Category: Uncategorized

Old Red Lion Theatre 13th October – 7th November.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

“We’ve had strange reports in this area about people reading.”

Somebody is decapitating children and leaving Enid Blyton books on their bodies. Could be a Midsummer Murders plot, but Playground is inhabited by characters that make Midsummer seem a harmonious, well-balanced place to live.

In the first act each scene change is marked by the stunning voice of Sarah Quist (Bella) singing “Oranges and Lemons”. Yes, it’s that sort of humour.

Every single character throws away lines that make you wonder if they are involved in the crimes. Even the police officers, who couldn’t catch a cold. Detectives Mitchell (Dan MacLane) and Birch (Christopher James Barley) are a very strange pair. They have a homoerotic dynamic which becomes weirder and funnier as the play progresses and they go undercover. They hardly ever look at each other, instead staring intently at the audience when they deliver their lines, like overwrought 80s cop show characters – hysterical.

The park is frequented by sad and lost characters – three of whom have been treated by the same psychiatrist. They are coping with life, rather than living it. Laura Garnier and Simon Every are lovely to watch as the awkward Tamsin and Stuart. His bemusement at her shoehorning communist ideology into every conversation and her changing body language in different situations are delightful and subtle. Carolyn (Josie Ayers) is suicidal and Danny (Richard Fish) saves her. Ayers is wonderful portraying the hopelessness of being the disappointing child in a successful family, bumbling through life veering between despair and hysterical enthusiasm. Fish speaks as the outsider – telling harsh and honest facts in such an innocent way that everyone accepts it. But, like the rest of the characters, he has big dreams – and one of these is to form a book club… studying Enid Blyton.

This isn’t an action packed play, but Peter Hamilton’s writing and the great acting keep you engrossed. This is black humour at its best. When the killer is finally revealed and motive explained, it is a laugh out loud moment that you instantly feel a little guilty about.

A fantastic play that deserves a much larger audience.

A Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre co-production of

SINGLE SPIES

ALAN BENNETT’S HIT COMEDY SINGLE SPIES TO TOUR THE UK IN 2016

Nicholas Farrell, Belinda Lang, David Robb will lead the cast

Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh

The production will visit Chichester, Birmingham, Richmond, Canterbury, Newcastle, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bath, Leeds, Salisbury and Sheffield

A new production of Alan Bennett’s hit comedy will embark on a UK tour in February 2016.  Following the success of The King’s Speech, Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre collaborate once again on this award-winning comedy masterpiece, Single Spies.

Olivier Award-nominated Rachel Kavanaugh will direct Nicholas Farrell (as Guy Burgess), Belinda Lang (Coral Browne and Her Majesty the Queen) and David Robb (Anthony Blunt) in an extensive UK tour opening in February 2016.  Further casting to follow.

Bennett’s award-winning espionage double bill is a pointedly satirical snapshot of two members of the infamous ‘Cambridge Five’, Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, both recruited as spies by the Soviet Union during World War II.

In 1950s Moscow, Coral Browne receives an invitation to lunch with shunned Soviet spy, Guy Burgess, with the sole instruction to ‘bring a tape measure’.  An Englishman Abroad is a wry and touching play which chronicles the pair’s fleeting friendship and Burgess’ attempts to cling to his way of life as a Soviet citizen.

A Question of Attribution gives us a glimpse into Anthony Blunt’s life of espionage within the very walls of Buckingham Palace.  Following his double-life as an art historian to royalty and a Soviet spy, this witty tale of forgery and deceit culminates in a sharp and candid interrogation from Her Majesty the Queen herself.

Single Spies premiered at the National Theatre in 1988, opening to critical acclaim and receiving an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 1990.

Nicholas Farrell’s previous credits with Chichester Festival Theatre include The Browning Version/South Downs (and West End) and Damsels in Distress he also starred as Alan Bennett inThe Lady in the Van (Queen’s Theatre).  Farrell’s extensive film career includes The Iron Lady,Legend and Chariots of Fire.

Belinda Lang is best known for playing Bill Porter in hit TV show 2 Point 4 Children (BBC), further screen credits include Second Thoughts (LWT), Doctors (BBC) and Midsomer Murders(ITV).  She has recently appeared on stage in Oklahmona! (Northampton/Tour), Ladies in Lavendar (National Tour), Hay Fever (Royal Exchange and Haymarket Theatre) and East is East(Birmingham Rep).

David Robb is currently on screen as Dr. Clarkson in the multi-award winning drama Downton Abbey (ITV), his extensive television credits also include Wolf Hall, Roman Mysteries andGarrow’s Law (all BBC).  On stage he has recently appeared in The Audience (Apollo Theatre) and Hamlet (Tour & West End).

Rachel Kavanaugh was Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre and has directed multiple celebrated productions at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre including The Sound of Music(nominated for Best Musical Revival, Oliver Awards; winner of Best Musical Revival, WhatsOnStage Awards), Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It.  For Chichester Festival Theatre, Kavanaugh’s Love Story was Olivier Award-nominated for Best New Musical and received a West End transfer.

 

LISTINGS:

Chichester Festival Theatre
4-13 February
Oaklands Parks, Chichester, PO19 6AP
01243 781312
Online bookings: www.cft.org.uk

Birmingham Repertory Theatre
17- 27 February
Centenary Square, Broad Street, B1 2EP
0121 236 4455
Online bookings: www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Richmond Theatre
1-5 March
The Green, Surrey, TW9 1QJ
0844 871 7651
Online bookings: www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre

The Marlowe Theatre
8- 12 March
The Friars, Canterbury, CT1 2AS
01227 787787
Online bookings: www.marlowetheatre.com

Theatre Royal Newcastle Upon Tyne
15-19 March
100 Grey Street, NE1 6BR
08448 11 21 21
Online bookings: www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Oxford Playhouse
21-26 March
Beaumont Street, OX1 2LW
01865 305305
Online bookings: www.oxfordplayhouse.com

The Everyman Theatre
29 March – 02 April
Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ
01242 572573
Online bookings: www.everymantheatre.org.uk

Theatre Royal Bath
04 – 09 April
Sawclose, BA1 1ET
01225 448844
Online bookings: www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Leeds Grand Theatre
12 – 16 April
46 New Briggate, LS1, 6NZ
0844 848 2700
Online bookings: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

Salisbury Playhouse
18- 23 April
Malthouse Lane, Wiltshire, SP2 7RA
01722 320 117
Online bookings: www.salisburyplayhouse.com

Sheffield Theatres
26-30 April
55 Norfolk Street, S1 1DA
0114 249 6000
Online bookings: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

GARY BARLOW AND TIM FIRTH INVITE NURSES AND CARERS

TO THE DRESS REHEARSAL OF THEIR NEW MUSICAL

THE GIRLS

AT THE LEEDS GRAND THEATRE ON SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER

 

Gary Barlow and Tim Firth are offering nurses and carers free tickets to see the Dress Rehearsal of their new musical THE GIRLS at Leeds Grand Theatre on Saturday 14 November at 2.30pm.

THE GIRLS is inspired by the true story of a group of ladies, who decide to appear nude for a Women’s Institute calendar in order to raise funds to buy a settee for their local hospital in memory of one of their husbands.

Tim Firth and Gary Barlow said: “This is about giving something to the unsung heroes; those people who care for others.”

The musical comedy shows the women’s life in their Yorkshire village, how the story began, the effect on husbands, sons and daughters and how a group of ordinary ladies achieved something extraordinary taking the world by story.

 

The complimentary Dress Rehearsal tickets are available only in person at The Grand Theatre box office from tomorrow, Saturday 24 October at 10am

 

They cannot be booked online or by phone

 

They will be given on a first-come-first-served basis on presentation of ID

 

A maximum of two tickets per person

 

YORK THEATRE ROYAL RECEIVES £150,000 CLOTHWORKERS’ THEATRE AWARD.

York Theatre Royal is pleased to announce that it has been awarded £150,000 by the Clothworkers’ Foundation. The announcement was made at the UK Theatre Awards on Sunday 18 October at the Guildhall in London. Liz Wilson, Chief Executive of York Theatre Royal was presented with the prestigious award by actor Robert Powell at a star-studded ceremony which was attended by Sir Patrick Stewart OBE, Barbara Windsor MBE, Richard Wilson OBE, Anne Reid MBE, Dame Eileen Atkins DBE and guests from theatres and creative teams from across the UK.

The Clothworkers’ Theatre Award is part of a wider £1.25million, five-year programme to support the Dramatic Arts and is given to an organisation in a different region each year. This year, York Theatre Royal’s application faced stiff competition from Harrogate Theatre, Hull Truck Theatre, Sheffield Theatres Trust, Stephen Joseph Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse. York Theatre Royal received the award in recognition of its inventive approach to work involving all members of the community, including younger and older people and ‘hard to reach’ sectors who would not normally engage with the theatre.

York Theatre Royal will use this funding to support Community Collaborations: a season of active spectatorship, a unique project, which will see York Theatre Royal embark on a two-year programme of exceptional community engagement, with the idea of the ‘active spectator’ behind all activity. This includes the annual TakeOver festival, completely run by young people aged 12 – 26 years old; a unique programme involving Youth Theatre and older members of the community; and another large-scale community production in 2016/17 following the success of York Mystery Plays 2012, Blood + Chocolate (2013) and In Fog and Falling Snow (2015).

Vicky Biles, General Manager at York Theatre Royal said:

We are thrilled to have been given the Clothworkers’ Award to support our work within the community over the next two years. York Theatre Royal has a very strong track record of working with the community and has a reputation as one of the most inclusive cultural institutions in the country. This award will enable us to re-open the theatre after a transformative capital redevelopment with an exceptional project that will ensure the ongoing sustainability of this important theatre.

The award is open to venue members of UK Theatre that operate under the UK Theatre/Equity Subsidised Repertory Agreement. In 2015, venues in Yorkshire were invited to apply. It is currently planned that this will be followed by the North East and North West, East and West Midlands and finally East and South East.

The Clothworkers’ Foundation, an independent grant-making trust, was set up by The Clothworkers’ Company in 1977. Since then, the Foundation has awarded more than £100m in grants. It awards capital grants to UK not-for-profit organisations which aim to improve the lives of people and communities, particularly those facing disadvantage. In addition, the Foundation has a small number of proactive grant programmes including the new five year £1.25m Dramatic Arts initiative.

Organised by UK Theatre, the UK Theatre Awards are the only nationwide awards to honour creative excellence and the outstanding achievement seen on and off stage throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

 

As Christmas is fast approaching,here are some of the family-friendly shows suitable for this festive period:

 

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

West Yorkshire Playhouse

2 December 2015 – 30 January 2016

Directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining, with choreography by Stephen Mear and production design by Simon Higlett, this new production of the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical stars Jon Robyns and Amy Griffiths. The memorable score includes such standards as Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain and the Oscar-nominated title song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse will be followed by a UK & Ireland Tour.

Suitable for all ages 5+

www.chittythemusical.co.uk

 

ELF

Dominion Theatre

24 October 2015 – 2 January 2016

The London premiere of the musical ELF is based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit starring Will Ferrell. ELF, which stars Ben Forster, Kimberley Walsh, Joe McGann and Jessica Martin, is the hilarious tale of Buddy, who grows up in the North Pole thinking he’s an elf. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

 

Duration:  2 hours 25 minutes

Suitable for all ages 4+

www.elfthemusical.co.uk

 

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN

King’s Cross Theatre

Currently booking until 3 January 2016

The Olivier Award-winning production of Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s classic novel, following the journey of Bobby, Peter and Phyllis who move to rural Yorkshire and befriend local railway porter, Perks. A purpose built 1,000-seat theatre, complete with a railway track and platforms, and with a state of the art air conditioning and heating system, was specially created for this production. The York Theatre Royal production, which is in association with the National Railway Museum, features a live steam locomotive and a vintage carriage, originally built in 1896. The production is directed by Damian Cruden, Artistic Director of York Theatre Royal.

Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes

Suitable for all ages 5+

www.railwaychildrenlondon.com

 

SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW

Royal Festival Hall

16 December 2015 – 3 January 2016

The multi-international award-winning show returns to London’s Southbank Centre for a fifth consecutive Christmas season. A combination of theatrical clowning and breath-taking visual effects, the show is performed by a world-renowned company of clowns led by Slava Polunin, the Artistic Director of the St Petersburg Circus.

 

Suitable for all ages 5+

www.slavasnowshow.co.uk

A night of intrigue is on the cards for audiences at Newcastle Theatre Royal as the multi award-winning production of J.B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls returns from 9-13 February 2016

 

A National Theatre production and winner of 19 major international awards, Stephen Daldry’s legendary production of the classic thriller stars Liam Brennan (Inspector Goole), Caroline Wildi (Mrs Birling), Tim Woodward (Mr Birling), Matthew Douglas (Gerald Croft), Katherine Jack (Sheila Birling), Hamish Riddle (Eric Birling) and Diana Payne Myers (Edna).

 

This tour marks 70 years since An Inspector Calls first premiered, in Moscow in 1945. Written at the end of the Second World War and set before the First World War, J.B Priestley’s play is a compelling and haunting thriller. The story begins when the mysterious Inspector Goole calls unexpectedly on the prosperous Birling family home. Their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman whom each of them in turn has exploited. His startling revelations not only shatter the very foundations of their lives but challenge us all to examine our consciences. Daldry’s visionary production unites the 1912 setting with the time it was written in 1945, transferring the play to a dramatic cobblestone war-torn wasteland, where the Edwardian Birling family home looms precariously, suspended on stilts.

 

Featuring Ian MacNeil’s ingenious designs, a sweeping score by Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare in Love) and atmospheric lighting by Rick Fisher, the production has received an unprecedented string of awards, including the Olivier Award for Best Revival, Best Director and Best Designer and the Tony Award on Broadway for Best Revival, Best Director and Best Lighting.

 

Director Stephen Daldry has received Academy Award nominations for Best Director and/or Best Picture for his films The Reader(starring Kate Winslett, Ralph Fiennes), The Hours (starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore), Billy Elliot (starring Jamie Bell) and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock). He won his first major directorial success in 1992 when his visionary revival of J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls opened at the National Theatre to outstanding critical acclaim.

Daldry’s recent West End theatre work includes a revival of David Hare’s Skylight starring Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan at the Wyndham’s Theatre and Peter Morgan’s The Audience, originally starring Helen Mirren at the Gielgud Theatre and currently starring Kristen Scott Thomas at the Apollo Theatre. His multi award-winning production of Billy Elliot The Musical is now enjoying its 10^th year at the Victoria Palace.

 

The longest running play revival in history, Stephen Daldry’s An Inspector Calls has played in the West End (including a 6-year run), on Broadway, across Australia, the United States, Japan and Europe and has currently completed seven major UK tours. The production returned to the West End in 2010, winning a host of 5-star reviews and enjoying sell-out performances at the Novello Theatre before transferring to the Wyndham’s for an extended run. Widely renowned as the theatrical event of our generation, this production has now been seen by an excess of three million theatregoers worldwide.

 

The National Theatre Production of An Inspector Calls is produced on tour by PW Productions Ltd. Directed by Stephen Daldry, Designed by Ian MacNeil, with Music by Stephen Warbeck, Lighting by Rick Fisher, Associate Director Julian Webber.

 

An Inspector Calls is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 9 to Sat 13 Feb 2016, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees Wed and Thu at 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £14.50 (save 50p per ticket online). Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online atwww.theatreroyal.co.uk

 

FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL

RETURNS IN A BRAND NEW PRODUCTION

TOURING THE UK FROM JANUARY 2016

WITH GARETH GATES AS WILLARD

 

 

17 years to the day since it first opened on Broadway, it is announced that worldwide smash hit musicalFootloose: The Musical will burst back onto the stage in 2016, touring the UK from January. Full tour schedule attached.

 

Based on the 1984 screen sensation starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose: The Musical tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet. Featuring classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear it for the Boy and the unforgettable title track, Footloose: The Musical is set to take the world by storm once again in this brand new production, bursting with youthful spirit, dazzling dance and electrifying music.

 

When the film was released in 1984, it became the highest-grossing February release in US film history.  The soundtrack album ended the year-long reign of Michael Jackson’s Thriller at number one and went on to top album charts all over the world, eventually selling in excess of 17 million copies.  Footloose was nominated for a Golden Globe, and both the title song and Let’s Hear It for the Boy received Academy Award nominations.Footloose: The Musical first opened on Broadway in 1998 where it ran for 709 performances, with a London production following in 2006, opening at the Novello Theatre following a UK Tour.

 

Gareth Gates will play Willard from 29 January until 16 April, returning to the show from 20 June 2016. Gareth rose to fame through the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2001, going on to sell over 5 million records worldwide and have hits across the globe. His version of Unchained Melody sold over a million copies in the UK and is the 3rd best-selling single of the Noughties. Gareth is also the youngest ever-male solo artist to debut at number 1.  More recently Gareth has enjoyed a successful career on stage, with credits including Les Misérables, Legally Blonde and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. In 2014 Gareth appeared in the final series ofDancing on Ice, and joined boyband 5^th Story as part of ITV’s second series of The Big Reunion, touring arenas with bands including Blue and Five.

Further casting is to be announced.

 

Footloose: The Musical has music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and is adapted for the stage by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie. It is based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford. It is directed by Racky Plews (American Idiot, West End) with choreography by Matthew Cole, design by Sara Perks and musical supervision by Mark Crossland. It is produced by David Hutchinson and Phillip Rowntree for Sell A Door Theatre Company and Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment. It is presented by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe.

 

www.footloose-musical.com

@FootlooseTour

2016 UK TOUR

 

Friday 29 January – Saturday 6 February 2016

BRIDLINGTON Spa

Box Office www.thespabridlington.com | 01262 678258

With Gareth Gates as Willard

Monday 8 – Saturday 13 February 2016

DARTFORD Orchard Theatre

Box Office www.orchardtheatre.co.uk | 01322 220000

With Gareth Gates as Willard

 

Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 February 2016

EDINBURGH Festival Theatre

Box Office www.edtheatres.com | 0131 529 6000

With Gareth Gates as Willard

 

Monday 22 – Saturday 27 February 2016

LOWESTOFT Marina Theatre

Box Office www.marinatheatre.co.uk | 01502 533200

With Gareth Gates as Willard

Monday 29 February – Saturday 5 March 2016

CARDIFF New Theatre

Box Office www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk | 029 2087 8889

With Gareth Gates as Willard

Monday 14 – Saturday 19 March 2016

MANCHESTER Palace Theatre

Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester | 0161 245 6600

With Gareth Gates as Willard

 

Monday 21 – Saturday 26 March 2016

CARLISLE Sands Theatre

Box Office www.thesandscentre.co.uk | 01228 633766

With Gareth Gates as Willard

 

Monday 28 March – Saturday 2 April 2016

PORTSMOUTH King’s Theatre

Box Office www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk | 023 9282 8282

With Gareth Gates as Willard

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 April 2016

BOURNEMOUTH Pavilion Theatre

Box Office www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk | 0844 576 3000

With Gareth Gates as Willard

 

Tuesday 19- Saturday 23 April 2016

OXFORD New Theatre

Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford | 0844 871 3020

 

Monday 25 – Saturday 30 April 2016

WESTON-SUPER-MARE Playhouse

Box Office www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/theplayhouse | 01934 645544

 

Monday 2 – Saturday 7 May 2016

WIMBLEDON New Theatre

Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre | 020 8545 7900

 

Monday 9 – Saturday 14 May 2016

LIVERPOOL Empire

Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire | 0151 702 7320

Tuesday 17 – Saturday 23 May 2016

WATFORD COLOSSEUM

Box Office www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk | 01923 571102

 

Tuesday 31 May – Saturday 4 June 2016

DERRY Millennium Forum

Box Office www.millenniumforum.co.uk | 028 7126 4455

Monday 6 – Saturday 11 June 2016

TORQUAY Princess Theatre

Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/princess-theatre-torquay | 0844 871 3023

Monday 13 – Saturday 18 June 2016

GLASGOW King’s Theatre

Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre | 0844 871 7648

 

Monday 20 – Saturday 25 June 2016

ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre

Box Office www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/venues/his-majestys-theatre | 01224 641122

With Gareth Gates as Willard

Monday 4 – Saturday 9 July 2016

BIRMINGHAM Alexandra Theatre

Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham | 0844 871 3011

With Gareth Gates as Willard

 

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 July 2016

NEWCASTLE Opera House

Box Office www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk | 0191 243 1171

With Gareth Gates as Willard

 

Monday 18 – Saturday 23 July 2016

WOKING New Victoria Theatre

Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre | 0844 871 7645

With Gareth Gates as Willard

 

Monday 25 – Saturday 30 July 2016

BRIGHTON Theatre Royal

Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton | 0844 871 7627

With Gareth Gates as Willard

 

Monday 1 August – Saturday 6 August 2016

BRISTOL Hippodrome

Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome | 0844 871 3012

With Gareth Gates as Willard

LOUISE JAMESON WILL STAR IN THE 2016 UK TOUR OF AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MOUSETRAP

THE RECORD-BREAKING 60TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR CONTINUES WITH ITS FIRST 2016 ENGAGEMENT AT NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL ON 19 JANUARY

Louise Jameson (Doctor Who, EastEnders, Doc Martin) will star as Mrs Boyle in the record-breaking 60th anniversary tour of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap from January 2016. The beloved murder mystery will begin the 2016 leg of its tour at Nottingham Theatre Royal on 19 January before visiting more than 25 further venues across the UK. Further casting will be announced in due course.

Louise Jameson is best well-known for her long-running roles as Leela, a companion of Tom Baker’s Doctor in Doctor Who, Susan Young in Bergerac¸ Eleanor Glasson in Doc Martin, and Rosa di Marco in EastEnders. In addition to Louise’s illustrious roles on screen, she has also appeared on stage in Love, Loss and What I Wore (The Mill, Sonning), Noises Off (Mercury Theatre), Gutted (Theatre Royal, Stratford East) and Oedipus (The Liverpool Everyman & Nottingham Playhouse).

Louise said: “I thought about doing something special for my 65th birthday in 2016. Just how did I get to be 65?  The same way The Mousetrap has run for nearly that length of time I suppose, just second by second time has ticked away we’ve both lasted this long,  and so we’ll be celebrating together. That’s quite special.”

The production, which originally opened at Nottingham Theatre Royal in 1952 starring the late Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim before embarking on its current record-breaking West End run, continues its journey across the breadth of the country, visiting towns and cities including Brighton, Reading, Darlington, Grimsby, York, Portsmouth, Cheltenham, Stoke, Woking, Leicester, Liverpool, Harrogate, Shrewsbury, Dartford, Yeovil, Hereford, Derby, Kings Lynn, Salisbury, Manchester, Aylesbury, Torquay, Llandudno, Jersey and Bristol.

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has been the world’s longest running stage production at its London home since breaking the record in 1958 and recently celebrated its 26,000th performance. The 60th Anniversary – and first ever – UK tour of this beloved murder mystery is approaching 1000 performances and has now been seen by nearly 1 million people, having broken box office records in many of its tour venues.

Mousetrap Productions has also licensed 60 productions of The Mousetrap worldwide to mark the 60th year, and many of these have also broken records, from Cape Town to Philadelphia, Singapore to Sydney. During this period, the world’s longest running show will have been seen in every continent with professional productions in Australia, China, Korea, Turkey, South Africa, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Scandinavia, Venezuela, and across the United States and Canada.

The Mousetrap continues its open-ended run at St. Martin’s Theatre, London. The UK tour is currently booking until August 2016.

 

www.mousetrapontour.com

Louise Jameson’s final appearance in The Mousetrap will be 30 July 2016 at Venue Cymru Llandudno. Casting for the rest of the tour will be announced in due course.

2015 TOUR DATES

19 – 24 October
Mercury Theatre, Colchester
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 01206 573 948

26 – 31 October
The Town House, Hamilton
www.sllcboxoffice.co.uk
Box Office: 01698 452 122

2 – 7 November
Buxton Opera House
www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
Box Office: 0845 127 2190

9 – 14 November
Coventry Belgrade
www.belgrade.co.uk
Box Office: 024 7655 3055

16 – 21 November
Alhambra Theatre Dunfermline
www.alhambradunfermline.com
Box Office: 01383 740 384

23 – 28 November
Chichester Festival Theatre
www.cft.org.uk
Box Office:  01243 781312

2016 TOUR DATES

19 – 23 January
Theatre Royal Nottingham
www.trch.co.uk
Box Office: 0115 989 5555

25 – 30 January
Theatre Royal Brighton
On sale 7 July
www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton
Box Office: 0844 871 7627

1 – 6 February
The Hexagon, Reading
www.readingarts.com/thehexagon
Box Office: 0118 960 6060

8 – 13 February
Darlington Civic Theatre
www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk
Box Office: 01325 486555

15 – 20 February
Grimsby Auditorium
www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk
Box Office: 0844 871 3016

22 – 27 February
York Grand Opera House
www.atgtickets.com/venues/grand-opera-house-york
Box Office: 0844 871 3024

29 February – 5 March
Lighthouse Poole
www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Box Office: 0844 406 8666

7 – 12 March
Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield
www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk
Box Office: 01246 345 222

14 – 19 March
New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth
www.newtheatreroyal.com
Box Office: 02392 843 979

21 – 26 March
Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
ON SALE SOON
www.everymantheatre.org.uk
Box Office: 01242 572573

4 – 9 April
The Lichfield Garrick Theatre
www.lichfieldgarrick.com
Box Office: 01543 412121

11 – 13 April
The Regent Theatre, Stoke
www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre
Box Office: 0844 871 7649

14 – 16 April
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre
Box Office: 0844 871 7649

18 – 20 April
De Montfort Hall, Leicester
www.demontforthall.co.uk
Box Office: 0116 233 3111

21 – 23 April
Liverpool Empire
www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire
Box Office: 0151 702 7320

25 – 30 April
Embassy Theatre, Skegness
www.embassytheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 0845 674 0505

2 – 7 May
Harrogate Theatre
www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 01423 502 116

9 – 14 May
Severn Theatre, Shrewsbury
ON SALE SOON
www.theatresevern.co.uk
Box Office: 01743 281281

16 – 21 May
The Orchard Theatre, Dartford
www.orchardtheatre.co.uk
Box Office:  01322 220 000

23 – 28 May
Octagon Theatre, Yeovil
www.octagon-theatre.co.uk
Box Office: 01935 422 884

30 May – 4 June
The Courtyard, Hereford
www.courtyard.org.uk
Box Office: 01432 340 555

6 – 11 June
Derby Theatre
www.derbytheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 01332 59 39 39

13 – 18 June
Kings Lynn Corn Exchange
www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk
Box Office: 01553 764864

20 – 25 June
Salisbury Playhouse
ON SALE SOON
www.salisburyplayhouse.com
Box Office: 01722 320 333

27 June – 2 July
Opera House Manchester
www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester
Box Office: 0844 871 3018

4 – 9 July
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre
Box Office: 0844 871 7607

18 – 23 July
Princess Theatre Torquay
www.atgtickets.com/venues/princess-theatre-torquay
Box Office: 0844 871 3023

25 – 30 July
Venue Cymru Llandudno
www.venuecymru.co.uk
Box Office: 01492 872000

1 – 6 August
Jersey Opera House
www.jerseyoperahouse.co.uk
Box Office: 01534 511 115

8 – 13 August
Bristol Hippodrome
www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome
Box Office: 0844 871 3012

YORKSHIRE’S OWN MICHAEL PARKINSON INTERVIEWS GARY BARLOW & TIM FIRTH

 

AHEAD OF WORLD PREMIERE OF THEIR NEW MUSICAL IN LEEDS

 

Yorkshire Broadcaster, journalist and author Michael Parkinson met with Gary Barlow and Tim Firth this week to talk to them about their new joint venture The Girls. The Girls is a brand new musical based on the hugely successful stage play and film The Calendar Girls (both written by Tim Firth) that tell the story of a group of ordinary women from Yorkshire who did something extraordinary and took the world by storm.

The musical makes its world premiere in the heart of Yorkshire at Leeds Grand Theatre from Saturday November 14^th to Saturday December 12^th this year.

 

Tickets are on sale now priced from £10 to £45.

 

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call box office on 0844 848 2700.