Month: August 2018

New Patron (Alfred Molina) and Principal (Tim Gill) take over at the Court Theatre Training Company

Following the departure of principal June Abbott in the summer of 2018, the Court Theatre Training Company is proud to announce the appointment of Hollywood grandee Alfred Molina as the new patron and Tim Gill as the new principal of the prestigious training organisation and theatre.

Alfred Molina says: “Acting and theatre have been the cornerstone of my professional and personal life. I was lucky enough to have a sympathetic mother, and a supportive and encouraging teacher, and some good fortune along the way as I made my life as an actor. But I have never forgotten or lost sight of the importance of study, training and the need for a creative space. The space might be a school, or a theatre group, or just the company of like-minded souls who share your passion and love for the craft. The Court Theatre Company provides so much of what an actor will need.”

New principal Tim Gill takes over from June Abbott, founder and original Artistic Director of the Finborough Theatre and the Court Theatre Training Company. June has had an extensive career in theatre, film and television, and adapted Ingmar Bergman’s film The Virgin Springs, which became the opening production of the Courtyard Theatre, King’s Cross, in 1989. In 2007, when the theatre moved to Hoxton, June became joint Artistic Director with Tim Gill, who now takes over from her as Artistic Director and Principal of the attached Court Theatre Training Company.

Taking over the role from June Abbott, Tim Gill will continue to uphold the core training ideals of practical learning in a working theatre environment and will build on and continue to tailor the 30 year ethos. Tim hopes to bring more contemporary texts to the agenda for student productions and assessments. There will also be a focus on the individual and their place within the industry, preparing graduates for employment using skills such as social media management and self promotion. Tim has also begun preparation for a post graduate degree in acting and performance alongside a number of shorter course options to compliment the degree programme.

With June Abbott’s departure, the June Abbott Scholarship Fund will become available for applicants to apply to for course fees. It will be awarded to applicants that show a great understanding and instinct for performance and learning, but also display that they have used every means available to them to pursue the craft of acting. The scholarship is worth £11,000 per year and the bursary award of £1000 per year will be offered to existing students in difficulty with their course fees. Further details will be made available in the Autumn.

NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR
THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY’S
MATILDA THE MUSICAL

• Hayden Tee will toe the line as Miss Trunchbull for the first time on 11 September 2018
• Isobel Hubble and Francesca McKeown will join Sara Munday and Olivia Wells in the title role
• Rob Compton and Holly Dale Spencer will join the company as Mr and Mrs Wormwood opposite Gina Beck who will play Miss Honey for a second year 

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical has announced new casting with Hayden Tee playing Miss Trunchbull alongside Rob Compton and Holly Dale Spencer as Mr and Mrs Wormwood. Gina Beck will continue to play Miss Honey, having joined the company in September 2017. Isobel Hubble and Francesca McKeown will join Sarah Munday and Olivia Wells in sharing the title role of Matilda. The multi award-winning production is currently playing its seventh year in the West End and is booking until 20 October 2019.

To mark the arrival of the new adult and child cast members, the RSC has created a brand new video which sees the four Matildas run away and join Giffords Circus for the day where they were taught special skills including acrobatics, clowning and juggling.

The full adult cast includes Alex Louize Bird, Gina Beck, Rob Compton, Holly Dale Spencer, Jaye Elster, Glen Facey, Alex Hammond, Peter Houston, Jessica Joslin, Bethany Kate, Sammy Kelly, Ben Kerr, Bryan Mottram, Malinda Parris, James Revell, Gemma Scholes, Simon Shorten, Hayden Tee, Callum Train and Robert Tregoning.

The other young performers announced today join the London company in the three teams who play the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the rest of the pupils at Crunchem Hall and are as follows:Lois Abercrombie, Tom Brown, Emilia Bosi, Toby Brandon, Quincy Miller-Cole, Lottie Cook, Imogen Darwen, Jimmy Fordham Reed, Clara Freeman Alves, Stella Haden, Jobe Hart, Noah Leggott, Archie Lewis, Henry Littell, Austen Phelan, Marley Quinlan-Gardner, Daisy Statham, Cherry Vaughn-White and Rochelle Wyatt.

Jacob Bland, Mia Byers, Sadie Victoria Lim, Asher Ezequiel, Darmani Eboji and Sam Winser will continue in the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the pupils at Crunchem Hall.

Gina Beck (Miss Honey) is renowned for leading roles in musical theatre. Previous roles have included Glinda in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre & US Tour), Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Magnolia Hawks in Daniel Evan’s production of Show Boat (New London Theatre) and Cosette in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre).  A graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, her other theatre credits include Far From the Madding Crowd (The Watermill Theatre) and The Belle’s Stratagem (Southwark Playhouse) both directed by Jessica Swale, I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change (Arts Theatre Upstairs), Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (Charing Cross Theatre),  The Sound of Music (Kuala Lumpur), Peter Pan (Birmingham Rep), The Kissing Dance (Jermyn Street Theatre) and Imagine This (Plymouth Theatre Royal). Her television credits include the BBC’s Doctors and Sherlock Holmes and The Case of the Silk Stocking. Opera credits include Madame Butterfly and L’elisir d’amore (Opera Holland Park). She was a soloist in the 21st and 25th anniversary celebrations of Les Misérables as well as in the recent blockbuster film version. She made her BBC Proms debut in 2016 as a soloist in the BBC’s Bernstein prom.

Rob Compton (Mr Wormwood) known for his work across stage, television and film. His theatre credits include Wonder.land (Manchester Palace, Manchester International Festival, and National Theatre), Bat Boy (Southwark Playhouse), Mother Courage and her Children (The Lowry, Manchester), A Chorus of Disapproval (Harold Pinter Theatre), All the Fun of the Fair (UK Tour),Merlin and the Woods of Time and As You Like It (Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre), Great Expectations (English Touring Theatre & Watford Palace) and A Christmas Carol (West Yorkshire Playhouse). Film and television credits include American Assassin, Rellik, Babs, Ripper Street, Silent Witness, EastEnders, and Endeavour.

Holly Dale Spencer (Mrs Wormwood) is best known for previous stage roles such as Grace Farrell in Annie (Piccadilly Theatre and UK Tour), Nicky in Sweet Charity (Royal Exchange, Manchester), Judy Haynes in White Christmas (Leeds Playhouse) and Sabrina in American Psycho (Almeida Theatre). Other theatre credits include Holly Golightly and Words and Music (Sadler’s Wells), Kiss Me Kate (Chichester Festival Theatre and The Old Vic), Oliver! (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), The Grapes of Wrath (Chichester Festival Theatre and UK Tour), Crazy For You (Novello Theatre), Betty Blue Eyes (Novello Theatre) and Children Will Listen (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane). Previous roles in film include the 2012 film adaption of Les Miserables.

Hayden Tee (Miss Trunchbull) is an award-winning musical theatre actor from New Zealand. Previous roles have included Javert in Les Miserables (Broadway, West End and International Tour), Joe Cable in South Pacific (Adelaide Festival Centre and Australian National Tour), Prof Bhaer in Little Women (Australian National Music Theatre), and Thomas Andrews in Titanic (Theatre Royal, Sydney). Having trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts, Australia, his other theatre credits include Three Winters Green (Stables Theatre, New South Wales), Kiwi Fruits 2 (The Court Theatre, Christchurch), Only Heaven Knows (The Hayes Theatre), Songs for a New World (Australian National Music Theatre), I Love you, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Australian National Music Theatre), My Fair Lady (Opera Australia), Cats (International Tour), Jekyll and Hyde (South Korea, Taiwan), Into the Woods (Alliance Theatre, Atlanta), and Camelot (Pittsburgh Public Theatre). He is the recipient of the Gluggs Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the Gluggs Theatre Award for Best Cabaret Performance of the Year. Hayden’s debut solo cabaret show Me to a Tee was performed to great acclaim in Sydney, Auckland and New York. Other cabaret shows includeQuarterlife Crisis (Sydney), Hayden Tee (Sydney, Melbourne and New York) and Muftee which was a nightly cabaret and chat show which opened at the Stables Theatre, Sydney, in 2003 and ran for a record breaking seven months. His show The Gin is Cold…But the Piano Is Hot, which focused on the music of Kander and Ebb, also toured Australia.

Matilda The Musical is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus.

Matilda The Musical has now been seen by 8 million people worldwide, having toured to over 65 cities and played more than 6000 performances in the West End, on Broadway and on tour across North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Matilda The Musical will have its first non-English language production at the LG Arts Centre in Seoul, South Korea from September 2018.

Winner of over 85 international awards, including 16 for Best Musical, Matilda The Musical is also now touring the UK and Ireland. The tour began performances in March at Leicester Curve and is currently playing at Birmingham Hippodrome until 8 September. Running until 17 August 2019, the tour will play Manchester Palace Theatre, Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre, Theatre Royal Plymouth, the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, Edinburgh Playhouse, The Bristol Hippodrome, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton and Norwich Theatre Royal.

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 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 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.

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.

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION
MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Cambridge Theatre
Earlham Street
London WC2H 9HU

New performance times will take effect from 12 September
Tuesday – Friday 7pm
Wednesday 2pm
Saturday 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Sundays 3pm

Current performance times until 12 September
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.

Booking until 20 October 2019

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

ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE ANNOUNCES

FULL CAST FOR OTHELLO

 

English Touring Theatre, Oxford Playhouse and Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory present   

Othello

By William Shakespeare

 

UK tour 18 September – 24 November 2018

Director: Richard Twyman; Designer: Georgia Lowe; Associate Designer: Alex Berry

Composer & Sound Designer: Giles Thomas; Lighting Designer: Matt Graham

Movement Director: Lanre Malaolu; Fight Director: John Sandeman

Creative Advisor: Abdul-Rehman Malik; Casting Director: Annelie Powell CDG

 

English Touring Theatre today announces the full cast for the upcoming revival of Richard Twyman’s critically acclaimed production of Othello, a co-production with Oxford Playhouse and Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory. Richard Twyman directs Kitty Archer (Desdemona), Philip Correia (Cassio), Naby Dakhli (Montano), James Ellis (Duke), James Godden (Soldier/Senator), Paul McEwan (Iago) Victor Oshin (Othello) and Kelly Price (Emilia) joining returning cast members Chris Bianchi(Brabantio), Hayat Kamille (Bianca), Brian Lonsdale (Roderigo) and John Sandeman (Lodovico).

Othello opens at Oxford Playhouse on 20 September and tours to Harrogate Theatre, Cast in Doncaster, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Everyman Theatre Cheltenham, Oldham Coliseum Theatre, The New Wolsey Theatre, Warwick Arts Centre, Northern Stage and Lighthouse Poole.

 

Othello is one of Shakespeare’s most startlingly contemporary plays – a masterful depiction of a life torn apart by prejudice.

 

Venice; a western colonial power employs the newly-married Othello, a Muslim general, to lead their army against the impending Turkish invasion. The strain of fitting into a society riven by discrimination and fear soon take their toll. Manipulated by Iago, Othello’s life quickly unravels as he turns on everything he holds dear.

 

Originally co-produced with Tobacco Factory Theatres.

 

ETT will continue its commitment to make touring theatre accessible to young people with their 25^th anniversary ticket scheme 25 for £2.50 which will offer £2.50 tickets to Othello for young people aged 25 and under.

In addition ETT will run The Othello Project, where journalist and activist Abdul-Rehman Malik, will curate a multi-art festival in response to the production at each venue giving a platform to some of the most exciting Muslim artists and writers working in the UK today. Further details to be announced.

 

Kitty Archer plays Desdemona. Her theatre credits include One for Sorrow (Royal Court Theatre).

Chris Bianchi returns to the cast to play Brabantio. His theatre credits Waiting for Godot (Tobacco Factory/UK tour), All’s Well That Ends Well (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory/UK tour), Tartuffe, Hamlet, The School for Scandal, Arcadia, As You Like It, Richard III, King Lear, The Cherry Orchard, Antony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory), The Inn at Lydda (Shakespeare’s Globe), Romeo and Juliet (Rose Theatre Kingston), Thérèse Raquin, Lullabies of Broadmoor Quartet, The French Detective and The Blue Dog (Theatre Royal Bath), The Boy Who Cried Wolf!, The Rivals, 4 Toys in A Tent, The Boy and The Baby, No Loud Bangs, Penetrator (Bristol Old Vic),  Prometheus Bound (Young Vic), Filumena (Piccadilly Theatre), King Lear, The Provok’d Wifeand The Seagull (The Old Vic). His television credits include The Cafe and Historyonics.

Philip Correia plays Cassio. His theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Holy Warriors, Antony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare’s Globe/international tour), Keepers of Infinite Space (Park Theatre), The Pitmen Painters (National Theatre), Judgement Day (The Print Room), The Syndicate(Chichester Festival Theatre), Bus Stop (New Vic/Stephen Joseph Theatre), The Cherry Orchard(Birmingham Rep), Country Music (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Romeo and Juliet (Jermyn Street Theatre), Hobson’s Choice (Chichester Festival Theatre/UK tour), The History Boys (National Theatre/ Wyndham’s Theatre/UK tour) and The Merry Wives of Windsor (RSC). His television credits include Atlantis, Inspector George Gently, Vera and Canoe Man; and for film, The Hunters and Bliss!.

Naby Dakhli plays Montano. His theatre credits include Falsestuff (Teatre Nacional de Catalunya), Electra (La Cave a Théatr) and She Never Talks About Love (Les Énchantillons). His film credits include Gemini and Traces of Sandalwood.

James Ellis plays Duke. His theatre credits include This is This (Arts Theatre), Titus Andronicus, Timon of Athens (Cambridge Shakespeare Festival), Romeo and Juliet (Broadway Studio Theatre), Aphra(The Space), The Comedy of Errors (Rose Theatre Kingston). His television credits include Elizabeth I; and for film, Friends of Money.

 

James Godden plays Soldier/Senator. This marks his professional stage debut.

Hayat Kamille returns to play Bianca. Her theatre credits include If Chloe Can (National Theatre) and Waiting for Summer (Etcetera Theatre). Her film credits include Murder on the Orient Express.

Brian Lonsdale returns to play Roderigo. His theatre credits include My Romantic History, The Boy On The Swing (Live Theatre), Pound Look (Gala Theatre), Noises Off (Nottingham Playhouse/Nuffield Southampton Theatres), Martyr (Unicorn Theatre), War Horse (National Theatre), Diary of a Football Nobody (Nottingham Playhouse), The Pitmen Painters (Duchess Theatre/UK tour/ The Manhattan Theatre Club, Broadway), Pandora (Arcola Theatre), Bedroom Farce (West Yorkshire Playhouse), St George and The Dragon and Jason and The Argonauts (Warwick Arts Centre). His film credits include The Other Possibility and Goal!.

Paul McEwan plays Iago. His theatre credits include The Invisible Man (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), The Seven Acts of Mercy, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Richard III, La Lupa (RSC), Inkheart (HOME, Manchester), A Doll’s House (Sherman Theatre), but i cd only whisper (Arcola Theatre), and Man in the Middle, Decade and The Night Before Christmas (Theatre503). His television credits include Peaky Blinders, Strictly Confidential  and as series regular Shane Doyle in Emmerdale.

Victor Oshin plays Othello. This marks his professional stage debut.

Kelly Price plays Emilia. Her theatre credits include The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ – The Musical (Menier Chocolate Factory), A Little Night Music (Menier Chocolate Factory/Garrick Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical), The Woman in White (Palace Theatre), Mamma Mia! (Prince Edward Theatre), It’s a Wonderful Life (Avalon), Guys and Dolls (Piccadilly Theatre), Desperately Seeking Susan (Novello Theatre), Chicago (Cambridge Theatre), The Misanthrope (Comedy Theatre), Zack, That Day We Sang, Little Shop of Horrors (Royal Exchange Manchester), Stepping Out (Salisbury Playhouse), Boeing Boeing, Company (Sheffield Crucible), Perchance to Dream (Finborough Theatre), One Man Two Guvnors (National Theatre tour) and All the Angels: Handel and the First Messiah (Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre). Her television work includes Endeavour, Waterloo Road, Accused – Helen’s Story, Massive and Kombat Opera; and for film, The Sense of An Ending and A Bunch of Amateurs.

 

John Sandeman returns to play Lodovico. His theatre credits include All’s Well That Ends Well, Hamlet, Richard III (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory), Romeo and Juliet (The Lord Chamberlain’s Men), Berlin Kabaret (Brighton Festival Fringe/Soho Theatre), The Massacre at Paris (Shakespeare’s Globe), Beggar’s Bush (Latitude Festival), King Lear (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory), and Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Shaw Theatre). His film credits include Seven Lucky Gods.

Richard Twyman is Artistic Director of English Touring Theatre. Prior to this he was Associate Director (International) at the Royal Court Theatre between 2013-2016, where his directing work included Torn, Harrogate (also HighTide and UK tour), You For Me For You, Fireworks, The Djinns of Eidgah and PIIGS. His other theatre credits include Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Tokyo) Henry IV Part II (RSC), Ditch (Old Vic Tunnels and HighTide), Dr Marigold & Mr Chops (Theatre Royal Bath and UK tour), Sixty-Six Books (Bush Theatre) and Give Me Your Hand (Irish Rep, New York – nomination for the Drama Desk Award 2012 for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Experience). Between 2003 and 2008 he worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he was Associate Director to Michael Boyd on the multi-award winning Histories Cycle and for which he directed Henry IV Pt II.

The Othello Project

To accompany the UK tour of Othello, ETT, alongside journalist and activist Abdul-Rehman Malik, will curate a multi-art festival in response to the production at each venue. The festivals will give a platform to some of the most exciting Muslim artists and writers working in the UK today, shining a light on the contemporary relevance of the play, breaking down barriers to Shakespeare and championing cross-cultural dialogue amongst communities. The project will feature work from spoken word artist, Tanya Muneera Williams and is presented in association with Amal – a project of the Said Foundation. Further details about the festivals will be announced soon.

Tour Dates

Oxford Playhouse

18 September – 22 September

Press night: 20 September

Box Office: 01865 305305 / www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Harrogate Theatre

25 – 29 September

Box Office: 01423 502 116 / www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

Cast in Doncaster

2 – 6 October

Box Office: 01302 303 959 / www.castindoncaster.com

 

Lawrence Batley Theatre

9 – 13 October

Box Office: 01484 430528 / www.thelbt.org

Everyman Theatre Cheltenham

16 – 20 October

Box Office: 01242 572573 / www.everymantheatre.org.uk

 

Oldham Coliseum Theatre

23 – 27 October

Box Office: 0161 624 2829 / www.coliseum.org.uk

Wolsey Theatre Ipswich

30 October – 3 November

Box Office: 01473 295900 / www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

 

Warwick Arts Centre

6 – 10 November

Box Office: 024 7652 4524 / www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

 

Northern Stage

13 – 17 November

Box Office: 0191 230 5151 / www.northernstage.co.uk

 

Lighthouse Poole

20 – 24 November

Box Office: 01202 280000 / www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

HUGH DENNIS, LESLEY GARRETT AND JOHN MARQUEZ TO STAR IN A COMEDY OF BIBLICAL PROPOTIONS

FROM THE 39 STEPS WRITER, PATRICK BARLOW

THE MESSIAH

UK TOUR OPENS AT THE BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE ON OCTOBER 15^TH, 2018

HUGH DENNIS MAKES HIS FIRST STAGE APPEARANCE IN TWENTY YEARS

RENOWNED SOPRANO LESLEY GARRETT MAKES HER COMEDY PLAY DEBUT

 

Three towering talents play a cast of thousands in this new comedy by the writer of the Olivier Award-winning West End hit The 39 Steps as Patrick Barlow’s The Messiah tours the UK this Autumn. Starring Hugh Dennis, Lesley Garrett and John Marquez, the funniest and most magical nativity you’ll ever see opens at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on October 15^th, 2018 before touring to New Theatre, Cardiff; Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield; Cheltenham Everyman Theatre and Richmond Theatre.

A traveling theatre troupe of two actors and an opera singer are set to arrive on camel back in venues across the UK to masterfully enact the greatest story ever told. Join the absurdly talented Maurice Rose (Hugh Dennis), the alarmingly unpredictable Ronald Bream RAC (John Marquez), and the distinguished diva Mrs Doreen Small (Lesley Garrett), in a hilarious Christmas comedy that conjures up the sublime, the ridiculous and the truly angelic.

Joseph, Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, Herod, God and an ox are all authentically portrayed in this vibrant comedy weaving visual invention with a hint of the divine, The Messiah is a love letter to theatre, theology and the great man himself.

Hugh Dennis is one of Britain’s best loved comics and an award winning and multi-award nominated actor and writer. He’s star of the BBC2 hit panel show, Mock The Week and BBC1’s hilarious sitcomOutnumbered. He is also a firm radio favourite, both writing and presenting Radio 4’s award winning comedy The Now Show and Radio 2’s It’s Been A Bad Week.

 

 

Lesley Garrett CBE is Britain’s best-known soprano, regularly appearing in opera, musical theatre, concert, television and on CD’s. For more than 30 years she has enjoyed one of the most successful careers of any modern-day, classically trained soprano. From Rossini’s famed opera The Barber of Seville at the Coliseum, to West End musical hits, The Sound of Music and Carousel, Garrett has become a real national treasure.

John Marquez is best known for his role as PC Joe Penhale in the hit ITV Comedy series, Doc Martin.TV roles include Porridge, In the Club, Death in Paradise, Hotel Babylon and Suburban Shootout.Recent theatre roles include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (The Savoy Theatre) and Once in a Lifetime (The Young Vic).

The Messiah comes from The 39 Steps writer, Patrick Barlow – who also directs this production. His other stage works include his new version of A Christmas Carol starring Jim Broadbent as Scrooge (Off-Broadway / Noel Coward Theatre). Patrick is also celebrated for his two-man theatre company The National Theatre of Brent, (Wagner’s Ring, The Charles and Diana Story and The Wonder of Sex). Screen and theatre acting credits include A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Loot, Wind in the Willows (NT), Absolutely Fabulous, Jam and Jerusalem, Shakespeare in Love, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones, Nanny McPhee and most recently A Very English Scandal.

The Messiah promises to be the funniest and most magical Nativity you will ever see.

 

THE MESSIAH AUTUMN 2018 TOUR DATES

15 – 27 Oct                                                            0121 236 4455

Birmingham Rep Theatre                                    www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

29 Oct – 3 Nov                                                     029 2087 8889                            

New Theatre, Cardiff                                           www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk  

5 – 10 Nov                                                             0114 249 6000

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield                                 www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

12 – 17 Nov                                                           01242 572573

Cheltenham Everyman Theatre                        www.everymantheatre.org.uk

26 Nov – 1 Dec                                                     0844 871 7651

Richmond, Richmond Theatre                          www.atgtickets.com/richmond

Family favourites and sensational new dance

in Yorkshire this autumn

Mixed Programme – Leeds and Doncaster

The Three Musketeers – Sheffield

The Nutcracker – Hull and Leeds

northernballet.com/whatson

 

This autumn, theatre-goers in Yorkshire have a treat in store as Northern Ballet revives family classics and brings sensational new dance to the doorstep of audiences in the company’s home county. Starting in September, Northern Ballet will perform a brand new Mixed Programme before heading out on tour with The Three Musketeers and The Nutcracker, as well as premièring new children’s ballet Puss in Boots.

 

Northern Ballet will commence its autumn season with a trio of new short ballets in its Mixed Programme at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds (12 – 15 Sep) and Doncaster Cast (21 – 22 Sep). Featuring The Shape of Sound by Kenneth Tindall, Mamela… by Mlindi Kulashe and The Kingdom of Back by Morgann Runacre-Temple; this will be an exhilarating evening showcasing three new short works, by three brilliant young choreographers, in one unmissable experience.

 

Returning to the stage for the first time since 2007, Northern Ballet’s The Three Musketeers will take audiences on a rip-roaring adventure at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield from 24 – 27 October. Choreographed by Artistic Director David Nixon OBE, The Three Musketeers sees the gallantd’Artagnan and the three musketeers embark on an action-packed quest to save the queen’s reputation and the life of d’Artagnan’s love.

 

Later in October, Northern Ballet will hold the world première of its sixth new children’s ballet Puss inBoots. Created especially to introduce young children to live ballet, theatre and music, Puss in Bootsfollows will be performed at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds from 27 October – 5 November.

 

Finally, Northern Ballet draws its autumn season to a close with festive favourite The Nutcracker at Hull New Theatre (14 – 17 Nov) and Leeds Grand Theatre (4 – 16 Dec). Join Clara on Christmas Eve as she is swept away by the Nutcracker Prince on a magical adventure to a winter wonderland where she encounters dancing snowflakes and the famous Sugar Plum Fairy.

 

Tickets for all productions are on sale now. See northernballet.com/whatson for details.

 

Yorkshire Tour Dates

 

Mixed Programme

Leeds Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre 12 – 15 Sep 2018 Box Office 0113 220 8008 theatreleeds.com

Doncaster Cast 21 – 22 Sep 2018 Box Office 01302 303 959 castindoncaster.com

The Three Musketeers

Sheffield Lyceum Theatre 24 – 27 Oct 2018 Box Office 0114 249 6000 sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

The Nutcracker – Yorkshire Tour Dates

Hull New Theatre 14 – 17 Nov 2018 Box Office 01482 300 306 hulltheatres.co.uk

Leeds Grand Theatre 4 – 16 Dec 2018 Box Office 0844 848 2700* leedsgrandtheatre.com

Puss in Boots – Yorkshire Tour Dates

Leeds Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre 27 Oct – 3 Nov 2018 Box Office 0113 220 8008 theatreleeds.com

*Calls to 0844 numbers cost up to 7p per minute plus your phone company’s charge.

ACTING FOR OTHERS ANNOUNCES

THE A4O AMBASSADORS

Acting for Others today announces new initiative, The A4O Ambassadors.

They are

Jenny Agutter, Annette Badland, Christopher Biggins, Samantha Bond, Richard Eyre, Ben Forster, Lesley Joseph, Carl Mullaney, David O’Reilly, John Partridge, Wendi Peters, Cleve September, Harriet Thorpe and Hannah Waddingham.

 

The A4O Ambassadors will play an important role in supporting Acting for Others in helping the theatre community through taking part in events, encouraging others in the industry to contribute to the charity’s work and most importantly, raising awareness of the need to raise funds so as to be able to offer support to those in need.

Dame Judi Dench, President of Acting for Others, said today, “Acting for Others is exactly what it means, being concerned about everyone working in the theatre.  I am proud to be associated with it and it is brilliant to welcome some of our supporters as Ambassadors. I congratulate everyone who has gone out of their way to contribute to its success.”

www.actingforothers.co.uk        Twitter: @ActingForOthers

 

With thanks to Rules for hosting The A4O Ambassadors launch on Thursday 13 September.

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

 

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

 

   STARRING THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

RICHARD WINSOR

IN THE ICONIC ROLE OF ‘TONY MANERO’

 

 

Full casting for Bill Kenwright’s highly anticipated new production of Saturday Night Fever has been announced. Joining acclaimed dancer and actor Richard Winsor as Tony Manero, in his first leading role in a major musical, is: Kate Parr(Follies) in the role of Stephanie, Owen Broughton (Gus), Michael Cortez (Joey), Raphael Pace (Bobbie C) and Jared Thompson (Double Jay).

 

The cast is completed by: Philip Aiden (Frank Senior); Anna Campkin (Annette); Faizal Jaye (DJ Monty); Melody Jones (Flo Manero); Marios Nicolaides (Frank Junior); and the ensemble: Rhianne Alleyne, Javier Cid, Jess Ellen, Andrew Gordon Watkins, Olivia Kate Holding, Carly Miles, Aimee Moore, Nathan Ryles and Brett Shiels.

 

They are joined, for the first time, by the Bee Gees with Ed Handoll (Barry Gibb), Alastair Hill(Maurice Gibb) and Matt Faull (Robin Gibb) singing the hit soundtrack of the disco classics.

 

Ignite The Inferno. Feel The Fever. Like Never Before.

 

40 years since its famous UK cinema release, Saturday Night Fever is a reimagined and revitalised music and dance spectacular. Opening in London at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 30 August 2018, the nationwide tour includes Liverpool, Dublin, Birmingham, Bristol, Aylesbury, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Blackpool, Llandudno, Bradford and Cardiff.

 

Saturday Night Fever tells the story of Tony Manero, and his reckless, yet thrilling road to dancing success. The musical features the Bee Gees’ greatest hits including Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever, Tragedy and More Than a Woman as well as 70’s favorites Boogie Shoes, Disco Inferno and for the first time will feature a group playing the Bee Gees live on stage.

 

The 70’s classic Paramount/RSO movie, with story by Nik Cohn, was an instant hit when it was released in cinemas. The album remains the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time.

Whilst paying homage to the movie, this new stage version promises more drama, more music and hot new choreography. It is directed and produced by Bill Kenwright, with choreography by Olivier Award winning Bill Deamer, designs by Gary McCaan, lighting by Nick Richings, and sound by Dan Samson. The stage adaptation is by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oakes.

LISTINGS

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

UK TOUR

 

New Wimbledon Theatre 30 August – 8 September	atgtickets.com/newwimbledontheatre 0844 871 7646
Liverpool Empire Theatre 11 – 15 September	atgtickets.com/liverpoolempire 0844 871 3017
Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre 18 – 22 September	Bordgaisenergytheatre.ie +353 (1) 677 7999
Birmingham Alexandra Theatre 25 – 29 September	atgtickets.com/newalexandratheatre 0844 871 3011
Bristol Hippodrome Theatre 2 – 6 October	atgtickets.com/bristolhippodrome 0844 871 3012
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre 9 – 13 October	atgtickets.com/aylesburywatersidetheatre 0844 871 7607
Glasgow Kings Theatre 16 – 20 October	atgtickets.com/kingstheatre 0844 871 7648
Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre 23 – 27 October	atgtickets.com/edinburghplayhouse 0844 871 3014
Blackpool Opera House 30 October – 3 November	wintergardensblackpool.co.uk 0844 856 1111
Llandudno Venue Cymru 13 – 17 November	venuecymru.co.uk 01492 872000
Bradford Alhambra Theatre 20 – 24 November	bradford-theatres.co.uk 01274 432 000
Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre 27 November – 1 December	wmc.org.uk 029 20636464
Dartford Orchard Theatre 8 – 12 January	orchardtheatre.co.uk 01322 220000
The Hawth Crawley Theatre 15 – 19 January	parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/The-Hawth 01293 553636
Manchester Palace Theatre 22 – 26 January	atgtickets.com/palacetheatremanchester 0844 871 3019
Hull New Theatre 29 January – 2 February	hulltheatres.co.uk 01482 300 306
Canterbury Marlowe Theatre 5 – 9 February	marlowetheatre.com 01227 787787
York Grand Opera House 12 – 16 February	atgtickets.com/grandoperahouseyork 0844 871 3024
Carlisle The Sands Centre 19 – 23 February	thesandscentre.co.uk 01228 633766
Sheffield Lyceum Theatre 26 February – 2 March	sheffieldtheatres.co.uk 0114 249 6000
Newcastle Theatre Royal 5 – 9 March	theatreroyal.co.uk 08448 11 21 21

Website: www.kenwright.com

Gerard Kearns to star in the premiere of Lizzie Nunnery’s new play To Have To Shoot Irishmen

Almanac Arts is delighted to announce full casting for the premiere of Lizzie Nunnery’s new play with songs To Have To Shoot Irishmen which will open at the Omnibus Theatre in London from 2-20 Oct and then tour till the 6 November.

Inspired by the true murder of Irish pacifist Francis Sheehy Skeffington by a British soldier during the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916, the new play conjures the shattering impact of those events on his wife and feminist activist Hanna, on William the teenage soldier who guarded Frank, and on Vane the rebellious commander who bears the news of Frank’s death to Hanna.

Playing the role of Frank will be Gerard Kearns who is best known for playingIan Gallagher in Shameless and appearing in the BAFTA Award-Winning The Mark of Cain, both for Channel 4. His other credits include The Last Kingdom, BBC; Looking for Eric, Trespass Against Us and Mike Leigh’s forthcoming filmPeterloo, all Film 4 and onstage in The Accrington Pals and Much Ado About Nothing, Royal Exchange, Manchester.  Next year he will be seen in the HBO/Sky miniseries Chernobyl.

 

Joining Kearns will be Elinor Lawless (The End of Hope, Soho Theatre; King Charles III, Wyndham’s Theatre and Bakkhai, Almedia Theatre) as Hanna;Robbie O’Neill (Little Boy Blue, ITV and Jonathan Strange and Dr Norrell, BBC) as William and Russell Richardson (An August Bank Holiday Lark, Northern Broadsides and A View from the Bridge, Bolton Octagon) as Vane.

Writer Lizzie Nunnery is an award-winning playwright and celebrated singer-songwriter. Lizzie’s first play Intemperance (Liverpool Everyman, Sept 2007) was shortlisted for the Meyer-Whitworth Award. In 2016 she premiered Narvikat the Liverpool Playhouse, which went on to tour to great acclaim. The production was shortlisted for the international Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and won Best New Play at the UK Theatre Awards 2017.

Directed by Gemma Kerr (Hitting Town, Southwark Playhouse) and produced by Almanac Arts and Claire Bigley, To Have to Shoot Irishmen will open at Omnibus Theatre from 2-20 October and will then tour until 6 November

• LISTINGS INFORMATION:

To Have to Shoot Irishmen

Tue 2 – Sat 20 October, 7pm. Sundays at 4pm. No performance on Mondays. See website for more details.

Tickets £16, £13 conc.

12+ years old

Box Office: Tel: 020 7498 4699, Email: [email protected]

Online: www.omnibus-clapham.org

Address: Omnibus Theatre, 1 Northside, Clapham Common, London, SW4 0QW

Twitter: @Omnibus_Theatre

Facebook: @OmnibusTheatre

Instagram: omnibus_theatre

• TOUR DATES –

Thursday 25 -Saturday 27th October at 7.30pm– Liverpool
Everyman Theatre (As part of Liverpool Irish Festival)

Tickets £10-£20

Box Office: Tel 0151 709 4776 / www.everymanplayhouse.com

Tuesday 30 October at 8pm
– Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

Tickets £13.75, concessions TBC

Box Office: Tel 01227 787787 / www.marlowetheatre.com/

Thursday 1 & Friday 2 November at 8pm- Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Tickets £14.50, Concessions £12.50

Box Office: Tel 01743 281281 / www.theatresevern.co.uk/

Monday 5 November at 7.30pm- Mumford Theatre, Anglia Ruskin University,

Cambridge

Tickets £12.50 full price, £10.50 concessions, £8.50 student/child

Box Office: 01223 352932 / www.anglia.ac.uk/mumfordtheatre

Tuesday 6 November at 8pm – The Arts Centre at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk

Tickets £10, £8 concessions, free for Edge Hill University students

Box Office: 01695 584480 / www.edgehill.ac.uk/artscentre

COMMON ANNOUNCES COMMON: CONVERSATIONS WITH FIRST GUESTS JAMES GRAHAM AND JOSIE ROURKE

Artistic Director of COMMON, David Loumgair, today announces COMMON: CONVERSATIONS, a new initiative delivered in partnership with Digital Theatre, English Touring Theatre and Stage Directors UK. The inauguralCOMMON: CONVERSATIONS event will take place at Pleasance, London on Monday 17 September 2018, with guest speakers James Graham and Josie Rourke.

COMMON is an arts organisation which exists to support the UK theatre industry in achieving greater socio-economic diversity, and help make theatre more accessible to the working-class; whether they be artists, audiences or communities. COMMON: CONVERSATIONS is its brand-new series of live hosted conversations and audience Q&A events with the UK’s most revered artists from working-class backgrounds currently working in theatre, alongside high-profile allies of class diversity, openly and honestly discussing their personal relationships with class and the impact this had, or continues to have, on their careers. Further events in the series will be announced shortly.

To maximise the reach of COMMON: CONVERSATIONS, each live event will be filmed by Digital Theatre. Screenings will then be offered to regional theatres across the UK, featuring exclusive content, before being published on digitaltheatre.com and its multi award-winning education platform, digitaltheatreplus.com. Digital Theatre + reaches over 4 million students in secondary schools, colleges and universities in 65 countries.

All ticket buyers will also be offered a free month’s access to digitaltheatre.com.

In addition, the audience Q&A segments – which will include questions taken through social media platforms – will be released as a free-to-download COMMON podcast.

As part of its commitment to being inclusive and accessible, COMMON are introducing a Pay It Forward (PIF) ticket scheme. The Pay It Forward scheme, and the generosity of those with the ability to pay for a PIF ticket, will enable individuals who otherwise wouldn’t have the financial ability to engage with COMMON: CONVERSATIONS to attend the events.

David Loumgair, Artistic Director of COMMON, said today, “COMMON: CONVERSATIONS is an attempt to encourage the theatre industry to finally, once and for all, fully acknowledge the structural barriers to career progression and accessibility for working-class artists and communities.

We want to encourage the theatre industry to commit to creating real, infrastructural change to address these problems, and by hearing the stories and experiences of respected artists from working-class backgrounds who succeeded in forging sustainable careers, COMMON hope to reveal class diversity as a conscious, crucial part of our history and our future as an industry.”

Robert Delamere, Founder of Digital Theatre added, “We’re proud to partner with COMMON to shoot, screen and share their new initiative COMMON: CONVERSATIONS. It’s an initiative with real personal resonance for me. Access to performing arts content without limitation – whether for the audience, for the student or for the artist – is why Digital Theatre came to be.”

COMMON are grateful for the support of Digital Theatre, English Touring Theatre and Stage Directors UK