Month: September 2015

British composer Leslie Bricusse has revealed he is working on a major new musical about the life of his close friend and legendary entertainer, Sammy Davis Jr.

Bricusse’s current musical Pure Imagination opened for previews at the St James theatre yesterday evening and includes his hit songs such as “Feeling Good” and “Goldfinger”.

Oscar and Grammy Award winner Bricusse has composed over 1,000 songs, with Davis Jr recording over 60 of them including “What Kind of Fool Am I” and “Candy Man”.

Speaking to The London Weekly News, Bricusse said: “He was a lifelong friend and I wanted his story told properly. It’s calledSammy and the man I want to play him is in Pure Imagination.

“He’s Giles Terera and he even looks like Sammy. He played Sammy in The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas and he’s absolutely marvellous.”

Whilst nothing is yet confirmed, Bricusse has said he hopes the musical will open in London in the near future.

On Thursday 8 October 2015 The West End Production of “Les Misérables” at The Queen’s Theatre continues to make history as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary with a very Special Gala Performance in aid of The Save The Children Syria Children’s Appeal featuring The Current Company, Members Of The Original Cast and Special Guests starting at 7.00pm – 450 tickets available to the fans.

On Thursday 8 October 2015, the West End production of “LES MISÉRABLES” at the Queen’s Theatre continues to make history as it celebrates its 30th anniversary with a very special performance starting at 7.00pm. 450 tickets for this performance will be available to the fans through a mobile lottery and a charity auction to raise money for the Save the Children Syria Children’s Appeal. Audience members wishing to attend this historic musical event will have the opportunity to enter the mobile lottery or auction by visiting lesmis.com/30 which will be live from 12.00 noon on Friday 25th September 2015.

To celebrate this milestone, the current stellar cast will be joined onstage by members of the original company and special guests including Colm Wilkinson, Roger Allam, Frances Ruffelle, Alfie Boe, John Owen-Jones and Gerónimo Rauch in a special finale.

Cameron Mackintosh said today: “Having already had so many requests to attend this very special anniversary performance, we know we could sell this performance many times over. We are limited by the capacity of the Queen’s Theatre and the number of invited guests who have been involved over the 30 year history, but we wanted to make over 40% of the house available to fans. The only fair way we can get these tickets out to the fans is through a lottery. Everyone involved in Les Misérables also wanted to take the opportunity to raise as much money as they can through the distribution of tickets towards the Save the Children Syria Children’s Appeal.”

Save the Children said: “Save the Children is delighted that our Syria Children’s Appeal will benefit from this 30 year celebration of Les Misérables. This poignant tale of struggle, hope and dreams reflects the human spirit that we see in Syrian families that we work with day in day out.”

Three ways seats are available to raise the maximum money possible:

• 300 tickets are going to be handled by TodayTix, The Theatre Ticket App, utilising its exclusive mobile lottery in order to get to the widest reach of applicants. Fans may apply for up to two tickets. Winners will be asked for a donation of 50 per ticket. We are very grateful that TodayTix will match the £50 donation we have asked for and will waive all booking fees for this historic performance.
• Another 50 pairs of tickets in the Stalls and Dress Circle will be available for auction with a minimum price of £100 per ticket. The auction is accessible via lesmis.com/30
• An additional 25 pairs of tickets will also be made available via TodayTix for a donation of £500 per ticket (in the best stalls or dress circle seats), with interval hospitality at the Queen’s Theatre, invitations to the private after-show party with the artists and creative team and a limited edition print. These tickets will be available via TodayTix on Friday 25 September at 12.00 noon on a first come, first served basis.

The mobile lottery and auction will open on 25 September at 12.00 noon and close on 2 October at 2.00pm. Visit lesmis.com/30 for full details.

Mobile lottery winners will be notified on 2 October via email and push notification. Winners must claim tickets with a £50 donation in the TodayTix app within one hour of notification. Unsuccessful entrants will not be charged but will have the option to donate to Save the Children to gain access to a video recording of the special finale. TodayTix can be downloaded for free via lesmis.com/30.
Auction winners will be notified on 2 October and charged the final bid amount.

Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent score of “LES MISÉRABLES” includes the songs, “I Dreamed a Dream”, “On My Own”, “Stars”, “Bring Him Home”, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, “One Day More”, “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”, “Master Of The House” and many more.

The current cast are: Peter Lockyer as ‘Jean Valjean’; Jeremy Secomb as ‘Javert’; Rachelle Ann Go as ‘Fantine’; Phil Daniels as ‘Thénardier’; Katy Secombe as ‘Madame Thénardier’; Carrie Hope Fletcher as ‘Eponine’; Zoë Doano as ‘Cosette; Bradley Jaden as ‘Enjolras’ and , Rob Houchen as ‘Marius’. They are joined by: Adam Bayjou; Sanne den Besten; Edd Campbell Bird; Oliver Brenin; David Burnip; Jordan Lee Davies; Tamsin Dowsett; Katy Hanna; Matthew Harvey; Matt Jeans; Charlotte Kennedy; Emma Kingston; Jo Loxton; Luke McCall; Ryan O’Gorman; Jo Parsons; Adam Pearce; Michael Riseley; Courtney Stapleton; Jessamy Stoddart; Samantha Thomas; Lee Van Geleen; Helen Walsh and Paul Wilkins.

“LES MISÉRABLES” originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on 8 October 1985. It transferred to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985 where it ran for 19 years before moving to its current home at the Queen’s Theatre on 3 April 2004 where it has already played for 11 years and looks set to at least equal the run at the Palace Theatre as it is still playing to standing room only. When “LES MISÉRABLES” celebrated its 21st London birthday on 8 October 2006, it became the World’s Longest Running Musical, surpassing the record previously held by “Cats” in London’s West End.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the legendary musical “LES MISÉRABLES” made theatrical history with an international first – being the only musical or play to have three different productions playing in London simultaneously. The Original Production at the Queen’s Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, the acclaimed New 25th Anniversary Production at the Barbican (where the show originally premiered in 1985) and the celebratory concert at The O2.

Seen by nearly 70 million people worldwide in 44 countries and in 22 languages, “LES MISÉRABLES” is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals ever written, with new productions continually opening around the globe, with seven more currently scheduled. There have been 47 cast recordings of “LES MISÉRABLES”, including the multi-platinum London cast recording, the Grammy Award-winning Broadway cast and complete symphonic albums, the live recording of the New 25th Anniversary Production and now the motion picture soundtrack which has sold over 1.5 million copies and has topped the iTunes charts. The DVDs of the 10th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall Gala Concert and the 25th Anniversary at the O2 Arena have sold millions of copies worldwide.

There are over 3,000 productions of the Les Misérables School’s Edition scheduled or being performed by over 150,000 school children in the UK, US and Australia, making it the most successful musical ever produced in schools.

London is now home to the only original production of “LES MISÉRABLES”, with the new production playing on Broadway, Australia, Korea, Japan having already extensively toured the UK and North America. Future productions are planned in Spain and the Philippines.

The 2012 Universal film version of “LES MISÉRABLES” co-produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Working Title Films, and directed by Tom Hooper has grossed $450 million worldwide to date. The film received the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) and received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won three Academy Awards. The film’s soundtrack debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Album chart and has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of “LES MISÉRABLES” is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. The original London 1985 production of “LES MISÉRABLES” was adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

Queen’s Theatre
51 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6BA

Evenings: Monday to Saturday 7.30pm
Matinees: Wednesday and Saturday 2.30pm
Running Time: 3 hours
Age Restrictions: Recommended for children aged 7 or over; children under 5 will not be admitted.
Parental guidance advised.

The former Director of the National Theatre was presented with the award – an engraved crystal rose bowl – by Jeffery Taylor, President of the Critics Circle, at a celebration lunch at the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, London SW1 on September 23, attended by critics from across all fields of the arts.

The annual award, the Critics Circle’s highest honour, was created in 1988 and the first person to receive it was Peter Hall one of Hytner’s predecessors at the National Theatre.

Mark Shenton, Chairman of the Drama Section, said: “While Nick Hytner’s name was proposed by the Drama section, following his outstanding 12-year tenure as director of the National Theatre, he has also done award-winning work in Opera and Film. He is also a keen fan and supporter of dance, is a patron of Dance UK, and has brought the work of the likes of Lloyd Newson and Akram Khan onto the stage of the National.

“During his tenure at the National, Nick Hytner and his executive director Nick Starr brought in several major innovations, including the ground-breaking NT Live which has pushed NT productions around the world, as well as the introducing the Travelex sponsored reduced price ticket scheme, to make theatre more affordable to all. Now the two Nicks – or NHS as someone wittily dubbed them in reference to their initials – are working on changing the way commercial theatre operates, too, with their recently announced plans to help take its centre of gravity outside of the West End and relocate it to the thriving South Bank where they are opening a brand-new purpose built 900 seater theatre near Tower Bridge. It is just the start in a plan to open a number of independent theatres of different sizes across the capital. He may have closed the chapter of his life at the National Theatre, but a new one is just beginning. In saluting his past achievements today, we look forward to those that are yet to come.”

Accepting the award, Mr Hytner said that his work in opera and in film was a long time ago, but he could not be more happier to accept it for the work he had done at the National Theatre. “By rights I should be accepting it in partnership with Nick Starr, and I am was delighted he is here today. I hope that some time in the future – maybe 25 years from now – we might get one jointly!” He added it was important that people should pass on what had happened in the theatre in the past, but it was not something that could be left to those who worked in the theatre, Critics also had a role to play.

The Critics Circle Award for Services to the Arts is voted for by more than 500 members of the Critics’ Circle across its six sections – Music, Dance, Film, Drama, Visual Arts and Literary criticism. Each section proposes a nominee from its field of the arts and then a final vote is held of all members.

Last year it was presented to the potter, Grayson Perry. Previous winners include Richard Eyre, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Tom Stoppard, Alan Bennett, Ken Loach.and Stephen Sondheim.

The Critics’ Circle was founded in 1913 and is the oldest critics’ organisation in the world.

Universal Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions have announced the complete list of dates for the first ever UK and Ireland tour of Billy Elliot the Musical.

Billy Elliot the Musical will open at the Theatre Royal Plymouth where it will play from Wednesday 24 February to Saturday 2 April 2016 before visiting Sunderland Empire (6 – 30 April 2016), Bradford Alhambra (10 May – 11 June 2016), Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (14 June – 16 July 2016), Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (26 July – 3 September 2016), Edinburgh Playhouse (20 September – 22 October 2016), Bristol Hippodrome (25 October – 26 November 2016), Manchester Palace Theatre (29 November 2016 – 28 January 2017), Southampton Mayflower (7 February – 4 March 2017 ), finishing at Birmingham Hippodrome (7 March – 6 May 2017).

Eric Fellner (Producer) said today: “Having recently celebrated ten extraordinary years of Billy Elliot the Musical in London, we are delighted to have the opportunity to bring a new touring production of this inspiring show to fans across the UK and Ireland and the chance to delight new audiences along the way.”

Based on the highly successful film, the show is set in a northern mining town against the background of the 1984/’85 miners’ strike and follows Billy’s journey from boxing to ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by over 10.5 million people across five continents and is the recipient of over 80 awards internationally, including ten Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards. In 2006, Liam Mower, James Lomas and George Maguire, the first three boys to play the title role, became the youngest performers ever to have won the Olivier Award for Best Actor with the show also picking up the Best Musical prize. In total, eighty nine boys have now played the iconic title role on stage worldwide.

Billy Elliot the Musical is brought to life by the multiple award-winning creative team behind the film including writer Lee Hall (book and lyrics), director Stephen Daldry and choreographer, Peter Darling, joined by Elton John who composed the show’s score. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design is by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.

The first Dutch production of Billy Elliot the Musical continues at the AFAS Circustheater in The Hague. Productions have previously been staged on Broadway, in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. The North American touring production, which began in 2010, finished its spectacular run in August 2013 with an engagement in São Paulo, Brazil, the first time Billy Elliot played in South America. Further international productions are planned including the first Japanese production in 2017. Billy Elliot the Musical is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London until 17th December 2016.

Billy Elliot the Musical is presented by Universal Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions and is based on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal film. The show is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene. Angela Morrison and David Furnish are executive producers.

Billy Elliot The Musical
at Victoria Palace Theatre
Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5EA

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL – UK AND IRELAND TOUR 2016/2017

WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 2 APRIL 2016
PLYMOUTH THEATRE ROYAL www.theatreroyal.com
ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL – SATURDAY 30 APRIL 2016
SUNDERLAND EMPIRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire
ON SALE 9 OCTOBER 2015

TUESDAY 10 MAY – SATURDAY 11 JUNE 2016
BRADFORD ALHAMBRA www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 14 JUNE – SATURDAY 16 JULY 2016
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF www.wmc.org.uk
ON SALE 27 OCTOBER 2015

TUESDAY 26 JULY – SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2016
DUBLIN BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
ON SALE 23 OCTOBER 2015

TUESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER 2016
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse
ON SALE 29 OCTOBER 2015

TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2016
BRISTOL HIPPODROME www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome
ON SALE 12 NOVEMBER 2015

TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2016 – SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2017
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester
ON SALE 2 NOVEMBER 2015

TUESDAY 7 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 4 MARCH 2017
SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER THEATRE www.mayflower.org.uk
ON SALE 2 FEB 2016

TUESDAY 7 MARCH – SATURDAY 6 MAY 2017
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME www.birminghamhippodrome.com
ON SALE APRIL 2016

HIT MUSICAL HAIRSPRAY BOUNCES INTO NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

Newcastle Theatre Royal audiences can prepare themselves for a night of feel-good fun as the all-star cast of Hairspray arrives in the city from Tue 19 – Sat 30 Jan 2016.

It’s Baltimore 1962, where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV. Tracy’s audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way.

Based on the 1988 film of the same name, Hairspray the musical originally opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 2002 and subsequently won eight Tony Awards. Later after a run at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre in 2007 the show won four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical.

The 40-week tour boasts a stellar line-up with the role of Edna Turnblad being played by Tony Maudsley, who many will know from his long-running role as Kenneth on ITV1’s Benidorm. Tony has previously appeared on stage in the UK touring production of South Pacific  and is a regular face on TV, having played roles recently in The Job Lot, New Tricks and Doc Martin. On top of Tony’s extensive television credits, his film appearances have included roles in Jack Thorne’s The Scouting Book for Boys, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Vanity Fair and Stephen Fry’s Bright Young Things.

Tony will be joined by TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney who plays the role of Velma Von Tussle. Claire first came to prominence with her long-running role as Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside. Since leaving the soap in 2003, Claire has gone on to find great acclaim on stage with roles in Chicago, Dirty Dancing, Legally Blonde: The Musical, Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls, Tell Me On A Sunday as well as the world tour of Fosse. Claire has also found great popularity as a television presenter and panellist in shows such as 60 Minute Makeover, Loose Women and more recently as a presenter on Magic FM where she hosts a musical theatre-themed show.

The role of Wilbur Turnblad is played by former Blue Peter star Peter Duncan, who began his career on stage with Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre company at the Old Vic and subsequently went on to be Olivier Award nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in The Card and starred as Barnum in Barnum. Along with roles in several TV series, Peter recently competed in BBC1’s gymnastics competition Tumble alongside Sarah Harding and John Partridge.

Peter is joined by former X Factor contestant Brenda Edwards, who after finishing the ITV competition in fourth place under the tutelage of Sharon Osbourne, went on to star in long-running musicals such as Chicago (Adelphi & Cambridge Theatres) and We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre & UK Tour). Brenda plays the role of Motormouth Maybelle.

Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad having played the role in the UK and Ireland 2013 tour. She plays alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras who will play the role of Corny Collins. Jon’s theatre credits include White Christmas (The Lowry, Salford), A Chorus Line (London Palladium), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Palace Theatre), Legally Blonde: The Musical (Savoy) and Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour).

With music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Hairspray will be directed by Paul Kerryson, with choreography by Drew McOnie and musical direction by Ben Atkinson. The show has music and lyrics by Academy Award, Tony and Emmy winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Hairspray is produced by Mark Goucher and Laurence Myers, Tom O’Connell for QNQ, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Gale King Productions and Curve theatre, Leicester.

Hairspray is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 19 to Sat 30 Jan 2016, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees Thurs 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £16.50 (save 50p per ticket online). Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Oliver Mackwood with Debbie Hicks and Tim Johanson in association with Park Theatre present

DINNER WITH FRIENDS

CASTING ANNOUNCED

HARI DHILLON, SHAUN DOOLEY, SARA STEWART AND FINTY WILLIAMS

TO STAR IN DONALD MARGULIES’ PULITZER PRIZE WINNING DRAMA

Casting has been announced for Dinner with Friends by Donald Margulies, the Pulitzer Prize winning drama directed by Tom Attenborough coming to the Park Theatre this autumn, from Tuesday 27 October to Saturday 28 November, with a press night on Friday 30 October.

Holby City veteran and star of Broadway’s Disgraced Hari Dhillon will play ‘Tom’ opposite Broadchurch’s Shaun Dooley as ‘Gabe’, Batman Begins and West End regular Sara Stewart as ‘Karen’, and Cranford and Born and Bred star Finty Williams as ‘Beth’

Donald Margulies, the play’s multi-award winning writer, says “I’m delighted that such a young, exciting assembly of theatre artists will be bringing Dinner with Friends to a new generation of London theatregoers”.

Karen and Gabe are a steady pair, committed to surviving every marital peak and valley. Tom and Beth are splitting up. Divided by his infidelity, they are forced to re-evaluate connections to their long-term friends… 

Dinner with Friends is the tantalizingly witty portrayal of relationships that explores our dependency on our friends as well as our loved ones.

Underbelly Productions presents
BARBU

CANADIAN CIRCUS COMPANY CIRQUE ALFONSE WILL BRING BARBU TO THE LONDON WONDERGROUND AT SOUTH BANK CENTRE IN SUMMER 2016

BARBU ENJOYED A HUGELY ACCLAIMED, SELL-OUT EUROPEAN PREMIERE AT EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE’S CIRCUS HUB

BARBU WILL RUN FROM WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE UNTIL SUNDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2016

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW

Hot on the heels of a critically acclaimed European premier in Edinburgh this year, Canadian Circus company Cirque Alfonse will headline the London Wonderground with the spectacularly raucous and sexy cabaret BARBU in Summer 2016.

Following a storming run at Underbelly’s new Circus Hub venue this summer, the first major venue dedicated solely to circus at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, BARBU will run fromWednesday 15 June until Sunday 25 September 2016. Tickets are on sale now.

Wowing audiences in 2013 with their London debut of the madcap lumberjack circus Timber!, Cirque Alfonse’s BARBU takes this form of edge-of-your-seat, off-the-wall entertainment to a whole other level with breath-taking performances from a group of the world’s most extraordinary, dare-devil acrobats, all set to a heart thumping score by a frenetic electro-trad band.

BARBU delves into the origins of the circus in Montreal at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. Imagine a fairground, where spectators are left spellbound by astonishing performances and outrageous feats, simple curiosities and unexpected eccentricities. Political correctness has no place in the madness and mayhem of this show.

Since it began, Cirque Alfonse has been exploring traditional iconic Quebec images and integrating them into a truly innovative form of contemporary acrobatics. In the Lanaudière region of Quebec, the Carabinier-Lépine family and their close friends joined forces in 2005, and the following year they created La Brunante which became the foundation for Timber!which premiered in 2010. This highly original production became an undeniable success with more than 300 performances in 13 countries to date.

London’s finest circus party and Cirque Alfonse clan’s third show, BARBU, is an exuberant, bizarre and once-in-a-lifetime extravaganza.

LISTINGS

Cirque Alfonse in
BARBU
at London Wonderground at Southbank Centre
15 June – 25 September 2016
Tickets from £15 – £45
Premium packages available

Previews 15-23 June
Preview Tickets from £10-£35

Suitable for ages 16+
Running time 75 minutes
To book phone: 0844 545 8282
www.londonwonderground.co.uk

@CirqueAlfonse
@LdnWonderground
@southbankcentre
#BARBU

Performance Times:

From 15 June – 17 July 2016

Tuesdays – Fridays at 7.45pm
Saturdays at 6.30pm and 9.30pm
Sundays at 6.30pm
Except Saturday 18 June: 6.30pm
No shows Mondays.

From 19 July – 25 September 2016

Tuesdays – Fridays and Sundays at 7.30pm
Saturdays at 6pm and 8.30pm
No shows Mondays
No shows 26 & 27 July.

London Wonderground
5 May – 25 September

PIGDOG present:

This winter the ultimate family adventure comes to Newcastle Theatre Royal as Northern Ballet returns to the stage with the dazzling tale of one child’s Christmas dreams coming true, in festive season favourite The Nutcracker from 10 – 14 Nov 2015.

In the midst of a festive party, as the fire crackles and the pile of presents grows ever higher, Clara is caught up in the warmth and excitement of Christmas and becomes enthralled by her new Nutcracker doll. But, as the clock strikes midnight, her Nutcracker proves to be no ordinary toy and Clara is whisked away on the magical journey of a lifetime through a winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and the famous Sugar Plum Fairy.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker features choreography and beautiful costumes by Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director David Nixon OBE, stunning Regency style sets by Charles Cusick Smith and lighting by Mark Jonathan.

David Nixon OBE, said: “The Nutcracker is one of the world’s most popular classical ballets and holds a special place in the hearts of audiences young and old. We are delighted to once again revive this charming story and add that extra bit of sparkle to the festive season for audiences in Newcastle.”

Northern Ballet will also stage a ballet specially aimed at children, when they perform Elves and The Shoemaker on Fri 13 Nov at 12 noon and 2pm. With an original score, composed by Philip Feeney, Elves and The Shoemaker follows the fantastic sell-out success of Ugly Duckling and Three Little Pigs by Northern Ballet

The Nutcracker is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 10 to Sat 14 Nov 2015, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees Thurs 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £14.50 (save 50p per ticket online). Elves and The Shoemaker plays on Fri 13 Nov at 12 noon and 2pm. Tickets £8 adults and £6 children. All tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk