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THE BARN THEATRE ANNOUNCES TWO DIGITAL MICHAEL MORPURGO CLASSICS COMING THIS SPRING

• RETURN OF THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION OF PRIVATE PEACEFUL 

• AN ELEPHANT IN THE GARDEN COMES TO THE DIGITAL STAGE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME 

• THE TWO WARTIME INSPIRED PRODUCTIONS HAVE EDUCATIONAL PACKS AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS

• FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, BUY ONE PERFORMANCE AND GET THE OTHER HALF PRICE. OFFER RUNNING FROM 22^ND MARCH    TO 28^TH MARCH.

An Elephant in the Garden (2 – 18 April) 

Following its 2020 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania performances and successful UK Tours from 2014-2019 – including runs at Bristol Old Vic and Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe – Poonamallee Productions brings their admired production of Michael Morpurgo’s An Elephant in the Garden to the digital stage for the very first time in collaboration with the Barn Theatre. 

Set against the backdrop of the 1945 Dresden bombings, this adaptation by long-time Michael Morpurgo collaborator Simon Reade brings Morpurgo’s vivid, moving story to life performed by Alison Reid. The production, which will run over the Easter holidays from 2-18 April, follows Lizzie, her mother – and an elephant from the zoo known as Marlene as they flee the Allied fire-bombing in the endgame of the Second World War.  

An Elephant in the Garden is adapted and directed by Simon Reade. 

Private Peaceful (19 April – 2 May) 

Based on the best-selling novel by War Horse author Michael Morpurgo, Private Peaceful tells the story of Private Tommo Peaceful, who looks back on his Devon upbringing, his romance with childhood sweetheart, Molly and the terrible events that saw him taken from this idyllic setting and into the horrors of war. 

BoxLess Theatre’s two-hander staging of Private Peaceful first opened as part of the Barn Theatre’s outdoor theatre festival, BarnFest, in August 2020. It then transferred to the Barn Theatre’s main auditorium in September, reopening the theatre for the first time since the first National Lockdown.  

Following the run in Cirencester, the production transferred to the play’s original home, the Bristol Old Vic, for a successful run and marked the first production to reintroduce the original ending from the acclaimed novel to the stage adaptation. 

Private Peaceful was scheduled to transfer to the West End in November 2020, however due to the second National Lockdown this run will now be an international digital run. The Barn Theatre are thrilled to be able to present the production to audiences that missed out on this opportunity.  

Private Tommo is played by Emily Costello, the first female performer to play Tommo professionally in a performance that was described by Michael Morpurgo as “extraordinary.” James Demaine plays Charlie and various other roles. 

Private Peaceful originally produced at the Barn Theatre with co-producers MZG Theatre Productions is adapted by Simon Reade and directed by Alexander Knott. Zöe Grain is associate director and movement director with composition by James Demaine. Sound design is by Harry Smith and lighting design by Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner. 

The Barn Theatre are thrilled to be partnering with the Belgrade Theatre, Exeter Northcott Theatre, and Lawrence Batley Theatre on these digital productions. 

Both digital productions have educational packs available for schools. These educational packs are £100 plus VAT. For more information please contact [email protected]. 

Tickets are available at just £13.50 each, or for a limited time offer of £20 for both, running from 22^nd March – 28^th March. If a ticket for either show is bought within this time, the customer will receive a code to discount the purchase of a ticket for the other production. Tickets can be purchased at barntheatre.org.uk/barn-at-home. 

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR NEW DIGITAL PRODUCTION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

GURJEET SINGH, TOM DIXON, MINA ANWAR, NIKKI PATEL, ZOE IQBAL AND MORE TO STAR IN THE LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE AND THE DUKES’ CO-PRODUCTION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

The Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, and The Dukes, Lancaster, announce the full cast and creative team for their upcoming digital co-production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Based on the play by Oscar Wilde, the production is written by writer/broadcaster Yasmeen Khan (EastEnders).

The full cast is Gurjeet Singh (Ackley Bridge, Wuthering Heights) who will play the title role of Earnest/Jamil, Tom Dixon (Twelfth Night, Romeo & Juliet) as Algy, Mina Anwar (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, The Thin Blue Line) as Ms Begum, Nikki Patel (Trojan Horse, Coronation Street) as Gul, Zoe Iqbal (Finding Fatimah, Ackley Bridge) as Safina and Melanie Marshall (Jane Eyre) as Miss Prism

With appearances from finalist of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Divina De Campo as herself, star of stage and screen Paul Chahidi as international film director Steve Merriman, award-winning actor, comedian and writer Hugh Dennis as Tony, actress Harriet Thorpe as Algy’s agent Alison and comedian Sindhu Vee as daytime TV presenter, Libby.

The production will be directed by Mina Anwar who will also play the role of Ms Begum, with costume & set design by Holly Pigott, sound design by Dave Bintley, lighting design by Douglas Kuhrt and assistant direction from Eleri Jones and Olivia Race.

This brand-new adaptation will run from Monday 19 April until Tuesday 4 May and transposes the original narrative of Wilde’s classic comedy to the cobbles and stone walls of the north. The updated narrative follows the story of struggling actor Jamil and rom-com star Algy, who come together in the pursuit of love, being true to yourself and Nando’s.

Mina Anwar, director and star of The Importance of Being Earnest comments: “I’m delighted to be directing and acting in this brilliant adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Yasmeen Khan. This is my homage to the perfect hybrid of theatre and television, the studio sitcom. Set in the acting world, Yasmeen has blended the wit, the farce and the fabulous characters of Wilde’s original with a hilarious, contemporary and distinctively Northern flavour. To tell this story we have brought together an extraordinary team of theatre and film makers. We cannot wait to share it with the world”

The Importance of Being Earnest has been captured on location at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield and The Dukes in Lancaster, and is set to push the theatrical form by combining traditional theatrical techniques with film and radio play.

Tickets are available internationally from importanceofbeingearnest.com with audience members receiving a link at the point of booking which will activate at 00:01 GMT on their booked performance date for a 48-hour period.

DISNEY’S THE LION KING SETS DATE FOR WEST END RETURN

The Walt Disney Company UK and Ireland has today announced that London’s landmark musical, DISNEY’S THE LION KING will reopen in the West End on 29th July 2021. THE LION KING returns to the Lyceum Theatre, its London home for more than two decades, where the production has been seen by over 16 million people. 

Tickets will go on sale at noon on Wednesday 31st March at www.thelionking.co.uk and patrons can sign up for access to a pre-sale from 10am, Monday 29th March. 

Since the premiere of Julie Taymor’s internationally celebrated stage adaptation on Broadway in 1997, THE LION KING has entertained more than 100 million theatregoers in 25 productions worldwide. When the show closed its doors on Sunday 15th March 2020 it was the West End’s best-selling stage production and the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time.  

The London cast of over 50 actors, singers and dancers are thrilled to return to the Lyceum  stage. Shaun Escoffery who plays Mufasa said: “We are so excited to finally have a date that we will be able to perform for audiences again. At THE LION KING we have always considered ourselves to be one big family, and to be coming back together after being separated for so long will be a truly happy moment. We cannot wait to be back on stage. When the opening bars of Circle of Life play out, I don’t believe there will be a dry eye anywhere in the theatre.” 

Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, THE LION KING has made theatrical history with six productions worldwide running 15 or more years.  The musical uses breathtaking masks and puppetry to create pure theatrical magic. At its heart is the powerful and moving story of Simba – the epic adventure of his journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands. 

Plans to reopen THE LION KING at the Lyceum Theatre on 29 July 2021 have been made in accordance with the Government’s latest directives, are therefore subject to change and are made on the understanding that social distancing guidelines will be withdrawn to allow full capacity audiences. The live entertainment industry continues to seek support for contingency insurance to be made available in the event of any further unscheduled closures as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Disney’s THE LION KING

Lyceum Theatre21 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7RQ 

Ticket information

Disney pre-sale:  Monday 22nd March 2021 

Performances at The Lyceum Theatre, London are on sale from 31st March 2021

Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.thelionking.co.uk / 0800 912 6971

Booking until 3rd  April 2022 for individuals and 22nd October 2022 for groups 

Performance information

Reopening performance: Thursday 29th July 2021

Streaming until 11 April – book via shoreditchtownhall.com

4****

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

A fun and frantic audio adventure, Curse of the Crackles! is a sure-fire family hit. Deliciously daft and striking the right balance between bum and fart jokes for the kids and dad jokes for the adults.

Accompanied by an activity pack with a DIY eye mask for children to make, the show can be listened to on multiple devices in one household, although watching your children opening doors, participating in a car chase and dancing around may be entertaining enough for some adults.

Ben and Max Ringham’s sound design immerses the listener in a crazy world where the mischievous Crackles have muddled up all the sounds and Riff the most excellentist puppy needs our help on her quest to fix things. It’s like a CBBC version of Blindness, with pirates, gangsters and a jail break thrown into the mix. Writer Bea Roberts and director Ed Stambollouian have pitched the story at 7 to 11-year-olds, although the absurdity of the mild jeopardy ensures the show is not too disturbing for younger children as well.

Norah Lopez Holden and Sam Swann voice all the ridiculous characters ranging from the Queen to a swarm of bees with great energy and make it easy for the listener to embrace the madness and join in when Riff asks for help opening jars and doors – she doesn’t have thumbs!

The running time of 45 minutes flies by as Riff hurtles from one outlandish situation to another searching for a way to get her squeaky bone to make the right sound again and ends with a party that will have the grumpiest dad dancing along.

Barn Theatre at Home – until 31 March – book via https://www.pictureofdoriangray.com/

5*****

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Oscar Wilde’s classic has been modernised with scintillating style by Henry Filloux-Bennett and Tamara Harvey. Building on the success of What a Carve Up! they have managed to finesse their storytelling even more to create this digital fable about the stark differences between online image and reality.

Gray is already dead when the story begins, with Stephen Fry’s interviewer trying to find answers explaining his death from those remaining that were close to him – Joanna Lumley as Lady Narborough and his best friend Harry Wotton (Alfred Enoch). Alongside these interviews, YouTube, TikTok and FaceTime clips show the pivotal interactions between the characters. Director Tamara Harvey uses all these elements effortlessly to create a seamless film that lets the narrative flow with a driving energy. Dorian Gray (Fionn Whitehead) is a student from a privileged background, but during the first lockdown he is stuck in his student accommodation and begins a gentle vlog about books with a handful of followers. When lockdown ends and Lady Narborough throws a birthday party for Dorian under the guise of a fundraising event, his life changes as he meets Sybil Vane (Emma McDonald) and is offered a gift by Basil Hallward (Russell Tovey) – a software designer in this version. Instead of a painting, Dorian is given a filter that makes his online image perfect and attract followers. The unique social problems experienced over the last year, the dangers of only finding affirmation and contact from online likes and followers which can change in an instant to vicious trolling is the perfect modern background for Filloux-Bennett’s versions of Wilde’s characters.

His intense developing relationship with Sybil distances him from Harry and Basil, but their attraction to him, and his power over them (which Dorian seems to have always been aware of) never fades. Sybil is introduced singing a song that has a spellbinding effect, and her TikTok videos performing Shakespeare, poetry and iconic film scenes make you want to see much more of Emma McDonald – her final devastating scene – her note to Dorian – is simply stunning. Dorian’s cruelty and abandonment of Sybil when she needs him most is horrifyingly believable as his only concern is what it means for him and you realise that their relationship had all the warning signs of abuse.

Dorian’s spiral into depravity is related by Harry and Lady Narborough as rumours they have heard, but the disfiguring effect on his body is portrayed graphically. As we hear tales of drug and sexual abuse, and his seemingly responsible stance of never going out unmasked, the warm ethereal glow of his online videos and his soft-spoken approach sugar coat the increasingly dangerous and violent words in his renamed Aesthetics over Ethics vlog. Meanwhile, Basil has started a YouTube channel warning of the dangers of social media with the warmth, sincerity and vapidity of the Tory party’s 3-word slogans.

The cast are all at the top of their game, with Joanna Lumley having a ball as the IT illiterate Lady Narborough but managing to portray the character’s underlying creepy obsession with Dorian through simple shrugs and sighs. Fionn Whitehead’s sensitive performance keeps Gray a tragic figure – his cruelty and excesses always have the terror of being ignored and forgotten bubbling underneath. Alfred Enoch steals the show as the louche Harry – claiming Wilde aphorisms as his own and balancing the arrogance and love for Dorian beautifully.

This digital Dorian Gray is a true wonder – a brilliant update of Wilde that will leave you questioning your own online habits.

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FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY BARN THEATRE PREMIERES NEW SONG CYCLE WITH A LIVE ‘ONE-SHOT’ DIGITAL CONCERT 

• LIVE SONG CYCLE WILL BE A ONE-SHOT STREAM AT BARN THEATRE 
• THE BARN’S MOST AMBITIOUS LIVE STREAM TO DATE WILL AIR FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY ON 1^ST APRIL AT 6:30PM 
• THE PROJECT MARKS MATTHEW HARVEY’S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH THE BARN THEATRE 

The Barn Theatre are proud to premier a new British song cycle with an exciting and ambitious digital twist. Now Or Never is a song cycle written by associate artist Matthew Harvey, which follows 7 people as they each take a defiant act of positivity in what could be their last week on Earth. 

The project marks the first collaboration between The Barn Theatre and Matthew Harvey, who created the song cycle with the intention of writing about individual responses to a global adversity without writing specifically about the pandemic. 

Matthew Harvey said “What’s been really inspiring to me, and probably the driving force behind Now or Never is the amount of good that has been happening in spite of the pandemic, especially within the theatrical community. I’ve watched countless streamed productions and even a handful of in-person ones that have been defiantly thrown together with love, from a community that have really struggled throughout the pandemic, but are still doing what they love, wherever and whenever they can. So, I wanted to write a song cycle that was all about hope in the face of catastrophe.” 

Also attached to the project is The Barn Theatre’s Ryan Carter, who has developed what can only be described as, The Barn’s most ambitious live stream to date. The innovative digital spin presents the work as a non-stop, one-shot, song cycle, with one camera navigating the entire building, featuring 7 characters by moving between 7 spaces. 

Ryan Carter said “What I love about working for the Barn is that I’m able to create without worrying about whether the team will be able to make it work. I could pitch a 40-minute, one-shot, live vocals, 7 spaces, no stop-and-starts, no cuts live stream, and not sweat one bit about whether we’d pull it off. I’m also absolutely thrilled to have been trusted with the creative vision of this piece’s premier. The song cycle has a real future ahead of it, so it’s not lost on me that I get to look after its first iteration.” 

Now Or Never is written by Matthew Harvey with creative direction by Ryan Carter. Freddie Tapner acts as Musical Supervisor. Full Casting and Creative team will be announced shortly.   

Tickets for Now or Never are available now for £10. The concert will be streamed LIVE on Thursday 1^st April at 6:30pm. Tickets can be purchased at barntheatre.org.uk/barn-at-home. 

FOURTH WALL LIVE
ANNOUNCE
THE WORLD PREMIERE

OF A NEW ONLINE VERSION OF THE CULT WEST END MUSICAL

EUROBEAT

The Pride of Europe

BOOK, MUSIC AND LYRICS BY CRAIG CHRISTIE

HOSTED BY DAVID O’REILLY’S “ORLA BOARD”

WITH

JOANNE CLIFTON, TIA KOFI

HARRIET THORPE AND TOM READ WILSON

FILMED AT THE CLAPHAM GRAND

AND STREAMED GLOBALLY ON STREAM.THEATRE

FROM 30 APRIL – 10 MAY 2021

Fourth Wall Live are delighted to announce the world premiere of a new online version of the cult West End Musical EUROBEAT – The Pride of Europe. This irreverent, hilarious homage and celebration of the world’s best loved song contest will be filmed at The Clapham Grand and streamed globally from 30 April – 10 May 2021 on Stream.Theatre. Viewers will be asked to vote online after watching the show (Your vote really counts!) and The Results Show will be streamed from 14 – 18 May 2021. www.eurobeatpride.com

The show will be hosted by David O’Reilly’s “Orla Board” as Marlene Cabana the glamorous mistress of ceremonies, with a cast led by Joanne Clifton (BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, The Rocky Horror Show, Flashdance), Tia Kofi (BBC Three’s RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 2), Harriet Thorpe (BBC’s The Brittas Empire, Cabaret) and Tom Read Wilson (C4’s Celebs Go Dating, BBC’s Celebrity Best Home Cook), the show will also star West End and musical theatre stars Christine Allado (Hamilton, The Prince of Egypt), Matt Croke (ITV’s The Voice, Disney’s Aladdin), Scott Garnham (Les Miserables, Billy Elliot, The Barricade Boys), Aisha Jawando (Tina in Tina, The Tina Turner Musical), Scott Paige (Cinderella, Nativity!), Claudia Kariuki, (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, School of Rock), David Ribi (Milkshake, Channel 5), comedian Sooz Kempner, Annell Odartey (WhatsonStage Awards), George Olney (Saturday Night Fever, Fiddler on the Roof), Alexzandra Sarimiento (Hamilton, Strictly Ballroom) and Jaime Tait (Motown, Beautiful).

Now featuring additional new songs and material EUROBEAT – The Pride of Europe has been delighting audiences since its 2008 West End run, this is the latest iteration to join the Eurobeat canon, which (much like its real-life counterpart) is continuously evolving, adapting and reflecting current times. After Moldova and Bosnia & Herzegovina, it is now Liechtenstein’s turn to crown this year’s Eurobeat champion. Take a trip to this tiny Alpine nation for some hilarious new songs, and some old favourites. 

This loving send-up is bound to delight any fan of Europe’s largest television event! A live stream of power ballads galore, outrageous dance routines, key-changes, drag queens, a sprinkle of politics and the drama of crowning a winner! Eurobeat: The Pride of Europe is a celebration of an ever more diverse continent that sure loves to party. A song contest which reflects quirky, colourful and camp Europe, where even the smallest can come out and make it big!

EUROBEAT – The Pride of Europe has a book, music and lyrics by Craig Christie, is directed by Max Bex Roberts, choreographed by Callum Tempest and the musical supervisor is Adrian Kirk.

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.

stream.theatre is a joint venture between ROYO and BROADWAY ON DEMAND to combine expertise in streaming technology, theatre producing and rights licensing to create the world’s first digital venue. stream.theatre provides theatres, producers and artists all of the tools they need to deliver streamed productions to their audiences and generate revenues. It provides the STAGE with an integrated video player, specifically conditioned for streaming arts programming, the BOX OFFICE with a secure payment system, the CUSTOMER SERVICE with a live chat facility to an experienced team, integrated CAPTIONING to make performances more accessible, GEO-FENCING and TICKET CAPACITY LIMITS to protect authors, and VIDEO CAPTURE with a 4k capture solution as well as live vision mixing, live streaming technology and all equipment necessary for a multiple camera shoot.

stream.theatre makes streaming possible for productions of any scale and has hosted, captured and partnered on over 600 events since launching in September 2020. From West End and Broadway musicals to high profile awards ceremonies, intimate concerts to Off-West-End fringe productions – streaming is now accessible for everybody.

AKRAM KHAN’S JUNGLE BOOK REIMAGINED

TO PREMIERE AT CURVE IN APRIL 2022

Akram Khan Company and Leicester’s Curve Theatre are pleased to announce that AKRAM KHAN’S JUNGLE BOOK REIMAGINED, the choreographer’s brand-new work – a deeply personal interpretation based on the original story by Rudyard Kipling with an original score, will have its world premiere at Curve from 2 – 9 April 2022. Tickets will go on sale in the coming months.

A stellar creative team will be working on this reimagining of Jungle Book directed and choreographed by Akram Khan. Written by Tariq Jordan, with dramaturgy by Sharon Clark, and a music contribution by Anoushka Shankhar, this new work will be performed by an ensemble of ten dancers. With lighting by Michael Hulls, visual stage design by Tom Scutt, animation by Naaman Azhari, projection by Yeast Culture, and with the insight of film director Andy Serkis, the visual technology will turn the stage into a magical world that dives into the myths of today.

At 10 years of age, Akram Khan played Mowgli in Akademi’s Indian dance production The Adventures of Mowgli. Decades after this pivotal moment, Khan wants to reunite with this well-known and familiar story from another perspective, and to embrace it with a new sense of urgency, through the lens of today’s children – those who will inherit our world and become our future storytellers.

Embedded in the roots of Jungle Book is the deep threat that mankind poses towards nature. Khan and his team reimagine the journey of Mowgli through the eyes of a refugee caught in a world devastated by the impact of climate change. They will tell the story of how this child will help us to listen again, not to our voices but to the voices of the natural world that we, the modern world, try to silence. JUNGLE BOOK REIMAGINED will speak to all generations as a step to remind, to relearn, to reimagine a new world together.

Akram Khan said, “The Jungle Book’s story has always been close to me. Not only because I had inhabited the role of Mowgli in an Indian dance production as a young boy, but more because of the three deep lessons it held within it, that I have since carried with me all my life – the lessons of commonality between species, the binding interdependence between humans, animals and nature and, finally, a sense of family and our need to belong.

We are now living in unprecedented and uncertain times, not only for our species but for all species on this planet. And the root cause of this conundrum is because we have forgotten our connection to our home, our planet. We all inhabit it, we all take from it, and we all build on it, but we have forgotten to return our respect for it. So I believe that we must make changes from the grass roots up if we are to see a brighter future. And so I feel compelled to share the story – lovingly known as The Jungle Book – with children and adults from all cultures, in order to re-learn what we, as a species, have so conveniently forgotten. And I believe that the strongest and deepest way to tell this story is through the magic of dance, music and theatre.”

Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said:

“It is always a joy to welcome Curve Associate Artist Akram Khan back to Leicester. Over the years, Akram and his company have created unforgettable and truly life enriching theatre, which stirs the souls of all who have experienced it.

“Akram’s interpretation of The Jungle Book comes at a vitally important time for humanity, when we can no longer ignore our relationship to our natural environment. Taking Kipling’s iconic story, Akram will create a new work which is visually arresting, proudly moving and invite us all to think about our planet in a different way.

“Akram has assembled a stunning team – with songs from Anoushka Shankhar and a script by Tariq Jordan – this promises to be a remarkable theatrical event. We are intensely proud to be co-producing Akram Khan’s Jungle Book Reimagined and working alongside such an astonishingly accomplished group of world-class artists.” 

Internationally acclaimed Steinway Artist announces live shows in London 

DOMINIC FERRIS: PIANO PLAYER TO THE STARS 

Monday 31st May and Tuesday 8th June 2021 

The internationally acclaimed pianist Dominic Ferris will give his first post-lockdown live performances at London’s Crazy Coqs on Monday 31st May and Tuesday 8th June 2021 at 7pm. Dominic’s show, Piano Player To The Stars will feature a wide variety of his musical influences including George Gershwin, Billy Joel and Elton John, with some surprises along the way. Dominic’s return to Crazy Coqs will also feature music and stories from recent recording projects including his collaboration last year with Dame Shirley Bassey.  

Tickets are on sale from the Box Office, with standard admission £25. Book online: www.brasseriezedel.com, by phone: 020 7734 4888 or in person (booking fees may apply). Running time: 60 minutes (no interval).  

Dominic studied piano performance at the Royal College of Music and he has since built an international reputation as a live performer and regular recording artist. He has performed on and provided orchestrations for eight UK top ten albums since 2015. Recent recording collaborations include Dame Shirley Bassey, Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Jonathan Antoine and the symphonic albums of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and The Beach Boys with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded at Abbey Road Studios and selling over 3 million albums worldwide. Dominic joined the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra as assistant musical director and pianist for the Elvis Presley: If I Can Dream UK arena tour and Memphis Symphony Orchestra for the USA anniversary tour, with a performance at Graceland with Priscilla Presley for the Elvis 40th Anniversary Celebrations. 

Dominic is one half of the internationally acclaimed piano duo The Piano Brothers who have become recognised as one of today’s most adventurous, cutting edge duos. In 2019 they appeared as special guests with the BBC Concert Orchestra on BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night.  

Dominic is also one half of musical theatre double act Ferris & Milnes. The duo have become known for their mashup medleys including 33 Sondheim Numbers in 5 Minutes, which they premiered at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in Stephen Sondheim’s 85th Birthday Gala. They performed their debut West End show at Ambassadors Theatre and premiered 30 Gershwin Numbers in Under 6 Minutes, at the Lincoln Center in New York. 

Last year, Dominic collaborated with Martin Milnes and BBC Radio 2 producer Anthony Cherry to produce We’ll Meet Again 2020 – featuring the late Dame Vera Lynn and stars of the West End including Alfie Boe, Maria Friedman and Sharon D Clarke – as a morale-boosting music video in honour of the theatre industry.  

LISTINGS 

Performance: Dominic Ferris: Piano Player to the Stars 

Venue: Live at Zédel, 20 Sherwood St, Soho, London W1F 7ED (nearest underground: Piccadilly Circus) 

Dates: Monday 31st May and Tuesday 8th June 2021 

Time: 7pm 

Running time: 60 minutes (no interval). Late-comers will be admitted at a suitable point during the performance.  

Ticket price: £25 standard admission 

Box Office: www.brasseriezedel.com, phone: 020 7734 4888 or in person (booking fees may apply). 

West End Stage Summer School returns this August to celebrate its 15th anniversary

West End Stage, the ultimate week-long theatre summer school for 8 – 21 year olds, is delighted to reopen their doors in time to celebrate the 15th anniversary this year, following last year’s postponement due to Covid regulations.

Based in the heart of London, West End Stage brings together young people from far and wide through their shared love of performing. All tutors are West End performers who lead an exciting mix of drama, singing and dance classes, grouped according to age and ability. Young performers are challenged, supported and encouraged, with the highlight of the week being their very own West End debut. There are also masterclasses with industry professionals teaching skills such as stage combat, makeup and acting for television. Students also head into London’s West End’s bright lights as they enjoy one of its exciting productions, followed by a cast Q&A. Students build their confidence, learn new skills, make friends for life and have fun!

Course Principle, Mark Puddle, said: “Following the Government’s announcement that all restrictions are due to be lifted by the end of June, we are delighted to confirm that West End Stage will be back, bigger and better than ever this summer. As a thank you to everyone that books a place on the summer school before Wednesday 31 March, we will be providing a full day of FREE online musical theatre masterclasses this Easter! Since the company was founded, over 14,000 students aged 8 – 21 have attended our summer schools. Throughout the pandemic, we are proud to say West End Stage managed to remain partially open continuing to provide student experiences, engaging content and over 40 free masterclasses via online platforms and virtual rehearsal rooms. But there is nothing like the excitement of the first day of one of our summer schools and I can’t wait to hear the buzz of our students and welcome back our brilliant team of over 60 freelance artists, tutors and chaperones.”

West End Stage takes place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, one of the world’s top drama schools with state-of-the-art studios, theatres and concert halls. The one-week summer school runs from 9 – 15, 16 – 22 and 23 – 29 August 2021, with the option for students to book chaperoned accommodation. All necessary Covid precautions and government guidelines will be in place to ensure that activities are as safe as possible. If government measures force the cancellation of the summer school, bookers will have the option to transfer their place to August 2022 or receive a full refund.

For more information about West End Stage, or to book, visit https://www.westendstage.com.