Month: January 2017

Steve Steinman

ICONIC The Show

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK

Friday 19 May at 7.30pm

The creative force behind the hugely successful Vampires Rock, Steve Steinman’s all new hit show delivers the best of the best sound tracks from some of the coolest and Iconic movies of all time.

Set in the future where movie theatres have all but disappeared a magical cinema still stands. Run by the dilapidated old usher Benson, who does his best to entice people to buy a ticket for the midnight screening and give them a night they will never forget.

A full cast of amazing singers, dancers, and formidable band deliver some of the most recognisable music ever!

Hits from Kill Bill, Batman, Pulp Fiction, Purple Rain, Bond, Mad Max and many more.  Including tracks from Queen, AC/DC, Tina Turner & Prince to name a few of the legendary performers who have made the movie soundtracks unforgettable.

All teamed up with an incredible stage set and awesome pyrotechnics. It’s a show that will blow you away.

So go ahead Punk, Make Your Day!

Tickets are priced at £25.25 & £27.25, available from ATG box office on 0844 871 3024 or in person at the theatre box office. Book online at www.atgtickets.com/york

Demand sees The Woman in Black return to The Lowry for its eighth visit Mon 20 – Sat 25 March 2017

Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel has terrified over 64,400 theatregoers across its previous seven visits to The Lowry. With an eighth visit planned from Mon 20 – Sat 25 March 2017that total is set to rise as demand for this thrilling production hasn’t seen any signs of slowing.   The Woman in Black first took to the Lyric stage in April 2001 and then returned later that year in December. Subsequently the production visited the Salford based theatre a further fives times in February 2004, September 2005, January 2010, May 2013 and April 2015.  Robin Herford’s gripping production is a brilliantly successfully study in atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror. Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s novel tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the spectre of a ‘Woman in Black’. He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into his darkest memories, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds. The borders between make believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep. David Acton will play the role of Mr Kipps and The Actor will be played by Matthew Spencer. The production’s huge popularity has reached a global level, having toured to the United States, South America, Tokyo and Singapore. In 2012, Susan Hill’s novel The Woman in Black was released as a major motion picture, starring Daniel Radcliffe, which became the highest grossing British horror film in 20 years. The sequel to that film, The Woman in Black 2: Angel Of Death, came out in 2014. The West End show and tour are produced by PW Productions – the company behind the New Arts Theatre at Leicester Square. Peter Wilson comments, “Everyone at PWP Is proud to continue presenting this perfect piece of theatre. The 2016/17 tour of The Woman in Black is dedicated to the Herford family who have done so much to support, love and create this landmark production.” The production is directed by Robin Herford, with designs by Michael Holt, lighting by Kevin Sleep and sound by Gareth Owen. The UK tour runs concurrently with the West End production. Listings Info The Woman in Black The Lowry Mon 20 – Sat 25 March 2017 7:30pm, Wed, Thu & Sat 2pm Tickets: £21.50 – £30.50 (Including booking fees) Box office: 0843 208 6000 Website

Opera & Ballet International proudly presents an Ellen Kent production with international soloists, highly praised chorus and full orchestra

 

 

 

PUCCINI LA BOHEME

 

One of the most romantic operas ever written

 

Introducing the International soprano Alyona Kistenyova as Mimi and starring Olga Perrier, the international French Soprano as Musetta

Does your pet dog have what it takes to be an opera star?

Has your dog got star quality?

If your pet pooch is the canine equivalent of Brad Pitt or Scarlett Johansson, then they could win a place in the spotlight in the beautiful and romantic opera La Boheme, coming to New Wimbledon Theatre on Tue 14 Feb 2017.

Award-winning opera director and producer Ellen Kent said: “People say never work with children or animals but I love to do both. The first time was 20 years ago when my pet cat Holly Go-Lightly was in one of my productions and was an instant hit. Since then we’ve had horses, dogs, goldfish and even a golden eagle with a 6ft wingspan on stage.

“Many years ago when we last did La Boheme and asked local people to volunteer their pets it was a huge success. We even used a rescue dog once and found him dozens of new owners!

“We’re a nation of animal lovers after all. I’m sure there is plenty of doggie talent out there.”

Your pet needs to be well behaved and small – and as his owner, you will need to be prepared to go onstage in costume to look after him or her.

To audition your dog send a photograph to Ellen Kent: [email protected].  Mobile 07775 626869   Please include your contact number and address as well as the breed, height, weight, age and name of your dog. If you are successful, we will contact you a several weeks before the performance.

Ellen Kent brings one of the most romantic operas ever written to the stage in her new tour, traditionally staged featuring beautiful sets and costumes. The set reflects the Bohemian art of the period and will include a brass band, snow effects and Musetta’s dog will also make an entrance.

“Ellen Kent always includes extra touches and here we had a colourful carnival scene with street entertainers, a local brass, snow effects and a dog (very well behaved on the night).” – Bristol Post, 2013

Puccini’s masterpiece, La Boheme, is based on Henri Murger’s novel Scenes de la vie de boheme. Set in Paris, it focuses on the love between seamstress Mimi and poet Rodolfo.

This classic tale of Parisian love and loss features many famous arias including ‘Your Tiny Hand is Frozen’, ‘They Call Me Mimi’ and ‘Musetta’s Waltz’.

Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

* Cast subject to change.

“Authentic, tender and passionate” – Daily Telegraph

 

Alyona Kistenyova had a beautiful pure strong voice – allied to a real emotional intensity, it shone to perfection in Vissi d’arte. (Tosca)” The Argus, Brighton 2016

“The opera tugged me along and conducted my inner strings with accomplished magic.” – Southend Echo, 2014

RENT’S LUCIE JONES

ANNOUNCED TO PERFORM ON

EUROVISION: YOU DECIDE

The BBC has announced today that Lucie Jones is one of the six artists chosen to perform the songs competing for the UK’s entry into the Eurovision Song Contest.  Lucie will perform the song onEurovision: You Decide, a show to be held at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo on 27 January 2017 and broadcast live on BBC Two, presented by Mel Giedroyc.  The winner, who will be revealed on the night after a combined expert jury and live public vote, will then represent the UK at Eurovision, with the Grand Final on Saturday 13 May in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The ballad that Lucie is singing, Never Give Up On You, is the work of composers and lyricists The Treatment, Emmelie de Forest and Lawrie Martin, and can be heard now at the following link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eurovision/entries/9ced8ad0-73ed-4765-b5e4-d26a82f25670

Lucie is currently starring as Maureen Johnson in the new 20^th Anniversary production of Jonathan Larson’s ground-breaking Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical RENT.  The show is currently playing a sold-out season at St. James Theatre, London until 28 January and will then embark on a major UK tour until 27 May 2017. RENT has been nominated for Best Regional Production at the 17^th Annual What’s on Stage Awards, taking place in London next month.

Lucie said “I’m absolutely thrilled to be invited to take part in Eurovision: You Decide. Never Give Up On You is an incredibly powerful song, especially when sung live! I can’t wait to perform it live on BBC Two on Friday night.”

 

Producer Robert Mackintosh said “On behalf of the producers of RENT, we are delighted that Lucie Jones has been selected to sing one of the six songs in the running to compete for UK’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest.  Lucie is one of the UK’s brightest young talents and a valued company member. We wish her every success for Eurovision: You Decide this Friday.”

 

Lucie was a finalist on The X Factor in 2009 and has most recently starred as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Curve, Leicester).  Her other theatre credits include Molly Jenson on tour in Ghost the Musical, Victoria in American Psycho at The Almeida, Meatloaf in the International Tour of We Will Rock You and Cosette in Les Miserables at Queens Theatre, London’s West End and O2 Arena.  Lucie also toured the UK in The X Factor Arena Tour.

 

The cast of RENT also includes Billy Cullum as Mark Cohen, Ross Hunter as Roger Davis, Ryan O’Gorman as Tom Collins, Javar La’trial Parker as Benjamin Coffin III, Layton Williams as Angel Schunard, Philippa Stefani as Mimi Marquez and Shanay Holmes as Joanne Jefferson, with Jenny O’Leary, Katie Bradley, Joshua Dever, Kevin Yates, Bobbie Little, Christina Modestou, Jordan Laviniere, Harrison Clark and Oliver Bingham.

 

Jonathan Larson’s musical, inspired by Puccini’s opera La Bohème, won four Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1996.  Ben Brantley’s New York Times review was a love letter to the show, calling RENT an “exhilarating, landmark rock opera”.  RENT ran on Broadway for 12 years, from 1996 to 2008.  The show premiered in London’s West End in 1998 at the Shaftesbury Theatre, where it ran for 18 months.  It was adapted into a film in 2005.                                                             

 

Larson’s world is inhabited by a group of bohemian artists who struggle to maintain their friendships and their non-conformist ideals in New York’s East Village.  Facing their problems head on, they make personal self-discoveries and find what really matters most in life.  The poignancy of the story was heightened when Jonathan Larson died of an aortic dissection on 25 January 1996, the night before the show’s first off-Broadway performance at New York Theatre Workshop.

The much-loved score features songs such as Seasons of Love, Take Me or Leave Me, What You Own, One Song Glory, La Vie Bohème, Without You, I’ll Cover You, Out Tonight and I Should Tell You.

The new production of RENT has Choreography by Lee Proud, Musical Direction by Phil Cornwell, Set Design by Olivier Award-winner Anna Fleischle, Costume Design by Loren Elstein, Lighting Design by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Rick Fisher, Sound Design by Olivier Award-winner Mike Walker, Video Design by Andrzej Goulding and Casting by Will Burton Casting.  

RENT has Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson, Musical Arrangements by Steve Skinner, Original Concept and Additional Lyrics by Billy Aronson, Music Supervision and Additional Arrangements by Tim Weil, and Dramaturg is Lynn Thomson.  RENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Alan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop. 

RENT is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Ltd.

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

Twitter:  @RENTonstage

Instagram:  Instagram.com/RENTonstage

Facebook:  facebook.com/RENTonstage              

                                                                               

LISTINGS INFORMATION

 

8 December 2016 to 28 January 2017

St. James Theatre

12 Palace Street

London SW1E 5JA

Box Office:  0844 264 2140

Website:  www.stjamestheatre.co.uk    

                                                                                                                 

31 January to 4 February 2017

Devonshire Park Theatre

Compton St

Eastbourne BN21 4BW

Box Office: 01323 412 000

Website: www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk/venue/devonshire-park-theatre

6-11 February 2017

Churchill Theatre

High Street

Bromley

Kent BR1 1HA

Box Office: 020 3285 6000

Website: www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

14-18 February 2017

Festival Theatre

13 / 29 Nicolson Street 

Edinburgh, EH8 9FT

Box Office: 0131 529 6000

Website: www.edtheatres.com

28 February – 4 March

Liverpool Empire Theatre

Lime St

Liverpool L1 1JE

Box Office: 0844 871 3017

Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire

7-11 March

New Victoria Theatre

The Ambassadors

Peacocks Centre

Woking

Surrey GU21 6GQ

Box Office: 0844 871 7645

Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre

28 March to 1 April 2017

Curve

Rutland Street

Leicester LE1 1SB

Box Office: 0116 242 3595

Website: www.curveonline.co.uk

3-8 April 2017

Wales Millennium Centre

Bute Pl

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff CF10 5AL

Box Office: 029 2063 6464

Website: www.wmc.org.uk

11-15 April 2017

Cheltenham Everyman Theatre

Regent Street

Cheltenham GL50 1HQ

Box Office: 01242 572573

Website: www.everymantheatre.org.uk

18-22 April 2017

York Theatre Royal

St. Leonard’s Place

York YO1 7HD

Box Office: 01483 440000

Website: www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk   

1-6 May 2017

Lighthouse

Poole’s Centre For The Arts

21 Kingland Road

Poole

Dorset BH15 1UG

Box Office: 01202 280000

Website: www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

9-13 May 2017

Belgrade Theatre

Belgrade Square,

Coventry CV1 1GS

Box Office: 024 7655 3055

Website: www.belgrade.co.uk    

16-20 May 2017

Nottingham Playhouse

Wellington Circus

Nottingham, NG1 5AF

Box Office: 0115 941 9419

Website: www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

23-27 May 2017

Assembly Hall Theatre

Crescent Road

Tunbridge Wells

Kent TN1 2LU

Box Office: 01892 530613

Website: www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

From the creative team behind the hit show ‘One Night of Elvis: Lee Memphis King’ comes a BRAND NEW musical production…

 

Macca the Concert: Celebrating the Music of Paul McCartney

 

Reuniting the cast of the Hit West End musical, ‘Let it Be’ and starring Emanuele Angeletti as Paul McCartney, this is a celebration of the life and music of a legend. The show includes all of McCartney’s solo hits and a spectacular recreation of the ‘Wings Over America’ 1976 Concert Tour.

 

Using state of the art visual media projection throughout, this show is unrivalled within the current theatre circuit today.

 

Experience the drama of “Live and Let Die”, the pathos of “No More Lonely Nights” and the nostalgia of “Band on the Run” alongside many, many more…

“Emanuele Angeletti is an uncanny carbon-copy of Paul” (The Telegraph)

“Emanuele Angeletti has Paul McCartney’s mannerisms down to a T” (The Guardian)

 

“Angeletti has all the Macca charm one would hope for!” (Musical theatre review – London)

 

“The brilliant Emanuele Angeletti. From the cheeky smiles to the foot tapping and nods to the audience, his interpretation of Paul is quite simply perfect. Along with the accompanying vocals of a captive audience, this moment defined Angeletti as one of the best, if not the best, musician to have performed as McCartney.” (The low down magazine – Liverpool)

Richmond Theatre

 Listings

Little Green, Richmond TW9 1QJ

Wednesday 1 February, 7.30pm

Tickets: £23 – £33

Online: ATGTICKETS.COM/Richmond*                    Box Office: 08448717651*

*Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per min, plus your phone company’s access charge.

HIDDEN HISTORIES

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) presents Mary-Ann Ochota with her presentation: Hidden Histories: A spotter’s Guide to the British Landscape, at Central Hall, Dolphin Centre, Darlington on Saturday 11 February.

Join TV presenter and archaeology writer Mary-Ann Ochota on a journey through Britain’s historic landscape. What clues should you look for to puzzle out the origins of a village, or the age of a hedgerow? What are the secrets hidden in tumuli, chambered tombs and churchyards?

Drawing on her new book, Hidden Histories, this talk will be packed with clues and examples of what to look for and where to go to decipher the story of the landscape around us. A must for all landscape detectives! Mary-Ann Ochota is a broadcaster and anthropologist whose work has taken her across the world, including into the Chernobyl exclusion zone, the Algerian Sahara, across Australia’s Simpson Desert, and to the slums of Dhaka and Delhi. She writes regularly for Geographical, The Great Outdoors and The Telegraph.

She has presented programmes such as Time Team and Unreported World. Her new book, published in October 2016 and entitled Hidden Histories: A Spotter’s Guide to the British Landscape, will be the subject of her talk.

Mary-Ann Ochota comes to Central Hall, Dolphin Centre, Darlington on Saturday 11 February at 7.30pm.

Tickets* £12, Discounts £11, RGS/IBG members £10

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

*Includes £1 restoration levy

TOURING CONSORTIUM THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS

A BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

ANITA AND ME

BY MEERA SYAL

ADAPTED BY TANIKA GUPTA

DIRECTED BY ROXANA SILBERT

TOURING THE UK IN SPRING 2017

SHOBNA GULATI TO STAR AS ‘DALJIT’

The Touring Consortium Theatre Company and Birmingham Repertory Theatre are pleased to announce that Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street, Dinner Ladies) will star as ‘Daljit’ in the new tour of ANITA AND ME, opening at the Wolverhampton Grand on 14 February 2017, and touring the UK until April. Adapted by multi award-winning Tanika Gupta from the book by Meera Syal, directed by Roxana Silbert, with original music by the Ringham Brothers, ANITA AND ME will play Wolverhampton, Cheltenham, Blackpool, Nottingham, Bradford and Edinburgh.

Joining Shobna on stage will be Laura Aramayo as ‘Anita’, Sam Cole as ‘Sam Lowbridge’, Therese Collins as ‘Mrs Worrall’, Rina Fatania as ‘Namina’, Rebekah Hinds as ‘Mrs Ormerod / Deidre’, Sejal Keshwala as ‘Aunty Shaila / Fortune Teller’, Megan McCormick as ‘Tracey / Sandy’, Robert Mountford as ‘Shyam’, Tom Oakley as ‘Ned / Bazza’, Humera Syed as ‘Pinky’, Aasiya Shah as ‘Meena’, Aaron Virdee as ‘Uncle Amman / Mr Bhatra’, and Claire Worboys as ‘Mrs Lowbridge’.

The professional company will perform alongside eight actors drawn from the local community, with auditions taking place in individual venues. Lighting design is by Chahine Yavroyan, sound Design by Ben and Max Ringham, original choreography by Ann Yee, Set and costume design is by Bob Bailey.

This poignant coming-of-age tale follows Meena, a young girl growing up in the only Punjabi family in a 1970s Black Country mining village. Meena spends her days happily getting into scrapes with the other local children until one day the impossibly cool Anita enters her life.

Suddenly Meena knows exactly who she wants to be but is Anita all that she seems? Soon Meena’s world is turned upside down as she is caught between two very different cultures.

Anita And Me paints a comic, poignant, compassionate and colourful portrait of village life in the era of flares, power cuts, glam rock, decimalisation and Ted Heath.

Meera Syal said, “I’m delighted that Anita and Me is touring the UK. It is amazing to think of so many people engaging in this story – particularly young people, who like me as a child, may be wondering how they fit in!”

Critical praise for the original production at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 2015:

★★★★”Hilarious” The Independent

★★★★ “Very funny” Birmingham Mail

“Entertaining” The Times

“Uplifting, humorous and poignant, Anita And Me is a beautifully staged production” BroadwayWorld.com

“This show has a sizeable heart” The Stage

“Impressive” British Theatre Guide

Created by producer Jenny King, The Touring Consortium Theatre Company celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2016, producing both highly successful tours of A Tale of Two Cities and Of Mice and Men.

Jenny King said, “The company was created in 1996 in response to a need expressed by chief executives of several of the UKs leading touring venues for quality text based drama that reached out to new, young audiences as well as sustaining the interest of core theatre goers. Since its creation we have produced over twenty five productions and played to over a million people, involving some 25,000 young people in our workshops and creative learning programmes.”

In 2012 TCTC were awarded over one million pounds from the ACE Strategic Touring Fund (one of the largest grants given) to support a programme of productions to be presented on tour over two and half years, with the specific aim of reaching out to new audiences. These included a world premiere production of To Sir with Love, directed by Mark Babych, adapted by Ayub Khan Din, with Matthew Kelly; a new production of Brassed Off directed by Damian Cruden with John McArdle; a world premiere production of Regeneration adapted from Pat Barker’s Booker nominated novel by Nicholas Wright, directed by Simon Godwin with Stephen Boxer; A View from the Bridge directed by Stephen Unwin with Michael Brandon and Jonathan Guy Lewis; a world premiere production of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, adapted by Dawn King, with original music from These New Puritans, directed by James Dacre with Sophie Ward, a tour of Of Mice and Men featuring Dudley Sutton, and most recently a tour of A Tale of Two Cities, also directed by James Dacre.

On the back of the success of the initial programme of work the company have again been awarded a substantial grant from the ACE Strategic Touring fund to extend their programming until 2018 with four further productions planned and further Audience development projects. TCTC continues to form links with literacy projects around the country, as each production has an affiliated writing project run from its resources website THEATRECLOUD.

Follow us:

Twitter – #anitaandme

Facebook: /TouringConsortium

/TheatreCloud

 

UK tour dates 2016

Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 February WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND

Tuesday 28 February – Saturday 4 March CHELTENHAM EVERYMAN

Tuesday 7 – Saturday 11 March BLACKPOOL GRAND

Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 March THEATRE ROYAL NOTTINGHAM

Tuesday 21 – Saturday 24 March ALHAMBRA THEATRE BRADFORD

Tuesday 28 March – Saturday 1 April KINGS THEATRE EDINBURGH

EVERYMAN THEATRE CHELTENHAM APPOINT AWARDWINNING INDEPENDENT PRODUCER MARK GOUCHER AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE

The Board of The Everyman Theatre Cheltenham have today announced that they are appointing Mark Goucher as their Chief Executive. Goucher (50), who will continue to run his independent production company alongside his duties at the theatre, is an established independent West End and Touring producer of 25 years’ standing. He is on the Board of The Society of London Theatres and The League of Independent Theatre Producers.

Goucher takes up his appointment on 31st March taking over the reins of the theatre’s leadership from Geoffrey Rowe, who is stepping down after ten highly successful years building up the theatre’s artistic reputation and financial strength.

This appointment is seen by some as a radical move by the theatre’s Board of Directors, signalling its move towards more co-productions with other managements and national companies, as well as an ambition to begin plays in the theatre prior to transferring them to the West End. In this regard Goucher follows the likes of Danny Moar, of Theatre Royal Bath, and Peter Wilson at the Norwich Theatre Royal, who continue to run independent production companies combined with their jobs of running a regional theatre.

The theatre will continue its strong programme of studio work, community and education work, as well as its support to the local companies with which it works. Goucher acknowledges the support of Arts Council England and Cheltenham Borough Council and will continue to strive to deliver excellence to fulfil the theatre’s obligations to these stakeholders.

Clive Thomas Chairman of the Board said: “The trustees and directors of the Everyman are terrifically excited at this important appointment of Mark Goucher as chief executive, building on the considerable achievements of Geoffrey Rowe and helping us to move this already excellent regional theatre to a new level with even more national prominence for the quality of its work and contribution to the region and community it serves.”

Mark Goucher said: “Cheltenham is the only theatre I have ever had an interest in running. Gloucestershire is my adopted County and is where I call home. I will embrace this challenge to work with the staff and trustees to continue to present high quality and diverse work for the whole of Gloucestershire. I am fully committed to the subsidised work here both in the community and the studio but would like to see the theatre extend its influence both regionally and nationally. I have a strong artistic vision and will want us to work with high profile directors and writers to deliver a programme of exciting work. I will continue to run my own producing company and hope that my existing relations ships with other producers and theatres will propel The Cheltenham Everyman into the Premier division of regional theatres.”

Madalena Alberto, one of West End’s top leading ladies, is performing at Brasserie Zédel on the 23rd February, 7pm. A unique intimate evening where she’ll perform songs from shows that have marked her career – including EVITA, LES MISERÁBLES and PIAF – as well as a personal take on some of her favourite pop songs and her own compositions. The stage will be nourished with eclectic sounds and and guest musicians.

She will be accompanied by the extraordinary Miquel Tejada on piano, winner of Best Musical Theatre Director award in Spain, for RENT.

They will be joined by Australian bass player Ashley de Neef – an in-demand bassist in the jazz scene who’s performed with some of the world’s finest jazz musicians (including trumpeter James Morrison) – and by the versatile Scottish percussionist Ian Cape, who currently holds the percussion seat at LES MISERÁBLES in the West End.

The evening will also count on two very special appearances: one of the world’s top guitarists John Themis, who has had Top Ten and Number One success performing, producing, arranging and writing for Boy George, Cat Stevens, Kylie Minogue, Elton John, George Michael, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton and many more… And the actress Maddy Hill, best known for her role of Nancy Carter in ‘East Enders’ and the lead role in the Shakespeare’s Globe’s latest production of ‘Imogen’.

This will be a musical evening set apart from the others, filled with diversity and Madalena’s distinctive take on famous and unexpected songs.

‘Alberto is indeed a star.’ Georgina Brown, The Mail on Sunday

‘Madalena Alberto is simply superb.’ Dominic Maxwell, The Times.

Tickets at £18 on sale at
https://www.brasseriezedel.com/live-at-zedel/madalena-alberto

www.madalenaalberto.com

The White Bear Theatre 17 January – 4 February.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

If you’re looking for an evening full of laughs and humanity, get down to The White Bear and see Out There On Fried Meat Ridge Rd. JD (Keith Stevenson) lives and works in a tatty motel run by Flip (Michael Wade) – who likes to know where you’re from so that he can direct his racist comments appropriately. After breaking up with his girlfriend and losing his job in the spork factory, Mitchell (Robert Maloney) answers JD’s ad for a roommate and his initial horror at realising he’d be sleeping in the same room as JD is compounded when he meets his neighbours. As well as Flip bursting into the room spouting (very funny) bile, meth head Marlene (Melanie Gray) and New Jersey thug Tommy (Dan Hildebrand) keep storming in in various states of hysteria and rage. So far, so Jerry Springer. But these stereotypical veneers hide more interesting depths. Marlene is an artist and Tommy is a poet. The fantastic cast are all completely believable, and the production has the feel of an American Father Ted. The set is ludicrously realistic with damp patches, rubbish on the floor, piles of clothes on the bed – and an inescapable smell of tuna in the later stages of the play.

The surreal and farcical plot develops the characters in the short running time and reveals the close family that exists in the motel without getting schmaltzy. JD at first appears to be a few sandwiches short of a picnic – he believes his mother’s story about his father being Jesus – but his sweet and simple philosophy of kindness and neighbourliness is infectious, and the realisation that the other characters need him and respect him, rather than take advantage of him, comes quickly. There is a huge warmth and love for these frankly insane characters, and the laughs come thick and fast. There’s even a hostage situation, which JD tries to resolve through the medium of dance. I cried with laughter. And the final reveal is just brilliant. It is just what you are hoping for after falling a little bit in love with the cuddly JD. Everyone needs a neighbour like him.

Just brilliant.