CAPITAL THEATRES SECURES £6.5 MILLION GRANT CONTRIBUTION FROM SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TOWARDS THE £25 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT OF THE KING’S THEATRE

CAPITAL THEATRES SECURES £6.5 MILLION GRANT CONTRIBUTION FROM SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TOWARDS THE £25 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT OF THE KING’S THEATRE

CAPITAL THEATRES SECURES £6.5 MILLION GRANT CONTRIBUTION FROM SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TOWARDS THE £25 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT OF THE KING’S THEATRE

Minister for Culture and International Development, Jenny Gilruth MSP, has confirmed total grant funding of £6.5 million from the Scottish Government for the King’s Theatre Redevelopment Project.

Opened in 1906, the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh is an important venue for touring drama, musicals and children’s shows. It is home to Scotland’s biggest Panto production and each year plays a pivotal role in hosting the Edinburgh International Festival. The King’s has a unique place in the hearts and minds of many Edinburgh residents, and is a theatre of national and historical importance. The redevelopment will modernise the existing facilities and transform the experiences of visitors, local communities, performers and staff, whilst preserving its unique heritage. The plans will ensure the theatre remains a vital part of Edinburgh and Scotland’s cultural provision, as well as functioning as a community hub for years to come. The redevelopment project is set to start in September 2022, with the theatre planned to reopen in mid-2024.

This grant from the Scottish Government joins £4 million already secured from the City of Edinburgh Council along with additional loan funding. The rest of the budget is made-up of generous donations from individuals, grants from trusts and foundations, support from companies and Capital Theatres’ own contribution from ticket income. Alongside this an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund is currently moving into its second stage. The grant from Scottish Government consolidates a robust mixed funding model and paves the way for a public campaign to fundraise for the remaining £3 million.

Fiona Gibson, CEO of Capital Theatres said:

“We’re overjoyed with this show of support and confidence in the King’s Redevelopment Project from the Scottish Government. As COVID 19 hit in March 2020, Capital Theatres announced that the redevelopment of the King’s would be paused for a year whilst we dealt with the impact of the pandemic. Far from lose momentum on the project, 15 months of closure has made us all the more determined to ensure the King’s Theatre can honour its illustrious past with a thriving future at the heart of Edinburgh and Scotland’s cultural life.  Not only a wonderful venue for joy and inspiration, the King’s will also offer a thriving hub by day for the many communities situated in and around Tollcross.  Scottish Government’s grant, along with the grant and loan funding from City of Edinburgh Council, makes this project viable. This funding stands alongside the National Lottery Heritage Fund grant we are working so hard to secure, and the tireless efforts of our Development Team. There is, however, still a way to go to reach our financial target and we’ll be launching a public fundraising campaign later in the year.  This last push will build on the generous support shown during our period of closure, so the people of Edinburgh and Scotland can continue to play their part by helping us secure the future of the King’s as a historical and cultural treasure.”

Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said:
“The King’s Theatre has been a jewel in Edinburgh’s cultural crown for more than a 100 years, with generations of audiences enjoying a rich diversity of shows from its annual pantomimes to world premieres at the Edinburgh International Festival.

“The Scottish Government is pleased to support the redevelopment of the grade A-listed theatre and enable the King’s Theatre to reach out to a wider range of audience and increase its community engagement.”

City of Edinburgh Council Culture and Communities Convener, Cllr Donald Wilson said: “The King’s has been a beloved Edinburgh theatre for over a century, programming the best in touring drama, hosting some of the most talented community and non-professional groups; and certainly the best in pantomime, as well as bringing all kinds of theatre experiences to the city from all over the country, including London’s West End.  The ‘Grand Old Lady of Leven Street’ has always been Edinburgh’s theatre for everyone.” 

Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener said: “The King’s is in need of this capital project to bring the theatre back to a standard fit for the 21st century whilst acknowledging the incredible history.  This capital funding contribution is great news and a fantastic achievement for the theatre and will substantially strengthen its redevelopment ambitions, ensuring that we will all be able to continue to enjoy a great night at the King’s for many more years and generations to come.”

National Youth Musical Theatre Summer Season in Manchester and London this August

NATIONAL YOUTH MUSICAL THEATRE 

ANNOUNCES AUGUST SEASONS AT:

Manchester Cathedral 

AND

The MCT @ Alleyn’s, London 

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“NYMT is the best youth music theatre in the world” 

Andrew Lloyd Webber

National Youth Music Theatre is thrilled to announce its 2021 season, featuring three full productions

  • THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at Manchester Cathedral through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) – a large-scale, inclusive production of one of Disney’s most epic musicals
  • HENRIETTA a new musical, originally commissioned by NYMT for 2020. 
  • BILLY THE KID originally commissioned in 2017, reimagined for 2021 at The MCT @ Alleyn’s 

Plus:

  • A KISS FOR CINDERELLA Residential Workshop

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

Based on the Victor Hugo novel & songs from the Disney film

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Book by Peter Parnell

Wednesday 11th – Saturday 14th August 

Manchester Cathedral 

Performance Times – (Wed – Fri) 7:30PM, (Sat) 6:00PM. Matinees (Fri & Sat) 1:00PM.

NYMT is proud to present this inclusive production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The heart of the stage version of Disney’s THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME is in the song Someday which Esmeralda sings in Act 2. In it she accepts the horrifying predicament that she finds herself in. She is powerless to change things instantly in society, but she hopes for a better future, which for her is one in which the Romany people are accepted and not persecuted.Director Alex Sutton says “For me that hope is exactly where theatre finds itself now. As we start to come out of the pandemic the theatre world is looking to ‘reset’ better, it is hopeful for a future in which all parts of it are inclusive, a theatre that engages with anti-racism, pride and with disability, that everyone working in it is employed fairly, regardless of disability, race, gender and sexuality and safe from bullying, persecution and harassment.

In the script Quasimodo is deaf, and Alex embraced the opportunity to cast a deaf actor in that role. He says “The challenge is then, how does that person sing this score? The question then becomes what is singing, what is music? As a hearing person who studied (believe it or not) analytical musicology, this challenges my very conception of music and how it is communicated. Sign language and BSL is going to permeate the entire show. Every show will start being BSL ‘interpreted’ at the side of the stage, but then we are going to play with that to create a truly integrated accessible version of it. Several members of the cast are deaf or are CODAs (child of deaf adult), and our wonderful choreographer Mark Smith, is a truly inspirational deaf choreographer”

Anthony O’Connor Director of Fundraising at Manchester Cathedral added “Manchester Cathedral is delighted to be able to host The Hunchback of Notre Dame. As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic this production will be a great opportunity for individuals, couples and families to gather in this medieval space to take in this wonderful production”

HENRIETTA

A New Musical by Katie Lam and Alex Parker

Commissioned by NYMT 2020

Wednesday 18th – Saturday 21st August 

The MCT at Alleyn’s

Performance Times 7:30PM 

Matinees (Fri & Sat) at 2:30PM

To Henrietta Janssen, things just don’t feel quite right. It’s more than the war – 

growing up in Amsterdam, by the spring of 1945, she’s used to that. 

It’s all the unanswered questions: why does her teacher tell her off whatever she does? 

Why is there never enough to eat? Why doesn’t she feel like she fits in, even with her own family? 

Why is the old lady on her way to school always so angry with her?

 And why is there a boy in her neighbour’s window when they only have daughters?

Inspired by the true stories of love, sacrifice and bravery in the Netherlands during the Second World War, HENRIETTA is about a thirst for adventure, the need we all feel to establish our identity, and how ordinary people can be capable of extraordinary courage.

One of the things I love about NYMT is the company’s commitment to new writing and the opportunities for developing new work. It’s such an essential learning opportunity for young actors to be part of a musical in its infancy as it grows and develops. I’ve seen over the last six years how the young people’s brains are creatively stretched and challenged by the experience of being part of this kind of process and how it can really nurture an analytical eye on not just the production itself but the whole form of musical theatre. HENRIETTA is a very extraordinary piece of new British writing – the music is glorious, an epic score with some spine tingling moments. We have a cast of 33 young people and another 14 in the orchestra, as well as young people making up our teams of stage management and creative assistants. Kate Golledge, DIRECTOR Henrietta

Based on a true story from Katie Lam’s own family history Henrietta tells the story of a young girl living in occupied Amsterdam during the second world war. Henrietta lives with her mother, father, sister and brother and wants an adventure – until she gets one she didn’t bargain for.   The work asks us to consider family, individualism and what it means to be brave. 

About Alex Parker and Katie Lam:

Alex Parker (music) and Katie Lam (book and lyrics) are an award-winning British musical theatre writing team. Best friends since they were eight years old, Katie and Alex have written five musicals together: HenriettaAm Dram (Leicester Curve), After You (London Coliseum, cast album available wherever you stream or download your music), The Railway Children (Cadogan Hall) and All Aboard (Electric).


 Katie and Alex were recipients of the inaugural UK Emerging Writers Award from NYMT, and Artists in Residence at The Red House in Aldeburgh in 2019. They were commissioned to write the opening number for the WhatsOnStage Awards in 2015, 2016 and 2020. They took part in the Re:act scheme for new writers at what was then the St James Theatre.

BILLY THE KID

Music by Ben Morales Frost | Book and Lyrics by Richard Hough

Commissioned and originally produced by NYMT 2017

Wednesday 25th – Saturday 28th August 

The MCT at Alleyn’s

Performance Times 7:30PM  

Matinees (Fri & Sat) at 2:30PM

William Antrim is small for his age; he’s quiet and shy, which makes him an easy target for lazy bullies. But in his dreams, William Antrim is Billy the Kid, a courageous cowboy, riding the range with the sun in his eyes. An all-American hero. Now, if only his dreams could become a reality…

Billy the Kid is an adventure story, a magical, musical comedy set in a colourful world of cowboys and bandits, cactus trees and caballeros. Saddle-up for a journey back in time, to a land where the bravest heroes are only a whip-crack away! This is a show for all the family, smart enough for the most demanding young audience and silly enough for the grumpiest grown-ups.

I’m so excited to be directing Billy The Kid for NYMT this year. After the last sixteen months of uncertainty and living our lives over Zoom, it’s so incredibly exciting that we get to have a bunch of talented actors, creatives and our production team in a room together creating a show. All of our cast will have had such a huge disruption to their school/college/university/working life – so I’m really pleased that we’re able to provide three weeks of pure escapism as we delve into the Wild West of Billy The Kid. It’s such a feel-good, heart-warming, barn-storming show – exactly the kind of theatre we need right now. I can’t wait until the sound of the overture soars over the auditorium and transports our audience into another world – and allows our talented players to do the very thing they love, and the very thing they’ve missed so deeply.  James Robert Moore, DIRECTOR Billy The Kid

About Ben Morales Frost and Richard Hough:

Ben Morales Frost Musical Theatre composing projects include Graham Greene’s Our Man In Havana (Watermill) and a new musical version of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Southwark Playhouse, James Seabright Productions), both written with Richard Hough. Other Frost & Hough shows include Billy The Kid (NYMT) and A Christmas Carol (Wellingborough). The Billy The Kid cast album reached #2 in the iTunes Soundtrack charts.

Working with composer Ben Morales Frost, Richard Hough has written book and lyrics for A Christmas Carol (The Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, directed by Luke Sheppard); Billy the Kid for the NYMT (which premiered at the Leicester Curve, directed by Kate Golledge); an adaptation of Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana (opening at The Watermill Theatre in 2022, to be directed by Amy Draper); and a new musical fantasy inspired by Goethe’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (recorded at The Southwark Playhouse and later streamed online, directed by Charlotte Westenra).

“We are delighted to be able to host Henrietta and Billy The Kid at the MCT at Alleyn’s this summer. It’s wonderful to welcome back audiences to enjoy live performances in our facility with this exciting line-up of productions from the National Youth Music Theatre.” Oliver Watkins, Head of Commercial & Community Activities 

A KISS FOR CINDERELLA RESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP

Winning submission for NYMT’s 2020 New Musical Workshop

Music by Jack Trzcinski | Book and lyrics by Annabel Mutale Reed

In addition to the three central pieces of work, and continuing NYMT’s series of workshops of new musicals in development, A Kiss for Cinderella is a fully-cast workshop and will form part of NYMT’s summer residential programme. 

The work is an adaptation of J. M. Barrie’s 1916 play of the same name and follows Jane, a young girl from across the sea, and the refugee children she takes care of – Flo, Blue and Krista – in 1940s London during the Blitz. These girls have each brought their own version of the tale of Cinderella with them and are determined that Jane is the Cinderella the stories all tell about.

TRAILER RELEASED FOR SEAVIEW – GROUND BREAKING DIGITAL TV SERIES FROM ONE OF THE BELGRADE THEATRE’S CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTORS FOR CITY OF CULTURE YEAR, COREY CAMPBELL

TRAILER RELEASED FOR

SEAVIEW

GROUND-BREAKING DIGITAL TV SERIES CREATED USING THEATRICAL TECHNIQUES BY ONE OF THE BELGRADE’S CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTORS, COREY CAMPBELL

RED CARPET PREMIERE AT THE BELGRADE WEDS 10 NOVEMBER 2021

WATCH TRAILER HERE

The Belgrade Theatre is delighted to release the first trailer for SEAVIEW, a new digital television series created, produced, and filmed in the West Midlands by Strictly Arts Theatre and Belgrade Film and Digital as part of the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 programme.

SEAVIEW, from an original idea by Corey Campbell, one of the Belgrade’s Co-Artistic Directors for 2021, created using theatrical devising techniques (and conceived before Covid-19 took the world of theatre online), will have its red carpet premiere screening in the Theatre’s Main Stage on Weds 10 Nov 2021, and then screened between 11 – 13 Nov in the B2 auditorium.

SEAVIEW is a family drama with an unsettling supernatural element that is rooted in the experiences of working class communities in the West Midlands. Two sides of one family struggle against the crushing pressure to escape the often brutal reality of their lives.

Steven is a young graduate destined for great things. Tormented by his gift for prophecy and haunted by his dreams, he fights to break the cycle of lies, crime and violence that has ensnared his family, but finds himself in an impossible position.

When one seismic event throws the family’s world into chaos, big decisions need to be made.

SEAVIEW celebrates a Black working class aspirational family and all the things they come up against on their journey to achieve great things.

SEAVIEW was developed using a unique Writers Room project which involved local emerging writers from the West Midlands. Each writer has written an episode alongside creator Corey Campbell, Head Writer Sophie Ellerby, and Development Producer Sofia Stephanou. Annabel Brightling, Rory Rawson and Sophia Griffin have written the first three episodes, with future episodes coming from David Payne, Daniel Anderson and Sam Kurd.

Many of the production team, cast, and crew are from the Midlands, with the aim being to help develop a thriving creative industry within this community. The process involved training the next generation of filmmakers and giving them valuable experience on set.

Corey Campbell said, “SeaView is a pioneering collaboration between the worlds of theatre and film, applying theatrical devising techniques to create a truly unique television drama. Both in the story we are telling and the way that we are working, SeaView will be unlike anything you’ve seen before.

“By bringing together some of the West Midlands’ most exciting creative talent, both on and off-screen, we’re aiming to tell a story about the region’s working-class communities that feels honest and authentic, albeit with a supernatural twist. It’s also a chance to build up a local creative network that I hope will continue to flourish long after this project has drawn to a close. Throughout the process, we have created opportunities for up and coming artists and filmmakers to join us on this journey and hone their craft, creating a lasting legacy for the project.”

The first three episodes of this six-part series have already been filmed.

The Director and Creator of the series, Corey Campbell, grew up in Birmingham and has based the story on his experiences and real life events. After a troubled start in life, Corey is now Co-Artistic Director at the Belgrade Theatre and is an Honorary Member of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for services to the arts.

The series has been co-produced by a powerhouse team of Midlands-based theatre and film companies, including Belgrade Film and Digital Ltd (an independent film production company set up by the Belgrade Theatre Trust), together with Strictly Arts Theatre Company, Run Home Productions and Audio Bassment. It is also part of the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 programme.

Rehearsal Images for WHEN DARKNESS FALLS

Rehearsal images for the spine-chilling ghost story, WHEN DARKNESS FALLS, opening at the Park Theatre, London from 18 August playing through to 4 September, before going on tour.

Starring Will Barton as John Blondel and Alex Phelps as The Speaker.

On the small island of Guernsey, local history teacher, John Blondel, runs the Island’s only Historical Society. Tonight, as part of the Society’s weekly vlog, a young writer who has been researching the island’s mysterious and often frightening folklore, has been invited to give a talk. As his seemingly innocent stories unfold – many of which are based on true events – it isn’t long before they reveal dark pasts, disturbing truths and unforgettable terrors.

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is written by James Milton and Paul Morrissey. The production is directed by Paul Morrissey, with illusions by John Bulleid, and designed by Justin Williams, with lighting by Bethany Gupwell and sound by Daniel Higgott.

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is produced at Park Theatre by Paul Morrissey Limited, Chris Wheeler and Molly Morris, in association with Glynis Henderson Productions, Jason Haigh-Ellery, Dawn Smalberg and Bev Ragovoy and Park Theatre.

New play The Duration commemorates the 20th anniversary of 9/11 | Omnibus Theatre | 7th-26th September 2021

New play The Duration commemorates 20th
anniversary of 9/11
Omnibus Theatre, 1 Clapham Common North Side, London SW4 0QW
Tuesday 7th September – Sunday 26th September 2021

“When I leave here today I drive to the middle of the woods where my mother – a very bright, very logical woman – is hiding because she’s angry and that is why she’s…not making any sense.”

20 years ago, 9/11 changed the world. Globally, it precipitated bloody wars and conflict that endure today – events that have shaped our lives and the world we live in. The world premiere of The Duration by Bruce Graham commemorates the 20th anniversary of this devastating attack and explores its legacy, examining the corrosive and divisive impact that hate can have on society.

For the United States, the collective grief generated by 9/11 had a profound impact on the nation’s psyche. The Duration follows the story of a mother and daughter, both liberal American academics, who experienced a huge loss. It considers different responses to grief, in particular how this mother is radically changed by her bereavement – she buys a gun and heads for the hills.

Bruce Graham surveys the impact of 9/11 on families alongside the premise that America may not have come to terms with its collective grief, resulting in an unresolved anger that helped ferment extremist politics in the US. The Duration demonstrates the fall out – for individuals and a nation – when that anger festers while also offering a hopeful way forward.

“Graham’s characters are rounded and real, his treatment delicate and nuanced, funny and insightful,” says director, Jelena Budimir. “At All Ignite Theatre, we choose plays that highlight the complexity of the world we live in. The Duration will be a great opportunity to debate how 9/11 changed the world, and encourage discussion about how we can survive extreme events without letting them define us. I think the play’s message of hope will promote conversations about healing and survival.”

“Politically charged and exhilarating…” (The Stage).
On All Ignite Theatre’s production of Bruce Graham’s White Guy on the Bus…

The Comedy of Errors Review

Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre – until 26 September 2021

Reviewed by Megan Raynor

4****

A father sentenced to execution, two sets of identical twins unaware of their mere metre proximity and a heavily pregnant wife trying to tie down one husband but grappling with two – what could possibly go wrong? A play of mistaken identity, madness, and a whole barrel of chaos. The Royal Shakespeare Company have opened their summer season with a gut-punchingly bold adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s lesser known and lesser appreciated plays; The Comedy of Errors.

Antipholus of Syracuse (Guy Lewis) and his right-hand man Dromio of Syracuse (Jonathan Broadbent) are on a quest to be reunited with their twin brothers, unbeknown to them Antipholus’ father Aegeon (Antony Bunsee) has set forth on the same mission despite the grave danger of illegal entry to Ephesus. It isn’t long before Antipholus finds himself with more than he bargained for – power, jewels, a pregnant wife and a nauseating sense of confusion. His brother (Rowan Polonski), in turn finding himself without these, enters an equal state of despair.

Like the play intended, Phillip Breen’s direction did not take itself too seriously. It was two hours crammed with fun, farse and a buzz of energy. There was a refreshing lack of control, particularly within the heightened moments of mayhem – wherever the eye was drawn there was something magically mischievous unfolding. Max Jones’ 80s design and costuming was a visual feast, plus any scene in lycra and sweat bands is already ten times more hilarious. A particularly wonderful moment was Alfred Clay’s Dr Pinch warding off Antipholus’ all-encompassing madness while in gold lyrca yoga gear. Particular mention also has to be made to Hedydd Dylan’s powerhouse Adrianna. A force to be reckoned with, bringing hilarity with beautifully woven vulnerability – just a joy to watch at every moment.

The production has been adapted for the RSC’s newly crafted outdoor theatre space, The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre. A 500 capacity, ampitheatre-esque space set to the backdrop of the pre-existing theatre space creating a beautifully atmospheric venue to be immersed back into live theatre in the safest way possible. For the play’s conclusion to coincide with the falling of dusk made for a wonderful resolve to the evening (but make sure to wrap up warm, blankets will not go a miss).

Theatre is at its essence about play and that was at the heart of this production. A wonderfully weird welcome back to the RSC and the perfect escape from the year that preceded us.

The Comedy of Errors is running in Stratford until the 26th of September where after it will continue its run to The Theatre Royal Nottingham, The Marlowe Canterbury, Alhambra Theatre Bradford and Barbican Theatre London.

Roustabout announces the Autumn 2021 tour of its new family show “This Island’s Mine” exploring themes of colonialism, identity and place

Roustabout announces the Autumn 2021 tour of its new family show 

 This Island’s Mine 

 exploring themes of colonialism, identity and place 

In early 2020, the Bristol-based theatre company Roustabout (creators of Luna and One Small Step) worked with 195 primary and secondary students to develop its new show, This Island’s Mine, exploring themes of colonialism, identity and place. The making of the play is informed directly by the thoughts and opinions of those students. It is written and directed by Toby Hulse, who has twice won the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance of Theatre and Education. Set in the magical and comic world of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this vital new play encourages young people to explore complex and sensitive issues of colonisation, immigration and national identity: Where do I belong? Where is my home? Is it truly mine? 

The premiere production will tour in Autumn 2021 to 25 primary and secondary schools in the South West as well as to the following arts venues: Watermans, London (19 Sept), The Poly, Falmouth (25 Sept), Burton Taylor Studio, Oxford Playhouse (2-3 Oct), the egg, Bath (9 Oct), Theatr Clwyd, Mold (16 Oct), Bridport Arts Centre (23 Oct), Exeter Phoenix (24 Oct), The Pound, Corsham (27 Oct), Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol (28-31 Oct), Blackwood Miners Institute (6 Nov) and Valley Arts, Chew Valley (7 Nov). 

Blending Brechtian and Forum Theatre techniques that encourage the audience to think, question and challenge, This Island’s Mine focuses on a debate between three inhabitants of an island – one of the first peoples (Ariel), a second generation religious refugee (Caliban) and a Western coloniser (Stephano) – who all believe the island is theirs. 

Ariel was always here. Caliban was born here. And Stephano has just arrived. They all claim ‘this island’s mine’. But do any of them have that right? And what happens if they can’t agree?  

Filled with magic, music and mayhem, Roustabout presents a playful and daring exploration of the place we choose to call home, for children and their families. At a time when young people are questioning closely their own experiences, identities and education, the play’s themes are more pressing than ever.  

The production will be supported by an online educational resource, created with experts, academics, creatives and young people, designed to challenge, provoke and stimulate debate around these difficult but essential questions. 

The cast of This Island’s Mine is Robin Hemmings (Oi Frog & Friends! (Pins and Needles); One Small Step (Oxford Playhouse); War Game (Bristol Old Vic)) as Caliban, Kesty Morrison (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (RSC); Hamlet (The Globe); The Price (The Young Vic)) as Ariel and Eleanor Pead (Why Would You (The Barbican); Too Late (Market Theatre Hitchin)) as Stephano. 

The Creative Team is Writer and Director Toby Hulse, Associate Director Oliver de Rohan, Designer Maria Terry, Composer Tarek Merchant, Lighting Designer Jeremy Costello, Sound Designer Oliver Wareham, Set Builder Jonathan Attwood and Prop Maker Tish Mantripp. 

This Island’s Mine was developed with support from Arts Council of England and Tobacco Factory Theatres, in partnership with the Cathedral Schools Trust, One Bristol Curriculum and University of Bristol. 

Roustabout is a Bristol-based family theatre company who have produced six highly acclaimed productions since forming in 2018, including the OFFIE nominated digital production of Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish. Writer/director Toby Hulse has worked with Bristol Old Vic, The Old Rep, Pickled Image, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Travelling Light, the egg and the Unicorn Theatre. Toby is an expert when it comes to making work for young audiences, as seen in his productions of The Lost World and War Game (Bristol Old Vic), his adaptation of Around the World in Eighty Days (Bristol Old Vic), and his international touring production of One Small Step (Oxford Playhouse), which starred Roustabout’s Robin Hemmings. Robin Hemmings has also appeared in both The Lost Worldand War Game (both at Bristol Old Vic), as well as the wonderful Medusa, all by Olivier award-winning Adam Peck and the Olivier nominated Oi Frog & Friends! by Pins and Needles Productions.  

For more information about This Island’s Mine, which is suitable for everyone aged 7+, visit https://www.roustabouttheatre.co.uk.  

LISTINGS 

Title:                This Island’s Mine 

Company:        Roustabout Theatre       

Running time:  1 hour 

Age suitability:  Targeted at KS2 – KS4 year groups, the play is suitable for everyone aged 7+.  

2021 Tour Dates: 

19 September  Watermans, London https://www.watermans.org.uk020 8232 1010 

25 September  The Poly, Falmouth https://thepoly.org  01326 319461  

2-3 October      Burton Taylor Studio, Oxford Playhouse 01865 305305 

https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/about-us/burton-taylor-studio/

9 October         the egg, Bath https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/your-visit/the-egg/ 01225 448844 

16 October       Theatr Clwyd, Mold https://www.theatrclwyd.com 01352 344101 

23 October       Bridport Arts Centre https://www.bridport-arts.com 01308 427183 

24 October       Exeter Phoenix https://exeterphoenix.org.uk 01392 667080 

27 October       The Pound, Corsham https://poundarts.org.uk  01249 701628  

28-31 Oct         Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol https://tobaccofactorytheatres.com/  0117 902 0344 

6 November     Blackwood Miners Institute https://blackwoodminersinstitute.com 01495 227206 

7 November     Valley Arts, Chew Valley https://www.valleyartscentre.co.uk [email protected] 

Ore Oduba to star in Rocky Horror at The Alexandra

ORE ODUBA TO STAR AS BRAD MAJORS IN THE LEGENDARY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, IN BIRMINGHAM

Actor, presenter and winner of Strictly Come Dancing Ore Oduba (Curtains / Grease) will star as Brad Majors in Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show, playing in Birmingham from Mon 27 Sep – Sat 2 Oct.

Ore Oduba said: “Rocky really is the perfect show to welcome audiences back to theatres. It’s such an iconic musical with songs that everyone knows, so I’m sure the Rocky fans will be desperate to do the Time Warp again! I’m so excited to tour the country with our production… just got to remember to pack my stockings!!”

Joining Ore and returning to the cast of the Rocky Horror Show as Frank is Stephen Webb (Jersey Boys / Legally Blonde), alongside Philip Franks (The Darling Buds of May) as The Narrator. They will be joined by fan favourite Haley Flaherty (Mamma Mia / Chicago) as Janet.

Kristian Lavercombe (Jersey Boys / Jesus Christ Superstar) will once again reprise his role as Riff Raff, following more than 1350 performances around the world, with Lauren Ingram (Beauty and the Beast / My Fair Lady) as Columbia. Callum Evans (Grease / Miss Saigon) will be take on the role of Rocky, with Joe Allen (Little Shop of Horrors / Charlie & The Chocolate Factory) as Eddie & Dr Scott.

Joining the cast as Phantoms are Reece Budin (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical / Man of La Mancha), Jordan Fox (Kinky Boots / Hairspray) and Rachel Grundy (Starlight Express / Peter Pan), with Danny Knott (Saturday Night Fever / A Midsummer Nights’ Dream) as Male Swing.

Since it first opened in London in June 1973 at the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite Rock ‘N’ Roll musical, having been performed worldwide for over 45 years in more than 30 countries and translated into 20 languages.

Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all of the famous musical numbers which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for over four decades, including “Sweet Transvestite”, “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp” – this is perfect show to help people forget the doom and gloom of recent months.

The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank’n’Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor. It’s an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits. The Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music while encouraging audience participation – meaning, of course, getting dressed-up in the most outrageous fancy dress.

The Rocky Horror Show first began life in 1973 before an audience of just 63 people in the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs. It was an immediate success and transferred to the Chelsea Classic Cinema, before going on to run at the Kings Road Theatre, 1973-79 and the Comedy Theatre in the West End, 1979-80. In 1975 it was transformed into a film called ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’. This film adaptation took over $135 million at the Box Office and is still shown in cinemas around the world more than 40 years after its premiere, making it the longest running theatrical release in cinema history. Many stars including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Jerry Springer, Jason Donovan and Meatloaf have appeared in The Rocky Horror Show over the past 45 years.

In 2015, as part of a sold-out season at London’s Playhouse Theatre, a special star-studded Gala charity performance in aid of Amnesty International was broadcast to over 600 cinemas across the UK and Europe. The live screening – featuring a host of celebrities playing The Narrator including Stephen Fry, Mel Giedroyc, Emma Bunton, Ade Edmondson, Anthony Head and Richard O’Brien – smashed box office records and was the biggest grossing film in cinemas across the UK. The performance was subsequently screened on the Sky Arts channel.

Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, The Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all. But be warned, this show has rude parts!

What the press have said about The Rocky Horror Show:

“Panto for grown-ups – colourful, in your face, relentlessly energetic and high on audience participation” – The Times

“Hard to think of another musical quite as unique as this. Christopher Luscombe’s affectionate production feels like a genuine blast from the past” – Mail on Sunday

“As delightfully naughty as ever!” – Daily Telegraph

“So fast, so funny, so sexy” – Daily Mail

“Still the sexiest and funniest show in town” – Evening Standard

Jewish-Lebanese, Brazilian and gay – Victor Esses tours powerful play Where to Belong

(c) Alex Brenner ([email protected])

Highly acclaimed production
Where to Belong embarks on UK tour
Touring from September 2021
Presented by Victor Esses and CASA (in partnership with Counterpoint Arts)
What makes a home for you?

Where to Belong is the tender, moving autobiographical story of artist and performer Victor Esses’ journey to find home. Esses is Jewish-Lebanese, Brazilian, and gay; this is an exploration of how to find your place in a rich and complex world of identities. What actually is home? Is it the four walls that surround us, is it the person we spend time with or is it a feeling and sense of place? If we had to leave where we live today, where would we go and what would we take?

In 1975, Victor’s mother fled Lebanon as a refugee of the Civil War and, in 2017, Esses visited Lebanon for the first time. In 2018, amidst the elections that saw Brazil choose a far-right president, he travelled from London to São Paulo to show his partner the city of his childhood. This very personal story sees Esses visit Lebanon for the first time, video calling his mother now in Brazil from the Lebanese flat she was forced to abruptly leave.

Esses’ method of storytelling is subtle, touching and also deeply moving. With his complex heritage and identity many of his family won’t accept him for who he is; Where to Belong is not just about finding oneself but also about seeking acceptance from those who surround you. Using a mixture of video projection, photographs, music and songs to suggest what home means to him, Esses explores the universal themes of identity, togetherness, compassion and empathy in this remarkable production.

Victor Esses has performed at venues including Arcola Theatre, Southwark Playhouse and Whitechapel Gallery. During the pandemic, he has worked on digital project Unfamiliar at Home with his partner and fellow artist Yorgos Petrou. This online tour was based on Unfamiliar which was nominated for the 2019 Lukas Awards.

Victor Esses comments, The trip to my parents’ homeland of Lebanon was an intense and emotional experience that really highlighted the particularities of my different identities, and how they impact the way in which I relate to the world. Given the increasingly alarming homophobic attacks happening all over the world, it feels particularly important for me to give voice to this and connect with audiences over our fundamental similarities. After such an isolated time, it also feels very pressing to present a piece which is all about connection and understanding.

Something that will stay with you (★★★★ BritishTheatre.com).

Esses’ achievement is how he makes what might at first seem a remote or unfamiliar experience immediately accessible. (★★★★ A Younger Theatre).

THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH ANNOUNCE FULL CAST FOR THE BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION OF NHS THE MUSICAL

THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH ANNOUNCE

FULL CAST FOR THE BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION OF NHS THE MUSICAL

Theatre Royal Plymouth today announce the full cast for the brand-new production of NHS The Musical by Nick Stimson and Jimmy JewellStephen Fletcher directs Sabrina Aloueche (Politician), Jordan Castle (Porter), Peter Caulfield (Doctor), Alice Frankham (Jillian), Jimmy Johnston (Arthur), Justina Kehinde (Consultant) and Neil Stewart (Robert). NHS The Musical runs 17 – 25 September in The Lyric at Theatre Royal Plymouth, with discounted tickets available across the run for NHS staff.

Informed by first-hand accounts from NHS staff, NHS The Musical gets under its skin, and celebrates the people who make its heart beat. Sharper than a scalpel, this fast-paced comedy show takes you from the surgical theatre to musical theatre, pumping with songs, satire, sass – and gas and air. But beware! This beloved institution may be the perfect tonic, but it can also be the bitterest pill. The UK’s largest employer and government’s biggest spender has its own ailments, that just never seem to be cured.

With a combined company of 7 cast and 7 band members live on stage, NHS The Musical will be a rousing celebration of the people who have cared for us and our families for more than 70 years.

Adrian Vinken, CEO of Theatre Royal Plymouth and Executive Producer of NHS The Musical, said today, “We feel so lucky to have secured such a talented ensemble cast for NHS The Musical. Even in the auditions, they brought the show’s comedy and satire to life and reminded me just how fabulous the music and songs are. I can’t wait to see how they develop the show with Stephen over the coming weeks as we build to the premiere in September.”

NHS The Musical is made possible thanks to a grant from the Weston Culture Fund.

Nick Stimson is a freelance playwright and theatre director and Associate of Theatre Royal Plymouth. His theatre credits as a writer and director include A Winter’s Tale (Rose Theatre/UK tour – Offie Award for Best Off West End Musical), Sailors and Sweethearts (Theatre Royal Plymouth/The Venue), Korczak (Theatre Royal Plymouth/Rose Theatre Kingston/International tour) and The Day We Played Brazil (Exeter Northcott Theatre). His writing credits include Hello Mister Capello (Watford Palace Theatre), Promised Land (Red Ladder Theatre/The Carriage Works), Who Ate All The Pies? (Tristan Bates Theatre) and This Land (Theatre Royal Plymouth).

Jimmy Jewell is a composer and songwriter. His credits as composer include The Amazing Tour is Not On Fire (UK tour/international tour), The Tempest (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Peter Pan (UK tour), Walk With The Angels (Institute of Contemporary Arts/Soho Theatre), Frankenstein (Cochrane Theatre), Who Ate All The Pies? (Theatre Royal Plymouth, Tristan Bates Theatre),and Solitary Confinement (King’s Head Theatre); and as a conductor, Evita (European tour), The Prince and the PauperStrike Up The Band!Jesus Christ Super Star (US tour), All You Need is Love! (Queen’s Theatre) and Fiddler on the Roof (Exeter Northcott Theatre).

Sabrina Aloueche plays Politician. Her theatre credits include Brooklyn The Musical (Greenwich Theatre), Starlight Express (The Other Palace), Chess (London Coliseum), Great American Trailer Park Musical (Waterloo East Theatre), Rent (The Cockpit), Sleeping Arrangements (Landor Theatre), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre) and Les Misérables (Palace Theatre/Queen’s Theatre).

Jordan Castle plays Porter. His credits include St. Anne Comes Home (The Actors’ Church, Covent Garden), The Pirate Queen (London Coliseum), The Light in the Piazza (Royal Festival Hall London/LA Opera/Chicago Lyric Opera), and Cats and 21 Chump Street (international tours).

Peter Caulfield plays Doctor. His previous theatre credits include Last Easter (Orange Tree Theatre), A Christmas Carol, Aladdin (The Old Vic), Edgar Allen Poe and the Haunted Palace (Adelaide Festival/Bergen International Festival), Sketch You Up! (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Jerusalem (Watermill Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), The Tempest (Southwark Playhouse), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith), One Man, Two Guvnors (National Theatre/UK tour/Theatre Royal Haymarket), Nicked (HighTide Festival), Enron (Chichester Festival Theatre/Royal Court Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre), The Merchant of Venice, The Wind in the Willows (Derby Theatre), Erics (Liverpool Everyman), White Liars (Etcetera Theatre), The Man of Mode (National Theatre), The Wild Duck (Donmar Warehouse) and Larkrise to Candleford (Finborough Theatre).His television credits include The Mystery of DB Cooper, Absentia, ModusBanana and Cucumber; and forfilm, Strangeways Here We Come and After the End.

Alice Frankham plays Jillian. Her theatre credits include One Man, Two Guvnors (Derby Theatre/The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch), Miss Julie (UK tour), Jesus Hopped The A Train (HOME), Sleeping Beauty (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Marriage Blanc (Asylum Chapel, London), Days of Wine and Roses (53Two, Manchester), Strindberg’s Women (Jermyn Street Theatre), Wuthering Heights The Musical (The Actors’ Church, Covent Garden), Jurassic Lark – The Musical (Leicester Square Theatre), The Pint (Waterloo East Theatre), Jack and the Beanstalk (Buxton Opera House), Fred and Georgie (Greenwich Theatre), NewsRevue (Canal Cafe Theatre), The Rivals (Panache Theatre), Vanessa and Virginia (Riverside Studios) and Pretty Ugly (Rose Theatre Kingston). Her television credits include Genius and The Royals; and for film, Borderline and Love Me Do.

Jimmy Johnston plays Arthur. His theatre credits include Dreamboats and Petticoats (Playhouse Theatre/UK tour), Little Shop of Horrors (Aberystwyth Arts Centre), Soul Man (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Oklahoma! (National Theatre/Lyceum Theatre – nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical), The Pirates of Penzance (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical), Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Sherlock Holmes: The Musical (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Cats (New London Theatre), King (Prince Edward Theatre), Barnum (Victoria Palace Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Bristol Old Vic), Doctor Dolittle (UK tour) and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Theatre Royal York). His television credits include Atlantis and Heathcliff; and for film, Beauty and the Beast and Robot Overlords.

Justina Kehinde plays Consultant. Her theatre credits include Hot in Here (Camden People’s Theatre), This Little Earth, Passengers (Adelaide Fringe Festival/Vault Festival) and Around the World in 80s Days (Grand Theatre, Blackpool).

Neil Stewart plays Robert. His theatre credits include Mrs Henderson Presents (Theatre Royal Bath/Noël Coward Theatre), Oresteia (Trafalgar Studios), Jersey Boys (international tour), Spring Awakening (Hope Mill Theatre), The Queen’s Nose (The Other Palace), My Fair Lady (European tour), Chess, Love Story (Union Theatre), Oh, What A Lovely War (UK tour) and The Wind in the Willows (Theatr Clwyd); and for film, U Want Me 2 Kill Him?Pokemon the Movie 2000 and The Fountain of Death.

Stephen Fletcher directs and is an Associate Director of the Liverpool Playhouse and Everyman Theatres. His credits include A Life in the Theatre (The Actor’s Studio, Liverpool – also writer) and Mam! I’m ‘ere! (Royal Court Liverpool – also writer). He is Director and Producer of Life in Theatre Productions, producing, The Sunshine Boys and The Last 5 Years. As an actor his credits include The Perfect Murder (UK tour), Special Measures, Noises Off! (Royal Court Liverpool), A Streetcar Named Desire (Liverpool Playhouse), Dead Heavy Fantastic (Liverpool Everyman) and Mary Stuart (Donmar Warehouse/Apollo Theatre).

NHS THE MUSICAL

LISTINGS

Theatre Royal Plymouth – The Lyric Theatre

Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR

17 – 25 September 2021

Box Office

www.theatreroyal.com / 01752 267222

Tickets

General: From £18

NHS discount: £15 (Bands A, B and C)