Month: December 2017

Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield – until 6 January 2018.  Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood

5*****

Following the successful run of Cinderella last Christmas; Joyce Branagh and Andrew Pollard collaborate and bring their second professional pantomime, Jack & The Beanstalk, to Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield. As expected, theatregoers are welcomed and entertained with popular festive songs and a colourful and glittery stage awaits one for the anticipated performance.

Jack & The Beanstalk is a popular fairy tale – about a poor boy and his widowed mother who depends on their cow, Buttercup, for their income. When the cow no longer produces milk, it is exchanged for magic beans which lead to adventures unknown via a beanstalk. It is certainly a good choice for the tale to be told pantomime style.

A traditional pantomime has something for everyone and this production is no exception. Fortuna (Heather Phoenix) serves as a narrator/fairy and is mentor to Jack (Thomas Cotran) and magically guides him to adventures beyond. Jack is always remembered with his presence of “My name is Jack, sing it back” with the audience’s response, “Jack, Jack, Jack”. Keeping with tradition there is always a dame and Jack’s father, Dame Dorothy Trott (Robin Simpson) make her presence with outrageous costumes and her tongue in cheek manner linking to innuendos and adult references. The audience responds to her “You Wotty” to “Here’s Dotty” when she makes her presence.

There are localised references with “Ey Up!” and a mention of Huddersfield Town football club and of course references to current affairs, politics, celebrities, pop stars, fashions and brands that people can relate to. The script is written well and fits into story with the trimmings of a pantomime and its characters.

Rebekah Hughes, the musical director, arranges effectively the music including popular songs and medleys. A medley of songs from Queen, at the end of the first act, is used appropriately for an important but somewhat risky journey Jack needs to make in order to rescue Jill (Megan Turner) from the perils of Nightshade (James McLean). The singing and dancing are arranged harmoniously by Rachel Gee, the production choreographer, and the colourful costumes and staging, kaleidoscope the story telling and entertaining. Sing- a-longs are strongly encouraged and of course the infamous pantomime lines, “Oh no you’re not”, “Oh yes I am” and Shout Outs are backed with “Brussels sprouts”.

Of course there is always a villain in the pantomime which is courtesy of Nightshade and his entrance is combined with a “Strictly Come Dancing” theme combined with a familiar villainous tune. McLean ensures his character has the maximum spotlight and does this well amid a shout of “Boos”. However the stand out character must be Dame Dorothy Trott and Simpson’s performance is certainly entertaining with hilarity from beginning to end. The cast on the whole are excellent and work so well together.

Like many fairy tales there are happy endings and Jack and the Beanstalk is no different. Certainly a happy ending to a very happy evening. Glitter Pantomimes must take pride with their stunning glittering sets and costumes (including its life size cow and giant) and contributes towards a sparkling evening of festive fun and frolics. An excellent production certainly worth booking to see during the Christmas season.

 

New Diorama Theatre – until 23 December.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Thirty Christmases is a Christmas show without any schmaltz, but full of heart. Rachel and Jonny haven’t spoken for over 10 years, and haven’t had a happy Christmas together since their father disappeared when they were children. But now they are working things out, and rather than pay for therapy, Jonny has decided to hire a theatre and tell their story to strangers.

Jonny Donahoe‘s play with music is warm and wistful, exploring the loneliness of Christmastime without anyone special to celebrate with. Telling the story – with the help of best friend Paddy, who they met in care – about childhood Christmases with their socialist and unconventional father, with interesting songs about Jesus being a Socialist and unique Christmas traditions thrown in, the siblings reveal their nomadic lifestyle and their dad’s chaotic personality before matter-of-factly describing the day dad walked out on them. Donohoe (Jonny & the Baptists) and Rachel Parris bounce off each other as convincing siblings, with Parris’s frustration at Donohoe’s man-child behaviour developing from amusing to heart-breaking. Donohoe’s musical partner Paddy Gervers is ever-present, a looming presence as dad, or cheerfully commenting on his friends’ actions, unable to understand how they could reject each other when he would love to have a family of his own.

Interspersed with songs including Reindeer Sex, Don’t Be a Prick at Christmas, and a fantastic spoof of charity singles, this is definitely not a family show, but it does leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Director Alice Hamilton creates a relaxed and homely feel with the kitchen set, and as the audience enter, volunteers are talked into helping peel potatoes, make paper chains and chat with the cast as they prepare for Christmas. Later in the show, some unlucky people also get to sample some of dad’s interesting variations on Eggnog – not for the fainthearted!

With a strong vein of anti-consumerism, Thirty Christmases focuses on the importance of being together at Christmas, and the impact of homelessness, without preaching or over-sentimentality. Instead what you get is a laugh out loud story with hysterical songs that will see you leave the theatre with a huge grin on your face and a newfound determination to enjoy simply BEING with your loved ones at Christmas – even if they give you socks. Buy them a ticket as an early Christmas present.

Irish ghost stories reveal haunted past in Olivier award-winning play at The Lowry

The Weir
Tue 23 – Sat 27 Jan

Conor McPherson’s Olivier award-winning play The Weir comes to The Lowry Tue 23 – Sat 27 Jan.

Co-produced by English Touring Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester, The Weir is set in a rural Irish pub and watches locals share ghost stories. What starts off as fun and games, turns out to be more chilling than intended. 

The play stars the returning all Irish cast, Louis Dempsey (Finbar), Sean Murray (Jack), John O’Dowd (Jim), Sam O’Mahony (Brendan) and Natalie Radmall-Quirke (Valerie), who toured the UK in 2017.  

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 whisky 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.

In 1997 Conor McPherson’s ‘The Weir’ opened at The Royal Court and took the West End by storm, winning the Olivier Award for Best New Play. Since it has transferred to Broadway and toured all over the world. It is now considered a modern classic and to be ‘one of the best plays of the past century’ (Daily Telegraph).

Conor McPherson is a playwright and screenwriter. He has won several awards including the George Devine Award, Stewart Parker Award and an Olivier Award. His credits for theatre include The Veil (National Theatre), The Dance of Death (Trafalgar Studios), The Night Alive (Donmar Warehouse, Atlantic Theater, New York) and The Girl from the North Country (Old Vic). For film, his credits include The Eclipse and Strangers and his television work includes Paula. He is currently working on the screenplay Double Cross.

Listings

The Weir 
Dates: Tue 23 – Sat 27 Jan
Times: 8pm. Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: £20.50 – £30.50. Concessions £2 off.
Website

Access Listings

Audio Described Performances
Sat 27 Feb, 2.30pm

Captioned Performances
Thu 25 Jan, 8pm

For more information on Access at The Lowry visit the website.

JERSEY BOYS, the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks. Starring Michael Watson as Frankie Valli, Simon Bailey as Tommy De Vito, Declan Egan as Bob Gaudio and Lewis Griffiths as Nick Massi, the show is packed with hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You. 

JERSEY BOYS is the winner of 57 major awards worldwide including Broadway’s Tony, London’s Olivier and Australia’s Helpmann Awards for Best New Musical

The newly announced 2018/19 dates are The Marlowe Canterbury (2 – 13 October 2018), New Victoria Theatre Woking (16 – 27 October 2018), Bristol Hippodrome (30 October – 17 November 2018), Leeds Grand Theatre (20 November – 1 December 2018), New Theatre Oxford (18 December 2018 – 5 January 2019), Wales Millennium Centre (16– 26 January 2019), Palace Theatre Manchester (29 January – 16 February 2019), Edinburgh Playhouse (19 February – 2 March 2019), Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin (5 – 16 March 2019) and Mayflower Theatre Southampton (19 – 30 March 2019).

TOUR SCHEDULE

16 Dec 2017 – 6 Jan 2018 Birmingham New Alexandra 0844 871 3011 www.atgtickets.com/birmingham

10 – 20 January Liverpool Empire 0844 871 3017 www.atgtickets.com/liverpool

23 January – 3 February Milton Keynes Theatre 0844 871 7652 www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

6 – 17 February Stoke Regent Theatre 0844 871 7649 www.atgtickets.com/stoke

20 February – 3 March Hull New Theatre 01482 300 306 www.hulltheatres.co.uk

20 – 31 March Sunderland Empire 0844 871 3022 www.atgtickets.com/sunderland

3 – 14 April Glasgow King’s Theatre 0844 871 7648 www.atgtickets.com/kings-theatre

17 – 28 April Theatre Royal Plymouth 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com

9 – 19 May Nottingham Royal Concert Hall 0115 989 5555 www.trch.co.uk

22 May – 2 June Alhambra Theatre, Bradford 01274 432000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

5 – 16 June Norwich Theatre Royal 01603 630000 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

19 – 30 June Sheffield Lyceum Theatre 0114 249 6000 www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

3 – 14 July Aylesbury Waterside Theatre 0844 871 7607 www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury-waterside-theatre

17 – 28 July Cliffs Pavilion, Southend 01702 351135 www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk

31 July – 11 August Newcastle Theatre Royal 0844 811 2121 www.theatreroyal.co.uk

14 – 25 August His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen 01224 641122 www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

28 August – 8 September Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 01902 42 92 12 www.grandtheatre.co.uk

11 – 22 September Belfast Grand Opera House 028 9024 1919 www.goh.co.uk

2 – 13 October The Marlowe, Canterbury 01227 8787787 www.themarlowetheatre.com

16 – 27 October New Victoria Theatre, Woking 0844 8717645 www.atgtickets.com/new-victoria-theatre On sale soon

30 October – 17 November Bristol Hippodrome 0844 871 3012 www.atgtickets.com/bristol-hippodrome On sale soon

20 November – 1 December Leeds Grand Theatre 0844 848 2700 www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

18 December – 5 January 2019 New Theatre Oxford 0844 871 3020 www.atgtickets.com/new-theatre-oxford On sale soon

16 – 26 January Wales Millennium Centre 029 20636464 www.wmc.org.uk On sale soon

29 January – 16 February Palace Theatre Manchester 0844 871 3019 www.atgtickets.com/palace-theatre-manchester On sale soon

19 February – 2 March Edinburgh Playhouse 0844 871 3014 www.atgtickets.com/edinburgh-playhouse On sale soon

5 – 16 March Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin 0844 847 2455 www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie On sale soon

19 – 30 March Mayflower Theatre Southampton 02380 711811 www.mayflower.org.uk On sale soon

 

NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

This Christmas, Leeds Grand Theatre is set to ‘sparkle and shine’ as Nativity! The Musical runs from Wednesday 20 December to Saturday 6 January 2018.

Based on the smash-hit films, written by Bafta Award-winner, Debbie Isitt, NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL tells the tale of Mr Maddens and his crazy assistant Mr Poppy as they struggle with hilarious children, unruly animals and a whole lot of sparkle and shine to make everyone’s Christmas wish come true.

Featuring songs from the movies, including ‘Sparkle and Shine’, ‘Nazareth’ and ‘One Night One Moment’, NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL promises to be the perfect feel-good comedy for all the family.

Written and Directed by Isitt, with music and lyrics by Nicky Ager and Isitt, NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL stars Daniel Boys (BBC’s Any Dream Will Do, Avenue Q, Grease), Sarah Earnshaw (WICKED, Scrooge, Spamalot) and Simon Lipkin (Avenue Q, Rock of Ages).

Isitt said: “I am absolutely delighted to be working with this incredibly talented and hilariously funny musical theatre cast who are going to be brilliant in Nativity! The Musical.  It truly will be an emotionally soaring, feel good experience with beautiful singing and amazing choreography.”

The NATIVITY! film series is one of the most popular UK Christmas film franchises of recent years. Produced by Nick Jones through Mirrorball Films and distributed in the UK by eOne, NATIVITY!, NATIVITY 2 DANGER IN THE MANGER! and NATIVITY 3 DUDE WHERE’S MY DONKEY?! have all gone on to reach top box office positions on theatrical release and sold nearly two million DVDs, capturing the hearts and minds of families all over the UK.

NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Wednesday 20 December 2017 to Saturday 6 January 2018

Tickets are on sale now priced at £20.50 (RV) to £46

(prices include a £3 booking fee. Postage charge £1 where applicable)

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

ACTING FOR OTHERS ANNOUNCE OVER £150,000 HAS BEEN RAISED AT THIS YEAR’S ONE NIGHT ONLY AT THE IVY

 

Theatrical charity Acting for Others announces that over £150,000 has been raised at this year’s One Night Only at The Ivy – setting the record for the highest amount raised from this event. Stars of the stage and screen swapped their costumes for aprons and served diners across two sittings at The Ivy, world-renowned for their unfaltering impeccable service. Heading up the waiting staff this year to ply their trades in bartending, waiting tables, manning cloakrooms and welcoming guests were Noma Dumezweni, Arlene Phillips and Freddie Fox. They were joined by Annette Badland, Samantha Bond, Janie Dee, Neil Dudgeon,Celia Imrie, Cassidy Janson, George Layton, Tamzin Outhwaite, Jemma Redgrave, Anne Reid, Joanna Riding,Neil Stuke, Owen Teale, Kate Thornton, Stephen Tompkinson, Hannah Waddingham and Giles Watling MP.

Sir Derek Jacobi and Dame Maggie Smith were also in attendance hosting the Dame and Knights table with Anne Reid and Richard Clifford as their guests.

The two dinner services, Acts I and II, started at 6pm and 8.45pm and with identical auctions taking place after dinner. The enviable prizes including, dinner at The Ivy’s restaurants every month for a year and VIP Olivier Award tickets, with the walk-on part in Les Miserables prize going for the highest amount at £22,000.

Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, Chairman of Acting for Others also said, “Huge thanks to all the actors who gave the performances of their lives, and to the guests at two sold-out sittings at The Ivy, and to all the donors and bidders for the wonderful auction prizes on Sunday evening.  Together they helped Acting For Others to raise really worthwhile funds for all theatre-workers in need.”

Director of The Ivy, Fernando Peire said “The Ivy’s centenary has seen much celebration and many special events over the past 12 months. The evenings dinner, served by our friends in the acting community has been the icing on the cake for us. We are extremely proud to have raised over £150,000 – the most we have ever raised, for Acting for Others.”

HOXTON HALL ANNOUNCE FULL CAST FOR WORLD PREMIÈRE OF ALL-FEMALE MUSICAL

ORANGES AND ELEPHANTS

OPENING THE SPRING SEASON: FEMALE PARTS

 

Lil Warren and Hoxton Hall present

The world première of

Oranges and Elephants

Book and Lyrics by Lil Warren

Music by Jo Collins

Director: Susie McKenna; Music Director: Jo Collins; Movement Director: Abigail Rosser

Designer: Sara Perks; Lighting Design: Johanna Town; Sound Designer: Yvonne Gilbert

Costume Supervisor: Sarah Mercade

23 January – 10 February 2018

Karena Johnson, Artistic Director of Hoxton Hall, today announces full cast for the world première of Oranges and Elephants, the first production in the venue’s all-female spring season Female Parts. The musical centres on two rival female gangs in Victorian London blending Music Hall, Fairground and Musical Theatre storytelling. Susie McKenna directs a cast of actor-musicians: Kate Adams (Flo), Rebecca Bainbridge (Ada), Susannah van den Berg (Chair), Rosalind Ford (Nora), Liz Kitchen (Annie), Natasha Lewis (Violet), Sinead Long (Mary), Kate Marlais (Maggie), Christina Tedders (Nellie) and Sarah J Warren (Minnie). The production opens on the Thursday 25 January, with previews from Tuesday 23 January, and runs until Saturday 10 February.

The narrative follows Mary’s arrival in London and her introduction to gang life. How will she make her life expectancy of twenty-five when the two gangs are after owning her? Mary wants to be a Music Hall star. Nellie of The Elephants falls in love with Mary and they try to escape from thievery to the bright lights of Piccadilly. Are the gangs going to allow that to play out?

This is a story of how important your wits are to survive if you are a poor woman in Victorian London. How you play the fame game set against a backdrop of a West End pickpocket turf war and an enormous divide between the rich and poor. “Same ol gravy, different flavour.”

Lil Warren is from the East End and has been creating for live performance in London and beyond for over twenty years. Including surviving as a stand up in Glasgow. Her credits include Nine Lives, Ten Tales, Blackout(Soho Theatre), Lost Souls and Lunatics, Strange The Road (The Hope Theatre) and a promenade production of The Changeling. She is currently working on a new play about the Miss World Competition and in post-production of the forthcoming feature film adaptation of Strange The Road directed by her brother, James Warren.

Kate Adams plays Flo. Previous credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (York Theatre Royal), Thieves’ Carnival (The Watermill Theatre), Cider With Rosie (New Vic Theatre), A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, Stamping, Shouting and Singing Home (Nuffield Southampton Theatres), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Salty Socks of Dunkirk and Alice in Wonderland (Royal & Derngate Northampton), James and the Giant Peach and The Wind in the Willows (Mercury Theatre Colchester). She is currently studying for a Masters in Music in Development at SOAS University of London.

Rebecca Bainbridge plays Ada. Her theatre credits include The Terrible Infants (Wilton’s Music Hall), Grimm Tales for Young and Old (The Ditch), Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales, Novello Theatre), Partners in Crime(Queen’s Theatre), Alice’s Adventures Underground (The Vaults), The Vaudevillians (The Lowry, Charing Cross Theatre), The Goodbye Girl (Gatehouse), Our House (New Wolsey Theatre, UK tour), One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Curve), Cabaret (Lyric Theatre), Hi De Hi!, Tonight’s the Night (UK tour), Jailhouse Rock(Piccadilly Theatre), The Rocky Horror Show (European tour) and Buddy (UK and European tour).

Susannah van den Berg plays Chair. Theatre credit includes Alice in Winterland (Rose Theatre Kingston), Sister Act (UK and international tour), Diana of Dobson’s (New Vic Theatre), I Love Paris (Orange Tree Theatre), Can’t Buy Me Love, A Man of No Importance (Salisbury Playhouse), Business as Usual (Everyman Theatre), Sweeney Todd (English National Opera), The Sound of Music (Curve) and Man of La Mancha (Royal Lyceum Theatre).

Rosalind Ford plays Nora. Theatre credits include Mother Courage and Her Children (Southwark Playhouse), These Trees are Made of Blood (Arcola Theatre), Vampire Hospital Waiting Room, Apocalypse Cruise Ship Love Affair (Gilded Balloon, Above The Arts), Sard Traven and Boostak are Dead, The Fear (Theatre N16), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh), Rent (Churchill Theatre, Edinburgh), The Drowsy Chaperone and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Edinburgh Festival Fringe).

Liz Kitchen plays Annie. As an actor her credits include Fiddler on the Roof and Sister Act (UK tour). As a Musician/Musical Director her credits include They Shoot Horses Don’t They? (Contact Theatre), M. Butterfly(West End), Blood Brothers (Liverpool Playhouse, Phoenix Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Liverpool Playhouse), A Christmas Carol (Young Vic), Rocky Horror Show (German tour), The Hound of the Baskervilles (Battersea Arts Centre) and A Winter’s Tale (RSC).

Natasha Lewis plays Violet. Her credits include Peter Pan In Scarlet (New Vic Theatre, Oxford Playhouse), Corbyn The Musical: The Motorcycle Diaries (Waterloo East Theatre), The Insatiable, Inflatable Candylion (National Theatre Wales), The Life of Galileo, Promises and Lies, The BFG (Birmingham Rep), Little Shop of Horrors, Rope and Dear Brutus (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), The Firework Maker’s Daughter (Bloomsbury Theatre), The Threepenny Opera (National Theatre, UK tour), Tommy, Our House – The Madness Musical, The Jungle Book, Britain’s Got Bhangra, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, South Pacific (UK tour), The Vagina Monologues (Royal Festival Hall), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (New Wolsey Theatre), Charmin’ (Greenwich Theatre, Soho Theatre, National Theatre Studio), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Baiju Bawra (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and Emancipation Day (Soho Theatre, Theatre Royal Stratford East). Film credits include Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Sinead Long plays Mary. Her theatre credits include Cinderella (Hackney Empire), Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Peter Pan (Gordon Craig Theatre), Bad Girls (Union Theatre), Tonight’s The Night (UK tour) and Legally Blonde (UK tour).

Kate Marlais plays Maggie. Theatre credits include War Horse (New London Theatre), The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Stig of the Dump,  As You Like It (Storyhouse Open Air Theatre, Chester), The Human Comedy (Young Vic), The Busy Body (Southwark Playhouse), The Immortal Hour (Finborough Theatre), In The Can(Theatre503), Extra Yarn, Unsung (Orange Tree Theatre), The Great Gatsby (Riverside Studios), Tactical Questioning (Tricycle Theatre), In Touch (Trafalgar Studios), My Fair Lady, Anything Goes (Cambridge Arts Theatre) and The Turn of the Screw (Royal & Derngate Northampton, UK tour). Kate was recently Music Assistant to Karl Hyde (Underworld) and Matthew Herbert on Frantic Assembly’s FATHERLAND by Scott Graham, Simon Stephens & Karl Hyde (Frantic Assembly/Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester/Manchester International Festival). As a composer she won the S&S Award 2015 for Here created in conjunction with Curve and Mercury Musical Developments.

Christina Tedders plays Nellie.  Her theatre credits include Once the Musical (Phoenix Theatre), A Little Night Music (The Watermill Theatre), The Commitments (UK tour), Calamity Jane (The Watermill Theatre, UK tour) and Putting It Together (Belfast Lyric Theatre).

Sarah J Warren returns to Hoxton Hall to play Minnie having previously appeared in Round Our Way. Her theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Restoration Wyfe (Hoxton Hall), The Changeling, Pulse (New Wolsey Theatre), Blackout (Soho Theatre, Hoxton Hall), Woeful Puppet, Farewell To Horatio, The Good Person of Szechwan, Twelfth Night, (UK tour), and Romeo and Juliet (The Nave). Clowning and Puppeteering credits include C-C-Control (Almeida Theatre), Treasure Island (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Why?(Battersea Arts Centre) and Jack’s Story (UK tour). She is also Artistic Director of the inclusive arts company 09 Lives.

Susie McKenna directs. She is currently Creative Executive Producer at Hackney Empire with the remit to develop new musical theatre for the venue – having left her role as Creative Director in January 2017. Her credits for Hackney Empire include Cinderella, Rudy’s Rare Records, Blues in the Night, Beau Jest, Sit and Shiver, Kat and Tameka Show, La Variété, Sing Out , Alter Ego, Once on this Island and Ha Ha Hackney. Other credits include A Midsummer Night’s Madness (National Black Theatre of Harlem, Hackney Empire Edinburgh Festival), A Christmas Carol (Arts Theatre London) and The Silver Sword (Coventry Belgrade Theatre, UK tour). Acting credits for theatre include Cats (Ambassadors Theatre), Ragtime (Piccadilly Theatre), Chicago(Cambridge Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Hair, The Rocky Horror Show, Jesus Christ Superstar and In The Midnight Hour (UK tour). For film her credits include Jack and Sarah.

 

Listings Hoxton Hall

130 Hoxton Street, London N1 6SH

www.hoxtonhall.co.uk

Twitter: @HoxtonHall

Facebook: /HoxtonHallTheatre

Instagram: hoxtonhall

 

Box Office:                          020 7684 0060

Monday – Friday, 12pm-6pm for advance sales and inquiries

Tickets for all shows are available to collect from the box office from one hour before the performance.

Concessions and group rates available, please contact the box office for more information.

SEASON AT A GLANCE

Hoxton Hall presents

ORANGES AND ELEPHANTS

Theatre

23 January – 10 February 2018

Press night:  25 January, 7.30pm

Jumoke Fashola present

JAZZ VERSE JUKEBOX

Theatre

16 February & 9 March 2018

The Swing Time Dance Company present

SPRING SWING

Theatre

17 February 2018

Tonic Theatre present

TONIC CELEBRATES

Theatre

21 February 2018

Funny Women present

FUNNY WOMEN AWARDS: LONDON REGIONAL FINAL

Theatre

22 – 23 February 2018

Funny Women present

FUNNY WOMEN (WORKSHOP)

May Scott Studio

24 February 2018

Hoxton Hall and Jesus Paolini Park present

MS PAOLINI’S PHANTASMAGORIA CABARET

Theatre

24 February 2018

 

Upfront Comedy

DESIREE BURCH: UNF*CKABLE

Theatre

2 March 2018

Vintage Misfits present

ORGANIC NUBIANS CLUB NIGHT

Theatre

3 March 2018

Hoxton Hall present

WOMAN-ISH

Theatre

8 March 2018

 

Hoxton Hall present

FEMALE PART SHORTS: THE WOMAN ALONE

Palmer Room

13 March – 31 March 2018

Female Part Shorts press night:  15 March 2018, 7.30pm

 

Hoxton Hall present

FEMALE PART SHORTS: THE IMMIGRANT

Theatre

13 March – 31 March 2018

Female Part Shorts press night:  15 March 2018, 7.30pm

Hoxton Hall present

FEMALE PART SHORTS: A MOTHER

Theatre

13 March – 31 March 2018

Female Part Shorts press night:  15 March 2018, 7.30pm

Park Theatre – until 13 January.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

Jolly japes abound in this fantastic production of Denise Deegan’s uplifting and joyful comedy.

It’s the 25th anniversary of Grangewood School for Girls, and the Upper Fourth have been chosen to present their play (in two acts) Daisy Pulls It Off. Whether you grew up voraciously reading stories about schoolgirl scrapes at boarding schools or not, this play is perfect festive entertainment.

The plot, about scholarship girl Daisy’s efforts to fit in, despite the sneaky snobbery and spite of some classmates, is as daft as a brush, and could be straight out of an Enid Blyton book. As well as the social snobbery, there’s the plucky best pal, the school toady, a mysterious Russian teacher in cahoots with the school gardener, and a treasure hidden in the school grounds. The social and gender politics of the characters are lampooned mercilessly, but with a light touch, and the cast’s silent reactions to Daisy’s final speech about equality in education are a joy to behold.

With the cast playing schoolgirls acting in a play, the comedy acting is broad, but sweet, with an air of enthusiastic innocence that evokes the pressure cooker feeling of every school play you’ve ever seen. Anna Schaffer’s stage debut as Daisy is a triumph, surrounded by a cast like this, she must be having a ball. Pauline McLynn as best friend Trixie is a hoot – full of dramatic poses and exquisitely performed overacting. Melanie Fullbrook and Lucy Eaton are hysterical in their multi-accented roles – with Eaton’s insane intonation as Miss Gibson never failing to cause huge laughs. Freddie Hutchins as Head of English playing Belinda and Mr Scoblowski is terrifyingly energetic – especially in the hockey match – nailing the frustrated acting ambition of the teacher. Shobna Gulati’s cut glass vowels as sneaky Sybil must be heard to be believed, and Clare Perkins steals every scene as toady Monica with her often-wordless reactions to proceedings, and when she comes on as Mr Thompson… words fail me! Just brilliant.

Paulette Randall’s clever direction means that this is the most professionally shambolic production you’ll ever see, with the dramatic and rib-tickling cliff rescue set piece garnering huge applause. Libby Watson’s simple but glorious set – everything drawn in chalk on blackboards – adding to the school production atmosphere.

Daisy Pulls It is fantastic family fun – a wonderful Christmas treat that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Piccadilly Theatre – 5 December, 23 January, 13 February.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Mr Darcy would be horrified at such impropriety – the private affairs of a Regency family lampooned for all to see in the heart of London’s West End. Austentatious is a fantastically irreverent, improvised take on the social etiquette of Regency England, continuing Jane Austen’s original ironic commentaries.

The conceit of presenting Austen’s hundreds of lost novels is a treasure trove of inspiration for the company, with each audience coming up with new ideas that are briefly explored – alas, Lord Picklewick’s Dirty Secret could not be performed because of a super injunction. Past productions have included The Sixth Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Shark and Double 0 Darcy.

The novel I saw performed was We Need To Talk About Emma – a tale of an enigmatic lady with a mysterious and possibly shameful past whose connection with the “death” of Mrs Forsyth halts her romance with Gerald Forsyth.

The cast of six stick to Austen conventions, throwing in the odd curveball – seemingly for the sole purpose of making their fellow actors corpse – and developing a heap of running jokes. Calling the family Forsyth leads to all sorts of Brucie and Strictly gags – they even threw in a conveyor belt at one stage!

The cast are obviously having as much fun as the audience, belly laughs and groans being a constant soundtrack to the evening. There are some ideas that don’t work, but the cast are quick to pounce on these and ridicule them with glee. Accompanied by onstage musicians who never miss a cue to change musical style or tempo, the whole production is a triumph of wit and wits. Grab your ticket for Austentatious’ next show today.

Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester – until 27 January 2018.  Reviewed by Marcus Richardson

4****

Guy and Dolls at the Royal Exchange is the first ever all black cast of the show in the UK. With the show being a famous musical about love and gambling, it has its high reputation in the theatre world. This was my first time at the Royal Exchange and I was impressed with the unique layout of the venue.

The cast of 21 put on a show that gave us standard you would expect for a show of this calibre. Being performed in the round gave this a whole new dynamic to the show that opens up so many possibilities.  When performing in the round sometimes you lose a little bit of action but the actors knew how to work the stage and gave the audience a show and a half.

It would be hard to review a musical without mentioning singing and dancing, the whole cast took the music of the show at made it something I enjoyed very music, and the song Sit down, you’re rocking the boat earned an applause that last a good 30 seconds. The dancing was well timed and the attention to detail was impeccable. Although it’s the first black cast, it never once felt like that was niche of the production, the actors suited the role and with the the influence of the Harlem Renaissance it fitted the time very well.

The set involved a revolving segment of the stage which was used very well and made scene changes effective and happen while action is going on stage. When entering the the theatre space I was blown back by the set and how it fitted so well in a round. With a corner shop taking up part of the stage. The cast worked on most scene changes and nothing was done that didn’t needed to be done. Seamless and effective sums up the stage which compliments and helps the actors.

The show is something I would see again, it’s a feel good show with a happy ending. If you are into musicals then I’m sure you will love this. It’s good to see such a fabulous cast perform at such a high level.