Month: September 2019

Gutted by Sharon Byrne: An Irish black comedy

Touring October 2019

Gutted, an Irish black comedy by Sharon Byrne, opens in Canterbury on 3 October and will visit the Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith (Fri 11 Oct), The Maud, Walthamstow (Wed 16 Oct), The Dugdale Centre, Enfield (Fri 25 Oct) and Omnibus Theatre, Clapham (Tue 29 & Wed 30 Oct) as part of its 15-venue Autumn tour. Set in a 1980’s Dublin fish-factory, Gutted explores the lives of three strong women, played by Eleanor Byrne, Niamh Finlay and Sarah Hosford, with dark humour and tenderness. Gutted is directed by Chris White.

Sharon Byrne (Charlie’s Wake, Finborough Theatre) draws on her Dublin upbringing to present the lives of three women working in a fish factory in the 1980’s. Through comic monologue, the women give us a snapshot of the characters and challenges in their lives at the time. Exploring themes of family, trust, love and loss, Gutted touches on issues of domestic violence and abortion, which remain as relevant today as they were over 30 years ago.

Sharon Byrne explains: “Growing up close to a fish factory in Dublin, I was intrigued by the charismatic and resilient women who I’d see travelling to and from work there. They were tough, hard-working women, but they never stopped chatting and laughing. Life as a woman in Ireland still has its – often suppressed – challenges, and I felt compelled to raise awareness of these issues and help break the silence.”

“An exhilarating experience and a wonderful life affirming play”. Mark Everett, Former Director, The Marlowe, Canterbury.

Director Chris White leads Soho Theatre’s Writer’s Lab and is an RSC Associate, directing a production of Henry IV at the Houses of Parliament and leading residencies and projects in China, India and the United States. Most recently he directed Booby’s Bay by Henry Darke.

This production is made possible with the support of Arts Council England, Producer Vivienne Foster, writer Sharon Byrne, The Marlowe Canterbury and First Degree East.

Disney’s The Lion King begins second UK and
Ireland tour at The Bristol Hippodrome

The Walt Disney Company UK and Ireland began their UK and Ireland tour of the landmark musical THE LION KING at The Bristol Hippodrome last night, Thursday 12 September. The tour will continue on to Edinburgh, Bradford, Cardiff and Southampton with further dates to be announced in due course.  

The tour coincides with THE LION KING celebrating 20 years at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Since the UK premiere in London on Tuesday 19th October 1999, THE LION KING has entertained over 16 million theatregoers and remains the West End’s best-selling stage production and the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time. THE LION KING is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher. 

THE LION KING includes Dashaun Young, Josslynn Hlenti and Thandazile Soni in the roles of Simba, Nala and Rafiki. The company also includes Steve Beirnaert, Matthew Forbes, Jean-Luc Guizonne, Richard Hurst, Alan McHale, Rebecca Omogbehin, Carl Sanderson, and Simon Trinder.

The full company includes: Lwandolwethu Dennis Bam, Khanyisani Beato, Nigel Brown, Rushand Chambers, Tau-En Chien, Javier Cid, Jorrell Coiffic-Kamall, Tevin Daniel, Tim Driesen, Matthew Elliot-Campbell, Willians Ferreira, Oraine Frater, Brian Gilligan, Daniel Griffith, Alicia Hayward, Zalika Henry, Caleaf Hensen, Olivia Jones, Melvin La Blanc, Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy, Zanele Mazibuko, Daniel De Jesus Mejia Garcia, Zanele Ndlovu, Buhle Nkomo, Brianna Ogunbawo, Paige Peddie, Tara Price, Charlotte Samaroo, Cristiane Santos De Jesus, Mamido Bomboko Souchu, Sherry Tay, Francesca Thompson, Connor Pele Williams, Maria Yim and Bukiwe Zinganto.

The previous tour of THE LION KING broke attendance records across the nation. With a cast of over 50 actors, singers and dancers, the story of THE LION KING is miraculously brought to life using masks, puppets and striking costumes to tell the story of Simba’s epic adventure as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and becoming king.

The stunning artistry of THE LION KING is the work of a team of designers which drew on diverse cultural influences to recreate the rich colours and vast expanses of the African savanna in this daring and inspiring reinvention of one of the most successful animated films of all time.

Julie Taymor’s internationally-celebrated stage adaptation opened on Broadway in 1997 and 25 global productions have now been seen by more than 100 million people. The show has been performed in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese). Productions of THE LION KING can be seen on Broadway; London’s West End; Hamburg; Tokyo; Madrid; on tour across the UK & Ireland, Japan and North America, with a separate production touring internationally, for a total of nine productions running concurrently across the globe.

Having played over 100 cities in 20 countries on every continent except Antarctica, THE LION KING’s worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.   

Julie Taymor, one of the world’s most innovative directors, brought a vast array of disciplines to THE LION KING, including extensive experience staging epic theatre and opera productions, exploring classic myths through ritualised puppetry, mask, and movement. THE LION KING was the first musical she directed in the commercial theatre, and Taymor made Broadway history by becoming the first woman to win the Tony Award® for Best Director of a Musical.  

The show’s full creative team, which won five Tony Awards® for its work on THE LION KING, reunited in 1999 to recreate the show in London. Julie Taymor and Michael Curry created hundreds of masks and puppets. Scenic design is by leading British designer Richard Hudson and lighting is by Donald Holder. Costume design is by Julie Taymor, and choreography by Garth Fagan. The book was adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay.

The original score from the animated film was expanded for the stage and now features 15 musical numbers.  

As well as writing completely new songs, South African composer Lebo M created an evocative blend of African rhythms and chorales, with additional material by Julie Taymor and Mark Mancina. Sir Elton John and Sir Tim Rice have added three new numbers to the five that they wrote for the award-winning score of the animated film. The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, including the Academy Award®-winning Can You Feel The Love Tonight and the haunting Shadowland.

Theatre Tokens wins Most Innovative Technology Product or Service at the UK Gift Card and Voucher Association’s Hall of Fame Awards

Theatre Tokens has been recognised by the UK Gift Card and Voucher Association at their annual Hall of Fame Awards.

The award was given for the launch of Theatre Tokens’ innovative online redemption solution and the brand’s ability to issue change to customers redeeming fixed denomination paper vouchers. The judges noted that Theatre Tokens’ use of new technology was significantly improving the customer experience and positively impacting and changing the gift card industry.

Picking up the Award, Head of Theatre Tokens Nathan Naylor said:

‘We are delighted to be commended by our peers in the gift card and voucher industry, who recognised our commitment to significantly improving the customer experience and positively impacting the gift card industry. Our introduction of an online redemption solution that is able to digitally issue change for unspent value on paper vouchers is revolutionary. Alongside no expiry date, this ensures the best experience for consumers, who can spend the remaining balance at over 260 theatres nationwide and underlines our commitment to delivering audiences to theatres across the UK.’

Theatre Tokens is powered by the Eagle Eye Air platform and partnered with Reuben Digital to deliver this unique solution.

This award comes soon after Theatre Tokens began selling in 800 Tesco stores nationwide, as part of a partnership to further promote the theatre industry and encourage theatre attendance.

To buy and register Theatre Tokens, top up a gift card or eGift, check your balance or find out how and where Theatre Tokens can be used, go to www.theatretokens.com

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – until 14th September 2019

Reviewed by Antonia Hebbert

4****

It’s a dinner party, so sit back, hold on tight and expect excruciating revelations as alcohol loosens the lids on all those cans of worms. The hosts are Elizabeth (Laura Patch) and Peter (Bo Poraj), the harassed parents of small children. Their guests are Elizabeth’s outrageous and much richer brother Vincent (Joe Thomas, best known as Simon in The Inbetweeners), his glamorous, high-powered and pregnant partner Anna (Summer Strallen), and classical musician Carl (Alex Gaumond), who is a longstanding family friend.

There’s plenty of comic scope here as hidden resentments emerge, and playwrights Alexandre de la Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte clearly enjoy poking fun at the middle class world that they themselves inhabit. The play premiered in Paris as Le Prenom in 2010, and this translation by director Jeremy Sams not only moves the action from Paris to Peckham but also strives to make the whole feel of it more English. The first half initially feels more like a French dinner party, as everyone engages in a philosophical argument about the rights and wrongs of the name proposed for Anna’s baby. But this is England, so it all gets rather out-of-control and emotional. Academic, liberal-minded Peter becomes thuggish, and everyone reveals opinions they have politely been keeping hidden. The second half ratchets up the comedy as more surprises emerge and the characters have to adjust to a new reality.

Comic timing is razor sharp throughout. Joe Thomas shines as the wonderful/awful Vincent, who seems in control of the situation but is in for a shock of his own. Summer Strallen carries off the role of Anna with style, convincing you that she is just the sort of woman who could keep Vincent under control with a single look. The contrasting frumpiness of Laura Patch and Bo Poraj is maybe slightly overdone (would she really wear those shoes with that dress?), but they convey an all too realistic picture of a tired relationship, which gives the play a rather dark tone under the comedy. Alex Gaumond is a benign Carl, whose long friendship with the other characters feels real. Francis O’Connor’s set design seems spot-on – a bare brick, Peckham warehouse conversion where edgy stylishness is losing the battle with family life.

UK Theatre and SOLT offering sessions to prepare for Brexit

UK Theatre and SOLT have been working closely with members and with Government on Brexit preparations since the referendum result announcement in 2016.

Now, in addition to our broad range of support for the theatre sector to prepare for Brexit, we have successfully applied for a Government Brexit Business Readiness Grant, which we are able to use to help the theatre sector prepare for a possible No-Deal Brexit scenario.

In the lead-up to 31 October, UK Theatre and SOLT will be running a series of free, open sessions delivered by expert teams, with the aim to:

• Equip attendees to plan for their business to exit the EU under a No-Deal
• Provide an overview of the broader impact of exiting the EU
• Give attendees an opportunity to ask questions of experts and share information with each other
• Signpost attendees to other relevant sources of information to help them prepare

Held in Manchester, London, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Bristol and Birmingham, the sessions are free to attend and open to everyone working across the theatre sector – including those who do not belong to any association or membership body.

We are working with organisations including OneDanceUK, the Independent Theatre Council, the Association of British Theatre Technicians and the Federation of Scottish Theatres to reach out to a wide network of theatre professionals, organisations and sole traders across the UK, inviting them to attend.

Sessions will cover key areas identified from the results of four Brexit surveys conducted by UK Theatre and SOLT over the last two years. The topics that will be covered are: 

• Movement of people (short term and longer term, including immigration)
• Movement of freight (sets, equipment etc.)
• Supply Chain (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods)
• IP (copyright and trademarks) and Data
• Q&A with panel

Two additional specialist sessions (Preparing for a No-Deal Brexit: Touring in and out of the EU – movement of people and equipment) have also been programmed to help companies whose business involves importing and exporting work and workforce to and from the EU.

For anyone interested in attending a session, booking opens soon via the UK Theatre website.

This funding is only available for No-Deal planning and we are following current Government advice on how to prepare as a sector. 

SOHO THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL CASTING FOR DEBUT PLAYS

SHUCK ‘N’ JIVE and GOD’S DICE

Soho Theatre today announces the full casting for two world premieres, both playwriting stage debuts, of David Baddiel’s God’s Dice and Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong and Simone Ibbett-Brown’s Shuck ‘n’ Jive.

• Alexandra Gilbreath, Nitin Ganatra, Leila Mimmack and Adam Strawford will join the previously announced Alan Davies in God’s Dice directed by James Grieve.
• Olivia Onyehara and Tanisha Spring are announced as cast of Shuck ‘n’ Jive directed by Soho Theatre’s Associate Director Lakesha Arie-Angelo.

David Luff, Creative Director of Soho Theatre, comments:

“We’re thrilled to be producing two debut plays this autumn, showcasing the depth and breadth of artistic talent at Soho Theatre whilst continuing to strengthen our programme of bold new plays. Following many years on our stages as a comedian, David Baddiel’s playwriting debut features a fantastic cast led by Alan Davies. Also this autumn, our Associate Director Lakesha Arie-Angelo directs the exciting debut by Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong and Simone Ibbett-Brown, an unexpected and subversive story of two young women trying to find their theatrical feet in a closed-shop world.”

Soho Theatre presents

SHUCK ‘N’ JIVE

By Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong and Simone Ibbett-Brown

Directed by Lakesha Arie-Angelo           

Set and Costume Design by Ranya El Rafaey                            

Lighting Design by Jai Morjaria              

Sound Design by Anna Clock                                        

Movement Direction by Diane Alison-Mitchell

Casting by Nadine Rennie CDG

Soho Theatre Upstairs. Wednesday 2 – Saturday 26 October, Press night Friday 4 October, 7pm.

‘You do realise that your premier black woman role model was literally a puppet controlled by a white man, right?’

Soho Theatre is pleased to announce casting for Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong and Simone Ibbett-Brown’s Shuck ‘n’ Jive. Directed by Soho Theatre’s Associate Director Lakesha Arie-Angelo, Olivia Onyehara (Jack Lear, Hull Truck) will take on the role of ‘Simone’ and Tanisha Spring (Caroline, or Change, Playhouse Theatre) will take on the role of ‘Cassi’ in this subversive debut play told with music, laughter and searing honesty.

Opera singer Simone very quickly discovered that London was not the BNP-free utopia she’d always dreamed of. Meanwhile, actress Cassi is bored battling it out for the illustrious roles of Sassy Friend, Spunky Slave, and Third Crack Whore From The Left at every audition. Desperate to be seen as they are, not as the colour of their skin, they decide to seize back control and write their own play. [This is that play].

Soho Theatre and Avalon present

GOD’S DICE

By David Baddiel

Directed by James Grieve

Starring Alan Davies

Set and Costume Design by Lucy Osborne

Lighting Design by Ric Mountjoy                       

Sound Design by Dominic Kennedy

Video Design by Ash J Woodward

Casting by Nadine Rennie CDG

Soho Theatre Thursday 24 October – Saturday 30 November, Press Night Wednesday 30 October, 7.15pm

What would happen if someone was able to prove, scientifically, the existence of God? When Edie, a student in university lecturer Henry Brook’s physics class, seems to do exactly that, his universe – including his marriage to celebrity atheist author Virginia – is rocked. Science and religion go head-to-head in a ferociously funny battle for power, sex, fame and followers.

Soho Theatre and Avalon are delighted to announce the full casting for the world premiere of David Baddiel’s first original stage play God’s Dice. The previously announced Alan Davies (Jonathan Creek and QI) will star in this electric tragicomedy about the power of belief and our quest for truth in a fractured world. Joining Alan will be Olivier Award nominee Alexandra Gilbreath (The Provoked Wife and Twelfth Night at RSC), Nitin Ganatra (BBC’s EastEnders), Leila Mimmack (ITV’s Home Fires and Debris at Southwark Playhouse) and Adam Strawford (The Plough and The Stars at Lyric Hammersmith).

Alan Davies                  Henry Brook

Alexandra Gilbreath       Virginia

Nitin Ganatra                 Tim

Leila Mimmack              Edie

Adam Strawford            Ensemble     

• MARK GOUCHER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE EVERYMAN THEATRE IN CHELTENHAM, HAS ANNOUNCED HIS NEW SEASON
   
• THREE IN HOUSE SHOWS PRODUCED BY THE EVERYMAN THEATRE COMPANY INCLUDE A NEW PRODUCTION OF WILLY RUSSELL’S SHIRLEY VALENTINE STARRING CLAIRE SWEENEY DIRECTED BY IAN TALBOT; THE BIRTHDAY PARTY BY HAROLD PINTER DIRECTED BY PAUL MILTON AND IAN HISLOP AND NICK NEWMAN’S NEW COMEDY A BUNCH OF AMATEURS
   
• PRODUCTIONS OF OSCAR WILDE’S A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE DIRECTED BY DOMINIC DROMGOOLE AND MISCHIEF THEATRE’S PETER PAN GOES WRONG WILL BOTH BEGIN THEIR TOURS IN CHELTENHAM FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL WEST END SEASONS
   
• THIS YEAR’S PANTOMIME, CINDERELLA, AGAIN PRODUCED IN HOUSE, SEES THE BEGINNING OF A COLLABORATION WITH OTHER REGIONAL THEATRE WHICH WILL SEE THE PRODUCTIONS VISIT OTHER THEATRES IN FUTURE YEARS AND THE FORMATION OF EVERYMAN PANTOMIMES LIMITED
   
• THE EVERYMAN THEATRE CONTINUES TO CO-PRODUCE WITH OTHER REGIONAL VENUES AND IS COLLABORATING CURRENTLY WITH THEATRE ROYAL BATH AND BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE
   
• GOUCHER’S COMMERCIAL COMPANY CONTINUES TO PRODUCE WORK WITH BOTH THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY SEAN FOLEY AND PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT STARRING JOE MCFADDEN OPENING THIS WEEK

Mark Goucher, Chief Executive of The Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham has announced the venue’s new season of work alongside his commercial company Mark Goucher Productions Ltd opening two new shows (The Man in the White Suit in Bath and the West End and Priscilla Queen of the Desert on tour) this autumn.

The venue’s annual Pantomime this year is Cinderella which once again is produced in house. For the first time the venue is collaborating with other regional theatres in a scheme which will see the production play at other venues in future years and sees a new company – Everyman Pantomimes Ltd established. The venue also continues to co-produce with other regional venues, with collaborations planned with both Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath.

The venue’s own producing company The Everyman Theatre Company has another busy season with three new shows in production including Willy Russell’s classic Shirley Valentine starring Claire Sweeney and directed by Ian Talbot, Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party to be directed by Paul Milton and Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s new comedy A Bunch of Amateurs.

Visiting shows include both Dominic Dromgoole’s production of Oscar Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance and Mischief Theatre’s Peter Pan Goes Wrong both of which begin their tours at the theatre following highly successful West End runs.

Full details of the season can be found at https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/ 

WISE CHILDREN’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMMA RICE ADAPTS AND DIRECTS EMILY BRONTË’S WUTHERING HEIGHTS

A CO-PRODUCTION WITH THE NATIONAL THEATRE, IN ASSOCIATION WITH YORK THEATRE ROYAL

Wise Children today announces the world première of Artistic Director Emma Rice’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, which she also directs, as part of their 2020 season of work. With her trademark musical and visual style, Rice brings new life to the classic story in this elemental stage adaptation. This co-production with the National Theatre, in association with York Theatre Royal, opens at the Lyttelton in autumn 2020 before touring the UK, with venues to be announced.

Emma Rice said today, “I loved Wuthering Heights with a passion as a teenager. I thought it was a love story, a wild romance.  I now find little love within its pages, but these multi layered readings are what makes it such a fascinating story. My Wuthering Heights promises to be a revenge tragedy for our time – but it will also be about hope. I want to wrestle hatred to the earth and let a new story grow. Wild and fierce, elemental and true – I cannot wait to start work on this timeless classic. And that is theatre romance, right there!

“It is a privilege and a pleasure to be returning to the National Theatre after 12 years – and even more exciting to be returning with my new company Wise Children! This is an ambitious project with creative roots in Yorkshire and the South West – the National Theatre is the perfect place to nurture, create and home this special work. Even more thrilling to me is that this production will perform both on the South Bank and in venues across the UK. It is vitally important to both the National Theatre and Wise Children that we take work on the road and entertain audiences across the UK.”

Wise Children’s production of Malory Towers is currently touring the UK, with performances at York Theatre Royal (until 14 September), Exeter Northcott Theatre (17 – 21 September), HOME, Manchester (24 – 28 September) and Oxford Playhouse (1 – 5 October); and their inaugural production of the critically acclaimed Wise Children will be screened in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 3 October. Further plans for 2020 will be announced shortly.

Created and led by Emma Rice, WISE CHILDREN launched in April 2018 and is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Based in Bristol, the company makes ground-breaking work with exceptional artists, and tours across the world. Alongside shows, it runs a unique professional development programme, The School for Wise Children, training a new and more diverse generation of theatre practitioners.

The NATIONAL THEATRE’s mission is to make world class theatre that’s entertaining, challenging and inspiring – and to make it for everyone. It aims to reach the widest possible audience and to be as inclusive, diverse and national as possible with a broad range of productions that play in London, on tour around the UK, on Broadway and across the globe. The National Theatre’s extensive UK-wide learning and participation programme supports young people and schools through performance and writing programmes like Connections, New Views and Let’s Play, while Public Acts creates ambitious new works of participatory theatre in sustained partnership with theatres and community organisations around the country. The National Theatre extends its reach through digital programmes including NT Live, which broadcasts some of the best of British theatre to over 2,500 venues in 65 countries, and the free streaming service On Demand In Schools, used by nearly 65% of UK state secondary schools. The National Theatre invests in the future of theatre by developing talent, creating bold new work and building audiences, partnering with a range of UK theatres and theatre companies.

For more information, please visit https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/.   

@NationalTheatre 

@NT_PressOffice 

YORK THEATRE ROYAL has brought delight and fulfilment to the people of York and beyond by offering a rich and diverse programme of creative activity for 275 years. York Theatre Royal is one of the UK’s leading creative producers and presenters, constantly building on its reputation for producing high quality and ambitious theatre with highly regarded productions of new commissions, revivals at all scales and each year delivering a pantomime of international renown. The theatre serves audiences of all ages – children, youth, teenagers, adults and seniors. In the second half of 2019 productions will include Emma’s Rice adaptation of Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers, Sarah Waters’ The Night Watch, Nigel Slater’s Toast and the return of The Woman In Black. At Christmas the York pantomime family of David Leonard, Suzy Cooper, Martin Barrass and A.J Powell return in Sleeping Beauty, written by Berwick Kaler.

Website: www.wisechildren.co.uk

Blog: www.wisechildren.blog

Twitter: @Wise_Children

Facebook: @WiseChildrenCompany

Any dream will do!

Joseph break-out star, Jac Yarrow joins the cast

of Snow White direct from the London Palladium

Birmingham Hippodrome is proud to announce that the break-out star of Michael Harrison’s recent London Palladium revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jac Yarrow will play The Prince in this year’s must-see pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which plays from Saturday 21 December 2019 – Sunday 2 February 2020.

Jac Yarrow graduated from the Arts Educational Schools in the summer of 2019 and made his professional debut as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium. For his performance, Jac garnered extraordinary critical and public acclaim, and has been twice nominated for The Stage Debut Awards 2019 for Best Actor in a Musical and for Best West End Debut.

Jac will join the previously announced Lesley Joseph as the Wicked Queen, Matt Slack as Muddles, Joe McElderry asThe Spirit in the Mirror, Faye Brookes asSnow White, Flawless as The Wicked Queen’s Men, Doreen Tipton asThe Lady in Waiting and Andrew Ryan as Nurse Nelly.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will feature stunning costumes and sets along with outstanding special effects direct from the sold-out London Palladium production in 2018.

The production will once again be directed by Michael Harrison who has been at the helm of the Hippodrome pantomime for the last nine years. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer.

Qdos Entertainment Managing Director, Michael Harrison said; “Without a doubt this is going to be one of the biggest pantomime line-ups in Hippodrome history and I’m delighted to add Jac Yarrow to our already stellar cast. I was thrilled to discover Jac whilst he was still at drama school and to give him his professional debut as Joseph in my new production at the London Palladium. He wowed critics and audiences alike so I had no hesitation in asking him to join me in Birmingham this Christmas for our prestigious Hippodrome pantomime, and he had no hesitation in saying yes!“

Birmingham Hippodrome Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Fiona Allan added; “Birmingham Hippodrome’s annual pantomime has a reputation for being one of the fairest in the land. With the addition of West End leading man, Jac Yarrow to our superb line-up of stars, this year is shaping up to be the best yet. We look forward to welcoming audiences of all ages to this spectacular theatre tradition as we conclude our 120^th birthday celebrations.”

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Saturday 21 December 2019 – Sunday 2 February 2020. To book visit birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000 (4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge). 

Soho Theatre, London until 29 September 2019

Review by Lisa Harlow

4****

Not to give too much away here about my age, but the timeline contained in this glorious show allowed me to revel in the most perfect 90s indie soundscape. Launching into PJ Harvey’s ‘New Dress’ very early on already had me sold.

Cora Bissett, a game girl from Glenrothes with horses and ambitions in her heart, was raking through her parents’ attic one day, when she discovered a mystery box which took her back to a time she’d parked in her mind a long time ago. Inside the box was every variety of faded newspaper clipping about her when she had been in a band that had been signed by a major record label and handed a five album deal. All secretly stored by her dad.

Thereafter I literally caroused in every insight and memory of backstage life with bands such as Blur and Radiohead, as if I had been there myself. The storytelling was peppered throughout with short performances of Cora and her band, represented by Emma Smith, Simon Donaldson and Harry Ward. Some of these were original band tracks, whereas others were covers of tracks by her contemporaries. Cora’s voice both mesmerised and soothed. She has a velvet tone which can soar through the room and later come back to stroke your hair. Her cover of Tori Amos was sublime.

The range of character voices given by the supporting band travelled the length and breadth of Great Britain. The entertaining impressions allowed the audience to meet a whole cadre of band and family members, A&R men and dodgy managers, as if they had teleported onto stage.

In Cora’s words, this show speaks largely in “Fife-isms”, yet its content emotionally resonates with a whole generation touched by the 90s wave of indie euphoria and inspired by the raw voices of female singers such as Patti Smith. Its themes of family, loss, failure and children connects with an even greater audience. The deeply grooved nostalgia in this performance does not stop with the music memories. The audience comes to love Cora’s parents as much as herself by the end, as we behold their beauty through her eyes. Sadly, the severity of life’s disappointments did not overlook Cora, and these balanced out the giddy excitement of her teens later in her life.

Musing how she might answer her daughter’s question of ‘what are girls made of?’, we are left with those most raw and empowering song in response.

A truly joy of a show, Cora, bravo. Those wild horses of yours still have quite a journey left to ride.