LONDON CLASSIC THEATRE ANNOUNCE UK TOUR OF ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR
London Classic Theatre present
ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR
Written by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Michael Cabot;Set design by Simon Scullion; Costume design by Kate Lyons
Lighting design by Andy Grange
UK Tour
16 June – 16 October 2021
London Classic Theatre today announce a new UK tour of their postponed 20th anniversary production of Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn. Michael Cabot directs returning cast, John Dorney (Geoffrey Jackson), Felicity Houlbrooke (Jane Hopcroft), Helen Keeley (Eva Jackson), Rosanna Miles (Marion Brewster-Wright), Graham O’Mara (Ronald Brewster-Wright) and Paul Sandys (Sidney Hopcroft).
The production opens at Derby Theatre on 16 June, before touring to Coventry, Malvern, Guildford, Peterborough, Weston-Super-Mare, Cheltenham, Bury St Edmunds, Bath, Doncaster, Winchester, Ilfracombe, Chelmsford and Exeter, concluding at Theatr Clwyd on 16 October. All performances will be staged in line with current government guidelines.
Artistic Director Michael Cabot said today “We are thrilled to be getting back on the road again. After such a turbulent and challenging year, we are looking forward to reconnecting with audiences and playing our part in the return of live theatre around the UK. We have been in regular contact with our cast and stage management throughout the shutdown and I’m delighted that they are all returning for the new tour. They are a fantastic team and it will be wonderful to see them all back at work, doing what they do best. Rehearsals start in four weeks and we can’t wait!”
Three married couples. Three kitchens. Three Christmas parties.
Sidney Hopcroft, a small-time tradesman, persuades wife Jane to throw a party hoping to find favour with a bank manager and local architect. As celebrations begin, class differences and naked ambition combine to hilarious effect as, one by one, the characters seek refuge in Jane’s kitchen.
Over the next two years, the Jacksons and Brewster-Wrights take turns to host festivities. But Sidney’s star has begun to rise and roles are increasingly reversed as the cracks in the other couples’ marriages begin to show.
Absurd Person Singular first premièred in 1972 and was awarded the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy.
Alan Ayckbourn is an award-winning playwright. His theatre credits include The Norman Conquests (Evening Standard Best Play Award and Tony Award For Best Revival Of A Play), Bedroom Farce, Just Between Ourselves (Evening Standard Best Play Award), A Chorus of Disapproval (Olivier Award for Best Comedy and Evening Standard Best Comedy Award), Woman in Mind, A Small Family Business (Evening Standard Best Play Award), Henceforward (Evening Standard Best Comedy Award), Man of the Moment (Evening Standard Best Comedy Award), House & Garden and Private Fears in Public Places, among others.
John Dorney plays Geoffrey Jackson. Previous credits for the company include Hysteria, Absent Friends, The Caretaker and Humble Boy. Other theatre credits include Flight, Peter Pan (National Theatre), Better Watch Out (Hampstead Theatre), At the Back, Out of Focus (Soho Theatre), Volpone (Wilton’s Music Hall), The Revenger’s Tragedy, The Stranger (Southwark Playhouse), A-Team: The Musical (Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh), Coalition (Pleasance, Edinburgh and Islington) and Seasons Greetings (Union Theatre).
Felicity Houlbrooke plays Jane Hopcroft. Previous credits for the company include My Mother Said I Never Should and The Importance of Being Earnest. Other theatre credits include Hard Times (Oldham Coliseum), The Railway Children (King’s Cross Theatre), Echoes (Arcola Theatre) The King’s Speech (Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre), BlackCoffee (UK tour), The Diary of AnneFrank (York Theatre Royal/UK tour) and Gore (Charing Cross Theatre).
Helen Keeley plays Eva Jackson. Previous credits for the company include Private Lives and The Importance of Being Earnest. Other theatre credits include The Picture of Dorian Gray (Trafalgar Studios/UK tour), Yap Yap Yap (Battersea Arts Centre), Half, To the End (Southwark Playhouse) and A Summer Day’s Dream (Finborough Theatre).
Rosanna Miles plays Marion Brewster-Wright. Previous theatre credits include Below Stairs (Arts Theatre), The Crucible (UK tour), When Holly Met Ivy (Nuffield Southampton Theatres), Cinderella (Winchester Theatre Royal), Walking the Tightrope (Arcola Theatre), Beyond Nora (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Le Jardin (Bath Theatre Royal) and The Merry Wives of Windsor (UK tour). Television credits include The Grimleys, Teachers and Specials.
Graham O’Mara plays Ronald Brewster-Wright. Previous credits for the company include No Man’s Land. Other theatre credits include Government Inspector and The Three Musketeers (Young Vic), Borders (Arcola Theatre), BU21 (Trafalgar Studios), Romeo and Juliet, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, TheWind in the Willows (Storyhouse, Chester), Sense and Sensibility (The Watermill Theatre), Alice (Sheffield Theatres), A Man of Letters (Orange Tree Theatre) and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds). For television, his credits include Friday Night Dinner, Sirens and The Queen: 1974.
Paul Sandys plays Sidney Hopcroft. Previous credits for the company include Private Lives, Entertaining Mr Sloane and The Importance of Being Earnest. Other theatre credits include Peter Pan (New Vic Theatre) and Friend or Foe (UK tour). For television, his credits include Apple Tree House and for film, his credits include The Sprint King.
Michael Cabot directs and is the founder and Artistic Director of London Classic Theatre. He has directed all forty-one LCT productions since their touring debut in 2000, including No Man’s Land, My Mother Said I Never Should, Private Lives, Hysteria, The Birthday Party, Waiting for Godot, Absent Friends, Entertaining Mr Sloane and Equus. His freelance work as director includes three recent collaborations with award-winning playwright Henry Naylor, The Collector (Arcola Theatre & UK tour), Angel and Borders (Edinburgh Festival Fringe).
Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan has commented on today’s expected announcement that Stage 3 of the government’s roadmap will be going ahead on 17th May, including the reopening of indoor venues such as theatres:
Today’s announcement that Stage 3 of the reopening roadmap will proceed as planned on 17 May is welcome news for theatres and audiences alike. While many theatres in England are planning to reopen in some capacity, whether in their usual buildings or in temporary outdoor performance spaces, there are still be tough times ahead for the sector. Most theatres are not financially viable with audiences below 70% capacity. Therefore, many theatres reopening at this point will be doing so at a loss and others will be unable to reopen until fuller audiences can be welcomed back. We hope the results of the government’s Events Research Programme will enable the confident return of full audiences at Stage 4.
WITH LIVESTREAM AVAILBLE VIA THEATRE DISCOVERY PLATFORM THESPIE
The star line up has been confirmed for the second concert of the series for Monday Night at the Apollo – which will be performed in front of a socially distanced audience at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue on Monday 14 June, and simultaneously livestreamed to viewers at home via the theatre discovery platform Thespie, which is dedicated to bringing the best live and recorded theatre to audiences around the world.
Shan Ako (Les Miserable, Xfactor), Arthur Darvill (Once, Doctor Who), Sophie Evans (Wicked, Wizard of Oz), Sandra Marvin (Waitress, Emmerdale) and Oliver Tompsett (&Juliet, Wicked) will join on-stage for an intimate night of music and theatrical chat, featuring ovation worthy performances of songs from their favourite genres. Host Greg Barnett (Miss Littlewood, Swallows and Amazons) invites his audience behind the curtain to catch these castmates as you’ve never seen them before. Sharing their most cherished memories and experiences from their careers, alongside performances of music personal to them, West End royalty celebrate the craft and industry they’ve so dearly missed.
Monday Night at the Apollo has been conceived of to support the theatre industry, and a percentage of profits will be donated to Acting for Others, an organisation made up of 14 individual theatrical charities.
Tickets are on sale now for all three concerts: Monday 24 May, Monday 14 June and Monday 5 July. The producers will continue to review each date as it approaches and react according to government guidelines at the time. Aimie Atkinson, Cassidy Janson, Lucie Jones, Cedric Neal and Julian Ovenden have been confirmed for the first concert, and the line up for the third concert will be announced soon.
Producers Greg Barnett and Hugh Summers said, “We’re excited to be announcing the second of our all-star line-ups for ‘Monday Night At The Apollo’. We have five of British Theatre’s best performers joining us for this night to celebrate the re-opening of our wonderful industry and we simply cannot wait for them to be out on stage, sharing their talent, in front of a live audience. We are thrilled that all three performances will also still be live-streamed to viewers at home via Thespie.com. The industry faces huge challenges in its recovery and we still hope to be able to raise funds for the charity ‘Acting For Others’ to support the thousands of freelancers who continue to be hit hardest as our sector begins to slowly reawaken. Theatre and its audiences know how vital it will be to support each other on the road to recovery and in these seemingly crucial final months, we ask your support, kindness, and most of all your theatrical presence, as we embark on our journey back to the stage. Public health and the safety of our audiences are still our utmost priority and the performances will adhere to the current government guidelines.”
100% Ticket exchange guarantee.
‘Monday Night at the Apollo’ is part of ‘Rising Stars Festival’ headed by Nimax theatres, showcasing the work of 23 producers making their West End Producing debuts.
“If these enterprising young producers are the future of the West End, it’s looking good” ~ Nica Burns – Nimax
This concert series is musically directed by Richard Beadle (Hamilton) and George Dyer (Last Five Years), and produced by Greg Barnett and Hugh Summers for Wild Mountain Productions Ltd.
A CELEBRATION OF LGBTQ+ VOICES & STORIES RUNNING FROM 6 – 13 JUNE 2021
Paul Taylor-Mills and The Turbine Theatre proudly present Rally Fest – a celebration of LGBTQ+ voices and stories, opening at the Battersea based theatre from 6-13 June 2021.
The festival, which includes 12 shows, sets out to promote allyship within the creative industries and encourage artists to take up space with LGBTQ+ work. Rally Fest aims to promote ways in which recognising the craft of under-represented voices can make society a richer, more cohesive and dynamic place to live. The festival will feature both new work and re-energised classics that mark important moments of our history.
Paul Taylor-Mills, Artistic Director, The Turbine Theatre, said, “The opportunity to mount a festival of new work from under-represented voices has been an ambition of mine for some time. Over the last year we’ve had a huge amount of time to reflect about our practice, to think about the kind of work we want to create, encouraging artists to tell the stories of today. My hope is that #RallyFest provides us with a platform to do this, as well as allowing us to look back on some seminal moments in LBGTQ+ theatre.
During the curation of the festival, I’ve come across artists who I didn’t previously know existed, and have learned a huge amount about what is and isn’t out there for under-represented theatre-makers.
We hope the festival allows for conversation and for change. I believe so strongly in the power of theatre to unite people and to educate and to learn, including myself. I look forward to sharing our varied programme with our loyal audience and can’t wait to re-open our doors on 17 May.”
***
Queens of MT
An evening of showtunes with drag queens!
An Evening OF Show tunes with Drag Queens: Misty Van Cartier (Priscilla Queen Of The Dessert), River Medway, Samantha Stone and your Host; Tiana Biscuit (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bugsy Malone).
Join these Broadway babes for ‘One Night Only’, we‘ll be singing some of your favourite Show tunes. This is guaranteed to be a ‘Sunday In The Park With George’ you’ll never forget! So, ‘Don’t Rain on my Parade’ and BOOK NOW!
All artists will appear subject to availability.
***
Wreckage
‘This. What I’m feeling means you meant something. That you continue to mean something.
That the feeling we shared. Share. Is real.
I never want that to go away.
When that goes away you won’t be close anymore.’
Sam’s life is completely devastated by the sudden, unexpected death of his fiancé Noel. Left alone with his fractured mind, Sam works tirelessly to keep Noel close to him as he wrestles with his guilt and anger at the world. But when Sam stumbles upon new scientific theories about consciousness and our very existence, he is convinced there is a way to really see Noel again. Harlow Playhouse presents this reading of new work by emerging talent Tom Ratcliffe (VELVET, Circa) directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair. Wreckage is a touching and emotional two-hander about learning to live with a loss that can never be resolved.
***
Safe Sex
A collection containing the following three plays byHarvey Fierstein.
Manny and Jake
Two young men meet in a bar. Manny is literally praying for sex; Jake is only too eager to oblige. What the latter does not know is that Manny has AIDS.
Safe Sex
Two recently reconciled male lovers confront the challenge of their on-again, off-again relationship in the time of AIDS. Ghee, an aging, congenial gay man, may be using guidelines for safe sex as an excuse for his fading sex drive. This dismays Mead, a virile and no-nonsense blue-collar type. The emotional seesaw of their interactions creates the compelling dynamics of this fascinating short piece.
On Tidy Endings
A man has died of AIDS, leaving behind a son, a male lover, and an ex-wife. She still loves him and accepts the fact that he was gay, and that he died in the arms of his male lover, who selflessly cared for him right up until the end.
***
Steenie byIan Hallard
George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, was a Seventeenth Century celebrity. He was beautiful, charismatic, and his lust for power led to him becoming the favourite of not one, but two, English kings.
Steenie is a sexy, comedic, historical romp, and tells the true story of Villiers’ rise and fall, and of his infamous love affair with King James I.
***
Blowing Whistles
Matthew Toddis the award winning author of the hit LGBT mental health book Straight Jacket, described by Elton John ‘as an essential read for every gay person on the planet’. His first play, Blowing Whistles, last seen in London in 2008, is a painfully honest and funny drama about the complications of aspects of modern gay life.
Nigel loves his hedonistic lifestyle – he has a long-term partner, goes clubbing and has lots of sex in their open relationship. Jamie, isn’t sure things are so great…
The night before Pride in London, the couple make contact with a stranger on the internet, a mysterious young man that seems too good to be true. They make plans for a night of casual sex, but their young guest has a very different agenda…
***
Obsession
Obsession is a 1920’s gothic-horror romance about a young, black, American paranormal debunker who travels to England to find his Sceptics Society’s long absent founder but instead discovers the woman he left behind, intent on reliving their relationship in ways that will challenge this sceptic to his core.
Obsession is Sophia Murphy’s debut play.
***
Boy Out The City
‘I wanted to be as close to It as possible. If England was a body, It was the belly button and I wanted in. I want to crawl inside that pulpit of stink and feel in harness with it and with me.’
Boy Out The City is a brand new intimate autobiographical one man show written and performed by Declan Bennett (Once, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fatherland, Kiss of the Spiderwoman).
A story about moving in and moving out of the Big Smoke and the love loss and sexuality that showed up in the most unexpected places.
Directed byNancy Sullivan.
***
Work In Progress Showing: Oh We Do Like To Be
HighTidepresent a work in progress extract of a new play by commissioned writerSonia Jalaly.
A stack of postcards, a trail of secrets and an innate curiosity leads Beth to Blackpool where the lights flash and the rain glistens.
On a journey to find out who she is, Beth encounters all of what Blackpool has to offer from ballroom dancers to drag queens to organists to tribute acts. Someone must have the answers she’s looking for.
Oh We Do Like To Be tells an intergenerational story about nostalgia, identity and the good old British seaside through the eyes of a woman who longs to know who she is, featuring appearances from the likes of Bonnie Tyler, Celine Dion and Bucks Fizz (kind of..)
***
Heterophobia
Gays are the majority. Straights are illegal.
Thanks to a population explosion, the UK government began to actively encourage gay relationships. Decades later, being gay is the law, babies are born only by government sanctioned IVF and anyone found harbouring heterosexual tendencies is punished severely in a correctional facility.
We follow the story of Loretta Devlin, a woman in prison for having a heterosexual relationship. Heterophobia is a battle of wits between Loretta and her interviewer Doctor Kane. He has been tasked with sourcing specific information about Loretta’s ‘crimes’… but Loretta will only give the answers if she gets some answers herself, answers to questions like ‘who outed me?’ and ‘what became of my straight friends and lover?’ And then… we learn the terrifying instruction Doctor Kane has been tasked to perform before he leaves the room.
Heterophobia is a two-hander for actors in their 70s, which, through its ‘flipped’ viewpoint, shines a light on modern-day homophobia. This performance is a rehearsed reading.
Written by Ross Berkeley Simpson (Olivier nominated Warheads).
Directed by Scott Le Crass (Oncomm winner Rose starring Maureen Lipman).
***
Fister Act
‘We are lost in the darkness of heterosexuality. the endless beige of cisgender, searching, longing to be free’.
Join me, Fatt Butcher, for the world premiere of my Fister Act, an autobiographical musical about my inability to get past the knuckles (inspired, I know).
Fister Act, is a life-affirming queer fantasy adventure through time, space, bodies, and brains. Join intergalactic sexpot and non-binary drag icon in the making, Fatt Butcher, as we journey beyond the knuckles, battle our demons, and free ourselves from shame with the help of an enchanted bottle of poppers and the disembodied voice of Liza Minelli.
With an original score of synth-pop electro musical theatre (think Bohemian Rhapsody in space) and kaleidoscopic visuals, Fister Act is a cult classic in the making. Oh, and it’s strictly BYOP – bring your own poppers!
***
Showtune Disco Bingo
WARNING: this is not your ordinary bingo, Fatt Butcher’s Disco Bingo is a FULL ON PRODUCTION BABES! And this time we are bringing you an all musical theatre special, so get your tits and teeth on and jazz hands at the ready.
Join Birmingham’s queen of [bingo] balls, statement earrings and sausage rolls, Fatt Butcher for an unmissable night of outrageous performance, powerhouse vocals, games, pastry, poppers, and prizes, with an unforgettable soundtrack from DJ Sophie Ellis Bisto.
A critically acclaimed artist & winner of many awards, Fatt’s Butcher has been described by NME as ‘ramshackle’ and by trolls on twitter as ’the accelerating decline of humanity’ (accolades of which they are understandably proud). See you there babes!
Join international multi award winning Cabaret star Velma Celli as she celebrates the most iconic drag moments of film, stage and popular culture, many of which helped cultivate and shape her into the living drag legend she is today!
From David Bowie, to Priscilla and every drag queen remix in between, be wowed by Velma’s triple threat of heavenly vocals, theatrical swagger and razor-sharp wit as we remember those trail blazing cross dressing legends who paved the way for equal rights, no matter the sexual orientation.
Known as “The UK’s Queen of live vocal drag”, Velma has been charming audiences across the globe for the past 10 years. The alter ego of West End star Ian Stroughair who has appeared in hit musicals Cats, Fame, Chicago and Rent, to which he received critical acclaim.
Last year Velma’s A Brief History of Drag entertained audiences across the globe on a tour which included Australia (Best Cabaret Nomination in Perth), 54 Below in N.Y.C, a sell-out U.K tour ending in a smash hit run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Velma is the currently reigning recipient of the “Best Cabaret” award from Fringeworld, Perth Australia!
In 2015 Velma was invited to appear on BBC’s EastEnders for a very special guest episode playing herself, starred opposite Danny Dyer in the music short Nebraska, performed with pop icon Anastacia and West End and Broadway legends Ruthie Henshall, Kerry Ellis and Frances Ruffelle to name but a few. She can also be spotted in American comedy series Piss Off, I Love You and on the silver screen in The Night of The Lotus.
Last year she appeared in the Olivier award-winning circus show, La Soiree, fronted the McDonalds “we are awake” campaign, was nominated for a Great British Pantomime Award and even performed privately for royalty.
The headline act for the BBC’s Best Of the Fringe closing night concert at the Edinburgh Fringe 2015 and the winner of the coveted Three Weeks Editors Award, a two-year long residency at The Hippodrome, London, there isn’t much our Velma hasn’t done!
DISNEY’S CLASSIC MOVIE GENERATES HUGE PUBLIC DEMAND
New musical directed by award-winning theatre-makers
Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison
World Premiere at Newcastle Theatre Royal in August 2021
For tickets and all information, see www.bedknobsonstage.com
Michael Harrison is thrilled to announce that Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks – which will make its world premiere as an exciting new stage musical this Summer – is to extend its UK Tour, and today confirms a series of new dates for 2022, following huge public demand for the initial tour.
Performances begin at Newcastle Theatre Royal on Saturday 14 August 2021, with the UK Tour now extended through to March 2022. The tour includes a 5-week Christmas season at Leeds Grand Theatre.
Tickets are on General Sale at www.bedknobsonstage.com
Michael Harrison said: “As theatres across the UK & Ireland prepare to reopen, I’m thrilled that so many want to host our exciting new production of Bedknobs and Broomsticks; so we are extending this world premiere tour. Bedknobs and Broomsticks will be one of the biggest shows on the road this year with a cast and crew of over 70 people to bring this classic story to magical life on stage.”
Enter a world of magic and fantasy with Disney’s classic movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks. With the original songs by the legendary Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), including Portobello Road, The Age Of Not Believing, The Beautiful Briny and new music and lyrics by Neil Bartram and book by Brian Hill, Bedknobs and Broomsticks will be brought to life by award-winning theatre-makers Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison.
When the three orphaned Rawlins children are reluctantly evacuated from wartime London to live with the mysterious Eglantine Price, they have no idea what adventures lie ahead. Upon discovering Eglantine to be a trainee witch, they join forces to search for a secret spell that will defeat the enemy once and for all. Armed with an enchanted bedknob, a bewitched broomstick and a magical flying bed, they encounter surprising new friendships on their journey from Portobello Road to the depths of the beautiful briny sea.
This magical musical starts its UK Tour this year….it’s time to start believing!
Casting for the production will be announced at a later date.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks is produced by Michael Harrison by special arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions.
Sadiq Khan announces the ‘biggest domestic tourism campaign the capital has ever seen’, as he’s signed in for second term as London Mayor
During speech at the iconic Shakespeare’s Globe, Sadiq confirms focus on ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’ as he begins second term as Mayor
Mayor launches new ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign to attract domestic visitors to our city and bring central London’s economy back to life
The campaign and events programme backed by industry to kick-start London’s economy will bring together the capital’s world-leading hospitality, culture, nightlife and retail venues to promote all London has to offer
Sadiq Khan will this morning formally sign in for a second term as Mayor of London on stage at the iconic Shakespeare’s Globe, as he announces plans for the biggest domestic tourism campaign the capital has ever seen to help London’s economy get back on its feet as COVID restrictions are eased. He will be joined at the Globe by award-winning British actor and director Adrian Lester.
In his speech this morning Sadiq will confirm that a top priority for his second term as Mayor will be ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’, standing up for the Londoners who lost their jobs during the pandemic and helping to skill up Londoners to get back into work. Sadiq will also confirm that as well as focusing on the urgent task of London’s recovery and the need to invest in skills and jobs, he will continue to prioritise the long-standing issues that matter most to Londoners – safer streets, more affordable housing and action to tackle air pollution and the climate emergency.
An immediate priority for the Mayor will be his new ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign launching today, which is being created in partnership with the city’s hospitality, culture, and retail industries. The flagship campaign to encourage Londoners and visitors back into central London will include a programme of one-off special events created in partnership with London’s best-known cultural institutions and tourism attractions. It will kick off later this month with the capital’s famous chefs, foodies and hospitality venues coming together to promote and celebrate London’s world-class food offer.
There will be new exciting public art installations to attract people back into London from this month. David Hockney, one of the UK’s most influential living artists, has redesigned TfL’s iconic roundel ‘Hockney Circus’ in a special artwork as part of a takeover of Piccadilly Circus Station starting today. Turning central London into a huge outdoor art gallery, award winning London designer Yinka Ilori is leading on ‘Asphalt Art’, a series of major new temporary streetscape commissions in central London and the City of London, in partnership with the London Design Festival and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative.
There will also be a transformation of road crossings and street furniture in the West End, with a partnership between Royal Academy artists and the Heart of London Business Alliance Art of London programme. And multi-award-winning artist and designer Es Devlin will plant a living forest at Somerset House for this year’s London Design Biennale.
Alongside the excitement of the delayed UEFA Euro 2020, a season of summer family fun will make London a great choice for a staycation. From Alice in Wonderland at the V&A and Fantastic Beasts at the Natural History to the Royal Opera House ‘Unlocked’ taking over the Covent Garden piazza. ‘London Lates’ over the summer months will see extended opening across museums, galleries and cultural and grassroots music venues. Shakespeare’s Globe for example will stage ‘Midnight Matinees’ with performances starting at 11.59pm, and an invitation to get back to the big screen will see outdoor film screenings curated by BAFTA and the British Film Institute.
The Autumn will welcome back major creative festivals, such as London Fashion Week, Frieze London, the London Design Festival, and the 65th BFI London Film Festival, before the return of major events and attractions over the winter.
There will be further exciting announcements across the year to showcase London’s world class nightlife, cultural attractions and hospitality businesses as well as the city’s grassroots venues and how creative freelancers, artists and performers will be at the heart of the programme as it continues to develop.
The Mayor has allocated £6M to directly support the new campaign, in addition to industry contributing over £1m in funding and value-in-kind. The campaign will include a major advertising push supported by London & Partners and TfL, alongside new content on the Visit London website outlining all the campaign has to offer to Londoners and visitors to the capital. It will include a new TfL campaign launching next month, involving TV and poster advertising, that will encourage people to rediscover London by public transport.
To ensure London re-opens safely the capital’s venues are doing a huge amount of work to ensure they follow COVID guidance – including new queuing systems, staggered arrival times, and a variety of social distancing measures. The Mayor continues to urge Londoners to show caution and follow the rules when out and about, wearing a face covering in shops and other indoor venues, carrying hand sanitiser, and keeping to social distancing. He continues to urge Londoners to take up the vaccine as soon as they are offered it.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It’s an honour to have been re-elected with a huge mandate as Mayor of the city I love – the greatest city in the world. The work begins anew today to refresh and reignite our city and to kick-start our economy as London continues to reopen. This includes making jobs, jobs, jobs a top priority and banging the drum for London to attract the jobs, tourism and investment our city needs.
“Today I am at the iconic Shakespeare’s Globe to launch ‘Let’s Do London’ – the biggest domestic tourism campaign London has ever seen to champion our businesses, cultural institutions and attractions that have suffered so much during the pandemic. This is about getting the message out to Londoners and people across the country that our capital stands ready to entertain, inspire and enthral once again.
“Our new campaign is bringing together many of the capital’s leading organisations and venues to offer an unparalleled experience for anyone visiting the capital throughout the year. With restrictions on international travel likely to continue this year, Londoners and visitors from the UK have a unique opportunity to experience all the capital has to offer without the queues. In doing so you’ll be providing vital support for our world-leading venues as they start to re-open and need our help more than ever.
“My mission over the next three years is to put the dark days of the pandemic behind us and to deliver a better and brighter future for London – creating a fairer, greener and more prosperous city, where everyone gets the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential. As well as focusing on the urgent task of London’s recovery and investing in jobs and skills, I promise to continue putting everything I have into tackling the long-standing issues that matter most to Londoners, including making our streets safer, building more affordable homes and tackling the twin emergencies of air pollution and climate change.”
British actor and director Adrian Lester CBE, said: “This has been the toughest year in decades for our incredible cultural and creative sectors but I’m certain that London’s theatres, music venues and cultural attractions will be vital to London’s economic recovery from Covid-19 this year.
“It is exciting to see the Mayor and so many of the capital’s venues come together to put on a truly wonderful programme of events and activities that should encourage people back into London in large numbers.
“As creative artists we depend enormously on our fans and the visitors who want to see us perform. I have no doubt that at the heart of London’s recovery this year will be people flocking back to our cultural venues”
Neil Constable, CEO of Shakespeare’s Globe, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sadiq Khan to be signed in for his second term as Mayor of London and to launch this vital ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign to encourage the successful reopening of venues, hospitality and leisure activities.
“We at the Globe are eager to see domestic tourists return to our theatres and our bar and restaurant The Swan. With shows, talks, educational activities, tours, a shop, and food and drink, we have so much to offer visitors returning to the capital. From 19 May we reopen with A Midsummer Night’s Dream and we look forward to welcoming audiences in safely to enjoy the thrill of live theatre at last “
—
With restrictions on international travel likely to continue over the coming months, attracting domestic tourists back to the capital – whether for day trips or overnight stays – will be vital for supporting London’s economy as COVID restrictions are lifted. The ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign will continue throughout the year urging non-Londoners to consider the capital for mini-breaks where they might have once automatically booked the countryside or headed for the coast.
London’s economy has always relied on huge levels of both domestic and international tourism – but that has virtually dried up due to the pandemic. City Hall analysis of forecasts by VisitBritain showed that consumer spending in central London by overseas tourists was £7.4 billion lower throughout 2020, while domestic tourists will have spent £3.5 billion less.
Shakespeare’s Globe, where the Mayor is today being signed in and launching his new campaign, will reopen with A Midsummer Night’s Dream on 19 May, and has confirmed that it will be continuing to run its wide range of education activities as well as the return of its ever-popular ‘Midnight Matinee’ performances starting at 11.59pm. The original Shakespeare’s Globe itself was closed for long periods during pandemics in the 16th and 17th centuries but survived. It was reborn as a symbol of our city’s resilience and remains an important cultural landmark for people across the world.
Partners who are coming together to support the ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign include: Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA), BAFTA, BFI, Barbican, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Capital & Counties, City of London Corporation, Central London Alliance, Discover South Kensington, English National Opera, Exhibition Road Cultural Group, Film London, Frieze London, Grosvenor Estates, Heart of London Business Alliance, Heathrow Airport, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Historic Royal Palaces, London Councils, London Design Festival, London First, London Fashion Week, London Symphony Orchestra, London Tourism Cooperative, London Tourism Recovery Board, Marriott International, Merlin Entertainments, Museum of London, National Gallery, National Theatre, Natural History Museum, New West End Company, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Photo London, PPHE Hotel Group, Roundhouse, Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Opera House, Royal Parks, Sadler’s Wells, Science Museum, Shaftesbury, Shakespeare’s Globe, Society of London Theatre, Southbank Centre, Tate, The Crown Estate, V&A, Visit Greenwich, Westminster Council, Whitbread, UKHospitality, ZSL London Zoo.
More details about some of the exciting events planned in London throughout the year can also be found on the Visit London webpage – www.visitlondon.com/letsdolondon
Bernard Donoghue, Director Association of Leading Visitor Attractions & Co-Chair, London Tourism Recovery Board, said: “London’s visitor economy has been hit hard over the last year and we’ve all missed our theatres, museums, galleries, performances venues and heritage properties. Without them London has just felt less ‘Londony’. But this Summer we can reclaim, rediscover and fall back in love with these special places. They will all be contributing to a Summer and a year like no other when the visitor experience will be phenomenal, the welcome never warmer and the importance of London’s attractions, culture and tourism economy never better appreciated.
“We thank the Mayor, his team and partners for all they have done in working with us to help London recover better. Let’s Do London.”
CEO of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls, said: “It is incredibly encouraging that the Mayor has wasted no time after his re-election to make tourism a clear and immediate priority. The ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign is a shot in the arm to help revive the capital’s ravaged visitor economy.
“With such limited international travel, the immediate priority is to remind Britons that one of the world’s top tourist destinations is on their doorstep. We look forward to working with the Mayor and his office to revive employment, hospitality and tourism in London.”
Jace Tyrrell, Chief Executive at New West End Company representing Bond Street, Oxford Street, Regent Street and Mayfair said: “With international travel still uncertain and domestic lockdown restrictions lifting further over this month and next, London and UK visitors will be able to enjoy the very best of the capital, without all the overseas tourists, with its truly remarkable retail, leisure, hospitality and cultural offering – a summer like no other.
“The Let’s Do London campaign celebrates London as a destination in itself and will help attract our much missed customers to the capital. In the West End alone, we are home to utterly brilliant hotels, galleries, flagship stores, Christmas light displays and art installations; so our big, bold unambiguous ask is come and support the West End as one in ten Londoners jobs depend on it.”
Merlin’s UK Marketing Director & Chair of the London Recovery Board Marketing Directors Group Sara Holt, said: “Merlin has been involved with the Mayor’s “Let’s Do London’ campaign from the beginning and is focused on enticing overnight domestic tourists from outside the capital.
“This campaign is critical to helping attract visitors back to our amazing city. Research has found that for every £1m invested in advertising outside London, 1,200 jobs are secured in London.”
Yinka Ilori, artist and designer, said: “Super excited to be part of the Asphalt Art project and really looking forward to creating something magical that brings people from around the world together.”
Es Devlin, artist, designer and Artistic Director for London Design Biennale, said: “When I was first shown around Somerset House many years ago, I discovered that the Enlightenment principles on which the building was conceived, specifically forbade the introduction of trees into the courtyard. Of course, the first thing we wanted to do when considering this year’s Biennale was to counter this attitude of human dominance over nature, by allowing a forest to overtake the entire courtyard. In literature forests are often places of transformation: the forest of Arden in Shakespeare, the enchanted forests of the Brothers Grimm. The UN Global Goals offer us clear ways to engage and alter our behaviour and it is our hope that an interaction with the Goals in the forest will be transformative.”
Kate Garvey, Forest for Change Executive Producer and Co-founder of Project Everyone, said:“Forest for Change, Global Goals Pavilion at the London Design Biennale will be one of the first large scale public events to be held in the city since the start of the pandemic. London has a pivotal role to play as we look to a new future – it is recognised around the world as a beacon for creativity, innovation, and diversity. As one of the world’s leading global cities, I can think of no better home for the biggest ever UK Global Goals activation than London.”
—
Seasonal breakdown of the ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign:
SPRING:
Kicking off this month with a focus on promoting London’s global food offer and new world class public art installations transforming some of London’s most well-known locations.
· London Eats: with many of the capital’s famous chefs, foodies and hospitality venues coming together to promote and celebrate London’s diverse food and drink venues in new ways.
· David Hockney, one of the UK’s most influential living artists, has redesigned TfL’s iconic roundel. ‘Hockney Circus’ is a very special artwork as part of takeover of Piccadilly Circus Station and Piccadilly Lights with the Circa project, celebrating the arrival of Spring in the run up to his exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.
· Royal Academy artists Yinka Shonibare CBE (RA), Michael Armitage, Farshid Moussavi OBE (RA), Vanessa Jackson RA and Isaac Julien CBE (RA) will also transform road crossings and street furniture in the west end. In a partnership with the Heart of London Business Alliance Art of London programme.
· Turning central London into a huge outdoor art gallery, award winning London designer, Yinka Ilori will lead major new temporary streetscape commissions in central London Westminster and the City of London, in partnership with the London Design Festival and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative.
· Multi-award-winning artist and designer Es Devlin is planting a living forest at Somerset House for her Forest of Change project as this year’s artistic director of the London Design Biennale.
SUMMER FUN
A season of summer family fun, for young and old. Rediscover London through great outdoor events and at famous tourist destinations, opening up the city or families to explore. Highlights include:
The summer of 2021 will see a celebration of sport in London, with the UK capital hosting eight games in UEFA Euro 2020, including the semi-finals and the final at Wembley. This June will also see the return of The Championships, Wimbledon, and a brand-new cricket competition (The Hundred), followed by the Rugby League World Cup and Virgin Money London Marathon later this year.
ROH Unlocked will see the Royal Opera House out and about, taking over Covent Garden with performances, participation and installations (10-11 July 2021)
Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser is an immersive theatrical show for all ages at the V&A will open on 22 May.
Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature Exhibition at the Natural History Museum reveals how the wonders of the natural world have inspired myths and magical creatures for generations, from 17 May.
West End Live in Trafalgar Square and Kids Week and will showcase the best of the West End as theatre roars back to life.
A number of London theatres will be welcoming back audiences from 17 May with social distancing, and more to reopen from 21 June. From new plays to long-running favourites, there is a huge variety of musical theatre, plays, dance and opera returning to the stage later in the year.
Organised by the London Tourism Cooperative the London Festival of Hope will bring a true celebration of life with an art and photography contest, competitions for all the family including an amateur ‘bake-off’, community activations, giant inflatables taking over London’s skyline and a series of outdoor live music concerts that will reimagine the performance space.
Breakin’ Convention, the world’s biggest festival of hip hop dance, is back at Sadler’s Wells for its 18th year (3 – 4 July 2021)
Roman Weekend Takeover at the British Museum in August where families will be able to enjoy a Roman Encampment on the front lawns and meet the Emperor Nero himself.
You can even learn to be a knight at the Tower of London’s ‘Knight School: The Show’ (29 May to 6 June 2021)
Play Streets – London Play, the capital’s leading charity for children’s play, will be opening up central London for families and transforming streets with play
A large-scale free activity for families at Tate Modern throughout the school summer holidays
Southbank Centre welcomes audiences back with their Summer Reunion programme – 15 consecutive weekends of free outdoor activity from 21 May including music, poetry and visual art as well as indoor performances of ballet, literature, contemporary and classical music starting with the Chineke! Orchestra on 28 May in the Royal Festival Hall.
London’s leading festival of free outdoor theatre and performing arts, Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, returns on 27 August until 11 September 2021
Mayfair Sculpture Trail – galleries from across this renowned art district present sculptures beyond their walls, with visitors being able to enjoy artworks showcased across Bond Street, Berkeley Square and within Grosvenor Square (2 – 27 June 2021)
SUMMER LATES
· Over the summer months museums, galleries, cultural venues and attractions like London Zoo will open late. New collaborations will celebrate London’s film and music, working with London’s grassroot venues, LGBTQ+ venues and night clubs.
· An invitation to get back to the big screen will see outdoor film screenings curated by BAFTA and the London Film Festival.
· ‘Midnight Matinees’ at Shakespeare’s Globe with performances starting at 11.59pm and special adults-only Twilight Tickets at London Zoo in July are just a few of the great things in store
· Art Night will happen across central London in June and July. The Proms will be back at the Royal Albert Hall and BMW Classics, a free outdoor concert in central London, by the world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.
AUTUMN
London’s Autumn season will see the crown jewels of London’s creativity return.
· London Fashion Week will burst back onto the catwalks.
· The 19th London Design Festival will take place across the city from 18-26 September 2021.
· Frieze London returns to Regent’s Park with the best of international contemporary art by emerging and established artists, alongside a dynamic programme of newly commissioned artworks, films and talks – (13–17 October, 2021)
· Photo London brings the finest international photograph to Somerset House between 9–12 September 2021
· 65th BFI London Film Festival runs from 6 to 17 October 2021 with a selection of the best in world cinema, showing audiences a wide array of films, representing a variety of languages, genres and filmmaking styles
Finally in the lead up to the festive period, magical lighting will brighten central London supporting the critical pre and post-Christmas ‘golden period’ for London’s culture, hospitality and retail businesses
Cast: Rachel Benson, Thomas Cotran, James McLean, and Elizabeth Robin
Also
Mikron Theatre double bill of A Dog’s Tale and Atalanta Forever
Wednesday 14 July at 3pm – Lawrence Batley Theatre
A Dog’s Tale at 3pm and Atalanta Forever at 7pm
Touring: 5 June – 19 September 2021
Mikron Theatre, in their 49th year of touring, are celebrating (wo)man’s best friend this season when they stage the premiere of Poppy Hollman’s new musical comedy caper A Dog’s Tale, which looks at canines past and present and the enduring bond between people and their dogs.
You would be FURgiven for thinking that Mikron is just another run of the mill theatre company, but you would be BARKING up the wrong tree. 2020 will see them LEAD you on a unique journey. It is a PAWsome show you will not be able to TERRIER yourself away from.
A Dog’s Tale will kick off its tour at The Holbeck in Leeds on Saturday 5 June and then tour nationally by canal, river, and road until 19 September.
Linda and her wayward rescue dog Gary are pursued by security through the halls and history of Crufts, accused of a terrible crime.
When Charles Cruft, the ‘Greatest Showman in Dogdom’, held his first show in 1891, he had a sense that dog ownership and breeding was about to become big.
In this extraordinary world of heroic hounds, pampered pedigrees and naughty nobblers, does Gary have what it takes to win the day?
A Dog’s Tale is directed by Rachel Gee, designed by Celia Perkins, music composed and directed by Rebekah Hughes. The cast will feature Rachel Benson (Redcoats, Mikron Theatre), Thomas Cotran (Loserville, Union Theatre), James McLean (Much Ado About Nothing, Northern Broadsides) and Elizabeth Robin (The Little Mermaid, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool).
Why a play about dogs? Why not? Mikron tells the stories of the people behind the big events in history and the things that are close to our hearts. A great story, cracking songs and versatile quartet of actor musicians will guide audiences through the halls and history of Crufts.
Playwright and cat lover Poppy Hollman said about her new play:
I have written over twenty characters to be played by only four actors, but I know they will enjoy the challenge of bringing it to life! I was picked to write the play after participating in Mikron’s 2018 Writer’s Scheme: it is my first professional commission. It has been a delight to work for Mikron, a company whose creativity and ethos I love. I cannot wait to see them work their magic on ‘A Dog’s Tale’.
I spent two fascinating days at Crufts last year, eavesdropping on competitors and trying to work out which dog would win in each competition (success rate: zero). People were very friendly and frank in sharing their suspicions about judging bias. ‘Well, you know, that dog will win because it’s Scottish and so is the judge!’ (it did win). My impression of Crufts was that whilst dog participation was on an exclusive basis, a huge variety of humankind was in evidence, on two legs or four wheels. Testament perhaps to the huge importance of dogs to many different people in their roles as pets, medical assistance dogs, working dogs and more. It is also true to the founding principles of Charles Cruft, who charged only a penny so that everyone could enter their best friend.
Director Rachel Gee added:
“A Dog’s Tale is my first directing job with Mikron and it’s the ideal show for me as a dog owner. We cannot wait to welcome audiences (and their dogs) to shows up and down the country. Dog lover or not, this is the perfect night out for fun, laughter and wonderful songs.”
The atmosphere at most Mikron performances is disarmingly informal, but do not mistake informality for simplicity – in its laidback way, it is an ambitious undertaking, and dogs are welcome at most Mikron venues.
In 2021, Mikron Theatre Company will embark on their 49th year of touring. Based in the village of Marsden, at the foot of the Yorkshire Pennines, Mikron Theatre Company are like no other. For starters, they tour for most of the year on board a vintage narrowboat, secondly, they put on their shows in places that other theatre companies would not dream of; a play about growing-your-own shown in allotments, a play about bees performed next to hives, a play about chips to audiences in a fish and chips restaurant, as well as plays about hostelling in YHA Youth hostels and the RNLI at several Lifeboat stations around the UK.
A Dog’s Talewill be touring nationally from 5 June – 19 September 2021 alongside the previously announced new play by Amanda Whittington Atalanta Forever.
THE ORIGINAL, OLIVIER AWARD NOMINATED NARRATOR OF JOSEPH, JOINS THE PRODUCTION AT SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AS THE SMASH HIT SENSATION RETURNS TO THE LONDON PALLADIUM
Previously announced ALEXANDRA BURKE to also play
the Narrator – Linzi to play the role at special performances
Casting reunites Linzi with JASON DONOVAN, who returns
in the role of Pharaoh
JAC YARROW will wear the Dreamcoat again
100% capacity audiences planned following Government’s Road Map
Performances begin Thursday 1 July 2021
Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group are delighted to announce today that Linzi Hateley – who starred in the original London Palladium production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – will make a sensational return to the musical in this summer’s strictly limited season at the iconic theatre.
Linzi – who was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance as the Narrator, and starred alongside Jason Donovan in the title role – will perform as in the role at special performances, in the new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s legendary musical.
The production will begin performances on Thursday 1 July and will be one of the highlights in the return of theatre to the UK cultural landscape.
Alexandra Burke will play The Narrator for the other performances this summer in the celebrated musical. Her many West End credits include the lead roles in The Bodyguard, Sister Act, Chess and Chicago. Alexandra first rose to fame winning The X-Factor in 2008, and has since gone on to sell over 5 million records.
Jason Donovan will return in the role of Pharaoh. He was originally in the show when he made his defining stage performance as the title character of Joseph in the 1990s, in a sold-out 18-month run which produced a No.1 single and best-selling soundtrack album. Jason raised the roof of the London Palladium in 2019 as Pharaoh, who rocks ‘Song of the King’ in the iconic musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Jac Yarrow caused a sensation when he made his professional stage debut playing Joseph, following in the footsteps of a line of stars who have previously played the title character. His portrayal of Joseph won him unanimous acclaim and an Olivier Award nomination, with his rendition of ‘Close Every Door To Me’ regularly stopping the show with standing ovations.
The production will begin live performances on Thursday 1 July, with Linzi Hateley’s first performance on Saturday 17th July after the proposed “Step Four” in the Government’s roadmap to easing restrictions, and therefore is planning to accommodate full-capacity audiences in accordance with the intended lifting of all limits on social contact.
Michael Harrison said: “This dream just keeps getting better. It was special enough to announce Alexandra Burke recently as the Narrator, but to now have the added bonus of Linzi playing the role at special performances – and to reunite her with Jason Donovan again at the London Palladium – turns Joseph into a dream ticket. The combination of nostalgia for the original Palladium production, coupled with the excitement of our new critically acclaimed version, means we all have a summer to look forward to.”
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat enjoyed a completely sold out season in 2019. Audiences and critics were unanimous in their acclaim for the legendary musical – the first major collaboration by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber – as it returned to the London Palladium.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be directed by Laurence Connor. Laurence’s credits include the acclaimed London production of School of Rock and the Tony-Award nominated production on Broadway, the recent London productions of Miss Saigon and Chess, the international arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and he is also the Co-Director of the new version of Les Misérables which has enjoyed worldwide success including Broadway, UK and US tours. He is the director of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of Cinderella, which also opens this July at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.
Laurence will be joined on the creative team by Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter (who has 20 Broadway shows to her credit, including School of Rock and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever), the award-winning Morgan Large who will design the set and costumes, Lighting Designer Ben Cracknell and Sound Designer Gareth Owen.
Released as a concept album in 1969,the stage version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has become one of the world’s most belovedfamily musicals. The multi-award-winning show, which began life as a small-scale school concert, has been performed hundreds of thousands of times including multiple runs in the West End and on Broadway, international number one tours, and productions in over 80 countries as far afield as Austria and Zimbabwe and from Israel to Peru! The show features songs that have gone on to become pop and musical theatre standards, including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door To Me, Jacob and Sons, There’s One More Angel In Heaven and Go Go Go Joseph.
Told entirely through song with the help of the Narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat follows the story of Jacob’s favourite son Joseph and his eleven brothers. After being sold into hardship by the brothers, he ingratiates himself with Egyptian noble Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the advances of Potiphar’s wife. While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and he soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled showman, the Pharaoh. As Joseph strives to resolve Egypt’s famine, he becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man and eventually reunites with his family.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is produced by Michael Harrison.
New musical adaptation of the infamous Lady Chatterley’s Lover comes to the West End Friday 18th – Saturday 19th June 2021
The new musical adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s infamous literary classic, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, will come to the West End for a strictly limited run this summer. Crafted by composer John Robinson (Behind the Iron Mask, Duchess Theatre; Closer to the Sun, Harold Pinter Theatre), this world premiere at Shaftesbury Theatre will reenergise Lawrence’s sensation for a new audience.
This world premiere adaptation will be filmed to stream later in the year before future live performances.
The impassioned tale of female agency and Lady Chatterley’s pursuit of a life more than halflived changed the literary landscape of Britain. Banned as scandalous erotica when first published and subject of a watershed obscenity trial, Lawrence’s text caused outrage not just because of the expletives and explicit sexual relationship, but because it presented a physical relationship that traversed social class divides. This intense and fiery classic will find new frenzied power in its translation to the stage.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover is directed by the award-winning Sasha Regan (Blondel, Union Theatre; The Last Five Years, St. James Theatre) with original libretto by Phil Willmott (Once Upon a Time At the Adelphi; Relativity: The Einstein Musical), and production design by Andrew Exeter (High Fidelity, Turbine Theatre; Scaramouche Jones, Stream.Theatre).
Composer John Robinson comments, I am thrilled to be back in the West End with my latest musical – it’s a project very close to my heart given my own roots in D.H. Lawrence country and I hope to give due justice to both the ground-breaking novel as well as the area in which it is set. By recording the show for streaming later this year we’re also guaranteeing it a fabulous future life to ensure more audiences can enjoy the work.
who returns to his legendary role of Edna Turnblad.
LIZZIE BEA to perform the iconic role of Tracy Turnblad, MARISHA WALLACE stars as Motormouth, RITA SIMONS as Velma Von Tussle and
JONNY AMIES as Link Larkin
Hairspray to begin performances Monday 21st June 2021 | London Coliseum
Entertainment legend Les Dennis is to join the huge-hearted new production of Hairspray the Musical which is set to play a limited season at the magnificent London Coliseum from Monday 21st June – Wednesday 29th September 2021
As a comedian, impressionist, game show host, reality TV star, soap, screen and stage actor, Les Dennis’ showbiz career has spanned 50 years. Now, he is to return to the West End in the multi-award-winning smash hit musical as Wilbur Turnblad having previously performed the role on tour. He stars alongside Michael Ball, who returns to his legendary, Olivier Award–winning role of Edna Turnblad.
Les replaces Paul Merton in the role of Wilbur. Following the delay to the production because of the pandemic, Paul is unfortunately not able to join the company due to long-standing scheduling commitments.
Lizzie Bea will star in the iconic role of Tracy Turnblad. Lizzie’s credits include a UK Tour of Kinky Boots and a performance in the world premiere production of Becoming Nancy in Atlanta (Alliance Theatre).
Acclaimed West End star Marisha Wallace will take the role of Motormouth. Marisha won rave reviews when she took over from Amber Riley in the smash hit Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre), and also starred in the original West End cast of Waitress (Adelphi Theatre).
Her spine-tingling lockdown recording of a gospel-inspired version of the Strouse and Charnin track ‘Tomorrow’ was originally released in support of struggling theatre professionals – but its message of hope in troubling times proved a tonic for the nation. Following BBC Radio 2 airplay and the track reaching Number 2 in the Download Charts, Wallace was subsequently signed by Decca where the release of her debut album (Tomorrow) saw powerhouse performances follow on Strictly Come Dancing and the Royal Variety Performance.
Rita Simons (Eastenders’ Roxy Mitchell) and Jonny Amies (Granchester on ITV; Sex Education on Netflix/Eleven Film) will also join the cast as Velma Von Tussle and Link Larkin respectively.
Liverpool born Les Dennis came to prominence as a comedian in the 1970s after honing his craft on the northern Working Men’s Club circuit and turning pro after a winning set on New Faces. He became a stalwart of Saturday Night TV in the 80s and 90s, starring in TV comedies including The Russ Abbot Show and The Les Dennis Laughter Show performing sketches and impressions, and most famously as the host of Family Fortunes between 1987 and 2002 on ITV.
In recent years Les has enjoyed a busy career as an actor, starring with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and in numerous hit plays and musicals in the West End and on tour, as well as playing a regular role for two years on Coronation Street.
Despite the pandemic, Les has kept busy, filming a travel series for Channel 5, a guest lead in the Jimmy McGovern drama Moving On and a starring role in the Christmas Special of Birds of a Feather. He is excited to be able to return to the stage in 2021. .
The full company includes Georgia Anderson, Kimani Arthur, Dermot Canavan, Lori Haley Fox, Mari McGinlay, Ashley Samuels, Michael Vinsen and Imogen Bailey, Pearce Barron, Jordan Benjamin, Joel Cooper, Luke George, Christopher Gopaul, Bradley Judge, Winny Herbert, Lily Laight, Madeleine Lawton, Holly Liburd, Will Luckett, Mireia Mambo, Kody Mortimer, Robyn Rose, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, Amy West and Natalie Woods.
Baltimore, 1962. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and big dreams. Can she make it on the local TV dance show, win the heart of teen heartthrob Link Larkin and bring everyone together – whatever their colour, size or hairdo? Well if you want a change, you’ve really got to shake things up!
With the original award-winning creative team of director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, and featuring the infectiously feel-good songs ‘Good Morning, Baltimore’, ‘Big, Blonde and Beautiful’ and ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’, this inspirational, fun-loving and fabulously uplifting musical sensation is back and bigger than ever.
The original New York production of Hairspray won three Tony Awards, including Best New Musical, whilst the original West End production won four Olivier Awards, also including Best New Musical, as well giving Michael Ball one of his two Olivier Awards for Best Actor in a Musical.
Hairspray is produced by Adam Spiegel Productions & Fiery Angel.
