Cast announced for East London
Shakespeare Festival’s Twelfth Night
Touring East London parks from 16th June – 7th August 2022

There’s an 80s party going on all summer long, with the cast announced for East London Shakespeare Festival (ELSF)’s rip-roaring take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. This new production provides summer fun for all the family, with an opportunity like no other for complete escapism in picturesque outdoor settings.

Bringing the residents of Illyria to life this summer are Aaron Douglas (Money, Southwark Playhouse; Interruptions, Jacksons Lane) as Sebastian, Ursula Early (Please Right Back, 1927; The Endings, Soho Theatre; Wives As They Were, UK Tour) as Olivia and Arysha Kelly makes her professional debut as Viola. Paul Carroll (A Skull in Connemara, Nottingham Playhouse; That Dark Place, Old Red Lion Theatre) takes on the dual roles of Feste and Antonio, alongside Philip Honeywell (Karaoke Play, Bunker Theatre; A Clockwork Orange, Park Theatre) as Malvolio, Alasdair Saksena (King Lear With Sheep, UK & US Tour) as Sir Toby Belch and Kate Thomson Rahmanian (Helena & Hermia: Untucked, The Other Palace; X&Y, Frantic Assembly) as Maria

Also taking on dual roles are Hassan Maarfi (Our Man in Havana, Minerva Theatre; The Mullah of Downing Street, Warwick Arts Centre) as Duke Orsino and Sir Andrew Aguecheek and ELSF’s 2022 ‘Apprentice Actor’ Francesca (Frankie) Alemitu Bertoletti, who is making their performing debut as Curio and Valentine.

Rosie Ward, producer and co-director of ELSF and Community Ensemble Director comments, We are so excited about our fantastic cast. Not only are they awesome actors, they represent the diversity of East London. They are really going to bring the story of Twelfth Night to life.

Ursula Early, producer and co-director of ELSF, says, We couldn’t be more thrilled with the cast, they are all brilliantly talented multi-skilled actors including: actor-musos, cabaret performers, and comedians. We can’t wait to have them giving their 1980s take to the audiences of East London!

Transforming areas across Hackney, Waltham Forest and Redbridge into the world of Illyria, ELSF merges the contemporary culture of East London with the inspirational storytelling of Shakespeare’s plays in outdoor parks and community spaces across the area. Twelfth Night gives local residents a memorable and unique experience of Shakespeare’s much-loved classic tale, with a festival vibe and featuring a community ensemble of local residents at the Waltham Forest venues.

With Pay-What-You-Can performances and heavily reduced school matinees for local schools including a 20-minute pre-show workshop, the company are partnering with local performing arts college Big Creative to provide placements, and Crate St James to offer two Kickstart apprenticeships, offering invaluable behind-the-scenes insight, support with creative career options and new skills for students.

Hull New Theatre – until 12th May 2022

Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams

4****

Michael Flatley’s Lord Of The Dance is celebrating its 25th year, with a young cast many of whom will have been toddlers or not even born when it was first staged in Dublin. Lord Of The Dance is Michael Flatley’s “brainchild”, his celebration of Irish dance and culture with music composed by Gerard Fahy. It is a tale of good versus evil, dreamed by Little Spirit (Cassidy Ludwig), in which the Lord of the Dance (Matt Smith) must fight against the Dark Lord (Zoltan Papp), and of course the Lord of the Dance triumphs.

Matt Smith was the classic hero as the Lord of the Dance. He is an extremely skilful dancer and was a delight to watch, at times his feet moved so fast across the floor that they blurred! The entire cast is full of the most tremendous dancers, an incredibly talented group and it was the ensemble pieces that were the stand out dances in the performance. The sound of the shoes on the stage is mesmeric and this was particularly the case when the men danced alone with no music, a simply stunning performance.

Two fiddle players Gida Costenaro and Aisling Sage added to the joy of the piece with their fast and furious playing of traditional Irish music. It was wonderful to see the dancers on stage dancing to this live music. Celyn Cartwright was Erin the Goddess giving voice to the sentiments expressed in the dance. She has a beautiful singing voice with wonderful tones.

Michael Flatley was also present in the theatre in the form of backdrop videos of performances and him talking about Irish dance and his career. However, I found the backdrop videos playing in the final number to be a distraction from the wonderful dancing that was taking place on stage.

In its 25th year I do feel that Lord Of The Dance may be showing its age, times have moved on. I was very disappointed that the female dancers, who are clearly immensely talented are not given a proper showcase, they appeared to be on stage to look pretty and very much played second fiddle to the men. I also question why it was necessary for them to strip off their dresses on stage and then dance in skimpy halter necks and short shorts, this added nothing to the storyline or merit of the performance. I should also add that the backing music used was at times excessively loud and my ears are still ringing today.

What Lord Of The Dance does best is traditional Irish music and dance and this was a total delight to watch, the audience gave the performers a standing ovation at the end of the show. If you love Irish music and dance then there is no doubt you will love Lord Of The Dance.

NEW DIORAMA ANNOUNCE ‘THE KNOT’ – A FESTIVAL OF FEARLESS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF INDEPENDENT THEATRE

·       A year after reopening, The Knot is a watershed moment for independent artists to confront new challenges facing the sector post-lockdowns.

·       From 18-24 June, a programme of brave panels, bold workshops and exclusive speaker events – plus theatre’s spiciest pub quiz.

·       All events free with booking now live at www.the-knot.co.uk, accessible digitally and in person at New Diorama’s revolutionary NDT Broadgate venue.

New Diorama announces ‘The Knot’: a week of fearless conversations about the future of independent theatre, 18-24 June at NDT Broadgate and online.

A year since theatres reopened, independent artists face daunting questions, some seemingly unanswerable. The Knot dares us all to come together: to leave the WhatsApp group, get out of the DMs, save the subtweets to draft – and have the big conversations we need, face-to-face.

Headline panels include Social Media Activism: the future of institutional accountability? with Royal Court’s Vicky Featherstone, artist-campaigner Adam Lenson and Barbican’s Tom Sleigh, chaired by playwright Vinay Patel. Elsewhere, ThisEgg’s Josie Dale Jones joins to discuss censorship and reactionary responses to The Family Sex Show. And London’s hottest playwright Ryan Calais Cameron (For Black Boys)featuresin a panel about Black-led work targeting success amidst a white critical and audience gaze.

The workshop programme tackles the stuff they don’t teach on the average artist development course, from How To Fire People (And Other Interpersonal Skills) to Creative Mental Health and Financial Planning for Freelancers.

A speaker programme provokes artists’ curiosity with insights from the wider world – that have nothing to do with art, but everything to do with the world in which art is made. Speakers range from UN climate change negotiation expert Brianna Craft to venture capitalist Fabio La Franca on future-shaping metaverse technologies.

Co-presented with Culture Mile and partner theatre companies Uproot and Bunny, all events are available free with online and streaming options. The programme is hosted at NDT Broadgate, NDT’s vast rehearsal complex in City of London which has already blazed a trail for post-Covid artist support, offering over 100,000 artist-hours of space completely free for independent theatre-makers.

NDT Executive Director Will Young said: ‘It’s been the most amazing year for New Diorama, supporting literally thousands of theatre-makers at NDT Broadgate. We’ve done our best to listen and figure out what’s next: the big unspoken questions, fears and obstacles for artists making brilliant, bold theatre. The Knot represents where we’ve got to so far – and the conversations we think it begins with. Dive in with us.”

FULL PROGRAMME NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AT: WWW.THE-KNOT.CO.UK

Lyceum, Sheffield – until 14th May 2022

Reviewed by Alison Beaumont

5*****

The Cher Show tells the early story and rise to stardom of Cher. The show is directed by Arlene Phillips OBE renowned for judging Strictly Come Dancing.

This show is absolutely amazing from the start to the end I am almost lost for words.

The show features 3 Cher’s Babe, Lady and Star who all have phenomenal performances and showed their expertise delivering their portrayal of Cher with professionalism. The 3 Cher’s spend most of the show on the stage together. There are lots of lighting effects which made you feel like you were actually there and not just watching a show.

Babe (Millie O’Connell) is the very young Cher who is bullied for looking different and at the young age of 16 meets Sonny (Lucas Rush). Her mannerisms were typical of a young Cher. If I had to be nit picky about anything I would say I thought Babe was the weaker of the 3 Cher’s but this really is something so minor as she portrayed young Cher excellently.

Lady (Danielle Steers) plays the divorced Cher who works hard to pick herself up and take control of her career, she meets marries and has a baby with Greg (Sam Ferriday). Danielle has such great vocals and coming from Barnsley like myself and having attended the school my daughter goes to made me feel extremely proud of her seeing her on the stage giving without a doubt a faultless performance. Her vocals were absolutely outstanding.

Star (Debbie Kurup) showed Cher’s acting career. Debbie bore such a resemblance to Cher you could have been watching the legend herself, her vocals and characteristics were great.

All 3 Chers blended well when singing together and you could see the passion and enjoyment throughout their performance.

The ensemble were fantastic and certainly added to the enjoyment of the show, brilliant choegraphy by Oti Mabuse, great energy by everyone and very talented individuals.

Everything even down to the costumes were amazing.

Everyone was on their feet at the end and judging by the audiences faces and reaction to the cast everyone enjoyed this as much as I did. I could definitely watch this again and again.

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions present

Witness for the Prosecution

By Agatha Christie

• AGATHA CHRISTIE’S ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ IS NOW BOOKING UNTIL 16 APRIL 2023
• THE ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION, NOW ON TO ITS SEVENTH CAST, EXTENDS ITS RUN AT THE MAGNIFICENT LONDON COUNTY HALL

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions are delighted to announce an extension for Agatha Christie’sWitness for the Prosecution. Audiences can now watch the trial of Leonard Vole at the magnificent London County Hall until 16th April 2023. Tickets are now on sale at witnesscountyhall.com. Casting for the new booking period is to be announced.

Producers Eleanor Lloyd and Rebecca Stafford said: “After being closed for 18 months during the pandemic we are thrilled that audiences have welcomed Witness for the Prosecution back with such enthusiasm. Over 400,000 people have seen the show since we opened in 2017 and we are excited to now be extending into a 6th year with a new booking period now on sale until April 2023.” 

The current cast includes Joshua Glenister as the accused, Leonard Vole, opposite Lauren O’Neil as Romaine. Owen Oakeshott will play Sir Wilfrid Robarts QC. He is joined by Peter Landi as Mr Mayhew, Richard Teverson as Mr Myers QC, and James Hayes as Mr Justice Wainwright. The company is completed by James Alper, Lily Blunsom-Washbrook, Jonathan Brenner, Simon Butteriss, Vicki Davids, William Donaldson, Nick Hardie, Andrew Hollingworth, Mandi Symonds, Naomi Taylor, Matt Weyland, and Donnavan Yates.

Now in its fifth year, Witness for the Prosecution has captured the imagination of thousands gripped by the case of Leonard Vole, accused of murder in cold blood. Director Lucy Bailey thrillingly places the audience in the thick of the action as Christie’s enthralling tale of justice, passion and betrayal unfolds around them.

Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will he be able to convince the jury of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?

The twists and turns of the case are played out in a spectacular courtroom setting inside the atmospheric London County Hall as prosecution battles defence and witnesses take the stand to give their shocking testimonies. The production received Best Revival nominations at the 2018 Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards.

The production is designed by William Dudley, with lighting by Chris Davey, sound design by Mic Pool and casting by Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG.

History’s Greatest Ballet Star to be celebrated in
Nureyev Legend and Legacy

• The legacy of the legendary dancer and global celebrity Rudolph Nureyev will be celebrated over five performances taking place from 5-12 September at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
  
• The opening evening performance will be introduced live by Dame Monica Mason and Ralph Fiennes
  
• The gala performance has been curated by former Royal Ballet Principal Nehemiah Kish and is supported by the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation
  
•  An international cast of 22 dancers will come together in celebrating Nureyev’s life and work accompanied by live music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by David Briskin (National Ballet of Canada)
  
• 350 tickets for the production will be made available free of charge to ballet students, NHS workers and economically deprived ballet lovers 

The unmatched impact of Rudolf Nureyev, whose performances touched the lives of people around the world, will be celebrated on stage this September in London over five performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane – where Nureyev made his London debut – in a production curated by a former star of The Royal Ballet which will bring together an array of international talent both on and off stage.

Nureyev defected from the Soviet Union in 1961, rebelling against an oppressive regime, becoming a citizen of the world who popularised ballet internationally.

At Nureyev Legend and Legacy, audiences will enjoy a programme of nine classical ballet excerpts representing highlights in Nureyev’s career, hand-selected by former Royal Ballet principal Nehemiah Kish and performed by 22 of the leading dancers of our times – William Bracewell, Yuhui Choe, Alina Cojocaru, Cesar Corrales, Guillaume Côté (12^th September), Benjamin Ella, Francesco Gabriele Frola, Emma Hawes, Francesca Hayward, Daichi Ikarashi, Oleg Ivenko, Natascha Mair, Hugo Marchand (5^th and 6^th September), Maia Makhateli, Vadim Muntagirov, Yasmine Naghdi, Natalia Osipova, Xander Parish, Iana Salenko, Marcelino Sambé, Alexandr Trusch, Marianna Tsembenhoi –  representing companies which include The Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and the English National Ballet.

Performances of Nureyev Legend and Legacy will be hosted and introduced by former Director of The Royal Ballet Dame Monica Mason – who herself partnered Nureyev on a number of occasions – and Ralph Fiennes, the acclaimed actor and filmmaker who directed and acted in The White Crow, which tells the story of Nureyev’s defection from Russia to the West. On the opening night, this introduction will be live, with a filmed version screened at the performances that follow.

Each piece has been chosen to represent a different aspect of Nureyev’s incredible life and work, which saw him become a global star with renown beyond the world of ballet, opening with a solo he choreographed for The Sleeping Beauty which showcases Nureyev’s talent as a choreographer and his impact on elevating the role of the male dancer by adding solos to the classical repertoire. 

It will be danced by Hugo Marchand of the Paris Opera Ballet. Other extracts in the programme include a Pas de Deux from Gayane, which reflects Nureyev’s folk dance roots and will danced by Oleg Ivenko (who played Nureyev in The White Crow) partnered byMaia Mahkateli; and the Pas de Six from Laurencia, which Nureyev staged with the Royal Ballet for a TV special in 1964, staged exclusively for this production by Natalia Osipova, who will be accompanied by Marcelino Sambé and 4 dancers from The Royal Ballet.

The dancers will perform to live music played by 40 musicians from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, who will be conducted by David Briskin, Musical Director of the National Ballet of Canada. Costumes which draw on archival footage of Nureyev’s performances have been created by ballet dancer turned designer Natalia Stewart.

In alignment with Nureyev’s inclusive values, which saw him establish a foundation which offers bursaries to emerging dancers, a proportion of tickets for the production will be offered free of charge to ballet students and workers in the NHS. Some of the dancers in the programme have been the direct beneficiaries of bursaries to study from The Rudolph Nureyev Foundation.

Speaking about the production, Artistic Director Nehemiah Kish said:  

“From my earliest memories as a young dancer, I have regarded Rudolf Nureyev as synonymous with classical ballet. At Canada’s National Ballet School, I was fortunate to study with a close colleague of Nureyev and our training was infused with daily reminders of the impossibly high standard of discipline and artistry that Nureyev practiced. Every step of my dance education and professional career has been shaped by those who knew Nureyev and drew inspiration from his passion and commitment to illustrate the highest achievements in dance and inspire the next generation of dancers. In presenting this programme, I want to celebrate Rudolf Nureyev’s transformative influence on dance and his legacy, expressed through the performances of today’s most incredible dancers.”    

Listings information

Nureyev Legend and Legacy | Theatre Royal Drury Lane
5 September                 7.30pm
6 & 12 September         2pm and 7.30pm
Tickets from £25: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/theatre-royal-drury-lane/
 Running time: 120 minutes including interval

MERCURY THEATRE AND WILTSHIRE CREATIVE ANNOUNCE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF GOOD LUCK, STUDIO IN COLLABORATION WITH MISCHIEF

Mercury Theatre and Wiltshire Creative today announce the world première of Good Luck, Studio, in collaboration with Mischief. This dark new comedy is written by Henry Shields and directed by Henry Lewis, with cast and creative team to be announced. The production opens on 5 October at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, with previews from 30 September, before transferring to Salisbury Playhouse from 18 October – 5 November.

Henry Shields, writer, says: “I am thrilled, delighted, excited and utterly terrified to be presenting my first solo work Good Luck, Studio at the Mercury Theatre Colchester and Salisbury Playhouse. With the help of the Mischief team, we will be creating a show that is extremely funny, totally original, and not at all suitable for children.”

Henry Lewis, director, says: “I am absolutely thrilled to making my directorial debut with this hilarious new play”.

Mercury and Wiltshire Creative present the world première of the Mischief production

By arrangement with Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd

GOOD LUCK, STUDIO

Written by Henry Shields; Directed by Henry Lewis

Mercury Theatre, Colchester: 30 September – 15 October 2022

Salisbury Playhouse, Wiltshire: 18 October – 5 November 2022

It’s the final night of recording Wibble the Dragon. The show is massively over budget and under written. With one hour left to film, 16 pages to go, and an audience of screaming children getting more and more impatient, the cast and crew know big cuddly heads are going to roll. 

The last thing anyone needs is a failed actor showing up with a sinister vendetta and his own dragon costume. In this kid’s TV show, more than just careers will die.

Good Luck, Studio is a new dark comedy from the award-winning Mischief, written by Henry Shields and directed by Henry Lewis and with access performances available across both venues.

Henry Shields is an Olivier Award-winning writer and has been a member of Mischief since 2009. His theatre credits include The Play That Goes Wrong (2015 Olivier winner of Best New Comedy and WhatsOnStage Awards 2014), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2016 Olivier nominee for Best New Comedy), The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (2017 Olivier nominee for Best New Comedy), Groan Ups, Magic Goes Wrong (2020 Olivier nominee for Best New Entertainment/Comedy Play) and Mischief Movie Night (2018 Olivier nominee for Best New Comedy). For television, his work includes Peter Pan Goes Wrong, A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, The Goes Wrong Show, Holby City, Keep It in the Family, Children in Need 2020 and The Royal Variety Performance.

Henry Lewis directs. Lewis is an Olivier Award-winning writer, actor and Artistic Director of Mischief, whose work has been produced in over 40 countries worldwide. His credits include: Mischief Movie Night In, Magic Goes Wrong (2020 Olivier nominee for Best New Entertainment/Comedy Play), The Goes Wrong Show, Groan Ups, Mischief Movie Night (2018 Olivier nominee for Best New Comedy), The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (2017 Olivier nominee for Best New Comedy), The Play That Goes Wrong (2015 Olivier winner of Best New Comedy and WhatsOnStage Awards 2014), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2016 Olivier nominee for Best New Comedy) and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong.

GOOD LUCK, STUDIO

Listings

Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT

30 September – 15 October 2022

Box office: www.mercurytheatre.co.uk / 01206 573948

Access performances:

Relaxed: 13 October at 2:30pm

Captioned: 14 October at 7:30pm

Touch tour: 15 October at 1pm

Audio described: 15 October at 2:30pm

Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury SP2 7RA

18 October – 5 November 2022

Box office: www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/main-house// 01722 320333

Access performances:

Relaxed, BSL and captioned: 27 October at 2:15pm

BSL and captioned: 1 November at 7:30pm

Touch tour and audio described: 3 November

Twitter and Facebook: @GoodLuckOnStage

Instagram: @GoodLuck_OnStage

Award-winning play Moment of Grace tells of
Princess Diana’s famous handshake with an
AIDS patient
Tuesday 28th June – Saturday 16th July
The Hope Theatre, 207 Upper St, London N1 1RL

The princess, the patient, and the handshake that changed the face of AIDS

In the 35th anniversary year of Princess Diana’s famous handshake with an AIDS patient, Bren Gosling’s (PROUD, King’s Head Theatre; Invisible Me, Studio at New Wimbledon Theatre; I, Minnie Lansbury, Bloomsbury Festival) award-winning play Moment of Grace returns to tell the story of the ground-breaking moment that sent shockwaves around the world. Following a critically acclaimed showcase at Bloomsbury Festival, this arresting one-act play will now be staged at the intimate Hope Theatre for a three week run.

Based on personal testimonies, Moment of Grace tells of the famous visit by Diana, Princess of Wales, to Britain’s first AIDS Unit in 1987 and its impact on three people – Andrew, a patient, Jude, a nurse, and Donnie, a fireman estranged from his son. In a world where even being seen to work on this ward could cost you everything, this act paved the way for a major shift in the public perception of people living with HIV and AIDS. Worldwide interest, news crews and a televised interview followed. To change public misconceptions, would you have risked it? Addressing an untold but incredibly important part of recent LGBTQ+ and collective history, Moment of Grace will make you laugh, cry, get angry, and open your heart.

The play won the NO: INTERMISSION International One Act Play Competition in 2020. A filmed version was streamed from The Actors Centre, and this was awarded an ONCOM
Commendation by The Offies.

Writer Bren Gosling comments, I am thrilled that my play Moment of Grace will at last get a proper staged run on the 35th anniversary of the event that inspired it. This piece of theatre brings home the importance of compassion and human touch when all else falls away, something which resonates particularly today in our emergence from the current pandemic. AIDS was once taboo, LGBTQ+ people had few civil or legal rights and were often publicly vilified and ridiculed by the press and media alike. In the face of terrible times, society needs both celebrity and private heroes who are willing to make a stand for what is right and to speak out against prejudice and hate. Diana Princess of Wales did this, as did countless others, unsung and long forgotten. Moment of Grace brings attention to some of their stories. We have come a long way… This play reminds us of just how far we’ve come, and the debt we owe to those who have gone before us

Moment of Grace is created by Backstory Ensemble Productions in association with The National HIV Story Trust, who will jointly host a 45-minute panel Q&A after the matinée performance on Saturday 9th July.

Deeply moving…shocking…heart-breaking. ★★★★★ (LondonTheatre1)
A wonderful story. Compelling. Please see it! (Alison Steadman)

New dance show for families

comes to Leeds for June bank holiday

Tin Man

Friday 03 – Sunday 05 June

Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds

theatreleeds.com

Fans of The Wizard of Oz can expect a theatrical treat this June, as Joss Arnott Dance returns to Leeds with a new dance show for families, Tin Man. Retelling the classic story of the Tin Man on their journey to finding their heart and happiness, this newly created show will visit the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre for six performances over the June bank holiday weekend, from Friday 03 to Sunday 05 June 2022.

This captivating new dance production for families with children aged 7+ explores a reimagined story of how the much-loved character of the Tin Man would have coped against the Wicked Witch in the deep dark wood, and discovers the new personalities they might have met along the way.

Told with brilliant humour and touching pathos, Tin Man will resonate with children and adults alike with its enchanting storytelling, bold choreography, and stunning costumes and lighting. Also featuring a newly commissioned score by award-winning composer Anna Appleby, the music will be performed live at every performance by ensemble Psappha.

Tickets for Tin Man at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds are on sale now and can be booked online at theatreleeds.com or by calling the Box Office on 0113 220 8008. Tickets are priced at £11 for adults and £9 for children.

AWARD WINNING HOPE MILL THEATRE MAKES EDINBURGH FRINGE DEBUT AT PLEASANCE 1 WITH NEW COMEDY PLAY IN ASSOCIATION WITH HER PRODUCTIONS.

AWARD WINNING HOPE MILL THEATRE MAKES EDINBURGH FRINGE DEBUT AT PLEASANCE 1 WITH NEW COMEDY PLAY IN ASSOCIATION WITH HER PRODUCTIONS.

CLASSIC! MAKES ITS WAY TO EDINBURGH AFTER A STRICTLY LIMITED RUN AT HOPE MILL THEATRE THIS JUNE

MANCHESTER, HOPE MILL THEATRE

14^th – 18^th June

EDINBURGH, PLEASANCE 1

3^rd – 28^th August

Hold onto your hats as a cast of 6 romp through all those classic novels you never had time to read in CLASSIC! at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester and Edinburgh this summer.

In 60 minutes and via multiple costume changes the company race you from Wuthering Heights to Moby Dick, told at lightning speed… Expect the unexpected!

With no previous literary experience required, a thrilling script by Emmerdale & Coronation St writers, Peter Kerry and Lindsay Williams and combined with direction from Joyce Branagh, results in a brilliantly funny show that is for everyone.

The show has music by Louis Ashton Butler and musical direction from Joe Clayton and features a brilliant cast comprising of Louis Blair, Althea Burey, Amy Drake, Amy Gavin, Robin Simpson and Gareth Tempest.

CLASSIC! Is brought to the stage by Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, alongside co-producers HER Productions, Manchester’s leading independent theatre production company (Vignettes, Unseemly Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream).

CLASSIC! started life as a 15 minute piece of new work at the iconic Manchester JB Shorts sharing platform, with Arts Council England funding it was then workshopped at HMT in 2020, and has now become a full length piece.

The play is set around a group of actors coming together to break a record for the most novels ever shared on stage. In doing that, they share the stories in extremely unexpected ways: Moby Dick as a sea shanty, Jane Eyre as a silent movie, Oliver Twist as a film noir and Black Beauty as a Pantomime… and many more!

Joyce Branagh, Director of CLASSIC! said: “I’m so excited to finally get CLASSIC! on stage – we first did a chunk of this in Manchester years ago and to now have a full show is brilliant – definitely worth the wait!  The script is hilarious – really snappy – and we’ve got a great bunch of experienced comedy actors, so the whole thing is going to be very VERY silly. Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens et al will be disco-dancing in their graves!”

Joseph Houston, Artistic Director of Hope Mill Theatre, said: “Hailing from Scotland, the Edinburgh Festival has played a big part in my life and I have many happy memories of travelling through to the capital to watch a variety of shows. Being able to now be a part of the festival with a Hope Mill production, in what will be a very special year and its triumphant return, is a dream come true. From the minute we read CLASSIC! we knew this was a show destined for Edinburgh, with its fast paced, funny humour and a top notch group of actors, you will never need to read another classic novel again!”

Listings

Manchester, Hope Mill Theatre:

14^th – 18^th June

www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk

Edinburgh, Pleasance 1

3^rd – 28^th August

www.tickets.edfringe.com