Author: FairyPoweredProductions

Music & Lyrics in association with Churchill Theatre Bromley

Doctor Doolittle Heading for Hull Stage as part of Anniversary Celebrations

Leslie Bricusse’s family musical gets a new lease of life for film’s 50th anniversary.

Fifty years after Leslie Bricusse’s eccentric Doctor Doolittle became a household name, ‘Our Friend the Doctor’ takes to the stage once more in a new stage adaptation of the beloved film which comes to Hull New Theatre early next year.

Doctor Dolittle tells the story of an unconventional man who can ‘Talk to the Animals’ as he embarks on an extraordinary adventure to find the Giant Pink Sea Snail that holds the secret of life and makes the world a happier place, helped by his human companions and an exotic menagerie of animal friends, including the Pushmi-Pullyu and trusty sidekick Polynesia the parrot.

Produced by Music & Lyrics Limited, the force behind the highly successful recent tours of The Addams Family, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oklahoma!, Fiddler on the Roof and The King and I, in association with Churchill Theatre Bromley, this new adaptation of the hit musical features stunning visual puppetry, with the book reworked by Leslie Bricusse.

Doctor Dolittle is based on the stories by Hugh Lofting and the Twentieth Century Fox film.

Casting to be announced.

Great fun for all the family, tickets for Doctor Doolittle at Hull New Theatre from 26 February – 9 March 2019, will be on sale from 10am on Thursday 5 April to Extra Members and from 10am on Friday 6 April to the general public. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit our website www.hulltheatres.co.uk to book online.

THE GROUNDBREAKING SMASH HIT UK PRODUCTION OF

WITH MUSIC BY PUNK POP

& MULTI GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING BAND

GREEN DAY

RETURNS TO THE UK FOR A SPECIAL 10^TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

OPENING 17 JANUARY 2019

★★★★ – The Times, The Independent, Daily Telegraph

 

“Go for the time of your life!” Evening Standard

Following two critically acclaimed and celebrated West End runs and a sell-out UK Tour, Green Day’s explosive Tony Award winning rock musical, American Idiot, returns to mark the show’s 10^thanniversary and the 15^th anniversary of the Grammy Award winning album. The special anniversary tour opens from 17 January 2019 at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable, with press night at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on Thursday 24 January.

Winner of two Tony Awards and the 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, American Idiot is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9/11 world. The show, which premiered in December 2009 at Berkeley Rep Theatre, features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer.

This story of youthful disillusion and mistrust of society and government has never been more current; particularly with the modern parallels in the USA where school children have mobilised to form an impressive campaign for gun law reform.

The musical’s hit songs include “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the blockbuster title track “American Idiot” from Green Day’s 2004 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album. Also included are several songs from Green Day’s 2009 release “21st Century Breakdown,” and an unreleased love song, “When It’s Time.”

American Idiot The Musical is directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with musical supervision by Richard Morris, sound by Chris Whybrow and lighting by Tim Deiling. The production is produced by Selladoor Worldwide and presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited.

Casting to be announced in due course.

LISTINGS

AMERICAN IDIOT – THE MUSICAL

17 JANUARY – 01 JUNE 2019

UK TOUR

 

PRESS NIGHT: 24 January 2019 – Southampton Mayflower Theatre

 

RUNNING TIME: 1hr 40min (no interval)

WEBSITE: www.americanidiotthemusical.co.uk

 

FACEBOOK: American Idiot UK

 

TWITTER: @ukamericanidiot

 

INSTAGRAM: ukamericanidiot

 

RECOMMENDED AGE: Contains strong language and drug references – Ages 14+

 

TOUR VENUES

DUNSTABLE GROVE THEATRE

17 – 19 January 2019

grovetheatre.co.uk

01582 602 080

 

SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER THEATRE

22 – 26 January 2019

mayflower.org.uk

02380 711 811

 

CARDIF NEW THEATRE

29 January – 02 February 2019

newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

029 2087 8889

 

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

05 – 09 February 2019

atgtickets.com/edinburgh

0844 871 3014

 

BLACKPOOL WINTER GARDENS  

05 – 09 March 2019

wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

01253 625 252

*On-sale 20 April*

 

SHEFFIELD LYCEUM

26 – 30 March 2019

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

0114 249 6000

 

MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE

02 – 06 April 2019

atgtickets.com/manchester

0844 871 3019

 

BIRMINGHAM NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE

09 – 13 April 2019

atgtickets.com/birmingham

0844 871 6971

 

BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL

16 – 20 April 2019

atgtickets.com/brighton

0844 871 7650

 

BRIDLINGTON SPA THEATRE

07 – 11 May 2019

bridspa.com

01262 678 258

 

GLASGOW KINGS THEATRE

28 May – 01 June 

atgtickets.com/glasgow

0844 371 7648

Further dates and venues to be announced in due course.

THE MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY PRESENTS

THE UK PREMIÈRE OF JORDI GALCERAN’S

THE GRÖNHOLM METHOD

 

The UK première of

THE GRÖNHOLM METHOD

By Jordi Galceran

in a translation by Anne García-Romero and Mark St. Germain

Direction: BT McNicholl; Set & Costume Design: Tim Hatley

Lighting Design: Howard Harrison; Sound Design: Gregory Clarke

The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces the UK première of Jordi Galceran’s The Grönholm Method, directed by BT McNicholl making his UK directorial debut. The production opens on 22 May, with previews from 10 May, and runs until 7 July.

 

Set in the offices of a New York City Fortune 500 company, 4 unsuspecting candidates embark on the most testing job interview of their lives.

This taut play – which premièred in Barcelona in 2003 to great critical acclaim, exposes the psychological depths people will go to in order to get what they want.

In our age of reality TV game shows and tweeting US presidents, The Grönholm Method explores the human capacity to manipulate, lie and ‘play the game’ to get ahead in life.

Jordi Galceran (b1964) is a Catalan playwright, screenwriter and translator. In 1995 he submitted two scripts to play competitions – Paraules Encadenades (Word Play) (1995) won the 20th Born Theatre Award (organized by the Artistic Circle of Ciutadella, Menorca) and the Serra d’Or Critics Award for Theatre in 1997, and Dakota was awarded the Ignasi Iglésias Award in 1995 by the Institut del Teatre of the Diputació de Barcelona. His other works include Surf (1990), Fuita (1994), Gaudí (2002), Paradis (2000), Carvival (2006), Cancun (2008),Burundanga (2011) and Credit (2013). The Grönholm Method (2003) is perhaps his most recognised international success, with productions in over 60 countries. He has translated and adapted more than twenty plays, and in addition to theatre work, he has worked as a writer for several television series and has written eight feature films.

BT McNicholl is currently the director of the national tour of the Broadway hit Cabaret.  Mentored by director Mike Nichols, McNicholl has served on the creative team of a dozen Broadway plays and musicals (including the Tony-winning Spamalot and Billy Elliott), with directors including Sam Mendes, Rob Marshall, James Lapine, Jerry Zaks, Stephen Daldry and David Hare. He won the Helpmann Award in Australia for Best Director for Cabaret, and has staged long-running productions of it in Paris, Madrid and Amsterdam. Regionally in the US, he has directed award-winning productions of Camilla (Walnut Street Theatre, Kleban Award), Very Good Eddie (Goodspeed Opera House; Best Musical) and The Cherry Orchard (Dorset Theatre Festival).  Other work includes staging national tours for Disney, Spamalot at the Hollywood Bowl, and working with Stephen Sondheim to create a concert version of A Little Night Music.  In Hollywood, he has worked on Scott Rudin films, most recently as an acting coach on the Oscar-nominated Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

A published playwright and BMI Award-winning lyricist, he wrote the book and lyrics for The It Girl and The 101 Dalmatians which was staged at Madison Square Garden. McNicholl served as a Development Consultant for MGM’s theatrical division, spent three years with the Shubert Organization and is now the Producing Artistic Director of La Mirada Theatre in California.

Listings Information 

The Grönholm Method

Venue:                                Menier Chocolate Factory

Address:                             53 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RU

Press performance:         22 May at 8pm

Dates:                                 10 May – 7 July

Times:                                Tue – Sat 8pm, matinees Sat and Sun 3.30pm

Box Office:                         020 7378 1713 (£2.50 transaction fee per booking)

Website:                        www.menierchocolatefactory.com (£1.50 transaction fee per booking)

Tickets:                               Prices vary, as below from discounted preview tickets to premier seats. With the emphasis on ‘the sooner you book, the better the price’:

                                             Prices from £32.50

A meal deal ticket includes a 2-course meal from the pre-theatre menu in the Menier Restaurant as well as the theatre ticket.

www.menierchocolatefactory.com

Twitter: @MenChocFactory

Cap-a-Pie theatre company in partnership with Durham University present:

Woven Bones

• Brand new production written by Laura Lindow offers a unique chance to walk in the shoes of the ‘Scottish
Soldiers’ as it tours the route the soldiers marched from Dunbar to Durham
• Press performance: 7.30pm, Wednesday 27 June, Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne

When human remains were found in Durham in 2013, archaeologists from Durham University discovered that they belonged to the long lost Scottish Soldiers, prisoners of war from the 1650 Battle of Dunbar, who were forced to march to Durham and imprisoned in the then-disused Cathedral and Castle.

Developed in partnership with Durham University ahead of a major new exhibition opening in summer 2018, Woven Bones brings to life the untold stories of these Scottish Soldiers. This brand new Cap-a-Pie production by playwright Laura Lindow offers a unique chance to walk in the shoes of the Scottish Soldiers as it tours the route the soldiers marched from Dunbar to Durham.

Laura Lindow is an award winning Scottish writer/director based in the North East of England.During 20 years of making theatre in the region she has established a reputation for creating work that is lyrical yet punchy with a serious sense of play. Recent writing credits include her critically acclaimed War of the Worlds adaptation for Northern Stage – a process which also involved researching local history to relocate the story to the North East of England; and she is currently a member of the Royal Court Writers Group. Directing credits
include New York Times Critics Pick, Key Change for Open Clasp.

Laura said,”This project brings together so many disciplines. The process of the Durham University teams working together to tease out the story of the soldiers has been fascinating, so it’s really exciting to collaborate with them. I did some work with the Forensic department at Teesside University years ago, and I was struck by the subject of forensic archaeology and the idea driving it of returning names of missing people to their families. Reading the responses of the Scottish Soldiers’ descendants to the discovery of the remains, I can understand now how true this is – people have a real need to settle on what actually happened.”

The play tells the incredible story of how archaeologists at Durham University used cutting edge science to give these soldiers back their voice. The Battle of Dunbar only lasted one hour, but for the soldiers this brief moment in time changed the course of their whole lives. After each performance, audiences will get the chance to meet some of the Durham University team behind the excavation and hear first-hand their unique tale of finding the skeletons and the painstaking work that went into discovering who they really were.

The cast are: Gemma Stroyan – from East Lothian, Gemma was nominated for an Off West End award for her role Emilia in Othello, has performed at the Lyceum and appeared on TV in Taggart and as Sciron in CBBC’s Last Commanders; Paula Penman – originally from Ayrshire and now based in Newcastle, Paula has worked as a performer, director and theatre maker, most notably for Northern Stage (The Little Detective Agency), Live Theatre (Donna Disco, Rat Boy), Bush Theatre (Brown Bird) and The Lowry (Then Leap) and her participatory work has also led to collaborations with National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company; and Greig Adam – based in Glasgow, Greig started his professional training on the Musical Theatre Course at the Dance School of Scotland before continuing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he won the Prize for Musical Theatre; his work includes Sleeping Beauty (Citizens Theatre) and Miracle on 34 Parnie Street (Tron Theatre).

Cap-a-Pie Artistic Director, Brad McCormick will direct. Cap-a-Pie has built a reputation for creative collaborations with universities and schools, working with academics and experts alongside the communities in which they work. As well as directing the company’s hit children’s show, Six Legs – a collaboration with Newcastle University insect researcher, Dr Vivek Nityananda and hundreds of local families at Ouseburn Farm in Newcastle – recently Brad worked with students at Barbara Priestman Academy in Sunderland on a production of What Are They Like? which was selected for the National Theatre Connections Festival in London. He is joined by set and costume designer Anna Reid (Rattle Snake, Open Clasp/Live Theatre), with original music by award-winning North East singer-songwriter Katie Doherty, who regularly composes for theatre companies including Northern Stage and Open Clasp.

A new exhibition revealing how Durham University archaeologists pieced together evidence to establish the identity of these 17th century Scottish soldiers opens in June. Featuring a reconstruction of the face of a soldier who was imprisoned and died in Durham following the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, the exhibition brings together material from collections across the UK and beyond and shows how the latest scientific techniques have revealed more about the soldiers’ story – how they lived, why they died, and what became of those who survived. Bodies of Evidence: How Science Unearthed Durham’s Dark Secret opens at Palace Green Library, Durham University from 9 June – 7 October 2018.

Professor Chris Gerrard of Durham University’s Department of Archaeology said “Through this new exhibition we want to give a voice to these young men who lost their lives more than 300 years ago and show how it’s been possible to find out details about their lives using the latestscientific techniques. This performance adds a new dimension to the huge amount of research that’s gone into uncovering their story and it really brings home the reality of what the soldiers must have gone through as they marched from Dunbar to Durham.”

Woven Bones is touring June and July 2018 starting in Dunbar and ending in Durham. Visit www.cap-apie.co.uk/woven-bones
for more information or to book tickets

STEFANIE POWERS AND CLIVE FRANCIS 
 STAR IN NEW UK TOUR OF
84 CHARING CROSS ROAD

 

Cambridge Arts Theatre and Lee Dean in association with Salisbury Playhouse present

84 CHARING CROSS ROAD

By Helene Hanff, adapted by James Roose-Evans

 

Director: Richard Beecham; Designer: Norman Coates; Composer and Musical Director: Rebecca Applin; Sound Designer: Chris Warner

 

On tour:

23 May – 30 June

Cambridge Arts Theatre today announces a new UK tour of James Roose-Evans’ adaptation of Helene Hanff’s novel 84 Charing Cross Road, in collaboration with Lee Dean and Salisbury Playhouse. Richard Beecham directs Stefanie Powers as Helene Hanff and Clive Francis as Frank Doel. The production opens at Darlington Hippodrome on Wednesday 23 May before touring to Wolverhampton, Malvern, Richmond, Oxford and finishing in Cambridge Arts Theatre on 30 June.

 

A tender and heart-warming tale of transatlantic friendship, 84 Charing Cross Road is a bittersweet comedy based on the extraordinary true story of the remarkable relationship that developed over 20 years between a vivacious New York writer and a London bookseller. Through their exchange of humorous and often intimate correspondence a snapshot of Britain from the post-war 1940s to the swinging 60s is revealed, alongside a touching human story that still resonates today.

 

Helene Hanff (1916-1997) was an American novelist and screenwriter whose principal works include 84 Charing Cross Road, Q’s Legacy, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street and Underfoot in Show Business.

 

James Roose-Evans founded the Hampstead Theatre in London and The Bleddfa Centre for the Creative Spirit. His numerous credits also include a landmark adaptation of Laurie Lee’s Cider with Rosie; and directing Sir John Gielgud’s last appearance on the London stage. He is the first British theatre director to be ordained a non-stipendiary priest, and has preached in Westminster Abbey, Winchester, Chichester, Gloucester, and Norwich cathedrals.

 

Stefanie Powers plays Helene Hanff. Powers is best known for her role opposite Robert Wagner in Hart to Hart, which ran over 5 series and 8 TV movies between 1979 and 1996. Theatre credits include Gotta Dance (BOA Theater, Chicago), On Golden Pond (UK tour), Sunset Boulevard (Ogunquit Playhouse), and The King And I (US and UK tour). Her extensive film and TV credits include McLintock!, The Magnificent Seven Ride Again, The Rockford Files, The Bionic Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.

 

Clive Francis plays Frank Doel. Recent theatre credits include An Inspector Calls (Playhouse Theatre), Les Blancs (National Theatre) The Slaves of Solitude (Hampstead Theatre) and Thark (Park Theatre). For television his credits include The Crown, The Queen New Tricks, My Family, Wycliffe, Sharpe’s Company and The Ten Percenters and; for film The Masterful Hermit, Mr Turner and The Lost City of Z.

 

Richard Beecham directs.  His theatre credits include Broken Glass (Watford Palace Theatre), Driving Miss Daisy (Theatre Royal Bath and UK tour), Rose (Home, Manchester) Playing for Time (Sheffield Theatres), Dancing at Lughnasa, In Praise of Love, Humble Boy (Royal & Derngate, Northampton), Rutherford & Son (Northern Stage), Red Light Winter, In A Garden, Henry IV Part 1 (Theatre Royal Bath), The Invention of Love, The School for Scandal, The Miser, Side by Side by Sondheim (Salisbury Playhouse), A Taste of Honey, Neville’s Island, How The Other Half Loves (Watford Palace Theatre), The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Private Lives, Charley’s Aunt, Black Comedy/Real Inspector Hound(Northcott Theatre Exeter) and Entertaining Mr Sloane, Early One Morning (Octagon Theatre Bolton). Beecham also curates large cultural events including the National Commemorative Event for Holocaust Memorial Day (Newcastle Theatre Royal), and The Human Cost (Young Vic London). He is an Associate Artist of HighTide Festival Theatre. For film, his work includes The Guitar.

84 CHARING CROSS ROAD 

Listings                                                                                                                                       

Darlington Hippodrome
23 – 26 May 2018
Box Office: 01325 405405
www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

 

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
29 May – 2 June 2018

Box Office: 01902 429 212
www.grandtheatre.co.uk

Malvern Festival Theatre
4 – 9 June 2018

Box Office: 01684 892277
www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

Richmond Theatre
11 – 16 June 2018

Box Office: 0844 871 7651
www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre

Oxford Playhouse 
18 – 23 June 2018

Box Office: 01865 305305
www.oxfordplayhouse.com

 

Cambridge Arts Theatre
26 – 30 June 2018

Box Office: 01223 503333

www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions present
Witness for the Prosecution
By Agatha Christie

• First look at Harry Reid and the new cast of Witness for the Prosecution in costume
• This marks the first week of performances featuring the new cast; including Harry as Leonard Vole, Lucy Phelps as Romaine, Richard Clothier as Sir Wilfrid Robarts, Julian Curry as Mr Justice Wainwright and Peter Moreton as Mr Mayhew, with Philip Franks continuing in the role of Mr Myers
• More tickets released today for the Olivier Award nominated production, which extends its booking period until 31 March 2019   

Brand new photographs are released today providing a first look at the new cast of Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie at London County Hall.  The production images mark the first week of performances featuring the new company, which began on Tuesday 27 March.

Harry Reid (previously EastEnders’ Ben Mitchell) takes the role of the accused, Leonard Vole, and is joined by Lucy Phelps (Call the Midwife, Anthony & Cleopatra, King Charles III) opposite him as Romaine, Richard Clothier (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Graduate) as Sir Wilfrid Robarts, Julian Curry (The Alchemist, Rumpole of the Bailey) who plays Mr Justice Wainwright and Peter Moreton (The Winter’s Tale, Shakespeare in Love) playing Mr Mayhew.

Philip Franks (Art, Noises Off, Darling Buds of May) continues in the role of Mr Myers, along with returning cast members Richard Attlee, Jules Melvin and Hywel Simons with Charlotte Blackledge, Molly Jackson-Shaw, Parys Jordon, Tyler South, Antoinette Tagoe and Matt Weyland completing the new company.

The acclaimed production of Agatha Christie’s classic courtroom play has been recognised at this year’s Olivier Awards with a nomination for Best Revival. Witness for the Prosecution is the only work by a female writer to be included in the categories of Best Revival, or Best New Play. The production has captured the imagination of audiences who have experienced the drama inside the unique setting of County Hall’s ornate Chamber on London’s iconic South Bank. Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions are proud to receive ongoing support from Lambeth council, following the news that Witness for the Prosecution is shortlisted as a finalist in the London Building Excellence Awards 2018.

Director Lucy Bailey (Love From A Stranger, The Graduate, Titus Andronicus) thrillingly places the audience in the thick of the action, with some even watching from the jury box, as this gripping tale of justice, passion and betrayal unfolds around them.

Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will Leonard survive the shocking witness testimony?  Will he be able to convince the jury of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?

Witness for the Prosecution is now booking until 31 March 2019.  The production is designed by William Dudley, with lighting by Chris Davey and sound design by Mic Pool.

LISTINGS

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions present
Witness for the Prosecution
By Agatha Christie
Directed by Lucy Bailey
Designed by William Dudley
Lighting Design by Chris Davey
Sound Design by Mic Pool
London County Hall
The Chamber, County Hall, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 7PB
Currently Booking until 31 March 2019
Box Office: 0844 815 7141

Online: www.witnesscountyhall.com

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm and matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm and Sunday at 3pm

TICKET PRICES

Tickets from £10

No booking fees if booked via the official website

Our exclusive VIP Jury Ticket will place you in the heart of the courtroom action. Jurors will receive a complimentary programme and 2 complimentary drinks (soft drink, beer or house wine) to be redeemed pre-show or at the interval.

Website: www.witnesscountyhall.com
Twitter: @WitnessPlayLDN
Facebook: /WitnessPlayLDN
Instagram: /witnessplayldn

Nuffield Theatre, Southampton – until 31 March 2108 then on tour around the UK.  Reviewed by Karen Millington Burnet

5*****

Wow, what a fantastic opening night; powerful, passionate and personal! Though an adaptation of the original, which rather took my A level student niece by surprise, the production was faithful enough to be an excellent rendition of the story; and an emotional onslaught from deceptively gentle beginning to explosive conclusion.

Man of the Match goes to Kelly Gough as Blanche who maintained the character and faithful interpretation of the role throughout. The demanding leading role required a maturity of insight and expression which Gough brought to the role in spades – outstanding. She was ably supported by Patrick Knowles’ Stanley and Amber James’ Stella though Stanley would have benefited from being more “animalistic” in appearance and manner.  For sheer physicality, I would have been tempted to cast Dexter Flanders in the role of Stanley and Patrick Knowles in the role of Mitch.  This would have underlined the point of casting Amber James as a black Stella; the differences between the two sides of the family being further emphasised.

While a young cast and in front of an audience which was, on average, older than I had expected, the whole effect was electric and those who sat around me were spell-bound.  The developing threat and violence, Gough’s rape scene and the descent into madness are a powerful tribute to a strong cast led by a convincing actress.

My niece, being a purist student, loved the set but didn’t get the contemporary costumes.  However, the staging of the production worked well in general.  We agreed to disagree on the cacophonous backing music which tracked the destructive intrusion of Blanche into the troubled but ultimately sound relationship between Stella and Stanley.

There are no hero’s in this play and none of the characters are particularly likeable but I did fall for the production with a strong cast and great production team.

On the whole, thank you; a draining but thoroughly rewarding evening – and we’d love to see this whole production again.

 

Rose Theatre, Kingston – until 7 April 2018.  Review by Heather Chalkley

4****

Preston Nyman’s unique style portrayed a believable boy, isolated on the family farm, where his imagination was the only entertainment and getting lost in his latest book about Billy the Wizard. Nyman’s George got the audience involved and delivered well balanced, clear diction with youthful enthusiasm. The only time Nyman began to lose his young audience was at the start of the potion making, which edged on  becoming monotonous until he fully engaged the children in the process.

Catherine Morris’s caricature of George’s Mum was hilarious, using vocal tone and physicality to deliver  the part, straight off the page of the original story.

Justin Wilman as George’s Dad, played to the adults in the audience. His not unfamiliar reactions to his mother-in-law got us all chuckling. Wilman as Dad created a visual picture with words as he dreams of success, by selling George’s Marvellous Medicine and solving world poverty – very funny.

Lisa Howard as George’s Grandma gave an outstanding performance, with a penetrating high pitched voice and a feast of facial expressions that made me laugh out loud.

My favourite character was Chicken played by Chandni Mistry. A great balance of slightly scary and very funny, Mistry’s physical performance kept the children and adults laughing together.

Tasha Taylor-Johnson has composed an evocative and quirky music score, that kept the children and adults equally engaged. Weaving the musicians into the production kept the focus on Centre stage and maintained the country farm feel.

The set is a masterpiece of characterisation straight out of Ronald Dahl’s imagination and a satisfying reflection of the literary illustrations.

The only constructive observation I would add is about the giant size Grandma. The massive arms didn’t quite work for me, not adding to the scary element or humour.

David Wood’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book captures the essence of the story, staying true to the dark and funny nature of Dahl’s style.

The Director Julia Thomas used this to create magic on the small stage, with smooth transitions and the use of inspired props. The audience particularly appreciated Grandma’s entrance on a mobility scooter as well as the chickens attached to remote control cars!

The final song delivered by the whole ensemble, was a health and safety warning to not try this at home! It certainly got the message across and raised a few smiles.

All in all a great afternoons family entertainment that I believe Roald Dahl would be pleased to put his name to.

OfficialLondonTheatre.com / YouTube / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Giphy / #OlivierAwards

OLIVIER AWARDS WITH MASTERCARD ANNOUNCES ITS BROADCAST & CEREMONY PLANS FOR 2018

 

• OLIVIER AWARDS RETURN TO ITV ON SUNDAY 8 APRIL AT 22:20
• WORLDWIDE BROADCAST (EX-UK) AT SAME TIME VIA THE OLIVIER AWARDS FACEBOOK PAGE
• RADIO COVERAGE LIVE BY MAGIC RADIO IN UK AND SIRIUS XM IN USA
• OLIVIER AWARDS RETURN TO CHINA VIA IQIYI
• THE SUCCESSFUL RED CARPET LIVE SHOW RETURNS VIA THE OLIVIER AWARDS FACEBOOK PAGE
• SPECIAL PERFORMANCES IN THE CEREMONY WILL INCLUDE:
  • CHITA RIVERA, IN REFERENCE TO THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER OPENINGWEST SIDE STORY IN LONDON, WILL PERFORM SOMEWHERE ACCOMPANIED BY LAST YEAR’S WINNERS, ANDY KARL AND ADAM J. BERNARD AND THE ARTS EDUCATIONAL SCHOOLS LONDON CHOIR
  • A UNIQUE MOMENT IN HONOUR OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER AND TIM RICE’S ICONIC MUSICAL JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT  WITH PAST STARS RETURNING INCLUDING JASON DONOVAN AND LINZI HATELEY, LEE MEAD AND PREEYA KALIDAS, AND JOE McELDERRY AND DANIELLE HOPE
• PERFORMANCES FROM NOMINATED MUSICALS INCLUDING: THE CAST OFHAMILTON; JOHN McCREA AND THE CAST OF EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE; SHEILA ATIM AND THE CAST OF GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY; LESLEY JOSEPH AND THE CAST OF YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN; TRACIE BENNETT FROM FOLLIES; AND THE CAST OF 42ND STREET

The Olivier Awards with Mastercard is delighted to announce further details about its broadcast and ceremony plans on Sunday 8 April 2018.

The Awards will continue its successful partnerships with ITV and Facebook.  The Biggest Night In British Theatre: The Olivier Awards will broadcast on ITV on Sunday 8 April from 22:20.  It will also broadcast worldwide at the same time, outside the UK, on the Olivier Awards Facebook page.  The Oliviers will broadcast in China via iQiyi on Tuesday 10 April.

The Awards will also continue its partnership with Magic Radio who will broadcast the entire show live on Sunday 8 April, hosted by Alice Arnold and Olivier Award-winner Ruthie Henshall, with build-up on air from 18:00. Sirius XM will broadcast the show via radio in the US.

The Red Carpet Live show will return this year from 16:00 to 17:30, with a special interval Backstage show at 19:00, both shown exclusively on the Olivier Awards Facebook page.

There will be performances from a variety of Olivier-nominated musicals.  The cast of Hamilton, which has a record-breaking thirteen nominations and is the most nominated production in Oliviers history, will open the show with its opening track Alexander Hamilton.

American musical theatre legend Chita Rivera will perform the iconic West Side Story track Somewhere with Andy Karl (Olivier Award 2017 winner for his performance in Groundhog Day), Adam J. Bernard (Olivier Award 2017 winner for his performance in Dreamgirls), and the Arts Educational Schools London Choir, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the production debuting in London.

A unique moment in honour of the 50th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s iconic musical Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will take place, with past stars returning including Jason Donovan and Linzi Hateley, Lee Mead and Preeya Kalidas, and Joe McElderry and Danielle Hope.

Performances from nominated musicals will include: the cast of Hamilton; John McCrea and the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie; Sheila Atim and the cast of Girl From The North Country; Lesley Joseph and the cast of Young Frankenstein; Tracie Bennett from Follies; and the cast of 42nd Street.

Widely recognised as the most prestigious stage honours, this year’s Olivier Awards return to the Royal Albert Hall and will be hosted by Catherine Tate.

Mastercard continues its partnership with Society of London Theatre and its headline sponsorship of the Olivier Awards, bringing cardholders with a passion for theatre closer to the genre they love