Author: FairyPoweredProductions

THE FULL MONTY RETURNS TO THE STEEL CITY

Simon Beaufoy’s hilarious award-winning production of The Full Monty brings its UK tour to a close at Sheffield Lyceum, from Monday 3 – Saturday 15 April, with Gary Lucy, returning to the Steel City, in the role of Gaz.

In 1997, a British film about six out-of-work Sheffield steelworkers with nothing to lose, took the world by storm, becoming one of the most successful British films ever made and with a heart-felt story that still resonates today.

Led by Gary Lucy (Danny Pennant in EastEnders, DS Will Fletcher in The Bill, Kyle Pascoe in Footballer’s Wives, Luke Morgan in Hollyoaks, winner of Dancing on Ice) the cast also includes Anthony Lewis (Marc Reynolds in Emmerdale) as Lomper, Andrew Dunn (best known as Tony in Dinnerladies and for his regular appearances playing Alastair Campbell on Bremner, Bird and Fortune) as Gerald, Louis Emerick (Mick Johnson in Brookside and PC Walsh in Last of the Summer Wine) as Horse, Chris Fountain (best known for his role as Justin Burton in Hollyoaks, runner-up of Dancing on Ice) as Guy and Kai Owen (best known for his portrayal of Rhys in Torchwood and recently Pete in Hollyoaks) as Dave.

Packed full of iconic songs from the film by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones, drop absolutely everything to get a ticket!

The Full Monty comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Monday 3 – Saturday 15 April.  Tickets can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and are priced from £21.00.  Concessions and group discounts are available.

The Lowry to dazzle theatregoers
with unique, digital art installation commissioned from
Marshmallow Laser Feast

The Lowry’s vast 1,700-seat Lyric theatre is set to be taken over by a visually stunning feast of light, sound, colour and technology.

Before select theatre performances, audiences will experience IRIS – a unique digital art installation, created using the latest in robotic and laser technology. This technology is manipulated to form a mass of light that creates moving shapes out of the darkness. A performing light sculpture that will mesmerise audiences with its hypnotic beauty, it is by one of Europe’s pioneers of digital art, Marshmallow Laser Feast – a London-based creative studio that harnesses technology to launch visually striking and emotionally charged installations.

IRIS is a Week 53 commission by The Lowry, the latest in an impressive programme of newly-commissioned artworks specifically for The Lowry’s biennial Week 53 Festival and interim years.

Premiering with free public viewings over the weekend of 27 – 28 May, its pre curtain-up run will commence the following week – the first event being the stand-up comedian, Jon Richardson.

The decision to present Marshmallow’s work in the void of The Lowry’s main theatre auditorium is part of The Lowry’s commitment to introducing new art forms to its visitors.

Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive of The Lowry, said: “Digital is now a very well established artistic genre. It has a huge representation in the cultural calendars of places like Amsterdam, Berlin and Toronto and this commission forms part of our drive to lead Salford, Greater Manchester and the wider-North West’s offering in this field.

“Marshmallow Laser Feast has an excellent reputation for delivering work that pushes boundaries and redefines expectations – so they were the natural partner for this project. Our hope is that by presenting their work to audiences attending performances of everything from stand-up comedians to contemporary dance we can introduce, from scratch, an art form they might not have ever considered before.”

Ersin Han Ersin, creative director of Marshmallow Laser Feast, said: “Immersing audiences using technology can be tracked right back to the ancient Romans, who used puppeteering to make actors look like gods on stage, technology in the theatre space has evolved but our relationship with the stage largely remains the same – we sit and look forward.

“The beauty of IRIS, a kinetic light sculpture, and our collaboration with The Lowry is that we manipulate our relationship with the stage by making the whole auditorium our canvas, the architecture and audience become part of the performance and evolves our relationship with the stage from ephemeral to tangible.”

People wishing to view the artwork that are not attending another show at The Lowry can do so at special, free viewings on: (The piece lasts for approximately seven minutes and will be shown every 15 minutes.)

27-28 May (11am – 4pm)
10, 17 & 24 June (11am – 12pm)
8 & 14 July (11am 12pm)

Theatre Témoin presents

The Marked

International Tour: Friday 31st March – Wednesday 14th June 2017

Following 5-star sell-out successes at Edinburgh Fringe 2016 and an acclaimed run at London’s Ovalhouse, Theatre Témoin’s The Marked will tour the UK’s regional homeless ‘hotspots’, using mask, puppetry and physical theatre to navigate a haunting, mystical world inspired by real-life stories of homelessness.

As a boy, Jack lived in a world of monsters and invisible guardians, as he fought to protect the people he loved. Now grown up, his life on the streets of London is less fantastical. But when a ghost from his past turns up, Jack must harness the power of forgotten myths to defeat her.

At its heart, The Marked is a story about the link between trauma in childhood and homelessness in adulthood, exploring the vivid internal landscapes that we create and discover through pain and healing.

This is an emotional rollercoaster ride that pulls no punches…there are touches of humour that are welcome relief… The three cast members…give stellar performances in a moving, thoughtprovoking play (British Theatre Guide).

In 2016, Government street counts estimated around 4,134 people sleeping rough on any one night across England. Since 2010, homelessness has increased nationwide by 55%, with an unprecedented 100% increase in rough sleepers in London. With ongoing cuts to services, this trend is expected to continue. Theatre Témoin feel that it is vital that the most vulnerable in our communities have a voice on stage.

The Marked was developed alongside community consultants with experience of homelessness from St. Mungo’s Recovery College and Cardboard Citizens, who participated in Mask Theatre workshops delivered with the generous support of Big Lottery’s Awards for All scheme.

Theatre Témoin has an engagement-centred approach to devising, working with community partners and consultants at every stage of the process. Devising Director Ailin Conant comments, While researching The Marked and listening to the stories of people experiencing homelessness, it became increasingly clear to me that for some people fantastical beliefs are a matter of urgency, of vital necessity. When you have lived through powerful experiences, you need an equally powerful language and framework to describe those experiences.

The Marked has been developed in co-production with Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, with support from The Wellcome Trust, Arts Council England, Awards for All, The Pleasance Islington, Queen Mary University of London, and Camden People’s Theatre.

Tour Dates

31st March The Newcastle Puppetry Festival, Northern Stage, Newcastle, 8pm http://www.northernstage.co.uk/

4th May Courtyard Theatre, Hereford, 7.30pm https://www.courtyard.org.uk/

11th – 13th May Tobacco Factory, Bristol 8pm (2pm matinee on Fri 12th) https://www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/

19th May Hat Factory, Luton, 7.30pm http://www.lutonculture.com/hat-factory/

20th May The Lowry, Manchester, 8pm http://www.thelowry.com/ 4th June The Hub, Salford, 5pm https://www.salford.gov.uk/council-buildings-and-venues/

7th June Norwich Playhouse, 7.30pm http://www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk/

13th – 14th June Mini Midi Maxi Festival, Norway http://www.teatersenter.no/mmm/norsk/

BACK TO BACK RUN OF SHOWS AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

Leeds Grand Theatre is getting ready to welcome six months of back to back productions; featuring comedy, drama, musicals and dance there is a heady mix heading to Leeds – and it kicks off somewhat spectacularly next week with La Cage aux Folles.

Many will remember the 1996 film version called ‘Birdcage’ which starred Robin Williams, Nathan Lane and Gene Hackman though the original 1983 Broadway production was based on the 1973 French play of the same name by Jean Poiret and received nine Tony Award nominations winning six.  It spawned a West End production but has never toured the UK – until now.

Georges is the manager of a Saint Tropez nightclub, his partner Albin is a drag artiste and the club’s star attraction. They live an idyllic existence in the south of France until Georges’ son Jean-Michel announces his engagement to the daughter of a notorious politician; a politician who is determined to shut down the local colourful night-life.

La Cage Aux Folles comes to Leeds on its first ever UK Tour and takes to the stage at The Grand Theatre from Tuesday 21st to Saturday 25^th March starring John Partridge (EastEnders, Chicago), Adrian Zmed (TJ Hooker, Grease 2) and Marti Webb (Tell Me On A Sunday, Evita).

The lavishly funny tale of unconditional love and family values reminds all to celebrate that life’s not worth a damn ‘till you can say I am what I am.’

Hot on the high heels of La Cage aux Folles come comedians Sean Lock, Count Arthur Strong, Jon Richardson and Joel Dommett; drama with Shirley Valentine, A Judgement in Stone and Jane Eyre; concerts with Jane McDonald, Thriller Live, The Solid Silver 60s Show and Shakin’ Stevens and musicals with Mamma Mia!, Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Wedding Singer. 

For more information on future productions, dates and ticket prices visit leedsgrandtheatre.com

La Cages aux Folles is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 20^th to Saturday 25^th March

Tickets are on sale now priced from £22.50 to £41.50

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

Lindisfarne Christmas Shows are back!

Newcastle City Hall

Friday 22 and Saturday 23 December 2017

Tickets on sale Wednesday 15 March from 11am

An evening packed with legendary songs and a few surprises – don’t miss the Fog on the Tyne hit-makers on their home turf.

North East folk-rock legends Lindisfarne will be returning to the City Hall this Christmas to entertain us with their legendary festive Christmas show.  With well over 100 wonderful nights at the City Hall, the Lindisfarne Christmas Show has become a must see seasonal celebration and a North East tradition.

Lindisfarne have long viewed the City Hall as their home, so we are happy to welcome them back and celebrate Christmas 2017.

Lindisfarne play Newcastle City Hall on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 December 2017. Tickets on sale from Wednesday 15 March at 11am.  Tickets from £24.50 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge).

Grand Opera House, York – 14 March 2017 and on tour around the UK

The joy of reviewing is that sometimes you enter a theatre expecting very little but you leave having received it all.  And this gem of a show is good example.  Yes it was cheesy, but it was nostalgic and incredibly entertaining.

I did think I was too young to be a fan, and the audience was predominately made up of women of a certain age, but there were younger people there who had found the Roller sound.

With tartan on stage, on the performers, on the instruments and a sea of tartan in the audience, just under two hours of enjoyment commences when McKeown hits the stage.  With his Rollers consisting of Phil Hendricks and Si Mulvey on guitar, Scott McGowan on keyboards and Dan Guest on drums.  The first half consists of the lesser known Roller songs and a tribute to some of the 70’s idols no longer with us – hits from Queen, T-Rex, The Sweet, Mud and David Bowie.  McKeown jokes that he may add to the tribute in next years tour depending on who may have departed – and the band joke it may be a tribute to him

McKeown’s voice is still as strong and rich as it was in the 70’s and when he talks to the audience between songs he is very charismatic and entertaining.  Regaling the audience with tales and anecdotes.

With some new stuff thrown in with the old, we get to hear some of the songs McKeown wrote in the 70’s but never made it to the recording studio.  This has now been rectified and and a new album, The Lost Songs, is available to download whilst he’s singing according to McKeown – something some of the audience are happy to do

After a blazing version of S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night its interval time so the band can have “a cup of Earl Grey and a bourbon biscuit” and we can have a breath of fresh air as the heat in the auditorium felt like the audience was having a collective hot flush.

The second half brings us the more famous Roller songs and the audience are up and dancing along.  It supposedly ends with Shang- A- Lang.  However, after the audience scream for more, McKeown returns to the stage with an exquisite acapella rendition of Unchained Melody and then we end with the classic Bye Bye Baby

With many chances to see the show this year – its well worth a see.  You too will be bopping in the aisles, waving your arms and singing along to the sound of your youth.  Go and see it.

Tour dates available at https://www.lesmckeown.com/concert-dates

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – 14 March 2017.  Reviewed by Karen Millington Burnet

Wow, what a good evening. Once we had disentangled ourselves from the iconic performances of Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore we were able to enjoy the evening’s performance as much as the original – and even more so for the music. Equal measures of comedy, tension and buckets of sorrow were served up in a fast paced and slick performance.
I think we’ve now cracked the Southampton Mayflower; living in Salisbury, we’re able to enjoy a light bite in the excellent “Pig in the Wall” before sauntering through the lively early evening life of Southampton to the Mayflower which is easy to find, simple to get into and where we always seem to enjoy great seats in the Stalls. Reading a programme full of dark colours in a dim auditorium before the curtain went up was an unnecessary trial – but maybe that’s just my age!
All in all, this evening was another great Mayflower outing. We were bowled over by Carolyn Maitland’s Molly; just a stunning voice and performance – full of energy, genuine emotion and passion. That was, until Jacque Dubois’ Oda Mae quite literally burst onto the scene and almost stole the show as both psychic and comic. The chemistry didn’t quite work between Maitland’s Molly and Moss’s Sam and I attribute this in part to Moss’s relative inexperience; he didn’t quite “get” the body language of loss and grief. In a performance such as this, the absence of a genuine spark between the two lead actors was apparent.

Raspberries to the sound engineers who didn’t do him any favours. The show benefitted from strong supporting performances from Garry Lee Netley’s Subway Ghost and from Tarisha Rommick and Simbi Akande.
Special plaudits must go to the Set designers who produced a masterpiece of props and transitions; almost too clever for the crew who just occasionally could be spied back stage, labouring. The lighting crew must also get special mention for a good effort, especially with the cunning trick of dimming the spot for the ghostly Sam. The only let down was that the spots on the main characters sometimes didn’t quite follow them as they moved around the stage. The music was awesome and the orchestra toiled tirelessly and faultlessly – and sadly hidden completely from the final audience ovation, though thoroughly deserved.

It was just a shame the sound engineers allowed them to overshadow some of the less powerful singing at stages despite Andy Moss’s Sam and Sam Ferriday’s Carl toiling valiantly to be heard in the tsunami of song on a number of occasions. I was wondering how the illusions, which are easy to depict on film, would be undertaken on stage but all worked well and the Illusionist deserves his strawberries for getting this right.
My abiding memories will be of Carolyn Maitland’s Molly tugging at the tear ducts as she journeyed from love to tragedy to farewell. A bright future awaits this stunning talent; no more understudying for her!

RICHARD AND ADAM BRING THE CLASSICS TOUR TO LEEDS

Welsh classical singers, Richard and Adam, are heading to Leeds for an intimate gig at City Varieties Music Hall.

The brothers found fame as finalists on Britain’s Got Talent where they famously sang The Impossible Dream taking them into the top three; The Impossible Dream was then the title of their No.1 album which spent four consecutive weeks at the top of the charts.

One of the most successful acts on BGT they are touring their shows of classical covers to Leeds for one night only on Saturday 25^th March.

“We’re very excited to be playing Leeds and such a beautiful venue,” says Richard. “We’ve heard a lot about the City Varieties; what a delight to play a stage that has hosted so many greats over the last 150 years.”

Richard and Adam are at City Varieties Music Hall on Saturday 25^th March

Tickets are priced at £22.50

Book online at cityvarieties.co.uk or call Box Office on 0113 243 08 08

SON OF A PREACHER MAN

THE FIRST EVER UK TOUR OF THE NEW MUSICAL SON OF A PREACHER MAN WILL COME TO GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK FOR A ONE WEEK RUN FROM TUESDAY 3 TO SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER  

TICKETS ON GENERAL SALE NOW

Son of a Preacher Man, a heart-warming new musical featuring the soulful music of Dusty Springfield, with a book by Warner Brown and directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood, embarks on a national tour starting at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre from Monday 4 September 2017.

Three broken hearts, one Soho hang-out, and the only man who could ever help them…

Welcome to the Preacher Man, the swinging 1960s Soho joint where the kids danced the night away to the latest crazes and dared to dream of love, while the legendary owner, The Preacher Man himself, dispensed advice to cure the loneliest of hearts.

Only, that was a long time ago and all that remains are the memories, the stories and the myths. Until now, that is, when three random strangers, generations apart but all in need of help with their hopeless love lives, are inexplicably drawn to the site of the original venue. The Preacher Man is long gone, but his son, with help from the wonderful Cappuccino Sisters, might just find it in himself to channel the spirit of The Preacher Man and once more give these three lovesick strangers the look of love.

Featuring the greatest hits of Dusty Springfield, including “The Look Of Love”, “I Only Want To Be With You”, “Spooky” and of course, the classic “Son Of A Preacher Man”, this sparklingly funny and sweetly touching new musical play by internationally renowned writer Warner Brown will have you laughing, crying and singing your heart out to some of the greatest songs ever written.

Directed and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood, Son of a Preacher Man comes to Grand Opera House York for one week only. You only want to be with us!

Choreographer Craig Revel Horwood said:  

‘I am delighted to bring to life for the very first time this wonderful story created by Warner Brown, with soulful songs from the legendary Dusty Springfield’s iconic music catalogue. I hope that audiences in York will come to love this warm-hearted and uplifting new musical as much as I do.’

General Manager Lizzie Richards at Grand Opera House York, said:

‘Son of a Preacher Man’ will feature many of the greatest hits of Dusty Springfield, including “The Look Of Love”, “I Only Want To Be With You”, “Spooky” and the classic “Son Of A Preacher Man”

It will be the perfect way to start this October.’

Warner Brown works internationally and is well known for his work in musical theatre and straight plays, encompassing both traditional and avant-garde forms.

He wrote ‘the most popular family show of all time’, the arena production Walking With Dinosaurs, creating an entirely new genre of theatrical presentation and winning many international awards.  Currently playing in venues from Madison Square Garden to the Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, an episode of CSI: Las Vegas has been based upon the show and it has even been parodied on The Simpsons.

Warner is currently working on multiple developing projects, including the Broadway musicals The Gold Room and The Thomas Crown Affair, both with composer Michael Feinstein; the opera Empty Spaces, with composer Joshua Schmidt, for Florentine Opera in the USA; the musical A Little Danger, with composer Michael Reed, for the St Petersburg Theatre in Russia; and the screenplay for the movie A Minute To Midnight for Bill Kenwright Films. He is part of the consortium, including choreographer Arlene Phillips and musical director Mike Dixon, for the new internet-based project Reality.

Writing credits include Half A Sixpence (UK Tour), The Biograph Girl (Phoenix Theatre), Cinderella (London Palladium), The Black and White Ball, which opened in London and for which The Cole Porter Trusts granted Warner stage rights to the songs of Cole Porter, Flickers (Broadway’s Circle-In-The Square Theater), The House on the Corner (Edinburgh International Festival) and, in addition, Tallulah For A Day and Sleep With Friends. Plays include Laughing Dove, Wavelength and The Prospero Suite, directed by John Doyle.

Warner has worked extensively in Europe, most recently writing the musical Garbo, with music by ‘Meatloaf’ rock legend Jim Steinman. He also has extensive writing credits for the BBC and was Script Associate of the BBC Classic Musicals Series, for which he adapted fourteen musicals featuring many international stars.  Warner was the subject of the BBC Two TV documentary The Making Of A Musical. Warner is co-sponsor of the international music prize The S&S Award, named in honour of his late parents.

Craig Revel Horwood is a well-known face on television in the UK and now internationally for his role as a judge on all fifteen series of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing and for directing and appearing as a judge in the Live Tour.

Craig’s recent credits as director and choreographer include the current UK tour of Sister Act, the previous UK tours Brother Love Travelling Salvation Show and Chess; for television, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and Just the Two of Us; and for film, the feature film Paddington 2. In addition, he recently directed the all-star concert version of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies at the Royal Albert Hall. Other credits as a theatre director and choreographer are: West Side Story (Prince Edward), Miss Saigon (Drury Lane), Hey, Mr Producer! (Lyceum), Spend Spend Spend! (Piccadilly Theatre; Olivier nomination for Best Choreography), Pal Joey (Chichester Festival Theatre), Guys and Dolls (Sheffield Crucible), Paradise Moscow (Opera North), Carmen (Holland Park), My One and Only (Piccadilly Theatre; Olivier nomination for Best Choreography), Beautiful and Damned (Lyric Theatre), Arms and the Cow (Opera North), The Ballet Boyz: Yumbo Vs Nonino (Festival Hall, Sadler’s Wells, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden), The Hot Mikado (Watermill Theatre and UK Tour; Martin Guerre (Watermill Theatre), Sunset Boulevard (Watermill Theatre and Comedy Theatre, West End), Spend Spend Spend! (Watermill Theatre and UK Tour) and Copacabana (Watermill Theatre).

He recently returned to his roots as a performer in musical theatre, starring as Miss Hannigan in the UK national tour of Annie, and in Christmas 2016 as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley. Other performing credits include Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Orchard, Dartford in 2014 and at the Swan, High Wycombe in 2015. Previously, Craig starred as the Wicked Queen in Snow White at Venue Cymru, Llandudno in 2009, The Hawth, Crawley in 2010 and The Orchard, Dartford 2011. He reprised his role at The Swan Theatre, High Wycombe in 2012 and the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend in 2013.

Amongst his numerous TV credits, highlights include winning the BBC Two series Maestro at the Opera, the final of which saw him conduct Act II of La Bohème at the Royal Opera House. He was also a grand finalist on the hit cooking show, Celebrity MasterChef and participated in and won Ready, Steady, Cook.

Book                                                                      Warner Brown

Director & Choreographer                           Craig Revel Horwood

Set & Costume Designer                              Morgan Large

Musical Supervisor & Arrangements      Paul Herbert

Lighting Designer                                            Richard G Jones

Sound Designer                                                Richard Brooker

Associate Director & Choreographer      David James Hulston

Casting Director                                               Anne Vosser

Son of a Preacher Man is produced by Brian Berg, John Sachs, Andrew Berg & Kimberley Sachs for

Eclipse Live, Michael Park for The Infinite Group, Paul Tyrer & Jamie Clark for TBO Productions,

Churchill Theatre Bromley and executive producers Andrew Green and Ben White, all on behalf of Dusty Touring Ltd.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT:

www.sonofapreachermanmusical.com/

Pure Fluke Theatre presents: