Month: February 2021

PRESS RELEASE – 26 February 2021

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WATCH COURTNEY STAPLETON, TYRONE HUNTLEY AND MORE SING “ONLY A MOMENT” BY MATTHEW HARVEY

• MATTHEW HARVEY HAS ALSO BEEN ANNOUNCED TODAY AS AN ASSOCIATE ARTIST AT THE BARN THEATRE
• VIDEO CAN BE FOUND HERE

The Barn Theatre have today released the debut recording of the song “Only A Moment” by composer, lyricist and performer Matthew Harvey, featuring West End stars including Courtney Stapleton, Tyrone Huntley, Alexia Khadime & Emma Kingston.

Matthew Harvey, who has previously been seen on stage in Jesus Christ Superstar and Violet, has also today been announced as an associate artist. The ongoing collaboration will see him work with the Cirencester-based theatre on projects for both physical and digital theatre. The first project being a song cycle entitled Now or Never.

Soloists featured in the video are Alexia Khadime (Prince of Egypt, Wicked), Courtney Stapleton (Dear Evan Hansen, SIX), Emma Kingston (Les Miserables, Evita, In The Heights), Eloise Davies (Be More Chill, Grease), Nicholas McLean (Wicked, Avenue Q), Tyrone Huntley (Jesus Christ Superstar, Wicked) and Matthew Harvey (Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables).

The video also features vocalists Emanuel Alba, Katie Shearman, Charlie Johnson and Darren Tough with Jessie Linden (drums), Laurent Judson (guitar), David Kadumukasa (cello) and mixing and additional orchestrations by Sean Green.

The video was filmed following strict COVID guidelines at Fiction Studios.

Further details on Now or Never will be revealed at a later date.

Streaming 24 February – 13 March – book via https://www.creationtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/grimm-tales/

4****

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

The isolation of lockdown is channelled to wild and weird effect in Grimm Tales for Fragile Times and Broken People. Creation Theatre’s online Repertory Company have devised a show that twists and turns like a path through the deep dark woods and is just as unsettling.

As you join the show, you are advised to switch off your lights and light a candle – which will definitely give you the chills as one story progresses if you are watching in a draughty room!

The storytellers have surrounded themselves with a vast wild wood to protect themselves, and inhabit claustrophobic spaces reflecting the tale they will share. Grimms’ Fairy Tales are pretty dark anyway, and Creation’s treatment of The Juniper Tree (Graeme Rose), Hansel And Gretel (Annabelle Terry), Rumpelstiltskin (Natasha Rickman), The Moon (Kofi Dennis) and Godfather Death (Dharmesh Patel) plays with our fascination with that darkness with a sinister glee.

Ryan Dawson Laight’s set and costume design enhance the feeling that these are runaways from a circus or fairground who have constructed makeshift shelters with items that comfort them amongst the spooky trees, and at first it seems as if we will witness a traditional series of stories, told one after the other. But director Gari Jones soon skewers this familiar concept of storytelling, as the tales interrupt and overlap each other with no settled rhythm, always keeping the audience on edge. The cast relish every word of their stories, and all delve deep with their performances becoming more and more grim and unhinged. All the cast give wonderfully weird performances, but Natasha Rickman’s very modern version of Rumpelstiltskin (aided by her sinister little baby) steals the show.

Grimm Tales for Fragile Times and Broken People is an atmospheric and wildly entertaining storytelling treat. Well worth a look.

Soho Theatre On Demand from 24 February – book via https://sohotheatreondemand.com/show/typical

5*****

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

After a sell-out run at Soho Theatre in 2019, Typical was filmed at the theatre during the pandemic and has lost none of its potency onscreen.

What starts as an upbeat and hopeful day in the life of a divorced father soon spirals into tragedy, and the knowledge that Ryan Calais Cameron’s play is a dramatization of the last day in the life of Christopher Ibikunle Alder doesn’t prepare you for the sudden violence.

Richard Blackwood is full of energy and easy charm as he gets ready for a night out, determined to have a good time even when all his friends cry off. Set in 1998, the music and cultural references develop a warm glow of nostalgia. The writing is lyrical and full of clever wordplay and puns – used as armour and as a coping mechanism to deal with the racism faced every day. Blackwood makes the language seem natural and spontaneous, and effortlessly builds a rapport with the audience. This is a very likeable man – an ex-paratrooper, proud of his country and his service, looking forward to his weekend with his children. Blackwood’s character is well aware of society’s views and expectations of him – the joking “typical” events of his preparation for the evening, soon become a commentary on the “typical” tropes of British society and Black masculinity.

Director Anastasia Osei-Kuffour slowly cranks up the discomforting sense of foreboding as Blackwood becomes more and more aware that he is the only black person in the club and is confronted by a group of thugs, but even then, the throw away lines keep coming, but with more of a gallows humour. As he sits in the hospital waiting room, your anger and frustration will rise with him as institutionalised racism supersedes any duty of care. Portraying the brutality shown by the police in a one-man show should be impossible, but Blackwood’s physicality and commitment to the role makes these scenes utterly convincing. Even as he lies on the floor dying, Ryan Calais Cameron script reminds us of Adler’s humanity and dignity, and Blackwood is devastating in the final scenes. Typical is funny, clever and horrifying – unforgettable. A must-see production.

Funny Women Around the World
Saturday 6th March 2021, 10am – 10pm
Pack your bags to celebrate International Women’s Day with Funny Women

To celebrate International Women’s Day, leading female comedy community Funny Women is running the inaugural Funny Women Around The World. This exciting and hilarious virtual free event will showcase comedy and entertainment from every corner of the globe to launch the Funny Women Awards. Taking place over a continuous 12-hour stream on Twitch, this curated programme of brand new regional talent and familiar Funny Women faces, including Sarah Keyworth and Sooz Kempner, will keep audiences laughing no matter when they tune in.

The Awards were launched in 2003 and continued to run in 2020 during lockdown to fulfil a continuing need to raise the profile of women’s comedy across the world. Over the past year, Funny Women has strengthened its virtual communications and widened its community reach to stretch from London to Manchester, Glasgow to Dublin, from Amsterdam to Boston, Singapore to Melbourne – creating a fabulously international network of comedy-makers!

Kathleen Price, Community Engagement Producer, comments, I don’t think I could ever really summarise the uplifting triumph that I have felt from our community outreach in the face of these tough times, but Funny Women Around the World comes incredibly close. The passion from creatives and performers spanning across several continents and twelve hours with the shared goal of embracing laughter and empowering women will not only be amazing fun, but a sign that there are no limits to where Funny Women’s ethos and ambition can take us.

Funny Women is a not for profit; Community Interest Company founded in 2002 by Lynne Parker to give women a powerful voice through comedy. It provides a centre of excellence for comedy skills and training to enable a stronger female presence in mainstream comedy through performance, new writing and creative development. It runs workshops, comedy courses, outreach events, and provides strong community engagement. The annual Awards have launched many female comedy careers including Zoe Lyons, Sarah Millican, Susan Calman, Bridget Christie, Andi Osho, Katherine Ryan, Sara Pascoe, London Hughes, Jayde Adams and Desiree Burch.

Funny Women Around the World is proud to act as a promotion partner for Plan International UK’s ‘Because I’m a Girl’ campaign. Plan International UK works with young people and youth activists to understand the solutions they need to see in their communities and to lobby those in power, creating last impact and enabling girls to live the lives they choose. Previous successes have included raising the age of marriage to 18 in Guatemala and Malawi, as well as getting the UK Government to recognise street harassment as a form of gender-based violence.

Storielibere.fm presents: 

London Expat

New podcast follows the long road to becoming a British citizen, with special guest drag queen Jonny Woo  

Performed and written by Cecilia Gragnani | Curated by Gabriele Carrer and Cecilia Belluzzo 

Cover image by Giacomo Botto | Music by Epidemic Sound 

Six-part podcast series, monthly until June available on all platforms 

“a vital reminder of how destabilising Brexit will be for vast numbers of people who call the UK home” The Stage

@storielibere | @thececiliag | #LondonExpat | papersmokers.co.uk 

As artists are beginning to feel the full force of what Brexit will mean to the industry, Cecilia Gragnani has revitalised her show Diary of an Expat as a podcast, examining what it feels like to live as an expat in London. In 2018, after she was faced with the possibility of having to leave her home of ten years, Cecilia Gragnani created a show to share her personal experience and testimonials of others to ask. Adapted from her solo theatre show, the six-part podcast series London Expat welcomes guest star Drag Queen Jonny Woo as the Spirit of London. Together, the pair unpick the official guidance from the government sanctioned “Life in the UK” which is a compulsory read for aspiring citizens but is widely unfamiliar with English natives. To get ready to become a subject of her Majesty the Queen, Cecilia will have learnt important information like who brought shampoo to the UK.  

A comic story of the encounter between a modern migrant and London – a contemporary El Dorado craved by generations of young Europeans – London Expat looks at the road to becoming a British citizen, embracing a new nationality whilst staying true to your roots, and the knocks your identity takes when no country claims you as their own. From amusing miscommunications to bewildering legal technicalities, Cecilia delves into the day-to-day of living in a country that can’t pronounce your surname. 

Writer and performer Cecilia Gragnani said, “The experience of the expat is fundamentally a lonely one. While interviewing many expats, I understood that, even among those who had settled in a community and felt part of it, the common feeling was a sense of loneliness. With the show I wanted expats like me to feel less lonely, to have their stories heard, to have a space where they could identify with the character, where they could see themselves and their journey, and perhaps feel less lonely afterwards.  

“With the podcast I decided to expand the voice of London as a true fairy drag-mother guiding expats in their tortuous lives abroad. I also took the opportunity to focus on the journalistic side of the matter by exploring specific themes in each episode from belonging to identity and freedom, interviewing experts on different topics, sharing real testimonies of expats, getting tips from professionals like a royal butler. I hope the podcast will be able to reach expats all over the world and collaborate to create a dialogue between immigrants and native communities.” 

Cecilia Gragnani (pronounced gra-GNa-ne), is a proud Italian and devoted supporter of AC Milan. She came to the UK in 2008 to study at Drama Centre, and since has been working in the UK and Italy as a performer and writer. She has been included in Sister-South of the River Commendation List, is writing a book for Italian publisher Sperling & Kupfer and developing a TV Series. She focuses on work that exists across borders, is multilingual and transcultural.  

Jonny Woo, born Jonny Wooster, is a British performer and drag queen. Among his many activities between New York and London, he has hosted events for the Royal Opera House, collaborated with TV channels and companies such as MTV and Selfridges. Woo is also the co-owner of the London pub The Glory where he presents many of his shows.  

Storie Libere is a project of narration and entertainment wanting to give words a central role. It’s a platform of podcasts by militant narrators. Our storie libere (free stories) are lived, told and shared through the quality of good writing and the imaginative ability to engage listeners through voices and sounds. 

Running Time: Approx 30 mins per episode (six parts)  

Production information 

A Storielibere.fm production 

by Gian Andrea Cerone & Rossana De Michele 

Editorial coordinator Guido Guenci 

Editorial staff Cecilia Belluzzo 

Audio post-production Antonio Mezzadra 

Listings information 

Monthly 

Available from: storielibere.fm/london-expat/  

Platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google podcasts  

stream.theatre announces ShowShare

A new one-stop streaming solution to help schools, amateur dramatic societies and community groups get back on stage. 

stream.theatre is proud to be making its streaming technology available for schools, amateur dramatic societies, community theatre and more via its new tool – ShowShare. 

ShowShare is a new initiative that allows organisations to stream their productions with a dedicated team to help at every step of the way, ShowShare makes streaming secure, straightforward and affordable. They take care of everything behind the scenes and provide resources to help those new to streaming, leaving creators free to focus on their show. The shows will be streamed on a specially created area of stream.theatre’s digital platform. 

ShowShare is the approved streaming provider for The Really Useful Group, MTI Europe, Concord Theatricals, Broadway Licensing and PlayScripts – which means that a huge array of popular titles are now available to license for streaming. For the first time, thanks to the Really Useful Group, schools will be able to stream their productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats and more. 

From productions on Zoom, through to productions in theatres with an audience – ShowShare allows organisations to reach a digital audience safely, securely and easily. Productions can be live-streamed or pre-recorded, scheduled or on demand. They can be filmed in a smartphone, or by a professional capture team; ShowShare makes streaming possible for everybody.

ShowShare allows organisations can connect with their audiences again – whether that be family members who cannot travel to see a school performance, or theatre fans who miss their local amateur theatre group’s performances.

For more information and to start streaming, organisations can visit www.showshare.co.uk

PAPATANGO ANNOUNCE EXTENSION OF

SAMUEL BAILEY’S SHOOK DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND –

NOW STREAMING UNTIL 28 MARCH 2021

“Samuel Bailey’s knockout professional debut…rings with fresh truth”

The New York Times (Critic’s Pick)

Papatango today announce the extension of their critically-acclaimed production Shook by Samuel Bailey. The 2019 Papatango New Writing Prize-winner, which was due to transfer to the West End when the pandemic hit, was filmed and made available to stream at the beginning of this month. Due to popular demand, it will now be available for a further month, until 28 March 2021.

Tickets are £10 via www.papatango.co.uk/shook – captions available. Access to the stream lasts for 48 hours from point of purchase, provided tickets are purchased by 11.59pm on 28 March 2021.

George Turvey, Artistic Director of Papatango, said today, “We’ve been completely blown away by the response to Shook, with viewers tuning in from 18 countries and 5 continents. It is proof that brilliant new stories transcend borders. We are delighted to extend the run so that more people can share in Samuel’s incredible play.” 

The play, inspired by true stories, looks at three young offenders who are due to become fathers while incarcerated. As Cain, Riyad and Jonjo embark on parenting classes under the instruction of Grace, their different histories slowly emerge and their different futures take shape. Both funny and poignant, Shookexamines the young people society shuts away.

“Samuel Bailey’s debut play about masculinity, sensitivity and responsibility has now been turned into a powerful film…Bailey is clearly a voice to be reckoned with.”

Evening Standard

Featuring the original cast – Josef Davies (Jonjo), Josh Finan (Cain), Andrea Hall (Grace) and Ivan Oyik (Riyad) – and with the original set/costume designs by Jasmine Swan and composition and sound design by Richard Hammarton, the capture of the play was directed by Papatango’s Artistic Director George Turvey in collaboration with BAFTA-winning and multi-Emmy-nominated director James Bobin.

Shook won the 2019 Papatango New Writing Prize, debuting to critical acclaim at Southwark Playhouse, and was nominated for 7 OffWestEnd Awards and The Stage Debut Award for Most Promising Playwright. It became the best-selling world première in the venue’s history, and sold out on tour across England and Wales.

Following his debut, Samuel Bailey is now under commission from Paines Plough and Theatre Royal Plymouth, as well as developing a new film with the award-winning director Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) for 42. He was born in London and raised in the West Midlands. He began writing plays in Bristol and developed work with Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory Theatres and Theatre West before moving back to London. He is an alumnus of the Old Vic 12 and Orange Tree Writers’ Collective. Shook was originally supported by the MGCfutures bursary programme, and was his debut full production.

George Turvey co-founded Papatango in 2007 and became the sole Artistic Director in January 2013. Credits as director include Shook (Papatango, UK tour), Hanna (Papatango, UK tour), The Annihilation of Jessie Leadbeater (Papatango at ALRA), After Independence (Papatango at Arcola Theatre, 2016 Alfred Fagon Audience Award, and on BBC Radio 4), Leopoldville (Papatango at Tristan Bates Theatre), and Angel (Papatango at Pleasance London and Tristan Bates Theatre). Turvey trained as an actor at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) and has appeared on stage and screen throughout the UK and internationally, including the lead roles in the world première of Arthur Miller’s No Villain (Old Red Lion Theatre and Trafalgar Studios) and Batman Live World Arena Tour. As a dramaturg, he has led the development of all of Papatango’s productions. He is the co-author of Being A Playwright: A Career Guide For Writers, published by Nick Hern Books.

ABOUT PAPATANGO

Papatango discover and champion new playwrights, especially people who would otherwise have no pathway into theatre, through a range of grassroots opportunities – all free, open to anyone in the UK and Ireland, and anonymously assessed. Papatango’s motto is simple: all you need is a story.

Papatango’s flagship opportunity is the Papatango New Writing Prize, the UK’s biggest annual playwriting award. It attracts over 1500 entries each year from every region, and guarantees its winner a full production, publication, commission and royalties, while every entrant receives personal feedback. It is an unmatched commitment to launching brilliant new talent with maximum impact and supporting aspiring playwrights at all levels.

Winners have been evenly divided between men and women, aged from their 20s to their 50s, and 70% have been state educated. Since being launched by Papatango, they have gone on to win BAFTAs, OffWestEnd and Royal National Theatre Foundation awards, premiere in over 20 countries, and work with the RSC, National Theatre, BBC and HBO, among many other leading organisations.

As well as the Prize, Papatango offers a yearly Resident Playwright scheme, taking an emerging playwright through commissioning, development and production of a new play. Previous Residents have won an Alfred Fagon Audience Award, adapted their play for BBC Radio Four, been commissioned by Headlong, the Tricycle Theatre, and the North Wall Arts Centre, and seen their work tour nationwide with Papatango.

Papatango also run GoWrite, which each year provides completely free training in playwriting, including productions and publication, for over 3000 budding writers at state schools, regional venues and community centres. GoWrite has developed plays which have gone on to be staged at Hampstead Theatre, the Vaults Festival, Old Red Lion Theatre, Arcola Theatre, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Luton Hat Factory and the Quarry Theatre, Bedford.

In 2019 Papatango launched WriteWest, a playwriting programme across south-west England which provides free training, performances and seed funding for hundreds of grassroots writers and producers in this critically under-served region.

Within 12 hours of the theatre shutdown in 2020, Papatango launched Isolated But Open, a programme to nurture creativity and support freelancers bearing the brunt of the pandemic. It inspired 2063 new plays, producing and publishing 12 of these in free digital incarnations which have since been enshrined in the British Library’s permanent archive as a nationally significant cultural achievement.

Papatango’s first book, Being A Playwright: A Career Guide for Writers, was published in autumn 2018 by Nick Hern Books. It topped Amazon’s best-seller list in the playwriting category, and has been described as a “phenomenon for playwriting good…a bible for playwrights” by Steve Waters and “enlightening…an excellent tool for playwrights” by Indhu Rubasingham.

www.papatango.co.uk

Twitter:               @PapaTangoTC

Facebook:          PapaTango Theatre Company

Instagram:          Papatangotc

#ShookPlay

LISTINGS UPDATE FOR ONLINE VENUE stream.theatre

Scaramouche Jones, Cruise, Adventurous, BKLYN The Musical and Leave A Light On added

stream.theatre are adding even more shows to their platform through March and April including 4 exclusive digital premieres of major new productions.

For drama fans, Shane Richie stars a new revival of Scaramouche Jones by Justin Butcher, which premieres on 26 March. This is followed in April by the world premiere of new play Cruise, written by and starring Jack Holden and set to an irresistible 80s soundtrack, that will make you laugh and cry. New comedy Adventurous, produced by Jermyn Street Theatre and starring Sara Crowe and Ian Hallard, premieres on 16th March. 

stream.theatre welcomes a huge new production of Mark Schoenfeld & Barri McPherson’s BKLYN The Musical, starring Marisha Wallace, Jamie Muscato, Newton Matthews, Emma Kingston and Sejal Keshwala. It premieres on 22 March. 

stream.theatre hosts two celebrations of theatre and the arts in March. On 3 March  is the Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund in Association with TikTok – a virtual awards ceremony featuring guest hosts and exclusive performances. On 14 March, the 21st Annual What’s On Stage Awards take place, celebrating the public’s chosen theatre angels, with a huge line up of special performances. Both events are filmed by stream.theatre’s production studio.

Just in case that’s not enough entertainment, Leave A Light On is returning to give audiences another chance to see their favourite performers in these intimate concerts. A huge 70 concerts will be returning, available throughout March and April. 

There are now over 200 performances currently on sale on stream.theatre with something for everybody to enjoy this Spring.

FULL LISTINGS UPDATE:

The Poltergeist (EXTENDED: On Demand until 7 March )

From master storyteller Philip Ridley comes the four star OnComm Award Winning play The Poltergeist. ‘Art’s my hobby too.’ Hobby?! Sasha was destined to take the art world by storm. At the age of fifteen pop stars wanted his paintings, and a new exhibition was going to make him a millionaire. But now he lives in a run-down flat with his out-of-work boyfriend, serves in a stationers, and no one’s even heard of him… what went wrong? Philip Ridley’s darkly comic new play is about art, family, memory, and being haunted by the life we never lived. Please not this event features Strong Language, Use of Prescription Drugs and Themes of an Adult Nature. This event’s run time is 75 minutes.

One of the greatest living British writers, Philip Ridley’s previous plays include The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Radiant Vermin, The Pitchfork Disney, Tender Napalm, Dark Vanilla Jungle, and Mercury Fur, as well as the screenplay for the 1990 film The Krays. With four stars: “Rare and unmissable. Will be talked about for years.” – Theatre Weekly “Tightly wound, highly disciplined and unashamedly relentless.” – Broadway World. “Ridley and Tramp’s fast-paced and moving production, has done something truly remarkable.” – OX Magazine. “Compelling, absorbing, vital, frantic, unmissable.” – Everything Theatre.

Songs For A New World (on demand until 28 February)

Filmed during the first UK lockdown, entirely in isolation and on the artists smart phones, Séimí Campbell directs Rachel John (Hamilton), Ramin Karimloo (Phantom of The Opera), Cedric Neal (Motown) and Rachel Tucker (Come From Away), and introducing Shem Omari James, with musical supervision by Adam Hoskins, musical direction from Josh Winstone and video editing by Danny Kaan. 

“It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back.”  

Written by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown and sitting between musical and song cycle, this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love, and the choices that we make as it transports audiences through time and space. This topical piece is an examination of a defining moment in history, a reflection of the state of the world in the Summer of 2020.

Evening Standard Future Theatre Awards in Association With TikTok (3 March)

Join us at the virtual awards ceremony for the Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund, in association with TikTok, on Wednesday 3rd March, 7pm (GMT). Watch as 12 recipients are each awarded a share of a £120,000 prize fund created to support emerging talent in British Theatre. With special guest hosts and exclusive West End performances, the 45-minute event is not to be missed. #FutureTheatreFund #TikTokBreakOutStar

ON DEMAND CHILDREN’S THEATRE:
Pongo’s Party (On demand through to 31 March 2021)

You are invited to…  PONGO’S PARTY! The children’s show now streaming online, featuring the voice of children’s TV favourite Justin Fletcher as Pongo the Pig! Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hft7-Dwp8WI&t=1s “Today is the day that Pongo the Pig has been waiting for – that’s right, it’s his birthday!   He’s been dropping hints to his friends all year, so is looking forward to a fantastic party… but the trouble is, nobody seems to remember! Molly-Moo the Cow is making a mess baking, Sheena the Sheep is rehearsing with her band, and Marty MacDonald is in the middle of decorating – whatever can they be up to?   And as if that wasn’t bad enough, it looks as though someone is taking Pongo’s birthday presents too – whoever can it be?”   

Dress in your best party clothes and help make Pongo’s Party a day to remember, by joining in a show full of fun, songs and laughter!”  With a colourful farmyard and host of loveable puppet characters, Pongo’s Party is a family show particularly suitable for 2 – 7 year olds.  Songs include: The Hokey Cokey, Wheels On The Bus, Pat-A-Cake, I Am The Music Man, Old MacDonald Had A Farm,  Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and more!  

ON DEMAND CHILDREN’S THEATRE:
The Velveteen Rabbit (On demand through to 31 March 2021)

A boy awakens to discover a Velveteen Rabbit among his gifts. Adored at first, then cast to the toy box, the Rabbit is snubbed by the other toys for being old-fashioned. Over time, a friendship blossoms. The Rabbit learns what it means to be loved by the Boy – and the smiles and tears that come from being “real”. 

ON DEMAND CHILDREN’S THEATRE:
GRIMMZ Fairy Tales (On demand through to 31 March 2021)

Jay and Will Grimmz, the hip-hop fable story dance-pop sensation, have come back home to the city where they grew up to give a concert. The brothers put a modern spin on valuable life lessons in Snow White and the Seven Shawties, Down with Rapunzel, Hanzel & Gretel: Lost in the Hood, and their brand new release based on Rumpelstiltskin.  

ON DEMAND CHILDREN’S THEATRE:
Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba (On demand through to 31 March 2021)

11-year-old Daniel escapes Nazi Germany and finds himself alone on the shores of Havana, Cuba. He meets a spirited girl with some painful secrets of her own. Through their unlikely bond, she introduces Daniel to the language, music and history of Cuban culture. However, once Cuba enters the war these two friends are faced with dangerous choices that test their friendship 

WEST END MUSICAL DRIVE IN  (26 – 28 February, 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 March 2021)

The first of its kind in the UK, West End Musical Drive In is a much-loved and unique series of immersive concerts, which last year provided many performers with their first live opportunity to perform during the pandemic. Thousands of fans took to their cars to support and celebrate the magic of musical theatre and now, through streaming, more people can experience these amazing events and relish in the electric festival atmosphere from the comfort of your home.

26 – 28 February at 7pm nightly
Grace Mouat, Jarneia Richard-Noel, Maddie Bullyment, Courtney Bowman, Natalie May Paris, Jodie Steele, Sophie Isaacs, Vicki Manser, Courtney Stapleton, Collete Guitart, and Shekinah ‘Shaka’ McFarlane
Run Time: 2 hours (approx.)

5 -7  March at 7pm nightly
Alice Fearn, Laura Pick, Emma Hatton, Sophie Evans and Shanay Holmes
Run Time: 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.)

12-14 March at 7pm nightly
Trevor Dion Nicholas, Hiba Elchikhe, Matthew Croke and Shanay Holmes
Run Time: 1 hour 35 minutes (approx.)

19-21 March at 7pm nightly
Lucie Jones, Jon Robyns, Kelly Agbowu and Shanay Holmes
Run Time: 1 hour 50 minutes (approx.)

XCALIBUR (until 28 February 2021)

The musical scene thrives in South Korea with Xcalibur. The production showcases the journey of King Arthur, exploring his discovery of new-found responsibility as a young leader and getting married to the love of his life, Guinevere only to experience a reality far from what was expected.

Xcalibur, directed by Stephen Rayne, premiered in Korea on June 15, 2019 at the sprawling Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Korea. The production was the most anticipated show of the Korean season with an all-star cast including Kai, in the role of King Arthur, and was the latest collaboration between Grammy- and Tony-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn, playwright Ivan Menchell and lyricist Robin Lerner.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (26 February – 14 March 2021)

This enchanting new British musical explores the extraordinary world of a sorcerer and his rebellious daughter, as she discovers the explosive possibilities of her newfound magical powers.

Against the backdrop of the Northern Lights, a small town has been pushed to the brink of collapse in a bid for progress and prosperity. To rescue Midgard from certain destruction, father and daughter must heal their relationship and work together. This gripping family-friendly story sees brooms coming to life and love blossoming anew.

Acclaimed musical theatre writers Richard Hough and Ben Morales Frost have created this gender-swapped twist on the timeless poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which also inspired the Dukas symphony that memorably featured in the Disney film Fantasia.

Directed by Charlotte Westenra (The Wicker Husband, Watermill), the cast of ten includes Dawn Hope (Follies, National Theatre), David Thaxton (Olivier Award for Passion, Donmar Warehouse) and the professional debut of London School of Musical Theatre graduate Mary Moore in the title role.

This production was filmed at Southwark Playhouse in January 2021 and is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England

Run Time : 2 Hours plus an interval (approx)

Ticket Price : £15.00 plus £3.00 transaction fee

Waiting in the Wings (27 February 2021)

Live Performance from 6 London West End performers direct to your homes.  

An evening of Musical Theatre Favourites live from the Tyne Theatre stage featuring Jenna Boyd (Come From Away UK), Danny Whitehead (Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, London) Jacqueline Hughes (Elphaba in Wicked International Tour), Manon Taris (Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Cosette in Les Miserables, Paris) Joseph Claus (The Phantom of the Opera, London) and Kris Manuel (The Phantom of the Opera, London).

GWLAD! (1 March 2021)

The West End of Wales are proud to present Gwlad! – an online celebration of Wales for St. David’s Day. 

The West End of Wales (Community Interest Company) is a collective of professional Welsh musicians who are currently out of work due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, and are excited to host a stellar line-up Welsh soloists and ensembles in an online concert bringing the Nation together to celebrating the patron Saint of Wales.

Featuring stars from London’s West End – such as John Owen- Jones and Lucie Jones, both accompanied by The West End of Wales Orchestra – comedian Rhod Gilbert, the former official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales and international recording artist Claire Jones. Joining them, we have ensembles such as The Cory Band, Only Men Aloud, Bella Voce, Choirs for Goodand Morriston Orpheus Choir, and a special performance by the Fanfare Trumpets of The Welsh Guards. Other soloists include Kizzy Crawford, Rhydian Jenkins, Aaron Pryce-Lewis and John Rodge.

This event is proudly supported by Bluestone National Park Resort.

LIVE AT THE PHOENIX ARTS CLUB:  COLLABRO (5 – 7 March 2021)   

The last of three smash hit, intimate concerts filmed at London’s famous Phoenix Artist Club and produced by Lambert Jackson  make their stream.theatre debut.

Don’t miss this chance to see your favourite BGT champions debuting some songs from their newest album, ‘Love Like This’ as well as your favourite classics, at the gorgeous Phoenix Arts Club. The boys couldn’t miss this opportunity to get together and sing some of their favourite tracks, both new and old. 

Daddy Long Legs (8 – 14 March 2021)

Filmed in Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin. 

Based on the classic novel which inspired the 1955 movie starring Fred Astaire—a beloved tale in the spirit of Jane Austen, the Brontë Sisters, and “Downton Abbey” — this beloved tale tells the story of Jerusha Abbott the “Oldest Orphan in the John Grier Home” and her mysterious benefactor who decides to send her to college to be educated as a writer. Required to write him a letter once a month, she is never to know the benefactor’s identity – so she invents one for him: Daddy Long Legs. Starring Róisín Sullivan as Jerusha Abbott and Eoin Cannon as Jervis Pendleton

Geometry of Fear (8 – 14 March 2021, then On Demand)

Presented by Matsena Productions and filmed in Messums Wiltshire.

Geometry of Fear is a work synthesised by the legacy and output of revolutionary British Sculptor ‘Elisabeth Frink’ and the seismic changes we have experienced in our lives caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Black Lives Matter Movement. Geometry of Fear explores the cross-section between today’s socio-political landscape and the works of Elisabeth Frink that centre around post Second World War Britain.  The day to day fear experienced in society in the mid 20th Century is very similar to what we’re experiencing now. Nations clashing, Britain Vs Germany has turned into a clash of ideas, white vs black, police vs protestors. All this civil unrest brews fear. Fear due to uncertainty, but that fear is met with danger which becomes a perfect catalyst for anger, therefore spinning an endless cycle of violence.

21st Annual What’s On Stage Awards (14 March 2021)

Celebrate UK theatre with this unique star-studded ceremony broadcast direct to your home wherever you are in the world! This year the Awards will be a little different…

The ceremony will be broadcast on Sunday 14 March at 7pm GMT and hosted by the sensational Jodie Prenger and Tom Read Wilson. This celebration of UK theatre will include thrilling performances from musicals that were cut short in 2020 along with brand-new shows we all hope to see in 2021 and beyond. Plus we’re expecting some ‘surprise’ 21st birthday messages from your favourite performers and creatives!

More information on the line-up will be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition, instead of nominating performers, shows and creatives, you will be able to nominate your Angel – someone who has been a source of love, support and kindness during the pandemic. 21 Angels will be selected and announced on the night and they’ll be treated to a trip to the theatre once live performances return. Click Here to Find out how to nominate your Angel.

Don’t miss your chance to join audiences across the globe on Sunday 14 March and stand shoulder to shoulder with those in our industry celebrating the vital contribution theatre makes to the world, financially and emotionally. Theatre will be back, bigger, better and stronger than ever.

Run Time : 1 Hour 30mins

Leave A Light On (15 March – 24 April 2021) 

A host of West End Stars performing from their house, to yours! This is your chance to relive 71 of these intimate concerts for their encore. 

Filmed during the first lockdown in 2020, these shows are of the Leave A Light On concert series, previously streamed last year produced by Lambert Jackson and The Theatre Café, which aims not only to provide financial support for the performers involved, but also provide entertainment for people in self-isolation and lockdowns across the world.

Run Time : Each concert runs between 45 and 60 minutes (approx.)

Adventurous (16-28 March 2021)

AN ONLINE DATING COMEDY

Ros is looking for romance. Richard needs a new companion. They’re a match! But the year is 2020, and dating isn’t simple. From glitchy Zoom introductions, to their socially distanced first date in an actual restaurant, Adventurous follows the twists and turns of Ros and Richard’s relationship as they negotiate technology, treachery…and tortoises.

Filmed in lockdown, this is the premiere of actor Ian Hallard’s debut play. Both comic and touching, Adventurous tells the unexpected story of two single souls with an unstable connection. It reunites Hallard with Olivier Award-winner Sara Crowe following their many double-acts in Tonight at 8.30. This online only production is a heartwarming and hilarious treat…

Run Time : 60 Mins (approx.)

Roles We’ll Never Play (19-21 March 2021)

Following on from two successful years of concerts in London, Tom Duern presents Roles We’ll Never Play, recorded live during its sell out run at the Apollo Theatre, in the heart of London’s West End in December 2020. Returning to Stream.Theatre by popular demand, now you have one more chance to see this critically acclaimed production from the comfort of your own home!  

Roles We’ll Never Play will see performers singing songs outside of their casting brackets for one night only… There are NO limits! Featuring an exceptional cast of over 25 performers and a live band, expect big performances and show stopping vocals. 

The concert is directed by Sasha Regan with Musical Direction by Flynn Sturgeon and hosted by Carl Mullaney. The concert is produced by Tom Duern. 

Please note, the show contains some strong language.

Run Time : 2hr 30min (including a 20 minute interval)

BKLYN The Musical (22 March – 4 April 2021)

Written by Mark Schoenfeld & Barri McPherson, BKLYN – The Musical is a story within a story. On the outside you have a troupe of incredibly talented street performers who are sharing a story from their lives… Then there is the story they tell – the story of a young girl who comes to the U.S. to find the father she never knew. Together these stories create a show that is both touching and inspiring – a real urban fairytale.

The BKLYN cast for this online production includes Emma Kingston as Brooklyn, who has previously starred in Evita and In The Heights. Jamie Muscato plays Taylor, last in Heathers at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, with Waitress’ Marisha Wallace as Paradice. Sejal Keshwala will play Faith, with Newtion Matthews as the Street Singer.

Produced by Lambert Jackson Productions and filmed at Ugly Duck, London Bridge this brand new virtual production will stream for 10 scheduled performances (see times below) before being available to view On Demand from 29th March.

Run Time : 2 Hours (approx.)

Scaramouche Jones  (22 March – 11 April 2021)

Much-loved and multi-talented stage and screen actor Shane Richie (EastEnders; The Entertainer; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; I’m a Celebrity- Get Me Out of Here!)  will take on the role of the titular tragic clown in the digital revival of Justin Butcher’s absorbing solo show, Scaramouche Jones. This is the latest production from Ginger Quiff Media – the OnCom award-winning team behind the acclaimed revivals of Martin Sherman’s Rose starring Dame Maureen Lipman, and Little Wars (The Guardian and New York Times top picks) featuring Juliet Stevenson and Linda Bassett

Directed by Olivier Award-nominee Ian Talbot (The Pirates of Penzance, Regents Park Open Air Theatre; The Mousetrap, West End), this bizarre, comic, and heartfelt piece tells of a clown unmasked. Butcher’s magical storytelling bursts with exoticism and lyrical prose as Scaramouche finds himself caught in the riptides of a cruel and changing world.

This powerful one-man drama recounts an epic and mesmerising tale of a life shaped by extraordinary misfortunes, from the shores of Trinidad to England by way of slave ships, Italian royalty, and Croatian concentration camps. A witness to pivotal moments of the 20th century, Scaramouche finds himself at the dawn of a new millennium, marking his own centenary and preparing for death.

Run Time  – 2 Hours including interval (approx.

All Male G&S: Pirates of Penzance (29 March – 5 April 2021)

Filmed live at the Palace Theatre, London in December 2020.

Sasha Regan’s All Male Company of pirates and their winsome lasses are set to bring audiences one night of joy and laughter  with their inventive new take on Gilbert & Sullivan’s much loved THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.  Features a shipshape cast singing songs including: “I am a Pirate King”; “Oh, happy day, with joyous glee” and “A rollicking band of pirates we”.  They are sure to raise the roof off the Palace Theatre!

Expect plenty of onboard japes from the swashbuckling crew who are braving the high seas with rum and hand-sanitisers to bring you a socially distanced, Covid-secure show. A much-needed escape for families and friends who are looking for some festive spirit to banish lockdown blues.

The production was first staged at The Union Theatre in the heart of Southwark over a decade ago where it was a runaway success winning Best Off-West End Production at The WhatsOnStage Awards in 2009.  Pirates transferred to Wilton’s Music Hall for a 6-week run and on to The Rose Theatre, Kingston before the All Male Company set sail on a tour of Australia culminating in a month-long run at Cate Blanchett’s prestigious Sydney Theatre. There was a subsequent UK Tour in 2015 and another critically acclaimed run at the beautiful Wilton’s Music Hall last year.

The Ceremony (5 – 11 April 2021)

A ‘work in progress’ one act comedy play written by and starring Catherine Tyldesley. 

Canal Street. Manchester. 

Donna Dium, Life Coach and Self-taught Shamaness, together with her long suffering assistant Ada, prepares to welcome you to a very special occasion – The Ceremony. 

Following a string of appearances on daytime chat shows and armed with fifty quid’s worth of Ayahuasca from Bury Market, the scene is set for Donna to make her first ever attempt to contact the spirit world.. What could possibly go wrong? 

The evening soon derails into chaos, tears and laughter, as her oblivious guests purge themselves of their hidden ghosts. 

Not only her foray as a playwright, Coronation Street and Scarborough star, Catherine Tyldesley will also lead the all-star cast made up of British TV Veteran Sue Johnston (The Royle Family, Brookside, Coronation Street), Paula Lane (Coronation Street), Samantha Giles (Emmerdale, Where The Heart Is), Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Emmerdale, Eastenders) and winner of the BBC’s I’d Do Anything, West End leading lady, Jodie Prenger. 

This brand new work in progress comedy is filmed on an empty stage at the Leeds City Varieties Music Hall with all proceeds from this production donated to Acting for Others, Theatre Artists Fund & Leeds Heritage Theatres. 

Run time approx 40 minutes. 

This production contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children).

Cruise (15 – 25 April 2021)

Cruise is the true story of what should have been Michael Spencer’s last night on Earth.

When Michael is diagnosed with HIV in 1984, he’s told he’ll have four years to live – at most. So, with the clock ticking, he and his partner, Dave, decide to sell their house, flog the car, spend everything they have and party like it’s the last days of Rome. When Dave dies two years later, Michael doubles down on his hedonistic ways, spending what little he has left and drowning himself in drink and drugs.

On the last night of his four year countdown – the 29th February, 1988 – Michael decides to go out with a bang. He puts on his favourite jacket, heads for Soho, and embarks on a long night of farewells. He says his goodbyes to friends, enemies and strangers; old haunts, dive bars, cafes, clubs and pubs; his brothers, sisters, allies and exes. He dances, sings, and says yes to everything and everyone. Then, with all his affairs taken care of, Michael promptly… survives.

Michael got lucky, and he goes on to live to a ripe old age. Michael has been given the gift of life; but what kind of life can he now live?

Based on a true story and centred on one night in Soho, CRUISE is a celebration of queer culture; a kaleidoscopic musical and spoken word tribute to the veterans of the AIDs crisis; an urgent piece of theatre, with an irresistible 80s soundtrack, which will make you laugh, make you cry, and which inspires us all to live every day as if it’s our last.

Run Time : 90 mins (approx.)

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW TRUSTEE APPOINTMENTS

The Royal Shakespeare Company today announced five new Trustee appointments at its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). The appointments have been made following a public and far-reaching recruitment campaign for RSC Board members.  The focus of the recruitment was to bring new and diverse experience from theatre practitioners, people who teach and write about Shakespeare, and those with have experience of leading change and challenging thinking, to complement the skills of the existing RSC Board members.

Andrew Miller, cultural consultant and broadcaster; Amanda Parker, Founder Director of Inc Arts UK; Winsome Pinnock, playwright; Justine Themen, Theatre Director and Change Maker; and Ayanna Thompson, Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University, will all join the RSC’s Board for an initial three-year term and five-year term as RSC Governors.

Nigel Hugill, RSC Chair said,

“As we have moved through this pandemic, the Board has continued to lead the RSC commitment to be diverse, progressive, relevant and ambitious.  These five new appointments are unequivocal demonstration of those commitments and they share with all our Board members terrific skills, great experience, enormous range, and unwavering enthusiasm. 

“The public recruitment campaign generated enormous interest with almost 350 applicants.  So many exceptional candidates showing a passion for theatre, the arts and education by putting themselves forward is an inspiration in these testing times.”

The Company has also begun the search for a new Chair, with Nigel Hugill’s extended term ending in April.  The new Chair is expected to be appointed by Spring and further details about the recruitment process can be found HERE.

Current RSC Board members include: Nigel Hugill (Chair), Sir William Atkinson, Miranda Curtis, Gregory Doran, Catherine Mallyon, Genista McIntosh, Clare Reddington, James Shapiro, Mark Smith, Ian Squires, Mark Thompson, Liz Vernon, Lucy Williams.

The Belfast Ensemble, in association with Young at Art, Belfast Children’s Festival present
The Musician: A Horror Opera for Children
Streaming: Friday 12th March – Sunday 14th March, 7pm

Conor Mitchell’s darkly comic children’s opera retells a familiar story: ‘who was the Pied Piper? and ‘Why did the rats all dance to his tune?’ This world premiere from the award-winning Belfast Ensemble brings opera home to Northern Ireland. Musically extraordinary, this cautionary tale explores themes of nature, nurture and just desserts!

The Musician is stylishly staged using the latest in technological innovation, a medieval story told in a 21st century way. The international cast exist at the foreground in a bubble of colour and light, accompanied by a socially-distanced 16-piece orchestra, glowing and visible. Filmed live for Belfast Children’s Festival in the Lyric Theatre Belfast, this production stands as proof that great theatre can happen even in a pandemic and marks a new direction for opera in Northern Ireland. The Musician gives a message of hope for young audiences.

The Belfast Ensemble’s take on Grimm’s fairy tale The Pied Piper of Hamelin gives the story a horror prequel harking back to the legend’s roots. A musician in the making is mistreated by the people around him. With the power to control mice and rats with his melodies, will he choose to help the town or take bloody revenge? A tale of poetic justice at a time when artists are in crisis, this is a Covid-reactive production that asks children big questions about art and society.

Multi award-winning opera/music-theatre composer, librettist and stage director, Conor Mitchell, who is Artistic Director of the Belfast Ensemble said, The Musician is the only Northern Irish opera created in lockdown. It’s really the company’s candle in the dark for children everywhere showing that anything is possible with imagination.

The Belfast Ensemble is one of the UK’s most vibrant music-theatre companies. 2019 saw their ground-breaking chamber opera Abomination: a DUP Opera win Best Opera at the Irish Times Theatre Awards and be listed in the Top Ten Classical Works of 2019 alongside works from the Royal Opera House and others.

The audience gave a standing ovation at each of the five sold-out performances. The emotional response was palpable… Abomination: A DUP Opera is a richly entertaining and significant work. It now deserves a wider audience (* The Observer on Abomination).