Tim Vine Review

Civic Theatre, Darlington – 7 April 2015

TimVineCrop_3014197bIn his first stand up tour for four years, Tim Vine arrived to a fully sold out Darlington with  “Timtiminee Timtiminee Tim Tim to You”  with the warning that the show contains wobbly props, one reference to a panda and a song about getting water in your ear after swimming.  It also has a veiled reference to Mary Poppins via the name of the show, the arrival of Vine in a chimney and his outfit (think Dick Van Dyke and the dancing penguins bit) and his leaving music of “Lets Go Fly a Kite”.

But the show was hilarious, from start to finish.  Full of puns, one liners, visual gags, ridiculous songs and the pure madness of Vine himself.  Including the epic “Pen Behind the Ear” and the joke voted funniest at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe “I’ve decided to sell my hoover… well, it was just collecting dust.” 

Tim Vine presents proper, wholesome, clean family entertainment.  No profanities, no innuendo just fast-fire, clean and corny gags.  Suitable for an audience made up of 0 to 90 year olds. No politics, sexism or put downs just silliness on a grand scale which is a welcome relief for those of us who like our comedy to be funny.

The support act was equally as brilliant – local magician John Archer who baffled with his tricks and had me as a very unglamorous assistant whilst he guessed which street I had picked out of a choice of 3 map books.  I went for Krefeld Way in Barnet because we used to live in Krefeld – how he knew I do not know.  But I do love a good magician and he was a very good magician.

The tour continues until the middle of June and you would be mad to miss it.  Tour details can be found at http://www.timvine.com/tour.html

 

 

World Premiere of HELLO KITTY LIVE – FASHION & FRIENDS UK Tour

A Live Nation and Zen Tiger Live presentation in association with WME Entertainment.

THE WORLD PREMIÈRE of:

HELLO KITTY LIVE – FASHION & FRIENDS IS ON ITS WAY – EXTENSIVE UK TOUR – OCTOBER 2015

 

  • Official World Premiere: Hammersmith Apollo, London on Thursday 8 October.
  • Full Tour goes on general sale at 9am on 10 April at hellokittylive.com
  • Special appearance to celebrate the announcement: 1pm on Friday 10 April at M&S in Westfield, London W12.

Sanrio GmbH, Live Nation and Zen Tiger Live in association with WME Entertainment officially announce the forthcoming launch of HELLO KITTY LIVE – FASHION & FRIENDS. The first chapter of series of live shows starring Hello Kitty, her family and the other Sanrio characters.Hello Kitty Live - Fashion & Friends. Credit Sanrio Puroland

HELLO KITTY LIVE – FASHION & FRIENDS gives fans of all ages the first ever opportunity to physically enter the world of Hello Kitty as she takes to the stage live and in 3D for this World Premiere, the latest development in the continuing evolution of this global super brand.

A ‘Pop Show’ in the truest sense, the soundtrack features high calibre artists including Charli XCX, Bruno Mars, Kylie Minogue, Echosmith, Clean Bandit, Flo Rida and many more.

See Hello Kitty like you’ve never seen her before as this fashion icon welcomes audiences into her world in a story that highlights the value of friendship, creativity, respect for nature and a love of learning.Hello Kitty Live - Fashion & Friends. Credit Sanrio Puroland 2

The producers at Zen Tiger Live have assembled an accomplished creative team comprised of Richard Lewis, creative director of a long list of successful productions including Peppa Pig Live and Lazy Town Live; Del Mak, choreographer of TV show Got to Dance and LRNZ, one of the most acclaimed upcoming visual artists on the digital scene. Together they have created a fun-packed show, where the characters on stage and the animations on a mega HD screen interact with the public as the story unfolds.

Steve Homer, Promoter at Live Nation Entertainment, said ‘We are delighted to have Hello Kitty Live – Fashion & Friends on our roster; she is a natural addition to a line-up of Global superstars we work with including Madonna, Rihanna and Beyonce.’

Hello Kitty Meet & Greet – M&S, Westfield London W12, Friday 10 April 1pm

To celebrate the announcement of the UK Tour and tickets going on sale, Hello Kitty will be visiting M&S Westfield London in White City on Friday 10 April at 1pm. Fans and families are welcome to come along to meet Kitty in person.

Fans will also be invited to enter a competition to win the ultimate Hello Kitty fan prize – the ‘Platinum Hug’ VIP package at a venue of their choice, plus runner-up HELLO KITTY LIVE SUPER-FAN GOODY BAGprizes which will be full of exciting Hello Kitty merchandise.

An exclusive and limited series of HELLO KITTY LIVE – FASHION & FRIENDS merchandising will be available only at the show venues.

The official premiere will be in London on 8 October 2015 at the Hammersmith Apollo before the show departs for an extensive tour across the UK with future dates planned across Europe (to be announced).

 

Tickets can be booked online at:

www.hellokittylive.com

www.livenation.co.uk

www.ticketmaster.co.uk

See individual venue booking information on tour schedule below.

Tickets

Adult tickets: £18 – £25 per ticket*
Child & Family (in sets of 4, must in include at least 1 child): £16 – £22 per ticket
Schools & Groups: £16 – £22 per ticket (11th ticket for teacher free)
* Premium ticket: £29.50 (Aylesbury and London only)

TOUR SCHEDULE

Sunderland Empire
5pm Monday 5 October 2015
www.atgtickets.com/sunderland
0844 871 3022

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
5pm Tuesday 6 October 2015
www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury
0844 871 7607

Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
7pm Wednesday 7 October 2015
www.trch.co.uk
0115 989 5555

Hammersmith Eventim Apollo
7pm Thursday 8 October 2015
www.eventimapollo.com
0844 249 4300

Bournemouth Pavilion
11am & 3pm Saturday 10 October 2015
www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk
0844 576 3000

Northampton Derngate
1pm & 4pm  Sunday 11 October 2015
www.royalandderngate.co.uk
01604 624811

Edinburgh Usher Hall
1pm & 4pm Tuesday 13 October 2015
www.usherhall.co.uk
0131 228 1155

Aberdeen Music Hall
12noon & 3pm Wednesday 14 October 2015
www.aberdeenperformingarts.com
01224 641122

Dundee Caird Hall
2pm & 5.30pm Thursday 15 October 2015
www.cairdhall.co.uk
01382 434940

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
1pm & 5pm Saturday 17 October 2015
www.glasgowconcerthalls.com
0141 353 8000

Manchester Palace Theatre
11am & 2.30pm Sunday 18 October 2015
www.atgtickets.com/manchester
0844 871 3019

Liverpool Auditorium
5pm Monday 19 October 2015
www.echoarena.com
0844 8000 400

Stoke Regent Theatre
4.30pm Tuesday 20 October 2015
www.atgtickets.com/stoke
0844 871 7649

New Wimbledon Theatre
4.30pm Thursday 22 October 2015
www.atgtickets.com/wimbledon
0844 871 7646

St David’s Hall Cardiff
5pm Friday 23 October 2015
www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
029 2087 8444

Brighton Theatre Royal
1pm & 4.30pm Sunday 25 October 2015
www.atgtickets.com/brighton
0844 871 7650

Wolverhampton Civic Hall
11am & 3pm Monday 26 October 2015
www.wolvescivic.co.uk
[http://tel:0870%20320%207000]0870 320 7000

Southend Cliffs Pavilion
11am & 2.30pm Wednesday 28 October 2015
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
01702 351135

Portsmouth Guildhall
11am & 2.30pm Thursday 29 October 2015
www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk
0844 847 2362

York Barbican
11am & 2.30pm Saturday 31 October 2015
www.yorkbarbican.co.uk
0844 854 2757

 

 

Interview with Sean Foley – Director of A Mad World My Masters

Can you tell us, in short, what A Mad World My Masters is about?

It’s a hilarious comedy about sex, money, and con-men.

AMW-91What was it about this particular play that drew you in and made you want to adapt and direct it?

It was the funniest, but most over-looked play I could find. A London-set rollicking good night out – a sort of joyous satire about human shortcomings, with terrific characters and some classic comic situations that I felt could be brought bang up to date.

Why did you choose to set it in 1950s Soho?

The music, the style, and the frocks! And the plot demands that posh people are in the same place as prostitutes, bent coppers, and con men - just what was happening in 1950’s Soho.

This show ran previously at the RSC’s Swan Theatre. What are the challenges of revisiting a show you previously staged successfully?

Making sure it’s just as good second time around!

This play was written by Thomas Middleton in 1605. How do you think it has maintained it relevance today?

People’s foibles about sex and money seem to be the same as they ever were… We really didn’t need to do much adapting of the play – and from the very first performance, people recognised exactly what it was about, and

You’ve added in modern music to this Jacobean play.  What does this add to the play?

AMW-6The original play had music in it – we just updated it to the time we set it. But we also added wonderful Jazz and Rythym and Blues songs for each character, and we have a fantastic singer and live band with us – it adds to the live and anarchic feel of the show. It helps create an all round evening of entertainment.

The show is touring around the UK to 9 venues.  How important is touring theatre?

I just had an email forwarded to me from a group of people that had seen the show in Blackpool… they were a group of ex-addicts and offenders, and for most of them it was their first ever visit to the theatre, but they loved it! They had a great night out. To get that reaction makes you realise the importance entertainment and culture can have in everyone’s lives – theatre should be a great nights’ popular entertainment – just like it was in Shakespeare’s day. Unless we’d toured the show, that group never would have seen it, because they would never have made the trip to Stratford or London.

You’ve won awards for writing, directing and acting, do you prefer one of them in particular?

The one I’m doing at the moment!

When did you first realise that working in theatre was a realistic dream?

… I started my own company with 2 other people at the age of 21. We were lucky that we didn’t know how hard it would be, or we wouldn’t have bothered!… But after a few years, we were still doing it, paying ourselves £40 a week… we just kept going until people had recognised what we were doing. You have to be fantastically determined, or very lucky – probably both – but it is a dream that anyone can realise if they really want to do it.

Do you have any advice for budding directors trying to get a foothold in the industry?

Don’t wait for someone to ask you – do it yourself!… You’ll get noticed if you just keep making work however you can.

A Mad World My Masters is on at Darlington Civic Theatre form Tuesday 14 to Saturday 18 April. Call the Box Office on 01325 486555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

Casting announced for CARRIE: THE MUSICAL London Premiere

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

THE LONDON PREMIERE OF

CARRIE

AT SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

FROM FRIDAY 1 TO SATURDAY 30 MAY 2015

Full casting is announced today for Carrie, which will receive its long awaited London Premiere in The Large atSouthwark Playhouse from Friday 1 to Saturday 30 May 2015, with a press night on Wednesday 6 May. Preview performances are now sold out, following the best on-sale week of any show in the venue’s 22-year history.

Evelyn Hoskins will star as Carrie White and Kim Criswell will star as her mother Margaret.

Evelyn Hoskins played Thea in the original cast of Spring Awakening at the Lyric Theatre and in the West End, with other theatre credits including Christmas with the Stars (Royal Albert Hall), Cool Rider (Lyric Theatre), This is My Family(Sheffield Crucible) and The Secret Garden (Birmingham Rep). Television credits include the reoccurring roles Lucy inMisfits (E4) and Shona in Casualty (BBC).

Kim Criswell is an Olivier Award-nominated actress whose career spans 4 decades and both sides of the Atlantic. In America, Kim featured in the original Broadway casts of The First, Nine, Baby and The Threepenny Opera, as well as playing Grizabella in the original LA cast of Cats. In the UK, Kim’s many theatre credits include Singin’ In The Rain in Concert (Royal Festival Hall), Follies (London Palladium), Company (Hackney Empire), On The Town (Royal Festival Hall) and her Olivier-nominated performance in the title role in Annie Get Your Gun (Prince of Wales Theatre).

The cast also features Sarah McNicholas as Sue, Greg Miller Burns as Tommy, Gabriella Williams as Chris, Dex Lee as Billy, Jodie Jacobs as Miss Gardner, David Habbin as Mr Stephens, Molly McGuire as Norma, Bobbie Little as Frieda, Emily McGougan as Helen, Patrick Sullivan as George, Olly Dobson as Freddy and Eddie Myles as Stokes.

View the new trailer here: http://bit.ly/CARRIEUK

Pray for your Salvation….

Carrie is back like you’ve never seen her before.

 

Twenty seven years after first wreaking havoc, the world’s most talked about Broadway musical is coming to London. Academy Award winning Dean Pitchford and Michael Gore (Fame), and original screenplay writer Lawrence D. Cohen, have transformed Stephen King’s unlikely Cinderella story into an infectiously modern musical that has gripped audiences from Australia to America with its timeless story and thrilling score.

 

A taunted and terrified seventeen-year-old misfit, Carrie White has a burning secret… a secret that will eventually ignite her revenge. Make your date for the Senior Prom to see who will be crowned Queen, and who will have blood on their hands. After one night with Carrie you will always remember her name.

Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel, the musical of Carrie hasn’t been seen since the legendary original production. Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, it first premiered in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1988 before transferring straight to Broadway, but never made it to London. In 2012, its score and book were revised by original composer Michael Gore, lyricist Dean Pitchford and librettist Lawrence D. Cohen and this newly reworked and fully re-imagined vision for Carrie will now be presented for the first time on the London stage.

The revised 2012 MCC production won Best Musical Revival by the Off-Broadway Alliance, and had its premiere cast recording released on Ghostlight/Sh-K-Boom Records, which debuted as the No. 1 selling album of the week on Billboard’s Top Broadway chart in its first week of release.

Carrie will be directed and choreographed by Gary Lloyd, director and choreographer of global hit show Thriller Live!. Gary is renowned for his crossover from music to theatre, working as Creative Director on shows including American Idoland The X Factor. Other theatre credits include 20th Century Boy at Coventry Belgrade Theatre and the UK Tour ofAspects Of Love.

Carrie is presented by Paul Taylor-Mills Ltd, who return to Southwark Playhouse following their acclaimed productions of In The Heights and Bat Boy: The Musical.

@CarrieMusicalUK

 

Carrie has music by Michael Gore, lyrics by Dean Pitchford and book by Lawrence D. Cohen, based on the novel byStephen King. It is directed by Gary Lloyd with Musical Direction by Mark Crossland, Design by Tim McQuillen-Wright, Lighting Design by Tim Oliver, Sound Design by Dan Samson, Music Programming by Gary Hickeson and Special Effects by Jeremy Chernick. It is presented by Paul Taylor-Mills Ltd. by arrangement with Bill Kenwright Ltd. and licensed by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe. Casting is by Will Burton.

LISTINGS

FRIDAY 1 – SATURDAY 30 MAY 2015

SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE, The Large

77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD

Press Night:                  Wednesday 6 May, 7.30pm

Performances:             Monday – Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday 2.30pm (except 7 May), Saturdays 3.00pm

Tickets:                         £18-22 (£12 previews)

Box Office                    020 7407 0234 | www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MOUSETRAP CELEBRATES 26,000 PERFORMANCES AT ST MARTIN’S THEATRE

  • AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MOUSETRAP CELEBRATED 26,000 PERFORMANCES AT ST MARTIN’S THEATRE ON MONDAY 6 APRIL 2015

  • THE MOUSETRAP CONTINUES AS THE WORLD’S LONGEST RUNNING STAGE PRODUCTION AFTER OPENING IN 195226,000 Performance Mousetrap web

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap celebrated 26,000 performances at the St Martins Theatre in London on Monday 6 April. The production, which originally opened in 1952 starring the late Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim, became the world’s longest running stage production in 1958 exceeding the run of Chu-Chin-Chow after 2,239 performances.

As part of the 60th anniversary of The Mousetrap, the first ever UK tour took to the road in 2012 and has now been seen by over 600,000 people across more than 600 performances. Breaking box office records in many of the theatres around the country, the beloved murder mystery will begin the 2015 leg of its tour at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen on 28 April. The show will visit over 25 venues across the UK including a return visit to The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury from 1 – 5 September where the record-breaking tour began back in September 2012.

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

Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen and the cast of The Mousetrap celebrating the 26,000 performance. Credit Dave Wise.

The Mousetrap
continues at
St. Martin’s Theatre
West Street
London
WC2H 9NZ

Box Office 08444 99 1515
www.the-mousetrap.co.uk

Performances
Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Matinee performances at 3.00pm on Tuesday and 4.00pm on Saturday

The Mousetrap UK Tour
The Mousetrap continues on tour in 2015, for full tour dates please visit: www.mousetrapontour.com

Wicked Review

Empire Theatre, Sunderland – 4 April 2015

Wicked has been entertaining audiences in the West End since 2006, and this first UK tour shows just why it is so popular.

Emily Tierney (Glinda) and Ashleigh Gray (Elphaba). Photo by Matt Crockett
Emily Tierney (Glinda) and Ashleigh Gray (Elphaba).
Photo by Matt Crockett

To give it is full title – Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, is based on the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.  This itself is based on the L Frank Baum story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the classic Judy Garland 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.  And a little trivia fact, Elphaba is named from L Frank Baum.

Although mainly green, the show is colourful and vibrant  and tells a story of love, friendship and embracing differences.

Glinda played by Emily Tierney, is saccharine sweet with a strong soprano voice and superb comic timing. Tierney’s performance of comical number ‘Popular’ provides a show highlight but her rendition of ‘Thank Goodness’ which truly allows her to shine revealing the character’s inner vulnerability.

Fiyero, Samuel Edwards, plays such an under used part.  He has a ruggedness to his acting and gives the character definition.

Marilyn Cutts was sinister and sickly and marvellously malevolent as Madame Morrible. Steven Pinder combined Doctor Dillamond with his role of the Wizard and shined in both. Carina Gillespie as the tragically beautiful Nessa Rose shows a tough side and her love hate relationship with Boq, Richard Vincent, gives her a hard edge to her character.

But it is Ashleigh Gray as Elphaba, the green skinned heroine, who steals the show  It is probably easy to learn the script and play the part but Gray has given layers and depth to her interpretation of the part.  Her careful pronunciation of her words and outstanding singing voice allow a powerful emotional intensity. And the show stopping ‘Defying Gravity’ was breath-takingly powerful

There were some lovely nods to the original Wizard of Oz.  Nessa Rose’s stripy black and white tights, the origins of the Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow. And the keeping of the original books idea’s that the shoes belonging to Nessa were silver until enchanted then they became ruby red.

Wicked is Sunderland until 25 April and then on tour round the UK and playing in the West End at the Apollo Victoria.  Full details at http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/

 

Old Joint Stock Musical Theatre Company present Dogfight

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!!!!

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Fresh from an acclaimed London run, OJSMTC present the iconic new musical, Dogfight – a story of war and loss, where love turns up in the ugliest of places.

It’s November 21, 1963. On the eve of their deployment to a small but growing conflict in Southeast Asia, three young Marines set out for one final boys’ night of debauchery, partying and maybe a little trouble. But when Corporal Eddie Birdlace meets Rose, an awkward and idealistic waitress he enlists to win a cruel bet with his fellow recruits, she rewrites the rules of the game and teaches him the power of compassion.

What the critics are saying about Dogfight:

‘This is a cleverly written and hugely enjoyable show, with a lovely folky score.’ The Guardian

‘The most enjoyable, moving and stimulating new musical that I have seen in ages … a wonderful evening and one that, in any truly discriminating theatrical culture, would win awards.” The Independent

‘A production that is beautifully underscored…The flow of the narrative almost has a cinematic quality.’ The Stage

20 Questions with ….. Philip Meeks

Philip Meeks actor, writer and Pantomime Dame extrodinaire answers 20 questionsdownload (2)

Lets start with some favourites

Favourite show (whether you have been in it or not)?

It was the Donmar Warehouse Cabaret with Alan Cumming as MC and Jane Horrocks was Sally. I stood to see it on the Friday night and went back and stood again for both shows on the Saturday. They redefined the roles….and the ending was so powerful.  All future productions have used this as the benchmark.

Favourite book?

I read huge amounts and never reread books so I have many favourites. The one I would always recommend to people is The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch.  Its a huge theatrically themed epic.

Favourite theatre?

I love Broadway musicals…but the ones people have never heard of. I’m hoping to get to New York in May to see Kristen Chenoweth in “On the 20th Century”  and Chita Rivera in Kander and Ebbs “The Visit”.

Favourite song?

Many many for different moods….but the song that pops into my head most often if “The Way You Look Tonight” by Jerome Kern and the brilliant lyricist Dorothy Fields.

Favourite music?

Show tunes….I’m such a cliché.  Jerry Herman rules.

Favourite food?

Chinese…..

Favourite line from any show?

“What a Dump” from “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”….although its originally a line Bette Davis said in “Beyond the Forest”

What is your favourite role?

Pantomime Dame.  I’m a writer before an actor so I only ever really play Dame

What was your first role?

My first dame was Dame Hattie Doodle in Snow White in Arbroath in sub degree temperatures. We once had to dig the dwarfs out.

And what role would you really like to play?

Roger De Bris in “The Producers”

How did you become such an accomplished Pantomime Dame?

Luck and nice shoes.

How much input do you have into the amazing costumes?

I start with the fabric then work out what to do with it.  I then design them but can’t make them.  I have a fab chap who is based in Wales who makes for me. He adds his own touches and makes my ideas work. He’s working on a Full English Breakfast frock for me at the moment. Much debate about where to place the fried eggs.

If you could be anyone else for the day, who would it be?

I’d probably be someone I truly loathe and make them do outrageous things that would ruin their lives.  Not people I know I hasten to add.  Katie Hopkins perhaps. Or Nigel Farage.  But then again I could never match the outrages things they do already and get away with…”Hilarious Katie Hopkins has a wee in front of the Queen. What hijinks will she get up to next?”

You’re clearly very talented and had a varied career, do you prefer writing or performing?​

Performing makes me very happy but I don’t need to do it to live.  I think you only suffer the rejections and horror of creative jobs if you need to do it.  Writing is something I need to do for the time being.

Where do you get your inspiration for your plays?

Ideas bob into my head all the time.  I’m in Glasgow at the moment working on the Scots soap River City.  I’ve had several play ideas because the city is so inspiring. Ideas however can take years to work out.  One I began thinking about in 2010 has only  just been thought through to the point where I can write it

You work a lot in the regions, would you like to work in the West End?

There isn’t panto in the West End!  I would always work in the North East and one day would like to be a resident Dame somewhere. I’m going to be down South this season however.

If you weren’t a writer/performer what would you be?

Well I was a teacher, then I was a publicist.  I think now I’d opt to be “On the Sick”.  Or maybe I’d get a little part time job being in charge of sausage rolls at a branch of Greggs.

What advice would you give 16 year old Philip?

Depends on the 16 year old…..but I feel its a waste of breath at that age.  Let them make mistakes as that’ll teach them about their own lives better than words of wisdom from an old croak.

What was the last stage show you saw and really enjoyed?

The one I loved as Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire starring Imelda Staunton.  I even enjoyed it more than her star turn in Gypsy.  Its a great play. I love American plays as a rule but this is currently my favourite.

Your brother also acts, have you ever performed together?

Once in an amateur production of the “Good Companions”  I’d love him to play Abanazar to my Twankey one day.  Or we could be ugly sisters – though I probably wouldn’t cope. I’d hate to be booed in a frock after being loved in a frock so often

Can you tell us what you will be up to next?

I’m story consultant on “River City” and writing a few episodes. I’m also going to be recording my first radio play for Radio 4 soon, I’m working on a project for ITV and gearing up for a play heading to Edinburgh Festival. I’m also planning frocks for Christmas.  I’m playing Trott for the first time in Jack and the Beanstalk.  Really looking forward to dancing with a pantomime cow for the first time.

McQueen

STEPHEN WIGHT

&

DIANNA AGRON

STAR IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

McQUEEN

AT ST. JAMES THEATRE

FROM TUESDAY 12 MAY

Award-winning actor Stephen Wight takes on the title role of Lee McQueen and Dianna Agron will play Dahlia in the world premiere of James Phillips’s play McQUEEN directed by John Caird, which will run at St. James Theatre from 12 May, with press nights on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 May. The play will also star Tracy-Ann Oberman as Isabella Blow, Laura Rees as Arabella, and David Shaw-Parker as John Hitchcock, along with Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Jordan Kennedy, Rachel Louisa Maybank, James Revell and Carrie Willis.Dianna Agron in rehearsals for McQueen credit Chris Davis (2)

Stephen Wight was named Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards for his performances in Michael Grandage’s production of Don Juan in Soho and Samuel West’s production of Dealer’s Choice. Other theatre includes Nicholas Hytner’s production of The Habit of Art at the National and Sean Foley’s production of The Ladykillers in the West End. On television, he has played Simon in Bluestone 42 (BBC 3), Sam in The Paradise (BBC 1), Mitch in Threesome (Comedy Central), Fletcher in Sherlock and Charles in the BBC mini-series Fingersmith. His films include Wilderness, Highlander: The Source, Weekender with Jack O’Connell, Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Zawe Ashton and Ashes with Jim Sturgess and Ray Winstone.

Laura Rees, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Stephen Wight, Dianna Agron and David Shaw-Parker at the first day of rehearsals for McQueen credit Chris DavisCritically acclaimed actress Dianna Agron’s breakthrough role was playing Quinn Fabray on the hit series Glee. Most recently, Agron was seen opposite Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer in the film The Family, directed by Luc Besson. This year, she will appear in several films, including the romantic comedy Tumbledown opposite Jason Sudeikis and Rebecca Hall, Bare directed by Natalia Leite, Zipper opposite Patrick Wilson, and the independent ensemble Conspiracy on Jekyll Island. McQUEEN will mark Agron’s British stage debut.

Tracy-Ann Oberman played Chrissie in EastEnders, Yvonne Hartman in Doctor Who, Lizzie Clapham in Monroe, Aunty Val in Friday Night Dinner, Mrs Purchase in Toast of London and Diana in the film Filth starring James McAvoy and Jamie Bell. In theatre, she has acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the National, including playing opposite Kenneth Branagh in Edmond.

Laura Rees’s theatre credits include Ophelia in Ninagawa’s Hamlet at the Barbican, Christopher Luscombe’s Comedy of Errors, Lucy Bailey’s Titus Andronicus and Kathryn

Hunter’s Pericles at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Rupert Gould’s Macbeth and Philip Franks’s Twelfth Night at Chichester.

David Shaw-Parker began his career at the Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing in over 25 productions. His many other theatre credits include Trevor Nunn’s productions of My Fair Lady at the National Theatre and in the West End and Acorn Antiques in the West End, and Lucy Bailey’s production of Titus Andronicus last year at Shakespeare’s Globe.

McQUEEN is a journey into the visionary imagination and dark dream world of Alexander McQueen, fashion’s greatest contemporary artist.  Set on a single London night, it is more than a bio-play. It is stepping into the fairy story landscape of McQueen’s mind, the landscape seen in his immortal shows, where with a dress an urchin can become an Amazon, where beauty might just help us survive the night.  A girl has watched McQueen‘s Mayfair house for eleven consecutive days. Tonight she climbs down from her watching tree and breaks into his house, to steal a dress, to become someone special. He catches her, but, instead of calling the police, they embark together on a journey through London and into his heart.

McQUEEN will be directed by John Caird, with production design by David Farley, choreography by Christopher Marney, video design by Tim Bird, lighting design by David Howe, sound design by John Leonard, casting by Jayne Collins CDG & Kate Plantin CDG.

McQUEEN will be produced at St. James Theatre by Robert Mackintosh, AMIR Ltd, Hilary Williams, Deborah Negri, with Julian Stoneman as executive producer, for and on behalf of McQ Productions Ltd.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

From 12 May 2015

St. James Theatre

12 Palace Street

London SW1E 5JA

Performances: Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm*, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm**

*7.00pm on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 May

**No 2.30pm performances on Thursday 14 and Thursday 21 May

Ticket Prices: £25, £35, £55, £65

Box Office: 0844 264 2140

Website: www.mcqueentheplay.com

Facebook: facebook.com/McQueenThePlay

Twitter: @McQueenThePlay

 

West Yorkshire Playhouse tours new family show Little Sure Shot to community venues across Leeds

Building on its hugely-successful Community Engagement Scheme, West Yorkshire Playhouse is taking the exciting new family play with music Little Sure Shot on a tour of eight community venues across Leeds in April and May. The show, which tells the inspirational story of sharpshooter Annie Oakley, will tour to venues in Armley, Hawksworth Wood, Burmantofts, Chapeltown, Gipton, Rothwell, Seacroft and Middleton.
Last year West Yorkshire Playhouse launched its ground-breaking Community Ambassador programme by taking Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads out to seven different Leeds areas supported by an audience development initiative. In the course of the year the Playhouse has built on this scheme, with hundreds of heavily discounted tickets for shows at the Playhouse given out for £3 a head, as well as workshops and other initiatives in the community venues.
By popular demand, the next community tour is a family show. Little Sure Shot will visit those original seven venues plus an additional eighth venue in Chapeltown as well as the Courtyard Theatre at the ​Playhouse.
Little Sure Shot has been created by the all-female team of director Amy Leach, writer and composer Lucy Rivers and designer Hayley Grindle. The show tells how Annie overcame poverty and hardship to become the most famous female sharpshooter in the Wild West, becoming the star attraction in Buffalo Bill’s touring Wild West Show with her amazing gunslinging skills.
Playing Annie is one of West Yorkshire Playhouse’s Graduate Actors, Verity Kirk, who comes from Harrogate. The cast also features two other Graduate Actors,David Leopold and Paksie Vernon, alongside Andrew Whitehead and Andy Clark. West Yorkshire Playhouse’s Graduate Actors scheme gives new actors long-term contracts to appear in a number of shows as well as to be based in and learn about how a busy producing theatre works.
Little Sure Shot, a co-production between West Yorkshire Playhouse and the egg, Bath, can be seen in the Courtyard Theatre from 15-18 April.
The Playhouse’s Community Engagement programme is supported by The Liz & Terry Bramall Foundation and Asda Foundation.
Suitable age 7+
Courtyard Theatre performances 15 April, 6.30pm; 16-18 April, 2 and 6.30pm.
Box office 0113 213 7700 and online wyp.org.uk
West Yorkshire Playhouse has a reputation both nationally and internationally as a leading UK producing theatre. The theatre is a cultural hub, a place where people gather to tell and share stories and to engage in world class theatre. From large scale spectacle to intimate performance the Playhouse develops and makes work for the stage, for found spaces, for touring, for schools and community venues. Alongside work for the stage the Playhouse is dedicated to providing creative engagement opportunities, building and running sustainable projects that reach out to a diverse range of communities. Supporting new and emerging artists is key and the theatre provides creative space for new writers, emerging directors, companies and individual theatre makers to refine their practice. Work for 2015 includes a new version of UNCLE VANYA directed by Mark Rosenblatt, LITTLE SURE SHOT – a new commission by Lucy Rivers, THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE directed by James Brining and the redevelopment of Brining’s award-winning production of SWEENEY TODD with the WNO and WMC.