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DERREN BROWN SET TO MESMERISE AUDIENCES WITH

LATEST STAGE PHENOMENON

Derren Brown, the multi award-winning master of psychological illusion is making a triumphant return to Newcastle Theatre Royal with his latest stage presentation Underground (Mon 7 – Wed 9 Aug ’17).

The nation’s favourite dark manipulator of magic and mind control transfixed full house audiences during a week long run ofMiracle in 2016.  Direct from its recent sold-out London run, Derren Brown: Underground features a collection of some of the very best of his previous stage work brought together into a spell-binding experience of showmanship and magical genius.

Derren comments: “It’s not a brand new show, rather an opportunity to see me perform some of my own choice of favourite bits from the past fourteen years of touring.  Hopefully, it will be just as rewarding an experience for those who have seen me before as it will be for first-timers.”

Derren has toured every year since 2003 and been watched by an estimated audience of nearly two million people. He has won prestigious Olivier Awards, for Something Wicked This Way Comes (2006) and Svengali (2012). His last show,Miracle, his most daring to date, was universally acclaimed by critics and the world-wide audience alike.

Derren Brown: Underground is a Michael Vine, Andrew O’Connor, Derren Brown and Paul Sandler presentation for Vaudeville Productions Ltd. Directed by Andrew O’Connor & Andy Nyman, Written by Andy Nyman, Andrew O’Connor & Derren Brown, setting by Will Bowen, lighting design by Charlie Morgan Jones, general manager is John Dalston.

Derren Brown: Underground appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Mon 7 – Wed 9 Aug ’17. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Tues 2 May at 9 am with Friends of the Theatre Royal able to purchase from Fri 28 Apr at 11am and Advantage members from Sat 29 Apr at 9am.  Prices from £29.00. Tickets are available from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.

LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES AND RADA LAUNCH CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN FOR THE LET BURSARY

A VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO THE AWARD FROM KATHERINE KELLY HERE AND OLIVER LANSLEY HERE

Today, Les Enfants Terribles and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) have launched a crowdfunding campaign for the first ever LET Bursary. RADA graduate Katherine Kelly(Coronation Street, Happy Valley, City of Angels) is the official patron of the award.

Created to help one individual without the financial means to attend drama school, the winning recipient will receive the bursary towards their tuition fees and living costs for the full-time professional acting course for one academic year.

For further information and to donate please visit:www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LETbursary

Katherine Kelly, patron of LET Bursary said: “Without RADA I simply wouldn’t be where I am today. The training which they provided me with gave me to tools to tackle any role in any script in any production anywhere in the world. There is no way that I would have had the exciting, varied and fulfilling career I’ve had so far but I know that I have been incredibly lucky.

When young actors ask me how they can break into the industry, I always recommend drama school. However so many talented young people, understandably and heartbreakingly, dismiss this as a possibility because drama school seems totally unaffordable.

Talent is not, and should never be, related to how much money you have. The LET Bursary, which I am thrilled to be a patron of, aims to remove some of those financial barriers which may discourage young actors from reaching their full potential.

RADA’s alumni include some the best actors of film, stage and screen and with your donation, you will be allowing a young actor to have the best possible start to their career.”

Oliver Lansley, Artistic Director of Les Enfants Terribles, said: With the gulf between richer and poorer growing ever wider in our society and the cost of drama schools having risen to over £9000 a year it is becoming increasingly hard for young people of less affluent backgrounds to be able to pursue their dreams of working in the arts.

I set up Les Enfants Terribles when I was 19 years old. My parents were not in involved in the arts, my father was a builder and my mother worked for the NHS, and there was no way they could have afforded £30,000 for me to train as an actor. 15 years later I see now how difficult it would have been for someone like me to get a foothold in this industry. I’ve been incredibly lucky. That’s why I feel it is essential for people in my position to help redress the balance and help support the next generation of artists.”

Edward Kemp, Director of RADA, said: “At a time when the higher education funding model puts financial pressure on many students, it’s vital that there is support available to enable talented young performers to pursue their careers through high quality training. I’m delighted that we’re adding to our scholarship provision by partnering with Les Enfants Terribles to offer the new LET Bursary. Founded by actors, RADA has always enjoyed exceptionally close ties with the profession and it’s particularly gratifying that a theatre company should want to support our students in this way.

Having a diverse company of actors training at RADA only enriches our learning experiences and creative output, and we hope that the new bursary will open up a pathway into the industry for a talented performer who might otherwise not have the opportunity.”

Craft Theatre presents:

NATIONAL THEATRE TO TOUR IBSEN’S MASTERPIECE

HEDDA GABLER

A NEW VERSION BY PATRICK MARBER

DIRECTED BY IVO VAN HOVE

UK Tour October 2017 – March 2018

Following a sold-out run at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre, the NT will tour its acclaimed production of Hedda Gabler throughout the UK.

Beginning at Theatre Royal Plymouth on 2 October 2017 the tour will journey across the UK to Edinburgh, Leicester, Salford, Norwich, Hull, Aberdeen, Northampton, Glasgow, Wolverhampton, Woking, Nottingham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York and Milton Keynes, where the tour finishes on 3 March 2018.

Just married. Bored already. Hedda longs to be free…

This vital new version of Ibsen’s masterpiece by Olivier and Tony Award®-winning playwright Patrick Marber (Closer, Three Days in the Country) is directed by Ivo van Hove, one of the world’s most exciting directors.  Olivier and Tony Award®-winning van Hove made his NT debut with Hedda Gabler.  His acclaimed production of A View from the Bridge recently played to sold out houses at the Young Vic, in the West End and on Broadway.  Van Hove’s next production for the NT will be the world premiere of Network based on the Oscar-winning film.  It will feature a UK stage debut for Bryan Cranston.

Set and lighting design for Hedda Gabler is by Jan Versweyveld, with costume design by An D’Huys and sound by Tom Gibbons.  The Associate Director is Jeff James.

Patrick Marber said:  ‘It has been a huge honour to work with the great Ivo van Hove on this version of Hedda Gabler at the National Theatre. I am thrilled that this tour will enable more people to see his incredible production.’

Casting will be announced soon.

Theatre Royal Plymouth                        2 – 7 Oct 2017                                    

Edinburgh Festival Theatre                    17 – 21 Oct 2017                        

Leicester Curve                                            23 – 28 Oct 2017                                              

The Lowry Salford                                 30 Oct – 4 Nov 2017                   

Norwich Theatre Royal                           7 – 11 Nov 2017                                               

Hull New Theatre                                    13 – 18 Nov 2017                                           

His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen             21 – 25 Nov 2017      

Northampton Royal & Derngate             28 Nov – 2 Dec 2017                                       .

Glasgow Theatre Royal                             15- 20 Jan 2018

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton            23 – 27 Jan 2018                                               

New Victoria, Woking                           29 Jan – 3 Feb 2018

Nottingham Theatre Royal                     5 – 10 Feb 2018         

Newcastle Theatre Royal                       12 – 17 Feb 2018   

Grand Opera House, York                         20 – 24 Feb 2018                              

Milton Keynes Theatre                          27 Feb – 3 Mar 2018       

Please check with individual theatres for box office information and on-sale dates

NOW IN ITS RECORD BREAKING 33^rd YEAR

CAMERON MACKINTOSH

ANNOUNCES MAJOR CAST CHANGES FOR

THE WEST END PRODUCTION OF

“LES MISÉRABLES”

AT THE QUEEN’S THEATRE

FROM MONDAY 12 JUNE 2017

KILLIAN DONNELLY WILL STAR AS ‘JEAN VALJEAN’

CARLEY STENSON AS ‘FANTINE’

AND

HAYDEN TEE RETURNS AS ‘JAVERT’

From Monday 12 June 2017, there will be major cast changes at the West End production of “LES MISÉRABLES” at the Queen’s Theatre, which is now in its record breaking 33^rd year.

Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce that Killian Donnelly will star as ‘Jean Valjean’. He joins “Les Misérables” fresh from Broadway where he is currently playing the lead role of ‘Charlie Price’ in “Kinky Boots”. West End leading lady and former Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson, will join the company as ‘Fantine’ andHayden Tee returns to play ‘Javert’ from 17 July having performed the role at The Queen’s Theatre until 22 April this year. 

Also joining the company are Steven Meo as ‘Thénardier’; Karis Jack as ‘Eponine’, Jacqueline Tate as ‘Madame Thénardier’ and Hyoie O’Grady as ‘Enjolras’. Paul Wilkins will continue in the role of ‘Marius’ andCharlotte Kennedy will continue in the role of ‘Cosette’ having both originally joined the company in 2015.

From 17 July 2017 the full company will be: Emma Barr; Adam Bayjou; Oliver Brenin; Ciarán Bowling; Hugo Chiarella; Andy Conaghan; Killian Donnelly; Alice Ellen Wright; Sophie-May Feek; Hyoie O’Grady; Catherine Hannay; Antony Hansen; Holly-Anne Hull; James Hume; Karis Jack; Ciaran Joyce; Charlotte Kennedy; Katie Kerr; Rebecca Lafferty; Jo Loxton; John Lumsden; Anna McGarahan; Steven Meo; Jonny Purchase; Lauren Soley; Carley Stenson; Jacqueline Tate; Shaq Taylor; George Tebbutt; Hayden Tee; Lee Van Geleen; Danny Whitehead and Paul Wilkins.

Killian Donnelly is currently playing the role of ‘Charlie Price’ in “Kinky Boots” on Broadway, a role he originated at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in 2015, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award. His other theatre credits include: ‘Jackie Day’ in “Donegal”, a new play by Frank McGuinness, at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and ‘Huey’ in the original London cast of “Memphis” at the Shaftesbury Theatre for which he was also nominated for an Olivier Award.  He created the role of ‘Deco’ in “The Commitments” at the Palace Theatre and has also played ‘Tony’ in “Billy Elliot” at the Victoria Palace Theatre as well as’ Raoul’ in “The Phantom of the Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre. He first joined the company of “Les Misérables” in 2008, going onto play the role of ‘Enjolras’ from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, he played the role of ‘Courfeyrac’ in the “25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables” at The O2 Arena and also played the role of ‘Combeferre’ in the multi-award-winning film of the show, released in 2012.

Carley Stenson’s West End credits include ‘Elle Woods’ in “Legally Blonde”, ‘Princess Fiona’ in “Shrek The Musical” and ‘Lady of the Lake’ in “Spamalot”. Carley also starred as ‘Christine Colgate’ in the tour of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. She is probably best known for playing the regular role of ‘Steph Cunningham’ in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, for which she was nominated for several awards during her 10 years with the show.

Hayden Tee returns to the West End production of Les Misérables having played the role of ‘Javert’ in the West End from 9 January 2017 to 22 April 2017.  He has previously played the role on Broadway and in Dubai. He has also previously played the role of ‘Marius’. His other theatre credits include: “South Pacific”; “Little Women”; “Titanic”; “Cats” and “Into the Woods”.

Steven Meo’s previous theatre credits include “Pride & Prejudice” at The Regents Park Open Air Theatre and on UK tour; “The Taming of the Shrew”, “Boeing Boeing”, “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog” all for Theatre Clwyd; “The Distance” for Sheffield Crucible/Orange Tree Theatre and “Flesh and Blood” for Hampstead Theatre and on tour.

Karis Jack’s theatre credits include “The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin” at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East & Belgrade Theatre, Coventry; “Baddies: The Musical” at the Unicorn Theatre’ “Hairspray” at Curve, Leicester and on UK tour; “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Salisbury Playhouse and Mercury Theatre, Colchester; and “Urinetown: The Musical” at the Apollo Theatre and St James Theatre.

Jacqueline Tate’s previous theatre credits include: “Allegro” at the Southwark Playhouse; “Avenue Q” at the Wyndham’s Theatre, Gielgud Theatre and national tour; “South Pacific” at The Barbican Theatre and UK tour; “The Phantom of The Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre and “My Fair Lady” and “Evita” on international tour.

Hyoie O’Grady is making his professional and West End debut in “Les Misérables”.

Paul Wilkins has previously played the role of ‘Marius’ in “Les Misérables” in Manila, Singapore and Dubai. He made his West End debut in “Les Misérables” in 2015.

Charlotte Kennedy made her West End debut in “Les Misérables” in 2015.  She has also appeared in “Elaine Paige in Concert” at the Royal Albert Hall.

Tickets for “LES MISÉRABLES” are priced £12.50 – £72.50

Currently booking till 14 October 2017

Box Office: 0844 482 5160

Performances: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm

Matinees – Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm

www.lesmis.com

York Theatre Royal – 26 April 2017.  Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

Fresh from its sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Ten years, two friends and one fortune teller.

Written, devised and performed by Roxy Dunn and Alys Metcalf, we meet two friends, Libby and Sam, recent graduates, attending a festival where they have their fortunes read. One is told she will be successful in love, life and basically everything, whilst the other will not succeed and die a dramatic death before the age of 30.

We follow them through the years via the simple, yet very effective, prop of a flip chart, denoting the leap forward, or later in the show, the jump back in time. We see their lives unfold and take different paths, exactly how the fortune teller predicted. Would it have been any different if the fortunes had been the other way round and could they turn back time? And yes, we were treated to the Cher song of the same name, before they do turn back time.

In between the passing of the years Dunn and Metcalf frequently step out of character and explain their friendship and creative processes. I suppose you could say a story within a story. This was a new one on me and I must admit that I found it a bit strange a first, it added to the show and laughs.

Dunn has written a short, but decent script for both her and Metcalf and they work well together. They have great chemistry and delivered a good comedic performance. Metcalf showed great physicality in her performance which worked well with Dunn’s somewhat understated, in comparison, performance.

We were a small audience and it was very intimate, which added to the performance and I certainly felt engaged and involved. The staging was very simple with a flipchart, two cool boxes and a couple of cardis, but very effective.

It was 60 minutes of truly unexpected fun and what if?

BOTTOMLESS PROSECCO MAY AT PIER EIGHT

Throughout May 2017 Pier Eight Restaurant at The Lowry will be doing a bottomless prosecco offer.

Celebrate May at The Lowry’s Pier Eight restaurant with their bottomless prosecco offer. Throughout the month diners at Pier Eight on Thursdays to Saturdays after 8pm will enjoy bottomless prosecco with a three course meal.

Pier Eight’s seasonal menu includes a delicious honey roasted plums and goats’ cheese mousse served on a crisp flatbread to start; an 8oz ribeye steak with mustard rarebit, air dried tomatoes, fat chips and red wine jus for mains and can finish with a sumptuous chocolate crémeux served with hazelnut joconde and coffee whipped cream.

The bottomless prosecco offer is exclusively on Thu, Fri & Sat from 8pm onwards with last tables seated at 9.30pm. And is available when diners get three courses.

More information on Pier Eight Restaurant & the bottomless prosecco offer can be found on their website

Today, Thursday 27 April, Argyle Primary School in King’s Cross took part in Camden Council’s ‘Daily Mile’ campaign to boost walking in the borough. The children set off from the school (on Tonbridge Street) to the Ambassadors Theatre, to take to the stage with STOMP cast members Andrew Patrick, Rob Shaw, Rhys Shone and Sam Wilmott. They were also joined by Camden Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Angela Mason CBE.

Daily Mile is a project run in many of Camden’s schools, including Argyle Primary, which sees every child in the school spending 15 minutes a day running, jogging or walking on top of their regular PE lessons.

Councillor Georgia Gould, Camden Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Health, said:

“Brisk walking is one of the easiest ways to fit exercise into a daily routine and be active. It can be done anywhere, and can also be done creatively – as demonstrated by children from Argyle Primary School and the cast of STOMP.

“Camden is full of wonderful walking routes and the council also helps organise health walks, which are free and designed for anyone, including those new to exercise. Visit oneyoucamden.org/walking to find out how you can take part.”

Fraser Morrison, Stomp’s Casting Director and original cast member, said:

“Our show is based on movement and activity, so it was a natural link to join forces with Camden Council and Argyle Primary School for a campaign to get people of all ages more active. We cover several miles on stage every night, in which we try to convey the fun, excitement and exhilaration of physical exercise, whether you are sweeping the floor briskly with a broom or zipping through the supermarket on your shopping trolley. The benefits of exercise expand the health of mind and body.”

LONDON’S NEW HIT MUSICAL EXTENDS INTO 2018

TICKETS NOW ON SALE TO 27 JANUARY 2018

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

Exquisite production opens to an incredible 28 five-star reviews

AnAmericanInParisTheMusical.co.uk

Christopher Wheeldon’s stunning reinvention of the Oscar® winning film An American in Parishas been ecstatically received by audiences and critics since opening at the beautifully restored Dominion Theatre on 21 March 2017. The smash hit production has now extended booking, with tickets on sale until Saturday 27 January 2018.

The sumptuous new musical about following your heart and living your dreams is written by Craig Lucas and features the timeless music and lyrics of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, including I Got Rhythm, ‘S Wonderful, I’ll Build a Stairway To Paradise and They Can’t Take That Away from Me, together with George Gershwin’s sweeping compositions including ‘Concerto in F’ and ‘An American in Paris’.

Jerry Mulligan is an American GI pursuing his dream to make it as a painter in a city suddenly bursting with hope and possibility. Following a chance encounter with a beautiful young dancer named Lise, the streets of Paris become the backdrop to a sensuous, modern romance of art, friendship and love in the aftermath of war…

The cast is headed by the original, award-winning Broadway stars Robert Fairchild (as Jerry Mulligan) and Leanne Cope (as Lise Dassin), together with Haydn Oakley as Henri Baurel, Zoë Rainey as Milo Davenport, David Seadon-Young as Adam Hochberg and Jane Asher as Madame Baurel. Ashley Day is the alternate Jerry Mulligan (and he will assume the role from Monday 19 June 2017). The company also features Julian Forsyth and Ashley Andrews, Sophie Apollonia, Zoe Arshamian, Sarah Bakker, James Barton, Alicia Beck, Chrissy Brooke, James Butcher, Jonathan Caguioa, Jennifer Davison, Katie Deacon, Rebecca Fennelly, Sebastian Goffin, Alyn Hawke, Nicky Henshall, Genevieve Heron, Amy Hollins, Frankie Jenna, Justin-Lee Jones, Robin Kent, Kristen McGarrity, Julia J. Nagle, Daniela Norman, Pippa Raine, Aaron Smyth, Todd Talbot, Max Westwell, Jack Wilcox, Carrie Willis, Stuart Winter and Liam Wrate.

The new musical An American in Paris premiered in 2014 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris to ecstatic reviews before transferring to the Palace Theatre on Broadway, where it became the most awarded musical of the 2015/16 season, including four Tony® Awards. A major North American tour is currently playing.

With music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a new book by Craig Lucas, the new musical An American in Paris is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon with set and costumes designs by Bob Crowley, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound byJon Weston and projection designs by 59 Productions. The musical score is adapted, arranged and supervised by Rob Fisher with orchestrations by Christopher Austin and Bill Elliott, dance arrangements by Sam Davis and musical supervision by Todd Ellison. The UK Musical Director is John Rigby.

An American in Paris is produced in London by Stuart Oken, Van Kaplan, Roy Furman, Michael McCabe and Joshua Andrews.

Robert Fairchild is appearing with the support of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.