Month: September 2017

Rehearsal images for the UK Tour of Tim Firth’s New British Musical, THE BAND, featuring the music of Take That. The show begins previews this Friday 8 September at Manchester Opera House before opening officially on 26 September. It will then embark on a major UK tour until July 2018.

THE BAND stars AJ Bentley, Nick Carsberg, Curtis T Johns, Yazdan Qafouri and Sario Solomon, collectively known as Five To Five, winners of BBC’s Let It Shine, who will play The Band. It also stars Rachel Lumberg, Alison Fitzjohn, Emily Joyce, Jayne McKenna, Faye Christall, Katy Clayton, Rachelle Diedericks, Sarah Kate Howarth, Lauren Jacobs, Martin Miller and Andy Williams.

THE BAND is a musical about what it’s like to grow up with a boyband. For five 16 year-old friends in 1992, ‘the band’ is everything. 25 years on, we are reunited with the group of friends, now 40-something women, as they try once more to fulfil their dream of meeting their heroes. 

Alfred Uhry’s acclaimed comedy drama Driving Miss Daisy is visiting Newcastle Theatre Royal on its 30th anniversary tour with a top cast at the wheel Mon 2 – Sat 7 Oct 2017.

This brand new production by Pulitzer Prize, Academy and Tony Award-winning playwright Uhry stars icon of British Theatre Dame Siân Philips as elderly widow Daisy Werthan and one of TV’s best known faces Derek Griffiths as chauffeur Hoke.

When Miss Daisy crashes her car one day in 1948, her son hires her a chauffeur, an African-American named Hoke Colburn. Daisy and Hoke’s relationship gets off to a rocky start, but as times change across a 25-year backdrop of prejudice, inequality and civil unrest, a profound and life-altering friendship blossoms in this acclaimed comedy drama.

From its landmark off-Broadway production in 1987 to the remarkable success of the 1989 film version, which was the winner of four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Driving Miss Daisy has touched the hearts of millions worldwide.

Dame Siân Phillips has enjoyed a dazzling career which spans more than seven decades – from her multi award-wining performance in I, Claudius to the epic film Dune, from a Tony nominated performance of Marlene on Broadway to Cabaret in the West End.

RSC actor and legendary presenter, Derek Griffiths’ numerous West End credits include the original production of Beauty and the Beast in which he originated the role of Lumière and the Child Catcher in the West End run of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium.

Alfred Uhry is one of the few writers to have earned Academy, Tony and Pulitzer Prize awards as a playwright and screenwriter. Having based the story of Driving Miss Daisy on his own family history, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1988. His adaptation of the screenplay went on to win an Oscar in 1989.

The show is directed by Richard Beecham and designed by Simon Kenny.  It has lighting design by Natasha Chivers and sound design by Jon Nicholls. Driving Miss Daisy is produced by Theatre Royal Bath Productions.

Driving Miss Daisy is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Mon 2 until Sat 7 October 2017, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees on Thu 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £14.50.  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

WINTER SEASON 2017/18 AT CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE

Chichester Festival Theatre’s Winter season 2017/18 is crammed full of touring dramas, comedies and family friendly shows from some of the best producers in the country, offering entertainment for all tastes and ages.

Martin Kemp, Belinda Lang and Siân Phillips are among the stars appearing in plays and musicals ranging from Million Dollar Quartet to Driving Miss Daisy and the West End hits The Play That Goes Wrong and The Wipers Times. Rattigan’s masterpiece The Winslow Boy sits alongside modern classics Duet for One and The Weir. Favourites such as the Christmas Concerts, Moscow City Ballet and BBC Concert Orchestra return, and there’s a wide range of music and performances from a sparkling line-up including Sir Michael Parkinson, Stacey Kent, Omid Djalili and Patricia Routledge.

There’s also plenty of entertainment for families and youngsters from toddlers to teenagers, including Chichester Festival Youth Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast for Christmas; a new musical adaptation of The Jungle Book; and an acclaimed production of The Little Matchgirl.

Drama, musicals and family shows

Martin Kemp in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET                

Festival Theatre, 7 – 11 November

A sell-out success in the West End and on Broadway, this worldwide smash hit musical is inspired by the famous recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time.

On December 4, 1956, these four star musicians gathered at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET brings that legendary night to life, featuring a score of rock hits including Blue Suede Shoes, Fever, That’s All Right, Great Balls of Fire, Walk the Line and Hound Dog.

Martin Kemp, of Spandau Ballet fame, leads the cast in the role of record producer Sam Phillips – the man who brought the four stars together to create musical history.

Belinda Lang & Oliver Cotton in DUET FOR ONE          

Festival Theatre, 13 – 18 November

In Tom Kempinski’s multi award-winning play, a brilliant concert violinist, who seemingly has it all, is forced to re-evaluate her life when struck down by an unforeseen tragedy. She consults a psychiatrist and, through a series of highly charged encounters, is led to examine her deepest emotions and finally to consider a future without music.

Based on the life of the world renowned cellist Jacqueline du Pré, DUET FOR ONE has enjoyed huge success in the West End and on Broadway since its premiere in 1980. Belinda Lang (2 Point 4 Children, Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Single Spies) and Oliver Cotton (The Borgias, many plays for the National Theatre & RSC) star in this new production, directed by Robin Lefevre with designs by Chichester’s Design Associate, Lez Brotherston.

THE WIPERS TIMES                                                            

Festival Theatre, 21 – 25 November

Coming to Chichester direct from the West End, Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s play THE WIPERS TIMES tells the true and extraordinary story of the satirical newspaper created in the mud and mayhem of the Somme.

During the First World War in the Belgian town of Ypres (mis-pronounced Wipers by British soldiers), two officers discover a printing press and create a resolutely cheerful, subversive and very funny newspaper designed to lift the spirits of the troops on the front line.

Defying enemy bombardment, gas attacks and the disapproval of the Top Brass, The Wipers Times rolled off the press for two years and was an extraordinary tribute to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Siân Phillips & Derek Griffiths in DRIVING MISS DAISY           

Festival Theatre, 28 November – 2 December

When elderly widow Daisy Werthan crashes her car one day in 1948, her son hires African-American Hoke Colburn as her chauffeur. Daisy and Hoke’s relationship gets off to a rocky start, but across a 25 year backdrop of prejudice, inequality and civil unrest, a profound and life-altering friendship blossoms.

This acclaimed comedy drama by Alfred Uhrypremiered off-Broadway in 1987 and became an Oscar-winning film. Siân Phillips’ dazzling career spans more than seven decades. Her multi award-winning performances range from I, Claudius to Dune, and Marlene on Broadway to Cabaret in the West End. RSC actor Derek Griffiths’ numerous West End credits include Beauty and the Beast and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS                                                   

Festival Theatre, 5 – 9 December

The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth and Chichester Cathedral Choir lead a celebration of the festive season with traditional carols, seasonal sing-alongs and the inevitable Christmas cracker jokes. From Jingle Bells to Silent Night, and the extraordinary Corps of Drums, this is a stocking full of Chrismas spirit. Once again there’s a chance to vote for your favourite Christmas song, with the audience favourite performed en masse.

Chichester Festival Youth Theatre presents

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 

For ages 7+

Festival Theatre, 16 – 31 December

Relaxed performance: 31 December at 11am

A cursed prince sits alone in an enchanted castle, destined to remain in monstrous form until he can learn to love and be loved in return. But who could ever love a Beast?

Offered a gift by her father, a kind and beautiful young girl asks only for a rose while her brothers and sisters demand jewels and fashionable clothes. But the fulfilment of Beauty’s simple wish puts her in the Beast’s power. He offers her luxury and riches in return for her hand; but can she bring herself to accept his proposals of marriage?

Prejudice, jealousy, compassion and love are woven through this magical story, studded with enchanting and deliciously scary characters.

The award-winning Chichester Festival Youth Theatre present a brand new adaptation by Anna Ledwich from the original fairy tale, with music and lyrics by Richard Taylor, suitable for ages 7+.

Dale Rooks, whose work with CFYT includes Grimm Tales, Running Wild and Peter Pan, directs a visually spectacular show featuring newly composed songs, with set design by Simon Higlett and wonderfully inventive costumes by Ryan Dawson Laight.

MOSCOW CITY BALLET: SWAN LAKE & THE SLEEPING BEAUTY              

Festival Theatre, 3 – 7 January

Moscow City Ballet provides an unmissable climax to the festive season with two stunning productions, each presented in classic Russian style with full orchestra.

Swan Lake, set to Tchaikovsky’s haunting score, is the world’s most romantic ballet: the heart-breaking tale of Siegfried and his love for Odette, the Queen of the Swans.

The Sleeping Beauty inspired some of Tchaikovsky’s most glorious music. Princess Aurora, her gallant prince, wicked Carabosse, the Lilac Fairy and a host of fairy-tale characters adorn a truly magical production.

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG              

For ages 8+

Festival Theatre, 10 – 14 January

Fawlty Towers meets Noises Off in this multi award-winning comedy, now playing on Broadway and enjoying its fourth sell-out year in the West End where it won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! As the accident prone thesps battle on against all the odds to reach their final curtain call, hilarious results ensue.

THE JUNGLE BOOK                                               

For ages 6+

Festival Theatre, 25 January – 3 February

An exciting new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s family classic, this colourful, wild and fun show is packed with memorable characters, new songs and brilliant storytelling.

Mowgli the man cub battles for survival in this coming-of-age story about a boy raised by wolves in the jungle. With the help of his animal friends, including Bagheera the panther, Baloo the bear and Kaa the python, Mowgli outwits the cruel and powerful tiger Shere Khan, and learns the law of the jungle.

This unforgettable adventure is adapted by the Olivier Award-winning Jessica Swale (Nell Gwynn), directed by Max Webster (The Lorax) with music by Joe Stilgoe.

THE WEIR                                                     

For ages 12+

Minerva Theatre, 30 January – 3 February

Winner of the 1997 Olivier Award for Best New Play, Conor McPherson’s chilling modern classic THE WEIR embarks on a UK tour to mark its 20^th anniversary year.

In a small Irish town, the locals exchange stories round the crackling fire of Brendan’s pub to while away the hours one stormy night. As the beer and whiskey flows, the arrival of a young stranger, haunted by a secret from her past, turns the tales of folklore into something more unsettling. One story, however, is more chilling and more real than any of them could have ever imagined.

A shadowy tale delving into the dark corners of human lives, THE WEIR is directed by Adele Thomas and is a co-production between English Touring Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester.

THE LITTLE MATCHGIRL and Other Happier Tales

For ages 9+                                                   

Minerva Theatre, 6 – 10 February

Inspired by the beautiful and devastatingly sad Hans Christian Andersen tale The Little Matchgirl, and combining Andersen’s other tales The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor’s New Clothes and Thumbelina,THE LITTLE MATCHGIRL and Other Happier Talesreveals a spellbinding world of magic and mystery. As our destitute heroine struggles to survive, she strikes her matches to keep warm. Each match will conjure a new story, a new vision, and we will tumble down the rabbit hole with her.

This exquisite production comes to Chichester following its critically acclaimed premiere at Shakespeare’s Globe; it is written and co-adapted by Joel Horwood, and directed and co-adapted by Emma Rice. For adults and brave children alike, expect music, puppetry, dark magic… and perhaps some modern truths that we would rather remain hidden.

THE WINSLOW BOY

Festival Theatre, 8 – 17 February

A major new revival of Terence Rattigan’s best-loved play, set in 1910 Edwardian London,  directed by Olivier-nominated Rachel Kavanaugh (Half A Sixpence).

Having been expelled from the Royal Naval College for stealing a five-shilling postal order, young cadet Ronnie Winslow’s entire family are pulled apart by the repercussions as they fight to clear his name or face social ostracism, as the case becomes a national scandal.

Based on a real-life event, this gripping masterpiece is a highly-charged moral drama; a courageous and often delicately humorous window into the class and political hypocrisy of the time.

Words, Music and Comedy

STACEY KENT         Festival Theatre, 3 November

Internationally acclaimed vocalist Stacey Kent returns to Chichester to perform music from her latest album I Know I Dream. The collection of songs includes American Standards, Bossa Nova classics, Chansons and reprises of some of Stacey’s most-loved repertoire, including songs from her Grammy-nominated album Breakfast on the Morning Tram.

AN EVENING WITH SIR MICHAEL PARKINSON             Festival Theatre, 4 November

Celebrate the life and career of a man who interviewed over 2,000 of the 20^th and 21^st centuries’ most important cultural figures. In conversation with his son Mike and showing highlights from the Parkinson archive, this is an intimate and entertaining look at Sir Michael’s remarkable journey from a pit village in Yorkshire to the top of those famous stairs, whilst reliving the best moments from a show that for many defined their Saturday night.

THE GARDEN                                   Steven Pimlott Building, 13 November

Participatory arts company Spare Tyre return withTHE GARDEN, an immersive performance for people with dementia and their carers. Bringing the outdoors in, it takes audiences on a multi-sensory journey through the seasons.

JIMMY CARR: The Best of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits Tour

For ages 16+                                      Festival Theatre, 20 November

Jimmy Carr has been on the stand-up scene for a decade and a half, performing nine sell-out tours to over 2 million people. Now all that experience is being put to good use, with all the greatest material from his extraordinary career in one show – this is the very best of Jimmy Carr.

BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA Classical Impressions   Festival Theatre, 3 December

A fairy-tale evening to remember, as the BBC Concert Orchestra perform pieces including Paul Patterson’sLittle Red Riding Hood. Actor, comic and impressionist Alistair McGowan joins the Orchestra and conductor Martin Yates for a wickedly inspired retelling of the story adapted from Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes.

ADMISSION: ONE SHILLING          Minerva Theatre, 16 December

Patricia Routledge and international concert pianist Piers Lane tell the extraordinary story of Myra Hess and her famous wartime National Gallery concerts. Recounted in Dame Myra’s own words compiled by her great nephew, composer Nigel Hess, with music by Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Schumann and Chopin, we hear how the 1,600 lunchtime concerts began and continued while bombs rained down on London.

A PORTRAIT OF SPACE                

The Life and Loves of Roland Penrose      Minerva Theatre, 12 January

In this drama by Antony Penrose, Surrealist artist Roland Penrose and his wives, Valentine Boué and Lee Miller, tell their story in their own words, accompanied by a stream of images. Man Ray, Leonora Carrington, Edward James and Pablo Picasso also feature in this collaboration between Farleys House, the former home of Penrose and Miller, and the Edward James collection and archive at West Dean College.

THE BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK                  Minerva Theatre, 13 January

Elio Pace and his band celebrate the phenomenal music of Billy Joel, following his highly acclaimed reunion concerts in the USA with Joel’s original touring band. Featuring Uptown Girl, Just The Way You Areand My Life, as well as fan favourites such as Piano Man, performed by the dynamic singer/songwriter and his six-piece band.

JOE STILGOE AND HIS BIG BAND           Festival Theatre, 17 January

Internationally acclaimed singer Joe Stilgoe and his Big Band will play classics from the likes of Cole Porter and Louis Prima, plus hits from his five critically lauded, Jazz Chart-topping albums. Expect a mixture of virtuosic musicianship, breathtaking theatricality and interaction with the audience, combining on the spot improvisation and the quickest of wits.

BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA Friday Night is Music Night      Festival Theatre, 19 January

The world’s longest running orchestral music show returns for an evening of musical magic, broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 and presented by Ken Bruce with special guests.

OMID DJALILI: Schmuck For A Night      

For ages 16+                                                  Festival Theatre, 20 January

Following his critically-acclaimed performance inFiddler on the Roof, award-winning comedian Omid Djalili returns with his intelligent, sometimes provocative and always entertaining stand-up: a hugely energetic and captivating comedy masterclass.

SOWETO KINCH                                          Minerva Theatre, 26 January

A saxophonist, MC and composer specialising in a trademark style of Jazz, Rap and Spoken Word, Soweto Kinch is revered among musicians and rappers alike. With an array of accolades including two MOBO awards, BBC Rising Star Award, Montreux Jazz Festival Award and a Mercury Award nomination, as well as his own weekly BBC radio show, Soweto brings his trio of saxophone/vocals, drums and bass to Chichester.

OLA ONABULÉ                                            Minerva Theatre, 27 January

Ola Onabulé has established a reputation throughout the world with his songs of love, loss and the human condition, performing at renowned jazz festivals including Montreal, Istanbul and Edmonton. He now presents his new album It’s the Peace That Deafens: 12 songs evoking identity, reconcilation and nostalgia.

POP-UP OPERA Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel       Minerva Theatre, 16 February

Pop-Up Opera return with a wintry delight: Hansel and Gretel, sung in German with English captions. Humperdinck’s music magically evokes the contrasting worlds of the story; brother and sister Hansel and Gretel are drawn into the idyllic yet dangerous world of the forest where they encounter the Sandman, the Dew Fairy and the Witch.

STEWART LEE: Content Provider             Festival Theatre, 18 February

For ages 16+

Following a sell-out visit in 2016, and after four years writing and performing his TV show Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle, Stewart Lee returns to the Festival Theatre with Content Provider – his first brand new full-length show since the award-winning Carpet Remnant World.

LIFE IS FOR LIVING

Conversations with Coward                       Minerva Theatre, 18 February

Following an award-winning New York season, Simon Green and David Shrubsole bring their unique theatrical conversation with Noël Coward to Chichester. Coward’s own inimitable words and music are woven with gems from Ivor Novello, Irving Berlin and George Gershwin, the wisdom of Maya Angelou and original musical settings of Coward verse.

For families

Join us before these shows in our pop-up Play Café, with free crafts, colouring in and a reading zone, while adults treat themselves to a coffee and cake.

COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS!                              Minerva Theatre,  13 February

For ages 6+                                                    2pm

A welcome return for the popular swear-free comedy hour for children and their families with the circuit’s best stand-ups and sketch acts.

PENGUIN                                                       Minerva Theatre, 14 February

For ages 2 – 8                                                11am & 2pm

Based on the award-winning book by Polly Dunbar,Long Nose Puppets present an exciting show with lively songs by Tom Gray of Gomez. Ben is delighted when he rips open his present to find a penguin – but Penguin says nothing. It isn’t until a passing lion intervenes that Penguin finally speaks.

TALES FROM THE SHED                            Minerva Theatre, 15 February

For ages 0 – 6                                                11am & 2pm

Presented by Chickenshed Theatre, these are informal, lively and engaging shows with plenty of colourful puppets and live songs. Young children are encouraged to make a lot of noise and help make the story happen.

Community Groups

The Festival Theatre also hosts four community groups:

Chichester Musical Projects present their new production of the rock musical RENT (Minerva Theatre, 20 – 23 December).

Southern Pro Musica presents a CHILDREN’S CONCERT for ages 5 – 11, a perfect introduction to live music played by a full professional orchestra (Festival Theatre, 16 January).

West Sussex Music and the Chichester Locality of Schools present UNITED VOICES (Festival Theatre, 18 January), a selection of contemporary, upbeat songs performed by their massed choir.

Young local choirs and musicians perform popular and original songs in THE OVATION ROCK SHOW(Minerva Theatre, 19 & 20 January).

Events

Throughout the Winter season, a wide range of entertaining activities, workshops and talks for all ages are on offer, from making monster masks to story-telling, jungle-style movement sessions and pre- and post-show talks. See cft.org.uk/LEAP for more details.

FUN PALACES                                             7 & 8 October, FREE

Fun Palaces is a free, nationwide festival celebrating creativity in the local community – a chance to see or do something different at Chichester Festival Theatre over one extraordinary weekend. Tour CFT’s listed building, take part in workshops or demonstrations, or in family friendly events both indoor and outdoors.

FESTIVALL                                                    Minerva Theatre, 16 & 17 March, FREE

Two performances celebrating local young people with a range of different talents and abilities. FestivALL will be presented in partnership with Stopgap Dance Company and Theatre Inc.

BOOKING INFORMATION

Priority booking for Friends of Chichester Festival Theatre opens:

Saturday 9 September (online and by booking form only)

Tuesday 12 September (phone and in person)

Groups & Schools booking opens:

Thursday 14 September

Public booking opens:

Saturday 16 September (online only)

Tuesday 19 September (phone and in person)

Box Office 01243 781312; online cft.org.uk

PROLOGUE: £5 tickets for 16 – 25s

An allocation of tickets priced at just £5 is available for 16 to 25 year olds for many productions throughout the Winter season. Sign up free at cft.org.uk/prologue.

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MUSIC AT CITY VARIETIES IN OCTOBER

BLACK SABBATH ** CHERYL, MIKE & JAY – FORMERLY OF BUCKS FIZZ ** THE YOUNG’UNS ** LES MCKEOWN’S BAY CITY ROLLERS

Famed throughout the UK for celebrating both old and new music acts, the City Varieties Music Hall (CVMH)brings several notable names to Leeds this October.

On Monday 2^nd October, CVMH will screen Black Sabbath – The End of the End (screening of February’s 2017 live recording). The End of The End chronicles the final tour of the greatest metal band of all time. After nearly 50 years together, the Birmingham band took to the stage in February 2017 for the last time in their home city, bringing down the curtain on their final tour. They performed genre-defining, generation-spanning songs in front of a sold-out arena and, in exclusive new interviews, talk frankly about how it was lived.

Cheryl, Mike & Jay – formerly of Bucks Fizz will take to the stage on Thursday 12^th October. Originally made famous for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest and that dance routine, Bucks Fizz released over 20 singles in the early ‘80s, including three No 1’s: ‘My Camera Never Lies’, ‘Land of Make Believe’ and ‘Making Your Mind Up’, which went to No 1 in nine countries. They sold more than 15 million records, spending 219 weeks in the UK charts alone.

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners, The Young’uns, have cemented their reputation at the forefront of the English folk scene having taken their uplifting voices, powerful songs, spine tingling harmonies and raucous humour to audiences across the UK and around the world. The Teesside trio return in 2017 with an extensive October UK tour and an eagerly anticipated new album, ’Strangers’. They will perform live at CVMH on Thursday 19^th October.

Bay City Rollers icon Les McKeown is back on tour, bringing his show, Rollermania, to venues across the UK, including CVMH on Friday 27^th October. The evening promises to be a unique voyage back to the 1970s, when Les and his legendary band ruled the world’s pop charts and The Bay City Rollers’ music became the soundtrack for a generation of teenagers. Hits will include ‘Bye Bye Baby’, ‘Shang-a-Lang’, ‘Remember, Summerlove Sensation’ and ‘Give A Little Love’.

For more information about all shows, music or otherwise, at City Varieties Music Hall visit cityvarieties.co.uk or call Box Office on 0113 243 08 08.

JAMIE WILSON AND CURVE

ANNOUNCE THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

DIRECTED BY NIKOLAI FOSTER

CHOREOGRAPHY BY KATE PRINCE

MUSICAL SUPERVISION BY SARAH TRAVIS

OPENING AT CURVE
ON FRIDAY 6 APRIL 2018

Jamie Wilson and Curve are delighted to announce the World Premiere of “AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN – THE MUSICAL” which will open at Curve on 6 April 2018 before playing at theatres across the UK and in Ireland until 15 September 2018.

This brand-new musical is based on the 1982 Oscar-winning film starring Richard Gere which tells the story of Zack Mayo who is in training to become a US Navy Pilot. When Zack rolls into boot camp with a bit too much of a swagger, drill Sergeant Foley doesn’t make life easy for him. When he falls for local girl Paula Pokrifki and tragedy befalls his friend and fellow candidate, Zack realises the importance of love and friendship and finds the courage to be himself and win the heart of the woman he loves. It’s only then he can truly become both an Officer and a Gentleman.

The musical includes the hit song from the movie Up Where We Belong along, with 80’s classics such as‘Alone’, ‘Don’t Cry Out Loud’, ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’, ‘Toy Soldiers’ and ‘Material Girl’ and features one of the most iconic romantic scenes ever portrayed on screen.

“AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN” is one of the highest grossing films of all time. The screenplay is by writer and director Douglas Day Stewart which was based on his personal experience as a Naval Officer Candidate. The book was co-written by Douglas and Sharleen Cooper Cohen.

Producer Jamie Wilson said, “I am thrilled to be presenting “AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN – THE MUSICAL” and working once again with Chris Stafford, Nikolai Foster and the team at curve.

For the last three years we have been working on bringing this memorable and iconic story to the stage, and hope that this new adaptation becomes as loved as the film.”

Jamie Wilson is the lead producer on the current productions of “Crazy For You”, the forthcoming world premiere of “Nativity! The Musical” and Curve’s production of “Sister Act”.

Director Nikolai Foster said, “An Officer and a Gentleman delicately charts the lives of working class, military folk in America in the early 1980s; important lives, often pushed to the margins of society. We are proud to be working alongside the film’s creator Douglas Day Stewart, producer Jamie Wilson and an incredible creative team to present this beautiful and inspiring story. This brand-new adaptation includes iconic 80s songs which create an entertaining, uplifting and original piece of musical theatre, we are excited to share this world premiere with our audiences here in Leicester and across the U.K”.

Nikolai Foster is Artistic Director at Curve, one of the UK’s leading regional theatres. His work at Curve includes Joe Orton’s “What the Butler Saw”, Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s “Grease”, Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”, “Legally Blonde” Truman Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. He directed the hugely successful recent productions of “Annie” starring Miranda Hart which is now showing in the West End, and “Calamity Jane” which starred Jodie Prenger.

Joining director Nikolai Foster on the creative team are Choreographer Kate Prince, Musical Supervisor Sarah Travis and Designer Michael Taylor.

Kate Prince is the founder and director of ZooNation. She was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2009 for “Into the Hoods” and most recently choreographed the hotly anticipated West End transfer of “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”.

Sarah Travis’ previous credits include “Sweeney Todd” for which she won a Tony Award, “Sister Act”, and currently “A Little Night Music” playing at The Watermill Theatre.

Michael Taylor is an Olivier Award nominated designer with his most recent work including “What the Butler Saw”, “Silver Lining”, “A Christmas Carol” and “The Dresser” in the West End.

Lighting Design will be by Ben Cracknell and Sound Design by Tom Marshall.

“AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN”

FRIDAY 6 APRIL – SATURDAY 21 APRIL *On sale 11 September 2017

CURVE, LEICESTER www.curveonline.co.uk

TUESDAY 24 APRIL – SATURDAY 28 APRIL *On sale 11 September 2017

LEEDS GRAND THEATRE www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

TUESDAY 1 MAY – SATURDAY 5 MAY *On sale 8  September 2017

MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON  www.mayflower.org.uk

MONDAY 7 MAY – SATURDAY 12 MAY

WYCOMBE SWAN www.wycombeswan.co.uk

TUESDAY 15 MAY – SATURDAY 19 MAY *On sale 7 September 2017

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME www.birminghamhippodrome.com

MONDAY 21 MAY – SATURDAY 26 MAY *On sale 6 September 2017

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE www.atgtickets.com/liverpool

MONDAY 28 MAY – SATURDAY 2 JUNE  * On sale from 22 September 2017

BORD GAIS ENERGY THEATRE, DUBLIN www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

MONDAY 4 JUNE – SATURDAY 9 JUNE  * On sale from 23 September 2017

LYCEUM THEATRE, SHEFFIELD www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

MONDAY 18 JUNE – SATURDAY 23 JUNE *On sale 8 September 2017

THEATRE ROYAL NEWCASTLE www.theatreroyal.co.uk

MONDAY 25 JUNE – SATURDAY 30 JUNE *On sale 18 September 2017

WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE www.wmc.org.uk

MONDAY 2 JULY – SATURDAY 7 JULY  *On sale 6  September 2017

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE www.atgtickets.com/Edinburgh 

MONDAY 9 JULY – SATURDAY 14 JULY *On sale 6 September 2017

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/Miltonkeynes

MONDAY 23 – SATURDAY 28 JULY *On sale 8 September 2017

THEATRE ROYAL, NOTTINGHAM  www.trch.co.uk

MONDAY 30 JULY – SATURDAY 4 AUGUST  *On sale 6  September 2017

BRISTOL HIPPODROME www.atgtickets.com/bristol

MONDAY 6 AUGUST – SATURDAY 11 AUGUST *On sale 11  September 2017

THE MARLOW THEATRE, CANTERBURY www.marlowetheatre.com

MONDAY 13 AUGUST – SATURDAY 18 AUGUST  *On sale 6  September 2017

MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE  www.atgtickets.com/manchester

MONDAY 20 AUGUST – SATURDAY 25 AUGUST  *On sale 15  September 2017

THEATRE ROYAL, PLYMOUTH www.theatreroyal.com

MONDAY 27 AUGUST – SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER

REGENT THEATRE, IPSWICH https://apps.ipswich.gov.uk

MONDAY 3 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER *On sale 11 September 2017

THE ALHAMBRA THEATRE, BRADFORD www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

MONDAY 10 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER *On sale 6 September 2017

GLASGOW KING’S THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/glasgow   

LONDON’S NEW HIT MUSICAL

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

EXTENDS ENGAGEMENT FOR A SECOND TIME

TICKETS NOW ON SALE TO 28 APRIL 2018

Christopher Wheeldon’s stunning reinvention of the Oscar® winning Hollywood musical An American in Paris, has extended its engagement for a second time, with tickets now on sale until Saturday 28 April 2018.

An American in Paris has been ecstatically received by audiences and critics, earning an incredible 28 five star reviews, since opening at the magnificently restored Dominion Theatre in March this year.

The sumptuous new musical about following your heart and living your dreams is written by Craig Lucas and features the timeless music and lyrics of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, including the songs I Got Rhythm, ‘S Wonderful, I’ll Build a Stairway To Paradise and They Can’t Take That Away from Me, together with George Gershwin’s sweeping compositions including ‘Concerto in F’ and ‘An American in Paris’.

Jerry Mulligan is an American GI pursuing his dream to make it as a painter in a city suddenly bursting with hope and possibility. Following a chance encounter with a beautiful young dancer named Lise, the streets of Paris become the backdrop to a sensuous, modern romance of art, friendship and love in the aftermath of war…

The cast is led by Ashley Day (as Jerry Mulligan) and Leanne Cope (as Lise Dassin) with Haydn Oakley as Henri Baurel, Zoë Rainey as Milo Davenport, David Seadon-Young as Adam Hochberg and Julie Legrand as Madame Baurel. The company also features Julian Forsyth and Ashley Andrews, Sophie Apollonia, Zoe Arshamian, Sarah Bakker, James Barton, Alicia Beck, Chrissy Brooke, James Butcher, Jonathan Caguioa, Jennifer Davison, Katie Deacon, Rebecca Fennelly, Sebastian Goffin, Alyn Hawke, Nicky Henshall, Genevieve Heron, Amy Hollins, Frankie Jenna, Justin-Lee Jones, Robin Kent, Kristen McGarrity, Julia J. Nagle, Daniela Norman, Pippa Raine, Aaron Smyth, Todd Talbot, Max Westwell, Jack Wilcox, Carrie Willis, Stuart Winter and Liam Wrate.

The new musical An American in Paris premiered in 2014 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris to ecstatic reviews before transferring to the Palace Theatre on Broadway, where it became the most awarded musical of the 2015/16 season, including four Tony® Awards. A major North American tour is currently playing.

With music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a new book by Craig Lucas, the new musical An American in Paris is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon with set and costumes designs by Bob Crowley, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Jon Weston and projection designs by 59 Productions. The musical score is adapted, arranged and supervised by Rob Fisher with orchestrations by Christopher Austin and Bill Elliott,dance arrangements by Sam Davis and musical supervision by Todd Ellison. The UK Musical Director is Steve Ridley.

An American in Paris is produced in London by Stuart Oken, Van Kaplan, Roy Furman, Michael McCabe and Joshua Andrews.

The historic, Grade II listed Dominion Theatre first opened in 1929 and has recently completed a major £6 million restoration, providing luxurious comfort and state-of-the-art facilities. During its illustrious history, the venue has operated successfully as both a theatre and cinema, including a record-breaking 4 years and 22-week continuous run of Joshua Logan’s film of South Pacific and the UK premiere of George Lucas’ Star Wars in 1977.

LISTINGS

Now booking to Saturday 28 April 2018

Dominion Theatre, 268-269 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7AQ

Box Office: 0845 200 7982
@AmericanParisUK

Official UK Website: AnAmericanInParisTheMusical.co.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/AmericanParisUK

Performance schedule:
Monday to Saturday 7:30pm
Wednesday & Saturday matinees 2:00pm until Saturday 30th September
From Wednesday 4th October 2017: Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2:30pm

Running time: 2 hours and 35 minutes, including one 20-minute interval.

For specific schedule, booking details and performances over the Christmas period, see HERE

Principal casting is subject to change at all performances. The producers cannot guarantee the appearance of any particular artist, which is always subject to illness, injury and statutory leave entitlement.

Tristan Bates Theatre until 9th September.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

Lazarus Theatre Company have got the Midas touch when it comes to adapting classic plays. Following on from their freewheeling festival Taming of the Shrew, Edward II takes a huge leap to the dark side in this intense, bloody (and bloody brilliant) production.

Edward I is dead, and as Edward II takes the throne, he calls his lover Gaveston back from the exile imposed by the dead king. Showering Gaveston with titles and riches usually reserved for those of nobler blood, Edward antagonises his court and shuns his wife, and the plotting against him begins. Sexual prejudices and political shenanigans – a thoroughly modern play written over 400 years ago. Christopher Marlowe’s glorious text is adapted skilfully by director Ricky Dukes into a tight 90 minutes of unrelenting tension.

The show starts in the usual Lazarus way, with two cast members clowning around on stage, but they are soon replaced by men in ties pacing around and eyeballing each other, in a precursor to the labyrinthine plots and mistrust that follow. Masks hang on the walls, used to chilling effect in the final scenes, and a table and two chairs create the focus for the cast’s movement.

Lazarus’ usual use of music and ensemble movement is muted here. The cast don’t leave the stage, but instead of lounging around the edges, they stand stock still, staring blankly at the action, showing the constant surveillance and judgement of Edward and Gaveston’s relationship, and producing an increasingly intimidating and claustrophobic atmosphere.

Bradley Frith’s Gaveston breaks the initial silence with his crowing reading of Edward’s letter calling him back to England, setting up the character as a mercenary chancer, but the moments where Edward (Luke Ward-Wilkinson) and Gaveston hold each other are tender and played beautifully, with the love between the two men shining through. There are scenes where the rest of the cast plot against them as the two gaze silently at each other that are just background noise as the two actors are spellbinding in their intensity.

Ward-Wilkinson gives a barnstorming performance as Edward, petulant, camp, funny and lovelorn, wringing every possible emotion from the riveting scene where he gives up the crown, and a pitiful, self-pitying wreck in his final scenes. Lakesha Cammock is a fiery and full-blooded Isabella, and Jamie O’Neill is full of quiet menace as ambitious Young Mortimer. Alex Zur, Andrew Gallo, John Slade, Stephen Emery and David Clayton play the lords of the realm with wonderful energy – there isn’t a weak link in the cast.

The final scenes, with the cast, in those masks, stripped to their underwear, with plastic aprons and plastic sheeting being laid down in anticipation of the bloodbath to come may not please Marlowe purists, but they are horribly effective and satisfying, taking the play full circle to its opening scene, with dire consequences for the plotters.

There’s only a week left to see this fantastic show – grab a ticket and get down to Tristan Bates.

Old Red Lion Theatre 29 August – 23 September.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

This 30th anniversary production of Eric Bogosian’s Talk Radio is a stark reminder of just how far we haven’t come.

Cleveland shock jock Barry Champlain’s late-night talk show is a magnet for callers spouting bigotry and bile. He wants to talk about how to improve the state of the world, but even the most normal sounding callers expose their underlying prejudice and hate. It’s all depressingly familiar, but seems much more threatening hearing disembodied voices over the phone than the ubiquitous tweets, posts and soundbites that we are bombarded with today as hate is becoming normalised.

On the night that his show is being heard by station bigwigs with the possibility of national syndication, Barry won’t listen to his boss Dan’s pleas, and refuses to compromise, baiting his listeners into more and more outrageous calls. Amongst the right-wing views are a few genuinely lonely and troubled characters that Barry almost treats as human, before his instincts take over and he ends up mocking and berating them. As the play progresses, and the station staff deliver monologues to the audience about their relationships with Barry, it becomes obvious that Barry is as broken, lonely and afraid as these pitiful callers under his abrasive façade.

Matthew Jure is exhausting as Barry. I mean that in a good way, Jure is passionate and believable, drawing you into the downward spiral of drink, drugs and despair with consummate ease and skill. Andy Secombe, George Turvey and Molly McNerney are excellent in support, their underwritten characters (this show is all about Barry) playing off each other with great timing and grabbing every laugh possible. Ceallach Spellman almost steals the show as the teenage super fan who wangles his way onto the show – full of energy and idiotic vacuous certainty. Jure’s silent reactions to the boy are a masterclass in acting.

Max Dorey’s set is superb, with almost anal attention to detail, and Dan Bottomley’s sound design – there’s lots of microphone jiggery-pokery and button pushing going on onstage – creates an authentic atmosphere that almost makes you forget that you’re in a theatre, not a radio station.

Director Sean Turner has almost created a mini-masterpiece here. But I had to take one star away because of the inclusion of an interval. It’s not that I ‘m against them, it’s just that, the interval was not much shorter than the second act. Surely it would be better to maintain the tension and build to the climax instead of letting the audience relax with a drink and the (admittedly fantastic) 1980s music playing?

Interval griping aside, Talk Radio is a darkly funny, fascinating, eviscerating examination of humanity that is as frighteningly relevant today as it was when it was written.