Call Me Vicky Pleasance Theatre, Carpenters Mews, North Road, London N7 9EF Tuesday 19th February – Saturday 9th March 2019
For the last time, it’s not Martin… it’s Vicky!
Written by sisters Nicola and Stacey Bland, Call Me Vicky is a debut play based entirely on a true story. This hard-hitting, comic production charts Vicky’s transition from male to female in a time that was far less understanding than the world we live in today. This poignant play stars Wendi Peters (Coronation Street, ITV; Hetty Feather, BBC; Quartet, UK Tour; Hatched ‘n’ Dispatched, Park Theatre; White Christmas, Dominion Theatre) as Sylvie
It’s 1980 in Elephant and Castle. Martin and best friend Debbie are getting ready for another night out at Martin’s favourite night spot, The Golden Girl – one of Soho’s premier drag clubs. However, tonight is not a regular night out. Tonight is the night that will change Martin’s life forever
Directed by Victoria Gimby, Call Me Vicky is an honest, frank and revealing insight into an important struggle that has been relevant for generations. Having grown up on a council estate in South London and worked in the back streets of Soho, drinking, drugs and violence were common place when Vicky was overcoming all the adversity and ostracism that surrounded her transitioning. Will the love of Vicky’s friends, family and drag queens be enough to get her through the toughest of times?
Stacey and Nicola comment, Call Me Vicky is very personal to us and we are thrilled that this incredible true story is being told. We like to think it has something for everyone. It will make you laugh, cry and gasp in disbelief. In the 1980s it was almost unheard of for someone to transition yet Vicky’s story is still so relevant, and we feel it is important to see how her struggles paved the way for the 21st Century Trans Community.
Completing the cast are: Stacey Victoria Bland (Aladdin, Thameside Theatre; Don’t Dress for Dinner, UK Tour; Home Theatre, Theatre Royal Stratford East), Nicola Bland (Pickles, ITV; Tits/Teeth, Soho Theatre; Casualty, BBC One), Matt Greenwood (Bohemian Rhapsody, 20th Century Fox; The A Word, BBC/Sundance TV; Voya & Goliath, National Youth Theatre), Ben Welch (Mythic, Charing Cross Theatre; Jack Rooke’s Happy Hour, Soho Theatre; The Leftovers, Curve Theatre) and Adam Young (Two For Joy, Blonde to Black Productions; No Quarter, Soho Theatre; Sex Education, Netflix).
Call Me Vicky charts Vicky’s journey to become the person she knows herself to truly be. This powerful production will be part of Pleasance Theatre’s #YouWillKnowTheirNames season which is a game changing line-up of new writing, showcasing the most daring and original new voices.
CASTING UPDATE FOR YOUNG VIC’S PRODUCTIONS OFJESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN AND WILD EAST
Kate Hewitt directs Oberon K. A. Adjepong, Matthew Douglas, Dervla Kirwan, Ukweli Roach and Joplin Sibtain in Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train from 14 February.
Lekan Lawal directs Lucy Briers, Kemi-Bo Jacobs and Zach Wyatt in Wild East from 6 February.
Limited Tickets also on sale for The Jumper Factory, originally created in collaboration with inmates at HMP Wandsworth, which returns to run alongside Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train from 27 February.
With the Young Vic’s recent run of critical-success including The Convert currently running at Young Vic, The Inheritance at the Noël Coward Theatre and The Jungle now playing at St Ann’s Warehouse in New York, Artistic Director of the Young Vic, Kwame Kwei-Armah, today announces the full cast for Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, directed by Kate Hewitt in the Main House, and April de Angelis’ Wild East, directed byrecipient of Genesis Future Directors Award, Lekan Lawal, in The Clare.
For Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, Kate Hewitt directs Oberon K. A. Adjepong (Lucius Jenkins), Matthew Douglas(D’Amico), Dervla Kirwan (Mary Jane Hanrahan), Ukweli Roach (Angel Cruz) and Joplin Sibtain (Valdez). The production previews from 14 February, with a Press Night on 20 February, and runs until 30 March.
For Wild East, Lekan Lawal directs Lucy Briers (Dr Pitt), Kemi-Bo Jacobs (Dr Gray) and Zach Wyatt (Frank). The production opens on 6 February and runs until 16 February.
A limited number of tickets are also now on sale for The Jumper Factory by Luke Barnes. Originally conceived by the Young Vic Taking Part department and Justin Audibert, created in collaboration with inmates at HMP Wandsworth, as a parallel production to The Brothers Size in January 2018, The Jumper Factory explores the stories of people behind bars. The production returns to run alongside Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train which examines these experiences through the American justice system. Directed by Josh Parr, The Jumper Factory will be performed in The Maria from 27 February until 9 March, by young men who have all been directly or indirectly affected by the criminal justice system.
JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN
By Stephen Adly Guirgis
Directed by Kate Hewitt
Director: Kate Hewitt; Designer: Magda Willi; Costume Designer: Kinnetia Isidore
Lighting Designer: Guy Hoare; Sound Designer: Peter Rice; Movement Director: Imogen Knight
UK Casting Director: Julia Horan CDG; US Casting Director: Jim Carnahan CSA
Main House
14 February – 30 March 2019
From Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Adly Guirgis (The Motherf*cker with the Hat), comes this critically-acclaimed dark comedy about the American justice system and the contradictory nature of faith.
Inside the lockdown wing of Rikers Island prison, a frightened young man accused of murdering a cult leader is confronted with a charismatic born-again serial killer and a sadistic guard. Will one man’s redemption lead to another’s damnation?
Stephen Adly Guirgis is a playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. As a playwright, his other credits includeOur Lady Of 121st Street, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Little Flower of East Orange, The Motherf*cker with the Hat, and Between Riverside and Crazy, which won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. His television writing credits include NYPD Blue and The Get Down.
Oberon K. A. Adjepong plays Lucius Jenkins. His theatre credits include Good Grief (Vineyard Theatre), TheWinter’s Tale, Measure For Measure, Pericles, Tamburlaine (TFANA), Homecoming Queen (Atlantic Theatre Company – AUDELCO nomination), Uncommon Sense (Tectonic Theater Project), Party People (The Public Theater), 12 Angry Men (The Billie Holiday Theatre), Like I Say, Cellophane (Flea Theatre), Mother Courage, The Blacks (The Classical Theater of Harlem/Classic Stage Company), Wabenzi (New Ohio Theatre), Hamlet Project (La MaMa), Sango (NBT – AUDELCO nomination). His television credits include Blacklist, The Knick and Louie; and for film, CrazyFamous and CrownHeights.
Matthew Douglas returns to the Young Vic to play D’Amico. His previous credits for the company include King Lear. Other theatre credits include An Inspector Calls (UK tour/Playhouse Theatre), Far from the Madding Crowd (The Watermill Theatre), The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd (The New Vic), Travesties, TheImportance of Being Ernest (Birmingham Rep), Hay Fever (West Yorkshire Playhouse), She Stoops to Conquer (Birmingham Rep/Chichester Festival Theatre/UK tour), The Big House (Abbey Theatre, Dublin), Salt Meets Wound(Theatre503), Hecuba (RSC/Albery Theatre) and Othello (international tour). His television credits includeMiracle Landing on the Hudson; and for film, Papadopoulos and Sons.
Dervla Kirwan plays Mary Jane Hanrahan. Her theatre credits include King Lear, Frankie and Johnny, Uncle Vanya (Chichester Festival Theatre), Mr Foote’s Other Leg (Hampstead Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Weir (Donmar Warehouse and West End), Betrayal (Donmar Warehouse), Aristocrats (National Theatre) and Hush (Royal Court Theatre). Her television credits include White Dragon, The Silence, Material Girl, True Dare Kiss, 55 Degrees North, Hearts and Bones, Ballykissangel and Goodnight Sweetheart; and for film, Trautmann, Interlude in Prague, Luna, Entity, Ondine and Dangerous Parking.
Ukweli Roach plays Angel Cruz. His theatre credits include Nightfall (Bridge Theatre), 5,6,7,8 (rough cuts) (Royal Court Theatre), Romeo & Juliet and Helen (Globe Theatre). Television credits include Humans, Hard Sun, Blindspot (series 1 – 3), Dickensian, The Royals, Grantchester, Silk, Drifters, Starlings, Monroe and Eternal Law. Film credits include One Day, Streetdance 3D and Venus And The Son. Roach is Artistic Director of dance company Birdgang, touring with the Blaze international Hiphop dance show.
Joplin Sibtain plays Valdez. His theatre credits include The Beaux’ Stratagem, Dara, An Oak Tree, Behind The Beautiful Forevers, Othello, The Wind in the Willows, The Absence of War (National Theatre), Godchild(Hampstead Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe), King Lear (Almeida Theatre), The King and I (Curve), An Enemy of the People (Sheffield Theatres), A Street Car Named Desire (Nuffield Southampton Theatres), The Crucible (Octagon Theatre Bolton), Indian Ink (Salisbury Playhouse), The Ark an The Covenant (Battersea Arts Centre), The Fall Guy, The Moonstone (Royal Exchange Theatre), and Romeo and Juliet (RSC). His television credits include Nightflyers, Safe, Hard Sun and No Offence; and for film, Honey in the Head and Naachle London.
Kate Hewitt directs. Her theatre credits for the company include as director Far Away (JMK Young Director Award, 2014) and as Associate Director, Yerma. Her other directing credits include Frost/Nixon, Tribes (Sheffield Theatres), The Ice Road (Raucous Theatre), Kiki’s Delivery Service, Tomcat (Southwark Playhouse), Romeo & Juliet (Ambassador’s Theatre) and Portrait (Edinburgh Festival/UK tour). As Associate Director her credits include, One Love: The Bob Marley Musical (Birmingham Rep), Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (Drury Lane),Medea (Headlong Theatre Company) and Electra (Gate Theatre/Latitude Festival).
Oberon K.A. Adjepong is appearing with the permission of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.
Wild East
By April De Angelis
Directed by Lekan Lawal
Director: Lekan Lawal; Designer: Sarah Beaton; Lighting Designer: Amy Mae
Sound Designer: Harry Blake; Casting Director: Charlotte Sutton CDG
The Clare
6 – 16 February 2019
Recipient of Genesis Future Directors Award, Lekan Lawal, directs April De Angelis’ surreal Wild East. This outlandish play artfully turns the most sterile of settings, a corporate job interview, into a sharp comedy about the permeation of human chaos.
April De Angelis’ work includes The Village adapted from Lope de Vega’s Fuenteovejuna (Theatre Royal Stratford East), My Brilliant Friend adapted from Elena Ferrante’s novels (Rose Theatre Kingston), Rune (Old Vic Stoke), After Electra (Plymouth Theatre Royal and Tricycle Theatre), Jumpy (Royal Court and Duke of York’s),Catch (a collaboration with four other female playwrights) and Wild East (Royal Court), A Gloriously Mucky Business (Lyric Hammersmith), Calais (Paines Plough/Oran Mor), Country (Terror Season, Southwark Playhouse), an adaptation of Wuthering Heights (Birmingham Rep Theatre), A Laughing Matter (Out of Joint Theatre Company, National Theatre), The Warwickshire Testimony (RSC, The Other Place), The Positive Hour(Out of Joint Theatre/National Tour) and Playhouse Creatures (Sphinx Theatre Company, later revived by The Old Vic Theatre).
Lucy Briers plays Dr Pitt. Her theatre work includes Forty Years On, The Seagull and Ivanov (Chichester Festival Theatre), Show Boat (Sheffield Theatres and New London Theatre), Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies (RSC, Aldwych Theatre and Broadway), Top Girls (Out of Joint, Chichester Festival Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre) and Ivanov (Donmar West End). Her recent television work includes Gentleman Jack, Victoria, Mrs Wilson, Press, Father Brown, Count Arthur Strong, Our Girl, Dark Matter, The Thick of It, Twenty Twelve and Einstein and Paddington; for film, Genius, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, and The Children of Men.
Kemi-Bo Jacobs plays Dr Gray. Her theatre credits include The Sweet Science of Bruising (Southwark Playhouse), Betrayal (Derby Theatre), Hedda Gabler (Salisbury Playhouse) and All My Sons (Royal Exchange Theatre). Her television credits include The Letter for the King, The Great, Cheat,McMafia, Delicious, Our Girl Thirteen, The Honourable Woman and Doctor Who; and forfilm, London Has Fallen.
Zach Wyatt plays Frank. He graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama this year. His theatre work includes I and You (Hampstead Theatre).
Lekan Lawal’s directing credits include Betrayal (Derby Theatre), HyBrasil (The Old Vic), Stories to Tell in the Middle of the Night (Summerhall), Last Journey (Pentabus/Latitude), Capitalism in Crisis (Arcola Theatre).Associate/Assistant Director credits include Look Back in Anger, Jinny, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella (Derby Theatre), Measure for Measure (Young Vic), Politrix (The Big House) and The Merchant of Venice (Arcola Theatre).Lawal is currently an Artistic Director of Up Next at Battersea Arts Centre and an Associate Artist at the Hackney Showrooms.
The Jumper Factory
By Luke Barnes
Conceived by Young Vic Taking Part and Justin Audibert
Originally staged by prisoners to fellow inmates, Luke Barnes collaborated with HMP Wandsworth to create a new piece of theatre with eight inmates about how they survive a life behind bars.
This new production, performed in The Maria studio, is presented by a cast of young men aged from 18 – 25, whose lives have all been affected in some way by the criminal justice system.
Josh Parr directs Ayomide Adegun, Raphael Akuwudike, Jake Mills, RushandChambers, Pierre Moullier and Tej Obano.
Casting announced for The Tempest and Lord of the Flies at The Greenwich Theatre. Today we announce our gender switched production of Shakespeare’s legendary The Tempest which sees Prospero now female and Miranda now male; exploring gender, sexuality and identity and Golding’s 20th Century epic Lord of the Flies returns after a triumphant run in 2018 as part of our second season at The Greenwich Theatre in a 50/50 gender cast production.
The Tempest
Returning to the company Micha Colombo takes on the role of Prospero. Micha’s previous Lazarus credits include Troilus and Cressida, Coriolanus and Henry V.
Also returning to the company; David Clayton (Edward II, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) playsTrinculo, Georgina Barley (Lord of the Flies) plays Caliban and Nell Hardy (Lord of the Flies) plays Sebastian.
Making their Lazarus Debuts; Miranda – Alexander da Fonseca, Ariel – Abigail Clay,Alonzo – Nikolas Salmon, Antonio – Peace Oseyenum, Ferdinand – Aaron Peters,Gonzalo – Conor Hadfield and Stephano – James Alston.
Shakespeare’s legendary last play sees a ship caught in a storm, violent and destructive. When the casualties awake on an enchanted island their true self is revealed, an island full of magic, where love is love, revenge and forgiveness.
This new production is adapted and directed by Ricky Dukes, designed by Rachel Dinglewith lighting design by Stuart Glover, sound design by Sam Glossip and songs by Bobby Locke.
Lord of the Flies
Returning to the company Ben Victor plays the role of Simon which he played in the 2018 production.
Making their Lazarus Debuts; Ralph – Alice Hutchinson, Piggy – Tommy Carmichael, Jack – Matt Penson, Roger – Darcy Willison, Eric – David Angland, Sam – Larissa Teale, Percival – Lucy Ioannou, Henry – Oliver Franks, Maurice – Phoebe Stapleton, Bill – Denis Rai. The Voice is voiced by Jennifer Shakesby.
Full cast biographies can be on our company page.
“What are we? Humans? Animals? Or savages?”
Eleven children, one island… an incredible adventure turns into a fight for survival.
The production is directed by Ricky Dukes, with movement direction by Julia Cave designed by Rachel Dingle* with lighting design by Ben Jacobs and sound design by Nicola Chang.
*Based on the original design by Alfie Heywood and costume design by Rebecca Carpenter. Full press releases are attached for both productions along with headshots for Micha Colombo (Prospero), Alexander da Fonseca (Miranda) Aaron Peters (Ferdinand) as the two young lovers in The Tempest and Matt Penson (Jack) and Alice Hutchinson (Ralph) in Lord of the Flies.
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 19 January 2019
Reviewed by Jo Gordon
5*****
Based on a true story and film of the same name , Calendar Girls the Musical written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth has been a touring success story.
Set in the rolling dales of Yorkshire we follow the trials and tribulations encountered by a group of WI ladies and their families. It covers all bases from troublesome teens, relationship breakdowns, friendships, ageing and death of a loved one. With the main focus being on Annie ( Anna-Jane Casey) and the loss of her husband, John, to cancer, much hilarity follows when the group come together to raise funds for a new hospital families room sofa through the means of a naked calendar.
With household names such as Fern Britton, Ruth Madoc and Denise Welch on board it really puts bums on seats. They each portray the real ladies beautifully and the casts comedic timing is next to none. With lots of humorous show tunes such as Celia (Denise Welch) I’ve had a little work done and Annies ( Anna-Jane Casey) heartbreaking Scarborough and Kilimanjaro you are guaranteed to ride an emotional roller-coaster so take tissues!
With a stunningly simple backdrop of green hills and dusky skies you really do feel in the heart of Jam, Cake and Jerusalem country and come away feeling empowered by those ladies ability to bare all to the audience, but not quite enough to feel the need to follow suite!
A definite must see and as a child in the 80’s watching Hi-De-Hi never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d ever utter the words “I saw Ruth Madoc bare her breasts this evening”.
As the new spring season for Storyhouse fast approaches, the award-winning Chester venue has added four new shows to its programme – revealing its first three shows for autumn.
Audiences can look forward to headline shows including West End musicals, comedy giants, beautiful dance, and captivating opera.
Spring highlights include Wise Children; Annie; Ghost – The Musical; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Avenue Q; Brian Blessed; Collabro; Brendan Cole; Julian Clary; Moscow City Ballet; The Noise Next Door; Nick Sharratt; and English Touring Opera.
But before the new season starts, four new shows have been added to the line-up for 2019.
Author Matt Haig has been added to the spring season and comes to Storyhouse this April. Followed by Cabaret in September and Calendar Girls The Musical in October, then comedian Ed Byrnein December – this hat-trick of new shows are the first to be announced for the autumn 2019 programme.
Author Matt Haigcomes to Storyhouse on Sunday 14 April with Notes on a Nervous Planet, apersonal and vital look at how to feel happy, human and whole in the 21st Century and the follow-up to his bestseller Reasons To Stay Alive. Join the author for an evening of positive and insightful discussion about the modern world, offering a closer look at the challenges posed by our ever-changing technological landscape and his advice on how best to navigate it.
Cabaret comes to Storyhouse between Tuesday 24 September and Saturday 28 September for eight performances only, including three matinees.
Bill Kenwright presents the multi award-winning production of Kander and Ebb’s landmark musical, Cabaret. Directed by National Theatre Artistic Director Rufus Norris, the production has enjoyed two smash-hit West End runs at The Lyric and The Savoy theatres. Since its Broadway premiere and the movie version starring Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey,Cabaret has won numerous stage and screen awards including eight Oscars, seven BAFTAs and 13 Tonys. Cabaret features show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and iconic songs Money Makes The World Go Round, Maybe This Time and, of course, the title song Cabaret.
Make a date with theCalendar Girlsbetween Tuesday 29 October and Saturday 2 November, with matinee performances on the Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Calendar Girls The Musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth is the award-winning production based on the true story of the calendar girls – a group of ordinary women from Yorkshire who achieved something extraordinary. This marvellous musical comedy, based on the smash-hit film of the same name, received fantastic five-star reviews in London’s West End. The Times described Calendar Girls The Musical as “pure gold”.
Comedian Ed Byrne makes his first trip to Storyhouse on Monday 9 December with his new show If I’m Honest.
Join Ed as he takes a long hard look at himself and tries to decide if he has any traits that are worth passing on to his children. A masterclass in observational comedy, the show comes hot on the heels of his 2017/2018 hit tour, Spoiler Alert! In the past year Ed has appeared on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, The Pilgrimage, QI, and Top Gear.
The spring season starts with The Comedy About a Bank Robberyfrom Tuesday 29 January to Saturday 2 February. Mischief Theatre return to Storyhouse with their latest West End smash hit, which follows the hugely successful The Play That Goes Wrong.
Musicals fare strong throughout spring and Storyhouse audiences can look forward to Avenue Q, Ghost – The Musical, Annie, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Avenue Q runs from Monday 25 February and Saturday 2 March. This Tony Award-winning musical ishilarious and cheeky, and full of mischief, bad behaviour and political incorrectness. With a cast of 11 hugely talented performers and puppets, it’s a musical like no other.
Based on the blockbuster 1990 film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg,Ghost – The Musical will pull on the heartstrings. It runs from Tuesday 5 March to Saturday 9 March,and includes songs co-written by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart.
West End smash hit Annie stars actress Anita Dobson (EastEnders, Wicked, Chicago) as Miss Hannigan. With songs including Hard-Knock Life, Easy Street, and Tomorrow, the show runs from Monday 25 March to Saturday 30 March.
The Biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers and coat of many colours is portrayed through Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from Tuesday 16 April to Saturday 20 April.
Visionary director Emma Rice presents the new theatrical production of novelist Angela Carter’s Wise Children direct from the West End from Tuesday 19 March to Saturday 23 March. The carnivalesque tale of the tangled fortunes of two theatrical families is inspired by Shakespeare’s greatest comedies.
Laughter is often thought to be the best medicine, so a trip to Storyhouse is a must with appearances from a whole host of comedy giants.
An Evening with Brian Blessedis on Wednesday 6 February; Jason Manford returns to Storyhouse and brings his show Muddle Class for two nights on Wednesday 13 February and Thursday 14 February; risqué comedian Julian Clary presents Born To Mince on Sunday 31 March; while DaraO’Briain is the Voice of Reason from Monday 1 April to Wednesday 3 April.
The Noise Next Door present a double bill on Wednesday 20 February. The improv comedy troupe present new family showThe Noise Next Door At Sea in the afternoon, followed that evening byRemix, a brand new full-length show for the grown-ups.
Music and dance are high on the programme with Collabro performing on Monday 11 February as part of their UK tour Road To The Royal Albert Hall; and Moscow City Balletpresent a double bill ofThe Nutcracker on Thursday 21 February and Friday 22 February, followed by Sleeping BeautyonSaturday 23 February.
Star of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing Brendan Cole is back with new stage production Show Man onSunday 24 February; and English Touring Opera return to present a season of Kings and Queens in the battle for love, loyalty and power with a double bill of Verdi’s Macbeth on Friday 15 March andMozart’s Idomeneo on Saturday 16 March, both will feature a large chorus and live orchestra.BalletBoyz also return with two new works, Them & Us on Thursday 4 April.
Acclaimed children’s writer and illustratorNick Sharrattpresents his Right Royal DrawalongonSaturday 16 February, showing audiences how to sketch their favourite characters. Nick has illustrated close to 260 books including Tracy Beaker.
Young dragonZog flies into Storyhouse from Friday 5 April to Sunday 7 April. The stage adaptation is based on the book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler. Large in size and keen in nature, Zog has promises plenty of adventures and fun for all ages.
Storyhouse Artistic Director Alex Clifton said:“What an exciting and diverse season we have this spring. Showstopping musicals, West End productions, and household comedy names – this is just a taster of the fantastic line-up we have heading to Storyhouse.
“It may only be January, but we’re also thrilled to announce our first shows for autumn – Cabaret, Calendar Girls The Musical, and comedian Ed Byrne. We’re looking forward to a colourful, exciting and entertaining 2019, we hope you can join us.”
Tickets for all spring season shows at Storyhouse are now on sale. Storyhouse has a dynamic pricing policy on the majority of shows, ensuring the earlier you book your tickets, guarantees the best seats at the lowest price.
A play about the unconventional love story between two professional boxers is about to embark on its third UK tour, visiting 11 venues across four weeks.
Gypsy Queen opens its UK Tour 2019 at The Riverfront, Newport, on Thursday 31 January.
The show will then tour for four weeks visiting Nottingham Playhouse; Square Chapel in Halifax; Sheffield Crucible; York Theatre Royal; Hull Truck; Crewe Lyceum; Lawrence Batley in Huddersfield; Theatr Clywd; Leicester Curve; and New Wosley in Ipswich.
Set in the competitive world of boxing, Gypsy Queen is a tale of boxingand finding love in the most unusual circumstances, and explores LGBTQI visibility in sport, faith, sexuality, and the notion of masculinity.
Gypsy Queen tells the story of ‘Gorgeous’ George O’Connell, a bare-knuckle fighter from a traveller family, a hero to his people and a self-proclaimed Gypsy King. George enters the world of professional boxing which puts him on a collision course with his roots, his fears and his very identity.
In the opposite corner, Dane ‘The Pain’ Samson, the young pretender and son of a boxing legend. He is fighting his own battles that lead to a tragedy that neither could predict.
This critically acclaimed love story about two men who find each other in the most unlikely of worlds. But can two men raised to fight ever learn to love?
The play features just two actors, who play nine characters between them, portraying comedy, drama and physicality in equal measure.
Gypsy Queen is written by Rob Ward, who also plays the role of George O’Connell. The role of Dane Samson will be shared during the tour by actors John Askew and Ryan Clayton, who will each perform on specific dates (see listings).
John Askew reprises the role after performing as Dane at the Edinburgh Fringe 2018 and the Gypsy Queen UK Tour 2018; while Ryan Clayton returns after being originally cast as the character in 2017.
The play is directed by Adam Zane and produced by Max Emmerson for Emmerson & Ward Productions, in association with Hope Theatre Company.
Just days before the tour opens in Newport, there is a special immersive performance of Gypsy Queen in Manchester on Sunday 27 January 2019. The site specific performance will be staged atMoss Side Fire Station Boxing Club, where the cast will perform within the ropes of an actual boxing ring. A 3pm family friendly performance will be followed by the full production at 7pm.
Producer Max Emmerson commented:“We’ve had a fantastic response to the site specific performance of Gypsy Queen at Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club, and now we’re excited to announce details of the new UK Tour 2019.
“The play has strong messages of friendship, conflict, challenging prejudice – but most of all love. We’re looking forward to taking Gypsy Queen to new venues and audiences, and continues to help break down barriers.”
Gypsy Queen was nominated for two Manchester Theatre Awards 2018 in the categories of best new play and best fringe production.
The play was a knock-out success at Edinburgh in 2017 and 2018, garnering a host of four and five-star reviews, and was selected as one of LGBT Youth Scotland’s Top Ten Festival Picks at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe. It was also longlisted for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, with writer Rob Ward named as one of the British Council’s Emerging Artists for 2017. The List also placed Gypsy Queen 39th on its list of best festival shows based on the opinions of a range of reviewers – out of 3,500 overall.
What the critics say…
“A slick, rewarding piece of work” – The List
“A multi-faceted love story…slick yet poignant” – The Stage
“Incredibly moving…brilliantly funny” – Attitude
“Laugh-out-loud lines…a touching romance” – The Independent
“Heart-breaking, raw and emotional; this really is not one to miss” – Broadway Baby
Gypsy Queen is suitable for audiences aged 16 upwards. The play contains strong language, nudity, and scenes of a sexual nature.
New Old Friends present: Crimes on the Nile A new Artemis Arinae thriller from New Old Friends inspired by Christie, Coward and classic Ealing comedies UK Tour, 7th January to 4 May 2019
“a mesmerising mix of murder, mayhem and laugh-out-loud comedy that leaves you exhausted just watching the action unfold” ★★★★ The Stage onCrimes Against Christmas
Following 2018’s sell-out smash hit Crimes Under the Sun, multi-award-winning theatre company, New Old Friends, return with another hilariously inventive comedy thriller.
It’s 1935 and celebrated Belgian detective extraordinaire, Artemis Arinae, is enjoying a cruise along the Nile – when tragedy strikes again. All passengers and staff are suspects, and the body count is growing – will Arinae’s little grey cells identify the murderer in time?!
A cast of just four bring to life lascivious lawyers, crocked captains, fastidious physicians, ardently amorous authors, feuding femme fatales, plodding paramours, colossal kids, friendly first mates and attractive Americans, who all get swept along the driving narrative and inventive set-pieces.
Heather Westwell, co-artistic director says: “Touring with Crimes Under the Sun was such a joyous experience with such an incredible response from the public that we are over the moon to be taking out another Artemis Arinae comedy thriller. This time we see our hero trapped on a river boat with a cast of shady characters, it features the same brand of multi-role mayhem and invention with even more ambition this time around. It should be a lot of fun.”
New Old Friends are an award-winning theatre company dedicated to creating original comedy theatre, founded in 2008 and run by husband and wife team Feargus Woods Dunlop and Heather Westwell. Previous shows include Crimes Against Christmas, Crimes on the Christmas Express, and Crimes under the Sun. In 2014 and 2015, New Old Friends took their adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s The Falcon’s Malteser on two national tours and to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, enjoying sell-out shows at the Pleasance and great critical acclaim. After a chance conversation via Twitter, the company met Lichfield Garrick’s former artistic director Tim Ford and the opportunity for the Crimesshows began. Crimes on the Nile follows hot on the heels of Crimes of the Christmas Pudding which ran all winter at the Lichfield Garrick.
BE OUR GUEST AS BEAUTY AND THE BEAST HEADS FOR THE STOCKPORT PLAZA
Regal Entertainments is bringing its smash hit production of Beauty and the Beast to The Stockport Plaza for Easter 2019.
The magical panto version of the classic fairytale comes toStockportfrom 18 – 22 April 2019 and will star Channel 5 Milkshake’sKiera-Nicole Brennan as Belle.
Get ready to go on an adventure and follow Belle as she falls in love with the most unexpected of princes, with Andrew Geater as the Beast.
Also trying to win Belle’s heart is Philip McGuinness as the brutish Gaston. The brilliant Lewis Devinewill be causing mayhem and mischief as French Frank, whileadding some extra sparkle will be Sarah Walker as Fairy Rose. And the hilarious Si Foster completes the cast as Potty Polly.
Keira-Nicole Brennan has recently graduated from the prestigious BRIT School and is best known as the host of popular children’s breakfast show Milkshake. She is currently the youngest presenter in Channel 5 history after landing the role at just 19 and proving herself a hit with little viewers.
Andrew Geater takes the role of Beast. His impressive vocal talents have seen him perform across the globe including as a member of world renowned group The 12 Tenors.
The hilarious Lewis Devine is playing French Frank. After leaving audiences rolling in the theatre aisles laughing with his recent performance as Buttons in Cinderella, and as Muddles in Snow White, both at St Helens, Lewis is guaranteed to bring the same hilarity to Stockport this Easter.
Returning to the role of Gaston is Philip McGuinness. Stockport audiences will remember him as Tin Man in 2016’s production of The Wizard of Oz, while his other panto appearances for Regal Entertainments include Captain Hook in Peter Pan.
Meanwhile dancer and choreographer Sarah Walker will bring all the moves as well as lots of sparkle to the stage as Fairy Rose.
Completing the cast is Si Foster playing Potty Polly guaranteeing hilarious gags that are sure to keep audiences laughing.
An enchanting tale filled with hilarious comedy, wonderful songs and a story which proves that even the grumpiest of Beasts can change his ways. Make sure to book before the final rose petal falls!
Beauty and the Beast Producer, Chantelle Nolan said: “We’re very excited to be bringing this production of Beauty and the Beast to Stockport. We had a brilliant time at the theatre when we staged The Wizard of Oz – audiences were fantastic, and the theatre staff were very welcoming.
“Beauty and the Beast went down a storm at St Helens Theatre Royal during October half-term so we can guarantee a magical panto time at Stockport for Easter 2019.”
The Stockport Plaza Manager, Ted Doan added: “The Plaza has a history of providing the finest and most sensational affordable family entertainment for all ages to enjoy with our magnificent Easter Pantomimes and welcoming Regal Entertainments back this year with Beauty and the Beast will ensure that this annual tradition receives the right royal treatment that only Regal can provide!”
Beauty and the Beast runs from Thursday 18 – Monday 22 April 2019. Tickets are now on sale. Book early to avoid disappointment.
ALL ABOUT EVE by Joseph L Mankiewicz Adapted and directed for the stage by Ivo van Hove
Final casting announced for strictly limited run of All About Eve at the Noël Coward Theatre
Merric Boyd, Fejiro Emasiobi, Jessie Mei Li, Chanelle Modi, Stuart Nunn, Phillipa Peak and Michael Warburton complete the cast
All About Eve will run for 14 weeks with reduced priced previews beginning on 2nd February 2019. Best availability from late March 2019
Over 20,000 tickets have been available at £25 or under during the run
Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions have today announced the full casting for the world premiere of Ivo van Hove’s highly anticipated stage production of the 1950 Twentieth Century Fox film All About Eve as rehearsals commence.
Jessie Mei Li will play the role of Claudia Casswell with Merric Boyd, Fejiro Emasiobi, Chanelle Modi, Stuart Nunn, Phillipa Peak and Michael Warburton joining the Ensemble. Performances run from 2nd February at the West End’s Noël Coward Theatre.
Previously announced, Emmy Award-winning Gillian Anderson will return to the stage alongsideLily James to lead the cast. BAFTA Award-winner Monica Dolan will play the role of Karen alongside Ian Drysdale as Max Fabian, Tsion Habte as Phoebe, Julian Ovenden as Bill, Sheila Reid as Birdie, Rhashan Stone as Lloyd and Stanley Townsend as Addison DeWitt. Charles Hagerty, Grace Stone and Philip Voyzey will also appear as Ensemble cast.
Ivo van Hove’s direction will be accompanied by set and lighting design from JanVersweyveld,costume design by An D’Huys and music from double Mercury Prize-winner PJ Harvey, alongsideTom Gibbons’ sound design. Casting is by Julia Horan CDG.
“Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”
Margo Channing. Legend. True star of the theatre. The spotlight is hers, always has been. But now there’s Eve. Her biggest fan. Young, beautiful Eve. The golden girl, the girl next door. But you know all about Eve…don’t you…?
Ivo van Hove directs Gillian Anderson and Lily James in his new adaptation of All About Eve, a razor-sharp, unsettling exposé of the eternal obsession at the heart of show-business. Lifting the curtain on a world of jealousy and ambition, this new production, from one of the world’s most innovative theatre directors, asks why our fascination with celebrity, youth and identity never seems to get old.
LISTINGS
Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions present
ALL ABOUT EVE by Joseph L Mankiewicz Adapted and directed for the stage by Ivo van Hove Set and Lighting Jan Versweyveld Costume An D’Huys Music PJ Harvey Sound Tom Gibbons Casting Julia Horan CDG
Noël Coward Theatre
A Delfont Mackintosh Theatre 85-88 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4AU
First performance: 2nd February 2019 Final performance: 11th May 2019
Captioned performance: 12th March 2019 Audio Described performance: 19th March 2019
Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm Thursday & Saturday matinee performances at 2.30pm
VAULT Festival announce their biggest, boldest and bravest programme yet
VAULT Festival, one of the largest curated arts festivals in the world, has announced more than 400 shows for their 2019 programme. Now in its seventh year, VAULT Festival returns to London from 23rd January to 17th March with the best in new writing for theatre and comedy, immersive experiences, cabaret, live performance and late night parties. Their exciting and diverse programme features shows from more than 2,000 artists, with 53% of work being female-led and 25% of work coming from LGBTQIA+ artists. Starting in 2012 with only 25 shows and 7,000 attendees, VAULT Festival has become the fastest growing arts festival in the UK, hosting over 350 shows in 2018 and welcoming more than 70,000 audience members.
In 2019, performances will take place across Waterloo with multiple spaces located underground in the festival’s central hub, The Vaults. Other festival venues include London’s secret community performance space The Network Theatre, upstairs at The Horse & Stables pub, Granby Place, and the Travelling Through Bookshop on Lower Marsh where you can catch fresh material from television favourites and hot new comics. Unit 9 on Leake Street will be a space dedicated to ground-breaking immersive performances while other pop-up venues include shipping containers, caravans and escape rooms.
For 2019, VAULT Festival is delighted to support two important causes: Help Refugees and Child.org. All ticket transactions for VAULT Festival will provide audiences with the opportunity to donate to Help Refugees, providing humanitarian aid to displaced people around the world. Child.org will host an exclusive stage at The Horse & Stables pub and receive a percentage of ticket sales to support their Team Mum campaign, helping to fund pregnancy services in rural Kenya that offer health information and medical support for new mothers.
VAULT Festival will continue its partnership with WeAreWaterloo, supporting the local community with a range of initiatives aimed at residents and under 25s. The Festival is expanding its engagement scheme with SURGE, a brand new pilot programme of cross-arts projects, working with schools in the area to provide workshops and outreach performances.
Proudly supported by leading theatre publishers and performing rights agents Nick Hern Books, the VAULT Festival New Writers Programme will offer an eight-week practical writing course for prospective writers of any age, enabling them to develop a piece of writing for the stage, culminating in a public showcase in the final week of the Festival. VAULT Festival will also offer up to 10,000 2-4-1 tickets through their Official App Partner Stagedoor.
In collaboration with Meantime Brewing, VAULT Festival will be adding to their array of bars with a specially designed and purpose-built new craft beer bar. Local culinary masters PopCo will be serving up an EU inspired menu. The festival is investing in 12,000 reusable cups to significantly reduce single-use waste, alongside a switchover to paperless tickets, a ban on plastic straws, and a guarantee that all food and beverage packaging is biodegradable or recyclable.
The VAULT Festival team commented, VAULT Festival started as an idea to bring artists and audiences together in an unusual space, in exciting spaces, to see if we could make a new model for the creative industry. A few years later, our audience has stuck with us and grown beyond our wildest hopes. We want VAULT Festival to be the people’s festival, designed around the audience, the artists, and our staff, without unfairly disadvantaging any of them. They are the very core of what makes VAULT work, and what makes us special.
Including shows with rubber ducks, 90s RnB, and a border collie, there’s something for everyone at VAULT Festival 2019.
Theatre
Headlining VAULT Festival, the immersive folk opera Counting Sheep returns to the UK for the first time since its award-winning run at The Edinburgh Fringe in 2016. This brand new adaptation, reimagined by the directors of the Belarus Free Theatre, is a deeply personal retelling of the Ukrainian Revolution, exploring the real-life narrative of the creators who fell in love on the barricades of Maidan Square. With folk singing, found footage and revolutionary staging, this electrifying exploration of human resilience invites audience members to be part of the revolution.
Also running for a full eight weeks, the makers of Counting Sheep present the London premiere of Balaklava Blues – an ethno-bass live set, coupled with archive footage, iconic Soviet cartoons, and the polyphonic blues of the Ukrainian plains.
New Diorama Theatre joins forces with VAULT Festival to showcase some of the UK’s most exciting ensemble work. Staging some of their recent Edinburgh hits, the NDT/VAULT Festival Takeover includes A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad), a hilarious yet gut-wrenching story about depression from Olivier award-winning playwright Jon Brittain, Kill the Beast’s Director’s Cut, an achingly funny comedy staged on the set of a 1970s horror movie; and, winner of a Stage Edinburgh Award, sell-out show Queens of Sheba – a funny, poetic and unflinching look at misogynoir. The season culminates with The Faction reviving their electrifying production of The Talented Mr. Ripley, breathing new life into Patricia Highsmith’s extraordinary psychological thriller about an infamous and deadly conman.
Representing the highest calibre of work from the Fringe, VAULT Festival will host the winner of the Summerhall Award, The Myth of the Singular Moment, and Pleasance Award winner, Ladykiller. Born in part out of co-creator Jim Harbourne’s experience with Huntington’s Disease, The Myth of the Singular Moment is scored by a contemporary folk soundtrack and tells of the choices we make and those we don’t as multiple realities coincide and diverge. Ladykiller is a blood-soaked jet-black comedy offering the feminist case for female psychopaths: it’s not what it looks like, really, it’s not – it was self-defence and, anyway, the woman was asking for it.
And there’s more for true crime fans as the macabre finds a spine-chilling home in The Vaults’underground tunnels. Based on the 2010 case, Kompromat follows the final hours of the GCHQ agent murdered and folded into a sports bag. Both assassin and victim find and lose their chance to escape in this tense thriller. Pufferfish is based on the real and astonishing story of Jeffrey Dahmer who took the lives of 17 young men in the 1980s. It digs through the homophobia of the initial reporting of the case and attempts to uncover the links between fear and desire, beauty and horror.
Other theatrical highlights include Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist with Instagram and Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Tom Lenk as Tilda Swinton, who comes to the rescue of a depressed gay man. Physical theatre ensemble The PappyShow present a cycle of plays in an exciting venue takeover including: Boys, a celebration of manhood with the things about boys you never get to see; Girls which explores the complex yet joyous stories of women of all ages; and Care, a touching tribute to the NHS. Orlando from Lucy Roslyn and Josh Roche is the story of Virginia Woolf’s character through the sixties, the AIDs crisis and the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando; it interrogates society’s insistence on boxing up identities. Irish company MALAPROP’s Jericho considers the world we live in and explores wrestling, journalism and confusing entertainment and politics. Katie & Pip is about the relationship between Katie, a Type 1 Diabetic teenager, and Pip, her border collie, trained to save her life on a daily basis. Making an invisible disability visible, it celebrates living life to the full, with help from an actual dog in performance.
Following the recent trend of reclaiming Herstory, VAULT Festival sees several new shows telling the stories of women marginalised by history. 10 is the history of Britain since Boudicca told by ten influential women while Rascal Theatre’s Galvanise sees three young women rediscover forgotten female leaders from across the world. New musical The Limit puts the self-taught mathematician Sophie Germain centre-stage exploring how she disguised herself as a man to submit work. Lola is the rich feminist unpicking of Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita which gives the eponymous character a voice to express her justifiable rage and discuss self-harm, stalking and extremely large breasts.
Family Fun
Bobbing their way back to London, Faceplant Theatre return with One Duck Down, an eco-friendly family comedy inspired by the 7,000 rubber ducks that spilled into the ocean in 1992. Winner of Best Family Show at VAULT Festival 2018, this musical production about oceans and plastic pollution would make David Attenborough proud. Also promoting environmental responsibility with a twinkle in their eye, Blue Planet III is a nature documentary from two interns determined to fight rising sea levels and pollution to film the third series of Blue Planet within a flooded BBC.
Encouraging inclusivity and creativity, Spun Glass Theatre’s Princess Charming is a topical exploration of gender identity for children aged seven to eleven. This hilarious play enables them to deeper understand their own identities and, in doing so, break free of gender stereotypes. Singing, dancing and teaching Cantonese vocabulary, Boh Boh Finds Home is the interactive adventure and debut show from Little Bean Theatre which allows families to travel through the galaxy together. How to Date a Magical Creature features a multi-award winning BAFTA and Olivier-winning cast who create a brand-new improvised chat show every night as the most famous fantastical beasties reveal their most intimate secrets and gossip.
Comedy
Returning for its second year, the VAULT Comedy Festival comes to venues across Waterloo with even more shows, more talent and more brazen humour. With further opportunities to see the start of something special, catch works-in-progress from household favourites like James Acaster, Phil Wang and Desiree Burch and debut hours from the most exciting up and coming acts such as Helen Bauer, Chloe Petts and Kayla Macquarie.
Elf Lyons will channel her inner Elton John to perform Love Songs to Guinea Pigs. With songs about, for and to guinea pigs, Lyons explores love and affection in her most personal show to date. Catherine Bohart presents new work, following her successful debut Immaculate, while Max and Ivan try things with two mics and a projector and Tom Parry celebrates life, love and losing your tie.
There is also the chance to catch critically acclaimed shows, transferring down from the Edinburgh Fringe. William Andrews embraces the Willy he always was, telling remarkable stories with a beguiling blend of daft creativity and ingenuity in Willy. Rob Oldham’s Worm’s Lament keeps the jokes firing even as he considers politics, youth and death. The endlessly inventive Josh Glanc brings Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chamedian south of the river. The frenetic sketch show Just These, Please uses comic absurdity to take on Bags for Life and Albus Dumbledore while The Free Association are joined by very special guests to create spontaneous and hilarious sketches based on audience suggestions.
Lates
Kicking the weekends off with blowout parties and irresistible iniquity, the Festival’s series of Lates promises nights of adventure. On Saturday 2nd February, Pecs Drag King Collective will be giving VAULT Festival the chance to be King for a Night. Visit the Mansformation Station to get ready for hot cabaret performances, sweaty dancing, 90s RnB and all your favourite drag kings. Other highlights include a Valentine’s Special Eat Your Heart Out! from Shotgun Carousel, the critically acclaimed team behind Divine Proportions. From raunch to romance, it will be one huge celebration of all flavours of feminist love with a multi-room extravaganza of bands, DJs, cabaret and, even, a sham wedding chapel. Rounding off the explosive programme, immersive specialists SPECIFIQ and Rogue Productions return to VAULT Festival with RUCKUS, a raucous St Patrick’s Day shindig with a vintage gangster vibe. Join us underground because no one parties like the Irish Mob.
And this is only a taste of the incredible programme, head to vaultfestival.com for full listings and more information about all the shows heading to Waterloo for the Festival. VAULT Festival promises to set alight your long winter nights in 2019.
