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CAMERON MACKINTOSH WITH FIRST NIGHT RECORDS AND WARNER MUSIC

 OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE NEW WEST END CAST RECORDINGS OF

M A R Y  P O P P I N S

AND

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

Cameron Mackintosh with First Night Records and Warner Music today (9 October 2020) officially announce the new live cast recordings of the hit West End productions of Mary Poppins and Les Misérables – The Staged Concert.  Both are now available to pre-order at the links below with Mary Poppins releasing on 6 November 2020 and Les Misérables – The Staged Concert on 20 November 2020. 

https://marypoppins.lnk.to/2020LiveCastRecording

https://LesMiserables.lnk.to/TheStagedConcert

In addition, also released today with the album pre-orders, are the instant-grat tracks A Spoonful of Sugar with Zizi Strallen, Joseph Millson, Amy Griffiths, Adelaide Barham and Gabriel Payne and Step In Time with Charlie Stemp, Zizi Strallen, Adelaide Barham, Gabriel Payne for Mary Poppins and Valjean’s Soliloquy with Alfie Boe and Stars with Michael Ball for Les Misérables – The Staged Concert

M A R Y  P O P P I N S

THE DEFINITIVE SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC 2020 CAST RECORDING

LIVE AT THE PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE

www.Marypoppinsonstage.co.uk, @MaryPoppins, #MaryPoppins

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins returned to its original home in the Prince Edward Theatre last October marking the first time this new production had been seen in London.  The production is currently nominated for six Olivier Awards including Best Musical Revival. 

The original music and lyrics are by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman which include the classic songs Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Feed the Birds and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  New songs and additional music are by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.  Book is by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes and the production is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh.  The producer for Disney Theatrical Productions is Thomas Schumacher.

Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the original Walt Disney film, the adult cast on this new cast recording comprises Zizi Strallen in the title role, Charlie Stemp as Bert, Joseph Millson as George Banks, Petula Clark as the Bird Woman, Amy Griffiths as Winifred Banks, Claire Moore as Miss Andrew, Claire Machin as Mrs Brill, Jack North as Robertson Ay and Paul F Monaghan as Bank Chairman and Admiral Boom. 

Mary Poppins has orchestrations by William David Brohn with dance and vocal arrangements by George Stiles. It has a new sound design by Paul Gatehouse and new lighting by Hugh Vanstone and Natasha Katz. Co-choreography is by Stephen Mear. The reimagined set and costume designs are by Bob Crowley. Co-direction and choreography is by Matthew Bourne and direction by Richard Eyre.

Mary Poppins has orchestrations by William David Brohn with dance and vocal arrangements by George Stiles. It has a new sound design by Paul Gatehouse and new lighting by Hugh Vanstone and Natasha Katz. Co-choreography is by Stephen Mear. The reimagined set and costume designs are by Bob Crowley. Co-direction and choreography is by Matthew Bourne and direction by Richard Eyre.

This first ever staged version of Mary Poppins originally opened in the West End in December 2004, running for over 1,250 performances.  During this time, the production won two Olivier Awards and an Evening Standard Award.  The Tony Award®-winning Broadway production ran for over six years and a subsequent new production of the show, adapted from the original, has enjoyed international record-breaking runs.  Mary Poppins continues to fly around the world spreading her magic to many countries globally.  The recent acclaimed London revival, whose terrific cast is featured on this live album, has proved the most successful production yet and hopes to return to the West End next spring.

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

THE SENSATIONAL 2020 LIVE RECORDING

LIVE FROM THE GIELGUD THEATRE, LONDON

www.Lesmis.com, @lesmisofficial, #LesMiz

Recorded live at the Gielgud Theatre last year with an all-star cast including Michael Ball as Javert, Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Carrie Hope Fletcher as Fantine, Matt Lucas as Thénardier, Rob Houchen as Marius, Bradley Jaden as Enjolras, Katy Secombe as Madame Thénardier, Shan Ako as Éponine and Lily Kerhoas as Cosette and an orchestra of over 65. The much celebrated Les Misérables score includes I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Stars, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear the People Sing?, One Day More, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Master Of The House and many more.

The DVD of the Les Misérables – The Staged Concert will be available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082VSRXX4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8tSFFbKRQGW6H from 2 November 2020.  Earlier this year for every digital download purchased The Mackintosh Foundation separately donated £5.00 which was shared amongst the charities, Acting for Others, the Musicians Union Coronavirus Hardship Fund and Captain Tom Moore’s Walk for the NHS fund.  Mackintosh also donated a further £100,000 from his Foundation to help launch the fundraising initiatives for those charities. In July this year he donated £100,000 to the Theatre Artists Fund.

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 original Cameron Mackintosh/RSC 1985 production of Les Misérables played at the Barbican and Palace Theatres before continuing its record-breaking run at the Queen’s Theatre.  In July 2019 Mackintosh closed the original production and Queen’s Theatre which was totally re-built with a spectacular new auditorium.  It re-opened after four month’s work as the Sondheim Theatre with the new version of Les Misérables which opened to stunning reviews last January and hopes to return to the West End next Spring. 

During the four-month closure Mackintosh mounted a four-month sell-out season of Les Misérables – The Staged Concert with this cast next door at the Gielgud. 

Produced on stage by Cameron Mackintosh, Les Misérables is the longest running musical in the world, having run over 35 years and been performed in 52 countries and 22 languages and won over 100 international awards. The combined audience for the show and the Academy Award winning film is 120 million people. The film is one of the 10 biggest movie musical box office successes of all time.

2020 CHRISTMAS AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM

P A N T O L A N D   A T   T H E   P A L L A D I U M

JULIAN CLARY LEADS AN ALL STAR CAST IN A CELEBRATION OF PANTO STARRING

ASHLEY BANJO & DIVERSITY, PAUL ZERDIN, NIGEL HAVERS, GARY WILMOT,
CHARLIE STEMP, JAC YARROW AND SPECIAL GUEST BEVERLEY KNIGHT

FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED THREE-WEEK RUN

PUBLIC BOOKING OPENS TODAY AT 10AM

www.palladiumpantomime.com

Qdos Entertainment and LW Theatres have today (9 October 2020) announced that this Christmas Julian Clary will take us on a magical trip to Pantoland at The Palladium.  Performances will begin at the world-famous theatre on 12 December 2020 running until 3 January 2021, with tickets on sale from 10am today.

The London Palladium, the home of pantomime, will welcome back panto favourites Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Gary Wilmot, as well as past stars Ashley Banjo & Diversity and Charlie Stemp. Making their debut will be West End sensations Beverley Knight and Jac Yarrow.

Returning for a fifth consecutive year, The London Palladium pantomime has become an essential part of Christmas in the West End, with record-breaking box office success year-after-year. Pantoland at The Palladium, devised by Michael Harrison, will be a treasure-trove of The London Palladium panto past and exciting new surprises written especially for the show, guaranteeing an unmissable treat for panto and musical theatre fans alike.

Celebrating the very best of pantomime, with comedy in abundance, this star-filled extravaganza will play to a socially-distanced audience. The show will feature the work of Olivier Award-Winning Team director Michael Harrison, choreographer Karen Bruce, set designer Ian Westbrook, costume designer Hugh Durrant, lighting designer Ben Cracknell, sound designer Gareth Owen and composer and orchestrator Gary Hind.

The production at The Palladium has been made possible as a result of a creative initiative announced by The National Lottery today which it hopes will enable hundreds of thousands of theatregoers to enjoy socially distanced pantomime this Christmas in theatres across the nation. The initiative will see The National Lottery buy seats that need to remain empty to enable social-distancing, complying with relevant government and public health guidance. By making it viable for theatres to open their doors to the general public, up to 250,000 tickets are expected to be available, with more than 20,000 free tickets available for National Lottery players and the rest to go on sale. This will generate vital income for theatres and help restore jobs – while providing much-needed cheer for panto lovers at Christmas.      

Pantoland at The Palladium is the first of a number of productions at theatres across the country to be announced, with further venues to be confirmed in the coming weeks. 

Director and Producer Michael Harrison said:

”Pantoland at The Palladium promises to be a spectacular and exciting celebration of this wonderful art form that has been so devastated and decimated by COVID-19.

There is no doubt producing a show of this size and scale is a risk – but it is a risk we have to take. This is not a long term fix, nor a solution to the tragic situation our industry is in, it simply provides a sticking plaster on a very big theatrical wound as we hopefully prepare for full openings in 2021.

As well as bringing our wonderful audiences back, we want to play our part in the rehabilitation of London’s vibrant West End. The production is made possible by the sheer goodwill, determination and courage of so many people – thanks to them over 200 people will now have jobs over Christmas.”

Chairman of Qdos Entertainment, Nick Thomas added:

“I’m delighted that Qdos Entertainment is able to return to The London Palladium this Christmas. Having produced more than 750 pantomimes across the UK over the past 37 years, it would have been unthinkable for us to have a Christmas without the magic of panto. Thanks to our partnership with The London Palladium we are able to give tens of thousands of theatregoers the opportunity to enjoy some very much needed theatrical magic with their families this Christmas.”

Andrew Lloyd Webber said:

“Christmas 2020 needs a Pantomime, and this one at The London Palladium has never meant so much to our industry and our audiences. LW Theatres operates as a not-for-profit and we are delighted that The National Lottery’s support will enable Qdos Entertainment and Producer/Director Michael Harrison to stage this socially distanced production at The London Palladium, alongside many others across the nation.

Opening Pantoland at The Palladium will provide crucial support to struggling restaurants, hotels and other hospitality businesses across the West End, leading to thousands of vital jobs on stage, off stage and backstage.  

Since theatres were closed in March, we have spent considerable time, effort and money, making The London Palladium Covid-secure. Using all our knowledge and experiences from around the world, we ran a pilot at The London Palladium for Public Health England and the government to demonstrate that theatres can be a safe environment for our audiences.

By next Spring, our major productions across London’s beloved West End must – and will – be back. I sincerely hope that this pantomime brings a moment of much-needed festive cheer as we continue to fight for the revival of our wonderful and vital theatre industry.”

Chief Executive of LW Theatres, Rebecca Kane Burton said:

“After months of uncertainty, it is nothing short of a miracle that we shall, after all, be staging a panto at The London Palladium. We have worked tirelessly since our first pilot event in July to demonstrate that we can operate The London Palladium safely.

We have all the measures in place to ensure people feel safe, confident and, most importantly, excited to be back with us. Since our first shows in September, we have been blown away by the responses of our audiences. I can’t wait to see the panto lovers back with us for the joyful tradition of pantomime at The London Palladium.”

The London Palladium is an official government pilot venue, working to demonstrate that theatres can open and operate fully within the current coronavirus and social distancing guidance. Performances of Pantoland at The Palladium will run in accordance with a wide suite of health and safety measures (including reconfiguration of seating across the venue and the mandatory wearing of face coverings) that keep audiences, staff and crews safe.

Pantoland at The Palladium is produced by Michael Harrison and Nick Thomas for Qdos Entertainment. As the world’s biggest pantomime producer, over the past 38 years Qdos Entertainment has established itself as one of the largest entertainment companies in Europe. Over the past three decades the pantomime giant has staged 754 pantomimes.

BALLO ARTHUR PITA’S THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL TRANSFERS TO SADLER’S WELLS MAIN STAGE FOR CHRISTMAS 

THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL

Directed & Choreographed by Arthur Pita

Sadler’s Wells Theatre, LondonThursday 17 – Sunday 27 December 2020

Ballo Arthur Pita is delighted to announce today that The Little Match Girl, directed and choreographed by award-winning Arthur Pita, will return to Sadler’s Wells this Christmas, following five hugely successful festive seasons at the Lilian Baylis Studio. The Little Match Girl will be staged on Sadler’s Wells main stage, playing 16 performances from Thursday 17 to Sunday 27 December 2020. Tickets go on public sale at 10am on 15 October.

Arthur Pita says: “It’s been an absolute joy to see The Little Match Girl grow into becoming a festive family favourite since first being performed in 2013. We are fortunate that a smaller scale production like ours can transfer from the 180-seat Lilian Baylis Studio to the larger scale 1550-seat Sadler’s Wells Theatre which has the space required for social distancing. We are thrilled that Sadler’s Wells are opening their doors this Christmas and we can’t wait to welcome audiences to see our show performed on the main stage. It is especially meaningful to us that The Little Match Girl can light her flame during these exceptional times.”

Audience capacity at Sadler’s Wells Theatre has been reduced to comply with Covid-19 Secure guidelines for social distancing. In order to help artists, audiences and staff members to feel safe and enjoy these performances, Sadler’s Wells has introduced a series of new safety measures and are closely following all UK Government guidance. Ticket bookers will be sent full information about all coronavirus safety measures in advance of the performance, so that they may plan accordingly and feel as secure as possible during their visit. If performances are unable to be presented due to changes to UK Government coronavirus restrictions, customers will be contacted as soon as possible and given the option to receive a full refund. 

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story, The Little Match Girl presents a timeless fable about kindness and helping others. This tale of a young street girl’s hopes and dreams is told through dance, song and Frank Moon’s original atmospheric music performed live on stage. 

A snowy stage sets the scene for an icy cold Christmas Eve in an imaginary Italian town, where an impoverished little match girl wanders the ever-darkening streets with just one final match to keep her warm. Homeless and hungry, she sees a vision of her beloved grandmother who guides her up into the night sky and takes her to the moon. Now, on a clear night, if you look closely, you might see the light of a shooting star, or is it a match burning brightly?

The Little Match Girl premiered at DanceEast in November 2013 and has since toured the UK and internationally. This will be the production’s sixth Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells. 

The Little Match Girl is choreographed and directed by Arthur Pita, with music composed by Frank Moon and set and costume designs by Yann Seabra. The 2020 production reunites long-standing cast members Corey Claire Annand,Karl Fagerlund Brekke, Valentina Golfieri (Associate Director), Ashley Morgan-Davies, Faith Prendergast and Angelo Smimmo. Music is performed live on stage by Frank Moon.

The Little Match Girl is produced by Ballo Arthur Pita, originally commissioned by DanceEast and supported by Arts Council England.

KILN THEATRE AND MOUNTVIEW ANNOUNCE

SCHOLARSHIP PARTNERSHIP

Kiln Theatre and Mountview today announce a new joint scholarship that will provide access for a talented Theatre Production and Scenic Arts participant from Kiln Theatre’s Production Arts training programme. The scholarship is aimed at young people from backgrounds underrepresented in our industry. The inaugural recipient is Mikayla Moxam, who has been awarded a full two-year scholarship to study Scenic Art and Prop Making.

Kiln Theatre’s ‘Act One Beginners’ Production Arts Course took place in May – August 2019 and covered an introduction to theatre lighting, sound and stage management, resulting in some participants being offered summer work placements at the Edinburgh Fringe and White Light Ltd; this scholarship follows Mountview’s and other organisations’ workshops and mentorships as part of the wider course. It provided invaluable hands-on opportunities to young people aged 16-25 interested in starting a backstage career, and the two institutions are now collaborating to award Mikayla a fully-funded place at Mountview. This year’s scholarship covers all tuition fees, alongside an additionalcontribution towards living expenses from a private donor.

Receiving her scholarship, Mikayla Moxam said, “I feel that Mountview is an environment I will thrive in and I am excited to be around like-minded young people with the same aspirations. I am looking forward to building amazing sets and props to be used in live theatre shows, which is very exciting, and to working alongside industry professionals who I can learn the ropes from and make priceless connections with – who knows who I’ll meet?! Kiln Theatre is a great place for young people who are looking to get into the industry and offers a very judgement-free and supportive safe space to learn and grow as an individual. I owe many thanks to the Kiln, as without doing the Stage Management course last year I would not be on my current journey in technical backstage theatre, and for that I am very grateful. It is a great course that exposed me to careers I would never have come across in school and university.”

Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre Indhu Rubasingham added, “Four years ago Stephen Jameson and I were discussing the routes into backstage careers in theatre and the lack of diversity in both the industry and the students. How could we address this? Stephen kindly offered a scholarship to a young person we could identify at Kiln; we obviously leapt at this opportunity.  Thanks to the brilliant generosity of a private donor we were able to introduce a number of young people to backstage areas in Lighting, Sound, Design and Stage Management. I am really proud of what we have been able to achieve in our debut year of Production Arts and hope that the programme will continue to contribute to, and encourage, better representation behind the scenes for future generations of theatremakers.”

Mountview’s Artistic Director and Principal Stephen Jameson commented, “We are so excited to welcome Mikayla, and can’t wait to see what incredible work she will do as a creative practitioner.”

Executive Director Sarah Preece added “Mountview is committed to making drama training accessible to everyone, and this new joint scholarship with Kiln Theatre is a brilliant chance to give talented Production and Scenic Arts students a start in the industry.”

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

LONE FLYER – THE LAST FLIGHT OF AMY JOHNSON

HANNAH EDWARDS AND BENEDICT SALTER TO STAR IN SECOND SOCIALLY DISTANCED SHOW AT THE WATERMILL THEATRE

THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER

BOOK ONLINE AT WATERMILL.ORG.UK OR VIA THE BOX OFFICE ON 01635 46044

Casting has been announced for LONE FLYER – THE LAST FLIGHT OF AMY JOHNSON at Newbury’s The Watermill Theatre – the second in the autumn season of work featuring shows with smaller cast sizes, reduced capacity inside the auditorium and socially distanced seating.

Hannah Edwards (most recently seen in the West End as ‘Myrtle Wilson’ in the Immersive Great Gatsby) will play ‘Amy Johnson’ and Benedict Salter (whose previous Watermill credits include The Importance of Being Earnest and A Little Night Music) will support her, playing a series of other roles. Directed by Watermill Associate Lucy Betts, Ade Morris’ powerful play about one of the most inspirational women of the twentieth century was first staged at the Watermill in 2001.

LONE FLYER – THE LAST FLIGHT OF AMY JOHNSON will play from Thursday 22 October to Saturday 21 November.

Lucy Betts said, “I’m delighted to be back at The Watermill directing Lone Flyer. We explore the life of a young woman overcoming the constraints placed upon her to achieve extraordinary things. Amy Johnson’s story of hope and adventure is a joy to tell at this unusual and unpredictable time.”

To ensure the safety of all, strict social distancing measures have been implemented, and this includes significantly reducing the number of audience members that can be welcomed in the theatre at any one time. The auditorium has been reconfigured to allow for social distancing between audience members. Seating bubbles will be able to accommodate groups of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, with all seats in a bubble purchased in one transaction. Social distancing between bubbles will be observed in the auditorium. Audience members will be required to wear face masks. There are hand sanitiser stations, a one-way system for accessing the toilets and signage to indicate routes and procedures. To enhance audience safety, a fogging machine will be used to regularly sanitise all public areas at The Watermill, and to avoid recirculating air in the auditorium, the theatre will be heated before audience members arrive and then fresh air will be continuously fed through the theatre during performances.

The Watermill Theatre will be operating in accordance with government guidance at the time of the performance and will be constantly reviewing and adapting to the government’s guidelines. In the event that a show is unable to go ahead i.e. because of a local lockdown for example, patrons will be contacted as soon as possible via email or phone and offered a transfer or a refund for their tickets.

Created by Grande Exhibitions, Van Gogh Alive is a digital art experience using stunning projections, classical music and scent gives you the unique opportunity to step on to the Hippodrome’s main stage and truly venture into Van Gogh’s world.

The Hippodrome has been transformed for the new experience and it marks the first time the venue has been open to the public since March.

Van Gogh Alive is now open until 31 December and tickets can be booked at https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/van-gogh-alive-the-experience/

THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER, AS STRICTLY

ANNOUNCES NEW TOURS FOR 2021 & 2022

Strictly Come Dancing fans are in for a FAB-U-LOUS treat once live entertainment venues re-open, as over the next 18 months there will be not one, not two, but THREE incredible live Strictly shows touring the UK to keep the country dancing

2022 will see the return of the magnificent Strictly Come Dancing Live Arena Tour. Kicking off in Birmingham on 20 January 2022, a host of the celebs and professional dancers from the BBC One TV series will waltz around the country performing 33 shows in some of the UK’s biggest arenas in Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow, Nottingham and London. As a result of Covid-19 restrictions – and to keep everyone safe – the 2021 arena tour will not go ahead, but tickets for the 2022 arena tour will be available this year and will go on general sale at 10.00am on Friday 16 October at strictlycomedancinglive.com.

For those with itchy feet who just can’t wait until 2022 to see their favourite Strictly stars hit the dance floor, Summer 2021 will see two stunning productions touring the country, featuring an array of magnificent Strictly professional dancers and some very special guests.

Following the huge success of the 2019 tour, Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals will return with another amazing line-up. This month-long tour will open on 7 May at the Brighton Centre and then play London, Liverpool, Nottingham, Birmingham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Plym-outh, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Salford, Hull, Sheffield, Glasgow, Blackpool and Newcastle, before finishing on 4 June in Edinburgh.

The show will feature a stunning line-up of pro dancers full of glitz and glamour: Australian Open Champion and 2018 finalist Dianne Buswell; two-time Ballroom and Latin World Champion Nadiya Bychkova; Italian Latin Champion Graziano Di Prima; Professional World Mambo Champion and former Strictly finalist Karen Hauer; 2017 Strictly Champion Katya Jones; un-defeated four-time British National Champion Neil Jones; 2017 Strictly finalist Gorka Marquez; four-time Italian Dance Championship winner Luba Mushtuk, two-time Strictly Come Dancing South Africa finalist Johannes Radebe and Dancing With The Stars Ireland professional dancer Kai Widdrington. Tickets are on sale now from strictlytheprofessionals.com.

2021 will also see a brand-new show from the Strictly Come Dancing family touring the UK – Strictly Presents: The Power of Dance. Featuring the spectacular professional dancers Janette Manrara, Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden and Neil Jones, together with two special guest stars who will be announced soon.

Directed and choreographed by former Strictly professional dancer Trent Whiddon and his wife and dance partner Gordana Grandosek, this tour will give each of these incredible performers the opportunity to tell something of what it is to be a dancer via stunning choreography and beautiful storytelling. This tour will open in June next year, with tickets going on sale on Friday 23 October. The tour schedule and Box Office information will be announced very soon.

David Hendon’s critically acclaimed play exploring early onset dementia 

Banana Crabtree Simon 

starring CJ de Mooi and directed by Dan Phillips 

will play The Back Room of the Star Inn, Guildford 

from Thursday 12 – Saturday 14 November 2020 

David Hendon’s critically acclaimed one-man play Banana Crabtree Simon, exploring one man’s struggle with early onset dementia and the way it affects those around him, will play the Back Room of the Star Inn, Quarry Street, Guildford from Thursday 12 – Saturday 14 November 2020.  

Directed by Dan Phillips and starring CJ de Mooi as Alan, this emotional and honest piece of theatre is based on a subject that touches so many lives. 

CJ de Mooi, whose previous acting credits include The Lonely Walk Home, The Taming of the Shrew, The Renata Road, International Stud, Safe Sex and On Tidy Endings, said: “As I was reading David Hendon’s script for Banana Crabtree Simon, it was clear he had written something unique. I was so excited to be cast as Alan but also nervous because of the immense responsibility! Guildford has always been very special to me so I’m delighted to bring this play, the best I’ve ever performed in, to the wonderful Fringe.” 

Banana Crabtree Simon is written by renowned playwright and snooker commentator David Hendon (The D-List, Eyes to the Wind, Home Time), a finalist in the Kenneth Branagh Drama Writing Awards. It was first performed at the Drayton Arms in March 2018, receiving 5-star reviews and Offie Award (Off West End Theatre Award) nominations for Best New Play and Best Actor. This is a rare chance to catch the production again.  

The play is directed by Dan Phillips whose previous credits include Jekyll and Hyde (German tour), The View from Nowhere (The Park Theatre, London), April in Paris (The English Theatre, Hamburg), Something Something Lazarus (The King’s Head Theatre, London) and Safe Sex/On Tidy Endings (Tristan Bates Theatre, London). 

The Back Room of the Star Inn will be operating at a reduced capacity to allow for social distancing measures, and face coverings will be mandatory. For full details of health and safety measures in place, visit the Guildford Fringe website (www.GuildfordFringe.com).  

To book tickets for Banana Crabtree Simon, call the Box Office on 01483 361101 or visit the Guildford Fringe website https://www.guildfordfringe.com/events-archive/banana-crabtree-simon/. Performance time: 8pm. Tickets: £15. Running time: approx. 1 hour (no interval).  

ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES ADDED

DAVID HARE’S

B E A T   T H E   D E V I L

PERFORMED BY RALPH FIENNES

AND

INUA ELLAMS’ AND FUEL’S

A N   E V E N I N G   W I T H   A N   I M M I G R A N T

PLUS VISITS OF THREE ALAN BENNETT

T A L K I N G   H E A D S 

TO SHEFFIELD THEATRES AND LEEDS PLAYHOUSE

As part of the current season of one-person plays, The Bridge is presenting the now sell-out runs of David Hare’s Beat the Devil and Inua Ellams’ and Fuel’s production of An Evening with an Immigrant.  Today additional performances will go on sale for both as the season is extended to 7 November 2020.  Next month two of Alan Bennett’ Talking Heads – Imelda Staunton in A Lady of Letters and Maxine Peake in Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet – will visit Sheffield Theatres and Leeds Playhouse.  In addition, Rochenda Sandall will perform Outside Dog also at Leeds Playhouse.

The Bridge’s programme beyond 7 November 2020 will be announced shortly.

BEAT THE DEVIL

Ralph Fiennes made his Bridge Theatre debut performing David Hare’s Beat the Devil, a new play written as a response to the author’s experience of contracting coronavirus.  Nicholas Hytner directs with designs by Bunny Christie, lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Gareth Fry and music by George Fenton. 

On the same day that the UK government finally made the first of two decisive interventions that led to a conspicuously late lockdown, David Hare contracted Covid-19. Nobody seemed to know much about it then, and many doctors are not altogether sure they know much more today. Suffering a pageant of apparently random symptoms, Hare recalls the delirium of his illness, which mix with fear, dream, honest medicine and dishonest politics to create a monologue – performed at The Bridge by Ralph Fiennes – of furious urgency and power.

AN EVENING WITH AN IMMIGRANT

Inua Ellams’ and Fuel’s production of An Evening with an Immigrant is written and performed by Ellams, also making his Bridge Theatre debut, with music selection by DJ Sid Mercutio. 

Born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother in what is now considered by many to be Boko Haram territory, Inua Ellams left Nigeria for England in 1996 aged 12, moved to Ireland for three years, before returning to London and starting work as a writer and graphic designer. Littered with poems, Born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother in what is now considered by many to be Boko Haram territory, Inua Ellams left Nigeria for England in 1996 aged 12, moved to Ireland for three years, before returning to London and starting work as a writer and graphic designer. Littered with poems, stories and anecdotes, Ellams will tell his ridiculous, fantastic, poignant immigrant-story of escaping fundamentalist Islam, directing an arts festival at his college in Dublin, performing solo shows at the National Theatre and drinking wine with the Queen of England, all the while without a country to belong to or place to call home. 

TALKING HEADS

Following the television broadcast in June this year and the current run at the Bridge Theatre, two of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads monologues, performed in a double bill, will play at Sheffield Theatres (9-11 November 2020) and Leeds Playhouse (12-14 November 2020).  In addition, on 7 November 2020 Rochenda Sandall will perform Outside Dog also at Leeds Playhouse.

Imelda Staunton will perform A Lady of Letters directed by Jonathan Kent and Maxine Peake will perform Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet directed by Sarah Frankcom.  The original Bridge Theatre productions were designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Jon Clark, video designs by Luke Halls, sound by Gareth Fry and music by George Fenton.

The Bridge re-opened last month with a capacity of 250 seats and thorough safety measures presenting a season of one-person plays in repertory.  Eight of the actors (Monica Dolan, Tamsin Greig, Lesley Manville, Lucian Msamati, Maxine Peake, Rochenda Sandall, Kristin Scott Thomas and Imelda Staunton) from the series of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads which the London Theatre Company made for BBC One this summer reprised their performances on The Bridge stage. 

For the performances at the Bridge and in Sheffield and Leeds Alan Bennett has generously waived his royalties. 

Earlier this summer, he and the actors, directors, producers and senior crew of the new BBC1 series of Talking Heads donated their fees to NHS Charities Together – generating over £1m that will be used to support NHS staff, volunteers and patients as they continue to tackle the Covid crisis and its aftermath.

Three one-person plays – An Evening with an Immigrant, Quarter Life Crisis and Nine Lives – from Inua Ellams, Yolanda Mercy and Zodwa Nyoni run alongside them, the first two played by their authors, the third by Lladel Bryant. 

CARLY MERCEDES DYER JOINS THE TOURING CAST OF SIX THE MUSICAL
PLUS BRAND NEW DATES ANNOUNCED FOR JANUARY 2021
AT MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON

The international smash hit musical SIX by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, today announces Carly Mercedes Dyer will be crowned the new Jane Seymour in the touring cast of SIX, joining the production at The Lowry on 27 November 2020. Additionally, SIX today announces brand new tour dates for January 2021 at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.
Playing for two weeks from 20th to 31st January 2021 with socially distanced seating, tickets go on public sale from 10am, Tuesday 13 October.

Carly Mercedes Dyer recently starred as Anita in the Leicester Curve production of West Side Story and Henri in The View Upstairs at Soho Theatre. Her many other musical theatre credits include: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Colchester and Southwark Playhouse), Fate in Hadestown (National Theatre), Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre original cast), The Lorax (Old Vic Theatre), Memphis (Shaftesbury Theatre original cast), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Royal Festival Hall), Rock of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre and Garrick Theatre original cast), Dirty Dancing (Aldwych Theatre) and Chicago (Cambridge Theatre).

SIX producers Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes and George Stiles say, ‘We are delighted to welcome Carly into the SIX family while at the same time thanking Lauren Byrne for her wonderful service to the show and we wish her well in the future. We are so pleased to be following our Christmas run at the Lowry with a fortnight at the Mayflower.
And we also look forward to bringing SIX back to Southampton in August, hopefully without social distancing.’

Audience capacity at Mayflower Theatre has been reduced from over 2200 to approximately 950 seats (depending on the booking number in each party), to comply with Covid-19 Secure guidelines allowing socially distanced spaces in between household parties in the auditorium. Safe measures will also be in place including enhanced cleaning,
hand sanitation, face coverings and track and trace. Other measures will include contactless tickets and temperature testing.

SIX has become a global phenomenon since its early days as a student production at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Nominated for five Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, SIX won the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical at the Whatsonstage Awards and performed on the results show of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. As the pandemic struck, SIX was playing to sold out houses in London’s West End, on tour across the UK and Australia, and had its opening night in New York on Thursday March 12 cancelled when the New York Governor shut down Broadway three hours before the show was due to open. SIX will be the first West End musical to resume performances post lockdown, moving from the Arts Theatre to the larger Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue for a limited 11-week run from 14th November to 31st January 2021. The touring production will restart at The Lyric Theatre at The Lowry in Salford, opening on 27th November and playing through to 10th January 2021.

SIX will return to Mayflower Theatre for its scheduled week in August 2021, subject to government guidelines.

The touring cast includes: Lauren Drew (Catherine of Aragon), Maddison Bulleyment (Anne Boleyn), Carly Mercedes Dyer (Jane Seymour), Shekinah McFarlane (Anna of Cleves), Jodie Steele (Katherine Howard) and Athena Collins (Catherine Parr), with Alternates Jennifer Caldwell, Cassandra Lee and Harriet Watson. The Queens are backed by the show’s all female band The Ladies in Waiting.

SIX is co-directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, featuring choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, set design by Emma Bailey, costume design by Gabriella Slade, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, lighting design by Tim Deiling, orchestrations by Tom Curran with music supervision and vocal arrangements by Joe Beighton. Associate Choreographer Freya Sands and casting by Pearson Casting. SIX is produced by Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes and George Stiles.