Month: December 2020

TRACING MOVEMENT LAUNCHES SHORT FILM

REBOUND

Tracing Movement today announces Rebound; a filmed dance piece performed onstage at Theatre Royal Stratford East, directed and choreographed by Stuart Winter. The short film is performed by professional dancers Ben Brown, Michael Duke, Lukas Hunt, Robin Kent, Justin Lee Jones and Daniel Monteiro and is available via YouTube

Rebound references this unique time in history where performers are unable to connect with audiences. It was created from Tracing Movement Reboot; a three-week programme which ran in October and November offering support and development to freelance professional dancers and those recently graduated who were unable to train or perform due to restrictions caused by Covid-19.

Stuart Winter today said, “Rebound lets you plug in to the sensations dancers feel while performing. By inviting you onto the stage, you witness the current of energy that drives movement, and the joy felt by the artists. I’ve tried to capture the feeling from the end of the original recording of Unsquare Dance where the band burst into laughter in surprise that they made it through in one take. I want to express that feeling from the dancer’s perspective: what does it feel like when you get to the end of a combination? It was so powerful to be back in a theatre, making this film. We got to breathe some life back onto the stage and make a piece of art which shows the strength and ability of dancers to rebound from the pandemic.”

Stuart Winter is a choreographer, dancer, director and educator. His performing career included West End productions of Chicago, An American in Paris, Mary Poppins, Chess, Pajama Game and Sunset Boulevard and he has been an associate to Christopher Wheeldon, Stephen Mear and Chrissie Cartwright. Stuart has created seven dance films for Tracing Movement, working with collaborators Greg Bernstein (editor) and Ben Thomas (DOP), including the pas-de-trois Focal Point, The Heavyweight which used 24 dancers, and most recently Tracing Movement Together which was created online during lockdown and featured over 100 dancers from 17 countries.

CREATIVE TEAM

Director and Choreographer: Stuart Winter

Performers: Ben Brown, Michael Duke, Lukas Hunt, Robin Kent, Justin Lee Jones and Daniel Monteiro

Director of Photography: Benjamin Thomas

Editor: Greg Bernstein

Music: Unsquare Dance – Paddy Milner/Dave Brubeck

Tracing Movement ReBoot and the short film Rebound have been made possible through generous support from individuals and organisations including Actor/Producer Peter Land, Jerwood Space and Theatre Royal Stratford East

hampsteadtheatre.com | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

#HTDumbWaiter #BackOnStage

HAMPSTEAD THEATRE RELEASES ‘FIRST LOOK’ PRODUCTION IMAGES FOR THE 60^TH ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF THE DUMB WAITER AHEAD OF THE VENUE REOPENING ON 3 DECEMBER 2020

​

New production images are released for Hampstead Theatre’s 60^th anniversary production of The Dumb Waiter ahead of the venue reopening on 3 December 2020.  The theatre closed its building following UK Government advice on 16 March 2020.  The Dumb Waiter will run until 16 January 2021.  

The theatre has also released a short Keeping You Safefilm (voiceover by Tamsin Greig) to illustrate its new safety measures.

Acclaimed stage and screen actors Alec Newman and Shane Zaza play the roles of Ben and Gus, respectively, in this 60^th anniversary production directed by Alice Hamilton, originally programmed for spring.  She is joined by designer James Perkins, with lighting design by James Whiteside and Composition and Sound Design by Giles Thomas. 

Harold Pinter’s iconic playThe Dumb Waiter first premiered as part of Hampstead Theatre’s inaugural season in 1960 and was directed by Hampstead’s founder James Roose-Evans.

Alec Newman has appeared in many critically acclaimed television shows, films and stage productions over the years.  Recent TV credits include the award-winning BBC period drama Call the Midwife (2020) and psychological thriller TV series Eullenia (2020).  His credits at Hampstead Theatre include Tom Stoppard’s Hapgood (2015/16), Andrew Keatley’s Alligators (2016, 2017) and Terry Johnson’s production of Uncle Vanya (2019).

Shane Zaza is known to television audiences for his roles in BBC dramas Happy Valley (2014) and Press (2018); American drama Will (2017) and Netflix’s Black Mirror (2016).  Recent theatre credits include Europe at Donmar Warehouse (2019), Dear Elizabeth at Gate Theatre (2019) and Frankenstein at Royal Exchange Theatre (2018).  The Dumb Waiter marks Zaza’s debut at Hampstead Theatre.

Harold Pinterwrote twenty-nine plays including The Birthday Party, The Caretaker, The Homecoming and Betrayal. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005. 

Alice is co-Artistic Director of Up in Arms and and credits with Hampstead Theatre include the Olivier-nominated Every Day I Make Greatness Happen (2018) and Paradise(2019). 

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR

THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR PLAYWRITING 2020

In a digital ceremony tonight,the winners of the inaugural The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020 were announced. Due to an exceptionally strong field, the judging panel selected two first prize winners: Amy Trigg for REASONS YOU SHOULD(N’T) LOVE ME and Ahlam for YOU BURY ME.  The winning playwrights each receive £12,000 in respect of an exclusive option for the co-producers of the Prize to produce their play.

The Women’s Prize for Playwriting has been created by Ellie Keel Productions (EKP) and Paines Plough, with 45North and in association with Sonia Friedman Productions to celebrate and support exceptional UK and Ireland-based playwrights who identify as female. Sponsored by Samuel French Ltd, a Concord Theatricals company, who are the official publishing partner of the prize.

Amy Trigg said today, “Winning The Women’s Prize for Playwriting is such an honour. It’s a bit of a shock, but a lovely one! It’s been so joyful to be a part of this process and connect with such wonderful writers along the way. Thank you to everyone who made this award happen – the industry is lucky to have you.

My play is about a disabled woman but at its heart it is a universal story about love, growing up and feeling unfinished. I hope the audience finds the play relatable in lovely but sometimes heart-breaking ways.

A year ago I was worried about sending my play out to be read by strangers. Would it be good enough? Would I feel exposed? Would I regret it? Fortunately, I had some mates who told me to ‘just do it’. If you are reading this and haven’t yet had that encouragement, then I’ll tell you now: ‘just do it;. I’ll be cheering you on!”

Ahlam commented, “I am completely stunned and honoured to have won the inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting. 

I hope You Bury Me offers a glimpse into the painful and beautiful paradox that is Cairo, and her stories that are full of love and tenderness, as well as rage and violence.

I want to thank everyone involved at The Women’s Prize for Playwriting for believing that this is a story worth telling, I cannot describe what this means to me.”  

Ellie Keel added, “I’m honoured and delighted that the inaugural year of The Women’s Prize for Playwriting yielded such a strong field of longlisted, shortlisted and Finalist plays. I’m also proud that our judges took the bold step of tearing up the rulebook and awarded two first prizes to these two exceptional plays which bookend the breadth of female writing for the stage so beautifully. I am so proud of the writers we have worked with and all that we have achieved with this Prize in its first year, and cannot wait to produce these winning plays.”

Katie Posner and Charlotte Bennett, joint Artistic Directors of PainesPlough,also commented, “The outstanding quality of our finalists is evidence of the rich talent that exists and exactly why awards such as The Women’s Prize for Playwriting are vital in celebrating these voices. Each of the seven finalists exhibited exceptional qualities that shone through their work and we are so honoured that we were able to read them. The plays are bold and urgent stories and each one deserves to be seen by future audiences far and wide. Choosing the winner was extremely hard and when it came to the final conclusion, the judges decided to award the prize to two writers; Amy Trigg for REASONS YOU SHOULD(N’T) LOVE ME and Ahlam for YOU BURY ME. Crucially, the writers are not sharing the first prize but have been awarded as winners in their own right, both receiving the full first prize support we pledged. Amy’s play is incredibly funny and bursting with heart, relating to any person who has navigated the rollercoaster of dating in your twenties. Ahlam’s is a political, ambitious play, set against the backdrop of Cairo, sharing the story of the city and its culture and told through the eyes of young people living in a policed state. Both plays tell important and much needed unheard stories and we are exceptionally proud to be able to support them both to have a life in theatre when live performances rise again.”   

Winners were selected from a shortlist of 35 plays from 1,169 entries. The judging panel for 2020 was chaired by senior literary agent Mel Kenyon, and included actor and director Adjoa Andoh; actress and playwright Monica Dolan; Sarah Frankcom, Director of LAMDA; playwright Ella Hickson; Kate Packenham, producer; actress and playwright Maxine Peake; and Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham.

www.womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk

@WomensPlayPrize

REASONS YOU SHOULD(N’T) LOVE ME

By Amy Trigg

Juno was born with Spina bifida and is now clumsily navigating her twenties amidst street healers, love, loneliness and the feeling of being an unfinished project.

Amy Trigg is a writer and actor from Essex. Reason You Should(n’t) Love Me is her first full length play. Trigg’s essay An Ode to Improvisation (and Poehler and Fey) features in the book Feminist’s Don’t Wear Pink (and other lies) curated by Scarlett Curtis. She wrote two short digital plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Midsummer Festival in 2020, and her one-woman sketch The Rebrand won Colchester New Comedian of the Year 2016. Born with Spina bifida, she was the first wheelchair user to graduate from a performance course at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

YOU BURY ME

By Ahlam

The play is about love and resistance in Cairo.

Telling Stories:

Truth, lies and the death of compassion

A conversation with Karen Armstrong, Amin Maalouf and Simon McBurney, hosted by Esther Woolfson

8 Dec 2020, 7.30pm

Free 

Live on Complicité’s YouTube 
youtube.com/user/CompliciteCompany

Complicité theatre company’s Artistic Director, Simon McBurney, will be joined online by award-winning writers Karen Armstrong, Amin Maalouf and Esther Woolfson to discuss stories: why we tell them, what they do, and, in particular, the story of how we got to where we are now.

As writers and commentators Karen Armstrong and Amin Maalouf explore issues of identity, society, politics and religion with insight, rigour and clarity of thought. Simon McBurney has been described as an extraordinary mix of actor, auteur and anthropologist. Together, with host Esther Woolfson, they will delve into the past, unpick the present and gaze into an uncertain future to explore the role of storytellers in an era of division, noise and ever accelerating change.

“We live in volcanic times. We are surrounded by more fiction than at any time in history or prehistory but we seem unable now to know which stories to believe in and which are lies.

Theatres are empty, concert halls silent and eleven months on we are still in the middle of a pandemic that has killed more than 1.46 million people on the planet, 58,000 of those in the UK. Not only have 58,000 people died, but we question our leadership, their capacity to listen. Sometimes, compassion itself, seems to have died. So, what is the place of the artist and art in this moment?

Stories and myths, as Karen Armstrong puts it, place us “…in the correct spiritual or psychological posture for right action, in this world or the next.”

So why have we abandoned some stories? And does this mean we need storytellers, artists and writers even more? What can they add to the ocean of stories we are already drowning in?

“The future is written nowhere…you have to write it.” Amin Maalouf

What it the place of the artist? And what do we do?
Bring hope?

Join together?

To find… other ways of listening?”

Simon McBurney
Complicité, Artistic Director 

The Haunting of Alice Bowles is the company’s fourth Original Theatre Company’s online production since theatres were closed by the Government in March this year. It will be available to watch via originaltheatreonline.com from 7.30pm on 17 December 2020 until 28 February 2021.

The new supernatural thriller The Haunting of Alice Bowles by Philip Franks, adapted for the first time from the M.R. James chilling short ghost story, The Experiment. 

The production stars Tamzin Outhwaite (EastEnders, New Tricks, Hotel Babylon, Sweet Charity) as Alice, Max Bowden (EastEnders, Waterloo Road, Birdsong) as Matt, Stephen Boxer (The Crown, Humans, Garrow’s Law, countless productions for the RSC and National Theatre) as Dr Hall, Jack Archer (Monogamy, Quaint Honour, Nivelli’s War) as Joseph, Alexandra Guelff (Witness for the Prosecution, The Habit of Art) as Caitlin, Robert Mountford (Holby City, North Square, The Habit of Art) as the Lawyer, Poppy Roe (A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life, Royal Matchmaker) as Mrs Ivey and Tim Treloar (Birdsong, King Lear) as the Boatman.The Haunting of Alice Bowles is co-directed by Philip Franks and Alastair Whatley, designed by Adrian Linford and edited by Tristan Shepherd, with sound design and original music composed by Max Pappenheim.

The online production of The Haunting of Alice Bowles is produced by Original Theatre Company.

Constella presents Christmas Gala in aid of their
Connecting Stars initiative for care home
residents
Available online from Tuesday 8th December 2020

Loneliness among the elderly is a crisis that is only becoming more urgent as Christmas approaches. Earlier this year, the world’s only dedicated opera-ballet company, Constella, launched Connecting Stars to provide free one-to-one virtual performances to isolated care home residents; their upcoming Christmas Gala hopes to raise money to continue their series and meet growing demand

Their Christmas Gala, filmed in Studio Wayne McGregor, will be presented in two acts with instrumentalists in full costume to propel the gala to new theatrical heights. Act 1 will be framed within the context of Constella’s award-winning and critically acclaimed Sideshows. With introductions from The Ringmaster, their diverse repertoire will include an opera-ballet performance of The Bearded Lady from Sideshows, a highly virtuosic solo accordian performance of Piazzola’s Adios Nonino, music from West Side Story and Habanera from Carmen. Harp and violin duet Olivia Jageurs and Phillipa Mo will perform Heifetz’ Deep River and a beautiful Handel sonata

Act 2 will see the musicians enter a Christmassy wonderland. A much-loved classic will have enriched meaning in the world premiere of He shall feed His flock like a shepherd from Handel’s Messiah, now choreographed by Jaered Glavin in true opera-ballet style. This will be followed by three excerpts from Nutcracker, finishing with the original treble chorus from Waltz of the Snowflakes.

Since the launch of Connecting Stars, over 50 care homes have taken part with nearly 150 performances reaching over 2,000 residents. Loneliness amongst the elderly has long been a shocking crisis in the UK and it’s only exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic this year. By fundraising through this beautiful gala, Constella hope to be able to reach more care homes in future months, as well as provide care homes with this digital gala free of charge for their residents to enjoy this Christmas.

Constella founder, Leo Geyer says, We are proud to have redirected our energies to play our part in the battle against the pandemic. It has been our honour to bring joy and happiness to the elderly combating the pressing issues of loneliness and isolation in care homes. Our virtual performances have become an essential and permanent fixture for many care home residents across the country. We hope that you will enjoy our virtual gala and help us to continue Connecting Stars

Burwood Nursing Home comments, Our residents really appreciated the audience participation, the great variety of songs, and the fabulous sense of fun. One resident described your singing as “a burst of sunshine”. After the call we had a great discussion about the songs and the amazing expressions and emotions you had.

THE THEATRE CHANNEL

RELEASE DATE AND LINE UP ANNOUNCED FOR

EPISODE 4 – THE HOLIDAY SPECIAL EPISODE

DROPPING ON WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER

MATT CROKE, SOPHIE-LOUISE DANN, CASSIDY JANSON, RACHEL JOHN, ZIZI STRALLEN, MANON TARIS, TOSH WANOGHO-MAUD,

AND THE GRADUATES OF ARTSED 2020

EPISODES 1 – 4 ON SALE NOW – AVAILABLE TO BOOK HERE

Adam Blanshay Productions and The Theatre Café are pleased to announce further details for the fourth episode of The Theatre Channel – The Holiday Special.

Episode 4 will feature a host of festive songs and will be released on Wednesday 23 December and with the following line up of talent and performances: 

Matt Croke (Disney’s Aladdin, Wicked) and Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Dreamgirls, Showboat) singing a duet version of a new arrangement of “Happy Holidays” and “Let’s Start The New Year Right” from Holiday Inn

Olivier Award nominee Sophie-Louise Dann (The Girls, Made in Dagenham) singing “We Need A Little Christmas” from Mame

Olivier Award winner Cassidy Janson (&Juliet, Beautiful) singing “White Christmas” from White Christmas

Oivier Award nominee Rachel John (Hamilton, Memphis) singing “A Brand New Day” from The Wiz

Oivier Award nominee Zizi Strallen (Mary Poppins, Follies) singing “Turkey Lurkey Time” from Promises Promises

Manon Taris (The Phantom of the Opera) singing “Ave Maria Païen”from Notre Dame de Paris

The Café Four and Graduates from the ArtsEd class of 2020 singing “Seasons of Love” from Rent

Producer Adam Blanshay said, “As we reach the culmination of arguably the most challenging year of the past several decades, our goal with Episode four is to consider and contemplate upon the hardships we have faced, recognize those whom we have lost, but also instil a joyous celebration of the Holiday season, and the promise of the year ahead with brighter times to come. The Holiday episode will exist as a timeless anthem of reflection and hope that will brighten the spirit, no matter the season or time of year. Furthermore, we are so thrilled to be working with the Graduating students of ArtsEd whose burgeoning careers were abruptly halted by the pandemic, hopefully giving them a platform to blossom as the theatre community begins to reopen the doors to live performances once again.”

Sue Sandle, Director of Development at ArtsEd, said, “The whole performing arts industry has been facing significant hardship these last few months.  Recent graduates of drama school have been hit particularly hard, entering a world that is always full of challenges at a time when opportunities are few and far between.  It is important that the industry does all that it can to support these storytellers and theatremakers of the future.  We are thrilled to be working with Adam Blanshay Productions and The Theatre Cafe to offer our recent grads new opportunities and new experiences with The Theatre Channel.”

The Theatre Channel is an innovative web series showcasingwell-known musical theatre classics – a unique hybrid of stage and screen. Performed by the cream of British and international musical theatre talent, each episode is staged and filmed with high production values on location at The Theatre Café in the heart of the West End, making full use of the whole space – from the bar seating area all the way up to the roof – and feature a mix of 5-6 standalone performances. Many of the performances are supported by the Café Four, a regular cast made up of other West End talents.

The first three episodes – starring Tarinn Callender, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Oliver Ormson, Matt Henry MBE, Lucie Jones, Jenna Russell, Jodie Steele, Aimie Atkinson, Linzi Hateley, Bradley Jaden, Ria Jones, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Josh Piterman, Jordan Shaw, Shan Ako, Alex Gaumond, Rob Houchen, Francesca Jackson, Aisha Jawando and John Owen-Jones are available to purchase and download via www.thetheatrecafe.co.uk/channel – once purchased, audiences are able to watch episodes unlimited times for up to 7 days.

The Theatre Channel’s Café Four is comprised of Alyn Hawke (Oklahoma, Follies, 42^nd Street), Emily Langham (The Boy Friend, Oklahoma, West Side Story), Sadie-Jean Shirley (City of Angels, Ghost: The Musical, Aladdin) and Alex Woodward (Mamma Mia, Hairspray). 

The Theatre Channel is produced by Adam Blanshay Productions and The Theatre Café, with direction and choreography by Bill Deamer and musical supervision by Michael England, set and costume design by Gregor Donnelly, lighting design by Jack Weir, sound design by Keegan Curran, videography by Ben Hewis and hair and makeup by Diana Hudson.

www.thetheatrecafe.co.uk/the-theatre-channel

@AdamBlanshayPro

@thetheatrecafe

#TheTheatreChannel

Playful Productions, Stage Play and Cedella Marley present 

GET UP, STAND UP!

THE BOB MARLEY MUSICAL
 

TICKETS FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF GET UP, STAND UP! THE BOB MARLEY MUSICAL ARE ON SALE TODAY 

THE PERFECT TONIC, MARLEY’S LEGEND WILL LIGHT UP THE WEST END BRINGING HOPE AND POSITIVITY JUST WHEN WE NEED IT MOST 
 

FIRST PREVIEW WILL BE ON MAY 28TH 2021 AT THE LYRIC THEATRE, SHAFTESBURY AVENUE.  

THE PRODUCTION TAKES INSPIRATION FROM MARLEY’S VISIONARY LYRICS TO TELL HIS EXTRAORDINARY PERSONAL STORY, AND FEATURES AN ELECTRIFYING MIX OF HIS HITS PLAYED LIVE  

THE PRODUCTION HAS UNLIMITED ACCESS TO MARLEY’S PLATINUM-SELLING CATALOGUE OF MUSIC 

GET UP, STAND UP! THE BOB MARLEY MUSICAL IS BROUGHT TO THE STAGE BY THE MULTI AWARD-WINNING TEAM OF WRITER LEE HALL AND DIRECTOR CLINT DYER  

THE PRODUCTION WILL STAR ARINZÉ KENE AS BOB MARLEY  

BOOKING IS NOW OPEN AT GetUpStandUpTheMusical.com.  OVER 1000 TICKETS AT £25 OR UNDER EVERY WEEK. 

AS PARTNERS OF GET UP, STAND UP! THE BOB MARLEY MUSICAL, THE BLACK TICKET PROJECT WILL DISTRIBUTE 1000 TICKETS FOR PERFORMANCES IN THE FIRST BOOKING PERIOD 

THE PRODUCTION IS COMPLYING WITH SOLT’S SEE IT SAFELY CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE AUDIENCE SAFETY IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE 

Producers Playful Productions, Stage Play and Cedella Marley are delighted to announce that tickets for the brand new musical Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical are finally on sale today. Full booking information can be found at  GetUpStandUpTheMusical.com 

‘It’s not all that glitters is gold, half the story has never been told’ 

Lively up yourself and celebrate the story of Jamaica’s global superstar, as the electrifying new production, Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, bursts into life from June 2021 at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.

From the hills of rural Jamaica, armed only with his overwhelming talent and righteous beliefs, Bob Marley applied himself with resolute determination to achieve international acclaim for his prophetic musical message – a gospel of love and unity.

With unlimited access to Marley’s platinum-selling catalogue of music, the multi award-winning team of Lee Hall (writer), Clint Dyer (director) and Arinzé Kene (playing Bob Marley) capture the rebellious spirit and story of this universal icon.  A euphoric company of performers fuse with the finest reggae musicians to bring this triumphant tale of passion, political unrest and progress from Trenchtown to the West End.

Lose yourself to the rhythm of ‘Exodus’, ‘No Woman No Cry’, ‘Waiting in Vain’, ‘Three Little Birds’, ‘I Shot the Sheriff’, ‘Could You Be Loved’, ‘Redemption Song’ and many more.

‘One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain’.

The full creative team has also been announced:

Choreographer – Shelley Maxwell

Musical Supervisor – Phil Bateman

Set Designer – Chloe Lamford

Lighting Designer – Charles Balfour

Sound Designer – Tony Gayle

Costume Designer – Lisa Duncan

Video Designer – Tal Yarden

Casting Director – Pippa Ailion CDG

Musical Director – Sean Green

Cedella Marley said: “Our father’s music has for so long been an inspiration to so many people. We are proud that audiences will be able to sit in his company for a little while and, we hope, feel better about themselves, and the world. The wonderful team bringing this story to the stage will create a special evening in honour of our father.”

Clint Dyer, Director,  said: “At long last! We have been waiting too long for this moment. It is a dream come true to be part of this project and I cannot wait to get into the rehearsal room to start work with Arinzé and the whole team to bring Bob’s music and story to life. What better way to soothe our souls after this troublesome year than with the music and spirit of one of the world’s great prophets.”

Arinzé Kene said: “It is Time. For. Bob. I am honoured and blessed to be taking on this role. Nothing feels more right, more hopeful than to be stepping into his shoes. I plan to immerse myself in his healing vibes and I hope very much we will be able to do justice to the great man.”

Twitter and Instagram: @TheComebackPlay Facebook: @TheComebackComedy #TheComeback www.TheComebackComedy.co.uk

Sonia Friedman Productions

Tulchin Bartner Productions

in association with

Playing Field, Eilene Davidson Productions, Rupert Gavin/Mallory Factor, David Mirvish

present

THE COMEBACK

A new comedy by Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen

• NEW REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED TODAY.

• PERFORMANCES BEGIN ONE WEEK TODAY – DECEMBER 8TH – AT THE NOEL COWARD THEATRE.

• HILARIOUS AND HEARTWARMING, THE COMEBACK DEPICTS THE BACKSTAGE TUSSLE OF TWO RIVAL COMEDY DUOS IN A DIZZYING CONTEMPORARY FARCE

• THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FAVOURITES BEHIND HIT RADIO 4 AND AUDIBLE SHOWS HAVE WON A HUGE TWITTER FOLLOWING DURING LOCKDOWN WITH A SERIES OF VIRAL ZOOM PARODIES

• A SURPRISE GUEST STAR WILL JOIN THE SHOW NIGHTLY

• THE PRODUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE UNDER SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES AT THE NOEL COWARD THEATRE FROM DECEMBER 8TH – JANUARY 3rd. WWW.THECOMEBACKCOMEDY.CO.UK

• OVER 1,000 TICKETS A WEEK AVAILABLE AT £25 OR UNDER

The Comeback, a brilliantly original and hilarious new comedy, is set to delight all generations at the Noel Coward Theatre this December. This debut play from The Pin’s award-winning Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen – ‘destined to become one of the great comedy duos’ (Radio Times) – tells the story of two double acts fighting to wrest control of the most chaotic, farcical and high-stakes gig of their respective careers. Directed by Emily Burns, The Comeback will have audiences doubled over laughing and wiping a tear away at the end with its heart-warming exploration of bittersweet nostalgia and the enduring power of friendship. This show is a much needed dose of feel-good, dizzying escapism with real emotional heart, and a celebrity guest each night to boot.

Up-and-coming comics Alex and Ben have been booked in the warm-up spot for a beloved but fading double act’s comeback tour. Neither duo are delighted to be playing to a sparse crowd in a sleepy, seaside town, but when it’s revealed that a Hollywood director is in the audience, both acts glimpse a final chance for their big break. Cue sabotage, mistaken identity and full on farcical mayhem, as the performance descends into a desperate battle for the limelight. With the action alternating between offstage and on, and the tone between Noises Off and Morecambe and Wise’s old-school charm, this is a warm-hearted, joyful, and dazzlingly funny new comedy.

Each night Ashenden and Owen will be joined on stage by a surprise celebrity guest star playing a cameo role in the production.

Previous praise for The Pin:

“Destined to become one of the great comedy duos” – Radio Times

“Exquisitely silly and very funny…makes you feel as though you might be hearing the next Mitchell and Webb” – The Times

“One of the most dazzling comedy shows in Edinburgh” ★★★★ Guardian

“I had a knot in my stomach from laughing so much” ★★★★ Times

“A very classy, very funny show indeed” ★★★★ Telegraph

“Will simply make you laugh your socks off” ★★★★ Evening Standard

“This absurdist deconstruction of the sketch show is masterful” ★★★★ Sunday Times

“A bulletproof nugget of comic theatre” Guardian

The production, which is the first produced by SFP since lockdown, will play at the Noel Coward Theatre. Audiences and company will observe social distancing guidelines and strict COVID-secure protocols. All practices will be following the most up-to-date government guidance and SOLT’s ‘See It Safely’ campaign.

Tickets for the production which will run at the Noel Coward Theatre from December 8th – January 3rd are available from www.thecomebackcomedy.co.uk.

Pay It Forward: Northern Stage supporters gift festive show to schools, hospitals and care homes across the North East this Christmas 

This December, Northern Stage and Kitchen Zoo are making a brand new adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic folktale, The Emperor’s New Clothes for audiences to experience at home from 12-31 December. And thanks the generosity of Northern Stage’s supporters, more than 22,000 North East school children will enjoy the show for free. 

A generous donation from the Hoults Family Grassroots Fund at the Community Foundation means that thousands of North East school children, as well as hospitals and care homes across the region, will be able to enjoy a festive treat this December, despite not being able to visit the theatre. 

Karen Turland from Lobley Hill Primary School in Gateshead said, “It is an absolutely fantastic thing for Northern Stage to do this year when the children and schools have had such a hard year. We really appreciate it. It’s just such a kind and lovely gesture.” 

Peta Hoult and her son Charlie, who is MD of Hoults Yard Hub in Newcastle, visited the theatre to see rehearsals for The Emperor’s New Clothes and hear how their generous donation will benefit pupils at the region’s schools, with children able to watch the play in their classroom bubbles before the end of term. 

During the visit, Peta Hoult chatted with new Northern Stage Artistic director Natalie Ibu about her lifelong love of theatre and of the joy it can bring in challenging times, recalling the time she performed on the main stage at Northern Stage (then called the Newcastle Playhouse) while studying Creative Arts at Northumbria University. 

Peta Hoult said, “As a family, we’ve seen the power of theatre to inspire and change lives. My aunt ran a theatre in Bristol throughout WW2 and long received letters from members in the audience who had enjoyed the escape it gave to daily challenges. The Little Theatre also gave a vital springboard to actors who went on to entertain the nation. Covid has taken a terrible toll on mental health, so we wish to see Northern Stage continue its role as a civic hub to reflect society’s journey through drama.” 

Natalie Ibu said, “We are all very thankful for the Hoult Family support of Northern Stage. Christmas promises to be a rather different celebration for all of us this year but thanks to the generosity of Peta and her family, we are able to share some festive theatrical magic with children across the region this December.” 

Su Legg, Senior Philanthropy Advisor, Community Foundation for Tyne and Wear said, “It is fantastic that the grant from the Hoult Family Grassroots Fund at the Community Foundation has enabled Northern Stage to create this inspired project that will help keep the spirit of Christmas alive for many children who might otherwise miss out on many of their usual Christmas activities.” 

To share the gift of theatre, donations of any amount can be made to the Northern Stage Pay it Forward appeal, an initiative to provide creative, fun experiences for local children and young people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to take part in the arts www.northernstage.co.uk/donate

The Emperor’s New Clothes will be streamed online from Saturday 12 – Thursday 31 December. Tickets are £15 per household. Book online at www.northernstage.co.uk or call 0191 230 5151. 

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Tickets and Information: 0191 230 5151
Book online: northernstage.co.uk