Author: FairyPoweredProductions

BAT OUT OF HELL PARTNERSHIP WITH INVICTUS GAMES FOUNDATION

Hit West End musical, Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical, has today announced a wide-ranging partnership to support the Invictus Games Foundation, the governing body of the Invictus Games, a global sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans.

An initial financial contribution has been generously given by Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical as part of a year-long sponsorship to the Invictus Games Foundation, to assist as it delivers its transformational work.

To launch the partnership, an exclusive charity gala performance of Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical will be held for Invictus Games competitors.

In addition, hundreds of tickets are being made available for veterans and their families to experience the hit show. To support those who live outside of London, the show’s producers have also made funds available that will assist with travel costs for those who live outside of the capital.

There will be private tours, family theatre workshops and the producers have agreed to run a special employment programme to help assist wounded, injured or sick serving or ex-service personnel interested in a career in the theatre.

Dominic Reid, CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation said: “We are thrilled that the show’s producers have chosen the Invictus Games Foundation as their global charitable partner. This partnership will contribute enormously to the important work of the Foundation as it continues to serve those who have served.”

Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical Producer, Michael Cohl said: “We are proud to be partnering with the Invictus Games Foundation and to be supporting this wonderful charity with its mandate to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and drive respect for those who serve.”

Julian Stoneman, General Manager continued: “This special partnership will deliver opportunities for veterans and give families living in and outside of the capital the chance to experience the best that West End theatre has to offer.”

The winner of the Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical 2017, Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical wowed critics and public alike when it played limited seasons at Manchester Opera House, London Coliseum and Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre in 2017, and has been seen by nearly 500,000 people to date.  It began previews at London’s Dominion Theatre on Monday 2 April and is currently booking to 27 October 2018. 

Bat Out Of Hell became one of the best-selling albums in history, selling over 50 million copies worldwide.  16 years later, Steinman scored again with Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, which contained the massive hit I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical is a romantic adventure about rebellious youth and passionate love, set against the backdrop of a post-cataclysmic city adrift from the mainland.  Strat, the forever young leader of The Lost, has fallen for Raven, daughter of Falco, the tyrannical, ruler of Obsidian.  

Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical has book, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography by Emma Portner, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set design by Jon Bausor, costume design by Jon Bausor and Meentje Nielsen, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestration by Steve Sidwell, casting by David Grindrod CDG, fight direction by Stuart Boother and musical direction by Robert Emery.

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Randy Lennox & Tony Smith.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical

Dominion Theatre

268-269 Tottenham Court Road

London W1T 7AQ

 

Website:  www.BatOutOfHellMusical.com

Twitter & Facebook:  @BatTheMusical

Performances: Mon-Sat at 7.30pm, Wed & Sat matinee at 2.30pm

 

Tickets: from £15.00

Box Office: 0845 200 7982

Current Booking Period: to 27 October 2018

Running Time: 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)

MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE ANNOUNCES ITS UGLY SISTERS!

INITIAL CASTING SEES CORRIE’S
CONNOR McINTYRE AND LES DENNIS
STAR IN THE CITY’S MUST-SEE FAMILY PANTO, CINDERELLA,
THIS CHRISTMAS

Manchester Opera House has announced the first stars joining the line-up for Manchester’s ultimate family pantomime this festive season, with Coronation Street bad boys Connor McIntyre and Les Dennis swapping the cobbles for their clutch bags as the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella.

Connor McIntyre is best known for his current role in ITV’s Coronation Street. Joining the soap in 2013, Connor quickly rose to fame playing the villainous Pat Phelan having been embroiled in numerous high-profile storylines, solidifying his reputation as one of soap-land’s ultimate baddies. He has previously appeared in The Governor, A & E, Murder City, See No Evil, Wire in the Blood, Law and Order, London’s Burning and Casualty. His film roles include The Be All and End All and Charlie Noads R.I.P while his stage work includes appearances in The Comedy of Errors, One for the Road and Harry’s Christmas.

Television presenter, comedian and actor Les Dennis has been a mainstay of British entertainment since he won the 1974 talent show New Faces. His appearance propelled him to have great success in primetime light entertainment shows, starring alongside Russ Abbott and Dustin Gee, including The Laughter Show and Family Fortunes, which Les hosted for an unprecedented 15 year run. His theatre work includes roles in Chicago, Spamalot, She Loves Me and Me and My Girl in the West End, as well as UK tours of Art, High School Musical, Hairspray, Legally Blonde and most recently playing the much-loved Uncle Fester in The Addams Family. His film and television credits include Intimate Relations opposite Julie Walters, Brookside, Hotel Babylon, Merseybeat and Ricky Gervais’s Extras and Life’s Too Short.  In 2014, he also joined Coronation Street as Michael Rodwell – a petty criminal who won the heart of his victim Gail Platt but who then met his demise at the hands of his fellow Ugly Sister Pat Phelan.

Cinderella will once again be produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, continuing their partnership with Manchester Opera House following last year’s production of Dick Whittington, which recently won the Manchester Theatre Award for Special Entertainment.

Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos Entertainment’s pantomime division, said: “I’m thrilled that we have managed to secure Connor and Les to lead our Opera House pantomime this year. They are a great double act and will bring lots of laughter to the production as the ultimate baddies -I’m sure that Manchester audiences, young and old, will enjoy booing and hissing them!”

Sheena Wrigley, Theatre Director at the Palace Theatre and Opera House Manchester, said “We’re absolutely delighted that Qdos Entertainment are back for a second year. Qdos are known for their stunning sets and costumes, as well as their impressive special effects, so we’re excited to present another high-quality production to our audiences. Connor and Les are two extremely talented and experienced performers and also have a great connection to Manchester, making them the perfect choice for our Ugly Sisters.”

Further star casting will be announced later in the year.

Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother of all pantomimes, plays at the Opera House from 8^th – 30^th December with tickets from £12. For more information, or to book, visit www.atgtickets.com/Manchester.

LISTINGS

Saturday 8^th December – Sunday 30^th December
Opera House, Manchester – www.atgtickets.com/Manchester
Tickets from £12.00

DAWN FRENCH, JULIAN CLARY,

PAUL ZERDIN, NIGEL HAVERS, GARY WILMOT,

VINCENT AND FLAVIA TO STAR IN

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

FOR STRICTLY LIMITED FIVE WEEK RUN

Qdos Entertainment today (27 April 2018) announces that they will return to the West End for a third year with Snow White at the London Palladium for a strictly limited 5 week run.  Performances will begin at the iconic pantomime venue on Saturday 8 December 2018 running until Sunday 13 January 2019.  Directed by Michael Harrison, public booking opens on Friday 4 May 2018.

Produced by the Olivier Award-winning team behind last year’s Dick Whittington, Snow White at the London Palladium will star Dawn French as The Wicked Queen and sees the return ofJulian Clary as The Man in The Mirror, Paul Zerdin as Muddles, Nigel Havers as The Understudy and Gary Wilmot as Mrs Crumble.  Joining them are Vincent and Flavia as The King and The Queen and Josh Bennett, Simeon Dyer, Craig Garner, Ben Goffe, Jamie John, Blake Lisleand Andrew Martin as The Magnificent Seven.  Final casting for the role of the Prince and title role of Snow White as well as members of the ensemble will be announced at a later date.

A third brand-new production created especially for the London Palladium will again have scenery designed by Ian Westbrook, with costumes designed by Hugh Durrant, visual special effects byThe Twins FX, lighting by Ben Cracknell and original music by Gary Hind.

Actor, writer and comedian Dawn French, who is making her pantomime debut as The Wicked Queen, is an original member of The Comic Strip and one half of the comedy duo French and Saunders.   She was last on the West End stage in October 2016 in her critically acclaimed one woman show 30 Million Minutes at the Vaudeville Theatre.  Her previous stage credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, An Evening with French and Saunders, French and Saunders Live, French and Saunders Still Alive, Le Fille du Regiment, Side by Side by Sondheim, Silly Cow, When I was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout and Smaller.  Her extensive television credits includeDelicious, Little Big Shots, The Wrong Mans, Roger and Val Have Just Got In, Girls on Top, Jam and Jerusalem, Lark Rise to Candleford, Let Them Eat Cake and the multi award-winning BBC comedyThe Vicar of Dibley.  Her film credits include Coraline, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Maybe Baby and Milk.  Her best-selling books include Dear Fatty, A Tiny Bit Marvellous, Oh Dear Silvia, According To Yes and Me. You. A Diary.

Julian Clary returns to the London Palladium for the third year following his triumphant successes as The Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington and Dandini in Cinderella.  His television debut came in 1989 with ITV quiz show Trick or Treat and Channel 4’s Sticky Moments.  Clary is a best-selling author, a regular panelist on BBC Radio 4’s Just a Minute and in 2016 toured with his one man show The Joy of Mincing and in 2017 was seen in Le Grand Mort at the Trafalgar Studios.

Ventriloquist Paul Zerdin took the US by storm when he won America’s Got Talent, which was swiftly followed by his own residency at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.  In the UK, Zerdin has appeared on The Royal Variety Performance, was seen on Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Showand has previously appeared at the Palladium as Idle Jack in Dick Whittington and as Buttons inCinderella.

 

Nigel Havers’ film credits include Chariots of Fire, Passage to India and Empire of The Sun. His many television credits include Coronation Street, Downton Abbey, The Life of Rock and Benidormand his numerous West End appearances include Art, The Importance of Being Earnest touring productions of Rebecca, Single Spies and Basket Case.  Havers played Captain Nigel in Dick Whittington and Lord Chamberlain in Cinderella, both at the London Palladium.

 

Gary Wilmot’s multiple theatre credits include last year’s Palladium pantomime Dick Whittington,The Wind in the Willows also at the London Palladium, Big The Musical for the Theatre Royal Plymouth, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre and on UK tour, The Pajama Game at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, Copacabana at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Carmen Jones at the Old Vic, Pirates of Penzance for Regent’s Park Theatre and Me and My Girl at the Aldephi Theatre.

 

Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace-Mistry are one of the country’s most successful Ballroom, Latin American and Argentine Tango performers and choreographers.  After competing successfully together for many years, they gained a strong following after joining BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2005.  Since leaving the show, they have starred in and co-choreographed productions includingMidnight Tango, Dance ’til Dawn and The Last Tango.

 

Snow White at the London Palladium is produced by Nick Thomas and Michael Harrison for Qdos Entertainment. Nick Thomas is the founder and Chairman of Qdos Entertainment Group, one of the largest entertainment companies in Europe and is the UK’s second largest regional theatre and concert hall operator.  Michael Harrison has previously produced over 100 pantomimes for Qdos Entertainment where he is also Managing Director.  As a producer in the West End his credits include Gypsy, The Bodyguard, Annie and Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein.

As the world’s biggest pantomime producer, over the past 36 years Qdos Entertainment has established itself as one of the largest entertainment companies in Europe. Over the past three decades the pantomime giant has staged 719 pantomimes.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                           London Palladium, Argyll St, London W1F 7TF

Dates:                              8 December 2018 – 13 January 2019

Gala night:                        12 December 2017 at 7.30pm

Box Office:                        020 7087 7747 (no booking fee)

Performances:                   see website for performance schedule

Website:                           SnowWhitePalladium.com

Twitter:                            SnowWhiteLDN

Facebook:                         Facebook.com/SnowWhiteLDN

MICHAEL HARRISON AND DAVID IAN

ANNOUNCE A UK TOUR OF

THE MUSICAL

“ANNIE”

OPENING AT THE MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE

ON SATURDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2019

 

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that their smash hit production of the musical“ANNIE” will embark on a UK tour opening at the Manchester Opera House on Saturday 9 February 2019.This production recently ran for an extended season in the West End following a sell out tour of the UK and Ireland in 2015/16 and will open later this month in Toronto.

Tour schedule and on sale details below with further dates and casting to be announced soon.www.anniethemusicaltour.uk

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search…

With its award-winning book and score, this stunning new production includes the unforgettable songs ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.

“ANNIE” has Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin and a Book by Thomas Meehan.

“ANNIE” is directed by Nikolai Foster with set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker.

“ANNIE” is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.

 

ANNIE – UK TOUR 2019

SATURDAY 9 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2019

MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2019

WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE www.grandtheatre.co.uk

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 4 MARCH – SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019

NEW THEATRE OXFORD www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 18 MARCH – SATURDAY 23 MARCH 2019

BRISTOL HIPPODROME www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 25 MARCH – SATURDAY 30 MARCH 2019

STORYHOUSE THEATRE, CHESTER www.storyhouse.com

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 1 APRIL – SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2019

HULL NEW THEATRE www.hulltheatres.co.uk

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 15 APRIL – SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019

KING’S THEATRE GLASGOW  www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 22 APRIL – SATURDAY 27 APRIL 2019

BRADFORD ALHAMBRA www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

ON SALE 14 MAY 2018

TUESDAY 30 APRIL – SATURDAY 4 MAY 2019

MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON www.mayflower.org.uk

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 13 MAY – SATURDAY 18 MAY 2019

LLANDUDNO VENUE CYMRU www.venuecymru.co.uk

ON SALE 4 MAY 2018

MONDAY 20 MAY – SATURDAY 25 MAY 2019

NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL www.trch.co.uk

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 27 MAY – SATURDAY 1 JUNE 2019

CLIFFS PAVILION THEATRE, SOUTHEND www.southendtheatres.org.uk

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 10 JUNE – SATURDAY 15 JUNE 2019

NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 17 JUNE – SATURDAY 22 JUNE 2019

THE ORCHARD THEATRE, DARTFORD www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

ON SALE 31 MAY 2018

MONDAY 24 JUNE – SATURDAY 29 JUNE 2019

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE THEATRE  www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire

ON SALE 1 MAY 2018

MONDAY 1 JULY – SATURDAY 6 JULY 2019

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre

ON SALE 8 MAY 2018

 

FURTHER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED

Arabian Nights
Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, London N1 6SH
Wednesday 12th September – Saturday 13th October 2018

This autumn, Iris Theatre will transform Hoxton Hall into a magical world where stories of Ali Baba, Ala’ad-Din and Sinbad the Sailor unfold in their new adaptation of Arabian Nights. Adapted by Nessah Muthy (Heroine, The Host) and directed by Daniel Winder (Iris Theatre), this celebration of the cultural history of Islam and the wider ancient world promises to be a spectacular evening of storytelling.

At the grandest wedding of the year, amongst the music, magic and dance, King Shahryar’s tyranny looms. Every single night he marries a new girl and every single morning he has her killed

This cycle of violence has continued for years but with the executioner’s sword hanging over her neck, Sharazad starts to tell King Shahryar stories. With every beautiful tale she tells, she stretches out the thread of her life a little further

Iris Theatre will take the audience on a journey through the ancient world of the Middle East and into Sharazad’s life. With music inspired by Arabic history, and a set design utilising the aesthetic of souks from the time by Amber Scarlett, a cast of seven actors and a multitude of fantastic puppets created by Jonny Dixon will bring to life Sharazad’s comic, tragic and earthy stories

Director Daniel Winder comments, It’s so exciting to be bringing a show as big as our annual summer productions over to Hoxton Hall in our first major departure from St Paul’s in nearly five years. Arabian Nights is adapted by the incredible Nessah Muthy in a brand new script we’ve commissioned, and we’re so excited to have her on board. We can’t wait to head to Hoxton with the team that has helped make productions like Hansel & Gretel and Macbeth, and to transform the Hall into Shahryar’s palace, welcoming audiences to a bloody wedding feast.

An engagement project, Encountering 1001 Nights, will run alongside the show and will focus on engaging with the local communities in Hoxton.

AN AWARD-WINNING YEAR FOR YORK DUNGEON

 

York Dungeon was amongst the celebrated award winners having received an accolade for ‘Best Story Told’ as part of their first Visit England Quality Assured Accreditation.

2017 was a great year for The York Dungeon as they were also named as a  finalist at the Visit York Tourism Awards, gaining a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor and an award for Scariest attraction from ‘Little Vikings’ publication.

Having reopened in May 2016 following the city wide floods The York Dungeon has gone from strength to strength and there are no signs of slowing down with an exciting programme planned for 2018 including the launch of a Tavern, where you can enjoy an authentic experience inside Ye Olde Yorke Inn, just find a seat and enjoy a drink as you readjust to modern life. There are four new shows based on famous Yorkshire characters including; Cartimundua, Margaret Clitherow, Richard III and Mother Shipton.

There is also a new schools offering and an exciting events programme, including York Dungeon Lates, which is aimed at over 18’s, whereby on selected nights throughout the year, The York Dungeon will be opening into the darker hours of the night, with new surprises in its shows. Expect more scares, cheekier jokes and even…well, we’ll let you find out for yourself.

Stuart Jarman, General Manager says ‘2017 was a great year for the York Dungeon visitor numbers were up 22% on visits made in 2016 and we formed many great partnerships within the city including York City Cruises, City Sightseeing, The Castle Museum and The Grand Opera House, We also had our most successful Halloween season and were named the best dungeon experience within the Merlin estate by guests.’

The current show at the Dungeon as part of the Yorkshire Rogues and Legends offering is Cartimundua, which runs until 29^th April.

To book tickets and save pre-book online:https://www.thedungeons.com/york/en/tickets/

 

Grand Opera House York –  until 5th May 2018

Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams

4****

As the excellent orchestra struck up the overture with all the familiar song themes, I settled into my seat ready to be entertained and the Pick Me Up Theatre Company delivered just what I wanted. This production is true to the film (being the adaption by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company), a very traditional tale of good prevailing over evil with all the songs you would expect. In some ways this is a very gentle and nostalgic production (complete with a real Toto), it has none of the sharpness that modern musicals sometimes have, but it does not suffer for that.

The story starts in Kansas as Dorothy (Emily Chattle) runs away having fallen out with her Aunt Em (Alexandra Mather) and Uncle Henry (Finn East), she then gets caught up in the tornado and lands in Oz, where her troubles begin, she defeats the wicked witch and she realises that “there is no place like home”.

Emily Chattle is very believable as Dorothy with just the right amount of wide- eyed innocence and enthusiasm and she delivers all her songs beautifully, particularly Over The Rainbow.

Adam Sowter plays an excellent baddie as Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West, my young companion described him as slightly goofy and like a cartoon witch and I have to say I preferred this to the witch in the film, far more suitable for the family audience.

Dorothy’s companions Scarecrow (Stuart Rae), Tin Man (Joe McNeice)and Lion (Nick Lewis) were perfect in their roles, adding fun and gelling beautifully with Dorothy as they followed the yellow brick road.

Alexandra Mather’s Glenda was beautifully saccharine, Finn East’s Guard suitably silly and Ian Giles an excellent Wizard of Oz.

The production fairly zips along with slick scene changes and numerous costume changes for the supporting cast. The scenery and lighting were excellent, although I think someone may have got a little carried away with the smoke and I wonder if this interfered with the view from the stalls, it was fine in the Dress Circle. The costumes were fabulous, I particularly liked the flying monkeys and the hipster guys in Oz. The nod to Busby Berkeley in the poppy scene was inspired.

Pick Me Up Theatre are an amateur company but this was a truly professional performance, an excellent night out for all the family.

Finally the poster and back drop for the stage were wonderful, very 30s, but sadly I cannot find who to credit. Oh and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t ask for a poster for my wall!

Hoxton Hall – until 12 May

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3***

Molière’s Don Juan was scandalous and censored when it was first published. Nowadays, the exploration of egotism, hedonism, sexual freedom, religion and hypocrisy in theatre are all so familiar that it takes a very special production of Don Juan to make an impact. Sadly, Theatre Lab Company’s production is solid enough, but more pleasantly diverting then ground-breaking.

The play follows the last days in the life of lothario Don Juan (Peter Rae), newlywed but already planning his next amorous conquest. Followed by his faithful servant Sgannarelle (David Furlong), Don Juan does his best to avoid Donna Elvira (Emmanuela Lia), her vengeance-seeking brothers, debtors and his God-fearing father, all the while wooing any female with a pulse that passes by. Superstitious Sgannarelle constantly tries to convert Don Juan to believe in something – anything – but Don Juan has an argument and snarky comment against everything Sgannarelle discusses.

Transplanting the action to Venice in Carnival season is one of director Anastasia Revi’s more inspired choices, with masks, costumes, dance and music creating a heady atmosphere at certain times and enhancing the idea of hypocrites hiding behind their masks. Unfortunately, these devices are also the production’s downfall. The music is overloud and plays at the oddest moments, drowning out pivotal dialogue. I was in the third row and I could barely hear the cast at times. The music, though evoking a carnival feel, was also performed in a muzak style, evoking the feeling of being trapped in a lift. Putting the speaking character of Charlotte in a full-face mask also backfired – Benoît Gouttenoire was sweet and funny, but extremely muffled, in huge contrast to the exaggerated stylings of Samuel Lawrence as Pierrot. Emmanuela Riva

Revi ensures that as much of the beautiful Hoxton Hall space are utilised in a physical show, but the pace lags at every dance break, even though Signe Preston is a very talented dancer. There are shades of Hugh Laurie’s Prince Regent in Peter Rae’s early scenes, but he grows into a funny, steely, self-obsessed performance, with his monologue on hypocrisy very impressive (in the parts that I could hear over the music). David Furlong’s energetic Sgannarelle is a wonderful foil for Rae’s spiky Don Juan. By turns boastful, aggressive, pious and glutton – Furlong keeps the audience’s interest with his physical clowning and steals every scene. The highlight of the evening is Furlong eating a chocolate éclair during a scene change, demonstrating exactly how much this production relies on his charisma.

Once the sound issues are resolved, and the audience can hear the funny lines, Don Juan will be a treat for Moliere fans. Worth the ticket price for Furlong alone.

West Yorkshire Playhouse – until Saturday 19th May 2018

Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood

5*****

Sunshine on Leith was conceived 11 years ago when James Brining, West Yorkshire Playhouse’s Artistic Director, was Dundee Rep’s equivalent and the production had won the TMA Award for Best Musical. The musical, written by Stephen Greenhorn, is probably better known for the film, released in 2013, and reached a wider audience. The many film viewers can relate to the social themes explored and the familiar songs from The Proclaimers. This probably led to grounds as to why Brining and his creative team decide to bring Sunshine on Leith on stage again.

The story is about two friends, Davy (Steven Miller) and Ally (Paul-James Corrigan), who return to Leith after serving in the army and they are reunited with their family, friends and loved ones. On their journeys they et al. explore what home really is and define the meaning of life and love. Davy’s family and girlfriend, Yvonne (Jocasta Almgill), play a pivotal role in the story and how Rab (Phil McKee), Jean (Hilary Maclean) and Liz (Neshka Caplan) relate their life journeys with its ups and downs.

The musical is set to well known songs of The Proclaimers with the musical numbers fitting to each of the story’s scenes. The audience is familiar with the songs and is entertained from beginning to end including the purposeful I’m On My Way, entertaining Over and Done With and Oh Jean and the emotive Hate My Love For You.

The memorable numbers must be the final three hits; the title song Sunshine on Leith is sung movingly by Maclean (Jean) with deep felt conviction, Gill’s (Caplan) departure abroad in Letter from America, and the show stopping finale, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) which guarantees maximum participation from the audience with cast’s enthused encouragement.

The excellent live band on stage, some doubling up as the ensemble, compliments the down to earth staging, courtesy of Colin Richmond, where the space is well used for the different scenes and in between the smooth transitions. Tim Mitchell’s colour theme lighting must be admired and compliments the staging and costumes.

Sunshine on Leith is such a heartfelt and memorable performance. It is delivered from a very talented and exciting cast who sings and dance in synchronisation under the guidance of Emily-Jane Boyle whose first class choreography makes this show tick to perfection throughout. It is authentically Scottish with its performance, local references and identity embedded in.

The musical could not be more realistic and Brining confirms this musical is realistic not fantastical – it focuses on real lives of people, their joy and hardships, everyday life and how they define themselves relating to home, love, and family life. The songs from The Proclaimers echo the depth of this and humanity in general.

This production is unmissable and won’t probably ever be forgotten. It’s worth walking 500 Miles for a must see. Sunshine on Leith tours to six other cities including Scottish ones after its current run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.