West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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PERFORMANCES OF

H A R R Y   P O T T E R   A N D   T H E   C U R S E D   C H I L D

PARTS ONE AND TWO

TO RECOMMENCE ON 14 OCTOBER 2021

WWW.HARRYPOTTERONSTAGE.COM

Today (6 July 2021) the producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions are delighted to confirm that the original two-part multi award-winning production will resume performances at the Palace Theatre in London on 14 October 2021.  After over a year and a half of shutdown due to the pandemic, rehearsals for the West End production will begin this August.

Tickets for the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are currently available for performances at the Palace Theatre until 27 March 2022 and remain priced from £15 per part, and for every performance there are over 300 tickets at £20 or less per part. 

Jamie Ballard, who is returning to the title role of Harry Potter, said on behalf of the entire Company: “We are all so excited to be coming back to the magical world of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and have utterly missed being at the beautiful Palace Theatre as a family doing what we love. There is nothing quite as special as being able to share that unique experience with our wonderful audiences. It will be an absolute joy for us to perform for them once again and to welcome them back to our very own Hogwarts!”

Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender said: “Re-opening Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two in the West End and being part of the return of British Theatre makes us both happy and proud. To be back at the original home of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – the mothership – with our incredibly talented and committed company and welcoming back our audiences after such a devastating and prolonged closure will be emotional and thrilling for all of us.  

The world premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2016 at London’s Palace Theatre was such an extraordinary, historic moment in British theatre and it was just the beginning of the most incredible and unexpected journey for our show.  It’s an exceptional local and global success story and we are so grateful to everyone who has come along for the ride, particularly those who will see us re-open in October. 

We would like to thank all of our audience members and ticket holders for the unwavering loyalty, passion and love they have poured into our show. This has helped keep our spirits going and our industry alive these past months. We are incredibly excited to bring the original, record-breaking, two-part play event back to London with this chapter promising to be just as astonishing as when we first opened – if not more so – as we will never again take for granted live theatre and the shared experience. It’s an absolute privilege and honour to say we’ll see you soon.” 

19 years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure – this time, joined by a brave new generation that has only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Prepare for spectacular spells, a mind-blowing race through time, and an epic battle to stop mysterious forces, all while the future hangs in the balance.

Joining Jamie Ballard as Harry Potter are Susie Trayling as Ginny Potter and Dominic Short who plays their son Albus Potter. Thomas Aldridge returns as Ron Weasley with Michelle Gayle as Hermione Granger and Phoenix Edwards as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley.  Also returning to play Draco Malfoy is James Howard with Luke Sumner as his son Scorpius Malfoy.  Further casting will be announced at a later date.

The original production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, one play presented in two parts, is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage.  The critically acclaimed production received its world premiere in July 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London.  The most awarded new play in theatre history, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has won 24 major theatre awards in the UK and is the most awarded play in the history of the Olivier Awards, winning a record-breaking nine awards including Best New Play.  The production has also won 25 major US awards with six Tony Awards including Best Play.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John TiffanyHarry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany with movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison,music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe, and casting by Julia Horan CDG.

The regular performance schedule is now as follows – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday – no performance; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday – 2pm Part One & 7pm Part Two; Sunday – 1pm Part One & 6pm Part Two.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced by Sonia Friedman ProductionsColin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

In addition to the return of the original London production, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is currently playing at the Princess Theatre Melbourne.   Performances plan to resume in November 2021 at the Lyric Theater, New York followed by productions at the Curran Theater, San Francisco in January 2022, the Mehr! Theatre, Hamburg in December 2021, the Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto in the summer of 2022 and the TBS Akasaka ACT Theater in Tokyo in the summer of 2022. The New York, San Francisco and Toronto productions will be returning in a newly staged, one show experience.   Details of all productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child can be found at HarryPotteronstage.com

Julian Clary and Matthew Kelly tour THE DRESSER from 9 September. New dates confirmed

Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Everyman Theatre Cheltenham present

Julian Clary and Matthew Kelly in

THE DRESSER

Written by Ronald Harwood
Directed by Terry Johnson

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Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Everyman Theatre Cheltenham confirm new tour dates for Ronald Harwood’s highly acclaimed drama The Dresser starring the much loved UK entertainer Julian Clary as Norman and Olivier Award winner Matthew Kelly as ‘Sir’.

Directed by Olivier Award-winning Terry JohnsonThe Dresser will run at Theatre Royal Bath from 9 September 2021, before dates at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre, Theatre Royal Brighton, Norwich Theatre Royal, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Richmond Theatre and Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, with further tour dates to be announced.

Inspired by memories of working as Donald Wolfit’s dresser as a young man, Ronald Harwood’sevocative, affectionate and hilarious portrait of backstage life is regarded as one of the most acclaimed dramas of modern theatre.

It is 1942 and in a war-torn provincial theatre an aging actor-manager, known to his loyal acting company as ‘Sir’, is struggling to cling on to his sanity and complete his 227th performance of King Lear.  For 16 years Norman, Sir’s devoted dresser, has been there to fix Sir’s wig, massage his ego, remind him of his opening lines and provide the sound effects in the storm scene. It is down to Norman to ensure that in spite of everything, the show goes on.

Julian Clary has performed across the world and is renowned for his many successes across television, radio, film, writing and stand-up comedy. His roles on stage include Leigh Bowery in Boy George’s Taboo (West End and national tour), the Emcee in Rufus Norris’s Olivier Award winning production of Cabaret (West End), and Le Grand Mort (Trafalgar Studios). Julian also regularly performs in panto and will return to the London Palladium this Christmas. His many TV credits include Trick or Treat, Saturday Night Live, Sticky Moments, Terry and Julian, All Rise, Strictly Come Dancing, Have I Got News For You and QI. He toured the UK earlier this year with his latest one-man comedy show Born To Mince.

Matthew Kelly is an Olivier Award winning actor who is currently starring in Big The Musical in the West End. He is also well known for presenting the television series Stars in their Eyes and You Bet!. Matthew Kelly’sother West End credits include Waiting For Godot with Ian McKellen and Roger Rees, Funny Peculiar, Sign of the Times, Lend Me A Tenor!Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and as Lennie in Of Mice and Men (Savoy) for which he received the Olivier Award for Best Actor. Other recent theatre credits include Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art, Pride & Prejudice (Regents Park & UK Tour), and Troilus and Cressida (Shakespeare’s Globe). His many television credits include the award-winning Cold Blood, Benidorm, Bleak House and Moving On.

Ronald Harwood is an Academy Award, Palme d’Or and BAFTA-winning screenwriter and playwright. His plays include Taking Sides, Equally Divided and Quartet. His screenplay for the film of The Dresser received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Screenplay. His films include the Academy Award winning The Pianist, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and Love in the Time of Cholera.

Terry Johnson is a dramatist and director who has won numerous theatre awards including two Olivier Awards as a playwright for Best Comedy and a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical for La Cage Aux Folles. Other West End credits include The LibertineEnd of the Rainbow, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Duck House, Whipping It Up and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He recently directed Uncle Vanya at the Hampstead Theatre and has previously directed Mrs. Henderson Presents, Hysteria and The Libertine at Bath.

Full Cast Announced for The Addams Family Tour

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

UK & IRELAND TOUR OF

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A MUSICAL COMEDY

Aria Entertainment and Music & Lyrics are delighted to announce the full cast of the UK and Ireland tour of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A Musical Comedy. The Tour opens in Woking at New Victoria Theatre on 19 August 2021.

Joining the previously announced Samantha Womack (Morticia Addams), Cameron Blakely (Gomez Addams), Kingsley Morton (Wednesday Addams), Grant McIntyre (Pugsley Addams), Valda Aviks (Grandma), Sean Kingsley (Mal Beineke), Kara Lane (Alice Beineke), Abigail Brodie, Sophie Hutchinson, Luke Byrne, Matthew Ives and Sean Lopeman will be Scott Paige (Uncle Fester), Ahmed Hamad (Lucas Beineke), Dickon Gough (Lurch until 27 November 2021), Ryan Bennett (Lurch from 18 January 2022), Roxanne Couch, Oonagh Cox and Joshua Robinson. 

Scott Paige most recently appeared on Channel 4’s reality TV show, The Circle. His previous theatre credits include Eurobeat (Turbine Theatre and Online), ‘Fanny’ in Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Ball (Turbine Theatre), ‘Mr Poppy’ in Nativity! (UK Tour), ‘Horton the Elephant’ in Seussical The Musical (Southwark Playhouse), ‘Theo’ in Eugenius! (The Other Palace).

Ahmed Hamad’s previous theatre credits include, Now Or Never (Barn Theatre), Stay Awake Jake (Southwark Playhouse), Rent (Hope Mill Theatre), The Boy in the Dress (RSC), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium).

Dickon Gough’s previous theatre credits include City of Angels (Garrick); David Walliams’s The Midnight Gang, (world premiere, Chichester Festival Theatre), Pirates of Penzance (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and on national tour); Carmen, Krol Roger, Guillaume Tell and Die Fliegende Hollander (Royal Opera House).

Ryan Bennett’s previous theatre credits include ‘Graham de Hare’ in The Importance of Being Earnest (The Barn Theatre, Cirencester & Turbine Theatre, London) and ‘Prince Charming’ in Cinderella (Buxton Opera House). His film and TV credits include Bard at the Barn (Web series), ‘Brian’ in No Returns, Refunds or Exchanges (short), ‘Tom’ in Zoe.Misplaced, Josh in Our Little Haven and ‘Straight White Man’ in the TV series Straight White Man.

Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows; she’s fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family! Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before — keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia.  Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.  All the usual clan are present – Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley et al.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A Musical Comedy, will be directed by Matthew White, with choreography by Alistair David, production design by Diego Pitarch, orchestrations by Richard Beadle, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Richard Brooker and casting by Jane Deitch. Book is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the characters created by Charles Addams.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2021 UK Tour is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Music & Lyrics Limited, and is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

For further information, please visit www.theaddamsfamily.co.uk

Twitter: @AddamsFamilyUK

Facebook: @TheAddamsFamilyUK

LISTINGS INFORMATION

2021 DATES

19-21 August                                     New Victoria Theatre, Woking                                     0844 871 7615*                                                                  

                                                         www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre         

24-28 August                                     New Wimbledon Theatre                                             0844 871 7615*

                                                         www.atgtickets.com/new-wimbledon-theatre               

31 August – 4 September                   Milton Keynes Theatre                                                0844 871 7615*

                                                         www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre      

7-11 September                                 The Orchard Theatre, Dartford                                    01322 220000

                                                         www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

14-18 September                                The Lowry, Salford                                                    0343 208 6000                                                                   

                                                          www.thelowry.com 

21-25 September                                Glasgow King’s Theatre                                             0844 871 7615*        

                                                         www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre                  

6 October – 9 October                        Bristol Hippodrome                                                   0844 871 7615*        

                                                         www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome  

12-16 October                                    Stoke Regent Theatre                                             0844 871 7615*                                                            

                                                          www.atgtickets.com/stoke

19–23 October                                   Liverpool Empire                                                       0844 871 7615* 

                                                         www.atgtickets.com/liverpool 

26-31 October                                    Dublin Gaiety Theatre                                                 08 18 719 388

                                                         www.gaietytheatre.ie                                                  on sale soon

9-13 November                                  Nottingham Theatre Royal                                          0115 989 5555                                                                 

                                                          www.trch.co.uk                              

16-20 November                                 New Theatre, Cardiff                                                  029 2087 8889

                                                         www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

23-27 November                                 Sheffield Lyceum Theatre                                           0114 249 6000

                                                         www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk                                       on sale soon

2022 DATES

18-22 January                                    The Alexandra, Birmingham                                       0844 871 7615*

                                                        www.atgtickets.com/birmingham

25-29 January                                    Festival Theatre, Edinburgh                                        0131 529 6000

                                                         www.capitaltheatres.com

1-5 February                                      Alhambra Theatre, Bradford                                       01274 432000

                                                         www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

8-12 February                                     Newcastle Theatre Royal                                            0844 811 2121

                                                         www.theatreroyal.co.uk                                             

15-19 February                                   New Theatre, Oxford                                                  0844 871 7615*

                                                          www.atgtickets.com/oxford                                                          

1-5 March                                          Churchill Theatre, Bromley                                          020 3285 6000                                                         

                                                   www.churchilltheatre.co.uk                                        

8-12 March                                         His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen                                 01224 641122

                                                         www.aberdeenperformingarts.com                              on sale soon

15 – 19 March                                    Hull New Theatre                                                        01482 300 306

                                                         www.hulltheatres.co.uk                                                                                                                                                

*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge

Further tour dates to be announced.

Response to Prime Minister’s Statement

Please find below a statement from the producers of the new play When Darkness Falls, which will be running at Park Theatre, London from 18 August:

“Throughout the pandemic the entire team of WHEN DARKNESS FALLS has put the safety of the artists, creative staff, theatre staff and audiences first.  We have rescheduled the production a couple of times to ensure that safety and are now thrilled that we can open with indoor performances in August.  

“We remain hopeful that we can open the show to capacity audiences, however, we will continue to review our response according to the Government’s guidance in the coming days and weeks, along with guidance from our colleagues at Park Theatre.  We will also continue to monitor the situation independently.  We are of course aware that people will have different reactions to the relaxation of the rules, and will be mindful of that as we move  forward.”

Producers: Paul Morrissey, Chris Wheeler and Molly Morris 

Theatres Trust responds to Step 4 announcement and ‘living with Covid’

Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan responds to the Prime Minister’s update on Step 4, the government’s plan for living with Covid and what it means for theatres:

The Prime Minister’s announcement today that capacity caps and the need for social distancing in theatres in England will be lifted as part of Step 4 of the reopening roadmap is very welcome news for a sector that has been hugely impacted by the pandemic. We hope that this will be followed by confirmation next week that Step 4 will indeed go ahead on 19 July.

Several shows that have recently reopened at reduced capacity have had to cancel suddenly when a cast or crew member has to self-isolate. We are encouraged that the Prime Minister mentioned that a different system would be introduced for people who are fully vaccinated, and look forward to hearing further details.

Statement from SOLT & UK Theatre following Government’s 19 July announcement

Following today’s Government announcement of plans for lifting restrictions from 19 July, SOLT & UK Theatre Chief Executive Julian Bird has released the following statement:

‘We welcome today’s confirmation that 19 July will see the lifting of remaining lockdown restrictions – meaning that theatres can open to full audiences for the first time in 16 months. This is a lifeline for our industry, essential for the survival of theatres across the country. We will be working closely with Government in the coming days on revising the performing arts guidelines, ensuring that our audiences and staff can feel safe and confident in returning.’

53two launch charity auction to continue their journey in supporting underserved artists & developing their accessible venue

53two launch charity auction to continue their journey in supporting underserved artists & developing their accessible venue

HAMMERTIME AUCTION– Lots of fun!

In May, 53two opened the doors to its bar/café arts venue – a hub for creatives across Greater Manchester to meet, work and play together. At the end of June, their pop-up ‘Studio’ space was opened for theatrical and event bookings. The 60 seat studio space, designed to be a stop-gap, will house short-plays, new writing nights, intimate gigs and events until they can open their 150 seater venue early next year.

Whilst they are open and functioning, they still have some way to go to make the venue as brilliant and accessible as they possibly can. For this, they’re looking to you!

Manchester giants have donated auction items for you to view and bid on over the next couple of weeks. From Damon Albarn tickets at Manchester Central & Parklife Weekend VIP Passes, to Afternoon Tea in the arches & signed Steve Evets prints. Some of the lots also include a bespoke floor plate, designed by Manchester maker Liam Hopkins of Lazerian. These, inscribed with your personal message, will find a home in the floor of the venue to be there for ever – you can have one of just the 136 made.

Auction ends on ‘Freedom Day’ – Monday 19th July

Damon Albarn tickets must be sold by 12th July – concert is on 13th July.

To take a look at the auction lots, head to www.53two.com/hammertime

The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage

CONFIRMED DATES FOR

 PHILIP PULLMAN’S

T H E   B O O K   O F   D U S T   –   L A   B E L L E   S A U V A G E

IN A NEW STAGE ADAPTATION BY BRYONY LAVERY

Dates are now confirmed for Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage at The Bridge.  Directed by Nicholas Hytner in Bryony Lavery’s new stage adaptation which takes place twelve years before Pullman’s epic His Dark Materials trilogy, performances are from 2 December 2021 – 19 February 2022 with opening night on 14 December 2021.  Priority booking opens today, with public booking opening at 10am on 7 July 2021. 

Designs are by Bob Crowley with puppetry by Barnaby Dixon, lighting design by Jon Clark, sound by Paul Arditti, video designs are by Luke Halls and Zakk Hein and music by Grant Olding. The associate directors are Emily Burns and James Cousins who is also movement director. Kate Waters is fight director.  Casting will be announced at a later date.  

Two young people and their dæmons, with everything at stake, find themselves at the centre of a terrifying manhunt. In their care is a tiny child called Lyra Belacqua, and in that child lies the fate of the future. And as the waters rise around them, powerful adversaries conspire for mastery of Dust: salvation to some, the source of infinite corruption to others.

La Belle Sauvage was published in 2017 and was followed by The Secret Commonwealth in 2019. His Dark Materials, a ground-breaking production sixteen years ago directed by Hytner at the National Theatre, was also adapted for broadcast on BBC1 in 2019 with the second series in 2020. Philip Pullman was knighted in 2019 for his services to literature.

For the stage Bryony Lavery’s work includes the internationally critically acclaimed Frozen as well as Stockholm, Kursk, Dirt and Beautiful Burnout. Last year her adaptation of David Walliams’ The Midnight Gang was presented at Chichester Festival Theatre where her previous adaptations The Hundred and One Dalmatians and A Christmas Carol were also seen.  The London premiere of her play, Last Easter, opens at the Orange Tree Theatre on 7 July 2021.

For the Bridge Theatre Nicholas Hytner has directed Young Marx, Julius CaesarAllelujah!Alys, Always, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Two Ladies, Beat the Devil, The Shrine, Bed Among the Lentils, A Christmas Carol and Bach & Sons.  Previously he was Director of the National Theatre from 2003 to 2015.

SUMMER AND AUTUMN AT THE BRIDGE

BACH & SONS continues its run at The Bridge until 11 September 2021.  Joining Simon Russell Beale, who plays Johann Sebastian Bach in the world premiere of Nina Raine’s play,are Samuel Blenkin as Carl, Pandora Colin as Maria Barbara, Ruth Lass as Katharina, Douggie McMeekin as Wilhelm, Racheal Ofori as Anna Magdalena and Pravessh Rana as Frederick the Great.  Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the associate director is James Cousins, with set designs by Vicki Mortimer, costumes designed by Khadija Raza, lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Gareth Fry and music supervised by George Fenton. 

WHITE NOISE by Suzan-Lori Parks will have its European premiere at the Bridge Theatre in a new production directed by Polly Findlay.   Performances are from 5 October – 13 November 2021 with opening night on 12 October 2021.  Set designs are by Lizzie Clachan with costumes by Natalie Pryce, lighting by Jackie Shemesh and sound by Donato Wharton.  Casting for White Noise will be announced at a later date. 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Address:                  Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1 2SG

Box Office:               0333 320 0051 or [email protected]

Access:                    0333 320 0051 or [email protected]

Website:                  www.bridgetheatre.co.uk

Twitter:                    @_bridgetheatre

Instagram:                _bridgetheatre

Facebook:                 facebook.com/bridgetheatrelondon

YOUNG VIC: Casts announced for upcoming shows Klippies and AI

Casts announced for upcoming Young Vic shows

Klippies and AI

Priority Booking opens today 12noon

Public Booking opens Tuesday 6 July, 12noon

The Young Vic today announces the complete casts for Klippies, Jessica Sian’s acclaimed coming-of-age drama about an unlikely friendship and the intensity of first love set in modern day Johannesburg, and AI, a new play by Genesis Fellow and Young Vic Associate Director Jennifer Tang and Company, created using a deep-learning system to generate human-like dialogue and script.

Priority booking for both shows opens today, Monday 5 July at 12noon, with Public booking opening Tuesday 6 July at 12noon.

Klippies

By Jessica Siân

Directed by Genesis Future Directors Award recipient Diyan Zora

Maria Theatre

From 4 – 13 August 2021

Bola Akeju and Elizabeth Dulau take the roles of Thandi and Yolandi in Klippies, directed by Genesis Future Directors Award recipient Diyan Zora. Set in the twentieth year of South Africa’s democracy, two girls struggle to navigate their troubled past.

Yolandi is the rebel, Thandi the school swot. In the scorching heat of a Johannesburg summer, an unexpected bond is formed. Two girls battle their way through unfamiliar feelings and the guilt of their country’s legacy. 

Klippies is Written by Jessica Siân and Directed by Diyan Zora, with Set and Costume Design by Georgia Lowe, Lighting Design by Jess Bernberg, Sound Design by Tingying Dong, Casting by Isabella Odoffin CDG, Movement Direction by Georgina Makhubele and Voice and Dialect by Hazel Holder and Eleanor Manners.

The Genesis Future Directors Award provides an early-career director with an opportunity to explore and develop their craft by creating their first fully resourced production at the Young Vic, as part of the artistic programme. The award will provide Diyan Zora with mentoring and support from the theatre’s unique creative network, including Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah, Associate Artistic Director Sue Emmas and Genesis Fellow and Associate Director Jennifer Tang. Established in 2012, previous Genesis Future Director Award recipients include Dadiow Lin, Caitriona Shoobridge, Lekan Lawal, Debbie Hannan, John R. Wilkinson, Nancy Medina, Leo J. Skilbeck, Bryony Shanahan, Ola Ince, Rikki Henry, Tinuke Craig, Finn Beames, Matthew Xia and Ben Kidd.

Due to the nature of the Genesis Future Directors Award, there will be no press night.

AI

Created by Genesis Fellow and YV Associate Director Jennifer Tang and Company

Developed by Chinonyerem Odimba and Nina Segal, written alongside GPT-3 OpenAI technology

Directed by Jennifer Tang

Main House

23 – 25 August 2021

The cast is today announced for AI, a new play developed by Chinonyerem Odimba and Nina Segal alongside artificial intelligence (AI). Cast members Waleed AkhtarTyrone Huggins and Simone Saunders will collaborate with Genesis Fellow and YV Associate Director Jennifer Tang to make a new work for the stage using the deep-learning system GPT-3 to generate human-like dialogue and script.

Recently heralded by David Chalmers, Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at New York University, as ‘one of the most interesting and important AI systems ever produced’, GPT-3 has already demonstrated its ability to generate prose and news articles indistinguishable from those written by a human.

In this unique hybrid of research and performance, AI will see a new work created for the stage over a series of evenings, based upon a script prompted by writers and artists and produced by the GPT-3 system. Together with insights into how the artists collaborated with the system, AI asks us to consider the algorithms at work in the world around us, the nature of creativity and what technology can teach us about ourselves. 

AI is Created by Genesis Fellow and YV Associate Director Jennifer Tang and Company, and Developed by Chinonyerem Odimba and Nina Segal, written alongside GPT-3 OpenAI technology, and Directed by Jennifer Tang.

Each performance of AI can be seen as a single, standalone performance, or audiences can book into multiple evenings to see the creation of the play progress.

The Genesis Future Directors Award program and Genesis Fellow opportunity are made possible thanks to the Genesis Foundation.

Priority Booking opens today, Monday 5 July, 12noon.

Public booking opens Tuesday 6 July, 12noon.

THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH ANNOUNCE THE BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION OF NHS THE MUSICAL

THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH ANNOUNCE

THE BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION OF NHS THE MUSICAL

On the 73rd birthday of the NHS, Theatre Royal Plymouth today announce the brand-new production of NHS The Musicalby Nick Stimson and Jimmy Jewell, directed by Stephen Fletcher, will run 17 – 25 September in The Lyric at Theatre Royal Plymouth. Tickets are on public sale now, with discounted tickets available across the run for NHS staff.

Informed by first-hand accounts from NHS staffNHS The Musicalgets under its skin, and celebrates the people who make its heart beat. Sharper than a scalpel, this fast-paced comedy show takes you from the surgical theatre to musical theatre, pumping with songs, satire, sass – and gas and air. But beware! This beloved institution may be the perfect tonic, but it can also be the bitterest pill. The UK’s largest employer and government’s biggest spender has its own ailments, that just never seem to be cured.

With a combined company of 7 cast and 7 band members live on stage, NHS The Musical will be a rousing celebration of the people who have cared for us and our families for more than 70 years.

Adrian Vinken, CEO of Theatre Royal Plymouth and Executive Producer of NHS The Musical, said today, “We commissioned the original show to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the health service.  Although essentially a love song to the NHS, audiences really loved its hard-hitting satire.  A couple of years ago, with the NHS under siege on many levels, we decided the time was right to update the show to reflect current circumstances but then Covid hit and the NHS was placed front and centre in the life of the whole nation.  The show is a timely celebration of what the NHS means to all of us.”

Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation, commented,: “The Weston Culture Fund honours the UK’s creative and cultural organisations which, while battling huge challenges of their own, endeavour to make life better for the rest of us. We’re therefore especially pleased to support this new production of NHS The Musical at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, as it pays tribute to the heroes seeing us all through the pandemic.”

NHS The Musical is made possible thanks to a grant from the Weston Culture Fund.

Nick Stimson is a freelance playwright and theatre director and Associate of Theatre Royal Plymouth. His theatre credits as a writer and director include A Winter’s Tale (Rose Theatre/UK tour – Offie Award for Best Off West End Musical), Sailors and Sweethearts (Theatre Royal Plymouth/The Venue), Korczak (Theatre Royal Plymouth/Rose Theatre Kingston/International tour) and The Day We Played Brazil (Exeter Northcott Theatre). His writing credits include Hello Mister Capello (Watford Palace Theatre), Promised Land (Red Ladder Theatre/The Carriage Works), Who Ate All The Pies? (Tristan Bates Theatre) and This Land (Theatre Royal Plymouth).

Jimmy Jewell is a composer and songwriter. His credits as composer include The Amazing Tour is Not On Fire (UK tour/international tour), The Tempest (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Peter Pan (UK tour), Walk With The Angels (Institute of Contemporary Arts/Soho Theatre), Theatre), Frankenstein (Cochrane Theatre), Who Ate All The Pies? (Theatre Royal Plymouth, Tristan Bates Theatre),and Solitary Confinement (King’s Head Theatre); and as a conductor, Evita (European tour), The Prince and the PauperStrike Up The Band!Jesus Christ Super Star (US tour), All You Need is Love! (Queen’s Theatre) and Fiddler on the Roof (Exeter Northcott Theatre).

Stephen Fletcher directs and is an Associate Director of the Liverpool Playhouse and Everyman Theatres. His credits include A Life in the Theatre (The Actor’s Studio, Liverpool – also writer) and Mam! I’m ‘ere! (Royal Court Liverpool – also writer). He is Director and Producer of Life in Theatre Productions, producing, The Sunshine Boys and The Last 5 Years. As an actor his credits include The Perfect Murder (UK tour), Special Measures, Noises Off! (Royal Court Liverpool), A Streetcar Named Desire (Liverpool Playhouse), Dead Heavy Fantastic (Liverpool Everyman) and Mary Stuart (Donmar Warehouse/Apollo Theatre).

NHS THE MUSICAL

LISTINGS

Theatre Royal Plymouth – The Lyric Theatre

Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR

17 – 25 September 2021

Box Office

www.theatreroyal.com / 01752 267222

Tickets

General: From £18

NHS discount: £15 (Bands A, B and C)