Author: FairyPoweredProductions

Fictive Theatre in collaboration with Artistic Producciones and
the Mexican Theatre Company La Compañia Perpetua present

SCARBOROUGH
by Fiona Evans

Saturday 5th December 2015
& Sunday 6th December 2015

at London’s The Cockpit Theatre
Gateforth Street, London, NW8 8EH

Following a successful showcase at The Courtyard Theatre, Fictive Theatre in collaboration with Artistic Producciones and the Mexican Theatre Company La Compañia Perpetua present two unique performances of Fiona Evans’ acclaimed play SCARBOROUGH at the Cockpit Theatre, in London, on Saturday 5th December and Sunday 6th December at 3pm.

SCARBOROUGH follows a 15 year-old boy on a romantic weekend away with his (nearly) 30 year-old female teacher at a bed and breakfast in Scarborough. After the interval, the script is repeated word-for-word except for one difference: the genders have swapped.

Across social media and tabloid newspapers it seems every week a new student – teacher affair is uncovered. By staying away from sensationalism, SCARBOROUGH becomes an engaging play presenting the affair from a neutral point of view.

Fiona Evans’ electrifying portrayal of a dangerously charged romance and its disturbing implications was the show to see at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, winning a Fringe First Award.

This intimate performance directed by Simon Paris is set on a bed, in the round.

Young talents Ava Pickett and Charlie Tantam star in this production performing the roles of Lauren/Beth and Daz/Aiden.

SCARBOROUGH has set and costume design by Magdalena Iwanska, and lighting design by Guido Lueches.

Founded in 2014 by Ava Pickett and Simon Parism, Fictive Theatre is a company that creates and embraces brave and bold new theatre.

Artistic Producciones LTD and La Compañia Perpetua, which are about to present the UK premiere of FAUSTAFF at the Cockpit Theatre from 18th November to 6th December, are supporting this emerging theatre company with the aim of promote young talent.

Reviewers have said:

“The brilliant thing about Evans’s play is that it poses these questions without forcing us into either camp. By replicating the script across both situations, Evans stays neutral whilst her audience is left to empathise, take sides and debate as they see fit.” – Holly O’Mohany, A Younger Theatre.

“Despite the play’s brevity, the characters are complex and we don’t automatically see these children as victims – occasionally they seem more mature than the adults taking advantage of them.” – Edward Lukes, Once A Week Theatre

“We’re invading a private moment in a relationship, and our intrusion on these intimacies – the leg stroking, long stares and kissing on the bed in fits of passion – makes us feel suitably
uncomfortable.” – Holly O’Mahony, A Younger Theatre

“Director Simon Paris has done a fantastic job at utilising the script to great effect to convey the two stories in completely different and very effective ways.” – Terry Eastham, London Theatre 1

Tickets on sale at
http://www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/scarborough

Images available for download at
http://www.marsonpr.com/scarborough/

Twitter: @FictiveTheatre

Fictive Theatre Facebook Official Page

http://www.fictivetheatre.com

http://www.artisticproducciones.org

http://www.laperpetua.com

LISTINGS
SCARBOROUGH
A play by Fiona Evans

Directed by Simon Paris
Set and costume design: Magdalena Iwanska
Lighting design: Guido Lueches
Poster design: Amy Laker

Cast:
Lauren / Beth: Ava Pickett
Daz / Aiden: Charlie Tantam

5th & 6th December 2015, 3.00pm
The Cockpit Theatre
Gateforth Street, London, NW8 8EH

BOOK TICKETS
Tickets: £12 (concessions £10)
Box Office: 020 7258 29 25
Website: http://www.thecockpit.org.uk
ON SALE NOW!

A new season of entertaining, imaginative and engaging theatre has been launched this week by Live Theatre.

Next summer there is an exciting collaboration with Carnegie Medal-winning author, David Almond (Skellig),to present The Savage (30 June to 23 July), his first full length play for Live Theatre. This creative theatrical reimagining of his critically acclaimed short story has been commissioned to mark the launch of Live Tales, our new creative writing centre for children and young people which is at the heart of the new outdoor performance area and gardens next to the theatre.

Max Roberts, Artistic Director, Live Theatre said:

“It’s great to have a writer of David’s quality and reputation writing for Live Theatre. His enthusiasm and support for Live Tales our Children’s Writing Centre has been enormous and The Savage marks its opening. I’m very much looking forward to bringing his play to fruition moulding David’s rich lyrical writing with music and beautiful settings that will appeal to a wide age range of audiences.”
Next year also sees a welcome return for Alison Carr, with the world premiere of Iris (6 April to 30 April), a heady cocktail of caustic humour and tender pathos and her first full-length show in Live’s main theatre. Alison was the winner of Live Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Bursary for The Soaking of Vera Shrimp.

Gez Casey, Literary Manager said:

“Alison Carr has a distinct and individual voice as a playwright – witty, quirky and engaging. Following her previous work for the company, including The Girls From Poppyfield Close and The Soaking of Vera Shrimp in our Studio Theatre, I’m delighted that audiences will be able to see her first full commission in the Main House.”

Young voices continue to make themselves heard in Write Stuff (4 March), and members of Live’s Youth Theatre perform in The Media Circus  (5 & 6 March) and along with young learning disabled actors in Always the Bridesmaid (19 & 20 February),written by award winning playwright Mike Kenny in a collaboration with Headway Arts in Blyth.

See exciting new work performed for the very first time in Live Lab which this season launches two new projects, Live Lab Elevator festival (9 to 13 February) and Live Lab Takeover (21 & 22 May) which present new theatre and work-in-progress showcases. This also includes new work from Northumbria University MA students, as part of the recently announced partnership.

The quayside based Theatre is also looking forward to welcoming some of the country’s most exciting visiting theatre companies.

Among the exciting visiting theatre programme, is Iphigenia in Splott, (11 & 12 March), winner of Best Play in the UK Theatre Awards 2015; as well as Land of our Fathers, (27 to 30 January), compelling account of six Welsh miners trapped down a mine as Margaret Thatcher wins the 1979 general election; and Petrification, (26 to 28 May) the world premiere of a new piece by Zoe Cooper, (Nativities) the past and present collide with dizzying consequences.

The latest addition to the season is Bits of Me Are Falling Apart (24 to 27 February), which sees Adrian Edmondson staring in a new adaption of William Leith’s hilarious and touching bestselling novel, directed by Steve Marmion, Artistic Director of Soho Theatre.

Live Theatre will also host live music from Jumpin’ Hot Club and this season there will be live stand-up from comedian Mark Watson (2 & 3 June) as part of his national tour.

For more information about Live Theatre’s January to June 2016 season or to book tickets visit www.live.org.uk or contact the box office on (0191) 232 1232.

Shoppers in the newly installed Christmas store at Fenwick Newcastle were treated to a surprise on Tuesday as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier took time out from performing The Nutctracker at Newcastle Theatre Royal, to pose with Christmas shoppers.

The dancers, who are performing all week with Northern Ballet at the Theatre Royal, posed for photographs and selfies with shoppers and young children in the glittering Christmas store.

Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker is the dazzling tale of one child’s Christmas dreams coming true, as Clara is whisked away on the magical journey of a lifetime through a winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and the famous Sugar Plum Fairy.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker features choreography and beautiful costumes by Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director David Nixon OBE, stunning Regency style sets by Charles Cusick Smith and lighting by Mark Jonathan.

David Nixon OBE, said: “The Nutcracker is one of the world’s most popular classical ballets and holds a special place in the hearts of audiences young and old. We are delighted to once again revive this charming story and add that extra bit of sparkle to the festive season for audiences in Newcastle.”

Northern Ballet will also stage a ballet specially aimed at children, when they perform Elves and The Shoemaker on Fri 13 Nov at 12 noon and 2pm. With an original score, composed by Philip Feeney, Elves and The Shoemaker follows the fantastic sell-out success of Ugly Duckling and Three Little Pigs by Northern Ballet

The Nutcracker is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 10 to Sat 14 Nov 2015, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees Thurs 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £14.50 (save 50p per ticket online). All tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

VERITY RUSHWORTH
TO STAR AS HOLLY GOLIGHTLY IN
TRUMAN CAPOTE’S
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S
ADAPTED BY RICHARD GREENBERG
FROM 2 MAY TO 11 JUNE 2016

Verity Rushworth will play the role of Holly Golightly on the UK Tour of Breakfast at Tiffany’s from 2 May to 11 June 2016, appearing at His Majesty’s Aberdeen, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Theatre Royal Bath, Glasgow Theatre Royal, King’s Theatre Edinburgh and Wycombe Swan.  She will be sharing the role with Pixie Lott, whose dates have been previously announced.  Truman Capote’s classic novella has been adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize-winning Finalist and Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain), and contains memorable songs from the era as well as original music by Grant Olding (One Man, Two Guvnors).

Verity Rushworth played the role of Donna Windsor in Emmerdale for 11 years, a role for which she won a British Soap Award this year. Her theatre roles include Velma Kelly in Paul Kerryson’s production of Chicago (Leicester Curve), Grace Farrell in Nikolai Foster’s production of Annie (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Maria in Jeremy Sams’s production of The Sound of Music (national tour) and Penny Pingleton in Jack O’Brien’s production of Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre, London).

Based on Truman Capote’s beloved masterwork, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is set in New York in 1943. Fred, a young writer from Louisiana, meets Holly Golightly, a charming, vivacious and utterly elusive good-time girl.  Everyone falls in love with Holly – including Fred.  But Fred is poor, and Holly’s other suitors include a playboy millionaire and the future president of Brazil.  As war rages on in Europe, Holly begins to fall in love with Fred – just as her past catches up with her.

Verity Rushworth said, “I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to play the dream role of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I cannot wait to step into the fabulous shoes of such an icon and discover the endless layers to her complicated and fascinating personality – not to mention her wardrobe!”

Breakfast at Tiffany’s will be directed by Nikolai Foster, the Artistic Director of Leicester Curve, with production design by Matthew Wright, lighting design by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Mic Pool.

Nikolai Foster’s recent productions include Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (West Yorkshire Playhouse), the 20th anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing (Leicester Curve and Nottingham Playhouse), Calamity Jane (Watermill Theatre, Newbury & UK tour) and a major new production of the Broadway musical Annie (West Yorkshire Playhouse & UK tour).

Breakfast at Tiffany’s will begin performances at the Curve Theatre, Leicester on 3 March 2016, before embarking on a UK & Ireland Tour.  There will be a 12-week season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London’s West End from 30 June to 17 September 2016.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a co-production between the Curve Theatre, Leicester and Colin Ingram, Peter Kane, William Sinclair and Michael Melnick & Finlay Gray.

For more information, visit www.breakfastattiffanys.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tiffanysonstage
Twitter:  @Tiffanysonstage

TOUR SCHEDULE 2016

*3 – 12 March                             LEICESTER                               0116 242 3595
Curve Theatre                             www.curveonline.co.uk

*15 – 19 March                           CANTERBURY                           01227 787787
Marlowe Theatre                          www.marlowetheatre.com

*4 – 9 April                                  LEEDS                                      0844 848 2700
Grand Theatre                             www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

*12 – 16 April                             SALFORD                                  0843 208 6000
Lowry Theatre                             www.thelowry.com

*18 – 23 April                               BIRMINGHAM                            0844 871 3011
Alexandra Theatre                      www.atgtickets.com/birmingham

*25 – 30 April                              SOUTHAMPTON                        02380 711811
Mayflower Theatre                      www.mayflower.org.uk

**2 – 7 May                                 ABERDEEN                               01224 641122
His Majesty’s                             www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

**9 –14 May                                NOTTINGHAM                            0115 989 5555
Theatre Royal                             www.trch.co.uk

**16 – 21 May                              BATH                                         01225 448844 (on sale spring 2016)
Theatre Royal                              www.theatreroyal.org.uk
**23 – 28 May                               GLASGOW                                 0844 871 7647
Theatre Royal                             www.atgtickets.com/glasgow

**30 May – 4 June                         EDINBURGH                               0131 529 6000
King’s Theatre                             www.edtheatres.com

**6 – 11 June                                HIGH WYCOMBE                       01494 512 000
Wycombe Swan                          www.wycombeswan.co.uk

*13 – 18 June                               DUBLIN                                      0818 719 377
Bord Gais Theatre                       www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

*20 – 25 June                               PLYMOUTH                                01752 267222
Theatre Royal                             www.theatreroyal.com

*30 June – 17 September                LONDON                                   020 7930 8800
Theatre Royal Haymarket             www.trh.co.uk

*Pixie Lott Dates
**Verity Rushworth Dates

Further dates and casting to be announced.

 BUSTED ARE BACK
Full original line-up of Charlie Simpson, Matt Willis & James Bourne

FIRST TOUR IN 12 YEARS

SHEFFIELD ARENA
Tuesday 17^th May 2016

“A year ago James and I got together and just started hanging out … and it felt really different, somehow, to how it had ten years ago. And the idea crept into my head after all that time apart: what would Busted look like today?” – Charlie Simpson

It’s the reunion they said could never happen – even the members themselves have admitted it. But today Busted announce their return to the world of pop in 2016. Matt, James and Charlie are returning to the road with a full UK arena tour, and they are working on brand new Busted music for the first time since 2004.

“For me, there’s a huge sense of unfinished business …  I always thought in my heart we’d do Busted again, but that it was just a matter of when and how” – Matt Willis

Wednesday 11th May 2016 will be their first show together in 12 years – and the first time in 12 years anyone will be able to see the three members play all their greatest hits together live – among them the simply huge, unforgettable smashes “What I Go To School For”, “Crashed The Wedding”, “You Said No”, “Air Hostess” and “Year 3000.”

For the gig Busted will return to the home of their biggest triumph, the venue where anybody last saw them – Wembley Arena. It was here that they broke a record in 2004 by selling out an incredible 12 shows. And it’s here that they will make their long overdue comeback.

“We’ve done this crazy, exciting, adventurous, scenic route back to being Busted. And now we’re here, we’re all super-re-energised” – James Bourne

With an incredible five million record sales, two 4 x platinum albums and four number one singles to their name, a staggering 700,000 concert tickets sold in one year, two BRIT Awards and a Record of the Year Award, Busted are one of the biggest home-grown pop acts of the 21st century.

Busted? These boys are fixed, back and ready to shake up the pop world all over again.

Busted will play Sheffield Arena on Tuesday 17^th May and the tickets go on general sale 9am Friday 13th November priced £41.25 & £45.65 (including booking fee) through www.sheffieldarena.co.uk or the ticket hotline on 0114 256 56 56.

IAN MCKELLEN, MICHAEL CASHMAN, ANNE REID AND JULIAN CLARY

AMONGST STARS APPEARING IN

A SOURCE OF LIFE – 25 YEARS OF THE IAN CHARLESON DAY CENTRE

Wednesday 25 November 2015

6.30 – 8.30pm

St Paul’s Church (The Actors’ Church), Covent Garden, London WC2E 9ED

Hosted by Julian Clary, with an introduction by Ian McKellen, the evening of song, speech and music to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of the Ian Charleson Day Centre at the Royal Free Hospital will include performances by Michael Cashman, Anne Reid and Stefan Bednarczyk, the X Factor’s Anton Stephans, mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly, actor Jack Lowden and the London Gay Men’s Choir.  Speakers will be Nick Partridge, Laurence Isaacson and Sean Mathias.  A Source of Life – 25 Years of the Ian Charleson Day Centre will be in front of an invited audience at St Paul’s Church (the Actors’ Church) in London’s Covent Garden on Wednesday 25 November.

The event is to celebrate the Ian Charleson Day Centre’s exceptional work over the years and the difference that has made to the lives of so many people.  Not only does the Centre help support patients in north London with HIV, but it also links with the UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation to be a global hub for medical centre with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.

In 1989, Professor Margaret Johnson launched the UK’s first open access HIV service at the Royal Free Hospital.  It was named the Ian Charleson Day Centre in 1990, after the death of one its patients, the late Ian Charleson. Ian was an actor admired and loved by critics, audiences and his fellow actors.  His roles included Eric Liddell inChariots of Fire and Hamlet at the National Theatre.

The Ian Charleson Day Centre (ICDC) treats HIV positive people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures.  Even though there’s still no HIV cure, HIV has become a treatable condition that can be managed throughout a patient’s lifetime using antiretroviral drugs and other HIV treatments.  It is important to diagnose and treat HIV early and continually for the best results.  ICDC provides sensitive, non-judgemental HIV testing, counselling and treatment for people affected by this life-changing condition.

The Centre can be contacted on 020 7830 2051.

LORD OF THE DANCE: DANGEROUS GAMES

OFFERS FREE WEEKLY DANCE WORKSHOPS

FOR STUDENTS AGED 11 TO 18

FROM 10 NOVEMBER TO 15 DECEMBER

Michael Flatley has set up an outreach programme to provide young people the opportunity to dance on stage at the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End. The talented cast of Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games will conduct once-weekly workshops commencing 10 November through to 15 December.  In association with West End Creative Learning at ATG, students between the ages of 11 and 18 will be taught steps by the cast of Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games and be given an insight into the world of theatre.  Following the workshop, they will be invited to watch the evening performance of the show.  A limited number of places will be available for these workshops.

Michael Flatley said, “Every child should be given the opportunity to dance and it is my honour to be able to encourage young people to follow their dreams.” 

Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games opened at the Playhouse Theatre on 10 October and runs until 3 January 2016, following a highly successful six-month limited season at the Dominion Theatre, which finished on 5 September.

The cast at the Playhouse Theatre is led by some of Michael Flatley’s dynamic young stars James Keegan, Morgan Comer and Cathal Keaney. Rachael O’Connor plays the role of Erin the Goddess.

Flatley’s latest show Dangerous Games has exciting and ground-breaking new technology, including holographs, special effects lighting, dancing robots, world champion acrobats and the greatest team of Irish Dancers in the world.  The score is composed by Gerard Fahy.

For more information on how to apply for a Lord of the Dance workshop, please visitwww.creativelearning.atg.co.uk.

For further details on Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, please visit www.lordofthedance.com.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Until 3 January 2016

Playhouse Theatre

Northumberland Avenue

London

WC2N 5DE

Performances:  Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm*

*From 15 November: Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm, Wednesday & Saturday at 2.30pm, Sunday at 3pm

See website for special Christmas schedule of performances

Ticket Prices:  From £25 to £65, with Standing at £15 and Premium at £90 – all prices include a £1.50 Restoration Levy*

*£10 off £45 and £65 tickets for all October performances by quoting ‘October’ via ATG Tickets

Box Office:  0844 871 7631 / www.atgtickets.com/playhouse

Running Time:  2 hours 10 minutes (including interval)

Northbank switches on the Strand’s very first Christmas lights

London, 9 November 2015: The Strand has been lit up for the first time with the switching on of its Christmas lights this evening. The milestone event comes 137 years after Northbank became the first area in London to benefit from electric street lighting.

The lights were switched on by the cast of MAMMA MIA! at St Mary Le Strand Church this evening. With the ice rink at Somerset House opening on 18 November, The Snowman at The Peacock Theatre kicking off on 25 November and the Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square going up on 3 December, Northbank is shaping up to be London’s ultimate Christmas venue this holiday season.

Ruth Duston, CEO of Northbank BID, commented: “This is a landmark event for the Northbank. The Strand is a street rich in history and it is a pleasure to be adding to its heritage with the first Christmas lights. We hope these lights will provide a focal point for Londoners in the run up to Christmas and create a real festive atmosphere in the area.”

The cast of MAMMA MIA! sang a medley at the event, led from the piano by Musical Director Marcus Savage. The London production of MAMMA MIA! is based at the Novello Theatre on the Northbank, and since its premiere in 1999 has been seen by over 8 million people in London.

Philip Effemey, the General Manager of MAMMA MIA!, commented: “We were delighted to be asked to switch on the Strand’s Christmas lights. Our production has been a part of Northbank since we moved to the Novello in 2012 and our audiences will be able to enjoy the festive atmosphere these lights will create as they head to MAMMA MIA!.”

The lights will be switched on daily at 4pm from today until the 5^th January 2016.

The Northbank Business Improvement District (BID) is the largest BID in London, and includes Aldwych, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, the Strand and Embankment.

THOUGHT-PROVOKING THEATRE IN THE CRUCIBLE STUDIO THIS MONTH

The Crucible Studio stage plays host to two Edinburgh Fringe First award-winning pieces of theatre this month with Chris Thorpe’s Confirmation (Monday 23 – Tuesday 24 November) and Men in the Cities (Saturday 28 November) by Tim Goode.

In Confirmation, Chris Thorpe (recently seen in Third Angel’s Presumption) examines the phenomenon of confirmation bias – the way we choose to see only the evidence that proves we’re right and attempts to have an honourable dialogue, real and imagined, with political extremism.

Questioning the rise of extremist thinking within the UK’s political landscape and exploring the strength and grounding of people’s beliefs, Confirmation originates from Chris Thorpe’s own frustration with the current level of political discourse in the UK, and his own ‘liberal’ bias.  The piece which has been developed through academic research and through conversations with political extremism is his attempt to open discussion on the subject in a more objective environment.

Men in the Cities is an incendiary piece of experimental storytelling from Chris Goode (Kiss of Life, Fringe First 2002).  Framed by two violent deaths – the apparently inexplicable suicide of a young gay man, and the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby outside the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich in May 2013 – Men in the Cities is a compelling piece about harm and complicity, and about the forces that shape our relationships.

Through fractured snapshots of seemingly disconnected lives, Men in the Cities blurs fiction and reality to create a complex, volatile, richly textured work and presents a challenging but radically humane portrait of how we live now.

Confirmation is at the Studio Theatre from Monday 23 – Tuesday 24 November.  Men in the Cities is at the Studio Theatre on Saturday 28 November.  Tickets for both productions can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online athttp://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/ and are priced at £13.00 (a transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash), concessionary discounts are available.