Month: September 2019

WATFORD PALACE THEATRE ANNOUNCES

2019-2020 SEASON

Season highlights include a fresh look at Patrick Hamilton’s classic Gaslight, Jan Ravens in Brigid Larmour’s production of Talking Heads, and this year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

Artistic Director Brigid Larmour today announces programming to complete Watford Palace Theatre’s season for September 2019 – June 2020, following the world première of Mushy: Lyrically Speaking earlier this month. The co-production with Rifco Theatre Company is now on tour across the UK until 5 October.

In addition to the previously announced contemporary all-female reimagining of Patrick Hamilton’s classic Gaslight, the new season includes collaborations with resident Rifco Theatre Company, reflecting and celebrating British Asian experiences and culture; Mike Leigh’s classic comedy Abigail’s Party, in a new production directed by Rifco’s Artistic Director, and the four-day British Asian Festival.

This production of Abigail’s Party, directed by Pravesh Kumar, is setagainst the backdrop of an evolving multicultural Britain of the 1970s. The British Asian Festival presents four days of British Asian arts and culture, curated by Pravesh Kumar and Ameet Chana.

Brigid Larmour directs Alan Bennett’s critically acclaimed Talking Heads, starring Radio 4 comedian Jan Ravens, and Julia Watson. This year’s pantomime is the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty, directed by Associate Director James Williams, written by Andrew Pollard and designed by Cleo Pettitt, with live musicians onstage.

Sister Act is presented by resident local company Cassio Productions; Abbots Langley Gilbert & Sullivan School bring Ruddigore to life.  The Palace hosts part of the Watford Fringe Festival, and the return of Pint-Sized Poetry gives a platform to talented emerging spoken word artists.  The Theatre’s Take Part team enable the community to Celebrate Black History Month, Celebrate Diwali, Celebrate Chinese Culture Show and Celebrate Vaisakhi, as well as facilitating the Palace Community Choir’s Annual Christmas Concert.

In a first for Watford Palace Theatre, audiences are invited into the rehearsal room, to hear rehearsed readings of Moira Buffini’s Handbagged and Barry Hines’ KES, and give their feedback. 

Dinner on our Stage returns following the success of last year, offering audiences the opportunity to enjoy a delicious three course meal on the Watford Palace stage.

The season includes the return of tiata fahodzi and Watford Palace Theatre’s tiata delights, a day of networking and development opportunities for artists, and the 10^th annual Imagine Watford, filling the streets with giant puppets, street dancers, jugglers and more, one of the highlights of Hertfordshire Year of Culture 2020.

Brigid Larmour today said, “Everyone’s welcome at the Palace.  This season’s rich mix of new and established artists and shows aims to bring our community together, to be entertained, provoked and inspired, on our stage and in our streets.”

Watford Palace Theatre Company presents

Gaslight

By Patrick Hamilton

Director: Richard Beecham;Designer: Naomi Dawson; Lighting Designer: Anna Watson

Sound Designer: Sarah Weltman

2 – 26 October 2019

The classic thriller with a modern twist.

Richard Beecham directs Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight, in which a husband attempts to convince his wife that she is going mad.

This bold new production transplants the action from Victorian London to a 21st century Safe House in which a group of women, fleeing domestic abuse, re-enact Hamilton’s play. As the drama unfolds, the women’s own experiences and emotions surface to cathartic effect. Together they discover the strength to begin building a brighter future.

The 1938 West End smash-hit gave rise to the term ‘gaslighting’ – a form of psychological abuse where one person attempts to manipulate another into questioning their own sanity.

Patrick Hamilton, in full Anthony Walter Patrick Hamilton (March 1904 – September 1962), was an English playwright and novelist. His playwrighting credits include Rope – adapted into the 1948 film by Alfred Hitchcock – and Gaslight, which opened in the West End and transferred to New York under the title of Angel Street. Gaslight was twice adapted for film, most famously in the 1944 version starring Ingrid Bergman. Hamilton’s other credits include the novels Hangover Square and Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky.

Richard Beecham directs. He has directed a number of productions at Watford Palace Theatre, most recently his acclaimed revival of Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass. Other credits include Playing for Time, starring Dame Sian Phillips (Sheffield Theatres), Rose, starring Dame Janet Suzman (HOME, Manchester), 84 Charing Cross Road, starring Stefanie Powers and Clive Francis (Cambridge Arts Theatre/UK tour), Driving Miss Daisy, starring Dame Sian Phillips and Derek Griffiths (Theatre Royal Bath/UK tour), the UK premieres of Red Light Winter and In A Garden (Ustinov Studio Bath), Henry IV Part 1 (Peter Hall Company at Theatre Royal Bath), Just Before the War, The Human Cost (Young Vic), Rutherford and Son (Northern Stage, Newcastle), Humble Boy, Dancing at Lughnasa, In Praise of Love (Royal & Derngate Northampton), The Invention of Love, The School for Scandal, The Miser, Side by Side by Sondheim (Salisbury Playhouse), A Taste of Honey, Neville’s Island, How the Other Half Loves (Watford Palace Theatre), The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Private Lives, Charley’s Aunt, Black Comedy/The Real Inspector Hound (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Early One Morning, Entertaining Mr Sloane (Octagon Theatre Bolton), The Bench (Battersea Arts Centre), Twelve Tales of Tyneside (Live Theatre, Newcastle), Romeo and Juliet (Creation Theatre Company, Oxford), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (USF Florida),Much Ado About Nothing (Marlowe Society Cambridge), and the National Commemorative Event for Holocaust Memorial Day.  Beecham’s short film, The Guitar, won the Pears Short Film award at the London Jewish Film Festival. 

Watford Palace Theatre Company presents

Sleeping Beauty

By Andrew Pollard

Director James Williams; Designer Cleo Pettitt

29 November – 31 December 2019

The Watford Palace team bring you the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty, with fabulous costumes, stunning sets, a live band and non-stop laughs.

It’s the eve of Princess Aurora’s 18th birthday party and her father, King Lenny the VIII of Watford, is worried sick about the Bad Fairy’s curse. Just one prick of her finger on a spinning wheel, and Aurora’s dream of escaping the Palace to travel the world will remain just that – a dream. A guitar-playing Prince is the only hope, to wake Aurora from her long, long sleep…

Join Good Fairy Fender and Dame Nanny Fanny on this unforgettable, time-travelling magical adventure. The Palace has been the home of family panto in Watford for over a century.

Andrew Pollard writes. He regularly writes pantomimes for Greenwich Theatre, Salisbury Playhouse, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Mercury Theatre Colchester.Other credits include adaptations of The Water Babies, Treasure Island, and Heidi – A Goat’s Tail (nominated for the 2008 T.M.A. Award for Best Children’s Play, and the Adrienne Benham Award for Children’s Theatre Writing), and The Hunt for the Scroobious Pip, The Mad Hatter’s Christmas Party, A Night at the Bijou, The Silent Comedian, Cross Purposes, and Laughing Gravy. His sitcom, Spinnin’ It was one of the winners of the HTV ‘Search for a Sitcom’ competition and subsequently broadcast.

James Williams directs. As Associate Director at Watford Palace Theatre, James’ directing credits include Jack & The Beanstalk, The Canterbury Tales (WPT and tour), and The Good Soul of Szechuan (WPT and tour). He has also directed numerous youth and community theatre productions, including James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, Peter Pan, Frankenstein, There Is A War, A Vampire Story (also National Theatre Connections), Hello Mr Capello,and Return.  As a playwright, his credits include an adaptation of Treasure Island, Trolls, and #Houseparty.  In 2017, following the development of several successful film projects with the Palace’s community youth theatres, James established the Watford Young Filmmakers Festival in partnership with Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, and is currently developing a Hertfordshire wide festival for Autumn 2020.

Watford Palace Theatre Company presents

Talking Heads

By Alan Bennett

Director: Brigid Larmour

4 – 29 March 2020

Brigid Larmour directs Jan Ravens (Muriel, Miss Ruddock) and Julia Watson (Susan)

An evening of three entertaining monologues by one of Britain’s most brilliant and best-loved writers.

Each piece gives an intimate and hilarious insight into the heart and mind of a peculiarly English character – Muriel in her tweed skirt and pearls in Soldiering On, the public-spirited Miss Ruddock in A Lady of Letters, and Susan, the long-suffering Vicar’s wife in Bed Among The Lentils.

Alan Bennett writes. His writing credits for the stage include Allelujah!, Cocktail Sticks, Hymn, People, The Habit of Art, The History Boys (for which he won the 2005 Olivier Award for Best New Play, and the 2006 Tony Award for Best Play), The Lady in the Van, Talking Heads (for which he won the 1992 Olivier Awards for Best Actor in a Musical and Best Entertainment), and The Madness of George III. For film, his writing credits include The Lady in the Van, The History Boys, and The Madness of King George (for which he won the 1995 British Academy Film Award for Best British Film).

Brigid Larmour directs. As Artistic Director of Watford Palace Theatre, her previous credits include Much Ado About Nothing, I Capture the Castle, Arms and the Man, Coming Up, Jefferson’s Garden, Love Me Do, Von Ribbentrop’s Watch, Fourteen, Perfect Match, We That are Left, Mrs Reynolds and the Ruffian, Our Father, My Mother Said I Never Should, Equally Divided, Absent Friends, Time of My Life, Absurd Person Singular, and five pantomimes by Andrew Pollard; Aladdin, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty, Robin Hood, and Mother Goose. Other notable directing credits include Playboy of the West Indies (Contact Theatre) and the world premiere of My Mother Said I Never Should (Contact Theatre).

Watford Palace Theatre in association with Rifco Theatre Company presents

Abigail’s Party

By Mike Leigh

Director Pravesh Kumar

29 April – 23 May 2020

Welcome to 1970s suburbia and its heady mix of free-flowing drinks, classic disco and cheese & pineapple sticks.

Aspirational Beverly and her estate agent husband Laurence are hosting drinks for their newlywed neighbours. They are joined by a very anxious Susan, who has been banished from her daughter Abigail’s party. As the evening goes on, marital tensions rise and tempers flare as the characters’ true natures are hilariously but ruthlessly exposed.

Mike Leigh’s classic comedy, which became an iconic TV film starring Alison Steadman, is one of the most popular plays of modern times.

This new production is set against the back drop of an evolving multicultural Britain of the 70s.

Mike Leigh writes. His writing credits for the stage include Grief, Two Thousand Years, It’s a Great Big Shame!, Smelling a Rat, Ecstasy, Too Much of a Good Thing, Abigail’s Party, The Silent Majority, Babies Grow Old, and Dick Whittington and His Cat. For film, his credits include Peterloo, Mr Turner, Another Year (for which he was nominated for the 2011 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay), Happy-Go-Lucky (for which he was nominated for the 2009 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay), Vera Drake (for which he was nominated for the 2004 Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Director), All or Nothing, Topsy-Turvy, Career Girls, and Secrets & Lies (for which he was nominated for the 1997 Academy Awards for Best Writing and Best Director).

Pravesh Kumar directs. His previous credits includeBollywood – Yet Another Love Story, Airport 2000, Meri Christmas, Where’s My Desi Soulmate?, Britain’s Got Bhangra, Break The Floorboards, Happy Birthday Sunita, Laila Majnu and Miss Meena & the Masala Queens. He was Associate Director on the new musical Wah! Wah! Girls, which opened in the West End as part of World Stages London for the Olympics 2012.

Watford Palace Theatre                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Listings

20 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1JZ

https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Box Office: 01923 225671

Twitter: @watfordpalace

Instagram: @watfordpalace

Facebook /WatfordPalace

Watford Palace Theatre aims to inspire and entertain through inventive, ambitious and inclusive drama, new plays, musicals, dance and family shows; free outdoor festivals; diverse stand-up; and a much-loved traditional pantomime. It aims to reflect its diverse communities, and fully represent women, both onstage and behind the scenes celebrating and developing creativity and skill in the community and its young people. The theatre’s locally produced shows and home-grown talent have toured nationally and internationally, been seen on BBC iPlayer, won awards and transferred to the West End. Watford Palace Theatre – inspiration on your doorstep.

Great stories that entertain, provoke and inspire, on stage and in the streets.

Recent productions include The Glass Menagerie, Absurd Person Singular, Much Ado About Nothing, Broken Glass, Elton John’s Glasses, Miss Meena & the Masala Queens, I Capture the Castle, good dog, Folk, Wipers, Poppy + George, Coming Up, Jefferson’s Garden, Love Me Do, An Intervention, Shiver, Virgin, Override, Jumpers for Goalposts, Our Brother David, Our Father and Family Business. Creative Associates are central to Watford Palace Theatre’s vision these include Resident Partner Company Rifco Arts; Creative Associate Companies tiata fahodzi; Scamp Theatre and Up In Arms; and Creative Associates Kate Flatt; Shona Morris; Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti; Charlotte Keatley; Gary Owen, Ruari Murchinson and Timberlake Wertenbaker.

New Victoria Theatre Woking – until 28 September 2019

Reviewed by Nicky Wyatt

2**

The Entertainer by John Osborne. Written in 1957 following the Suez crisis when we were a nation in crisis, with disillusioned people tired of fighting and struggling. The play tells the story of an embittered Vaudeville comedian who refuses to accept that the world is changing as is what people class as entertainment.

Fast forward to 1982 where director Sean O’Connor has reset the scene. Another national crisis The Falklands War and the country being held and guided through by Margaret Thatcher.

Archie Rice (Shane Richie) is a tired, angry man stuck in a miserable spiral of old fashioned comedy, bored and dowdy home life, looking for an escape route. His stand up routines are typical of the era they depict. He has a love hate relationship with the stage, needing the buzz to escape his life and the taxman but grows to despise his audiences. His onstage misery continues at home.

His dad one time star Billy Rice (Pip Donaghy) is now an old man, with racist views that these days would be considered very un PC. Looked after by Archie’s long suffering wife Phoebe (Sara Crowe). She is a downtrodden gin drinker, who has become accustomed to Archies philandering ways. Their son is in the Falklands injured and she is waiting anxiously for him to come home. She waits with Archies daughter Jean (Diane Vickers) and dad Billy, they all drink too much gin and shout too much. Son Frank (Christopher Bonwell )works at the theatre with his dad, he struggles to make an impact in the family or to be heard above the constant arguing and shouting. A lot of the dialogue was difficult to make out it was just very loud and shouty.

I am sure that in 1957 this was great theatre, it was probably good in 1982. For me it has no place in 2019. The highlight for me was Richie singing Those Were The Days, great voice

Four stars of the festive, family pantomime made a visit to Darlington Hippodrome for the official press launch of Jack and the Beanstalk which runs from Saturday 6 December to Sunday 5 January.

Shirely Ballas from Strictly Come Dancing and George Sampson from Britain’s Got Talent joined stand-up comedian Phil Walker and comedy writer/actor Daniel Taylor, at the Hippodrome recently. Along with Daisy the Cow

Producer Jake Hine, from Qdos Entertainment said: “I am looking forward to bringing the pantomime to Darlington. I’m a local lad and this theatre and pantomime mean a great deal to me. We’ve got a wonderful cast and I’m looking forward to pushing on with bringing the tradition of panto to the families and children that will be our future audiences” Adding “We have an excellent cast, with talent from two prime time TV programmes – Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s Got Talent, so combining the dance skills with Phil’s comedy and Daniel’s acting. This could be the best panto we’ve had at Darlington Hippodrome for a long time.”

Comedian Phil Walker, a veteran of many panto’s generally plays good guys but would love to play a baddie some time.  BGT star George Sampson agrees that he’s always cast as the good boy of the show. Whilst actor Daniel Taylor reveals that loves playing the villain as he can have much more fun insulting the audience for 2 hours. Although both Walker and Taylor agree they have fun, in different ways, interacting with the audiences and breaking the forth wall

Never having visited Darlington before, Walker is looking forward to bringing his bike with him and getting out and about over panto season.  Sampson plans to bring his Play Station with him, enjoy some snooker and meet up with friends to enjoy the nightlife of Darlington and the surrounding areas.  Taylor is looking forward to showing partner, Shirley Ballas, around the North East and introducing her to local delicacy the Parmo. Taylor, has appeared in the musical Blood Brothers which has visited the Hippodrome on many occasions so he knows the area well.

With Shirley and George both having a strong dance background, Sampson hopes there will be plenty of dancing in the show.  Walker, who has written and starred in many pantomimes says it will be magical for the whole family. Taylor reveals there will be lots of laughs, disguises and that he is a great mimic, but without giving anything away. But we are promised plenty of fun and laughter and a traditional pantomime full of surprises from all the cast.

Tickets are still on sale so for more information visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/jack-and-the-beanstalk/ or telephone the Box Office on 01325-405405.

With special thanks to Scott Akoz for the photos

https://www.scottakoz.com/

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OLIVER ORMSON AND FULL CAST ANNOUNCED

FOR THE UK PREMIERE OF

HIGH FIDELITY

A MUSICAL BASED ON THE BRITISH NOVEL BY NICK HORNBY

WRITTEN BY DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE

WITH MUSIC BY TOM KITT & LYRICS BY AMANDA GREEN

DIRECTED & CHOREOGRAPHED BY TOM JACKSON GREAVES

RUNNING FROM 21 OCTOBER – 7 DECEMBER 2019

& FOLLOWING THE CRITICAL HIT TORCH SONG

Full casting has been announced for The Turbine Theatre’s first musical production, High Fidelity.  Leading the ensemble is musical theatre start Oliver Ormson as vinyl shop owner, Rob. The rest of the cast will include Carl Au (Dick), Robbie Durham (Barry), Rosie Fletcher (Anna), Joshua Dever (Neil Young/Bruce Springsteen), Shanay Holmes (Laura), Eleanor Kane (Marie), Jessica Lee (Ensemble), Bobbie Little (Liz), Lauran Rae (Ensemble) and Robert Tripolino(Ian)

Click HERE to see our High Fidelity cast!

The UK premiere of the irresistible new musical comedy High Fidelity, based on the acclaimed British novel by Nick Hornby (State Of The Union/About A Boy/Fever Pitch), is the second production in Paul Taylor-Mills’ inaugural season at The Turbine Theatre. Directed and choreographed by Tom Jackson Greaves, the first musical to open at the new Battersea Power Station based theatre, runs from 21 October – 7 December.

Rob is the thirty-something owner of a London record shop who’s mastered the art of finding rare vinyl and losing girlfriends. Laura just dumped him, and Rob is totally moving on. Hopefully. Well, there’s a chance it could still work out!

Could Laura actually be “the one?” Might this turn out to be one of the Top 5 Most Romantic Comebacks Ever?!

High Fidelity has designs by David Shields, sound by Dan Samson, lighting by Andrew Exeter, and casting by Will Burton CDG. Helen Siveter will be the Associate Director.

High Fidelity is the second production to run at the newly opened Turbine Theatre, and follows the theatre’s critically acclaimed debut production of Harvey Fierstein’s groundbreaking play, Torch Song. The production is directed by the Olivier Award winning director/choreographer, Drew McOnie, stars Matthew Needham, Daisy Boulton, Dino Fetscher, Jay Lycurgo, Rish Shah and Bernice Stegers, and runs until 13 October 2019.

TOKYO ROSE: BURNT LEMON’S ACCLAIMED WORLD WAR II MUSICAL COMES TO NEW DIORAMA

       One Week Only: 8-12 Oct | New Diorama Theatre

      The true story of Iva D’Aquino: the Japanese-American woman accused of being infamous WWII propagandist Tokyo Rose

Burnt Lemon are bringing their Untapped Award winning, total sellout Edinburgh Fringe hit musical Tokyo Rose to London for the first time with a strictly limited week-long run at New Diorama.

Turn back the dial | From 2019 to 1943…

Towards the end of the second World War the Allied forces were tormented by an all-female Anglophone radio broadcast of Japanese propaganda. They attributed the broadcasts to a shady composite figure known only as Tokyo Rose.

1949. American satirist of Japanese ancestry Iva d’Aquino stands accused of treason in one of the most controversial trials in American history.

She is accused of being the notorious Tokyo Rose: that infamous peddler of Axis propaganda on behalf of the Japanese government…but was she the villain she was made out to be?

Five female wartime disc jockeys spit piercing verse in a rap-packed musical broadcast telling the story of how, in times of strife, lies beget lies, propaganda begets propaganda and mistrust begets mistrust.

During the second World War these forces converged on one woman, who has occupied an uncertain place in history ever since.

In an era when, especially in the United States, women and migrants remain scapegoats, and the politicisation of media has created a proliferation of Fake News, Iva’s story serves as both a reminder and a warning of how political fanaticism is the enemy of truth.

PRAISE FOR TOKYO ROSE

“smart retro visuals and songs that snap like a GI’s chewing gum” – The Guardian

★★★★★ Musical Theatre Review

“The entire company performs with precision, commitment and an intensity seldom seen”

★★★★★ Voice Mag

“approaches the story of Iva Toguri with tenderness and precision, making a must-see show”

★★★★ Scotsman | ★★★★ Broadway World | ★★★★ Miro Magazine | ★★★★ Broadway Baby | ★★★★ A Younger Theatre | ★★★★ British Theatre Guide | ★★★★ Spy in the Stalls | ★★★★ Musical Theatre Musings | ★★★★ Bouquets & Brickbats

“The cast of five are explosive. Their voices are positively Aguileran” – A Younger Theatre

“powerful and poignant and perfectly structured” – Miro Magazine

“a complex story, told phenomenally well by a company quickly proving itself to be one of the hottest theatre groups in the country” – Broadway Baby

Come along and muck about at the egg this October!

MUCKERS

By Caroline Horton

Thursday 3 – Sunday 6 October

October at the egg theatre begins with MUCKERS, an equally funny and poignant play, celebrating the joy of just mucking about!

Do you remember when you stopped mucking about? Paloma and Pichon have always mucked about together. They run wild, dress up like tigers, flamenco dancers, queens, kings, rabbits and Lady Gaga. Life is fun and funny, and a little bit loopy! Until one day a blinding white light lands on Paloma and the two friends are catapulted into a strange new world…

Created with an international ensemble, Muckers is a funny, magical and captivating adventure, a quest for self-acceptance with original songs and a bit of Spanish!

“A weird and wonderful dream” Exeunt Magazine

“Gloriously knotty” Guardian

Written by Olivier award nominee  and winner of The Stage Award for Excellence, Caroline Horton, Muckers is a co-production between the egg, Oxford Playhouse, Cardiff-based children’s theatre producers Theatr Iolo, and Madrid’s cultural centre Conde Duque.

MUCKERS is at the egg theatre from Thursday 3 – Sunday 6 October. Tickets are on sale now from the egg reception on 01225 823409, the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk

LISTINGS INFORMATION

The egg, Oxford Playhouse, Theatr Iolo and Conde Duque present

MUCKERS

Venue:            the egg theatre, Bath

Dates:             Thursday 3 – Sunday 6 October 2019

Times:             Thursday 7.30pm; Friday 10am & 1pm; Saturday & Sunday 11.30am & 3pm

Tickets:           £9 adults / £8 children / £7.50 schools

Box Office:      01225 448844 (Box Office) / 01225 823409 (egg reception)

Website:         www.theatreroyal.org.uk (booking fees apply)

Age guidance: 7+

This production is supported by the Medlock Charitable Trust

Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford – until 28th September 2019, and touring

Reviewed by Antonia Hebbert

3***

This play is an unusually dark take on Britain in the 1940s. We’re used to celebrations of plucky Blitz spirit, but The Night Watch reminds us that people also experienced fear and insecurity, not to mention the everyday dreariness of things like rationing. It’s based on Sarah Waters’ novel of the same name (shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2006), and the stage adaptation is by Hattie Naylor.

Like the novel, the play starts in 1947. The bombing is over, but London has yet to be rebuilt, as have the lives of the characters. Kay (Phoebe Pryce) is a sort of living ghost, trying to piece back the bits of her life – a ring that she lent a stranger, memories of a lover, and a lost sense of purpose. Duncan (excellent Lewis Mackinnon) appears broken by years in prison as a conscientious objector. Other characters – fractious couple Helen and Julia, Duncan’s cellmate and his sister, the odd old man he lives with and a faith healer – link them together. By the end of the first part of the play, Kay and Duncan have both, possibly, found the beginnings of redemption.

The second half goes back through the war years, and fills in the gaps. A bright dance routine is effective shorthand for the way the war shook up society and freed some people from the old conventions. We see Kay as a brave and admired air-raid (ARP) warden, but we also see Duncan’s horror at being dragged into this ‘old man’s war’ that seems to him to have no purpose. The lesbian love triangle of Kay, Helen and Julia is a crucial part of the story, but is oddly unelectrifying. They just don’t tug on the heartstrings in the way that Duncan does, perhaps because he seems so raw, while the women are restrained, and indeed plucky. Malcolm James treads an interesting line as Mr Mundy, both creepy and humane.

Everything is played out in a dark, rubble-heaped set with the shell of a house looming behind. It’s an atmospheric and interesting play, and worth seeing for its unusual approach to Britain at war. I have to confess I’ve missed this book by Sarah Waters (I have enjoyed others), but will definitely get hold of it now

THE NATIONAL THEATRE PRODUCTION OF

A TASTE OF HONEY
BY SHELAGH DELANEY

WILL TRANSFER TO THE WEST END IN DECEMBER FOR A LIMITED RUN
FOLLOWING A UK TOUR

A Taste of Honey
Trafalgar Studios
5 December 2019 – 29 February 2020

The National Theatre today announced that Bijan Sheibani’s (Barber Shop Chronicles, Dance Nation) production of A Taste of Honey, the remarkable taboo-breaking 1950s play written by Shelagh Delaney when she was just 19, will transfer to the West End immediately following a nine-week UK tour. A Taste of Honey will play a limited 12-week run at Trafalgar Studios from 5 December in a co-production with Trafalgar Theatre Productions, with an opening night on Monday 9 December. Tickets will go on sale to the general public from 11 October.

Jodie Prenger (Oliver!, Shirley Valentine, Annie, Abigail’s Party UK tour), leads the cast as Helen, with Gemma Dobson as Jo, Durone Stokes as Jimmie, Stuart Thompson as Geoffrey, and Tom Varey as Peter. They are joined by understudies Liam Bessell, Katy Clayton, and Claire Eden.

A Taste of Honey, which returns to the West End for the first time in 60 years, is designed by Hildegard Bechtler, who collaborated with Sheibani on the NT’s 2014 Lyttelton Theatre production. This production is reimagined in an exciting new staging featuring original compositions – influenced by blues and soul music – by Benjamin Kwasi Burrell, and rearranged songs from the jazz era, performed live by an on stage three-piece band.

A Taste of Honey offers an explosive celebration of the vulnerabilities and strengths of the female spirit in a deprived and restless world, against the backdrop of working-class life in post-war Salford.

When her mother Helen runs off with a car salesman, feisty teenager Jo takes up with Jimmie, a sailor who promises to marry her, before he heads for the seas. Art student Geof moves in and assumes the role of surrogate parent until, misguidedly, he sends for Helen and their unconventional setup unravels.

The lighting designer is Paul Anderson, the movement director is Aline David, the sound designer is Ian Dickinson for Autograph, and Company Voice Work is by Joel Trill.

Shelagh Delaney wrote her first play, A Taste of Honey in ten days after seeing Rattigan’s Variation of a Theme in Manchester. She sent the script to Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop and the play opened at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East in 1958 before transferring to the West End in 1959. It was later made into a BAFTA-winning feature film with Rita Tushingham, Dora Bryan and Murray Melvin. The play’s Broadway transfer featured a cast including Joan Plowright and Angela Lansbury. Delaney’s other work includes The Lion in Love. For television she wrote The House That Jack Built and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Lisa Burger, Executive Director of the NT said, ‘We opened the NT tour of A Taste of Honey at The Lowry in Salford last week and it was very special to be able to take Shelagh Delaney’s beloved play home. It now feels very fitting to return this important play to the West End for the first time in 60 years, following its tour around the UK. After the success of Nine Night at Trafalgar Studios, we look forward to partnering with Trafalgar Theatre Productions to introduce new audiences in London to this classic.’

A Taste of Honey opened at The Lowry, Salford and is playing at the Kings Theatre, Edinburgh this week before visiting the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (1 – 5 October); Richmond Theatre (7 – 12 October); Grand Opera House, Belfast (15 – 19 October); Leicester Curve (22 – 26 October); Theatre Royal, Bath (28 October – 2 November); Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton (5 – 9 November); and the Norwich Theatre Royal (12 – 16 November) before arriving in the West End.

Bijan Sheibani is an award winning theatre and opera director. His work for the National Theatre includes Barber Shop Chronicles, A Taste of Honey, Emil and the Detectives, The Kitchen, and Our Class (Olivier Nomination for Best Director). Other theatre includes Dance Nation and The House of Bernarda Alba (Almeida Theatre); Circle Mirror Transformation (Home, Manchester); The Brothers Size (Young Vic, Olivier Nomination); Giving (Hampstead Theatre); Moonlight (Donmar Warehouse); Gone Too Far (Royal Court Theatre, Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre). He was artistic director of Actors Touring Company from 2007 to 2010, and an associate director at the National Theatre from 2010 to 2015.

Hildegard Bechtler is an Olivier Award-winning theatre and opera designer whose designs for the NT include Consent, Sunset at the Villa Thalia, Waste, A Taste of Honey, Scenes from an Execution, After the Dance, Harper Regan, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, The Hothouse, Thérèse Raquin, Exiles, Primo, Iphigenia at Aulis, The Merchant of Venice, Richard II, and King Lear. For the RSC she has designed The Crucible and Electra. In London’s West End her designs include Oresteia (also Almeida Theatre), Top Hat, Passion Play, Old Times, The Sunshine Boys, Arcadia, The Lady from Dubuque, By the Bog of Cats, The Master Builder, Footfalls, Hedda Gabler, The Misanthrope, The Goat or Who is Sylvia?, The Crucible. On Broadway she has designed Primo, Arcadia, and The Seagull.

A Taste of Honey is produced in the West End by the National Theatre and Trafalgar Theatre Productions.

A Taste of Honey is supported by American Express, the NT’s preferred card partner.

Booking information

A Taste of Honey
5 December 2019 – 29 February 2020
Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall, Westminster, London SW1A 2DY

Tickets from £18
Book via nationaltheatre.org.uk / 020 7452 3000 or http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/trafalgar-studios / 0844 871 7632 from 11 October.

Social media

Twitter: @TasteofHoneyNT
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ATasteofHoney
#ATasteofHoney

CINDERELLA OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED AT THE EPSTEIN THEATRE

SAMMY WINWARD AND FULL CAST ATTEND PANTO LAUNCH

Christmas arrived early in Liverpool this week at the press launch for Epstein Entertainments’ debut panto Cinderella, which comes to The Epstein Theatre this Christmas.

Audiences are guaranteed to have a ball when the greatest rags to riches tale opens from Fri 6 Dec ’19 – Sun 5 Jan ’20

The paparazzi were out in full force to snap this year’s all-star cast at the lunchtime launch, which took place at the Hanover Street venueand had been decoratedby The Festive Decorators.

Press and guests were greeted with mince pies and mulled wine upon arrival to set the yuletide mood, before The Guide’s Jay Hynd hosting the event started off proceedings by introducing the full cast.

Emmerdale’s Sammy Winward will lead this year’s star-studded cast in the title role.

She will be joined by Benidorm’s Crissy Rock; Brookside’s Sarah White; Shameless’ Warren Donnelly; Andrew Geater; Samantha Palin; and Lewis Devine.

Sammy Winward trained at the Academy of Classical Dance and Stage and is most notable for playing Katie Sugden in ITV’s Emmerdale, a role she played for 14 years.

Her other TV credits include Lucy Murdoch in Prey and Siobhan Murphy in Fearless for ITV. 

It is certain to be a White Crissy-mas, with Brookside’s Sarah White and award-winning actor and comedian Crissy Rock as the Ugly Sisters.

Crissy’s screen career began with an award-winning performance in Ken Loache’s 1994 film drama Ladybird, Ladybird.

The Liverpool native is also renowned for her role as Janey York in ITV’s Benidorm, and most recently took part in The All New Monty: Ladies Night which saw a group of celebrities strip-off to raise awareness of the importance of early health checks in preventing breast cancer.

Crissy’s stage credits include Escorts: The Musical, Dirty Dusting, Rita, Sue and Bob Too! and Achy Breaky Bride, and panto credits include Ugly Sister in Cinderella at St Helens Theatre Royal and Fairy Godmother in Sleeping Beauty at The Brindley.

Whilst Sarah White is best known for her character Bev McLoughlin in Brookside, where her controversial and dramatic storyline saw her have a baby with her boyfriend’s son.

Her theatre credits include Margy in The Morris at the Liverpool Everyman, Rita in three UK tours of Naked Truth, and Sheila in The Salon at both The Epstein Theatre and St Helens Theatre Royal.

Most notable for playing Stan Waterman in the Channel 4 series Shameless, Liverpool actor Warren Donnelly will play Dandini. No stranger to the stage, Warren’s previous panto credits include King Rat in Dick Whittington and Abanazer in Aladdin both at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre.

Also joining the cast is the talented Andrew Geater as Prince Charming.

Andrew has recently played the Pharoah in the UK tour of Bill Kenwright’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. His impressive vocal talents have seen him perform all over the world including as member of the world-renowned group The 12 Tenors. Other theatre credits include Jesus Chris Superstar, Guys and Dolls and South Pacific.

Bringing a sprinkling of magic to the show and making all of Cinderella’s dreams come true will be Samantha Palin as the Fairy Godmother, whose theatre credits include the UK tour of Forever Dusty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Kings Theatre and Cinderella at St Helens Theatre Royal.

Completing the cast is the hilarious Lewis Devine who will playButtons.

Lewis’ career started from an early age when he appeared on the first series of ITV’s Kids Stars in Their Eyes which he won with his impersonation of Donny Osmond. His panto credits include Muddles in Snow White and the title role in Peter Pan, both at St Helens Theatre Royal, and French Frank in Beauty and The Beast at Stockport Plaza.

Throughout the afternoon guests got to hear from the cast during a Q+A, with a first glimpse as to what to expect from Epstein Entertainments’ magical production coming to The Epstein Theatre this festive season.

Cinderella is produced by Epstein Entertainments Ltd, a joint venture between Chantelle Nolan and Jane Joseph from Regal Entertainments Ltd and producer Bill Elms.

Producer Chantelle Nolan said: “The countdown to Christmas has officially begun! It was great to bring all the cast together today; everyone got in the festive spirit and it has made us all that more excited to bring the show to audiences of Liverpool.

“We have a spectacular production in store this Christmas and are delighted to be able to bring even more magic to the production with the introduction of an interactive 3D scene which will make the action jump off the stage. With just 10-weeks until we open be sure to book your tickets early to guarantee the best seats!”

Epstein Entertainments’ debut production at the venue promises to be a festive extravaganza, featuring – in a first for the venue, a magical interactive 3D scene bringing the panto magic to life like never before!

Cinderella tells the story of a beautiful girl who is reduced to a life of servitude by her two ugly stepsisters. That is all set to change when an invitation to a grand ball at the palace arrives.

With a bit of magic and some help from her friend Buttons, Cinderella is transformed into the belle of the ball. But what will happen at the stroke of midnight?

Enchanted pumpkins, glass slippers, a sparkling fairy-tale carriage – Epstein Entertainments’ version of this classic tale has something for the whole family.

Be sure to book your tickets early and get ready to be whisked off to the most lavish panto in all the land.

LISTING INFORMATION

Cinderella

Date: Fri 6 Dec ’19 – Sun 5 Jan ‘20
Time: Various Times

Tickets: From £11

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411* or go online at www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk * or in person at The Epstein Theatre Box Office from 12pm – 6pm, Monday – Saturday.

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy

For more details check out www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk and join our mailing list. Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/EpsteinTheatre and twitter @EpsteinTheatre.

StoryHouse Live, Chester – 22 September 2019

Reviewed by Julie Noller

4****

Personally it’s rather unfair for me to rate this show, it’s generally a look back over 50 years of broadcasting, some of which I haven’t been alive for. I confess to not being an avid listener to Radio 4, hands up who thought all Radio 4 was only good for was the shipping forecast? Yes me too. But here on stage are presenters, some of we may have heard of but all of whom are household names. Each sitting cosily as if welcoming us into their sitting rooms for coffee, cake and a chat. Here is a show reminding us that people and real life are just as amusing and witty as comedians and their stories. Currently visiting theatres across the country for a series of one night performances, make sure you book your ticket it won’t disappoint. So who graced the StoryHouse stage?

Leading the way is Garry Richardson who having been a regular on The Today Show since 1981 is the longest serving member of the team. Charlotte Green who can include being voted as Britains favourite voice by readers of the Radio Times. Both have a tremendous wealth of stories many from behind the scenes, all making me giggle. It would be wrong for me to spoil the fun if your are thinking of going along by retelling them now, but the radio clips will have new meaning when you listen and look at the person themselves. Then there’s quite possibly Britain’s most famous vicar, Reverend Richard Coles who we had seen earlier on whilst we sat eating taking a pre-show stroll around Chester; he happily waved to us. Nice to hear he has conversations with fellow Strictly contestant Debbie Magee and can look at a complete stranger and tell you the shade of their spray tan even if it is to his boss; future mastermind topic perhaps? He only mentioned belonging to a band a couple of times, his tales of popstar to priesthood are thrilling and entertaining. Alistair McGowan is a well known name, star performer and writer, he dazzled us with impressions of not only his friends on stage but those in current affairs such as John Humphrys who recently announced his departure from The Today programme and how could he leave out Boris Johnson? All in all the humour was tongue in cheek, designed to amuse and not to offend. There were plenty of mentions of Brexit on stage indeed Alistair does have a stab at a little satirical comedy although he does admit to not being very good so we’ll forgive him. On the night there were in fact 2 special guests, Richie Webb who not only works on many of Radio 4’s comedy programmes but contributes towards many of sketches included in the award winning Horrible Histories (I would have loved to hear some of his stories from this time). He played some well known tunes from years gone by, many in the audience joined in with. His quip about not being well known as he fills the coveted after 11pm slot, was one repeated, perhaps in the hope we’ll remember his name but was also designed to amuse us. Alistair McGowan’s wife the accomplished performer Charlotte Page joined the cast on stage a few times with her wonderful voice.

There were a few times we wondered if the night was scripted, gone off track or was deliberately designed to show how not everything is polished. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a seasoned listener of Radio 4 or if you recognise the names. It is a pleasant entertaining evening, one you could take your Parents or even Grandparents to and you would all enjoy. There are witty stories, little secrets to share (some of which are fascinating), radio clips, singing. In fact I can’t decide if it’s a night with Radio 4, a homage to old fashioned music halls with jokes and comedy sketches or I’m watching a group of friends read through a script before a performance. But it’s definitely fun and relaxed exactly as theatre should be.