Month: January 2019

Proteus Theatre present
Macbeth
The Haymarket, Anvil Arts, Wote Street, Basingstoke RG21 7NW
Thursday 14th – Friday 15th March 2019, 7.30pm

Jackson’s Lane, 269a Archway Road, London N6 5AA
Thursday 21st – Friday 22nd March 2019, 7.30pm

Set in London during the stock market crash of 1987, this new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth by award-winning theatre company Proteus takes the macabre tale to the trading room floor. The entirely ethnically diverse cast have worked closely with Theatre Ad Infinitum’s George Mann to create a highly physical, major new interpretation of a classic. Directed by Mary Swan, the artistic director of Proteus, this Macbeth is a gripping corporate thriller.

A Great Storm, a Black Monday, a market crash that reverberates across the world – Proteus’ Macbeth is suffused with decadence and aggression as a tormented soul finds the noose of bravado begin to tighten. Exploring the pressures of race, class and identity, sudden betrayal and even more sudden violence shake a society to its core.

Set to an electrifying soundtrack of eighties classics, Macbeth interrogates how Thatcher’s government legitimised behemoth corporations to act above the law – like the feuding Thanes of Scotland. The production joins the ‘greed is good’ corporate landscape where, in the City, success is all and ruthless ambition is rewarded. The only problem is, how do you control it before it consumes you and your family?

Leading the production, Riz Meedin (Reclaimed, UK tour; Intimacy, UK tour; The Bill, ITV) will appear as Macbeth joined by Alexandra Afryea (Care, BBC; Silent Witness, BBC; Macbeth, Rose Theatre) as Lady Macbeth. Also joining the cast are Danny Charles (A Christmas Carol, UK tour; Stripy Tales, Octagon; His Lordships Fancy, Gate Theatre), Jessica Andrade (Around the World in Eighty Days, UK tour; Romeo and Juliet, Secret Theatre; Funk Da Cirque, international tour) and Umar Butt (Alex & Eliza, ARC Stockton; Pinocchio, The Albany; My Name is, Scottish tour).

Director Mary Swan comments, A story of power and corruption within a country divided against itself, Macbeth follows the final death throes of an old political order. To create an exciting and contemporary physical production that speaks to audiences today, we have set the play in 1987 to discuss, through the prism of history, how Thatcher’s Britain and Reaganomics created our modern political and economic landscape. With a cast that is seldom seen in major Shakespearean roles, we seek to highlight the lack of diversity in classical theatre and create theatre accessible to young people.

KANDINSKY TO PREMIERE DINOMANIA – THE TRUE STORY OF THE FIRST PALEONTOLOGISTS – AT NEW DIORAMA THEATRE

·         19 February – 23 March, New Diorama Theatre, London NW1 3BF

·         The fascinating history of Gideon Mantell and Richard Owen, whose bitter rivalry fuelled the discovery of dinosaurs in the 19^th century

·         A new play about progress, evolution, extinction…and terrible lizards

Kandinsky – the acclaimed theatre-makers who blend extensive research with innovative storytelling and devising techniques – will premiere a brand-new show at New Diorama Theatre this February.

Dinomania tells the true story of Gideon Mantell, a country doctor outside of the 19^th century scientific elite, who nonetheless worked tirelessly to reconstruct the structure and life of the Iguanodon, beginning the scientific study of dinosaurs as we now know it. Mantell discovered several of the first dinosaurs, but it was another scientist, Richard Owen, who grouped them together and named them dinosauria.

dino – deinos, Greek: fearfully great; the unknowable

sauria – sauros, Greek: lizard

Owen garnered huge success and acclaim, becoming known as ‘the man who discovered dinosaurs’ and going on to found the Natural History Museum – but his hostility towards progressive science, driven by religious conservatism, and his aggressive rivalry with Mantell, have made him an ambiguous figure in scientific history.

Performed by an energetic ensemble cast, Dinomania will look beyond the story’s 19^th century setting to speak to modern concerns around access to science and who gets to drive progress, as well as exploring humanity’s relationship to death, extinction and climate change.

The show is directed and co-written by James Yeatman (also an associate director for legendary theatre company Complicité), and devised by the company, based on material by Yeatman and co-writer Lauren Mooney.

The company includes acclaimed performers Janet Etuk (credits include Love, National Theatre and UK tour), Hamish MacDougall (credits include Trap Street, also by Kandinsky), Sophie Steer (credits include Lands, Bush Theatre and UK tour) and Harriet Webb (credits include It’s True, It’s True, It’s True, New Diorama Theatre), as well as live music from Zac Gvirtzman.

Kandinsky’s previous productions include: Still Ill, a drama developed with doctors and patients, examining the surprisingly common, little-understood Functional Neurological Disorder; Dog Show,a tragicomic look at people and their pets through the lens of a community assailed by a serial dog murderer; and Trap Street, which explored changing attitudes to social housing and the meaning of home.

PRAISE FOR KANDINSKY

“Fascinating, layered, intelligent”

★★★★ The Stage on Still Ill

“deeply sophisticated, sensitive stuff, with a strong Charlie Kaufman flavour and an aftertaste of Tim Crouch”

★★★★ Time Out on Still Ill

“a timely critique of both the flawed utopianism of the Sixties and the chimera of ‘affordable housing’. Angry yet humane…”

★★★★ Evening Standard on Trap Street

“melds an astonishing complexity of themes, a mastery of form and a deep, deep humanity … another triumph for Kandinsky”

★★★★ Time Out on Trap Street

ARCOLA THEATRE ANNOUNCES THE WORLD PREMIÈREOF KEITH? A COMEDY WITH FULL CAST

Arcola Theatre presents

The World Première of

Keith? A Comedy

By Patrick Marmion

Inspired by Molière

Directed by Oscar Pearce

Arcola Theatre

13 February – 9 March

Arcola Theatre today announces the world première of Keith? A Comedy. Oscar Pearce directs Mark Jax (Morgan), Natalie Klamar (Roxy), Joseph Milson (Keith), Aki Omoshaybi (Mohammed), Sara Powell (Veena) and Lizzie Winkler (Anna). The production opens on 18 February, with previews from 13 February, and runs until 9 March.

A South African gun runner turned Buddhist monk. A gullible start-up millionaire. His radical feminist ex-wife. Their aid worker daughter. The young British Muslim she met in Syria. An ethical Serbian hitman. And an unstable Brazilian cleaner.

Modern Britain.

Moral chaos.

Total nightmare.

Patrick Marmion said today, “I wanted to write a comedy about the head spinning madness and recrimination of life in modern Britain. I thought Moliere might help so I eviscerated him and threw in a supernatural conman inspired by Euripides’s Dionysus. Keith? is what emerged. I hope it goes some way to capturing the way we’re all walking on eggshells, terrified of giving offence…luckily life isn’t nearly as bad as we’re supposed to think it is! It’s great to be back at the Arcola doing a straight comedy; I can’t quite believe what an amazing cast we’ve got. Hopefully, they’ll bring the house down.”

Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen, said today, “We’re thrilled to be welcoming back the team behind last season’s Great Apes and their brilliant new play, making its debut at Arcola. Inspired by Molière’s writing Keith?is a new comedy by Patrick Marmion, directed by exceptionally talented Oscar Pearce. In a time of fake news, chaotic governments and media manipulation, Patrick Marmion’s new play finds comedy in corruption, and forge farce out of deceit and lies we tell each other.”

Patrick Marmion’s theatre credits include Great Apes, The Divided Laing (Arcola Theatre), Terms & Conditions (White Bear) and Pieta – After Chekhov (Finborough Theatre/Print Room). Screenplay credits includeMushroom Soup, Kids FM and Maid Marion.

Mark Jax returns to Arcola Theatre to play Morgan. His credits for the company include Richard III, The Lower Depths and Sons Without Fathers. Other theatre credits include Pressure (Park Theatre/Ambassadors Theatre), Faithful Ruslan – The Story of a Guard Dog (Belgrade Theatre/Citizen’s Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (HOME), A Soldier In Every Son (RSC) and Mansfield Park (Chichester Festival Theatre).

Natalie Klamar plays Roxy. Her theatre credits include Othello (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse), I Want My Hat Back, Cleansed (National Theatre), Future Conditional (The Old Vic) and The Cherry Orchard (Young Vic).

Joseph Millson plays Keith. His theatre credits include Apologia (Trafalgar Studios), The Rover (RSC), Mr Foote’s Other Leg (Hampstead Theatre), Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe), Rocket To The Moon (National Theatre), Love Never Dies (Adelphi Theatre), Fear & Misery, The Priory (Royal Court Theatre) and Judgement Day (Almeida Theatre). Television credits as series regular include Luc Hemingway in Holby City. Other television credit include The Last Kingdom, Banished and 24: Live Another Day; and for film, Casino Royale.

Aki Omoshaybi plays Mohammed. His credits include Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre), Hair, Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Chariots of Fire (Gielgud Theatre) and The Empress (RSC). His film credits include Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jed and The Riot Club.

Sara Powell returns to Arcola Theatre to play Veena. Her credits for the company include La Peste and Richard III. Other theatre credits include The Madness of George III (Nottingham Playhouse), The Crucible (Bristol Old Vic), Disgraced (Bush Theatre) and A Walk On Part (Soho Theatre). Her television credits include Death In Paradise, Little Boy Blue and Silent Witness.

Lizzie Winkler plays Anna. Her theatre credits include Quiz (Chichester Festival Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre), The Suicide, Frankenstein, The Power of Yes (National Theatre), Rebecca (Oxford Playhouse/UK tour), Boeing Boeing (Sheffield Theatres), The Country Wife (Royal Exchange Theatre) and The Prince of Homburg (Donmar Warehouse).

Oscar Pearce is an actor and director. His directing debut in 2018 won him a Best Director nomination at the Stage Debut Awards for Great Apes at the Arcola Theatre. His acting credits include The Tempest (RSC), Ghosts,All My Sons (Octagon Theatre Bolton) and The Real Thing (Donmar Warehouse/Ethel Barrymore Theatre).

KEITH? A COMEDY                                                                                                                             Listings

Arcola Theatre

24 Ashwin Theatre, Dalston, London E8 3DL

13 February – 9 March 2019

Box Office: 020 7503 1646

www.arcolatheatre.com

Tickets: £10 – £26 (concessions available)

BARRY HUMPHRIES RETURNS TO STAGE TO

HOST SILENT COMEDY SPECTACULAR

• Comedy legend Barry Humphries will return to the stage at the London Palladium this spring  
• Humphries will host the new, star-studded Silent Comedy Spectacular with Barry Cryer and Bernie Clifton
• Event is a celebration of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy masterpieces

Comedy legend Barry Humphries will return to the stage this spring to host the capital’s first Silent Comedy Spectacular at the London Palladium with a live orchestra.

The multi-award-winning silent comedy aficionado will present a trio of slapstick masterpieces at an event described as “unmissable” by Sir Michael Palin, who added: “If you’ve a shred of a sense of humour – this‘ll be one of the high points of the year.”

Joining Barry for a matinee and an evening screening of classic comedy with orchestra on Sunday April 28 will be national treasure Barry Cryer, with his partner in musical comedy crime Ronnie Golden, and the zany Bernie Clifton.

The evening of laughs, gags and live music will feature three classic silent comedies by cinema stars of yesteryear, including Buster Keaton whose most famous feature film, Steamboat Bill Jr (1927), will be shown on a vast High Definition screen.   

The masterpiece will be accompanied by The Bristol Ensemble, who will perform the London premiere of a new score composed and conducted by maestro Carl Davis.

Humphries will be reunited with Davis after they first appeared together in 1981 for Last Night of the Poms at the Royal Albert Hall, in which Davis conducted the London Symphony Orchestra.

Short comedies from slapstick favourites Laurel & Hardy and Charlie Chaplin will complete the screening, all with live musical accompaniment.

The event has been organised by Chris Daniels, founder and Director of the annual Slapstick Festival that takes place in Bristol. The festival’s mission is to build appreciation of silent and visual on-screen comedy.

Tickets for the first ever Silent Comedy Spectacular at the London Palladium on Sunday April 28 are on sale now and can be purchased from tickets.lwtheatres.co.uk

Chris Daniels, Director of the Silent Comedy Spectacular, commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome the sensational Barry Humphries back to the stage to host London’s very first Silent Comedy Spectacular.

“As far as pioneers of visual comedy go, it is hard to think of anyone better-suited to present such a rip-roaring evening of laughs, gags and antics.

“Slapstick comedy may conjure up memories of grainy, black-and-white images of a bumbling Charlie Chaplin or a haphazard Buster Keaton but contrary to what some might think, it is a sophisticated comedy form that is very much alive and well.

“Visual comedy does not rely on language to be funny, so it is a phenomenon that is loved the world over.

“You only need to look to characters like Mr Bean and Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep to realise slapstick’s enduring appeal still strikes a chord a hundred years on.

“Since we launched Slapstick Festival back in 2005, we have introduced thousands of film-lovers to the very best that the genre has to offer, including the early pioneers whose legacy can still be seen in the films of today.”

THE BRUNTWOOD PRIZE FOR PLAYWRITING LAUNCHES WITH KWAME KWEI-ARMAH LEADING THE 2019 SEARCH FOR NEW STORIES TO DEVELOP FOR THE STAGE  

•  Kwei-Armah chairs judging panel of leading industry names, as well as a new ‘People’s Judge’  
• Judges call for entries from anyone – irrespective of previous playwriting experience – with a story to tell
• Two new £8,000 prizes – for debut plays, and International voices invited from Australia, Canada and the USA – introduced in 2019

Kwame Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director of the Young Vic, is to chair the judges for this year’s Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, it is announced today, Monday 21st January 2019. The biennial prize is a partnership between property company Bruntwood, a major supporter of the arts, and world-class producing theatre, the Royal Exchange Theatre, in Manchester.

The 2019 prize is now open for entries from anyone aged 16+ in the UK, Ireland and the British Territories with a story to tell. Between now and June 2019, established writers and those who may never have written a play are encouraged to submit scripts through an anonymous judging process, which means that each entry is judged on its own merit. Successful scripts will then be developed for the stage in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre’s creative team.

Kwame Kwei-Armah, whose first performance as an actor took place at the Royal Exchange Theatre, comments: “It’s my absolute pleasure to return to The Bruntwood Prize, particularly having been part of the very first round in 2005, and to chair a panel of brilliant judges who have such a variety of experience, from performers to writers, directors, poets and journalists.

“In my eyes, the Prize has become such a profound and essential part of our cultural ecology for playwrights. It represents a most invigorating opportunity to undertake a leap of faith by virtue of a chosen pseudonym. So, send the thing that is brewing in you… the thing that says, ‘I must tell this story in a theatrical form’. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a first draft, or a final draft. Just send it!” 

Kwei-Armah is joined on the judging panel by co-founders of The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting Sarah Frankcom, Artistic Director, Royal Exchange Theatre and Michael OglesbyCBE DL, founder of the Bruntwood Group and chairman of The Oglesby Charitable Trust. The rest of the nine-strong panel comprises: Anna Jordan, Bruntwood Prize-winning playwright; Bridget Minamore, journalist, poet and critic; Jenny Sealey MBE, Artistic Director, Graeae Theatre Company; Kate Vokes, Director, Bruntwood Culture, and actor Shane Zaza. A new addition to the panel this year is ‘The People’s Judge’, Faith Yianni, selected following a search by the Prize and leading theatre critic Lyn Gardner for a member of the public to bring a fresh, new perspective to the judging process.

Sarah Frankcom comments: “The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is a genuine endeavour to discover new stories and help playwrights develop their craft, providing everybody and anybody with the opportunity to write a play. It offers a fantastic opportunity to hone your writing skills, whether or not you have written for the stage before (35% of the entrants to the 2017 Prize had never written a play before). In addition to a high proportion of winning and shortlisted plays being produced professionally, each of the top 100 plays receives individual feedback from the Royal Exchange Theatre’s creative team.”

Michael Oglesby adds: “It is clear to see that the Prize has evolved to play a vital role in championing and developing playwriting talent, be they established or new names. As a funder of the arts, and a co-founder of this Prize, this legacy is a great thing to behold.”

The Bruntwood Prize is the richest prize for playwriting in Europe, with its £40,000 fund across four categories. As well as an overall winner, who takes home £16,000, there is a Judges Prize of £8,000 and two new awards in 2019: a prize awarded to debut writers (Original New Voice: £8,000) and voices from Australia, Canada and the USA who will be invited to enter by the Prize’s international partners (International Award: £8,000).

To encourage those who have not previously written for the stage, the Prize will release a 10-week online playwriting programme, developed by experts including Royal Exchange Theatre dramaturg Suzanne Bell and playwright Chinonyerem Odimba (PRINCESS AND THE HUSTLER) featuring tips on how to approach writing a script. In addition to this all writers will be able to follow a series of live-streamed, online workshops run by internationally recognised playwrights like Tanika Gupta and Winsome Pinnock.

The Prize can be a springboard to a writing career. Its alumni include some the UK’s most respected playwrights such as Duncan Macmillan and Alistair McDowall. Anna Jordan’s 2013 Bruntwood Prize-winning play, YEN, was recently produced off-Broadway with Oscar-nominated actor Lucas Hedges; Kendall Feaver’s 2015 Judges’ award-winning play THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES is now a multi-award-winning play that has gone on to be produced by the Griffin Theatre Company, Sydney. She is now the Philip Parsons Fellowship for Emerging Playwrights at the Belvoir, Australia.

Bruntwood Prize-winning plays have been produced in the UK and abroad, with 24 productions appearing in 38 UK venues and as far afield as Australia, the USA and Canada since 2005. Partner co-productions mean that plays have gone on to other venues following their Royal Exchange Theatre run, including the Bush Theatre, the Lyric Hammersmith and Sherman Cymru. The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting also works in partnership with the Royal Court Theatre, The Kenyon Institute, Ohio and the National Theatre New Work Department, who all provide winning writers with development opportunities. Nick Hern Books continues to support the Bruntwood Prize as the publishing partner for winning playwrights.

Submissions for the 2019 Prize are open until Wednesday 5th June 2019 via www.writeaplay.co.uk. A shortlist of 10 plays will be announced on Monday 14th October 2019, and the winner of the 2019 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, on Monday 4th November 2019.

LOCAL THEATRE COMPANY PUTTIN ON THE STYLE

Top Hat, winner of three Olivier Awards, for ‘Best New Musical’, ‘Best Choreography’ and ‘Best Costume Design’ from a total of seven nominations and winner of the Evening Standard Award for ‘Best Night Out’, is coming to Darlington Hippodrome presented by local amateur theatre company DarlingtonOS from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 13 April, 2019.

The world premiere stage production of Top Hat opened in the West End at the Aldwych Theatre on 9 May 2012 where it played over 600 performances during its run of nearly two years. Prior to its West End run, the production previously enjoyed a sell-out UK Tour in 2011.

Stepping into the shoes of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the lead roles of Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont are Luke Oldield and Claire Monaghan. They are joined by Julian Cound who plays Horace Hardwick, Samantha Morrison as Madge Hardwick, Andrew Hamilton as Alberto Beddini and Christopher McCann as Horace’s valet, Bates.

Ensemble members are Neil Harland, Stacey Dobson, Hannah Gawthorpe, Lizzie Curwen, Tori McDougall, Sally Cresser, Scott Campbell, Joshua Ashton, Cameron Wallace, Kyra Batty, Zoe Bellamy, Ashleigh Bentham, Alison Brown, Jenny Davis, Caitlin Foster, Estelle Denison French, Eleanor Grainger, Camilla Morris Dowling, Cleo McNiff, Colette Serecchia, Susy Slater and Annika Tang.

Top Hat is directed and choreographed by Joanne Hand who fulfilled both roles in the recent smash hit Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and returning to the role of Musical Director is Nigel Ball who last worked with the company on Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Jerry Travers, a famous American theatre performer, arrives in London to appear in his first West End show. Travers meets the irresistible Dale Tremont, the girl of his dreams, and follows her across Europe in an attempt to win her heart. Through a maze of mistaken identity their love affair blossoms but not before they encounter a few problems along the way.

Performed by a cast of 28 and accompanied by 15 live musicians, this multi award-winning musical comedy includes Irving Berlin classics from the movie such as Cheek to Cheek, Isn’t It a Lovely Day to be Caught in the Rain and Top Hat, White Tie and Tails. In addition, from Berlin’s 1200 strong back catalogue, a further ten numbers have been introduced including well-loved favourites Let’s Face the Music and Dance and Puttin’ On the Ritz.

Julian Cound, spokesman for DarlingtonOS told us “If you are a fan of classic musical theatre and TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing then you are going to love Top Hat. Under the direction of Joanne Hand the show will look amazing and, under Nigel Ball’s baton it will sound amazing too.”

Top Hat runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 13 April. Thursday 11 April is a BSL interpreted performance and both Friday performances will be audio described.

To book call the Ticket Hotline on 01325 244659 or book online at www.darlingtonos.org.uk

HERETIC PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCE THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF THE D WORD AT VAULT FESTIVAL

Heretic Productions presents

The World Première of

The D Word 

Written by and starring Jordan Waller

Director: Max Gill

VAULT Festival

13 – 17 February 2019

Heretic Productions today announce the world première of Jordan Wallers’ The D Word. The production, directed by Max Gill and produced by Ellie Keel for Heretic Productions, opens as part of the VAULT Festival on 13 February and runs until 17 February.

‘Like Jesus, I have lesbian parents. Most people don’t seem to realise that Joseph was actually a woman, a very successful lady carpenter.’

Jordan Waller was born of lesbian parents in 1992. When one of his birth mothers died, he had an existential crisis. This show is the true story of his hunt for his biological father, even though by law he is not allowed to find out who he is.

A fearless, funny, and deeply autobiographical one-man comedy show.

Jordan Wallersaid today, ‘After one of my lesbian mothers died, so did a part of me. In order to fill the unknowable void left in my life, I tried to track down my sperm donor father. The D Word is a deeply personal and funny story of a boy’s struggle to cope with being different. It’s a celebration of failure. And w*nking off.’

The D Wordmarks Jordan Waller’sstage debut. For television his credits include as series regular Lord Alfred Paget in Victoria. For film, his credits include Darkest Hour and Love & Friendship. His writing credits include the film Flesh and Blood, which he also starred in. 

Max Gill directs. As writer and director, his credits include La Ronde (The Bunker), and the short film Rosemary & Basil. As assistant director, his credits include Plays at The Garrick (Garrick Theatre). Gill is the Artistic Director of Heretic Productions, and was a Story Executive on series 3 of ITV’s Victoria. 

THE D WORD                                                                                                                                  LISTINGS

VAULT FESTIVAL

Pit – The Vaults, Leake Street

13 – 17 February 2019P

Box Office: 07598 676202

https://vaultfestival.com/

Twitter:                @VAULTFestival

Facebook:           /VaultFestival

Times

Wednesday – Sunday: 6.20pm

Saturday: 3.20pm

Prices

Tickets: £12

Mark Goucher and Jason Donovan present
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT
in association with Nullarbor Productions and MGM on Stage

Book by Stephan Elliot and Allan Scott
Directed by Paul Kerryson

• JOE MCFADDEN TO STAR IN A BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION OF THE CULT CLASSIC PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT
• PRODUCERS MARK GOUCHER AND JASON DONOVAN ANNOUNCE EXTENSION THROUGH TO SPRING 2020
• PAUL KERRYSON WILL DIRECT THE SHOW WHICH WILL OPEN IN DARTFORD IN SEPTEMBER 2019 AHEAD OF A UK AND IRELAND TOUR

Mark Goucher and first-time producer Jason Donovan have today announced that actor andStrictly Come Dancing winner Joe McFadden will star in their brand-new production of the much-loved glittering hit musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The producers have also announced today that the tour will continue through 2020. The show, which was announced last year, will tour the UK and Ireland from September 2019. It marks Donovan’s first time as a producer, having performed in the cast of the original West End production and two subsequent UK tours. The producing team is completed by Gavin Kalin and Matthew Gale. Priscilla, Queen of the Desertwill preview in Dartford from 5 September 2019.

Joe McFadden’s theatre credits include: House on Cold Hill (UK tour); The Missing (National Theatre of Scotland); Rainbow Kiss (Royal Court); Torch Song Trilogy (Menier Chocolate Factory);Rent (West End); Haunting Julia (Colchester Mercury/ UK Tour); She Loves Me (Chichester Festival Theatre); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (The Edinburgh Playhouse); A Life In The Theatre(Royal Lyceum Edinburgh); How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying; (Chichester Festival Theatre); 15 Seconds (Traverse Theatre ); Aladdin (The Old Vic); Entertaining Mr Sloane(Theatre Clwyd). Television credits include:  Holby City (BBC); Casualty (BBC); Heartbeat(ITV/YTV); Cranford (BBC); Sparkhouse (BBC/Red Productions); A Mortal God (BBC); Reverse Psychology (BBC); Judge John Deed (BBC/One Eyed Dog); The Glass (ITV1/Granada); The Law(ITV1/Pearson); Sex, Chips & Rock n’ Roll (BBC); The Crow Road (BBC/Union Pictures). Film includes:  Small Faces; Dad Savage; Zig Zag Love; The Trouble with Men and Women; Bumping The Odds.

Newly announced cities that the tour will visit include: Southampton; Plymouth; Nottingham; Dublin; Cambridge; Newcastle; Southend; Sheffield; Carlisle; Ipswich; Leeds; Oxford; Birmingham; Glasgow; Cardiff; Bristol.  Full listings are still to be announced.

Joe McFadden said: “I’m over the moon to be taking on this new and exciting challenge in a musical that I have been a massive fan of for such a long time. I’m looking forward to working with this wonderful production team, including Jason whose guidance I feel especially lucky to have given his previous experience with the production.  I can’t wait to take the Priscilla bus on the road and have a bonzer time making the role my own!”

Mark Goucher said: “Joe is great casting for Priscilla. He is a very strong musical theatre performer and will bring great charm and integrity to this new production of a great musical.”

Jason Donovan said: “So pleased to announce Joe be starring in our production. He’s a down to earth, talented guy who will bring enormous warmth to the role of Mitzi. I can’t wait to see him in heels doing those dance routines…. Awesome.”

The iconic hit musical has more glitter than ever before, featuring a dazzling array of stunning costumes, fabulous feathers and a non-stop parade of dance-floor classics including It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, I Love The Nightlife, Finally and many more.

Based on the Oscar-winning film, PRISCILLA is the hilarious adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus bound for Alice Springs to put on the show of a lifetime. Their epic journey is a heart-warming story of self-discovery, sassiness and acceptance. 

This brand new production comes from the team behind the critically acclaimed UK tours of Hairspray; with direction by Paul Kerryson, choreography by Tom Jackson-Greaves with designs by Phil R Daniels and Charles Cusick Smith, lighting design by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Ben Harrison.

PriscillaUKTour.com & PriscillaUKTour.co.uk 

TOURING SCHEDULE

Thursday 5 September – Saturday 14 September 2019
DARTFORD ORCHARD THEATRE
Tel: 01322 220000
Tickets now on sale

Tuesday 17 September – Saturday 21 September 2019
BRADFORD ALHAMBRA THEATRE
Tel: 01274 432000
Tickets now on sale

Monday 23 September – Saturday 28 September 2019
RHYL PAVILLION
Tel: 01745 330000
Tickets now on sale

Monday 30 September – Saturday 5 October 2019
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
Tel: 0844 8717652
Tickets on sale 14^th September

Monday 7 October – Saturday 12 October 2019
NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE
Tel: 0844 8717646
Tickets on sale 14^th September

Monday 14 October – Saturday 19 October 2019
MALVERN FESTIVAL THEATRE
Tel: 01684 892277
On sale now

Monday 21 October – Saturday 26 October 2019
BLACKPOOL WINTER GARDENS
Tel: 0844 8561111
Tickets on sale now

Monday 28 October – Saturday 2 November 2019
LEICESTER CURVE
Tel: 0116 2423595
Tickets on sale soon

Monday 4 November – Saturday 9 November 2019
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
Tel: 0844 8713014
Tickets on sale 14^th September

Monday 11 November – Saturday 16 November 2019
LIVERPOOL EMPIRE THEATRE
Tel: 0844 8713017
Tickets on sale 14^th September

Monday 18 November – Saturday 23 November 2019
INVERNESS EDEN COURT
Tel: 01463 234234
Tickets now on sale

Monday 25 November – Saturday 30 November 2019
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE
Tel: 0844 8713019
Tickets on sale 14^th September

Tuesday 17 December 2019 – Saturday 4 January 2020 
BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL
Tel: 0844 871 7650
Tickets now on sale

Please visit www.priscillauktour.com  for details of 2019 touring dates
 

London Classic Theatre presents

MY MOTHER SAID I NEVER SHOULD

By Charlotte Keatley

Director: Michael Cabot: Designer: Bek Palmer:Lighting Designer: Andy Grange

Following the recent news that a fire had destroyed the entire set of their touring production on New Year’s Eve, London Classic Theatre are pleased to announce that the extension of the UK tour of Charlotte Keatley’s My Mother Said I Never Should will go ahead as planned. Kathryn Ritchie returns to play Jackie Metcalfe and will be joined by Rebecca Birch (Rosie Metcalfe), Lisa Burrows (Margaret Bradley) and Judith Paris (Doris Partington). Artistic Director of LCT, Michael Cabot,directs the production, which tours to a further 14 venues in 2019. The tour starts at New Theatre Royal Portsmouth on 6 February, with performances in Newtown, Ipswich, Doncaster, Middlesbrough, Richmond, Derby, Poole, Winchester, Worthing, Epsom, Swansea and Oldham before concluding at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford in April

Artistic Director, Michael Cabot said today ‘It’s been a very busy fortnight since we found out about the fire.  After the initial shock, we sat down and immediately started working out what we needed to do.  We received countless offers of help from friends in the industry and elsewhere.  We’re also very lucky to be surrounded by some totally dedicated people, who have responded to the fire with purpose and determination. Rehearsals are now under way as well and so far, so good.’   

Set in Manchester, Oldham and London, My Mother Said I Never Should is a poignant, bittersweet story about love, jealousy and the price of freedom. The play details the lives of four women through the immense social changes of the twentieth century. Using a kaleidoscopic time structure, Charlotte Keatley’s story focuses on four generations of one family as they confront the most significant moments of their lives.

In 1940, Doris, a former teacher, encourages her nine-year-old daughter, Margaret, to mind her manners and practise the piano. In 1969, Margaret’s relationship with her own daughter is strained, as art student Jackie experiments with her new found sexual freedom. When Jackie becomes pregnant at 18 and has baby Rosie, a decision is made that will affect all their lives irrevocably.

Charlotte Keatley is an award-winning playwright and My Mother Said I Never Should is the most widely performed play ever written by a woman, having now been translated or produced in 31 countries from Japan to Peru. Other credits include The Iron Serpent, An Armenian Childhood, Waiting for Martin, Fears and Miseries in the Third Term, The Ringing Singing Tree, The Sleep of Reason, Our Father and I am Janet.

Rebecca Birch plays Rosie Metcalfe. Her theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lyric Hammersmith/UK tour), Relative Values (Harold Pinter Theatre/Theatre Royal Bath), The Secret Seven, The Beggar’s Opera (Storyhouse, Chester), Alice in Wonderland (Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre), Pygmalion(Garrick Theatre/Chichester Festival Theatre) and The Master Builder (Chichester Festival Theatre). For television her credits include The Commuter-Electric Dreams: The World of Phillip K Dick and Victoria.

Lisa Burrows plays Margaret Bradley. For the company her credits include Love in the Title and Absent Friends. Her other theatre credits include Drowning on Dry Land, Humble Boy (National Theatre tour), Night Maze(Nottingham Playhouse), The Lottie Project, Puss in Boots, The Secret Garden (Polka Theatre) and Cloud Nine(Palace Theatre). For television her credits include Thackery’s Women and Dream World. For film her credits include Baby’s Angels, Playing by the Rules, David’s Dream and Love Connection.

Judith Paris plays Doris Partington. For the company her credits include The Importance of Being Earnest. Her other theatre credits include As You Like It (Royal Shakespeare Theatre), Little Hotel on the Side, Bow Down, Jumpers, Spring Awakening, The Tempest, Coriolanus (National Theatre), Annie (Victoria Palace Theatre),Oliver! (Noël Coward Theatre), The Secret Garden (Aldwych Theatre), and Madame Tussaud: Waxing Lyrical, The Universal Machine (New Diorama Theatre). For television her credits include Doctor Who, All Passion Spent, A Touch of Frost, Mind Games and The Various Ends of Mrs F’s Friends. For film her credits include The Phantom of the Opera, Dance of the Seven Veils, Prisoner of Honour, The Devils, Isadora Duncan and Dante’s Inferno.

Kathryn Ritchie plays Jackie Metcalfe. For the company her credits include After Miss Julie and Absent Friends. Her other theatre credits include The 39 Steps, Arsenic and Old Lace, Dear Brutus and Little Shop of Horrors(Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Torch Theatre, Milford Haven), Tess of the D’Urbervilles (UK tour), Measure for Measure (Courtyard Theatre) and the original cast of The Railway Childrenat Waterloo Station (York Theatre Royal/The Touring Consortium).

Michael Cabot is the founder and Artistic Director of London Classic Theatre. He has directed all thirty-nine LCT productions since their debut in 1993 including Private Lives, Hysteria, The Birthday Party, Waiting for Godot, Absent Friends, Entertaining Mr Sloane, Betrayal, The Importance of Being Earnest, Equus and After Miss Julie. He has overseen the company’s transition from one of the success stories of the London Fringe in the late nineties to its current position as one of the UK’s leading touring companies. His freelance work as director includes three recent collaborations with award-winning playwright Henry Naylor, The Collector (Arcola Theatre 2014 & UK tour 2016), Angel (Edinburgh Festival Fringe première 2016) and Borders (Edinburgh Festival Fringe première 2017). Angel has won several theatre awards, including a Scotsman Fringe First and the Holden Street Theatres Edinburgh Award in 2016. The production transferred to the Adelaide Fringe in February 2017, winning the Adelaide Critics Circle Award, before playing at the 59E59 Theater in New York as part of the Brits off Broadway season. Angel was chosen by The Times as one of the UK’s Top Ten productions in 2016. Borderswon a Scotsman Fringe First and the Carol Tambor Best of Fringe Award. It also won the Adelaide Critics Circle Award and transferred to New York Theater Workshop in June 2018.

London Classic Theatre was launched in 2000 as a touring theatre company with David Mamet’s Oleanna. This inaugural tour lost a small fortune but doors had opened and, crucially, the work was being seen.  Eighteen years and thirty-nine tours later, London Classic Theatre is now a successful, established part of the commercial UK touring theatre scene.  The company has never received any funding or sponsorship for its work.  As Artistic Director, Michael Cabot has programmed a repertoire of classic and modern classic plays, a mixture of the challenging and the commercial, big titles and less well-known, including two UK premières – Hugh Leonard’s Love in the Title and Joanna Murray-Smith’s Nightfall.  As venues and audiences have become more familiar with the work he has been able to push the boundaries of what LCT offers, both in ambition, scale and complexity.

London Classic Theatre – in numbers… 

• 39 tours since 2000
• 31 productions
• 250 venues visited
• 485 weeks of touring 
• 360,000 miles covered
• Over 2,500 performances
• Over 500,000 tickets sold
• 159 actors
• 19 designers
• 2 UK premières
• 4 Harold Pinter plays
• 2 Patrick Marber plays
• 2 Marivaux plays in new translation
• Longest tour Equus – 35 weeks and 198 performances 
• Shortest tour The Game of Love and Chance – 5 weeks and 22 performances  
• £0 public subsidy

MY MOTHER SAID I NEVER SHOULD                                                                                                       LISTINGS

New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth

6 – 7 February

Box Office: 02392 649000

The Hafren, Newtown

9 February

Box Office: 01686 614555

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

12 – 16 February

Box Office: 01473 295900

CAST, Doncaster

19 – 20 February

Box Office: 01302 303959

Middlesbrough Theatre

21 February

Box Office: 01642 815181

Richmond Theatre

26 February – 2 March

Box Office: 0844 8717651

Derby Theatre

5 – 9 March

Box Office: 01332 593939

Lighthouse, Poole

12 – 13 March

Box Office: 01202 280000

Theatre Royal, Winchester

14 – 16 March

Box Office: 01962 840440

Connaught Theatre, Worthing

19 – 20 March

Box Office: 01903 206206

Epsom Playhouse

26 March

Box Office: 01372 742555

Swansea Grand Theatre

28 – 30 March

Box Office: 01792 475715

Oldham Coliseum

2 – 6 April

Box Office: 01616 242829

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

16 – 20 April

Box Office: 01483 440000

www.londonclassictheatre.co.uk

Facebook: @LondonClassicTheatre

Twitter: @londonclassic1

BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR

TRANSFERS TO SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

Proud Haddock and Arsalan Sattari Productions present

Billy Bishop Goes to War

Written and Composed by John MacLachlan Gray in collaboration with Eric Peterson

Directed by Jimmy Walters; Designer:  Daisy Blower; Lighting Designer: Arnim Friess

Sound Designer: Dinah Mullen; Casting Director: Ginny Schiller

Southwark Playhouse

13 March – 6 April

Proud Haddock and Arsalan Sattari Productions today announce the transfer of Billy Bishop Goes to War to the Southwark Playhouse, following its successful run at the Jermyn Street Theatre. Charles Aitken (Younger Billy) and Oliver Beamish (Older Billy) reprise their roles. The production runs from 15 March, with previews from 13 March, until 6 April.

Billy Bishop, a failing Canadian military college student, overcomes intense prejudice and astonishing danger to receive his wings to become the most successful fighter pilot of his generation. This compelling and darkly comic drama interrogates the nature of heroism and its cost while shining a light on the often-neglected complexities of Britain’s colonial past.

Billy Bishop Goes to War won the Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Award in 1981, the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award in 1982, and the Governor General’s Award for English Drama in 1982. It is the most produced play in Canadian theatre.

Director Jimmy Walters today said “Billy Bishop Goes To War is a show we are incredibly proud of. Our reimagined interpretation of this renowned Canadian play-with-music, takes audiences on a journey through Billy’s extraordinary life, as it allows an older and younger Billy to tell this true story together. With the remarkable performances by our cast, the script by John Gray which is as poignant as it is uplifting, and the atmospheric musical score; This results in a production that I’m so excited more people will get the chance to see.”

John MacLachlan Gray is a multiple award-winning writer and composer for stage, television, film, radio and print. In his life he has been a playwright-composer-novelist–broadcaster-columnist-satirist-musician and performer.  His credits include Rock and Roll, 18 Wheels, Don Messer’s Jubilee were all award winners and received multiple productions nationally. His novels include A Gift for the Little Master, The Fiend Human, White Stone Day,  Not Quite Dead and The White Angel. He has honorary doctorates from Mount Allison University and Dalhousie University, and is an Officer of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honour.

Eric Peterson is a veteran actor of stage, film and television. He is a recipient of the Governor General’s Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in Theatre and a Member of the Order of Canada.

Charles Aitken plays Younger Billy. His theatre credits include Coriolanus (Royal Shakespeare Company, Barbican), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Manchester Royal Exchange), All My Sons (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre),Sweet Bird of Youth (The Old Vic), Little Eagles (Royal Shakespeare Company, Hampstead Theatre), and King Lear, As You Like It, Antony and Cleopatra (Royal Shakespeare Company, Roundhouse NY). For television, his credits include The Knick and Madame Secretary. His film credits include Happy Death Day 2U, Summertime, Happy Death Day, and The Girl on the Train. 

Oliver Beamish plays Older Billy. His theatre credits include War Horse (New London Theatre), Keane (Apollo Theatre), Buddy (Novello Theatre), Jolson (Victoria Palace Theatre), Blood Brothers (Lyric Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry IV Pt. 1, Camelot (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Fuente Ovejuna, Ghetto (National Theatre), The Secret Rapture, Julius Caesar, All My Sons (New Vic Theatre) and Hay Fever, Twelfth Night (Queen’s Theatre);. His television credits include Coronation Street and The Darling Buds of May

Jimmy Walters directs. His directing credits include The Dog Beneath The Skin (Jermyn Street Theatre), Square Rounds, The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus, A Subject of Scandal and Concern (Finborough Theatre), Mrs Orwell, A Naughty Night with Noel Coward (Old Red Lion Theatre), Julius Caesar (Saatchi Gallery and Chelsea Theatre), and I The Jury (Hen and Chickens Theatre).

About Proud Haddock

Proud Haddock continues to celebrate unearthed stories from classical playwrights. Established in 2014 by Jimmy Walters and James Ahearne; the company has produced 8 London shows including Mrs Orwell, The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus and A Naughty Night with Noel Coward.

www.proudhaddock.com

@proudhaddock

About Arsalan Sattari Productions

Arsalan Sattari Productions is an independent theatre producer, marketer and designer. Arsalanhas been commissioning, developing and producing work since 2012, with particular interests in new writing, UK and European premières, and historical plays. Recent work includes A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology, Semites, But It Still Goes On, Into the Numbers and The Busy World in Hushed. He is the Associate Producer at the Finborough Theatre.

www.arsalansattari.com

@ASattariProds

Billy Bishop Goes to War                                                                                   Listings

Southwark Playhouse

77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD

Nearest Tube:Borough/Elephant and Castle

13 March – 6 AprilP

Box office: 020 7407 0234

www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

#BillyBishop
@BillyBishopShow

Tickets: £22, £18 concessions

Previews: £14