I’ll start with a review from my 6-year-old daughter:
“I loved it mummy. It was soooo good. My favourite part was when Frog did the splits in the air and landed on the log on his privates!”
I always wonder how valid my grown-up perspective is on kid’s theatre as surely the review from my little girl is the most important, right? As you can see from her comment above she loved it.
I’ll say it was a lovely morning at the theatre but for me, this particular show had something ever so slightly off the mark. The story is glorious of course and the adaptation for stage works so well with the book coming to life in front of your very eyes. Now, I am not sure whether it was a tech issue or a venue issue but I found much of the dialogue hard to hear with some bits frankly inaudible. I wondered if it was just me so asked my daughter and her dad if they could understand what the animals were saying. He couldn’t either and my daughter said, “Not really but it doesn’t matter”.
Now, I know that an audience full of children will have its moments of distraction (it’s a big feat keeping under 6’s focussed for an hour) but here, I found that at times the audience had been lost (perhaps they had the same sound issue as us?).
Dog was definitely my favourite whilst my little girl LOVED Frog. The costumes are fantastic, the puppets are just wonderful, the songs were fun but I’m afraid Oi Frog! didn’t quite do it for me.
I do think that if the audibility of the dialogue and songs were fixed, I would have had a VERY different experience as all the other ingredients are there for a wonderful production.
All that said, my daughter loved it and seriously won’t stop talking about Frog landing on his privates, getting a splinter in his bum and getting farted on by Dog! Could we call that a successful trip to the theatre, I think so
Darlington Hippodrome – until Saturday 5 February 2022
5*****
The perennial favourite Blood Brothers makes a welcome return to Darlington, as part of its current UK tour. This haunting and beautifully tragic story starts at the end and then returns to the beginning to see how the story brought us to that point.
Set in Liverpool, we hear the story of the Johnstone twins and how poverty drives Mrs Johnstone (Niki Evans) to give away one of the babies to her employer Mrs Lyons (Paula Tappenden). Mrs Lyons is desperate for a child and takes advantage of Mrs Johnstones superstitious nature to ensure the boys never find out they are brothers.
Mickey (Sean Jones) stayed with his single-parent mum, living from hand to mouth, in a council house full of children and poverty. Eddie (Joel Benedict) lives with the Lyons, with a mum and dad, in a large house with a garden and all the advantages his twin never had. Despite the mothers intentions the boys meet and sustain a friendship, a blood brothers pact, from the age of 7 (but nearly 8).
The story is moved forward by the Narrator (Robbie Scotcher). In some interpretations of the musical, the Narrator is almost demonic, spreading malevolence and exuding menace, but Scotcher is more of a philosophical entity. His powerful vocals give you a shiver up your spine, as he judges with a cold condemnation.
Sean Jones returns to play Mickey for the last time, which is an incredible shame, for he has really made the part his own. From his convincing monologue of a 7 year old to growing up and finding love with Linda (Carly Burns). Becoming a father aged 18, losing his job, going to prison after being led astray by older brother Sammy (Daniel Taylor) and his tragic decline into depression and a reliance on anti-depressants. His acting is phenomenal. You believe he is child, riding his imaginary horse, you believe his terror at becoming a father when still a child himself and you believe his tragic depression. He will be missed when he leaves this role.
Niki Evans is an emotional powerhouse, wringing every emotion out of her vocals as the downtrodden and tragic Mrs Johnstone. From child bride to middle aged granny. From poverty to getting by, you watch her grow, sympathising with her plight. Her vocals in the iconic Tell Me It’s Not True are heartbreakingly raw, her voice cracks with emotion and you genuinely believe she really is sobbing.
I don’t know if Willy Russell knew what a remarkable piece of theatre he was writing when he put pen to paper for Blood Brothers. But this production by Bill Kenwright is one of the finest versions I have seen and I can only urge you to pack your tissues and book a seat as soon as possible, if only to witness Sean Jones before he leaves.
Festival Theatre, Malvern – until 5th January 2022
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
4.5 ****
Yet another mirthful evening brought to you by those comedy geniuses at Mischief. Anyone familiar with their earlier material such as The Play That Goes Wrong will know exactly what to expect. Or not! You see, this is a rather different work than the aforementioned one. It is a straighter, character driven piece relying less on their usual slapstick style.
The plot centres on a group of friends through 3 different ages. The first half of the show (acts 1 and 2 cover ages 6 and 14). The 6 year old section bursts forth with great vigour, introducing our main characters and their classroom. As you would expect there’s a lot of jumping around, noise and some wonderful misunderstandings of their parent’s words all portrayed with aplomb by this wonderful cast. The teenage act is less naive and joyous, though still very funny. Lots of awkward behaviour, posturing and hormones raging which cleverly sets up events which culminate in the final act.
I especially enjoyed the interplay between Spencer (Dharmesh Patel), Archie (Daniel Abbott) and Katie (Lauren Samuels). It’s hard to say too much without giving the plot away but each has their moments to shine in both humour and drama and there’s a great deal of both. Moon (Yolanda Ovide) and Simon (Matt Cavendish) are more tragic figures, but (again) there’s plenty of laughs there too. A fully rounded cast who you genuinely feel for, which is no mean feat given that this is a comedy not a drama. There is some exceptional acting from all involved showing great range (including touching moments, tragedy, farce and manic incredulity).
Although the first half of the show was very funny, it really takes off in the second half (act 3, the adult reunion) with the introduction of Chemise and Paul.
Chemise (Jamie Birkett) is especially hilarious and steals all the scenes she is in. It’s not just that her lines are hilarious but her delivery is perfect. It’s also the way the main characters react off her to perfection that brings (arguably) the loudest roars of the night. I would love her to have her own show – she was that fantastic!
Paul (Killian Macardle) is a character with few lines but every appearance is worth waiting for. His performance gets more manic and crescendos into a hilarious costume that is a sight to behold and will have you almost falling off your chair with laughter.
Hamsters are worthy of special mention too – with a clever series of names (yes, that is plural as there are plenty of our furry friends) etc. that displays the quality of the writing, as the creative team wring every ounce of humour out of anything and everything.
This show is enormous fun and was brilliantly acted by a cast obviously enjoying themselves, just as I was enjoying watching it. Another triumph from the Mischief team! Highly recommended to bring sunshine to these dark winter days
THE ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM – UNTIL SATURDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 2022
REVIEWED BY NADIA DODD
5****
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s adaptation of the 2003 hit comedy film follows lead character Dewey Finn (Jake Sharp) as a failed, wannabe rock star managing to lie his way into a substitute teacher position at a very high class prep school Horace Green.
Jake who plays the well known character of Dewey, (played by Jack Black in the film), has almost the same characteristics plus more, bringing such high-energy to the performance throughout the whole evening.
Whilst ‘working’ in the school just to help pay the rent after being threatened by his flatmates that he will have to leave unless he does his fair share, he realises that the class he is working with have amazing musical potential. Dewey has no teaching experience but feels he can bring out the best in these kids because he listens to them, something that some of their parents aren’t doing. The students are more suited to playing piano, cello and studying classical music rather than keyboard, electric guitar and drums until Dewey convinces them otherwise……
Once he has his band, backing singers, dancers, roadies and even manager Dewey then has to convince the principal of the school, Rosalie Mullins (Rebecca Lock) to take the pupils off school premises and attend The Battle of The Bands contest.
The young performers in this show are just amazing and the absolute stars of the night. Not just singing and acting, they play their instruments live throughout the performance with such enthusiasm you can really see they are thoroughly enjoying themselves, the audience were clapping along as the band were rocking out.
High energy, up beat new songs have been added by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the catchiest tune for me being ‘Stick it to The Man’, alongside the original songs from the film also being performed.
Fast paced, exhilarating, high energy and great comedy timing makes this show a fabulous choice for all the family to enjoy.
As the cast took their final bows, the audience were on their feet with a standing ovation to show their appreciation of what was a truly awe-inspiring evening
Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge – until Sat 5th Feb 2022
Reviewed by Steph Lott
3***
Tom Bryce is a businessman struggling to save his business. In addition to this his alcoholic wife Kellie who can’t stop spending isn’t helping. On his commute back home he finds a memory stick, and, in an attempt to do a good deed, opens the files contained on it. Then wishes he hadn’t.
The cast features Adam Woodyatt (Eastenders) as Tom Bryce, with Laurie Brett (Eastenders, Waterloo Road) starring as Kellie Bryce and Harry Long playing Detective Roy Grace.
Ian Houghton (Jonus Kent), Leon Stewart (Glenn Branson), Gemma Stroyan (Bella Moy), Luke Ward- Wilkinson (Max Bryce), Mylo McDonald (Mick) and Natalie Boakye (Janie) also star in the show.
I haven’t read the book but I thought that writer Shaun McKenna has mostly done a great job of transferring the excellent plot into a play which worked very well on stage. It was an intriguing story well told which kept me guessing right up until the end (no spoilers!)
The set is mostly slick and impressive, and uses clever lighting. The audience can see inside the family home, the police station and a torture chamber which reveals very sinister scenes indeed.
However, despite the excellent plot I found the production somewhat lacking in thrills. I think this was due to a few things. I found the police station a bit odd – the 3 coppers rolling on and off stage was a little strange and a bit distracting. The relationship between three of them was also a bit one-dimensional; the scenes between them had too much boring banter and the puns and one-liners somehow didn’t fit.
Added to this I found the music a bit incongruous at times. There were oddly upbeat sections which were at odds with the dramatic events taking place onstage.
But the biggest problem for me was the lack of emotional intensity. Adam Woodyatt and Laurie Brett were rather flat and their performances lacked drama. The relationship seemed too cosy and not bad enough to explain what happens. Woodyatt has played Ian Beale for over 30 years and I had hoped, as the play progressed, to see him show he can play someone else. Sadly for me, I didn’t think this was the case. It was like Ian and Jane Beale had gone up in the world!
The action that ensued, for me, therefore just didn’t seem believable. I think also this may be due to the need to compact the book into a play. There simply isn’t enough time to be able to build the story and the tension between the characters up enough for what then follows to be credible. There needed to be more dramatic tension in my view.
Looking Good Dead was enjoyable, but for me not as thrilling as I was expecting. At times it was too light-hearted, considering the circumstances; in fact it did occur to me to wonder if in fact it was a spoof.
Perform Productions is giving away 1,000 free theatre tickets
to help more families to see Jungle Rumble in the West End this half-term
The producers of the new musical Jungle Rumble, the half-term theatrical treat which is playing at The Fortune Theatre from 14-20 February 2022 (tickets from £15), are offering free tickets to hundreds of families who could not normally stretch to the expense of a West End trip.
Perform Productions is distributing 1,000 free tickets to children and their families via primary schools in London and the South East of England (eligible to children for whom they receive a pupil premium). Mousetrap Theatre Projects will also distribute 100 tickets through its channels, to those who could not otherwise attend.
Lucy Quick, Co-Founder of Perform, said: “We are keen believers that the arts should be accessible to everyone. With many of today’s West End tickets going for up to £300, and with growing cuts to arts funding in education, many children will never have the chance to experience the thrill of a live theatre performance so we wished to share this special opportunity with them. For more than twenty years, we have offered schools free drama workshops, with many parents telling us that their child was introduced to drama for the first time in this way. We also have a Bursary Scheme through which children from disadvantaged backgrounds can attend Perform for free.”
Produced by Perform Productions, as drama school Perform’s debut West End show, Jungle Rumble marks a natural progression for the highly-regarded drama school founded and run by Lucy Quick and Will Barnett, leading the way within the industry in making such a move. Perform runs children’s drama classes for ages 4-12 across the UK. Jungle Rumble, which is written and composed by Will Barnett, ties in with the students’ jungle theme this term, bringing stories and songs of the jungle to life on the West End stage.
Jungle Rumble features a fabulous line-up of West End performers, uplifting songs and thrilling choreography along with an inspirational message about working together to protect the Earth. Join ancient elephant Eeli, shy zebra Zella and cheeky monkey Boo as they journey deep into the heart of the jungle on a fearless expedition to rescue Snow, the last white lion, from the evil Lord Braggard.
The cast of Jungle Rumble is Sharon Ballard as Eeli, Darren Hart as Cheetah, Rachel Lea-Gray as Ensemble, Michael Lin as Boo, Billy Mahoney as Ensemble, Carole Stennett as Snow/Esther, Ben Stock as Lord Braggard / Boss and Joy Tan as Zella.
Jungle Rumble is Directed by Susie McKenna (current Associate Director at Kiln theatre, former Creative Director of Hackney Empire), with Choreography by Frank Thompson (Blues in the Night, The Bodyguard), Design by Lotte Collett (Hackney Empire pantomimes, Blues in the Night), Lighting Design by Simisola Majekodunmi (J’Ouvert) and Sound Design by Tom Marshall (The Drifter’s Girl, Nativity! The Musical). It is produced by Perform Productions and General Managed by Anthology Theatre.
Jungle Rumble offers a perfect half-term day out for the whole family. It runs from 14 to 20 February at The Fortune Theatre, Russell St, London (Covent Garden) at various times during the day (running time 45 minutes). To book, or for more information, visit: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/jungle-rumble/fortune-theatre/.
-LISTINGS-
Type: theatre, musical theatre, family shows, half term
RICKY TOMLINSON RETURNS TO THE STAGE IN NEW MUSICAL PLAY IRISH ANNIE’S
CATHERINE RICE AND ASA MURPHY ALSO STAR IN COMEDY CELEBRATING THE BEST OF IRISH CULTURE IN
ST HELENS, LIVERPOOL AND BLACKPOOL
Actor and comedian, Ricky Tomlinson is to return to the stage in a new musical comedy that celebrates the best of Irish culture.
Irish Annie’s will perform around the St Patricks Day celebrations at St Helens Theatre Royal on Monday 14th March and the Epstein Theatre Liverpool on Saturday 19th March. The play also heads to Blackpool’s Joe Longthorne Theatre on Friday 1st July.Tickets are on sale and selling fast!
Irish Annie’s is a celebration of Irish culture, from the music to the comedy, featuring the well-known live 6-piece band The Shenanigans. Meet landlady Annie and her regular madcap customers for a fun night out of comedy, music and mayhem, featuring original tracks written for the show by Asa Murphy, along with your all-time favourite Irish tunes including Galway Shawl, Tell Me Ma, Dirty Old Town, Whiskey In The Jar, Danny Boy and many more. The evening promises to have the audience laughing, singing, and dancing the night away.
Ricky Tomlinson will join the cast starring as Scouse Pete. Ricky is a much-loved actor and comedian living all his life in Liverpool, he is best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and Jim Royle in The Royle Family, he also played the title character in the film Mike Bassett: England Manager. He is a very keen musician playing both the banjo and harmonica.
Ricky said “This show is a delight to be part of, with a wonderful cast of characters and beautiful original and classic Irish music. Come and enjoy the show, I guarantee you will have a ball”.
Irish Annie’s is co-produced by Bill Elms Productions (Judy & Liza, Jerry Springer The Opera, Swan Song, Something About Simon)and Asa Murphy Productions (Buddy Holly Lives, The Bobby Darin Story).
The show also stars Catherine Rice as Irish Annie, Asa Murphy as Seamus Murphy, Nathan Murphy as Porky the Postman, Sam Conlan as Noel Singen-Smithe and Pauline Donovan as Moira the Money Lender.
Producer Bill Elms commented:“Irish Annie’s is the perfect show to bring out around St Patricks Day, it’s a huge feel-good show filled with great comedy and live music, I am thrilled that we have such a fantastic cast including Ricky Tomlinson, Asa Murphy and Catherine Rice. The show premiered in Liverpool two years ago and went down a storm, now it’s even bigger and better than before, look out for more dates still to come.”
Asa Murphy has created and co-produced the show. Asa has been a successful entertainer for 18 years. He has performed all over the world singing Big Band Swing music and my own self-penned songs. He has fulfilled many of his dreams as a performer selling out London’s Ronnie Scott’s, topping the bill at the famous Liverpool Empire, and cruising and singing on the most beautiful liners in the world. Asa also has a very popular BBC Radio show and has been on the airwaves for 10 years. In 2019 he turned his talents to writing stage musicals and has so far had three hit shows, Buddy Holly Lives, Mack The Knife and Irish Annie’s along with two children’s shows.
Writer and performer Asa Murphy added:“This show is a celebration of everything that makes Irish culture and the people of Ireland so special. Laughter, music, and the ability to make people face life’s difficult obstacles through friendship. I am very proud that the show has been so well received with my family originating from Cork and Tralee and many still living in Ireland.”
It may be set in a small-town American diner but Waitress provides the ultimate cordon bleu delight, a veritable smörgȧsbord of a musical that pulls at all the emotions. From the minute the cast sang in harmony about the need to switch off mobile phones they had the packed Hull New Theatre ready for desserts, and what a feast we were served.
With music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and the book by Jessie Nelson, Waitress is based upon the film written by Adrienne Shelley. This is not a sugar-coated light musical but one which will stretch your emotions and leave you at one moment horrified and in the next laughing out loud. Waitress is essentially a celebration of life and of the human ability to make the best of things and to rise above whatever life throws at us. The story revolves around Joe’s Diner and the waitresses who work there, Jenna (Chelsea Halfpenny), Becky (Sandra Marvin) and Dawn (Evelyn Hoskins). Jenna bakes all the pies for the Diner and this allows her to escape her life a little as she is not happy with her husband. No-one in Waitress has an easy time but their friendships sustain them, as is so often the case in life.
Chelsea Halfpenny is stunning as Jenna, her musical range is outstanding and the range of emotions she brings to her character is breath-taking. Her performance of “She Used To Be Mine” was utterly heart rending and the audience were totally engrossed as she sang, and I am sure I am not the only one who had goosebumps by the end of the song. There were periods when she was utterly silent and still on the stage and nobody moved a muscle in the audience either as we were too gripped by this story. Her fear of Earl (Tamlyn Henderson) was palpable as was the depths of joy and despair she felt with Dr. Pomatter (Matt Jay-Willis). The relationship with her friends Becky and Dawn were wonderfully believable.
Dr. Pomatter is played to perfection by Matt Jay-Willis, he has a stunning voice and the performance with Jenna of “You Matter To Me” was another breath-taking performance.
Sandra Marvin was superb as Becky, sassy and naughty but with her own hardships and sorrows. She has a fabulous voice, shown to its full advantage in “I Didn’t Plan It”. Evelyn Hoskins is suitably kooky as Dawn, seeking to find an on-line date and bringing much laughter to the performance.
Tamlyn Henderson oozed aggression and violence towards Jenna with minimal movement, at one point there was an audible gasp of horror from the audience. His desire that Jenna should promise not to love the baby more than him was frighteningly real.
Michael Starke as Joe, George Crawford as Ogie and Christopher D. Hunt as Cal, also played their parts to perfection.
Mention must go to the ensemble, who slickly and smoothly changed scenery, provided a variety of characters and the most sublime harmonies. This is a fast-moving performance, wonderfully choreographed, with an astounding number of props which were often flying around the stage. The orchestra led by musical director Ellen Campbell were on stage at all times and were excellent.
I was told that Waitress was a show I should not miss and I found this to be oh so true, I was totally blown away by the whole thing, sheer perfection from start to finish
Jeffrey Seller and Cameron Mackintosh, producers of the West End production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s HAMILTON, are delighted to announce an extension to booking with tickets now on sale until 10 July 2022 at the Victoria Palace Theatre.
Karl Queensborough plays the title role of Alexander Hamilton with Jay Perry currently as Aaron Burr, Ava Brennan as Angelica Schuyler, Sharon Rose as Eliza Hamilton, Trevor Dion Nicholas as George Washington, Waylon Jacobs as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Emile Ruddock as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Khalid Daley as John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton, Emilie Louise Israel as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds and Harry Hepple as King George. At certain performances the role of Alexander Hamilton is played by Nuno Queimado. Simon-Anthony Rhoden, who currently plays the role of Aaron Burr, has unfortunately sustained an injury and will return to the role at a date to be announced.
The cast also comprises Jade Albertsen, Curtis Angus, Matthew Caputo, Filippo Coffano, Ashley Daniels, Kelly Downing, Lydia Fraser, Jordan Frazier, Manaia Glassey-Ohlson, Jake Halsey-Jones, Olivia Kate Holding, Peter Houston, DeAngelo Jones, Phoebe Liberty Jones, Nicolais-Andre Kerry, Travis Kerry, Ella Kora, Natasha Leaver, Aaron Lee Lambert, Sinead Long, Louis Mackrodt,Lindsey Tierney and Brandon Williams.
Karl Queensborough’sprevious theatre credits include White Teeth at the Kiln Theatre, Sylvia and The Girl From the North Country at The Old Vic, The Little Matchgirl for Shakespeare’s Globe/Bristol Old Vic/UK Tour, Aladdin,Cinderella, Dick Whittington and Jack and the Beanstalk for the Lyric Hammersmith, A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Filter, The Machine Stops for Theatre Royal York/Pilot Theatre, A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes for the Tricycle Theatre, Only the Brave for Soho Theatre/Wales Millennium Centre/Bird Song, Morning for the Lyric Hammersmith/Traverse Theatre, Dayglo and Mind The Gap for Y Touring, and Ignition Out of Reach for Frantic Assembly.
Simon-Anthony Rhoden’stheatre credits include The Color Purple for Leicester Curve, Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre for which he won the Broadway World UK Award for Best Long-Running West End Show Performer, If I Should Stay for Soho Theatre and Parade at the Edinburgh Fringe. His screen credits include Feel Good, Let It Snow and Blue.
Jay Perry’s theatre credits include Kiss Me, Kate at The Watermill Theatre, Berry Gordy in the final London cast of Motown: The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and Whistle Down The Wind both at the Aldwych Theatre, Hairspray at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Save The Last Dance For Me on UK tour, She Stoops to Conquer for London Contemporary and Sword and The Dope for the King’s Head. On television his credits include I Dream, Top of the Pops and Blue Peter. On film his credits include Seeing Double. Perry was a member of the pop band SClub Juniors.
Ava Brennan’s theatre credits include Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych, A Christmas Carol for The Old Vic, the West End and UK tour productions of The Lion King, The Count of Monte Cristo and Hairspray in St Gallen Switzerland and the German tour of Aida. Her film credits include Hellboy, Rocketman, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Beauty and the Beast.
Sharon Rose’s previous theatre credits include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at the Aldwych Theatre, Motown The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre and Caroline or Change at the Hampstead Theatre.
Trevor Dion Nicholas originated the role of Genie in the West End production of Disney’s Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre. He also played the role at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway and the U.S Tour. His other theatre credits include The Wiz, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Ragtime, The Little Mermaid, The Wizard of Oz, Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors, Rent, The Exonerated and This is the Life All for the ETA Hoffman Theatre, Germany.
Waylon Jacobs makes his return to London production of Hamilton. His previous theatre credits include Treason for the Cadogan Hall, The Last Five Years for the Minack Theatre, Peter Pan for the Barn Theatre, YANK! at the Charing Cross Theatre, Chicago at the Phoenix Theatre, Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre, We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre and on tour, Rent at the Tabard Theatre, Ragtime and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Children of Eden at the Prince of Wales Theatre and The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre.
Emile Ruddock’s previous theatre credits include Me and My Girl at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Five Guys Named Moe at the Marble Arch Theatre, Crazy for You at the Watermill Theatre, Kiss Me Kate on UK Tour and The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic and at the Garrick Theatre.
Khalid Daley is making his West End debut. His theatre credits include Dick Whittington and War Horse for the National Theatre, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on UK and Ireland tour, Hamlet on UK tour for Changeling Theatre, Careen – The True History of Bonnie and Clyde at Birmingham Rep, Godspell at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Lord of the Flies for New Adventures and Birmingham Hippodrome. His television credits include Doctors and 4 O’Clock Club: Hollywood.
Emilie Louise Israel is making her West End debut in Hamilton. Her previous theatre credits include Nala in The Lion King and Jungle Festival for Disneyland Paris, The Womanin the US Tour of Gobsmacked! and the UK Tour of The Magic of Motown.
Harry Hepple’s theatre credits include Romantics Anonymous at Bristol Old Vic, A Taste of Honey, Follies and Burnt by the Sun for the National Theatre, The Lightening Child and Macbeth for Shakespeare’s Globe, Privates on Parade at the Noël Coward Theatre, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Pippin at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Hot Mess at the Arcola Theatre, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Donmar Warehouse, Been So Long for the Young Vic and Alaska for the Royal Court. His film credits include Peterloo and Stan and Ollie. On television his credits include Moving On, Boy Meet Girl, Hustle, Misfits and InspectorGeorge Gently.
Nuno Queimado’sprevious theatre credits include Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Mother Courage and her Children and Side Show for Southwark Playhouse, From Here To Eternity at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at the Playhouse Theatre, The World’s Greatest Show for the Royal Opera House, God’s Garden UK tour, and The Little Match Girl at Sadlers wells. He also appeared in the ITV drama Cold Feet.
HAMILTON has book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire and is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe.
The Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning production opened at the newly re-built and restored Victoria Palace Theatre in London in December 2017 and continued to play there until the start of lockdown in March 2020. The production resumed performances in August 2021.HAMILTON is produced in London by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater and Cameron Mackintosh.
Today RADA’s Council announces that Niamh Dowling will become the new Principal of RADA.
Niamh Dowling is currently Head of Postgraduate School of Performance, Design and Technical Arts at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in London, prior to which she was Head of School of Theatre at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her extensive career as a teacher has been international, including partnerships with arthaus.berlin, National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Centre in Connecticut, with Song of the Goat in Wroclaw, Poland, as well as extensive work with the British Council. Following her training in Wales, London, Paris and New York, she has, over many years, developed a unique approach to working with a range of performers, technicians, designers, directors, writers and managers for which she has been selected as one of the practitioners on the online Routledge Performance Archive.
Niamh Dowling said: “I am so delighted to be joining RADA as Principal. RADA’s reputation as a world leader in the field of actor, technical, design and performer training is outstanding. It has been a difficult couple of years for the sector and the industry and we are all learning at such a fast pace. With talented students and alumni, and experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated staff, RADA is perfectly positioned for conversations and collaborations in the UK and internationally about training that is relevant and representative of 21st-century Britain and beyond. I am looking forward to those conversations and leading RADA as this next phase unfolds.”
Marcus Ryder, Chair of RADA Council, said: “This is an important moment in RADA’s history, and arguably a seminal moment for conservatoires in the UK. Niamh Dowling was appointed following a long and rigorous selection process by RADA Council involving staff and the student body. I am confident that Niamh is a brilliant appointment to meet the current challenges and help shape the future of the teaching of the dramatic arts at RADA, nationally and internationally. I look forward to working with Niamh and giving her the support she needs to ensure RADA strengthens its position as a world leading drama school producing the best technical and acting talent.”
