The Barn theatre, Cirencester – until 4th May 2019
Reviewed by Alexandra Sykes
5*****
Based on the book of the same name by Michael Morpurgo, The Butterfly Lion is a story within a story. After running away from school Michael (Jasper William Cartwright) meets Millie (Hilary Harwood) she tells him the story of Bertie and the white lion who went on to become the butterfly lion. Set in various locations such as Wiltshire, South Africa and France, the story draws the audience in and leaving them wanting more.
With only 6 cast members it is a small production but it works well. Cartwright not only plays the role of school boy Michael but also Bertie Andrews in Millie’s story. The ensemble cast of Jeremy Cobb, Henry Douthwaite and Abigail Matthews are wonderful in their roles as Bertie’s parents, Merlot and various members of the British army. Jonathan Charles is a fantastic puppeteer operating the lion, making sure attention is on the lion and not on him. The lion puppet is possibly one of the best puppets ever made, with three puppets being used in the show: a lion cub, a slightly bigger cub and a fully grown lion.
The set is simple, with a raised area in the middle which is used as Millie’s kitchen, Bertie’s family kitchen and living room in South Africa and No Man’s land in World War 1. The costumes are also simple as cast members need to change quickly. Although it is simple the audience does not get characters confused and the scenery changes are helpful in telling the story.
The show is family friendly and has many funny moments, as is typical of Murpurgo’s work and the small theatre space works well for telling such a lovely story that both young and old will enjoy.
Performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited
18 July – 7 September 2019
Director: Susie McKenna; Musical Direction: Mark Dickman; Choreographer: Frank Thompson
Designer: Robert Jones; Costume Designer: Lotte Collett; Lighting Designer: Neil Austin
Sound Designer: Avgoustos Psillas
With the critically acclaimed The Son currently running at Kiln Theatre, and with Inua Ellams’ The Half God of Rainfall in rehearsals, Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham today announced the full cast for Blues in the Night– Susie McKenna directs Sharon D Clarke (The Lady), Debbie Kurup (The Woman), Clive Rowe (The Man) and Gemma Sutton (The Girl) the first major London revival in 30 years. The production opens on 24 July, with previews from 18 July, and runs until 7 September.
‘A man is a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who’ll leave you to sing, the blues in the night.’
Chicago 1939. One man, three women, their lives, memories and the sweet music that gets them through the night.
The Olivier and Tony Award nominated musical is a scorching compilation of 26 hot and torchy blues numbers that frame the lives and loves of four residents of a downtown hotel. Featuring soul-filled songs by blues and jazz icons Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen and many more, this will be a sizzling night to remember.
Sharon D Clarke returns to Kiln Theatre toplay The Lady – she previously appeared in The Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes. Her theatre work includes: Death of a Salesman (Young Vic), Caroline, or Change (Chichester Festival Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Playhouse Theatre), The Life (Southwark Playhouse), Sleeping Beauty, Vagina Monologues, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose, Puss in Boots & Cinderella (Hackney Empire), Pigs and Dogs(Royal Court Theatre), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, An Oak Tree, Everyman, Amen Corner, Guys and Dolls(National Theatre), Romeo & Julie (Rose Theatre Kingston), Porgy & Bess (Regent’s Park Open Air), Ghost, Hairspray, Vagina Monologues, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Disney’s The Lion King, Fame, Rent and Mama I Want to Sing (West End). Her television work includes Holby City – as series regular Lola Griffin, Informer, Doctor Who, The Forge, Unforgotten, Death in Paradise, New Tricks, Psychobitches and The Shadow Line; and for film, Untitled Girls Film, Rocketman, Tau, Sugarhouse, Secret Society, Beautiful People, Broken Glass andTumble Down.
Debbie Kurup returns to Kiln Theatre toplay The Woman – she previously appeared in Poison. Her theatre work includes Sweet Charity (Donmar Warehouse), Girl From The North Country (The Old Vic/ Noël Coward Theatre), The Threepenny Opera (National Theatre), Anything Goes (Sheffield Theatres/UK Tour), The Bodyguard (Olivier Award nomination for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Adelphi Theatre), Chicago (Cambridge Theatre/ Adelphi Theatre), Sister Act (London Palladium), West Side Story (Prince of Wales Theatre), Tonight’s The Night (Victoria Palace), Rent (Prince of Wales Theatre/UK tour), Fame (UK tour) and Guys and Dolls (Sheffield Theatres). Her film work includes The Two Wolves, Hollow, Making of a Musical – West Side Story and 28 Weeks Later.
Clive Rowe playsThe Man. His theatre work includes The Wind in The Willows (UK tour), Guys and Dolls (Royal Albert Hall), Me and My Girl (Chichester Festival Theatre), Jack and the Beanstalk (Wimbledon Theatre), The Light Princess (National Theatre), The Hothouse (Trafalgar Studios), The Ladykillers (West End and UK tour), Kiss Me Kate (Chichester Festival Theatre/The Old Vic), No Naughty Bits (Hampstead Theatre), The Wiz (Birmingham Rep/West Yorkshire Playhouse), Company (Donmar Warehouse), The Fantastics (Duchess Theatre); Twelfth Night, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Trolius and Cressida (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Chicago (Adelphi Theatre), As You Like It (Wyndham’s Theatre), Simply Heavenly (Young Vic/Trafalgar Studio); and for the National Theatre, The Light Princess, Carousel, Fuente Ovejuna, Caroline or Change, The Villains’ Opera, Money, Candide, Peter Pan, Guys and Dolls, Trackers (Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical forGuys and Dolls and Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Performance in Carousel). Rowe has returned to the Hackney Empire on numerous occasions to play The Dame in their Christmas pantomime for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for Mother Goose. For television, his work includes Will, So Awkward, Evermoor, The Kennedys, The Fun Police, All the Small Things, Doctor Who, Networked, Bloodrights, Say it with Music, American Voices, Paper Mask, After the War, Snakes and Ladders and Entertaining Angels Aware; and for film, Beauty and the Beast, Manderlay and Crime Strike.
Gemma Sutton plays The Girl. Her theatre work includes Follies (National Theatre), Sweet Charity (The Watermill Theatre), The Rink (Offie Award for Female Performance in a Musical – Southwark Playhouse), A Christmas Carol the Musical (LMTO), Strictly Ballroom (West Yorkshire Playhouse/ Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto), The Go Between (Apollo Theatre), Gypsy (Chichester Festival Theatre/Savoy Theatre), Carousel (Arcola Theatre), Chicago (Leicester Curve)Drunk (Leicester Curve/The Bridewell), Hairspray (UK tour), Me and My Girl (Kilworth House), Legally Blonde– The Musical (Savoy Theatre), Gone with the Wind, Imagine This (New London Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Lady Be Good, The Boy Friend (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Children Will Listen (Theatre Royal Drury Lane). For television, her work includes West Side Stories, Gypsy: Live at the Savoy Theatre and Cilla.
Susie McKenna directs. She is currently Creative Executive Producer at Hackney Empire with the remit to develop new musical theatre for the venue – having left her role as Creative Director in January 2017. Her credits for Hackney Empire include Cinderella, Rudy’s Rare Records,, Beau Jest, Sit and Shiver, Kat and Tameka Show, La Variété, Sing Out, Alter Ego, Onceon this Island and Ha Ha Hackney. Other credits include Oranges and Elephants (Hoxton Hall), A Midsummer Night’s Madness (National Black Theatre of Harlem, Hackney Empire Edinburgh Festival), A Christmas Carol (Arts Theatre London) and The Silver Sword (Coventry Belgrade Theatre, UK tour). Acting credits for theatre include Cats (Ambassadors Theatre), Ragtime (Piccadilly Theatre), Chicago (Cambridge Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Hair, The Rocky Horror Show, Jesus Christ Superstar and In The Midnight Hour (UK tour). For film her credits include Jack and Sarah.
This is a well crafted monologue by Andy Barrett, the writer, providing a window into the life of a respected and admired politician. Today’s generation may not have heard of Tony Benn. This is a fitting tribute to the memory a colourful, passionate political career.
Using a tape recorder as a diary and to listen to previous entries, we are taken through Tony’s search for a fitting story, for the eulogy of yet another comrade. He has written so many it’s hard to find one not yet used.
The creatives, Rachael Jacks and Martin Curtis, have created a set that draws you in to the private world of Tony’s study. Philip Bretherton (Tony Benn) keeps you absorbed from the first moment. The director’s (Giles Croft) use of the physical context of the study keeps Bretherton (Benn) moving around, renewing the interest of the audience and piquing curiosity. Bretherton has brilliantly taken on Tony Benn’s mannerisms and irascible character, well known to an appreciative audience. The occasional murmur of familiarity at certain dates mentioned and rumble of laughter through the audience somehow increased the intimacy of the piece.
Tony (Bretherton) has promised his family this will be the last public speaking he will do – flying round the world and the UK to give a speech at a conference or rally is long gone, its now time to stop, maybe…..
This piece certainly appeals to fellow Socialists and people of a certain age, however I would strongly recommend any young person, take this opportunity to get an insight into the life of a political legend. I would watch again anytime.
CONFIRMS KATHARINE McPHEE’S FINAL PERFORMANCE AS JENNA WILL BE 15 JUNE
Music and lyrics by seven-time Grammy Award-nominee Sara Bareilles Book by Jessie Nelson Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly Directed by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus
Audiences have ten weeks to catch the critically-acclaimed Katharine McPhee in the West End production of Waitress. The Smash and Scorpion actress will play her final performance onSaturday 15 June with new casting for the role of Jenna to be announced soon. The Tony-nominated musical by Sara Bareilles began performances at the Adelphi Theatre on 8 February and is now booking to Saturday19 October.
London’s brand-new smash hit musical comedy Waitresstells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams her way out of a loveless marriage. When a hot new doctor arrives in town, life gets complicated. With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness.
Brought to life by a ground breaking, female-led creative team, the hit show features an original score by 7-time Grammy® nominee Sara Bareilles (Love Song, Brave), a book by acclaimed screenwriterJessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and direction by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland) and choreography by Lorin Latarro. The production is currently touring the US and has also announced it will have its Australian premiere in 2020 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.
Since finding international fame as a captivating singer on American Idol – Season 5, Katharine McPhee (Jenna) has become a successful recording artist, landing numerous songs and albums on Billboard’s pop, jazz, holiday and adult-contemporary charts in her native US. Her latest album of timeless American standards “I Fall In Love Too Easily” was released by BMG in 2017. As an acclaimed actress, she was the breakout star of the 2013 NBC-TV musical series Smash, Executive Produced by Steven Spielberg with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray). She recently starred in the hit CBS dramatic series Scorpion.
Alongside Katharine McPhee as Jenna, Waitress stars Jack McBrayer as Ogie, Marisha Wallace as Becky, Laura Baldwin as Dawn, Peter Hannah as Earl, David Hunter as Dr. Pomatter and Shaun Prendergast as Old Joe.
The full company includes Kelly Agbowu, Laura Baldwin, Piers Bate, Nicole Raquel Dennis, Michael Hamway, Peter Hannah, David Hunter, Stephen Leask, Jack McBrayer, Chris McGuigan, Katharine McPhee, Olivia Moore, Nathaniel Morrison, Sarah O’Connor, Leanne Pinder, Shaun Prendergast, Charlotte Riby, Marisha Wallace and Mark Willshire.
On its Broadway opening, Waitress was nominated for four Outer Critics’ Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical; two Drama League Award Nominations, including Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical; six Drama Desk Nominations, including Outstanding Musical; and four Tony Award Nominations, including Best Musical.
Written, directed and staring John Godber, Scary Bikers is a “new comedy about life, love and staying on your bike”. In truth it is a play about two bereaved people who happen to meet at the grave side and even though they come from very different back grounds they seem to hit it off.
Don, John Godber, is approaching 65 and mourning the loss of his feisty or as he says, bonkers wife Jean. He is a retired miner who stood proud on the picket lines during the miners strike and now works as a porter in a NHS hospital, that he feels is failing their elderly patients.
Carole, Jane Thornton, also mourning the death of her successful architect husband Rob. Formerly a private school teacher, who originally had ambitions of being an artist but failed. She is approaching 60 and running a bike shop in memory of her husband and his passion for cycling.
The pair discover they share a passion for cycling and decide to join forces and cycle to Florence. As the trip is expensive and Don is a little strapped for cash they decide a tandem is a cost effective way to go. Their journey begins the day the UK voted on to “stay or leave” the EU. Don was a leaver and Carole a remainer. Was this the end before the journey began? They soldier on and discover why each voted the way they did.
Scary Bikers looks closely at social politics and how each of us assumes everyone else thinks the same. How politicians seem only to be out for their own gain, appearing on reality TV shows to show how they are one of the people. How the propaganda surrounding Brexit lead many to vote out not realising that once again the powers that be in Westminster were all lying through their teeth and how the North never feels represented in parliament.
With laugh out loud moments, funny one liners only a Northerner knows how to deliver, to tender flash backs of the dead partners that will move you to tears. The pair convey the physical agony of long distance bike riding and the dangers of other road users with great comic timing. A fascinating master piece of social observation and extremely relevant in our time.
· Birmingham Repertory Theatre announces a new spectacular staging of Peter Pan for Christmas 2019.
· Tickets now on sale for members with public booking opening Friday 12 April 2019.
Audiences across the Midlands will be able to enjoy the adventures of Peter Pan as Birmingham Repertory Theatre announces a new staging of the J. M. Barrie classic for Christmas 2019.
Filled with swashbuckling adventure and the magic of youth, the eternal classic Peter Pan has enthralled audiences across generations. Now, following his highly acclaimed retelling of The Wizard of Oz at Birmingham Repertory Theatre last year, director Liam Steel returns to direct a striking new version based on J. M. Barrie’s original story.
All children, except one, grow up. One night, the headstrong Wendy Darling is visited by a mysterious boy floating outside her window. The mischievous stranger introduces himself as Peter Pan and after teaching Wendy and her two brothers to fly, invites them on a quest to an enchanted island called Neverland. It is a world of feisty fairies, malevolent mermaids and a raucous gang of abandoned Lost Children.
But a crew of ruthless pirates, led by the dastardly and vengeful Captain Hook, also await in Neverland. Can Wendy, Peter, and his gang band together to win the day as they cross paths and swords with the pirates? And will Wendy and her brothers ever find their way back home?
Director, Liam Steel said: “What better way to spend the run up to Christmas than travelling to Neverland to tell the famous story of the boy who didn’t want to grow up? With breath-taking flying, amazing adventures and all of your favourite characters, this magical story promises to be everything a Christmas treat should be. I am thrilled to be back at The REP to enable a bold new re-imagining of this classic tale to take flight, and with a healthy sprinkling of REP fairy dust, I promise we have all the vital ingredients for a wonderful Christmas show that can be enjoyed by everyone.”
Liam Steel is a multi-award winning director and choreographer whose most recent credit includes choreographer for the highly-acclaimed West End production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company (2019 Olivier award nomination for Best Theatre Choreographer). His work has included creating productions for the National Theatre, The Globe, RSC, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Royal Court, Manchester Royal Exchange, Chichester Festival Theatre, Frantic Assembly and many more. He is a core collaborator at Regents Park Open Air Theatre and has worked on ten productions there over ten seasons, including co-directing and choreographing Sondheim’s Into The Woods, which was awarded an Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. He has created many award winning contemporary dance commissions, choreographed for Musical Theatre on the West End and Broadway. In the commercial sector his work includes creating all the musical staging and choreography for the film version of the musical Les Misérables – winner of 3 Oscars, 4 BAFTAS and 3 Golden Globes – including Best Motion Picture.
Peter Pan will be designed by Michael Pavelka (Funny Girl / West End; A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merchant of Venice / Propeller Theatre Company and Winner of 2009 TMA Award Best Set Design) with lighting design by Lee Curran (Woyzeck / Birmingham Repertory Theatre;Summer and Smoke / West End; Jesus Christ Superstar / Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). Casting and further creatives to be announced.
As part of The REP’s commitment to making theatre accessible to everyone all performances ofPeter Pan between 5 December and 19 January will be Audio Described and Captioned, meaning that audiences with visual or hearing impairments can enjoy these services on any performance.
Peter Pan will open at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 30 November 2019 and run until 19 January 2020. Tickets cost from £15 (subject to availability, £2.50 transaction fee applies) and are on sale from today (Friday 5 April 2019) for members with general booking opening on Friday 12 April,12 noon.
‘Bambinatum est Magitum’, the motto of the terrifying Trunchem Hall where Matilda goes to school, translates as ‘Children are Maggots’. In the case of this production, they are also sickeningly talented.
After sell-out runs at the RSC, London and Broadway, Matilda embarks on its first UK tour. It’s a joyous celebration of youth, imagination and above all, love of language. Writer Dennis Kelly and Composer/Lyricist Tim Minchin evidently had a ball coming up with as many linguistic tricks as they could, and they do not disappoint. Songs like The Smell of Rebellion and Revolting Children revel in the wordplay and double meanings of words, but for me the standout song lyrically is The School Song, into which the entire alphabet is subtly woven into (‘And so you think you’re Able/To survive this mess by Being a prince or a princess/You will soon ‘C’ etc. Ugh, genius). Even the set has words embedded in it throughout.
All the performers at the top of the game, from the well-established actors to the younger cast, some of whom are making their professional debut with this production. Matilda (Scarlett Cecil when I reviewed) commands the stage excellently, even garnering a round of applause when standing up to the fearsome Miss Trunchbull (a by turns terrifyingly and hilariously agile Elliot Harper). Matilda’s parents are a suitably rotten pair, played with gusto by Sebastien Torkia and Rebecca Thornhill – Mr Wormwood being a fast-talking used car salesman and Mrs Wormwood an amateur competitive Latin dancer and microwave dinner chef extraordinaire. It’s a show with a lot going on, but the rest of the youth cast (Toby Mocrei, Ben Pike, Alfie Sanderson, Toby Hales, Lillie Downton, Aiya Augustin, Lily Van Veen, Darcy Kelly – phew) all get their various moments to shine, with newt shenanigans, ear-pulling, cake-scoffing and pigtail swinging galore. Providing the heart and emotional core of the piece are Miss Honey (Carly Thoms), Matilda’s quiet and caring teacher, and Mrs Phelps (Michelle Chantelle Hopewell), the librarian enraptured by Matilda’s natural gift for storytelling.
Couple this with outstanding choreography, executed with slick precision by performers of all ages, there’s so much high energy action happening onstage, it’s a feast for the eyes and ears and would definitely hold up to multiple viewings. Personal highlight? The ode to youthful optimism, When I Grow Up, as characters on swings almost fly over the audience.
Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston present
ZOG
Based on the book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler
Flying into London this Summer
At Cadogan Hall
From Wednesday 31 July to Sunday 25 August 2019
Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston are delighted to announce that Zog, based on thebook by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, will fly into London this Summer. Following its current world premiere UK Tour, Zog will play a limited 4-week run at Cadogan Hall from Wednesday 31 July to Sunday 25 August 2019. Tickets are on sale now.
Large in size, and keen in nature, Zog is so eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know. He bumps, burns and roars his way through school, until the plucky Princess Pearl patches him up ready to face his biggest challenge yet…a duel with a knight, Sir Gadabout the Great! Featuring original music, inventive puppetry and Freckle’s distinctive style, Zog promises to be roaring fun for all ages.
Zog is adapted and directed by Mike Shepherd (founder and Artistic Director of Kneehigh) with an original folk score by Johnny Flynn (actor, musician and frontman of The Sussex Wit) and designs by Katie Sykes (Jane Eyre at the National Theatre). 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 designerLyndie Wright (Little Angel Theatre), puppet director Sarah Wright (Kneehigh’sBrief Encounter) and movement and circus consultant Tina Koch.
Zog is produced by Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston. Freckle Productions’ most recent show is Tabby McTat, an adaptation of the book byJulia Donaldson, following their acclaimed productions of Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales and Stick Man.
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 and Euan Wilson (Stick Man, UK Tour) as Madame Dragon, with Dixie McDevitt (National Youth Theatre alumni) as Ensemble. The cast of actor-puppeteers bring the world of Zog to life with handcrafted puppets designed and created by Little Angel Theatre co-founderLyndie Wright.
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. Ithas gone on to become a perennial bestseller. On Christmas Day 2018, Magic Light Pictures premiered an animated film of Zog on BBC One featuring an all-star cast, following their award-winning films The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and Stick Man.
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
One week to go until All About Eve is broadcast live from the Noël Coward Theatre to cinemas across the UK and internationally with National Theatre Live
All About Eve has broken all box office records at the Noël Coward Theatre since opening in February
With only five weeks left of the production’s run, limited tickets are still available
One week before the NT Live broadcast of All About Eve, Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions have today announced that the Olivier Award-nominated production has broken box office records at the Noël Coward Theatre. Each week since official opening on 12th February, All About Eve has exceeded the previous record for weekly net sales. Ivo van Hove’s production must end on 11th May 2019.
The world premiere of Ivo van Hove’s highly anticipated stage adaptation of the 1950 Twentieth Century Fox film and the play “The Wisdom of Eve” by Mary Orr will be broadcast on 11th April 2019 by NT Live.
Emmy Award-winning Gillian Anderson and Lily James lead the cast, which also includesMonica Dolan, Ian Drysdale, Tsion Habte, Jessie Mei Li, Julian Ovenden, Sheila Reid, Rhashan Stone, Stanley Townsend and Philip Voyzey.
Ivo van Hove’s direction is accompanied by set and lighting design from JanVersweyveld,costume design by An D’Huys and music from double Mercury Prize-winner PJ Harvey, alongsideTom Gibbons’ sound design. Casting is by Julia Horan CDG.
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.
Throughout the run of All About Eve, over 20,000 tickets have been offered at £25 or under. Day Seats are available each day from 10:30am at the Box Office, priced at £25. Audiences can also access seats through the Today Tix mobile and online lottery at the same price.
National Theatre Live will turn ten on 25th June this year – the date of the first ever NT Live broadcast which was Phédre starring Academy Award® winner Helen Mirren. Over ten years there have been over 80 theatre productions have been shown in 3500 venues worldwide, reaching an overall audience of nearly 9 million people. NT Live currently screens in 2500 venues across 65 countries. Recent broadcasts include Antony and Cleopatra with Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo,Julius Caesar with David Morrissey and Ben Whishaw, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Sienna Miller, Follieswith Imelda Staunton, Yermawith Billie Piper, Angels in America withAndrew Garfield and Russell Tovey, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill, Rosentcrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with Daniel Radcliffe and Hedda Gabler with Ruth Wilson.
ANTON CHECKOV’S THREE SISTERS – VAUDEVILLE THEATRE
WEDNESDAY JUNE 19TH – SATURDAY JUNE 29TH
“St. Petersburg’s Maly Drama Theatre, led by the superstar director Lev Dodin, simply has no peer in interpreting Chekhov”
Time Out, New York
Following a critically acclaimed West End Season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket last year, with celebrated productions of Uncle Vanya and Life & Fate (Critics’ Choice The Guardian, Financial Times, Telegraph, Sunday Times) the Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg return with a luminous retelling of Chekhov’s masterpiece,Three Sisters. Playing in London for 10 performances only from June 19th at the Vaudeville Theatre, press nights will be held on June 19thand 20th.
Rediscover the tragicomic story of the Prozorov sisters as they contend with their disillusioned lives in provincial Russia. Renowned director Lev Dodin directs this radiant, complex play with rich insight into Chekhov’s eloquent understanding of passion, resignation, longing, and love.
“Ethereal… these Russian actors seem to have an intuitive ability to make whiplash fluctuations feel like the most authentic expression of humanity’s common lot”
Critics’ Pick – New York Times
Under the artistic directorship of Lev Dodin – one of the most celebrated theatre practitioners working today – the Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg has become one of the greatest theatres in the world. During his 35-year tenure many of Dodin’s shows have won international awards including state prizes of Russian and the USSR, Golden Mask Awards and a Lawrence Olivier Award (becoming the first international company to do so for Stars in the Morning Sky, 1989). In 2000 he received the European Theatre Award.
Of Three Sisters, Dodin comments: “Checkov speaks with passion and eloquence about the hopelessness of our life, about the tragic discrepancies between our yearnings and reality, about the vital importance of staying true to oneself and preserving your dignity.
Three Sisters is a play about people with ideals. I think today too many of us – the world over – understand only too well what unfulfilled hopes are and the nature of fallen-through plans, lost illusions and impossible loves. We all unfortunately understand the universal language of loss. We understand the stern language in which life speaks to us – and in this life we must stay true to ourselves and preserve our personal dignity at any cost.”
CAST
ANDREI PROSOROV – AlexanderBikovsky
NATASHA, his fiancée, later his wife – Ekaterina Kleopina / Nadezhda Nekrasova
