Month: November 2021

BILL KENWRIGHT

APPOINTS AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR

PAUL TAYLOR-MILLS

AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF

THE OTHER PALACE

Bill Kenwright appoints his long-standing collaborator, Paul Taylor-Mills, to be Artistic Director of The Other Palace. Paul Taylor-Mills returns to the venue, following a previous role as Advisory Producer from 2016 – 2018, while it was owned by Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Paul launches his season of work for The Other Palace with the award-winning Heathers the Musical, which runs from 25 November – 20 February 2022.

Paul Taylor-Mills, Artistic Director, The Other Palace said: “I am absolutely delighted to be returning to The Other Palace as its new Artistic Director and launching my tenure with Heathers the Musical, all under the helm of Bill Kenwright.

I have had the pleasure of working with Bill and his incredible team for many years and the opportunity for us to have a London home for our projects is a dream come true. 

The Other Palace is an incredible building and I’m looking forward to re-opening the space with Heathers. We’ve been incredible lucky with the show but there’s nothing like seeing it on the stage it was always intended to live on. 

I’m looking forward to this next chapter and would like to thank Bill for his unfaltering loyalty and trust in me.”

Paul Taylor-Mills is the Artistic Director of both The Other Palace Theatre and The Turbine Theatre at The Battersea Power Station, London. He has worked as Advisory Producer to Andrew Lloyd Webber and The Really Useful Group.

Recent credits include: At the Turbine Theatre – My Night with Reg, My Son’s A Queer, But What Can You Do, MTFestUK 2021, Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Ball, Hair (part of the Turbine on the Jetty Season), Torch Song, High Fidelity and Cat In The Hat.

Elsewhere, Heathers the Musical at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and The Other Palace (winner of the WhatsOnStage Best New Musical Award) and currently on national tour, Murder For Two at the Watermill Theatre and The Other Palace, The

Wild Party at The Other Palace, European Premiere of Disney’s Peter and the Starcatcher at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Side Show at Southwark Playhouse, The Last Five Years at the St. James Theatre (winner of the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off-West End Production) End of The Rainbow on UK Tour, In The Heights at Kings Cross Theatre and Southwark Playhouse (winner of three Olivier Awards), Casa Valentina at Southwark Playhouse, Carrie The Musical at Southwark Playhouse (winner of The WhatsOnStage Off West End Award), and Associate Producer on The Importance of Being Earnest starring David Suchet on UK Tour and the Vaudeville Theatre.

Bill Kenwright (Producer) West End productions include: Heathers the Musical (Theatre Royal Haymarket, The Other Palace, UK Tour), Be More Chill (Shaftesbury Theatre), Love Letters (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Best Man (Playhouse Theatre), The Exorcist (Phoenix Theatre), Evita (Dominion Theatre), How the Other Half Loves (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Go-Between (Apollo Theatre), The War of the Worlds (Dominion Theatre), Let the Right One In (Apollo Theatre), Twelve Angry Men (Garrick Theatre), Cabaret (Savoy Theatre), Blood Brothers (Phoenix Theatre), Soul Sister (Savoy Theatre), Written On The Heart (RSC – Duchess Theatre), Brief Encounter(Lyric Theatre), The Pitmen Painters (Duchess Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium), On the Waterfront (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Sunset Boulevard (Comedy Theatre), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Adelphi Theatre), The Crucible (RSC – Gielgud Theatre), Whistle Down the Wind (Palace Theatre), A Man for All Seasons (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Scrooge (London Palladium), A Few Good Men (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Festen (Lyric Theatre), Judi Dench in All’s Well That Ends Well (RSC – Gielgud Theatre) and Hay Fever (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Jessica Lange in A Streetcar Named Desire (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Long Day’s Journey into Night (Lyric Theatre), The Glass Menagerie (Apollo Theatre), The Taming of the Shrew (RSC – Queens Theatre), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Lyric Theatre) and Fallen Angels (Apollo Theatre).

On Broadway: Travels with My Aunt (Drama Desk Award), Dancing at Lughnasa (Tony Award), Medea (Tony Award), Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (four Tony Awards), Théâtre de Complicite’s The Chairs (six Tony Award nominations), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Glass Menagerie, Primo, Festen, Passing Strange and Guys and Dolls. Blood Brothers, which ran for 24 years in the West End, also played for three years at Broadway’s Music Box Theatre.

As Director: Evita, Saturday Night Fever, Whistle Down the Wind, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Blood Brothers, and Cilla the Musical. Nominated for a London Theatre Critics’ Award for West Side Story and a Tony Award for Blood Brothers.

Film includes: Another Mother’s Son, The Hope Rooms, The Day After the Fair, Stepping Out, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Cheri and Broken, which won Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards. Die Mommie Die! and Burden were both Sundance Festival Award Winners in 2003 and 2018 respectively. My Pure Land was Britain’s submission for the Foreign-Language Oscar and Off the Rails opened in cinemas July 2021.

Other credits and awards include: Co-produced the phenomenally successful arena tour of Elvis – The Concert with Elvis Presley Enterprises. Honorary Doctorate from both Liverpool University and Nottingham Trent University, an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool’s John Moores University and an Honorary Professorship from Thames Valley University in London. In 2002, Bill Kenwright received the Variety Club Bernard Delfont Award for his contribution to the entertainment industry, and in the same year his CBE. In 2008, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Theatrical Management Association. In 2017, to celebrate his career, he was honoured by BBC Radio 2 with a special episode of Friday Night is Music Night which was broadcast from the London Palladium.

He is the Chairman of Everton FC. And a fan.

LISTINGS

THE OTHER PALACE

Bill Kenwright & Paul Taylor-Mills present

HEATHERS THE MUSICAL

Book, Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy

Directed by Andy Fickman

Associate Director and Choreography by Gary Lloyd

Design by David Shields

Lighting by Ben Cracknell

Sound by Dan Samson

Venue: The Other Palace

Dates: 25 November 2021 – 20 February 2022

Running Time: Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes including interval

Website:       www.heathersthemusical.com

theotherpalace.co.uk/heathers-the-musical/

           www.kenwright.com

Address: 12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA

Tickets: From £25

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram:

@HeathersMusical

@TheOtherPalace

@BKL_Productions

ANYTHING GOES TAKES £717K IN ONE WEEK, TO SMASH BARBICAN THEATRE BOX OFFICE RECORD AND ACHIEVE THE BIGGEST GROSSING WEEK FOR A MUSICAL IN ITS 39 YEAR HISTORY

15 WEEK SOLD OUT SEASON

MUST END SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2021

The smash hit musical ANYTHING GOES has smashed the Barbican Theatre’s box office record by grossing £717,000 last week. This phenomenal figure is the highest grossing week for a musical at the Barbican in its 39 year history.

Since ANYTHING GOES opened in July this year, audiences have been on their feet, giving this multi Tony Award winning show multiple standing ovations night after night. Described as the “musical equivalent of sipping one glass of champagne after another“ (The Times) and is “delightful, delicious, and as buoyant as helium“ (Evening Standard).

Featuring a 50 strong company which has been led by Sutton Foster, Rachel York, Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal, Haydn Gwynne and Gary Wilmot, an ensemble of the finest there is to offer on the London stage including tap dancing sailors, and a full-sized live orchestra, this five star hit new production of Anything Goes “immediately joins the pantheon of great classic musical revivals“ (Daily Telegraph).

Producer Sir Howard Panter said: “We are thrilled with the response to this glorious production of Anything Goes. To achieve a gross of £717,000 in one week is quite some feat. It just goes to show that as we come out of the pandemic, London theatre is very much alive and people cannot get enough of this energetic and uplifting classic musical which has been sold out night after night. From outstanding leading actors, to the spectacular supporting company, the glorious set design, the breathtaking choreography and stage direction, and of course the wonderful score – it really is ‘the show of the year’. I’d like to thank our friends at the Barbican for their huge support throughout – we will be back!

Barbican Director of Arts and Learning Will Gompertz said: “Anything Goes was the perfect show to welcome back our much missed audiences to the Barbican after the lockdown. The joyous production played a significant part in one of our most successful autumns ever. We look forward to developing our ongoing collaboration with Trafalgar Entertainment after this incredibly successful start”

ANYTHING GOES has music and lyrics by Cole Porter, an original book by P.G. Wodehouse & Guy Bolton with Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse and a new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. This production is directed and choreographed by three time Tony Award Winner Kathleen Marshall.

When the S.S. American heads out to sea, etiquette and convention head out the portholes as two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love… proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of singing sailors, a comical disguise and some good old-fashioned blackmail. This hilarious musical romp across the Atlantic featuring a collection of some of theatre’s most memorable songs – including ‘I Get A Kick Out of You’, ‘Anything Goes’, ‘You’re the Top’, ‘Blow, Gabriel, Blow’, ‘It’s De-Lovely’, ‘Friendship’ and ‘Buddie Beware’ – will take you back to the Golden Age of high society on the seas. ANYTHING GOES is set to sail away with audiences all over again.

★★★★★

‘Makes you gasp in wonder and laugh till it hurts. Pure class’

Daily Telegraph

★★★★★

‘The show of the year. I would give it six stars if I could’

Daily Telegraph

★★★★★

’The musical equivalent of sipping one glass of champagne after another’

The Times

★★★★★

‘When a musical packs this much energy and spectacle, nothing else goes!’

Daily Mail

★★★★★

’Bubbly wit and stylish fun. It shimmers and sparkles’

The Times

★★★★★

‘Anything Goes offers the delirious delight of a musical in full sail’

Financial Times

CREATIVE TEAM

Kathleen Marshall – Director & Choreographer

Derek McLane – Set Designer

Jon Morrell – Costume Designer

Hugh Vanstone – Lighting Designer

Jonathan Deans – Sound Designer

Stephen Ridley – Music Supervisor

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Barbican Theatre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS

Final performance: 6 November 2021

Performances: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm

Running time: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including interval

Tickets: £25 – £150, plus booking fee

Barbican Box Office: barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/anything-goes

Website: AnythingGoesMusical.co.uk

Twitter: @AnythingGUK

Facebook: @AnythingGoesUK

Instagram: @AnythingGoesUK

Presented in association with the Barbican

FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

CABARET

AT THE KIT KAT CLUB

PERFORMANCES BEGIN 15 NOVEMBER 2021

ATG Productions and Underbelly, the producers of CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB in London’s West End are delighted to announce today the Prologue Company, ahead of the production’s first preview performance on Monday 15 November 2021.

At the Kit Kat Club, your experience begins from the moment you walk through the (back) door, with the Prologue Company of nine actors, dancers and musicians welcoming visitors to the world of the club.

The Prologue Company consists of Gabriela Bendetti, Rachel Benson, Laura Braid, Julian Capolei, Hollie Cassar, Celine Fortenbacher-Popławska, Samantha Ho, Andrew Linnie and Sally Swanson with an original score composed by Angus MacRae.

They join Eddie Redmayne as ‘The Emcee’, Jessie Buckley as ‘Sally Bowles’ Omari Douglas as ‘Cliff Bradshaw’, Liza Sadovy as ‘Fraulein Schneider’, Elliot Levey as ‘Herr Schultz’, Stewart Clarke as ‘Ernst Ludwig’ and Anna-Jane Casey as ‘Fraulein Kost’. The cast is completed by Josh Andrews, Emily Benjamin, Sally Frith, Matthew Gent, Emma Louise Jones, Ela Lisondra, Theo Maddix, Chris O’Mara, Daniel Perry, Andre Refig, Christopher Tendai, Bethany Terry, Lillie-Pearl Wildman and Sophie Maria Wojna.

Transforming one of London’s most famous theatres with an in-the-round auditorium and reimagined spaces, before the show guests are invited to enjoy and explore the Kit Kat Club with pre-show entertainment, drinks and dining all on offer. When booking, guests will receive a ‘club entry time’ to allow enough time to take in the world of the Kit Kat Club before the show starts. But of course, the show really starts when you first join us in the club…

In a time when the world is changing forever, there is one place where everyone can be free… Welcome to the Kit Kat Club, home to an intimate and electrifying new production of CABARET. This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself. 

The Kit Kat Club has occupied the Playhouse Theatre. The performers have infiltrated the premises. The artists have staked their claim. Who knows for how long they’ll stay, but for now they are enjoying the party. The party at the end of the world.

One of the most successful musicals of all time CABARET features the songs Wilkommen, Don’t Tell Mama, Mein Herr, Maybe This Time, Money and the title number. It has music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masteroff. Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood.

CABARET is directed by Rebecca Frecknall (the Almeida’s Olivier Award winning Summer and Smoke, The Duchess of Malfi, Three Sisters), set and costume design is by Tom Scutt (A Very Expensive Poison, Constellations, King Charles III, Jesus Christ Superstar, collaborations with Sam Smith, Christine and the Queens) with choreography by Julia Cheng (founder of the House of Absolute, Philharmonia Orchestra Artist in Residence, recipient of the runner-up prize for Hip Hop Dance futures, Resident Choreographer for the Royal Academy of Dance, Judge and mentor for BBC Young Dancer and Breakin’ Convention – the UK’s biggest Hip Hop Festival, collaborations with London Fashion Week, Google and Dr Martens). Musical supervision and direction is by Jennifer Whyte (Les Misérables film, Caroline Or Change, Parade). Lighting design is by Isabella Byrd (Heroes of the Fourth Turning and Light Shining in Buckinghamshire – both in New York, Daddy – A Melodrama at the Almeida and The Flick at the National theatre) with sound design by Nick Lidster (City of Angels, Passion, Pacific Overtures and Parade at the Donmar Warehouse, Sweeney Todd and On The Town for English National Opera, A Chorus Line, Les Misérables and Miss Saigon). The casting director is Stuart Burt (& Juliet, The Drifters Girl and 2021 CDG Award for Best Casting in Theatre for Cyrano De Bergerac) and the associate director is Jordan Fein. Angus MacRae is the Prologue composer. Fight direction is by Jonathan Holby. The dialect coach is Michaela Kennen and the voice coaches are Claire Underwood and Mark Meylan.

CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Underbelly.

ETT ANNOUNCE FIVE NEW TRUSTEES JOINING ITS BOARD

Today, during Trustees’ Week, ETT (English Touring Theatre) announce the appointment of five new trustees joining its Board – Dr Saphié Ashtiany, Olivier Brémont, Rubi Gubara-Sannie, Sanj Surati and Rosie Stanbury. They join current trustees Dame Jenny Abramsky DBE, Dan Bates, Robert Delamere (Chair), Floriana Dezou, Paapa Essiedu, Olivia Highland, Renuka Venkatraman, Tara Wilkinson and Igor. With these new appointments ETT bolsters an exceptional group which continues to offer strategic guidance and support at a crucial moment for the company and the sector.

Robert Delamere, Chair of the Board, said today, “The past year has seen ETT produce celebrated and innovative work across theatre, film, podcasts and audio drama, whilst also working to ensure our trustees are truly representative of the nation we create for. With our newly announced trustees – Dr Saphié Ashtiany, Olivier Brémont, Rubi Gubara-Sannie, Sanj Surati and Rosie Stanbury – we further broaden and deepen the quality and experience of our trustees. We’re thrilled to have such a formidable group join the company as we look to the future.”

Dr Saphié Ashtiany, said, “ETT rightly has a preeminent reputation for the best in creative, imaginative productions both in the theatre and, increasingly, in the digital space. This is coupled with a real commitment to exploring the diversity of our communities and an inclusive idea of what we mean by being “English”.  As someone who came to England from a completely different culture, and having made my home and my social investment in our society, I am really excited at the opportunity of working with ETT to develop and deliver a strong vision for the future of our creative spaces.”

Olivier Brémont, commented, “ETT occupies a unique space within contemporary arts and culture, enabling audiences nationally and internationally to experience and engage with new and classic works. I am proud to contribute my experience in the sports and entertainment sectors to support ETT in growing both its brand and audience reach. Both “live” and through new, innovative products to expand interest in theatre and demonstrate that ETT can be a positive force in the areas of societal change, diversity and inclusion.”

Rubi Gubara-Sannie, said, “My combined experience and expertise in performing arts, learning and organisational development as well as my commitment to championing inclusion will support ETT in connecting with our most diverse communities and creating inclusive, innovative ways to represent the many voices within our society through the power of storytelling.”

Sanj Surati, added, “I am truly moved to be approached by ETT to be part of their fantastic company as a trustee. It’s been a dream for me to work in a creative institution to nurture new perspectives and ideas from the inside. I hope to offer a new and exciting approach to how we as humans make creativity an inclusive and important part of how we grow into new realms of theatre.” 

Rosie Stanbury, also commented, “It’s such a vital moment to consider the role of theatre in national conversations, I’m looking forward to supporting ETT to think about approaches to audience engagement in the post-Covid environment.”

Iranian by background, Saphié Ashtiany has mostly lived and been educated in the UK. She is a recognised expert in equality and employment law with a deep passion for the arts and a strong belief in their importance in our society.  She splits her time between arts organisations and those committed to social justice, working with a wide variety of organisations, ranging from the UN High Commission for Refugees to a major city law firm where she was the Head of the Employment and Equalities group. She has been an Equal Opportunities Commissioner, a director of Channel 4 Corporation, a director of the Oxford Playhouse and director and chair of the Equal Rights Trust.

She is currently a director and trustee of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and on the advisory council of the Welsh National Opera. She is also a trustee and chair of the Nationwide Foundation, which works for decent affordable secure homes, and a director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which works to eliminate destitution and economic precarity.

Olivier Brémont is a senior entertainment and sports marketing executive with over 20 years’ global experience, working for high-profile international rights-holders, brands and agencies. He brings to ETT a combination of experiences in strategic commercial leadership, partnership sales and business development, partnership management and global event delivery. His career has spanned roles with brands including Red Bull and adidas, sports rights holders including Formula E and Volvo Ocean Race Chief Commercial Officer; World Wrestling Entertainment VP Commercial Operations Europe; Women’s Tennis Association VP, Business Development and Strategy; UEFA Account Director and agencies including Infront VP, Business Development and Associate Director, Asia. He also has a track record building commercial propositions in partnership with sponsors, teams, venues and media platforms. 

Rubi Gubara-Sannie has over 12 years’ experience in organisational development and learning and has a passion to drive the creation of safe spaces for people to thrive, lead and grow at work. In her current role she provides strategic, inspirational and leadership expertise in relation to culture, values, leadership development, talent management as well as equality, diversity and inclusion. She has a degree in performing arts and uses her creative skills to engage with local communities and her colleagues by developing holistic, interactive interventions that increase engagement and Organisational performance. She is passionate about supporting people to grow in their leadership journey and unlocking their potential by helping them to achieve their career goals. In addition, she is dedicated to bringing about positive changes and creating an environment where all staff have a voice, feel listened to and can bring their authentic self to work. She believes everyone should be valued for who they are and what they can bring, and that difference should be celebrated and valued.

Sanj Surati is an award-winning multi-disciplined Digital Atelier with over twenty years of experience within the music, fashion and luxury industries. He has been working within digital and technology since 1998. He has seen the cultural shift in human habit and behaviour with the evolution of digital consumers. He started work in the music business as a musician, from there he started to help digital start-ups target music industry professionals during the shift of consumer habits from physical products to digital. He has worked with multiple luxury brands including Burberry, Gucci, Charlotte Tilbury, Christian Louboutin and BMW. He was also part of the team that delivered the 2Pac hologram at Coachella back in 2012 – this initiative won Titanium at the Cannes Lions and broke Digital PR Records faster than anything previously. As a creative, Suratiis a stand-up comic, actor and musician.

Rosie Stanbury is Head of Public Programmes at Wellcome Collection, a free museum and library exploring health and human experience. In this role, she oversees the team delivering exhibitions, publications, public events, youth engagement and national arts partnerships. As part of the charity’s Leadership team she also acts as internal sponsor for its Social Justice Curriculum, a professional and personal learning journey for all staff to develop anti-racist and anti-ableist thinking and practice. She originally joined Wellcome in 2006 as an events producer, working on the opening engagement programme for Wellcome Collection’s launch in 2007. Subsequently she has worked in various roles across the organisation including holding oversite of its Arts Awards grants scheme. Throughout her career she has championed diverse perspectives, creative approaches to engagement and the role of audiences in the creation of programmes

It’s bigger, it’s bolder, it’s back; VAULT Festival will return from 25th January – 20th March 2022, celebrating its 10th anniversary with its biggest programme to date. Produced by VAULT Creative Arts, VAULT Festival is one of the largest curated arts festivals in the world and the largest in the UK. In 2022, the festival will feature over 600 shows of the best new theatre, comedy, immersive experiences, cabaret, live performance, and late-night events from the brightest and boldest artists of our time.

With tickets now on sale for the first shows in the 2022 Festival’s programme, the full line-up will be revealed on Tuesday 23rd November 2021

VAULT Festival Director & Co-Founder Andy George comments, We’re thrilled to be celebrating VAULT Festival’s 10th birthday by welcoming back artists and audiences to the festival. The last 21 months have been incredibly hard for everyone in the cultural sector, especially freelancers; we want VAULT Festival 2022 to be a beacon on the horizon that everyone can look forward to and to add colour and vibrancy to the cold winter months that lie ahead. We’re incredibly grateful to all the artists, audiences, partners, and staff who’ve worked with us and supported our mission over the past two years, and the eight that came before it, to mean we can still be here today presenting the brightest and boldest artists & live performance makers of our time.

Representation in the festival is seen both in the demographic of the artistic creators as well as in the style, content and format of the works: this is highlighted across the works announced as part of the VAULT Five, a nine-month mentoring programme for early and mid-career live performance makers, elevating their careers to the next level. Julene Robinson, currently performing in the West End’s Get Up Stand Up, brings The Night Woman exploring one woman’s relationship to darkness and the associated language and connotations. Through riveting poetic storytelling, music and sounds the narrative will unfold through a dramatic physical display of journeying into the dark using Jamaican folk storytelling and movement. Acclaimed Birmingham Poet Laureate Casey Bailey transforms his poetry collection Please Do Not Touch (June 2021) into a two person play, looking at
the irony and hypocrisy of ‘Please Do Not Touch’ signs in stately homes and museums, when the items they ‘protect’ should not be there at all as they belong to other countries and cultures.

Gemma Barnett fuses spoken word, dialogue, and music in Agatha: based on real life events, it explores female inherited trauma that begins with a denied abortion in the 60s and then goes on to tell the story of three generations of women battling lost dreams, addiction and each other. Katie Greenall (Fatty Fat Fat) presents Blubber, a new work-in-progress piece exploring fat queer bodies, their relationship to intimacy and loneliness and how marginalised bodies build communities. This work considers how fat bodies function in water and follows Greenall taking synchronised swimming classes as part of her research.

The Silver Bell from Irish writer Alan Flanagan (Dark Shadows, BBC; Hollyoaks) explores grief and the desperation we feel to get back the ones we love, even if we really know that that’s not possible. With heft and heart at its centre, the work is energetic and fast-paced using a science-fiction concept to bring its ideas to life. From Barry McStay and Lucy Jane Atkinson, the team behind VAULT 2019 hit Vespertillio, All These Maybes (longlisted for the 2015 Bruntwood Prize) flashes between present and past – real or misremembered – and is a fluid exploration of love, loss, and regeneration. It depicts the malleability of memory and the ways in which we can become captive within our own existence, hugely relevant themes in light of recent global events.

JMK Award Winner Josh Roche directs Pennyroyal, which considers the morality of bringing children into the world in the current crisis, familial sister relationships and female infertility. Pushing the boundaries of theatrical possibilities, Naughty, Or Nice? is both an online interactive show and a part pervasive-street game, part-escape room heist where both have very real consequences on the others’ outcomes. It explores the way politicians have used protecting children and ‘family values’ as a way of attacking LGBTQ+ people throughout recent history

In the comedy programme, Thaniya Moore brings Bully, a show which asks what is worse – to be bullied, or to be a bully. Moore talks about being born to two working class Jamaican born parents, her childhood and how this has impacted her adult life. Fringe favourite Elf Lyons looks at the relationship between herself and her deaf friend Brian Duffy in Elf & Duffy, with each show conducted entirely in British Sign Language and live sound foley. Christian Brighty’s debut show Playboy offers a light-hearted clowning take on all the tropes we expect to see in period dramas; we meet the county’s most notorious rake who is guaranteed to make the whole town swoon. ComedyMania, hosted by Aurie Styla, is a one-off night of hilarious stand-up comedy from around the UK. Featuring acts you love and others you’re yet to see, get ready to laugh the night away. A show that will get your abs crunching without the need for a gym membership!

VAULT Festival’s renowned Lates programme is back and better than ever in 2021. LADS is a feminist punk night for all. Keeping accessibility at the heart of the nightlife experience, with walkabout audio descriptions and BSL, this is surely London’s most progressive club night. The UK’s only Pan-Asian cabaret collective, audience favourites The Bitten Peach are back at VAULT Festival to take over the tunnels for Lunar New Year. And House of Burlesque are showcasing amazing fresh burlesque talent and body diversity in this sparkly camp and upbeat night out in Glitter Ball.

For the first time, VAULT Festival will offer an online programme of shows with VAULT Live On Demand providing audiences unable to make it to Waterloo the opportunity to experience the festival from the comfort of home. Selected shows will be streamed in the same week as the live performances.

This year will see the introduction of two ways for audiences to make the most out of VAULT Festival. For those attending the Legendary VAULT Lates, the Party Pass will include free drinks, bar discounts, priority check in and free cloakroom. Also new for 2022, the Festival Pass includes free tickets, free drinks, bar discounts, ticket discounts and a personalised festival pass. Other ways to support the festival and maximise your experience include becoming a VAULT Festival Supporter or a Festival Patron

Safety is paramount at the festival this year, with an improved ventilation system and audiences required to show an NHS Covid Pass to access all venues and bars. The pass can show double vaccination, an LFT taken & uploaded within 48 hours, or having had Covid-19 in the last 6 months. The festival remains cashless, all tickets will be contactless, test and trace will be in place alongside timed entry, and the wearing of face coverings will be recommended throughout. If a show is cancelled due to COVID restrictions, VAULT will refund, issue account credit, or exchange tickets according to customer preference.

Head to vaultfestival.com for more information about the first shows to be announced as part of VAULT Festival 2022 with the full programme to be revealed on 23rd November. VAULT Festival promises to light up the cold winter nights of 2022

ARIA ENTERTAINMENT AND JOHN GERTZ ANNOUNCE

THE NEWLY REIMAGINED VERSION OF

ZORRO THE MUSICAL AT CHARING CROSS THEATRE

Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and John Gertz today announce the newly re-imagined version of Zorro The Musical by Stephen Clark and Helen Edmundson, featuring music by the Gipsy Kings and John Cameron, and lyrics by Clark. The production, directed by Christian Durham, which closed after just two previews due to the pandemic in March 2020, will now open at Charing Cross Theatre on 17 March, with previews from 12 March, and running until 8 May 2022. This will be the first time the show has been seen again in London since its original premiere in 2008.

Katy Lipson, said today, “I have always wanted to work on a re-imagined version of this brilliant and vibrant musical. I am excited to be bringing our troupe of incredible actor-musician performers to Charing Cross Theatre next Spring, performing in the round and bringing some flamenco and Spanish flair to everyone’s seats.”

Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and John Gertz in association with Zorro USA, LLC 
With Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane present

ZORRO THE MUSICAL
Music by the Gipsy Kings and John Cameron

Lyrics by Stephen Clark

Book by Stephen Clark and Helen Edmundson

Director: Christian Durham; Choreographer: Cressida Carré

Set and Costume Designer: Rosa Maggiora; Musical Director and Orchestrations: Nick Barstow; Sound Designer: Andrew Johnson;Lighting Designer: Matthew Haskins 

Fight Director: Renny Krupinski; Flamenco Specialist: Maria Vega; Accent Coach: Nina Zendejas

Casting Director: Jane Deitch; General Manager: Chris Matanlé

12 March – 8 May 2022

Set in the sizzling heat of 1805’s California, a pueblo is under attack from its autocratic leader. When the danger is at its greatest, a masked crusader appears from nowhere and saves lives. Who is he? Will he be their champion?

The famous red-hot tale of the masked hero, El Zorro, fighting for justice and freedom is told in an immersive, thrilling and headily sensual new production. With zealous, ‘get-on-your-feet’ music, featuring international hits by Gipsy Kings including Bamboleo, Baila Me and Djobi Djoba, alongside original music to express a fresh new tale of love, hope and courage.

Audiences will be seduced into the story and witness the thrills and spills of our hero as he battles for all he holds dear. Spanish Gypsy pride and fire runs deep throughout this explosive show with murderous encounters, immeasurable flamenco choreography and Cante jondo singing at its forefront.

Stephen Clark (1961-2016) was an award-winning playwright, librettist and lyricist. His credits include Love Story (Chichester Festival Theatre/Duchess Theatre), Stripped, (Circle Theatre, Chicago – winner of the Jefferson Award), Takeaway (Lyric Hammersmith/UK tour), Making Waves (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Eyam (Old Fire Station/The Bridewell), Martin Guerre (UK and US tour – Olivier Award for Best New Musical), Forbidden City (Esplanade Theatre, Singapore) and The Far Pavilions (The Shaftsbury Theatre, London). His adaptations include La Traviata (ENO) and The Mahabharata (Sadler’s Wells/UK tour).

Helen Edmundson is a playwright. Her theatre credits include Small Island (National Theatre), Queen Anne (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Thérèse Raquin (Theatre Royal Bath), The Heresy of Love (Shakespeare’s Globe), Swallows and Amazons (Bristol Old Vic/Vaudeville Theatre/UK tour), Mary Shelley (Shared Experience), Life is a Dream (Donmar Warehouse), War and Peace (National Theatre), Coram Boy (National Theatre/Imperial Theatre), Orestes, Gone to Earth (Shared Experience UK tours), Mother Teresa is Dead (Royal Court Theatre), The Clearing (Bush Theatre – John Whiting Award), Mill on the Floss, Anna Karenina (Lyric Hammersmith). Her screenwriting credits include Mary Magdalene, An Inspector Calls and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher III. Edmundson was a recipient of the Windham Campbell Prize for Drama in 2015.

John Cameron‘s orchestration credits include Les Misérables – New York Drama Desk Award, Honk! (The Ugly Duckling) – Olivier Award for Best Musical, and Peter Pan (Royal Festival Hall). His musical supervision and arrangement credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Goodbye Girl, The Card, Blondel, Mutiny!, Spend! Spend! Spend! (Best Musical – Evening Standard Awards). As a composer his credits include Faust Part I and Part II (RSC), Hamlet, Becket and Twelfth Night (National Theatre international tours). For television his work includes scores for Jack the Ripper and Jekyll and Hyde, and the theme for BBC’s Crimewatch UK; and his film scores include A Touch of Class -Oscar Award nomination for Best Music and Original Dramatic Score, Kes and To End All Wars.

The Gipsy Kings consist of two bands of brothers: The Reyes (Nicolas, Canut, Paul, Patchaï, André) and the Baliardos (Tonino, Paco, Diego). In 1987 The Gipsy Kings’ self-titled debut album introduced the world to rumba Gitano, the sound of South America’s rumba rhythm married to flamenco guitars. With Bamboleo,the Gipsy Kings scored a huge international hit. Their total album sales worldwide now exceed 18 million.

Christian Durham directs. His theatre credits include Breaking the Code (Salisbury Playhouse), Café Society Swing (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Quaint Honour (Finborough Theatre), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Japan and Russia – Golden Mask Award for Best Musical), Spend Spend Spend, Children of Eden (Union Theatre), Henna Night (Hen and Chickens Theatre), Proud (New Wimbledon Theatre Studio), Taboo (UK tour – Manchester Evening News Award for Best Musical), Debbie Does Dallas (Old Fire Station, Oxford/Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Real Classy Affair (Soho Theatre) and Only You Can Save Mankind (Edinburgh Festival Fringe).

www.zorrothemusical.co.uk

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ZORRO THE MUSICAL

LISTINGS

Charing Cross Theatre

The Arches, Villiers Street, London WC2N 6NL

12 March – 8 May 2022

Box Office: www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/ 08444 930 650

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions present
Witness for the Prosecution
By Agatha Christie

• THE TRIAL OF LEONARD VOLE CONTINUES!
• AFTER A TRIUMPHANT RE-OPENING AGATHA CHRISTIE’S ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ EXTENDS ITS RUN AT THE MAGNIFICENT LONDON COUNTY HALL
• THE ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION IS NOW BOOKING UNTIL 25 SEPTEMBER 2022.
  

                                                             

All Rise! The trial of Leonard Vole will continue at London County Hall as the run of Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution is extended to 25 September 2022. The hit production returned to the historic venue in September with a brand-new cast and was met by standing ovations and critical acclaim.  Tickets for the new booking period are now on sale at  www.witnesscountyhall.com.  Casting for the new booking period is to be announced.

Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high.  Will he be able to convince the jury of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?

The current cast includes Joe McNamara as the accused, Leonard Vole, Emer McDaid as Romaine, Jonathan Firth as Sir Wilfrid Robarts, Teddy Kempner as Mr Mayhew, Miles Richardson as Mr Myers and Martin Turner as Mr Justice Wainwright.   The rest of the new cast includes Christopher Dickins, Nicholas Fretwell, Yvonne Gidden, Sam Graham, Eliot Giuralarocca, Stewart Lockwood, Lorna Lowe, Ellie-Rose Mackinlay, Elana Martin, Simon Murray, Robert Rickman and Andrew Senesie. 

The production has captured the imagination of audiences gripped by the case of Leonard Vole, accused of murder in cold blood. Director Lucy Bailey (Oleanna, Theatre Royal Bath/ West End) thrillingly places the audience in the thick of the action as Christie’s enthralling tale of justice, passion and betrayal unfolds around them.

The twists and turns of the case are played out in a spectacular courtroom setting inside the atmospheric London County Hall as prosecution battles defence and witnesses take the stand to give their shocking testimonies. The production received Best Revival nominations at the 2018 Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards.

Witness for the Prosecution is booking through to 25 September 2022. The production is designed by William Dudley, with lighting by Chris Davey, sound design by Mic Pool and casting by Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG.

THE AWARD WINNING MUSICAL

CELEBRATES 2^ND BIRTHDAY

ON TUESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2021

NEW PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS

OF & JULIET RELEASED TODAY

www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk

& JULIET celebrates its Second Anniversary in London’s West End with the release of brand new production photographs by Johan Persson.  

The award-winning musical has been thrilling audiences since it opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 2 November 2019.

Fabulously fresh and riotously funny, & JULIET explodes with dozens of pop anthems by legendary songwriter Max Martin, including … Baby One More Time, Since U Been Gone, Roar, It’s My Life, I Want It That Way, and Can’t Stop the Feeling! mThe show also includes the brand new song One More Try, written especially for the show by Max.

Miriam-Teak Lee, who was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Actress in 2020 for her performance as Juliet leads a cast including Cassidy Janson, who also won an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Anne Hathaway, Oliver Tompsett as William Shakespeare, David Bedella, who also won an Olivier Award for his performance in the show as Lance, Jordan Luke Gage as Romeo, Melanie La Barrie as Nurse,and Tim Mahendran as Francois. Alex Thomas-Smith recently joined the principal cast to play the role of May.

The ensemble includes Roshani Abbey, Jocasta Almgill, Josh Baker, Ivan De Freitas, Rhian Duncan, Kieran Lai, Nathan Lorainey-Dineen, Jaye Marshall, Grace Mouat, Antoine Murray-Straughan, Billy Nevers, Kerri Norville, Christopher Parkinson, Kirstie Skivington, Alex Tranter, Sophie Usher and Rhys Wilkinson.

As well as the three Olivier Awards, & Juliet also won 6 Whatsonstage Awards – the most of any production in 2020 – and won further awards at The Black Theatre Awards and The Mousetrap Theatre Awards. The show also performed on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing in the coveted slot in ‘Musicals Week’.

Romeo who?! With her bags packed and ready to escape Verona, Juliet recovers from heartbreak in the best way possible… by dancing the night away with her best friends by her side! But when the sparkle fades, the confetti falls and reality catches up, it’s clear that Juliet needs to face her past in order to find her future. Can she reclaim a story that has been written in the stars? Is there really life after Romeo… or could he be worth one more try?

Come along for the ride as the original Anne Hathaway takes on her husband William Shakespeare to remix his legendary play. As comedy meets tragedy, will Juliet get the ending she truly deserves? And most importantly, can their love survive this battle of wills?

Brought to life by an award-winning creative team, this vibrant, colourful and timely musical is directed by Luke Sheppard (In the Heights, Rent and What’s New Pussycat?) with a story by David West Read (Netflix’s Schitt’s Creek), electrifying choreography from Jennifer Weber and stunning set design from Soutra Gilmour.

Max Martin and Tim Headington present & Juliet, which is produced by Martin Dodd, Tim Headington, Max Martin, Jenny Petersson and Theresa Steele Page.

CREATION THEATRE ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH HAWKSMOOR

TO PRESENT

A CHRISTMAS CAROL AT HOME

A DELICIOUSLY UNIQUE DIGITAL THEATRE PRODUCTION

STREAMING ONLINE

1 DEC – 31 DEC

“The flickering of the blaze showed preparations for a cosy dinner, with hot plates baking through and through before the fire, and deep red curtains, ready to be drawn to shut out cold and darkness.”

Award-winning theatre-makers and digital stage specialists Creation Theatre announce a unique festive partnership with leading steak restaurant Hawksmoor to present an entertaining gourmet dining experience at home this Christmas.

Audiences will receive a limited-edition Hawksmoor at Home 3-course Fillet steak cook-at-home meal kit for two designed to be feasted on, alongside watching an atmospheric storytelling inspired by Charles Dickens’ iconic tale of redemption and compassion. A banquet for the senses.

This on demand, new digital theatre and gourmet food experience is directed by Gari Jones (the director behind Creation’s renowned in-person Christmas shows The Snow Queen and Peter Pan, The North Wall Arts Centre), with Graeme Rose (STAN’S CAFÉ, RED SHIFT, KILN, BIRMINGHAM REP) cast as Ebenezer Scrooge and multi-rolling characters.

A Christmas Carol At Home marks Creation Theatre, Oxford’s largest producing theatre’s 10th online production. Lucy Askew, head of Creation Theatre says: “This is an exciting coming together of two sectors who have made major pivots in the pandemic and transitioned to give their customers a unique at home experience. We love Hawksmoor’s approach to sustainability and regenerative farming practices, and we hope this entertaining collaboration brings a little bit of magic to people’s tables this Christmas.”

Jo Fleet, Director of Hawksmoor at Home comments: “Partnering with a theatre company to provide an entertaining evening at home together with great tasting beef is a Hawksmoor first. We’re always looking at ways to enrich the Hawksmoor at Home experience and this festive treat fits the bill perfectly.”

About the A Christmas Carol At Home Fillet Box

The box celebrates the laziest (and therefore most tender) cut there is, the fillet. Tuck into Forest & Brown smoked salmon (what is Christmas without it?), smoked exclusively for Hawksmoor restaurants. Then with the steak there’s creamed spinach, Matt Brown’s Ultimate Oven Chips, cooked thrice (of course), a creamy peppercorn sauce and garlic mushrooms. It doesn’t stop there with a sticky toffee pudding for two and if you’re looking to complete the meal in true Hawksmoor style, opt for booze to get your hands on their Sour Cherry Negroni and a bottle of Rioja Real Agrado. Instructions for how to access the special online show will be found inside this special box.

Listings Information:

Streaming Dates: 1 Dec – 31 Dec

Booking Link at Hawksmoor: https://shop.thehawksmoor.com/product/a-christmas-carol-fillet-box/

Festive Fillet Box price for two: From £125

Dining Experience Running Time: 120 mins (approx.)

December Delivery dates: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th, 18th 21st, 22nd, 30th

Delivery charges: Delivery is free Thursdays and Fridays and £5 on Saturdays

PRAISE FOR CREATION’S PREVIOUS SHOWS:

The Tempest Live

4 Stars “Magical…The stuff dreams are made on.” The Guardian

“Magical and awakens our imagination” Front Row, BBC Radio 4

Best Theatre to Watch List Time Out New York

PRAISE FOR HAWKSMOOR AT HOME:

“Hawksmoor at Home: for two people, as long as both of those people are King Henry VIII.” Londonist

“You’re going to love this – everything you need to have a first-class steak dinner at home” Hot Dinners

CREATIVE TEAM

DIRECTOR – GARI JONES

SOUND DESIGN – MATT EATON

VIDEO DESIGN – STU READ

STAGE MANAGER – JUDITH VOLK

PRODUCTION MANAGER – GILES STOAKLEY

PRODUCER: CHARLIE MORLEY

FAULTY TOWERS THE DINING EXPERIENCE

LONDON’S LONGEST RUNNING IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE CELEBRATES TENTH YEAR IN LONDON

NEW SUNDAY MATINEES ADDED

THE RADISSON BLU EDWARDIAN

TICKETS ON SALE HERE – BOOKING FROM 2 SEPTEMBER – 19 DECEMBER 2021

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, the critically acclaimed international immersive phenomenon celebrated the start of its tenth birthday in London’s West End on 30 October 2021. To mark the occasion, and due to popular demand, the producers have added Sunday matinees for the rest of the current run at the Radisson Blu Edwardian in Bloomsbury, with the final performance on 19 December 2021.

A loving tribute to the BBC’s classic TV series, the show has been seen by over a million people worldwide since it was born in Australia in 1997. As London’s longest running immersive show, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is a highly interactive experience, where audiences enjoy a 3-course meal and 5-star comedy.

When the audience become diners in the ‘Faulty Towers’ restaurant, pretty much anything can happen – because 70% of the show is improvised. The fun starts as guests wait to be seated. It then hurtles along in a 2-hour tour de force of gags and shambolic service as Basil, Sybil and Manuel serve a ‘70s-style 3-course meal together with a good dollop of mayhem.

Expect the unexpected!

The company of actors (ten in total in London) include; Stanley Eldridge, Jack Baldwin and Dave Tremaine alternating as ‘Basil’; Kat Mary, Nerine Skinner, Karina Garnett and Rebecca Norris alternating as ‘Sybil’; Oliver Ford, Leigh Kelly and Tony Clegg as ‘Manuel’.

Born in Australia in April 1997, devised by Alison Pollard-Mansergh, the show has been touring the UK and internationally since 2008, having appeared in 41 countries to date, and employing 56 actors per season. The show has toured to over 1000 venues, with approximately 400 shows per year on average in the UK alone. 2021 has already seen runs at Sydney Opera House, Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival, with tours in Ireland, Scandinavia, and Australia yet to come.

In October 2009, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience played its first performance in London: a sold-out weekend in Covent Garden. The next two years saw sold out summer seasons of six weeks. Then, in 2012, the show opened its first London West End residency at Charing Cross Hotel (now Amba Hotel Charing Cross). Since opening, the cast have performed to notable guests including Fawlty Towers’ very own Andrew Sachs, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, and England footballer Joe Cole, as well as taking a pop-up version of their restaurant on the London Underground and to a sold-out Royal Albert Hall.

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is a loving tribute to Fawlty Towers, the BBC TV series written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. Their TV scripts are not used in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience. Faulty Towers The Dining Experience uses its own original scripts and format.