Park Theatre will stream JURY – a brand-new play by Martin Murphy (Bruised Sky) – via its YouTube channel, premiering on Wednesday 19 August at 7pm, and available until Wednesday 2 September. For 10 weeks during lockdown, Park Theatre Company – Script Class worked together as an online theatre company via Zoom with director Amy Allen to stage the piece, as part of its celebrated Creative Learning Programme that went virtual in May 2020.
Whilst the world grinds to a halt during the Coronavirus pandemic, the beleaguered justice system trials a digital solution aimed at tackling their backlog of court cases. The jury of a high-profile case are logging on to Zoom – and they have just 45 minutes to reach a verdict.
A comedy-drama about the ‘new normal’, a world where we the jury not only discuss the crucial details of when the complimentary sandwiches will be delivered, how to hide your lockdown G&T in a coffee mug, and of course, how to turn your camera on – but also tackle a gripping, complex and polarising case.
An inside look into the bedrooms, offices and living rooms where justice is passionately, vehemently, being served.
Jury will be FREE to view for everyone online, but audiences will have the chance to donate to the theatre’s Park Life Fund, which is currently still heading towards its initial target of £100,000, to help secure the future of the theatre.Jury has also been captioned for Deaf and hard of hearing audiences.
Artistic Director Jez Bond said, “I’m delighted to be sharing this production of Jury, which is a shining example of participation in our creative learning programme by a brilliantly theatrical group. Through donations to our Park Life Fund and via the support of the National Lottery Community Fund, we have been able to move our classes and courses online during lockdown, staying connected and finding different ways create theatre. I hope everyone enjoys this play about the ‘new normal’- and to those who are able to make a donation, we thank you.”
So much more than ‘just a theatre’, Park Theatre is a community hub in Finsbury Park and has been a huge part of the redevelopment of the area. In seven years of providing affordable, accessible theatre, it has enjoyed eight West End transfers (including Daytona starring Maureen Lipman, The Boys in the Band starring Mark Gatiss, Pressure starring David Haig and The Life I Lead starring Miles Jupp), two National Theatre transfers, twenty five national tours, five Olivier Award nominations, has won Offie Awards for Best New Play and Best Foodie Experience (two years running), a West End Wilma Achievement in Accessible Theatre award and won a Theatre of the Year award from The Stage.
Beverley Knight to star as The Drifters’ legendary manager
Hit songs include Stand By Me, Saturday Night at the Movies,
Under The Boardwalk, Save The Last Dance For Me
and Kissin in the Back Row of the Movies
Premieres in Newcastle before West End season at Garrick Theatre
Michael Harrison and David Ian today announce rescheduled dates for The Drifters Girl, a brand new musical starring Beverley Knight, which tells the remarkable story of one of the world’s greatest vocal groups The Drifters and the woman who made them.
The Drifters Girl, to be directed by Jonathan Church (Singin’ In The Rain), will now make its World Premiere at Newcastle Theatre Royal next year on Saturday 9 October 2021, before transferring to the Garrick Theatre in London for a strictly limited season of 20 weeks, with performances beginning on Thursday 4 November 2021.
Ticket holders do not need to do anything; the point of purchase will be in touch with all existing ticket holders soon.
Beverley Knight stars as Faye Treadwell, the legendary manager of The Drifters, who, alongside her husband, fought for three decades to turn Atlantic Records’ hottest vocal group into a global phenomenon.
From the highs of hit records and sell out tours to the lows of legal battles and personal tragedy, The Drifters Girl charts the trailblazing efforts of the world’s first African American, female music manager and how she refused to ever give up on the group she loved. Thirty years, and hundreds of hit songs later, there is no doubt that Faye Treadwell was and always will be, The Drifters Girl.
With an incredible soundtrack of some of the most famous songs in history, including Save The Last Dance For Me,Under The Boardwalk, Kissin In The Back Row Of The Movies, Stand By Me, Come On Over To My Place, Saturday Night At The Movies and many more, The Drifters Girl will play for just 15 performances in Newcastle before transferring to London for a limited 20 week season.
Beverley Knight is the Queen of British Soul. She has enjoyed several Top 10 Albums, including the platinum selling Voice: The Best Of Beverley Knight. Her most recent solo album Soulsville was released in June 2016 and went straight into the UK Top 10. She was awarded an MBE by the Queen in 2007 for services to British music and charity, has won three MOBO Awards, and been nominated for Best Female at the Brit Awards three times and for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. 2019 sees her celebrating 25 years in the music business with a live album, ‘BK25’, recorded with the Leo Green Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, out November 8th on Warner Music.
Beverley has also made several, highly acclaimed performances in the West End. Her debut in London was in the star role of Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard in 2013. In 2014 she received an Olivier Award Nomination as Best Actress in a Musical for her much praised role of Felicia Farrell in the Tony Award winning hit show Memphis The Musical, and in 2015 she played the iconic role of Grizabella in Cats at The London Palladium. In 2018 she starred as Emmeline Pankhurst in much praised new funk and hip hop musical Sylvia at The Old Vic, for which she won a best supporting actress award at the inaugural Black British Theatre Awards.
Beverley performed on 23 July 2020 at the London Palladium for the official pilot performance to safely re-open UK theatres and music venues.
Further casting will be announced at a later date.
The Drifters Girl is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.
NEW MUSICAL ST. ANNE COMES HOME ANNOUNCES CAST INCLUDING REBECCA MCKINNIS FOR OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES THIS AUGUST
St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden
Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th August
2:30PM & 6:00PM
New British Musical St. Anne Comes Home by Jack Miles announces its cast and creative team for its outdoor, socially distanced performances at St Paul’s Church Courtyard, Covent Garden.
It was announced today that Jordan Castle (The Light in the Piazza) will play James, Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen) will play Bridget, and Mathew Craig (The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4) will play Russell. Directed by Martha Geelan (Associate Director for Fiddler on the Roof, West End) with Musical Supervision from Joe Beighton (SIX the Musical), St. Anne Comes Home is part of Iris Theatre’s Summer Festival.
The new folk musical takes place on 29th & 30th August for four performances. All performances in the festival will follow social distancing measures including 2 metre spacing between benches, all audience members will be asked to wear masks, temperature checks on entry and a one way system around the venue.
About the show
London can be lonely. But on the steps of St. Anne’s Church two people strike up an unlikely friendship. James has spent years running away from his problems, while Bridget is trapped by hers. Told through original folk music,St. Anne Comes homeis a story about community, fear and forgiveness, that explores how reaching out might help us find our way.
During lockdown a video of the opening number ‘No Place Better’, sung by Jordan Castle, was released on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/p8RyCpGW2Iw
St. Anne Comes Home forms part of Iris Theatre’s Summer festival. As theatre begins to emerge after the difficulties of COVID-19, Iris Theatre reaffirms its commitment to support artists across disciplines to create and showcase work in the heart of London’s theatreland. Iris returns with a festival of new work in the beautiful grounds of St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden. Other productions include Dear Peter, Words I’ve Said, Fiona & The Fox, and PLATFORM – in the garden.
Cast
Jordan Castle’s credits include The Pirate Queen (London Coliseum); The Light in the Piazza (Royal Festival Hall London, LA Opera and Chicago Lyric Opera); Standby Old Deuteronomy and Gus/Bustopher Jones, CATS (‘16-‘18 International Tour); 21 Chump Street by Lin-Manuel Miranda (European Premiere).
Rebecca McKinnis’ stage credits include Heidi in Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward Theatre); Margaret in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre); Christina in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Playhouse Theatre); Tina Ruston in A Small Family Business (National Theatre Olivier); u/s and Lauren in Viva Forever (Piccadilly Theatre); Les Misérables (25th Anniversary Tour); Teacher and u/s Killer Queen in We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre); u/s Jeanie in Fat Pig (Trafalgar Studios); Susannah Townley in Three Hours After Marriage (Union Theatre); Grumio in The Taming of the Shrew (Changeling Theatre Company); Lucy Lockett in Beggar’s Opera (Changeling Theatre Company); u/s and Donna/Tanya in Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales); Virus/cover Kim and Big Sue in Taboo (UK Tour); Starting Here Starting Now (Upstairs at the Gatehouse); Kitty in Charley’s Aunt (CMC). Television Credits include Sound of Music Live (ITV); Comedy Cuts (ITV2). Film credits include Beauty and the Beast (Disney).
Mathew Craig most recently covered the roles of George, Mr Lucas, Mr Scruton and Bert in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 at The Ambassadors Theatre, West End. Mathew’s other theatre credits include George in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Narrator in The UK Tour of Blood Brothers (Bill Kenwright and Bob Tomson), the original tour cast of Beauty and the Beast (Disney Theatrical), Cameron Mackintosh’s Miss Saigon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UKTT), the original theatrical production of Imagine This directed by Tim Sheader as well as the Original UK Tour and West End production of We Will Rock You (Phil Mcintyre). Other productions include The Fantasticks (Duchess Theatre), A Little House Music (Arts Theatre), Showboat (Royal Albert Hall), Debbiene in Ken Hill’s The Phantom of the Opera UK Tour, Davy Jones in Peter Pan (Theatre Royal Lincoln), and Aspects of Love (Theatre Royal Lincoln). For television, Mathew has appeared in several shows for the BBC, notably Kombat Opera-Spouse Change (Avalon/BBC). Other TV includes Murray in Cast (Jacory Prods/Emerald Sky), Tom in Manorama: Drinking in Nottingham (Avalon/BBC) and Scott in Nuts and Bolts (HTV Wales).
Joining the company in the band are Claudia Fuller playing the violin, Ben Jones on the double bass, and Jack Miles on guitar.
Creative Team
Jack Miles (Writer/Composer) began writing songs about ten years ago, which led him to featured spots and an interview on BBC Introducing. He earned a degree with honours in Music Composition from Coventry University in 2017, and an MA with distinction in Musical Theatre Writing from Goldsmiths University the following year. Since graduating, Jack’s music has earned him a song workshop with Claude-Michel Schönberg, the first ever slot on a brand new podcast recorded live at The Other Palace, opportunities in education as a guest lecturer and musical director, and an independent production of The Problem with Fletcher Mott in 2019.
Martha Geelan (Director/Dramaturg) is a freelance theatre director, writer and workshop leader. As Associate Director to Trevor Nunn, productions include: Fiddler on the Roof, Love in Idleness (West End/Menier Chocolate Factory), The Bridges of Madison County (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Agnes Colander (Theatre Royal Bath). Their current project together is new Stiles and Drewe musical ‘Identical’, based on the story of the Parent Trap. As a Director her credits include Macbeth, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night (The Young Shakespeare Company, UK & International Tours); The Psychosocial Gathering, The Librarians (Edinburgh Festival Fringe); Wolf (The Bunker Theatre); Spring Awakening: The Musical, Love and Money (Studio Theatre, Norwich); Our New Girl (extract, Park Theatre London); Between the Sheets, Potato Salad, When I Wake (Waterloo East Theatre); As You Might Like It (Rosemary Branch Theatre). Other productions as Associate/Assistant Director include: Indecent, The Lie, She Loves Me (Menier Chocolate Factory); God of Carnage (Theatre Royal Bath); Richard III, Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre, York); Top Hat, Thoroughly Modern Millie, West Side Story (Kilworth House Theatre); The Patriotic Traitor (Park Theatre London).
Joe Beighton (Musical Supervisor) is the Olivier nominated Music Supervisor of SIX the Musical. He studied music at the University of Cambridge where he was president of the Musical Theatre Society and a choral scholar. He then trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Credits include: SIX the Musical (Musical Supervisor, (UK Tours and West End; Broadway; Chicago [Winner: Jeff Award for Musical Direction] Sydney Opera House; NCL Cruise Ships)); 42 Balloons Workshop (Musical Supervisor, The Other Palace Studio); Merrily We Roll Along (MD, LAMDA); Bare (MD, LAMDA); Southern Belles (MD, Kings Head London); Cinderella (MD, Civil Theatre Chelmsford); Luke Bayer in Concert (Live at Zedel); Spring Awakening (Greenside Venues, Edinburgh); Janie Dee ‘Off the Record’ (MD, Live at Zedel).
St. Anne Comes Home is produced by Katie Wilmore & James Leggat from Willow Walk Productions.
THE FAR AWAY PLAYS: New Welsh play reading company keep actors’ muscles flexed during lockdown
As theatres remain closed, The Far Away Plays have been holding weekly Zoom play readings of contemporary Welsh plays and organising free online workshops for actors and theatre creatives in Wales
As restrictions continue to affect theatre in Wales, actors and theatre makers know that it is unlikely they will be together in a rehearsal room this year; the Sherman Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff have both recently announced that they will not reopen until early 2021. With Christmas shows now in fear of being cancelled, The Far Away Plays is focussed on making sure actors and creatives have the opportunity to meet together virtually and flex their creative muscles, and perform to a selected number of people that form each weekly company.
The Far Away Plays is a new online play reading company that hosts weekly play readings from some of Wales’ most established playwrights, such as Ed Thomas, Gary Owen, Katherine Chandler, Daf James and Tim Price. It has so far hosted over 14 Play Readings, worked with over 80 actors, 14 Welsh playwrights and directors and 8 free workshops with over 300 creatives attending.
Founded by Llanelli born actor Scott Arthur and Swansea born theatre director Francesca Goodridge, the company was born from two creatives looking for a way to outpour some creativity in a dark and quiet time. Scott said: “There has never been a more important time for the theatre community to come together and support one another. Each week we host readings of contemporary plays, providing a platform for artists to connect with one another and feel creative again. Imagine it as a virtual kick around for artists within the theatre world, during a time when rehearsal rooms are off limits and stages are empty.”
Francesca said: “We’ve invited established actors such as Steffan Rhodri, Catrin Stewart, Di Botcher and Sule Rimi alongside 2020 graduates, to read the modern Welsh plays that we love, as well as discovering new plays and playwrights who are yet to be heard.”
Welsh and Wales-based actors, directors, writers, producers, casting directors, dramaturgs, designers and technicians have been able to volunteer their time and take part in the Zoom readings, creating a space for theatre makers to discover old and new plays together without the pressure of an audience.
The pair have also hosted eight free workshops to connect actors and creatives with established figures in the industry such as Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, Daniel Evans; Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd, Tamara Harvey, and BAFTA nominated Casting Director Lauren Evans (behind television programmes including Game of Thrones, Sex Education and the 2019 Gavin & StaceyChristmas Special).
Playwright Daf James, whose bilingual play Pan Ddaw’r Byd i Ben featured as one of the readings says: “In a very short-time, The Far Away Plays has made an incredible contribution to the Welsh arts scene. During the COVID crisis, they provided a fantastic focus for a staggering amount of Welsh artists and created a much needed online community for artists in isolation. Personally, as a writer, I was able to revisit a script, which otherwise would have remained untouched. Due to the response online, I’m now looking at how I might go on to stage its production in the future.”
Steffan Rhodri who is well-loved as ‘Dave Coaches’ from Gavin & Stacey took part in a reading of Simon Harris’ play Badfinger originally staged at London’s Donmar Warehouse in 1997. He said, “Reading a great Welsh play with The Far Away Plays has been a highlight of this lockdown period for me. In this uncertain, isolated time to be connected with a theatre family to share our skill and enthusiasm for some exciting Welsh work was just what I needed. I feel that, as an idea, an online play reading community of Welsh theatre workers would be a valuable resource going forward, even once this devastating pandemic is over. Long may we remain together, though far away.”
DARLINGTON BASED YOUTH PROJECT NEEDS YOUR VOTES FOR A SHARE OF £1MILLION FUND
The Darlington based In2 Project is on the shortlist to win a share of Persimmon Homes’ Building Futures £1million pot supporting under-18s nationwide.
The aims of the In2 Project are to help build confidence, foster aspiration and improve general health and wellbeing by opening up access to cultural and sporting activities for pupils in some of the most deprived wards in the area.
As the home of the In2 Project Darlington Hippodrome has hosted sessions with musicians, circus performers, actors, theatre producers and even inventors over the last year.
Persimmon Homes North East is backing the In2 project to be a prize winner at a gala dinner in October, where cash awards of £100,000, £50,000 or £20,000 will be made to those projects winning the most online votes.
Councillor Andy Keir representing the In2 Project said “it is a huge achievement to have been selected as a regional finalist, but now we really need people to get behind us and get voting so that we are in the strongest possible position to earn one of the top three cash awards on the night.”
Councillor Keir added “Voting could not be simpler. Just log on to www.persimmonhomes.com/building-futures/ and select the In2 Project and vote for us. We would really appreciate everyone’s support.”
Building Futures is being delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation. Through the scheme, a total of 128 grants of £1,000 have been awarded to groups supporting sport, education & arts and health across Persimmon’s 31 regional businesses and its head office.
Online voting opened on 27 July and will close at midnight on 18 September 2020.
FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE UK PREMIERE OF C-o-n-t-a-c-t, A SOCIALLY DISTANCED OUTDOOR PLAY FEATURING LIVE PERFORMANCE AND 3D SOUND DESIGN IN PUBLIC SPACES ACROSS LONDON
Full cast of the UK premiere of C-o-n-t-a-c-t. Credit Pamela Raith.
Aria Entertainment and WEF Productions are delighted to announce full casting for the UK premiere of C-o-n-t-a-c-t, an immersive outdoor performance with a 3D sound design which audiences will listen to on their own headphones, opening on Monday 31st August 2020.
The play will see performances from Charles Angiama (The Exonerated, Hope Mill Theatre; My Week with Marilyn),Louis Bernard (Radieuse Vermine, Théâtre Montparnasse), Chloe Gentles (Beautiful – The Carol King Musical), Max Gold (Endeavour; Poldark), Richard Heap (Buried Child, National Theatre; The Summer Before Everything, Menagerie Theatre), Aoife Kennan (ITV’s Victoria;For Services Rendered, Jermyn Street Theatre), Katja Quist (Earthquakes In London, Bristol Old Vic) and Laura White (The Play That Goes Wrong, West End and UK Tour). The cast will alternate between three London locations; Tower Bridge, Greenwich and Clapham Common.
C-o-n-t-a-c-t brings together a creative team of international talent including Director Samuel Sené, Book by Eric Chantelauze, English adaptation by Quentin Bruno, Music and Sound Designer Cyril Barbessol and Associate Director Bronagh Lagan.
Originally created by Samuel Sené and Gabrielle Jourdain and premiering in France with French production company Musidrama over the summer in a world where social distancing became the ‘new normal’, this timely story of a moving and unexpected encounter explores the themes of mental health and anxiety through the eyes of Sarah as she is approached by someone she believes to be a stranger. She discovers that he can hear her thoughts but how? Who is this man? Dive into her mind in this unique sensory and immersive new show and experience theatre like never before.
The show will run for 50 minutes without an interval and audiences will download the audio from the app which is a completely new piece of technology which synchronizes the spectators and actors, allowing the show to play with theatrical concepts and a new form of dramaturgy. Audiences of no more than 15 per show will purchase their tickets online and will then receive a link to download the app which will provide the exact location.
Tickets can be purchased via TodayTix or the C-o-n-t-a-c-twebsite.
Broadway Records and Ginger Quiff Media release ‘Beautiful City’ to mark Godspell 50th Anniversary Available on all digital platforms from Sunday 16 April 2020
Acclaimed West End star Jodie Steele (SIX; Heathers; Wicked) will lend her flawless vocals to a female-led recording of Godspell’s ‘Beautiful City’, to be released as a single ahead of the show’s 50th anniversary. Producers Ginger Quiff Media have teamed up with premiere industry record label, Broadway Records, to make this a reality. Renowned for immortalising major Broadway shows with outstanding cast recordings, this is an incredible opportunity to mark the upcoming anniversary production.
‘Beautiful City’ will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major digital platforms. You can also find the single at www.broadwayrecords.com/beautiful-city
Praised by composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked; Pippin; The Prince of Egypt) for her ‘stunning’ rendition, the track offers a glimpse at what people can expect from the highly anticipated Godspell online concert experience, streaming later this month. Resonating with the current climate, and the hope for better tomorrow, the message behind ‘Beautiful City’ feels more important than ever. Led by Steele, the song inspires optimism, that a beautiful city will be built from this chaos.
Featuring in the 50th anniversary Godspell online concert, alongside an incredible ensemble of West End talent, Jodie will star with theatrical legends, Ruthie Henshall (Chicago; Billy Elliot), Darren Day (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat; Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), Sam Tutty (Dear Evan Hansen), Ria Jones (Sunset Boulevard; High Society), Jenna Russell (The Bridges of Madison County; Fun Home).
Also starring in the production will be: Danyl Johnson (The X Factor finalist), Jenny Fitzpatrick (Tina, The Musical; Our House), Natalie Green (The Prince of Egypt; Hair), John Barr (The Story of Bart; Tommy), Sally Ann Triplett (Mamma Mia!; Viva Forever), Matthew Croke (Aladdin), Alison Jiear(Jerry Springer: The Opera), Shekinah McFarlane (Six; Hair), Lucy Williamson (The Fix; Judy & Liza), Ronald Brian (Beautiful, The Carol King Musical; Newsies), Jerome Bell (The Voice USA; Hairspray) and supported by an ensemble from Italia Conti.
Directed by award-winning Michael Strassen (Billy; Assassins), it will be filmed from the cast’s homes and edited together with striking visual animations. It is a revival of Godspell like never before, revamping the show for the modern technological age. Available for three days only to stream worldwide this summer, this promises to be the online theatrical event not to be missed.
To look towards a brighter future post-lockdown, the concert will raise money for wonderful charities: Hope Mill Theatre (A Factory of Creativity CIO), Acting For Others, and National AIDS Trust.
Rowntree Park, York – until Saturday 22 August 2020
Reviewed by Michelle Richardson
3***
Park Bench Theatre bring live theatre back to York with an outdoor season of three monologues for all ages in the city’s Rowntree Park from 12th August to 5th September. The productions are presented in carefully laid out in spacious gardens, already marked out in bubbles, allowing the audience to keep socially distanced.
After five long months I was excited to be given the opportunity to finally be able to see a live show, in the flesh. First Love, by Samuel Beckett, directed by Matt Aston, is the first of the three shows being performed at Rowntree Park.
After parking the car in our usual spot, we set out for a lovely walk down by the river, armed with camping chairs over our shoulders I wasn’t too sure where I was going, good job I had Marcus with me, otherwise I would have ended up on the wrong side of the river. Once we got to the park, we found their car park still had plenty of spaces left, I enjoyed the walk more. The venue was easy to find with directions in place, and then volunteers were on hand to guide you. On entering the secluded garden, which had separate entrance and exit areas, we picked up our receivers and earphones, you can take your own, to hear the one-man performance, and set up in our own bubble. It was great to see blankets laid out, people enjoying their picnics and just chatting away. Make sure you take an extra layer of clothing, as you are at the mercy of the elements.
A nameless man, dressed in a black bowler hat and an oversized trench coat, giving the appearance of a man who has led a burdensome life, enters the garden. As he approaches the park bench, he starts to re-count his story. The whole show is performed on or around this park bench.
It’s a tale about, how after his father’s death he is made homeless, sleeping on a park bench. It is on this park bench where he meets Lulu, or Anna, he can’t quite make up his mind what to call her. She comforts him by first stroking his ankles and a “love story” begins. Though his feelings are conflicted and he is disturbed by them, he still moves in with her, occupying a room, after clearing all the furniture out and piling it up in the corridor. She manages to slip into his bed and they conceive a child. He discovers that she works occasionally as a prostitute, only wishing that she would not make so much noise. Once she gives birth and as the baby cries, he puts on his coat and hat and abandons them both.
I must admit I’m not a big fan of monologue pieces, and though I found his character utterly loathsome, with no redeeming quality, Chris Hannon showcased his ability, not to only perform outside, but on his own, a daunting prospect to us lessor folks. He managed to engage the audience for the whole 60 minutes.
Be warned, there are times that very strong language is used.
It was great to see some live theatre, theatre is suffering horrendously at the moment. Hopefully, this is the start of the end of those difficulties, we can dream. Theatre needs as much support as it can and I’m looking forward to seeing the next show later on this month.
in association with Battersea Power Station Development
ANNOUNCES
THE TURBINE ON THE JETTY
RUNNING FROM
WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST TO SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER
INCLUDING
HAIR – AN OUTDOOR CONCERT
4 – 6 September 2020
A specially curated festival of live entertainment for all the family. Presented on a safe and socially distanced jetty next to the iconic Battersea Power Station.
Presented by arrangement with Concord theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC www/concordtheatricals.co.uk
Book and Lyrics Music By
Gerome Ragni and James Rado Galt MacDermot
Directed by Arlene Phillips
Cast
Matt Croke
(Aladdin and Funny Girl)
Danielle Fiamanya
The Color Purple (The Stage Debut Award Winner) and & Juliet
Jordan Luke Gage
Bat Out of Hell and & Juliet
Grace Mouat
SiX and & Juliet
Millie O’Connell
SiX and Be More Chill
Jodie Steele
Heathers and SiX
Layton Williams
Everyone’s Talking About Jamie and Rent
Musical Direction by Katy Richardson, Design by David Shields, Lighting Design by Andrew Exeter and Sound Design by Dan Samson.
The American tribal love rock musical Hair celebrates the sixties counterculture in all its barefoot, long-haired, bell-bottomed, beaded and fringed glory. In this specially produced concert version directed by Arlene Phillips, get ready to groove to an infectiously energetic rock beat with songs like “Aquarius,” “Good Morning, Starshine,” “Hair,” “I Got Life,” and “Let The Sun Shine.” Exploring ideas of identity, community, global responsibility and peace, Hair remains relevant as ever as it examines what it means to be a young person in a changing world.
Arlene Phillips says “I am thrilled to be directing this small but mighty open air concert of Hair. Now more than ever we need music that lifts our spirits and feeds our souls to remind us that theatre is alive. I believe that a musical with a strong political message is important not just to give us hope, but to inspire a future generation.”
Paul Taylor-Mills, Artistic Director, The Turbine Theatre, said “I’m always impressed by my artists ability to make work happen in what has always been a difficult industry to work in. The surprises of 2020 have made this challenge even greater. The Turbine on the Jetty Season is only possible because of the patience, expertise and fearlessness of the incredible companies and artists that have worked with me over the last couple of weeks to get this off the ground. The project is a mammoth undertaking and to say I’m thrilled with the variety of work on offer is an understatement. Even against the odds The Turbine Theatre continues to programme classic work in a fresh way and support both seasoned artists and provide a platform for new voices. Please do come and support us. The arts needs you more than ever, there is no other way of putting it.”
Horrible Histories is coming to the Jetty with its West End production of Barmy Britain. It’s the history of Britain with the nasty bits left in!
One Duck Down – 30th August 2020 (2pm)
7000 rubber ducks. Seven Seas. One big adventure!
Inspired by a true tale (featured on Blue Planet II) that saw 7000 rubber ducks cast adrift in a mighty storm.
Jam packed with music, clowning and puppetry and with a set and props which are recycled from the lost and found of rubbish both on land and at sea, join us on an ocean clear-up adventure that would make David Attenborough proud.
Winner of Family Show of the Year at Vault Festival.
The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons – 31st August 2020 (8pm)
A spectacular high-pitched celebration of timeless music from one of the biggest selling groups of all time. Featuring cast members from the smash-hit musical Jersey Boys.
Bard in the Yard – Saturday 6th September 2020 (2pm)
Bard in the Yard is a solo show about William Shakespeare being stuck in a plague quarantine in London in 1605… Quite literally stuck. Help the Bard rekindle the fire of his Muse in this whirlwind of a play “delivered to perfection” (The Telegraph) for the times by Will & Co!
The Final Countdown – 8th September 2020 (8pm)
The Final Countdown is a spectacular rock and pop concert featuring some of the greatest Power Ballads from the 1980s.
Aesops Fables: The Harvest Festival – 9th September 2020 (2pm)
Harvest time is nearly here and there’s still so much work for the animals to do. Can they put their disagreements aside and get the job done in time for the festival?
Macbeth: Sleep No More – 9th September 2020 (8pm)
“All hail Macbeth that shalt be King hereafter…”
Eight simple words from three mystic women – that’s all it takes to tempt a once-great man to ruin…
Vivienne de Vil in ‘With One Look’ – 11th September (5pm)
Confidant to the stars, Vivienne de Vil celebrates some of the leading ladies of musical theatre, spilling some of their deepest secrets and singing their iconic songs!
Black Sails – 12th September 2020 (2pm)
Double Trouble Theatre Co. presents Blacks Sails! A pirate summer pantomime full of songs, sword fights and fun for all the family.
Great Expectations – 12th September 2020 (5pm)
1803. Pip, a seven year-old orphan boy, visits his mother’s grave.
A frightening encounter with an escaped convict begins a series of events that will change his life forever.
Written by one of England’s greatest authors, Charles Dickens, Great Expectations is the profound and complex story of Pip’s journey through life.
Some of his most memorable characters – the terrifying Magwitch; Joe Gargery, the kind and generous blacksmith; the eccentric Miss Havisham; the cold and beautiful Estella; Mr Jaggers the pompous lawyer and Pip’s wise friend, Herbert Pocket – are vividly brought to life in this anarchic and joyful telling of this glorious tale.
Using Dickens’ original text (well, mostly!) David Mynne’s skilful, one-man performance of this epic story is deft, daft, delightful …and definitely Dickens!
Be prepared to be scared and amazed, to cry and laugh!
The Femmes – Vintage vocal Harmony Trio – 13th September 2020 (2pm)
The Femmes are a vintage inspired vocal harmony trio. With more fizz than a glass of champagne, these starlets will whisk you back to the 1940s and then take you through the years, giving each decade a “Femme makeover”. Expect Hollywood Glamour, nostalgia and toe-tapping tunes that will guarantee to get you in the mood for a glorious weekend.
Roles We’ll Never Play – 13th September 2020 (8pm)
A dazzling cast come together for a special night with the glorious Thames as our backdrop! After massive success we can’t wait to bring our concert back in September.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona – 15th September 2020 (8pm)
World renowned Shakespeare company bring their hilarious production of this hidden gem to this exciting new festival.
West End Rocks! Feat. Vocal Extreme – 16th September 2020 (8pm)
Featuring vocalists from London’s West End shows such as We Will Rock You, Rock Of Ages, Bat Out Of Hell and Beautiful! – The Carole King Story, this show will take you on a rollercoaster ride with some of the biggest rock hits and power ballads ever written, all sung in 3-part harmony.
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – 17th September 2020 (8pm)
Experience Olivier Award-Winning, spontaneous musical comedy at its absolute finest in an intimate, stripped back open-air performance!
The Barricade Boys – 18th September 2020 (8pm)
Direct from London’s West End, THE BARRICADE BOYS are theatre lands most exciting new vocal group. Powerhouse vocals, slick dance routines and an incredible array of music.
Catfish The Musical: In Concert – 19th September 2020 (8pm)
Two strangers online write a musical about two strangers online. Catfish the Musical explores the highs and lows of social media and modern dating in a one-act, black mirror, cinematic drama.
THE TURBINE THEATRE
GENERATING NEW WORK.POWERING PREMIERES.RE-ENERGISING CLASSICS.
Artistic Director, Paul Taylor-Mills opened The Turbine Theatre inAugust 2019. On the banks of the Thames next to the iconic Battersea Power Station, the theatre is located under the Grosvenor Bridge railway arches at Circus West Village, the first chapter of the iconic Battersea Power Station’s regeneration, which is already a thriving riverside destination located at the foot of the iconic Grade II* listed landmark.The Turbine on the Jetty will take place in the open air on the landing jetty at Battersea, allowing social distancing.
The Turbine Theatreis an intimate theatre with big ambitions. Everything we do revolves around one simple idea: powering the imagination. For the Turbine one the Jetty we have curated a line up of entertainment including music, cabaret, Shakespeare, musical theatre and children’s shows
New energy drives everything we do, from festivals of brand new works, world premieres of new productions and classic stories reimagined for contemporary audiences.
Every story is a journey andThe Turbine Theatreaims to be just the first stage for every idea, risk and labour of love that is brought to life in this electric new environment. We want to be the spark for the most talented and diverse voices that theatre has to offer. Now, more than ever, we feel it is vital to provide a platform for the artists and and ideas of tomorrow.
We’re also passionate about playing a vital role at the heart of the emerging local Battersea community, offering a dynamic public space by day, and a groundbreaking theatre by night.
RIVERSIDE STUDIOS ANNOUNCES SCREENING OF SUMMERLAND
AND Q&A WITH WRITER AND DIRECTOR JESSICA SWALE
★★★★
“Canny and adorable, Summerland’s a family film with a difference”
Evening Standard
Riverside Studios today announces a screening of the British World War II drama Summerland and a live Q&A with award-winning director and writer Jessica Swale following its nationwide release on 31 July 2020. Marking their first event since lockdown, the screening and Q&A will take placeon Thursday 20 August beginningat 7.50pm at the newly refurbished multi-disciplinary arts and live events venue. Tickets can be purchased here www.riversidestudios.co.uk/book/cinema/summerland
★★★★
“Swale marks herself as a director to watch.”
Empire
The Summerland cast includes Gemma Arterton (Alice Lamb), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Vera), Penelope Wilton (Older Alice), Lucas Bond (Frank), Dixie Egerickx (Edie) and Amanda Root (Mrs Lawrence).
Summerland follows the story of fiercely independent folklore investigator, Alice who secludes herself in her clifftop study, debunking myths using science to disprove the existence of magic. Consumed by her work, but also profoundly lonely, she is haunted by a love affair from her past.
When spirited young Frank, an evacuee from the London Blitz, is dumped into her irritable care, his innocence and curiosity awaken Alice’s deeply buried emotions. Bravely embracing life’s miraculous unpredictability, Alice learns that wounds may be healed, second chances do occur, and that, just perhaps – magic really does exist.
Riverside are putting customer safety and well-being at the forefront of their reopening measures, and, as a result, the cinema capacity has been reduced from 200 to 68. This means that audiences will be unable to pre-book specifics seats, and these will be allocated in advance to ensure at least 1m+ social distancing. Audiences are encouraged to book in advance to ensure the best experience possible. As a courtesy to others, Riverside would ask that face masks are worn – staff will likewise be wearing face masks.
Jessica Swale is an Olivier award-winning writer and director, Summerland is her film debut. As a playwright her credits include Blue Stockings, Thomas Tallis (Shakespeare’s Globe), All’s Will That Ends Will (Bremer Shakespeare Company) and Nell Gwynn (Shakespeare’s Globe/ Apollo Theatre – Olivier Award for Best New Comedy). Her adaptations include Sense and Sensibility, Far From The Madding Crowd (The Watermill Theatre), The Secret Garden and Stig of the Dump (Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre). Her directing credits include Fallen Angels (Salisbury Playhouse), Bedlam (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Busy Body, The Rivals, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Southwark Playhouse) and Palace of the End (Arcola Theatre).
