The producers and creative team are delighted to announce new cast members joining the highly successful UK and Ireland tour of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning musical JERSEY BOYS, which is currently on the road and running simultaneously with the smash-hit West End production, playing to packed houses at the newly refurbished Trafalgar Theatre.
Christopher Short will play Nick Massi, joining current Seasons Michael Pickering as Frankie Valli, Blair Gibson as Bob Gaudio and Dalton Wood as Tommy DeVito. Ryan Heenan will play Frankie Valli at certain performances.
Also new to the cast are Matthew Lawrence (Norm Waxman), Olly Manley (Swing), Victoria McCabe (Francine), Dan O’Brien (Hank Majewski) and Kirsty Whelan (Swing).
They join current cast members Emma Crossley (Mary Delgado), Jordan James (Gyp DeCarlo), Michael Levi (Bob Crewe), Tom O’Brien (Swing), Nathan Routledge (Swing), George Salmon (Joe Pesci), Ellie Seaton (Lorraine) and Damien Winchester (Barry Belson).
The new cast will begin performances on 27 September in Woking.
The tour opened at New Wimbledon Theatre on 24 November 2021 and is booking through to April 2023.
JERSEY BOYS is written byMarshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe.
Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony and Olivier Award-winning, true-life phenomenon, JERSEY BOYS. They were just four guys from New Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect onstage, off stage it was a very different story—a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s too good to be true. The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You.
Recipient of Broadway’s Tony, London’s Olivier and Australia’s Helpmann Awards for Best New Musical, JERSEY BOYS is the winner of 65 major awards and has been seen by over 30 million people worldwide.
JERSEY BOYS originally opened in New York on 6 November 2005 and, by the time it closed on 15 January 2017, it was the 12th longest running show in Broadway history. JERSEY BOYS returned to New York with a new production in November 2017 running until 22 May 2022. The JERSEY BOYS US National Tour continues to break house records in cities across North America. JERSEY BOYS can also be seen on board the Norwegian Bliss.
JERSEY BOYS first ran in London’s West End from 18 March 2008 to 26 March 2017 – nine amazing years – and, at the time, was the sixth longest musical running in the West End. Last year, the musical returned to the West End, opening the new multi-million pound reinstated Trafalgar Theatre on 10 August 2021, where it continues to play. JERSEY BOYS previously played two record-breaking UK and Ireland Tours from 2014 to 2016 and from 2017 to 2019.
The JERSEY BOYS UK and Ireland Tour is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team, led by the Tony Award-winning team of director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo, with scenic design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Steve Canyon Kennedy and projections design by Michael Clark. The orchestrations are by Steve Orich and the music supervision and vocal arrangements by Ron Melrose. Casting is by Jill Green.
JERSEY BOYS is produced by Dodger Theatricals, Ambassador Theatre Group and Trafalgar Theatre Productions with BB Investments, Pelican Group and Latitude Link.
Facebook: @JerseyBoysLondon
Twitter & Instagram: @JerseyBoysUK
2022 – 2023 TOUR LISTINGS INFORMATION
30 August – 10 September Newcastle Theatre Royal 0191 232 7010
Adam Kenwright is delighted to present GREATEST DAYS – The Official Take That Musical, with a book by award winning playwright Tim Firth. The musical will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour from 5 May 2023 and will coincide with the summer 2023 release of the official movie version of this smash-hit musical, starring Aisling Bea and Jayde Adams. GREATEST DAYS celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Take That’s first ever UK number 1 single Pray.
Casting to be announced, as well as further dates in cities such as Blackpool, Glasgow, Bristol, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Southampton, Truro, Leeds, Leicester and Birmingham.
Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen are Take That in 2022 and continue the legacy of one of the most successful band’s in British chart history, with over 45 million records sold worldwide and 12 number 1 hits in the UK. Formed as a five-piece in 1989, they enjoyed immediate success with their first two albums charting at number 2 & number 1 respectively. Third album Nobody Else confirmed their global domination, selling over six million copies and topping the charts in 11 countries. The departure of band member Robbie Williams prompted a break-up in 1996 and nine years in the wilderness before the remaining four members reunited for 2005’s The Ultimate Tour. This sparked one of the greatest comebacks in British music history with Take That going on to release three number 1 albums in just four years. Robbie’s return for 2011’s Progress saw them break UK records for the fastest-selling album of the 21st century and fastest-selling tour of all time. Williams’ second departure, along with that of Jason Orange, left the remaining three members to release III, which was certified platinum. In 2019, the band celebrated their 30th anniversary with the release of Odyssey, a greatest hits album, which reached number 1, and a UK and European stadium and arena tour.
Tim Firth is one of the UK’s most beloved award-winning writers and composers in film, television and theatre. His extensive theatre credits include the Olivier Award winning musical Our House (West End), the UK Theatre Award-winning This is My Family (Sheffield Crucible), the MEN Award-winning Neville’s Island (Nottingham Playhouse and West End, Evening Standard & Olivier nomination) and Calendar Girls (Chichester Festival Theatre, West End) which broke all British records for a professional and amateur play, was nominated for an Olivier and won the Whatsonstage Best Comedy Award. Tim collaborated with lifelong friend Gary Barlow on Calendar Girls The Musical which had a successful run in the West End and then toured the UK and Ireland, winning a Whatsonstage Award and receiving several Olivier nominations along the way. Tim’s film credits include Calendar Girls and Kinky Boots. Recently, Tim co-created and directed Gary Barlow’s one-man show A Different Stage which has toured the UK and is currently running in the West End.
Take That said: “We are so thrilled that this new production now titled ‘Greatest Days’ is launching next year. We had an enormous amount of fun working on the original version and can’t wait to help bring this new production to over 30 cities across the UK and Ireland from May 2023.”
The musical follows a group of five best friends in the 1990’s who are obsessed with their favourite boy band. The girls then reunite more than 20 years later with a plan to see their heartthrobs one last time in what could be the Greatest Days of their lives.
GREATEST DAYS features more than 15 of Take That’s record-breaking songs alongside a heart-warming and hilarious story of love, loss and laughter from the award-winning writer Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Our House, Kinky Boots).
GREATEST DAYS was originally produced as The Band by David Pugh & Daffyd Rogers + Take That. The UK tour of The Band originally opened at Manchester Opera House on 8 September 2017 and closed in March 2019, breaking box office records along the way. The musical ran for a limited West End season at Theatre Royal Haymarket over Christmas in 2018/19.
REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR THE WEST END REVIVAL OF
C.P. TAYLOR’S GOOD
STARRINGDAVID TENNANT WITH ELLIOT LEVEY AND SHARON SMALL
WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 24 DECEMBER 2022
HAROLD PINTER THEATRE
· Rehearsal images are today released for the new production of the acclaimed play GOOD by C.P. Taylor, directed by Dominic Cooke. David Tennant returns to the stage alongside Elliot Levey and Sharon Small.
· GOOD opens at the Harold Pinter Theatre for a strictly limited 11-week run from Wednesday 5 October until Saturday 24 December.
· GOOD is the debut West End production for Fictionhouse, launched by Dominic Cooke and Kate Horton.
· Best ticket availability is Mon-Wed from November. Tickets are on sale now at www.goodtheplay.comwith 100 £25 tickets for every show and a third of tickets at £35 and under. Some of the best seats have also been specially priced at £10 for key workers and £20 for students.
GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
Rehearsals have begun for Dominic Cooke’s new production of C.P. Taylor’s GOOD, starring David Tennant, Elliot Levey, and Sharon Small. Further casting includes Rebecca Bainbridge, Izaak Cainer, Jamie Cameron, Jim Creighton, Edie Newman and Lizzie Schenk.
GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
Produced by Fictionhouse and Playful Productions, GOOD will play a strictly limited 11-week season at the Harold Pinter Theatre from Wednesday 5 October (press night Wednesday 12 October) to Saturday 24 December 2022.
Professor John Halder is a ‘good’ man. But ‘good’ men must adapt to survive.
How is it possible to be a ‘good’ person when things are falling apart?
As the world faces a World War, John Halder, a decent, intelligent, music-loving German professor, finds himself swept along in a movement that crescendos towards an unthinkable finale. GOOD is a warning for our times.
GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
Olivier Award-winning director Dominic Cooke reimagines one of Britain’s most powerful, political plays with David Tennant returning to the West End alongside Elliot Levey and Sharon Small, for 11 weeks only.
GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/GOOD by Taylor, , Writer – C.P. Taylor, Director – Dominic Cooke, Harold Pinter Theatre, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
GOOD will be the debut West End production for Fictionhouse, an independent producing company, established by Dominic Cooke and Kate Horton. Their long and fruitful working relationship, which began at the Royal Shakespeare Company, developed into a celebrated partnership at the Royal Court Theatre where they were Artistic Director and Executive Director respectively from 2007 – 2014. At the Royal Court they produced over 100 new plays and were the original producing team behind a series of notable award-winning productions including Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem, Nick Payne’s Constellations and Mike Bartlett’s Cock all of which have received recent West End revivals. Their productions have been nominated for 210 major awards, winning 59, and their partnership saw the development and launch of an exciting new generation of playwrights including Mike Bartlett, Polly Stenham, Bola Agbaje, Nick Payne, Lucy Kirkwood and Tarell Alvin McCraney. Recent productions include The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer (NT, London) and current projects include The Music Man (Broadway) and The Narcissist (Chichester Festival Theatre).
THE VAUDEVILLE THEATRE, MONDAYS 14, 21, 28 NOVEMBER
Award winning producers Andy and Wendy Barnes from Global Musicals (Six, The Choir of Man, Pieces of String, Lift)together with Kevin McCollum from Alchemation (In The Heights, Avenue Q, Rent, Mrs Doubtfire, The Notebook)are pleased to announce a series of staged concert performances of new musical 42 Balloons by Jack Godfrey, currently in development through their sister company Perfect Pitch, an entity dedicated exclusively to creating, developing and promoting new contemporary British musicals.
The concerts will be staged at the Vaudeville Theatre, currently home to West End musical SIX, on Monday 14 November at 7.30pm, Monday 21 November at 7.30pm and Monday 28 November at 2.30pm.
42 Balloons has been in development with Perfect Pitch for the last three years and a number of music and choreography workshops have taken place during that time along with the recordings of a few of the songs, one of which – 42 Balloons and a Lawnchair – was released in 2021 on Perfect Pitch’s Rise:Up YouTube channel.
The staged performances are the culmination of this development and a chance for an audience to see the full show for the first time.
42 Balloons has been written by Jack Godfrey whose other works include This is a Love Story (Dundee Rep) and Babies (YMT:UK). The concerts are directed by Ellie Coote, who also serves as dramaturg, with choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento, orchestrations and musical supervision by Joe Beighton, sound design by Paul Gatehouse and scenic and costume design by Libby Todd. Flynn Sturgeon will be the musical director with casting by Pearson Casting.
The cast will include Jordan Broatch, Madeline Charlemagne, Eloise Davies, Evelyn Hoskins, Melissa Jacques, Lemuel Knights, Garry Lee, Charlie McCullagh, Laura Dawn Pyatt, Travis Ross, Dillon Scott-Lewis, and Amelia Walker.
The 2nd of July 1982. Larry Walters, a truck driver, flies sixteen thousand feet above Los Angeles, using a lawn chair and 42 helium-filled weather balloons.
No, seriously.
42 BALLOONS tells the story of how Larry, with the help of his girlfriend Carol, defied gravity and FAA airspace regulations to make his lifelong dream a reality.
Inspired by a highly improbable true story, and featuring an original 80s-pop-inspired score, 42 BALLOONS is an exhilarating new musical about stupid dreams and doing whatever it takes to achieve them.
Tickets will be priced at £25 through the whole house.
Andy and Wendy Barnes said, “It is always a nerve-wracking moment when you put a brand-new musical in front of an audience for the first time, but 42 Balloons is one of the most exciting new musicals we have ever add the pleasure to develop and produce. It’s an inspiring story about real people that offers an insight into how far someone will go to achieve their ambitions and what happens if it’s not what you expected it to be, and Jack’s original music takes you right back to the 80’s when the show is set.”
Sunderland Empire – until Saturday 24 September 2022
5*****
I’ve seen Blood Brothers many times, but the show in Sunderland this week is possibly the best version I’ve ever seen.
Telling the story of the Johnstone twins, the boys, Mickey and Edward, grow up on opposite sides of the track and disaster is predicted should they ever meet … but destiny draws them together and without knowing they are siblings, they become blood brothers.
Niki Colwell Evans is phenomenal as matriarch Mrs Johnstone. Her Scouse accent is not as pronounced as it could be which gives the image of a nice convent girl gone bad after meeting a man. And having her dreams of glamour and Marilyn Monroe destroyed after never ending pregnancies. To see her visibly age with the last few scenes is amazing. The mixture of weariness and warm affection with which she regards her children is palpable throughout. And at the end, with her twin sons lying dead before her, her face is a clenched mask of grief as she sings the climactic anthem with a power and bitterness that sends shivers racing down the spine. The standing ovation as the theatre rose as one after Tell Me It’s Not True and the five curtain calls were all totally justified.
The show, overseen by Richard Munday as the narrator, is overwhelmingly emotional and extremely unique. Munday deserves a mention for looming over the proceedings, a Devil in a sharp suit with menace and a wonderful singing voice.
Sean Jones is wonderful as the cheeky, irrepressible Mickey and was hilarious in the first half as the short-trousered kid. Jay Worley plays his “twinnie” Edward. His measured tones, courtesy of a privileged upbringing, are in direct contrast to the Scouse lilt of Mickey.
Jones is a stand out performer. From his first appearance as a childish seven-year-old, “almost eight”, he had the audience laughing out loud. His portrayal of riding an imaginary horse while playing cowboys and indians with his older brother Sammy (Timothy Lucas ), resonated with the older members of the audience.
But the silliness is gradually shed as the second half gets under way as the boys grow older and become interested in girls – and in particular Linda, (Carly Burns) and their care-free naivety gives way to stark reality as Mickey gets sucked into unemployment, crime and drug addiction.
Jones’ amazing portrayal of the spiral into depression is matched only by Mrs Lyons’ descent into madness. Paula Tappenden as the desperate Mrs Lyons is outstanding. Her desire to have a baby leads her to make the pact with Mrs Johnson for one of the twins, and the guilt for what she has done shapes her life and causes the inevitable mental breakdown. But Mrs Lyons plays the final fatal part in telling Mickey about Linda and Eddie’s friendship and planting the seeds of doubt in Mickey’s fragile brain. She might as well have shot the gun herself for the part she plays in this terrible tragedy.
This show is an emotional roller coaster, funny, joyous and emotional – do not attempt to see it without a stack of tissues. In Sunderland until Saturday 24th September and on tour around the UK
WISE CHILDREN ANNOUNCES CAST FOR THE USA PREMIÈREOF EMMA RICE’S WUTHERING HEIGHTS
★★★★★
“Emotionally epic entertainment from Emma Rice” The Times
Wise Children today announce full cast alongside tour dates for the USA tour of Emily Brontë’sWuthering Heights, adapted and directed by Emma Rice. The co-production with the National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and York Theatre Royal, in association with Berkeley Repertory Theater, makes its US première at St Ann’s Warehouse, New York, on 14 October, before touring to Berkeley Repertory Theater, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and Chicago Shakespeare Theater, with more dates to be announced.
For the New York leg of the tour, Rice directs Sam Archer (Lockwood/Edgar Linton), Steph Elstob (understudy), Nandi Bhebhe (The Yorkshire Moor), Katy Ellis (swing), Lloyd Gorman (Mr Earnshaw/Robert), TJ Holmes (Dr Kenneth), Jordan Laviniere (Zillah), Lucy McCormick (Catherine), Katy Owen (Isabella Linton/Linton Heathcliff), Tama Phethean (Hindley Earnshaw/Hareton Earnshaw), Eleanor Sutton (Frances Earnshaw/Young Cathy), and Liam Tamne (Heathcliff), with music performed by Sid Goldsmith, Pat Moran and Jeevan Singh.
Joining the cast from Berkeley Rep onwards are Georgia Bruce (Isabella Linton/Linton Heathcliff), Leah Brotherhead (Catherine), Ricardo Castro (Jonathan) and Katy Ellis (Zillah), with Jordan Laviniere taking on the role of The Yorkshire Moor.
★★★★★
““a wildly imaginative, exhilarating piece of theatre” Daily Mail
The Yorkshire moors tell an epic story of love, revenge and redemption.
Rescued from the Liverpool docks as a child, Heathcliff is adopted by the Earnshaws and taken to live at Wuthering Heights. He finds a kindred spirit in Catherine Earnshaw and a fierce love ignites. When forced apart, a brutal chain of events is unleashed.
Shot through with music, dance, passion and hope, Emma Rice transforms Emily Brontë’s masterpiece into a powerful and uniquely theatrical experience. Lucy McCormick leads the company of performers and musicians in this intoxicating revenge tragedy for our time.
“I am Heathcliff! Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
With set and costume design by Vicki Mortimer; sound and video by Simon Baker; composition by Ian Ross; lighting design by Jai Morjaria; movement and choreography by Etta Murfitt.
Sam Archer returns to the company to play Lockwood/Edgar Linton – he previously appeared in Wise Children (The Old Vic/UK tour).His other theatre credits include An Ideal Husband (Vaudeville Theatre/Oscar Wilde Season), Wonderland (National Theatre/Châtelet Theatre, Paris), La Bohème (Royal Albert Hall), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), and The Red Shoes, Lord of the Flies, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Edward Scissorhands (Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company).
Nandi Bhebhe returns to the company to play The Yorkshire Moor – she recently appeared in Bagdad Cafe (The Old Vic). Her theatre credits include A Monster Calls (The Old Vic), Fela! (National Theatre/Al Hirschfeld Theatre), Season in the Congo (Young Vic), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, 946 The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips (Shakespeare’s Globe), Boy Breaking Glass (Sadler’s Wells), The Tin Drum (Bristol Old Vic), Ubu! A Singalong Satire (Shoreditch Town Hall).
Georgia Bruce plays Isabella Linton/Linton Heathcliff. Their theatre credits include Fisherman’s Friends (UK tour) and Bruce: Just a Pretty Face (Edinburgh Fringe). They are also a writer and their play Time, Like the Sea was shortlisted for the 2022 Papatango Prize.
Leah Brotherhead plays Catherine. Her theatre credits include Gulliver’s Travels (Unicorn Theatre), As You Like It (The Lamb Players), Lands, The Kitchen Sink (Bush Theatre), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare’s Globe/Liverpool Everyman), Wolf Hall (The Winter Gardens/Aldwych Theatre/RSC), Another Place (Theatre Royal Plymouth), People Like Us (Pleasance Theatre), Dr Faustus (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Glasgow Citizens Theatre), Pride and Prejudice (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), DNA (UK tour), Product Placement (Nabokov Theatre Company), Victory Street and Eyes/Balls (Soho Theatre). Recent television credits include Whitstable Pearl, Hullraisers, Bridgerton, White Gold, Zomboat, Drifters, and Vera.
Ricardo Castro plays Jonathan. His theatre credits include Fame – The Musical (Tyrone Jackson Theatre), The Prodigals and Luv Esther (Inspire Arts Trust).
Katy Ellis returns to the company as a swing and plays Zillah – she previously appeared in Malory Towers. Other theatre credits include The Scarecrows Wedding (Leicester Square Theatre/UK tour) and Metamorphosis (Tristan Bates Theatre).
Steph Elstob is an understudy. Her theatre credits include Edward Scissorhands (Sadler’s Wells), La Boheme (Royal Albert Hall) and Amadeus (Chichester Festival Theatre). Her television credits include Mr Selfridge, The Hour and for film; Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and the Huntsman and Anna Karenina.
Lloyd Gorman plays Mr Earnshaw/Robert. His theatre credits include Whistle Down The Wind (Watermill Theatre), Arthur/Merlin (Irish Theatre), Once (UK tour), One Man, Two Guvnors (New Wolsey/Nuffield Theatre), The Hired Man (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and UK tour), The Snow Queen (Liverpool Everyman), The Jungle Book (UK tour) and Worst Wedding Ever (Salisbury Playhouse).
TJ Holmes plays Dr Kenneth. His theatre credits include One Man, Two Guvnors (UK tour), The Hired Man, Love, Lies and Lust (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), Mother Courage (Leeds Playhouse), Two Gentleman of Verona (Shakespeare’s Globe/Liverpool Everyman), La Strada (The Other Palace), Hansel and Gretel (Kneehigh), The BFG, I Was A Rat (Birmingham Rep), The Jungle Book, The Threepenny Opera (UK tour), Spend Spend Spend!, Some Like It Hotter (The Watermill Theatre), As You Like It (Curve), Cider with Rosie, Merchant of Venice (Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds) and What To Do When You Find A Dinosaur (Oxford Playhouse).
Jordan Laviniere plays Zillah, and then The Yorkshire Moor. His theatre credits include All That (King’s Head Theatre), Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre), Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith), The Life (The English Theatre, Frankfurt) and We Will Rock You (European tour).
Lucy McCormick plays Catherine. Her previous theatre credits include Life: LIVE! (Battersea Arts Centre), Triple Threat and Post Popular (Edinburgh Fringe Festival/Soho Theatre/UK and international tours), Roller Diner, First Love is the Revolution (Soho Theatre), Dear Elizabeth, Effigies of Wickedness (Gate Theatre), Collective Rage (Southwark Playhouse), Cinderella (Oxford Playhouse), The Naked Truth (UK tour), Splat! (Barbican), and The House of Bernada Alba (Tristan Bates Theatre). Her television credits include This Time with Alan Partridge; and for film, Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, and Uncle David 2.
Katy Owen returns to the company to play Isabella Linton/Linton Heathcliff – she previously appeared in Wise Children (The Old Vic/UK tour). Her other theatre credits include UBU Karaoke!, Rebecca (Kneehigh), The Little Matchgirl and Other Happier Tales (Bristol Old Vic/Shakespeare’s Globe/UK tour), Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe), 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tipps (Kneehigh/Shakespeare’s Globe/UK tour), The World of Work, The Night Before Christmas (Chapter Arts Centre), Apparitions of Spirits with the Forsythe Sisters (Gaggle Babble), Maudie’s Rooms, Plum – and Me, Will!, Cinders (Sherman Theatre), Ill Met by Moonlight (Wales Millennium Centre), The Tempest (Theatr Iolo) and The Moon Dragon & The Wounded Angel (Theatr Gwent). Her television credits include The Story of Tracy Beaker.
Tama Phethean plays Hindley Earnshaw/Hareton Earnshaw. His theatre credits include The Great Christmas Feast (The Lost Estate), Man Muck (Etcetera Theatre) and Night of the Living Dead Live (Pleasance Theatre).
Eleanor Sutton plays Frances Earnshaw/Young Cathy. Her theatre credits include Jane Eyre (Stephen Joseph Theatre/New Vic), Hungry (Soho Theatre), Black Love, Really Big and Really Loud (UK tour), The Wizard of Oz (Leeds Playhouse), The Crucible, A Little Night Music (Storyhouse Chester), Amadeus (National Theatre), Windows (Finborough Theatre), As You Like It (UK tour), The Master Builder and Future Conditional (The Old Vic).
Liam Tamne plays Heathcliff. His theatre work includes The Prince of Egypt (Dominion Theatre – Grammy nomination for Original Cast Recording), Bonnie and Clyde (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), The Light in the Piazza (Royal Festival Hall/LA Opera), Spamilton (Menier Chocolate Factory), Mack and Mabel (concert – Hackney Empire), Working (Southwark Playhouse), The Rocky Horror Show (UK tour), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre), Departure Lounge — the Musical (Perfect Pitch), HAIR (Gielgud Theatre), Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre) and Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre). For television, his work includes Doctors.
Emma Rice is the proud and excited Artistic Director of her company, Wise Children. She adapted and directed the company’s Bagdad Cafe (The Old Vic) Angela Carter’s Wise Children (The Old Vic/UK tour) and Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers (Bristol Passenger Shed/UK tour). For the ENO she directed Orpheus in the Underworld. As Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe (2016/18), she directed Romantics Anonymous, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Little Matchgirl (and Other Happier Tales). For the previous 20 years, she worked for Kneehigh as an actor, director and Artistic Director. Her productions for Kneehigh include The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, Tristan & Yseult, 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, The Wild Bride, The Red Shoes, The Wooden Frock, The Bacchae, Cymbeline (in association with RSC), A Matter of Life and Death (in association with National Theatre), Rapunzel (in association with Battersea Arts Centre), Brief Encounter (in association with David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers Productions), Don John (in association with the RSC and Bristol Old Vic), Wah! Wah! Girls (in association with Sadler’s Wells and Theatre Royal Stratford East for World Stages), and Steptoe and Son. Other work includes the West End production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Oedipussy (Spymonkey), The Empress (RSC), and An Audience with Meow Meow (Berkeley Repertory Theatre). In 2019 Rice received the UK Theatre Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre.
Created and led by Emma Rice, Wise Children launched in April 2018 and is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Based in Bristol, we make ground-breaking work with exceptional artists, and tour across the world. In the dark days of 2020, we led the field in livestreaming, becoming the first UK company to broadcast a full staged production, without social distancing, from a UK theatre after lockdown. Alongside our shows, we run a unique professional development programme, The School for Wise Children, training a new and more diverse generation of theatre practitioners.
Striking rehearsal images released for Rambert and Birmingham Hippodrome’s
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby
IMAGE: Benoit Swan Pouffer and Steven Knight, photo by Johan Persson
Rambert and Birmingham Hippodrome today release a striking first look into rehearsals for Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, a dance theatre show written and adapted for the stage by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight and choreographed and directed by Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer, inspired by the TV series produced and owned by Caryn Mandabach Productions.
PEAKY BLINDERS by Knight, , Writer – Steven Knight, Choreographer and Director – Benoit Swan Pouffer, Music – Roman Gianarthur, Designer – Moi Tran, Lighting – Natasha Chivers, Costumes – Richard Gellar, Rambert, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
The show will have its world premiere at co-producing partner venue Birmingham Hippodrome on 27 September, followed by a London premiere at Troubadour Wembley Park on 12 October before embarking on a UK tour in 2023.
Guillaume Quéau and Prince Lyons alternate the role of Thomas Shelby, with Naya Lovell and Seren Williams alternating the role of Grace, and the production features the permanent Rambert dance company on stage. Birmingham-born writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah who played street preacher Jeremiah Jesu in the TV series, provides pre-recorded narration for the production.
PEAKY BLINDERS by Knight, , Writer – Steven Knight, Choreographer and Director – Benoit Swan Pouffer, Music – Roman Gianarthur, Designer – Moi Tran, Lighting – Natasha Chivers, Costumes – Richard Gellar, Rambert, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby will feature live musicians performing a score written by RomanGianArthur and led by Musical Director Yaron Engler and as well as a new track by LauraMvula. GianArthur worked with music consultant D.J. Walde to create the soundtrack for the production which will feature iconic songs from the television series.
PEAKY BLINDERS by Knight, , Writer – Steven Knight, Choreographer and Director – Benoit Swan Pouffer, Music – Roman Gianarthur, Designer – Moi Tran, Lighting – Natasha Chivers, Costumes – Richard Gellar, Rambert, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
Author Simon Sinek and Robin Saunders have also boarded the Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby as Executive Producers, alongside a creative team which includes Moi Tran (set design), Richard Gellar (costume design) and Natasha Chivers (lighting design), with dramaturgy by Kaite O’Reilly. Also working with the cast is acting director Kim Pearce, illusions director Filipe J. Carvalho, fight director Adrian Palmer, props supervisor Lily Mollgaard, and intimacy director Yarit Dor, with sound design by Moshik Kop.
Through dance theatre Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby picks up the story of the Peaky Blinders at the end of World War One, following Tommy Shelby and Grace Burgess through their passionate love affair. While Tommy is building his empire, Grace is operating as an undercover agent for Special Branch on a mission to get close to the heart of Tommy’s gang. As the story unfolds, many hearts are broken.
PEAKY BLINDERS by Knight, , Writer – Steven Knight, Choreographer and Director – Benoit Swan Pouffer, Music – Roman Gianarthur, Designer – Moi Tran, Lighting – Natasha Chivers, Costumes – Richard Gellar, Rambert, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
Dazzling, athletic dance and stunning dramatisation with an iconic eclectic Peaky soundtrack from live on-stage musicians.
Tommy and the Peaky Blinders fought together at Flanders and the show opens in the trenches. Bound by this experience, a very personal story unfolds as the Shelby family navigate the decisions that determine their fate and Tommy is intoxicated by the mysterious Grace.
PEAKY BLINDERS by Knight, , Writer – Steven Knight, Choreographer and Director – Benoit Swan Pouffer, Music – Roman Gianarthur, Designer – Moi Tran, Lighting – Natasha Chivers, Costumes – Richard Gellar, Rambert, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby will perform at Birmingham Hippodrome on 27 September, running until 2 October, followed by a London Premiere at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre between 12 October – 6 November before embarking on a UK tour in 2023.
The 2023 UK tour will visit Norwich Theatre Royal (17-21 January), Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (25-28 January), Hull New Theatre (31 January-4 February), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (7-11 February), Royal and Derngate, Northampton (21-25 February), Festival Theatre Edinburgh (28 February-4 March), The Lowry, Salford (14-18 March), Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (21-25 March) and Theatre Royal Plymouth (28 March-1 April), before returning to Birmingham Hippodrome from 23-27 May.
PEAKY BLINDERS by Knight, , Writer – Steven Knight, Choreographer and Director – Benoit Swan Pouffer, Music – Roman Gianarthur, Designer – Moi Tran, Lighting – Natasha Chivers, Costumes – Richard Gellar, Rambert, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
Tickets for Birmingham Hippodrome can be booked at birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling 0844 338 5000*(*calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge).
Tickets for all touring venues can be booked at peakyblindersdance.com
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, is a Rambert production in association with Birmingham Hippodrome, co-produced with The Lowry, Executive
PRODUCTION SHOTS OF THE NEW CAST OF THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD
IMAGES INCLUDE THE NEW ADULT PRINCIPALS LAUREN BYRNE AS MISS HONEY, AND RAKESH BOURY & AMY ELLEN RICHARDSON AS MR AND MRS WORMWOOD
THE AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL HAS EXTENDED THE BOOKING PERIOD TO 17 DECEMBER 2023
Elliot Harper
To celebrate the new cast beginning performances at the Cambridge Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical has released production images
A tonic for audiences of all ages, this anarchic production about a strong and determined heroine with a vivid imagination is now booking through to 17 December 2023 with tickets for the new dates now on sale at www.matildathemusical.com
Amy Ellen Richardson
A new video featuring some of the new cast taking part in a ‘show and tell’ game in the rehearsal room is also available to view https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VWIlTn30L8
As previously announced, Victoria Alsina, Laurel Sumberg and Heidi Williams have joined Maisie Mardle in the title role of Matilda, with their first performances having started from 13 September.
Lauren Byrne
Lauren Byrne, playing Miss Honey, Rakesh Boury and Amy Ellen Richardson as Mr and Mrs Wormwood join current cast members Elliot Harper as Miss Trunchbull and Landi Oshinowo as Mrs Phelps.
Felipe Bejarano, Angeline Bell, Oliver Bingham, Thea Bunting, Michael Gardiner, Aaron Jenkins, Sam Lathwood, Dianté Lodge, Kira McPherson, Alistair So and James Wolstenholme will join the existing adult cast which includes Liberty Buckland, Kate Kenrick, Connor Lewis and Gemma Scholes.
Elliot Harper
The other young performers previously announced who have joined the London company in the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the rest of the pupils at Crunchem Hall are as follows: Mia Atkinson, Leo Babet, Florence Burt, Poppy Caton, Zuri-Michel Charalambou, Brodie Edwards, Jude Farrant, Riotafari Gardner, Finley Harlett, Lily Hanna, Tia Isaac, Miley Kayongo, Shayla McCormack, Isabelle Mullally, Jasmine Nyenya, Raphaella Philbert, Jack Philpott, Riley Plummer, Jasmine Pottinger-Scott, Ashton Robertson, Leon Saunders, Andrei Shen-U Shen, Noah Swer-Fox and Lucia Wratten. Kylan Denis will continue as one of the actors who shares the role of Bruce.
Celebrating 10 years since the multi award-winning production opened in London, this iconic British musical has won 99 international awards including 24 for Best Musical and has been seen by 11 million people across more than 90 cities worldwide. Written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and developed and directed by Matthew Warchus, the production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions by PaulKieve.
Rakesh Boury
Together with the upcoming film adaptation from the same core creative team (direction by Matthew Warchus, adapted for the screen by Dennis Kelly, with the music and lyrics of Tim Minchin), Roald Dahl’s themes of bravery and standing up for what you believe in will continue to inspire young audiences all over the world. Sony Pictures U.K. and Tristar Pictures will release Matilda across the U.K. and Ireland exclusively in cinemas on 25 November 2022.
Three Short Ballets, performed by the Northern Ballet company at the Leeds Playhouse, positively stunned and astonished the audience last week in what was a truly contemporary and cultural phenomenon to behold. My guest and I, both non-dance connoisseurs but avid live performance enthusiasts, were simply blown away by the spectacular skill, energy and pure-genius of every single dancer. Each ballet had the ability to sent one on a soulful journey and I’m sure it depends on the individual as to where that takes you but will involve: the joys and struggles of mankind, community, support, love, death and the light / dark moments we face during life’s milestones.
The first ballet,’Wailers‘, magnificently choreographed by South African-born Mthuthuzeli November, took us on an emotional rites of passage quest. What unfolded was a coterie of people joining together in what I interpreted as ritual ceremonies, healing one another and honouring those ancestors in other realms. It felt spiritual, of the heart, tribal and rich in the true essence of what it means to belong and to love one’s fellow sister and brother. The end, solo part was an exhilarating dance and felt like this leading character was transcending into a higher frequency as she appeared to electrically charge in the light. It was unique and simply magical.
Stina Qugebeur’s,’Nostalgia‘, was as equally dramatic and emotionally effective as ‘Wailers‘ but centred around a couple’s relationship and their entrapment of the programmes and patterns of life. We witnessed their times of jubilation, love and connection when the pair were free from a programmed sequences (the mundane tasks in life and drudgery that we sometimes get caught up in) and when free, the dancers conveyed a sparkling feeling of unfettered joy! You could feel your own heart swell with each lift and turn but also, one could sense the darkness and the sadness when the light left. It was a very powerful the piece as it made one reflect and think: most poignant in today’s society when we can sometimes feel slaves in our own life’s due to the pressures of work and materialism.
The final ballet of the trio was ‘Ma Vie‘, choreographed by award-winning Hip-Hop dance artist Dickson Mbi and explored the life of Giacomo Casanova – his push for love, his relationship with the church and his eventual downfall. In my lifetime so far I haven’t seen anything like it – it was outstandingly creative and the fusion of hip-hop and ballet was explosively brilliant. Casanova’s covert passions and rich ambitions were all revealed through the Machiavellian energy driving him. This cunning and scheming energy was magically weaved by an unscrupulous character that was astounding in how they captured what felt like evil,dark spells being cast. The visuals of a pair of hands hovering over the stage acting like those of a puppeteer literally sent shivers down the spine and allured one further into the eventual doom of Casanova’s fate.
The Three Short Ballet’s had standout moments constantly, throughout and from start to finish. Each ballet was an innovative masterpiece performed through world-class dance and I can’t wait to see then next one!
Winners announced for The Stage Debut Awards 2022 in association with ATG 8 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BY Sunday 18th September 2022, 6pm
During a star-studded evening celebrating the best emerging theatre talent in the UK, the winners of The Stage Debut Awards 2022 have been announced.
Elisabeth Gunawan (c) Alex Brenner
Jodie Comer (Killing Eve, Doctor Foster) is among this year’s winners, receiving the Best West End Debut Performer award for her blistering performance in Prima Facie at the Harold Pinter Theatre. The entire ensemble of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy have received the award for Best Performer in a Play, the first time the award has ever been presented collectively to a group of performers. Mark Akintimehin, Emmanuel Akwafo, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh and Kaine Lawrence were honoured for their moving performances at the New Diorama and the Royal Court, alongside Elisabeth Gunawan for Unforgettable Girl at Voila! Europe Theatre Festival. Elijah Ferreira took home the Best Performer in a Musical award for Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Leeds Playhouse, and Best Director was awarded to Monique Touko for Malindadzimu at Hampstead Theatre
TK Hay (c) Alex Brenner
Further ground-breaking debut work honoured at this year’s awards includes the Best Writer award to Tyrell Williams for Red Pitch at the Bush Theatre and TK Hay’s Best Designer win for the set and costume for An Adventure at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton. John Patrick Elliott took home the Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer award for Cruise at the Duchess Theatre, and the Best Creative West End Debut award went to Julia Cheng for her choreography for Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre
Jacob Jackson and Elijah Ferreira (c) Alex Brenner
Winners were announced at an awards ceremony on Sunday 18th September at 8 Northumberland Avenue, with the ceremony live streamed via Facebook. The ceremony featured performances from Samuel Thomas (The Last Five Years) and Shan Ako (Hamilton), Frances Mayli-McCann (Bonnie & Clyde) and Natalie Paris (Six the Musical), and was hosted by BAFTA Award-winning actor Susan Wokoma
Alistair Smith, Editor of The Stage, commented, Congratulations to all our winners. Looking at this extraordinary array of emerging artists – and a couple of more established names – we can all be confident that the future of theatre in the UK is in incredibly exciting hands. I cannot wait to see what all these supremely talented theatremakers do next.
The Winners in Full
Best Performer in a Play: • Elisabeth Gunawan for Unforgettable Girl at Voila! Europe Theatre Festival • Ensemble of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy at the New Diorama and Royal Court, London (Mark Akintimehin, Emmanuel Akwafo, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh, Kaine Lawrence)
Best Performer in a Musical – sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line • Elijah Ferreira for Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Leeds Playhouse
Best Director – sponsored by Theatredor • Monique Touko for Malindadzimu at the Hampstead Theatre, London
Best Designer • TK Hay (set and costume) for An Adventure at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Best Writer – sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions • Tyrell Williams for Red Pitch at the Bush Theatre, London
Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer • John Patrick Elliott for Cruise at the Duchess Theatre, London
Best West End Debut Performer • Jodie Comer for Prima Facie at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London
Best Creative West End Debut – sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment • Julia Cheng (choreographer) for Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre
