Month: November 2020

THE MOST ENCHANTED MUSICAL OF ALL TIME

TO BE RE-IMAGINED IN A BRAND NEW PRODUCTION

UK & Ireland Tour opens in Leicester, May 2021

Spectacular new designs and state-of-the-art technology to fuse with the classic story, bringing beloved tale to new life

New production reunites the original Broadway creative team

Iconic songs include Belle, Be Our Guest and Beauty and the Beast

For priority sign up and more information, see www.beautyandthebeastmusical.co.uk

Disney’s beloved Olivier Award-winning stage musical Beauty and the Beast is to be re-imagined and re-designed in a completely new production staged by the original award-winning creative team, and will open a UK & Ireland Tour in May 2021.

Performances will begin at Curve, Leicester on Tuesday 25 May 2021, with other engagements also announced today in Dublin, Bristol, Liverpool and Edinburgh.

The general on-sale will follow from Thursday 26 November 2020. Customers can sign up to be amongst the first to access tickets and can find all tour dates and information at www.beautyandthebeastmusical.co.uk

Spectacularly reimagined in startling new designs which will use the latest theatrical innovations, this timeless romantic tale will be brought to life on stage like never before, with all the charm and elegance audiences expect from Belle and her Beast.

Rob Roth, a Tony®-nominee for the original production, will again direct, leading a team that includes composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice, bookwriter Linda Woolverton, choreographer Matt West, scenic designer Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward and lighting designer Natasha Katz.  The team collectively received five Tony® nominations and a win for Hould-Ward’s costume design, when Disney first debuted Beauty and the Beast on Broadway 26 years ago.

Alan Menken said:

“Beauty and the Beast is a testament to the genius of my late friend and collaborator Howard Ashman, but the show’s richness comes from the combination of Howard’s style and that of the brilliant Tim Rice, with whom I expanded the score to give voice to the Beast,” said eight-time Oscar winning composer Alan Menken.  “It’s clear that audiences the world over want to return to the world of Beauty, which continues to amaze and humble those of us who created it. As the show returns to the UK, I cannot wait to see how Rob Roth and this glorious creative team bring the whole universe of Beauty and the Beast to  life once again.”

Tim Rice said:

“Beauty and the Beast is a story and a show which resonates through generations, and it was a great pleasure to work with Alan to expand the score he and the brilliant Howard Ashman first created. I am thrilled that there will be a brand new production and that the newest theatrical wizardry will bring another layer of magic to the tale. It is great that the UK will host the premiere of the new production, as this country has always enjoyed a special affinity with the show”.

Linda Woolverton said:

“I’ve found it so gratifying to have the liberty to go back in and tinker with the original book. I’ve trimmed, thrown out, re-conceived and spruced it up.  I also made changes to the dialogue with an eye to gender equality and progressive cultural awareness.  But Belle is still the intellectual feminist heroine she’s always been. 

Rob Roth said:

“I am so excited to premiere this new production of Beauty in the UK. The entire original creative team has reassembled, and we’ve reimagined the visual aspects of the show completely, making full use of all the newest technologies in stage craft, lighting and costume construction. Many of these elements hadn’t been invented when we first developed the show. So we are creating something brand new from this beloved “tale as old as time.”  I speak for the whole team when I say fortunate we all feel to be given the opportunity to reimagine the show for the 21st century. 

The structure and tone of the story and score – as conceived for the 1991 film by its executive producer and lyricist Howard Ashman with a continued evolution for the Broadway adaptation three years later – made Disney history. Only once before – in Menken and Ashman’s previous film musical The Little Mermaid – had a Disney film been structured like a stage musical where the songs are integral to plot and characterisation rather than only ornamental or digressions. This Menken/Ashman innovation is credited with the 1990’s Disney animation renaissance that went on to create such film classics as Aladdin, The Lion King and Hunchback of Notre Dame and helped re-introduce the book musical form to popular culture. 

This new Beauty, while retaining the lush period sound of the Oscar-winning and Tony®-nominated score – which brought classics including Be Our Guest and Beauty and the Beast, as well as Change in Me, added to the musical production in 1998 and retained thereafter – will be heard afresh with new dance arrangements by David Chase, allowing original choreographer Matt West to re-visit his work. Longtime Menken collaborators Michael Kosarin and Danny Troob are musical supervisor/vocal arranger and orchestrator, respectively. 

Completing the design team, Tony®-winner John Shivers is sound designer, Darryl Maloney is the video and projections designer, and David H. Lawrence is hair designer. Jim Steinmeyer is the illusions designer, as he was on the original 1994 production.

The original West End production of Beauty and the Beast opened at the Dominion Theatre in April 1997, playing over 1100 performances to more than two million people. It won the 1998 Olivier Award for Best Musical and enjoyed a hugely successful UK & Ireland tour in 2001.

Based on the 1991 film – the first animated feature ever nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture – Beauty and the Beast opened on Broadway in April 1994 and garnered nine Tony nominations and one win. It played for more than 13 years on Broadway, closing in 2007. It remains to this day – 26 years after it opened – among the top 10 longest running shows in Broadway history. The live-action retelling of the animated classic quickly became the highest grossing live action film musical of all time in 2017, a record only beaten by The Lion King live-action release in 2019.

Casting for the production, by Pippa Ailion Casting, will be announced at a later date.

Beauty and The Beast is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, under the supervision of Thomas Schumacher.

Beauty and The Beast – 2021 Tour Dates

Tuesday 25 May – Saturday 26 June 2021

Curve, Leicester

Box Office: 0116 242 3595

www.curveonline.co.uk

On Sale Early December

Thursday 8 July – Saturday 31 July 2021

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin

Box Office: 00 353 1677 7999

www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

Thursday 12 August – Saturday 18 September 2021

Bristol Hippodrome

Box Office: 0844 871 3012

www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome

Thursday 23 September – Saturday 16 October 2021

Liverpool Empire

Box Office: 0844 871 3017

www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire

Thursday 21 October – Saturday 27 November 2021

Edinburgh Playhouse

Box Office: 0844 871 3014

www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse

Further tour dates to be announced in due course.

★★★★★

“Fresh, subversive, essential”

Daily Telegraph

THE LEGENDARY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA

RETURNS FOR MAJOR UK TOUR

MARCH – OCTOBER 2021

TICKETS ON SALE FROM

12.00PM ON FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER

FROM ROCKYHORROR.CO.UK

Since it first opened in London in June 1973 at the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite Rock ‘N’ Roll musical, having been performed worldwide for over 45 years in more than 30 countries and translated into 20 languages. This critically-acclaimed new production is now back by huge public demand and will tour the UK from March to October 2021. Tickets are on sale from 12.00pm on Friday 6 November. Casting will be announced soon.

Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all of the famous musical num-bers which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for over four decades, including “Sweet Transvestite”, “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp” – this is perfect show to help people forget the doom and gloom of recent months.

Rocky’s creator, Richard O’Brien, said: “I am as thrilled, as the parent of an irrepressible child must be when they see their offspring skipping and dancing with abandon regardless of the when, where or why of the reason for doing so, to tell you that The Rocky Horror Show will be allowed out to play again in 2021. We ALL need a bit of cheering up lately so, please, break out the fishnets and join us for the fun.”

The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank’n’Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor. It’s an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits. The Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music while encouraging audience participation – meaning, of course, getting dressed-up in the most outrageous fancy dress.

The Rocky Horror Show first began life in 1973 before an audience of just 63 people in the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs. It was an immediate success and transferred to the Chelsea Classic Cinema, before going on to run at the Kings Road Theatre, 1973-79 and the Comedy Theatre in the West End, 1979-80. In 1975 it was transformed into a film called ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’. This film adaptation took over $135 million at the Box Office and is still shown in cinemas around the world more than 40 years after its premiere, making it the longest running theatrical release in cinema history. Many stars including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Jerry Springer, Jason Donovan and Meatloaf have appeared in The Rocky Horror Show over the past 45 years.

In 2015, as part of a sold-out season at London’s Playhouse Theatre, a special star-studded Gala charity performance in aid of Amnesty International was broadcast to over 600 cinemas across the UK and Europe. The live screening – featuring a host of celebrities playing The Narrator including Stephen Fry, Mel Giedroyc, Emma Bunton, Ade Edmondson, Anthony Head and Richard O’Brien – smashed box office records and was the biggest grossing film in cinemas across the UK. The performance was subsequently screened on the Sky Arts channel.

Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, The Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all. But be warned, this show has rude parts

What the press have said about The Rocky Horror Show:

“Panto for grown-ups – colourful, in your face, relentlessly energetic and high on audience participation” – The Times

“Hard to think of another musical quite as unique as this. Christopher Luscombe’s affectionate production feels like a genuine blast from the past” – Mail on Sunday

“As delightfully naughty as ever!” – Daily Telegraph

“So fast, so funny, so sexy” – Daily Mail

“Still the sexiest and funniest show in town” – Evening Standard

Rocky Horror Show 2021 UK & Ireland Tour Dates

W/C 01/03/2021 Southampton: Mayflower Theatre

W/C 08/03/2021 Southampton: Mayflower Theatre

W/C 29/03/2021 Oxford: New Theatre

W/C 05/04/2021 Hull: New Theatre

W/C 12/04/2021 Stoke-On-Trent: Regent Theatre

W/C 19/04/2021 Brighton: Theatre Royal

W/C 26/04/2021 Edinburgh: Festival Theatre

W/C 03/05/2021 Cardiff: New Theatre

W/C 10/05/2021 Belfast: Grand Opera House

W/C 17/05/2021 Bradford: Alhambra Theatre

W/C 24/05/2021 Liverpool: Empire Theatre

W/C 31/05/2021 Richmond: Theatre Royal

W/C 14/06/2021 Norwich: Theatre Royal

W/C 21/06/2021 Aberdeen: His Majesty’s Theatre

W/C 28/06/2021 York: Grand Opera House

W/C 19/07/2021 Blackpool: Opera House

W/C 26/07/2021 Canterbury: Marlowe Theatre

W/C 02/08/2021 Milton Keynes: Milton Keynes Theatre

W/C 09/08/2021 Nottingham: Royal Concert Hall

W/C 16/08/2021 Glasgow: King’s Theatre

W/C 23/08/2021 Manchester: Opera House

W/C 06/09/2021 Plymouth: Theatre Royal

W/C 13/09/2021 Llandudno: Venue Cymru

W/C 20/09/2021 Sunderland: Empire Theatre

W/C 27/09/2021 Birmingham: New Alexandra Theatre

WORLD PREMIERE OF

THE OSMONDS: A NEW MUSICAL

EMBARKS ON UK TOUR

IN AUGUST 2021

THE OSMONDS: A New Musical will receive its world premiere at London’s New Wimbledon Theatre on 26 August 2021, as part of a UK & Ireland Tour, which will run through to 30 April 2022.  THE OSMONDS: A New Musicalwith story by Jay Osmond tells the true story of the five brothers from Utah who were pushed into the spotlight as children and went on to create smash hits, decade after decade.

From their star residency on The Andy Williams Show from 1962 to 1969, to pop stars and ‘Osmondmania’ from 1971 to 1975, to the arrival of The Donny & Marie Show, a popular variety TV show, from 1976 to 1979, The Osmonds lived a remarkable life recording chart-topping albums, selling out vast arena concerts and making record-breaking TV shows – until one bad decision cost them everything. 

Jay Osmond said, “I’ve wanted to tell my story for such a long time and the opportunity to create this beautiful musical, a sort of ‘living autobiography’, seemed the perfect way to do so.  I spent my whole life performing live – on stage, on TV specials, in arenas – so the buzz of live theatre felt like the perfect place for me.  There were some difficult times in my life, and some big hurdles to overcome, and this musical will tell people things that will surprise them… but despite that trouble, when you look back and think of the fans, the music, the once in a lifetime things we did – it’s joyful.  I guess I want to do this now to try to spread a little bit of that joy.  I’ll know I’ve done a good job telling this story if I stand at the back of the theatre and see people waving their arms in the air, singing along and dancing in the aisles.  I just want people to be enjoying themselves.  I guess that is in the Osmonds’ DNA.” 

The musical features a list of 1970s anthems, including One Bad Apple, Down by the Lazy River, Crazy Horses, Let Me In, Love Me for a Reason, (We’re) Having a Party, Puppy Love, Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, Paper Roses and many more. 

The Osmonds have sold over 100 million records worldwide and won 59 Gold & Platinum awards, and now Jay Osmond pulls back the curtain to reveal the real family behind all these hits: parents George and Olive Osmond and their nine children, Virl, Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy.

THE OSMONDS: A New Musical has a story By Jay Osmond and book by Julian Bigg and Shaun Kerrison, and will be directed by Shaun Kerrison, with choreography and musical staging by Bill Deamer.

Full casting is to be announced.

The World Premiere of THE OSMONDS: A New Musical is produced by Royo in partnership with Twins Entertainment, with Vicky Nojesproduktion, Krall Entertainment, Aria Entertainment and Guy James Theatrical.

Website:  TheOsmondsMusical.co.uk 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theosmondsmusical/

Twitter:  @OsmondsMusical 

Instagram:  Theosmondsmusical                     

2021/2022 TOUR SCHEDULE

Thu 26 – Sat 28 August 2021                      LONDON New Wimbledon Theatre                          

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/Wimbledon*                                                                          on sale 13.11.20

Tue 31 Aug- Sat 4 September                     MANCHESTER Palace Theatre

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/Manchester*                                                                          on sale 13.11.20

Tue 7 – Sat 11 September                            BRIGHTON Theatre Royal

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/Brighton*                                                                                on sale 13.11.20

Tue 14 – Sat 18 September                         CARDIFF New Theatre                                                                                          02920 878889

                                                                          newtheatrecardiff.co.uk                                                                                     on sale 06.11.20

Tue 21 – Sat 25 September                         SOUTHAMPTON Mayflower Theatre                                                                 02380 711811

                                                                          mayflower.org.uk                                                                                                on sale 10.11.20

Tue 28 September – Sat 2 October            ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre

                                                                          aberdeenperformingarts.com                                                                          on sale 11.11.20

Tue 5 – Sat 9 October                                   EDINBURGH Festival Theatre                                                                             0131 529 6000

                                                                          capitaltheatres.com                                                                                           on sale 06.11.20

Tue 12 – Sat 16 October                              BIRMINGHAM The Alexandra Theatre                   

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/Birmingham*                                                                          on sale 13.11.20

Tue 19 – Sat 23 October                              BRADFORD Alhambra Theatre 01274 432000

                                                                          bradford-theatres.co.uk                                                                                     on sale 16.11.20

Tue 26 – Sat 30 October                              HULL New Theatre

                                                                          hulltheatres.co.uk                                                                                                on sale 06.11.20

Tue 2 – Sat 6 November                              LIVERPOOL Empire                                                                                                 0844 871 3017*

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/Liverpool*                                                                                on sale 13.11.20

 Tue 9 – Sat 13 November                           DARTFORD The Orchard Theatre                                  

                                                                          orchardtheatre.co.uk                                                                                           on sale 13.11.20

Tue 16 – Sat 20 November                          CHELTENHAM Everyman                                                                                       01242 572573

                                                                          everymantheatre.org.uk                                                                                     on sale 06.11.20

Tue 23 – Sat 27 November                          SUNDERLAND Empire                                                                                            0844 871 3022*

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/Sunderland*                                                                            on sale 13.11.20

Tue 11 – Sat 15 January 2022                    LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru                                                                                   01492 872000          

                                                                          venuecymru.co.uk                                                                                                on sale 06.11.20

Tue 18 – Sat 22 January                              YORK Grand Opera House

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/york*                                                                                         on sale 13.11.20

Tue 25 – Sat 29 January                              SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion

                                                                          southendtheatres.org.uk                                                                                     on sale 13.11.20

Tue 1 – Sat 5 February                                TORQUAY Princess Theatre

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/torquay*                                                                                    on sale 13.11.20

Tue 8 – Sat 12 February                              IPSWICH Regent Theatre

                                                                          ipswichtheatres.co.uk                                                                                           on sale 20.11.20

Tue 15 – Sat 19 February                            GLASGOW King’s Theatre

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/glasgow*                                                                                    on sale 13.11.20

Tue 22 – Sat 26 February                            OXFORD New Theatre

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/oxford*                                                                                       on sale 13.11.20

Tue 1 – Sat 5 March                                     WOKING New Victoria Theatre

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/Woking*                                                                                     on sale 13.11.20

Tue 8 – Sat 12 March                                   PETERBOROUGH New Theatre

                                                                          newtheatre-peterborough.com                                                                           on sale soon

Tue 15 – Sat 19 March                                 WOLVERHAMPTON Grand Theatre

                                                                           grandtheatre.co.uk                                                                                                on sale 02.12.20

Tue 29 March – Sat 2 April                          BLACKPOOL Winter Gardens                                                                                 0844 856 1111

                                                                          Wintergardensblackpool.co.uk                                                                            on sale 13.11.20

Tue 5 – Sat 9 April                                         STOKE-ON-TRENT Regent Theatre

                                                                          ATGTickets.com/stoke*                                                                                         on sale 13.11.20

Tue 12 – Sat 16 April                                    BELFAST Grand Opera house

                                                                          goh.co.uk                                                                                                                 on sale soon

Tue 19 – Sat 23 April                                    LEICESTER Curve

                                                                          curveonline.co.uk                                                                                                   on sale soon

Tue 26 – Sat 30 April                                    BROMLEY Churchill Theatre

                                                                          churchilltheatre.co.uk                                                                                           on sale 13.11.20

^*Subject to booking / transaction fees

Further dates to be added.

Press Statement

The producers of The Show Must Go On! Live at The Palace Theatre, announced today the show will be rescheduled. The concert will now run from 20 – 24 January 2021 and customers will be contacted about the exchange of their tickets. 

Casting for the new dates may be subject to change and will be announced at a later date. 

We thank everybody for their patience during these times. 

Theatre Support+ and Take Two Theatricals 

Following Rishi Sunak’s announcement of the extension of the Job Retention Scheme today, Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan responds:

Theatres Trust welcomes the Chancellor’s announcement extending the furlough scheme until the end of March 2021 across the UK. While theatres remain at Stage 4 of the reopening plan, which only allows performances with socially distanced audiences, many will be unable to reopen viably after lockdown is lifted. Additionally for those theatres in areas returning to Tiers 2 and 3 after lockdown, where other night time businesses will be closed and travel severely restricted, reopening will be doubly challenging. Extending the Job Retention Scheme is a lifeline for theatres and we would like to see it remain in place until Stage 5 when theatres can welcome fuller audiences and reopen viably.

Danielle Tarento presents
The world première of
‘The Elf Who Was Scared of Christmas’
written by and featuring West End stars
Gina Beck and Neil McDermot

Meet Figgy and Cupcake, two of Santa’s Christmas elves. For 11 months of the year, Cupcake is a bright and bubbly bundle of joy. But come December 1st, all that changes – because Cupcake is ‘The Elf Who Was Scared of Christmas’.

Come and join Figgy in an original Christmas story as he tries to help Cupcake overcome her fear of Christmas. Using the power of imagination, and with a little help from you, will he be able to remind her of the importance and magic of Christmas? And, in helping Cupcake, will Figgy solve some of his own Christmassy problems?

This December, join Figgy and Cupcake on a journey of self-discovery, friendship and Christmas cheer, ending in an an all-singing, all-dancing musical celebration featuring some of your favourite Christmas songs.

‘The Elf Who Was Scared of Christmas’ runs from Tuesday 8th – Wednesday 23rd December.

Neil McDermott and Gina Beck met over 20 years ago performing with the National Youth Music Theatre. Unbelievably, their career paths haven’t crossed since! They now live in the same village with their families and decided to come together during these unprecedented times to create an original theatre show for young people that could be performed under the current restrictions.

With two children each, they really wanted to make something for small people and their families to ensure that Christmas this year is as magical as ever.

Gina’s West End leading roles include: Miss Honey in ‘Matilda The Musical’, Magnolia Hawks in ‘Show Boat’, Glinda in ‘Wicked’, Christine Daaé in ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ and Cosette in ‘Les Misérables’.

Neil is best known for playing Ryan Malloy in ‘EastEnders’. His West End leading roles include: Philip Stuckey in ‘Pretty Woman’, Lord Farquaad in ‘Shrek The Musical’, Chief Weasel in ‘The Wind In The Willows’ and Captain Von Trapp in ‘The Sound Of Music’.

LISTINGS INFO

Danielle Tarento presents
‘The Elf Who Was Scared of Christmas’

Charing Cross Theatre
The Arches Villiers Street
London
WC2N 6NL
www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk
Box office: 08444 930650

Tuesday 8th – Wednesday 23rd December

Tuesday 8th 11.30am & 1.30pm
Wednesday 9th 11.30am & 1.30pm
Thursday 10th 11.30am & 1.30pm
Friday 11th 11.30am & 1.30pm
Saturday 12th 10.30am & 12.30pm
Sunday 13th 10.30am & 12.30pm
Monday 14th NO SHOWS
Tuesday 15th 11.30am & 1.30pm
Wednesday 16th 11.30am & 1.30pm
Thursday 17th 11.30am & 1.30pm
Friday 18th 11.30am & 1.30pm
Saturday 19th NO SHOWS
Sunday 20th 10.30am & 12.30pm
Monday 21st NO SHOWS
Tuesday 22nd 11.30am & 1.30pm
Wednesday 23rd 11.30am & 1.30pm

Running time: 1 hour (approx)

Tickets: Adults £25, children £15

Suitable for children of all ages

A booking fee applies to phone and internet
orders; no booking fee to personal callers
The box office is open from 1 hour before curtain time
on performance days for personal callers

SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook
@CharingCrossThr
@tarentoproductions

Twitter
@CharingCrossThr
@danielletarento
@Gina_Beck
@NeilMcdermott07

Instagram
@CharingCrossThr
@danielletarento
@ginabeck
@neilmcdermott07

Covid-19 Information
For all information on how Charing Cross Theatre is making your theatre trip
as safe as possible, please visit https://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/your-visit/
covid-19-information. Should the November lockdown be extended further into
December, thus affecting your booking, you will be entitled to a full refund

BRITISH PANTOMIME ACADEMY TO TAKE PANTO INTO SCHOOLS

With trips to theatres hanging in the balance for many for this years panto season the British Pantomime Academy is working hard to take the show on the road and, providing lockdown restrictions allow, will be bringing some COVID safe Christmas magic to youngsters in schools across the UK.

The British Pantomime Academy who were created in 2019 to offer students of all ages workshop and learning opportunities with leading pantomime stars and creatives, will bring to life the two of the most loved Christmas tales of all, Cinderella and Aladdin, in hour long performances to schools across the UK.  The pantomimes which will feature four professional performers will contain all of your favourite traditional panto ingredients, with lots of magic, sparkle and adventure and even a surprise cameo from a school teacher! 

The Pantomimes have been written for a 2020 audience and have taken into consideration some of the challenges children have had to face this year.

Kev Orkian Founder of The BPA tells us “We are passionate about pantomime and have been working hard as a team to see what we can do to keep this magical tradition alive this year.  2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, not least the children who have had their lives and routines disrupted and a lot of simple pleasures taken away in the blink of an eye.  We know what a rewarding, fun and engaging experience pantomime provides for children and want to continue to make this experience possible and bring them some happiness for Christmas , keeping the spirit of pantomime alive in schools across the UK. ”

The British Pantomime Academy is planning to visit schools in December following the proposed lift on lockdown restrictions on 02 December but aims to be flexible and has built in contingency plans to reschedule any bookings into the New Year should they need to.

Kev continues “ Although we are still forging ahead for Christmas we have made a commitment to any school that we visit that, should restrictions stop our visit, will we come back at no extra cost in 2021.  Be it a New Years panto, an Easter panto or whenever! We will bring fun and laughter to school children of all ages”

You can find out more about the British Pantomime academy schools pantos at www.britishpantomimeacademy.com

TAMZIN OUTHWAITE REPLACES JANIE DEE IN

THE HAUNTING OF ALICE BOWLES

A NEW ADAPTATION BY PHILIP FRANKS

OF THE M.R. JAMES SHORT STORY THE EXPERIMENT

A NEW COMMISSION BY ORIGINAL THEATRE COMPANY

ONLINE STREAMING FROM 7.30PM ON 17 DECEMBER 2020

Janie Dee has had to withdraw from the production of The Haunting of Alice Bowles for personal reasons, but the producers, Original Theatre Company, are delighted to be able to announce that Tamzin Outhwaite will now be playing the titular character in this new supernatural thriller by Philip Franks, adapted for the first time from the M.R. James chilling short ghost story, The Experiment.

Original Theatre Company has already produced the critically acclaimed lockdown productions of Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong Online, Louise Coulthard’s Watching Rosie and the new commission by Torben Betts, Apollo 13: The Dark Side of The Moon. The Haunting of Alice Bowles is the company’s fourth original online production since theatres were closed by the Government in March this year.  It will be available to watch via originaltheatreonline.com from 7.30pm on 17 December 2020 until 28 February 2021. 

In 1918, the recently widowed Alice Bowles is left destitute as she seeks to solve a mystery left by her late husband Francis.  Moving to 2020, YouTube urban explorers Matt and Caitlin uncover a mysterious grave in an abandoned churchyard.  What starts as harmless entertainment soon turns darker when their discovery begins to unwrap a mystery which has lain dormant for over a century.  

Philip Franks said:

“I’ve loved M. R. James ever since I was terrified by ‘Whistle and I’ll Come To You’ on the BBC in 1968.  A series of brilliantly subtle and scary adaptations of his ghost stories were a highlight of Christmas viewing for many years.  Now it’s my turn.  I’ve taken a very short story of his – as far as I know never dramatised before – and given it a modern twist for our troubled times.  I hope audiences find it pleasurably terrifying.” 

Tamzin Outhwaite, who will star as Alice, is probably best known for her regular TV roles in EastEnders, New Tricks, Hotel Babylon and Red Cap.  Her theatre credits include Stepping Out (Theatre Royal Bath &Tour), How The Other Half Loves (West End), Di & Viv & Rose (West End & Hampstead), Sweet Charity (Menier Chocolate Factory & West End), Boeing Boeing (West End), Breathing Corpses (Royal Court), Oliver! (West End), Grease (West End), Carousel (National Theatre) and Radio Times (West End).

The Haunting of Alice Bowles also stars Max Bowden (EastEnders, Waterloo Road, Birdsong) as Matt, Stephen Boxer (The Crown, Humans, Garrow’s Law, countless productions for the RSC and National Theatre) as Dr Hall, Jack Archer (Monogamy, Quaint Honour, Nivelli’s War) as Joseph, Alexandra Guelff (Witness for the Prosecution, The Habit of Art) as Caitlin, Robert Mountford (Holby City, North Square, The Habit of Art) as the Lawyer, Poppy Roe (A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life, Royal Matchmaker) as Mrs Ivey and Tim Treloar (Birdsong, King Lear) as the Boatman.

Alastair Whatley, Artistic Director of Original Theatre Company, said:

“It’s a real pleasure to be announcing our fourth major project for Original Theatre Online.  Philip Franks’s brand new adaptation provides a new twist on a classic ghost story in time for Christmas.  The Haunting of Alice Bowles continues our work innovating a new form of creating and sharing work online, a cine-theatrical event for dark December nights.”

The Haunting of Alice Bowles will be co-directed by Philip Franks and Alastair Whatley, designed by Adrian Linford and edited by Tristan Shepherd, with sound design and original music composed by Max Pappenheim.

The online production of The Haunting of Alice Bowles is produced by Original Theatre Company.

@OriginalTheatre #HauntingAlice

LISTINGS INFORMATION

THE HAUNTING OF ALICE BOWLES

By Philip Franks

Dates: 17 December 2020 – 28 February 2021

Running Time: approximately 45 minutes

Age guidance: 15+

Book: originaltheatreonline.com

Tickets:

·        Early bird (booked by 30 November) – £12.50

·        Standard – £15

·        Supporter Package (booked by 30 November) – £50 (includes supporter credit on the final film and digital programme)

·        Premium Package (booked by 31 October) – £100 (includes signed script by cast/creative member of your choice, supporter credit on the film, digital programme) 

ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE ANNOUNCES

PHOENIX BY MIKE BARTLETTAS PART OF SIGNAL FIRESNew Mike Bartlett audio-drama read by Bertie Carvel in rapid response to the present moment, marking the beginning of a new lockdown.

ETT (English Touring Theatre) today announces Phoenix, an audio drama written by Mike Bartlett and read by Bertie Carvel, Olivier Award winners, who previously collaborated on the BBC’s Doctor Foster. The production is part of Signal Fires, a project conceived by ETT and Headlong to bring together over forty of the UK’s leading touring companies to tour an idea at a time when traditional touring isn’t possible. Phoenix is released on Thursday 5 November on ETT’s website and social media channels ahead of a release on iTunes and Spotify.

Released on Bonfire Night, Phoenix is a story about fire, destruction, and rebirth; about the impact an individual’s choice can have on the national psyche; about the breakdown of collective trust. This is a story of someone in power who breaks the rules. 

A searing exploration of Britain’s relationship to its government, Phoenix is a beautifully written, sharply comic and darkly provocative piece that interrogates the tension between our collective responsibility and individual desires. 

Richard Twyman, Artistic Director and Sophie Scull, Executive Producer of ETT, said today, “As we head into a second lockdown, we’re delighted to be able to offer this short story by Mike Bartlett that looks at how the trust of the first was broken. We were originally due to produce a live storytelling event for an audience gathered around a fire, as part of Signal Fires. But as we’re unable to gather in person, Mike wrote a new piece, set by a fire, for audiences to enjoy at home. Performed by the extraordinary Bertie Carvel we hope audiences can sit back, light a candle or a fire and listen to this offering for Bonfire Night and the dark evenings ahead.”

The audio drama has sound design by Ben and Max Ringham.

Mike Bartlett is a multi-award-winning stage and screen writer. He has won three Olivier Awards for his plays Cock (Royal Court Theatre – Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre), King Charles III (Almeida Theatre/Wyndham’s Theatre – Best New Play; also winner of Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Play), Bull (Young Vic – Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre). He also won the UK Theatre Award for Best New Play for Love, Love, Love, which transferred to the Royal Court Theatre. Other plays include Snowflake (Kiln Theatre), Albion, Game (Almeida Theatre), Wild (Hampstead Theatre), 13, Earthquakes In London (National Theatre) and many others. He has previously been Writer-in-Residence at the Royal Court Theatre, National Theatre and Paines Plough. His television work has also won national acclaim, including hit BBC One series Doctor Foster, which won BAFTA, National Television, Royal Television Society and Broadcasting Press Guild Awards. Other TV credits include Press (BBC), Trauma, The Town (ITV – BAFTA nominated) and the TV adaptation of King Charles III and Albion (BBC).

Bertie Carvel’s theatre credits include Ink (Almeida Theatre/Duke of York’s Theatre/Samuel J. Friedman Theater – Winner of the Best Featured Actor in a Play Tony Award), The Hairy Ape (The Old Vic), Bakkhai, Rope (Almeida Theatre), Damned by Despair, The Man of Mode, The Life of Galileo, Coram Boy (National Theatre), Matilda the Musical (RSC/Cambridge Theatre/ Shubert Theatre – Winner of the Best Actor in a Musical Olivier Award), The Pride (Royal Court Theatre), The Circle (Chichester Festival Theatre/UK tour) and Parade (Donmar Warehouse). His television credits include The Sister, The Pale Horse, Baghdad Central, Doctor Foster, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and Babylon; and for film, Macbeth and Les Misérables.

Ben and Max Ringham’s previous theatre credits for Sound Design include Blindness, Teenage Dick, Berberian Sound Studio, Cyrano de Bergerac, Pinter at the Pinter, Betrayal (West End), The Seven Ages of Patience, Pass Over (Kiln Theatre), Ugly Lies the Bone (National Theatre), Pygmalion, Dial M for Murder (UK tour), Party Skills (Shoreditch Town Hall), The Meeting (Chichester Festival Theatre), Machinal (Almeida Theatre), Love and Information (Sheffield Theatres), and Gloria (Hampstead Theatre).

Maybe We Should All Be Less Afraid of the Dark,an open-air fireside storytelling event written and performed by Alissa Anne Jeun Yi, was due to run at Betteshanger Park, Deal on Saturday 7 November as part of Signal Fires 2020. Due to national Coronavirus lockdown measures, the performance has been cancelled and will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

STEPHEN FRY & JAMES NORTON

TO RE-OPEN THE WEST END POST-LOCKDOWN

PALACE THEATRE LONDON

7^TH – 8^TH DECEMBER 2020

Produced by the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield in association with Guy Chapman:

THE UNDERSTUDY

By Henry Filloux-Bennett, based on the best-selling novel by David Nicholls

    

STARRING

Stephen Fry, James Norton, Mina Anwar, Natalie Casey, Sasha Frost, Marie Lawrence, James McNicholas, Lizzie Muncey & more

A cast of 14, including Stephen Fry and James Norton, will celebrate the re-opening of the West End in an exclusive semi-staged rehearsed readingof The Understudy which was presented as an animated online play in May to raise funds for the theatre industry. The play will once again be raising much needed funds for the UK’s theatre industry, and proceeds from the play will be split between Acting For Others, the Equity Charitable Trust and The Theatre Development Trust, run by the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre.

For two nights only at London’s Palace Theatre, this is a perfect pre-Christmas treat for theatre lovers.

The stellar line-up of actors currently confirmed to perform in The Understudy includes Stephen Fry, James Norton, Mina Anwar, Natalie Casey and many more. Having previously recorded their lines in isolation, this will be the first time the actors will be performing together in the flesh as they swap their makeshift recording studios at home for the real life stage, which has been prohibited since March. Directed by Giles Croft, this is a stage adaptation written by Henry Filloux-Bennett and will be accompanied by Dusthouse’s wonderful animation from the play’s online adaptation.

Based on the novel by the best-selling author David Nicholls, The Understudy tells the story of an underdog – a failed husband, a failing father, a failing actor, and the impossible choice he’s going to have to make between stealing the show and stealing another man’s wife.

Giles Croft, Director of The Understudy, comments: “Over the past seven months I have watched as theatres, theatre companies and artists have struggled to manage the impact of COVID-19. I have been impressed by their resilience and ingenuity and saddened by the heartache and the loss. Having been through the ‘Zoom revolution’ we are now entering, tentatively, the era of the socially distanced audience and bubbled actors, which I have no doubt will lead to great creativity and inventiveness, but things will not be the same as they were. Success will depend as much on creating confidence that theatres (permanent or pop up) are safe places to spend time, as much as on the work produced. Having experienced my first visit to a socially-distanced show last week, I am confident that it will happen and very excited that this excellent project, born out of lockdown, is going to play a part in bringing live theatre back to UK stages.”

Nimax Chief Executive Nica Burns, comments: “There couldn’t be a better way of reopening the Palace Theatre following our second national lockdown:  Stephen Fry leading a fantastic cast in two charity performances of THE UNDERSTUDY.   The theatre community continues to stand together using their talents entertaining eager audiences in support of our performers and freelancers.  Standing centrestage is the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield which continues like many regional theatres, to be at the heart of its local community while providing them with wonderful entertainment.”

Praising the play’s digital premier in May, Dominic Cavendish at The Telegraph writes: “Stephen Fry steals the show in this witty, star-studded online comedy… Cometh the hour of our theatres’ closure, cometh the cohort of acting talent helping to give the story the kind of playful boost it deserves.”

Additionally, The Stage’s Fergus Morgan comments: “It is a story that wittily steps between two very different acting worlds – the red velvet and rooftop parties of the West End, and the crappy agents’ offices and converted garages that sit somewhere south of success.”

Synopsis

Actor Stephen McQueen has just landed a dream West End role. Well, that’s not quite true – he’s going to be is understudying film star (and 12^th Sexiest Man in the World) Josh Harper in the brand-new show ‘Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know’, but still…Whilst he’s waiting for his time to shine, he reflects on his career – one that has spanned everything from (non-speaking) Rent Boy 3 in ‘The Bill’ to his recent starring role as Sammy in the (low-budget) regional tour of ‘Sammy The Squirrel’s Seriously Silly Safari’.

With this new job Stephen’s stage career may be destined for the dizzying heights, but not everything is going quite as well. Stephen’s wife left him two years ago, wondering if he’d ever grow up; his daughter wonders when he’ll get an actual job; worst of all, he’s starting to fall for the leading man’s wife.

The Understudy was originally commissioned by The Lowry, Salford.