Month: March 2019

THE DEADLY WORLD PREMIERE OF THE GROUDBREAKING IMMERSIVE GAMING EXPERIENCE VARIANT 31

WILL MOVE TO 1 SEPTEMBER 2019

Space 18, the huge new theatrical complex built specifically to house immersive and experiential theatre is now even bigger! Combining 7 buildings, 35 floors and now more than40,000 square feet, Space 18 is preparing for an even bigger and deadly reveal for its new World Premiere date of 1 September 2019.

Dalton Dale, Artistic Director, Big Dreamer Productions and creator of Variant 31 said “We have made the decision to postpone the opening of the Production so that we may ensure the entirety of the experience exceeds the highest possible standard.

For over two years Variant 31 has been in development, and every element from the ground breaking technology, score, costumes, special effects, creatures, and the purpose built venue are never before seen. Each element is custom crafted for us by industry leading artists from around the world. With all of these unique components, it takes a great deal of care and effort to ensure they each function in perfect harmony.

The last thing we want to offer guests is an experience that may not excel in every possible way.

For ticketing queries, we ask that guests contact their point of sale where they may rebook their experience. We look forward to screaming with all of you this autumn!”

The opening production will feature a cast of 150 highly trained professional actors; experienced in parkour, aerial acrobatics, stage combat, fire poi, and intense full contact performances, making Variant 31 the largest employer of actors and theatrical technicians currently running in the West End.

Unlike traditional theatre, Dalton Dale and his co-producers wish to explore clever and innovative techniques to engage today’s audiences who simply crave more than the traditional theatrical experience. By creating this ambitious new venue, they have provided a world of possibilities for audiences to fully immerse themselves and explore the colossal structure, which occupies an entire city block in the heart of London’s West End.

VARIANT 31

Variant 31 is a 90 minute long adrenaline-fuelled live-action game, in which players navigate through the expansive 40,000 square foot labyrinth. Once inside this immaculately detailed hidden world, the aim is simply to survive and escape. Work in teams to solve group challenges and play individually to complete personal objectives and puzzles to forge your own path to freedom. Those seeking safety in numbers are free to work together and find their way through the experience as a group.

Get off the couch, leave the video game behind and star in your own story.

Do you have what it takes to stay alive?

Welcome to Toxico Technologies’ top-secret live demonstration of their latest weapon in modern warfare, ‘Variant 31’; a serum so powerful it allows the user to control death itself.

The demonstration goes horribly awry and turmoil ensues as reanimated cadavers go on the warpath. Their sole mission is to hunt and destroy the invading enemy… you.

Do you have the skills and the stamina to overcome an array of terrifying creatures, and make it out alive? Or will the sheer terror be too much to handle….

Unleash the horror, choose your adventure and #AimForTheHead

Unlike any other immersive experience, audiences have the ability to traverse the massive arena however they so choose, utilizing custom-built state of the art wearable technology. Up, down, left and right – the journey you take through the apocalyptic world truly is your own; with over a thousand possible routes, no two adventures will be the same. From unlocking secrets, finding hidden passageways, interacting with characters in one-on-one experiences and piecing together the story for a narrative gaming experience that is uniquely your own.

LISTINGS

VARIANT 31 – AN IMMERSIVE SURVIVAL EXPERIENCE

FROM 1^st September 2019

SPACE 18

Tickets: From £55

Bookings Line: 0844 815 7141 (KX Tickets)

Open from 9am until 9pm every day. Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your standard network rate

Box Office: Onsite box office open from July 2019

Performances:

Sept 1- 31 Dec  2019

Monday -6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm, 10pm 

Tuesday -6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm, 10pm 

Wednesday – 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm, 10pm 

Thursday – 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm, 10pm, 10.30pm, 11pm,

Friday – 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm, 10pm, 10.30pm, 11pm,

Saturday – 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.30am, 12pm, 12.30pm, 1pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm, 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm, 10pm, 10.30pm, 11pm

Sunday – 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.30am, 12pm, 12.30pm, 1pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm, 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm,

Running Time: 90 Minutes

Address: Space 18, 39-41 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1BN

Website: Variant31.com

Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @Variant31

#AimForTheHead

#TheExperimentBegins

#ControlYourFear

#TheChoiceIsYours

Age Requirement: Suitable for 18+

Warning: This experience is only suitable for the brave and adventurous. The production utilizes strong language, simulated violence, actor nudity and is a high adrenaline, fast paced, full contact survival game. This experience is not meant for the faint of heart, expectant mothers, claustrophobic, asthmatic, or those suffering from recent surgery, trauma, phobias, heart conditions, PTSD or any other mental, physical, or medical afflictions. Enter at your own risk.

Variant 31 is produced by Big Dreamer Productions and Stephen McGill Productions, in association with Rachel Kraftman Productions and MDR Productions.

Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston present Zog

From the book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler

ZOG THE DRAGON FLIES

INTO STORYHOUSE NEXT WEEK

The highly anticipated family stage show Zog flies into Chester next week for three days at Storyhouse.

The production is based on the book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, which is being brought to life on stage through a UK tour which started earlier this month in Leeds.

Zog comes to Storyhouse from Friday 5 April to Sunday 7 April 2019, for six performances only. Tickets are on sale now.

The cast of actor-puppeteers will bring the world of Zog to life with handcrafted puppets, designed and created by Little Angel Theatre co-founder Lyndie Wright.

Zogis adapted and directed by Mike Shepherd (founder and Artistic Director of Kneehigh), with an original folk score by Johnny Flynn (currently starring in True West in the West End), and designs byKatie Sykes (Jane Eyre at the National Theatre).

The cast features Elliot MacKenzie (professional debut) as Zog; Emily Benjamin (Bat Out Of Hell) as Princess Pearl; Robert Ginty (Salome and Coriolanus, Royal Shakespeare Company) as Sir Gadabout the Great; Euan Wilson (Stick Man, UK Tour) as Madame Dragon; and Dixie McDevitt (National Youth Theatre alumni) as Ensemble.

Large in size and keen in nature, Zog is eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know.

Zog tries so very hard, perhaps too hard, and he bumps, burns and roars his way through years one, two and three. Luckily, the plucky Princess Pearl patches him up ready to face his biggest challenge yet…a duel with a knight, Sir Gadabout the Great! Zog promises to be roaring fun for all ages.

Zog is produced by Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston. Freckle Productions’ most recent show is Tabby McTat, an adaptation of the book by Julia Donaldson, following their acclaimed productions of Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales and Stick Man.

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are the UK’s number one picture book pair and are creators of many modern classics, including The Gruffalo which is in 75 languages.

Zog was first published in 2010 and won the Galaxy National Children’s Book of the Year Award. It has gone on to become a perennial bestseller.

On Christmas Day 2018, Magic Light Pictures premiered an animated film ofZogon BBC One featuring an all-star cast, following their award-winning films The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and Stick Man.

Completing the creative team are movement director Tom Jackson Greaves (Billionaire Boy, UK Tour), lighting designer Ric Mountjoy (The Play that Goes Wrong), sound designer Julian Starr (Violet, Charing Cross Theatre), puppet designer Lyndie Wright (Little Angel Theatre), puppet director Sarah Wright (Kneehigh’sBrief Encounter), and movement and circus consultant Tina Koch.

Zog is suitable for children and families of all ages. #Zog

Tickets for Zog are on sale now, £16 for adults and £14 for children. Each ticket is subject to a £1.50 booking fee. Group rates are available.

The online version of the Storyhouse spring season 2019 brochure can be viewed by visitinghttps://issuu.com/storyhouselive/docs/storyhouse_spring_19

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT ZOG

‘Zesty and delightful. A clever compelling treat’

Independent

‘To call this show lively would be a whopping understatement.

Packed with gleeful songs and jolly good fun’

The Guardian

‘A delight from start to finish. A room of children

laughing hysterically, all totally mesmerised by the action’

Time Out

LISTING INFORMATION

ZOG

Friday 5 April 2019 – Sunday 7 April 2019

STORYHOUSE

Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR

Friday 5 April 2019 at 4.30pm

Saturday 6 April 2019 at 11am

Saturday 6 April 2019 at 2pm

Saturday 6 April 2019 at 4pm

Sunday 7 April 2019 at 11am

Sunday 7 April 2019 at 2pm

Tickets are £16 for adults / £14 for children – each ticket is subject to a £1.50 booking fee

Group rates are available – 10+ £12.50 each

Duration approximately one hour

HOW TO BOOK

Online:            Visit www.storyhouse.com

By Phone:       Call 01244 409 113

In person:       Visit the Ticket Kiosks at Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR

Website:         www.storyhouse.com

Facebook:       www.facebook.com/storyhouselive/

Twitter:           @StoryhouseLive

15 performances remaining of acclaimed

JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN

★★★★

Evening Standard, Financial Times, Metro, The Observer, The Stage, Daily Telegraph, Time Out

Broadway World, Culture Whisper, LondonTheatre, What’s On Stage

JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN

By Stephen Adly Guirgis

Directed by Kate Hewitt

Young Vic Main House

Final performance Saturday 6 April 7.30pm

Relaxed performance Wednesday 3 April 2.30pm

Just 15 performances remain of Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, a critically acclaimed dark comedy about the American justice system and the contradictory nature of faith from Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Adly Guirgis (The Motherf*cker with the Hat). 

Inside the lockdown wing of Rikers Island prison, a frightened young man accused of murdering a cult leader is confronted with a charismatic born-again serial killer and a sadistic guard.  Will one man’s redemption lead to another’s damnation?

The cast includes Oberon K. A. Adjepong (Lucius Jenkins), Matthew Douglas (Charlie D’Amico),Dervla Kirwan (Mary Jane Hanrahan), Ukweli Roach (Angel Cruz) and Joplin Sibtain (Valdez).

Director: Kate Hewitt; Set Designer: Magda Willi; Costume Designer: Kinnetia Isidore; Lighting Designer: Guy Hoare; Sound Designer: Peter Rice; Movement Director: Imogen Knight; UK Casting Director: Julia Horan CDG; US Casting Director: Jim Carnahan CSA

Stephen Adly Guirgis is a playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. As a playwright, his other credits include Our Lady Of 121st Street, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Little Flower of East Orange, The Motherf*cker with the Hat, and Between Riverside and Crazy, which won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. His television writing credits include NYPD Blue and The Get Down.

Kate Hewitt directs. Her theatre credits for the company include as director Far Away (JMK Young Director Award, 2014) and as Associate Director, Yerma. Her other directing credits includeFrost/Nixon, Tribes (Sheffield Theatres), The Ice Road (Raucous Theatre), Kiki’s Delivery Service,Tomcat (Southwark Playhouse), Romeo & Juliet (Ambassador’s Theatre) and Portrait (Edinburgh Festival/UK tour). As Associate Director her credits include, One Love: The Bob Marley Musical(Birmingham Rep), Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (Drury Lane), Medea (Headlong Theatre Company) and Electra (Gate Theatre/Latitude Festival).

Oberon K. A. Adjepong plays Lucius Jenkins. His theatre credits include Good Grief (Vineyard Theatre), The Winter’s Tale, Measure For Measure, Pericles, Tamburlaine (TFANA), Homecoming Queen (Atlantic Theatre Company – AUDELCO nomination), Uncommon Sense (Tectonic Theater Project), Party People (The Public Theater), 12 Angry Men (The Billie Holiday Theatre), Like I Say,Cellophane (Flea Theatre), Mother Courage, The Blacks (The Classical Theater of Harlem/Classic Stage Company), Wabenzi (New Ohio Theatre), Hamlet Project (La MaMa), Sango (NBT – AUDELCO nomination). His television credits include Blacklist, The Knick and Louie; and for film,Crazy Famous and Crown Heights.

Matthew Douglas returns to the Young Vic to play D’Amico. His previous credits for the company include King Lear. Other theatre credits include An Inspector Calls (UK tour/Playhouse Theatre), Far from the Madding Crowd (The Watermill Theatre), The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd (The New Vic),Travesties, The Importance of Being Ernest (Birmingham Rep), Hay Fever (West Yorkshire Playhouse), She Stoops to Conquer (Birmingham Rep/Chichester Festival Theatre/UK tour), The Big House (Abbey Theatre, Dublin), Salt Meets Wound (Theatre503), Hecuba (RSC/Albery Theatre) andOthello (international tour). His television credits include Miracle Landing on the Hudson; and for film,Papadopoulos and Sons.

Dervla Kirwan plays Mary Jane Hanrahan. Her theatre credits include King Lear, Frankie and Johnny, Uncle Vanya (Chichester Festival Theatre), Mr Foote’s Other Leg (Hampstead Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Weir (Donmar Warehouse and West End), Betrayal (Donmar Warehouse), Aristocrats (National Theatre) and Hush (Royal Court Theatre). Her television credits include White Dragon, The Silence, Material Girl, True Dare Kiss, 55 Degrees North, Hearts and Bones, Ballykissangel and Goodnight Sweetheart; and for film, Trautmann, Interlude in Prague, Luna,Entity, Ondine and Dangerous Parking.

Ukweli Roach plays Angel Cruz. His theatre credits include Nightfall (Bridge Theatre), 5,6,7,8 (rough cuts) (Royal Court Theatre), Romeo & Juliet and Helen (Globe Theatre). Television credits includeHumans, Hard Sun, Blindspot (series 1 – 3), Dickensian, The Royals, Grantchester, Silk, Drifters,Starlings, Monroe and Eternal Law. Film credits include One Day, Streetdance 3D and Venus And The Son. Roach is Artistic Director of dance company Birdgang, touring with the Blaze international Hiphop dance show.

Joplin Sibtain plays Valdez. His theatre credits include The Beaux’ Stratagem, Dara, An Oak Tree,Behind The Beautiful Forevers, Othello, The Wind in the Willows, The Absence of War (National Theatre), Godchild (Hampstead Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe), King Lear (Almeida Theatre), The King and I (Curve), An Enemy of the People (Sheffield Theatres), A Street Car Named Desire (Nuffield Southampton Theatres), The Crucible (Octagon Theatre Bolton),Indian Ink (Salisbury Playhouse), The Ark an The Covenant (Battersea Arts Centre), The Fall Guy,The Moonstone (Royal Exchange Theatre), and Romeo and Juliet (RSC). His television credits include Nightflyers, Safe, Hard Sun and No Offence; and for film, Honey in the Head and Naachle London.

Oberon K.A. Adjepong is appearing with the permission of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.

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Young Vic                                                                                                                                                     Listings

66 The Cut, Waterloo, London, SE1 8LZ

Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train

Main House

Until 6 April 2019

Box Office:                          020 7922 2922

www.youngvic.org

Performances:                   Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm

Matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm

Relaxed Performance:    Wednesday 3 April at 2.30pm

Tickets:                                 £10, £20, £30, £40 (Concessions available)

Young Vic

Based on The Cut in London’s Waterloo, we produce new plays, classics, musicals, adaptations of books, short films, digital projects and game changing forms of theatre. We attract large audiences from many different backgrounds, and forge deep connections in our neighbourhood where we provide extensive free activities. For many years the Young Vic has been synonymous with inclusivity, accessibility and creativity. We foster emerging talent and collaborate with some of the world’s finest directors, performers and creatives; creating productions that say much about the world we live in.

Artistic Director:              Kwame Kwei-Armah

Executive Director:          Despina Tsatsas

www.youngvic.org

Twitter and Instagram @youngvictheatre

The Young Vic’s Supporters

The Young Vic receives public subsidy from Arts Council England and Lambeth & Southwark Borough Councils.

Season at a glance

A Young Vic, Elliott & Harper and Cindy Tolan Production

DEATH OF A SALESMAN

By Arthur Miller

Directed by Marianne Elliott & Miranda Cromwell

Main House

1 May –29 June 2019

Press Night: Thursday 9 May, 7pm

A Young Vic and Sweat Variant Production

BRONX GOTHIC

Writer, Performer and Sound Designer: Okwui Okpokwasili

Director, Visual and Sound Designer: Peter Born

The Maria

1 – 29 June 2019

Press Night: Wednesday 5 June, 7pm

IVAN & THE DOGS

By Hattie Naylor

Directed by Caitriona Shoobridge

The Clare

10 – 20 July 2019

A Young Vic, Manchester International Festival and Green Door Pictures co-production

In association with Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Bob Benton for Anthology Theatre and Eilene Davidson

TREE

Created by Idris Elba & Kwame Kwei-Armah

Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah

Main House

29 July – 24 August 2019

Press Night: Thursday 1 August, 7pm

BLOOD WEDDING

By Federíco Garcia Lorca

in a new version by Marina Carr

Directed by Yaël Farber

Main House

19 September – 2 November 2019

Press Night: Wednesday 25 September, 7pm

FAIRVIEW

By Jackie Sibblies Drury

Directed by Nadia Latif

Main House

28 November 2019 – 18 January 2020

Press Night: Thursday 5 December, 7pm

THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY ANNOUNCES ITS SIXTH RELAXED PERFORMANCE FOR MATILDA THE MUSICAL ON SUNDAY 9 JUNE 2019

Following the sold-out success of the previous relaxed performances of Matilda The Musical, theRoyal Shakespeare Company will present its sixth at the Cambridge Theatre at 3pm onSunday 9 June.

Building on the programme of relaxed performances that the RSC has been running in Stratford-upon-Avon since 2013, the RSC is proud to have been amongst the first to adopt and promote the concept. The National Autistic Society and Mousetrap Theatre Projects will again work closely with the RSC, offering full access to the theatre for people with autism and learning disabilities and their families.

The performance provides a relaxed environment for everyone, with elements of the production adapted to reduce anxiety or stress, and with lighting and sound levels adjusted to soften their impact. Audience etiquette throughout the whole theatre is also relaxed with all audience members given the freedom to make noise and/or move about the auditorium according to their needs without restriction. Designated ‘chill-out’ areas are provided outside the auditorium with soft seating and activities available for people to use if they want to take a break.  All theatre staff, crew and company members also receive specialist training in advance to anticipate a wider range of different audience needs. 

The Royal Shakespeare Company is offering tickets for the relaxed performance at the reduced rate of £25 and £10 which can be booked through the RSC Ticket Hotline (01789 331111) or in person at the Cambridge Theatre box office.

Specially trained staff will be able to help bookers by speaking to them directly and ensuring that all their specific needs and requirements are taken into consideration when assigning their seat allocation.

All bookers will be sent a visual story to help them familiarise themselves with the plot, characters and the setting before they arrive at the theatre. Detailed event and transport information will also be available from www.matildathemusical.com.

Seen by over 9 million people across more than 70 cities worldwide, the multi award-winning production is currently playing its eighth year in London, booking at the Cambridge Theatre until 24 May 2020.

Winner of 94 international awards including 23 for Best Musical, the hit show is now the longest running production to play at the Cambridge Theatre and is one of the top twenty longest running musicals in the West End having now welcomed over 3 million audience members in London.

The RSC’s Matilda The Musical UK and Ireland tour will have its Scottish premiere in Edinburgh Playhouse on Tuesday 2 April playing until 27 April before continuing on to Bristol Hippodrome (7 May- 8 June), Southampton Mayflower (11 June – 6 July) and Norwich Theatre Royal (16 July – 17 August). 

Matilda The Musical is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus. The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography byPeter 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.

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 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 played its first non-English language production at the LG Arts Centre in Seoul, South Korea from September 2018 to February 2019.

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

MAMMA MIA! CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN LONDON

WITH A SPECIAL TICKET LOTTERY THROUGHOUT APRIL

AND A NEW BOOKING PERIOD TO 7 MARCH 2020

MAMMA MIA! TURNS 20 AT LONDON’S NOVELLO THEATRE

ON SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2019

The global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! celebrates its 20^th anniversary in London’s West End at the Novello Theatre on Saturday 6 April. Since premiering in London in 1999, the irresistible feelgood musical has captured the hearts of millions around the globe.

The sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless pop masterpieces, has now been seen live on stage by 65 million people across the world, and turned into two record-breaking movies – MAMMA MIA! The Movie and MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again.

To celebrate the musical’s 20^th anniversary, the producers of MAMMA MIA! will be offering 20 tickets for £20 on the day of performance for every performance throughout April 2019, either via the TodayTix app or todaytix.com (https://www.todaytix.com/x/london) or in person at the Novello Theatre Box Office.

A new booking period, from Monday 16 September 2019 to Saturday 7 March 2020, will open at 10.00am on Wednesday 3 April 2019.

The London cast of MAMMA MIA! currently stars Sara Poyzer as Donna, Kate Graham as Tanya, Ricky Butt as Rosie, Richard Trinder as Sam, Neil Moors as Harry, Stephen Beckett as Bill, Lucy May Barker as Sophie, Alec Porter as Sky, Charlotte O’Rourke as Ali, Leah St Luce as Lisa, Damian Buhagiar as Pepper and Eamonn Cox as Eddie, with Caroline Deverill playing the role of Donna Sheridan at certain performances.

Also in the cast are Chloe Ames, Chloe-Jo Byrnes, Adam Clayton-Smith, Adam Davidson, Luke Hall, Lauren Hampton, Jack Heasman, Jennifer Hepburn, Stuart Hickey, Zoe Humphryes, Mark Isherwood, Tyler Kennington, Robert Knight, Chanel Mian, James Willoughby Moore, Natasha O’Brien, Dean Read, Beth Relf, Annie Southall and Katy Stredder.

To date, MAMMA MIA! has been seen in 50 productions in 16 different languages grossing more than $2 billion at the box office.  In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China.  MAMMA MIA! is also currently playing a German-language tour in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, a Dutch-language production in Utrecht and a Mandarin-language production in China.  Upcoming productions include a UK and International Tour and productions in Korea, Berlin and Denmark.

MAMMA MIA! originally opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004, and then to the Novello Theatre in 2012. 

The London production of MAMMA MIA!  has been seen by over 8.9 million people, played over 8,000 performances and has broken box office records in all three of its London homes.

Produced by Judy Craymer, MAMMA MIA! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008.  A second film, MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN, opened in July 2018 and is the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time.

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.

MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Novello Theatre

Aldwych

London WC2B 4LD

Ticket Prices: From £15.00

Performances until 14 September 2019 – a £2.25 per ticket booking fee applies to tickets booked online, and a £2.75 per ticket booking fee applies to tickets booked by phone.  No booking fee on tickets purchased in person at the Novello Theatre Box Office.

Performances from 16 September 2019 onwards – a £2.50 per ticket booking fee applies to tickets booked online and by phone.  No booking fee on tickets purchased in person at the Novello Theatre Box Office.

All prices include £1.25 restoration levy.

Early Bird Pricing – anyone booking four months or more in advance of the performance they are attending (Monday to Thursday performances only) will save £20 on Band A and Premium tickets, but only through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, either online, in person at the theatre, or by calling the Novello Theatre Box Office.

Performance Times:

Monday – Saturday 7.45pm

Matinees – Thursday & Saturday 3.00pm*

* extra Tuesday matinees 22 October 2019 & 18 February 2020

Christmas 2019/20 Performance Schedule

Monday 23 December                      3.00pm and 7.45pm           

Tuesday 24 December                     NO PERFORMANCE

Wednesday 25 December               NO PERFORMANCE

Thursday 26 December                    7.45pm

Friday 27 December                         3.00pm and 7.45pm

Saturday 28 December                    3.00pm and 7.45pm

Monday 30 December                      3.00pm and 7.45pm

Tuesday 31 December                     3.00pm and 7.45pm

Wednesday 1 January                      7.45pm

Thursday 2 January                          3.00pm and 7.45pm

Friday 3 January                               7.45pm

Saturday 4 January                           3.00pm and 7.45pm

Currently booking to 7 March 2020

The performance lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)

Box Office: 0844 482 5151

http://www.mamma-mia.com/

http://www.facebook.com/mammamiamusical

Tweets by MammaMiaMusical

REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR SECOND YEAR COMPANY 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

AT THE ALDWYCH THEATRE AS FULL CAST IS CONFIRMED

Final casting and rehearsal images are released today (26 March 2019) for the second year West End Company of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL.  Based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner, this hit production is playing to packed houses at the Aldwych Theatre and currently booking to 21 December 2019.

From 15 April 2019, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe will lead the cast in the title role with Ashley Zhangazhaas Ike Turner.  They are joined by Maria Omakinwa who will play the role of Tina’s mother Zelma,Aisha Jawando who will play the role of Tina at some performances each week, Irene-Myrtle Forrester as Tina’s Grandmother GG, Howard Gossington as Record Producer Phil Spector and Lyricist Terry Britten, Francesca Jackson as Ike and Tina’s manager Rhonda Graam,Ava Brennanas Tina’s sister Alline Bullock, Jammy Kasongo as Tina’s father Richard Bullock and Tina’s first love Raymond Hill, Edward Bourne as record company Marketing Manager Erwin Bach and Oscar Batterham as Tina’s Manager Roger Davies.

Ensemble members are Daniella Bowen, Chloe Chambers, Joelle Dyson, Lejaun Sheppard,Kibong Tanji, Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli, Cameron Bernard Jones who also plays Tina’s son Craig and Ashlee Irish who plays Tina’s son Ronnie and Joseph Richardson, and swings Gavin Alex,Derek Aidoo, Joshua Da Costa, Amandla Elynah, Hannah Jay-Allan, Angela Marie Hurst,Leisha Mollyneaux and Samuel J. Weir.

The children’s cast are Athea Andi, 11 years old from Richmond upon Thames, Navaeah Hoath, 11 years old from Bromley and Fayth Ifil, 11 years old from Swindon,who share the role of Young Anna Mae, Perola Da Cunha, 11 years old from Hackney, Jasmine Djazel, 9 years old from Wandsworth and Teri Ofon, 12 years old from Surrey, who share the role of Young Alline andRomell Barrocks-Bedeau, 9 years old from Lamberth, Riotafari Gardner, 8 years old from Brent and Myles Grant, 8 years old from Hertfordshire, and who share the role of Young Craig.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins,TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is choreographed by Anthony van Laast, with set and costume designs by Mark Thompson, musical supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting byBruno Poet,sound by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Jeff Sugg and orchestrations byEthan 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. 

A 2018 graduate of the The University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theater and Dance, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe will make her West End debut in the title role.  She made her professional off-Broadway debut last month in Alice by Heart at Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space.  Her television credits include Smilf for Showtime and Bull for CBS.

Ashley Zhangazha was last on stage in Death of a Salesman at the Royal Exchange in Manchester where he also appeared in Hamlet and Guys and Dolls, for which he won Best Performance in a Musical at 2018 UK Theatre awards. His other theatre credits include Henry V and Fences in the West End, Pericles and Danton’s Death for the National Theatre, A Raisin in the Sun and Macbeth (for which he won the Ian Charleson Award) at the Sheffield Crucible, Terror for the Lyric Hammersmith,Ah, Wilderness! for the Young Vic, Human Animals, Belong and Truth and Reconciliation for the Royal Court and Richard II and King Lear at the Donmar Warehouse.  His television credits include Victoria II, Humans and Ordinary Lies.

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.  Earlier this month the German premiere of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL began performances at the Stage Operettenhaus in Hamburg and the musical will have its Broadway premiere in Autumn 2019.  In February this year a new music video of River Deep – Mountain High was released featuringAdrienne Warren performing the track from the original cast album.  This was followed by the release of the single The Hunter featuring Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. The full album is now available for pre-order and is scheduled to be released for digital download and streaming shortly.

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is nominated for Best Musical at the 2019 Olivier awards with Adrienne Warren nominated for Best Actress in a Musical and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith for best Actor in a Musical.

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

The Grand Theatre, Leeds – until Saturday 30th of March

Reviewed by Sally Richmond

5*****

The opening words of The Full Monty stage production are – “Turn your mobiles off and keep your knickers on” and set the scene immediately! The show opens inside a deserted Sheffield steelworks with crates, oil drums and dubious electrics. Throughout the production, the illuminated signs smoothly convert the stage into a job centre, nightclub, Conservative club and police station. It’s here that brilliant scenes of comedy are played out, with undertones of some very serious issues such as: unemployment, mental health and redundancy.

Our lovable cast is led by the charismatic Gary Lucy (EastEnders, The Bill, Footballers’s Wives, winner of Dancing On Ice) who has made the role of Gaz his own as a young, arrogant Sheffield lad. Alongside Gary, Andrew Dunn (best known as Tony in Dinnerladies) plays middle-class Gerald to perfection in a most believable portrayal. Louis Emerick (Coronation Street and Brookside) plays Horse (you can find out the meaning behind his name when you go and see the show – but it’s not what you’re thinking!) Kai Owen (Rhys in Torchwood & Pete in Hollyoaks) is Dave, who captures the essence of the character so well – going from clown to someone who’s under much emotional strain due to his marital problems. Young actor Fraser Kelly is also very notable as Gaz’s son Nathan, receiving a huge cheer from the audience, as did James Redmond (Guy) for obvious reasons! The whole cast clearly get on as they had great chemistry on stage and showed genuine affection and praise for one another during the standing ovation, which was given by a very excited, heated and mainly female audience.

There are far too many comedy highlights to mention them all with laugh-out-loud moments in abundance. The dancing is so hilarious and is set to the original, fantastic soundtrack which results in a great night out. Heart-warming and serious where it needs to be – The Full Monty will take you back in time and have you tapping your feet right from the off! The adapted stage script is mostly true to the film, including comedy, poignant moments and, of course, bare bottoms. Iconic moments from the movie are included such as: the cling film diet scene, sun bed tanning at home, and dancing in the dole queue. The pace really picks up in the second half, as our adorable rogues and misfits rehearse for the ultimate one night only – The Full Monty. The audience were going wild by the end, singing along to the legendary Tom Jones, clapping to the rhythm and screaming to the gyrations. But do they go the Full Monty? That is something you can find out when you go yourself, but I will say – you won’t be disappointed

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – until 30th March 2019

Reviewed by Antonia Hebbert

4****

Well, that was fun. The country might be going mad, but things aren’t completely bad when you can see a daft musical about an ogre who falls in love with a princess who turns out to be an ogre too. Guildford School of Acting students gave their all in this romp of a show, with some terrific ensemble numbers and outstanding individual performances.

The show is closely based on Shrek, the Dreamworks animated film. Aidan Cutler (Shrek) and Bradley Walwyn (Donkey) managed the tricky feat of making very familiar jokes from the film sound fresh and hilarious, with perfect comic timing. Matthew Rankcom was sheer delight as the fiendish Lord Farquaad. Jessica Bates made a funny, feisty Princess Fiona, and wowed us with nifty tap-dancing in one of the best ensemble pieces, involving the Pied Piper and wayward rats. Other ensemble highlights were What’s Up Duloc and the party-like final scene (choreography was by Amy Oxley). All the cast deserve credit: the energy never flagged as they appeared and reappeared as fairy tale characters, guard, villagers and so on in a succession of quick changes. Nick Gartland’s Pinocchio was spot on, and Anna Davey sang dazzlingly as the love-struck dragon (nicely conveyed by a giant stick puppet).

A very enthusiastic audience of fellow students probably helped, but could have been a distraction for their friends on stage. It was impressive that the performers never looked as if they were just playing to the home crowd: they were professional throughout. The set (by UK Productions) had lots of charm. Jenny Sawyer was the director, and the musical director was Michael Cotton, who led the band.

Jack Studio Theatre – 19 to 30 March

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Yard Players’ production of King Lear takes Shakespeare’s long, meandering tragedy and shapes it into a (relatively) fast-paced and thoroughly engaging story.

The tone of the play is set beautifully as the Fool manoeuvres each character onstage for the first scene, setting a tableau that signals the loyalties of each group before a word is uttered. Alan Booty’s Lear is a suitably commanding presence, and his descent into madness as he is abandoned is handled deftly and delicately. Zara Banks and Fleur de Wit are hugely impressive as Lear’s faithless daughters Goneril and Regan, and their husbands Albany (Benjamin May) and Cornwall (David Sayers) are played as weaker male shadows of the ruthless women. Recasting Edmund as Ada (Evangeline Beaven) is a masterstroke, making Gloucester’s indifference towards his bastard child seem even more cruel. Beaven is both sympathetic and repulsive as she plots her rise to power, and her non-verbal work is full of wit, in stark contrast to the initially rather wet Edgar (Daniel McCaully).

With no scenery and minimum props, the setting of each scene is scrawled in chalk on the black wall, using names of pubs, or simply “dark”, but this works brilliantly keeping the story flowing without the need for long scene breaks. The sense of injustice and the rising chaos as Lear’s authority is diminished are captured nicely, and the loyalty and love shown Lear by his true friends is never over simplified and cloying. The play’s most infamous scene, where poor Gloucester loses his eyes, is staged imaginatively, with groans from the audience as they realised that it was actually going to happen, and nervous gasps and giggles as the scene unfolded. There are a lot of laughs in this production as the cast and director James Eley bring the wicked and gleeful wordplay to the fore and throw masterful side eye to the audience.

King Lear is not my favourite Shakespeare play – I usually nod off – but Yard Players breathe new life into the old dog and have created an intelligent, invigorating and witty production that deserves a wider audience.

Greenwich Theatre – 20 to 30 March 2019

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

Lazarus Theatre’s pulsating production of Lord of the Flies returns to Greenwich Theatre and is even more exhilarating the second time round.

A plane full of British schoolboys, evacuated from an unspecified war, crashes on a remote island. No adults survive, so the boys must create their own society as they wait for a rescue that may never happen.

Nigel Williams’ adaptation loses, by necessity, lots of the philosophical content of Golding’s novel, leaving the bare bones of the plot. Director Ricky Dukes takes this even further, foregoing any backdrop of sand and sea and instead having an empty, unadorned stage, with Ben Jacobs lighting design portraying the baking island sun or the eerie trails amongst the trees stunningly.

The action begins with a hoodie Haka to pulsing dance music (the first of many as the boys descend to savagery), setting the scene of the plane crash, before the cast scatter and emerge from around the auditorium at the call of Piggy’s precious conch. The use of the entire theatre space is inspired, with an entire seating area being used as ramshackle shelters, and action taking place in the aisles (and scaring the bejeesus out of the schoolkids in the audience!).

The savagery and animal instincts of the boys seems even more pronounced this year, with simian leaps and yells that would make Andy Serkis proud, and the contrast between the hunters’ shouts and chants and Ralph’s group’s desperate clinging to the remnants and trappings of decent society is played to great effect – never more so than the reveal of what the hunters actually use as tribal markings. The boys’ sense of entitlement depending on whether they’re at a “good” school and the social pecking order inherent in that system, is bitterly relevant right now, but also ripe for a few good gags, with Jack declaring that he’ll bring strong and stable leadership to the island. The sense of childhood innocence being corrupted by freedom and fear is always palpable and the power of Golding’s novel is enhanced by the manic physicality of the production.

The casting is gender split, but the entire company play their characters as boys, meaning that the gender of each actor is soon forgotten. Alice Hutchinson impresses as Ralph, nailing the conflict between gleeful liberation and responsibility, and Tommy Carmichael captures Piggy’s pedantic, annoying but thoroughly decent character brilliantly and amusingly. Benjamin Victor as Simon is like a visitor from another world, in a beautifully judged and ethereal performance. Matt Penson is a revelation as Jack – utterly convincing in his rage and violence but always allowing glimpses of terrified little boy trying to cope in a strange new world. Darcy Willison also impresses as the odious and sycophantic Roger, prowling around the stage with terrifying bloodlust and shedding all responsibility and morality as he follows his chief’s orders.

The mounting terror on the island is handled with minimal stage effects and maximum horror and tension. The appearance of the parachutist will still make you jump out of your seat, and the deaths are terrifying. The schoolchildren behind me were still in shock, giggling nervously as we sat eating ice cream as Victor lay onstage throughout the interval after Simon’s murder (although they had calmed down enough to rank the shirtless male cast by hotness before the action resumed), and when poor Piggy’s time came the gasps and shrieks were even more vocal.

Deliciously dark and disturbing, Lord of the Flies thrills and shocks in equal measure. A must-see production.