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GET YOUR FIX OF THE BAROQUE

The beautiful music of the world’s finest classical composers comes to Darlington Civic Theatre on Monday 21 September with Baroque By Candlelight.

From the producers of Magical Mozart, this stunning fully-costumed show will immerse you in the wonderful music and the classical Baroque world of some of the greatest romantic composers – Vivaldi, Handel and Bach.

With beautiful settings, costumes and lighting, and of course candles, the European Baroque Ensemble and Singers transport you back to the sumptuous past.

A packed programme of classical music and song including excerpts from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Handel’s Water Music, and Bach’s wonderful Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

The evening also includes sections of classical operas, sung by world class soloists, who alongside the European Ensemble, give you a candlelit Baroque night to remember!

Baroque By Candlelight is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Monday 21 September. Tickets* are £18 and £20.

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

Billy Elliot the Musical this week (7 September 2015) welcomes Bradley Mayfield, Beatrice Bartley and Hollie Creighton who join the cast in the role of Michael and Debbie respectively. Bradley Mayfield, 11 years old from South Yorkshire, joins the cast to play Billy Elliot’s best friend Michael. Beatrice Bartley, 10 years old from Durham and Hollie Creighton, 10 years old from Sunderland, will play Mrs Wilkinson’s daughter Debbie alternating the role with current cast member Connie Fisher.

Now in its eleventh year in the West End, Billy Elliot the Musical is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre until 17 December 2016. In addition, the first UK and Ireland tour of Billy Elliot the Musical will begin in February 2016 at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Bradley Mayfield (Michael) makes his West End debut in Billy Elliot the Musical. Previously he has appeared in Oliver! at the Sheffield Crucible and in Peter Pan at City Hall Sheffield. Bradley trained at the Sharon Berry School of Theatre Dance and is also a keen martial artist, recently achieving his first-degree black belt in Taekwondo.

Beatrice Bartley (Debbie) has trained and performed with the Gala Theatre Stage School and Elvet School of Dance. As well as performing in local pantomimes, Beatrice is a keen sports girl and enjoys running for Durham Harriers and playing for the Durham Palatinates Netball Club. She is making her West End debut in Billy Elliot the Musical.

Hollie Creighton (Debbie) has previously appeared in Cinderella and Snow White at the Sunderland Empire and will make her West End debut in Billy Elliot the Musical. Hollie trained at SK Dance and the Kathleen Burdon School of Ballet and has competed in various dance festivals and championships with SK Dance.

Set in a northern mining town, against the background of the 1984/’85 miners’ strike, Billy’s journey takes him out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by over 10.5 million people worldwide and has played on five continents. Billy Elliot the Musical is the recipient of over 80 awards internationally, receiving ten Tony Awards and five Oliviers, including the 2013 Audience Award. In total, eighty nine boys have now played the iconic role on stage across the globe.

Brodie Donougher (12 years old from Blackpool), Thomas Hazelby (11 years old from Doncaster), Ollie Jochim (13 years old from Chelmsford, Essex) and Nat Sweeney (13 years old from Birmingham) alternate the title role of Billy Elliot. Bradley Mayfield (11 years old from South Yorkshire) joins Tomi Fry (12 years old from Swindon) and Nathan Jones (12 years old from Prudhoe, Northumberland) to play the role of Billy’s best friend Michael. Beatrice Bartley (10 years old from Durham) and Hollie Creighton (10 years old from Sunderland) join Connie Fisher (10 years old from Brompton, North Yorkshire) to alternate the role of Debbie.

Ruthie Henshall and Deka Walmsley lead the adult cast in the West End as Mrs Wilkinson and Dad respectively in Billy Elliot the Musical. They are joined by Chris Grahamson as Tony, Gillian Elisa as Grandma, Howard Crossley as George, Claudia Bradley as Dead Mum, Phil Snowdon as Mr Braithwaite and James Butcher as Older Billy. Ensemble members are Craig Armstrong, Richard Ashton, James Ballanger, David Bardsley, Paul Basleigh, Rachel Bingham, Lucinda Collins, Peter Cork, Scott Cripps, Robbie Durham, Ross Finnie, Lee Hoy, Ruri James, Ben Redfern, Charlotte Riby, Mike Scott, Sharon Sexton, Wendy Somerville, Spencer Stafford, David Stoller and Kerry Washington.

Billy Elliot the Musical is brought to life by the multiple award-winning creative team behind the film including writer Lee Hall (book and lyrics), director Stephen Daldry, and choreographer, Peter Darling, joined by Elton John who composed the show’s score. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design is by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.

The first Dutch production of Billy Elliot the Musical is currently playing at the AFAS Circustheater in The Hague. Productions have previously been staged on Broadway, in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. The North American touring production, which began in 2010, finished its spectacular run in August 2013 with an engagement in São Paulo, Brazil, the first time Billy Elliot played in South America. Further international productions are currently planned.

Billy Elliot the Musical is presented in London by Universal Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Tiger Aspect and is based on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal film. The show is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene. Angela Morrison and David Furnish are executive producers.

Barbarians

By Barrie Keeffe

Produced by Rachel Edwards for Tooting Arts Club

In association with Soho Theatre and Jagged Fence Theatre

With kind support from Soho Estates

• Revival of 1977 play set in a post-recession Britain troubled with youth unemployment and protests about rising immigration
• Staged in former Central Saint Martins School of Art – the birthplace of UK punk
• 29 September – 7 November 2015
• Tooting Arts Club’s first production since their hugely successful pie shop Sweeney Todd

Tooting Arts Club will revive their own production of Barbarians by Barrie Keeffe at the former Central Saint Martins School of Art building in Soho.  The temporary venue is being launched in collaboration with Emily Dobbs of Jagged Fence Theatre.  Previews start on Tuesday 29 September, with press performances on Saturday 3, Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 October.

A limited number of tickets will be available at £10 for under-26s, students and the unemployed.

Tooting Arts Club’s most recent production was the acclaimed revival of Stephen Sondheim’sSweeney Todd in Harrington’s Pie and Mash Shop, Tooting, transferring to a found space on Shaftesbury Avenue.

The former Central Saint Martins School of Art building on the Charing Cross Road housed the art school until 2011. Alumni include Jarvis Cocker, Paul Simonon of The Clash, Shane MacGowan, Adam Ant and Glenn Matlock of the Sex Pistols, who played their very first gig in the building in November 1975. They were thrown off stage after 20 minutes.

In 1977, Britain had just emerged from a worldwide recession. It was the Queen’s silver jubilee year but Paul, Jan and Louis had little to celebrate. With widespread youth unemployment and little opportunity on the horizon, there was anarchy in the air. Barbarians follows the fluctuating fortunes of its three male characters on a journey that is as humorous as it is brutal, to the soundtrack of The Clash, the Sex Pistols and the Jam. Saint Martins provides the perfect setting, steeped in the punk culture of that time, to revive this acclaimed production which is as relevant now as it was then.

“I’m delighted that Barbarians is going to St Martins. It’s the perfect home for it. When I wroteBarbarians I was trying to capture that energy of punk on the stage, so to have it performed at such an important building from that time is very exciting. It sounds odd to say, but I’ve mixed feelings about seeing Barbarians revived. When I wrote it, I thought it was a play of its time, but in a way it’s sad that it’s still so relevant to the situation of young people today. Obviously I’m very happy to see it produced, but shocked that the problems in it are still around today.”– Barrie Keeffe

“We knew the venue for this production had to be right, and we sought long and hard for the right location. St Martins embodies the creativity and imagination of the young people of that era and, as such, it provides a perfect playground for the uncontained, rebellious energy of the young men we meet in Barbarians.” – Rachel Edwards, producer

The production will be directed by Bill Buckhurst (Sweeney Todd) with design by Simon Kenny, sound design by Joshua Richardson and lighting design by Rob Youngson.

Cast: Thomas Coombes (The Father) Jake Davies (Yen, X+Y) and Josh Williams (Lord of the Flies, Love and Information)

Barbarians consists of three separate short plays featuring the same characters at different stages in their lives. Killing Time was first presented by the National Youth Theatre at the Soho Poly Theatre Club (now the Soho Theatre) in 1977, with Dotun Adebayo, Robert Glenister and Michael Kelly. Abide With Me was first presented by the Soho Theatre Company at the Soho Poly Theatre Club (now the Soho Theatre) in 1976, with Karl Johnson, Philip Davis and Elvis Payne. In The City received its first production at the Greenwich Theatre, London in 1977, with Nick Edmett, Karl Johnson and Jeffery Kissoon.

Abide With Me – the first part of Barbarians to be written – was originally commissioned by Verity Bargate, co-founder of the Soho Theatre, and later Barrie Keeffe’s wife. The Verity Bargate Award for new writing is presented by the Soho Theatre every two years. The 2015 winner will be announced on 5 November 2015.

Barrie Keeffe, who wrote the film The Long Good Friday, and whose other works for the stage include Sus, Not Fade Away, A Mad World My Masters, Only A Game, My Girl and King of England, was born and brought up in the East End of London. He was an actor with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and worked as a journalist before becoming a playwright.

Barbarians is directed by Bill Buckhurst, who also directed Sweeney Todd for Tooting Arts Club (Harringtons Pie and Mash Shop and West End). He previously co-directed the international touring production of Shakespeare’s Globe’s Hamlet alongside Dominic Dromgoole. Also for Tooting Arts Club, Bill has directed Tinderbox in 2011, Barbarians in 2012 and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2014. His other directing credits include The Vegemite Tales in the West End and numerous touring productions for Shakespeare’s Globe.

Barbarians is produced by Rachel Edwards for Tooting Arts Club.

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

Barbarians

by Barrie Keeffe

Venue: Central St Martins School of Art, 111 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H ODU

Dates: Tuesday 29th September – 7th November 2015

Monday-Saturday, 7.30pm; Saturday and Thursday matinees 3pm

Press nights: Saturday 3rd October, Monday 5th, Tuesday 6th

Tickets: £10 (under-26s, students and unemployed), £26 and £32 (plus booking fees)

Book via Soho Theatre

Online www.sohotheatre.com

Phone 020 7478 0100

In person Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE

Cast

Paul: Thomas Coombes

Jan: Jake Davies

Louis: Josh Williams

Producer: Rachel Edwards (for Tooting Arts Club)

Co- Producer: Hilary Williams

Director:  Bill Buckhurst

Designer: Simon Kenny

Sound Designer: Joshua Richardson

Lighting Designer:Rob Youngson

Casting: Marc Frankum

 

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY ANNOUNCES STRATFORD-UPON-AVON SPRING/SUMMER 400th ANNIVERSARY SEASON 2016
HIGHLIGHTS

Spring/Summer productions

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM: A PLAY FOR THE NATION, directed by Erica Whyman and co-produced with 14 amateur companies from every nation and region of the UK, opens in Stratford, before embarking on a nationwide tour

HAMLET, directed by Simon Godwin, with Paapa Essiedu in the title role

CYMBELINE, Melly Still directs Shakespeare’s late romance
Swan Theatre

Marking 400 years since Ben Jonson’s First Folio and the death of Cervantes:

DOCTOR FAUSTUS by Christopher Marlowe, directed by Maria Aberg

DON QUIXOTE, newly adapted for the stage by James Fenton from Miguel de Cervantes’ comic novel, directed by Angus Jackson, with David Threlfall as Don Quixote and Rufus Hound as Sancho Panza

THE ALCHEMIST by Ben Jonson, directed by Polly Findlay

 

New for 2016

THE OTHER PLACE reopens in April 2016 with the return of the RSC’s studio theatre, a new café and a brand new PAGE TO STAGE TOUR

THE SWAN WING reopens in April 2016, following major heritage restoration

THE PLAY’S THE THING, a new exhibition opening in June 2016, revealing the secrets and stories from over 100 years of theatre-making history in Stratford

Shakespeare’s Birthday: 23 April 2016

A fun-packed day of free outdoor events, including a breath-taking show by acrobatic company, Mimbre, inspired by Shakespeare’s stories, and firework display.

THE SHAKESPEARE SHOW (working title) – broadcast live on BBC2 from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, a special evening event hosted by David Tennant, celebrating Shakespeare’s legacy across all the arts, in a unique collaboration between the RSC and the BBC

Education

The RSC invites every school in the UK to join the DREAM TEAM and be part of our celebrations with A Midsummer Night’s Dream

RSC EDUCATION demonstrates the power of Shakespeare and live theatre to influence the confidence and aspirations of young people in a special Symposium on 5 July 2016

RSC School Shakespeare Editions: Oxford University Press and the RSC create a new series of Shakespeare editions for 11 – 14 year olds

www.rsc.org.uk/newseason  #RSC2016

 

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation, by William Shakespeare, directed by Erica Whyman

A co-production with amateur theatre companies across the UK (an arrangement developed between the RSC and Equity)

17 February – 5 March and 15 June – 16 July in Stratford-upon-Avon.  On tour across the UK between March and June

Press night: Wed 24 Feb 2016

The RSC’s ground-breaking national touring production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Deputy Artistic Director, Erica Whyman and designed by Tom Piper, marks Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary and celebrates his love letter to amateur theatre. Lighting is by Charles Balfour, music by Sam Kenyon, sound by Andrew Franks and movement by Sian Williams.

The production opens in Stratford-upon-Avon and will tour to all nations and regions of the UK with the same professional company.  In each region, Bottom and the mechanicals will be played by a local amateur group, cast and trained by the RSC, in collaboration with 13 partner theatres. Titania’s fairy train will be played by local school children in every location.  A Midsummer Night’s Dream returns to Stratford for Midsummer, when all 14 amateur companies will have an opportunity to play on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage. Follow the journey of the company at: www.dream2016.org.uk

Everyone can take part in the Midsummer Magic, with free activities in Stratford-upon-Avon in June 2016, as the company returns to Stratford-upon-Avon and Slung Low present THE FAIRY PORTAL CAMP.

RSC Education invites every UK school to join the DREAM TEAM and take part in a nationwide celebration of the play.  Free resources for schools, include 30 and 60 minute edited versions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for schools and a specially-composed score, are now available atwww.dream2016.org.uk

Audio described performances: 5 March, 2 July.  Captioned performances: 4 March, 30 June.  Semi-integrated British Sign Language interpreted performance: 22 June.

 

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, directed by Simon Godwin

12 March – 13 August 2016.  Live Cinema Broadcast 8 June 2016 and selected encore dates worldwide, with Picturehouse Entertainment.

Press night: Tue 22 March 2016

The summer season continues with Hamlet, Shakespeare’s most famous and complex play, in a searing new production directed by Simon Godwin, with Paapa Essiedu in the title role.

Hamlet has the world at his feet.  He is young, wealthy and living a hedonistic life abroad when word reaches him that his father is dead. Returning home, he finds his world utterly changed, his certainties smashed and his home a foreign land.  Struggling to understand his place in a new world order he faces a stark choice: submit, or rage against the injustice of the new reality.

Simon Godwin directed The Two Gentlemen of Verona for the RSC to great acclaim in 2014 and this year his credits include Man and Superman and The Beaux’ Strategem at the National Theatre and Richard II at Shakespeare’s Globe.  Paapa Essiedu was last at the RSC playing Fenton in Philip Breen’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor and has recently appeared at the Tobacco Factory as Romeo, in a production directed by Polina Kalinina, and at the National Theatre, in Sam Mendes’ production of King Lear.  Hamlet is designed by Paul Wills, with lighting by Paul Anderson and sound by Christopher Shutt.

Audio described performances: 16 April, 25 May.  Captioned performances: 21 July, 10 August.

 

Cymbeline, by William Shakespeare, directed by Melly Still

29 April – 12 August 2016.  Live Cinema Broadcast and encore screening dates worldwide, with Picturehouse Entertainment, to be confirmed.

Press night: Tue 10 May 2016

Cymbeline rules a divided Britain. When Innogen the only living heir, marries her sweetheart in secret, Cymbeline banishes him. Distracted by Innogen’s marriage, Cymbeline is blind to the actions of a powerful figure behind the throne who is plotting to seize power by murdering them both.  In exile, Innogen’s husband is tricked into believing she has been unfaithful to him and in an act of impulsive jealousy begins a scheme to have her murdered.  Warned of the danger, Innogen runs away from court in disguise on a journey fraught with danger that will eventually reunite Cymbeline with a lost heir and reconcile the young lovers.

Shakespeare’s romance is directed by Melly Still, who designed Tales from Ovid and Midnight’s Children for the RSC and whose directing credits include The Cunning Little Vixen for Glyndebourne Opera and Coram Boy and The Revenger’s Tragedy for the National Theatre.  The designer is Anna Fleischle and lighting is by Philip Gladwell.

Audio described performances: 23 July, 11 August.  Captioned performance, 4 June.

 

SWAN THEATRE

Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, directed by Maria Aberg

4 February – 4 August 2016

Press night: Thu 11 Feb 2016

Faustus is a brilliant but embittered academic, a solitary scholar who has exhausted the confines of human knowledge.  Frustrated with the futility of religion, law and science, he is desperate for a deeper understanding of the universe – and the worldwide fame it will bring him.  Risking everything, he conjures the demon Mephistopheles and asks him to strike a deal with Lucifer; twenty four years of absolute knowledge and infinite power in exchange for his soul.

Christopher Marlowe’s tale of vanity, greed and damnation, Doctor Faustus, is directed by Maria Aberg, who returns to the RSC following her recent productions of King John, As You Like It andThe White Devil.  Naomi Dawson designs, lighting is by Lee Curran, music by Orlando Gough, sound by Tom Gibbons and movement by Ayse Tashkiran.

Audio described performances: 5 May, 24 June.  Captioned performances: 27 April, 28 July

 

Don Quixote, adapted by James Fenton from the novel by Miguel de Cervantes , directed by Angus Jackson

25 February – 21 May 2016

Press night: Thu 3 March 2016

After a lifetime of reading books on chivalry, Don Quixote decides to embark on a quest of his own and sets out to become a wandering knight, defending the helpless and vanquishing the wicked.  Hopelessly unprepared and increasingly losing his grip on reality, he travels across Spain with his faithful and equally ill-suited squire.  With each calamitous adventure they experience, the romantic ideal of Quixote’s books seems further away than ever.

Angus Jackson returns to the RSC after his highly-acclaimed production of Oppenheimer, to direct the stage adaptation of Cervantes’ comic novel, widely regarded as one of the foundation stones of modern fiction.  The production marks the 400th anniversary of Cervantes’ death in 1616, by coincidence the same date as William Shakespeare.  Don Quixote is newly adapted by award-winning poet and writer James Fenton, who previously adapted The Orphan of Zhao in 2012 for the RSC. The designer is Robert Innes Hopkins and music is by Grant Olding.

David Threlfall takes on the title role of Don Quixote. During his long and successful career, spanning stage and screen, he is perhaps best known for his role in Channel 4’s Shameless and more recently in dramas Housewife 49, What Remains, The Ark and Code of a Killer. This will be his first role at the RSC since his highly acclaimed role of Smike in the RSC’s landmark production ofNicholas Nickleby in Stratford, London, New York and on television.

Rufus Hound makes his RSC debut as Quixote’s faithful companion, Sancho Panza. His recent stage work includes West End runs of One Man, Two Guvnors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Trevor Nunn’s Wars of the Roses at the Rose Theatre. He also appears in numerous radio and television shows including BBC’s Doctor Who, Channel 4’s Cucumber, as well as Argumental and Celebrity Juice. His feature film credits include Beautiful Devils, Scottish Mussel and The Wedding Video.

Audio described performances: 28 April, 14 May.  Captioned performances: 8 April, 4 May

 

The Alchemist by Ben Jonson, directed by Polly Findlay

26 May – 6 August 2016

Press night: Thu 2 June 2016

When London is hit by an outbreak of the plague, the wealthy Lovewit flees to the country, leaving his townhouse in the hands of his trusted butler, Jeremy.  But no sooner has his master left, than Jeremy begins turning the house into a den of criminal activity.  Assuming an alias, he recruits fellow conman, Subtle, and prostitute, Doll Common to help him and sets out to rip off half of London.  Things couldn’t be going better for the gleeful trio, until they receive a very unwelcome visitor.

Polly Findlay returns to the RSC following her productions of Arden of Faversham and The Merchant of Venice in the last two seasons, to direct Jonson’s hilarious satire, 400 years after the first publication of his collected works in a folio edition. Her production of As You Like It plays at the National Theatre from October 2015.

Audio described performances: 16 July, 6 August.  Captioned performances: 8 July, 3 August.

 

RSC STRATFORD-UPON-AVON IN 2016
Tours, events and exhibitions through the 400th Anniversary Year

JANUARY
Shakespeare’s Steps, Stan’s Café (in association with Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall, supported by the Stratford Society) visitors are invited to step into Shakespeare’s shoes and follow the route from Shakespeare’s Birthplace, up to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

MARCH
Well Said! Favourite Shakespeare Quotes, a visual feast of Shakespeare’s most memorable and inspiring lines selected by famous writers, actors and poets and transformed into beautiful artworks in a free exhibition in the PACCAR Room from the 19 March.

APRIL
The Other Place, Page to Stage Tours, The Other Place is the RSC’s research and development hub, home to the Company’s new studio theatre, rehearsal rooms and costume store and café bar.  It will reopen in April 2016, and a new discovery tour will take visitors on a journey from Page to Stage, from the first day of rehearsals to the first performance, with an opportunity to look inside the RSC’s store of 30,000 costumes for the very first time. Booking open now.

The Swan Wing – following a major heritage restoration, the oldest part of the RSC’s theatres reopens with a stunning new public art commission and a new family-friendly café bar.

The Birthday Celebrations – everyone is invited to join the traditional celebrations on 23 April for Shakespeare’s birthday and to take part in a fun-packed day of free outdoor events for all the family, including a breath taking show by acrobatic company, Mimbre, inspired by Shakespeare’s stories.  The day will end with a spectacular free firework display. For those who can’t make it to Stratford, The Shakespeare Show (working title) will be broadcast live on BBC2.  A unique collaboration between the RSC and the BBC, this special evening, hosted by David Tennant, will celebrate Shakespeare’s legacy across all the arts.

JUNE
The Play’s The Thing, the RSC’s major new exhibition opens, celebrating the magic of Shakespeare on stage and revealing the secrets and stories from 100 years of theatre-making in Stratford-upon-Avon.  Full of treasures from the RSC’s archive and museum collection, including rarely-seen props, exquisite costumes and original set designs, the exhibition will also be packed with hands-on activities and digital interactives to spark the imagination.  Booking from January 2016.

Magic at Midsummer, free activities to mark Midsummer and the return to Stratford of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including The Fairy Portal Camp, a feast of dance, song and fire, led by Slung Low theatre company, to reopen the connection between us and the spirit world on Midsummer’s Eve.  Slung Low will spend a week in the Avonbank Gardens, welcoming all comers who wish to help create the ceremony.

JULY
The Other Place Festival, the first performances take place in The Other Place studio theatre with a new work festival.  Titles to be announced in the spring 2016.
RSC EDUCATION

Learning Performance Network 10th anniversary: The RSC’s Education Team celebrates an extraordinary decade of achievement by schools, young people and teachers across the country with a special Symposium on 5 July 2016.

For ten years, the RSC has worked with over 400 schools across England, giving young people a great first experience of Shakespeare’s work.  The schools are all recruited from areas of significant socio-economic disadvantage with limited access to cultural experiences.

The initiative works over a three year period, with each school working in partnership with their regional theatre and the RSC. It involves intensive teacher professional development, creative projects between young people and artists and performance festivals of work made by young people with the support of teachers and theatre directors.

The programme will have reached 750,000 children and young people by its 10th anniversary in 2016, delivering real and significant benefits, boosting confidence, skills and aspirations.

NEW RSC School Shakespeare Editions: Oxford University Press and the RSC are working in partnership to create a new series of Shakespeare editions for 11 – 14 year olds. Developed in consultation with teachers across the country, the plays introduce young people to Shakespeare’s world and work using approaches direct from the RSC’s rehearsal rooms. Available from March 2016, the first titles to be released will be Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothingfollowed by Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in September 2016.
RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran, said:

“Stratford-upon-Avon is the place to celebrate Shakespeare’s enduring influence and 2016 is surely the year to come to his hometown.

“Our summer season opens with Erica Whyman’s nationwide touring production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation, which sees our professional company work with 13 partner theatres, 14 amateur companies and 580 schoolchildren. This truly national production celebrates the UK’s passion for theatre-making and one of Shakespeare’s most loved plays.

“Our main house will then be home to one of the most famous and performed plays in the Shakespeare canon, Hamlet. In this production, directed by Simon Godwin, we hope to reveal new layers to this complex and inexhaustibly compelling play.  Paapa Essiedu plays the title role.

“We will follow this with Melly Still’s production of Cymbeline, a late play with some of Shakespeare’s most beautiful language. And we conclude the summer season with my production of King Lear.  Following his performance as Willy Loman in Miller’s Death of A Salesman, Antony Sher takes on the monumental title role.

“In the Swan Theatre, we want to place Shakespeare’s genius firmly in the context of his peers.  We open with Marlowe’s great play, Doctor Faustus, directed by Maria Aberg, and then mark two other important anniversaries.  Shakespeare’s great contemporary, Miguel de Cervantes, died on the same date as Shakespeare in 1616. We mark his own 400th anniversary by mounting a new adaptation of Don Quixote, by James Fenton, directed by Angus Jackson, with David Threlfall and Rufus Hound as Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

“Shakespeare’s friend and rival playwright, Ben Jonson, brought out a folio edition of his own work in 1616: the first time any playwright had ever published a collected edition of plays. It is arguable that if Jonson had not done so, Hemmings and Condell would not have assembled Shakespeare’s plays for publication, in 1623, some seven years after his death. Without that folio, more than half of Shakespeare’s plays would now be lost to us.  To celebrate Jonson’s achievement, we follow up Trevor Nunn’s current production of Volpone with a new production of The Alchemist, directed by Polly Findlay.

“As well as all our work on stage, there’ll be magic and surprise throughout the whole year, from Birthday fireworks and acrobatic outdoor theatre to a new exhibition of hidden treasures and even a secret fairy portal which will open at midnight on Midsummer’s Eve.  At the end of the summer, we will formally open our new studio theatre with a powerful new work festival and gear up for an extraordinary end to the year – watch this space for further news!”
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

China:

RSC undertakes a historic tour to the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing, Shanghai Grand Theatre, and Hong Kong Arts Festival from February 2016 with Henry IV Parts I & II andHenry V. This tour is kindly supported by our Global Tour Premier Partner, J.P. Morgan.

New York & USA:

King and Country: Shakespeare’s Great Cycle of Kings at Brooklyn Academy of Music

24 March – 1 May 2016 All four History plays – Richard II, Henry IV Parts I & II and Henry V – will then tour to BAM for an extraordinary theatrical event in the Harvey Theatre.  This tour is kindly supported by our Global Tour Premier Partner, J.P. Morgan. The Royal Shakespeare Company in America is presented in collaboration with The Ohio State University.

Matilda The Musical continues to thrill audiences on Broadway at the Shubert Theater, and tours across the USA to more than 30 cities

Australia:

Matilda The Musical plays in Sydney following its critically acclaimed opening in August 2015.

Worldwide:

‘Live from Stratford-upon-Avon’ cinema broadcasts, with Picturehouse Entertainment, continue with Shakespeare productions from his home town shown all over the US and around the world in 17 countries, and the RSC’s free Schools’ Broadcasts in the UK, reaching thousands of young people each year.  Further information at: http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/

 

Booking

RSC Members and Supporters Priority booking:

Priority Plus from Thursday 17 September 2015

Full Members online and telephone from Monday 21 September 2015

Associate Members online and telephone from Monday 5 October 2015

PUBLIC BOOKING from Monday 19 October 2015

To book call 01789 403493 or online at www.rsc.org.uk

Further information about cinema screenings can be found at http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/

RSC and Picturehouse Members booking online and telephone from Monday 21 September 2015 at Picturehouse Cinemas only

PUBLIC BOOKING from Monday 19 October 2015

 

Fiery Angel presents
PLAYS AT THE GARRICK
KENNETH BRANAGH THEATRE COMPANY

A YEAR OF UNMISSABLE THEATRE

FIRST LOOK AT THE CAST OF THE KENNETH BRANAGH THEATRE COMPANY’S PRODUCTION OF HARLEQUINADE / ALL ON HER OWN

ZOË WANAMAKER WILL PERFORM RATTIGAN’S ONE-WOMAN PLAY, ALL ON HER OWN, PRIOR TO HARLEQUINADE EACH NIGHT, AS PART OF A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN DOUBLE BILL

HARLEQUINADE / ALL ON HER OWN WILL PLAY IN REPERTORY WITH THE WINTER’S TALE FROM 17 OCTOBER 2015 UNTIL 16 JANUARY 2016

The first publicity images featuring the company of Harlequinade and All On Her Own are released today. The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s never-before-seen Rattigan double bill will play in repertory alongside The Winter’s Tale from 17 October 2015 as part of thePlays at the Garrick season.

In the rarely seen comic gem Harlequinade, a classical theatre company attempts to produceThe Winter’s Tale and Romeo and Juliet, while the intrigues and dalliances of the company members are accidently revealed with increasingly chaotic and hysterical consequences. Kenneth Branagh will play Harlequinade’s actor-manager Arthur Gosport in addition to co-directing the production with Rob Ashford.

The full cast for Harlequinade includes: Jaygann Ayeh (Second Halberdier), Tom Bateman(Jack Wakefield), Kenneth Branagh (Arthur Gosport), Jessie Buckley (Muriel Palmer), Vera Chok (Miss Fishlock), Jack Colgrave Hirst (Tom Palmer), John Dagleish (Policeman), Hadley Fraser (First Halberdier), Ansu Kabia (Johnny), Stuart Neal (Fred Ingram), Zoë Rainey(Wardrobe Mistress), Miranda Raison (Edna Selby), Michael Rouse (Rehearsal Pianist), John Shrapnel (George Chudleigh), Zoë Wanamaker (Dame Maud), Kathryn Wilder (Joyce Langland) and Jimmy Yuill (Mr Burton).

In addition to playing Dame Maud in Harlequinade, Zoë Wanamaker will also perform Terence Rattigan’s dramatic monologue All On Her Own, which has never before played in the West End. In this brief but powerfully atmospheric play, which will be staged every evening prior toHarlequinade, a woman with a secret, alone at midnight in London has a burden to share that is at times both heart-breaking and sinister. Zoё Wanamaker will not appear in The Winter’s Tale.

The Winter’s Tale, Harlequinade / All On Her Own, The Painkiller, Romeo and Juliet andThe Entertainer make up the inaugural season of work for the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.

 

King’s Head Theatre, London –  4th – 27th September.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

To mark the centenary of Arthur Miller’s birth, End of Moving Walkway present The Man Who Had All The Luck. This was the first of Miller’s plays, premiering in 1944, closing after only 4 performances, and rarely staged since.

Everything David Beeves wants seems to fall into his hands. His friends are loyal and generous, and he has a successful business and seemingly perfect home life. Watching his friends and family suffer setbacks and disasters while he continues to overcome every obstacle, David begins to wonder about his fate. Is his success down to good luck? If so, will he have to pay for this eventually?

Some of the themes Miller explored throughout his career – self determination, redemption and the American dream – can be seen in their nascent form. At times the characters’ motives and actions – especially JB’s – seem unresolved and the narrative flow is not as polished as his later works, but the beauty and humour of Miller’s dialogue is well established in this play.

The traverse stage is ideal for this performance, providing a sense of intimacy that makes the audience eavesdroppers in the room. This is especially effective and almost uncomfortable during the more passionate confrontations.

The excellent cast give very natural and emotional performances. Jamie Chandler’s David is heroic, frustrating and vulnerable. As Pat, Keith Hill is suitably fussy and ridiculous until the pivotal scene where he portrays a father’s heart breaking realisation of his mistakes with a deft and subtle touch. Playing multiple roles, Peter Dineen’s standout moment is as Andrew Falk – a formidable and frightening presence in stark contrast to his other characters. The voice of clarity and reason, extolling the American dream and trying to convince David that it’s his hard work that has led to his success, is Gus the Austrian emigree, played by Alex Warner with wide eyed optimism and decency, and wonderful light comic touches.

End Of Moving Walkway has produced a fitting tribute to Arthur Miller. A lovely touch is that instead of a programme full of photos and adverts, a Bloomsbury book of the playscript with production details is available, allowing you to revisit the poetic lines at your leisure.

The Man Who Had All The Luck is a first-class production and should be on everyone’s MUST SEE list this month.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical

Empire Theatre, Sunderland –  1 September 2015

Priscilla motored in to Sunderland this week with quite an unexpected bang.

Starring Duncan James as disillusioned drag queen Tick (Mitzi), Priscilla is the bus that takes Tick from Sydney to Alice Springs at the request of his estranged wife Marion (Naomi Slights) to meet his 6 year old son Benji (Cameron Lant and Christian Odell-Lowery sharing the role).  Tick takes with him recently widowed transexual Bernadette (Simon Green) and fellow drag artist Adam (Felicia) played by Adam Bailey.  Picking up mechanic Bob (Philip Childs) along the way

You know you are in for a fun time when the warning at the beginning tells you take off your wig so the people behind can see.  And fun it is, with dancing diva’s descending from the heavens, a myriad of colourful costumes designed by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner and a cheesefest of songs played by the band led by Matthew J Loughran.

Priscilla the bus is much more substantial than previous incarnations on the tour but unfortunately for us the motor caused mechanical mayhem and refused to join in during the second half.  After a lengthy delay Company Manager Phil Sykes, appeared on stage, mic in hand to tell us the bad news that Priscilla wasn’t working but they would finish the show the best they could.  And a non working bus didn’t completely spoil the show

The lack of scenery is a challenge, the vast Australian desert is either a blue background or red curtains and whilst it sets off the array of colourful costumes it doesn’t give any geography to the tale.  Equally spoilt is what should be the awesome Sempre Libera, in the film sung on the back of the bus in a haze of silver, now on a giant sparkly shoe in a piece that no longer makes sense in the tale.

Duncan James is surprisingly good in the role, his Australian accent never wavers and his doubts and worries about the trip make him human beneath the make-up.  For me, his many tattoo’s are distracting on a glamorous gender illusionist but James looks good whether in jeans, one piece swimming costume, ball gown or just his tiny y-fronts

Green and Bailey are also a delight to watch, with the former stealing the show and limelight from the other two leads on many an occasion.

Whilst full of glitz and glam, feathers and sequins at the heart of the show is story of overcoming prejudices whether it be their own or from rednecks and hillbillies they encounter on their travels.  And a tale of love; Tick and the love he has for his son, the blossoming romance between Bob and Bernadette and Adam learning to love himself for who and what he is.

Standing on top of Uluru, in full drag singing a Kylie medley fulfils Adams lifetime ambition “a cock, in a frock, on a rock”

Packed with well known numbers like I Will Survive, It’s Raining Men, Don’t Leave Me With Way, Go West and Hot Stuff, you can’t help but tap your feet.  But it’s the Pat Benatar classic We Belong that steals the show for me.  Showing in one song how to overcome everything life throws at you, it is the rightful final showstopper.  

Priscilla is a show to see with your friends on a fun evening out, it doesn’t take itself seriously and neither should you.  Its camp and kitsch and feel good from the first spin of the glitterball to the last.

 

In Sunderland until Saturday 5th September and on tour around the UK

Kids Week, the Society of London Theatre initiative that offers free tickets to children when accompanied by a paying adult, broke records again this year with more than 229,000 tickets sold.

The 2015 total represents a 30% year-on-year increase. Over 114,000 tickets were sold within the first 24 hours of the promotion.

Now in its 18th year, Kids Week – which runs throughout August – sold 229,143 tickets for 48 West End shows including big-hitters such as The Lion King, Les Miserables andWicked.

Julian Bird, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre, said: “More shows than ever took part in Kids Week 2015, demonstrating the theatre industry’s commitment to ensuring theatre fans of all ages have the opportunity to experience the finest theatre London has to offer and are able to access seats at a range of prices.

“Many young people, via this initiative, will have visited the theatre for the first time this August and we hope this has sparked a lifelong love of the performing arts.”

The Donmar Warehouse has announced further casting for the final production of its 2015 autumn season, Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

Christopher Hampton’s award-winning adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 novel will be directed by Donmar artistic director Josie Rourke. It runs from 11 December 2015 to 13 February 2016.

In addition to the previously announced Michelle Dockery, Janet McTeer and Dominic West, the production will feature Adjoa Andoh (Madame de Volanges), Theo Barklem-Biggs (Azolan), Morfydd Clark (Cécile Volanges), Edward Holcroft (Le Chevalier Danceny), Jennifer Saayeng (Émilie) and Una Stubbs (Madame de Rosemonde).

The production marks the 30th anniversary of Hampton’s adaptation of the classic story of on sex, intrigue and betrayal in pre-revolutionary France.

According to press material:

Former lovers, the Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont now compete in games of seduction and revenge. Merteuil incites Valmont to corrupt the innocent Cécile Volanges before her wedding night but Valmont has targeted the peerlessly virtuous and beautiful Madame de Tourvel. While these merciless aristocrats toy with others’ hearts and reputations, their own may prove more fragile than they supposed.

Initial casting has been announced for a concert staging of Stiles and Drewe’s Peter Panwhich will take place at the Adelphi Theatre on Sunday 25 October 2015 for a matinee and evening performance.

Bradley Walsh, most well known for presenting ITV’s The Chase and a role in Coronation Street, will take take the role of Captain Hook whilst Olivier Award-winning actress Jenna Russell, most notably known for Urinetown and Merrily We Roll Along will play Mrs Darling.

Producers Ollie Rosenblatt and Elliot Davis said, “We are so proud to present Peter Pan as part of the Musicals In Concert Series…

“Bradley Walsh is a huge talent whose versatility is showcased across many genres of entertainment. It is an absolute thrill to have him join Peter Pan in Concert as Captain Hook. Jenna Russell is one of the UK’s finest leading ladies and together with Bradley makes the standard of talent in Peter Pan exceptional”.

Based on J. M. Barrie’s classic, the production features music and lyrics by Olivier Award-winning writing duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and a book by Willis Hall.

Commenting on the concert, Stiles and Drewe said, “As two writers who steadfastly refuse to grow up, we are delighted that Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure is to fly into London again.

“We are even more excited knowing that Bradley and Jenna are stepping into the roles of Captain Hook and Mrs Darling. The humour and heart they will bring to the story means that these two concert performances are going to be a real treat for the whole family”.

Further casting is yet to be announced.