Month: February 2016

Best Actor in a Play sponsored by Radisson Blu Edwardian:

Benedict Cumberbatch, Hamlet

James McAvoy, The Ruling Class

Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man

Mark Rylance, Farinelli and the King

Alex Hassell, Henry V

---

Best Actress in a Play sponsored by The Umbrella Rooms:

Nicole Kidman, Photograph 51

Denise Gough, People, Places and Things

Lia Williams, Oresteia

Rosalie Craig, As You Like It

Harriet Walter, Death of a Salesman

---

Best Actor in a Musical sponsored by Century:

Killian Donnelly, Kinky Boots

Michael Ball, Mack and Mabel

Matt Henry, Kinky Boots

Sam Mackay, In the Heights

Ben Forster, Elf the Musical

---

Best Actress in a Musical:

Imelda Staunton, Gypsy

Beverley Knight, Cats

Kimberley Walsh, Elf the Musical

Lily Frazer, In the Heights

Katie Brayben, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

---

Best Supporting Actor in a Play:

Ciaran Hinds, Hamlet

Mark Gatiss, Three Days in the Country

Bertie Carvel, Bakkhai

Johnny Flynn, Hangmen

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Hamlet

---

Best Supporting Actress in a Play sponsored by The Tonic Theatre Company:

Sian Brooke, Hamlet

Anastasia Hille, Hamlet

Imogen Doel, The Importance of Being Earnest

Patsy Ferran, As You Like It

Judi Dench, The Winter’s Tale

---

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical:

Lucas Rush, American Idiot

Alexis Gerred, American Idiot

David Bedella, In The Heights

Jack Edwards, Mack and Mabel

Peter Davison, Gypsy

---

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical sponsored by Newman:

Lara Pulver, Gypsy

Jennie Dale, Elf the Musical

Amy Lennox, Kinky Boots

Lauren Samuels, Bend It Like Beckham

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, In The Heights

---

Best New Play:

Hangmen

Oppenheimer

Photograph 51

People, Places and Things

Farinelli and the King

---

Best New Musical sponsored by Shine Creative Solutions:

Kinky Boots

Bend It Like Beckham

Elf the Musical

Beautiful

In The Heights

---

Best Play Revival:

Hamlet

Importance of Being Earnest

The Ruling Class

Death of a Salesman

Oresteia

---

Best Musical Revival sponsored by R&H Theatricals:

Gypsy

Cats

High Society

Mack and Mabel

American Idiot

---

Best Direction:

Hamlet, Lyndsey Turner

In The Heights, Luke Sheppard

American Idiot, Racky Plews

Kinky Boots, Jerry Mitchell

Gypsy, Jonathan Kent

---

Best Choreography sponsored by Capezio:

Kinky Boots, Jerry Mitchell

In The Heights, Drew McOnie

High Society, Nathan M Wright

Gypsy, Stephen Mear

American Idiot, Racky Plews

---

Best Set Design sponsored by the Theatre Cafe:

Hamlet, Es Devlin

American Idiot, Sara Perks

Kinky Boots, David Rockwell

In The Heights, Takis

Gypsy, Anthony Ward

---

Best Lighting Design sponsored by White Light:

Hamlet, Jane Cox

In The Heights, Howard Hudson

American Idiot, Tim Deiling

Kinky Boots, Kenneth Posner

Gypsy, Mark Henderson

---

Best Off-West End Production sponsored by Les Misérables:

Shock Treatment, King’s Head Theatre

Carrie the Musical, Southwark Playhouse

You Won’t Succeed on Broadway If You Don’t Have Any Jews, St James’s Theatre

Grand Hotel, Southwark Playhouse

Assassins, Menier Chocolate Factory

---

Best Regional Production:

Mack and Mabel, Chichester Festival Theatre and tour

Mary Poppins, tour

Anything Goes, Sheffield Crucible and tour

Hairspray, tour

Henry V, RSC

---

Best West End Show sponsored by The Wine Treasury:

Wicked

Les Miserables

Kinky Boots

Miss Saigon

Matilda

---

Equity Award for Services to Theatre:

Kenneth Branagh

CELEBRATION OF A LEGEND

Legend – A Tribute To Bob Marley comes to Darlington Civic Theatre on Thursday 10 March.

Combining superb, distinctive vocals with flawless musicianship, timeless, million-selling hits Could You Be Loved, Is This Love, One Love, No Woman No Cry, Jamming, Buffalo Soldier and more reggae classics come to life in Legend – A Tribute to Bob Marley.

Taking you from Marley’s ska roots with the Wailers, to the 70s and 80s pinnacle of his recording career, enjoy an authentic taste of Jamaican sunshine as this compelling treat brings Marley’s musical genius to the stage.

A truly talented cast capture to perfection the charismatic cultural icon that was Bob Marley. Prepare for a legendary night of happy vibes.

Legend – A Tribute To Bob Marley is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Thursday 10 March. Tickets* are priced £21.50 and £23.50.

*All prices include a £1 restoration levy

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

Iphigenia in Splott embarks on UK Tour following outstanding critical acclaim at The National Theatre.

 

Iphigenia In Splott opened on the 29 January at the National Theatre’s Temporary Theatre and has received resounding audience and critical acclaim.  It now heads out on a tour of some of the leading UK venues from24 February – 16 April 2016.

Following its world premiere at the Sherman Theatre and a hugely successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015, Iphigenia in Splott went on to receive the UK Theatre Award for Best New Play, The Stage Award for Acting Excellence and the Theatre in Wales Award for Best Actress. 

Inspired by the enduring Greek myth, Gary Owen’s powerful drama drives home the high price people pay for society’s shortcomings. This one-woman play, directed by Rachel O’Riordan, looks at the world through the eyes of Effie, a hard-nosed, unemployed young woman who spends her days in a careless spiral of drink, drugs and drama.  The production has been called Gary Owen’s protest letter to a hard-hearted state and a call to arms for revolution and whilst it is set in the suburbs of Splott, in Cardiff it is hugely relevant and poignant to any city across the UK.

This is the first time a Welsh producing house has transferred to The National Theatre and it heralds another important milestone for the Sherman Theatre under Rachel O’Riordan’s Artistic Directorship.  The production’s success further cements the company’s drive and combined commitment to the development of new writing, alongside a programme of classic text.

The National Theatre’s Director, Rufus Norris said: “Audiences need the chance to see this vivid, intense and devastating piece. It’s exactly the type of programming the Temporary Theatre was created for and a powerful reminder of the essential new writing being produced by theatres across the country.”

Speaking about the tour, Director Rachel O’Riordan said “We are thrilled with the response we have had to this production so far, in Cardiff, Edinburgh and London. This is a powerful play that explores what it is to be a young woman on the outskirts of society. Although the piece is set in a suburb of Cardiff, we see young women like Effie every day wherever we are, it is relevant to audiences all across the UK. Iphigenia in Splott explores the current state of our society, communities, and the National Health Service.  Effie will break your heart.”

 

The Sherman is one of the main producing houses in Wales and is touring to leading regional theatres across the UK, representing the best of Welsh talent.  The Sherman Theatre is committed to developing and nurturing the work of Welsh and Wales based artists, and this is certainly true of this production.  Swansea born, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduate, Sophie Melville is outstanding in her performance as Effie; Sam Jones from Cardiganshire, created the haunting and driven sound design and trained at the University of South Wales in Sound Design; Designer Hayley Grindle trained at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and works regularly in Wales and Sherman based Lighting Designer Rachel Mortimer completes the creative team..

The tour will visit various venues throughout England, Wales and Scotland from 24 February – 16 April.

 

 

For details please visit www.shermancymru.co.uk.

@ShermanCymru | #IphigeniaInSplott | www.shermancymru.co.uk

 

Running Time: 70 mins  

Contains strong language and sexual references

 

Company Information

Directed by Rachel O’Riordan                                    Written by Gary Owen          

Design by Hayley Grindle                                           Lighting Design by Rachel Mortimer

Sound Design by Sam Jones

Cast – Effie:  Sophie Melville

TOUR DATES:

Sherman Theatre, Cardiff                    29 February & 1 March

Shermancymru.co.uk                           029 2064 6900

The Traverse, Edinburgh                     3 -5 March

traverse.co.uk                                      0131 228 1404

Sheffield Theatres, Sheffield               8 & 9 March

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk                        011 4249 6000

Live Theatre, Newcastle                      11 & 12 March

live.org.uk                                           019 1232 1232

Birmingham Repertory Theatre,           15 – 19 March

birmingham-rep.co.uk                         012 1236 4455

Hull Truck, Hull                                  22 – 24 March

hulltruck.co.uk                                    014 8232 3638

Bristol Old Vic, Bristol                        29 March – 2 April

bristololdvic.org.uk                              0117 987 7877

North Wall, Oxford                             11 & 12 April

thenorthwall.com                                 018 6531 9450

The Everyman and Playhouse, 14 – 16 April

everymanplayhouse.com                     015 1709 4773

Michael Peavoy, Neil Marcus, Jamie Clark and Paul Tyrer for the Buskers Opera Ltd, in association with Park Theatre, present the World Premiere of

 

THE BUSKERS OPERA

 

A BRAND NEW BRITISH MUSICAL BY DOUGAL IRVINE

 

OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING GEORGE MAGUIRE AND LAUREN SAMUELS TO STAR AS ‘MACHEATH’ AND ‘POLLY PEACHUM’

 

ANNA WILLIAMS WINS PUBLIC SET DESIGN COMPETITION IN ASSOCIATION WITH UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS

 

Casting has been announced for The Buskers Opera, a brand new musical from the pen of Dougal Irvine(Departure Lounge, The Snow Queen, Britain’s Got Bhangra), which will open at Park Theatre on 28 April and play until 4 June, with a press night on 5 May.

Directed by Lotte Wakeham (Matilda, Sweet Charity, The Other School by Dougal Irvine), with musical direction by Sean Green, lighting design is by Christopher Nairne and sound design by Andy Graham, musical staging and choreography by Lucie Pankhurst, The Buskers Opera will star Olivier Award-winning George Maguire (Best Supporting Actor in a Musical Award for Sunny Afternoon) as ‘Macheath’, and Lauren Samuels (Bend it Like Beckham, Grease, We Will Rock You) as ‘Polly Peachum’. Other cast members include Natasha Cottriall (Into The Woods, Future Conditional) as ‘Lucy Lockitt’, John McCrea as ‘Filtch’, Maimuna Memon as ‘Jenny Diver / Dissenter / Beggar’, and Giovanna Ryan as ‘Susan / Beggar / Dissenter’.

Elements of the piece have been workshopped with Cardboard Citizens, who have been making life-changing theatre with people who have experienced homelessness, or are at risk of homelessness, for nearly 25 years. It was in such a session that the creative team discovered actor and songwriter Ishmael Gander who also will be part of the company, playing ‘Matt / Dissenter / Beggar’.

London 2012. The world is watching. Can the city deliver the greatest Olympics ever? Pulling the strings is media mogul, broadcaster and puppet master, Jeremiah Peachum. Together with his star of the show, Lockitt, the Mayor of London, they are perfectly placed to capitalise on Team GB’s gold and drive their political agenda across the finish line. Enter satirical street busker Macheath and his gang of dissenters ‘The Ninety Nine Percenters’. They’re the talk of the town – out to take the fat cats down – and it’s working! This time, Mac may have bitten off more than he can chew. But it’s the twenty first century – you can’t kill a man for singing a few songs, drinking a few beers, inciting political activism in hundreds of thousands of people and sleeping with your daughter. Or can you? With the ever-influential media operating twenty-four-seven, capital punishment needs to find a new method of delivery…

Lights out as Ambassador Theatre Group celebrates Earth Hour 2016 and a year of environmental awards

On Saturday 19 March 2016 at 8.30pm, Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) will join millions of businesses and individuals across the world to celebrate WWF’s Earth Hour and will switch off lights in all of its theatres for one hour to show the company’s ongoing commitment to the environment.

ATG’s involvement in Earth Hour 2016 follows an incredible 12 months for the company in which it won several major environmental awards for its green initiatives.

In 2015, ATG won the Green World Ambassador Award for helping others to help the Environment and was awarded a prize at the Energy Management Association Awards 2015 for its Energy Reduction Project through Organisational Behaviour Change.

ATG’s award-winning energy saving initiative, Project Blackout (a Silver Green Apple Award winner in 2014) received another award in 2015; a Green World Award (in the category of Energy Economy) from the Green Organisation at a ceremony held in New Zealand; and the company’s winning paper was included in The Green Book of Environmental Best Practice reference.

In addition, ATG’s Churchill Theatre Bromley won Green Business of the Year at theBromley Business Awards and New Wimbledon Theatre won the award for Venue Sustainability at the Technical Theatre Awards 2015.

With Earth Hour, ATG will take part in a symbolic moment, not designed to have impact through an hour of energy saving, but to help shine a spotlight on the issues facing the planet and to remind us that, together, we have the power to make change happen.

 

ATG will be supporting Earth Hour 2016 by:

·        Switching off all non-essential lights for one hour in its UK and International venues at 8.30pm on Saturday 19 March.

·        Encouraging customers and employees to sign up to the #bigswitchoff

·        Organising Earth Hour #candlelitselfie experiences to engage with customers and staff to raise money to support WWF’s vital conservation work.

·        Selling a special Earth Hour Cocktail during the week leading up to Earth Hour and donating £1 from each cocktail sold to WWF. ATG’s Ambassador Lounges and theatre bars will also be lit by LED candle light.

·        10 UK ATG venues will be supporting the #passthepanda campaign

Rosemary Squire, ATG’s Joint CEO, said: “I am so impressed by the support and enthusiasm which our theatres in London, around the UK and beyond show for Earth Hour. It is such an effective way of demonstrating to our audiences that as an organisation we are absolutely committed to limiting damage to the environment.”

Jennifer Clements, spokesperson for WWF-UK, said: “We’re thrilled that the Ambassador Theatre Group will be taking part in WWF’s Earth Hour this year and hope that they’ll inspire many others to get involved. By taking one simple step to switch off, WWF’s Earth Hour is a chance for all of us to come together and send out a global message about protecting our planet.”

ATG patrons or staff who wish to make a donation to support WWF can do so online – http://www.justgiving.com/Ambassador-Theatre-Group.

Or by text: CNDL47 £3 to 70070

There is no minimum donation and all donors will have the opportunity to gift aid their donation if they wish.

Everyone can join the celebration for WWF’s Earth Hour on Saturday 19 March 2016. For more information and to sign up please visit wwf.org.uk/earthhour

PREPARE FOR ROCK AND ROLL HEAVEN

Halfway To Paradise – The Billy Fury Story comes to Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 9 March.

Halfway To Paradise is now in its 20th year and features the uncanny voice of Colin Gold as Fury, along with Billy’s own band, the all original Fury’s Tornados performing live his timeless hits including Last Night Was Made For Love, Wondrous Place, I Will, Jealousy, Halfway To Paradise and many more.

With a giant movie screen showing footage of Billy and his band the atmosphere will be both electric and emotional.

Halfway To Paradise is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 9 March. Tickets* are priced £19.50 and £21.50.

*All prices include a £1 restoration levy

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

A SYNDICATED Q&A WITH DAVID TROUGHTON (ACTOR PLAYING TOM OAKLEY), INTERVIEWED BY THEO BOSANQUET

THEO BOSANQUET: Tell us about your personal connection with the story of Goodnight Mister Tom?

DAVID TROUGHTON: When the book came out in 1981 my wife and I both read it to our children, and we all loved it immediately. It’s become a classic and rightly so – it’s beautifully written, very succinct, and just a great story. I then saw John Thaw in the film version and thought I’d love to play the part. It really appealed to me, the idea of a man who is denying in himself the ability to live life once death has happened. It’s so sad that he just cuts himself off. And the rejuvenation that occurs when the boy arrives in his life is so heartening – they save each other. What’s so interesting, especially in David Wood’s adaptation is the way that Mister Tom is in denial for so long; he doesn’t want to commit himself in any way because it might set him up for disappointment.

TB: The adaptation is very much a play of two halves, and it doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of the story

DT: David Wood sets it up beautifully. The first half shows the effect of war on village life, before the action becomes much more raw as the story moves to London. But I think it’s great for children to hear stories with darker elements; after all, so many classic children’s stories don’t shy away from harsh realities.

TB: Would you say the story has particular resonance today?

DT: It certainly does. Wars are still happening – we never learn. And the refugee crisis has raised the question again of whether we should take in people who are less fortunate than ourselves, through no fault of their own. In 1939 evacuation was a government initiative – they thought a million people were going to die from aerial bombardments. I think the message of the play is that you have to deal with death, but you mustn’t live in the death, you must move forward. There’s real hope in the story.

TB: They say never work with children and animals, but you’re doing both

DT: Indeed! It makes for a different kind of rehearsal process as, quite rightly, there are strict working rules for children. We have three sets of children playing Zach and William, and they’re all brilliant. They’re big demanding parts, but David Wood didn’t want to cast young adults to play the children and I think he’s absolutely right. It means I need to adjust to different co-stars each night, which is interesting because all of them have their own characteristics. As for the animals, they’re of course actually puppets, but it’s tremendous fun to have them on stage. They also play an important role in William’s development, helping him to learn to love his new rural surroundings.

TB: What kind of reactions have you had to the show so far?

DT: Very favourable ones, I’m glad to say. As the lights go down at the end you see a sea of children’s faces stunned with amazement, and their parents holding their handkerchiefs. The children get really wrapped up in the story, largely because of the way we tell it. It’s very simple, with minimal set, and a brilliant ensemble company. It’s quite filmic in the way the story rolls along, and it really seems to capture the imagination of the audience.

TB: Do you think there’s something inherently theatrical about Michelle Magorian’s writing?

DT: She was an actress herself, so she understands very well the structure and emotion of drama. The book reminded me of Dickens in its portrayal of poverty and of the abuse of children. The London that she evokes is a harsh place, not only because it’s being bombed but also because internal lives – particularly that of William’s mother – are being shattered. There’s a definite theatricality to the way the narrative unfolds, and the way the internal and the external conflict are aligned.

TB: Your father Patrick was a famous actor – what did he make of your career choice?

DT: He was very well known as a screen actor but he never did much theatre, largely because he got too nervous. He also didn’t like the costume changes and “all that shouting in the evening”, as he called it. He used to get physically sick before performances. When I told him I’d got a job for two years with the RSC he said, “don’t worry son, something else will come up”. But I love doing theatre, particularly when you get the kind of reactions we’re getting for Goodnight Mister Tom.

TB: Who were your other influences as an actor?

DT: Anthony Hopkins was always someone I really admired. And then I got to work with him and he was such good fun to be around – he would corpse all the time. I love that sense of fun because it eases the tension. Acting is only pretending after all!

TB: How do you unwind away from theatre?

DT: I love cricket – if it’s on television at any time I will watch it, regardless of who’s playing. I’m actually a qualified umpire so in the summer I umpire in the Birmingham league for the Stratford-upon-Avon second eleven. I love being out in the middle; second to being on a stage it’s the best place in the world to be.

MARVEL UNIVERSE SUPER HEROES COME TO LIFE AS LIVE ACTION FAMILY SPECTACULAR TOURS UK FOR FIRST TIME

Tickets for Marvel Universe LIVE! go on general sale Friday 4^th March 2016

Pre-sale tickets available from 23^rd February 2016

SHEFFIELD – 23^rd February 2016 – Marvel families unite! For the first time ever, iconic Marvel Super Heroes and villains will be brought to life in a spectacular live action family arena show, whenMarvel Universe LIVE! Super Heroes Assemble touches down in Sheffield in January next year.

This show is taking the live entertainment experience to a whole new level, with an epic show unlike anything seen before. Bringing together the largest assembly of Marvel characters in a live production, audiences will be able to watch some of their favourite Marvel Super Heroes step out of the silver screen and onto the stage – bringing the action to life right before their eyes.

Everyone will be able to cheer for their favourite Marvel Super Heroes, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and more, as they battle Loki and Marvel’s most sinister villains in a live, action-packed arena performance for the whole family. It’s being hailed as the most technically advanced live show ever, with cutting-edge special effects, pyrotechnics, aerial stunts, martial arts, motorcycles and more.

From the creative team that brings you such arena spectaculars as Disney On Ice, Feld Entertainment Inc, the world’s leading producer of touring live entertainment is excited to announce the UK tour of Marvel Universe LIVE! This arena stunt spectacular will be swinging into five major UK cities along with Sheffield – Nottingham, London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester – for an electrifying run of over 40 shows that have already entertained almost 2 million families in over 65 US cities to date in its first tour.

“We are delighted to bring Marvel Universe LIVE! to the UK, giving families an opportunity to enjoy this spectacular live show for the very first time. The audience will feel like they’ve been transported into a jaw-dropping Marvel blockbuster film, with an engrossing storyline and non-stop stunts”, said Steven Armstrong, VP of Europe North at Feld Entertainment, Inc.

Featuring over 50 cast members and taking over two years to research and develop, Marvel Universe LIVE! utilises some of the latest innovations in arena set design and aerial pyrotechnics, with stunts developed by the team from Hollywood blockbuster, Thor, and the recent The Amazing Spider-Man films. The set includes innovative lighting design, transformative 3D projection, 21 projectors, the largest flying system ever used for a live arena tour and the debut of a new Spotlight Tracking System.

Marvel Universe LIVE! will be in Sheffield from 19^th – 22^nd January 2017 at the Sheffield Arena.

“To see all the elements of this spectacular live show come together has been truly incredible,” said Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada. “The technology utilised in the show is not only going to blow your mind, it is going to take you to a whole new Marvel world like nothing British families have ever seen before.”

Join Marvel families for this monumental performance. The fate of the universe depends on it!

Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday 4^th March, with pre-sale tickets available starting 23^rd February from the Marvel Universe LIVE! website www.MarvelUniverseLive.co.uk or direct from the Sheffield Arena Box Office on 0114 256 56 56 or www.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

Eager fans can sign up to receive advanced priority bookings, discount offers and advanced show information from: http://www.feldentertainmentpcsignup.com/

The website features the complete list of UK tour dates and fans can check the latest news and announcements via social media:  
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/MarvelOnTour
Twitter:  @MarvelOnTour
Instagram (@MarvelOnTour)