Author: FairyPoweredProductions

Hope Mill Theatre announces its long-awaited cast of RENT and it was worth the wait!

The 12-strong cast include West End favourites, Olivier nominees and 2020 graduates

The cast and full creative team has been announced for Hope Mill Theatre’s hotly-anticipated revival of the classic rock musical RENT, directed by Luke Sheppard.

RENT will play at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester from Friday 30^th October to Sunday 6^th December 2020.

The 12 company members, who were originally cast back in February are finally getting the opportunity to come together for this special revival of the much-loved musical.  The cast will receive a Covid-19 test prior to being placed in one household (bubble) for the length of the run in Manchester.

Jocasta Almgill (& Juliet, Dreamgirls – West End) will play Joanne; Blake Patrick Anderson (Be More Chill – The Other Palace, Closer to Heaven – Off West End/Above the Stag) will play Mark; Tom Francis (Arts Ed 2020 graduate) will mark his professional debut as Roger; Ahmed Hamad (The Boy in the Dress – RSC, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – West End) will play Benny; Dom Hartley-Harris (George Washington in Hamilton – West End, Bat Out of Hell – Manchester & West End) will play Collins; Millie O’Connell (Olivier nominated as Anne Boleyn in SIX The Musical – West End & UK Tour, 42nd Street – West End) will play Maureen; Maiya Quansah-Breed (Olivier nominated as Catherine Parr in SIX The Musical – West End & UK Tour)  will play Mimi; Alex Thomas-Smith (Dear Evan Hansen – West End, Bat Out of Hell – West End)  will play Angel.

Completing the cast in Featured Ensemble roles are 2020 Royal Academy of Music Masters graduate Kayla Carter; Allie Daniel (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – Film), Isaac Hesketh (Book of Mormon – UK Tour) and Bethany Terry (West Side Story – Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester, Bat Out of Hell – West End).

The full creative team has also been announced today. RENT is directed by Luke Sheppard, Choreographer Tom Jackson Greaves, Musical Supervisor Katy Richardson, Musical Director Chris Poon, Set & Costume Designer David Woodhead, LX Designer Howard Hudson, Sound Designer Paul Gatehouse, Projection Designer George Reeve, Assistant Director Priya Appleby, Costume Supervisor Ester Mangas, Production Photographer Dujonna Gift-Simms, Make Up and Wigs Designer Jackie Saundercock, and Casting by Pearson Casting.

Artwork by Feast Creative and video content by The Umbrella Rooms.

Director Luke Sheppard said: “This production of RENT is about placing this groundbreaking show in the hands of a new generation of exceptional musical theatre performers, and as we have shifted the lens on the production over the last months, the promise of this cast telling this story in these extraordinary times has felt increasingly vital. Most of them have been waiting in the wings since we cast the production at the start of the year and I’m enormously grateful for their patience and commitment. The Hope Mill Theatre continues to work tirelessly to make this production happen in a safe and secure way and it’s a privilege to be working with this visionary venue to bring this special production to the stage.”

With some performances including all Previews sold out and many close to selling out the venue is urging audiences to not delay and grab a ticket whilst they can.

Hope Mill Theatre will be operating with strict covid guidelines in place in line with the Government guidance for the performing arts.

This will include operating at 50% capacity per show with audience rows spaced 2 metres apart and a transparent safety screen separating bookings.

The show will rehearse with social distancing in mind and in a covid-secure environment. The venue will be clearly signposted with essential information and will put in place hand sanitising stations, extra toilets for patrons, staggered arrival times and temperature checks on arrival.

The theatre space will be fully sanitised before each performance and audiences will be asked to wear face coverings during the show or visors for those who are exempt.

In line with current guidelines the venue will not allow groups of more than 6 people per booking from different households and will be collecting audience details to comply with the NHS Test & Trace scheme.

RENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop. Musical Arrangements by Steve Skinner, Music Supervision and Additional Arrangements by Tim Weil, Original Concept/Additional Lyrics Billy Aronson and Dramaturg Lynn Thomson.

Presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited.

RENT is a rock musical with music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson and is loosely based on Puccini’s opera La Bohème. It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists living, loving and working in Manhattan’s East Village, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

The show premiered off Broadway in 1996 before moving to Broadway later the same year. The show has been staged all over the world, including in the West End in 1998 and in 2005 was released as a motion picture. It features hit songs such as Rent, Without You, La Vie La Bohème and the iconic Seasons of Love.

Twitter: @Hopemilltheatr1

Facebook: Hope Mill Theatre

TOWNSEND THEATRE PRODUCTIONS TO STAGE FIRST POST-LOCKDOWN RURAL TOURING EVENT IN ASSOCIATION WITH LIVE & LOCAL

‘THE RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPISTS’ CHOSEN AS TRIAL RUN FOR THE RETURN OF RURAL TOURING

 

 

Previous praise for Townsend Theatre’s Previous productions of ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’

 

‘A company making a name for delivering, vivid politically committed theatre’ THE OBSERVER

“A strong and robust show that brings the characters, humour and inspirational ideas of this great book to life. It is needed now more than ever. You’ll leave the theatre and join the struggle!” – Ken Loach

“Tremendous” – The Times

10/10     “Sensational” – Liverpool Echo

“Highly entertaining” – Whatsonstage ★★★★

MUST SEE – The Guardian

‘A powerful story, powerfully told.‘ Clare Brennan. The Observer ★ ★ ★ ★

Magnificent Play” The Morning Star ★★★★★“

 

Townsend productions are delighted to have been chosen by Live & Local to stage the very first trial run of a rural touring production. ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’ will be staged at Reepham & Cherry Willingham Village Hall in Lincolnshire on the 25^th September

 

Professional rural touring, where professional performances take place in rural venues, has been a vital part of the touring infrastructure in the UK for many years; but of course, as with all theatre, performances were stopped in their tracks with the outbreak of COVID.

 

Now rural touring schemes including Live & Local are looking into how to safely perform professional productions once more in Village Halls and Community Centres, libraries and outdoors.

 

John Laidlaw from Live & Local said, “ensuring that a show is professionally managed in a setting that is rarely a fully equipped arts venue can bring challenges at any time; but with Covid, we have to be redouble our efforts to make the space work for us, so that shows can be performed safely. We’re delighted to be able to work with Townsend Theatre productions and our wonderful local Promoters at Reepham & Cherry Willingham to bring ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’ to Lincolnshire, giving local audiences the chance to once again experience high level professional theatre on their doorstep This first trial will be carried out with strict social distancing measures in place to reassure audiences, allowing for performance to go ahead in a “Covid-safe” environment”

 

Originally a novel written in 1910 by Robert Tressell; ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’ is a classic representation of the impoverished and politically powerless underclass of British society in Edwardian England, ruthlessly exploited by the institutionalised corruption of their employers and the civic and religious authorities. Epic in scale, the novel charts the ruinous effects of the laissez-faire mercantilist ethics on the men, women, and children of the working classes, and through its emblematic characters, argues for a socialist politics as the only hope for a civilised and humane life for all.

 

In Neil Gore’s adaptation, this famous working-class classic novel is reimagined as a one-man magic lantern show using Magic Lantern and projected animation, with political conjuring tricks, live music and song.  This piece was originally designed to allow one actor to control the whole performance; from the lighting to the music they alone control the story and the stage. Meaning this interpretation is perfect for a socially distanced performance.

Compelling, humorous and clear in its modern-day relevance, with reference to the current economic climate, job security, workplace scenarios, party politics and class systems, the work combines storytelling with stirring song, poetry and movement

All-star cast unite for digital revival of Steven
Carl McCasland’s Little Wars
Streaming worldwide: Tuesday 3rd – Sunday 8th November 2020
Thomas Hopkins & Michael Quinn for Ginger Quiff Media in association with
Bailey Harris Kelly and Guy Chapman

Multi award-winning stage and screen actress Juliet Stevenson (Truly, Madly, Deeply; The
Doctor, Almeida; Blindness, Donmar Warehouse) leads an all-star female cast in the online
revival of Steven Carl McCasland’s dinner party drama, Little Wars. Joining Stevenson will be Linda Bassett (Call The Midwife; East is East), Debbie Chazen (The Smoking Room; The Girls, West End), Natasha Karp (Rags, Park Theatre; The Kite Runner, West End), Catherine Russell (Holby City; What The Butler Saw, Curve Theatre), Sarah Solemani (Him & Her; Bad Education), and Sophie Thompson (Feel Good; Present Laughter, Old Vic).

Bringing together six exceptional women, Little Wars unites literary figureheads Gertrude Stein (Bassett), her girlfriend Alice Toklas (Russell), Dorothy Parker (Chazen), Lillian Hellman
(Stevenson) and Agatha Christie (Thompson), with anti-fascist freedom fighter Muriel Gardiner (Solemani), in the most fantastical what-if dinner party imaginable. Tensions are high and secrecy lingers in the air, but with libations flowing and the threat of World War II looming the guests are close to boiling point.

Directed by Hannah Chissick (Flashdance, UK & International tour; Pack of Lies, Menier
Chocolate Factory) the new production will be filmed and made available to download and
stream online, in collaboration with Southwark’s The Union Theatre. The entire cast and
creative team are raising money in aid of Women For Refugee Women, a cause that remains close to their values, and the underlying message of the play. Notwithstanding the challenges of 2020, the producers believe that it is vital, now more than ever, to support causes such as this.

Previously workshopped Off-Off Broadway, this acclaimed play makes its digital premiere,
celebrating historical women of the 20th century, through an intimate, hilarious, and witty fly on-the-wall glimpse into a nostalgic fiction based on truths. Set in 1940s France, on the evening the country crumbled to Hitler’s tyrannical rule, the play acts as a brutal reminder of the mistreatment of the Jewish people. At a time when antisemitism is rife, gender politics are divisive, and LGBTQ+ hate crime has increased, it is a stark reminder that not much has changed.

Director Hannah Chissick comments, It is such an honour to work on this wonderful play about exceptional women, with such an extraordinary cast all coming together in support of other brave and courageous women.

McCasland adds, I am thrilled to see Little Wars find its way across the pond, and with such an extraordinary team of actresses. I hope the play’s message resonates with all during this
unprecedented time.

Alongside the streaming, GingerQuiff Media will be collaborating with Drink the iNK for a new pre-show conversation series, Open Creative Process, allowing audiences full-access into the creative process of making digital theatre – from start to finish.

Original Theatre Company, the production company behind the critically acclaimed lockdown productions of Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong Online and Louise Coulthard’s Watching Rosie, are delighted to present this new commission by Torben Betts.  

Marking 50 years since the launch of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission and based, in part, on actual transcripts, this new online play is a captivating re-telling of one of the greatest space stories of all time.  Stranded 205,000 miles from earth in a crippled spacecraft, astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert fight a desperate battle to survive.  77 hours into their mission they lose all communications with earth as they pass around the dark side of the moon. Apollo 13: The Dark Side of The Moon explores the outer limits of faith, hope and the power of the human spirit.

Apollo 13: The Dark Side of The Moon stars Christopher Harper (Holby City, Coronation Street) as Jim Lovell, Michael Salami (Hollyoaks, Just a Couple) as Fred Haise, Tom Chambers (Father Brown, Casualty) as Jack Swigert, Philip Franks (Heartbeat, Darling Buds of May) as Present Day Lovell, Geoff Aymer (Macbeth at Shakespeare’s Globe, To Kill a Mockingbird at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Young Vic and writing credits include Anansi and the Magic Mirror for Talawa Theatre) as Present Day Haise, Jenna Augen (Episodes, The Night Watch) as Capcom and Poppy Roe (A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life, Royal Matchmaker) as Patricia Cooper.

Apollo 13: The Dark Side of The Moon is directed by Alastair Whatley and Charlotte Peters, designed by David Woodhead, edited by Tristan Shepherd, with sound design by Dominc Bilkey, original music composed by Sophie Cotton, movement direction by Simon Pittman and casting by Ellie Collyer-Brisow CDG.

Apollo 13: The Dark Side of The Moon, which is available to watch via originaltheatreonline.com from 7.30pm on Thursday 8 October until Thursday 31 December 2020.

https://we.tl/t-opT241sKmC

Northern Ballet returns for first post-lockdown live performances
 

Leeds Playhouse: 21 – 31 October 2020

Northern Ballet is returning to the stage for its first live performances since the initiation of lockdown in March. The Company will perform three different hour-long mixed programmes at Leeds Playhouse from 21 – 24 October 2020 followed by four full-length performances of David Nixon OBE’s Dangerous Liaisons from 28 – 31 October 2020.

Northern Ballet’s season at Leeds Playhouse will be the Company’s first live performances in more than seven months. The last performance the Company held prior to lockdown was the world première of Kenneth Tindall’s Geisha. With government guidelines now permitting indoor performances with socially distanced audiences, working with Leeds Playhouse, Northern Ballet has been able to establish a viable programme to get the Company performing again. However, as ongoing social distancing restrictions continue to apply to the dancers, musicians and backstage staff, Northern Ballet is still unable to present its planned repertoire for 2020 and has instead selected work it can perform whilst respecting the current guidelines.

The first mixed repertoire programme will be Iconic Classics on 21 Oct. The performance will include excerpts from ballet classics including Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Le Corsaire and Giselle. A Celebration of Artistic Director David Nixon OBE on 22 Oct celebrates 20 years of Artistic Director David Nixon OBE’s creations for the Company including excerpts from The Great Gatsby, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Little Mermaid. The final mixed programme, Contemporary Cuts will be performed on 23 and 24 Oct including excerpts from 1984, I Got Rhythm and a new work by Northern Ballet Choreographer in Residence Kenneth Tindall.

From 28 – 31 Oct, Northern Ballet will perform David Nixon OBE’s Dangerous Liaisons in the first revival of this work in 10 years. Inspired by the original scandalous novel and acclaimed Hollywood retellings, danced to Vivaldi’s rousing The Four Seasons, Dangerous Liaisons is the bodice-ripping tale of two bored aristocrats as they spin a web of heartbreak and ruin.

With the exception of Contemporary Cuts, all performances will include live music played by members of Northern Ballet Sinfonia. All performances will be performed in full costume but ‘black box style’ without sets.

David Nixon OBE said: “Although we are still far from business-as-usual, we are thrilled to be able to return to the stage and present a significant run of live performances. This year has been incredibly difficult for everyone and the arts is one industry that has been badly affected by COVID-19. It is vital for our dancers to be able to return to performing and we feel fortunate that they are now able to do so. We recognise the challenges faced by our industry in ensuring the safety of staff and patrons and the financial viability of holding performances with reduced socially distanced audiences. So many arts organisations are still fighting for their existence and countless people have been made redundant. We hope that successfully holding our performances will contribute to setting a path for the curtain to lift on more live performance across the UK.

“We don’t know what the coming months will bring for our company, or the industry as a whole. However, we are continuing to liaise with our venue partners and explore more opportunities for live performance in the coming months. For now, we hope our audiences will feel safe and confident to join us at Leeds Playhouse, support our industry and have a brief escape from the uncertainty of the times that dance can so beautifully provide.”

Tickets go on general sale on Tuesday 29 September at 12 noon. To book visit leedsplayhouse.org.uk

In line with current government guidelines, audiences will be of limited capacity with social distancing and temperature checks in place. Audiences are also required to wear face coverings at all times. Ticket holders will be notified of these measures in advance

Dangerous Liaisons age guidance 12+

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RYAN CARTER AND BETH GEORGE JOIN THE BARN THEATRE TEAM

• THE BARN THEATRE ANNOUNCES THEIR DEDICATION TO DIGITAL THEATRE BY APPOINTING RYAN CARTER AS NEW CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT

• BETH GEORGE ALSO JOINS THE BARN THEATRE TEAM AS THE THEATRE’S NEW PRODUCER AND WILL OVERSEE THE THEATRE’S NEWLY ANNOUNCED THEATRE RECOVERY SEASON

The Barn Theatre in Cirencester has announced that they have welcomed two new members to the award-winning theatre’s team.

Ryan Carter, who recently received both critical and public acclaim for co-creating the online concert Turn Up!, joins the theatre as Creative Director of Digital Content. His new role will see him focus on the developing the theatre’s offering in digital theatre content, with a focus on innovation.

The Barn Theatre had over 330,000 audience members watch their online theatrical content during lockdown which has included their Shakespeare in Lockdown series Bard From The Barn (co-produced with Aaron Sidwell), the virtual concert series The Barn Presents: which celebrated emerging British musical theatre writers and the recent release of Relative Motion & the Barn Theatre’s virtual reality production of Marlowe’s Edward II.

Ryan Carter said of joining the theatre, “The Barn have been creating innovative, mould-breaking digital content throughout lockdown, and in inviting me to the team, they’re pledging that the programming of their digital realm is as important as the live spaces. I’m thrilled to be joining the team. The gravity of someone like me having a role like this isn’t lost on me at all.”

Beth George has also recently joined the Cirencester theatre as their new producer. She will oversee the theatre’s newly announced 2020 Theatre Recovery Season as well as upcoming projects. Her career has included working as a Production and Development Associate for Sonia Friedman Productions.

Beth George said on joining the Barn Theatre, “The Barn’s ability to keep moving through such treacherous times has been astounding and I am thrilled to be a part of this brilliant team. Joining the Barn on the first preview of Private Peaceful and being back in the room with an audience and live performance was a very special start of a new venture for me. I look forward to the future projects and eclectic range of work that we have planned.”

Iwan Lewis said of the new additions, “I am absolutely thrilled that Beth and Ryan are joining our incredible team. The Barn’s media offering has been an integral part of the Barn’s survival over this period so now it’s time to commit to the digital and media realm. The world is changing, and we are changing with it. Ryan has been a driving force for many years in bringing theatre to new audiences and we feel confident that he can steer us into a new digital world creating exciting and innovative content across all platforms. 

We are still in difficult times, but we are committed to producing entertaining and culturally enriching theatrical content and Beth George joining our team solidifies that commitment. We have re-opened our doors and have adapted our model to ensure that we are operating in the safest way possible and now we need to bring live theatre back to not only the Barn’s stage but also stages across the UK as they prepare to reopen.”

Other staff changes announced by the theatre today are that Iwan Lewis’ role has expanded to Artistic Director and CEO of the Barn Theatre, Rachel Wright as Executive Director with Aeron James (PR & Socials) and Benjamin Collins (Media) heading up the theatre’s marketing department.

Jamie Chapman Dixon, who joined the theatre in 2018, will step into an Advisory Producer role at the theatre.

PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON: LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS

STREAMING DIGITALLY TO THE UK

SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER AT 7PM

AS PART OF US LIVESTREAM TOUR

A MAGIC SHOW FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

Tickets on sale now via www.piffthemagicdragon.com 

Piff The Magic Dragon along with his trusty sidekick Mr Piffles, The World’s Only Magic Performing Chihuahua™, and Jade Simon – a genuine Las Vegas Showgirl – announce the first UK date of their interactive livestream tour, PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON: LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, which has been entertaining audiences virtually across the US this summer. Broadcast live from the Piff the Magic Dragon Television Studio in Las Vegas (formerly known as his single car garage), this all-new one-hour interactive magic experience has been specifically created for online viewing, featuring Piff’s unique blend of sardonic British comedy and magic. 

UK audiences can now experience PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON: LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS on Saturday 26 September at 7pm via Zoom, with further UK dates to be announced.

“A stunningly good magician” — Penn & Teller

“Piff is the best. A true original” — David Copperfield

“A phenomenal talent” — Howard Stern

After breaking out on ITV’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Piff the Magic Dragon moved to Las Vegas where he stole the show on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2015. For the past five years, Piff has been performing nightly to sold out houses at The Piff the Magic Dragon Theatre in the heart of the iconic Flamingo Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. Piff has been busier than ever these past few months with numerous appearances on US network and cable television. He vanished the Statue of Liberty with David Copperfield, taught tricks on Penn & Teller Try This At Home, and most surprisingly of all, emerged victorious from TBS’ comedy competition series, Tournament of Laughs. Yes. Somehow Piff beat some of the biggest names in comedy including Jeff Ross, Margaret Cho, Gilbert Gottfried, Michael Rapaport, Jim Norton and Fortune Feimster.

In 2019, Piff was named one of the 10 Comics to Watch by Variety, won “Best Comedian,” “Best Magician” and “Best Headliner” in the Best of Las Vegas Awards beating Lady Gaga AND was awarded the Casino Entertainment Award’s Casino Comedian of the Year. For an act that bills himself as The Loser of America’s Got Talent, this is getting awkward.

Piff the Magic Dragon said, “Nowadays it seems like everyone is working from home, so I thought why not a dragon? I’ve spent the last six months building a TV studio in the garage and coming up with a bunch of magic that will destroy from a distance. It’s finally ready, and the best part is I can visit my birthland and still be home in time for tea. As long as I have tea at 4am. I was gutted to miss my annual pilgrimage to the UK this year, and to all those who missed us too, I hope this in some small way makes up for it”

Online venue stream.theatre has launched, providing full streaming services for the Arts

New online venue stream.theatre has launched providing solutions for arts organisations wishing to stream content online

​From ticketing and box office solutions, full-service video capture and transmission, to a secure online video player specifically conditioned for live streaming theatrical events

stream.theatre can cater for one-off events or create long term solutions by purpose building a streaming platform for an existing brand

​User-friendly and straightforward process, accessible for all audience demographics

​Visit www.stream.theatre for full information

A brand-new streaming service has been launched offering arts organisations online hosting and production solutions for all their streaming needs. stream.theatre is available now for any organisation, producer, or artist needing support to stream content.

Venue

stream.theatre is a digital venue for any theatre, art, or performance based video content. Live-streamed, time scheduled or on demand: shows and content can be transmitted in a variety of ways and can be individually priced. Customers can browse upcoming shows and watch marketing materials. Video content is shown on ahigh quality, secure video player, available on a variety of devices and applications. Content can be geo-fenced to protect rights holders and authors.

Box Office

stream.theatre can work with third party ticketing facilities or provide a full ticketing service. If stream.theatre provides a box office service, customers are able to buy tickets to shows and events on the platform and come back to watch them at the time of the ‘performance’. There are no complicated codes or vouchers; the customer’s account remembers what they’ve bought and allows access to the event. Full reporting is provided with full financial statements, viewership statements, watch time analysis and remittances to content owners.

Production

stream.theatre can act as a full video partner in the creation of content. A full 4k camera solution as well as audio capture, live vision mixing and all equipment necessary for a multiple camera shoot is available. It can provide live stream technology for truly live performances or editing capabilities for pre-recorded productions. The experienced production team can advise, consult or general mange digital production processes.

The service is available now and can be found at www.stream.theatre

MARTIN SHAW & JENNY SEAGROVE REUNITE
IN BROADWAY HIT LOVE LETTERS
AS THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR REOPENS

• THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR IS TO REOPEN WITH BROADWAY HIT LOVE
LETTERS BY A.R. GURNEY
• STARRING JUDGE JOHN DEED’S MARTIN SHAW AND JENNY SEAGROVE
• DIRECTED BY ROY MARSDEN
• FOR ONE WEEK ONLY! LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE

Following the exciting announcement that our Pantomime, Cinderella, will go ahead this
year, we are delighted to confirm a further production for our Autumn/Winter 2020 Season
as Theatre Royal Windsor reopens! With more shows to be announced.

FOR ONE WEEK ONLY
After more than six months of closure, Theatre Royal Windsor is to reopen with Judge John
Deed’s MARTIN SHAW and JENNY SEAGROVE starring as two friends who share a deep
closeness through writing intimate letters across a lifetime.

Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrove are beloved stars of the Windsor stage; both recently
having featured in outstanding Windsor productions – Martin in Patrick Hamilton’s classic
Gaslight and Jenny in the starring role of the thrilling The Anastasia File. The pair last
performed together in Windsor’s 2015 live radio adaptation of the iconic movie screenplay,
Brief Encounter.

ABOUT THE SHOW
A. R Gurney’s Love Letters debuted in 1988 and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for
Drama. Celebrated American productions of this Broadway classic have seen huge star
names such as Kathleen Turner, Christopher Walken, Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal take
on this piece.

When Andrew Makepeace Ladd III accepts an invitation to Melissa Gardner’s birthday party, Melissa writes a thank you note, and a romantic friendship and correspondence destined to last for almost half a century is born.

COVID-SECURE MEASURES
Love Letters will run for 8 performances with limited seating due to the social distancing
measures in place for the safety of our audiences – so book early to avoid disappointment!

Covid-secure measures will be in place across the entirety of the building, and performance
times have been adjusted. Further information regarding our Covid measures can be found
on our website.

Jon Morgan, director of the Theatres Trust, has responded to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s speech to MPs and the new Covid-19 restrictions: 

While not directly mentioning theatres, this curfew demonstrates that town and city centre businesses such as theatres continue to be under threat. Theatres that were considering reopening with social distancing in place will be less likely to take the risk. Crucially the six month time frame signals that we will not see theatres being able to fully reopen in the near future – the all-important Stage 5 in the government’s recovery roadmap. With the job retention scheme ceasing at the end of October, it will herald more job losses, will risk more theatres closing permanently – and will result in irreversible damage to our cultural landscape. It is imperative that the government considers sector-specific support such as extending the furlough scheme until such time as it is safe for theatres to reopen fully.