Month: May 2022

Nearly 40 top West End shows performing for free in Trafalgar Square this June as line-up for West End LIVE is unveiled

Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 June 2022

www.westendlive.co.uk 

• Europe’s largest free musical theatre festival returns on Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 June
• Biggest ever line-up of shows including Back To The Future – The Musical, The Book Of Mormon, Disney’s Frozen, Hamilton, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Six, Wicked and many more
• Build-up to the event will see surprise, pop-up West End performances on iconic London rooftops starting today

A packed line-up of 34 hit West End shows has been unveiled so far ahead of this year’s West End LIVE, a free and unticketed celebration of London’s world-leading theatre scene which comes to Trafalgar Square on the weekend of 25 and 26 June. More acts are due to be announced in the next few weeks, as London gears up for the biggest ever West End LIVE.

Tens of thousands of theatre fans are expected to flock to the capital for this year’s musical theatre spectacular, enjoying free performances from dozens of top shows – from long-running favourites Hamilton, Les Misérables, Wicked, Six, The Book Of Mormon, Disney’s The Lion King and Matilda The Musical, to new shows making their West End LIVE debut, such as Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Legally Blonde, My Fair Lady, Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, Back To The Future – The Musical and Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical.

This unique event, a joint production by Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), unites London’s theatre industry every year and brings people of all ages into central London to experience the best of the West End – from the city’s unparalleled culture scene to food, drink, fashion, nightlife, retail and more.

As excitement builds for West End LIVE, anyone visiting central London in the next couple of weeks – and who happens to look up – might catch one of a series of surprise, pop-up performances by West End shows on iconic London rooftops, an opportunity to get a feel for things to come from one of the world’s most spectacular outdoor theatre events. Details for these ‘Sing it from the Rooftops’ events will be teased before each appearance on the West End LIVE and Official London Theatre social channels, and anyone lucky enough to witness one will be in with a chance of winning a West End LIVE queue jump. The first pop-up performance will take place today (Wednesday 25 June) at 4pm, in Covent Garden’s famous piazza on the SUSHISAMBA balcony. 

Sky VIP are welcomed back as sponsor for West End LIVE 2022, having also supported last year’s event. Once again, they will be offering their customers the chance to watch from the exclusive Sky VIP viewing area onsite, plus win some fabulous prizes. 

They join returning partners The Northbank and Edwardian Hotels and sponsors Art of London, Capco Covent Garden, The Crown Estate, Derwent London, Great Western Railway, Heart of London Business Alliance, New West End Company, The Portman Estate, Regent Street & St James’s, Shaftesbury, Veolia, Victoria Business Improvement District, Victoria Westminster Business Improvement District and Whitehall Business Improvement District.

Eleanor Lloyd, President of SOLT, said:

‘London’s theatres are the envy of the world, and West End LIVE is a highlight of the theatrical calendar for so many – not just the countless fans who converge on Trafalgar Square to enjoy a wealth of incredible live entertainment, but also the hundreds of performers and crew involved in putting on what is always an unforgettable weekend. We are delighted to continue to work so closely with Westminster to deliver West End LIVE, and hugely grateful for the support of Sky, who have a long history as champions of theatre and the arts.’

Cllr Tim Roca, Deputy Leader at Westminster City Council, said:

‘West End LIVE is a much-loved annual event that brings together the musical theatre community in celebration of the world-class theatre we have right on our doorstep. One of the main aims the new administration has for the council is to make culture, arts and leisure accessible to everyone living in Westminster, not just the few. We want to encourage all residents, especially those in disadvantaged communities, to participate and join in cultural opportunities and big, fun events such as West End LIVE so we can bring all our communities in Westminster together.’

Joel Keoghan, Head of Brand Partnerships at Sky said: 

‘Sky is delighted to be part of West End LIVE again. This annual celebration of London’s world class theatre is a fantastic event and a highlight in the arts calendar.  It’s a great opportunity for us to host and thank our customers, getting them closer to the entertainment they love through Sky VIP.’

Official London Theatre will be backstage throughout the West End LIVE weekend sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes content across our social channels.

West End LIVE remains free and unticketed as in previous years. The event will be BSL interpreted by Sue MacLaine, Marco Nardi and Caroline Richardson.

List of shows appearing at West End LIVE 2022

More shows and acts will be announced in the lead-up to the event

& Juliet

Back To The Future – The Musical

Disney’s Beauty And The Beast

Bonnie And Clyde The Musical

The Book Of Mormon

Chess, Kinky Boots and Treason at Drury Lane

The Choir Of Man

Come From Away

Dear Evan Hansen

The Drifters Girl

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World The Musical

Disney’s Frozen

Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical

Grease The Musical

The Great Gatsby

Hamilton

Heathers The Musical

Jersey Boys

Legally Blonde The Musical

Disney’s The Lion King

Magic Mike Live

Mamma Mia!

Mary Poppins

The RSC’s Matilda The Musical

Les Misérables

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

My Fair Lady

Only Fools And Horses The Musical

The Phantom Of The Opera

Pretty Woman: The Musical

Six

South Pacific

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical

Wicked

westendlive.co.uk / @WestEndLIVE / @westendlive / @westendLIVE

Aylesbury Waterside – until 28 May 2022

Reviewed by Sue Portman

5*****

Rock of Ages is the hilarious musical comedy featuring more than 25 classic rock anthems, including Don’t Stop Believin’, We Built This City, The Final Countdown, Wanted Dead or Alive, Here I Go Again, Can’t Fight this Feeling and I Want To Know What Love Is, all performed by an awesome live band.

Starring X-Factor winner Matt Terry as rock God Stacee Jaxx, this larger-than-life musical tells the tale of big dreams in Hollywood. Soon after hopping off a bus from the Midwest, aspiring singer Sherrie Christian immediately finds herself in trouble. Coming to her rescue is Drew, a bar-back at the legendary club the Bourbon Room. With stars in their eyes, the young lovers chase their dreams, but a misunderstanding involving rock god Stacee Jaxx threatens to tear them apart.

As someone who grew up with this sort of music in the eighties, I might have been a difficult person to please. I mean, this is replicating what I saw and heard originally. Therefore I had some reservations but also looked forward to seeing how it would be presented. I shouldn’t have worried. Right from the get-go I was into the groove.

When Lonnie (Joe Gash) hit the stage as narrator for the evening he instantly captivated this audience. He has a talent for connecting with the audience with his mischievous manner, and boy, can he sing too. When the familiar tones of Cum on Feel the Noize auditioned at my ears from the speakers above, my leg was already twitching. The musical
features songs from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Asia, Whitesnake, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Poison and Europe, among other well-known rock bands. The sound quality and musical interpretation were first-class. It is far from easy to try to incorporate rock music into a cohesive storyline but this was seamless. Twisted Sister happen to be one of my favourite bands and I was filled with joy to hear ‘We’re not gonna take it’ in a live setting.

The team sang all of the songs with gusto and if I could have melted every one of them down and injected them into my veins I would have. The Final Countdown (Europe) was especially enjoyable and the audience rose at the end to sing ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ the hit Journey number. Ooooh, it was great fun.

At certain moments I forgot that I was going to write a review about this show – as I would usually pay more attention to detail, but sometimes I just got so lost in the fun that I had to jolt myself back into ‘review mode.’ It was just that good.

The main characters were Drew (Sam Turrell) whose rapport with Sherrie (Gabriella Williams) built steadily to the climax of a kiss that the audience were begging for! You wanted to shout out ‘FOR GOD’S SAKE KISS THE GIRL’ Matt Terry played Stacee Jaxx, the cocky, womanising front man of a band with great aplomb as the audience decided whether
or not to love or hate him, and then there was Dennis Dupree (Kevin Kennedy) the hippie owner of a bar who, interacted with the febrile Lonny as they shared the pain and travails of trying to save the Bourbon Bar from closing when German corporate giants (the fascists!) were trying to knock it down in the name of ‘progress’ by tempting them with hard cash.

Kevin Kennedy was of course best known as the lovable ‘Curly Watts’ from Coronation Street. He can act for sure, but I had no idea just how good a singer he was! Then again he was the bass player with the legendary band ‘The Smith’s’ so he knows a thing or two about music. One scene between him and Lonnie had me (and the people around me) in tears of laughter and one never expected ‘our Curly’ to use the ‘F’ word but it was all in context and splendid entertainment at that.

Vicki Manser adroitly played Regina, the freedom fighter trying to save the bar (and way of life) from the dirty fascists Herts Klinemann (Vas Constanti) and his son Franz, superbly played by Andrew Carthy. The killer line when everyone in the cast thought he was gay and told him sowas to declare ‘I am not gay, I am German.’ Brilliant. In fact on the night, Carthy was my favourite character but be in no doubt, everyone else was outstanding too.

Constanti played the older father figure in a way that endeared him to the audience despite him initially being the baddie. Aaw, he was just misunderstood after all. Billy Roberts (The Mayor) and Erin Bell (Dance Captain) delivered polished performances which added to the enjoyment and presentation of this fantastic musical.

A note in the programme said that the role of ‘Justice’ would be played by Jenny Fitzpatrick and she stunned the audience into willful submission with an absolutely awesome singing voice, and she reminded me of Tina Turner in her prime. That’s the best compliment that I can give. Scott Hayward played Joey Primo and Darius James was Ensemble and again both gave splendid performances alongside everyone else. All of the dancers were seriously good. The musical would have been diminished without them.

There was one scene, where Lonnie and Drew were engaging, and they went off script as Lonnie spontaneously laughed at something funny, (from the audience, perhaps) and Drew went as well. This is a live event and for me it makes it even more fun when things like this occur. Well done to both actors for picking it back up and carrying on. This was the first night of five at the Waterside, and indeed the opening night of the whole tour going through to May 2023 so they were finding their feet in front of an actual audience.

A video screen at the back of the stage was used to subtly aid scene changes, transporting the audience instantly from one scenario to another, supporting the script nicely. I have never seen the audience as engaged as they were tonight at the Waterside Theatre. When we left the venue, everyone wore a broad smile and there was a collective buzz as we squeezed through the doors into the night air. Now that’s the sign of a successful show.
I must add that the Waterside Theatre is a first-class venue. It is friendly, clean and airy with plenty of leg room that counts for a great deal. Having just been squashed in at a venue in Birmingham (I won’t name it) I was delighted to be here! Try it for yourself.

Congratulations then to the whole team from the Director to the person who swept the stage! This production is for adults, or at least not for children that’s for sure, with some colourful language and very sexy (wonderful!) outfits. I do need to mention the choreography and the dancers. The sequences were stunning and clever. They would have
been physically demanding, requiring the energy and precision of Olympic athletes and I was absolutely mesmerised with it all. The stage set was perfectly constructed to support the storyline and the lighting was intelligently created to draw the audience right into the very heart of the scenes.

One of the songs in the musical was Pat Benatar’s ‘Hit me with your best shot.’ Trust me, the cast did just that, delivering a thunderous performance that delighted and dazzled. I just want to find my old tee shirts and keep on rocking.

I do not give 5 stars very often, as there is always room for improvement in any field, but I have every confidence that fans of rock of this type, and musicals in general will simply love this. Rock of Ages is packed with great music, and dance, side-splittingly funny moments and clever one-liners. You will need all your wits about you to absorb everything that is going on. You should get your ticket whilst you can. Now where is that Whitesnake tee-shirt?

★★★★★ Financial Times, The Daily Mail, The Sunday Mirror, The Daily Mirror, The Stage, The Sunday Express, Gay Times, WhatsOnStage, The Express, Broadway World

“a buzz louder than a doodlebug surrounds Operation Mincemeat…a kind of genius declares itself”

Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph

 
★★★★ The Sunday Times, The Observer, The Telegraph, The i, The Independent

“a little show with a very big future”
David Benedict, Variety

25^th May – It was announced today that Operation Mincemeat, a new musical, has extended its run by two weeks until 23^rd July at Riverside Studios.

Tickets are on General Sale now from the Official Box Office at OperationMincemeat.com

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

After sold-out runs at the New Diorama Theatre in 2019 and Southwark Playhouse in 2020, 2021 and earlier in 2022, Operation Mincemeat is back for a 10-week run in its new home Riverside Studios. Having spent lockdown rewriting the show, weeping and eating biscuits, SpitLip has extended the run of this newer, bigger and (somehow) even better version.

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.  The show was commissioned by New Diorama Theatre, co-commissioned by The Lowry, and supported by the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat with additional support from Avalon. 

Riverside Studios is a multi-arts venue, situated in a beautiful location on the banks of the Thames in Hammersmith, west London. For over 45 years, it has been the home of an extraordinary mix of theatre, film, comedy, art, dance, music and television. It reopened fully in 2020 after a total redevelopment.

Aria Entertainment and Lambert Jackson Productions present

• OLIVIER-NOMINATED PLAY ‘CRUISE’ RETURNS TO THE WEST END FOR A LIMITED RUN AT THE APOLLO THEATRE FROM 13 AUGUST – 4 SEPTEMBER. TICKETS ARE NOW ON-SALE AT CRUISETHEPLAY.CO.UK

• ‘CRUISE’ WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PRODUCTIONS TO PREMIERE IN THE WEST END WHEN THEATRES REOPENED IN MAY 2021 WINNING GREAT CRITICAL ACCLAIM AND AN OLIVIER NOMINATION FOR BEST NEW PLAY.

• ‘CRUISE’ IS WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY JACK HOLDEN, DIRECTED BY BRONAGH LAGAN AND FEATURES AN ORIGINAL ELECTRONIC SOUNDTRACK PERFORMED LIVE BY JOHN PATRICK ELLIOTT.   

• SET IN 1980’S SOHO AND INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY, ‘CRUISE’ IS A CELEBRATION OF QUEER CULTURE AND A POWERFUL TRIBUTE TO THE VETERANS OF THE AIDS CRISIS. 

Producers Aria Entertainment and Lambert Jackson are delighted to announce Olivier-nominated play CRUISE will return to the West End for a strictly limited run at the Apollo Theatre this summer from 13 August – 4 September.  CRUISE is an urgent, moving and inspirational play written and performed by Jack Holden (Ten Per Cent, Amazon Prime Video; War Horse, National Theatre), directed by Bronagh Lagan (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, UK Tour; Little Women, Park Theatre), with original music composed and performed live by John Patrick Elliott (The Little Unsaid).

CRUISE was one of the first productions to premiere in the West End when theatres reopened in May 2021 and marked West End debuts for the producers and playwright Jack Holden.  The production won widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike and was nominated for Best New Play at the 2022 Oliviers. 

Based on a true story Jack was told whilst volunteering for Switchboard, the LGBTQ+ Listening Service, CRUISE plays tribute to a generation decimated by HIV and AIDs. Bringing to life 1980’s Soho, this kaleidoscopic musical is a celebration of queer culture with an uplifting 80s electronic soundtrack performed live by John Patrick Elliott. 

Following CRUISE, Jack Holden went on to play the role of Kevin in Amazon Prime Video’s Ten Percent, a British remake of the French TV series Call My Agent. This autumn he will star alongside Sean Bean and Nicola Walker in Stefan Golazsewski’s Marriage for BBC One.  Jack is also collaborating again with composer John Patrick Elliott on a new musical play for Aria Entertainment The Isle which is currently in development. Since CRUISE, John has scored two feature films released this year Three Moons of Biyangdo and Wild Isles and is currently composing new solo work after being awarded the ‘Do It Differently Fund’ from Help Musicians UK. He is also producing a new album with his alt-folk/ electronic band The Little Unsaid, with whom he’ll perform at festivals this summer, including Glastonbury, before an extensive UK tour in October. 

‘Rhythm of Us’ an original track from CRUISE is available to listen to here. Written and recorded by John Patrick Elliott, ‘Rhythm of Us’ is a love note to synth-drenched 80s pop and features guest vocals from Jack Holden and Jamie Lambert.

Jack Holden and John Patrick Elliott said: “We’re ecstatic that CRUISE is coming to the Apollo Theatre for a limited run this Summer. Our first run reopened the West End with a bang. Audiences had been cooped up indoors for a long time, and we all needed a reason to come together, to laugh, to cry and to have a little dance – CRUISE was just that. This incarnation of CRUISE will be bigger, brighter, louder and prouder. We can’t wait to get back on stage, make one hell of a noise, and take our audiences back to 1980s Soho.”

Producer Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment said: “To have the opportunity to bring CRUISE back to the West End this summer is an absolute privilege. What a journey we have all been on from a brilliant first run at Duchess Theatre to an Olivier nomination for Best New Play. More audiences will now get to share this powerful and gripping musical drama and be taken back to the 80’s to be immersed in such an important part of history. We can’t wait to arrive at Apollo Theatre and continue our journey.”

Producers Jamie Lambert and Eliza Jackson of Lambert Jackson said: “CRUISE holds an incredibly special place in our hearts. It’s electric, it’s exciting, and it’s coming to the Apollo Theatre, right in the heart of the historical setting for the play. What an honour to be involved in such an important queer piece of theatre – and to continue to celebrate the show after its well-deserved Olivier Award nomination.”

Nica Burns, Chief Executive Nimax Theatres and producer of Rising Stars Festival said: “CRUISE was the stand-out star of Nimax’s ground-breaking Rising Stars Festival, which spearheaded the reopening of our six theatres post pandemic. A gem of a play and an incredible writing debut from its star, actor Jack Holden, which went on to win a nomination for Best New Play at the 2022 Olivier Awards. We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jack and his producers back to the West End to give audiences another chance to see this intoxicating evening.”

~ February 29th, 1988. Soho, London. ~

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

On the last night of his four-year countdown – the 29th February, 1988 – Michael decides to go out with a bang. He puts on his favourite jacket, heads for Soho, and embarks on a long night of farewells. He says his goodbyes to friends, enemies and strangers; old haunts, dive bars, cafes, clubs and pubs; his brothers, sisters, allies and exes. He dances, sings, and says yes to everything and everyone. Then, with all his affairs taken care of, Michael promptly… survives.  Michael got lucky, and he goes on to live to a ripe old age. Michael has been given the gift of life; but what kind of life can he now live?

The full creative team includes Jack Holden (writer and performer), John Patrick Elliott (Music and Sound Design), Bronagh Lagan (Director), Nik Corrall (Design), STUFISH Entertainment Architects (Co-Design), Jai Morjaria (Lighting Designer) Sarah Golding (Movement) and Max Pappenheim (Additional Sound Design).

Initial development supported by Help Musicians Fusion Fund and Shoreditch Town Hall.

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR RSC PRODUCTION OF ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

All’s Well That Ends Well
Tuesday 16 August – Saturday 8 October 2022
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

https://www.rsc.org.uk/alls-well-that-ends-well
Box Office: 01789 331111

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has today announced casting for its forthcoming production of All’s Well That Ends Well, which runs between 16 August – 8 October 2022 in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The production of Shakespeare’s enduring dark comedy – exploring themes of romantic fantasy, toxic masculinity and consent – will be directed by Blanche McIntyre, whose most recent RSC credits include Titus Andronicus (2017) and The Two Noble Kinsmen (2016).  It will play in repertoire with Richard III, directed by Gregory Doran, with a number of the cast appearing in both productions.

Rosie Sheehy, who last performed at the RSC in 2019 in the title role in King John, plays Helena. She will also appear as Anne in Richard III. Rosie’s other theatre credits include Oleanna (Bath Theatre Royal and The Arts Theatre West End), Anna X (The Vaults), The Wolves (Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Whale (Theatre Royal Bath), Uncle Vanya (Theatre Clwyd/Sheffield Theatres), Escape the Scaffold (Theatre 503), Strife (Chichester Festival Theatre), Bird (Royal Exchange Manchester), The Hairy Ape (The Old Vic) and Chicken (Paines Plough).

Claire Benedict plays The Countess.  Claire’sprevious RSC credits include The Canterbury Tales, Tamburlaine the Great, Antony and Cleopatra, The Odyssey and Eastward Ho. Claire will also take on the role of The Duchess of York in Richard III.

Fresh from making his RSC debut as Somerset in Henry VI: Rebellion and Wars of the Roses, Benjamin Westerby plays Bertram. Benjamin’s other theatre credits include: Tom, Dick and Harry (New Vic), and, whilst training at RADA: The Seagull, As You Like It, The Winter’s Tale and Twelfth Night.

Simon Coates and Jamie Wilkes return to the RSC to play Lafeu and Parolles respectively.  Simon’s previous productions for the RSC include Coriolanus, The Merry Wives Of Windsor, Loveplay, Luminosity, The Taming Of The Shrew and The Comedy Of Errors. Jamie’s previous RSC credits include Henry VI Part I, The Two Noble Kinsmen, The Rover, Oppenheimer, The Shoemaker’s Holiday, Wendy & Peter Pan.  In Richard III, Simon plays Stanley, and Jamie plays Buckingham.

Also returning is Micah Balfour (Older Dumain), who re-joins the company following his role as Don John in Roy Alexander Weise’s afro-futuristic production of Much Ado About Nothing in 2022. Micah plays Hastings in Richard III.

All’s Well That Ends Well is designed by Robert Innes Hopkins, who previously collaborated with Blanche McIntyre on the RSC’s Titus Andronicus (2017).

Blanche McIntyre said:

“I am so excited to have the chance to direct Shakespeare’s most modern comedy at the RSC. All’s Well that Ends Well, as full of grief and nostalgia as romance and adventure, with its story of sexual politics, class prejudice and generation gaps, would always have felt contemporary. But the fantasy relationships and fake identities in the play make it a perfect match for our anxious, idealistic, lonely, social-media-addicted age.

“I’m thrilled to be working again with designer Robert Innes Hopkins for our second RSC collaboration. We can promise a fleet footed, inventive, contemporary, colourful production, with one foot in real life and one in the online world. I look forward very much to bringing it to audiences, and I hope they will have a thought provoking as well as entertaining evening.”

Blanche McIntyre’s directing credits span Shakespeare’s Globe, the National Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Almeida Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Headlong Theatre, Nuffield Theatre, English Touring Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange, among many others. Recent directing credits include Measure for Measure and Bartholomew Fair (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse), Hymn (Almeida/Sky Arts), Botticelli In The Fire (Hampstead Theatre) and Tartuffe (National Theatre).

Blanche’s production of All’s Well That Ends Well, along with Gregory Doran’s Richard III fittinglymark the final productions, in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, of the Company’s ten-year pledge to produce all of Shakespeare’s collected plays for the stage.

Screen adaptations of both Richard III and All’s Well That Ends Well will be captured, completing a unique collection of Shakespeare on stage, produced by one Company across one decade.

The full cast is: Bruce Alexander (King of France), Laila Alj (First Soldier), Micah Balfour (Older Dumain), Oscar Batterham (Lord/Second Soldier), Claire Benedict (The Countess), Sophie Cartman (Rinaldo/Duke of Florence), Callum Coates (Gentleman), Simon Coates (Lafeu), Matthew Duckett (Lord/First Gentleman), Will Edgerton (Lavache), Jessica Layde (Mariana), Funlola Olufunwa (Widow), Olivia Onyehara (Diana), Ewan Orton (Lord/Escalus), Thom Petty (Second Gentleman), Joeravar Sangha (Lord), Eloise Secker (Younger Dumain), Rosie Sheehy (Helena), Jamie Wilkes (Parolles) and Benjamin Westerby (Bertram).

Joining Blanche and Robert on the creative team are: Richard Howell (Lighting), D.J. Walde (Music), Gregory Clarke (Sound), Douglas O’Connell (Video), Asha Jennings-Grant (Movement and Intimacy)and Kate Waters (Fights).

SOPHIE WARD & JOE McFADDEN

JOIN THE UK TOUR OF

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MIRROR CRACK’D

UK TOUR OPENS 8 SEPTEMBER 2022

Sophie Ward and Joe McFadden join Susie Blake in the cast of the brand new production of Rachel Wagstaff’s acclaimed adaptation of Agatha Christie’s THE MIRROR CRACK’D. The production, directed by Philip Franks, will begin its UK Tour at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne on 8 September 2022.

THE MIRROR CRACK’D will star Susie Blake as Miss Marple, Sophie Ward as Marina Gregg, Joe McFadden as Jason Rudd, Veronica Roberts as Dolly Bantry, Mara Allen as Cherry Baker, Sarah Lawrie as Ella Zielinsky, Jules Melvin as Heather Leigh and David Partridge as Cyril Leigh.

In 1960s England, a wind of change is blowing through the land. It has even reached the sleepy village of St Mary Mead. There’s a new housing estate, which alarms the villagers as much as it intrigues them and, even more unsettling, a rich American film star has bought the manor house. Jane Marple, confined to a chair after an accident, is wondering if life has passed her by. Then there is a shocking murder, and Miss Marple must unravel a web of lies, danger and tragedy. This adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famous novel brings real emotional depth and psychological insight to a thrilling story of secrets, loss and revenge.

The Mirror Crack’d From Side to Side was published in the UK in 1962 and adapted as a feature film, The Mirror Crack’d, in 1980, starring Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple, Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis.  On television, adaptations of the novel have starred Joan Hickson as Miss Marple in 1992 and Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple in 2011.

Susie Blake is best known for playing the Continuity Announcer in Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, as well as her regular roles of Bev Unwin in ITV’s Coronation Street and Hillary Nicholson in BBC’s Mrs Brown’s Boys. She has recently appeared in series one and two of Kate & Koji (ITV), Not Going Out (BBC One) and The Real Marigold Hotel (BBC One). Her films include Fierce Creatures and Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey?!. Her theatre credits include Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical (Hall for Cornwall), Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (UK Tour), My Fair Lady (Grange Festival), Grumpy Old Women Live 2 & 3, When We Are Married (West End), Pygmalion (Chichester Festival Theatre), Madame Morrible in Wicked (West End) and Belinda Blair in Noises Off (National Theatre).

Sophie Ward has most recently been seen in the BBC‘s A Very British Scandal opposite Claire Foy and Paul Bettany, BBC/HBO Max’s Troubled Blood – an adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s hugely popular novel of the same name, and This Sceptred Isle, playing the role of Rachel Johnson, opposite Kenneth Branagh’s Boris Johnson.  For the past four years, Sophie has hosted the European Diversity Awards and works closely alongside Stonewall.

Joe McFadden’s television credits include Raffaello Di Lucca in Holby City from 2014 to 2020, Alistair in Casualty in 2009, PC Joe Mason in Heartbeat from 2007 to 2009, Jack Marshland in Cranford, Dallas in Sex, Chips & Rock’n’roll, Prentice McHoan in The Crow Road and Gary McDonald in The High Road.  Theatre includes Priscilla-Queen Of The Desert, Torch Song Trilogy (Menier Chocolate Factory), She Loves Me (Chichester Festival Theatre), Rainbow Kiss (Royal Court Theatre), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (Chichester Festival Theatre), Aladdin (Old Vic Theatre) and Rent (Shaftesbury Theatre, London).  Joe was the winner of Strictly Come Dancing in 2017.

THE MIRROR CRACK’D will be directed by Philip Franks (Barnes’ People, The Haunting of Alice Bowles, The Habit of Art, The Croft and A Cold Supper Behind Harrods) and designed by Adrian Linford, with lighting design by Emma Chapman, sound design by Max Pappenheim and casting by Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG.

The UK Tour will be produced by Alastair Whatley and Tom Hackney for The Original Theatre Company. The Original Theatre Company recently won a Critics’ Circle Award for their outstanding contribution to British Theatre during lockdown, through which they produced acclaimed online productions of Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong Online, Louise Coulthard’s Watching Rosie, Torben Betts’s Apollo 13: The Dark Side of The Moon, Philip Franks’s The Haunting of Alice Bowles and Peter Barnes’s Barnes’ People.  More recently, they have produced stage and hybrid productions ranging from world premieres of Frazer Flintham’s Into The Night to Ben Brown’s The End of The Night at Park Theatre, as well as tours of The Hound of The Baskervilles, Being Mr Wickham, The System, A Splinter of Ice, The Habit of Art, Invincible and Birdsong. Last week they announced their new playwriting festival ‘Originals’ in partnership with Riverside Studios, which opens at the end of June in London and online.

Website: www.originaltheatre.com

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @MissMarpleTour / @OriginalTheatre

TOUR SCHEDULE

8 – 17 September                   Eastbourne Devonshire Park                                       01323 412000

                                               www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk                                    on sale

20 – 24 September                 Darlington Hippodrome                                                01325 405405

                                               www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk                                on sale

27 September – 1 October     Cheltenham Everyman Theatre                                   01242 572573

                                                everymantheatre.org.uk                                               on sale                                              

4 – 8 October                         York Theatre Royal                                                      01904 623568

                                               www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk                                         on sale           

10 – 15 October                     Oxford Playhouse                                                         01865 305305

                                               Oxfordplayhouse.com                                                  on sale

17 – 22 October                      Mold Theatr Clwyd                                                       01352 344101

                                                www.theatrclwyd.com                                                  on sale 14 June

31 October – 5 November       Northampton Royal & Derngate                                   01604 624811

                                                royalandderngate.co.uk                                                on sale                                              

8 – 12 November                     Norwich Theatre Royal                                                 01603 630000

                                                norwichtheatre.org                                                       on sale

22 – 26 November                   Bromley Churchill Theatre                                            0343 310 0020

                                                churchilltheatre.co.uk                                                   on sale soon

28 November – 3 December    Southend Palace Theatre                                            0343 310 0030

                                                palacetheatresouthend.co.uk                                       on sale

Further dates to be announced

GARY BARLOW BRINGS A DIFFERENT STAGE BACK TO WHERE HIS STORY BEGAN

FRODSHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE TO HOST SPECIAL PERFORMANCES OVER 2 – 4 JUNE

TICKETS ON SALE TO FRODSHAM RESIDENTS* FROM 9.30AM THURSDAY 26 MAY HERE

GENERAL TICKET ON SALE FROM 9.30AM FRIDAY 27 MAY HERE

www.adifferentstage.show

★★★★★ A brave and beautiful retelling of his whole life story…a seriously emotional experience – Manchester Evening News

★★★★ Gary Barlow…proves himself a master of solo performance– The Scotsman

★★★★★ Barlow holds his audience rapt throughout…[he’s] a candidly open and honest storyteller – Edinburgh Evening News

Frodsham local, lauded singer, songwriter, composer and producer Gary Barlow, is heading back to his hometown for four very special performances of his critically acclaimed theatrical one man stage show. He’ll perform A Different Stage at the Frodsham Community Centre over 2, 3 and 4 June. Those with a credit card registered to a WA6 postcode* will be able to purchase tickets on Thursday 26 May, with general sale tickets available from Friday 27 May.

In A Different Stage, Gary takes audiences on a journey through his life story, which began in Frodsham back in 1971. A Different Stagepremiered at The Brindley, the award-winning theatre in Runcorn, Cheshire, in February to a rapturous reception and Gary has since played to sell-out audiences in Salford, Liverpool and Edinburgh. He’ll also take the show to Dublin, Newcastle, York and more, plus he’ll make his West End debut at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre in August.

A Different Stage performance dates announced today:

Frodsham Community Centre – Thursday 2 June

Frodsham Community Centre – Friday 3 June

Frodsham Community Centre – Saturday 4 June (matinee)

Frodsham Community Centre – Saturday 4 June (evening)

Gary said: “It’s been thrilling to perform ‘A Different Stage’ in so many wonderful places over the past few months, but to be able to bring this show to Frodsham feels incredibly special to me. I can’t wait!”

Created by Gary and his long-time friend and collaborator Tim Firth, A Different Stage sees Gary narrate the journey of his life alongside the music from his incredible discography. In a project unlike anything he’s ever done before, Gary will take the audience behind the curtain, with nothing off limits in this special performance.

Gary Barlow is one of Britain’s most successful songwriters and record producers. As part of the group Take That, he has won eight BRIT Awards and sold over 45 million records. Aside from his achievements with Take That, he has also co-written and produced music for other renowned artists including Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams.

In more recent years, Gary has also turned his attention to the world of theatre, composing the score for the hugely successful production of Finding Neverland; working alongside Tim Firth on  Calendar Girls The Musical; and collaborating with Tim and his Take That bandmates on The Band, a record-breaking stage musical currently being adapted into a feature film.

Theatr Clwyd, Yr Wyddgrug – until 4th June 2022

Reviewed by Julie Noller

5*****

Exciting times at Theatr Clwyd as the 1970s building undergoes a major refurbishment. Upon arrival you find yourself walking towards what feels like a wedding marquee, fear not it is the temporary hospitality area but on a sunny evening the windows open up to give amazing views of the Clwydian range highlighting the magnificance of the local area of which the theatre takes it’s pride of place within the local community. Huge congratulations to Theatr Clwyd for using a QR code generated programme that is accessible to everyone, reducing costs and aiding the environment.

We found ourselves within the outside dome, Theatr Mix. A rather funky little theatre which is prefect for any show where intimacy, small stage settings bring the audience so close to the actors you feel you can almost reach out and touch them. Celebrated Virgins I wasn’t sure what to expect, the only knowledge I had was from my friend Google, perhaps upon reflection this is wise because the story itself so cleverly written by Katie Elin-Salt and Directed by Eleri B.Jones. From the very first minutes it’s obvious you are going to be sucked towards the very soul of this story. Reminded that these very forward thinking ladies were no longer with us in body but very much so in spirit and that they certainly had aplenty. 200 years ago it was unheard of for a young lady to think for herself never mind break every unwritten rule of gentile society and seek to live their lives in romantic love with each other. Yet here we have Heather Agyepong as Sarah Ponsonby facing us, challenging us from her very first words. The very fact that we think we may know, words perhaps in our era we can say with ease but then in 1700s North Wales within the small rural area of Llangollen where the River Dee still flows, you just conformed to society within the constraints of your birthright.

I enjoyed being challenged, loved the humour. For above all else that connects us to history it’s the stories and the laughter. Sarah a shy, socially awkward youngster a description that wouldn’t be out of place today to many you meet. Sarah arrives in Ireland as a ward of Sir William (Sean Carlsen a man of many accents tonight) and Lady Betty (Emma Pallant) a couple who yearn on one hand an heir and the other a much loved child. Sarah is a replacement child close at first to Lady Betty but that bond slowly ebbs as Sir William takes an interest and encourages Sarah’s joy of gardening. That interest turns rather dark and disturbing, something I found intriguing is that all these changes are inferred, you don’t witness a great deal and it feels like our responsibility to establish the pieces of the story in our minds eye. Lady Betty becomes somewhat jealous or is it protective of Sarah and encourages her to attend school where Victoria John portraying Lady Eleanor Butler is an aide. The story moves on at pace throughout, we don’t need the nitty gritty detail we need the roller-coaster that life often is. It wasn’t a quick event that happened, they met, they fell in love and happily ever after. We must remember that these groundbreaking ladies were so far ahead of their time, but they faced fears, struggled with emotions. We must be thankful for those willing to not only break the rules they actually took the book and ripped it into tiny pieces.

I’m not here to retell the story for its plainly obvious these 2 ladies of Llangollen, hermetesses as they were labelled locally became a sensation of gossip, their story is built not by their own writings but the words of others, newspapers, we know that words can change from person to person.

The Second Act saw Emma Pallant take her part in portraying another strong woman as the ladys maid/servant Mary, reminding us with a great deal of humour and laughter that romance isn’t just roses grown in a garden. She was woken at 2am for the dash to the ferry, she carried the luggage, she continues to scrub the skid marks for life is real. On a whole the performances are polished and we the audience draw so much, it’s a story of life long love deep and forbidden. The story of strong women from those who yearn for the love of a child, a maid who feels the love of her mistresses not just as an employee but as family. To the modern day museum restoration and upkeep of Plas Newyydd at Llangollen. It is a reminder that girl power was never a Spice Girl invention but in fact has always been within every female regardless of birth right.

EMPIRE THEATRE, LIVERPOOL – UNTIL SATURDAY 28TH MAY 2022

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

5*****

Mischief’s Oliver Award winning, West End and Broadway hit comedy continues to entertain audiences around the world and is currently touring the UK for the fifth time. Last night the cast certainly provided the audience with plenty of belly laughs, as it premiered at the Empire Theatre.

Before the performance even started, we had our suspicions that not all was going to plan. As we were making our way from the bar, down the stairs to take our seat, a very well dressed man came running up the stairs towards us. He stopped in front of us, greeted us politely and continued running up the stairs past us. He looked a little bit distressed. When we took our seats, we noticed the production team walking around, asking the audience for their help in looking for their lost dog and a few minutes later a helpless stage manager attempted to secure a collapsing mantel piece on the set. This was hilarious and drew the audience’s attention, giving us a small taster of what we could be expecting throughout the evening’s performance.

This production is a farcical play within a play, and reminded me of ‘Faulty Towers’, everything that could go wrong, went wrong in the most delightful ways.

The talented cast play members of the Cornley Polytechninic Drama Society who is putting on (or attempting to put on) a 1920’s murder mystery, titled Murder at Haversham Manor.

For me the standouts of the evening included Edi De Melo, as Max the student playing Cecil and Harry Boyd as Chris, the newly elected Head of the drama society playing the part of Inspector Carter and the Director. Their charisma and charm on stage, drew in the audience, commanded their full attention and send them into fits of laughter.

The set (Nigel Hook) helped contribute to the majority of the catastrophes, from the misplacement of props, to the gradual destruction of the set by the end of the play.

I left the theatre with a huge grin on my face, listening to people around me cackling out loud and recalling their favourite part of the play. The Play That Goes Wrong really is a comical sensation!

Grand Opera House York – Saturday 21st May 2022.

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

4****

The Gruffalo is a well know children’s book, first published in 1999, by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It was first adapted to stage by Tall Stories over 20 years ago and is still going strong to this day.

The story follows the escapades of Mouse, venturing into the deep dark wood on the hunt for hazelnuts. With just a map in hand, Mouse encounters numerous Predators within the wood, and being at the bottom of the food chain, has every right to be scared. But this mouse is no ordinary mouse!

Mouse has a vivid imagination and uses clever tricks to escape danger. Whilst following the map Mouse encounters the sly Fox, the eccentric Owl and finally the flamboyant Snake, the latter complete with maracas. Each of these animals has only one intention, after invitations to their individual homes, and that is to have Mouse on their menus. The cunning Mouse refuses each offer by concocting the Gruffalo, a gruesome creature with frightening features. After getting rid of all the Predators, Mouse is shocked to encounter a real Gruffalo and again must avoid being dinner.

The stage really does look like a deep dark wood, the kind you get in a children’s book anyway. Imposing, almost cartoonish trees setting the scene. The costumes are effective, with the upturn of a collar and whip out of a tail turn a person into a fox, a headband become ears, a bit of makeup and again a tail appearing from nowhere, to create a mouse, it is quite simple but very clever.

We don’t see the Gruffalo costume until later in the show, and he almost looked like a cuddly teddy, not scary at all. The children loved seeing him up on the stage though, I know my lot were excited to finally see him.

There are only three cast members, Aimee Louise Bevan as Mouse, Alastair Chisholm as all the Predators, Fox, Owl and Snake, and Aaron Dart as the narrator and The Gruffalo. They are all full of energy, filling the stage well and really brought all the characters to life. It was all very engaging, and had us all, both children and adults, joining in with the singing, roaring as loud as we could, pretending to be a Gruffalo. My three loved the interaction.

This show really does bring the book to life. Suitable for 3-7 year olds, it is a perfect introduction to the theatre. It was all such fun.