Regal Entertainments Become New Owners Of St Helens Theatre Royal

REGAL ENTERTAINMENTS

ANNOUNCED AS NEW OWNERS

OF ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL 

WORK WITH CHARITABLE TRUST WILL CONTINUE

The new owner of St Helens Theatre Royal has been announced as Regal Entertainments Ltd. 

Regal Entertainments has managed the day-to-day running of the Corporation Street venue for 22 years, but has now taken over ownership from the Theatre Royal Charitable Trust for an undisclosed fee. The structure will remain the same. 

The exciting announcement comes ahead of tomorrow’s World Theatre Day (Saturday 27 March 2021). 

Regal Entertainments is led by theatrical powerhouse mother and daughter duo, Creative Director Jane Joseph and Director and Theatre General Manager Chantelle Nolan. They took over tenancy of the popular St Helens playhouse in 1999, working in partnership with the Theatre Royal Charitable Trust which had owned the venue freehold since 1986 until the sale. 

For more than two decades, Jane and Chantelle have strengthened and continued to build the theatre’s professional reputation and standing within the industry, going on to attract household names and national touring shows each season. They also produce all the venue’s in-house productions, which includes three seasonal pantos directed by Chantelle and a stage play each year. 

The theatre purchase now means that Regal Entertainments is now entirely responsible for the building, interior and exterior. The Theatre Royal Charitable Trust will remain active and continue to fundraise for the building and develop arts in the community. 

St Helens Theatre Royal was designed by celebrated theatre architect Frank Matcham and opened its doors in 1901, replacing the Theatre Royal and Opera House which had stood on the same site until it was destroyed by fire in 1899. In 1964, the current theatre was gutted and extensively remodelled and modernised, with the addition of a glass façade. 

Like all theatres nationwide, St Helens Theatre Royal has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. 

As part of the venue’s response to the pandemic, Regal Entertainments launched a new theatre annual membership scheme in July 2020. By becoming a member of the St Helens Royal Family, patrons can enjoy an exclusive range of customer benefits. This has provided a new and much-needed income stream during the lockdown. 

As a result of the three national lockdowns, Regal Entertainments has also taken a number of its popular pantomimes online to ensure families don’t miss out and can enjoy the shows from the safety of their own homes.  

Creative Director Jane Joseph commented: “St Helens Theatre Royal is a very special place for the Regal Entertainments team, myself, Chantelle, and our families. It’s a hub of colour, singing, laughter and life, and it holds a very dear place in our hearts. We’ve successfully steered the theatre on a path of adventure and rediscovery for the past 22 years and we’re extremely excited for this new chapter. We’d like to thank the Theatre Royal Charitable Trust and Friends of the Theatre for their ongoing support and look forward to everything we can achieve together in the future.” 

Director and Theatre General Manager Chantelle Nolan added: “We are delighted to become the new owners of St Helens Theatre Royal. During our time managing the theatre we have always reinvested any profits back into the venue, and this will remain the case. The pandemic has proved extremely challenging, but we’ve still managed to find positives by launching our new Theatre Royal Family annual membership scheme and streaming our much-loved pantomimes online, this has been extremely important in keeping the St Helens Theatre Royal name and magical memories created at the forefront of people’s minds when it comes to returning to live theatre.” 

Nick Wilding, Chair of the Theatre Royal Charitable Trust, continued: Regal Entertainments has efficiently run the theatre for more than 20 years. Jane and Chantelle understand what audiences want and provide an excellent programme of entertainment so we’re delighted with the news. We’re also keen to reassure everybody that the charity will continue, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to focus on fulfilling some of our other charitable aims and objectives. The Trust is confident that the wonderful Victorian St Helens Theatre Royal, a Frank Matcham theatre and ‘a precious old lady in the town’, is very much in safe hands.” 

Enid Pennington, Chair of the Friends of the Theatre Royal, added: “We send our very best wishes to Jane, Chantelle and the team on their new venture. We are looking forward to supporting them in their continued efforts to make St Helens Theatre Royal a welcoming place of entertainment.” 

In October, St Helens Theatre Royal was successful in its bid for funds from the Government’s Covid-19 Culture Recovery Fund, administered by Arts Council England. The funding will support the venue in adapting to provide socially distanced performances and improving facilities at the venue. 

Follow St Helens Theatre Royal on social media channels: 

Facebookwww.facebook.com/St-Helens-Theatre-Royal 

Twitter: @TheatreRoyalStH 

Instagram: @TheatreRoyalStH 

RAFE SPALL TO PLAY ATTICUS FINCH IN TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – PREVIEWS BEGIN 10 MARCH 2022 AT THE GIELGUD THEATRE

RAFE SPALL TO PLAY ATTICUS FINCH

IN

HARPER LEE’S
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
A NEW PLAY BY AARON SORKIN

DIRECTED BY BARTLETT SHER

TO OPEN AT THE GIELGUD THEATRE ON 31 MARCH 2022

PREVIEWS BEGIN 10 MARCH 2022

Public booking reopens on 6 April 2021

Scott RudinBarry Diller and Sonia Friedman announce today that multi-Olivier and Emmy Award nominee Rafe Spall will play Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. 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.

To Kill a Mockingbird premiered on 13 December 2018, at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre.  It is the most successful American play on Broadway; amassing a total gross of more than $125m to date and breaking the theatre’s box office record on ten occasions. On 26 February 2020, the Broadway cast gave a history-making free performance at Madison Square Garden in front of 18,000 New York City school children; this became the largest single performance of a theatrical work ever. To date, the Broadway production has provided over 10,000 free and low cost tickets to students.

For the London run, there will be a comprehensive education and outreach programme, seeking to engage with schools and communities who might otherwise be unable to access live theatre, and to raise awareness of the job opportunities within the theatre industry. In addition, there will be over 500 tickets available for each week of the run between £5 and £10. Full details and initiatives to be announced later this year. 

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), Constellations (Royal Court Theatre and West End – Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor), and John Gabriel Borkman (Donmar Warehouse). His television credits include TryingThe Salisbury PoisoningsThe 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 Long Story Short.

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. 

To Kill a Mockingbird will preview at London’s Gielgud Theatre from 10 March 2022 with an Opening Night on 31 March 2022Tickets go on general sale from 10.00am on 6 April 2021.

For latest news and priority booking access sign up at www.tokillamockingbird.co.uk.  

Curtain-Up! Hull New Theatre Is Back And Open For Business

Curtain-Up! Hull New Theatre Is Back And Open For Business

The dates are set, the artists booked, and now as we prepare to celebrate World Theatre Day, Hull New Theatre is delighted to reveal the first shows to feature in The Prologue Series: A Covid Safe Season as world-class entertainment returns to the stage.

This exciting announcement comes in the week the UK marked the first anniversary of entering national lockdown and sees a special selection of productions featuring the very best of live theatre and comedy make a welcome return to the stage.

These will be produced in-line with the latest Government advice to ensure the venue is Covid-safe for our valued patrons, visiting touring companies, performers and staff.

The season opens with John Godber’s comedy drama April in Paris starring former king of the jungle Joe Pasquale and musical theatre leading lady Sarah Earnshaw. The pair will stroll down the venue’s very own Champs Elysee sampling culture, champagne and croissants from 20 -22 May, 2021.

The Prologue series will also feature two award-winning musicals as well as a night of comedy as Priscilla Queen of the Desert brings glitz and glamour from the outback from 12 -17 July and SIX celebrates girl power to the Tudor court of Henry VIII from 21 – 25 July. Legendary LOL Comedy Club returns with another line-up of top class comedians ready to provide the gags and giggles on 18 June.

Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, Chair of Hull Culture and Leisure’s Board said “I am thrilled that as our prestigious venues emerge from the pandemic, we are able to provide high quality cultural experiences for all to enjoy.”

Cllr David Craker, Portfolio holder for culture leisure and tourism at Hull City Council, said: “It is wonderful to welcome customers back into our safe and secure Hull New Theatre to experience exciting world class live theatre and comedy after what has been a very challenging year.”

Janice Wincott, Theatres and Halls Manager for Hull Culture and Leisure, said: “This has been a challenging time for all and we are appreciative of the patience and understanding of all our valued customers. We are very much looking forward to welcoming audiences back into our venues and resuming world class performances within a Covid-compliant environment.”

More shows will be announced shortly as The Prologue Series: A COVID Safe Season continues.

Tickets for April in Paris, LOL Comedy Club and Priscilla Queen of the Desert are on sale from Thursday 1 April from 10am. Tickets for SIX are on sale now at www.hulltheatres.co.uk

Lucy Bailey to direct Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None as part of Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton season this autumn

Royal & Derngate and Fiery Angel present

Agatha Christie’s

And Then There Were None

Friday 3 – Saturday 11 September 2021

Derngate auditorium, Royal & Derngate Northampton

You are formally invited to an isolated island for one of the best thrillers of all time

Royal & Derngate Northampton and Fiery Angel are delighted to announce that their co-production of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None will open in the venue’s Derngate auditorium in September, directed by Lucy Bailey and designed by Mike Britton, as part of the 2021 Made in Northampton season. Details of the UK tour will be announced later this spring.

With twists and turns to keep audiences guessing until the very end, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None is the best-selling crime novel of all time with more than 100 million copies sold worldwide.

Ten strangers are lured to a solitary mansion off the coast of Devon. When a terrible storm cuts them off from the mainland, and with their hosts mysteriously absent, the true reason for their presence on the island becomes horribly clear, as secrets from their past come back to haunt each and every one of them.

Having previously directed Gaslight, Love From A Stranger and Ghosts at Royal & Derngate, Lucy Bailey is also behind the long-running production of Agatha Christie’s Witness For The Prosecution at London County Hall. Reuniting the creative team behind the smash-hit Love From A Stranger, she returns to Northampton with UK Theatre Award-winning designer Mike Britton (A Tale Of Two Cities, Royal & Derngate) to direct this spellbinding new production of Christie’s greatest murder mystery.

They will be joined by Lighting Designer Chris Davey (Beyond The Horizon, Royal & Derngate and National Theatre; Dial M For Murder, West Yorkshire Playhouse; Gaslight, Royal & Derngate), with further creative team, and casting, to be announced shortly.

Director Lucy Bailey commented: “Set in 1939, this is Agatha Christie’s most popular novel but also one of her darkest, reflecting the impending sense of doom of a world on the brink of war. Its depiction of a group of strangers stranded in a crisis of their own making feels very in tune with today’s climate emergency.”

Royal & Derngate’s Artistic Director James Dacre added: “Building upon their hugely popular re-imaginations of Gaslight, Ghosts and Love From A Stranger at Royal & Derngate, I can’t wait to see how this creative team bring this iconic story to exhilarating theatrical life.”

And Then There Were None takes to the Derngate stage from Friday 3 to Saturday 11 September 2021. For more information, visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk. Tickets for the Northampton dates go on general sale Monday 29 March (with priority booking for members from Friday 26 March).

Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton season is sponsored locally by Michael Jones Jeweller.

Royal & Derngate has been awarded UK Theatre and SOLT’s See it Safely mark, an accreditation that acknowledges the venue is COVID-secure and will be following the latest government and performing arts guidelines in welcoming audiences.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Agatha Christie’s

And Then There Were None

A Royal & Derngate and Fiery Angel co-production

Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP

Dates: Friday 3 – Saturday 11 September 2021

Times: Evenings 7.30pm (except Wednesday 8 September 7pm)

Matinees – Thursday and Saturdays 2.30pm No performances on Sunday

Tickets: From £13.50*

Box Office: 01604 624811 or online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Preludes by three-time Tony Award nominee Dave Malloy will be live streamed from Southwark Playhouse on 7 and 8 May 2021

Southwark Playhouse announces new live stream show, Dave Malloy’s Preludes – which will be streamed live from The Little on 7 and 8 May 2021

Preludes previously ran in The Large in autumn 2019 to critical acclaim. This production is a concert version featuring the same cast. It’s directed by Alex Sutton and produced by Danielle Tarento. The cast is Rebecca Caine, Norton James, Georgia Louise, Tom Noyes, Keith Ramsay and Steven Serlin

Three-time Tony Award-nominated composer Dave Malloy has written a brand new song, which will receive its world premiere performance in this concert production

Danielle Tarento presents the live stream premiere of

PRELUDES THE CONCERT

A MUSICAL FANTASIA SET IN THE HYPNOTISED MIND OF SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
Music, lyrics, book and orchestrations by Dave Malloy. Directed by Alex Sutton.

Live stream production credits:
Lighting design by Andrew Exeter. Sound design by Andrew Johnson.

Musical direction by Jordan Li-Smith. Live stream operation by Bartek Podkowa.

Original production credits:
Set and costume design by Rebecca Brower. Lighting design by Christopher Nairne.

Sound design by Andrew Johnson. Choreography by Ste Clough. Musical direction by Jordan Li-Smith.


Cast: Rebecca Caine, Norton James, Georgia Louise, Tom Noyes, Keith Ramsay and Steven Serlin.

Dates: Friday 7 May at 7.45pm, Saturday 8 May at 3.15pm and 7.45pm

Preludes is a musical based on the life of legendary composer Sergei Rachmaninoff by three-time Tony Award nominee Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Ghost Quartet, Moby Dick).

Sergei Rachmaninoff has it all; world-wide fame from a single composition by the age of 19, commissioned to write his first symphony at 20 and engaged to the love of his life, Natalya. But at 21 he is crippled with a depressive paranoia and anxiety. His world has imploded, his work has stopped, he cannot even lift a pencil to compose a simple melody. Such is the power of the men who sought to destroy him, who haunt his waking nightmares and poison his dreams. And when those men happen to be the greatest artists of their day, how do you come back, how do you escape the darkness and come into the light?

Based on a true story of Rachmaninoff’s sessions of hypnotherapy, Preludes is an extraordinary new musical by three-time Tony Award-nominee Dave Malloy. It examines the crippling debilitation and harm the world can do to people, and how the dramatic and musical process can be used as therapy to restore them back into the fullest of creative lives.

Using live piano and electronics, Malloy uses a hybrid of his own and Rachmaninoff’s compositions to create a dream-like world that takes us to the darkest recesses of Rachmaninoff’s mind.

Three-time Tony Award-nominated writer Dave Malloy is a composer and writer of some of the most exciting new music theatre works. His best-known piece, Natasha Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, based on War and Peace, started at Ars Nova in New York before transferring to Broadway’s Imperial Theatre where it played to huge critical and audience acclaim and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, the highest number of nominations in the 2017 awards season, including Best Musical.

The 3.15pm performance on Saturday, 8 May will be captioned. Full details on the website link here: https://www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show-whats-on/preludes-in-concert/

Press reviews for Preludes at Southwark Playhouse, autumn 2019:

«««« “Hypnotic and dazzling.” The Stage

«««« “An utterly unique experience.” Time Out

«««« “An experimental formally elusive trance-like experience.” WhatsOnStage

«««« “Extraordinarily and exceptionally powerful.” The Arts Desk

««««« “Superb” British Theatre

««««« “A spectacular assault on the senses that transcends space and time.” Musical Theatre Review

Rebecca Caine plays Dahl. Credits include originating the role of Cosette in Les Misérables, (RSC and West End), Phantom of the Opera (Canada), Flowers for Mrs Harris (Sheffield Crucible) and Harold and Maude (Charing Cross Theatre). Norton James plays Chaliapin. Credits include Choir of Man (Australian tour), Spamalot (Mercury Theatre, Colchester) and Love Story (Union). Georgia Louise plays Natalya. Credits include Mamma Mia (Novello), Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre) and 13: The Musical (Apollo/NYMT). Tom Noyes plays Rachmaninoff. Preludes was Tom’s professional debut. Keith Ramsay plays Rach. Credits include Amour (Charing Cross Theatre), Lost in Yonkers (Watford Palace), Portia Coughlin (Old Red Lion) and Julius Caesar (Shakespeare’s Globe). Steven Serlin plays The Master. Credits include Amour (Charing Cross Theatre), Oklahoma (Grange Park Opera) and The Wild Party (The Other Palace).

Theatre Artists Fund receives a further £500k from Mackintosh Foundation

Theatre Artists Fund receives a further £500k from Mackintosh Foundation following industry-wide campaign on anniversary of theatre shutdown

theatreartists.fund 

Cameron Mackintosh today (25 March 2021) confirmed a further £500,000 in additional support from his Foundation to the Theatre Artists Fund.

Created last July by director Sam Mendes, Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, the Theatre Artists Fund provides emergency financial aid to the freelancers who make up an estimated 70% of the theatre sector, many of whom have received no Government support. 

Cameron Mackintosh said:

‘Though the Government’s exemplary vaccine programme has shown that there is now light at the end of the tunnel, the probability is that it will still be over seven months before the West End has the majority of its major shows back. This latest grant from my Foundation, a year after our industry was closed down, will hopefully help some of our hard-hit freelancers to get through until we can employ them again, provided there are no further shutdowns which would be catastrophic.

‘My theatre and production companies have also during this last year supported hundreds of jobs throughout the closure of our theatres and productions, to ensure that our historic buildings and world-renowned productions are ready to come back, as soon as we have a permanent instruction from the Government to do so.

‘The resilience and spirit of everyone working in the theatre during this gruelling time has been quite inspirational, as has the amazing patience and enthusiastic support of the public who continue to book seats, demonstrating that they can’t wait to come back to live theatre as soon as they can.’

Sam Mendes, director and co-founder of the Theatre Artists Fund, said:

‘We are immensely grateful to the Mackintosh Foundation for this extraordinarily generous contribution. Throughout the process of setting up the Theatre Artists Fund, we have been consistently moved by the feeling that the theatre community is pulling together to support and protect its most vulnerable members, and this is a wonderful example of exactly that.’

Last week’s 16 March anniversary of UK theatre closures saw the whole theatre community, including a host of famous actors and theatre makers, taking to social media to highlight the plight of unemployed freelancers and raise awareness for the Theatre Artists Fund. The campaign triggered a surge of donations from organisations and members of the public, with more to be announced soon.

The latest round of Theatre Artists Fund grant applications is currently open until 30 March. Eligible freelancers in need can apply for an individual grant of £1000 to help pay bills and put food on the table. Full details of eligibility and how to apply are available at theatreartists.fund

Critically acclaimed all-star digital revival Little Wars returns to stream.theatre | 19th April – 16th May 2021

Critically acclaimed all-star digital revival
Little Wars returns to stream.theatre
Available Monday 19th April – Sunday 16th May 2021
Thomas Hopkins & Michael Quinn for Ginger Quiff Media in association with Guy Chapman

Following critical-acclaim, and due to popular demand, the digital revival of Steven Carl
McCasland’s ‘penetrating domestic drama’ (New York Times) Little Wars, will once again return for a limited streaming season. Featuring lauded performances from Linda Bassett and Juliet Stevenson the compelling production brought together an exceptional all-star all-female cast of British stage and screen legends, including Debbie Chazen, Natasha Karp, Catherine Russell, Sarah Solemani and Sophie Thompson.

The production will return to our screens from Monday 19th April to Sunday 16th May. Directed by Hannah Chissick (Flashdance, UK & International tour; Pack of Lies, Menier Chocolate Factory) the rehearsed reading was filmed at the cast’s homes and edited together.

Little Wars unites literary figureheads Gertrude Stein (Bassett), her girlfriend Alice Toklas
(Russell), Dorothy Parker (Chazen), Lillian Hellman (Stevenson) and Agatha Christie (Thompson), with anti-fascist freedom fighter Muriel Gardiner (Solemani), in this deliciously comic and touching drama about the power of coming together for a shared cause. Tensions are high and secrecy lingers in the air, but with libations flowing and the threat of World War II looming the guests are close to boiling point.

Thomas Hopkins and Michael Quinn of Ginger Quiff Media comment, We’re thrilled by the
continually overwhelming response to this production, which showcases the talents of some incredible women. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to bring the project to life during the pandemic, and we’re pleased that more people can experience the all-star offering once again.

One of the best online experiences I have had in this most challenging of years (★★★★★ British Theatre).
Starry cast sparkle as squabbling literary legends (★★★★ The Guardian).
Steven Carl McCasland writes with the aphoristic wit of a young Truman Capote (The Daily Mail).

45NORTH ANNOUNCES FIRST SEED COMMISSION SCHEME ARTISTS FOR 2021

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45NORTH ANNOUNCES FIRST

SEED COMMISSION SCHEME ARTISTS FOR 2021

45North today announces artists for the first of two Seed Commission Schemes in 2021. The first initiative supports trans and gender non-conforming artists, across a variety of disciplines, who are looking to develop an idea for live performance.

The selected artists are Anna ClockChiyo and Gayathiri Kamalakanthan.Each receives a fee of £1000, access to rehearsal or office space for a week and £750 towards collaborator fees. In addition, they will benefit from 15 hours of mentorship and one-to-one support from Tabby Lamb, the scheme’s director, as they develop a partial, or what the scheme refers to as a ‘0.5’, draft of their work across 6-week period in March and April 2021.

Further information on the second initiative, supporting theatre-makers from another underrepresented group, will be announced shortly.

Tabby Lamb, said today, “We were overwhelmed by the vast amount of Trans folk who applied for this commission, and then once again overwhelmed by the talent and skill of each application but after passionate discussion we ended up with 3 of the most exciting artists I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with; a luminary of the cabaret world, a technical wizard and a passionate sex educator. I can’t wait to help them develop their skills and put them on the path towards creating their first full length piece of theatre.”

Anna Clock (they/them) is developing an intimate, binaural audio experience exploring a fraught encounter over a barbershop chair. It’s a conversation between two people, reunited after ten years with new names, and different genders – for the purpose of a haircut. Exploring a power dynamic, and how it is coloured by history, class, age and physical intimacy, within a genderqueer space.

Clock is a composer, sound designer and cellist working across theatre, film, radio and installation. Their theatre credits include Crave (Chichester Festival Theatre), Wild (Unicorn Theatre), Earthquakes in London (Guildhall School of Music and Drama), Not F**ckin’ Sorry,Shuck ‘n’ Jive, Soft Animals (Soho Theatre), I Wanna Be Yours (Paines Plough and Tamasha, UK tour/Bush Theatre), Easy (Blue Elephant Theatre), Groove (Outbox Theatre), Admin, Miss Fortunate (Vault Festival), Anguis (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Summer Fest (Bunker Theatre), Armadillo (Yard Theatre), Fatty Fat Fat (Canada Water Theatre/Camden Roundhouse/Edinburgh Fringe & Tour), The Love of the Nightingale, The Lower Depths (Fourth Monkey Studio Theatre), Fighter (Stratford Circus), Twelfth Night (Southwark Playhouse) and Punk Rock, Pomona (New Diorama).

Chiyo (he/they) is developing a work aimed at exploring the parallels of misogyny through a generation, confronting his own experiences as a mixed-race, gender non-conforming Trans man, and sitting with what discussions come forth in correlation to societies brutal hatred of women.

Chiyois London’s Prinx of Provocation: a performance Artist who blurs the boundaries between Drag, Burlesque, and Sex Work. Chiyo is a model, a mover, and a solid force among the UK’s national cabaret pioneers.

Gayathiri Kamalakanthan (they/she) is developing the story of a Tamil non-binary child, who doesn’t yet have the language to put their queerness into words. Reimagining a period party – a rite of passage into ‘womanhood’ in Tamil culture – where the intersection of Tamil-ness and queerness is celebrated and held, not as a contradiction but as an inheritance. 

Kamalakanthan is a Tamil writer and sex and relationships educator, working with Inclusive Tamil Arts and School of Sexuality Education. Kamalakanthan loves to queer up spaces through making visible the stories of those who have been erased throughout history.

Tabby Lamb is a non-binary writer and performer based in East London and a graduate of the Theatre Directing course at Dartington College of Arts. Similarly inspired by Carly Rae Jepson and Tennessee Williams, she strives to tell stories that explore the intersections between popular culture and politics. Their credits include SINCE U BEEN GONE (Gate theatre/HighTide Festival). Tabby is an associate writer with Middle Child, she’s on attachment at the Oxford Playhouse via their Playhouse Playmaker scheme 2021 and she’s developing new work on the Wild Child’s Oli Lansley mentor scheme, mentored by Sarah Solemani. She has previously been part of the Soho Theatre Writers Lab and the LGBTQ Arts Review #RaisingOurVoices scheme for queer and trans writers and is currently working with BFI Flare x BAFTA Crew. Tabby is also a facilitator, founding and running @TheatreQueers, which offers networking and creative arts projects for people from the LGBTQ+ community.

45North champions, develops, and produces outstanding work with emphasis on centering female-identifying and non-binary artists. Founded in 2019 and led by the very best creative teams from a variety of performing and producing backgrounds, 45North continues to reinvest in emerging artists who are beginning and expanding their practices. 45North commits to maintaining creative teams of no less than 75% female-identifying or non-binary people, working to bring inclusive and exciting new theatre and events to London, Edinburgh, across the UK and internationally. Selected credits include Written on the Waves, a series of 8 world première audio plays, Post-Mortem by Iskandar Sharazuddin (Edinburgh, The Blue Room, and Holden Street Theatre), (un)written (un)heard devised by the company and directed by Jessica Rose McVay (FRINGE WORLD- Winner of the Physical Theatre and Dance Award), and MEAT by Gillian Greer (Theatre503).

www.forty-fivenorth.com

@forty_fivenorth

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE BARN THEATRE’S LIVE ‘ONE-SHOT’ SONG CYCLE NOW OR NEVER

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Barn Theatre | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Website

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE BARN THEATRE’S LIVE ‘ONE-SHOT’ SONG CYCLE NOW OR NEVER

The Barn Theatre have today announced the full casting and creative team for upcoming livestream Now or Never

Now or Never is a British song cycle with an exciting and ambitious digital twist. Now or Never is a song cycle written by associate artist Matthew Harvey, which follows 7 people as they each take a defiant act of positivity in their last week on Earth. 

The inaugural cast of Now or Never includes Eloise Davies (Be More Chill, Grease), Ahmed Hamad (Rent, Stay Awake Jake, The Boy in the Dress), Matthew Harvey (Les Misérables, Violet, Jesus Christ Superstar, Murder Ballad), Irvine Iqbal (The Boy in the Dress, Aladdin, Broken Wings),Lucy St Louis (Man of La Mancha, Motown, Beautiful),Katie Shearman (The Sound of Music UK Tour, Evita) andCourtney Stapleton (Dear Evan Hansen, Six, Les Misérables).

This project is the first collaboration between The Barn Theatre and associate artist Matthew Harvey. Harvey created the song cycle with the intention of writing about individual responses to global adversity without writing specifically about the pandemic. The piece features 7 songs with relatable everyday characters that choose positivity in the face of adversity.

Matthew Harvey created the concept and wrote the song cycle. Freddie Tapner is Musical Supervisor and Ryan Carter is Creative Director, who is responsible for the innovative digital approach. Ben Collins as Director of Photography, supported by Ben Thomas & Alex Tabrizi. Harry Smith as Sound Designer.

The ambitious digital spin presents the work as a non-stop, one-shot, song cycle, with one camera navigating the entire building, featuring 7 characters moving between 7 spaces. The digital concert will be streamed LIVE for one-night only at The Barn Theatre. 

Tickets for the production are currently on sale at £10 and can be purchased via barntheatre.org.uk/barn-at-home

Britain’s Got Talent and RuPaul’s Drag Race stars to make West End debuts

TuckShop and Trafalgar Theatre Productions,

John-Webb Carter & Jamie Chapman Dixon for Carter Dixon Productions

in association with Ameena Hamid Productions, M. Green Productions

& Piers Cottee-Jones Entertainment

present

“Kill for a ticket”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Daily Star Sunday

STARRING

RuPaul’s Drag Race Superstars

WILLAM & LATRICE ROYALE

&

Britain’s Got Talent Semi-finalist

MYRA DUBOIS

GARRICK THEATRE

FROM WEDNESDAY 19 MAY 2021

WRITTEN BY HOLLY STARS

BASED ON AN IDEA BY CHRISTOPHER D. CLEGG DIRECTED BY JESSE JONES

Following rave reviews in December 2020, the fabulous killer comedy and smash hit sold-out sensation Death Drop is sashaying back into London’s West End and will return to the Garrick Theatre on Wednesday 19 May for an eight week run until Sunday 11 July. Tickets are on sale now.

Described by Attitude as a “killer show” and ”rollicking good fun” by The Guardian, this 2021 summer residency (some of which will be socially distanced) will also feature some fabulous new casting: RuPaul’s Drag Race legends Willam and Latrice Royale will star alongside Britain’s Got Talent 2020 semi-finalist Myra Dubois, along with a full drag cast in this hilarious Dragatha Christie murder mystery – this show is like nothing you’ve seen on the West End stage before!

In what will be their West End debuts, Willam will take on the role of 80s pop sensation Shazza, alongside Latrice Royale as Summer Raines, a glamorous American weather girl living in London and Myra Dubois as The Lady.

Willam said: “I’m excited to be in the West End with my breast friend Latrice Royale in Death Drop, a spec-tacular drag musical murder mystery. No spoilers please (I DID IT).”

Latrice Royale continued: “I cannot WAIT to be making my debut on London’s West End in Death Drop! This is just beyond any dream I could have even conceived of when I was a boy in Compton, California. And to get to come out of an entire year in lockdown and step into such a major production is a very welcome change. It gives me hope that the world is going to get back to “normal” and when I can finally get on a stage again, I’m gonna tear it up! I miss connecting with a live audience so much, and getting to do it with my good Judy, Willam, makes it even more special.”

Myra Dubois added: “Rejoice! I, Myra DuBois (off the telly), am making my long-anticipated West End debut! People forget that as well as a globally revered singer, poet, muse, wellness facilitator, energy worker and empath; I’m also an actress. Award-winning, actually. What an honour it is to be able to swoop in and save this little show. I can’t wait to meet my supporting cast.”

LoUis CYfer, Anna Phylactic and Holly Stars – who all performed in the show last year – will return to reprise their co-starring roles.

It’s 1991 and a gaggle of guests gather on Tuck Island for a soirée like no other. The tension rises as the outrageous guests reveal their suspicious and sordid pasts, and one by one they sashay away, until at the last, nerve-shredding, side-splitting moment the surviving guests find out who-dunnit!

This rampant, raucous, ridiculous romp of a murder mystery serves up all the drama, comedy, twists and turns you’ll ever need!

TuckShop is the UK’s only specialist theatre production company devoted all things drag. In 2019 they presented Cinderella starring Baga Chipz, the UK’s first ever all drag pantomime in the West End which sold out its run. They also produce drag events across the country, and are the UK’s largest merchandise retailer for drag performers.

TuckShop Creative Director and Producer Christopher D. Clegg said: “To reopen the West End, not once, but twice with Death Drop is so exciting. In the short run we had in December our audiences were having so many much needed laughs, and we can’t wait to slay you all once more. To bring the history-making first ever Drag play back to the Garrick Theatre once again – for an even longer run – with the some of the best, most talented, and hilarious drag Kings and Queens, is an honour!”

The capacity at the Garrick Theatre has been reduced to comply with COVID-19 Secure guidelines for social distancing with robust risk mitigation in place. In addition to hand sanitation, face coverings and track and trace, other measures will include contactless tickets, temperature testing and the deep clean and sanitation of the theatre.

Listings Information

Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0HH

First Performance: 19 May 2021

Final performance: 11 July 2021

Performances: Wednesday – Friday at 8.00pm, Saturday and Sunday at 4.00pm & 8.00pm

Website: www.deathdropplay.com

Ticket prices: From £15

Twitter: @deathdropplay

Instagram: @deathdropplay

Facebook: Facebook.com/deathdropplay