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THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON

THE DA VINCI CODE –

TO MAKE STAGE PREMIERE IN 2021

Dan Brown’s international best seller to be adapted for the stage

Directed by Luke Sheppard (acclaimed West End musical, & Juliet)

UK Tour begins in Bromley, Saturday 3 April 2021

www.davincicodeonstage.com

The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown’s blockbuster novel that captivated the world, is to become an epic stage thriller. It will make its World Premiere on a UK Tour in 2021, opening at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley on Saturday 3 April 2021, and touring throughout the year.

The curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered, and alongside his body are a series of baffling codes. Follow the pulse-racing journey as Professor Robert Langdon and fellow cryptologist Sophie Neveu attempt to solve the riddles, leading to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and beyond, deep into the vault of history. In a breathless race through the streets of Europe, Langdon and Neveu must decipher the labyrinthine code before a shocking historical secret is lost forever.

Based on the best-selling novel of this century, with over 100 million copies sold, unlock the secrets of The Da Vinci Code in the world premiere stage adaptation of the international phenomenon and uncover the truth in the greatest thriller of the past 2,000 years.

Dan Brown said: “I am thrilled that The Da Vinci Code is being adapted for the stage, and excited to see the unique potential of live theatre enhance this story. The team making the production has been faithful to the book, but will also bring something new for the audience, in what is certain to be a gripping, fast-paced stage thriller and a thoroughly entertaining show.”

The Da Vinci Code is adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff (Flowers For Mrs Harris, Birdsong) and Duncan Abel (The Girl on the Train), and will be directed by Luke Sheppard, who most recently directed the acclaimed new West End musical, & Juliet.

Luke Sheppard said: “Cracking The Da Vinci Code open for the stage reveals an epic thriller steeped in theatrical potential, rich in suspense and surprising at every turn. Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel’s brilliant adaptation leaps off the page and demands us to push the limits of our imagination, creating a production that champions dynamic theatrical storytelling and places the audience up close in the heat of this gripping mystery.”

The Da Vinci Code is produced by Simon Friend (The Girl On The Train, Life Of Pi).

‘An exhilarating, breathless thriller-chase. Blockbuster perfection’

The New York Time

For further information, see www.davincicodeonstage.com

@DaVinciCodeShow

After Oliver Dowden’s roadmap for England’s theatres was published last night, I want to share a statement in response from Jon Morgan, director of The Theatres Trust, a national advisory public body for theatres.

Jon comments:

The Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden’s announcement of a five-step roadmap for reopening of theatres is a move in the right direction, but critically it does not offer any timescales for stages 3 to 5, the stages when audiences will be admitted to performances. Without this detail, theatres will still be unable to plan effectively for their reopening. The impact of this uncertainty is devastating for the theatre industry. Each day there is news of another theatre making large-scale redundancies and, for every day of delay, there is the grave danger of more theatres closing permanently. The government must urgently confirm ‘no earlier than’ dates for stages 3 to 5 and respond to the sector’s calls for a financial rescue package to protect our world class theatre. Without this critical support, we face a cultural catastrophe.

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

SLEEPLESS, A MUSICAL ROMANCE

STARRING JAY McGUINESS & KIMBERLEY WALSH

TO BEGIN A LIMITED SEASON AT TROUBADOUR WEMBLEY PARK THEATRE

ON TUESDAY 25 AUGUST 2020

NATIONAL PRESS NIGHT TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2020

NHS GALA, A NIGHT FOR SLEEPLESS HEROES, TO TAKE PLACE

ON THURSDAY 27 AUGUST 2020

SLEEPLESS, A Musical Romance, based on the original screenplay Sleepless in Seattle, will premiere at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London on Tuesday 1 September 2020, with previews from 25 August. The limited season will run until Sunday 27 September 2020.  Performances will begin pending Government guidance.  Audiences will be socially distanced and the producers and venue will follow COVID-secure guidelines for cast, crew and audiences.

The producers are also going to hold a special NHS Gala, A Night for Sleepless Heroes, for NHS and Care workers on Thursday 27 August. They will be allowed up to four free tickets per application with scanned NHS badge/pass on a first come, first served basis. For more details, see below in Listings.

SLEEPLESS is a new musical with a book by Michael Burdette and music and lyrics by new British writers Robert Scott and Brendan Cull and will feature a 12-piece jazz orchestra.  It was originally due to begin performances on 24 March 2020, prior to the UK Government shutdown of theatres.

SLEEPLESS will star Jay McGuiness as Sam and Kimberley Walsh as Annie.

Michael Rose, producer of SLEEPLESS, on behalf of Encore Theatre Productions, said, “Lockdown has effected and frightened a huge number of people in this country – particularly in our industry. Our story in Sleepless deals with mending something that is broken – it’s about putting a family back together after a loss – and we feel it’s time to do exactly that – it’s time to start the healing process – that’s part of what we do in Theatre.”

SLEEPLESS is the enchanting new romantic musical comedy based on the original story and screenplay of the romcom classic Sleepless In Seattle. SLEEPLESS tells the heart-warming tale of Sam, who moves to Seattle with his ten year-old son, Jonah, following the tragic death of his wife.  When Jonah phones a radio show, Sam is forced to talk about his broken heart and sleepless nights live on air, and he suddenly finds himself one of the most sought after single men in America and a great news story for feisty journalist Annie on the opposite side of the country. Can Jonah bring the two together on the top deck of the Empire State Building?  A fresh and lively book alongside a brand-new musical score bring this most timeless of romantic comedies to life on stage.

Together with Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, the producers of SLEEPLESS will continue to follow the official advice and guidelines given by both the World Health Organisation and from Public Health England.  

Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre said, “Our first priority is and always has been the safety and comfort of our audiences, staff and visiting companies. We are working closely with health and safety experts and strictly following all government guidelines and we look forward to welcoming audiences to the world premiere of Sleepless whenever this is allowed.”

The spacious venue means that there will be no physical contact between the staff and audience at any time and that social distance measures can be strictly obeyed.  Audiences will be temperature checked on entering the building and will be required to wear face masks. All food and beverage orders will be contactless to minimise exposure, hand sanitiser will be available at multiple locations, and all areas of the venue will be thoroughly deep cleaned after each performance.

All cast, crew and audience will be sent the most up-to-date safety measures and instructions 48 hours prior to arrival and the venue will be set-up accordingly to accommodate these measures.

As well as Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre being a new and spacious theatre, there is ample parking available at Wembley Stadium, which costs only £1 if you are a theatre ticket holder. 

SLEEPLESS will be directed by Morgan Young (White Christmas, Elf, Big), with set design by Morgan Large, costume design by Sue Simmerling, lighting by Ken Billington, video design by Ian William Galloway, sound design by Simon Biddulph, orchestrations and arrangements by Larry Blank, musical supervision by Stuart Morley, musical direction by Chris Walker, orchestra management by Sylvia Addison for Music Solutions, wig and hair design by Richard Mawbey and casting by Sarah Bird CDG and Michael Donovan CSA.

The world premiere of SLEEPLESS will be presented by Michael Rose, Encore Theatre Productions Ltd, David Shor and Marc Toberoff.  General Manager will be David Pearson.

For further details, please visit www.sleeplessthemusical.com.

Facebook: @SleeplessLDN

Instagram: @SleeplessLDN

Twitter: @SleeplessLDN

LISTINGS

SLEEPLESS, A Musical Romance

25 August – 27 September 2020*

Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

3 Fulton Rd

Wembley Park

London HA9 0SP

Booking until 27 September 2020*

*While live performances are not currently permitted inside theatres, it is hoped SLEEPLESS will be able to open on 25 August with Government permission

Box Office: [email protected]

Performances:

Tuesday – Saturday at 7.45pm**

Saturday and Sunday at 3pm

**The performances on 1 September will begin at 7.00pm

Tickets: from £15

Running Time:  2 hours including interval

Age guidance: Recommended for ages 5+

People within the same household and/or social bubble may buy up to four tickets together.  All tickets will be allocated by the box office.  Please note that, up to two hours before the performance, people may exchange their tickets, should a member of their party fall ill.

For the NHS Gala, NHS and Care workers can apply for up to four free tickets via [email protected]. Applicants will be required to scan in a photo of their NHS badge/pass with the application email. Tickets allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Parking at Wembley Stadium will cost only £1 per car when the ticket is validated through the box office on the day of the performance.

TUCKSHOP PRESENTS

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE UK STAR CHERYL HOLE TO PERFORM IN FIRST DRIVE IN DRAG EXTRAVAGANZA

GALS ALOUD – LIVE AT THE DRIVE IN

AT TROUBADOUR MERIDIAN WATER

SATURDAY 22 AUGUST @ 10PM

TICKETS ON SALE NOW – www.thedrivein.london  

Start your engines as TuckShop brings you a fierce, funny, fabulous Drag Drive-In spectacular featuring the hits of Girls Aloud.

TuckShop – the UK’s only specialist production company devoted to all things drag, and the team behind sell-out hit Cinderella, the UK’s first ever all drag pantomime in the West End – will present a historic first: GALS ALOUD – LIVE AT THE DRIVE IN  SATURDAY 8 AUGUST: the first ever UK Drive in Drag show, live at The Drive In at Troubadour Meridian Water in North London. This is a full-length show, live on stage alongside a giant screen, with sound transmitted directly into audience members’ car radios.

Starring CHERYL HOLE from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, and direct from smash hit sold out seasons across the country, GALS ALOUD – LIVE AT THE DRIVE IN will see a cast of incredible drag performers, with Nadine, Cheryl, Kimberley, Nicola and Sarah reunited as you’ve never seen them before, in a show packed full of the biggest hits from their classic solo singles, hilarious TV appearances, plus the return of the one and only Javine!

GALS ALOUD are Cheryl Hole as ‘Cheryl’, HERR The Queen as ‘Nadine’, Kitty Scott Claus as ‘Kimberley’, Ophelia Love as ‘Nicola’, Lydia L’Scabies as ‘Sarah’ and Tayce as ‘Javine’.

With Nadine Coyle herself giving her support to the band, and Cheryl Hole’s recent appearance alongside Cheryl Cole on Drag Race UK, Gals Aloud are certified fierce by the Girls themselves.

Christopher Clegg said, “We have been itching to get the incredible GALS ALOUD back to the stage, after selling out venues across 2019 we were ramping up for our tour this year when everything was shut down. It’s been tough for everyone, but to be able to bring drag back in such an epic way, live in front of an audience at The Drive In London, is just so exciting. Expect a camp night of nonsense packed with the hits of one of the most iconic girl bands ever”

With the huge rise in drag popularity over the last ten years, TuckShop is at the forefront of UK Drag culture, coming hot off the heels of Chris’s fifteen years’ experience in the West End as a producer, theatre manager, and marketing expert. As well as creating bespoke productions and producing nationwide tours, TuckShop also represent some of the UK’s best Drag talent, raising their profile through branding, promotion and regular bookings. With new productions in development, an ever-expanding roster of headline performers and new online store, TuckShop works tirelessly to give Drag the leg-up it deserves.

GALS ALOUD – LIVE AT THE DRIVE IN is directed and produced by Christopher D. Clegg for TuckShop

THE SHOW WILL GO ON:

HAMLET REHEARSALS FROM MONDAY 29 JUNE

·        First major new UK live theatre production to start rehearsals following COVID-19 lockdown

·        Cast includes: Ben Allen, Emmanuella Cole, Alis Wyn Davies, Oli Higginson, Nick Howard-Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Asif Khan, Missy Malek, Ian McKellen, Jenny Seagrove

·        Directed by Sean Mathias

A new production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, directed by Sean Mathias with Ian McKellen in an age-blind interpretation of the young Prince, will go into rehearsals on Monday 29 June.

Produced by Bill Kenwright, Hamlet will herald Sean Mathias’ inaugural season at Theatre Royal Windsor and will be followed by Martin Sherman’s adaptation of Anton Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard, with McKellen as Firs the elderly manservant.

This is the first major UK production to begin rehearsals since theatres went dark in March in accordance with government guidelines to stem the spread of COVID-19.

However, rehearsals are now able to start with strict measures in place to ensure the safety of the company. The schedule, from 29 June, will be carefully choreographed around social distancing, screening, hygiene, and PPE, with close adherence to the latest government guidelines. There will be a daily review of the protection protocol based on practical considerations learnt in the rehearsal room. If the show can’t yet go on, rehearsals at least will.

Sean Mathias said: “I have always been a fan of ensemble work so when Bill Kenwright asked me to be his Artistic Director at Windsor I saw a perfect opportunity to create a company and direct two of the greatest plays ever written. The disappointment at being halted by COVID 19 has now been replaced with encouraging signs that we can at least start to work on these beautiful plays with an exceptional company. We walk a tight rope through the forest whilst we await news of when we may actually perform in front of a live audience, but it will be invigorating to leave the house and get into a rehearsal room and be a part of British Theatre returning to the boards.”

Ian McKellen said: “I feel lucky to be working again, thanks to Bill Kenwright’s inspiring optimism and Sean Mathias’s invitation to re-examine Hamlet, 50 years on from my first go. So now we will meet again. Don’t know when but do know where – Theatre Royal Windsor!”

Bill Kenwright said: “Sean, Ian and myself have been planning this season for some time now, and the truth is I couldn’t bear to see it slip away. So a lot of more planning, a great deal of determination (and I must admit some of the things I learned prior to the return of football) has got us to the place where all things theatrical start. Nothing is more important than this country’s (and indeed the world’s) health and safety, so we are not ready to announce an opening night yet – but I’m a great believer in making a start if a start is possible, and in this instance it is. I’m hopeful we will be enjoying a Windsor season in the forthcoming months.”

Sean Mathias is a leading British theatre and film director and writer with numerous awards to his name including the Evening Standard Theatre Award, WhatsOnStage Award, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award, a Fringe First at Edinburgh and the Prix de la Jeunesse at Cannes. In 2009/10 Sean was the Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Haymarket where his legendary production of Waiting for Godot starring Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart and Simon Callow, played two seasons, as well as touring the UK and internationally. In 2013 Sean directed and co-produced Beckett’s Godot and Pinter’s No Man’s Land in rep on Broadway. His production of No Man’s Land, starring Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, was the highest grossing play in the history of Wyndham’s Theatre. His association with Bill Kenwright started with his revolutionary production of Design For Living starring Rachel Weisz.

Ian McKellen made his long overdue debut at Theatre Royal Windsor last year in his acclaimed solo show. He was heralded that year as the most important actor in British theatre. Over the years he has worked with Sean Mathias consistently, most recently in WAITING AND GODOT and NO MAN’S LAND with another friend, Patrick Stewart.  Mathias directed him as Uncle Vanya at the National Theatre and is looking forward to a further Chekhov journey. McKellen’s performances in Shakespeare are legendary, from Macbeth with Judi Dench to his film of RICHARD III with Maggie Smith. He played Hamlet on tour and in the West End nearly fifty years ago and is looking forward to the challenge of a return visit.

Bill Kenwright’s estimated 500 productions include West End successes Jessica Lange in A Streetcar Named Desire, The Glass Menagerie and Long Day’s Journey Into Night; Judi Dench in Filumena, Hay Fever and The Gift of the Gorgon (all directed by Sir Peter Hall); Rufus Norris’ Festen and Cabaret; The Wizard of Oz (Palladium); Joseph (Adelphi and New London); Evita (Dominion); and the Windrush musical The Big Life (Lyric Theatre). Broadway highlights include: Dancing At Lughnasa, Medea, Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, Wilde’s An Ideal Husband, Théâtre de Complicite’s The Chairs (multiple Tony Awards). Blood Brothers, which he also directed, ran for three years on Broadway (Music Box) and 24 years in the West End (Phoenix).

CREATIVE TEAM

Director: Sean Mathias; Set Designer: Lee Newby; Costume Designer: Loren Elstein; Lighting Designer: Jamie Platt; Composer and Sound Designer: Adam Cork.

HOPE MILL THEATRE ANNOUNCE ONLINE EVENING CELEBRATING AWARD-WINNING WRITER OF STAGE AND SCREEN JONATHAN HARVEY ON SATURDAY 18^th JULY AT 8PM

PLUS THE LAUNCH OF NEW £5,000 PLAYWRIGHTING PRIZE – ‘THROUGH THE MILL’

Hope Mill Theatre will host an online evening on Saturday 18^th July, celebrating the many works of the well-loved writer Jonathan Harvey (Gimme,Gimme,Gimme/ Coronation Street).

An Evening With Jonathan Harvey will include an interview with Harvey, hosted by Hope Mill Patron Denise Welch and will feature scenes from his past plays including Beautiful Thing, Hushabye Mountain and The Cherry Blossom Tree as well as songs from musicals that Harvey has written the book for including Dusty: The Dusty Springfield Musical and the Pet Shop Boys musical Musik.

The cast performing includes; Katherine Kingsley, Frances Barber, Emma Clarke, Gemma Brodrick, Claire-Louise Cordwell, Joshua Asare, Rose Keegan and Danny Lee Wynter.

The evening will also include guest hosts who have starred and worked alongside Harvey, including Oscar winning actress Olivia Colman, who starred in BBC comedy series Beautiful People, as well as co stars, Meera Syal and Layton Williams. Further guest hosts include, Catherine Tyldesley (Coronation Street), Tameka Empson (Beautiful People/ Beautiful Thing) and Olivier Award winner Maria Friedman (the director of Dusty).

The evening coincides with the launch of the Manchester venue’s first ever prize for playwrighting which includes the opportunity of mentorship with Jonathan Harvey for the chosen finalists.

The prize, which has been named Through the Mill, is open to UK based writers over 16 and as of today is now open for submissions. The winner will receive a cash prize of £5,000 as well as having their play produced by and at Hope Mill Theatre.

For more information on submissions and criteria please visit www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk

Tickets, costing £10, are now on sale for An Evening with Jonathan Harvey and can be purchased online through Hope Mill Theatre’s website. Customers will be sent a link to view the concert on July 18th when a ticket has been purchased. Proceeds raised from ticket money and additional donations will go towards the prize fund for the winning writer.

Artistic Director of Hope Mill Theatre, Joseph Houston, said: “We are very excited about our second online offering, celebrating Jonathan Harvey and the many incredible scripts that he has written for both stage and screen. The line-up of stars that we have is credit to his incredible back catalogue of work.”

“It has long been a dream of ours to launch a playwrighting prize at Hope Mill Theatre. Along with the support of Jonathan Harvey, and during our time of closure, we have been able to plan such a prize and we are thrilled to be able to launch it officially.

“So many freelance artists have been affected terribly by the Covid epidemic and this is our way of being able to offer an opportunity to writers to have their work produced and supported by us as well as being able to offer a financial award.”

Jonathan Harvey said: “I have long been a fan of Hope Mill Theatre. They are proof positive that great theatre doesn’t just take place in our capital.

“I am thrilled to be involved in Through The Mill. I got my first break in competitions at Liverpool Playhouse and the Royal Court in London. Getting my plays produced via these competitions was the best education ever, and the prize money helped get me through Uni!

“This is such a good opportunity, and I can’t wait to see what the competition brings, and to work with the finalists.

“I am very flattered the theatre want to do ‘An Evening With’ with me. And delighted to be able to help raise some much needed money in a time of such huge crisis for theatres. We’ve assembled a top notch group of actors to read from my plays and there’ll be various people popping up who I’ve worked with asking me questions. And there’ll be some singing. It’ll be a bit like An Audience with Diana Ross. Without Diana Ross. And with me.”

Twitter: @Hopemilltheatr1

Facebook: Hope Mill Theatre

CLIVE ROWE LAUNCHES HELP SAVE HACKNEY EMPIRE CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN

SUPPORTED BY MAYOR OF HACKNEY, ACTOR RICHARD WILSON AND ITV’S ROBERT PESTON

Olivier award-winning actor and Hackney Empire Patron Clive Rowe this morning launched a crowdfunding campaign to help Hackney Empire survive the devastating impact Covid-19 lockdown has had on its finances.

Clive Rowe has starred in over 14 of Hackney Empire’s legendary pantomimes and said the Grade II* listed theatre ‘must survive’ in an appeal for public support.

The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise over £50,000 in a public appeal and hopes to attract donations from £10. As registered Charity, the 1300 seater Hackney Empire relies heavily on box office and earned income for over 85% of its funding. Now, as lockdown is easing and other industries are starting to open up, theatres which rely on bringing large numbers of people together remain underthreat and Hackney Empire is appealing to its audiences and communities to help ensure that this legendary venue can re-open its doors again in the future.

Situated the heart of one of London’s most diverse, exciting yet economically challenged boroughs Hackney Empire plays a vital and unique role in its community and the cultural landscape at large. One of the UK’s most beautiful and best-loved venues it embraces audiences of over 200,000 each year from across Hackney’s communities. For over a century Hackney Empire has been an iconic venue for the performing arts, home to generations of artists, audiences and community participants who come to see a rich variety of music, comedy, opera and theatre as well as work by young and emerging artists which the venue provides a vital platform for.

Hackney Empire’s legendary pantomime is one of the UK’s best and best-loved, attracting audiences of over 50,000 annually. As well as welcoming over 10,000 children from local schools, each year Hackney Empire provide hundreds of free tickets to local Housing Associations, Community Groups and organisations who work with vulnerable young people across East London.

Each year the Hackney Empire: Creative Futures programme works with over 4,000 young people aged 14 – 25 from some of London’s most marginalised communities, using arts and culture to break down barriers to access, raise aspirations, and change lives. This work has continued throughout the Covid-19 crisis as Hackney Empire has taken its activity online, providing support and engagement for hundreds of young people made more isolated by the lockdown. 

The crowdfunding campaign can be found here, on a website set up by the Mayor of London to help London’s businesses and organisations survive the impact of the Covid-19. Also backing the campaign is Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville, award-winning actor Richard Wilson and journalist Robert Peston.

Clive Rowe said “Hackney Empire is an incredibly special place for me.  It brings people and communities together like no other venue I’ve experienced and its atmosphere is legendary. Generations of children have had their first experience of live entertainment at its Panto and its work with young people has transformed thousands of lives.

Theatres have been hit incredibly hard by lockdown, but a world without them is unimaginable. Places like Hackney Empire must survive, and you can help to make sure they do. Please support this campaign if you can and ensure that Hackney Empire can open its doors again for Panto, for music, for comedy and for everyone.” 

Yamin Choudury, Artistic Director and Jo Hemmant, Executive Director of Hackney Empire said: “Hackney Empire will have its 120^th birthday in 2021. It should have been a year-long celebration but our focus now is simply to ensure Hackney Empire survives to reach this milestone and that we are still able to play our part in delivering what our audiences and communities will need on the other-side of this. This Crowdfunder will help ensure that we can re-open and we hope that anyone who has come and experienced the unique atmosphere and welcome of Hackney Empire will want to get behind it.”

Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney said “Hackney Empire is a legendary venue which plays a key role in the cultural, civic and economic life of its community. With an enviable track record in engaging young people from traditionally the most isolated and at-risk communities, Hackney Empire has expertise that we anticipate will be much needed in the days to come. We are going to need arts and culture to inspire and reconnect us on the other side of this, and we’re especially going to need places like Hackney Empire – which are embedded in their communities and able to bring people together.” 

Actor Richard Wilson said: “Please support this campaign if you can.  Hackney Empire’s future, along with most other theatres in the country, is in real peril. You can help save it. A world without theatre is unthinkable but at the moment it is a real possibility.  With your support Hackney Empire will re-open its doors and be there to create incredible experiences for all our audiences in the future. Thank you!”

Journalist Robert Peston said: “Hackney Empire is a magnificent historic gem, a wonderful community theatre and an important performing arts centre. It is invaluable and irreplaceable”.

LOCKDOWN THEATRE ANNOUNCES LIVE VIRTUAL TABLE READ OF

“A BIT OF WAITING FOR GODOT” IN AID OF THE ROYAL THEATRICAL FUND

STARRING ROBERT LINDSAY, MICHAEL PALIN AND JOANNA LUMLEY

Lockdown Theatre in association with The Royal Theatrical Fund today announcesa live virtual table read of “A Bit of Waiting for Godot” taken from Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot on Sunday 28 June at 7pm. Jonathan Church directs Robert Lindsay (Estragon), Michael Palin (Vladimir) and Joanna Lumley narrates. Tickets are £35 in aid of The Royal Theatrical Fund.

This is a unique opportunity to take part in a one-night-only, once-in-a-lifetime event. A peek behind the curtain of the theatrical process, in the company of a group of national treasures.

The live table read of Samuel Beckett’s peerless masterpiece will take place via Zoom, followed by a live Q&A with the cast and director. Bring your own wine. No popcorn.

Rob Grant today said, “Many industries are under threat in these troubled times, but the entertainment industry is facing an existential crisis. We simply don’t know when, or even if, theatres will be able to accommodate audiences safely in sufficient numbers to make productions viable again. Theatres are closing, good theatres, and may never reopen their doors.

We at Lockdown Theatre want to do what we can to help safeguard and preserve our rich national heritage of theatre, and give it as healthy a future as possible, so absolutely every penny generated from this production will be donated to The Royal Theatrical Fund (Patron, Her Majesty the Queen).”

Limited tickets available at www.rtflockdown.com

Robert Lindsay plays Estragon. He is a BAFTA award-winning actor, whose credits range from the smash hit Citizen Smith in the Seventies to My Family in the noughties, with a generous sprinkling of award-winning stage roles in between, including Me and My Girl, which won him the Olivier Award in the West End, and a Tony Award when it transferred to Broadway. His TV work has ranged from sitcoms (his first was Get Some In!) to BBC Shakespeare productions, and Stephen Poliakoff dramas Friends and Crocodiles and Gideon’s Daughter. He co-starred in Alan Bleasdale’s GBH along with … Michael Palin. He appeared in Ricky Gervais’s Extras as an arrogant, mean-spirited version of himself. Or, as his friends prefer to say: as himself.

Joanna Lumley narrates. From Bond girl in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service to the iconic Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous, Joanna’s glittering career has spanned over four decades, through Purdey in The New Avengers, Sapphire in the cult classic Sapphire and Steel and movies including Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride and Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street. She has garnered multiple awards, including two BAFTAs and honours (OBE, FRGS and five honorary doctorates). Among her many charity endeavours, she is best known for her tireless support of the Gurkha Justice Campaign.

Michael Palin plays Vladimir. Part of the legendary team that created the ground-breaking comedy, Monty Python, Michael went on to create Ripping Yarns with Terry Jones, and appeared in many hit films, including Time Bandits (which he co-wrote with Terry Gilliam), The Missionary (self-penned), and A Fish Called Wanda (BAFTA for best supporting actor). He also shared the lead in Alan Bleasdale’s GBH, along with … Robert Lindsay. Latterly, he has concentrated largely on his renowned travel writing and documentaries, from Around the World in 80 Days, to Michael Palin in North Korea. Among a cascade of honours, he received his knighthood in the 2019 New Year’s honours list, is a CBE, and has an asteroid named after him: Asteroid 9621 Michaelpalin.

Jonathan Church CBE directs. He is currently Artistic Director of Bath Theatre Royal’s Summer Season, Chair of Marlowe Theatre Canterbury and on the Board of the Almeida Theatre. He was Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre (2006-2016); Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre (2001-2006); Associate Director of Hampstead Theatre (1999-2001); Artistic Director of Salisbury Playhouse (1995-1999); Associate Director of Derby Playhouse (1994-1995) and Assistant Director of Nottingham Playhouse (1992- 1994).

Jonathan’s West End Productions as a Director include Hobson’s Choice, Taken At Midnight (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Singin’ In The Rain (Palace Theatre), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Duchess Theatre), Of Mice and Men (Savoy Theatre and The Old Vic), The Witches (Wyndham’s Theatre), A Busy Day (Lyric Theatre), The Life and Times of Nicholas Nickleb (Gielgud Theatre).

Over 50% of charity-run small theatres could
fail in the next 3 months without
government support

Due to the Covid-19 crisis and temporary closures of theatres, 57% of small theatres in the UK could fail without government support. Theatres Trust warns that as many as 136 small local theatre operators could go into administration in the next three months. In response, Theatres Trust has
announced a package of additional support for small theatres to help them survive the impact of Covid-19.

At this critical moment, the national public advisory body for theatres is increasing its support for these smaller theatres including:

•Taking on an additional adviser to help small theatres with business planning, budgeting and cashflow, fundraising and essential building maintenance.
• Creating a new Theatres Trust Skills Bank to match theatres with experts willing to offer pro bono advice on preparing to reopen including hygiene and social distancing needs and general property management.
• Repurposing its small grants programme to support theatres to cover the additional costs of reopening after several months’ closure, including making adaptations for increased hygiene and social distancing measures.

The UK has a world-leading theatre industry and the small local theatres across the country are vital not just as places of entertainment but as community centres. Theatres Trust is lobbying the government and providing additional support to ensure that theatres are still there for communities around the UK to return to when the crisis is over. Local theatres include venues which are at the very heart of their local communities like Market Theatre Ledbury, Sheringham Little Theatre and Settle Victoria Hall, the oldest music hall in the world which has become a true community centre delivering shopping, prescriptions and making PPE during the Covid-19 crisis.

The role of Theatres Trust is to ensure everyone can access live performance where they live. Almost 40% of the UK’s theatres are small local venues and more than half of these – around 240 – are run by small charities. 38% of these have only one month’s reserves and 19% only have three months’ reserves. Without additional government support, including the full continuation of the Job Retention Scheme, many will have to permanently close their doors.

Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan comments, These are tough times for the theatre sector and we are talking to the government about the additional support theatres need, but we hope that with these resources we can help more theatres to survive the current crisis. We have already seen some operators go into administration and unfortunately others are likely to follow, but Theatres Trust has a strong track record of supporting theatres to be saved and returned to cultural use and is working to ensure that no theatres are permanently lost due to Covid-19.

Jon Morgan sits on the Entertainment and Events Working Group which is working with DCMS and health officials to determine how theatres can reopen with minimised risks to staff, performers and audiences. Alongside this, Theatres Trust is calling for the government to invest in the theatre sector, including extending the furlough scheme for theatres to protect operators from going into administration.

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Flash sale to mark the summer solstice

To mark the summer solstice, Darlington Hippodrome is offering tickets for a variety of shows at just £20* during daylight hours on Saturday 20 June.

Councillor Andy Keir says “This week we’ve seen the town centre come alive as shops have re-opened. It’s been a tremendous step forward, and now we are looking towards the resurgence of the hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors. I can’t wait to visit the theatre and experience the buzz of a live performance, and I’m spoilt for choice for shows to watch in 2021 and beyond.”

Darlington Hippodrome’s Sales and Marketing Manager Rebecca Howarth says “Traditionally, the summer solstice has been celebrated as a time of new beginnings. As restrictions start to ease, and life feels a little more normal, we can begin to look to the future. We know, however, that these are uncertain times, so we want customers to know that if they book for any show, and it’s postponed, or they’re unable to attend for any reason, then they are entitled to a full refund.”

The summer solstice sale includes the following productions: Anything For Love, By The Waters of Liverpool, Islands In The Stream, Radio Ga Ga, Kate Rusby, Walk Right Back and Strictly Ballroom.

To take advantage of this flash sale, book online at www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk using the code SOLSTICE between sunrise at 4.43am and sunset at 9.21pm on Saturday 20 June.

*Includes a £2 restoration levy