Month: May 2022

Richmond Theatre – until Saturday 28th May 2022

Reviewed by Liberty Noke

4****

The Rocky Horror Show has been loved by audiences all over the world for over 40 years and it is easy to see why. This naughty, sexy, scandalous show is a party from beginning to end.

It opens with the usherette (Suzie McAdam) on stage singing Science Fiction – Double Feature. Her costume was fantastic with her ice cream tray and blonde wig but this was only the beginning, she opened the curtain to reveal Brad (Ore Oduba) and Janet (Haley Flaherty) introduced by the narrator(Philip Franks). As the narrator speaks the audience use the well known talk-back lines to interact with him. The narrator was prepared for this and interacted perfectly even making topical references like to the Johnny Depp and Amber
Heard trial or Priti Patel.

Brad and Janet are clean-cut, ordinary people travelling home from a wedding. We watch them become engaged during their performance of Damn it, Janet which was fantastic. Their car then breaks down and they seek help at a nearby castle. They are greeted by Riff Raff (Kristian Lavercombe) who welcomes them inside to meet the other servants in the castle who all perform the Time Warp this song had the whole audience on their feet singing and dancing along, it was a really special moment to see the performers and the audience all having fun together.

We then meet the owner of the castle Frank N Further (Stephen Webb). Frank makes a spectacular entrance his presence is incredible and his performance of Sweet Transvestite was sensational. Frank really was the star of the show he had such command over the audience and his performance was outstanding.

The costumes in Rocky Horror are iconic, so much so that many of the audience attended wearing outfits inspired by them. This production was no different

I think my favourite thing about this show was the audience. The fans who had clearly seen it several times before and knew all the talk back lines to make the show funnier. The ones who brought props like a light to wave during the song “Over at the Frankenstein Place” and the ones who came in costumes so detailed you could hardly tell them from the actors on the stage. Seeing these people enjoy the show enhanced my enjoyment of it and was the highlight of my evening.

Brighton Fishing Museum Loft, 200 King’s Road Arches – until 4th June 2022

Reviewed by Sue Bradley

5*****

Betsy is produced by Something Underground http://www.somethingunderground.co.uk/

It was written and premiered in 2013 by multi-award winning Writer/Director Jonathan Brown.

In contrast to Something Underground’s other currently touring shows, which explore the culture of the sixties and seventies, this one-act, one-woman monologue (one third of The Well Trilogy of shows) brings us a truly believable account of what a woman of humble origins might have had to endure in the early 1820’s. The workhouse, part of Betsy’s past, is mentioned several times, and as a local audience, we understand that she’s referring to the Brighton workhouse, now Brighton General Hospital. Many local place names and familiar historical figures are mentioned (even thought the Betsy character herself is fictional), which brings her story to life even more.

The term “Emotional Rollercoaster” is often over-used but in this case it can only be wholly appropriate, as Betsy tugs on our heartstrings, whilst at the same time displaying the tough, streetwise character that she needed to be.

Betsy is played by Isabella McCarthy Somerville in a confident and assured performance, switching characters and accents with apparent ease. Daring the audience to judge her right from the start, she walked a fine line, addressing us as if daring us to respond, but never holding it for so long that we became uncomfortable.

It was a very demanding physical and emotional performance, but McCarthy Somerville never let up and held us riveted throughout. During this lengthy one act piece, there was no scraping of chairs, surreptitious phone checking or other signs of audience unrest. The only other sounds came from the clever soundtrack which provided just the right amount of ambience and occasional well-judged music.

The loft of the Brighton Fishing Museum provided an excellent venue and resonated with themes of the ocean that appeared throughout the play. Coming out into the light, close to the sea and the pier, the very areas that Betsy mentioned in her story, seemed a fitting coda to the piece.

This is one of the best and most convincing one-person shows I have seen in the Brighton Fringe. The final scene brought tears to the audience, and thoughts of more personal tragedies, as she evoked the heartbreaking scene that Betsy was faced with at the end.

OVER £45,500 RAISED AT THE ACTING FOR OTHERS

WEST END FLEA MARKET

Theatrical charity Acting for Others today announces that over £45,500 – nearly double the amount in 2019 – was raised at the West End Flea Market on Saturday 21 May held at St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, with thousands of people in attendance.

Top West End shows set up stalls full of theatrical goodies and special one-off items – which were on display for celebrity judges Christopher Biggins, Michael Ball and Golda Rosheuvel. Running stalls on the day were company members from Book of Mormon, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton, Jersey Boys, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Mamma Mia!, Moulin Rouge, Only Fools and Horses the Musical, Pretty Woman, Six, The Play That Goes Wrong, The Phantom of The Opera, and To Kill a Mockingbird. 

Taking the prize of Best Dressed Stall this year, for the second time in a row, was Only Fools and Horses. Their stall contained an array of delights including a Reliant Robin made of pompoms, Del Boy’s sheepskin coat worn by Tom Bennett in the original stage production, specially printed tea towels with signed photos of the cast backstage, a mini paddling pool to play Hook a Duck, and an acapella performance for the judges of Down to Margate from the show.

Biggins’ Bargains, the auction event hosted by Christopher Biggins, returned with items such as a show-themed can of hairspray signed by Michael Ball, a backstage tour to meet the cast of Hamilton, and a Pretty Woman dressing gown worn and signed by Danny Mac. These special prizes collectively raised hundreds of pounds for Acting for Others.

There were stars in the autograph tent taking selfies and signing posters and goodies for fans including Alice Fearn (Come From Away), Miriam Teak-Lee (& Juliet), Jordan Luke Gage (Bonnie & Clyde), and Strictly Come Dancing’s Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev, and there were long queues for Su Pollard’s fortune telling. Dames on the day were Terence Frisch, Wayne Morgan-Williams, and Jamie Steen. Refreshments were provided by The Theatre Café.

Merchandise, playbills and signed posters were also available to purchase from West End shows including & Juliet, Back to the Future, Cabaret, Frozen, Get Up, Stand Up, Heathers, My Fair Lady, The Drifters Girl, and The Lion King, as well as from historic productions spanning across decades.

Joel Marvin, Director of Fundraising for Acting for Others said today, “What an absolute joy it is to be back celebrating theatre, and to see the support for Acting for Others at this year’s West End Flea Market raising our biggest total to date. Having been put on hold by the pandemic, it was particularly special to be back with so many people who share our love of theatre. The appetite for the West End is well and truly back, with queues around the corner once again. A huge thank you to the shows, our judges and ambassadors that took part to make Saturday such a success, and to every single person that turned up and queued to get in. We can’t wait to welcome you all back next year!”

www.actingforothers.co.uk      

Twitter: @ActingForOthers / #WestEndFleaMarket

The stars become the extras in 25^th Anniversary Production of Stones in his Pockets by Marie Jones

A tour de force in comic showmanship, Marie Jones’s legendary award-winning play will explode once again into the Lyric Theatre where it all began almost 25 years ago. But this time it’s unlike you’ve ever seen it before as, with the help of technology – and a host of famous stars – Stones in his Pockets will be brought to life in a new way. 

Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty), Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones, original cast of Stones in His Pockets), Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls), Tommy Tiernan (comedian / Derry Girls) and Tara Lynne O’Neill (EastEnders / Derry Girls) are amongst the stars of Northern Irish screen to become extras in this production which centres around a Hollywood blockbuster being filmed in Ireland.

Director Matthew McElhinney said:

“The idea was always to bring the movies to Stones.  The premise for Stones in his Pockets this time round, is the idea that the extras become the stars, and the stars become the extras. With that in mind, our two actors who play the extras in the play, they’re going to become the stars of their own movie at the end, and famous faces of Northern Ireland are going to become our on-screen extras”.

Producer of Stones in his Pockets, Iwan Lewis, who is also Artistic Director of Barn Theatre added:  “We filmed the stars of Northern Irish theatre, television and film.  They are the stars, but today, they’re going to be playing extras on the big screen”.

Filmed cameo roles include famous Northern Ireland actors, 

Adrian Dunbar                                   (The Crying Game / Line of Duty)

Conleth Hill                                         (Game of Thrones / Stones in His Pockets)

Saoirse Monica Jackson (Derry Girls)

Ian McElhinney                 (Game Of Thrones / Derry Girls)

Siobhán McSweeney                       (Derry Girls / The Holding)

Tara Lynne O’Neill                            (Eastenders / Derry Girls)

Kerri Quinn                                         (Coronation Street / Hope Street)

Tommy Tiernan                 (comedian / Derry Girls)

See if you can spot your favourite Northern Irish star on the big screen when you come along to the show! Stones in his Pockets plays at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast from Tuesday 7th June – Sunday 3rd July 2022. Tickets available online at www.lyrictheatre.co.uk or in person from Lyric Theatre Box Office – Tel 028 90381081. Follow @LyricBelfast.

NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

T I N A – T H E   T I N A   T U R N E R   M U S I C A L

FROM 29 JUNE 2022

The hit production TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL today announces new casting for the critically acclaimed production which continues at the Aldwych Theatre as rehearsals begin for the new Company. From 29 June 2022 Aisha Jawando and new cast member Elesha Paul Moses will share the role of Tina, with Caleb Roberts joining to play Ike. TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is currently booking to 18 December 2022.

Paula Kay joins to play Tina’s mother Zelma, Charis Alexandra joins asTina’s sister Alline Bullock,George Jennings joinsas Tina’s Manager Roger Davies, Irene Myrtle Forrester continues as Tina’s Grandmother, previous ensemble member Kelly Hampson will now play Ike and Tina’s manager Rhonda Graam, Gregory Haney will now play Tina’s father Richard Bullock, Cordell Mosteller joinsas Tina’s first love Raymond Hill, ensemble member Chris Grahamson will now play Record Producer Phil Spector and Lyricist Terry Britten and Joseph Richardson continues as record company Marketing Manager Erwin Bach.

Ensemble members are Megan Armstrong and Vanessa Dumatey, Thomas Sutcliffe who plays Carpenter, Turrell Barrett-Wallace who plays Tina’s son Ronnie and Joey James plays Tina’s son Craig, the Ikettes are played by Karis Anderson, Marie Finlayson and Natorii Illidge and swingsare Lauren Allan, Richard Appiah-Sarpong, Joshua Da Costa, Miles Anthony Daley, Livvy Evans, Imogen Rose Hart, Jaz Robinson, Brad Veitch, Saran Webb and Samuel J Weir. Final adult and children’s casting will be announced at a later date.

As well as playing the title role of Tina, Aisha Jawando’s London theatre credits include the title role in Cinderella at the Hackney Empire, The Life at Southwark Playhouse, Martha Reeves in the original London cast of Motown The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at the Aldwych Theatre, The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Fela at the National Theatre, The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre and Soul Sister at the Savoy Theatre.

Elesha Paul Moses ha shad a career in the music industry for over 25 years. She was mentored by Matthew Knowles, as well as Will.I.Am and Tom Jones while appearing on X Factor.  She has written and performed with the likes of house production duo Ku De Ta, superstar Lionel Richie and industry steadfast Nicky Graham and has backed Andy Abraham on his Eurovision performance. She is currently leading the two touring shows Whitney: Queen Of The Night and Tina: What’s Love Got To Do With It and has recently completed a successful tour in Denmark. 

Caleb Roberts studied at The Brit School and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2017. He made his professional debut playing The King of France opposite Sir Ian McKellen in King Lear  at Chichester Festival Theatre and in the West End.  His other theatre credits include Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre for which he won a Black British Theatre Award; I Think We Are Alone for Frantic Assembly, She Ventures and He Wins for the Young Vic Theatre and Richard III for Headlong.  His television and film credits include Stephen Frears’ A Very English Scandal and Petrichor.

The critically acclaimed production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL which is based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner and produced in association with Tina Turner herself, received its world premiere in April 2018 in London and subsequently broke all Box Office records at the Aldwych Theatre. The Broadway production opened in 2019 and three productions are running in Europe in Germany, Netherlands and Spain. The North American tour will commence in Rhode Island this September.

Discover the heart and soul behind the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll at TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, the undeniable mega hit in London’s West End. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, experience Tina Turner’s triumphant story live on stage as this exhilarating celebration reveals the woman that dared to dream fiercely, shatter barriers, and conquer the world—against all odds.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is choreographed by Anthony van Laast, with set and costume designs by Mark Thompson, musical supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Bruno Poet,sound by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Jeff Sugg and orchestrations by Ethan Popp. 

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is produced in the West End by Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                             Aldwych Theatre, Aldwych, London WC2B 4DF

Dates:                                currently playing to 18 December 2022

Performances:From 4 July 2022 the schedule will be Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm and Sunday at 3pm

Box Office:                          0845 200 7981

Website:                             www.tinathemusical.com

Facebook:                           TinaTheMusical

Twitter:                              TinaTheMusical

Instagram:                          TinaTheMusical

THEATRE ROYAL STRATFORD EAST ANNOUNCES 2022-23 SEASON 

ALSO ANNOUNCED IS NEW ROYALTY SCHEME FOR EAST LONDON

THEATRE ROYAL STRATFORD EAST ANNOUNCES 2022-23 SEASON 

ALSO ANNOUNCED IS NEW ROYALTY SCHEME FOR EAST LONDON FREELANCERS, THOSE AGED 25 AND UNDER AND LOCALS

Theatre Royal Stratford East today announces its 2022/23 season.The season includes Anthony Neilson’s poignant and comical delve into the nature of mental illness, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, directed by Emma Baggott, which opens in September 2022.Then, continuing their collaboration, Stratford East’s Artistic Director, Nadia Fall directs Ramps on the Moon’s first new play, Village Idiot by Samson Hawkins, in a co-production with Theatre Royal Stratford East and Nottingham Playhouse. Following this, Stratford East presents the UK premiere of award-winning play, Tambo & Bones, a satirical interrogation of the commodification and commercialisation of Black pain, written by Dave Harris and directed by Matthew Xia, in a co-production with the Actors Touring Company.

This year’s pantomime, Cinderella by Leo Butler and Robert Hyman, is directed by one of Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Sky Arts Artistic Associates, Eva Sampson. The production opens on 19 November (Press Night: 26 November).

The season also includes work from youth companies including new play, painkiller written by Sophie Ellerby and presented by the 2022 Stratford East Young Company, and the National Youth Theatre presenting Bola Agbaje’s Olivier Award-winning Gone Too Far!.

They also welcome visiting productions including a Sheffield Theatres and Ramps on the Moon co-production of Much Ado About Nothing directed by Robert Hastie, and the ThickSkin and Traverse Theatre Company production of How Not to Drown, thetrue story of an 11-year-old unaccompanied asylum-seeker.

Priority booking for Theatre Royal Stratford East Members and customers with access requirements opens on Tuesday 24 May at 12pm. Public booking opens on Thursday 26 May at 12pm.

In addition, Theatre Royal Stratford East announce their new Royalty Scheme, including Freelance Royalty, a new free membership scheme designed to support arts freelancers living or working in East London. The Freelance Royalty scheme offers exclusive benefits, including free or discounted rehearsal space, networking events, workshops, freelance surgeries and showcase opportunities for artists.

They also launch Young Royalty, for 17-25 year olds, and Local Royalty, for those living in specific East London postcodes – with those eligible able to access £15 tickets across  Theatre Royal Stratford East productions. For full information please visit: www.stratfordeast.com/join-us

Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nadia Fall said today, “This new season has a tantalising sense of mischief and the chance for a delicious collusion between the stage and the audience. From Anthony Neilson’s cult play, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, which transports us to another dimension, exploring mental health through a kind of Alice in Wonderland meets David Lynch experience, to the UK premiere of Dave Harris’ Tambo & Bones which looks at the commodification of Black lives with an actual hip-hop concert slap bang in the middle of it.

Although each production tells its own unique story, conjuring up wildly different worlds, they are all brilliantly theatrical, often addressing the audience directly. It’s certainly the opposite of staying in and watching the television, unless you have a television where the characters leap out of the box and envelop you in the story!

Village Idiot, Samson Hawkins’ debut play, invites you to a village fair where you can actually enter a meat raffle. And we’re delighted to announce Eva Sampson, one of our new Sky Arts Associates, as director for our panto Cinderella. 

We’re also excited to welcome a visit from Sheffield Theatres, with a Ramps on the Moon production of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Artistic Director Rob Hastie. ThickSkin and Traverse Theatre Company bring us How Not to Drown, an incredible real-life story with human resilience at its heart, whilst National Youth Theatre present Bola Agbaje’s Olivier Award-winning Gone Too Far!.  Our talented Young Company take to the stage with painkiller, a new play by Sophie Ellerby. If there’s one thing that unites our next season it’s that of bold and unapologetically pure theatre.”

Eleanor Lang,Executive Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East,commented, “Freelancers are the life blood of the theatre industry, and it is our job to support them at all stages of their career. We are, therefore, excited to launch Stratford East’s Freelance Royalty Scheme. Our new scheme will provide a range of training and development opportunities, and provide freelancers who live and work in East London with a welcoming base.  

Newham was particularly affected by the pandemic and has huge challenges ahead, as the cost-of-living crisis deepens. We also know the deep effect the pandemic has had on young people. With both our local community and young people at the heart of our organisation, we are also delighted to launch two additional schemes – Local Royalty and Young Royalty. These schemes will ensure we can welcome everyone to our theatre, as we increase access to low-priced tickets here at Stratford East.”

Theatre Royal Stratford East presents

PAINKILLER

Written by Sophie Ellerby

Directed by Toby Clarke

28 – 30 July 2022

We’re at war. Firebombs blaze, families flee food shortages as cyberattacks cut the electricity supply. Whole cities face blackouts for days.

Confronted by conscription, the young are drafted in to fight the invading force, their destinies decided. These soldiers are on the frontline and the violence is escalating. It feels utterly relentless. Until a group of soldiers say no.

Downing arms, faced with the prospect of prison time for desertion, they’re offered another form of service – to enrol in a military clinical trial to test a cutting-edge gene therapy to treat pain. A treatment never yet trialled on humans. They could undergo rehabilitation and be completely pain free for the rest of their lives… but what is life without pain?

Members of the 2022 Stratford East Young Company are Grace Coulson-Harris, Taliyah Defreitas-Smith, Jade Franks, Morgan Hilaire, Junior Kapesi-Tuku, Pelé Kelland-Beau, Bibi MacDougall, Mariama Mansary, Karl Markey-Lee, David Olaniregun, Moussa Samba.

Sophie Ellerby is a writer and theatre maker. Her career began at 15, starring in This is England (directed by Shane Meadows). She went onto study Drama at Manchester University, specialising in Theatre in Prisons. In 2016 she was awarded a place on HighTide’s First Commission scheme, where she wrote her debut play Lit, co-produced in 2019 by HighTide and Nottingham Playhouse, with a sell-out run and rave reviews. Other theatre includes Three (Arcola Theatre) and Function (Criterion Theatre). Most recently she was Lead Artist for a site-specific piece around the Royal Docks in London, Arrival (2021, directed by Matthew Dunster). Last year she was Head Writer on SeaView, a six-part web-series, produced by Belgrade Theatre. Her BFI funded debut short film The Walk, inspired by a true story of a man who had to make a 24-mile round pilgrimage each week to sign on at the Job Centre due to a lack of public transport, is currently in pre-production.

Toby Clarke has had an extensive career in theatre, TV and film as a director, playwright and acting coach, spanning over 20 years. He directed the Olivier Award-nominated Warheads at Park Theatre, is currently Resident Director at Theatre Peckham, Young Company Director at Stratford East and Head Acting Coach of the Young Vic’s new Over 25 Acting Company. As a Playwright, Toby has been shortlisted and longlisted for the Bruntwood Playwriting Award. He is currently Acting Coach on HBO/Channel 4 Series Get Millie Black.

Theatre Royal Stratford East presents

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA

Written by Anthony Neilson

Directed by Emma Baggott

16 September – 15 October 2022

What would you do if you lost an hour from your day? How far would you go to rescue what you’ve lost?

In search of a lost hour that that has tipped the balance of her life, Lisa Jones is on a quest through a surreal world, filled with insecurity guards, flying cars, singing polar bears and wild-goose chases. The inhabitants of Dissocia are a curious blend of the funny, the friendly and the downright brutal.  

Anthony Neilson’s cult play is a poignant and comical delve into the nature of mental

illness. 

Anthony Neilson is a ground-breaking playwright and director known for his collaborative way of writing and workshopping plays, characterised by their formal playfulness and often dark themes and humour. Writing and Directing credits include The Tell-Tale Heart, The Menu (National Theatre), The Séance (National Theatre Connections), The Prudes, Unreachable, Narrative, Get Santa!, Relocated, Penetrator (also Edinburgh Festival), The Lying Kind, The Censor (Royal Court), The Wonderful World of Dissocia (Royal Court, Tron, Edinburgh Lyceum, Theatre Royal Plymouth, UK tour), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Realism (Edinburgh Lyceum), The Haunting of Hill House (Liverpool Playhouse), God in Ruins (Soho Theatre), Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness (Theatre Royal Plymouth, UK tour), Stitching (Traverse, Bush). Directing credits include Marat/Sade, The Drunks (RSC), The Big Lie (Latitude Festival), The Death of Klinghoffer (Scottish Opera, Edinburgh International Festival).

Emma Baggott trained at Goldsmiths College and Young Vic. She is an Associate Artist at National Youth Theatre and a Mentor Director for National Theatre Connections. Recent credits include Face the Music: The Social Care Workers Play (Almeida Theatre), Neville’s Island, Misfits, Stiletto Beach (Queens Theatre Hornchurch), The Things We Leave Behind (Lyric Hammersmith), Mr Burns, X, The Christians (LAMDA), She is Fierce (The Swirl, RSC), Leaving, How To Kill Your Mother, Copper & Steel (The Bunker) and Normal (Styx). Credits as an Associate and Assistant Director include As You Like It (RSC), This House (Headlong/National Theatre), The Village (Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Sound of Yellow, Victoria Station, One for The Road (Young Vic) and McQueen (Theatre Royal Haymarket). Emma is a Guest Director at LAMDA, RWCMD and Theatre Academy London and taught and directed at the Brit School for six years. She facilitates regular workshops for organisations such as Cardboard Citizens, National Theatre, Young Vic, RTYDS, Arts Ed, University of Kent and Goldsmiths College.

Sheffield Theatres and Ramps on the Moon present

William Shakespeare’s

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Adapted and directed by Robert Hastie

01 – 05 November 2022

‘I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?’

Besotted young couple Claudio and Hero have fallen fast and are quickly engaged. Not everyone finds romance so straightforward – Benedick balks at the very thought of it and Beatrice agrees with him, on that if nothing else. But somewhere in this world, there’s someone for everyone, even if they’re right under your nose.

Shakespeare’s raucous comedy is directed by Robert Hastie (Coriolanus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sheffield Theatres). Every performance features the use of integrated creative sign language, audio description and captioning. Ramps on the Moon is the pioneering initiative committed to putting D/deaf and disabled artists and audiences at the centre of their work.

Robert Hastie is Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres. For Sheffield Theatres, credits include She Loves Me, The Band Plays On, Coriolanus, Guys and Dolls, Standing at the Sky’s Edge, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The York Realist (co-produced with the Donmar Warehouse), The Wizard of Oz, Of Kith and Kin (co-produced with the Bush Theatre) and Julius Caesar. Other theatre credits include Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe), Breaking the Code (Manchester Royal Exchange), Henry V (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Theatr Clwyd), My Night with Reg, Splendour (Donmar Warehouse), Carthage, Events While Guarding The Bofors Gun (Finborough Theatre), Sixty-Six Books (Bush Theatre) and A Breakfast of Eels (Print Room). Television includes Sex Education – Romeo and Juliet stage direction (Netflix).

Theatre Royal Stratford East presents

CINDERELLA

Book and Lyrics by Leo Butler
Music and Lyrics by Robert Hyman

Directed by Eva Sampson

19 November 2022 – 07 January 2023

Each year, Stratford Panto tears up the rulebook and turns a classic story on its head to make it relevant to our local community and beyond.

Get ready to experience Stratford East’s unique twist on this classic tale, set in the ancient home of Sphynx cats, pharaohs and the empress Cleopatra.

This year’s panto will feature all the right ingredients. You can expect our much-loved mix of show-stopping original music and laugh-out-loud comedy alongside magical sets and costumes in this perfect festive treat for all ages. Come along and find out if Cinderella will make it to the ball after all.

Leo Butler is an award-winning UK playwright. His plays include Boy (Almeida Theatre), All You Need Is LSD (Birmingham Rep/Told by an Idiot), I’ll Be The Devil (RSC) and Redundant, Lucky Dog, Made of Stone (Royal Court Theatre). He also wrote music and lyrics for Alison! A Rock Opera with Dan Persad, and has released a number of alternative rock albums.

Robert Hyman was born down the road in East Ham, and is a composer, lyricist, musical director and performer. Robert has been associated with the Theatre Royal Stratford East panto for the last 24 years, ever since being the Musical Director of Cinderella in 1998, sometimes as Musical Director, sometimes as Composer/Lyricist and often as both. Highlights include writing the music and lyrics for Cinderella (2007) which was the first pantomime ever to be nominated for an Olivier Award and Rapunzel (2017) which won him a Great British Pantomime Award. Robert was also Musical Director for hit musicals The Big Life (Theatre Royal Stratford East/West End), Reasons To Be Cheerful (Theatre Royal Stratford East/UK tour), Come Dancing with Ray Davies of The Kinks and the UK tour of Tommy produced by Ramps on the Moon. Other projects include composing a new version of A Tale of Two Cities, which reached the finals of the Vivian Ellis Awards, conducting a choir of 4000 at the O2, and musical directing the inaugural performance of the World Children’s Ensemble at the Royal Albert Hall involving young people from 37 different countries. He writes songs and lyrics as Resident Composer for Image Musical Theatre Co. Robert also works extensively in the training of young people as Musical Director of Theatretrain. 

Eva Sampson trained on the National Theatre Studio Directors’ Course and at the University of Birmingham. She is the Co-Artistic Director of How It Ended theatre company and is an Associate of NYT. Eva is currently Sky Arts Artistic Associate for Theatre Royal Stratford East. Her credits as a Director include The Ultimate Pickle (Roundabout/Paines Plough), Wild (How It Ended/Unicorn Theatre), More Than We Can Bear (Almeida Theatre/Clean Break), Heart of Hammersmith (Lyric Hammersmith), Maryland, Meet Mo, Ribena, Jack and the Beanstalk (Theatre Royal Stratford East), At the Statue of Venus (Royal Opera House), The Little Gardener (Kew Gardens), Last Nine Months (Vaults), Sticky (Southwark Playhouse), The Tide (Young Vic), The Scarecrows’ Wedding (Watford Palace Theatre), A Peter Rabbit Tale (Singapore Repertory), Rudolf (Leeds Playhouse), Decades (Brixton House). For TV/Radio: Keep the Home Fires Burning (The Culture Trust Luton), That’s How It Feels: REED TVC Campaign (MYNT/Kingdom Creative). As Associate/Assistant Director Four Quartets (West End), Noye’s Fludde (Theatre Royal Stratford East/ENO), Twelfth Night (Young Vic), Father Christmas (Lyric Hammersmith), Unprecedented (Headlong/Century Films/BBC Four). As Resident Assistant Director This is My Family, 8 Hotels (Chichester Festival Theatre). As Staff Director at The National Theatre TheVisit, Downstate (co-production with Steppenwolf Theatre).

ThickSkin and Traverse Theatre Company supported by Theatre Royal Stratford East present

HOW NOT TO DROWN

Written by Nicola McCartney and Dritan Kastrati 

Directed by Neil Bettles

26 January – 11 February 2023

Award-winning theatre company, ThickSkin, returns to the stage with an action-packed, highly visual production telling the painful yet uplifting true story of an 11-year-old unaccompanied asylum-seeker. 

“I don’t know why my Dad let me go, especially when he knew how dangerous, how hard it was… I was too young, too weak to make this journey. I wouldn’t have sent me… He wouldn’t have sent me unless there was a reason.” 

In 2002, in the turmoil after the end of the Kosovan War, Dritan is sent on the notoriously perilous journey across the Adriatic with a gang of people smugglers to a new life in Europe. He relies on his young wit and charm to make it to the UK. But the fight for survival continues as he clings to his identity and sense of self when he ends up in the British care system.  

How Not to Drown shares a story of endurance for a kid who wasn’t safe or welcome anywhere in the world, performed by an ensemble cast starring Dritan Kastrati himself.  

Commissioned by ThickSkin and Lawrence Batley Theatre. 

Theatre Royal Stratford East and the National Youth Theatre present

GONE TOO FAR!

Written byBola Agbaje

24 March – 1 April 2023

Bola Agbaje’s Olivier Award-winning remarkable debut GONE TOO FAR! returns to the London stage in 2023 for the first time since becoming a GCSE set text. 

When two brothers from different continents go down the street to buy a pint of milk, they lift the lid on a disunited nation; a world where everyone wants to be an individual, but no one wants to stand out from the crowd, and where respect is always demanded but rarely freely given.

Agbaje’s comic and vibrant drama examining identity and heritage is the first co-production between Theatre Royal Stratford East and the National Youth Theatre. 

Starring some of Britain’s best young talent from the illustrious NYT REP Company in its 10th anniversary season, the production follows the NYT’s collaboration with Agbaje on Bitches at the Finborough Theatre in 2016. Gone Too Far!’s premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in 2007 starred NYT Patron and alumnus Zawe Ashton. It was adapted for the big screen to critical acclaim in 2013. 

Graduates of the NYT REP Company include Seraphina Beh (Top Boy), Ellise Chappell (Yesterday), Sope Dìrísù (Gangs of London), Chinenye Ezeudu (Sex Education), Kate Kennedy (Halo) and Lauren Lyle (Outlander).  

Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nottingham Playhouse and Ramps on the Moon present

VILLAGE IDIOT

Written by Samson Hawkins

Directed by Nadia Fall

13 April – 06 May 2023

“If I were an animal there would be legislation to protect my home, but because I’m just a bloody human they can do whatever the f**k they like.”

Townies have decided they want a lie in, so they’re building a new high-speed railway. Issue is, it’s going right through Barbara Honeybone’s house, and she ‘ent having none of it. Barbara’s grandson Peter works for the townies and it’s his job to convince the village that having a two-tonne bullet hurtling through the cabbage patches will actually be for the best.

Then there’s Harry, Barbara’s younger grandson, he ‘ent that bothered about trains, he’s only got eyes for Debbie Mahoney. But the only thing Barbara hates more than townies is the Mahoneys.

Welcome to Syresham, South Northamptonshire. It’s not quite the Cotswolds, not quite one of those posh villages Americans have in movies but it does have Syresham’s Got Talent, the headline event of the village fair. There’ll be songs, dancing, magic, drag, a bit of wrestling, and Kevin’s doing a meat raffle (vegetarian option two tins of Strongbow).

Village Idiot is an audacious comedy, where family feuds kick off around a country fair that you townies are all invited to.

We hope it’s a bit like the other plays you’ve seen here, but less s**t.

Ramps on the Moon is the pioneering initiative committed to putting D/deaf and disabled artists and audiences at the centre of their work.

Samson Hawkins is a playwright and theatre director. He’s from Northamptonshire, but he now lives on a boat. This is Samson’s debut full-length play. Other writing includes audio play Oh for F*ck’s Sake (I’m in love with you) which received In Good Company’s Take Off award and was produced by The Nottingham Playhouse, a comedy puppet ballet Swan Bake (Brighton Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Soho Theatre), short play The Unremarkable Adventures of Prozac Man & his Kind of Friend Low Self-esteem Boy (The Bunker), TIE show Rainbow Rex which workshopped at Leicester Curve and adaptations of Moby Dick, The Hobbit and Animal Farm which were performed in schools. Samson has been a member of The Royal Court Writers Group, Soho Writers Lab, BBC Arts and Rural Media New Creatives, New Perspectives New Associates, Graeae Beyond member and is currently a Leicester Curve Resident Artist. Samson has also been the trainee theatre director of the Orange Tree Theatre, Resident Director of The Oxford Playhouse and Resident Director of Eton College.

Nadia Fall trained at Goldsmiths College, University of London (MA Directing) and on the NT Studio’s Directors programme. Nadia directed The Village and King Hedley II as her first shows as Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East.

In May 2020 she directed The Outside Dog for BBC One as part of London Theatre Company’s Talking Heads monologue series. In September 2020 she directed NO MASKS for Sky Arts, a one-off drama based on testimonials from key workers. Nadia wrote and directed Welcome To Iran, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 as part of the Lockdown Theatre Festival.  

She recently directed Shining City and The Sun, The Moon, And The Stars at Stratford East. Her other directing credits include Three Sisters, The Suicide, Our Country’s Good, Dara, Chewing Gum Dreams, Home, Hymn, The Doctor’s Dilemma (National Theatre), Hir, Disgraced (Bush Theatre), R and D (Hampstead Theatre), Way Upstream (Chichester Festival Theatre), Hobson’s Choice (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), How Was It For You? (Unicorn Theatre), Sticks & Stones (Polka Theatre), The Maids (Lyric Hammersmith), Miss Julie (Croydon Warehouse Theatre) and Wild Turkey (Site Specific).

As Associate Director The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Gielgud Theatre), Collaborators and The Habit of Art (National Theatre), and as Staff Director, Rocket to the Moon, Really Old, Like Forty Five, Phèdre and Much Ado About Nothing (National Theatre). Fall has directed at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and led participation initiatives with partners such as the Young Vic, Clean Break, Soho Theatre and the Royal Court.

Theatre Royal Stratford East and Actors Touring Company present

The UK premiere of

TAMBO & BONES

Written by Dave Harris

Directed by Matthew Xia

16 June – 15 July 2023

Tambo & Bones are trapped in a minstrel show. It’s mad hard to feel like a real person when you’re trapped in a minstrel show. Their escape plan: get out, get bank, get even.

So, accept our invitation, if you will, to step from the heart of the crumbling Empire into an America at the epicentre of the global Black Lives Matter movement.

Part distorted clown-show, part spectacular hip-hop concert, part absurdist Afro-futuristic lecture (with robots!), Tambo & Bones interrogates the commodification and commercialisation of Black pain in a satirical roller coaster of a show.

Dave Harris is a poet and playwright from West Philly. Selected plays include Tambo & Bones (Playwrights Horizons, Center Theatre Group, 2022), Exception to the Rule (Roundabout Theatre Company, 2022), Incendiary (Woolly Mammoth 2023) and Everybody Black (Humana Festival, 2019). His first feature film, Summertime premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Dave is currently writing the feature adaptation of The Fortress of Solitude for Amazon, and an original television project at FX, ABC Studios and Goddard Textiles. Selected honours include the Ollie Award, The Lorraine Hansberry Award and Mark Twain Award from The Kennedy Center, The International Commendation for The Bruntwood Prize and a Cave Canem poetry fellowship, amongst others. 

Matthew Xia is Artistic Director of Actors Touring Company where he has directed Amsterdam, Rice and the Alfred Fagon Award-winning play Family Tree. He is a former Associate Artistic Director of Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, Director in Residence at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and Associate Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East (where he started in the youth theatre in 1993!). 

Matthew’s acclaimed productions include The Wiz (Hope Mill), Into the Woods, Frankenstein (Manchester Royal Exchange), Wish List (Royal Court), Blue/Orange, Sizwe Banzi is Dead (Young Vic), Shebeen, One Night in Miami (Nottingham Playhouse). Other work of note includes Blood Knot (Orange Tree), The Blacks, Sleeping Beauty (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and Suckerpunch Boomsuite (Barbican). At 19, Matthew became the first DJ to join BBC 1Xtra as hip-hop specialist DJ Excalibah. He has played most major festivals and clubs in the UK and Europe including Glastonbury, Ministry of Sound, and Fabric. Excalibah performed for a global audience of over 1 billion as a headline DJ at the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony. Matthew has worked with renowned writers as a director and dramaturg, including Joe Penhall, Arinzé  Kene, April De Angelis, Katherine Soper and Mojisola Adebayo. In 2019 Matthew was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Arts London for “indefatigably working to make theatre universally accessible by working to promote minority groups as theatre leaders, makers and consumers.”

Venue Cymru – until 28th May 2022

Reviewed by Carla Whittaker

5*****

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing the 80s return to Llandudno at Venue Cymru for the return of Footloose as the cast open there six-day stint at Venue Cymru as part of the UK tour.

Footloose is a production based on the 1980s true story film based in Oklahoma that had banned dancing following a tragic accident five years earlier. The story starts when Ren McCormack (Joshua Hawkins) from Chicago and his mother Ethel (Geri Allen) move to Bomont after being abandoned by his father. Sourcing help from the Reverends daughter Aerol (Lucy Munden) Ren decides to uphold the law and get the town back on their dancing feet.

Joshua Hawkins plays the part of Ren beautifully; a boy with a heart of gold, full of energy, charisma and charm with stunning vocal performances and nonstop show of his impressive dancing moves with plenty of bravado.

The fabulous Jake Quickenden who rose to fame in winning Dancing on Ice in 2018 and has become a theatre star took on the role of country boy Willard within the production who was full of character and very charming! His vocals were sensational and his one liners had the audience in stitches. A think a highlight for me (and others) when we stripped down to his golden hot pants – the audience went wild!

Lucy Munden has made her professional debut in this tour of Footloose, she plays the part of the Reverend’s feisty daughter Ariel brilliantly portraying the turmoil of teenage years with multiple stands out / fault free vocal performances. My particular favourite was her performance of the Bonnie Tyler power ballad classic “Holding out for a Hero” which received a standing ovation.

I was so excited to see that Darren Day was performing in this tour of Footloose so, when I saw the notice within the theatre that Darren Day was not performing and instead for this performance was replaced with Ben Barrow playing Rev. Shaw Moore.  I was slightly disappointed initially; however, I did not need to be as Ben played this role amazingly, and did not come across as the understudy.

A special mention needs to be made to the choreographer Matt Cole for the outstanding choreographed dance performances which were uplifting, full of energy and exciting which were executed perfectly. In addition to the fantastic light sets, musical instruments and seamless set changes throughout the show.

An absolutely amazing night so if you want to relive your 80s and see a show full of excitement, which gets you on your feet then this is the show for you. The energy of the cast throughout the whole show was superb and provided a night of fun and laughter. Footloose is playing at the Venue Cyrmu until the 28^th May 2022 and tickets are still available to purchase.  I would also like to mention that I have not been to this venue in about 8 years and it was so lovely, with the most friendliest of staff.

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – until 28 May 2022

Reviewed by Kirsty Thomson

5*****

Could it have been Mrs White in the study with the revolver? Or could it have been Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with the candlestick?

This show, based on the 1985 film Clue by Jonathon Lynn, brings to life the well-known board game Cluedo, leaving the audience constantly guessing, who did it, and why?

The play is set in an old eerie manor in the middle of a thunderstorm. The guests, Miss Scarlett (Michelle Collins), Professor Plum (Daniel Casey), Colonel Mustard (Wesley Griffith), Mrs White (Etisyai Philip), Mrs Peacock (Judith Amsenga) and Reverend Green (Tom Babbage), each arrive one by one, greeted by the Butler, Wadsworth (Jean-Luke Worrell), dressed in the colour of their piece from the board game. Each of these guests carry an invitation from their anonymous blackmailer Mr Boddy, who in turn leaves them each a coloured box containing a weapon. From here the slapstick-comedy style murders begin, leaving the audience questioning who can be trusted.

The set and staging were particularly impressive. The board game contains an extensive variety of rooms, hard to display through one stage. David Farley’s set design allowed for walls to be pulled open to reveal new rooms, permitting the chaos of the characters to be observed moving from room to room very seamlessly.

The performance of Jean-Luke Worrell particularly stood out to me as Wadsworth. He displays incredibly high levels of energy and captivating facial expressions creating an unsettling but comical sensation for the audience. His monologue, which recaps the events of the evening was also notably impressive and received a round of applause from the audience.

This play truly brings the boardgame Cluedo to life and I would recommend it to anyone wanting an evening of fun and mystery.

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR BIRMINGHAM STAGE COMPANY’S

WEST END PREMIERE OF HORRIBLE HISTORIES – TERRIBLE TUDORS

Birmingham Stage Company today announces the cast for Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudorswhich make its West End premiere at the Garrick Theatre this summer as part of the company’s 30^th anniversary programme. Birmingham Stage Company’s Neal Foster directs Benedict Martin and Emma Swan. The show opens on 2 August, with previews from 28 July and runs until 3 September.

This brand-new production marks the company’s tenth year in the West End, which happily coincides with the Birmingham Stage Company’s 30^th anniversary. As part of the anniversary programme the company will also be taking to the water with Horrible Histories – Terrible Thames running in tandem.

Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors is directed by Neal Foster, designed by Jacqueline Trousdale, lighting by Jason Taylor, music by Matthew Scott, sound by Nick Sagar, with choreography by Kenn Oldfield.

Birmingham Stage Company presents

Horrible Histories – TERRIBLE TUDORS       

Garrick Theatre

28 July – 2 September

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead!

So it’s time to prepare yourselves for Terrible Tudors live on stage!

From the horrible Henries to the end of evil Elizabeth, hear the legends (and the lies!) about the torturing Tudors. Find out the fate of Henry’s headless wives and his punch up with the Pope. Meet Bloody Mary and see Ed fall dead in his bed. Survive the Spanish Armada as they launch their attack!

It’s history with the nasty bits left in!

Terry Deary is the creator of Horrible Histories and one of Britain’s best-selling authors of the 21st Century. He’s also the tenth most-borrowed author in British libraries. There are around 50 Horrible Histories titles with total sales of 25 million in 40 countries. Deary is also the author of over 200 fiction and non-fiction books for young people including his series of books Dangerous Days.

Emma Swan renews her collaboration with Birmingham Stage Company, having previously appeared in Horrible Christmas. Her other theatre credits include The Merchant of Venice (Royal Shakespeare Company), I Am No Bird (Stute Theatre), the title role in Sparky the Elf and the Secret Toyshop (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), and Some Place Better (Red Rose Chain). For television, her work includes Doctor Who: The Diary of Riversong, Doctor Who: Ghost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Me and My 10 Kids; and for film, Sweet Sue. Her musical comedy duo ‘Hadfield and Swan’ were awarded Best Newcomer at the Musical Comedy Awards 2019. Recently, she was nominated for Audible’s audiobook narrator of the year. 

Benedict Martin’s extensive work for Birmingham Stage Company includes Billionaire Boy, Gangsta Granny, James and the Giant Peach, George’s Marvellous Medicine, The Dice House, The Jungle Book and various Horrible Histories – including Barmy Britain. His other theatre credit includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado about Nothing, Romeo and Juliet (Principal Theatre), Round the Horne (UK tour), The Tempest (Bilimankhwe), Othello (Oxford Union), and as member of the European Players, performing various plays in Rome and Paris; a founding member of Loose Change Company at the Battersea Arts Centre, and pantomimes in Barking, Sheringham, Tewkesbury and Chipping Norton. For television, his work includes Bleak House, Doctors, East Enders, Jekyll, Lipstick on your Collar, The Alan Clark Diaries, Devices and Desires, White Goods, Bunny Town, The Bill and Rosamunde Pilcher – Ways of the Heart; and for film, Shadows in The Sun, The Disappeared, and Love is the Devil.

Neal Foster is Actor/Manager of Birmingham Stage Company which since its foundation in 1992 has staged over one hundred productions. The company has become one of the world’s leading producers of theatre for children and their families, including Horrible Histories Live on Stage for seventeen years in the UK, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. Foster has written and directed all of the most recent Horrible Histories shows including Barmy Britain – Parts One, Two, Three, Four and Five (Garrick Theatre, Apollo Theatre and Sydney Opera House); Groovy Greeks and Incredible Invaders for a national tour and Wicked Warwick at Warwick Castle. His first fictional adaptations were David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, both of which transferred to the Garrick Theatre and have been nominated for an Olivier Award. He has also co-written Horrible Histories – Terrible Thames with Deary.

Horrible Histories shows are recommended for ages 5 to 105 (106 year olds may not like them!)

https://www.birminghamstage.com/
Twitter: @HHLiveOnStage
Facebook: birminghamstage 

Horrible Histories- Terrible Tudors

Listings

Garrick Theatre
2 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0HH

Box Office:  0330 333 4811
https://nimaxtheatres.com/

Tickets from £16.50

28 July – 2 September

Running time: 70 minutes

SOLT & UK Theatre partner with Baker Richards to develop new ‘Evidence Centre’ providing deeper insight into data and analysis for the theatre sector 

The UK theatre industry’s two leading membership associations, Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, today announced a unique partnership with data and insight specialists Baker Richards to develop a new ‘Evidence Centre’.

This Evidence Centre will utilise the latest technology to aggregate data from a range of sources, including theatre box office/CRM systems, and will provide the ability for SOLT and UK Theatre to analyse this data at a granular level, to help make the case for theatre to national and local governments. 

Working in partnership with Baker Richards, SOLT and UK Theatre will, through the Evidence Centre, be able to identify trends in sales and audiences, evaluate economic impact of theatre, classify theatre workforce data and demographics and more, and proactively communicate these trends to their membership and the media, to give people a sense of the health of the sector, and identify any areas which may require deeper attention. 

Eleanor Lloyd, SOLT President, said: ‘SOLT has always gathered sales and audience data, but it is so exciting to think that as the Evidence Centre develops, we will have more sophisticated data and business intelligence, to assist our members with their marketing campaign planning and budgeting. This is going to be a fantastic resource for our members to access’.

Stephanie Sirr, UK Theatre President, said: ‘During the pandemic we made a robust case to government for ongoing support. It was clear that there were some gaps in what we evaluate in order to make a well-rounded and informed case for theatre in a way that corresponds with government evaluation tools. This new Evidence Centre will give us access to sales and economic data at a deeper level which will help our members make the strongest argument yet for supporting UK theatres as key strategic partners in their many communities.’

Robin Cantrill-Fenwick, Chief Executive, Baker Richards, said: ‘Over nearly two decades, Baker Richards has developed a rich understanding of the UK’s ever-changing theatre industry, promoting and creating measures and metrics which have been widely adopted. In creating the Evidence Centre, our team of analysts will use sophisticated data warehousing and big data analysis to support the work of SOLT/UK Theatre’s members in more ways than ever before.’

Baker Richards will develop the Evidence Centre using enterprise-grade technology, adopting innovative approaches to analysis including experimentation with machine learning and AI. Data will come from multiple sources, including automatically extracted ticket transactions, demographics data, infrastructure data, attitudinal survey data, and open government data.

Development has already begun on the Evidence Centre, with a view to the first iteration of the data tool being ready for usage at the end of 2022.