Month: July 2022

MISCHIEF ANNOUNCE FULL CAST FOR OLIVIER AWARD NOMINATED IMPROV SHOW MISCHIEF MOVIE NIGHT AT THE 75^TH EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE

Mischief, the award-winning company behind The Play That Goes Wrong, Magic Goes Wrong and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery as well as BBC comedy series The Goes Wrong Show, today announces the full cast for the return of Mischief Movie Night, the improvised movie live on stage.

The production runs at the Pleasance at EICC (Pentland Theatre), 3 – 28 August.

The cast includes Rhyanna Alexander-Davis as Not Sure, Josh Elliott as TBC, Susan Harrison as No Idea, Dave Hearn as????, Harry Kershaw as Decide Later, Henry Lewis as Someone Else Charlie Russell as Don’t Know Yet, Lauren Shearing as Unknown, Jonathan Sayer as Figure it out on the night, and Henry Shields as Have a think and get back to me. They will be joined onstage by musician Ed Zanders.

Mischief also present Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields’ brand new comedy Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle, starring Lewis and Sayer at Pleasance Courtyard (Beyond), 3 – 28 August. In addition Charlie Russell performs her new heart-warming show, Charlie Russell Aims To Please at Pleasance Courtyard (Below), 3 – 27 August.

Mischief was founded in 2008 by a group of acting graduates of LAMDA and began as an improvised comedy group performing annually at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 2009. This marks the company’s first month-long run back at the Festival since they presented The Play That Goes Wrong in 2013. The production went on to win an Olivier Award, and has since played to an audience of over two million with productions in over 30 countries. In August 2021 it became the longest running play at the Duchess Theatre (since the theatre opened in 1929), and is the longest running comedy in the West End. The company is owned and controlled by its original members and is led by a creative group and its directors Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer.

THE SMASH HIT CIRCUS 1903 WILL ‘ROLL UP’

INTO THE NEWLY REFURBISHED EVENTIM APOLLO IN HAMMERSMITH

FOR A LIMITED CHRISTMAS SEASON

FROM 15 DECEMBER TO 1 JANUARY 2023

PRESENTED BY THE WORKS ENTERTAINMENT

AND FIERY ANGEL ENTERTAINMENT

IN ASSOCIATION WITH SENBLA

4**** ‘ENTERTAINMENT TO DELIGHT ALL AGES THIS CHRISTMAS’ EVENING STANDARD

4**** ‘A FEAST OF JAW-DROPPING ACTS’ MAIL ON SUNDAY

ROLL UP! ROLL UP!

This Christmas, the marvellous Circus 1903 returns to London to the newly refurbished Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith. Experience all the thrills and daredevil entertainment of a turn-of-the-century circus. With sensational puppetry from the award-winning team behind War Horse, alongside a huge cast of the most unique, jaw-dropping and surprising acts from all four corners of the globe – this is the Christmas show not to be missed.

From contortionists, life size Elephant puppets, to acrobats, high wire and much more, Circus 1903 will astound, captivate, and transport audiences of all ages to the mesmerising Golden Age of circus. 

Hosted by the charismatic ringmaster David Williamson, Circus 1903 will feature many of the other incredible acts from previous years, with some brand-new acts to astound and excite audiences this festive season. The full line- up of these will be announced in due course.

Ringmaster David Williamson said “I’m beyond thrilled to be returning to London with Circus 1903 this holiday season. We will be bringing all of the pageantry and amusement to the fantastic Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith! I can’t wait to show off all of the new wonders we have in store!”

Producer Michael Stevens said: “Circus 1903 is the perfect holiday show for families and we’re excited to bring it back to London bigger, brighter and better than ever in one of London’s greatest entertainment venues, the Eventim Apollo. We’re looking forward to thrilling even more people this Christmas with one of the most extraordinary shows on earth.” 

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY’S RICHARD III TO SCREEN IN UK CINEMAS FROM 28 SEPTEMBER

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s current production of Richard III will be broadcast to cinemas across the UK from 28 September 2022. 

Directed by Gregory Doran the production features Arthur Hughes in the title role and is the first time that the part of Richard III has been performed by a disabled actor in the RSC’s history. Arthur made his debut with the company in April this year playing the young Richard of Gloucester in Owen Horsley’s Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses. For full cinema listings visit onscreen.rsc.org.uk

Richard III will also be broadcast as live direct into UK classrooms for free on Thursday 24 November. This will include a supporting package of online resources which have been designed to give students a unique insight into the creative process and interpretive choices that directors and actors make as they prepare to stage a new production.

‘Hughes’ Richard…is a triumph’

Daily Telegraph ****

‘Arthur Hughes’ scintillating Richard…a glittering, magnetic, and nuanced performance’

Financial Times ****

Both parts of Henry VI: Rebellion and Wars of the Roses will also be available to watch on demand via the Royal Shakespeare Company website (rsc.org.uk) from Wednesday 13 July until Saturday 30 September 2022, with tickets £10 each.  

The productions were recorded live during their original run in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 2022 and, together with Henry VI Part One, chart the vivid and enthralling story of The Wars of the Roses and the brutal struggle for the English crown.

Erica Whyman, RSC Acting Artistic Director, said;

‘I am delighted that we will share this critically acclaimed Richard III on screen. Gregory Doran, Artistic Director Emeritus, has directed a vivid and imaginative production, in which Arthur Hughes is both terrifying and gloriously charismatic.

‘We remain deeply committed to making our work as accessible as possible so I am delighted that audiences in cinemas and at home, and students in their classrooms will be able to see this marvellous cast in Shakespeare’s shockingly timely play about tyranny. We have adapted all of our Shakespeare productions in this way since 2012, most recently Much Ado About Nothing and The Winter’s Tale on BBC iPlayer, part of our decade-long project to capture all of Shakespeare’s plays on screen.’

The full trilogy of Henry VI plays, which includes Gregory Doran and Owen Horsley’s epic collaboration; Henry VI: Part One Open Rehearsal Project, will be released on DVD in early 2023.  Further details to be announced.

TikTok £10 Tickets are also available for the RSC’s current production of Richard III in Stratford-upon-Avon for 14–25-year-olds, with a focus on increasing access to theatre regionally across the country and state school sector. The production runs until Saturday 8 October 2022.

Developed in consultation with the RSC’s Youth Advisory Board, the creative collaboration delivers unique creative and educational experiences for young people and students, with a specific focus on those communities most in need.

MULTI OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING

WEST END PRODUCTION OF

LIFE OF PI

RELEASES 100,000 TICKETS

FOR FINAL BOOKING PERIOD

NEW CAST STARTING ON 7 SEPTEMBER 2022

It was announced today that 100,000 new tickets have been released for the final booking period of the phenomenally successful West End production of Life of Pi.  

Lolita Chakrabarti’s dazzling stage adaption of Yann Martel’s award-winning book starring Oliver Award winning actor Hiran Abeysekera as Pi alongside a life-size Royal Bengal Tiger puppet has now been extended until 15 January 2023,the final performance of the show at Wyndham’s Theatre in London, where the production will have played almost 500 performances.

Nuwan Hugh Perera, who is currently the alternate Pi, will take over the title role on 7 September 2022 with Chirag Benedict Lobo joining the cast as the new alternate Pi.  Other new cast members joining in September are:  Davina Moon as Ma, Ameet Chana as Father, Tanvi Virmani as Rani, Saikat Ahamad as Mamaji/Pandit-Ji,  Sakuntala Ramanee as Mrs Biology Kumar/Zaida Khan, Kevin Shen as Mr Okamoto, Phyllis Ho as Lulu Chen, Kazeem Tosin Amore as Cook/Voice of Richard Parker, Owain Gwynn as Puppeteer and understudies Lilian Tsang and Mohit Mathur.  Original West End cast members remaining in the show from 7 September are: Tom Espiner (Father Martin/Commander Grant-Jones) and puppeteers:  Daisy Franks, Romina Hytten, Tom Larkin, Chris Milford and Tom Stacy.

Future plans for the show include a North American premiere in December 2022 through to January 2023 at the American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge, Massachusetts, as well as an anticipated transfer to Broadway, and separate productions in Asia, Australia and Mexico.

Producer Simon Friend said: ‘Our magical production of Life of Pi goes from strength to strength.  We are delighted to release 100,000 more tickets for our final booking period in the West End, and look forward to welcoming new cast members in September.  We are also thrilled to premiere the production in North America later this year.  The response to this show continues to be overwhelming and we look forward to welcoming audiences to witness Pi’s journey of a lifetime in the West End and beyond.’

Life of Pi was awarded its five Olivier Awards at a ceremony held at the Royal Albert Hall in London in April 2022.  As well as Best New Play, Hiran Abeysekera won Best Actor for his central performance as Pi, and – in an historic first for the Olivier Awards – the seven performers who play ‘Richard Parker’, the puppet tiger – Fred Davis, Daisy Franks, Romina Hytten, Tom Larkin, Habib Nasib Nader, Tom Stacy and Scarlet Wilderink – were collectively awarded Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The production also picked up awards for set (Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell), and lighting design (Tim Lutkin and Andrzej Goulding).

The current cast will continue until 4 September 2022 with Hiran Abeysekera in the central role of Pi, Mina Anwar as Ma, Nicholas Khan as Father, Payal Mistry as Rani, Tom Espiner as Father Martin/Commander Grant-Jones, Raj Ghatak as Mamaji/Pandit-Ji, Syreeta Kumar as Mrs Biology Kumar/ZaidaKhan, David K.S. Tse as Mr Okamoto, Kirsten Foster as Lulu Chen, Habib Nasib Nader as Cook/Voice of Richard Parker.

The Tiger puppeteers are: Fred Davis (Tiger Head), Daisy Franks (Tiger Hind), Owain Gwynn (Tiger Head) Romina Hytten (Tiger Heart), Tom Larkin (Tiger Head), Tom Stacy (Tiger Hind), Chris Milford (Tiger Hind) and Scarlet Wilderink (Tiger Heart). Nuwan Hugh Perera is Pi alternate, and understudies are Alex Chang, Omar Khan and Deeivya Meir.

The production is directed by Max Webster, Set and Costume designer is Tim Hatley, the Puppet and Movement Director is Finn Caldwell, the Puppet Designers are Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, the Video Designer is Andrzej Goulding, the Lighting Designer is Tim Lutkin, theSound Designer is Carolyn Downing, the Composer is Andrew T Mackay, Dramaturgy is by Jack Bradley, the Casting Director is Polly Jerrold, the Associate Director is Leigh Toney, the Associate Set Designer is Ross Edwards, the Associate Puppet Designer is Caroline Bowman,  the Costume Supervisor is Sabrina Cuniberto and the Props Supervisor is Ryan O’Conner.

Based on one of the best-loved works of fiction – winner of the Man Booker Prize, selling over fifteen million copies worldwide – Life of Pi is a breath-taking new theatrical adaptation of an epic journey of endurance and hope.

After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, there are five survivors stranded on a single lifeboat – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, a sixteen year-old boy and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?

Award winning writer Yann Martel’s works include The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios (1993), Self (1996), We Ate the Children Last (2004), Beatrice and Virgil (2010) – a New York Times Bestseller and a Financial Times Best Book, 101 Letters to a Prime Minister (2012) – a collection of letters to the prime minister of Canada; and The High Mountains of Portugal (2016).  

Lolita Chakrabarti OBE is an award-winning playwright and actress. Her writing credits include: Red Velvet which opened at the Tricycle Theatre in London in 2012, returning in 2014 before transferring to New York and the West End; Red Velvet was nominated for nine major awards including two Olivier Awards. Lolita won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright, The Critics Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright and the AWA Award for Arts and Culture; She adapted Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities for MIF in 2019 a collaboration with 59Productions and Rambert; her play Hymn was live streamed in February 2021 from the Almeida, before opening to audiences later in July; she was dramaturg on Message in a Bottle for ZooNation and Sadler’s Wells; she curated The Greatest Wealth for Old Vic, a series of monologues marking the 70th birthday of the NHS. Acting credits include: Vigil, The Casual Vacancy (BBC),  Riviera, Delicious (Sky), Born to Kill, My Mad Fat Diary (Ch4), Criminal (Netflix), Fanny and Alexander (The Old Vic), Hamlet (RADA). She can soon be seen in Showtrial for the BBC and Wheel of Time for Amazon Prime. 

Max Webster was the inaugural Baylis Director at the Old Vic and is now an Associate Director at the theatre where his work includes Fanny and Alexander, Cover My Tracks and Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax. Selected other stage work includes the forthcoming The Merry Widow (ENO), The Jungle Book (Northampton/Fiery Angel UK tour), The Winter’s Tale (Lyceum, Edinburgh), and King Lear (Royal and Derngate, Northampton/UK tour).

The extraordinary animals are brought to life by Puppet & Movement Director Finn Caldwell, who began his career in the original company of the National Theatre’s international phenomenon War Horse. He is the Artistic Director of his own company Gyre & Gimble, for whom work includes: co-director/puppet designer of The Four Seasons: A Reimagining (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Hartlepool Monkey (UK tour) and The Elephantom (National Theatre & West End). His other work includes: director of puppetry/movement for Angels in America (National Theatre & Broadway), The Light Princess (National Theatre), War Horse (West End & Internationally) and Groundhog Day (Old Vic & Broadway).

Life of Pi is produced by Simon Friend in association with Playing Field and Tulchin/Bartner.

Edwardian Hotels London is proud to be the official hotel partner of Life of Pi in the West End.

FOLLOWING A TRIUMPHANT SEASON ON BROADWAY AND
 FIVE 2022 TONY AWARDS®,
THE LEHMAN TRILOGY
DIRECTED BY SAM MENDES
RETURNS TO LONDON’S WEST END IN JANUARY 2023
 AT THE GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE

Producers the National Theatre and Neal Street Productions announced today that the London return of the critically acclaimed, highly lauded, five-time Tony Award® winning epic THE LEHMAN TRILOGY will play for a limited 17-week season at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from 24 January 2023, with an opening night set for 8 February.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday 21 July 2022 at 12 noon at TheLehmanTrilogy.com.10,000 tickets across the run will be available for £20.

American Express® Cardmembers have access to exclusive presale tickets beginning Tuesday 19 July at 10am at nationaltheatre.org.uk.

On a cold September morning in 1844, a young man from Bavaria stands on a New York dockside dreaming of a new life in the new world. He is joined by his two brothers, and an American epic begins. 163 years later, the firm they establish – Lehman Brothers – spectacularly collapses into bankruptcy, triggering the largest financial crisis in history. Weaving together nearly two centuries of family history, this New York Times Critics’ pick charts the humble beginnings, outrageous successes, and devastating failure of the financial institution that would ultimately bring the global economy to its knees.

The 2022 Tony Award® winning Best Play is written by Stefano Massini and adapted by Ben Power. Directed by multi-Academy Award®, Tony Award® and Golden Globe winner Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy features a cast of three playing the Lehman brothers, their sons, and grandsons, in an extraordinary feat of storytelling told in three parts on a single evening. The decades unfold within the cinematic sweep of designer Es Devlin‘s Tony Award ® winning set. Casting to be announced.

The Lehman Trilogy was the most awarded play this season on Broadway, where alongside Best Play, Best Director and Best Set Design, it also picked up Best Lighting Design and Best Actor. It was also awarded this season’s Drama League Award for Best Play and six Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Play.

First commissioned by Neal Street Productions and developed and co-produced with the National Theatre at the Lyttelton theatre in 2018, followed by an acclaimed sold-out run at the Park Avenue Armory in the Spring of 2019, The Lehman Trilogy returned to London for a 16-week sold-out run at the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End from May to August 2019. Following Broadway’s 18-month shutdown, The Lehman Trilogy was the first British play to return to Broadway — where it had previously played four performances in March 2020 — for a much-lauded limited engagement at the Nederlander Theatre from September 2021 – January 2022. A Los Angeles transfer to Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre followed from March – April 2022.

Prior to this, the world premiere of Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy opened at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan in 2015. It turned out to be Artistic Director Luca Ronconi’s final production before his death. A long-term admirer of Ronconi’s, Sam Mendes was inspired to begin planning an English adaptation for Neal Street Productions. Ben Power was commissioned by Neal Street Productions to create a new version of this epic play, using a literal English translation by Mirella Cheeseman.

Costume design is by Katrina Lindsay, video design by Luke Halls, and lighting design by Jon Clark. The Composer & Sound Designer is Nick Powell, the Co-Sound Designer is Dominic Bilkey, with music direction by Candida Caldicot, and movement by Polly Bennett. The West End Director is Zoé Ford Burnett. Casting is by Jessica Ronane CDG CSA.

The Lehman Trilogy in the West End is supported by American Express, the National Theatre’s Preferred Card Partner.

A Frantic Assembly Production, co-produced with Curve
Originally a Frantic Assembly and Theatre Royal Plymouth collaboration, in association with Royal & Derngate Northampton and developed at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London.

Shakespeare’s
OTHELLO

• CASTING AND FULL CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR FRANTIC ASSEMBLY’S ACCLAIMED ADAPTATION OF OTHELLO.
• FIVE OF THE NEW COMPANY ARE PAST ALUMNI OF IGNITION, FRANTIC ASSEMBLY’S FREE, NATIONWIDE TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
• OTHELLO WILL TOUR FROM AUTUMN ONWARDS, OPENING AT CURVE THEATRE LEICESTER ON 19 SEPTEMBER 2022.

Frantic Assembly is delighted to announce casting for its acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s Othello which will tour from this autumn, opening at Curve Theatre Leicester on 19 September. A new video about the production featuring Frantic Assembly Artistic Director and Co-Founder Scott Graham is also released today alongside a trailer (featuring previous cast). Both are available to download here.

Michael Akinsulire (Trigger Point, Stephen, both ITV) will play Othello, Joe Layton (The Unreturning, Frantic Assembly; Young Wallander, Netflix) will play Iago, Chanel Waddock (Rock, Paper, Scissors, Sheffield Crucible; Hamlet, National Theatre) will play Desdemona, Oliver Baines (I Like The Way You Move , Frantic Ignition 2019, Theatre Peckham) will play Montano, Tom Gill (Vigil, BBC; Britannia, Sky) will play Cassio, Felipe Pacheco (Brassic, Sky; The Responder, BBC) will play Roderigo, Hannah Sinclair Robinson (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, UK and Ireland Tour; Rockets, Blue Lights, both National Theatre) will play Bianca, Kirsty Stuart (I Think We Are Alone, Frantic Assembly; Call the Midwife, BBC) will play Emilia, and Matthew Trevannion (War Horse, National Theatre; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, West End) will play Brabantio.

Five members of the Othello cast and creative team are past graduates of Frantic Assembly’s Ignition programme including Associate Director David Gilbert, Co-Choreographer Perry Johnson, Joe Layton (Iago), Oliver Baines (Montano) and Felipe Pacheco (Roderigo), proving that Frantic Assembly is at the forefront of finding, developing, and providing opportunity for new talent from all over the UK.

Ignition is a free, nationwide talent development programme for young people aged 16-24. It seeks out underrepresented talent in unexpected places, playing a vital role in dismantling barriers that can prevent fresh perspectives from revitalising the Arts. Ignition continues to transform lives, open doors and allows young people to reach beyond what they thought they were capable of.

Frantic Assembly Co-Founder and Artistic Director Scott Graham said: “It is wonderful to be able to take our work back out on tour, to connect and demonstrate the talent of this brilliant cast within a story that feels as urgent and thrilling as ever”.

Blisteringly relevant today, Othello exposes the tension, fear and insecurity buried beneath the veneer of our relationships and how easily that can be maliciously exploited. Lies and truths are blurred to create a poison paranoia that eats away from the inside, manipulating and destroying, turning a community upon itself.

Frantic Assembly takes Shakespeare’s muscular and beautiful text, combines its own bruising physicality, and presents an Othello firmly rooted in a volatile 21st century. This is a world of broken glass and broken promises, of poisonous manipulation and explosive violence. Othello’s passionate affair with Desdemona becomes the catalyst for jealousy, betrayal, revenge and the darkest intents.

Originally presented to great acclaim in 2008 and 2014, this updated version in co-production with Curve Theatre Leicester, will tour to Curve Leicester, Liverpool Playhouse, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Theatre Royal York, Yvonne Arnaud Guildford, Oxford Playhouse, The Lowry Salford Quays, MAST Mayflower Studios Southampton, Connaught Theatre, Worthing and the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre London.

Frantic Assembly’s other current and upcoming work includes Frantic Assembly STUDIO, an innovative new digital resource platform for teaching drama in secondary schools launching in September and a thrilling new take on Kafka’s Metamorphosis to premiere and tour in 2023.

Press Night for Othello will be Wednesday 21 September at Curve, Leicester.

Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Saturday 16 July 2022

Reviewed by Louise Ford

3***

Are critics human?

It’s a bit tricky reviewing a play that has as its central theme the damage inflicted on both authors and actors by heartless critics. So here’s a gentle review!

Tonight was the first performance in the three week Classic Thriller season for 2022. The season is made up of three different plays, this evening it was “a cunning thriller” written  by Tudor Gates.

The scene is set with hits from the 70s, the year is 1978. The curtains open on a sparsely furnished flat. With mismatched furniture, offensive curtains and pride of place a tape recorder on the impressive desk. All the action takes place in the flat ,allowing the claustrophobic atmosphere to develop.

It’s an orchestrated meeting of two mis-matched men, one John Smith/Terry (played by John Goodrum) the other Arthur/Agatha/Agi Christie (played by David Gilbrook). One is a theatre critic with a past the other is an actor/writer without a future. One dressed in white shirt and beige trousers the other in a suit with a raincoat,floppy hat and an umbrella.

There are false pretences, recordings, nods and winks to the audience, plot twists and humour, dramatic and literary references all over the place, high camp and blood soaked shirts.

It is very wordy and although both actors delivered their lines impeccably the pace didn’t feel quite right. In someways the story lends itself to a radio play rather than the stage. As there isn’t a detective or sleuth involved in the play the audience have to work their way through the plot which heats up in the second act.

Just to reassure you that Agatha Christie the Queen of Crime doesn’t appear in the play, although she is heavily referenced. As are other films and plays that centre on the perfect crime!

SEATPLAN LAUNCHES GOLDEN VOUCHERS GIVEAWAY TO CELEBRATE 100,000 SEAT VIEW PHOTOS

SeatPlan today announces a giveaway of theatre vouchers to celebrate 100,000 seat view photos uploaded by audience members as part of their interactive ticket booking system. To celebrate this milestone, SeatPlan is launching a giveaway to reward five followers with £100 of theatre vouchers each, totaling a £500 theatre voucher giveaway. Social media followers will be encouraged to share the unique Golden Vouchers graphic to enter, with five West End stars announcing the winners on SeatPlan’s Instagram on 31 July, hourly from midday.

SeatPlan launched in 2011 to help theatregoers book the best seats for each venue, with interactive seating plans for every West End venue, alongside many other London, UK and New York theatres. The booking experience allows users to select their tickets whilst viewing thousands of user-uploaded images and reviews about those seats. Users are rewarded with theatre vouchers in exchange for seat reviews.

SeatPlan CEO, Ben Jackson, today says: “Wow! 100,000 photos have been a long time in the making! The SeatPlan team is grateful for every single photo that our community uploads and for helping other theatregoers book the best seat for their budget. With every photo we edge closer to our mission of a photo from every seat and ensuring that every theatregoer has the best experience when taking in the spectacle of live theatre”. 

For more information, please visit https://seatplan.com/

Hope Mill Theatre’s production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella the Musical reveals Grace Mouat in title role

Tuesday 1^st November – Sunday 11^th December 2022

Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester is to stage the UK theatrical premiere of the Broadway musical version of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, with SIX, & Juliet and Legally Blonde star Grace Mouat taking on the lead role of Ella.

Leading the creative team for this new production are venue founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton, with Houston directing and Whelton co-directing and choreographing.

Further Casting to be announced.

Grace Mouat said: “I genuinely cannot explain how excited I am to be playing Cinderella. It has been a dream of mine to be part of a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical and obviously the film is ICONIC! I cannot wait to meet the incredible company and get started on this new version in Manchester. ‘Impossible things are happening every day!’ Pinch me!”

Completing the creative team is Musical Supervisor Leo Munby, Musical Director Audra Cramer, featuring New Musical Arrangements by Jason Carr, Set and Costume Designer Elly Wdowski, Assistant Designer Alfie Heywood, Projection Designer George Reeve, Lighting Designer Aaron J Dootson, Sound Designer Adam Fisher, Associate Choreographer Charise Renouf, Wig Designer Richard Mawbey, Assistant Costume Designer Eve Salter, Sound No 1. Josh Evans, Casting by Jane Deitch and Artwork by Steph Pyne. Images by Michael Wharley and Video by Umbrella Rooms.

The smart and beautiful young Ella lives in the care of her wicked, self-absorbed stepmother Madame and her two stepsisters Charlotte and Gabrielle. In another part of the kingdom, Prince Topher is trying to find himself and learn his place in the world. When his scheming advisor Sebastian suggests throwing a ball so the Prince can meet potential brides, Ella and Topher’s different worlds come together. Expect the unexpected in this clever retelling of the beloved fairy tale.

Cinderella is the only musical written for the television by legendary duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (South Pacific, Carousel, The Sound of Music). Originally broadcast live in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, the broadcast was watched by more than 100 million people, before subsequently being remade for TV again in 1965 and 1997 (starring Whitney Houston and Brandy).

A new Broadway version with a Tony-nominated book by Douglas Carter Beane premiered in 2013 featuring several fresh characters and songs. This will be the first time a fully staged version of the show has been performed in the UK (following a 2019 one-night concert version in London).

The musical’s previously postponed 2020 run will be staged this Autumn at Hope Mill Theatre, from  Tuesday 1^st November until Sunday 11^th December.

Bill Gaden, President of Concord Theatricals, said: “We’re delighted that Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella will make its UK theatrical premiere at the Hope Mill Theatre. The modern Broadway adaptation of the classic musical features new characters, a hilarious libretto, surprising twists, and an unforgettable score from Rodgers & Hammerstein. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews to a viewership of 107 million, the largest in history at the time, the title has been charming audiences ever since. We look forward to Manchester theatregoers experiencing the updated incarnation today.”

LISTINGS

Hope Mill Theatre’s production of

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Hope Mill Theatre, Pollard Street, Manchester

Tuesday 1^st November until Sunday 11^th December

To book visit: www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk

Production Credits:

Directed by Joseph Houston 

Co-Director & Choreographer William Whelton 

Produced by Hope Mill Theatre 

Casting by Jane Deitch

Musical Supervisor Leo Munby

Musical Director Audra Cramer 

New Arrangements by Jason Carr

Set and Costume Designer Ellie Wdowski 

Assistant Designer Alfie Heywood

Wig Design by Richard Mawbey

Lighting design by Aaron J Dootson 

Projection Designer George Reeve

Sound Designer Adam Fisher

Associate Choreographer Charise Renouf

Assistant Costume Designer Eve Salter

Artwork Steph Pyne 

Photography Michael Wharley

Video by The Umbrella Rooms

Music by Richard Rodgers

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

New Book by Douglas Carter Beane      

Original Book by Oscar Hammerstein II    

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of R&H Theatricals

Musical Theatre Giants

from around the world come together to support emerging talent – for one night only!

REGENERATE: Lost Songs from the Musicals

Elton John & Tim Rice – Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss – Masi Arare –

Claude-Michel Schönberg & Alain Boublil – Adam Guettel –

Stephen Schwartz – Maury Yeston – Douglas Hodge – Stiles + Drewe – Irene Sankoff & David Hein – Don Black & Debbie Wiseman –

more to be announced!

A unique night for musical theatre REGENERATE: Lost Songs from the Musicals is a Livestreamed Online Gala Fundraiser in support of charity Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) in partnership with Musical Theatre Network (MTN), to take place on Sunday 18^th September 2022 at 7.00pm GMT(1900hrs.)

Titans of musical theatre have been retrieving their favourite songs cut from classic shows and rummaging through their bottom drawers, selecting and repurposing beloved melodies and lyrics to premiere an incredible array of never-before-heard songs, regenerated for one night only!

REGENERATE  Livestreamed Gala Fundraiser will be free for everyone to join and watch – with the audience donating as they watch via text, phone or online. Everyone who donates will be entered into a prize draw to win tickets to Six in the West End or on Broadway. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to support new writing talent to present their work at BEAM 2023; removing financial barriers for creatives to share their work at the UK’s biggest showcase of new musical theatre.

The songs will be performed by a glittering array of talent (to be announced September.)

“We are delighted to bring these great songs to life at REGENERATE, in aid of the next generation of musical theatre writers, at the start of MMD’s 30^th Anniversary celebrations. The generosity of the contributing writers, performers and audience members will go a long way to ensure that new talent can be properly supported at BEAM2023, where we will showcase a selection of the most exciting new musicals being created in the UK.” – Natalia Scorer, Mercury Musical Developments

“This is a brilliant example of acclaimed musical theatre writers ‘paying it forward’, sharing some songs that could otherwise have been lost to us, to help improve the chances of tomorrow’s musical theatre breakthrough writing talents being discovered sooner. We’re always in awe of the talent that emerges through BEAM – these freelance artists are so very deserving of our support; they’re the future of the art form in the UK.”  – James Hadley, Musical Theatre Network

With 15 unheard songs, REGENERATE is devised by Producer Neil Marcus who says: “I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and passion of the composers and lyricists who are gifting work to support the next generation of writing talent. We are now reaching out to an incredible group of artists and musicians who will be introducing these songs to the world. We will soon be announcing the line-up and more songs showcasing new writers breaking through.’’

Unsung songs and world premieres during the evening include: 

• The world premiere of Oscar winner Don Black and Debbie Wiseman OBE’s It’s Still Me In Here from their brand new musical Feather Boy sung byAnita Dobson. Don Black is one of the UK’s most prolific lyricists (from musicals Billy, Aspects of Love to Sunset Boulevard, and songs including Diamonds Are Forever, Born Free and  Michael Jackson’s Ben.) Don is working with composer Debbie Wiseman whose extraordinarily beautiful music has been the soundtracks for many films including: Wilde, Tom’s Midnight Garden and television series including Joanna Lumley’s Nile and Wolf Hall. Wiseman was the official composer and musical director of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration at Windsor in May.

• Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss still buzzing from their Tony Award success for their hit musical Six, currently playing to packed houses in both the West End and on Broadway, will be gifting a never before heard song!

• Stephen Schwartz (Wicked / Pippin / Godspell) is gifting Leaving Myself Behind from a new project called Marley. He will accompany his good friend, the Broadway actor Michael McCorry Rose, on the piano.

·    The multi Olivier Award winning actor Douglas Hodge, whose new musical 101 Dalmatiansis currently playing at the Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park, will perform his song Counting The Hairs from his musical Wigmaker.

·    Rising star Desmonda Cathabel (Winner: Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer Of The Year)will be singing a song by Claude Michel-Schönberg & Alain Boublil cut from Miss Saigon during the development process.

·    Another brand new musical song from Maury Yeston (Nine/Titanic) who will be providing a song from his current new writing project The Great Bridge, about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. 

·    Mrs Me by George Stiles + Anthony Drewe will receive its world premiere sung by Michael Ahomka-Lindsay. Their newest musical Identical opens this summer (directed by Trevor Nunn) and Mary Poppins is playing in the West End. Their delightful Honk! won the 2000 Olivier for Best Musical – beating both The Lion King and Mamma Mia!

 ·    Emerging composing talent Omar Baroud who is currently being mentored by Stiles & Drewe under the MMD scheme, will be singing a song from his new musical After Elijah. Omar is currently playing Cliff in the West End production of Cabaret. 

 ·   There will also be new work from Masi Arare (Paradise Square, currently playing on Broadway), Canadian husband and wife team Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Come From Away) and composer/lyricist Adam Guettel (The Light in The Piazza / Floyd Collins).

·    Last but not least Tim Rice and Elton John will deliver a song to be premiered on the Night.

      More songs and who will be singing them to be announced soon!

REGENERATE – a glorious evening of musical theatre. Producer is Neil Marcus, Musical Director is Nick Barstow and studio producer is Bartek Podkowa.

Join free online Livestreamed Gala Musical Theatre Fundraiser concert

REGENERATE: Lost Songs from the Musicals

Sunday 18^th September 2022 at 7.00pm GMT(1900hrs.)

Donate and support the future of musical theatre

Please give generously!

Everyone who donates will be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of Six tickets (West End or Broadway, depending on location of winner) and a programme signed by the cast. Plus signed music and lyrics from the talent.

REGENERATE – NOT AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD OR VIEW POST LIVE EVENT