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

SPONSORED BY THE LAW SOCIETY OF ENGLAND AND WALES

The world premiere production of THE INVISIBLE by Rebecca Lenkiewicz will be directed by Michael Oakley (The Life and Times of Fanny Hill, Bristol Old Vic; Variation on a Theme, Finborough). The production previews from 3 July (press night 8 July).

In a first for both organisations, the Bush Theatre production of THE INVISIBLE will be sponsored by The Law Society of England and Wales, the independent professional body for solicitors. Under its President Andrew Caplen, the Law Society launched its Access to Justice campaign in September 2014, highlighting the human impacts of the cuts and to the legal aid system.

Law Society President Andrew Caplen said:  “We are delighted to be sponsoring this production. The theme of The Invisible chimes very clearly with our Access to Justice campaign. Cuts to legal aid have forced more and more people into ‘do it yourself’ justice where representing themselves is the only option other than to take no action at all for themselves and their families. This creative partnership will raise awareness of the importance of the role of lawyers within our justice system. The fundamental concept of the rule of law is nothing more than an ideal if people cannot obtain access to justice.”

THE INVISIBLE (3 July – 15 August 2015) 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.

Casting to be announced.

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.

Show And Tell present: So It Goes By On The Run Theatre This profoundly moving, gently funny and near-wordless depiction of grief returns to stages across the UK, following a sell out hit run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2014. TOURING NATIONALLY, 10 March – 5 June 2015 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 30th May 7.45pm ‘I’ve never seen a depiction of grief that is quite as deft, daring, amusing and moving. An extraordinary debut’ The Times «««««

‘A gorgeous, profoundly moving show… this young company have a very bright future’

Telegraph ««««

So It Goes, the critically acclaimed debut of On The Run, was made seven years after co creator Hannah Moss lost her own father to cancer. Near-wordless, the show uses captions on white boards to explore her own true story, deftly capturing her battle to discuss her Father’s death while navigating a poignant journey of memory, laughter and sorrow.

The performance is the first to come from Lecoq-trained company On The Run, created by Hannah Moss and David Ralfe, whose friendship serves as the foundation for the unraveling of the story. The reality of one friend helping another resonates throughout the performance as the two work through Moss’ childhood, teen years and adulthood, recounting the story with heartfelt honesty, playful touches and a cartoon-esque cardboard set.

Co creator of the show Hannah Moss said, “I was with David at the Edinburgh Festival in 2012, six years after my Dad died, when I had the idea for So It Goes. I was inspired by the shows that didn’t rely on spoken language, and I started to try and talk about my dad and my experience through writing on a whiteboard. Talking about my dad had been hard until then, but I felt freed by the whiteboard and it became the central part of the show, symbolising a universal theme: how difficult it is to talk about grief.”

On The Run presents the work of Hannah Moss and David Ralfe who seek to create visual theatre which is comic, touching and truthful. Formed in 2014, the company also curate No Such Thing, a regular night of short-form visual, physical and experimental theatre, in partnership with Rhum & Clay Theatre Company and the New Diorama Theatre.

David trained at the Jacques Lecoq International Theatre School in Paris, after reading English at Cambridge University. He was invited onto the National Theatre Directors Course in 2013. Directing credits include The Flying Roast Goose (Out of Chaos, Blue Elephant Theatre 2014). As Company Director of Let Slip, David wrote and performed inHamster Town (Camden People’s Theatre 2011) and Machines For Living (Blue Elephant Theatre 2012, Edinburgh Fringe 2012).

Hannah studied English at Manchester University, where she performed regularly in drama and musical theatre. She worked as an Administrator at the Blue Elephant Theatre between 2011-12, during which she also worked as Producer for Machines For Living by Let Slip. Hannah has also taken part in workshops led by Jill Norman, Artistic Associate of Hoipolloi and Thomas Prattki, Founder & Director of London International School of Performing Arts.

ontheruntheatre.co.uk | showandtelluk.com | @ontheruntheatre | #Soitgoes | @Show_And_Tell

Running Time: 60 mins | Suitable for ages: 12+

Development supported by the Blue Elephant Theatre and Kings Head Theatre.

Company Information

Devised and performed by Hannah Moss and David Ralfe

Lighting design by Celia Dugua

Design by Emma Tompkins                                                      

Listings information

10 Mar                                                                   The Arts Centre, Ormskirk

Edge Hill University, St Helens Rd, Ormskirk L39 4QP

£10 (£8 concs) | 7.30pm

www.edgehill.ac.uk | 01695 584480

 

12 – 13 Mar                                                           Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS

£12 (£11 concs) | 8pm

www.marlowetheatre.com | 01227 787787

 

25 Mar                                                                   Square Chapel, Halifax

10 Square Road, Halifax HX1 1QG

£13 (£11 concs) | 8pm

www.squarechapel.co.uk | 01422 349422

 

26 Mar                                                                   Upstairs at the Carriageworks, Leeds

3 Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 3AD

£10.50 (£8.50 concs) | 7.45pm

www.leeds.gov.uk/carriageworks | 01132 243801

 

27 Mar                                                                   New Wolsey Studio, Ipswich

St Georges Street, Ipswich IP1 3NF

£10, (£5 concs) | 7.45pm

www.wolseytheatre.co.uk | 01132 243801

 

8 – 18 Apr                                                             Shoreditch Town Hall, London

380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT

£12.50 | 8pm

www.shoreditchtownhall.com | 020 7739 6176

 

23 Apr                                                                    The North Wall, Oxford

South Parade, Oxford OX2 7JN

£13 (£11 concs) | 8pm

www.thenorthwall.com | 01865 319450

 

25 Apr                                                                    Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Southend

430 London Road, Southend SS0 9LA

£12.50 (£10 concs) | 8pm

www.southendtheatres.org.uk | 01702 351135

 

25 Apr                                                                    Theatre Royal, Margate

Addington Street, Margate CT9 1PW

£12 (£11 concs) | 7.30pm

www.theatreroyalmargate.com | 01843 292795

 

8 – 10 May                                                            The Basement, Brighton

24 Kensington Street, Brighton

£12.50 (£10.50 concs) | 7.30pm

www.brightonfringe.org | 01273 917272

 

15 May                                                                   The Lowry, Salford Quays

Pier 8, Salford Quays M50 3AZ

£12 | 8pm

www.thelowry.com | 0843 208 6000

 

25 May                                                                   Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter

162/3 Fore Street, Exeter EX4 3AT

£10 (£8 concs) | 7.30pm

www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk | 01392 434169

 

30 May                                                                   Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA

£12.50 (£10.50 concs) | 7.45pm

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk | 01142 496000

 

2 Jun                                                                      New Diorama Theatre, London

15 – 16 Triton Street, London NW1 3BF

Times and prices TBC

www.newdiorama.com | 020 7916 5467

 

4 – 5 Jun                                                                                Greenwich Theatre, London

Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES

Times and prices TBC

www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk | 020 8858 7755

 

Following a sell-out run at The Royal Opera House, BalletBoyz are set to bring their explosive choreography to Darlington Civic Theatre later this month.

theTalent is a superb double bill from BalletBoyz featuring ‘The Murmuring’ choreographed by Alexander Whitley and ‘Mesmerics’ choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. The programme premiered at the Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House last year to capacity audiences and tours for the first time this spring playing at Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 26 May.

Alexander Whitley has chosen the subject/title of The Murmuring for his new piece; as well as a low, distinctive and continuous sound, murmurings is also the extraordinary undulating flight pattern of flocks of birds, particularly starlings. “I’m delighted The Murmuring is going out on the road,” says Alexander, “and that I’ve had another opportunity to work with the BalletBoyz after having enjoyed so much working with them making the piece.” Set to music by the London based electronic duo Raime (Tom Halstead and Joe Andrews) the precise nature of Alexander’s choreography contrasts arresting group dances with twisting, weighted solos; the company’s ten dancers create a seamless ebb and flow of beautiful movement.

Mesmerics is a piece created by Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, co-founders and artistic directors of BalletBoyz , with Christopher Wheeldon in 2004 for three men and two women. Christopher has reworked the piece and re-created it for eight of theTalent’s dancers. “We’ve always loved the piece,” says Michael Nunn. “The music is a gorgeous score by Philip Glass featuring haunting, hypnotic string sections. We knew it wouldn’t work in the old format because there’s a lot of pointe work and traditional partnering, so Chris has re-invented it and we’ve worked with him in tiny moments through his busy schedule.”

BalletBoyz perform at Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 26 May. Tickets* are priced £21, £19 and for under 16s £11

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy

CONTINUING THE COMPANY’S FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH SHAKESPEARE SERIES OF PRODUCTIONS FOR 8 – 13 YEAR OLDS ACROSS THE UK

UPDATED WITH CASTING AND FULL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

From 2 June 2015

Performances in Warwickshire and Stratford-upon-Avon, followed by UK tour playing in schools and theatres in Birmingham, Hull, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle upon Tyne, Leicester, Cornwall, and a visit to The Ohio State University

Press Performance:
1pm, Thursday 11 June, Clifton Primary School, Birmingham

 

The Royal Shakespeare Company continues its commitment to creating live theatre for young audiences with its First Encounters with Shakespeare production of The Famous Victories of Henry V – a 90 minute adventure condensing the three great plays of Henry IV Parts I and II andHenry V.

Directed by Owen Horsley, and aimed at 8-13 year olds, the production will open in June 2015 in schools in Warwickshire and the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon before embarking on a six week UK tour of schools and regional theatres, then travelling to the US to play at The Ohio State University.  UK locations include Birmingham, Hull, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle upon Tyne, Leicester and Cornwall.

Using Shakespeare’s original language, The Famous Victories of Henry V introduces us to notorious bad boy Prince Hal as he swaps his rebellious life on the streets of London for the battlefields of France to become one of the most famous heroes in British history. Hal’s epic journey into adulthood will lead its young audience through a life of scandal, parties, friendships, family feuds, rebellion and new responsibilities, ending in glorious victory as the once infamous Prince of England becomes the brave and noble King Henry V.

The production takes place in the 600th anniversary year since the battle of Agincourt, and complements the RSC’s recent History plays.  The title of The Famous Victories is taken from an early play that may have inspired Shakespeare to write the Henry plays.

The cast includes: Daniel Abbott (Mistress Quickly/King of France); Martin Bassindale (Henry V);Nicholas Gerard-Martin (Dericke/Constable); Dale Mathurin (John/Warwick); Evelyn Miller(Rakehell/Hotspur/Sheriff/Dauphin); Leigh Quinn (Poins/Prince John/Katherine); and Simon Yadoo(Falstaff/Henry IV/Erpingham), all of whom are part of the acting company appearing in Richard II,Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry V, RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran’s productions of Shakespeare’s great history plays (see end of release for further details).

Owen Horsley, making his directing debut for the RSC, said:

“The Famous Victories of Henry V weaves Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I and II and Henry Vtogether to produce the ultimate coming of age story.  Our production, which tells of how the wayward Prince Hal becomes a heroic and valiant King, is bold, dynamic and fun.  With the help of our young audience we hope to create a lively show that celebrates the power of imagination and the wonder of theatre.  In our school performances we are asking the students to be active parts of the theatre-making process. They will be providing props for the 7 strong acting company to use in performance, impacting on the storytelling and staging, as well as being part of the live action itself.”

Owen was recently Assistant Director on Gregory Doran’s productions of Richard II and Henry IV Parts I and II.  He is Artistic Director of Eyestring Theatre Company, and in 2010 became Associate Director for Cheek by Jowl, after being Declan Donnellan’s Assistant Director on a number of productions.

Other members of the creative team include: Simon Anthony Wells (designer), Jon Lawrence(Sound), Polly Bennett (Movement), and Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown (fights).

The tour of The Famous Victories of Henry V forms part of the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network (LPN), a three year touring and education partnership with ten regional theatres and their local schools including:  Hull Truck Theatre, Hull; New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under Lyme; Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne; Curve, Leicester; and the Hall For Cornwall, Truro.

Erica Whyman, RSC Deputy Artistic Director, said:
“Many of us have our first encounter with Shakespeare at school and that experience can define our attitude to live theatre and to Shakespeare for the rest of our lives.  This tour brings the thrill and excitement of these extraordinary plays right to the heart of schools, regional theatres and communities.  Most importantly, those schools and theatres are long term partners with us here at the RSC, all working to ensure children and young people have vivid, accessible and memorable experiences of theatre and Shakespeare.”

The production will also play at the Drake Performance and Event Centre at The Ohio State University.  The Royal Shakespeare Company in America is presented in collaboration with The Ohio State University.

 

A NEW CAST FOR MAMMA MIA! IN LONDON

AT THE NOVELLO THEATRE

FROM MONDAY 8 JUNE 2015

NOW BOOKING TO 23 APRIL 2016

There will be major cast changes for MAMMA MIA! in London from Monday 8 June.  Mazz Murray will be joining the cast as Tanya, Jo Napthine as Rosie, Gabriella Williams as Sophie Sheridan and James Darch as Sky.  Also joining the cast from 8 June will be Louise Young as Ali, Stephanie Fearon as Lisa, Dan Partridge as Pepper and Rory Phelan as Eddie.  Dianne Pilkington will continue to star as Donna Sheridan, with Richard Trinder as Sam, Alasdair Harvey as Harry and Charles Daish as Bill.  At certain performances, the role of Donna Sheridan will be played by Shona White.

Mazz Murray is the daughter of songwriter Mitch Murray (who won two Ivor Novello Awards and wrote or co-wrote five UK and three US chart-topping records).  She makes up one third of vocal group Woman, who have supported Earth Wind and Fire and Billy Ocean on their UK national tours.  As an actress, Mazz played Killer Queen in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre for seven years, and other theatre includes Maureen in the UK tour of Rent, the UK tour and West End production ofFame and the UK tour of Smokey Joe’s Café.

Jo Napthine’s theatre credits include Made in Dagenham (Adelphi Theatre), Urinetown (St James Theatre), Sister Act and The Sound of Music (London Palladium), The Woman in White (Palace Theatre), Jerry Springer – The Opera (National and Cambridge Theatre), Kiss Me Kate (Victoria Palace Theatre) and Les Misérables (Palace Theatre).

MAMMA MIA! marks Gabriella Williams’s West End debut.  She will be graduating this summer from Arts Educational Schools.  She made her professional debut in Carrie at Southwark Playhouse.  James Darch’s previous theatre work includesWhite Christmas at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Kiss Me Kate at the Royal Albert Hall and the UK tour of Cats.

Also in the cast from 8 June will be Tom Bowen, Adam Clayton-Smith, Jasmin Colangelo, Kate Coysten, Stephen John Davis, Katy Day, Olivia Kate Holding, George Ioannides, Alex Jordan-Mills, Craig Anthony Kelly, Sorelle Marsh, George Miller, Stacey Leanne Mills, Fergal McGoff, Ella Nonini, Katy Osborne, Robbie Scotcher, Brad Veitch, Caitlin Ward and Sasha Wareham.

The global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! at London’s Novello Theatre is now extending its booking period until 23 April 2016, taking the show through to its 18^th playing year in London.

From West End to global phenomenon, MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise.  To date, it has been seen by more than 54 million people in 49 productions in 16 different languages grossing more than $2 billion at the box office.

MAMMA MIA! originally opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004.  The musical re-opened at the Novello Theatre in 2012.

 

The London production of MAMMA MIA!, which celebrated its 16^th birthday on 6 April, has been seen by more than 10% of the entire UK population.  The show has celebrated over 6,500 performances in London and has broken box office records in all three of its London homes.  In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China.   

 

Produced by Judy Craymer, MAMMA MIA! The Movie, starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, is the highest grossing live action musical film of all time.

 

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.

 

MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Novello Theatre

Aldwych

London WC2B 4LD

Monday to Friday Prices:  £65.00, £37.50, £20.00, £15.00

Saturday Prices:  £67.50*, £52.50, £39.50, £25.00, £15.00

*£69.50 from 26 October 2015

Please note: Saturday pricing applies to all performances 25-30 May, 27 July-29 August and 26-30 October 2015, 28 December 2015 – 2 January 2016, 15-20 February and 25 March – 9 April 2016

A £2.25 per ticket booking fee applies to tickets booked online, and a £2.75 per ticket booking fee applies to tickets booked by phone. No booking fee on tickets purchased in person at the Novello Theatre Box Office.

All prices include £1.25 restoration levy.

Early Bird Pricing – anyone booking four months or more in advance of the performance they are attending (Monday to Thursday performances only) will be able to purchase £65 tickets for £45, a saving of £20 on the regular top price, but only through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, either online, in person at the theatre, or by calling the Novello Theatre Box Office.

Performance Times:

Monday – Saturday 7.45pm

Matinees – Thursday & Saturday 3.00pm*

*extra Tuesday matinees on 11 August & 27 October 2015 & 16 February 2016

Christmas 2015/16 Performance Schedule

Monday 21 December                              7.45pm

Tuesday 22 December                             3.00pm and 7.45pm

Wednesday 23 December                        3.00pm and 7.45pm

Thursday 24 December                            NO PERFORMANCE

Friday 25 December                                 NO PERFORMANCE

Saturday 26 December                            3.00pm and 7.45pm

Monday 28 December                              3.00pm and 7.45pm

Tuesday 29 December                             3.00pm and 7.45pm

Wednesday 30 December                        3.00pm and 7.45pm

Thursday 31 December                            3.00pm

Friday 1 January                                       7.45pm

Saturday 2 January                                  3.00pm and 7.45pm

Currently booking to 23 April 2016

The performance lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)

Box Office: 0844 482 5115

http://www.mamma-mia.com/

http://www.facebook.com/mammamiamusical

http://twitter.com/MammaMiaMusical

 

GREAT DRAMA COMING TO LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

*** Shawshank Redemption***And Then There Were None***

***Peter Pan Goes Wrong***Jeeves & Wooster***The King’s Speech***

***The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time***

 

This year Leeds Grand Theatre welcomes a host of quality drama in between its usual feast of musicals, opera, comedy and dance.

The play that inspired the Oscar-winning movie The King’s Speech is brought to life on stage starring Jason Donovan as Lionel Logue the speech therapist to Raymond Coulthard’s King George VI.

The King’s Speech is the true and heart-warming story of one man’s struggle to overcome his personal affliction and, in his country’s darkest hour, deliver the now-iconic speech broadcast across the globe to inspire his people.

As the world stands on the brink of war, Edward VIII sparks controversy with his love for married socialite, Wallis Simpson. As Edward’s position becomes increasingly untenable, his brother Bertie, who has previously shied away from the public eye because of a terrible stammer, is thrust in to the spotlight as his likely successor.

With the support of his wife, Elizabeth (the future Queen Mother), Bertie meets maverick speech therapist and failed actor, Lionel Logue, at an office in Harley Street and together they embark on an unlikely journey to prepare Bertie to lead his country as King George VI.

The King’s Speech is at The Grand from Tuesday 26^th to Saturday 30^th May.

Audiences can expect an evening of raucous comedy when Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense comes to town. 

 

Adapted from the established literary works of P.G. Wodehouse, the brand new production stars Robert Webb(Peep Show, That Mitchell and Webb Look) as the effervescent, aristocratic fool Bertie Wooster, Jason Thorpe(What the Butler Saw, Primeval) as his dutiful valet Jeeves and Christopher Ryan (The Young Ones, Absolutely Fabulous) as Seppings.

When a country house weekend takes a turn for the worse Bertie Wooster is unwittingly called on to play matchmaker but also to steal a silver cow creamer from Totleigh Towers. The ever-dependable Jeeves is there to prevent Bertie from making a fool of himself in front of a cast of Wodehouse’s finest characters.

 

Jeeves & Wooster come to Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 1^st to Saturday 6^th June

More comedy drama takes to the Leeds’ stage when Mischief Theatre Company return with their new laugh-out-loud production Peter Pan Goes Wrong. Last year the brought The Play That Goes Wrong to The Grand and were met with rave reviews.

‘The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’ set out to present the classic tale of Peter Pan but, as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong does – join them from Wednesday 17^th to Saturday 20^th

To celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Agatha Christie Theatre Company, And Then There Were None returns to the stage in August.  A group of 10 strangers are lured to a remote island off the coast of Devon. Upon arrival it is discovered that their host, an eccentric millionaire, is missing.  Stranded on the island by a torrential storm and haunted by an ancient nursery rhyme, one by one the guests begin to die. With only the fallen believed to be innocent who amongst them is the killer?

And Then There Were None is at The Grand from Monday 17^th to Saturday 22^nd August.

Winner of seven 2013 Olivier Awards including Best New Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is coming to Leeds.

Christopher is 15 years old and has an extraordinary brain – exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion of killing Mrs Shears’ dog he goes on a journey that upturns his world.

Based on the award-winning novel by Mark Haddon this is a thrilling new stage play from the National Theatre.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is at The Grand from Tuesday 25^th to Saturday 29^th August.

Adapted from the classic 1994 film, producer Bill Kenwright presents a new stage production of The Shawshank Redemption.  Based on a novel by Stephen King the story examines desperation, injustice, friendship and hope behind the claustrophobic bars of a maximum security penitentiary.

The Shawshank Redemption runs from Monday 31^st August to Saturday 5^th September.

 

To book tickets visit leedsgrandtheatre.com

or call Leeds Grand Theatre Box Office on 0844 848 2700

 

The world famous Royal Shakespeare Company will return to Newcastle this June and July with an energetic new production for 8-13 year olds – The Famous Victories of Henry V. The production plays the Theatre Royal on Tuesday 30 June, and in schools in the North East between 1-3 July.

 

The Famous Victories of Henry V is a 90 minute adventure condensing the three great plays of Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry V, and is the perfect first encounter with Shakespeare for young audiences.

 

Using Shakespeare’s original language, The Famous Victories of Henry V introduces us to notorious bad boy Prince Hal as he swaps his rebellious life on the streets of London for the battlefields of France to become one of the most famous heroes in British history. Hal’s epic journey into adulthood will lead its young audience through a life of scandal, parties, friendships, family feuds, rebellion and new responsibilities, ending in glorious victory as the once infamous Prince of England becomes the brave and noble King Henry V.

 

The production takes place in the 600th anniversary year since the battle of Agincourt, and complements the RSC’s recent History plays.  The title of The Famous Victories is taken from an early play that may have inspired Shakespeare to write theHenry plays.

The cast includes: Daniel Abbott (Mistress Quickly/King of France); Martin Bassindale (Henry V); Nicholas Gerard-Martin(Dericke/Constable); Dale Mathurin (John/Warwick); Evelyn Miller (Rakehell/Hotspur/Sheriff/Dauphin); Leigh Quinn(Poins/Prince John/Katherine); and Simon Yadoo (Falstaff/Henry IV/Erpingham).

 

Directed by Owen Horsley, the production celebrates the RSC’s commitment to creating live theatre for young audiences and is part of its First Encounters with Shakespeare programme.

 

Owen was recently Assistant Director on Gregory Doran’s productions of Richard II and Henry IV Parts I and II.  He is Artistic Director of Eyestring Theatre Company, and in 2010 became Associate Director for Cheek by Jowl, after being Declan Donnellan’s Assistant Director on a number of productions.

 

Talking about the production, Owen said: “The Famous Victories of Henry V weaves Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I and II andHenry V together to produce the ultimate coming of age story.  Our production, which tells of how the wayward Prince Hal becomes a heroic and valiant King, is bold, dynamic and fun.  With the help of our young audience we hope to create a lively show that celebrates the power of imagination and the wonder of theatre.”

 

Other members of the creative team include: Simon Anthony Wells (designer), Jon Lawrence (Sound), Polly Bennett(Movement), and Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown (fights).

 

The tour of The Famous Victories of Henry V forms part of the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network (LPN), a three year touring and education partnership with ten regional theatres and their local schools including:  Hull Truck, Hull; New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under Lyme; Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne; Curve, Leicester; and the Hall for Cornwall, Truro.

 

Erica Whyman, RSC Deputy Artistic Director, said:  “Many of us have our first encounter with Shakespeare at school and that experience can define our attitude to live theatre and to Shakespeare for the rest of our lives.  This tour brings the thrill and excitement of these extraordinary plays right to the heart of schools, regional theatres and communities.  Most importantly, those schools and theatres are long term partners with us here at the RSC, all working to ensure children and young people have vivid, accessible and memorable experiences of theatre and Shakespeare.”

 

The Famous Victories of Henry V appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal for two performances only on Tuesday 30 June 2015 at 10 am & 1.30 pm. Tickets are available priced at £11, and only £6 for under 18s (save 50p per ticket by booking online) and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online atwww.theatreroyal.co.uk

 

There are also public performances of the production in the following schools:
St Michael’s Primary School
Wednesday 1 July, 9.30am, 1.30pm (tickets available on 0191 273 9383)

Sacred Heart Catholic High School
Thursday 2 July, 7pm (tickets available on 0191 274 7373)

Crook Primary School, County Durham
Friday 3 July, 6pm (tickets available on 01388 762400)

A brand new production of the world’s favourite musical Annie from Newcastle-born producer Michael Harrison, and starring Craig Revel Horwood as ‘Miss Hannigan’, will premiere at Newcastle Theatre Royal Saturday 11 – 18 July 2015 before embarking on a year-long tour of the UK and Ireland.

 

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search…

 

With its award-winning book and score, this stunning new production includes the unforgettable songs ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.

 

Craig Revel Horwood is probably best known as a judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing. His West End Theatre credits include: Munkustrap in Cats at the New London Theatre, Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Harry in Crazy for You at the Prince Edward Theatre which took him to the US and Germany before re-creating the show for Susan Stroman in South Africa. Other theatre credits in his native Australia include: West Side Story, the Australian and New Zealand tour of The Danny La Rue Show; La Cage Aux Folles; Me and My Girl and the hit comedy play Ladies Night.

 

Annie will be directed by Nikolai Foster. Recently named as the new artistic director at Curve in Leicester; his most recent theatre credits include: Calamity Jane, The Witches of Eastwick and the 20^th Anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing in the West End.

 

Annie is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.

 

Annie appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Sat 11 – Sat 18 July 2015 (Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinees: Thursday 2pm and Saturday 2.30pm). Tickets are from £17.50 (save 50p per ticket when you book online) and 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

 

The cast has been announced today for Gary Owen’s play Violence and Son at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre in London (3 June to 11 July – press night 8 June). The full cast is Morfydd Clark, Jason Hughes, David Moorst and Siwan Morris.

Directed by Hamish Pirie, Gary Owen’s intimate new play is about what parents pass on and trying to do the right thing.

 

“People know, you’re my boy. And they know better than to lay a fucking finger on you.

See? You are safer here with me, than you have ever been.”

 

Liam’s 17 years old, loves Dr Who and has lost his mum. He has had to move from London to Wales, to the valleys, to the middle of nowhere, to live with a dad he doesn’t know. Whose nickname isn’t Violence for nothing.

Morfydd Clark will play Jen, Jason Hughes will play Rick (aka Violence), David Moorst will play Liam andSiwan Morris will play Suze.

The production is designed by Cai Dyfan, with lighting design by Lizzie Powell and music and sound design by Mark Melville.

Violence and Son will be accompanied by three Big Idea events Violence and Shame with psychologist and poet Jonathan Asser (10 June),  Gary Owen in Conversation

(25 June ) and Power and Consent with academics Dr Susan Hansen and Dr Jackie Gray who specialise in forensic psychology (8 July).

Welsh playwright Gary Owen makes his Royal Court debut with Violence and Son. He is winner of the Meyer Whitworth, George Devine and Pearson best play awards.  His other plays include Iphigenia in Splott, Love Steals Us From Loneliness, Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco, The Shadow of a Boy, (winner, Meyer Whitworth Award, George Devine Award), The Drowned World (winner, Fringe First and Pearson Best Play Award), Ghost City, Cancer Time, SK8, Big Hopes, In the Pipeline, Blackthorn, Mary Twice, Amgen:Broken, Bulletproof, The Ugly Truth and Free Folk. His adaptations include Spring Awakening and Ring Ring, a new version of La Ronde for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Dickens’ A Christmas Carol for Sherman Cymru. He is a Creative Associate at Watford Palace Theatre, where his plays We That Are Left, Mrs Reynolds and the Ruffian, and Perfect Match have been produced.

Hamish Pirie is Associate Director at the Royal Court and this will be his third production for the theatre after directing Who Cares and Teh Internet is Serious Business. His previous directing credits include I’m With The Band and Demos, Quiz Show, Love With A Capital ‘L’, 3 Seconds, Most Favoured, Bravo Figaro andThe Last Bloom at the Traverse, Edinburgh (where he was previously Associate Director) and Salt Root andRoe for the Donmar Warehouse’s Trafalgar Studio season.

 

 

The Big Idea: Violence and Son

Violence and Shame

Psychologist and poet Jonathan Asser in conversation with Royal Court Associate Director Hamish Pirieabout the impulses that drive men to commit acts of violence.
Wednesday 10 June, 6pm
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
£5 (or free with a ticket for that evening’s performance)

Gary Owen in Conversation

The playwright talks to Royal Court Associate Director Hamish Pirie

Thursday 25 June, post-show

Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Free with a ticket for this performance

Power and Consent
With Dr Susan Hansen and Dr Jackie Gray academics specialising in forensic psychology at the University of Middlesex.
Wednesday, 8 July, 6pm
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
£5 (or free with a ticket for Violence and Son)

Listings Information:

Violence and Son
by Gary Owen
directed by Hamish Pirie
Wednesday 03 June – Saturday 11 July 2015
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs , Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Monday – Saturday 7.45pm
Saturday matinees (from 13 June) 3pm
Thursday matinees (from 11 June) 3pm
Captioned Performance Tuesday 07 July 2015, 7.45pm
Press Night Monday 08 June, 7pm
Age Guidance 14+
Tickets £20
Mondays all seats £10 (available on the day from 9am online)
Concessions £15* (available in advance until 13 June, and all matinees. For all other performances, available on a standby basis on the day)
School and HE Groups of 8+ £10  (available Wednesday – Saturday matinee, plus midweek matinee)
Access £12 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts subject to availability.

 

The Big Idea is a strand of work launched during Open Court, offering audiences radical thinking and provocative discussion inspired by the work on stage. The Big Idea seeks to foster debate and collaboration, bringing together leading thinkers and artists from all walks of life to engage with the big ideas of our times, through a series of debates and events. AlixPartners support The Big Idea at the Royal Court Theatre.

 

Are you aged 7 years or above?

Would you like to appear in this years

Grand Opera House pantomime?

NEW PANTOMIME PRODUCTIONS Ltd.

are holding

CHILDREN’S

DANCE

AUDITIONS

on

Thursday 24th September

At Grand Opera House,

Cumberland Street, York

for their production of

JACK and the BEANSTALK

4.30 pm             Boys & girls aged 7 yrs and over     Max. Height 5’2”

                                    to audition as Babes

7.00 pm             Boys & girls to audition as Seniors   Min. height 5’2”

Everybody should wear clothes which are suitable for auditions

Pantomime dates –    11^th Dec. 2015  –  3^rd Jan. 2016