Northern Ballet’s glittering Beauty & the Beast arrives at Leeds Grand Theatre this June, offering the perfect fairy-tale escapism to kick off the summer season.
Choreographed by David Nixon CBE, this enchanting reimagining of the classic story will transport audiences to a world of colour, filled with fairies, goblins and sprites, where magic hides around every corner.
Beauty & the Beast tells the tale of Beauty who selflessly leaves her family to live with a hideous Beast in his castle in exchange for her father’s life. As time goes by, she grows strangely fond of her host and discovers he hides an extraordinary secret. He was once a handsome prince cursed for his vanity and arrogance, a curse that can only be broken by true love.
The ballet features elaborate mirrored sets by Duncan Hayler, haute couture-style costumes by Nixon and is set to an infectious score of classic music including the likes of Bizet and Debussy, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia. Visit northernballet.com/beauty to find out more and secure tickets.
Northern Ballet is hosting an audio-described performance and touch tour of the ballet for visually-impaired patrons on Saturday 8 June. For more information about additional events at the theatre, visit northernballet.com/accessible-performances
CLIVE ROWE TO DIRECT AND STAR IN HACKNEY EMPIRE’S 25TH PANTOMIME
DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT
RUNNING FROM 23 NOVEMBER 2024 TO 5 JANUARY 2025
Artistic Director Yamin Choudury, Executive Director Jo Hemmant and the whole team at Hackney Empire, are delighted to announce that Olivier Award-winner Clive Rowe will return to direct and star in Hackney Empire’s 25th pantomime, Dick Whittington and his Cat.
Dick Whittington and his Cat will run at Hackney Empire fromSaturday 23 November to Sunday 5 January, with a press performance at 7pm on Thursday 5 December. Priority booking for Friends and Supporters opens on Tuesday 16 April at 10am. Tickets go on sale to the public from 10am on Tuesday 23 April at www.hackneyempire.co.uk.
Hackney Empire’s pantomime is one of the most iconic in the UK. The first pantomime of the modern era was Aladdin starring Peter Duncan in 1988, after the venue was turned from a bingo hall back into a working theatre in the 1980s by Roland and Claire Muldoon, and there have been 24 pantomimes since. This year’s festive season will burst into life with the 25th Hackney Empire pantomime, celebrating decades of providing joy for all the family, and in several cases, a vital introduction to the magic of theatre .
In what will be his 17th pantomime at Hackney Empire , Olivier award-winning panto royalty Clive Rowe will direct and star as the Dame, with full cast and creative team to be announced.
Join Dick on his search for fortune, fame and new beginnings! Along the way, he’ll experience the adventure of a lifetime, battling rats, falling in love, and finding himself on the path to becoming the Mayor of London!
Get ready for a joyful reimagining of this classic rags to riches tale, featuring all your favourite pantomime ingredients. From an unbelievable cast to extravagant costumes; from audience participation to sensational song and dance numbers, what more could you ask for?!
Clive Rowe said, “What a privilege it is to be part of this great tradition at the Hackney Empire. 24 pantomimes, around 1,000,000 audience members so far, and we can’t wait to welcome new faces and welcome back familiar faces for our 25th! This will be my 17th year as Dame and fourth year directing. Join me and Dick Whittington, the boy that strives to make his dreams become a reality, for more festive fun, high jinks, laughter, love and banging tunes.”
Playing with fire, Rock, Paper, Scissors comes to The Hope Theatre Tuesday 7th May – Saturday 11th May 2024 The Hope Theatre, 207 Upper St, London N1 1RL
Born from a savvy short sketch and returning to the stage following a hugely successful debut in 2023, Rock Paper, Scissors is a playful comedy of errors with a deeply dark twist. Written and directed by Chess Hayden, this farcical thriller will uncover the rawness of human nature, where the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors is used to make life-changing decisions.
Following Dylan and Lucy, best friends and housemates, this satirical journey of friendship, lovers and even manslaughter, will explore the trajectory of the pair’s relationship as they descend into unexpected chaos. Reprising the role of Lucy will be Emma Lo (Guardians of the Galaxy, Secret Cinema) and also returning to his role will be Jimmy Roberts as Dylan. Rejoining this terrific cast in the role of Jemma will be Megan Cooper (Love Talks, New Wimbledon Theatre, Othello, Birmingham Hippodrome).
As the situation escalates and the stakes get higher, this gripping production toys with themes of control and how much of life is ever really left up to chance? Based around human nature and the intricacies of our individual moral compass, this dynamic and delightful production is a riveting new comedy with a cutting edge script.
Director and Writer Chess Hayden comments, We’ve all used a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to make inconsequential decisions, but what if the result changed your life? Or someone else’s? This show is an exploration of morality grey areas whilst still staying true to the typical nature of farce; pairing absurdity with high stakes as the characters use the game to make momentous choices. We’re absolutely delighted to have the second run of our show chosen as part of The Hope Theatre’s final programme of 2024
Le Gasp! Productions presents JULIE: The Musical – an original musical, telling the life and adventures of historical LGBTQ+ icon Julie D’Aubigny 13th – 30th June 2024 The Other Palace, 12 London Street London SW1E 5JA
Worshipped opera singer, renowned swordswoman, flaming bisexual… Julie D’Aubigny is the 17th century queer icon you’ve probably never heard of. Epic, original musical JULIE: The Musical brings her incredible story to life at The Other Palace this summer.
In this original musical from Le Gasp! Productions (Tit Swingers, 2024), Julie’s determination to transcend 17th century ideals prevails in a queer-lead show that celebrates nonconformity and unapologetic chaos. With characters played by all genders, multiple musical genres and no set instrumentation, JULIE is paving the way to a new era of musical theatre; one that champions accessibility and inclusivity in every way.
Audiences are guided back in time by Julie herself, spilling the trials and tribulations of being the first ever recorded, openly bisexual, woman. JULIE tells endless, riotous (and mostly factual) tales that include seducing nuns, duelling multiple men at once, burning down convents, being bribed by royalty, and innovating Opera. Through a life of rule breaking and trendsetting, Julie D’Aubigny forged her own path through a world of strict social boundaries, bucking the trends of anything and anyone who came before her.
As a queer, non-binary and autistic creative, Abey Bradbury’s first ever full-length musical is ambitious and scrappy; bursting at the seams with live music, comedy, tap dancing sword fights, twerking nuns and kazoo choruses. It celebrates the extraordinary life of this 17th century icon. It celebrates queerness. But most of all, it celebrates carving a place for yourself in a world not built for you
Abey Bradbury, Book and Lyrics writer and composer, comments, It feels a bit bizarre to be writing this if I’m honest – 3 years ago I had just finished researching this French-Opera SingingSword-Fighting-Bisexual and was picking out melodies on a tiny 32 key midi keyboard, and now it’s back again for the third time by very popular demand. JULIE: The Musical is loud and joyous and very much here! I hope everyone finds something for them in this story of one of history’s most chaotic characters, and that we’ve made something as authentic and unapologetic as Julie was – and mostly that we’ve made something Julie herself would be proud of.
Conor Dye, Director and Producer, comments, JULIE is a story that has stuck with me since I ever first read the script… No matter where you are, or where you’re from – you are not alone. Everything you’ve felt, someone has felt before you; and despite it all, they kept on moving. That’s one thing I hope audiences can take away from this show – if not the catchy songs and the one-liners – that life is worth living however you want to live it. So just like Julie, go out and be wild. Live like it’s the last chance you’ll get and sing like everyone is watching
After its first run at The Other Palace, JULIE was a finalist at the Offies for Best New Musical 2024.
Previous praise for JULIE: The Musical
It’s easy to fall for this musical – Mickey Jo Theatre
Pictured (left to right): Emily Crampton, Ate O’Clock and Social8 Lounge Restaurant Manager, Milosh Djordjevic, Ate O’Clock Restaurant & Social 8 Lounge Mixologist and Laura McMillan, Grand Opera House York Theatre Director.
Restaurant partnership to continue giving York’s theatregoers another 12 months of mouth-watering savings and experiences.
Following a successful six-month partnership, the Grand Opera House York and Ate O’Clock and Social8 Lounge have extended their collaboration and will continue to offer York’s Theatregoers more memorable experiences over the next 12 months.
For the last six months Ate O’Clock has been the Grand Opera House York’s official restaurant partner. The collaboration has enabled ticketholders to take advantage of some mouth-watering savings on their final bill at the Ate O’Clock restaurant. West End hit Pretty Woman came to town last February and when the curtain closed the entertainment continued through the night at the Social8 Lounge afterparty – where ticket holders were treated to some live music, given a complimentary drink and further money saving offers on drinks throughout the night.
The Grand Opera House York and Ate O’Clock have big plans for the year ahead to help more of York’s theatregoers make the most of their big night out. This includes more themed afterparty events, theatrical themed drinks and experiences, and more delicious money saving food offers.
Currently ticket holders of upcoming shows can enjoy some pre-show dining saving 10% on their final bill when booking a table at the Ate O’Clock Restaurant between the hours of 1.30pm and 5.30pm. Customers are advised to lookout for their pre-show email that contains more information on the code you need to quote at the time of booking.
Laura McMillan, Grand Opera House York Theatre Director says, “Over the last 6 months by working with Ate O’Clock we’ve been able to offer more memorable experiences for our guests. We look forward to another year combining first-class food with the best live entertainment in York.”
Emily Crampton, Ate O’Clock and Social8 Lounge Restaurant Manager says, “Ate O’Clock are so excited to be continuing our partnership with the Grand Opera House York. It has been such a joy to welcome theatregoers through our doors, hear about their plans & to create events and menus based around the shows on stage. The Grand Opera House York team and I have already got some great ideas in mind for the next 12 months, and we cannot wait to share them with everyone.”
With a packed programme of shows, from the feel-good musical Sister Act, the haunting 2:22 A GhostStory and the enchanting panto Beauty and the Beast – whether you’re out with friends or family, there is something for everyone. Start your big night out with a delicious meal served up at Ate O’Clock then finish up with the best live entertainment in York at the Grand Opera House York.
Now is the time to start planning your big night out. Sign up online to receive the latest Grand Opera House York updates by visiting www.atgtickets.com/york . You can also sign up to receive the latest updates from Ate O’Clock by visiting www.ateoclock.co.uk.
The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) announces a trio of shows coming to Southwark Playhouse Elephant this Summer Southwark Playhouse Elephant, 1 Dante Place, London, SE11 4RX Into The Woods | Catastrophe Bay | Our House August 2024
Leading youth arts organisation The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) has announced its 2024 summer season will debut at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, performed by the remarkable Young Company Members of NYMT 2024, who are 10 – 23 years old. The season will feature Our House, showcasing iconic music from UK band Madness, Stephen Sondheim’s timeless classic Into the Woods, and an ambitious new folk musical Catastrophe Bay, written by Kit Buchan and James Barne. For nearly 50 years, NYMT has been at the forefront of offering exceptional opportunities in pre-professional musical theatre training for talented young people and this marks an exciting chapter in bringing these shows to the heart of London.
Chris Cuming, Artistic Director of NYMT, comments, NYMT 2024 will see the next generation of talented new voices taking to the stage in three fully mounted productions in London. Having seen our Young company members rehearse over Easter, we are certain that the journeys from the Woods to the Bay to the House will bring nothing but joy. The vibrancy and energy of the performances this year are extremely impressive. We’re also pleased to be introducing a season ticket so audiences can see all three productions in the summer. News on our other work across the year including our PLATFORM series will be released soon.
The season will kick off with NYMT presenting Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods. The Tony Award-winning book and score are enchanting in their poignancy, touching on the universal themes of family and friendship; love and loyalty; belonging and betrayal. It is an innovative and intricate retelling of well-known storybook characters thought-provoking allegory is relevant for audiences of all ages through the ages and is widely regarded as a modern classic.
This will be followed by a brand-new folk musical by successful British writing duo Jim Barne and Kit Buchan (Two Strangers Carry a Cake across New York, Kiln Theatre/West End), Catastrophe Bay will take audiences to another time and place populated by exotic characters from around the world. With a backdrop of smugglers and wreckers, deep in the wilds of Cornwall lies the tiny fishing village of Newfrock, the inhabitants are a curious and mischievous gaggle of misfits – who abide by a strange patchwork of rituals and beliefs to protect the village’s secrets
To conclude the season, Our House with music and lyrics by the iconic British band Madness (with one song, It Must Be Love, written by Labi Siffre), and the book by playwright Tim Firth is based in 1980s Camden Town. Featuring a collection of top hits by Madness including House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, Driving in my Car, It Must Be Love and of course Our House, this show is a modern British classic and one that the team is proud to present, particularly as we, like Madness, the NYMT are due to celebrate the 50th anniversary year since its inception.
Just under a thousand performers auditioned to join the NYMT 2024 company, who will all be following in the footsteps of the newly appointed patrons and further NYMT alumni including multi-award-winning household name Idris Elba, Phantom of the Opera’s Joe Griffiths-Brown, beloved screen and stage icon Sheridan Smith, and Les Misérables’ Rosy Church. The newly appointed patrons include previous alumni – critically acclaimed Matt Lucas, the award-winning Amara Okereke and It’s a Sin’s Callum Scott Howells. Industry professionals delivered audition workshops at 19 venues across the UK at the start of the year. Alongside these, NYMT has seen an increase in applications to join the company as Musicians and the Creative Team Mentorship Scheme.
NYMT are committed to delivering top-quality professional development and this year are releasing new courses for not only stage performers but also for people who are interested in being Creative, Writers or want to work in Technical Theatre. These are non-residential courses in London that include watching a Technical and dress rehearsal at Southwark Playhouse as well as working with Industry Professionals. It offers skills workshops, masterclasses, and residential courses.
Everyone is welcome to get involved and NYMT is committed to making musical theatre and the professional industry more accessible to young people across the country, regardless of location or economic circumstances. National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) has a long-standing commitment to an inclusive and accessible ethos. This year NYMT is offering £31,000 of bursaries from their bursary system to support under-resourced families.
NEW WORK ANNOUNCED BY YOUNG VIC TAKING PART AND THE CREATORS PROGRAM
MANTELPEACE, a free immersive exhibition drawing on the thoughts and experiences of young men in Lambeth and Southwark and celebrating the transition from boyhood to manhood. It will be curated by a group of local Young Curators and Young Consultants with Lead Artist Adam Karim, Sound Designer and Composer Duramaney Kamara and Set Designer Finlay Jenner and runs in the Maria and Clare Theatre from 9 – 20 July.
Girl in the Machine, Stef Smith’s electrifying story exploring human and technological interaction, will be directed by 2024 Genesis Future Director Award recipient Annie Kershaw with design by Khadija Raza in the Clare Theatre from 16 – 26 October.
Neighbourhood Theatre launches The Collective, bringing together 50 multi-disciplinary artists from Lambeth and Southwark who will create an epic new show from scratch, led by Director Michelle Payne, to be staged at the Young Vic in 2025.
The Young Vic Theatre today announces brand new work from Taking Part and the Creators Program.
MANTELPEACE is a free immersive exhibition from Taking Partproviding an eye-opening glimpse into the worlds of young men growing up in London today (9 – 20 July); Annie Kershaw will direct an electrifying new production of Stef Smith’s The Girl in the Machine as part of the Creators Program and Genesis Future Directors Award program (16 – 26 October), and Taking Part’sNeighbourhood Theatre launches The Collective, bringing together 50 artists to create an epic new show staged at the Young Vic in 2025.
Shereen Jasmin Phillips, Director of Taking Part, said: “Our new Taking Part projects promise to bring light and fun to the Young Vic. MANTELPEACE focusses on the joy of journeying through teenage years to manhood, creating a space where young men from our community can be brave, support each other, and build and share connections through illustration, music, sound and movement. The Collective will explore and redefine the co-creation of a show, utilising varied artistry from people’s everyday lives in an epic new production showcasing that everyone has the potential to explore their creativity. Working with Lead Artist Adam Karim on MANTELPEACE and Director Michelle Payne on The Collective, I can’t wait to see what all our participants will discover, create and curate for our audiences.”
Sue Emmas, Associate Artistic Director of the Young Vic said: “We are excited to be working with Annie Kershaw on Girl in the Machine, an exceptional play by Stef Smith. We’ve been lucky enough to work with Annie as an assistant director and we’re looking forward to collaborating with her as an artist as she continues her Young Vic journey. With the valued and continuing support of the Genesis Foundation, Annie will realise her vision for this new production opening in the autumn.”
Taking Part, the Young Vic’s Creative Engagement Department, works with young people, adults, schools, and the local community in Lambeth and Southwark, engaging with over 15,000 people a year and providing free tickets to all shows and free creative and artistic opportunities to participants. Taking Part’s three strands, Learning, Participation, and Neighbourhood Theatre, create work that is the beating heart of the organisation.
The Young Vic’s Creators Program for multi- and anti-disciplinary artists is the only scheme of its kind. Launched in 2001, and formerly known as the Directors Program, it offers artists and producers a unique opportunity to develop their craft through opportunities that range from trainee and assistant director roles to a two-year residency through the Genesis Fellow/Associate Director position. The Genesis Network provides an online community to over 2,500 artists and producers. Each year, the recipient of the Genesis Future Directors Award directs a show in the Clare Theatre with full support from the Young Vic team.
MANTELPEACE
A Taking Part Exhibition from Young Vic
Maria and Clare Theatre
Tuesday 9 – Saturday 20 July
This summer get an eye-opening glimpse into the worlds of young men growing up in London today. MANTELPEACEis a free immersive exhibition that celebrates the transition from boyhood to manhood and breaks open the stereotypes of masculinity to embrace boundless possibilities.
The exhibition will draw on the thoughts and experiences of young men in Lambeth and Southwark and is curated by a group of local Young Curators and Young Consultants, working with Lead Artist Adam Karim, Sound Designer and Composer Duramaney Kamara, Set Designer Finlay Jenner. With contributions from Untold Creative Training, Southwark Inclusive Learning Service, Arco Academy and Lansdowne School. Young Curators, Young Consultants and Guest Artists to be announced.
Adam Karim is a freelance theatre director and facilitator. As Donmar Warehouse’s Resident Assistant Director ’23, his credits include Clyde’s, When Winston Went To War With The Wireless, Trouble In Butetown. Directing Credits include Platform (East15), Pressure Drop (Immediate Theatre), The Yard, Schools Tour. Second Person Narrative (RBSW / Clapham Omnibus). Other Assistant Directing includes: The P-Word (Bush Theatre), Sorry You’re Not A Winner (Paines Plough).
Finlay Jenner is a performance designer and theatre maker from South London. He trained at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and was a 2023 recipient of The Linbury Prize. He works across various fields of performance, including dance, opera, and diverse forms of theatre.
Duramaney Kamara was born into a family of afro-jazz musicians, becoming infatuated with instruments, live music and production from a young age. Reggae, jazz and afro-beat continue to influence his composition, sound design and music production, in addition to hip hop and electronic influences. Duramaney is also a recording artist and producer who releases music under his indie label ‘BE FREE 888 REPERTOIRE’. Credits include; Shifters, August in England (Bush Theatre), Cinderella (Brixton House), Clyde’s (Donmar Warehouse),Suckerpunch (Queens Theatre Hornchurch), Bootycandy (Gate Theatre), Anansi The Spider (Unicorn Theatre).
Tickets for MANTELPEACE will be available later in the year.
Girl in the Machine
By Stef Smith
Directed by Annie Kershaw
Clare Theatre
Wednesday 16 – Saturday 26 October
Genesis Future Directors Award 2024 recipientAnnie Kershaw brings an electrifying production of award-winning Stef Smith’s Girl in the Machine to the Young Vic this autumn.
The gap is getting smaller between the human and the hardware.
Polly loves Rowen but lately that hasn’t felt like enough. Then Rowen brings home the Black Box, with its promises to cure depression, and a flick of a switch changes everything. As Polly becomes more distant from the person she planned to share her life with, will her love for Rowen be enough to resist the draw of eternal bliss that the Black Box offers?
Annie Kershaw is currently the Carne Deputy Director at Jermyn Street Theatre. She was Associate Director on Best of Enemies in the West End after being the Jerwood Assistant Director of the Young Vic and Headlong co-production, as part of the Young Vic’s Jerwood Assistant Director Programme, supported by Jerwood Arts. Her credits as Director include Hedda Gabler, Safe (Reading Rep); Light (Five Shorts at the Young Vic); It’s A Flawed World After All (Flawstate); THIS IS NOT A PROTEST (Reading Thames Festival); Ulysses (Jermyn Street Theatre).
The Genesis Future Directors Award program is made possible by the Genesis Foundation and provides early-career directors with the opportunity to explore and develop their craft by creating their first fully resourced production at the Young Vic, with mentoring and support from the theatre’s core artistic team.
Girl in the Machine is designed by Khadija Raza, casting is by Jacob Sparrow.
Tickets for Girl in the Machine are on sale today at www.youngvic.org
Captioned Performances: Wed 23 October, 7.45pm
BSL Performance: Thu 24 October, 7.45pm
Audio Described Performances: Fri 25 October, 7.45pm
Neighbourhood Theatre Presents: The Collective
A Taking Part Project from Young Vic
Neighbourhood Theatre is launching The Collective: 50 artists from Lambeth and Southwark who will create an epic new show from scratch which will be staged at the Young Vic in January 2025.
Led by Director Michelle Payne and supported by creative consultants, members of the group will collaborate in learning key skills in devising, curation, design, and the building blocks to creating a show.
The Collective is open to anyone who has been part of a Neighbourhood Theatre project or production in the past 5 years. It will be a multi-disciplinary group of 50 that reflect key moments in the creative process and aims to bring together people covering a range of artistic skills and interests, for example, anything from acting, writing, sound and lighting design to DJing, hairdressing, make-up artistry, baking, floristry and more.
With commitment, community and collaboration as the central focus, the group will embark on this chapter with openness and creativity. At the start of the process, Taking Part will pose the question to The Collective: “What does co-creation look like when we interrogate the traditional conventions of making multi-disciplinary art that centers creative exploration and joy?”
Members of The Collective will be recruited through a series of workshops and will meet weekly for 8 months from June 2024.
Michelle Payne was recipient of the Regional Theatre Young Directors’ Scheme, based at Mercury Theatre Colchester, and worked on Future Forms with the Donmar Warehouse. Directing credits include The Good Enough Mums Club (UK Tour); To Have & To Hold (The Bush/Mercury Theatre); Jess by Stephanie Silver (Digital Theatre); Find Me (VAULT Festival). Writer & director credits include Squad Goals (Dagenham & Redbridge FC); Full Circle (Brewery Fringe Festival, Best in Fringe 2019). Associate/Resident Director Credits include UK tours of The House With Chicken Legs, Bugsy Malone, Pigs Might Fly.
Following its successful run at HOME Manchester last November, ETT (English Touring Theatre) today announces further dates for theUK tour of Museum of Austerity. The mixed reality installation – a co-production with National Theatre Immersive Storytelling Studio,and Trial & Error Studio – will open the spring 2024 tour at Live Theatre, Newcastle on 17 April and run there until 21 April before touring to No 1 Smithery Studio, The Historic Dockyard from 16-18 May and culminating with a run at Bristol Old Vic from 12 – 15 June.
Winner of Best Immersive Production at International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, Museum of Austerity combines the skills of director Sacha Wares with the in-depth knowledge of Disability News Service editor John Pring to tell the human stories of Austerity Britain. The creative team is completed with Composer Adrian Lee, Costume and Installation Design by 2024 Olivier Award Winner Miriam Buether, Sound Design by Gareth Fry, Original Lighting Design by Prema Mehta, Movement Direction by Leon Baugh, Assistant Direction by Hana Pascal Keegan and Casting Direction by Amy Ball.
Running alongside the production on tour, there will be a programme of exhibitions and workshops led by Healing Justice LDN and local partnering organisations. The first workshop Rage, grief and justice: Disabled people’s resistance to austerity will run at Live Theatre, Newcastle on 19 April.
Director and founder of Trial & Error Studio, Sacha Wares said today, “Inspired by war photographers of the past who used early cameras to capture distant battlefields, Museum of Austerity employs mixed reality technologies to record the invisible, devastating violence of austerity. Museum of Austerity is an artwork I wish we hadn’t had to make, but which needs to be seen.”
Founder of Disability News Service and Co-Editor of Museum, John Pring said, “Museum of Austerity has found an innovative and powerful way to tell these terrible stories in a way that exposes the horror of what happened to so many disabled people during the austerity period. This is a ground-breaking piece of work, and I’m relieved that this tour will allow more people to view the exhibition and understand how the actions of the Department for Work and Pensions led to widespread poverty, acute distress and even the deaths of countless benefit claimants. I hope the audience will think about the harm done, and how no-one associated with these actions has ever been held accountable for what happened and is still happening today.”
Richard Twyman, Artistic Director and CEO, and Sophie Scull, Executive Producer of ETTsaid, “We’re happy that ETT’s dedication to innovative storytelling and ground-breaking XR technology continues to travel the country, meaning this extraordinary and vital work will be seen across the UK’s regions. We’re honoured to have co-produced this important work alongside Trial & Error and The National Theatre Immersive Storytelling Studio and are in awe of the dedication and hard work of the artists at the centre of Museum of Austerity, particularly co-creators Sacha Wares and John Pring, and the families whose stories are told through the piece for their commitment to the project.”
An ETT, National Theatre Immersive Storytelling Studio, and Trial and Error Studio co-production
MUSEUM OF AUSTERITY
Age guidance – 18+
17 April – 15 June
Creative team:
Director and Co-Editor: Sacha Wares; Specialist Advisor & Co-Editor: John Pring; Composer: Adrian Lee; Costume and Installation Designer: Miriam Buether; Sound Designer: Gareth Fry; Original Lighting Designer: Prema Mehta; Movement Director: Leon Baugh; Assistant Director: Hana Pascal Keegan; Casting Director: Amy Ball
Witness the human stories of Austerity Britain in this arresting mixed reality installation.
In 2016, the UN found that “grave or systemic violations” of the rights of disabled people were taking place throughout the UK. Wearing a mixed reality headset, you will enter a striking, holographic gallery that lays bare the consequences when state safety nets fail.
Museum of Austerity is more than an exhibition; it’s a blend of theatre, history and humanity.
“It is impossible to look away from the shimmering figures that emerge in what appears at first to be an empty room. And that is the point.” THE GUARDIAN
This powerful installation combines the skills of theatre/XR director Sacha Wares with the in-depth knowledge of John Pring, editor of Disability News Service.
Museum of Austerity was nominated for Best Digital Innovation at the UK Theatre Awards, previewed at the London Film Festival in 2021 and won International Documentary Festival Amsterdam’s (IDFA) Best Immersive Production in 2021.
An ETT, National Theatre Immersive Storytelling Studio & Trial & Error co-production. Supported by CreativeXR, a programme developed by Digital Catapult and Arts Council England. A Genesis Kickstart Fund project, supported by the Genesis Foundation Co-Commissioned by BFI London Film Festival – LFF Expanded
Sacha Wares is a critically acclaimed theatre director and founder of Trial and Error Studio. Her theatre credits include Sucker Punch, My Child, Random (Royal Court Theatre), Guantanamo – Honour Bound to Defend Freedom (Tricycle Theatre), Game, Boy (Almeida Theatre), Generations, Wild Swans (Young Vic), and Trade (RSC). She is founder of Trial and Error Studio, Innovation Associate at English Touring Theatre, and Associate Director at the National Theatre’s Immersive Storytelling Studio. Wares’ work as director for extended reality performance includes Adult Children (Donmar/ETT/Trial and Error/ScanLAB Projects) and Museum of Austerity (ETT/NT/Trial and Error). Sacha is an Innovate UK Award recipient for her pioneering research into multisensory accessibility for extended reality narrative. She is currently in production for a VR documentary about the artist Judith Scott.
John Pring is founder of Disability News Service. He is a disabled journalist, and co-creator of the Deaths by Welfare timeline, and was associate producer on an award-winning Dispatches documentary, The Truth About Disability Benefits. The Department, his book about the Department for Work and Pensions, and how its actions led to countless deaths of disabled benefit claimants, will be published by Pluto Press this summer.
NICHOLAS HYTNER’S AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION OF GUYS & DOLLS
ANNOUNCES FINAL EXTENSION RUNNING UNTIL JANUARY ‘25
The Bridge Theatre | SE1 2SG
Booking until 04 January 2025
Nicholas Hytner’s critically acclaimed immersive production of Guys & Dolls announcesits final extension, with tickets on sale until 04 January 2024.
The Bridge’s production of Guys & Dolls, which opened in March 2023, immerses audiences in one of the greatest musicals of all time. This unlikeliest of love stories is packed with hit songs, including the showstopping ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’, ‘Luck Be a Lady’ and ‘Take Back Your Mink’. In this production the seating is wrapped around the action, while the immersive tickets transport audiences to the streets of Manhattan and the bars of Havana.
With this final extension, audiences have one last chance to enjoy the award-winning Guys & Dolls before the theatre is transformed again, for new, soon to be announced, productions in 2025.
Guys & Dolls stars Owain Arthur (The History Boys, One Man, Two Guvnors, The Lordof the Rings) in the role of Nathan Detroit, George Ioannides (An Officer and a Gentleman, Annie, MAMMA MIA!) in the role of Sky Masterson, Timmika Ramsay (MoulinRouge!, Cinderella) in the role of Miss Adelaide, Celinde Schoenmaker (Howard Goodall’s Love Story, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera) in the role of Sarah Brown and Jonathan Andrew Hume (Come From Away; nominated for Best British Actor in a Musical at the Black British Theatre Awards) in the role ofNicely-Nicely Johnson.
Niall Buggy plays Arvide Abernathy, Cornelius Clarke plays Lieutenant Brannigan, Cameron Johnson plays Big Jule, TJLloyd plays Rusty Charlie, Ryan Pidgen plays Benny Southstreet, Tori Scott playsGeneral Cartwright, and Dashaun Vegas plays Harry the Horse.
The rest of the cast includes Iroy Abesamis, Katie Bradley, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Filippo Coffano, Eamonn Cox, KamillaFernandes, AlexGiven, LucieHorsfall, DominicLamb, Siân Nathaniel-James, Saffi Needham, Sophie Pourret, James Revell, Nathan Rigg, PierceRogan and SamuelRoutley, Charlotte Scott (Co-Dance Captain), HollieJaneStephens and Dale White (Dance Captain, Fight Captain).
Guys & Dolls – A Musical Fable of Broadway, based on the story and characters of Damon Runyon – has music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, with choreography by Arlene Phillips with James Cousins, musical supervision and arrangements by Tom Brady, set by Bunny Christie, costumes by Bunny Christie and Deborah Andrews, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Paul Arditti, orchestrations by Charlie Rosen, associate direction by James Cousins and Lily Dyble, casting by Charlotte Sutton, fight direction by Kate Waters and wigs, hair and make-up by Campbell Young Associates.
Since opening, Guys & Dolls has won a number of awards; in November 2023, it won Best Musical at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, in February 2024 it won three awards at the WhatsOnStage Awards including Best Musical Revival, in March 2024 it won the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards for Best Musical (The Peter Hepple Award) and in April 2024
Arlene Phillips with James Cousins won The Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer.
LISTINGS INFORMATION FOR THE BRIDGE THEATRE
Address: Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1 2SG
