Author: FairyPoweredProductions

SHEFFIELD PEOPLE’S THEATRE RETURN TO THE CRUCIBLE STAGE WITH THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF

SONGS FROM THE SEVEN HILLS

 

CRUCIBLE

A Sheffield People’s Theatre Production

World Première

SONGS FROM THE SEVEN HILLS

By John Hollingworth, Claire McKenzie and Scott Gilmour

18 July – 21 July

Director: Emily Hutchinson; Designer: Kevin Jenkins

Movement Director: Darragh O’Leary; Musical Director: Matthew Malone

Lighting Designer: Gary Longfield; Sound Designer: Nick Greenhill

Sheffield People’s Theatre have devised this brand new musical, bringing to life stories inspired by the people of this proud city of steel. The community theatre company take to the stage with a heartfelt ode to our vibrant and vital city built on seven hills.

Thirty people were interviewed to create Songs from the Seven Hills, and the company is comprised of 51 cast members and six band members – the youngest cast member is 13 years old, and the oldest is 91 years old. They have spent 169 hours in rehearsals, and the set has taken 72 hours to build. The production itself uses 350 props, and 125 costumes.

Seven Hills, Six Stories, One City…

Noisemaker is the award-winning writing partnership of actor/ writer Scott Gilmour and composer Claire McKenzie. Both graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the pair work throughout the UK and internationally creating innovative, original work to challenge the expectations of musical theatre. As individuals, they have worked with a wide variety of companies including National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Lyceum Edinburgh, Dundee Rep, Citizens’ Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre, Channel 4 Films and the BBC. Noisemaker credits include Atlantic (Assembly/AMTP Northwestern, Chicago/Royal Conservatoire of Scotland- Herald Angel Award Winner 2017), Little Red and The Wolf (Dundee Rep Theatre – Nominated for Best Production for Children and Young People UK Theatre Awards and Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2016), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh), Forest Boy (NYMF, New York/The Other Palace, London/Edinburgh Fringe Assembly – Winner of S&S Award for Best Musical in Development, The NYMF 2016 Publishing Award), The Girl Who (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse/Edinburgh Fringe Assembly), Freakshow(The Roundhouse/ The Arches – Winner of the Scottish Daily Mail Drama Award 2012).

John Hollingworth‘s first full-length play, Multitudes, played at the Tricycle Theatre in early 2015 under the direction of the theatre’s Artistic Director, Indhu Rubasingham. He was subsequently awarded attachments to the National Theatre Studio and the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Other work includes Come to Where I’m From(Paines Plough), and – as co-editor with Max Stafford-Clark – a new version of Rita, Sue and Bob Too (Out of Joint). Also an actor, he is perhaps best known for playing Captain Henshawe across three series of Poldark onBBC One, and can currently be seen in The Norman Conquests at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Emily Hutchinson is Creative Projects Manager at Sheffield Theatres.  She trained at Central School of Speech and Drama. Hutchinson has a number of directing credits at Sheffield Theatres, most recently the Sheffield People’s Theatre productions of What We Wished For and A Dream by Chris Bush, Hospital Food by Eugene O’Hare and Hearts by Luke Norris, which transferred to National Theatre’s Temporary Space in July 2014 as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival.

 

Season at a Glance

LOVE AND INFORMATION

Until 14 July

 

SONGS FROM THE SEVEN HILLS

18 July – 21 July

 

STEEL

13 September – 6 October 2018

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

27 September – 20 October 2018

 

CLOSE QUARTERS

25 October – 10 November 2018

 

KISS ME, KATE

7 December 2018 – 12 January 2019

 

RUTHERFORD AND SON

8 – 23 February 2019

 

HANG

21 February – 9 March 2019

 

STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE

15 March – 6 April

 

West End:

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE

Apollo Theatre

Booking until April 2019

 

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Twitter: @crucibletheatre @SheffieldLyceum

MGCfutures BURSARY PROGRAMME OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR THE THIRD YEAR

ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY – A GALA FOR THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE WITH ALL PROCEEDS GOING TO MGCfutures

 

Artistic Director of MGC, Michael Grandage today announces the third annual MGCfutures Bursary Programme is now open for applications; and in addition, a special gala performance of The Lieutenant of Inishmore.

 

MGCfutures is a charity, formed in 2012. The bursaries programme was launched in 2016 for arts practitioners who show a commitment to their chosen career and look to progress to the next stage of their development.

Applicants can apply for bursaries from £500-£5000, to support careers across the theatre industry. Bursaries in previous years have supported a range of projects including directors and producers who needed help towards funding a workshop, choreographers, a theatrical milliner who needed help to buy tools for his work and designers who needed to invest in computer assisted design programmes or workshop space.

This year, for the first time, the company has partnered with the Gate Theatre to offer a £2500 bursary for a BAME designer to work as design assistant on a show in the Gate’s new season. As well as working full time on a show at the Gate, the bursary recipient will receive mentoring and support from the Gate’s Associate Director, Anthony Simpson-Pike and their Associate Artist Rosie Elnile. The bursary recipient will also receive support through a career clinic workshop and help in making connections with other designers whose work they admire. Finally, the design assistant will become a Gate Theatre Alumni Artist after the project, with access to all of the ensuing support that brings, as well as further mentorship from MGCfutures.

 

Michael Grandage said today, “I am delighted the MGCfutures Bursary programme goes from strength to strength. After only two years, we can already see the impact the bursaries are making amongst key practitioners, and how they have benefitted, not just from the financial aspect, but from the support and mentoring MGC provide alongside this. With the special Gala performance of The Lieutenant of Inishmore, we will be able to raise more money to continue to help theatre makers of the future.” 

 

Applications must be submitted via the MGCfutures website – www.mgcfutures.com – before 12 noon on 6 August.  Please note, bursaries are not available to support training or as commercial investments in productions.

Also announced today is a charity gala performance of Michael Grandage’s critically acclaimed production of Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore on 6 September with all proceeds going towards MGCfutures. Tickets start at just £20 and are on sale from 11am on 10 July via www.delfontmackintosh.com. For corporate packages, please contact: Andrew Broadley andrew@mgcfutures.com.

MGCfUTURES

The future of theatre depends on young people. They are the theatre makers and theatre goers of tomorrow. MGCfutures reaches out to people of different ages and backgrounds, providing information, guidance and support through mentorship, the Bursary scheme, online resources, workshops and participatory activities.  It is also committed to enabling young people to visit the theatre who might otherwise not be able to do so.

 

MGCfutures is a charitable organisation, governed by a Board of Trustees. MGCfutures Education Associates, Dominic Francis and Samantha Lane, develop workshops and online materials to support theatre-goers to get the most out of their experience, especially those visiting a theatre for the first time.

 

MGCfutures is also supported by the charity’s patrons: Judi Dench, Dawn French, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Daniel Radcliffe, Simon Russell Beale, Sheridan Smith, David Walliams and Ben Whishaw.

 

“MGCfutures understands that artists need practical support, as well as encouragement and mentorship, in order to be empowered to make good work. It’s exactly the investment I need at this stage in my career to keep raising my ambitions.”

Isley Lynn – MGCfutures Bursary recipient, 2016

 
To find out more about the charity’s work, and how to get involved, please contact via the Education Associates at info@mgcfutures.com

 

• The MGCfutures Bursaries are funded through money raised by the company itself. As the company continues to expand the scheme, individual donors and supporters are being sought.

 

• The recipients of the awards are selected from an industry panel including Michael Grandage. After the panel, each recipient will be met with to discuss their bursary and the support MGCfutures will give each one moving forward.

Twitter @MGCfutures

Facebook- MGCfutures

https://www.facebook.com/MGC-Futures-888165627994320/

www.mgcfutures.com/bursaries/#

FULL CAST &

FURTHER VENUES ANNOUNCED FOR

LISA GENOVA’S BEST-SELLING NOVEL

STILL ALICE

OPENING 12 SEPTEMBER 2018

NATIONAL PRESS NIGHT 19 SEPTEMBER

 

Eva Pope, Martin Marquez, Mark Armstrong, Ruth Ollman, Micah Balfour and Anna Andresen will join the previously announced Sharon Small in Christine Mary Dunford’s newly adapted version of Lisa Genova’s best-selling novel, STILL ALICE, directed by David Grindley.

 

The tour will open at the Sheffield Lyceum, running from 12 to 15 September. The newly announced venues are Cambridge Arts Theatre from 16 to 20 October, Theatre Royal Plymouth from 30 October to 3 November, Liverpool Playhouse from 6 to 10 November and Glasgow Theatre Royal from 13 to 17 November.There will be a national press night on Wednesday 19 September in Richmond.

 

Eva Pope most recently played Matron Bottomly in Hetty Feather (CBBC) and DI Heather Ashton in Silent Witness (BBC 1). Her other recent TV credits include regular character Rachel Mason in Waterloo Road (BBC 1), for which she received a nomination for Best Actress at the NTS Awards, Tanya Pooley in Coronation Street (ITV) from 1993 to 1994, and Laura Edison in Holby City (BBC 1).

 

Martin Marquez has had a prolific stage and television career. His notable TV roles include the leading role of Gino Primirola in two series of Hotel Babylon (BBC 1), Paul Franks in The Job Lot (ITV2) opposite Russell Tovey, and Hunter Russell in Modus (BBC 4) opposite Kim Cattrall and Greg Wise. His theatre roles include Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe), Charles Holroyd in Husbands and Sons(National Theatre), Captain Dana Holmes in From Here To Eternity (West End), and Moonface Martin in Anything Goes (National Theatre and West End).

 

Mark Armstrong is best known for playing series regular Spanner opposite Michelle Keegan in Our Girl, which is currently airing on BBC 1. He played Rab in Frankenstein (National Theatre) opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, and appeared in Design for Living(Salisbury Playhouse) and Men Should Weep (National Theatre).

 

Ruth Ollman has recently graduated from Guildhall School of Acting and her roles whilst training include Irene in Crazy For You, Mrs Hubble in Great Expectations, Jessica in The Merchant of Venice and Dionysus in The Bacchae.

 

Micah Balfour played series regulars Jermaine Bailey in Emmerdale (ITV) from 2015-16 and PC Benjamin Gayle in The Bill (ITV) from 2007-10. Micah is reprising the role of Doctor Davis in Still Alice, having played it at West Yorkshire Playhouse earlier this year. His other theatre credits include Frank Barber in Mr Foote’s Other Leg (Hampstead Theatre and West End) and Market Boy and The Royal Hunt of the Sun (National Theatre).

 

Anna Andresen’s theatre credits include Mary Sidney in Emilia (Shakespeare’s Globe), Mollie Ralston in The Mousetrap (West End) and The 39 Steps (West End). Her television credits include Silent Witness (BBC 1) and Fortitude (Sky Atlantic).

 

STILL ALICE follows 50 year-old Alice Howland, a renowned linguistics professor at Harvard University, as she battles with early-onset dementia and explores the effects the disease has on identity, family and relationships in this uncompromising yet tender portrayal. In 2014, Genova’s novel was adapted into a film starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart, for which Moore won the Academy, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Actress.

 

Television and stage star, Sharon Small, reprises the role of Alice, her first UK tour in almost twenty-five years, having played it at West Yorkshire Playhouse earlier this year. She is best known for playing Barbara Havers in The Inspector Linley Mysteries (BBC1), Trudi Malloy in Mistresses (BBC 1), Christine opposite Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette in the film adaptation of About A Boy, and most recently as Brigitte Rayne in Trust Me opposite Jodie Whittaker (BBC 1).

 

STILL ALICE has set and costume design by Jonathan Fensom, lighting design by Jason Taylor, sound design by Gregory Clarke and is produced by Michael Park.

 

Website:  www.stillaliceplay.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stillaliceplay

Twitter: @StillAlicePlay         

 

Running time: 90 minutes, no interval

Age Guidance: 11+

 

2018 TOUR SCHEDULE

12 – 15 September                  Sheffield Lyceum Theatre                                        0114 249 6000                                                                                                         www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk                                        

 

18 – 22 September                 Richmond Theatre                                                    0844 871 7651

                                                www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre            

 

25 – 29 September                 King’s Theatre, Edinburgh                                       0131 529 6000

                                               www.capitaltheatres.com/kings                                  

 

2 – 6 October                         Norwich Theatre Royal                                             01603 630 000                     

                                              www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk                                  

9 – 13 October                       Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford                                        01483 44 00 00

                                               www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk                                          On sale 27 July

                                                           

16 – 20 October                     Cambridge Arts Theatre                                            01223 503333          

                                               www.cambridgeartstheatre.com                                 

 

30 October – 3 November       Theatre Royal Plymouth                                           01752 267222                                                                                                           www.theatreroyal.com                                                On sale 13 July

 

6 – 10 November                    Liverpool Playhouse                                                0151 709 4776

                                               www.everymanplayhouse.com                                   

                                            

13 – 17 November                  Glasgow Theatre Royal                                             0844 871 7647

                                                www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow     

 

20 – 24 November                  Festival Theatre, Malvern                                          01684 892277          

                                               www.malvern-theatres.co.uk                                                         

Arts Award Day for Bradford schools
as part of the Children & the Arts Start programme
run by the Alhambra Theatre

Start, created by Children & the Arts, is a three-year engagement programme of arts activity between selected cultural organisations and local schools that tackles inequality by working only with the children who need it most, who are at risk of missing out on a creative and cultural education.

Children from local schools have made visits to the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford over the last year to see a selection of shows as part of the Start programme during the first year of the programme. They have been working with the team at the Alhambra Theatre in workshops to develop their critical eye and have fun creating their own artistic work.

Participants from the majority of these local schools have been working towards an Arts Award as an addition to their engagement with the Start programme. Arts Award is a nationally accredited range of unique qualifications that supports anyone aged up to 25 to grow as artists and arts leaders, inspiring them
to connect with and take part in the wider arts world through taking challenges in an art form.

The local Start schools participating in the Arts Award are: Beckfoot Upper Heaton, Bradford College, Feversham College, Hilltop C of E Primary School, Samuel Lister Academy and Southmere Primary Academy.

Start participants are doing the Discover or Bronze level Arts Award, which involves taking part in different arts activities (Alhambra Theatre visits, workshops in school and talks/events); finding out about artists and
arts organisations (working on arts heroes and finding out about how the Alhambra Theatre operates); experiencing arts events (visits to the Alhambra Theatre including pantomime, War Horse and Awful Auntie); and sharing arts skills with others (feedback and sharing with other pupils and parents).

On Wednesday 11 July, a selection of students and teachers from Bradford College, Feversham College, Samuel Lister Academy and Beckfoot Upper Heaton will attend a Start schools Bronze Arts Award Moderation Day at The Studio (adjacent to the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford). The students have put
together a portfolio or arts log in their own choice of format; there are 119 portfolios submitted for this Bronze Arts Award (one per student) and these are being ‘judged’ by an Arts Award moderator at the session. The moderator will look at a selection of the portfolios and agree if they have passed. The moderator will also look at the portfolios from the students who attend on the day and ask them to share their experience of the project and ask them questions about what they have done during the process.

Hilltop C of E Primary School and Southmere Primary Academy have done the Discover level Arts Award. There is no moderation at this level and the students won’t be attending the moderation day; but approximately 80 students from these schools have taken and passed the Discover level Arts Award.

The Start programme is proven to raise the aspirations of young people, building confidence and helping with learning and development in school. It also provides teachers with training for them to deliver the arts programme, helping pupils realise their full potential and making links to the curriculum.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, says:
“I am delighted that so many young people from across Bradford have been able to participate in the Arts Award opportunity as part of the Start programme. Hearing about their enjoyment of seeing shows and participating in workshops during the first year of the programme has been truly inspiring and energising.

The Start scheme is a fantastic way to give children access to quality culture and theatre, which ultimately enriches every part of their learning journey through school and beyond. I’m really looking forward to hearing from the Bradford schools and students over the next 2 years of the project.”

FROM WEST END TO ‘RAINBOW TOUR’

NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE AUTUMN 2018 TOUR OF

TIM RICE & ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S

WORLD RENOWNED MUSICAL MASTERPIECE

 

E V I T A

INCLUDING WEST END STARS

LUCY O’BYRNE, MIKE STERLING & GLENN CARTER

AT THE CHURCHILL THEATRE BROMLEY FROM TUE 24 – SAT 28 JULY

 

êêêê

The Independent, The Sunday Times, What’s On Stage, Radio Times, Broadway World, The i, Mail On Sunday, Gay Times, British Theatre

 

êêêêê

‘Stunning’ Mark Shenton

êêêêê

‘A sensationally good production of Webber and Rice’s greatest musical’ The Stage

After captivating audiences for the past 10 years in the UK, embarking on two West End seasons and following an international tour, Evita returns to the UK with a brand new cast for the 2018 autumn season. The musical opens at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking on 17 July 2018 before visiting Bromley from 24 – 28 July for exclusive London dates. The tour finishes in Southsea in November.

Led by three of the finest musical theatre stars and saying ‘Hello, Buenos Aires’ for the first time is Lucy O’Byrne (The Sound of Music, Les Misérables) in the iconic role of Eva Perón, with Mike Sterling (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables) as Juan Perón and, award-winning West End leading man, Glenn Carter (Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar – on stage and screen, Les Misérables)

as Ché. They will be joined by: Oscar Balmaseda(Magaldi) and Cristina Hoey (Mistress).

Completing the cast is: Emmanuel Alba (Ensemble),Verity Burgess (Ensemble), Callum Fitzgerald(Ensemble), Riva Grant (Ensemble), Samuel John Humphreys (Ensemble), Bethan Jacks (Ensemble),Joe McCourt (Ensemble), Benjamin McMillan(Ensemble), Chrissie Perkins (Ensemble), Oliver Slade (Ensemble), Chris Stoddart, (Ensemble), Mike Ward (Ensemble), Kirsty Whelan (Ensemble) andYuval Zoref (Ensemble).

Telling the story of Eva Perón, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Perón, Evita follows Eva’s journey, which ultimately led her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’ by the Argentine people.

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Glides into Hull

New Adventures Set For City Debut

Thrilling, audacious, witty and emotive; Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is coming to Hull in 2019 as part of a nationwide tour.

The show will tour for 32 weeks to 22 venues throughout the UK including Hull New Theatre, before embarking on a number of international tour dates.

New Adventures’ star Will Bozier, currently dancing to great acclaim as ‘Harry, the Pilot’, in Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella and former English National Ballet star Max Westwell, who was also recently seen in the West End in An American in Paris, are both making their debuts in the role of ‘The Swan’.

While returning to the role of ‘The Prince’, are hull-born dancer Liam Mower* (currently wowing audiences as ‘The Angel’ in Cinderella) and Dominic North (acclaimed star of Edward Scissorhands, The Car Man, Sleeping Beauty, The Red Shoes and currently Cinderella). They are joined by New Adventures’ newcomer, James Lovell who is making his professional debut.

‘The Queen’ will be performed by two New Adventures’ favourites, Nicole Kabera and Katrina Lyndon both making their debuts in this role, while Katrina Lyndon also takes on the role of ‘The Girlfriend’ alongside Freya Field and Carrie Willis who are both returning to the Swan Lake Company.

The company also includes a number of dancers making their New Adventures’ debut including; Nicole Alphonce, Leigh Alderson, Andrew Ashton, Jonathan Luke Baker, Benjamin Bazeley, Alistair Beattie, Lewis Bondu, Isaac Bowry, Megan Cameron, João Castro, Zanna Cornelis, Kayla Collymore, Keenan Fletcher, Alex Fadayiro, Michaela Guibarra, Bryony Harrison, Nicholas Keegan, Shoko Ito, Courtney Liu, Jack Mitchell, Harry Ondrak-Wright, Barnaby Quarendon, Jack William Parry, Sam Salter, Stan West and Milwhynne Williams.

Matthew Bourne said “With the largest cast in our repertory, Swan Lake always gives us the opportunity to bring a wealth of new talent into the Company and I’m excited to welcome so many new dancers into the New Adventures family.”

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake returns with a fresh look for the 21st Century. Retaining the iconic elements of the original production loved by millions around the world, Matthew Bourne and his Associate Artists, award-winning designers Lez Brotherston (Set and Costumes) and Paule Constable (Lighting) will create an exciting re-imagining of the classic production.

Collecting over 30 international accolades including an Olivier Award in the UK and three Tonys on Broadway, Matthew Bourne’s powerful interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece is a passionate and contemporary Swan Lake for our times.

New Adventures is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.

Swan Lake comes to Hull New Theatre from 23-27 April 2019. Tickets on general sale from 10am on Friday 13 July in person via the Hull City Hall Box Office and from 11am over the phone on 01482 300 306 or online at our new website www.hulltheatres.co.uk.

New Adventures is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.

*Liam Mower is currently scheduled to perform on the following dates:

Tuesday 23 April – Evening

Thursday 25 April – Matinee

Friday 26 April – Evening

Saturday 27 April – Evening

However, the appearance of any particular artist cannot be guarantee

GO BERSERK FOR THE CIRCUS

Breath-taking and death-defying are just two of the ways to describe the incredible Cirque Berserk! which comes to Darlington Hippodrome for a week from Tuesday 17 July.

When a show includes knife-throwing, gravity-defying somersaults, acrobatic displays from the ceiling, South American throwing weapons set on fire and the world famous ‘Globe of Death’, you know you’re in for an amazing night.

The 35-strong cast of performers is drawn from around the world, from as far afield as Kenya, Cuba, Mongolia, Brazil and the Czech Republic.

Direct from the West End and showcasing the finest in traditional circus thrills and skills, Cirque Berserk! celebrates the 250th anniversary of the invention of circus by bringing this treasured form of live entertainment bang up-to-date in a jaw-dropping spectacular created especially for the theatre.

It’s a show that is great for the kids and even better for the adults – not to be missed.

Cirque Berserk! runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Tuesday 17 to Sunday 22 July.

For more information or to book call 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

LET THE SPARKS AND MUSIC FLY!

 

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE EUROPEAN PREMIERE OF 

BILL RUSSELL & JANET HOOD’S HEARTFELT & HILARIOUS NEW MUSICAL 

PRESENTED BY KATY LIPSON (ARIA ENTERTAINMENT)

& JIM KIERSTEAD (KIERSTEAD PRODUCTION

OPENING AT LONDON’S SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

FROM 5 – 29 SEPTEMBER 2018

 

Casting for the European premiere of Bill Russell and Janet Hood’s new musical Unexpected Joy has been announced. The powerful all-female cast is made up of: Janet Fullerlove (Fortune’s Fool, The Beggar’s Opera) as Joy; Jodie Jacobs (Myth, Rock of Ages) as Rachel; Melanie Marshall (Guys and Dolls, Jane Eyre) as Lou; and Kelly Sweeney (Ronald William White Acting Through Song Prize Winner 2018) as Tamara.

 

Following a hugely successful run off-Broadway at the York Theatre Company, Unexpected Joy transfers to London’s Southwark Playhouse from 5 September 2018, with press night on Friday 7 September. 

 

Award-winning producers, Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment and Jim Kierstead of Kierstead Productions, have joined forces either side of the Atlantic to bring UK and US audiences’ groundbreaking, innovative and current new musicals. Unexpected Joy is their first partnership venture with the musical being directed by Amy Anders Corcoran, with the book and lyrics written by Bill Russell and music by Janet Hood.  

 

Katy Lipson said, “New chamber musicals are rarely seen on stage, not to mention musicals with an all-female cast celebrating the importance of the freedom to love and that ‘Love is Love’. I have always been a huge fan of Janet and Bill’s work and it is an honour to be presenting a UK Premiere of their latest musical in London, after our premiere Off-Broadway earlier in the year. I hope audiences will embrace these marvellous, strong characters and beautiful score.”

 

 

The creative team is completed by: Gareth Bretherton (Musical Director), Verity Johnson (Designer), Nic Farman (Lighting Designer), James Nicholson (Sound Designer), Jane Deitch (Casting Director) and Chris Matanlé (General Manager for Aria Entertainment). 

 

Unexpected Joy is the story of three generations of female singers, long-held family tensions and a week together where change is in the air – Joy, a baby boomer pop star, is visited by her daughter, Rachel and granddaughter Tamara. Rachel is married to a prominent televangelist, so Joy is reluctant to divulge that she’s planning to marry Lou, another singer who happens to be a woman. A week with all four together is bound to lead to tension, laughter, discoveries and happiness that really is unexpected.  Let the sparks and music fly!

 

In a time when the awareness of diversity and acceptance in society is at an all-time high, it’s the perfect opportunity to examine differences within our own families. It’s easy sometimes to disregard strangers who believe and live differently than the way we do, but what happens when those differences occur within our own family units?

 

Unexpected Joy explores this concept by introducing three generations of women who have different values, dreams, and goals.  After drawing strong lines in the sand about what behaviors and thoughts each deems to be acceptable and unacceptable, at the end of the day, the question really is how can people get along and be the family they were always meant to be by finding common ground.  Through laughter, tears, self-discovery, and an original and compelling score, Unexpected Joy encourages its characters, as well as the audience, to take a journey of self-discovery because, at the end of the day, we really are all just one big family.

LISTINGS

 

UNEXPECTED JOY 

SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE 

05 – 29 SEPTEMBER 2018 

 

Performances:

Wednesday – Saturday: 8.00pm 

Thursday & Saturday: 3.30pm 

Sunday: 3.00pm 

 

Ticket prices: 

£12 Previews 

£20 Standard 

£16 Concessions 

 

Address: Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD

 

Box Office: 020 7407 0234

 

Website:

www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

www.aria-entertainment.com       

 

Twitter:

@Swkplay

@AriaEnts

@UnexpectedLDN

 

Facebook: 

@SouthwarkPlayhouse 

@AriaEntertainment

15 minutes with Anna Jane Casey

It’s always a pleasure to interview Anna Jane Casey.  Her twitter intro may describe her has “wife, mother, marathon runner & stagey bint” but leaves out incredibly friendly, generous and very down to earth.

We sat down to discuss her starring role as Annie in Calendar Girls the Musical written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth and produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers.

How are rehearsals going?

It’s lovely, everyone is so nice.  I know you always say that but it’s so true.  Ruth Madoc (starring as Jessie) has been telling us some amazing stories and Fern Britton (Marie) has interviewed so many people and has some tales to tell too.  So I’m going to be spending the tour saying “tell me more” in various peoples dressing rooms

 

Have you seen the show before?

No I’ve not.  I saw the film when first came out, but I’ve done workshops and read throughs and it’s going to be fabulous.  Ruth (Madoc) has been in the play version of Calendar Girls but she’s playing a different character this time.  Sara Crowe (Ruth) is going to steal every scene and Denise Walsh (Celia) is just lovely. It’s a story full of emotions, happy and sad and tells a beautiful story about some amazing women who broke the mold

 

So how do you feel about going nude?

I really don’t mind, naked I look like a 14 year old boy because I have a dancers body.  It might be an age thing but I’ve had two children I really don’t care about getting it all out on stage.  You (the audience) don’t actually see as much as you think you would – its more implied that visual. The only people to see everything are us actresses on stage and the stage crew in the wings.  It shouldn’t be an issue though, the human body in all its forms is beautiful be it me looking like a boy or the others with huge breasts and curvy hips. Our role models should be real women who look like real women, not heavily edited, airbrushed images.

When we did the first photocall earlier in the year, Ruth who is in her 70’s was the first one to be topless, the older you get the less you care

 

Have you worked with any of the cast before?

Not the main cast, but I have worked with Nikki Gerrard who is understudying the parts.  And I’ve known others by osmosis, my stage husband Phil Corbitt has worked with Graham (Macduff) my real husband

 

Have you met the original Calendar Girls?

Yes, I’ve met Angela who my character of Annie is based on and Trish who Chris (Rebecca Storm) is based on.  We had a trip to Burnsall in North Yorkshire where is all began and met with our real life counterparts.

I wanted my Annie to be authentic but not an impression of Angela so I’ve said to tell me if anything is wrong with my character, if I’d say things in a different way or not say certain things at all.  

They have raised, and continue to raise, so much money for Bloodwise.  And I want to play my part and play my part well

 

Are you doing the full tour?

Yes, I think its 19 months all around the country

 

Are you looking forward to any particular theatre?

Sheffield, I’ve never played the Lyceum but the Crucible has been a very big part of my life.  Salford Lowry because that is my “home” town – I think my parents are getting a coach party up to see it.  And Edinburgh because its 20 years in August since I got engaged to my husband Graham whilst playing Edinburgh.  He proposed in Leith. My oldest daughter is going to see me when I’m in Canterbury too

 

So this is the second time you’ve played a role made famous by Julie Walters what do you want to do next?

I just want to be Julie Walters when I grow up.  I was Mrs Wilkinson in the West End and on tour and now this.  I’ve just introduced my girls to Victoria Wood and I’ve had them doing “Two Soups” in the kitchen in fits of hysterics ever since.

 

How is the Marathon running going?

You’ll understand how busy life is, but we have recently moved out of London to Kent.  But my girls still go to school in London until term ends in 9 days time. So I have to get them up and bring them to school in London, then go to rehearsals so I’m having to get up at 5am to run.  Its cooler then too. Again I think its an age thing – Sara (Crowe) says she is an early riser and does yoga at 6am. I’m running the Berlin Marathon in September for the Alzheimer’s Society. Once this run is other I’ll be fit enough to do a tour

If you’d like to sponsor AJ then you can find the link here www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Anna-Jane-Casey)

Thank you to Anna Jane for her time

 

Website: www.calendargirlsthemusical.com

Facebook: @thegirlsmusical

Twitter: @thegirlsmusical

2018/19 TOUR SCHEDULE

 

16 August – 1 September Leeds Grand Theatre 0844 848 2700 www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

5 – 15 September The Marlowe, Canterbury 01227 878 7787 www.themarlowetheatre.com

18 – 29 September Newcastle Theatre Royal 0844 811 2121 www.theatreroyal.co.uk

2 – 13 October Festival Theatre Edinburgh 0131 529 6000 www.edtheatres.com/festival

16 – 20 October Leicester De Montfort Hall 0116 233 3111 www.demontforthall.co.uk

23 – 27 October Venue Cymru, Llandudno 01492 872000 www.venuecymru.co.uk

30 October – 10 November The Lowry, Salford 0843 208 6000 www.thelowry.com

13 – 17 November Stoke Regent Theatre 0844 871 7649 www.atgtickets.com/stoke

20 – 24 November Hull New Theatre 01482 300 306 www.hulltheatres.co.uk

27 Nov – 1 December Liverpool Empire 0844 871 3017 www.atgtickets.com/liverpool

8 – 19 January 2019 Mayflower Theatre Southampton 02380 711811 www.mayflower.org.uk

22 Jan – 2 Feb 2019 Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin 0844 847 2455 www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

5 – 16 February 2019 Norwich Theatre Royal 01603 630 000 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk On sale soon

19 Feb – 2 March 2019 His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen 01224 641122 www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

5 – 16 March 2019 The Orchard Theatre, Dartford 01322 220000 www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

19 – 23 March 2019 Sunderland Empire 0844 871 3022 www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire

26 – 30 March 2019 New Victoria Theatre, Woking 0844 871 7645 www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre

2 – 13 April 2019 Sheffield Lyceum Theatre 0114 249 6000 www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

16 – 20 April 2019 New Theatre, Oxford 0844 847 1585 www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford

 

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE UK TOUR OF KINKY BOOTS,
LONDON’S SMASH HIT AND WINNER OF EVERY MAJOR BEST
MUSICAL AWARD

Kinky Boots, the winner of every major Best Musical award, is pleased to announce casting for the upcoming UK tour. Callum Francis will play Lola until 15 December 2018 and Kayi Ushe will play the role from 17 December 2018. Paula Lane, known for her role as Kylie Platt in Coronation Street will play Lauren and Joel Harper-Jackson will play Charlie.

The tour will open at Royal & Derngate in Northampton on 19 September 2018, returning to the home of this heart-warming British story, whilst the West End production continues at the Adelphi Theatre until 12 January 2019.

Also joining the Kinky Boots cast will be Demitri Lampra (Don), Adam Price (George) Helen Ternent (Nicola) who will be accompanied by Charlie Allen, Nicola Avino, Lizzie Bea, Joshua St Clair, Connor Collins, Daniel Conway, Shaun Dalton, John Dempsey, Niki Evans, Mary Fox, Scarlet Gabriel, Damon Gould, George Grayson, Portia Harry, Joshua Lovell, Jacob McIntosh, Chileshe Mondelle, Alfie Parker, Fred Smiley, Toyan Thomas-Browne, Andy Watkins and Jason Winter

Current tour dates include:

Royal & Derngate, Northampton (19 September – 6 October 2018)
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (16 – 27 October 2018)
Newcastle Theatre Royal (29 October – 10 November 2018)
Manchester Opera House (12 November – 1 December 2018)
Edinburgh Playhouse (10 December 2018 – 5 January 2019)
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (14– 26 January 2019)
Regent Theatre, Stoke-on Trent (28 January – 9 February 2019)
Venue Cymru, Llandudno (11 – 16 February 2019)
New Theatre Oxford (18 – 23 February 2019)
Bristol Hippodrome (25 February – 9 March 2019)
Birmingham Hippodrome (11 – 23 March 2019)
Liverpool Empire (25 March – 6 April 2019)
Leeds Grand Theatre (8 April – 20 April 209)
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen (23 April – 4 May 2019)
Kings Theatre Glasgow (6 – 18 May 2019)
Theatre Royal Nottingham (27 May – 8 June 2019)

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (10 – 22 June 2019)
Sunderland Empire (24 June – 6 July 2019)
Theatre Royal, Plymouth (8 July – 20 July 2019) – Public booking opens 13 July 2018
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (22 July – 3 August 2019)
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (3-14 September 2019)

Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre has become a favourite with UK theatregoers having won three Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best Costume Design and Best Actor in a Musical for Matt Henry who played Lola. Kinky Boots also won the London Evening Standard BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical as well as three WhatsOnStage Awards for Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical and Best Choreography.

With a book by Broadway legend and four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles), and songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, this joyous musical celebration is about the friendships we discover, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind.

Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new
stilettos.

With direction and choreography by two-time Tony® Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Hairspray), Kinky Boots is the winner of every major Best Musical award including three Olivier Awards, three WhatsOnStage Awards as well as six Broadway Tony® Awards.

Callum Francis (Lola/Simon) most recently starred as Lola in the Australian Tour of Kinky Boots – for which he won the 2017 Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Musical – direct from the Original London Production at the Adelphi Theatre. His other theatre credits include Miss Saigon (Prince Edward Theatre); The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); Ghost (Piccadilly Theatre); Hair (European Tour); Ultimate Broadway (Shanghai Culture Square Theatre); Naked Boys Singing (Charing Cross Theatre) and Fame (Manchester Opera House).

Kayi Ushe (Lola/Simon) has several theatre credits including The Crucible, A Little Night Music (Storyhouse, Chester); Motown the Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre); Wonderland (UK Tour); The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre); Avenue Q (UK Tour); Kisses on a Postcard (North Devon Theatres); Fame the Musical (Italian tour) and Crazy for You (London Palladium).

Joel Harper-Jackson (Charlie Price) has numerous theatre credits including Pieces of String (Mercury Theatre); Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus (The Other Palace); The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (UK Tour), Jesus Christ Superstar (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (The Aldwych Theatre); Little Women (Hope Mill Theatre); Picture Perfect (St James); Pacific Overtures (Union Theatre); Rent (UK Tour) and West End Women (UK Tour). His film credits include The Curse and Abu Ghraib.

Paula Lane (Lauren) has appeared on stage in Be More Martyn (Southwark Playhouse) and The Bengal Lily (Manchester Royal Exchange). Her television and film credits include Coronation Street; Doctors; Heartbeat; The Royal; Going Postal and War Wounds.

Demitri Lampra (Don) has appeared on stage in both The Jungle Book (Image Musical Theatre) and The Wind in the Willows (UK tour).

Helen Ternent (Nicola) has several theatre credits including Jersey Boys (Piccadilly Theatre); The Pajama Game (Shaftesbury Theatre); Stephen Ward (Aldwych Theatre); Viva Forever (Piccadilly Theatre); Hairspray! (UK Tour); High School Musical 2 (UK Tour) Fame (UK Tour); We Will Rock You (Vienna/Zurich); The Three Musketeers (Berlin); Mamma Mia! (Cyprus).

Adam Price (George) has multiple theatre credits including Privates On Parade (MGC, Noel Coward Theatre); Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre); Hairspray (UK Tour); Blood Brothers, Oliver Twist, Ghosts of Scrooge (Library Theatre); Babes in Arms, The Winter’s Tale, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); The Boys From Syracuse (Crucible, Sheffield); Guys & Dolls, Fat Pig
– The Musical (Leicester Haymarket); The Red Balloon (Bristol Old Vic); Notre Dame (Oxford); The Merry Widow, Ghosts Of Ruddigore (Opera Della Luna); Make Some Noise, One Step Beyond (Stratford East); A Hole In The Fence (White Bear Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing (Hampstead Theatre) and The Dark Side (UK Tour). His television and film credits include Family Affairs; Eastenders; May To December; Coppers; The Cuckoo Sister; Grange Hill; Just Good Friends; Executive Stress and Young Soul Rebels.

Kinky Boots is produced by Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig and Playful Productions, in association with Cameron Mackintosh.

Book: Harvey Fierstein
Composer & Lyricist: Cyndi Lauper
Director & Choreographer: Jerry Mitchell
Musical Supervision, Arranger & Orchestrator: Stephen Oremus
Scenic Design: David Rockwell
Costume Design: Gregg Barnes
Lighting Design: Kenneth Posner
Sound Design: John Shivers
Hair Design: Josh Marquette
Further tour dates to be announced in due course.

Official UK Website: www.kinkybootsthemusical.co.uk/uk-tour
Official Facebook: www.facebook.com/KinkyBootsUK
Official Twitter: www.twitter.com/KinkyBootsUK

TOUR DETAILS

Royal & Derngate, Northampton
19 September – 6 October 2018
Website: www.royalandderngate.co.uk
Box Office: 01604 624 811

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
16 – 27 October 2018
Website: www.grandtheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 01902 429 212

Newcastle Theatre Royal
29 October – 10 November 2018
Website: www.theatreroyal.co.uk
Box Office: 08448 11 21 21

Manchester Opera House
12 November – 1 December 2018
Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester
Box Office: 0844 871 3018

Edinburgh Playhouse
10 December 2018 – 5 January 2019
Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse
Box Office: 0844 871 3014

Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
14 – 26 January 2019
Website: www.marlowetheatre.com
Box Office: 01227 787 787

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
28 January – 9 February 2019
Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre
Box Office: 0844 871 7649

Venue Cymru, Llandudno
11 – 16 February 2019
Website: www.venuecymru.co.uk
Box Office: 01492 872 000

New Theatre Oxford
18 – 23 February 2019
Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/
Box Office: 0844 871 3020

Bristol Hippodrome
25 February – 9 March 2019
Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome
Box Office: 0844 871 3012

Birmingham Hippodrome
11 – 23 March 2019
Website: www.birminghamhippodrome.com
Box Office: 0844 338 5000

Liverpool Empire
25 March – 6 April 2019
Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire/
Box Office: 0844 871 3017

Leeds Grand Theatre
8 April – 20 April 209
Website: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com
Box Office: 0844 848 2700

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
23 April – 4 May 2019
Website: www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/venues/his-majestys-theatre
Box Office: 01224 641112

Kings Theatre Glasgow
6 – 18 May 2019
Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre/
Box Office: 0844 871 7648

Theatre Royal Nottingham
27 May – 8 June 2019
Website: www.trch.co.uk
Box Office: 0115 989 5555

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
10 – 22 June 2019
Website: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Box Office: 0114 249 6000

Sunderland Empire
24 June – 6 July 2019
Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire/
Box Office: 0844 871 3022

Theatre Royal, Plymouth – Public booking opens 13 July 2018
8 July – 20 July
Website: www.theatreroyal.com
Box office: 01752 267222

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
22 July – 3 August 2019
Website: http://www.wmc.org.uk/
Box office: 029 2063 6464

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
3-14 September 2019
Website: https://www.mayflower.org.uk/
Box office: 02380 711811