Month: October 2020

OUTSIDE EDGE THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES SHORTLIST FOR THE INAUGURAL 2020 PHIL FOX PLAYWRITING AWARD

Outside Edge Theatre Company (OETC), the UK’s only theatre company and participatory arts charity focused on addiction, is delighted to announce the shortlist for the inaugural Phil Fox Award for Playwriting. Selected from 350 entries, the award is named after OETC’s founder who passed away in 2014. In its inaugural year, the prize has been created to recognise original scripts by playwrights from all backgrounds and experience levels, tackling issues around addiction. The winning script will be announced on 4 November and the chosen playwright will receive a £6,000 commission and mentorship from chair of the judging panel, Tony Award-winning playwright Enda Walsh.

Artistic Director of Outside Edge Theatre Company Matt Steinberg today said, “We have been overwhelmed with the enthusiastic response to Outside Edge’s inaugural script competition. Playwrights with a range of experience from across the country have sent us extraordinary plays about the varied aspects of addiction, with stories ranging from substance misuse to social media addiction. The creativity of the writers and ingenuity of these plays are a fitting tribute to the legacy of our founding Artistic Director, Phil Fox, whose lived experience of moving from addiction to recovery remains at the heart Outside Edge Theatre Company’s unique programme of work.”

“The exceptional quality of the plays selected for this year’s shortlist is an indication of the overall calibre of scripts submitted for the competition. I only wish that we could programme all of these incredible new plays! But with last week’s news that drug deaths in England and Wales have hit a record high, my sincere hope is that the Phil Fox Award will enable other theatres to see the urgent importance of programming stories that explore the complicated experience of addiction.”

Also on the 2020 judging panel are leading industry figures Matt Applewhite (Nick Hern Books Managing Director and Commissioning Editor), Barbara Broccoli OBE (Film Producer), Sonya Hale (OETC Associate Theatre Facilitator and Heretic Voices award-winning playwright), Indhu Rubasingham (Artistic Director of the Kiln Theatre), Matt Steinberg (OETC Artistic Director) and Simon Stephens (Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright of The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time).

The Longlist for the Phil Fox Playwriting Prize:

• A is for Appy by Dominic McHale
• A short guide to staying alive by Olga Nikora
• Bitter by Louise Coulthard
• Boomerang by Jack Stanley
• Circle Game by Sophie Swithinbank
• Daisies and iPhones by Daphne Di Cinto
• Drift by Kristian Phillips
• Empty Orchestra by Mark Fenton
• Entropy by Kate Reid
• Grotesque, Stupid and Ungrateful by Natalie Jones
• Jerk by Nick Edgeworth
• Lessons for Diving by Silas Parry
• Necropolis by John Straiton
• Nibble Nibble Gnaw by Isla Cowan
• Parlour Games by Simon Glass
• Pushing on Open Doors by Sarah Connors
• Skinhead Moonstomp by Karen Brown
• Squirrels by Ayse Evans
• The Goodest Boys by Vikki Stone
• Well Wishes by Matthew McGuigan
• What’s Lost in the Gaps by Jack Robson

While the competition is open to anyone, writers with lived experience of addiction were encouraged to apply, and submitted scripts could explore any type of addiction from substance misuse to social media and sex addiction.

The Phil Fox Award for Playwriting is generously supported by An Anonymous Friend of OETC, The Carne Trust and Unity Theatre Trust.

Guildford Fringe Theatre Company 

announces a talented line-up of West End performers  

will perform in Surrey’s ONLY family panto this winter,  

Beauty and the Beast, at The Borough Hall, Godalming  

Guildford Fringe Theatre Company is pleased to announce the talented line-up of West End performers who have been cast in Surrey’s ONLY family pantomime this winter, Beauty and the Beast, which plays The Borough Hall, Godalming, from 12 – 26 December.  

With countless West End credits behind them, the full pantomime cast will include Maria Coyne (Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Singin’ in the Rain) as Beauty with Lily de-la-Haye (CATS, The Phantom of the Opera) as Sybil, Paul Kemble (School of Rock, Top Hat, The Sound of Music) as Monsieur Bertrand, Ben Redfern (Mary Poppins, Billy Elliot, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Potty Pascal and Jordan Wheatstone (The Little Princess, Disney’s Broadway Hits) as the Beast. As previously announced, Philip Day (Oliver!, The Mousetrap) will return as Godalming’s pantomime dame, playing Dame Dominique Derrière. 

Directed by Jo Kirkland, choreographed by Charlotte Bateup and produced by Nick Wyschna and Charlotte Bateup for Guildford Fringe, this professional production will feature spectacular song and dance routines, colourful costumes and lots of fun for the whole family. 

The venue will operate at a greatly reduced capacity to allow for social distancing. Face coverings will be mandatory. Group bookings will allow a maximum of 6 people to sit together. The show’s duration will be approx. 1 hour 15 minutes with no interval. For full details of health and safety measures, visit www.GodalmingPanto.com.  

Producer Nick Wyschna said: “To say I am thrilled with the cast for Beauty and the Beast would be a huge understatement! Not only are we putting on Surrey’s only family pantomime, we also have a phenomenal cast, direct from London’s West End to perform it. I am very pleased to say that the show is selling incredibly well already. I am getting the feeling that people are pleased for something ‘normal’ to look forward to this Christmas and I am over the moon to be able to offer that. Although normal isn’t the word I would use to describe our show, it is going to be exceptional! I really hope you can join us for some Christmas magic this December.” 

The magical “tale as old as time” of Beauty and the Beast tells the story of an arrogant Prince who is turned into a beast as punishment for his vanity. He has only one chance to lift the curse: to find true love before the final petal falls…  

To book for Beauty and the Beast, visit www.GodalmingPanto.com or telephone the Box Office on 01483 361101. There is disabled access throughout the venue. The final few tickets are still available for the relaxed performance on Sunday 13 December at 4pm. This show will be specifically adapted for those on the autism spectrum, individuals with sensory and communication disorders, those with learning disabilities and anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment. Tickets for this performance have been reduced to £15 and can purchased by calling the Box Office only.  

LISTINGS 

Show: Beauty and the Beast 

Dates: Saturday 12 – Saturday 26 December 2020 

Times: Varies – matinee and evening performances; see website or call the Box Office 

Running Time: 1hr 15 mins (no interval) 

Venue address: Godalming Borough Hall, The Burys, Godalming, GU7 1HY 

Tickets: £22 (£20 concessions) including booking fees. Book at www.GodalmingPanto.com or call 01483 361101. 

Category: Theatre, pantomimes, family shows, professional theatre 

Age guidance: suitable for all ages 

Access: There is disabled access throughout the venue. On Sunday 13 December 2020 at 4pm there will be a relaxed performance specifically adapted for those on the autism spectrum, individuals with sensory and communication disorders, those with learning disabilities and anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment. Tickets for this performance have been reduced to £15 and can purchased by calling the Box Office only. 

Dancer, actor, and disability-rights advocate David Toole OBE passes away at the age of 56

It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of the world- renowned dancer, actor, and advocate for equal opportunities for disabled people in society and the performing arts, David Toole OBE.  David passed away at St James University Hospital in Leeds on Friday 16 October. He was 56.

Born in Armley in Leeds in 1964, David was one of the founding members of Candoco Dance Company in the early 90s when they made an impact as a company of disabled and non-disabled professional dancers. In 1995, David had his first taste of theatre when he played the part of Puck in Benjamin Britten’s opera of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This was followed a year later with an appearance in the Sally Potter film The Tango Lesson, playing the part of the Fashion Designer.

David performed with Graeae Theatre Company in 2000 and 2001, playing the parts of Edgar in The Fall of the House of Usher and Deflores in The Changeling, respectively. In the summer of 2000, he worked with DV8, creating, and performing the piece The Cost of Living  for the Sydney Arts Festival prior to the 2000 Olympics. This show was revived in 2003 and also led to the film version of the show being made that year. David made headlines in 2012 as a soloist at the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He went on to perform with prominent companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, DV8, and the Leeds based company Slung Low. For the past 10 years David worked with Stopgap Dance Company. As David said in a 2012 interview “I do have moments when I wonder, how did this dodgy postman from Leeds get to do all this?”

Throughout his career, David advocated for equal opportunities for disabled people in society and in the performing arts, providing mentoring support to many individuals who sought positive change.

In 2019 David was awarded an OBE for services to dance and for disabled people in recognition of his contribution to making Britain a world leader in disability arts.

Jenny Sealey artistic director of Graeae  and co-artistic director of the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony: “Dave was so many things, our darling wonderful, grumpy, opinionated, glorious, silly, funny, kind, sexy, loving, and wise friend.  The most unique and left-field man ever and funny beyond words.  And of course, an extraordinary performer and a unique brilliant dancer. But above all, to all of us in Graeae, he was a dear friend and a cherished collaborator. We hope he is safe and pain free wherever he is”.

Alan Lane artistic director of Slung Low and friend said” We are all so sad to hear of Dave Toole’s passing. It was such a privilege to make so many adventures with him. He had an extraordinary talent; he was a brilliant actor and the very finest dancer we’ve ever seen”.

The family have asked for respect for their privacy at this incredibly sad time

Big Telly Theatre Company – until 17 October 2020

Reviewed by Samantha Reed

4****

In a world of dismay, as restrictions forbid us to visit the theatre, Big Telly productions capture us in this eerie, dark yet modern adaptation of Macbeth. As an audience we are invited via conference through the Zoom online app, which draws us in to be part of this magnificent Shakespeare play.

A modern twist on Macbeth led by Zoe Seaton as director, being filmed through each cast members own home, different back drops of dark forestry and grand halls set the picture to each scene of the play and technical dignitary from Big Telly NI. An eerie resemblance of somewhat towards the ‘Blair Witch Project’ with a cast of just five members portraying each character.

Lights down, candles burning. The show opens with the 3 witches portrayed by Aonghus Og McAnally, Lucia McAnespie and Dharmesh Patel, all displaying on separate screens, yet grafted together as the music entwines and begins this tale…..

Duncans entrance begins in a terraced house on this modern adaptation

We are drawn in by Dennis Herdman and Nicky Harley’s strong performance as ‘the Macbeths’. Lady Macbeth has us gripped. A scene filmed from a bedroom begins with her watching her laptop, giving way to this modern adaption, making us feel we are in the room with her, as she speaks unsaintly. Herdman creepily enthrals us through his close-up facial videos, scarily bringing us into Macbeth’s thoughts and emotional behaviour of what is going on inside his mind.

The performance between Macbeth and his Lady induce us into feeling as though we are in the theatre. Some small issues of sound and dropping signal do not withdraw from the pull towards watching this gripping adaptation.

A must see through this new online theatre production

BRIAN CONLEY TO STAR AS

EBENEZER SCROOGE THIS CHRISTMAS

Alan Menken, Lynn Ahrens and Mike Ockrent’s acclaimed musical of

A Christmas Carol to play limited season at Dominion Theatre

Performances begin Monday 7 December 2020

For tickets and information, see www.dominiontheatre.com/christmas-carol

Brian Conley will star as Ebenezer Scrooge this Christmas, as an exciting new, musical staged concert of Alan Menken, Lynn Ahrens and Mike Ockrent’s A Christmas Carolwill play a strictly limited season at the Dominion Theatre in London. Performances run from Monday 7 December 2020 to Saturday 2 January 2021 (Press Night: Monday 14 December at 7:00pm).

Tickets are on General Sale today, Friday 16 October. Please see www.dominiontheatre.com/christmas-carol

The musical brings Dickens’ timeless fable to glorious life: Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean-spirited miser, does not believe in the power of Christmas. But on a Christmas Eve filled with memorable characters, spectacular songs, ghostly apparitions and journeys to the past, present and future, Scrooge acknowledges his mistakes and discovers the joy of redemption. With a sparkling Broadway score played by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, an all-star cast and a touch of festive magic, A Christmas Carol at the Dominion is the must-see West End production this December.

The staged concert will feature TV comedy legend and West End star Brian Conley (9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Jolson [Olivier nomination], Hairspray) as Scrooge, who will be joined on stage by an orchestra and cast of over 50. 

Written by the critically acclaimed team of Alan Menken (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast), Lynn Ahrens (Anastasia, Ragtime) and Mike Ockrent (Me and My Girl, Crazy for You), the stage musical of A Christmas Carol first premiered in 1994 at New York’s Paramount Theatre. It ran for a decade at Madison Square Garden, and was seen by over 5 million people, becoming a firm Christmas tradition. The London Musical Theatre Orchestra (LMTO) have previously performed A Christmas Carol to sell-out audiences and five-star reviews in 2016, 2017 and 2018 at the Lyceum Theatre in London’s West End.                                                           

The creative team is led by director Shaun Kerrison, who helmed several previous concert productions for LMTO (A Christmas Carol, Mack and Mabel, Candide) as well as BBC Proms My Fair Lady, Kiss me, Kate and Freddie Tapner (founder of LMTO) as Musical Director. Casting is by Jim Arnold CDG (Wicked, The Prince of Egypt).                                          

With soaring melodies, moving lyrics and a moral for our times, this will be a Christmas event to reunite families after the hardest year in living memory.

A Christmas Carol is produced by Freddie Tapner for The London Musical Theatre Orchestra and Gary England. LMTO isthe world’s only professional orchestra dedicated solely to performing works of musical theatre.

900 free tickets will be made available to Key Workers and their families at Alpha’s La Dolce Vita Key Workers Matinee on Thursday 10^th December. Further information on how to apply will be announced in the coming weeks.

Covid safety measures and social distancing will be in place front of house, on stage, backstage and throughout the Dominion Theatre.

If you become unable to attend, unwell or are having to isolate, you will be able to exchange your tickets free of charge up to 24 hours before your performance.

The Producers of A Christmas Carol are delighted to be working in partnership with GeneMe UK https://geneme.uk to use FRANKD testing for cast, musicians and backstage crew members. Successfully implemented this summer at the Troubadour Theatre for the stage adaptation of Sleepless, FRANKD (Fast, Reliable, Accurate, Nucleic-based Kit for Covid-19 Diagnostic Detection) will be in place throughout the entire run of A Christmas Carol.  Test results will be sent directly to the phones of crew, cast and musicians via the Yoti secure app within an hour of a swab being taken.

A Christmas Carol is a strictly limited run from 7th December 2020 to 2nd January 2021. The hit musical THE PRINCE OF EGYPT will resume its run at the Dominion Theatre in the Spring of 2021 pending UK Government advice.

CATFISH THE MUSICAL TO STREAM LIVE CONCERT PERFORMANCE ON 31 OCTOBER AND 1 NOVEMBER

• Following a sold-out initial performance, Catfish The Musical will be available to stream exclusively on the platforms Broadway On Demand and Stream.Theatre on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November
• Tickets go on sale on Friday 16 October with a donation being made to Industry Minds

Creative manager of the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society, Willy Mukendi,and composer Joseph Purdue today announce that the concert performance of Catfish The Musical will stream exclusively on the platforms Broadway On Demand and Stream.Theatre on Saturday October 31 and Sunday November 1 at 7.30pm.

Catfish The Musical is a dark comedy which explores the themes of social media and online dating and was created and composed by these two strangers, entirely over the internet. They only met for the first time on the day of the album rehearsal, and recorded the original album on only their third time of ever meeting.

Following on from its enormously well received album release earlier in the year, champion of new work Paul Taylor-Mills,produced the original concert for one night only with a cast of rising stars. Directed and choregraphed by Willy Mukendi and featuring additional choreography from Lee Proud,the show aimed to create live opportunity for new work, performers and creatives.

During lockdown, 17 West End stars, including Alice Fearn, Luke Bayer, Millie O’Connell and Maiya Quansah-Reed united to showcase the musical by performing covers from the album.

Willy Mukendi today said, “We have been so fortunate to have received consistent support from conception stages, right up until professional performances. During lockdown we, like many others, have had some opportunities cancelled and others postponed. One thing that never changed was our creative process. We have grown so accustomed to communicating online that nothing really changed creatively during lockdown for us. Creating this show online with a cast our size felt impossible at times, so we are so thrilled that we were able to continue and now provide this digital experience for those who weren’t able to get tickets.”

A portion of each ticket sale will be donated to Industry Minds, an arts mental health support platform. Tickets are available from Friday 16 October.

SIMON RUSSELL BEALE, PATSY FERRAN AND EBEN FIGUEIREDO IN

CHARLES DICKENS’

A   C H R I S T M A S   C A R O L

A Christmas Carol didn’t just invent Christmas as we know it. It’s also scary, joyful, spooky, hilarious, furious, beautiful, and a triumphant declaration that even the hardest hearts can melt.

Simon Russell Beale, Patsy Ferran and Eben Figueiredo will play all the parts and share the story telling in this exuberant new version devised by Nicholas Hytner.

The show will be suitable for all ages and runs 90 minutes without interval.  Performances are from 27 November 2020 to 16 January 2021 with evenings at 7pm and matinees at 4pm (on 24 December the matinee will be at 2pm).

Set designs are Bunny Christie with costume designs by Rose Revitt who also acts as set design associate. Lighting is by Jon Clark, sound by Gareth Fry, video design is by Luke Halls and music by Grant Olding.

Simon Russell Beale was most recently on stage in The Lehman Trilogy at National Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway.  His previous collaborations with Nicholas Hytner include The Alchemist, Much Ado About Nothing, Major Barbara, Collaborators, London Assurance and Timon of Athens, all at the National Theatre.  As well as the recipient of multiple theatre awards, in 2003 he was made a CBE and for his services to the Arts and in 2019 he was made a Knight Batchelor.

Patsy Ferran was last on stage in New York at the Booth Theatre playing Honey in Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf. Her other theatre credits include Three Sisters and Summer and Smoke for the Almeida Theatre for which she won the Olivier and Critics’ Circle Best Actress awards, My Mum’s a Twat at the Royal Court, Speech and Debate at the Trafalgar Studios, As You Like it and Treasure Island for the National Theatre, The Merchant of Venice for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Angry Brigade for Pains Plough and Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre. Her film credits include God’s Own Country, Tom and Jerry, How to Build a Girl, Darkest Hour, Tulip Fever, Keepsake and The Devil’s Harmony. Her television credits include Jamestown, Will and Guerrilla.

Eben Figueiredo returns to the Bridge having previously played Schram in Nicholas Hytner’s production of Young Marx. His other theatre credits include Cyrano de Bergerac at the Playhouse Theatre, Primetime at the Royal Court, Ross for Chichester Festival Theatre, Peter Pan at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Pitcairn for Out of Joint. His film credits include Solo:A Star Wars Story and Daphne and on television his credits include The Attack and Scatooney.

SIMON AMSTELL:

W O R K   I N   P R O G R E S S

TEN PERFORMANCES ONLY

Comedian, writer and director Simon Amstell will perform for ten performances only from 10 – 21 November 2020 each at 9pm, for audiences aged 16+.

Simon Amstell hones new stand up material for a possibly forthcoming tour. Some thoughts will be more developed than others

Simon Amstell’s previous shows include Do Nothing, Numb: Live at the BBC and his recent Netflix special, Set Free.

ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES OF YOLANDA MERCY’S

Q U A R T E R   L I F E   C R I S I S

 Last month The Bridge presented Yolanda Mercy’s one woman play Quarter Life Crisis as part of a season on one-person plays.  Directed by Jade Lewis and performed by Mercy, following a sell-out run additional performances will now take place on 10 – 14 November 2020 all at 7.15pm.

Alicia is a hot mess. She doesn’t know what she’s doing with her life. Swiping left, swiping right to find the perfect match. Even though she’s a Londoner, born and bred, the scent of Lagos peppers her existence in the ends. Everyone around her seems to know where they’re going in life, but she’s just trying to find ways to cheat growing up and keep her 16-25 railcard.  What does it mean to be an adult and when do you become one?

London based writer and performer Yolanda Mercy’s first play was On the Edge of Me presented at Soho Theatre where she is currently on attachment (as a Soho Six).  Earlier this year saw her television writing debut with BBW, a comedy drama for Channel 4 as part of their BAFTA nominated anthology – On the Edge.  She is a published author with Oberon Books for Quarter Life Crisis.

Previously seen in London at Soho Theatre in 2017 and 2018, Quarter Life Crisis was adapted for radio and broadcast on BBC Radio 1xtra.

FIVE PERFORMANCES ONLY OF OSMAN BAIG’S

F A K E   N E W S

The Bridge will present five performances of Fake News written and performed by Osman Baig and directed by Oliver Stephens.  Performances are on 17 – 21 November 2022 all at 7.15pm.

A budding young journalist lands a dream internship at the country’s biggest online news organization. There, he stumbles on an earth-shattering story and – against better judgement – decides to click publish. There’s just one problem: the story is completely untrue.

Whatever you think about the news or those who make it, prepare to think again – in this one-man show that will force you to ask if there really is such a thing as bad publicity.

Osman Baig is an actor, journalist and playwright. As an actor his theatre credits include Our Big Love Story for Hope Theatre, Julius Caesar and Coriolanus for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Richard III for the Almeida Theatre and Ulysses Theatre, Croatia and Boy also for the Almeida Theatre.  Journalism includes staff roles at CNN, Sky News and Al Jazeera, as well as BBC News and Bloomberg.  Baig was formerly a George Viner Scholar at City University, after graduating in Law from the Universities of Manchester and Burgundy.  He trained at Drama Studio London.  

Fake News is his first play, which premiered at the King’s Head Theatre in 2018 before transferring to venues including Theatre 503, Tara Arts & Waterloo East Theatre, then selling-out at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019 with Assembly.

Thomas Hopkins & Michael Quinn for Ginger Quiff Media in association with Guy Chapman
Peter Polycarpou and Sally Ann Triplett revive
the golden era in Falling Stars
Union Theatre, 229 Union Street, London, SE1 0LR
Sunday 22nd and 29th November 2020

Stars of stage and screen Peter Polycarpou (Man of La Mancha, London Coliseum; City of
Angels; Donmar Warehouse; Birds of a Feather) and Sally Ann Triplett (Finding Neverland,
Broadway; Viva Forever, Piccadilly Theatre; EastEnders) unite in the new musical Falling Stars. Conceived and written by Polycarpou, the song cycle is an homage to the composers, collaborators, and publishers of the 1920s, who created some of the greatest music of all time

Falling Stars is the charming story of a lost songbook; hidden away in an antique shop on the East Finchley High Road, its discovery unlocks the beautiful refrains of a bygone era. The entrancing production includes the earliest songs and forgotten melodies of composers who went on to become the most famous songwriters of the century, who changed entertainment forever

This musical revue captures the spirit of the age as Polycarpou and Triplett serenade audiences with the music of Charlie Chaplin, Irving Berlin, Buddy De-Silva, Ray Henderson, Vincent Youmans, Carl Schraubstader, Arthur Freed, and Meredith Wilson. Directed by Michael Strassen (Godspell 50th Anniversary concert; Billy; Assassins), Falling Stars will be performed live at Southwark’s Union Theatre for two nights only

Peter Polycarpou comments, Falling Stars is a collection of songs written just after another
pandemic – the influenza pandemic of 1918, which killed at least 30 million people worldwide

And why did the 1920s roar like they did? Because the music of The Charleston, The Tango and The Foxtrot were an escape from the awful social nightmare of the modern world. These songs are a reminder of a time when song writing was both a craft and a blessed escape

To remain Covid-Secure, and ensure social distancing is adhered to, the Union Theatre will
follow up-to-date safety regulations, reconfiguring the space to accommodate live audiences. All auditorium seating has been replaced by grouped seating or ‘bubbles’, reducing the overall venue capacity and increasing the floor space.

2020 CHRISTMAS AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM

ELAINE PAIGE JOINS THE CAST OF

P A N T O L A N D   A T   T H E   P A L L A D I U M

www.palladiumpantomime.com

Qdos Entertainment announced today (16 October 2020) that Elaine Paige will join the cast of Pantoland at The Palladium for the three-week festive run beginning 12 December 2020, which sees pantomime return to the world-famous The London Palladium for a fifth consecutive year.

Paige, returning to The London Palladium having played Queen Rat in Dick Whittington in 2017, joins the previously announced panto favourites Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Gary Wilmot, past stars Ashley Banjo & Diversity and Charlie Stemp and Palladium panto newcomers West End stars Beverley Knight and Jac Yarrow.

Multiple award-winning actor, recording artist, producer and broadcaster Elaine Paige will play Queen Rat.  She has previously starred in more West End and Broadway musicals than anyone else of her generation – Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Billy, Evita, Cats, Chess, Anything Goes, Piaf, Sunset Boulevard, The King & I, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Drowsy Chaperone and Follies.  In addition, she was part of the Sir Peter Hall Company for The Misanthrope and Where There’s A Will.  Her BBC Radio 2 programme, Elaine Paige on Sunday, is broadcast weekly to over 2.5 million listeners and is now in its sixteenth year.  As a recording artist, she has released 22 solo albums as well as featuring on multiple cast albums.  She can currently be seen on BBC1 in Life.  Paige was made an OBE in 1995.

Elaine Paige said: “I absolutely loved playing the evil Queen Rat in Dick Whittington a couple of years ago and can’t wait to be back on The London Palladium’s stage again this year, alongside Julian and the wonderful panto gang.  Bringing theatre back to the West End is vital for our industry, which has been largely closed since March. I’m thrilled to play a part in helping theatre take its first steps towards full reopening in 2021. It’s time to escape the challenges around us all and give everyone a well-needed laugh!”

This production at The London Palladium has been made possible as a result of a creative initiative announced by The National Lottery last week which it hopes will enable hundreds of thousands of theatregoers to enjoy socially distanced pantomime this Christmas in theatres across the nation. The initiative will see The National Lottery buy seats that need to remain empty to enable social-distancing, complying with relevant government and public health guidance. By making it viable for theatres to open their doors to the general public, up to 250,000 tickets are expected to be available, with more than 20,000 free tickets available for National Lottery players and the rest to go on sale. This will generate vital income for theatres and help restore jobs – while providing much-needed cheer for panto lovers at Christmas.      

Pantoland at The Palladium is the first of a number of productions at theatres across the country to be announced, with further venues to be confirmed in the coming weeks. 

The London Palladium pantomime has become an essential part of Christmas in London, with record-breaking box office success year-after-year. Pantoland at The Palladium, devised by Michael Harrison, will be a treasure-trove of The London Palladium panto past and exciting new surprises written especially for the show, guaranteeing an unmissable treat for panto and musical theatre fans alike.

The show will feature the work of Olivier Award-Winning Team director Michael Harrison, choreographer Karen Bruce, set designer Ian Westbrook, costume designer Hugh Durrant, lighting designer Ben Cracknell, sound designer Gareth Owen and composer and orchestrator Gary Hind.

Celebrating the very best of pantomime, with comedy in abundance, this star-filled extravaganza will play to a socially-distanced audience. Operating in line with the Government’s current guidance around the reopening of theatres, performances of Pantoland at The Palladium will run with a wide suite of health and safety measures (including reconfiguration of seating across the venue and the mandatory wearing of face coverings) that keep audiences, staff and crews safe. Since July, The London Palladium has been designated an official Government pilot venue to support the safe and full reopening of theatres across the country.

Pantoland at The Palladium is produced by Michael Harrison and Nick Thomas for Qdos Entertainment. As the world’s biggest pantomime producer, over the past 38 years Qdos Entertainment has established itself as one of the largest entertainment companies in Europe. Over the past three decades the pantomime giant has staged 754 pantomimes.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                               The London Palladium, Argyll St, London W1F 7TF

Dates:                                  12 December 2020 – 3 January 2021

Performances:                      see website for performance schedule

Website:                               www.palladiumpantomime.com

Twitter:                      @PalladiumPanto                      

Facebook:                             www.facebook.com/PalladiumPanto

Instagram:                           palladiumpanto

ARIA ENTERTAINMENT AND WEF PRODUCTIONS JOIN FORCES WITH THE LOWRY TO BRING THE CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED OUTDOOR SHOW C-o-n-t-a-c-t TO THE STREETS OF SALFORD AND MANCHESTER

Aria Entertainment and WEF Productions are delighted to announce that following the critically-acclaimed UK premiere of C-o-n-t-a-c-t, this immersive, two-hander outdoor performance featuring a captivating 3D sound design will run in partnership with The Lowry in two locations – Salford Quays and central Manchester for six weeks from 19 January 2021. Casting will be announced in due course. 

The production has also been licensed to open further afield in Brussels, Rome, Sweden and Chile with potential further locations including New York, Australia, South Africa and Germany in discussion. The production opens this month in Brussels and Rome whilst Sweden and Chile will open in November this year.

“We are absolutely thrilled that C-o-n-t-a-c-t will embark on a run in Salford and Manchester after its launch in London this Autumn. Greater Manchester is a fantastic city-region of culture which we have strong roots in so we could not be more proud to be bringing this unique sensory experience to new audiences in partnership with The Lowry.” Katy Lipson and Mathilde Moulin, Producers.

Matt Eames, Senior Programmer and Producer at The Lowry, said: “In these challenging times it’s so important we find new ways to connect with audiences. After the show’s big impact in London, we’re excited to work with Katy and WEF Productions to bring C-o-n-t-a-c-t to two locations in Greater Manchester before it continues its journey around the world. I’m certain our audiences will love this unique blend of sound and immersive theatre.”

“Since writing this play and developing the new technology during lockdown in Paris back in April, I could never have imagined that C-o-n-t-a-c-t would go on to be something we could share on such an international level. I am so proud that we have been able to bring people together to experience quality live theatre safely during these times” Samuel Sené, Director.

This innovative production opened to 4* reviews from The Guardian and the i, with The Times calling it “a tantalising vision of a new kind of theatre for these difficult times.”

C-o-n-t-a-c-t brings together a creative team of international talent including Director Samuel Sené, Book by Eric Chantelauze, English adaptation by Quentin Bruno, Music and Sound Designer Cyril Barbessol and Associate Director Bronagh Lagan.

Originally created by Samuel Sené and Gabrielle Jourdain and premiering in France with French production company Musidrama over the summer in a world where social distancing became the ‘new normal’, this timely story of a moving and unexpected encounter explores the themes of mental health and anxiety through the eyes of Sarah as she is approached by someone she believes to be a stranger. She discovers that he can hear her thoughts but how? Who is this man? Dive into her mind in this unique sensory and immersive new show and experience theatre like never before.

The show runs for 50 minutes without an interval and audiences download the audio from the app which is a completely new piece of technology synchronizing the spectators and actors, allowing the show to play with theatrical concepts and a new form of dramaturgy. Audiences of no more than 17 per show will purchase their tickets online and will then receive a link to download the app which will provide the exact location.

Following the government’s announcement regarding the reduction of social gatherings to 6, it is understood that this doesn’t affect performances of C-o-n-t-a-c-t as the show complies with the safety & hygiene measures in place for businesses and the performing arts set out by the government. This pedestrian performance is an outdoor promenade experience for small groups of up to 17 and adheres to strict social distancing between audience members. It is also an audio experience that involves no direct speaking of any actor in the play. All audience members will be required to wear a face-covering and observe social distancing measures. 

Tickets can be purchased via The Lowry’s website here and the latest video can be viewed here.