2020. Visit birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000 (4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge) for more information and to book.

LEEDS-BASED YOUTH THEATRE ANNOUNCES NAME CHANGE AND SUMMER PRODUCTION

• GERNAL ONSALE FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2020

City Varieties Youth Theatre has announced it will be known as Leeds Grand Youth Theatre from February 2020, as the Company looks to build on its reputation as one of the UK’s leading youth groups; providing a platform from which to introduce young people to the world of professional theatre.

Founded in 2012, the city-based group is headed up by Artistic Director Lizi Patch, and the Leeds Grand Theatre Learning Team. Rachel Lythe, Head of Learning, said: “The Youth Theatre allows young people from the ages of 8 to 17 to perform in some of Leeds’s most iconic venues, working alongside industry professionals. Our focus is on nurturing, supporting, and creatively challenging every individual who walks through our doors, regardless of experience.”

Run from Leeds Grand Theatre, members develop both performing arts and life skills through weekly term-time workshops, including acting, dance/movement, physical theatre and vocal/singing training.

Liziadded: “The Youth Theatre explores the notion of theatre as a tool for social change and personal development for a new generation of theatre makers and theatregoers. We give young people the skills, the time and the support to take creative and personal risks, enabling them to express themselves physically, verbally and through the written word.”

Following the success of 2019’s Little Shop of Horrors, 2020 will see the Youth Theatre stage INTO THE WOODS at City Varieties Music Hall on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July 2020.

The Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical tells the story of a baker and his wife, who, cursed with childlessness by the witch next door, embark on a quest to break the spell; lying, swindling and cajoling their way through the woods as a small army of Grimm’s fairy tale characters (each with their own agenda) lead them a merry dance.

INTO THE WOODS will be the Company’s ninth full-scale production and features a 40-strong cast and live orchestra with musicians from Leeds College of Music.

“I have wanted to direct this show for some years now but knew it had to be the right time for the Company – that time is now,” said Lizi. “The trust and skills that run through our Youth Theatre – from the cast to the crew, visiting artists, Learning Team and volunteers – are quite remarkable; we have a collective vision.

“Into the Woods suspends the audience between tragedy and farce, and is undoubtedly an ambitious musical to get right, but we are completely ready for the challenge. Our production will be a visual and aural feast with plenty of food for thought!”

The Youth Theatre has produced many skilled young actors, including those who have gone on to perform with Opera North, train with Rambert and Pineapple Dance Studios in London, gain a scholarship at Phoenix Dance Theatre, Leeds, and even land a role in Game of Thrones.

One Youth Theatre member said: “Being part of LGYT has meant a lot to me as it has felt like a second family that is so loving, caring and supportive of each other. It’s so exciting during production weeks to see the shows come together; when you feel that all your hard work has paid off. Knowing that you make audiences happy is one of the best feelings. Another added: “‘Every Saturday I get so excited to come to LGYT as I have gained so many skills and experiences that have led to me studying acting at college.”

For more information about Leeds Grand Youth Theatre contact James Whittle, Creative Engagement Officer, at [email protected] or go to www.leedsgrandtheatre.com. 

INTO THE WOODS is at City Varieties Music Hall on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July 2020

Book online at www.cityvarietiesmusichall.co.uk or call Box Office on 0113 243 0808

Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge – until 29 February 2020

Reviewed by Steph Lott

4****

I don’t often enjoy horror – neither books nor films. However when I read Susan Hill’s ghost story “The Woman in Black”, I found, like the tales of Edgar Allen Poe, it invades the dark corners of the mind with unspoken dread and bleak hopelessness. There is a strange thrill in being scared by a skillful storyteller.

My companion and I were discussing with a gentleman seated behind us what we have found scary in the past, and what it takes to scare someone in their 50s nowadays compared to youngsters in their teens, of which there were quite a few in the audience as “The Woman in Black” is a text featured in the English Literature GCSE exam. We wondered if teenagers are more hardened than us, more used to violence and gore. What I have enjoyed about Susan Hill’s novel and other good horror I have read, is what they leave to my own, rather over-active imagination.

I was curious therefore as to how the stage would be used to transport us to the desolate setting where the story takes place – Eel Marsh House, a large grey dwelling right by the sea. In the book and the film, the sky, the sea, the sands and the mist loom large and to bring that effect into a small theatre is no mean feat. It was truly ingenious. It’s a great example of how, using only 3 actors and simple props, supported by simple yet highly effective light and sound techniques you can create a spine-tingling atmosphere of dread.

Stephen Mallatratt’s stage adaption differs from the book in that the story is told by 2 actors who fulfill all the parts between them in an ingenious fashion. The story is presented in a different way on stage than either in the book or in the film. The play begins in quite an odd fashion which is initially funny and annoying – not quite what one expects from a play about horror. But Daniel Easton as The Actor and Robert Goodale as Mr Kips both give superb performances as they start to weave the story, keeping the audience captivated from start to finish, juggling the various characters, scenes and the action between them, yet maintaining the fine silver thread of terror intact. It must be hard for the cast, when the natural reaction to jumping out of your skin, is then nervous laughter, having just emitted a loud shriek!

I would thoroughly recommend a visit to this production. It is the simplicity and skill that impresses. The production is profoundly effective and it may well scare the living daylights out of you. Unless you are a teenager who has had to read it for their GCSE.. in which case it might not. But I was very glad I didn’t have to go on my own…

Cliffs Pavillion Southend – until 29 February 2020

Reviewed by Molly Stannard

4****

Priscilla: Queen of the Desert is an uplifting musical that brings a ray of sunshine. Filled with humorous jokes and glamorous fun, Ian Talbot has crafted the perfect adaptation for theatre. The three main characters Joe McFadden (Tic/Mitzi), Miles Western (Bernadette) and Nick Hayes (Felicia), work well together bouncing innuendo and humour off each other as three glorious drag queens.

They begin a life changing journey across Australia tackling many challenges of self-identity and prejudice. Despite the serious undertones a light-hearted camaraderie was maintained between the characters with their strong bond of friendship and the fight for equality.

The music was brilliantly orchestrated by the cast and the three divas singing rousing classics that the audience joined in with. Fantastic voices that were beautifully harmonious and great dance moves kept you entertained throughout the show. Kevin Yates who played Miss Understanding was particularly entertaining with his Tina Turner impersonation.

A show well worth seeing to brighten up dull days.

The Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra to make UK debut at Cadogan Hall

with

THE KING SYMPHONIC: THE MUSIC OF ELVIS PRESLEY

Featuring Presley’s classics reimagined by full symphony orchestra

A brand-new show celebrating the king of rock and roll will sweep into town on 3^rd April 2020.

For one night only, the acclaimed Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra will make its UK debut at Cadogan Hall with its hit show The King Symphonic: The Music of Elvis Presley. The show will feature vocals from Grammy-nominated vocalist and producer Shea Arender under the direction of Steve Rawlins. This will be the first time that the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra has performed in London.Presented by Worldwide Entertainment, The King Symphonic will take Elvis fans on a symphonic journey of his greatest hits. Audiences will experience a breath-taking performance jam-packed with classics such as Can’t Help Falling in Love, Suspicious Minds, It’s Now or Never and Blue Suede Shoes.

Shea Arender has amassed international recognition through his work as a symphonic and Broadway producer, with previous production credits including the Tony Award-nominated musical A Night with Janis Joplin. As CEO of the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra, Arender is at the forefront of delivering world-class symphonic programming to a global audience. Speaking about their London debut, Shea said:

“I’m very excited about debuting in the UK. Elvis always loved his British fans but never got a chance to perform here. It’s amazing that over 40 years after his death his music lives on and remains so popular among audiences the world over. I’m looking forward to representing my heritage, and Elvis’ too, and performing these beautiful songs in a symphonic setting at Cadogan Hall.”

The critically acclaimed Musical Director, composer, arranger and principal conductor of the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra, Steve Rawlins, will also join the orchestra for their UK debut. Rawlins has arranged for the likes of Smokey Robinson, Bette Midler and Chaka Khan and will conduct the symphonic reimagination of some of Elvis’ most recognised songs.

Following the inaugural performance of The King Symphonic: The Music of Elvis Presley, Worldwide Entertainment has announced that in 2021, the concert will return to the UK to complete a tour of some of the UK’s major concert halls.

To purchase tickets for The King Symphonic: The Music of Elvis Presley, call the Cadogan Hall Box Office on 0207

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – until 29 February 2020

Reviewed by Terry Genis

4****

The programme notes mention shows such as Yes Minister and The Thick of It, but I wasn’t sure if I was watching a mockumentary or actual history. Whatever one’s politics are, we all know the principal characters portrayed.

The play starts with a factual event in February 2016 when Boris Johnson and his then wife Marina Wheeler entertained Michael Gove and his wife Sarah Vine, and Evgeny Lebedev, the British Russian major shareholder of the Evening Standard. During the dinner Johnson decides to vote ‘leave’ and so sets in motion a chain of events that take us to today. The play shows us how he is influenced by the presence at the dinner of the spirits of three former Prime Ministers – Churchill, Thatcher and Blair. In turn or together they tempt him with the accolade of historical greatness if he is to take a firm position.

The second part of the play takes place in 2029 in post-Brexit Britain, where Boris Johnson has been Prime Minister for some of the time, but for familiar reasons has returned to writing.  He is still an MP and the powers consider that it would be good if he became the leader again. The plot reprises the gathering in 2016 but the spirit trio still has an impact on events.

The set was sparse – a grey wall of eight panels with a couple of door openings – and was totally sufficient as the stage was filled by some big characters.  I was frustrated by the small dining table and four chairs – why not have a slightly bigger table and another chair for the guests?

Will Barton is the Boris Johnson we think we know. It was very disconcerting to be seeing the Prime Minister on stage when the papers are questioning his whereabouts during flooding disasters. The other four members of the cast each portrayed three characters and gave good impressions of the known people.

This is a story of our time, so the script will be updated to reflect events. There were also some clear references to the locality, which all added to the fun interpretation of our recent history and a possible future.

2019 Box Office figures released by Society of London Theatre

The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) has released 2019 ticket sales data for its member venues, which include all of the commercial West End and London’s major subsidized theatres.

The figures reveal an annual London theatre audience of over 15.3 million – nearly 1 million higher than Broadway – filling a record 80.7% of available seats and generating £799m in box office revenue.

Highlights from the data:

• Attendances of 15,315,773 (down 1.4% from 2018)
• Gross revenue of £798,994,920 (up 4.3% from 2018)
• Average ticket price paid £52.17 (up 5.8% from 2018)
• VAT generated for the Treasury of £133,165,820
• 80.7% of available seats filled (up from 77.5% in 2018)
• 18,364 performances (down 1.8% from 2018)

Plays saw a nearly 3% rise in audience numbers, while musicals dipped by just under 2%. This reflects the fact that four of London’s largest musical houses – the Dominion Theatre, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the newly renamed Sondheim Theatre – were dark for a significant proportion of the year, in some cases to carry out significant renovation projects. A total of 371 dark weeks in 2019, compared to 207 the previous year, explains the small drop in overall attendances.

Kenny Wax, President of SOLT, said:

‘These figures demonstrate the buoyancy of London’s theatre industry and the city’s status as the world’s leading theatre destination. Our major theatre owners and producers continue to present world class work, while investing in their historic venues to give audiences the best possible experience.

Audiences remain hungry for a quality live experience, evidenced by the unprecedented percentage of seats filled in 2019. The theatre industry is committed to offering a wide range of affordable tickets, alongside discount schemes, school outreach projects and SOLT audience development initiatives like Kids Week and New Year Sale. It is fantastic to see that over 5 million* tickets were available in the commercial West End at £40 and under last year, with only 1.1% at £150 and above.’

SOLT 2019 attendances and revenue by genre (with percentage comparisons to 2018):

Genre	Attendance	Revenue
Musicals	9,292,940 (-1.77%)	£522,692,585 (+3.72%)
Plays	4,291,734 (+2.73%)	£179,762,530 (+7.47%)
Other (opera, dance, performance, entertainment)	1,731,099 (-8.43%)	£96,539,805 (+2.08%)

AWARD PRESENTERS ANNOUNCED FOR

20^TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS

Ahead of the 20^th annual WhatsOnStage Awards this Sunday, 1 March, at the Prince of Wales Theatre – hosted by Jodie Prenger and Tom Read Wilson, and for the first time this year broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 hosted by Elaine Paige and Paddy O’Connell – WhatsOnStage announce the presenters of the individual awards: Aimie Atkinson, Amy Booth-Steel, Amy Hart, Max Harwood, Tyrone Huntley, John Kani, Oti Mabusi, Danny Mac, Daniel Monks, Vinegar Strokes, Liam Tamne, Giles Terera, Faye Tozer and Susan Wokoma. In addition, Maureen Beattie will present the Equity Award for Services to Theatre; and Elaine Paige will present the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical.

Each of the 5 nominated productions for Best New Musical will perform live at the event – Bit of a Sort from Only Fools and Horses, You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen, It’s My Life from & Juliet, Welcome to the Rock from Come From Away, and She Used to be Mine from Waitress.

There will also be a performance of I’m Here by the cast of Curve Leicester and Birmingham Hippodrome’s production of The Color Purple, which is nominated in the Best Regional Production category, as well as two further numbers specially created for the evening. The event is co-produced by Paul Taylor-Mills.

Leading this year’s nominations is the new musical & Juliet – currently running at the Shaftesbury Theatre, with 13 nominations across acting and creative categories including nominations for leading actors Miriam-Teak Lee and Oliver Tompsett who play Juliet and Shakespeare respectively, supporting actor nominations for Jordan Luke Gage, Cassidy Janson and Melanie La Barrie, Best New Musical, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Graphic Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Set Design, Best Sound Design and Best Video Design. In the musical categories, Evita follows with 8 nominations and Mame and Waitress with 7 nominations each, and Come from Away and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat both with 5 nominations.

In the straight play categories, Best New Play is a contest between The Doctor, The Son, My Beautiful Laundrette, Life of Pi and Appropriate; and Best Play Revival nominees are Betrayal, Death of a Salesman, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lungs and Present Laughter. The latter of these leads the play categories with 8 nominations; including Best Actor in a Play for Andrew Scott, Best Supporting Actress in a Play nominations for Sophie Thompson and Indira Varma and Best Direction for Matthew Warchus.

For the full list of nominations, please see below.

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THE 20^TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARD NOMINATIONS IN FULL:

BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY SPONSORED BY EDWARDIAN HOTELS

Tom Hiddleston – Betrayal

Andrew Scott – Present Laughter

Matt Smith – Lungs

Wendell Pierce – Death of a Salesman

Laurie Kynaston – The Son

BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY SPONSORED BY TONIC THEATRE

Claire Foy – Lungs

Zawe Ashton – Betrayal

Hayley Atwell – Rosmersholm

Sharon D. Clarke – Death of a Salesman

Juliet Stevenson – The Doctor

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Alexander Vlahos – Peter Pan

Charlie Cox – Betrayal

Hareet Deol – My Beautiful Laundrette

Hammed Animashaun – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Giles Terera – Rosmersholm

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Ria Zmitrowicz – The Doctor

Isabella Pappas – Appropriate

Monica Dolan – All About Eve

Sophie Thompson – Present Laughter

Indira Varma – Present Laughter

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL SPONSORED BY DEWYNTERS

David Hunter – Waitress

Sam Tutty – Dear Evan Hansen

Jac Yarrow – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Oliver Tompsett – & Juliet

Charlie Stemp – Mary Poppins

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL SPONSORED BY CAFÉ DE PARIS

Lucie Jones – Waitress

Katharine McPhee – Waitress

Miriam-Teak Lee – & Juliet

Tracie Bennett – Mame

Zizi Strallen – Mary Poppins

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL SPONSORED BY THE UMBRELLA ROOMS

Joe Sugg – Waitress

Jack Loxton – Dear Evan Hansen

Jordan Luke Gage – & Juliet

Oscar Conlon-Morrey – Only Fools and Horses

Jason Donovan – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL SPONSORED BY NEWMAN DISPLAYS

Laura Baldwin – Waitress

Marisha Wallace – Waitress

Cassidy Janson – & Juliet

Melanie La Barrie – & Juliet

Rachel Tucker – Come From Away

BEST NEW PLAY SPONSORED BY TICKETMASTER

The Doctor

The Son

My Beautiful Laundrette

Life of Pi

Appropriate

BEST PLAY REVIVAL SPONSORED BY JHI MARKETING

Betrayal

Death of a Salesman

Present Laughter

A Midsummer Night’s Dream [Bridge Theatre]

Lungs

BEST NEW MUSICAL SPONSORED BY h CLUB LONDON

Waitress

& Juliet

Dear Evan Hansen

Come From Away

Only Fools and Horses

BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL SPONSORED BY CONCORD THEATRICALS

Mary Poppins

Evita

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Mame

9 to 5 The Musical

BEST OFF-WEST END PRODUCTION SPONSORED BY LES MISERABLES

Fiver

The View UpStairs

High Fidelity

Preludes

Falsettos

BEST REGIONAL PRODUCTION SPONSORED BY MTI EUROPE

Mame

The Color Purple

Life of Pi

My Beautiful Laundrette

West Side Story [Royal Exchange Manchester]

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Fabian Aloise – Evita

Matthew Bourne – Romeo & Juliet

Kelly Devine – Come From Away

Jennifer Weber – & Juliet

Nick Winston – Mame

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Lez Brotherston – Romeo & Juliet

Katrina Lindsay – Small Island

Rob Howell – Present Laughter

Philip Witcomb – Mame

Paloma Young – & Juliet

BEST DIRECTION SPONSORED BY LOVETHEATRE

Marianne Elliott & Miranda Cromwell – Death of a Salesman

Robert Icke – The Doctor

Jamie Lloyd – Evita

Matthew Warchus – Lungs

Matthew Warchus – Present Laughter

BEST GRAPHIC DIRECTION SPONSORED BY HEXAGON PRINT

& Juliet – Dewynters

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Muse Creative Communications

Equus – Feast Creative

Evita – Feast Creative

Rosmersholm – Bob King Creative

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN SPONSORED BY WHITE LIGHT

Jon Clark – Evita

Ben Cracknell – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Howard Hudson – & Juliet

Jessica Hung Han Yun – Equus

Tim Lutkin & Hugh Vanstone – Present Laughter

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION

Ian Eisendrath, Alan Berry & Team – Come From Away

Kimberly Grigsby – The Light in the Piazza

Alex Parker – Mame

John Rigby – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Alan Williams – Evita

BEST SET DESIGN SPONSORED BY SINE DIGITAL

Soutra Gilmour – & Juliet

Soutra Gilmour – Evita

Rob Howell – Present Laughter

Robert Jones – The Light in the Piazza

Rae Smith – The Night of the Iguana

BEST SOUND DESIGN SPONSORED BY STAGE SOUND SERVICES

Ben Harrison – Mame

Nick Lidster – Evita

Gareth Owen – & Juliet

Gareth Owen – Come From Away

Mick Potter – The Light in the Piazza

BEST VIDEO DESIGN SPONSORED BY PRG

Jon Driscoll – Small Island

Will Duke – Grief is the Thing With Feathers

Andrzej Goulding – & Juliet

P J McEvoy – Falsettos

Ewan Jones Morris – A Very Expensive Poison

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