Such a lovely, feel good show for all the family to see and enjoy. The whole cast had something to offer, each bringing energy, charisma, and talent. There were a number of children that deserve a mention but would be too difficult to single out just a couple and so rather I will just say that there are some stars in the making with powerful voices and fantastic dancing skills already shining through!
Linzi Hateley (The Narrator), a constant in the show was fantastic with a strong voice, passion and although at times I felt rather childish in areas, I appreciate the audience and it went down well. Jac Yarrow (Joseph) had such a gorgeous voice with his rendition of ‘Close Every Door’ absorbing the whole audience.
Quite unusually, there was a star of the show for me that probably differs for all other shows I have seen and that is that of John Rigby, the Musical Director – his energy throughout was second to none and I found myself watching him on numerous occasions during the performance. He had the audience up on their feet and it was a special moment to look back from my seat and see the whole audience on their feet dancing and singing along.
I would recommend this show to anyone who is looking for a feel good, easy going couple of hours with the family that you can get involved in sing and dance the night away.
Pleasance Courtyard (Two) Venue 33 – until 29th August
Reviewed by Rachel Farrier
4****
Rinkoo Barpaga has created a fascinating and unsettling show in ‘Made in India/Britain‘. An honest and clear-eyed exploration of his own experiences and reactions to navigating life as a deaf person of Indian heritage in modern Britain, it did that rare and precious thing of opening my eyes to a world of which I know very little. He performs the entire show in British Sign Language, with the script also voiced by another performer on the edge of the stage. The physicality of the performance is engaging from the start and Barpaga takes us on his life journey from his upbringing in a hearing family Birmingham to an adulthood where he has moved around and travelled for work, with success and heartbreaking suffering along the way.
The discrimination and abuse that Barpaga has encountered both from the white and deaf communities are as shocking as they are depressing, and the confusion and anger with which he meets this is conveyed brilliantly. He describes the tension and confusion he feels when travelling to visit family in India and hearing about atrocities perpetrated by the British, because he is British. But also, surrounded by his Indian family, Indian. Despite these serious and important reflections on clearly painful experiences, there is plenty of humour in the show, and there are hopeful moments where Bharpaga describes ‘finding his tribe’ (when he meets other deaf children and the wider deaf community) and times where he has found acceptance in unlikely places.
I went along to this show with a hearing friend who also knows British Sign Language and she mentioned that the pacing was at times jarring as the speaking narrator was ahead of Bharpaga in the script. However, we both found this to be a compelling, entertaining and thought-provoking show and left with huge admiration for Bharpaga’s tenacity and courage, as well as the beautiful way in which he told a challenging story.
Summerhall Anatomy Lecture Theatre Venue 26 – until 28 August 2022
Reviewed by Rachel Farrier
5*****
Hayley McGhee has created an absolute gem of a solo show in Age is a Feeling. A day after seeing it, some of the lines (and feelings evoked) are still zinging around my mind (and heart). In other hands the concept of this show might feel cliched and presumptuous but McGhee’s mesmerising presence on stage and terrifyingly insightful script are beautiful, compelling and moving from start to finish.
Starting at age 25 (when your adult life begins.) McGhee effectively goes on to describe a life, with all the possibilities, pain, joy and terror in between. The opening line (which I may be paraphrasing, apologies) ‘Nobody gets to know everything about your life, even you’, starts both McGhee and the audience on a quest. The audience gets to choose the course of the ‘life’ that is described by picking specific words that will direct which script McGhee follows. Apart from anything else, my companion and I marvelled at McGhee’s ability to hold all the options in her head, without breaking the fluency of the show at all.
The insights and observations are by turns hilarious and deeply moving, and on many occasions so on point that it felt like I had been hit in the chest. The knowing laughs and awed silences of my fellow audience members indicated that we were all having the same experience, as particular parts of the story resonated with our own lives. It is not often that I leave a show (especially a Fringe show..) knowing that it will stay with me for years to come, but I feel sure that this one will. Go and see this show is you possibly can.
York Theatre Royal’s community production of The Coppergate Woman begins with the rise of ‘The Coppergate Woman’, played by Kate Hampson, she has been gone for many years and awakens in a glass case in the Jorvik centre. As the Coppergate Woman rises she discovers a world in need of help to help prevent Ragnarök and the end of the world.
The remains of the Coppergate Woman were found between 1976 and 1981 and put on display due to her unusual burial. Writer, Maureen Lennon has used the story of The Coppergate Woman and intertwined it with Norse Mythology.
Through the story we are told Norse Myths which are linked with people in modern times and their troubles. We learn of Fenrir, a great wolf who was bound by the gods after it was thought he would bring an end to Odin. Fenrir’s story is linked with Fern, who has been struggling to leave her house due to having underlying health conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
We then meet Sarah, a nurse who has recently lost her mother and has been working none stop due to a fear of breaking down if she gives herself a chance to mourn, her story is linked to Sigyn, the wife of Loki. Loki is imprisoned and Sigyn is forever fated to hold bowl above his head to prevent him being poisoned by the snake which hangs above him.
The final link is Thor who is struggling to walk the path to hell due to fear, an emotion he has never felt before, this is linked to Toms story, Tom is struggling with fear of seeing his brother in hospital, he struggles to find his was inside to visit.
Can these humans come together when Ragnarök arrives to defeat the gods and send them back to where they came and prevent the end of the world.
The Coppergate Woman is well put together, with a choir involved throughout and music mixed with the story telling. It’s an interesting show with mythology cleverly entwined with modern times. The community come together well and it is clear how much effort and enjoyment have gone in to the production and the result is a good one.
FOURTH WALL LIVE is delighted to announce that Olivier Award nominated Broadway and West End star SIERRA BOGGESS will appear live in concert in ‘Christmas At The Cadogan Hall’ on Sunday 11 December 2022 at 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Tickets are on sale now www.fw-live.com/sierra
Sierra said today, “I’m thrilled to be returning to London to make music together at Cadogan Hall! The concert will feature songs that I love to perform, as well as some holiday music to celebrate the season!”
SIERRA BOGGESS has been seen on Broadway in the Tony nominated musical School Of Rock, It Shoulda Been You directed by David Hyde Pierce, the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera, the revival of Master Class and The Little Mermaid, for which she received Drama Desk and Drama League nominations and a Broadway.com Audience Choice Award.
In the West End, Sierra’s theatre credits include Les Misérables, the 25th Anniversary concerts of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall and her Olivier Award nominated performance as Christine Daae in Love Never Dies.
Other New York theatre credits include the recent off-Broadway production of Barry Manilow’s Harmony, Manhattan Concert Productions’ The Secret Garden at Lincoln Center; the one-night-only concert of Guys & Dolls at Carnegie Hall opposite Nathan Lane, Patrick Wilson and Megan Mullally; the final Off-Broadway cast of Love, Loss, and What I Wore; and Music in the Air for City Center’s Encores! series. She also starred as Christine Daae in the Las Vegas production of The Phantom of the Opera. Across the United States she has been seen in Into The Woods, A Little Night Music, Ever After, Age of Innocence, Princesses, and the national tour of Les Misérables. Her Film and Television credits include Vulture Club with Susan Sarandon and the web series What’s Your Emergency, directed by Michael Urie.
Sierra’s recordings include School Of Rock, It Shoulda Been You, the 25th-anniversary concert of The Phantom of the Opera, the symphonic recording of Love Never Dies, The Little Mermaid, and Andrew Lippa’s A Little Princess. Concert appearances include the BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall, Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series The Lyrics of David Zippel, The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, and Broadway by the Year at Town Hall. Sierra has toured all over the world across Australia, Japan, Paris, and London with her concert show, which has been preserved live and released on CD, Awakening: Live at 54 Below. She recently released an album of duets with Julian Ovenden made during the pandemic entitled Together At A Distance. www.sierraboggess.com
Fourth Wall Live is an entertainment company that produces events, concerts and on-stage shows. In January 2022 FWL presented Bonnie and Clyde The Musical In Concert for two nights to a sold-out audience at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, starring Broadway favourite Jeremy Jordan. The concert broke Drury Lane box office records selling out a two-night run in less than six minutes. The concert was live captured for cinematic/streaming distribution, with its release to be announced in due course.
In 2022 Fourth Wall Live is delighted to be presenting Audra McDonald at the London Palladium, and Jeremy Jordan at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. FWL regularly presents concerts featuring stars of the West End and Broadway including Keala Settle, Jeremy Jordan, Matthew Morrison and Hannah Waddingham among others.
Fourth Wall Live was also a producer of Bonnie & Clyde the Musical which ran at The Arts Theatre in the West End for 13 weeks during 2022
JOIN THE MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY AT HARLOW MUSEUM & WALLED GARDENS THIS SUMMER!
The cast has been announced for Alice in Wonderland coming to Harlow this summer!
KD Theatre Productions are thrilled to announce the cast for Alice in Wonderland will open at the Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens this summer.
Hannah Ponting will play the title role of Alice and will be joined by Jonathan Brace, Tommy Carmichael, Michael McGeough, and Joey Warne.
Directed by Oliver Scott with a book by Daniel Bell, music and lyrics by Triple Threat Creative, Alice in Wonderland is the perfect treat for the family this August.
Join Alice down the rabbit hole in her magical adventures through Wonderland in a brand-new open-air adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s family favourite!
Alice in Wonderland will play only four performances on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th August. Tickets are on sale now for this fun filled family adventure.
Discover the madness of the tea party and meet the Mad Hatter, The White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, and the Queen of Hearts plus many more/other larger-than-life characters along Alice’s journey.
This exciting and playful take on the tale features a professional cast of energetic performers, catchy new songs and lots of humour that will entertain and delight the whole family! Don’t be late for this very important date!
Full casting announced for the forthcoming tour of Pilot Theatre’s award-winning production of Malorie Blackman’s Noughts & Crosses
Pilot Theatre is delighted to announce full casting for their forthcoming production tour of Sabrina Mahfouz’s adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s critically acclaimed young adult novel of first love in a dangerous fictional dystopia – Noughts & Crosses.
Noughts & Crosses’ exciting cast will be led by Effie Ansah (The Maladies, Almeida Theatre) and James Arden in their first leading roles as Sephy and Callum; Emma Keele (East is East, Birmingham Rep and National Theatre and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, UK Tour) as Meggie; Nathaniel McClosky (Macbeth, Box Clever Theatre) as Jude; Amie Buhari (Flowers, Channel 4 ) as Jasmine; Steph Asamoah (Billy Eliot, Curve Theatre ) as Minerva; Chris Jack (Brighton Rock, Pilot Theatre and York Theatre Royal and Our Town, Royal Exchange Manchester) as Kamal, Daniel Copeland ( Invincible, Orange Tree Theatre and The Jungle Book, Leeds Playhouse) as Ryan and newcomer Tom Coleman as Nought Man, Andrew Dorn and understudy to Callum and Jude. Daniel Norford (Small Island and The Welkin, National Theatre and The Lion King, UK Tour) will be joining the cast in Spring in the role of Kamal. All actors will also play ensemble roles.
Sephy is a Cross and Callum is a Nought. Between Noughts and Crosses there are racial and social divides. A segregated society teeters on a volatile knife edge.
As violence breaks out, Sephy and Callum draw closer, but this is a romance that will lead them into terrible danger.
Told from the perspectives of two teenagers, Noughts & Crossesis a captivating love story set in a volatile, racially segregated society and explores the powerful themes of love, revolution and what it means to grow up in a divided world.
Noughts & Crosses first toured in 2019 as the first co-production between Pilot Theatre, Derby Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Mercury Theatre, Colchester, and York Theatre Royal who in 2018 formed a new partnership to develop, produce and present theatre for younger audiences. The Pilot Theatre production was seen by over 30,000 people on tour with 40 % of the audience being aged under twenty. It went on to win Pilot Theatre the award for excellence in Touring at the 2019 UK Theatre Awards.
Directed by Pilot Theatre’s Artistic Director Esther Richardson, Noughts & Crosses will open at York Theatre Royal from 16-24 September and will then tour to Richmond Theatre, London (27 Sept – 1 Oct); Exeter Northcott (4- 8 Oct); Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (11- 15 Oct); Northern Stage, Newcastle (18 – 22 Oct); Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (1-5 Nov); New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (8-12 Nov); The Alexandra Birmingham (15-19 Nov) Liverpool Playhouse (22- 26 Nov); The Lowry, Salford (17-21 Jan 2023), Belgrade Theatre Coventry (24-28 Jan); Rose Theatre, Kingston (31 Jan-11 Feb); Theatre Royal Brighton (21-25 Feb); Oldham Coliseum (14-18 Mar); Poole Lighthouse (21-25 Mar) and Curve Theatre, Leicester (28 Mar-1 Apr)
For more information on Noughts & Crosses please visit www.pilot-theatre.com
Playful Productions, Stage Play and Cedella Marley present
GET UP STAND UP!
THE BOB MARLEY MUSICAL
OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING, GET UP STAND UP! THE BOB MARLEY MUSICAL WILL PLAY ITS FINAL PERFORMANCE AT THE LYRIC THEATRE ON 8 JANUARY 2023
FOLLOWING THE WEST END RUN THE PRODUCTION WILL EMBARK ON A UK TOUR WITH FULL DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
PLANS ARE ALSO TAKING SHAPE FOR MULTIPLE INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA AND EUROPE
SINCE OCTOBER 2021 OVER 300,000 THEATRE-GOERS FROM ACROSS THE UK WILL HAVE REVELLED IN THE POWER OF MARLEY’S MUSIC
AN ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING IS DUE FOR RELEASE THIS YEAR, FEATURING OLIVIER AWARD NOMINEE ARINZÉ KENE
TICKETS ARE ON SALE AT WWW.GETUPSTANDUPTHEMUSICAL.COM
Producers have today announced that the hit production Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical which received its world premiere performance at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue on 1 October 2021, will play its final performance in London’s West End on 8 January 2023. The critically acclaimed show has been playing to ecstatic crowds since October 2021 at the Lyric Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue and it was nominated for 4 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical winning the award for best orchestrations. Following the West End, the production will embark on a UK-wide tour with full details to be announced soon. The production is also planning multiple international engagements, with discussions underway in Europe, North and South America. A cast recording featuring the original cast including Olivier Award nominee Arinzé Kene as Bob Marley will be released later this year.
Since its opening in October 2021 lovers of Bob Marley’s inspirational music have flocked to the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue to revel in the production’s thrilling and uplifting music and to discover Marley’s extraordinary life, message and wisdom.
Producers said: “‘Bob Marley’s music is inspirational to millions of people around the world. We are so proud to have launched this brilliant musical about his life and music in London’s West End and to have brought his legacy to the stage. We are very excited to be planning the future adventures of Get Up Stand Up! which include a UK and International tour, a North American production and a soon to be available Original Cast Recording.”
Cedella Marley said: “Hearing my father’s music brought to life in this wonderful show has made me so proud. Proud that his legacy has reached so many people, proud that his music has so many fans and continues to inspire new generations and proud of the amazing group of people who have put the show together. It is so exciting that we can now plan for the show to travel around the UK and the world and that many more audiences will get the chance to see it and fall in love all over again with my father’s music.”
‘It’s not all that glitters is gold, half the story has never been told’
From the hills of rural Jamaica, armed only with his overwhelming talent, Bob Marley applied himself with resolute determination to achieve international acclaim for his prophetic musical message – a gospel of love and unity.
Cambridge Arts Theatre – until Saturday 6th August 2022
Reviewed by Steph Lott
5*****
Regular taxi cabs do not travel to the Pittsburgh Hill District of the 1970s, and so the locals turn to using jitneys—unofficial, unlicensed taxi cabs—that operate in the community. August Wilson’s Jitney explores life through the lens of a group of Black jitney drivers, each trying to find a way to get by, using the hand that they have been given.
We, the audience, are bystanders, witnessing what happens inside the rundown taxi office, created using a small but very effective box set, designed by Alex Lowde. There is rhythm and a pace to the play, which is almost like a dance. We see time pass within the small office, created by clever use of lighting (Elliot Griggs), sound (Max Perryment) and video (Ravi Deepres). That, along with balletic movement and well-crafted pauses in the action (movement created by Sarita Piotrowski), generates an atmosphere that modulates seamlessly from busy to comic to violent to poignant.
This is a beautifully constructed play and this production of it rightly commanded a standing ovation from the audience. Each argument and flash of violence is counterbalanced with sparks and flares of warmth and humour. Tinuke Craig’s direction creates a show with a rhythm of laid-back ease, contrasting with taut, tense scenes. Tough as they are, and have to be, these men have a softness and vulnerability. The dialogue and accents never grate, (voice and dialect coaches Hazel Holder and Eleanor Manners have done a sterling job) and August Wilson’s writing feels very authentic and real; the richness with which Wilson writes his characters is a gift to any actor.
The whole talent-packed cast gave superb performances. The balance and dance between them is arresting. It is Wil Johnson, for me, as the owner of the taxi station, Becker, that is the star however. Worn out from years of hard work and sorrow caused by his tragic relationship with his son, (played by Blair Gyabaah) and by the loss of his wife, he stalks the stage with an air of heavy fatigue. His use of stillness and poise commands our attention. For me there was something of the matador in his demeanour. In dealing with his estranged son, there is frenzied anger and rage, the culmination of which is stirring and heart-breaking. And then his kindness prevails when dealing with alcoholic Fielding (played by Tony Marshall). It’s a rich performance indeed from Wil Johnson.
Jitney is a window into of the lives and struggles of a group of Black men. Arresting and wondrous, Craig’s production brings this play’s soul.
The producers of ROCK OF AGES are thrilled to announce full casting and additional dates for the UK tour starring Kevin Kennedy as ‘Dennis Dupree’ alongside Cameron Sharp as ‘Stacee Jaxx’ from Tuesday 23 August when the show opens in Inverness. The cast also includes Natalie Winsor as ‘Justice’, David Breeds as ‘Franz Klinenmann’ and Tianna Sealy-Jewiss joins the ensemble. They join returning cast members Sam Turrell as ‘Drew’, Gabriella Williams as ‘Sherrie’, Vicki Manser as ‘Regina’, Joe Gash as ‘Lonny’, Vas Constanti as ‘Hertz Klinemann’,and Erin Bell as ‘Constance’ with Billy Roberts,Scott Hayward, Darius James, Reece Duncan, Hollie-Ann Lowe,Phoebe Samuel-Gray and Morgan Scott.
In 2022 the production will visit Inverness, Glasgow, Sunderland, Tunbridge Wells, Poole, York, and Cambridge. Full casting for 2023 tour venues to be announced, and full tour listings are below. www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk
Kevin Kennedy is probably best known for his portrayal of Curly Watts in Coronation Street. His West End theatre credits include Amos in Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre and We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre. Kevin has played both Caractacus Potts and The Child Catcher in the hit musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, becoming the first actor to have played both roles. He appeared as Dennis Dupree in the 2018 UK Tour of Rock of Ages and has also appeared in the national tours of the musicals The Rocky Horror Show, The Commitments and Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends.
Cameron Sharp returns to Rock of Ages, having been part of the show in the West End and on tour. His other theatre credits include School of Rock at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Sunset Boulevard at the Royal Albert Hall and the UK Tour of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical.
Natalie Winsor’s theatre credits include Fame at the Shaftesbury Theatre, ABBA Voyage at the Abba Arena and the UK Tours of Jekyll and Hyde, Cinders and Dirty Dancing. Her other theatre credits include Lavelles – The Ladies of Motown, Rent, Peter Pan and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
David Breeds was most recently seen in the West End in Dear Evan Hansen at the Noel Coward Theatre. His other theatre credits include the National Theatre’s tour of The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Nighttime and Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s The Girls.
Sam Turrell returns to Rock of Ages and the role of Drew having performed the show around the world on the NCL Breakaway cruise ship.
Gabriella Williams theatre credits include Sophie in Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre, Eugenius! at the London Palladium, Carrie The Musical at the Southwark Playhouse and Miss Saigon and Grease, both on a UK tour.
Vicki Manser’s theatre credits include Katherine Howard in Six both at the Arts Theatre and on a UK tour, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at the Aldwych Theatre and on a UK tour, Bat Out of Hell at the Dominion Theatre and Sunny Afternoon at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
Joe Gash’s theatrical credits include entertainment for P&O Cruises Australia and Kenickie in Grease for Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. Most recently Joe appeared as Freddie Mercury on ITV1’s new show Starstruck.
ROCK OF AGES is the hilarious musical comedy lavished with over 25 classic rock anthems, including, ‘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’, played loud and proud by an awesome live band. Leave it all behind and lose yourself in a city and a time where the dreams are as big as the hair, and yes, they can come true!
Now a global smash with hit seasons on Broadway, London’s West End and Las Vegas and a star-studded Hollywood movie version this show promises you the best party night out around.
The crew is made up of Company Stage Manager Matt Harper, Technical Stage Manager Ben Larkin, Technical Assistant Stage Manager Kyle Campbell, Deputy Stage Manager Sophie Mason, Assistant Stage Manager/Book Cover Mali-Beth Rose, Sound 1 Nicholas Newman, Sound 2 Toby Maiden, Chief LX Rich Hoxley, LX2 Roisin Dullard, LX3/Tech Swing Callum Brady-Temple, Head of Wardrobe Melissa Hamill and Wardrobe Assistant Nicola Riley.
The band is made up of Musical Director and Keys Liam Holmes, Guitar1 Liam Stevenson, Guitar 2 Alex Ward and Bass Guitar Elliot Mason.
“ROCK OF AGES” has a book by Chris D’Arienzo and arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp.
The full creative team includes Nick Winston (Director of the feature film “Tomorrow Morning”, “MAME”, “The Royal Variety Performance”) who Directs and Choreographs the show, Set and Costume design by Morgan Large (“The Woman in White”, “Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat” and “Tell Me On A Sunday”), Lighting Design by Ben Cracknell (“Sunset Boulevard”, “Pantoland at the Palladium”, “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”), Sound Design by Ben Harrison (“Mame”, “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” and “Fame”) and Video and Projection design by Duncan McLean (“The Car Man, Nutcracker! and Magic Goes Wrong”). Casting Director is Jim Arnold CDG, Associate Director is Victoria Gimby, Associate Choreographer is Ryan-Lee Seager and Associate Lighting Designer is Chris Vaughan. Costume Supervision by Lee Tassie and Production Management by Phil McCandlish.
ROCK OF AGES UK AND IRELAND TOUR LISTINGS 2022 – 2023
