Category: Uncategorized

THE ALMEIDA THEATRE ANNOUNCES
CASTING FOR THE ILIAD

 

MORE THAN 60 ARTISTS WILL BRING THE COMPLETE ILIAD TO LIFE IN A DURATIONAL READING ON FRIDAY 14 AUGUST

READING BEGINS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND CULMINATES ON THE ALMEIDA STAGE

THE EVENT WILL BE LIVE-STREAMED ON THE ALMEIDA WEBSITE

THE ALMEIDA GREEKS FESTIVAL IS NOW IN FULL SWING WITH EVENTS CONTINUING UNTIL OCTOBER 2015

A company of more than 60 artists will bring The Iliad to life in a durational reading on Friday 14 August. The reading will begin at the British Museum and culminate on the Almeida stage. The marathon reading is the latest event in the theatre’s Almeida Greeks Festival which has so far seen Robert Icke’s critically acclaimed production of Oresteia transfer to Trafalgar Studios in the West End and James Macdonald’s production of Bakkhai play to sold out houses at the Almeida.

Homer’s The Iliad is the source myth of Greek drama and the greatest story of heroism, betrayal and war in literature. Directed by Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold and Associate Director Robert Icke, the marathon event’s 60 strong cast will include Nikki Amuka-Bird, Adjoa Andoh, Pippa Benett-Warner, Katie Brayben, Lorna Brown, Simon Callow, Bertie Carvel, Oliver Chris, Simon Coates, Brian Cox, Sinead Cusack, Joe Dixon, Monica Dolan, Amanda Drew, Noma Dumezweni, Tim Dutton, Lisa Dwan, Caroline Faber, Will Featherstone, Stephen Fewell, Susannah Fielding, Deborah Findlay, Annie Firbank, Kate Fleetwood, Barbara Flynn, Naomi Frederick, Mariah Gale, Mark Gatiss, Julian Glover, Simon Goldhill, Adrian der Gregorian, Scott Handy, Janine Harouni, Ian Hart, Kevin Harvey, John Heffernan, Joshua Higgott, William Houston, Rory Kinnear, Lesley Manville, Eleanor Matsuura, Ian McDiarmid, Tobias Menzies, Hattie Morahan, Jonjo O’Neill, Tim Pigott-Smith, Ben Porter, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Paul Ready, Jenna Russell, Simon Russell Beale, Michael Shaeffer, Annabel Scholey, John Simm, Jonathan Slinger, Sharon Small, Matthew Spencer, Gavin Spokes, Tafline Steen, Janet Suzman, Luke Thompson, Sam West, Ben Whishaw, Lia Williams, Angus Wright and Hara Yannas.

The unique event will be live streamed at almeida.co.uk/iliad-digital for those unable to attend the marathon. Exclusive behind-the-scenes content and interviews will be broadcast throughout the event on Periscope. Apodcast series and making-of film will be available to view online in the weeks following the event.

Anyone wishing to join the conversation can do so by following @AlmeidaTheatre on Twitter along with the hashtag #Iliad.

The Almeida Greeks Festival will run until October alongside the main stage productions of Bakkhai andMedea. Inspired in spirit and form by the ancient Festivals of Dionysos, the festival will include an eclectic mix of performances, events, talks and readings as an array of contemporary artists interrogate the Ancient Greek canon.

For the full festival line-up please visit almeida.co.uk/greeks.

LISTINGS

Friday 14 August 2015
THE ILIAD
Homer
directed by Rupert Goold and Robert Icke
British Museum (from 9am) and Almeida Theatre (8pm- late)
Tickets: British Museum free, no advance booking
Almeida Theatre £38 (£35 concs)
See almeida.co.uk/greeks for details
In association with the British Museum

 

Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment

Extra Performance Confirmed at the Metro Radio Arena

Tuesday 6th – Sunday 11th October 2015

Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment is coming to Newcastle this Autumn and will feature moments from the number one animated feature film of all time – Disney’s Frozen, alongside family favourites featuring Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and Disney●Pixar’s Cars and Toy Story 3.

As soon as tickets were released for this year’s ice spectacular at The Metro Radio Arena, show sales went into overdrive. Such has been the popularity and anticipation for this year’s ice show, Disney On Ice has announced an additional performance taking place at 3.00pm on Thursday 8th October. Tickets will go on sale on Friday 14th August at 10.00 am.

Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment will see Disney fans transported on a voyage of delight to the wintery world of Arendelle to see sisters Anna and Elsa embark on an epic journey with the hilarious snowman Olaf and rugged mountain-man Kristoff. Audiences will also enjoy Ariel’s adventures in the undersea kingdom from Disney’s The Little Mermaid; be entertained as Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney●Pixar’s Cars perform high-speed stunts and welcome the toys back in town with Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the Toy Story gang trying to escape from the encounters of Sunnyside Daycare from Disney●Pixar’s Toy Story 3.

Paul Tappenden, General Manager of The Metro Radio Arena, said:

“Disney On Ice is consistently popular here in Newcastle, and always attracts very healthy audience numbers, but this year’s show has been particularly quick off the blocks sales-wise. We’ve checked back at our records, and Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment is the quickest selling show since Disney On Ice presents High School Musical back in 2007, which turned out to be a complete sell out. We now have the luxury of adding an additional show, so I would encourage fans to get their tickets early as all signs are pointing towards this season being the strongest to date!”

Steven Armstrong, Regional Vice-President, Northern Europe for Feld Entertainment, producers of Disney On Ice, added:

“We’re delighted to hear that Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment is the fastest selling Disney On Ice show in recent history in Newcastle. Having characters from Disney’s Frozen is certainly exciting, as well as the inclusion of Disney●Pixar’s Cars and Toy Story 3, alongside Disney’s The Little Mermaid, so there really is something for everyone in the family. Disney On Ice has been coming to Newcastle since 1998, and our audience has grown year on year. Sales so far indicate that we could be at full capacity in Newcastle with great audiences full of excited little princes, princesses and the entire family at every show!”

Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment

Metro Radio Arena

Newcastle on Tyne

6th- 11th October 2015

www.metroradioarena.co.uk

Ticket Hotline: 0844 493 6666

Tickets costing from £16.00 for the new performance of 3.00pm Thursday 8th October will go on sale 10.00am Friday 14th 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 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

 

King Charles III
A new play by Mike Bartlett
Directed by Rupert Goold with Whitney Mosery

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE UK TOUR OF MIKE BARTLETT’S MULTI-AWARD-WINNING NEW PLAY KING CHARLES III

THE PRODUCTION WILL VISIT BIRMINGHAM, RICHMOND, NEWCASTLE, NOTTINGHAM, MILTON KEYNES, CAMBRIDGE, CANTERBURY, MALVERN, GUILDFORD, EDINBURGH, BATH, CHICHESTER AND PLYMOUTH

Following critically acclaimed sell-out runs at the Almeida Theatre and in the West End, King Charles IIIembarks on a UK tour this autumn.

Alongside the previously announced Robert Powell, who takes on the role of King Charles, the company will include Penelope Beaumont, Jennifer Bryden, Richard Glaves, Dominic Jephcott, Lucy Phelps, Ben Righton, Giles Taylor, Parth Thakerar, Tim Treloar, Beatrice Walker and Paul Westwood.

Directed by the Almeida Theatre’s artistic director Rupert Goold with Whitney Mosery, King Charles III is designed by Tom Scutt, with music composed by Jocelyn Pook, lighting by Jon Clark and sound by Paul Arditti.

The Queen is dead: after a lifetime of waiting, Prince Charles ascends the throne.  A future of power.  But how to rule?

Mike Bartlett’s play explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain’s most famous family.

King Charles III opens at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and then visits Richmond Theatre, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Milton Keynes Theatre, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Canterbury Marlowe Theatre, Malvern Festival Theatre, Guildford Yvonne Arnaud, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Bath Theatre Royal, Chichester Festival Theatre and Plymouth Theatre Royal.

The King Charles III tour is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Stuart Thompson Productions, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Charles Diamond and the Almeida Theatre in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre and by arrangement with Lee Dean.

King Charles III will also open on Broadway this October at the Music Box Theatre. Tim Pigott-Smith will reprise the role of Charles as performed at the Almeida Theatre and in the West End, alongside Oliver Chris, Richard Goulding, Adam James, Margot Leicester, Miles Richardson, Tom Robertson, Sally Scott, Tafline Steen and Lydia Wilson.

The production was first produced by the Almeida Theatre and was subsequently co-produced at the Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End of London by Sonia Friedman Productions and Stuart Thompson Productions in association with Lee Dean and Charles Diamond and Tulchin Bartner Productions. This yearKing Charles III has been awarded the Olivier Award, Critics Choice and South Bank Sky Arts Award for Best New Play.

UK TOUR LISTINGS:

4 – 19 September 2015
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP
Box Office: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/

22 – 26 September 2015
Richmond Theatre
Little Green, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1QJ
Box Office: 0844 871 7651
www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/

28 September – 3 October 2015
Newcastle Theatre Royal
100 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6BR
Box Office: 0844 811 2121
www.theatreroyal.co.uk/

5 – 10 October 2015
Nottingham Theatre Royal
Theatre Square, Nottingham NG1 5ND
Box Office: 0115 989 5555
www.trch.co.uk/

12 – 17 October 2015
Milton Keynes Theatre
500 Marlborough Gate, Buckinghamshire MK9 3NZ
Box Office: 0844 871 7652
www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/

19 – 24 October 2015
Cambridge Arts Theatre
6 St. Edward’s Passage, Cambridge CB2 3PJ
Box Office: 01223 503333
www.cambridgeartstheatre.com/

27 – 31 October 2015
Canterbury Marlowe Theatre
The Friars, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2AS
Box Office: 01227 787787
www.marlowetheatre.com/

2 – 7 November 2015
Malvern Festival Theatre
Grange Rd, Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3HB
Box Office: 01684 892277
www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/

9 – 14 November 2015
Guildford Yvonne Arnaud
Millbrook, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3UX
Box Office: 01483 440000
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/

16 – 21 November 2015
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
13-29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9FT
Box Office: 0131 529 6000
www.edtheatres.com/

23 – 28 November 2015
Bath Theatre Royal
Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath BA1 1ET
Box Office: 01225 448844
www.theatreroyal.org.uk/

30 November – 5 December 2015
Chichester Festival Theatre
Oaklands Park, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 6AP
Box Office: 01243 781312
www.cft.org.uk/

7 – 12 December 2015
Plymouth Theatre Royal
Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR
Box Office: 01752 267222
www.theatreroyal.com/

 

It has been announced that Stephen Fry, Emma Bunton, and Mel Giedroyc will join the cast of The Rocky Horror Show alongside  Richard O’Brien for a gala charity performance on 17 September.

The performance, which is in aid of Amnesty International, will be broadcast from the Playhouse Theatre to cinemas around the UK and Europe.

Each star will take turns in performing the role of The Narrator.

Commenting on the performance, Stephen Fry said: “I’ve been a devoted fan of The Rocky Horror Show for most of my life and I have been proud to support the incredible work of Amnesty International for just as long, so to be joining Richard and the cast on stage for this special evening is a dream come true.”

Emma Bunton added: “I am so excited about being involved in the legendary Rocky Horror Show. Richard O’Brien has written something that is a huge part of British culture. I’m looking forward to shaking my tush to the ‘Time Warp!'”

Casting for all 11 London performances has also been announced today. The cast will include Olivier Award winner David Bedella, who recently toured the UK in The Producers and who returns to the show as the lead character, Frank ‘n’ Furter after performing in Rocky for various performances from 2006 to 2010.

He will be joined by Ben Forster (Jesus Christ Superstar UK arena tour) as Brad. Forster last played the role in the 40th Anniversary UK tour. Returning as Janet, will be West End star Haley Flaherty, who has performed the role in tours in Singapore, New Zealand and UK and playing Riff Raff will beKristian Lavercombe, having previously played the role in nearly 1000 performances around the world.

The show will be directed by Christopher Luscombe and produced by Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group. The eleven London performances precede a nationwide UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show, which opens at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 17 December 2015.

The Rocky Horror Show runs at the Playhouse Theatre from 11 to 19 September before embarking on a UK tour. 

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY RELEASES NEW DVDS OF LIVE FROM STRATFORD-UPON-AVON PERFORMANCES OF LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST AND LOVE’S LABOUR’S WON (MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING)

Following the acclaimed productions of Love’s Labour’s Lost and Love’s Labour’s Won, directed by Christopher Luscombe at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre last year, both productions are now available to pre-order on DVD.

Love’s Labour’s Lost and Love’s Labour’s Won were broadcast live from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on 11 February 2015 and 4 March 2015 respectively, to over 450 cinemas each across the country, whilst also being available in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Europe. As well as the full stage productions, both DVDs contain extras including an interview with Composer Nigel Hess, a Director’s Commentary and a Cast Gallery.

These will be the latest DVDs released by the RSC in collaboration with Opus Arte, in an ongoing series of broadcasted RSC productions.

Copies of the individual DVDs are priced at £19.99 with copies of the Blu-Rays priced at £24.99. The productions are also available as a box set priced £34.99 in DVD format and £39.99 in Blu Ray format.  These are available to pre-order from the RSC online shop http://www.rsc.org.uk/shop/ The titles will be released on 1 September 2015. 

CDs of the music and speeches from Love’s Labour’s Lost and Love’s Labour’s Won are also available from the RSC online shop.

ENJOY CRAZY CAPERS WITH THE CAT IN THE HAT AT THE

LYCEUM THEATRE NEXT MONTH

Everyone’s favourite mischief making feline comes to Sheffield in September when Dr Seuss’s The Cat In The Hat bounds onto the Lyceum stage from Tue 1 – Thu 3 September.

From the moment his tall, red-and-white-striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that the cat in the hat is the funniest, naughtiest cat they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and craziest of ideas, he turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure. But what will mum find when she gets home? Based on the much-loved book by Dr Seuss and originally produced by the National Theatre, The Cat in the Hat is a lively and engaging first theatre experience for young children aged 3 years and over and their families.

The Cat in the Hat is at the Lyceum from Tue 1 – Thu 3 September.  Tickets are priced from £11.50 (concessions available) 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).

 

James Seabright, Julius Green and Julie Clare by arrangement with

Suzanna Rosenthal for Showstopper Productions present

SHOWSTOPPER!

The Improvised Musical

24th September – 29th November, Apollo Theatre

★★★★★  ★★★★★  ★★★★★  ★★★★★  ★★★★★

Time Out  Mail on Sunday  Independent on Sunday  What’s on Stage  Chortle

The West End will welcome a record number of new British musicals this autumn, thanks to the world’s first major season for an improvised musical.

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical plays its first full West End run, for a limited 10-week engagement. Eighty brand new musicals will grace the stage of the Apollo Theatre, each created on the spot by incredible, multi award-winning musical comedy improvisers The Showstoppers. Audience suggestions are transformed instantly into all-singing, all-dancing shows with unpredictable and hilarious results.

Fast, funny and entertaining, the team nightly pull off something incredibly ambitious. They create a real musical from scratch, not just an impro night with songs but a full story with stories and characters you can care about, a live band of incredible musicians, and spontaneous but seamless choreography. With a BBC Radio Four series and eight years of festivals and touring to their name, The Showstoppers have delighted and astounded audiences around the world with their ingenious, unique blend of comedy, musical theatre and spontaneity.

Highlights from previous shows have included Emotional Baggage (an apt title for a tale of First Class romance at Heathrow Airport, with songs in the style of Sondheim and Abba), Sweeney Cod (in which an ambitious fish and chip shop owner falls victim to unrequited love, with a touch of Kander and Ebb alongside the pineapple fritters), and To Bleed Or Not To Bleed (a high-stakes opera of communist vampires, channelling Mel Brooks and featuring an undead chorus).

‘Jaw-dropping. All the big-hit mega-musicals inspire an audience to want to see them more than once. And I’d see Showstopper! again tomorrow.’

– Dominic Maxwell, The Times

 

Showstopper! was created by Adam Meggido and Dylan Emery. Duncan Walsh Atkins is Musical Director, with design by Simon Scullion, lighting by Tim Mascall and sound by Tom Lishman.

The cast includes Ruth Bratt, Justin Brett, Dylan Emery, Pippa Evans, SusanHarrison, Sean McCann, Adam Meggido, Philip Pellew, Andrew Pugsley, Oliver Senton, Lucy Trodd, and Sarah-Louise Young, with seven cast members appearing per performance plus a live on-stage band.

Tickets go on sale to the public at 12 noon on Wednesday 12th August. Each performance will have 200 tickets available at £20, and there are no booking fees.

Listings information:

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical

Venue: The Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES

Dates: Thursday 24th September – Sunday 29th November 2015

Press Performances: Wednesday 30th September, 3pm and 7pm

Times: Monday – Friday (except Tuesday): 8pm, Saturday: 3pm & 8pm, Sunday: 3pm and 7pm.

Additional matinees 3pm Wednesday 30th Sept and 28th Oct.

Tickets: From £20

Box Office: www.nimaxtheatres.com / 0844 482 9671

Kiev’s National Academic Theatre of Russian Drama Lesya Ukrainka brings a festival of events celebrating Ukrainian culture to the St. James Theatre from 8th to 19th September 2015, curated by Mikhail Reznikovich, Artistic Director of the National Academic Theatre of Russian Drama Lesya Ukrainka. The festival, comprising four plays, two free film screenings and a photography exhibition, will give British audiences a rare opportunity to acquaint themselves with some of Ukraine’s cultural masterpieces as well as its developing modern arts scene.

The cycle of four plays, Ward of the Manor, My Mocking Happiness, Life’s Little Nothings and Don Juan, will be performed in Russian and live dubbed into English by a translator who will be present in the auditorium.

To celebrate 50 years since its release, Serguei Paradzhanov’s The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors will be screened on Saturday 12th September and will be introduced by one of the films’ stars, Larisa Kadochnikova, who will also play the role of Olga Knipper-Checkhov in My Mocking Happiness. Earth, directed by Alexander Dovzhenko, will be screened on Tuesday 15th September, 2015

A free photography exhibition, Ukrainian Culture Today, will be on display in the bar and front of house area of the theatre, showing beautiful images of the sites, architecture and people of Kiev and the Ukraine.

WARD OF THE MANOR
A new translation of Ivan Turgenev’s comedic drama Fortune’s Fool
Director Mikhail Reznikovich | Associate Director Leonid Ostropolsky
8th to 10th September 2015
Performed in memory of Russian theatre director Georgy Tovstonogov, who was a teacher of Mikhail Reznikovich. Olga Korina left her family’s country estate as a young girl, returning seven years later with her new husband State official Pavel Yeletsky.
Among those there to greet Lady Olga Yeletskaya, is Vitalii Kuzovkin, an old man born to nobility but now penniless. The good-natured Kuzovkin has long served the family and is de facto ward of the estate; he is also the family’s longest running joke. During a celebration for the newlyweds, dark secrets are revealed and the lives of Lady Olga, Yeletsky, and the devoted Kuzovkin are changed forever. True nobility does not reside in mere titles.

MY MOCKING HAPPINESS
By Leonid Malyugin, based on the letters of Anton Chekhov
Director Mikhail Reznikovich | Associate Directors Irina Barkovskaya and Leonid Ostropolskiy | Designer David Borovsky
11th – 12th September 2015
My Mocking Happiness is drawn from Anton Chekhov’s personal correspondence with his wife, Olga Knipper-Chekhova, and close friend, Lika Mizinova. Alive with intimate and personal detail, the letters reveal the writer’s complex inner life and his musings on theatre, art, 20th century psychology, society and power. He also discusses his timeless dramas Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard.
Structurally similar to Jerome Kilty’s 1960 play Dear Liar, My Mocking Happiness has been staged at the National Academic Theatre of Russian Drama Lesya Ukrainka for more than fifty years.

LIFE’S LITTLE NOTHINGS
Based on the short stories of Anton Chekhov
Director Mikhail Reznikovich | Associate Director Kirill Kashliskov
13th to 15th September 2015
The human condition is examined in this original handling of Chekhov’s short stories A Daughter of Albion, A Tripping Tongue, Difficult People, A Happy Man and The Wallet. Each of the five episodes is separated by brief interludes of authentic, classic Russian romance tunes.
Life’s Little Nothings offers a vivid, provocative and often hilarious take on those personal thoughts and feelings one might hope would forever remain undiscovered.

DON JUAN
By Tirso de Molin, adapted by Lesya Ukrainka and directed by Mikhail Reznikovich
17th to 19th September 2015
Noted early 20th century Ukrainian poet Lesya Ukrainka offers an original, authentically Ukrainian take on this timeless story of conflict between freedom and authority. In a departure from the original story by Tirso de Molina, the Ukrainian Don Juan introduces us to Dolores, Lesya Ukrainka’s semi-autobiographical depiction of a young woman selflessly devoted to the Don.

THE SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS
In Ukrainian with English subtitles
12th September at 2pm
The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a 1965 film by the legendary filmmaker Sergei Parajanov, based on the classic book by Ukrainian writer Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky. The storyline revolves around two separated lovers caught in a family feud and also features a detailed portrayal of Ukrainian Hutsul culture, showing Carpathian environment, family rituals, the beauty of Hutsul traditions, music, costumes, and dialect.

EARTH
Silent film
15th September at 2pm
Earth is a 1930 Soviet film by Ukrainian director Alexander Dovzhenko, concerning the process of collectivisation and the hostility of Kulak landowners

In 1958 the film was named as one of the best twelve films of all time at the World Exhibition in Brussels. Charlie Chaplin called Dovzhenko “the one and only artist, thinker and poet, given as a present by Slavs to the world”.
For further information please contact Julia Peach [email protected] / 020 7654 9908.

LISTINGS
UKRAINIAN CULTURE TODAY from KIEV’S NATIONAL ACADEMIC THEATRE OF RUSSIAN DRAMA LESYA UKRAINKA
St. James Theatre
12 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JA
www.stjamestheatre.co.uk
All plays will be performed in Russian and will be live-dubbed in English to be enjoyed in either language.
Box Office: 0844 264 2140
Dates: Tuesday 8 – Friday 19 September 2015
Theatre Tickets: £10, £15, £25, £35 (premium)
Film Tickets: Free, reservation required
Photography Exhibition: Free
Concessions: £5 off band A tickets for OAPs, students and Victoria Privilege Card holders
Groups: £5 off band A tickets for groups of 8+

 

Christopher Biggins, immensely popular star of musical theatre, screen comedies, panto dame extraordinaire and one of Britain’s best-loved TV personalities, is announced today as the host of the 2015 West End Heroes gala concert.

Following the phenomenal success of West End Heroes last year, which saw the casts of many of the biggest West End musicals unite with the finest UK military bands and musicians in a stunning performance that raised £78,243.01 for the Help For Heroes charity, the Dominion Theatre is to once again host the event, this year on Sunday 4 October at 7.30pm

Biggins will oversee proceedings and also perform in several big song and dance numbers that are being kept a secret until the night!

He said today: “I’m delighted to be able to give my support to West End Heroes by hosting what I know will be a marvellous evening, with some wonderful surprises. It’s a wonderful way for the West End to show their appreciation for all that our lovely service folk do for us and to support such a worthy charity.”

West End Heroes will again unite the country’s top military musicians with even more West End performers and productions in a dazzling showcase of show-stopping numbers, unlikely song mash-ups and stunning choreography and precision drilling.

The West End casts of Elf The Musical, and Zoonation’s Into the Hoods, will join musical theatre and West End favourites Bonnie Langford, currently appearing in EastEnders as Carmel Kazemi, and Mazz Murray currently starring in Mamma Mia! who will make special guest appearances. They will be joined by classical crossover sensation Charlotte Jaconelli, and recent Britain’s Got Talent magician extraordinaire Jamie Raven.

The involvement of more West End casts will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Returning to form the centrepiece of the gala and under the baton of Squadron Leader Piers Morrell will be The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, which is widely regarded as one of the finest military bands in the UK and incorporates the celebrated RAF Squadronaires Big Band. There will also be support from The Band of HM Royal Marines, The Band of the Army Air Corps and a Ceremonial Fanfare team, and a special performance by the Colchester Garrison Military Wives Choir.

West End Heroes Producer David Pearson, the Dominion Theatre’s General Manager, said: “Last year we had 200 people performing on stage and a small army behind the scenes, most who worked for nothing on their day off. The money raised will again make a huge contribution to the amount needed for Help for Heroes to carry on their incredible work.”

There will again be performances from the West End Heroes Choir – made up of people working behind the scenes  in the West End  – led by Stuart Morley, and the West End Heroes Dancers, led by Matt Flint.

Bryn Parry, Co-Founder and CEO of Help for Heroes said: “We’re thrilled to work with West End Heroes again in 2015 and look forward to an another fantastic event at the same time as raising a significant amount of money to help our injured Servicemen and women and their families.”

Help for Heroes offers comprehensive support to those who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses after serving our country. This support is provided through grants direct to our Heroes and their families, grants to other charities and through four Help for Heroes Recovery Centres across the UK. A study in September 2014 by Help for Heroes and the Royal College of Psychiatrists found that 75,000 men and women may need long term support following the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Creative Team for For West End Heroes 2015
Director Tim Marshall (Festival of Remembrance, Royal Albert Hall)
Musical Director Squadron Leader Piers Morrell, Director of Music, RAF Central Band
Musical Supervisor Stuart Morley (We Will Rock You; Night of a 1000 Stars)
Choreographer Matt Flint (So You Think You Can Dance; Strictly Come Dancing)
Assistant Director Carole Todd (Carnaby Street, Dreamboats and Petticoats)
Design Tim Soden (The Lion King; Calendar Girls)
Produced by Dominion Events

LISTINGS
WEST END HEROES
DOMINION THEATRE
Tottenham Court Road
London
W1T 7AQ
Sunday 4 October at 7.30pm
www.westendheroes.com
www.facebook.com/WestEndHeroes
www.twitter.com/WestEndHeroes
Tickets from £32.50