EMPIRE THEATRE, LIVERPOOL – UNTIL SATURDAY 22ND JANUARY
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
5*****
Appearing at Liverpool’s iconic Empire Theatre, this astoundingly powerful musical had us gasping, laughing and reaching for the tissues. With scenery that was inspired by Victor Hugo’s paintings Les Misérables wowed from start to finish.
Despite this show having run for so many years, the performance given by the cast in this production feels fresh and far from tired. A sung through musical, with familiar rousing songs, gorgeous multilayered vocal arrangements as well as heart-rending solo pieces, it tells one of Victor Hugo’s major works of fiction.
Dean Chisnall plays the strong protagonist Jean Valjean, an ex convict in 19th century France that out of his encounter becomes an honourable and dignified man. Essentially the storyline depicts a cat and mouse chase between Javert, a serious, ‘the law’ police inspector (Nic Greenshields) and Valjean for many years. Interwoven in the plot is the beautiful love story between Cosette (Rebecca Ferrin), the adopted daughter of Valjean and Marius (Will Callan) a student linked with the revolutionaries who set about to whip up support following the death of General Lamarque. With excellent acting from the young Teddy Probets as Gavroche and the amusing acting from Ian Hughes as Thénardier and Helen Walsh as Madame Thénardier the production made the audience laugh and gasp equally. In fact the whole cast is worthy of a mention as they pulled on every emotion and demonstrated their acting versatility.
The swift changes of focus power the show, moving it along briskly with sets that move smoothly between each transition. It captivates the audience making you feel as though you are part of the performance and story from start to finish. The score played by the live orchestra adds to the atmosphere and an honourable mention must go to the talented musicians playing for the duration.
Cameron Mackintosh’s highly rated production played out to a sold out audience at the Empire Theatre, seeing a standing ovation for all the cast at the interval and close. Highly recommended five star performance ‘storm the barricade’ for your ticket!
Written by Tom Eyen with music from Henry Kreiger, Dreamgirls hits Bristol Hippodrome on its UK Tour.
The swinging 60’s stills the auditorium for a feel good show; multi award winning and sequin studded! The sparkling tale of the Dreamgirls is told, following Effie (Nicole Raquel Dennis) Lorrell (Paige Peddie) and Deena (Natalie Kassange) as they battle to make it into showbiz.
The stand out song was Dennis’ rendition of ‘And I am telling you I’m not going’, where The heavily emotive performance rang through the theatre. Whilst Dennis has volume and power in her voice, the song was tainted by the sheer volume of the song. Throughout the show, the microphone volume was extremely high, which was a shame to draw away from the performances. As this song closes Act 1 and was met with a standing ovation, it was hard for the cast to move forward from there and Act 2 seemed slightly flat in comparison to the big finish of the first Act. Natalie Kassanga and Paige Peddie as Lorrell and Deena were pleasant and it was nice to have the focus on them for quite a bit of the show too, with their own solos and performances.
For me, the absolute stand out performance of the night goes to Brandon Lee Sears as ‘Jimmy Early’ an established singer who seems to use his wit and charm to get where he is in life. Sears was funny and so different from any of the other characters that we couldn’t help but laugh at him and clap and dance along when he sang. He gave an air of James Brown and really entertained the audience.
The costume and lighting also deserves a congratulation for the sheer number of sequins on stage, quick changes and lighting to cover every inch of the stage. This truly is no mean feat of a production! There was one quick change which was met with rapturous applause and it truly deserved it!
Whilst the cast seemed to hit the ground with so much energy and excitement, it was hard to top scene by scene and left me feeling like I wanted more. The songs were also very repetitive that I was almost waiting for a section of dialogue (this is not to detract from the performances of the cast!).
If you like sequins and sparkles mixed with the swinging 60’s and some big songs-this is the one for you.
FOR A MAJOR UK TOUR IN 2022 WITH NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED
THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA
A musical play by David Wood based on the book by Judith Kerr
UK Tour opens 2 February, touring until September 2022
Following its sold-out West End summer season at Theatre Royal Haymarket, the Olivier Award nominated stage production of The Tiger Who Came to Tea returns for another major UK tour this year. A musical play adapted and directed by David Wood OBE, based on the classic tale by the late Judith Kerr OBE, The Tiger Who Came to Tea will open at Theatre Royal Brighton on 2 February with tour dates currently booked until 1 September 2022. New casting includes: Jennifer Addey as ‘Sophie’, Katie Tripp as ‘Mummy’, James Carlisle as ‘Daddy’, ‘Milkman’, ‘Postman’ and ‘Tiger’, with understudies Benjamin Stone and Tia Bunce.
David Wood OBE says: “The live theatre experience is brilliant at sparking children’s imaginations. I believe all children should be entitled to see exciting theatre; it can make them laugh, gasp, think, and feel – and, of course, entertain them. Given the chance to enjoy the story, the music, the magic, the costumes and sets, the sound, the lighting, and the audience participation, in a live performance – for real, before their very eyes – I believe children’s lives are enriched, their horizons widened, and their awareness and sensitivity heightened. Theatre, like all the arts, has the power to transform, inspire and delight.”
Hailed as Britain’s best-loved picture book, Judith Kerr’s timeless classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea is now in its 54th year, selling over five million copies since it was first published in 1968. The stage show premiered in 2008 and has since toured nationally and internationally, including Christmas seasons at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Arts Centre with sold out dates in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Bahrain, along with seven successful seasons in the West End. In 2012 the production was nominated for the Olivier Award for ‘Best Family Entertainment’.
Bringing the nation’s favourite tea-guzzling tiger to life on stage, this musical slice of teatime mayhem entertains with sing-a-long songs, oodles of magic and interactive fun. It’s the ideal introduction to live theatre for children aged three and above and the perfect summer treat for the whole family.
The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her Mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big furry, stripy tiger!
The Tiger Who Came to Tea is directed by David Wood OBE, with designs by Susie Caulcutt, assistant director/choreographer Emma Clayton, music arranger & supervisor Peter Pontzen, magical illusions designed by former President of the Magic Circle Scott Penrose, lighting design by Tony Simpson and sound design by Shock Productions. Produced by Nicoll Entertainment Ltd.
FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE WEST END PREMIÈRE OF
HARPER LEE’S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD A NEW PLAY BY AARON SORKIN
DIRECTED BY BARTLETT SHER
PERFORMANCES BEGIN 10 MARCH 2022 AT THE GIELGUD THEATRE, LONDON
Actors from the company photographed at Souvenir Scenic Studios where the set designed by Miriam Buether is being built. Back (l to r): Pamela Nomvete, Jim Norton, Rafe Spall, Jude Owusu; Foreground (l to r): David Moorst, Gwyneth Keyworth, Harry Redding. Photo Credit: The Other Richard
Barry Diller and Sonia Friedman today announce the full cast for the West End production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Joining the previously announced Rafe Spall (Atticus Finch) are Harry Attwell (Mr Cunningham/Boo Radley), Amanda Boxer (Mrs Henry Dubose), Poppy Lee Friar (Mayella Ewell), John Hastings (Bailiff), Simon Hepworth (Mr Roscoe/Dr Reynolds), Laura Howard (Miss Stephanie/Dill’s Mother), Lloyd Hutchinson (Link Deas), Gwyneth Keyworth (Scout Finch), Tom Mannion (Sheriff Heck Tate), David Moorst (Dill Harris), Pamela Nomvete (Calpurnia), Jim Norton (Judge Taylor), Patrick O’Kane (Bob Ewell), Jude Owusu (Tom Robinson), Harry Redding (Jem Finch), David Sturzaker (Horace Gilmer) and Natasha Williams (Mrs Dubose’s Maid), with Helen Belbin, Laurence Belcher, Paul Birchard, Ryan Ellsworth, Rebecca Hayes, Danny Hetherington, Matthew Jure, Anna Munden and Itoya Osagiede making up the ensemble.
The production will open at the Gielgud Theatre on 31 March 2022, with previews from 10 March. This new play by Aaron Sorkin isbased on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, and directed by Bartlett Sher.
Joining Sher and the original Broadway creative team – Miriam Buether (Set), Ann Roth (Costume), Jennifer Tipton (Lighting), Scott Lehrer (Sound), Adam Guettel (Original Score), Kimberly Grigsby (Music Supervision) and Campbell Young Associates (Hair & Wigs) – are Serena Hill as Casting Director, Hazel Holder as Voice & Dialect Coach, Titas Halder as Associate Director, Rasheka Christie-Carter as Assistant Director, Tavia Rivée Jefferson as Cultural Coordinator, and Candida Caldicot as Musical Director.
Set in Maycomb, Alabama in 1934, To Kill a Mockingbird has provided American literature with some of its most indelible characters: lawyer Atticus Finch, the tragically wronged Tom Robinson, Atticus’ daughter Scout, her brother Jem, their housekeeper and caretaker Calpurnia and the reclusive Arthur “Boo” Radley. For the past six decades and for every generation, this story, its characters and portrait of small-town America have helped to, and continue to, inspire conversation and change.
Harper Lee’s enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence has sold more than 45 million copies of the novel worldwide. 2020 marked the 60th anniversary of its publication.
Before the Broadway shutdown in March 2020, To Kill a Mockingbird continuously played to standing-room-only houses. Since performances began on Thursday 1 November 2018, the production has not played to an empty seat, with capacity remaining over 100% for every performance. On February 26, 2020, the cast of To Kill a Mockingbird gave a history-making performance of the play at Madison Square Garden, for 18,000 New York City school children. This was the largest single performance of a theatrical work in the history of world theater. In 2019, to culminate National “Theatre in Our Schools” month, Aaron Sorkin, Bartlett Sher, and members of the Broadway cast took the play to Washington, D.C. for an unprecedented special presentation at the Library of Congress, in partnership with the Educational Theatre Association.
Harry Attwell plays Mr Cunningham/Boo Radley. His theatre credits include The Great Murder Mystery (The Lost Estate), Artists Talk (The Yard Theatre), Frankenstein, Twelfth Night, The Skriker, Orpheus Descending (Royal Exchange Theatre), A Tale of Two Cities (Royal & Derngate and tour), The Crucible, The Duchess of Malfi (The Old Vic), Henry V (Michael Grandage Company), and for the Donmar Warehouse, Richard II, King Lear (also UK tour and BAM), Hamlet (also Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway), Hamlet and Twelfth Night (Donmar West End at Wyndham’s Theatre). For television, his credits include On Order and Away, The Night Manager, Da Vinci’s Demons, Mayday, The Identity; and for film Wakefield, Text for You, Intervention, Breathe, Genius and Maleficent.
Amanda Boxer plays Mrs Henry Dubose. Her theatre credits include Boots (Bunker Theatre), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Almeida Theatre), The Blue Hour of Natalie Barney.The Painter,Macbeth (Arcola Theatre), Mosquitoes (National Theatre), Blue Heart (Bristol Tobacco Factory/Orange Tree Theatre), Speed Twins (Riverside Studios), Relative Values (Harold Pinter Theatre), Medea (Almeida Theatre), Uncle Vanya (St James Theatre), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (Vaudeville Theatre), The Sea Plays (Old Vic Tunnels), The House of Bernarda Alba, The Graduate (Gielgud Theatre), A Touch of the Poet (Young Vic/Comedy Theatre), The Destiny of Me, Many Roads to Paradise (Finborough Theatre), The Arab Israeli Cookbook (Gate Theatre/Tricycle Theatre), and The Pain and the Itch, The Strip (Royal Court Theatre). For television, her work includes Silent Witness, Bodies, The Shell Seekers, Trial and Retribution, Chalk, Road Rage, Goodbye My Love and Cider with Rosie; and for film, Malice In Wonderland, Russian Dolls, Saving Private Ryan, Together, The Things I Do For You and Bad Behaviour.
Poppy Lee Friar plays Mayella Ewell. Her theatre work includes Macbeth (Gielgud Theatre). For television, her work includes My Name is Leon, In My Skin (as series regular Lydia), Torvill and Dean, Ackley Bridge (as series regular Missy Booth – 2018 Royal Television Society Award for Best Actress), Mr Selfridge, The Syndicate, Eve (as series lead Eve); and for film, My Cousin Rachel.
John Hastings plays Bailiff. His theatre work includes Corpse! (Park Theatre), Season’s Greetings (Manor Pavilion Theatre), Small Island, Angels in America, The Beaux’ Stratagem, King Lear (National Theatre), King Lear (Chichester Festival Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre), Frozen (Theatre Royal Haymarket), King Lear (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Homecoming (Harold Pinter Theatre). For film, his work includes Hot Property and Love Me Do. For radio, his credits include The Corrupted.
Simon Hepworth plays Mr Roscoe/Dr Reynolds. His theatre credits include La Cage aux Folles, Mother Of Him (Park Theatre), Absolute Hell (National Theatre), Antony and Cleopatra (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Lion in Winter (Theatre Royal Haymarket), King Lear (Guildford Shakespeare Company), Joe & I (King’s Head Theatre), The Rivals (Compass Theatre Company), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth (Arundel Festival and tour), Twelfth Night (Bristol Old Vic), The Winter’s Tale, The Glass Menagerie, The Deep Blue Sea (Royal & Derngate), Bang Bang(After Feydeau), Romeo and Juliet, Burn This, Tartuffe, My Cousin Rachel (Mercury Theatre, Colchester), Mario and the Magician (Almeida Theatre), Party Trap (Shoreditch Town Hall), Agatha Christie Theatre Festival 2001 (Palace, Westcliff) and The Best Man, The Hollow (UK tours). His television work includes This Sceptred Isle, Endeavour, Fearless, Foyle’s War, Law and Order UK, Trial and Retribution, Wire in the Blood, Inspector Morse – The Remorseful Day, Wallis & Edward, Bliss, Bodyguards, Departures, EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Ruth Rendell’s Thornapple and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles; and for film, Walking With The Enemy, Under Her Skin, Sink, Love’s Kitchen, 47 Cleveland, The Holly Kane Experiment, Tezz and The Walker. He appeared as The Politician in the music video for BΔSTILLE’s Fake It (Universal Music).
Laura Howard plays Miss Stephanie/Dill’s Mother. Her theatre credits Include Genesis Inc (Hampstead Theatre), Always Orange, Fall of the Kingdom Rise of the Foot Soldier (RSC), Crushed Shells and Mud (Southwark Playhouse), Invincible (Orange Tree Theatre/St. James Theatre), Lost in Yonkers (Watford Palace Theatre), The Norman Conquests (Liverpool Playhouse), Life of Riley, Communicating Doors (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Two Women (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Look Back in Anger (Northern Stage), The Blue Room (Anvil Arts), Switzerland (HighTide), Dracula (Centerline/English Touring Consortium), The Hotel in Amsterdam (Donmar Warehouse), Emma (Good Company), Arcadia (Chichester Festival Theatre), and The Master Builder, The Taming of the Shrew (English Touring Theatre). For television, her work includes Funny Girl, Call the Midwife, Cuffs, The Delivery Man, Young Dracula (as series regular Sally Giles), Midsomer Murders (as series regular Cully Barnaby), Cold Enough for Snow, Soldier Soldier (as series regular Deborah Briggs), Eskimo Day and Covington Cross; and for film, Invincible.
Lloyd Hutchinson plays Link Deas. His theatre credits include A Very Expensive Poison, A Flea in Her Ear (The Old Vic), Light Falls, The Taming of the Shrew (Manchester Royal Exchange), King Lear, Stones in his Pockets,The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Duke of York’s Theatre), The Seagull, The Birthday Party (Lyric Hammersmith), Absolute Hell, Salome, Plough and Stars, Husbands and Sons, The Beaux’ Stratagem, Collaborators,The Observer, Once in a Lifetime, The Night Season, The Permanent Way (National Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Respectable Wedding (Young Vic), The Joke (Fuel Theatre), A View From The Bridge (Liverpool Playhouse), Little Revolution, Measure for Measure, The Lightening Play (Almeida Theatre), Particle of Dead (The Playhouse Derry/Signature Theatre, New York), Boris Godunov, The Orphan of Zhao, Troilus and Cressida, A Month in the Country, Travesties (RSC), Life is a Dream, Twelfth Night (Donmar Warehouse), Rhinoceros, Talking to Terrorists (Royal Court Theatre), One for the Road (New Ambassador’s Theatre),and Shopping and F*cking (international tour). For television, his work includes MotherFatherSon, Manhunt, Catastrophe, White Gold, Silent Witness, Utopia, Hatfields & McCoys, Hustle, Titanic, The Fades, Silk, Pulling Moves, Murphy’s Law, Lloyd & Hill, Rebel Heart, and In Defence; and for film, The Little Stranger, Florence Foster Jenkins, Anonymous, Mrs Henderson Presents, Gadiatress, Boxed and With or Without You.
Gwyneth Keyworth plays Scout Finch. Her theatre work includes Raising Martha (Park Theatre), As You Like It, The Heresy of Love (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Life and Times of Fanny Hill (Bristol Old Vic), Sick Room, and Tits/Teeth (Soho Theatre). For television, her work includes Alex Rider, Game of Thrones, The Trouble with Maggie Cole, The Crown, Defending the Guilty, Craith/Hidden, Black Mirror: Hang the DJ, Bang, Wasted, Power Monkeys, Dr Thorne, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, The Vodka Diaries, Case Histories, Joe Mistry, Misfits, The Sarah Jane Adventures Royal Wedding, and Framed; and for film, The Toll, Elfie Hopkins, and Closer to the Moon.
Tom Mannion plays Sheriff Tate. His theatre work includes Macbeth (National Theatre tour), Insignificance (Arcola Theatre), Hamlet (Trafalgar Studios and UK tour), The Autumn Garden (Jermyn Street Theatre), All My Sons (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), An Inspector Calls (UK tour), The Price (Octagon Theatre, Bolton), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe), Metamorphosis (Lyric Hammersmith), Hamlet (The Old Vic) and for the RSC, Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Cyrano de Bergerac, Much Ado About Nothing and The Duchess of Malfi. For television, his work includes Traces, The Crown, Bridgerton, The Victim, Fearless, Unforgotten, Lucky Man, Mr Selfridge, Inside Men, Identity, Lip Service, Spooks, Missing, Belle de Jour, John Adams, New Tricks and Life on Mars; and for film, Susu, Waterboys, Centurion, F, Beyond the Sea, Brothers, Iris and Beautiful Creatures.
David Moorst plays Dill Harris. His theatre credits include Light Falls, Into the Woods (Royal Exchange Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Allelujah! (Bridge Theatre), First Light (Chichester Festival Theatre), Shopping and F*cking (Lyric Hammersmith), Violence and Son – winner of the Emerging Talent Award, Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2015 and the Most Promising Newcomer Award, Critics’ Circle Awards 2016 (Royal Court Theatre) and Wonderland (Hampstead Theatre). His television work includes Killing Eve, 1944: Should We Bomb Auschwitz?,Grantchester and Partners in Crime; and for film, Peterloo and Waiting For The Barbarians.
Pamela Nomvete plays Calpurnia. Her theatre credits include The Doctor (Almeida Theatre), The Convert (Young Vic), Meet Me At Dawn (Market Theatre Johannesburg), They Drink it in the Congo (Almeida Theatre), Teddy Ferrara (Donmar Warehouse), Belong, Truth and Reconciliation, Now or Later (Royal Court Theatre), The Comedy of Errors, Welcome to Thebes (National Theatre), Archbishop and the Antichrist (Synergy), Twelfth Night (RSC – Duke of York’s Theatre) and Nothing But the Truth (Market Theatre Johannesburg). Her television credits include Flesh and Blood, Noughts and Crosses, Gangs of London, Avenue 5, Wild Bill, In the Long Run 2, Motherland, Lockdown, and The Widow; and for film, The Forgiven, Kingmakers, Sometimes in April, Zulu Love Letter, and The Special Relationship.
Jim Norton plays Judge Taylor. His theatre work includes The Seafarer (National Theatre – Olivier and Tony Award Winner), The Starry Messenger (Wyndham’s Theatre), Girl From the North County (The Old Vic), The Crucible (Walter Kerr Theatre), Of Mice and Men (Longacre Theatre), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Studio 54), Finian’s Rainbow (NYC Centre / St James Theatre), The Weir (Royal Court Theatre – Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actor, and Walter Kerr Theatre), Port Authority (Atlantic Theatre Company), Dublin Carol (Atlantic Theatre Company – Obie Award Winner), Hamlet (Barbican), The Night Alive (Donmar Warehouse and Atlantic Theatre Company), Port Authority (Ambassadors Theatre), The Contractor and The Changing Room (Royal Court Theatre), as well as working extensively at the National Theatre from 1975 to 1985 including Bedroom Farce, Tamburlaine The Great and Way Upstream. His television credits include Dalgleish,Madam Secretary, Elementary, Frasier, Poirot, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Stan and River; and for film, Prisoners of The Moon, The Last Right, Mary Poppins Returns, Jimmy’s Hall, Water for Elephants, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Oyster Farmer, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, Hidden Agenda, Memoirs of an Invisible Man and Straw Dogs.
Patrick O’Kane plays Bob Ewell. His theatre credits include Macbeth (National Theatre), Woyzeck in Winter (Landmark Productions – Best Actor Irish Times Theatre Awards), Red (Prime Cut / Lyric Theatre Belfast – Best Actor Irish Times Theatre Awards), Quietly (Abbey Theatre/ Public Theater/Irish Repertory/Soho Theatre/Traverse Theatre – Best Actor UK Theatre Awards), The Seven Acts of Mercy, Macbeth, (RSC), Antigone (Barbican/ Theatre de la Ville/BAM), Hamlet, Sixteen Possible Glimpses,Medea, The House, As The Beast Sleeps -Best Supporting Actor Irish Times Theatre Awards (Abbey Theatre), Julius Caesar, Doctor Faustus, Whistle In The Dark,Shoot The Crow (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Crucible (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Warhorse (National Theatre, West End), Popcorn (Nottingham/West Yorkshire Playhouses, West End), The Grapes of Wrath, Insignificance (Sheffield Theatres), The Postman Always Rings Twice (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Scenes From The Big Picture, Closing Time, Peer Gynt, Romeo and Juliet, The Playboy of The Western World (National Theatre), and Trust, The Strip (Royal Court Theatre), Sweet Bird of Youth, Edward II (Citizens Theatre). For television, his work includes Doctor Who, Come Home, DCI Banks, Vera, Jamaica Inn, Strike Back, The Borgias, New Tricks, The Fall, Game of Thrones, Five Days, IF…, Waking the Dead, Gunpowder Treason and Plot, As The Beast Sleeps, In Deep, Liverpool One, Cold Comfort and Ashes To Ashes; and for film, Limbo, Female Human Animal, The Last Jedi, Boat, The Music Room, Prometheus, Perkins 14, Exorcist – The Beginnings, Octane, Stealing Rembrandt and Though the Sky Falls.
Jude Owusu plays Tom Robinson. His theatre work includes The Taming of the Shrew, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Bartholomew Fair (Shakespeare’s Globe), Tamburlaine, I Cinna, Julius Caesar (RSC), The Cherry Orchard (Bristol Old Vic), A Tale of Two Cities (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Jeramee, Hartleby and Ooglemoore (Unicorn Theatre), The Comedy of Errors (National Theatre), Othello (Malachite Theatre), Africker (Hoxton Hall), Wayne (Etcetera Theatre), and The Robbers (New Diorama Theatre). For television, his work includes The Dumping Ground, Father Brown and The Hollow Crown: Wars of the Roses – Richard III.
Harry Redding makes his professional stage debut playing Jem Finch. Whilst training at LAMDA, his theatre credits include Kin, The Tempest, and The Rivals.
Rafe Spall plays Atticus Finch. For theatre, Spall’s work includes Death of England, Hedda Gabler – Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Play (National Theatre), Betrayal (Broadway – directed by Mike Nichols), Constellations (Royal Court Theatre and West End – Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor), and John Gabriel Borkman (Donmar Warehouse). His television credits include Trying, The Salisbury Poisonings, The War of the Worlds, and his international Emmy-nominated performance as Joe in Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror. For film, his work includes Academy Award-winning The Big Short, Steven Spielberg’s The BFG, Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, Dan Mazer’s I Give it a Year, Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and Lone Scherfig’s One Day, and most recently Just Mercy, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Men in Black: International, and the forthcoming The English for BBC and Amazon.
David Sturzaker plays Horace Gilmer. His theatre credits include The Cutting Edge (Arcola Theatre), Creditors, Bloody Poetry (Jermyn Street Theatre), Tamburlaine, Timon of Athens, The White Devil (RSC), Frost/Nixon (Sheffield Theatres), Nell Gywnn (Apollo Theatre), Richard II, The Merchant of Venice, Titus Andronicus, Comedy of Errors, Troilus and Cressida, Measure for Measure and The Winter’s Tale (Shakespeare’s Globe), Eternal Love, Anne Boleyn (Shakespeare’s Globe/UK tour), Cool Hand Luke (Aldwych Theatre), Journey’s End (Playhouse Theatre), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Chichester Festival Theatre/Duchess Theatre), A Doll’s House (Royal Exchange); Four Knights in Knaresborough (Southwark Playhouse), Kingdom of Earth (The Print Room), As You Like It (The Rose, Kingston), War and Peace (Shared Experience), Visiting Mr Green and Romeo and Juliet (UK Tour), Future Me (Theatre 503), Bash (Trafalgar Studios), Henry V and Much Ado About Nothing (Tour De Force); and for television, Endeavour, Father Brown, Da Vinci’s Demons, Medici, and as series regulars in Murder on the Home Front and Doctors. His radio credits include The Forsyte Saga, Last of the Volsungs, King Solomon’s Mines, Everybody’s got Conditions, Gudrun, Blood and Milk and Richard II.
Natasha Williams plays Mrs Dubose’s Maid. Her theatre work includes Malindadzimu (Hampstead Theatre), Off the Endz, Ambulance (Royal Court Theatre), Black Crows (Arcola Theatre), You Can’t Take It With You (King’s Head Theatre), and The Fatherland (Bush Theatre). For television, her credits include It’s a Sin, Whitechapel, Quick Cuts, Silk, The Jury, Phone Shop, Silent Witness, Doctor Who, Pinochet in Suburbia, Rose and Maloney, The Commander, Grease Monkeys, The Last Detective, Fugee Girl, Time Gentlemen Please, The Murder of Stephen Lawrence, Blood River, The Bill – as series regular Delia French, Last Supper and Fighting Back; and for film, Slum Woman, City Rats, The Fourth Angel, Ruby’s Slippers and The Theory of Flight.
Helen Belbin’s theatre credits include Wuthering Heights (Oxford Shakespeare Company), Market Boy (Union Theatre), About Last Night (Arcola Theatre), A Haunting (Belgrade Theatre Coventry), The History Club (Old Red Lion), Kings (Vault Festival), The Flouers O’ Edinburgh, Northern Star
(Finborough Theatre) and Verdict (UK tour). Her television work includes The Outlaws, Holby City Silent Witness, Call the Midwife, and Wolfblood; and for film Mad to Be Normal, Waterboys, The Carrier, Always in the Present and Je Suis Daddy.
Laurence Belcher’s theatre credits include King John (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Turn of the Screw (Almeida Theatre), The Late Middle Classes (Donmar Warehouse), The Habit of Art (National Theatre), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), Scrooge (London Palladium), and Whistle Down the Wind (Palace Theatre). For television, his work includes, Song For Jenny, Silent Witness, Missing, Doctor Who, Gracie!, Little Dorrit and Hell Bent for Leather; and for film, Runaway, Diana, X Men: First Class, Messengers 2: The Scarecrow and Shadow Within.
Paul Birchard’s theatre credit include The Pat Hobby Stories (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Death of a Salesman (RSC), The White House Murder Case (Orange Tree Theatre), The Goat (Traverse, Edinburgh), Inherit The Wind (The Old Vic), His Girl Friday, Tales From The Vienna Woods, Johnny on a Spot, Sweet Bird Of Youth (National Theatre), The Graduate (Gielgud Theatre), and The Fishing Trip (Croydon Warehouse). For television, his work includes The Bureau, Berlin Station, The Flu That Killed 50 Million, A Very British Deterrent, Waterloo Road, Spooks, A Line in the Sand, Look Around You, Absolute Hell, Mrs. Pollifax and The New Statesman; and for film, L’Aventure Des Marguerite, Backdraft 2, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Angels’ Share, Hanna, The Dark Knight, 1408, U & Me & Tennessee – An American Romance, The White Countess, The Jacket, and Batman.
Ryan Ellsworth’s theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet, Henry V (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Sheffield Theatres), Labyrinth (Hampstead Theatre), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Theatr Clwyd), ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore (Cheek by Jowl). For television, his work includes Angel of Darkness and A Royal Winter; and for film, Kingsman: The Golden Circle and Bel Ami.
Danny Hetherington’s recent theatre credits include Giving up Marty (Vault Festival), Pinocchio (Oddsocks Productions), Roseline (Pulsarts), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Italian tour), and Great Expectations (Geffrye Museum). For television his work includes Negotiations.
Matthew Jure’s theatre credits include Diary of a Madman (Pleasance Theatre), Talk Radio (Old Red Lion), Arcadia, Glengarry Glen Ross (Charles Cryer Theatre), Nana (Hampstead Theatre), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Charles Cryer / tour) and Lady Chatterley’s Lover (UK tour). His television credits include Waking the Dead, Grantchester, Downton Abbey, The Great Train Robbery, Electric Dreams, Temple and Peaky Blinders; and for film, Gangland Revenge, Condemned, Starlight & Superfish, The Killers and Night Bus.
Rebecca Hayes’ theatre work includes The Rhythmics (Southwark Playhouse), Constellation Street (National Theatre Wales/Sherman Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Bristol Old Vic), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru), The Playboy of the Western World, Split, The Night Watch, Punk Rock, Stars in the Morning Sky (The Richard Burton Company), and Romeo and Juliet (National Youth Theatre of Wales). For television, her work includes The Pact, Bregus, Bang, 35 AWR and The Bastard Executioner.
Anna Munden trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Her stage work includes Starcrazy (Miracle Theatre), Youth Without God (The Coronet Theatre), Spilikin (Pipeline Theatre) and The Crucible (Cube Theatre Company). Her television work includes Father Brown, Showtrial and The Nevers.
Itoya Osagiede’s theatre work includes Notes on Grief (MIF), Tears are a Luxury, Belong (Royal Court Theatre), The Hunt (Almeida Theatre), Twelfth Night (Gods and Monsters), Palm Wine and Stout (Eastern Angles Theatre), Blue/Orange (Contexture Theatre), and Teach Me (Soho Theatre). For television, his credits include War on Drugs, Beowulf, American Odyssey, and Spotless; and for film, Second Coming, Farming, Okora and Dark Lights.
Academy-Award winning screenwriter, director, and renowned playwright Aaron Sorkin made his Broadway debut with A Few Good Men, for which he received the John Gassner Award as Outstanding New American Playwright. He followed this with the debut of Making Movies Off-Broadway; and later returned to Broadway with The Farnsworth Invention. Most recently, his 2018 staged adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird, re-premièred on Broadway. In its original run, the show run garnered Celia Keenan-Bolger the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role, as well as an additional eight nominations, including Jeff Daniels for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. For television, Sorkin created and produced NBC’s renowned series The West Wing, which earned nine Emmy nominations in its first season. The series went on to win a total of 26 Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series for four consecutive years from 2000-2003. For his work on the series, Sorkin twice received the Peabody Award and Humanitas Prize, as well as three Television Critics Association Awards and Producers Guild Awards, and a Writers Guild Award. Sorkin’s other television work includes the Emmy-nominated Sports Night, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and The Newsroom. Sorkin’s first feature film was the 1993 adaptation of his own play A Few Good Men – nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture. In 2011, Sorkin won the Academy Award, Critics’ Choice Award, BAFTA, and Writers Guild Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as the USC Scripter Award for The Social Network. The film, directed by David Fincher, was nominated for a total of eight Academy Awards including Best Picture. His additional screenplays include The American President, Charlie Wilson’s War, Moneyball – adapted alongside Steve Zaillian with story by Stan Chervin, which received the Critics’ Choice Award and New York Film Critics’ Award for Best Adapted Screenplay – and Steve Jobs. In 2017, Sorkin made his directorial debut with Molly’s Game, which he also wrote based on the personal memoir of Molly Bloom. The screenplay earned him nominations for an Academy Award, Writers Guild Award, and BAFTA. Sorkin also wrote and directed The Trial of the Chicago 7, which was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Most recently he wrote and directed Being the Ricardos, now available worldwide on Amazon Prime Video. The film, about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz set during one production week of I Love Lucy was recently nominated for three Critics Choice Awards including Best Original Screenplay.
Bartlett Sher directs. Sher received nominations for Tony and Outer Critics’ Circle Awards for the Broadway run of To Kill a Mockingbird. He won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for South Pacific (also London and Australia). He also received Tony Award nominations for Best Direction for My Fair Lady, Oslo (also National Theatre, London), The King and I (also London), Golden Boy, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Awake and Sing!, and The Light in the Piazza. Also on Broadway, he directed Fiddler on the Roof, The Bridges of Madison County, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (also London), as well as New York productions of Blood & Gifts (Lincoln Center),Prayer for My Enemy and The Butterfly Collection (Playwrights Horizons), Cymbeline (Callaway Award, also Royal Shakespeare Company), Waste (Best Play Obie Award), Don Juan and Pericles (TFANA, BAM). Opera includes Rigoletto (Metropolitan Opera, Staatsoper Berlin), Roméo et Juliette (Metropolitan Opera, Salzburg, Milan, Chicago), Faust (Baden Baden), Two Boys (English National Opera, Metropolitan Opera); Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Baden Baden, Metropolitan Opera), Otello, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Le Comte Ory, L’Elisir d’Amore (Metropolitan Opera), Mourning Becomes Electra (Seattle Opera, New York City Opera).Previously Artistic Director of Seattle’s Intiman Theatre (2000–2009), Company Director for the Guthrie Theater, and Associate Artistic Director at Hartford Stage Company, Bart has been Resident Director at Lincoln Center Theater since 2008. He serves on the board of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. Upcoming work include Lincoln Center’s chamber opera production of Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel, and the West End première of his production of My Fair Lady at the Coliseum later this year. His film of Oslo premiered on HBO in May and was nominated for two Emmy Awards.
Selladoor Worldwide confirms final casting for Footloose the Musical and releases a first look at rehearsal images.
Back by popular demand the musical opens in the UK at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on 14 February following 3 weeks in Zurich before an extensive UK tour.
Lucy Munden will join the cast as Ariel alongside Oonagh Cox as Rusty. In Zurich the role of Willard will be played by Luke Friend with Philip Bulcock as Reverend Moore.
Previously announced cast includes Jake Quickenden as Willard and Darren Day as Reverend Moore with Anna Westlake (Lulu) Alex Fobbester (Bickle) Ben Barrow (Wes) Ben Mabberley (Jeter) Geri Allen (Ethal) Holly Ashton (Vi) Jess Barker (Wendi-Jo) Joshua Hawkins (Ren) Samantha Richards (Urleen) Tom Mussell (Chuck) and Daniel Miles and Lucy Ireland as off-stage swings.
Jake first hit our screens in The X Factor in 2012 and again in 2014 where he went through to the live shows followed by appearances on Chart Show TV, ITV’s Kellys Heroes, as a regular panelist on Big Brothers Bit On The Side and as a contestant on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. Following his win of the 2018 season of Dancing on Ice Jake has most recently been seen in hit TV show Hollyoaks. Jake is no stranger to the stage having performed in the title role of Peter Pan at Blackpool Opera House; also touring with the Dreamboys and appearing in Pantomime. He most recently starred in the acclaimed 50th anniversary production of Hair the Musical.
City boy Ren thinks life is bad enough when he’s forced to move to a rural backwater in America. But his world comes to a standstill when he arrives at Bomont to find dancing and rock music are banned. Taking matters into his own hands, soon Ren has all hell breaking loose and the whole town on its feet.
Based on the 1980s screen sensation which took the world by storm, Footloose The Musical sizzles with spirit, fun and the best in UK musical talent. With cutting edge modern choreography, you’ll enjoy classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy and of course the unforgettable title track Footloose.
Footloose The Musical will be presented by Selladoor Productions and Runaway Entertainment with casting by Debbie O’Brien, and will be directed by Racky Plews, with choreography from Matt Cole, musical supervision by Mark Crossland and design by Sara Perks with lighting design from Chris Davey and sound design from Chris Whybrow.
Everybody cut loose for a night of dazzling excitement music and dancing! Tickets are on sale now – for full listings visit www.footloose-musical.com follow on social media @FootlooseTour #EverybodyCutLoose.
LISTINGS
Performance times and matinee days may vary – ticket prices may vary – please check website for details
Theatre is nothing without its audiences. As a thank you to those who have already come back – and an invitation to those who have not yet returned – London’s world-famous West End has come together to make it easier than ever to see a show at the start of 2022. Official London Theatre’s biggest ever New Year Sale offers tickets to nearly 60 shows at £10, £20, £30, £40 and £50 (no booking fees) for performances throughout January and February.
To celebrate the occasion, we have enlisted the support of legendary rock band Queen, whose song ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ encapsulates the pure joy and escapism of live theatre. It is the perfect soundtrack for a promotional film released today, paying tribute to the shows taking part in the New Year Sale, and the incredible enthusiasm and loyalty of theatre audiences.
Just as theatre is a shared experience, we are asking people to continue to support our industry by sharing this film and treating themselves to see a show with the New Year Sale. There is truly something for everyone, from long-running favourites like Wicked, The Play That Goes Wrong, Matilda The Musical and Mamma Mia! to new hits including Back To The Future – The Musical, Disney’s Frozen and Life Of Pi.
The New Year Sale campaign has benefited from collaboration on an unprecedented scale with partners across politics, business, leisure, transport and the arts – including the Mayor of London, Westminster City Council, London’s Business Improvement Districts, tourism agencies and rail companies – all recognising the vital role theatre plays in bringing people back into the capital. Partnerships with an array of restaurants and hotels through OfficialLondonTheatre.com give audiences the opportunity to make the most of their trip.
As part of this historic collective effort, Renowned photographer Rankin has captured the talent and resilience of London’s theatre workforce with a ground-breaking free portrait exhibition, Performance by Rankin. These images can be spotted on railway platforms, in shop fronts and have even been featured on the famous Piccadilly Lights. As the perfect addition to a London theatre visit, audiences can find out more about the people behind the shows at the FUJIFILM House of Photography in Covent Garden, where the exhibition has just been extended until 13 March.
Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre, said:
‘We are hugely grateful to all our audiences for their ongoing support. We all need the escapism that theatre brings, so what better way to start 2022 than with the magic of world-class live entertainment?
‘It is a true reflection of theatre’s importance that so many partners and organisations – from the Mayor of London’s Let’s Do London campaign to legendary photographer Rankin – have pulled together to help celebrate theatre and the New Year Sale. As we enter 2022, we want to make it easier than ever to see a show. Please keep supporting shows to help keep curtains raised across our city and beyond – in the words of Queen, don’t stop us now!’
Last Chance to Get Tickets for The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals as Further Performances Confirmed
Additional best-selling West End musicals announced to perform at the National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals event in Manchester, including Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, & Juliet, Waitress The Musical and Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical. These shows join previously announced favourites such as FROZEN the Musical and Dear Evan Hansen.
After the first batch of tickets sold out in just 15 minutes, theatre lovers will have a final chance to grab tickets for the 24January 2022 event as 3,000
more tickets are made available here from 9am on 7 January 2022.
The musical spectacular will be aired on BBC One on Saturday 29 January 2022.
The National Lottery has announced that best-selling musicals Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, & Juliet, Waitress and Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical have been added to the already stellar list of West End shows performing at The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals on 24 January 2022.
The one-of-a-kind night of musicals spectacular at Manchester’s AO Arena, which will air on BBC One on Saturday 29 January 2022, will capture the magic of theatre and also shine a light on the difference it makes within communities. Thanks to National Lottery players, over 2,000 theatres across the country have been supported through the Covid crisis, with a total of £228M of funding going to the arts.
Following an extremely successful launch announcement last month, when the initial batch of tickets sold out in just 15 minutes, The National Lottery will now be releasing 3,000 additional tickets for National Lottery players to watch the show in person and see first-hand the biggest shows from the world of theatre.
The free* tickets, which will be available here on a first-come, first-served basis from 9am on Friday, 7 January 2022, will offer audience members the unique opportunity to see performances from West End and touring musicals all under one roof and on one night.
The latest musicals join previously confirmed performances from FROZEN the Musical, Dear Evan Hansen, Disney’s The Lion King, Back to the Future, The Drifters Girl, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock, Bat Out Of Hell, Dreamgirls and Beauty and the Beast, which will feature in a unique Disney medley.
Greater Manchester-born actor and comedian, Jason Manford who will be hosting the event, said, “It’s fantastic to see such a positive response after the first ticket release. It’s been a very difficult 20 months for the theatre industry and I hope that as many National Lottery players as possible will be able to join this National Lottery musical spectacular. The event promises to be a brilliant show full of celebration, featuring some of the best musicals on right now.”
To ensure a safe and successful evening, The National Lottery together with the AO Arena, will be putting a number of important measures in place to reassure and protect everyone at the venue. To access the AO Arena on the day, adult audience members will need to show an NHS COVID Pass as proof of vaccination or proof of a negative PCR or lateral flow test. Masks will be mandatory for anyone over the age of 11. These measures are implemented in accordance with the current advice and guidance from the UK and Local Government and will be continually reviewed.
For further details and to get tickets, National Lottery players should go to: www.bignightofmusicals.com
Whether aware or not, everyone has heard a song by the incomparable Meat Loaf or Jim Steinman. With legacies as vast as theirs, it’s no surprise that the musical packed of their greatest hits has a cult following.
Bat Out of Hell, titled after the legendary album by Meat Loaf and Steinman, is a gritty story of a star-crossed Rock ‘n’ Roll romance.
The musical follows the lives of The Lost and their rivalry with tycoon Falco and how it comes to a head when Falco’s own daughter, Raven, falls for the head of The Lost, Strat.
Raven and Strat are portrayed perfectly by Martha Kirby and Glenn Adamson respectively, showing the struggles of their wild tumultuous relationship. Kirby gives Raven the perfect doe-eyed naivete expected for a sheltered teen but is quick to ensure Raven is still shown as a strong woman who can stand up for herself. Opposing her, Adamson has the swagger and charisma you need to pull off a character like Strat as well as he does.
Jukebox musicals always have a heavy burden to uphold the expectations of their source material, but Bat Out of Hell has to battle with living up to some of the biggest songs of a generation and, miraculously, they pull it off.
The undeniable stars of this show, have to be Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton as Falco and Sloane, their chemistry is off the charts, they’re a true dynamic duo. It’s obvious why these two were chosen to not only originate the rolls but then also to reprise them further down the line. They are a joy to watch with their limitless talent and development of an unexpected sex appeal to their characters.
James Chisholm, Joelle Moses and Killian Thomas Lefevre as Jagwire, Zahara and Tink all deserve a special mention too. Each actor brings something special to their character, with Chisholm’s and Moses’ push-and-pull style relationship taking centre stage at different points throughout the show. Lefevre as Tink is an excellent casting choice by casting director Anne Vosser as he has that boyish charm down to a T, playing the dejected best friend and misunderstood child that has the audience falling in love from the first scene he’s in.
Aside from the actors themselves, the set and costuming are immense. Set and costume Designer Jon Bausor transformed The Alexandra stage into a grimy underground lair that became the home of The Lost. With the addition of a semi-transparent screen, the audience could peak inside the Falco household to see scenes unfold without the need for doing a full set change. It’s clever ideas and techniques like that which make this musical come to life. The costuming has the perfect punk, rock ‘n’ roll edge to it, whilst still being practical for performers and easy to transition between as the story develops. The costume choices give the poised and perfect appearance of the Falco family and then perfect juxtaposition to the rebels in ripped mismatched outfits and black-heavy colour scheme. It would not be surprising if the inspiration behind this was outfits seen at Meat Loaf’s own concerts.
The only issue with the set is the surprisingly minimal use of the bike, especially with it being on every main advertisement. When it is used, it moves at a snail pace, losing the ‘danger’ aspect that the actors are trying to infer. Understandably, there are issues with health and safety, but the bike scenes just fell flat.
Throughout the show, the audience were doused in glitter, streamers and multiple different kinds of confetti – a dream for anyone who scrapbooks their theatre events – though it did seem like a bit of overkill. Especially with most of it being plastic…
The more superior effects were done by the lighting team, who’s use of spotlights, strobe lighting and even disco lighting brought the story to life in a way that couldn’t be done otherwise.
Though the storyline covers important topics like unwarranted police brutality, unrequited love and being vastly underestimated, it was incredibly hard to follow at times. The addition of a LED screen onstage just confused the situation further, making the audience struggle with what to watch or where to look, there was too much going on.
Even with the plot confusion, anyone who loves Meat Loaf will enjoy this show.
The storyline may fall short, but the cast and creative teams make up for it, after all, two out of three aint bad.
David Pugh, Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Present
THE PLAY WHAT I WROTE
Written by Sean Foley, Hamish McColl and Eddie Braben
Directed by Sean Foley
Original Production directed by Kenneth Branagh
FOLLOWING A TRIUMPHANT RUN AT BIRMINGHAM REP, THIS TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY REVIVAL OF THE PLAY WHAT I WROTE WILL TOUR VENUES FROM 12 JANUARY
VISITING BATH, SHREWSBURY, SALFORD, CHICHESTER, MALVERN, CAMBRIDGE AND SHEFFIELD
FEATURING SPECIAL SURPRISE GUEST STARS THE SHOW BRINGS A RAY OF SUNSHINE WHEREVER IT GOES
Producer David Pugh along with Theatre Royal Bath Productions Bath and Birmingham Repertory Theatre, are delighted to announce that following a spectacular Christmas season at The Rep, The Play What I Wrote will tour to venues throughout England from 12 January. Starring DENNIS HERDMAN,MITESH SONI, and THOM TUCK, this new production is directed by double Olivier Award winner Sean Foley.
The production opened to 5 star critical acclaim at The Rep and audiences have been rolling in the aisles as this comedy masterpiece has brought its own special brand of hilarity to the stage. Once again, surprise special guest stars have been making their appearances in the show with Hollywood superstar Tom Hiddleston joining the company on the opening night.
Audiences in Bath, Shrewsbury, Salford, Chichester, Malvern, Cambridge and Sheffield can expect a night of comic bliss.
Thom has written a play, an epic set in the French Revolution called ‘A Tight Squeeze for the Scarlet Pimple’. Dennis on the other hand, wants to continue with their double act. He believes that if they perform a tribute to Morecambe and Wise, Hamish’s confidence will be restored and the double act will go on. But first Dennis needs to persuade a guest star to appear in the play what Thom wrote…
With a mystery guest star at every performance, this “recklessly, tear-inducingly funny show” (The Guardian) is “a loving celebration of comic genius which is itself touched with comic genius” (Daily Telegraph).
Previous mystery guest stars have included Ralph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor, Joanna Lumley, Daniel Radcliffe, Kylie Minogue, Nigel Havers, Denise Welch, Sir Ian McKellen, Dawn French and Sting.Who will you see when you see The Play What I Wrote?
London Classic Theatre today announce a new UK tour of Bernard Slade’s Same Time, Next Year. Michael Cabot directs Kieran Buckeridge (George) and Sarah Kempton (Doris) in one of the world’s most widely staged plays, originally produced on Broadway in 1975.
The production opens at Malvern Theatres on 26 January, before touring to Winchester, Mold, Bury St Edmunds, Ilfracombe, Bracknell, Derby, Poole and Eastbourne, concluding at New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme on 16 April 2022.
Artistic Director Michael Cabot said today “We’re delighted to be starting rehearsals for this wonderful play. Same Time, Next Year is a charming, nostalgic romantic comedy from the 1970s, with a witty, engaging script. It’s our first new show in two years, so it’s been fantastic to be back in design and costume meetings as part of our pre-production. One of the big challenges of this play is the timeframe, which runs from 1951 to 1975, and convincingly showing the ever-changing fashions and styles as the years go by. Designer Bek Palmer has been ingenious in bringing these very different decades to life.”
London Classic Theatre present
SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR
Written by Bernard Slade
Directed by Michael Cabot;Set & Costume Design by Bek Palmer; Lighting Design by Matthew Green
UK Tour
26 January – 16 April 2022
Doris and George meet in 1951, a chance encounter in a Californian hotel that leads to a passionate one-night stand. Both are married to other people, but, soon aware that this might be the start of something, they promise to meet 12 months later. So begins a romantic love affair that lasts 25 years.
The play charts their lives through the ups and downs of parenthood, career highs and lows as well as the shifting fashions and morals of the passing decades.
Bernard Slade paints a bittersweet, nostalgic and funny portrait of two likeable protagonists who find themselves in the most unusual of long-term relationships.
Bernard Slade was a Canadian playwright and screenwriter. As a playwright, his credits include Tribute, Romantic Comedy, Special Occasions and An Act of the Imagination. As a screenwriter, his credits include created The Flying Nun, The Partridge Family, Love on a Rooftop, Bridget Loves Bernie and The Girl with Something Extra.
Kieran Buckeridge plays George. His previous credits for London Classic Theatre include Private Lives. Other theatre credits include Swallows and Amazons (York Theatre Royal), The Prince and the Pauper, Wind in the Willows (New Vic Theatre), Up Down Man, Can’t Buy Me Love, Mother Goose, Sleeping Beauty (Salisbury Playhouse), The Secret Adversary, Pinafore Swing (Watermill Theatre), Elektra, The Rivals, The History Boys, Our Country’s Good, The Recruiting Officer, The Deep Blue Sea, Loot, The Woman in Black, The Good Companions, All My Sons (Theatre by the Lake), Two, Merlin (Dukes, Lancaster), Blithe Spirit, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Moonlight and Magnolias, The Mikado (Stephen Joseph Theatre), David Copperfield, Travels with my Aunt, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Dick Barton (Oldham Coliseum), and Hamlet (Nuffield Southampton Theatres). For television, his credits include Traitors, Moving On and for film, Darkest Hour.
Sarah Kempton plays Doris. Her theatre credits include Sense and Sensibility, Bold Girls (York Theatre Royal), Amy’s View (Theatre Royal Windsor), Breaking the Code (English Theatre Frankfurt), Beau Jest (Vienna’s English Theatre), A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (Greenwich Theatre), Poultry (Arcola Theatre), Woman in the Wall (Theatre503), Alcestis (Iris Theatre) and Macbeth (Young Shakespeare Company). Her television credits include Miranda, Not Going Out, Vines and The Intern.
Michael Cabot directs and is the founder and Artistic Director of London Classic Theatre. He has directed all forty-two LCT productions since their touring debut in 2000, including Absurd Person Singular, No Man’s Land, My Mother Said I Never Should, Private Lives, Hysteria, The Birthday Party, Waiting for Godot, Absent Friends, Entertaining Mr Sloane and Equus. His freelance work as director includes three recent collaborations with award-winning playwright Henry Naylor, The Collector (Arcola Theatre/UK tour), Angel and Borders (Edinburgh Festival Fringe).
