Month: October 2020

Streaming 31 October – 29 November

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

The macabre murders of the Winshaw family in 1991 are investigated by the son of the prime suspect 30 years later in this riveting play. Balancing a fine line between radio play, true crime shockumentary and theatrical whodunit, but transcending each medium, director Tamara Harvey makes Henry Filloux-Bennett’s play fizz with relentlessly building fury.

Based on Jonathan Coe’s 1994 novel satirising the corruption, nepotism and power behind British politics and society, Filloux-Bennett sadly didn’t need to change much when it comes to the monstrous Winshaws. A few arch touches, such as the Winshaw MP who prefers taking a backseat to allow him to quietly whittle away public funds and rights mentoring a young Dominic Cummings, and the feckless, sensationalist, plagiarist newspaper columnist having Boris Johnson as her intern raise chuckles, but the brutal truth that nothing has really changed in the power dynamics of cronyism and wealth in the UK in 30 years is unavoidable and the quietly heart-breaking epilogue is an unforgettable wakeup call.

Alfred Enoch plays Raymond, the son of writer Michael Owen, who disappeared after the murders and whom the police are convinced committed the crimes. Enoch is completely believable as he presents his evidence, retakes and all, to build his case in defence of his father after 30 years. He moves between despair, incredulity and seating quiet rage seamlessly and is a magnificent anchor for the story. The only other actors we see are Fiona Button as the last of the Winshaws and Tamsin Outhwaite as her interviewer in 2020 in response to a book written about the family. Button is hilarious as the privileged online commentator Josephine Winshaw-Eaves whose mother was apparently killed by Michael Owen. Her tone-deaf comments could be attributed to any number of real-life “personalities” and Tamsin Outhwaite’s silent reactions to her moments of truth are brilliant, clearly showing which character is really in control of the interview.

Having Raymond present and “edit” the evidence allows a lot of jumping about and repetition of key phrases, weaving together the accumulating evidence of the terrible things the Winshaws did to deserve their poetically grisly ends, and Michael Owen’s connections to each of the family until the many strands build a clear picture. Voice performances from a stellar cast featuring Celia Imrie, Stephen Fry, Samuel Barnett and Sharon D Clarke play over a hypnotising montage of family photos, film clips and crime scene photos with a stunning soundtrack. (Sean Longmore’s graphic design and Harry Smith’s sound design are something special.) Derek Jacobi as the exquisitely named Findlay Onyx steals the show with most of the best (and bizarre) lines and seems to be having a ball with this OTT character.

What A Carve Up! is simply incredible entertainment – a mystery with laughs and shocks that will leave you forlorn and furious – a damning indictment of those in power in the UK, and those who are happy to keep them there.

POLYDOR RECORDS/UMe ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF

“BAD CINDERELLA” THE FIRST SINGLE FROM ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S NEW MUSICAL ‘CINDERELLA’

“BAD CINDERELLA” IS PERFORMED BY CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER 

AND IS AVAILABLE VIA ALL DIGITAL SERVICES ON OCTOBER 30

THE FULL ALBUM OF ‘CINDERELLA,’ RECORDED EARLIER THIS YEAR DURING LOCKDOWN, FEATURES A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF CAST MEMBERS AND GUEST ARTISTS AND IS DUE FOR RELEASE EARLY NEXT YEAR

‘CINDERELLA’ WILL BE RELEASED ON RECORD BEFORE IT DEBUTS ON STAGE, MIRRORING THE RELEASE OF THE ORIGINAL ‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR’ ALBUM 50 YEARS AGO

THE NEW MUSICAL, ‘CINDERELLA,’ IS A REINVENTION OF THE CLASSIC FAIRYTALE CREATED WITH ‘KILLING EVE’ WRITER & STAR OF ‘THE CROWN,’ EMERALD FENNELL AND TONY WINNER AND DOUBLE OSCAR NOMINEE DAVID ZIPPEL 

THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW THEATRE PRODUCTION IS SET TO OPEN IN LONDON’S WEST END SPRING 2021

October 30, 2020 — Polydor Records/UMe has announced the forthcoming release of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella: The Musical (Original London Cast Recording). The album features cast from the highly anticipated new theatre production, which was originally meant to have opened in October 2020, along with appearances from some surprise guest vocalists.

Andrew said, “50 years ago I couldn’t get Jesus Christ Superstar on stage as nobody wanted to produce it, so it appeared on record first. It’s so strange to find history repeating itself half a century later with the album of the complete score of my new Cinderella. I can’t get Cinderella on stage because I’m not allowed to, so I have gone back to my roots and recorded the album first.”

Recording for began in March 2020 and continued through lockdown with Andrew recording artists remotely and producing the majority of the score from his home. Once it was feasible, the recording process proceeded via socially distanced studio sessions in London.

The first song from the album is “Bad Cinderella” performed by Carrie Hope Fletcher, who will star as Cinderella in the production which is due to open in London’s West End Spring 2021. “Bad Cinderella” launches across all DSPs today, here: https://cinderella.lnk.to/BadCinderellaWE

“Bad Cinderella” is the first original material to be released by Andrew Lloyd Webber in five years, since School of Rock The Musical launched in 2015. It follows his personally curated compilation, Unmasked: The Platinum Collection in 2018 which featured performances from a diverse range of artists including Lana Del Rey, Beyoncé, Gregory Porter, Barbra Streisand, Michael Ball and many more.

Cinderella will open at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, with previews from Friday, April 30, 2021. Ticket holders will be contacted individually to rearrange their plans and further information is available at www.andrewlloydwebberscinderella.com

The production, a complete reinvention of the classic fairytale, is based on an original idea by Emerald Fennell, the Emmy® Award nominated lead scriptwriter of the second season of international smash hit Killing Eve, with a brand new score from the legendary composer and lyrics by David Zippel.

Fennell’s new film A Promising Young Woman, that she wrote and directed and which stars Carey Mulligan, will open this Autumn. As an actress she played Patsy Mount on the BBC’s Call The Midwife and currently depicts Camilla Parker Bowles on the Netflix hit The Crown.

The show’s lyrics are by David Zippel, a multi-award winner for Broadway productions including City of Angels for which he won the Tony Award® for Best Score, The Goodbye Girl, The Woman in White and Liza at the Palace, as well as for work on film including Disney’s Hercules and Mulan, both of which received Oscar® nominations.

Cinderella will reunite Andrew Lloyd Webber with director Laurence Connor and choreographer JoAnn M Hunter, who previously worked on the Olivier Award winning international hit School of Rock and the recent, sold-out production of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The London Palladium, which returns to the venue in Summer 2021.

Carrie Hope Fletcher will play Cinderella in the eagerly awaited new production at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. She has starred in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Addams Family (UK Tour), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), and most recently played Fantin in Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre. She is also a bestselling author and social media personality.

Cinderella will also star Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as the Stepmother. All further creative team and cast announcements regarding Cinderella will be made at a later date.

Ahead of Cinderella’s arrival at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, LW Theatres are carrying out internal upgrade work to the building including the addition of more toilets and refurbishment to areas of the auditorium and Front of House, as well as adopting measures to welcome back audiences safely as soon as restrictions allow. These measures are currently being trialled at The London Palladium and will be rolled out across LW Theatres.

YOUNG PEOPLE IN BIRMINGHAM AND WARWICKSHIRE RECEIVE DIGITAL ACCESS TO ASSIST LEARNING

250 young people will receive individual laptops and free data to support their learning at home through an initiative between the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and SCC.  The young people from 12 RSC Associate Schools in Birmingham and Warwickshire will receive individual laptops and 12 months of free data per user to support the resilience of schools and young people through the challenges of the current academic year.  The equipment will ensure that students can access high quality learning and arts opportunities at home as well as in school.

The RSC’s network of over 250 Associate Schools around the country focusses on areas with limited access to arts learning opportunities, and often with a high proportion of students eligible for free school meals. The donation of laptop devices and data is in partnership with SCC, Europe’s biggest independent technology solutions provider with headquarters in Birmingham. The project is being funded by SCC’s charitable trust, which has long invested in causes relating to lifelong learning, health and education.

This project comes at a crucial time for many young people, who now rely more heavily on remote learning and digital access in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many families do not have regular or easy access to computers, mobile tablets or broadband connectivity in their homes.

Headteacher at Nelson Mandela School, Birmingham said: “I cannot begin to say how much this generous gift and act of kindness means to me as a headteacher, but more importantly for our children. I have been so concerned about the impact of digital poverty on the lives of our children and families not only the growing academic divide but also on their feelings of isolation. This gift really will change lives but also reinforces just how sharing our worries can lead to change. Thank you so much to the RSC and SCC’s charitable trust for making this happen. A much-needed light in these challenging times.

Jacqui O’Hanlon, RSC Director of Education said: “This is one of the most challenging times to be in education, either as a teacher or student. The ability of schools and families to adapt quickly and easily to the changing context is being constantly tested. This wonderful gift from SCC’s charitable trust means that 250 children will be able to access online learning opportunities wherever they are, and ensure they are acquiring important new skills along the way. The next few months continue to be uncertain, but these young people will have the right tools to keep on progressing and developing, supported both by technology and the talents of their dedicated teachers.”  

Sir Peter Rigby, Founder and Executive Chairman of Rigby Group, SCC’s parent company, said: “On behalf of the Group I can’t express how pleased we are to be able to support such a wonderful and life-changing initiative. Digital access is critical both for online learning and to develop digital skills that are becoming more and more important as technology innovation continues in the workplace.”

Mike Swain, SCC UK CEO, said: “The impact of COVID-19 has accelerated the requirement for us all to be more reliant on digital access and it’s easy to forget that this is a privilege not afforded to everyone. We hope this donation through our charitable trust to children in Birmingham and Warwickshire will improve their learning experience and help them to unleash their potential.”

Schools receiving with gift from SCC include:

In Stratford-upon-Avon:             Welcombe Hills

In Leamington Spa:                   Sydenham Primary, Lighthorne Heath Primary

In Warwick:                               Newburgh Primary School

In Birmingham:                          Nelson Mandela School, Anderton Park Primary School, Clifton Primary School, Greet Primary School, Conway Primary School, Percy Shurmer Academy, Montgomery Primary Academy, Arden Primary School

DAVID MORRISSEY AND LEANNE BEST TO STAR IN HEADLONG’S THE GHOST CALLER

– A SIGNAL FIRES PROJECT

Award-winning theatre company Headlong, have today announced their plans for UK-wide touring theatre initiative Signal Fires. Originally intended as a live performance staged for audiences at St Luke’s Bombed Out Church in Liverpool, the company adapted and reimagined their project following the announcement that the city would be entering a Tier 3 lockdown.

On Thursday 5 November, Headlong in association with Coney will present the world premiere of The Ghost Caller a new short work by actor and playwright Luke Barnes (Bottleneck, No One Will Tell Me How To Start A Revolution), recorded by David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, Singapore Grip) Leanne Best (Young Wallander, Line of Duty) and Jamal Ajala (ear for eye), directed by Headlong’s Associate Artistic Director, Holly Race Roughan.

An exploration of grief and loss in 2020, The Ghost Caller, will invite members of the public to text a number which will appear at sundown, projected onto the side of St Luke’s Bombed Out Church. Upon texting the number, audience members will receive a call and become part of an intimate theatrical experience.

Experienced by audiences over the phone, The Ghost Caller starring David Morrissey and Leanne Best will see Headlong bring a theatrical offering to audiences in Liverpool (and across the UK) under the most severe of lockdown restrictions. The number will be projected onto the side of St Luke’s Bombed Out Church, Liverpool on Thursday 5 November and will be available online via www.Headlong.co.uk for seven days from 5 – 12 November. Performances of The Ghost Caller will be accessible to D/deaf, blind and visually impaired audiences.

Holly Race Roughan, Associate Artistic Director, Headlong said:

“The Ghost Caller was born out of our desire and determination to continue to bring theatrical experiences to our Liverpool audiences despite the increased government restrictions.  Luke Barnes’ cracking new ghost story – originally written for our live show and now adapted for telephone – makes the audience the protagonist and invites us to sit with loss. As the pandemic continues and the nights get longer, theatre is constantly having to adapt and embrace new ways of working in order to weather these challenging times and reach our audiences. With such an astonishing cast we hope this will lift spirits (as well as summon them!) until we can return next, in person.” 

The Ghost Caller is part of Signal Fires, a collective touring initiative that will see new work staged UK-wide throughout October and November. The project, conceived by Headlong and English Touring Theatre, brings together over 40 of the most exciting and diverse touring companies to tour a single idea at a time when traditional touring isn’t possible.

Each company involved in the project is self-producing an evening of work – a signal fire – at a different locations from Devon to Inverness in celebration of our fundamental need to tell stories, in order to help make sense of the world around us and reimagine the future.

In light of the current crisis, the signal fires will create beacons across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland warning of the threat the industry continues to face while celebrating the extraordinary vibrancy of touring theatre and the freelancers they engage. Stretching across four nations, this festival of fires will connect audiences, freelance artists and touring companies together in a communal, national act of storytelling.

Headlong’s The Ghost Caller produced in association with Coney, is part of UK-wide touring initiative Signal Fires www.signalfires.co.uk

THE BRIDGE AFTER DARK

Today (30 October 2020) the Bridge Theatre announces a season of cabaret and burlesque acts – The Bridge After Dark – that will join the previously announced repertoire from December 2020.  Priority booking opens today, with advance members from Monday 2 November at 10am and public booking on Tuesday 3 November at 10am. The season is for audiences aged 18+.

The Bitten Peach, The House of Burlesque, LADS and The Black Burlesque Review will play at 9.15pm after A Christmas Carol, when the Bridge will transform for the first time into an inclusive cabaret venue.  Patrons will be able to pre-order drinks delivered directly to their seats and enjoy some of the finest nightlife entertainment in London.

The Bitten Peach – The Silk Road Circus

The Bitten Peach with the Bridge will present The Silk Road Circus for one performance only at 9.15pm on 5 December 2020.

Nominated for Best Collective for the QX Cabaret Award in 2019, The Bitten Peach is the UK’s only Pan-Asian cabaret collective, made up of performers of Asian descent working in a variety of nightlife performance genres, including drag, burlesque, dance, comedy, music and circus.  Founded at the start of 2019, The Bitten Peach has been dedicated to increasing and diversifying Asian representation on the drag and cabaret scene.

The House of Burlesque

The Bridge will present The House of Burlesque for two performance only at 9.15pm on 11 and 12 December 2020.

Ruffling feathers for over 10 years with their trademark twist on traditional burlesque, the UK’s top, critically acclaimed, genre-defining showgirls are back … the revolution will be crystallised!  The showgirls, led by Queen of provocateurs Tempest Rose, are back to blow away the lockdown blues.

LADS

The Bridge will present LADS for three performance only at 9.15pm on 17, 18 and 19 December 2020.

Join the LADS for a rip-roaring celebration of the artists who are kicking down doors and taking names. With thunderous performances, shocking art and killer circus, this monster welcomes all to dance on the Patriarchy’s grave.

Since their birth in 2016, the LADS have pushed gender boundaries with a glorious array of jaw-to-the-floor talent and general badassary.  Originally created by three award-winning, queer female artists – Lilly SnatchDragon, Scarlett O’Hora and Lolo Brow in a sweaty attic in Camden (HerUpstairs) – the LADS have since sold out venues across London, including The Bush Theatre, The Royal Vauxhall tavern and The Vaults Theatre.

The Black Burlesque Revue

The Bridge will present The Black Burlesque Revue for two performance only at 9.15pm on 28 and 29 December 2020.

Over two nights, The Bridge Theatre is home to The Black Burlesque Revue, the 5-star production conceptualised by the UK’s own ‘Soul Sista of Burlesque’, Demi Noire, and is produced by The Cocoa Butter Club. It’s a call to ‘Decolonise’, ‘Moisturise’ and on this very special occasion, ‘Mesmerise’, with performances that proudly platform the legacy of Burlesque Artists of African and Caribbean descent.
Revel in the rhythm and soak up the stories, because you can’t buy ‘soul’, but you sure can watch it.

BRIDGE THEATRE FAQ’s RE COVID-19

www.bridgetheatre.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Address                                Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London SE1 2SG

Box Office                            0333 320 0051 or [email protected]

Access                                  0333 320 0051 or [email protected]

Website                                www.bridgetheatre.co.uk

Twitter                                 @_bridgetheatre

Instagram                             _bridgetheatre

Facebook                              bridgetheatrelondon

YELLOW EARTH THEATRE RELAUNCHES AS NEW EARTH THEATRE

New stories. New terrains. New theatre.

As they celebrate their 25^th anniversary, British East and South East Asian (BESEA) theatre company Yellow Earth Theatre relaunches as New Earth Theatre. To mark the occasion, they will stage both virtual and outdoor performances – including their New Stories digital short play festival; a short film Duck Rabbit by Pamela Carter in a co-commission with Chinese Arts Now; a phone call performance Homeward (house) Bound by Stacy Makishi in association with HOMEmakers; and Beyond Chinatown: A BritishEast and South East Asian Guide to Manchester’s Past, Present and Future, a performance-led outdoor walking tour through Manchester as part of Signal Fires.

Artistic Director Kumiko Mendl today said, “Today marks a new chapter for us as we celebrate our 25^th anniversary as New Earth Theatre. Over the past 25 years our company has been a leading voice in presenting British East and South East Asian stories, empowering our artists and our audiences as well as providing opportunities and pathways into our industry; and will remain at the heart of what we do.

“New Earth Theatre is a moment of reset for our company at a time of great change for many. No one could have predicted what this year would bring, and despite its challenges across our industry and globally we have responded and adapted quickly. We created an emergency BESEA freelance hardship fund, we delivered our professional writers and academy programme online and we’ve discovered new theatrical territory, creating blended digital and live work through our commissions; our New Stories festival of seventeen short plays and a performance-led walking tour of Manchester with Signal Fires: Beyond Chinatown.

“The future of theatre is very much changing and evolving as we begin the path back to live performance, and we look forward to the integral part we can play in creating a stronger future with BESEA voices and stories being heard and told for generations to come.”

New Earth Theatre presents

NEW STORIES

On 30 October streaming from 12pm

New Stories is a free digital short play festival which will be livestreamed across New Earth’s social media channels today, 30 October at 12pm. Comprised of seventeen short plays written by playwrights on the Professional Writers Programme, and brought to life by over 60 BESEA freelance      theatre-makers, the themes include inter-country surrogacy and the bonds that tie us outside the white view, to reality TV cyberbullling and being queer as an East Asian.

The playwrights are Andrea Ling, Carmina Bernhardt, Enxi Chang, Jeongeun Choi, Jimin Suh, Kevin Shen, Lao Lee, Lucas Chih Peng Kao, Marie Yan, Megan Cowley, Naomi Sumner Chan, Nemo Martin, Phoebe Tsang, Rogelio Braga, Stephen Hoo, Susan Hingley and Zoë Bullock.

Watch live

@NewEarthTheatreUK Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

New Earth Theatre presents

BEYOND CHINATOWN: A BRITISH AND SOUTH EAST ASIAN GUIDE TO MANCHESTER’S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

As part of Signal Fires

On Saturday 31 October

Via Zoom on Sunday 1 November

Beyond Chinatown: A British and South East Asian Guide To Manchester’s Past, Present and Future is a performance-led outdoor walking tour through Manchester, taking place on Saturday 31 October. It begins at the restaurant Sweet Mandarin in the Northern Quarter with an excerpt from New Earth’s 2018 play Mountains – The Dreams of Lily Kwok by In-Sook Chappell. There follows a torch led audio walk, written by disabled artist Chris Shapiro and guided by performance artist Megan Arnold; leading onto new short pieces by Jasmine Chong, Houmi Miura, Anna Nguyen, and Mei Yuk Wong. The production completes its journey with a performance by New Earth’s Manchester Performers Academy 2020. There will be a digital presentation via Zoom on Sunday 1 November.

Beyond Chinatown is produced by Grace Ng-Ralph and Anna Nguyen with dramaturgy by Naomi Sumner Chan and direction by Nickie Miles-Wildin and Kash Arshad.

The production is supported by The Lowry.

NEW EARTH THEATRE PRESENTING THREE FURTHER NEW COMMISSIONS

• Digital film Duck Rabbit by Pamela Carter was launched on 14 October in a co-commission with Chinese Arts Now, an imagined exchange between the playwright’s two grandmothers prompted by a series of photos.
• Chang and Eng and Me (and Me) by Tobi Poster-Su, will be premiering in February 2021 as the second digital co-commission with Chinese Arts Now.
• Homeward (house) bound by Stacy Makishi in association with HOMEmakers, is a one-to-one phone call during 5-7 November helping participants ride the second wave of COVID-19.

Four additional new plays are also in development as part of the Professional Writers Programme, which sees BESEA playwrights develop their craft over two years.

Finally, New Earth Theatre presents Tsunagu/Connect – an 18-month project launched at the start of this year for the Japan-UK Season of Culture. With the help of volunteer interviewers, Mendl and performance artist Kazuko Hohki have begun to gather oral histories from Japanese women living in the UK, to be presented in 2021 as part of an exhibition and live immersive performance incorporating augmented reality. It will bring to life the stories of these women and dismantle the stereotypes of being submissive, stay-at-home, model wives and mothers.

LISTINGS 

BEYOND CHINATOWN

31 October – 1 November 2020

Start Location: Sweet Mandarin, 19 Copperas Street, Manchester M4 1HS

End Location: The Peterloo Memorial, Manchester M2 3DL – located in front of The Central Convention Centre

Performance times: Saturday 31 October 2020: 11am, 2pm and 4:30pm

Digital Presentation via Zoom: Sunday 1 November 2020: 5pm

Tickets available online only at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/yellow-earth-theatre-31294602441

Age recommendation: 10+

Closed captions for D/deaf audiences available for the Zoom performance.

FOLLOWING A SELL OUT RUN AS PART OF THE TURBINE ON THE JETTY SEASON

HAIR THE MUSICAL (IN CONCERT)

DIRECTED BY ARLENE PHILLIPS

WILL DO TWO PERFORMANCES AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM

AND THE SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER THEATRE

WHILE THE TURBINE THEATRE WILL RE-OPEN ITS DOORS

TO PRESENT ITS FIRST CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME

CINDERELLA: THE SOCIALLY DISTANCED BALL

RUNNING FROM 27 NOVEMBER TO 23 DECEMBER

WRITTEN BY JODIE PRENGER & NEIL HURST

AND DIRECTED BY LIZZY CONNOLLY

Following a sell-out run as part of The Turbine on the Jetty season, Hair The Musical (In Concert), directed by Arlene Phillips, will be at the London Palladium on Monday 16 November, for two performances only, before two performances at the Southampton Mayflower on the 19 & 20 November.

Hair The Musical (In Concert) has book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, musical direction by Paul Schofield, design by David Shields, lighting design by Andrew Exeter and sound design by Dan Samson. Hair The Musical will once again be directed by Arlene Phillips.

The cast are Aimie Atkinson (Pretty Woman, SiX), Matt Croke (Aladdin, Funny Girl), Lucie Jones (Waitress, Legally Blonde), Luke Bayer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Jordan Luke Gage (Bat Out Of Hell and & Juliet), Grace Mouat (SiX and & Juliet) Nicole Raquel Dennis (Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress) and Layton Williams (Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, Rent).

The American tribal love rock musical Hair celebrates the sixties counterculture in all its barefoot, long-haired, bell-bottomed, beaded and fringed glory. In this specially produced concert version, get ready to groove to an infectiously energetic rock beat with songs like “Aquarius,” “Good Morning, Starshine,” “Hair,” “I Got Life,” and “Let The Sun Shine.” Exploring ideas of identity, community, global responsibility and peace, Hair remains relevant as ever as it examines what it means to be a young person in a changing world.

The Turbine Theatres reopens its doors with its first ever adult pantomime, Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Ball. This hilarious panto has been written by Jodie Prenger and Neil Hurst, and is being directed by Lizzy Connolly.

The cast are Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Rufus Hound, Debbie Kurup, Scott Paige, Sean Parkins and Daisy Wood Davis.

Prepare to have your Christmas socks blown off with this all-star cast, celebrating theatre at its naughtiest.  Glittery anti-bac will be at hand, and we promise to get home before midnight. 

Please note: This is not for the faint hearted or those easily offended by smut.

ALTY FRINGE ANNOUNCE EXTRA WEEK’S PROGRAMME AS FESTIVAL

WILL GO AHEAD IN REGIONS TIER 3 RESTRICTIONS

Crissy Rock, Doctor & The Medics and West End Musical shows are added to the line up

The Covid-Secure event will present two weeks of live entertainment in Manchester

New festival takes place at Garrick Playhouse in Altrincham

Live Theatre returns to Manchester next month with a new two week, Covid-secure live arts event staged at the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse. It is confirmed that the festival is able to go ahead in the regions Tier 3 restrictions.

Alty Fringe will showcase the amazing talent from the region and beyond, with everything from drama, musical theatre, children’s shows, comedy, and live music. The festival was originally being staged from Monday 23rd to Sunday 29th November, however an extra week has been added and the event now ends on Sunday 6 December, the organisers can now reveal the remainder of the programme which is now on sale.

Following the recent announcement of the week one line-up which includes disco legends Odyssey, Andrew Lancel in Swan Song, Fascinating Aida’s Dillie Keane, Something About Simon, Hi Sienna, The Very Best Of Tommy Cooper and Hurrah For The Pirate King.

The week two programme has just been announced and includes Crissy Rock in dark comedy monologues Deathly Confessions, hit makers Doctor & The Medics, a Shakespeare comedy Hamlet-ish, Abba and Beatles tributes and top West End stars in musical show Music Of The Night.

Event Organiser Max Eden has been working with the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse to bring live theatre and the arts back safely to the community, by staging the ‘Fringe Style’ series of events. putting in place several Covid safety measures which include – reduced socially distanced capacity in the redesigned auditorium, one-way systems, hand sanitizer stations, along with other safety measures in the foyers and other areas.

The aim of the series is to show theatre can return safely and offer a platform for artists to perform in front of a live audience once again.

Organiser Max Eden explains “I am absolutely delighted to reveal our extra week and full programme for the inaugural Alty Fringe, we have something for all tastes and a high calibre of performers across the two weeks. I know there is a lot of confusion to what you can and cannot do in these troubled times, but I want to confirm to everyone that the festival can and will continue within the Tier 3 restrictions. 

“I have created a new platform for the arts and live entertainment which can be enjoyed safely, and I have worked with the Garrick Theatre to ensure the visit is Covid-Secure. I would like to re-assure everyone attending that will be a safe experience.  That does mean we have limited seats on sale, so tickets are sure to go fast. Theatre is coming back, and I’m excited that not only do we have one week, but now two weeks of incredible performances!”

Deathly Confessions – Break A Leg Productions bring you a series of chilling dark comedy monologues starring Crissy Rock, Samantha Alton, Thomas Galashan and James Templeton. Four unique and powerfully presented, thought provoking stories to make you laugh, cry, and send a shiver down your spine… Sometimes the only person you can share your secret with is the dead.  Written by Emma Culshaw and David Paul.

Hamlet-ish – Mad Comedy Re-telling – Take one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, add two Loons and a Skull named Keith, mix in a lot of costume changes plus a song or two and VIOLA! You have HAMLET(ish). Murder…Betrayal…Ghosts…Puppets…Pirates… Dance Routines…A Lot Of Hats… Who said Shakespeare had to be boring?

Doctor & The Medics – The Rev Dr Clive Thomas Jackson, singer of Doctor and the Medics (famous for their hit; Spirit in the Sky), combines all the elements of his career in one hilarious rollercoaster of a two man show. Stand-up comic, compere, actor and yes singer! All these disciplines are bought together in a multimedia presentation of his often bizarre, certainly idiosyncratic and at times, ridiculously funny career.

Abba Revival – Award winning ABBA Tribute Band ‘Revival’ have recently been voted as the UK’s Official No.1 ABBA tribute act by the Agent’s Association of Great Britain. Revival’s renowned ABBA stage show has proved a hit time and time again in the UK and the world over, wowing audiences from Europe to the Middle East and just recently the band has been invited to perform a 5 day tour in ABBA’s homeland of Sweden. The show includes faithful choreography, spectacular and authentic costumes, stunning production and, most importantly, excellent musicianship. ABBA Revival takes their audience on a musical journey back to those heady pop-tastic disco days when ABBA ruled the dance floor!

Bowdon ‘68 (With The Pretend Beatles) – Bowdon Cricket, Hockey & Squash Club have teamed up with Alty Fringe to stage an intimate Covid-secure fundraising concert which celebrates the history of their annual firework spectacular with a new theatre show; ‘Bowdon ‘68’ – 60s themed concert which features one of the UK’s Top Tribute bands; THE PRETEND BEATLES headline this Covid-secure event, bringing their live theatre show complete with lavish costumes, authentic instruments and special effects to the iconic theatre venue.
The Pretend Beatles have performed their fun-filled show around the world with a setlist which includes all the hits performed live including Hard Days Night, Let it Be, All you need is Love and many more!

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Journey to Santa – Live on Stage – Kids of Cheshire presents Journey to Santa Live on Stage. The family friendly live stage experience takes children on a festive adventure with Santa’s elves transporting you to the North Pole to meet the man himself, Santa Claus.

Christmas Proms with String Infusion – The most original, international all female electric-acoustic ensemble; string infusion present a special Christmas proms concert, jam-packed with festive feel good fun, this socially distanced intimate contemporary Proms Concert features all your favourite Christmas No.1s performed live including hits from Mariah Carey, The Pogues and Shakin Stevens. String Infusion will be performing alongside special guest vocalists and surprise acts to deliver a Christmas Proms concert full of festive feel-good Fun!

Matinee Musical Classics – An afternoon of hit songs from the Golden Age of Movies and Musicals, a perfect program of favourite all-time classic hits. Operatic and Classical Tenor Roy Locke’s (Phantom of the Opera, Australian Opera) breath-taking voice will take you on an emotional, sentimental, and uplifting journey through some of the greatest works of Western music, and is joined by Special Guest West-End Soprano Olivia Brereton (Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables) who lends her effortless charm and stunning vocals to this feel-good afternoon of Classic music. From iconic operatic masterpieces such as Nessun Dorma, songs and duets from Golden-Age musicals such as Oklahoma!, The King and I, and My Fair Lady, to the timeless classics of the great Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin’s That’s Amore, this show provides Music and entertainment for all ages.

Music Of The Night – Direct from its 5-star reviews at Liverpool Theatre Festival and the Epstein Theatre, Bill Elms and Absolute Opera, presents a very special evening of the finest musical theatre, featuring International acclaimed artist Roy Locke (Phantom of the Opera, Australian Opera) as well as special guest direct from the West End, Manchester’s own Olivia Brereton (Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables).  Music Of The Night is a spectacular evening of songs and duets from the most popular and best loved West End and Broadway musicals, including Les Misérables, West Side Story, The Lion King and of course The Phantom Of The Opera.

For full information and to book visit www.altyfringe.co.uk

Facebook:       /AltyFringe

Twitter:           #AltyFringe

Instagram:      AltyFringe

LISTING INFORMATION

ALTY FRINGE

Monday 23 – Sunday 6 December 2020

Altrincham Garrick Playhouse, Barrington Road, Altrincham, WA14 1HZ

THE VERY BEST OF TOMMY COOPER

Monday 23 November 2020

Performance times 4pm / 8pm

Show duration: 60 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £20 + BF

SOMETHING ABOUT SIMON – THE PAUL SIMON STORY

Tuesday 24 November 2020

Performance times 8pm

Show duration: 75 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £24 + BF

HI SIENNA

LIVE CONCERT

Wednesday 25 November 2020

Performance times 8pm

Show duration: 70 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £15 + BF

GREYHOUNDS

TIME & AGAIN THEATRE COMPANY

Thursday 26 November 2020

Performance times 8pm

Show duration: 60 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £20 + BF

SWAN SONG by JONATHAN HARVEY

starring ANDREW LANCEL

Friday 27 November 2020

Performance times 6pm / 9pm

Show duration: 70 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £24 + BF

HURRAH FOR THE PIRATE KING!

Saturday 28 November 2020

Performance times 12pm / 2pm

Show duration: 50 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £14 + BF

HALE BARNS CARNIVAL PRESENTS

ODYSSEY LIVE IN CONCERT

Saturday 28 November 2020

Performance times 6pm / 9pm

Show duration: 75 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £32 + BF

FASCINATING AIDA’S

DILLIE KEANE

Sunday 29 November 2020

Performance times 1pm

Show duration: 70 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £30 + BF

NORTHWEST END LIVE – BEST OF THE MUSICALS

Sunday 29 November 2020

Performance times 7.30pm

Show duration: 70 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £20 + BF

DEATHLY CONFESSIONS

Monday 30 November 2020

Performance times 8pm

Show duration: 60 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £22 + BF

SHAKESPEARE MAD COMEDY RETELLING

Tuesday 1 December 2020

Performance times 6.30pm

Show duration: 60 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £10 + BF

DOCTOR & THE MEDICS

Wednesday 2 December 2020

Performance times 8pm

Show duration: 80 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £25 + BF

ABBA REVIVAL – LIVE IN CONCERT

Thursday 3 December 2020

Performance times 8pm

Show duration: 75 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £30 + BF

BOWDEN ’68 WITH THE PRETEND BEATLES

Friday 4 December 2020

Performance times 8pm

Show duration: 75 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £25 + BF

JOURNEY TO SANTA – LIVE ON STAGE

Saturday 5 December 2020

Performance times 1pm

Show duration: 40 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £15 + BF

CHRISTMAS PROMS WITH STRING INFUSION

Saturday 5 December 2020

Performance times 8pm

Show duration: 80 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £27 + BF

MATINEE MUSICAL CLASSICS – SILVER SCREEN FAVOURITES

Sunday 6 December 2020

Performance times 2pm

Show duration: 75 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £20 + BF

MUSIC OF THE NIGHT – WEST END STARS

Saturday 6 December 2020

Performance times 7.30pm

Show duration: 75 minutes (no interval)

Tickets are £25 + BF

For tickets visit www.altyfringe.co.uk

ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE ANNOUNCE

MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL BE LESS AFRAID OF THE DARK AS PART OF SIGNAL FIRES

English Touring Theatre today announce Maybe We Should All Be Less Afraid of the Dark an open-air fireside storytelling event written and performed by Alissa Anne Jeun Yi. The production is part of Signal Fires, a project conceived by ETT and Headlong to bring together some of the most exciting and diverse touring companies to tour a single idea at a time when traditional touring isn’t possible. Maybe We Should All Be Less Afraid of the Darkruns at Betteshanger Park, Deal on Saturday 7 November.

As the sun sets, audiences will gather around a roaring fire with blankets, and hot chocolate from popular Betteshanger Park seller, Winnie the Caravan, whilst writer and performer Alissa Anne Jeun Yi shares a wild storytelling journey all about a lighthouse in the darkness, arrivals from the sea, and the kindness and cruelty of strangers.

An imaginative and disturbing story about the dark, about community, about fear, about history, about migration, about her own home county of Kent, about being an island, about now, about Alissa – and about us.

Alissa Anne Jeun Yi is a writer and performer. Her writing credits include Love Songs (Soho Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe, Chinese Arts Now) and Avocado Fried Rice (BBC Radio 3). She has had her work performed at The Yard Theatre, Bush Theatre and at a variety of UK festivals.

Maybe We Should All Be Less Afraid of the Dark

Listings

Betteshanger Park

Sandwich Road, Deal CT14 0BF

Saturday 7 November 2020 at 4pm & 6.30pm

Box Office:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maybe-we-should-all-be-less-afraid-of-the-dark-tickets-125605075161

Please note all tickets must be bought online in advance. Audiences are advised to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled performance time to allow for everyone to take their seats in a safe and socially distanced.

All ages welcome, recommended 8+

Running time: 1 hour

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THEATRE ROYAL BATH’S OLEANNA

Casting has been announced for David Mamet’s Oleanna, the final play in Theatre Royal Bath’s Welcome Back Season this Autumn. The provocative drama will play in the theatre’s main house from Wednesday 25 November to Saturday 12 December.

John Heffernan will play John and Rosie Sheehy will play Carol in the highly anticipated production which, in a change to original billing, will be directed by Lucy Bailey.

When David Mamet’s Oleanna opened nearly thirty years ago, it caused uproar amongst audiences from New York to London. Set on an American campus, a seemingly innocuous conversation between a college professor and his female student warps into a nightmare which threatens to destroy them both, when she files a claim of sexual harassment against him. With its take on the corrosive excesses of political correctness and exploration of the use and abuse of language, this is the ultimate drama of pupil power and student revenge.

Addressing issues which are strikingly current, this will be a fascinating opportunity to see this landmark play from the perspective of our #MeToo era.

John Heffernan (John) has theatre credits including Oppenheimer (RSC/West End) Edward II (NT), for which he was nominated for an Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor), and Macbeth (Young Vic), Pinter 7: A Slight Ache (Harold Pinter Theatre), and The Hothouse (Trafalgar Studios). Other productions at the National Theatre include Saint George & The Dragon, She Stoops To Conquer, Emperor & Galilean, The Habit of Art and After The Dance. Screen credits include Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (BBC), The Crown (Netflix), Dickensian (BBC), Brexit (Channel 4) and Luther (BBC)

Rosie Sheehy (Carol) has theatre credits including King John (RSC), Uncle Vanya (Theatre Clwyd/Sheffield Theatres) for which she won the ‘Best Female Performance in the English Language’ award at the Wales Theatre Awards 2018, The Whale (Theatre Royal Bath), Strife (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Hairy Ape (The Old Vic) and Chicken (Paines Plough). Screen credits include IRE (Ascendant Films), Call The Midwife (BBC1, Neal Street Productions), and Chernobyl (HBO/Sky).

Lucy Bailey (Director) has theatre credits including Gaslight (UK Tour), Witness for the Prosecution (County Hall, London), Love From A Stranger (Royal & Derngate / UK tour), The Graduate (Leeds Playhouse), Comus, A Masque In Honour of Chastity (Wanamaker Playhouse), Kenny Morgan (Arcola) and King Lear (Theatre Royal Bath). Bailey has also directed work at the National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, Leeds Playhouse, Old Viv, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Crucible, Sheffield, Lyric Hammersmith, Hampstead Theatre and with the RSC and ENO. She was co-founder and co-artistic director of The Print Room, Notting Hill (2009 to 2012).

David Mamet is one of the most distinctive voices in stage and film writing today. His multi award-winning plays include Glengarry Glen Ross, Speed-the-Plow and American Buffalo.

Oleanna is the final production in Theatre Royal Bath’s Welcome Back Season of plays which also includes:

Harold Pinter’s Betrayal, currently playing until Saturday 31 October, stars Nancy Carroll, Joseph Millson, Edward Bennett, and Christopher Bianchi and is directed by Jonathan Church.

Michael Frayn’s multi award-winning Copenhagen will run from Wednesday 4 – Saturday 21 November with Haydn Gwynne, Michael Gould and Philip Arditti, directed by Polly Findlay.

Following all government guidance and in consultation with health and safety advisors, covid-secure measures in place include reduced capacity to allow for socially distanced seating,  mandatory face coverings (unless exempt), hand sanitiser units, thermal temperature checks, dedicated entry points, staggered arrivals and audience flow, fresh air circulation and enhanced cleaning.

Full details and ticket information can be found at www.theatreroyal.org.uk