Month: September 2021

THE MORMONS ARE BACK!

CASTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE TONY®, OLIVIER® AND GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING SHOW, BOTH IN LONDON AND ON TOUR

“The best musical of this century.”
Ben Brantley, The New York Times 

The Book of Mormon, the smash-hitmusical written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez, resumes its UK and European Tour at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on 12 October 2021, and will return to the Prince of Wales Theatre in London to continue its seven year sold out run from 15 November 2021. The full casts for both productions are announced today.

Additionally, to celebrate the reopening of theatreland and the return of The Book of Mormon to stages across the UK, cast from the production will perform for the first time at West End Live in Trafalgar Square, London on 18 September.

More information on tour dates and tickets for the Tony®, Olivier® and Grammy® award-winning show can be found at www.thebookofmormonmusical.com.

UK AND EUROPEAN TOUR

The The Book of Mormon tour will resume on 12 October 2021, opening at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff before dates in Dublin, Manchester, Glasgow, Norwich, Southampton, Amsterdam, Leeds, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Liverpool, Nottingham and Edinburgh.

The cast of The Book of Mormon on touris led by Robert Colvin as ‘Elder Price’, Conner Peirson as ‘Elder Cunningham’, Aviva Tulley as ‘Nabulungi’, Jordan Lee Davies, Ewen Cummins, Johnathan Tweedie and Thomas Vernal.

The full company on tour includes Loren Anderson, Jed Berry, David Brewis-Scott, Sanchia Amber Clarke, Tre Copeland-Williams, Tom Dickerson, Chanel Edwards-Frederick, Patrick George, Tad Hapaguti, Daniel Haswell, Evan James, Darren John, Michael Lewis, George Littell, Nicole Louise, Fergal McGoff, Ben Middleton, Sasha Monique, David Perkins, Rory Shafford, Chomba S. Taulo, Sharon Wattis and Jacob Yarlett.

LONDON

The London production The Book of Mormon will reopen at the Prince of Wales Theatre from 15 November 2021.

The cast of The Book of Mormon in London is led by Dom Simpson as ‘Elder Price’, Tom Xander as ‘Elder Cunningham’, Leanne Robinson as ‘Nabulungi’, Steven Webb, Richard Lloyd-King, Haydn Oakley and Edward Baruwa.

The full company in London includes Thomas Audibert, Philip Catchpole, Christopher Copeland, Joseph Davenport, Tanya Edwards, George Grayson, Myles Hart, Olivia Hibbert, Jed Hoyle, M-Jae Cleopatra Isaac, Georgia Iudica-Davies, Oliver Jacobson, Akmed Junior Khemalai, Ryan Kopel, David McMullan, Jack McNeill, Paige Miller, Sean Parkins, Kirk Patterson, Luke Redmore, Stephen Rolley, Fred Smiley, Patrick Sullivan, Ben Tyler, Anna Van Ruiten and Rebecca-Daisy Wellington.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the creators of the Emmy and Peabody award-winning television show,  South Park, now in its twenty-fifth season, and the feature films South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and Team America: World Police.

Robert Lopez co-created the Broadway musical Avenue Q and co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen and Coco. He is the first person ever to have become a double ‘EGOT’, winning at least two of each of the four major entertainment awards – Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar® and Tony® Awards.

The Book of Mormon is co-directed and choreographed by the Tony®, Olivier®, Drama Desk and Outer Critics’ Circle Award-winning Casey Nicholaw. His many other Broadway and West End credits include Disney’s Aladdin, Dreamgirls, Mean Girls, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Something Rotten!, Elf: The Musical, The Prom and The Drowsy Chaperone.

The Book of Mormon follows a pair of Mormon boys sent on a mission to a place that’s a long way from their home in Salt Lake City.

Since making its world premiere in March 2011 at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre, where it won nine Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon has been performed on three continents and won over thirty international awards. The musical has smashed long-standing box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and in cities across the U.S.

The London production opened in February 2013, winning four Olivier Awards® including Best New Musical, and breaking the record for the highest single day of sales in West End history. It sold out every one of its performances before closing alongside all theatreland in March 2020. The first ever UK and European tour launched in Manchester in June 2019, winning ‘Best Theatre Show’ at the Manchester Evening News City Life Awards before touring throughout the UK and Europe.

Book, Music and Lyrics are by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone.  Directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon has choreography by Casey Nicholaw, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, sound design by Brian Ronan, orchestrations by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus and music supervision and vocal arrangements by Stephen Oremus.

The Book of Mormon is produced by Anne Garefino, Important Musicals and Sonia Friedman Productions.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

www.thebookofmormonmusical.com | @bookofmormonuk

Casting announced for highly anticipated
new musical Vanara – The Legend
Friday 22nd – Sunday 31st October 2021
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, Hackney, London E8 1EJ

A fantastic ensemble of West End and international talent will come together to launch the
world premiere of Vanara – The Legend at Hackney Empire, including Matthew Croke (Aladdin, Prince Edward; Hair, London Palladium), Glenn Carter (Evita, UK tour; Jesus Christ Superstar, UK tour), Johnnie Fiori (The Sunshine Boys, Savoy Theatre/ Ahmanson Theatre, LA), Carole Stennett (Death of a Salesman, Piccadilly Theatre; The Bodyguard, UK tour), Cavin Cornwall (Jesus Christ Superstar, Barbican) and, phenomenal rising-star Emily Bautista (Les Misérables; Miss Saigon – Broadway), who will be making her London debut.

Further cast bringing Vanara – The Legend to life include Samantha Mercer (Les Misérables, West End; Jerry Springer the Opera, National Theatre), Kayleigh McKnight (Tina The Musical, West End; Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Joaquin Pedro Valdes (Heathers, West End; Miss Saigon, UK & International tour) and Shem Omari James (The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leicester Curve). The production will play for a strictly limited London run before embarking on a UK-wide tour in 2022.

Highly anticipated following its lauded workshop performances and concept album, the groundbreaking production will be directed by Adam Lenson and Eleesha Drennan, who will also serve as Dramaturg and Choreographer respectively. Vanara – The Legend brings together an acclaimed international creative team, with a soaring score by Gianluca Cucchiara, lyrics by Andrew James Whelan, book by Michael Conley, conceived by Tony Cucchiara and produced and developed by Giovanna Romagnoli. Further creatives include set and costume design by Libby Todd, with orchestrations by Jen Green, musical direction by Tamara Saringer and casting by Harry Blumenau.

The production will also feature an incredible ensemble with Jemima Brown, Chris George, Yuki Abe, Olivia Jones, Ella Martine, HIcaro Nicolai, Prem Rai, and Ebby Sama.

With a prevailing message of hope and call for unity, the production resonates with the chaos of today’s society and the earth ravaged by natural disasters. This fiery phenomenon has gained cult status among fans throughout its development process. With its blend of theatre, contemporary dance, and technical innovation, Vanara – The Legend is crafting a new language for musical theatre. It is an excitingly modern musical like nothing before.

As disaster threatens to destroy the world they know, two tribes are locked in an age-old battle. One young woman must make a choice: protect the traditions of her people or challenge everything she has been taught. With total devastation bearing down on them, will the two tribes reunite before it’s too late?

Producer Giovanna Romagnoli comments, We’re thrilled to bring together this incredible
ensemble to premiere Vanara – The Legend in London. We can’t wait for audiences to witness the fantastic spectacle on stage, showcasing the talents of both the cast and creative team.

All tickets for the preview performance, Friday 22nd October, will be £20 (plus booking fee).

Daniel King announced as
Icon’s new Executive Director

Daniel King has been announced as the new Executive Director at Icon, a leading theatre company based at The Brook Theatre in Medway who are known for their work with communities across north and east Kent.

Icon bring together professional theatre artists and local communities to create large-scale, immersive, and site-specific performances, exploring the issues and stories that influence their lives. Most recently, The Chatham Witch explored the extraordinary history of women in Medway and featured 150 actors, dancers, and singers from the local community.

Icon also leads Medway and Sheppey’s flagship young people’s theatre programme Theatre31. Led by young people for young people, it is one of five Arts Council funded Youth Performance Partnerships in the country.

Additionally, Icon runs mental health programmes, weekly classes in local community centres and issue-based workshops on housing estates, schools, and drop-in centres. Icon often works with people who have experienced significant socio-economic disadvantage and exclusion, including life in care, having experience of the criminal justice system, or holding refugee or asylum seeker status. Many of the young people Icon work with are at risk of educational exclusion, some have already been excluded and many remain not in education, employment, or training.

Daniel has previously worked at international dance house Sadler’s Wells leading the marketing for their Producing and Touring department, National Youth Dance Company and Breakin’ Convention. Before that, he was interim Executive Director at Camden People’s Theatre, and between 2015-18 ran a marketing and communications project management business with clients including Roundhouse, Donmar Warehouse, Dance to Health, Battersea Arts Centre, Soho Theatre and Dartington Hall amongst others.

He was part of the original team for Fun Palaces, a national campaign for cultural democracy, leading their marketing and communications strategy until 2021. He has held other roles at Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Albany and DreamWorks and is a trustee of Applause Rural Touring. He trained in theatre at Central School of Speech and Drama and studied Education at University of Cambridge.

Daniel comments, I’m delighted to be joining Icon at this exciting time of growth and development for the company. What drew me to Icon is their commitment to creating high quality and transformative theatre and arts opportunities for the diverse communities in Medway, from co-creating large-scale immersive theatre productions with professional theatre makers and local people, to the work they do leading Theatre 31, inspiring thousands of local young people. I’m looking forward to collaborating with artists and partners in Medway and beyond to develop opportunities.

Founder and Artistic Director Nancy Hirst comments, Icon Theatre is delighted to welcome
Daniel King as our new Executive Director at this exciting time. He brings a huge amount of skills and experience to the organisation and we’re really looking forward to working with him to engage more communities than ever before.

Operation Mincemeat is currently playing a sold out run in The Large originally set to finish this Saturday 18 September.

Tickets for the January/February dates are on sale now.

OPERATION MINCEMEAT
Written and composed by SpitLip.
SpitLip are David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts.

Directed by Donnacadh O’Briain. Choreography by Jenny Arnold. Set and costume design by Helen Coyston. Lighting design by Sherry Coenen. Sound Design by Mike Walker.

Run: Friday, 14 January – Saturday, 19 February 2022

The year is 1943 and we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. 

Following sold-out runs at the New Diorama Theatre in 2019 and Southwark Playhouse in 2020 and September 2021, Operation Mincemeat is back. Having spent lockdown rewriting the show, weeping and eating biscuits, SpitLip are pleased to announce they are extending the run of this newer, bigger and (somehow) even better version from 14 January through to 19 February 2022.

Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Noel Coward meets Noel Fielding, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. The question is, how did a well-dressed corpse wrong-foot Hitler? 

Operation Mincemeat won The Stage Debut award for Best Composer/Lyricist, the Off-West End award for Best Company Ensemble, and was listed in the Observer’s Top 10 shows of the year.  

Commissioned by New Diorama Theatre, co-commissioned by The Lowry. Supported by the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat Additional support from Avalon. 

Recent praise for Operation Mincemeat:

“Set firmly in the past, this is a little show with a very big future.” Variety

★★★★★ “There are some big, blowsy shows around in the West End, but this little belter is staging its own audacious invasion plan.” Financial Times

★★★★★ “An artisanal masterpiece” Daily Mail

★★★★★ “miraculous musical…extraordinary in every way” Daily Mirror

★★★★★ “Incredibly fun and funny… an absolute must-see” The Gay Times

“Currently killing it at Southwark Playhouse” Lyn Gardner, StageDoor

“This production has a heart of gold. West End impresarios should check it out immediately. It’s a contender.” The Spectator

★★★★★ Daily Express

Previous praise for Operation Mincemeat:

★★★★★ “Glows with theatrical invention and delivers laughs by the gallon. Unmissable.” WhatsOnStage 

★★★★★ “A masterclass of macabre musical comedy, masterfully performed.” The Stage 

★★★★ “Its whip-crack rhymes are fast and funny. The script is well-seasoned with smart, silly asides.” Time Out 

★★★★ “A finely varied score, and lyrics that shame most big musicals by their dexterousness and ingenuity.” The Observer 

DANCE UMBRELLA ANNOUNCES DIGITAL PROGRAMME FOR 2021 HYBRID FESTIVAL

• DANCE UMBRELLA 2021 WILL BE A HYBRID FESTIVAL OF LIVE PERFORMANCES AND DIGITAL EXPLORATIONS FOR ITS 2021 FESTIVAL
• DIGITAL PROGRAMME FEATURES ARTISTS INCLUDING JADE HACKETT, SAY, CLAIRE CUNNINGHAM, NORA CHIPAUMIRE, EDDIE LADD, SONNY NWACHUKWU, DIMITRIS PAPAIOANNOU AND VALERIE EBUWA 

Following the announcement of the in-person live programme for 2021, Dance Umbrella, London’s annual international dance
festival has today announced its digital programme of performances, conversations, films and discussions.

London Battle (conceived and created by Jade Hackett) brings together some of the most exciting talent from London’s hip-hop dance scene in a celebration of the capital’s globally renowned dance and music culture. As a DJ plays a selection of the UK’s finest beats, including some by Mikey J Asante, witness dancers going head-to-head in a diverse range of styles to create a thrilling digital dance performance. Get up front, experience the vibe and feel the energy of London’s world class battling. 

In Give Them Their Flowers, join performer, actress and choreographer Jade Hackett as she shines a spotlight on five artists who have and continue to make  significant contributions to the dance world today: Ash  Mukherjee, Kev ‘Renegade’ Gopie, Liza Vallance, Phillip Chbeeb and Shelley Maxwell. This series of intimate in-conversations brings together artists to discuss their work and their path in contemporary creative practice.

SAY: AF (And Friends)is a dance film collaboration, produced by Dance Umbrella,  between dance artists Sarah Golding and Yukiko Masui and an exciting range of music artist collaborators. Merging dance influences to create their own unique dance style, this film also introduces reggae influenced artist Casey Pearl & the band; UK beatbox champion MC Zani; the unapologetic and raw Juliana Yazbeck; and South Africa’s hottest new duo Tina Redmxn & L Tune ‘Chillin’. This film is part of SAY’s ongoing project “the album”, created with a selection of music artists. 

Choreographer’s Cut returns for 2021 as we invite audiences to step inside the mind of a choreographer with three leading artists giving in-depth commentaries on a previous work. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to go behind the scenes with Nora Chipaumire, Claire Cunningham and Eddie Ladd as they discuss their creative process with Dance Umbrella’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive Freddie Opoku-Addaie.

Articlesis two specially commissioned editorials from writer, director, and performer Sonny Nwachukwu and performer, actress and choreographer Jade Hackett. 

Dance Umbrella presents the world premiere of the filmed version of Dimitris Papaioannou’s iconic production NOWHERE, originally commissioned by the Greek National Theater. NOWHERE was originally conceived as a site-specific project, where the space itself was choreographed by programming the new stage mechanisms. A group of humans confronted the spatial challenges created, measuring space with their bodies. A meditation on the very nature of theatre, NOWHERE explores the concept of performance as a machine that mirrors human life.

The filmed version of the central scene (dedicated to the memory of Pina Bausch who had just passed away) was published 7 years ago in June 2014, and went viral with over 2.5 million views.

Created, filmed, and edited by Dimitris Papaioannou, NOWHERE is a co-commission of the New Vision Arts Festival (Hong Kong, China) and Dance Umbrella Festival (London, United Kingdom).

Finally audiences can join Dance Umbrella for a topical Panel Discussion exploring how freelance arts professionals are continuing to adapt within the current climate,hosted and curated by Valerie Ebuwa 

For 2021, Dance Umbrella is launching a brand new Digital Pass which will give audiences exclusive access to all the content available via danceumbrella.co.uk. The pass is Pay What You Can (minimum £5) and gives audiences access to all digital content  within this year’s festival. With content being released throughout the festival, once live, all content will be available on demand until 24^th October. 

HEADS TO WOKING FOR A CALAMITOUS RUN!

New Victoria Theatre, Woking

Tues 5 Oct – Sat 9 Oct 2021

The Play That Goes Wrong, the Olivier Award-winning box office hit, is tumbling its way to Woking on its fourth UK tour.

Following three previously sold-out tours, the production opened in Canterbury where it first premiered in 2014 and has been travelling across the UK since.

The show will be visiting the New Victoria Theatre, Woking from Tuesday 5 September to Saturday 9 October.

Winning multiple awards including the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and a Tony Award for the Broadway transfer, The Play That Goes Wrong is now in its seventh year in the West End and has become a global phenomenon with productions in over 35 countries and across 6 continents.

The show’s success is a testament to the hard work and determination of a group of drama school graduates who became friends, set up a company under the name ‘Mischief’ and created an extraordinary body of work. The Play That Goes Wrong shows no signs of slowing down since its first performance at a London fringe venue with only four paying customers. Since then, it has played to an audience of over two million worldwide.

The play features the (fictional) Cornley Drama Society who are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, ‘The Murder at Haversham Manor’, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong … does! As the accident prone thesps battle against all the odds to reach their final curtain call, hilarious results ensue!

The current touring cast includes: Tom Babbage (Max), Tom Bulpett (Chris), Seán Carey (Jonathan), Leonard Cook (Robert), Edward Howells (Dennis), April Hughes (Sandra), Laura Kirman (Annie), Gabriel Paul (Trevor), with understudies: Katie Hitchcock, Damien James, Edi De Melo and Aisha Numah.

Mischief’s other West End successes include Peter Pan Goes Wrong, A Comedy About A Bank Robbery, Groan Ups, Mischief Movie Night and Magic Goes Wrong. Their hugely successful six-part TV Series, The Goes Wrong Show, aired in the UK on BBC ONE and on Amazon Prime Video in the US, Canada and Australia. The show received a 2020 TV Choice Award nomination for Best Comedy and a second series commission for a 2020 Christmas special, The Nativity. Series two is currently in production.

The Play That Goes Wrong is co-written by Mischief company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields. The tour is directed by Sean Turner, originally directed by Mark Bell, with set designs by Nigel Hook, costumes by Roberto Surace, lighting by Ric Mountjoy and sound design by Andrew Johnson. Resident Director Hannah Sharkey. The Play That Goes Wrong is produced by Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd. Mischief’s tours are produced by Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd.

Listings

Tickets from £13 fees apply

You can book tickets by calling the Box Office on 0844 871 7615 (Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge), Groups Booking Line 0207 206 1174 or online at ATGTICKETS.COM/Woking (fees apply).

New Victoria Theatre, Peacocks Centre, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6GQ

★★★★★

“Fresh, subversive, essential”

Daily Telegraph

Rocky Horror Show Newsflash!

ORE ODUBA CONFIRMS FUTURE DATES

AS BRAD MAJORS IN

THE LEGENDARY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA

INCLUDING A LONDON RUN AT THE PEACOCK THEATRE

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

FROM ROCKYHORROR.CO.UK

Actor, presenter and winner of Strictly Come Dancing Ore Oduba (Curtains / Grease) who has been delighting audiences and receiving rave reviews as Brad Majors, will continue to don his fishnets as he extends his role in Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show. Ore will perform to audiences in London, Norwich, Bradford, Hull, Brighton, Blackpool, Guildford, Bromley, Oxford, Glasgow and Cardiff. Tickets are on sale now from RockyHorror.co.uk. 

Ore Oduba said: “I’m SO excited to be extending my stay with our amazing Rocky family. Truth is, when you know how it feels to wear a corset and heels it’s very hard to take them off!! (at least it is in my case!) It’s been a wild ride so far, the audiences have been INCREDIBLE and I can’t wait to time warp around even more corners of the country.”

This musical extravaganza continues to play to packed houses as it tours the length and breadth of the UK with a stellar cast that is showing no signs of slowing down! Making a welcome return to London audiences The Rocky Horror Show will play the Peacock Theatre from 20October 2021 – 30 October2021.  London theatre is in full throttle and this extraordinary cast is ready to deliver a guaranteed party not to be missed this autumn.

Alongside Ore as Frank is West End star Stephen Webb (Jersey Boys / Legally Blonde), with actor Philip Franks (The Darling Buds of May) as The Narrator. They are joined by fan favourite Haley Flaherty (Mamma Mia / Chicago) as Janet.

Kristian Lavercombe (Jersey Boys / Jesus Christ Superstar) once again reprises his role as Riff Raff, following more than 1800 performances around the world, with Lauren Ingram (Beauty and the Beast / My Fair Lady)as Columbia. Ben Westhead (Oliver / The Sound of Music)as Rocky, with Joe Allen (Little Shop of Horrors / Charlie & The Chocolate Factory) as Eddie & Dr Scott.The cast as Phantoms are Reece Budin (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical / Man of La Mancha), Jordan Fox (Kinky Boots / Hairspray) and Rachel Grundy (Starlight Express / Peter Pan), Darcy Finden  who is making her professional debut, Danny Knott (Saturday Night Fever / A Midsummer Nights’ Dream) as Male Swing and Stefania Du Toit (Starlight Express / Singing in the Rain), as Female Swing and Dance Captain.

Since it first opened in London in June 1973 at the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite Rock ‘N’ Roll musical, having been performed worldwide for over 45 years in more than 30 countries and translated into 20 languages.

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

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

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

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

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

What the press have said about The Rocky Horror Show:

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

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

“As delightfully naughty as ever!” – Daily Telegraph

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

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

Rocky Horror Show 2021/2022 UK Tour Dates

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

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

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

W/C 04/10/2021                               Dublin: Bord Gais Energy Theatre *

W/C 18/10/2021                               London: Peacock Theatre

W/C 25/10/2021                               London: Peacock Theatre

W/C 01/11/2021                               Norwich: Theatre Royal

W/C 15/11/2021                               Bradford: Alhambra Theatre

W/C 22/11/2021                               Hull: New Theatre

W/C 29/11/2021                               Brighton: Theatre Royal

W/C 06/12/2021                               Blackpool: Opera House

W/C 20/12/2021                               Guildford: G Live

W/C 27/12/2021                            Guildford: G Live

W/C 17/01/2022                               Bromley: Churchill Theatre

W/C 24/01/2022                               Oxford: New Theatre

W/C 31/01/2022                               Glasgow: King’s Theatre

W/C 07/02/2022                               Cardiff: New Theatre

W/C 14/02/2022                               Peterborough: New Theatre

W/C 21/02/2022                               Edinburgh: Kings Theatre

W/C 28/02/2022                           Inverness: Eden Court

W/C 07/03/2022                           Swindon: Wyvern Theatre

W/C 14/03/2022                               York: Grand Opera House           

W/C 21/03/2022                               Belfast: Grand Opera House

W/C 28/03/2022                               Poole: Lighthouse

W/C 11/04/2022                               Hastings: White Rock Theatre

W/C 25/04/2022                               Aberdeen: His Majesty’s Theatre

W/C 16/05/2022                               Liverpool: Empire

W/C 23/05/2022                               Richmond: Richmond Theatre

W/C 30/05 2022                                Bristol: Hippodrome

W/C 06/06/2022                               Southend: Cliffs Pavilion

W/C 13/06/2022                               Stoke-On-Trent: Regent Theatre

 * Ore Oduba will not perform in Dublin

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Ticket prices: From £10

Website: www.rockyhorror.co.uk

Twitter: @rockyhorroruk

Instagram: @rockyhorrorofficial

Facebook: /rockyhorrorshow

BILL KENWRIGHT PRESENTS

THE LONG AWAITED RETURN OF THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING MUSICAL

STARRING LYN PAUL WHO RETURNS TO THE SHOW

AS THE ICONIC MRS JOHNSTONE

RUNNING AT BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME

TUE 2 – SAT 13 NOV

Bill Kenwright‘s legendary production of the international smash hit musical Blood Brothers returns to the stage. The much-loved musical, which performed to sell-out houses and standing ovations on its most recent UK tour in 2019-2020, returns with gusto to Birmingham Hippodrome this November.

In celebration of the musicals’ relaunch, Lyn Paul returns for her farewell tour in the iconic role of Mrs Johnstone, which she first made her own in London’s West End.

Completing the cast is: Hannah Barr (Brenda), Joel Benedict (Eddie), Josh Capper (Neighbour), Tim Churchill (Mr Lyons), Danielle Corlass (Linda), Grace Galloway (Donna Marie/Miss Jones), Andy Owens (Perkins), Alex Patmore (Mickey), Robbie Scotcher (Narrator), Paula Tappenden (Mrs Lyons) and Danny Taylor (Sammy).

Written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell, few musicals have been received with such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers. Considered ‘one of the best musicals ever written’ (Sunday Times), Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.  It has been affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical’, as inevitably it “brings the audience cheering to its feet and roaring its approval” (Daily Mail).

This epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. The musical has since triumphed across the globe, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, and scooping up four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway.

The superb score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.

Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.

When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet. It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax.

Lyn Paul first rose to fame in the early 1970s as a member of the New Seekers, whose hit ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing’ sold over 20 million copies and remains one of the 100 best-selling UK singles of all time.  Lyn also featured as the lead vocalist on the 1974 number-one hit ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’.  

Willy Russellis undeniably one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Educating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two-year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti.

LISTINGS

Bill Kenwright presents

BLOOD BROTHERS

2021 UK Tour

Written by Willy Russell

Directed by Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright

Musical Direction by Matt Malone

Sound by Dan Samson

Set & Costumes by Andy Walmsley

Lighting by Nick Richings

Associate Lighting Designer – Darran Curtis

Birmingham Hippodrome     birminghamhippodrome.com

02 November – 13 November 2021    0844 338 5000

Running Time: 2 hours 45 minutes (including interval)

BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL

OFFICIALLY OPENS TONIGHT, MONDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

AT THE ADELPHI THEATRE

IN LONDON’S WEST END

MICHAEL J FOX PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE PERFORMERS AND CREATIVE TEAM

Because Michael J Fox was unable to travel to London to attend the opening night tonight, Monday 13 September, of BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre,producer Colin Ingram (Ghost – The Musical) and Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back To The Future film trilogy, filmed a performance and sent it to him, so that he could be a part of the celebrations.  Having watched the performance, Michael J Fox responded:

“I’m buzzing from what is a truly great show. It captures the entire BTTF Experience through  sensational casting, effective story edits, great Techwork & Special FX  The actors were impeccable, with an energy and passion  commensurate  with us originals.  And the music is freaking great, from the Huey Lewis songs to the Silvestri score and all the new songs and set pieces. It really is a small miracle.  Congratulations to all of the amazing people involved. It looks like a hit to me!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Website: BackToTheFutureMusical.com   

Twitter: @BTTFmusical

Instagram: @BTTFmusical      

LISTINGS INFORMATION

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical

Adelphi Theatre

Strand

Covent Garden

London WC2R 0NS

Performances: Mondays, Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7.30pm, Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm, Sundays at 3pm

Christmas Schedule:

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

Tickets: from £19.55

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

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

Current booking period to 13 February 2022

Hampstead Theatre – until 16 October 2021

4****

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Hampstead Theatre’s 25th anniversary production of Shelagh Stephenson’s debut play is a stylish rollercoaster ride exploring grief, sisterhood and family secrets.

In the days before their mother’s funeral, three sisters gather in her home – the play takes place in the mother’s bedroom – and soon revert to the adolescent bickering and posturing of their youth. Their mother Vi had died with Alzheimer’s, and the loss and rewriting of memories is a constant thread throughout the play. The oldest sister Teresa (Lucy Black) runs a health food business and seems to enjoy playing the family martyr, visiting their mother as she deteriorated and organising the funeral arrangements. Middle sister Mary (Laura Rogers) is a successful doctor and Catherine (Carolina Main) lurches from one doomed relationship to another like a perpetual teenager.

Black, Rogers and Main complement each other wonderfully, equally believable in comedic or tragic scenes, and Lizzy McInnerny is a superbly spiky Vi.

The very different sisters have very different recollections of some aspects of their life and can’t quite remember who certain events actually happened to, but they all agree that their mother was a difficult woman to love and mock her acceptance of their distant father’s philandering. Some of the attitudes of these nineties’ women seem as archaic and laughable now as those of the fifties and sixties seem to the sisters, but the relationship between the three women is written brilliantly as they swerve between bitchy attacks and heartfelt concern. The arrival of Mary’s married lover Mike (Adam James) and Teresa’s husband Frank (Kulvinder Ghir) add further complications, open old wounds and reveal family secrets as the tone lurches between belly laughs, philosophising and dark, still despair. This feels a little uneven at times but reflects the fluctuating moods of grief perfectly under Alice Hamilton’s assured direction.