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THE JAMIE LLOYD COMPANY ANNOUNCE FULL CAST FOR

CYRANO DE BERGERAC

THE FIRST PRODUCTION IN A NEW SEASON AT THE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE

The Jamie Lloyd Company presents

Edmond Rostand’s

Cyrano de Bergerac

Freely adapted by Martin Crimp

Directed by Jamie Lloyd

Design: Soutra Gilmour; Lighting Design: Jon Clark; Sound and Composition: Ben and Max Ringham Fight Direction by Kate Waters; Casting by Stuart Burt CDG

Playhouse Theatre

27 November 2019 – 29 February 2020

The Jamie Lloyd Company, the successful partnership between Ambassador Theatre Group, the UK’s leading theatre company, and artistic director Jamie Lloyd, in association with British Airways today announce the full cast for Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, freely adapted by Martin Crimp, directed by Jamie Lloyd. Joining the Golden Globe and Olivier Award nominated James McAvoy (Cyrano de Bergerac) to complete the cast are Michele Austin (Ragueneau), Adam Best (Le Bret), Sam Black (Armand/Priest), Nari Blair-Mangat (Valvert), Philip Cairns (Referee), Tom Edden (De Guiche), Eben Figueiredo (Christian), Chris Fung (Usher), Adrian Der Gregorian (Montfleury), Carla Harrison-Hodge (Denise/Medic), Seun Shote (Theatre Owner), Kiruna Stamell (Marie-Louise), Nima Taleghani (Ligniere), and Anita-Joy Uwajeh (Roxane) with Vaneeka Dadhria, Mika Johnson andBrinsley Terence.

Cyrano de Bergerac is the first production in a new season directed by Jamie Lloyd which opens at Playhouse Theatre on 6 December, with previews from 27 November and runs until 29 February. Further productions to be announced.

Fierce with a pen and notorious in combat, Cyrano almost has it all – if only he could win the heart of his true love. There’s just one big problem: he has a nose as huge as his heart. Will a society engulfed by narcissism get the better of De Bergerac – or can his mastery of language set Roxane’s world alight?

The season also sees The Jamie Lloyd Company and Ambassador Theatre Group offering 15,000 free tickets and 15,000 £15 tickets for under 30s, key workers and those receiving job seeker’s allowance and other government benefits, supported by British Airways.

£15 tickets

These will be available for specific Monday evening and Thursday matinee performances across the season. The first four of these performances will go on sale on Monday 4 November at 12pm, and take place on 2 December (evening), 12 December (matinee), 16 December (evening) and 6 January (matinee).

Free tickets

A dedicated outreach manager will be distributing these tickets amongst both secondary state schools and community organisations who otherwise would not have access to the theatre. If you work with a group who does not have the means or opportunity to visit the theatre, please register your interest here.

Martin Crimp’s theatre credits include When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other, In the Republic of Happiness, Play House, The City, Fewer Emergencies, Cruel and Tender, The Country, Attempts on Her Life, The Treatment, Play with Repeats, Dealing with Clair, Definitely the Bahamas, Four Attempted Acts and Living Remains. His work in the UK has been produced by Orange Tree Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Stephen Joseph Theatre, RSC, Young Vic and the Royal Court Theatre where he was writer-in-residence in 1997. In New York his work has been seen at the Public Theater and the Classic Stage Company, as well as on Broadway.

Michele Austin plays Ragueneau. Her theatre credits include The Hunt, Medea (Almeida Theatre), White Teeth (Kiln Theatre), Instructions for Correct Assembly, Breath Boom, Been So Long (Royal Court Theatre), The Seagull (Lyric Hammersmith), Pride and Prejudice (Sheffield Theatres), The House That Will Not Stand, The Riots (Tricycle Theatre), I Know How I Feel About Eve, Out in the Open (Hampstead Theatre), To Kill a Mockingbird (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Sixty-Six Books (Bush Theatre), Generations (Young Vic), and Our Country’s Good (Out of Joint/Young Vic). For television, her work includes Dark Heart, The Coroner, Casual Vacancy, Death in Paradise, Harry & Paul, Secret Life, The Canterbury Tales and Gimme Gimme; and for film, The Children’s Act, What We Did on Our Holidays, Parking Wars, Another Year, The Infidel, Valentine’s Day, All or Nothing and Secrets and Lies.

Adam Best plays Le Bret. His theatre credits include The Duchess of Malfi (Royal Lyceum Theatre/Citizen’s Theatre), Medicine (Hope Theatre), The Girl on The Train (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Hedda Gabler, The Silver Tassie (National Theatre/UK tour), Lions and Tigers (Shakespeare’s Globe), Twelfth Night, The Plough and The Stars, (National Theatre), His Restless House, Hamlet (Citizen’s Theatre), Flare Path, Our Country’s Good, The Golden Dragon, Journey’s End (UK tour), The Deep Blue Sea (The Watermill Theatre), Long Day’s Journey into Night (Royal Lyceum Theatre), Crime and  Punishment, (Citizen’s Theatre/Liverpool Everyman), Public Enemy (Young Vic), The Woman in Black (Fortune Theatre), Northern Star (Finborough Theatre), Pieces of Vincent (Arcola Theatre), Truckstop (Company of Angels) and By the Bog of Cats (Wyndham’s Theatre). His television credits include as series regular Matt Parker in Holby City, Waking the Dead and The Catherine Tate Show; and for film, The Little Stranger, Cup Cake and Blooded.

Sam Black plays Armand/Priest. This production marks his professional stage debut.

Nari Blair-Mangat plays Valvert. His theatre credits include Colour is too Sweet (King’s Head Theatre), A Cord of Three Strands (RADA Festival), People, Places & Things (National Theatre/Wyndham’s Theatre), Macbeth (Manchester International Festival/Park Avenue Armory, NYC), Othello (Leicester Square Theatre), The Duchess of Malfi (The Old Vic) and Piaf (Vaudeville Theatre/Donmar Warehouse). His television credits include Temple; and for film Murder on the Orient Express, Cinderella, Spectre and Terry.

Philip Cairns plays Referee. His theatre credits include Peter Gynt (National Theatre), Pressure (Ambassadors Theatre), Two-Way Mirror (Theatre by the Lake), Villette (West Yorkshire Playhouse), The Crucible, Kill Johnny Glendenning (Royal Lyceum Theatre), A View from the Bridge, Dial M for Murder (UK tours), The Duchess of Malfi (The White Bear Theatre), ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore, Macbeth (Cheek by Jowl), Bacchae, Blood Wedding (Royal and Derngate Northampton) and The Pearlfisher (Traverse Theatre).

Vaneeka Dadhria is making her professional stage debut.

Tom Edden plays De Guiche. His theatre credits include Our Town (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Pinter Three (Pinter at the Pinter), Matilda (RSC/Cambridge Theatre), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Donmar Warehouse), Amadeus (National Theatre), Doctor Faustus (Duke of York’s Theatre), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Apollo Theatre), Measure For Measure (Young Vic), Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre) and Oliver! (Sheffield Theatres). His television credits include Upstart Crow, The Scandalous Lady W and Doctor Who; and for film Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Cinderella and Mr. Turner.

Eben Figueiredo plays Christian. His theatre work incudes Young Marx (The Bridge Theatre), Primetime (Royal Court Theatre), Ross, Pit Cairn (Chichester Festival Theatre), Peter Pan (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Around the World in 80 Days (St James Theatre); and for film, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Daphne.

Chris Fung playsUsher. His theatre credits include Evita (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), The Lehman Trilogy (National Theatre) and The King and I (Australian tour).

Adrian Der Gregorian plays Montfleury. His theatre credits include Made in Dagenham (Adelphi Theatre), Sweet Smell of Success (Arcola Theatre), Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Rocky Horror Show (UK tour), Once in a Lifetime (Young Vic), Mr Burns (Almeida Theatre) and Love and Understanding (Trident Theatre). His television credits include W1A.

Carla Harrison-Hodge plays Denise/Medic. Her theatre credits Amadeus (National Theatre), Hillside (Park Theatre), The Fruit Trilogy, Avocado and Pomegranate (Southbank Centre/ West Yorkshire Playhouse), #Caste (Arcola Theatre), Sweatin’ It Out (Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Boyband (The Pleasance) and Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down (The Lantern Theatre). Her television credits include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Year of the Rabbit, Cuffs, I Want My Wife Back and Fresh Meat.

Mika Johnson’stheatre credits include Pink Lemonade (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Boxes (Purple Theatre), Chessboard Society (Curve, Leicester), Behind Closed Doors (Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham) and #FaceMe (Contact, Manchester).

James McAvoy plays Cyrano de Bergerac. His theatre credits include The Ruling Class, Macbeth (Trafalgar Studios), Three Days of Rain (Apollo Theatre), Breathing Corpses (Royal Court Theatre), Privates on Parade (Donmar Warehouse) and Out in the Open (Hampstead Theatre). His television credits include Watership Down, Shameless, Early Door, State of Play and the upcoming His Dark Materials. His film credits include It 2, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Glass, Sherlock Gnomes, Submergence, Atomic Blonde, Split, X-Men: Apocalypse, Victor Frankenstein, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Filth – for which he won BIFA Best Actor Award, London Critics Circle Best British Actor Award, British Academy Scotland Best Actor Award andEmpire Award for Best Actor, X-Men: First Class, The Conspirator, Gnomeo and Juliet, The Last Station, Atonement – for which he won Best Actor at the London Film Critics Circle, Best Actor at Empire Film Awards and Richard Attenborough Film Awards; and was nominated for a BAFTA and Golden Globe, Becoming Jane, Starter for Ten, The Last King of Scotland – for which he won Best Actor BAFTA Scotland Award, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Bright Young Things.

Seun Shote plays Theatre Owner. His theatre credits include The Princess and The Hustler (UK tour), Pitchfork Disney (Shoreditch Town Hall), Bob, Routes (Royal Court Theatre), Hearing Things (Albany Theatre), City of God, Tickets & Ties (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Play Mas (Orange Tree Theatre), One Man, Two Guvnors, Death and the Kings Horseman (National Theatre), Egusi Soup, Our Country’s Good, Mother Courage and Her Children (UK tours), 12th Night (Nottingham Playhouse), Salome (Headlong Theatre), Sizwe Bansi is Dead (New Vic Theatre/Stephen Joseph Theatre), The Fortune Club (Tricycle Theatre/Leicester Haymarket) and Off Camera (West Yorkshire Playhouse). His television credits include Black Mirror, Unforgotten, Birds of a Feather, One Child, Little Miss Jocelyn and Little Britain; and for film, Bruno and Welcome to the Punch.

Kiruna Stamell plays Marie-Louise. Her theatre credits include The Government Inspector (Birmingham Rep), Everyman, An Oak Tree, Great Britain (National Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Octagon Theatre Bolton), The Ugly Spirit, For All The Wrong Reasons (Contact, Manchester) and Whiter Than Snow (UK tour/Unicorn Theatre/Birmingham Rep). Her television credits include Life’s Too Short, Cast Offs and All the Small Things; and for film, The Best Offer and Moulin Rouge.

Nima Taleghani plays Ligniere. His theatre credits include Macbeth (Royal Exchange Theatre), Armadillo (Yard Theatre), The Merry Wives of Windsor, Romeo and Juliet (RSC), Laika (Unicorn Theatre), Summit (UK tour), Blasted (Styx), The Plough and the Stars (US and Irish tour) and Mercury Fur (Hull Truck Theatre). His television credits include Hatton Garden; and for film 90 Minutes and Dublin Oldschool.

Brinsley Terence’s theatre credits include Downstate (National Theatre). For television, his credits include Tyrant and Murders, Mysteries and Scandals; and for film, ISIS: Conspiracy of Terror and The Down Staircase.

Anita-Joy Uwajeh plays Roxane. Her previous theatre credits include Two Trains Running (UK tour), King Lear (Duke of York’s Theatre), Grotty (Bunker Theatre), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe), Girls, Fury (Soho Theatre), and We Wait in Joyful Hope (Theatre503). For television, her credits include Lucky Man, Not Safe for Work and Transporter.

Jamie Lloyd directs. His credits for the company include Betrayal (Pinter at the Pinter, Harold Pinter Theatre/Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre), Pinter One, Two, Three, Six and Seven (Pinter at the Pinter, Harold Pinter Theatre), Doctor Faustus (Duke of York’s Theatre), The Maids, The Homecoming, The Ruling Class, Richard III, The Pride, The Hothouse, Macbeth (Trafalgar Studios). Other theatre credits include Evita (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Apologia (Trafalgar Studios), Guards at the Taj (Bush Theatre), The Pitchfork Disney, Killer (Shoreditch Town Hall), Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory), Urinetown (St James Theatre/Apollo Theatre), The Commitments (Palace Theatre), The Duchess of Malfi (The Old Vic), She Stoops to Conquer (National Theatre), The Faith Machine, The Pride (Royal Court Theatre – Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre), Inadmissible Evidence, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Polar Bears, Passion (Donmar Warehouse – Evening Standard Award for Best Musical and Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Musical Revival), Piaf (Donmar Warehouse/Vaudeville Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best Musical Revival), The Little Dog Laughed (Garrick Theatre), Three Days of Rain (Apollo Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best Revival), The Lover, The Collection (Comedy Theatre), Elegies: A Song Cycle (Arts Theatre), The School for Scandal (Theatre Royal Bath), Salome (Headlong), Eric’s (Liverpool Everyman) and The Caretaker (Sheffield Theatres). Lloyd was Associate Director of the Donmar Warehouse from 2008 to 2011 and is a former Associate Artist of Headlong.

Listings                                                                                                                                 CYRANO DE BERGERAC

Playhouse Theatre

Northumberland Avenue, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5DE

27 November 2019 – 29 February 2020

Please note reviews are embargoed until Monday 9 December 2019.

Box office: 0844 871 7631

https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/playhouse-theatre/

Please note £15 tickets must be booked via a special link on the ATG Tickets website and can only be picked up from the theatre box office 45 minutes prior to the show, and valid ID must be presented upon collection, or entry will be denied

http://thejamielloydcompany.com

Twitter: @JamieLloydCo

Instagram: @jamielloydco.

A FABULOUS FEAST OF FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

AT CROYDON’S FAIRFIELD HALLS THIS AUTUMN!

DANCE UMBRELLA TAKEOVER, VARIOUS, 18-19 OCTOBER
DONKEY DOTS WITH THE MUSICAL BALLOON BAND, ARNHEM FOYER, 14,21,18 OCT, 4,11,18,25 NOVEMBER, 2,9 DECEMBER
JUSTIN LIVE, PHOENIX CONCERT HALL, 22-23 OCTOBER
SATURDAY PROMS WITH THE MUSICAL BALLOON BAND, ARNHEM FOYER, 26 OCT, 23 NOV, 21 DEC
PEPPA PIG’S BEST DAY EVER, ASHCROFT PLAYHOUSE 6-7 NOVEMBER
TABBY MCTAT, ASHCROFT PLAYHOUSE, 2-14 DECEMBER
LONDON MOZART PLAYERS THE SNOWMAN, PHOENIX CONCERT HALL 23 DECEMBER

ALL THIS PLUS CINDERELLA – THE MAGICAL FAMILY PANTOMIME PREMIERING IN THE PHOENIX CONCERT HALL 10 DECEMBER – 5 JANUARY

DIGITAL BROCHURE SEPTEMBER 2019 – APRIL 2020 AVAILBLE TO VIEW HERE

Croydon audiences, as well as those from further afield, can enjoy a fabulous feast of family entertainment at Fairfield Halls this autumn. A packed programme of magical theatre, music, and dance, aimed at children of all ages and their grown-ups, is taking place in the venue which re-opened in September following a multi-million pound Croydon council-led restoration.

Fairfield Halls, which is run by social enterprise BH Live, has also signed up to the Family Arts Standards ‘Fantastic for Families’ scheme (fantasticforfamilies.com). This scheme helps families discover affordable and relevant arts and cultural activities in their local area.

Neil Chandler, BH Live’s Venue and Artistic Director at Fairfield Halls, said, “Fairfield Halls is a place for people to come together to be entertained, inspired and get a sense wonderment and wellbeing. We are here for the whole community to enjoy so it’s really important for us to grow and nurture our young audiences. We are doing this with a year-round programme of family focussed events and activities. Our autumn season is particularly eclectic and entertaining. With some free events to watch and take part in, familiar faces from children’s television, musical magic and story time classics there is plenty going on to suit every interest and pocket.

“And by pledging our commitment to the Fantastic for Families’ scheme too, we are making sure everyone has a thoroughly great time when they visit us.”

Dance Umbrella’s weekend takeover brings a mix of international dance, pop-up events, performance-parkour, homegrown talent, workshops and mayhem to the heart of Croydon. Full details here.

Theatrical adaptations of iconic children’s books playing at the Ashcroft Playhouse include Tabby McTat and Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever.

Justin Live! – CBeebies superstar and children’s favourite Justin Fletcher will be live on stage in the Phoenix Concert Hall in an all-singing, all dancing extravaganza.

The Musical Balloon Band will be filling the Arnhem Foyer with weekly child-friendly musical adventures: Donkey Dots (Mondays) is a free music and movement class for under fives, supporting early years development. Saturday Proms is an interactive child friendly concert show – live music with a twist!

Then as Christmas approaches, resident orchestra The London Mozart Players will perform the full orchestral score of iconic animated film of Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman, with music by Howard Blake live-to-picture – a pre-Christmas treat that’s perfect for the whole family. The programme also includes festive family favourites including a magical retelling of The Nutcracker in words and music, presented alongside stunning artwork animations created by art students from Riddlesdown School.

Finally, audiences of all ages will be able to enjoy a truly innovative and spectacular family pantomime in the Phoenix Concert Hall – Cinderella. This brand new exciting production created especially for the Fairfield Halls will star TV star and Strictly winner Ore Oduba making his pantomime debut as ‘Dandini’ alongside hilarious comedian and presenter Tim Vine as the lovable ‘Buttons’ and CBeebies favourite Cat Sandion will be making magic as the Fairy Godmother. This will be a panto like no other featuring stunning special effects, side-splitting comedy, big song and dance numbers and bags of audience participation that will thrill audiences young and old.

To see the full programme of events visit fairfield.co.uk

Emma Rice to receive Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre

Award at the UK Theatre Awards 2019

Theatremaker Emma Rice is to be honoured with this year’s Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award at the 2019 UK Theatre Awards, in recognition of the unique, innovative and socially relevant work that she has created and directed all over the country, and her significant influence on the contemporary theatre landscape.

The award will be presented by designer Vicki Mortimer during the ceremony on Sunday 27 October at London’s Guildhall.

Ahead of accepting the award, Emma Rice said:

‘Oh my! I am proud, excited and utterly thrilled to be receiving the Outstanding Contribution Award at the UK Theatre Awards. This award is particularly meaningful to me as it not only recognises the body of work I have made over the years, but also the community of artists that I have made it with – a treasured community that remains loyal and inspirational to this day, as Wise Children goes from strength to strength. I started my career in the South West, found my directorial voice in Cornwall and have toured the country finding friends and ideas wherever I went. Regional theatre is the pumping blood of British theatre and has given me a real and creative home to invest in, flourish in and return to. I am truly lucky and so grateful. 27 October here I come!’

A performer, director and Artistic Director at Kneehigh for 20 years, Emma went on to become Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe in 2016, before founding her own company Wise Children last year, based in the South West.

Over the course of a prolific career, Emma has created and directed iconic and critically acclaimed productions including The Flying Lovers Of Vitebsk, Tristan And Yseult, The Wild Bride, The Red Shoes, Brief Encounter and A Matter Of Life And Death for Kneehigh, the West End production of The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg, the Shakespeare’s Globe productions Romantics Anonymous and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the RSC production of The Empress, and recent touring adaptations of Angela Carter’s Wise Children and Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers for Wise Children. Wise Children also runs a unique professional development programme, training a new and more diverse generation of theatre practitioners. 

Past recipients of UK Theatre’s Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award include critic Lyn Gardner, actor Ian McKellen, choreographer Matthew Bourne and actor Maxine Peake.

The full list of nominations for this year’s UK Theatre Awards is available on the UK Theatre website.

@UK_Theatre #UKTawards

Churchill Theatre, Bromley – until 19 October 2019

Reviewed by Elizabeth J Smith

5*****

I loved the book The Girl On The Train and was extremely disappointed by the film, so what of the play?

The Girl on the Train is a story of manipulation, passion and jealousy.

We watch as Rachel sinks lower into despair, defeated by the demon drink. She has lost her husband, her job and now her home. She faces allegations of murder and as she can’t remember what she has done the night before or almost any nights lately, how will she unravel this puzzle as to what happen to Megan Hipwell. Prior to the night she died, Megan had been the fantasy character in Rachel’s confused and deteriorating mind. As she watched Megan and her husband from the train she built a whole world for this coupled and as fate would have it, they lived just down the road from Rachel’s ex husband, Tom, and his new wife Anna.

Rachel’s own story reveals how she got where she is today but was it really all her doing or was there a driving force behind her demise? Could she really kill someone? As the story unfolds and the drunken fog in her mind begins to clear can she work out what really went on that fateful Saturday night.

Samantha Womack, Rachel Watson, gives a tremendous performance of a woman losing herself in the bottle. From her unkempt appearance, to her untidy home, she convinces us of Rachel’s demise into blackout mode and confusion. Her portrayal of a functioning drunk is subtle and
totally convincing. As we follow Rachel’s story Samantha transform her into a less confused individual to one that is thinking clearer each day.

Oliver Farnworth, plays Scott Hipwell, the grieving husband of the deceased Megan. He expertly shows us how love can turn to hatred and violence in a flash. But does that make him a killer?

Adam Jackson-Smith, convinces us of Tom Watson’s caring side as he tends to his ex wife in her hour of need and we watch the transformation of Tom into a manipulative monster who will do anything to secure his perfect life.

John Douglas, DI Gaskill, brings a lighter side to this destructive story, with great one liners and an air of “it’s just a job” attitude.

The rest of the characters are played with finesse, unravelling each twist and turn of the story to reveal the unexpected finale.

So as for the play, I loved it.

The staging was dark, with minimalist sets, emphasising the depressing state of Rachels mind and situation.

This for me was a truer interpretation of the original book and if you love a murder mystery you’d be hard pressed to find one as good as this.

KING’S HEAD THEATRE PRESENTS

A PUCCINI DOUBLE-BILL

OPERA UNDONE: TOSCA & LA BOHEME

AT TRAFALGAR STUDIOS 2

FROM 5 FEBRUARY – 7 MARCH 2020

The Olivier Award nominated producers of the 2017 smash-hit La bohème, present a Puccini double-bill, Opera Undone: Tosca & La bohème, in brand new English versions by David Eaton and Adam Spreadbury-Maher. The production will run at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 5 February to 7 March 2020. Adam Spreadbury-Maher, Artistic Director of the King’s Head Theatre, will also direct the production, with musical direction from David Eaton. 

Opera Undone is a new strand of the King’s Head Theatre’s celebrated opera programming, whereby famous operas are radically reimagined in a punchy 60-minute format and sung entirely in English. This revolutionary new form tears up the opera rulebook for a whole new generation. Newcomers to opera, along with diehard fans will be able to experience in one evening two enthralling tales of love, heartbreak and deception as they’ve never been told before. 

La bohème is a thoroughly modern look at relationships, addiction and co-dependency in London’s hip and happening Peckham. On-off couple Marcus and Melissa navigate the emotional complexities of a polyamorous relationship, whilst flatmate Rod’s gratification on Grindr is disrupted when he meets the beautiful and enigmatic Luca. 

Tosca is an electrifying tale of love, lies and abuse in present-day Hollywood. Amidst the glitz and glamour of Tinsel Town, an all-powerful producer preys on an actress, seeking to manipulate and distort her relationship with an up-and-coming screenwriter for his own nefarious and troubling purposes.  

The King’s Head Theatre’s Artistic Director, Adam Spreadbury-Maher, founded the Cock Tavern Theatre, OperaUpClose and the Hope Theatre before joining the King’s Head Theatre as Artistic Director in 2010. In 2009, Adam produced La bohème at the Cock Tavern and Soho Theatres which won the Olivier Award for Best Opera and was nominated for Best New Opera in 2017. Since becoming Artistic Director of the King’s Head Theatre, Adam’s directing highlights include Trainspotting and therecent 35th-anniversary production of Kevin Elyot’s Coming Clean, also returning to Trafalgar Studios 2 in 2020.

David Eaton has been the Musical Director of leading chamber opera company, Charles Court Opera, for over ten years, and has worked with them on productions from across the classical repertoire, most notably Gilbert & Sullivan but also Puccini, Mozart, Ligeti, Peter Maxwell Davies and Rodgers. As an accompanist, he has played at concert venues across the country including St. John’s Smith Square, the Purcell Room and the Wigmore Hall as well as performing several times live on Radio 3 and BBC Television. David has also had translations performed at the Grimeborn Festival. 

Opera Undone: Tosca & La bohème will be directed by Adam Spreadbury-Maher, with musical direction from David Eaton, with design by Amanda Mascarenhas and lighting by Nic Farman.

This production is produced by King’s Head Theatre, Making Productions and RGM Productions in association with DeVere Productions.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

5 February – 7 March 2020

Trafalgar Studios 2

14 Whitehall

London

SW1A 2DY

Performances: Monday & Tuesday 7pm, Wednesday-Saturday 7.45pm, Thursday & Saturday 3pm

Previews: All £20

Monday – Thursday (& Saturday Matinees): £25 – £30

Friday & Saturday Evenings: £35 – £45

Box Office: 0844 871 7632

Website: www.atgtickets.com/shows/coming-clean/trafalgar-studios

Twitter: @KingsHeadThtr

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingsheadtheatre

Instagram: @kingsheadtheatre

THE MORMONS ARE COMING TO BIRMINGHAM!

PUBLIC BOOKING OPENS ON TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2019

The Book of Mormon, Broadway’s smash-hit musical written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez, is coming to Birmingham Hippodrome next year from 4 March 2020.

Public booking for the Tony®, Olivier® and Grammy® award-winning show will open at 10am on Tuesday 22 October at www.thebookofmormonmusical.com and www.birminghamhippodrome.com.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the creators of the Emmy and Peabody award-winning television show, South Park, now in its twenty second season, and the feature films South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and Team America: World Police.

Robert Lopez co-created the Broadway musical Avenue Q and co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen and Coco. He is one of only fifteen artists to win all four major entertainment awards – Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar® and Tony® Awards.  

The Book of Mormon follows a pair of Mormon boys sent on a mission to a place that’s a long way from their home in Salt Lake City.

Since making its world premiere in March 2011 at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre, where it won nine Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon has been performed on three continents and won over thirty international awards. The musical has smashed long-standing box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and cities across the U.S.

The London production opened in February 2013, winning four Olivier Awards® including Best New Musical, and breaking the record for the highest single day of sales in West End history. It has sold out every one of its 2766 performances to date at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

Book, Music and Lyrics are by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone.  Directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon has choreography by Casey Nicholaw, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, sound design by Brian Ronan, orchestrations by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus and music supervision and vocal arrangements by Stephen Oremus.

The Book of Mormon is produced by Anne Garefino, Scott Rudin, Important Musicals and Sonia Friedman Productions.

Public booking opens Tuesday 22 October at 10am. For tickets visit www.thebookofmormonmusical.com, www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000 (4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge). 

THEATR CLWYD ANNOUNCES NEW WORK FOR 2020

With the world première of Emily White’s Pavilion running at the theatre, and the company’s large-scale promenade show Mold Riots about to take to the streets, Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd Tamara Harvey and Executive Director Liam Evans-Ford today announces the company’s new season, which centres on two world premières by Seiriol Davies and Alan Harris.

The season opens with Milky Peaks – a fiercely hilarious new musical written and composed by Seiriol Davies, which opens at Theatr Clwyd on 30 March, with previews from 20 March, runs until 11 April, and then embarks on a tour across Wales; followed by a brand new comedy from award-winning Welsh playwright Alan Harris, For The Grace of You Go I, which opens on 30 April, with previews from 27 April, and runs until 9 May.

Tamara Harvey said today, “We’re properly proud of the extraordinary talent here in Wales, and delighted to share their unique voices with audiences across the nation. Following Emily White’s brilliant debut with Pavilion and the forthcoming Mold Riots by Bethan Marlow we stage Seiriol Davies’ new musical Milky Peaks – lyrically nimble and musically exhilarating, his songs and stories are rich, nuanced and intensely funny. We then welcome Alan Harris, one of the best comedic playwrights of his generation, with his new play For The Grace Of You Go I, exploring humanity in its most personal and intimate moments while still finding light, and laughter, in darkness.”

Highlights of the visiting season include the stage adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, Kate Wasserberg’s production of Richard Cameron’s The Glee Club, The Croft with Gwen Taylor, and Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art with Matthew Kelly; as well as dance from Rambert and National Dance Company Wales, and the hit new musical SIX.

THEATR EMLYN WILLIAMS

Theatr Clwyd, Áine Flanagan Productions and Seiriol Davies present the world première of

MILKY PEAKS

Written and composed by Seiriol Davies

Devised by Seiriol Davies, Matthew Blake and Dylan Townley

Directed by Alex Swift; Additional composition by Dylan Townley

20 March – 11 April

An edgy and extremely funny musical comedy.  Nestled in the heart of Snowdonia, the small town of Milky Peaks is nominated for ‘Britain’s Best Town’. The award brings with it a dark right-wing agenda, threatening the heart and soul of the town. Can the community club together to save the identity of their beloved Milky Peaks?

Milky Peaks reunites Davies with collaborators Matthew Blake, Alex Swift, Dylan Townley and Áine Flanagan Productions.

Seiriol Davies trained at LISPA. He is the writer, composer and star of queer musical How to Win Against History, which was the critical and audience smash of the 2016 and 2017 Edinburgh Fringe, and toured England and Wales extensively before a run at London’s Young Vic, which was extended due to popular demand. He previously worked with companies and artists including Punchdrunk, Caroline Horton, Verity Standen, Underbling & Vow, Christopher Green and Gideon Reeling. He has written work for The Old Vic, Gate Theatre, National Theatre Wales and English National Opera. Upcoming work includes the musical Betty! – co-written with Maxine Peake – for the Manchester Royal Exchange.

Alex Swift is the Artistic Director at Permanent Red and Associate Artist at Daedalus Theatre Company. Directing for theatre includes All of Me(Summerhall, Edinburgh and The Yard, London), How to Win Against History (Young Vic and tour),  An Injury (Ovalhouse), Heads Up (Summerhall, Edinburgh and tour), Luca Rutherford’s Political Party (ARC Stockton and tour), Instructions For Border Crossing (Summerhall and tour), Me & Mr C (Ovalhouse, Alphabetti Theatre and tour), Fat Man(Vault Festival and tour), Error 404 (Polka Theatre and tour), Mess (Traverse theatre and tour), I Told You This Would Happen (ARC Stockton and tour) and Puffball (BAC and Yard Theatre).

Milky Peaks has been supported by the National Theatre New Work Department, Theatr Clwyd, Arts Council England and Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru.

THEATR EMLYN WILLIAMS

Theatr Clwyd presents the world première of

FOR THE GRACE OF YOU GO I

By Alan Harris

Director: James Grieve

27 April – 9 May

Jimmy’s writing messages. In pepperoni. On top of pizzas. Adding meats to “handmade” artisan pizzas, Jim’s life is going nowhere. But after watching the film I Hired A Contract Killer, he’s found a solution – he puts out a hit on himself. A darkly funny, quick witted, fastmoving new comedy by acclaimed writer Alan Harris.

Alan Harris’ plays include Sugar Baby (Edinburgh Fringe 2017, Soho Theatre 2018), How My Light is Spent (winner of the Judges’ Award at the 2015 Bruntwood Prize, produced by the Royal Exchange, Manchester, Sherman Theatre and Theatre By The Lake), Love, Lies and Taxidermy (Paines Plough, Theatr Clwyd and Sherman Theatre), The Opportunity of Efficiency (New National Theatre Tokyo / National Theatre Wales), A Good Night Out in The Valleys (the inaugural production of the newly formed National Theatre Wales), The Future For Beginners (liveartshow / Wales Millennium Centre), The Magic Toyshop (Invisible Ink / Theatr Iolo), Cardboard Dad (Sherman Cymru), Miss Brown To You (Hijinx Theatre), and Orange (Sgript Cymru).

James Grieve returns to Theatr Clwyd to direct – he previously directed The Assassination of Katie Hopkins. He was joint Artistic Director of Paines Plough – the UK’s national theatre of new plays – where his credits for the company included Out Of Love, Black Mountain and How To Be A Kid (Roundabout, Theatr Clwyd and Orange Tree), Angry Brigade and Jumpers For Goalposts (Bush Theatre), Hopelessly Devoted (Tricycle Theatre, UK Tour), Wasted (Latitude Festival), Tiny Volcanoes (Liverpool Everyman) You Cannot Go Forward From Where You Are Right Now (Traverse Theatre). Other credits include the forthcoming God’s Dice (Soho Theatre), the award-winning Translations (Sheffield Theatres), The Whisky Taster, Psychogeography (Bush Theatre) and The List (Arcola Theatre).

Listings                                                                                                                                  Theatr Clwyd

Raikes Lane, Mold CH7 1YA

Box Office: 01352 701521

www.theatrclwyd.com/en/

www.theatrclwyd.com

LEGENDARY BALLET DANCER AND TV STAR WAYNE SLEEP

& CORONATION STREET FAVOURITE

KEVIN ‘CURLY WATTS’ KENNEDY

LEAD AN ALL-SINGING ALL-DANCING CAST IN

CINDERELLA

AT THE CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE

Cambridge Arts Theatre is delighted to announce the full principal cast for this year’s traditional family pantomime, Cinderella, with legendary ballet dancer and TV personality Wayne Sleep leading the cast for a second year as an Ugly Sister, alongside Corrie’s Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts), playing Baron Hardup.

Sleep made his Arts Theatre debut as the evil Abanazar in the 2018 pantomime Aladdin, but is best known for his legendary career at the Royal Ballet, achieving a coveted scholarship which led to him to become a senior principal dancer for the company. He famously set a world record by performing an entrechat-douze – the most jumps ever completed in the step. His stage credits include originating the role of Mr Mistoffelees in Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats in the West End, the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and over 20 pantomimes. Notable recent TV appearances include The Chase, Celebrity Big Brother and The Real Marigold Hotel.

Kevin Kennedy will play Baron Hardup in his Arts Theatre debut. Best known for playing Curly Watts on ITV’s Coronation Street for 20 years, Kennedy has starred in numerous pantomimes, and has most recently starred as Dennis Dupree in the Rock of Ages musical from 2018- 2019.

They are joined by acclaimed stage and television actress Liza Goddard as the Fairy Godmother, who returns to Cambridge following her Arts Theatre appearances as Fairy Beansprout in Jack and the Beanstalk and the Empress in Aladdin. Goddard is much loved for her roles as the glamorous jewel thief Philippa Vale in Bergerac, Mrs Jessop in Woof! and Clarissa ‘Clancy’ Merrick in Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, as well as numerous stage roles.

Cambridge’s #1 pantomime dame, the hilarious Matt Crosby (The Importance of Being Earnest) will take centre stage alongside Sleep in his fourteenth pantomime at the Arts Theatre, but his first as an Ugly Sister!

Charlotte Kennedy will star as Cinderella. Kennedy made her professional debut in Les Misérables in the West End and also appeared in Honeymoon in Vegas (London Palladium) and Elaine Paige in Concert (The Royal Albert Hall).

Isaac Stanmore will play Buttons. Stanmore originated the role of Saul in Sally Cookson’s Hetty Feather in 2014, other stage works includes Robin & Marian and Dracula.

Completing the cast are Emily Squibb as Prince Charming, whose recent credits include first cover for Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein and The Wizard of Oz at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and Nancy Hill playing Dandini. Nancy’s musical credits include Legally Blonde, Sweeney Todd and Hairspray.

Cinderella is directed by Phil Clark, who boasts over 40 years’ experience as a professional theatre director and writer. His previous productions include Horrible Histories Live on Stage, Roald Dahl stage adaptations The BFG and George’s Marvellous Medicine as well as last year’s Arts Theatre pantomime Aladdin.

The biggest and best Christmas show in town, presented with the Arts Theatre’s trademark blend of singalong tunes, spectacular dance routines, dazzling costumes and classic panto jokes, Cinderella opens on Thursday 28 November 2019 and runs until Saturday 11 January 2020. For full information and ticket prices visit www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

LISTINGS

CINDERELLA
Cambridge Arts Theatre
Directed by Phil Clark
29 November 2019 – Saturday 11 January 2020
Press Night: Tuesday 3 December at 7.30pm

Address: 6 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ

Box Office: 01223 503333

Website: www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Ticket Prices: Children tickets: £19 – £26 / Adult tickets: £20 – £46

Access performances:
BSL performance: Sunday 1 December, 1pm
Relaxed performance: Saturday 14 December, 11am
Audio Described performance: Saturday 11 January, 1pm (Touch Tour available – Booking essential)

CHRIS CROSS:”The Great Magician of the North”

He’s Performed for The Royal Family, Countless Celebrities around the Globe, Appeared on National Television and now Chris Cross the Magician is Celebrating 20 years in Showbusiness by embarking on his FIRST EVER THEATRE TOUR this Autumn!

Between 19th October – 19th November Cross will be Appearing (and Disappearing) at 10 Theatres in the North of England, with his Show featuring some of his trademark Comedy Magic Tricks and Daredevil Escapology Stunts.

You can expect some brand new material too – including the revival of some BBC TV illusions that belonged to his late hero, Paul Daniels. After Paul’s death, last year Cross uncovered a dozen of the Master Magician’s props in a barn in Wales and they haven’t been performed in Over 20 years. Paul used the props on Television in the 70’s & 80’s…

Full story about Cross discovering Paul’s forgotten props here:      https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/paul-daniels-tv-magic-tricks-13372556

In the past 12 months, Cross has Performed both Nationally and Internationally for lots of Celebrity & VIP events – He’s appeared on BBC’s The ONE Show and He was a Surprise Special Guest on the US illusionist, David Blaine’s, First Ever UK Tour.

You can read more about the Show with Blaine, here:      https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/17696602.david-blaine-invited-chris-cross-to-help-with-with-a-trick/

Over the years Cross has Performed his multi-award winning magic tricks for Prince Charles’s State Visit to Northumberland, Boy George’s 50th Birthday Party, Mike Tyson’s Sportsmans Dinner, Alan Shearer’s Private Party, Alice Cooper’s Press Conference, Consulting for The Hairy Bikers Theatre Tour, Providing Backstage Entertainment for Miles Kane, Ocean Colour Scene and The Arctic Monkeys – to name but a few celebrity clients! He has Amused & Entertained everyone in his path – from New York to New Zealand, Bahrain to Duabi, Brazil to Bangkok, London to Paris and most places in-between! 

CROSS Says: ”I’m Very Excited to be Finally embarking on a Touring Magic Theatre Show this Autumn in my native North-East – I’ve wanted to tour Theatres with a Magic Show since I was 12 years Old, after watching Paul Daniels on stage in Newcastle. This will be the First Tour of Many more to come I hope and I’ve Specifically Priced the Tickets to make my Show affordable to almost anyone that wants to come along and Enjoy a Proper Night out at The Theatre. We are living in a World where Theatre and Arena Shows are only for the Wealthy, sadly, with Ticket Prices more expensive than ever before. My show IS affordable and I think Entertainment needs to be kept LIVE – and that can only work if the people buy the tickets.So get off your ipads and portable devices, round up your friends and family for some Quality time together and come and enjoy a proper Comedy, Magic and Variety Show in the Decadent surroundings of your local theatre!’

The Great Magician of the North Tour will feature some Special Guests; Including Comedians Jimmy Cricket, Bobby Pattinson & Sue Sweeney. 

“CHRIS HAS PERFORMED SEVERAL TIMES AT ALNWICK CASTLE AND HAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. HE IS VERY PROFESSIONAL WITH A WONDERFUL SKILL FOR ENTERTAINING HIS AUDIENCE AND HIS NATURAL ABILITY TO KEEP PEOPLE FASCINATED THROUGHOUT HIS PERFORMANCE IS QUITE UNIQUE.”– HER GRACE, THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND

VIDEO: You can see Chris Cross in action HERE:       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7MwXGnHlCU&t=6s

Chris Cross Autumn Tour Dates & Venues:–

19th October: Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle (With Guests)

25th October: Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond (Support TBA)

27th October: The Exchange, North Shields (With Sue Sweeney)

1st November: Majestic Theatre, Darlington (Support TBA)

3rd November: Theatre Royal, Wakefield (With Jimmy Cricket)

9th November: Alun Armstron Theatre, Stanley (With Bobby Pattinson)

10th November: Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham (With Bobby Pattinson)

15th November: Arts Centre, Washington (With Bobby Pattinson)

16th November: Kirkgate Arts Centre, Cockermouth (Support TBA)

19th November: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (Support TBA)

Alex Turner Productions and Trish Wadley Productions

in association with Park Theatre present

THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY REVIVAL OF 
CLYBOURNE PARK
By Bruce Norris

Directed by Oliver Kaderbhai

25 March – 2 May

Alex Turner Productions and Trish Wadley Productions, in association with Park Theatre, today announce the 10^th anniversary revival of Bruce Norris’ seminal play Clybourne Park. The production opens on 30 March, with previews from 25 March, and runs until 2 May.

A timely 10^th anniversary production of this razor-sharp satire about the politics of race and real estate, winner of both the Tony and Olivier Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for author Bruce Norris.

In 1959, Russ and Bev are moving to the suburbs after the tragic death of their son and have sold their house to the neighbourhood’s first black family. 

Decades later, the roles are reversed when a young white couple buys the lot in what is now a predominantly black neighbourhood, signalling a new wave of gentrification. In both instances, a community showdown takes place – are the same issues festering beneath the floorboards fifty years on?

Bruce Norris is an American actor and playwright who lives in New York. He is the author of Clybourne Park, which premiered at Playwrights Horizons in New York, in 2010, before transferring to the Royal Court Theatre and the West End. A playful response to Lorraine Hansberry’s seminal drama, A Raisin in the Sun, Clybourne Park is the only play to date to have received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony, Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Play. His other plays include The Infidel (2000), Purple Heart (2002), We all Went Down to Amsterdam (2003), The Unmentionables (2006), A Parallelogram (2010) and Downstate (2018) which were all first produced by Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago; The Pain and the Itch (Playwrights Horizons, Steppenwolf, 2004, Royal Court Theatre, 2007; winner of Chicago’s Jefferson Joseph Award for Best New Work); The Low Road (Royal Court Theatre, 2013), Domesticated (Lincoln Center, 2013), and The Qualms (Playwrights Horizons, 2014). He is the recipient of the Steinberg Playwright Award (2009) and the Whiting Foundation Prize for Drama (2006). As an actor he can be seen in the films A Civil Action, The Sixth Sense and All Good Things.

Oliver Kaderbhai is an actor, director, producer and founding Artistic Director of DELIRIUM. He is currently performing in The Man in the White Suit at the Wyndham’s Theatre. His experience in the UK spans Fringe to the West End working with actors such as Andrew Scott, Kate Fleetwood, James Norton and Orlando Bloom, and he has created six productions with DELIRIUM which have sold out venues across the UK. Director credits include Striking 12 (Union Theatre), Songs of Abdulkarim (59 Productions), Peter Pan (Co-Director, Chichester Festival Theatre), One Minute (The Vaults), The Provok’d Wife (Go People), From Where I’m Standing (Pegasus Theatre), Oranges on the Brain (Pegasus Theatre), Go To Your God Like A Soldier (Old Vic Tunnels), and Your Nation Loves You (Old Vic Tunnels). Movement Director credits include Killer Joe (Trafalgar Studios), The Dazzle (Found 111), BUG (Found 111), Almost Maine (Park Theatre), Phenomena (The Albany), Dhow Under The Sun (KSF/META, UAE); and Assistant or Associate Director credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Running Wild (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Guys and Dolls (Playmakers Rep, USA) . 

Listings                                                                                                                                        Clybourne Park

Park Theatre, Park 200

Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP

Box Office: 020 7870 6876*

Mon – Sat from 10am – 6pm (excluding Sunday and public holidays)

www.parktheatre.co.uk

In person: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri from 3pm – 8pm and Thu and Sat from 12pm – 8pm. Sun closed (Tickets can be purchased from the ground floor cafe bar during opening times)

*No booking fee online. Telephone booking fee applies.

Tickets:

Previews £18.50

Standard £18.50-£32.50

Performances: Mon – Sat Evening 19.30, Thu & Sat Matinees 15.00

Park Up Members (16-26 yrs):

Tickets £10 (25 March – 1 April, subject to availability).

Find out more about joining the Park Up scheme here.

Concessions are available, for further information, please see the website (www.parktheatre.co.uk)

Groups: Buy 10 tickets, get the 11^th free

Audio described performance: Tue 28 April 19.30, Touch Tour at 18.00

Twitter: @ClybourneParkUK

@parktheatre