An online discussion with the creatives and cast behind Back to the Future – The Musical
Available globally, for free, on BFI YouTube
After 36 years, classic sci-fi adventure and 1985’s highest grossing film, BACK TO THE FUTURE has become a hi-tech stage musical, led by a creative team that includes the co-writer of the original trilogy Bob Gale, and the Oscar-nominated composer behind the iconic score for the film Alan Silvestri. Ahead of BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical opening in the Adelphi Theatre from 20 August, the BFI present an online discussion with members of the cast and crew, broadcasting globally, for free, on BFI YouTube at 19:00 on Thursday 29 April.
The panel comprises Bob Gale, who, as well as co-writing the original trilogy, has written the book for the musical, and multi award winning composer Alan Silverstri, who has written new music and lyrics for the show alongside six-time Grammy award winner Glen Ballard, who has sold more than 150 million records worldwide. Also on the panel are key cast and creatives from the show including producer Colin Ingram, director John Rando and actors Olly Dobson (Marty McFly), Rosanna Hyland (Lorraine Baines), Cedric Neal (Goldie Wilson / Marvin Berry) and Courtney-Mae Briggs (Jennifer Parker).
During the online event, the panel discusses how they went about adapting the hit film for the musical stage, what they did to make the story relevant to a new audience and what one studio exec wanted the film to be called before Steven Spielberg stepped in. Selected quotes are available for publication in promotion of the event:
Bob Gale reveals what Doc and Marty were originally going to time travel in:“It was a time chamber made from an old refrigerator and that was the way it was in the first two drafts and when we finally got the green light to go into pre-production… Bob Zemeckis is putting on his director’s hat and he says to me… wouldn’t Doc have been smart enough to build this thing into a car. Then he said the greatest thing, what if it was a DeLorean.”
Glen Ballard on coming on board with Alan Silvestri for music and lyrics and how they developed it:“With something like Back to the Future, for me the first thing I have to do is take the Hippocratic Oath, first do no harm. You’re looking at something that is a mountain of accomplishment.”
Bob Gale on the process of converting the movie into a musical and how important it was not to copy and paste the movie for stage:“It was critical to not do a slavish adaptation of the movie. This is a different medium and it was important to address the strengths of this medium. We do things in the show that you could never do in a movie and there’s things in the movie that you could never do on stage.”
John Rando and lead producer Colin Ingram on how they worked together to make the production happen: “One of the mandates I said to the brilliant set team, Tim Hatley and his associates, was that one of the things we need to make sure of is that the only real car we have is a DeLorean, everything else we’re going to do theatrically… the DeLorean must be the real thing.” – John Rando
“It has all these great special effects but they all serve the book. They’re not magic tricks that are just there for the sake of it.” – Colin Ingram
John Rando and Alan Silvestri on turning a movie into a musical: “The great thing about…taking a movie and turning it into a musical is you can learn more about the characters through song. Glen and Alan do an incredible job of revealing their internal workings, their emotions, their dreams, their fears and hopes through these songs.” – John Rando
“I never would have dreamed this could work, yet on stage as opposed to cinema this just works magnificently.” – Alan Silvestri
Courtney-Mae Briggs on her character Jennifer Parker: “I feel like I could be considered a bold casting choice. Claudia Wells who played Jennifer Parker in the film, she and I really don’t look anything alike. I’m a completely different ethnicity and it was never an issue with the creative team. It’s so wonderful to be working with people so inclusive and progressive and casting people that they feel are right for the role rather than who looks right.”
Cedric Neal on one of his characters, Goldie Wilson: “I think Goldie Wilson is the truest form of the American Dream. I take pride in presenting this character to the world through this musical.”
Rosanna Hyland on her character Lorraine Baines: “For Lorraine, almost every time you see her in the film and the musical, she’s breaking from conventions – she does a lot of rebellious stuff… She spends a lot of time resisting expectations, so there’s always been something inherently modern about her.”
Olly Dobson on his character, Marty McFly: “Marty ends up being a lot of the time the eyes of the audience… you always had to have them understand the journey that this underdog is going through… Plus, like John said years ago, the story is such gas that it just keeps you going and you fight for Marty the entire time.”
Bob Gale reveals what Sidney Sheinberg (President and Chief Operating Officer of MCA, Inc. and Universal Studios at the time) tried to get the film’s name changed to: “He was the one guy at Universal who hated the title… everyone else said ‘Sid, it’s a great title’ and we just dismissed it, until one day he actually sent us a memo and he said ‘I’ve come up with the perfect title: Space Man From Pluto. Here’s some changes you can make on the script to reflect that.’ Steven (Spielberg) went to his secretary, he says ‘Gale, memo to Sid – Dear Sid, thank you for your humorous memo on November 14th. We all got a big laugh out of it, keep them coming’… and that was the last we heard of it.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is set to begin its run at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End on 20 August 2021.
BFI at Home: BACK TO THE FUTURE: FROM SCREEN TO STAGE premieres on BFI YouTube on Thursday 29 April at 19:00, and will be available to watch for free: https://youtu.be/_HpO2HmPy64
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY ANNOUNCES SUMMER 2021 PROGRAMME
First visual of Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre released
Performance schedule announced for The Comedy of Errors, directed by Phillip Breen.
RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran and Owen Horsley present Henry VI Part One: Open Rehearsal Project culminating in a live online rehearsal room performance on 23 June.
Next Generation Act present All Mirth and No Matter, a creative response to Much Ado About Nothing; online Playmaking Festival to celebrate creativity of young people & adults from across the UK and Live Schools’ Broadcast of Macbeth (2018) announced
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has today released full details of its Summer 2021 programme which includes an artists’ impression of the newly conceived Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre. This specially constructed outdoor performance space is located in the Swan Theatre Gardens, flanked by the River Avon and overlooked by the Swan Theatre.
Gregory Doran, Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, said;
‘As nations all over the world emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, and the UK theatre industry prepares to welcome in-person audiences, the RSC is re-opening by sharing our work in new, creative and surprising ways. We want to respond to our changing world and the needs of our audiences with performances and experiences outdoors and online – opening up our rehearsal rooms for the first time.
‘By creating an outdoor theatre space for The Comedy of Errors we hope audiences will feel safe to return to the theatre with confidence. Our buildings will gradually come back to life during the summer through our café and restaurant, and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre will be ready for indoor performances in the autumn.
‘The last year has taught us many things and we know that we can reach new audiences around the world through our work online. We want to build on this by inviting the public to join our rehearsal process for the first time and working in collaboration with the BBC to adapt The Winter’s Tale specifically for the screen. We know there is an appetite from those who can’t join us in Stratford, and we want to welcome them to the RSC. Throughout the pandemic we have continued to support and work alongside the thousands of young people and adults in the RSC community. Arts and culture are vital to help people to reconnect after lockdown, and our work continues across the UK with our partner theatres to support the recovery of our towns and cities. Many of those young people will join us at our Playmaking Festival, on our Garden Theatre stage and in their classrooms for the Live Schools’ Broadcast of Macbeth.
‘As our thoughts turn to new beginnings, we cannot wait to work again with our freelance colleagues and to welcome audiences back to the place where, for so many, their love of live theatre first began.’
The Comedy of Errors
As previously announced, the Summer 2021 programme begins with an outdoor production of The Comedy of Errors, directed by Phillip Breen running in the Garden Theatre from Tuesday 13 July – Sunday 26 September 2021.
Phillip Breen’s previous RSC directorial credits include The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Provoked Wife and The Hypocrite. The production is designed by Max Jones with Lighting by Tina MacHugh, Music by Paddy Cunneen, Sound by Dyfan Jones, Movement by Charlotte Broom and Fights by Renny Krupinski. The 2021 production of The Comedy of Errors is sponsored by Darwin Escapes.
The Comedy of Errors and The Winter’s Tale were both due to begin performances in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Spring 2020 and were preparing to open when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
The previously announced screen adaptation of The Winter’s Tale, directed by Erica Whyman, RSC Deputy Artistic Director, will be broadcast on BBC Four on Sunday 25 April at 7pm as part of BBC Lights Up, an unprecedented season of plays for BBC TV and radio, produced in partnership with theatres across the UK and continuing BBC Arts’ Culture in Quarantine initiative. A BSL signed version of the production will be broadcast on Thursday 29 April at 1.10am. Both versions will subsequently be available on iPlayer.
The RSC will also stream the production to Subscribers, Members and Patrons based outside the UK following the BBC broadcast. The streaming will be available for 24 hours on 25 April 2021 at 9pm BST and on 8 May 2021 at 6pm BST.
Following its Stratford run, The Comedy of Errors will tour to partner theatres around the nation including The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury from Wednesday 27 – Saturday 30 October 2021. Additional dates and venues to be announced.
Henry VI Part One; Open Rehearsal Project
For the first time in the RSC’s history, Artistic Director Gregory Doran will invite audiences inside the full rehearsal process for three weeks this Summer, culminating in a complete rehearsal room performance of Henry VI Part One broadcast online on Wednesday 23 June at 7pm.
Running from Tuesday 1 – Friday 25 June, Henry VI Part One; Open Rehearsal Project will see directors Gregory Doran and Owen Horsley re-unite to reinvent the Henry VI plays afresh.
The daily schedule of activity begins with a Company Warm Up, led by members of the acting company and creative team, in which participants develop skills such as voice technique and stage fighting, as well as physically preparing for the day.
From noon, online audiences are invited to join a live rehearsal session as the actors and directors put the show on its feet. This will be followed by the opportunity to join members of the company for a post-rehearsal Green Room Chat as they reflect back on the day, unwind after rehearsals and answer audience questions about the process.
The Henry VI Part One; Open Rehearsal Project will culminate in a live streamed final rehearsal room run through from Stratford-upon-Avon on Wednesday 23 June, available to watch on demand until midnight on Friday 25 June. This will give audiences a unique chance to see the end result of three intensive rehearsal weeks – the moment just before a show hits the stage.
The three Henry VI plays were originally due to be presented in the Swan Theatre from 10 October 2020 – 2 January 2021 by a single company of actors, across two performances but were later postponed due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic.
The Henry VI Part One; Open Rehearsal Project will be co-directed by RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran and Owen Horsley, who last worked alongside each other between 2013-2015 on the critically acclaimed King and Country cycle featuring Richard II, Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry V.
A Summer of Play & Playmaking
As children and young people start to reconnect with each other, their wider families and school communities, it is more important than ever that we continue to champion the role that arts and cultural learning can play in supporting wellbeing, developing young people’s skills and talents and getting them ready to learn for the next academic year.
The Royal Shakespeare Company will therefore play host to a Summer of Reconnection which celebrates the creativity and resilience of our Royal Shakespeare Community of young people, children and adults, creating opportunities for people of all ages to make and share Shakespeare’s work with friends, within schools and with their local communities.
The Royal Shakespeare Community incorporates 1,000 schools, 1,500 adults and over half a million young people across the nation, enabling them to learn about, participate in, challenge, and make performances of Shakespeare’s plays.
Intergenerational Online Playmaking Festival
The summer of reconnection opens with a week-long online celebration of playmaking from Mon 5 July featuring 20 original digital commissions involving 600 young people aged 5 to 18 from the RSC’s national Associate Schools network and adults from the Shakespeare Nation community programme. All delivered in collaboration with regional theatre partners. Composer Tarek Merchant and Movement Director Tanushka Marah will be providing creative inspiration for students as they make short films based on a range of Shakespeare’s plays. A team of freelance directors will work with teachers, students and adults in the development of their work.
In previous summers, pupils from across the country have followed in the footsteps of some of the world’s best-known actors by performing on stage in Stratford-upon-Avon as part of the RSC’s Playmaking Festival.
This year’s Playmaking Festival goes online via a specially designed new website. It features an interactive map with three themed zones that audiences can click on and visit. Each zone contains footage of young people and adult community group members from across the country performing their versions of edited scenes or speeches from a Shakespeare play of their choice.
Accompanying the microsite will be wraparound activities throughout the week, including online workshops and creative challenges.
Next Generation Act: All Mirth and No Matter
The Summer of Reconnection includes an original performance from the RSC’s Next Generation ACT young company inspired by William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing directed by Sameena Hussain, with Keiren Hamilton-Amos as Movement Director.
The RSC’s Next Generation ACT company will resume in-person performances on Friday 23 July with All Mirth and No Matter, a fusion of new writing and Shakespeare’s text. The production will run in the Garden Theatre for two public performances following a week-long rehearsal residency in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Taking inspiration from the wedding of Claudio and Hero, this fresh response to Shakespeare’s most problematic of nuptial celebrations brings together movement, original music and spoken word to shed new light on the story of the slandered Hero.
Made up of 24 young people aged between 13 and 18 from across the country, Next Generation Act is one strand of the RSC Next Generation programme, a unique talent development scheme that provides gifted young people from backgrounds currently under-represented in the theatre industry with the opportunity to gain experience in acting, directing or backstage roles and explore whether a career in the theatre is for them.
Learning in Schools, Online and for life
Meanwhile, the RSC continues to work alongside regional theatre partners supporting a nationwide network of over 250 Associate Schools to develop new and innovative ways to transform how students learn about and through Shakespeare’s plays, in their classrooms or at home.
Upcoming highlights include the 2021 Schools’ Broadcast of Macbeth (2018), directed by Polly Findlay with Christopher Eccleston in the title role, which will be available on demand for a week from Mon 17 May.
2021 will also see the return of the RSC’s annual Summer School for lifelong learners, which will run online from Monday 23 – Friday 27 August with an inspiring mix of sessions soon to be announced.
Free family activities on the Bancroft Terrace
As Stratford-upon-Avon re-opens its doors to visitors and residents, the RSC will be celebrating the arrival of Summer with a series of free pop-up performances, interactive workshops and outdoor performances for families running for four weeks from Tuesday 27 July – Friday 20 August on the Bancroft Terrace and across the newly installed Garden Theatre.
On Tuesdays, visitors can brush up on their stand-up with a programme of fun, interactive sessions inspired by comedy and clowning.
On Wednesdays, twice-daily pop-up performances inspired by the RSC’s own history of costume-making, accompanied by a free making workshop in which participants will be invited to make their own item of costume. There will also be a separate craft workshop inspired by The Comedy of Errors where you will be able to create giant chains to funny disguises.
On Thursdays free musical performances open to all.
Would-be crafters can also put their skills to the test with free making-workshops lead by RSC Costume Practitioners.
Bringing the weekly programme of activity to a close on Friday mornings, visitors are invited to join RSC workshop leaders for a weekly Community Warm Up in the Garden Theatre. Open to all ages at a cost of £5 per ticket, with family ticket offers available, these fun, interactive sessions are the perfect excuse to get on their feet and join in the fun with family and friends, whether taking your place centre stage or joining in from the comfort of your seat.
On Friday 20 August we will celebrate our costume making heritage with a Costume Day; featuring a series of free pop-up performances, workshops and family-friendly activities taking place across the town with further details soon to be confirmed. These activities are part of THREADS, a programme of events that celebrate the heritage of costume making in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Riverside Cafe and Rooftop Restaurant Re-opening
Elsewhere at the RSC, the Riverside Cafe will resume its popular takeaway service from Wednesday 21 April if restrictions allow.
Visitors can also take advantage of the ‘Rocket’ ice cream van located at the front of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on selected days throughout the Summer.
Both outlets will serve a selection of drinks, sandwiches, ice cream, crisps and delicious cakes plus a full range of fair-trade tea and coffee.
The Riverside Cafe will be open at 10am, six days a week, Tuesday – Sunday.
From Tuesday 13 July, in line with government guidelines, the Rooftop Restaurant will re-open its doors with a reduced menu, available from Tuesday – Sunday.
The restaurant will operate with reduced capacity so pre-booking is essential. The outdoor terraces will be open, overlooking the RSC’s picturesque landscape.
A picnic offer will be available to purchase via click and collect as well as drinks for pre theatre and interval via a new online ordering service for Garden Theatre audiences.
STORYGLASS and ETT announce new podcast series, THAT PODCAST, featuring more than 100 artists, commentators and thought leaders
A new magazine-style 12-part podcast series that tells the story of a nation and a world in rapid transition with commissions and performances from some of the UK’s most exciting names in contemporary arts and entertainment. Launching on Thursday 6th May 2021.
Featuring guest hosts: Remona Aly, Desiree Burch, Sophie Duker, Nish Kumar, Terry Gilliam and Chris McCausland.
23 new fiction commissions from some of the UK’s most exciting playwrights, novelists and poets including: Travis Alabanza, Ella Hickson, Eno Mfon, Hollie McNish, Gary Owen, Jack Rooke, Michael Rosen, Stef Smith and Testament.
Featuring interviews and interventions from leading voices from across culture, science, politics and journalism including: Open Democracy’s Mary Fitzgerald, comedian Richard Herring, film critic Mark Kermode, Whores of Yore’s Dr Kate Lister, data scientist Dr Cathy O’Neil and Rabbi Alexandra Wright.
Creative and acting ensemble includes: Lois Chimimba, Tinuke Craig, Paapa Essiedu, Sorcha Groundsell, Debbie Hannan, Kathy Kiera Clarke, Debbie Korley, Jodie McNee, Ben and Max Ringham, Jack Rowan, Sacha Wares and Siôn Daniel Young.
Featuring stories and testimony by members of the public from across the UK collected by celebrated journalist Aina Khan.
Storyglass and ETT (English Touring Theatre) today announce a curated podcast and fiction series THAT PODCAST, bringing together artists, poets, novelists, comedians, journalists, scientists, spoken word artists, playwrights and members of the UK public to provide creative cultural insight into a nation that finds itself in a moment of profound change and upheaval.
From the global pandemic to digital sex work, the Black Lives Matter movement to the ubiquity of fake news, THAT PODCAST will explore the unparalleled times we’re currently living through with stories from everyday life retold from across the UK and internationally, refracted and reimagined by some of the most striking voices in contemporary fiction.
ETT’s Artistic Director,Richard Twyman, today said: ‘’THAT PODCAST is a project that is all about listening to the small and unexpected ways that our lives have changed over the last year, whilst also looking into the future and asking what will the impact of these changes be? Delving into the detail of how daily life has evolved has led us to some fascinating and extraordinary people and stories. By working together with freelance artists and bold new voices in drama, poetry, comedy and music, coming from all corners of the UK, the series speaks to the shock, insight and intensity of a year in all our lives.”
Robert Delamere, Storyglass, Executive Producer, commented: “After the recent successes of the Storyglass studio in fiction, arts and comedy, we’re delighted to have such an incredible range of talent working with us on this new format. THAT PODCAST is a daring and eclectic mix of fact, fiction and commentary. This curated series of podcasts offers an exciting range of new, emerging and established talent all addressing some of the key ideas, experiences and trends of our times.”
Steve Carsey, Storyglass, Managing Director, commented: “THAT PODCAST represents everything that Storyglass stands for. We are the home of production excellence, exceptional talent and creative partnerships. We want to amplify new voices that deserve to be heard. We want to give established writers a home for their creativity. We want to push the boundaries of fiction and become a go to destination for audio drama. THAT PODCAST is a home for new voices, new writing and new ideas. I couldn’t be prouder of everything Robert, Richard, the wider team and all of our contributors have achieved.”
Partnering on the series are Storyglass and ETT.Storyglass was launched as a standalone podcasting company in June 2020, by Bertelsmann businesses Fremantle, Penguin Random House UK, BMG and DK. ETT are a UK based international touring company, creating theatre and digital work of outstanding quality, imagination and ambition.
FULL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
The Hosts: Remona Aly, Desiree Burch, Sophie Duker, Terry Gilliam, Nish Kumar and Chris McCausland.
The Writers: Tim Crouch, Ella Hickson, Matilda Ibini, Sami Ibrahim, Shahid Iqbal Khan, Kimber Lee, Dina Nayeri, Eno Mfon, Gary Owen, Stef Smith and Abbie Spallen.
The Writer-Performers: Travis Alabanza, Christopher Brett Bailey, Jordan Brookes, David Edgar, Eddie Doyle, Hollie McNish, Muneera Pilgrim, Jack Rooke, Michael Rosen, Athena Stevens, Testament and Alissa Anne Jeun Yi.
The Commentators: Celya AB, Danielle Baskin from QuarantineChat, Dr Erica Seruset Borgstrom, Dr Carol Bruess, Dr Oliver Scott Curry, Aya Angel and April Fiasco from Cybertease, Mary Fitzgerald, MD Mominul Hamid (King Abir), Richard Herring, Reverend Ravi Holy, Dr Caroline Horton, Mark Kermode, Professor Stephan Lewandowsky, Dr Kate Lister, Abdul Rehman Malik, Luke Murphy, Dr Cathy O’Neil, Dina Nayeri, Jini Reddy, Mariel Richards from gal-dem and Rabbi Alexandra Wright.
The Digital Ensemble (actors, directors and sound designers): Anthony Almeida, Ayesha Antoine, Philip Arditti, Nathalie Armin, Helen Atkinson, Annabel Baldwin, Prisca Bakare, Tobi Bakare, Jennifer Bakst, Alexander Bean, Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, Lois Chimimba, Kathy Kiera Clarke, Tinuke Craig, Morag Davies, Robert Delamere, Paapa Essiedu, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Gareth Fry, Sorcha Groundsell, Debbie Hannan, Mali Harries, James Hingley, Alim Jayda, Amber James, Scott Karim, Aina Khan, Debbie Korley, Adrian Lee, Maimuna Memon, Jodie McNee, Annissa Murad, Max Pappenheim, Ben Quashie, Ben and Max Ringham, Jack Rowan, Richard Twyman, Ben Walker, Sacha Wares, John R. Wilkinson, Mike Winship, Siôn Daniel Young and Lisa Zahra.
For THAT PODCAST
Executive Producers: Robert Delamere and Richard Twyman
Commissioning Editor: Jennifer Bakst
Co-producers: Andrew Hughes and Sarah Jane Murray
Series Producer: Ben Walker
Assistant Producer: Ben Quashie
Consultant Producer: Holly Gilliam
Coordinator: Madeleine Sharma
Host biographies
Remona Aly
Remona Aly is a journalist and broadcaster with a focus on faith, lifestyle and identity. She writes for The Guardian and other publications on anything from Ramadan to rock music or burkinis to Bake Off. She is a resident Pause for Thought contributor on BBC Radio 2 on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, presented BBC Radio 4’s Something Understood and hosts various podcasts.
Desiree Burch
Desiree Burch is a comedian, writer and theatre maker. She has appeared on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, QI and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order (BBC), and 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4). Desiree hosts Netflix series Too Hot To Handle and Flinch. Her theatre show Tar Baby won a Fringe First Award and was an Amnesty International Freedom of Expression nominee.
Sophie Duker
Sophie Duker is a comedian and writer who has appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Mock the Week, and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order. Sophie also hosts the monthly comedy night Wacky Racists Comedy Club, and the official TV companion podcast to I May Destroy You on BBC Sounds.
Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam is an award-winning film director, screenwriter, opera director and member of Monty Python, whose film directing credits include Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Jabberwocky, Brazil, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Fisher King, Twelve Monkeys, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, The Brothers Grimm, Tideland, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, The Zero Theorem and The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.
Nish Kumar
Nish Kumar is a comedian and presenter. He has twice been nominated for the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival Comedy Award for Best Show. He has hosted The News Quiz, Newsjack and his own series, The Mash Report for BBC2. He regularly appears on shows including Mock the Week, QI, Have I Got News For You and Taskmaster.
Chris McCausland
Chris McCausland is a stand-up comedian from Liverpool who is blind. He has multiple appearances across shows such as Would I Lie to You?, Have I Got News For You, QI, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Live at the Apollo. Tickets are on sale now for his re-rescheduled tour in 2022, but don’t worry, somebody else does the driving.
Adam Blanshay Productions and The Theatre Café Acclaimed digital series The Theatre Channel returns with more West End talent New episode streaming from Friday 30th April 2021
Following acclaim for their spectacular musical-packed digital series, Adam Blanshay Productions’ The Theatre Channel is back with a sixth episode, featuring more theatrical legends and musical magic! The new episode, entitled ‘Showstoppers’, will kickstart proceedings with incredible performances from major West End talent including Danny Mac (Sunset Boulevard; Pretty Woman The Musical), Kerry Ellis (Wicked; We Will Rock You), and Layton Williams (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie; RENT). The series will be available to stream in a new partnership with Stream.Theatre from Friday 30th April, with tickets for Episode 6 now on sale.
Further talent involved includes dynamic sister duo Amber Davies (9 to 5; Love Island) and Jade Davies(Les Misérables; The Phantom of the Opera) as Side Show’s conjoined twins, alongside Katie Deacon (Mary Poppins; An American In Paris) showcasing the original A Chorus Line choreography by Michael Bennett. The track for this stunning rendition of Music and the Mirror has been provided by Antonio Banderas’ Malaga-based Theatre company Teatro del Soho, following their acclaimed Spanish-language revival. Academy Award and Tony nominee Antonio Banderas will also be sharing his knowledge of the production in an extra special exclusive interview for The Theatre Channel, featured in the episode.
The cast will be joined by the fantastic, revamped resident ensemble, ‘The New Café Five,’ comprised of Anthony Starr (Guys & Dolls, Sheffield Crucible), Danny Becker (The Prince Of Egypt, Dominion Theatre), Kayleigh Thadani (Disney’s Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre), M-Jae Cleopatra Isaac (Billy Elliot, Victoria Palace) and Vicki Lee Taylor (A Chorus Line, London Palladium). The Theatre Café manager and performer, Jack Malin, will also be joining the troupe for their showstopping, toe-tapping number.
These incredible musical theatre performers will be led by director Thom Southerland (Titanic; Grey Gardens; Ragtime) and choreographer Ashley Nottingham (Spamalot; Singin’ In The Rain; Disney’s Newsies UK Premiere) with lighting design by Aaron J Dootson. The Theatre Channel are proud to be championing creative opportunities for freelancers and actors during this time.
Combining the thrill of stage and screen for an episodic musical revue of beloved classics, The Theatre Channel is an up close and intimate experience from the comfort of your home. The upcoming episode will also feature exclusive behind-the-scenes content, as the original producers of A Chorus Line take a trip down memory lane in memorandum to Tony Award winning choreographer Bob Avian. Staged and choreographed especially for film, the production is an unmissable event.
Producer Adam Blanshay comments, With the release of Episode 6: Showstoppers, we’re celebrating several milestones. First off, as the pandemic and theatre closures have extended far beyond what anyone initially imagined, we’re overjoyed to welcome our new resident ensemble, ‘The New Café Five,’ giving fresh opportunity to a remarkable new group of performers to finishthe series with us. Moreover, based on growth and customer demand, we’re thrilled to now be launching our content on Stream.Theatre, which we hope will expand our viewership far and wide, and draw in countless new theatre fans. Lastly, we pay homage to the loving memory of Bob Avian, and have included a special feature on A Chorus Line – we are grateful to John Breglio, Baayork Lee, and Antonio Banderas for their collaboration.
Previous episodes (1 – 5) of The Theatre Channel will be available to purchase at Stream.Theatre to watch at your leisure. Previous episode titles include ‘Welcome to the Cafe’, ‘Musical Horrors’ and ‘Hopeful Holidays’. The next instalment, Episode 7, will celebrate the works of the unparalleled Rodgers and Hammerstein, with incredible casting to be announced soon.
THE DAZZLING, MULTI-AWARD WINNING WEST END PRODUCTION OF WILL COMMENCE ITS FIRST EVER TOUR OF THE UK FROM DECEMBER 2021
Sonia Friedman Productions is delighted to announce that the first ever UK tour of hit musical Dreamgirls, which was due to start in 2020, will now open at the Liverpool Empire Theatre this December before visiting cities right across the country throughout 2022 and into 2023.
Featuring the classic songs ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’, ‘Listen’ and ‘One Night Only’, this sensational, multi-award winning production of Dreamgirls had its critically acclaimed West End Premiere in December 2016 at London’s Savoy Theatre, 35 years on from opening on Broadway.
Meet The Dreams – Effie, Lorrell and Deena – three talented young singers in the turbulent 1960s, a revolutionary time in American music history. Join the three friends as they embark upon a musical rollercoaster ride through a world of fame, fortune and the ruthless realities of show business, testing their friendships to the very limit.
As previously announced, Nicole Raquel Dennis will play the role of Effie White in the UK tour of Dreamgirls. Her London stage credits include Alana Beck in the original West End cast of Dear Evan Hansen (BBTA winner – Best Supporting Actress in a Musical), the original West End cast of Waitress (Adelphi Theatre), The Book Of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre) and Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre).
A finalist on ITV’s The Voice in 2019, Nicole Raquel Dennis wowed viewers and judges at her blind audition, performing Dreamgirls mega-hit ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ alongside team mentor Jennifer Hudson. Hudson won an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress) for her portrayal of Effie White in the 2006 Oscar-winning motion picture adaptation of Dreamgirls which also starred Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx.
Nicole Raquel Dennis will play the role of Effie White in the Dreamgirls UK tour at certain performances with further casting to be announced soon.
This award winning production is Directed and Choreographed by Olivier® and Tony® Award winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Mean Girls, Disney’s Aladdin and Something Rotten!), with Set and Costume Design by Tim Hatley, Lighting Design by Hugh Vanstone, Sound Design by Richard Brooker, Hair Design by Josh Marquette and Music Supervision by Nick Finlow.
With Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen and Music by Henry Krieger, with Additional Material by Willie Reale, the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls was Directed by Michael Bennett who Co-Choreographed the show with Michael Peters. The production opened in 1981 and subsequently won six Tony® Awards with the original cast recording winning two Grammy® Awards for Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday’s ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.’
Sonja Friedman Productions
DREAMGIRLS
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The Original London Cast Recording of hit West End musical Dreamgirls is available via Sony Masterworks Broadway.
The UK and Ireland tour of Dreamgirls is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Greenleaf Productions, Fakston Productions, Rupert Gavin/Mallory Factor, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Griffin Dohr in association with 1001 Nights Productions, Steven Rivellino
The show’s opening is subject to the government allowing indoor performances to begin with sufficient notice, understanding what restrictions on social distancing and audience attendance caps are imposed, the public health status, and the availability of insurance cover either from the market or more likely from a government indemnity scheme.
Tuesday 14 December 2021 – Saturday 1 January 2022 Liverpool Empire Lime St, Liverpool L1 1JE 0844 871 7615 | www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire On sale 10am Tuesday 27 April 2021
Wednesday 5 January – Saturday 22 January 2022 Bristol Hippodrome St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ 0844 871 7615 | www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome/ On sale 10am Tuesday 27 April 2021
Tuesday 25 January – Saturday 5 February 2022 Milton Keynes Theatre 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ 0844 871 7615 | www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/ On sale 10am Tuesday 27 April 2021
Wednesday 23 February – Saturday 5 March 2022 Sunderland Empire 4-5 High Street West, Sunderland SR1 3EX 0844 871 7615| www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire On sale 10am Tuesday 27 April 2021
Tuesday 8 March – Saturday 19 March 2022 Sheffield Lyceum Theatre 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA 0114 249 6000 | www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk On sale soon
Tuesday 5 April – Saturday 16 April 2022 Edinburgh Playhouse 18-22 Greenside Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3AA 0844 871 7615 | www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse/ On sale 10am Tuesday 27 April 2021
Tuesday 19 April – Saturday 30 April 2022 Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bute Place, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL www.wmc.org.uk On sale Friday 14 May 2021
Monday 9 May – Saturday 14 May 2022 New Wimbledon Theatre 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1QG 0844 871 7615 | www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre/ On sale 10am Tuesday 27 April 2021
Tuesday 17 May – Saturday 28 May 2022 Theatre Royal Nottingham Theatre Square, Nottingham NG1 5ND 0115 989 5555 | www.trch.co.uk On sale Tuesday 4 May 2021
Tuesday 31 May – Saturday 11 June 2022 Theatre Royal Norwich Theatre St, Norwich NR2 1RL 01603 630000 | www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk On sale soon
Tuesday 21 June – Saturday 9 July 2022 Leeds Grand Theatre 46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU 0844 848 2700 | www.leedsgrandtheatre.com On sale Wednesday 28 April 2021
Tuesday 12 July – Saturday 23 July 2022 Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 | www.marlowetheatre.com On sale soon
Tuesday 26 July – Saturday 6 August 2022 Theatre Royal Plymouth Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR 01752 267 222 | www.theatreroyal.com On sale soon
Tuesday 9 August – Saturday 20 August 2022 Venue Cymru, Llandudno The Promenade, Llandudno LL30 1BB 01492 872 000 | www.venuecymru.co.uk On sale Friday 30 April 2021
Tuesday 30 August – Saturday 10 September 2022 His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen AB25 1GL 01224 641122 | www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/ On sale Tuesday 27 April 2021
Tuesday 13 September – Saturday 24 September 2022 Palace Theatre, Manchester 97 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 6FT 0844 871 7615 | www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester/ On sale 10am Tuesday 27 April 2021
Tuesday 27 September – Saturday 1 October 2022 New Theatre, Oxford 24 – 26 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AG 0844 871 7615 | www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/ On sale 10am Tuesday 27 April 2021
Monday 10 October – Saturday 22 October 2022 King’s Theatre, Glasgow 297 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JN 0844 871 7615 | www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre-glasgow/ |On sale 10am Tuesday 27 April 2021
Tuesday 25 October – Saturday 5 November 2022 Winter Gardens, Blackpool 97 Church St, Blackpool FY1 1HL 0844 856 1111 | www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/ On sale Friday 23 April 2021
Monday 14 November – Saturday 19 November 2022 Mayflower Theatre, Southampton Empire Lane, Southampton SO15 1AP 02380 711 811 | www.mayflower.org.uk On sale Thursday 13 May 2021
Tuesday 22 November – Saturday 3 December 2022 Royal & Derngate, Northampton Royal & Derngate, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP 01604 624 811 | www.royalandderngate.co.uk On sale soon
Tuesday 6 December – Saturday 31 December 2022 The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham B5 4DS 0844 871 7615 | www.atgtickets.com/venues/alexandra-theatre-birmingham/ On sale 10am Tuesday 27 April 2021
The tour will continue and further venues and dates for 2023 will be announced in due course.
TO WORKSHOP NEW MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE DANISH GIRL
New Theatre Peterborough announce that they will be working with writers Katie Lam and Alex Parker and director Tinuke Craig to host a workshop of a new musical adaptation of The Danish Girl at the New Theatre Peterborough from 26th – 30th April. This work has been made possible following funding received by the venue as part of the Cultural Recovery Fund.
The adaptation tells the story that many will recognise from the David Ebershoff book published in 2000 and the Academy Award-winning 2015 film starring Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander of the same name. The original book is a fictionalised account based on the real life of Lili Elbe; beginning the story as Danish painter Einar Wegener, married to fellow painter Gerda Wegener and becoming one of the first people to undergo gender confirmation surgery.
The Workshops will be led by American transgender actress L Morgan Lee as Lili alongside Laura Pitt-Pulford as Gerda, with Sharif Afifi, Kelly Agbowu, Jo Eaton-Kent, Siubhan Harrison, Chloe Hart, Chris Jenkins, Freddie King and Harrison Knights. The project will also be supported by consultants Jake and Hannah Graf, two of the UK’s leading trans voices, and Harry Williams, one of the creatives and founders of the Trans Voices Company.
Writer Katie Lam says, “Lili’s story spoke to us. We felt we could do something special with it and it would be well suited to our writing style. Alex reached out to David Ebershoff back in 2018; he took a chance on us, and agreed to let us turn it into a musical. Not only that, he has been incredibly generous in spirit about the whole project and given us substantial artistic license with the piece.
Inspired by discussions with our consultants and cast, we are committed to telling a joyful trans story. Lili of course struggled through the traumas inherent in transition and did not survive her final operation. But for decades she was supported, accepted and loved by her wife, siblings, parents, friends and wider community. She found a surgeon who believed and understood her, and was able to make her emotional reality a physical reality; and all a hundred years ago.”
L Morgan Lee says, “I never would have guessed, in the middle of a pandemic, I’d be in my apartment in New York on Zoom with a creative team in London discussing a new musical. I’ve dreamed of getting my hands on this kind of material in a show but the reality is Black women, and even more specifically Black, trans women are so rarely, if ever, even considered. This creative team has taken the time to truly see the artists they work with. They are committed to telling this story using not only a trans woman to play Lili but a variety of trans people in many of the other roles throughout the show with a cast that reflects the world we live in. The process has been such a testament to the potential of where our industry has the potential to go and I’m so honored to be a part of that.”
The Danish Girl will be Directed by award-winning Director Tinuke Craig whose credits include: Aisha (the black album) (Old Vic), Crave (Chichester Festival Theatre), Hamlet For Young Audiences (National Theatre), Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith), Vassa (Almeida Theatre), The Color Purple (Leicester Curve/Birmingham Hippodrome), random/generations (Chichester Festival Theatre), I Call My Brothers (Gate Theatre), dirty butterfly (Young Vic). Assistant Directing includes wonder.land (National Theatre), Hamlet and All’s Well That Ends Well (Royal Shakespeare Company) and The Changeling (Young Vic Theatre). Tinuke trained at LAMDA and in 2014 received the Genesis Future Director Award. In 2015-2016 Tinuke was the Gate’s Associate Director and she is currently an Artistic Associate at the Lyric Hammersmith.
David Hutchinson CEO of Selladoor Worldwide, who operate the New Theatre Peterborough, says, “After an incredibly tough year for the theatre and creative industries, we are delighted that with the support of the DCMS Cultural Recovery Fund we will be able to bring the Danish Girl to life at our wonderful venue in Peterborough. At Selladoor we are committed to supporting new work and it’s an honour to be workshopping this amazing and important story with such a fantastic cast and creative team. With the support from the DCMS we are continuing to work hard to bridge the gap not only to get our industry moving again but in helping our communities to continue to access theatre and the arts. As the New Theatre prepares to reopen this is a first step towards retaining and growing the crucial connection we have with our audiences.”
JOIN HAYLEY TAMADDON ONLINE WITH THE BRITISH PANTOMIME ACADEMY
Star of Stage and Screen Hayley Tamaddon will host an online talk with the British Pantomime Academy as part of their programming for May. Hayley will share her experiences from appearing on both stage and TV, along with knowledge and insight into her career as a professional Artiste. This is a great opportunity for those who want to learn more and take advice about moving into the professional world of show biz.
Hayley Tamaddon is best known for her roles in Coronation street, Emmerdale and Shameless, also winning the fifth series of Dancing on Ice in 2010, Her vast stage career has seen her star in hit UK touring shows including Grease, A Chorus Line, Boogie Nights, Mamma Mia! Fame, The Rocky Horror Show ,Spamalot and Everybodys talking about Jamie whilst also starring in numerous pantomimes across the UK.
Hayley says “I’m very excited to be doing a talk for the BPA.. I’ve done so many pantos in my time I’ve lost count! And I’ve loved them all. So looking forward to sharing my stories and knowledge with all the students!”
The British Pantomime Academy was founded in 2019 bringing workshops and courses to students of all ages. with more that the majority of attendees going on to achieve professional work in pantomime or on stage and TV within the year. In 2020 with Covid restrictions halting physical workshops these were taken online to great success. Each month Core workshops are available along with one off Masterclasses with celebrity names from across the world of showbiz.
Kev Orkian Founder and CEO of The British Pantomime Academy says “Hayley is a true star of stage and screen who will offer our students real insight into what it takes to pursue a career in theatre and TV, we’re delighted for her to join us in May for this one off unique talk ”
British pantomime academy workshops are open to students of all ages. To book your place on this or any other workshop just visit www.britishpantomimeacademy.com
Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Eilene Davidson Productions and Kate Pakenham Productions present
Kaleider’s
The Money
Conceived and directed by Seth Honnor
The Chamber, London County Hall 26 May – 18 July
A group of complete strangers have 60 minutes to agree how to spend a pot of real cash. If the players run out of time, then the money will roll over to the next show.
Don’t agree with them? Then you can join in, right up until the last second. But where do you stand? Will you help or hinder?
Time’s ticking…
Kaleider, one of the world’s leading companies in extraordinary live arts, presents The Money, a perfect hybrid of immersive theatre and game that guarantees that no two shows are ever the same. Be a part of the most memorable conversations to take place in London this summer, as altruism butts heads with personal interests, personalities clash and hierarchies are upended.
Performed on 5 continents, at the prestigious Sydney Opera House, UK Houses of Parliament, Lagos City Hall, Lisbon City Hall, Melbourne’s Victoria Parliament, City of London’s Guildhall, Tianjin’s Grand Theatre and many more, this “urgent, playful theatre that points up our complex, often conflicted relationship to the stuff (money) and our strong attachment to it.” (The Guardian) arrives at London’s historic County Hall for just 8 weeks!
Come and play.
“Led by Seth Honnor, Kaleider has always been small, agile, networked and responsive. It creates projects that do not fit into any art-form box, which are almost always participatory, and are startling in the way they make us engage with the world and interrogate our own responses to it.” Lyn Gardner, Associate Editor of The Stage.
The production will be performed under strict social distancing and will follow all current Government guidelines.
OPENING AT GLASGOW THEATRE ROYAL ON 24 NOVEMBER 2021
AHEAD OF PLAYING LIVERPOOL, DUBLIN, SOUTHAMPTON, SALFORD, MILTON KEYNES, PLYMOUTH, HULL, BRISTOL, BIRMINGHAM, NORWICH, CANTERBURY, SUNDERLAND, LEEDS AND CARDIFF
Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce full touring dates for the UK and Ireland tour of his acclaimed production of the Boublil and Schönberg’s “LES MISÉRABLES”.
The musical willopen at Glasgow Theatre Royal on 24 November 2021 where it will run until 1 January 2022, before playing Liverpool Empire (5 – 22 January 2022), Bord Gáis Energy Theatre Dublin (8 – 26 February 2022), The Mayflower, Southampton (8 – 26 March 2022), The Lowry, Salford (29 March – 23 April 2022), Milton Keynes Theatre (26 April – 21 May 2022), TheatreRoyal Plymouth (24 May – 11 June 2022), Hull New Theatre (15 June – 9 July 2022), Bristol Hippodrome (12 July – 6 August 2022), Birmingham Hippodrome (9 – 27 August 2022), Norwich Theatre Royal (31 August – 24 September 2022), Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (30 September – 29 October 2022), Sunderland Empire (1 – 19 November 2022), Leeds Grand Theatre (24 November – 10 December 2022) and Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (13 December 2022 – 14 January 2023). Full listings below.
As previously announced, the cast will include Dean Chisnall as ‘Jean Valjean’, Nic Greenshields as ‘Javert’ and Katie Hall as ‘Fantine’ with full casting to be announced soon.
Since Cameron Mackintosh first conceived this new production of “Les Misérables” in 2009 to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary it has taken the world by storm. Originally touring the UK throughout 2009/10, concluding with a season at the Barbican, it has also played across the globe including Broadway where the Huffington Post proclaimed this new production, “Sizzles for the 21st Century” and the New York Times called it, “Thrilling, Spectacular and Unforgettable”. This production opened triumphantly in the West End at the Sondheim Theatre in January 2020 to critical acclaim, and it will reopen there in September 2021 following a limited run of The Staged Concert. It will also open in Tokyo in May 2021 and will commence another tour of North America in Autumn 2022. It has firmly been embraced by modern audiences everywhere as a Les Mis for the 21st century. The tour of this production has sold out in record breaking time in each venue it has played since opening in 2018.
★★★★★ ‘This reborn dream of a production looks and sounds fresher than ever. Sends shivers of excitement racing down the spine – You emerge feeling stirred and exhilarated’ Daily Telegraph
‘A production of awesome power and mind-blowing restaging’ Irish Times
★★★★★ ‘Les Miserables is arguably, the greatest musical of all time”
Edinburgh Evening News
‘A thrilling inspiration’ The Guardian
‘Packs an almighty punch and brings audiences to their feet every night’ The Independent
★★★★★ ‘A five-star hit – Astonishingly powerful’ The Times
★★★★★ ‘The mighty Les Mis is still revolutionary. This new staging of one of the world’s longest-running musicals remains fit to burst the seams of the mightiest of stages’ Daily Mail
This production inspired the hugely successful movie version starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne.This brilliant new staging has scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, and has to date already been seen in North America, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, Spain, France, Manila, Singapore, Dubai and Broadway.
Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent score of “LES MISÉRABLES” includes the songs, “I Dreamed a Dream”, “On My Own”, “Stars”, “Bring Him Home”, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, “One Day More”, “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”, “Master Of The House” and many more. Seen by over 120 million people worldwide in 52 countries and in 22 languages, “LES MISÉRABLES” is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals.
Cameron Mackintosh’s production of “LES MISÉRABLES” is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton and original adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. The original “LES MISÉRABLES” orchestrations are by John Cameron with new orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke, Stephen Metcalfe and Stephen Brooker. The production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, designed by Matt Kinley inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo with costumes by Andreane Neofitou and Christine Rowland, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, musical staging by Michael Ashcroft and Geoffrey Garratt, projections by Fifty-Nine Productions and music supervision by Stephen Brooker and Graham Hurman.
LISTINGS
GLASGOW THEATRE ROYAL
Wednesday 24 November 2021– Saturday 1 January 2022
ON SALE NOW
LIVERPOOL EMPIRE
Wednesday 5 – Saturday 22 January 2022
ON SALE FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021
BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE DUBLIN
Tuesday 8 – Saturday 26 February 2022
ON SALE FRIDAY 14 MAY 2021
MAYFLOWER THEATRE SOUTHAMPTON
Tuesday 8– Saturday 26 March 2022
ON SALE THURSDAY 6 MAY 2021
THE LOWRY SALFORD
Tuesday 29 March – Saturday 23 April 2022
ON SALE NOW
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
Tuesday 26 April – Saturday 21 May 2022
ON SALE SOON
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH
Tuesday 24 May – Saturday 11June 2022
ON SALE SOON
HULL NEW THEATRE
Wednesday 15 June – Saturday 9 July 2022
ON SALE NOW
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
Tuesday 12 July – Saturday 6 August 2022
ON SALE NOW
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
Tuesday 9 – Saturday 27 August 2022
ON SALE NOW
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
Wednesday 31 August – Saturday 24 September 2022
ON SALE NOW
THE MARLOWE THEATRE, CANTERBURY
Friday 30 September – Saturday 29 October 2022
ON SALE NOW
SUNDERLAND EMPIRE
Tuesday 1– Saturday 19 November 2022
ON SALE SOON
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
Thursday 24 November – Saturday 10 December 2022
ON SALE NOW
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE CARDIFF
Tuesday 13 December 2022 – Saturday 14 January 2023
Yasmeen Khan updates Oscar Wilde’s classic play with flair and a cheeky wink, setting the comedy in the world of acting and social media.
Playing with lazy stereotypes, the play is set in “The North” where Jamil (Gurjeet Singh) is struggling to get his acting career started, with very little help from his useless agent Alison (Harriet Thorpe in wonderful form). He develops a flat cap-wearing character and starts a vlog, Earnest North’s Reet Good Guide to the North, and begins to build a modest following as Earnest. Meanwhile, in a posh bit of the North, a rom-com is being filmed starring Algy Moncrief (Tom Dixon) – an actor with a bad reputation. Algy ends up mentoring Jamil, but things are complicated by Jamil’s interest in Gul (Nikki Patel). Gul is the daughter of Ms Begum (Mina Anwar), the owner of the house in which the rom-com is being filmed. Jamil can’t bring himself to tell Gul his real name, as she is convinced that Gul and Earnest will garner many more likes and follows than any other couple name, so Earnest and Gul arrange a date in the most romantic place they know – Nando’s. Ms Begum scuppers these plans, however.
Meanwhile, Algy’s romantic interest in Jamil’s cousin/sister/niece Safina (Zoe Iqbal) – it’s all explained in the play – is reciprocated, and the characters all end up at Jamil’s where true identities and backstories are revealed. Melanie Marshall’s Miss Prism is a gameshow obsessed lifestyle coach instructor, with a secret past who we first see teaching Safina felt pen feng shui, and there are cameos of variable impact from Divina De Campo, Hugh Dennis, Sindhu Vee and Paul Chahidi. The latter three serve to highlight the stereotyping and inherent racism that Jamil faces and the shallowness of public images and give Jamil the impetus to shed his Earnest persona and be true to himself.
Wilde’s basic plot points remain intact, although some are merely given lip service, but Khan has given the story and the characters a modern outlook and there are some laugh out loud moments – notably Ms Begum interrogating Jamil like a quiz show called Who Wants To Be A Suitable Boy? Director Mina Anwar has obviously had lots of fun framing the play in the style of a cheesy sitcom, and the performances fit in with this style perfectly, with great physical comedy, exaggerated reactions and glances to camera. Unfortunately, without an audience lots of jokes miss the mark and it sometimes has the feel of a cast desperately waiting for a laugh from the auditorium – enhanced by a scene with an ecstatic audience near the end. I wondered if they should have gone completely down the sitcom route and included a laughter track, as an audience reaction would energise the production and eliminate awkward silences.
This is an enjoyable show and an interesting update but falls a little flat without an audience.
