Month: July 2019

FINAL CASTING & FIRST IMAGES RELEASED

FOR THE TURBINE THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF

TORCH SONG

WRITTEN BY TONY AWARD WINNING HARVEY FIERSTEIN  

& DIRECTED BY OLIVIER AWARD WINNING DREW McONIE

RUNNING FROM 22 AUGUST – 13 OCTOBER 2019

THE INAUGURAL PRODUCTION LAUNCHING

PAUL TAYLOR-MILLS’

DYNAMIC NEW VENUE AT BATTERSEA POWER STATION

GENERATING NEW WORK.      POWERING PREMIERES.      RE-ENERGISING CLASSICS.

Final casting has been announced for the Turbine Theatre’s inaugural production, Torch Song. Alongside the previously announced Matthew Needham (Arnold), Daisy Boulton (Laurel), Dino Fetscher (Ed)  and Rish Shah (Alan), are Jay Lycurgo (David) and Bernice Stegers (Ma).

The groundbreaking and Tony Award winning story of drag queen Arnold Beckoff (Matthew Needham – Chernobyl, HBO, Summer & Smoke, Almeida/West End) and his quest for true love in 1970s Manhattan is a hilarious and heartbreaking portrait of love, loss, sexual identity and the deep longing for family approval that drives us all forward, and drives us all crazy.

This new revival of Harvey Fierstein’s dizzyingly funny and deeply touching landmark play, is presented by Bill Kenwright and Paul Taylor-Mills for The Turbine Theatre, and is directed by Olivier Award winning Drew McOnie (King Kong, Strictly Ballroom, On The Town). The production features design by Ryan Laight, lighting by James Whiteside, sound by Seb Frost, with casting by Will Burton.

Torch Song runs for a strictly limited season from 22 August – 13 October 2019.

Further productions in The Turbine’s first season will be announced shortly.

LISTINGS

Bill Kenwright presents a Paul Taylor-Mills endeavour, The Turbine Theatre.

TORCH SONG

THE TURBINE THEATRE

WRITTEN BY HARVEY FIERSTEIN

DIRECTED BY DREW McONIE

22 AUGUST – 13 OCTOBER 2019

Selladoor Productions, Matthew Townshend Productions, Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Perth Theatre at Horsecross Arts present

CASTING REVEALED FOR UK TOUR OF

NEW DATES ADDED – UK Tour 5 September – 7 March 2020

Scottish screen actress Eilidh Loan is to star in the new theatrical adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, depicting Shelley herself onstage as the author personally unfolding her monstrous tale of creature and creator. With a cast also including Ben Castle-Gibb, Thierry Mabonga, Sarah MacGillivray, Natali McCleary, Michael Moreland and Greg Powrie, the seminal 1818 gothic horror novel adapted by award-winning writer Rona Munro will now run until 7 March 2020 as new dates are added.

A national press night will be held at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry on Thursday 3 October at 7pm.  A Scottish national press night will take place at Perth Theatre on 7 September.

An eighteen-year-old girl, Mary Shelley, dreams up a monster whose tragic story will capture the imaginations of generations to come.

A young scientist by the name of Frankenstein breathes life into a gruesome body. Banished into an indifferent world, Frankenstein’s creature desperately seeks out his true identity, but the agony of rejection and a broken promise push him into darkness. Dangerous and vengeful, the creature threatens to obliterate Frankenstein and everyone he loves, in a ferocious and bloodthirsty hunt for his maker.

Rona Munro’s brilliant new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Gothic masterpiece places the writer herself amongst the action, as she wrestles with her creation and with the stark realities facing revolutionary young women, then and now.

Ben Castle-Gibb will play Frankenstein, the creature’s creator, making his professional debut. Having trained at Arts Educational Schools, his credits while training include: It Never Happened, Treasure Island, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Radicalisation Of Bradley Manning and As You Like It.

Eilidh Loan will play Mary Shelley, the author unpacking her own horrific tale. Eilidh’s screen credits include:London Kills (BBC, Acorn TV), Doctors (BBC), Clique (BBC) and England’s Forgotten Queen (BBC). Her stage credits include: Me & My Left Ball (Tristan Bates Theatre).

Thierry Mabonga plays Henry/Walton. His theatre credits include: Low Pay? Don’t Pay! (Glasgow Life), First Snow (NTS Canada Tour), Sleeping Beauty (Glasgow Life), First Snow (National Theatre of Scotland), Richard III(Perth Theatre), Brothers Karamazov (Tron Theatre), Titus Andronicus (Dundee Rep), Last Dream On Earth (National Theatre of Scotland), and Skins and Hoods (Cie du Veilleur). His screen credits include The Split(BBC), Trust Me (BBC), The Replacement (BBC), Armchair Detectives (BBC) and Trainspotting 2 (Cloud Eight Films).

Sarah MacGillivray plays Mother/Justine. Her stage credits include: Marie (Perth Theatre/House of Mirth), Beauty and the Beast (Fizzgig Productions), Sinatra: The Final Curtain (Kingdom Theatre), Hex (Strange Town) and A Million Hearts in Stereo (RCS/Arches). Her screen credits include: Outlander (Sony), Glasshouse (Cupla Films) and Flight Risk (Vivid Affect Films).

Natali McCleary plays Elizabeth/Safie. Recent theatre credits include: Cool Dads (Oran Mor), The Dark Carnival(Vanishing Point), Dear Europe (National Theatre Scotland), How To Fix A Broken Wing (Catherine Wheels), Beg Borrow Steal (Oran Mor) and Secret Show 1 (Blood Of The Young, The Tron). Her screen credits include: Shetland (ITV), Long Night At Blackstone (BBC), Hings (BBC), Logan High (BBC) and Country Music (Three Chords Productions Ltd).

Michael Moreland will play The Monster. His stage credits include Knives and Hens and Richard III (Perth Theatre), Democracy (Rapture Theatre Company & Scottish Tour), A Mad World My Masters (English Touring Theatre), All My Sons (Rapture Theatre Company & Scottish Tour), The Roaring Girl, The White Devil and The Witch of Edmonton (Royal Shakespeare Company),  Macbeth (Perth Theatre/Tron Theatre), What Every Woman Knows (Royal Exchange Manchester), The Found Man (Traverse Theatre) and Gagarin Way (Arts Theatre). His screen credits include: Years & Years (BBC), Doctors (BBC), and Shetland (ITV).

Greg Powrie plays Father/Master/Waldman. His theatre credits include: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead(Piccadilly Theatre), The Deep Blue Sea (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Descent and The Cone Gatherers (APA Productions), The Mysterious Death of Netta Fornario and Singing Far Into The Night (Mull Theatre Co.), Blue/Orange (Rapture Theatre), Kevin’s Bed (Borderline) and Relatively Speaking (Northcott Theatre Exeter & Theatre Royal Basingstoke). His screen credits include Last Commanders (BBC), Outlander (Amazon), Taggart ITV), River City (BBC), Still Game (BBC)and Doctor Finlay (BBC).

Writer Rona Munro has written extensively for stage, radio, film and television. Her recent theatre credits include Lucy Barton, adapted from the novel by Elizabeth Strout and performed by Laura Linney at the Bridge Theatre London in 2018-19. Other credits include The James Plays: a trilogy of award-winning plays produced by the National Theatre of Scotland, the National Theatre UK and Edinburgh International Festival, Scuttlers(Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester), Little Eagles (Royal Shakespeare Company) and Iron (Traverse Theatre, Royal Court Theatre) for which she won the John Whiting Award in 2003.

Her television credits include the BAFTA-nominated Bumping the Odds (BBC Scotland) and Rehab (BBC Two), and her films include Ladybird Ladybird and Oranges and Sunshine. Her work for radio includes several dramas for The Stanley Baxter Playhouse. Rona is the only writer so far to have contributed episodes to both the classic and contemporary series of Doctor Who (BBC One).

The production will be directed by Patricia Benecke, with composition and sound design by Simon Slater, lighting design by Grant Anderson, design by Becky Minto and movement direction by Jonnie Riordan.

www.selladoor.com

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TOUR DATES 2019 – 2020

5 – 21 September (performances vary)                                                       Box Office: 01738 621031

Perth Theatre, Perth                                                                                         Website: horsecross.co.uk

24 – 28 September                                                                                            Box Office: 01227 787787

Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury                                                                        Website: marlowetheatre.com

2 – 12 October                                                                                                    Box Office: 024 7655 3055

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry                                                                            Website: belgrade.co.uk

14 – 19 October                                                                                                   Box Office: 0844 871 7650

Brighton Theatre Royal, Brighton                                                                  Website: atgtickets.com 

21 – 26 October                                                                                                  Box Office: 0131 529 6000

King’s Theatre, Edinburgh                                                                                Website: capitaltheatres.com

28 October – 2 November                                                                               Box Office: 029 2087 8889

New Theatre, Cardiff                                                                                         Website: newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

4 – 9 November                                                                                                  Box Office: 01483 440 000

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford                                                                Website: yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

11 – 16 November                                                                                             Box Office: 0151 709 4776

Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool                                                                       Website: everymanplayhouse.com

18 – 23 November                                                                                             Box Office: 0844 871 7651

Richmond Theatre, Richmond                                                                        Website: atgtickets.com 

25 – 30 November                                                                                              Box Office: 0844 871 7647

Theatre Royal Glasgow, Glasgow                                                                  Website: atgtickets.com 

13 – 18 January                                                                                                  Box Office: 01684 892277

Malvern Theatres, Malvern                                                                            Website: malvern-theatres.co.uk

20 – 25 January                                                                                                  Box Office: 01332 59 39 39

Derby Theatre, Derby                                                                                       Website: derbytheatre.co.uk

27 January – 1 February                                                                                   Box Office: 01352 344101

Theatr Clwyd, Mold                                                                                           Website: theatrclwyd.com

4 – 8 February                                                                                                     Box Office: 01224 641122

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen                                                                   Website: aberdeenperformingarts.com                    

10 – 15 February                                                                                                Box Office: 01484 430 528

Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield                                                       Website: thelbt.org

18 – 22 February                                                                                                Box Office: 01463 234 234

Eden Court, Inverness                                                                                      Website: eden-court.co.uk

24 – 29 February                                                                                                Box Office: 0300 303 8633

Middleton Arena, Manchester                                                                       Website: link4life.org 

2 – 7 March                                                                                                         Box Office: 0844 871 7607

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury                                                    Website: atgtickets.com 

Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Tron Theatre Company and Blood of the Young present
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) Full Cast Announced
Written by Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen
Directed by Paul Brotherston
A co-production with Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Leeds Playhouse, Northern Stage, Nuffield Southampton Theatres and Oxford Playhouse 

National Press Night at Bristol Old Vic: Thursday 12 September 2019

The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh along with partners Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Bristol Old Vic,Northern Stage, Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Oxford Playhouse, and new partners Leeds Playhouse, are delighted to announce the cast for the remount of the critically-acclaimed Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), presentedin close collaboration with partners of the original production, Tron Theatre and Blood of the Young.

Playing multiple characters in this rip-roaring and irreverent all-female adaptation, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) brings together again the exceptional original cast, including: Tori Burgess (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Lyceum; Bear Pit, Blood of the Young; Secret Show 1, Blood of the Young & Tron Theatre; Margaret Saves Scotland, Oran Mor, Traverse, Lemon Tree, Marilyn Imrie), Christina Gordon (Glory on Earth,The Lyceum; The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil, National Theatre of Scotland, Dundee Rep;Mancub, Cumbernauld Theatre; Rocket Post, National Theatre of Scotland), Hannah Jarrett-Scott (Glory on Earth, The Lyceum; The Taming of the Shrew, Sherman Theatre, Tron Theatre; The Wolves, Theatre Royal Stratford east; A Bottle of Wine and Patsy Cline, Gilded Baloon), Isobel McArthur (Wendy and Peter Pan, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Lyceum; Cyrano de Bergerac, The Lyceum, National Theatre of Scotland, Citizens Theatre; Daphne Oram’s Wonderful World of Sound, Blood of the Young, Tron Theatre, Scottish Tour;Robin Hood, Manhattan Children’s Thaetre; Avoidable Climbing, Take Me Somewhere, Citizens Theatre), andMeghan Tyler (A Streetcar Named Desire, Lyric Theatre Belfast; Medicine, Off the Middle with The Hope Theatre; The Persians, Oran Mor, Traverse Theatre; Look Back in Anger, Cumbernauld Theatre; Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Guilford Shakespeare Company; Shetland, BBC). They are joined by newcomer Felixe Forde, making her professional debut.

Having first opened at Tron Theatre to an overwhelming audience response in Summer 2018, the production will tour to UK venues over Autumn 2019 and Spring 2020, beginning with Bristol Old Vic, where it will open the Autumn season on 12 September 2019.

This is an adaptation like no other. Drawing on over two-hundred years of romantic pop history is Blood of the Young’s unique take on a beloved novel – the hugely acclaimed Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of).

Six young women have a story to tell. You might have seen them, emptying the chamber pots and sweeping ash from the grate; the overlooked and the undervalued making sure those above stairs find their happy ending. Of course, they’ve always been running the show – after all ‘You can’t have a whirlwind romance without clean bedding’ – but tonight, the servants are also playing every part.

Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this loving and irreverent all-female adaptation of Jane Austen’s unrivalled literary classic. Let the ruthless match-making begin.

The Lyceum’s Artistic Director, David Greig, said: “Blood of the Young are a brilliant young voice of Scottish Theatre, and their below-stairs take on Pride and Prejudice is a pitch-perfect blend of reverent homage and mischievous send up. I could not be more delighted to be working with them to bring this show to The Lyceum stage, and out to our partners across the UK.”

Listings information                                                                                                                                                      

Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
By Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen
Directed by Paul Brotherston

Performance Dates: 
Bristol Old Vic
Saturday 7 – Saturday 28 September 2019

Northern Stage
Wednesday 2 October – Saturday 12 October 2019
northernstage.co.uk / 0191 230 5151

Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Tuesday 15 October – Saturday 2 November 2019
Birmingham-rep.co.uk / 0121 236 4455

The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Preview: 23 January 2020
Friday 24 January – Saturday 15 February 2020
lyceum.org.uk / 0131 248 4848

Leeds Playhouse
Tuesday 25 February – Saturday 29 February 2020
leedsplayhouse.org.uk / 0113 213 7700

Nuffield Southampton Theatres
Tuesday 17 – Saturday 28 March 2020
nstheatres.co.uk / 023 8067 1771

Adam Blanshay Productions Presents
The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Production of

WHAT’S IN A NAME? 
BY MATTHEW DELAPORTE & ALEXANDRE DE LA PATELLIÈRE
ADAPTED & DIRECTED BY JEREMY SAMS

whatsinanameplay.com

T: @WhatNamePlay | F: /WhatsInANamePlay | #WhatsInAName

• FIRST UK TOUR ANNOUNCED FOR BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF COMIC MASTERPIECE WHAT’S IN A NAME? ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY JEREMY SAMS
   
• THE FEROCIOUS COMEDY WILL STAR JOE THOMAS, JAMES LANCE, SUMMER STRALLEN AND ALEX GAUMOND
   
• INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION WILL VISIT GUILDFORD, GLASGOW, YORK, AYLESBURY, CAMBRIDGE, WINDSOR, RICHMOND AND SOUTHAMPTON IN AUTUMN 2019

Adam Blanshay Productions today announces the first UK Tour of What’s In A Name?, adapted and directed by Jeremy Sams from the award-winning French film and stage sensation, Le Prènom, by Matthew Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière. Internationally acclaimed comedy,What’s In A Name? hilariously captures a particularly awkward family dinner party. The cast will star Joe Thomas (The Inbetweeners, Fresh Meat), James Lance (Jeeves and Wooster, Northern Soul), Summer Strallen (Top Hat, Young Frankenstein) and Alex Gaumond (Company, Dirty Rotten Scoundrel, Matilda). Further casting to be announced.

The witty and razor-sharp production, which opened to critical acclaim at the Birmingham REP in 2017, will open at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, from 5-14 September with press night on 12 September, before visiting Glasgow, York, Aylesbury, Cambridge, Windsor, Richmond and Southampton.

Father-to-be Vincent and his partner Anna are invited to dinner by his sister Elizabeth and her husband, Peter. They are joined by childhood friend Carl for a mature and sophisticated gathering.

The meal is lovingly prepared, and wine carefully selected. The friends are prepared for the usual humorous exchanges they’ve come to expect.

But tonight, a startling revelation about the name chosen for Vincent’s and Anna’s expected child becomes the catalyst for a destructive argument which spirals hysterically out of control. Tonight no one is holding back! Egos, childish resentment and unspoken feelings are relentlessly and hilariously exposed for the first time.

Playing Vincent will be Joe Thomas, an actor and writer best known as Simon in the multi-award winning E4 show The Inbetweeners. Following the success of The Inbetweeners (and the two eponymous films that followed) Joe starred as Kingsley in all four series of Fresh Meat, and as George in Chickens, which he also co-wrote. Most recently Joe starred as Nick in the 2018 feature film The Festival and as Martin Lavender in the BBC2 sitcom White Gold, alongside Ed Westwick and James Buckley. Joe has script development deals with Channel 4 and Fudge Park/BBC and was on the latest series of Dave’s Taskmaster.

James Lance will be playing Peter. He has had a huge variety of roles in theatre, television and film, most notably in British television comedies; including BBC Two’s I’m Alan Partridge and Simon Pegg’s Spaced for Channel 4, as well as appearing in Channel 4’s award-winning sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror. James’ film credits include The Bookshop, Northern Soul and Bronson. As well as his many on-screen roles, James has also performed on stage in West End productions such as Tom Stoppard’s adaptation of Pirandello’s Henry IV and Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense, which premiered at the Richmond Theatre and then transferred to the Duke of York’s Theatre. He has also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where he played the character of Terry Gilliam in Pythonesque, based on the comedy group Monty Python.

Playing Anna is Olivier Award-nominated actress Summer Strallen. She most recently starred as Alice in Alexis Michalik’s Intra Muros at Park Theatre and she is best known for leading West End stage roles in Top Hat, The Sound of Music, Young Frankenstein, The Drowsy Chaperone, Guys and Dolls, The Boy Friend, Love Never Dies, Cats, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. On TV, her credits include Hollyoaks in which her character Summer Shaw auditioned for and won the role of Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music which Strallen went on to play on stage.

Carl will be played by Alex Gaumond, who most recently received critical acclaim for his role as Paul in Marianne Elliott’s multi-Olivier® award-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company in the West End. Further stage credits include A Christmas Carol (Old Vic), Caroline, Or Change(Chichester Festival Theatre), The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Trial of Jane Fonda (Park Theatre), Into the Woods (Manchester Royal Exchange), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Sweeney Todd (ENO) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, RSC’sMatilda: The Musical, Top Hat and We Will Rock You (all West End). Film credits include The Hustle, My Dinner with Hervé and Hampstead.

Highly respected director Jeremy Sams has adapted and directed multiple celebrated productions. As a director his credits include Oklahoma! (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (West End and World Tour), The Sound of Music (West End and Toronto), Noises Off (National Theatre, West End, UK Tour and Broadway) and Benefactors (UK Tour and West End). His credits as an adaptor include The Park (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Rehearsal (Almeida and West End), Beckett (West End) and Les Parents Terribles (National Theatre and Broadway).

The original play premiered in 2010 at the Théâtre Édouard VII in Paris, France, where the production received six Molière Award nominations and ran for over 300 performances. Matthew Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière then wrote the screenplay for the film (2011) which played to over 3.25 million people in France alone. It received widespread critical acclaim, and won several César awards from the French Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, along with the Grand Prix Hydro-Québec at the Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and the Radio Canada Audience Award at the Cinéfranco International Francophone Film Festival in Toronto. The Italian translation of the movie went on to receive several prestigious Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalist awards. The play has now been translated into over 22 languages, and has had incredible box office success around the world.

What’s In A Name? is written by Matthew Delaporte and Alexandre De La Patellière with adaptation, translation and direction by Jeremy Sams. Set will be designed by Francis O’Connorand lighting design is by Rick Fisher.

Listings Information

T: @WhatNamePlay | F: /WhatsInANamePlay | #WhatsInAName

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
5 – 14 September
Press Night on 12 September, 7.45pm
01483 44 00 00 | www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/

Theatre Royal Glasgow
1 – 5 October
0844 871 7647* | www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow/

Grand Opera House York
8 – 12 October
0844 871 3024* | www.atgtickets.com/venues/grand-opera-house-york/

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
22 – 26 October
0844 871 7607* | www.atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/

Cambridge Arts Theatre
28 October – 2 November
01223 503 333 | www.cambridgeartstheatre.com/

Theatre Royal Windsor
4 – 9 November
01753 853 888 | theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/

Richmond Theatre
12– 16 November
0844 871 7651* | www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/

Nuffield Southampton Theatre
19– 23 November
023 8067 1771 | www.nstheatres.co.uk/

Lin Blakley to star in UK tour of
Murder, Margaret and Me
UK Tour: September – November 2019
A Tilted Wig, Malvern Theatres and Churchill Theatre, Bromley production

Lin Blakley (Eastenders, BBC) will be stepping into the shoes of Agatha Christie for the UK tour of Philip Meeks’ critically acclaimed play Murder, Margaret and Me, directed by Damian Cruden (Artistic Director, Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre).

The cast also includes Sarah Parks (Coronation Street, ITV; Richard II, Royal Shakespeare Company) as Margaret Rutherford, and Gilly Tompkins (Gangsta Granny, Garrick Theatre and National Tour; The 3 Emos, Smashing Mirrors Theatre) as the Spinster.

Murder, Margaret and Me is the story of an unlikely friendship between famed actress Margaret Rutherford and world-renowned Queen of Crime Agatha Christie. In the early sixties, these two national treasures were the creative force behind one of British cinema’s most successful franchises. But the Miss Marple movies were almost never made….

Both these much-loved icons were shrouded in mystery; Margaret held a dark family secret, and Agatha mysteriously went missing for ten days, which has continued to baffled conspiracy theorists. Through exploring their tumultuous relationship, the play seeks to pay homage to these two great women and their hidden histories.

Murder, Margaret and Me is a story of the achievement of women in the long lost world of the silver screen.

Having completed extensive research writer Philip Meeks has used original letters from Agatha to Stringer Davies to authenticate his story. He comments, It transpires the two great women had forged a relationship beyond their awkward meeting on the set of Marple. I’ve been able to refer to an amazing archive of letters in this version of the play. It makes me feel even more that what I’ve written is as I intended it to be, a play paying homage to the two great women.

Meeks adds, Theatre is all about collaboration and I’m very pleased my old collaborator Damian Cruden is recreating his production of Murder Margaret and Me with such a great cast. Damian really helped to shape the play and it’s always a joy to work with him.

Fortunately there’s a clued-up sense of respectful inquiry in … Philip Meeks’ reworked murder mystery, that began as an Edinburgh Fringe solo show and now not only brings these two successful women together to imagine how their relationship might have developed from mutual distrust to mutual respect, but also introduces a nosy Miss Marple figure who discovers enough evidence to prove that their creative impulses were informed by a shared sense of vulnerability and sadness (The Stage)

ANNOUNCED TO EXTEND ITS WEST END RUN BY POPULAR DEMAND, WITH TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

• NOW BOOKING TO 4 JANUARY 2020 WITH TICKETS ON SALE ATWAITRESSTHEMUSICAL.CO.UK
   
• LAST CHANCE TO SEE ASHLEY ROBERTS WHO ENTERS HER FINAL WEEKS IN THE HIT WEST END MUSICAL
   
• NOW IN ITS FOURTH YEAR ON BROADWAY AND CURRENTLY TOURING CANADA, WAITRESS IS ALSO SET TO PREMIERE IN AUSTRALIA, HOLLAND AND JAPAN

Waitress continues a celebrated West End run at the Adelphi Theatre and today announces an extension by popular demand with tickets now on sale for Christmas and New Year through to 4 January 2020. Tickets for the hit comedy musical are on sale now.

Audiences also have just three weeks left to see Ashley Roberts, (The Pussycat Dolls, Strictly 2018 finalist) in the role of Dawn. After joining the company in June, she will complete a strictly limited summer season with her final performance taking place on 10 August 2019. Laura Baldwin will return to the role of Dawn in Waitress on 12 August.

Waitress celebrated its official opening night at the Adelphi Theatre on 7 March and the Tony-nominated musical, brought to life by a ground breaking, female-led creative team and featuring an original score by Sara Bareilles, has received widespread acclaim from critics and public alike.

Waitress premiered on Broadway in March 2016 and has since become the longest running show in the history of the Brooks Atkinson Theater. The production is also currently touring the US and Canada and has announced an Australian premiere in 2020 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre with further productions to open in Holland next year and Japan in 2021.

Sara Bareilles became an international star following the release of her debut album Little Voice,featuring Love Song, in 2007 which reached number 1 in more than 20 countries across the world.  Since then she has gone on to release a New York Times best-selling book, Sounds Like Me – My Life (so far) in Song, five studio albums and has earned 7 Grammy® nominations including Best Musical Theater Album for Waitress. The show’s hit ballad, She Used To Be Mine, has inspired countless covers by all sexes and ages across the world, performed by well-known theatrical stars and musicians to young viral sensations, receiving millions of views to date. She has just been announced for a second Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for ‘This One’s For You’together with Josh Groban. Other accolades include the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Awards for her success in Music and her championing of women everywhere at the United Nationsand a 2018 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role in Jesus Christ Superstar Live!

Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of some happiness in her life. 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.

Waitress features an original score by 7-time Grammy® nominee Sara Bareilles (Love Song, Brave), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and direction by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland) and choreography by Lorin Latarro.

Waitress stars Lucie Jones as Jenna, Ashley Roberts as Dawn, Marisha Wallace as Becky,Blake Harrison as Ogie, Peter Hannah as Earl, David Hunter as Dr. Pomatter and Shaun Prendergast as Old Joe.

The full company includes Kelly Agbowu, Piers Bate, Nicole Raquel Dennis, Michael Hamway, Peter Hannah, Blake Harrison, David Hunter, Lucie Jones, Stephen Leask,Chris McGuigan, Olivia Moore, Nathaniel Morrison, Sarah O’Connor, Leanne Pinder, Shaun Prendergast, Charlotte Riby, Ashley Roberts, 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.

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

BRAND NEW SITE-SPECIFIC PRODUCTION OF

DAVID HARE’S

THE PERMANENT WAY

THE VAULTS, BENEATH WATERLOO STATION

FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER

“Britain, yeah, beautiful country, shame we can’t run a railway…”

“What happened would simply not have happened under British Rail. It wouldn’t have happened. Not in the British Rail days.”

David Hare’s award-winning play roars to life in a provocative new site-specific staging performed in The Vaults, London’s alternative subterranean venue beneath Waterloo Station, running from Friday 13 September – Sunday 17 November, with a press night on Thursday 19 September. Casting has been announced for the first major revival of The Permanent Way, which first had an award-winning run in York and then at the National Theatre in 2003

Revelatory, witty, and moving, The Permanent Way is an astonishing interrogation of the chaos arising from the botched privatisation of Britain’s railways. Told through the first-hand accounts of those involved at every level, from passengers to Civil Service mandarins, this extraordinary verbatim piece asks challenging questions of responsibility and governmental mismanagement. Have we learned anything from recent history?

“As a major new government report into the current state of the nation’s railways is being prepared to be released in the autumn, and with the Rail Review chair Keith Williams comments that the UK railway needs “revolution, not evolution” we feel this play is more timely than ever, commented director Alexander Lass.

David Hare said, “I had hoped my 2003 play would become outdated. But the latest Independent review in 2019 proves the truth of what the play argued over 15 years ago: that the state of the railways is a whacking great distressing metaphor for just how badly the British were governed, and how even more hopelessly badly they’re governed today.”

The producer is pleased to include within the ticketing offer a special industry and friends rate available to all core and auxiliary railway employees. For information on registering a company or organisation in this scheme please contact [email protected]

The cast will be as follows:

Anna Acton, best known for roles in EastEnders and The Bill, will play “An Investment Banker/A Second Bereaved Mother”

Jonathan Coote, co-founder of Red Shift Theatre Co, and National Theatre regular, with credits including Home, Emil and the Detectives and As You Like it and West End credits including The Audience will play “A Senior Civil Servant/A British Transport Policeman/Another Senior Operating Executive/Lord Cullen”

Paul Dodds, whose recent RSC credits include Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet and The Merry Wives of Windsor, will play “John Prescott/A Leading Entrepreneur/A Rail Union Leader/Technical Director of a Maintenance Company/A Squadron Leader”

Jacqui Dubois, whose recent credit include the national tour of Ghost the Musical, People, Places and Things in the West End, tour and Broadway, Emil and the Detectives at the NT, and Looking for Obama at the Bristol Old Vic, will play “Dawn/A Bereaved Mother”

Lucas Hare, whose National Theatre credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Children of the Sun, Scenes from an Execution, The Last of the Haussmans, Season’s Greetings and whose screen credits include The Crown, Broadchurch and Die Another Day, will play “A High Powered Treasury Thinker/A Managing Director of Railtrack”

Gabrielle Lloyd, whose recent extensive stage credits include Misalliance at the Orange Tree, The Heresy of Love at The Globe and The Lady in the Van at the Theatre Royal Bath, will play “A Campaigning Solicitor/A Bereaved Widow”

Tej Obano, whose recently been seen in The Jumper Factory at the Bristol Old Vic and whose screen credits include EastEnders and film LoveSticks, will play “A Senior Rail Executive/A Young Man in Denim/A Vicar of Hatfield”

Sakuntala Ramanee, whose recent stage credits include East Is East at the Trafalgar Studios, Romeo and Juliet for the RSC and Bring on the Bollywood at the Coventry Belgrade and on tour, will play “Wendy/A Survivor Group Founder”

Jonathan Tafler, whose recent stage credits include The Mousetrap in the West End, The Crucible UK tour and The Mighty Walzer at the Royal Exchange, will play “An Experienced Rail Engineer/A Bereaved Father/A Scottish Literary Editor”.

“Why aren’t people angry? They were robbed. What belonged to them was taken from them by a bunch of bankers and incompetent politicians. What was theirs was given away. What was foredoomed to fail failed. And they weren’t angry.”

The original production of The Permanent Way was based on a series of verbatim interviews by Hare, and then directed by Max Stafford-Clark with Out of Joint. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, York on 13 November 2003 and toured – winning ‘Best Touring Production’ from the Theatrical Management Association. It opened at the National Theatre in January 2004, where it was such a huge critical and box office hit that it transferred from the Cottesloe to the Lyttelton. 

The Permanent Way will be directed by Alexander Lass, nominated for Best Director at the 2017 Stage Debut awards for 46 Beacon at Trafalgar Studios 2, and whose other credits include Associate Director on Shakespeare in Love at the Theatre Royal Bath and on tour, and on No Man’s Landin the West End.

The Permanent Way will have Set and Costume by Ruth Hall, lighting design by Rick Fisher, sound design by Roly Witherow, movement direction by Siân Williams, casting by Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG, and is produced by Debbie Hicks.

Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre – until 1 Setember 2019

Reviewed by Lottie Davis-Browne

5*****

Following on from last years successful touring production which played at London’s Regents Park Open Air Theatre, the tour is back but this year swapping open air for industrial chic, in the brand new theatre – Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. 

Wembley Park is a dynamic new cultural neighbourhood in North West London. The area has become a landmark destination enriched with culture, entertainment and a community at its heart.  It includes state-of-the-heart homes (over 6,000 new homes have been built in the area), primary and nursery schools, plus a GP surgery. 

The opening of the new Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre is a key moment in the transformation of the area as it establishes its credentials as a new creative hub for. North West London. Located within the former Fountain Studios, which were best known for being the venue of live televised shows including The X Factor, Britains Got Talent and Pop Idol. The venue is @ flexible 1000-2000 capacity space that can be transformed to suit the requirements for a range of productions.  Opening within the Theatre later this year will be a modern state-of-the-heart restaurant and a large sociable bar space. 

Dinosaur World Live is the first production to perform in this new venue, so apart from being excited to revisit last years Dinosaur filled show I was also curious to be one of the first to check out the new theatre.  Located on Fulton Road, just a stones throw away from Wembley Central railway station, with great links to the underground.  Being a newly opened venue, there is still evident work taking place meaning it doesn’t yet quite look like it’s prototype photo just yet – there’s no name sign on the building and it blends in to the background of all the other major developments taking place in the area – so much so we’d circled the entire building twice before asking builders to point us in the right direction (ironically we were literally inches away from the entrance!).

 Whilst there has been no major changes to last years touring production, Lucy Varney has taken over the role of Miranda, who introduces us to the variety of dinosaurs.  I personally felt that Varney gelled better with the young audience than last years “Miranda” which was evident in the reactions and audience participation.

What makes this touring production magical is the life size realistic dinosaur puppets, which I’d forgotten just how life like they are! The real highlight is the opportunity to get up close to them after the show.  I have a feeling this show is going to become an annual event; seeing the joy it brings a dinosaur obsessed four year old is well worth the long road trip. 

Whilst you may have missed your chance to see these fantastic puppets at Wembley hottest new venue, older kids and adults alike have the chance to capture the magic of War Horse for its limited run at the Troubadour Theatre from 18th October, for a strictly limited run (six weeks).  I eagerly await my return visit to this stylish new theatre, hopefully being able to sample food from its yet-to-be opened restaurant. 

More information about the venue and upcoming events can be found at www.troubadourtheatres.com

Grand Opera House York – Saturday 20th July 2019.

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

5*****

As part of the Great Yorkshire Fringe, Austentatious was performed at the Grand Opera House in York. It was great to see the packed-out theatre and to see the show so well supported, all on a Saturday afternoon. Austentatious is an entirely improvised comedy play in the style of Jane Austen.

On entrance to the theatre a pianist plays tunes fitting of the Austin era, whilst the audience were handed out a small leaflet in the style of a vintage Penguin book cover, where we were encouraged to make up our own title for a Jane Austen novel. Jane Austin was introduced to the audience as a poetess, a novelist of six books, but it is believed that she actually wrote 335 novels and, as virtually all are missing, the audience were asked to shout out names of these lost works. Titles were shouted out before it was decided that the show we were to see, was the long forgotten ACU: Austen Cinematic Universe.

With a cast of six, what followed was the mad cap story of playwright, Miss Johnson (Amy Cooke-Hodgson) preparing to put on a show, which has been 20 years in the making. Her friends, played by Cariad Lloyd and Lauren Shearing, are busy making cinematic buns, black (made with coal) and white ones. There couldn’t be an Austen novel without the love interests. We have Gregory Peck (Daniel Nils Roberts), the faithful friend, who has been frequently friend-zoned, and the famed critic Peter Kermode (Joseph Morpurgo), who is in town ready to review her work, and after a savage review becomes the cad of the piece. The remaining cast member was Andrew Hunter Murray, playing several characters, a proper gentleman amongst them.

Just like a proper Austen novel, true love conquers, as Peck wins Miss Johnson’s heart, but she has one stipulation, she will keep her surname as no one wants to be known as Mrs Peck!

This was a show like no other, full of modern references, Podcasts, CGI, Thunderbirds, KPI’s, which certainly resonated with me, and Marvel, enjoyed the Guardians of the Galaxy one. I also noted Lloyd doing a wonderful “Catherine Tate”. Mentions of Frida Kahlo, which resulted in an hilarious mono-brow scene, courtesy of a fan, brilliant. Other comic highs are Fetid Margaret and her leakages, thoroughly disgusting, misunderstood mimes, which involved painting, a monkey and a glass of water.

The talented cast showed how good they were at improvising, not knowing what absurd random thing was coming their way. It was great to see how hard they worked coming up with such great whacky ideas and lines, rolling with all the surprises coming their way. I enjoyed seeing the mirth of the other actors whilst waiting in the side lines. They were all truly masters of their craft.

You don’t have to be an Austen fan to appreciate this show, it is more about the comedy and the unknown, after all no two shows are exactly the same. Austentatious is an absolutely bonkers play, with ridiculous plot, it is a bit of a stretch to even call it that, but it is simply hilarious and so fun to watch. One not to be missed.

Park Theatre until 10 August 2019

Reviewed by Alex Sykes

3***

This is a show with a twist, instead of being one big show it is 6 little shows performed one after the other – all written by Tony Award winner Christoper Durang. Ostensibly a one act play, the show is 90 minutes with no interval

The first is Mrs Sorken, with the titular character being played by Kate Sumpter. The character monologues the meaning of words linked to theatre and how they are used in every day life.

The second Business Lunch At The Russian Tea Room. This features Meaghan Martin as a powerful Hollywood producer and Adrian Richards as a scriptwriter who isn’t sure he likes the idea of a priest falling in love with a rabbi and pair then going through a sex change.

The third play is Medea, which a voiceover states this was choreographed by Britney Spears. Medea herself is played by Kate Sumpter with the chorus being played by Richards, Martin and Layo-Christina Akinlude.

The fourth play is a short one woman play in which Martin plays an unsuccessful comedian who admits she uses a laugh track to build her confidence as her self-confidence has been ruined by her mum.

The fifth play is Desire, Desire, Desire in which a census taker (Stefan Menaul) finds himself being desired by Ellen (Akinlude).

The final play is The Actor’s Nightmare which features Menaul as George, a man who isn’t sure who he is or what play he he is in.

With a minimalist but effective set (Anna Drifmtier), this adaptation directed by Lydia Parker, allows its actors to shine, unencumbered by complicated set changes, distracting lighting ( Jia Morjaria) or overly ambitious soundscapes (Odinn Orn Hilmarsson). In short, this play was a pleasure to watch, and should certainly not be the basis for any nightmares.

Although a good night out, if you don’t read the programme you can get very confused very quicky.