Month: August 2018

Churchill Theatre, Bromley – until 18th August 2018

Reviewed by Elizabeth Smith

3***

Flashdance – The Musical tells the story of Alex, a welder by day and club dancer at night, with ambitions of attending the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy. The back drop to the story is her love affair with the bosses son, the potential redundancies of her co workers and the ambitions of her friend Gloria to become a MTV dancer.

Alex is played by Joanne Clifton of Strictly come Dancing fame. She surprised me with the fact she could sing with power and feeling, while acting a role of the feisty, determined character, nice to see there is more to the dancer than you may first see. Of course her dancing was amazing and performed with so much energy and poise.

Alex’s love interest is her boss Nick Hurley, of the Hurley family who own the factory Alex works in. He is sent in to cut the work force and falls for Alex who rebuffs his advances at first but he wins her over. Although he does give a large donation to the Dance academy to ensure her entry but that part of the story didn’t quite get resolved in the story. Nick was played by Ben Adams, of boy band A1. He had a lovely singing voice, very boy band, which works in this modern musical.

Alex’s friend Gloria, Hollie-Ann Lowe, wants to be a MTV dancer and decides to dance in a rival night club but the punters want a little more than she is, at first, willing to give. Her character shows how a dream can turn into a nightmare when drink and drugs help you through. Hollie-Ann Lowe gave a convincing performance as Gloria. Dammiliegh Foster plays Tess, her voice was a power house when she sang “I Love Rock N Roll” and a dancer who draws your attention. Sashaa Latoya who plays Louise, nurse to Hannah, Alex’s mentor. Her surly attitude gave great humour.

Rhodri Watkins, played Andy, and stood out for me with his performance of a young father of 3 trying to do the best he could when facing redundancy and what a mover in the dance scenes.

If you love dance this show hits all the spots, unfortunately I felt the script was slightly padded out with fluff when it could have expanded on some of the other characters.

Over all, the dancing was fab and inspired me to skip to the car.

CASTING IS ANNOUNCED FOR IAN HISLOP AND NICK NEWMAN’S NEW COMEDY

TRIAL BY LAUGHTER

THE PRODUCTION WILL OPEN AT THE WATERMILL THEATRE, NEWBURY FROM THURSDAY 20^TH SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 27^TH OCTOBER 2018, BEFORE HEADING ON A UK TOUR

Following the sell-out success of The Wipers Times in the West End and across the country, Ian Hislop and Nick Newman have once again taken inspiration from real life events for their new play Trial by Laughter, based on their critically acclaimed original BBC Radio 4 drama of the same name. The production is a Trademark Touringand Watermill Theatre co-production, playing at The Watermill for six weeks from Thursday 20^th September – Saturday 27^th October 2018. Following this, it will be heading on a UK tour visiting Guildford, Ipswich, Cheltenham and Brighton, with further venues to be announced.

In 1817 bookseller, publisher and satirist William Hone stood trial for parodying religion, the despotic government and the libidinous monarchy. The only crime he had committed was to be funny. In 2018, the satirists Ian Hislop and Nick Newman rediscover this forgotten hero of free speech and ask if just over two hundred years later our press has any greater freedom.

The cast includes Helena Antoniou (Lady Hertford), Philippe Edwards (Sidmouth), Jeremy Lloyd (Prince Regent), Peter Losasso (Cruickshank), Nicholas Murchie (Justice Abbott/Duke of York), Joseph Prowen (Hone), Eva Scott (Lady Conyngham/Sarah), Dan Tetsell (Lord Ellenborough).

Satirist, writer and journalist Ian Hislop has been the editor of Private Eye since 1986. He has frequently appeared on Question Time (BBC One), and since 1990 has been team captain on BBC’s Have I Got News For You. At Private Eye he works alongside life-long friend Nick Newman, an award-winning cartoonist and writer, who alongside his role at Private Eye, has been pocket cartoonist for The Sunday Times since 1989. As a scriptwriting duo, Ian and Nick’s work includes five years on Spitting Image (ITV), Harry Enfield and Chums (BBC Two), and My Dad’s The Prime Minister (BBC One), as well as the film A Bunch of Amateurs and The Wipers Times, which won the Broadcast Press Guild Award for single drama, and was nominated for a BAFTA. Trial by Laughter is Ian and Nick’s third play to be co-produced with The Watermill Theatre, with an adaptation of A Bunch of Amateurs and The Wipers Times playing there in the last few years.

Ian Hislop and Nick Newman said:

“In an age of ‘fake news’ and increased censorship, free speech and press freedom are still under threat as they were 200 years ago when William Hone took on the might of Royalty and a bullying Tory government. Hone dared to ask ‘Is laughter treason?’ – raising issues which are as relevant now as they were then. It’s a tale of lawyers, lechers and libel – with added sedition and blasphemy. It is immensely exciting to bring this world to life on stage, with this funny, inspiring and true story of a satirical David versus Goliath.”

 

Trial by Laughter is a Trademark Touring and Watermill Theatre production and is directed by Caroline Leslie. It is designed by Dora Schweitzer with lighting design by Matt Leventhall and sound by Steve Mayo.

 

The Wipers Times, also produced by Trademark Touring and The Watermill Theatre, tours again from 28 August, transferring for a second time to the Arts Theatre in the West End in October where it plays a limited season until 1 December 2018.

 

TRIAL BY LAUGHTER – FULL TOUR DATES AND LISTINGS INFORMATION

 

Thursday 20^th September – Saturday 27^th October                                     Watermill Theatre, Newbury

Monday 29^th October – Saturday 3^rd November                                        

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

Monday 5^th November – Saturday 10^th November                                    

The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

Monday 12^th November – Saturday 17^th November                                   Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

Monday 19^th November – Saturday 24^th November                                  

Theatre Royal, Brighton

AWARD-WINNING CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCE 

BRAND NEW SONG, UPDATED SCRIPT & FINAL CASTING 

FOR THE DEFINITIVE VERSION OF 

THE SASSIEST SHOW IN TOWN!

STARRING CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER

OPENING IN THE WEST END

FROM 3 SEPTEMBER – 24 NOVEMBER 2018

 

 

Heathers the Musical is bigger and better than ever before! The award-winning creative team behind the smash-hit musical are thrilled to announce a brand new song has been written into the show ahead of it’s West End debut at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, along with multiple re-workings to the script.

 

Following extensive work across the run of it’s European premiere at The Other Palace, the creators of Heathers – The Musical, Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy, alongside director Andy Fickman, have written an original new song for leading lady Carrie Hope Fletcher. The new song, ‘I Say No’ and updated script were added into the final week of performances at The Other Palace, offering audiences a sneak peek ahead of the show’s transfer to the West End in September.

 

Paul Taylor Mills said: “Two years ago Andrew Lloyd Webber and I set on a mission to create a space in the UK where musicals could be tried and tested with audience feedback at the heart of that development. I am so pleased to say that a year and a half later we have been able to see Heathers go from The Other Palace studio, to the main house, to the West End. This isn’t a new idea with many major American musicals affording themselves an out-of-town try out in order to refine the material before the version the team want to present is ‘cooked’!

 

Over the last few weeks the creative team and I have been working hard to make changes to the production, including a new number for Veronica at the end of the show, and some script changes to Act II. We’re delighted with the work that has been done and that the show was able to finish its the run at The Other Palace as the definitive version of Heathers. 

 

We feel fortunate to have had this incredibly useful space to develop the show and would like to thank our audiences for affording us this opportunity. It’s crucial that we develop a practice in the UK for this to happen in order to ensure the genre of musicals in this country continues to prosper.”

 

The 2018 Class of Westerberg High will be graduating to the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a strictly limited 12-week run, from 3 September 2018, with Carrie Hope Fletcher reprising her celebrated role as Veronica Sawyer.

 

Also returning to the cast as the school’s reigning ‘It Girls’ – The Heathers are Jodie Steele (Chandler), T’Shan Williams (Duke) and Sophie Isaacs (McNamara), alongside Jamie Muscato as rebellious transfer student Jason Dean (JD), Chris Chung (Kurt Kelly), Dominic Anderson (Ram Sweeney), Jenny O’Leary (Martha Dunnstock), Rebecca Lock (Ms. Flemming), Jon Boydon (Kurt’s Dad), Alex James Hatton (Officer Milner), Charlotte Jaconelli (Stoner Chick), Lauren Drew (New Wave Girl), Olivia Moore (Young Rerepublicanette), and Sergio Pasquariello  (Officer McCord).

 

They will be welcoming Hugh Maynard (Ram’s Dad), John Lumsen (Hipster Dork) and Merryl Ansah (Drama Cub Drama Queen) to the cast for the West End premiere.

 

Greetings and salutations. Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is so very a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the nobodies dreaming of a better day.

 

But when she’s unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams finally start to come true.

 

Until JD turns up, the mysterious teen rebel who teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it’s murder being a somebody…

 

Based on one of the greatest teen films of all time, the 1988 cult classic starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. The award-winning writing team, Laurence O’Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Kevin Murphy’s (Reefer Madness,Desperate Housewives) hit musical adaptation has enjoyed successful runs in Los Angeles and New York, and finally arrived in the UK for its European premiere on 9 June 2018, following a rapturous response to its 2017 workshop at The Other Palace.

 

Heathers – The Musical is directed by acclaimed screen and stage director Andy Fickman, with choreography by Gary Lloyd, design by David Shields, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Dan Samson and casting by Will Burton. The production is produced by Bill Kenwright and Paul Taylor Mills.

 

Heathers – The Musical, which recently finished it’s European premiere at The Other Palace, is the highest grossing show at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatre, having sold over 20,000 tickets across the run and having sold out prior to its opening gala performance. It is the first show in the theatre’s history to move from a studio workshop to a main house production and it now becomes The Other Palace’s first West End transfer, having reached a brand new audience; 70% of which are under the age of 30. The production will continue to develop and celebrate its younger and more diverse audience by offering over 15,000 seats at £25 across the West End run.

 

LISTINGS

HEATHERS – THE MUSICAL

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET

3 SEPTEMBER – 24 NOVEMBER 2018

 

*Please note the updated schedule of press performances*

*Reviews embargoed until 00.01 on Thursday 13 September*

 

Performances:

Monday – Saturday – 7.45pm

Thursday & Saturday – 3.00pm

 

Ticket Prices: From £25.00 – 150+ £25 tickets at every performance. 

 

Groups: 10+ £55 seats reduced to £39.50, Monday to Thursday evenings and midweek matinees. The group rate is subject to availability and not valid for week commencing 22nd October.

 

Day Seats: A limited number of seats are available at £25 from 10am in person at the box office on the day of the show. Maximum 2 tickets per person.

 

Address: Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4HT

 

Box Office: 020 7930 8800

 

Website: www.heathersthemusical.com

    www.trh.co.uk

 

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram:

@HeathersMusical

@TRH_London

#HeathersLondon

#HowVery

FURTHER CASTING TO HOP ABOARD THE JOLLY ROGER IN RICHMOND THEATRE’S SWASHBUCKLING PANTOMIME, PETER PAN!

Richmond Theatre announces Jon Clegg (Britain’s Got Talent), Rachel Stanley (Les Misérables) and Harry Francis (The Book of Mormon) to join previously the announced Robert Lindsay in his pantomime debut for the theatres’ second pantomime staged by Qdos Entertainment, PETER PAN from Saturday 8 December – Sunday 6 January 2019.

 

Jon Clegg will be joining cast as Captain Hook’s befuddled side-kick, Smee. Best-known for his appearances in the final of the eight series of Britain’s Got Talent Jon will bring his brilliant celebrity comedy impressions to Neverland!

Rachel Stanley joins the cast as the Magical Mermaid. Rachel is currently appearing in the UK Tour of An Officer and A Gentlemen. Her other recent stage credits have seen her on stage in Scrooge The Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Legally Blonde. No stranger to family entertainment Rachel last-year toured the UK with Birmingham Stage Company in Gangsta Granny. Rachel featured in the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables.

Harry Francis joins the cast as the boy who never grew up, Peter Pan. Harry has recently been seen as Tom Thumb in Barnum, Mendel in Fiddler on the Roof, Elder Thomas in The Book of Mormon, and Mark in A Chorus Line as well as touring in the Matthew Bourne production of Edward Scissorhands.

 

Multi award-winning actor of stage and screen, Robert Lindsay will make his pantomime debut starring as the dastardly Captain Hook. The BAFTA, Tony and two-time Olivier Award-winning actor has enjoyed a hugely successful career starring in the popular BBC sitcom My Family and Citizen Smith as well as numerous Shakespearean adaptations including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing and starred opposite Laurence Olivier in King Lear. His further television roles include Galavant, GBH, Hornblower, Jericho, Friends and Crocodiles and Gideon’s Daughters, both by Stephen Poliakoff.

With tickets soaring out of the Box Office, audiences shouldn’t leave it any longer to embark on the Jolly Roger and set sail for Neverland for this year’s sensational, swashbuckling show!

M O T O W N   T H E   M U S I C A L

FINAL WEST END PERFORMANCES APRIL 2019

In advance of major refurbishments taking place at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Motown The Musical will conclude its run on 20 April 2019 having celebrated over 1330 performances since its London premiere over three years earlier in February 2016.  With music and lyrics from the Motown catalogue, book by Motown founder Berry Gordy and directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, Motown the Musical tells the story behind the legendary classic hits.  In October this year a previously announced UK tour will begin and in January 2019 Motown the record label will mark its sixtieth anniversary.

The production features a fifteen-piece 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.  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.  

Motown the Musical received its world premiere in April 2013 in New York with Berry Gordy and legendary Motown artists Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Mary Wilson, Gladys Knight andStevie Wonder attending opening night.  The show began its West End run in February 2016 withGordy, Robinson and Wilson once again supporting the production.

Motown the Musical has music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Ethan Popp, co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Cook and dance arrangements by Zane Mark.  Choreography is by Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams, scenic design by David Korins, costumes by Emilio Sosa, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Peter Hylenski and video by Daniel Brodie.  UK Associate Director is Tara Wilkinson, Conductor & UK Associate Music Supervisor is Gareth Weedon, UK Associate Set Designer is Andrew Edwards and UK Associate Lighting Designer is Alistair Grant and UK Sound Associate is Chris Full.

Motown the Musical is produced in the West End by Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris, Berry Gordy and Adam Spiegel.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                           Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP

Dates:                              booking to 20 April 2019

Performances:                    Monday – Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm

Prices:                              Tickets from £20 plus £15 Lottery tickets available online

No booking fees via www.motownthemusical.co.uk, over the phone on 020 7379

5399 or in person at the Shaftesbury Theatre Box Office.

Box Office:                         020 7379 5399

Website:                           www.motownthemusical.co.uk

Twitter:                            @MotownUK

Facebook:                         MotownMusicalUK

Manchester Palace Theatre – until 18 August 2018

Reviewed by Lottie Davis-Browne Date

4****

Following in the footsteps of Dreamworks “Shrek” which was reworked into a well-loved stage musical, the latest screen-to-stage adaptation comes from Dreamworks 2005 movie Madagascar, from the team at Selladoor.

Telling the tale of a group of unlikely friends at New York’s Central Park Zoo; hypochondriac Melvin (Jamie Lee-Morgan) the Giraffe, Marty the Zebra (Antoine Murray-Straughan), the hip and funky hippo Gloria (Timmika Ramsey), and the pride of Central Park Zoo, Alex the Lion (X-Factor’ 2016 Winner Matt Terry), whom upon celebrating Marty’s tenth birthday, he (Marty) begins to wonder what life is like outside the zoo and dreams of living “in the wild”. Marty’s thoughts are distracted by the zoos penguins (Skipper, Rico, Kowalski and Private) who are secretly planning their very own great escape. Marty then decides to follow them and escape and is shortly pursued by the rest of his friends.

Soon the animals are causing havoc in Grand Central Station, but Alex – not realising humans do not understand animals – is mistaken for an aggressive dangerous animal and is shot with a tranquilliser gun and his friends rounded up into shipping crates on a boat to be transferred to a zoo. But it isn’t long until disaster strikes and the friends end up washed up on a beach – in what they presume is another zoo, that is until they meet a conspiracy of lemurs, who inform them that they are indeed in the wild – the “wipe yourself with a leaf” type of wild. I won’t spoil the rest of the story as I am sure most people have seen the animated movie of Madagascar, but what I will say is that the story remains true to the original movie with similar running times (a total of 1 hour and 50 minutes – perfect for younger children which of course this production is particularly aimed at).

The main stage set comprises of stacked wooden shipping crates which Central Parks Zoo to the tropical island of Madagascar, with the island of Madagascar being the main story setting comprising of palm trees and the distant sound of the ocean.

What really makes this production stand out and memorable are the fantastic costumes and puppets – from the lovable penguins which are so cleverly done you soon fail to notice the talented puppeteers, but particularly Melman the Giraffe (Jamie Lee-Morgan – an experienced puppeteer, having been the head puppeteer for Joey, the horse in War Horse, as well as the Giant in James and The Giant Peach) and the somewhat comical costumes (giving Matt Terry an impressive six-pack as Alex the Lion) and the voluptuous Gloria the hippo. There’s plenty of child friendly humour throughout and although at first I was surprised at how quick Act One was over, I recalled the movie running time and found that the two are similar but found this refreshing as compared to some other musicals I have seen that has young children as the target audience, it was great to have one that did not have such a long running time as I know how younger children can struggle to stay awake for evening performances that run well past their bed times.

The songs – other than the popular “I Like To Move It” from the original movie were less memorable, with the only other stand out song being “Best Friends” – a duet between Alex and Marty. The audience – myself included – particularly loved dancing along to “I Like To Move It” – with King Julien (Jo Parsons) providing the majority of the laugh-out-loud moments, even adding some “flossing” into his dance routines as he showed Manchester how to “Move It!”

Matt Terry is loveable as Central Park Zoos’ most popular animal resident, proving that not only can he sing, but he can act and dance – all whilst wearing a tight fitting lion costume and huge lion feet! I particularly loved Lee-Morgan as the over thinking, over worrying Giraffe – probably because I saw a lot of myself in his character, but it was Parsons as King Julien who really won the hearts of the audience, bringing in so many side-splitting moments as the eccentric King of the Lemurs.

The show is fast-paced, high energy and laughs-a-plenty making it the perfect treat for the long Summer Holidays.

Pint of Wine Theatre Company present:

 

In the debut production from new theatre company Pint of Wine, Lauren Edwards and Katie Beudert will star as Siamese twins Violet and Daisy Hilton in classic musical Side Show, playing at the CLF Art Cafe at the Bussey Building for selected dates in early October 2018.

Based on the true story of Siamese twins Violet and Daisy Hilton who became stars during the Depression, Side Show is a moving portrait of two women joined at the hip whose extraordinary bondage brings them fame but denies them love. With book and lyrics by Bill Russell (Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens) and music by Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls), Side Show follows their progression from England to America, around the vaudeville circuit and to Hollywood on the eve of their appearance in the 1932 movie Freaks.

Casting has been confirmed for the production, including Lauren Edwards (Parade, Frogmore Papermill) and Katie Beudert (Gatsby and Romeo & Juliet, The Union Theatre) as Violet and Daisy Hilton, Matthew James Nicholas (Terry), Barry O’Reilly (Buddy), Akmed Khemalai (Jake), Joe Brown, Daniel Gosselin, Kathryn Hyde, Nathalie Joel-Smith, Sandra Murray, Hannah Parker Smith, Olga-Marie Platt, Alona Walsh, Stephen Russell and Tristan Ward.

Pint of Wine is an innovative theatre company that provides opportunities for artists, technicians and practitioners to push the limits on how theatre should be done. We seek to challenge the conventions on how theatre should be presented and look to be disruptive in what is understood of and expected from the London fringe theatre scene. We look to be creative in our choice of source material and to question how and where works are to be presented, always examining how to best engage with a modern audience. We will seek to innovate and not to repeat, and, by this, bring fresh approaches, new stories and surprising productions to audiences.

Side Show is Pint of Wine Theatre Company’s debut musical. The production, under the direction of Dom O’Hanlon, will feature new costume designs by Lemington Ridley (2016 BroadwayWorld UK / West End Awards Nominations for Best Costume Design, Ragtime), set design by Roberta Volpe with musical direction by Ben Papworth and choreography by Becky East.

MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY TO STAGE MAJOR REVIVAL OF

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF THIS CHRISTMAS

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Music by Jerry Bock          Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick          Book by Joseph Stein

Directed by Trevor Nunn

The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces a major revival of one of the world’s most-beloved musicals of all time, Fiddler on the Roof in a new staging by Trevor Nunn. The production opens on 5 December, with previews from 23 November, and runs until 9 March. Booking opens for supporters of the Menier on 28 August, with public booking on 5 September.

This joyous and heart-breaking story of the travails of Tevye the milkman, his wife and five daughters features such classic songs as “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and remains a heart-warming celebration To Life – L’chaim!

The first London production of Fiddler on the Roof opened in February 1967 at Her Majesty’s Theatre; and the most recent London production opened in May 2007 at the Savoy Theatre with Henry Goodman as Tevye.

Fiddler of Roof sees Trevor Nunn renew his collaboration with the Menier – he previously directed Lettice and Lovage, Love in Idleness (also West End), A Little Night Music (also West End and Broadway) and Aspects of Love for the company.

From 1968 to 1986, Trevor Nunn was the youngest ever Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, directing over thirty productions, including most of the Shakespeare canon, as well as Nicholas Nickleby and Les Misérables.  From 1997 to 2003, he was Artistic Director of the National Theatre, where his productions included Troilus and Cressida, Oklahoma!, The Merchant of Venice, Summerfolk, My Fair Lady, A Streetcar Named Desire, Anything Goes and Love’s Labour’s Lost.  He has directed the world premières of Tom Stoppard’s plays Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia and Rock n Roll; and of Cats, Sunset Boulevard, Starlight Express and Aspects of Love by Andrew Lloyd Webber.  Other theatre includes Timon of Athens, Skellig (Young Vic); The Lady From The Sea (Almeida Theatre); Hamlet, Richard II, Inherit the Wind (The Old Vic), A Little Night Music (Menier Chocolate Factory, West End and Broadway), Cyrano de Bergerac, Kiss Me Kate (Chichester Festival Theatre); Heartbreak House, Flare Path, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Tempest (Theatre Royal, Haymarket); Scenes from a Marriage (Coventry & St James), All That Fall (Jermyn Street & New York); A Chorus of Disapproval and Relative Values (West End).  Work for television includes Antony and Cleopatra, The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, Three Sisters, Othello, The Merchant of Venice and King Lear, and on film, Hedda, Lady Janeand Twelfth Night. 

 

Listings Information

Fiddler on the Roof

Booking opens for supporters of the Menier on 28 August, with public booking on 5 September

Venue:                                Menier Chocolate Factory

Address:                             53 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RU

Press performance:         5 December at 8pm

Dates:                                 23 November 2018 – 9 March 2019

Times:                                For the performance schedule, please see the website

Box Office:                         020 7378 1713 (£2.50 transaction fee per booking)

Website:                        www.menierchocolatefactory.com (£1.50 transaction fee per booking)

Tickets:                               Prices vary, as below from discounted preview tickets to premier seats. With the emphasis on ‘the sooner you book, the better the price’:

A meal deal ticket includes a 2-course meal from the pre-theatre menu in the Menier Restaurant as well as the theatre ticket.

www.menierchocolatefactory.com

Twitter: @MenChocFactory

SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED FOR

THE STAGE DEBUT AWARDS 2018

IN ASSOCIATION WITH ACCESS ENTERTAINMENT

INCLUDING AIDAN TURNER & BRYAN CRANSTONALONGSIDE A SELECTION OF THE UK’S MOST OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH TALENT IN THEATRE

AND VOTING OPENS FOR THE JOE ALLEN

BEST WEST END DEBUT AWARD 2018

Alistair Smith, Editor, The Stage said: “After the huge success of The Stage Debut Awards’ first outing in 2017, we’re delighted to reveal another superb shortlist of emerging stars that ranges from first-time playwrights in pub theatres to regional directors and those making their debuts on the biggest West End stages. This list underlines the quite astonishing array of diverse talent breaking through in theatres of all scales and types across the UK.”

As the shortlist for this year’s The Stage Debut Awards 2018, in association with Access Entertainment, is announced below, voting opens for the Joe Allen Best West End Debut Award 2018, the only award voted for by the general public. This award celebrates a first performance in London’s West End.

Votes can be cast online HERE and voting closes at midnight on 16 September 2018. All award winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday 23 September 2018, which will be streamed live on The Stage’s Facebook page.

Mark Shenton, Associate Editor, The Stage, said: “The shortlist for the West End debut award offers an eclectic but electrifying set of contributions, including three Tony Award winning stars (Bryan Cranston, Kelli O’Hara and Adrienne Warren, each of whom made their London debuts in the last year), an actor making his adult West End debut (John McCrea previously appeared in the West End as a child actor) and another who is already a national TV star (Poldark‘s Aidan Turner). But the West End is still a destination and a kind of validation for their talents, in which they join other theatrical newcomers to this global showcase like the co-writers of The Jungle and one of its principal actors. The nominating panel acknowledge them all; now it is up to the public to decide the winner.”

Lyn Gardner, Associate Editor, The Stage, added: “I love The Stage Debut Awards. It feels both genuinely celebratory and useful to recognise people’s talent at the start of their careers. There are plenty of awards which heap praise on the already successful, but The Stage Debut Awards are unique in giving a helping hand to those joining the profession. It has been a privilege to be part of the team helping to select the winners.”

Leonard Blavatnik of headline sponsor Access Entertainment, said: “Access Entertainment is thrilled to sponsor The Stage Debut Awards this year, recognising and supporting the rising stars of the theatrical world.”

The Stage Debut Awards’ 2018 full shortlist:

Best Actress In A Play – Sponsored by Audible

·       Kitty Archer for One for Sorrow at the Royal Court, London

·       Gemma Dobson for Rita, Sue and Bob Too at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton

·       Lorna Fitzgerald for The Shadow Factory at NST City, Southampton

·       Grainne O’Mahony for The Elephant Man at Bristol Old Vic

Best Actor In A Play – Sponsored by Audible

·       Seb Carrington for Summer and Smoke at the Almeida Theatre, London

·       Akshay Sharan for The Reluctant Fundamentalist at the Yard Theatre, London

·       Chris Walley for The Lieutenant of Inishmore at the Noel Coward Theatre, London

·       Alex Wilson for The Elephant Man at Bristol Old Vic Theatre

Best Actor In A Musical – Sponsored by Encore Radio

·       Will Carey for It’s Only Life at the Union Theatre, London

·       Louis Gaunt for Oklahoma! at Grange Park Opera, West Horsley

·       Toby Miles for Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre, London

·       Simon Oskarsson for Return to the Forbidden Planet at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London

Best Actress In A Musical – Sponsored by R&H Theatricals Europe

·       Teleri Hughes for Spring Awakening at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

·       Eleanor Kane for Fun Home at the Young Vic, London

·       Rebecca Mendoza for Hairspray, on tour

·       Amara Okereke for Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre, London

Best Director – Sponsored by Smith & Williamson

·       Iwan Lewis for One Minute at the Barn Theatre, Cirencester

·       Alexandra Moxon for Wreck at Nottingham Playhouse

·       Oscar Pearce for Great Apes at the Arcola Theatre, London

·       Katy Rudd for The Almighty Sometimes at the Royal Exchange, Manchester

Best Designer – Sponsored by Robe Lighting

·       Basia Binkowska for Devil with the Blue Dress at the Bunker Theatre, London

·       Khadija Raza for Hijabi Monologues, Spun, and Mixtape, at the Bush Theatre, London, the Arcola Theatre, London and the Royal Exchange, Manchester

·       Fin Redshaw for Pieces of String and Love Me Now at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester and the Tristan Bates Theatre, London

·       Jasmine Swan for Hyem, The Passing of Third Floor Back, Hanna and The Sleeper at Theatre503, London, the Finborough Theatre, London, the Arcola Theatre, London, and Rialto Theatre, Brighton

Best Composer or Lyricist – Sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment Group

·       Gus Gowland for Pieces of String at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester

·       Kate Marlais for Abandon at the Lyric Hammersmith, London

·       Matt Winkworth for The Assassination of Katie Hopkins at Theatr Clwyd, Mold

Best Writer – Sponsored by InterTalent Rights Group

·       Georgia Christou for Yous Two at Hampstead Theatre, London

·       Kendall Feaver for The Almighty Sometimes at the Royal Exchange, Manchester

·       Natasha Gordon for Nine Night at the National Theatre, London

·       Andrew Thompson for In Event of Moone Disaster at Theatre503, London

·       Joe White for Mayfly at the Orange Tree Theatre, London

The Joe Allen Best West End Debut

·       Mohammad Amiri for The Jungle at the Playhouse Theatre

·       Ashley Banjo for Dick Whittington at the London Palladium

·       Bryan Cranston for Network at the National Theatre

·       Michelle Greenidge for Nine Night at the National Theatre

·       John McCrea for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre

·       Kelli O’Hara for The King and I at the London Palladium

·       Joe Robertson and Joe Murphy for The Jungle at the Playhouse Theatre

·       Lucie Shorthouse for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre

·       Aidan Turner for The Lieutenant of Inishmore at the Noel Coward Theatre

·       Adrienne Warren for Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre

The Stage Debut Awards celebrate the very best breakthrough talent in theatre, from actors and directors to designers, writers, composers and lyricists, all of whom have made their professional debuts in the past year. These awards are the first of their kind to recognise outstanding emerging talent.

The inaugural The Stage Debut Awards took place on September 17, 2017. Guests at the awards ceremony included the most influential figures in the performing arts world from Grammy and Olivier Award-winning actress Amber Riley to the director of the National Theatre, Rufus Norris.

As well as live streaming the ceremony to thousands of eager viewers on Facebook, #DebutAwards was trending on Twitter for over 14 hours on the day of the ceremony. Check out the video of the evening below and to read more about the evening visit
The Stage website.

For full details on eligibility and the judging process see The Stage Debut Awards website.

Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome announce co-production of Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation

 

THE COLOR PURPLE

Directed by Tinuke Craig

28 Jun – 13 Jul 2019 at Curve, Leicester

16 – 20 Jul 2019 at Birmingham Hippodrome

 

Leicester’s Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome theatres join forces to co-produce Broadway musical The Color Purple, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker.

 

The production, the first to be created outside of London in the UK, will be directed by Tinuke Craig, winner of the 2014 Genesis Future Directors Award. Tinuke’s recent credits include random/generations, a double bill of plays by debbie tucker green at Chichester Festival Theatre and I Call my Brothers by Jonas Hassen Khemiri at the Gate Theatre.

 

The announcement comes as both theatres celebrate significant milestones, with Curve turning 10 this year while the Hippodrome will mark its 120^th birthday in 2019.

 

Speaking about the co-production, Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic DirectorNikolai Foster said:

 

“The Color Purple celebrates remarkable women, telling incredible stories. From its Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker, her courageous creation in heroine Celie to Oprah Winfrey – who had the vision to make the story into a smash-hit Broadway musical. And we are thrilled to introduce our equally astonishing director Tinuke Craig and welcome her to Curve.

 

“As we embark on our second decade as a theatre here in Leicester and our friends at Birmingham Hippodrome celebrate their 120th year, our co-production of this beautiful, moving musical feels like a fitting way for us to mark these celebratory years.

 

“All of us at Curve are looking forward to working with Tinuke, Fiona Allan and the Hippodrome team very much.”

 

Fiona Allan, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the Birmingham Hippodrome said:

 

“This is the very first time that Birmingham Hippodrome has actively co-produced a main stage musical, and we could not have better partners than Chris Stafford and Nikolai Foster at Curve theatre, and director Tinuke Craig.

“The Color Purple is an epic and timeless story that will appeal to audiences young and old, as evidenced by the recent Tony Award winning Broadway production. It is long overdue for a UK tour, and I’m proud that the Hippodrome play our part in bringing it to life here in Birmingham.”

 

This unforgettable story told over the course of 40 years follows courageous heroine Celie, as she journeys through joy, despair, anguish and hope in her own personal awakening to discover her unique voice in the world.

 

With a profoundly evocative score drawing inspiration from jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this moving family chronicle set in racially divided southern America, celebrates life, love and the strength to stand up for who you are and what you believe in.

 

Tickets for The Color Purple will go on sale to Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome audiences on the week commencing 20 Aug. Further details can be found online on www.curveonline.co.uk orwww.birminghamhippodrome.com.