Month: August 2021

Original Theatre Company presents the Autumn 2021 tour of 

Being Mr Wickham 

Starring Adrian Lukis 

Written by Adrian Lukis and Catherine Curzon; Directed by Guy Unsworth 

Original Theatre Company, the award-winning producer of hit online productions of Birdsong and Apollo 13: The Dark Side of the Moon and stage productions including the 5-star revival of Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art and A Splinter of Ice, is delighted to present the 2021 tour of Being Mr Wickham starring Adrian Lukis. Written by Adrian Lukis and Catherine Curzon, this one-man play about one of Jane Austen’s most charmingly roguish characters, is directed by Guy Unsworth and designed by Libby Watson. 

Adrian Lukis, who starred in the renowned BBC TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, returns to the role of Mr Wickham this Autumn following the acclaimed online production of Being Mr Wickham earlier this year.  

“Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends – whether he may be equally capable of retaining them is less certain.” Join Pride and Prejudice’s most roguish gentleman, George Wickham, on the eve of his sixtieth birthday, to lift the sheets on exactly what happened thirty years on from where we left him. Discover his own version of some very famous literary events. What really happened with Darcy? What did he feel about Lizzie? What happened at Waterloo? Not to mention Byron… 

The 2021 tour will play Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (30 September-2 October), The Theatre Chipping Norton (4-5 October), Theatr Clwyd (8-9 October), Darlington Hippodrome (11-12 October), York Theatre Royal (14-16 October), The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (19-20 October), Connaught Theatre, Worthing (21-22 October), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (28-30 October), The Haymarket, Basingstoke (1-2 November) and Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne (4-6 November). 

Adrian Lukis said of the production: “I’m thrilled to be reunited with my old friend, George Wickham. Having spent years defending his dubious reputation, I look forward to finally setting the record straight, with the assistance of the immensely talented Original Theatre Company.” 

Rarely off the small screen, Adrian Lukis’s most recent TV credits include Channel 4’s Feel Good, the 2019 mini-series A Christmas Carol starring Guy Pearce, Vera, Poldark, Bulletproof, Collateral, The Crown, Red Dwarf, Grantchester, Black Mirror, Blair Toast in Toast of London, Downton Abbey, New Tricks and Death in Paradise. He also stars in the new Netflix series Anatomy of a Scandal, due to be streamed this year. Films include Judy, Dolittle, City Slacker and Bertie & Dickie. Recent theatre credits include The Price (Theatre Royal Bath), The Seagull (Chichester Festival Theatre/ National Theatre) and Versailles (Donmar Warehouse). 

Being Mr Wickham is produced by Alastair Whatley and Tom Hackney for Original Theatre Company. The Director is Guy Unsworth, Designer is Libby Watson, Sound Designer is Max Pappenheim and Lighting Designer is Johanna Town.  

Alastair Whatley, Artistic Director of Original Theatre Company, said: “Guy Unsworth’s production of Adrian’s and Catherine’s fantastic play was one of the highlights from our recent online season. Originally live streamed from the beautiful Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds but without an audience physically with us in the room, it’s a real thrill to be able to get the show on the road and visit theatres up and down the country.” 

For tour details, visit: https://www.originaltheatre.com/our-productions/being-mr-wickham/about-the-show.  

Theatre Royal, Nottingham – until Saturday 28 August 2021. 

Reviewed by Louise Ford

4****

It’s a disaster…. 

This week’s show at the Theatre Royal is a classic whodunit, Murder at Haversham Manor, performed by the accident prone  Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society. The Society has had a variety of hits over the last few years, as the Director (Tom Bulpett) tells us and they have chosen this play as it has the right number of parts as there are performers, which makes a nice change from some of their earlier offerings. 

Set in the 1920s this slapstick drama has everyone wondering if they will make it to the final curtain. From the outset the audience are invited into the confidence of the hapless crew and players initially to help locate a missing cast member and then to help out in the show (only joking, the Director wont allow it). The sound engineer, Trevor (Gabriel Paul) opens the show from his Duran Duran adorned box. He is called upon throughout the show to provide prompts and at one point to tread the boards himself. 

In the best tradition of a Country House mystery there are red herrings, a sword fight and several plot twists before the final denouement of the murderer. In all of the chaos and confusion i’m not 100% certain who did do it…. 

The real star of the show, for me, was the set (designed by Nigel Hook). When the curtains open it is all gothic manor, think Knives Out, with portraits (he has his father’s eyes) over the fireplace, grandfather clock, the library, revolving doors and of course a chaise lounge. As the show progresses the set starts to disintegrate, from sticking doors, collapsing fireplaces and props falling off the walls, to hilarious effect. The finale is like something out of a Buster Keaton film 

There is a constant stream of silliness and slap stick with the cast playing up to and including the audience in the fun. In particular Tom Babbage (playing both Cecil and Arthur the gardener) who hams it up beautifully and really works those sideburns! The missed lines and mispronunciations by Perkins (Edward Howells) are a real treat. 

The Play That Goes Wrong was written in 2012  by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields of Mischief.  It has won multiple awards over the years including the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. This production was directed by Sean Turner 

So it looks as though the pantomime season has started early in Nottingham  (oh yes it has!), a light-hearted evening of mishap and misplaced props which the audience loved and to be honest who doesn’t like a bit of slapstick!

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield  – until August 28 August 2021

Reviewed by Sal E Marino

5 *****

A very warm and covid-friendly welcome was received from the Lyceum staff as they greeted an excited audience for the opening night of Looking Good Dead,  a stage adaptation (Shaun Mckenna) of a Peter James novel. Brilliantly directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, the play saw EastEnders veteran Adam Woodyatt return to the stage along with fellow soap star Gaynor Faye (Coronation Street, Emmerdale) and together these two created an authentic chemistry that drew you into the family unit and drama straight away. 

With every great chilling tale questions and suspicions start to emerge and as we begin to learn that Tom Bryce’s (Woodyat) business is in trouble and that there are family issues bubbling under the surface; one starts to think ‘all is not what it seems’. Tom, after finding a strangers USB stick on the train and his son Max (Luke Ward-Wilkinson) become witnesses to a horrific murder that they see online.  After Tom is adamant that they shouldn’t report the crime to the police, Max goes against his reasoning and this then has disastrous consequences – placing the family in grave danger.  Harry Long, Leon Stewart and Gemma Stroyan play the police trio who have been assigned to the case and provide lots of humorous dry quips aplenty as they try to fathom out ‘who done it?’

An innovative and creative set by Michael Holt, allowed the audience to see two scenes at once – the torture chamber and the family home which made the play pacey, moved the action along so that one never got lost in the events and didn’t lose interest in the narrative. There were some real moments of suspense and lots of twists and turns that kept one on the edge of  your seat … right up until the last spine-chilling moments (but I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to give the game away)!

Looking Good Dead is the perfect thriller so be prepared for lots of suspense and take someone along with you who has a strong hand to squeeze!

CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE’S
AUTUMN 2021 SEASON

Cambridge Arts Theatre is thrilled to unveil an outstanding Autumn 2021 season, and the second programme of productions since the COVID-19 closure. The coming months will bring famous faces, an eclectic range of genres and world-class entertainment to welcome
audiences back to live performance.

Firstly, Cambridge Arts Theatre is delighted to announce this year’s traditional family pantomime, Aladdin (2 Dec 2021 – 9 Jan 2022). Cambridge’s favourite pantomime dame Matt Crosby will return to star as Widow Twankey with further casting to be announced. Expect singalong songs, sparkling costumes and side-splitting jokes for the whole family to enjoy. Christmas in Cambridge just wouldn’t be complete without the Arts Theatre panto and Aladdin promises to be bigger and better than ever before

World-class dramas and renowned actors are set to complement the Arts Theatre stage. Julian Clary and Matthew Kelly join forces in Ronald Harwood’s affectionate and hilarious portrait of backstage life in The Dresser (12-16 Oct); Ian McDiarmid stars in Julian Barnes’ wryly comic and unsentimental perspective on the complicated business of ageing in The Lemon Table (2-6 Nov); Cambridge University’s Marlowe Society transport audiences to an enchanted Athenian forest as they present Shakespeare’s greatest comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream (26-29 Jan); Dame Penelope Keith stars in Stephen Wyatt’s bittersweet comedy Two Cigarettes in the Dark (3-12 Mar) where she plays Isabel – bright, witty, fiercely independent and not ready to go peacefully as she faces the end; Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel Private Peaceful (14-19 Mar) tells the tale of the Peaceful brothers, set against the epic backdrop of WWI; Olivier Award-winners Griff Rhys Jones and Janie Dee star in An Hour and a Half Late (4-9 Apr), a devastatingly funny portrait of married life and Gavin & Stacey’s Mathew Horne and The Pembrokeshire Murders’ Keith Allen star in Harold Pinter’s 1960s masterpiece The Homecoming (11-16 Apr), a bleakly funny exploration of family and relationships

You’ll be able to hear a pin drop as four edge-of-your-seat thrillers will leave you hooked this
Autumn. Starring Tom Chambers, Diana Vickers, Christopher Harper and Michael Salami,
an all-star cast of stage and screen favourites bring Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic, genre-defining film Dial M for Murder (5-9 Oct) to life; EastEnders icon Adam Woodyatt stars in the world premiere stage production of best-selling author Peter James’ latest addition to the thrilling Roy Grace series, Looking Good Dead (31 Jan-5 Feb); based on the classic detective board game, Cluedo (14-19 Feb) is the hilarious spoof of a thriller which will have you trying to work out whodunnit… with what… and where.. and based on the iconic film, Fatal Attraction (25- 30 Apr) is transformed into an intoxicating stage adaptation of the definitive movie thriller

Young theatregoers (and their grown-ups!) will have the perfect reintroduction to live theatre with fantastic productions for the whole family to enjoy. Best-selling author David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny (27-30 Oct) hits Cambridge throughout October half-term, ideal for children aged 5+; you can enter into a magical world of myths, legends and magnificent monsters in Dragons and Mythical Beasts (18-20 Nov), a fantastical new puppetry show and spellbinding adventure for ages 3+ and George Orwell’s world-famous fable Animal Farm (8- 12 Feb) is reimagined into a dynamic, daring and contemporary stage adaptation by an award-winning creative team

You’ll leave the stalls laughing with some brilliantly funny comedies on offer. Alan Ayckbourn’s comic masterpiece of social climbing in 1970s suburbia Absurd Person Singular (7-11 Sept) fuses a potent mix of farce and black comedy; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s celebrated detective story The Hound of the Baskervilles (16-18 Sept) gets a brand-new, brilliantly theatrical and wonderfully comic twist in a ‘rib-bustingly hilarious’ (The Times) production; the then unknown Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel set sail from Liverpool to New York in Told by an Idiot’s hilarious and deeply moving Charlie and Stan (20-25 Sept), a homage to two men who changed the world of comedy forever; the hysterical Mischief (The Play That Goes Wrong) take you on a journey from an unruly classroom of six year-olds, anarchic high school teenagers to the challenges of adulthood in Groan Ups (18-23 Oct); the classic and muchloved 1970s television series The Good Life (9-13 Nov) is reimagined on stage starring actor and comedian Rufus Hound and Preeya Kalidas and esteemed actors Patricia Hodge and Nigel Havers star in Noël Coward’s gloriously entertaining comedy Private Lives (22-27 Nov)

Recognisable faces from a host of professions will impress audiences with their respective talent in a series of one-night-only events. Direct from London’s world-famous jazz club, The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars (3 Oct) combines live jazz, archive photographs, video footage and narration to celebrate it’s incredible history; audiences can experience the man, the actor and his many roles in the unmistakingly unique event David Suchet: Poirot and More, A Retrospective (10 Oct); two multi award-winning UK jazz musicians, Claire Martin OBE and pianist Nikki Iles (17 Oct) join forces for a concert of songs recorded by legendary singer Tony Bennett and great jazz pianist Bill Evans; TV presenter, naturalist, conservationist and award-winning photographer and author Chris Packham (24 Oct) discusses his travels and photography in a funny, inspiring and irreverent one night event; the award-winning jazz vocalist and Jazz FM presenter Clare Teal (7 Nov) celebrates 100 years of pop music alongside her sextet; artist and activist Ai Weiwei (14 Nov) tells the story of his extraordinary life lived under extraordinary circumstances and discusses his widely anticipated memoir, 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows and the larger than life actor, writer and presenter Brian Blessed (16 Nov) combines anecdotes from his illustrious acting career with tales of his adventuring – may not be suitable for people who aren’t expecting the odd expletive!

And last, but by no means least, two hit musicals will have the auditorium dancing in the aisles. West End star Jodie Prenger takes to the stage in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s classic musical Tell Me on a Sunday (30 Sep-2 Oct) and the award-winning Cambridge Operatic Society revive the iconic jukebox musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert (19-22 Jan).

CURTAINS UP FOR RICHMOND THEATRE

HISTORIC ARTS VENUE REOPENS FROM 25 SEPTEMBER 2021

After 559 days, the curtain of the Frank Matcham’s beautiful Richmond Theatre will rise again for the first time on Saturday 25 September 2021 with high quality programming and excellent community events that audiences will love. 

It only felt right to have the community of Richmond have the honour of reopening the theatre. Performing for the first time since the venue closure is Richmond’s own Instant Opera with their special Grand Opera Gala performance,featuring superb local performers accompanied by the Instant Opera Orchestra conducted by Oliver Till and hosted by Daniel Wain. Made up of much loved arias, ensembles and grand choruses by Mozart, Verdi, Bizet and Tchaikovsky, the evening is unmissable for local opera fans.

On Sunday 26 September, we invite friends and new visitors of the venue to come and experience the magic of Richmond Theatre from a whole new perspective. We’ll be throwing our doors open for audiences to explore backstage areas normally not accessible to the public and discover the history of the venue. There will be opportunities to take centre stage or learn technical skills used to make your favourite stories come alive onstage. There will be activities for all ages, just waiting to be discovered.

Our opening week continues with Adam Kay – This Is Going to Hurt (Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor) on Wednesday 29 September. The ex-NHS worker released a new book, Dear NHS, last year to raise money for NHS charities, and his generosity continues as he has kindly donated tickets to Kingston Hospital for this performance.   

The reopening celebration comes to a crescendo, with the first week long production of the reopening season – Dirty Dancing. Filled with all best-loved moments from the movie, live on stage with breath-taking dancing and incredible music including Hungry Eyes, Do you Love Me? and the unforgettable (I’ve Had) The Time of my Life.

The remainder of the reopening season brings Richmond audiences the best in live entertainment. Julian Clary and Matthew Kelly star in The Dresser, the hilarious portrait of life as an aging actors assistant in October, then Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Hound of the Baskervilles, sees Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson unravel the mystery of the Baskerville family. For fans of Noël Coward, Nigel Havers and Patricia Hodge star in the three-act comedy of manners Private Lives in November, followed by Rufus Houndin The Good Life, based on the hit television series. Children will be entertained by the new 3D technology in Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain, and the festive season will finally feel a bit more normal as panto returns, this year with Cinderella.  

There is comedy from Milton Jones and Nina Conti, music from Blake and musical comedy from The Horne Section. Real life stories from David Suchet and Andrew Cotter, quick thinking from Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and a sea of facts from There’s No Such Thing as a Fish.  For full listings for Richmond Theatre, please click here.

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED NEW FULL PRODUCTION OF

LES MISÉRABLES

RE-OPENING AT THE

SONDHEIM THEATRE ON 25 SEPTEMBER 2021

Following the sell-out success of LES MISÉRABLES – THE STAGED CONCERT, the longest running concert in the history of Shaftesbury Avenue, Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce full casting for the re-opening of the critically acclaimed new full production of LES MISÉRABLES at the Sondheim Theatre on 25 September 2021.

Joining the company are Chanice Alexander-Burnett as Fantine, Jordan Shaw as Enjolras, Charlie Burn as Cosetteand making her West End debut Sha Dessi as Eponine. They join the acclaimed principal cast of Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Gerard Carey as Thénardier’, Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thénardier’ and Harry Apps as Marius.

The company also includes Kelly Agbowu, Emma Barr, Richard Carson, Cellen Chugg Jones, Rodney Earl Clarke, Danny Colligan, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Jessie Hart, Connor Jones, Jessica Joslin, Michael Kholwadia, Sarah Lark, Georgie Lovatt, Ellie Ann Lowe, Luke McCall, Leo Miles, Claire O’Leary, Kathy Peacock, Mark Pearce, Sam Peggs, Sake Wijers, Mared Williams, Phoebe Williams and Samuel Wyn-Morris.  

Cameron Mackintosh said “After 18 long months of unprecedented shut down of the commercial theatre, it is thrilling to see the West End reopen with all its major productions and safely welcome back audiences who have been so supportive to our industry. The staged concert of Les Misérables has been uniquely able to keep the large scale theatrical flag flying on Shaftesbury Avenue, clocking up a record breaking 250 performance run. Many of the wonderful artists in the concert were drawn from both the acclaimed new West End and national touring productions which had opened just before the pandemic closed them down, playing to full houses. Spectacular though the staged concert (which will embark on a World Tour in 2024) is, the fully staged new production of Les Misérables has become an international sell out sensation all over again, continuing to bring audiences to their feet as the longest running musical in the world. The famous barricades of this latest West End production will be manned by a brilliant and diverse company of new and established talents, that demonstrate why our training system is the envy of the world and our theatre practitioners both on and off stage are incomparable, despite the lack of support of the commercial theatre from this government.  It is hugely gratifying, as the show celebrates its 36^th birthday this October at the Sondheim Theatre, that Les Misérables continues to be one of the most popular and contemporary musicals of all time. As The Telegraph put it: “The perfect musical in the perfect theatre”.

Since Cameron Mackintosh first conceived this acclaimed new production of LES MISÉRABLES in 2009 to celebrate the show’s 25^th anniversary it has taken the world by storm continuing to enjoy record-breaking runs in countries including North America, Australia, Japan, Korea, France and Spain. The UK and Ireland tour reopens at Theatre Royal Glasgow this November.

Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent iconic score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs, I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Stars, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear the People Sing?, One Day More, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Master Of The House and many more. Several of its songs have become real life anthems of revolution wherever in the world people are fighting for their freedom. Seen by over 120 million people worldwide in 52 countries and in 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular and contemporary musicals.

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of LES MISÉRABLES is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton and adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. Orchestrations are by Stephen Metcalfe, Christopher Jahnke and Stephen Brooker with original orchestrations by John Cameron. The production is directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor, designed by Matt Kinley inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo with costumes by Andreane Neofitou and Christine Rowland, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, musical staging by Michael Ashcroft and Geoffrey Garratt, and music supervision by Stephen Brooker and Alfonso Casado Trigo.

LONDON THEATRE WEEK

RETURNS FROM 23 AUGUST

OVER 40 CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED WEST END SHOWS WILL BE TAKING PART WITH TICKETS FROM JUST £15

London Theatre Week is back and bigger than ever before with 45 shows taking part. The annual initiative, which is dedicated to bringing the best prices for the widest selection of West End shows, will run from 23 August until 5 September. Tickets are available from £15, £25 and £35, helping to attract audiences to return to the West End and support live theatre. Tickets are now on sale at londontheatreweek.com.

Classic West End shows including firm favourites Mary Poppins, The Lion King, and Les Miserables will be taking part this year. Also as part of the initiative in 2021, newcomers to the West End stage such as & Juliet,Anything Goes, Back to the Future, and Prince of Egypt will be included.

On presenting the initiative this year, Brian Fenty, CEO and Co-Founder of global ticketing company TodayTix Group, said today,

“After being dark for over a year, we could not be more pleased to support the return of the West End by hosting London Theatre Week. Life is better with theatre in it, and we are excited to empower more locals to safely return to such a quintessential London experience at such amazing prices.”

For more information about London Theatre Week and to purchase tickets on TodayTix, please visit londontheatreweek.com.

The full list of shows are: & Juliet, Amelie, Anything Goes, Bach & Sons, Back To The Future, Be More Chill, Blithe Spirit, Bring It On, Circus 1903, Cirque Beserk, Come From Away, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Dear Evan Hansen, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Get Up Stand Up, Hairspray, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Heathers, Indecent Proposal, Jersey Boys, Leopoldstadt, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Magic Mike Live!, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Matilda, Oleanna, Only Fools and Horses, Showstopper, The Book of Mormon, The Comedy of Errors (RSC), The Great Gatsby, The Last Five Years, The Lion King, The Mirror and the Light, The Phantom of the Opera, The Play that Goes Wrong, The Prince Of Egypt, The Shark is Broken, The Windsors: Endgame, The Woman in Black, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Wicked, Witness For The Prosecution

Tilted Wig, Malvern Theatres and Churchill Theatre Bromley
Full cast announced for new touring adaptation
of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Thursday 30th September – Saturday 4th December 2021

Full casting has been announced for the thrilling new touring production of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Taking on the role of Ichabod Crane is Sam Jackson (Skins, E4; Beautiful Thing, National Tour) alongside Rose Quentin (York Witches Society, MSR Media), Lewis Cope (Vera, ITV; Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall) and Tommy Sim’aan (As You Like It, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse; Doctors, BBC). They will join the previously announced Wendi Peters and Bill Ward.

Adapted by acclaimed playwright Philip Meeks (Murder, Margaret and Me; Harpy), and under the direction of by Jake Smith (The Hound of the Baskervilles; A Christmas Carol; I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard), the premiere production seeks to unleash terror on the stage. The ghoulish and edge-of-the-seat experience will tour theatres across the UK from September.

An exciting creative team will resurrect the Headless Horseman and bring the Hollow to life, with jaw-dropping illusions by Filipe J. Carvalho (Back To The Future The Musical; Secret Cinema presents Stranger Things), design by Amy Watts, choreography by Chris Cuming, lighting by Jason Addison and sound design by Sam Glossop. Transforming the American Dream into the American Gothic, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a heart-pounding visual masterpiece revitalising the classic text for new audiences.

With Hallowmas fast approaching, Sleepy Hollow simmers with anticipation. Arriving as the new teacher, Ichabod Crane finds himself embroiled in the secrets and unsettling traditions of the locals. However, all is not as it seems. When disturbing events overwhelm the small town, he finds himself swept up in a dangerous mystery which leaves him doubting his own sanity.

Producer Katherine Senior of Tilted Wig Productions comments, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is set to be an epic piece of theatre, combining a stellar cast with a fantastic script and theatrical illusions that will blow your mind! It’s incredibly exciting to be creating new work once again for the regions, as we’ve been planning this production for some time. We are thrilled to be heading back on the road and cannot wait to visit local theatres with this show.

Liza McLean, Andrew Kay And Jonathan Church Theatre Productions present

DAVID SUCHET COMES TO BIRMINGHAM REP IN

POIROT AND MORE, A RETROSPECTIVE 

ON SUN 5 DEC 2021

Sir David Suchet makes his eagerly awaited return to Birmingham Repertory Theatre in POIROT AND MORE, A RETROSPECTIVE for one night only, on Sunday, 5 December 2021.

POIROT AND MORE, A RETROSPECTIVE looks back fondly at David’s illustrious career, sharing some of his most beloved performances in a new and intimate light. Geoffrey Wansell, journalist, broadcaster, biographer and co-author of Poirot and Me, will be joining David as interviewer in this unmistakably unique event.

The show is part of a UK tour, which will see David retrace his steps as a young actor, visiting more than 20 theatres across the country.

David Suchet said: ‘Regional theatre has always been very close to my heart as it’s where my career started and was nurtured. To visit so many places that have meant so much to me during my 52 year career is wonderful. This show is my way of connecting and saying hello to people across the country after this terrible period and welcoming them back into the theatre. I am looking forward to sharing my memories, stories and favourite moments.’

David has captivated millions worldwide as Agatha Christie’s elegant Belgian detective for over 25 years. Beyond Poirot, David has graced the world’s stages bringing literary greats to life, including Shakespeare, Wilde, Albee and Miller and is celebrated for his portrayals of iconic roles such as Lady Bracknell, Cardinal Benelli, Joe Keller and Gregory Solomon.

Join us in conversation with the actor behind the detective and the many characters David has portrayed on stage and screen over a career spanning five decades.

POIROT AND MORE, A RETROSPECTIVE will play at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 5 December 2021. Priority tickets go on sale today, Fri 20 August 2021 at birmingham-rep.co.uk, and general tickets on Tues 24 August 2021. 

POIROT AND MORE, A RETROSPECTIVE is co-created by David Suchet and Liza McLean. The show was originally produced in Australia and New Zealand by Liza McLean and Andrew Kay and is presented in the UK by Liza McLean, Andrew Kay and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions.

DONNY OSMOND JOINS

JULIAN CLARY, PAUL ZERDIN, NIGEL HAVERS, GARY WILMOT,

JAC YARROW AND SOPHIE ISAACS

P A N T O L A N D   A T   T H E   P A L L A D I U M

WHICH RETURNS TO THE LONDON PALLADIUM FOR CHRISTMAS 2021

FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED FIVE WEEK RUN

PUBLIC BOOKING OPENS ON TUESDAY 24 AUGUST AT 10AM

www.palladiumpantomime.com

Michael Harrison for Crossroads Pantomimes is delighted to announce that Donny Osmond will join celebrated pantomime royalty Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot, Jac Yarrow and Sophie Isaacs in Pantoland at The Palladium which will open at the world-famous West End theatre on 4 December 2021 and run until 9 January 2022 for a strictly limited five week run.  Priority booking opens at 10am on Monday 23 August 2021, with public booking opening at 10am on Tuesday 24 August 2021.

Donny Osmond will star as the Wizard of Pantomime. With a career spanning five decades Donnyhas been a singer, actor, triple-threat television series host and best-selling author. Throughout his illustrious career, Osmond has earned 33 gold records; selling over 100 million albums becoming a worldwide music legend. His forthcoming album “Start Again” marks his 65^th release in the music industry.  Before appearing in Pantoland at The Palladium he returns toLas Vegas with his first-ever solo residency inside Harrah’s Showroom at Harrah’s, opening August 2021.

Julian Clary, Nigel Havers and Paul Zerdin have starred in pantomimes at The London Palladium since 2016 with Cinderella.  Gary Wilmot joined the cast in 2017 and together they have performed in Dick Whittington, Snow White, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and last year’s Pantoland at The Palladium. 

The cast are joined by Jac Yarrow, who made his Palladium pantomime debut last Christmas, and is currently starring in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The London Palladium; and Sophie Isaacs who previously starred in the title role in 2019’s production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and can currently be seen in SIX the Musical at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End. Australian speciality act Flame Oz will add a new dimension to the pantomime along with the return of spectacular special effects from the Twins FX.

An essential part of Christmas in the West End, Pantoland at The Palladium is created by Michael Harrison and promises to be a treasure trove of The London Palladium’s panto past and exciting new surprises written especially for the show, guaranteeing an unmissable treat for panto and musical theatre fans alike. 

The Olivier Award-Winning Team of director Michael Harrison, choreographer Karen Bruce, set designer Ian Westbrook, costume designer Hugh Durrant, lighting designer Ben Cracknell, sound designer Gareth Owen and composer and orchestrator Gary Hind will once again work together to bring back this hugely popular show.

Director and Producer Michael Harrison said: “Pantoland at The Palladium was originally created for the 2020 season and was sadly cut short due to the tiering system which meant we only played 6 performances to a reduced capacity of just 1000 people per performance.  However, the reaction to the show was unlike anything any of us had seen before so the thought of bringing it back as an even bigger and better Christmas extravaganza was too good an idea to resist.  Imagine my excitement when Donny Osmond, one of the greatest entertainers in the world, agreed to join my brilliant returning favourites as the Wizard of Pantomime.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of the world’s greatest stars alongside the greatest performers in pantomime at the world’s greatest theatre.”

This production at The London Palladium is once again delivered in partnership with The National Lottery.  It comes following The National Lottery’s support for pantomimes across the UK in 2020 – when it provided the necessary funds to make possible productions when social distancing meant audience numbers were limited. The money for this initiative came from a National Lottery promotional fund. 

Pantoland at The Palladium is produced by Michael Harrison for Crossroads Pantomimes.  

Sign-up is open today for priority booking at www.palladiumpantomime.com

LISTINGS INFORMATION 

Theatre:                             The London Palladium, Argyll St, London W1F 7TF

Dates:                                4 December 2021 – 9 January 2022

Performances:                     see website for performance schedule

Tickets:                              Tickets from £25 – no booking fees

Website:                            www.palladiumpantomime.com

Twitter:                              @PalladiumPanto                          

Facebook:                           www.facebook.com/PalladiumPanto

Instagram:                         palladiumpanto