Month: February 2016

 

 

NORMAN PACE TO JOIN STEVE PUNT AND CHARLIE CONDOU AS THEY SHARE THE ICONIC ROLE OF THE NARRATOR IN UK NATIONAL PRODUCTION OF THE

LEGENDARY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA

Comedian Norman Pace will be joining the cast of the smash hit musical Rocky Horror Show next month.  He will join fellow comedian Steve Punt and Coronation Street star Charlie Condou to share the legendary role of The Narrator on the UK tour which is currently smashing box office records in venues from Brighton to Liverpool, Birmingham to Sunderland.

Following critically acclaimed performances on the tour earlier this year, Steve Punt will reprise the role in Cardiff, Sunderland, Southampton, Wimbledon, York, Aylesbury, Nottingham, Richmond, Malvern and Stoke. In Bradford – back by popular demand – following his hilarious performance in Manchester, Charlie Condou will be slipping his suspenders back on for two performances on Friday 18^th March.

Norman Pace will make his Rocky Horror Show debut in Torquay, and will then perform in Bradford, Edinburgh, Belfast, Dartford, Wolverhampton, Sheffield, Woking, Leicester, Watford, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Canterbury, Glasgow, Southend and Bournemouth.  The unique show also stars Diana Vickers, Ben Freeman and Liam Tamne.

Steve Punt has been half of Punt and Dennis for many years and has co-hosted The Now Show on Radio 4 since its inception in 1998. Steve also presents the university quiz The Third Degree and the light-hearted investigative show Punt PI for Radio 4. Steve’s TV writing and performing credits include Canned Carrott,The Mary Whitehouse Experience, Punt and Dennis, Mock the Week and Horrible Histories. In 2011 Steve played Eric Idle in BBC4’s Holy Flying Circus.

Norman Pace, one half of comedy duo Hale and Pace, has become an accomplished actor in his own right, with guest lead roles in BBC’s Casualty and ITV’s The Last Detective.  He made his West End debut as ‘Amos Hart’ in Chicago in 1999 and has since gone on to perform in the UK tours of Honk, A Slice Of Saturday Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Satin ‘N’ Steel, Breakfast With Johnny Wilkinson, Donkeys Ears, Our Man In Havana, Dry Rot, Charley’s Aunt, Annie Get Your Gun and most recently One Man Two Guvnors.

Charlie Condou is best known for playing Marcus Dent in Coronation Street for four years and his successful column ‘The Three of Us’ in The Guardian. Charlie’s other television credits include Me, You, and The Apocalypse, The Impressionists and Midsomer Murders. On the silver screen, Charlie has starred in Good,Fred Claus and Charlotte Grey, while some of his theatre roles include Next Fall (Southwark Playhouse),Dying for It (The Almeida), The Changeling (Southwark Playhouse) and Shopping and F***king (UK Tour).

Since its first appearance at the Royal Court Theatre in June 1973, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Showhas become the world’s favourite Rock N’ Roll musical. It has been performed worldwide for over 40 years in over 30 countries, selling out in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Austria, and has been translated into more than 20 languages. Director Christopher Luscombe created a stunning new production to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music and encourages audience participation. This critically acclaimed version of the classic show, which tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet – two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank’n’Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house – is back by popular demand, embarking on a year-long national adventure starting in Brighton next month.

This musical extravaganza features all of its famous musical classics including “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp”.

Many stars, including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Jerry Springer and Meatloaf have appeared in The Rocky Horror Show over the past four decades. Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, O’Brien’sRocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all. Be warned, this show has rude parts!

What the press have said about The Rocky Horror Show:

“Fresh, subversive, essential” – Daily Telegraph

 

“Panto for grown-ups – colourful, in your face, relentlessly energetic and high on audience participation” – The Times

 

“Hard to think of another musical quite as unique as this.” – Mail on Sunday

 

“So fast, so funny, so sexy” – Daily Mail

 

“Still the sexiest and funniest show in town” – Evening Standard

 

 

The Rocky Horror Show 2016 UK Tour Dates                                   

 Narrator

 

08 – 13 February 2016                    Cardiff: New Theatre                                     0292 087 8889       Steve Punt

15 – 20 February 2016                    Sunderland: Empire Theatre                       0844 871 3022     Steve Punt

22 – 27 February 2016                    Southampton:  Mayflower Theatre          0238 071 1811     Steve Punt

29 February – 5 March 2016         Wimbledon: New Wimbledon Theatre                    0844 871 7646      Steve Punt

07 – 12 March 2016                          Torquay: Princess Theatre                           0844 871 3023    Norman Pace

14 – 19 March 2016                          Bradford: Alhambra Theatre                        0127 443 2000    Norman/Charlie (18^th)

28 March – 2 April 2016                  Edinburgh: Playhouse Theatre                    0844 871 3014    Norman Pace

4 – 9 April 2016                                  Belfast: Grand Opera House                        028 9024 1919       Norman Pace

11 – 16 April 2016                             York: Opera House                                        0844 871 3024    Steve Punt

18 – 23 April 2016                             Aylesbury: Waterside Theatre                    0844 871 7607    Steve Punt

25 – 30 April 2016                             Nottingham: Theatre Royal                         0115 989 5555   Steve Punt

02 – 07 May 2016                              Richmond: Richmond Theatre                    0844 871 7651      Steve Punt

09 – 14 May 2016                              Malvern: Malvern Theatres                          01684 892277    Steve Punt

23 – 28 May 2016                              Stoke: Regent Theatre                                  0844 871 7649   Steve Punt

6 – 11 June 2016                               Dartford: Orchard                                             01322 220000     Norman Pace

13 – 18 June 2016                         Wolverhampton: Wolverhampton Grand 01902 429212     Norman Pace

20 – 25 June 2016                             Sheffield: Sheffield Lyceum                        0114 249 6000    Norman Pace

27 June – 3 July 2016                       Woking: New Victoria Theatre                    0844 871 7645        Norman Pace

4 – 9 July 2016                                    Leicester: Curve                                                 0116 2423595       Norman Pace

11 – 16 July 2016                               Watford: Watford Colosseum                    01923 571 102     Norman Pace

18 – 24 July 2016                               Bristol: Hippodrome                                       0844 871 7652    Norman Pace

25 – 30 July 2016                               Milton Keynes: Milton Keynes Theatre    0844 871 7652    Norman Pace

1 – 6 August 2016                             Canterbury: Marlowe Theatre                      01227 787787   Norman Pace

8 – 13 August 2016                           Glasgow: King’s Theatre                                 0844 871 7648   Norman Pace

15-20 August 2016-01-25               Southend: Cliffs Pavillion                                              01702 351135    Norman Pace

22 – 27 August 2016                        Bournemouth: Pavilion                                   0844 576 3000   Norman Pace

05 – 10 September 2016                Aberdeen: His Majesty’s Theatre                             01224 641122    TBC

12 – 17 September 2016                Norwich: Theatre Royal                                                 01603 630000    TBC

19 – 24 September 2016                Eastbourne: Congress Theatre                     01323 412000    TBC

26 Sept – 1 October 2016             Oxford: New Theatre                                       0844 871 3020   TBC

3 – 8 October                                     Dublin: Bord Gais Energy                                +353 (1) 677 7999 TBC

10 – 15 October 2016                      Birmingham: New Alexandra Theatre       0844 871 3011    TBC

 

Further dates and details to be announced

Please note that Diana Vickers, Ben Freeman, Paul Cattermole and Liam Tamne will perform through to 28 May 2016.

For online bookings and show times please visit www.atgtickets.com/rockyhorror

Ticket prices range from £10 – £51.90 (with additional booking fee)

Additional discounts are available for ATG Theatre Card Holders and Millennium Club Members.

DYNAMO

SEEING IS BELIEVING TOUR

NEXT WEEK AT SHEFFIELD ARENA

WEDNESDAY 24^TH – SUNDAY 28^TH FEBRUARY 2016

 

Dynamo will bring his fist ever UK live tour to Sheffield Arena next week from Wednesday 24^th-Sunday 28^th February. 

Due to phenomenal ticket sales, an additional performance has been added and Dynamo will now perform an incredible 6 shows at Sheffield Arena.  The additional performance will be a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 27th February.

The event is taking place in the intimate theatre setting of the Sheffield Arena’s Steel Hall.  Fans will have the opportunity to see his magic skills up close and personal in what promises to be a spectacular and unique live stage production.

Dynamo, whose real name is Steven Frayne, hit our screens just three years ago with his first series of Magician Impossible, in that short time he has quickly established himself as one of the world’s most known and most loved magicians, with his series airing in over 180 countries worldwide reaching over 250 million cumulative viewers across the world. He was recently awarded the highest accolade by the magic circle with his promotion to Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, a position only held by 300 magicians worldwide, including HRH Prince of Wales.

Dynamo said of his new venture, “After four series of Magician Impossible I was ready for a new challenge and for a long time I have wanted to take my show to the stage. I am hoping that like I did for magic on TV, I can reinvent the live magic show and produce something fans have never seen before. This is something I have been working towards for the last 20 years and I can’t wait to amaze audiences what I have in store for them”.  

Tickets for Dynamo at Sheffield Arena are on sale now, priced £43.45 & £35.75, including booking fee when booked online or in person. Tickets purchased in person at the Arena Box Office are priced £41.48 & £34.13 including booking fee.

Tickets are available in person at the Arena Box Office, by phone on 0114 256 5656 or online atwww.sheffieldarena.co.uk. 

Empire Cinemas, the largest independently-owned cinema chain in the UK, has announced that from February 2016 they will be releasing a monthly Spotify playlist, showcasing the very best film music and scores of that month – all in one place.

These unique film music playlists will be released mid-month, ensuring cinemagoers and music lovers are kept completely up to date with the stunning soundtracks that accompany all the latest UK film releases. This new offering kicks off on February 15^th, with a playlist consisting of music from the likes of Goosebumps (Danny Elfman), Dad’s Army (Charlie Mole), Trumbo (Theodore Shapiro) andThe Forest (Bear McCreary).

 

Empire Cinemas prides itself on offering a range of screenings that span across both mainstream blockbusters and art-house independents; meaning these playlists will give listeners the chance to not only enjoy cinematic symphonies from mainstream masters such as Hans Zimmer, but also discover new, up and coming artists or unknown artists.

Jon Nutton Marketing Director of Empire Cinemas said: “We’re very excited to announce the launch of the Empire Cinemas film music playlists. Music is such a huge aspect of film, which shouldn’t go unnoticed. We want to be the cinema that puts all these fantastic movie soundtracks into one easily-accessible place for our filmgoers.”

 

February playlist embed code: https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify%3Auser%3Aempirecinemas%3Aplaylist%3A3SUEKWZUHrnzrjxYWJSGIS

For further ticketing information visit www.empirecinemas.co.uk or call 08714 714 714.

 Waterloo East Theatre  9 February – 6 March.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

This play made me worry about my political leanings. By the end I was rooting for the NSA – at least they were funny and had the best lines.

Snowden and the journalists come across as grey and joyless. Snowden’s motivation was ethical and patriotic but here his repeated justifications for his actions become trite and sanctimonious. The jumps between key events following 9/11 and in Snowden’s career influencing his decision to go public are jarring and the whole thing becomes a mishmash of good dialogue lost among a misjudged cacophony of noise and movement that becomes increasingly more irritating. The security briefings amuse at first, with endless mind-numbing acronyms and tubthumping rhetoric, but feel overused (a lovely exception being the GCHQ man with his schoolboy one-upmanship), and the difference between Snowden’s idea of patriotism and his colleagues’ more gung-ho attitude is hit home with a sledgehammer far too many times.

The second act is a little calmer and more coherent (apart from revisiting the worst excesses of act one verbatim to signal where we are in the timeframe – you’ll wish they hadn’t), dealing with the lead up to publication of the leaked material. There are moments of tension and humour but then it all gets a bit meta and sermon like at the end. Thankfully the cast all deal admirably with what they are given and just about carry it off.

This story is relevant, interesting and should be told – just not like this please. I for one was glad when the final whistle was blown.

 



The production is directed by James Brining, Artistic Director of West Yorkshire Playhouse, and stars Jason Manford (Caractacus Potts), Martin Kemp (the Childcatcher), Michelle Collins (Baroness Bomburst), Phill Jupitus (Baron Bomburst), Amy Griffiths (Truly Scrumptious) and Andy Hockley (Grandpa Potts).

• THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY AND OPUS ARTE RELEASE NEW DVDS OF LIVE FROM STRATFORD-UPON-AVON PERFORMANCES OF THE MERCHANT OF VENICE AND HENRY V, AS WELL AS A HISTORIES BOX SET: KING AND COUNTRY

  RSC, BRITISH LIBRARY AND OPUS ARTE ANNOUNCE THE RE-RELEASE OF 4 CD BOX-SET THE ESSENTIAL SHAKESPEARE LIVE.

The RSC production of Henry V, directed by Artistic Director Gregory Doran, is now available to pre-order on DVD and Blu Ray. Henry V was broadcast live from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on 21 October 2015. The DVD is priced at £19.99 and the Blu Ray is £24.99.

Henry V is also available as part of a box set entitled King and Country: Shakespeare’s Great Cycle of Kings, also containing Gregory Doran’s productions of Richard II and Henry IV Parts I and II, priced £49.99 in DVD format and £59.99 in Blu Ray format.

Henry V and the King and Country box set will be released on 1 April 2016 and are available to pre-order from www.rsc.org.uk/shop. 

On 29 January the DVD and Blu Ray of The Merchant of Venice, directed by Polly Findlay, was released. The Merchant of Venice was broadcast live from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on 22 July 2015. The Merchant of Venice is on sale now from www.rsc.org.uk/shop and through various retailers.

The broadcasts played to over 450 cinemas each across the country, whilst also being available in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Europe. As well as the full stage productions, both DVDs contain extras including a Director’s Commentary and a Cast Gallery.

These are the latest recordings released by the RSC in collaboration with Opus Arte, in an ongoing series of RSC productions filmed live on stage.

CDs of the music and speeches from the plays are also available from iTunes and the RSC online shop.

As part of the 2016 celebrations to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the British Library will also collaborate with Opus Arte to re-release The Essential Shakespeare Live. Originally released in two volumes in 2005 and 2009, the re-release will be packaged as one 4-CD box set with an RRP of £19.99.

Selected by RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran from an extensive collection of recordings made by the British Library Sound Archive, this set features scenes and speeches from some of the most celebrated Shakespeare productions in the history of the Royal Shakespeare Company, including performances by Laurence Oliver, Peggy Ashcroft, Paul Scofield, Paul Robeson, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, David Tennant and many more.

Painting Painting presents:

TV TALENT TO TOP THE GOOD OLD DAYS

 

This March The Good Old Days variety extravaganza returns to City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds.

BBC4 is currently re-running highlights on Fridays from the original TV light entertainment series which ran for 30 years, was watched by millions

and took the City Varieties into households across the globe.

City Varieties’ live stage revival is now in its 28^th year, hosted by legendary Chairman, Mr Johnny Dennis

with the musical accompaniment of The City Varieties “Orchestra” led by Mr David Smith

On Friday 11 and Saturday 12 March, actress, singer and panto legend Anita Harris tops the bill

with the remainder of the performance comprising veteran Music Hall revivalist Peter John, comedian Richard Gauntlett and Scotland’s Cavalier of song, Jimmy McWilliams.

For the following weekend March 18 and 19, local lad Billy Pearce headlines
with Crackerjack’s Jan Hunt, superstar soprano Rebecca Newman and comedy juggler Steve Rawlings rounding out the bill.

 

Fancy dress not obligatory but highly recommended

Friday 11 March 7pm
Saturday 12 March 12 Noon & 4.30pm
Friday 18 March 7pm

Saturday 19 March 12 Noon & 4.30pm

Tickets from £16*

 

Online Booking: www.cityvarieties.co.uk

Box Office: 0113 243 0808