Category: Uncategorized

Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester announces exciting revival of classic rock musical Rent directed by Luke Sheppard

Friday 31^st July to Sunday 30^th August 2020 – Limited Run

Tickets on sale soon

Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester is to stage a revival of Jonathan Larson’s classic rock musical Rent this summer, directed by Luke Sheppard, it is announced today.

Rent will have a strictly limited run at the award-winning venue from Friday 31^st July to Sunday 30^th August 2020, and will be the second in-house production of the year, following Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella in May/June.

Produced by A Factory of Creativity CIO for Hope Mill Theatre, the show will be directed by Luke Sheppard who returns to Hope Mill Theatre for the first time since he directed the critically-acclaimed revival of Spring Awakening in 2018 (What’s On Stage Awards Best Regional Production).  Sheppard most recently directed &Juliet, which enjoyed a pre-West End run at the Opera House in Manchester and is now playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London.

The full creative team will be announced soon.

Director Luke Sheppard said: “The Hope Mill Theatre has emerged as a groundbreaking environment to experience theatre that is loud, proud and pushing at boundaries. After redefining musical theatre for a generation, Rent is the perfect match for this unique space and I can’t wait to get started on this new production, placing the audience up close and in the heart of this incredible story and score.”

William Whelton, Executive Director of Hope Mill Theatre, said: “For many years we have longed to produce Rent at Hope Mill Theatre. Not only was it a genre-defining musical of its time but the themes and music continue to stay relevant and resonate with so many people. Being able to mount a whole new revival and having Luke Sheppard at the helm is truly exciting and I know along with the creative team we are assembling, that this is going to be a Rent not to be missed. As part of our commitment to finding new Northern talent, once again we will be holding open auditions in Manchester, led by Pearson Casting.”

Rent is a rock musical with music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson and is loosely based on Puccini’s opera La Bohème. It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists living, loving and working in Manhattan’s East Village, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

The show premiered off Broadway in 1996 before moving to Broadway later the same year. The show has been staged all over the world, including in the West End in 1998 and in 2005 a movie version was released. It features hit songs such as Rent, Without You, La Vie La Bohème and the iconic Seasons of Love.

The show will be cast by James and Rosie Pearson for Pearson Casting and casting is now live on Spotlight for submissions.  Hope Mill Theatre will once again be holding open Manchester auditions as part of their commitment to find Northern talent. These will be held on Tuesday 18^th February – email [email protected]for further information.

Tickets for Rent will go on sale in March. Register for priority booking at http://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/rent.

LISTINGS

RENT

Hope Mill Theatre, Pollard Street, Manchester

Friday 31^st July to Sunday 30^th August 2020

Tickets and info: www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk

HAVANA NIGHTS TO SIZZLE

ON STAGES ACROSS UK IN 2020

STRICTLY PROFESSIONAL GRAZIANO DI PRIMA BRINGS HOT LATIN RHYTHMS

TO VENUES NATIONWIDE INCLUDING GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH

Strictly Come Dancing professional Graziano Di Prima is preparing to dazzle and delight audiences with stunning new dance show Havana Nights which tours the UK in 2020 – including dates in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The 25-year-old will be joined by fellow Strictly professional and fiancée Giada Lini on this first solo UK tour which opens in Chelmsford on 3 March 2020.

Havana Nights promises an exciting mix of Latin dances with individual performances from Graziano and Giada, as well as entertaining group numbers with their supporting dancers. 

After opening in Chelmsford, Havana Nights will tour the UK visiting Stevenage, Milton Keynes, Crawley, Tunbridge Wells, Hayes, Bury St Edmunds, St Albans, Kettering, Leamington Spa, Cambridge, Exmouth, Redruth, Cheltenham, Swindon, Yeovil, High Wycombe, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Whitley Bay, Fleetwood, Warrington, Guildford, Reading, Shrewsbury, Southport, and Lichfield.

The show will be fantastic and fast paced and is guaranteed to be fresh and innovative with amazing routines to dazzle and wow its audience.

And along with the spectacular sizzling performances on stage, there will also be opportunities for a special pre-show meet and greet with Graziano and Giada.

Graziano Di Prima was born in Sicily and started dancing at the age of six when his mother enrolled him in classes. He is an Italian Latin Champion, as well as representing Belgium at the World Championships, and made the top 24 at the under 21s Latin World Championships.

He went on to spend three years performing with the world-famous Burn the Floor dance company, where he met his future wife 28-year-old Venetian Giada, romantically proposing to her live on stage between performances.

Graziano joined the Strictly team in 2018, partnering DJ Vick Hope through a series of sparkling and high-energy routines. He recently made Strictly history when he performed the first same sex couple dance with fellow professional Johannes Radebe.

Giada is ranked in the top 25 in the world in the Latin-American style. She won the Italian Showdance Championship nine times and represented Italy at the World Showdance Championships, where she was a finalist and won the Show Dance World Cup in 2014. She was also a finalist in Freestyle Latin representing Italy at the World Champions in China in 2013 and 2014.

She worked as a professional Latin American dancer on a high-profile Italian TV show called Amici di Maria De Filippi for three years, and toured Australia, the UK and Japan with Burn the Floor. Giada joined Strictly as a pro dancer in 2018.

Graziano commented: “I’m so excited to be able to bring Havana Nights to the many dance fans we know there are across the UK. Giada and I have worked closely together on the choreography and content for the show and we’re really proud of it. Now I can’t wait to visit so many venues around the country, meeting fans and performing all my favourite routines for them live on stage.”

Website:         www.havananightstour.co.uk

Twitter:           @_HavanaNights

HAVANA NIGHTS TOUR 2020

CHELMSFORD

Civic Centre

3 March 2020

01245 606505

https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres/#

ON SALE NOW

STEVENAGE

Gordon Craig Theatre

4 March 2020

01438 363200

https://www.gordon-craig.co.uk/

ON SALE NOW

MILTON KEYNES

Stables Theatre

5 March 2020

01908 280800

https://stables.org/

ON SALE NOW

CRAWLEY

Hawth Theatre

6 March 2020

01293 553636

https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/The-Hawth

ON SALE NOW

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Assembly Hall Theatre

7 March 2020

01245 606505

https://www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk/

ON SALE NOW

HAYES

The Beck Theatre

8 March 2020

020 8561 8371

https://becktheatre.org.uk/Online/

ON SALE NOW

BURY ST EDMUNDS

The Apex

10 March 2020

01284 758000

https://www.theapex.co.uk/

ON SALE NOW

ST ALBANS

Alban Arena

11 March 2020

01727 844488

https://www.alban-arena.co.uk/

ON SALE NOW

KETTERING

Lighthouse Theatre

12 March 2020

01536 414141

Home

ON SALE NOW

LEAMINGTON SPA

Royal Spa Centre

13 March 2020

01926 334418

https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/royalspacentre/site/index.php

ON SALE NOW

CAMBRIDGE

Corn Exchange

14 March 2020

01223 357851

https://www.cambridgelive.org.uk/cornex

ON SALE NOW

EXMOUTH

Exmouth Pavilion

15 March 2020

01395 222477

https://www.ledleisure.co.uk/exmouth-pavilion

ON SALE NOW

REDRUTH

Regal Theatre

16 March 2020

01209 216278

https://www.merlincinemas.co.uk/regal-theatre

ON SALE NOW

CHELTENHAM

Town Hall

17 March 2020

0844 576 2210

http://www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/

ON SALE NOW

SWINDON

Wyvern Theatre

20 March 2020

01793 524481

https://swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/

ON SALE NOW

YEOVIL

Westlands Theatre

21 March 2020

01935 422884

https://www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk/

ON SALE NOW

HIGH WYCOMBE

Wycombe Swan

22 March 2020

01494 512000

https://wycombeswan.co.uk/Online/

ON SALE NOW

GLASGOW

Royal Concert Hall

25 March 2020

0141 353 8000

https://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com

ON SALE NOW

EDINBURGH

Assembly Rooms

26 March 2020

0131 228 1155

http://www.usherhall.co.uk/

ON SALE NOW

WHITLEY BAY

Playhouse Theatre

27 March 2020

0844 248 1588

https://www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk/

ON SALE NOW

FLEETWOOD

Marine Hall

28 March 2020

01253 887693

https://uk.patronbase.com/_Wyre/Productions

ON SALE NOW

WARRINGTON

Parr Hall

29 March 2020

01925 442345

Welcome to Parr Hall

ON SALE NOW

GUILDFORD

GLive

31 March 2020

01245 606505

https://glive.co.uk/Online/

ON SALE NOW

READING

Hexagon Theatre

1 April 2020

0118 960 6060

https://whatsonreading.com/venues/hexagon/whats-on

ON SALE NOW

SHREWSBURY

Theatre Severn

3 April 2020

01743 281281

https://www.theatresevern.co.uk/

ON SALE NOW

SOUTHPORT

The Atkinson

4 April 2020

01704 533333

https://www.theatkinson.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

LICHFIELD

Garrick Theatre

5 April 2020

01543 412121

https://www.theatkinson.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

Darlington Hippodrome – until 1 February 2020

5*****

Band of Gold is full of gritty northern realism.  The play, based on the TV show of the same name, is set in Leeds in the early 90’s and life is tough.  This is Kay Mellor’s bid to go behind the stereotypes of prostitutes in film and TV and put a human face on the world’s oldest profession. Unlike Pretty Woman, the film that came out at roughly the same time as Band of Gold was originally on TV, the show doesn’t glamorise anything – this is business, not pleasure. 

There’s a whole array of famous faces in the cast, from some of the UK’s biggest soaps; Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Eastenders. But this is definitely NOT stunt casting. Gaynor Faye rules the stage as Rose, the leader of the girls, who runs The Lane, and puts in a gritty performance from start to finish. Faye is well supported by Laurie Brett who shows off some brilliant acting and fine vocals as the mother figure Anita, but it’s Emma Osman who steals all the best lines as single mum Carol and delivers them with great timing. The number of street workers increases when Gina joins their ranks. She is desperate for money to pay off a loan shark who keeps adding to the amount she has to repay. Sacha Parkinson manages to show how easy it is to end up in her position, reluctantly turning to prostitution in a bid to show she can cope on her own. 

Kieron Richardson (Steve) and Shayne Ward (Inspector Newall) almost feel underused, they’re so good – Richardson in particular shone as the bitter, violent ex-husband Steve, all snarls and drunken rage. Whilst Ward seems to genuinely care about the welfare of the women, seeing them as desperate humans not just prostitutes. Andrew Dunn, playing Barraclough, was also superb.  Steve Garti (Curly) is a hi-light of the show when, as a regular of Carol, he pleasures himself wearing pink marigolds while she walks up and down for him in stockings and heels

Mellor has chosen to keep this stage play setting in the 1990’s, allowing her to explore the themes of debt, domestic abuse, mental health and the powerlessness of women at the bottom of the social scale, especially those fighting to keep their children. And whilst times have changed and improvements have been made, there is still a long way to go to make sure that women don’t need to sell their bodies in order to survive.

Band of Gold is not a dark and depressing play – there are frequent moments of lightness and humour, with some fabulous one-liners. But at the core this is a story of female friendship, strength and finding a way through even the darkest of times. Mellor is a fabulous writer and gives life and depth to her characters. This is a truly empowering production.

In Darlington until 1 February and on tour around the UK, this is a show not to be missed

Malvern Theatres – until 1 February 2020

Reviewed by Vanessa Gibson

5*****

When Charles (Geoffrey Streatfield) organises a séance to help him research a new story no one could have foreseen the consequences which would unfold. Madame Arcati (Jennifer Saunders) arrives at Charles beautiful home to lead him and a group of friends through a dramatic séance. Although the friends are sceptics one soon discovers that Madame Arcati does indeed possess psychic powers, when his dead wife, Elvira (Emma Naomi) appears to him and him alone. Once she has appeared beautiful Elvira sets about causing mischief and mayhem.

As you would expect Jennifer Saunders steals the show as the wonderfully eccentric Madame Arcati, creating much laughter as we discover some of her less fragrant personal traits. 

An additional highlight of the show is the servant Edith ( Rose Wardlaw). With brilliant comic timing Edith shows that it’s possible to be very funny whilst speaking very little.

Anthony Wards stunning set and costumes truly capture not just the era of the play but also the personalities of the key characters. Whilst clever lighting (Howard Harrison) adds to the atmosphere and at times comic effect.

Although originally performed in 1941 this story stands the test of time and held the audience enthralled throughout. A wonderful production, this performance was a joy to watch, with a very skilled cast weaving a story which has an unexpected twist in the tale. We left the theatre still laughing and debating our own perspectives on each character. Blithe Spirit truly is a must see and we thoroughly recommend it to audiences of any age.

DOLLY PARTON’S

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton, Book by Patricia Resnick

and Directed by Jeff Calhoun

Based on the 20^th Century Fox Picture

TO RETURN TO THE ALEXANDRA

THIS OCTOBER

Casting to be announced soon

Dolly Parton is delighted to announce that 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL will return to The Alexandra from Tuesday 27^th until Saturday 31^st October 2020 following a near sell-out run when it opened its UK and Ireland tour at the Birmingham venue in September last year.

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL opened in the West End in February 2019, where Dolly Parton attended the premiere and joined the cast on stage at the finale. The musical features a book by Patricia Resnick, the legendary film’s original screenwriter, and an original Oscar, Grammy and Tony award-nominated score by multi Grammy Award winner, country legend and pop icon Dolly Parton.

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL tells the story of Doralee, Violet and Judy – three workmates pushed to boiling point by their sexist and egotistical boss. Concocting a plan to kidnap and turn the tables on their despicable supervisor, will the women manage to reform their office – or will events unravel when the CEO pays an unexpected visit? Inspired by the cult film this hilarious new West End production is about teaming up, standing up and taking care of business!

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL is written by Patricia Resnick, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. It is directed by Jeff Calhoun, choreography by Lisa Stevens, design by Tom Rogers, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Poti Martin, video design by Nina Dunn, original arrangements by Stephen Oremus & Alex Lacamoire, original Broadway orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin, musical supervisor, reductions & extra arrangements by Mark Crossland, musical direction by Andrew Hilton and casting by Victoria Roe and Anne Vosser.

Based on the 20^th Century Fox Picture. Originally produced on Broadway by Robert Greenblatt, April 2009.

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Selladoor Worldwide and Gavin Kalin Productions with Benjamin Lowy Productions, Glass Half Full Productions, Showtime Theatre Productions, Hartshorn – Hook Productions, Harmonia Holdings and Kilimanjaro Live.

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR PAUL TAYLOR-MILLS’

FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICAL THEATRE WRITING 

INCLUDING CLIVE ROWE, LAURA PITT PULFORD,

LOUISE DEARMAN & LIZZY CONNOLLY

RUNNING FROM 3 – 15 FEBRUARY 2020 AT

Following the previously announced line up of new musicals for MTFestUK 2020, the full cast is announced below, production by production.

After premiering at Edinburgh Fringe in 2008, Jet Set Go!will take you on a trip to New York that you’ll never forget! And your cabin crew will star Siubhan Harrison, Lizzy Connolly, Michael Mather, Tyrone Huntley and Simon Bailey. They will sing up the aisles and tap-dance down Broadway in this unforgettable musical comedy.

Louise Dearman leads a cast including Ben Richards, Laura Pitt Pulford, Clive Rowe and Bobbie Little in Soapdish, based on the infamous 1991 film starring Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Robert Downey Jr and Whoopi Goldberg. When Celeste Talbert, long time star of popular day-time soap opera The Sun Also Sets, is targeted by her ambitious younger co-star, a chain of events are set in motion which leads to the dramatic revelation of Celeste’s secret love child.

The cast of revival, The Assassination of Katie Hopkins will comprise of Maimuna Memon, Bethzienna Williams, Kirby Hughes, Rakesh Boury, Derek Hutchinson and Matthew Woodyatt. It’s easy to have an opinion online, safe behind the anonymity of a keyboard, just like, share and subscribe. But as the digital mob polish their pitchforks, the world starts to question just how free should free speech be?

Directed by Poppy Burton Morgan, Coldfront sees Anna Francolini, and Robbie Curran as two unlikely lovers who frequent the same park in this in this heart-warming new British musical about a blossoming romance between an autistic weather analyst and a tattooed park attendant. From award winning composer Jason Carr and librettist Poppy Burton-Morgan, Natalie Rozario will accompany on the cello.

Vinegar Stokes (Daniel Jacob) will play your host for Eurobeat: Pride of Europe, the latest iteration of the loving parody of the Eurovision Song Contest. This sequin-soaked satire will also star Matt Croke,  Scott Paige, Bronte Barbe and Amy Ross. Who takes the crown? You decide!

Musical parody of HBO’s Game of Thrones, Tyrell, will take you back to a not too distant medieval patriarchy. Telling the untold backstory of House Tyrell, the only Great House of Westeros to be lead by a woman. Kim Criswell will take on the role of the matriarch with Luke Bayer and Emma Kingston as the grandchildren she is grooming for greatness.

Playing brothers Reid and Jackson in Works of Art are Robin Simões da Silva and Javez Sykes with Siubhan Harrison playing Cassie and Natalie Dunne playing Iris. This intimate new folk musical about grief, new beginnings, and brotherly love follows them as they re-navigate their relationship as brothers after Reid’s transition and Jackson’s years away studying, and the unexpected loss of their Mother.

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR BLOOD BROTHERS 2020 SPRING TOUR

Bill Kenwright’s ‘Dazzling’ (Sunday Telegraph) production of the international smash hit musical Blood Brothers continues into Spring 2020 from 4 February 2020 at Theatre Royal, Brighton.  Starring Lyn Paul in the iconic role of Mrs Johnstone, she will be joined by Alexander Patmore as Mickey, Joel Benedict as Eddie, Danielle Corlass as Linda, Paula Tappenden as Mrs Lyons, Danny Taylor as Sammy and Robbie Scotcher as the narrator. 

The rest of the cast for Blood Brothers includes Tim Churchill, Paul Westwood, Josh Capper, Shaun McCourt, Graeme Kinniburgh, Hannah Barr and Grace Galloway.

Considered ‘One of the best musicals ever written’ (Sunday Times), Blood Brothers, written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell has triumphed across the globe. Scooping up four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Blood Brothers is simply ‘Unmissable and unbeatable’ (The Spectator).

This epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981 before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan. Blood Brothers also ran in London’s West End for 24 years, exceeding 10,000 performances, one of only three musicals ever to achieve such a milestone.

Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret. The memorable score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.

When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet. It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax.

Willy Russellis undeniably one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Educating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two-year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti. 

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Bill Kenwright presents

BLOOD BROTHERS

By Willy Russell

Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright

Designed by Andy Walmsley                                    Sound Designed By Dan Samson

Musical Direction by Tim Whiting                           Lighting Designed by Nick Richings

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is directed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando (Urinetown, On The Town) and stars Roger Bart (Desperate Housewives, Stepford Wives, The Producers) as ‘Doctor Emmett Brown’, Olly Dobson as ‘Marty McFly’, Hugh Coles as ‘George McFly’, Rosanna Hyland as ‘Lorraine Baines’ and Cedric Neal as ‘Goldie Wilson’.

Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical will have a book by Bob Gale, featuring 16 new song with music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A MUSICAL COMEDY

IS HEADED FOR LIVERPOOL

AT THE LIVERPOOL EMPIRE 11 – 15 AUGUST 2020

Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Music & Lyrics Limited are delighted to announce a new UK & Ireland Tour of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a musical comedy, with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, the creators of multi award-winning Jersey Boys, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the characters created by Charles Addams.  This follows a highly successful premiere tour in 2017.  The 2020 Tour will play the Liverpool Empire from 11^th to 15^th August and will once again be directed by Matthew White.  Casting is to be announced.

Pre-sale for ATG TheatreCard Members opens 10am Monday 27^th January

General on-sale opens 10am Tuesday 28^th January

Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows; she’s fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family! Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before — keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia.  Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.  All the usual clan are present – Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley et al.

Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman wrote or co-wrote the film screenplays for Sleeper, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Manhattan Murder Mystery, For the Boys and Intersection, and was head writer for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.  Rick Elice’s play, Peter and the Starcatcher, received nine nominations and won five 2012 Tony Awards.  He also wrote the book for The Cher Show, a musical based on the early life and career of Cher, which opened at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway in December 2018.  Andrew Lippa wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical, Big Fish, the music for the Broadway production of Aaron Sorkin’s play The Farnsworth Invention and the book, music and lyrics for the Drama Desk award-winning musical The Wild Party.  He wrote the song called ‘Evil Like Me’, which was sung by Dove Cameron and Kristin Chenoweth in the 2015 Disney film Descendants.

British director Matthew White has directed the UK Tours of Mr Stink, Carousel and The Producers, the UK Tour and West End run of the multi award-winning Top Hat, and, for the Menier Chocolate Factory, The Boy Friend, She Loves Me, Candide, Sweet Charity (and West End) and Little Shop of Horrors (and West End).

THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2020 UK & Ireland Tour is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Music & Lyrics Limited, and is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

For further information, please visit www.theaddamsfamily.co.uk Twitter: @AddamsFamilyUK

Performance Information

The Addams Family

Liverpool Empire Theatre

Tuesday 11^th – Saturday 15^th August 2020

Tue – Sat evenings 7.30pm, Wed & Sat matinees 2.30pm

Tickets from £13

Atgtickets.com/liverpool* ¦ 0844 871 3017*

*fees may apply. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge

Samantha Womack to join Strictly winner Tom Chambers in thriller classic.

‘Dial M for Murder’ is at The Lowry Tue 16 – Sat 20 June 2020

A brand new production of the classic thriller, Dial M for Murder, tours the UK in 2020, playing at The Lowry from Tue 16 – Sat 20 June. The genre-defining thriller –  based on Frederick Knott’s stage and screen play, made world-famous by Hitchcock’s iconic 1954 film – will be directed by Anthony Banks. 

TV and stage favourite, Tom Chambers, (Top Hat, Strictly Come Dancing) stars as the charismatic and manipulative Tony Wendice, a jaded ex-tennis pro who has given it all up for his wife Margot, played by Samantha Womack (The Girl on the Train, The Addams Family, Eastenders). When he discovers she has been unfaithful his mind turns to revenge and the pursuit of the ‘perfect crime’. Christopher Harper (Coronation Street, Strangers on a Train) performs in the dual roles of Captain Lesgate and Inspector Hubbard and Michael Salami (Hollyoaks) as Max Halliday, Margot’s lover.

Tom Chambers plays Tony Wendice. Tom’s theatre credits include: Crazy For You (UK tour); Private Lives (UK tour); White Christmas (Dominion); Top Hat (Aldwych); White Christmas (Sunderland Empire); The Rover (Young Vic Studio); Journey’s End (Courtyard Theatre); Bloody Poetry (Brockley Jack Theatre); Pendragon (City Theatre Broadway NYMT and Sadler’s Wells); October’s Children (NYMT and Hammersmith Lyric); Cyrano De Bergerac and Macbeth (Derby Rep Theatre); Damn Yankees (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre); The Innocents (Derby Playhouse) and Stepping Out (Electric GSA). Film includes: Fakers and Great in Britain: the Movie. Television includes: Midsomer Murders, Emmerdale, Casualty, Father Brown, The Great Train Robbery, Waterloo Road and Holby City. Radio includes: Mellow Magic every Saturday 10am-1pm.

Samantha Womack appears as Margot Wendice. Samantha Womack is best known for playing Ronnie Mitchell in BBC1’s EastEnders.

Her television credits include the leading roles of: Tanya in three series of Mount Pleasant, Ingrid in Home Again, Ruth in Babes in the Wood, Imogen in Imogen’s Face and Mandy in the hugely popular Game On. Samantha has also starred in Forgiven, The Last Detective, Strange, Judge John Deed, Liverpool 1, Pie in the Sky and The Grimleys. She also appeared in Silent Witness on BBC1. Samantha’s film credits include the box-office-breaking Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Kingsman: The Secret Service, One Night in Istanbul, Dead Man’s Cards, Lighthouse Hill, The Baby Juice Express, Up N Under and Breeders. Theatre credits include: The Girl on the Train (UK tour); The Addams Family (UK tour); Hope (Royal Court Liverpool); The Lincoln Centre’s production of South Pacific in the lead role of Nellie Forbush (Barbican and UK tour); Michael Grandage’s Guys and Dolls alongside Patrick Swayze (Piccadilly Theatre); Earth & Sky (UK tour) and Peter Hall’s production of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal (Theatre Royal Bath).

Christopher Harper performs as Captain Lesgate and Inspector Hubbard. Christopher’s theatre credits include: Strangers on a Train (UK tour); Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s’ Globe); Slipping (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough); The Wind in the Willows, Man of the Moment and Private Fears in Public Places (Royal & Derngate); I Know How I Feel About Eve (Hampstead Downstairs); The Night Before Christmas (Different Breed); The Village Bike (Sheffield Crucible Studio); A Kid Like Jake (Old Vic New Voices); Our Country’s Good and Journey’s End (Original Theatre Company); Persuasion, After Miss Julie and People at Sea (Salisbury Playhouse); Saturn Returns (Finborough Theatre); Light Shining in Buckinghamshire and Lie of the Land (Arcola). Television includes: Holby City, Endeavour, Coronation Street, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, Doctors, Upstairs Downstairs, The Bill, Heartbeat, The Roman Mysteries, Housewife 49, Life on Mars and Rosemary and Thyme. Chris also produced and voiced the award-winning charity animation The Mouse.

Michael Salami is Max Halliday. Michael Salami is a multi-award-winning actor. Born in America and raised in London, Salami discovered his passion for acting in 2007. Salami made his first on stage appearance at Oval Theatre in 2010 and has since then performed at The Old Vic, Soho Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith, Southwark Playhouse and Theatre503. Salami studied at Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York graduating in 2016 and since then has appeared in Hollyoaks; Catastrophe; The Temple and Magic Hour. His leading role in Just A Couple has landed him a number of nominations and awards such as a Screen Nation Award for Best Actor. Just A Couple is now in full development with Channel 4.

Anthony Banks directs Frederick Knott’s Dial M For Murder, adding to credits that recently include Gaslight and Strangers on a Train. His production of the hit thriller, The Girl on the Train, continues to tour the UK. The creative team is completed by David Woodhead, Designer; Katy Osborne, Resident Director; Lizzie Powell, Lighting Designer; Ben & Max Ringham, Sound Design; Betty Marini, Wigs Supervisor; Siobhan Boyd, Costume Supervisor, Luke Child as Production Manager and Alison de Burgh as Fight Director.