This September, Arion Productions presents the world premiere of new British musical The White Feather at the Union Theatre. It tells the story of Georgina Briggs whose brother was one of over 300 allied soldiers executed for cowardice during the First World War. She won’t accept the shame and she won’t let it lie. But as she fights for justice a shocking discovery awaits her.

Abigail Matthews (War Horse with National Theatre Productions, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the 360 Degrees Theatre, and the UK and European tours of Evita with Bill Kenwright Ltd) stars as Georgina Briggs while Adam Pettigrew will play her heroic brother Harry (Wicked at the Victoria Apollo, the UK tour of Avenue Q, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at Ye Olde Rose and Crown).

Fresh from the stage as Jean Prouvaire in Les Miserables (Queens Theatre) Lee Dillon Stuart (UK tour of Oliver! and Carousel (Landor Theatre)) will join the cast as Peter Arthurs, as well as David Flynn, Cameron Leigh, Christopher Blades, Katie Brennan, Kathryn Rutherford, and Zac Hamilton.

The White Feather tells the story of Georgina Briggs whose brother was one of over 300 allied soldiers executed for cowardice during the First World War. She won’t accept the shame and she won’t let it lie. But as she fights for justice a shocking discovery awaits her.

Memorials to the soldiers who fought and died in the Great War grace almost every town and village but 306 names are conspicuous by their absence – the men who were executed by their own side. Some were deserters and others were condemned for putting down their weapons in the course of battle but many were suffering from what we know now as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The White Feather tells the story of one soldier and his suffering and his sister’s lifelong fight for a posthumous pardon. It also encounters the issue of homosexuality in the trenches and the potential shame which faced gay soldiers. With powerful songs and a storyline with a twist, this production has a sharp emotional intensity generated by words and music. The production will feature several wrap-around activities including historical educational talks and discussions about mental health, PTSD and surrounding issues.

The White Feather
Performance Dates Wednesday 16th September – Saturday 17th October 2015
Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm
Saturday and Sunday matinees, 2.30pm
Running time Approximately 2 hours plus interval
Union Theatre, 204 Union Street, London SE1 0LX
www.uniontheatre.biz

www.whitefeathermusical.co.uk
Twitter @WFeatherMusical, @ArionProds, @TheUnionTheatre, #TheWhiteFeather

 

 

 

 

A decade after England’s legendary 2005 Ashes victory, cricket icon Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff is set to share his memories at Leeds Grand Theatre this Sunday,  August 30^th.

 

The 2005 Ashes victory propelled Freddie Flintoff to sporting legend status making him one of England’s most admired cricket stars of all time. Famed for his record-breaking performances and well deserved legacy as one of the game’s greats, hitting the ball harder than any other cricketer and being able to bowl accurately at 90mph, he became the most feared all-rounder of his generation.

 

The 2005 Ashes saw his pinnacle career performance and won him the title of ICC and PCA’s player of the year as well as the BBC’s Sport Personality of the Year.

 

To celebrate this sporting milestone – and to share his memories of that long, hot summer –  Freddie and his TV producer & writer friend Clyde Holcroft will take to the stage with a brand new live show.

 

Last year Freddie and Clyde launched a new sporting podcast. Recorded on Freddie’s phone, each episode is an unscripted, unedited and unguarded conversation between the two – this live show brings that podcast to life, allowing Freddie to share his take on a wide range of topics; it is a chance to see one of British sport’s most revered personalities talk about his experiences, on and off the pitch, in a refreshingly honest way.

 

Talking about the show Freddie said: “Clyde and I have had such a great response to the podcast so we thought it would be a fun idea to turn it into a live show. Like the podcast we hope that the tour will be a lot of laughs and an excuse for us to talk about life and the lighter side of cricket.”

 

Freddie Flintoff: 2^nd Innings is at Leeds Grand Theatre on Sunday August 30^th at 7.30pm

 

Tickets are on sale now priced at £28 or £53 for a premium ticket which includes a meet & greet after the show

 

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

 

September 2nd – 26th, 2015, King’s Head Theatre

Press Night: September 4th, 2015, 7pm

 

The Man Who Had All the Luck is Arthur Miller’s rarely performed first produced play. Searchingly philosophical and vehemently political, it intimates much that will take centre stage in his better- known work for decades to come. This revival in Miller’s centenary year will be the second production from renowned theatre company End of Moving Walkway, whose critically acclaimed Oh, the Humanity and Other Good Intentions was nominated for a What’s On Stage Award and two Off West End Awards.

 “one hell of a debut” (The Theatre Tourist)

Everything David Beeves touches turns to gold. He has a beautiful home and a loving wife, loyal friends and a thriving business. But as those around him trip and fall, David struggles to understand his fate. What if his Midas touch, like the flip of a coin or the pull of the tide, is nothing more than good luck?

Nominated for Best Off-West End Production (What’s On Stage), Best Director – Paul Lichtenstern and Best Supporting Male – Jonathan Kemp (Off West End), London Fringe Production of the Year 2015 (West End Frame)

The King’s Head are proud to be presenting this new revival in their 45th anniversary year, and have in recent years staged critical revivals and world premieres of pieces by established playwrights, including Tennessee Williams, Arnold Wesker, Joe Orton and Edward Bond. Friday, April 24th marks the one year anniversary of End of Moving Walkway and Artistic Director Paul Lichtenstern says of the show: “it seems fitting that, in a year where some major theatres have tackled some of Miller’s major plays, our young company has been given the opportunity to explore one of his early, ambitious, and lesser-known works”.

The Man Who Had All the Luck runs September 2nd 2015 – September 26th 2015, playing Tuesday – Saturday, 7pm; 3pm Sunday matinees; and 3pm Saturday matinees on September 19th and September 26th. Running Time: 2 hrs (with interval). The King’s Head Theatre is located at 115 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QN £19.50 – £25 (Concessions £15 – £18), previews £10. For tickets and more information, go to King’s Head Theatre (kingsheadtheatre.ticketsolve.com).

The Clapham Fringe is a new Performing Arts Festival in South London taking place from 7th to 26th September 2015 at The Bread & Roses Theatre. It is run by the team who also founded and manage the new and quickly growing theatre venue. The first Clapham Fringe currently features 18 different productions with 47 performances altogether. It will be a great opportunity to discover and experience an exciting line-up of performances in a South London Festival!

The Bread & Roses Theatre is a new and innovative fringe pub theatre, located upstairs at the Bread & Roses Pub in Clapham, and within walking distance of several Tube and Overground stations in Travel Zone 2. A 50-seat fringe theatre venue, The Bread & Roses Theatre programs a wide-spread variety of productions for local as well as far-reaching audiences whilst providing theatre-makers with a space to develop and present their work on a box office split basis, rather than charging upfront hire fees.

For more information visit:
http://www.claphamfringe.com/

Danny Horn as Ray Davies, Oliver Hoare as Dave Davies, Tom Whitelock as Pete Quaife and Damien Walsh as Mick Avory – ‘The Kinks’

New cast take over from 5th October 2015

Booking to 16th April 2016

Production won 4 Olivier Awards – including BEST NEW MUSICAL

The multi-Olivier Award-winning hit British musical SUNNY AFTERNOON, which tells the story of the rise to fame of The Kinks, has announced the actors taking over from its award-winning original cast.

Danny Horn (Doctor Who; The Dead Dogs) will play Ray Davies, with Oliver Hoare (Antony and Cleopatra, Chichester) as Dave Davies, Tom Whitelock (Times Square Angel, Union) as bassist Pete Quaife and Damien Walsh (Dreamboats and Petticoats) as drummer Mick Avory. At certain performances, the role of Ray Davies will be played by Ryan O’Donnell (Romeo and Juliet, RSC;Quadrophenia).

Cast includes: Niamh Bracken, Christopher Brandon, Jason Baughan, Harriet Bunton, Alice Cardy, Oliver Hoare, Danny Horn, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Jay Marsh, Megan Leigh Mason, Ryan O’Donnell, Stephen Pallister, Charlie Tighe, Gabriel Vick, Damien Walsh and Tom Whitelock.

With a book by Joe Penhall, music and lyrics and original story by Ray Davies, and directed by Edward Hall, Sunny Afternoon has established itself as a firm favourite with audiences and critics alike since it opened at the Harold Pinter Theatre in October 2014.

Sunny Afternoon was the best performing show at this year’s Olivier Awards, winning four awards.  The production won Best New Musical, John Dagleish won Best Actor in a Musical, George Maguire won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, and Ray Davies of The Kinks won for Outstanding Achievement in Music.

The original cast, including Olivier Award winners John Dagleish and George Maguire, will remain in the show until 3 October 2015.

Forty-nine years ago this year, The Kinks were sitting at Number One in the UK charts with their single‘Sunny Afternoon’. The band’s popularity has not faded since the 1960s, with crowds of all ages filling the Harold Pinter Theatre night after night.

Featuring some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola,Sunny Afternoon shows the music of The Kinks is still as popular as ever, more than 50 years since the band’s rise to fame.

Following a sold-out run at Hampstead Theatre, this world premiere production, with music and lyrics by Ray Davies, new book by Joe Penhall, original story by Ray Davies, direction by Edward Hall, design by Miriam Buether and choreography by Adam Cooper, opened at the Harold Pinter theatre on 28 October 2014. Lighting is by Rick Fisher, sound by Matt McKenzie and the Musical Supervisor and Musical Director is Elliott Ware.

The official cast recording album, produced by Ray Davies at his Konk studios, is released on BMG Chrysalis and is available to buy at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunny-Afternoon-The-Kinks/dp/B00NH8O7LU.

Sonia Friedman Productions commissioned Joe Penhall in 2011 to write the book based on Ray Davies’s original story. The company developed the production over the next four years, assembling the creative team and cast that presented Sunny Afternoon last year at Hampstead Theatre under the direction of Edward Hall, and now at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Ray Davies is an influential and prolific rock musician and was co-founder and lead singer and songwriter for rock band The Kinks, and later a solo artist. He has an outstanding catalogue of hits from the earliest 1960s to the present day with estimated record sales in excess of 50 million. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theatre and television.

Joe Penhall is an award winning playwright and screenwriter. Plays include Some Voices (Royal Court),Blue/Orange (National Theatre and West End), winner of Best New Play at the Evening Standard Awards, Olivier Awards and at the Critics Circle, and Dumb Show, Haunted Child and Birthday (all Royal Court). Screenplays include Enduring Love and The Road.

As Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre, Edward Hall’s productions include Wonderland, Sunny Afternoon, Raving, Chariots of Fire, No Naughty Bits, Loyalty and Enlightenment. As Artistic Director of Propeller, his work has toured worldwide, played the West End and Broadway and has won numerous awards both in the UK and overseas. Other theatre work includes A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (National Theatre), Edmond with Kenneth Branagh (National Theatre), Macbeth with Sean Bean (Albery), The Constant Wife (Apollo), Julius Caesar (RSC), Henry V (RSC) and The Deep Blue Sea(Vaudeville). Television work includes Downton Abbey, Spooks and Kingdom.  Edward is an Associate of the National Theatre and the Old Vic.

 

 

Producers have cancelled the August 21 performance of Grand Hotel at Southwark Playhouse after a cast member was hit by a motorbike outside the theatre.

Christine Grimandi – who plays Elizaveta Grushinskaya in the musical – was not seriously injured in the collision, but producer Danielle Tarento has cancelled the performance (August 21) in order for Grimandi to recover.

She was struck by the motorbike on a pedestrian crossing near the theatre after the evening performance on August 20. The motorbike failed to stop after the incident, which is being investigated by police.

In a statement, Tarento said: “I’m very sorry to say that I have no choice but to cancel the show tonight. Christina is devastated but as a company we are just relieved she is okay.

“The good news is that, having spent the night with her in hospital, where she had numerous tests and scans, she has no broken bones and no concussion.”

Both tomorrow’s matinee and evening show are expected to go ahead with Grimandi in the cast.

Ticket holders for this evening’s show have been asked to contact the box office in order to reschedule, or get a refund.

Announce Ten Date UK Arena Tour

Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Sunday 6th December 2015

New Album ‘Keep The Village Alive’ Out 11th September

After their brilliant performance at T in the Park and a headline slot at V Festival to follow this weekend, Stereophonics announce ten UK dates this December including a show at The Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle on Sunday 6th December 2015.

Their ninth studio album ‘Keep The Village Alive’ is out September 11th and is written by Kelly Jones, produced by Kelly and Jim Lowe, and comes hot on the heels of 2013’s acclaimed, platinum-selling ‘Graffiti On The Train’.

‘C’est La Vie’ the first single from the album, is one of the songs of the year, and second single ‘I Wanna Get Lost With You’ is already a firm live favourite and currently on the Radio 2 A list.

The band are: Kelly Jones (vocals/guitar), Richard Jones (bass), Adam Zindani (guitar) and Jamie Morrison (drums)

Tickets costing £32.50, £39.50 & £47.50 will go on sale 9.00am Thursday 27th August 2015 and are available online, from the booking hotline number 0844 493 6666 or in person from the Metro Radio Arena Box Office. Tickets maximum 4 per person.

Tickets are available from:-

• Credit Card Booking and Information Line 0844 493 6666
• The Metro Radio Arena Newcastle Box Office (Mon – Fri: 10.00am – 4.00pm, Sat: 11.00am – 2.30pm)
• Internet Site:- www.metroradioarena.co.uk
• Group Bookers should call (0191) 260 6006
• Accessible Bookings should call (0191) 260 6066 for further details

 

MULTI AWARD-WINNING THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN

THE NIGHT-TIME COMES TO SHEFFIELD

Winner of seven 2013 Olivier Awards and five 2015 TONY Awards, The National Theatre’s highly-acclaimed production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time arrives at the Lyceum Theatre as part of its first ever nationwide tour from Tuesday 15 – Saturday 26 September.

Christopher, 15 years old, stands beside Mrs Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain, exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and he distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

Based on the award-winning novel by Mark Haddon, adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliott, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a thrilling new stage play from the National Theatre.

Extraordinary and unmissable, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 15 – Saturday 26 September. Tickets are priced from £14.00 – £32.00 and can be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0114 249 6000 or by visiting sheffieldtheatres.co.uk (a transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash).

Sheffield Theatres Listings:

Crucible Lyceum Studio 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA             
Box Office 0114 249 6000 – Mon – Sat 10.00am to 8.00pm
A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excluding cash).
On non-performance days the Box Office closes at 6.00pm.
sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Twitter: @crucibletheatre @SheffieldLyceum

Instagram: sheffieldtheatres

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Tue 15 September – Sat 26 September

Press Night Tue 15 September 7.45pm

Mon – Sat 7.45pm

Thu 2.00pm and Wed 16 Sep 2.00pm

Sat 3.00pm

£14.00 – £32.00 (concessions and group discounts available)

Casting has been announced for the upcoming European premiere of Harvey Fierstein’s play Casa Valentina, which opens at Southwark Playhouse next month.

The show, which opens as Fierstein-scripted musical Kinky Boots premieres in the West End, reunites producer Paul Taylor-Mills and director Luke Sheppard, whose hit production of In the Heights returns later this year.

Casa Valentina will star: Tamsin Carroll (Rita), Ben Deery (Miranda), Charlie Hayes(Eleanor), Bruce Montague (Terry), Robert Morgan (Amy), Matt Rixon (Bessie), Ashley Robinson (Gloria), Gareth Snook (Charlotte) and Edward Wolstenholme (Valentina).

Set in 1962 in the Catskills mountains of New York, Casa Valentina centres on a group of heterosexual men who escape from the city to spend their weekend dressed as female alter egos. However when given the choice to share their secret lives with the world, the group have to decide whether the freedom gained by the openness is worth the personal risk.

The production runs at Southwark Playhouse from 16 September to 10 October 2015 (previews from 10 September).