Author: FairyPoweredProductions

Runaway Entertainment presents

2:22 – A GHOST STORY

The hit play by Danny Robins

Directed by Matthew Dunster

@222AGhostStory #222AGhostStory 

• SMASH HIT 2.22 – A GHOST STORY WILL EXTEND ITS RUN AT THE CRITERION THEATRE FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED FOURTH SEASON OF 18 WEEKS THROUGH TO 8 JANUARY 2023​
   
• 2:22 A GHOST STORY WILL HAVE ITS FIRST HALLOWEEN PERFORMANCE ON MONDAY 31 OCTOBER 2022
   
• FOLLOWING ITS PREMIERE AT THE NOEL COWARD THEATRE LAST SUMMER, THE PRODUCTION MOVED TO THE GIELGUD IN DECEMBER 2021 WHERE IT RAN UNTIL FEBRUARY. 
   
• CAST FOR THE EXTENDED CRITERION THEATRE RUN WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON
   
• THE PRODUCTION IS DIRECTED BY MATTHEW DUNSTER AND WRITTEN BY AWARD-WINNING WRITER DANNY ROBINS
   
• TICKETS FOR PERFORMANCES  FROM SEPTEMBER – JANUARY AT THE CRITERION THEATRE ARE ON  SALE NOW AT WWW.222AGHOSTSTORY.COM

Producer Runaway Entertainment is delighted to announce that the critically acclaimed, smash hit, supernatural thriller 2:22 – A Ghost Story will extend its run at The Criterion Theatre when the current run ends on 4 September.  It will play a 18 week season running through to 8 January 2023. The extension means that the production will have its first Halloween performance on Monday 31 October – be afraid!

Last week the Center Theatre Group announced the US premiere of 2:22 A Ghost Story at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles where it will run from 29 October to 4 December 2022.

The production began its life last summer at the Noel Coward Theatre starring Lily Allen, Julia Chan, Hadley Fraser and Jake Wood. It then transferred to the Gielgud Theatre for 10 weeks from 4 December 2021. The production there, starring Stephanie Beatriz, James Buckley, Elliot Cowan and Giovanna Fletcher, completed its run on 12 February 2022. The current cast at the Criterion Theatre features Tom Felton as Sam, Mandip Gill as Jenny, Beatriz Romilly as Lauren and Sam Swainsbury as Ben. Cast details for the extended run will be announced soon. 

“A great spine-tingling night out!” Evening Standard

“It’s happening again…”

Following three record-breaking seasons at the Noel Coward, Gielgud Theatre and Criterion Theatre, with a host of acclaimed star performances, this edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller will extend its run at the Criterion Theatre for 18 weeks.

2:22 is written by award-winning writer Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcast The Battersea Poltergeist, and is directed by Matthew Dunster. Look out for the clues to unlock the mystery in this brilliantly funny and intriguing play; it’s an adrenaline-filled night where secrets emerge and ghosts may, or may not, appear…

Danny Robins said: ‘When this play opened in the summer of 2021 I couldn’t have dreamed that we’d be where we are now – in our third West End theatre, planning our fourth season! With each run, it’s been so great to see our new casts make it their own, and I’m so delighted that this modern ghost story of mine keeps connecting with audiences. I hope it’s more than just a play, it’s an exciting, adrenaline-filled night out that will have you laughing and jumping in equal measure and then you’ll spend the rest of the night talking about it with your mates, trying to crack the mystery! Do ghosts really exist? There’s only one way to find out – get yourself down to the Criterion to see 2:22!’

Matthew Dunster said: ‘On we go again! It’s such a thrill to know we get to extend our run of 2:22 at the Criterion through Christmas and into the New Year. And we finally get to do our spooky play on Halloween. What a night that will be.

When we dared to put this new play straight into the West End last summer we couldn’t have dreamed it would stir the people’s imagination in the way it has this past year. We love doing Danny’s wonderful play for our audiences, and their ongoing loyalty to the show and their joy at discovering each new cast has been so exciting for us..’

What do you believe? And do you dare discover the truth?

“THERE’S SOMETHING IN OUR HOUSE. I HEAR IT EVERY NIGHT, AT THE SAME TIME”

Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know.

“A slick, chilling, romp of a play” The Guardian

2:22 – A Ghost Story features set design by Anna Fleischle, costume design by Cindy Lin, lighting design by Lucy Carter, sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph Sound, casting by Jessica Ronane CDG and illusions by Chris Fisher, co-direction by Isabel Marr.

2:22 – A Ghost Story is produced by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Isobel David and Kater Gordon.

THE TONY AND OLIVER AWARD-WINNING ‘BEST MUSICAL

COME FROM AWAY

EXTENDS FOR THE LAST TIME IN THE WEST END AND WILL PLAY ITS FINAL PERFORMANCE AT THE PHOENIX THEATRE ON SATURDAY 7 January 2023

PHOENIX THEATRE, LONDON

London, Friday 1 July: The multi award-winning London production of global hit musical Come From Away will extend in the West End from September until the end of the year before holding its final performance at the Phoenix Theatre on Saturday 7 January 2023.

By the time the West End company take their final bow, this critically acclaimed production will have played 1048 performances in London, 47 performances in Dublin and won many major UK theatre Awards including the Olivier, Critics’ Circle and What’s On Stage Awards for ‘Best Musical’.

The current London cast of Come From Away includes Jenna Boyd (Beulah and others), James Doherty (Claude and others), Mark Dugdale (Kevin T/Garth and others), Alice Fearn (Beverley/Annette and others), Kate Graham (Diane and others), Robert Hands (Nick/Doug and others), Jonathan Andrew Hume (Kevin J/Ali and others), Gemma Knight Jones (Hannah and others), Kirsty Malpass (Bonnie and others), Harry Morrison (Oz and others), Emma Salvo (Janice and others), Lejaun Sheppard (Bob and others), with Chiara Baronti, Ricardo Castro, Stuart Hickey, Alexander McMorran, Sarah Morrison, Lucy Park, Jennifer Tierney and Matthew Whennell-Clark.

The Come From Away band includes Alan Berry (Musical Director/UK Musical Supervisor), Matt Bashford (Whistles/Irish Flute/Uillean Pipes), Aoife Mairead Ní Bhriain (Fiddle), Oli Briant (Electric/Acoustic Guitar), Justin Quinn (Acoustic Guitars/Mandolins/Bouzouki), Joey Grant (Electric and Acoustic Bass),  Ray Fean (Bodhrán/Percussion), Ian Whitehead (Drums/Percussion), Huw Evans (Associate Musical Director), Andrew Barrett for Lionella Music, LLC (Electronic Music Design), Phij Adams (Associate Keyboard Programmer), Ryan Driscoll (Music Preparation), and David Gallagher (Orchestral Management).

Come From Awayshares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives.

Experience the joy, heartache and soaring music as the spirited locals and global passengers overcome their fears and a world of cultural differences to come together and forge friendships that will stay with them forever. The first female American Airlines captain, the quick-thinking town mayor, the mother of a New York firefighter and the eager local news reporter are among the many real characters caught at the start of the moment that changed the course of history, and whose stories became a true celebration of hope, humanity and unity. 

The international hit musical has celebrated sold-out, record-breaking engagements on Broadway, in Canada, throughout Australia, and on a 60-city North American Tour.

The Come From Away creative team includes Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Book, Music and Lyrics), Christopher Ashley (Director), Kelly Devine (Musical Staging), Ian Eisendrath (Music Supervision and Arrangements), Beowulf Boritt (Scenic Design), Toni-Leslie James (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (Lighting Design), Gareth Owen (Sound Design), David Brian Brown (Hair Design), August Eriksmoen (Orchestrations), Pippa Ailion CDG and Natalie Gallacher CDG (Casting), Joel Goldes (Dialect Coach), Michael Rubinoff (Creative Consultant), Bob Hallett (Newfoundland Music Consultant),  Shirley Fishman (Dramaturg) and Tara Overfield (Associate Director and Choreographer UK).

Come From Away is produced in the UK by Junkyard Dog Productions and Smith & Brant Theatricals. The European premiere of Come From Away was co-produced with the Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s National Theatre.

Tickets for Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre are available via comefromawaylondon.co.uk.

‘SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC’

M A R Y   P O P P I N S

TAKES FINAL FLIGHT FROM THE PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE AS

LAST WEST END EXTENSION ANNOUNCED TO 8 JANUARY 2023

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh today (1 July 2022) announce the final extension for the West End run of the Olivier Award-winning Mary Poppins which will celebrate its final West End performance at the Prince Edward Theatre on 8 January 2023.  Tickets for this final extension go on general sale at 11am today.

Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the original Walt Disney film, this production of Mary Poppins opened in October 2019 and played to March 2020 when it closed due to the Covid shutdown. Post pandemic the production re-opened in August 2021 with nightly standing ovations and will now play a further six-month extension into Christmas and New Year. Mary Poppins continues to spread her magic around the globe, having just opened in Tokyo earlier this year and Sydney in May where it has been received wonderfully by critics and audiences alike.

Cameron Mackintosh said “When the new revised production of Mary Poppins opened at the end of 2019 with a tremendous cast headed by Zizi Strallen, Charlie Stemp and Petula Clark, the response was even more ecstatic than the original. We had always planned to run two years until the physical production was required elsewhere but covid managed to stretch our timetable into 2023 allowing everyone to enjoy an additional supercalifragilistic last Christmas jolly holiday season. Mary Poppins has remained a timeless and timely, uplifting and joyous theatrical experience – but Mary never says goodbye, only au revoir… till we meet again.”

Thomas Schumacher, President & Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, said “Over its 18 years on stage, each new production of Mary Poppins has managed to speak to us in new, resonant ways – and never more than in this jewel of a production under Richard Eyre’s loving oversight.  As they continue playing in productions around the world, Mary, Bert and the entire Banks family have still much to share – as Mary herself says, ‘with a good deal of love’.”

The stage production originally opened in the West End in December 2004, running for over 1,250 performances. During this time, the production won two Olivier Awards and an Evening Standard Award. Subsequently the Tony Award®-winning Broadway production ran for over six years. Mary Poppins was also the winner of Best Musical Revival at the 2020 Whatsonstage Awards and Best Set Design and Best Theatre Choreographer awards at the 2020 Olivier Awards.

The magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane has been triumphantly and spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs. The stage version of Mary Poppins, brilliantly adapted from the wonderful stories by PL Travers and the original beloved Walt Disney film, continues to be a smash hit around the world since its opening in London 18 years ago.

The original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman include the classic songs Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Feed the Birds and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. New songs and additional music are by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Book is by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes and this production is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. The producer for Disney Theatrical Productions is Thomas Schumacher. This production of Mary Poppins has orchestrations by William David Brohn with dance and vocal arrangements by George Stiles. Sound design is by Paul Gatehouse and lighting is by Hugh Vanstone and Natasha Katz. Co-choreography is by Stephen Mear. The reimagined set and costume designs are by Bob Crowley. Co-direction and choreography is by Matthew Bourne and direction by Richard Eyre.

BRAND-NEW THEMED POP-UP BAR OPENS IN

COVENT GARDEN ALONGSIDE

IRIS THEATRE’S SUMMER SEASON

Iris Theatre today announces the opening of a brand-new pop-up, garden café and bar to accompany their 2022 Summer programme at the Actors’ Church. Aptly named The Bard, this pop-up will compliment Iris’ season’s headliner A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Bard will be open Tuesday-Saturday until 9pm, and on Sundays until 6pm, and will run until September.

Open to everyone, this brand-new bar sits comfortably in the heart of Covent Garden, with access directly from Covent Garden Piazza. Customers can relax away from the hustle and bustle of Central London, surrounded by stunning 17th Century architecture. You can treat yourself to a selection of A Midsummer Night’s Dream themed cocktails such as Puck’s Playful Pimm’s, Demetrius’ Daiquiri or even Oberon’s Very Old-Fashioned, or you can take your pick from Prosecco, wine, beer, coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

The Bard will also play host to a range of live performances over the summer – you can sit down with a drink and enjoy poetry readings, acoustic music, comedy, and more. A relaxing space to experience a great selection of pieces from Iris Theatre’s brilliant summer line-up.

Producer of Iris Theatre, Rob Ellis said today: “We’re very excited to open The Bard to members of the public. It’s a real hidden gem – it couldn’t be easier to get to, just off the Piazza in Covent Garden, and it couldn’t be more peaceful when you arrive. If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a pre-theatre glass of Prosecco, or an after-work beer with friends, The Bard is a perfect place to visit. And if you’re coming to see our prom themed A Midsummer Night’s Dream, make sure you pick up one of our special cocktails, to really get into the party spirit. Plus, we have Pimm’s on tap – what more could you want during Summer?”

You can book tickets to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream here – https://iristheatre.com/event/a-midsummer-nights-dream-3

IRIS THEATRE 

LISTINGS

THE BARD

Actors’ Church, Bedford Street, London, WC2E 9ED

MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

St Pauls Covent Garden

Actors’ Church, Bedford Street, London, WC2E 9ED

Box Office: https://iristheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows 29 June – 13 August

Tickets: £22.50

Concessions: £17:50

DAISY WOOD-DAVIS AND HANNAH LOWTHER JOIN THE CAST OF

AND AN ADDITIONAL DATE IS ADDED TO THE CONCERTS
AT THE ICONIC THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE

NOW PLAYING ON 8 & 9 AUGUST 2022

Kinky Boots the Musical in Concert will be stepping out and painting the town red for an extra night on Tuesday 9 August at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane this summer.

Kinky Boots is the feel-good musical by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper, based on the popular 2005 film of the same name. Previously announced cast are Cedric Neal (Back To The Future, Motown The Musical), as Lola/Simon, Matt Jay Willis (Busted, Waitress, Wicked) as Charlie and Courtney Bowman (Legally Blonde, SIX) as Lauren.

Kicking up their heels to join them is Ahmed Hamad (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, RENT) as Harry, Daisy Wood-Davis (Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, Hair) as Nicola, Duane Goode (Aladdin, The Smartest Giant In Town) as George/Simon Snr, Graham Bickley (Sunset Boulevard, Ragtime) as Mister Price. Hannah Lowther (Heathers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Gemma Louise, Kayleigh McKnight (Tina Turner The Musical, Les Misérables) as Trish, Madison Swan (Book of Mormon, Heathers) as Marge, Nikki Bentley (Wicked, Monty Python’s Spamalot) as Pat and Sean Needham (9 to 5, Wicked) as Don.

The ensemble of Angels will be led by the Referee Angel, Ashley Samuels and include Eli Caldwell, Finton Flynn, Jayred Lempriere, Jordan Bennett and Ross Carpenter. 

Winner of six TONY awards and the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2016, the hilarious and joyous musical returns to the West End for the first time in three years in concert form.

Kinky Boots’ creative team are as follows — Director: Omar F Okai, Musical Director: Freddie Tapner, Designer: Ruth Sutcliffe, Lighting Designer: Ben Cracknell, Lighting Programmer: Chris Winn, Sound Designer: Tom Marshall, Casting: Harry Blumenau, Lighting Designer: Ben Cracknell, Production Manager: Pete Kramer, Company Stage, Manager: Rachael Downey, Assistant Stage Manager: Bryony Relf, Assistant to the Director: Bree Smith, Sound 1: Harry Greatorex, Sound 2: Olly Smith, Production Sound Engineer: Josh Richardson.

Kinky Boots the Musical in Concert is part of three concerts presented in August at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. It succeeds the concert stagings of Chess the Musical in Concert on 1 and 2 August and will be followed by Treason the Musical in Concert on 22 and 23 August.

LES MISÉRABLES

AT THE SONDHEIM THEATRE

EXTENDS BOOKING

UNTIL SUNDAY 5 MARCH 2023

AND NEW PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE FROM

WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER 2022

LES MISÉRABLES at the Sondheim Theatre is delighted to announce it has extended booking until Sunday 5 March 2023, and a new performance schedule from Wednesday 5 October 2022. Tickets for the new booking period are on sale from 11.00am today, Friday 1 July.

From Wednesday 5 October 2022 the new performance schedule will be:

Wednesday at 7.30pm

Thursday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Friday at 7.30pm

Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Sunday at 2.30pm

Monday at 7.30pm

LES MISÉRABLES currently stars Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Gerard Carey as Thénardier, Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thénardier, Chanice Alexander-Burnett as Fantine, Harry Apps as Marius, Sha Dessi as Éponine, Jordan Shaw as Enjolras and Charlie Burn as Cosette. They are joined by Kelly Agbowu, Joseph Anthony, Emma Barr, Richard Carson, Rodney Earl Clarke, Danny Colligan, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Natalie Green, Jessie Hart, Christopher Jacobsen, Connor Jones, Jessica Joslin, Michael Kholwadia, Sarah Lark, Georgie Lovatt, Ellie Ann Lowe, Luke McCall, Leo Miles, Claire O’Leary, Kathy Peacock, Mark Pearce, Sam Peggs, Sake Wijers, Mared Williams and Phoebe Williams.  

Since Cameron Mackintosh first conceived this acclaimed new production of LES MISÉRABLES in 2009, to celebrate the show’s 25^th anniversary, it has taken the world by storm. It will relaunch its record-breaking tour of North America in October this year, a new tour of The Netherlands is set for early 2023 with further productions to be announced. The UK and Ireland tour continues its acclaimed run.

Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent iconic score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs, I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Stars, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear the People Sing?, One Day More, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Master Of The House and many more. Several of its songs have become real life anthems of revolution wherever in the world people are fighting for their freedom. Seen by over 120 million people worldwide in 52 countries and in 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular and contemporary musicals.

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of LES MISÉRABLES is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton and adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. Orchestrations are by Stephen Metcalfe, Christopher Jahnke and Stephen Brooker with original orchestrations by John Cameron. The production is directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor, designed by Matt Kinley inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo with costumes by Andreane Neofitou and Christine Rowland, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, projections realised by Finn Ross & Fifty Nine Productions, musical staging by Geoffrey Garratt, and music supervision by Stephen Brooker and Alfonso Casado Trigo.

Latest casting for Festival 2022 at Chichester Festival Theatre:

Jenna Russell plays the leading role in Alan Ayckbourn’s WOMAN IN MIND

Harry Lloyd and Claire Skinner head the cast of Christopher Shinn’s THE NARCISSIST

Full company confirmed for Roy Williams’s SING YER HEART OUT FOR THE LADS

Jenna Russell will lead the cast of Alan Ayckbourn’s WOMAN IN MIND, which Anna Mackmin will direct in the Festival Theatre from 23 September – 15 October.

Jenna’s extensive theatre work includes Sunday in the Park with George in London and on Broadway, for which she won an Olivier Award and was nominated for a Tony; Ayckbourn’s Season’s Greetings at the National Theatre, the title role in Piaf (Nottingham Playhouse) and Anna Mackmin’s production of Di and Viv and Rose (Vaudeville Theatre). Television includes Midsomer Murders, Gentleman Jack, EastEnders and Call The Midwife; she appeared at Chichester in Celebrating Sondheim in 2020.

Director Anna Mackmin (who replaces Justin Martin due to a scheduling conflict) makes her Chichester debut; her theatre work includes Hedda Gabbler and The Real Thing (Old Vic), Me and My Girl (Sheffield Crucible) and Really Old, Like Forty-Five (National Theatre).

Harry Lloyd and Claire Skinner will head the cast of Christopher Shinn’s new play THE NARCISSIST, directed by Josh Seymour, running in the Minerva Theatre 26 August – 24 September. The cast also includes Caroline Gruber, Akshay Khanna, Stuart Thompson, Paksie Vernon and Jenny Walser.

Harry Lloyd’s many screen credits include Game of Thrones, Arcane, Counterpart, Marcella, Wolf Hall, Manhattan and the forthcoming The Lost King; his theatre work includes The Dumb Waiter (Hampstead Theatre), The Duchess of Malfi (Old Vic), and The Little Dog Laughed, A View from the Bridge and The Sea in the West End.

Claire Skinner starred in the hugely popular BBC sitcom Outnumbered; other recent screen work includes McDonald & Dodds, Vanity Fair and The Pale Horse, whileher extensive theatre work includes A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (West End), Nightfall (Bridge Theatre), The Winter’s Tale and Othello (National Theatre).

The Narcissist was initially commissioned by Fictionhouse.

In Roy Williams’s SING YER HEART OUT FOR THE LADS,running in the Minerva Theatre from 22 July – 13 August, original cast members Harold Addo, Makir Ahmed, Alexander Cobb, Rob Compton, Kirsty J Curtis, Jennifer Daley, Michael Hodgson, Sian Reese-Williams, Richard Riddell and Mark Springer will be joined by Samuel Armfield, Steven Dykes, Duramaney Kamara and Jem Matthews.

Nicole Charles’s much-praised productionearned critical and public acclaim when it was staged in Chichester’s Spiegeltent in 2019, and will be revived by Joanna Bowman. Part of the Minerva Theatre will be transformed into a pub setting to create an immersive theatrical experience for this World Cup and Women’s Euro year.

CASTING AND FULL CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR ANTIGONE BY INUA ELLAMS

• ZAINAB HASAN PLAYS ANTIGONE

• TONY JAYAWARDENA PLAYS CREON

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have today announced casting and the full creative team for Antigone. Written by Inua Ellams (Barber Shop Chronicles, Three Sisters), this contemporary retelling of Sophocles’s epic story has been commissioned by the theatre in its 90^th anniversary year.

A torn family. A hostile state. One heroic brother. One misguided son. One conflicted sister, and the second is on the run.

The creative team includes: Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE (composer), Shanaé Chisholm (casting assistant), Barbara Houseman (voice & text and season associate director), Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (choreographer), Polly Jerrold (casting director), Jack Knowles (lighting designer), Emma Laxton (sound designer), Ingrid Mackinnon (season associate: intimacy support), Khadija Raza (costume designer), Leslie Travers (set designer), Jo Tyabji (co-director), Max Webster (director) and Kate Waters (fight director).

Zainab Hasan plays the role of Antigone, and Tony Jayawardena plays Antigone’s uncle, Creon.

Also joining the cast are: Pandora Colin (Eurydice) Rhianna Dorris (Lyra), Sandy Grierson (Aleksy), Nadeem Islam (Polyneices), Abe Jarman (Eteocles), Oliver Johnstone (Haemon), Munir Khairdin (Nikomedes), Susan Lawson-Reynolds (Commissioner), Eli London (Tiresius), Shazia Nicholls (Ismene), Mervin Noronha (Chorus), Razak Osman (Athan), Joseph Prouse (Officer), Nadia Sohawon (Kyria), Riley Woodford (Strom) and Lydia Bakelmun (walking understudy).

Zainab Hasan (Antigone)

Theatre includes: Chasing Hares (Young Vic); Lotus Beauty (Hampstead); Rice (Orange Tree/Actors Touring Company); Living Newspaper (Royal Court); The Welkin (National Theatre); Blank, Shakespeare Trilogy, Henry IV (Donmar Warehouse); Timon of Athens, Tartuffe, Tamburlaine (RSC); Hijabi Monologues (Bush); The Tempest (Donmar Warehouse/St Ann’s Warehouse, New York); Boy (Almeida); Henry IV (St Anne’s Warehouse, NYC); The Class by Luke Barnes (National Youth Theatre); Tory Boyz, Romeo & Juliet, Prince of Denmark (Ambassadors).

Television includes: Casualty (BBC One); Maryland (BBC Two, Century Films).

Writing includes: Writing Wrongs – Equal Measure (Donmar Warehouse).

Tony Jayawardena (Creon)

Theatre includes: The Father and the Assassin, England People Very Nice (National Theatre); East is East (National Theatre/Birmingham Rep); The Invisible Hand, White Teeth (Kiln); Christmas at the Snow Globe, Twelfth Night, Lions and Tigers (Shakespeare’s Globe); Hobson’s Choice (Royal Exchange, Manchester); Young Marx (The Bridge); The Tempest, The Roaring Girl, The White Devil (RSC); Bend It Like Beckham (Phoenix).

Television includes: Avoidance, Holby City (BBC One); The Crown, The Duchess (Netflix); Ackley Bridge, The Windsors (Channel 4); The Tunnel (Sky Atlantic); Cuckoo (BBC Three); The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Kindle Entertainment).

Film includes: A Street Cat Named Bob; The Cook; Trance; A Bunch of Amateurs.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s 90^th Anniversary season also includes the sell-out hit musical Legally Blonde (playing until 2 July) directed by Lucy Moss, co-creator of Six the Musical, which has now played to over 65,000 people. From 12 July to 28 August, 101 Dalmatians is a newly commissioned musical written by Douglas Hodge (music and lyrics) and Johnny McKnight (book), from a stage adaptation by Zinnie Harris, based on the book by Dodie Smith.

The theatre also presents a series of one-off MOREoutdoor events including Daniel Kitson with or near Gavin Osborn (24 July, 21 August), Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel (Sunday 31 July), Frankenstein: How To Make A Monster (Monday 8 August) from Battersea Arts Centre the BAC Beatbox Academy, Le Gateau Chocolat, making his Open Air Theatre debut with Raw Cacao (Sunday 14 August), and The Luna Cinema presents Steven Spielberg’s multi-award-winning new take on West Side Story (Sunday 18 September).

Bard in the Botanics festival, Glasgow Botanic Gardens – until 9 July 2022

 Reviewed by Rachel Farrier 

4****

Staging Shakespeare outdoors in Scotland, even in Summer, is an act of faith but the Bard in the Botanics festival has been doing it successfully for 20 years (with a covid interruption). However, this was my first visit and was is soon easy to see why audiences – dressed for rain and cool summer evenings – bring their own rugs and camping chairs to such a beautiful setting, which on an actual midsummer’s night, lends itself perfectly to a tale of magic and mayhem in the woods.  

This production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream fizzes with the energy and fun from the start, and while the production values in terms of the set are … limited (although with some beautiful yarn bombing) the acting on display was first rate. Robert Elkin as Bottom and Katie Barnett as Helena in particular were outstanding, both for their comic timing and physical humour. Robert Elkin’s seamless succession of accents when Bottom plays Pyramus was a particularly joyous few minutes. Stephen Arden’s rendering of Peter Quince as a classic am-dram director was also pitch perfect. 

With Lysander becoming Lysandra, and Titania putting a spell upon Oberon (rather than the other way around, as it is usually played), the scene is set for a novel interpretation of the classic script, and the whole cast bring a vibrancy that makes it seems fresh and new, even to those of us who may be familiar with it. Which I suppose is where the true magic of Shakespeare lies. The interjection of some pop classics throughout and the occasional improvised line thrown to the audience were an excellent touch.  

Grace Lyons portrayal of Hermia also deserves a mention – the righteous fury and indignation that she feels in the face of men (her father, the Duke and her suitor Demetrius) believing that they know what is best for her felt horribly on point, given recent events in politics elsewhere. She injected pathos perfectly, in the midst of brilliant and mayhemic comedy.  

Despite an assault of midges, and a definite coolness in the evening temperature this was a wonderful and very funny evening out and I can now see why Bard in the Botanics is so popular – get a ticket if you can.   

Darlington Hippodrome – until Sunday 3 July 2022

5*****

Ben hates Friday nights, because on a Friday he has to stay with his very boring, cabbage eating Granny, while his mum and dad go ballroom dancing,  But it all changes when Ben discovers that Granny is really the Black Cat, a famous jewel burglar.  So Ben and Granny decide to do one last heist and steal the Crown Jewels.

Birmingham Stage Company’s adaptation of David Walliams Gangsta Granny is the perfect introduction to get young people into the theatre.  

Told through the eyes of 11 year old Ben (Justin Davies). Each Friday night whilst his self-obsessed parents (Jason Furnival and Jess Nesling) go off to ballroom dance, Ben is unceremoniously dumped at his grandma’s with hardly a word of hello.

There will be cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake and Ben knows one thing for sure – it’s going to be sooooooooo boring! But when Ben discovers some gems in a biscuit tin and realises his Granny (Isabel Ford)  has a secret, life becomes much more exciting for both of them.  Carefully treading a moral line, the story tells us that Granny never profited from her crimes, committed them only for the “buzz” and has come to the view that stealing is wrong. Nevertheless, she has never succeeded in her dream of stealing (and returning) the Crown Jewels. Can Ben use his encyclopaedic knowledge of plumbing to help Granny pull off the crime of the century, even under the nose of Mr Parker, local neighbourhood watch supremo and busybody?

Jacqueline Trousdale’s set makes clever use of the space, with the set moving one way to be a shop and another to be Granny’s kitchen.  Paul Chantry and Rae Piper’s choreography is so succinct you don’t notice the set changes with the cast dancing through them.  Neal Foster has successfully adapted Walliams book and directs a fun and colourful show – full of comic opportunities and fart jokes 

All the characters are very much larger than life and almost pantomime-like, but this adds to the energy of the piece which moves along at a cracking pace and holds the younger audience members’ attention.

Gangsta Granny appeals to all ages and people. It is relevant to today’s society where old people can be viewed as insignificant. This play has a comical way of dealing with this stereotype, turning it completely on its head.  Filled with laughter and farts, its funny and poignant and a fabulous night out

I just hope when my time comes, I won’t be boring but very much a Gangsta Granny