Month: March 2018

Aegis Productions in association with Park Theatre presents

SCHISM

A play based on the real encounter of leading disabled playwright, Athena Stevens

 

16 May – 09 Jun 2018 | Park Theatre

 

“I never wanted to change, in case you didn’t like it.”

 

 

Aegis Productions in association with Park Theatre are proud to present Schism, a stunning play from disabled playwright, Athena Stevens. Questioning the power dynamics between male and female, and disabled and non-disabled, at its heart Schism is a play about two people finding each other, which questions the point where dreams and relationships become unrealistic or out of date. 

 

Failed architect Harrison had plans end his life. The last thing he needed was Katherine, a young student with cerebral palsy, breaking into his house begging for his help…

 

As their chaotic first encounter turns into the beginning of a twenty-year relationship, the unlikely couple grow to realise that they are capable of either building something great together – or absolutely destroying each other.

 

Schism, which was first performed at the Finborough Theatre, London (Neil McPherson, Artistic Director) is written and co-performed by playwright Athena Stevens, who, like her character, has cerebral palsy.

Athena comments:

“Schism took me years to write because I needed to understand the unhealthy power dynamics I was being asked to accept as a woman. People would set me up on a pedestal and call me ‘inspirational’ until I would ask to be their equal. To have a woman with a disability call you out for discrimination, or promoting an unhealthy power dynamic, or to say ‘your actions are hurting me’ throws a lot of people into shock. They get defensive and start gas-lighting because it’s easier to brush things under the rug than to take responsibility for their actions. So the question that this play presents is ‘how long do I hold onto the hope people will change and when do I need to let go and live my life without those people?”

Athena’s previous plays include The Amazing Vancetti Sisters (Tristan Bates Theatre) and Detours Ahead(Victory Gardens Theatre, Chicago). Her first online series Day of Small Things was commissioned as a full length documentary by Channel 4.  Athena is currently on the Channel 4 screenwriters course, as well as a playwright in attachment for the Finborough Theatre. Athena’s acting credits include Schism (Finborough Theatre), The Amazing Vancetti Sisters (Tristan Bates Theatre) and The Death of Hector (Sadler’s Wells).  In 2016, she was elected the national spokesperson for equality in the media for the Women’s Equality Party. In 2017, she was named a member of the Shakespeare’s Globe Creative Council, and will be directing there later in the year.

Jonathan McGuinness will be playing the role of Harrison. Theatre includes Bodies (Royal Court Theatre), Imogen (Globe Theatre), Four Minutes Twelve Seconds (Hampstead Theatre), The Oresteia (Almeida), Love’s Sacrifice (RSC), The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas (Royal Court Theatre), Metamorphosis (Vesturpost/Lyric Hammersmith), Comedy of Errors (RSC), The Tempest (RSC), Twelth Night (RSC), Fatherland(Gate Theatre), Alice (Sheffield Crucible Theatre), 1984 (Manchester Royal Exchange), Orphans (Paines Plough/Traverse/Birmingham Rep/Soho Theatre), The Cleansing of Constance Brown (Stand’s Cafe), Love (Lyric Hammersmith), Once in a Lifetime (National Theatre), Playing with Fire (National Theatre) and The U. N Inspector (National Theatre). Television includes Holby City (BBC), Wolf Hall (Company Pictures), The Bletchley Circle (ITV), Silk (BBC), Casualty (BBC), Robin Hood (BBC), Catherine Tate Show (BBC/Tiger Aspect), A Touch of Frost (Yorkshire Television), In Search of the Brontes (BBC), The Convicts (BBC) and Have Your Cake and Eat It (Talk Back).

Schism is directed by Lily McLeish. She is a creative fellow of the RSC, associate director to Katie Mitchell and is the director of Fizzy Sherbet, a new writing initiative for women playwrights. As director her work includes The White Bike by Tamara von Werthern at The Space; Unlocked, a site specific installation for Glenside Hospital Museum in collaboration with alldaybreakfast; a colder water than here by Matt Jones for the Vaults Festival; Housekeeping by Rory Platt for Little Pieces of Gold at Southwark Playhouse; Absence by In-Sook Chappell directed as part of the Jerwood Assistant Director Programme at the Young Vic (2016); This Despised Love a devised piece based on Hamlet for the RSC Fringe Festival; Old Times by Harold Pinter at the Artheater Cologne and Footfalls by Samuel Beckett at the Severins-Burg-Theater, Cologne in collaboration with Port in Air.

• FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT ROAD TO THE OLIVIERS ANNOUNCED; AN UNPRECEDENTED NEW, FOUR-PART SERIES CELEBRATING THIS YEAR’S OLIVIER AWARD NOMINEES
• BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT WINNER JAMIE LAMBERT, OF BAND COLLABRO, TO HOST THE FIRST EPISODE LIVE ON FRIDAY 16 MARCH ON THE OLIVIER AWARDS FACEBOOK PAGE AT 1PM
• STUDIO GUESTS TO INCLUDE: OLIVIER AWARD NOMINEES DERREN BROWN; JOHN MCCREA AND JOSIE WALKER FROM NEW BRITISH MUSICAL EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE; THE STAGE EDITOR, ALISTAIR SMITH; AND BE INSPIRED CHAMPION, WILLY MUKENDI
• EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE TO PREMIERE INCLUDING BACKSTAGE FILMS WITH THE FERRYMAN COMPANY AND BEST ACTRESS NOMINEE FOR LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, LESLEY MANVILLE

The Olivier Awards with Mastercard is delighted to announce further details about Road to the Oliviers, an unprecedented new four-part series celebrating this year’s nominations.

Britain’s Got Talent winner Jamie Lambert, of Collabro, will host the first episode on Friday 16 March at 1pm on the Olivier Awards Facebook page.  Studio guests will include Olivier Award nominees, Derren Brown, whose show Underground is nominated for Best Entertainment and Family show; John McCrea and Josie Walker from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie who are nominated for Best Actor and Actress in a Musical; The Stage Editor, Alistair Smith; and Willy Mukendi, an Olivier Award Be Inspired champion.  This episode will also feature exclusive backstage footage of the most nominated new play, The Ferryman, and Best Actress for Long Day’s Journey Into Night nominee, Lesley Manville.

Details of the other Road to the Oliviers episodes will be announced in due course via officiallondontheatre.com and the Olivier Awards social channels.

The Olivier Awards are also delighted to announce Taittinger as their Champagne partner.

Catherine Tate will host the Awards at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 8 April and they will be broadcast to the UK and worldwide.  Full broadcast details will be announced at a later date.

Mastercard continues its partnership with Society of London Theatre and its headline sponsorship of the Olivier Awards, bringing cardholders with a passion for theatre closer to the genre they love.

LISTING INFO

FACEBOOK LIVE BROADCASTS

DATE: 16th March

TIME: 1pm

EVENT: First Road to the Oliviers, an unprecedented and intimate look at the nominees with live performances, exclusive footage and interviews

DATE: 23rd March

TIME: 1pm

EVENT: Road to the Oliviers, an unprecedented and intimate look at the nominees with live performances, exclusive footage and interviews

DATE: 29th March

TIME: 1pm

EVENT: Road to the Oliviers, an unprecedented and intimate look at the nominees with live performances, exclusive footage and interviews

DATE: 6th April

TIME: 1pm

EVENT: Road to the Oliviers, an unprecedented and intimate look at the nominees with live performances, exclusive footage, interviews and a preview for Sunday 8th April awards ceremony

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL TOUR HEADING TO MANCHESTER in 2019

Motown the Musical will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour which will be heading to Manchester Opera House from Tuesday 26 February – Saturday 23 March 2019.

The London production of Motown the Musical continues to play to standing ovations at the Shaftesbury Theatre where it is about to enter its third year and is currently booking until 5 January 2019.

With music and lyrics from the Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, Charles Randolph-Wright’s production features a live orchestra playing 50 Motown tracks including Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There, Dancing In The Street, Stop! In The Name Of Love, My Girl and I Heard It through the Grapevine and tells the story behind the classic hits.

Berry Gordy said today, “The UK has always been the gateway for Motown to the rest of the world.  While the west end production still continues to perform to great audiences, I’m thrilled that we are taking a second production of Motown the Musical to the rest of the UK.”

Sheena Wrigley, Theatre Director at the Palace Theatre and Opera House Manchester said, “We’re absolutely thrilled that Motown the Musical is coming to Manchester and we look forward to sharing this incredible, high quality production with our audiences in the city. The city has strong roots in the appreciation of Motown, and the Northern Soul movement that it influenced, so it’s fitting that this glittering musical is going to be back in the city’s spotlight.”

 

With just $800 borrowed from his family, Motown founder Berry Gordy, goes from featherweight boxer to heavyweight music mogul, discovering and launching the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many more.  Motown the Musical uncovers the true story of the legendary record label that changed music history and created the soundtrack of a generation.

Tony nominated Motown the Musical received its world premiere in April 2013 in New York and recouped its $18 million investment by the end of 2014.  The first US National Tour opened to critical acclaim in Spring 2014 in Chicago, grossing $20 million dollars during its standing room only sixteen-week run, and continues to play to packed houses across America.

Motown the Musical has music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Ethan Popp, co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Cook, dance arrangements by Zane Mark.  Choreography is by Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams, scenic design by David Korins, costumes by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design  by Peter Hylenski, video by Daniel Brodie and Wig design by Charles Lapointe. Motown the Musical is produced in the UK by Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris, Adam Spiegel and Berry Gordy.

Berry Gordy is the founder of Motown, the enterprise that nurtured the careers of, amongst others, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, ​Diana Ross and The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Four Tops, ​Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 and more​. Gordy is also a songwriter, producer, director, boxer, innovative entrepreneur, teacher and visionary.  Actively involved in the Civil Rights movement, he also released the recorded speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  His films include Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues, which received five Academy Award nominations. He has been inducted ​into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, received ​a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, the Rhythm and Blues Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Pioneer Award, the Grammy Salute To Industry Icon’s President’s Merit Award and was honoured by President Barack Obama with a Salute to Motown evening at the White House. Berry Gordy’s unparalleled contribution to music and popular culture is chronicled in his autobiography, To Be Loved: The Music, The Magic, The Memories of Motown.

The original Broadway cast recording of Motown the Musical is available via Motown Records, a label of UMG Recordings – www.classicmotown.com

Tickets go on general sale on Friday 16^th March – visit atgtickets.com/Manchester   

York Grand Opera House – 14 March 2018

5*****

From an idea thought up by performer Scott Garnham, The Barricade Boys visited York on its first UK tour.  Made up of 4 male performers who have appeared in Les Miserables it is a huge pot to pick from but were treated to the amazing vocals of Garnham, Sam Edwards, Lee Honey-Jones and Simon Schofield in York.

Obviously there were a lot of songs from Les Mis, starting the show with I Dreamed A Dream and an emotionally charged version of Bring Him Home dedicated to the troops serving overseas. When my husband was in the forces that song in particular was my daily chant so the tears were already rolling from the beautiful voices without the dedication too.  We were also treated to a swing jazz version of Master of the House which seemed an audience favourite.

But the boys have appeared in other shows and we got hear Edwards version of Dancing Through Life from when he was Fiyero in Wicked and Schofield sang Close Every Door from Joseph with children from Kirkham Henry Performing Arts Centre where Garnham once attended.  One of the many highlights was Garnhams stunning version of Evermore from Beauty and the Beast and quite possibly the best version of Bohemian Rhapsody by the foursome that I have ever heard.

With dips into Motown, Jersey Boys, Michael Jackson the Beatles and a tribute to Nile Rodgers this show covers all musical genres and tastes thanks to Musical Director James Doughty and his musical arrangements.  And a solo by local girl Lauren Hood who stars in the female equivalent of Gravity Girls – three female performers who have all appeared in Wicked

The Barricade Boys is night of fun and the boys seem to be having a genuinely good time on stage with quips, adlibs and banter as well as velvet voices and choreography as sharp as their suits.  I have yet to see a show by Schofield which wasn’t fantastic, he clearly has the golden touch when it comes to producing shows and for me his name is fast becoming synonymous with high quality entertainment.  This is their first UK tour and I can only hope there will be another one as I can’t wait to see them again

Palace Theatre, Manchester – until Saturday 17 March.  Reviewed by Marcus Richardson

4****

The Sound Of Music is a musical loved by generations, with songs that everyone knows and enjoys to sing along to. The film starring Julie Andrews, is an instant classic and is a work of art. Set in Austria and just before the German invasion, the play focuses on Maria Rainer a woman planning on becoming a nun but she has trouble not being able to stop singing and being late, she is the sent to work as a governess for the seven Trapp children.

The musical had a talented cast with all of the nuns and children giving superb performances. Lucy O’Byrne who played Maria was a delight watch giving the fun and loving character that charms the audience just as much as she charms the children, her vocals are suited for the character being soft and kind but also making sure she’s heard. The male lead of the show Captain Von Trapp was played by Neil McDermott, the headstrong and stubborn character may seem hard to like at first but McDermott gave the character a realistic and lovable quality that we learned to respect his authority but love his authenticity. The Mother Abbess played by Megan Llewellyn had vocals that shocked the audience with her powerful voice that stunned the audience and made everyone talking away during the interval about how she sang. I have to bring it back to the seven Trapp children because the child acting was so good, none of them were out of place and the vocals were something to listen out for. The set was spectacular and we are given these beautiful stained glass windows and beautiful staircases, in different scenes the quick to change set, there was one point where the scene change took too long and you could see that backstage didn’t have enough time and as soon as part of the stage was revealed you could see some of the magic behind the curtain, but this wasn’t too much of an issues considering how epic the set was. The live orchestra played beautifully to the voices and made sure everything happened in time adding to the immersion of the play.

I took my friend who said The Sound Of Music was her favourite musical of all time and it was her dream to see it on stage, she said the stage production lived up to the film and she even cried at points in the show, if that doesn’t sell you I don’t know what will. I also loved the show that has got too many songs stuck in my head now. The show is at the Manchester palace until the 17th

NEW CAST AND NEW TICKETS FOR WEST END PRODUCTION OF

H A R R Y   P O T T E R   A N D   T H E   C U R S E D   C H I L D

PARTS ONE AND TWO

WWW.HARRYPOTTERTHEPLAY.COM

 

Rehearsals began this week for the third West End cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Childwho will start their performances at the Palace Theatre in London on 23 May 2018 following the final performance from the current cast on 20 May 2018.  

 

Joining the company are Jamie Ballard who will play Harry Potter, Susie Trayling as Ginny Potter and Joe Idris-Roberts as their son Albus Potter.  Jonathan Case joins to play Scorpius Malfoy.  Thomas Aldridge continues as Ron Weasley as well as Rakie Ayola as Hermione Granger and Helen Aluko as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley.  James Howard also continues as Draco Malfoy.

 

They are joined by cast members Rosemary Annabella, David Annen, Jordan Bamford, Emma Bown, Adrian Christopher, Craig Connolly, Danny Dalton, Leah Haile, April Hughes, Martin Johnston, Gareth Kennerley, Susan Lawson-Reynolds, Ryan J Mackay, David Mara, Dylan Mason, Barry McCarthy, Sandy McDade, James McGregor, Annette McLaughlin, Tom Peters, James Phoon, Eve Ponsonby, Kate Russell-Smith, Sinéad Sharkey, Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn, Mark Theodore and Joshua Wyatt complete the 42-strong company playing a variety of characters, including seven children who will alternate two roles.  

 

In addition Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender today announce that on 5 April 2018 at 11am BST they will release a further allocation of tickets for sale for performances from 16 January 2019 – 7 April 2019.  Tickets are priced from £15 per part and for every performance there are over 300 tickets at £20 or less per part. Details of any other ticket releases will continue to be listed on the official website, social media channels and the official newsletter.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage.  The critically acclaimed production received its world premiere in June 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London.  Subsequently Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has won twenty-four major theatre awards including the Evening Standard Best Play Award as well as a record-breaking nine Oliver Awards – including Best New Play and Best Director – the most awarded play in the history of the Oliviers.  The Broadway production will begin previews at the Lyric Theatre later this week on 16 March 2018 and in early 2019 the Australian production will open at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.  While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted.  As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany with movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison, music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe and casting by Julia Horan CDG.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is one play presented in two parts.  Both parts are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening) or on two consecutive evenings.  On Thursdays there is an evening performance of Part One and on Fridays an evening performance of Part Two. On those days tickets to each part can be bought together or separately.  Tickets for Wednesday matinee and Wednesday evening performances can also be bought together or separately.

The regular performance schedule is as follows – Monday – no performance, Tuesday – no performance, Wednesday – 2pm Part One & 7.30pm Part Two, Thursday – 7.30pm Part One, Friday – 7.30pm Part Two, Saturday – 2pm Part One & 7.30pm Part Two, Sunday – 1pm Part One & 6.30pm Part Two.

Every Friday, The Friday Forty takes place at 1pm when 40 tickets are released for every performance the following week for some of the very best seats in the theatre.  Subsequent ticket releases take place each Friday for performances the following week.  Priced at £40 (£20 per part) tickets will secure a seat for

both Part One and Part Two on consecutive performances.  Customers will be selected at random for the opportunity to buy tickets online and will be able to purchase a maximum of two tickets for both Part One and Part Two in one transaction.  To ensure that as many people as possible have the chance to access these tickets, they will only be available to buy onlinewww.harrypottertheplay.com/ticket-information

For patrons with physical access needs and enquires regarding access performances call 0330 333 4410 (please note there are no general ticket sales on this number) or email [email protected]

Returned and other late-release tickets may also become available at short notice. These are not guaranteed, but any tickets that do become available will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis, online or in person at the Palace Theatre box office at full price.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

 

Box Office – 0343 208 0500

www.HarryPotterthePlay.com

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www.pottermore.com

The Plough and the Stars

 

Previews from Thursday 15 March

Lyric Hammersmith

Following a sell-out season at the Abbey Theatre as part of the 100^th anniversary celebrations of the 1916 Easter Rising, as well as a successful Irish and US tour, The Plough and the Stars comes to the Lyric Hammersmith as a co-production with the Abbey Theatre.

Set amid the tumult of the Easter Rising, The Plough and the Stars is the story of ordinary lives ripped apart by the idealism of the time. The residents of a Dublin tenement shelter from the violence that sweeps through the city’s streets. A revolution that will shape the country’s future rages around them. What kind of Ireland awaits them?

This is a dynamic re-imagining: loyal to the spirit of O’Casey’s play whilst unleashing contemporary resonances for a modern audience.

www.lyric.co.uk | 020 8741 6850

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED

 ST PETERSBURG BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS

 

SWAN LAKE

LONDON COLISEUM

Wednesday 22^nd – Sunday 26^th August

 

The internationally acclaimed St Petersburg Ballet Theatre are set to make a welcome return to the London Coliseum this summer, with their full-length classic production of Swan Lake. The Company’s 2015 season was a total sell out with over 25,000 seats sold. The 2018 season is strictly limited and takes place between Wednesday 22^nd – Sunday 26^th August.

Arguably the world’s most loved ballet, Swan Lake tells the immortal classic love story of Prince Siegfried and Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. St Petersburg Ballet Theatre will perform this balletic masterpiece as it was meant to be seen, boasting gorgeous traditionally painted backdrops, Tchaikovsky’s moving score, a full-sized orchestra and critically acclaimed dancers performing the full-length production for London audiences. Swan Lake is undoubtedly a production everyone must experience at least once in their life.

Founded in 1994, St Petersburg Ballet Theatre is renowned globally not just for its beautiful Vaganova trained dancers but also for its stunning full-length productions. Led by prima ballerina Irina Kolesnikova, the company travels internationally performing classical masterpieces from its repertoire including Giselle, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. The incredibly popular Company is in such demand that it gives 200 performances every year.

Irina Kolesnikova has a wealth of leading credits under her belt, having been prima ballerina at St Petersburg Ballet Theatre since the age of 21.  Her last Odette/Odile in Swan Lake in London in 2015 was described by the Telegraph as Truly a thing of beauty and Technically flawless.

Kolesnikova will be joined on stage by an array of guest starts from the world’s leading ballet companies including principal dancer Denis Rodkin, from the Bolshoi Ballet, who has been hailed by the Guardian as Sensational.  Additional Guest Stars will be announced at a later date.

St Petersburg Ballet comes to the London Coliseum following performances in Spain, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, USA, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, South Korea, New Zealand, Japan, China, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia.

As producer of the tour with decades of experience in presenting quality Russian ballet around the world, Andrew Guild said,

 

“Without doubt, Swan Lake is the world’s most famous classical ballet. And no one dances it as beautifully as The St Petersburg Ballet Theatre. The full length lavish production shows Russian classical ballet on a grand scale. It’s the real thing. Gorgeous Tchaikovsky music, magnificent sets and costumes, superb Russian classical dancers and brilliant Guest Stars. I urge every ballet lover not to miss it. See it once, remember it forever.”

Tickets for Swan Lake go on general sale at 10am on Friday 16^th March, and can be purchased at https://londoncoliseum.org/swan-lake-st-petersburg-ballet-theatre

Listings Information:

Production: St Petersburg Ballet Theatre Present Swan Lake

Venue: London Coliseum, St Martin’s Ln, London WC2N 4ES

Dates: 22^nd – 26^th August 2018

Performances: Wednesday – Sunday Evenings 19:30, Thursday & Saturday Matinees 14:30

Prices: £20 – £95 plus booking fee.
Booking: https://londoncoliseum.org/swan-lake-st-petersburg-ballet-theatre

Darlington Hippodrome – until 14 March 2018.

3***

Robert J Sherman’s A Spoonful of Sherman is his showcase tribute to the remarkable talent and history of his family.  His Grandfather Al Sherman, his father Robert B Sherman and uncle Richard M Sherman and showing that talent is in the gene’s, some of his own stuff too.

With more than 50 songs in just over 90 minutes of performance this is a wander through the songs of our childhood.  Al Sherman was an accomplished Tin Pan Alley writer in his day whose songs were recorded by everyone from Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday to Sinatra and Duke Ellington.   Robert and Richard, got into a song-writing partnership as a result of their father giving them a challenge once he had become convinced that neither one of them was going to be write the next great American novel and symphony. Their most celebrated years coincided with their period as staff songwriters for Walt Disney, but what is remarkable is how they then transferred themselves seamlessly to other film franchises and to Broadway in the 1970s. And the new musical versions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins in recent years.

Directed and choreographed by Stewart Nicholls, the quintet of Sophie-Louise Dann, Glenn Facey, Jenna Innes, Mark Read and Ben Stock expertly fly through a myriad of tunes from three generations with the aid of just two pianos which Stock, as MD, ably assisted by Read, master with consummate ease.  As well as the well known songs like Winnie the Pooh, The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers, A Spoonful of Sugar, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Chim-Chim-Cher-ee, I wanna Be Like You and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. We were also treated to earlier work like You’re Sixteen and the song that brought them to Disney, Tall Paul.  And later stuff too like songs from The Slipper and the Rose and the deeply irritating It’s A Small World After All.  On to the fabulous new stuff by Robert J himself; Love Birds, Crunchy Crackers and The Dream I Never Dreamed which were showcased at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015 from the musical Love Birds.

The set was highly detailed, with drawers that acted as steps, seats and dance platforms.  Amazing choreographed piano’s and intricate details from the songs hidden in plain view – a jar of “Toot Sweets”, a model of Cinderella’s carriage, a model of certain flying car, Mary Poppins parrot umbrella and a very old but much loved Winnie the Pooh bear sat on a shelf.

A Spoonful of Sherman is a nostalgic trip down memory lane.  Ending with some of their most memorable songs that we were encouraged to join in with because who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned sing along?  It’s an uncomplicated show with some fascinating insights and songs you will know and love.

In Darlington until Wednesday 14th and on tour around the UK

• THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY ANNOUNCES SIX NEW DATES FOR THE UK & IRELAND TOUR OF MATILDA THE MUSICAL 
• 2019 WILL SEE MATILDA THE MUSICAL PLAY PLYMOUTH, BRADFORD, EDINBURGH, BRISTOL, SOUTHAMPTON AND NORWICH
• OFFICIALLY OPENING AT LEICESTER CURVE ON 15 MARCH 2018, MATILDA THE MUSICAL WILL ALSO VISIT DUBLIN, SUNDERLAND, MILTON KEYNES, BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER AND CARDIFF LATER THIS YEAR

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced that the UK and Ireland Tour of Matilda The Musical will extend into 2019, touring to six more cities and accompanied by a specially devised education programme, Change My Story, for schools.

Winner of over 85 international awards, including 16 for Best Musical, the Matilda The Musical tour will celebrate its official opening night at Leicester Curve this Thursday (15 March), where it will play until 24 March. The West End production will continue to play at the Cambridge Theatre, where it is now in its seventh year and is booking until 10 February 2019.

In 2019 Matilda The Musical will play Theatre Royal Plymouth (15 January – 16 February 2019), the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (19 February – 23 March 2019), Edinburgh Playhouse (2 – 27 April 2019), The Bristol Hippodrome (7 May – 8 June 2019), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (11 June – 6 July 2019) and Norwich Theatre Royal (16 July – 17 August 2019).

Tickets for Plymouth, Bradford, Edinburgh, Bristol and Norwich will go on general sale on 23 March following a priority booking period between 19 and 22 March. Tickets for Southampton dates will go on sale on 10 April following a priority booking period between 3 and 9 April.

The 2018 tour dates are Leicester Curve (5 – 24 March 2018), Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (4 – 28 April 2018), Sunderland Empire (8 May – 2 June 2018), Milton Keynes Theatre (5 – 30 June 2018), Birmingham Hippodrome (3 July – 8 September 2018),Manchester Palace (18 September – 24 November 2018) and Cardiff Wales MillenniumCentre (4 December – 12 January 2019).

Matilda The Musical is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus. The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and the special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

As previously announced, for the first five venues of the tour Craige Els will reprise the role of Miss Trunchbull, having played her in the West End for three years between 2014 and 2017. He will be joined by Carly Thoms as Miss Honey and Sebastien Torkia as Mr Wormwood as well as former West End cast-mate Rebecca Thornhill as Mrs Wormwood. The title role of Matilda will be shared by Annalise Bradbury, Lara Cohen, Poppy Jones and Nicola Turner for this period. Casting for the tour’s later dates, including venues in 2019, will be announced in due course.

In the UK and Ireland, the production will be accompanied by Change My Story, a new RSC education programme inspired by Matilda The Musical and devised in collaboration with each touring theatre partner to help build long term partnerships between school communities and theatres.

The programme includes:

• Up to 50 Matilda The Musical Champion Schools – a two year initiative with local state schools and partner theatres in the tour locations.  Selected schools will work with RSC artists in residence to stage and perform a special 45 minute edit of Matilda The Musical as their school play. In the second year they will collaborate with 5 other local schools and lead on new creative projects
• Professional  Development courses for teachers to use Matilda The Musical as a springboard for creative writing
• Mrs Phelps’ Library Workshops for primary schools, led by RSC and local theatre artists, exploring different storytelling techniques
• Further details can be found at http://uk.matildathemusical.com/tour/schools/matilda-school-resources/.

Inspired by the incomparable Roald Dahl’s beloved book, Matilda The Musical was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and premiered at the RSC’s Stratford-upon-Avon home in November 2010, before transferring to London’s West End in October 2011, where it opened to rave reviews. The New York production of Matilda The Musical opened in April 2013 at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre and was celebrated on 10 “Top Ten” lists for 2013, including TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year.

Matilda The Musical has now been seen by more than 7.7 million people worldwide, having played in over 60 cities with more than 5500 performances in the West End, on Broadway, across North America and in Australia and New Zealand.

Matilda The Musical swept the board at the 2012 Olivier Awards, with a record-breaking seven awards, and won four Tony Awards and a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theater for the four girls sharing the title role on Broadway. The North America production toured 52 cities.

The Australian and New Zealand production won a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Musical in 2015, and played sold-out seasons in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Auckland. The show broke further records in July 2016 by winning all 13 Helpmann Awards for which it was nominated.Matilda The Musical will have its first non-English language production at the LG Arts Centre in Seoul, South Korea from September 2018 until February 2019.

Matilda The Musical is produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company with André Ptaszynski and Denise Wood as Executive Producers. The production was developed with the support of Jeanie O’Hare and the RSC Literary Department.

2018 LISTINGS

Leicester Curve
Monday 5 – Saturday 24 March 2018
Box Office: 0116 242 3595
www.curveonline.co.uk

Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
Wednesday 4 – Saturday 28 April 2018
Box Office: +353 (1) 677 7999
www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

Sunderland Empire Theatre
Tuesday 8 May – Saturday 2 June 2018
Box Office: 0844 871 3022*
www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire

Milton Keynes Theatre
Tuesday 5 – Saturday 30 June 2018
Box Office: 0844 871 7652*
www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre

The Birmingham Hippodrome
Tuesday 3 July – Saturday 8 September 2018
Box Office: 0844 338 5000**
www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Manchester Palace Theatre
Tuesday 18 September – Saturday 24 November 2018
Box Office: 0844 871 3019*
www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff / Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru
Tuesday 4 December 2018 – Saturday 12 January 2019
Box Office: 029 2063 6464
www.wmc.org.uk

* Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.
** Calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

2019 LISTINGS

Theatre Royal Plymouth
Tuesday 15 January – Saturday 16 February 2019
Box Office: 01752 267 222
www.theatreroyal.com

The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Tuesday 19 February – Saturday 23 March 2019
Box Office: 01274 432 000
www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

Edinburgh Playhouse
Tuesday 2 – Saturday 27 April 2019
Box Office: 0844 871 3014*
www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse/

The Bristol Hippodrome
Tuesday 7 May – Saturday 8 June 2019
Box Office: 0844 871 3012*
www.atgtickets.com/bristol-hippodrome

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Tuesday 11 June – Saturday 6 July 2019
Box Office: 02380 711 811
www.mayflower.org.uk

Norwich Theatre Royal
Tuesday 16 July – Saturday 17 August 2019
Box Office: 01603 630 000
www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

* Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.

www.matildathemusical.com
Twitter: @MatildaMusical
Facebook: @MatildaTheMusical
Instagram: @MatildaTheMusical
#matildaontour

WEST END LISTING

MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street, WC2H 9HU
Booking until 10 February 2019
Tuesdays 7pm
Wednesday – Saturday 7:30pm
Wednesday & Saturday 2:30pm
Sundays 3pm

Box Office: Cambridge Theatre 020 7087 7745 / RSC Ticket Hotline 01789 403493
No booking fee.