Billed as part poetry, part stand-up, part gig, Moist, Moist, Moist is a charmingly chaotic show that you can’t help but love. After listening to me rave about the show, my friend told me it sounds like Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse Go Fishing – The Teenage Years. Which I suppose is quite accurate on the surface – two friends sharing surreal comic riffs, ridiculous skits and songs alongside deeply emotional explorations of life and love.
Chris White’s poetry about the queer experience and falling in love takes the sea metaphor and stretches it until it breaks with a knowing glee in the funniest parts of the performance. With a set that looks like the themed play area in a nursery (and looks like 30 children have run riot in it all day by the end of the show) – a paddling pool and inflatable fish take centre stage – and a panto-style singalong, there are moments when you’re not sure if anybody in the room knows what’ll happen next, but that is the joy of this performance.
Chris White and Hal Kelly are a great double act, with Kelly accompanying White’s “singing” live. White talks about growing up far from the sea and about first going to gay clubs, Grindr hook-ups, and relationships using the language of the ocean to describe the emotions and sensations of love and sex. While he lays the metaphors on thick in jokier sections there are some quieter sequences of poetry that capture the essence of love beautifully. After reeling the audience in with his irresistible charm, the revelations of the last 5 minutes hit hard, but White and Kelly end the show with hope and love – and an absurdly silly joke.
This fantastic, funny show only has a short run, so grab a ticket while you can before Chris and his paddling pool get back on the Exeter train.
Come What May, a tribute to the greatest movie musicals of all time including Moulin Rouge, Rocketman, The Greatest Showman, A Star is Born and Burlesque, today announces full casting. The show, which stars Britain’s Got Talent winner Jai McDowall, will head out on a major national theatre tour this September, playing across the UK including at the Mercury Theatre Colchester, the Mayflower Theatre Southampton, the New Theatre Royal Lincoln and Buxton Opera House, where the show kicks off on 15 September.
Joining the previously announced Jai McDowall are: Celyn Cartwright, David Wyatt, Óscar Fonseca, Chloe Gatward, Emma Jane, Georgia McEnaney, Hannah Morcos, Stuart Rouse, Marco Venturini, and Reece Woodier.
Travel back in time as the children of the revolution take you into the sexy, disreputable and glamorous underworld of Paris at the Moulin Rouge. Have a musical peep into the flamboyant world of Elton John, journey on into the imagination of the original showman P.T Barnum before heading to the bright lights of Los Angeles as well as the kitsch glamour of Sunset Boulevard’s Burlesque Lounge.
The musical extravaganza is packed with timeless classics from Moulin Rouge including Come What May, Your Song, Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend, Roxanne and Lady Marmalade as well as hits from other iconic movie musicals from Come Alive, Saturday Night’s Alright and Shallow to Show Me How You Burlesque.
This all-singing, all-dancing show is an unforgettable combination of dreams, adventure and above all – love!
Jai McDowall won the fifth season of Britain’s Got Talent, capturing the hearts of a nation with his powerhouse vocals, natural charm and versatile song interpretations. Jai appeared at the 2011 Royal Variety Performance and has since toured the UK with his own show, as well as appearing in the theatre shows Mad About the Musicals and Les Musicals as well as in London at Live at Zedel.
Come What May is presented by Sweeney Entertainments and Sisco Productions. The show is created by Scott Garnham and Simon Schofield for Sisco Productions with choreography by Scott Coldwell and arrangements/musical Supervision by James Doughty.
Co-founded by Julie and Peter Sweeney, Sweeney Entertainments has been providing a wide repertoire of top-quality touring shows for theatre and corporate events for over fifteen years both in the UK and internationally and now boasts a repertoire of fourteen touring productions.
Sisco Productions is a company of enthusiastic and ambitious theatre makers, led by Barricade Boys creators Scott Garnham and Simon Schofield, whose primary mission is to create and provide high quality live theatre to the widest possible audience.
SHOWCASING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSICAL THEATRE TALENT: KATY LIPSON AND ADAM LENSON ANNOUNCE THE CHAMBER MUSICAL SESSIONS CONCERT AT THE GARRICK THEATRE IN THE WEST END ON MONDAY 4 OCTOBER TO CELEBRATE FIFTEEN OF THE MOST TALENTED NEW WRITING TEAMS IN THE UK
LIPSON AND LENSON HAVE SELECTED TWO WINNERS, ‘EARTHA, EDDIE AND THE UPSIDE-DOWN TREE’ BY LEO MUNBY AND ANNABEL MUTALE REED AND ‘ECHOES’ BY FREYA SMITH AND JACK WILLIAMS OUT OF THE NEW COMMISSIONS FROM THE CHAMBER MUSICAL PROJECT WHICH WILL RECEIVE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORSHIP
AUDIENCES WILL BE TREATED TO AN EXCLUSIVE FIRST-LISTEN OF ORIGINAL SONGS FROM THE NEW SHOWS THAT ARE BEING WRITTEN
THE WRITERS WILL BE JOINED BY SOME OF THE WEST END’S FAMILIAR AND NEW FACES AND A HOUSE BAND TO SHARE AN EVENING OF UNEXPECTED, EXHILARATING AND EXTRAORDINARY NEW MUSICAL THEATRE
A concert to celebrate the Chamber Musical Project will take place on Monday 4th October at 7:30pm at the Garrick Theatre in the West End. The Chamber Musical Sessions concert will invite audiences to join the selected fifteen writing teams from across the UK to hear an array of new songs from the chamber musicals that they are writing. This concert celebration of the Aria-ALP Chamber Musical Project will give audiences a chance to hear extracts from all of the longlisted shows and get to know a new generation of musical theatre artists. The writers will be joined by some of the West End’s biggest stars, new faces and a house band to share an evening of unexpected, exhilarating and extraordinary new musical theatre.
The two newly commissioned shows which have been selected as the winners by the Aria-ALP Chamber Musical Project for further development, mentorship and financial support are:
EARTHA, EDDIE, AND THE UPSIDE-DOWN TREE
by Leo Munby & Annabel Mutale Reed A contemporary fairy tale about wishing for love in a world of missed connections.
ECHOES
by Freya Smith & Jack Williams
A new musical about a queer relationship told from two perspectives, in two parts. Agnes and Bea meet unexpectedly and become entangled in a web of lies and deception while falling in love. Two complex, flawed and relatable young women explore themselves and each other in this new piece which examines themes including sexuality, class and the unreliability of memory.
The concert will also include work from the writers Christina Bloom (Detached), Cordelia O’Driscoll (Bitter/Sweet), Emelie Odukwe and Lily Vincent-Frankland (At The Centre), Guy Woolf and Isla Van Tricht (How To Save The World), Tommy Antonio and Robert Casey (Harder Baby), Hilmi Jaidin (Clickbait), Jen Green and Caroline Wigmore (Elizabeth Holmes: How to bleed dry in Silicon Valley), Michelle Payne & Craig Webb (Enthusiastically, Yes!), Natalie Pound, Sam Young and Sam Hoppen (Thanks I’m Cured), Jonathan O’Neill and Isaac Savage (Letting Go), Poppy Burton-Morgan and Robin Simões da Silva (Treehouse), Sarah-Louise Young, Richard Link and Paul Chronnell (Escape Room) and Eden Tredwell (Open Mic 1803).
The commissioning fund was set up as a response to the lack of established British chamber musicals within mainstream publishing and licensing houses and would like to help support UK-based writers in creating content which in the long term could fill these gaps.
Both companies are hugely committed to new musical theatre, evidenced by Aria’s FROM PAGE TO STAGE festival and full-time literary department, and Lenson’s regular SIGNAL concerts. There were over 200 entries for this opportunity with each writing team submitting a pitch and a sample of previous work.
Katy Lipson said:
“We are incredibly proud to have launched a new musical theatre writing award over the last year and to be presenting a night showcasing 15 submissions for that award on top of the set for the much-loved American chamber musical THE LAST 5 YEARS. We are hugely committed to the future of New British Chamber Musicals and cannot wait to see this award grow.”
Adam Lenson said:
“We have been aware of how few opportunities there are for writers to be supported as they develop new musicals and it has been so wonderful to collaborate with Katy to create a little more space for the UK’s writing talent. We hope other theatres and producers will follow our lead and commission and stage more new musical theatre. We are so excited to see what Annabel, Leo, Jack and Freya create and can’t wait to celebrate them and the other longlisted writers in the West End in October.
The Wardrobe Ensemble’s The Theatre on the Downs in Bristol announces more shows The Theatre on the Downs, Breaking Bread, The Downs, Stoke Road, BS9 1FG Tuesday 10th August – Saturday 2nd October 2021
More shows have been announced to join The Wardrobe Ensemble’s 10th anniversary celebration: The Theatre on the Downs, an ambitious new theatre festival running from August to October. Don’t miss out on this exciting new venue in Bristol and its eclectic and unmissable selection of family and theatre shows that are now on-sale!
Drag queen and party princess Topsie Redfern is getting back to her roots with Topsie Redfern’s Crystal Balls, an exploration of queer acceptance, Crystal Balls and her personal journey from WestEnd Star to drag artist. Shane Warne In Knowle: Stage Reading is a hilarious staged reading of a brilliant new play about men, cricket and the power of Australian legends. An unforgettable onewoman play about the 20th Century African American experience, Woke by Apphia Campbell tells the story of two women from different decades involved in the struggle for civil rights. Supported by The Wardrobe Ensemble and Tobacco Factory Theatres, Ad Infinitum’s latest work-in-progress, Beautiful Evil Things is a breathtaking adventure about one woman who unearths the epic stories of powerful Greek legends.
Stop Trying to be Fantastic by Molly Naylor is a funny and lyrical spoken-word show about suffering, saviour-complex, self-acceptance, and a magpie who refuses to quit. Sing, dance and cry in the bittersweet gig theatre show, Hero & Leander, Or, I Love You But Everything’s Under Water, as six multi-instrumentalists tell an epic seaside tale through songs encompassing folk, indie, sea shanties and choral music. Jonesy and Single Sex are a frank and powerful double bill presented by Bristol School of Acting first-year students tackling gender roles, toxic masculinity and being a teenager in today’s society.
Running until the end of August will be The Wardrobe Ensemble’s WINNERS. In their own inimitable style, this exciting new show explores capitalism and tracks the shift of labour in the history of food from farming to fast food. Directed by Jesse Jones (Death Drop, West End) and Helena Middleton (Education, Education, Education, West End), WINNERS is a rollicking and fantastical look at manipulation, monopoly and money, capitalism and currency.
This is the perfect festival for all the family with brilliant works by leading children’s companies. Two, Four, Six, Eight is a funny and charming journey into the world of numbers for 3 – 8 year olds and their families by Shoofly Theatre, from Bristol theatre-makers Craig Edwards and Katie Sykes. Deep in the woods on the big oak tree, lives a little squirrel with big ideas; Silly Squirrel is perfect for under-5s. The Great Big Story Mix Up is a live and interactive improvised storytelling show which puts the audience at the centre of the action. Science Adventures: The Power Pickle is a fantastical show that explores the wonders of science for ages 5+. With puppetry, poetry and song, TooRaLooRum explores the importance of imagination and how bravery can come from even the smallest of places
The Wardrobe Ensemble comments, We are thrilled to announce more shows to The Theatre on the Downs! It has been a wild ride so far but we are excited to continue to delight audiences with our extraordinary programme of theatre shows. Come and see us and have a drink!
The Theatre on the Downs is kindly supported by The Wardrobe Theatre, Arts Council England, Backstage Trust and WECA. Ticketing in association with Bristol Old Vic.
Please note, The Wardrobe Ensemble is a producing theatre company, running The Theatre on the Downs; The Wardrobe Theatre is a venue in Old Market. The two organisations are good friends and have produced several shows together including The Great Gatsby and The Seekers Trilogy, but they are separate organisations
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S SMASH HIT WEST END & BROADWAY MUSICAL
TAKE A SNEAK PEAK AT OUR NEW INTAKE OF STUDENTS ON THEIR FIRST DAY AT ROCK SCHOOL HERE
MAJOR UK AND IRELAND 2021/22 TOUR PREMIERE AT
HULL NEW THEATRE ON TUESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER
School of Rock – The Musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit, Olivier Award-winning West End show today reveals casting for its first-ever UK and Ireland tour.
Jake Sharp is getting the band back together as it is confirmed that he will lead the cast as Dewey Finn having previously performed the role in the West End. Alex Tomkins will perform in the role at certain performances. They are joined by Rebecca Lock asRosalie Mullins, Matthew Rowland as Ned Schneebly and Nadia Violet Johnson as Patty Di Marco. The remaining adult cast comprises Ryan Bearpark, James Bisp, Joanna O’Hare, Samuel Haughton, Tom Hext, Harveen Mann, Richard Morse, Annell Odartey, Amy Oxley, Helena Pipe, Michaela Powell, Richard Vorster and Craig Watson.
‘A FOOT-STOMPING, DELIRIOUSLY ENJOYABLE FABLE OF FREEDOM AND FUN’
THE SUNDAY TIMES
One of three incredibly talented teams of twelve children will perform live alongside Dewey each night and are currently getting ready to stick it to the man when the bell rings for the new school term in September. They comprise (including covers) Eva McGrath (thirteen years old from Birmingham), Emerson Sutton (thirteen years old from the West Midlands), Thomas Harvey (twelve years old from Cheshire) and Isaac Forward (twelve years old from Buckinghamshire) who will play Freddy; Chloe Marler (ten years old from Essex), Marikit Akiwumi (twelve years old from Guildford), Daisy Hanna (thirteen years old from Surrey) and Ivy Balcombe (nine years old from Surrey) who will play Katie; Oliver Forde (twelve years old from London), Angus McDougall (thirteen years old from Buckinghamshire), David Gluhovsky (twelve years old from London) and Oliver Pearce (eleven years old from North Wales)who play Lawrence; Joseph Sheppard (twelve years old from the West Midlands), Harry Churchill (nine years old from Devon), Hanley Webb (ten years old from Northamptonshire) and William Laborde (twelve years old from Surrey) who will play Zack; Wilf Cooper (twelve years old from Surrey), Logan Matthews (eleven years old from Berkshire) and Alfie Morwood (ten years from South Wales) who play Billy; Keira Laver (eleven years old from Essex), Florrie May Wilkinson (ten years old from London) and Saffia Layla (eleven years old from Hertfordshire) who will play Summer; Jasmine Djazel (eleven years old from London), Souparnika Nair (ten years old from Bury St. Edmunds) and Angel Lucero (eleven years old from London), who will play Tomika; Hadlee Snow (ten years old from Brighton), Darmani Eboji (twelve years old from Essex), Devon Francis (eleven years old from London), Riotafari Gardner (ten years old from London) who will play James; Lily Rose Martin (eleven years old from Kent), Elodie Salmon (eleven years old from London) and Paris Banyong (nine years old from London) who will play Marcy; Caelan Wallington (eleven years old from Watford), Alex Shotton (twelve years old from Buckinghamshire) and Nesim Adnan (ten years old from Kent) who will play Mason; Kyla Robinson (eleven years old from Surrey), Eden Anthony (twelve years old from London) and Elisha Kerai (eleven years old from London) who will play Shonelle; Ophelia Parsons (twelve years old from London), Jemima Newman (nine years old from Bedfordshire), Ava Masters (eleven years old from Kent) and Inez Danielak (twelve years old from Essex) who play Sophie.
‘THE MOST ENJOYABLE FEW HOURS MONEY CAN BUY’
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Based on the hilarious hit movie, this new musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band – sensationally performed live by the production’s young actors every night with roof-raising energy! While teaching these pint-sized prodigies what it means to truly rock, Dewey falls for the school’s beautiful, but uptight headmistress, helping her rediscover the wild child within.
School of Rock – The Musical features new music written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid, Sister Act) and a book by Julian Fellowes. Originally directed by Laurence Connor (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, London Palladium 2019) with choreography by JoAnn M Hunter, set and costume designs by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Mick Potter and music supervision by John Rigby.
School of Rock- The Musical debuted at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre in New York in 2015, and ran for more than three years, picking up four Tony nominations along the way. It transferred to London in late 2016 and ran for over three year at the New London Theatre, winning an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
For the production’s first UK and Ireland tour, Christopher Key takes the reigns as Associate Director, Maria Graciano as Associate choreographer and Musical Supervision is by Matt Smith. Adam Fisher and Stuart Porter complete the team as Associate Sound and Lighting Designers.
The UK & Ireland Tour of School of Rock – The Musical is produced by David Ian for Crossroads Live by arrangement with the Really Useful Group.
Theatre Royal Nottingham – until Saturday 21 August 2021
Reviewed by Louise Ford
4****
I got chills…
This week’s show at the Theatre Royal is another musical classic, Grease (Directed by Nikolai Foster), all high school anx ,rivalry, peer pressure, rock and roll, cars and a bit of education thrown in for good measure.
A coming of age story which starts, appropriately enough, at the end of a long hot summer of beaches and summer love (well we can all dream!), when the mismatched summer lovers Sandy (Georgia Louise) and Danny (Dan Partridge) start back at Rydell High, under the watchful eye of Miss Lynch (Corina Powlesland)
The original book, music and lyrics was written, in 1971, by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey and draws heavily on the rock and roll of the 1950s. The current staging remains true to the fashion and hairstyles (cue back combing that DA) of the era. The show and song lyrics are more gritty and raunchy than you may remember from the film version ( made in 1978). Think pelvic thrusting and grinding, as well as teenage pregnancy, gang violence and class conflict. The story inverts the norm of the girl taming her man and instead the girl is transformed into a wild (male?) fantasy.
One of the funniest songs and duos, that didn’t make it into the film, is that between Rump and Jan (Maeve Byrne), the song titled Mooning celebrates his skill at, well, mooning at girls,”I guess I’ll keep striking poses. Until my cheeks have lost their roses”! Trust me is was hilarious! They make a lovely pairing of chubbiness and snacking!
The stage (Colin Richmond), is nicely pared back and easily changes from the beach, Rydell High cafeteria ,the garage, back alley and bedroom, with minimal effort. The set easily divides in two for the early rendition of Summer Nights, tell me more,tell me more! All of the great familiar songs, in a slightly different order to the film, ( you’ll be word perfect, as the Nottingham audience were last night) are there, with some wonderful ensemble dance routines (choreographed by Arlene Phillips) lots of energy, hand jiving (Born to Hand Jive) and pelvic thrusts.
My only gripe is that my favourite song “Grease Lightening” wasn’t on for long enough, although it is included in the finale mash up, which was a lot of fun. The audience were on their feet singing and clapping away, sadly not enough room for any jiving in the aisles maybe just enough space for a bit of pelvic thrusting!
The stand out performance for me was Peter Andre. He has reprised his 2019 role as both Vince Fontaine and the Teen Angel. In some performances he is also the Beat Cop. So some rapid costume changes! He’s on stage nearly all the time, from his eyrie record studio looking down on the unfolding action, to the heavenly (are there any other kind) Teen Angel giving career advice to Frenchie (Marianna Neofitou), to the iconic rock n’roll legend Vince Fontaine judging the dance competition. The choreography for Beauty School Drop Out is wonderfully camp all white suits, sunnies, and glittery wings. As Vince Fontaine he is working the full leopard print (think Cat from Red Dwarf) zoot suit and brothel creepers. He’s full of energy and is clearly enjoying the role, and manages to do the splits!
All in all a great evening’s entertainment, so Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys grab your jackets, comb through that grease and get on down to the Royal for a nostalgic evening of Rock and Roll!” It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s what you do with your dancing shoes”, Vince Fontaine.
FULL CASTING CONFIRMED FOR THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT
The Royal Shakespeare Company has today announced further casting for The Magician’s Elephant, a new musical by Nancy Harris (book/lyrics) and Marc Teitler (music/lyrics) based on the novel by prize-winning children’s author Kate DiCamillo which will make its world stage premiere in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 14 October 2021 – 1 January 2022.
Actor, writer, storyteller Renu Arora will play the role of Madame LaVaughn, who tragically finds her herself paralyzed after an elephant – conjured by The Magician of the play’s title – crashes through the roof of an opera house, crushing her legs in the process.
Renu has worked extensively in the arts as an actor, singer, composer, director and writer for over 16 years. Her writing credits include Women of Hope; a verbatim music-theatre show funded by Arts Council (and supported by Tamasha, Amnesty and Rich Mix) exploring domestic violence in minority communities and The Crossing, a devised show about her grandmother’s experiences of the Partition of India and her co-writers’ family’s experience of the Vietnam War, supported by Arts Council England (The London Hub Mosaic Bursary), Tamasha and Rich Mix.
As an actor and musician, Renu has performed at theatres including the New Vic Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre and Theatre Royal Stratford East. As a director, Renu’s work includes performances at Arcola Theatre, Soho Theatre, Tamasha, Tara Arts, Riverside Studios, Oval House and The Kings Head Theatre. As a composer, Renu wrote and recorded the vocal soundtrack for Rani Moorthy’s ‘Who’s Sari Now’ at Leicester Curve and Stratford East.
After a life changing accident and near-death experience in 2017, Renu acquired a disability, changing the way she works as an artist. Her lockdown-inspired audio work reflecting on the parallels of her accident and the pandemic was broadcast by BBC Sounds. Renu’s new 12-part arts podcast; The Burgundy Book, in which she reflects upon her life-changing experience, will be available in Spring 2022 and is funded by Arts Council England (with additional support from Graeae, The Space, and Disability Arts Online).
As a public speaker, Renu talks openly about her accident, near-death experience and artistic practice both in UK and overseas and is scheduled to take part in the International Association for Near Death Studies (IANDS) virtual conference in September 2021.
She will be joined by Amy Booth-Steel in the role of Narrator. Amy is perhaps best known to musical theatre audiences for her roles in Heathers, Sister Act and The Sound of Music in the West End, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (Leicester Curve); Betty Blue Eyes (Mercury and West Yorkshire Playhouse) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Watermill Theatre).
Other theatre credits include Dick Whittington, A Pacificist’s Guide to the War on Cancer, The Light Princess, One Man, Two Guvnors (Tour) and She Stoops to Conquer Other (National Theatre), #HONESTAMY at the Pleasance; As You Like It (Regent’s Park) The Assassination of Katie Hopkins (Theatr Clwyd); Anita and Me (Birmingham Rep and Theatre Royal Stratford East); Ex (Soho Theatre) Nicked (HighTide) and Swallows and Amazons (Bristol Old Vic).
Returning to the RSC this Christmas is Miriam Nyarko who will play Adele following her appearance as Lisa James in the 2019 RSC musical adaptation of The Boy in the Dress based on the novel by David Walliams. Miriam also played Lavender in the West End production of Matilda the Musical, also for the RSC. Other theatre credits include Our Town (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal), The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre).
Miriam is perhaps best known to TV audiences for playing Miri in the popular CBBC series Almost Never (Series 1-3). Other television credits include The Voice Kids, Blue Peter and Saturday Mash Up.
Also confirmed are Lauren Jones (Lisette) and Chrystine Symone (Lamplighter)
They join the previously announced cast which includes; Sharif Afifi (Milliner), Marc Antolin (Leo Matienne), Alison Arnopp (Baker), Hannah Brown (Swing),Keisha Amponsa Banson (Gloria Matienne), Michael Carolan (Swing), Lucca Chadwick-Patel (Fishmonger), Stephen John Davis (Doctor), Zoe Halliday (The Elephant), Sam Harrison (Count Quintet), Forbes Masson (Police Chief), Wela Mbusi (The Elephant), Mark Meadows (Vilna Lutz), Suzanne Nixon (The Elephant), Alastair Parker (Magician), Wendy Somerville (Mrs Griswald) Summer Strallen (Countess Quintet) and Mandi Symonds (Sister Marie) and Jack Wolfe (Peter Duchene).
The Magician’s Elephant was originally due to run from October 2020 – January 2021 but was postponed due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, which included the temporary cancellation of all RSC performances, events and other activities.
The production will mark the re-opening of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre – which marks its 60th anniversary in 2021 – and the return of audiences to indoor performances at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon for the first time since March 2020.
The Magician’s Elephant tells the story of orphan Peter Augustus Duchene, who lives a frugal life in the lonely town of Baltese. Then one day, a magician conjures an elephant from the sky. The animal’s appearance sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that it changes Baltese forever. Peter is catapulted into the quest of his life, overturning everything he ever thought he knew, and discovering that happiness can come from the most unexpected places.
This new adaptation ofKate DiCamillo’s heart-breaking and darkly magical children’s book byNancy Harris (book/lyrics) andMarc Teitler(music/lyrics) will be directed bySarah Tipple, Associate Director to Gregory Doran onThe Boy in the Dress. The production will feature design byColin Richmondwhose previous RSC credits includeWendy and PeterPanandViceVersa. Lighting is byOliver Fenwick, Music Supervision and Musical Direction by Tom Brady, Orchestrations by Sarah Travis and Marc Teitler, vocal arrangements by Tom Brady and Marc Teitler, sound by Paul Groothuis and movement byFrancesca Jaynes. Dramaturgy is by Réjane Collard-Walker. Puppetry direction is byMervyn Millarwith puppetry design byMervyn MillarandTracy Waller.The Magic Consultant isJohn Bulleidwhose previous RSC credits include#WeAreArrested, and video is by Douglas O’Connell.
LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE ANNOUNCES AUTUMN/WINTER SEASON AS THE MUCH-LOVED CHILDREN’S THEATRE AND HOME OF UK PUPPETRY TURNS 60 IN NOVEMBER
There’s a Rang-tan in My Bedroom and Other Stories (Salon Alpin / Passion Pictures).
THE NEW SEASON INCLUDES:
INSPIRED BY GREENPEACE CAMPAIGNS, A MAJOR NEW PRODUCTION ‘THERE’S A RANG-TAN IN MY BEDROOM AND OTHER STORIES’ FEATURING A VOICEOVER FROM EMMA THOMPSON PREMIERES IN THE THEATRE, 10 SEPTEMBER – 7 NOVEMBER
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF A NEW MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF PIERS TORDAY’S REMARKABLE NOVEL ‘THERE MAY BE A CASTLE’ OPENS IN THE THEATRE, 13 NOVEMBER – 23 JANUARY.
‘THE STORM WHALE’, A CO-PRODUCTION WITH YORK THEATRE ROYAL, THE MARLOWE THEATRE AND ENGINE HOUSE, BASED ON BENJI DAVIES’ TENDER AND HEART-WARMING CHILDREN’S STORIES RUNS IN LITTLE ANGEL STUDIOS, 20 NOVEMBER – 30 JANUARY.
LITTLE ANGEL CONTINUE TO INNOVATE DIGITALLY WITH THEIR FREE SERIES ‘WATCH, MAKE, SHARE’, INCLUDING AN EXCITING PROGRAMME OF REGULAR DIGITAL SHORTS, FEATURING A NEW CO-PRODUCTION WITH ENGLISH TOURING OPERA, AND THEIR WEEKLY ‘PEOPLE BEHIND THE PUPPETS’ SERIES.
On 24 November 2021 iconic children’s venue Little Angel Theatre will celebrate 60 years of entertaining and inspiring generations of families through the magical artform of puppetry. When a troupe of enthusiastic puppeteers under the leadership of John and Lyndie Wright transformed a derelict temperance hall in Islington into a theatre specially designed for children’s marionette shows in 1961, nothing like it existed anywhere in London. 60 years later, under the leadership of artistic director Samantha Lane and executive director Peta Swindall, this unique theatre continues to evolve and innovate, reaching millions across the globe through its acclaimed live and digital programme.
Samantha Lane & Peta Swindall introduce the Autumn / Winter season: “As we emerge from the pandemic and welcome live audiences back to Little Angel Theatre after such a challenging time, we are proud to announce a live/digital hybrid season of bold and ambitious new work including two major new shows that don’t shy away from big issues. ‘There’s a Rang-Tan in my Bedroom and Other Stories’ is a beautiful new show featuring a voiceover by Emma Thompson, and supporting Greenpeace and Meat Free Monday, that introduces children to the idea that no-one is too small to make a difference. There will also be accompanying digital content for those who are unable to make it to the theatre in person, or who would like to explore the issues raised in the show around sustainability and climate change in more depth.”
“A new adaptation of Piers Torday’s remarkable novel ‘There May be a Castle’ will enchant audiences over Christmas with its magical world of monsters, knights and wizards. While running in Little Angel Studios is Benji Davies’ tender and heart-warming tale ‘The Storm Whale’, a co-production with York Theatre Royal, The Marlowe Theatre and Engine House.”
“We are thrilled that our free digital output ‘Watch, Make, Share’, for which we recently won an OffWestEnd ‘OneOff’ award, will continue with new content weekly and monthly. We will also release our first series of episodes alongside ‘There’s a Rang-Tan in my Bedroom and Other Stories’. We are very proud that our digital programme has achieved 13,800 new subscribers from 95 countries, equating to 1.1 million views, 49, 500 watch hours and an overall reach of 7.5 million people, since the theatre closed its doors on 23 March 2020.”
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE:
There’s a Rang-Tan in my Bedroom and Other Stories 10 Sept – 7 Nov, Theatre A Little Angel Theatre production Supporting Greenpeace and Meat Free Monday Aimed at ages 5-11 £13.50 adults / £11.50 children Tickets on sale 19 August
Inspired by the Greenpeace campaign films There’s a Rang-Tan in My Bedroom and There’s a Monster in My Kitchen created by Mother and written by James Sellick, this beautiful adaptation encourages children to imagine waking up to find a turtle bathing in your bathtub, an orangutan bouncing on your bed and a jaguar creeping through your kitchen! But how did they all get there? And why on earth are they all so far from home? Featuring a voiceover from Emma Thompson, this magical mix of puppetry and music helps children to discover more about these animal friends and what they can do to help – because no one is too small to make a difference.
Credits Concept by Mother Written by James Sellick Directed by Maia Kirkman-Richards Set and costumes designed by Kate Bunce Lighting designed by Sherry Coenen Puppets designed by Maia Kirkman-Richards Music composed and sound designed by Dominic Sales Creative Producer Miranda Pitcher Performed by Ajjaz Awad & Aya Nakamura
Accompanying this production will be a new digital video series titled Bertie! made up of 7 episodes with one being released each week, aimed at ages 5-11. Each episode in this environmental and engaging educational series will focus on Bertie, a plastic bottle who lives on a landfill site, and his encounters with other creatures via his friend The Lazy Stork (who eats from the landfill site instead of migrating for food) as he learns a new environmental lesson each time.
A detailed scheme of work will also be made available for schools to download and use alongside the digital shorts. All puppets and set will be designed using found and recycled materials – we are committed to environmental sustainability in our actions as well as in our content.
Each episode is designed as an entertaining and informative way of introducing environmental topics and can be used as a spring board for further discussion, research and learning.
Credits for Bertie! Writer/Director – Samantha Lane Set and Puppet Designer – Emma Tompkins Composer – Zara Nunn
There May be a Castle 13 November – 23 January, Theatre A Little Angel Theatre production Aimed at ages 7-11 £14 adults / £12 children Running time: one hour approx. Tickets on-sale 19 August
A remarkable story about love, loss and the power of the imagination, from award-winning writer Piers Torday, is adapted into a musical puppetry production by the creators of Little Angel’s The Smartest Giant in Town and The Pixie and the Pudding.
On a frozen Christmas Eve, a young boy called Mouse Mallory, and his family, set off across the snow-white valley to visit his grandparents. They never arrive. When Mouse wakes up, he finds himself in a magical landscape, with only a talkative sheep and a very bossy horse for company. So begins Mouse’s extraordinary quest through a world of wonder. A world of monsters, minstrels, dangerous knights and mysterious wizards; a world of terrifying danger but also more excitement than Mouse has ever known.
Credits Based on the book by Piers Torday Adapted by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane Directed by Samantha Lane Music and lyrics by Barb Jungr Puppets designed by Judith Hope Set and costumes designed by Ellie Mills Lighting designed by Sherry Coenen
LITTLE ANGEL STUDIOS:
The Wishing Tree 9 – 26 September, Little Angel Studios Please note these are new dates due to the production being rescheduled as a result of Covid delays. £13.50 adults £11.50 children (ages 1-17) Tickets now on sale Post-show workshops will take place on Saturday 11, 18 and 25 September. Tickets for workshops are £6 per family and will be available to book as an add-on to performances on these days. Aimed at ages 5-11 Running Time: 50 mins approx.
Inspired by a brand-new Joseph Coelho poem, incorporating ideas from local Islington school children coming out of the pandemic, The Wishing Tree is a touching tribute to the importance of friendship and helping those in need. Also on display will be six unique wishing trees created by designers Alison Alexander, Ingrid Hu, Maia Kirkman-Richards, Seb Mayer, Emma Tompkins and Samuel Wilde which have been used in workshops with local school children, as well as artwork created by these children in response to the trees and Joseph’s work. Ending with a message of hope, The Wishing Tree explores a range of feelings and ideas that children in this age group can relate to.
Written by Joseph Coelho Directed and designed by Oliver Hymans Puppets designed by Peter Morton Puppet costumes by Katie Underhay Assistant Puppet Fabrication by Nicholas Willis and William Aubrey-Jones Sound design by Elliot Mann and Kacper Slowik Set built by Syeda Bukhari Set build assistant Jessica Shead Performed by Chris Nayak and Nadia Shash
The Storm Whale 20 November – 30 January, Little Angel Studios Aimed at ages 4-8 Tickets £14 adults / £12 children Tickets on sale 19 August
A Little Angel Theatre, York Theatre Royal, The Marlowe Theatre and Engine House co-production, based on the books by Benji Davies.
Noi lives with his Dad and their six cats by the sea. One winter, while his Dad was busy at work, Noi rescued a little whale that washed up on the beach during a storm. There a friendship began that changed their lives forever. The following winter Noi’s Dad takes one last trip in his fishing boat. Noi is alone once more and longs to see his friend again. He waits and watches, watches and waits… will it take another winter storm to bring them back together again? Benji Davies’ tender and heart-warming children’s stories of friendship, love and courage are brought to life as one enchanting theatre show.
Credits Based on The Storm Whale and The Storm Whale in Winter by Benji Davies Written and directed by Matt Aston Designed by Lydia Denno Lighting designed by Jason Salvin Composer / Musical Director Julian Butler Choreographed by Hayley Del Harrison Puppet direction by Sue Dacre Puppets made by Keith Frederick
The Christmas run of The Storm Whale at Little Angel Theatre is dedicated to the memory of our Lighting Designer and dear friend Jason Salvin (1972 – 2020).
Running time: 1 hour 15 minutes, including an interval
“West End Stars Alice Fearn, Oliver Savile & Courtney Bowman Workshop A New Musical Heading For London!”
West End stars Courtney Bowman, Oliver Savile and a host of West End performers join together in a new musical workshop.
With sights on London’s West End, producers at RED Entertainment are holding a workshop in London for Tinker Bell the Musical.
Tinker Bell is a new musical written by TikTok stars and musical theatre writing duo Carey-Hills & Hendricks.
RED Entertainment is thrilled to announce the Tinker Bell the Musical cast and creatives, who will gather next week for a workshop production of a brand-new British musical inspired by JM Barrie’s much-loved fairy companion Tinker Bell.
With a passion for creating new work, RED Entertainment is thrilled to collaborate with Carey-Hills & Hendricks to tell this magical tale. Tinker Bell had her own story long before Peter Pan met Wendy. In this new musical Tinker Bell the Musical asks you to “Dream big. Then dream bigger.”
Carey-Hills & Hendricks wrote the book, music, and lyrics for Tinker Bell the Musical. Ryan Carey-Hills and Lauren Hendricks have been writing and performing for over a decade, with credits including Nursery Crimes (named one of the Evening Standard’s Top 10 New Musicals) and Wytch, a powerful female-led show about the Lancashire witch trials in 1612 that is currently in development. This popular British writing duo, who have over 92k followers and 1.2 million likes on TikTok are excited to workshop their new musical Tinker Bell.
Tinker Bell the Musical is directed by Anna Fox with assistant director Ayoade Bamgboye.
Full company includes Alice Fearn, Courtney Bowman, Miracle Chance, Tosh Wanogho-Maud, Patrick Munday, Charlie Kristensen, Oliver Savile, Beth Hinton-Lever, Cavan Malone, Sadie Harris, Kyle Birch, Gwion Morris Jones, Ying Ue Li, Faye Wheeler, Matthew Ellis and Harriet Caplan Dean.
Fleeing Neverland, Tinker Bell and her friends find refuge in London’s Kensington Gardens alongside a group of fairies as alike as they are different. As outcasts so far from home, they must face the challenges of a new world and use their collective strength to overcome adversity.
Set during the scientific revolution of Victorian England, our heroes must take control of the situation before they are discovered, and their way of life destroyed forever.
This ground-breaking new musical sets out to change hearts and minds in a moving reflection of the modern-day, presented in a fairy tale Victorian world of magic and wonder.
Discover something incredible in Tinker Bell the Musical. Do you believe in fairies?
This London workshop begins on Monday 23rd August and runs until Friday 27th August culminating in an industry showcase on Friday 27th August.
Families invited to join week of free theatre activities in Leicester Square Gardens for Kids Week 2021
Monday 23 – Friday 27 August
Throughout next week, families can enjoy a variety of free, outdoor theatre activities in the heart of Leicester Square, as part of much-loved audience development scheme Kids Week.
From workshops on magic and choreography to singalongs and storytelling, some of London’s top shows are giving theatre loving families and children a peek behind the curtain, sharing the thrill of live theatre and celebrating the reopening of the world famous West End.
The Kids Week activities are part of the Mayor of London’s summer of family events for the #LetsDoLondon campaign, encouraging people back into the city centre to experience the rich array of culture on offer.
The full schedule of activities can be found here.
Kids Week, which runs for the month of August, offers free tickets to participating shows for ages 17 and under, when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Since going on sale with over 30 shows at the start of July, nearly 115,000 tickets have been sold – but there are still fantastic deals available for a range of West End shows. For more information about Kids Week, visit officiallondontheatre.com/kids-weekThe Leicester Square Gardens activities are free and unticketed, but there will be limitations on capacity, so arrive early to avoid disappointment. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
