Category: Uncategorized

Additional headlining shows announced at Birmingham Hippodrome

Ceri Dupree: A Star Is Torn!!!, What the Ladybird Heard

and The Play That Goes Wrong

Birmingham Hippodrome have announced three new productions for this Autumn with the ever-popular drag superstar Ceri Dupree’s A Star Is Torn!!! (11 Sep), family favourite What the Ladybird Heard (16-18 Sep) and the smash-hit West End comedy, The Play That Goes Wrong (26-30 Oct). Tickets are on sale now to Birmingham Hippodrome Friends and Patron scheme members and go on general sale 11am, Wed 5 May at birminghamhippodrome.com.

Seating for these productions will be based on a socially-distanced model at this moment in time, subject to change depending on Government guidance closer to the performance date.

Ceri Dupree has performed almost everywhere! Throughout the UK, Europe and overseas and has impersonated almost every female star in the world at one time or another. A Star Is Torn!!! (11 Sep) features all live vocals, impersonations, stand up comedy, specially written sketches and songs… and a clever twist at the end. No two shows are ever the same as Ceri chooses up to 15 of her fabulous impressions of some of the globe’s biggest female icons.

What the Ladybird Heard (16-18 Sep), the bestselling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks bursts into life on stage featuring live music, puppetry and a whole farmyard of fun. This 55-minute family favourite is the perfect treat! Join the clever Ladybird as she leads the animals on their quest to save the day in this joyous stage adaptation.

The Play That Goes Wrong (26-30 Oct) is the brilliantly funny West End comedy that’s guaranteed to leave audiences aching with laughter. The Cornley Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

More exciting productions and events for 2021 will be announced soon – to be amongst the first to find out and benefit from priority booking become a Birmingham Hippodrome Friend today at birminghamhippodrome.com/friends.

Tickets for Ceri Dupree’s A Star Is Torn!!!, What the Ladybird Heard and The Play That Goes Wrongare now on sale to Birmingham Hippodrome Friends and Patron scheme members. Tickets go on general sale 11am, Wed 5 May 2021 at birminghamhippodrome.com.

DEAFINITELY THEATRE TO SHOWCASE WORK OF BURSARY RECIPIENTS

IN ADDITION TO SECOND ROUND OF BURSARIES FOR DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING THEATRE FREELANCERS

Deafinitely Theatre today announce they will be showcasing the work of deaf and hard of hearing theatre freelancers that were awarded a bursary in February 2021, via their website – beginning today in celebration of UK Deaf Awareness Week 2021, Coming Through It Together. Earlier this year the recipients were awarded £1000 and provided with networking and keeping-in-touch sessions, and have been working on a wide-ranging collection of projects and career development initiatives in the past months. In addition, Deafinitely Theatre today opens applications for a further six bursaries, open to any deaf or hard of hearing theatre practitioners and performers aged 18 and over at any stage of their career.  

Artistic Director Paula Garfield said, “As our industry begins to emerge from lockdown, I am so pleased that, thanks to a second Arts Council Cultural Recovery Fund grant, Deafinitely Theatre can offer a further six bursaries to support deaf freelance theatre practitioners to develop their practice as we build back to live performance. We are very excited to share the brilliant work of the first round of Bursary recipients on our website throughout May and can’t wait to see the work that our future recipients are able to develop with this funding.” 

The recipients of the first round of bursaries were Stephanie Back, Rinkoo Barpaga, Duffy, Katie Erich, Richard France, Fifi Garfield, Ben Glover, Alim Jayda, Sahera Kahan, Ace Mahbaz, Harri Marshall, Zoë McWhinney, Colly Metcalfe, Chisato Minamimura, Julian Peedle-Calloo, Jamie Rea, Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford, Rebecca Saffir, Deepa Shastri and Otis Waby.

The first four recipients to be profiled on www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk are:

• Stephanie Back – Stephanie has used her bursary for the research and development of a her show Fow, a tri-lingual theatre show in Welsh, BSL and English, and to further her skills in translation, presenting work online and reaching deaf audiences.
• Alim Jayda – this bursary is enabling Alim to create a new digital platform, Released Voices, which will present a series of stories and experiences from underrepresented deaf voices and minorities.
• Richard France – the bursary has enabled Richard to explore how dance can develop through sensory feeling and sonic sounds, working with a dancer and SUBPAC technology to explore an area that he hasn’t worked on before, and open up opportunities to work with contemporary dancers on a new project. 
• Deepa Shastri – Deepa’s bursary has given her the opportunity to develop her knowledge of casting and producing (roles with very little deaf representation) through research, meetings and training and to build a plan for her professional development, including the advocacy of opportunities for deaf theatre artists and makers. 

Supported by the Arts Council Culture Recovery Fund, the bursaries are open to deaf and hard of hearing theatre practitioners and performers aged 18 and over at any stage of their career. Applicants must be self-employed, not in full-time education, live in the United Kingdom and have a UK bank account.

You can apply for the second round of bursaries now. To apply please visit www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk for further information. The deadline is Monday 31 May 2021.

The bursary is supported by the Arts Council Recovery Fund.

★★★★

“A piece that is painstakingly crafted and superbly delivered”

North West End

ONE-MAN COMEDY BY JONATHAN HARVEY TO GO ON NORTHERN TOUR IN JULY

ANDREW LANCEL STARS IN SWAN SONG DIRECTED BY NOREEN KERSHAW

PLAY TO RE-OPEN LIVERPOOL’S UNITY THEATRE TO LIVE AUDIENCES BEFORE VISITING SOUTHPORT, LANCASTER AND LEEDS

Following its critically acclaimed sell-out premiere at Liverpool Theatre Festival in September, Swan Song, a revised comedy by acclaimed playwright Jonathan Harvey, is heading out on a northern tour in July following its rescheduled February dates due to lockdown.

Swan Song, a one-man play starring Andrew Lancel, is directed by BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw and produced by Bill Elms.

The play will open at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre for six performances over three nights, this will be the first live performances at the theatre since closing in March 2020. The show then moves on to reopen the Little Theatre in Southport, Dukes Theatre in Lancaster, and City Varieties in Leeds. All venues will adhere to the current restrictions set out by the Government and will have all necessary procedures in play to create a safe environment to watch the show.

Swan Song was first staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1997, before transferring to Hampstead Theatre with award-winning comedy actress Rebecca Front in the lead role. Jonathan Harvey adapted the 70-minute play specially for Andrew Lancel at Liverpool Theatre Festival to play the solo role of Dave Titswell.  Due to critical acclaim, the play will now perform at venues across the UK.

Producer and the artistic director of Liverpool Theatre Festival, Bill Elms said: “Swan Song is a funny, clever and inspiring production which opened the inaugural Liverpool Theatre Festival.  Andrew Lancel, Jonathan Harvey, and Noreen Kershaw are an incredible blend of creative talent, and the play went down a storm in Liverpool. It is such a lovely piece that I approached Andrew and the team with the idea of touring. People are excited for the return of live theatre – and we’re excited to give them that experience back after such a long time with a really special production.”

Swan Song is a bittersweet comedy written by Jonathan Harvey. Set in Liverpool, it is Christmas 1997, the world is changing and in the staff room, Gay, forty-something, English teacher Dave Titswell finds that not all change is welcome. He has a crush, but life, love, and work are never straight forward for Dave. Will a school trip to The Lakes change things for the better, or make things decidedly worse? Swan Song will make audiences laugh, but equally pull at the heartstrings.

Andrew Lancel is no stranger to audiences. Well established on the national theatre scene, Andrew is also widely known for his television roles as DI Neil Manson in The Bill and super-villain Frank Foster in Coronation Street. He was three times nominated for a national tv award and won a British Soap Award in 2012 for Coronation Street. He has twice played Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein on stage to great critical acclaim, first in Epstein – The Man Who Made The Beatles (also produced by Bill Elms) which premiered in Liverpool and went on to play London’s West End, as well as playing Epstein in the national tour of Cilla The Musical, Bill Kenwright’s stage adaptation of the TV series written by Jeff Pope. He recently appeared in the Royal Variety Show and Casualty for BBC and has just commenced filming The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe for ITV.

Andrew Lancel commented: “I’m thrilled to be finally taking this wonderful play and role on the role and to returning to my beloved Unity where I am a proud patron. The other venues also have special memories and it’s humbling that Jonathan adopted this moving and funny piece for me. I think people really relate to Dave Titswell – it’s very relevant to today. To be reunited with Noreen and Bill too is a joy. It’s a gift of a role and job.”

Award-winning Jonathan Harvey’s credits include Gimme Gimme Gimme; Murder Most Horrid; Coronation Street; Call The Midwife; and Tracey Ullman’s Show. Hisplays include Beautiful Thing, Corrie, Canary, Hushabye Mountain, Babies, Boom Bang A Bang’ and Rupert Street Lonely Hearts Club. He also wrote the 2001 stage musical Closer to Heaven with the Pet Shop Boys and its sequel Muzik. He has won the John Whiting Award, the George Devine Award, two Manchester Evening News Awards, an Evening Standard Award, two British Soap Awards and a Writers Guild of Great Britain Award.

Jonathan added: “Swan Song is a comedy about a teacher who’s trying to hold onto his dignity while the education system crumbles around him – and I’m thrilled Andrew is playing Dave. I’m delighted to also be working with Noreen again, she directed many of my Corrie scripts and my last episode of Call The Midwife. As the original Shirley Valentine, Noreen definitely knows a thing or two about one person shows.”

Noreen Kershaw’s directing credits include Our Girl, Moving On, Scott & Bailey, Emmerdale, Shameless, Heartbeat and Coronation Street. She is also known for acting in Life On Mars, Brookside, and Watching. Noreen also originated the title role of Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre.

Facebook:       /SwanSongOnStage

Twitter:           @SwanSongPlay

Hashtags:        #DaveTitswell #SwanSong

LISTING INFORMATION

Andrew Lancel in

SWAN SONG

by Jonathan Harvey

UNITY THEATRE

Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG

Thursday 1 – Saturday 3 July 2021

Performance times: 5pm / 7.45pm

Show duration: 70 minutes (no interval)

How to book: www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk ON SALE NOW

LITTLE THEATRE

Hoghton Street, Southport, PR9 0PA

Monday 5 July 2021

Performance times: 7.30pm

Show duration: 70 minutes (no interval)

How to book: www.littletheatresouthport.co.uk ON SALE NOW

DUKES LANCASTER

Moor Lane, Lancaster, LA1 1QE

Wednesday 7 July 2021

Performance times: 2.30pm / 7.30pm

Show duration: 70 minutes (no interval)

How to book: www.dukeslancaster.org ON SALE NOW

CITY VARIETIES MUSIC HALL

Swan Street, Leeds, LS1 6LW

Thursday 8 July 2021

Performance times: 7.30pm

Show duration: 70 minutes (no interval)

How to book: www.cityvarieties.co.uk ON SALE NOW

In their 49^th year of touring Mikron Theatre Company present

ATALANTA FOREVER

The Fight for Women’s Football

A new play by Amanda Whittington

Writer & Co-Lyricist: Amanda Whittington

Director: Marianne McNamara

Composer & Co-Lyricist: Kieran Buckeridge

Musical Director: Rebekah Hughes

Designer: Celia Perkins

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: 9 June – 19 September 2021

Mikron Theatre are aiming to score with their next theatrical offering for their 49th year of touring. They will be premiering Amanda Whittington’s new play Atalanta Forever which looks at the story of the pioneering women in football in 1920.

Atalanta Forever will kick off at The Piece Hall in Halifax on Wednesday 9^th June and then tour nationally by road and river until 19 September.

It is 1920, and in post-war Britain, women’s football is big news. Across the country, all-girl teams are pulling huge crowds in fund-raising games for wounded soldiers. Huddersfield amateurs Ethel and Annie take a shot at the big time. Teammates at Atalanta AFC, they are soon tackling new football skills, mastering the offside rule, and kicking back at the doubters.

Come and cheer for Atalanta as our plucky underdogs learn how to play the game, take on the legendary teams of the era – and find the toughest opponent of all is the FA.

The play is based on the true story of one of three women’s football teams in Huddersfield in post war Britain. Told through the lives of two young women Atalanta Ladies Football Club was formed in 1920 ‘to provide games for the women of Huddersfield, to foster a sporting spirit, and a love of honour among its members.’ During the Great War, several women’s football teams had sprung up around the country, usually based in factories or munitions works, and proved a great success in raising money for hospitals, war widows and so on.

A measure of the popularity of the women’s game may be measured by the estimated 25,000 crowd that packed Hillsborough, Sheffield, for their next game with the Dick, Kerr Ladies of Preston on May 4 which they lost 4-0 to their much more experienced opponents.

In the wider football world, the growing popularity of women’s football was now causing concern. The FA even saw it as taking support away from the men’s game and on December 5, 1921, they banned women’s teams from using FA affiliated grounds.

The pioneering Huddersfield Atalanta Ladies FC raised more than £2,000 for various charities before they folded in 1924.

2021 is the 100^th anniversary of the Football Association banning women from playing on Football League grounds which was lifted 50 years later. It will also be the 50^th anniversary of the first Women’s first FA Cup final.

Atalanta Forever is directed by Mikron Theatre’s Artistic Director Marianne McNamara, designed by Celia Perkins, music composed and lyrics by Kieran Buckeridge with the music 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).

Amanda Whittington is one Britain’s most consistently popular dramatists. Her plays include Be My Baby (originally produced by Soho Theatre and subsequently staged throughout the UK), Ladies Day and its sequel Ladies Down Under (Hull Truck/UK Tours), Kiss Me Quickstep (New Vic Theatre), Mighty Atoms (Hull Truck Theatre). Other stage productions include The Thrill of Love (New Vic Theatre/St James Theatre), My Judy Garland Life (adapted from the Book by Susie Boyt, Nottingham Playhouse, Bollywood Jane, (Leicester Haymarket/West Yorkshire Playhouse). Amanda is currently an Associate Artist at Nottingham Playhouse.

Playwright Amanda Whittington said about her new play:

“I was an 11-year-old footballer in the 1980s, the only girl who played in the boy’s village tournament and I vividly remember being ‘advised’ to stop because it wasn’t appropriate.  I still feel the injustice, and the sense of shame for wanting to do something I was not meant to.  It brings joy to my heart to see football is now the biggest team sport for girls in Britain.  I wanted to write about the battle the women’s game has fought to survive and prosper – and perhaps to tell the 11-year-old me she was right?”

Marianne McNamara, Mikron’s Artistic Director and Director of this show, explains why they chose to tackle this subject:

“Women’s football is making a comeback and not before time. We are thrilled to pay homage to the trailblazing Huddersfield women that paved the way against all odds.”

Just like the great game itself this will be an action-packed play of two halves full of live music fun and laughter with no plans for extra time!

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 The 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.

Atalanta Forever will be touring nationally in the Summer alongside Poppy Hollman’s new play A Dog’s Tale which celebrate canines past and present and explores the enduring love between people and their dogs.

For tour dates and information on Atalanta Forever visit http://mikron.org.uk

Proteus Theatre presents
The Bloody Chamber
Pavilion Theatre, Marine Parade, Worthing, BN11 3PX
Friday 11th – Saturday 12th June 2021

Proteus Theatre will bring their adaptation of Angela Carter’s collection The Bloody Chamber (and Other Stories) to Pavilion Theatre, Worthing this June. At a moment when women and men across the country confront the double standards of safety, sex, and the fears of what goes bump in the night, Carter’s incendiary caustic take on fairy tales as cautionary tales could not be a more formidable challenge to the status quo

Using circus as a physical vocabulary, the award-winning Proteus will translate the fever dream style of Angela Carter’s macabre fairy tales to the stage. The Bloody Chamber is a heady, erotic, and surprisingly funny re-phrasing of some of the most famous folk and fairy tales in Western culture. These are the stories our mothers told us. And all the ones they didn’t dare.

Director Mary Swan comments, Women are always being told what we can and can’t do in order to avoid being assaulted, while on the other hand also promoting sexual fulfilment by catering to the male gaze. We give this advice to young women all the time; why the hell should we have to? Circus inverts the world: defying gravity, contorting the bounds of physical movement and embracing the human connection to do the impossible. It’s perfect for making familiar situations entirely surreal and surreal situations quite familiar; it’s perfect for challenging what’s socially accepted for no good reason. Carter’s fantastical, theatrical, lyrical stories are beautifully transfigured by circus.

Proteus Theatre are working with leading figures in the circus industry to choreograph the piece including Mimbre’s Silvia Fratelli, Charlotte Mooney from Ockham’s Razor and Tamzen Moulding the Artistic Director of Inverted Theatre. The Bloody Chamber also features an original soundtrack with musical direction, arrangements and sound design by Max Reinhardt (BBC Radio 3 Late Junction) and original composition by Paul Wild who worked with Proteus on Macbeth.

To mark the 1 year anniversary of Theatre Support Fund+, we would like to thank Nederlander for lighting up The Dominion Theatre in celebration.

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED

L E S   M I S É R A B L E S  –  T H E   S T A G E D   C O N C E R T

WWW.LESMIS.COM

Performances are set to return for the spectacular production of Les Misérables –The Staged Concert at the Sondheim Theatre on 20 May 2021, booking until 5 September 2021.   

The principal cast are Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Lucie Jones as Fantine, Gerard Carey as Thénardier, Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thénardier, Shan Ako as Éponine, Harry Apps as Marius, Jamie Muscato as Enjolras, Charlie Burn as Cosette and at certain performances Dean Chisnall will play the role of Jean Valjean.

The company also includes Kelly Agbowu, Joseph Anthony, Will Barratt, Cameron Blakely, Earl Carpenter, Richard Carson, Danny Colligan, Rodney Earl Clarke, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Harry Dunnett, Nic Greenshields, Jessie Hart, Holly-Anne Hull, Jenna Innes, Ebony Jonelle, Connor Jones, Jessica Joslin, Luke McCall, Leo Miles, Corinne Priest, Aaron Pryce-Lewis, Grainne Renihan, Helen Walsh, Emma Warren and Samuel Wyn-Morris.

Cameron Mackintosh said: “Les Misérables has been the star attraction of London’s Shaftesbury Avenue for over 35 years, so we are delighted to once again be the first big musical to reopen in the West End after over 14 months of closure. The spectacular Staged Concert was presciently put together, unknowingly socially distanced, over two years ago at the Gielgud Theatre. Every performance has been a sell out and this time, our wonderful Company drawn from the current stars of both the new acclaimed West End and National touring companies of Les Mis, which will both reopen in the autumn, will ensure that the world’s most loved musical will raise the roof of the theatre once more and help the restaurants, bars, hotels and shops bring our great city back to life. Let the People Sing with joy again!”

Public excitement for Les Misérables –The Staged Concert,which originally had a sell-out season at the Gielgud in August 2019, has been exceptional.  Due to extraordinary public demand the last run of the show in December 2020 sold out within twenty-four hours and was extended twice as a result.  Sadly, after the Government’s updated Covid-19 restrictions the show had to be suspended after only 10 performances. 

This spectacular production has a Company of over 50 actors and musicians drawn from the acclaimed West End and National Tour Companies of Les Misérables and will initially play to a 50% seating capacity withstrict Covid safety measures in place.  Social distancing will be followed front of house, on stage, backstage and throughout the building.   The Theatre will move to full capacity as soon as the Government allows for it.

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Les Misérables is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel with additional material by James Fenton and adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

The Staged Concert is directed by James Powell and Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy, designed by Matt Kinley with costumes by Andreane Neofitou and Christine Rowland, lighting by Paule Constable and Warren Letton, projections by Finn Ross, sound by Mick Potter, musical supervision by Stephen Brooker and is conducted by Alfonso Casado Trigo.

The critically acclaimed new full production of Les Misérables which opened in January 2020 is planned to re-open at the Sondheim Theatre on 25September 2021. Obtaining Government backed contingency insurance to protect against further unscheduled closures remains a priority.  All plans for the re-openings are in accordance with the Government’s latest directives and therefore subject to change. 

LISTINGS INFORMATION 

Theatre:                   Sondheim Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6BA

Dates:                      20 May – 5 September 2021

Website:                  www.lesmis.com

IT’S ON WITH THE SHOW AT DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Following an extended period of closure due to the Covid pandemic, staff at Darlington Hippodrome are gearing up to re-open the doors in May.

It is hard to believe that it’s been over a year since Darlington Hippodrome released a major season brochure. Like everyone else the venue was looking at 2020 with a great sense of anticipation for what promised to be one of their strongest line-up of events for some time. That sense of anticipation was turned on its head with the announcement that all theatres in the country were to close.

Over the last twelve months Darlington Hippodrome has done a tremendous amount of work to keep the theatre viable through the pandemic and to ensure the venue’s future success. Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund have supported the Hippodrome with grants totalling almost £1.5 million allowing the theatre to navigate what has been one of the most difficult periods in the venue’s 114 year history.

But now the theatre has launched a brand new season brochure and the staff are working tirelessly towards a grand re-opening on Monday 17 May.

Along with a full schedule of classic cinema screenings, West-End screenings, theatre tours, fitness and dance sessions and heritage workshops, Darlington Hippodrome’s stage will once again host live theatre with a fabulous mix of block-buster musicals, stand-up comedy, tribute acts and household names.

The return of live theatre will be marked by a Come Back Home concert presented by Darlington Operatic Society who seem to be making a habit of re-opening the venue after periods of closure. This will be followed by a diverse programme including comedians Carl Hutchinson, Jason Manford and Chris Ramsey, family shows including the Horrible Histories team with Barmy Britain, In The Night Garden, Dragons and Mythical Beasts and Milkshake Live and one-night-only tributes to the music of The Temptations, Carole King, Fleetwood Mac, The Rat Pack, Queen and Tina Turner.

You can spend an evening with Sir Michael Parkinson or maybe you’ll choose Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Band? Jason Donovan will tread the boards and the theatre will also play host to Dick and Angel as they take a break from renovating their French Chateau.

Drama lovers will have plenty to choose from including Helen Forrester’s By The Waters of Liverpool, a solve-a-long-a Murder She Wrote and a new stage adaptation of the Gothic chiller The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Fans of musical theatre will not be disappointed. The smash-hit musical Rock of Ages will raise the roof whilst Craig Revel Horwood’s Strictly Ballroom will set the stage alight. And don’t forget the fabulous, festive, family pantomime which this year is the all-time favourite, Cinderella.

With more and more shows being booked on a daily basis the theatre is slowly returning to a sense of normality.

Heather Tarran-Jones, Programming and Development Director of Darlington Hippodrome said: “We are so excited to launch a new season brochure of this nature. We are all set to welcome audiences back to enjoy the thrill of live theatre or just to pop in to soak up the atmosphere. Naturally the health and wellbeing of our audiences will be uppermost in our plans, we have introduced special ticket scanners and a brand new app so people can order food and drinks from the comfort of their seats in the auditorium. I would encourage everyone to ‘come back home’ by purchasing tickets for the fabulous selection of shows we have on offer at Darlington Hippodrome.”

For full details of all the shows on offer or to book, visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01325 405405

Tickets on sale today! Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s autumn season programme – marking 50 years of the theatre on Centenary Square

Artistic Director, Sean Foley has announced his programme for the 50th anniversary season of Birmingham Repertory Theatre in its current home on Centenary Square with tickets on sale now at birmingham-rep.co.uk.  

Opening the celebratory season, the smash-hit comedy-drama East Is East (3-25 Sep) returns home for its 25th anniversary Since premiering on The REP’s stage in 1996, East Is East has sold out three London runs, been adapted into a BAFTA Award-winning film and become a modern classic of comic-drama. Rediscover this joyous play where it all began. 

This hilarious comedy follows George Khan as he strives to raise his family the proper Pakistani way but hasn’t counted on the distractions of 1970’s Salford. Abdul and Tariq aren’t ready to be married off, Saleem is pushing artistic boundaries, Meenah’s skirt is too short and Sajit just wants to hide in his parka. Can mum Ella keep the family together? 

What’s New Pussycat? (8 Oct-14 Nov) is a brand-new musical that invites you to experience the Swinging Sixties of London, as the thrilling iconic hit songs of the internationally celebrated singer Tom Jones are married with Henry Fielding’s classic comic novel – The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling. Written by the Tony Award winning Joe DiPietro (Memphis The Musical), the show has the full backing of Sir Tom himself who has been consulting with the producers throughout the development. 

This joyous, romantic and highly entertaining new musical includes Tom Jones’ greatest hit songs: Green, Green Grass of Home, It’s Not Unusual, Leave Your Hat On, Delilah, Mama Told Me Not To Come, Sex Bomb and, of course, What’s New Pussycat?. 

The show will be directed by Luke Sheppard, whose most recent production – the acclaimed & Juliet – has taken the West End by storm and won 3 Olivier Awards and 6 Whatstonstage Awards. He will be joined by a top-class creative team, including the legendary choreographer and former Strictly Come Dancing judge, Arlene Philips CBE. 

The REP’s Artistic Director Sean Foley will be bringing sunshine to Birmingham this Christmas as he directs his hit play, The Play What I Wrote (27 Nov-1 Jan). When the production opened in London’s West End, originally directed by Kenneth Branagh, every single review was a rave, every show a sell-out and it won every major theatre award.  

‘Hamish’ has written a play, an epic set in the French Revolution called ‘A Tight Squeeze for the Scarlet Pimple’. ‘Sean’, on the other hand, wants to continue with their double act. He believes that if they perform a tribute to Morecambe and Wise, Hamish’s confidence will be restored and the double act will go on. But first Sean needs to persuade a guest star to appear in the play what Hamish wrote… 

Every performance also famously features a special guest star. Previous mystery guest stars have included Ralph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor, Joanna Lumley, Daniel Radcliffe, Kylie Minogue, Nigel Havers, Jerry Hall, Sir Ian McKellen, Dawn French and Sting.  

Floella Benjamin’s book about her own experiences coming to the UK, Coming to England (19 Feb-6 Mar) bursts onto the stage with music, storytelling, humour and pathos in a world premiere production. 

10-year-old Floella is strong and brave. When her parents leave Trinidad for England her young life is turned upside down when she’s placed with a cruel foster ‘auntie’. Eventually sailing to join her parents, Floella’s excitement for her new life in England is short-lived, with the family subjected to racism and intolerance in 1960s’ London. Guided by her inspirational mother, and working twice as hard as her classmates, young Floella strives to overcome adversity and learns to love and accept herself. 

Adapted by David Wood, ‘the national children’s dramatist’ (The Times), this thoughtful stage version of Floella’s inspirational true story follows her difficult and courageous journey towards becoming a TV icon, successful businesswoman and eventually Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham. 

Tickets are on sale now at birmingham-rep.co.uk.  

Artistic Director, Sean Foley said: “I’m thrilled to be able to announce what has become, in effect, my first season of work at this iconic and beloved theatre. All theatres have undergone tremendous challenges over the past year, and very many tough decisions have had to be made to get us to this point. We are tremendously excited by the shows and proud of the amazing array of creative talent from our freelance community that will be at The REP for this very special 50th Anniversary Season of the company on Centenary Square. The programme is testament to the whole company’s determination and desire to share the amazing event of live theatre with our audiences again, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back – back to entertainment, to debate, to laughter, and to the sheer joy of experiencing the excitement that being part of a great night out brings.” 

FOURTH WALL LIVE PRESENTS

THREE ONE-NIGHT-ONLY SOLO CONCERTS

FROM

JENNA RUSSELL

SHOSHANA BEAN

AND

JESSICA VOSK

AT THE CADOGAN HALL

Fourth Wall Live is delighted to announce a trio of one-night-only solo concerts to be performed at the Cadogan Hall by three of musical theatre’s biggest stars. The award-winning Jenna Russell, Shoshana Bean and Jessica Vosk will each headline their own solo concert event, delighting audiences with their renowned talent and varied repertoire. Tickets go on sale on Friday 30 April at 10.00am. www.fw-live.com

Concert dates and times are as follows:

Jenna Russell with Musical Direction by Nigel Lilley – Sunday 7th November 2021- 6:30pm

Shoshana Bean “Sing Your Hallelujah” – Saturday 4th December 2021 – 7.30pm

Jessica Vosk – Sunday 27th February 2022 – 6.30pm

Jenna Russell is an Olivier-Award-winning and Tony-Award-nominated actress. Her recent theatre credits include ‘Piaf’ in “Piaf” at the Nottingham Playhouse and Leeds Playhouse and “Celebrating Sondheim” at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Jenna’s other notable theatrical performances include ‘Sarah Brown’ in “Guys and Dolls” at the Piccadilly Theatre, ‘Dot’ in “Sunday In The Park With George” at the Wyndham’s Theatre and ‘Helen’ in “Fun Home” at the Young Vic. Her television appearances include the BBC’s “Born and Bred”, “Call the Midwife”, “Death in Paradise” and “EastEnders” and ITV’s “Midsomer Murders” and “Home To Roost” as well as being the performer of the theme tune to the sit-com “Red Dwarf”.

Shoshana Bean’s three solo albums have all topped the iTunes R&B and Blues charts in the US and UK, with her fourth and most recent project, “Spectrum” debuting at number one on the Billboard Jazz charts. She has sold out solo concerts around the globe and performed alongside the likes of Ariana Grande, David Foster, Postmodern Jukebox, Brian McKnight and Michael Jackson. She is a veteran of the Broadway stage and is perhaps best known for her portrayal of ‘Elphaba’ in the Broadway production of “Wicked”. Other prominent performances include ‘Shelley’ in the Tony-Award-winning production of “Hairspray” and ‘Jenna’ in the Broadway production of “Waitress. She won a IRNE Award for her performance as “Fanny Brice” in Funny Girl and earned a Jeff Award nomination for her portrayal of “CeeCee Bloom” in the pre-Broadway musical production of Beaches. This solo show, “Sing Your Hallelujah” is produced by For The Record Live and presented by Fourth Wall Live. David Cook serves as Music Director.

Jessica Vosk made her Broadway debut in the 2014 production of “The Bridges of Madison County” before going on to appear in the original Broadway cast of “Finding Neverland”. Her other notable credits include playing ‘Elphaba’ in the Broadway and United States touring productions of “Wicked” as well as playing ‘Fruma Sarah’ in the 2015 Broadway revival of “Fiddler on the Roof”. In 2018 Jessica released her widely acclaimed debut album titled “Wild and Free” with a follow up EP released in December 2020.

Fourth Wall Live is an exciting new collaboration between boutique concert producer Club 11 London and theatrical producers DLAP Entertainment. Having previously successfully produced Chita Rivera at Cadogan Hall together, the teams have now combined to bring audiences a plethora of international artists in concert at leading venues. Their most recent production, EUROBEAT – THE PRIDE OF EUROPE, begins streaming via stream.theatre from Friday 30 April 2021.