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Marylebone Theatre announces second season
From January 2023
Marylebone Theatre, 35 Park Road, London NW1 6XT

London’s new cross-arts venue, Marylebone Theatre, has announced its exciting second season. Near Baker Street, the new performing arts venue is carving out a special place on the London cultural scene as a beautiful and grand but intimate setting offering a wide variety of programming with theatre, music, dance and spoken word. The theatre’s second season will launch in January 2023, opening with a particular focus on music, bringing internationally renowned music artists to London this winter, including Benjamin Appl and Rachel Podger. In partnership with Quip Shed Comedy, Marylebone Theatre will host top names from the world of comedy including Ed Gamble and Phil Wang and further programming will be announced later.

The exciting music programme will see six concerts by internationally renowned artists. Apollo5, the critically acclaimed a capella group known for its rich, dynamic sound, will open the season in January. The five-piece vocal group has a versatile approach to music, with a repertoire spanning Renaissance, classical and choral works, as well as folk, jazz and pop. Norwegian-American pianist and composer Ola Gjielo, one of the most frequently performed will take to the Marylebone stage in January with his distinct style of cinematic, evocative harmonious sounds

Award-winning cellist Constantin Macherel will perform in January. Marylebone Theatre has a strong Rudolf Steiner heritage, who was known not just for his plays but also his movement artform, eurythmy. Macherel will be accompanied by eurythmy performer Benjawan Boonyawat for a special and expressive evening of music and movement. Contralto Jess Dandy will bring her velvety, plangent voice in January, accompanied by pianist Dylan Perez. Dandy has previously performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Dunedin Consort and The Academy of Ancient Music. Baritone Benjamin Appl will perform with pianist James Baillieu. Appl, who was a BBC New Generation Artist 2014-16, is celebrated by audiences and critics across Europe and America, and his recent highlights include Dido and Aeneas with London choral composers in the world, Philharmonic Orchestra and Schubert’s song cycles at the Armory, New York. Renowned violinist Rachel Podger will close out the music programme with her mastery of the Baroque and Classical, known for her skilled interpretations of Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Purcell and more

Marylebone Theatre’s spoken word programme will include The Soldier, an evening of the poetry of Kipling, Owen and Sassoon, performed by Olivier Award-winning actor Kenneth
Cranham (The Father, West End; Hot Fuzz, Universal; The White Princess, Starz). Steinwerk will see Marylebone Theatre become a laboratory for a sculpture of voice. Poet and artist Sean Borodale and vocalist and performance sound artist Steve Boyland will explore the voice as a sculptural medium. Alongside their installation, which will feature performances, will be an exhibition of prints drawn from a stock of vocal scores and lyrigraphs.

Audiences in need of fun and cheer in the middle of winter will enjoy some of the biggest and best upcoming names in comedy, including Ed Gamble (Pointless and Mock the Week, BBC; Taskmaster, Channel 4), known for presenting The Peacock and Gamble and Off Menu podcasts; stand-up comedian and writer Phil Wang (Would I Lie to You? and Have I Got News For You, BBC; Roast Battle, Comedy Central); Scottish comedian Fern Brady (8 Out of 10 Cats and Taskmaster, Channel 4); Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated comedian Ahir Shah (Live at the Apollo and Have I Got News For You, BBC; Dots, HBO Max); and exciting new stand-up and MC Michael May

Artistic Director of Marylebone Theatre Alexander Gifford comments, It is a great pleasure to be announcing a second season of work, which consolidates and expands upon our first. The Marylebone’s potential as a performance space will be fully explored with our upcoming programme. I am particularly pleased that we will be show-casing the beautiful movement form of eurythmy, as well as welcoming our first sculpture installation. Audiences are getting to know us as a place where they can be sure of high quality theatre and music, and it is exciting that in the New Year they will also be able to discover us as a home for dance, stand-up and the visual arts.

Further programming for Marylebone Theatre’s second season will be announced in due course.

Grand Opera House York – until Saturday 12th November 2022

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

5*****

Based on the Roddy Doyle novel of the same name, who has also adapted this musical, and directed by Andrew Linnie, The Commitments is back on tour after its successful debut over 5 years ago. Back in York at the Grand Opera House, will it still prove to be a success?

The Commitments tells the story of “the hardest working band in the world”, put together in Dublin by Jimmy (James Killeen). He wants to create a sweet soul band, with auditions at his house, a house he shares with his Da (Nigel Pivaro, most notably known for his role in Coronation Street). The auditions are very hit and miss, but somehow, he manages to create his band of musicians and singers. What follows is a rollercoaster of a ride.

After getting drunk, at the works Christmas party, and showing off his vocal skills, there can only be one lead singer, Deco (Ian McIntosh), obnoxious that he is. Providing the backing vocals are Imelda (Ciara Mackey), Natalie (Eve Kitchingman) and Bernie (Sarah Gardiner). All three have superb, powerful voices and certainly hold their own, with some great numbers, Chain of Fools and Think amongst them.

As the story unfolds the band goes from strength to strength, as they get used to playing their respective instruments. They truly are a talented bunch of musicians, acting and singing, all whilst playing. Unfortunately, things implode with Deco’s shoddiness and attitude, he is always late for rehearsals and shows and has a complete disregard for anyone else. I enjoyed their Irish brogue.

McIntosh is magnificent as Deco, he sure can sing, I could listen to him forever, and obnoxious as his character is, I could not help but be drawn to him. Check out his Superman undies as he strips off. When the cast were performing the encore, his true personality shone through, with his cheeky grin. He has such a great stage presence, a natural born star. Another stand out for me was Ronnie Yorke as the skinhead Mickah. He was menacing as the bands bouncer and was so hyper and fired up, his energy never let up.

Everyone in the cast really looked like they were having a blast. I enjoyed their Irish accents and the vitality they portrayed. I wannabe part of the band, even though I’m completely tone deaf and can’t sing, dance or play an instrument.

The set was impressive, from Jimmy’s two storey house to Joey’s garage, where they held the rehearsals, and the bingo hall for the bands fist gig. The whole stage was utilised to the max.

By the end of the show and the finale, we were up on our feet, dancing and singing along to Mustang Sally, the fabulous song that is synonymous with the film, with even more songs to whet our appetite. When it came to the applause, it was never ending, the whole theatre erupted and just kept on going and going.

This is a fabulous show with some fabulous music and fabulous entertainers. A must see for anyone who loves that sweet soul music.

Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham – until Saturday 12th November 2022

Reviewed by Lesley Eagles

5*****

This well loved and epic film has been bravely taken and adapted for the stage. It tells the story of injustice, desperation, friendship and hope from behind the walls of a maximum-security prison.

The scene from the outset was set as cold and dank with industrial steel girders supporting a prison guard platform that housed every aspect of prison life with dull concrete flooring.

The prisoners themselves brought the prison to life with their strengths, flaws and diversities that everyday life brings. Despite all wearing the same prison uniform each one wore it in their own unique way demonstrating their obvious differences.

The actors were utilised effectively as scene shifters transitioning smoothly within and between scenes as they were working to clean and maintain the facility as prisoners.

The atmospheric changes were brought to life through creative and subtle use of clever lighting and sound to redirect focus throughout.

Andy Dufresne played by the wonderful Joe Absolom (better known for his role in Doc Martin) is a good man. He is wrongly convicted of the brutal murder of his wife and her lover. As a result he finds himself incarcerated in the Shawshank maximum-security prison facility. Andy tries to keep his head down whilst being surrounded by those who are determined to break him including the prison warden Stammas played by Mark Heenehan who bully’s Andy and exploits his talent for finance.

However he strikes up an unlikely friendship with Ellis Reddy (played by Ben Onwukwe) who is known in the facility as ‘Red’. Red is the prison fixer who can smuggle anything in. This he does, providing Andy with a rock hammer, which unbeknown to his fellow inmates becomes the means by which he manages to escape some twenty years later.

Joe Obsolom had the difficult job of bringing a well-known film character to the stage, which he did so convincingly, appealing to the audience with his quiet, thoughtful and unbreakable spirit. Ben Onwukwe also does a fantastic job in portraying Red’s endearing character as a loyal and compassionate friend to Andy. I particularly enjoyed Jules Brown performance as Rico who injected some humour in what is predominantly gritty subject matter. He would switch from quoting passages from the bible, to pages from a raunchy novel that was stuffed down his trousers! The whole cast should be proud of what was an outstanding performance.

The final scene is in sharp contrast to the entire production,

No longer is it the dark claustrophobic confinement of prison life but rather the whole stage was opened up to reveal a full breadth backdrop of a beautiful secluded beach scene. Untouched golden sand against the piercing blueness of the sea and to the forefront the two almost silhouetted figures of Andy and Red breathing in the calm following their new found freedom and release. Their sense of hope now being realised. Persistence pays off.

If you’re a fan of the film but not of the stage, then let this be the first time you venture in to the theatre, you wont regret it!

 New Wimbledon Theatre – until 12 November 2022 

Reviewed by Carly Burlinge  

5*****

Just Amazing  

New Wimbledon brings you the story of Strictly Ballroom the film we all love and know, made in the 90’s and written and directed by Baz Luhrmann. The story is brought to life on stage and takes your through Scott Hastings (Kevin Clifton) journey. Where he has been dancing the strict steps of the Australian Dancing Federation, which to him doesn’t make him feel alive. For him his own individual style is the path he wants to lead. However, when everybody has had enough of his solitary dance moves. He ends up without a dance partner for the championships. He then finds a partner in Fran (Maisie Smith) a beginner in his mother’s dance group. Who plays an excitable character that can easily get carried away. She challenges him to take her on! With his ignorance getting in the way, as he is a championship dancer after all! and she is a beginner of course!  Fran begins to rock out her own moves in her own style and it begins to feel like maybe they might just have something in common.  The pair begin to form a relationship and begin to dance together they find something inside of each other that they never knew was there before. With Scott’s mother Shirley Hastings (Nikki Belsher) who has a scary, fixated smile but is nasty on the inside and will do anything to get what she wants for her son. Even if he doesn’t want the same things. It’s clear that she doesn’t care who gets hurt along the way! 

Then there’s his dad Doug Hastings (Mark Sangstar) The nonexciting husband that finds everything far too much and would rather disappear out of the limelight could he be holding a secret? 

Then there is Frans family with an overprotective Father Rico (Jose Agudo) who at first is not interested in his daughter getting involved in any way, until he meets Scott who performs his championship paso doble dancing only to be laughed at. Rico then performs the dance from the heart which completely takes the audience away, with such magnificent skill that was not only electrifying to watch but showed talent and such satisfaction. This was such an astounding scene! 

Kevin Clifton also showed equal talent throughout the performance and was a joy to watch with such precision and passion in his dancing it blew me away. 

Maisie Smith also offered an outstanding performance that was delicate and racy and what a voice! Her voice was spectacular, and she fit the role perfectly it was like the part was made for her! 

To be honest I could go on and on about what an exceptional show this was to watch but I don’t think I would stop.  The last thing would be the outfits that were dazzling and bright with so much glitter and sparkle that also made the whole performance. The stage and lighting were also exceptional and gave it the full experience to make it a sensational production that you just shouldn’t miss. 

Absolutely outstanding!!!!  

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED

EMMERDALE AND HOLLYOAKS STAR

AYDEN CALLAGHAN

TO PLAY FRANK FARMER

ALONGSIDE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

GRAMMY-NOMINEE AND FORMER PUSSYCAT DOLL

MELODY THORNTON

AS RACHEL MARRON

FOR THE UK AND IRELAND TOUR OF

AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL

SMASH HIT MUSICAL 

THE BODYGUARD

FROM 28 JANUARY 2023

Producers, Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star Ayden Callaghan will join the previously announced Grammy-nominated, former Pussycat Doll, Melody Thornton for the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the award-winning international smash hit musical THE BODYGUARD in the roles of Frank Farmer and Rachel Marron respectively. The production opens at Glasgow Kings Theatre on Saturday 28 January 2023. Full tour schedule can be found below. www.thebodyguardmusical.com.

Further casting for the tour includes Emily-Mae as Nicki Marron, John Macaulay as Bill Devaney, Graham Elwell as Tony, James Groom as Sy Spector, Marios Nicolaides as Stalker and Fergal Coghlan as Ray Court.  The role of Fletcher will be shared by Kaylenn Aires Fonseca, Iesa Miller, Frankie Keita and Reneo Kusi-Appauh.

The cast is completed by Alexandros Beshonges, Kayne Gordon, Jack Hardwick, Kalisha Johnson, James Lee Harris, Samantha Mbolekwa, Abbie Quinnen, Kellie Rhianne, Charlotte Scally, Yiota Theo and Marco Venturini.

Ayden Callaghan is best known for his roles as Miles De Souza in Emmerdale and fan favourite Joe Roscoe in Hollyoaks. Additional television credits include Doctors, Eastenders, Bad Education, Casualty and The Bill. His stage credits include the roles of Dr Treves in The Elephant Man at The Trafalgar Studios, Malcolm in Alan Ayckbourn’s Bedroom Farce on UK Tour, directed by Peter Hall, and Dean Snaith in Ayckbourn’s If I Were You on UK Tour.

Melody Thornton is a multi-platinum Grammy-nominated artist, selling over 70 million albums as a member of one of the most celebrated girl groups of all time, The Pussycat Dolls. In 2020 she released her much-lauded debut solo EP, Lioness Eyes. Melody received rave reviews and audience acclaim for her performance as Rachel Marron when The Bodyguard toured China for six months. In 2018 she reached the final five in ITV’s Dancing On Ice, and most recently won The Masked Singer Australia.

Emily-Mae’s theatre credits include Disney’s Frozen and City of Angels both in the West End, Are You as Nervous as I Am? and Brooklyn the Musical at Greenwich Theatre, the National Tour of Paul Kerryson’s Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors at Storyhouse, Chester and The Producers at the Royal Exchange.

John Macaulay’s theatre credits include the UK Tour of Fatal Attraction, The Comedy of Errors at Citizens Theatre, Glasgow and the RSC’s productions of The Merry Wives of Windsor, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. Graham Elwell’s credits include Of Mice and Men at the Birmingham Rep and UK Tour, and the role of Carlos in the UK Tour of The Last Of The Duty Free. His screen credits include BBC’s The Miniaturist and Trying for Apple TV. James Groom’s theatre credits include the titular role of Killer Joe at the Trafalgar Theatre. His television credits include ITV’s Emmerdale and BBC’s The First Team. Marios Nicolaides’ theatre credits include the role of Frank Jr in Saturday Night Fever both in the West End and UK Tour, Annie at the Piccadilly Theatre and in Toronto, and the UK Tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Fergal Coghlan most recently appeared in Sus at the Park Theatre, and For King and Country at the Southwark Playhouse. His television credits include ITV’s Emmerdale, HBO’s Watchmen and Channel 4’s Humans.

Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a host of irresistible classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest hit songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.

Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD, directed by Thea Sharrock with book by Oscar winning Alex Dinelaris, had its world premiere at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End and was nominated for four Olivier Awards. A sell out 18 month UK and Ireland tour followed, before the show returned to the West End at the Dominion Theatre ahead of a second sell out tour of the UK and Ireland in 2018/19.  To date, THE BODYGUARD has played to over 3.6 million people in 15 countries and 45 US cities. Countries include the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, China, Canada, Italy, Australia, Spain, France, the US, Austria and Japan.

Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions and Francesca Moody Productions present:

• JENNA COLEMAN AND AIDAN TURNER STAR IN SAM STEINER’S LEMONS LEMONS LEMONS LEMONS LEMONS DIRECTED BY JOSIE ROURKE AT THE HAROLD PINTER THEATRE FROM 18 JANUARY – 18 MARCH 2023.
• THE PRODUCTION WILL THEN PLAY MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE FROM 21 – 25 MARCH 2023 AND THEATRE ROYAL BRIGHTON FROM 28 MARCH – 1 APRIL 2023.
• TICKETS GO ON SALE TODAY AT MIDDAY AT WWW.LEMONSTHEPLAY.CO.UK

Jenna Coleman (The Serpent, BBC One; All My Sons, The Old Vic) and Aidan Turner (The Suspect, ITV; The Lieutenant of Inishmore, West End) will star in the West End premiere of Sam Steiner’s hilarious and provocative play Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons directed by Josie Rourke (BAFTA and Oscar nominated Mary Queen of Scots, currently directing As You Like It, Soho Place).

Following a strictly limited run at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End from 18 January – 18 March 2023, the production will then play Manchester Opera House from 21 – 25 March 2023 and Theatre Royal Brighton from 28 March – 1 April 2023.  Tickets are on sale today from midday at www.lemonstheplay.co.uk.

‘Let’s just talk until it goes.’

You’re going to speak more than 123 million words in your lifetime. What will you do when they run out? 

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons is a tender and funny romantic comedy about what we say, how we say it, and what happens when we can’t say anything anymore.  

Sam Steiner’s debut play received great acclaim when it was first staged at Warwick Arts Centre in 2015, winning three Judges’ Awards at the National Student Drama Festival. It has since been performed at Latitude Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Camden People’s Theatre. His other works for theatre include You Stupid Darkness! (Paines Plough and Theatre Royal Plymouth), Kanye the First (HighTide) and A Table Tennis Play (Walrus Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe).

Sam Steiner said:
“Writing ‘Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons’ taught me how to be a playwright. The opportunity to revisit and grow the play all these years later and bring it to a larger audience with Josie, Aidan, Jenna and an alarmingly inspiring creative team is thrilling and confounding in equal measure. I hope it speaks to now in a way that I couldn’t have predicted then. And I hope to keep learning.”

Josie Rourke said:
“I’m thrilled to be working with these electric actors on this brilliant play. I feel we are in a moment where – however indirectly – theatre might help us digest how we lived and changed through the extremes of the past few years. Sam’s play finds the humanity in how people and couples work through extreme situations. There is the potential for great joy, fun, reflection and healing in that. “

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons will be directed by Josie Rourke, designed by Robert Jones with lighting design by Aideen Malone, movement by Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster and the Associate Costume Designer is Kinnetia Isidore. Further creatives to be announced.

WICKED ANNOUNCES 2023 LONDON CAST

Alexia Khadime returns to star as ‘Elphaba’

 Lucy St. Louis to star as ‘Glinda’

from Tuesday 7 March 2023

www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is proud to announce its full new London cast who will begin performances at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre on Tuesday 7 March 2023. Leading the company will be Alexia Khadime as ‘Elphaba’, returning to the role she previously played to universal acclaim, and The Phantom of the Opera star Lucy St. Louis as ‘Glinda’. Caitlin Anderson will make her West End debut as ‘Nessarose’, and current ensemble cast member Joe Thompson-Oubari will take over the role of ‘Boq’.

The full new cast is confirmed as Alexia Khadime (Elphaba), Lucy St. Louis (Glinda), Ryan Reid (Fiyero), Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Morrible), Mark Curry (The Wizard), Caitlin Anderson (Nessarose), Joe Thompson-Oubari (Boq), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Amy Webb (Standby for Elphaba), Lisa-Anne Wood (Standby for Glinda), Yuki Abe, Kofi Aidoo-Appiah, Conor Ashman, Jessica Aubrey, Joshua Clemetson, Fergus Dale, Effie Rae Dyson, Nicola Espallardo, Danny Fogarty, Ross Harmon, Kate Leiper, Nick Len, Jemima Loddy, Joshua Lovell, PaddyJoe Martin, Millie Mayhew, Harry Mills, Daniel Parrott, Aiesha Naomi Pease, Jeanie Ryan, Natalie Spriggs, James Titchener, Micaela Todd, Christine Tucker, Jaydon Vijn and Taela Yeomans-Brown.

Current cast members Lucie Jones (Elphaba), Helen Woolf (Glinda), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Nicholas McLean (Boq), Meg Astin, Alishia-Marie Blake, Pàje Campbell, Michael Colbourne, Nolan Edwards, Laura Harrison, Amie Hibbert, Lucie Horsfall, Samuel How, Christian Knight, Jasmine Leung, Maggie Lynne, Rhidian Marc, Jessica-Alice McCluskey, Stacey McGuire, Lewis Newton,and Samantha Thomas will all play their final performances on Sunday 5 March 2023.

“One of the most successful musicals of all time” (BBC News), Wicked is now in its 17th year at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre where it has already seen by more than 11 million people. The “hugely popular show” (The Times) has won over 100 international awards including three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, and a Grammy. Tickets are currently on public sale until Sunday 26 November 2023, with nine extra shows added.

Alexia Khadime (Elphaba) first played ‘Elphaba’ to critical acclaim in 2008 and subsequently returned to the role for a second engagement in 2009/10. Alexia’s many other leading West End roles have included ‘Nala’ in Disney’s The Lion King; ‘Éponine’ in Les Misérables; ‘Nabulungi’ in The Book of Mormon (WhatsOnStage Award); and, most recently, ‘Miriam’ in The Prince of Egypt. At the National Theatre, she played ‘Harmonia’ in Welcome To Thebes, directed by Richard Eyre. Her many television appearances have included Comin’ Atcha! (CITV); Nick Payne’s Wanderlust (BBC); Splatalot (CBBC) with Dick & Dom; ‘Ellie’ in The Queen’s Nose (CBBC) and Grange Hill. She appeared in the films Rocketman; Les Misérables and London Road.

Lucy St. Louis (Glinda) is currently starring as ‘Christine Daaé’ in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London. She previously starred as ‘Diana Ross’ in Motown The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre and as ‘Antonia’ in Man of La Mancha at the London Coliseum. Lucy’s many other London theatre credits include her West End debut in Ragtime (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre); and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre)

Caitlin Anderson (Nessarose) will make her West End debut in Wicked. She trained at Scotland’s MGA Academy of Performing Arts, graduating in 2018.

Joe Thompson-Oubari (Boq) is currently appearing in the ensemble cast of Wicked and has played the role of ‘Boq’ on many occasions. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in the summer of 2019, gaining an MA (with Distinction) in Musical Theatre.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked has music and lyrics by multi-Oscar and Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt, Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Enchanted and its Disney+ sequel Disenchanted). It is based on the multi-million copy best-selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and written by Emmy and Tony Award nominee Winnie Holzman (creator of the landmark American television series My So-Called Life). Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento with direction by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.

Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire is published in the UK by Headline (the book is recommended for readers aged 16+). Wicked: The Grimmerie, a behind-the-scenes look at the musical by David Cote, is published in the UK by Hyperion.

The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG

Official UK website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Twitter: @WickedUK  |  Facebook: /WickedUK  |  Instagram: @WickedUK

The Grammy Award-winning, Platinum-certified Original Broadway Cast Recording on Decca Broadway

The Rubens at the Palace and The Clermont Victoria are the official hotel partners of WickedLondon

  www.rubenshotel.com      www.theclermont.co.uk/victoria

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – until 9th November 2022

Reviewed by Sophie Dodworth

4****

The Tiger Who Came to Tea is a well-known children’s book by Judith Kerr OBE, going back 54 years. Coming directly from the West End, this Olivier nominated smash hit is on tour.

We meet Sophie (Jennifer Addey) and her mummy (Katie Tripp) who are having tea at home, when suddenly the doorbell rings. Much to their amazement, it’s a tiger. A very tall one! He is hungry and somehow they both agree to him coming in for tea. The tiger then goes on to eating the entire contents of their kitchen, including Daddies (James Carlisle) supper. When Daddy comes home, he struggles to believe this story and they end up going out to a café for some delicious food.

The majority of people in the audience either know this story well from it being read to them as child, or reading it to their children, or both, either way, it is popular and well loved…but how do they fill 55 minutes of theatre with a book that normally takes less than 5 minutes to read? Well, there is a lot of fun packed in with songs, audience participation (panto style) and dancing, along with instructions for the audience to join in.

The actors are all tremendous – not breaking a smile or their character the whole way through. Both Addey and Tripp have excellent singing voices. Carlisle has so much energy and all of that is given to the performance, a really great team on stage.

A well-polished, fun family show, full of all-round entertainment, at a perfect length.

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Eilene Davidson Productions present

Vardy v Rooney:
The Wagatha Christie Trial

• CASTING AND A FURTHER SIX PERFORMANCES ANNOUNCED FOR VARDY V ROONEY: THE WAGATHA CHRISTIE TRIAL AT THE WYNDHAM’S THEATRE
• LUCY MAY BARKER WILL PLAY REBEKAH VARDY AND LAURA DOS SANTOS WILL PLAY COLEEN ROONEY IN THE VERBATIM PLAY.  
• 15TH NOVEMBER IS NOW SOLD OUT. ADDITIONAL DATES ADDED ARE 22ND & 29TH NOV, 6TH, 13TH & 20TH DEC AND 10TH JANUARY. TICKETS FOR ALL THESE PERFORMANCES ARE NOW ON SALE AT WWW.WAGATHAPLAY.COM / BOX OFFICE 0344 482 5151.
• LISA SPIRLING’S RESTAGING IS ADAPTED BY LIV HENNESSY FROM THE HIGH COURT TRANSCRIPT.

Due to popular demand, a further six performances have been confirmed for Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial. The first performance on 15th November is now sold-out but theatre audiences will be able to watch the trial that gripped the nation in the West End on the following additional dates: 22nd and 29th November, 6th, 13th and 20th Dec and 10th January all at the Wyndham’s Theatre.

Lucy May Barker (Mamma Mia!, West End; Pine Hampstead Theatre), will play Rebekah Vardy and Laura Dos Santos (Yes So I Said Yes, Finborough Theatre; My White Best Friend, Liverpool Everyman) will play Coleen Rooney. They will be joined by Jonathan Broadbent (The Comedy of Errors, RSC; My Night With Reg, Donmar and West End) as Hugh Tomlinson QC, and Nathan McMullen (Misfits, E4; Hushabye Mountain, Hope Mill) and Sharan Phull (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, UK Tour; The Apology, Arcola) who will both be playing multiple roles including Wayne Rooney, Jamie Vardy and Harpreet Robertson. Further casting is to be announced.

Adapted from seven days of the High Court transcript by Liv Hennessy (finalist in the Paines Plough’s Women’s Prize for Playwriting) and directed by Lisa Spirling (Artistic Director of Theatre503), Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial will bring the dramatic legal action to life. 

Tickets are on sale now for the additional performances from www.wagathaplay.com / Box Office 0344 482 5151. 

From sting operations to sensational headlines, this verbatim production will reveal what went on behind closed doors in the case that turned social media sleuthing into high drama. Audiences will see first-hand, and in the words of Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney, how the extraordinary week in court played out.

Vardy v Rooney is a story stranger than fiction, with lurid one-liners and revelations blurring the boundaries of tabloid and court case, social media and soap opera. This unique moment in British media history captivated the country but while public debate raged, only a handful of people witnessed what happened in the trial. Now audiences can watch the intrigue and intricacies of the case live on stage in the West End. 

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial is adapted by Liv Hennessy, directed by Lisa Spirling and designed by Polly Sullivan, the lighting designer is Ben Bull, the sound designer is Richard Hammarton and Lizzie Manwaring is assistant director.

FRANCES MAYLI MCCANN AND JORDAN LUKE GAGE

REUNITE

TO RAISE A LITTLE HELL IN

BONNIE & CLYDE

THE MUSICAL

AT THE GARRICK THEATE

FROM SATURDAY 4 MARCH 2023

DLAP Group are thrilled to announce that West End stars Frances Mayli McCann and Jordan Luke Gage will reunite as the titular pair in BONNIE & CLYDE THE MUSICAL at The Garrick Theatre from Saturday 4 March 2023 for a strictly limited 11-week season. Tickets on sale now at www.bonnieandclydemusical.com.

Frances Mayli McCann is an Olivier Award nominated actress, who originated the role of ‘Kylah’ in “Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour”. Her other West End credits include ‘Heather McNamara’ in “Heathers” at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, ‘The Mistress’ in “Evita” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and ‘Eponine’ in the UK and International Tour of “Les Misérables”. On television Frances can be seen in BBC/ABC’s Silverpoint.

Jordan Luke Gage is best known for originating the role of ‘Romeo’ in the Olivier Award winning “&Juliet” at The Shaftesbury Theatre. His other West End credits include ‘Strat’ in “Bat Out Of Hell” at The Dominion Theatre and ‘JD’ in “Heathers” at Theatre Royal Haymarket. His television credits include playing ‘Adrian Barber’ in ITV’s Cilla, and ‘Luc’ in Cucumber on Channel 4.

At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went from two small-town nobodies in West Texas to America’s most renowned folk heroes and the Texas law enforcement’s worst nightmares. Fearless, shameless, and alluring, Bonnie & Clyde is the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire country. The show features the songs “Raise A Little Hell”, “This World Will Remember Me” and “Made In America”.

When Bonnie and Clyde meet, their mutual cravings for excitement and fame, combined with a desperate need to lift themselves out of the endless banality and poverty of West Dallas, set them on a mission to chase their dreams. Their bold and reckless behaviour turns the young lovers’ thrilling adventure into a downward spiral, putting themselves and their loved ones in trouble with the law. Forced to stay on the run, the lovers resort to robbery and murder to survive. As the infamous duo’s fame grows bigger, their inevitable end draws nearer.

BONNIE & CLYDE THE MUSICAL has a book by Ivan Menchell (Blended [movie], The Cemetery Club, Death Note The Musical), a Tony Award nominated score by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll and Hyde, The Scarlett Pimpernel), lyrics by Don Black (Tell Me On a Sunday, Sunset Boulevard, Mrs Henderson Presents), arrangements and orchestrations by John McDaniel (Patti Lupone: Live, Annie Get Your Gun). The production will be directed by Nick Winston (Director of the feature film Tomorrow Morning, MAME, The Royal Variety Performance) with Set and Costume Design by Philip Witcomb (Atlantis, Stones In His Pockets, MAME),Musical Supervision from Katy Richardson (SIX, Rent, Jersey Boys), Lighting Design by Zoe Spurr (Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, Hamlet at Theatre Royal Windsor), Sound Design by Tom Marshall (The Drifter’s Girl, Nativity The Musical, Curtains), Video Design by Nina Dunn (The Shark Is Broken, Lazuli Sky), Casting Director Jim Arnold CDG (Wicked, The Prince of Egypt).

DLAP Group is an Olivier-Award winning production company with West End and UK Touring works including “Bonnie and Clyde in Concert”, “Rock of Ages,” “Company,” “Fame,” “Curtains,” and “The Wedding Singer.”