Month: March 2021

Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Royal & Derngate, Northampton present

Ralph Fiennes
in the world premiere stage adaptation of 

FOUR QUARTETS

By T.S.Eliot
Directed by Ralph Fiennes

Designer Hildegard Bechtler 
Lighting Designer Tim Lutkin 
Sound Designer Christopher Shutt 

Ralph Fiennes will create a brand-new stage adaptation of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets this summer. Announced this week as Britain marks a year since regional theatres were forced to close, this world premiere production will welcome audiences back to live theatre when it re-opens the Theatre Royal Bath from 25 May – 5 June, and launches Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton season in the venue’s Royal auditorium from 8 – 12 June in a co-production between both venues. The production will then tour to the Oxford Playhouse from 14 – 26 June and Cambridge Arts Theatre from 28 June – 10 July, with further regional touring dates to be announced.

Nobel Prize winner T.S. Eliot is one of the giants of modern literature. Compelling, moving and symphonic, Four Quartets was the culminating achievement of his career as a poet, offering four interwoven meditations on the nature of time, faith, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment. Mostly written before WWII when the closure of playhouses during the Blitz interrupted Eliot’s work in theatre, the Four Quartets (Burnt Norton, East Coker, The Dry Salvagesand Little Gidding), contain some of the most exquisite and unforgettable reflections upon surviving periods of national crisis. 

Ralph Fiennes’ distinguished stage work is matched by performances in some of the greatest films of our time. The winner of a Tony Award for playing Hamlet, he has worked extensively in theatre, where his recent credits include Antony and Cleopatra, Richard III and The Master Builder. His numerous film roles include a BAFTA award winning performance in Schindler’s List; The English Patient; The Grand Budapest Hotel; The Constant Gardner; Skyfall; In Bruges; The Dig and The Harry Potter series. 

Four Quartets is directed by Ralph Fiennes who will be joined by a remarkable creative team including Hildegard Bechtler (Designer) who won an Olivier Award for After the Dance at the National Theatre and received nominations for Top Hat and Oresteia; Tim Lutkin (Lighting), winner of an Olivier Award for Chimerica and Christopher Shutt (Sound), winner of a Tony Award for War Horse. The Assistant Director is Eva Sampson and the Movement Director is Fin Walker.

Four Quartets is presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Royal & Derngate, Northampton.

Listings

Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Royal & Derngate, Northampton present

Ralph Fiennes 
in the world premiere stage adaptation of 

FOUR QUARTETS

By T.S.Eliot
Directed by Ralph Fiennes

Designer Hildegard Bechtler 
Lighting Designer Tim Lutkin 
Sound Designer Christopher Shutt 

Theatre Royal Bath
Saw Cl, Bath BA1 1ET

Performance schedule:  
Tuesday 25 May – Saturday 5 June 2021
Evenings performances at 7.30pm
Press Night Wednesday 2 June at 7pm  

Box office:
www.theatreroyal.org.uk or 01225 448844

Royal & Derngate, Northampton  
19-21 Guildhall Rd, Northampton NN1 1DP

Performance schedule:  
Tuesday 8 June – Saturday 12 June 2021
Press Night Wednesday 9 June at 7.00pm
Evenings performances at 7.30pm and Saturday matinee performance at 2pm

Box office:
www.royalandderngate.co.uk or 01604 624811
*on-sale from 29 March

Oxford Playhouse
11-12 Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2LW

Performance schedule:
Monday 14 June – Saturday 26 June 2021

Box office:
www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305
*on-sale from 29 March

Cambridge Arts Theatre
6 St. Edward’s Passage, Cambridge CB2 3PJ

Performance schedule:
Monday 28 June – Saturday 10 July 2021

Box office:
www.cambridgeartstheatre.com or 01223 503 333
*on-sale soon

THE SHOW WENT ON(LINE)

Moving forward, looking back: a year of ingenuity for Darlington Hippodrome.

On Monday 16th March 2020, Darlington Hippodrome temporarily closed its doors following official government guidance that advised people should avoid public buildings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s been a demanding and unpredictable year since then, but thanks to the theatre’s dedicated staff and most importantly, their loyal customers, there has been plenty to smile about and take part in over the last year.

The regular online Hippodrome Pub Quiz (without the pub!) has been the smash hit of the year. Marketing Officer Julian Cound has excelled as the genial host of the regular brain workouts. Julian has helmed 67 trivia streams which have seen over 4200 quizzers take part!

It’s been a challenge to keep active whilst we’ve been in lockdown but with the help of dance partners The D Project, the theatre has put on over 50 dance fitness sessions for adults. The Monday Movers session for the over 65s has proven particularly popular. The kids have been alright too with 130 youth theatre and dance sessions taking place onstage (when restrictions allowed) and online.

Senior House Manager Andy Hutchinson-Clish took us on a virtual tour around the Hippodrome’s usually off-limits backstage areas and led viewers on a virtual ghost tour (the theatre has so many ghosts this required two videos!). These videos have racked up over 10,400 views.

The Hippodrome’s two charities of the year, St Teresa’s Hospice and Darlington Samaritans, have been the recipients of the continued generosity of the theatre’s following. Over the last year, participants in our Hippodrome Pub Quiz have donated £315 to Darlington Samaritans. In early December 2020, a group of staff (and a few dogs) ran the St Teresa’s Hospice Santa Fun Run dressed as Santas, raising an incredible £1290 to help the hospice continue the vital work they do.

And it’s not just external charities that have experienced the kindness of the theatre-going public – a staggering £20,000 has been donated to the theatre by customers.

People have also been able to enjoy classic cinema screenings, book clubs, artist masterclasses, literary livestreams, a digital careers fair, and life drawing sessions.

There is hope on the horizon for the return of live events and the Hippodrome team are working hard to continue their innovative programme of online events whilst planning an exciting programme of public events both inside and outside the theatre.

Councillor Andy Keir, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for local services said “The theatre has faced a tough year but managed to keep the public engaged with an exciting and regular programme of events and activities. The generosity of the public towards the theatre’s chosen charities and the theatre

itself has been heart-warming and commendable. There is some light at the end of the tunnel and I’m sure we all can’t wait until we’re able to enjoy the Hippodrome again in person.”

Keep up to date with what’s going on at the theatre by following them on social media:

Facebook: DarlingtonHippodrome

Twitter: @DarlingtonHipp

Instagram: @DarlingtonHippodrome

Find out what’s on:

www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR IRIS THEATRE’S DEVELOPMENT SCHEME startDIRECTING

Iris Theatre today announce that applications are open for startDIRECTING 2021 – one strand of its development scheme start which supports those beginning a career in theatre.

startDIRECTING, now in its second year, supports four people who want to begin a career in directing for theatre, but have yet to receive any formal, vocational training in the role. The programme runs over eight months (May – December 2021) with regular online sessions curated and hosted by the company’s Artistic Director, Paul-Ryan Carberry.

Participants in the scheme will also be given the opportunity to be placed as Assistant Directors across Iris Theatre’s Summer Festival and Winter Season – allowing the opportunity to apply some of the skills gained in learning sessions in a practical environment.

Paul-Ryan Carberry, Artistic Director of Iris theatre said today, “We are really delighted to be moving ahead with our second year of startDIRECTING. It is vital that artists at the very beginning of their careers are afforded opportunities to nurture and celebrate their creative instincts. I’d like to give a huge shout out to our regular monthly donors, without their vital generosity, these schemes would not be possible. We are so proud of our 2020 cohort, it was a joy to see them grow and flourish, and we look forward to welcoming and working with another group of artists.”

Applicants should be over 18, not have received any formal education in directing, not directed any professional theatre production or assisted on more than 2 professional productions.

For further information and to apply: www.iristheatre.com/start. Applications are open now, until Friday 3 April at 6pm. If you require the form in an alternative format, get in touch with us at 020 7240 0344 or via [email protected].

Due to coronavirus, Iris Theatre’s inaugural start scheme was adapted with startDIRECTING taking place online. The scheme’s second strand, startDESIGNING, for early career designers or design students, was unable to proceed, the 2020 cohort will therefore take up their places for 2021 and will be announced shortly.

Iris Theatre’s start scheme is supported by the generosity of the company’s regular donors. To find out more of donate please visit: www.donorbox.org/become-a-member-of-iris-theatre 

PRESS STATEMENT

An update from Royal & Derngate

From Jo Gordon, Chief Executive & James Dacre, Artistic Director

A year on from closing our doors, we are delighted to announce that we will be welcoming audiences back to live performances at Royal & Derngate from Monday 17 May, subject to Government guidelines remaining to plan. Meanwhile, we will continue to deliver a wide range of shows and activities online through the “Royal & Derngate At Home” section of our website. 

Marking the beginning of our new annual partnership with the National Youth Theatre, we will reopen with our rescheduled co-productions of Animal Farm and Othello, presented in the Royal auditorium with socially-distanced seating.

Tomorrow we will also be announcing a major new Made in Northampton production to follow in the Royal.

In advance of these performances, from Tuesday 13 April we will be re-opening our in-person Box Office facilities, which will be in their new location in John Franklins bar, adjacent to the theatre on Guildhall Road. 

We had great feedback about our Covid safety measures from Northampton Filmhouse customers when we were able to reopen our cinema briefly in December, and so audiences can rest assured that we have all necessary precautions and procedures in place for their safety. 

We also have contingency plans in place for our opening productions, should alterations to the roadmap mean that live performances cannot yet take place on those dates.

There is still much uncertainty in the touring show market, as promoters are juggling with rearranging tour dates across the country, so we do expect that there will be some further date changes to visiting Derngate productions scheduled in the summer. Please do bear with us – our Box Office team will contact tickets holders with any updates as soon as they can. We will also announce reopening dates for the Filmhouse as soon as we can.

Planning and preparations for our reopening have been made possible by support from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund #hereforculture, via core funding from Arts Council England and Northampton Borough Council and through the extraordinary generosity of our audience’s donations to our Bring Us Back Together fundraising campaign. 

We are hugely grateful to all our customers and colleagues for their support and patience over the last year. We can’t wait to see you back!

Jo and James

RAISING THE CURTAIN ON LEEDS HERITAGE THEATRES

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On the one-year anniversary since Leeds Heritage Theatres’ three venues were forced to close their doors because of the pandemic, the company announces an exciting programme of new shows and screenings, and looks back on its most challenging year to date.

Both Leeds Grand Theatre and City Varieties Music Hall hope to raise their curtains and welcome audiences back from May 2021 – as highlighted in the government’s roadmap as being safe to open with Covid-safety measures in place (plus any new rules). It is hoped that by Monday 21 June, the theatres will be able to operate as ‘close to normal as possible’. Hyde Park Picture House remains closed as work begins on the much-anticipated Picture House Project – a major development that will see the cinema undergo essential conservation work, alongside the creation of new, accessible facilities, sister venues,

Chris Blythe, CEO said; “Whilst programming continues to be a challenge and our reopening plans remain in the hands of the government and the four key ‘tests’ that must be met before easing the societal pressures of lockdown, we are positively working towards mid-May, when we will do everything in our power to raise the curtains, raise the roofs and raise the mood of the people of Leeds and wider region.

“It is no exaggeration to say that our industry has suffered exponentially because of Covid-19 – as arts and culture venues across the country have tried and failed to recover from the impact – but It has never been more important for this sector to thrive, as people reach out to theatres, cinemas, music venues etc as spaces to escape their day-to-day pressures. Our audiences want to be entertained.”

Resident company, Northern Ballet, will launch The Grand’s new season with David Nixon’s reimagining of the classic Swan Lake – they will follow this in November with Merlin, originally set to run over Christmas 2020 as part of their 50^th year anniversary celebrations. Fellow residents, Opera North, will also return in the autumn with a season of work yet to be announced. And whilst some of the blockbuster musicals from this year, including The Book of Mormon and Les Misérables, have had to be moved to 2022, West End hits SIX and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie will run alongside newly announced Priscilla Queen of the Desert and My Best Friend’s Wedding (starring Alexandre Burke) to name a few. The full listing can be found at www.leedsheritatheatres.com.

At The Varieties, the usual stellar line-up of live comedy, music and variety will run alongside an exciting new film programme presented in collaboration with the Picture House as part of its On The Road line-up.

Collectively, Leeds Heritage Theatres’ venues have been open for over 400 years, contributing immeasurably to Leeds’ (and the wider regions) cultural landscape. Closure on March 16 2020 saw the company furlough most of its staff and lose 98% of its earned income. It is largely thanks to prudent fiscal planning to build reserves, plus financial support from the government and Arts Council England’s Culture Recovery Fund and job retention scheme, and additional grants from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, that the company has managed to weather the storm. Blythe recently admitted that without it, the company purse would have completely run out in November 2020.

Yet, even with limited funds, resources, and a skeleton team of staff working from home, the company has managed to: relaunch its brand – originally Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House Ltd.: continue work on the Picture House Project and launch the online campaign #HydeParkPics; build a virtual creative, familiar structure for the company’s young people (some of whom are particularly vulnerable), plus run free online masterclasses for aspiring actors; manage an everchanging show calendar that has meant informing, moving and refunding literally tens of thousands of customers – all without the luxury of the usual systems; plus ensure the buildings are maintained and made Covid-secure for returning audiences and staff to work.

Blythe ends: “It is testament to the stoic determination, resilience and creativity of our people, plus the overwhelmingly generous financial and emotional support of our audiences, that we are still here and planning our own roadmap out of lockdown.

“Whilst I am certain that the coming months will continue to challenge and test us, our region, and the country, I am confident our curtains will rise again.”

The announcement from Leeds Heritage Theatres coincides with the launch of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatres’ campaign to shine a light on the thousands of live arts professionals who have been unable to work throughout the pandemic and left ineligible for government support schemes. People from across the industry, including Celebrities from the theatre community, will be using the hashtag #FirstInLastOut to increase awareness of the ongoing challenge and raise money for the Theatre Artists Fund. 

Ian Sime, General Manager, Leeds Heritage Theatres

“We are currently liaising with producers and promoters to reschedule performances at both The Grand and Varieties – if this is not possible, we are sadly having to cancel them. Obviously, we are just a small cog in a big wheel when it comes to touring shows. The logistics of moving even just one artist, let alone a West End blockbuster like The Book of Mormon, is colossal; I liken it to having a missing piece in a jigsaw – without it, there is no product. But we have such trusted relationships with the producers and promoters that we are managing to still build an impressive programme for 2021-22.”

Richard Mantle, General Director, Opera North:

“We are looking forward immensely to once again creating and sharing great music and opera with our audiences at Leeds Grand Theatre, our home venue of more than 40 years.

“We are working closely with our colleagues at the Grand to ensure that we are able to give our audiences a safe and warm welcome back to live events, with all the anticipation, thrill and joy that live performance delivers; we will be announcing productions for this new season as soon as we can.”

Mark Skipper, Chief Executive of Northern Ballet:

“After a long absence, we are delighted to be returning to Leeds Grand Theatre with Swan Lake, a beautiful traditional title presented with a twist. The Grand Theatre is hugely important to us as one of our home venues. We are incredibly grateful for the support our audiences have given us over the last few difficult months and are looking ahead with great anticipation to getting back onto the Leeds Grand Theatre stage once more.”

For the full programme of shows and performances at Leeds Grand Theatre and City Varieties Music Hall go to www.leedsheritagetheatres.com

JUDY & LIZA MUSICAL TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST UK TOURS

STAGED OUT OF LOCKDOWN

Dazzling musical showcases iconic careers of Garland and Minnelli

and stars West End Stars Emma Dears and Helen Sheals

The 10^th anniversary tour visits Worcester, Leeds, Chesterfield,

Lytham Saint Annes, New Brighton, Coventry, Clwyd and Lichfield

A dazzling and heart-warming stage show charting the careers and relationship between Hollywood mother and daughter Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli is going on a UK tour which will open many theatres out of lockdown.

Captivating audiences for a decade, Judy & Liza will embark on a national tour throughout May and June 2021 to mark the show’s landmark 10^th anniversary visiting Worcester, Leeds, Chesterfield, Lytham St Annes, New Brighton, Coventry, Clwyd, and Lichfield. A London date will also be announced soon.

The show isthought to be one of the first shows to tour the UK post lockdown, coinciding with the Government’s roadmap for the easing of lockdown restrictions. Social distancing and any further required measures will be in place to ensure Covid-secure environments for audience safety.

The Judy & Liza UK Tour is Wednesday 19 May at the Swan Theatre in Worcester; Thursday 20 May at the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds; Saturday 22 May at Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre; Saturday 29 May at the Lowther Pavilion in Lytham Saint Annes; Friday 4 June at New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion; Saturday 12 June at Coventry; Sunday 13 June at Clwyd; and Saturday 26 June at Lichfield. The show will also tour in October, with dates to be announced soon.

Judy & Liza is produced by Bill Elms Productions and On Song Productions; created and written by West End performer Emma Dears who appears as Liza Minnelli; with Francis Goodhand as musical director.

Emma performs alongside Helen Sheals, who plays Judy Garland. Together they belt out timeless classics with uncanny resemblance of Judy and Liza, bursting with their unrivalled and elusive star quality.

The incredible talents of two of the biggest names in Hollywood showbusiness – mother and daughter Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli – are reunited thanks to this sensational musical experience.  This dazzling production tells the turbulent tale of the stars against the backdrop of their infamous 1964 London Palladium concert. Audiences are taken on an emotional rollercoaster journey as they discover the uncanny parallels between some of Judy and Liza’s most iconic songs and their own personal lives.

The show features performances of iconic songs including Cabaret, Maybe This Time, Over The Rainbow, The Man That Got Away, The Trolley Song, and Together Wherever We Go.

Liverpool-born actress Emma Dears self-penned the musical biopic to critical acclaim. Emma’s acting career began at the age of nine when she toured the UK in the title role of Annie. She later headed to London to join the Italia Conti Academy for Performing Arts, however she left before completing the course as she was offered a part in the tour of Les Miserables performing in Dublin and Edinburgh. Emma’s West End roles have included Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, and Oliver. Television roles include Emmerdale, Nice Guy Eddie, Shameless, Hollyoaks, Brookside, and Second Coming.

Helen is widely known for her roles in Coronation Street and Downton Abbey. However, Helen is no stranger to portraying Judy Garland having previously played the title role in the West End musical Judy! at The Arts Theatre in London. Her extensive theatre roles have included Mistress Quickly in Merry Wives and Goneril in King Lear for Northern Broadsides, directed by Sir Jonathan Miller; Mari Hoff in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Hull Truck and UK Tour); and Shirley Valentine. Helen’s TV credits include Brookside, Meterosexuality, Family Affairs, Last Tango in Halifax, Silent Witness, Holby City, Casualty, Doctors, Dalziel and Pascoe, and Mrs Wigan in three seasons of Downton Abbey.

Producer Bill Elms commented: “We are thrilled to finally announce the 10^th Anniversary UK tour of Judy & Liza, it’s a production very close to my heart as I worked on the very first show. It is going to be a very special tour, as for many of the theatres, this will be their first show of the year, as we come out of lockdown. We can promise audiences a safe and very memorable experience as they rediscover the joy of live entertainment through this captivating show.”

Writer and actress Emma Dears added: “It is with pure excitement that we can take Judy and Liza’s emotional and iconic story on the road. As performers, we crave being in front of a live audience – seeing, hearing and feeling their reactions, it gets no better than that. Whether you’re a fan of Judy or Liza, or both, their story is unique. The show is full of love, heartache, and passion, and Helen and I have worked tirelessly to make sure we get every tiny detail just right. Join us for an evening with the mother and daughter who really did put the ‘show’ into showbiz.”

To find out more visit www.judyandliza.co.uk

Facebook:       /JudyandLiza

Twitter:           @Judylizatour

REVIEWS – WHAT THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT JUDY & LIZA

★★★★

“THEIR PERFORMANCES ARE SPELLBINDING”

WhatsOnStage.com

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“CLASSY, EMOTIONAL, TASTEFUL AND HEARTFELT”

Musical Theatre

★ ★ ★ ★

“MARVELLOUS MIXTURE OF CAMP, TRAGEDY AND RAZZAMATAZZ”

North West End UK

LISTING INFORMATION

JUDY & LIZA UK TOUR 2021

SWAN THEATRE, WORCESTER – ON SALE NOW

Wednesday 19 May 2021 at 7.30pm

Huntingdon Hall, Crown Gate, Worcester, WR1 3LD

Website:          www.worcesterlive.co.uk

Box Office:      01905 611427

CITY VARIETIES MUSIC HALL, LEEDS – ON SALE NOW

Thursday 20 May 2021 at 7.30pm

Swan Street, Leeds, LS1 6LW

Website:          www.leedsheritagetheatres.com

Box Office:      0113 243 0808

POMEGRANATE THEATRE, CHESTERFIELD – ON SALE NOW

Saturday 22 May 2021 at 2.30pm / 7.30pm

Corporation Street, Chesterfield, S41 7TX

Website:          www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

Box Office:      01246 345222

LOWTHER PAVILION, LYTHAM – ON SALE NOW

Saturday 29 May 2021 at 2.30pm / 7.30pm

West Beach, Lytham Saint Annes, FY8 5QQ

Website:          www.lowtherpavilion.co.uk

Box Office:      01253 794221

FLORAL PAVILION, NEW BRIGHTON – ON SALE NOW

Friday 4 June 2021 at 2.30pm / 7.30pm

Marine Promenade, New Brighton, Wirral, CH45 2JS

Website:          www.floralpavilion.com

Box Office:      0151 666 0000

ALBANY THEATRE, COVENTRY – ON SALE NOW

Saturday 12 June 2021 at 7.30pm

Albany Road, Coventry, CV5 6JQ

Website:          www.albanytheatre.co.uk

Box Office:      02476 998 964

THEATRE CLWYD, NORTH WALES – ON SALE SOON

Saturday 13 June 2021 at 2.30pm / 7.30pm

Raikes Lane, Mold, CH7 1YA

Website:          www.theatreclwyd.com

Box Office:      01352 344101

GARRICK THEATRE, LICHFIELD – ON SALE 1 APRIL 2021

Saturday 26 June 2021 at 2.30pm / 7.30pm

Castle Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 6HR

Website:          www.lichfieldgarrick.com

Box Office:      01543 412121

One Year On: UK theatres mark a year of Covid shutdown

• Survey reveals over 95% of theatre organisations worse off due to Covid, and 1 in 4 freelancers out of business
• Hope for the future following Government roadmap announcement, with 83% of survey respondents planning to restart trading from 21 June – but many dependent on creation of Government-backed theatre insurance scheme and adaptation of Theatre Tax Relief
• Freelancers in urgent need of help now after a year of no work, and stars including Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Hugh Jackman, Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet and Michaela Coel join industry colleagues in supporting Theatre Artists Fund’s #16March campaign to raise awareness and money
• Sam Mendes, director and Theatre Artists Fund co-founder, today thanks those involved, and says they have ‘helped enable fellow members of our community stay afloat during these extremely difficult times.’
  

A year ago, on 16 March 2020, theatres across the country closed their doors due to the pandemic. 

Today, survey results collected by Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre from across the theatre sector paint a picture of an industry that has struggled to survive the past 12 months and faced huge financial strain – but remains resilient and adaptable.

The survey was completed by 944 theatre venues, venue groups, non-venue theatre businesses and individual theatre freelancers.

Over 95% of surveyed theatre organisations around the UK reported being worse off because of Covid. 53 of the 186 theatre organisations answering a question about financial loss due to Covid reported a loss of over £1m each – this includes 16 organisations who have lost over £5m each. The total loss of those 165 organisations able to provide figures is estimated at nearly £200m so far.

The survey also reveals that many of the highly skilled freelance theatre workforce have been forced to take alternative jobs during the pandemic, or even leave the sector altogether. One in four of the freelancers surveyed said they had gone out of business or ceased trading due to Covid. 270 alternative roles were sought within performing arts, and 456 outside the industry.

Almost a third of theatre venue respondents said they have had plans to create an outdoor performance space due to Covid – despite the fact that the majority (61%) will operate at a loss. Almost half are developing a revenue-generating digital space or product.

For England-based theatre organisations, 60% are planning to restart trading from 17 May (Step 3 of the Government Roadmap), and 83% said they would resume from 21 June (Roadmap Step 4).

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of SOLT and UK Theatre, said:

‘At that fateful moment a year ago when we were forced to close theatres, we could never have imagined that venues would remain closed today. It has been a year of incredible challenges, and would have been even bleaker were it not for Government support schemes including the Cultural Recovery Fund, furlough and SEISS. 

‘It has also been a year in which we have truly witnessed the resilience, creativity and community-mindedness of theatre, from digital innovations allowing streamed productions to reach a global audience, to theatres creating educational and wellbeing resources, and venues offering themselves as vaccine centres or hosting pioneering scientific research on measures to prevent Covid spread.

‘We look forward to continuing to work closely with Government and industry partners, welcoming audiences safely back into theatres and playing a part in the national economic and social recovery.’ 

Despite the recent Government roadmap and Budget announcements, thousands of freelancers in the theatre industry are in crisis right now, and face weeks and months of uncertainty before theatres can fully reopen.

To mark 16 March, a host of famous faces are joining colleagues from across the theatre industry today in highlighting the plight of freelancers and raising awareness for the Theatre Artists Fund, using the social media hashtags #16March, #TheatreArtistsFund and #FirstInLastOut – referencing the fact that theatre workers were first into lockdown and will be among the last to return to work. 

Created last July by director Sam Mendes, SOLT and UK Theatre, the Theatre Artists Fund provides emergency financial aid to the freelancers who make up an estimated 70% of the theatre sector. Eligible freelancers in need can apply for an individual grant of £1000 to help pay bills and put food on the table. The latest round of grant applications has opened today (16 March) and will close on 30 March. Full details of eligibility and how to apply are available on the Theatre Artists Fund website.

Sam Mendes, director and co-founder of the Theatre Artists Fund, said: 

‘The immense level of support for the #16March Theatre Artists Fund campaign illustrates that while theatres may be closed, the spirit of the theatre community is well and truly alive. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the campaign, and all those who have shown their fantastic support for the Fund. It has helped enable fellow members of our community stay afloat during these extremely difficult times.’

Those who have lent their support to the #16March campaign include Joe Alwyn, Ellie Bamber, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Bonneville, Michaela Coel, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anne-Marie Duff, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfie Enoch, Michael Fassbender, Claire Foy, Hugh Jackman, Ruth Madeley, Ian McKellen, Liam Neeson, James Norton, Sophie Okonedo, Weruche Opia, Andi Osho, Elaine Paige, Maxine Peake, Simon Pegg, Eddie Redmayne, Imelda Staunton, Juliet Stevenson, Mark Strong, David Walliams, Harriet Walter, Zoë Wanamaker, Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Ruth Wilson and Kate Winslet.

#16March #TheatreArtistsFund #FirstInLastOut #BackOnStage

hampsteadtheatre.com | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

#HTDeathOfaBlackMan #HTRaya #BackOnStage

HAMPSTEAD THEATRE ANNOUNCES ALFRED FAGON’S THE DEATH OF A BLACK MAN DIRECTED BY DAWN WALTON AND THE WORLD PREMIERE OF DEBORAH BRUCE’S RAYA DIRECTED BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, ROXANA SILBERT

• HAMPSTEAD THEATRE ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCE DATES FOR 2021

• ALFRED FAGON’S DARKLY COMPELLING DRAMA, THE DEATH OF A BLACK MAN WILL RUN FROM 28 MAY – 10 JULY 2021 ON THE MAIN STAGE

• WITH ITS WITTY AND COMPLEX CHARACTERS,DAWN WALTON DIRECTS THIS RARE REVIVAL FROM THE BLACK BRITISH PLAYWRITING CANON, MAKING HER HAMPSTEAD DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

• HAMPSTEAD DOWNSTAIRS WILL REOPEN WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF RAYA, DEBORAH BRUCE’S FUNNY AND TENDER NEW PLAY, FROM 11 JUNE – 24 JULY 2021

• RAYA WILL BE HAMPSTEAD THEATRE’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ROXANA SILBERT’S FIRST DOWNSTAIRS PRODUCTION

• RAYA WILL FEATURE ACCLAIMED STAGE AND SCREEN ACTORS, CLAIRE PRICE, BO PORAJ, AND SHANNON HAYES

• BOTH PRODUCTIONS WILL BE STAGED WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING IN PLACE FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR RUNS 

• PUBLIC BOOKING OPENS FROM WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH AT 10.30AM

• PLAYS TO FOLLOW IN 2021 INCLUDE OTHER HAMPSTEAD ORIGINALS BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS AND MARSHA NORMAN AND WORLD PREMIERES BY TOM WELLS, MUFARO MAKUBIKA AND KATIE MITCHELL

• FUTURE PROGRAMME DETAILS WILL BE RELEASED AS SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES EVOLVE

Hampstead Theatre is delighted to announce its first live productions for 2021.  Alfred Fagon’s darkly compelling,The Death of a Black Man will run from 28 May until 10 Julyhaving originally premiered at the theatre in 1975.  46 years on, this rare revival from the Black British playwriting canon, raises many of the same questions we face today surrounding identity, capitalism and sexual politics.  Dawn Walton, former Artistic Director of Eclipse Theatre Company, makes her Hampstead Theatre directorial debut.  Hampstead Downstairs will also reopen with the world premiere of Raya, by Deborah Bruce from 11 June until 24 July.  This funny and tender new play will be the theatre’s Artistic Director Roxana Silbert’s first Downstairs production.  Both productions will be staged with social distancing in place for the duration of their runs.  Tickets will go on sale from Wednesday 24 March at 10.30am at hampsteadtheatre.com.

Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive of Hampstead Theatre said:

I am delighted to announce these productions for many reasons.I’m excited to share Alfred Fagon’s powerful, brilliant play with audiences, look forward with tremendous anticipation to Dawn Walton’s production in her Hampstead debut and, I am counting down the days until we are in a rehearsal room with Deborah Bruce’s beautiful play Raya, my first production Downstairs.COVID makes planning a challenge.However, if all goes well, our autumn season is overflowing with remarkable established and new artists including Katie Mitchell, Marsha Norman, Mufaro Makubika, Tom Wells and Tennessee Williams.We are desperate to get going again and, in doing so, support our wonderful freelance colleagues to do what they do best: make live theatre.It’s been a year since we shut our doors and we are ready to switch on the lights and welcome everyone back in. 

Dawn Walton, Director of The Death of a Black Man said:

I am so looking forward to making my directorial debut at Hampstead Theatre with this fascinating, complex play.Alfred Fagon is a name so many of us are familiar with due to the legacy of the Alfred Fagon Award and yet people rarely get the chance to see his work.The Death of a Black Man is an opportunity to see why this playwright was such a trailblazing artist of his generation.

Deborah Bruce, playwright of Raya said: 

I can’t wait to return to the rehearsal room and back to Hampstead Theatre, the venue that produced my first play ten years ago.Raya is a play about two people reconnecting after a long time, which has a particular resonance at this moment, when only a year ago feels like a lifetime away.  I’m excited to share the story with audiences.

The Death of a Black Man first premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 1975 directed by Roland Rees.  This rarely produced play by one of Britain’s leading black voices from the 20^th century remains compelling viewing 46 years on.  Fagon was one of the first British black writers to have his work produced in the UK and a hugely influential playwright.  He arrived in Nottingham from Jamaica, joined the army and was also a boxing champion and a welder, before becoming a very successful actor, poet and playwright.  He died at the early age of 49 (1986) and was controversially buried in a pauper’s grave when police claimed they could not identify him.  The Alfred Fagon Award is the leading theatre award for black British writers, set up after his sudden death in 1986, which has supported unique voices within the UK theatre industry.

The Death of a Black Man will be Dawn Walton’s directorial debut at Hampstead Theatre.  Her most recent productions include The Gift (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Red Dust Road (National Theatre of Scotland) and Black Men Walking (Royal Court).  She will be joined by designer Simon Kenny, lighting designer Jo Town, sound designer Richard Hammarton and composer Duramaney Kamara. 

Further details about casting to be announced.

The world premiere of Raya by Deborah Bruce will mark the reopening of Hampstead Downstairs.  Directed by Roxana Silbert, Raya will be Silbert’s second production at Hampstead Theatre since joining as its Artistic-Director in 2019, following the critically-acclaimed espionage thriller The Haystack by Al Blyth in 2020.

Raya is a funny and tender new play which questions whether it is possible to turn back time – even if it’s just for one night.  Raya is Bruce’s second play at Hampstead Downstairs following Godchild.  Other credits include The House They Grew Up In (Chichester / Headlong) and The Distance (Orange Tree).

Acclaimed stage and screen actors, Claire Price, Bo Poraj, and Shannon Hayes will perform in this new play with design by Moi Tran and sound design and composition by Nick Powell.

Bo Poraj will play the role of Jason.  Poraj returns to Hampstead Theatre following the sell-out hit Gloria (2017) and Acceptance (2018).  Television roles include Mike Jackford in the popular BBC One comedy Miranda and Bonacieux in the BBC period action drama The Musketeers.Other recent theatre credits include What’s in a Name (UK tour, 2020) and Rasheeda Speaking (Trafalgar Studios, 2018).

Claire Price will play the role of Alex.  Television roles include DS Siobhan Clarke in the ITV adaptation Rebus, based on Scottish author Ian Rankin’s famous crime series and Miriam Brindsley in the ITV’s World War II TV series Home Fires.Film work includes The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Hereafter and Jump.

Shannon Hayes will play the role of Alannah.  This is her debut at Hampstead Theatre.  TV roles include, Ted Lasso, Undercover and Cold Feet.  Recent theatre work includes The Gift (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and The Ridiculous Darkness (Gate Theatre).

In the event of the productions being postponed due to UK Government advice, full refunds or credit vouchers will be offered.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewoZtp1R0yk

BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL

ANNOUNCES NEW OPENING DATE

IN THE WEST END

PERFORMANCES BEGIN AT THE ADELPHI THEATRE, LONDON

ON 20 AUGUST 2021

Producer Colin Ingram (Ghost – The Musical) and Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back To The Future film trilogy, have announced that BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical’s performances at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End will now begin on 20 August 2021.  The musical’s out-of-town opening at Manchester Opera House in March 2020 received an incredible reaction from critics and the public alike, but was cut short when theatres were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic exactly a year ago.

Roger Bart and Olly Dobson will play the roles of ‘Dr Emmett Brown’ and ‘Marty McFly’ respectively. Hugh Coles performs as ‘George McFly’, Rosanna Hyland as ‘Lorraine Baines’, Cedric Neal as ‘Goldie Wilson’, Aidan Cutler as ‘Biff Tannen’, Courtney-Mae Briggs as ‘Jennifer Parker’, Will Haswell as ‘Dave McFly’, Emma Lloyd as ‘Linda McFly’ and Mark Oxtoby as ‘Strickland’.  Also in the cast will be Rhianne Alleyne, Amy Barker, Matt Barrow, Joshua Clemetson, Jamal Crawford, Bessy Ewa, Ryan Heenan, Cameron McAllister, Alessia McDermott, Laura Mullowney, Nic Myers, Shane O’Riordan, Katharine Pearson, Oliver Tester and Justin Thomas.

Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical has a book by Bob Gale and new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode.

Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr Emmett Brown.  But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.

The cast of BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical will appear in a special performance on Comic Relief, which will air on BBC 1 this Friday 19 March.  The bespoke sketch created by Bob Gale and specially commissioned for Comic Relief has been directed by Richard Curtis.

Colin Ingram said, “I’m delighted to announce today that our spectacular new musical theatre show Back To The Future will premiere in the West End on August 20^th at the Adelphi Theatre.  We look forward to welcoming our audience back to the theatre after so many months of being starved of live entertainment, with this heartening, hilarious story set to multi-Grammy winners Silvestri and Ballard’s fantastic new songs, alongside the original classics from the movie”

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is directed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando (Urinetown, On The Town), alongside the multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team of Tim Hatley (set and costume design), lighting design by Tim Lutkin, lighting consultant Hugh Vanstone, Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video), with choreography by Chris Bailey, musical supervision and arrangements by Nick Finlow and Illusions by Chris Fisher. Orchestrations are by Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook, with dance arrangements by David Chase. Casting is by David Grindrod Associates.

Sony Music Masterworks will release this summer the Original Cast Recording of BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical. 

Back to the Future the movie was released in 1985, starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown. The film grossed $360.6 million (£279 million) at the box office worldwide and the total box office for all three films in the Back to the Future franchise was $936.6 million (over $1.8 billion in today’s money).

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is produced by Colin Ingram, Donovan Mannato, Frankel/Viertel/Baruch/Routh Group, Hunter Arnold, Gavin Kalin Productions, Crush Music, Playing Field, CJ ENM, Teresa Tsai, Ivy Herman/Hallee Adelman, Ricardo Marques, Augury, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, in association with, Kimberly Magarro, Robert L. Hutt, Stage Entertainment, Glass Half Full Productions/ Neil Gooding Productions.

Website: BackToTheFutureMusical.com   

Twitter: @BTTFmusical

Instagram: @BTTFmusical      

LISTINGS INFORMATION

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical

From 20 August 2021

Adelphi Theatre

Strand

Covent Garden

London WC2R 0NS

Performances: Mondays, Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7.30pm, Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm, Sundays at 3pm (N.B. no performances on Tuesdays except 24 & 31 August 2021 at 7.30pm)*

*30 August 2021 – 2.30pm performance (no 7.30pm performance)

Christmas Schedule:

MONDAY	13/12/2021	7.30PM
WEDNESDAY	15/12/2021	7.30PM
THURSDAY	16/12/2021	7.30PM
FRIDAY	17/12/2021	7.30PM
SATURDAY	18/12/2021	2:30PM & 7.30PM
SUNDAY	19/12/2021	1.00pm & 6.00PM
TUESDAY	21/12/2021	2:30PM & 7.30PM
WEDNESDAY	22/12/2021	2:30PM & 7.30PM
THURSDAY	23/12/2021	2:30PM & 7.30PM
SUNDAY	26/12/2021	4.00PM
MONDAY	27/12/2021	2:30PM & 7.30PM
TUESDAY	28/12/2021	2:30PM & 7.30PM
WEDNESDAY	29/12/2021	2:30PM & 7.30PM
THURSDAY	30/12/2021	7.30PM
FRIDAY	31/12/2021	2.30PM
SUNDAY	02/01/2022	3.00PM
MONDAY	03/01/2022	2.30PM

Tickets: from £19.55

Please book via the website: BackToTheFutureMusical.com – no booking fees  

Book with confidence. For maximised flexibility customers can exchange their ticket free of charge up to at least 24 hours prior to the event.

Current booking period to 13 February 2022

Sheffield Theatres Streaming until 28 March – book via https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/the-band-plays-on/tbpo-on-demand

5*****

Chris Bush has written an amazing play centering on Sheffield, its history both good and bad.  The cast of 5 sing together with joyous harmonies, with monologues interspacing the songs that are bittersweet, funny and outstandingly moving.

Maimuna Memon begins proceedings with her version of I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor from Sheffield band The Arctic Monkeys, leading straight into Anna Jane Casey playing Shelley telling her tale of building a nuclear shelter in 1984.  I’m old enough to remember the film Threads, we watched it at school.  Watching a nuclear bomb drop on Sheffield, when I was just down the road in Barnsley, was terrifying.  And what could seem like a knee jerk reaction now, building a shelter was essentially sensible back then.

Sandra Marvin then belts out Pour Some Sugar on Me from another Sheffield band, Def Leppard. And this leads us into Jocasta Almgill’s vignette centering on politics and Brexit.  Reminding us that the Sheffield Female Political Association was the first women’s suffrage organisation in the United Kingdom.

Followed on by the sublime vocals of Anna Jane Casey singing Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time by yet another son of Sheffield, Jarvis Cocker.  You might be able to see the Sheffield connection by now.  And although it is very Sheffield-centric, the point is not hammered home, instead it makes you feel at home.

Maimuna Memon is up again, this time she’s Jess.  Who discovers sport, football in particular.  Sheffield FC is the world’s oldest football club.  But Jess begins to play for Sheffield Ladies, who began in 2003 and won the promotion to the Women’s Super League in 2014.

 Jocasta Almgill leads the vocals in Sing It Back by Moloko leading into Sandra Marvin, who as Diane gave the most emotional monologue of the night.  Starting off by discussing the 1864 Sheffield flood when Dale Dyke Dam burst its banks and killed 240 people.  But this tragedy led into another.  That day in April 1989 when 96 people were killed at Hillsborough.   Marvin spoke Bush’s words with depth and meaning and no one who can remember that day in 1989 can fail to be touched by the raw emotion of the piece.

Jodie Prenger gives us Geoff Stephens The Crying Game, originally a hit for Sheffield lad Dave Berry.  The vocals ring with the emotion left from the last monologue before hitting us with the final piece, recited by Prenger herself.  After meeting at University, she and Tom move to Sheffield, the first ever City of Sanctuary.  Living together for 13 years, Tom leaves her high and dry just as the first lock down begins in March 2020.

But here we find all the stories come together where all 5 of the women join together in a zoom choir.  But not just a choir, a friendship, a help, a rock, a way of getting through – because after the last 12 months we all need a way of getting through.  And we end with the stunning blended harmonies joining together for their choir singing Beginners by Slow Club.

This outstanding piece of theatre, written during the pandemic and made deliberately to be filmed demonstrates how we have all adapted for the new “normal”.  Nothing can ever replace live theatre but stunningly written pieces like The Band Plays On lets us see what can be done in a crisis.

I wait eagerly for the day I can be back in a theatre and I wait more eagerly still for the day I can sit in the Crucible and see this sensational quintet perform the masterful production again.