Month: May 2015

Footage from the press nights of McQueen at St.James Theatre on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 May. This includes interviews with celebrity guests and the McQueen family.
https://youtu.be/d3q5gIchSug

NEW PLAY EXAMINING HUMAN IMPACT OF CUTS TO THE LEGAL AID SYSTEM

The cast for the world premiere production of THE INVISIBLE by Rebecca Lenkiewicz is: Nicholas Bailey, Niall Buggy, Alexandra Gilbreath, Scott Karim and Sirine Saba.

The production, directed by Michael Oakley, previews from 3 July (press night 8 July).

THE INVISIBLE is a new play by Rebecca Lenkiewicz about the recent changes to the provision of legal aid. Based on interviews with real people at all levels of the British justice system, this play aims to tell the stories of those ordinary people affected by the cuts and to examine how they are driving ever deeper cracks into the fabric of our society.  With cuts currently totalling £350m, the reforms to the legal aid system are arguably one of the biggest threats to human rights in Britain today.

Nicholas Bailey’s theatre credits include Macbeth (Mercury Theatre), Soho Streets (Soho Theatre),Breakfast with Mugabe (Theatre Royale Bath), Mela (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Become a Man(Hackney Empire), Blue on Blue (Haymarket Basingstoke), A Sense of Justice (Perth Rep), Mother Courage and Her Children (Shared Experience), Dreaming (Manchester Royal Exchange, West End), Life is a Dream (Barbican), Ease Access (For the Boys) (Drill Hall), Life is a Dream (Edinburgh Royale Lyceum), King Lear (Royal National Theatre), Hamlet (Manchester Library Theatre), The Winter’s Tale(Manchester Library Theatre), and  Julius Caesar (Manchester Royal Exchange). For television, Nicholas is best known for playing Dr Anthony Truman on EastEnders, other credits include Siblings (BBC3),Doctors (BBC), Anubis House (Lime Pictures, Nickelodeon), Law & Order UK (Kudos), and Miranda(BBC).

Niall Buggy is an Oliver Award-winning actor whose best known roles include Uncle Vanya (Lyric Theatre,Belfast), for which he won Best Actor in the Irish Times Theatre Awards, Aristocrats (National Theatre) for which he won a number of awards including the Time Out Award, Obie Award in New York, Drama Desk Award and a Clarence Derwent Award. He was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance in Dead Funny. His most recent theatre credits include The Importance of Being Ernest(Harold Pinter Theatre), Translations (Sheffield Crucible), Haunted (The Playhouse Theatre, Sydney),After Play (Gate Theatre), A Girl with a Pearl Earring (Haymarket Theatre) and Guys and Dolls (Donmar Warehouse). Niall’s film credits include Mamma Mia, Casanova, The Butcher Boy, Alien 3 and The Playboys. Some of his television credits include Inspector Lewis, Dalziel and Pascoe, Father Ted, The Bill and The Professionals.

Alexandra Gilbreath is an Olivier Award-nominated actor whose theatre credits include Shakespeare’s Birthday Bash (RSC), The Merry Wives of Windsor (RSC), Playhouse Creatures (Chichester Festival Theatre), Shallow Slumber (Soho Theatre), Othello (Sheffield Crucible Theatre), The Village Bike(Royal Court Theatre), Hay Fever (Rose Theatre Kingston), Twelfth Night (RSC Stratford/ West End),Lucky You (Magic Key Productions), Merry Wives: The Musical (RSC), The Tamer Tamed (RSC), The Taming of the Shrew (RSC), As You Like It (RSC), Romeo and Juliet (RSC), The Winter’s Tale (RSC),Cyrano De Bergerac (RSC/ West End), The House of Bernarda Alba (Gate Theatre), Hedda Gabler(English Touring Co./ Donmar), Ghosts (RSC), Love’s Labour’s Lost (RSC), King Lear (West Yorkshire Playhouse). Alexandra’s television credits include Father Brown (BBC), Casualty (BBC), WPC 56 (BBC),Doctors (BBC), EastEnders (BBC), Midsummer’s Night’s Dreaming (RSC/ Google), Inspector George Gently (Company Pictures) and Not Going Out (BBC). Film credits include A Hundred Streets, Tulip Fever, The All Together, and Dead Babies.

Scott Karim’s theatre credits include The Merchant of Venice (Globe Theatre), Dara (National Theatre), Great Britain (National Theatre/ Theatre Royal Haymarket),  Grand Budapest Hotel (Secret Cinema), and Othello (National Theatre). For television he has appeared in Holby City (BBC).

Sirine Saba’s previous theatre credits include The Keepers of Infinite Space (Park Theatre); The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night and HMS Pinafore(Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); The Fear of Breathing (Finborough); Scorched (Old Vic Tunnels);Nation, Sparkleshark (NT); The Spiral (Royal Court); Testing the Echo (Out of Joint/Tricycle); Baghdad Wedding (Soho Theatre); Beauty and the Beast, Midnight’s Children, Pericles, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tales From Ovid and A Warwickshire Testimony (RSC);Cinderella (Bristol Old Vic) and House/Garden (Northampton).

Rebecca Lenkiewicz is an award-winning writer who, in 2008, was the first living female playwright to have her work produced on the Olivier Stage at the National Theatre, London. Rebecca is currently under commission to Out of Joint Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, and the National Theatre. Rebecca’s screenplay Ida, co-written with Pawel Pawlikowksi, won Best Film at various festivals including the London Film Festival as well as the Oscar for best foreign language film at this year’s awards.

Michael Oakley’s most recent credit is directing Caroline Quentin in The Life and Times of Fanny Hillat Bristol Old Vic Theatre. In 2012 he was Co-Artistic Director of Theatre on the Fly – a pop-up venue at Chichester Festival Theatre – where his productions included the acclaimed Playhouse Creatures. Prior to this, he was Trainee Director in Residence at Chichester Festival Theatre, and a recipient of the prestigious JMK Award for young directors.

James Graham’s political thriller THE ANGRY BRIGADE is currently playing in the main house.

THE INVISIBLE will be followed in the Bush’s autumn season by F*CK THE POLAR BEARS by Tanya Ronder (11 September – 24 October 2015) and FORGET ME NOT by Tom Holloway (8 December 2015 – 16 January 2016), which is a co-production between the Bush Theatre and HighTide Festival Theatre.

RADAR, the Bush Theatre’s annual festival of new writing, will take place in November 2015. Full line-up and ticket information to be announced.

 

LISTINGS
3 July – 15 August 2015
THE INVISIBLE
By Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Press night 8 July, 7pm

Mon to Sat at 7.30pm
2.30pm Saturday matinees (from 11 July)
2.30pm Wednesday matinees (from 15 July)

BushGreen Live Debate: In an age of austerity, why defend legal aid?
22 July, post-show

Captioned performance 24 July, 7.30pm
Audio described performance 1 August, 2.30pm

Ticket prices:

Evenings: £20

• £12.50 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
• £15.50 for Senior Citizens
• £12.50 for students/under 26s
• 10% off for Bush Local members

Previews: £15.50

• £10.50 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
• £12.50 for Senior Citizens
• £10.50 for students/under 26s
• £12.50 for Bush Local members

Matinees: £15

• £10.00 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
• £10.00 for students/under 26s
• £10.00 for Senior Citizens
• 10% off for Bush Local members

Season Offers*

Season 3 for 2
See 3 shows for the price of 2. Valid for top price tickets only, shows must be purchased at the same time. Not valid for previews, matinees or RADAR.

Live or work locally – Join our free local membership scheme Bush Local for £12.50 preview tickets, 10% off all other performances and a 10% discount at the Cafe Bar. For more information and to become a member, visit bushtheatre.co.uk

Educational Groups – Schools tickets are £10 (matinees) and £12.50 (evenings), plus one teacher goes free with every 10 pupils. To reserve tickets, please call the Box Office between 12 – 8pm.

Bush Connect scheme – A free membership scheme for students and under 26s, BUSH CONNECT offers its members £10-£12.50 tickets for all Bush Theatre productions, a 10% discount at the Cafe Bar, special offers, giveaways and competitions, and exclusive events and networking opportunities.

Group Bookings – Book for a group of 11 or more people and the 11th person will go for free.

*Terms and conditions apply, see the Bush website for further information.

The cast of the multi-award winning British musical SUNNY AFTERNOON will perform live at two prestigious events in London’s summer music calendar.

On Sunday 13 September, the cast will share a bill with Madness, Kelis and Laura Mvula as they perform at the OnBlackheath Festival.

Before that, on Thursday 11 June, the cast will play the London Music Awards at the Roundhouse in Camden. The Awards are organized by the Mayor’s Music Fund and other performers will include Laura Doggett, Ibibio Sound Machine and Belle Chen.

SUNNY AFTERNOON is a new musical which tells the story of The Kinks, with music, lyrics and original story by Ray Davies, book by Joe Penhall, and directed by Edward Hall. The production won four awards at the 2015 Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (John Dagleish), Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (George Maguire), and Outstanding Achievement in Music (Ray Davies).

Sunny Afternoon is currently booking until 24 October 2015, at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London.

John Dagleish and George Maguire play Ray Davies and Dave Davies of The Kinks respectively, alongside Ned Derrington as Pete Quaife and Adam Sopp as Mick Avory, who complete the band.

Full cast: Carly Anderson, Jason Baughan, Philip Bird, John Dagleish, Ned Derrington, Lillie Flynn, Emily Goodenough, Elizabeth Hill, Vince Leigh, George Maguire, Amy Ross, Jo Servi, Adam Sopp, Dominic Tighe and Tam Williams.

Featuring some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola,Sunny Afternoon marks the 50th anniversary of the band’s rise to fame.

Following a sold-out run at Hampstead Theatre, this world premiere production, with music and lyrics by Ray Davies, new book by Joe Penhall, original story by Ray Davies, direction by Edward Hall, design by Miriam Buether and choreography by Adam Cooper, opened at the Harold Pinter theatre on 28 October 2014. Lighting is by Rick Fisher, sound by Matt McKenzie and the Musical Supervisor and Musical Director is Elliott Ware.

The official cast recording album, produced by Ray Davies at his Konk studios, is released on BMG Chrysalis and is available to buy at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunny-Afternoon-The-Kinks/dp/B00NH8O7LU.

Sonia Friedman Productions commissioned Joe Penhall in 2011 to write the book based on Ray Davies’s original story. The company developed the production over the next four years, assembling the creative team and cast that presented Sunny Afternoon last year at Hampstead Theatre under the direction of Edward Hall, and now at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Ray Davies is an influential and prolific rock musician and was co-founder and lead singer and songwriter for rock band The Kinks, and later a solo artist. He has an outstanding catalogue of hits from the earliest 1960s to the present day with estimated record sales in excess of 50 million. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theatre and television.

Joe Penhall is an award winning playwright and screenwriter. Plays include Some Voices (Royal Court),Blue/Orange (National Theatre and West End), winner of Best New Play at the Evening Standard Awards, Olivier Awards and at the Critics Circle, and Dumb Show, Haunted Child and Birthday (all Royal Court). Screenplays include Enduring Love and The Road.

As Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre, Edward Hall’s productions include Wonderland, Sunny Afternoon, Raving, Chariots of Fire, No Naughty Bits, Loyalty and Enlightenment. As Artistic Director of Propeller, his work has toured worldwide, played the West End and Broadway and has won numerous awards both in the UK and overseas. Other theatre work includes A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (National Theatre), Edmond with Kenneth Branagh (National Theatre), Macbeth with Sean Bean (Albery), The Constant Wife (Apollo), Julius Caesar (RSC), Henry V (RSC) and The Deep Blue Sea(Vaudeville). Television work includes Downton Abbey, Spooks and Kingdom.  Edward is an Associate of the National Theatre and the Old Vic.

Sonia Friedman Productions
with Tulchin Bartner Productions, Greg Ripley-Duggan for Hampstead Theatre Productions, Tanya Link Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Glass Half Full Productions, Rupert Gavin present
SUNNY AFTERNOON
In association with Hampstead Theatre and Arlon Productions

 

Soap heart throb Jamie Lomas is making the most of starring on stage in the UK’s stag do capital, Newcastle, to explore some of its most famous bachelor party haunts with his fellow cast members.  Dead Simple – a thriller concerning a stag-do gone wrong, is playing all week at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

 

The award-winning actor will be familiar to soap fans as EastEnders’ murderous Jake Stone and before that bad boy Warren Fox from Channel 4’s Hollyoaks.

 

Based on the best-selling novel by Peter James, Dead Simple sees Jamie, who plays groom Michael Harrison, buried in a coffin with everyone who knows his whereabouts dead. Everyone but one person… and Detective Roy Grace must race against the clock to find that person and rescue the victim before it’s too late!

 

Jamie stars alongside Tina Hobley, who returns to the stage having graced TV screens for the last 12 years as ward sister Chrissie Williams in the BBC 1’s Holby City as well as roles in Coronation Street and Harbour Lights before that and was seen earlier this year in Celebrity Master Chef. She currently presents the prime time Sunday morning programme on Smooth Radio.

 

Dead Simple also stars Rik Makarem who played Nikhil Sharma in Emmerdale and previously appeared in Torchwood and Michael McKell who played Dr Nick West in Doctors as well as DC Nick Henshall in Emmerdale.

 

The role of the famous Detective Roy Grace is played by Gray O’Brien, the award-winning star of Coronation Street, TV seriesTitanic, Peak Practice and Casualty as well as Sleuth in the West End. He will follow up his critically acclaimed performance in previous Peter James adaptation, The Perfect Murder, by playing the detective in this gripping, chilling, thriller that has all the classic suspense, twists and turns of a best-selling Peter James novel.

 

Peter James has gone straight in at number one in the Sunday Times bestseller charts seven times in the last four years with his Roy Grace series. The international bestselling crime thriller novelist has won numerous awards both in the UK and in the USA, Peter has sold over 15 million books of his Roy Grace series, and is published in 36 languages. Dead Simple has itself sold over 2 million copies around the word and has been a number one best seller in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Holland and Russia

 

Dead Simple is the second of James’ novels to be adapted for the stage and Peter said: “From the age of eight, when my parents first took me to the Theatre Royal in Brighton, it had been my dream that one day the curtains would rise in a theatre and a play of my work would be performed.  That dream came true after a chance meeting with my old friend, producer, Joshua Andrews, at a party in November 2012.

“Josh had seen first-hand the success of the recent Agatha Christie stage productions and he joked that I was the nearest thing to a living modern day Agatha Christie – so he asked if I had any novels that I felt might adapt well to the stage. The result was the first run of The Perfect Murder, over 16 weeks from early January this year, and to my delight it played to packed houses, enthusiastic audiences and a great critical response around the country and has just started its second tour this autumn!

“It is a real thrill now for Josh and I to be launching our second collaboration, an adaptation by the brilliant Shaun McKenna, of my first Roy Grace novel, Dead Simple. It’s a tale of treachery and deceit, which seems to touch a nerve in everyone who reads it and has been one of my best-selling books to date.”

 

“I had myself locked in a coffin for 30 minutes as part of my research, and it was one of the scariest moments of my life. It’s so many people’s worst nightmare to be buried alive and I’m looking forward to recreating some of that terror in the theatres soon with another incredible cast of actors!”

 

Dead Simple appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 26 – Sat 30 May 2015 (Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinees: Wed and Thur 2.30pm). Tickets from £14 (online price) Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.

 

TELL ME ON A SUNDAY

Friday 22 April at 7:30pm

Following her acclaimed performance in the Watermill’s 2014 production of Calamity Jane, Jodie Prengernow steps into Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s classic musical, TELL ME ON A SUNDAY.

TELL ME ON A SUNDAY charts the romantic misadventures of a young English girl in New York in the heady days of the 1980’s. Brimming with optimism, she seeks success and love. But as she weaves her way through the maze of the city and her own anxieties, frustrations and heartaches she begins to wonder whether she’s been looking for love in all the wrong places. This iconic musical, with a wonderful original score, features Unexpected Song the chart-topping Take That Look Off Your Face and title track Tell Me on A Sunday.

Originally conceived for television, TELL ME ON A SUNDAY has been performed by many legendary musical theatre stars including Marti Webb and Sarah Brightman. This new 2016 production directed by Paul Foster includes an intimate post-show chat with Jodie about life, love and playing the role of Emma.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s numerous awards include 7 Tonys, 3 Grammys, 7 Olivier’s, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, 2 Emmys and the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre.

Tickets:  £23.50, £26.50, £30

Box Office:  0844 871 3024

Online Booking:  www.atgtickets.com/york

GLENN CARTER REPRISES ROLE AS JESUS

 

MUSICAL THEATRE STAR TIM ROGERS AS JUDAS ISCARIOT

 

X FACTOR FINALIST RACHEL ADEDEJI AS MARY MAGDALENE

 

IN JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

 

THE WORLD’S OLDEST STORY, THE WORLD’S GREATEST ROCK MUSICAL

 

The explosive new production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ground-breaking rock opera, is set to continue its major UK tour into the autumn.

Leading performer Glenn Carter returns as Jesus, a role he has played in the West End, on Broadway and on film. His extensive musical theatre credits include leading roles in Whistle Down the Wind, Les Misérables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Godspell and Merrily We Roll Along.

Australian star Tim Rogers made his UK stage debut 15 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Tim’s musical theatre credits include The Man in Whistle Down the Wind (UK Tour and West End), West Side Story, Jersey Boys,The Full Monty, Aspects of Love and the title role in Jekyll & Hyde at the Union Theatre. Most recently he starred inCarousel at the Arcola Theatre London.

X Factor finalist Rachel Adedeji plays Mary Magdalene direct from the UK and European tour of Thriller Live. The cast also includes David Burilin, Alistair Lee, Ed Handoll, Andy Barke, Tim Oxbrow, Richard J Hunt, Johnathan Tweedie, Cellen Chugg Jones, Michael Ward and Lizzie Ottley.

 

Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright reunite to direct Jesus Christ Superstar, a partnership that has seen them at the helm of iconic musicals including Evita (in the West End and on tour) and Blood Brothers; a show they have directed for almost 30 years, scooping up no less than four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway.

Jesus Christ Superstar exploded onto the musical scene in 1971. Stunning audiences, it changed the face of musical theatre forever. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.

As compelling today as it was at its inception over 40 years ago, Jesus Christ Superstar features some of musical theatre’s most legendary songs from I Don’t Know How to Love Him, Everything’s Alright, Gethsemane andSuperstar.

Bill Kenwright by special arrangement with the Really Useful Group presents

Jesus Christ Superstar

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber     Lyrics by Tim Rice

Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright

Designed by Paul Farnsworth

Choreographed by Carole Todd

Lighting designed by Nick Richings

Sound designed by Dan Samson

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR – 2015 UK TOUR DATES

 

Monday 30 June – Saturday 4 July                                 Box Office: 0115 989 5555

Nottingham, Theatre Royal                                                             Website: www.trch.co.uk

Monday 6 – Saturday 11 July                                                           Box Office: 08448 482700

Leeds Grand Theatre                                                                        Website: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

Monday 13 – Saturday 18 July                                                        Box Office: 0844 871 7652

Milton Keynes Theatre                                                                     Website: www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 21 – Saturday 25 July                                                        Box Office: 0844 871 3012

Bristol Hippodrome                                                                           Website: www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 September                                               Box Office: 01492 872000

Llandudno, Venue Cymru                                                 Website: www.venuecymru.co.uk

Monday 7 – Saturday 12 September                                             Box Office: 01323 412000

Eastbourne, Congress Theatre                                                      Website: www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

Monday 14 – Saturday 19 September                                           Box Office: 08448 112121

Newcastle, Theatre Royal                                                               Website: www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Monday 21 – Saturday 26 September                                           Box Office: 0844 871 7646

New Wimbledon Theatre                                                 Website: www.atgtickets.com

Monday 28 September – Saturday 3 October                             Box Office: 0844 871 3020

Oxford, New Theatre                                                                        Website: www.atgtickets.com

Monday 5 – Saturday 10 October                                  Box Office: 0844 871 7648

Glasgow, King’s Theatre                                                  Website: www.atgtickets.com

Monday 12 – Saturday 17 October                                                Box Office: 0844 871 3024

York, Grand Opera House                                                                Website: www.atgtickets.com

Monday 19 – Saturday 24 October                                                Box Office: 01603 630000

Norwich, Theatre Royal                                                                    Website: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Monday 26 – Saturday 31 October                                                Box Office: 01872 262466

Truro, Hall for Cornwall                                                                    Website: www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

Monday 2 – Saturday 7 November                                Box Office: 0844 338 5000

Birmingham, Hippodrome Theatre                                               Website: www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Monday 9 – Saturday 14 November                                              Box Office: 01224 641122

Aberdeen, His Majesty’s Theatre                                  Website: www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

THE PRODIGY

UK & EU TOUR ANNOUNCED

WITH SUPPORT FROM PUBLIC ENEMY

METRO RADIO ARENA, NEWCASTLE

THURSDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2015

 

“The most exciting – and most angrily British – album of the year”

***** Kerrang!

 

“The strongest and most confident Prodigy album since ‘The Fat Of The Land”

8/10 NME

 

“They’ve done it again and you can’t help but love ‘em for it”

8/10 Mixmag

 

This is another shape-shifting evolution in a career full of them. That’s how The Prodigy stay vital”. Q

 

Having recently landed their 6th consecutive #1 album with the supreme force that is ‘The Day Is My Enemy’, and straight off the back of two sold out shows at Alexandra Palace to round off their UK tour, The Prodigy are pleased to announce a run of further live shows across the UK and Europe to close 2015 with support coming from Public Enemy.

 

Liam Howlett said: “We are hyped to announce we have our old skool heroes Public Enemy joining us on our UK and European tour.”

 

If you can’t wait that long to experience the new album live, you can catch The Prodigy headlining Isle of Wight Festival in June and T In The Park in July.

 

Tickets costing £27.50 & £39.50 will go on sale 9.30am Friday 29th May 2015 and are available online, from the booking hotline number 0844 493 6666 or from 10.00am in person from the Metro Radio Arena Box Office.

 

Tickets are available from:-

• Credit Card Booking and Information Line 0844 493 6666
• The Metro Radio Arena Newcastle Box Office (Mon – Fri: 10.00am – 4.00pm, Sat: 11.00am – 2.30pm)
• Internet Site:- www.metroradioarena.co.uk
• Group Bookers should call (0191) 260 6006
• Accessible Bookings should call (0191) 260 6066 for further details

Empire Theatre, Sunderland – 23 May 2015

I thoroughly enjoyed Spamalot, a fabulous feel good show, but I also ended up being part of it.  I was sat at the end of the row and became the lucky person who “found” the Holy Grail under my seat.

Dragged up on stage, the lights really are bright and its impossible to see the audience.  I was presented with a crown, a tin of Spam and a photo to remind me of my exploits.  And it was my birthday so a double celebration.

The show itself is hilarious.  Joe Pasquale as King Arthur is a born entertainer, breaking the fourth wall and corpsing all over, seeming like he is having genuine fun in the role. He is assisted by his trusty peasant Patsy played by real life son, Joe Tracini. Pasquale is utterly loveable in the role, playing it with all the tongue in cheek humour it requires. But Tracini has a very clear singing voice and great comedic timing ensuring he gets as many laughs as his dad.

Richard Kent was worth the trip for his camp-as-a jamboree Prince Herbert, complete with a stunning falsetto voice as part of an incredible range. Richard Meek was hilarious as the only-slightly-more-butch Sir Dennis Galahad and the Black Knight, who came to a sticky, limbless end. Jamie Tyler, similarly, displays great versatility and skill as the In, then Out of, the Closet Sir Lancelot (his disco scene is eye-wateringly funny), the superior French taunter (marvellous), the feral Tim the Enchanter and the quite wonderful Knight of the Ni.

Will Hawksworth, as cowardly Sir Robin and Josh Wilmot as a great Sir Bedevere and an even better Mrs Galahad, with typical, Python-esque, squeaky tones, all deserved their places at the Round Table of song-and-dance excellence.

As the dazzling, delicious diva The Lady Of The Lake, Sarah Earnshaw is quite amazing. She has one of those gutsy soprano belts which is versatile and perfect in every way, for the vocal demands in this part. Come With Me, The Song That Goes Like This, Find Your Grail and The Diva’s Lament are all sensational to watch and listen to with Earnshaw’s Lady in full vocal throttle. With perfect comedy timing she is a truly terrific turn.

While Spamalot is most memorable for the comedy its songs are equally strong. The anthem Always Look on the Bright Side of Life sung by the entire cast at the end is bound to leave you with the feel-good factor.

And to be part of this fabulous show was a fantastic experience for me – I shall wear my crown with pride

Touring the country at the moment see www.spamalotontour.co.uk/home for dates

BRUNTWOOD PRIZE FOR PLAYWRITING 2015

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER BRITAIN’S BIGGEST PLAYWRITING COMPETITION

CLOSES FOR ENTRIES ON 5 JUNE AT 6PM

The 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 10th anniversary competition is now entering its final two weeks for submissions, the competition closes for entries on 5 June. Writers of all levels of experience have been invited to enter plays, which must be original, unperformed and unproduced. The winner will receive a prize of £16,000 and a full production of their play at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. The competition, which runs every two years, is a unique partnership between the Royal Exchange Theatre and property company Bruntwood.

Two of 2013’s winners – YEN by Anna Jordan, and THE ROLLING STONE by Chris Urch – received their world premieres at the Royal Exchange this year.

The judging panel for this year’s prize is chaired by Nicholas Hytner, former Artistic Director of the National Theatre. The full judging panel is as follows:

• Nicholas Hytner (former Artistic Director, National Theatre)
• Sarah Frankcom (Artistic Director, Royal Exchange Theatre)
• Vivienne Franzmann (playwright and former Bruntwood winner)
• Ramin Gray (Artistic Director, Actors Touring Company)
• Bryony Lavery (playwright)
• Michael Oglesby CBE (Chairman, Bruntwood)
• Miranda Sawyer (writer and broadcaster)
• Meera Syal CBE (actor and writer).

The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is open to writers in the UK and Ireland aged 16 and over.

Entries opened on 30 January 2015 and can be submitted online at www.writeaplay.co.uk  The closing date is 6pm on 5 June 2015.

The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is Britain’s biggest playwriting competition.  This round will mark the 10th anniversary of the Prize, which has supported the development and productions of a significant number of playwrights since its inception in 2005.  17 playwrights have been awarded a total of £160,000.  There have been thirteen critically acclaimed productions of winning entries, as well as a number of productions of plays elsewhere that were identified through the judging process.

Over 9,000 entries have been generated from across the United Kingdom and winning playwrights have gone on to have work produced at the Royal Court Theatre, Almeida Theatre, on Broadway and in the West End.  It is a significant investment in playwrights and support for new work on stage.  More information about the Prize can be found at www.writeaplay.co.uk/about.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED FOR

LEEDS GRAND THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE LTD

 

Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House Ltd – the Company that manages Leeds Grand Theatre, City Varieties Music Hall and Hyde Park Picture House – has today announced the appointment of a full time, interim Chief Executive.

Chris Blythe has been involved with LGTOH Ltd for over a year as part of his role as Leeds City Council’s Principal Finance Manager thus making him well-placed to use his relationships and contacts at the Council to start the process of the Company’s change of governance to an Independent Trust as announced in March this year.

Theatres’ Director Andrew Macgill will continue to work one day a week on specific projects until the end of the year.

Chris said, “The Management Team at LGTOH Ltd has done sterling work in the last year and has announced a surplus for 2014/15. I am looking forward to working with them to build on those positive foundations.”

“As the City prepares its bid for Capital of Culture 2020 it’s important that these three historical venues remain at the heart of the City’s cultural offering, maintaining a good relationship with the Council and continuing to do what they do best – entertaining the people of Leeds and Yorkshire.”

Chris Blythe starts the position with immediate effect.