Month: February 2020

DARREN DAY TO JOIN GARETH GATES IN

UK TOUR OF FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL

Selladoor Productions today announces that musical theatre favourite Darren Day will join the cast of Footloose The Musical as Reverend Moore in the brand-new UK Tour opening at the New Wimbledon Theatre on the 24 April.  Following two critically acclaimed tours and due to huge popular demand an additional 11 venues have today been added to the tour schedule ( for full details visit www.footloose-musical.com  ).

Darren will join Gareth Gates* on stage alongside additional cast announced today including;  Geri Allen, Holly Ashton, Jess Barker, Ben Barrow, Alex Fobbester, Josh Hawkins, Lucy Ireland. Evie Rose Lane, Ben Mabberley, Daniel Miles, Tom Mussell, Samantha Richards, Dionne Ward Anderson and Anna Westlake.

Darren Day’s first starring theatre role was in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with an extensive career in the West End including Summer Holiday, Copacabana and Grease.   Tours include Alfie, Carousel, Great Expectations, Godspell, The Rocky Horror Show, We Will Rock You and many more – most recently Mame, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Bob in Rita Sue and Bob Too and new musical Bumblescratch at the Adelphi Theatre.

Darren’s television career has included roles in  Sky’s Stella, Hollyoaks and Holby City, as well as many presenting appearances. Darren was a finalist in the 2016 series of Celebrity Big Brother. Recent feature films include White Island, Name of the Game, Rudy and Demon Eye as well as The Krays – Dead Man Walking.

Darren is also an established recording artist and has made guest appearances as a singer on a wide range of television shows.

Darren says “I’m truly happy and excited to be a part of this brilliant production. I was a teenager in the 80’s, which is such an impressionable age for movies and music. This is one of the most iconic films and soundtracks from my teenage years.  I can remember hearing Footloose on the radio for the first time and thinking… what a tune! It’s been a while since I went out on tour with a musical and am very much looking forward to going back to my musical theatre roots around the UK. See you all in the Spring!”

City boy Ren thinks life is bad enough when he’s forced to move to a rural backwater in America. But his world comes to a standstill when he arrives at Bomont to find dancing and rock music are banned. Taking matters into his own hands, soon Ren has all hell breaking loose and the whole town on its feet.

Based on the 1980s screen sensation which took the world by storm, Footloose The Musical sizzles with spirit, fun and the best in UK musical talent. With cutting edge modern choreography, you’ll enjoy classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy and of course the unforgettable title track Footloose.

Footloose The Musical will be presented by Selladoor Productions and Runaway Entertainment, and will be directed by Racky Plews, with choreography from Matt Cole, musical supervision by Mark Crossland and design by Sara Perks with lighting design from Chris Davey and sound design from  Chris Whybrow.

Everybody cut loose for a night of dazzling excitement music and dancing!

Tickets are on sale now – for full listings visit www.footloose-musical.com follow on social media @FootlooseTour  #EverybodyCutLoose.

*Please note Gareth Gates will perform on the tour until 26 September 2020 but will not be performing on 24th and 25th March/ 29th – 6th April / 5th – 9th May / 13th – 17th May / 6th – 12th June / 10th – 15th August

24 April – 02 May – Wimbledon New Theatre* – www.atgtickets.com/wimbledon – 0844 871 7646

04 – 09 May – Birmingham Alexandra Theatre* – www.atgtickets.com/Birmingham  – 0844 871 3011

11- 16 May – Derby Theatre – www.derbytheatre.co.uk – 01332 59 39 39

18 – 23 May – Queens Theatre Barnstaple – www.queenstheatre-barnstaple.com – 01271 316 523

25 – 30 May  – Sunderland Empire  –  www.atgtickets.com/sunderland  – 0844 871 3022

01 – 06 Jun – Llandudno Venue Cymru  – www.venuecymru.co.uk – 01492 872000

08 -13 Jun – His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen  – www.aberdeenperformingarts.com –  01224 641122

22 – 27 Jun – Brighton Theatre Royal *– www.atgtickets.com/brighton – 0844 871 7650

29  Jun – 04 Jul – Milton Keynes Theatre* – www.atgtickets.com/Miltonkeynes  – 0844 871 7652

07 – 11 Jul – Peterborough New Theatre – www.newtheatre-peterborough.com – 01733 852 992

13 – 18 Jul – Malvern Theatre – www.malvern-theatres.co.uk  – 01684 892277

20 – 25  Jul – Blackpool Opera House* – www.wgbpl.co.uk – 0844 856 1111

28 Jul – 01 Aug – Edinburgh Playhouse * – www.atgtickets.com/edinburgh – 0844 871 3014

03 – 03 Aug – Glasgow King’s Theatre – www.atgtickets.com/glasgow – 0844 871 7648

17 – 22 Aug – Plymouth Theatre Royal – www.theatreroyal.com – 01752 267222

24 – 29 Aug – Bournemouth Pavilion – www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk – 0300 500 0595

01 – 05 Sep – Oxford New Theatre* – www.atgtickets.com/Oxford – 0844 871 3020

07 – 12 Sep – Bradford Alhambra Theatre – www.bradford-theatres.co.uk – 01274 432000

14 – 29 Sep – Doncaster Cast – www.castindoncaster.com –  01302 303 959

21 – 26 Sep – Cheltenham Everyman Theatre – www.everymantheatre.org.uk – 01242 572 573

05 – 10 Oct – Manchester Opera House* – www.atgtickets.com/manchester – 0844 871 3018

13 – 17 Oct – Skegness Embassy Theatre – www.embassytheatre.co.uk – 01754 474100

19 – 24 Oct – Wales Millennium Centre – www.wmc.org.uk – 029 2063 6464

26 – 31 Oct – Woking New Victoria Theatre* – www.atgtickets.com/Woking – 0844 871 7645

09 – 14 Nov – Stoke Regent Theatre * – www.atgtickets.com/stoke  – 0844 871 7649

HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL

UK TOUR

Directed by Paul Kerryson
Choreographed by Drew McOnie

HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL TOUR ANNOUNCES FULL DATES
FOR 2020-21

As previously confirmed, following two extremely successful tours in 2015/16 and 2017/18, producers Mark Goucher and Matthew Gale will tour their smash hit production of Hairspray in 2020-21. It can now be confirmed that the tour will open at Leicester Curve on 20 August and will visit the following venues in 2020: Manchester Palace, Bradford Alhambra, Blackpool Winter Gardens, Aylesbury Waterside, Birmingham Hippodrome, Glasgow Kings Theatre, Northampton Royal and Derngate, Woking New Victoria, Liverpool Empire and Brighton Theatre Royal.  

The tour will then extend into 2021 starting at Southampton Mayflower on 11 January 2021 and continuing on to Bristol Hippodrome, Edinburgh Playhouse, Inverness Eden Court, Ipswich Regent, Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Milton Keynes Theatre, Sunderland Empire, Sheffield Lyceum, Nottingham Theatre Royal, High Wycombe Swan, Plymouth Theatre Royal, Belfast Grand Opera House, Wolverhampton Grand, Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre, Norwich Theatre Royal, Leeds Grand, Southend Cliffs Pavilion and finishing at Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham in May.

On-sale dates and further updates will be available in due course via the website: http://www.hairsprayuktour.com/

Featuring the iconic music and lyrics by Academy Award, Tony and Emmy winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, this much-loved musical comedy is choreographed by Olivier Award-winning Drew McOnie with direction from Paul Kerryson.

It’s Baltimore 1962, where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV. Tracy’s audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way.

Hairspray is a musical based on the 1988 film of the same name which starred Divine and Ricki Lake, by cult filmmaker John Waters. With music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Hairspray originally opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 2002 and subsequently won eight Tony Awards. The production opened in London at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2007 and won four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical. Proving to be an international success, Hairspray has also opened in South Africa, Japan, South Korea, China and Dubai. Following the musical’s phenomenal success on stage, a film of the musical was released in 2007 which starred John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and James Marsden.

TOUR DATES

Leicester Curve
Thurs 20 – Sat 29 August 2020
On sale now

Manchester Palace
Wed 2nd Sep – Sat 12 Sep
On sale now

Bradford Alhambra
Tue 15 Sep – Sat 19 Sep
On sale now

Blackpool – Winter Gardens (Opera House)
Mon 21 Sep – Sat 26 Sep
On sale now

Aylesbury Waterside
Mon 5 Oct – Sat 10 Oct
On sale now

Birmingham Hippodrome
Mon 12 Oct – Sat 17 Oct
On sale now

Glasgow Kings
Mon 19 Oct – Sat 24 Oct
On sale now

Northampton Royal and Derngate
Mon 26 Oct – Sat 31 Oct
On sale now

Woking New Victoria
Mon 2 Nov – Sat 7 Nov
On sale now

Liverpool Empire
Mon 9 Nov – Sat 14 Nov
On sale now

Brighton Theatre Royal
Mon 16 – Sat 21 Nov
On sale 2 March

SECOND LEG 2021

Southampton Mayflower
Mon 11 Jan – Sat 16 Jan
On sale now

Bristol Hippodrome
Mon 18 Jan – Sat 23 Jan
On sale 2 March 2020

Edinburgh Playhouse
Mon 25 Jan – Sat 30 Jan
On sale 2 March 2020

Inverness Eden Court
Mon 1 – Sat 6 Feb
On sale soon

Ipswich Regent
Mon 8 – Sat 13 Feb
On sale now

Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre
Mon 15 – Sat 20 Feb
On sale soon

Milton Keynes Theatre
Mon 22 – Sat 27 Feb
On sale 2 March 2020

Sunderland Empire
Mon 1 – Sat 6 Mar
On sale 2 March 2020

Sheffield Lyceum
Mon 15 – Sat 20 Mar
On sale soon

Nottingham Theatre Royal
Mon 22 – Sat 27 Mar
On sale 2 March 2020

High Wycombe Swan
Mon 29 – Sat 3 Apr
On sale soon

Plymouth Theatre Royal
Mon 5 – Sat 10 Apr
On sale soon

Belfast Grand Opera House
Mon 12 – Sat 17 Apr
On sale soon

Wolverhampton Grand
Mon 19 – Sat 24 Apr
On sale soon

Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre
Mon 26 – Sat 1 May
On sale soon

Norwich Theatre Royal
Mon 3 – Sat 8 May
On sale 2 March 2020

Leeds Grand
Mon 10 – Sat 15 May
On sale soon

Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Mon 17 – Sat 22 May
On sale soon

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
Mon 24 – Sat 29 May
On sale 2 March 2020

LAUNCH DIGITAL ORDERING APP

ENABLING AUDIENCES AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON

TO ORDER & RECEIVE REFRESHMENTS TO THEIR SEATS

AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FROM THE APP STORE & GOOGLE PLAY AND ACCESSIBLE ACROSS ALL SELLADOOR VENUES

Selladoor Worldwide, one of the UK’s leading theatre producers (and winner of The Stage Awards’ 2020 International Award, and no. 18 in The Stage 100’s 2020 list of most influential people working in the performing arts industry), spearheaded by Selladoor Venues, is setting out to make interval refreshments more accessible with the launch of mobile ordering app, DIVA, powered by Preoday. 

Selladoor Venues’ app will cut interval refreshment queues and give users the chance to select their in-venue drinks and snacks, pre-show, at leisure. The initial launch will enable guests to enjoy delivery to their seats during the interval – perfect for audience members that prefer to remain in their seats – with future introductions offering collection from designated bar points and table service during dining events.

The multi-venue app will enable customers to access pre-ordering at three venues: The Queen’s Theatre in Barnstaple, The Landmark in Ilfracombe, and the New Theatre in Peterborough.

Selladoor is proud to be at the forefront of using digital technology to reach audiences. It has a considerable social media following and encourages direct communication with patrons across all digital platforms in order to hear audience feedback, loud and clear. The data Preoday’s platform gathers from users will act as its own form of feedback, communicating buying trends and customer preferences to the theatres. This in turn will enable Selladoor Venues to refine its menus and marketing activity. 

Anna Marie Lambert, Director of Hospitality, Selladoor Venues comments: “We’re excited about the launching of our pre-show ordering app. Rather than our loyal audiences having to download separate apps, per venue, this will allow them to manage their interval experiences in one place”.

Nick Hucker, CEO, Preoday adds: “Preoday’s platform has been having a positive impact for theatre-goers across Britain and we are proud to now extend that effect to audiences attending shows and events at all Selladoor venues.” 

BE MORE CHILL

EXTENDED UNTIL 14 JUNE 2020

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED MUSICAL BECOMES

LONGEST RUNNING SHOW AT THE OTHER PALACE

The producers of the UK premiere of Joe Iconis’ mind-bendingly fun musical, Be More Chill, which premiered to great critical and popular acclaim last week, are delighted to announce a six-week extension.  It will now run at The Other Palace in London until Sunday 14 June 2020, making it the longest running musical at London’s The Other Palace.

Joe Iconis said:  ‘Making my London debut as a musical theatre writer has long been a dream of mine and my experience with Be More Chill at The Other Palace has exceeded all expectations. I have been blown away by the response of audiences and the theatre community here in the UK and am ecstatic that we will be extending our run until 14 June. How thrilling that more people will now get to experience this production I am so proud of, populated by a genius cast of British unicorns. I look forward to returning this summer to see those brilliant creatures work their misfit magic once again.‘

Scott Folan plays the central character of Jeremy Heere, with Blake Patrick Anderson as Michael Mell and Miracle Chance as Christine Canigula.  Stewart Clarke plays The Squip, Eloise Davies is Brooke Lohst, Christopher Fry plays Mr Heere and Mr Reyes, James Hameed plays Rich Goranski, Renee Lamb is Jenna Rolan, Millie O’Connell is Chloe Valentine and Miles Paloma plays Jake Dillinger.  Understudies are:  Gabriel Hinchcliffe, Eve Norris and Jon Tsouras.

Be More Chill is based on the groundbreaking novel of the same name by Ned Vizzini.  With original music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and a book by Joe Tracz. 

Be More Chill tells the atypical love story of a boy, a girl … and the supercomputer inside the boy’s head guiding him every step of the way. The boy is desperately trying to fit in. The girl’s longing to be noticed. And the supercomputer just wants to take over the world.

Since the 2015 Original Cast Recording was released by Ghostlight Records, millions of people streamed the album and formed a passionate community of Be More Chill fans, leading the musical to receive a Broadway production, and now this new London production.

When the 2019 Broadway Cast Recording was released by Ghostlight Records, it debuted at #2 on the Top Cast Albums Chart. Songs from the musical have now accumulatively garnered over 350 million streams, with the breakout track Michael In The Bathroom amassing over 31 million streams and 8 million YouTube views alone. Tumblr has ranked Be More Chill as the #2 most talked-about musical on their platform, behind only Hamilton.

Joining Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz on the creative team are director Stephen Brackett, choreographer Chase Brock, set designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer Bobby Frederick Tilley II, lighting designer Tyler Micoleau, sound designer Ryan Rumery and video designer Alex Basco Koch with wigs by Dave Bova. Orchestrations are by Charlie Rosen, vocal arrangements by Emily Marshall, UK Musical Direction by Louisa GreenandUK casting is by Will Burton. 

Jerry Goehring and Lisa Dozier King are Executive Producers for the UK Production of Be More Chill.

JASON MANFORD MAKES A WELCOME RETURN TO DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Jason Manford has announced a new UK and Ireland tour which will include a date at Darlington Hippodrome on Saturday 31 July, 2021.

Jason Manford is back! It’s been a busy few years since Jason’s last smash-hit stand-up show, but fans of his Absolute Radio show will know this nationally acclaimed comedian hasn’t changed a bit. ‘Like Me’ is Jason’s latest comic offering, set to hit the road for a massive 99 date UK & Ireland tour, kicking off in Basingstoke on 3 February 2021 and culminating with a huge homecoming show at the Manchester Arena on 23 October 2021.

Jason said: “After the fun we had on my last tour ‘Muddle Class’, I’m excited to get back on the road with my new stand-up show ‘Like Me’. In these trying times, it’s always important to be able to get away for a couple of hours and exercise the old chuckle muscle! So, I’m coming to Darlington in 2021, so we can have a good laugh together. See you then!”

Jason’s work spans comedy, acting, singing and presenting and includes a host of top TV credits: ‘First & Last’ (BBC One), ‘The Masked Singer’ (ITV1), ‘What Would Your Kid Do?’ (ITV1), ‘Olivier Awards’ (ITV1), ‘Scarborough’ (BBC One), ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’ (Channel 4), ‘The Nightly Show’ (ITV1), ‘Sunday Night at the Palladium’ (ITV1), ‘Live at the Apollo’ (BBC One), ‘Have I Got News For You’ (BBC One), ‘QI’ (BBC Two) and ‘The Royal Variety Performance’ (ITV1).

Jason Manford comes to Darlington Hippodrome for one night only on Saturday 31 July 2021.

Tickets go on sale on Friday 28 February at 10am. To book contact the Box Office on 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE LONDON PREMIÈRE OF PAPER CUT AT THEATRE503

Ecclesia, Rua Arts and Soldiers’ Arts Academy in association with Theatre503 present

Paper Cut

Written by Andrew Rosendorf

Theatre503

19 March – 11 April 

Director: Scott Hurran; Assistant Director: Ula Moroz; Set & Costume Designer: Pete Butler; Lighting Designer: Jamie Platt; Sound Designer: Chris Warner.

Ecclesia, Rua Arts and Soldiers’ Arts Academy in association with Theatre503 Productions today announce the UK première of Paper Cut, by Andrew Rosendorf. Scott Hurran directs Joe Bolland (Harry), Robert Bradley (Jack), Jaz Hutchins (Chuck) and Tim Pritchett (Kyle). The production opens at Theatre503 on 24 March and runs until 11 April, with previews from 19 March.

‘It’s the end of the Earth. And if I’m gonna f**king die, I at least want to die knowing I loved.’

Kyle returns from Afghanistan after being injured in an IED blast. Only a paper cut. Or that’s what he wants his friends, family, and a potential new love to believe.

Paper Cut is a tender love story between two men who have been through the worst together. Told through the prism of a soldier, they are forced to redefine what love is, and what it really means to be a man.

Writer Andrew Rosendorf said today, “It’s an incredible experience being supported by Theatre503 and Ecclesia to bring Paper Cut to London. It was shortlisted for the 2018 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award and to have them want to continue a relationship with the play is extremely special. Paper Cut, at its heart, is asking: What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to be a gay man? I can’t think of anything more pertinent to be asking and questioning as we find ourselves right now in an increasing moment of toxicity, violence and war at home and abroad...”

Paper Cut is supported using Public Funding by Arts Council England

Andrew Rosendorf’s previous writing credits include Refuge, One-Shot, Tranquil, Mermaid, and Cottontail.

Joe Bolland plays Harry. Paper Cut marks his professional stage debut.

Robert Bradley plays Jack. His previous theatre credits include​Hedda Gabler (National Theatre), ​Life and Death of a Journalist, Anything is Possible if You Think About it Hard Enough, King of the F***ing Castle (VAULT Festival),​ A Spoonful, Soft Beats the Heart (Theatre503), ​The Flouers O’Edinburgh (Finborough Theatre),The Lost Case of the ​Mondays,​ The Door (Park Theatre), ​The Complete Works of William Shakespeare – Abridged (Old Red Lion Theatre), ​Silent Partners (White Bear Theatre), ​I’m Just Here to Buy Soy Sauce​ (Camden People’s Theatre), ​Riddance​ (Cockpit Theatre),​Encounters with the Past (Hampton Court Palace), and ​The Incredible Doctor Guttmann (UK tour). Television credits include ​A Gift from Bob, Summer of Rockets, ​The Bench and​Locked. For film his credits include Time-lapse, ​Incarnadine, Bruised, ​​The Search and The Beckoning.

Jaz Hutchins plays Chuck. His previous theatre credits include The Last Nine Months (of the rest of our lives) (Vault Festival), Moonfleece (​Pleasance Theatre, Islington), #WARHEADS (​Theatre Peckham), Now You Don’t, The Red Balloon (Southwark Playhouse), What Once Was Ours (​UK tour), Burnt Toast (​Theatre503/Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Stay Happy, Keep Smiling (​Jermyn Street Theatre). For television his credits include Cursed and Not Going Out. His film credits include Last Call, 18, Chaconne, Pride & Pack and Where the Roses Grow Blue.

Tim Pritchett plays Kyle. His previous theatre credits include Return Of The Unknown (Marlowe Theatre), Our Country’s Good (UK tour), ​Hospital At The Time of the Revolution,​A New Play for the General Election (Finborough Theatre), ​Cat in Sieve (Theatre503), ​Short and Stark ​(Southwark Playhouse), ​Manchester (Soho Theatre), ​Much Ado About Nothing, The Canterbury Tales (Royal Court Theatre), The ​Exeter Blitz Project ​(The Bike Shed, Exeter), ​Cuddle, In the Blood, Great Expectations (Arcola Theatre), ​The Boy I Love is Up in the Gallery (Hoxton Hall), and ​Dead Dog at Dry Cleaners (Pleasance, Islington). ​Television credits include, ​Black Mirror, ​Howards End You Look Stunning Too and ​The Vessel. For film his credits include By Paradise, Wonder Woman​, ​Time is Forever, Jenny and Vinny Uncut, ​The ​Sanctuary of Collell, Gospel of Thomas and E and Others.

Scott Hurran directs Paper Cut. Previous directing credits include The Tide Jetty, Oh What a Lovely Food War, We are British (Eastern Angles), Hidden (UK tour), Counting Stars (Assembly, Edinburgh Fringe Festival), The House of Bernarda Alba (Kings Head Theatre), Three to Four Days (Theatre 503), ​Immigrant ​ (Young Vic) and ​The Grandfather ​(Theatre Chipping Norton/ Oxford playhouse); and for film his credits include​Pecking Birds​, Career Boy and ​Medicine Man. His Assistant Director credits include Botticelli in the Fire (Hampstead Theatre), Women in Power (Nuffield Southampton Theatres), I Call My Brothers (Gate Theatre), The Precariat (Finborough Theatre) and The Same England (RSC). He is the Artistic Director of Ecclesia and is currently Artistic Associate at Eastern Angles.

Papercut                                                                                                                                               Listings

Theatre503

503 Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 3BW

Box Office: 020 7978 7040

www.theatre503.com  

19 March – 11 April 2020

Writers’ Night: 18 March

Parent and baby: 1 April 1pm

Relaxed performance: 1 April 7.30pm

Rapid Write Response: 8 & 9 April

Wednesday 25 March – Saturday 11 April| Shows at 7.30PM

Matinees

Sat 28 March 3pm

Wed 1 April 12pm

Sat 4 April 3pm

Wed 8 April 3pm

Sat 11 April 3pm

Standard £17 Concessions £15

Instagram @RuaArts @soldiersartsacademy @Theatre503

Twitter @RuaArts @SoldiersArtsA @Theatre503 

#PaperCut

Blue Touch Paper Productions in association with Park Theatre present the UK Premiere of

Never Not Once by Carey Crim

Directed by Katharine Farmer

Produced by Paul O’Leary on behalf of OPM Productions Limited.

Park 90, Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, London N4

From the 1-25 April 2020

Never Not Once, by the award-winning American playwright Carey Crim, is a poignant and emotionally gripping new drama about what happens when a family is forced to confront an unexpected and explosive answer to the question “Where do I come from?”

College student Eleanor on a trip home to see her two moms, unexpectedly announces she has decided to try to find her biological father. Her birth mother has long insisted she was the product of a drunken one-night stand with an anonymous fellow undergraduate. Unsatisfied with that story, Eleanor decides to hire a detective, and the investigation leads to a cascade of painful revelations.

Never Not Once is the winner of the 2017 Jane Chambers Playwriting Award, which recognizes new feminist plays and performance texts created by women and genderqueer writers and a finalist for the 2018 Eugene O’Neill Award.

The cast for Never Not Once is Tania Amsel Blood Orange {Old Red Lion Theatre), Bloody Men (Arcola Theatre), Just To Get Married (Finborough Theatre), Lollipop (Stratford Theatre Royal),Never Have I Ever and  Kate’s Expectations (Arcola Theatre).

Anna Crilly is perhaps best known for her role as deadpan Eastern-European housekeeper Magda in Jack Dee’s sitcom ‘Lead Balloon’.  Other recent credits include ‘Horrible Histories: The Movie’, ‘The Harry Hill Sitcom’ and ‘Succession’ for HBO. She featured in ‘Witless’ for the BBC, and stars as Cath in ‘The Rebel’, a comedy series for UKTV Gold, with Anita Dobson and Amit Shah. With Katy Wix, Anna had her own Channel Four sketch show ANNA & KATY and she recently took her new show, The Half, to the Edinburgh Festival and the VAULT Festival in London.

Maureen Hibbert Rosmersholm :Sonia Friedman Productions (The Duke of York’s Theatre); Hamlet RSC: (National Tour , Hackney Empire, & Kennedy Centre, Washington DC, USA);  Markus The Sadist (Stratford Circus, Bloomsbury Theatre & UK Tour); Cutting Through The Carnival (Royal Court Theatre); The Crucible (Dublin Abbey Theatre); A Jamaican Airman Forsees His Death (Royal Court Theatre); Rafts And Dreams (Royal Court Theatre) and The Coup (National Theatre).

Adrian Grove Follies, Medea and Wonder.land, (National Theatre), Blue Remembered Hills (Northern Stage), Stepping Out, The Night Before Christmas, A Little Of What You Fancy, Robin Hood (Salisbury Playhouse) Merrily We Roll Along (Theatre Clywd), Cats (Kilworth House) Danger:Memory (Jermyn Street), Dying Breed (Bristol Theatre Royal) and  A Month In The Country (Tobacco Factory).

Sid Sagar The Starry Messenger (Wyndham’s Theatre); hang (Sheffield Crucible); White Teeth (Kiln Theatre); Julius Caesar (Bridge Theatre); Queen Anne (Royal Shakespeare Company/Theatre Royal Haymarket); The Invisible Hand (Tricycle Theatre); The Tempest, Cymbeline, The Oresteia, The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare’s Globe); Treasure (Finborough Theatre); The History Boys (UK Tour); True Brits (HighTide/Edinburgh/Bush Theatre); Eternal Love (English Touring Theatre/Shakespeare’s Globe) and  Orpheus and Eurydice (National Youth Theatre).

Katharine Farmer’s directing credits in the UK include The Mullah of Downing Street at The Theatre Chipping Norton and Warwick Arts Centre; Other People’s Money at the Southwark Playhouse; Kiss Me at The Wardrobe Theatre Bristol and The Other Palace Studio; and Pig Farm at the formerly known St. James Theatre. Katharine’s production of Gulf View Drive at Rubicon Theatre Company in California won Best Production of a Play (large theatre) at the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards. She has received 7 LA Times Critic’s Picks for her productions at Rubicon, a total of 16 Ovation nominations, and an Indy Award for Best Director. Her plays at Rubicon include Never Not Once, Heisenberg, South Pacific, Gulf View Drive, Incognito, See Rock City and Last Train to Nibroc. Katharine has also co-directed 23.5 Hours by Carey Crim at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in Canada. 

Carey Crim is an award-winning playwright and resident artist at The Purple Rose Theater Company. Her play, Conviction (Twenty-three and a half Hours), premiered to critical acclaim at Bay Street Theatre starring Sarah Paulson, Garret Dillahunt and Elizabeth Reaser.. Her earlier works, Growing Pretty, Wake and Some Couples May… all received world premieres at The Purple Rose Theatre Company. She is a three-time finalist for Miami City Theater’s short play competition and won the competition in 2011. She has been a finalist for The Heideman award and a two- time finalist in the Samuel French OOB festival. Her work has received productions and/or workshops at Pasadena Playhouse, Primary Stages, Luna Stage, Asolo Rep Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Miami City Theatre, Rubicon Theatre and The Purple Rose Theatre Company.

Listings Information

Park 90, Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, London N4 3JP

Dates:
Preview: 01 – 02 April
Plays: 01 – 25 April

Performances
Mon – Sat Evening 19.45
Thu & Sat Matinees 15.15
Captioned
Weds 22 Apr 19.45

Prices*
Previews £14.50
Standard £18
Concessions £16.50
Child (under 16) £13*
*Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

Park Up Members (16 – 26 yrs)
01 – 08 Apr
Tickets £10*
Find out more about joining our Park Up scheme here. 

Groups
Buy 10 tickets get the 11th free

D E A R   E V A N   H A N S E N

NOW BOOKING IN THE WEST END TO 27 JUNE 2020

The West End Production of Dear Evan Hansen, currently playing at the Noël Coward Theatre, today announces a further release of tickets with the critically acclaimed production now booking to 27 June 2020. The award-winning musical which spans generations tells the timely and timeless story of Evan, a boy who is struggling to connect in our hyperconnected world. 

Sam Tutty who plays the title role is the recent winner of the Critics’ Circle Most Promising Newcomer award.  He is joined by fellow cast members Lucy Anderson as Zoe Murphy, Rebecca McKinnis as Heidi Hansen, Lauren Ward as Cynthia Murphy, Doug Colling as Connor Murphy, Rupert Young as Larry Murphy, Jack Loxton as Jared Kleinman, Nicole Raquel Dennis as Alana Beck and Marcus Harman who will play Evan Hansen at certain performances. They are joined by Tricia Adele-Turner, David Breeds, Haydn Cox, Natalie Kassanga, Hannah Lindsey, Mark Peachey, Courtney Stapleton, Alex Thomas-Smith and James Winter.  

The winner of six Tony^® awards including Best Musical, as well as the 2018 Grammy award for Best Musical Theatre Album, Dear Evan Hansenis directed byfour-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, features a book by Tony award-winner Steven Levenson and a score by the Tony, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composers of The Greatest Showman and La La Land, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul.

Reuniting the original Broadway creative team for this West End production, Dear Evan Hansen is produced by Stacey Mindich and features choreography by Danny Mefford, scenic design by David Korins, projection design by Peter Nigrini, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and hair design by David Brian Brown.  Music supervision, orchestrations and additional arrangements are by Alex Lacamoire.  Ben Cohn is the Associate Music Supervisor.  Vocal arrangements and additional arrangements are by Justin Paul.  Casting by Jill Green CDG. Sash Bischoff, Adam Quinn and Danny Sharron are the Associate Directors. Judith Schoenfeld is the Production Supervisor. US General Management 101 Productions, Ltd; UK General Management – Ambassador Theatre Group. Adam Speers is the UK Executive Producer.

Dear Evan Hansen has won the Drama League Award for Outstanding Musical Production and for the off-Broadway production, two Obie Awards, a Drama Desk Award, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Helen Hayes Awards.  The Grammy Award-winning Original Broadway Cast Recording of Dear Evan Hansen produced by Atlantic Records, was released in February 2017, making an extraordinary debut on the Billboard 200 and entering the chart at #8 – the highest charting debut position for an original cast album since 1961. The album went on to win the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album and recently became only the third cast recording this decade to go gold.  A deluxe version of the cast recording, including six bonus tracks and a pop cover from Katy Perry of ‘Waving Through a Window’ is available digitally.

Dear Evan Hansen opened on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre to great critical acclaim on 4 December 2016 where it has broken all box office records and is now in its fourth year of standing-room-only audiences.  A record-breaking US national tour launched in October 2018 and is currently in its second year touring North America.

A digital lottery takes place each week when Patrons who are selected will be offered the option to purchase two tickets at £25 each. Full details for Dear Evan Hansen’s digital lottery can be found at delfontmackintosh.co.uk/DEHLottery or www.dearevanhansen.com/london

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre – 23 February 2020

Reviewed by Annie Hughes

3***

The well-loved musical concert, Beyond the Barricade, arrived in Aylesbury Waterside Theatre for one night only on Sunday 23rd February as part of its 21st Anniversary Tour. The show consists of four past principal performers from Les Miserables who come together to create an almost Juke Box experience of some of the biggest West End/Broadway musical hits.

It does not take long to understand how this two-hour musical medley has delighted audiences across the world for twenty-one years now. It is a real pleasure to see these four talented singers – David Fawcett, Andy Reiss, Poppy Tierney and Judie Beth Meyer – show-casing their talent and demonstrating why they had such talented careers.

The show is very well curated, with all the songs carefully arranged in an order that takes the audience on a real musical journey. The concert appropriately opens with a rendition of Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” from We Will Rock You, before whisking you into the world of Miss Saigon, Carousel, Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and of course the jewel in the crown, Les Misérables. The powerhouse numbers like “The Phantom of the Opera” are well followed with lighter musical interludes such as a compilation of “Children’s” songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins. I particularly loved David Fawcett’s acknowledgment of the more recent musicals such as Hamilton that have graced the West End and Broadway. The quartet’s rendition of the opening song from the new musical Come From Away by David Hein and Irene Sankoff was a particular favourite of mine as a refreshing surprise!

However, it is precisely for that reason that I have given the show 3 stars. Personally, throughout the show, I felt myself craving to watch the musicals themselves from which the talented quartet were singing such as Come From Away and The Lion King. As a musical lover myself, whilst I appreciated the undeniable talent of the four singers, I missed the running thread of story-line accompanied with set and costume that you would have enjoyed in a classical musical and felt it could not compare to that.

That said, Beyond the Barricade never pretends to package itself as a musical but very much a musical concert celebrating the journey of the 20th century musical in to the 21st. It is not a story in its own right but a love letter to the genre of musical theatre and if you love the songs from the musicals mentioned above, you will have a very enjoyable night at Beyond the Barricade as I did.

Park Theatre, London – until 21 March 2020

Reviewed by Donna Easton

3***

Having seen the musical (twice) and being a fan of the French and American movie versions, I was thrilled learn there was a play and excited to see a story I love in this format. I was indeed surprised that the original French script hadn’t been adapted for a British audience until now and was filled with anticipation when I found out that the adaptation had been crafted by the incredible Simon Callow. As set ups go, this one was promising!

Entering the theatre was a joy, the staging immerses us into a gloriously flamboyant apartment and the intimate setting of the Park Theatre is perfectly designed to bring the audience into the room. In fact, the actors asides to the audience and at times sitting among us, made us much more part of the action than our proximity to the stage alone.

The first half of the play lived up to all of my expectations.

Michael Matus’ George was a delight to watch on stage. A lovely mix of tender, exasperated, panicked but above all real. His performance was perfectly balanced and he provided a strong characterful constant throughout the piece.

Paul Hunter’s Albin too was a joy. The drama, the theatrics, the devotion and the faded star vibe were wonderful to watch. A brilliant character performance that was at times hilarious yet heart-breaking as we see the character’s conflict in staying authentic or doing the honourable thing.

A highlight for me was Syrus Lowe’s Jacob. The outrageous ‘maid’ is beautifully written and brilliantly played and I must mention the glittering array of fabulous outfits…and not the kind of outfits one would usually wear in this line of work!

The son, Arthur Hughes and his fiancé Georgina Ambrey have the difficult roles of the ‘straight men’ of the piece and I am afraid I felt that Arthur’s Laurent lacked depth of character.

I must admit the second half wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. The balance tipped a little too far into farce for my liking and didn’t provide me with the laughs of the first. Georgina’s parents played by Louise Bangay and Simon Hepworth were slightly disappointing and the sudden movement from abject horror of their daughter’s choice of in-laws to donning Charleston dresses seemed clunky.

The play is a great version of this story but I think my longing for performance was desperate for a little glimpse into the club. I know the whole point was that we only imagine it but my fear of missing out was getting a little frustrated sitting up in the apartment when I knew there was a party going on downstairs!

All in all, it was a great night out at the theatre. My friend and I enjoyed it and I would recommend it.