From My Favourite Things to Bridge Over Troubled Water, the new play from Iman Qureshi, directed by Hannah Hauer-King is a roller-coaster ride following the lives, loves and songs of a lesbian community choir struggling to gain members and momentum and eventually finding themselves on the main stage at Pride.
At the heart of it, this play is about finding belonging and togetherness in a world that is frankly insistent on tearing us all apart. The musical pieces are mostly funny, but there is always an underlying sadness, and the singing is exceptional. Throughout the performance, you could feel everyone in the audience exchanging glances with the people around them and giggling as they related to pretty much most of it. Despite the lightness of the comedy and music, the play asks some difficult questions about lesbian visibility, trans and disabilty rights, immigration, and male violence against women, all with empathy and kindness. A life of dignity and inclusion feels like it shouldn’t be a big ask but it is.
Every member of the cast is brilliant. All the main characters are relatable and warm and portrayed with tenderness and sensitivity. I would list standout performances but it really is everyone, they all shine bright. Shuna Snow, Kibong Tanji, Claudia Jolly, Lara Sawalha, Kiruna Stamell, Mariah Louca, and Fanta Barrie are fantastic, funny and heartbreaking. There are a few male characters too all played by Fayez Bakhsh who had the difficult role of playing men that ranged from mildly unlikable to extremely hateful, so props to him.
To say that I was profoundly moved by this play is an understatement. It’s taken a while to gather my thoughts on this as I wanted to do it justice. Everyone needs to see this play as it feels important, for all women everywhere
FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE FIRST DUBLIN AND UK TOUR OF GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY CONOR MCPHERSON
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY BOB DYLAN
TOURING FROM JUNE 2022
Full casting is today announced for the award-winning smash-hit production of Girl From The North Country, written and directed by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson(The Weir, The Seafarer) with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan. The production embarks on its first UK tour following an opening 5-week season at 3Olympia Theatre Dublin from 25 June 2022.
The full cast includes Keisha Amponsa Banson (Mrs Neilsen), Ross Carswell (Elias Burke), Colin Connor (Nick Laine), Frankie Hart (Ensemble), Joshua C Jackson (Joe Scott), Eli James (Reverend Marlowe), Justina Kehinde (Marianne), Teddy Kempner (Mr Perry), Graham Kent (Ensemble), Owen Lloyd (Ensemble), Nichola MacEvilly (Ensemble), Chris McHallem (Dr Walker), Frances McNamee (Elizabeth Laine), Gregor Milne (Gene Laine), Eve Norris (Katherine Draper), Daniel Reid-Walters (Ensemble), James Staddon (Mr Burke), Neil Stewart (Ensemble) and Rebecca Thornhill (Mrs Burke).
The production will tour to Canterbury, Southampton, York, Glasgow, Salford Quays, Newcastle, Bath, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Cheltenham, Plymouth, Milton Keynes, Woking, Bradford, Cardiff, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bristol, Birmingham, Belfast, Aberdeen, Norwich, Belfast, Leicester and Wimbledon.
The Broadway production of Girl From The North Country, currently playing at the Belasco Theatre, has received seven Tony Awardnominations including, Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical – Conor McPherson, Best Orchestrations – Simon Hale, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Mare Winningham, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical – Jeannette Bayardelle and Best Sound Design of a Musical. The production was also nominated in the Best Musical Theatre Album category at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
Girl From The North Country is an uplifting and universal story about family and love which boldly reimagines the legendary songs of Bob Dylan, like you’ve never heard them before.
It’s 1934 in the heartland of America and we meet a group of wayward souls who cross paths in a time-weathered guesthouse. Standing at a turning point in their lives, they realize nothing is what it seems. But as they search for a future, and hide from the past, they find themselves facing unspoken truths about the present.
Writer and Director Conor McPherson said of the Dublin and UK Tour cast “It’s a joy to be working with our supremely talented new cast. Each of them brings a terrific range of experience and energy to the show. it’s an absolute delight to embark on this new adventure together.”
Bob Dylan said at the opening of the Broadway production: “To be associated with Conor is one of the highlights of my professional life. It goes without saying the man is a genius for putting this thing together and I’m thrilled to be a part of the experience. My songs couldn’t be in better hands.”
Girl From The North Countryfirst opened at The Old Vic in July 2017 to huge critical acclaim and playing to sold out audiences. It transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre in December 2017 and won the 2018 Olivier Awards for Best Actress in a Musical and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical as well as being nominated in the Best New Musical, Outstanding Achievement in Music and Best Actor in a Musical categories. The production went on to have a sold out run at the Public Theater, New York in 2018. Following a run at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, in Autumn 2019, the production had a second run in the West End opening December 2019 at the Gielgud Theatre. The Broadway production is currently playing at the Belasco Theatre, the Australian and New Zealand production opened in Sydney in January 2022 and a North American tour of the show will commence in Minneapolis in Autumn 2023.
“BOB DYLAN’s songs have never sounded so HEARTBREAKINGLY PERSONAL & UNIVERSAL. AS CLOSE AS MORTALS COME TO HEAVEN ON EARTH” Ben Brantley, The New York Times (Critic’s Pick)
★★★★★ “A show that transports the soul. Incredible” The Times
★★★★★ “Powerful, affecting and original.” Sunday Express
★★★★★ “Conor McPherson weaves magic with Bob Dylan’s songs” The Observer
Girl From The North Countryfeatures scenic and costume design by Rae Smith; orchestrations, arrangements, and music supervision by Simon Hale, with additional arrangements by Simon Hale and Conor McPherson, lighting design by Mark Henderson; sound design by Simon Baker; movement direction by Lucy Hind and casting by Jessica RonaneCDG.
Girl From The North Country is produced by Tristan Baker & Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Steven Lappin, Sony Music Entertainment UK, Playing Field, David Mirvish, Dianne Roberts and The Old Vic.
Conor McPherson is an acclaimed writer and director. He was born in Dublin in 1971 and attended University College Dublin where he began to write and direct. Stage plays include Rum & Vodka, The Good Thief, This Lime Tree Bower, St Nicholas, The Weir (Olivier, Evening Standard, and Critics Circle Awards); Dublin Carol, Port Authority, Shining City (Tony Award nominated); The Seafarer (Tony, Olivier and Evening Standard Award nominated); The Veil, and The Night Alive (New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Olivier, Evening Standard and Lucille Lortel Award nominated).Adaptations include Franz Xaver Kroetz’s The Nest, August Strindberg’s The Dance of Death and most recently, Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.
Bob Dylan is one of our culture’s most influential and ground-breaking artists. Born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1941; self-taught on piano, guitar and harmonica, he travelled to New York City in 1961, quickly establishing himself as an explosive performer in the Greenwich Village music scene. More than half a century later, Dylan continues to perform almost 100 concerts each year. He has released more than 50 albums and written over 600 songs. He’s sold more than 125 million records and is the holder of 11 Grammy Awards. His songs have been covered more than 6000 times by artists as diverse as Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Guns N’ Roses, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and Adele. He is also an accomplished visual artist and author, and in 2016 was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature – the first songwriter to receive such a distinction.
Keisha Amponsa Banson (Mrs Neilsen). Theatre credits include: The Magician’s Elephant (world premiere, RSC), School of Rock (Gillian Lynne Theatre); Caroline, or Change (Chichester & Playhouse Theatre); Matilda (RSC,Cambridge Theatre); Motown the Musical, The Pajama Game, From Here to Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre); City of Angels (Donmar Warehouse); The Lion King (UK & Ireland tour); Knight Crew (Glynebourne Opera House) and Little Shop of Horrors (Menier Chocolate Factory UK tour). Television credits include The Sound of Music Live! and I’d Do Anything.
Ross Carswell (Elias Burke). Ross trained at RADA and The Dance School of Scotland and makes his professional debut in Girl From The North Country. Theatre credits whilst training: Consent; Red Velvet; Spring Awakening; Plaques and Tangles.
Colin Connor (Nick Laine). Theatre credits include: War Horse (National Theatre tour); Our Country’s Good (Nottingham Playhouse); Waiting for Godot (Tobacco Factory); The Man, The Father (Oldham Coliseum); The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Ashes, The Winter’s Tale, To Kill a Mockingbird, A View From The Bridge, Journey’s End, Of Mice and Men, Romeo and Juliet, A Streetcar Named Desire (Octagon Theatre); and The Cruel Sea and Two Pence to Cross the Mersey (Liverpool Empire).Television credits include: Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Hope Street, Hollyoaks, Peaky Blinders and Doctors. Film credits include: The End of the World Man.
Frankie Hart (Ensemble), Frankie trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and makes her professional debut in Girl From The North Country. Theatre credits whilst training include: Emilia and Urinetown.
Joshua C Jackson (Joe Scott). Theatre credits include: Caliban (Orange Tree Theatre); The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Icarus’s Wife (Andrew Lloyd Webber Theatre); Keeping It Real (Edinburgh Festival); Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (UK tour & West End) and The Biograph Girl (Finborough Theatre). Television credits include: Black Mirror, Avenue 5 and Station 11. Film credits include: You Should Have Left.
Eli James (Reverend Marlowe). Theatre Credits include: One Man, Two Guvnors (Music Box Theatre, Broadway); Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway); Rutherford & Son (The Mint Theater); Becky Shaw (Huntington Theater); The Four of Us (Manhattan Theatre Club); Maria/Stuart (World Premiere, Woolly Mammoth Theater); Gross Indecency (Philadelphia Theatre Company) and The Invention of Love (The Wilma Theater). Television credits include: Gossip Girl; Unforgettable; Lights Out. Eli was a house-team performer at New York’s legendary comedy venue the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Eli’s podcast, Strong Reception with Eli James, is available everywhere.
Justina Kehinde (Marianne). Justina Kehinde is a storyteller working across writing, acting, directing and poetry. Theatre credits include: Best of Enemies (Young Vic); NHS The Musical (Theatre Royal Plymouth); Hot In Here (Pigfoot Theatre, Camden People’s Theatre); This Little Earth, Passengers (Adelaide Fringe Festival, The Vaults Festival) and Around The World in 80s Days (Grand Theatre Blackpool). Television credits include: Holby City.
Teddy Kempner (Mr Perry). Theatre credits include: Witness for The Prosecution (County Hall); Bitter Wheat (Garrick Theatre); Caroline or Change (Chichester Festival Theatre & Hampstead Theatre); Driving Miss Daisy (Theatre Royal Bath); 42nd Street (Theatre Musical de Paris-Chatelet); Vincent and Flavia: The Last Tango (Phoenix Theatre); Dance ‘Til Dawn (UK tour & Aldwych Theatre); High Society (UK tour); Midnight Tango (UK tour & Aldwych Theatre); Never Forget (Savoy Theatre); The Solid Gold Cadillac (Garrick Theatre); Cymbeline, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Othello, Three Sisters, The Suicide, Nicholas Nickleby (RSC); Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, The Trial (National Theatre); Kiss Me Kate (Victoria Palace Theatre); The Cabinet Minister (Albery); Snoopy (Olivier Award Nomination, Duchess Theatre); The Kitchen, Mary Barnes (Royal Court Theatre); City of Angels (Prince of Wales Theatre); Trilby (Shared Experience); Company (Donmar Warehouse & Albery); Pacific Overtures (Donmar Warehouse); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, The Swaggerer (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Les Miserables (Palace Theatre); 3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down (Donmar Warehouse); John Curry Theatre of Skating (London Palladium); Spin of the Wheel (Comedy Theatre); Measure for Measure, Habeus Corpus, Where There’s a Will (Peter Hall Company); The Invisible Man (Menier Chocolate Factory); A Month in the Country, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Six Pictures of Lee Miller (Chichester Festival Theatre) and Acorn Antiques – The Musical (UK tour). Television credits include: Birds of a Feather, Hustle, Sir Gadabout, Love Hurts, Liquid Television:Dog-Boy, The Three Sisters, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, The Tragedy of Coriolanus, Freud, What a Way to Run a Revolution, Bad Girls and The Murder Room. Film credits include: The World’s End; It’s All About Love; Dear Wendy; Manderlay; De-lovely; Yentl; Truly Madly Deeply; Arch of Triumph and 9/11: The Twin Towers. Teddy is co-writer and producer of several animation series: Foxy Fables; Tales of a Wise King; Insektors; Witchworld. He also co-wrote: Three Friends and Jerry; Something Else; Preston and Clarence.
Graham Kent (Ensemble). Theatre credits include: Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre); Made in Dagenham (UK tour); Spend,Spend,Spend, Moll Flanders (Watermill Theatre); Tin Tin (Barbican); Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Romeo & Juliet, As You Like It, Merry Wives of Windsor (Stafford Shakespeare Festival); Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mixed Doubles, Rookery Nook (Kent Rep); A Word From Our Sponsor (Stephen Joseph Theatre); Animal Farm (Theatr Clywd); A View From the Bridge (Greenwich Theatre); Caucasian Chalk Circle (Manchester Library); Man of La Mancha, The Wizard of Oz (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh); Aladdin (Bristol Hippodrome); Happy End (Nottingham Playhouse); Strindberg Chamber Plays (The Gate); Popcorn (Catford Broadway); Chicago, The Rivals, Company, Barnstormers, Framed, Great Expectations (UK tours); The Beggars Opera (Bridewell Theatre/Buxton Opera Festival); Something Wicked This Way Comes (National Theatre of Scotland); The Sword in the Stone, Sinbad, The Good Companions, And then the Dark (New Wolsey Theatre); (Blitz (Newcastle Opera House); Journey (Brighton Festival), My One and Only (London Palladium); Sleeping Beauty (Aylesbury); Dusty, the Musical (Charing Cross Theatre); Romeo & Juliet, The Hobbit (Dukes, Lancaster) and Young Dick Barton (Croydon Warehouse). Television credits include: Belgravia, Call the Midwife, Doctors, EastEnders, Grange Hill, Bramwell, Thief Takers, Trial & Retribution, In the Red, The Knock, The Bill, Bad Girls, Bugs and Second Generation. Film credits Include: From Hell and Who Can I Turn To?
Owen Lloyd (Ensemble). Owen trained at Arts Educational Schools and makes is professional debut in Girl From The North Country. Theatre credits while training include: Bandstand and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Nichola MacEvilly (Ensemble). Theatre credits include: Philo (Peter Sheridan), The Odd Couple (The Everyman); The Wake (Abbey Theatre); Constance, Snapshot (Hawks Well Theatre); The Only Jealousy of Emer, The Poor Mouth, Rhinoceros (Blue Raincoat Theatre Company); The Way of Water (English Theatre Berlin); Macbeth, Othello (Mill Theatre) and Besieged, Five Minutes Later, Ethica, All Hell Lay Beneath (Marc Bourell Atkinson). Television credits include: Seven Women and Talk to Me. As a singer, Nichola has performed with the great Ennio Morricone and recorded with artists including Indian, Kieran Quinn, Bedlam Suitcase and Those Nervous Animals
Chris McHallem (Dr Walker). Theatre credits include: Nora (Corn Exchange); Strutting & Fretting (Bewley’s Café Theatre); Burial at Thebes, The Wild Duck, Translations, Making History, The Crucible, Big Love, Iphigenia at Aulis (Abbey Theatre Dublin); The Tempest (Salisbury Playhouse); Macbeth (English Touring Theatre); A Clockwork Orange(RSC) and King Lear (Sheffield Theatres). Television credits include:Modern Love, Charlie, Striking Out, Penny Dreadful, Vikings, Normal People, Dublin Murders, Resistance, Blasts from the Past, Loving Miss Hatto, The Tudors, My Boy Jack, Murphy’s Law, The Mystery of Men,Black Velvet Band and as series regular Rod in EastEnders. Film credits include: Frank, Stay, Becoming Jane, Girl with the Pearl Earring, Edward II and When Brendan Met Trudy.
Frances McNamee (Elizabeth Laine). Theatre credits include: A Lady of Little Sense (Theatre Royal Bath/Arcola Theatre – Ian Charleson Award nomination); The Last Ship (UK tour/ Toronto/ US tour – UK Theatre Award nomination); A Christmas Carol (The Old Vic); Big Fish The Musical (The Other Palace) and several seasons with the RSC.
Gregor Milne (Gene Laine). Gregor trained at ArtsEd and makes his professional stage debut in Girl from the North Country. Theatre credits whilst training include: Bandstand, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Sondheim on Sondheim and The Vote.
Eve Norris (Katherine Draper). Theatre credits include: Be More Chill (The Other Palace); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (UK tour) and Bat Out of Hell (Dominion Theatre).
Daniel Reid-Walters (Ensemble). Trained at royal central school of speech and drama. Theatre credits include: The Railway Children (Hull Truck Theatre) Much Ado About Nothing (Dubai Opera House) and The Secret Love Life of Ophelia (Greenwich Theatre online). Television credits include: Doctors.
James Staddon (Mr Burke). Theatre credits include: A Christmas Carol, King Lear (The Old Vic); Goodnight Mr. Tom (Duke Of York’s Theatre); The Crucible (RSC/Gielgud Theatre); Birdsong (Harld Pinter Theatre); Journey’s End (Duke Of York’s Theatre); Cyrano De Bergerac (Haymarket Theatre); Les Miserables (Palace Theatre); Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); King (Piccadilly Theatre); Cymbeline, As You LikeIt, The Tamer Tamed, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, Pericles (RSC); Glengarry Glen Ross (UK tour); Macbeth, The Go Between (Leeds Playhouse); Gone To Earth (Shared Experience/Lyric Hammersmith); The Three Musketeers (Denmark/tour); Moonshadow (Royal Albert Hall/tour); Lock up Your Daughters (Chichester Festival Theatre); Sweeney Todd (The Drum, Plymouth/Bristol Old Vic); The Beggar’s Opera (Bridewell Theatre). Television credits include: Bodyguard, Upstairs Downstairs, The Cut, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Doctors, Midsomer Murders, Eastenders, Casualty, Screen One (Bambino Mio) My Family, Between the Lines, Screen One and TheTripods. Film credits include: I Came By, Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar and Hamlet.
Neil Stewart (Ensemble). Theatre credits include: Mrs Henderson Presents (Theatre Royal Bath & West End); Oresteia (West End); Jersey Boys (International tour); Spring Awakening (Hope Mill Theatre); NHS The Musical (Theatre Royal Plymouth); The Comedy of Errors (Hamburg); Caucasian Chalk Circle (New Rep Company); Chess, Love Story (Union Theatre); Oh, What A Lovely War (UK tour) and The Wind in the Willows (Theatr Clwyd). Neil worked in rep at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff, the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, Perth Rep and the Old Fire Station, Oxford where credits include: Taking Steps, A Small Family Business, Spider’s Web, Witness For The Prosecution, Funny Money, Out Of Order, Amadeus, Noises Off and The Wizard Of Oz. His US theatre credits include: The Real Thing, Private Lives, Iago in Florida, The Molly Maguires, The Apple Cart, Macbeth and Butley. Film credits include: U Want Me 2 Kill Him? and Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Rebecca Thornhill (Mrs Burke). Theatre credits include: Matilda (West End/UK tour); Hairspray (UK tour); From Here To Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre); Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre); Chicago (Adelphi Theatre); Ragtime (Piccadilly Theatre); The Full Monty, Witches of Eastwick (Prince of Wales Theatre); Les Miserables (Palace Theatre); Oklahoma! (National Theatre/Lyceum Theatre); Show Boat (Royal Albert Hall); Showstopper! (Jermyn Street Theatre & Tour); Beauty and the Beast (Dominion Theatre); CATS (Gilliam Lynne Theatre); Sophisticated Ladies (Shakespeare’s Globe); She Loves Me (Savoy Theatre); Top Hat, South Pacific, and Mary Poppins (US tour); Me and My Girl (Adelphi). Film credits include: From Here To Eternity.
James Beeny and Gina Georgio of Toy Soldier Productions present West End star Kerry Ellis performing Lady Macbeth’s ‘What Must Be Done’ from their new musical LADY M.
Based on Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, LADY M tells the untold story of Lady Macbeth. Chilling flashbacks of her haunted past are woven into this reimagining of the famous tale of murder and power, revealing an original backstory to Lady Macbeth’s villainy and downfall.
Created, adapted, and written by Beeny and Georgio, the sung-through musical features a modern score with original music and lyrics.
‘What Must Be Done’ has been produced by Beeny and Georgio alongside Rik Simpson, Coldplay’s multi-Grammy Award-winning producer (Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Mylo Xyloto, Ghost Stories, A Head Full of Dreams, Everyday Life).
LADY M recently underwent a second development workshop in London, directed by Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy and choreographed by Lizzi Gee. The workshop cast included George Blagden, Phoebe Fildes, Robert Hands, Jamie Muscato, Maiya Quansah-Breed, and Karl Queensborough.
Kerry Ellis is a star of the West End and Broadway with credits including being the first British Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked before transferring to Broadway playing the same role. She has also played Nancy in Oliver! at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Grizabella in Cats at the London Palladium, Meat in the original London cast of We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre and Ellen in the UK Tour of Miss Saigon. She has also enjoyed success as a recording artist including her album Wicked in Rock, part of a long standing collaboration with Queen guitarist Brian May.
Toy Soldier Productions is a British production company, founded in 2020 by musical theatre partnership James Beeny and Gina Georgio to develop and produce new, original work. With a background in the music industry, guitarist James and pianist Gina made their theatre debut with new British musical ‘The Dreamers’. In 2018 the production was presented for four fully staged workshop performances at the internationally famous Abbey Road Studios. In 2020, James and Gina brought together The Frontline Singers, a choral group made up of key workers, who remotely recorded an original song. In 2022 the group performed on Britain’s Got Talent, receiving four ‘yes’ votes from the judging panel.
MUCH LOVED STARS OF STAGE AND SCREEN ANNOUNCED FOR FIRST-EVER TOUR OF DEBORAH MOGGACH’S
Oscar-winning actress HAYLEY MILLS to star
alongside West End and Real Marigold Hotel star
PAUL NICHOLAS and PAULA WILCOX
Simon Friend Entertainment today announces first casting for a brand-new stage adaptation of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Hayley Mills (Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, Whistle Down the Wind), Paul Nicholas (Jesus Christ Superstar, BBC 1’s Just Good Friends, Eastenders), and Paula Wilcox (Thames TV’s Man About The House, ITV’s Coronation Street) will star in this feel-good tale of love, adventure, and starting-over which begins a major new UK tour this autumn.
Written by DeborahMoggach who now adapts her bestselling novel 2004’s These Foolish Things for the stage, it having previously inspired the BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated film. The cherished story will be brought to life on stage when it opens at the Richmond Theatre on Monday 5th September 2022 and is directed by Lucy Bailey (Oleanna, UK Tour & West End); Gaslight, UK Tour; Witness for the Prosecution,London’s County Hall).
Since starting her career at the age of nine, Hayley Mills has shot 33 feature films and has been nominated for many awards. Hayley was twelve years old when she made her first feature film, Tiger Bay, and won an Academy Award at the age of thirteen in 1961 for her leading performance in Pollyanna. She went on to star in such films as The Parent Trap (1961), Whistle Down the Wind (1961), The Family Way (1966), Endless Night (1971), and Appointment With Death (1988).
Recent screen credits include Moving On & Pitching In for BBC One; Compulsion for Channel 5 and the feature film, Last Train to Christmas, directed by Julian Kemp. On stage, Hayley most recently performed off-Broadway in a new comedy play, Party Face, directed by Amanda Bearse.
Of today’s announcement, Hayley Mills comments:“I am delighted to join the company of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, as this beautiful story of love and the importance of new beginnings receives a new life as a fantastically feel-good stage play. Tales that warm the heart and lift the spirit are a much-needed tonic at this time and I am thrilled to be visiting so many of the UK’s beautiful towns and cities as part of the production’s exciting journey, later this year.”
Paul Nicholas became a household favourite in the role of Vince Pinner in the celebrated British sitcom Just Good Friends which won the BAFTA award for Best Comedy Series. Paul has continued to star in many TV series including the evil Gavin Sullivan in EastEnders and can be seen as himself in the BAFTA-nominated series The Real Marigold Hotel and Marigold On Tour.
On stage, Paul’s theatrical success began more than fifty years ago in 1968 when he originated the role of Claude in the London premiere of Hair. Following this, in 1972 he originated the role of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. He starred as Danny Zuko in the original West End production of Grease with Elaine Page and as the Rum Tum Tugger in the original production of Cats. His other leading role musical credits include The Exorcist UK Tour, Quartet Cheltenham Theatre and UK tour, Jekyll & Hyde, Barnum, 42nd Street, Singing In The Rain, Dr. Doolittle, A Christmas Carol, Pirates of Penzance, Tale of Two Cities, Fiddler On The Roof and Jerry Herman’s Dear World.
Most recently, Paul’s theatrical ventures have included leading roles in The Exorcist directed by Sean Mathias for a UK tour; Quartet directed by Peter Rowe for the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre and a UK tour; And Then There Were None directed by Joe Harmston for a UK tour Paul has also co-produced numerous shows including Grease, Singing in the Rain, Evita, Pirates of Penzance, Chess and Saturday Night Fever. In 2021 Paul published his autobiography Musicals, Marigolds & Me and a three-CD boxset Paul Nicholas Gold featuring his pop and musical career including Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Hair, and Grease.
Paula Wilcox has had an extensive career in television and theatre and can currently be seen in the role of series regular Elaine Jones in Coronation Street (ITV) and as Sandra in Trying Series 1-3 (BBC/ Apple TV). She first came to public attention after she joined the National Youth Theatre at the age of seventeen and was offered the part of Beryl in The Lovers, an ITV sitcom written by Jack Rosenthal and co-starring Richard Beckinsale. A second series and a feature film followed. Paula then went on to star as Chrissie in Man About the House opposite Richard O’Sullivan. The series ran for three years, and she also starred in the feature film of the same name. More recent television includes Living The Dream (Sky); Upstart Crow (BBC); Girlfriends (ITV); Mount Pleasant, series 1-6 (Sky); The Smoking Room, series 1-2 (BBC); Boomers, series 1-2 (BBC); Moving On (BBC); Grantchester (ITV); Still Open All Hours (BBC); Jonathan Creek (BBC); Doctors (BBC); Emmerdale (ITV).
Paula is also renowned for her career in theatre: her favourite roles have included Miss Havisham in Great Expectations (Vaudeville Theatre); Ellie in Canary (Liverpool Everyman, Hampstead Theatre); Shirley in Dreams of Violence (Soho Theatre); Madame Renaud in La Cage Aux Folles (Playhouse Theatre); Shirley Valentine (Duke of York’s); The Queen in The Queen and I (Vaudeville Theatre); Florence in The Female Odd Couple (Apollo Theatre); Lil in the UK tour of Kindertransport; and Marjorie Jones in What Shadows (Birmingham Rep & Park Theatre). Most recently she starred as Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy at York Theatre Royal.
Based on the Sunday Times bestseller which inspired one of this century’s most treasured films, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel takes us on a journey to India with an eclectic group of British retirees as they embark on a new life. The luxury residence is far from the opulence they were promised, but as their lives begin to intertwine and they embrace the vibrancy of modern-day India, they are charmed in unexpected and life-changing ways.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a joyous, feel-good comedy about taking risks, finding love, and embracing second chances, even in the most surprising of places.
The film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (directed by John Madden) saw its UK theatrical release in 2012. Within two weeks of its cinematic distribution, the film had topped the UK Box Office and went on to become a hit internationally performing as one of the highest-grossing films of 2012 in Australia and New Zealand in addition to the United Kingdom.
The interwoven stories of the film’s stellar ensemble, which included Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilson, Tom Wilkinson, Celie Imrie, and Ronald Pickup – with Dev Patel as the put-upon owner of a past-its-best hotel for ‘the elderly and beautiful’ – shone a light on issues such as the outsourcing of care and NHS treatments, the complexity of family relationships around the world, love, compassion, and companionship in our twilight years.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is produced by Simon Friend, Jenny King, Trafalgar Entertainment and Gavin Kalin.
Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Saturday 14 May 2022
Reviewed by Louise Ford
3***
In someways it doesn’t seem quite right to have a ghost story in mid May, ghost stories are best suited to cold, windy October evenings.
The adaptation of MR James Oh Whistle and I’ll Come to You by Millie James is given a modern twist with the lead character Professor Parkin being played by a woman (Susan Earnshaw), and the use of mobile phones as a plot device to move the story along. The show is directed by Karen Henson and produced by Rumpus Theatre Company.
The cast is very pared back with just two actors, Susan Earnshaw and John Goodrum. Goodrum plays at least four characters. John Goodrum also designed the set. It’s a no frills production centred in a single space. In someways this works very well as the story is really moved along with the dialogue and the sound. However it did feel a little amateurish. The use of sound (wind and storm mainly) helps to set the scene and creates an unsettling atmosphere. The sound designer was David Giltbrook.
Despite the references all the way through the story about night-time paralysis, nightmares, half glimpsed figures and unaccountable events it seemed to me that this was really a story about grief and loss, rather than a ghost story.
Please find below production images for the new West End production of Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey’s iconic musical GREASE, opening at the Dominion Theatre on Tuesday 17 May 2022
2022 marks 50 years since GREASE first opened on Broadway.
GREASE stars Dan Partridge as Danny, Olivia Moore as Sandy and Peter Andre as Vince Fontaine at certain performances. Special Guest Star Jason Donovan will play Teen Angel at certain performances for 6 weeks from 29 June.
Also in the cast are Jocasta Almgill as Rizzo, Paul French as Kenickie, Mary Moore as Jan, Jake Reynolds as Doody, Lizzy-Rose Esin-Kelly as Marty, Damon Gould as Sonny, Eloise Davies as Frenchie, Jessica Croll as Patty Simcox, Katie Lee as Cha Cha, Ronan Burns as Johnny Casino and Corinna Powlesland as Miss Lynch. Darren Bennett plays Officer Mailie and Vince Fontaine at certain performances.
GREASE originally opened in Chicago in 1971, followed by a move to Broadway in 1972, where it received seven Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical. The musical features beloved songs, including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted To You and You’re The One That I Want.
GREASE is directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
‘Anything Goes’ is an ideal term to describe the world right now – who knows what’s around the corner, what the next day’s newspaper headlines will bring. Thank goodness the award-winning production, originally performed at the Barbican, is here to lift us out of whatever pit we might feel our collective selves in.
Billy Crocker (Samuel Edwards) is in a bind. The love of his life, Hope Harcourt (Nicole-Lily Baisden) is boarding the SS American to wed her English fiancé Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Haydn Oakley), but his boss, Elisha Whitney (Clive Hayward*) wants him to go sell shares for him on Wall St. When Billy stows away to follow Hope, he takes the passport and identity of Public Enemy Number One, and teams up with Public Enemy Number Thirteen, Moonface Martin (Denis Lawson) and Erma (Carly Mercedes Dyer). With the help of his new friends, and old friend and celebrity Reno Sweeney (Kerry Ellis), Billy hopes to win back the love of his life whilst avoiding his boss and the authorities onboard. All aboard for high seas hijinks…
Over the years, ‘Anything Goes’ has remained popular with its classic songs and constant comedy a winning formula with audiences, and this production is no exception. The whole cast maintains an easy likeability with each other and the audience, in particular Ellis and Lawson, whose rendition of ‘Friendship’, was an instant highlight of the show. While they start friendly, the song settles into a gentle rivalry that threatens to derail the show until the conductor has to take back control.
Kerry Ellis amazes as well at the end of Act One, leading the ensemble in the title number, an epic tap routine that leaves the audience breathless, a euphoria that continues through the second act, into ‘Blow, Gabriel, Blow’. Special mention also to Carly Mercedes Dyer’s Erma, who, while persistently and hilariously luring the various sailors of the SS American to numerous nooks and crannies about the ship, launches into a spectacular performance of ‘Buddie, Beware’.
Simply put, ‘Anything Goes’ is a guarantee of a good time, with the whole audience leaving with smiles on their faces.
*Clive Howard is the Understudy for Elisha Whitney, normally performed by Simon Callow
New images have been released of Lee Mead starring as Billy Flynn in the UK and Ireland tour of CHICAGO.
Lee Mead joins the production from Tuesday 31 May 2022 at the Sunderland Empire, alongside Gemma Collins as Mama Morton, Faye Brookes as Roxie Hart, Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly, Jamie Baughan as Amos Hart and B.E. Wong as Mary Sunshine.
Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, CHICAGO’s sexy, sassy score includes the show-stopping songs “Razzle Dazzle”, “Cell Block Tango”, and “All That Jazz”. Winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, CHICAGO is the longest running American musical in Broadway and West End history.
CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1996 Broadway revival of CHICAGO was choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse, directed by Walter Bobbie, and produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.
Crucible Studio Theatre, Sheffield – 11th May 2022
Reviewed by Sophie Dodworth
4****
Lava stops at the at the Crucible Studio theatre for one night only. The play (written by James Fritz) is a journey through the stages of grief and how people cope through that; while experiencing all the usual other bits and bobs that life throws as you, like friendship, love and basic human contact.
It is set in a small town, miles away from London. London is in the aftermath of a natural disaster (a small asteroid has hit) and everybody has been affected someway or another. We meet a young man, Vin (Dan Parr) who is not able to speak as he has done in the past. The reasons for his silence are left as a mystery right until the end, and they’ll be no spoilers here! Vin’s mum Vicky (Kacey Ainsworth) cares immensely but has had a recent loss of her own. We watch the story unfold and observe Vin’s friend, Rach (Bethany Antonia) trying to get Vin out of his silence…
The cast are awesome with outstanding performances from each actor. Antonia is fresh, playful and you feel yourself really warming to her. Ainsworths’ performance is intense at times and so believable with touches of humour that really get you giggling. She really does steal the show with her emotive talk to Vin towards the end, leaving you rather unsure about how much more real it could feel. The comedic timing and presence from Oli Higginson (Jamie) is polished and he gets the most laughs during some of the cringe-worthy moments in this black comedy.
The set is plain and simple but hats off to the company for the use of the stage, every inch and corner is used. The lighting and visuals projected on to the set are effective and enable the one-act play to stay engaging and bright.
Lava explores what happens to those who can’t express themselves fully in a world that celebrates self-expression. It digs deep and feels like a real dive into the world of mental health and how it effects the individual and those around them.
Please find below images from a media night for the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning smash hit musical, JERSEY BOYS, which took place at the Trafalgar Theatre on Wednesday 11 May.
Amy Anzel
Chris Kowalski
Hayley Palmer
Linda Robson
The cast is led by Ben Joyce as Frankie Valli, Adam Bailey as Bob Gaudio, Karl James Wilson as Nick Massi and Benjamin Yates as Tommy De Vito.
Amy Hart
Claire Sweeney
Jack Malin and Natalie Edwards
Michael Josepth Hardwick
JERSEY BOYS is the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks. The show is packed with hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You.
Ben Norris
Esther McVey
Janie Dee
Paula London
JERSEY BOYS is written by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe.
Cheryl Baker
Freddie Cousin-Brown
Larissa Eddie
Precious Muir
Shirkant Shelar
The production is staged by the original Broadway creative team, led by the Tony Award-winning team of director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo.
