Month: June 2015

Full casting is announced for Green Day’s award-winning Broadway musical American Idiot as it blasts into the UK from 17 July, at The Arts Theatre, Leicester Square.

The full cast are Luke Baker (Theo), Natasha Barnes (Heather), Alexis Gerred (Tunny), Llandyll Gove (Gerard), Raquel Jones(Extraordinary girl), Natasha Karp (Alysha) Robyn Mellor (Libby), Lucas Rush (St. Jimmy), Steve Rushton (Will), Aaron Sidwell (Johnny) and Ross William Wild (Joshua). They join the previously announced X Factor star, Amelia Lily who is playing Whatshername.

The award-winning Broadway musical American Idiot runs from 17 July until 27 September 2015, with press night on 22 July.  The musical features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The production is being directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with musical supervision by Richard Morris, sound by Chris Whybrow, design by Sara Perks and lighting by Tim Deiling.

American Idiot is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world. Winner of two Tony Awards® and the 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, American Idiot premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009, moving onto a critically acclaimed Broadway run in April 2010.

 

Its hit songs include “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the blockbuster title track “American Idiot” from Green Day’s 2004 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album. Also included are several songs from Green Day’s 2009 release “21st Century Breakdown,” and an unreleased love song, “When It’s Time.”

American Idiot The Musical is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.

Luke Baker’s stage credits include Sunny Afternoon at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Hairspray at Cork Opera House, I Can’t Sing! at the London Palladium, Bare at Greenwich Theatre, Beautiful Thing at the Arts Theatre and on UK Tour, Aladdin with Paul O’Grady’s Lily Savage at the O2, Ultimate Broadway in Shanghai, All The Fun Of The Fair on UK Tour, Peter Pan on UK Tour, Sign Of The Times at the Duchess Theatre and Salad Days at Riverside Studios.

Natasha Barnes’ stage credits include The Boy Who Fell Into A Book directed by Alan Ayckbourn at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Crush at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Chess at the Union Theatre, Snow White at the Old Vic and on UK Tour, Come Dancing at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, Lend me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre, I Was Looking At The Ceiling And Then I Saw The Sky at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East and Spring Awakening at the Lyric Hammersmith and Novello Theatre. Natasha’s screen credits include Doctors and Doc Martin.

Alexis Gerred’s stage credits include Our House at the New Wolsey Theatre and on UK Tour, Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre and on UK Tour, The West End Men on Tour of Asia, Dirty White Boy: Tales of Soho at Trafalgar Studios, Rooms: A Rock Romance at Finborough Theatre, Fresher: The Musical at Pleasance Theatre, Islington and Edinburgh, Sleeping Beauty at the New Theatre, Cardiff, Hotel S.A.L.I.G.I.A at the Bloomsbury Theatre and Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at Bromley Churchill Studio. Alex’s screen credits include Eurovision: Your Country Needs You and Cardinal Burns.

Llandyll Gove’s stage credits include Saturday Night Fever on UK Tour, 20^th Century Boy on UK Tour, Grease at Cork Opera House and on UK Tour, Dancing Queen on UK Tour, Aladdin at Cork Opera House and Beauty and the Beast, Snow Whiteand Cinderella all at Glasgow’s SECC. Llandyll’s screen credits include Walking On Sunshine, Kiss Me Again, Stanger and Deus Ex Machina.

Raquel Jones’ stage credits include Ghost The Musical at the English Theatre, Frankfurt, Jesus Christ Superstar on World Tour, Hair in Munich, Aladdin for Jordan Productions, Little Shop Of Horrors at the Birmingham Rep Theatre, Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre and The Wiz at Greenwich Theatre. Raquel’s screen credits include the BBC Comedy Sketch Show with Jocelyn and Clive Swift and BBC Saturday Show.

Natasha Karp’s stage credits include The Theory of Relativity at the Drayton Arms, The Grand Tour at Finborough Theatre,You Won’t Succeed On Broadway If You Don’t Have Any Jews at the Garrick Theatre, The Canterbury Tales at the Swan Theatre, Worcester, The Road To Qatar at the Edinburgh Festival, 2013, The Comedy Of Oedipus at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre, Market Boy at Lost Theatre and 3 Composers, 3 Countries at the Landor Theatre.

Robyn Mellor’s stage credits include Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre, Dreamboats and Petticoats on UK Tour, An Evening With Lee Mead on UK Concert Tour, The Macmillan Centenary Gala at the London Palladium, The Thursford Christmas Spectacular, Jack and the Beanstalk at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, Sleeping Beauty at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, and Jack and the Beanstalk at Birmingham Hippodrome. Robyn is part of The Spinettes, a vintage singing trio regularly appear on leading cruise liners all over the world. Robyn’s screen credits include Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Clocked, The Alan Titchmarsh Show and Grease High School Musical.

Lucas Rush’s stage credits include Mark Rylance Sonnet Walks at The Globe, Shitfaced Showtime at The Old Red Lion Theatre and Brighton Fringe, Jesus Christ Superstar on World Arena Tour, Saturday Night Fever RCCL and USA, Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre, Bloodbath at the Edinburgh Festival, We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre, Fame on UK Tour, Much Ado About Nothing on Italian Tour, Blood Brothers at the Manoel Theatre, Malta, The Merry Wives Of Windsor for the RSC and Barbican Theatre and Les Misersables at the Palace Theatre. Lucas appeared in the Les Miserables 10^th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Lucas’ screen credits include Walking On The Moon and Exploits.

Steve Rushton was the co-lead singer/bass player of UK Pop Punk band Son Of Dork. The band had a number 3 single and their debut album Welcome To Loserville went Gold. Steve then wrote, performed and produced two songs on the number one box office/worldwide Triple Platinum album for Hannah Montana: The Movie Soundtrack, as well as starring in the movie itself. He has written songs for Jerry Bruckheimer’s G Force, Disney’s Santa Buddies, Camp Rock 2, Good Luck Charlie and wrote & performed on the soundtrack of Disney’s Race To Witch Mountain. Steve also performed an original song on the nationally televised star-studded ABC TV Christmas Day Parade 2009. Additionally Steve has written songs for The Jonas Brothers, Aiden Grimshaw, Amelia Lily, as well as further Disney movies. American Idiot will be Steve’s stage debut.

Aaron Sidwell is best known on screen for playing series regular Steven Beale in EastEnders. His previous work on stage includes playing Carl Bruner in Ghost the Musical at the English Theatre Frankfurt, Michael Dork in the Olivier Award Nominated Loserville: The Musical at West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Garrick Theatre, Michael Carrington in Cool Rider Live at the Lyric and Duchess Theatre, Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet for an Open Air Tour, Jack Sprat in the national tour ofCarnaby Street – The Musical and Ham in Children of  Eden at The Prince of Wales Theatre. Aaron’s other screen work includes Lewis in The Nephilim; the Internet drama Almost but not quite, and Blood Army. Aaron also performs in a band,The Boston Plan, who toured with Professor Green, and then supported many other acts including Alexandra Burke, Agro Santos and The Wanted.

Ross William Wild’s stage credits include Dreamboats & Miniskirts on UK Tour, The Witches of Eastwick at the Watermill Theatre, Bare at Greenwich Theatre and Union Theatre, Celtic Nights on US Tour, Grease on UK Tour, We Will Rock You on UK Tour, Gaelforce on European Tour and Highland Heartbeat on Scottish & US Tour. Ross’ screen credits include DNA Diaries, Taggart, Bruno & Earlene Go To Vegas and Downing.

AMERICAN IDIOT – THE MUSICAL
ARTS THEATRE
Performances:Tuesday – Friday at 8.00pm
Saturday – 2.30pm & 8.00pm
Sunday – 3.00pm & 6.00pm
Press Night – Wednesday 22 July
Running time: 90 minutes (no interval)
Arts Theatre, Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7JB
Main Booking Line: 020 78368463
Group Booking Line: 020 7836 8463
Access Booking Line: 020 7836 8463
www.americanidiotwestend.com

 

 

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh are delighted to announce that ZIZI STRALLEN will play ‘Mary Poppins’ and MATT LEE will play ‘Bert’ in the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of their multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins, playing at Newcastle Theatre Royal from 8 September 2016 for over seven weeks .

 

ZIZI STRALLEN is currently starring as ‘Lana’ in Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man, a role she played at Newcastle Theatre Royal last month to rave reviews. She was most recently seen in the West End in Cats and the multi award-winning Merrily We Roll Along. Her other West End credits include Rock of Ages, Dirty Dancing and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Matthew Bourne’sCinderella at Sadler’s Wells.  She has also appeared in The Music Man at Chichester Festival Theatre, and as ‘Penny Pingleton’ in Hairspray at Leicester Curve.

 

MATT LEE played the role of ‘Bert’ in Mary Poppins when the show opened in Australia, his portrayal winning him the prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Actor in a Musical. His other theatre credits in Australia include Miss Saigon, The Witches of Eastwick,Rent, Grease and The Boy from Oz. Matt was also a permanent member of the judging panel for Australia’s So You Think You Can Dance.

 

Cameron Mackintosh said today: “It’s hard to believe that it is already 11 years since Mary Poppins first landed on the London stage.  My goodness……time flies even faster than our beloved Nanny!  I’m delighted to be bringing her back to the UK and for the first time to Dublin, after spreading her magic around the world.  Since we originally staged the production we have found even more magical ways to stage this timeless tale. I’m also thrilled to have cast yet another of the extraordinarily talented Strallen family in the role of Mary and pair her with one of the most brilliant Berts we have been fortunate to find worldwide. I know Zizi and Matt will be practically perfect in every way and a show-stopping tour de force”.

 

The magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane has been triumphantly and spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs. The stage version of Mary Poppins is brilliantly adapted from the wonderful stories by PL Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film.

 

The stage production of Mary Poppins is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh and has a book by Oscar-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes. It has a timeless score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman including the songs Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds with new songs and additional music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The producer for Disney Theatrical Productions is Thomas Schumacher.

 

The internationally renowned and multi award-winning creative team assembled for Mary Poppins is led by stage and film director Richard Eyre. Co-direction and Choreography is by Matthew Bourne, with Co-choreography by Stephen Mear. Set and Costume Design is by Bob Crowley with Lighting Design by Natasha Katz, Sound Design by Paul Groothuis and Orchestrations by William David Brohn. The International Tour of Mary Poppins is Directed by Anthony Lyn and James Powell with Original Choreography adapted by Geoffrey Garratt. Musical Supervision is by Stephen Brooker.
The stage production of Mary Poppins originally opened in 2004 and ran in the West End for three years and over 1,250 performances. During this time it won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography and Best Set Design as well as the Evening Standard Award for Best Set Design and the Variety Club Award for Best Musical. The Broadway production ran for over six years where it won the Tony Award for Best Set Design. The show has subsequently played to great success in Holland and Mexico. It has toured Australia, New Zealand, the U.S, the UK, has been seen by over 11 million people and is currently breaking box office records in Vienna.

 

Mary Poppins appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Thursday 8 September – Saturday 29 October 2016. Tickets from £22.50 (pay 50p less per ticket when you book online). Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge) or select your own seat and book online atwww.theatreroyal.co.uk

 

 

York Theatre Royal is proud to announce its residency at the National Railway Museum has received an Exceptional Award from Arts Council England. The news follows the theatre once again becoming a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England last year. The award aims to respond to new ideas that come from the arts sector, that do not already fit into an organisation’s existing plans.

York Theatre Royal applied for the award as part of plans to take work to the National Railway Museum during the theatre’s closure for re-development. This award enhances activity already taking place such as the large-scale community theatre project In Fog and Falling Snow and the re-staging of the Olivier Award winning show The Railway Children, allowing these projects to form part of an ambitious residency at the museum for the theatre; enabling staff from both organisations to work more closely together.

For a theatre and a museum to work together in this way is quite revolutionary and we’re so pleased that Arts Council England has decided to support the project.

said Damian Cruden, Artistic Director at York Theatre Royal.

A blueprint document outlining the process of the collaboration and sharing lessons learnt along the way will be created for use by other organisations within the arts sector. It is hoped this document will enable and encourage other national and regional museums and theatres to work together. Key to the aims of the collaboration is for both organisations to benefit from the collation of research into how and why people choose to engage with projects running during the residency, or to come and see a production on during this time. This will then be used to inform future projects and collaborations at both institutions.

The funding allows the Creative Engagement and Learning teams from both organisations to work together on more projects too, creating new exciting activities for children and young people that utilise the skills of both teams to develop new practise. This includes two immersive theatre projects about World War I and the Orient Express, writers in residence creating work especially for young people, digital projects and York Theatre Royal bringing their highly acclaimed TakeOver Festival to the museum.

Jim Lowe, Head of Operations at the National Railway Museum said:

Having the York Theatre Royal take up residency here at the museum is hugely exciting. We have worked well and successfully in the past and are now looking forward to delivering the same high quality production of The Railway Children from July 2015. Having this residency will form an extra strong partnership and we’re looking forward to all that it offers.

As part of the community theatre project – for which over 500 residents of York and surrounding areas have volunteered – the National Railway Museum already play host to the various groups of volunteers such as photography and promotion groups. Since the theatre’s closure for development earlier this year they have also provided space for the York Theatre Royal youth theatre, one of the largest in the country.

The York Theatre Royal, National Railway Museum and Pilot Theatre co-production is a piece of new theatre from Mike Kenny and Bridget Foreman called In Fog and Falling Snow bought to life by the people of York. Directed by Damian Cruden, Juliet Forster and Katie Posner and told by a cast of over 200, audiences will move through the National Railway Museum’s collections and end up in the new purpose built Signal Box Theatre, telling the story of George Hudson, the disgraced entrepreneur who changed the face of railway travel.

Following E Nesbit’s The Railway Children which runs from 31st July to 5 September 2015 at the museum, there will be a third collaborative project taking place, after the theatre has re-opened, with the aim of creating a sustainable partnership between the two attractions.

Tickets for both The Railway Children and In Fog and Falling Snow are available from York Theatre Royal’s Box Office in De Grey Rooms on St Leonards Place or on 01904 623568 or can be booked securely online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

For Services Rendered cast now announced

FOR SERVICES RENDERED

By W. Somerset Maugham
Director Howard Davies

31 July – 5 September
Minerva Theatre, Chichester

Award-winning director Howard Davies stages Chichester’s new production of For Services Rendered with a distinguished cast.

This 1932 drama is considered to be one of W. Somerset Maugham’s greatest plays. It depicts a world where both men and women are struggling to adjust to life in the aftermath of World War One. Former soldiers face debt, redundancy and depression, while the choices available to women are equally limited.

Somerset Maugham was a distinguished novelist and short story writer as well as playwright, whose work includes Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, and Cakes and Ale.

David Annen plays Dr Prentice. His credits include the Young Vic production of Ah! Wilderness, as well as The Master and Margarita and A Disappearing Number (both for Complicite).

Anthony Calf plays Wilfred. His Chichester credits include Private Lives (and West End), The Deep Blue Sea andWallenstein. Other credits include The Hard Problem, The White Guard and Gethsemane (all for the National Theatre).

Sam Callis plays Howard. His credits include the West End production of Hay Fever, and The League of Youth and The Importance of Being Earnest (both for Nottingham Playhouse).

Simon Chandler plays Leonard. His credits include Red Velvet at the Tricycle Theatre (also West End and New York), as well as the films The Theory of Everything and The King’s Speech.

Nick Fletcher plays Collie. His credits include the Young Vic production of A Doll’s House (also West End and New York), as well as Treasure Island and The White Guard (both for the National Theatre).

Stella Gonet plays Charlotte. Her credits include Chichester’s acclaimed revival of Top Girls (also West End),Handbagged (Tricycle Theatre and West End), Hope (Royal Court Theatre) and Before the Party (Almeida Theatre).

Jo Herbert plays Ethel. Her credits include 3 Winters (National Theatre), Hello/Goodbye (Hampstead Theatre) and As You Like It (Shakespeare’s Globe).

Yolanda Kettle plays Lois. Her credits include Birdland and Anhedonia (both for the Royal Court Theatre) and Shutters(Park Theatre).

Joseph Kloska plays Sydney. His credits include Measure for Measure (RSC), The School for Scandal (Barbican Theatre) and The Vertical Hour (Royal Court Theatre).

Justine Mitchell plays Eva. Her credits include Mr Burns (Almeida Theatre), Man (Young Vic) and Children of the Sun(National Theatre).

Matilda Ziegler plays Gwen. Her credits include The School for Scandal (Barbican Theatre), Inadmissable Evidence andMachinal (National Theatre) and the West End production of An Inspector Calls.

Director Howard Davies’s numerous credits include award-winning productions of The White Guard, Mourning Becomes Electra and All My Sons (all for the National Theatre), The Iceman Cometh (Almeida Theatre and West End), and the original RSC production of Piaf (also West End and Broadway).

Design is by William Dudley, whose credits include Festival 2015’s The Rehearsal, as well as Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare’s Globe), Fortune’s Fool (Old Vic), The Winter’s Tale (RSC) and Uncle Vanya (The Print Room).

Lighting Design is by Mark Henderson whose Chichester credits include Gypsy, Sweeney Todd and Private Lives (all of which transferred to the West End) and ENRON (also Royal Court Theatre, West End, Broadway and tour), the West End production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as well as The History Boys and The Habit of Art (both for the National Theatre).

Sound Design is by Mike Walker whose Chichester credits include Taken at Midnight and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, both of which transferred to the West End. Other credits include Crazy for You,The Glass Menagerie, Caroline or Change (National Theatre), and Jerry Springer – The Opera (Battersea Arts Centre, Edinburgh Festival, National Theatre and UK tour) for which he won the first Olivier Award for Best Sound Design.

For Services Rendered is sponsored by SieMatic.

Events

Director Howard Davies will be in conversation with novelist and CFT biographer Kate Mosse at a pre-show talk on Wednesday 5 August, 6pm. Tickets are free but booking is essential.

Meet some of the For Services Rendered company at a post-show talk hosted by writer Simon Brett on Monday 17 August.

Join the technical crew and creative team for a For Services Rendered Theatre Day offering insights and discussions about the making of the production on Thursday 3 September, 11am. Tickets £5.

The Legacy of Conflict is a panel discussion about the cultural impact of the Great War, and why it remains a divisive subject 100 years after the end of hostilities. The event takes place on Friday 4 September, 5.30pm, Minerva Theatre. Free, but booking is essential.

Return to Sender  weaves together transcripts, postcards and stories from loved ones separated during World War One in a performance by Chichester Festival Youth Theatre members from Billingshurst satellite group. This will be staged on Saturday 19 September, 11am, Minerva Theatre. Tickets £5.

Booking information
For Services Rendered is at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester from 31 July – 5 September. Evenings 7.45pm (except for Press Night, Thursday 6 August at 7pm), matinees 2.45pm. Tickets: Previews/Press Nights £20, £25, all other performances £25, £34. To book, go to cft.org.uk or contact the Box Office on 01243 781312.

Special Prices for 16 – 25s
An allocation of tickets for 16 – 25 year olds priced at just £8.50 for all performances of For Services Rendered will go on sale on 30 June. These may be booked on 01243 781312, online at cft.org.uk/850 or in person.

 

WHIP-CRACK-AWAY!

CALAMITY JANE RIDES INTO LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

Jodie Prenger and Tom Lister will ride into Leeds in June bringing the wonderful characters of Calamity Jane andWild Bill Hickock to the City in a piece of musical theatre that has delighted audiences throughout the country.

Boasting an Oscar-nominated score that includes The Black Hills of Dakota, The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), Just Blew in from the Windy City and the award-winning Secret Love, Calamity Jane takes to the stage at Leeds Grand Theatre next Monday 22^nd to Saturday 27^th June.

Calamity Jane can outrun and outshoot any man in Deadwood.  Hard, swaggering and desperate to impress, she travels to Chicago to recruit a star, Adelaide Adams, for the Deadwood Stage.  But things don’t go too smoothly for Calamity, as everyone in town favours the new girl and she struggles to keep her jealousy and pride in check.  It takes her long-standing enemy Wild Bill Hickok to make her see sense, and realise her Secret Love.

Jodie Prenger won the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of Oliver! through the BBC television series I’d Do Anything and went on  to receive both critical and public acclaim for her portrayal of the role at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Since then she has starred in the National Theatre’s hit production of One Man, Two Guvnors both in the West End and on tour and as Lady of the Lake in Spamalot. Jodie is also a regular presenter on BBC Radio 2.

Tom Lister most recently played ‘Grimes and Eel’ in the world premiere of “Water Babies” at Leicester Curve. He is probably best known to TV audiences for his role as ‘Carl King’ in ITV’s “Emmerdale”, a part he played for nine years. His theatre credits also include ‘Pan’ in “Loves Mistress” at the Globe Theatre and ‘Ralph’ in “Accrington Pals” at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Calamity Jane is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 23^rd to Saturday 27^th June

 

Tickets are on sale now priced from £22 to £40

 

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box office on 0844 848 2700

 

DAVID HASSELHOFF TO STAR IN WORLD PREMIERE AT DARLINGTON CIVIC THEATRE

David Hasselhoff will star in a brand new musical – Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, which comes to Darlington Civic Theatre for one week only from November 23.

A DJ dad, a wild child daughter and a trip to the party island of Ibiza with a pulsating dance track from the 80’s and 90’s. David Hasselhoff, the iconic star of Baywatch and Knight Rider, plays Ross, a hilarious hedonist. He’s Ibiza’s top 80’s DJ who doesn’t realise a new decade has dawned, disco is out, the club scene is in.

He tries to keep up with the times… and with Mandy, his new younger girlfriend, but matters are complicated when his teenage daughter Penny arrives to stay. Father and daughter haven’t seen each other for three years, since a messy divorce, and she is no longer a demure school girl, but a wild child who quickly falls for Rik, the holiday rep.

It’s the story of two generations colliding, as a badly behaved parent tries to control a wild child teenager! This hilarious hit-fest is also a touching father and daughter drama, set against a background of sun, sea, sex, drugs and hits that take us back to the 80’s and 90’s when we wore denim overalls, girls had hair scrunchies and guys played Nintendo Game Boy. Think ‘Mamma Mia’ on speed! ‘Friends’ meets ‘Ibiza Uncovered’, with the soundtrack of our lives.

Underscoring this coming of age tale of love, laughter and friendship is a string of hits from the record number one ‘Everything I Do I Do it For You’ to M. C. Hammer’s ‘Can’t Touch This’ from ‘Ride on Time’ to ‘Things Can Only Get Better’. We dare you not to dance!

From the makers of ‘Dreamboats and Petticoats’ and ‘Boogie Nights’ comes a heart warming and hilarious story promising to be the ‘Mamma Mia’ party night of the year!

Last Night A DJ Saved My Life is at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday November 23 to Saturday November 28. Tickets* are priced from £23 to £35.

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

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy

London, 18 June 2015. Lord of the Dance, Michael Flatley, is returning to Wembley, not only for his last ever UK performance on 4^th July, but also to immortalise his world record-holding feet, in a cast outside The SSE Arena at Wembley Park.

The world-renowned Irish Dancer set a record breaking run of 21 consecutive shows at London’s legendary Wembley Arena in 1998 and holds the Guinness World Record for a staggering 35 taps per second.

Now Flatley’s famous feet will forever have a place in the ‘Square of Fame’ outside the SSE Arena, amongst the hand prints of other stars including Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Bryan Adams, Lionel Richie and Dolly Parton.

Michael said: “It’s a privilege to have my feet, so integral to what I do and who I am, immortalised here at Wembley Park which has such a rich entertainment heritage.”

“It is the only fitting venue for my final UK performance of Lord of the Dance.”

Matt Slade, MD of Wembley Park, the transformed area around the SSE Arena and National Stadium commented, “To have people like Michael Flatley leaving their mark here at Wembley Park speaks volumes about the significance of Wembley as part of our national heritage. Generations have come to Wembley Park for entertainment and we’re honoured to be hosting Michael’s last UK performance here at the SSE Arena.”

Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, with a special appearance by Michael Flatley, will hold its last UK tour performance on Saturday 4^thJuly at 8pm at the SSE Arena, Wembley Park, though the London production, starring James Keegan and Matt Smith, will continue at the Dominion Theatre until 5^th September. For tickets at the SSE Arena, Wembley Park visit http://www.ssearena.co.uk/.

For further information on Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games visit http://www.lordofthedance.com/

 

TWO CHILLING TALES TO SEND YOU LOCO… IT’S ELEMENTARY

Arnold Ridley’s The Ghost Train steams into Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 30 June closely followed by Sherlock Holmes and The Ripper Murders by Brian Clemens from Tuesday 7 July.

Talking Scarlet theatre company brings two star-studded casts to Darlington Civic Theatre as part of a spine-tingling summer thriller season.

The Ghost Train is the classic comedy thriller that follows a group of travellers (including a newlywed couple, an estranged couple, a self-indulgent young dandy and an elderly spinster with a parrot) stranded in the waiting room of an isolated railway station on a dark and stormy night. They are warned by the stationmaster that they will die if they see the ghostly train that haunts the line. Ridley’s inspiration came after becoming stranded overnight at Mangotsfield station in Bristol, now a disused station on the Midland Railway main line.

The production stars Jeffrey Holland (Hi-de-Hi!, You Rang, M’Lord?, Oh, Doctor Beeching!), Tom Butcher (The Bill, Doctors), Sophie Powles (Emmerdale), Judy Buxton (General Hospital, On the Up) and David Janson (Get Some In!, ‘Allo ‘Allo!, Keeping Up Appearances).

Sherlock Holmes and The Ripper Murders tells of the grisly serial killings in Victorian Whitechapel, dubbed by the popular press at the time as the work of ‘Jack the Ripper’. Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are drawn into one of the darkest plots ever to shake the foundations of England.

The production stars Andrew Paul (Coronation Street, The Bill), Neil Roberts (Holby City, Coronation Street) and Kim Taylforth (London’s Burning, Brookside).

The Ghost Train runs at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 30 June to Saturday 4 July. Sherlock Holmes and The Ripper Murders runs from Tuesday 7 to Saturday 11 July.

Tickets* for both productions are priced from £12.60 with a double ticket offer to see both thrillers and save up to £10. To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy

SEBASTIAN FAULKS
TO APPEAR IN CAMEO ROLE
IN RACHEL WAGSTAFF’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED STAGE ADAPTATION
OF HIS NOVEL BIRDSONG

Novelist Sebastian Faulks will be treading the boards in a cameo acting role in Rachel Wagstaff’s adaptation of his play BIRDSONG at Richmond Theatre this summer.

Audiences will be able to see Sebastian Faulks playing the role of a sapper (tunneler) called Wheeler, at evening performances on Monday 29 June, Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 July (the run continues until 4 July).

The producers of BIRDSONG offered Sebastian Faulks the contract of a paid acting job, having seen his performance when he tried out the role for two nights at Bristol Old Vic in May. Sebastian was keen to recreate the role for a final time as he enjoyed himself so much in Bristol, where he delivered all of his lines perfectly to an outstanding response.

Sebastian’s fellow cast members include Peter Duncan, Edmund Wiseman and Emily Bowker who head the cast of BIRDSONG. Also in the cast are Emily Altneu, Max Bowden (most recently seen as Justin Fitzgerald in BBC One’s Waterloo Road), Selma Brook, James Findlay (winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2010), Roger Martin, Liam McCormick, James Staddon, Cloudia Swann and Alastair Whatley.

Richmond Theatre is the final venue for BIRDSONG, which has been on a critically acclaimed tour since February.

Touring during the 100th anniversary of the First World War, BIRDSONG tells a mesmerising story of love and courage, before and during the war. In pre-war France, a young Englishman, Stephen Wraysford, embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their worlds upside down.  As the war breaks out, Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and through the sprawling tunnels that lie deep underground.  Faced with the unprecedented horror of the war, Stephen clings to the memory of Isabelle and the idyll of his former life as his world explodes around him.

The 2013 and 2014 tours were hugely successful and critically acclaimed, seen by over 130,000 people and receiving 4- and 5-star reviews, with audiences calling the show ‘simply stunning’. Sebastian Faulks was thrilled the show was re-mounted to tour again, and has previously stated: “Both Rachel and I want this to be the definitive version of Birdsong on stage. The audience watch it and think, thank God I have never undergone all of this. These experiences are far outside the lives of most people but there is something about the way the production works which makes people identify and think, it could be me…”

Rachel Wagstaff is currently co-writing two screenplays with Sebastian Faulks, one for Eleventh Hour Productions, and one for Bob & Co. She is also under commission to write a new musical for Vicky Graham Productions/Old Vic Productions, and writing a stage play for The Original Theatre Company. Rachel adapted Sebastian Faulks’s novel, The Girl at the Lion d’Or, for Radio Four (Woman’s Hour), and When I Lost You, an Afternoon Play for Radio Four, co-written with Duncan Abel, was featured on Pick of the Week last year.

BIRDSONG is again directed by Alastair Whatley, with set design by Victoria Spearing, lighting by Alex Wardle for Charcoalblue and sound by Dom Bilkey.

BIRDSONG is produced on tour by Alastair Whatley for The Original Theatre Company and Anne-Marie Woodley and Jon Woodley for Birdsong Productions Ltd.

Official BIRDSONG website:  www.birdsongthetour.com

Official BIRDSONG trailer:  http://www.birdsongthetour.com/#/trailer/4581629926

BIRDSONG is suitable for ages 12+.

RICHMOND LISTINGS

BIRDSONG
RICHMOND THEATRE
Little Green, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1QJ
29 June – 4 July 2015 (evenings 7.30pm; matinees Wednesday and Saturday 2.30pm)
Sebastian Faulks* is performing at evening performances on Monday 29 June, Wednesday 1 July and Thursday 2 July (*subject to availability) at 7.30pm.
Booking:  0844 871 7651 www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/
Tickets: £10 – £32.40 (booking fees apply)

 

Made in Corby presents
No Way Back
Created by Frantic Assembly

Taking inspiration from events in our lives that have shaped who we are, No Way Back is a brand new piece of theatre inspired by the stories of the Corby company, and created by a team of artists from Frantic Assembly working alongside this group of local performers.

A collaborative theatre project, No Way Back has brought both Frantic Assembly’s co-founder and Artistic Director Scott Graham and Associate Director Neil Bettles back to Corby, their home town. They will work with six professional performers, lighting designer Andy Purves and video designer Andrej Goulding.

To encourage people to come forward and take part in creating the show, Frantic Assembly began with open taster workshops across the town in May attracting over 70 people. Then in workshop trials that followed, ten non-professional performers from Corby were selected to co-create and perform in the July show. Local performers selected were Natalie Chisholm, Johnny Cruickshank, Maureen Gallacher, Sam Gooding, Nikki Hammond, India Martin, Stacey Miller, Gordon Ritchie, Lisa Shepherd and Louise Slaven.

They will perform alongside Sally Harris who taught both Scott Graham and Neil Bettles drama at Kingswood School in Corby, Steven Miller who recently played Iago in Frantic Assembly’s acclaimed production of Othello, Vicki Manderson who performed in Frantic Assembly’s Beautiful Burnout and was the company’s Associate on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Jonnie Riordan who is a graduate of Frantic Assembly’s Ignition training programme for young men, Sofie Burgoyne and Krista Vuori.

No Way Back is Made in Corby’s second signature commission in a three year programme bringing together the best national and international artists and the Corby community. The aim is for more people to experience and be inspired by the arts, irrespective of where they live or their social, educational or financial circumstances.

Corby is a test bed for increasing arts participation and arts-led regeneration. One of the fastest growing places in the UK, the town is set to double in size by 2030. The last fifteen years have brought about ambitious investment in housing, regeneration, town centre redevelopment and a new civic building and home to The Core at Corby Cube Theatre, with its growing national reputation for work with young people.

Listings
No Way Back
Directed by Scott Graham and Neil Bettles
Lighting Design by Andy Purves
Video Design by Andrej Goulding

Performances will take place at 2pm and 7.30pm on July 9th and 10th.
Post show talks after 7.30pm performance on July 9th and 2pm on July 10th.
Tickets are on sale from The Core at Corby Cube Ticket Office: 01536 470 470 andwww.thecorecorby.com