STATEMENT FROM SONIA FRIEDMAN, PRODUCER OF THE COMEBACK
“Following the devastating announcement that London will be entering Tier 3 on Wednesday 16th Dec, THE COMEBACK performances from Wednesday 16th Dec onwards have been postponed.
Having installed extensive safety measures at the theatre, for the last week of previews we have been welcoming delighted audiences to the Noel Coward Theatre to enjoy this brilliant, funny and heart-warming show. They have left the theatre uplifted, energized and reminded about the power of theatre and the vital role it can play in the mental well-being of the community.
To have that so abruptly, cruelly and illogically ripped away is heart-breaking. Not just for those audiences but also for the entire company of performers, creatives, stage crew and other freelancers who for so long have been without work. They all now face yet more uncertainty and pain.
But let me be clear –The Comeback WILL be back. It is our intention to resume THE COMEBACK performances as soon as government restrictions allow. Once the new dates have been finalised, the box office will automatically transfer ticket holders’ booking and ticket(s) across to the closest equivalent performance within the limited run; and will contact patrons with all the new details. If ticket holders are unable to attend the new date, they are advised to contact their point of purchase who will provide further assistance.
The new dates will be confirmed in the coming weeks. For now, I would like to recognise our entire team for their ongoing support. And, of course, especially our audiences, for your continued commitment to both our production and to our great British theatre.
London going into Tier Three is yet another blow for British theatre – one it simply cannot afford after a brutal year, and one that both could and should have been avoided.
All the effort and energy, not to even mention the expense, of re-opening shows safely has once again been undercut by a decision that will devastate our industry and its freelance workforce – many of whom have still not received any government support and now face a further loss of employment. All this despite not a single case of infection being linked to a theatre anywhere in the country.
Theatres and producers, who have collectively lost over £1 billion in revenue since March, now face millions of pounds of additional losses and continued uncertainty for the coming months, destroying confidence in the sector that we have worked so hard to rebuild. Commercial producers – the sector’s biggest employers and largest economic contributors – have received just 0.8% of the £1.57 billion Cultural Recovery Fund.
This latest closure under Tier 3 underlines – unequivocally – the urgent need for a government-backed insurance scheme, as already provided to film and television, for meaningful compensation to mitigate impending losses incurred by productions forced to close, and for targeted support for freelance workers unable to take advantage of the furlough scheme.
This feels like a final straw: proof that this government does not understand theatre and the existential crisis it is facing. Its short-sightedness is starting to look like serial mismanagement.”
A Christmas adventure has not stopped for the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in partnership with the Macrobert Arts Centre as 30 minutes of family fun as they help save Christmas.
Written by Russell Beard and Elizabeth Newman we meet Two elves, Barbara Hockaday as Lari and Ali Watt as Hari who have lost the North Star, after using it for a game of football with Prancer, Dancer and Vixen. As they search for the missing star, through 12 doors, cue song! They are helped by the wonderful Clare Grogan as Mrs Claus with an ancient spell. After entering another magical door, they meet up with Santa as Colin McCredie, where they use the ancient spell and saves Christmas.
With bright colours, over-the-top performing, songs with actions and themes including truth it does remind me of watching children’s television, but as an almost 50 year old I was drawn into this wondrous land and children will love it.
Following the announcement that London will be moving into Tier 3, Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan responds:
It is a disaster for London’s theatres that the capital and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire will move into Tier 3. Theatres have worked incredibly hard to create safe environments for audiences and through no fault of their own will now face enormous financial losses. They have done so at great risk as it is currently impossible to secure production insurance. The tiers system means more uncertainty and risk for months to come unless there is a government backed insurance scheme for theatre production like there is currently for film and television. 2020 has been a catastrophic year for theatre and today’s announcement has compounded that.
Please find below a statement from Julian Bird, Chief Executive of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, following the Government announcement that London will enter Tier 3 of Covid restrictions from Wednesday 16 December: ‘Today’s Government announcement placing London in Tier 3 from Wednesday is devastating news for the city’s world-leading theatre industry. The past few days have seen venues beginning to reopen with high levels of Covid security, welcoming back enthusiastic, socially distanced audiences. Theatres across London will now be forced to postpone or cancel planned performances, causing catastrophic financial difficulties for venues, producers and thousands of industry workers – especially the freelancers who make up 70% of the theatre workforce. We urge Government to recognise the huge strain this has placed on the sector and look at rapid compensation to protect theatres and their staff over Christmas in all areas of the country under Tier 3 restrictions.’
A celebration of the creativity and vibrancy of Crawley in a free festival of spoken word, dance, photography, film, DJing and a live talk with Grace Saif from13 Reasons Why
Taking place in a shop in County Mall, the Museum, online and on the streets of Crawley, this two-day festival will showcase the talent and creativity of the town in more than 20 events.
From DJing on doorsteps to audio tours, to storytelling for toddlers and sing-a-long for people with dementia, from writing to photography to a light sculpture installation, the festival represents and caters to the diverse talents and tastes of the community, as well as curious audiences from elsewhere in the online programme.
Curated by Crawley born-and-raised Louise Blackwell and West Sussex artist Sinead Emery, the festival is split into four sections:
Happenings: events happening all over town, including 12 new light sculptures, a stunning visual art window display entirely made of donated objects, an audio tour with recorded stories about local people’s favourite walks, a history of the music of Crawley and live streamed poetry and music.
Workshops: interactive sessions for people of all ages, from storytelling for toddlers, creative writing for mums of young children and sing-a-longs for people with dementia
Talks & Film: young people including Crawley Community Youth Services and Manor Green College have created films to be shown online, and creatives of Crawley including actress Grace Saif (Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why) and drag queen Seb Livingstone will talk about what inspires them and how they got into a career in the arts.
In Your Home: live music streamed direct to your home from Songbirds Virtual Choir and Dormans Youth Arts Centre, and DJing taking place across at least ten different streets in the town. There will also be a recipe of the day to follow along with, and the Crawley Camera Club share their 2020 images.
Speaking about the festival, participating artist Sarah Maple said “Crawley has especially taken a hit during 2020 so I am really excited to have this festival as something to lift our spirits and get our creativity flowing. We have a lot of community spirit and talent here and I can’t wait to see it shine!”
Katie Gledhill, Principal Librarian – “We know that Crawley has been really hard hit by the pandemic and so the positive investment in the town, that Creative Crawley and the Right Here Festival represent, feels urgent, hopeful and very welcome.”
Vicki Illingworth, Principal, Crawley College and Creative Crawley advisory group member “The Right Here Festival is an exciting and innovative showcase of arts and culture across Crawley. There are so many creative, skilled and talented groups and individuals in our community, Creative Crawley is passionate about showcasing breadth and depth of artistry and opening imaginative opportunities to engage more people. The programme is vibrant and dynamic – we’re looking forward to January!”
Creative Crawley is a grouping of local stakeholders who aim to place creativity at the heart of Crawley. The town has faced significant challenges in 2020, in part because of its links to the fortunes of the airline industry; the festival will celebrate the spirit and resilience of its people, connecting local organisations such as libraries, youth groups and shops to benefit the wider community.
Fully Booked: Recommended book of the day by Crawley Library 29 & 30 Jan, all day
TALK | Online
Tune in to hear a book recommendation from Crawley library.
People’s Pathways by LPK Learning, Sinéad Emery & Gaz Tomlinson 29& 30Jan, all day
HAPPENING | Audio trail, different locations in Crawley
Local people have recorded stories about their favourite walks in Crawley since March 2020. Download the stories and listen to them on your own walk, at your leisure.
Lockdown Looking Glass by LPK Learning, Crawley Museum & Rachel Cowell
29& 30Jan 10am – 7pm
HAPPENING | Art exhibition, County Mall shop
Local people have donated objects and visual artist Rachel Cowell has made them into a stunning visual art exhibition in a shop window to remember the things that remind us of lockdown.
Awakening by Same Sky 29& 30Jan 10am – 7pm
HAPPENING | Light sculpture exhibition, County Mall shop
Crawley favourites Same Sky commissioned artists to produce12 new light sculptures that represent their lives since March 2020 and they will be on display in a shop window.
Capturing Lockdown by LPK Learning, Woodard Photography, Crawley Museum and Sinead Emery 29& 30Jan, 3pm – 8pm
HAPPENING | Photography projections on buildings in Crawley
Photos taken by local people since March 2020 will appear on different buildings in Crawley – can you find them?
Cultural Kitchen: Recipe of the Day by Diverse Crawley 29& 30Jan, all day
IN YOUR HOME | Online (recorded)
Join local residents as they share their cultural recipes with you online including recipes from Poland, Nigeria, Portugal and England.
2020 Photography by Crawley Camera Club 29& 30Jan, all day
IN YOUR HOME | Online (recorded)
An online exhibition of images taken and individually selected by members of Crawley Camera Club in 2020.
Songbirds Virtual Choir 29& 30Jan, all day
IN YOUR HOME | Online (recorded)
Songbirds all female choir haven’t been able to meet in person for a while, but since March they have worked together online. Tune in to listen to their songs.
Music in Crawley & Crawley Writers’ Circle 29& 30Jan, 10.30am – 4pm
HAPPENING | Exhibition, Crawley Museum
An exhibition celebrating the history of music in Crawleyplus a 24 page booklet of prose and poetry written by members of Crawley Writer’s Circle in 2020.
29th January
Creative Café by Culture Shift & Crawley College 29Jan, 9.30am
WORKSHOP | Online (live)
A workshop for Crawley College students about how to enter the creative industries featuring local successful creative professionals.
Baby Rhyme Time by Crawley Library 29Jan, 10.30am
WORKSHOP | Online (recorded)
Sing a long workshop for babies, toddlers and their parents from Crawley library.
Story Magic: What Am I? by Crawley Library 29Jan, 11am
WORKSHOP | Online (recorded)
Aimed at children with additional needs, this is a sensory Storytime from Crawley library.
We Are Manor Green College by Manor Green College and Carousel 29Jan, 1.45pm
FILM | Online (recorded and live)
A short film showcasing life in a special school during an extraordinary year celebrating the talent and abilities of the students.
Crawley Creatives talk by Annie Bowden from The Posh Club 29Jan, 4pm
TALK | Online (live)
Annie is co-founder of The Posh Club which was invented in Crawley for her Mum who was in her 80s and feeling a bit lonely
Crawley Creatives talk by Sebastian Livingstone 29Jan, 4.30pm
TALK | Online (live)
Sebastian, or as he’s known around Crawley – Sebrina is a twenty three year old drag queen who has resided in Crawley for twenty two years. He’s been dressing and performing as a drag queen for three years. Crawley has a small, but rich and vibrant queer scene which he hopes to draw more attention to. It’s an important part of his art, and of his character… and who doesn’t love a sickening pair of heels?
Crawley Creatives talk by Grace Saif 29 Jan, 5pm
TALK / online (live)
Grace Saif is an actress, best known for her role as Ani Achola in Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, She was born and raised in Crawley. Trained at RADA she’s tipped as a rising star.
No Need to Hug to Share the Love by CCYS 29Jan, 6pm
FILM | Online
A film sharing the creativity of young people who work with Crawley Community Youth Services.
Doorstep DJs, by Tons of Sound & local DJs 29Jan, 7pm
IN YOUR HOME | Music, ten streets in Crawley
A 20 minute DJ set on your doorstep in ten streets around Crawley.
30th January
Melody for the Mind by Crawley Library 30Jan, 11am
WORKSHOP | Online (recorded)
Sing-a-long with Crawley library for those living with dementia.
Writing around the kids by Anna Jefferson and New Writing South 30Jan, 11am
WORKSHOP | Online (live)
A creative writing workshop for mothers with young children.
Dance Hub TV Watch Party, local dance schools and Dance Hub TV 30Jan, 4pm
FILM | Online (recorded and live)
Tune in to witness short films made by local dance schools since March 2020.
Lockdown Made Me…by Woodzy and Sinead Emery 30Jan, throughout the day
HAPPENING | Performance, venue TBC
Teenagers have written spoken word poetry about their experience of lockdown with professional spoken word poet Woodzy which will be performed in a location in Crawley passersby.
Festival Finale: Live Bands from Dormans Youth Arts Centre 30Jan, 7.30pm
IN YOUR HOME | Music, online (live)
A live streamed gig showcasing local pop and rock bands. Spoken word poetry and world music from young people and adults from Crawley.
Funded by Arts Council England, Crawley Festival, Sussex Community Foundation, Crawley Town Centre BID, Crawley Borough Council
BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS ANNOUNCED FOR CHRISTMAS 2021 AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
WORLD PREMIERE TOUR DIRECTED BY AWARD-WINNING THEATRE-MAKERS CANDICE EDMUNDS AND JAMIE HARRISON
The world premiere tour of Disney’s exciting new stage musical, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, will be ‘bobbing along’ to Leeds Grand Theatre in 2021 for a five-week Christmas run from Wednesday 8 December to Sunday 9 January 2022.
With songs by the legendary Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, The Aristocats), including Portobello Road, The Age Of Not Believing, The Beautiful Briny, and a new book, music and lyrics by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill; Bedknobs and Broomsticks will be brought to life by award-winning theatre-makers Jamie Harrison (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) and Candice Edmunds.
Based on the books The Magic Bedknob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons (1943) and Bonfires and Broomsticks (1947) by English children’s author Mary Norton, and subsequently the 1971 Academy Award-winning film starring Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson, Bedknobs and Broomsticks tells the story of three orphaned children reluctantly evacuated from London to live with the mysterious Eglantine Price, a trainee witch!
The news of the tour follows the announcement that MAMMA MIA! will also make a welcome return to The Grand in 2023, following this year’s cancelled run due Covid-19.
In a year that has seen the arts and culture sector suffer exponentially because of the pandemic, it is the first time in The Grand’s 142-year history (bar refurbishment in 2005-6) that the venue will be closed at Christmas. Ordinarily at this time of year, the theatre would be playing host to resident company, Northern Ballet, and a major West End production; welcoming 1000s of patrons through its door.
As a result of closure and inability to generate earned revenue through ticket and secondary sales, the theatre is asking patrons, if financially possible, to help support its long-term survival by donating to its ‘Keep a seat warm this Christmas’ campaign, purchasing tickets to future shows or buying memberships, gift vouchers and merchandise.
Chris Blythe, CEO, said: “I know it is a huge ask, especially at Christmas, but I also know how much The Grand means to the people of Leeds and wider region. The support and generosity of our patrons this year has been overwhelming – both financially and emotionally. It is abundantly clear that arts and culture are needed now more than ever to help boost people’s mental health and build community through shared experience as we all try to find some escapism from our day-to-day and ongoing concerns for our futures.”
Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Wednesday 8 December 2021 to Sunday 9 January 2022
MAMMA MIA! is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 4 April to Saturday 15 April 2023
Book online at leedsheritagetheatres.com or call Box Office on 0113 243 0808
To support Leeds Heritage Theatres this Christmas, go to leedsheritagetheatres.com.
NATIONAL LOTTERY PLAYERS TO GET FREE TICKETS TO NEW VICTORIA THEATRE’S PANTO THIS CHRISTMAS
HUNDREDS OF TICKETS UP FOR GRABS TO THANK PLAYERS ACROSS SURREY FOR RAISING £30 MILLON EACH WEEK
Hundreds of National Lottery players will have the chance to go to their local panto for free this Christmas as a thank you for raising £30 million each week for Good Causes across the UK, helping support projects at the forefront of the coronavirus pandemic.
With 1,200 tickets up for grabs, players will have the chance to take their household or support bubble to a once in a lifetime production of Robin Hood at New Victoria Theatre, Woking, helping them enjoy some much-needed magic and festive cheer with their families this Christmas.
Starring Craig Revel Horwood, Matt Slick, Richard Cadell & Sooty and many more, this year’s specially created, one-act production will open on Friday 18 December. To take up the offer, National Lottery Players will need to visit the exclusive link and select the performance of their choice. Tickets will be available on a first come first served basis from 4pm on 11 – 18 December 2020 and players will need to present a valid National Lottery product alongside their pantomime tickets when attending the theatre. For full terms and conditions, please click here.
This year, thanks to National Lottery players, up to £800M is being used by charities and organisations affected by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak across the communities, the arts, heritage and sport. This includes up to £400M in funding support from the National Lottery Community Fund which is being used to help groups best placed to support people and communities through the crisis – from helping support food banks to causes that combat loneliness and isolation, support for the elderly and projects that aid health in the community.
Thanks to support from The National Lottery, Woking audiences will once again enjoy the magic and festive cheer the New Victoria Theatre’s annual pantomime brings to thousands of theatregoers every Christmas. The initiative between The National Lottery and Qdos Entertainment, which is providing financial support for New Victoria Theatre, Woking and nine other theatres across the country, will allow them to stage this year’s socially distanced, live production of Robin Hood and continue the venue’s lengthy pantomime history.
Robin Hood will be packed full of comedy routines, audience-safe participation and all the unmissable magic that Woking audiences have come to expect from their annual festive pantomime. The New Victoria Theatre auditorium will be fully-reconfigured to allow for social distancing between audience parties, with staggered entry times and entry checks for all audience members to ensure their safety at all times.
Simon Thomsett, Theatre Director at New Victoria Theatre, Woking said:
“I’m so pleased to announce that we’ll be teaming up with The National Lottery, giving their players the opportunity to see Robin Hood at our fabulous theatre for free this Christmas. National Lottery players make a huge contribution and this is a thank you for the £30m they raise each week, helping support projects at the forefront of the coronavirus pandemic.
This past year has been a huge challenge for us and the entire arts industry, and we are incredibly grateful to The National Lottery for their support. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to put on this brilliant show and bring festive entertainment back to the people of Woking. We cannot wait to finally be able to bring some joy back into people’s lives”
AND CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PANTO HIT CINDERELLA: THE SOCIALLY DISTANCED BALL WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE TO BE STREAMED FROM WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER TO FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2021
The Turbine Theatre’s Artistic Director, Paul Taylor-Mills, announces the exciting and diverse new musical selection for this year’s MTFestUK 2021. The line-up includes: Far From Heaven, #50days, TONY! (A Tony Blair Rock Opera), The Man In the Ceiling, Millennials, HouseFire, Cake and Daisy.
A celebration of new musical theatre, MTFestUK 2021 runs from 1– 13 February and sets out to promote quality artistry with a view to showcasing and elevating projects to full production, giving audiences an insight into the process of creating new work and the art of collaboration. Paul Taylor-Mills launched the inaugural MTFestUK season at The Other Palace in 2019, followed by a 2020 season in February this year, at The Turbine Theatre.
A huge mix of exciting creative talent is involved including Tasha Taylor-Johnson, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, Drew McConie, Caroline Kay, Matt White, Thabo Stuck, Harry Hill, Scott Frankel and Poppy Burton Morgan.
Casting will be announced in due course for all productions.
Paul Taylor-Mills, Artistic Director, Turbine Theatre said “It’s impossible to ignore the challenges and sheer nerve required to make any kind of announcement during these times. With all that in mind, I couldn’t be prouder to be associated with The Turbine Theatre and everything that it stands for, particularly with regard to investing in and generating new work. It’s fair to say that MTFestUK 2021 is going to be our most diverse to date and I’m thrilled to be presenting musicals from first time writers, alongside Tony and Olivier award winning artists. It’s the range of talent involved, and each individual musical’s journey so far that makes MTFestUK such a unique and supportive environment. A place where artists are able to create and play with musical concepts. We were inundated with submissions and the quality and passion to get new work on is alive and kicking both in the UK and beyond. I’m proud that The Turbine Theatre is able to give writers and composers across the world the space to develop their work.
Additionally, The Turbine Theatre’s first pantomime, Cinderella: The Socially Distanced Ball, will be available to stream online from Wednesday 16 December until Friday 1 January 2021. It will cost just £12.50 to stream the production from www.turbinetheatre.com
MTFESTUK 2021 MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS
FAR FROM HEAVEN
1/2/3 February 2021
Book by Richard Greenberg
Music by Scott Frankel
Lyrics by Michael Korie
Directed by Matthew White
Based on the Focus Features/Vulcan Productions motion picture written & directed by Todd Haynes.
Cathy Whitaker seems to be the picture-perfect wife and mother in 1957 suburban Connecticut. But roiling beneath the surface, secret longings and forbidden desires cause her world to unravel, with incendiary consequences.
With a score that is both jazz-inflected and hauntingly lyrical, Far From Heaven is a powerful story of romance, betrayal, and intolerance, as a woman grapples with her identity in a society on the verge of upheaval.
Richard Greenberg is an American playwright and television writer known for his subversively humorous depictions of middle-class American life. He has had more than 25 plays premiere on and off-Broadway and eight at the South Coast Repertory Theater. He is perhaps best known for his 2003 Tony Award winning play Take Me Out. The play premiered in London and also ran in New York.
Scott Frankel worked as a music director, conductor and pianist on and off-Broadway. He then became a musical theatre composer, notably through collaborations with lyricist/librettist Michael Korie. Their musical Grey Gardens premiered Off Broadway in 2006 before transferring to Broadway. Frankel received a Tony Award nomination as well as the ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award and The Frederick Loewe Award for Dramatic Composition.
Michael Korie is an America librettist and lyricist whose writing for musical theatre and opera includes the musicals Grey Gardens and Far From Heaven, and the operas Harvey Milk and The Grapes of Wrath. His works have been produced on Broadway, Off Broadway and internationally. His lyrics have been nominated for the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award, and won the Outer Critics Circle Award.
#50DAYS
1/2/3 February 2021
Created and written by Thabo Stuck
Musical Supervisor Duramaney Kamara
Directed by Ajjaz Awad
#50days is a Grime Musical which tells the story of the period when the very foundations of England were shattered. It is December 1641 and King Charles is about to be formally challenged by a handful of MPs and radical commoners, who share the belief that ALL men are born equal. Many in England, now a Protestant country, are enraged by the notion that the French-born Catholic Queen Henrietta and King Charles are ruling over them. One of these critics is John Pym, a Member of Parliament and prominent opponent of Kingship, who issues a challenge to the King’s power. In a world ruled by men, who are the women in this story? What are they fighting for? Through propaganda and shrewd political manoeuvring, the nation is about to be plunged head first into a conflict that pitted neighbour against neighbour and shattered the very core of our constitution.
#50days creator Thabo Stuck, challenges the notion of how history is discoursed.
“This is an interpretation of British history told through the eyes of underrepresented Brits today.”
#50days is Thabo Stuck’s debut musical. Thabo is an historian, a history teacher at The BRIT School, currently the Lambeth Baylis Trustee at The Old Vic Theatre and a Grime/UK Hip-Hop enthusiast. A lifelong Lambeth resident, Thabo has watched Grime grow from the underground into the mainstream. A big believer in multi-sensory storytelling, #50days is Thabo Stuck’s vision of how events from the past can be discoursed in the now.
Ajjaz Awad-Ibrahim trained as an actor at RADA and ALRA and during her training she was awarded The Laurence Olivier Award Bursary. Since graduating, her recent theatre credits include: Zorro: The Musical (The Hope Mill Theatre), How Not To Drown (Traverse Theatre) and Another Star to Steer by (Brighton Dome). She has also recently appeared as Sian Evans in Holby City and various characters in Big Finish Productionsof Dr Who. In recent years she has turned her hand to writing and directing, having just completed The Tamasha’s Playwrights Group and The Royal Court’s Playwrights Group, she had her first scratch of a play at The Soho Theatre: Mixed Feelings, which has recently been longlisted for The ETPEP Award. As a director, she was the Assistant on Parallel:Yerma at The Young Vic and was the recipient of The RTYDS Award for the production of Good Dog with Tiata Fahodzi. Her most recent directorial role was for the production of Race Today at The Bernie Grant Arts Centre and Crossing Wires at Theatre503.
A reckless reappraisal of the life of former Bad Rumours front man and Britain’s first pop Prime MinisterTony Blair.
The story of how one man went from peace loving, long haired hippy and would-be pop star to warmongering multimillionaire in just a couple of decades.
An hilarious tragedy of political intrigue, religion, power and romance that plays fast and loose with the facts, owing as much to Citizen Kane as it does to The Marx Brothers – Karl and Groucho.
Throw in a cast of larger-than-life characters – Cherie Blair, Princess Diana, John Prescott, Peter Mandelson, Alistair Campbell, Osama Bin Laden, George W Bush, Saddam Hussein, Gordon Brown and of course that dodgy dossier.
All set to rockin’ tunes.
Harry Hill has won numerous awards for his stand-up comedy and TV Shows, including 3 BAFTAs in a career that has spanned almost 30 years. He also wrote ‘I Can’t Sing!’ The X Factor Musical with his friend Steve Brown.
Steve Brown is acomposer, lyricist, arranger & record producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in British TV, radio and theatre for over 35 years.
His theatre credits include Spend, Spend, Spend!, It’s A Wonderful Life, I Can’t Sing and Magic Goes Wrong, television credits include The Goes Wrong Show, This Time With Alan Partridge (BBC), Spitting Image, SM;TV, Dead Ringers, New Tricks, My Parents Are Aliens, Not Going Out and countless others.
The records he has produced include Seasons of my Soul by Rumer for Atlantic, MOBO winner LAURA MVULA and Sing to the Moon for RCA.
Steve has had a long term working friendship with Harry Hill completing several UK tours and providing all music on ITV Burp, The All New Harry Hill Show (ITV), Alien Fun Capsule and Teatime for SKY. He also composed the songs/score on Harry Hill The Movie.
THE MAN IN THE CEILING
4/5/6 February 2021
Music and Lyrics Andrew Lippa Book Jules Feiffer
12-year old Jimmy Jibbett would rather be a successful cartoonist than be in 7th grade. His father disapproves. His mother is busy. His uncle tries to understand but is too wrapped up trying to write a love song for his next flop musical. Where can Jimmy turn for inspiration and hope? Maybe THE MAN IN THE CEILING can lead him to his true destiny…If only Jimmy would look up!
A collaboration between Jules Feiffer, the Pulitzer-Prize-winning cartoonist and celebrated author, and Tony-nominated composer-lyricist Andrew Lippa, The Main In The Ceiling is an uplifting tale about following your creative passion against all odds.
Andrew Lippa is a composer, lyricist, singer, actor, conductor, and record producer. His “Unbreakable” had its world premiere with The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus in June 2018 with 300 artists on stage, including himself. In May of 2018, he conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a new production of his and Brian Crawley’s A Little Princess in concert at the Royal Festival Hall to a sold-out crowd of nearly 3,000 people. His hit song “Evil Like Me” appears in Disney’s Descendants. Written for Kristin Chenoweth, the soundtrack hit #1 on the “Billboard 200” album chart, #1 on the iTunes and Billboard soundtrack charts and “Evil Like Me” was certified gold in 2017. He has conducted celebrated pianist Lang Lang and the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in the world premiere of a commissioned symphonic work for piano, soprano, tenor, children’s chorus, and orchestra. His epic oratorio for men’s chorus, orchestra and soloists, has seen over 30 productions including Disney Hall and Lincoln Center. Lippa’s newest musical, The Man in the Ceiling, based on Jules Feiffer’s book (and co-written with Feiffer) released a world premiere studio album in May of 2019. His obsession with Netflix’s Tiger King yielded two songs/videos in April, 2020 and, for a while, got his mind off the pandemic.
Broadway credits include: music and lyrics for Big Fish; the Tony®-nominated music and lyrics for the Broadway musical The Addams Family directed by Jerry Zaks, as well as the music for Aaron Sorkin’s Broadway play The Farnsworth Invention directed by Des McAnuff. Other musicals include the Drama Desk award-winning musical The Wild Party (book/music/lyrics); John & Jen (music/book); Asphalt Beach (music and lyrics); Life of the Party (a compendium of Lippa’s works/Menier Chocolate Factory); and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (additional music/lyrics and arrangements).
Awards include Tony® and Grammy® nominations; shared Emmy for Nickelodeon’s The Wonder Pets; SFGMC Vanguard Award; The Drama Desk Award; The Outer Critics Circle Award. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Lippa serves as president of the board of The Dramatists Guild Foundation www.dgf.org
MILLENNIALS turns up the microphone on the lives, the losses and the frustrations of young people in the modern world. A generation that is so often defined by tabloid headlines, tweets and of course, avocados, pick up the mic and transport us inside their extraordinarily ordinary lives. Written and composed by Elliot Clay, this powerful and uplifting collection of songs runs the gamut of modern pop-music and sends musical theatre hurtling into the 21st Century.
Elliot Clay is an award-nominated composer, lyricist and actor for musicals, plays and film. He wrote and starred in his debut musical ‘The State of Things‘ (Jack Studio Theatre) and has performed on the West End and UK/International Tours (Million Dollar Quartet, Peter Pan, Oliver!, The Wizard of OZ).
“I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is.” – Greta Thunberg 2019
A trio of endangered animals form a rock band to protest against the climate crisis. Leo, the snow leopard lead singer, rages against the annihilation of their world, Ginger the Orangutan, on keys, has her own tale to tell about the traumas of deforestation, while Alan the elephant is keeping time on the drums. But their newly rebranded group ‘HouseFire’ is under threat from their corporate manager getting them to pander to the very capitalist system they want to destabilize. Entering Britain’s Got Talent is a great way to reach more people with their message, but it puts a strain on their already fractious relationships, and is it all just too little too late… Fierce, frenetic and fun – this gig-theatre musical will set your world on fire.
P Burton-Morgan is a Writer and Director working across musical theatre, plays and opera. Musical Theatre writing credits include Cold Front (MT Fest 2020), In The Willows (Exeter Northcott and UK tour) for which they won the WGGB award for musical theatre book writing 2020, Little Mermaid (Theatre By the Lake & UK tour) and Blown Away (Exeter Northcott and UK tour). Other musicals in development include Great Expectations (National Theatre Studio), and The Rhythmics (The Other Palace). Their plays include Wondr (Edinburgh Festival) and Jungle Book (Windsor Theatre Royal, UK & International tour). They have directed over 40 productions to date including Mouthful (Trafalgar Studios), Cosi fan tutte (New Theatre, Oxford), Arab Nights (Soho Theatre and UK tour), Comedy of Errors (Exeter Northcott), As You Like It (Wirksworth Festival) and Gotcha (Riverside Studios). They are the founder and Artistic Director of the mid-scale touring company Metta Theatre, established in 2005.
CAKE
11/12/13 February
Music and Lyrics by Jack McManus and Tasha Taylor-Johnson
Book and Lyric by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm
Director Drew McOnie
Cake* combines rap and RnB with 18th century France to retell a story that sparked a revolution. When Marie Antoinette married King Louis, her reputation was already tarnished by gossip. But when she is implicated in a crime to defraud the crown jewellers of a diamond necklace, it is not just her reputation at stake, but the monarchy and France itself.
Morgan Lloyd Malcolm was commissioned by The Globe to write Emilia which became a sell out in summer 2018 and transferred to the West End at the Vaudeville theatre in 2019. It won three Olivier awards in 2020 including for Best Comedy or Entertainment. Previous theatre includes Belongings and The Wasp and she has current theatre commissions with Headlong, Lyric Hammersmith, Royal Court and Cleanbreak. She is also adapting her play The Wasp into a screenplay for Paradise City Films.
Jack McManus is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter and producer. Once signed to Polydor as an artist, Jack evolved into a sought after writer showing his versatility by penning hits across all Pop, M.O.R. and Dance domains. He has had success with a wide variety of artists including The Chainsmokers, Afrojack, Boyzone, The Wanted, The Shires, Shirley Bassey, Martine McCutcheon and more recently Michael Ball & Alfie Boe (including a song on their latest number one album). Jack is thoroughly enjoying his journey writing for Musical Theatre and it is something he is hugely passionate about and hopes to do a lot more of in the future.
Tasha Taylor-Johnson is a composer, lyricist, writer & performer. She’s been tipped as ‘one to watch’, Sunday Times, and her work has been described as ‘different, fresh and original’ by Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer the Opera).
She was awarded the prestigious Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer position at Leicester Curve in 2017 & continues as an Associate Artist there.
Recent theatre credits include Spring Awakening’ (The Young Vic), ‘Giraffes Can’t Dance’, (Curve) ’Cat in the Hat’ (UK tour/ Curve),‘The Wheel’ (Guildhall),’Cotton Fingers’ (National Theatre Wales), ‘Woman & Scarecrow’ (RADA), ’Memoirs of an Asian Casual’ (Curve), The Crucible’ (Curve), ’George’ s Marvellous Medicine’ (Curve), ‘To You’ (National Youth Ballet & Drew McOnie). For TV & film her credits include Dance with Me’ (The Old Vic) ’Rinderland’ (Channel 4), & ’Clean as You Like’, (Amazon) and Wearing Thin’ (Short – 2021.)
Her collaborations with the McOnie Company include:‘Good Morning Midnight’ (Jermyn Street Theatre), ’A Ballet, with Love’(The Royal Albert Hall) & ‘Shine’ (Sadlers Wells).
She releases her own electronic music under the alias Siren Red.
* Cake was commissioned by Paul Taylor-Mills whilst he was Artistic Director of The Other Palace where it appeared under its former title; Killer Queen.
DAISY
11/12/13 February
Book, Music and Lyrics by Caroline Kay
Director Séimí Campbell
This story explores several forms of loss, challenges the resilience of a family, and celebrates the healing-power of storytelling. After waking from a coma with no memory of life before her accident, a young woman must try to move on knowing little more than her name: Daisy.
Her enduring passion for writing finds her escaping into the world of stories she creates in her notebook, but this coping mechanism still leaves Daisy feeling as though she can only move forward if she regains memories from her past. She never considers that perhaps some of the memories she’s so desperate to unlock might be even more difficult to accept than her new life without them. What begins as a story of personal struggle soon becomes a family’s shared experience of hardship, loss, and love.
Caroline Kay is a Dublin-born singer-songwriter who graduated with a Masters in Musical Theatre Performance from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She has performed in musicals, concerts, studio album recordings, workshops, and is also passionate about creating her own work. Caroline’s first original EP, Notes, went straight to #1 in the Irish iTunes Album Charts upon release in 2017, and her second EP, tricks , followed suit in 2019. After producing her own solo gig, Notes & Other Stuff, in Dublin, Cork, London and New York City, she went on to do a number of other solo gigs in London in places like Live at Zedel and The Other Palace.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, Caroline paired up (virtually) with West End Star, David Hunter, and together they wrote, recorded, and produced a Musical Short, The Space Between, which is available to watch on YouTube, and available as an EP on all music platforms to download or stream
Caroline hopes to see her original musical, Daisy, fully staged in London in the near future, and her long-term goal for the show it to have it on a Dublin stage where the show is set.
Séimí Campbell is an Irish theatre director, based in London. Graduating from Trinity College Dublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, he then studied in the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Ferenc Academy, Hungary, and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, London. Séimí most recently directed Jason Robert Brown’s SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD at The London Palladium – which transfers to the Vaudeville Theatre in February ‘21.
Other recent directing credits include; Stephen Schwartz’s MY SON PINOCCHIO (Southwark Playhouse), MOZART (Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts), OLIVER! (An Grianan Theatre). Recent assisting credits include COME FROM AWAY (Phoenix Theatre), JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Barbican), AMOUR (Charing Cross), and the upcoming BREAKFAST ON PLUTO (Associate Director; Donmar Warehouse). He is Artistic Director of Irish Youth Musical Theatre (IYMT), and musical theatre coordinator at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
Guildford Fringe Theatre Company regrets it has to reschedule Beauty and the Beast at The Borough Hall, Godalming, to the revised dates of 19 to 31 December 2020
Guildford Fringe Theatre Company regrets it has been forced to reschedule its family pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, at The Borough Hall, Godalming, to the revised dates of 19 to 31 December 2020 (originally due to run 12 to 26 December 2020).
Producer Nick Wyschna said: “Unfortunately one of our company members came in to contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. In order to adhere to the rules and to keep everybody safe, we immediately went into isolation, and that’s where we all are now. Obviously, this is not ideal for anybody, but we are determined not to give up. Our sets, costumes, lights and sound have been fitted up and all of our production costs have now been spent. We really need this show to go ahead. We are grateful that we are able to extend our run to 31 December to cover the cancelled week. Our first priority has always been the safety of our cast and our audience, but our second priority is to bring Christmas pantomime magic to Godalming and that is what we’re going to do. I would like to thank the company, the venue and our audience for their ongoing support during these tricky times, I can’t wait to get our wonderful show opened!”
All shows between 12 December and the 11am and 1pm performance on 19 December have been cancelled. Ticket holders for those shows have been emailed (contact Nick at [email protected] with any queries). The pantomime now runs from 19 December (4pm performance) until 31 December, and there is ticket availability for the new shows. For full details, visit www.GodalmingPanto.com.
The venue will operate at a greatly reduced capacity to allow for social distancing. Face coverings will be mandatory. Group bookings will allow a maximum of 6 people to sit together (no mixing of households within bubbles). The show’s duration will be approx. 1 hour 15 minutes with no interval. For full details of health and safety measures, visit www.GodalmingPanto.com.
The full pantomime cast includes Maria Coyne (Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Singin’ in the Rain) as Beauty with Philip Day (Oliver!, The Mousetrap) as Dame Dominique Derrière, Lily de-la-Haye (CATS, The Phantom of the Opera) as Sybil, Paul Kemble (School of Rock, Top Hat, The Sound of Music) as Monsieur Bertrand, Ben Redfern (Mary Poppins, Billy Elliot, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Potty Pascal and Jordan Wheatstone (The Little Princess, Disney’s Broadway Hits) as the Beast, with Arran Bell and Charlotte Wyschna, who have numerous professional credits, as the ensemble.
Directed by Jo Kirkland, choreographed by Charlotte Wyschna and produced by Nick Wyschna and Charlotte Wyschna for Guildford Fringe, this professional production features spectacular song and dance routines, colourful costumes and lots of fun for the whole family.
The magical “tale as old as time” of Beauty and the Beast tells the story of an arrogant Prince who is turned into a beast as punishment for his vanity. He has only one chance to lift the curse: to find true love before the final petal falls…
To book for Beauty and the Beast, visit www.GodalmingPanto.com or telephone the Box Office on 01483 361101. There is disabled access throughout the venue. The relaxed performance has been moved to 27 December at 4pm. This show will be specifically adapted for those on the autism spectrum, individuals with sensory and communication disorders, those with learning disabilities and anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment. Tickets for this performance have been reduced to £15 and can purchased by calling the Box Office only.
LISTINGS
Show: Beauty and the Beast
Dates: Saturday 19 December (4pm) until 31 December
Times: Varies – matinee and evening performances; see website or call the Box Office
Running Time: 1hr 15 mins (no interval)
Venue address: Godalming Borough Hall, The Burys, Godalming, GU7 1HY
Tickets: £22 (£20 concessions) including booking fees.
Category: Theatre, pantomimes, family shows, professional theatre
Age guidance: suitable for all ages
Access: There is disabled access throughout the venue. On 27 December 2020 at 4pm there will be a relaxed performance specifically adapted for those on the autism spectrum, individuals with sensory and communication disorders, those with learning disabilities and anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment. Tickets for this performance have been reduced to £15 and can purchased by calling the Box Office only.
22 year old South Londoner Ayomide Adegun is currently in his 2nd year of the BA Acting course at Royal Welsh Academy of Music & Drama. His professional credits include The Jumper Factory by Luke Barnes at the Young Vic.
In his application Ayomide said “Acting changed my life, and put me on the straight and narrow, coming from a working class background has benefited me in a sense that it enabled me to have a range of experiences to draw from. I decided to pursue drama school when I was 19 because I wanted to enhance my quality and improve my range and cast-ability, as I was always going up for the typical, rough, offender type character but I see myself as much more than that… The scholarship would mean so much to me because It would mean I could receive advice from industry professionals who are able to guide me and give me an inside view of what the industry is like and what it demands from a modern-day actor… It would also put financial worries behind me to give me the best chance of developing into the best version of myself after graduating.”
Across the board, he received the most votes, with all but one judge selecting him as their first or second pick, which is quite outstanding. The shortlist material provided by Faye Timby was delivered very well by Ayo and he took some brilliant choices in his self-tapes. We feel that as well as being a talented actor, he will benefit strongly from the scholarship, as someone who identifies as coming from a working-class background and someone who will squeeze every little bit out of the scholarship.
Co-founder Liam McLauchlin said, “This year we received 187 applications from 27 different institutions and schools across England, Wales and Scotland. This was a significant increase on last year, over triple the amount of applicants and 15 new institutions and schools. Despite our fears that this year’s scholarship would be hampered by the pandemic, the shortlist was an extremely difficult decision to make – so much so, we ended up adding 2 extra actors because they were so good. This year’s scholarship incredibly important, as the pandemic has ruptured the heart of the theatre and performance industry – meaning the majority of actors at some point this year have lost work. We hope the scholarship highlights how much care we must take to support graduates and actors, and hope we can continue to improve and expand the award for more actors in 2021 and beyond.”
The Luke Westlake Scholarship, formerly known as the JAM Scholarship, is an award designed to provide an actor with artistic and financial support worth over £3,000 in their final year and as they graduate from university or drama school, and begin to navigate their way into the industry. The scholarship was established when the team behind JAM realised many actors were being priced out of their career once they left training.After spending upwards of £30k to learn their craft, actors need to purchase union membership, database subscriptions, materials for marketing themselves, and more; they often work zero hours jobs so they can duck out at short notice to attend auditions and can lack the contacts to get their foot in the door. The acting industry frequently notes the lack of working class talent, but without support it is near impossible to get started. By reaching out to contacts and industry organisations JAM is delighted to build on last year’s inaugural scholarship with yet more partners and prizes, to alleviate the financial and artistic burden andset another graduate up on a stronger footing for their first year in the industry.
Last year’s winner Madison Stock shared what being the recipient of the scholarship has meant to her “I come from a very working class background, and where I’m from not many people are given many good opportunities so getting into ALRA on a full DADA was a dream because without it I wouldn’t be financially stable enough to be there. I was so chuffed when I won the JAM scholarship set up by Liam, Kristian and Kyle. It was the confidence boost I needed in order for me to grab the bull by the horns and say “I’m ready for this industry.” I am so very grateful for the things I’ve received through the scholarship like my headshots, showreel scene, Filmclub membership. And I cannot wait to watch this scholarship grow and grow and help many more young working class actors. I am so grateful for the boys at JAM and I can’t wait to be on this journey with them by my side.”
The panel includedActor Remmie Milner, Casting Director Faye Timby, Industry Minds, Voiceover Coach Guy Michaels and JAM.
The full list of prizes are: 1yr Spotlight membership, 1yr subscription to The Stage, 2 industry advice sessions with Spotlight’s Emma Dyson (Performer Careers Consultant), Full headshot session + edits with Samuel Black Photography, Full showreel package with self-tape.co.uk, First year tax return with Tax for Actors, Full voice reel, 1yr full membership of Voiceover Kickstart’s training and community with Guy Michaels at voice-reel.com, £100.00 voucher at Nick Hern Books, Industry advice meeting with an Agent from Olivia Bell Management, Industry advice meetings with: Casting Associate Faye Timby (The Witcher, Netflix) and Casting Assistants Naomi Downham (National Theatre) and Martin Poile (RSC), 6 JAM Casting Workshops, £500.00 towards accommodation rent (after graduating), 1yr subscription to Spikizi Accent and Dialect App.
All shortlisted performers will also receive: 1-to-1 with Casting Director Emma Sylvester (Doctors, BBC), Group session with 2 agents from 42 Management, Group feedback session with Casting Associate Faye Timby (The Witcher, Netflix).
And all applicants are offered a free online workshop about staying physically and mentally healthy in the industry to all scholarship applicants from BAPAM, a specialist healthcare charity supporting individuals & organisations in the performing arts.
