Month: June 2021

Kids Week is back this August with over 30 London shows participating

Tickets on sale 10am Wednesday 30 June at officiallondontheatre.com/kids-week 

Kids Week is #BackOnStage and this much loved, long-running initiative is the perfect way to introduce your family to the magic of live theatre over the summer holidays – from hit musicals and plays to comedies and family favourites.

Kids Week tickets go on sale at 10am on Wednesday 30 June, available from OfficialLondonTheatre.com. For the first time ever, we have extended the offer from ages 16 and under to 17 and under, as so many will have missed out on their last Kids Week experience due to lockdown, and we want to ensure that as many young people as possible can be welcomed into our theatres. 

During Kids Week, a child goes free when accompanied by a full paying adult to participating shows throughout August. We have had to set it up slightly differently this year, so although it will be the same fantastic deal in terms of what you pay, instead of one full price ticket and one free child ticket it will be presented as two half price tickets. As always, additional children go half price.

The safety of audiences and staff throughout Kids Week is our highest priority. Our industry-wide See it Safely mark, displayed at theatres across London, assures theatregoers that participating venues are following the latest Government guidance for live arts events.

Kids Week bookers can benefit from our ‘Book with Confidence, Exchange with Ease’ pledge, allowing them the opportunity to be able to exchange up to 24 hours prior to a performance if they are unable to attend due to Covid. As in previous years, we have set up an Access Priority Request Form for theatregoers with access requirements, available from 12pm on Friday 25 June until 6pm on Sunday 27 June.

We will assist with your trip planning by recommending the safest ways to travel to and from our theatres, the majority of which are within walking distance of a main line station or Q-Park car park (which offer parking discounts to theatregoers).

This year we sadly won’t be able to offer our show-linked activities, but we will be running a special programme of free theatre-themed activities in partnership with the Mayor of London, with more details coming soon. We will also be highlighting a host of other London activities in partnership with the Let’s Do London campaign, to ensure you make the most of your trip.

Emma De Souza, Kids Week founder and Head of Marketing & Communications at SOLT, said: 

‘After an incredibly hard year for the theatre industry, it is a joy to bring back Kids Week – we know how much of a beloved and hotly-anticipated part of the theatrical calendar it is! We cannot wait to welcome regulars and first-time families back into the West End this summer to enjoy the magic of a live show. 

‘Theatre is nothing without its audiences, and we are so grateful to everybody who can support Kids Week and help our industry rebuild. Please treat yourself and your family, and enjoy the best theatre that London has to offer.’

List of shows participating in Kids Week 2021

Additional shows might be added later in the promotion due to differing reopening schedules.

Amazing Bubble Man

Amélie The Musical

Anything Goes

Be More Chill

Billionaire Boy

Cirque Berserk

Come From Away

Dinosaur World Live

Doctor Who: Time Fracture

Dragons And Mythical Beasts

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Fireman Sam Live – Saves The Circus

Hairspray

Heathers The Musical

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Five

Hotel Paradiso

Disney’s The Lion King

Mamma Mia!

Mary Poppins

Les Misérables: The Staged Concert

Morgan And West Present: The Three Musketeers

The Mousetrap

One Step, Two Step

The Play That Goes Wrong

The Prince Of Egypt

Sam And Mark’s On The Road Show

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical

Singin’ In The Rain

Six

Stiles and Drewe’s – The 3 Little Pigs A Very Curly Musical Tale!

The Tiger Who Came To Tea

Twirlywoos Live

What The Ladybird Heard

Wonderville

Zog

Age recommendations for participating shows will vary. Please check the show listings on OfficialLondonTheatre.com for more information.

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#BackOnStage

Full casting announced for Zoe Cooper’s new play THE FLOCK

Chichester Festival Theatre’s Minerva Theatre, 6 – 28 August

The full company has been confirmed for the world premiere of Zoe Cooper’s new play The Flock, which runs at Chichester Festival Theatre’s Minerva Theatre from 6 – 28 August, with a press night on 12 August.

Stacy Abalogun, Samuel Barnett, Selina Cadell, Nick Fletcher, Victoria John and Libby Maiwill be directed by Guy Jones.

The parishioners of All Hallows Church are putting on a production of Noah’s Ark, one of a cycle of mystery plays performed by all the local parishes. The Bishop is hopeful the project will help paper over the cracks revealed by an unfortunate incident involving an evangelical, a glass of wine and an angry liberal.

Rory, All Hallows’ vicar, wants to keep a low profile, and his partner Simon is happy to provide musical accompaniment but would rather he wasn’t given any lines, thank you very much. 

The congregation, however, have other plans. For Patricia, the show is an opportunity to show off the church’s artistic talents, while the curate, Hannah, hopes it will give her a chance to get to know the parishioners better. Meanwhile, Fin becomes ever more infuriated at Rory’s hands-off approach and teenager Erin just hopes that this is a family where she might find a home. 

Above all, Rory wants to keep the ship – and his relationship – afloat. Can this battered vessel still offer its clergy and congregation sanctuary in the storm?

Compassionate and funny, The Flock depicts the bumpy road to inclusion for this community, asking how we can live and worship alongside one another when our differences are so marked. How do we remain together when we’re so far apart?

Zoe Cooper’s plays include the award-winning Jess and Joe Forever, and Out of Water (Orange Tree/RSC) which – directed by Guy Jones – was a Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist and shortlisted for the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright.

Stacy Abalogun plays Hannah; her theatre credits include Poet in Da Corner (Royal Court) and As You Like It (Shakespeare’s Globe), and on screen, the forthcoming Death on the Nile. She was nominated Best Recent Graduate at the 2020 Black British Theatre Awards.

Samuel Barnett (Simon) last appeared at Chichester in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead; his many stage credits include Olivier and Tony-nominated roles in The History Boys (also on film) and Twelfth Night; and on screen, The Lady in the Van and Twenty Twelve.

Selina Cadell (Patricia) also makes a welcome return to Chichester, where her appearances include The Dresser and The Government Inspector. Her other theatre work includes People and The Habit of Art (National Theatre), while her extensive TV roles include Mrs Tishell in all 10 series of Doc Martin.

Nick Fletcher (Rory) previously appeared at Chichester in For Services Rendered; his theatre work also includes The Deep Blue Sea (National Theatre) and A Doll’s House (Young Vic/West End/New York), while TV includes Father Brown and Outlander.

Victoria John (Fin)’s many appearances at Theatr Clwyd include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Cyrano de Bergerac and All My Sons; TV includes Miranda and Little Britain.

Libby Mai (Erin) was nominated for the BBC Audio Drama Award’s Best Debut 2021 for The Girl with a Pearl Earring (Radio 4); this is her professional stage debut, having graduated in 2021.

The Flock will be designed by Natasha Jenkins, with lighting by Zoe Spurr, sound design by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, musical direction and musical arrangements by Tom Brady, movement by Chi-San Howard and casting by Charlotte Sutton.

One performanceeach week will be socially distanced.

The Flock is sponsored by Genesis Town Planning

In a time when the world seems to be stood still, this reimagined digital production of [Title of Show] explores two questions:

How do artists still create in the midst of a global pandemic? And – perhaps more importantly – how do people communicate and connect in 2021, when human connection is of upmost importance, but seems impossible.

[Title of Show] is a musical that chronicles its own creation from inception to opening night on Broadway – in other words, it’s a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical.

Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, hear about a new digital musical theatre festival. However, the deadline for submissions is a mere three weeks away. With nothing to lose, the pair decides to try to create something new with the help of their friends Susan, Heidi and Mary.

With the cast in place, Jeff and Hunter begin a conversation about what to write about. Eventually, Jeff suggests they write about what to write about.

They make a pact to write up until the festival’s deadline and dream about the show changing their lives.

“[Title of Show]” – – taken from the space on the festival’s application form which asks for the [title of show] – – follows Hunter, Jeff and their friends on their journey through the gauntlet of creative self-expression.

They write and perform their show at the festival and learn lessons about themselves as people, friends and artists. [Title of Show] is, above all, a love letter to musical theatre, and to the joy of collaboration.

Trigger Theatre present their debut piece, the 2009 Tony Award Nominated Musical, [Title of Show]. This brand new company is formed by collaborators – and long time best friends – Andrew Gardiner and Ellie Higgins, two theatre artists who met during training at university back in 2013. Feeling creatively stunted and stagnant thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrew and Ellie set out to find a project that sparked them, little did they know that stumbling across [Title of Show] would result in an experience that not only transformed their creative process, but also their lives forever.

[Title of Show] is available to stream online at 7pm on Friday 25th of June and audiences have access to watch at any time until 7pm on Sunday 27th of June 2021.

Tickets cost £10 and are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/titleofshow

TRIGGER THEATRE

[email protected]

Young Vic Welcomes Two New Board Members

Varun Chandra and Farah Ramzan Golant join as Trustees

Glenn Earle, Chair of the Board, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director and Despina Tsatsas, Executive Director, today announce the appointment of Varun Chandra and Farah Ramzan Golant CBE as Trustees of the Young Vic board.

Glenn Earle, Chair of the Young Vic Board, said: “I am delighted today to welcome Farah and Varun to our board. They are established leaders in their own fields and I know that our board and our theatre will benefit hugely from their intellect, passion and creativity. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our recently retired Trustees for their many years of invaluable service and unwavering support to the Young Vic. They will forever remain dear friends of this theatre”.

Varun Chandra, Managing Partner of Hakluyt, said “Of all the theatre I’ve watched over the years, it is at the Young Vic that I’ve seen the most daring, the most provocative, and the most thought-provoking performances. I’m therefore delighted to be joining the board of this fantastic institution, one of the most brilliant and innovative of its kind in the world. The breadth of the Young Vic’s work and impact is extraordinary, and its success in identifying, enabling and promoting emerging talent is particularly noteworthy. It will be an honour to play a role in furthering this mission, and I’m greatly looking forward to working with Kwame, Despina and the other members of their outstanding team.”

Farah Ramzan Golant, Chief Executive Officer of kyu EMEA, said “It is an exciting time to join the Young Vic as Kwame and the team unleash the visceral power of theatre anew. I am inspired by their vision to curate experiences for audiences which we are all longing to share. It is a privilege to be a part of this movement that is so uniquely Young Vic in its voice and profound cultural effect.”

About Varun Chandra

Varun is the Managing Partner of Hakluyt, which helps leaders of the world’s largest companies and investment firms take better decisions, by advising them on the opportunities and risks facing their businesses. Prior to Hakluyt, he worked in investment and merchant banking.

Trained at Lehman Brothers, he went on to help build a regulated advisory firm for former Prime Minister Tony Blair, where he was responsible for transactions typically involving sovereign wealth and emerging markets businesses.

He has also co-founded a merchant bank with a private family investment company; advised a UK foreign secretary on business and economic issues; and invested in a number of early-stage companies.

Varun is a trustee of the Royal Academy Trust and the MCC Foundation, and sits on the boards of Sesame Workshop and IP Group, Inc.

He grew up in the north east of England, and now lives in London with his young family.  

About Farah Ramzan Golant CBE

Farah is the Chief Executive Officer of kyu EMEA. She has worked for three decades in the global creative and media industries, with an unfaltering belief in the power of creativity to tackle the world’s toughest problems. Farah has led commercial companies of scale as well as a not-for-profit enterprise of significance. Her quest at kyu, since joining in 2018, is to enable purpose-led growth of a creative Collective committed to propelling the economy and society forwards. Farah also serve on the boards of kyu’s Member Companies; ATÖLYE, based in Istanbul, Godfrey Dadich Partners, based in San Francisco and Public Digital, based in London.

From 2015 to 2018, Farah was seconded by Nike Inc. to be the CEO of Girl Effect, a creative non-profit building youth brands and mobile platforms to empower girls to change their lives. Previously, Farah was Chief Executive of All3Media, the UK’s biggest independent television content production group. Prior to that, Farah had a 22-year career at Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, the UK’s leading advertising group, rising through the ranks to become Chief Executive and a member of the BBDO worldwide board in NYC.  Farah served on the British Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group 2013 – 2015 and has served as a Business Ambassador for the Creative Industries of Britain. Farah currently serves as a Trustee of Sadler’s Wells dance company and Prince’s Trust International.

In 2011, Farah was awarded a CBE, and was named Business Woman of the Year in 2010 Asian Women of Achievement Awards. She graduated with a joint honours’ degree from Emmanuel College, Cambridge and has completed the Omnicom Advanced Management Programme at Babson College.

The current Young Vic board members are:

Varun Chandra

Nicky Dunn OBE

Glenn Earle (Chair)

Robert Easton 

Farah Ramzan Golant CBE

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith MBE

Ali Hossaini

Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE

Ebele Okobi

Abigail Sewell

Fiona Shaw 

Sita Thomas

Steve Tompkins MBE

Anna Williams 

CAST ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE WINDSORS: ENDGAME

Presented by Runaway Entertainment 
Written by George Jeffrie and Bert Tyler-Moore / Directed by Michael Fentiman

• THE WINDSORS: ENDGAME CAST INCLUDES CRYSTAL CONDIE, MATTHEW COTTLE, TOM DURANT-PRITCHARD, TRACY-ANN OBERMAN, CIARÁN OWENS, JENNY RAINSFORD, KARA TOINTON AND TIM WALLERS
• THE PRODUCTION WILL OPEN AT THE PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE ON 2 AUGUST WITH A PRESS NIGHT ON 10 AUGUST TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM WWW.THEWINDSORSENDGAME.COM 

Following the announcement of the World Premiere of George Jeffrie and Bert Tyler-Moore’s joyous stage adaptation of their huge Channel 4 hit The Windsors, The Windsors: Endgame which will open at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 2 August with a press night on 10 August, producers Runaway Entertainment are delighted to announce casting for the show. 

Joining Harry Enfield (Charles) as the cast of The Windsors: Endgame are Crystal Condie (Meghan); Matthew Cottle (Edward)*; Tom Durant-Pritchard (Harry)*; Tracy-Ann Oberman (Camilla); Ciarán Owens (Wills); Jenny Rainsford (Beatrice); Kara Tointon (Kate); Tim Wallers (Andrew)* plus more cast to be announced.

*reprising their roles in the TV series The Windsors

‘The show will be extremely funny, very silly and in the worst possible taste.’ Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales AKA Harry Enfield 

Crystal Condie said‘I can’t wait! It’s going to be the best thing on since Suits.’ 

Matthew Cottle said: ‘I am delighted to be returning to the role of Prince Edward, this time on stage, (his natural home), so he can really show off his full repertoire of accents and funny walks.’

Tom Durant-Pritchard said: ‘I’m looking forward to bringing Harry to the stage and getting back to a diet of crisps and lager.’

Tracy-Ann Oberman said: ‘After the past miserable year we have all had, I can think of nothing better than joining the riotously funny cast and crew of The Windsors: Endgame to bring a huge satirical belly laugh for audiences at The Prince Of Wales Theatre. Just the thought of playing Camilla P B in the Dallas-meets-The-Crown world that will appear on stage is making me smile.’

‘As a staunch republican it’s a huge surprise to suddenly find myself in line for the throne. I’m truly honoured to be granted an audience with comedy royalty King Harry Enfield and the rest of The Windsors.’ Ciarán Owens (Wills)

Jenny Rainsford said:‘I cannot WAIT to welcome people back to the West End with these searing insights into the backstage operations of the modern British monarchy.’

‘My first time on stage since the St Andrews graduate fashion show!! I’m so delighted to be joining this fabulous cast and becoming Princess Catherine.’ said Kara Tointon

‘How far is Pizza Express, Woking, from the Prince of Wales Theatre? I do love an after show pizza,’ Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, AKA Tim Wallers

Like all good soap operas, this is the story of intergenerational conflict, with Wills challenging his father for the crown and Camilla
determined to see him off and rule the land with an iron fist. Wills needs Harry and Meghan’s help if he’s ever going to triumph – but will they come back from California and their authentic life with their rescue chickens? And how will Beatrice and Eugenie ever clear their father, Prince Andrew’s name?

Written by the creators of the TV series, George Jeffrie and Bert Tyler-Moore, directed by Michael Fentiman (Amelie), and featuring songs, sword fights and snogging competitions, this show has everything you need to beat the lockdown blues! 

For a strictly limited run, book now for the Prince of Wales at the Prince of Wales theatre!

The Windsors: Endgame features set design by Madeleine Girling, lighting design by Jack Knowles, sound by George Dennis costume design by June Nevin, music by Felix Hagan and casting by Stuart Burt CDG.

The Windsors: Endgame is produced by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Isobel David, Gavin Kalin, Hunter Arnold, and Kater Gordon. The Windsors television series was produced by Noho Film & Television for Channel 4. 

MY SON’S A QUEER, BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?

EXTENDS, BY POPULAR DEMAND, FOR A FURTHER TWO WEEKS

WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY ROB MADGE & DIRECTED BY LUKE SHEPPARD

RUNNING AT THE TURBINE UNTIL SATURDAY 17 JULY 2021

My Son’s A Queer, But What Can You Do? written by and performed by Rob Madge (Oliver!, Les Misérables) and directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet, In The Heights) celebrates the joy and chaos of raising a queer child, and due to record ticket sales, will now extend for a further two weeks, now running until Saturday 17 July at the Turbine Theatre.

When Rob was 12, they attempted to stage a full-blown Disney parade in their house for their Grandma. As Rob donned a wig and played Mary Poppins, Ariel, Mickey Mouse and Belle, their Dad doubled as Stage Manager, Sound Technician and Goofy. Unfortunately, Dad missed all his cues and pushed all the floats in the wrong direction. Mum mistook Aladdin for Ursula. The costumes went awry. Ariel’s bubble gun didn’t even work properly. Grandma had a nice time though. 

Join Rob as they delve into the archives of their old home videos in attempt to recreate this parade and celebrate the joy that can be discovered when parents champion the creativity and absurdity of their child. 

Paul Taylor-Mills, Artistic Director, The Turbine Theatre, said: “Over the last year we’ve all spent a lot of time online. We’ve seen performers relish in the digital world and seeing Rob’s rise to social media notoriety has fascinated me. The first time I watched one of Rob’s childhood videos I burst into tears. It reminded me of my childhood and that there is another side of the queer narrative that is often presented on stage. And that was that, we set about sharing Rob’s beautiful story with more people.”

My Son’s A Queer But What Can You Do is written and performed by Rob Madge, with direction by Luke Sheppard,composition by Pippa Cleary,orchestration by Simon Nathan, mixing by Chris Fry, designs by Ryan Dawson Laight,projection design by George Reeve,lighting by Jai Morjaria,sound by Tingying Dong,video engineering by Neil McDowell Smith and associate sound design by Anna Short.

Due to the extension of My Son’s A Queer But What Can You Do, the production of My Night With Reg will now run at the Turbine Theatre from 21 July until 21 August 2021.

ROLL UP, ROLL UP,  

CIRQUE BERSERK!  

IS BACK IN THE WEST END! 

Britain’s biggest theatre-circus spectacular, Cirque Berserk!, brings its record-breaking show back to London’s West End, at The Garrick Theatre from 25 August – 11 September 2021. 

The hair-raising and hilarious Cirque Berserk! celebrates its return to the stage, following the cancellation of its performances since March last year due to lockdown restrictions. Combining contemporary cirque-style artistry with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action, the 2021 show features audiences’ favourite Berserk! acts from around the world plus some thrilling new ones. 

A unique collaboration between classical circus artists, some from tenth generation circus families, and a theatrical creative team, Cirque Berserk! is the UK’s biggest and most diverse full-scale circus production created specially for proscenium-arch theatres.

This astoundingly talented international troupe features over thirty acrobats, aerialists and daredevil stuntmen showcasing the finest in traditional circus thrills and skills, including the legendary high-speed motorcycle ‘Globe of Death’.  

The company has performed throughout the UK and internationally, and is a regular must-see at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it has established itself as the Fringe’s best-selling show of all time.  

Tickets go on sale Friday 25 June at 10am.  

★★★★★ 

‘This amazing show is like Cirque du Soleil on steroids… brings the big boys to the big top in an outrageous, death-defying circus that will leave you gasping for breath.’  

The Daily Express 

★★★★★ 

‘Great for kids and even better for adults!’ 

The Sun 

Martin ‘Zippo’ Burton, Cirque Berserk! Founder and Producer said :  

“We are so pleased to be bringing Cirque Berserk! back to the West End this August. It has been a challenging time for most arts organisations, including ours, so we’re pleased to be back on stage doing what we do best – entertaining audiences through ‘hold your breath’ moments and the sheer joy of witnessing the unimaginable. We are so excited to welcome back our audiences to enjoy the slice of culture we offer, but also to welcome new ones! The circus attracts a lot of first-time theatre goers, establishing someone’s love and hunger for live entertainment, which is essential during these times.” 

Cirque Berserk! is entirely non-verbal, and appeals to audiences of all ages. 

Performance includes loud noises, flashing lights, smoke effects and real motorbikes. 

CREATIVE TEAM: 

Martin ‘Zippo’ Burton                      Founder and Producer 

Beau Denning                                    Production Director 

Julius Green                                       Creative Director 

Dede McGarrity                                Movement Director 

Sean Cavanagh                                  Set Design  

Dianne Kelly                                      Costume Design 

Mike Robertson                                Lighting Design 

Matthew Bugg                                   Sound Design 

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION 

Cirque Berserk!   

The Garrick Theatre 

2 Charing Cross Road,  

London,  

WC2H 0HH 

Booking number:  0330 333 4811 

Website:  https://www.cirqueberserk.co.uk/ | https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/

Ticket prices £20 to £59.50 (special discounts for children) 

Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes (includes an interval) 

Tickets go on sale Friday 25 June at 10am 

PERFORMANCE TIMES

Wednesday 25 August – Saturday 11 September 2021, performance times vary.  

SOCIAL MEDIA  

Twitter – @CirqueBerserkUK 

Instagram – @cirqueberserk 

Facebook – /cirqueberserk 

#CirqueBerserk 

NEW SPINE-CHILLING GHOST STORY

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS

OPENING AT

PARK THEATRE, LONDON

FROM WEDNESDAY 18 AUGUST 2021

FOLLOWED BY UK TOUR

The producers of new spine-chilling ghost story, WHEN DARKNESS FALLS, are delighted to announce a limited season at Park Theatre, London, from Wednesday 18 August until Saturday 4 September. WHEN DARKNESS FALLS was due to play a limited season at The Union Theatre in London last November, but was unable to open due to the Government’s decision to close theatres in lockdown 2.0. Written by James Milton and Paul Morrissey, the production will be directed by Paul Morrissey. The audience will be socially distanced.

Casting is to be announced.

The London run will be followed by a UK tour, beginning at Theatre Royal Winchester on Thursday 16 September 2021. Further dates to be added.

Set on the island of Guernsey, John Blondel, a history teacher, runs the local Historical Society.  Tonight, as part of the Society’s weekly vlog, a young paranormal expert has been invited to give a talk on the island’s paranormal history. As John films, the Speaker’s stories – many of which are based on true events – unfold and delve into dark pasts, revealing disturbing truths and unforgettable terrors.

The show’s illusions will be designed by John Bulleid, an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle with Silver Star, whose other theatre credits include Harry Potter and The Cursed Child (Palace Theatre, London – current Magic & Illusion assistant), The Ocean At The End Of The Lane (The National Theatre – Associate to Jamie Harrison) and The Prince of Egypt (Dominion Theatre, London – Associate to Chris Fisher).

Director and co-writer, Paul Morrissey, says, “In many ways, maybe we’re all haunted. By the past. By regret. By shame. By things that have embedded themselves deep within us. A kind of trauma, that we relive. As we ‘see’ these events unfold, again and again, it’s quite clear that ghosts are very real. When Darkness Falls is a spine-chilling new play about the power of stories. Perhaps most importantly, the ones we tell ourselves.”

The producers added, “This has been a turbulent time for theatre, but on behalf of our cast, creative team and co-producers, we are proud to be returning with a brand-new thriller to what is arguably one of the most exciting venues in London, and some terrific touring venues too. While initial performances will be in front of socially distanced audiences, we will move to full capacity at the earliest possible opportunity in line with Government advice. In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming everyone into the safety and comfort of Park Theatre. If, that is, ‘on the edge of your seat’ can be considered comfortable!” 

In 2004, Paul Morrissey and producing partner James Milton were awarded The Stage One Bursary for New Producers. Together, they produced a number of UK and International theatre productions including Cats, Chess the Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The West End Men, which toured China, Europe and the UK before playing a six-week season at the Vaudeville Theatre, London.  As a solo producer, Paul’s shows have included Saturday Night Fever, South Pacific, Les Misérables in Concert, The Phantom of the Opera in Concert and the European premiere of the Broadway musical Brooklyn.  WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is James Milton’s first full-length play.  Paul Morrissey’s other writing includes the play Bingo! and the new musical Toys.

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is directed by Paul Morrissey and designed by Justin Williams, with lighting by Bethany Gupwell and sound by Daniel Higgot.

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is produced at Park Theatre by Paul Morrissey Limited, Chris Wheeler and Molly Morris, in association with Glynis Henderson Productions, Jason Haigh-Ellery, Dawn Smalberg and Bev Ragovoy and Park Theatre.

Website: whendarknessfalls.co.uk

LISTINGS INFORMATION

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS

18 August – 4 September 2021

Park200

Park Theatre

Clifton Terrace

Finsbury Park

London

N4 3JP

Box Office:  020 7870 6876*

Telephone booking fee applies

Tickets:  £23 – £27 (access concessions £18.50); Park Up members (16 – 26 years): £10 between 18 – 21 August

Performances:  Mondays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday at 3pm

Approximate Running Time: 90 minutes (no interval)

Suitable for 16+

Website: www.parktheatre.co.uk

Twitter: @ParkTheatre

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ParkTheatreLondon

Instagram: @parktheatrelondon

York Theatre Royal – until Saturday 26 June 2021

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

4****

British-Hong Kong Playwright Amy Ng adapts August Strindberg’s 1888 play, Miss Julie. Instead of Midsummer’s Eve in Sweden back in the nineteenth centre, the setting has been changed to 1940’s Hong Kong and the celebrations of the Chinese New Year.

Set in the aftermath of WWII Miss Julie, Sophie Robinson, is the spoilt, privileged, but niave, daughter of the British Governor. She gatecrashes the servant’s party downstairs in the kitchen. There are only two other characters, John, Leo Wan, the Governor’s chauffeur and his fiancée Christine, Jennifer Leong, the cook who has been with the family for years and helped raise Miss Julie.

Celebrations can be heard from outside, but inside things are heating up. Miss Julie, craving for attention, begs John to take her out on the streets, but John understand the ramifications and refuses her demands. Still, she does not let up until the inevitable conclusion, with her innocence gone.

Wan’s John is a complex character, despising his colonial master and what he stands for. He strives to better himself and will use whatever it takes to achieve that. When it becomes clear that his actions will not advance him in any way, he is brutal in his response. Robinson captures Miss Julie’s naïve persona perfectly, a child in an adult’s body wanting to push the boundaries and realising that you should be careful of what you wish for. Leong plays the amiable Christine with a quiet compassion and full of duty.

The set is atmospheric, the smell of incense in the air. Chinese lanterns and bamboo canes setting the simple, but effective, scene for the 75-minute show. The use of the Lion Dance, with spectacular dragon heads, to represent the lovemaking is inspired.

During the period of Colonial Hong Kong, the thought of any relationship with a Chinese servant and a white, advantaged woman would be taboo. Miss Julie plays on the forbidden and explores, through race and gender, where the power really lies.

This is a subtle adaptation, maybe lacking a bit of punch, but I thoroughly enjoyed the 75 minutes of performance.

Miss Julie is playing in York until Saturday 26th June as part of a small UK tour

Tara Theatre, London – until 26 June 2021

Reviewed by Emily Cliff

4 ½ ****

History. History is something we learn from, tell stories about and look back on in both fondness and in reflection. There’s no doubt that through this past year we have lived through enough revolutionary historical events to last us a million lifetimes; however it truly takes a creative mind to harness all the pain, sadness and loss experienced in 2020 and turn it into a collection of touching, close to home stories of normal people. And Abdul Shayek does exactly that.

The monologues performed in this collection of heart touching, down to earth stories gave us all an insightful gaze into the lives of shop workers, NHS staff and families living at home. The Tara Theatre is well known for specializing in performances surrounding the black, asian and minority ethinc groups in the area, giving people young and old the platform and the voice they need to make a difference in the world.

The first of four monologues (Tales Of The Past) was just as captivating as it was touching. Following on from the COVID crisis in Wuhan the story told in this monologue gives us the insight of a working young woman trapped with her mother finding ways to process grief whilst trying to come to grips with the new found freedom ahead of the rest of the world. Carmina Bernhardt perfectly displays the emotions of coming to grips with grief in a way most young people struggle with. Her deliverance was conversational and friendly whilst being deeply personal, reeling the audience in and making them feel a part of the character with all the highs and the lows.

Systematic racism has been fought and protested for years over time. However over the years there have been very little instances of actual change. The third monologue in this production (A New America) portrayed the struggles and translated them into a heart wrenching story about racism, self doubt and community spirit. David Webber tells this story of a decaying American dream where for every step taken forward, two are taken back. Creative sound and lighting in this monologue showed not only the effect of patriotic racism through the eyes of a working class black man, but the community spirit to help, and hopefully eradicate such behaviours. The story of a community coming together is something that is spoken so little about in the modern times, recent and unprecedented times have made this kind of interaction more important than ever. Both Abdul Shayek and David Webber managed to capture and harness something completely beautiful and organic out of a story of sadness, pain and sorrow.

The final monologue, and perhaps the most breathtaking was The Monster Inside. We clapped, banged pots, screamed and shouted for the NHS every Thursday back in the summer of 2020, but we never really confronted how overwhelmed nurses and doctors were. Anxiety is a theme that was very prominent through this production and even more explicitly in the last monologue. A poetic double act which saw the looming monster of anxiety creeping in and breathing down the neck of an overworked, underpaid, deliriously tired NHS worker tackled loss anxiety and the crumbling mental health of nurses and doctors that had to face COVID every day with a brave face. The chemistry between Moe Bar-El and Nicholas Khan was electric, each anxious thought and line sparked more and more until a ball of raw exhaustion exploded over the stage, seeping from the characters already deterring mental state. This performance was truly captivating.

One of the joys of independent theatre is you never quite know what you are going to get. While West End and Broadway productions have a certain aura surrounding them independent theatre has a completely different, almost organic energy coming out. History was made this year, and 2020 captured its essence wholeheartedly through the touching stories from around the globe. The Tara theatre continues to challenge the industry and to make it a more diverse safe space. As Abdul said at the beginning of the show “a quiet revolution is starting here” and you certainly don’t want to miss it.