METTA THEATRE AND PERFECT PITCH ANNOUNCE

RELEASE OF NEW STUDIO CAST EP AND MUSIC VIDEO FOR

IN THE WILLOWS

AS CLIVE ROWE IS ANNOUNCED AS METTA THEATRE’S NEW PATRON

Metta Theatre – one of the UK’s leading production companies devoted to British musical theatre – is pleased to announce the release of the studio album for hip hop musical IN THE WILLOWS, in collaboration with Perfect Pitch. IN THE WILLOWS has been produced remotely during October and November 2020, and is released via Spotify, iTunes and other digital media today, 1 February 2021, alongside a new music video for the number Head Above Water, choreographed and starring deaf dancer Chris Fonseca, who starred in the original production.

IN THE WILLOWS transforms Kenneth Grahame’s well-loved tale into a thrilling new hip hop musical, written and directed by P Burton-Morgan (Little Mermaid UK Tour, Jungle Book UK & International Tour), with music and additional lyrics from award-winning composer Pippa Cleary (The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Ambassadors Theatre; Prodigy, St James Theatre) and groundbreaking hip-hop Composer Keiran Merrick. 

P Burton-Morgan, who in 2020 won the Writers Guild of Great Britain Award for musical theatre book writing for In the Willows explains, “This is not Disney. These animal students are recognisably human, young and for the most part abandoned by the rest of society. Their teacher Badger is one of the few adults who believes in them and in their potential to achieve. They are by turns angry, lost, mischievous but ultimately searching for a sense of belonging – a new family made up of their fellow classmates.”

Andy Barnes, producer at Perfect Pitch who support and develop new musicals said, “It has been a pleasure to partner with Metta Theatre to put this EP together during lockdown – a much-needed creative outlet for the team during a difficult time. We have been honoured to work with many fabulous performers, musicians, and a fantastic team of writers who worked tirelessly to ensure we found the right sound across a varied landscape of musical styles. We’re excited to share it with you.”

Amongst the performers on the album is Olivier award-winning actor, ‘the nation’s favourite pantomime dame’, and star of BBC’s The Story of Tracey Beaker, Clive Rowe – who starred in the 2019 touring production of the show as ‘Badger’ and has just been appointed as Metta Theatre’s new Patron.

Clive Rowe said, “I’m incredibly honoured to have been asked to become a patron of the Metta Theatre company. Its drive, diversity, and constant pursuit of focused truthful work is a breath of fresh air and at its heart P Burton Morgan strives tirelessly to create new innovative and expressive work. I only hope that my patronage will in some way go to shine an even brighter light on this wonderful company.”

Clive is joined on the album by former cast member Harry Jardine (Shakespeare in Love, Les Miserables) as well as Hiba Elchikhe (Aladdin, Ghost the Musical), Sharon Rose (Hamilton, Motown The Musical) and Tim Mahendran (& Juliet, Spring Awakening).

Full track listing is as follows:

Easy Life

Walk Into The Fire

Between You and Me

Animal

Head Above Water

Oh Child

IN THE WILLOWS transposes Kenneth Grahame’s bucolic animal fable to an urban British Comprehensive school ‘The Willows’ and surrounding estates. It’s Mole’s first day – she is taken under the wing of hip-hop cool girl Rattie, her boyfriend Otter and the bling laden, rich-kid rapper Toad. A series of adventures ensue in which Mole learns both how to make friends and how to lose them – but ultimately how to find her voice and finally speak up about her troubled past. Simultaneously uplifting and politically provocative, we hope to give a voice to a group of young people rarely represented on our stages.

IN THE WILLOWS was conceived by P Burton-Morgan, with Book & Lyrics by P Burton-Morgan & Keiran Merrick, Music & Lyrics by Pippa Cleary & Keiran Merrick.

For the EP, the Musical Supervisor is Mark Collins, Orchestration Consultant Renell Shaw and the Music Producer & Mix Engineer is Sam Featherstone. Musician credits are: Richard Coughlan on Bass, Luke Davies on Trumpet, Joe Evans on Drums, Will Robertson on Cello, Curtis Volp on Guitar and Corey Wickens on Violin.

The HEAD ABOVE WATER music video stars Chris Fonseca. Philip Clyde-Smith is the Video Editor, with Deepa Shastri providing BSL Translation and Laura Goulden as BSL interpreter.

Established in 2005 by P Burton-Morgan and Motley trained Designer William Reynolds, Metta Theatre has been at the forefront of new work – with a strong focus on the development of new British musicaltheatre, and a commitment to highlighting climate justice and sustainability; disability and deaf integration and inclusion (both from a political perspective and in order to artistically enrich the work); queering mainstream and family theatre – writing characters that represent and normalise (rather than problematise) the diverse range of queer experiences and identities; re-gendering protagonists in order to give girls strong female role models.

During the 2020 pandemic, the company focussed on the launch of two other studio albums and music videos for THE RHYTHMICS and HOUSEFIRE, as well as the launch of environmental consultancy Metta Green.

Award-winning Metta Theatre is one of the UK’s leading mid-scale touring companies – making exceptional theatre and opera that represents and celebrates the diversity of our world. They are known for combining emotionally powerful performances with imaginative theatricality and striking visual style. After their smash hit street-dance Jungle Book (Theatre Royal Windsor & UK tour), circus-musical Little Mermaid (Theatre By The Lake & UK tour) and In The Willows (Exeter Northcott & UK tour) Metta Theatre released cast albums of two new original British musicals in 2020, The Rhythmics in July and HouseFire in December. Other productions include Mouthful (Trafalgar Studios) and Arab Nights (Soho Theatre & UK tour).

Perfect Pitch is a not-for-profit theatre company, supported by Arts Council England, dedicated to creating new British musicals. Established in 2006, by independent producers Wendy and Andy Barnes, Perfect Pitch work in close collaboration with venues, writers, producers and creatives across the UK and beyond to create develop and produce high quality new musicals.

Notable productions include The Go-Between starring Michael Crawford in the West End (Winner Best Musical at UK Theatre Awards & nomination for Best Regional Production – Whatsonstage.com awards); Lift at Soho Theatre starring Cynthia Erivo (nominated for Best Original Music – Whatsonstage.com awards) Departure Lounge (nominated for Best New Musical – Whatsonstage.com awards) and Pieces of String at the Mercury Colchester (nominated Best Musical at UK Theatre Awards). Andy and Wendy through their production company, Global Musicals, are the original UK producers of the worldwide hit musical “SIX”. 

Experience West End Musical Drive In digitally
with streamed concerts on Stream.Theatre
Streaming from Friday 19th February to Sunday 21st March 2021

From the Drive-In to your home, relive the biggest musical concert series of 2020. With 10 hours of incredible live performances from over 25 of the greatest West End stars, including Layton Williams (Everyone’s Talking About Jamie), Lucie Jones (Waitress), and Alice Fearn (Come From Away), this exciting digital series will bring five fantastic West End Musical Drive In concerts directly to you. A different concert will be available to stream each week from Friday 19th February to Sunday 21st March via Stream.Theatre.

Additional casting includes, Trevor Dion Nicholas (Hamilton), Shanay Holmes (The Bodyguard), Emma Hatton (Wicked), Shan Ako (Les Misérables), Sophie Evans (Wicked), Maiya Quansah Breed (Rent), Laura Pick (Wicked), Matthew Croke (Aladdin), Jon Robyns (Les Misérables), Kelly Agbowu (Waitress), Hiba Elchikhe (Aladdin), Jodie Steele (Heathers) and 12 previous cast members of Six The Musical.

The first of its kind in the UK, West End Musical Drive In is a much-loved and unique series of immersive concerts, which last year provided many performers with their first live opportunity to perform during the pandemic. Thousands of fans took to their cars to support and celebrate the magic of musical theatre and now, through streaming, more people can experience these amazing events and relish in the electric festival atmosphere from the comfort of their home.

Performer and Co Producer Shanay Holmes says, There were so many fans from all over the country that were unable to attend these sell out events. We are so happy to invite you all to join us now, to experience this musical phenomenon from your homes! You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. And you’ll have one hell of a party. It’s the perfect antidote to your lockdown blues!

The full line-up is as follows:

19th, 20th & 21st February, 7pm
Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Layton Williams. Shan Ako, Maiya Quansah Breed and Shanay Holmes

26th, 27th & 28th February, 7pm
Running Time: 2 hours 3 minutes
Grace Mouat, Jarneia Richard-Noel, Maddie Bullyment, Courtney Bowman, Natalie May Paris, Jodie Steele, Sophie Isaacs, Victoria Mansah, Courtney Stapleton, Collete Guitart, and Shekinah ‘Shaka’ McFarlane

5th, 6th & 7th March, 7pm
Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Alice Fearn, Laura Pick, Emma Hatton, Sophie Evans and Shanay Holmes

12th, 13th & 14th March, 7pm
Running Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Trevor Dion Nicholas, Hiba Elchikhe, Matthew Croke and Shanay Holmes

19th, 20th & 21st March, 7pm
Running Time: 1 hour 53 minutes
Lucie Jones, Jon Robyns, Kelly Agbowu and Shanay Holmes

Cases returns in new album release after cancelled run in 2020

Following sell-out performances at the Phoenix Arts Club, new musical CASES was scheduled to return to the London stage at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Other Palace with a revamped score, additional songs and an exciting new West End cast. However – COVID-19 stopped the performances going ahead, and so the new production now returns through a full album set to be released in all online music stores from February 12th 2021, on the 4-year anniversary of the show’s premiere at the Phoenix Arts Club, and available to pre-order from February 1st 2021.

CASES explores unforeseen circumstances and unexpected crises inspired by journeys and careers within the arts and entertainment industry. Four artists experience the heartbreaks, sacrifices and triumphs during their pursuit of pure artistry as they balance fame with obscurity and try to establish a career amidst the prospect of financial instability.

In a time of global crises, CASES resonates and strikes a new chord with audiences today who follow characters with differing levels of career prospects, juggling life-changing events.

Comprised of ‘terrific numbers’ and ‘marvellous compositions’ (British Theatre), CASES is created by Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and BRIT School graduated writer and composer Dominic Powell. This album release is produced by Pioneer Arts (with the support of Katy Galloway Productions and Grey Area Theatre), an events and production company producing innovative original theatre, film and television for both commercial and community sectors. The company was founded in 2012 by Artistic Director and CASES creator Dominic Powell, whose musical theatre repertoire is featured as part of New UK Musicals and was recently showcased online through Adam Lenson’s Signal and Barn Presents: The Music of Dominic Powell in collaboration with The Barn Theatre. Pioneer Arts have produced and premiered new writing across London at venues, including The Other Palace, Phoenix Artist Club, The Vaults, Cockpit Theatre, Park Theatre, Landor Theatre, Above the Arts and the Theatre Café on Shaftesbury Avenue.

The CASES studio album features a dynamic new score, with new band and orchestral arrangements, and additional songs performed by a new West End cast including Olivier nominee Maiya Quansah-Breed (Six, UK Tour/West End; Rent, Hope Mill Theatre), Bobbie Little (High Fidelity, Turbine Theatre; Mamma Mia!, West End), Andrew Patrick-Walker (Brooklyn – The Musical, Greenwich Theatre; Bat out of Hell, London Coliseum/Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto) and Waylon Jacobs (Hamilton, West End; Memphis, West End).

FRANTIC ASSEMBLY

FIGHTS TO SAVE IGNITION

• FUNDING FOR FLAGSHIP IGNITION PROGRAMME IS AT RISK

• IGNITION GRADUATE PAAPA ESSIEDU ANNOUNCED AS PROGRAMME’S FIRST EVER AMBASSADOR

An urgent fundraising campaign was launched at the end of 2020 to save Frantic Assembly’s Ignition programme. New data released today highlights the significance of this ground-breaking free, nationwide talent development programme for young people aged 16-24.

Frantic Assembly asks whose voices will be silenced and which doors permanently closed if young people’s access to the arts is restricted even more?

It is also announced today that actor Paapa Essiedu (Hamlet, RSC, I May Destroy You, BBC1) will be Ignition’s first ever ambassador. Paapa said “I am delighted to be Ignition’s ambassador. Ignition was such a formative period in my artistic development and one of the first spaces I had to explore creatively. I am so excited to help the next generation of Ignition graduates discover their own journeys.”

Ignition has touched the lives of over 6000 young people since it began in 2008. In 2019 alone it engaged nearly 900 young men from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and was about to roll out its first Ignition for women after a successful pilot.

Other well-known graduates of the programme include Karl Queensborough who is currently starring as the lead role in Hamilton (West End), BBC Young Dancer 2019 Max Revell and actor Joe Layton (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Tatau, BBC Three). Many behind-the-scenes and non-acting careers are also borne out of Ignition with graduates working as directors, writers, producers, designers, teachers and technical staff.

For the past twelve years Ignition has sought out talent in unexpected places; from sports groups to youth centres, connecting with hundreds of young people from areas of low artistic engagement. Of the 144 Ignition graduates to date – who have all completed a weeklong theatre-making residency with Frantic Assembly – the majority have gone on to have careers in the creative industries or take up further education.

Frantic Assembly recently surveyed its Ignition graduates and had the following responses:

• 97% of graduates are currently working or in further education.
• 90% said they strongly felt that Ignition had made a positive impact on their career choices.
• 80% of graduates believed it had positively and significantly impacted their education choices.
• 92% attributed Ignition to having made a significant impact on their well-being.

The survey received feedback from many graduates who felt that without access to the programme they would not have had the financial capability to pursue their chosen career.

One 2019 graduate wrote:

“I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for Ignition. There are more people like me who aren’t financially able to fund their career due to where they live and don’t have any experience. They [Frantic Assembly] make such an impact and open up so many branches to people in low arts funded communities.”

One of the aims of Ignition is to support meaningful social mobility amongst its participants. The programme has played a key role in increasing young people’s individual levels of aspiration and attainment, as reflected in the words that this 2012 graduate shared with the survey:

“Ignition has given me the confidence to step into any room and feel like a professional, to open any door. Ignition has shown me that my potential is a lot greater than first believed. It has given me the desire to create opportunities for others and to raise the self-confidence of those around me. Ignition has taught me to always go forward and never back.”

Paapa Essiedu agrees:

“The ethos, soul and generosity of spirit at the heart of Frantic Assembly was probably the most crucial building block for me as I started my career as an actor. At 18, I’d never done a play. Never seen a Shakespeare. Didn’t know what drama school was. Without doubt, [Ignition] gave me the confidence I needed to go on and have a go of it in the industry.”

This sense of boosting young people’s self-esteem and educating them about the theatre industry is a key part of Ignition’s work. For example, graduate Kieton Saunders-Browne, who appeared in Frantic Assembly’s 2018 touring production The Unreturning told the survey:

“I have worked professionally as an actor, writer and producer since finishing Ignition. I decided to apply for drama school and I am now at LAMDA on the BA Acting course.”

Each year Frantic brings together a diverse and dynamic group of participants, with a focus on ensuring access for those with social, financial, cultural and geographical barriers to the arts. Ignition seeks to unlock undiscovered creative potential and level up the future of British theatre. It is not simply a vocational training programme though. Participants forge deep bonds, receive boosts to their confidence and self-esteem, and develop a stronger work ethic through the experience.

The annual programme sees twelve young men and twelve young women selected through taster and trial workshops, who are then invited to London where they spend a week making their own shows with theatre professionals, performed to a public audience. Throughout this period the 24 participants are pushed creatively and physically to understand the process of devising and creating work from scratch. The process is intense, the experience transformational and the effect lasting.

The Frantic team work with nine regional partners to deliver more than 50 workshops across the country each year. The partner venues are Leeds Playhouse, The Core (Corby), The Sherman Theatre (Cardiff), Dance Base (Edinburgh), Lyric Theatre (Belfast), Theatre Royal Plymouth, Theatre Royal Norwich, Old Rep Theatre (Birmingham) and Liverpool Everyman. These venues lead on recruiting young people, provide expert knowledge on their local areas and continue their engagement with individuals who did not progress to the Intensive stage in order to provide a sustainable and long term arts offer. Frantic also continues to support Ignition graduates. Through the Re:Ignite programme the participants continue to receive training, career development and employment opportunities after the Intensive residency.

Donations can be made on the WE ARE IGNITION page on the Frantic Assembly website: franticassembly.co.uk or by text:

To donate £5 text IGNITION 5 to 70085

To donate £10 text IGNITION 10 to 70085

To donate £20 text IGNITION 20 to 70085

Texts are charged at the cost of your donation plus a standard message rate.

Anyone interested in making a major donation to support Ignition can contact Frantic Assembly executive director Kerry Whelan [email protected]

Friday 2^nd April – Sunday 18^th April 2021

Visiting 15 Locations across the UK

Tickets on-sale 8am, Thursday 4^th Feb
From www.carparkparty.com starting from £49.50 (+ £2.50 booking fee)

The bestselling children’s author David Walliams, the award-winning Birmingham Stage Company and Coalition Agency have teamed up for a brand-new COVID-safe CAR PARK PARTYproduction of Billionaire Boy, coming to a site near you this Easter!
  
Billionaire Boy started life as a David Walliams novel for children in 2010, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books. In 2016 it was adapted into a BBC production and has since become a firm Christmas television favourite. 
 
Billionaire Boy tells the story of Joe Spud, who is twelve years old and the richest boy in the country. He has his own sports car, £100k a week pocket money and two crocodiles as pets. But what Joe doesn’t have is a friend. So he decides to leave his posh school and start at the local comprehensive. But things don’t go as planned for Joe and life becomes a rollercoaster as he tries find the one thing money can’t buy.
 
David Walliams said: 
“I am delighted that families will have the opportunity to see some live theatre again. The show is hilarious and I hope spreads some happiness in these difficult times.”
 
CAR PARK PARTY was launched summer 2020 and quickly became the nation’s favourite family drive in with Horrible Histories ‘Barmy Britain’. It then helped to save Christmas with the hugely successful Car Park Panto, performing ‘Horrible Christmas’ to forty thousand family members in their cars across 16 wintery towns and cities.
 
Whilst the UK continues its fight back against the pandemic, children continue to miss out on live arts and so Easter presents the perfect time to bring live theatre to families across the country.
 
 
Neal Foster, adapter and director of Billionaire Boy said: 
“It was wonderful to be part of a magical enterprise in 2020 bringing live theatre to families desperate for the joy and connection theatre provides, so we are delighted to be presenting our production of one of David Walliams’ most popular stories which began its national tour in 2019 and was abruptly halted by Covid. The show’s actors are thrilled with the opportunity to return to a new stage with a story that demonstrates the importance of friends and family at this critical time for the world”. 
 
BILLIONAIRE BOY DATES
Performance times: 2pm & 5pm
 
Tickets & T&C’s are available at carparkparty.com.
 
Friday 2nd April Birmingham NEC     
Saturday 3rd April Manchester AJ Bell Stadium
Sunday 4th April Middlesbrough Riverside Stadium
Monday 5th April Leeds Harewood House
Tuesday 6th April Newark Newark Showground
Thursday 8th April Northampton Saints, Franklins Gardens
Friday 9th April Warwickshire Stoneleigh Park
Saturday 10th April Knebworth Knebworth House
Sunday 11th April Windsor Racecourse
Monday 12th April Newbury Racecourse
Wednesday 14th April Bournemouth Canford Park
Thursday 15th April Exeter Racecourse
Friday 16th April Bath Bath & West Showground
Saturday 17th April Bristol Airport
Sunday 18th April Cheltenham Racecourse

THE FILMED THEATRE PRODUCTION OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S

ROMEO & JULIET

STARRING SAM TUTTY, EMILY REDPATH & SIR DEREK JACOBI

EXTENDS ITS RELEASE TO 27 FEBRUARY 2021

Metcalfe Gordon Productions, the producers of the new filmed theatre production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet starring Sam Tutty and Emily Redpath in the title roles and Sir Derek Jacobi as the Narrator, are delighted to announce that they are extending its release.  The production, which utilised new, cutting edge technology to produce and film the show under current restrictions and regulations, will now be available from Saturday 13 to Saturday 27 February 2021.  Tickets for the full run are now on sale direct at romeojuliet2021.com/tickets and through ATG Tickets.  A portion of proceeds will go to Acting for Others.

As well as Tutty, Redpath and Jacobi, also in the cast are Brandon Bassir as Mercutio, Daniel Bowerbank as Benvolio, Jonny Labey as Paris, Sylvester Akinrolabu as Tybalt, Helen Anker as Capulet, Marc Ozall as Montague, Lucy Tregear as Nurse, Vinta Morgan as Friar, Jessica Murrain as Prince, Timmy Driscoll as Sam, Tats Nyazika as Gregory, Iskandar Eaton as Abe and Ollie Tennant as Balthasar.

Romeo & Juliet is directed by Nick Evans, with assistant direction by Gwenan Bain, edited by Ryan Metcalfe, production design by Jamie Osborne for Preevue, costume design by Natasha Bowles, original music by Sam Dinley, sound design by Olly Steel, lighting design by Elliot Smith, visual effects by Preevue, production management by Gary Beestone and casting by Jim Arnold CDG.

The filmed theatre production of Romeo & Juliet is produced by Metcalfe Gordon Productions.

Website: romeojuliet2021.com

Twitter: @RomeoJuliet2021

Instagram: @RomeoJuliet_2021

Facebook: Romeo & Juliet 2021

LISTINGS

13 – 27 February 2021

Tickets*:

£15 ‘early bird’ tickets if booked by 10 February

£20 from midnight on 11 February

Group ticket option for multiple viewers in one household for an extra £5 per ticket

*A donation from ticket sales will be made to Acting for OthersBox Office: www.romeojuliet2021.com/tickets

The All-time Greatest Song from a Musical – The Countdown

As part of ‘Radio 2 Celebrates Musicals’ Elaine Paige counted down the top 20 all-time greatest songs from a musical, as voted for by the Radio 2 listeners. Some of the most loved songs from the last 100 years of musical theatre, ranging from heart-wrenching ballads and classic torch songs to flamboyant dance favourites and show-stopping chorus numbers. Its time to reveal Radio 2’s greatest show song of all time!

20.  Seasons of Love from Rent 

19.  Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music

18.  The Room Where It Happens from Hamilton

17.  You Will Be Found  from Dear Evan Hansen

16.  Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar

15.  All That Jazz from Chicago

14.  Alexander Hamilton from Hamilton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-JoG9GFNPM

13.  Summertime from Porgy and Bess 

12.  You Can’t Stop the Beat from Hairspray

11. Memory from Cats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm5w7gHEtJI

10. America from West Side Story

9. Somewhere from West Side Story

8. Don’t Cry For Me Argentina from Evita

7. Circle of Life from The Lion King

6. Singin’ In The Rain from Singin’ In The Rain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ZYhVpdXbQ

5. Somewhere Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz 

4. This Is Me from The Greatest Showman

3. Defying Gravity from Wicked

2. Bring Him Home from Les Misérables

1. One Day More from Les Misérables

FREE MENTORSHIP SCHEME ANNOUNCED TO SUPPORT BRITISH EAST AND SOUTH EAST ASIAN ARTISTS

A new pilot scheme (www.tidalrising.com) has been launched to provide mentoring for British East and South East Asian (BESEA) artists in the performing arts. The Tidal Rising Mentoring Scheme has been established by a new collective of BESEA artists, creative practitioners working in the performing arts. Our collective is cross-disciplinary and has worked across different media. We came together because we believe that artists, creative and technical practitioners of BESEA heritage face specific barriers and obstacles in the performing arts industry. We’re passionate about securing a better future for the next generation and building a supportive community.

The scheme is supported by Arts Council England, New Earth Theatre, the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, East 15 Acting School, the London School of Musical Theatre, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, the Musical Theatre Academy, the Oxford School of Drama, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Fifteen mentoring partnerships will be set up and run over six months. All participants – both mentors and those receiving mentorship – will be of BESEA heritage and will receive training to ensure they can make the most of their relationship. The scheme is open to artists, creatives and technical roles in the performing arts and will be free of charge.

The aim of the scheme is to help combat the historic and systemic prejudices that BESEA artists face in the performing arts and wider UK society. There has been a 300% increase in hate crimes towards people of East Asian and Southeast heritage in the UK since the pandemic began.

Applications are now open and will close at 23:59 on 15 February 2021.

Benedict Wong, actor and patron of Tidal Rising, said: “Throughout my early career, opportunities for guidance were limited. It’s an honour to be a patron of the Tidal Rising Mentoring Scheme where ESEA artists can share their collective experience, and together as a community we can grow, nurture and elevate.”

Kumiko Mendl, Artistic Director of New Earth Theatre, which is supporting the scheme, said: “I’m delighted that New Earth has been able to support the setting up of this vital and timely mentorship programme. Whilst performance-related activity remains severely restricted under lockdown, we have to ensure our community not only survives the current crisis but thrives on the other side of it.”

Gillian Tan, member of Tidal Rising and Head of Video at RADA, said: “Diversity in backstage and technical roles is especially unrepresented. I’m hopeful that our scheme will make steps towards improving representation amongst the off stage workforce.’

Jeremy Ang Jones, actor and a member of Tidal Rising, said: “Supporting those coming up gives me hope for a more inclusive, united and empowered community in the industry.”

Leo Wan, actor and a member of Tidal Rising, said: “I’ve benefited from mentoring in the past but I never had the opportunity of working with a mentor from my own community – someone who would understand the specific obstacles faced by artists of BESEA heritage and how to navigate our industry as a BESEA actor.”

WORLD PREMIERE OF

FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: THE MUSICAL

OPENS AT HALL FOR CORNWALL

AUTUMN 2021

FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: THE MUSICAL, a new musical based on the true story of the Cornish singing sensations and the hit 2019 film, will premiere at Hall for Cornwall in Truro this Autumn for a strictly limited season. The world premiere will reopen Hall for Cornwall after a period of closure for a multi-million-pound transformation.

When a group of Cornish fishermen came together to sing the traditional working songs they’d sung for generations, they hoped to raise a few quid for charity.  Nobody, least of all the fishermen, expected the story to end on the Pyramid stage of Glastonbury.  Packed with sea shanties, FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS is a feelgood voyage about friendship, community and music.

The real Fisherman’s Friends said of the musical, “Blimey me how did that happen! We are so proud that that Musical based on our unexpected voyage will be launched down here in the heart of Cornwall.”

Featuring hit shanties made famous by the band including Keep Haulin’, Nelson’s Blood, No Hopers Jokers & Rogues, Sweet Maid Of Madeira and many more.

Julien Boast, Chief Executive and Creative Director of Hall For Cornwall, said: “We think there’s no better way to raise the curtain on Hall for Cornwall following our major transformation. Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical is a perfect tonic to lift us from recent events which have impacted all our lives and a great celebration of people, passion and possibilities which are at the heart of our new theatre. The show will form the foundation of our inaugural launch season, with more details being announced in the spring.”

FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: THE MUSICAL is directed by James Grieve (former Joint Artistic Director of Paines Plough and former Associate Director of the Bush Theatre) and written by Brad Birch (Tremor, Black Mountain, The Brink, Gardening for the Unfulfilled and Alienated, The Endless Ocean, Tender Bolus).It is designed by Lucy Osborne with musical supervision from David White.

The hit 2019 FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS movie delighted fans across the world. The sequel to the film begins shooting later this year.

FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: THE MUSICAL is produced by Royo, in association with Hall for Cornwall’s new in-house producing company, Cornwall Playhouse Productions.

Website:  www.fishermanonstage.com

Facebook: @FFonstage

Twitter: @FFonstage

Instagram: @FFonstage          

LISTINGS INFORMATION

FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: THE MUSICAL

Strictly limited season, Autumn 2021. Tickets on sale soon.

Hall for Cornwall

Back Quay

Truro

TR1 2LL

www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

Dates, schedule and performances to be announced.

NEW MUSICAL IN PIECES BY JOEY CONTRERAS

TO BE RELEASED AS FEATURE FILM

IN SUPPORT OF LGBT FOUNDATION

Future Spotlight Productions today announce the UK and European première of the new musical In Pieces by Joey Contreras as a feature film, directed by Louis Rayneau. The film will be released online for a limited time only in support of LGBT Foundation, from 23 April 2021. Ticket information and casting will be announced shortly.

Our love lives are constantly in pieces.  Shifting in and out of feeling fully complete. But you never know how a single spark one day can unlock a new you, so we make a choice at the crossroad, we say yes to the coffee date, and wherever that leads, we learn to embrace the journey.

Originally presented at Lincoln Center the new musical threads Contreras’ musical theatre and pop catalogue into a theatrical setting, exploring the universal search for clarity and empowerment through different kinds of relationships.

Joey Contreras said today, “This collection of stories and music has been a part of my life for many years and I’m grateful that Future Spotlight Productions will now introduce them to a whole new audience with this exciting feature film!”

In Pieces is directed by Louis Rayneau, with Assistant Director Steph Parry; choreography is by Rachel Sargent, and Edward Court is Musical Director. Special thanks to David Ashford, Nik Soro, and Brian Carey.

Joey Contreras is a musical theatre and pop songwriter originally from California. He is  internationally known for his first album Love Me, Love Me Not, which featured an all-star line-up of Broadway talent and spawned performances of his music around the world. His second and more pop-focused album, Young Kind of Love, immediately debuted in the iTunes Pop Charts. Contreras wrote the music and lyrics for the Disney Junior animated short, Kiwi’s First Flight, featured in the series, Lights, Camera, Lexi!

Hailed as one of Playbill’s “Contemporary Musical Theatre Songwriters You Should Know”, Contreras is a 2018 Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist, and his musicals with bookwriter/lyricist, Kate Thomas, include All The Kids Are Doing It (Provincetown Playhouse, Tisch, IWU, O’Neill NMTC Finalist), Forget Me Not (The Dare Tactic, dir. Catie Davis) and Elements. He is working on Heartbreakers in Hell with bookwriter/lyricist Benjamin Halstead.

Contreras has served as Artist-in-Residence with Broadway Dreams Foundation and has contributed original music and arrangements to Broadway in South Africa. He regularly teaches masterclasses with The Growing Studio in New York. Contreras is an alumnus from the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program (2010 ASCAP Max Dreyfus Scholarship Recipient) and the 2017 Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project. His music is regularly heard in popular New York concert venues such as 54 Below, Rockwood Music Hall, and Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre.

Louis Rayneau is a director, producer, and actor. With his production company Future Spotlight Productions, his directing and producing credits include Cinderella (KidZania Theatre), and Spotlight on the Future Live! at the Drive In (The Drive In).