Author: FairyPoweredProductions

International Centre, Harrogate – 11 July 2015

Gregory Porter played a sold out gig to over 2000 people in Harrogate, but his voice is so rich and his manner so personal it was if he had played over 2000 individual gigs, one to each person there.

Porter has it all: the soul of Bill Withers, the smooth class of Nat King Cole and the energy of Sammy Davis Jr, but his finest talent is him and his genuine warmth.  A unique fusion of soul and jazz. Accompanied by of four stunning supporting musicians -Yosuke Sato on alto sax, Chip Crawford at the piano, Aaron James on bass and Emanuel Harrold behind the drum kit, Porter performed a selection of songs from the albums ‘Water’, ‘Be Good’ and ‘Liquid Soul’.  An evocative songwriter, he builds close relationships with listeners, whether poignantly reflecting on his childhood with an inspirational single mother, or facing the fight for racial equality.  The venue clapped together to Liquid Spirit and hearts melted to Hey Laura. Porter’s generosity to his band allowed each to shine as he stepped into the shadows.

His voice is silky , heart rending and smooth .His material is both political , romantic and deeply thoughtful.  When stripped down to just him and piano, Porter’s voice connected with every one in the room.  Such a beautiful smooth voice of molten gold

His minimalist style is the key to the success of this performance. The ethos of every note having a place, and a reason for being played is all too easily misplaced in the quest for technical dexterity- it is wonderful to find a musician so committed to putting the storytelling nature of music to the fore.  The stage was bare. No tour bus nor convoy of trucks outside. Only the International Centre’s bulbs in use. The band set up as if to play an intimate club.

The music and the vocals felt so good throughout a set that was just under 2 hours long long. The vocal power that exudes from Mr. Porter is amazingly charismatic, his voice is emotional, he is humorous with a sexy ‘Southern Charm’. Controlling the band and guiding us to hand clap, he had Harrogate rocking

Porter is a Gospel, Blues, Jazz and Soul singer in one package..who has a gift to share, and celebrate his message of Freedom and love for all…and time generous too.  Meeting and chatting and posing for photo’s with the long line of fans waiting for him.  Still happy to speak more than an hour after the concert had finished

The 80’s are back! Tony Denton Promotions bring together four of the decade’s most memorable artists to tour together for the first time ever. The 80’s Invasion tour features the cream of music from some of the most popular artists – Big Country, Midge Ure, Nick Heyward & Curiosity Killed The Cat, and will be touring throughout March 2016. The acts will perform their biggest hits – with record sales of over 20 million, 200 gold, platinum & silver discs and numerous awards between them this is THE 80’s show not to be missed! The tour takes in 15 dates starting at Southsea’s Kings Theatre on 1st March and culminating at Edinburgh’s The Playhouse Theatre on 20th March

MARCH 2016

Wednesday 2nd

 SOUTHSEA Kings Theatre

Box office: 02392 828282

 www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk

Thursday 3rd

BRADFORD St Georges Hall

Box office: 01274 432 000

www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

Friday 4th

NORTHAMPTON Derngate

Box Office: 01604 624811

www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Saturday 5th

LONDON indigo at The 02

Box office: 0844 856 0202

www.axs.com

Sunday 6th

LIVERPOOL Philharmonic Hall

 Box office: 0151 709 3789

www.liverpoolphil.com

Wednesday 9th

WATFORD Colosseum

Box office: 0845 075 3993

www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Thursday 10th

POOLE Lighthouse

Box office: 0844 406 8666

www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

Friday 11th

LEICESTER De Montfort Hall

Box office: 0116 233 3111

www.demontforthall.co.uk

Saturday 12th

BASINGSTOKE The Anvil

Box office: 01256 844244

www.anvilarts.org.uk

Sunday 13th

CHATHAM The Central Theatre

Box office: 00634 338 338

www.medwayticketslive.co.uk

Monday 14th

MANCHESTER Opera House

Box office: 0844 871 3018

www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester

Wednesday 16th

PORT TALBOT Princess Royal Theatre

Box office: 01639 763 214

www.princessroyaltheatre.com

Friday 18th

 BIRMINGHAM Town Hall

Box Office: 0121 345 0600

www.thsh.co.uk

Saturday 19th

NEWCASTLE City Hall

Box office: 0191 277 8030

www.newcastlecityhall.org

Sunday 20th

EDINBURGH Playhouse

Box office: 0844 871 3014

www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse

Tickets on sale Now

Tickets also available at:

www.ticketmaster.co.uk

 www.ticketline.co.uk

 www.seetickets.com

www.tdpromo.com

Alistair Brammer, Michael Colbourne, Janie Dee & Richard Fleeshman + more to star in Kings of Broadway

North Tyneside Council presents
Seaside Special:
PENETRATION
& The Middens

Friday 16th October

It is with great pleasure that we announce a new gig presented by North Tyneside Council. On Friday 16th October the PLAYHOUSE will host punk rock band Penetration and The Middens as a ‘Seaside Special’ event.

Penetration released their first single, the punk classic Don’t Dictate in 1977 on Virgin Records and were an exciting live band respected by both peers and dedicated fans. Their first album Moving Targets was released in1978 to critical acclaim and commercial success as the band had expanded both musically and creatively.

Fast forward to 2015, when Blamire organised a campaign with crowd funding site Pledge Music for the band to record an album, their first in 36 years. The response was overwhelming and the album Resolution, is released in September. John Maher (Buzzcocks, Invisible Girls drummer) has joined the line up and original guitarist Fred Purser has assisted in the recording process and makes a guest appearance on the track Beat Goes On. The album retains the essential

components of Penetration but brings the sound up to date and sees them moving forward.

Penetration are only doing a few live shows this year, so this will be an exclusive gig from a unique band with a long and interesting history playing songs from their new album as well as old favourites.

Local Shields band The Middens will join the line up, known for a superb live show, full of energy, blending punchy rock with a new wave bent, The Middens appeal to a wide demographic. Vive Le Rock have quoted the band as being part of the ‘New Mod’ genre. These four (very!) young and eminently capable lads from North Shields, seem to defy their youthful looks with their mature and vibrant style of New Wave/Mod influenced rock, executed brilliantly with passion and verve.

Additionally, The Middens were approached in January by North Shields FC, to record a cover version of a song originally written in 1926 which was a No1 for Al Jolson. The song Red Red Robin was used as the official ‘Road to Wembley’ song for the club, who incidentally went on to win the FA Vase at the hallowed Wembley Stadium in May 2015.

So with a fantastic line up the first ‘Seaside Special’ at the PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay with the hilarious Geordie comedian Gavin Webster comparing the event you really will Wish You Were Here…

Tickets are on sale now priced at £15

Tickets are available from the Box Office open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday 10.30am -2.30pm plus until show start on event days. Tickets can also be purchased on the booking hotline 0844 248 1588 or online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.

Further casting for the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s Plays at the Garrick season has been announced. John Dagleish and Zoë Wanamaker are to appear in Harlequinade, with John also joining the company of The Winter’s Tale. The two productions will play in repertory at the Garrick theatre from 17 October 2015 until 16 January 2016.

In addition to playing Dame Maud in Harlequinade, Zoë Wanamaker, one of the best actors of our generation, will also perform Terence Rattigan’s dramatic monologue All On Her Own, which has never before played in the West End. In this brief but powerfully atmospheric play, which will be performed every evening prior to Harlequinade, a woman with a secret, alone at midnight in London has a burden to share that is at times both heart-breaking and sinister. This never-before-seen double bill celebrates the contrast in Rattigan’s astonishing range. Zoё Wanamaker will not appear in The Winter’s Tale.

John Dagleish, who won an Olivier Award this year for his portrayal of Ray Davies in the acclaimed Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon, will appear in Harlequinade and The Winter’s Tale. John joins other cast members Pierre Atri, Jaygann Ayeh, Tom Bateman, Kenneth Branagh, Jessie Buckley, Vera Chok, Jack Colgrave Hirst, Judi Dench, Hadley Fraser, Rudi Goodman, Matthew Hawksley, Pip Jordan, Ansu Kabia, Stuart Neal, Michael Pennington, Zoё Rainey, Miranda Raison, John Shrapnel, Kathryn Wilder and Jimmy Yuill.

Kenneth Branagh said: “Zoë Wanamaker is a brilliant comedienne and a great tragic actress too. In joining us for the Rattigan comedy we seized on the opportunity to let her show us the dramatic side of a playwright also known as ‘the English Chekhov’. The rarely seen All On Her Own provides a fabulous woman’s role, and makes for an intriguingly balanced double bill. John Dagleish’s brilliant musicality was sensational in Sunny Afternoon. I’m very excited to hear what he and our superb composer Patrick Doyle, bring to the music of Shakespeare’s great con man, Autolycus, in The Winter’s Tale.”

Patrick Doyle is a Scottish composer. Working together most recently on the 2015 feature film ofCinderella, Doyle is a long-time collaborator of Kenneth Branagh, known for his work composing for films such as Henry V, Sense and Sensibility, Hamlet, and Gosford Park, as well as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Eragon, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Thor. Doyle has been nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards, and is the recipient of the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award for “outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of film and television music”.

Kenneth Branagh said: “I’ve been working with Patrick Doyle for nearly 30 years since our first theatrical collaboration on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. His instinct for music in the theatre remains as sharp as his ear for his award winning movie scores. His interplay with both mediums brings melodic power, a sure sense of drama, and exciting musical invention to the Garrick season.”

Zoë Wanamaker, CBE, was most recently seen on the London stage in Stevie at the Hampstead Theatre. The recipient of two Olivier Awards for Best Actress, Zoë has previously starred in the National Theatre productions of The Cherry Orchard, Much Ado About Nothing and The Rose Tattoo, and in the West End, Passion Play and All My Sons. Zoë received Tony Award nominations for her performances inPiaf, Loot, Electra, and Awake and Sing on Broadway. Television credits include My Family, Poirot, Doctor Who, and Mr. Selfridge, as well as film roles in Harry Potter, My Week with Marilyn and Wilde.

John Dagleish, recently won an Olivier Award for his performance as Ray Davies in the hit musical Sunny Afternoon, currently playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre. He was last on stage in Out of Joint’s The Mother. Film appearances include The Monuments Men, Snow in Paradise and Age of Heroes. Notable television credits include: Truckers, Lark Rise to Candleford, Beaver Falls, Starlings and Henry V, The Hollow Crown.

The Winter’s Tale, Harlequinade, All On Her Own, The Painkiller, Romeo and Juliet and The Entertainer make up the inaugural season of work for the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Garrick Theatre
2 Charing Cross Road
London, WC2H 0HH
Box Office: 0844 482 9673
Online Bookings: www.branaghtheatre.com
Tickets from £15

No booking fees or transaction fees on any ticket booked direct through branaghtheatre.com, nimaxtheatres.com, direct telephone bookings at the Garrick Theatre and to personal callers at the Garrick Theatre.

Twitter

@BranaghTheatre
#BranaghTheatre

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THE WINTERʼS TALE

17 October 2015 – 16 January 2016
Press performance: 7 November 2pm
Captioned Performance: 9 December 7.30pm
Audio Described Performance: 16 December 7.30pm

The Winter’s Tale will play in repertory with Harlequinade. Performances of The Winter’s Tale will be as follows:
17, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30 & 31 October at 7.30pm
31 October at 2.30pm
3, 6, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26 & 30 November at 7.30pm
4, 14, 21 & 25 November at 2.30pm
1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 31 December at 7.30pm,
2, 9, 16, 23, 24 & 31 December at 2.30pm
2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 & 16 January at 7.30pm
2, 9 & 16 January at 2.30pm

HARLEQUINADE / ALL ON HER OWN

24 October 2015 – 13 January 2016
Press performance: 7 November 7.30pm
Captioned Performance: 10 December 7.30pm
Audio Described Performance: 15 December 7.30pm

Harlequinade will play in repertory with The Winter’s Tale. Performances of Harlequinade will be as follows:
24, 26, 27 & 28 October at 7.30pm
28 October at 2.30pm
2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 27 & 28 November at 7.30pm
11, 18 & 28 November at 2.30pm
3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 24, 28, 29 & 30 December at 7.30pm
5, 12, 19 & 28 December at 2.30pm
4, 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13 January at 7.30pm
6 & 13 January at 2.30pm

Golden Globe-winning and Emmy Award-nominated actor and producer Idris Elba is to push his body, mind and engineering know-how to the limit by racing on land and in the air for a new four part series for Discovery Channel, airing July 2015.

Please see below for two brand new clips from Idris Elba: No Limits episode 2 (Aerobatics), which airs Monday 13^thJuly on Discovery Channel.

 Taking to the Skies: http://youtu.be/Vf-EdjtjqLg

Aerobatics Competition Training: http://youtu.be/gnTzru78yNY

This explosive new series, titled Idris Elba: No Limits, will see Idris immerse himself into a range of speed challenges across the disciplines of rally driving, drag racing, aerobatics, as well as an attempt to break the “Flying Mile” record set by Malcolm Campbell in 1927.

Idris will join up with the very best professional teams, take on challenges and receive coaching from some of the world’s leading pilots and drivers across the world including rally driving legend Jimmy McRae, aerobatics champion Ed Cyster, drag racing icon Antron Brown and rally champion Ari Vatanen – all of whom will mentor him to take on a series of extreme, high-speed challenges.

Each episode starts with Idris visiting a renowned motor sport competition, shot on locations including Florida, California, the United Kingdom and Ireland, that will inspire his mission to take on some of the toughest racing disciplines in the world. To push his car or plane to the utter limit, Idris gets under the bonnet and miles under his belt, to prepare for the big race day that will see him go head to head with the professionals.

Idris Elba, said: “I’m taking on the toughest racing challenges of my life for this new Discovery TV series. Along the way I’ll meet extraordinary individuals, spectacular machines and hear amazing stories of how far people go to satisfy their love of speed. The extreme challenges will take me right out of my comfort zone as I compete against the best on land and in the air.”

The multi-Olivier Award-winning hit British musical SUNNY AFTERNOON, which tells the story of the rise to fame of The Kinks, has extended its booking period by six months, now on sale until 16 April 2016.

Tickets for new booking period on sale from 10.00am today.

With a book by Joe Penhall, music and lyrics and original story by Ray Davies, and directed by Edward Hall, Sunny Afternoon has established itself as a firm favourite with audiences and critics alike since it opened at the Harold Pinter Theatre in October 2014.

Sunny Afternoon was the best performing show at this year’s Olivier Awards, winning four awards.  The production won Best New Musical, John Dagleish won Best Actor in a Musical, George Maguire won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, and Ray Davies of The Kinks won for Outstanding Achievement in Music.

Olivier Award winners John Dagleish and George Maguire, playing Ray Davies and Dave Davies of The Kinks respectively, will remain in the show until 3 October 2015. Further casting to be announced.

Forty-nine years ago, The Kinks were sitting at Number One in the UK charts with their single ‘Sunny Afternoon’. The band’s popularity has not faded since the 1960s, with crowds of all ages filling the Harold Pinter Theatre night after night.

Featuring some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola,Sunny Afternoon marks the 50th anniversary of the band’s rise to fame.

Following a sold-out run at Hampstead Theatre, this world premiere production, with music and lyrics by Ray Davies, new book by Joe Penhall, original story by Ray Davies, direction by Edward Hall, design by Miriam Buether and choreography by Adam Cooper, opened at the Harold Pinter theatre on 28 October 2014. Lighting is by Rick Fisher, sound by Matt McKenzie and the Musical Supervisor and Musical Director is Elliott Ware.

The official cast recording album, produced by Ray Davies at his Konk studios, is released on BMG Chrysalis and is available to buy at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunny-Afternoon-The-Kinks/dp/B00NH8O7LU.

Sonia Friedman Productions commissioned Joe Penhall in 2011 to write the book based on Ray Davies’s original story. The company developed the production over the next four years, assembling the creative team and cast that presented Sunny Afternoon last year at Hampstead Theatre under the direction of Edward Hall, and now at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Ray Davies is an influential and prolific rock musician and was co-founder and lead singer and songwriter for rock band The Kinks, and later a solo artist. He has an outstanding catalogue of hits from the earliest 1960s to the present day with estimated record sales in excess of 50 million. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theatre and television.

Joe Penhall is an award winning playwright and screenwriter. Plays include Some Voices (Royal Court),Blue/Orange (National Theatre and West End), winner of Best New Play at the Evening Standard Awards, Olivier Awards and at the Critics Circle, and Dumb Show, Haunted Child and Birthday (all Royal Court). Screenplays include Enduring Love and The Road.

As Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre, Edward Hall’s productions include Wonderland, Sunny Afternoon, Raving, Chariots of Fire, No Naughty Bits, Loyalty and Enlightenment. As Artistic Director of Propeller, his work has toured worldwide, played the West End and Broadway and has won numerous awards both in the UK and overseas. Other theatre work includes A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (National Theatre), Edmond with Kenneth Branagh (National Theatre), Macbeth with Sean Bean (Albery), The Constant Wife (Apollo), Julius Caesar (RSC), Henry V (RSC) and The Deep Blue Sea(Vaudeville). Television work includes Downton Abbey, Spooks and Kingdom.  Edward is an Associate of the National Theatre and the Old Vic.

York Theatre Royal’s Youth Theatre has been chosen to be part of the Waitrose Community Matters scheme, an initiative to enable branches to support local communities.

The youth theatre is one of three local charities to be supported by the supermarket throughout July. Shoppers receive a green token after each visit, which they can then use to show support for one of the charities. £1000 is then donated by Waitrose which is split between the charities, depending on the proportion of tokens received.

York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre is one of the biggest in the country, with other 370 young members aged 5-19 in 17 weekly groups. The Waitrose Community Matters donation could fund subsidised places for young people to attend weekly sessions, an artist to come and work on a specific project with a youth theatre group, or a mentor to work alongside a young person with additional needs.

The additional funding will mean that the young people’s experiences are even more exciting and accessible, building on the feedback from our groups that their session is the highlight of their week.

Said Kate Plumb, Youth Theatre Director.

York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre started over ten years ago. It is an Arts Award Centre of Excellence ( Regional Award) 2014, and Arts Award Good Practice Centre 2014-15, with over 200 young people achieving their Arts Award qualification with us over the last 5 years. The Youth Theatre produce 14 productions a year, including site specific shows in various locations in York, and studio and main house shows.

If others wish to donate directly to the youth theatre they can do so by contacting [email protected]. The theatre is also raising money for its redevelopment, which will cost £4.1 million. To donate to the project and ensure the theatre can be enjoyed by future generations for years to come please visit www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/donate or donate by texting YTRC15 £5 or YTRC15 £10 to 70070

Inspired by the seven smash hit multi-million selling albums

A sensational new musical is set to hit town next week showcasing the greatest hit songs of the 60s. Dreamboats and Miniskirts, the sequel to the sell-out Dreamboats and Petticoats, comes to Leeds Grand Theatre on Monday 13th July and runs until Saturday 18th.

Since its premiere in 2009 Dreamboats and Petticoats has become a musical phenomenon, having played to more than two million people across the UK. Inspired by Universal’s multi-million selling album series which now boasts seven double compilation albums and a myriad of one-off special releases! Now the creative team reunite for the sequel.

It’s 1963 and the world is changing. The advent of the Beatles and the Merseyside sound is inspirational but will it stir our three couples to follow their dreams into the world of pop? This hit show has the same wit, charm and songs that audiences have loved – featuring hit after hit from Twist & Shout to Handy Man to Pretty Woman, One Fine Day and many more.

Dreamboats and Miniskirts is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 13th to Saturday 18th July.

Tickets are on sale now priced from £18.50 to £34.

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

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MOUSETRAP ANNOUNCES NEW DATES FOR UK TOUR – NOW BOOKING INTO 2016

Due to unprecedented demand, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap will continue its record-breaking UK tour with new dates in 2016. The beloved murder mystery will begin the 2016 leg of its tour at Brighton Theatre Royal on 25 January before visiting more than 25 further venues across the UK, including a stop at the Grand Opera House York from 22 – 27 February 2016.  Casting and booking information for 2016 will be announced in due course.

The production, which originally opened in 1952 starring the late Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim, will continue its journey across the breadth of the country, visiting towns and cities such as Brighton, Reading, Darlington, Grimsby, York, Portsmouth, Cheltenham, Stoke, Woking, Leicester, Liverpool, Harrogate, Shrewsbury, Dartford, Yeovil, Hereford, Derby, Kings Lynn, Salisbury, Manchester, Aylesbury, Torquay, Llandudno, Jersey and Bristol.

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has been the world’s longest running stage production at its London home since breaking the record in 1958 and recently celebrated its 26,000^th performance. The 60^thAnniversary – and first ever – UK tour of this beloved murder mystery has now been seen by more than 600,000 people across more than 600 performances, and has broken box office records in many of its tour venues.

Mousetrap Productions has also licensed 60 productions of The Mousetrap worldwide to mark the 60^thyear, and many of these have also broken records, from Cape Town to Philadelphia, Singapore to Sydney. During this period, the world’s longest running show will have been seen in every continent with professional productions in Australia, China, Korea, Turkey, South Africa, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Scandinavia, Venezuela, and across the United States and Canada.

The Mousetrap continues at St. Martin’s Theatre, London and on tour around the UK until August 2016.