PALACE THEATRE, MANCHESTER – UNTIL SATURDAY 9TH JULY2022
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
4.5****
‘Fabulous Baby!’ That is the feeling I got when I left the Palace Theatre last night. Sister Act, a divine musical comedy, was absolutely spectacular. Produced by one of the world’s most talented actresses, Whoopi Goldberg, this musical brings to life the award winning 1992 film, of the same name.
This brilliant tribute of the universal power of sisterhood tells the comical story of lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier performed by Sandra Marvin (Waitress) who witnesses her gangster boyfriend Curtis Jackson peformed by Jeremy Secomb (Sweeney Todd) murder a police informant. To protect her from being killed by Jackson and his gang of thugs; Pablo (Damian Buhagiar), Joey (Tom Hopcroft) and TJ (Bradley Judge), desk chief police officer Eddie Souther performed by Clive Rowe (Guys and Dolls) hides Deloris in the one place she won’t be found – a convent! Disguised as a nun she has to adjust to life as Sister Mary Clarence. Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior performed by the legendary Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous), Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.
Several other performers make a mark; veteran Lesley Joseph (Birds of a Feather) as Sister Mary Lazarus has a wicked sense of humour, Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) as Sister Mary Patrick has boundless energy and Lizzie Bea (Kinky Boots) as Sister Mary Robert, the young postulant nun reveals a powerful voice. The marvellous Graham Macduff (Phantom of the Opera) as Monsignor O’Hara, is more then ready to raise his voice and the collection plate for the crowd pleasing numbers. I particularly enjoyed how the soul music of the choir changed his mood and vestment.
The music from multi award winning Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors) and lyrics by Tony nominee Glenn Slater (School Of Rock) mixes Motown, funk, soul and disco and even a jokey Barry White. They take you back to the 70’s with some terrific songs, especially the rousing ‘Raise Your Voice’, the touching ‘The Life I Never Led’ and the hilarious ‘How I Got The Calling’. One of my favourite musical numbers of the evening was the uproarious and provocative ‘Lady In The Long Dress’ performed by TJ, Joey and Pablo.
The book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner follows the rough outline of the film but also adds to the feel good factor by ramping up the fun with a great deal of comedy moments.
The set design is absolutely stunning and is constantly changing. One minute you are in a glitzy lounge bar, the next you are in an old gothic church and then you are in a police station. All the scene changes are done flawlessly and as part of the performance.
Brace yourselves sisters, this musical is energetic, hilarious and thoroughly enjoyable.
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice first hit the stage 30 years ago. Written by Jim Cartwright for the actress Jane Horrocks it has been hitting the boards periodically since then. Many will remember it more from the 1998 film starring the wonderful Horrocks. 2022 sees it back touring the UK with a brand new cast.
Little Voice (Christina Bianco), barely speaks and spends most of her time closeted up in her bedroom listening to her late father’s old albums. Whilst downstairs her mother, Mari (Shobna Gulati), a trashy, larger than life and alcoholic character, is more concerned with her new boyfriend, the sleazy Ray (Ian Kelsey) and the installation of her new phone. All Mari is interested in is men and booze, and Ray fulfils that criteria. Whilst Ray is visiting, LV is playing her albums as usual, but once the electricity shorts out and the music is still playing, he realises what a talent LV has and wants to use her to further his career. LV truly comes alive with her amazing voice, able to imitate all the greats, and is cajoled into performing for one night only at Mr Boos. All does not go smoothly and what follows is a story of disfunction, intimidation, exploitation, and innocence.
Bianco brings LV to life with her remarkable ability to mimic such iconic divas as Cilla Black, Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, plus many more. During LV’s knockout second performance at Mr Boo’s, my friend and I were questioning whether Bianco was singing live, obviously she was, but the transitions between each artist were extraordinary, flitting from one vocal performance to another, amazing, what a talent.
Gulati shines as the garish, loud-mouthed Mari, who selfishly is only concerned about herself, using and abusing all those around her, including LV and her downtrodden, affable best friend, her only friend, Sadie (Fiona Mulvaney), though there are times of vulnerability. She really does own the stage, bringing energy, comedy and personability to her role.
Kelsey, as Ray, provides just about the right amount of sleaze to his character and the interaction with Gulati is truly believable. His dissent from the would-be promoter to the abuser as things fall apart, had the audience gasping out loud in shock.
The stage is utilised well, with a cut out house over two floors, concentrating on LV’s bedroom and the living room/kitchen downstairs. When Mr Boo’s club is depicted a curtain of tinsel and lights is lowered down, simple but effective.
This production is full of some fabulous comedic moments. Some of the funnier moments were quite dated and almost cringeworthy, but in truth they only added to the experience. This is a show with a solid cast that gel together to deliver a sometimes uncomfortable narrative, but also not letting go of that sweet innocence that is out there. Well worth a night out.
Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that their smash hit production of the musical ANNIE will embark on a UK tour opening at Curve, Leicester on Saturday 25 February 2023. This production enjoyed sell-out UK and Ireland tours throughout 2015/16 and in 2019, as well as extended seasons in both the West End and Toronto.
Tour schedule and on sale details below with further dates and star casting to be announced soon. www.anniethemusicaltour.uk
Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search…
With its award-winning book and score, this stunning production includes the unforgettable songs ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.
ANNIE has Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin and a Book by Thomas Meehan. It is directed by Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster with set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker.
ANNIE is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.
PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
A-TYPICAL RAINBOW
A NEW PLAY BY JJ GREEN
PRESENTED BY ARIA ENTERTAINMENT
AT THE TURBINE THEATRE FROM 30 JUNE TO 7 AUGUST 2022
Based on real events from the perspective of the writer and the autistic community, JJ Green will lead the cast as Boy for the limited run at The Turbine Theatre.The rest of the cast will be made up by Caroline Deverill (Mother), James Westphal (Father/Doctor), Conor Joseph (Jake/Daniel), Joy Tan (Abby/Thomas/Lara) and Maya Manuel (Emily/Mrs Whiteman/Rachel).
PHOTO CREDIT: PAMELA RAITH
PHOTO CREDIT: PAMELA RAITH
Boy has always seen the world differently to most people. Where they see monochrome, he sees the world in vivid and brilliant technicolour.
As Boy grows up, he faces increasing pressure to conform to the black and white logic of the ‘real’ world, a way of thinking that doesn’t make sense, and forces him to suppress his unique and beautiful view of life.
A-Typical Rainbow is the World Premiere debut play by autistic writer JJ Green that asks: could a kinder, more joyful world lie at the end of the rainbow?
PHOTO CREDIT: PAMELA RAITH
PHOTO CREDIT: PAMELA RAITH
Katy Lipson (Producer) has said, “I am so thrilled to be presenting the World Premiere of this beautiful and relevant piece of writing. We are delighted to have assembled such a wonderful creative team and cast with multiple autistic and neurodivergent team members. We are looking forward to welcoming audiences to the Turbine Theatre this summer.”
PHOTO CREDIT: PAMELA RAITH
PHOTO CREDIT: PAMELA RAITH
A-Typical Rainbow is written by JJ Green, with direction by Bronagh Lagan. Composition and sound design by Max Alexander-Taylor, lighting design by Bethany Gupwell, with associate sound design by Chris Czornyj and choreography by William Spencer. Set and costume design by Frankie Gerrard, and video design by Matt Powell. The casting director is Jane Deitch and production manager is Jack Boisseux with deputy stage manager Ryan Webster. Ollie Hancock, Tom Ramsay and Sarah Jordan Verghese are production coordinators with Chris Matanlé for Aria Entertainment as general manager and Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment as producer.
PHOTO CREDIT: PAMELA RAITH
PHOTO CREDIT: PAMELA RAITH
This new play will run at The Turbine Theatre until 7 August
World premiere of The Book Thief announces creative team Saturday 17th September – Saturday 15th October 2022 Octagon Theatre, Howell Croft South, Bolton BL1 1SB
Coming to the Octagon Theatre Bolton this autumn, the musical adaptation of The Book Thief has announced its full creative team. This beloved book is brought to life with a script by award winning author Jodi Picoult (My Sister’s Keeper and Small Great Things) and Timothy Allen McDonald (adaptor of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka and James and the Giant Peach). The music and lyrics are by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson (Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, Walt Disney Animation Studios; Central Park, Apple TV+). Adapted from Markus Zusak’s worldwide best-selling novel, this hauntingly beautiful tale set in 1930s Nazi-Germany follows courageous young orphan Liesel as she enters a dangerous game of book thievery.
Co-writer Jodi Picoult comments, The Book Thief, as a novel, is a blockbuster that has sold over 20 million copies and deeply moved readers all over the world. Having the chance to bring it to life three-dimensionally in a world premiere musical at the Octagon is a dream for us!
The story of a foster child in Nazi Germany — who learns the power words have to both hurt and to heal — feels painfully relevant today. We hope that Liesel’s journey will inspire audiences to take a stand in the face of adversity, and to be agents of change in an increasingly divided world.
Octagon Artistic Director and director of The Book Thief, Lotte Wakeham added, I am absolutely thrilled to be opening our new season with this world premiere brand new musical adaptation of one of my all-time favourite books. Over the last couple of years, we’ve been busy workshopping the show and I cannot wait for audiences to finally see it! It’s an incredibly relevant, moving story and I’m so happy to be staging it in Bolton in our wonderful, newly refurbished theatre.
I am delighted that we can now announce the brilliant creative team who will be working with me on the production – they are all incredibly talented individuals who have already brought so many fantastic and imaginative ideas to the process. I’m confident that we’re going to create a beautiful and timeless piece of musical theatre.
The production will be directed by the Octagon’s Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham (One Man Two Guvnors, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Peter Pan, Octagon Theatre) and choreographed by Tom Jackson Greaves (Amélie, Criterion Theatre; Rent, Hope Mill Theatre), with musical direction and orchestrations by Matthew Malone (Coming to England, Birmingham Rep; Peter Pan, Octagon Theatre) and design from Good Teeth aka James Perkins and Victoria Smart (The Winter’s Tale, Shakespeare’s Globe; Little Shop of Horrors, Royal Exchange Manchester). The production will also feature lighting design by Nic Farman (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, UK Tour; Spring Awakening, Hope Mill Theatre), puppet design by Samuel Wilde (The Fir Tree, Shakespeare’s Globe; Electra, Bunker Theatre) and sound design by Andy Graham (The Upstart Crow, Apollo Theatre; One Man Two Guvnors, Octagon Theatre).
The wider production team includes Associate Director Georgia Wang Murphy (Cyrano de Bergerac, Southwark Playhouse; Frills and Spills, Camden People’s Theatre), Associate Musical Director George Strickland (Good Fun, King’s Head Theatre; The Regulars, Hope Mill Theatre), Casting Director Jacob Sparrow (City of Angels, Garrick Theatre; Our Town, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Assistant Casting Director Olivia Barr (Kes, Peter Pan, Octagon Theatre) and Production Manager Dan Turner (The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Duke of York’s Theatre).
This production is sponsored by Boo Coaching & Consulting
Twenty years after the first performance of David Pugh’s play, it is still a fitting tribute to Morecambe and Wise. It continues to encapsulate the honesty and integrity of the double act, who performed purely for the entertainment of others.
Director Sean Foley puts to work the genius of Eric and Ernie embodied in Dennis Herdman (Dennis) and Thom Tuck (Thom). At times I forget that we are not watching the real thing and am taken back to my early teen years, watching the Morecambe and Wise show with my family. However, this is not only a piece of nostalgia. The audience are truly entertained, laughing out loud most of the way through. The comedy is timeless. Mitesh Soni (Arthur and others) was the essential fall guy, the glue that kept the performance together and the device for many of Dennis and Thom’s gags. Soni is a perfect fit for this double act, totally embracing every character. Our special guest played along beautifully, creating those special moments of naivety, when Dennis treats them unwittingly with disbelief and disrespect.
In this era of political correctness, continued fight for equality and climate emergency, this is a play to hang your campaigns up with your coat and simply enjoy being entertained for the sake of entertainment. I would definitely watch it again, just so I can take friends and family with me.
KERRY JACKSON AND OTHELLO COMPLETE NATIONAL THEATRE’S WINTER SEASON ON THE SOUTH BANK
– National Theatre Deputy Artistic Director Clint Dyer directs Othello in the Lyttelton theatre with Giles Terera as Othello, Rosy McEwen as Desdemona and Paul Hilton as Iago
– Fay Ripley leads the cast of April De Angelis’ new play Kerry Jackson, directed by Indhu Rubasingham in the Dorfman theatre
– The Ocean at the End of the Lane will tour the UK and Ireland visiting 29 venues for 40 playing weeks
– The Lehman Trilogy, directed by Sam Mendes, returns to the West End in January following its five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway run
– Rehearsals begin for the NT’s third Public Acts production, The Doncastrian Chalk Circle, opening at Cast in Doncaster this August
The National Theatre today announces two further productions to be staged this winter, Shakespeare’s Othello and Kerry Jackson a new play by April De Angelis, both going on sale to the public on 21 July.
Opening in November, Clint Dyer directs Shakespeare’s Othello in the Lyttelton theatre. This extraordinary new vision for one of Shakespeare’s most enduring tragedies includes Giles Terera (Death of England: Face to Face) as Othello, Rosy McEwen (The Alienist) as Desdemona and Paul Hilton (The Inheritance) as Iago.
A bright, headstrong daughter of a senator; elevated by her status but stifled by its expectations. A refugee of slavery; having risen to the top of a white world, he finds that love across racial lines has a cost. Wed in secret, Desdemona and Othello crave a new life together. But as unseen forces conspire against them, they find their future is not theirs to decide.
Cast includes Jack Bardoe, Rory Fleck Byrne, Kirsty J Curtis, Tanya Franks, Gareth Kennerley, Martin Marquez, Amy Newton, Steffan Rizzi and Jay Simpson with further cast to be announced.
Set designer is Chloe Lamford, costume designer is Michael Vale and lighting designer is Jai Morjaria. Music and Sound by Pete Malkin and Benjamin Grant, movement director is Lucie Pankhurst and fight director is Kev McCurdy. Othello will also be broadcast to cinemas worldwide in 2023 via National Theatre Live.
In the Dorfman theatre from November Indhu Rubasingham will direct the world premiere of April De Angelis‘ biting new comedy, Kerry Jackson. Fay Ripley plays Kerry, owner of a new restaurant in fashionable Walthamstow. Wearing her working-class roots as a badge of honour, Kerry navigates the local characters in a bid to make the tapas restaurant a success – without losing herself in the process.
Set and costume design is by Richard Kent, lighting design by Oliver Fenwick, movement director is Lucy Hind and casting director is Juliet Horsley CDG. Further cast to be announced.
National Theatre nationwide
Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane will tour the UK and Ireland later this year, direct from the West End, visiting more than 29 towns and cities for a total of 40 weeks. Directed by Katy Rudd (Camp Siegfried) and adapted by Joel Horwood (Skins, I Want My Hat Back), the first major stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s work is a thrilling adventure of fantasy, myth and friendship, which blends magic with memory in a tour-de-force of storytelling that takes audiences on an epic journey to a childhood once forgotten and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it.
Returning to his childhood home, a man finds himself standing beside the pond of the old Sussex farmhouse where he used to play. He’s transported to his 12th birthday when his remarkable friend Lettie claimed it wasn’t a pond, but an ocean – a place where everything is possible…
Plunged into a magical world, their survival depends on their ability to reckon with ancient forces that threaten to destroy everything around them.
Featuring an ensemble cast of 17, the tour will open at The Lowry in Salford where it will play over Christmas (12 December 2022–7 January 2023), before visiting a further 28 venues up to September 2023. Check oceanonstage.com for full touring schedule and to book tickets.
Rehearsals begin today for The Doncastrian Chalk Circle, with Cast and the NT joining forces with the community of Doncaster for this epic third Public Acts production featuring over 100 local performers alongside a professional company and live band. The cast of professional actors announced today includes Benjamin Armstrong, Daisy Ann Fletcher, Beth Hinton-Lever, Charlotte Mills and John Partridge.
Filled with passion, hope, and plenty of Yorkshire grit and humour, this new musical version of Brecht’s classic is adapted by Chris Bush with music by Ruth Chan and directed by James Blakey. Performances take place at Cast in Doncaster from 27–29 August. castindoncaster.com
National Theatre in the West End
A co-production with Neal Street Productions, The Lehman Trilogy, which recently won a total of five 2022 Tony Awards – including Best Play and Best Director – making it the most awarded play on Broadway this season, will return to London’s West End from January 2023 for a strictly limited season.
The Lehman Trilogy
New York, N.Y.
September 24, 2021
Photo Credit: Julieta Cervantes
Written by Stefano Massini and adapted by Ben Power, the story of a family and a company that changed the world is directed by Sam Mendes. The Lehman Trilogy features a cast of three playing the Lehman brothers, their sons, and grandsons, in an extraordinary feat of storytelling told in three parts on a single evening.
The Tony Award-winning set design is by Es Devlin, with costume design by Katrina Lindsay, video design by Luke Halls, and Tony Award-winning lighting design by Jon Clark. The Composer & Sound Designer is Nick Powell, the Co-Sound Designer is Dominic Bilkey, with music direction by Candida Caldicot and movement by Polly Bennett. The West End Director is Zoé Ford Burnett. Casting is by Jessica Ronane CDG CSA.
Dates, including assisted performances, casting and booking information to be announced. Sign up for more news coming soon at thelehmantrilogy.com
National Theatre Learning
This year’s winning New Views play Barrier(s) by 17-year-old student Eloise Pennycott from Southend High School for Girls will be staged on 7–8 July in the Dorfman theatre. Selected from 427 entries submitted by young people nationwide, Eloise was inspired to write her play to showcase Deaf culture on stage. Directed by Lucy Jane Atkinson with Associate Director Paula Garfield, Artistic Director of Deafinitely Theatre, the production will be performed by Erin Siobhan Hutching and Lara Steward in a mix of British Sign Language and English.
National Theatre Digital
Coming next on National Theatre Live, Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) makes her West End debut in the UK premiere of Suzie Miller’s award-winning play, Prima Facie. A production from Empire Street Productions, Justin Martin directs this solo tour de force, captured live from the intimate Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End and in cinemas worldwide from 21 July.
Audiences are invited to an early autumn escape to the Italian Riviera in Much Ado About Nothing, with Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd) and John Heffernan (Dracula) as Beatrice and Benedick in Shakespeare’s undeniable romantic comedy, broadcast live from the National Theatre on 8 September and available internationally from 1 December. Director Simon Godwin returns to the NT to direct the production following the award-winning success of his Romeo & Juliet film.
The season of comedy continues with rollicking new production, Jack Absolute Flies Again by Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors) and Oliver Chris, based on Sheridan’s The Rivals. Caroline Quentin (Jonathan Creek), Laurie Davidson (Cats), Natalie Simpson (Three Sisters) and Kelvin Fletcher (Emmerdale) lead the cast in this spectacularly entertaining new version of the play, directed by Emily Burns and set for global release in cinemas from 6 October.
On National Theatre at Home, Charlotte Brontë’s story of the trailblazing Jane Eyre, a bold and dynamic production directed by Sally Cookson, from the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic, will be available to stream this July. Also new to the platform this summer is ‘Master Harold’ . . . and the boys from Tony Award-winning playwright Athol Fugard, a semi-autobiographical and blistering masterwork exploring the nature of friendship, and Shakespeare’s glorious comedy of love and change, As You Like It, with Rosalie Craig (London Road) as Rosalind, available from August 2022.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Her Majesty’s Theatre is delighted to announce that booking is extended to Saturday 4 March 2023, with a new performance schedule from Monday 3 October 2022. The Christmas performance schedule is also announced.
From Monday 3 October the new performance schedule will be:
Monday at 7.30pm
Tuesday at 7.30pm
Wednesday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Thursday at 7.30pm
Friday at 7.30pm
Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
A previously announced, from 1 August Killian Donnelly will play The Phantom alongside Lucy St. Louis as Christine Daaé, Matt Blaker as Raoul and Kelly Glyptis as Carlotta, Matt Harrop as Monsieur Firmin, Adam Linstead as Monsieur André, Greg Castiglioni as Ubaldo Piangi, Francesca Ellis as Madame Giry and Ellie Young as Meg Giry. At certain performances the role of Christine Daaé is played by Holly-Anne Hull.
The cast is completed by Hollie Aires,Connor Carson, Corina Clark, Edward Court, Michelle Cornelius, Lily De-La-Haye, Hywel Dowsell, Serina Faull, James Gant, Eilish Harmon-Beglan, Emma Harris, Yukina Hasebe, Thomas Holdsworth, Olivia Holland-Rose, Jacob Hughes, Grace Hume, James Hume, Tim Morgan, Michael Robert-Lowe, Eve Shanu-Wilson, Tim Southgate, Anouk Van Laake, Jasmine Wallis, Rafe Watts, Skye Weiss, Simon Whitaker, Lizzie Wofford and Andrew York.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group Ltd. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Charles Hart, and Additional Lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the novel ‘Le Fantôme de l’Opera’ by Gaston Leroux, with Orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Musical Supervision is by Simon Lee. The Production Design is by Maria Björnson and the Set Design is adapted by Matt Kinley with Associate Costume Design by Jill Parker, Lighting is by Andrew Bridge with Associate Lighting Design by Warren Letton, Sound is by Mick Potter. The Musical Staging and Choreography is by Gillian Lynne, recreated and adapted by Chrissie Cartwright. Originally Directed by Harold Prince, this production is Directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn.
Jeffrey Seller and Cameron Mackintosh, producers of the West End production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s HAMILTON, are delighted to announce that booking is extending at the Victoria Palace Theatre to 3 March 2023.
Reuben Joseph plays the title role of Alexander Hamilton with Simon-Anthony Rhoden as Aaron Burr, Allyson Ava-Brown as Angelica Schuyler, Shan Ako as Eliza Hamilton, Roshani Abbey as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, Trevor Dion Nicholas as George Washington, Waylon Jacobs as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Emile Ruddock as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Jake Halsey-Jones as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton and Joel Montague as King George III. At certain performances the role of Alexander Hamilton is played by Alex Sawyer.
The cast also comprises Jade Albertsen, Curtis Angus, Maya Britto, Matthew Caputo, Filippo Coffano, Ashley Daniels, Kelly Downing, Matthew Elliot-Campbell, Jordan Frazier, Manaia Glassey-Ohlson, Olivia Kate Holding, Barney Hudson, DeAngelo Jones, Phoebe Liberty Jones, Nicolais-Andre Kerry, Travis Kerry, Ella Kora, Natasha Leaver, Aaron Lee Lambert, Louis Mackrodt, Kerri Norville, Samuel Sarpong-Broni, Lindsey Tierney and Brandon Williams.
The schedule for Christmas 2022 is as follows –
Monday 19December 7:30pm
Tuesday 20 December 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Wednesday 21December 7:30pm
Thursday 22 December 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Friday 23 December 7:30pm
Saturday 24December 2:30pm
Sunday 25December no performance
Monday 26December no performance
Tuesday 27December 7:30pm
Wednesday 28December 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Thursday 29December 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Friday 30December 7:30pm
Saturday 31December 1pm and 6pm
Sunday 1January 2023 no performance
HAMILTON has book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire and is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe.
The Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning production opened at the newly re-built and restored Victoria Palace Theatre in London in December 2017 and continued to play there until the start of lockdown in March 2020. The production resumed performances in August 2021.
HAMILTON is produced in London by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater and Cameron Mackintosh.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Theatre Victoria Palace Theatre, Victoria Street, London SW1E 5EA
★★★★★ A brave and beautiful retelling of his whole life story…a seriously emotional experience – Manchester Evening News
★★★★★ Barlow holds his audience rapt throughout…[he’s] a candidly open and honest storyteller – Edinburgh Evening News
Acclaimed singer, songwriter, composer and producer, Gary Barlow is bringing his theatrical one man stage show, A Different Stage, to London’s West End, with more dates now on sale, due to unprecedented demand. Gary will now perform at TheDuke of York’s Theatre from 30 August to 25 September 2022.
A Different Stagepremiered in February to a rapturous reception from his delighted fans. He has since played to sell-out audiences around the UK, including four very special shows at the community centre in his hometown of Frodsham, as well as York, Salford, Liverpool and Edinburgh.
After London’s West End, the tour will continue around the UK & Ireland. Full dates below:
Truro Hall for Cornwall – 27 – 28 September
Salford The Lowry Lyric Theatre – 4 – 8 October
Newcastle Tyne Theatre – 11 & 12 October
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre – 19-21 October
Dublin Gaiety Theatre – 26 – 29 October
Southend Palace Theatre 1 – 4 November
Portsmouth New Theatre Royal – 7 – 11 November
Nottingham Playhouse – 13 – 15 November
A Different Stage, which Gary Barlow created with his long-time friend and collaborator, Tim Firth, is an intimate evening with Gary, as he recounts, with humour, some tears and unflinching honesty, his life story. Of course, along the way, there will be some music, but some of which will be a surprise to many.
Gary said: “Now I’ve done shows where it has just been me and a keyboard. I’ve done shows where I sit and talk to people. I’ve done shows where I’ve performed as part of a group. But this one, well, it’s like all of those, but none of them. When I walk out this time, it’s going to be a very different stage altogether.”
Gary Barlow is one of Britain’s most successful songwriters and record producers. As part of the group Take That, he has won eight BRIT Awards and sold over 45 million records. Aside from his achievements with Take That, he has also co-written and produced music for other renowned artists including Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams.
In more recent years, Gary has also turned his attention to the world of theatre, composing the score for the hugely successful production of Finding Neverland, working alongside Tim Firth on Calendar Girls The Musical, and collaborating with Tim and his Take That bandmates on The Band, a record-breaking stage musical currently being adapted into a feature film.
A Different Stage is directed by Tim Firth, with design by Es Devlin, lighting by Bruno Poet and sound design by Gareth Tucker.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
30 August – 25 September 2022
Duke of York’s Theatre
St Martin’s Lane
London WC2N 4BG
Performances: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.30pm* and Sunday at 2.30pm
