Month: September 2015

VICTOR MELDREW RETURNS FOR ONE NIGHT FUNDRAISER

Richard Wilson, best known for his role as Victor Meldrew in One Foot in the Grave, will reprise his famous role in a special fundraising event for Sheffield Theatres on Friday 23 October.

An Evening with Richard Wilson is a unique event for Sheffield audiences. It will be directed by Sheffield Theatres’ Artistic Director, Daniel Evans and will bring Victor Meldrew back to life in scenes from The Trial, an episode from the fourth series of the hit comedy show.  Alongside this performance, Richard will also provide a fascinating, rich and humorous insight into his life and the highs and lows of playing Meldrew, as well as answering questions on his extensive television and theatre career.  

Richard Wilson has generously devised this event for Sheffield Theatres to support the company with its fundraising. As a charity, fundraising plays a vital role in ensuring that the Theatres can continue to produce bold and ambitious work as well as creating projects, events and activities in which everyone can participate and enjoy. Last year Sheffield Theatres produced ten revivals and two new plays, took its productions to 43 towns and cities, and enabled 25,700 young people to enjoy the work onstage thanks to subsidised tickets.

An Associate Director at Sheffield Theatres since 2010, Richard has directed several productions in Sheffield including That Face, The Pride, Lungs and Love Your Soldiers. He also performed inKrapp’s Last Tape in the Studio last year. Speaking about this special performance, he commented: ‘I think the work that Sheffield Theatres produces on stage as well as with the community is fantastic. I’m looking forward to bringing Victor Meldrew back on stage, to help the organisation raise much needed funds to continue the good work that it is so well renowned for.’

Daniel Evans, Artistic Director said: ‘We are incredibly grateful to Richard for supporting us in this way. I’m really excited to be directing Richard as Victor Meldrew, a character that is beloved by the British public. I’ve watched the scenes that he’ll be performing only last week and they’re absolutely hilarious – the audience don’t stop laughing throughout the whole thing. This is a hugely exciting event and I’m thrilled that Richard will be performing it exclusively in Sheffield.’

Following the performance, Richard will join a number of guests in the Adelphi Room for drinks and canapés. Tickets for the performance and the post show reception are priced £40. Standard tickets for the show are available priced £20 and can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person or by phone on 0114 249 6000.  A transaction fee of £1.50 applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excluding cash).

STRICTLY STARS BRING A TOUCH OF GLAMOUR TO DARLINGTON CIVIC THEATRE

Robin Windsor and Anya Garnis will set the stage alight as they bring the song and dance extravaganza Puttin’ On The Ritz to Darlington Civic Theatre from Sunday 11 to Tuesday 13 October.

The spectacular production of Puttin’ On The Ritz first toured the UK in 2014, where it broke box office records. Now it’s back, bigger and better than before with the added attraction of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing stars.

The most famous songs of the Golden Age of Hollywood are recreated live on stage by award-winning singers and dancers. ‘Strictly’ professionals Robin Windsor and Anya Garnis will wow Darlington audiences with their glamorous costumes and ballroom skills.

Puttin’ On The Ritz takes you on a wonderful musical journey and features music from George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. Songs include Cheek To Cheek, Alexander’s Rag Time Band, Swanee, Night And Day, I Got Rhythm, Easter Parade and, of course, Puttin’ On The Ritz.

Puttin’ On The Ritz is at Darlington Civic Theatre from Sunday 11 to Tuesday 13 October. Tickets* are £20 to £31

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy.

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

• THE NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE LAUNCH RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO SUPPORT 2015 SEASON

• COMPANY OF 16 NYT MEMBERS PERFORM 50 PARTS ACROSS THREE PRODUCTIONS FOR 10 WEEKS IN LONDON’S WEST END
  
• CONSENSUAL, WUTHERING HEIGHTS & THE MERCHANT OF VENICERUN AT THE AMBASSADORS THEATRE UNTIL 4 DECEMBER

One week before the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain open their third REP season in London’s West End they have released comprehensive free resources for schools, developed with teachers and theatre professionals for each of their three productions.

The NYT’s REP season instills companys of the NYT’s very best actors into West End theatres, giving members a chance to train by performing in front of paying audiences. Following the success of previous seasons the 2015 programme includes Consensual – a brand new play exploring issues around young people and sexual consent written by Evan Placey; Wuthering Heights, in a new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel by Stephanie Street and The Merchant of Venice – Shakespeare’s play abridged especially for the NYT by Tom Stoppard.

Consensual explores issues and experiences around sexting, young people and sexual consent, particularly in the classroom. The supporting education resource is designed for Key Stage 4 and 5 teaching of Drama and PSHE students and consists of curriculum-linked resource packs, interviews, and activities for teachers to allow creative exploration of the complex theme of consent.

The Wuthering Heights education pack for Street’s bold new adaptation of Bronte’s classic has been developed to support Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 students and teachers. Designed for Drama and English students who are exploring the play or the novel, the pack provides contextual information and curriculum inspired activities including textual analysis, creative writing, critical thinking and script work to encourage a deeper engagement with the production.

The resources for Merchant of Venice have been developed specially to support delivery of the text to Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 students in Literature and Drama and include interviews, textual extracts and explorations of theme and character and classroom activities to inspire creative and analytical responses tied to the curriculum.

Each year two of the shows in the REP season are chosen from the school curriculum and for the 2014 season over 5,000 school pupils were able to see the classic texts they were working on actualised. The comprehensive education resources will give schools insight into the creative process around the productions and assist with engaged textual and conceptual analysis in the classroom.

Packs for Consensual, Wuthering Heights and The Merchant of Venice can be downloaded here.

More information at www.nyt.org.uk

LISTINGS
Ambassadors Theatre, WC2H 9ND
Running until 4 December 2015

Consensual Press Performances 6 & 7 October, 7:30pm
No matinee performances
Evening performances (7:30pm):
29, 30 September; 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 October; 3, 4, 10, 11, 18, 24 November; 2 December

Wuthering Heights Press Performance 6 October, 2:30pm
Matinee performances (2:30pm):
2, 6, 13, 14, 23, 30 October; 6, 10, 11, 24, 27 November; 1, 4 December
Evening performances (7:30pm):
27, October; 17, 25 November;

The Merchant of Venice
Press Performance 7 October (2:30pm)
Matinee performances (2:30pm):
29, 30 September; 7, 9, 16, 20, 26, 27 October; 3, 4, 13, 17, 18, 25 November; 2 December
Evening performances (7:30pm):
1 December

Schools Rates
£12 per pupil, free teacher ticket with every 10 tickets booked.

Box Office
www.theambassadorstheatre.co.uk
08448 112 334
or
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
020 7452 3000

JOSEPH

And the

Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

 

Starring X Factor’s JOE MCELDERRY

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK

Tuesday 26 until Saturday 30 April 2016

 

‘Brilliant! It explodes like glittering fireworks!’ Sunday Times

Bill Kenwright’s ‘amazing’, ‘superb’, ‘wonderful’ and ‘brilliant ‘production of Time Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkling family musical continues on its record breaking tour having sold to date an estimated 15 million tickets.

Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph (Joe McElderry) his eleven brothers and the coat of many colors, this magical musical is full of unforgettable songs including Any Dream Will Do, Those Canaan Days and Close Every Door To Me.

Jow McElderry was just 18 when he won the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009, and immediately went straight to number one in the UK singles charts with his debut single The Climb.  He has since gone on to have three top ten albums, as well as notching up two more reality TV victories, winning ITV’s Pop Star to Opera Star and Channel 4’s The Jump.

‘Utterly irresistible – Go, Go, Go, Jo’ Mail on Sunday

‘A technical triumph’  The Independent

Performances: Mon – Thu 7:30pm mats 2:30pm; Fri 5pm & 8pm; Sat 2pm, 5pm & 8pm

Tickets: £18.00 – £37.00

Box Office: 0844 871 3024

Online Booking: www.atgtickets.com/york

JUMP ON BOARD FOR A SPINE CHILLING DOUBLE BILL

Jack Shepherd stars in a spine chilling double bill of Classic Ghost Stories at Darlington Civic Theatre from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 October.

Middle Ground Theatre Company present their hugely successful adaptation of Charles Dickens’ The Signalman. Set in 1880, this is the exquisitely unnerving tale of a tormented signalman who is haunted by visions of impending disaster on his isolated stretch of line. Can a well-meaning traveller calm the man’s fears before he spirals into self-destruction?

The show is coupled with the world stage premiere adaptation of Robert Aickman’s The Waiting Room. Having missed his connection, George Pendlebury is forced to spend a night alone in Casterton’s old station waiting room. Frozen half to death, he awakes after midnight to find that, perhaps, he is not alone after all.

A perfect way to spend a dark autumn evening.

Award-winning veteran actor Jack Shepherd has a long and distinguished career in film, television and on stage. His awards include a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award, a Plays and Players London Critics’ Award, and a Time Out Award. He is probably best known for his portrayal of Detective Superintendent Charles Wycliffe in the television series Wycliffe. He is joined by Richard Walsh (12 years as Albert “Sicknote” Quigley in ITV’s London’s Burning) plus a full supporting cast.

There will be a free Post-Show talk on Thursday 15 October and a Post Show Theatre Ghost Tour on Friday 16 October. To book a space on the Ghost Tour – an opportunity to learn about the ghosts that have been witnessed in several areas of the theatre – please call the box office on 01325 486555.

Classic Ghost Stories comes to Darlington Civic Theatre from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17. Tickets* are £17 to £25.50

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy.

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

FOLLOWING A MAJOR UK SPRING TOUR

AND SELL OUT RUNS AT COMEDY FESTIVALS IN AUSTRALIA

AND AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE

A NEW AUTUMN TOUR ANNOUNCED FOR

 

ONE MAN BREAKING BAD

THE UNAUTHORISED PARODY

 

SIXTY AWESOME EPISODES. ONE AWESOME SHOW YO!

A RIP ROARING RIDE THROUGH THE GREATEST TELEVISION SHOW EVER MADE.

Following sell-out runs at comedy festivals in Melbourne and Edinburgh, and following his first UK tour this spring, LA actor Miles Allen will tour the UK again this autumn with his hit solo show ONE MAN BREAKING BAD – THE UNAUTHORISED PARODY dates and booking info at www.onemanbreakingbad.com

 

LA actor Miles Allen smacks the senses with his super-charged, hilariously accurate renditions of all the iconic characters, including Walter White, Jesse, Saul, Skyler, Hank, Walt Junior, Mike and Gus Fring.

Allen’s incredible impersonations break all five seasons down into one, exhilarating, and uproarious tour-de-force parody performance.

Miles Allen said, “This show is a love letter for all the fans who lived through the blood, meth, and tears of the greatest television show ever made.”

 

2015 UK AUTUMN TOUR DATES

Tue 27 Oct            Salford, The Lowry

Wed 28 Oct          Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall

Thu 29 Oct            Reading, The Hexagon

Fri 30 Oct              Corby, The Core at Corby Cube

Sat 31 Oct              Bradford, St. George’s Hall

Sun 1 Nov              Glasgow, Theatre Royal

Tue 3 Nov              Sheffield, Crucible

Fri 6 Nov                Brighton, Brighton Dome

Sat 7 Nov               Newbury, Corn Exchange

Sun 8 Nov              Basingstoke, The Anvil

Tue 10 Nov            Kings Lynn, Corn Exchange

Wed 11 Nov          Colchester, Mercury Theatre

Thu 12 Nov            Norwich, Norwich Theatre

Fri 13 Nov              Aylesbury , Waterside Theatre

Sat 14 Nov             Tunbridge Wells, Assembly Rooms

Sun 15 Nov            Cambridge, Corn Exchange

Tue 17 Nov            Dartford, The Orchard Theatre

Wed 18 Nov          Crawley, The Hawth

Thu 19 Nov            Bath, Komedia

Fri 20 Nov              Canterbury, The Marlowe Theatre

Sat 21 Nov             Portsmouth, King’s Theatre

Sun 22 Nov            Richmond, Richmond Theatre

Tue 24 Nov            Swansea, Grand Theatre

Wed 25 Nov          Stafford, Gatehouse Theatre

Thu 26 Nov            Buxton, Opera House

Sat 28 Nov             Belfast, Ulster Hall

A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY

WITH MUSIC & LYRICS BY IRVING BERLIN

BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH STUDIOCANAL

DIRECTED BY THOM SOUTHERLAND

STARRING LIZA GODDARD & BRIAN CAPRON

THE SMALLEST SHOW ON EARTH

TO TOUR THE UK FROM 25 SEPTEMBER 2015

Mercury Theatre, Colchester, Brian Eastman and Christabel Albery present a new musical comedy based on the StudioCanal Peter Sellers/Margaret Rutherford film The Smallest Show on Earth. The stage show, which has a book by Thom Southerland and Paul Alexander, contains some of Irving Berlin’s greatest songs, including Blue Skies, Shakin’ the Blues Away, Let Yourself Go, Steppin’ Out with my Baby and How Deep is the Ocean, as well as some rediscovered gems.

Director Thom Southerland said “Berlin’s music provides the perfect accompaniment to our 1950s story, not only in lyric, but in style and period too.”

The UK tour of The Smallest Show on Earth will begin performances on Friday 25 September at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, before playing Coventry, High Wycombe, Glasgow, Plymouth, Crewe, Swansea and Malvern.

Newly-weds Matt and Jean Spenser inherit a cinema and think their fortune is made. But the Bijou, better known as the fleapit, is the victim of a dirty tricks campaign from its rival flashy neighbour The Grand. The Bijou’s benevolent manageress Mrs Fazackalee and unreliable projectionist Mr Quill combine with Matt and Jean to outwit the opposition and restore the Bijou to its former glory.

StudioCanal’s The Smallest Show on Earth was a 1957 British Lion film written by William Rose (Genevieve, The Ladykillers) and directed by Basil Dearden (Blue Lamp, League of Gentlemen). It starred Peter Sellers as Mr Quill and Margaret Rutherford as Mrs Fazackalee, along with Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers as Matt and Jean.

The cast of the new musical comedy will be led by Liza Goddard (Take Three Girls, Bergerac, Grandpa in my Pocket) as Mrs Fazackalee and Brian Capron (Coronation Street, Where the Heart Is, Grange Hill) as Mr Quill. Also in the cast will be Haydn Oakley as Matthew Spenser, Laura Pitt-Pulford as Jean Spenser, Ricky Butt as Ethel Hardcastle, Philip Rham as Albert Hardcastle, Christina Bennington as Marlene Hardcastle, Sam O’Rourke as Tom Fazackalee and Matthew Crowe as Robin Carter, with Leo Andrew, Jacob Chapman, Matthew Dale, Nova Skipp and Leah West.

The UK tour of The Smallest Show on Earth will be directed by Thom Southerland (Parade, Mack & Mabel, Victor/Victoria, Titanic) with set and costume design by David Woodhead, choreography by Lee Proud, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Andrew Johnson, musical supervision by Gareth Valentine, orchestrations by Mark Cumberland, musical direction by Mark Aspinall and casting by Will Burton CDG.

The UK tour of The Smallest Show on Earth – A new Irving Berlin Musical is produced by Brian Eastman, Christabel Albery and Mercury Theatre, Colchester, by special arrangement with StudioCanal.

For more information, visit www.thesmallestshowonearth.co.uk

Facebook: The Smallest Show On Earth

Twitter: @TheSmallestShow

25 September – 10 October COLCHESTER 01206 573948 Mercury Theatre www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

13 – 17 October COVENTRY 024 7655 3055 Belgrade Theatre www.belgrade.co.uk

19 – 24 October HIGH WYCOMBE 01494 512 000 Wycombe Swan www.wycombeswan.co.uk

26 – 31 October GLASGOW 0844 871 7647 Theatre Royal www.atgtickets.com/glasgow

3 – 7 November PLYMOUTH 01752 267222 Theatre Royal www.theatreroyal.com

9 – 14 November CREWE 01270 368 242 Lyceum www.crewelyceum.co.uk

16 – 21 November SWANSEA 01792 475715 Grand Theatre www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseagrandtheatre

23 – 28 November MALVERN 01684 892277 Malvern Theatres www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

TV STARS BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Bernie Clifton, Freddie Parrotface Davies, The Krankies & Don MacLean

 

 

In their 150^th Anniversary year, City Varieties Music Hall kicks off its Autumn season of The Good Old Days this Friday.

During October, each weekend will have a different headlining artiste plus a supporting bill filled with the cream of variety talent including comedians, jugglers, singers, magicians and illusionists… accompanied in style by The Good Old Days “Orchestra” and presented by your worthy Chairman,Mr Johnny Dennis.

These live stage shows have now been held for over 25 years… almost as long as the original record-breaking BBC light entertainment show which ran from 1953 to 1983.

Here are the full line-ups

Fri 2 & Sat 3 October
MR BERNIE CLIFTON  

Veteran, comic entertainer Bernie Clifton is best remembered for his stints on Crackerjack and “riding” his enormous ostrich

Jan Hunt – Singer

Judith Hibbert – Singer

The Todd Sisters – Singers (as The Dolly Sisters)

Ross Tomlinson – Singer

Ben Stock – Singer/comedy character

Fri 9 & Sat 10 October
FREDDIE PARROTFACE DAVIES
The much loved Freddie “Parrot Face” Davies, who shot to fame in 1964 via Opportunity Knocks and became a nation TV favourite with his character, Samuel Tweet. Freddie also appeared in the movies Funny Bones (with Lee Evans & Jerry Lewis) and Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban

Julia Sutton – Singer

Ian Marchant – juggler

John Styles – Magic/Comedy

Donald Grant – Diablo

Mickie Driver – Singing/comedy

Fri 16 & Sat 17 October

THE KRANKIES
Scottish comedy duo , Ian & “Wee Jimmy” Krankie… stars of several of their own TV shows from the 1970s & 80s as well as regular panto appearances and guest spots on French & Saunders
Andrew Robley – Singer

Peter John – Singer/comedy characters

Andy Eastwood – Musician (Ukelele and Banjo)

Andrew Van Buren

Fri 23 & Sat 24 October

DON MACLEAN
All round entertainer Don MacLean is probably best remembered for his anarchic Crackerjack antics with Peter Glaze and Good Old Days’ regular Jan Hunt… a quality comedian and presenter in the classic British tradition.
Katie Milton – Singer

John Barker – Musician (Trumpet)

Jay Rawlings – Juggler

Romany – Magician

Mark Walsh – Musician (Ukelele)

The Good Old Days are at City Varieties Music Hall
each weekend throughout October

Performances take place at 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays with a matinee on Saturday at 2pm

Tickets from £17

 

Online Booking: www.cityvarieties.co.uk

Box Office: 0113 243 0808

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LWL Investments & Entertainment presents Sandra Dickinson and Christopher Tester in a workshop presentation of the play I LOVED LUCY by Lee Tannen directed by Claudio Macor.

Sandra Dickinson (A Streetcar Named Desire, Not About Nightingales, Orpheus Descending) and Christopher Tester (Romeo & Juliet, The Talented Mr Ripley, The Picture of John Gray) star as Lucille Ball and Lee Tannen in the European premiere of the play I LOVED LUCY by Lee Tannen.

The play recounts Tannen’s close friendship with American comic legend Lucille Ball during the last decade of her life. Lucille Ball left an indelible imprint on fans throughout the world, but most saw only the public persona. I LOVED LUCY gives us a side of Lucy very few people got to see – it’s an intimate portrait of what this remarkably gifted icon was really like; who she truly was and the way she chose to live her life out of the spotlight.

Directed by Claudio Macor (The Tailor-Made Man, In The Dead of Night, Venetian Heat), this two-hander play is based on the best-selling memoir by Lee Tannen.

 

CREATIVE TEAM
Playwright – Lee Tannen (Based on his memoir “I Loved Lucy”)
Director – Claudio Macor
Photographer – Roy Tan
Producer – Andrea Leoncini
Company – LWL Investments & Entertainment

CAST
Sandra Dickinson as Lucille Ball
Christopher Tester as Lee Tannen

Above The Arts,
6-7 Newport Street, London WC2H 7JB
Tuesday, 20 October 2015 – 1PM
Twitter: @ILovedLucyUK

As rehearsals begin for the strictly limited 11 week Palladium season – As previously announced, Beverley Knight is to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats to play the role of Grizabella. Returning to the London Palladium from 23 October 2015 for a strictly limited 11 week season.  Cats is booking to 2 January 2016.

The cast joining Beverley Knight (Grizabella) at the Palladium comprises Jack Butterworth (Rumpus/Alonzo), Danielle Cato (Cassandra), Javier Cid (Macavity/Admetus), Luke Cinque-White (Carbucketty), Emma Lee Clark (Bombalurina), Jon-Scott Clark (Bill Bailey), Gabrielle Cocca (Tantomile), Harry Francis (Mungojerrie), Tarryn Gee (Jemima), Evan James (Skimbleshanks), Matt Krzan (Munkustrap), Georgie Leatherland (Rumpelteazer), Adam Linstead (Old Deuteronomy), Paul F Monaghan (Gus/Growltiger/Bustopher Jones), Jane Quinn (Jennyanydots), Mark John Richardson (Quaxo/ Mistoffelees), Clare Rickard (Jellylorum), Jordan Shaw (Pouncival), Hannah Kenna Thomas (Victoria/ White Cat), James Titchener (Coricopat), Marcquelle Ward (Tugger) and Anna Woodside (Demeter). They are joined by Megan Armstrong, Lindsay Atherton, Lucy Brushett, Oliver Ramsdale, Alex Pinder and Barry Haywood as swings.

Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Cats returned to the West End in December last year in a sell-out season reuniting the original creative team – Director Trevor Nunn, Associate Director and Choreographer Gillian Lynne, Designer John Napier and Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Previously Nicole Scherzinger and then Kerry Ellis played the role of Grizabella at the Palladium. Jane McDonald recently played the role of Grizabella in an 8 week season at Blackpool Opera House.

On just one special night of the year, all Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.

 

CATS
London Palladium
Running Time: 2 hours and 16 minutes
Age Restrictions:
Suitable for ages 5 years+
Show Opened: 23rd October 2014
Booking Until: 2nd January 2016