Month: February 2020

The Alexandra, Birmingham – 15 February 2020 then Nationwide

Reviewed by Joanne Hodge

5*****

I’m a huge fan of Kay Mellor and her down to earth, gritty portrayals of life in The North, and fondly remember the 90’s television show which has now returned to the public arena on stage in this touring production.

Mellors work always focuses on strong females, although they’re not always the classic heroine you might expect. Band of Gold is one of those pieces.

The play is centred on four women of varying ages, who have all ended up as sex workers in The Lanes, a red light area in early 90’s Bradford. All with different backgrounds and at different points in their life, they form a strong bond and dependence on each other, not typical of your usually portrayed female friendships. It demonstrates how life can change on a knife-edge, and how desperation can lead you down the darkest of paths.

Young and vulnerable Gina [Sacha Parkinson] is starting out as an Avon lady to pay off her debts as she struggles to look after her young child following the breakdown of her marriage to the violent and menacing Steve [Kieron Richardson]. She’s naïve and looking for a way to a better life when she knocks on the door of Carol [Emma Osman], and meets Anita [Virginia Byron] at the same time. She becomes intrigued by the lifestyle they lead – and the money they earn – and becomes determined to break through in the city’s seedy underworld.

The group is led by the hard and brashy Rose [Gaynor Faye], and as we follow their journey, you become somewhat fond of them, despite what you may feel about the lives they’ve chosen to lead.

At the request of the writer – Kay Mellor delivers an informative narrative just ahead of curtain up – I won’t divulge the plot, but suffice to say, that despite being set almost thirty years ago, the themes explored are every bit as current as we enter the 2020’s.

Designer Janet Bird, with lighting by Jason Taylor and sound by Mic Pool help to ease the transition from the fast-paced small screen to stage. And the production team do a fantastic job with short sharp scene changes to keep the action moving.

Whether or not you were a fan of the original series, this show is definitely worth a watch – just be cautious if you’re offended by sex, drugs and a frequent expletive!

Russian State Opera bring ‘gripping love story’, Aida, to Newcastle Wednesday 4th March 2020

After the success of last year’s production of Madama Butterfly, as well as the previous Carmen and La Traviata, Russian State Opera is returning to Tyne Theatre & Opera House on Wednesday 4th March 2020 with the premiere of renowned opera, Aida.

For over 15 years the Russian State Ballet & Opera House has been presenting ballet and opera performances with world class dancers and singers all over the UK and now performs over 200 different classical shows every year.

This brand new production features an impressive cast, sumptuous sets, splendid costumes and a live orchestra comprised of over 30 musicians. All of which in the beautiful setting of the Grade 1 listed Tyne Theatre and Opera House.

Ancient Egypt is brought to life with music by Giuseppe Verdi as audiences follow the gripping love story of Aida the princess of Ethiopia and Radames the Egyptian General.

Aria such as ‘Se quel Guerrier io fossi!’ sung by Radames in the first act is one of the most famous arias of the operatic world. The most powerful melody comes in the second part of the Opera in the form of Triumphal March to highlight victory and triumph.

Aida is a deeply moving opera, overflowing with emotion, which will have you on the edge of your seats until the very end.

‘A boon to the opera in regional theatres.’ The Stage

Tickets are priced: £32, £30 limited view. Concessions (under 16s & over 60s) £2 off

Tickets on sale now at www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

LAMBERT JACKSON PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES FULL COMPANY FOR THE SECRET GARDEN

Lambert Jackson Productions presents concert performances of

THE SECRET GARDEN

Book and Lyrics by Marsha Norman

Music by Lucy Simon

Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Director: Nick Winston; Musical Director: Adam Hoskins

Lambert Jackson Productions today announce the full company for concert performances of The Secret Garden. Joining the previously announced Lucie Jones, Ramin Karimloo, and Jac Yarrow are Sarah Bakker (Rose), Bianca Baykara (Alice), Adam J Bernard (Ben Weatherstaff), Lucy Drever (Narrator), Louise Ellard-Turnbull (Mrs Winthrop), Ben Forster (Neville Craven), Sejal Keshwala (Ayah), Melanie La Barrie (Mrs Medlock), Johndeep More (Fakir), Michael Riseley (Captain Albert Lennox), Celinde Schoenmaker (Lily), and sharing the roles of Colin Craven are Finley Glasgow and Isaac Lancel Watkinson, and of Mary are Aoife Hughes and Darcy Jacobs, with Trinity Laban Musical Theatre forming the ensemble. The production runs at The London Palladium on 4 April, 3pm and 7.30pm.

Based on the much-loved literary classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this heart-warming story is re-imagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon (Doctor Zhivago) and the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman.

Young, orphaned Mary Lennox arrives at her uncle’s secluded country home to find a reclusive, long-suffering collection of souls — and the mysterious tale of a secret garden. Together with new-found friends, Mary breathes life into the secret garden. She blossoms too, and through her adventures, tends to all the hearts around her.

Sarah Bakker plays Rose. Her previous theatre credits include Chess (London Coliseum), An American in Paris (Dominion Theatre), Mrs Henderson Presents (Noël Coward Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath), Follies in Concert (Royal Albert Hall), Evita (Ljubljana Festival), Mary Poppins (New Amsterdam Theatre Broadway, Australian tour), The Phantom of the Opera (The Majestic Theatre Broadway, Australian tour), and Chicago (Australian tour).

Bianca Baykara plays Alice. Her previous theatre credits include School Of Rock, (international tour), The Rocky Horror Show (Australian tour), In The Heights (Chapel off Chapel, Melbourne), West Side Story, Singin’ In The Rain (State Theatre, Melbourne), An Officer and A Gentleman (Sydney Lyric), and The King & I (Sydney Opera House).

Adam J Bernard plays Ben. His previous theatre credits include Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre – for which he won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical), Hairspray (Asia tour), and I Can’t Sing – The X-Factor Musical (The London Palladium). His television credits include Gangs of London and Legends. For film, Backdraft 2 and 6 Rounds.

Lucy Drever is the Narrator. Her previous concert credits for Lambert Jackson Productions include Dr Zhivago (Cadogan Hall). As a workshop leader, presenter, and narrator, she has worked with Wigmore Hall, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Louise Ellard-Turnbull plays Mrs Winthrop.Her previous theatre credits include Carousel, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Minack Theatre), Into the Woods, A Little Night Music (Hampton Hill Theatre), and Thoroughly Modern Millie, High Society (Richmond Theatre).

Ben Forster plays Dr. Neville Craven. His previous theatre credits include The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Elf The Musical (Dominion Theatre), The Rocky Horror Show (Playhouse Theatre), Evita (Dominion Theatre), and Jesus Christ Superstar, (02 Arena – earning the role of Jesus through winning ITV’s Superstar, Australian Tour).

Lucie Jones plays Martha. She is currently starring as Jenna in Waitress (Adelphi Theatre). Her previous theatre credits include A Christmas Carol (Lyceum Theatre), Girlfriends (Bishopsgate Institute), Legally Blonde, The Wedding Singer (UK tour), RENT The Musical (The Other Palace, UK tour), American Psycho (Almeida Theatre), We Will Rock You, Ghost: The Musical (international tour), The Prodigals (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), and Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre).

Ramin Karimloo plays Archibald Craven. Hisprevious concert credits for Lambert Jackson Productions include Dr Zhivago (Cadogan Hall). His other theatre credits include Chess in Concert (Umeda Arts Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert, Evita (Theatre Orb Tokyo), Chess (The Kennedy Centre), Anastasia (Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway), Murder Ballad (Arts Theatre), Les Miserables (Imperial Theatre, Broadway – for which he was nominated for the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical; Princess of Wales Theatre, Queen’s Theatre, Palace Theatre), The Phantom of the Opera 25^th Anniversary (Royal Albert Hall), Love Never Dies (Adelphi Theatre – for which he was nominated for the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical), Les Miserables 25^th Anniversary Concert (O2 Arena), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), and Miss Saigon (UK tour).

Sejal Keshwala plays Ayah. Her previous theatre credits include Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre), Bend It Like Beckham (Phoenix Theatre), Anita and Me (Birmingham Rep), Trident Moon (Finborough Theatre), My Fair Lady 60th Anniversary Concert (St Paul’s Church), Destiny’s Child Re:Imagine, Fugees: The Complete Re-Score (Rogue Symphony), Bernstein’s Mass (Southbank Centre), and Company (Phoenix Arts). Her television credits include Britain’s Got Talent as backing vocalist, Michael McIntyre’s Very Christmassy Christmas Show, Let’s Do Lunch with Gino & Mel, and Search for a Musical Theatre Performer.

Melanie La Barrie plays Mrs Medlock. She is currently appearing in & Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre – for which she has been nominated for a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical). Her previous theatre credits include Matilda (Cambridge Theatre), Wicked (Victoria Apollo), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Lorax (Old Vic Theatre), The Bakkhai (Almeida Theatre), Fiddler on the Roof, Story Giant, The Sum, Romeo and Juliet (Liverpool Everyman Theatre), Play Mas (Orange Tree Theatre), White Christmas, The Sunshine Boys, Woman Of The World, Blues In The Night (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Guys and Dolls (Chichester Festival Theatre), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Landor Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Birmingham Rep), Once On This Island (Hackney Empire), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Liverpool Playhouse), Rue Magique (King’s Head Theatre), Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre), Daddy Cool (Shaftesbury Theatre), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), and Fame (UK tour).

Johndeep More plays Fakir. His previous theatre credits include The Winters Tale, Macbeth (National Theatre), Occupational Hazards (Hampstead Theatre), The Kite Runner (Wyndham’s Theatre), East is East (Birmingham Rep, UK tour), Sondheim at 80 (Royal Albert Hall), BollywoodLand – Love Never Dies (Spanish tour), and Cinderella (Theatre Royal Windsor). His television credits include Any Dream Will Do.

Michael Riseley plays Captain Albert Lennox. His previous theatre credits includeWalk Like a Man (Blackpool Grand Theatre, Kilworth House, UK tour), Sweeney Todd (Slaithwaite Philharmonic), Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre), The Mikado (Tabard Theatre), Merrie England (Finborough Theatre), The Last Five Years (Swansea Grand Theatre), and Sweeney Todd (Welsh National Opera). His television credits include Prynhawn Da and Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol. 

Celinde Schoenmaker plays Lily. Her previous concert credits for Lambert Jackson Productions include Dr Zhivago, and West End Women. Her other theatre credits include The Light in the Piazza (Royal Festival Hall, LA Opera), Barnum (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre). For film, her credits include Rocketman.

Jac Yarrow plays Dickon. His theatre credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (The London Palladium – for which he won the 2019 The Stage Debut Award and was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical, and will reprise the role in 2020), and Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella In Concert (Cadogan Hall).

Nick Winston’s previous credits as director and choreographer include Mame (Hope Mill Theatre), Cats (Kilworth House Theatre), Club Tropicana (UK tour), An American In Paris (National Theatre, Linz), Rock of Ages (UK and international Tour), Fame (UK & European Tour), Guys & Dolls (Kilworth House Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Curve Theatre), The Wedding Singer (UK tour / Korea), Bugsy Malone (Curve Theatre), Flashmob (Sadler Wells and UK tour), and Tomorrow Morning (New End Theatre). His credits for television include director and choreographer of The Royal Variety Performance 2017, and choreographer of Sondheim at 80 and Shakespeare Live! from the RSC.

The Secret Garden                                                                                                                            Listings

The London Palladium

Argyll Street, London, W1F 7TF

Box Office: 020 7087 7755

https://lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/the-london-palladium/

Tickets from £26.50

Twitter: @secretgardenLDN

Instagram: @secretgardenLDN

Partnerships and sustainability plans announced for Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard

Details of key partnerships have been announced ahead of the Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard, which take place on Sunday 5 April at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Jason Manford.

Mastercard mark their tenth year as headline sponsor and the beginning of a new three-year partnership.

Nicola Grant, Vice President, Integrated Marketing & Communications – Mastercard UK, Ireland, Nordics & Baltics, said:

‘We are thrilled to be headline sponsor of the Olivier Awards for our tenth year. The Olivier Awards show is always a spectacular occasion with standout performances and attendance from the best talent in theatre and we’re excited to be a part of it. As we proudly renew our partnership with Society of London Theatre, we’re delighted to continue to support UK theatre in 2020 and beyond, bringing Mastercard cardholders closer to the action through Priceless events, unique experiences and early access to tickets.’

Edwardian Hotels London, which has a long history of supporting London theatre, returns as a partner, with The May Fair Hotel again hosting the nominees’ celebration on 13 March.

Luxury cruise line Cunard will again be sponsoring the Olivier Award for Best Revival and collaborating with SOLT on future ventures including London Theatre At Sea, a new theatre-themed voyage with the inaugural transatlantic crossing in May this year. American Airlines and Audi are also returning as travel partners.

In the centenary year of Noël Coward’s first West End production, and at the awards named after his lifelong friend Laurence Olivier, the Noël Coward Foundation will be sponsoring the Noël Coward Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.

Environmental sustainability has been a priority during planning for this year’s Olivier Awards, with the aim of being one of the most sustainable awards ceremonies ever. The Olivier Awards will be publishing details of steps taken, and changes made, in a drive towards making the event net zero carbon.

Julian Bird, Executive Producer of the Olivier Awards and SOLT Chief Executive, said:

‘We are extremely grateful to our Olivier Awards partners, whose support allows us to make the event such a memorable, worthy celebration of the best in theatre. It is fantastic to be celebrating ten years of partnership with Mastercard who have helped us grow the awards and inspire future generations of audiences.’

Official media partners ITV, Magic FM and Facebook Live will broadcast the Olivier Awards ceremony, with more details to be announced closer to the event.

The Olivier Awards is again partnering with h club London to organise an exclusive live screening of the ceremony on Sunday 5 April, for drama school students, media and members of the theatre industry.

Additional partners include Taittinger, Global, Heart of London Business Alliance and See Tickets, and production partners Blue-i, Newman Displays Ltd, Royal Albert Hall and White Light.

Olivier Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday 3 March, and public tickets for the ceremony are now on sale through priceless.com.

Further details of plans for this year’s Olivier Awards will be revealed soon.

OlivierAwards.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

#OlivierAwards

Monday 2 – Tuesday 3 March
RICHARD ALSTON DANCE COMPANY
FINAL EDITION

The celebrated Richard Alston Dance Company commemorate 25 years of incredible ballet as they return to Cambridge for their final tour before closing the company in March 2020.

In 2019 Richard Alston announced that his company would close in 2020 due to Arts Council England funding cuts, which former chief dance critic for the New York Times Alastair Macaulay described as “unequivocally the grimmest news for British dance this century”. Final Edition celebrates their 25 years and Alston’s 50 years as a choreographer with both old classics and new pieces.

Final Edition includes Alston’s new piece Shine On, performed to the song cycle On This Island by Britten and Auden. Voices and Light Footsteps is inspired by Claudio Monteverdi’s Madrigals and Sinfonias, and A Far Cry is choreographed by Martin Lawrance to Edward Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro. The show ends with Brahms Hungarian, the popular piano pieces by Jason Ridgway.

Richard Alston began choreography in 1968 as a student at the newly formed London Contemporary Dance School. From 1980-1992 Alston was Artistic Director of Ballet Rambert and in 1994 formed his own company Richard Alston Dance Company, based at The Place in London. Alston’s commissions for other ballet companies include Ballet Black, New York Theatre Ballet and Holland Dance Festival.

Poet and Theatre Maker Matt Miller and Director Peader Kirk

commence Spring 2020 tour of their new co-created solo theatre performance FITTING

A theatrical genderqueer glamour fest, sprinkled with magic and ready to mess with your binaries

Theatre Makers Matt Miller and Peader Kirk have come together to co-create a solo theatre performance, FITTING, drawing on spoken-word storytelling, autobiographical accounts and physical theatre to explore themes of identity and belonging. 

Following on from a successful autumn tour, FITTING has commenced a Spring tour which will play Harrogate Theatre (20 February), Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle (25 February – 7 March excluding 1 and 2 March), Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (13 March), Queen’s Hall, Hexham (25 and 26 March), Hat Factory Arts Centre, Luton (30 April) and The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham (21 – 23 May).  

Magic is everywhere. Wear a dress and people treat you one way. Try a pinstripe suit and, abracadabra, it’s like you’re a different person. If they say beauty is just skin deep, then why is appearance so important to the way we are treated? FITTING is a solo theatre show about Matt’s adventures in dresses and suits with some magic tricks up its sleeve. From interactions with strangers at bus stops to transgressive explorations in charity shops, follow Matt as they navigate and explode the ground between gender binaries. 

Alongside the show, two wrap-around participation activities have been developed – Conversation Café and Versions of You – designed to allow the public to engage with the questions which the show asks and to open a gentle, fun and supported dialogue about where they feel they fit.

Matt Miller is a poet and theatre maker who writes about place, identity and ways of belonging. They learned their craft with Nottingham based poetry collective The Mouthy Poets. In 2014, Matt was selected as one of BBC Radio Three’s Verb New Voices. Matt has been an artist in residence at Alphabetti Theatre and was one of Live Theatre’s inaugural Live Lab Artists. In 2018/19 Matt worked with The Mighty Creatives as a workshop facilitator. Matt has been praised for their ‘powers of urban storytelling’ (Ian McMillan, The Verb).

Peader Kirk is an Artist and Director working internationally in the fields of Performance and Sound Art. He makes work that engages directly with communities to ask questions about how we meet amidst difference and how we create change. His work has recently been shown at The Southbank Centre and The Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, The National Theatre of Greece in Athens, Academy of Fine Arts in Turin and The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre. Peader trained as a director with Robert Lepage at the National Theatre, London and with Eugenio Barba at CPR, Wales. 

Matt started working with Peader in 2016. Their first solo show together, STICKING performed to sold out audiences and was toured to Contact Manchester, Gala Theatre, as part of the Durham Book Festival, ARC Stockton and Alphabetti Theatre. They now return with the next in the series exploring LGBTQ+ topics questioning existing perceptions of non-binary gender.

FITTING is supported by ARC Stockton, Arts Council England and New Writing North. 

For further information about Matt Miller, visit: https://mattmillertheatre.com.

LISTINGS: SPRING 2020 TOUR

Title: FITTING

Running Time: 1hr

Age guidance: 14+

• Harrogate Studio Theatre, Harrogate

20th February 2020, 7.45pm

BOX OFFICE 01423 502 116 / https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/

• Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

25th February – 7th March 2020 (excluding 1 and 2 March), 7.30pm 

BOX OFFICE 0191 261 9125 / https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

• Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield

13th March 2020, 7.45pm

BOX OFFICE 01484 430 528 / https://www.thelbt.org/

• Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, 

25th & 26th March 2020, 7.30pm

BOX OFFICE 01434 652477 / https://www.queenshall.co.uk

• Hat Factory Arts Centre, Luton 

30th April 2020, 7.30pm

BOX OFFICE 01582 878100 / https://www.culturetrust.com

• The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham

21st – 23rd May 2020, 8pm

BOX OFFICE 0121 200 09461892 / https://www.oldjointstock.co.uk/ 

Salford ticket agency named best in the WORLD at industry conference in New York

The ticket agency owned and operated by The Lowry in Salford has been named ‘best in the world’ by the International Ticketing Association.
 
Quaytickets, which was founded in 2005 by The Lowry’s in-house box office team, saw off stiff competition to walk away with the coveted award.
 
Judges cited the ticket agency’s exemplary customer service record and embracing of new technology as reasons for the win.
 
Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive of The Lowry, said: “We couldn’t be more thrilled. Quaytickets is the success story that just keeps on giving. When we founded the agency in 2005 we just wanted to share our venue expertise and box office service with similar venues and event organisers.
 
“Today, we have clients of all shapes and sizes across the country and all of the profits from those contracts – which amount to more than £1m since 2005 – support The Lowry in its charitable activities.”
 
Maureen Andersen, president of the International Ticketing Association, said: “We are thrilled that The Lowry & Quaytickets have been recognized as the 2020 INTIX Ticket Office of the Year.
 
“Their deployment of consummate audience and customer service that keeps a human touch, while blending strong data and technology, is an aspirational example for us all in the industry. Their mission of sustainability via their commercial activities and supporting a not-for-profit venue is an illustration of amazing service to the community at its highest level. We are honoured to have their leadership in our community of professionals in live entertainment.” 
 
Keith Kelly, The Lowry’s head of ticketing, collected the award in New York on behalf of the 100-strong Quaytickets team.
 
Quaytickets clients include: NIMAX Theatres, Nederlander Group, Mattel, Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club, Leeds Grand Theatre, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Stockport Plaza and East Lancashire Railway.

PRESENTERS AND PERFORMANCES ANNOUNCED FOR 20TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS

PRESENTERS AND PERFORMANCES ANNOUNCED FOR

20^TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS

The 20^th annual WhatsOnStage Awards take place on 1 March at the Prince of Wales Theatre, hosted by Jodie Prenger and Tom Read Wilson, and for the first time this year will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 hosted by Elaine Paige and Ken Bruce. Additional award presenters will be announce shortly.

Each of the 5 nominated productions for Best New Musical will perform live at the event – Bit of a Sort from Only Fools and Horses, You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen, Can’t Stop the Feeling!/Roar from & Juliet, Welcome to the Rock from Come From Away, and She Used to be Mine from Waitress.

There will also be a performance of I’m Here by the cast of Curve Leicester and Birmingham Hippodrome’s production of The Color Purple, which is nominated in the Best Regional Production category, as well as two further numbers specially created for the evening. The event is co-produced by Paul Taylor-Mills.

Leading this year’s nominations is the new musical & Juliet – currently running at the Shaftesbury Theatre, with 13 nominations across acting and creative categories including nominations for leading actors Miriam-Teak Lee and Oliver Tompsett who play Juliet and Shakespeare respectively, supporting actor nominations for Jordan Luke Gage, Cassidy Janson and Melanie La Barrie, Best New Musical, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Graphic Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Set Design, Best Sound Design and Best Video Design. In the musical categories, Evita follows with 8 nominations and Mame and Waitress with 7 nominations each, and Come from Away and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat both with 5 nominations.

In the straight play categories, Best New Play is a contest between The Doctor, The Son, My Beautiful Laundrette, Life of Pi and Appropriate; and Best Play Revival nominees are Betrayal, Death of a Salesman, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lungs and Present Laughter. The latter of these leads the play categories with 8 nominations; including Best Actor in a Play for Andrew Scott, Best Supporting Actress in a Play nominations for Sophie Thompson and Indira Varma and Best Direction for Matthew Warchus.

For the full list of nominations, please see below.

Tickets are available for the awards ceremony on 1 March via www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk from £25.00.

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THE 20^TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARD NOMINATIONS IN FULL:

BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY SPONSORED BY EDWARDIAN HOTELS

Tom Hiddleston – Betrayal

Andrew Scott – Present Laughter

Matt Smith – Lungs

Wendell Pierce – Death of a Salesman

Laurie Kynaston – The Son

BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY SPONSORED BY TONIC THEATRE

Claire Foy – Lungs

Zawe Ashton – Betrayal

Hayley Atwell – Rosmersholm

Sharon D. Clarke – Death of a Salesman

Juliet Stevenson – The Doctor

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Alexander Vlahos – Peter Pan

Charlie Cox – Betrayal

Hareet Deol – My Beautiful Laundrette

Hammed Animashaun – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Giles Terera – Rosmersholm

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Ria Zmitrowicz – The Doctor

Isabella Pappas – Appropriate

Monica Dolan – All About Eve

Sophie Thompson – Present Laughter

Indira Varma – Present Laughter

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL SPONSORED BY DEWYNTERS

David Hunter – Waitress

Sam Tutty – Dear Evan Hansen

Jac Yarrow – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Oliver Tompsett – & Juliet

Charlie Stemp – Mary Poppins

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL SPONSORED BY CAFÉ DE PARIS

Lucie Jones – Waitress

Katharine McPhee – Waitress

Miriam-Teak Lee – & Juliet

Tracie Bennett – Mame

Zizi Strallen – Mary Poppins

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL SPONSORED BY THE UMBRELLA ROOMS

Joe Sugg – Waitress

Jack Loxton – Dear Evan Hansen

Jordan Luke Gage – & Juliet

Oscar Conlon-Morrey – Only Fools and Horses

Jason Donovan – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL SPONSORED BY NEWMAN DISPLAYS

Laura Baldwin – Waitress

Marisha Wallace – Waitress

Cassidy Janson – & Juliet

Melanie La Barrie – & Juliet

Rachel Tucker – Come From Away

BEST NEW PLAY SPONSORED BY TICKETMASTER

The Doctor

The Son

My Beautiful Laundrette

Life of Pi

Appropriate

BEST PLAY REVIVAL SPONSORED BY JHI MARKETING

Betrayal

Death of a Salesman

Present Laughter

A Midsummer Night’s Dream [Bridge Theatre]

Lungs

BEST NEW MUSICAL SPONSORED BY h CLUB LONDON

Waitress

& Juliet

Dear Evan Hansen

Come From Away

Only Fools and Horses

BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL SPONSORED BY CONCORD THEATRICALS

Mary Poppins

Evita

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Mame

9 to 5 The Musical

BEST OFF-WEST END PRODUCTION SPONSORED BY LES MISERABLES

Fiver

The View UpStairs

High Fidelity

Preludes

Falsettos

BEST REGIONAL PRODUCTION SPONSORED BY MTI EUROPE

Mame

The Color Purple

Life of Pi

My Beautiful Laundrette

West Side Story [Royal Exchange Manchester]

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Fabian Aloise – Evita

Matthew Bourne – Romeo & Juliet

Kelly Devine – Come From Away

Jennifer Weber – & Juliet

Nick Winston – Mame

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Lez Brotherston – Romeo & Juliet

Katrina Lindsay – Small Island

Rob Howell – Present Laughter

Philip Witcomb – Mame

Paloma Young – & Juliet

BEST DIRECTION SPONSORED BY LOVETHEATRE

Marianne Elliott & Miranda Cromwell – Death of a Salesman

Robert Icke – The Doctor

Jamie Lloyd – Evita

Matthew Warchus – Lungs

Matthew Warchus – Present Laughter

BEST GRAPHIC DIRECTION SPONSORED BY HEXAGON PRINT

& Juliet – Dewynters

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Muse Creative Communications

Equus – Feast Creative

Evita – Feast Creative

Rosmersholm – Bob King Creative

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN SPONSORED BY WHITE LIGHT

Jon Clark – Evita

Ben Cracknell – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Howard Hudson – & Juliet

Jessica Hung Han Yun – Equus

Tim Lutkin & Hugh Vanstone – Present Laughter

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION

Ian Eisendrath, Alan Berry & Team – Come From Away

Kimberly Grigsby – The Light in the Piazza

Alex Parker – Mame

John Rigby – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Alan Williams – Evita

BEST SET DESIGN SPONSORED BY SINE DIGITAL

Soutra Gilmour – & Juliet

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Ben Harrison – Mame

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Jon Driscoll – Small Island

Will Duke – Grief is the Thing With Feathers

Andrzej Goulding – & Juliet

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JAMIE WILSON AND WHOOPI GOLDBERG

ANNOUNCE

LESLEY JOSEPH

WILL JOIN THE CAST

AS ‘MOTHER SUPERIOR’

FOR THE UK AND IRELAND TOUR

OF THE SMASH HIT MUSICAL

OPENING AT CURVE, LEICESTER

ON 21 APRIL 2020

Producers Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg are delighted to announce that Lesley Joseph will join the cast for the UK and Ireland tour of the smash-hit musical, “SISTER ACT”. The show will open on 21 April 2020 at Leicester Curve and will visit Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield and Manchester. The UK and Ireland tour will re-open on 15 September at Birmingham Hippodrome and will finish its run in Milton Keynes on 5 December 2020. Full tour listings and casting details below.

Lesley Joseph will play the role of ‘Mother Superior’ and will star alongside the previously announced Brenda Edwards as ‘Deloris Van Cartier’. They will both perform all dates on the UK and Ireland tour. They are joined by Clive Rowe who will play ‘Eddie Souther’ in Leicester, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield and Manchester.

Lesley Joseph is best known for playing ‘Dorien Green’ in the hugely successful sitcom “Birds of a Feather” alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson. They recorded over 100 episodes over a period of nine years and returned to our screens in 2014 for a further three series. Lesley most recently appeared as ‘Frau Blucher’ in the West End production of the Mel Brooks musical “Young Frankenstein” for which she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Her other theatre credits include ‘Miss Hannigan’ in “Annie” at the West End’s Victoria Palace and also on national tour as well as the touring productions of “Calendar Girls” and “Thoroughly Modern Mille”. 

Brenda Edwards first came to the public’s attention when she became a semi-finalist in the 2005 series of ITV1’s The X Factor. Since then, she has become one of the most sought-after leading ladies in musical theatre. Her many West End and touring credits include ‘Killer Queen’ in “We Will Rock You” at the Dominion Theatre and original UK Tour, ‘Mama Morton’ in “Chicago” at The Adelphi Theatre, ‘Nettie Fowler’ in “Carousel” at London Coliseum, ‘Pearl Pastor’ in “Carmen Jones” at Royal Festival Hall, ‘Esta’ in “Moby Dick” at Union Theatre and  ‘Motormouth Maybelle’ in “Hairspray” on UK Tour . Brenda most recently starred in “White Christmas” in London’s West End at The Dominion Theatre and is a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women.

Clive Rowe won the Olivier award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for “Guys and Dolls” at The National Theatre and was also nominated for Best Supporting Performance in “Carousel”,also at The National Theatre. At 2009’s Oliviers, he was nominated for the Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre award for “Mother Goose” at Hackney Empire. His many West End and touring credits include “Ladykillers” at the Gielgud Theatre, “Chicago”at the Adelphi Theatre, “Sweet Charity”at the Donmar Warehouse, the UK tour of “The Wind in The Willows” and “Me and My Girl”at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Based on the iconic movie, this sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music tells the hilarious story of the disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a convent!  Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. 

SISTER ACT has direction by Bill Buckhurst, choreography by Alistair David, Set Design by Morgan Large,  Lighting Design by Tim Mitchell, Sound Design by Tom Marshall and Musical Supervision by Stephen Brooker. Casting is by Stuart Burt. 

SISTER ACT features original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken(Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted), lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane. SISTER ACT is produced by Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg. Tom Leonardis, Head of Whoopi’s production company, will also be on the producing team.

SISTER ACT UK TOUR 2020

sisteractthemusical.co.uk

TUESDAY 21 APRIL – SATURDAY 2 MAY

CURVE, LEICESTER

www.curveonline.co.uk

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

*The role of Eddie Souther will be played by Clive Rowe

TUESDAY 11 MAY – SATURDAY 23 MAY

LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

*The role of Eddie Souther will be played by Clive Rowe

MONDAY 25 MAY – SATURDAY 30 MAY

NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

www.theatreroyal.co.uk

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

* The role of Eddie Souther will be played by Clive Rowe

TUESDAY 9 JUNE – SATURDAY 20 JUNE

SHEFFIELD LYCEUM

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

* The role of Eddie Souther will be played by Clive Rowe

MONDAY 22 JUNE – SATURDAY 4 JULY

MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE

ww.atgtickets.com/Manchester

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

* The role of Eddie Souther will be played by Clive Rowe

TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME

www.birminghamhippodrome.com

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER

DUBLIN BORD GAIS ENERGY THEATRE

https://bordgaisenergytheatre.ie/

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

MONDAY 12 – SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER

WALES MELLENIUM CENTRE

https://www.wmc.org.uk/

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

MONDAY 19 – SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER

IPSWICH REGENT THEATRE

Home

ON SALE SOON

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

MONDAY 2 – SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER

STOKE, REGENT THEATRE

www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/

ON SALE SOON

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

MONDAY 9 – SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER

DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

MONDAY 16 – SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE

www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire/

ON SALE SOON

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

MONDAY 23 – SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER

NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL

Home

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE

www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/

ON SALE SOON

*The role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Brenda Edwards

*The role of Mother Superior will be played by Lesley Joseph

Old Red Lion Theatre – until 8 February 2020

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Showing as part of ORL’s ‘Where Are We Now?’ Festival of Emergent Artists, Mother Must Die?! by Fantastic Garlands is a weird and wonderful treat. Twins Jocasta and Jupiter come to their family home, Pen Hera Heights every Halloween to dutifully celebrate their mother’s birthday.

A letter with detailed instructions of the night’s arrangements is waiting, along with a chest containing childhood toys and bizarre outfits for the sisters to wear. Everything is distinctly off kilter as Jocasta begins preparations alone, but gets even more bizarre when Jupiter turns up in Brownie uniform. (She’s not a member, she just likes to watch and craft.) The animosity and sibling rivalry between the two is written well, with witty barbs being thrown back and forth as well as tantalising titbits about their childhood and family. Jocasta has one eye, and Jupiter has the use of only one arm, and the causes of the injuries are eventually revealed, as well as the fate of the family as mother’s footsteps/walking stick bang ominously from a distant room.

There are hints about witchcraft – Jupiter is living in Pendle Hill, and the shifting nature of the rooms in the mansion on the edge of the cliff, but the women’s approach to killing their mother is very down to earth and non-mystical. The various attempts and celebrations become as repetitive and hopeless for the twins as the joyless birthday celebrations they endure each year, and become more and more ridiculous and amusing for the audience.

Olivia Thompson as Jocasta and Libby Radliffe as Jupiter are lots of fun as the squabbling siblings, with great physical comedy and amazing chemistry. The bonkers plot is more Carry On Poe than true horror, but there are moments of unease as the cast make you believe that you are trapped in the dark crumbling mansion with them.

Lots of macabre fun with enough wacky twists and turns to keep you laughing throughout.