Month: December 2021

Lyric Theatre – 20 December 2021

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

This fantastic festive show delivers exactly what it promises – Christmas classics and some musical theatre favourites performed by a stellar West End cast.

After being forced to delay last year’s Christmas show by six months (it was well worth the wait!), producers Shanay Holmes and Chris Steward gave the audience at the Lyric some much-needed Christmas cheer.

Shanay Holmes is a warm and welcoming host, and is able to charm an audience in seconds. She also has an INCREDIBLE voice and made the most of her Mariah moment. The mix of songs was perfect, giving us a range of favourite songs from the performers’ shows between Christmas bangers.

John Owen-Jones’ Bring Him Home is always worth the ticket price alone, and his effortlessly emotional voice is perfect for Christmas numbers. Jodie Steele showcased her insane vocals with Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and the audience went wild as she, Teleri Hughes and Inez Budd performed Mean Girls/Heathers numbers.

Emma Hatton wowed the crowd with her powerful voice in songs from Anastasia, Wicked and Frozen. Two of the stars of Frozen, Oliver Ormson and Obi Ugoala also brought the house down – Ugoala with his smooth vocals and Ormson with his high energy numbers – the entire audience were up on their feet dancing and singing along to Merry Christmas Everyone. Shanay Holmes also led a singalong to spread the Christmas joy.

The band, backing singers, dancers and Stagebox kids were all on top form, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. This was a wonderful , uplifting show – the perfect way to start the countdown to Christmas.

Orange Tree Theatre – 31^st December  

Reviewed by Carly Burlinge  

5***** 

Pinocchio is the story of Hugo (Nathan Queeley-Dennis) a boy who is frustrated and lonely as all he wants is a little attention from his Mum Ang (Fiona Drummond). The play itself is based around COVID and Hugo feels very isolated as he doesn’t feel like a real boy. He can’t do the normal day to day things that he would normally do – going out and seeing friends like ordinary boys would. In fact, all Interaction seems to be at a minimum even with mum when she doesn’t have the time because she’s working from home and the telephone keeps ringing. Taking her away from Hugo along with her attention too! As a compromise Mum decides to make Hugo his very own Pinocchio out of craft. Then things get strange when a magical blue fairy turns up turning Hugo into Pinocchio so that he can go on many adventures accompanied by his Toy Dinosaur Angus that also comes alive! But with great adventure becomes great responsibility! Watch Hugo go exploring thinking it will make him super happy. However, he soon realises that maybe he had everything he really needed at the start. Sometimes you just need to work these things out for yourself! 

This production was truly a magical one, offering so much to a young audience from great adventures to so much interaction. Making paper planes and launching them to snowball fights. There was so much visual excitement and enjoyment through lights, bubbles fabulous paper puppets. Not to mention the acknowledgement of how we have all coped with emotions through this hard time.  What I really liked was how they overall discussed COVID and how many of us have felt during this period a good understanding for children to hear. 

All in all, the list goes on for such a lovely beautiful production that every child as well as adults will enjoy and appreciate. Just amazing. 

Statement from SOLT & UK Theatre following Chancellor’s funding announcement

We welcome the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement of business grants and a £30 million top-up to the Culture Recovery Fund. This is a clear signal that the Chancellor and HM Treasury understand the challenges facing our theatres and other cultural businesses.  

Whilst the new funding is most welcome, it is now crucial that DCMS works with the theatre sector to ensure funds are targeted to the businesses and individuals that need it most, including those currently ineligible for the CRF (Emergency Resource Grant). If the situation continues to escalate, further assistance will be needed.  

We are so grateful to all our audiences who continue to champion our theatres and help the industry survive, providing a lifeline to the countless talented performers and staff around the country working tirelessly to keep the curtain raised.   

During this festive period – always a crucial time for the health of our sector – we urge the public to keep booking tickets if they are able to do so and enjoy some much-needed respite in these difficult times. Our theatres are operating under industry-wide See it Safely measures, and full refunds or exchanges will always be offered if a performance is cancelled. 

We advise audiences to visit their local theatre’s website to see what performances are playing, and for people looking to see a show in London to visit officiallondontheatre.com/tkts for the latest information on which shows are available to book for tonight. 

Theatres Trust is the UK’s advisory board for theatres across the country. Director of the Theatres Trust, Jon Morgan, responds to the Chancellor’s announcement of business support and the further £30 million being added to the Culture Recovery Fund to support theatres during the impact of Omicron and the Covid-19 pandemic this winter:

Theatres Trust welcomes the government’s decision to release an extra £30m from the Culture Recovery Fund to support theatres and other cultural organisations in urgent need of support. The additional mandatory grants of up to £6,000 are also welcome and will be particularly helpful to smaller theatres. We hope that both funds are distributed as quickly as possible to help protect theatres. Theatres across the country are already struggling with shows being cancelled due to infections and falling ticket sales as audiences follow government advice to be cautious, so this support is very much needed. 

Theatres Trust has responded to the Scottish government’s announcement that there will be new Covid-19 restrictions:

In the face of rising Covid numbers, Theatres Trust understands the need to introduce additional precautions but the news today that capacity limits will be introduced in Scotland will have a devastating impact on theatres, many of which were only just managing to survive following the difficult past two years. It comes at the worst possible time with theatres in the middle of their busy festive season, which generates the income to keep many going through the rest of the year. We therefore welcome the additional financial support announced by the First Minister and hope this will be distributed quickly. 

EPSTEIN THEATRE, LIVERPOOL – UNTIL SUNDAY 9 JANUARY 2022

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

4****

When I think of a pantomime, I think of glorious costumes, dazzling lights, booming bangs, foggy smoke, funny dance moves and hilarious comedy moments of audience participation. Christmas pantomimes are a favourite festive event and this one certainly did not disappoint.

Fairy Rose (Nazene Langfield, the understudy) sets in motion the tale of Beauty and the Beast. The very wicked Madame Botox (James Lacey) wishes for her son Gaston (Tom Fothergrill, the understudy) to marry the beautiful young Belle (Lauren McCrory) but despite Madame Botox’s attempt to curse the prince, turning him into a hideous beast (Benjamin Keith), Belle falls in love with the doomed prince. Will the Beast learn to love and be loved, in time to break the spell?

The slap stick escapades of French Frank (Lewis Devine) and Potty Polly (Jamie Greer), guarantees audience participation and gets them into panto mood with their chucklesome comedy corkers.

The choreography is elegantly performed by talented dancers and the songs are well chosen, especially Madam Botox’s version of ‘I put a spell on you’. The whole audience, old and young alike got onto their feet, to join in with ‘Tik Toks’.

From the first ‘Bonjour’ to the last goodbye, I was thoroughly entertained throughout. The slick cast transformed this age old tale into something of a Beauty for everyone.

The Epstein is SEE IT FIRST approved, which means they are complying with industry and Government Covid-19 guidelines. The wearing of masks was encouraged, whilst walking around and when seated.

The Epstein is a magnificent, grade 2 listed theatre based in the heart of Liverpool. After a strenuous 18 months, the Epstein Theatre is back, under new management with this premier pantomime.

THE TURBINE THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL LINE-UP

FOR PAUL TAYLOR-MILLS’ FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICAL THEATRE

MTFESTUK 2022

RUNNING FROM 31 JANUARY – 12 FEBRUARY

The Turbine Theatre’s Artistic Director, Paul Taylor-Mills, announces the exciting and diverse new musicals selected for this year’s MTFestUK 2022. The line-up includes: No Limits, Halls , Wuthering Heights – The Musical, Train On Fire, RuneSical, Father/Son, Jeanne and Queeroes.

A celebration of new musical theatre, MTFestUK2022runs from 31 January – 12 February 2022 at The Turbine Theatre in Battersea and sets out to promote quality artistry with a view to showcasing and elevating projects to full production, giving audiences an insight into the process of creating new work and the art of collaboration. Paul Taylor-Mills launched the inaugural MTFestUK season at The Other Palace in 2019, followed by a 2020 & 2021 season at The Turbine Theatre.

THIS YEAR’S LINE-UP FOR MTFESTUK 2022 WILL INCLUDE:

NO LIMITS

By Sam Thomas

Have you ever felt that you’re behind in life? That you’re not where you want to be, or where you think you should be? “Seems like everybody’s getting married and being promoted and having babies and moving somewhere, but does it really mean you’re losing? You’re not!”

No Limits is an exciting new song-cycle by Sam Thomas that shatters the notion of falling behind in life – because there’s really no such thing. It follows characters as they dare to believe in themselves and strive for a better tomorrow. A show with heart, humour and a message we should all take on board… Know no limits.

***

HALLS

By Jennifer Harrison and George Stroud

Halls centres on a diverse group of eight, first-year uni students from different cultural backgrounds and upbringings who are brought together when they find out they’ve been allocated the same exact flat in Halls of Residence: Flat 15B. Over the course of the show, audiences can look forward to some rich character development as they witness these eight lovable students blossom and develop over their academic school year.  

The new Halls musical also takes on many themes typical to life at university, including the cost of student living, love and romance, freshers week, flat arguments, cramming the night before an exam, and self-acceptance. Now forced to own up to the decisions they make, will these characters manage to find their footing in the world with the greatest of ease? Or will there be lots of trial and error? 

Featuring upbeat, feel-good vibes that evoke feelings of nostalgia for our uni days, Halls is set against the backdrop of a catchy, contemporary, pop-rock soundtrack

***

WUTHERING HEIGHTS – THE MUSICAL

By Lizzie Lister, Mick Lister and Clare Lonsdale

This is Wuthering Heights like you’ve never seen before, retold through a haunting, filmic score, fusing the classical with the contemporary. We revitalise Brontë’s renowned Gothic romance through a 21^st century lens. Wild, whimsical Cathy has grown up on the Yorkshire moors, and when Heathcliff, the young immigrant orphan, is thrust into her life, the pair soon become inseparable. This brutally honest retelling of Heathcliff and Cathy’s death-defying love highlights the novel’s most hard-hitting themes, and will harden, break and heal your heart. From the lovelorn Lintons, tyrannical Hindley, to the all-seeing, all-knowing Nelly Dean, this adaptation gives every character the chance to tell their side of the story.  

Within these walls our story lives, a captive soul hunts freedom in the Heights

***

TRAIN ON FIRE

By Annabelle Lee

Kitty Marion just wanted to be a singer. Instead, she became one of the most volatile, violent suffragettes in Britain’s history. Train on Fire is a musical where the feminists of today tell the story of a feminist of yesterday

***

RUNESICAL
By Sam Cochrane and Alex Prescot

Sword equipped. Potions ready. High-speed internet connected.

Based on the hugely popular online game RuneScape, join Lance_054 (the first fifty-three were taken) on a quest where YOU, the audience, decide where the characters go next! Whether you’re an experienced player or a total noob, Gigglemug Theatre (The Stage Edinburgh Award Winners) bring you a new multi-pathway musical which will have the whole family laughing from start to finish.

***

FATHER/SON

By Nick Butcher & Fraser Watt

A beautiful exploration of the relationship between Liam, known as ‘Godfather of the Blues’, and his son Finley, a songwriter chasing the charts. 

From adolescence to adulthood, the two musicians endure stadium stomping highs and earth-shattering lows. Together, they discover at what cost they are willing to sacrifice relationships, authenticity, and eventually each other to become ‘King of the Road’.

***

JEANNE

By Shirlie Roden

A through-composed rock opera, “Jeanne” traces the story of the legendary fifteenth-century Joan of Arc, a young peasant girl destined for greatness, who claims to have been chosen by God to liberate her country and to crown the Dauphin as King of France. The dramatic raising of the siege of Orleans finds Jeanne fulfilling her vision, standing beside the Dauphin as he is crowned. 

After failing to retake Paris, Jeanne is later captured and taken to Rouen to stand trial where her destiny is sealed as she is condemned as a heretic and sentenced to be burned alive – the flames a living symbol through the centuries

***

QUEEROES

Book by Victoria Bush and Laura Checkley

Music by Gus Gowland, Leo & Hyde

(An original idea conceived by Paul Taylor-Mills)

Queeroes is a celebration of some of history’s iconic queer heroes. The ones that should have made your history lessons at school…but didn’t. It’s time to shine the spotlight on them and imagine what if. What if Alan Turing ending up in the same room as Frida Carlo. What would they talk about? And… if they could sing…what might they sing. Join us as we celebrate queer history in this irreverent and high-octane party.

REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR BRAND NEW PRODUCTION OF ORWELL’S

ANIMAL FARM

ADAPTED & DIRECTED BY THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED & MULTI AWARD-WINNING

ROBERT ICKE

WITH DESIGNS BY BUNNY CHRISTIE & PUPPETRY BY TOBY OLIÉ

RUNNING FROM 22 JANUARY – 28 MAY 2022

 PRESENTED BY THE CHILDREN’S THEATRE PARTNERSHIP

IN ASSOCIATION WITH BIRMINGHAM REP

Rehearsal images are released for the highly anticipated upcoming production of George Orwell’s classic satirical fable, Animal Farm, adapted and directed by the multi award-winning Robert Icke (The Doctor, Hamlet, Mary Stuart, Oresteia, 1984).

The brand-new production will embark on an extensive UK tour, opening at Birmingham Rep from 22 January 2022, with press night on Wednesday 2 February.  The play then tours to Cambridge, Newcastle, Bath, Norwich, Salford, Plymouth, Nottingham, Coventry, Blackpool, Liverpool, Canterbury, Richmond and Wolverhampton, completing its run on 28 May 2022 at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre.

The cast of Animal Farm includes Matt Churcher, Darcy Collins, Enrico D. Wey, Ailsa Dalling, Elisa De Grey,  Jonathan Dryden Taylor, Ailsa Edmundson, Michael Jean-Marain, Rayo Patel, Yana Penrose, Markus Schabbing, Sharon Sze, Ben Thompson and Matt Tait.

The production also combine the forces of some of UK theatre’s most talented creatives, including designs by the four-time Olivier Award-winning Bunny Christie (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Company, Ink, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), and puppetry by Toby Olié (War Horse, Running Wild, The Grinning Man, Goodnight Mister Tom).

The animals of Manor Farm drive out the farmer and run the farm themselves.

A revolution. And then what? Then freedom. Every animal will be free.

Old Major, the prize boar, calls the animals of Manor Farm together.

He has had a strange dream of a better future.

George Orwell’s world-famous, biting political novelwas first published in 1945 and tells the story of a revolution and its aftermath. Re-imagined by an award-winning creative team, Animal Farm is a dynamic, daring and contemporary take on a timeless story.

Icke previously worked on another of Orwell’s classics, 1984, which he co-adapted and directed alongside Duncan Macmillan, garnering him his first Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play in 2014, enjoying smash-hit runs in both the West End and on Broadway. Animal Farm also reunites Icke and Christie following their celebrated 2016 collaboration on The Red Barn at the National Theatre. 

The production is produced by Children’s Theatre Partnership (CTP) in association with Birmingham Rep. CTP creates bold and imaginative theatre for young people, engaging new audiences and aiming to inspire a life-long love of theatre. 

C A M E R O N   M A C K I N T O S H   –   T H E   F I R S T   5 0   Y E A R S

TO BE PRESENTED BY SKY ARTS ALONGSIDE THE BROADCAST PREMIERES OF

LES MISÉRABLES – THE STAGED CONCERT AND

KIPPS – THE NEW HALF A SIXPENCE MUSICAL

AS WELL AS SCREENINGS OF

MISS SAIGON 25THANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE AND

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Sky Arts is to broadcast a new documentary Cameron Mackintosh – The First 50 Years on Monday 27 December 2021 at 7pm, a two-hour programme featuring Mackintosh’s life as a producer told through his own eyes and those of his friends and colleagues including his most famous writer collaborators – Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim.  Mackintosh remains the world’s most prolific producers of musicals, with over 50 shows either on or in pre-production.

Stephen Sondheim’s contribution was filmed ten days before he sadly passed away and this programme is dedicated to his memory.  Cameron Mackintosh – The First 50 Years is directed by George Scott and produced by Dione Orrom on behalf of NBC Universal and marks Mackintosh’s 75^th birthday and celebrates his achievements over 50 years as a producer.

Cameron Mackintosh – The First 50 Years features interviews with Michael Ball, Christopher Biggins, Alain Boublil, Jon-Jon Briones, Paule Constable, William Differ, Anthony Drewe, Richard Eyre, Maria Friedman, Sonia Friedman, Norm Lewis, Patti LuPone, Michael Le Poer Trench, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Julia McKenzie, Clarke Peters, Liz Robertson, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Stephen Sondheim, Charlie Stemp, George Stiles, Giles Terera, Robert Wankel, Nicholas Allott and Julie Andrews and filmed extracts will include Cats, Hamilton, Just So, Kipps – The New Half a Sixpence Musical, Les Misérables – Concerts and Stage, Little Shop of Horrors, Miss Saigon, Side by Side by Sondheim, Putting It Together, Follies, Swan Lake and The Phantom of the Opera.

Over the Christmas season Sky Arts will also present screenings of Mackintosh’s Les Misérables – The Staged Concert on Friday 24 December 2021 at 7.30pm, Miss Saigon 25^th Anniversary Performance on Monday 27 December 2021 at 10pm, The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 27 December 2021 at 4.15pm and Kipps – The New Half a Sixpence Musical on Wednesday 29 December 2021 at 6.30pm.

Les Misérables – The Staged Concert – broadcast premiere

Coinciding with its 35th triumphant year in London’s West End, Cameron Mackintosh produced a spectacular sell-out staged concert version at the Gielgud Theatre featuring an all-star cast including Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Matt Lucas.  Now experience the musical phenomenon at home, after it broke box office records and sold out its entire season. Featuring a cast and orchestra of over 65 and including the songs ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘One Day More’ and ‘On My Own’ this sensational staged concert is not to be missed – an absolute must-see for any fans of musical theatre or live event cinema.

Miss Saigon 25^th Anniversary Performance

The spectacular, sell-out 25th Anniversary Gala Performance of this acclaimed new production of the global stage sensation was described as “the most thrilling, soaring and emotionally stirring musical with magnificent performances” by the Daily Telegraph and “the best live film of a stage show that I’ve seen” by the Daily Mail. The epic love story tells the tragic tale of young bar girl Kim, orphaned by war, who falls in love with American GI Chris – but their lives are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. Starring Eva Noblezada, Jon Jon Briones, Alistair Brammer and Rachelle Ann Go.  The special gala finale also features appearances by the original cast including Jonathan Pryce and Lea Salonga.

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall

To celebrate its 25^th Anniversary year, Cameron Mackintosh produced a special Gala performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom Of The Opera turning the Royal Albert Hall for the first time ever into a sumptuous Victorian Theatre with a spectacular fully staged production. The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall stars Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom’ and Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine’. They are joined by Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul’, Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin’, Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André’, Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry’, Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi’ and a supporting cast and orchestra of over 200, plus some special guest appearances.

Kipps – The New Half a Sixpence Musical – broadcast premiere

Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre’s critically acclaimed new musical version of the H. G. Wells novel Kipps – The New Half a Sixpence Musical broke records in Chichester in 2016 before transferring to the Noël Coward Theatre in London’s West End where it received rave reviews. Starring Charlie Stemp as ‘Arthur Kipps’ and Devon-Elise Johnson as ‘Ann’– alongside Ian Bartholomew as ‘Chitterlow’ and Emma Williams as ‘Helen’.  The Daily Telegraph said, “this show is pure gold.  Charlie Stemp is a star in the making, sends the audiences into raptures” and the production was described by the Mail on Sunday as, “a lavish, spirit-lifting treat”. 

YOU SHOULD BE DANCIN’!

CONFIRMS ITS CASTING FOR

THE WEST END PREMIERE OF THIS NEW PRODUCTION 

AT THE PEACOCK THEATRE  

FROM 4 FEBRUARY – 26 MARCH 2022 

AND ON TOUR FROM 5 JANUARY 2022

Bill Kenwright’s production of Saturday Night Fever will have its West End Premiere for a strictly limited 8-week run at the Peacock Theatre, starting 4 February – 26 March.  This will be preceded by a short UK tour, opening at the New Theatre Oxford on 5 January, and traveling to Truro, Darlington and Manchester

Richard Winsor, the celebrated principal dancer of Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray, Edward Scissorhands, Play Without Words and Swan Lake, will lead the cast in the role of Tony Manero. He will be joined by Olivia Fines as his dancing partner Stephanie. A feature of this new production will be the onstage appearance, high above the stage, of Jake Byrom, Oliver Thomson and James Hudson playing and singing the Bee Gees’ soundtrack.

The cast is completed by Kevin O’Dwyer (Bobby C); James Brice (Gus); Paul French (Double J); Michael Cortez (Joey); Jasmin Colangelo (Annette); Tosca Fischer (Connie); Lydia Bradd (Linda); Philip Aiden (Frank Senior); Marios Nicolaides (Frank Junior); Melody Jones (Flo Manero); Faizal Jaye (DJ Monty); Celeste Zollino (ensemble); Ashley Luke Lloyd (ensemble); Luca Rapisarda (ensemble); James Wilkinson-Jones (ensemble); Helen Gulston (ensemble); James Cohen (ensemble).

Saturday Night Fever tells the story of Tony Manero and his reckless road to dancing success. The musical features the Bee Gees’ greatest hits including Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever, Tragedy and More Than a Woman, with special permission for this production to use added Bee Gees songs including Too Much Heaven and Words.

The ‘70s classic Paramount/RSO movie based on the New York Magazine Article Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night written by Nik Cohn in 1976 was an instant hit when it was released in cinemas. The album remains the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time.

Whilst paying homage to the movie, this musical revival promises more music and hot new choreography. The new production also specially features onstage actor-musicians in the roles of the Bee Gees, singing the hit soundtrack alongside a talented cast.

Bill Kenwright says, “When I first saw the film over forty years ago, like the rest of the world I was not only mesmerised by a terrific small budget movie, but also by the soundtrack. It was that feeling of being carried along by Maurice, Robin and Barry’s searing vocals and melodies that I wanted to feature in my theatre production, and which led to me include a live band on stage replicating that experience as well as we can.”

The production is produced and directed by Bill Kenwright, with choreography by Bill Deamer, design by Gary McCann, lighting by Nick Richings, and sound by Dan Samson. The stage adaptation is by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oakes.  

Coming Soon to London’s West End…Spitting Image Live, featuring the Liar King

Live Public Service Satire from the BritBox and ITV hit show to land in 2022

It was announced today (20 December 2021) that the Spitting Image puppets will tread the boards of London’s West End in 2022.  

Spitting Image co-creator Roger Law added: “The last month has shown Spitting Image has been far too kind to Boris and his pals on TV recently.  So to deliver the kind of sharp satire and laughter they deserve Spitting Image have decided to make a live production.  Whilst Boris and his boys and girls level themselves ever upwards to the sunny uplands… we are preparing to level them down to size in a West End theatrical show.  We can’t give too much away at this time, possibly because we’re still writing it, however, unlike Boris, we will deliver with no shortcuts.  I’m afraid there will be lies because it’s Boris.  I can tell you that we have devised a spectacular show-stopping ending, a huge carnival head of Boris that fills the stage will open its mouth and spew a snowstorm of paper lies all over the theatre. The lies printed on small pieces of paper will flutter down onto the audience who will be able to pick up their favourite Boris untruths and take them home as mementoes. Videndum spectaculum!”

Further information will be announced in due course.

Since returning in 2020Spitting Image has delivered record subscribers for BritBox UK, the BBC and ITV created streaming platform, as well as picking up huge critical acclaim (quotes below). Across official social media channels, Spitting Image content has been hugely popular with over 200 million views globally, three No. 1 trending videos on YouTube and achieved praise across political the political divide (quotes below).  Three one-off specials for ITV have also seen huge success on terrestrial television: with a 4.4 million audience with a one-off US Election Special, the highest Saturday night ratings at that time in four years (one of ITV’s biggest Saturday night ABC1 audiences of 2020); a 2021 Halloween Special was the channel’s second most watched show on the Saturday it was broadcast; and a Christmas Special is scheduled for this Christmas Eve at 10pm.

Series two has already seen the introduction of new puppets of prominent figures including: Emma Raducanu, Olivia Colman, Sajid Javid, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Tom Cruise, Tom Daley, Jess Phillips, Ariana Grande, Gary Lineker, Bill Gates, Ellen DeGeneres, and Raheem Sterling, to name a few, to add to the existing cast of hundreds puppets of global figures including: Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Prince Andrew, Harry Kane, Vladimir Putin, Harry & Meghan, Beyoncé, Angela Merkel, Dwayne Johnson, Gareth Southgate, Ed Sheeran, Jürgen Klopp, Elon Musk, Adele, Covid-19, James Corden, Emmanuel Macron, Mark Zuckerberg, Donald Trump, and Dominic Cummings.

With the world getting smaller and more turbulent, last year celebrated Spitting Image co-creator Roger Law returned to head up the show’s creative team, while multi-award-winner Jeff Westbrook (The Simpsons, Futurama) joined as Showrunner, leading the TV show’s international writing team on the iconic British satirical take on global events. A next generation of satirical writers and voice artists worked with established talent to drive a new wave of ‘public service satire’. Writers on series 2 of the TV show included: Al Murray, Bert Tyler-Moore (The Windsors), Bill Odenkirk (The Simpsons), Brona C. Titley (The Tracey Ullman Show), Jason Hazeley & Nico Tatarowicz (Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe/Murder in Successville), Karl Minns (Russell Howard’s Good News), Keisha Zollar (Astronomy Club), Laura Major (Famalam), Matt Forde, Patric Verrone (The Simpsons), with many more joining the growing team.  Voice artists include: Billy West (Futurama), Debra Stephenson (The Impressions Show), Debra Wilson (Family Guy), Tom Stourton (Pls Like, Horrible Histories), Eshaan Akbar (Mock The Week) Indira Varma (Game of Thrones), Jess Robinson (The Imitation Game), John DiMaggio (Futurama), Lewis MacLeod (Dead Ringers), Lobo Chan (Killing Eve), Luke Kempner (The Imitation Game), Matt Forde (The Political Party) and Phil LaMarr (Pulp Fiction), with many more joining as the puppet cast grows. The show is ultra-topical with scripts being written and new puppets made as close to each episode as possible.

Internationally, a bespoke German language version of the show has successfully launched in Germany with Der Spiegel hailing it as “really good” and news stories of far-right politicians from AfD considering legal action – Spitting Image: The Krauts’ Edition, includes the globally resonating content from the English language version (redubbed by Germany’s leading voice artists), with new topical local sketches (written by German comedy writers) – all filmed in the UK-based Spitting Image studio as close to transmission to ensure maximum topicality.  Elsewhere the debut drew the second-best channel audience figure in Finland for its time slot and was hailed by the leading Finnish newspaper as being, “As vicious and risqué as before”and successfully launched in Belgium with a 22% of total TV audience share, the show is a leading title for BritBox Australia, as well as seeing millions of views in the USA via YouTube.

Spitting Image Live will be produced by Avalon.  

More information on Spitting Image Live to follow soon…