Month: September 2018

(NO) LEAVES ON MY PRECIOUS SELF AT THE
KING’S HEAD THEATRE IN OCTOBER 2018

October 8th-13th 2018, 9:30pm at The King’s Head
Theatre

The show takes the audience through the mind and daily life of an emerging actor. It explores the fascinating touch of madness a career in performing arts often offers, as well as its challenges and pitfalls. Beautifully moving between physical theatre, musical theatre and spoken word pieces, the show offers a lighthearted
but deep and thought-provoking night of
entertainment

‘What a crazy paradox there is. The industry that is based on pure beauty, whether it is the beauty of people’s minds, if one writes; people’s hands, if one paints, or plays a musical instrument; people’s selves, souls, thoughts, talents, auras, energies, makes you yourself feel so ugly. Creating that beauty in any way, serving it to others, you crush your own soul, spit on it, mould it, destroy it with mind-eating doubts, hesitations, and self-beating. It celebrates flaws and imperfections, but almost never forgives you your own.’

After graduating in BA (Hons) Theatre Studies, Kate, a firm believer in creating her own career opportunities, collaborated with a British director Dan Pickard on turning her final degree performance into a short film, named ‘The Allure de Moi’. The film was received very well, and got good reviews.

(No) Leaves On My Precious Self is Kate’s debut in playwriting, and as a theatre director, and transfers to the King’s Head Theatre following a successful production at The Drayton Arms Theatre.

Tickets are £15/ £12 conc, and are on sale online at:

https://system.spektrix.com/kingsheadtheatre/website/eventdetails.aspx?WebEventId=noleaves

ANNOUNCED TODAY:

T H E  M U S I C  O F

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

IN FOUR CONTEMPORARY SUITES BY IMOGEN HEAP

WILL BE RELEASED 2 NOVEMBER 2018

AVAILABLE NOW TO PRE-ORDER

AWARD-WINNING SCORE FEATURED IN A NEW ALBUM OF MUSIC

BY GRAMMY & IVOR NOVELLO AWARD-WINNING

COMPOSER & INNOVATOR IMOGEN HEAP

Today, 20 September 2018, Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender are proud to announce that The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, an album of music from the internationally acclaimed stage production, will be released on 2 November 2018.

The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is written, composed, performed and recorded by Grammy and Ivor Novello Award-winner Imogen Heap.  It is presented as four contemporary musical suites, each showcasing one of the play’s theatrical acts.  This unique new album format from Imogen Heap chronologically features the music heard in the stage production, further reworked to transport listeners on a sonic journey through the world of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be released by Sony Music Masterworks, and available in stores as well as digitally on 2 November 2018, with pre-orders available now at https://HarryPotter.lnk.to/HARRYPOTTERANDTHECURSEDCHILDPR

Imogen Heap said “This album is like nothing I’ve ever attempted before. It’s four suites containing music from each of the four acts of the play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. With over 100 moments of music in the play, the challenge was how to weave them together, and I think it has manifested into a really enjoyable listen, with memories for those who’ve seen the play, musical accompaniment to those with the script of the play or simply just to enjoy the music as a stand-alone album. It is crafted to be listened to in its entirety, taking the listener through different worlds within each suite. I don’t know another album like it. I hope others enjoy listening to it as much as I’ve enjoyed making it.”

Mark Cavell, COO, Sony Music Masterworks said “It’s an absolute pleasure to work with Imogen Heap and the team at Sonia Friedman Productions on this amazing album. The album represents many months of dedication from Imogen to ensure that the music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is as magical in album form as it is on stage. Together with producers Sonia and Colin and the creative team, led by John Tiffany and Steven Hoggett, their collective vision and execution is second to none, and we are honoured to be the partner to bring Imogen’s exquisite music to the Harry Potter universe. I can only recommend that anyone, whether they have seen the show or not, should put the album on and travel through platform 9 ¾!”

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.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child received its world premiere in July 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London and earlier this week more tickets were released for performances through to 28 July 2019.

It is also now playing at the Lyric Theatre on Broadway, with an Australian production beginning performances at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre on 16 January 2019.  A further North American production will open at San Francisco’s Curran in Autumn 2019 and, in spring 2020, a German language version of the play – marking its first non-English language production – will open at the Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt in Hamburg, Germany.

For the Broadway production, 100,000 tickets will be released at 11am on 27 September for performances through to 9 June 2019. Tickets for the forthcoming Melbourne production are now also on sale. Details of all productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ can be found at www.HarryPotterthePlay.com

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

Imogen Heap is a self-produced British recording artist. She has written and produced four solo albums, one as one half of Frou Frou, and has collaborated with countless and varied artists including Jeff Beck, Taylor Swift, Mika and Josh Groban. She has two Grammys, one for engineering and another for her contribution to Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’, and is also the recipient of the Ivor Novello Award, The Artist and Manager Pioneer award, the MPG Inspiration Award and an honorary Doctorate of Technology for her MI.MU Gloves work. Earlier this year she won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

In 2014 she envisioned a music industry ecosystem through Mycelia and released ‘Tiny Human’, the first song to use smart contracts on a blockchain. This month, Heap embarks on a year-long music and technology world tour.

Sony Music Masterworks comprises the imprints Masterworks, Sony Classical, OKeh, Portrait and Masterworks Broadway. Our artists range from icons to newly developing talents in classical, crossover and adult alternative music, plus new and legendary jazz artists. Our vast catalogue of musical theatre recordings features classic shows and original cast albums of today’s Broadway hits including; The Prom, SpongeBob SquarePants, Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler, Groundhog Day,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, On Your Feet!, Kinky Boots, Once, If/Then and An American in Paris.

LINKS

www.HarryPotterthePlay.com

www.pottermore.com

@HPPlayLDN

facebook.com/HPPlayLDN

instagram.com/hpplayldn

NEW GROUP FOR THEATRE LOVERS IN DARLINGTON

Darlington Hippodrome introduces a brand new group for theatre lovers aged 55 and over.

If you are aged 55 and over and have a love of the theatre then you could become one of Pepi’s People. This new group, named after the Hippodrome’s founding Managing Director Signor Rino Pepi, will meet on Fridays through October and into November at Darlington Hippodrome to get involved in theatre talks, movement taster sessions, script-writing workshops, learning about theatre direction and discussing all things theatre with people who share the same passion.

Sessions will be taken by guest speakers and performers from the region. Tickets for the full 6 week course of events are just £30. Each session will run from 10am to 12.30pm. For more detailed information please contact the theatre’s Audience Development and Participation Officer, Chris Wellings on 01325 405510.

To book your spaces visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call 01325 405450

Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions present

ALL ABOUT EVE 
by Joseph L Mankiewicz

Adapted and directed for the stage by Ivo van Hove

• Gillian Anderson and Lily James to star in strictly limited run of All About Eve at the Noël Coward Theatre alongside Monica Dolan, Sheila Reid and Rhashan Stone with further casting to be announced.
• The iconic multi-Oscar winning film has been adapted for stage and will be directed by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Ivo van Hove. 
• All About Eve will run for 14 weeks with reduced priced previews beginning on 2^nd February 2019.
• Tickets go on general sale at 10am on 28^th September 2018 with presale from 10am on Wednesday 26^th September. Over 20,000 tickets will be available at £25 or under during the run.

Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions have today announced the world premiere of Ivo van Hove’s highly anticipated stage production of the 1950 Twentieth Century Fox film All About Eve.

The much acclaimed film, based on Mary Orr’s original play “The Wisdom of Eve”, remains the only film to receive four female acting nominations.  The Emmy Award-winning Gillian Anderson (X-Files, The Fall, A Streetcar Named Desire) will return to the stage alongside Lily James (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Downton Abbey, Romeo and Juliet). BAFTA Award-winner Monica Dolan will join the cast in the role of Karen, alongside Sheila Reid as Birdie and Rhashan Stoneas Lloyd with performances running from 2^nd February at the West End’s Noël Coward Theatre. Further casting to be announced soon.

Ivo van Hove’s direction will be accompanied by set and lighting design from Jan Versweyveld, costume design by An D’Huys and music from double Mercury Prize-winner PJ Harvey,alongside Tom Gibbons’ sound design. Casting is by Julia Horan CDG.

Tickets will go onsale from 10am on 28^th September 2018 with presale from 10am Wednesday 26^thSeptember.

“Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”

Margo Channing. Legend. True star of the theatre. The spotlight is hers, always has been. But now there’s Eve. Her biggest fan. Young, beautiful Eve. The golden girl, the girl next door. But you know all about Eve…don’t you…?

 Ivo van Hove directs Gillian Anderson and Lily James in his new adaptation of All About Eve, a razor-sharp, unsettling exposé of the eternal obsession at the heart of show-business. Lifting the curtain on a world of jealousy and ambition, this new production, from one of the world’s most innovative theatre directors, asks why our fascination with celebrity, youth and identity never seems to get old.

GILLIAN ANDERSON (Margo) is an award-winning film, television and theatre actress who won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and two Screen Actors’ Guild awards for her role as ‘Special Agent Dana Scully’ in the TV series The X-Files.

Her further television credits include critically acclaimed Bleak House (BBC), BAFTA-winning mini-series Great Expectations (BBC), BAFTA-nominated thriller The Fall (BBC), Hannibal (NBC),American Gods (Starz) and the acclaimed mini-series War & Peace (BBC). In 2019 she will play Jean in Netflix’s 8-parter, Sex Education (Netflix).

On stage, Gillian performed at the Young Vic Theatre as Blanche Dubois in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, which relocated to St Ann’s Warehouse in New York and for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award and won Best Actress at the Evening Standard Awards.

Other UK theatre credits include What The Night Is For (Pinter Theatre); The Sweetest Swing In Baseball (Royal Court Theatre) and A Doll’s House (Donmar Warehouse) in 2009 for which she earned her first Olivier nomination.

Gillian’s film credits include The House of Mirth (Granada Productions); The Mighty Celt (BBC Films); The Last King of Scotland (Film 4); Johnny English Reborn (Universal); Shadow Dancer(Paramount); Sold (2016); Viceroy’s House (20^th Century Fox) and Crooked House (Sony). Gillian’s latest films have been The Spy Who Dumped Me (Lionsgate) and The Sunlit Night which will be released in 2019.

LILY JAMES (Eve) graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2010. Her breakout film role was the iconic ‘Cinderella’ in Disney’s award-winning worldwide hit adaptation directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Lily was most recently seen in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! (Universal) alongside Meryl Streep, playing ‘Young Donna’. She also appeared in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Studio Canal). Lily’s further film credits include ‘Elizabeth Nel’ in Darkest Hour (Working Title) opposite Gary Oldman, and ‘Debora’ in Baby Driver (Working Title) alongside Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm.

Lily’s most notable TV credits include ‘Lady Rose’ in Golden Globe and BAFTA winning period drama Downton Abbey (ITV), and ‘Natasha Rostova’ in the much-heralded War & Peace (BBC).

For stage, Lily played ‘Juliet’ in Kenneth Branagh’s acclaimed Romeo and Juliet (Garrick Theatre). Further theatre credits include Vernon God Little (Young Vic Theatre) directed by Rufus Norris, and ‘Desdemona’ in Daniel Evans’ stage production of Othello (The Crucible, Sheffield).

MONICA DOLAN is a BAFTA award-winning actress whose work spans stage, television and film. Highlights include Rosemary West in Appropriate Adult (ITV) for which she won a BAFTA, Janet inWitness for the Prosecution (Mammoth Screen), and Tracey Pritchard in W1A (BBC).

Most recently Monica has been seen as Peggy O’Dowd in Vanity Fair (ITV), and Marion in A Very English Scandal (BBC) opposite Hugh Grant.

Further TV credits include Inside No. 9 (BBC), The Casual Vacancy (BBC/HBO), Wolf Hall (BBC), and Call the Midwife (BBC).

For stage, Monica appeared in self-penned B*EASTS (Bush Theatre), Plaques & Tangles, The Twits, Birth of a Nation (Royal Court), King Lear, Seagull (Royal Shakespeare Company), Macbeth (Out of Joint), She Stoops to Conquer, A Laughing Matter (Royal National Theatre/Out of Joint) andThe Walls (Royal National Theatre).

SHEILA REID spent 7 years in Laurence Olivier’s first permanent company at the Old Vic Theatre, playing, amongst many parts, Bianca in his Othello and Natasha in The Three Sisters – both subsequently filmed. She is a founder member of the Actors Company and spent two seasons with the RSC; notably as the nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Putana in Tis Pity She’s a Whore and Queen Margaret in Richard III.

Theatre credits also include an Olivier Award-nomination for When I Was A Girl I Used To Scream And Shout (Whitehall Theatre), My Mother Said I Never Should (Royal Court), The Importance Of Being Ernest (Haymarket), Pornography (Tricycle), Into The Woods (Donmar), Filomena(Almeida) and more recently Rasheeda Speaking (Trafalgar Studios), Silver Linings (English Touring Theatre), Pericles (Shakespeare’s Globe) and Maurice’s Jubilee (Edinburgh Festival / UK tour). She is currently in rehearsals for Troilus & Cressida at The RSC.

Ingmar Bergman cast her in his film The Touch, having directed her in Hedda Gabler at the National Theatre. Other films include Brazil, The Winter Guest, Five Days One Summer and, most recently, the short multi award winning O Be Joyful.

She is probably best known on TV as Madge, in the comedy series Benidorm. Other television includes Call The Midwife Christmas special 2014, three series of Doctor Who, Father Brown,Humans III, Psychobitches . She was most recently scene in Murder on The Blackpool Express, and has just wrapped on its sequel, Death On Tyne.

RHASHAN STONE has appeared on stage in The Strange Death of John Doe and The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism & Socialism (Hampstead Theatre); Our Town (Almeida Theatre); Love and Information and Clubland (Royal Court Theatre); Southwark Fair, The Red Balloon, Sweeney Todd (all National Theatre). He has regularly performed for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

On screen he will appear in the second series of Killing Eve (BBC America) and the third series ofDelicious (Sky) with further recent credits including Apple Tree Yard (BBC), Carters Get Rich (Sky 1), The A Word (BBC) and Ballot Monkeys (Channel 4).

IVO VAN HOVE has been director of Toneelgroep Amsterdam since 2001. From 1998 to 2004, he was Artistic Director the Holland Festival, presenting a varied selection of international theatre, music, opera and dance.

Ivo’s theatre credits include the upcoming theatrical adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life(International Theatre, Amsterdam); Network (The Cort Theatre, Broadway); starring Bryan Cranston; Network and Hedda Gabler (National Theatre); A View from the Bridge (Young Vic/Wyndham Theatre/Lyceum Theatre, Broadway); The Crucible (Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway); Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre/New York Theatre Workshop, Broadway); and Visconti’sThe Damned (La Comédie-Française, Paris/The Park Avenue Armory, New York).

Ivo has been awarded two Olivier Awards and two Tony Awards for A View from the Bridge; two Obie Awards for More Stately Mansions and Hedda Gabler. In addition, Ivo is also Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France and King Filip of Belgium awarded him Commander of the Order of the Crown.

Additional directing credits include Angels in America, Roman Tragedies, Kings of War, Opening Night, Taming of the Shrew, Scenes from a Marriage, Othello, The Miser, Mourning Becomes Electra, Long Day’s Journey into Night and The Fountainhead (all Toneelgroep Amsterdam).

LISTINGS

Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions present

ALL ABOUT EVE
by Joseph L Mankiewicz
Adapted and directed for the stage by Ivo van Hove
Set and Lighting Jan Versweyveld
Costume An D’Huys
Music PJ Harvey
Sound Tom Gibbons
Casting  Julia Horan CDG

Noël Coward Theatre

A Delfont Mackintosh Theatre
85-88 St Martin’s Ln, London WC2N 4AP

First performance: 2^nd February 2019
Opening night: 12^th February 2019
Final performance: 11^th May 2019

Captioned performance:  12^th March 2019
Audio Described performance: 19^th March 2019

Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday matinee performances at 2.30pm

Box office details
http://AllAboutEvePlay.com
0844 482 5140 Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge
Group Bookings: 0844 482 5100
Access Bookings: 0844 482 5165

Prices from £15

@AllAboutEvePlay | AllAboutEvePlay.com

Star Inn, Guildford – until 29 September

Reviewed by Antonia Hebbert

4****

Sit down! I said SIT DOWN. And stop talking, you lot at the back. I said STOP – where was I? Oh yes, Teechers, a play by John Godber that takes you straight back to the classroom. It’s the end of the school year at Whitewall comp, and three school-leavers, Gail, Hobby and Salty, are putting on a play as a tribute to their inspirational drama teacher. Rapid rewind to the start of the year, and we see new drama teacher Mr Nixon arrive, full of good intentions. Lauren James Ray, Sam Stay and Elle Banstead-Salim play the three main characters and everybody else, switching with incredible speed and ease between staffroom and classroom roles as they romp through a year of events in a local comprehensive.

The play’s writer John Godber was a drama teacher, and the characters are cringe-makingly convincing. The feeble teacher, the scaring teacher, the grumpy caretaker and the staffroom squabbles – they’re all mercilessly portrayed here. Pupils for whom school feels irrelevant and teachers are just background noise – they’re here too. Scenes rattle by at high speed (sometimes a touch too fast) with snatches of music and some nifty choreography. It’s sharp and funny, but makes a serious point about poorly resourced schools letting down teenagers and teachers alike. The set is suitably spare – just a blackboard, a couple of chairs and a box of tissues turns out to be all you need to re-create a rundown comprehensive.

One oddity is that the play was written in 1984, long before mobile phones and social media came into teenagers’ lives. That apart, it still feels raw and relevant – definitely required viewing for all new teachers, especially in the genial setting of the Star Inn. Harry Blumenau directs the production for the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company.

NEW BOOKING PERIOD ANNOUNCED FOR HIT WEST END PRODUCTION OF

T I N A

T H E   T I N A   T U R N E R   M U S I C A L

WITH 200,000 NEW TICKETS RELEASED FOR SALE

The producers of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, the new musical based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner are pleased to announce that over 200,000 new tickets will go on sale on Monday 24 September 2018, taking bookings to 20 July 2019.

The critically acclaimed production received its world premiere in April 2018 in London and subsequently has broken all Box Office records at the Aldwych Theatre.  Plans are underway for a Broadway production and the German premiere of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL will begin performances at the Stage Operettenhaus in Hamburg in March 2019.

Tali Pelman, Producer and Group Creative Managing Director at Stage Entertainment said:  “On behalf of everyone involved with our production, I am delighted that following our thrilling opening here in the West End we are now in the process of planning two further productions worldwide.  We created our musical in London, a city which has always been very special to Tina, and we are excited to be starting our next chapter.”

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, choreography is by Anthony van Laast, with set and costume designs by Mark Thompson, musical supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Bruno Poet, sound by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Jeff Sugg and orchestrations by Ethan Popp.

From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into the global Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner didn’t just break the rules, she rewrote them. This new stage musical, presented in association with Tina Turner herself, reveals the untold story of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race. 

The current West End cast comprises Adrienne Warren, who plays the title role, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Ike Turner, Madeline Appiah as Tina’s mother Zelma Bullock, Jenny Fitzpatrick who plays the role of Tina at some performances each week, Lorna Gayle as Tina’s Grandmother GG, Tom Godwin as Record Producer Phil Spector and Lyricist Terry Britten,Francesca Jackson as Ike and Tina’s manager Rhonda Graam, Aisha Jawando as Tina’s sister Alline Bullock, Natey Jones as Tina’s father Richard Bullock and Tina’s first love Raymond Hill,Gerard McCarthy as record company Marketing Manager Erwin Bach and Ryan O’Donnell as Tina’s Manager Roger Davies.

They are joined by ensemble members Tsemaye Bob-Egbe, Keisher Downie, Kit Esuruoso who also plays Tina’s son Craig, Jammy Kasongo, Sia Kiwa, Jason Langley, Kayleigh McKnight, Baker Mukasa who plays Tina’s son Ronnie and Tanisha Spring and swings Derek Aidoo, Gavin Alex, Edward Bourne, Candace Furbert, Jemma Geanaus, Hannah Jay-Allan and Rodney Vubya.

The children’s cast are Reya-Nyomi Brown, eleven years old from Greenwich, Claudia Elie, eleven years old from Brent and Serena Mukuna, eleven years old from Camden who share the role of Young Anna Mae; Arianna Duffus, thirteen years old from Harrow, Fayth Ifil, eleven years oldfrom Swindon and Eva Marie Saffrey, twelve years old from Leytonstone, who share the role of Young Alline; Riotafari Gardner, seven years old from Brent, Myles Grant, eight years old from Watford and Khylan St Paul Mark, eight years old from Brent who share the role of Young Craig.

The current cast are contracted until 16 March 2019.  Details of any changes to the cast will be announced nearer the time.

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is produced by Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner.  Adrienne Warren is appearing with the support of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                           Aldwych Theatre, Aldwych, London WC2B 4DF

Dates:                              now booking to 20 July 2019

Performances:                   Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm

Box Office:                         0845 200 7981

Website:                           www.tinathemusical.com

Facebook:                         TinaTheMusical

Twitter:                            TinaTheMusical

Instagram:                        TinaTheMusical

SUSAN HILL’S

THE WOMAN IN BLACK

CELEBRATES 12,000 PERFORMANCES

ON SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2018

PW Productions are delighted to celebrate 12,000 performances of Susan Hill’s THE WOMAN IN BLACK on Saturday 22 September 2018 at The Fortune Theatre, London. THE WOMAN IN BLACK currently stars Richard Hope as ‘Arthur Kipps’ and Mark Hawkins as ‘The Actor’.

Producer Peter Wilson said today, “To have achieved 12,000 performances may not be unique, but it is remarkable. Susan Hill’s great story allied to Robin Herford’s carefully inspired direction of Stephen Mallatratt’s brilliant adaptation have kept the show fresh, exciting – and constantly in demand. I’m grateful to them all, and to the extraordinary casts and crews that have kept The Fortune Theatre busy for so long.”

THE WOMAN IN BLACK will then celebrate its 30^th Anniversary in London’s West End in June 2019. Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over his family by the spectre of a ‘Woman in Black’. He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into his darkest memories, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds. The borders between make-believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins creep.

Richard Hope’s theatre credits include: “Queen Anne”; “The Park”; “The History Boys”; “Orlando”; “King Lear”; “Much Ado About Nothing”; “Don Juan”; “Hamlet” and “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” among others. Richard’s television credits include: “Poldark”, “Broadchurch”, “Midsomer Murders”; “Doctor Who”; “Poirot”; “Brideshead Revisited”; “Foyles War” and “Tipping the Velvet”. He has recently helped to research and develop new work for the National Theatre Studio, RSC, Globe Theatre and Old Vic Theatre.

Mark Hawkins trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama. His theatre credits include: “The Railway Children”; “Muted”; “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”; “Richard III”; “The Night Before Christmas”; “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”; “Julius Caesar” and “Pills Thrills and Automobiles”, and also “The Woman in Black” on tour. His short film credits include: “Day 703”;, “Amnesiac”; “Spoons”; “Anamnesis”; “George Eliot’s Silas Marner” and “The Ash Can”.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK is directed by Robin Herford, with designs by Michael Holt, lighting by Kevin Sleep and sound by Gareth Owen.

LISTINGS

THE FORTUNE THEATRE

Russell Street, London, WC2B 5HH

Performance Times:     Tuesday to Saturday at 8.00pm; Tuesday and Thursday at 3.00pm and Saturday at 4.00pm

Tickets:                         Prices are from £21.50 to £52.00 (Premium Seats are also available)

Box Office:                   0844 871 7626*

Currently booking until 27 July 2019

www.thewomaninblack.com

@WomaninBlack_UK

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

The Lowry, Salford – until 22nd September 2018.

Reviewed by Sarah Cockerill

3***

Penelope Skinner’s (Linda, The Village Bike) Meek, recently on show at the Edinburgh Fringe, presents a bleak, dystopian existence in which its citizens, a woman called Irene (Shvorne Marks) in this case, struggle under the rule of a totalitarian state, enforcing Westboro-Baptist-Church-style dogma with an iron fist. Incarcerated for the “crime” of singing about a lost love, Irene struggles to understand why she should face death for such a petty crime and questions who might have reported her.

With its Orwellian influence, Meek draws inspiration from injustices, intolerant states and religious groups around the globe. Irene’s predicament is nailed home by the set; an angular, tortuous, concrete cell crowned by a glowing crucifix. Irene, whose faith is questionable, is faced with becoming the ultimate martyr upon gathering viral support for her plight which she feeds on for the strength to survive. Her freedom may turn her into an outcast; whereas a guilty verdict may inspire the world into action against a fundamentalist Christian state.

Shvorne Marks as Irene produces a strong performance and her friend Anna (Scarlett Brookes), with her lack of stability and pious bordering on sycophantic nature, is believably played. The final character, Gudrun (Amanda Wright), is a level-headed, secular lawyer. The final scenes are affecting and, near the close, the main character’s plight provoked feelings of despair with a cacophony of sound and eerie lighting helping to deliver a disconcerting climax. However, it sometimes felt a little too difficult to relate to or empathise with Irene, even if the rest of the world did.

Meek is a harrowing tale of a subjugated woman who is determined not to be broken and it is running at the Lowry theatre in Manchester from Wednesday 19th until Saturday 22nd September. In a break from the dictatorial, dogmatic style of Irene’s captors, I would encourage you to check it out. Exercise your own free will. Make up your own mind.

Hull New Theatre until 22nd September 2018

Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams

5*****

The story of Cilla’s early life is perfect for a musical, and perfect sums up the performance I saw last night. Not just in my opinion but that of the packed Hull New Theatre who gave the cast a well-deserved standing ovation.

Bill Kenwright’s production of Cilla tells her story from the end of 1962 when she is a teenager working in a typing pool dreaming of success as a singer to 1967 when she has her first television series on the BBC. Jeff Pope’s writing is very tight and skillful with the action moving swiftly along with dollops of humour and pathos. The set and lighting designers have done an incredible job taking us from The Cavern to The London Palladium via Cilla’s parents flat above the Barbers, I so wanted to be there at The Cavern with them all!

Kara Lily Hayworth is a more than convincing Cilla and has a voice that soared beautifully in all the big numbers. She captured all the ups and downs of Cilla’s attempt to be a pop star so well. As in real life Bobby Willis (Alexander Patmore) was the perfect foil for her moving from pushy to supportive, and I can’t have been the only one with a lump in my throat when their relationship went wrong.

Neil MacDonald added lovely touches of humour as Cilla’s father John White and his attitude towards the boys she brought home was superb.

One of the most touching parts of the performance was Brian Epstein (Andrew Lancel) performing “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”, absolutely heartbreaking. Andrew Lancel’s portrayal of the decline of Brian Epstein was outstanding.

The musicianship was stunning, from the “Beatles”, “Big Three”, “Gerry and the Pacemakers” and “The Mamas and The Papas”. It is always wonderful to see and listen to such skilled musicians.

Like Cilla herself this is a performance that is full of fun and life with a large dash of glamour but somehow still remains down to earth!