NEW SPINE-CHILLING GHOST STORY

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS

TO BE RESCHEDULED IN 2021

OPENING AT

PARK THEATRE, LONDON

WITH A SOCIALLY DISTANCED AUDIENCE

FROM WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2021

FOLLOWED BY UK TOUR

TICKETS NOW ON SALE

The producers of new spine-chilling ghost story, WHEN DARKNESS FALLS, are delighted to announce a new run at Park Theatre, London, from Wednesday 24 February until Saturday 13 March, with a national press night on Monday 1 March 2021. WHEN DARKNESS FALLS was due to play a limited season at The Union Theatre in London this November, but was unable to open due to the Government’s decision to close theatres in lockdown 2.0.  Written by James Milton and Paul Morrissey and directed by Paul Morrissey, Will Barton will play John Blondel and Alex Phelps The Speaker.  The audience will be socially distanced.

The London run will be followed by a UK tour, beginning at the Everyman Theatre Cheltenham from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 March 2021, with further dates to be added.

Set on the island of Guernsey, John Blondel, a history teacher, runs the local Historical Society.  Tonight, as part of the Society’s weekly vlog, a young paranormal expert has been invited to give a talk on the island’s paranormal history. As John films, the Speaker’s stories – many of which are based on true events – unfold and delve into dark pasts, revealing disturbing truths and unforgettable terrors.

Director and co-writer, Paul Morrissey, says, “In many ways, maybe we’re all haunted. By the past. By regret. By shame. By things that have embedded themselves deep within us. A kind of trauma, that we relive. As we ‘see’ these events unfold, again and again, it’s quite clear that ghosts are very real. When Darkness Falls is a spine-chilling new play about the power of stories. Perhaps most importantly, the ones we tell ourselves.”

The producers added, “This has been a turbulent time for theatre, but we are thrilled to be one of the first full shows back at, what is arguably, one of the most exciting venues in London. Following this, we are proud to take the show on a regional tour, welcoming audiences around the country back into their local venues, even if they will be on the edge of their seats!  Our seating capacity has been reduced and arranged to comply with government social distancing regulations, but this won’t stop us from giving audiences the most incredible and thrilling night out.”

Will Barton’s most recent theatre includes the title role in The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson (Park Theatre & National Tour), The Libertine (Theatre Royal Haymarket) and Toast (Park Theatre and New York).  He played Boris Johnson before, in the 2017 BBC 2 drama Theresa V Boris.  Other television includes A Confession, Vanity Fair and two series of How Do You Want Me?.

Alex Phelps’s theatre work includes Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night and Reynaldo/Priest and understudy Hamlet in Hamlet (both Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre), Raleigh in Journey’s End for Mesh Theatre Company, and Dennis Dutton in The Vertical Hour, Bob Acres in The Rivals and Orestes in Elektra (all at Theatre By The Lake).  He was due to appear in The Importance of Being Earnest for Say It Again, Sorry? at The Pleasance for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

In 2004, Paul Morrissey and producing partner James Milton were awarded The Stage One Bursary for New Producers. Together, they produced a number of UK and International theatre productions including Cats, Chess the Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The West End Men, which toured China, Europe and the UK before playing a six-week season at the Vaudeville Theatre, London.  As a solo producer, Paul’s shows have included Saturday Night Fever, South Pacific, Les Misérables in Concert, The Phantom of the Opera in Concert and the European premiere of the Broadway musical Brooklyn.  WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is James Milton’s first full-length play.  Paul Morrissey’s other writing includes the play Bingo! and the new musical Toys.

The show’s illusions will be designed by John Bulleid, an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle with Silver Star, whose other theatre credits include Harry Potter and The Cursed Child (Palace Theatre, London – current Magic & Illusion assistant), The Ocean At The End Of The Lane (The National Theatre – Associate to Jamie Harrison) and The Prince of Egypt (Dominion Theatre, London – Associate to Chris Fisher).

Set design is by Justin Williams and sound design by Tom Marshall.

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is produced at Park Theatre by Paul Morrissey Limited, Chris Wheeler and Molly Morris, in association with Glynis Henderson Productions, Dawn Smalberg and Bev Ragovoy and Park Theatre.

Website: whendarknessfalls.co.uk

LISTINGS INFORMATION

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS

24 February – 13 March 2021

Park200

Park Theatre

Clifton Terrace

Finsbury Park

London

N4 3JP

Box Office:  020 7870 6876*
(*Telephone booking fee applies: 10% capped at £2.50 per ticket)

Tickets:  £23 – £27 (access concessions £18.50); Park Up members (16 – 26 years): £10 between 24 February & 3 March

Performances:  Mondays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday at 3pm
Access performance: Captioned – Saturday 15 March, 3pm

Approximate Running Time: 90 minutes (no interval)

Suitable for 16+

Website: www.parktheatre.co.uk

Twitter: @ParkTheatre

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ParkTheatreLondon

Instagram: @parktheatrelondon

SPRING 2021 TOUR SCHEDULE

16 – 20 March                                   Everyman Theatre Cheltenham                         01242 572 573

                                                          https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk                                                           on sale now

Further dates to be added

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8ES
Friday 18th December 2020 – Sunday 10th January 2021

New rehearsal images have been released for the upcoming socially-distanced live production at Greenwich Theatre, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Bringing some festive fun to South London, this thrilling adaptation promises to be a winter adventure the family won’t forget, packed full of unforgettable characters, snowy wastelands and ferocious wolves!

Alongside the live performance, Greenwich are also offering audience members the opportunity to join the cast in an online challenge to help Bonnie and Sylvia on an epic venture through their wintry world. Sir Willoughby’s Challenge is a brand new theatrical experience for brave and intrepid adventurers aged 6 to 12.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Dates Friday 18th December 2020 – Sunday 10th January 2021
Location Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8ES
How to Get There The nearest train stations are Greenwich Station, Deptford Station and
Cutty Sark Station (DLR).
Running Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Box Office Tickets are available from £11 on www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Images courtesy of Lidia Crisafulli.

PARK THEATRE TO REOPEN IN JANUARY

WITH PROGRAMME OF SOCIALLY DISTANCED SHOWS & MASTERCLASSES

Jez Bond and the team at Park Theatre are pleased to announce that the theatre has plans to re-open its doors in the New Year, with socially distanced shows in both auditoria: a revival of comedy thriller CORPSE! in Park90 from Thursday 7 – Saturday 30 January;  COFFEE, CROISSANT AND A CONCERT, a Sunday series of chamber music concerts throughout January in Park200, followed by the premiere of spine chilling ghost story WHEN DARKNESS FALLS, in Park200 from 24 February – 13 March 2021.

Between 25 – 30 January, Park Theatre are also running PARK SESSIONS: GET INTO IT, a programme of free professional development opportunities for creatives that identify as working class, working class LGBTQI+, those who are D/deaf or disabled and those of a culturally diverse heritage curated in partnership with Holly Adomah Thompson of Getting in Formation.  The workshops are supported by ACE and include GET INTO SUBTEXT WITH JEZ BOND, GET INTO MARKETING WITH HOLLY ADOMAH THOMPSON, GET IN FORMATION LGBTQI+, GETTING OVER FUNDRAISING FEARS WITH DORCAS MORGAN & TANIA DUNN, GET INTO DEVISING THEATRE WITH NATASHA KATHI-CHANDRA, GETTING INTO SOUND DESIGN WITH NICOLA CHANG and GETTING INTO YOUR OWN THEATRE COMPANY WITH RYAN CALAIS CAMERON. A further workshop on accessible theatre will be announced in due course.

Artistic Director Jez Bond said, “We’re so excited to be reopening our doors with a socially distanced programme of work in January.  We can’t wait to welcome back audiences for some much needed laughs in Corpse!, a tranquil series of Sunday concerts and the gripping new thriller When Darkness Falls. We’re also starting the New Year by making a positive change in the world of theatre by offering a free programme of masterclasses to creatives from underrepresented groups. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far – we look forward to welcoming you all back to the venue with enhanced Covid secure measures to ensure everyone visiting has an enjoyable and safe experience.”

The mini season will kick off with a revival of comedy thriller CORPSE! in Park90, playing from Thursday 7 – Saturday 30 January 2021. CORPSE!, written by Gerald Moon and directed by Clive Brill, opened at Park Theatre on 4 March 2020, but was forced to close early due to the pandemic. Casting for the 2021 run includes Christopher Harper (Coronation Street), Paul Kemp (Imperium, RSC),the Olivier Award Winning Suzan Sylvester (A View From The Bridge, Aldwych Theatre)and Christopher Buckley (Brighton Beach Memoirs, Frinton Summer Theatre). Casting by Hayley Kaimakliotis, set design by Beth Colley, costume design by Neil Gordon, and with lighting and sound design by Pip Thurlow. 

Evelyn Farrant – an actor – is exceedingly poor.

Rupert Farrant – his twin – is excessively rich.

There appears to be only one solution.

Evelyn must kill Rupert and inherit his wealth.

The time: the eve of Edward VIII’s abdication speech.

The reluctant accomplice: Major Ambrose Powell

The essential grumpy landlady: Mrs McGee.

The likely prospect? Macabre Comedy Mayhem…

Online Booking at: https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/corpse

Park200 will welcome audiences back in the New Year with a series of hour-long Sunday morning chamber music concerts from string quartet Ostara Chambers, born during lockdown, comprised of four local musicians, who wanted to find a way to fill the live music void, while building on the sense of community in the N4 area. COFFEE, CROISSANT AND A CONCERT will take place on Sundays 10 & 24 January, and 14 & 28 February.

Bring the whole family along to Park Theatre for a social, and safely distanced, Sunday morning – with coffee, pastries and an hour of classical music, plus one or two modern numbers thrown into the mix!

Online booking at: https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/coffee-croissant-a-concert

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS – the premiere of a brand-new spine-chilling ghost story based on true events by James Milton & Paul Morrissey, and featuring Will Barton (The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson) and Alex Phelps (Hamlet, Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre) – will play in Park200 from Wednesday 24 February – Saturday 13 March 2021. Set Design by Justin Williams, Sound Design by Tom Marshall and Magic and Illusion Design by John Bulleid.

Set on the island of Guernsey, When Darkness Falls tells the story of John Blondel; a history teacher who runs the local Historical Society. Tonight, as part of the weekly Vlog, a young paranormal expert is giving a talk on the island’s incredible folklore and paranormal history. As John films, the stories unfold and we discover what happens when the wind blows, the seas swell and darkness falls.

Online booking at: https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/when-darkness-falls

Park Sessions: Get Into It is curated in partnership with Holly Adomah Thompson (Getting in Formation) and funded by ACE and will run from 25 – 30 January in Park200. Tickets are free to eligible creatives, those that identify as working class, working class LGBTQI+, those who are D/deaf or Disabled and those of a culturally diverse heritage.

We define culturally diverse heritage as someone who is:

• Black (African or Caribbean or part of the African or Caribbean Diaspora)
• South east Asian and or east Asian
• Middle eastern and or south Asian
• Latinx
• Dual heritage (provided that you also identify as part of the above)

Park Sessions: Getting into Sound Design with Nicola Chang
Mon 25 Jan 11am

Sound designer Nicola Chang, whose credits include deputy MD for SIX The Musical and who was a former member of the Old Vic 12, will walk you through the process of creating bold and emotive sound design ideas that enhance and complement the drama onstage.

https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/park-sessions-getting-into-sound-design-with-nicola-chang

Park Sessions: Get into Subtext with Jez Bond
Tue 26 Jan 11am

Thinking of becoming a director? Or what about an actor? Does writing appeal to you? If so, using subtext in your practice is a very useful and transferable tool. Join Park Theatre’s Artistic Director Jez Bond in a masterclass designed to help practitioners adapt this core skill into their creative practice.

https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/park-sessions-get-into-subtext-with-jez-bond

Park Sessions: Getting Over Fundraising Fears with Dorcas Morgan and Tania Dunn
Wed 27 Jan 11am

Ever been intimidated at the thought of writing an Arts Council Application? Then this masterclass with two of the best minds in the business will help you set out on the path to fundraising success.

https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/park-sessions-getting-over-fundraising-fears-with-dorcas-morgan-tania-dunn

Park Sessions: Getting into Your Own Theatre Company with Ryan Calais Cameron
Thu 28 Jan 1.30pm

Ryan Calais Cameron is an Award-winning playwright and Artistic Director of Theatre Company Nouveau Riche. If you’ve dreamt of starting your own theatre company but don’t know where to start, Ryan will be offering practical tips and advice.

https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/park-sessions-getting-into-your-own-theatre-company-with-ryan-calais-cameron

Park Sessions: Get into Marketing with Holly Adomah Thompson
Fri 29 Jan 11.30am

Holly Adomah Thompson has worked on marketing campaigns at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Bunker Theatre, and was a previous Park Theatre Marketing Intern. In this masterclass, you’ll learn essential tips and advice on how to market your show.

https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/park-sessions-get-into-marketing-with-holly-adomah-thompson

Park Sessions: Get into Devising Theatre with Natasha Kathi-Chandra
Sat 30 Jan 11am

Theatre director, writer & dramaturg Natasha Kathi-Chandra leads this session where you will light the spark of creativity and give form to new ideas for the stage. Including practical exercises on improvisation, collaboration and script writing.

https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/park-sessions-get-into-devising-theatre-with-natasha-kathi-chandra

Park Sessions: Get In Formation LGBTQI+
Sat 30 Jan 2pm

In this ZOOM space, LGBTQI+ creatives can share their knowledge, their work, their practice and whatever brings them joy to a space created only for them.

https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/park-sessions-get-in-formation-lgbtqi

Park Theatre received a grant as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, and the team has been working hard to make sure the venue can reopen safely and all up to date Covid-19 and social distancing guidelines are strictly adhered to. Seating in both auditoria have been reviewed and capacity reduced to ensure that audience bubbles will be seated at least 1m apart. This includes leaving space either side of each bubble and respacing or blocking off rows to allow additional space in front and behind. Extra health and safety measures have been put in place including additional cleaning, thermal scanners, screens at box office and the bar, hand sanitising stations, contactless ticketing, and having extra front of house staff to assist in social distancing.

Park Theatre has also been granted the use of Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre’s See It Safely mark. The mark certifies that the venue is complying with the latest Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, to ensure the safety of all staff and audiences. 

Royal & Derngate launch new partnership with the National Youth Theatre bringing pioneering youth arts organisation back to Northampton

• The organisations will jointly lead an annual summer residency providing vocational learning opportunities for up to 500 young people up to the age of 21 in performing, creative and production roles under Covid-adapted conditions.

• The partnership will launch in February 2021 with two new co-productions performed by the NYT REP Company on the Royal stage, 75th anniversary production of Animal Farm, adapted by Tatty Hennessy and directed by Ed Stambollouian in collaboration with Kneehigh Theatre Company, and Othello directed by 2020 Olivier Award-winner Miranda Cromwell collaborating with dramatist Dzifa Benson and featuring Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in the title role.

• The partnership marks a renewed commitment by Royal & Derngate to young people and emerging talent as it emerges from Covid closure

Royal & Derngate and The National Youth Theatre (NYT) are thrilled to announce a new partnership committed to providing outstanding vocational learning opportunities in theatre for up to 500 young people aged 14 to 21 in Summer 2021.

The partnership firmly positions opportunities for young people and emerging talent at the heart of Royal & Derngate’s future with the programme taking over the whole venue in summer 2021 for five weeks and the venue co-commissioning three productions with NYT. Teaching will take place on all three of their stages – Royal, Derngate and Underground – as well as in the Rehearsal Rooms and other Cultural Quarter venues. Participants will gain valuable insight into a 360-degree overview of a working theatre’s practice with time also spent with the venue’s wider staff.

Taking place in Northampton but open to young adults of all backgrounds from across the UK, the summer residency programme will offer 16 acting courses, with placements being made available for those who have completed NYT’s courses in costume design, to lighting and sound and stage management from September 2021 onwards. The residency includes a vital collaboration with the University of Northampton, with participants living at the University’s new Waterside Campus allowing them to be fully embedded in the town.

This dynamic partnership launches in February 2021 with two new Made in Northampton productions co-produced by the National Youth Theatre and Royal & Derngate and performed by NYT’s REP Company. Tatty Hennessy will adapt George Orwell’s Animal Farm as an allegory for our own times in a production directed by Ed Stambollouian (Olivier Award-winning Pinter at the Pinter) in association with Kneehigh Theatre. Miranda Cromwell (Olivier Award-winning Death of a Salesman) will direct Shakespeare’s Othello, in a new abridgement by multi-disciplinary artist and dramatist Dzifa Benson. Othello will feature Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in the title role. The productions will play at Royal & Derngate from Friday 19 February to Saturday 13 March 2021 under Covid-secure conditions with socially-distanced audiences, before touring nationally and streaming online. Meanwhile, local director Andy Routledge will lead the company in developing an original play about a unique period in Northampton’s rich and often surprising history.

The NYT is a leader in industry-based alternatives to formal training, staging productions at major venues in the West End and around the UK each year and delivering free practical courses, including the NYT REP Company and access to higher-education course NYT Playing Up. In 2021 the NYT will also run online courses after the success of summer 2020, part-time intake courses for the first time and London-based courses to offer a range of flexible routes into NYT membership. Despite the challenging climate all arts charities continue to face, course fees for 2021 have been significantly reduced in response to the impact of the global pandemic on young people and bursaries are available for those requiring financial assistance. The NYT REP Company’s productions of Animal Farm and Othello are being supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Applications to take part in the new summer vocational training with Royal & Derngate are open at www.nyt.org.uk/hub and young people can sign up to audition and access a range of online workshops and resources for £2-a-month or £24-a-year through the NYT’s new Hub subscription

Royal & Derngate Artistic Director James Dacre comments: “Working with the NYT as a freelance director before I joined Royal & Derngate, I experienced the passion, expertise and insight with which they champion every young artist to hone their craft and find their voice. Four years ago, Royal & Derngate and the NYT partnered on a co-production of The Tempest, enabling 30 young local actors to make their professional debut, many of whom have returned to perform on our stages since. That inspiring experience left us determined to partner on widening such training opportunities across all theatrical disciplines and so we are thrilled to be able to announce an annual programme that will enable hundreds of young artists from the widest possible range of backgrounds to train at Royal & Derngate, learning from our teams and placing young people at the heart of all that we do.”

NYT Artistic Director and CEO Paul Roseby OBE comments: “This key partnership is part of our ongoing commitment to create a national programme prioritising opportunities for young people across the UK. We wanted to give more young people the chance to experience theatre on a grand scale outside of London’s West End and being part of this prestigious venue will inspire a new generation to become story tellers, creative leaders and champions of live performances in our local communities. The programme will also offer up a professional creative network, inspirational role models and vital progression routes for our 2021 company at this critical time.”

Royal & Derngate Chief Executive Jo Gordon adds: “On the back of such a devastating year for theatre but also young people who’ve had so many opportunities curtailed or removed, I am delighted that as Royal & Derngate begin to emerge from the pandemic and look to reopening, our future is focused on creating new opportunities to enable young people to have a future in theatre and become the creatives who will shape our industry in the years to come.”

JULIE HESMONDHALGH, STEVE EVETS AND SHELLEY KING LEAD THE LINE UP OF GREATER MANCHESTER ACTORS BRINGING YOU SOME MUCH NEEDED CHRISTMAS CHEER AND RAISING MONEY FOR WOOD STREET MISSION

Write Christmas has been devised to bring some positivity to a potentially difficult holiday time. The aim is to inspire, involve and share fictional stories, videos, Christmas messages and more from boroughs across Greater Manchester, involving GM schools/groups for young people and actors and writers from all backgrounds. Work will be filmed and shared on each of the 12 days leading up to Christmas. Each ‘episode’, released online and as a podcast will share a piece by young people from our local schools and an adult writer. The project will be running to raise awareness and funds for the Wood Street Mission, a charity helping children and families living on a low income in Manchester and Salford.

Christmas is usually a time we associate being about family, happiness, giving and receiving presents. It’s also a time that can be quite difficult for very many people. Particularly this year. Therefore we want to bring some much needed Christmas cheer into people’s homes in the lead up to the big day with these festive stories. They will be told by a mix of actors – some of which being familiar faces! Cherylee Houston (Coronation Street), Julie Hesmondhalgh (Broadchurch), Haiesha Mistry (Hollyoaks), Steve Evets (Brassic), Shelley King (Coronation Street), Melissa Johns (Life) and Dean Fagan (Coronation Street) amongst the cast.

NATIONAL THEATRE PANTOMIME DICK WHITTINGTON AVAILABLE TO WATCH FOR FREE IN DECEMBER ON YOUTUBE

The National Theatre is to stream Dick Whittington, for free via the National Theatre and The Shows Must Go On YouTube channels on the 23 December at 3pm GMT. The stream will then be available on demand until midnight on 27 December. The productionwill be filmed live during the performance in the Olivier theatre on the 19 December, in front of a socially distanced audience. Following the limited-window YouTube streams, it will then be made available on the newly launched National Theatre at Home platform from the 11 January for six weeks. 

At a time when many theatres across the country have sadly been forced to cancel or postpone their pantomimes, the National Theatre is celebrating panto’s place at the heart of British theatre. The free stream of Jude Christian and Cariad Lloyd’s hilarious version of Dick Whittington, directed by Ned Bennett, promises toprovide festive fun to homes across the UK and around the world.  

After a year where the UK’s theatre sector has faced unprecedented challenges, viewers will be encouraged to donate to the National Theatre or support their local theatre either with donations or by booking ahead for 2021 pantomimes.  

There will also be an interactive ‘Panto Pack’ hosted on the NT website filled with engaging games and crafts for children, available to download for free.  

First staged at Lyric Hammersmith in 2018 and freshly updated for 2020, Ned Bennettdirects this wild and inventive production and explores what it is like to come from a small town and arrive in a big city today. With a host of colourful characters, irreverent jokes, talking animals and popular songs this is Dick Whittington as never seen before.  

Ned Bennett, Director, says: “We are incredibly excited about presenting a pantomime as it’s such a celebratory, warm and family friendly part of our theatrical history and the broadcast means it will reach an even wider audience. It feels important after everything that’s happened in 2020 to bring some joy, anarchy and silliness! There will be banging pop tunes and sensational choreography from Rhimes!” 

The cast includes Melanie La Barrie as Bow Belles, Dickie Beau as Sarah, Amy Booth-Steel as Queen Rat, Laura Checkley as Mayor Pigeon, Lawrence Hodgson-Mullings as Dick Whittington, Georgina Onuorah as Alice and Cleve September as Tom Cat. Beth Hinton-Lever, Travis Kerry, Jaye Marshall, Ken Nguyen, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda and Christopher Tendai also join the company.  

Set and costume designs by Georgia Lowe, choreography by Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe,compositions, arrangements and music production by DJ Walde, music supervisionby Marc Tritschler and music direction and additional composition and arrangements by Benjamin Kwasi Burrell. Lighting designed by Jessica Hung Han Yun and Sound Design by Paul Arditti. Denzel Westley-Sanderson is Associate Director, Debbie Duru is Associate Set Designer, Fiona Parker is Associate Costume Designer and Assistant Choreographer is Jackie Kibuka. 

Sarah Lawrie for Aegis Productions in association with

Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre present:

Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels

A series of asides streamed daily on YouTube

Written by Athena Stevens | Directed by Lily McLeish

Hosted on the Finborough Theatre YouTube Channel as part of #FinboroughForFree

18^th January – 18^th March 2021

“Athena Stevens’ excellent new play… provocative, smart and calls out its liberal audience” «««« Rosemary Waugh, Time Out  (on Scrounger)

@LateNightStare | #FinboroughForFree | www.aegisproductions.co.uk

the creative team behind Scrounger, and the first of the Finborough Theatre’s #FinboroughForFree original online content, new for every month during 2021.

Two women. One photograph. A young woman sends a topless selfie to her boyfriend as a bit of flirtatious fun. When he shows it to his best friend for a laugh, he can’t imagine her having any other reaction. But what starts out as a joke soon turns into an accusation of something much darker. At what point does admiration become a form of control? How do we say ‘stop’ when it becomes apparent that we are complicit in hurting other women? If someone you know to be a good person, starts to prove themselves otherwise, how do you walk away?

Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels explores the issue of assumed consent and how it contributes to a culture of complicity and control towards women. Men have long held power in relationships with tools that have no name; this story aims to identify those methods.

Writer and performer Athena Stevens says “The events that led me to write this play were the same events that made me become a feminist and to work for the Women’s Equality Party. I suddenly had the realisation that I was expected to follow a script in my relationships, one that was inevitably harmful to other women. Oppression is always dependent on silence. I refuse to be a cog in the machine built to oppress women.”

Presented in 28 separate episodes, Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels will be streamed daily at 6pm from 18 January 2021 via the Finborough Theatre’s YouTube channel, culminating in a recording of the whole play which will be available from 15 February until 18 March 2021. 

As part of the Finborough Theatre’s #FinboroughForFree initiative, the theatre will be releasing a new work every month during our closure to watch online for free. Following our successful release of archive recordings during 2020, the Finborough Theatre is now moving into original content for 2021. For more information about this and other Finborough Theatre productions currently available to stream online, visit the Finborough Theatre website at www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk

Follow the Finborough Theatre on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the YouTube channel for more updates about future #FinboroughForFree releases.

Running Time: episodes around 7mins each, 28 episodes in total | Suitable for ages 14+

Company information

Written by Athena Stevens       Directed by Lily McLeish

Designed by Anna Reid            Lighting by Anthony Doran       Music and Sound by Julian Starr

Presented by Sarah Lawrie for Aegis Productions in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre. 

Cast

Athena Stevens
Evelyn Lockley

Listings information

Daily episodes 18 January – 14 February 2021

Full film available 15 February – 18 March 2021

All available via the Finborough Theatre YouTube Channel as part of  #FinboroughForFree

Simultaneously streamed with subtitles on Scenesaver

Episodes streamed at 6pm daily
Free | www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk

Turbine Theatre, London – until 23 December 2020

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Turbine Theatre’s adult panto is a festival of filthy fun that you can’t help but love. While family pantos sometimes feel like they have a running time of 72 hours with the traditional nodding-off time for dads during the romantic duets, adult pantos never outstay their welcome and zip along at a rate of knots. This Cinderella, written by Jodie Prenger and Neil Hurst, is no exception, leaving you on a high and wishing for more of the joyous onstage insanity.

Being a pandemic panto, Baron Hardup has slung his hook with the cast following the rule of six. Buttons (Rufus Hound) has been furloughed, and the ball must end at 10pm. The ecstasy of performing live mixes seamlessly with anger and disbelief at the government’s handling of the pandemic and its attitude towards the arts. The audience (safely masked and separated by Perspex sheets. But not quite escaping extra sanitisation measures from Buttons) answer Buttons’ greetings of “Hello boys and girls” with “Fuck the Tories”, getting more and more animated each time. Rubber gloves are donned to pass props around and a 2m stick is used in a dance routine to ensure social distancing. With Baron Hardup gone, his daughter Cinderella (Daisy Wood Davis) and her stepsisters Fanny (Scott Paige) and Vajayjay (Oscar Conlon-Morrey) are fending for themselves in Soho. When the Prince of Soho (Debbie Kurup) throws a ball to find a wife, it takes the magic of the Fairy Godmotherfucker (Sean Parkins) to ensure that Cinderella goes to the ball. But she must leave before 10, or her arse will turn into a pumpkin.

There are some wonderful pastiches of songs from West End shows – ending with a barnstorming version of Six celebrating the theatrical community – and the script veers between broad humour and razor-sharp wit at pace, with a cast so good that any mishaps and adlibs blend in seamlessly. Lizzy Connolly’s direction holds everything together brilliantly, and the huge performances of the sisters and fairy godmother don’t overshadow the other roles.

Daisy Wood Davis is a fiery Cinderella, more than a match for Debbie Kurup’s Prince – a hilarious mix of The Artist Formerly Known As… Jagger and Bill Nighy’s more spaced-out characters. Rufus Hound provides the heart of the show with his gentle Buttons, delivering filthy jokes in the sweetest way. Scott Paige and Oscar Conlon-Morrey are perfect as the ugly sisters, with fabulous comic timing – a foul-mouthed and preening 21st century version of Ada and Cissie do Soho. Sean Parkins steals every scene he’s in with his sashaying star turn, but together the cast are incredible.

It’s been a bleak old year for the arts, and as venues are slowly opening, the energy and excitement of being back together is amazing, even at 50% capacity. Cinderella captures and enhances that energy – providing an hour of belly laughs, sass and shedloads of sparkle this Christmas.

EDDIE IZZARD PERFORMS HIS LATEST STAND UP SHOW WUNDERBAR IN GERMAN AND FRENCH FOR 2 DAYS ONLY

Eddie Izzard continues his relationship with Riverside Studios, bringing his latest stand-up comedy show Wunderbarto the venue on 19 and 20 December. In 2019, after first developing the show in French and German, Eddie’s latest Stand-up Comedy show Wunderbar toured the world. UK audiences will have the rare opportunity to see them performed in the languages they were written in – with performances in German of Wunderbar Auf Deutsch at 5pm; followed both days by Wunderbar En Français at 7pm.

Wunderbar joins Eddie’s performance of Dickens’ Great Expectations as part of Riverside Studio’s socially distanced Christmas season.

Interim Creative Director, Rachel Tackley today said, “It’s so wonderful (pun intended!) to be working with Eddie again and to welcome our European friends to Riverside. I’m looking forward to testing out my French and German on what will be a raucous evening of LIVE comedy.”

EDDIE IZZARD: WUNDERBAR AUF DEUTSCH

19 and 20 December 5pm

PERFORMED IN GERMAN

2019 war Eddie auf Welttournee mit seiner jüngsten Stand-up Comedyshow Wunderbar: Ein Programm, das er zuerst auf Französisch und Deutsch entwickelt hatte. Jetzt gibt es die seltene Gelegenheit, Wunderbar komplett auf Deutsch zu sehen: In einer Covid 19 gerechten, abstandsgeregelten 60-Minuten-Version. Live in den Riverside Studios London.  

In 2019, after first developing the show in French and German, Eddie’s latest Stand-up Comedy show Wunderbar toured the World. This is a rare chance to see Eddie return to performing Wunderbar entirely in German in London in a 60 minute socially distanced COVID safe live show at Riverside Studios. 

EDDIE IZZARD: WUNDERBAR EN FRANÇAIS

19 and 20 December at 7pm

PERFORMED IN FRENCH

En 2019, après la création du spectacle d’abord en français puis en allemand, « Wunderbar » la dernière comédie Stand-up d’Eddie a fait le tour du monde. 

C’est une opportunité exceptionnelle de voir Eddie présenter à nouveau « Wunderbar » entièrement en français à Londres, dans un spectacle live de 60 minutes, à distanciations anti-covid sécurisées, au Riverside Studios.

In 2019, after first developing the show in French and German, Eddie’s latest Stand-up Comedy show Wunderbar toured the World. This is a rare chance to see Eddie return to performing Wunderbar entirely in French in London in a 60 minute socially distanced COVID safe live show at Riverside Studios.

Eddie Izzard is one of the most celebrated actors and comedians of his generation. His performance in Dress to Kill earned him a New York Drama Desk Award and two Emmy Awards. Izzard has also achieved great success with his comedy stand up shows. Izzard made his West End stage debut in 1993 in his one-man show Live at the Ambassadors, in which he received an Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement. Live at the Ambassadors was followed by a succession of critically-acclaimed shows including Unrepeatable, Definite Article, Glorious, Dress to Kill, Circle, Sexie and Stripped and Force Majeure – which played in over 30 countries. His stage credits include The Cryptogram, 900 Oneonta (Ambassadors Theatre), Edward II (Haymarket Theatre), and A Day In The Death of Joe Egg (Comedy Theatre/ American Airlines Theatre). For TV, Izzard’s credits include Powers, Hannibal, The Riches, Castles In The Sky, Treasure Island and Lost Christmas, and for film credits include Victoria and Abdul, Valkyrie, Ocean’s Thirteen and Ocean’s Twelve, Across the Universe, Mystery Men, Shadow of the Vampire, and The Cat’s Meow.

On March 20, 2016, Izzard completed 27 marathons in 27 days in South Africa as a tribute to Nelson Mandela and raised over £2.6 million ($3.3 million) for Sport Relief, a charity that helps improve the lives of people in impoverished countries. In 2009, Izzard ran 43 marathons in 51 days through England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland for charity and helped raise £1.8 million ($2.7 million) for Sport Relief. In January 2020 Eddie ran the first part of his ‘Make Humanity Great Again’ journey, an epic charity challenge running through 29 European capital cities over 29 non-stop gruelling days.

SEE IT SAFELY

We have been granted the use of Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre’s See It Safely mark. The mark certifies that we are complying with the latest Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, to ensure the safety of our staff and audiences. You can find out more here [https://www.riversidestudios.co.uk/book/winter-theatre-season–our-covid-measures or link to https://officiallondontheatre.com/see-it-safely/] about the measures we have been putting in place ready for your visit, and what you will need to know beforehand.

RIVERSIDE STUDIOS has a long legacy and reputation as a boundary-pushing home for the arts and creative expression. This dynamic cultural venue is home to a confluence of theatre, film, music, dance, comedy, visual art, enterprise, innovative technology, events and hospitality – a constant stream of inspiration where creativity and community flow.

For over 40 years, Riverside Studios has brought the world to West London with a programme of theatre, dance, television, comedy and music. Some of the unforgettable figures who have appeared at Riverside include Samuel Beckett, Helen Mirren, Tadeusz Kantor, Yoko Ono, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Ant and Dec, Benjamin Zephaniah, Robert Lepage, Allen Ginsberg, Margaret Atwood, Lenny Henry and Michael Clark.

Riverside Trust is a charity, aiming to present high-quality arts that are accessible to all.

www.riversidestudios.co.uk

Twitter: @RiversideLondon

Instagram: @riversidestudioslondon

LISTINGS    WUNDERBAR

Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9BN

Box Office: 020 8237 1010

www.riversidestudios.co.uk

Building and Box Office are open from Monday – Sunday

The Bakery Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 9:00 – 16:00

Box Office Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 22:00

Performance dates:

19& 20 December

Wunderbar Auf Deutsch at 5pm

Wunderbar en français at 7pm

Ticket prices: £42 available in pairs

Access rate available

SEASON AT A GLANCE

Norwell Lapley Productions present

DEAR SANTA LIVE

Until 24 December

EDDIE IZZARD: WUNDERBAR

19 & 20 December (in French and German)

GREAT EXPECTATIONS BY CHARLES DICKENS PERFORMED BY EDDIE IZZARD

21 – 23 December

NEW FRAME PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: LIVE AT RIVERSIDE

WEST END ACOUSTIC

8 December

AGATHA CHRISTIE: SPIDER’S WEB

9 December

AGATHA CHRISTIE: THE HOLLOW

10 December

FERRIS & MILNES – CHRISTMAS CRACKER

12 December

David Monteith-Hodge’s new short film
documenting Theatres in Lockdown now live
Available now

Theatres in Lockdown is a filmic journey around 53 of London’s most iconic theatres during the nation’s second lockdown. Created by filmmaker and photographer David Monteith-Hodge, the film is a striking cinematic collage of the exterior of the city’s theatres, a reminder of the importance of our communal spaces in this time of crisis.

After seeing stirring images of London’s deserted theatres during the first lockdown, David was inspired to take this further by merging photography with aspects of documentary filmmaking. The resulting film captures eerily quiet train carriages, empty Underground stations and closed theatre entrances, some with signage alerting the public that they hope to reopen soon. The visual imagery is accompanied by the soundscape of a muted London.

David comments, When the country closed down for the first time, I, like many other artists,
struggled with the motivation to be creative and felt guilty for not being able to do so. During this second lockdown I finally felt able to pursue a passion project like this one. I wanted to use the short film to make a statement about the importance of taking care of ourselves and others by inviting the viewer to join me on my journey of ‘checking in’ on London’s theatres, an experience which aided my own mental health. I hope the absence of people in the shots of the theatres reminds the viewer to think about the staff and freelance artists who would usually be inhabiting those buildings and creating exciting and valuable work

Many theatres across the country had to close their doors a second time after navigating the logistics of socially distanced performances. The film is intended to inspire people to support their local theatres and practitioners in any way they can during these hard times.

The video is free to view here:
www.photographise.com/theatresinlockdown